ETHICS, COMMERCIAL ENGLISH, LANGUAGE AND COM., WRITING, TICS.

2013

Worldwide Cultures

keila de león

Eimy Ramos

Reyna Ordoñez

Andrea Maldonado

[ E S C R I B I R L A D I R E C C I Ó N D E L A C O M P A Ñ Í A ]

Guatemala

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by

Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the

Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Its area is 108,890 km2 (42,

043 mi2) with an estimatEd population of 13,276,517.Guatemala became independent from Spain

in 1821. After independence it was ruled by a series of dictators, assisted by the United Fruit

Company. From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala underwent a civil war fought between the government

and leftist rebels. Following the war, Guatemala has witnessed both economic growth and

successful democratic elections.

Work

The conditions under which most Guatemalans work are less than desirable and often in violation

of Guatemalan law. According to the nation's labor laws, the minimum daily wage is US$3.00 for

agricultural workers, US$3.30 for workers in commerce, US$3.38 for construction workers, and

US$6.00 for specialized labor. The workweek consists of 44 hours for day-shift workers and 36 hours

for night-shift workers. Overtime work is to be compensated with time-and-a-half pay, and children

under the age of 18 are not to work overtime. In terms of workplace conditions, employers are to

ensure healthy and safe environments for their workers by providing adequate bathroom facilities

and on-hand medical care. If 25 percent of the employees at a given workplace request to

organize a trade union, they have the right to do so freely.

Family

Much of Guatemalan life revolves around families. Family members tend to live near each other,

and Guatemalans rarely live or spend much time alone. An invitation to a party or social function,

for example, would be interpreted to include all the family members, including children and

grandparents. Traditional family patterns are changing as Guatemalans adopt more North

American values. Guatemalan women tend to marry young and have many children. In rural

areas, some couples cannot afford or access a church wedding, and often live in common-law

marriages. Mayan couples may also perform different commitment ceremonies other than church

weddings. Women give birth at home, though in cities they may go to a hospital. Guatemala's

population is unique in Central America for its strong resistance to assimilation.

Spare Time

Guatemalans as most of Latin American people like to spend time with the family. On top of that,

thanks to the nice weather and topography they get to do all sorts of outdoor activities such as

kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, climbing volcanoes and festivals.

Religions

50–60% of the Guatemalan population is Catholic, 40% Protestant, 3% Eastern Orthodox and 1%

follow the indigenous Mayan faith. Catholicism was the official religion during the colonial era.

More than one third of Guatemalans are Protestant, chiefly Evangelicals and Pentecostals. It is

common for relevant Mayan practices to be incorporated into Catholic ceremonies and worship

when they are sympathetic to the meaning of Catholic belief; this phenomenon is known as

enculturation. The practice of traditional Mayan religion is increasing as a result of the cultural

protections established under the peace accords.

There are also small communities of Jews estimated between 1200 and 2000, Muslims (1200),

Buddhists at around 9000 to 12000, and members of other faiths and those who do not profess any

faith.

Politics

Politics of Guatemala takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic

republic, whereby the President of Guatemala is both head of state and head of government,

and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is

vested in both the government and the Congress of the Republic. The judiciary is independent of

the executive and the legislature.

Guatemala's 1985 Constitution provides for a separation of powers among the executive,

legislative, and judicial branches of government. The 1993 constitutional reforms included an

increase in the number of Supreme Court justices from 9 to 13. The terms of office for president,

vice president, and congressional deputies were reduced from five years to four years; for

Supreme Court justices from six years to five years, and increased the terms of mayors and city

councils from 30 months to four years.

United States of America

Commonly called the United States , is a federal constitutional republic consisting of fifty states

and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight

contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic

Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Paleo-Indian migrated from

Asia to what is now the United States mainland around 15,000 years ago. After 1500, Old World

diseases introduced by Europeans greatly reduced their populations. European colonization

began around 1600 and came mostly from England. The United States emerged from thirteen

British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard, which developed their own economies and

democratic political systems. Disputes between Great Britain and the American colonies led to

the American Revolution. On July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 colonies unanimously issued the

Declaration of Independence.

Work

As of January 1, 2013, the United States had a total resident population of 315,504,000, making it

the third most populous country in the world. It is a very urbanized population; with 82% residing in

cities and suburbs as of 2008 (the worldwide urban rate is 50.5%). This leaves vast expanses of the

country nearly uninhabited. California and Texas are the most populous states, as the mean

center of United States population has consistently shifted westward and southward. New York

City is the most populous city in the United States.

The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2011 is 1.89 children per woman, which is

below the replacement fertility rate of approximately 2.1. Compared to other Western countries, in

2011, U.S. fertility rate was lower than that of France (2.02) and the United Kingdom (1.97)

Family

The traditional family structure in the United States is considered a family support system involving

two married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring. However, this two-

parent, nuclear family has become less prevalent, and alternative family forms have become

more common. The family is created at birth and establishes ties across generations. Those

generations, the extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, can hold significant

emotional and economic roles for the nuclear family.

Over time, the traditional structure has had to adapt to very influential changes, including divorce

and the introduction of single-parent families, teenage pregnancy and unwed mothers, and

same-sex marriage, and increased interest in adoption. Social movements such as the feminist

movement and the stay-at-home dad have contributed to the creation of alternative family

forms, generating new versions of the American family.

Spare Time

Is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores? It also excludes time spent on

necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education.

The distinction between leisure and unavoidable activities is not a rigidly defined one, e.g. people

sometimes do work-oriented tasks for pleasure as well as for long-term utility. A distinction may also

be drawn between free time and leisure. For example, Situations International maintains that free

time is illusory and rarely free; economic and social forces appropriate free time from the

individual and sell it back to them [clarification needed] as the commodity known as "leisure".

Certainly most people's leisure activities are not a completely free choice, and may be

constrained by social pressures, e.g. people may be coerced into spending time gardening by

the need to keep up with the standard of neighboring gardens.

Religions

Religion in the United States is remarkable both in its high adherence level compared to other

developed countries as well as its diversity. The First Amendment to the country's Constitution

prevents the government from having any authority in religion, and guarantees the free exercise

of religion. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a "very important" role in their lives.

United States is to become the most religiously diverse country in the world. The majority of

Americans identify themselves as Christians (76%), while non-Christian religions (including

Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and others) collectively make up about 4% of the adult population.

Another 15% of the adult population identified as having no religious affiliation. According to the

American Religious Identification Survey, religious belief varies considerably across the country:

59% of Americans living in Western states report a belief in God, yet in the South (the "Bible Belt")

the figure is as high as 86%.

Politics

is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States (the head of state

and head of government), Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national

government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.

The executive branch is headed by the President and is independent of the legislature. Legislative

power is vested in the two chambers of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The judiciary's function is to interpret the United States Constitution and federal laws and

regulations. This includes resolving disputes between the executive and legislative branches. The

federal government's layout is explained in the Constitution. Two political parties, the Democratic

Party and the Republican Party, have dominated American politics since the American Civil War.

There are major differences between the political system of the United States and that of most

other developed democracies. Third parties have less political influence in the United States than

in other developed country democracies.

London

Work

London generates approximately 20 percent of or $446 billion in 2005, while the economy of

the London metropolitan area is the largest in Europe. London is one of the pre-eminent financial

centers of the world and vies with New York City as the most important location for international

finance. London's largest industry is finance, and its financial export make it a large contributor to

the UK's balance of payments Around 325,000 people were employed in financial services in

London until mid-2007. London has over 480 overseas banks, more than any other city in the world.

Over 85% (3.2 million) of the employed population of greater London works in the services

industries. The City of London estimates that 70,000 jobs in finance will be cut within a year.

Family

Family life is changing, and there are tensions between kinship ties and some contemporary social

values. However, the great majority of people perceive themselves to be part of

multigenerational families and regard these relationships as very important. Seventy percent

of adults think that people should keep in touch with close family members; 55 percent think that

they should keep in touch with relatives such as uncles, aunts, and cousins; 60 percent say that

they would rather spend time with relatives than with friends; and nearly 80 percent think relatives

are more important than friends.

Spare Time

They usually like to go out with their families especially places like museums, festival, galleries and

the most important is the theatres. They learn how to paint, sing and act for childhood. IT is their

culture. London is widely believed to be the culture capital of the world, although this title is

disputed with a number of other cities internationally.

Main Religions

According to the 2011 Census, the largest religious groupings are Christians (48.4 percent),

followed by those of no religion (20.7 percent), Muslims (12.4 percent). London has traditionally

been Christian, and has a large number of churches, particularly in the City of London. London is

also home to sizeable Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish communities.

Politics

The administration of London is formed of two tiers—a city-wide, strategic tier and a local tier. City-

wide administration is coordinated by the Greater London Authority (GLA), while local

administration is carried out by 33 smaller authorities. The GLA consists of two elected

components; the Mayor of London, who has executive powers, and the London Assembly, The

Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is

accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. The local authorities are the

councils of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They are responsible for

most local services, such as local planning, schools, social services, local roads and refuse

collection. Certain functions, such as waste management, are provided through joint

arrangements.

CHINA

Work

China has the world's second largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, totaling approximately

US$8.250 trillion according to the International Monetary Fund. From its founding in 1949 until late

1978, the People's Republic of China was a Soviet-style centrally planned economy, without

private businesses or capitalism.

It has achieved great technological and financial innovation, despite the crisis there globally, and

the consequences they carry in the richest countries. The successful growth of this power is due

mainly to the manufacture of products with cheap labor, good infrastructure, relatively high

productivity, favorable government policy, and a major shift in its economy possibly undervalued.

The latter has been sometimes accused by the country's huge trade surplus and has become a

major source of dispute between the country and its trading partners of the United States,

European Union and Japan.

In recent years, the country's rapid economic growth has contributed to severe inflation drinks, 100

causing the prices of basic goods to rise steeply. To curb inflation and moderate rising property

prices, the Chinese government has established a number of fiscal regulations and amendments,

interest rates and imposing limits on bank loans.

Family

The institution of family is the pinnacle of society. This is a fact that has long been realized by the

Chinese who hold the family bonds as sacred and honor them accordingly. The traditional

Chinese family has a hierarchical order with the man as the head of the family tagged with the

responsibility for earning the bread of his family. This responsibility also endows him with complete

authority and the final say in the affairs of the family.

For instance the father is still the maintainer, provider and protector of the family. He may still have

a final say in the important matters concerning his children but no longer does the man of the

house enjoy absolute control over his family members. The children of today’s Chinese family are

more or less free to choose the career they want to pursue but are required to consult their elders

for advice.

When it comes to marriage we find the Chinese to have an elaborate wedding celebration

culture. The wedding events include many ritualistic practices. Although they have been toned

down over the years they have been retained to a certain degree because they are meant to

honor the institution of family.

In the rural areas the families are given some exceptions especially if their first born is not a boy.

The one child policy geared towards controlling the population outburst has had widespread

effects on the marital relations between couples along with the status and prospects for women in

society.

Spare Time

Many things-in the area I currently live many people do out to eat together. Also spending time as

a family outside is popular-whether at a park or near the mall. Playing Mahjong as well as card

games is popular. Karaoke is also popular for adults.

Main religions

Chinese folk religion Describe the collection of ethnic religious traditions which have historically

comprised the predominant belief system in China and among Han Chinese ethnic groups up to

the present day. Chinese folk religion holds aspects of ancestral belief systems such as animism

and shamanism.

Politics

It is one of the world's four remaining official socialist states espousing communism. The Chinese

government has been variously described as communist and socialist, but also as authoritarian,

with heavy restrictions remaining in many areas, most notably on the Internet, the press, freedom

of assembly, reproductive rights, and freedom of religion. The country is ruled by the Communist

Party of China , whose power is enshrined in China's constitution. The Chinese electoral system is

hierarchical, whereby local People's Congresses are directly elected, and all higher levels of

People's Congresses up to the National People's Congress are indirectly elected by the People's

Congress of the level immediately below. The political system is partly decentralized, with limited

democratic processes internal to the party and at local village levels, although these experiments

have been marred by corruption. There are other political parties in China, referred to in China as

democratic parties, which participate in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's

Political Consultative Conference .

Cuba

Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is the most populous island nation in the

Caribbean, as well as the largest by area. However, the population density is lower

than in most Caribbean countries. Its people, culture, and customs draw from diverse

sources, such as the aboriginal Taine and Cooney peoples, the period of Spanish

colonialism, the introduction of African slaves and its proximity to the United States.

Work

Cuba has one of the very few remaining centrally-planned economies in the world.

Expats working in Cuba will quickly learn that the government controls most of the industry

in the country and also the majority of the workforce. About 83% of the Cuban labor force

is employed by the state, with an additional 5% working for companies which are closely

connected to the state. Moreover, most businesses and companies are government-

owned. Working in Cuba got particularly problematic following the collapse of the Soviet

Union. It left the Cuban economy with the loss of preferential trade and support from

overseas.

Family:

The Cuban family is characterized by patriarchy, strong parental control over children's

lives, and the importance of non-nuclear relationships for the nuclear family. Parents

control too many their children; they do not have too much freedom. Several

generations of a family often live in the same house. Grandparents and parents are an

integral part of raising the youngsters. Aunts and uncles also take on the role of teachers.

Spare Time:

People in Cuba usually practice sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, athletics and

volleyball. They likes too much the sport because this give them an opportunity to go out of the

country because almost everything else is controlled, Cubans enjoy the wonderful feeling of

sharing with each other; enjoying themselves simply by dancing, telling stories, singing. They have

a wonderful spirit. They find fun things to do and because is generally safe (in the sense of no

crime), people can go out until late and night, and walk on the beach, and have parties.

Politics:

Cuba is constitutionally defined as a "socialist state guided by the principles of José Marti, and the

political ideas of Marx, the father of communist states, Engels and Lenin." The present Constitution

also ascribes the role of the Communist Party of Cuba to be the "leading force of society and of

the state”. Executive is exercised by the Cuban Government, which is represented by the Council

of State and the Council of Ministers. Legislative power is exercised through the unicameral

National Assembly of People's Power, which is constituted as the maximum authority of the state.

Currently Rail Castro—brother of former President Fidel Castro—is President of the Council of State,

President of the Council of Ministers (sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister), First Secretary of

the Communist Party, and Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. Ricardo

Alarcon is President of the National Assembly.

Religions

Cuba's prevailing religion is Catholicism, although in some instances it is profoundly modified and

influenced through syncretism. A common syncretic religion is Santeria, which combined the

Yoruba religion of the African slaves with Catholicism and some Native American strands. Santeria

blends elements of Christianity and West African beliefs and as such made it possible for the slaves

to retain their traditional beliefs while appearing to practice Catholicism. La Virgin de la Cardiac

Del Cobra is the Catholic patroness of Cuba, and is greatly revered by the Cuban people and

seen as a symbol of Cuba. In Santeria, she has been syncretized with the goddess Ochen. The

important religious festival "La Virgin de la Cardiac del Cobra" is celebrated by Cubans annually

on 8 September. Other religions practiced are Palo Monte, and Abacus, which have large parts of

their liturgy in African languages.

Compa ring

Chart

Untad Otates

Of América

Guatemala London China Cuba

Works Is the third

most

popular for

working .

Guatemala’s

people work

to mantain

their families.

London

is a

preemin

ent

financial

centre’s

of the

world.

Chinese

people

work

with

cheap

labor

and

good

infrastruc

ture

Govern

ment

controls

most of

the

industries

.

Family The families Almost the They try The Parents

are

very

dependable

and they

really

be together

only

in a

celebrations.

families use

the values of

United States

of America.

to be

together

,

they

usually

learn

culture

things

like art.

family

is the

pinnacle

of

the

society

control

too

much

their

children.

Spare

Time

Is time spent

away from

business, work

and domestic

chores.

Guatemala's

usually spare

time with

their families

and friends.

They

spent

time in

art,

museums

activities

,

festivals

etc.

They like

to

spend

time

with

family

or play

Mahjong

They like

to

dancing,

singing

and

the most

importa

nt

practice

sports.

Religions is identified as

christian in

76%

is identified as

catholic in

50-60%

Most of

them

Are

christiam.

Chinese

folk

religion

Cuba’s

prevailin

g

religion

is

Catholici

sm ,a

commo

n

syncretic

religion

is

Santeria.

Politics President,

Congress

and

judiciary

share powers.

President,

vice-president,

government,

deputies.

They

major of

London

and

33

smaller

authoriti

es.

The

governm

ent

is

commun

ist

and

socialist

Have an

strict

governm

ent

and the

power is

excised.

PROBLEM:

Alan works in the claims department of a major hospital. Paperwork on a recent admission shows

that a traumatic mugging caused the patient to require an adjustment in the medication she is

prescribed to control anxiety and mood swings. Alan is struck by the patient’s unusual last name

and upon checking her employment information realizes she is one of his daughter’s grade school

teachers.

Alan’s daughter seems very happy in her school and he cannot violate patient confidentiality by

informing the school of a teacher’s mental illness but he is not comfortable with a potentially

unstable person in a position of influence and supervision over his eight year old daughter. Can

Alan reconcile these issues in an ethical manner?

1. That Alan needs to say; I really like this school and that is the reason that I put here my

daughter but I really don’t know if you care about how the teacher’s teach, because I think

that the teacher is a person unstable so that influence in my daughter so I really like this school

and I don't like to change to school for only one thing that can have result. So when my

daughter studies in U.S.A.

2. Courtesy Alan has to talk with the principal and says: good morning principal I am the father

of Carla and I am here because I would like if you can exchange my daughter to other

classroom because I feel that she are so talkative with the people that she knows and I would

like that my daughter pays attention in the class. Also I know that here in Guatemala we can

exchange people to other class just move stationary papers. Please if you can do it I would

appreciate it.

3. Alan needs to express his idea. Alan has to go and talk with the principal of the school. He

could introduce himself with a handshake then asking by the scores of his daughter. He could

say: I know that my daughter has good scores and she is happy in her class, but I would like

that she can develops her sensitive and be able to express herself with other children, so I

would like to change of class to because I think that it could be a good way that she could

experiment new things like try to do new things, we know that Chinese kids are very smart and I

know that my daughter can do it. You know is a good way that our children can develop their

sensitivities to improve China.

4. Talk to the principal. Alan: Can I talk to the principal? Good Afternoon Mr. Bates I’m here to

talk about my daughter because my daughter said me that her teacher has an untestable

personality but I think that for her is better that if you can exchange her to other class or

country if will be perfect for me. But in Cuba the right is different and the only possibility is that

he out of school to another in other country.

5. If they were in London this is what Alan has to tell. Alan needs to talk with the Principal of the

school. He can say that the school should improve the training of their teachers. He can tells

them that his daughter has difficulties to study and that he wants to know what is happen in

the class. London has the best schools in the world, so people in London will train more their

teachers to have the best education for the kids. London has a lot of institutions to help people

with disabilities to have a job. So this problem will be easy to result because they know that

people is very intelligent to develop their skills.