The Injustice of Plastics Essay Example

The Injustice of Plastics Essay Disadvantages of Plastics are 1. Flammable – This is definitely an advantage in that they can be melted down, however smoldering plastics can release toxic fumes into the environment. 2. Cost of Recycling – While recycling is a plus, recycling is a very costly endeavor. 3. Volume – In the United States 20% of our landfill is made up of plastics. As more products are being made of plastics, where will this lead us in the future? 4. Durability – This is an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Plastics are extremely durable, which means that they last a long time. Those plastics in the landfill will be there for years. Plastics make our lives easier, however is their cost on the environment worth it? We can only hope that soon someone will invent a way to safely and cheaply melt and reuse plastics. A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic amorphous solids[citation needed] used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce costs. Monomers of plastic are either natural or synthetic organic compounds. We will write a custom essay sample on The Injustice of Plastics specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Injustice of Plastics specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Injustice of Plastics specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The word plastic is derived from the Greek (plastikos) meaning capable of being shaped or molded, from (plastos) meaning molded. [1][2] It refers to their malleability, or plasticity during manufacture, that allows them to be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of shapes—such as films, fibers, plates, tubes, bottles, boxes, and much more. The common word plastic should not be confused with the technical adjective plastic, which is applied to any material which undergoes a permanent change of shape (plastic deformation) when strained beyond a certain point. Aluminum, for instance, is plastic in this sense, but not a plastic in the common sense; in contrast, in their finished forms, some plastics will break before deforming and therefore are not plastic in the technical sense. There are two types of plastics: thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers. Thermoplastics will soften and melt if enough heat is applied; examples are polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)[3]. Thermosets can melt and take shape once; after they have solidified, they stay solid. Overview Plastics can be classified by chemical structure, namely the molecular units that make up the polymers backbone and side chains. Some important groups in these classifications are the acrylics, polyesters, silicones, polyurethanes, and halogenated plastics. Plastics can also be classified by the chemical process used in their synthesis, such as condensation, polyaddition, and cross-linking. [4] Other classifications are based on qualities that are relevant for manufacturing or product design. Examples of such classes are the thermoplastic and thermoset, elastomer, structural, biodegradable, and electrically conductive. Plastics can also be classified by various physical properties, such as density, tensile strength, glass transition temperature, and resistance to various chemical products. Due to their relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and imperviousness to water, plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products, from paper clips to spaceships. They have already displaced many traditional materials, such as wood; stone; horn and bone; leather; paper; metal; glass; and ceramic, in most of their former uses. The use of plastics is constrained chiefly by their organic chemistry, which seriously limits their hardness, density, and their ability to resist heat, organic solvents, oxidation, and ionizing radiation. In particular, most plastics will melt or decompose when heated to a few hundred degrees celsius. [5] While plastics can be made electrically conductive to some extent, they are still no match for metals like copper or aluminum. citation needed] Plastics are still too expensive to replace wood, concrete and ceramic in bulky items like ordinary buildings, bridges, dams, pavement, and railroad ties. Chemical structure Common thermoplastics range from 20,000 to 500,000 amu, while thermosets are assumed to have infinite molecular weight. These chains are made up of many repeating molecular units, known as repeat units, deri ved from monomers; each polymer chain will have several thousand repeating units. The vast majority of plastics are composed of polymers of carbon and hydrogen alone or with oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine or sulfur in the backbone. Some of commercial interests are silicon based. ) The backbone is that part of the chain on the main path linking a large number of repeat units together. To customize the properties of a plastic, different molecular groups hang from the backbone (usually they are hung as part of the monomers before linking monomers together to form the polymer chain). This fine tuning of the properties of the polymer by repeating units molecular structure has allowed plastics to become such an indispensable part of twenty first-century world. Some plastics are partially crystalline and partially amorphous in molecular structure, giving them both a melting point (the temperature at which the attractive intermolecular forces are overcome) and one or more glass transitions (temperatures above which the extent of localized molecular flexibility is substantially increased). The so-called semi-crystalline plastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, poly (vinyl chloride), polyamides (nylons), polyesters and some polyurethanes. Many plastics are completely amorphous, such as polystyrene and its copolymers, poly (methyl methacrylate), and all thermosets. Almost every market that you go today, you will see people carrying their shopping items in plastic bags. Right from food items to clothes to shoes, there is hardly any item that we do not use a plastic bag to carry. However, before stuffing your home with different styles, colors and shapes of plastic bags, have you every considered the dangers that are inherent in using them? No? Then, reading through this article is a must for you. Go through the following lines and explore the disadvantages of plastic bags. After reading them, we are sure that you will prefer sticking to paper bags and the like. Dangers Of Using Plastic Bags Environmental Damage Plastic bags have been known to cause a lot of environmental damage. A single plastic bag can take up to 1000 years, to decay completely. This makes the bags stay in environments longer, in turn leading to great build-up on the natural landscape (much more than degradable materials like paper). In other words, the more plastic bags you use, the greater the chances of environmental damage. Threat To Animal Life As per Marrickville Council of Australia, as many as 100,000 whales, turtles and birds die have been reported to die every year, mainly because of plastic in their environment. Plastic bags not only have adverse effects on our natural habitats, but have also been found to be responsible for the death of many animals, mainly on account of the suffocation encountered on eating them. Suffocation Not only animals, infants and young children have also been reported to have lost their life, on account of plastic bags. Since plastic bags are thin and airtight as well, children often end up blocking their mouths and nostrils with them. In case they are not being monitored by an adult, this leads to suffocation and, in some cases, even death. Pollution Plastic bags are extremely durable. In case you are thinking of this as an advantage, just bring to mind an image of the huge landfill that you visited on the city outskirts, the other day. In most probability, majority of the rubbish present there will comprise of plastic bags only. In other words, plastic bags have led to a great increase in the pollution levels. Fumes Since plastic bags are not bio-degradable, the only way to get rid of them is to burn them up. Though lighting a match to them is easy, it has more than its fair share of disadvantages. The biggest of them is that smoldering plastics can release toxic fumes into the environment, in turn taking the air pollution to much higher levels. Non-renewable One of the main disadvantages of plastic bags is that they are not renewable. The reason behind this is that they are made of petrochemicals, a non-renewable source of energy. They can be recycled, but not as easily as paper bags. Plastic bags can last for as much as hundred of years. In other words, long after you are no more, the plastic bag used by you will be in existence. Plastics are manufactured from petroleum. This brings a host of issues (destruction of habitat, extraction of crude oil, security issues from the volatile countries where oil is produced, processing of petroleum, chemical manipulation into various types of plastics). The manufacture involves many chemicals, many of which have not been sufficiently tested for their toxicological impact on humans or animals. The final plastic product is often a chemical entity that in and of itself has had insufficient toxicological and ecotoxicological testing. An example would be PVC, forms of which are banned in Europe but exist widely in childrens toys in America. Recent controversies over plastic bottles (many toxicologists recommending not re-using plastic water bottles and not storing food in tupperware) have highlighted the potential risks. Exacerbating the problem is that science is only now advancing to where it can detect plastic components in human blood and then trace concentrations and link them to human ailments and diseases. The plastics industry itself often spins plastic and related plastic chemicals into a variety of products, some of which are hazardous and controversial (Teflon, PVC, Polyethylene, polystyrene, various silicones in body and hair care). Plastic-producing companies are often chemical companies or subsidiaries of chemical companies, both with poor track records when it comes to their adherence to regulatory compliance and their willingness to perform toxicological analysis on the products they make. Plastics often leech component chemicals, including hazardous chemicals, through common temperature changes. It is for this reason that toxicologists do not recommend storing very cold foods in plastics or heating foods (microwaving especially) in plastics. Plastics are durable materials. Thus, they are hard to eliminate once used and create tremendous waste. While some common plastics can be recycled (#1 and #2 plastics used in common soda and milk bottles), the vast majority cannot. They take up a lot of space in landfills and create air pollution when incinerated. The Disadvantages of Plastic Skylights Although plastic skylights are safer and sturdier than glass skylights, they do pose several long term disadvantages. Firstly, because they are made in single sheets, they can only be curved or bent in one area, which limits design options. Secondly, all plastics deteriorate in strength and light transmission as time passes, due to ultraviolet rays, heat and oxidation (and none can be entirely prevented). And finally, the life and service of plastic materials is highly unpredictable. Therefore choosing the plastics you will use for a plastic skylight requires much research and first hand knowledge. This is where Roof 101 can help – our contractors have worked with all kinds of plastics in plastic skylights, and their first hand experience could greatly assist you in reaching a decision.

Free Essays on The Life Of Carl Sandburg

Carl Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Illinois on January 6, 1878. He lived to become a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and biographer of Abraham Lincoln, novelist, journalist, children's author, and troubador of American folk songs. He grew up in the fields of Illinois, travelled the box cars of the midwest, campaigned for the Socialist party, was film critic and Chicago advocate. Carl Sandburg's poetry expresses the hearty, earthy nature of America, finding both soft and harsh beauty amongst her people. Sandburg died on Saturday, July 22, 1967, at his home in North Carolina. On October 1, 1967, his ashes were buried beneath "Remembrance Rock" at his birthplace in Galesburg, Illinois. Two of Sandburg's homes are now historic sites. The Carl Sandburg State Historic Site, his boyhood home in Galesburg, is where the poet and his wife rest for the remainder of time. Contact the Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association for hours of operation and special event information. At the time of his death, Carl Sandburg lived in North Carolina. The home is now a National Park with a nice bookstore containing new books and materials about the author. Write to them for ordering information. The Blockhead Travel Itinerary also has an interesting discussion of the Sandburg house. John Heasly also maintains a wonderful Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association w... Free Essays on The Life Of Carl Sandburg Free Essays on The Life Of Carl Sandburg Carl Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Illinois on January 6, 1878. He lived to become a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and biographer of Abraham Lincoln, novelist, journalist, children's author, and troubador of American folk songs. He grew up in the fields of Illinois, travelled the box cars of the midwest, campaigned for the Socialist party, was film critic and Chicago advocate. Carl Sandburg's poetry expresses the hearty, earthy nature of America, finding both soft and harsh beauty amongst her people. Sandburg died on Saturday, July 22, 1967, at his home in North Carolina. On October 1, 1967, his ashes were buried beneath "Remembrance Rock" at his birthplace in Galesburg, Illinois. Two of Sandburg's homes are now historic sites. The Carl Sandburg State Historic Site, his boyhood home in Galesburg, is where the poet and his wife rest for the remainder of time. Contact the Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association for hours of operation and special event information. At the time of his death, Carl Sandburg lived in North Carolina. The home is now a National Park with a nice bookstore containing new books and materials about the author. Write to them for ordering information. The Blockhead Travel Itinerary also has an interesting discussion of the Sandburg house. John Heasly also maintains a wonderful Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association w...

How Your Resume Speaks to Potential Employers

How Your Resume Speaks to Potential Employers How Your Resume Speaks to Potential Employers There are many reasons why you might want to update your resume. Perhaps you are seeking a promotion, or want to shift to another division of your company. Maybe the role and responsibilities of your current position aren’t what you expected, and you need to begin looking for a different job. Wherever you’re at in the workplace world, it’s essential to have a solid resume. Your resume is how you speak to potential employers. What is your resume saying about you? Here are six tips to consider when building your resume. To Embellish, or Not to Embellish In a study by Career Builder, over 2,500 hiring managers discovered applicants doing more than dress up a few things. 56% found applicants lying, with 54% taking liberties describing their responsibilities. A quarter caught people adding credits from companies for whom they had never worked! While it’s important to highlight your duties with a position, it’s vital to be straightforward when describing the scope of your responsibilities on your resume. Does Your Resume Reflect Career Progression? Your resume should be the story of your career; ideally one with an upward trajectory. Set the tone of the resume by including relevant experience or training for the job listing. Hopefully, your most recent job will fit; but if you’re still working on gaining career highlights, pull from another credit instead. If you’re switching career paths, or you already have varied work experience, it’s okay to structure your resume; for example, you might have one category outlining your research-based work, and a different group highlighting your people skills. Organizing your experience into categories allows you to present a fuller picture of your abilities. First Impressions are Important Many recruiters say that it takes them a mere six seconds to decide if they’re putting your resume in the â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no† pile. This is why first impressions are so crucial. You don’t need to use coloured paper or wild fonts, but you should give your resume some style. Remember, you aren’t trying to convince them of your design sense; you’re trying to avoid being tossed in the â€Å"no† pile after a cursory glance. Does your resume look original, and not based on a template? Even if you used a model to start, you can still give it a clean, polished look that doesn’t feel like a stark template. Are the length and overall appearance appropriate for the job? You want to make it easy to process with a quick look, as the person reading it might easily be looking at upwards of hundreds of resumes. Points to consider regarding appearance: Clear design with white space between sections Clean copy, with no typos or spelling errors Un-cluttered paragraphs Simple, effective bullet points Font Matters How you present your choice of words also matters. Font choice is such a vital part of displaying a favourable appearance that it deserves its own mention. The main point when choosing a font style is making your resume easier to read. There are a couple of essential points to be made regarding font choice: Choose a serif font for print Serif refers to those little tails or flags at the end of a letter - like this. Those tails are supposed to lead the eye forward to the next letter, making it easier to read, especially when you are reading a large number of pages. â€Å"Sans serif† means without a serif, meaning there are no added tails to the letters. Don’t be fashionable A common wisecrack is â€Å"Don’t use Comic Sans.† That’s because this niche font was momentarily very trendy and was vastly over-used. Know how it will be read Some fonts work better on paper; some fonts look better on screen. If you know how your resume will be read, then select a font that makes the most of that medium. If you’re not sure, fonts like Cambria work equally well in both media. Top Three Fonts for Print: Bookman Old Style Cambria Garamond Top Three Fonts for Online: Calibri Cambria Georgia If you want to delve deeper into it, there are many visually pleasing fonts that will assist in giving your resume some life and voice. Choose a font that is easy to read and pleasing to the eye, and your resume is likelier to end up in the â€Å"yes† pile for a second glance. Don’t Say Too Much It’s important not to bog down your resume with unnecessary details. Tailor make your resume to include specifics that make you a more desirable candidate. If a credit isn’t relevant to the job, remove it. There’s no need to clutter up your resume with experiences that don’t apply. Keep your resume clean; don’t add unnecessary flourishes. The same goes for introductions and cover letters. The ability to be concise will set you apart. Hobbies and Interests If your hobbies and interests are genuinely applicable to the job, by all means, add them. Be specific. Saying that you like music isn’t descriptive; saying that you have a membership to the symphony, or that you play with a band that goes to retirement homes is. Membership in groups like Toastmasters demonstrates a willingness for self-improvement, as well as an interest in public speaking. Bonus tip: Managing Your Online Presence Depending on your field, having an online presence could help you stand out. However, your online presence can also be a drawback. Companies and their clients don’t want to work with someone who will potentially bring them unwanted negative attention. Having a positive, work-relevant social media presence shows potential employers you know how to be professional. Always remember, anything that you put up online is trackable and could be noticed by the watchful eye of someone in your industry. Three ways to use social media positively: LinkedIn Make connections with business and colleagues Twitter Post relevant industry content on your @twitter account Facebook Have a separate Facebook account for work colleagues and your personal friends Follow these ideas and suggestions when you update your cover letter and resume. We’ve covered a lot, but taking it step-by-step will make the process less overwhelming. If your current circumstances leave you with little time, or you need help putting your best foot forward in print, can help. Whether you require basic editing assistance or are starting from scratch, our writing staff can help set you apart from other candidates. With over 200 professional, MA, MSc, JD, MBA Ph.D. accelerated writers, we can ensure that your resume is a step above the competition. You can contact toll-free at 1-800-573-0840, by email at sales@masterwriter.ca, or place an order online through our online service page.

Virgin Galactic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Virgin Galactic - Research Paper Example In pursuit of their mission, Virgin Galactic has acted as a proving ground for new technologies like using carbon composites in big sized aircrafts, which has applications across a many industrial sectors. This is why Virgin Galactic has been described as a significant industrial project in the twenty first century (virgin galactic.com, 2012). Branson was 19 years old when Apollo 11 took the first humans to the moon on July 16, 1969. On that day a young Richard Branson decided that he would experience the wonder of space. â€Å"Virgin Galactic's goal is to end the exclusivity attached to manned space travel, which means designing a vehicle that can fly almost anyone to space and back safely without the need for special expertise or exhaustive, time consuming training† (Virgin Galactic. com, 2012, par. 3). Virgin Galactic reviewed many spacecraft concepts before networking with Scaled Composites. Scaled Composites was founded by famed designer and builder of experimental aircra ft Burt Rutan (Leonard, 2005). Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft and launch vehicles were designed with simplicity and redundancy in mind. A complex system has an increased chance of failure; therefore simplification and risk reduction pay a pivotal role in their design. Scaled Composites has an exceptional safety record and is responsible for some of the most innovative experimental aircraft in the world. September 27, 2004, Branson announced that Virgin Galactic would finance the design and construction of a fleet of commercial spacecraft that would take thousands of passengers to space and back safely (virgingalactic.com, 2012). In addition to commercial sub-orbital space flight, Virgin Galactic offers sub-orbital scientific missions as well as orbital satellite launches. According to Virgin Galactic’s Web site, the company and the New Mexico State revealed that they had made a historic agreement in 2005 that would see the building of a state-funded $200 million spacepor t on a 27-square mile area of land. Virgin Galactic agreed to establish its headquarters and operate space flights from what would be known as Spaceport America in South Mexico (virgingalactic.com, 2012). New Mexico’s steady climate, high altitude, free airspace, and low population density make it an ideal location for the first commercial spaceport. Richard Branson and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez recently dedicated the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space at Spaceport America, New Mexico. Seven hundred guests gathered to celebrate the occasion and view a demonstration flight. There has been a steady increase in the interest in space tourism among engineers, scientist, entrepreneurs, and the general public. According to Virgin Galactic’s Web site, more than 500 tickets have been sold at US$200,000 per seat. The sky is no longer the limit and the market potential for this emerging industry is enormous. As the space tourism industry grows, they will need to cut their costs to remain competitive. Branson expects as many as five competing spaceship companies by 2020. He believes this competition will drive the price of a ticket down to a level that hundreds of thousands of passengers can afford to go to space (Allen, 2009). Several companies entering the market have already announced that their costs will be approximately half that of Virgin Galactic. The

The Criminal Justice System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Criminal Justice System - Essay Example Two main models that are used to determine which acts are crimes by society are the consensus model and the conflict model (Farmer 2008). According to the former, criminal behaviour is any act that is in conflict with the beliefs and values of the whole society. This model holds the assumption that as diverse as people and communities are, they can have similar morals. On its part, the conflict model holds that criminal law is determined by those people who hold social, political, and economic power within a given community. One of the theories that apply to crime is the rational choice theory. Also called the decision theory, this theory suggests that humans commit crimes because they serve the interests of the actors or rather bring more benefit as opposed to harm to them. This theory is based on the assumption that the criminal commits crime because they experience a constraint in choice. In this respect, the theory argues that to deter crime effectively, the cost of crime should be set so high that every reasonable person will shun it. The Government Structure As It Applies To the Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system comprises a collection of local, state and federal (public) agencies that are dedicated to dealing with crime (Randolph, 2005). In many cases, the decision of one agency affects the decisions of other agencies in matters related to crime.

Plagues And Diseases Essay -- essays research papers fc

Plagues and Diseases Plague. A word that has struck fear in the hearts of man since the earliest of times. It has also lead to some of the greatest historical events and stories of our time. The ancient cities of Rome and Athens, in their downfall, were finished off by pestilence. The Bubonic Plague, also known as The Black Death, devastated Europe in the 14th century, starting a new age. The great warrior Ivan the Terrible was stricken with disease, and driven mad. During the "exploration" of the new world, Cortes's greatest ally against the Aztecs was smallpox. Napoleon's Grand Army was defeated by the Russians, and typhus. Queen Victoria spread hemophilia to her heirs, leading to the illness of the only son of Czar Nicholas, and the fall of monarchy in Russia.1 All the events are horrible in every way, but have struck a chord with people around the world. Perhaps it is our inherent morbid curiosity. So, the question is, if these events happened once, why can't they happen again? Let us take a look at the most horrible, so far, of the plagues: The Black Death. It took Europe by storm from approximately 1345 to 1361. It would also make small comebacks throughout the next 400 years, but never like it did the first time. It also reached into Africa, China, Russia, and the Scandinavian countries. It was truly a worldwide pandemic. But, it has a secondary effect that not many people are aware of. The colonies of Greenland, settled by the Vikings, were stricken by the plague and they soon disappeared. It is known that these colonies kept in contact with "Vinland", which was near New Foundland, in Canada. The Vikings had already discovered North America! But, alas, with these colonies all dead, Greenland was forgotten, and not discovered again until 1585.2 It is estimated that the plague took 24 million lives, about a quarter of the European population. This may seem incredulous to people today, but it happened. During those times, where there were humans, there were black rats. And where there are rats, there are fleas. And where there were fleas, there was the plague. Bubonic plague, and also pneumonic plague, were everywhere. France, Italy, Russia, England, you name it. When a village was infected, people fled, most likely taking the plague with them to the next village.3 One ca... ...n't, but it sure does sound good. I hope to have entertained you through this paper, and given you something to chew on for a few weeks. And I have just one more thought. When people think of the end of the world, they think of a big mushroom cloud destroying everyone in a pillar of light. But, I just don't see that. I see something less spectacular. When the end comes, it won't be with a bang. No one will see it coming. An army of the smallest soldiers will attack us from the inside out. One-billionth of our size, and they'll beat us. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Abel, Ernest L. America's Top 25 Killers. Hillside, N.J.: Enslow Publishers Inc., 1991 2. Archer, Jules. Epidemic! New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanich, 1977. 3. Berger, Melvin. Disease Detectives. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1978. 4. Cartwright, Fred F. Disease and History. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1972. 5. Guerrilla Warfare. "Time: Frontiers of Medicine." Vol. 148, No.4, Pg. 58-62. 6. McNeill, William H. Plagues and Peoples. New York: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1976.

Ethical Problems in Business Environment Essay

â€Å"Business ethics examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and business organizations as a whole† (â€Å"Business Ethics,† 2010). In today’s society, many people pursue careers in businesses for different reasons such as convenience, salary, and many other reasons that do not include ethics. Unfortunately, people’s professional values are no longer mirroring their personal values. (Tinkler, 2005). Individuals are giving up everything to move ahead professionally and as a result, businesses are becoming worse at upholding their ethical standards because they are able to get away with it. Poor Human Resources practices are one example of how today’s businesses affect our community. Many businesses fail to create a system where there is strong communication between the employees and human resources. As a result, employees are unable to voice their complaints to the HR department and the HR department is unaware of problems within the company. Employees must clearly know what is expected of them, and when they are not delivering they must be addressed. This type of system is beneficial to the company because once flaws are addressed, then the company can come up with solutions to better manage the business. When businesses take the time to discuss projects and explain their goals to the employees, the employees feel as though they have a special place within the company and they become motivated. Keeping the employees updated on tasks, the more they become invested in the project. Also, many times companies fail to recognize and reward their employee’s achievements and this creates a bitter relationship between the employees and the company; human beings become motivated to do well through positive reinforcement. Favoritism also becomes a huge problem between human resources and the employees; if all employees are treated fairly then everyone will put in the effort to perform well and stay loyal to the company. Human Resources play one of the largest roles in ethics within businesses; many of the reasons employees stay loyal to companies are because of the solid structure of the human resources department. In addition to keeping the employees of a business happy, in order to uphold business ethics, customers must also trust and respect a business. Unethical practices in marketing and products are another reason today’s businesses are negatively affecting our community. In today’s society, consumers no longer have any trust in businesses. Businesses are encouraging their employees to aggressively approach customers by using deceptive advertising; customers are often times mislead through copied packaging styles, high pressure selling, and â€Å"bait and switch† selling; these techniques entail targeting groups such as the elderly and finding ways to attract customers and eventually convincing them to purchase an item they can not afford and do not need. Businesses are also hiding information from consumers; unsafe products are on the market and side effects are not stated, as well as information on animal testing. Products are also inaccurately tested. â€Å"NBC Los Angeles uncovered a scheme at local Jiffy Lube stores where customers were charged for repairs that were never done† (Grover, 2008). The scandal was caught on video tape and the public were alarmed and angry; people were going in for services that were never being done. After this story was uncovered to the public, it created anger, confusion, and worst of all trust was lost. Situations like these force consumers to go to competitors and lose faith in businesses altogether. Our last ethical issue in today’s business environment are unfair labor practices. Innocent children and families are working in terrible conditions and making hardly any money so that American companies can manufacture more for less money. Consumers now, need to research companies that they are used to purchasing from because companies are hiding these facts from the government since it is illegal. This practice is beyond unethical, it is cruel. Coca Cola is guilty of this practice; â€Å"From 5,000 to 30,000 Salvadorian children, some as young as eight years old, are working in El Salvador’s sugarcane plantations where injuries, particularly severe cuts, are common, according to the report† (Lobe, 2010). It is unbelievable to watch companies that make billions of dollars, become so greedy that they are willing to practice such unethical ways of labor. Unfortunately, external social pressures sometimes influence business ethics; echnology, competition, and changing social attitudes put pressure on businesses. As a result, they lean towards decisions that are unethical and beneficial to the business. As individuals become aware of some of the unethical practices many businesses are taking part in, they will hopefully choose more wisely which companies they would like to work for. Our choices affect society as a whole, and as long as we ignore our own personal virtues and values, we will continue to support businesses that are unethical.