Effect of Sun Protection on Children

Effect of Sun Protection on Children Queenie J. Magadia   Introduction Research and evaluation are both characterized by same features that focuses on answering a question using data collection and analysis methods. Evaluation is a set of research process and practice that critically examines the existing programs. The purpose of evaluation is providing judgments about a programs actions, activities and outcomes to improve its effectiveness and policy making (Elliot, 2005). Health program evaluation is important to ensure the effectiveness of the quality of a programs goal. It can also help in identifying areas of program design and implementation that needs improvement. Evaluation can demonstrate outcomes or impact of program success and by the health sector to continuously monitor the progress of the programs goal more effectively and efficiently. Background of the Study Skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand and they have the highest rates in the world. It is characterized as melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer. According to Cancer Society (2015), there are 486 New Zealanders died from skin cancer in year 2012 and over 90% skin cancer cases are due to excessive sun exposure. Furthermore, there are about 67,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer a year and it plays around 80% of all new cancers registration each year. As early as possible, early detection is the best chance of treating skin cancer successfully. New Zealand high skin cancer rates are due to high level of UV radiation during daylights saving months, low ozone levels, outdoor lifestyle and large number of people with fair skin. Skin cancer is largely preventable by reducing the excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun or sunbeds through encouraging people to be SunSmart and to slip, slop, slap and wrap in the months when UV radiation are very high between September and April from 10am-4pm (Cancer Society, 2015). This paper will review the five (5) recent evaluation research about skin cancer programmes in different countries and critically evaluate their significance, methodology, and quality that can provide information in identifying its success and effectiveness for every individual. This will also analyze the four (4) audit and evaluation processes and approaches evaluated which are process, economic, impact and outcome process evaluation. Economic evaluation of the US Environmental Protection Agencys SunWise program: sun protection education for young children This study assessed the clinical or health benefits and economic impact of school-based SunWise sun protection education programme for young children from 5-15 years of age to protect them from overexposure to the sun and prevent them from having skin cancers. The researchers used the quantitative methods to conduct a surveys in a participating school. They also used standard cost/ benefit and cost effectiveness analytical approach as a method to explain any reduction in sun exposure into decrease occurrence of skin cancer and measure the estimated intervention cost to be sustained by the US government which funds the SunWise program (Kyle, et al., 2009). For results of the study, the economic analysis showed that if the SunWise Educational School Program remains through 2015 at current funding levels, it should prevent more than 50 premature deaths, approximately 11,000 skin cancers and 960 quality adjusted life-years amongst participants (Kyle, et al., 2009). This study contributes to the knowledge of educating children about sun safety for the reduction of incidence and mortality of skin cancer. Economic evaluation of skin cancer prevention in Australia This research evaluated the cost effectiveness of SunSmart skin cancer prevention program as an upgraded and ongoing national program in Australia. The significance of the study is to prevent the occurrence of skin cancer using the prevention program. They used the quantitative method to express the results of the reduction of melanoma skin cancer incidence rates used to showed key health outcomes and non-melanoma skin cancer was separately showed based on national survey results (Shih, Carter, Heward, Sinclair, 2009). The results of the study estimated that SunSmart has avoided 28,000 disablity-adjusted life years (DALYs), similar to 22,000 life-years saved since it was introduced in 1988 in addition to saving money from cost balance in skin cancer management (Shih, Carter, Heward, Sinclair, 2009). This study contributes to prove that a continuous modest investment in skin cancer like sun protection program is possibly provide an excellent value for money. Evaluation of a health promotion intervention for skin cancer prevention in Spain: The SolSano program. This study was done to evaluate the effects of SolSano sun protection program on students knowledge, practices and attitudes about SunSafety. The researchers used a non-randomized, community intervention without control group, and with schools as the unit of intervention. There are 5845 children from 215 Argonese Primary Schools are participated in the program. The pre and post-test surveys were consisted of two parts, the Draw and Write research strategy and the questionnaires. Majority of interventions are improved and presented a significant change in knowledge and behaviors based on the increase in the total of students score of using sun protective methods (Gilaberte, Alonso, Teruel, Granizo, Gallego, 2008). This study demonstrates the achievement on improving the knowledge and habits of the children about the sun damage and protection. It contributes the importance of the use of sunscreen for the children to protect them from the effects of radiation coming the sun and to change the sun protection behavior by promoting and developing a well-designed educational programs. Australian primary schools sun protection policy and practice: evaluating the impact of the National SunSmart Schools Program This study examined the trends in sun protection policy and practice of Australian primary schools and the impact of the National SunSmart Schools Program. The researchers used the quantitative methods to conduct a survey to all primary schools from all states and territories of Australia. They were surveyed their sun protection policy and practice between September and November 2005 to compared and analyzed it into 1998 and 2001 data using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests (Jone, Beckmann, Rayner, 2008). The results of the study, there was an increase to 80% in the percentage of primary schools with written sun protection policy, even though some parts of policy were less expected to be included in 2005 than in 2001(Jone, et al., 2008). The researchers found that the SunSmart Schools have a higher level of protection policy and practice than non-SunSmart schools. This study contributes the need of encouraging the development of complete written sun protection policies in all primary schools and a continuous supporting the primary school sun protection activities. Continued Impact of SunSmart Advertising on Youth and Adults Behaviors This research examined whether the exposure to summer campaigns in the past decade has sustained to impact sun protection behavior and to study the age groups behavioral impact. The researchers used quantitative research method and conducted a cross-sectional weekly telephone survey of Melbourne residents from 1987-1988 to 2010-2011 over summers and evaluated in 2012-2014 to determine the frequency of a particular point of exposure, their sun-related attitudes and sun protection. Furthermore, the exposure level of SunSmart TV advertising campaign with tanning preference and behavioral outcomes was calculated as cumulated weekly target audience rating points (TARPs) in terms of reach and frequency for four (4) weeks (Dobbinson, Volkov, Wakefield, 2015). The findings showed that there was an increase TARPs related to increased preference for no tan, sunscreen use, and reduction in the percentage of sun exposure and these effects are inadequately related with age group, gender, skin type or time period (Dobbinson, Volkov, Wakefield, 2015). This study contributes on the importance of continuous advertising health promotion campaign that focused on adolescents and young adult especially on summer months with reliable useful effect on sun protection behaviors. Audit and Evaluation Processes Economic evaluation of the US Environmental Protection Agencys SunWise program: sun protection education for young children Economic evaluation is a type of evaluation that identify and measure the inputs and outcomes of using societys resources which can be defined as a comparative analysis of different courses of action based on both their costs and consequences (Brouwer Georgiou, 2012). The researchers used the standard cost/benefits and cost effectiveness analysis, a form of economic evaluation to evaluate the SunWise health benefits and regulate the programs net benefits and cost-effectiveness. The intervention costs were measured as program cost and health outcomes were measured as skin cancer and premature mortalities (Kyle, et al., 2009). They used the effectiveness evaluation of SunWise to represent the health outcomes based on pretest and posttest surveys administered to students who joined in the program. This evaluation showed that if the SunWise School Program lasts through 2015 with the present funding levels, then it should prevent premature deaths and productivity losses are saved, depending on the funding situation (Kyle, et al., 2009). The study showed the importance of educating children about sunsafety and it may result in decreasing the incidence and mortality of skin cancer. Economic evaluation of skin cancer prevention in Australia The researchers used the economic evaluation to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the ongoing national program of Australia which is SunSmart skin cancer prevention program. The reduction in melanoma rate due to SunSmart was showed as the primary end-point. Melanoma incidence rate were used to modelled the key health outcomes from Australian states and non-melanoma skin cancer was showed separately based on national survey result (Shih, Carter, Heward, Sinclair, 2009). The main purpose of cost-effectiveness analysis is to identify the most effective decision or course of action for accomplishing an objective that is not measurable in economic terms like health goal outcomes relating mortality and morbidity effects of intervention (Brouwer Georgiou, 2012). The study showed that an upgraded national program SunSmart can saved more life-years and estimated to prevent disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) with reductions in the use of health care resources for the next 20 years (Shih, Carter, Heward, Sinclair, 2009). Evaluation of a health promotion intervention for skin cancer prevention in Spain: The SolSano program. Outcome evaluation investigates the programme effects in the target population by evaluating the progress in the outcomes or objectives (Trochim, 2006). This study evaluates the effects of SolSano SunSafety health promotion programme on students knowledge, attributes and practices. The researcher used pretest and posttest surveys which is composed of two parts: the Draw and Write research strategy and questionnaires. Pretest and posttest design are used to compare participant groups and evaluate the degree of change happening or the effectiveness of SolSano on students as an outcome of intervention (Shuttleworth, 2009). The findings showed that SolSano programme accomplished a reduction in the percentage of reported sunburns and there was a significantly increased in the use of sunsafety resources after the intervention. The evaluation demonstrates that significant knowledge can be learned, attitudes about the healthiness of a tan can be changed and behavior regarding sun protection can be developed by educational programs (Gilaberte, et al., 2008). Australian primary schools sun protection policy and practice: evaluating the impact of the National SunSmart Schools Program Impact evaluation is an analysis of how the intervention being assessed affects outcomes of the programme (OECD, 2001). This research evaluated trends of Australian primary schools sun protection policy and practice and the impact of the National SunSmart Schools program. The researchers conducted a survey on primary schools from all states of Australia to gather data about their sun protection policy and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and chi-square (Jone, Beckmann, Rayner, 2008). Impact evaluation showed that there has been an increase in the percentage of schools with written sun protection policy and have a higher level of policy and practice found in SunSmart schools compared to non-SunSmart schools. This evaluation highlights the Importance of encouraging and giving support for the development of sun protection policies in primary schools (Jone, Beckmann, Rayner, 2008). Continued Impact of SunSmart Advertising on Youth and Adults Behaviors. The researchers make use of process and impact evaluation to determine the outcome of the study. Through process evaluation, it monitors the process of delivering the programme or technology which is Televised advertising SunSmart campaign and this evaluation showed how accessible and acceptable the program to the youth and adults (Trochim, 2006). This also evaluates the influence of SunSmart campaign to sun protection attitudes and behaviors. The results of a process evaluation will use to strengthen the program and use to improve the future activities for the good outcomes of the campaign. If the campaign program did not produce the expected outcomes, it may be due to some implementation issues (Trochim, 2006). Therefore, it is useful to conduct process evaluation while implementing impact evaluation. Impact evaluation was done to evaluate the effectiveness of the ssadvertising campaign to the youth and adults since the televised advertisement plays an important role in public education for preventing skin cancer in Australia (Dobbinson, Volkov, Wakefield, 2015). Figure 1: Logic Evaluation Model Source: University of Idaho (1999) Retrieved from: http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/CIS/CIS1097.pdf The Logic Model    The Logic Model process is a tool similar to evaluation models that has been used by program managers and evaluators to demonstrate the effectiveness of the programs. It explains the logical relationships among programs resources and activities, interventions, audiences, and short and long-term outcomes related to a situation or problem. Logic models demonstrate a system of cause and effect relationship- which is an approach to achieve the desired outcome. This model has four (4) basic essential components, the inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes. (Frye Hemmer, 2012). The Inputs evaluation includes all the related resources, skills, fundings and facilities that delivers an opportunity to communicate the quality of the program. Evaluating the effectiveness of the program is made easier when the prearranged inputs are effectively described. The second component of Logic Model is Activities, it is the set of treatments, strategies or planned for the program. On the other hand, the outputs purpose is to establish the relationships between the problem and the impact or the intended outcome of the program. The outcomes evaluation can be short-term, medium-term or long term results of the program activities. It includes the learners skill acquisition, program participants implementation of new knowledge or any changes in health status of participants from the effectiveness of the program (Frye Hemmer, 2012). This evaluation model can contribute in the implementation of health promotion campaign programme of preventing skin cancer especially in New Zealand which has the highest rates in the world. It can provide and improve the attitudes, knowledge and behaviours about sun damage and protection policy and practices. Furthermore, this model can identify the critical measures of performance and effectiveness of the skin cancer programme. The Logic model is useful for recognizing the element of the skin cancer program and measuring the progress in the outcomes of the skin cancer prevention. Conclusions Evaluation research is an important process of examining and assessing the programs achievements. It is an important tool to provide and achieve the objectives for the improvement and success of the program. Evaluation is important to an organization ensure the effectiveness of quality of the program design and implementation and monitor the progress of the goal more effectively. Brouwer, R., Georgiou, S. (2012). Economic Evaluation. Retrieved from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2012/ch12.pdf Cancer Society. (2015, April). About skin cancer. Retrieved from Cancer Society: https://auckland-northland.cancernz.org.nz/en/reducing-cancer-risk-2/what-you-can-do/sunsmart/about-skin-cancer/ Dobbinson, S., Volkov, A., Wakefield, M. (2015). Continued Impact of SunSmart Advertising on Youth and Adults Behaviors. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(1), 20-28. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.01.011 Elliot, S. (2005). Evaluation Research Methods. Retrieved from Sage Publishing: https://au.sagepub.com/en-gb/oce/evaluation-research-methods/book226796 Frye, A., Hemmer, P. (2012). Program evaluation models and related. Medical Teacher, 34(5), e288-e299. doi:10.3109/0142159x.2012.668637 Gilaberte, Y., Alonso, J. P., Teruel, M. P., Granizo, C., Gallego, J. (2008). Evaluation of a health promotion intervention for skin cancer prevention in Spain: the SolSano program. Health Promotion International, 23(3), 209-219. doi:10.1093/heapro/dan020 Jone, S., Beckmann, K., Rayner, J. (2008, August). Australian primary schools sun protection policy and practice: evaluating the impact of the National SunSmart Schools Program. Health Promotion, 19(2), 86-90. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18647119 Kyle, J., Hammitt, J., Lim, H., Geller, A., Hall-Jordan, L., Maibach, E., . . . Wagner, M. (2009). Economic evaluation of the US Environmental Protection Agencys SunWise program: sun protection education for young children. Pediatrics, 121(5), 1074-1084. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-1400 OECD. (2001). Outline of principles of impact evaluation. Retrieved from OECD: http://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/dcdndep/37671602.pdf Shih, S. T., Carter, R., Heward, S., Sinclair, C. (2009). Economic evaluation of future skin cancer prevention in Australia. Preventive Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.01.013 Shuttleworth, M. (2009). Pretest-Posttest Designs. Retrieved from Explorable: https://explorable.com/pretest-posttest-designs Trochim, W. (2006, October 20). Introduction to Evaluation . Retrieved from Social Research Methods: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intreval.php University of Idaho Extension. (1999). The Logic Model for program planning and evaluation. Retrieved from University of Idaho Extension: http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/CIS/CIS1097.pdf

Alcohol Abuse in Russia

Joe Bloe Professor I. B Smart BS 131 December XX, 2008 Alcohol Abuse in Russia Family Issues Russians drink more alcohol than any other nation in the world. (Halpin, 2007, p1) The Times of London reports that Russians are currently going on an alcoholic binge even by Russian standards. According to the country’s chief public health officer, Gennadi Onishenko, Russians are drinking nearly three times as much as they did sixteen years ago. Onishenko’s study was promulgated by the Russian equivalent of the consumer protection agency and it reported that at least 2. million people in Russia were alcoholics. The average Russian consumed 15 litres (26 pints) of pure alcohol per annum, up from 5. 4 litres in 1990, and this phenomena is blamed for a rising rate of mortality among men. This compares to 8. 4 litres for people in the United States and 7. 6 litres in Japan. (Halpin, 2007 p 1) Violent crime and alcohol consumption have increased throughout the Russian federation sin ce the fall of the Soviet Union. This has shown harmful consequences for families and communities, as heavy alcohol drinking is closely associated with violent behavior in Russia.The correlation between heavy drinking and violence is a complicated mixture of physiological, psychological, situational, social and cultural elements. Whenever measures to control alcohol production and consumption have been introduced, reduced violence has occurred in Russia and elsewhere. (WHO, 2006) Violence is a family’s worst enemy and may include physical and sexual assaults, mental or emotional abuse and neglect. It may also be categorized into interpersonal violence, child maltreatment or neglect, intimate partner violence within a relationship, sexual violence, abuse of the elderly or self-directed violence including suicide. WHO, 2006) There is ample evidence to support the relationship between heavy drinking and violence. In Russia, alcohol has been involved in three-quarters of homicide arrests. Families often bear the brunt of the violence that emanates from heavy drinking. In the Central Black-Earth Region of Russia, a study showed that 77% of violent crimes against family members involved drinking with 35% of these drinkers bingeing every day. Among male perpetrators of spousal homicide, 60–75% of offenders had been drinking before the incident. (WHO, 2006)Alcohol abuse affects physical and cognitive functioning resulting in reduced self-control and the ability to process incoming information. This makes drinkers more apt to resort to violence to resolve conflicts. (Rand Corp. , 2002) Heavy drinking can impair parents’ responsibilities toward themselves and their children. Drinking also reduces the amount of time and money spent on their children, often neglecting the children’s basic needs. Alcohol abuse by either the parent or the child increases the child’s vulnerability to sexual abuse.Sometimes children are made to drink alcohol to facilitate sexual acts or involve them in child pornography. (WHO, 2006) Alcohol abuse during pregnancy can result in children being born with fetal alcohol syndrome as well as health issues for the mother. Excessive drinking in a relationship can create problems with finances, childcare, infidelity or other stressors leading to potentially violent situations. (WHO, 2006) Health Issues Russians are suffering from a problem with demographic retention and a declining population base.Alcoholism is a leading cause in rising Russian mortality rates, particularly among males. Alcohol contributes to premature deaths involving accidents, injuries and violence particularly among males. Male mortality rates fell sharply during Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign of 1984 to 1987. This effort reduced state alcohol production, raised prices for liquor, mandated alcoholic treatments where needed and cracked down on homemade liquor. The program was highly unpopular and abandoned, after wh ich both consumption of alcohol and mortality rates for males increased dramatically once again. Rand Corp. , 2002) Russia’s population has dropped from 145 million in 2002 to 140,702,000 in July of 2008. The birth rate is slightly higher at 11. 3 births per 1,000; up from 9. 1 per 1,00 in 2002. Male life expectancy is only 59 years and for females it is 73 years. (Fitzgerald, 2003, CIA 2008) Statistics for children are not encouraging. In 2003, the number of healthy children in Russia dropped from 45. 5 percent to 33. 9 percent over ten years, and the number of disabled children doubled, according to the epidemiology section of the Health Ministry.According to information gathered form the 2002 census, one third of Russian children are born out of wedlock. (Fitzgerald, 2003) The Russian Ministry of Health did not blame alcoholic parents for substandard health environments or the usual culprits of drug abuse, or smoking and eating junk food but blamed an increase in the schoo l workload and less time for outdoor exercise. The Ministry claimed that an incredible 75% of children were said to have hypertension and related problems in the 2003 analysis of Russian health. (Fitzgerald, 2003)Beer is regarded in many areas as if it were soda pop. Children as young as 13 routinely drink beer in public in some areas and the national legal drinking age is currently 18 years. Vodka has traditionally been available nearly everywhere to nearly everybody in Russia and children have no problem finding it. As in America and elsewhere, heavy alcohol consumption in Russia impedes a family’s well being in a host of problematic ways. And Russians drink more alcohol per capita than any other national population in the world. (Halpin, 2007)Gorbachev’s attempt to limit alcohol abuse In 1985 President Gorbachev, who was then president of the USSR, began a campaign to limit alcohol abuse by raising the legal drinking age to 21 years and imposing tough legal sanction s on home production of alcohol. (Today, the drinking age is 18 years. ) During the period of 1984 through 1987 when the campaign was running, state sales of alcohol decreased by 61%. Statistically speaking, the effort was successful in that total violent deaths dropped 33% and alcohol-related violent deaths dropped by 51%.The program was not popular with the public, however, and was abandoned in 1987. By 1992, market reforms for alcohol were instituted that liberalized trade and dropped prices and the rates of violent deaths increased substantially. (WHO, 2006) These rising figures are subject to interpretation because this was the era of perestroika in Russia and increases in violent deaths cannot be solely attributed to increases in alcohol availability and consumption. The temporal correlations between the crackdown on alcohol and the drops in violence indicate that they are interconnected.Perestroika and glasnost were introduced to Russian society in response to President Gorba chev’s initiatives toward political reform and moral recovery. A cornerstone of his plan was a reduction in drinking which he saw not only as a health problem but a cause of economic inefficiency. (McKee, 1999) He adopted a heavy-handed approach to limiting alcohol production, distribution and use. All state agencies were ordered to develop departmental strategies to cut down alcohol consumption. Alcohol was banned at official functions and party officials who drank heavily were dismissed from their jobs.Liquor outlets were dramatically reduced and the media changed its attitude to one of intolerance for alcohol and organizations like the All-Union Voluntary Society for the Struggle for Sobriety sprang up. This association claimed 12 million members one year after organizing. (McKee, 1999) Within a few years, as the Soviet Union was collapsing, the campaign faltered and was eventually replaced by a rapid rise in consumption, driven by widespread illicit production of homemade alcohol on a massive, national scale. Economic IssuesRussia's stock markets have lost about 70 percent of their value since peaks in May, and workers have been hard hit by lay-offs and wage arrears. The tepid global economy has left Russians hurting and they, like most of the world, have had to cut back on expenses. The result is less state-sanctioned vodka being sold and an increase in homemade spirits. Research by the National Alcohol Association showed that deaths from alcohol poisoning increased to 1,458 in September, presumably the result of Russians drinking dangerous substitutes for vodka as a cheaper way to get drunk. (Shuster, 2008)During Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign, the production of samogon (homemade spirits) had become a large-scale industry that provided cheap alcohol to Russians while depriving the state of tax revenue. When restrictions were eased in 1988, alcohol consumption quickly exceeded the pre-1985 level. A Russian study done in 1995 revealed that regular drunkenness affected between 25 and 65 percent of blue-collar workers and 21 percent of white-collar workers, particularly in rural areas. (Coutsoukis, 2005) Unemployed workers are particularly vulnerable to alcohol abuse problems.Being available in most places, day or night and being historically cheap people without occupations tend to drink more often and heavier. When vodka is unavailable or too expensive, they will often resort to dangerous substitutes. In 1994, the number of people who died of alcohol poisoning rose to about 53,000, a major increase from 36,000 in 1991. These are typically the result of drinking homemade alcohol substitutes. Bootlegging had become a widespread criminal activity by the mid 1990s. (Coutsoukis, 2005) Legal vodka is big business in Russia.The word â€Å"vodka† means â€Å"little water† in Russian, a term of endearment. (Tartakovsky, 2006) The brand â€Å"Stolichnaya† sells $2 billion a year worldwide and was privatize d in 1992. Soyuzplodimport, or SPI, has the exclusive rights to export Stolichnaya, which vodka lovers in the U. S. fondly refer to as â€Å"Stoli. † Some 50% of the company's export turnover comes from the United States, thanks mostly to its strategic alliance with Allied-Domecq for U. S. distribution rights. (Shuster, 2008) Alcohol and workers The Russian workplace has always been a place where vodka contributed to the socializing rituals.Before the Bolshevik Revolution the Russian tradition of prival'naia, a welcoming ceremony for new workers that included snacks and vodka. It was a socializing event where the new workers would become acquainted with their fellow workers. The new workers were expected to provide the snacks and vodka for the veterans in exchange for training in the new job. (Andreasen, 2006) The Revolution changed the way workers were hired. Prior to this era, workers were usually hired on the recommendation of an acquaintance and the ceremony of prival'nai a was part of the payback for getting the job.With the implementation of the communist trade unions, the hiring became an impersonal process and there was no payback necessary and it eliminated the worker’s obligation to train new employees. These changes brought about the practical end to prival'naia, although some workers and organizations still clung to the old tradition where they could get away with it. (Andreasen, 2006) Russian worker culture has always included vodka. The working class sees vodka as an essential element for surviving their brutal winters and poor economy.It is an escape that causes apathy among the work force and contributes to poor health and accidents that make Russia’s work force less productive and more costly. Productivity in Russia has always been known to suffer because of heavy drinking. That belief is one of the motivators behind Gorbachev’s plan to reduce drinking in the 1980s. It is difficult to gauge the true impact of worker drinking and productivity because the Russian economy is still in a state of flux as it transfers from a state-controlled, centralized economy to free-markets. It is inappropriate to make comparisons about worker utput and drinking since the two economies measure productivity in myriad different ways. (Kryzanek, 2004) Many Soviet patriots and party leaders recognized the need to curb alcohol to increase worker productivity.Pokhlebkin was one of these patriotic historians who published his extensive research in a book called â€Å"A History of Vodka† he included a chapter depicting what he determined to be Russia’s descent into rampant alcoholism. Drunkenness, he asserted, is incompatible with socialist principles in that it undermines worker morale and curtails industrial productivity. Tartakovsky, 2006) Russian workers have become complacent after seventy years of communism. Entire generations have grown up shirking work because private initiatives were always discour aged and sometimes even dangerous. Wage inversion led to high pay for lowliest work while job dissatisfaction created moonlighting and demoralized workers moved from job to job. Alcohol has always exacerbated this complacency and lack of motivation. (Kryzanek, 2004) Heavy drinking has a deeply rooted history in Russian culture and life.The problem seems so ingrained in their society that it would be impossible to completely eliminate drinking from the society. This heavy drinking behavior is exhibited in other northern cultures like the Finish or Polish societies without such devastating consequences. In Russia, however, there is historical evidence to suggest that the country’s governments from the Czars to the Soviets have helped to create this culture. (McKee, 1999) There are also several sub-cultures of the drinking population in Russia because of geographic, gender and socio-economic variations, making it difficult to generalize the problem.There are even some people amo ng these groups who actually abstain or drink in moderation. The state itself has contributed to the drinking problem throughout the country’s history by producing and distributing cheap vodka in the name of tradition and profit. It should be feasible for the government to take some kind of proactive measures to stop its population from killing themselves with even-more toxic substitutes for a toxic product. Apparently, it will take many generations of sober Russians to change the high-profile role alcohol plays in so many national traditions.The Russian people have gone through many changes throughout the ages. Hopefully, their resilience will help them change their love of vodka and allow them to become socially conscious drinkers. That’s a tradition easily passed on.

English Aussie Slang Short Stroy

Well it’s another day again in Broady*, and my relo and I went down to the bottle-o to pick up some grog for the big* game of* *aierial* *pingpong* *this arvo* between the mighty pies and the dons*. When we got down there we realised that we spent *all *our *moula* at the servo. â€Å"ey* cobber *ya* old bastard*,* we better mull u*p, we got no cash† *â€Å"true* blue *ya* dag, *haha* no cash no problem† *â€Å"better* grab the metho as well *fella*† *â€Å"no* time knackers, *weve* got get home before everyone else *karks* it down there† â€Å"what* other dills are coming over for the pies v dons game *ya* donger*† â€Å"just* the *fellas* from the waterhole*† â€Å"bullshit*, fair dinkum, better have the ambos on speed dial† *â€Å"S*orry Jimmy† *â€Å"Dont* worry about it* *Bazza*,* *im* busy like a one legged bloke in an arse kicking contest, will call past* the shops to pinch a few snags†* We quickly called pa st Woolies* to pick up some snags and *sangers*, was an easy five finger discount but we had to piss bolt home *to set up. * I was surprised the dickheads at *Woolies* couldn’t see us knick anything, I mean two *yobbo’s* like ourselves, you should never leave us unattended*. Anyway *Bazza* and I chewed the fat while I drove back to our crib. As we got back to our shack, Bruce was waiting at the door in his *jarmies*. Nice guy* a real *whacka* *thoe* but behind him was a 24 pack of *buddys*, what a hero! Soon after all the boys were down and ready for the b*ig game. *Bazza* fired up the BBQ and the snags were roasting. *â€Å"Hey bruce* could you finish the BBQ off mate† â€Å"Cock and bull, Ya* old bastard* I don’t know how to use one† *â€Å"Give it a burl ya* dill† *While they were sorting out the barby I turned on the idiot box to the game. By now there were alot* of dead marines* and durry butts everywhere, no sign of liquid laugh in sight. I screamed out *â€Å"ay* alfs games on† *All the dongers c*arted there asses in the lounge like billy kids *wanting a *sucker. *Every bogan* in my lounge room was tripping out, *i* was surprised any one could see the scores. â€Å"Carn the pies† *I yelled. W*e got off to a beaut of a star*t, with Diddy (Alan *Didak*) to a bonzer start as well as *clokey* (Travis *Cloke*) thumping 3 goals through in the first quarter*. You never know with the Dons, they always come back with their sandgroper Lovett Murray the *boonga*, his too fast for every other digger out there. Nothing that â€Å"Neon Leon† (Leon Davis) can*’*t handle, will be right! The second quarters just started and some fucken* *cruddy’s* just pushed the door bell. I got up and saw trouble at the door, it was an electricity *employer. Straight away I thought bummer, *i* knew what this was about. â€Å"Ay you the owner of this establishment† *â€Å"Yeah ya* bastard† *â€Å"Good, Im* here to cut off your power† â€Å"Get fucked† Bazza herd what was going up and go up immediately and said *â€Å"whats* this about? This guy giving you curry† *â€Å"Yeah fuken* yobbo’s cutting of the power† *â€Å"what* about the pies match† Then the electricity worker said *â€Å"tough* titties *ya* bogans† *The electricity dill choked the electricicity* and we were unable to watch the game. â€Å"Cunning as a shit house rat† I screamed out as he left in is donga mobile *We where now all at rockwood* end now we were going to miss the game for sure now. *Until i* thought of running a cable to the neighbours across the road. *â€Å"you* sneaky *boonga* they all said† *â€Å"shud* up *ya* bastards this is an important game, id brawl with a bull to watch this match† *So I ran the extension cord from my house to the neighbours without them knowing. Slid through the back gate of there* crib and plugged it into their garage. The Idiot boxed turned on and the yobs screamed like yanks from across the road, I ran home like a lost *joey* but had missed all the second and third quarter. I had spat the dummy*, *i* was* spewing*. The pies were wining and killing it. Soon after the siren went and we were stoked, running around lick head less chicken. *COLLINGWOOD had* a ripper of a game* *thrashing the Bombers by 6*5 points at the G. *The pies *creamed* the dons 18. 12 (120) to 8. 7 (55 In front of a crowd of 90,*000. Th*e Pies seized control with a stunning first quarter* as far as *i* was concerned*. * Everyone went home and started recovering from the big day. I was about to catch some Z’s on the couch as I herd* some sirens *i* got up to go outside and see what was going on as *i* got to the door the pigs were there, with hand cuffs. They had looked back at the *Woolies* tapes and court us stilling. Luckily *Bazza* had got away, but that *wasnt* all. Bacon was frying*. T*hey looked around the house and found the cord*. They took me too the cop shop and sent me to jail for a few weeks. Nothing to serious thank fuck.

Overview of United States Government

The government of the United States is based on a written constitution. At 4,400 words, it is the shortest national constitution in the world. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire ratified the Constitution giving it the necessary 9 out of 13 votes needed for the Constitution to pass. It officially went into effect on  March 4, 1789.  It was  consists of a Preamble, seven Articles, and 27 Amendments. From this document, the entire federal government was created. It is a living document whose interpretation has changed over time. The amendment process is such that while not easily amended, US citizens are able to make necessary changes over time. Three Branches of Government The Constitution created three separate branches of government. Each branch has its own powers and areas of influence. At the same time, the Constitution created a system of checks and balances that ensured no one branch would reign supreme. The three branches are: Legislative Branch—This branch consists of the Congress which is responsible for making the federal laws. Congress consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.Executive Branch—The Executive power lies with the President of the United States who is given the job of executing, enforcing, and administering the laws and government. The Bureaucracy is part of the Executive Branch.Judicial Branch—The judicial power of the United States is vested in the Supreme Court and the federal courts. Their job is to interpret and apply US laws through cases brought before them. Another important power of the Supreme Court is that of Judicial Review whereby they can rule laws unconstitutional. Six Foundational Principles The Constitution is built on six basic principles. These are deeply ingrained in the mindset and landscape of the US Government. Popular Sovereignty—This principle states that the source of governmental power lies with the people. This belief stems from the concept of the social contract and the idea that government should be for the benefit of its citizens. If the government is not protecting the people, it should be dissolved.Limited Government—Since the people give the government its power, the government itself is limited to the power given to it by them. In other words, the US government does not derive its power from itself. It must follow its own laws and it can only act using powers given to it by the people.Separation of Powers—As stated previously, the US Government is divided into three branches so that no one branch has all the power. Each branch has its own purpose: to make the laws, execute the laws, and interpret the laws.Checks and Balances—In order to further protect the citizens, the constitution set up a system of checks and balances. Basically, each branch of gov ernment has a certain number of checks it can use to ensure the other branches do not become too powerful. For example, the president can veto legislation, the Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional, and the Senate must approve treaties and presidential appointments.Judicial Review—This is a power that allows the Supreme Court to decide whether acts and laws are unconstitutional. This was established with Marbury v. Madison in 1803.Federalism—One of the most complicated foundations of the US is the principle of federalism. This is the idea that the central government does not control all the power in the nation. States also have powers reserved to them. This division of powers does overlap and sometimes leads to problems such as what happened with the response to Hurricane Katrina between the state and federal governments. Political Process While the Constitution sets up the system of government, the actual way in which the offices of Congress and the Presidency are filled are based upon the American political system. Many countries have numerous political parties—groups of people who join together to try and win political office and thereby control the government—but the US exists under a two-party system. The two major parties in America are the Democratic and Republican parties. They act as coalitions and attempt to win elections. We currently have a two-party system because of not only historical precedent and tradition but also the  electoral system itself. The fact that America has a two-party system does not mean that there is no role for third parties in the American landscape. In fact, they have often swayed elections even if their candidates have in most cases not won. There are four major types of third parties: Ideological Parties, e.g. Socialist PartySingle-Issue parties, e.g. Right to Life PartyEconomic Protest Parties, e.g. Greenback PartySplinter Parties, e.g. Bull Moose Party Elections Elections occur in the United States at all levels including local, state, and federal. There are numerous differences from locality to locality and state to state. Even when determining the presidency, there is some variation with how the electoral college is determined from state to state. While voter turnout is barely over 50% during Presidential election years and much lower than that during midterm elections, elections can be hugely important as seen by the top ten significant presidential elections.