CHARITY FUNCTIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CHARITY FUNCTIONS - Essay Example This gap between government remedies and social ills has long been a concern of organizational theorists in who examine corporate social responsibility, as well as humanitarians who work towards social change through establishing or donating to charities (Weisbord 2004). Although the general public consensus is that charities make a strong contribution to the social good, growing bodies of theorists and researchers have argued that the only function that charities can ever perform is that of relieving the symptoms without treating the disease (Rydenfelt 1983). In effect, charities merely salve people's conscience while maintaining the status quo. Within the world of finance such charity functions have emerged as firms or individual investors have placed funds into trusts with the intention that their donation is making a significant real world contribution to social progress. This essay explores this equity trust relationship through an examination of the extent that charities can tr uly be understood to make significant real world contributions, and argues that many of the current charitable organizations must structurally rethink their approach to humanitarian aid. When examining the extent that charities contribute to social progress one of the essential considerations is the establishment of a working understanding of the charity concept. In the United States, charities are clearly defined as non-profit organizations (NPO) that have philanthropic interests that directly contribute to the public good (Marion 2004). While the United Kingdom has a similar understanding as the United States, rather than defining the charitable organizations as the non-profit organizational label they are distinguished by the Charities Act. Originally established in 1993 the Charities Act has undergone a number of considerable amendments over the last two decades (Kihn 2012). The Charities Act 1993 was established by the Parliament of the United Kingdom as a means of altering the regulatory framework around which charities act (‘Charities Act, 2006’). The main provisions established in this act are the definition of the requirements to become a charity and the establishment of a Charity Tribunal to hear appeals from decisions of the Charity Commissions. Subsequent changes to this act, with the most recent 2011 act making alterations to the requirements for registering charities (Kihn 2012). These notions are significant as they establish the important elements of the United Kingdom’s charity trust system. Even as there are considerable amounts of charities that fall under the auspices of the United Kingdom’s Charities Act, a number of researchers have criticized these institutions for lack of true understanding of social change. Additionally, there are a number of laws that these charities benefit from. This is significant as it indicates that to a degree they fall under the auspices of government funding. Hudson (2009) indicates that the law grants charitable trusts in the United Kingdom exemption from most taxes, and the trustees have freedom from legal action. Although this research has found no direct link between the tax exemption and charitable inefficiencies, it seems highly possible that this policy has allowed a system to emerge where the government is actually subsidizing ineffectiveness. Each case is specific, yet there has emerged an overarching argument against these institutions. This argument contends that these equity funds simply stave off the immediate problem, yet fail to target the long-term solution. Metaphorically this

A Letter Of A Prisoner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Letter Of A Prisoner - Essay Example Inside the prison, we have a small clinic, something similar to the family doctor. One day I had a bad stomach ache and they took me to that clinic. The doctor examined me and assured me that I was going to be all right and that there was no major problem to worry about. The pain stayed with me for two days, after that, they took me to the hospital with two guards because the doctor in the prison’s clinic did not know what I actually have. In the hospital, they said that it was the appendix, so I had the appendix operation done for me, and then I went back to the prison. In fact, the guards who were accompanying me were treating were very nice people. They treated me so nicely and for once I felt a touch of the love that I so long to have close to me; your motherly love. I noticed that they were better than when we are in prison. I suppose this was out of compassion. Normally they are not nice people, especially when dealing with us. Prison-officers are tough and stern in the jail. They often insult us, and however much we try to be good and obedient, they can never command us for our behavior. All they do is an insult and mock us; that is the life that I have to live here in prison. We are not treated with less dignity and handled like animals or some creatures that are less human. It is correct that we are here owing to the fact that we are convicted as criminals, even though, it is enough for us to be punished with the confinement. However, not all the warders are that bad.... In hospital they said that it was the appendix, so I had the appendix operation done for me, and then I went back to the prison. In fact, the guards who were accompanying me were treating were very nice people. They treated me so nicely and for once I felt a touch of the love that I so long to have close to me; your motherly love. I noticed that they were better than when we are in prison. I suppose this was out of compassion. Normally they are not nice people, especially when dealing with us. Prison-officers are tough and stern in the jail. They often insult us, and however much we try to be good and obedient, they can never commend us for our behavior. All they do is insult and mock us; that is the life that I have to live here in prison. We are not treated with less dignity, and handled like animals, or some creatures that are less human. It is correct that we are here owing to the fact that we are convicted as criminals, even though, it is enough for us to be punished with the co nfinement. However, not all the warders are that bad. I usually meet a few good ones when I go to the library to study. Let me tell you something about the prison routine. Our day starts at 7:15 every morning lights,and lights are usually on by then. We are allowed to take breakfast from 7:45 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Breakfast is the same every day; two boiled eggs and some cheese, this comes with bread and a glass of orange juice. Lunchtime is from 1:00 until 3:00 in the afternoon. It is usually rice and chicken, and salad on the side. Nonetheless, I have heard from the other inmates that during some special occasions we could have either meat or fish instead of the chicken.