Affirmative Action Initiative in South Africa

Affirmative Action Initiative in South Africa Affirmative action is an initiative adopted by the South African government, which seeks to correct the imbalance of wealth and provide opportunities to the people who were adversely affected as a result of the apartheid regime. It has created a situation where organizations are required to meet specific employment targets for persons of colour in order to operate to the satisfaction of the state. As a result, these people are able to participate in the corporate environment at an accelerated rate. On the contrary, many white South Africans are finding it difficult to obtain their most select employment. The efficiency of affirmative action is best analyzed by assessing its objective of promoting black representation in the workplace and comparing it to empirical evidence. Figures provided by the government indicate that the unemployment rate has steadily declined annually since the inception of the study (September 2001). The September 2007 average unemployment rate of 23% is signi ficantly lower than 29.4% in September 2001. This provides evidence that the policy is doing well to provide work to more South Africans. (www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0210/P0210September2007.pdf) However, a more in-depth study reveals the change in unemployment rates amongst each population group. The best results have been for black people with a decline from approximately 35% (September 2001) to 26.8% (September 2007). The Indian people in the country also improved from approximately 19% to 10% over the same period. White and coloured unemployment rates have remained relatively static over this period at approximately 5% and 20% respectively. This bodes well for black and Indian people and is a strong indicator that affirmative action is achieving its goals. The policy seems to be failing in its attempt to compensate the coloured population. (www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0210/P0210September2007.pdf) However, there are problems that are emerging from affirmative action tha t is having a detrimental effect on the performance on enterprises and the overall success of the economy. The instantaneous and rapid enactment of affirmative action has seen unqualified persons attaining important positions. Many of these people were/are incapable of fulfilling the roles they have been assigned. This has a negative impact on, firstly, the corporation employing these people as they incur costs without the required level of service from their employees. It also adversely affects the consumer, who is dependant upon those employed by organizations to make the best decisions in order to obtain maximum reward. A situation exists whereby unskilled employees are filling skilled positions. (www.sairr.org.za/press-office/institute-opinion) Another concern is that many white South Africans are leaving the country, resulting in a major shortage of fundamental skills. The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) revealed that between 1995 and 2005, one million white S outh Africans moved abroad. The lack of adequate services has left the country in desperate need of professionals. These people also served as mentors/teachers to inexperienced employees and accelerated their development in the organizations thus exacerbating the problem of their departure. (www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article) Many contend that a weakness of the affirmative action policy is that it creates a minority of rich black people and does not help the rest (www.new.bbc.co.uk). The majority of the black population are unskilled workers without educations. These people are likely to struggle even with affirmative action in place as their employment options are limited to low income earning sectors due to educational and language problems. It is anticipated that the current generation of black children will reap the benefits of the policy. The government has put facilities in place to ensure these people are schooled and can attain funding for universities. These ar e the real beneficiaries of the system as their employment options are diverse. It would therefore seem that the efficiency of affirmative action should only be interpreted to a significant extent when the current black youth reaches adulthood.

Aircraft inspection either a 100 hourly inspection or annual Research Paper

Aircraft inspection either a 100 hourly inspection or annual inspection student comes up with the type of scenerio - Research Paper Example This involved inspection of the aircraft’s conformity to prescribed regulations. Conformity inspection involved review of designated data and all document required as per the stipulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As a matter of fact, conformity inspection sought to ensure that JPY had correctly undertook all processes and tests required by FAA. Additionally, it involved inspection of the parts to ensure they are in compliance with design data. Initial investigations involved evaluation of the existing documents for conformity before comparing the engine’s current condition to conformity requirements. Finally, the areas with problems were identified and appropriate course of action adopted. Of interest were the permanent records provided by JPY and these included the following: 1. The aircraft’s log book: confirmation for valid seal from FAA and existence of validly filled information 2. Aircraft Worthiness Certificate documentation. This cert ifies that the aircraft owner and operator have maintained the aircraft in airworthy condition. Additionally, it allows understanding of the persons allowed to perform maintenance, preventive maintenance, or any alterations on the aircraft. Conventionally, two conditions have to be met before the aircraft is considered â€Å"airworthy†. 3. A supplemental type certificate (STC) is a type certificate (TC) issued when an applicant has received FAA approval to modify an aircraft from its original design.  Ã‚  The STC, which incorporates by reference the related TC, approves not only the modification but also how that modification affects the original design. These are useful in not only knowing the modifications but also the effect that the modification had on the aircraft’s original design. 4. The Type Certificate Data sheet :) that is, when the aircraft configuration and the components installed are consistent with the drawing, specifications, and other data that are p art of the TC, and include any supplemental TC and field-approved alterations incorporated into the aircraft. 5. The Pilot’s Operating hand book provides useful information on weight and balance, operating ranges of the aircraft and airworthiness of the aircraft. 6. Also , included with the aircrafts documentation came the weight and balance certificate Description of the scenario The aircraft was brought was availed for repair by JPY. The process was initiated through a call from JPY to our maintenance department complaint being magneto issues encountered earlier. JPY had initially thought the issue had been resolved but it suddenly recurred and hence the need for further inspection and correction. The first meeting between us and JPY was held on the 23rd of November, 2013 at 1654 Entrance Drive New Braunfels Texas on the Flight Ramp outside the hanger’s main entrance. JPY flew the aircraft from Karnes County Airport to our facility. During the meeting, a comprehensiv e discussion of the problems encountered with JPY’s Cessna 320B were discussed, in addition to various documentations for the aircraft being handed over for inspection. The log books revealed that the aircraft was due for 100-hourly

How Martin Luther King developed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How Martin Luther King developed - Essay Example The letter was written in protest to the law that segregated people on racial bases. The letter was intended to persuade his audience on the need for a nonviolent but direct action to eliminate the unjust laws. The intended audience was the critiques who were opposed to his activities in down town Birmingham, Alabama. This essay focuses on why Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's Letter from a Birmingham Jail stands out as a model of how to write a powerful argument. The essay will demonstrate what Martin Luther does to make his writing so persuasive even in the contemporary readers. Writing persuasively is not easy since it requires one to be able to coerce an audience that could be partial or impartial towards your ideas. It requires one to make the audience trust you and perceive your arguments, proclamations, or judgments as truthful (Jacobus 210-213). In case Martin Luther’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, he had to convince his audience that racism is evil and should be elimin ated for the good of all. He starts his letter with the words â€Å"My dear fellow clergymen† (King 115). This enables him establish a connection with the intended audience. Luther manages to earn the readers trust and induces them to view him and his ideas as intelligent. The Letter to the clergymen is precise but clearly addresses different aspects of racism expressed towards African-American people, particularly in Birmingham during the time of the writing. The letter is realistic and unbiased. Dr. Martin wrote this letter on Aprils 16, 1963 while he was imprisoned. Leading Martin Luther’s letter evoked a sense of patriotism even in me. The letter was addressed to eight clergymen who were opposed to Luther’s work on civil rights. Martin Luther employs Aristotle’s persuasion appeals, which include ethos, pathos, and logos. In his writing, Luther appeals his own reputation, arouses emotions in the readers mind, and supports his claims using credible cita tions from influential thinkers. By making use of pathos, Luther is able to connect and invoke emotions such as anger, sympathy, patriotism, love, and empathy from the readers (Jacobus 225). The readers sympathize with him when he says, â€Å"I am in Birmingham because injustice is here† (King 116). This clearly addresses the question of his intentions, which had been posed by his critics. Additionally, he establishes his role as the right person to promote civil rights when he claims, â€Å"I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference† (King 117). He reminds his opponents, who were clergymen that he is entitled to promote the rights of his community and is not any lesser than the eight clergymen are. Additionally, this demonstrates use of ethos to establish his credibility. He builds his credibility when he repeatedly compares himself to biblical characters who had suffered for telling the truth (Jacobus 213-217). By so doin g, the reader understands and appreciates Luther’s grounds as truthful. This is depicted when he states â€Å"Just as the eight-century prophets left their little villages and carried their ‘thus saith the Lord’ far beyond the boundaries of their home towns† (King 115-116). This statement convinces the readers that his course is genuine. He continues to claim that â€Å"Just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Graeci-Roman world,