Cultural Difference: Hofstede Framework

Culture, in my own opinion, is a unique system of values and norms that are believed by a group of people who live in the same society. Since culture is unique, Geert Hofstede tried to study the differences. After the study, he proposed five dimensions to measure the cultural difference between nations. The following parts will explain Hofstede Framework briefly. The first dimension is Power Distance. It is a tool to measure the power difference between levels in organization. In a group with high power distance, the majority of people would tend to respect in authority and establish hierarchy.When observing their behavior, they would have a great esteem on the class of social level. By contrary, a society with a low power distance would not fear authority and view themselves as equal with equal rights. Generally, the power distance in Oriental is higher than that in Occidental. The second dimension is Individualism vs. Collectivism. This index measures the preference of a group of p eople in considering self-benefit or group-benefit. In a society of collectivism, the society would have strong group cohesion and have higher responsibility on others well-being.Besides, the management level would tend to discuss with their subordinates before making a decision. By contrary, people will have loose ties and lack of interpersonal connection when a society prefers individualism. Generally, the Oriental prefer to focus on collectivism; the Occidental prefer to focus on the individualism. The third dimension is Achievement vs. Nurturing. This index reflects a society that sticks with and values traditional male and female roles. If the score is high, the society tends to holes value like traditionally male which is competitive, assertive and ambitious.They would be less emotional and would not make any emotional-based decision or argument. On the other hand, a nurturing-oriented society will respect and admired powerful women and they would tend to emphasizing considera tion and personal feelings. Next dimension is Uncertainty Avoidance. The score reflects the attitude of the group when it faced risk and ambiguity. If the score of uncertainty avoidance is high, the management of the group would prefer to set more rules to avoid the uncertainty situation during the daily operation. By contrary, society with low score has higher illingness in accepting risk and changes.Also, the management of the group would impose less rules and structure when unnecessary. The last one is Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation. It measures the group of people prefer to consider the short-term-benefit or the long-term-benefit. If the group prefers short-term-benefit means the management may seek for the quick success and the instant benefits. They would consider personal stability and respect fro tradition. By contrary, the group prefers long-term-benefit means they concern the future, advocate saving and reserve. They believe that progressive effect is more important. With the Hofstede framework, we can separate and understand the difference of managing culture through these five dimensions. On the other hand, when we talk abou Culture†, somebody would say that â€Å"Culture is something easy to build up, but hard to break†. However, in my opinion, this is not a one-sided statement. We would not state that culture is either easy or difficult to build up or break down, as we could adopt a new cultural environment or re-build a culture in a micro-environment by nderstanding the cultural norms and behavior of that society.For example, to change the beliefs and values in an organization, we should adopt different approaches based on the culture in that nation. I would explain my contention using the Hofstede's framework in the following parts. The first angle is Power Distance. The majority of people would obey their boss if the index is high. By contrary, they would view themselves as equal with equal rights. For this, there are two dif ferent reactions when they meet the change of culture, included buildup and break down.From the angle of higher-index nation, they will accept the changes always; most likely they will not refuse the changes, include the break down. So, management can change the culture easily in this situation. However, in the low-index nation, it will not only hard to build up, but also hard to break down the culture as they emphasize to view themselves as equal with equal, especially to rebuild. Therefore, management should follow these three advices when they change to culture. Firstly, form a discuss group and invite staff to show their views and concern before decision making.Secondly, try to use more statistics to seek their support within the discussion. The most important is the management must keep the eyes on the behaviors and emotion of the staff the change started. If the negative reaction was found, the management should stop the change and review. If the management follows it, it is e asy to change the culture. The second angle is Individualism vs. Collectivism. As the said before, the society would have strong group concept if there is Collectivism. On the other hand, they would emphasize the self-benefit when they prefer Individualism.For this, the main focus should be â€Å"Benefit†, there are two different reactions when they meet the change of culture. In the Individualism society, â€Å"Self-Benefit† is their main focus. If changing the culture will bring the â€Å"Self-Benefit†, they will support the change. Then, Culture is something easy to build up and break down. However, if changing the culture will cut the â€Å"Self- Benefit† down, they will against the change. Then, Culture is something hard to build up and break down. By contrary, in the Collectivism society, â€Å"Group-Benefit† is their main focus.If changing the culture will advantage to â€Å"Group-Benefit†, they will support the change. So, Culture is something easy to build up and break down in this moment. However, if changing the culture is disadvantage to â€Å"Group-Benefit†, they will against the change. Then, Culture is something hard to build up and break down in this moment. As a role of management, we should try to guide them to focus the viewpoint to positive. For example, when we would like to change the culture of late, some supporter of the Individualism may think it is damage to their â€Å"Self-Benefit†.But e should change their mind-set to it is benefit for them, it is a chance for strive to the promotion. For the support of Collectivism, we also can try a similar approach. For example, when we would like to change the culture of talking gossip, some supporter of the Collectivism may think it is damage to their â€Å"Group-Benefit†. We should change their mind-set to it is advantage to tor them; it will be increase to productivity atter stop to talking. All of them can get the team bonus if the productivity increases. Try to divert their attention and get their support, then the change of culture will easier.If we can not divert their attention, the management should stop the change and review it immediately. The next angle is Achievement vs. Nurturing. If the score is high, the group of people will more competitive, assertive and ambitious. However, they would tend to emphasizing consideration and personal feelings if the score is low. In this situation, they will only support the change if it is fit with their character and oppose it if it can not. After we got their support, we can change the culture easily. But, it is hard to change the culture if we only got their objection.In the Achievement society, we should avoid discussing emotions or making emotionally-based decisions or arguments. By contrary, Ensure Job design and practices are not discriminatory to either gender. And treat men and women equally. By doing so, we will build up or break down easily. When we go the wrong way, then we will hard to build up and break down. The fourth angle is Uncertainty Avoidance. The group would prefer to set more rules if the score of uncertainty avoidance is high. If the score of uncertainty avoidance is low, they have higher willingness in accepting risk.If the score of uncertainty avoidance is low, that means they love to support the change of culture, it is easy to rebuild and break down the culture. On the other hand, they are not the fans of the change if the score of uncertainty avoidance is high, because they have not confidence for the future. For this, we should give more plans and preparation to the staff, communicate with them often and early, provide detailed plans of change. Through the guide line, we can lead the people to rebuild or break the culture step-by-step. After that, they will support the change as they got he confidence.The last angle is Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation. If the group prefers short- term-benefit means the m anagement may seek for the quick success and the instant benefits. By contrary, the group prefers long-term-benefit means they believe that progressive effect is more important. In Long-term society, we should avoid letting them lose the face, emphasize and benefit of future, then they will support. Otherwise they will oppose the change. By contrary, in Short-term society, we should emphasize the quick benefit, then they will support. Otherwise they will oppose the change.

Government Policy Essay

The Wall Street Crash, which occurred in October 1929, was the mass selling of shares, which led to a massive drop in prices, which prompted further selling of shares. In one day, $14 billion was wiped off the value of the stock market. This panic selling was triggered by rumours and fears that the stock market was about to collapse (these rumours were brought about by large share holders, like Baruch and Kennedy dumping shares, and news of the collapse of the British financial empire which was financed by debt and credit, just like America’s). But why did a sudden loss of confidence have such massive repercussions? The answer lies in the long term problems in the economy which had created instability and weaknesses in the economy. Until October 1929 these weaknesses had been masked by the confidence of American people and businesses; the high prices of stocks and shares were the result of speculation – the belief or confidence that they were worth more. But as confidence crumbled, there was nothing left to sustain the economy. The key reason why the economy could not sustain itself was because the policies of the government had created major faults in the American economy, and in every area of the economy, which meant that what started as mass selling of shares resulted in a major Wall Street Crash. Firstly, government policies were responsible for the Bull market of the 1920s. Firstly, the government of the 1920s had essentially promoted speculation by allowing the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low. This encouraged lending / borrowing, which meant that millions of Americans were able to buy now, pay later for their consumer goods – such as fridges, radios and cars. Similarly, by keeping interest rates low, the Federal Reserve essentially encouraged lending to those wanting the play the stock market, as low interest rates made ‘buying on the margin’ attractive. With as many as 60,000 people involved in buying on the margin (or 10% of American families), and millions more buying now, paying later, the cycle of prosperity and stock market investment was actually based on debt and credit. Secondly, the government encouraged the Bull market by publically rejecting critics who warned of danger signs in the economy. For example, In Sept 1929 Roger Babson warned that the existing prosperity was based on a ‘state of mind’, not on economic facts. He predicted a crash and massive unemployment†¦ but he was criticised as being pessimistic and trying to undermine the country’s wealth. Experts seemed confident that the market was strong and so ignored the warnings of economists. If the government had been more careful about lending and listened to the warnings, people would have only purchased things within their means – rather than buying or investing in what they couldn’t afford. Therefore, there would not have been such over confidence (people believed that high levels of demand, and high volumes of stock market trading proved that the economy was excellent), which means that the stock market would not have been over valued in order to suffer from a loss of confidence and then a crash in the first place. As well as allowing the Fed to keep interest rates low, government policies also led to a Crash by reducing the ability of American businesses to sell their goods abroad. For example, the Fordney McCumber tariff of 1921, which was designed to protect the prices of American farmers’ goods, actually resulted in retaliatory tariffs from foreign countries. For example, Spain, Germany and France put tariffs on American cars and wheat. As a result, when the American economy did begin to slow down in the latter 1920s, businesses and farmers could not sell their surpluses abroad, which led to a drop in profits, and a reduction in production – with an impact on employment. Therefore, had the government not pursued a protectionist policy in the early 1920s, there would have been no loss of employment in the late 1920s, which means production rates would have been maintained, which would have ensured that money was kept in circulation and shares kept their value. To make matters worse, by making it harder for European countries to sell their goods in America, the government’s protectionist policy made it harder for European countries to repay the war debts they owed to the USA. To try and rectify this, the government chose to set up the Dawes Plan, whereby it lent Germany $250 million to pay its reparations to Britain and France. In 1929, the government agreed for Germany to restructure its loan repayments to the USA (the Young Plan), giving them a longer period of time to repay. Whilst in principle these actions were supportive, in practice they artificially propped up the German economy, which led to massive investment in Germany ($3,900million was invested after the Dawes Plan) as investors hoped to make a quick buck, just like they were in the American ‘get rich quick’ / speculative economy. This meant that government policy had in fact encouraged investment at home and abroad based on speculation. When investors realised that the returns (values) of stocks at home and abroad were artificially high, it would trigger a loss of confidence and massive sales – i.e. the Wall Street Crash. Another reason why government policies caused the Wall Street Crash is because the government pursued a laissez faire policy towards businesses and regulation. As a result, the 1920s were characterised by the creation of trusts and corporations – such as US Steel. The government actively ignored anti-trust laws, rather than using their federal powers to police and regulate industry. In a case heard at the Supreme Court the government argued that big businesses were not illegal, so long as some competition remained. However, in reality, the trusts wiped out competition – fixing prices and swallowing up smaller businesses (for every 4 businesses that succeeded in the 1920s, 3 failed). As a result, 1000s of smaller businesses failed, whilst the trusts became ‘captains of industry’, with the knowledge and the money to produce things very quickly and efficiently. This meant the stability of the American economy depended on the actions and profits of a few large companies, such as Insull and Ford, creating a dangerous situation. What is more, the government’s lack of regulation of corporations meant firms like Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Electric Bond & Share were not prevented from using their profits to speculate on the stock market, adding further insecurity (gambling!) to Wall Street. Unfortunately, by the end of the 1920s, many trusts – such as car giants like Ford – were producing more than was needed (and couldn’t sell their surpluses abroad thanks to the government’s tariff policy). As their sales dropped, so did wages and employment, leading to less money in circulation, less demand and a significantly weaker economy. As the trusts’ sales dropped, it also led to fewer stock market investments, which furthered the loss of confidence in Wall Street. Government policy concerning the regulation of banks and banking was also a key factor in the crash. There were no controls concerning mergers and competition so, by 1929, 1% of America’s banks controlled 46% of the nation’s assets. This meant that the stability of the country’s banking system depended on the stability of just 1% of the banks – which was a precarious situation (a Crash could see almost half of the nation’s assets disappearing!). What is more, the lack of regulation in banking meant that the government did not have complete control over the actions of the Federal Reserve Board. For example, in March 1929, one member of the Fed (Charles A. Mitchell) acted without the agreement of the Fed to publically announce that if money became tight because of higher interest rates, his bank (New York’s National City Bank) would personally pump $25million into the broker’s loan market. This was called the single most irresponsible decision of 1929 as it encouraged lending and gambling on stock market to soar at a time when the economy had slowed significantly. The government also did not regulate individuals working on the stock market – for example, greedy individuals like William Durant and his ‘bull pool’ were able to artificially inflate the market for their own gain, only to sell quickly and leave others with significant losses. Furthermore, government policies exacerbated the country’s massive unequal distribution of wealth, which itself contributed to the long-term weaknesses in the economy and hence the crash. In 1929, tax returns of 27million families showed that 12 million families were earning $1,500 a year, or less, and another 6 million families were earning less than $1,000 a year. This put at least 50% of the population in a position of serious economic hardship. In particular, agriculture faced significant problems: the mid-war Federal Farm Loan Act had offered farmers loans at lower interest rates in order to buy machinery to help meet war demand, but these loans became difficult to repay when the demand reduced as the war ended. After World War One, prices for wheat dropped from $2.50 a bushel to less than $1; wool from 90 cents to 19 cents. Although the government passed tariffs to relieve these problems, in the long term tariffs made the situation worse because foreign economies put ret aliatory tariffs in place. The post-war Agricultural Credits Act funded 12 banks to offer loans to any farmers working co-operatively. However, the Act ultimately meant more smaller farmers became in debt. The larger farmers who could afford the loans squeezed the small farmers out of the market. Prohibition made farmer’s problems even worse by cutting the need for grain previously used in alcohol. Ultimately, America’s unequal distribution of wealth should have signalled to the government that its capitalist system was not working – and steps should have been taken to alleviate the imbalanced spending power. Because the government did not alleviate the situation, the divide grew bigger (making these people dependent on credit / loans, which they couldn’t repay because of their lack of employment) – making the economy more fragile and unstable. Therefore, in October 1929, when a massive amount of selling began in the New York Stock Exchange, a mad panic set in. The confidence bubble had burst – triggered by a few rumours and fears that the market was going to crash. Had the government not pursued such a laissez faire approach to the management and regulation of banking and business, and had it responded earlier to the rich / poor divide in American society, the Wall Street Crash would never have happened because there would not have been such over-inflated / false confidence; there would have been foreign markets to trade with; and banks, businesses and individuals would have been regulated and acting in the interest of long-term not short-term gains.

Branding and Business Enterprises Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Branding and Business Enterprises - Assignment Example The author of the paper states that the type of brand of an enterprise is usually formulated from who the business enterprise consist of, the expectations of what they expect to become in future and lastly the perception of society and the people have towards the entity. A business cannot at any single point have opposing qualities. For example, the business enterprise can be quite innovative in nature, producing high-cost goods and services as well as high quality of the products in question. In other words the fountain of a business’ brand is its logo, the enterprise’s website, its mode of packaging and lastly its materials of promotion should ingrate the enterprise’s logo and consequently pass the message of its brand. After talking to Dr. Jim Friedman, branding has more meaning than the usual notion we had in the past. He was not afraid to speak out his mind by shading light to very gray areas of business and marketing in general in the society. He does not a llow a person to stay in a comfort zone because one will not achieve much in such a place and hence result in failures in life. When relating with others, he remains true to himself and does not pretend to be someone he is not and encourages individuals to emulate that quality from him. Kailin has an idea and brings along a water bottle of water which contains words from a famous American poet, W. H. Auden, who is renowned for his poetic works and the love he has for poems. The words are that â€Å"Thousands have lived with love, not one without water.†

Health care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Health care - Essay Example Statistics provided by the AFL-CIO (â€Å"What’s Wrong With America, par. 2) reveal that 47 million Americans are without health insurance. Hacker (â€Å"Health Care for America†, par. 2) averred that â€Å"health insecurity is not confined to one part of the population. It is experienced by all Americans: those without insurance as well as those who risk losing coverage; those who are impoverished as well as those with higher incomes who experience catastrophic costs; those who are sick or injured as well as those who are just one sickness or injury away from financial calamity†. It is the objective of this essay to determine if a universal health care system is the solution to America’s health care crisis. According to a report by the World Health Organization (â€Å"WHO Assesses the World Health Systems†, par. 3) â€Å"the U. S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance†. But the report stated that in terms of responsiveness, the United States ranks first due to availability of the country’s resources to immediately respond to health care needs. In terms of health expenditure per capita, the USA ranked first but ranked 72 on level of health and on the overall health system performance, it ranked 37 (World Health Report 2000) out of 191 member nations included in the study. The health care in the United States are administered by private health institutions. There are no public hospitals owned by the government. Health insurance can be availed through a working individual’s employer or through a spouse’s or parents’ employers. Insurance can also be purchased individually. For the uninsured, a study conducted by Hadley and Holalan (â€Å"Covering the Uninsured†, par. 44) revealed that â€Å"a substantial amount is already being spent on care received by uninsured people. Much of this money flows through an elaborate and often

Risk Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Risk Management - Essay Example ...... 6 Step Seven – Policies †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..... 7 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 The Fukushima Disaster: Lessons in Risk Management I. Introduction The Fukushima disaster is probably one of the most terrifying nuclear disasters in recent memory. Before March 2011, it was almost unimaginable for Japan to be on the threshold of a potential nuclear disaster. The nuclear disaster was, in fact, the result of another—equally horrific—disaster, the infamous tsunami that killed ‘tens of thousands of people’ (McCoy 2011). The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (2011) found that around 25,000 people were dead or missing as a result of the tsunami disaster, which began on 11 March, 2011, 14:46, Japan standard time. Figure 1. Nuclear Plants in Japan, including Fukushima Source: U.S. NRC 2011, p. 7 Ronald McCoy is one of the first researchers to document the Fukushima disaster. According to McCoy (2011), Japan experienced several disasters in March 2011, beginning with the ‘record-breaking’ earthquake that occurred, measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale (p. 41). The earthquake and aftershocks that took place northeast of Honshu Island triggered a ten-metre tsunami that killed more than ten thousand people. ... According to McCoy, when the earthquake occurred, the six nuclear plants at Fukushima, which were owned by Tokyo Elect Power, were shut down automatically. The earthquakes ‘knocked-oun the power grids, forcing operators to fall back on diesel generators’ (McCoy 2011, p. 4X). However, the plants still needed access to power to ensure that the coolants, which are essential for cooling the ‘hot reactor cores of the radioactive uranium and plutonium power rods’, remained flowing. However, ‘the tsunamis swept in, knocked out the generators and cut off power’ (McCoy 2011, p. 41). As a result, four out of the six plants immediately overheated. Finally, an ‘explosion damaged fuel rods and the integrity of the primary containment structure’ and, as a result, radiation was released (p. 41). This essay analyses the risks involved using the 7-steps risk management cycle, which is described in the diagram below. II. Risk Identification (Step 1) Ionising radiations from nuclear power plants ‘can damage DNA, causing cancer and inherited mutations’ (McCoy 2011, p. 41). The risk of mutation and cancer is proportional to exposure to radiation (p. 42). In addition, ‘radiation [can] kill and injure thousands’ and ‘contaminate and render uninhabitable large tracts of land’ (p. 42). Unfortunately, the Fukushima nuclear accident happened because the plant had been designed on the basis of incorrect assumptions about the risks of the region (McCoy 2011, p. 42), in particular, that earthquakes greater than 7.9 on the Richter scale, and tsunamis higher than 6.7 metres were improbable. According to Takashi Shoji (2011, Slide 10),

Compare Film Composition and Its Function and Meaning in the Work of Essay

Compare Film Composition and Its Function and Meaning in the Work of Akira Kurosawa and Kenji Mizoguchi - Essay Example To begin with, there will be a discussion of film composition and it varied elements. This section will focus on the various aspects of film composition that help portray a realistic and in some cases, larger than life picture of things so as to put across a certain message. From here, the paper will delve into a discussion of the lives and works of the two filmmakers in question so as to demonstrate the use of film composition techniques as used by them. In this regard, two films have been studied by each of the filmmakers. The films of Akira Kurosawa include Seven Samurais and Ikiru. The two films of Kenji Mizoguchi include Tales of Ugetsu and Sansho the Bailiff. From here, there will be a focus on the comparison of film composition styles of these two filmmakers. In this section, the basic focus will be on the portrayal of the quality of the use of these elements in the portrayal of various situations and scenarios through their films. The parallels drawn in this section will be reflected in the conclusion through a brief summation of the commonalities and diverse styles of film composition. Films are a medium and an art form rolled into one. They have the capacity to transport viewers and put across messages that can transform the lives of entire audiences. The power of cinema is one that has been hailed as the hardest hitting of art forms, even from the days of silent movies. The term or phrase, 'Motion Pictures' is literally the most accurate definition of the most powerful element of cinema. Moving pictures are the most powerful form of expression in art. This art form called cinema relies on the use of pictures that move in order to hold the interest of entire audiences. Yet, the sole activity of recreating moving pictures to depict scenarios and messages, is not enough. To match the voice of one's heart and sensibilities, moving pictures need to be rendered in various ways, and with the exact play of various elements. These elements include lighting, sound, and above all aesthetics. While most believe that aesthetics mainly cater to the play of light and sound in the film, this is not entirely true. Aesthetics revolve around the play of dialogue that can be rendered in perfect light, shadow, setting as well as a background score where necessary. In order to help audiences as well as every individual in the audience to literally 'get the picture', there is a need to deviate from the ordinary in an endeavour to portray that ordinary aspect of people's lives in a manner that can be dramatic, humorous and many other things depending on the vision of the filmmaker. Vision is a key word in the arena of film composition. The technicalities of film making aside, the vision of the filmmaker and the story that he or she wants to tell is the single most important factor in the portrayal of facts as well as fiction. The vision of the filmmaker is one that springs from the following factors: Personal Life Experiences Hard Hitting influence of a particular story The basic social, personal and professional sphere within which the filmmaker defines his or her capacities and influences. The genre of films and art forms that affect the filmmaker to the highest degree. The experience of the

Charter Schools in the Lottery Documentary Essay

Charter Schools in the Lottery Documentary - Essay Example One might suggest that the movie in question makes a good argument about the topic. However, in order to prove that it would be advantageous to work out a set of criteria that should be used to measure the effectiveness of the arguments that are made by documentaries. This paper will present four such criteria.  The first one, as well as the most obvious one, is objectivity. Indeed, people tend to watch documentaries since they hope that the director is not biased and is willing to show the actual state of affairs, not from a particular side. It is clear that to do so, the documentary should not give preference to one particular point of view, but feature different approaches. Speaking of The Lottery it is clear that opposite ideas about the issue of charter schools are presented: the pro side is backed up by the staff of Harlem Success Academy, parents, and activists; the con side includes public advocates, representatives of the teachers union, staff of public schools and so on. It would not be a mistake to point out that fact that it is a great advantage of the movie in question lies in the fact that it features interviews with people who strongly believe in the validity of their claims: this allowed the director to present opposing views.  Another criterion that would contribute to the effectiveness of arguing a particular topic is the balance between emotional neutrality and encouragement. It is true that documentaries usually send a particular message to the audience, and this message is usually backed up by the appeal to emotions. It is thought that â€Å"self-assertive emotions drive us towards individual action and reaction† (Austin and Jong 113). In other words, they reinforce the position that is already taken by a person on a particular issue and allow one to take appropriate action.

Relation between Electronic Media and Crime by Kids Research Paper

Relation between Electronic Media and Crime by Kids - Research Paper Example The range of media by which children have access to has tremendously increased to date. Take the example of books, magazines, radio, and films and add the dozen of cable Ers', video games and millions of internet sites that children have access to; the big question is to do these entertainment gargets have a hand in what is seen as increased criminal activities in our societies today as compared to the times of previous generations. The truth is a dense electronic bath in which children are immersed to today have increased not only in industrialized countries, but also other societies of the world (American Psychological Association, 2002). The nation’s main concern is a bout the content and its impact to the society, and whether there is a relationship between the content children receive from the media and in particular television programs and the way children grow up to behave as responsible adults. The answer is definitely, yes. A recent study indicates that 93 percent of children who live in electrified urban centers and rural areas do have access to television sets (American Psychological Association, 2002). This is 50 percent more than those who live in areas with out electricity. Importantly, these children in urban areas do spend on average of three hours in a day watching television programs. The question is does that account for the high level of crimes in these particular areas as compared to areas where children do not have access to television sets? Shockingly, children are exposed to high levels of violent images on daily basis with many countries accounting for an average of five to ten aggressive acts per hour (American Psychological Association, 2002).

The Italian Renaissance and the Northern European Renaissance Essay

The Italian Renaissance and the Northern European Renaissance - Essay Example Commerce introduced the artistic ideas in the Northern Europe region.Both regions used the guild system, which was based on lessons on the craft. This involved painting and sculptures. According to Earls, the guild system was a regulatory system for any artistic work (34). In this regard, every artistic presentation had to be in agreement with the Guild. This is to make sure that the artwork produced was of high quality. Essentially, this meant that the rehearsals on various forms of art had to be tireless and time-consuming. After accepting the artworks, the Guild still continued to measure the artistic practices and standards. Another similarity is that both the north and Italy had unique artistic centers in their regions.   In this regard, the Italian’s center was the Republic of Florence while the center for the North was Flanders. This was a section of the Duchy of the Burgundy. The Florence City, which was the center of art for the Italian Renaissance was controlled by the Medici family. The members of Medici family were responsible for bringing wealth to Florence. According to Nici, Cosimo de’ Medici, established a library, which was full of the Greek and Roman manuscripts (Nici 47). This legend noticeably involved Italian artists and philosophers. This group helped in the changing of Florence to a cultural center. The Italian Renaissance was focused on individualism. An example of this was ‘Masaccio’s Trinity with the virgin’, which was highly recognized with the Italian Renaissance.   The other likeness of Italy and the North was their use of religion in their artistic works. Incidentally, religious scenes were always displayed to show the love of religion. The artworks of the religious scenes from the Italian Renaissance were â€Å"the last supper† and â€Å"the creation†. The northern Europe Renaissance examples are â€Å"Adam and Eve†, and the â€Å"Mystic Lamb†. Both renaissances were sharp in their artistic works.  

Opportunities of Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises Assignment

Opportunities of Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises - Assignment Example There are numerous opportunities in developed markets that can be tapped by EMMEs. The first opportunity that EMMEs have in developed countries is the high number of middle income consumers. Developed markets normally have a large proportion of people in the middle income category as compared to emerging. Middle income consumers comprise of the largest consumer base in developed markets (Tse, Russo, & Haddock, 2011). The middle income earners have a high purchasing power which presents a valuable opportunity for EMMEs in the developed market. Middle income consumers are willing and able to pay high prices for products and services from the EMMEs. Middle income consumers are able to drive up the profitability of enterprise. EMMEs can tap into this segment by embracing innovation, branding and implementing effective marketing policies targeted at this category. The EMMEs should be flexible enough to develop product lines that can attract this segment of consumers. The company must carr y out market research to identify the product attributes that are desirable in that particular consumer segment and comply accordingly in order to attract more customers. Developed markets present the opportunity of highly advanced technology and equipment. Unlike the home bases in emerging markets, developed markets have more advanced technology and equipment. The lack of technological and machinery advancement in emerging markets puts a strain on the effectiveness and productivity of the EMMEs.

The Crucible would Essay Example for Free

The Crucible would Essay From your study of THE CRUCIBLE would you say that Miller intended there to be a hero and/or a villain? Justify your answer by close reference to the play.  I think Arthur Miller did mean there to be both a villain and a hero in his play. However the way he wrote his play made it so you would not have guessed some of their identities straight away.  I consider John Proctor to be the hero of this play and Abigail Williams to be the villain.   The characteristics that I think Miller believes a hero must have, beyond any other, is loyalty, and Proctor has that trait. He also must be brave and, in most respects, honest. He does not show these qualities when he appears in the beginning. At the start of the play Proctor shows little promise of heroism, he seems aggressive, violent, especially towards Mary Warren and Abigail, threatening to show you a great doin on you arse and asking if they look for a whippin?. However he has a reason to be angry with Mary Warren as she is his servant and she has disobeyed his orders.  We can tell that he does not mind threatening people that he believes are lower then him but he does not let people who believe that they are higher then him push him around. He stands up for himself and for what he believes in, even if it means going against authority, I like not the smell of this authority. He understands and admits what he had done wrong, even though he does not tell everyone until a point of crisis (when Abigail prays in the court: Whore!). He tries so hard to keep away from Abigail and temptation and tells her that We never touched and that he never give you hope to wait forhim.  As the play progresses we watch as he tries to save his wife and friends while trying to stop Abby. Even when he is offered his wifes freedom, by the judge Danforth, on the condition that he will drop this charge? he replies that he cannot, as that means he would have to forget about his friends, proving to us how deep his loyalty to his friends is especially when we realize that he is willing to doom his good name in order to prove his case against Abigail. He prefers to sacrifice what is most precious to him rather than leave his friends in the lurch. He gives up his reputation, that he tried to keep righteous and worthy, to save his wife and friends. He tells the judge that A man will not cast away his good name. He cast aside something that he felt was so important to him for the love for his wife, showing us how strong his emotions are and his sense of guilt.  But even though he admits to lechery with Abigail he cannot bear the thought of confessing to something that is a lie to save his life (Act 3). He could not bring himself to betray his friends so that he could live a liars life, for he believes that he is not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!. He keeps his loyalty to his friends intact by dieing a heros death and his personal integrity. It is this that Miller stresses most: How may I live without my name? While Proctor is not the conventional hero he at least tries to help people instead of being like Abigail who seems to have no morals and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.  Although there are many people in this play that could be called a villain Abigail Williams stands out as the worst, at least in my opinion.  The former maid of the Proctor house, she was turned out when Elizabeth Proctor found out about the affair between John and Abigail. None of them told anyone about the relationship and because of that Abigail was able to use against Elizabeth and tells Parris she hates mefor I would not be her slave! In the first scene she acts as though she is an innocent in the crisis but she quickly shows herself to be manipulative and a liar, no one was naked!he saw you naked.  She is revealed through Betty to be capable of murder too- You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!; she hides this, understandably, from the authorities, but not from the girls that danced with her. She frightens them into submission and lets them know that if any of them breathes a word she will bring a pointy reckoning tat will shudder them. She proven to be violent, smashs up Betty ad is menacing toward the other girls and later on to Danforth, telling him to beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?, warning him not to cross her. She shows no remorse for anything she does and feels no guilt for accusing all those innocent people of witchcraft just so she can accuse Elizabeth Proctor.  She blames everything on someone else never taking the blame herself, She made me do it!.. when asked by Hale whether she had done magic in the forest. She betrays the man whom she claims to care about to save herself when Proctor is accused of witchcraft she does not say anything to help him (Act 3) Even though she claims to care for Proctor and love Betty (I would never hurt Betty. I love her dearly, she does not, she cares for no one but herself.  She is also a thief and a coward. After Proctor is arrested she no longer has anything keeping her in Salem and, as the judge no longer trust her, she and Mercy Lewis run away with thirty-one pounds stolen from Parriss safe.  In short Abigail is a lying, manipulative, murderous woman whom will do anything to achieve what she wants.  In conclusion I believe that Miller intended there to be many different characters that could be the villain or the hero but that Abigail and John stood out more than the others.

Hazardous Waste and Clean-up Costs Essay Example for Free

Hazardous Waste and Clean-up Costs Essay CERCLA was enacted, along with its sister law RCRA which came before it, to deal with the environmental damage that was being caused by improper waste disposal. CERCLA’s goals are to clean up old dump sites and discourage future illegal dumping. CERCLA imposes few direct regulatory obligations and is designed to force cleanups and allocate the cost of cleaning up via its liability and cleanup provisions. The basic principle is that the potentially responsible parties such as waste generators, transporters, and/or owners operators of facilities that are responsible for hazardous waste pollution should pay for its cleanup. Through CERCLA’s strict liability scheme any company that illegally spills or dumps hazardous substances is liable for the clean-up whether or not the action was negligent. Also, through joint and several liability, each party that contributed waste to a site is responsible for its cleanup. So if Joe Blow is found liable for the clean-up of a site and happens to find any evidence that another company may have contributed as well, Joe Blow can legally pursue them to pay their â€Å"fair share† of the clean-up costs. A perfect example of this was the Girl Scout story told in our environmental law class where a Girl Scout cookie box was found in a site by a company that was fingered for clean-up. The company then tried to accuse the Girl Scouts organization of having to pay the cost of clean-up as well. Furthermore, through retroactive liability, all responsible parties have to clean-up the site even if the damage was done before the law was enacted. CERCLA has criteria for its two types of clean-up procedures which are removal and remedial. Removal actions are generally short term actions such as fencing off an area, studying the soil and removing the hazardous substances to remove the immediate threat from the site. Remedial actions are generally long term actions necessary to clean-up sites to meet final clean-up standards which may include removal or incineration of the contaminated soil to reduce the threat from the site. Through these liability clean-up provisions CERCLA strives to achieve its purpose. CERCLA was later amended in 1980 by SARA (Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act), enacted to strengthen CERCLA by requiring that site cleanups be permanent and that they use treatments that significantly reduce the volume, toxicity, or mobility of hazardous pollutants. SARA not only increased the size of the Superfund but imposed more stringent requirements when it established more detailed clean-up standards, added new settlement procedures, established mandatory schedules for federal facility compliance, and added provisions to expand the involvement of states and citizen groups in the decision making process. Some major criticisms of CERCLA are that it has been ineffective in cleaning up the nation’s hazardous waste sites, that it has wasted more money on transaction and litigation costs than on clean-up, and that it is unfair to parties that contribute minimally but are liable for the total cost of the clean-up of a site. As for it being ineffective, my opinion is that it is effective because it could be much worse. Craig Collins, a professor of environmental law and the author of â€Å"Toxic Loopholes: Failures and Future Prospects for Environmental Law† points out that â€Å"the dramatic decline in ‘midnight dumping’ since CERCLA became law reveals how effective this liability threat can be† (p. 88). He also has shared within his classroom that mismanaged hazardous waste spills and dumps which used to be commonplace before CERCLA are rare these days. Has the Superfund been wasteful? Clearly you would think this if you’re looking at the percentage of money that has gone into legal fees and litigation costs alone but according to Collins, Superfund has also funded aid for â€Å"toxic terrorism and natural disasters such as the World Trade Center collapse and the devastating Midwest floods of 1993† (p. 99). When looking at it from that lens I can see that it has been just as helpful in many areas as it may have been considered wasteful in others. Regarding unfairness to those who minimally contribute but face the total cost of clean-up, a provision of CERCLA, as addressed by SARA, swiftly settles the liability of those parties through de minimis settlements. Don’t think I don’t understand that just as CERCLA could be worse it could also be better. First of all, it could work a lot better if the people creating laws, such as CERCLA, were actually more concerned about the environment than their powerful colleagues and certain incentives. More specifically, if we continued to allow corporate taxes which supplied money for Superfund clean-ups (which Bush allowed to expire in 1995) we would have money to clean-up many of the orphaned sites that now go uncleaned. Furthermore, if CERCLA forced all companies to use and help promote the â€Å"zero waste† approach, we could then prove that experiences such as the Love Canals, Times Beach Missouri, and Grand Bois actually did mean enough to all of us to do something more unified and serious about it.

Why is investment appraisal process so important

Why is investment appraisal process so important Investment decisions are of critical importance to all companies, since they determine both their potential to succeed and their ultimate cost structure. Investments usually implicate high initial cash outflows and thus tie up substantial funds. Sound investment decisions are crucial, therefore. Yet, according to a highly complex and fastly changing business environment they remain a challenging management task. A capital investment appraisal is used to make sure value for money with regard to developing an estate strategy and capital project. It is not an indication of loss or profit for the company as a whole but rather a comparision of costs with regard to those areas of the estate where there is an opportunity or a demand for change. (Baum T., Mudambi R., 1999). Capital investment decisions are the important criteria to be used by an organization in order to apply its corporate strategy. Because of this, it has to include strategical decisions, marketing decisions and human recources implications that are an overall business review. These decisions include; expansion, cost reduction, market development, acquisitions and disposals, lease or buy. It is possible to evaluate the validity of the opportunities for an investment appraisal by comparing the expected benefits with the anticipated costs as its purpose. ( Kind J, 1999 p.122) (b) What is the payback period of each project? If AP Ltd imposes a 3 year maximum payback period which of these projects should be accepted? Payback for Project A Years Net cash flow Cumulative net cash flow  £000  £000 0 (110) (110) 1 20 20 2 30 50 3 40 90 4 50 140 5 70 210 Total 3+=3.4 years Payback for Project B Years Net cash flow  £000 0 (110) 1 40 2 40 3 40 4 40 5 40 Total = 2.7 years c) What are the criticisms of the payback period? Payback is a type of measurement that indicate the necessary period of time required for the recovery of the initial investment. There is a necessity of clarification that the payback can not be used as an only decision criterion because it does not include any profits or cash flows occurring after the payback period. Second, payback gives equal weight to all cashflows before the cutoff period, despite the fact that the more distant cashflows arc less valuable.( Mott, 2005, p 217.) It is a compulsory for a company to determine a proper end time for the investment in order to use payback method. Too many short-lived projects will be chosen by the company rather than long term ones in case of using the same date without taking into account the project life. Also it can be considered as an effective auxiliary investment appraisal tool since some possible risks that may arise from an investment project can be indicated by payback. As paralel to this, it might be thought as an important factor for the consideration of the economic life of a project as a consecuence of a sensitivity analysis. (Gà ¶tze U, 2008, p.46) Although it has weaknesses, payback will be used as one of the main decision making tecniques because the simplicity is the keynote of this investment appraisal method. And also it has short term perspective that leads decision making. In case of consideration of more complex projects,we should use advanced analysis like Net Present Value method and think carrefully what might be at risk. ( Dyson, 2007, p.422) (d) Determine the NPV for each of these projects? Should they be accepted explain why? NPV for Project A Years Net cash flow Discount factor Present value  £000 12%  £000 1 20 0.893 17.86 2 30 0.797 23.91 3 40 0.712 28.98 4 50 0.636 31.8 5 70 0.567 39.69 _______ Total present value 141.74 Less: Initial cost 110 Net present value 31.74 NPV for Project B Years Net cash flow Discount factor Present value  £000 12%  £000 1 40 0.893 35.72 2 40 0.797 31.88 3 40 0.712 28.48 4 40 0.636 25.44 5 40 0.567 22.68 _______ Total present value 144.2 Less: Initial cost 110 Net present value 34.2 Both projects should be accepted, since both Net Present Values are positive according to ACCEPT-REJECT decision making techniques. If we use RANKING decision making techniques; Project [emailprotected] 12% Discount Rate  £000 B 34.20 A 31.740 As it can be seen from the rankings Project B is more preferable with a higher NPV. (e) Describe the logic behind the NPV approach. NET PRESENT VALUE METHOD One of the most widely known and used technique of financial analysis is Net Present Value method. It is a comparision of the value of money now and that of the future. A pound today is precious more than a pound in the future, because the buying power of the future money is eroded by the effect of inflation. Importance of Time Value of Money in Financial Management; The time value of money is the fundamental for financial management because it is the aid of determining present value in todays paund of the future net cash flow of a project. Therefore you can obtain a comparision of that sum of money with necessary amount of money to carry out the project. Any of financial decisions must not be taken in case of the equality of inflows and outflows because of uncertain future conditions. In order to purchase assets the inflow must be above the outflow. If the purpose is to raise the funds then outflow must be kept more than the inflow. And it is required that the inflow and outflow can be matched. In order to make effective financial decision, the flows expected in the future must be adjusted on the purpose of being compared with the current ones.( Ramagopal, 2008, p.221) The procedure of Net Present Value Calculation; Net present value method can be used to examine the profitability of all investment projects. If the net present value > 0 The project is feasible If the net present value < 0 The project is not feasible If the NPV is greater than the cost, the project will be gainful for the company. In the case of having more than one project, you should calculate Net present value of all, and the superior one that has the most difference between Net present value and cost must be chosen. Project that its net present value is bigger than zero, are considered to raise the value of the company. (Mott, 2005, p216) The advantages of this method; It puts forward the value of 1 pound of today is more than that of 1 pound in the future. Because the return of todays investment will be received earlier than any of the future investments. The estimated cash flows and the opportunity cost of capital are examined by this method. In order to calculate the net present value for the whole project, the current values of the cash inflows and outflows could be added since present values are todays value. ( Kind J, 1999 p.127) The weakness of the model is that cash flows are accepted to be seen on the last day of the year depending on discounting once a year. On the other hand the assumption of the constant cost of capital during the whole life time of the project can be considered as the another weakness of the method. (Proctor, 2009, p.192) (f) What would happen to the NPV if: (1) The cost of capital increased? If the cost of capital increases, discount rates decrease, which means that present values of cashflows also decrease. As a result, NPV will also decrease, because there will be a decrease in the sum of total present values of cash flow (2) The cost of capital decreased? Decreasing the cost of capital will increase discounting rates, which means an increase in total present value of cashflows. Depending on this increase, NPV which includes the sum of total present values of cashflows will inevitanly increase. (g) Determine the IRR for each project. Should they be accepted? The net present value is most popularly alternated with internal rate of return (IRR). IRR is defined as the discount rate or cost of capital at point where the benefits are balanced with its costs, the net present value is equal to zero and so, can be considered as break even rate. It can be used as measure of capital efficiency. Advantages of IRR Liquidity is considered in this method. It emphasize timing of net cash flow. The exact % return on investment is given NPV FOR PROJECT A: Years Net cash flow Discount factors Present value  £000 17% 22% 17% 22%  £000  £000 1 20 0.855 0.82 17.1 16.4 2 30 0.731 0.672 21.93 20.16 3 40 0.624 0.55 24.96 22 4 50 0.534 0.451 26.7 22.55 5 70 0.456 0.37 31.92 25.9 _______ ______ Total present value 122.61 107.01 Less: Initial cost 110 110 Net present value 12.61 (2.99) IRR= positive rate + -range of rates= = 17%+-5% =21.04% At 21.01% discount rate the NPV is equal to zero. NPV FOR PROJECT B: Years Net cash flow Discount factors Present value  £000 22% 27% 22% 27%  £000  £000 1 40 0.82 0.787 2.863 2.581 2 40 0.672 0.620 3 40 0.55 0.488 4 40 0.451 0.384 5 40 0.37 0.302 _______ ______ Total present value Less: Initial cost 110 110 Net present value 4.52 (6.76) IRR= positive rate + -range of rates= 22%+-5% =24% Since both projects IRR are bigger then cost of capital; both of them can be accepted. (h) How does a change in the cost of capital affect the projects IRR? The IRR value of the project is not affected by a change in the cost of capital. The point that must be taken into account here is that IRR value must not be below cost of capital for the safety of the investment. (i) Why is the NPV method often regarded to be superior to the IRR method? The NPV calculation will usually always provide a more accurate indication of whether or not a project should be undertaken or not.However, since IRR is a percentage, and NPV is shown in money, it is more appealing for a manager to show someone a particular rate of return, as opposed to money amounts.

Starship Troopers Essay -- Analysis, Heinlein

The Novum presented in Starship Troopers is the rule of the Veterans and the resulting primacy of the military. This Novum sets the novel up as a utopic pandering to a readership demographic that the author himself is a member of. This is a normative sci-fi construction. Starship Troopers deviates in that the true target readership is the young man who has not yet been given a chance to join up. He is meant to gain a favorable understanding of the military man by sharing in his dream. The dream then - the world created – is the persuasive device. Heinlein begins by claiming historical inevitability for his Novum. Once our decadent civilization falls, the veterans; as the faction best equipped to counter anarchy, will simply take over police and then government functions. Further, â€Å"those [early] veterans, since they were finding it necessary to hang some veterans, decided that, if they had to do this, they weren't going to let any "bleedin'†¦ unprintable" civilians have any say about it.† (198). Which is to say that the distinction between soldier and civilian was built on the soldier’s resentment of their task. This implies that the soldiers blame the societal collapse on the decadence of the civilians. This is partially countered when veterans are stated to be just as likely to commit a crime as non-veterans (199) but more fully reaffirmed when it is stated that â€Å"[democracy] failed because the people had been led to believe that they could simply vote for whatever they wanted†(76). Re gardless, this is where Heinlein introduces his system of franchise, and it too is conceptualized as an organic and obvious development. These two classes are essential as the book is a bildungsroman and its action is of comparison between the t... ...the appeal of the life of the soldier and even of the validity of his Novum as a government form (he makes explicit reference to Technocracy, the nearest equivalent (199)). I do find the argument convincing, but perhaps not as much for the younger reader. The best advantages of military service presented are acquiesce and contentment, in short, the death drive - the desire to live less – a desire I hope is not well formed in the young reader. The arguments for the superiority of the military man are less convincing since they rely on a pretty problematic altruism founded on species survival over the individual but they are serviceable and no one debates with someone who wants to sacrifice himself anyways. Overall, if the capitalist game of meritocracy appears a bit too rigged and the death drive kicks in a bit early, military service is shown to be a good option. Starship Troopers Essay -- Analysis, Heinlein The Novum presented in Starship Troopers is the rule of the Veterans and the resulting primacy of the military. This Novum sets the novel up as a utopic pandering to a readership demographic that the author himself is a member of. This is a normative sci-fi construction. Starship Troopers deviates in that the true target readership is the young man who has not yet been given a chance to join up. He is meant to gain a favorable understanding of the military man by sharing in his dream. The dream then - the world created – is the persuasive device. Heinlein begins by claiming historical inevitability for his Novum. Once our decadent civilization falls, the veterans; as the faction best equipped to counter anarchy, will simply take over police and then government functions. Further, â€Å"those [early] veterans, since they were finding it necessary to hang some veterans, decided that, if they had to do this, they weren't going to let any "bleedin'†¦ unprintable" civilians have any say about it.† (198). Which is to say that the distinction between soldier and civilian was built on the soldier’s resentment of their task. This implies that the soldiers blame the societal collapse on the decadence of the civilians. This is partially countered when veterans are stated to be just as likely to commit a crime as non-veterans (199) but more fully reaffirmed when it is stated that â€Å"[democracy] failed because the people had been led to believe that they could simply vote for whatever they wanted†(76). Re gardless, this is where Heinlein introduces his system of franchise, and it too is conceptualized as an organic and obvious development. These two classes are essential as the book is a bildungsroman and its action is of comparison between the t... ...the appeal of the life of the soldier and even of the validity of his Novum as a government form (he makes explicit reference to Technocracy, the nearest equivalent (199)). I do find the argument convincing, but perhaps not as much for the younger reader. The best advantages of military service presented are acquiesce and contentment, in short, the death drive - the desire to live less – a desire I hope is not well formed in the young reader. The arguments for the superiority of the military man are less convincing since they rely on a pretty problematic altruism founded on species survival over the individual but they are serviceable and no one debates with someone who wants to sacrifice himself anyways. Overall, if the capitalist game of meritocracy appears a bit too rigged and the death drive kicks in a bit early, military service is shown to be a good option.

Causes and Solutions of World Poverty Essay -- Global Poverty Informat

Causes and Solutions of World Poverty Poverty is prevalent throughout the world around us. We watch television and see famous people begging us to sponsor a child for only ten dollars a month. We think in our own minds that ten dollars is only pocket change, but to those children and their families, that ten dollars is a large portion of their annual income. We see images of starving children in far away countries, and our hearts go out to them. But we really do not know the implications of poverty, why it exists, or even what we can do to help combat this giant problem in our world. What is poverty? Well, according to Webster's Third New International Dictionary, poverty is "lack of money or material possessions; poor." Two-thirds of the world's population fits this definition. I know that many times we think of being poor as not being able to buy the car we want or take the trip we can only dream about. However, being poor, living in poverty, hits a lot lower than that. For example, a resident of the country of Chad will only bring in $100 each year. Since many people can make more than that in one week, some in one day, can you imagine having the feed a family of five or six, or even a family of two, on only $100 a year? These are the conditions that exist in poverty-stricken countries. There are many reasons why poverty is an increasing problem. The first is delayed modernization. These less-developed countries barely have enough skilled workers and managers and technology. Industrialized countries have four times as many managers and workers as the less-developed countries, also known as LDC's. It is almost impossible for the lower-developed countries to catch up or even compete with the industrialized countries.... ...he second way to attempt to decrease the population is through increased active family planning programs. Especially in poor countries, it is a lot harder for women just to jump into the work force, and even harder for a poor country to become industrialized. For example, in Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries, birth rates have decreased from seven children per family to only 5.5. This is largely because forty percent of Bangladesh's woman now take part in some form of family planning. The New International Economic Order, known as the NIEO, has also taken steps to decrease the amount of poverty in the world and hopefully eliminate the large gap between the rich and the poor in the world. Through individual, national, and global aid, we can take steps to decrease the overwhelming amount of poverty in less-developed countries and even in our own lands.

The Relationship Between Business and Government Essay -- Business Man

Relationship between Government and Business in the United States The government’s position is to ensure that citizens do not suffer harm resulting from business operations, such as selling tainted food or preparing foods in unsanitary conditions, causing ecological harm, or dealing unscrupulously in financial matters. As the government grows, government regulation, taxation, and spending has been beneficial for businesses (Carney, 2006). Businesses prefer the government eliminate regulates and government watchdogs so they can continue to operation in a fashion that would increase their profits. Most business leaders believe the government is excessively involvement with how businesses operate. A poll taken in 2005, found 90% of Americans believed that large businesses had great influence over the government. The CEO’s of large corporations are able to have personal meetings with senators and cabinet secretaries to discuss their position and influence their decision-making (Carney, 2006). Since the Obama Administration, the government is interacting directly with businesses to ensure that they are being fiscally responsible so as not to negatively impact the American citizens. President Obama had to intervene on behalf of Wall Street, automotive companies and the banking industry by means of stimulus package to avoid an economic depression for the country. Both businesses and the government need to work together to ensure the citizens receive the greatest protection in all issues, to include health and safety, defense, economics and environmental protection. The relationship between government and business is crucial and critical if American is to remain successful. Government will have to lay aside its bipar... ...cles/cpr28n4-1.html Federal Trade Commission, (n.d.). Protecting America’s consumers. Retrieved from http:// www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data/idt.shtm Goodell, J. (2010). As the World Burns. Rolling Stone, 1096, 30-45, 62. http://search.proquest. com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/220179270?accountid=34899 Machan,T. (1988). Government regulation of business: The moral arguments. The Freeman,38 (7). Retrieved from http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/government-regulation-of -business-the-moral-arguments/ Milkin Institute Global Conference (2009). The new relationship between government and business. Retrieved from http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/gcprogram.taf?function= detail&EvID=1957&eventid=gc09 National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. indicatorproject.com/preservation2009/index.html

Hunger Games Book Talk

Hunger Games Book Talk Could you survive on your own and in the wild, with every one out there trying to make sure you don't live to see the sunrise? I think I probably wouldn't be able to survive in the wilderness, much less if people are trying hard to make sure I don't survive until the next day. I am used to getting my food in the supermarket, already processed, and I'm sure I wouldn't be able to hunt, kill or even build a fire. But Katniss Everdeen could. She is a 16 year-old who is able to support her widowed mother and 12 year-old sister Prim, by hunting in the forbidden woods of District 12 with her best friend Gale.They all live in the Seam, the poorest part of District 12. QUOTE. Due to a cruel twist of life, Katniss Everdeen ends up being the first volunteer ever of District 12. She is joined by Peeta Mallark, the baker's son. Both are picked to represent District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games. Feeling already sentenced to death, they are dealt another unfortunate blow when Haymitch, a drunk ex-victor, is assigned as their mentor. During the preparation for the games, the audience is bewitched by the alleged romance between the two representatives of District 12 and dub Katniss as â€Å"the girl on fire†.When real and false emotions collide, trouble  grows  between the two, because only one can make it out alive. During the Hunger Games loyalties grow or switch, some contestants stay in the arena forever, while one victor and only one is expected to come back home alive. Do you know where the author got her inspiration for the book? How her personal experiences and the historical context influence her writing? I recommend the novel mainly to teens, ages 13 and up, since it is full of suspense, action and it is rather interesting because it is not only a book about a game where everyone needs to fight each other until someone dies, ut it is something much complicated that talks about how governments always want to have all the power and be in control, and about personal freedom, sacrifice and what it means to be yourself and not submit to society's expectations. Personally, I loved this book after the  first chapter or so, since the novel starts moving at a fast pace that keeps you entertained and wanting to know more. Also the author is very descriptive about the setting, the characters physical appearance and their feelings, that you can almost feel your in the book. http://www. scholastic. com/thehungergames/videos/classical-inspiration. htm

Forensic Science Essay

Review Questions1.What atomic number 18 the four types of distinguish in a criminal investigating? The four types of differentiate is physical certainty, objective evidence, demonstrative evidence and testimony.2.What be or sowhatbody peculiar(prenominal)s? Give an illustration of an private characteristic?Individual characteristics are properties associated with a mutual source to a high pointedness of certainty. An example of individual characteristics that forensic scientists whitethorn life for are the ridge characteristics of two fingerprint samples.3.What is the difference between individual characteristics and class characteristics?Class characteristics are those that crumb only be associated with groups not alone a single source4.What are physical and chemical properties? Give an example of each. Physical properties are those that show a substance or object without referring to all other substance. For example the physical properties of trumpery dexte rity be its weight, size, color, and volume. The physical properties are those that an object or trace evidence has with just its physical existence, without altering it in either way with chemicals.Chemical properties are those that describe what happens when a substance reacts with another substance. For example, when the medicate heroin comes into contact with the Marquis reagent chemical it turns purple. This behavior describes the chemical property of heroin and helps forensic scientists identify its presence.5.What do forensic scientists do to collect and preserve solid ground samples? Soil samples are typically sedate from the crime scene within a 100-yard radius at various spots. forensic scientists take great care in collecting and preserving soil samples, if soil is set in motion on the bottom of a clothe for example the soil is left on the shoe and the entire shoe is taken to the crime lab. Theobject must to a fault be stored in such a way that any pieces of dirt that may fall off the object are retained.Critical Thinking Questions1. wherefore do you conceive of forensic scientists are so prudent that the tests they do are sensitive, reproducible, and particularised? What readiness happen if they were less(prenominal) careful about this?If the actions are not taken correctly then if you might plug up or accidental unprovoked rough evidence you pretend some more, they label to help with the specifics. If they are less careful about this then it might not be any utilization to them and just be a molder of their time.2.Which type of evidence do you think is most useful in an investigation? Why?I believe that the most useful evidence is physical evidence because it helps give more detail than any other type of evidence.3.Why do you think that forensic scientists continue to look for class characteristics given their limitations?Forensic scientist might continue to look for class characteristics because they would worry more evidence to convict or help with other law cover reasons.4.What do you think would be some of the challenges in collecting and preserving impressions? Why?I believe that some challenges might be having to be very gentle and bourgeois about what you do and how you treat the evidence.5.If you were on a jury, do you think you would stand individual characteristics in the evidence? Why or why not? What make might it have if individuals endure to have individuals characteristics presented? Ibelieve I would expect individual characteristics because that would help me make some serious and maybe even final decisions.