Ambassador Lange Essays - HIVAIDS, Presidency Of George W. Bush

Ambassador Lange Ambassador John Lange: Career in Global Health Diplomacy The simultaneous growth of Ambassador John Langes career as a global health diplomat and global health itself exemplifies the importance of the field as a prioritize matter on the global agenda. The diverse array of professional accomplishments Ambassador Lange achieved throughout his career demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of global health and the many ways to be a strong actor in the field. Ambassador Lange strongly emphasized the heightened need to bring forth international health concerns as detrimental to global prosperity with potential to impact national security and leading to socio-economic crises. Mr. Lange started off his professional career with the intent of practicing law, but quickly found himself immersed in the international affairs realm. During that time, he built his highly esteemed credentials by working in the State Department Bureaus of African Affairs, Western Hemisphere affairs as well as several American embassies located in Togo, France and Mexico. Later on in his career, Ambassador Lange served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and as Chargee Daffaires during which he had to deal with the terrorist bombing of the Embassy and the consequences in the aftermath. It was not until Mr. Lange became U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Botswana that his strong dedication to the field of global health and career as a global health diplomat commenced. As the people of Botswana were experiencing up to thirty eight percent HIV infectious rates, Ambassador Lange felt the imminent need to address this devastating phenomenon not only as a health issue but a security threat as well. This AIDS epidemic was seen as a forthcoming security threat in the sense that it would have destabilizing effects not only mortality rates, but on the capacity and capability of the workforce ultimately fostering a severe socio-economic crisis. In addition to the collaboration between Ambassador Lange and the Botswana governments strong efforts to alleviate the situation, The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations organized the first UN Security Council meeting on the impact of AIDS on peace and security in Africa. This historic event not only reinforced the strong correlation between AIDS, security, and stability but it also elevated the issue on the international agenda. Many other U.S.-based entities such as the Harvard AIDS foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among others, played a crucial role in helping Botswana deal with this devastating health crisis. Fully invested in the field, Ambassador Lange then took on a position in the State Department where he helped the U.S global AIDS coordinator implement the new PEPFAR office. PEPFAR, a historic commitment to combating a single disease, experienced a few setbacks but ultimately was still acknowledged as a unique opportunity to make an immense difference in an emergency situation. Through PEPFARs efforts, as well as the work of other organizations, the concern regarding security threats in many countries has immensely diminished. Ambassador Lange finished off his career as a Foreign Service Officer by working on the threat of pandemic influenza. During that time, he realized that not only could pandemic influenza have serious consequences on national security and the entire fabric of American society, but that it was an issue that needed to be addressed at the global level requiring the involvement of other governments. Ambassador Lange strongly emphasized that, though international partnerships, certain goals imperatively needed to be achieved. These goals being: the elevation of avian and pandemic influenza on national agendas, the need to coordinate efforts among donors and affected nations, to mobilize and leverage resources globally, increase transparency in disease reporting and surveillance, and lastly to build capacity for the long term. Withholding certain viruses would not only threaten the field of global heath but would also present inconsistencies with the spirit underlying the provisions of inte rnational health values. After his retirement from the Foreign Service Department, Ambassador Lange took on a position working for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where he devotes his time engaging in high-level outreach among the International Development community. While working for the Gates Foundation, Ambassador Lange is able to focus on a vertical approach to Global Health which entails intervention strategy, monitoring

Should drinking age be lowered to 18 like in Europe Essay

Should drinking age be lowered to 18 like in Europe - Essay Example Those speaking against reducing the drinking age support drinking in exceptional cases, such as drinking in home environment, drinking under adult guidance, for medical needs, and other similar reasons. Those who favor reducing the age bar to 18 years, the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21, counter that it has not helped teen drinking. On the contrary, it has encouraged binge drinking in private and risky surroundings, causing health and life-threatening conduct by youngsters (Procon.org 1). Just because the European drinking age is 18 years, Americans should also follow them is not a logical argument in itself. Relatively to the European countries’ teenagers’ drinking pattern, the American teenagers’ rate of drinking is lower. The American teenagers’ rate of consuming alcohol or binge drinking is similar or lesser than their European counterparts. Negative effects of increased rate of alcohol intake and binge drinking have been reported in less than 13 years old teenagers as well, which leads to the logical factor of not reducing the age bar from 21 to 18 years (Procon.org 1). Another logical argument against reducing the drinking age bar is that MLDA 21 assists teenagers to control binge drinking. Binge drinking habit is at the highest among 21- to 25-year-olds at 45.9%. Comparing this rate with that of the 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, and 18-20 age-groups, their binge drinking rates are 1.5%, 7.8%, 19.4%, and 35.7% respectively, which are relatively very lower. Considering the legal aspect, the MLDA 21 laws help in downsizing the number of drinkers below the legal drinking age. It has been observed that since 1984 when maximum numbers of MLDA 21laws were promulgated, the percentage of below-age alcohol consumption has reduced. Research has also pointed that when the alcohol consumption age is 21; those below this age consume less alcohol, and make it a habit to consume less alcohol across their

Design Management in the 21st century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Design Management in the 21st century - Essay Example Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of design management in the 20th century. The New Roles of Design Managers in the 21st Century In contemporary organizations, design managers are catalysts of change and core decision makers in continually changing organizational features such as the impact of technology. Additionally, design managers help in forming a bridge between creative design and quantitative business success, and in increasingly leading the business process. These measures are vital to the corporate world of the 21st century. According to the MDMN (2010), a greater understanding of the changing contexts within which design management practice operates is essential for design managers, and this can be promoted through research and new academic frameworks that integrate design management practice and theory. Design Management and Corporate Strategy According to McDermott (2007: 84), â€Å"design management seeks to position design as an essential part of business strategy†. There is an increasing move to professionalize and integrate design into business and industry. Strategic design management involves focusing on its use as a source of competitive advantage and a catalyst for change in the organization’s structure, finance and human resources. Business or tactical design management manages design as a proficiency to give rise to distinctive product concepts as well as new market opportunities. Operational design management focuses on the â€Å"efficiency and effectiveness of the design process, the design team and individual design projects† (Lockwood & Walton 2008: 28). Shaping the Future of Design Management In order to ensure that design management in future increasingly forms the core of new business development, there is a move to replace the term with design strategy or design policy (McDermott 2007). Increasing connectivity, speed and productivity as a result of advancing technology m ake it necessary for a new type of design management to replace the old rules. The design management is implemented for creating value, â€Å"design itself is being redesigned† (Cramer 2004: 7). The four most significant factors for achieving success through design management are: improved business marketing, operations, professional services the firm employs, and the management of finances. Conclusion This paper has highlighted design management and its growing significance to the corporate world in the 21st century. Though design management is increasingly being prioritzed in the management agenda, one of its limitations would be that the theory may lead to generalization and a narrow view of design. This needs to be overcome by individualizing design management concepts to the particular organization. It is concluded that an organization or business that incorporates design management concepts gains strategic advantage over its more conventional counterparts. Bibliography Cramer, J.P. (2004). How firms succeed: A field guide to design management. Edition 2. London: Greenway Communications. DMI (Design Management Institute). (2010). Research strategy. Research, Design Management Institute. Retrieved on 5th January, 2010 from: http://www.dmi.org/dmi/html/research/priorities_s.htm Lockwood, T. &