Cultural Perspectives On American Expansionist, Colonial...

As Yehuda Berg said, â€Å"words have energy and power with the ability to help†¦[and] to harm.† Expanding upon his reflection to see varying social perspectives on American expansionist, colonial and slave society contexts, one notes that officials of European descent including Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and John Eliot converted white words and ideas into literal and figurative terms that they believed Native Americans mutually understood to persuade tribal leaders to adopt white mores. Accordingly, some Native Americans responded to these jabs of white coercion through outright resistance while others re-enacted white behaviors to receive preferential treatment from white leaders and gain social influence that had the potential to undermine white hegemony. Building off of these indigenous efforts to reclaim lost territory, many Southern black slaves adapted to the ongoing tolerance of church ministries and loopholes in slave masters’ restrictions to slightly advance African beliefs atop Christianity and syncretically empower black rituals. While white expansionists engaged in brief, unbalanced negotiations to judge and then exploit Native Americans, certain indigenous people broke out of the ongoing Eurocentric decorum of noble savagery with colonial authorities to pursue sociopolitical agency and many black slaves interbred Christian and African beliefs to fashion their own religious subculture over time. Thus, throughout these cases, both white and non white figures ofShow MoreRelatedAmerican Imperialism Essay examples2429 Words   |  10 Pagesworld’s leading imperial powers. Historians have proposed various reasons for this change in the American psyche. Historians from the progressive school of thought argue that economic interests dictated American foreign policy; while academics of the Conservative or older patriotic tradition advocate that the nations brief foray into imperialism represented a â€Å"great aberrationâ €  from typical American isolationism. A third school led by Julius Pratt, applied Social Darwinism to the country – statingRead More Race and Intercultural Relations in the United States Essay2237 Words   |  9 Pagesfootfalls of Europeans upon the American continent’s shores. Each group of settlers and immigrants have brought their own unique perspectives and underlying values to the table. Many of these perspectives have been incorporated into the mainstream way of life, many others however, have been dismissed and discarded as either foreign or outright dangerous. The patterns that have emerged from this interaction of cultures and peoples define who we are today as Americans, not a homogenous amalgam of thoseRead MoreEssay on American Imperialism in the Philippines3614 Words   |  15 PagesSpanish colonizers, America captured the Philippines. This brought about questions of what America should do with the Philippines. Soon, controversy ensued both in the American political arena as well as among its citizens. Throughout its history, America had always been expansionistic, but it had always limited itself to the North American continent. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, however, there emerged a drive to expand outside of the continent. When America expanded to the Philippines, theRead MoreNotes on American Interventionism3498 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿Introduction Before World War II, American interventionism was often overt and direct, simply landing troops on the shores of some prospective banana republic and installing a friendly government there. This is exactly what happened in Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, in some cases more than once. Theodore Roosevelt was hardly shy about admitting that he sent troops to Puerto Rico and the Philippines, taking Panama from ColumbiaRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesE SSAYS ON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and CultureRead MoreRethinking Mercantalism Essay15042 Words   |  61 PagesBritish Empire, and the Atlantic World in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries Author(s): Steve Pincus Reviewed work(s): Source: The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 69, No. 1 (January 2012), pp. 3-34 Published by: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5309/willmaryquar.69.1.0003 . Accessed: 06/09/2012 12:18 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstorRead MoreThe Mutapa State8269 Words   |  34 PagesChidema areas It has been claimed t...hat his victims were so impressed by his military exploits that they nicknamed him Mwene Mutapa, ‘owner of conquered lands’ or ‘master pillager’, hence the birth of the Mutapa dynasty. He then embarked on an expansionist policy that resulted in the creation of a vast Mutapa empire which stretched from the Zambezi valley into the Mozambique lowlands and towards the fringes of the Kalahari Desert. The Mutapa’s control in these far away lands was probably peripheral

Statistics In Sociology - 799 Words

In this experiment, data was collected from 44 participants, which came from an undergraduate statistics lab class at Florida Atlantic University, members of the Palm Beach Hindu Mandir, and friends and relatives of the authors of this study. The sample was 30% male (N = 13) and 70% female (N = 31). Participants ranged in age from 15 to 61 with the average being 28 years (M= 28.09, SD= 14.178). The participants all voluntarily filled out an online survey originally sent out to the class. The authors both participated and gave their own survey responses. In order to get a wider range of results, the survey was also sent to members of a church, and shared on one of the author’s personal social media page. Their responses were factored into†¦show more content†¦Anything over five was not considered for this study. This is because for the purposes of this study, anything over five times a year is considered a significant amount of times to be ill. In this experiment, the main goal is to find a possible correlation between whether a person makes their bed daily or not and around how many times they are sick in a year. We hypothesize that making one’s bed daily promotes good health habits, therefore preventing one from being ill frequently. Due to this, we predict that participants that reportedly make their beds daily will also report fewer instances of being sick per year, with most responses estimated to land around â€Å"1-3† times per year. The main independent variable being studied is whether participants make their bed daily, and the dependent variable would be how often they are sick in a year. There are some other independent variables that could impact the relationship, such as gender and age, because they too have an influence on the health of a person. Due to this, we asked participants to report that information as well, so we can take it into account when running data tests and drawing conclusions. Results Our independent variable for this study is whether participants make up their beds every morning. The dependent variable for this study is how many times a year participants get sick. Other independent variables recorded were gender and age. We ran a bivariate correlationShow MoreRelatedIs Sociology a Science1655 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The study of sociology cannot and should not be seen as scientific† To what extent do sociological arguments and evidence support this view? (33 marks) The debate about whether sociology can be represented as a science has existed for many years. Comte; who first used the word sociology argued that sociology should be based on the methodology of the natural sciences. He argues that the application of natural science methodology to the study of society would produce a ‘positive science of society’Read More Comparing Webers and Durkheims Methodological Contributions to Sociology1727 Words   |  7 PagesComparing Webers and Durkheims Methodological Contributions to Sociology This essay will be examining the methodological contributions both Durkheim and Weber have provided to sociology. It will briefly observe what Positivists are and how their methodologies influence and affect their research. It will also consider what interpretative sociology is, and why their type of methodology is used when carrying out research. It will analyse both Durkheims study of SuicideRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism In Sociology1560 Words   |  7 Pages Part I The Functionalist theory emphasizes the contributions (functions) that all parts of society (e.g., social institutions) make within society. This theory has contributed to sociology by providing a view â€Å"which emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain stability.† (Schafer 2013, pg13) The conflict perspective, or conflict theory, derives from the ideas of Karl Marx, who believed society is a dynamic entity constantly undergoing change driven by class conflictRead MorePositivism Essay978 Words   |  4 PagesPositivism Positivism is a scientific approach to sociology (the science of society As Keat and Urry (social theory as science, 1975) note: Positivism is concerned only with observable phenomena. It involves establishing law-like relations between them through the careful accumulation of factual knowledge. This occurs by means of observation, experimentation, comparison and prediction. The terms sociology and positive philosophy (positivism) were both coinedRead MoreWhy An Independent Variable Affects A Dependent Variable888 Words   |  4 Pages Surveys and Experiments, Longitudinal studies, are two significant methods of research used in Sociology. First, the Survey method, a primary research method, studies a larger, broader population of sociology (Bryant, L. (2014), (Census). For this survey method, experimenter choose the subject and questions needed for the collection of data. The advantage of this method involves a faster evaluation period and is inexpensive. However, the disadvantage of this method is the interviewers inabilityRead MoreAssess Different Sociological Explanations of Suicide1445 Words   |  6 PagesSuicide is the  intentional  taking  of  ones  own  life and sociologists over the years have tried to put forward various explanations for why someone may do this. Within sociology there are many different views on suicide on the causes and explanations for it, these come from two main methodologies which are Positivists who believe that sociology is a science and they should aim to make causal laws on suicide rates, compared to Interpretivists who believe that they should look for meaning behind occurrencesRead MoreImportant Sociological Concepts1078 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Title Page What is an Organization? How I Intend to Broaden My Accountants Perspective Through Sociology Thesis Statement Even though a well-informed person might question why the study of sociology is related to my chosen field as an accountant I know how valuable the study of sociology is with regards to the attention to detail and person-to-person human interactions I am committed to in my field. There are important links between working with financial data and interacting as a teamRead MoreKnowledge Of Arithmetic, Algebra, And Statistics1196 Words   |  5 Pagesknowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, and statistics and his or her occupations. The knowledge of psychology is human behavior and performance, individual differences in ability, personalities and interests; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. Education and training is the knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, and teaching and instruction for individuals. The abilities needed to beRead MoreA Brief Note On Sociology And Socio logy Class1524 Words   |  7 Pages After conducting five interviews, I found some similarities and differences on their views of what sociology is. I interviewed two females and three males. The ages from the interviewee’s ranged from 19 to 56. All of my respondent’s in this research were white. The five respondents had a different socioeconomic status. One of the respondents is still in school, and does not work at the moment, so I listed her as a low socioeconomic class. I interviewed both of my parents, and they are at a middleRead More The Distinction Between Crime and Deviance Essay1274 Words   |  6 Pages Crime statistics exist entirely to measure levels of crime inside society; so, the purpose of this essay is to illustrate whether or not the statistical data on crime and deviance provides a true measurement of criminal occurrences in British society. The distinction between crime and deviance is going to be explored and a clear understanding of how they differentiate from each other will be gained. The terms Formal and Informal social control will be identified and their differences determined

Teenage Responsibility free essay sample

A lot of parents believe that when a child turns into a teenager, they lack on there responsibilitys and there actions. This is hundred percent true because there brains go blank when they turn into a teenager. At age 17, teenagers should be held responsible for there actions because they will need to make good decisions, get ready for college, and they can drive. One thing that they will be reliable on is making good decisions. Everyday teenagers have to stop and think, so that they can make good decisions. A good decision to make is dont do drugs.Also is to not do bad things and using your time wisely. These decisions can affect your future, so I wouldnt do them. Another action is to get ready for college. When a teenage goes to college, they have turned into an adult. That means they have to be responsible for what they do and where they go. We will write a custom essay sample on Teenage Responsibility or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They also have to learn that they have to pay there way throw things, which is saying that they have to pay for there food, gas, shelter, and clothes. A really important thing is to keep your grades good, like I mean all Ass. When they turn 17 years old, they will already have there drivers licenses.When they are driving they will have to be smart and watch there speed and look where there going. Also they will not text and drive. Many parents have to think about letting there child get there license because they will have to trust them to be careful and to protect you and the people around you or the people In the car with you. Parents should also remind there kids to pay for there own gas too. These responsible actions are things teenagers need to know when they turn 17 years old. Always remind them to drive safe and carefully. Teenagers should study these rules.

Place of Contentment free essay sample

A Safe Haven lingers in the outskirts of the digital world, and makes me feel whole. Tumblr.com is more than a blogging site. It’s the original chameleon of the Internet being anything you ever wanted, and so much more. A blank canvas for your imagination and a friend to hold your hand when all you want to do is cry. The power of youth intertwines in cyber fibers and creates the genius that is Tumblr. This website attends to all emotions and senses by captivating one into seeing the beauty of life, through every type of creative mind on the planet. It is an underground safety net to express and vent where no one will find you, unless you allow yourself to be found. Tumblr can also be a place to share your offerings to the world of newborn foals, chewing at the bit with a burning desire in their hearts to make an impact. We will write a custom essay sample on Place of Contentment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This site is wonderful in the way that it gives people a chance to have a voice that they are rarely given otherwise. Throughout my time using Tumblr, I have been able to form opinions about politics, and learn about critical issues in the world I was never informed about before. I have learned the most outlandish potpourri of facts as well. For instance, Jared Padalecki is obsessed with Where’s Waldo books, Nutella jars are made as big as a human torso for 40 dollars at Costco, and the Barbie Brand might be going in the right direction of supporting body peace by finally creating an athletic build doll. Tumblr allows you to share your true self and it’s my personal space to just be, and I am forever grateful to have had the area of serenity for my years throughout high school. I believe that even though most of my followers do not know my actual name, and know nothing about my life in the physical world, they know me better than any of my friends in school. My followers see my triumphs as well as my failures, all through the pictures I reblog, and the text entries I write. It is said that you become the company that you keep, so what happens when you are constantly surrounded by minds filled with dreams and inspiration, people who hold infinite paintbrushes with color palettes never seen before? A limitless line of brilliance is formed, molded by the minds that shape each other indefinitely. I believe in the future generation, and the glorious potential of our world. Tumblr simply fuels that fire by providing witty comments laced with laughs and chuckles, innovative yet insightful photographs, and opinionated writing pieces created by the random introverted girl in someone’s physics class. Tumblr gives me hope for the bright tomorrows that reach beyond the rolling hills of my current existence, and in turn gives me complete tranquility.

buy custom Seasonal Flu Shot essay

buy custom Seasonal Flu Shot essay Teachers in schools face problems especially in the presence of a contagious disease such as the flu; therefore the flu shot is important in preventing the teachers from infection or spreading the flu considering the vulnerability of the children. Teachers are also having responsibilities of mentoring young children therefore they have high possibility of spreading contracting the flu (Julie S. Downs, 2009). Flu is basically a viral infection is characterized by pains in the muscles, joints and fever. The flu isnt selective of age therefore it is capable of killing anyone of across ages. Young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the flu, in the society. Therefore Seasonal vaccination is aimed at reducing the infection that the flu causes especially in due to its changing characteristics the flu shot is important to all of the population but the priority is given to the most vulnerable ones in the society. The children should be the first ones due to their low immunity. The flu shot is dispensed in two ways; in a direct injection and spraying. The vaccine thus takes a period of two weeks before its fully operational (Svan, 2010). The children between six months and five years are the most vulnerable but the elderly vulnerability depends on their immunity systems. Elderly with frequent medication problems are also vulnerable to the flu for that reason, therefore they should be vaccinated. Vaccinating the vulnerable group alone does not offer full protection since there are important groups of people having a direct contact with the vulnerable; For instance teachers and the children in school. Their contact with the children frequently endangers the children whenever they come in contact with them (Svan, 2010). The schools frequent by visitors from fa destinations are vulnerable to the infections. The military schools are vulnerable due to the diversity of their destinations for that case, the teachers and all the staff should be vaccinated against the season flu. Such vulnerable cases are among the outstanding examples for the need of teachers to be vaccinated against the diseases (Svan, 2010). Teachers getting the flu shot can also be viewed on the productivity. Teacher infected may be forced to take a rest from duties for sometimes before resuming the duties therefore reducing the quality of education in the school. In the case of the European Union, the teachers and all the staff involved in military base schools are mandated to the vaccination. The circle however is extended to the homes since the parents might still transfer the virus to the minors while at home (Svan, 2010). The transfer of the flu can only be stopped from spreading through the flu therefore even the healthy children should be vaccination. Parents are encouraged along with other members of the society having the responsibility of bringing up the children to take the vaccine as way of preventing the spread of the flu. Basically the teachers are the mentors of the children as well bearing responsibility of caring young children below the age of five years. Like the workers in the hospital, the teacher can cause infection to the children. Taking the instance a situation whereby a teacher of the minors is infected by the seasonal. For that case the children are likely to be infected due to their vulnerability; therefore becoming a risk to the health of the children. The spread of flu is very fasts thus all children in a class with a teacher infected by the virus can get the infection. The logic behind the teachers need to get the shot is that in the hospittal set up. It the hospital setup, the disease is prevented from spreading amongst the patients as well as well as the spread to or from the hospital staff. Safety in the hospital should also be practiced in schools since the spread of the flu in the schools is the same as the spreads of a pandemic disease in the hospital. In the hospital, all aspect of safety are taken care of; the patient to patient spread of a flu is prevented by vaccinating the victim. The nurses and doctors are also vaccinated against the infections from the patients. Therefore the flu is spread is stopped. In school, the same scenario is witnessed especially in the elementary school whereby the children are still vulnerable to any infection. The teachers should get the flu shot so as to prevent the spread of any infection especially the seasonal flu. It that case, the circle of the spread of the flu would have been minimized therefore leavi ng the school safe from the spread of the flu (Cream A. H. Wright, 2009). The flu shot vaccine is sometimes defective to some people especially to the children of less than six weeks. Some other people are allergic to the vaccine therefore they should be prevented from the vaccination since the side effect might be too defective to the person therefore not all people are entitled to the vaccination. The effects of the flu can be viewed that though it is effective in most of the people, it cant offer a full prevention of the spread of the flu. Teachers can be left in the vaccination since their immunity is high therefore when the children are safe; the probability of a teacher getting the infection is low however it is not safe for them to stay in am school environment without getting any infection. Therefore they should get the seasonal flu shot (Cream A. H. Wright, 2009). Buy custom Seasonal Flu Shot essay

7 TED Talks That Will Inspire You

7 TED Talks That Will Inspire You Even if you’re the wisest and most self-confident person around, sometimes it takes a little outside inspiration to dig deep and become the person you hope to be. Check out the 7 TED talks below if you’re in need of a little guidance from the pros on how to reach for the stars when it comes to your career.â€Å"Why you will fail to have a great career† by Larry SmithIf you’re the type who fails to go after your dreams with sufficient vigor or commitment, this talk is for you. It’s funny, bracing, and calls you out on all your crap. Stop making excuses for why you’re not pursuing your ideal career.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume† by Regina HartleyA HR exec tells us why and how and in which scenarios she prefers to go for the â€Å"scrapper† candidate and give someone a chance. Listen to how to maximize your chances when your resume is not yet maxed out to its (or your) full potential.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"How t o find work you love† by Scott DinsmoreThis guy wasted years at a job he hated, then a few more figuring out what he really loved. Save yourself the middle steps and listen to what questions you need to be asking yourself in order to do what you love and love what you do.â€Å"5 ways to kill your dreams† by Bel PesceHave a huge dream or a big idea but you’ve convinced yourself you can’t make it happen? Bel Pesce debunks the five myths that are probably holding you back. Get the confidence to make your dream projects happen.â€Å"A kinder, gentler philosophy of success† by Alain de BottonWe all want success, and if we get it, we all think we’ve earned it. It’s a cutthroat world. Mr. de Botton helps us reconfigure the way we look at the concept of success, in hopes we can be gentler on ourselves and others, and make more meaning (and find more pleasure) in the work we do.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"How to get back to work after a career break† by C arol CohenA career re-entry expert helps you strategize how to get back in the game after short and long absences. Find out how to rebrand yourself as return-to-work talent and develop a game plan to get you back on top.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why we do what we do† by Tony RobbinsThis talk is good enough for Al Gore- who’s sitting in the front row. Listen to a great talk about the â€Å"invisible forces† that motivate us, and how we can use them to maximize, rather than minimize, our potential.Talks to help you find the right job

Strategic Human Resources Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Human Resources Management - Essay Example The case study of South African Breweries (SAB) is an ideal model of organizational development through focus on human resources development to achieve the company's vision. (Johnson, 2000). The alignment of the company's vision with performance enhancement and innovation led to overall development of the organization. Planning and structuring of programme of human resources development formed the focal point to achieve growth globally in an environment which was in a state of flux in South Africa. This change was achieved by strategic human resources management thinking by the Human Resources Department of the company. High performance working and planned organizational development through the human resources perspective are thus seen to form a link in strategic human resources management The growth of the information, knowledge and service economy brought about the need to adapt a more flexible model of working wherein work is a dynamic rather than a cyclical process exemplified by the assembly line in the concept popularized by Taylor. (HPW, 2006). The Taylorian model is seen to be quite inefficient and ineffective in delivering services in the modern economy focused on the need to design solutions for individual customers. High performance working on the other hand places emphasis on policies in organizations that are people centric thereby enhancing the focus on delivering the best to the customer down the chain. This has necessitated a large cultural shift in many organizations which may or may not be wholly accepted by many people. HPW has been defined as evolving a decentralized, non hierarchical flat organizational structure with limited management control, high level of autonomous working based on trust and commitment and team working. (HPW, 2006). As culture involves both strategy and people, there is an innate link between HPW and strategic human resources management. The implementation of HPW is a powerful strategic shift to ensure personnel development is a change which is implemented organizationally. The need to adopt a wholly new and dynamic culture is essential. The key focus of this strategy is on the human resources staff that has to ensure implementation of the concept in an internal environment which may or may not be supportive of the same. For HPW to succeed the vision of the company has to shift to providing value to the customer and aligning the product to the needs of the customer. This will have to be a vision based, top down process which can be implemented through out the organization in a systematic manner. Holbeche (2002) has provided a check list for high performance organizations which have adopted HPW. The key components of HPW have been designated as development of people through structured training programmes to manage the self, build team capabilities and capacities to implement projects simultaneously with improvement of performance and fulfilling the goals of the organization. The aim should be to create an evolved, committed employee down the chain to enable delivery of core service to the customer. The process of HPW is thus a change from the traditional model and there is as much emphasis on team building, trust and commitm

Ethical Dilemmas Managers Face Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Ethical Dilemmas Managers Face - Research Paper Example Thereby it helps to take the decisions by maintaining the ethical point of view. Employees of an organization may have varied responses towards the most ethically appropriate or inappropriate action for a particular situation. In such cases managers of the organizations often face with problems to identify what is right and what is wrong. And to add to that they also sometime gets ragged between qualms and their duties towards the organizations. Even sometimes when the managers feel that something is unethical they want to take a stand on that but prevent themselves by the fear of losing their job (Lane & Daft, 2009, p.130). Ethical standards are always not codified therefore divergences and dilemmas often occurs about the correct behavior. Principally Ethical dilemmas occur in a situation which is concerned about the correct and incorrect, when moral values and principles are in conflict. The reason for existence of these dilemmas occurs because every time acknowledgement of right a nd wrong cannot be done evidently. The report will highlight on the areas such as the ethical dilemmas faced by manages of organizations. The report is also principally focused to highlight the approaches by which ethical behavior can be evaluated. In order to this the report will also explain the concepts of utilitarian, individualism, moral-rights, and justice approaches. And at the end of it all the report will try to put a conclusion on how these ethical dilemmas can be overpowered. The approach for dealing with conflict situation and overcome the same will be studied in this report. It will also highlight the advantages of ethical behavior for the organization. Ethical dilemmas faced by managers In the everyday operations, almost all managers of different field are faced with some principled and ethical dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas can arise due to many reasons. Efforts made by the management to achieve the organizational objectives may clash with employee’s endeavor of fu lfilling their personal goals. There can be a conflict of interest where an action promoting or benefitting one group has all the likelihood to harm another group. As such, there can be a violation of honesty and integrity which may lead to conflict and one example for this could be the misuse of internet in office. There might be a clash between loyalty and truth. This happens when reality about the company does not seem approving and individuals have to choose between honesty and loyalty. (Boone, & Kurtz, 2011, p. 41-42). Ethical dilemmas are a situation that occurs when the state of affairs demands an individual or a group to choose between several options that might be right or wrong. It is a situation in which two or more options get equally strong support. For example a manger might be faced with a situation when they have to choose between reductions in salaries of local staff versus outsourcing of functions. Another typical example could be the case of the hiring manager who is face with a situation when asked to choose between a qualified female candidate and a disabled person who is equally qualified. In such situations chances of making decision that are absolutely correct is very low. Also managers have to make decisions starting from hiring of the employee till the termination and they are faced with unusual ethical dilemmas at all stages (Morally right, n.d.). Managers are entrusted with the duty of

The Psychological Effects of Marijuana Essay Example for Free

The Psychological Effects of Marijuana Essay Cannabis sativa, a plant characterized with the psychoactive principle tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main component of marijuana. Cannabis or cannabinoids has a varied class of identified substances. Over 420 substances are known composing cannabinoids and over 60 of which are the class which contains some viable psychotropic effects of the plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main active ingredients comprising 15 percent of marijuana. Marijuana, as a substance containing such active ingredient acts on the individual psyche that correlates to several psychological dysfunctions. Marijuana is considered as one of the most popular group of cannabis known as the psychodysleptic drugs of hallucinogens. In analyzing several peer reviews of the effects of marijuana use in reproduction, questions are raised on the appropriate methods by which causal inferences can be made. Acute and chronic adverse effects of the substance on the health and psychological functions of humans is highly dependent on the time and amount of marijuana consumption. In a literature supporting this claim, Wayne Hall explained in his paper entitled â€Å"A simplified logic of causal interference†, there lays several measurements taken to explain the association between adverse health conditions with marijuana use. It is very difficult to set criteria to analyze this phenomenon. Most scholarly journals has pointed out the effects of cannabis use, in the form of marijuana significantly effects the concentration of testosterone, estrogen and prolactin in plasma based on experiments conducted on animals. Clinical tests on humans still need to validate this claim. It is also important to note that marijuana use in women would have lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH). These changes in hormonal levels significantly affects the menstrual cycle, although it is noted that this could immediately stop once drug use is discontinued. Marijuana possessing the substance cannabinoid elicits its effects on body mechanisms through the endocannabinoid system. Gorzalka and Hill (2006) mentions that â€Å"largely consistent results reveal that both man and woman exhibit adverse effects on sexual behavior depending on the dose and specific sex†. (Gorzalka Hill, 2006) This entails that there is a significant role played by the endocannabinoid system in human reproductive system. The agents of the substance distributed in the body system greatly affects that hypothalamus, testes and ovaries of humans as tested primarily on animals. In recent literature, according to the review, â€Å"presence of cannabinoid receptors in the sperm within the uterus constitutes the potential role of the endocannabinoid system in the reproductive system and the maintenance of sexual activity.. †. (Gorzalka Hill, 2006) The ability of the substance to affect changes in the reproductive mechanisms of humans can become a potential source of treatments for sexual related dysfunctions. On the other hand, researches on the effects of marijuana in women suggest that there is a consistent finding on its effects on the sexual behavior of women including other species. From Kolodny et al. (1974) findings of women have increased sexual enjoyment because of marijuana and other related substances, due to increase in physical sensitivity and responsiveness. Focusing on reproduction, mainly in pregnancy among marijuana users, the cannabinoids component of marijuana has good lipid solubility allows the substance to affect the placenta with ease. In a study of 12,000 women, 11 percent marijuana users have shorter gestation periods. This consequently affects longer deliveries, lower birth rates and higher rates of deformities in their offspring. It is also known based on scholarly journals that the behavior and cognitive functions of marijuana users and their child are affected by the substance cannabinoids. Cannabinoids compromise pregnancy among marijuana users because the reduction in the gonadotropins and ovarian steroids are compromised once the active ingredients infiltrate the uterus of the woman. The substance has a relatively high soluble ability which regulates for absorpotion in the entire body system. The cannabinoid receptor, inherent in the uterus exhibits the ability to function in the reproductive organ and synthesis of the AEA to levels comparable to the brain as in studies on the psychological effects of marijuana as a hallucinogen. This has been verified by Guo et al., (2005) following subsequent conclusions relating to this. Park et al., (2004) mentions that â€Å"the adverse effects of cannabinoids on gestation.. raise the question of the natural role of the receptor in the system during pregnancy.† (Park et al., 2004) Supported by genetic experimentation and molecular findings, the system is said to â€Å"undergo changes during the progression of gestation in manner that is conducive to normal pregnancy†. (Gorzalka Hill, 2006) Findings of such research suggest that the environment with the cannabinoid receptor, in the endocannabinoid system, may determine the success rate of the gestation period. Maccarone et al., (2000, 2002) focused on this findings to determine the level of association between the success rate of a pregnancy and the influence of the endocannabinoid system. The findings of the research are a determinant in a possible treatment to infertility as such recommendations entail provisions for a high level of efficient endocannabinoid system shall entail an unsuccessful pregnancy for hopeful women. As a conclusion with these researches, both cannabinoids and the endocannabinoids system is â€Å"detrimental to the reproductive process in females.† (Gorzalka Hill, 2006) To be able to achieve successful pregnancy, â€Å"drugs which acts to increase FAAH activity through low concentration of the AEA levels, may be potentially used to improve fertility among women†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gorzalka Hill, 2006) In a study to analyze marijuana effect on female sex hormones, some subjects observed yielded lowered prolactin levels in short durations and concentration that is not significantly lower than the normal level. Recent findings concludes that cannabis, have no significant effect on women in the general population. The effects of the substance even is concluded having significant effects on sex hormones and sex drives of users.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In previous research, several attempts to validate the findings of Kolodny et al. in 1974 were made to asses the effects of marijuana use in the decrease of testosterone levels. Subsequently a supporting finding claimed that there is such temporary reduction to testosterone level immediately after marijuana use. It is important to note that numerous studies after which proved no reduction in testosterone levels even in high dosage of cannabinoids, studies generally about the male reproductive system also failed to validate the reduction of testosterone levels associated with marijuana use.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kolodny’s and colleagues study in 1974 initiated following research on the reproductive components in male with regards to marijuana use. Then, it was concluded that frequent cannabis users had lower sperm counts that occasional users. However, lack of methodology is assessing the sexual activity of respondents were made prior to examination became one of the major criticism of the study. In a study testing the claim, observed men confined with high doses of cannabis have decreased sperm concentrations and sperm motility. However, the significant findings of the research have maintained that such levels are still within the normal sperm concentration and that slight difference can only be observed during the experiment. There still lacks the right evidence to conclude that marijuana use is related to infertility. In a study, more women who are marijuana users have approached experts to seek help with their infertility issues than non-users. However, when this hypothesis was tested, the difference between the two variables range from 61 to 53 percent and became lower when researchers imposed controlled lifestyle factors with infertility. There is also the common finding of no association between marijuana use and the risk of early pregnancy loss. Reviewed researches also indicated an association between rates of infertility and marijuana use, or there is such decrease in the reproductive capacity among men who are marijuana users. The attempt to associate reproduction inabilities with regards to marijuana use is still unsupported by evidence in the scientific community, and the attempt to associate regular marijuana use and its effects on reproductive hormones is still continued. Several prior researches suggest that doses of marijuana substance enhance sexual activity and behavior. The effects of cannabinoid receptors on male sexual behavior have been regarded as a significant factor in reducing ejaculatory threshold. Gorzalka Hill (2006) explained that as was observed in laboratory species, it â€Å"requires fewer intromissions and shorter latency to attain ejaculation once sexual activity is initiated†. This finding supports earlier assumptions made by some men that with marijuana use, sexual activity duration is increased. Although initial tests on the validity of such claims on the effects of marijuana substance in testicular function were made on laboratory species such as rats and mammals, the level of relationship between the specie and human relatedness is comparable in context of these results. Melis, Succu, Mascia and Argiolas (2004) suggest that findings on the cannabinoid receptors role in the reproductive system, its effect on the hypothalamus also proves an â€Å"induction of penile erection†. The research detailed the validity of other researches done in concluding that the receptor has an antagonistic property which in turn induce penile erections. Through these researches, data generated provides a background on how the endocannainoid system may have a profound role in regulating the processes associated with sexual response such as erection and ejaculation, consequently, that the system can also have a direct or indirect effect on specific sexual dysfunctions. In relation with this, following researches made by previous researchers, Wenger, Ledent, Csernus, and Gerendai (2001) tested previous claims of cannabinoid receptor activity in testis through demonstrating how cannabinoids regulates testosterone hiosynthesis. Gye, Kang, and Kang (2005) reviewed the former research and found cannabinoid receptor activity also â€Å"present in the luminal epithelium of seminiferous tubules†. (Gye et al., 2005)   Following the activities of the receptor in reproductive organs, Rossato, Ion, Popa, Ferigo, Clari and Foresta (2005) also attests to â€Å"the evidence of the sperm’s possession of a functional cannobinoid receptor† (Rossato et al., 2005) The authors of the study suggested that the human sperm consistent with this finding has reduced mitochondrial function and reduced sperm motility.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The diverse and recent reviews of experts on the psychological effects of marijuana use in reproduction suggest the strong correlation between the substances’ effect on the reproductive process and its physiology. The reviews made have increased the research thrust of the field and has been continuously evaluated for more than three decades. In the process, we learned that cannabis, the major substance influence marijuana’s effects is significantly detrimental to the reproductive system of both males and females. The use of marijuana interrupts normal bodily psychological processes because it inhibits a receptor that interferes with the â€Å"level of testosterone and fertility in men, and the ovulation and gestation in women.† (Gorzalka Hill, 2006) Reviewed literature until today still lacks evidence to support that sexual behavior is affected by marijuana use. As mentioned, men can either find benefit or compromise in sexual behavior when marijuana is used. Literature still lacks appropriate data to support the association because even with the possibility of increased sensitivity in terms of sexual arousal and responsiveness, marijuana can also adversely trigger the impairment of sexual motivation and drive that shall lead to sexual dysfunctions. Men are more sensitive to such changes in their hormones given the body’s reaction of cannabidon, but recent findings suggests that females find more benefits with marijuana use because of its inhibitory effect. This effect increases the â€Å"level of sexual arousal and desire that may facilitate and enhance sexual activity† as suggested by Gorzalka Hill (2006). (Gorzalka Hill, 2006). Although literature provides conclusions based on non-human testing, sampling non-human species gives a significant idea on how male react to the cannabinoid receptor and how women elicits sexual behavior after marijuana use.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Peer reviews on the topic has showed consistent trends and findings, however, to validate such claims, more research should be made to ensure the occurrence of such effects in the psychological behavior of individual that use marijuana. Researches should also determine the effects, if there is, of cannabinoid, the component of marijuana, in the fertility of both men and women. Knowing how the cannabinoid receptor reacts with other reproductive organs does not provide concrete proof as to how it affects the reproductive viability. It was also mentioned that there is proof that cannabinoid receptors impair the healthy function of the testicular system; however, more research should pursue to discover other possible receptors that can influence the reproductive process of humans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is important to know viable factors that contribute to different sexual dysfunctions in the body. This is not only to benefit people, but also those who have struggled to understand their reproductive process. The analysis on the psychological effects of marijuana can help determine appropriate treatments and medications in sexual dysfunctions. It is importance with this advocate to study the endocannabinoid system thoroughly and accurately. This knowledge and attempt is critical in analyzing the reproductive behavior of agents that either benefits or adversely antagonize the reproductive process. Reference Gye, M., Kang, H. H., Kang, H. J. (2005). Expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   mouse testes. Archives ofAndrology, 51, 247-255. Guo, Y., Wang, H., Okamoto, Y, Ueda, N., Kingsley, P. J., Mamett, L. J., et al. (2005). Nacylphosphatidylethanolamine- hydrolyzing phospholipase D is an important determinant of uterine anandamide levels during implantation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280, 23429-23432. Gorzalka, Boris B.; Hill, Matthew N. (2006). Cannabinoids, Reproduction and Sexual Behavior.   Annual Review of Sex Research, Vol. 17, p132-161 Hall, W. (1987). A simplified logic of causal inference. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 21, 507-513, 1987. Kolodny, R. C, Masters, W H., Kolodner, R. M., Toro, G. (1974). Depression of plasma   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   testosterone levels after chronic intensive marihuana use. New England Journal of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Medicine, 290, 872-874 Kolodny, R. C, Bauman, J. E., Biggs, M. A., Webster, S. K., Dornbush, R. L. (1977, July-August.). Endocrine and sexual effects of female chronic marihuana use. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research, Bloomington, IN. Maccarone, M., Valensise, H., Bari, M., Lazzarin, N., Romanini, C, Finazzi-Agro, A. (2000). Relation between decreased anandamide hydrolase concentrations in human lymphocytes and miscarriage. Lancet, 355, 1326-1329. Maccarone, M., Bisogno, T, Valensise, H., Lazzarin, N., Fezza, F, Manna, C, et al. (2002). Low fatty acid amide hydrolase and high anandamide levels are associated with failure to achieve an ongoing pregnancy after IVF and embryo transfer. Molecular Human Reproduction, 8, 188-195. Melis, M., Succu, S., Mascia, M., Sanna, F, Melis, T, Castelh, M., Argiolas, A. (2006). The cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR-141716A induces penile erection in male rats: Involvement of paraventricular glutamic acid and nitric oxide. Neuropharmacology, 50, 219-228. Park, B., McPartiand, J. M., Glass, M. (2004). Cannabis, cannabinoids and reproduction. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 70, 189-197. Rossato, M., Ion Popa, F, Feriggio, M., Clari, G., Foresta, C. (2005). Human sperm express cannabinoid receptor Cbj, the activation of which inhibits motility, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial function. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, 90, 984-991. Wenger, T, Ledent, C, Csernus, V., Gerendai, I. (2001). The central cannabinoid receptor inactivation suppresses endocrine reproductive functions. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 284, 363-368.

Understanding My Social Location and Experiences Essay -- Personal Exp

The intersection of dominant ideologies of race, class, and gender are important in shaping my social location and experiences. By exercising my sociological imagination (Mills, 1959), I will argue how my social location as an Asian American woman with a working class background has worked separately and together to influence how I behave, how others treat and view me, and how I understand the world. The sociological imagination has allowed me to understand my own â€Å"biography†, or life experiences by understanding the â€Å"history†, or larger social structures in which I grew up in (Mills, 1959). First, I will describe my family’s demographic characteristics in relation to California and the United States to put my analysis into context. I will then talk about how my perceptions of life opportunities have been shaped by the Asian-American model minority myth. Then, I will argue how my working class location has impacted my interactions in institutional settings and my middle/upper class peers. Third, I will discuss how gender inequalities in the workplace and the ideological intersection of my race and gender as an Asian-American woman have shaped my experiences with men. I will use Takaki’s (1999) concepts of model minority myth and American identity, Race; The Power of an Illusion (2003), Espiritu’s (2001) ideological racism, People Like Us: Social Class in America (1999) and Langston’s (2001) definition of class to support my argument. Before I analyze how my social location has influenced my experiences, I need to talk about my family’s demographic characteristics in comparison to our community and the larger U.S. society: In my hometown, Asians make up the third largest racial group (23%). Whites make up 51.3% and H... ...ding white, male superiority. Back in high school, I dated a non-Asian male from my class who often talked about how Asian women are â€Å"hot and sexy† yet â€Å"more faithful to men and less aggressive than White women.† At the time, I thought this was a compliment and I often tried to conform to this stereotype in order to satisfy my partner. Images of Asian-American women as both innocent and dangerous have legitimized any racist and sexist policies directed at Asians and women. Works Cited People Like Us: Social Class in America http://www.pbs.org/program/people-like-us/ Race; The Power of an Illusion (2003) http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm Takaki, R. (1999). The myth of the â€Å"model minority.† In D. M. Newman (Ed.), Sociology: Exploring the architecture of everyday life: Readings (pp. 255-259). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge

Kristof vs. Bambi

Kristof vs. Bambi The purpose of â€Å"For Environmental Balance, Pick Up a Rifle† by Nicholas D. Kristof is to inform the reader that deer are causing death and destruction all across America and to persuade the reader to believe the only way to end this is to hunt deer. Kristof begins the essay by grabbing our attention proving deer are over populated, destroying the ecosystem, and killing Americans in car crashes every year. He then leads us to his thesis â€Å"Let’s bring back hunting. † Kristof notes that these days many people view hunting as cruel and brutal and are opting for other methods for deer control now due to their sympathy for deer. He believes methods such as birth control are a waste of time and money and if something does not change soon it is only going to get worse. Kristof also proves in his essay that there has been a significant decline of hunting stating, â€Å"For every hundred hunters who die or stop hunting, only sixty-nine hunters take their place† (pg. 183). He wants us to know while you can be sympathetic to the deer we have an environmental imbalance, a serious problem and the only way to solve it is to put feelings aside and hunt. Kristof then offers us another way to look at hunting. That it is environmentally friendly. He even goes on to say, â€Å"It connects people with the outdoors and creates a broader constituency for wilderness prevention† and makes sure to note â€Å"At a time when America is goggled away with logging, mining, or oil drilling† (pg. 183), which touches the hearts of environmentalists. Kristof gives us two options in this essay: sit back and feel sorry for the deer that may kill you and your planet, or accept that hunting is normal and instinctive and to pick up your rifle and restore environmental balance. The situation prompting Kristof to write this article was the over population of deer that is continuing to grow. I think this essay was wrote to inform readers of the over population of deer and the destruction they are causing. He also notes in this text that hunters are on the decline perhaps proving this is one factor that is contributing to the over population of deer. This essay was published in the New York Times and I don’t believe this article was aimed toward a specific audience. Most of his readers are probably from the city and could really care less about deer population. They probably found the article funny but I doubt any of them were persuaded. Kristof makes it clear in this essay what the main purpose of him writing the article is, which is to inform the reader about the deer problem and attempt to persuade the reader to agree with him that American’s need to bring back hunting. Kristof also gives facts throughout the text to back up some information on the issue. He uses a lot of research and data to inform the readers of the deer problem. For instance, he notes in the text a study done for the insurance industry which states â€Å"deer kill about 150 people a year in car crashes nationwide and cause $1 billion in damage. † (pg. 83) This is very convincing that there is a deer problem and I feel this evidence is credible. However when Kristof discusses attempts other than hunting to control the deer population he doesn’t explain them fully and tells us they don’t work with no evidence to back up his claim. For example Kristof tells us about some towns that are experimenting with deer birth cont rol then states â€Å"Deer contraception hasn’t been very successful, though. †(pg. 183) And we are just taking his word for it, he gives us no real evidence that this method doesn’t work. This also happens to be an example of my next topic that I found with the text. I found one Strong fallacy that Kristof uses to try to persuade his audience. It is called special pleading or stacking the deck, this involves using arguments that support your position but ignoring arguments against. Kristof does this in a way that was not easy to catch right away. He does give the reader other solutions for the issue but does not explain those good enough to really understand or see why they are not good options, he just tells us they are. Making this entire essay a fallacy showing only his arguments and not letting the audience understand all of the options. Kristof’s essay is an entertaining and mildly informative piece of writing. I was immediately drawn into the text when he offered the quiz. I found myself reading wondering what joke Kristof would make next and fascinated that he could be so funny and make an argument at the same time. Kristof does convince me that there is a problem with today’s deer population but I am not convinced hunting deer is the only way. By only mentioning a few other options to reduce the deer population and not explaining them thoroughly, I was left feeling unsure and wondering should I even consider his side? I felt this way because he had to leave the other information out to make his argument stronger. I also felt by only stating those couple of options and then making a mockery of them, he was almost shamming his audience into taking his side on the issue. I think this essay was a fun read but I find the argument weak, it is going to take a better argument than that for people to turn on Bambi. Works Cited Kristof, Nicholas D. â€Å"For Environmental Balance, Pick Up a Rifle. † New York Times 4 Dec. 2005. Rpt. in Current issues and enduring questions. Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau. 8th ed.. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2008. 183-184

Katie Finn

Everything in her life was working out. She had her three best friends, a brand new boyfriend, and the lead in the school play. Who was she? Madison MacDonald was the name and she is seriously freaking out. Because ever since she got her Friendverse hacked her life went from perfect to terrible. The most damaging secrets are out and Madison was completely sabotaged. Now her boyfriend and she are broken up, half the school hates her, and her friends, and she’s in it deep. And now she has to figure out who could have done this, try to get her boyfriend back, and clear her name. This book takes place at first, Spring Break with Madison, the main character; or Protagonist she’s on break and her parents have decided to take her to the Galapagos Islands for the whole break. But when she returns and checks her Friendverse, her profile had been turned inside out. And then the setting mostly happens at her school. The mood of the book would make you experience the feelings of the main character. It’s mainly confusion, anger, and wonder. Because you would wonder who and why would try to sabotage Madison and be confused to what was their motive. The anger was mainly just all around Madison as she tried to get people to understand she was hacked, but yet nobody would believe her. Well, it seems that the Antagonists are Ruth, her Best Friend since Middle School, and her PC repair dude, Dell, a good friend of her, were the ones who hacked her profile. The Dynamic character was mostly Madison. Because as she learned and searched for answers, she became more mature and took total responsibility for the hack, because it was partly her fault too. Shy, another one of Madison’s closest friends, and Lissa, are the Static characters because they stayed the same through out the whole story. Releted essay –  An Empty Purse Frightens Away Friends Shy was the one who had multiple personalities, (Round Character) and Lissa mainly had one. (Flat Character) This story mainly was Indirect Characterization; you had to pick out how they were by how they acted. The author never really told you how they were. The point of view of the story is 1st person, because Madison was speaking as if we were in a movie watching things happen. Conflict was External; she was up against Person and Society. Because she was up against people and pretty much felt like it to her, the world. Themes/Motifs is Coming of Age, she has grown so much form beginning to end. And she discovered that her best friend had destroyed her relationship with her boyfriend because she had a crush on him. That she was jealous of her and that she was sick of everyone believing the â€Å"fake† Mad. But in the end Madison solved the problem but tape recording everything they both said and reported it. And also she apologized to all her friends and people who were involved in this hack. She admitted that she has talked behind their backs and shouldn’t have. When she did this she felt of relief, had no more guilt, and a lot of pressure and drama lifted off her back. In my opinion, I liked this book. Because this book kept you wondering who did it, why, what was their motive and how they hacked Madison’s Friendverse. And the suspense was good too, one moment you’re just reading about how they got hacked and you think you have an idea to who it is then, you get hit with who it really was and you get shocked at the result. But Madison found a way to get her life back to the way she wanted it and gained some new friends along the way.

physical geography of china essays

physical geography of china essays China is the third largest country in the world, which is slightly larger in area than the Uni Chain is located in Central and East Asia. China is bounded by Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan to the north, North Korea, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea to the east, the South China Sea, the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal to the south as well as India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the west. Over 66% of China is upland hill, mountains and plateaux while the highest mountains and plateaux are found to the west. To the north and east of the Tibetan Plateau the land decreases to the desert or semidesert areas of Sinkiang and Inner Mongolia. To the northeast the broad fertile Manchurian Plains are separated from North Korea by the densely forested uplands of Changpai Shan. East of the Tibetan Plateau and south of Inner Mongolia is the Sichuan Basin which is drained by the Yangtze River that flows east across the southern plains to the East China Sea. Area: 3,691,521 sq. mi. (9,596,960 sq. km)1 CLIMATE: China has a varied climate that can be divided into seven climatic zones. (1.) North East China which has cold winters that are influenced by strong northerly continental winds while summers are warm and humid with unreliable rainfall. (2.) Central China which has warm humid summers with the coastal regions occasionally subject to cyclones and typhoons. (3.) South China where summers are hot and humid with heavy rainfalls between April to September. (4.) South West China which is mountainous with the summer temperatures moderated by altitude, while the wet winters are mild with little rain. (5.) The Tibetan region which is a high plateau where winters are severe with frequent light snow and frost, while summers are warm during the day but drop to extremes at night. Rainfall is also heaviest in summer. (6.) The western interior zone which has an arid desert climate with cold ...

Spring Words With Activity Tips

Spring Words With Activity Tips This comprehensive spring word list can be used to create many spring activities such as worksheets, writing prompts, word walls, word searches, journal writing, and much more. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for tips on how to use these spring words in your classroom. Spring Words A AllergiesAprilApril Fools Day B BaseballBasketBeesBikeBloomBloomingBlossomBlueBlue SkyBreezyBrightBriskBunnyButterflyBudsBuzzing C CaterpillarChickChirpingCinco De MayoClouds D DaffodilsDaisiesDandelions E Earth DayEasterEggs F Flowers G GaloshesGardenGolfGrassyGreenGrowing H HatHatch K Kite L LadybugLambLight colorsLighteningLily M MarchMayMay DayMay flowersMeltingMemorial DayMothers Day N NatureNest O Outdoors P PastelPedalPinkPlantPuddlesPurple R RainRainbowRain bootsRaincoatRobinRoller skates S SeasonsSeedsSidewalkShowersSkySlickerSpringtimeSpring breakSproutingSunnySunglassesSunshine T TadpoleTreesTulipsTwigs U Umbrella W WarmWatering canWeatherWetWindyWorms Y Yellow Activity Tips Here are ten ideas for using this Spring word list in your classroom: Create a colorful word wall of these Spring words for your young writers to view throughout the season.Have students use the Spring word list to create an acrostic poem.Create a Spring word scramble, where students must be detectives and try and unscramble each word from the list.Have students fold a piece of paper in half, then write each spring word on the list down the left-hand side of their paper. Next, have them draw a picture on the right-hand column, to accompany the word in the left-hand column.Have students create a graphic organizer where they must write down ten spring words that are not on the list.Students must choose ten words from the list, and use the word in a sentence.Students must choose five words from the list, and write five adjectives describing each word.From the list, students must write five Spring words under each of the following categories: Spring weather, Spring holidays, Spring outdoors, Spring Activities, and Spring clothing.Using the list, students m ust write down as many compound words as they can find. Have students create a story using as many words from the list as they can.

Individual assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Individual assignment - Essay Example Bhide concurs with this position by stating that financial services firms must prove themselves every day – in terms of profits and competitive advantage – because a strategy might be successful today and ineffective tomorrow. Bhide rubbishes the traditional, subjective concept for this sector by demonstrating that as a result of the volatile nature of financial products and services, they can be copied quickly. He suggests that there is no consistent flow of new opportunities available, so firms should concentrate on doing all they can to reduce their chances of failure. The author suggests that strategy should resemble poker rather than chess, where firms concentrate on strategy and execution instead of putting up massive barriers to rivals. The author cites Warren Buffet, who said that core sustainable competitive advantages are virtually non-existent in the financial services sector (Chermack, 2011:35). Financial services firms have no monopoly on excellent product ideas, so they must secure clients by implanting ideas better than their rivals (Gong, 2013:15). In spite of this, other scholars disagree by arguing that possessing operational efficiency or effectiveness is insufficient for companies and that these strategies lead to some firms outlasting others but offering no real competitive advantage in the industry (Gong, 2013:15). Bhide acknowledges that financial services firms must develop and enforce appraisal systems to avoid irresponsibility. He argues that financial services firms should evaluate their performance and constantly analyse current and potential risks. This idea has been proposed by other scholars, who have argued that firms with novel strategies should have sufficient structures to support the emergence of patterns, but not so much that it increases cost and triggers inflexibility (Hitt and Ireland, 2013:45). It can be argued that novel strategies are not about the lack of authority;

Marketing Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing Environment - Essay Example The work is about marketing. It defines the term marketing and dwells on its strategies. The author describes factors that still need to be considered for a business organization to reach out easier to their target market, because looking into the characteristics and thought processes of the people still holds as the most significant factor to be looked into by the individuals in the field of sales and marketing. The researcher singles out such factors as quality of a product/service, reliability of a product/service, and attraction of a product/service. At the same time while taking-care of the customer’s choice a lot of other factors have also to be considered. Those factors are the social, legal, economic, political and technological factors. The social factor basically means which classes of people are being targeted by the organization that is making that particular brand - whether it is the upper-class or the upper-middle class, middle-class or the lower class. Gaining t he trust of the local government and reviewing the economic policies and legal matters that govern the country in which the product or service will be made available will be a strong ground from which the advertisers can make as a take off point. The tremendous growth of technological advancement has become the driving force of contemporary industries. The diffusion of the internet has revolutionized the business arena. The author provides PESTLE analysis of the "mother care" brand.

The main challenges to undertaking a cost-benefit analysis in the Essay

The main challenges to undertaking a cost-benefit analysis in the criminal justice sector - Essay Example The objective of the study is to present research that defines the main challenges to undertaking a cost-benefit analysis. The cost-benefit analysis will be investigated to determine what does it tell us about the economic efficiency of situational crime reduction. Furthermore, the cost-benefit analysis will be investigated to determine what does it tell us about the economic efficiency of situational crime reduction. The reduction of crime in the national level is ‘driven by policies which emphasise partnership working between police, criminal justice authorities, local authority teams and other agencies, in order to tackle offending and impact on the causes of crime’ (I&DeA 2009). The ‘total costs of crime have been estimated at ?36.2 billion per year in England and Wales’ (I&DeA 2009). Most of these cover the monetary losses to individuals, the costs of the criminal justice system, and the wider social impacts. Crime has a direct impact on victims includi ng direct physical health impacts and potentially serious mental health impacts. Moreover, crime may lead to negative health impacts to the community. ‘The direct effects of violent crime on physical health are obvious. It is estimated that 351,000 people per year attend accident and emergency departments in England and Wales following violent assaults’ (Sivarajasingam et al 2008). Most of them will have ongoing health needs as a result of being attacked. Moreover, negative psychological effects of crime are extensive. Crime victims are susceptible to suffer from serious mental health impacts, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorders. Crime is costly to the economy but also the measures to reduce or prevent it. The ‘potential benefits from a more valuable response to offending can be divided into various types such as benefits to the prospective offenders enabled to follow a more constructive and engaged life path , benefits to the Government from reduced spending on the Criminal Justice System and benefits to households and the private sector from reduced victimisation rates, reduced fear of crime and lower spending on crime prevention as offending falls’ (Bowles & Pradiptyo 2005). Cost benefit analysis extends CEA(cost effectiveness analysis) by attaching monetary values to the outcomes of a program. After the cost of inputs and outcome benefits have been quantified in monetary terms, a comparison of alternate interventions can be made. For example, ‘the benefit cost ratio of 1.35:1 for a burglary prevention program indicates that for every dollar spent on the program, $1.35 of benefits is received (e.g. by the avoidance of future burglaries)’(Dossetor 2011). The ‘Home Office claims that violence against women and girls costs ?40.1 billion a year’ (Whiston 2009). This includes plans to teach children about the evils of wife-beating through â€Å"educating c hildren and young people about healthy, non-violent relationships†. Gender bullying will also be tackled by teachers. The ‘?40.1 billion figure was cited recently in Saving Lives, Reducing Harm, & Protecting the Public which gave as its source the Pre-budget report and comprehensive spending review for 2007’ (Whiston 2009). The Home Office has carried out research to discover the true figure. One estimate published in 2005 in Economic and Social Costs of Crime against Individuals and Households, found that the ‘total burden of crime in 2003-04 was ?36.2 billion. Sexual offences and violence against the person together represented 60 per cent of this figure – just under ?22 billion. That includes offences against men as well as women.’ In September 2004, the Women and Equality Unit published a study by Sylvia Walby of the University of Leeds that ‘calculated the cost of domestic violence, including rape at ?5.7 billion, and loss to the eco nomy of ?2.7 billion. That is much lower than either ?40.1

Tourism Policies and Plans in Turkey

Tourism Policies and Plans in Turkey Introduction The Republic of Turkey is situated on the borders where Asia and Europe meet, quite literally in the centre of the world. Throughout history, from the times of the Byzantine Dynasty through Alexanders Invasion and the Ottoman Empire, the present land of Turkey has been the home to many cultures. But Turkey has a lot more to offer than just different cultures. They have on offer beautiful landscapes, quality beaches and enough world history to satisfy a historian. With its wide plethora of natural and cultural assets, Turkey should be among the top most popular destinations. In 2014, at the height of Turkeys popularity, 42 million foreign tourists visited Turkey awarding them the rank of 6th most visited global destination that year, with many tourists traveling for their culture, spa and healthcare tourism. (UNWTO, 2015) But the numbers have gradually declined since then caused by political tensions, terrorist attacks, negative political image etc. All tourism related planning, strategies and actions are headed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This department has been tasked with the protection and perseverance of Turkish culture and the administration of all tourism related activities in Turkey. For Turkey as a destination, it is this Ministry of Culture and Tourism that is designated with the title of Destination Management Organisation. The World Tourism Organisation (2007) defines a Destination Management Organization (DMO) as a body or organisation that is responsible for the co-ordinated management of all the elements that make up a destination like attractions, accessibility, marketing, human resources, brand, etc. These organisations are ultimately responsible for the planning, management and execution of all plans and policies, which have been decided or implemented in order to achieve their short term and long term goals for that destination.(Esmeralda Eleina, 2013) This paper aims at reviewing and critically analysing the tourism plans and policies of Turkey in place until 2023 within the parameters of branding, vision and monitoring and evaluation as detailed in their tourism plan titled Tourism Strategy of Turkey 2023 (2013) which was planned and will be executed by their DMO, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and to gauge its effectiveness in turning Turkey into a competitive and sustainable destination. Literature Review DMOs are vital in developing and implementing tourism policies for the creation and maintenance of a sustainable and competitive destination. J.R. Brent Ritchie and Geoffrey I. Crouch (2003) explain tourism policy as a set of rules, directives, guidelines, strategies and the framework for tourism development. Vision James Tallant (2009) describes a vision as the state of an organisation in the future after it achieves its mission. J. R. Brent Ritchie (1999) detail that a critical early stage in the strategic planning by any DMO is the inception of a destination vision. Charles R. Goeldner (2008) explains that a good vision defines what the DMO aims to accomplish in a certain given time period using language to inspire members, staff and stakeholders to actively contribute in the attainment of that goal. He elucidates that a vision may describe on how things may be different because of the DMO and how the DMO would wish to be perceived by others. Sooskan Kantabutra and Gayle C. Avery (2010) details that any good vision would incorporate the following elements: Should be conveyed in a dramatic fashion to inspire and motivate Should enhance the development of a new product/service that in turn aids in the further development of other existing products/services. Should aspire to serve customers through a defined product portfolio that has been designed by the DMO and ensure the quality as well. Should be responsive to customer needs. Should ensure the sustainable growth of the destination for the benefit of its stakeholders Branding According to J.R. Brent Ritchie and Robin J.B. Ritchie (1998), branding should encapsulate either a name, symbol, or logo that identifies and differentiates a destination from others.   It must be unique, and reinforce the positive experiences of the destination. For a destination, a brand bridges the gap between its given assets and the perceptions of potential visitors (Morgan, Pritchard, Piggott, 2002). Qu (2011) states that destination brands serve two main functions; identification and differentiation. As with singular product brands, a destination brand is also made up of the components of awareness and image. Like before, brand awareness is considered a pre-requisite to any other brand dimensions (Konecnik Gartner, 2007). Without some level of awareness, the consumer cannot have perceptions on the destinations image, quality, etc. The elements of a good destination brand are as follows: It should be unique, identifiable and recognisable It should use pleasing aesthetics to appeal to the target market and enhance recognition and emotional response. It should be culturally relevant. It must stand the test of time It should be easily reproduced across multiple media formats like print, online, billboards, etc. (Morgan, Pritchard, Pride, 2007) (Hankinson, 2005) Monitoring and Evaluating Much attention has been directed to the implementation of tourism strategies. Pressman and Wildavsky (1973) state that with the increased attention to policy implementation since the 1970s, the interest in policy evaluation has also proportionally increased. By incorporating monitoring and evaluation at the very beginning of policy formulation, the type of information and indicators required can be specified in advance of the implementation of the tourism policy. (Hall Jenkins, 1995) The long term sustainability and competitiveness of a destination is directly linked to its ability to adapt to and evolve with fluid market conditions. Monitoring and evaluating is important in identifying future opportunities and challenges for the destination to improve performance and sustainability over time. (Sr., Allen, Swanson, Smith, 2008) Research has shown that effective monitoring and evaluation should comprise of the following: Possess key performance indicators that were developed and agreed upon during the conceptualisation stages of the policy Possess a regular performance monitoring review process Identify relevant performance monitoring tools, methods and certification options to assist in monitoring and evaluating performance Consider the economic, environmental and social impacts on the destination and stakeholders Measure sustainability and competitiveness over time against agreed industry benchmarks Identify strategies for continual improvement to achieve best goals Communicate and report on performance achievements with stakeholders, including customers Identify strategies to leverage performance achievements with funding agencies, suppliers and statutory bodies. (Miller Twining-Ward, 2005) (Rio Nunes, 2012) Policy Review In this section, the parameters of Vision, Branding and Monitoring and Evaluation of the Tourism Strategy of Turkey-2023 will be critically analysed using the literature discussed as parameters, as well as the need to be sustainable and competitive in the world destination market Vision: The vision for Turkey that has been decided by the DMO, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in their tourism plan (2013) on page 4 is as follows; With the adoption of sustainable tourism approach, tourism and travel industry will be brought to a leading position for leveraging rates of employment and regional development and it will be ensured that Turkey becomes a world brand in tourism and a major destination in the list of the top five countries receiving the highest number of tourist and highest tourism revenues by 2023. On reading and analysing the vision statement, the primary inference that can be drawn is that the vision statement is not very articulate with problems caused by its length and its business style tone and hindered by the unnecessary use of certain language. As Kantabutra and Avery (2010) explained, a vision should be conveyed in dramatic fashion in order to inspire and motivate, which clearly the DMO has failed in achieving. A simpler concise version with motivational and inspirational themes would have fared much better. But where The Ministry of Culture and Tourisms vision succeeds is in its detailing of the goals regarding its market position and the goals the DMO aims to accomplish for the region and citizens by the year 2023 in lieu with the ideas put forward by Goeldner (2008),Tallant (2009) and Ritchie (1999). On cross examining the vision statement of Turkey with the necessary elements for a vision as put forward by Kantabutra and Avery (2010), the vision decided by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism contains only a singular element, that being the one regarding sustainable growth of the destination for the benefit of the stakeholders. But even in this case not all stakeholders have been represented, especially the most important one, the tourists. To conclude the critical analysis of the Vision for Turkey set forth by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, one can say empirically that it is not an effective one on multiple fronts. Branding The branding strategy for Turkey which has been designed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the tourism policy mentioned on page 34 of the same is to Manage the branding of cities rich of cultural and natural heritage and thereby convert them into a point of attraction for travellers. Istanbul along with cities like Ankara, Izmir and Antalya are focussed upon in their city travel project, with aims to make them popular destinations among the tourists. Istanbul is being given more preference as it was designated the Cultural Capital of Europe for the year 2010 which would force the strengthening of its cultural, artistic, urban as well as the environmental qualities of Istanbul. As per J.R Brent Ritchie and Robin J.B Ritchie (1998), branding must be able to encapsulate either a name, symbol or logo which would help Turkey to be differentiated from other tourist destinations. The process calls for Turkey to restore its uniqueness which would be a plus factor in order to attract more travellers to the country and facilitate more options for the domestic as well as international tourists who arrive. After going through Turkeys objectives towards branding of its cities, it is easily understood that the objectives designed by the DMO is able to cover up major areas which would establish Turkey as a hotspot in the tourism sector in the coming years in accordance to their vision for its cities. The only negative part to draw out of this is that the objectives seems a little too ambitious for the time frame it has got. This could be risky if the plans are not executed properly on time and deadlines not being met. The tourism plan put forth by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture clearly aims at improving the brands of all the individual destinations within Turkey with them end goal that this strategy will reap benefits to the overall brand of Turkey. By focussing on improving the brands of the local destinations, the DMO aims to not only generate a unique niche identity for the country but also to differentiate the experience on offer from the other similar destinations. (Qu, Kim, Hyunjung, 2011) By implementing a strategy to improve on destination attractions, accessibility, infrastructure, superstructure, etc. the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have taken a page out of Konecnik and Gartners (2007) ideas of improving destination image by improving destination quality. But the fact remains that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is still under the process of building a brand. In this day and age it makes sense to understand ones assets as well as the market segmentation before committing to the release of a brand, because that brand should stand the test of time, which is the only barometer to gauge its success. (Morgan, Pritchard, Pride, 2007; Hankinson, 2005) To summarise the critical analysis of Turkeys branding, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has just begun taking the ground level steps to develop a timeless brand for the country. The strategies employed will assist in not only the task of developing a brand for the country but helps in the building a unique destination that will remain competitive and sustainable. Monitoring and Evaluation: Credit should be given to The Ministry of Culture and Tourism for understanding the importance of monitoring and evaluating the performance indicators in Turkeys tourism system. But the Tourism Strategy of Turkey does not elucidate on the key performance indicators that will be monitored, nor the monitoring review process, tools, methods or certification options that will assist in the monitoring and evaluation performance. The reason for this is because the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has just implemented this facet to the tourism strategy for Turkey. With their new ideology of sustainable tourism as mentioned in their vision and their reinvigorated approach to branding, there are a lot of fluid elements in the Tourism System of Turkey. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism have decided to form two new bodies to aid in the task of identifying, monitoring and evaluating the key performance indicators of tourism in Turkey, The National Tourism Database Repository and The National Tourism Certification Service. The National Tourism Database Repository will be tasked with collecting and organising the data transmitted by the various public and private sector entities. After analysis the repository will submit its conclusions and opinions to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Tourism Council. On reflecting upon the data and inference received, the DMO will decide the key performance indicators and the monitoring review process. The National Tourism Service will then provide methods to implement amendments into the tourism strategy accordingly. To summarise the critical analysis of the Monitoring and Evaluation element of Turkeys tourism strategy, one can easily understand that the steps taken are the ground level steps to setup a system and framework that will help enable the various tourism bodies to actively monitor and evaluate the tourism system and make real time changes that will bring about the most effective and sustainable outcome. The only negative that can said about the monitoring and evaluation strategy is that the DMO has not declared time frames for the formation of the new regulatory bodies nor a target date when they hope the new monitoring review process will commence Conclusion After researching valid literature, ideas and viewpoints of many scholars, authors, researchers, etc. within the context of Vision, Branding and Monitoring and Evaluation and applying them to the Tourism Strategy of Turkey which has been compiled by Turkeys Destination Management Organisation, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, we can arrive at the following conclusions. There are a number of issues with their Vision, predominantly the inarticulateness and word flow of the text. The Vision fails to inspire, motivate or fill one with hopefulness. Where it succeeds is that it details their commitment to sustainable tourism, their labour market and what position they will strive to achieve in the global tourism market by 2023. The element of Branding in Turkeys Tourism Strategy is more of an action plan to develop the individual brands of local destinations, with the long term goal of developing a timeless national brand that will help tourists to identify and differentiate Turkey as a niche tourist destination. But with their approach to sustainable tourism, the strategy of branding individual destinations to promote assets of the same destinations seems contradictory. Similarly, the Monitoring and Evaluation facet of Turkeys Tourism Strategy is also a plan to setup the ground level protocol and infrastructure that will aid in the identification, monitoring and evaluating the key performance indicators of Turkeys Tourism Systems. Furthermore, entities whose purpose is to help with the amendment and improvement of all tourism based activities, decision making and legislation have also been conceptualised. To summarise, the Tourism Strategy of Turkey-2023, is in essence a weak tourism strategy. The vision statement disappointing on multiple fronts, no national brand and the lack of a monitoring and evaluating framework is evidence of the same. But with that being said, there are some positives like their listing of certain specific goals regarding market placement and their product differentiation. References Esmeralda, S., Eleina, Q. (2013). Role of Destination Management Organization in Developing Sustainable Tourism in Korà §a Region. (Young Scientist Journal), 93-96. Goeldner, C. R. (2008). TOURISM: Principles, Practices, Philosophies; ISBN 9780470084595. Wiley. Hall, C. M., Jenkins, J. M. (1995). Tourism and Public Policy, ISBN: 1-86152-998-8. Cornwall, U.K.: Routledge. Hankinson, G. (2005). Destination brand images: a business tourism perspective. Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 19 Iss: 1, 24 32. Kantabutra, S., Avery, G. C. (2010). The power of vision: statements that resonate. Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 31 Iss: 1, 37-45. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02756661011012769 Konecnik, M., Gartner, a. W. (2007). Customer-Based Brand Equity for a Destination. Annals of Tourism Research, 34, 400-421. Miller, G., Twining-Ward, L. (2005). Monitoring for a Sustainable Tourism Transition: The Challenge of Developing and Using Indicators, ISBN: 0-85199-051-7. Oxfordshire, U.K.: CABI Publishing. Ministry of Culture and Tourism. (2013). Tourism Strategy of Turkey 2023, ISBN 978-975-17-3281-1. Ankara, Turkey: T.R. Ministry of Culture and Tourism Publications. Morgan, N., Pritchard, A., Piggott, a. R. (2002). New Zealand, 100% Pure. The Creation of a Powerful Niche Destination Brand. Brand Management, 335-354. Morgan, N., Pritchard, A., Pride, R. (2007). Destination Branding; ISBN : 0750649941. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd. Pressman, J. L., Wildavsky, A. (1973). Implementation, ISBN: 9780520053311. Oakland, U.S.A.: University of California Press. Qu, H., Kim, L. I., Hyunjung, H. (2011). A Model of Destination Branding: Integrating the Concepts of the Branding and Destination Image. Tourism Management, 32, 465-476. Rio, D., Nunes, L. (2012). Monitoring and Evaluation Tool for Tourism Destinations. Tourism Management Perspectives, Volume 4, 64-66. Ritchie, J. B. (1998). THE BRANDING OF TOURISM DESTINATIONS PAST ACHIEVEMENTS FUTURE CHALLENGES. Annual Congress of the International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism. Marrakech, Morocco. Ritchie, J. B. (1999, June). Crafting a value-driven vision for a national tourism treasure. Tourism Management, pp. 273-282. Ritchie, J. B., Crouch, G. I. (2003). The Competitive Destination: A Sustainable Tourism Perspective; ISBN: 085199847X, 9780851998473; . CABI Pub. Sr., D. E., Allen, M. D., Swanson, J., Smith, G. (2008). Tourism Policy and Planning, ISBN: 978-0-7506-8557-3. London: Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd. Tallant, J. (2009). Importance of Vision, Mission, and Values in Strategic Direction. Business Economics Journal, 3. UNWTO. (2007). A Practical Guide to Tourism Destination Management, ISBN: 978-92-844-1243-3, . Madrid, Spain: World Tourism Organization. UNWTO. (2015). UNWTO World Tourism Highlights. Madrid, Spain: World Tourism Organisation Publications, DOI : 9789284416899.

A Comparison Of Henry David Thoreau And Ralph Waldo Emerson?s Beliefs E

A Comparison of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Beliefs concerning Simplicity, the Value and Potential of Our Soul, and Our Imagination.Henry David Thoreau tests Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideas about nature by living at Walden Pond, where he discovers that simplicity in physical aspects brings deepness to our mind, our soul to its fullest potential, and our imagination to be uplifted to change our lives. These two men believe that nature is what forces us not to depend on others’ ideas but to develop our own. Nature is ever changing so we must keep searching for explanations about human life. They feel that nature is the key to knowing all.Thoreau lives at Walden Pond to find the true meaning of life. He wants to experience things for himself. Thoreau says, "I wanted...to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion" (Thoreau 235). He takes Emerson’s advice who says, "Let us demand our own works and laws and worship" (Emerson 215). Emerson tells how modern generations live life vicariously through the stories and traditions foretold. We do not experience things for ourselves. We take what our ancestors and others before us have said and do not think twice about whether we should try things for ourselves. Emerson decides not to conform to modern ways, but to be an individual.Furthermore, in Nature, Emerson says, "Standing on the bare ground - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infin...

Swot Analysis of Railway Transportation

1. 1 Study objective * To fulfil the requirement of this module, Introduction to Land Transportation and Railways mode * The objective of this study is concerned with identifying Analysis of Railways Transport. * To gain extra knowledge on Land transportation that will help me now and in the future. 1. 2 Scope The first step concerns of introducing Land transport and Railways mode. Second step is showing the Strength and Weakness Analysis of Railways then discuss in details on Strength and Weakness points. 1. 3 Introduction We use various products in our daily life.But do we know where are they produced? Many of them are produced at different places far away from our locality. So how do we get them? These are carried on from all those places through rail, road or air and are made available to us at our locality. You must have seen trucks, tempo, bullock carts; etc. Those would be carrying products and raw materials from a place to another. Similarly, you also must have seen people tr avelling from one place to another by buses, trains, cars, scooters, rickshaws, cycles, etc. This movement of goods and individuals is very important in business.Because of this, raw materials reach the place of manufacture, finished products reach the place of sale or consumption, individuals move around to manage the business, etc. In this lesson, let us learn how goods and passengers move from one place to another. 2. 1 Mode of Transport Basically transport is possible through land, air or water, which is called the different modes of transport. On land we use trucks, tractors, etc. , to carry goods; train, bus, cars etc. to carry passengers. In air, we find aeroplanes, helicopters to carry passengers as well as goods.Similarly in water we find ships, steamers, etc. , to carry goods and passengers. All these are known as various means of transport. Let us discuss about various modes of transport. The modes of transport can be broadly divided into three categories: Land transport, Water transport and Air transport. 2. 2 Land Transport: Land transport refers to activities of physical movement of goods and passengers on land. This movement takes place on road, rail, rope or pipe. So land transport may further be divided into Road transport, Rail transport, Ropeway transport, pipeline transport.Let us know the details about Rail Transport. 2. 3 Rail transport Transportation of goods and passengers on rail lines through trains is called rail transport. It occupies an important place in land transport system of our country and is the most dependable mode of transport to carry goods and passengers over a long distance. Besides long distance, local transport of passengers is also provided by local trains or metro-rail in some metropolitan cities. Rail transport is available throughout the country except some hilly or mountainous regions. In India two types of trains are found.One is passenger train and other is goods train. While passenger trains carry both human b eings and a limited quantity of goods, the goods trains are exclusively used for carrying goods from one place to another. These trains are driven by rail engines and they use steam, diesel or electric power to move. Let us now discuss the SWOT Analysis of Rail Transport. Figure 1: SWOT Analysis of Rail Transport 3. 1 SWOT Analysis of Rail Transport in Malaysia There is some strength, weakness, opportunities and threats have been found in the rail transport system of Malaysia.Malaysia main rail system was mange by Kereta Api Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) since the 1940’s, the railway company manage a total of 1,699km of tracks in the Peninsular Malaysia. Below are the SWOT analyses for KTMB 3. 1. 1 Strength * Cheap The fares offer by KTMB are relatively low price, therefore it is affordable by the public in Kuala Lumpur. Fares from 1 station to another are below 5 Ringgit Malaysia, example Station Tasik Selatan to Mid Valley Station only cost about RM2. 40 for an adult. * Eco-Fr iendly Since most of the train operated by Malaysian Railway was powered by overhead electric wire, no carbon emission was produce.Therefore by using the train, air pollution was minimizes. * Large Capacity Since train can be long by adding wagon or carriage and will have a huge capacity, it is possible to handle a large amount of freight transportation and also passengers to one place to another. In KTMB, trains are capable to handle large amount of cargoes and up to 300 passengers per trip. * Long Distance Trains are design for either short or long distance of travelling. From one point to another, modern train can be faster than cars to reach a destination.Since KTMB has a long track of 1699km, it is easy for traveller from the north of Perlis to travel to the south of Johor with ease. Thus without wasting time, effort and cost, traveller can relax by travelling on train. * No Road Congestion Road congestion is a major issue in every city around the world, spending time on road c ongestion are often frustrating and waste of time. Since rail transport can travel on its single track without much obstacle, it is free from road congestion. Publics in Kuala Lumpur often take KTM Commuter to work as a mode of transport to avoid the heavy traffic in pick hours of Kuala Lumpur. . 1. 2 Weakness * Crowded Although train are free from road congestion, it is impossible for people to avoid the crowded situation in the carriage during peak hour. It is worst when the air-conditioning system was failing or the people around are sweating or dirty. In Malaysia, during the morning when people are reporting to work or schools, noon during lunch hour and evening when everyone is rushing home will be the worst time to be on board on a commuter train. * Delays Rail transport can cover and reach many cities, therefore proper time management must be enforce to prevent delays or late arrivals.Unfortunately for KTMB, delays are the most common sight in their stations, sometimes it can delay up to an hour or more. This delays often packing the station and also the carriage even more crowded, KTMB users often need to wait for few train to pass by before they even can get into a crowded train. * High Maintenance Cost One of the weaknesses that can be found in every railway company will be the high maintenance cost. Railways Company has to spend a lot of cash during train overhaul, track maintenance, electric cable replacement and many more.While in the case of Malaysian Railway, cash was spend on maintenance of the track and refurbishment in most of their old carriers while importing for the new electrical train to arrive from Mitsubishi Electric and Rotem. * Low Flexibility Train are design to run only on steel tracks, therefore the train destination and pit-stop are fixed reducing the flexibility of choice of destination. With the limited choice of destination it will be hard to fulfill the demands in certain areas. Thus, it is important for the company to decide where to build a station to fulfil the demands and not building it for a waste.KTMB stations in certain area are old and sometimes too close to another station, worst the number of people getting down the station was less. While in certain areas the demand was high but the users might need to walk or take bus to reach the nearest station. * Sound Pollution Sound was produce from the engines sound (diesel power engines), the steel wheels running friction and also the horning sound. While the tracks for the train to run on were often near to the housing area, this often irritates the resident in the areas.The track for KTM some were build just few meters away from their backyard, therefore the sound of every train pass by can be loud and annoying during rest hour. 3. 1. 3 Opportunity * Development of Public Transport There’s huge area available for development in public transport in Malaysia. Public transport system in Malaysia are serving the public around an average score on ly, therefore, it is undeniable that rail transport can be prospect or to be a key saviour to improve and develop the public transport system. For KTMB, it is under discussion of building a railway line for high performance bullet train to serve the public.With this, it will be an advantage for traveller from neighbouring country’s to reach Kuala Lumpur in a matter of hours. * Advertisement (Income) Carriage or wagon often had spacing on the exterior available for paint works or advertising purposes. Therefore, by renting this spacing out to the market for business purpose will be an advantage to earn additional income for the company and reduce the time to time painting cost for the carriage or wagon. KTMB can rent out more spacing for advertising instead of just maintaining it with the yellow, blue and red colour. * Social ServicesPeople with disability often had a hard time travelling with other mode of transport such as getting on a bus or a taxi. Therefore, with rail tra nsport, Railway Company can design their station for disability friendly and prepare a special section for the disability to enter the train. KTMB can build slopes and blind guide’s floor for the local OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya) in every station. The company can also employ a instructor on the ground to guide this people into the train. * Increase Employment Rate Managing a railway company requires many workers to make it a success.Therefore, railway companies such as KTMB can employ people to manage the railway track, locomotive, power lines, scheduling of train and many more job placement. * Technology Improvement Since technology around the world are improving, it can also help to improve the technology apply on the train. Train in some countries has started to run on magnet force. Therefore, it has a huge gap of technology in Malaysia to be improved. KTMB should start to change and improve their technology not only on tracks but also their station and ticketing system. 3. 1 . 4 Threat * Losing Market ShareWith the rise of air and sea transport industry, it is getting harder and harder for rail transport to gain a place in the market. This is because other mode of transportation is providing better services than rail. Therefore in order for KTMB to survive in the market of freight transportation, the company should provide more services such as delivering to door step and at the same to time for additional revenue. * Political Interference Since rail transport is partly subsidized by the government on helm, the government will tend to interfere with the management of the firm.These delays some strategic decision of KTMB, such as what kind of train should be bought and when will it be bought. Thus, this limited the performance and improvement of KTMB. * Changing Technology Change of technology can be a huge threat for the railway transport. The rapid improvement in the world of technology might be a disaster for some railway company as they are short of capital to follow up the trend of technology. Slowing down of improvement will pay some price to the environment (pollution) and customer (uncomfortable). The technology use by KTMB is still falling behind other country railway system.Therefore, it is important for them to improve it as soon as possible before it irritates the consumer. * Competition In urban areas, there are many other mode of public transport such as taxi and busses. It is a huge competition to stay on top of the others. While in long distance travel competitors such as airlines and busses can be found too. Therefore, in order for KTMB to have a lead against others, it is important to improve their services in every aspect and also to improve their current technology. * Private Transport Since the government are promoting their local made cars.It has become a trend for most of the household to have at least 2 cars and drive to work daily. Thus, this reduced the number of people using public transport and private t ransport is more flexible and more comfortable. Therefore, KTMB should build station in strategic places, control the number of people in a train and market the good’s of using a train. 4. 1 Conclusion As we apply this ‘SWOT’Â  conception Railways we see that there is a solid strength of Railways in itself as well as weaknesses of it. It has great opportunities in its circle as well as threats from other private sector efforts.In other words we can say that Railways is a widely used term in Economy. References * http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Freight_rail_transport * http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_are_Disadvantages_of_rail_transport * http://www. publishyourarticles. org/knowledge-hub/business-studies/what-are-the-advantages-a-disadvantages-of-railway-transport. html * http://www. saudirailways. org/portal/page/portal/PRTS/root/Home/01_About_Us/02Establishment_Advantages/02AdvantagesofRailwayTransport * http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Rail_transport * http://en . wikipedia. org/wiki/Rail * http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Bulk_cargo