Forum 1:

The question of where nations are to place the interests of their citizens as contrasted with the demands of international agreements is a matter of great concern. It is arguable that the core purpose of governments is to exercise those powers which are not able to effectively exercised by private parties, whether persons or groups. This is most often approached on the matter of armed defense, however it is also the area in which formal law and more properly legal systems operate as particularly interested groups are as a practical matter incapable of presenting themselves as disinterested and thus impartial arbiters of disputes. National governments are placed in a strange predicament when they rule on matters of so called international law, for they in essence cease to be able to meet the standard of perceived impartiality that they may supposedly bear domestically as they are instead placed into a position as a partisan (whether reality may or may not bear such perception out), as they are to represent the interests of their nation, which may be seen as the net interest of the constituent persons and parties of their nation. The prompt asks whether nations should place the concerns of international agreements, specifically the Hague Convention and International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act, above those of their own people and domestic laws. The answer is quite simply that it depends. It depends upon how a nation perceives international law with regards to their domestic politics, if a nation holds a legal standard that an international treaty to which they are fully committed to based upon their particular ratification methods is as binding as any other fully ratified law, then it becomes incumbent upon the nation to exercise the full criterion of the agreement as though it were entirely developed domestically.

Concerning the specific situation mentioned in the prompt, it is quite evident that Brazil ought to return the minor to his American father, largely on the basis of how it came about due to what appears to be parental kidnapping. If Bruna Bianchi had had sole guardianship of Sean at the time of her moving to Brazil, or even been clear as to an intention of her relocating permanently and divorcing Goldman, it might well be appropriate that Sean could remain in the custody of his step-father. However, given that this case seems to be entirely the result of deception and bad-faith on the part of Bianchi, she would seem to have abdicated her parental rights and thus would not be in a position to transfer them to another party (the new husband/other family) and so parental rights would be retained exclusively by Mr. Goldman. Brazil would be then faced with a choice of either presenting itself as a nation that places the demands of law at the forefront or the particular interests of some of its citizens. While, Brazil could do either if it so chose, potential international and possibly domestic consequences of being a nation of men not laws would be far more likely to be adverse than the appearance of placing the rule of law as paramount.

Forum 2:

This week we focus on The Hague Abduction Convention and the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act. The question on whether a country should recognize the former two above the rights of its own citizens is, among others, related to potential benefits and costs for a country and its citizens, respectively. Do countries have to enforce the Hague Abduction Convention in any event or may a national court, in exceptional circumstances, disregard its application? While the Hague Abduction Convention’s effectiveness is debatable and its effects on the parties to the Convention may vary widely[1], it is assumed that legal regimes, in general, are likely to contribute to a more stable and secure international system[2].

As mentioned, a country and its citizens may perceive the Hague Abduction Convention either as beneficial or harmful. Since a country’s sovereignty could potentially be undermined by international law, some countries tend to be suspicious about the latter. For instance, although the U.S. Congress and the President have not decided to join the Convention on the Rights of Children, some U.S. courts may use this Convention or other international law to interpret federal common law[3]. Also, a country might oppose becoming a party to the Hague Abduction Convention because it will neither want to extradite its own citizens nor bear the costs associated with respective procedures[4]. Some countries do not even recognize child abduction as an extraditable offense. In regard to the case Bianchi v. Goldman, it is however notable that while the Brazilian Supreme Court has ostensibly based its decision on international law, Silvana Bianchi asserts that the custody issue had been decided by international pressure. As a consequence of the case Bianchi v. Goldman, the U.S. introduced the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act in 2014[5]. This bill complements the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act, The Hague Abduction Convention, and (other) existing international law by providing U.S. enforcement entities with further means and instruments for the prevention of child abduction and the recovery of children once they have been abducted. The ratification of the Sean and Goldman Act seems to put the effectiveness of The Hague Abduction Convention under question. Indeed, a survey carried out by the American Bar Association Center on Children and Law reveals that some respondents in foreign countries hold that there are agreements and laws in place that are perceived to have simpler procedures and to be more effective than The Hague Abduction Convention[6].

In contrast, although the effectiveness of The Hague Convention, its effect on the sovereignty of countries being parties to the Convention, and on respective citizens is debatable, The Hague Convention may provide a suitable legal framework that helps to recover children abducted to foreign countries. Being aware of some of The Hague Convention’s deficiencies, the American Bar Association Center on Children and Law puts forth several recommendations to render the former more effective. Research of this kind can help to improve international law.

In sum, it is assumed that more countries should become parties to the Convention. Since child abduction is a crime, which is recognized by The Hague Convention’s signatory countries, new parties to the Convention would not compromise the preexisting rights of their citizens, but rather provide them with additional rights and instruments to recover their abducted children.

please read the full instructions.

Negotiation Styles

Hello Team,

Negotiation is a concept that takes place quite often, in our daily lives. We use various skills to which we are accustomed, and whether we realize it or not, we determine ways to enhance these abilities.

For this assignment, you are asked to write a seven page paper addressing your approach to negotiation (the title and reference page will not count towards page count). Please ensure that you address each of the following sections. Each section will need to be labeled with the use of subtitles. You will need to be thorough in explaining your negotiation style.

1. Introduction
   1. Define negotiation
2. Attitudes regarding negotiation
   1. What is your attitude about negotiation?
3. Approaches to negotiation
   1. What approaches do you take when negotiating?
4. Differences in personal and professional approaches to negotiation
   1. Explain whether your approaches are the same or different in your personal and professional life.

i. Personal – buying a car

ii. Professional – negotiating salary

1. Enhancing negotiation strategies
   1. Discuss whether you seek to enhance your negotiation strategies
2. Conclusion

Be sure to support and justify your positions and conclusions with references to relevant library resources or reputable sources outside of the library. All written assignments should follow APA requirements.

The inclusion of your textbook and two outside references (a total of three sources), retrieved from the university library, is required for the completion of this paper.

Assignment: Negotiation Styles
Objective: Negotiation is a concept that takes place quite often, in our daily lives. We use various skills to which we are accustomed, and whether we realize it or not, we determine ways to enhance these abilities. For this assignment, you are asked to write a seven page paper addressing your approach to negotiation (the title and reference page will not count towards page count). Please ensure that you address each of the following sections. Each section will need to be labeled with the use of subtitles. You will need to be thorough in explaining your negotiation style. 1. Introduction a. Define negotiation 2. Attitudes regarding negotiation a. What is your attitude about negotiation? 3. Approaches to negotiation a. What approaches do you take when negotiating? 4. Differences in personal and professional approaches to negotiation a. Explain whether your approaches are the same or different in your personal and professional life. i. Personal – buying a car ii. Professional – negotiating salary 5. Enhancing negotiation strategies a. Discuss whether you seek to enhance your negotiation strategies 6. Conclusion Be sure to support and justify your positions and conclusions with references to relevant library resources or reputable sources outside of the library. All written assignments should follow APA requirements. The inclusion of your textbook and two outside references (a total of three sources), retrieved from the university library, is required for the completion of this paper.
Content and Development 20 Points Possible	Points Possible	Points Earned	Comments
Met minimum seven page count	3
Included adequate introduction	2
Was effective in discussing attitudes regarding negotiation	3
Thoroughly discussed approaches to negotiation	3
Discussed whether there are differences in personal and professional approaches to negotiation	3
Discussed whether you seek to enhance personal negotiation strategies	3
Included the history on this topic	3
Mechanics 5 Points Possible	Points Possible	Points Earned	Comments
Used subtitles as listed per instructions	1
Paper meets APA guidelines to include in-text citations, double-spacing, title page and reference page	1
Used textbook + two outside sources	1
Rules of grammar, usage and punctuation are followed.	1
Spelling is correct.	1
Total Points	25	0	Submitted on Time?
Date Due and Date Submitted:	3/24/18

Using the Internet and Strayer University databases, research Starbucks’ organizational culture and the key leadership and management traits used to execute the business strategy.

Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:

• Suggest the key elements of Starbucks’ organizational culture that contributes to its success in a global economy. Indicate management’s role with creating and sustaining the organizational culture.
• Assess the effectiveness of Starbucks’ management decisions in providing innovative offerings for its customers (e.g., WiFi, style of coffee, etc.) in order to achieve its current competitive marketplace advantage. Provide support for your rationale.
• Determine one (1) key management competency that a successful manager at Starbucks is likely to have. Indicate one (1) way in which this particular competency is a good fit for the organizational culture.
• Evaluate Starbucks’ ability to achieve long-term sustainability as a global leader in the coffee industry without the organization’s CEO, Howard Shultz.
• Use at least two (2) quality academic resources. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources. Please use the Strayer University Database. APA Format Only.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

Directions: Choose two questions below to answer in a 6-page, academically sourced paper using APA format. Please make sure you have included at least 10 sources to substantiate your information.

• Use Paul Light’s Tides of Reform taxonomy to discuss overarching trends in HR related to compensation and benefits (e.g., pension reforms across the country) and position management changes in places like Georgia, Arizona, and the Department of Homeland Security.
• Discuss the use of selection tests (e.g., education and experience documents are “tests”) using three examples: a frontline administrative assistant in a large organization, a professional with expertise, and a city manager. (This must be presented as an essay, not a simple listing of tests.)
• Describe three different approaches to appraisal as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Describe a relatively thorough appraisal system with at least five components.
• Briefly review the general collective bargaining structure. Specifically answer: who supervises unions and what are the provisions under which they may operate. What choices do unions have in representing their members when negotiations are stalled. Discuss at least one other aspect of collective bargaining in your essay.

I want you to write a literary analysis of this poem by Richard Jackson.

Please consult the “Analyzing a Poem” file in the Module 3 Folder to get ideas of how to go about your analysis.

Your Discussion post should be approximately 500 words.

Ten Things I Need to Know by Richard Jackson

The brightest stars are the first to explode. Also hearts. It is important to pay attention to love’s high voltage signs. The mockingbird is really ashamed of its own feeble song lost beneath all those he has to imitate. It’s true, the Carolina Wren caught in the bedroom yesterday died because he stepped on a glue trap and tore his wings off. Maybe we have both fallen through the soul’s thin ice already. Even Ethiopia is splitting off from Africa to become its own continent. Last year it moved 10 feet. This will take a million years. There’s always this nostalgia for the days when Time was so unreal it touched us only like the pale shadow of a hawk. Parmenedes transported himself above the beaten path of the stars to find the real that was beyond time. The words you left are still smoldering like the cigarette left in my ashtray as if it were a dying star. The thin thread of its smoke is caught on the ceiling. When love is threatened, the heart crackles with anger like kindling. It’s lucky we are not like hippos who fling dung at each other with their ridiculously tiny tails. Okay, that’s more than ten things I know. Let’s try twenty five, no, let’s not push it, twenty. How many times have we hurt each other not knowing? Destiny wears her clothes inside out. Each desire is a memory of the future. The past is a fake cloud we’ve pasted to a paper sky. That is why our dreams are the most real thing we possess. My logic here is made of your smells, your thighs, your kiss, your words. I collect stars but have no place to put them. You take my breath away only to give back a purer one. The way you dance creates a new constellation. Off the Thai coast they have discovered a new undersea world with sharks that walk on their fins. In Indonesia, a kangaroo that lives in a tree. Why is the shadow I cast always yours? Okay, let’s say I list 33 things, a solid symbolic number. It’s good to have a plan so we don’t lose ourselves, but then who has taken the ladder out of the hole I’ve dug for myself? How can I revive the things I’ve killed inside you? The real is a sunset over a shanty by the river. The keys that lock the door also open it. When we shut out each other, nothing seems real except the empty caves of our hearts, yet how arrogant to think our problems finally matter when thousands of children are bayoneted in the Congo this year. How incredible to think of those soldiers never having loved. Nothing ever ends. Will this? Byron never knew where his epic, Don Juan, would end and died in the middle of it. The good thing about being dead is that you don’t have to go through all that dying again. You just toast it. See, the real is what the imagination decants. You can be anywhere with the turn of a few words. Some say the feeling of out-of-the-body travel is due to certain short circuits in parts of the brain. That doesn’t matter because I’m still drifting towards you. Inside you are cumulous clouds I could float on all night. The difference is always between what we say we love and what we love. Tonight, for instance, I could drink from the bowl of your belly. It doesn’t matter if our feelings shift like sands beneath the river, there’s still the river. Maybe the real is the way your palms fit against my face, or the way you hold my life inside you until it is nothing at all, the way this plant droops, this flower called Heart’s Bursting Flower, with its beads of red hanging from their delicate threads any breeze might break, any word might shatter, any hurt might crush.