El Cid Essay -- essays research papers

An Overview of the Life of a Spanish National Hero   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known best as El Cid, is revered as a great national hero of Spain. The name El Cid comes from the Arabic ‘El Seid’ meaning the Lord. Known to his admiring countrymen as ‘campeador’, or champion, he was a Spanish warrior whom later legend made into a hero and the symbol of chivalry and virtue. El Cid was born in Vivar near Burgos in 1043. His father, Diego Lainez, was a member of the minor nobility, called the ‘infanzones’ of Castile. El Cid was also directly connected on his mother’s side to royalty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  History paints two pictures of Rodrigo Diaz. He was an unprincipled adventurer, who battled against both Christians and Moors. And on the other hand, he was also a symbol of romance, legend, and ballad. He is shown as the tender, loving husband and father, the loyal, courageous soldier, and an ever-present inspiration to Spanish patriotism. He stands out as the central figure of the long struggle of Christian Spain against the Muslim threats.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fernando I, known as Fernando The Great, died in 1065, and at his death Fernando divided his lands among his three sons: Sancho, Alfonso, and Garcia, and his two daughters: Elvira and Urraca. He also asked them to promise him they would respect his wishes and abide by the divisions. But Sancho, who received the Kingdom of Castile, being the eldest, thought he should have inh...

Merck and River Blindness Essay

1. Why was Merck hesitant about developing a human version of Ivermectin? Merck considered this opportunity as a high risk investment. The cost of developing the drug was estimated at $100 million. Even if it was successful to cure river blindness the victims were too poor to afford the drug. There was no way to distribute it in these rural areas were the victims were located. In addition, there was a possibility that people would misuse the drugs, which would cause negative side effects and stimulate bad press for Merck. During this time, healthcare costs were on the rise, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements were limited for companies developing drugs like Merck. Congress was also about to pass an act that would make it easier for competitors to copy and market generic drugs. All of this opposition made Merck hesitant about developing Ivermectin. 2. What were the benefits and cost of developing a human version of Ivermectin? The case described benefits of the new drug as a low-cost, safe, and simple cure for river blindness. The current residents suffering from this parasite did not have funds to afford alternate treatments like expensive hospital visits or other drug options that are required for a cure. As reported in the reading, the condition is caused by a worm that is passed through the bite of a black fly along the tropical areas of Africa and Latin America. The worm then burrows under the skin and continues to grow up to a length of two feet. As the worm reproduces, it releases millions of offspring that slowly wriggle underneath the skin until invading the eyes, eventually causing blindness. Victims often commit suicide due to the pain and itching that this parasite causes. The development of this drug would relieve victims from immense suffering and potential blindness. It would also lead to a possibility of brand m arketing for Merck the area of treatment. Foreseen costs include a potential $100 million to develop the drug. This cost includes a large amount of time for extensive testing of the drug and its side effects on humans. After testing is completed, Merck would be required to distribute the drug to victims within the affected rural areas. The distribution cost would be high as there are no distributors already established in these rural areas. There was also a risk that there would not  be large enough revenue to regain money spent in the research and development of the drug. 3. Why did Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and his team ultimately decide to develop a human version of Ivermectin? The case provided motives why Roy and his team decided to develop the drug. After conducting several earnest meetings with his management team, they eventually decided that the benefits that the drug had concerning its effect on river blindness were too significant. Many managers felt Merck was morally obligated to develop the drug despite the cost and slim chance of economic reward. They decided to move forward with the development of Ivermectin in order to contribute to the welfare and interests of society. 4. How do you think Merck’s Investments in the human version of Ivermectin created value for its stakeholders and corporate goodwill? Upon learning about victims suffering from river blindness, Merck realized that they had a potential cure to the problem. With this knowledge Merck had a corporate social responsibility to develop a drug because they now had an obligation to take action that could possibly contribute to the welfare and interests of society, as well as the organization and its stakeholders. Each stakeholder (which is any person who has a direct or indirect relationship with the organization) could feel and see the value that this project could provide. As people invest time and money into an organization they want to experience a return of their investment. One of the greatest returns a person can experience is seeing someone’s life change for the better. This investment of each stakeholder’s time and money in a human version of Ivermectin would create a high level of value for the entire organization and the corporate goodwill.

Colorado River Pollution - 1861 Words

Pollution in the Colorado River By Axia College The Colorado River supplies water to most of the southwestern United States and despite this fact, pollution levels are continually rising and in some cases above acceptable limits. The Colorado River supplies and runs through five states and during some parts of the year to the Mexican border. During the rivers journey various types of pollutants come into contact to with it degrading the water quality downstream. The river water benefits humans in multiple ways the first obvious answer is by drinking it. Farming and other agricultural uses demand 60% and sometimes as much as 90% of its water. Using polluted water for irrigation passes the contaminants into the crops and ultimately†¦show more content†¦In 2005, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) formed the Clean Colorado River Alliance (The Alliance) under a recommendation from then Governor Janet Napolitano. The Alliance’s first task was to develop recommendations for dealing with current wa ter problems in the Colorado River. Next, address the water quality of the river for human sustainability now and into the future. Lastly develop an action plan for dealing with the pollution issues of the river; The Alliance delivered the final report to Governor Napolitano in December 2005. The preliminary report outlined a partnership plan modeled after the Chesapeake Bay Program. Although major differences exist between the Colorado River cleanup project and the Chesapeake Bay reclaim project, the fundamental principles of a successful program are similar. The final report delivered to Governor Napolitano is a detailed look into the major pollutants contained in the river system. The Alliance detail seven pollutants devoting a chapter to each one, including an action plan for dealing with the pollutant individually. The six pollutants covered are nutrients, metals, endocrine disrupting compounds, perchlorate, bacteria and pathogens, salinity/total dissolved solids, and sediments and suspended solids. The Alliance’s report gives a comprehensive action plan for reducing the amount of pollution in and river and improving overall waterShow MoreRelatedThe Deterioration of the Colorado River1475 Words   |  6 PagesThe Colorado RIver is best known for being the principal river of the southern United States and Mexico, but it soon could lose that title. Running about 1,500 miles long, the river is a vital source of water for agricultural and urban areas in the southern desert lands of North America. However over the past decade or so, the river has begun to deteriorate. There are many causes and solutions to the deterioration of the Colorado River. The Colorado River is formed by small streams created by aRead MoreMackenzie Jurosko. Geo 1110 Geology . 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