Music Censorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Music Censorship - Essay Example There are two sides on this issue, there those supporting and others opposing music censorship. At this point, the main question that lingers in many is what action transcends from the consumer matter to the censorship matter. A study carried out by Rabkin (2002) indicates that, censorship plays a fundamental role to the American government. One of the issues involving music censorship is at what age is appropriate for children to listen and watch music that is profanity. Following this, this paper affirm that parents and governments should not desist their children from listening to music, because as they do that, they deny them from grasping what’s happening in the society. It is worth noting that, music may serve as a purpose of motivation, or be used for moral, military, religious, or political reasons. These ideas may augment critical thinking and encouragement to many who are wounded by life experiences and encourage those desiring to achieve their dreams. It may express aspirations and hopes thus, promote a desirable society. Music is free expression of thoughts and ideas thus no one should be stopped from expressing his or her thoughts. Countries like China, Sudan, and Afghanistan comprehend the need of breach of musician’s rights to the freedom of expression in music (Szurek, 2008). However, other countries like Algeria and USA keep off popular music in the concert stage and out of the retail and media. In ex-Yugoslavia, musicians encounter challenges as their freedom of free expression has much been affected (Dahir, 1995). Many nations fail to regard music as the therapy to life and instead see it as vulgarity and cursing. However, this is not the case in most cases as some songs are just ridiculous and funny and they create a platform to understand how the world is. Those in support of music censorship believe that children are not mature people to listen and watch music with profanity.

Sustainable Practise journals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainable Practise journals - Assignment Example In the context of value, the journal has provided five major efforts that have a major influence on individuals shaping their sustainable position. In this regard, the five major attributes include the historical chronology, taxonomy of sustainable developmental goals, the earth charter, millennium declaration, and continuous transitional scenario of the global environment. These efforts are the core factors in terms of setting trends towards sustainable development of values, attitudes and behavioral traits of each human being across the overall natural ecosystem (Leiserowitz et al., 2004). According to my understanding, I would like to mention that historical chronology along with different transitional stages is the core factors shaping attitude and behavioral skills of individuals. I believe that the changes in developmental goals are often influenced by different chronological facts. Moreover, I think that the severe changes in development of a global economy along with socio-cu ltural aspects also have a major influence on building effective behavioral skills and attitude for long term sustainability. In relation to the present day context, different scholars have provided numerous definitions and have described the impact of major factors that have a profound influence on shaping human attitude and behavioral skills over the various transition stages. In addition, the increasing pace of globalization along with the unabated fluctuation of the socioeconomic and political trends also has a similar impact towards changing the attitude and behavioral skills of the individuals (Rogerson et al., n.d.). With respect to the view of the scholars, I conjure that changing cultural aspects in terms of conserving continuous development in the living standards along with the unabated external forces are few of the key driving forces behind the major changes in the individuals’ attitude and

Book Store With A Cafe Included Marketing Essay

Book Store With A Cafe Included Marketing Essay We have chosen a book store with a cafe included. We have chosen this as coffee shops and bookstores are popular in the city. We have also chosen Auckland Citys, Queen Street (main downtown) as our prime location. Since there are many surrounding businesses and universities, this seemed like the best location. Our target market for our product/ service will be ranging from the ages of 20 and over. We have these groups as our target audiences because 20 to 25 year olds are most likely to be university students. 25- 50 year olds is the working group that we have also targeted, this age group is most likely to gout for coffee while on breaks. Our older target market consists of ages 55 and onwards. This age group was chosen because many people have either left the workforce or retired. Retired citizens receive the gold plus card which gives them the privilege to travel free on public transport after 9 am. Many people in this age group tend to gather friends and go out. Market Analysis DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL SUPPLIERAs we will be running a combined product/ service company, our distribution channels for both would be different. For the bookstore our distribution channel would be: CONSUMER RETAILER This would be the most appropriate distribution channel as books will be bought directly from the supplier, which than will be sold on to the retailer (Village Poets Cafe) and then passed onto the consumers. A certain percentage of mark up will be added before sold on to the consumer. Our coffee house distribution will be different as this will require more than three channels. Products for the coffee house can either be bought directly from the producer or from the wholesaler who buys form the producer. Coffee houses will generally use both. So our distribution channel will consist of three channels. PRODUCER WHOLESALER OR RETAILER CONSUMER RETAILER CONSUMER ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Demographic- our demographic ranges from age 20 to 55 plus. Our demographic market is so wide because of the combination of the bookstore and coffee store. The 20 25 age groups are mainly focused for the book store. This is because of the surrounding tertiary institution. As this is a book store and a coffee store, students that visit coffee shops usually like to sit and have a read. With both stores combined, students coming to buy can also be encouraged to buy a book or stationery. This way income will be generated from both the stores. Other age group of this organisation is mainly focused on the coffee house. This is the best place as people can just read and relax. Technology- technologies have huge impacts in businesses. As many new technologies have been developed, many jobs that needed human labour were replaced by machines. It is the sasme for books, as many application have been developed that makes it possible for readers to download and read books e.g. eReader and Kindle. This means that less people are buying fewer books. This also means that book stores are not generating as much income as they did. This is an abstacle for our book store as we will have to think of ways to attract customers to come into our store. Technology can be our biggest factor. Politics- the only political factor that will affect the coffee store are the health and safety and food safety measure. We will have to be able to get food safety certificates in order to run the coffee house effectively. We will also need to have effective pest control measures in place. If we fail to comply, the local council can penalise and this will affect the businesses reputation in the community. Natural Forces- for the coffee shop, the coffee beans would be imported from elsewhere. If not from another country than it would definitely be bought from a wholesaler who may import beans from another country. E.g. Ethiopian Sidamo Fair Trade Coffee beans from www.globalcoffee.co.nz. If there was a flood or drought in Ethiopia, than this may mean that the beans will be unavailable for some time and we may need to find alternatives. Other natural forces that can affect the business are earthquakes. As these are becoming common in New Zealand, we have to ensure that the premises are insured. Earthquakes could cause a lot of damage and may result in the premises being shut down for some time. Income will be lost for that time being. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS Our main product of the store will be coffee and books. But as we are perceiving coffee as our main source of income, we will have to do lots of campaigning. We will lots of competitors at the location we are based on. Since we are located on queens street, our main competitors for coffee will be Starbucks/ McDonald McCafe, and for books will be Whitcoulls. We will compare prices for coffee. Prices of books will also be compared with the likes of Whitcoulls. Channel Market Comments Internet Amazon.com (Books) Ficton/Books/Magazines Lee Child story boo. k- A Jack Reacher Novel for 18.48 and Where We Belong for 16.78 Amazon offers an easy pathway for book lovers to buy books online. These are easily dispatched. Village Poets Cafe will have to have promotions that would want to make the customers come to the shop and get the books. Local Market- e.g. Whitcoulls Whitcoulls are really successful in New Zealand. They usually have cheap offers on books e.g. container sale. To maintain steady sales we will have to campaign on books with complimentary coffee perhaps or buy 2 books and get a coffee free. Local Market Starbucks and McDonalds (McCafe) Starbucks will be our main competitor. McCafe will also be competitive as they are more convenient for people and usually offer promotions such as Free Muffins. Established brands that take over will be a great way to test quality of coffee. MARKET MEASTUREMENTS Customer Perceptions No formal measurement of customer perceptions has been undertaken as yet. We are meaning to measure the perceptions through the advertisings. However, it is expected that customer response may be positive because of the convenience. Market Share Market share is not yet considered at this stage. Other Considerations Observation and feedback will be used as tools to measure the market against the competitors. For e.g. foot traffic and sales can be measured against competitors. Feedback from customers and determining the right price for the products/ services can be used to set up pages on social networks e.g. Facebook and also News paper advertisements. PROFITABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY ANALYSIS In the current phase of the business, we are wanting to breakeven in the first few months. The profit margins will be very narrow. There will be lots of over heads to consider e.g. equipment purchase, employees, training, packaging, utensils, resources, rent, and electricity. Product 1 Large Coffee Product 2 Pastries Product 3 Books Retail Price 4.60 3.00 29.99 Expenses Coffee Beans 0.45 Paper cups 0.15 Freight Inwards 0.45 0.20 5.00 Electricity 0.70 0.50 1.50 Ingredients 0.60 0.70 Total Expenses per product 2.35 1.20 16.50 Gross Profit per product 2.25 1.80 13.40 Total gross profit altogether is 17.45. A projected sale for one week is $2000. 180 cups of coffee x 4.60 = $828 400 pieces of pastries x 3.00= $1200 100 books x 29.99 = $29999 which equals to $5027. Product 1 Product 2 Product 3 Gross Profit 2.25 1.80 13.40 Market Sales 180 400 100 Total Sales $405 $720 $1340 PC 1.2 a.) Cultural Factors -Peoples views of nature/technology as technology is expanding it is coming up with ideas that makes things available on fingertips e.g. Kindle book reader. This in many ways lessens the environmental factors. Peoples views of the organisation- we will have to demonstrate that we as an organisation are trust worthy. We will have to adopt and ask for opinions and suggestions to accurately monitor and measure sustainability and customer perceptions. b.) Ethical Factors We will be using Fair Trade coffee beans as well as coffee cups that are recyclable. We may also encourage customers to buy coffee cups that are reusable. Reusable coffee cups can be made available in store if we market it the right way and make its benefits bold. Recycling signs need to be emphasized on the cups. Not recycling effectively can become an issue overtime, there fore best practices will be put in place from the start. PC 1.1 SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths (Internal) Access to technology and teams having to necessary knowledge Knowledge of local market and geography Ability to design the store ourselves Weakness (Internal) Very less knowledge about the finance of the business Have to rely on foot traffic at the this stage Having to use only New Zealand suppliers Opportunities (External) Lots of new ways to market our products and services e.g. Facebook pages Making of more contacts with the suppliers locally Threats Lots of competitors (McDonalds, Starbucks, Whitcoulls) Weather New competitors Recession Suppliers not having enough stock or running out of stock PART TWO: MARKETING OBJECTIVES To get effective marketing campaign for Village Poets Cafe. Some marketing objectives that we have decided on are radio advertisements, flyers and facebook page. These marketing campaigns have been chosen specifically because they are the most common ways of making direct contact with potential customers. Our measures of success will be taken when the store has opened. We will conduct a little survey or just ask customers how they heard about the store. To make the objective attainable, we will have in place a set budget fro spending on campaigns and use resources or opportunities that may have been previously looked upon. With the target market in place we will work towards on how much the marketing will cost. The goal is to create an effective marketing campaign before the store opens to get customer traffic whether it be foot traffic or by other means. To find out whether the main objective had been achieved or not, will only be known when store has commenced business. Whether if the marketing campaign has been achieved or not will be known when the store opens but a time frame that we have given for marketing the store is at least 3 weeks. PART THREE: OPERATIONAL PLAN PC 1.3 Activities, Responsibilities, Timeliness and Resources Activities Responsibilities Timeliness Resources Flyers To create attractive flyers with promotions that would be eye catching and perhaps a glimpse of the store. Flyer to be colourful and should be catchy Zabeen/ Shaista To be produced before the store opens and be distributed prior to opening (one week) Laptop, Google, Promotional materials, Paper, Ink. Radio sales To establish radio stations that would be relevant to our audiences. Responsible for running adverts and scripting them. Need to sort out the suitable times e.g. mornings Amandip Two weeks before opening and two weeks after opening Market/ geographic research Target audiences Materials e.g. information for advertising Facebook To establish a Village Poets Cafe page on facebook. Also in charge for ongoing maintenance of the page and updating with photos and posts. Krishneel Page to be established and up and running by the opening of the shop. Ongoing Laptop and digital camera. COMMUNICATION PLAN As a medium based organisation, we have a communication plan that shapes our organisation. The communication plan is for our internal and external shareholders. Our values shape our communication plan. Our values are: Honesty our motives should be honest. Our customers and staff will be treated with honestly and work must be done with honesty. Respect be respectful towards customers and staff. By doing things with respect, business ethics will become stronger. Stakeholder Materiality To engage with the stakeholders, we as an organisation need to understand what resources are important for them. For most stakeholders, money is the biggest factor and rely on that as it is their livelihood as well as ours. Some of our stakeholders are: Customers- customers should receive value for their money. In return we provide them with coffee that is rich and offers value for money. E.g. large cappuccinos for $3.60. We would also stress on customers bringing in their own cups as a plan for promoting good environmental practices. Suppliers- need to be paid on time. This helps to create a relationship that can be mutual later on. Applying with the legislative rules and components and paying rent on time. Use the infrastructure and the facilities available on site regularly. Community- making sure that we also promote on environmental factors and recycle and throw away garbage appropriately and keep the business clean and tidy at all times. CONTINGENCIES AND OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION Some risks that Village Poet Cafe may face are poor weather, conflict with suppliers, staff shortages. Risk Probability Impact Rating Contingency Poor weather 1 2 2 Business maybe very slow on some rainy days, on rare cases. Can have rainy day promotions e.g. buy a book and get a cup of coffee free. Conflict with suppliers (Books and other wise) 1 3 3 Can be disruptive if bills are not paid on time. Ensure to pay bills on time and build trust over time. Staff shortages 1 2 2 Have enough staff to cover all shifts. Also employ students on part time / casual basis who are trustworthy. PROVISIONS FOR DATA ACQUSITION Since we are using flyers, radio and facebook as our intended ways of advertising, the best way to keep data acquisitions is to record daily sales. Also get the customers to give feedback on a form which could state them to tell us where they heard about Village Poets Cafe. Complaints and compliments can also be used to record feedback. MARKET POSITIONING Village Poets Cafe is a cafe with a bookstore which is not common in the New Zealand market. Village Poets Cafe wants to provide the best service to its customers in terms of providing the best coffee and a place for the customers to relax and unwind. Competitors such as starbucks, McDonalds, Whitcoulls are well known brands around the globe, but they dont provide the benefits of buying a book and taking time out to buy coffee as well and relax at the same time. Village Poets Cafe are to make sure and emphasise on this benefit of the store. We are to also emphasise on the Fair Trade Coffee beans that are to be used and recyclable coffee cups. MARKET MIX At Village Poets Cafe we will focus on the 4Ps Product- our focus is on coffee and books under one roof. Our focus is on why customers should come to us. It provides them with the benefit of being able to buy a book or magazine and relaxing afterwards with coffee. The advantage for our customers will be that they will also be able to sit and read there. People will come in for either on of the products. It is likely that at least coffee maybe purchased. Pricing- our price for a standard coffee is 4.60 which allows us to make a profit of $2.25. this price us reasonable when compared with our competitors. Prices off books will differ and maybe the same prices in some cases. Using schemes such as loyalty cards can be handy as it can be another way of promoting our store. Promotion- our products/ services are marketed using flyers, radio and facebook pages. Since we are a new business starting up, we will be working on attracting customers locally first. We will also be running promotions on buying 5 cups of coffee and get the 6th free. Also be running loyalty card schemes where a customer can get 10% after their 3rd purchase on the books. Market bonds can be made stronger when really interacting with customers and delivering with what they want. Place- as we are located on Queen Street, we wont be focusing on reaching out to new markets. We will be focusing on getting established in the current market. By 2013, we may look at expanding out of Queen Street. QUALITY CONTROLS Quality coffee will be an integral part for Village Poets cafe. We are ensuring that our coffee will be of Fair Trade and of top quality. We want to give customers, value for their money. Quality controls will be our focus and regular customer feedbacks will help us keep on track. EVALUATION PROCESSES AND CRITERIA Evaluation processes and criteria are embedded in the objectives. STEP 7 (PC3.2) Other marketing activity and potential synergies Internal synergies With Village Poets Cafe, inter synergies are very limited. External synergies We would need to engage with partners e.g. Fair Trade dealers to create a more environmental environment.

The Country of Liberia :: Africa Profile Geography Anthropology Essays

The Country of Liberia This paper is about a small country on the west coast of Africa called Liberia. It is a country built with the help of The American Colonization Society. It was established to place freed blacks in the days of slavery in the United States in the 1800s. The government was modeled after the United States. Monrovia, the capital and principal, port is named after a president of the united states, James Monroe. This country has historical significance for african Americans. As Africa's oldest republic, established by former black American slaves, Liberia played and important role as a model for African colones seeking independence. HISTORY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's tribal peoples migrated to the area between the 12th and 16th centuries. The Portuguese arrived in 1461 and began a trade in ivory, pepper, and later in slaves. In 1820, the first colonists arrived. Their successful settlement was named Monrovia in 1824. More colonists gradually arrived and established separate colonies. In 1847 the colonies united and Liberia became the first independent republic in black Africa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The new nation faced many problems. Some of them were tribal wars, low exports, and land claimed by other countries. Liberia was able to maintain its independence only with the help of the United States. Following World War II, the modern port, airport, hospitals, hydroelectric station, and other projects, all financed by the United States, were opened. There has been frequent military conflicts and civil wars. In August 1990, forces from several African countries entered Liberia to try and stop the bloody civil wars. The fighting only became worse and the Prospects of a negotiated settlement were dim. LAND AND RESOURCES   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's straight sandy coast is 350 miles long. It is broken by lagoons and mangrove swamps. It gives way to a low rolling plain about 20 miles wide. Further inland, foothills ranging in height from 600 to 1000 feet high are found. They become mountains in the north and east. The highest point in the country is Mt. Wutuvi which rises to 4,531 feet. Land area of the country is 43,000 square miles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's rivers are short and flow parallel to one another from the mountains to the ocean. The largest rivers are the St. Paul, St. John, and Cavalla.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberia's tropical climate is hot and humid. The usual temperature ranges from 60 degrees to 87 degrees. Annual rainfall, as much as 177 inches at the coast, gradually decreases inland to 96 inches. The rainy season occurs between May and October. A dusty winter wind blows during December.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are 90 different kind of usable wood in Liberia's vast timber resources. Mineral resources include large deposits of iron ore, diamonds, and

My Tub

A girl and her tub should not be messed with. My full-body slnklng hole with relaxing jets is my form of relaxation in this rat race called life. Even though, I am surrounded by dirty clothes, piles of forgotten cosmetics and beauty products with plastic toy animals staring at me, I am alone. I lock the door and barricade myself from my husband, two small boys, phone calls, laundry, and life. I turn off the overhead light and let the natural sunrays from outside come through the window.I might exfoliate the soles of my tired feet or I might run the dull razor up and down my hairy legs, but mostly I Just sit. I close my eyes while putting up my feet and letting my mind race to an imaginary world where things are simple. I let the heat from the hot water steam up my glasses. I let the heat turn my skin pink from the extreme temperature differences in the room and melt away my stress and worries.The sweat runs down my face and mixes with the washed away make-up, dirt, and tears. It form s puddles and trickles down my body and drift away In the Immense pool. I conquer all of life's dilemmas, family squabbles, and work stress on deserted island in the bathroom. And when it is over, I would like to think they all disappear down the drain for a temporary leave. This is my secret clubhouse that I retreat to for relief. My tub is my own and should not be messed with.

Governments Should Not Negotiate With Terrorists Essay

Would you give a thief $100,000 to get your stolen purse back? If you were to give a thief $100,000, you would make him think that he can make a profit out of stealing purses. The thief would also use the $100,000 to buy a gun or other weapons or vehicles that would help him steal future purses. Now think about the thief as a terrorist and you as a government. Should governments negotiate with terrorists? Terrorism activities have increased these past few years due to faulty decisions made by governments when dealing with terrorists. Many have made the mistake of compromising with terrorists, which makes them appear weak and targetable, which only sponsors future terrorist acts. The outcomes of past government agreements with terrorists have only worsened and perpetuated this situation. The paying of millions of dollars as ransom to terrorist kidnappers and hostage/takers has also fueled future terrorist attacks and has only made terrorism profitable, making it more attractive to terrorists. Governments legitimize terrorism by compromising; therefore governments should not negotiate with terrorists, rather marginalize and weaken their organizations by refusing them any concessions and targeting individuals within their groups. The reasoning behind terrorism is that violence can be used to attract the attention of governments and the general public, who as a result, succumb to the terrorist’s ideas and/or desires. Unfortunately, this terrorist tactic is sometimes effective, like in the 2004 Madrid Bombings. On March 11, ETA, a terrorist organization, bombed four commuter trains in Madrid. Their objective was to cause a political change in Spain; the elections were that same weekend. Before the bombings, the People’s Party was the voter’s favorite, but ETA’s terrorist attack caused a drastic change in the ballot and the Socialist Party won. After winning the election, the Socialist Party decided to remove the Spanish troops in Iraq, which is what ETA wanted. Because of this turn of events, Downing says: â€Å"†¦the terrorists would be able to claim that their bombings had influenced both a European election and the situation in Iraq. † (Downing 38-39) Since the people and the government reacted to the attack the way ETA wanted it too, the terrorists could have considered the attack successful, and as a consequence may attack again. The message the government sent ETA is that if they want a change, they should just use violence to obtain it. Governments must be careful with terrorist’s interest and their own interests when making controversial decisions, especially those made shortly after terrorist attacks, like the bombings in Madrid. In that case, the decision was whether or not to remove Spanish troops from Iraq. ETA wanted them removed, and the Socialist Party decided to remove them because of the pressure they were put under. Removing the troops was a mistake because it just pleased the terrorists; it made the terrorists feel they can manipulate the government through pressure induced by brutality. Governments should always include terrorist interests in important decision-making, but not to make the decision in the terrorist’s favor, rather to make the decision in a way that terrorists are not satisfied by it and cannot take any credit from it. Governments must show that they are strong, and that they are not and will not be influenced by terrorism. (Downing 38-39) Governments make themselves appear weak by succumbing to pressure, and sometimes the pressure does not even come from the terrorists in the situation, but from other governments, leaders or groups. Even if they might want to interfere for the most pacific reasons, peace negotiations with terrorists do not have the best outcomes. First of all, they are terrorists; therefore, their favorite and only way of attempting to achieve their goals is through violence. This means that if they do not receive what they desire through force, they believe they cannot get it through peace either. Secondly, terrorists are unpredictable; they cannot be trusted. Thirdly, most terrorists do not back down, especially jihadists, because they are willing to lose their life for what they believe in. Lastly, if a government makes peace with terrorists, and the terrorists do not keep their end of the deal, then the government will appear weak and defeated, while the terrorist will appear victorious. These are the reasons for which governments should not attempt to make peace with terrorists. They should try to end terrorism instead of making a truce with it. A perfect example of why governments should not seek peace from terrorists is an incident the U. S. government had in Fallujah. U. S. Marines attempted to compromise with jihadists in Fallujah after being pressured by European officials and human rights groups. The U. S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said they wanted peace instead of war in Fallujah, but the jihadists misunderstood and considered the compromise a victory over the Americans. (Rubin 19-20) As a result, the misunderstanding led to 30 car bombings. Not only did the U. S. appear weak because of this failed compromise; it also encouraged the jihadists to carry on with their terrorist acts because the jihadists believed they defeated them, and that they were capable of defeating them again. Truces with terrorists are very tricky and unpredictable, and should always be avoided because an unfavorable outcome can be catastrophic and can lead to more violence. Just as truces with terrorists can be very tricky, negotiating with terrorist kidnappers and hostage-takers can be very tricky as well. Recently terrorists use these tactics to create an audience full of suspense. These tactics now create more attention than massacres and bombings because people are getting more accustomed to them as they happen. (Rubin 22) Kidnappings/hostage takings are becoming more and more popular and sadly, governments have been making it even more popular by making it profitable. They make it profitable by negotiating and paying ransoms to terrorists because negotiating with kidnappers legitimizes their act and as a result further proliferates terrorism. It has spread terrorism because the terrorists have learned that kidnapping/hostage-taking has become very profitable. (Rubin 23) In March 2000, Muammar al-Qadhafi, a Libyan leader, paid Abu Sayyaf, a hostage-taker based in the Philippines, a $25 million ransom for the release of priests, teachers, and children he had kidnaped from a school. (Rubin 23) After receiving the money, Abu Sayyaf expanded his terrorist group from a couple hundred to more than a thousand members and bought speedboats and weapons, which were used for other kidnappings. By paying the terrorist such a large ransom to keep the captives from getting harmed, Muammar al-Qadhafi funded future kidnappings, putting more people in danger. The paying of the ransom also made kidnapping productive for Sayyaf, because they technically rewarded him for terrorism, encouraging him to carry out more terrorist acts because he will get money or other concession out of them. The same case occurred in Sahel. The â€Å"Bin Laden of the Desert†, Ammari Saifi, took 32 European vacationers in the Algerian desert, and held them hostage for 177 days. The German government paid a five million euro ransom and they were released, but Ammari Saifi used the money to buy weapons and vehicles. (Rubin 24) The German government funded future kidnappings similar to how the Libyan leader did. It is a pattern: terrorists kidnap citizens; they ask for reward in return for the hostages; and then they use the ransom they get paid to repeat this cycle more effectively (with new and more members, weapons and vehicles). Governments should not keep rewarding terrorists with million dollar ransoms because all they have been doing is perpetuating the cycle instead of ending it. Governments should use force to recover captives and avoid rewarding terrorists with ransoms. It is an actual U. S. government policy â€Å"to deny hostage takers the benefit of ransom, prisoner releases, policy changes, or other acts of concession. † (â€Å"Counter-Terrorism: History, Strategy and Tactics† Web) Western governments should also respond to kidnapping by thinking about the safety of the majority of their citizens instead of an individual. Even though it could end in injury or death of the captive, in the long term it prevents further kidnappings. (Rubin, 24) So governments should try their best to recover captives, but without the use of ransoms because in the long run, a short tragedy is better than the endangerment a larger amount of citizens. Governments should not appease with terrorists, they should use intelligence to take them down instead. â€Å"In a war between networks, the side with superior intelligence wins. † (Garreau 60) The more information and technology is obtained, the better the chances of defeating the terrorists are because more effective strategies can be put into action. Governments should use this knowledge to find the leader and how to target them. The leader of the group is key because the disruption or terrorist leaderships weaken terrorist organization and causes them to struggle and expose themselves. (Rubin, 27) This has been happening with Osama bin Laden and his terrorist organization: â€Å"The loss of bin Laden and these other key operatives puts the network on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse. † (â€Å"Country Reports on Terrorism 2011† Web) Be careful with this strategy: â€Å"Better the devil you know. Like [Libyan dictator][Moammar] Gaddafi, keep him alive, because you know him. Who knows what sort of clever mastermind might replace him. † (Garreau 60) Past concessions to terrorists have proven that government negotiations with them make terrorism productive; therefore governments should marginalize, isolate or eliminate the threat. Doing so would make terrorist acts unprofitable for those who carry them out. In order to avoid the further proliferation of terrorism, governments must take a firm stand against these foes and send a message of zero tolerance against terrorist acts. ? Works Cited â€Å"Chapter 1. Strategic Assessment. † U. S. Department of State. U. S. Department of State, 31 July 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. . â€Å"Counter-Terrorism: History, Strategy and Tactics. † Counter-Terrorism: History, Strategy and Tactics. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. . Downing, David. â€Å"Madrid Bombings. † The War on Terror. Mankato: Arcturus Publishing, 2008. 38-39. Print. Garreau, Joel. â€Å"Intelligence Gathering Is the Best Way to Reduce Terrorism. † At Issue. Are Efforts to Reduce Terrorism Succesful? Ed. Lauri S. Friedman. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2005. 57-63. Rubin, Michael and Suzanne Gershowitz. â€Å"Governments Should Never Negotiate with Terrorists. † At Issue. Should Governments Negotiate with Terrorists? Ed. Amanda Hiber. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 15-29.

Argumentative Essay Sample on Death Penalty Pros and Cons

Argumentative Essay Sample on Death Penalty Pros and Cons Just like the debate on the legalization of marijuana, the death penalty has elicited mixed feelings on all the citizens globally. There are those who strongly argue that capital offenders must be sentenced to death. In America, for example, crime has become a national disaster. What makes the matter worse is that incarceration has done very little to correct wayward behavior. In the recent past, national authorities have embraced correctional policies in a bid to persuade citizens to stop engaging in criminal activities. When viewed from this lens, one may contend that the death penalty is the sole sure way of deterring would-be criminals from capital crime. On the other continuum of this dilemma are civil rights bodies and humanitarian groups. Everybody understands that the human life is sacred and that it should be treated as such. In addition to this, every national constitution has a universal clause that seeks to protect human life. In consideration of this truth, it emerges that the death penalty is neither advantageous nor prejudicial. Common dissertations written by students take the form of persuasive essay on death penalty: the pros and cons. When writing such an essay, one must provide a background into the topic. The next step is to take a position, either to support or refute the notion of imposing death penalty. The reasons for the position taken must be provided. This is followed by a counter argument, with supporting reasons. For illustration purposes, a brief persuasive essay on this topic is as follows: Serious offenses like murder and rape generally attract a death penalty. It is perceived that in executing death penalty, serious offenses are denounced. There cannot be denying the fact that crime is highly prevalent in modern societies. This leaves innocent citizens with profound fear of robbery attacks, beastly rapes, and murders. More often than not, for example, the victims of horrible rapes are children and elderly women. The pain of losing a loved one or a close colleague to violent robbers and murderers is so unbearable that one wishes the perpetrators could be hanged. It is very worrying that the people who commit these heinous crimes have been in and out jail severally. Thus, it helps very little if the court system keeps sentencing a serial murderer to imprisonment. Imposing a death penalty will clean all killers and rapists from the society. It might sound irreligious to sentence an offender to death; disobedience to laws is denounced in all religions. Therefore, if a person does not have respect for life, then why should others respect his/her life? Is it okay to see our young girls lose their dignity to insufferable criminals who have no justification for the acts they commit? Let every one be answerable for his or her actions. There is need to comprehend that a death penalty might be the only effective way of portraying crime as serious. Let the government do what it deems effective for the security of its citizens.

The Next Big Thing essays

The Next Big Thing essays All through time scholars and fortune tellers have tried to predict the next big thing to hit, whether it is general or a specific, they have tried. No one knows when it will hit until it does, like Flemings serendipitous discovery of the antibiotic penicillin. At this, the dawning of a new millennium, we should recall that little more than a hundred years ago it was a popular opinion that nothing of any great importance was left to be done, and then radioactivity, quantum mechanics, antimatter, and various vaccinations came along. Todays science is an open forum for all. Serendipity contains a collage of significant scientific discoveries in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, and even archaeology. My hope is that the next big thing is the advancement of immunology. According to National Geographic Magazine, the health of the body is dependent on the immune systems ability to recognize and then repel or destroy foreign invaders that may cause disease. Ev ery minute of every day wars rage within our bodies. Usually we never even notice the battles in the incessant wars within us. We have evolved legions of defenders, specialized cells that silently rout the unseen enemy. Sometimes these warriors mistake harmless invaders, such as pollen, for deadly foes, and they mount an allergic reaction. Sometimes our defenders are caught unprepared, and we develop a cold, the flu, or worse. Occasionally some of our own cells begin the mutinous proliferation of cancer and manage to evade the surveillance of our body's defense forces. But for every successful penetration of our defenses, thousands of attempts are repelled. We sleep securely, trusting the invisible vigilantes of our immune system. For decades immunology-the study of the immune system-was a backwater of medicine. In reality we did not have the instruments to explore the battlefields within us. In the past 20 years, however, powerful micros...

Sadistic Killer and Rapist Charles Ng

Sadistic Killer and Rapist Charles Ng Charles Ng and Leonard Lake rented a remote cabin in the 1980s near Wilseyville, Calif., and built a bunker where they imprisoned women and used them as sex slaves, torturing and murdering them, their husbands, and children. When the spree ended, police connected Ng to 12 murders, but they suspected that the real number was closer to 25. Ngs Childhood Years Charles Chi-tat Ng was born in Hong Kong on Dec. 24, 1960, to Kenneth Ng and Oi Ping. He was the youngest of three children and the only boy. His parents were thrilled that their last child was a boy and showered him with attention. Kenneth was a strict disciplinarian and kept a sharp eye on his son, constantly reminding Charles that a good education was his ticket to success and happiness. But Charles was more interested in martial arts so he could follow in the footsteps of his hero, Bruce Lee. Charles attended parochial school, and Kenneth expected him to do all his assignments, study hard, and excel in his classes. But Charles was a lazy student and received low grades. Kenneth found his sons attitude unacceptable and got so angry that he beat him with a cane. Acting Out At 10, Ng became rebellious and destructive and was caught stealing. He disliked Western children and attacked them when their paths crossed. When he started a fire in a classroom while playing with off-limits chemicals, he was expelled. Kenneth sent him to boarding school in England, but he was soon expelled for stealing and shoplifting and sent back to Hong Kong. College in the U.S. lasted one semester, after which he was convicted of hit and run driving but, instead of paying restitution, lied on his enlistment application and joined the Marines. In 1981 he was jailed for stealing weapons but escaped before trial and fled to California, where he met Lake and Lakes wife, Claralyn Balazs. He lived with them until Ng and Lake were arrested by the FBI on weapons charges. Ng was convicted and sent to the penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., while Lake made bail and went into hiding at a remote cabin in Wilseyville in Californias Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Ghastly Crimes Begin After Ngs release from prison three years later, he reunited with Lake at the cabin and they began living out Lakes sadistic, murderous fantasies, killing at least seven men (including Lakes brother), three women, and two babies in 1984 and 1985. Authorities believe the number murdered is much higher. The spree ended when Ng and Lake were seen shoplifting a bench vise at a lumberyard to replace one they had broken torturing their victims. Ng fled; Lake was stopped in a car registered to one victim with the drivers license of another victim. He was arrested and, during a break in interrogation, committed suicide after writing down his and Ngs real names. Police continued investigating. They found the cabin in Wilseyville and gruesome evidence of the murders: charred body parts, corpses, bone chips, weapons, videotapes showing sexual abuse and rape, bloody lingerie, and a bed with restraints. They also found Lakes diary, which detailed acts of torture, rape, and murder he and Ng had performed in what he referred to as Operation Miranda, a fantasy that centered on the end of the world and Lakes desire for sexual slaves. Investigators also found a bunker built partially into a hillside with a room designed as a cell so whoever was in the room could be watched and heard from an outer room. Complete details of the tapes contents were never disclosed. A Long Legal Battle Ng was charged in the U.S. with 12 counts of murder. He was tracked from San Francisco to Chicago, Detroit, and finally Canada, where he was arrested for robbery and attempted murder committed in that country. After a trial he was imprisoned and, following a six-year, $6.6 million legal battle, was extradited to the U.S. in 1991. Ng and his lawyers used a variety of legal tactics to delay his trial, but it finally began in October 1998 Orange County, Calif. His defense team presented Ng as an unwilling participant in Lakes sadistic murder spree, but prosecutors introduced cartoons Ng had drawn depicting murder scenes in the Wilseyville cabin in details that a nonparticipant wouldnt have known. They also produced a witness who had been left for dead in the killing spree but survived. The witness said Ng, not Lake, had attempted to kill him. Fast Decision From the Jury After years of delays, tons of paperwork, and millions of dollars, Ngs trial ended with guilty verdicts in the murders of six men, three women, and two babies. The jury recommended the death penalty, and the judge imposed it. As of July 2018, Charles Ng was on death row in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, continuing to appeal his death sentence. Source:  Justice Denied: The Ng Case by Joseph Harrington and Robert Burger  and  Journey into Darkness by John E. Douglas

American Literature - compare and contrast one or two of Emily Essay

American Literature - compare and contrast one or two of Emily Dickinsons poems about death to Thanatopsis by William Cullen B - Essay Example She also suggests the cycles of life as they ride together in a carriage looking at the school full of children. She also makes reference to the growth of grain, providing more evidence of the cycle of life. In comparing the poems written by Bryant and Dickinson, one can see two different concepts of death as they are framed similarly. The poem Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant personifies nature in the first section of the work. Similarly to Dickinson, Bryant creates a pattern of speaking about nature that suggests that she is a female entity, He states â€Å"To Him who in the love of nature holds/Communion with her visible forms, she speaks/ a various language† (Bryant lines 1-3). This suggests that the concept of nature has an intent, a driven purpose that is founded in a sentient being that makes choices about what will and what will not happen. In this, there is a will to what happens, a sense that there is a higher purpose and meaning. This is a common theme within th e human discourse about elements of life that have no independent thought but hold power over the course of life. Nature has a power that must be dealt with and in personifying it, that power is contained with meaning and purpose that is necessary to explain the tragedies that occur. Dickinson does the same thing with death, giving it an intent through personification and creating a meaning through which the application of death is made. She states in her opening lines â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death/He kindly stopped for me† (Dickinson Lines 1-2). If death is someone who is a friend, then what he does is done with reason, the sorrow felt lessoned because clearly there was a reason that death comes to enact his purpose. Personification provides solace so that meaning and intent are provided through sentient purposes of those powers that are greater than mankind can control. Both death and nature fall into this category. Bryant, however, discusses death without person ification, but as an extension of nature. He imbues in the dead a power that coincides, at the least, with nature. He states â€Å"Old Oceans gray and melancholy waste - /Are but the solemn decorations all/Of the great tomb of man† (Bryant lines 43-45). In this, he is suggesting that not only is nature a woman, but her purpose is to provide a place of rest for the dying human beings that are not a part of her, but are the monarchy of the space. While he does not put her in thrall to humans, he does suggest that humans reign over the space in which she exists. He states â€Å"In their sleep - the dead reign there alone† (Bryant line 47). This gives them a power over the space of death, planted within the Earthly sphere of existence. The language of Bryant’s poem is not broken evenly into stanzas, but is designed with one long stanza that makes his argument about death, and a shorter, nine line stanza that brings his point across. He suggests that one should live life fully and take advantage of all that it has to offer, so that when death comes one is ready to rest. He does not say, but suggests that life is one chance of experience, and when the time comes to leave, it should not be with regret for the chains that have held one back, but for the way in which life has been lived to its fullest. Death should be at a time of readiness. Dickinson divides her poem into six, four line stanzas that are done in such a way to make a statement of thought within each verse. The poem has no rhyming, as the

What are your thoughts on present day religious ideologies Are they Essay

What are your thoughts on present day religious ideologies Are they much different from Greek and Roman religious beliefs Explain - Essay Example In the ancient times, the Greeks and Romans were identified by their worship of â€Å"many gods† and goddesses (Mikalson, 2010, p. 224).1 The present day Christians, Jews, and Muslims only recognize one God. It is however worth noting that Hindus have many gods whereas atheists believe in none. The aspect of believing in multiple gods for the ancient Greeks and Romans as compared to one God for the present day religions is the largest distinctive factor between the two kind of religious ideologies. However, there are a couple of other differences and some similarities too that can be identified between the two groups. Firstly, the present day religions believe that God is unanimously powerful and he is able to control every aspect of life by Himself. On the other hand, Greeks and Romans appreciated the fact that the gods were powerful but they associated each god with a specific area of power. For instance, Zeus was the god of the skies, earthquakes, storms, lightning, and so on.2 Similarly, present day religious ideologies tend to describe God as good, morally pure and blameless. Contrary, the Romans and Greeks believed that the gods had similar personalities to the human beings. They believed that the gods too did wrongs, felt jealous and rage as much as they felt mercy and compassion. The present day Christian ideologies tend explain that people can talk directly to God through prayers and that their prayers would be answered appropriately.3 This is however not the case for the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed that although gods would sometimes listen to prayers, especially if the individual has offered a sacrifice, the person that offered a better sacrifice will most likely get the help from the gods. Ultimately, even though the present day religious ideologies and the Greek and Romans religious beliefs have some

Cocaine effects on a newborn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cocaine effects on a newborn - Essay Example Another risk is â€Å"placental abruption†, a premature separation of the placenta from the uterus wall which may cause excessive bleeding and death risk to both the mother and baby (â€Å"Cocaine Addiction and Pregnancy: Effects on Newborns†). Cocaine effect on newborns is serious. The pregnant woman’s use of cocaine can decrease the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the growing fetus. Cocaine-exposed babies have low birth weight, low Apgar score, shorter length and smaller head circumference than unexposed babies. These consequences can be a sign of future developmental delays and abnormalities. Babies from mothers using cocaine have greater possibility of being born prematurely. These babies experience breathing difficulties which may cause stroke even before birth or immediately after birth. Stroke can lead to the development of lifetime brain and developmental disorders (â€Å"Cocaine and Pregnancy†). newborns are often irritable, hyperactive, sleepless and have a low frustration tolerance, muscular stiffness, visual disturbances, low feeding and sucking abilities and sensory incapacities. There have been reported cases of loose bowels, vomiting, and seizure occurrences. A number of these problems may last for 2 to 2  ½ months after birth (â€Å"Cocaine and Pregnancy†). Cocaine-exposed newborns may go into deep sleep for longer than usual (Gorski). Pregnant mothers who uses cocaine for an extended duration may deliver babies that have birth defects and abnormalities in the face, brain, heart, eyes, limbs and muscles. Some babies may be born with intestinal, genitals and urinary problems (â€Å"Cocaine and Pregnancy†). When cocaine enters the placenta, it disturbs the circulation inside the fetus’ body. Cocaine stays in the body of the developing fetus for an extended duration. That is why evidences of cocaine can be found in the urine and hair

Business environment jewellery, organic food and tesco Essay

Business environment jewellery, organic food and tesco - Essay Example The jewellery and watches market is highly competitive in terms of both supply and retail. Recent years have seen the emergence of several luxury-goods and high-fashion conglomerates into the market, which possess strong brands that are supported by substantial financial resources. In addition to the above implications of excess capacity in Jewellery market, the major implication is the phenomenal change in customer buying behavior. To what extent might the traditional small jewellery and watch operators be considered to be suffering from unfair competition from 'luxury-goods and high-fashion conglomerates' 10 marks Traditional small jewellery and watch operators suffer a major setback in business because of the increasing competition from luxury goods and high fashion conglomerates. There are many instances where the traditional jewellery has lost its importance and the demand for the same is fading because of the evolution of new type of fashion jewellery. Some of the critical aspects for major setback for traditional jewellery Evolution of high fashion conglomerates in the jewellery industry paved way for changing consumer behavior and shift in the purchasing methods and dimensions. The conglomerates use their financial strength to identify key locations that are expensive for better customer segment reach. The traditional firms are a way behind in reforming their practices and are slightly reluctant to change any dimension of their jewellery setup. Whereas the conglomerates are ready to spend fortune on effective advertisement and branding techniques and deploy promotional strategies to attract customers and achieve brand loyalty paving way for effective customer retention. After the great depression, there has been a shift in consumer... The Supply factor out paces the demand of jewellery leading to reduction of prices, minimizing the ultimate corporate profit by a small percentage and increase in job cuts as a measure of sustainability. Traditional small jewellery and watch operators suffer a major setback in business because of the increasing competition from luxury goods and high fashion conglomerates. There are many instances where the traditional jewellery has lost its importance and the demand for the same is fading because of the evolution of new type of fashion jewellery. The traditional firms are a way behind in reforming their practices and are slightly reluctant to change any dimension of their jewellery setup. Whereas the conglomerates are ready to spend fortune on effective advertisement and branding techniques and deploy promotional strategies to attract customers and achieve brand loyalty paving way for effective customer retention. After the great depression, there has been a shift in consumer buying behaviour, their choice and preferences leading to more modified buying motives. With the effective marketing initiatives, the customer target base is attracted towards designs which are fashionable and simple for official purpose.

Best Buy Retailing Analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Best Buy Retailing Analysis - Term Paper Example Based on this idea, Best Buy was able to come up with a customer centricity program that aims to develop more emphasis on excellent customer service. The customer centricity program has to function in a way that stores, buyers and segment organizations have to work out together for the success of the implementation process of the said program. Best Buy is a profit organization and in as much as possible it has to operate with substantial profit in the end. This is the reason why Best Buy had to find for more profitable customers and product segments. Best Buy focused on these areas that is why it was able to come up with five major profitable customer segments. Understanding customers’ needs was the first step that Best Buy performed under its customer centricity program. The next step performed was to identify profitable segments both for customers and products. This is a matter of finding focus and eventually Best Buy is good at this that resulted to finding the right vision that has to be imparted to the team. This is the reason why Best Buy was able to come up with strategic support for team so as to fully execute the vision. Customer associates for instance had to be empowered in order to effectively satisfy the customers in line with the customer centricity program. They have to necessarily apply scientific approach in dealing with and attending to the needs of customers. In this case, the value proposition was clearly defined and fully executed through store managers and all of the sales associates with clear picture of the vision. This is what exactly Best Buy had undertaken and eventually the idea of Brad Anderson to go for customer centricity was indeed imperative for its success. However, the success was not achieved right away; Best Buy had to go for market trials in order to put the entire idea of customer centricity to the test. Eventually, the company was able to come up with a marketing oriented approach in dealing with the issue of impro ving customer service and satisfaction. Customer centricity’s lackluster performance The customer centricity program is a matter of aggressive implementation. The model by itself sounds good for both the customers and Best Buy. However, there is going to be a problem when it comes to implementation or execution especially that the said program requires the stores, buyers and segment organizations to work in unison accordingly and harmoniously. There was a needed adjustment particularly among segment leaders due to aggressive rollout of 144 new centricity stores. Best Buy has to maintain its competitive advantage and the existence of new centricity stores threatened this potential market power. Thus, Best Buy had to initiate necessary adjustments. Within these adjustments, Best Buy needs to necessarily align the potential contributions of stores, customers and segment organizations for effective system transformation. The Best Buy’s missed out third quarter earnings per share on December 13, 2005 was due to the impact of necessary adjustments it needed to implement in order to perform better than its competitors that were applying the same customer centricity program (Lal, Knoop and Tarsis 154). Thus, the problem is not exactly about the centricity model or even the lag between implementation and results because customer centric

Terrorism in Sudan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Terrorism in Sudan - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that terrorism is one of the most complex problems facing the modern world at present. It is difficult to tackle terrorism effectively because of the wide spread roots of terrorism in different countries. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan etc are some countries from which the terrorists are operating. At present war on terror is going on in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. However, Sudan has not faced such problems even though its role in encouraging terrorist activities suspected for the last few years. â€Å"The U.S. has charged the Sudanese government of being liable for the al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole missile destroyer in 2000†. Moreover, U.S. believes that Sudan is supporting various terrorist organizations in many ways to conduct attacks in various parts of the world including America. Since Sudan is a country with a poor economy, it is easy for the terrorists to operate from its soil. It should be noted that poor countrie s normally have weaker administration and hence terrorists may not face many problems while operating from such countries. Poverty, unemployment, lack of education of the people, religious fundamentalism etc are some of the major factors which contribute heavily to the development of terrorism in Sudan. Sudan is a strategic location for many of the terrorists. Majority of the people in Sudan are Muslims and they do not have enough education. Moreover, it borders with some of the prominent Muslim states like Egypt, Libya and some of the Muslim dominated African countries. Religious fundamentalism is widespread in Sudan because of lack of education of its public. These are the factors, which encourage Osama Bin Laden and his followers to select Sudan as his country of operation in the 1990s. America knows very well that Sudan is playing a major role in the spreading of various kinds of terrorist activities all over the world. It is believed that Sudan is currently providing military training and support to terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Algeria's Armed Islamic Group etc. Moreover, many of the Islamic terrorist groups in other parts of the world are sending their people to Sudan for getting proper training on conducting terrorist activities. The current Sudanese president is behaving like a dictator and he is using iron fist to suppress the agitations against his administration. Because of that, internal problems and political unrest are common in Sudan. The northern and southern regions of Sudan are behaving like independent states even though the current president is trying hard to stamp his authority all over Sudan. America has enforced lot of economic embargos and sanctions with the help of UN against Sudan for the last few years. They have also listed Sudan in the category of State Sponsors of Terrorism from 1993 onwards. From 1996 onwards, Sudan is under diplomatic sanctions by the UN.â€Å"The U.S. government offered to take Sudan off its State Sponsors of Terrorism list in exchange for the northern government allowing a referendum on southern secession to take place without obstruction† (U.S. Offers to Remove Sudan from State Sponsors of Terrorism List, p.39). However, the northern government is not much i nterested in this offer and hence internal agitations are still going on in Sudan. â€Å"In 2008, the International Criminal Court at The Hague charged Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur† (National Security p.86). In fact, the ICC issued arrest warrant against the president in 2009. Even though human right activists have seen this arrest warrant as a positive step, so far the president has been successful in avoiding or ignoring the arrest warrant. Al-Bashir’s anti-American or anti-western stands are inspirational to the terrorists in Sudan. His remarks against America and

Best Buy Retailing Analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Best Buy Retailing Analysis - Term Paper Example Based on this idea, Best Buy was able to come up with a customer centricity program that aims to develop more emphasis on excellent customer service. The customer centricity program has to function in a way that stores, buyers and segment organizations have to work out together for the success of the implementation process of the said program. Best Buy is a profit organization and in as much as possible it has to operate with substantial profit in the end. This is the reason why Best Buy had to find for more profitable customers and product segments. Best Buy focused on these areas that is why it was able to come up with five major profitable customer segments. Understanding customers’ needs was the first step that Best Buy performed under its customer centricity program. The next step performed was to identify profitable segments both for customers and products. This is a matter of finding focus and eventually Best Buy is good at this that resulted to finding the right vision that has to be imparted to the team. This is the reason why Best Buy was able to come up with strategic support for team so as to fully execute the vision. Customer associates for instance had to be empowered in order to effectively satisfy the customers in line with the customer centricity program. They have to necessarily apply scientific approach in dealing with and attending to the needs of customers. In this case, the value proposition was clearly defined and fully executed through store managers and all of the sales associates with clear picture of the vision. This is what exactly Best Buy had undertaken and eventually the idea of Brad Anderson to go for customer centricity was indeed imperative for its success. However, the success was not achieved right away; Best Buy had to go for market trials in order to put the entire idea of customer centricity to the test. Eventually, the company was able to come up with a marketing oriented approach in dealing with the issue of impro ving customer service and satisfaction. Customer centricity’s lackluster performance The customer centricity program is a matter of aggressive implementation. The model by itself sounds good for both the customers and Best Buy. However, there is going to be a problem when it comes to implementation or execution especially that the said program requires the stores, buyers and segment organizations to work in unison accordingly and harmoniously. There was a needed adjustment particularly among segment leaders due to aggressive rollout of 144 new centricity stores. Best Buy has to maintain its competitive advantage and the existence of new centricity stores threatened this potential market power. Thus, Best Buy had to initiate necessary adjustments. Within these adjustments, Best Buy needs to necessarily align the potential contributions of stores, customers and segment organizations for effective system transformation. The Best Buy’s missed out third quarter earnings per share on December 13, 2005 was due to the impact of necessary adjustments it needed to implement in order to perform better than its competitors that were applying the same customer centricity program (Lal, Knoop and Tarsis 154). Thus, the problem is not exactly about the centricity model or even the lag between implementation and results because customer centric

Clone Towns Essay Example for Free

Clone Towns Essay There are two main types of town in the UK, clone towns and home towns. A clone town is a global term for a town where the high street or other major shopping areas are significantly dominated by chain stores, while home towns consist of many local shops and businesses. We went on a trip to our local town Dorking, and conducted an investigation to see if it was a clone town or not Dorking is situated in Surrey, at the foot of the North Downs and next to Box Hill. We followed the Clone Town British Survey, created by the NEF to find out if it was a clone town. We walked up and down each side of the high street noting what type of shops there were, and whether they were multinational, national or local businesses. Using the NEF scoring method we then calculated its clone town score. 1. For each type of shop counted on your high street, give 5 points. 2. For each independently owned shop counted on your high street, give 50 points. 3. For each chain store counted on your high-street, give 5 points. 4. Add up the scores from steps 1–3 and divide the total sum by the number of shops counted (i.e. 50). http://www.rgs.org If the score was below 25, it is a clone town, between 25-35 a border town, and above 35, a home town. When we tested Dorking, it received a score of 23.5 and just fitted in the clone town bracket. The NEF estimated that 41% of towns and 48% of London villages could be considered clone towns. The increase in clone towns can cause many negative effects. Instead of going back into the local economy, money goes to TNC’s which causes local businesses and jobs go into decline. Local shops are also more likely to use local suppliers for their produce instead of getting abroad.

Characteristics of Different Types of Bears

Characteristics of Different Types of Bears The Bear is a mammal belonging to family Ursidae and is characterised by shaggy coat, a short tail and walk with both heel and sole touching the ground. Bears are exploring, intelligent but potentially dangerous animals and are killed each year by people If we show respect to bears and learn proper behavior once in their kingdom this will help if you encounter a bear. Bears tend to avoid humans. But it is dangerous to meet a bear suddenly in the forest as bears do not like surprises. Many bears live in Alaska and many people enjoy the outdoors, but surprisingly few people even see bears. Make noise, sing, talk loudly while moving in the bear country. Travel with a group as groups are noisier and easier for bears to detect. Always avoid thick bush. The presence of these mighty beasts acts like a defence against the forest destruction. Avoid trails and roads and never set up camp close to a trail that might be used by bears. Avoid areas having carcasses, waste food matter as bears may be in these areas and bears do not like surprises. If a bear approaches while you are fishing, stop fishing. Dont give food to bears or leave food unattended as the smell of these may compel a bear to reach the place. Bears eat aggresively as they have only six months to build up fat reserves for their winter hibernation. ASIATIC BEAR The Asiatic bear also known as the Himalayan black bear, the Tibetan black bear species lives in Asian countries like Afghanistan, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Russia and Taiwan. They are American black bears closest cousin and both are believed to be evolved from a common European ancestor. It can be found in areas with elevations as high as 4, 700 m (13, 776 ft), but in lower lands as well. In some parts of its range, the Asian Black Bear shares its habitat with the larger and stronger Brown Bear. Asiatic bears have the following characters- black color having a whitish or creamy colored Y on their chest, large ears, extra long and fluffy hair around neck and shoulders. Asiatic black bears grow four to six feet long. Males weigh from 220 to 480 pounds, while females range from 110 to 275 pounds. The Asiatic black bear is listed as vulnerable on the World Conservation Unions (IUCNs) Red List of Threatened Animals. The main threats are habitat loss and deforestation. These bears are more fierce than other species and will attack humans if threatened. In the summer they make nests in trees for sleeping and use twigs to make comfortable beds in the snow in winter. The Asian Black Bear is an omnivore which consumes a great variety of foods and are opportunistic and seasonal in diet. Asiatic black bears take advantage of a variety of foods, primarily from plants. In winter, they ate chestnuts, walnuts, and other fat-rich resources. In spring, new plant growth provides a bounty for the bears. Other plants offer food in summer, including raspberries, cherries, and grasses. Insect food, especially ants, augments the summer diet. Asiatic black bears will eat carrion, and sometimes attack livestock. Asiatic black bears do not usually breed until three or four years old. Young stay with their mothers for two to three years, and females with first-year young do not usually breed till the next season. These bears migrate seasonally stay at higher elevation in summers and inhabit lower places in winters. Besides habitat destruction, Asian Black Bears are also threatened by hunting, especially for their gall bladders to obtain bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. THE POLAR BEARS Polar bears belong to the class mammals and found in the North Pole, Tundra, Greenland and Norway. The polar bear or the sea/ice bear are the worlds largest land predators. The white brown color of their fur gives them this look. They are very powerful animals and can weigh up to 800 kg. The head is smaller in appearance. Polar bears inhabit one of the planets coldest environments and depend on a thick coat of insulated fur which protects them from cold. Today, 25, 000 to 40, 000 polar bears roam the Arctic. Male polar bears may grow 10 feet tall and weigh over 1400 pounds. Females reach seven feet and weigh 650 pounds. In the wild polar bears live up to age 25. Around the age of four or five the female Males are bigger in size than females. Polar bears have different structure of their feet as compared to those bears which live on tropical parts as they have to move on glass like sliding surfaces. Polar bears are nomadic predators who roam extensive areas for the purpose of eating. A polar bear keeps on shifting from one place to other. They have very good swimming ability and can swim many miles without any halt. Polar bears have strong respiratory body organs which enable them to stay beneath water for long periods. Polar bears prey on seals mainly but at times they eat wolves and reindeers and also consume carcasses, such as those of dead whales. They have strong smell sense and can identify the flesh from as long as 30 miles. The mating occurs in mid-summer. The number of bears born to female bear is generally four to five. The females take the responsibility of their young ones and receive no help from their solitary male mates. Female s aggressively protect their young. The cubs are protected by their mother until they become able to survive by themselves. Polar bears are treatened because of habitat loss. Oil spills can be very dangerous. A bear with oil on its coat cannot regulate its body temperature properly. If the bear eats the oil while grooming it could die. Man made pollution is also a cause of death. At each stage of the food chain, pollutants get more concentrated. By the end when the polar bear eats the seal and it could be lethal. BLACK BEAR The American Black Bear is about 5-7 feet in length, weighing between 125 and 400 pounds. Its body is large, with a short tail, a long snout, round ears, and small eyes. Its shaggy fur is generally uniformly black colored all over the body apart from its muzzle, which is brown in color, and light colored markings that sometimes occur on the chest. Their lifespan can range from 20-30 years in the wild, although most of them do not live beyond their 10th year. Being the smallest amongst the three species of bears that occur in North America, the American Black Bear can be found practically all over the continent, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from Canada in the north down to Mexico in the south. While it usually walks on all its four legs, the American Black Bear can walk and stand on its hind legs. Despite the American Black Bears strength and size, it is quite agile and deliberate when it moves. While they will eat just about anything, the black bear has a preference for nuts , berries, honey, plants, and grass, and also is known to feed on fish, small animals and carrion. Occasionally, they also kill the calves of moose or deer for food. With the onset of fall, the American Black Bear will start gaining a lot of weight by eating enormous amounts of food, so that its body fat reserves sustain it through the hibernation period in the winter. Although, when there is a lull in the cold weather, it will awaken and make brief forays outside to feed. Being highly adaptable, the American Black Bear can be found in a wide variety of habitats. Although it prefers wooded areas that is rich in ground vegetation and has plenty of nuts and fruits, it also occurs in the tundra regions of the north, and sometimes they will even be found foraging in meadows or fields. Except for the mother and her cubs, the American Black Bear has a tendency of being solitary creatures. They will usually be found foraging singly, although if food is available plentifully in an area, the y will feed in groups. The survival of the cubs depends completely on the mothers skill of teaching them how and where to find food, what is edible, where to make their den, and where and when to find shelter from the weather or danger. Although they prefer avoiding man and are regarded as non-aggressive, except when the animal feels threatened, or in order to protect its young, or if it has suffered an injury, many people think wrongly that the black bear is a vicious animal, and hence kill them on sight when they encroach and occupy their habitat and come across them. Another serious threat that menaces the American Black Bear these days is the demand for their paws and gall bladders, which are used for medicinal purposes in Korea, Japan and China. Several states in the US list the American Black Bear as endangered, threatened, or rare (although they continue to be hunted in some states as game). Nevertheless, they are still in danger. The name black bear is not a very accurate name for this species of bear. They can come in many colors such as black, brown, gray, silvery-blue, and cream. Most black bears are, in fact, black but often a black colored bear will have brown cubs and brown colored bears may have black cubs. The black bears habitats range from the far northern tundra of Canada and Alaska to the forests of Central America and Mexico. They are considered to be large to medium sized (males weighing between 56. 7-226 kg or 130-500 lbs. ), males being larger than females, and the different sub-species are similar in their body shape, footprints and diets. They like nutrition and protein rich foods like termites, bees and moths. They eat berries, nuts, acorns, honey and fruit. Because bears are not active predators they prefer to eat carrion. Carrion is especially important for bears that have just come out of hibernation and are in great need of protein. Black bears have been given the reputation of attacking people. This is not true. Black bears, like most other bears, will rarely attack humans. They will try to scare off danger by standing on their back feet, baring their teeth, and growling. They may attack if their cubs are in danger but only as a last resort and sometimes not eve n then. Mating happens in spring but the females have an ability called delayed implantation, which allows the egg to be fertilized later. This is so that the cub, or cubs, will be born during hibernation. The Kermode bear is found only in British Columbia, Canada, and is black, most of the time. About 1 out of every 10 Kermode bears is pure white. They are not Polar bears, nor are they sub-species of the Polar bear. These rare white bears are called Spirit Bears. In every other way they are like all the other black bears except that they carry a special gene that causes their hair to be white rather than black. BROWN BEAR The Brown Bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It weighs 100 to 700 kg (220-1, 500 pounds) and its larger populations such as the Kodiak bear match the Polar bear as the largest extant land predatorWhile the brown bears range has shrunk, and it has faced local extinctions, it remains listed as a least concern species, with a total population of approximately 200, 000. Its principal range countries are Russia, the United States (especially Alaska), Canada, and Finland where it is the national animal. The species primarily feeds on vegetable matter, including roots, and fungi. Fish are a primary source of meat. It also eats small land mammals and occasionally larger mammals, such as deer. Adult brown bears can match wolf packs and large felines, often driving them off their kills. The largest populations are in Russia, with 120, 000, the United States with 32, 500, and Canada with 21, 750. 95% of the brown bear population in the United Sta tes is in Alaska, though in the West they are repopulating slowly but steadily along the Rockies and plains. The brown bear is Finlands national animal. Brown bears were once native to Asia, the Atlas Mountains in Africa, Europe and North America, but are now extinct in some areas and their populations have greatly decreased in other areas. They prefer semi-open country, usually in mountainous areas. Brown bears live in Alaska, east through the Yukon and Northwest Territories, south through British Columbia and through the western half of Alberta. Small populations exist in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of northwest Wyoming (with about 600 animals), the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem of northwest Montana (with about 400-500 animals), the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem of northwest Montana and northeast Idaho (with about 30-40 animals), the Selkirk Ecosystem of northeast Washington and northwest Idaho (with about 40-50 animals), and the North Cascades Ecosystem of north-central Washington (with about 5-10 animals). These five ecosystems combine for a total of roughly 1, 200 wild grizzlies still persisting in the contiguous United States. Unfortunately, these populations are isolated from each other, inhibiting any genetic flow to occur between ecosystems. This poses one of the greatest threats to the future survival of the grizzly bear in the contiguous United States. In Arctic areas, the potential habitat of the brown bear is increasing. The warming of that region has allowed the species to move farther north into what was once exclusively the domain of the polar bear. In non-Arctic areas, habitat loss is blamed as the leading cause of endangerment, followed by hunting. North American brown bears seem to prefer open landscapes, whereas in Eurasia they inhabit mostly dense forests. It is thought that the Eurasian bears which colonized America were tundra-adapted. The brown bear is primarily nocturnal. In the summer it gains up to 180 kg (400 pounds) of fat, on which it relies to make it through winter, when it becomes very lethargic. Although they are not full hibernators, and can be woken easily, both sexes like to den in a protected spot such as a cave, crevice, or hollow log during the winter months. Brown bear are mostly solitary, although they may gather in large numbers at major food sources and form social hierarchies based on age and size. They are omnivores and feed on a variety of plant products, including berries, roots, and sprouts, fungi as well as meat products such as fish, insects, and small mammals. Despite their reputation, most brown bears are not particularly carnivorous as they derive up to 90% of their dietary food energy from vegetable matter. Their jaw structure has evolved to fit their dietary habits. Their diet varies enormously throughout their differing ranges. Brown bears also occasionally prey on deer, elk, moose, caribou, and bison. When brown bears attack these animals, they tend to choose the young ones because they are much easier to catch. . On rare occasions, bears kill by hitting their prey with their powerful forearms which can break the necks and backs of large prey, such as bison. They also feed on carrion and use their size to intimidate other predators such as wolves, cougars, tigers and black bears from their kills. Bears become attracted to human-created food sources such as garbage dumps, litter bins, and dumpsters; they venture into human dwellings or barns in search of food as humans encroach into bear habitat. Yellowstone National Park, an enormous reserve located in the Western United States, contains prime habitat for the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), and due to the enormous number of v isitors, human-bear encounters are common. The scenic beauty of the area has led to an influx of people moving into the area. While the black bear is found only throughout North Central America, the brown bear family is spread all over the world. They live in dense forests in mountains, valleys and meadows and can be found in Canada, in central regions of the U. S. and throughout Europe and Asia. The entrance of a Brown Bears den is a tunnel that goes down to a small bedroom. The female bear will hibernate all winter long, not even waking up to give birth! The baby cubs will find their way to their mothers chest and nurse and sleep until the mother bear wakes up. By the time she does wake up her teeny little cubs are much larger and quite playful! The den will probably be used only once. SLOTH BEAR The Sloth Bear also known as the Lip Bear, is a mammal of the which is native to the lowland forests of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The Sloth Bear is the only bear species classified in genus Melursus. The body is 150-190 cm long, covered in long, shaggy fur, ranging from auburn to black, with a distinctive V-shaped white mark on the chest, a whitish snout and black nose. The snout is long with bare lips and a lack of upper incisors, adaptations for its insect-based diet. The front feet are turned inwards and have 4 inch long, non-retractable, curved claws that are adapted for digging and climbing. The males, weighing 80-140 kg, are larger than the females, which weigh only 55-95 kg. Its pugmarks are very similar to a human footprint. The tail is 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) long, the longest in the bear family. Their natural lifespan is unknown, however, a captive specimen was recorded to have lived 40 years. Female Sloth Bears typically give birth to two cubs in December-early January. The cubs are typically born in a cave or under large boulders, ] where they remain for two to three months, and continue to accompany the mother for at least a further two years. The cubs attain independe nce at the age of 24-36 months. Sloth bears are the most nocturnal of bears, though sows with cubs will often move in daylight. They do not hibernate. Sloth bears are excellent climbers, and will stay in trees to feed and rest, though not to escape danger. The Sloth Bear primarily eats ants and termites, breaking into termite mounds with large powerful claws and eating the occupants. It uses its long tubular snout to blow away dirt and suck up the insects, the sounds of which can be heard from 100 meters away. It may also eat honey, eggs, birds, flowers, tubers, fruits, grains and meat. The animals fondness for honey has caused it to be nicknamed the Honey bear. Sloth bear are often nocturnal and occur at low densities, so determining how many bears are found in a particular area or monitoring their status is difficult. Sloth bear are known for their propensity for eating ants and termites, and also eat various fruits from forest trees and shrubs. The availability of these foods varies through the year. Ant and termite colonies are more abundant and nutritious when there is brood inside during the monsoon and the following cool season. Each fruiting plant has its season. . Female sloth bears will have one or two babies and will raise them for the first 2-3 years of their lives. The male will stick around with his family and help take care of the cubs. The sloth bear has a shaggy coat that is usually black with a Y shaped white color down its chest. They live in the evergreen forests and grasslands of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma and Nepal. They are popular in those countries but not for good reasons. These are the bears that are captu red and trained (often tortured) to entertain people as the famous dancing bears. They are also hunted for their body parts to be used in traditional medicines. And, sadly, because their habitat is shrinking due to growing human population, they go looking for food on farmland and are killed by farmers protecting their crops and animals. SUN BEAR The sun bear is one of the smallest bears, at around 1. 4 meters (4. 5 ft long) and weighing up to 100 lbs. They have short, sleek black fur with an orange-yellow horseshoe shape of color on their chest. In some folktales it is said that this shape represents the rising sun. They are also known as honey bears and Malayan sun bears. A sun bears diet consists of lizards, little birds, rodents, insects, termites, fruit and honey. The long sharp claws of the sun bear are handy for tearing open trees where insect and bee nests can be found and slurped up using their extra long tongue. Because they live in tropical temperatures, sun bears do not need to hibernate and are able to mate at any time of year. Unlike North American bears, male and female sun bears may hang out or live together while raising the cubs. Sun bears will usually have two cubs at a time and care for them for two years until they are old enough to survive on their own. Sun bears have loose skin that allows them to twist when being bitten, so as to bite an attacker. They also have very strong legs that are great for climbing. These characteristics help this bear protect itself from tigers and other possible predators. The sun bear can be found in the tropical rainforests of southeastern Asia . They are hunted for their meat and their body parts which are used for medicine. Cubs are often taken from their mothers and kept as pets. The reclusive sun bear, smallest member of the bear family, lives an insular life in the dense lowland forests of Southeast Asia. Found from southern China to eastern India and as far south as Indonesia, sun bears, also called Malayan sun bears, take their name from the bib-shaped golden or white patch on their chest, which legend says represents the rising sun. They have a stocky, muscular build, small ears, and a short muzzle, which has earned them the nickname dog bear. . Males, slightly larger than females, are about 5 feet (1. 5 meters) in length and weigh up to 150 pounds (70 kilograms), a stature which suits their arboreal lifestyle and allows them to move easily through the trees. Ironically, sun bears are nocturnal. They lumber through the forests by night, snacking on fruits, berries, roots, insects, small birds, lizards, and rodents. They have an excellent sense of smell and extremely long claws, exceeding four inches (ten centimeters) in length, which they use to rip open trees and termite nests. They also have an almost comically long tongue for extracting honey from bee nests, giving them their other nickname, honey bear. Because of their remote habitat and shy personality, there is currently not enough data to determine if sun bears are in danger of extinction, but scientists fear the worst. Their homelands are being lost rapidly to deforestation, poachers hunt them mercilessly for body parts and fur, and some farmers kill them on site because they often eat crops such as oil palm, coconuts, and bananas. Adult females are also frequently killed so their cubs can be taken and raised as pets.

Everyone Has a Right to Choose Euthanasia Essay -- Euthanasia Physicia

Everyone Has a Right to Choose Euthanasia    Everybody faces death eventually. While some people abhor the impending experience, others may await it excitedly. Regardless of one's expectations, most people do not wish for a painful end. If a situation arises where one must make a decision concerning approaching death or the death of loved ones, most people would hope for the least possible suffering. While a decision like this is extremely difficult to make, many people choose death as opposed to living in agony. However, others think that euthanasia is reprehensible no matter what the circumstances are. Author Cheryl Eckstein believes, "Killing in the name of compassion and mercy is wrong" ("Can there ever", par. 9). Homicide and suicide are generally not considered fair or sensible, but sometimes, however, they are carried out as acts of kindness and love. Thus, in certain situations, euthanasia may not be morally wrong. Eckstein states, "No person is entitled to have death inflicted upon him" ("Can There Ever", par. 11). However, if a person chooses death in order to prevent prolonged pain and misery, it is being self inflicted, and should not be denied in certain situations. People facing death should have a say in what happens to them. If a person is not physically or mentally able to make this decision, it seems most considerate that their loved ones should be able to aid in this process. If someone's remaining days are being spent in agony, shouldn't others attempt to fulfill their last wishes? On the other hand, Colleen McCullough says, "While there's life, there's hope" (Why I Oppose, par. 15). However, a drastically ailing being who is forced to keep living undesirably probably has limited hope. The hope they s... ...y final days include lying in a hospital bed with no hope for a physical recovery, I would like to be able to act on my own wishes, and not be forced to live any longer if my body is telling me that it cannot continue.    Works Cited Eckstein, Cheryl. "Can There Ever Be A 'Right To Be Killed'?" Citizen 25 July. 1995. http://www.awinc.com/partners/bc/commpass/lifenet/canthere.htm (27 Feb. 1997) McCullough, Colleen. "Why I Oppose Euthanasia." The Weekend Australian 16-17 Mar. 1996. http://www.ucaqld.com.au/trendz/3ethics/oppose.htm (27 Feb. 1997) Pankratz, Robert C., and Richard M. Welsh. "A Christian Response to Euthanasia." part 1. http://www. tkc.com/uturn/euthan.html (27 Feb. 1997) Pankratz, Robert C., and Richard M. Welsh. "A Christian Response to Euthanasia." part 2. http://www. tkc.com/uturn/ten/euthan2.html (27 Feb. 1997)      

Industrial Relations Essay -- Politics, Bipartite Relationships

I. INTRODUCTION Industrial peace is one of the core issues in the field of industrial relations. Moore (1951) suggested that industrial conflicts can be minimized or prevented by resort to two types of procedures: first, a procedure of regulating and limiting the power of the two interest groups, especially by restricting power that can be exercised; second, a procedure of providing positive interference in industrial disputes. Both procedures suggest that beyond workers and employers, a third important player may also directly interfere in industrial relations processes. The Pluralist theory, the mainstream industrial relations theory, focuses primarily on the bipartite relationship between the workers and employers. The third player, governmental agencies, though is equally important, is largely overlooked (Keller, 1991). However, as a theory of politics in essence, the Pluralist theory requires considerable elaboration on such a missing piece, for it leaves itself open to questions of inequality of power among different interest groups: some groups may wield an influence on public policy which may not be the interest of other groups. Legislation and other public policy decisions oftentimes work through a complex process of political party structure (Hameed, 1982). Politics is one of the most important underlying developmental dynamic within industrial relations; as such governmental interference shall not be absent from existing theoretical frameworks. The primary objective of this paper is to examine the Pluralist theory focusing on its explanation on the role of governmental agencies in industrial relations. Furthermore, I hope to prove that the absence of the role of the state may be a theoretical flaw within Pluralis... ...on] McGuinty is being a lapdog for a union-hating right-wing mayor because he is afraid of Ford's political clout, not because he cares about transit in Toronto. (CBC News, 30 March, 2011) Though these statements may be purely Mr. Kinnear’s expression of personal interests, one interesting fact about this dispute is that, TTC management and TTC employees in fact unanimously oppose this provision. Management fear the unintended consequence of governmental intervention will reversely cause higher wage, TTC employees worry that they may lose their right to strike as a powerful channel to articulate themselves. All in all, it is without a doubt that government actively involves in this industrial conflict, and pluralism theory again, fails to explain why government has taken such an active role in interfering labour relations between TTC management and employees.

Florence Nightingale

Abstract On her death in 1910, Florence Nightingale left a vast collection of reports, letters, notes and other written material. There are numerous publications that make use of this material, often highlighting Florence’s attitude to a particular issue. In this paper we gather a set of quotations and construct a dialogue with Florence Nightingale on the subject of statistics. Our dialogue draws attention to strong points of connection between Florence Nightingale’s use of statistics and modern evidence-based approaches to medicine and public health.We offer our dialogue as a memorable way to draw the attention of students to the key role of data-based evidence in medicine and in the conduct of public affairs. 1. Introduction 1. 1 Who Was Florence Nightingale? Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910), hereafter referred to as FN, made remarkable use of her ninety years of life. She was the second of two daughters, born in England to wealthy and well-connected parents. There were varied religious influences. Her parents both came from a Unitarian religious tradition that emphasized â€Å"deeds, not creeds†.The family associated with the Church of England (Baly 1997b) when property that FN's father had inherited brought with it parochial duties. A further religious influence was her friendship with the Irish Sister Mary Clare Moore, the founding superior of the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy in Bermondsey, London. Her father supervised and took the major responsibility for his daughters’ education, which included classical and modern languages, history, and philosophy. When she was 20 he arranged, at FN’s insistence, tutoring in mathematics.These and other influences inculcated a strong sense of public duty, independence of mind, a fierce intellectual honesty, a radical and unconventional religious mysticism from which she found succour in her varied endeavours, and an unforgiving attitude both toward her own faults and towar d those of others. At the age of 32, frustrated by her life as a gentlewoman, she found herself a position as Superintendent of a hospital for sick governesses. Additionally she cooperated with Sidney Herbert, a family friend who was by now a Cabinet minister, in several surveys of hospitals, examining defects in the working conditions of nurses.On the basis of this and related experience she was chosen, in 1854, to head up a party of nurses who would work in the hospital in Scutari, nursing wounded soldiers from the newly declared Crimean war. Her energy and enthusiasm for her task, the publicity which the Times gave to her work, the high regard in which she was held by the soldiers, and a national appeal for a Nightingale fund that would be used to help establish training for nurses, all contributed to make FN a heroine.There was a huge drop in mortality, from 43% of the patients three months after she arrived in Scutari to 2% fourteen months later, that biographers have often att ributed to her work. Upon her return to England at the end of July 1856 FN become involved in a series of investigations that sought to establish the reason for the huge death rate during the first winter of the war in the Crimea. Theories on the immediate cause abounded; was it inadequate food, overwork, lack of shelter, or bad hygiene?In preparation for a promised Royal Commission, she worked over the relevant data with Dr William Farr, who had the title â€Å"Superintendent of the Statistical Department in the Registrar-General’s Office†. Farr’s analysis persuaded her that the worst affects had been in Scutari, where overcrowding had added to the effect of poor sanitation. Sewers had been blocked, and the camp around had been fouled with corpses and excrement, matters that were fixed before the following winter. The major problem had been specific to Scutari.FN did not have this information while she was in the Crimea. The data do however seem to have been re adily available; they were included in a report prepared by McNeill and Tulloch (1855). The strain of FN’svarious involvements, and perhaps residual effects from an illness that she had suffered while in the Crimea, in due course took their toll. A year after her return to England, she suffered a nervous breakdown, emerging from this personal crisis with views that were often remarkably different from those that she had held earlier.Of particular interest is a change from her demand that nurses should follow to the letter instructions from doctors, to her view that nurses ought, within their proper area of responsibility, to make their own autonomous judgments. Small (1998, pp. 119 – 127, 178) has extensive and perhaps overly speculative comment on the reasons for the nervous breakdown, and an interesting analysis of ways in which her views changed. The data that showed that the high mortality was specific to Scutari were included in FN’s 1858 report, but omitte d from the 1857-1858 Royal Commission report.It was feared that continuing and acrimonious attempts to assign blame would jeopardise ongoing efforts at army reform. FN, unhappy at this suppression of her evidence, sent copies of her report to a number of carefully chosen recipients, each time with instructions to keep it confidential. One of the recipients was the freethinking popular journalist Harriet Martineau. With FN’s help, she wrote a book (Martinueau 1859), ostensibly based on information from public documents but using FN’s confidential report for additional background information, that gave the facts as FN understood them.FN’s biographers, perhaps relying too much on official documents, have not until recently been mindful of these nuances. See Small (1998, p. 198 – 200) for further discussion is one of the first to recognise them. A comprehensive biography of FN, that will do justice to the wide-ranging sympathies and interests of this remarkab le woman and show how her views changed and developed over time, has yet to be written. Small (see the note on his web site) and Baly (1997b, pp. 1-19) both draw attention to inaccuracies in earlier biographical accounts.Vicinus and Nergaard (1989) have much carefully documented biographical information. Among the numerous web sites that have material on FN note C. J. McDonald (2001) who emphasises connections between Nightingale and the experiences of soldiers in the Vietnam War; L. McDonald (2002) who is leading a project to publish all Nightingale’s writings; and Small (1998). Small’s web site has the data (from Nightingale 1858) that the Royal Commission suppressed. 1. 2 Hospitals and Hospital Nursing FN had remarkably radical views on hospitals and on hospital nursing. Both in 860 and in 1876, she describes hospitals (Baly 1997b, p. 25; Nightingale 1876) â€Å"as an intermediate stage of civilisation. † In 1867 she wrote (Baly 1997b, p. 21) â€Å"my view y ou know is that the ultimate destination is the nursing of the sick in their own homes. †¦ I look to the abolition of all hospitals and workhouse infirmaries. But it is no use to talk about the year 2000. † Consistent with these views, FN’s Notes on Nursing (1859) are not intended â€Å"as a manual to teach nurses to nurse†, but are â€Å"meant simply to give hints for thought to women who have personal charge of the health of others. It may thus seem ironic that, in her work with the Nightingale fund, FN was deeply involved in the development of hospital nursing training. She opposed the British Nurses’ Association’s 1890 proposals to make nursing into an accredited profession (Baly 1997b, pp. 184-196). She noted that there was no widespread agreement on what constituted an adequate training or what the minimum qualification should be, and argued that a much longer experience was needed before a register could be contemplated. The qualities t hat were required in nurses were not amenable to test by public examination.FN did however see an important role for women medical professionals. She wanted women to take leading roles in midwifery and in the diseases of women and children, and to be as well or better trained for these tasks as the men who at that time had a professional monopoly. It was her view that â€Å"There is a better thing than making women into medical men, and that is making them into medical women† (Nightingale 1871). She looked to a time when, as had happened in France, women would be professors of midwifery.She set out the immediate steps that she thought would best achieve that end. FN worked relentlessly for reform, in the army, in the hospitals, and in public health. She was meticulous in researching the reforms that she proposed. Where, as often, data were unavailable or inadequate, she pressed for their collection. Data inadequacies are strong themes in her Notes on Hospitals and in her Intr oductory Notes on Lying-In Institutions, i. e. , on maternity institutions. She made strong, consistent and carefully argued cases for enlightened and data-based public decision-making.This is not to say that FN was always correct in her judgments. In her next to final contribution to the dialogue, FN comments on a controversy that erupted following the publication of the third edition of her Notes on Hospitals. Her use of the term mortality percent for deaths per hundred beds per day, which she copied from Farr's report as Registrar-General, was unfortunate. As she seems to admit a page later in the Notes, these figures were not a good basis for comparing the sanitary states of different hospitals. Florence Nightingale I was really moved when Dr. Howe advised Florence that â€Å"If you have a passion, the only way to satisfy it is to pursue it. † Yes, you will only be satisfied in your life when you pursue your passion on something because if not, you will only regret it and in the end you weren’t able to help other people as well as yourself. Florence really did not neglect God’s call to her and this really demonstrated the passionate side of her. Thanks to Dr. Howe, she found out that nursing is really her calling. I also admired Florence’s determination when she rejected Mr. Milnes and preferred to concentrate on her career. For me, to have a passion the same as her, marriage would really interfere with her ability to follow her calling. This is because it would really be difficult for Florence to manage a family when she is definitely drawn into helping other people. Florence is a good leader because she is understanding to the other nurses and all of them will really follow her orders. She is smart and knowledgeable in the proper health care. Florence has that â€Å"magic† in healing and also she has a strong persona when she is dealing with dying patients. Furthermore, who knew how much prejudice there was against nurses before? It was really a terrible prejudice, considering nurses as little more than â€Å"hangers-on† and the prejudice in the army was shocking. The head doctors would prefer to see soldiers die than let the nurses trained by Florence work in the military hospitals. Compared to nowadays, nurses are really respected and honoured because of the love and care they give to their patients. It is good to be reminded of the damages prejudice can cause and just how powerful it is as a social force The film was outstanding for me. The portrayal and the flow of the story were good. Jaclyn Smith was very good as Florence Nightingale. And the film really showed the complete detail of Florence Nightingale’s works in the field of nursing.