JJT Task 1 Social Responsibility - 4418 Words

1 JJT Task 1 – Social Responsibility Strategies 2 A small business, which shall be named for the purposes of this report SE Construction, will be reviewed in relationship to social responsibility in a business. In the corporate world this is called â€Å"Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)†. Corporate Social Responsibility â€Å"generally refers to the idea that corporations have broader responsibilities to society than merely maximizing shareholder value. Corporate sustainability is a specific framework for defining those responsibilities. One can think of a sustainable business as one that generates profits for its owners, protects the environment, and improves the lives of the people with whom it interacts† (MindEdge Inc.,†¦show more content†¦Another benefit is creating a competitive advantage by passing on suggestions for value engineering and energy efficiency to future customers. From this assessment, the company can determine specific areas in company operations where the company can be environmentally responsible and set goals accordingly. This vision or code of conduct can then be passed on to the employees with expectations for participation and implementation. The second recommendation is that a waste management plan become part of the day to day operations of the company within the office and all construction activities on all projects. The company has been required to provide a waste management plan for two construction projects over the past 3 years. These plans included a recycling/reuse percentage goal for the project, a list of the types of materials and waste that would be generated by the project, what types of recycling, reuse, or disposal methods would be used and what vendors would be used to fulfill the waste management goals included in the plan. By implementing a waste management plan for all company operations the company isn’t just being socially responsible in this area due to a contractual requirement, the company is making a commitment to always be socially responsible by managing waste in an environmentally responsible manner. The plan preparation

The Nature and Importance of Operational Management

Questions: 1. Describe about Understand the nature and Importance of operational management?2. Develop the documents with explanation to assess the operations for operation management? Answers: Introduction A body which will help in strengthening the position relating to finance along with providing benefits in the abundant supply leading to the demand for oil and gas product. Talking about the part of researching, (Brown et al., 2013) we see that there is generally a wave where recession coincides and the people have to start all over again. In the early 1990s, we can see an overview, where people had to be affected with the industrial as well the shocks from the technical background. A better bond with the company along with availability of better financial risk, there is an abrupt increase in the layout of the leverages. There are some companies which focus on performing better divisions along with emerging better justified acquisitions. There is an appreciable (Feng et al., 2013) increase in the volume as per the border along with evolving better approach towards the quick and the less means which are expensive. 1.Understand the nature and Importance of operational management The operation management system generally supports the main function of marketing and communicating for the better of the product as per the creation and the operations which are fulfilling the main supportive function for accounting and the human resources. There are some materials which are able to shape the services and the products according to the support that has been given from the service providers. (Carroll Buchholtz, 2014). There is a network to maintain all the supplies leading to an individual operation of the network, trying to operate all the processes which are relevant to supporting the main functions and activities. The changes in the demand and supply mainly vary as per the operation of the cost of the labour which are able to effectively manage the cost of the transportation along with the skills of the labour. The operation management is able to scale all the breaks and lead to a fixation in the cost to invest in the facilities which will bear the economy rise, t hereby, running a status of managing the scale which describes the cost to run the operations at its larger. The capacity to lead and plan the strategy is according to the break-even analysis, having a clarity to flow with safety and management. The cost of balancing the line of (Gino Pisano, 2014) production will have an investment to make a product, defining the layout to process the stages leading to out-performance which will relatively support the process, handling the materials efficient for the high flexibility and robustness with less monotonous work. Why operations management important for the organisation? As per the detailed fact, one has generally focused more on the following points which reflect the importance of the management system. Some of them are: There is a reduction in (Feng et al., 2014) the cost as well as increment in the revenue structure which is able to manage the responsibilities of the organisation. The investments have to be managed and so they need a proper guidance and equipment to be held under for better productivity with increment in the needs of the customer. The basis for innovation provide basis on the profitability factor leading to improvement in the management of proper designing and planning. The operations lead to the improvement in the way with improved flexibility and meeting the needs of the customer (Sodhi tang, 2014) as per the services which are being provided. Strategies which are important to control and design the production of the organisational management structure mainly comes from the purpose which is efficient in securing a better and trained location for the safety of the employees. (Malhotra et al., 2014). To maintain the technology process inheriting the material and the information to process the convenience according to the information which is able to provide the great combinations as per the people and the material. The operations have to be maintained which will be controlled under the machines to reach the activities controlled under the human interferences. There is an empowerment of multi-skills to evaluate the time in which the work can be over according to the authority and the empowerment. The job to increase the motivation, will certainly lead to flexibility in time and approach to enhance the management along with (McFerlane, 2014) telecommuting within the hours of working and after that too. This will help in being committed to the work and updated of all the incidences that are taking place. Analyse the operation function of the selected organisation. The Toyota operation management organisation tries to make and break all the business rules which are able to implement and support the neutrality for supporting the strategy, leading to avoidance of mistakes along with a better quality of operation. There is a need to manage the time along with speed with (Dixon et al., 2014) which the dependability factor varies. The flexibility to reach the higher cost levels can be efficient to extend (Walker et al., 2014) the quality and reducing the inventories which will save time and money. The productivity factor mainly affects the operation leading from the single to multi-factoring production. The network to supply the needs are according to the services which maintain a better relationship to provide information which pass through all the customers, which are competitive in the market, focusing on the issues related to the long-time links. The outsourcing of the work will contract to the extent how the designs are proficient in efficientl y managing the customers, competitors, and manage all the operations which will (Hoejmose et al., 2014) separate the complementary to manage the decisions whether it is liable to buy or not. Evaluation, by process model of the operation management of selected organisation. The top-down strategy for managing the operational decisions mainly variant according to the corporate, business and the functional strategies which are in relation to the customers as well as functions to find a corporation set-up to manage the strategy. There is a complete operational analysis which would receive a bottom-up structure leading to what are emergent requirements to set up competitive functions. The Toyota organisation will maintain the main competition which focus on the factors of winning the orders for productions and delivery according to the qualifications. (Jeston Nelis, 2014). The resources are based on the reviews which are to compete with the purpose, point of entry, process, project management as well as the participation of an organisational employees to balance the cost effectively for business trading purposes. Explanation of 3 Es To lead a better organisational set-up, Toyota has to set-up its business Auditing criteria which will plan the corporation policy and the plans to outperforms the performance, leading to the outlet for reaching higher expectations of the customers who will target the departmental business, involving a criteria to achieve and answer the strategic development performance. Some of the effective approaches are: There is an economical uplift which is acquiring the services according to the pricing fares. The quality has (Gerth, 2014) to be maintained as it is effective in evaluating the money which will save it from all the problems. The lowest possible prices are variant to save the economy from downgrading. The efficiency of the task is to process all the activities which will be wasted or eliminated differently according to the process which would lead to a different approach, leading to a smarter way of living. (Snehota, 2014). The effectiveness to reach the expectations of the customers are met according to the consistent positioning which will be able to position and meet the needs according to the process of investigation and organisational set-up. The managers have the right to effectively improve the developing quality. Explanation of the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation The organisation is designed in such a way which is able to manage the cost of raw materials and the labours would be well-equipped to bring in the best use of technology to lead to advancement in the research field. The transformation (Berenguer et al., 2014) is to design and manufacture the quality according to the best output which will give a better feedback from the people, after its usage. The effectiveness in balancing the time and the money, generally leads to the investments according to the customer choice assuring that the work has been proficiently done and the delivery is as per the services and the financial agreements are completely setup by the Toyota company. The competition to rise the brand of the product mainly comes when the delivery and the demand of the goods is very much with a higher profitable cost. There is a need to set an impressive asset which will output all the amount depending upon the productivity, rising to (Hernndez et al., 2014) an approach leadin g to an increase in the organisational productivity. The change in the organisation improve communication, which will motivate the labours to perform a better task to increase the strategic level of large scale organisations. The productivity will surely have flexibility and rise in the cost of competition, wherein, countries are more viable to outsource products which is right to find the smarter way to product the products efficiently. (Ellram Cooper, 2014). The quality design is managed according to the standardised approach, modularising the product which will be able to incorporate the services as per the functional deployment of the quality. The technique to rise towards the better evaluation and characteristics generally depend on the engineering which is to examine whether the product is more virtual, providing the approach, interacting the designs for concurrency in overlapping the design process. Evaluation of 5 performance objective Cost- the organisation to achieve the higher competition on the scale which will present a better outlook to reach to the guiding principle which will own a better and higher scale of quality, leading to an immediate production (Kavadias, 2014) and tailored products. The technology has been rising daily and it is the organisation which has to bring the best profit out of the cost which has been spent to maintain the quality of management. Dependability- This feature is attained by attaining a designed product which will have an integral approach to leading better services with the better products and services. The people depend on the products which are easily available and their quality is easy to be evaluated too. The ideas are managed, (Zhu et al., 2013) thereby, trying to build strong relations which would have a better link in management system. Flexibility- The design can reduce the cost with an understanding that the services will provide a better defined approach to the package of the components, leading to supportive services. The layout of the process is systematic to arrange all the stages of production which will involve the work to staff and categorise the (Heizer et al., 2014) products which are important for a stage of production which will have communication to an improved level. The components are important to be managed, requiring a higher impulse rates for the products in locations to raise the checkouts the power to reach the intervals, designing the marginal products for flexible management. Quality- The packaging system leads to the product development with the benefits that will have better creation to be delivered to the nature. The idea to compete and research in a better development environment, mainly comes from screening the staff and the competitor products and all services which are maintained at risk. (Soltani et al., 2014). The operation to manage all the products needs to specify that the component has to be standardised to accommodate the degree of the products. The modularised components vary differentially according to the structure of the components. Speed- The organisation has been said to respond to the activities and changes which are important to identify the better acts. (Feng et al., 2014). There is a need to reduce all the problems which will have to maintain the structures according to the managers who will promote a sense of productivity efficiently and developing a faster transformation. 2. Develop the documents with explanation to assess the operations for operation management In order to access the operations of the furniture, there is a need to give a balance working time for the allocation of all the activities which would help in quantifying and bringing an equalisation to approach to produce the (Smith et al., 2014) units conveniently and properly as per the production of the flow. The operations are carried and the information is being flowed through the internet supply which has a create impact on the business and management system. There are certain experts who are always (Longenecker et al., 2014) commercialising their product worldwide to give a rise to their technology as per the evaluation and the dependability on job designing. There are certain environmental conditions which are met and needed to be allocated for the furniture set-up to grow stronger and in a proper manner. Explain linear programming and evaluate critical path analysis The furniture cost in the management mainly depends on the activities of the designing the material used for solving all the problems with a complete furnishing. The factors generally has a design to finish all the tolerances to consider (krinjar Trkman, 2013) that the cost is mainly to design all the manufacturing design which are able to compete in the technicalities. Evaluate critical path analysis and Network Planning The cost of evaluation to establish a distributing cost which will have the techniques of the direct method as well as ABC (Activity-Based) Costing which could be able to design the sales maintaining the relationship in the cost and the producers which will have an addition of the value under the managers who have to strictly produce the goods, absorbing the definition which would translate depending upon how the costs are generated and the activities are held. There is a need to manage the (Akgun et al., 2014) transportation which will absorb the cost, broken out for materials which are direct, leading to labour approach. The planning is according to the way attaining the cost towards the development of a proper goods, leading to an approach of maintaining the furniture properly. Explain need for operational planning and control in producing the furniture The specification to manage the cost and quality depends on showing how the range of the products will report to collect and prepare the financial information which would have a good construction of furniture. The control in the quality will have a bad effect on the image of the organisation and it should be handled properly so that people can properly bring a change in their production cost and the suppliers and demands of the same are more. Possible layouts for producing the furniture Depending upon the layout of the resources, there are fixed position which allows transformation and providing an effective approach which could have an impact to lead to a contribution which will have differential functional layouts according to the complexity and the chart which is given below. (Pullman, 2013)The furniture has to provide different heuristics and craft the cells to cluster all the production glow. The resources are allocated according to the content which will be balancing the work with line and time. Network plan indicating the critical path design process of the company There is a need to plan all the management of the products according to the resources which are available and are efficient to drive the objects with the activity, having a beneficiary effect on the overall layout of the product. (Hornyak et al., 2014). The company or any furniture organisation has to find whether they are finding something better which would help the people in maintaining the cost or not. As per the value added services, there is a need of the resources which will be able to balance the cost of all the manufacturing according to the products available with a better usage of resources and its better quality. The plan of the company is to mainly design all the products to critically manage the schemes according to the requirement of the client which have repeatability in volume, standardisation in variety. The variation and the visibility of the process depends (Kavadias, 2014) on the operation which is according to the performance and the responsibilities which are u pon to improve the revenue system. Approaches for the management of the project and quality control The decisions have to make very precisely considering how the project has to be maintained according to the quality of the material which is being used in well-furnished furniture. There are people who are able to maintain reputation to lead to a higher quality, mainly depending upon on choice of the purchaser and the supplier who are both important to maintain the quality and quantity of the product at the reasonable price. The people have to look forward for a better deal where they understand that they are neither at loss and neither are they getting any bad product. There is a complete scripting of maintaining the cost according to the labour and the prime costs are generally determined with the help of the value address services and the reliability is mainly on the finance which could lead to a better behaviour in marketing structure and management of the organisation. More emphasis is to plan the reporting as to what quantity of people will be liable to buy the product. Reference Carroll, A., Buchholtz, A. (2014).Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Cengage Learning. Walker, H., Klassen, R., Sarkis, J., Seuring, S. (2014). Sustainable operations management: recent trends and future directions.International Journal of Operations Production Management,34(5), 1-1. Malhotra, M. K., Singhal, C., Shang, G., Ployhart, R. E. (2014). A critical evaluation of alternative methods and paradigms for conducting mediation analysis in operations management research.Journal of Operations Management,32(4), 127-137. Akgn, A. E., Ince, H., Imamoglu, S. Z., Keskin, H., Kocoglu, Ä °. (2014). The mediator role of learning capability and business innovativeness between total quality management and financial performance.International Journal of Production Research,52(3), 888-901. Feng, M., Li, C., McVay, S. E., Skaife, H. A. (2015). Does Ineffective Internal Control over Financial Reporting affect a Firm's Operations? Evidence from Firms' Inventory Management.The Accounting Review. Heizer, J. H., Griffin, P., Render, B. (2014). Operations Management.Supply-chain management,434(436), 438-450. Kavadias, S. S. (2014). 10à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ year Anniversary of the New Product Development, RD, and Project Management Department in Production and Operations ManagementProgress, Thoughts, and Perspectives.Production and Operations Management,23(8), 1259-1264. Smith, L., Maull, R., Ng, I. C. (2014). Servitization and operations management: a service dominant-logic approach.International Journal of Operations Production Management,34(2), 242-269. Berenguer, G., Keskinocak, P., George Shanthikumar, J., Swaminathan, J. M., Van Wassenhove, L. (2014). Special Issue of Production and Operations Management: Not for Profit Operations Management.Production and Operations Management,23(12), 2225-2226. Hornyak, M. J., Peach, E. B., Bowen, A., Moes, W., Wheeler, R. (2014). Examining program management in business simulations: Student and faculty views.Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning,33. Soltani, E., K. Ahmed, P., Ying Liao, Y., U. Anosike, P. (2014). Qualitative middle-range research in operations management: The need for theory-driven empirical inquiry.International Journal of Operations Production Management,34(8), 1003-1027. Jeston, J., Nelis, J. (2014).Business process management. Routledge. Ellram, L. M., Cooper, M. C. (2014). Supply Chain Management: It's All About the Journey, Not the Destination.Journal of Supply Chain Management,50(1), 8-20. Hernndez, J. E., Lyons, A. C., Zarate, P., Dargam, F. (2014). Collaborative decision-making and decision support systems for enhancing operations management in industrial environments.Production Planning Control,25(8), 636-638. Snehota, I. (2014). Interdependences in business markets: Implications for management practice and research.jbm-Journal of Business Market Management,7(1), 280-283. Dixon, J. L., Snyder, S. K., Lairmore, T. C., Jupiter, D., Govednik, C., Hendricks, J. C. (2014). A novel method for the management of post-thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy hematoma: a single-institution experience after over 4,000 central neck operations.World journal of surgery,38(6), 1262-1267. Brown, S., Bessant, J. R., Lamming, R. (2013).Strategic operations management. Routledge. Longenecker, J., Petty, J., Palich, L., Hoy, F. (2013).Small business management. Cengage Learning. McFarlane, D. A. (2014). The Challenges of Operations Management for Business Managers.International Journal of Operations and Logistics Management,3(1), 16-29. Feng, M., Li, C., McVay, S. E., Skaife, H. A. (2015). Does Ineffective Internal Control over Financial Reporting affect a Firm's Operations? Evidence from Firms' Inventory Management.The Accounting Review. Gino, F., Pisano, G. (2014). Behavioral operations.Learning. Hoejmose, S., Brammer, S., Millington, A. (2013). An empirical examination of the relationship between business strategy and socially responsible supply chain management.International Journal of Operations Production Management,33(5), 589-621. Kavadias, S. S. (2014). 10à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ year Anniversary of the New Product Development, RD, and Project Management Department in Production and Operations ManagementProgress, Thoughts, and Perspectives.Production and Operations Management,23(8), 1259-1264. Feng, M., Li, C., McVay, S. E., Skaife, H. A. (2013). Ineffective internal control over financial reporting and firm operations.Available at SSRN 2187599. Pullman, M. E. (2013). Where does Sustainability fit into the Operations and Supply Chain Management Core Class?.Operations Management Education Review,,7, 17-48. krinjar, R., Trkman, P. (2013). Increasing process orientation with business process management: Critical practices.International Journal of Information Management,33(1), 48-60. Sodhi, M. S., Tang, C. S. (2014). Guiding the next generation of doctoral students in operations management.International Journal of Production Economics,150, 28-36. Gerth, C. (2013). Introduction. InBusiness Process Models. Change Management(pp. 1-12). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Zhu, Q., Cordeiro, J., Sarkis, J. (2013). Institutional pressures, dynamic capabilities and environmental management systems: investigating the ISO 9000Environmental management system implementation linkage.Journal of environmental management,114, 232-242.

Goals of the Monetary Policy

The latest statement by the Fed was released on 25 January 2012. In the statement, the Committee states that it kept the current fund rate at zero to  ¼ percent (Federal Reserve, 2012). It also extended the average maturity of its holdings. Moreover, the Committee continued reinvesting principal payments from its holdings. The reinvestment saw the Committee continue to purchase agency-mortgage backed securities and increase the maturity of Treasury securities (Federal Reserve, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Goals of the Monetary Policy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Feb decided to keep a low fund rate because it wanted to stimulate more activity in the economy. The subdued outlook of inflation over the next few years informed the Fed’s decision (Federal Reserve, 2012). In addition, the relatively high levels of unemployment necessitated the maintenance of low fund rates to increase of money supply in the economy. In its latest statement, the Committee notes that although household spending increased, there was no growth in the fixed income sector (Federal Reserve, 2012). Household expenditure affects the short-term demand of goods and services. On the other hand, fixed investments have a significant impact on unemployment levels. The committee was using the above knowledge, when it decided to keep low fund rates. The low fund rates would sustain the affordability of capital necessary for business fixed investments (Federal Reserve, 2012). In the last two years, the Fed was trying to achieve price stability and full employment in the economy, using its monetary policy. It purchased additional long-term securities in its long-term security purchase program (Federal Reserve, 2011). It also increased the amount of money circulating in the economy. The economic basis of the Fed’s policy action was to influence the supply of money in the economy to support i nvestments and ease unemployment. The Fed also has the mandate to retain stability in prices. It offers low fund rates and purchases securities to offer guarantees to investors. Purchasing of securities by the Fed makes it possible for investors to predict future prices of investments, and this eases their short-term speculation. The desire to maintain low unemployment by increasing avenues for creation of jobs in the economy led the Fed to maintain a historical low fund rate of 0 to  ¼ percent (Federal Reserve, 2011). Concerns Economic Growth The Fed holds the opinion that economic growth slowed down in 2011 because of the emerging weaknesses such as high unemployment. Nevertheless, the sustenance of the monetary policy would lead to a modest acceleration of the economic growth in 2012. The progression would come from lower commodity prices and increased spending because of easier credit conditions (Federal Reserve, 2011). The concern here is that the actual economic growth rate of 2012 would be lower than earlier expected.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More High Unemployment Concerns on high unemployment show that it is expected to slow down, albeit at a slower rate than previously anticipated (Federal Reserve, 2011). However, the economy will still witness high unemployment levels in the future as current monetary measures take time to shape the economy. We can conclude that the Fed will not be able to tame high unemployment in the coming few years. Price Stability The fed is anxious about the effect of supply disruptions from international producers such as Japan (Federal Reserve, 2011). It expects temporary inflation setbacks due to these disruptions. However, it still expects the projected economic recovery to subdue the brief pressures. Hitherto, the Fed is not sure whether there will be additional supply disruption to affect prices. Int ernational Balance The persisting fiscal snags in Europe are negatively upsetting the market emotion and have led to widespread investor pullback from high-risk assets (Federal Reserve, 2011). The Fed’s anxiety is that the longer it takes to resolve the international problems, the harder it will be for the US economy to recover fully. References Federal Reserve. (2011, July 13). Part 1: Overview: Monetary policy and the economic outlook. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/mpr_20110713_part1.htm Federal Reserve. (2012, January 25). Press Release. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20120125a.htm This research paper on Goals of the Monetary Policy was written and submitted by user Kinsey Wilcox to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Argumentative Essay Sample on Euthanasia My Personal Opinion

Argumentative Essay Sample on Euthanasia My Personal Opinion Euthanasia is a serious political, moral and ethical issue in today’s society. Most people either strictly forbid it or firmly favor euthanasia. Although, I have no political background or confirmed religion, I choose to formally educate myself on the matter of euthanasia. I feel very strongly about this issue because I am affected by the matter on an almost everyday basis. I am a patient care technician in an emergency room and also work on a cardiac unit in one of Michigan’s top 100 osteopathic hospitals. I’ve actually watched people in pain eventually die. I’ve had to listen to patients beg me to, â€Å"pull plugs,† and put pillows over their faces to smother them so they could die faster. Terminally ill patients have a fatal disease from which they will never recover. Euthanasia is when a terminally ill patient chooses to end his/her own life by participating in physician-assisted suicide. After reading the ten sources and extensively researchin g euthanasia, I still support and promote the legalization of euthanasia. I believe that all people deserve the right to die with dignity. First of all, I would like to offer my own personal feelings and opinions on the matter of euthanasia because I actually have frequent contact with people who suffer with terminal illnesses. When I was a junior in high school I was offered the opportunity to explore my career options by pursuing advanced learning in the medical field. I attended regular high school for one half of the day, the other half of my day was spent in a nursing home (extended care facility), Port Huron Hospital and also at St. Clair Technology Center. I spent many hours studying medical terminology and proper body mechanics, I also learned how to take care of sick patients while promoting healthy life styles changes. Unfortunately the hardest lesson which was the how to take care of the terminally ill, while being supportive to their many physical, spiritual and emotional needs. I graduated from high school and proceeded to go to college in order to accomplish my goal of becoming a registered nurse. After gr aduation I moved into my own apartment and took a job at St. John’s Medical Center on an oncology/hospice unit. I worked at St. John’s for 18 months. Hospice is where terminally ill patients are sent to be cared for during the last stages of their lives. Oncology is the study of tumors, but more specifically, it’s a term usually associated with some kind of cancer. Therefore, for about a year and a half I had to take care of dying patients. These people had a slim chance of surviving for over six months to a year. When my patients were suffering and in pain I had to smile and tell them, â€Å"Don’t worry everything will be all right.† We both knew that everything would no be all right and they had just wanted to die. I witnessed patients telling other members of the nursing staff how they had begged and pleaded with god to take their life due to the excruciating pain they were experiencing. The nurse just replied, â€Å"Oh sweetie, you shouldn’t say things like that.† I had patients who were so mean and cruel to staff, it was unreal. They were mad at l ife because they knew it would be taken away soon. I’ve watched patients who were fully coherent and self-sufficient upon admittance in to the hospital become totally confused and bed bound. I watched these people lose all motor skills, which left them crippled and unable to feed or bathe themselves, or even use the toilet. They had lost all of their dignity. After reading Peter Singer and Mark Sielger’s, â€Å"Euthanasia-A Critique,† it is fair to say that these doctors have put forth a strong argument against euthanasia. Singer and Siegler are both medical doctors who are very proficient in their fields. Singer and Siegler make the point that, â€Å"the relief of pain and suffering is a crucial goal of medicine,† however, â€Å"euthanasia violates the fundamental norms and standards of traditional medicine† (Seyler 333 335). When a person no longer has the choice of continuing a normal healthy life, unusual circumstances call for rare methods of treatment. Why should a person be tortured with the, â€Å"frightening prospect of dying shackled to a modern-day Procrustean bed, surrounded by the latest forms of high technology,† according to Singer and Siegler this is an adamant fear of many fatally ill patients (Seyler 333). Singer and Siegler make several good points in their essay, however, pain control seems to be the biggest issue facing the terminally ill as stated by the doctors. This is entirely untrue. People who are faced with a terminal illness experience just as much emotional turmoil as physical pain. When Singer and Siegler say, â€Å"physical pain can be relieved with the appropriate use of analgesic agents,† I am saddened because it has been my own personal experience to watch terminally ill patients become over medicated and drugged up so much that they are unable to think or act for themselves (Seyler 333). When a person can longer speak, think or act for him or herself, that person has been stripped of their dignity. Sidney Hook’s, â€Å"In Defense of Voluntary Euthanasia,† was emotionally charged and very gripping. Sidney Hook is a philosopher, educator and author (Seyler 338). Hook has been so unfortunate as to have sampled death and was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. He suffers with congestive heart failure, which one can live with but which if not treated or maintained properly will cause a painful death. He offers his first hand account of meeting with the Grim Reaper: I lay at the point of death. A congestive heart failure was treated for diagnostic purposes by an angiogram that triggered a stroke. Violent and painful hiccups, uninterrupted for several days and nights, prevented the ingestion of food. My left side and one of my vocal chords became paralyzed. Some form of pleurisy set in, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of slime. (338) If this sharp use of imagery isn’t enough to make the reader understand this mans pain, maybe his next account will persuade one to rethink euthanasia, â€Å"At one point, my heart stopped beating; just as I lost consciousness, it was thumped back into action again. In one of my lucid intervals during those days of agony, I asked my physician to discontinue all life-supporting services or show me how to do it. He refused and predicted that someday I would appreciate the unwisdom of my request† (Seyler 338). It is important to add Hook’s quotes when reflecting upon his personal experience with death. Hook feels as though he was robbed of the peaceful serenity of death and will have to suffer through it once more, when death comes knocking again. Euthanasia is a serious issue in today’s political world. Arguments for and against euthanasia are cause for major debate. Proponents and opponents disagree on at least four controversial issues. The four major issues are, but not limited to, the nature autonomy, the role of beneficence, the distinction between active and passive euthanasia and the public and social implications of legalization. The nature of autonomy basically means that all people are granted the right to think, feel and act for him or herself. The first and fourteenth amendments were put into place to protect an individual’s freedom of religion, speech, privileges, immunities, and equal protection. The role of beneficence involves the physician’s duty to relieve suffering. The distinction between passive and active euthanasia, or killing and allowing one to die. The public and social implications of legalization are totally based on one’s individual feelings. Euthanasia is a serious topic because it goes against the norms of traditional medicine. Euthanasia is not always applied to terminally patients either. People who have been in serious accidents, or who have debilitating diseases such as severe cases of Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Cerebral Vascular Diseases (which lead to strokes and heart attacks) are often in consideration for the application of euthanasia. The problem is, however, these patients typically are in a persistent/permanent vegetative state. A persistent/permanent vegetative state (PVS), is a condition in which a person is neither in a coma nor unconscious. In other words, these patients cannot act or speak for themselves or in addition, respond to much stimulus. Personal experience and opinion may be a factor that weighs heavily on the issue of euthanasia, but the real substance comes from the facts. The legal ramifications play a major role in the legalization of euthanasia. Euthanasia began with its roots in both the Hippocratic tradition and the Judeo-Christian ethic of sanctity of life, Western medicine has long opposed the practice of physician-assisted suicide. However, the controversy over euthanasia is not new. Beginning in about 1870 (after the introduction of chloroform and ether) and continuing in today’s society, euthanasia is still a hot topic of discussion. Ohio is the only state in the United States of America that does not explicitly prohibit euthanasia by jurisdiction of the federal law. After interviewing Dr. Caleb Dimitrivich, an oncologist, who most directly works with terminally ill patients at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, it is easy to see that he definitely opposes euthanasia. Doctors have real difficulty dealing with death. â€Å"Dying is something that I, as doctor, am trying to prevent. If a patient is terminally ill, I strive to make that patients life as comfortable as I possibly can,† says Dr. Dimitrivich. After reading, Matters of Life and Death,† by Professor Lewis Wolpert, one is reminded by the’ â€Å"doctors attitude† towards dying patients. Wolpert is a professor of biology and how teaches how biology is applied to medicine â€Å"Dying is something patients are not allowed to do. It is an affront to so go against the doctor’s efforts and advice, and this is completely understandable but cannot be the basis for not helping a patient die† (Wolpert 42). The religious community has taken a negative stance on the issue of euthanasia. The majority of Christian religions ban the application of euthanasia to the terminally ill or PVS patients. In the bible, one can read about the absolute sin of taking another human being’s life, it is iniquitously wrong. After interviewing Maryanne Chapman who is a practicing member of the Catholic faith and who has also worked as a secretary for 15 years at St. Valerie of Ravenna in Clinton Township, MI, her opposition to legalized euthanasia is very clear. â€Å"It is a crime against God to end a life,† states Chapman. However, Maryanne is 72 years old and suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), also makes the comment, â€Å"people don’t live on machines, so therefore why should we die on them, God didn’t intend for that.† Basically what Mrs. Chapman is trying to say is that for patients suffering with a PVS, it is also a sin to try to sustain a li fe that has no purpose or function in society.

New Methods of Human Communication and their Importance Essay

New Methods of Human Communication and their Importance - Essay Example Today, communication to a great extent occurs through technological means. The existence of the mobile phone and social networking websites has made the world smaller and communications easier. However, the question remains as to whether there has actually been an increase in the amount that people talk to each other because of such inventions. Has communication between people increased as a result of the improvement in systems of communications? On the other hand, one also needs to look into the question as to whether the modern methods of communication that are present today have actually improved communication between people or whether the whole affair is a misconception or a mirage. This paper shall look into these questions and attempt to facilitate a discussion of the matter. With the introduction of the telephone, it became possible for people to communicate events and activities over long distances. Due to high costs and limited availability, the use of the telephone was limi ted during its initial stages but later, its use became widespread. The use of the letter reduced and there were many feelings and emotions that were left uncommunicated as a result. The written word could carry a lot of nuances in passages that a conversation on the telephone could not. Letters were written with deliberation and time was consumed during the composition of letters, unlike the conversations that are heard on telephones. The lack of speed in the delivery of letters had its own charm that the telephone could not replicate. There are often representations of people who are unable to communicate over the telephone in popular culture that indicate that the speed of communication in some cases kills the thought that goes behind communication. It is with the introduction of newer methods of communication all over the world that theories regarding the inadequacy of language and methods of communication came to be proposed by many thinkers. While this may seem like a paradox, proximity between the communicants can lead to an alienation between them. On the other hand, conversations on the telephone and especially on the mobile phone have a certain spontaneity associated with them that is natural to the manner in which it is used. While it may obviously not have the polish of a conversation carried on through letters, one is allowed to scream and lisp over the phone in a manner that is quite unimaginable in a conversation of letters. It also enables people to know where the other is, immediately, if one has made a plan to go to a certain place with other people. The opportunity to vent one’s anger is infinitely more effectively employable over a phone conversation that any other means of communication. Thus, one can see that with the invention of newer methods of communication, there are newer forms of information that are created and newer content that is modified so as to be placed in the framework of the new forms. Thus, it is not as if people do not communicate more, but both the forms and the content of communication has changed in the world of today. This is owing to the proliferation of newer methods of communication, the mobile phone being one of them. In many situations,

Geriatrics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Geriatrics - Research Paper Example Any serious attempt at mitigating the detrimental effects of heart disease on cost and health of the population has to ensure certain interventions (Meng, Wamsley, Eggert, & Van Nostrand, 2007, p. 322). These are the systematic application of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies to individuals who are at risk of developing heart disease. Tertiary prevention strategies relate to the provision of adequate treatment for heart disease, and this also comprises of reducing the severity of the ailment and occurrence of complications (Meng, Wamsley, Eggert, & Van Nostrand, 2007, p. 322). Furthermore, it has been projected that there could be a substantial increase in the number of people with heart disease in the coming decades, and in this backdrop, it becomes indispensable to adopt these prevention strategies, without any delay. Although, there has been a reduction in the prevalence of disability, the absolute size of the disabled groups has been projected to surpass the 12 million mark, by the year 2030 (Meng, Wamsley, Eggert, & Van Nostrand, 2007, p. 322). The excessive consumption of alcohol has been seen to increase the risk of medical, functional, and psychological disorders to which the older adults are significantly more susceptible. Quite frequently, the excessive consumption of alcohol is a component of other undesirable traits, such as an inadequate diet, smoking, and obesity (Satre, Gordon, & Weisner, 2007, p. 238). This tends to enhance the cumulative risk, with regard to the development of medical problems. Nevertheless, moderate drinking was seen to provide health benefits. With regard to heart disease, moderate drinking had reduced mortality, in comparison to heavy drinking or abstinence. Thus, alcohol can be beneficial to health if consumed in moderate quantities (Satre, Gordon, & Weisner, 2007, p. 238). As shown by the research of Grant and Harford and other scholars, the abuse of alcohol or its consumption in large quantities, and symptoms of depression or major depressive disorder frequently arise in the later stages of life. In addition, a correlation between the abuse of alcohol and depressive symptoms or major depression has also been reported by some research studies (Choi & Dinitto, 2011, p. 860). This relationship has been seen to affect males, as well as females. However, as shown by Blazer, older females develop depressive symptoms to a greater extent than their male counterparts. At this juncture, it has to be emphasized that the older females, have a much greater proclivity to refrain from drinking. On the few occasions that the older females indulge in drink, they have been seen to imbibe much less than the older males. These findings stress the necessity for further examination, in determining the correlation between alcohol use and depressive symptoms (Choi & Dinitto, 2011, p. 860). In addition, smoking enhances the risk of cancer among the elderly people. Abstinence from smoking, proper nutriti on, and exercise on regular basis promote good health. These elements are considered as good health behaviors, and have the capacity to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and the risk of death. Moreover, these habits promote the functional and behavioral performance of people of all ages (Fillenbaum, Burchett, Kuchibhatla, Cohen, & Blazer, 2007, p. 73). As such, these habits pro

Gothic Architecture and Renaissance Architecture Comparison

Gothic Architecture and Renaissance Architecture Comparison Introduction Gothic architecture and Renaissance architecture are both the comprehensive expression of culture in their own times. Gothic architecture started in 12th-century France and lasted for 4 centuries, into the 16th. After that, renaissance architecture took the place of Gothic architecture from 15 century until 17 century from Florence, Italy. Different time-backgrounds, social cultures, religious believes and different aesthetical standards from origins are the main reasons that formed these two polarity architectural style, Gothic and Renaissance. They represent their time and nation, becoming a specific language. In this essay, I will study and compare two finest works from each era, Amiens Cathedral and Florence Cathedral, trying to find out the contrast of these two architecture styles through the angle of historical evolution on European architecture. Time background and characteristics of Gothic architecture Gothic architecture evolved from Romanesque architecture and then flourished during the high and late medieval period. Gothic started from the 12th century France and it spreaded to the entire Europe, especially south and middle Europes architecture are deeply influenced. Europe was divided into a multitude of city states and kingdoms at the end of the 12th century. Throughout Europe archived its heyday because of the rapid growth in trade and the development of artisan industry, and an associated growth in towns (Banister, 1975 John 1950). Because of Germany and the Lowlands were in comparative peace, emerged lots of large flourishing towns. With the purpose of competition with other towns, or united for mutual weal, citizens had very high enthusiasm to built religious buildings. Those buildings were importance to these towns, represented wealth and pride. At that time, religious architectures like churches, cathedrals, abbeys were not only used as unalloyed religious architecture, they became the central of civic lives, became as halls, Hanseatic Leagues, even markets or theaters. Not only the religious architectures, many castles, universities, municipal halls were built in gothic style and remained till today. Few of domestic houses were gothic s tyle. In the other word, gothic architecture embodies the power of the rulers of the day. Gothic architecture is the zenith of European medieval architecture. No matter the engineering technologies or the means of artistic expression both achieved an unprecedented level, and hence came the golden time of European religious architecture. Churches buildings are the most elegant and superb workmanship of construction among all gothic buildings. Amiens cathedral is the most typical gothic architecture; we can almost find all of the gothic architecture Characteristics in this building. Amiens cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral. It is located in Amiens, the chief city of Picardy, north of Paris. It is the tallest complete cathedral in France, with the nave high 42.30 m, and it has the greatest interior volume, estimated at 200,000 m ³ (Wikipedia, 2009). It is said that it can contain all citizens in Amiens city at that time and more than sufficient (Baidu, 2009). Characteristics of Amiens cathedral Gothic art not only can been shown on the gothic religious buildings, but also painting, sculpture and crafts. A lot of sculpture, reliefs and illuminated entrances of the cathedral, let the gothic church buildings becoming art galleries. These sculptures and paintings break out of the range of religion and restrict, emphasize portray of characters, novelty seeking for accurate human histology. It presents a new thought, a brand new art creations tend was increasing through these gothic arts in church buildings, and it might lead to the renaissance art. (Huihua, 2004) The Western portals of the Amiens cathedral have a lot of outstanding elegant art works. Especially their elaborate sculpture, featuring a gallery of locally-important saints and large eschatological scenes are justly famous. In the book Mr Standfast, John Buchan has his character Richard Hannay describe the Amiens cathedral as being the noblest church that the hand of man ever built for God.( John,1960) Material Gothic architectures have no strict restraint on the chosen of material. Mainly French gothic churches employed limestone as the material. In England, Germany and Italy, heavy materials such as marble, sandstone, brick and stone are also be used. Amiens cathedral, just like the mostly French churches use limestone as material. Amiens cathedral have a very standardized gothic churchs Latin cross or cruciform plan. The long nave makes the body of the cathedral. Beyond a transverse arm called the transept, there is an extension which may be called the choir, chancel or presbytery. In other gothic churches architectures, there are several variations on the plan because of the regional reasons. Gothic architecture made a breakthrough of Romanesque style, using sprightly ogival or pointed arch, forceful spires and lots of narrow long windows instead of heavy shape, stability and semicircle arch,emphasis gothic churches verticality. These characteristics application, aimed to create a powerful impression on the approaching people, indicating the might of God and the might of the institution that it represents. Like other French cathedrals, Amiens cathedral is emphasis its height, both real and proportional. The 42.30 m height nave is even considerably taller than the width. On the interior of the Amiens cathedral, there is no break of the vertical lines. 126 giant pillars rise up from the floor straight to the ceiling, and meet the ribs of the vault. The walls and long narrow windows are all follow the rule of verticality. Through these methods, it leads peoples sight up to the high, create an impression of pious and transcendence of god, and the dream of heaven. The treatment of vertical elements in gallery and window tracery of mostly French and perpendicular period of English gothic churches shows a strongly unifying feature that counteracts the horizontal divisions of the interior structure. (Wim, 1985) Rose windows are applied widely in the design of gothic churches. In Amiens cathedral, rose windows can be found above the entrance and transept. This is the rose window above the west entrance of the Amiens cathedral. In Amiens cathedral, brick or stone is not the main part of the walls, but colored glasses, which tells many stories of gods, in order to educate people who cannot read at that time. All the rose windows and long narrow windows are using stained glass. The big contrast of dark walls and bright gorgeous windows gives a mysterious feeling. The flying buttress is a crucial element or characteristic contributing to the larruping looking of Gothic cathedrals. The flying buttress was used as a structure element, supporting the walls vertically. But in some gothic architecture, it comes to become a kind of decoration of building. The flying buttress outside the clerestory walls, decreasing the solidity of structure virtually, made the cathedra looked as being suspended from heaven. Furth more, it also played a role to balance the network of interior vaults ribs to give the same impression of a tent-like canopy over the congregation (www.wikipdia.com, 2009). In Art Through the Ages, authors describe the flying buttress as like slender extended fingers holding up the walls.( TANSEV. R , KLEINER. F. S CROIX. H, 1995) The ribbed vault is another importance characteristic of gothic architecture. The ribbed vault is made by combining three separate but connected arches. These are the transverse arches that span the ends of the vault, the lateral or longitudinal arches that span the length or sides of the vault, and the two diagonal arches that reach from corner to corner.(Parry. S) This simple construction dominated the medieval construction because of it is simply constructed, strong and flexible. Time background and characteristics of renaissance architecture The renaissance architecture appeared from the 15th century Florence, Italy, and then it spread to other European countries like France, Germany, England, Russia and elsewhere quickly, and formed regional renaissance architecture styles. At the end of the 14th century, the bud of capitalism in Europe. With its development, people in that era changed their attitude and requirement of art. Renaissance is a Political and cultural movement, which aim to bury the darkness rule of religious class in medieval in Europe. The newly emergent bourgeoisie against feudal aristocracy, and at the same time, they also fight with religious forces. In their mind, the though the medieval culture as historical regression, they describe the era as dark and barbarous time. Classic Greece and Rome culture was highly praised as luciferous and well- developed culture. From then on, the whole Europe went into the renaissance. In brief, we can find that, both the gothic and renaissance architecture, the style of architecture changed and fit the rulers taste, as a result, influence on the architecture style of that age. Because of the change of ruler, lots of commercial buildings like town halls, theaters, palaces and domestic buildings all built in renaissance style, not only the religious churches. St. Peters Basilica St Peters basilica can be though as one of the most outstanding religious renaissance buildings. St. Peters Basilica is located within the Vatican City. St. Peters Basilica can hold 60,000 people inside of it, been considered as the church with the largest interior of any Christian church in the world. It has a very high status of Christian churches, and it is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. The St. Peters basilica was described as holding a unique position in the Christian world(Lees-milne. J, 1967, p. 12.) and as the greatest of all churches of Christendom by Fletcher (FLETCHER .B, 1996, p. 719). It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City. Its dome is an outstanding symbolic feature of the Rome skyline. It covers 2.3 hectares with a capacity of over 60,000 people. Characteristics of St Peters basilica Gothic architecture emphasizes its verticality. But renaissance architects paid lots of attention on symmetry, proportion and geometry of buildings. The faà §ade is 114.69 meters wide and 45.55 meters high .Not as the Amiens cathedral using pointed arch, spires and lots of narrow long windows to increase the visual verticality feeling, the St Peters basilica been put emphasis on its horizontality, symmetrical around its vertical axis. Its faà §ades is surmounted by a pediment and organized by a system of pilasters, arches and entablatures (www.Wikipedia.com). The columns and windows show a progression towards the center. You can also find fancy sculptures of gods at the top of the basilica. Compare to Amiens cathedrals intricate decoration, colourful west entrance and a good many sculptures on the surface of the cathedral, the St Peters basilicas appearance seems more maestoso and laconic. Material As the same reason as the architect of Amiens cathedral, the architect chose to use massive white travertine stone as the building material for the sake of highlight the solemn and saintly of the basilica. For gothic architectures, stones and glasses are the only used materials. For the St Peters basilica, brick masonry is used for the domes as well. Some other renaissance churches, timber and brick are also be used for domes. The St Peters Basilica took almost 120 years to finish. Lots of architects and artists worked together to join the design of the basilica, and made great contribution. So we can say that, the St Peters basilica is an aggregation of greatest renaissance architects and artists brightness. Donato Bramante was the first architect start the rebuilt of the St Peters basilica. Photo 11 is the plan that Bramante designed, which followed the renaissance thought, applying an enormous Greek cross with a dome in the middle, inspired by that of the huge circular Roman temple, the Pantheon. But he did not blindly follow the classic style. Bramante employed four large piers to support the basilica. Latter Bramante was replaced with Giuliano da Sangallo, Fra Giocondo and Raphael. The concept of the 4 piers remained unchanged. In Raphaels design, he added a row of complex apsidal chapels off the aisles on either side. He also reduced the size of towers to define the squareness of the exterior walls. And the semi-circular apses more clearly defined by encircling each with an ambulatory (Wikipedia). It cannot deny that Michelangelo made greatest contribution to the design of the basilica. The building remained now was built base on his design, although in his design he reconsidered the obvious plans and made some improvements. Michelangelo replaced every corner of the Raphaels plan with small vestries to blur the definition of the geometry. Columns and pilasters are the most obvious element of renaissance architecture, they are also an embodiment of the renaissance though, which is the classic columns and pilasters presents the harmony and senses of ancient Greece though. The whole series of columns and pilasters were continued to use by renaissance architecture. People tried to understand ancient Greeks understand of human body. So the base of the column was regarded as humans foot, the main body as the body, and the capital as humans head. A giant order of pilasters set at slightly different angles to each other was employed on the surface of the exterior walls of St Peters basilica. They do not like columns have supportive function, they are purely decoration purpose. Columns were used inside of the building. As introduced the basilica is supported by 4 piers, the columns take the role of decoration in this case. Semi- circular arch, which was shunned by gothic architecture represent its value on renaissance architecture. They are used in arcades, supported on piers or columns with capitals. In my point of view, the pointed arch in Amiens cathedral gives a mysterious impression, but on the other hand, the renaissance semi-circular arch accidently gives people a shock of god. And the vaults without ribs continue follow the semi-circular or segmental shape. All the vaults are on a square plan, unlike the vault of Amiens cathedral, which is rectangular. The dome of St Peters basilica is the tallest point of the Vatican City. The basilica becomes the landmark of the Vatican city of the day, the conspicuous dome made the most significant contribution to this result. Qua the tallest one among all renaissance domes, the domes height is as tall as 136.57 meters, accounting from the floor to the silver cross on the top of the dome. Its internal diameter, slightly smaller than Pantheon of Ancient Rome and Florence Cathedral, is 41.47 meters. I thing Michelangelo Buonarrotis dome is another engineering success after the Florence cathedral. The dome is constructed similar as the dome of Florence cathedral, which has two shells, but the St Peters outer shell has 16 strong stone ribs, as twice of the Florence cathedral. The 16 pairs of 15 meters height columns visually buttress each of the ribs, but actually they are redundant in structure of the dome. There are some openings along bottom edge of the dome, which subdued light up the elegant painting inside of the dome. Openings on the top of dome let bright sunlight goes straight into the interior of the basilica, light up the interior room naturally. Furthermore, the strong sunlight contrasts with the shading space, creating a saintly feeling. As the same as mostly gothic architecture, the ceiling of Amiens cathedral is left open. The interior aesthetics rely on light and shade contrast by the effect of colourful windows. The St Peters basilica is comprehensive decorated. Roofs are fitted with coffered ceilings, which are painted. Not only the ceiling, but also inside of domes are painted by famous renaissance artists. Fancy sculptures can be seen on every surface of piers, including some Michelangelos masterworks. Conclusion After all, the thought of the society limited the architecture style of the day. So gothic architecture and renaissance architecture were both influenced by the particular politic, economy, culture and art of the time. After all, all architecture styles centered around the rulers taste, and then influenced all the building style of that era. From here we see that architecture, as the symbol of the age, also can presents the characteristics of the society. Therefore, in order to satisfied the need of new social, political and culture, architecture form changing along with the time. On the other hand, the development of engineering techniques and material gave a solid support for the development of new architecture. Bibliography Banister FLETCHER, A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method, June 1975 John HARVEY, The Gothic World, 1100-1600: A Survey of Architecture and Art, 1950 Amiens Cathedral, from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiens_Cathedral, modified on 24 December 2009 Amiens cathedral, http://baike.baidu.com/view/426548.htm, modified on 27 December 2009 John BUCHAN, Mr Standfast. London: Penguin Books, 1960 Huihua HUANG, the difference characteristics between gothic architecture and renaissance architecture, 2004 Wim SWAAN, The Gothic Cathedral,1985 Flying buttress, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress, 2009 Richard TANSEV , Fred S. KLEINER, Horst De LA CROIX, Gardners Art Through the Ages, 1995, http://www.tudorhistory.org/glossaries/f/flying_buttress.html Stan PARRY, the key elements of gothic architecture , http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Arts/Architec/MiddleAgesArchitectural/GothicArchitecture/KeyElementsGothicArchitecture/KeyElementsGothicArchitecture.htm Claims made that the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Africa is larger appear to be spurious, as the measurements include a rectorate, a villa and probably the forecourt. Its capacity is 18,000 people against St. Peters 60,000. Its dome, based on that of St. Peters, is lower but carries a taller cross, and thus claims to be the tallest domed church. James Lees-Milne describes St Peters Basilica as a church with a unique position in the Christian world in Lees-Milne 1967, p. 12. Banister FLETCHER, the renowned architectural historian calls it The greatest of all churches of Christendom in Fletcher 1996, p. 719. Wikipedia, Renaissance architecture, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_architecture,2009 Wikipedia, St. Peters Basilica,2009