Human Indifference Essay

In the article â€Å"Americans are shopping while Iraq burns†, Bob Herbert implies that Americans are deeply absorbed in their own interests and are therefore apathetic to developments in Iraq, and by extension the developments in any other place where the United States is at war like in Afghanistan. On the contrary, renowned photojournalist James Natchwey is of the opinion that Americans would like to be informed of what really is happening so that they can act responsively. This must have been his conviction before embarking on his mission to film footage for the documentary â€Å"War Photographer†. A number of credible sources underline this apathetic stance adapted by many Americans regarding the suffering that emanates from wars waged by their nation in their name. This research paper aims to identify both their stances in detail with the aim of establishing which perspective is closer to the truth. It also pays a tribute to James Natchwey’s exemplary journalism. The State of the American Society Bob Herbert creates a reference for his argument on Thanksgiving Day here in the U. S. Shopping malls opened at midnight as Americans gleefully spend on the celebration. In the meantime, over 200 civilians had been killed by car bombs in the Iraqi city of Sadr. This is just one incident: a majority of Americans go about their business oblivious of the suffering Iraqi civilians endure on a daily basis or the fatalities American troops encounter at the battlefields. If indeed they were conscious of the repercussions of the war, we would be up in protest opposing these wars whose benefits to the American society cannot be ascertained. The apathy demonstrated by Americans may originate from the fact that very few Americans are concerned with the nation’s foreign policy. As Ole R. Holsti points out, there is â€Å"absence of sustained public attention to international issues† (Holsti 2004, 285). This is demonstrated in the circumstances that led to the invasion of Iraq: the Bush administration alleged without sufficient proof that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (Smith 2005) and connected the Baghdad regime with the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, and the American public was ready to believe these charges in the pretext that Iraq really was a threat to national security (Holsti 2004). Media in the U. S. as made it hard for Americans to know what to believe in or what to value. There is insufficient coverage of the destructiveness of the war as media executives strive to make profits in an overly commercialized industry. The importance of news is diluted as news is â€Å"stripped of its credibility and the audience will have no ability to differentiate between the values of news and other forms of entertainment† (Dadge & Schechter 2006, 103). As Bob Herbert points out, most Americans have no personal stake in the Iraqi war and are consequently indifferent to its outcomes. A short survey reveals that very few citizens would be willing to join the military, no wonder most go about their business bearing indifference to the effects of the war on Iraqi civilians whose lives are shattered by war (Gott 2002) and U. S marines who die in the line of duty. The suggestion by Representative Charles Rangel that the Draft be reinstated implies that American politicians would be reluctant to approve of war if the possibility of their constituents being called into active service was real. With these facts out in the open, Herbert’s position is obviously more credible. Media apathy, domestic lack of interest in foreign policy and general disinterest have all contributed to the absence of a collective sacrifice and sharing of the burden of responsibility on the war. This is supported by the other sources cited in this paper. Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy is a comprehensive text describing in detail American foreign policy since September 11th. Why War: The Cultural Logic of Iraq, the Gulf War, and Suez is a thought-provoking text which pushes a reader beyond the periphery of conventional sociological thought. David Dadge and Danny Schechter’s book exposes the ease with which the American public is in most case willing to acknowledge intelligence reports without the desire to validate the background information. War Photographer James Natchwey demonstrates true heroism as he delves deep into some of the most dangerous and desolate spots on earth to bring pictures of what really goes on here to viewers. His work captivates audiences and instills empathy by relaying the destruction and heartbreak occasioned by conflict. He is an embodiment of courage, professional dedication and humanitarianism.

Disaster Rehabilitation Complex Essay

Bamboo Hybrid Building Construction Material Foldable emergency houses through Bamboo Hybrid Building Construction Material. A revolutionary way of construction where the bamboos are being combined with structural Bolt Ball steel to act as struts (replacing the steel/aluminium material) and form as a structural joints to achieve stability and flexibility. Together with Contex-T: textile architecture, a fiber reinforced structural element that will act as the roofs and walls which provide good insulation, maximum flexibility in design and maximum mobility with a short construction period; and Liter of Light: soda bottle solar light, an innovative invention that will turn a soda bottle into a 50-60 watts light bulb during the day, which will be attached customarily to the bamboo struts in different areas of the foldable houses. -source; Building with Bamboo by Gernot Minke; WHAT IS THE PROJECT ABOUT? DESCRIBE. (STATEMENT OF USE/FUNCTION AND PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING BASED ON NBC) Philippine Red Cross Disaster Rehabilitation Complex: An Evacuation and Rehabilitation Facility under, Group D – Institutional (Government and Health Services) Division-1 No. 4 Principal use of The 2004 Revised IRR of P.D no. 1096 (as published by the DPWH), dedicated for the disaster and calamity victims, and also will become the new headquarters of   Red Cross; a development that will change the image of unsystematic and unorganized evacuation center in the Philippines that aims to educate people in their condition during calamities while providing them a complete set of recreational, medical, educational, conventional and administration facilities dedicated for their fully rehabilitation directly from Philippine Red Cross, while eliminating the issue of politics and providing an immediate response during and after the calamity. A formal evacuation center in the Philippines that can cater a huge amount of evacuees while providing them comfort, care and medical attention and a comfortable emergency houses through Bamboo foldable houses, where a locally found bamboo’s are being modified and turn it into a unique hybrid construction material where it is incorporated with structural bolt steel and organic fiber reinforced textile material that can provide a recyclable, flexible, and a faster installation while reducing the cost and maintaining the stability and the proper standards for an emergency houses. LOCATION (OPTIONAL) Tent City of Tacloban Marcos Highway cor. Amang Rodriguez Ave., Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City. TARGET USERS: PRIMARY:Evacuees and victims of disaster and calamities SECONDARY:Volunteers Doctors Medical Staff’s TERTIARY: People in needs of medical assistant Security personnel Donors Visitors NO. OF USERS: (approximate no.) 100,000 Families OWNER(S) OR CLIENT(S): Philippine Red Cross PROJECT OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE OWNER (WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR THE PROJECT?) 1. To erase the image of the Philippine’s chaotic evacuation center 2. To provide new Headquarters of Philippine Red cross that will become a center of their public service and donations 3. To educate and raise the awareness of the people to the Emergencies, Calamities, and Disasters 4. To help people recover from their condition, in a faster service with a complete facility dedicated for them. 5. To reduce the health casualties occurring in the un-organized evacuation center. BUDGET/FINANCING SCHEME: The amount of financial funds will be according to the donations collected by the Philippine National Red Cross from the different organizations of the Government especially From Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and from private sectors and individual charitable donations. Structural3,000 per square meter Electrical and telecoms1,000 per square meter Sanitary 2,500 per square meter Sprinkler1,000 per square meter Mechanical1,500 per square meter Architectural 5,000 per square meter Emergency houses550,000 (estimated cost of bunk houses of government) Note: the cost of land acquisition for the site is not yet included in the above mentioned costing.

Case Study of an Ethical Dilemma

Case Study of an Ethical Dilemma Introduction An ethical dilemma arises when the clients and health care providers differ in their understanding of what is right or wrong (Narrigan, 2004). As nurses we often deal with ethical dilemmas in our everyday clinical practice; and as professionals we have the responsibility to analyse and examine any ethical problems that may arise. Any decision should be based on ethical principle that protects the best interest of both the patient and the health care provider. This paper will outline a critical incident which occurred in one of my clinical experience in intensive care unit (ICU).It presents the clinical case, identifies the ethical dilemma, and discusses the principles that apply to this situation. The Case Mrs G was a 76-year old woman who was brought to emergency department (ED) after her carer found her in respiratory distress. The ED doctor noted that the patient was minimally responsive to verbal stimuli, afebrile, normotensive, tachycardic to 130 bpm, and tachypnei c to 30 breaths/min.A chest radiograph revealed a right lower lobe consolidation. Based on her old notes it was found out that she had been recently admitted for investigation of significant weight loss and it was found to be a result of advanced bowel cancer ,with lungs, bone and brain metastases. While in ED Mrs G’s respiratory functions deteriorated and a referral for ICU was made. She was then seen and reviewed by our junior registrar and after discussion from the ICU consultant, Mrs G was admitted to ICU for closer observation. I was then tasked to look after this patient for that shift. After knowing the brief history of the patient from my team leader, I was then asking the doctor of what do we do for this coming admission? Are we going to intubate and ventilate this patient in case she developed respiratory failure? And what are the chances of her recovery from this critical illness? Has it been discussed to the next of kin before the plan for ICU admission? The docto r then replied that it was his consultant’s decision, and so we will just have to wait when this patient will arrive in the unit. . Within 24 hours of being transferred to the ICU, Mrs G’s condition deteriorated rapidly and a decision was made to talk with the family of what we should do in the event of cardiac arrest. Relatives need to be involved in discussions about end-of life issues so that they are fully aware of the appropriate decisions to be made; and that all parties involved understand the situation (McDermott, 2002).The son was immediately informed about his mother’s condition and it was revealed that Mrs G had previously stated to him that she does not want any heroic measures in the event of cardiac arrest. The conversation with Mrs G’s son over the phone resulted in the decision to initiate a not for resuscitation (NFR) order. The purpose of the NFR order is to deliberately withhold life-saving measures when the patient’s respiratory or cardiac function suddenly stops (Costello, 2002).