International Finance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Finance Management - Essay Example Some of the factors that cause political instability include government interference, violence, and terrorism and guerilla groups. According to Schmidt (1986) he defines political risk as applications by the host country's government that constrains the operation of an investment. He subdivided political risks into three different risks: Investors therefore always consider these factors before investing in a foreign country, a country with a history of persistent political instability will be avoided or if they feel that there is a possibility of occurrence of political instability. An investor will consider the risk of business exposure in a foreign country; the investor may fear that there will be the risk of exposing the operations of a business in a foreign country which will lead to competition from other firms in the host country. When skilled labor is available in a foreign country then the investor will invest in that country. The investor may be forced to train workers in the host country who may expose the operations of the firm leading to competition in that country. In some other countries there will be the availability of cheap labor which will encourage investors to invest in that country, in some countries labor may be very expensive and the investor is not allowed to import laborers, this may be because the government of the host country has sets these conditions. Another factor to be considered before deciding on where to invest is the stability of a currency of a country, if a currency fluctuates against the major currency by a large range then it wouldn't be a good to invest in that country. For a firm to invest in foreign country it has to convert their capital currency into the currency of the host country, incase that countries currency devalues against their own currency then they will loose a lot of money. B. Infrastructure: Good support infrastructure such as good transport network and communication will be an advantage to an investor such that if such support infrastructure exist the higher the possibility that there will be foreign direct investment in a country. Foreign investors also fear that they may invest in foreign countries and loose a lot of money if they decide to close down their operations, an example is where a firm may invest much on infrastructure such as land and buildings and heavy machinery that may be difficult to liquidate once they want to close down their investment in the foreign country. Due to the fact that these assets cannot be moved from one country to another the investor looses. In conclusion we can say that political instability will cause a firm to not to invest in country, the firm will also consider the risk associated with exposure of the operations of the firm in the foreign country, the firm will not invest in country where it is required to hire laborers from the host country and train them for the operations of the firm. Most foreign investors prefer to employ laborers from their own country but this faced with conditions set by host countries

Managerial accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managerial accounting - Essay Example mpanies and the worlds top-5 accounting firms, have resulted in lawsuits and bankruptcies, as well as government rescue efforts, to the detriment of many investors and taxpayers. Some of these companies were formerly prestigious financial institutions with huge capital and with global reach such as Citigroup, JP Morgan, and AIG. This paper seeks to study this recent phenomenon with a view to identifying what would perhaps be a good long-term solution. The generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) have been tagged as one of the fundamental causes of the recent financial and banking crisis that originated in the United States and sent shock waves throughout the world. According to the Accounting Dictionary, the GAAP consists of â€Å"standards, conventions, and rules accountants follow in recording and summarizing transactions, and in the preparation of financial statements.† There is no central authority that promulgates the rules of GAAP; instead the Securities and Exchange Commission accepts and enforces the compiled issuances from FASB, AICPA, and other sources. The Accounting Principles Board (APB) of AICPA defines GAAP as encompassing â€Å"the conventions, rules, and procedures necessary to define accepted accounting practice at a particular time,† and that the principles are derived from â€Å"experiences and reason† that have proved useful.(AICPA, 1970, cited in Wolk et al., 1997). Voluminous rul es under GAAP have been issued over the years, and the complexity of these rules which have not been consistently organized around fixed and commonly agreed principles have not increased our understanding of financial reports. In fact, they have fostered a lack of clarity and transparency. Although the GAAP are designed for the preparation of financial statements for external users, internal decision makers also use them for various purposes including decisions regarding promotions and year-end bonuses to its executives. Management has some leeways to impact

The Material And Process Requirements In Disc Brake Engineering Essay

The Material And Process Requirements In Disc Brake Engineering Essay The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of wheel. Disc brakes can be used on all 4 wheels of vehicle, or combined with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear. Before we go in detail about the material selection, I would like to discuss the disc brake operation generally to let us understand how a disc brakes able to operate well. When the brake pedal is depressed, a push rod transfers the force through a brake booster to a hydraulic master cylinder. The master cylinder converts the force into hydraulic pressure, which is then transmitted via connecting pipes and hoses to one or more pistons at each brake caliper. The pistons operate on friction pads to provide a clamping force on a rotating flat disc that is attached to the wheel hub. This clamping tries to stop the rotation of the disc, and the wheel. On non-driving wheels, the centre of the brake disc or hub contains the wheel bearings. The hub can be part of the brake disc or a separate assembly between the wheel and hub with nuts or bolts. On driving wheels, the disc is mounted onto the driving axle and may be held in place by the wheel. On front wheel drive vehicles, it can be mounted on the front hub and wheel bearing assembly. The brake caliper assembly is bolted to the vehicle axle housing or suspension. Besides that, in most cases the brake is positioned as close as possible to the wheel, but there are exceptions. Some high-performance cars use inboard disc brakes on its rear wheels. The makers claim improved vehicle handling for this design because it reduces unsprung weight. Moreover, applying brakes can absorb a lot of vehicle energy so friction between braking surfaces generates great heat. Brake parts withstand very high temperatures. Most of the friction area of a disc is exposed to air so cooling is far more rapid than for a drum brake. Unlike with drum brakes, brake fade is rare. Because of their shape, discs tend to throw off water. So after being driven through water, they operate almost immediately. Disc brakes need much higher pressures to operate than drum brakes, so almost all disc brake systems need a power brake booster to help reduce the pedal forces that are needed from the driver. Due to the high forces needed to apply a disc brake, using it as a handbrake is less common. Therefore, some vehicles build a drum brake into the centre of the rear disc to provide for park brake operation. Possible Disc Damage Modes Discs are usually damaged in one of three ways: warping scarring cracking In addition, the useful life of the discs may be greatly reduced by excessive machining. 1.2.1 Warping Warping is caused by excessive heat buildup, which softens the metal and can allow it to be disfigured. This can result in wheel shimmy during braking. The likelihood of warping can be reduced if the car is being driven down a long grade by several techniques. Use of a lower gear to obtain engine braking will reduce the brake loading. Also, operating the brakes intermittently braking to a slower than cruising speed for a brief time then coasting will allow the brakes to cool between applications. The suitability of this is of course, dependent upon traffic conditions. Riding the brakes lightly will generate a great amount of heat with little braking effect and should be avoided. The wheel shimmy during braking is caused by thickness variation of the disc. Tests have shown that high temperature does not permanently warp discs. 1.2.2 Scarring Scarring can occur if brake pads are not changed promptly, all the friction material will wear away and the caliper will be pressed against the metal backing, reducing braking power and making scratches on the disc. If not excessive, this can be repaired by machining off a layer of the discs surface. This can only be done a limited number of times as the disc has a minimum safe thickness. For this reason it is prudent to periodically inspect the brake pads for wear (this is done simply on a vehicle lift when the tires are rotated without disassembly of the components). When practical they should be replaced before the pad is completely worn. 1.2.3 Cracking Cracking is limited mostly to drilled discs, which get small cracks around the drilled holes. These cannot be repaired. Material Requirement for Disc Brake Based on the function and the possible disc damage modes above, certain material requirement for disc brake is needed to be taking into consideration. The material requirements for disc brake are as below: High strength even at elevated temperatures High stiffness (modulus of elasticity) Low density High thermal conductivity Excellent abrasion resistance Good creep resistance 2.0 Material Selection Based on the material requirement for disc brake in section 1.3, Metal Matrix Composites has been chosen as the material for automotive disc brakes. This is because Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) is suitable to use for manufacturing automotive parts such as brake components, brake rotors for high speed trains, bicycles, and others vehicles. 2.1 Introduction to Metal Matrix Composites Metal composite materials have found application in many areas of daily life for quite some time. Often it is not realized that the application makes use of composite materials. These materials are produced in situ from the conventional production and processing of metals. Materials like cast iron with graphite or steel with high carbide content, as well as tungsten carbides, consisting of carbides and metallic binders, also belong to this group of composite materials. For many researchers the term metal matrix composites is often equated with the term light metal matrix composites (MMCs). Substantial progress in the development of light metal matrix composites has been achieved in recent decades, so that they could be introduced into the most important applications. In traffic engineering, especially in the automotive industry, MMCs have been used commercially in fiber reinforced pistons and aluminum crank cases with strengthened cylinder surfaces as well as particle-strengthened brake disks. These innovative materials open up unlimited possibilities for modern material science and development; the characteristics of MMCs can be designed into the material, custom-made, dependent on the application. From this potential, metal matrix composites fulfill all the desired conceptions of the designer. This material group becomes interesting for use as constructional and functional materials, if the property profile of conventional materials either does not reach the increased standards of specific demands, or is the solution of the problem. However, the technology of MMCs is in competition with other modern material technologies, for example powder metallurgy. The advantages of the composite materials are only realized when there is a reasonable cost performance relationship in the component production. The use of a composite material is obligatory if a special property profile can only be achieved by application of these materials. The possibility of combining various material systems (metal ceramic nonmetal) gives the opportunity for unlimited variation. The properties of these new materials are basically determined by the properties of their single components. Figure 1 shows the allocation of the composite materials into groups of various types of materials. Figure 1 Classification of the composite materials within the group of materials Although increasing development activities have led to system solutions using metal composite materials, the use of especially innovative systems, particularly in the area of light metals, has not been realized. The reason for this is insufficient process stability and reliability, combined with production and processing problems and inadequate economic efficiency. Application areas, like traffic engineering, are very cost orientated and conservative and the industry is not willing to pay additional costs for the use of such materials. For these entire reasons metal matrix composites are only at the beginning of the evolution curve of modern materials as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 Development curve of the market for modern materials Metal matrix composites can be classified in various ways. One classification is the consideration of type and contribution of reinforcement components in particle-, layer-, fiber- and penetration composite materials as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 Classification of Composite Material with Metal Matrixes Fiber composite materials can be further classified into continuous fiber composite materials (multi- and monofilament) and short fibers or, rather, whisker composite materials as shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 Three Shapes of Metal Matrix Composite Materials 2.2 Reason Selecting Metal Matrix Composites as Material for Disc Brake There are different types of Metal Matrix Composites in the world. But, not all the type of MMCs is suitable to be taken as material for disc brake. Thus, the type of Metal Matrix Composites that can be selected as material for disc brake due to its attractive material property as below: Aluminum Matrix Composites This is the widest group of Metal Matrix Composites. The matrices of Aluminum Matrix Composites are usually based on aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) alloys and on the alloys of 2xxx and 6xxx series which is very suitable to be taken as material for automobile disc brake. Moreover, Aluminum Matrix Composites able to give properties as show below: High strength even at elevated temperatures High stiffness Low density High thermal conductivity Excellent abrasion resistance Besides that, the ideal Aluminum Matrix Composites stress strain curve for continuous unidirectional fiber composites is presented in Figure 5. Generally, this curve consists of two stages. During the stage I, both fiber and matrix remain elastic, during stage II, the matrix deforms plastically and fibers remain elastic. There is possibly a stage III where both matrix and fibers deform plastically, but generally the fibers break before their plastic deformation. Figure 5 Ideal Stress-Strain Curve of a Continuous Fiber metal Matrix Composite Magnesium Matrix Composite Magnesium Matrix Composites are reinforced mainly by silicon carbide (SiC) particles (particulate composites). The material properties of Magnesium Matrix Composites are as below: Low density High stiffness High wear resistance Good strength even at elevated temperatures Good creep resistance Magnesium Matrix Composites are used for manufacturing components for racing cars, lightweight automotive brake system, and aircraft parts for: gearboxes, transmissions, compressors and engine. According to research by Z. Trojanova .P, Department of physics of Metals, Charles University, he run the experiment on Magnesium Matrix Composites to understand its material properties in a more detail way. Figure 6 True stress-strain curve It is interesting to note that the microstructure of AS41/SiC composite exhibits similar features with Mg2Si precipitates on the grain boundaries. Figure 6 shows typical true stress-true strain curve of the ZC63/SiC composite deformed at different temperatures. It can be seen that the flow stress decreases with increasing temperature. At 200-C, the work hardening is close to zero. This indicates a dynamic balance between hardening and softening. The temperature variations of the yield stress and the tensile strength max are given in Figure 7. Figure 7 Temperature dependence of the yield stress and the maximum stress 3.0 Manufacturing Process There are difference manufacturing process way to produce Metal Matrix Composites and here, I would like to focus on few processes which is more suitable to produce disc brake which made by Metal Matrix composites. 3.1 Liquid-State Processes Casting or liquid infiltration involves infiltration of a fibrous or particulate reinforcement pre-form by a liquid metal. Liquid-phase infiltration of MMCs is not straightforward, mainly because of difficulties with wetting the ceramic reinforcement by the molten metal. When the infiltration of a fiber pre-form occurs readily, reactions between the fiber and the molten metal may take place which significantly degrade the properties of the fiber. Fiber coatings applied prior to infiltration, which improve wetting and allow control of interfacial reactions, have been developed and are producing some encouraging results. In this case, however, the disadvantage is that the fiber coatings must not be exposed to air prior to infiltration because surface oxidation of the coating takes place. One liquid infiltration process involving particulate reinforcement, called the Duralcan process, has been quite successful as shown in Figure 8. Ceramic particles and ingot-grade aluminum are mixed and melted. The melt is stirred slightly above the liquidus temperature (600−700 °C). The solidified ingot may also undergo secondary processing by extrusion or rolling. The Duralcan process of making particulate composites by a liquid metal casting route involves the use of 8−12 ÃŽ ¼m particles. For particles that are much smaller (2−3 ÃŽ ¼m), the result is a very large interface region and, thus, a very viscous melt. In foundry-grade MMCs, high Si aluminum is used to prevent the formation of the brittle compound Al4C3, which is formed from the interfacial reaction between Al and SiC. Al4C3 is extremely detrimental to mechanical properties, particularly toughness and corrosion resistance. Figure 8 Casting process for particulate or short fiber MMCs Alternatively, tows of fibers can be passed through a liquid metal bath, where the individual fibers are wet by the molten metal, wiped of excess metal, and a composite wire is produced. A bundle of such wires can be consolidated by extrusion to make a composite. Another pressure less liquid metal infiltration process of making MMCs is the Primex process which can be used with certain reactive metal alloys such as Al− Mg to infiltrate ceramic pre-forms, Fig. 3. For an Al− Mg alloy, the process takes place between 750−1000 °C in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, and typical infiltration rates are less than 25 cm/h. 3.2 Squeeze Casting or Pressure Infiltration Figure 9 Reactive liquid metal infiltration processes Squeeze casting or pressure infiltration involves forcing a liquid metal into a fibrous or particulate pre-form as shown in Figure 10. Pressure is applied until solidification is complete. By forcing the molten metal through small pores of the fibrous pre-form, this method obviates the requirement of good wet ability of the reinforcement by the molten metal. Composites fabricated with this method have the advantage of minimal reaction between the reinforcement and molten metal because of the short processing time involved. Such composites are also typically free from common casting defects such as porosity and shrinkage cavities. Infiltration of a fibrous pre-form by means of a pressurized inert gas is another variant of the liquid metal infiltration technique. The process is conducted in the controlled environment of a pressure vessel and rather high fiber volume fractions; complex shaped structures are obtainable (3, 4). Alumina fibers reinforced inter metallic matrix composites, e.g., TiAl, Ni3Al, and Fe3Al matrix materials, have also been prepared by pressure casting (5). The technique involves melting of the matrix alloy in a crucible in vacuum, while the fibrous pre-form is heated separately. The molten matrix material (at ∠¼100 °C above Tm) is poured onto the fibers and argon gas is introduced simultaneously. Argon gas pressure forces the melt, which contains additives to aid wetting of the fibers, to infiltrate the pre-form. Figure 10 Squeeze casting or pressure infiltration process 3.3 Sinter-Forging Sinter-forging is a novel and low cost deformation processing technique. In sinter-forging a powder mixture of reinforcement and matrix is cold compacted, sintered, and forged to nearly full density, Figure 11. The main advantage of this technique is that forging is conducted to produce a near-net shape material, and machining operations and material waste are minimized. The low cost, sinter-forged composites have tensile and fatigue properties that are comparable to those of materials produced by extrusion which is suitable for disc brake. Figure 11 Sinter-Forging techniques for producing near-net shape, low cost MMCs 4.0 Conclusion The early Lotus Elise models came with Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) brake discs. These brakes were lightweight and a cost effective alternative to the carbon ceramic variations available recently but the only difference is they cannot operate at the same temperatures. As conclusion, based on the research above, I am confidence to said that Metal Matrix Composites is still the best for automobile disc brake in certain situation.

a post-modern analysis of women in the new east Essay -- essays rese

A Post-Modern Analysis of Women in the New East Good intentions do not beget positive results. Indeed what may seem to be good from one perspective may be seen as the complete opposite from another. Case in point: Western Feminism. To prove my point I will analyze the work of Ruth Frances Woodsmall, Women and the New East, written in 1960 as a feminist work, from a post-modern feminist perspective, and using works from Coco Fusco (English Broken Here) and Trinh Minh-ha (Women Native Other). One of the first problems encountered in Woodsmall’s work is in the delineation of her methodology. She writes that she began her study for each country with, â€Å"†¦the selection of a number of women leaders as advisers on the study as a whole and on specific phases†¦ The individual advisers were very helpful in making contacts, in giving advice about special interviews, suggesting institutions and projects and interpreting the general situation.† (viii) These women that she chose as her starting point from were most likely how many of the other informants and sources of information were found and therefore must have had a serious affect on the results of her research. These women are leaders, and therefore not accurate representations of the average women of Turkey. Indeed in the biographical appendix Woodsmall lists some of these leaders and not only do they all have â€Å"careers†, but they are all centered in military or scientific areas – not exactly a cross section of any society. This means much of this work was funneled through one class, and Fusco in her work exemplifies how class can make a difference in cultural views. â€Å"The reactions of Latin Americans differed according to class. Many upper class Latin American tourists †¦ voiced disgust that their part of the world should be represented in such a debased manner. Many other Latin Americans and Native Americans immediately recognized the symbolic significance of the piece, expressing solidarity with us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (56) This means that what Woodsmall really wrote about was Westernized women in the new East. This was not a view of all the women in the Muslim world and India as Woodsmall attains, but just those that had been educated and influenced by the West. In the section entitled â€Å"Political Status†, Woodsmall delineates the â€Å"progress† of Turkish women in attainment of equal political rights when she writes, â€Å"The number of wome... ...rely present in its absence. Subject of discussion, â€Å"them† is only admitted among â€Å"us,† the discussing subjects, when accompanied or introduced by an â€Å"us,† member†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (67) Minh-ha is arguing that third-world non-Westernized feminists have been left out of the analysis of their own lives and societies. It is from this non-acceptance of the voice of the third world feminist, that Western feminism has served to colonize and dehumanize women of the third world rather than help them. It is precisely this point, which proves the argument of this paper. The well intentioned attempt of Western feminist to write a feminist book in order to help, both women in the East in an exchange of ideas and stimulation of still more ideas and women in the West in providing knowledge with which to further aid the women of the East. On both counts it fails. In the West it gives further ground to the false generalizations and assumptions of women in the Muslim and more generally the developing world who are seen as oppressed and in need of â€Å"liberation† while in the East it serves to colonize and dehumanize the women. These good intentions did not create what can be construed as a positive contribution.

Panera Bread Essay

Panera Bread is a nationwide known eatery that provides premium foods in a sophisticated atmosphere. Panera Bread is in the line of bakery-cafà ©. They decided to set themselves apart from eateries such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King. The stores are equipped with very intimate settings and Wi-Fi. Panera Bread specializes in a variety fresh baked bread and meal options for the health conscience customer. SWOT Analysis Strengths †¢Panera Bread is known nationwide and this helps to attract customers. †¢Panera Bread has an assortment of fresh breads and meal offerings to accommodate those that are health conscience. †¢Panera Bread moved past the fast food market and decided to offer high-quality, premium food to its customers. †¢The overall ambience of the eatery gives an intimate, at home feel that makes the customer want †¢Scott Davis, senior vice president and chief concept office had a clear vision of the direction Panera Bread would take and a clear strategy of how to achieve that goal. Weakness †¢The eatery offers premium, fast dining and the prices may appear to be on the higher end to customers. †¢Panera Bread has not been able to increase the frequency of which customers dine at the eatery. †¢In order to enter as a franchise, Panera Bread has a very strict list of criteria that makes it difficult to qualify. Opportunities †¢Panera Bread can cease the opportunity to offer their fresh baked breads in supermarkets or sell their breads in store to customers. †¢Panera Bread has the opportunity to offer a lower end eating experience. This lower end chain will appeal to potential customers who cannot afford and expensive meal for the family. Threats †¢Panera Bread’s direct competition is fast-casual restaurants. †¢The change in the economy has affected how often individuals and families go outside of the home to dine. Alternatives 1.Offer Panera Bread’s signature dough and bread to local supermarkets or for sell at the Panera stores. 2.Introducing a lower market restaurant. 3.Make entering the franchise easier by making the criteria to qualify less strict. Discussion of Alternatives Alternative 1: Pros: Offering their dough for purchase by customers has the potential to generate more revenue for the company. It will also introduce the Panera Bread brand into households of those who have not visited the restaurant. Cons: The cost to produce the fresh dough to customers may exceed the overall gain to the company. Alternative 2: Pros: Introducing an alternate chain to appeal to a lower income customer base will expand the customer base. With the present state of the economy, families are finding it hard to eat out especially when the prices are high. Cons: This particular alternative detours the company from their clear goal. With so many affordable eateries, Panera Bread strives to set itself apart from the others. Alternative 3: Pros: Easing the criteria would make entry in the franchise easier. This will allow for more Panera Bread stores to open. Cons: Easing the criteria would deteriorate the stability of the franchise. The strict criteria ensure the overall success of the franchise. Recommendations Panera Bread would benefit most by teaming up with supermarkets to supply fresh baked Panera Bread. Even though the company itself does not serve frozen bread, it may be a good idea to offer the frozen dough for customers to purchase.

Globalization of International Relations

Globalization is a relatively new term used to describe a very old process. Since the first appearance of the term in 1962 ‘globalization' has gone from jargon to cliche. The Economist has called it â€Å"the most abused word of the 21st century. † It is much exploited in the modern century and is seen as both a curse and a blessing. Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world. For thousands of years, people have been buying from and selling to each other in lands at great distances, such as through the Silk Road across Central Asia that connected China and Europe. Likewise, for centuries, people and corporations have invested in enterprises in other countries. But policy and technological developments of the past few decades have spurred increases in cross-border trade, investment, and migration so large that many observers believe the world has entered a qualitatively new phase in its economic development. It involves a stretching of social, political and economic activities across political frontiers, regions and continents. It suggests the growing magnitude, of interconnectedness and flows of trade, investment, finance, migration, culture, etc. The growing extensity, intensity and velocity of global interactions can be associated with their deepening impact such that the effects of distant events can be highly significant elsewhere and even the most local developments may come to have enormous global consequences. In this sense, the boundaries between domestic matters and global affairs can become increasingly blurred. Introduction to International Relations The study of IR involves looking at the nature and principal forces of international organization as well as the political, social, economic organization of political life. IR is also concerned with an examination of elements of national power, including the limitation of national power and examining how it can be controlled. IR also focuses on the instruments available for promotion of national interest, with foreign policies of major powers and of smaller (strategic) powers and considers other historical ingredients as a background for events affecting the current sphere of International Relations. International Relations is wider in scope than international politics. International Relations embraces the totality of relations among people and groups of people in global society, which go beyond looking at political forces to an examination of socio-cultural and economic processes as well. The international relations are series of global issues and relations which are among the nations, states and organizations with the framework of international system. With regard to this definition, international relation has been explained in the framework of international system. As a process of interaction and integration among people, companies and governments of different nations Globalization is a process driven by the International Trade and Investment and aided by Information technology. This process on the environment on culture, on political system, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world The effect of globalization upon economy Economic globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital and wide and rapid spread of technologies. It reflects the continuing expansion and mutual integration of market frontiers, and is an irreversible trend for the economic development in the whole world at the turn of the millennium. Economic globalization is generally associated with neo-liberal policies. Such policies include reductions in tariffs, the reduction or elimination of restrictions on foreign investment, and the inclusion of services such as banking and insurance in trade regimes. By late 1990s the GDP of the richest 20% of the population was 86% where as the poorest 20% of the population possessed only 1% of the GDP thus affirming, the gap between the rich and the poor, which is being more and more defined day by day and is being blamed upon globalization. The increases in economic cross-border flows that have resulted in more â€Å"open† economies are a result, in part, of World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies. All this change is supported by a new international architecture – from the United Nations and international organizations, such as WHO, to economic blocs such as the European Union, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The rise of globalization has created interdependent markets that highlight the pros and cons of leveraging foreign exchange. Many proponents of global business argue that mutual benefits derive from the global specialization of products and services. The general stance is that the benefits of globalization outweigh the economic and social costs by achieving higher efficiency and by providing GDP growth in underdeveloped regions Supporters of globalization argue that the benefits of a more interdependent global economy outweigh the drawbacks. However one cannot be completely blind to the disadvantages posed by this. †¢Foreign exchange allows more products and services to be available, while also lowering costs, because of specialization. †¢Free trade is a way for countries to exchange goods and resources. This means countries can specialize in producing goods where they have a comparative advantage. However Developing countries often struggle to compete with developed countries, therefore it is argued free trade benefits developed countries more. There is an infant industry argument which says industries in developing countries need protection from free trade to be able to develop. †¢In terms of free movement of labour, increased labour migration gives advantages to both workers and recipient countries. If a country experiences high unemployment, there are increased opportunities to look for work elsewhere. This process of labour migration also helps reduce geographical inequality. However, certain countries have a tendency of being pressurized on housing and social services. It can be seen that developed countries such as USA, Canada, and Australia are now restricting the labour intake. Furthermore, some countries find it difficult to hold onto their best skilled workers, who are attracted by higher wages elsewhere. Globalization has also enabled increased levels of investment. It has made it easier for countries to attract short term and long term investment. Investment by multinational companies can play a big role in improving the economies of developing countries. †¢Domestic monopolies used to be protected by lack of competition. However, globalization means that firms face greater competition from foreign firms. This puts pressure on firms to be increasingly efficient and offer better products for consumers. Multinational Companies may be able to force out local retailers, leading to less choice for consumers and less cultural diversity. It is evident that globalization has played a massive role in the economy. It has undergone rapid changes within a short period of time exposing the society to both risks as well as benefits. It is up to the rationality of man to choose between and come to the most beneficial conclusion while keeping in mind that a sustainable economy has to be built for the future generations. Globalization and Politics Globalization affects politics in many profound ways. As the borders between countries get blurred, politics get more complicated. When politicians once had to consider only their own constituency things were simpler, but now we are dealing with things on a more global scale at which point everyone is more involve further complicating the governance. All of the economies are interconnected and what happens in one country can have negative consequences for another. Traditionally politics has been undertaken within national political systems. National governments have been ultimately responsible for maintaining the security and economic welfare of their citizens, as well as the protection of human rights and the environment within their borders. With global ecological changes, an ever more integrated global economy, and other global trends, political activity increasingly takes place at the global level. Under globalization, politics can take place above the state through political integration schemes such as the European Union and through intergovernmental organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Political activity can also transcend national borders through global movements and NGOs. Civil society organizations act globally by forming alliances with organizations in other countries, using global communications systems, and lobbying international organizations and other actors directly, instead of working through their national governments. An obvious characteristic of globalization is that money, goods and manufacturing have become far more mobile than they once were, with the result that corporations are freer than ever to move, and finance to invest, wherever they choose. Therefore, national governments are less able to control the activities of mobile businesses than in the past, while corporations and finance are in a better position to dictate to national governments. The national state is not so much being subordinated or sidelined as acting on its own, in response to complex stimuli, to reduce the scope of its control over society through privatization, contracting out of government work, creation of semi-independent government agencies, and delegation to other levels of government. The benefits and disadvantages under this topic are also controversial. †¢International organizations and other nations play a role in the politics of every nation. The political system exists as a composite system. Owing to this the countries are wary of their national interest and their interference could have both positive and negative impacts. For example the war in Sri Lanka with the LTTE was under constant scrutiny by the rest of the world. The interference possibly caused the war to extend for a longer period of time, hence making the stabilizing peace in the country a slow process. Sri Lanka also was supported by certain countries and certain others were critical. †¢The politicians are less likely to dominate the society as a whole and reap the benefits for themselves as the political system is under scrutiny and their defects in the world limelight could create chaos in the society and lead to further intervention. †¢Intervention can also lead to unhealthy relations. For example with USA inventing and aiding South Korea, the world immediately split into those favourable with South Korea and North Korea creating further disputes among nations. Even though globalization is in place, every nation does not have equal power. United States is still considered to be the super power and their decisions will play a huge role upon the political system hence creating an illusion of globalization. It is no hidden agenda that many organizations are in fact heavily influenced by the authority of such super powers Globalization and International Law Globalization c hallenges many of the traditional assumptions about International law, its relationship to domestic law, the ways in which it is created and the methods of its enforcement. Law has traditionally been the province of the nation state, whose courts and police enforce legal rules. By contrast, international law has been comparatively weak, with little effective enforcement powers. But globalization is changing the contours of law and creating new global legal institutions and norms. Diplomats and jurists are creating international rules for bankruptcy, intellectual property, banking procedures and many other areas of corporate law. In response to this internationalization, and in order to serve giant, transnational companies, law firms are globalizing their practice. The biggest firms are merging across borders, creating mega practices with several thousand professionals in dozens of countries. In recent years and currently human rights law involves areas such as cultural rights, environmental rights, indigenous and minority rights, privacy and data protection, human rights while countering terrorism, access to justice, international mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and the interface between human rights law and international humanitarian law, particularly in the context of the changing nature of armed conflicts. Increasingly, issues of international criminal law are integrated into the research conducted. The impact of new technologies upon the enjoyment of human rights receives careful attention, including biotechnologies and detection and surveillance technologies. Globalization has led to more legal topics than existed before which inevitably leads to a widening in international scope. Globalization has unified the world at which point law cannot be concentrated to one nation and its regulations only. A common ground is sought after to equalize and stabilize the platform of law as well. To be effective, regulatory decisions must increasingly involve the international level. International law today already recognizes a core commitment to deliver basic rights, subsistence food and shelter, and some minimum level of security, as a function of our basic humanity. The task of international legal theory, or global legal theory as it should be, is to draw upon both traditional domestic political theory, and innovative studies of our new global social reality, to design the next generation of global institutions and doctrines capable of delivering global justice for a global community. Globalization and International Relations International Relations (IR) is the study of relationships among countries, the roles of sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations (IGO), international non-governmental organizations (INGO), non-governmental organizations (NGO), and multinational corporations (MNC). International relations is an academic and a public policy field, and so can be positive and normative, because it analyzes and formulates the foreign policy of a given State. Earlier the impact of globalization upon international law, economy and politics was discussed upon, creating the back drop for the discussion of International relations with regard to globalization. It is evident that many changes have taken place and that states are involved in a co-existence where it can be seen that national matters play a massive role in the international scope. The changes that have been made in the above fields create the core of the effect of globalization upon the study of International Relations. Globalization is a complex interconnection between capitalism and democracy, which involves positive and negative features that both empowers and disempowers individuals and groups. Diplomats and representatives aim to preserve national communities and heritage in various ways, from issuing passports to drafting peace talks. Globalization has demonstrated the importance of interdependent governments and economies. Alliances such as the European Union, NAFTA, WTO, etc have made international relations stronger and powerful. Even though globalization has benefited strong countries and cultures, it can make it difficult for other nations and countries to compete globally. Foreign policy is becoming more aware of how globalization affects its government and people. Diplomats still compromise and support their home countries views and actions, and globalization, in terms of communication and accessibility. Conclusion I relation to the advantages and adverse effects, it should firstly mentioned that Globalization is inevitable and it has played a massive role in the society. Blurring of the lines between State and civil society, increasing political relations between people of different countries, raising the standard of living for the majority of the world’s people, increased impact of global forces of all kinds on local life, expansion of the range of financial, commercial, cultural and soc ial interactions among foreign ountries and nationals, systems of interaction between the global and the local, progressive strengthening of democratic values and institutions, development of new information technologies and unprecedented trade liberalization can be cited as a few effects of globalization. However as with every matter, negative impacts can be seen a plenty. The biggest challenge and disaster that has been brought upon is the effect upon the environment which is not seen as beneficial. Uneven Distribution of Wealth, Income Gap Between Developed and Developing Countries, where the wealth of developed countries continues to grow twice as much as the developing is another issue at hand. It is evident that the super powers still hold the upper hand in international affairs despite the effect of globalization. In fact more countries are beholden to the corporate giants and they have in turn amassed power establishing more security at their positions. Cultural expression is also at risk with the growing concept of globalization. With social media playing a giant role in daily lives in bringing people together it can be seen that western culture is being more propagated, especially in suburbs and that the indigenous cultural heritage of different nations is being slowly washed away. However despite the outcry, it is an accepted fact that globalization is here to stay, whether one likes it or not. It is a process which is almost cliche that has been taking place since the ancient ages and has boomed with the industrial revolutions and technological advances. It is the responsibility of the society as a whole to make wise decisions and adapt to the social changes. However it the super powers appear to be making most use of this concept and it does not seem as if any change will take place soon, even though it is quite necessary especially for developing and third world countries to rise. International Organizations and other necessary associations should play a main role in this situation as they play a rather vital role in the scope of international relations and the betterment of the world as a whole. â€Å"Today, the rich are the haves and the poor are the have-nots. Tomorrow, the rich will be the have-food and the poor will be the have-not food. † ? Bill Gaede

The Lebensborn Project essays

The Lebensborn Project essays The topic of eugenics cannot be discussed without encountering the Holocaust, but this is as it should be. When contemporary geneticists, genetics counselors and clinical geneticists wonder why it is that genetics receives special attention from those concerned with ethics, the answer is simple and can be found in history. The events which led to the sterilization, torture and murder of millions of Jews, Gypsies, Slavs and children of mixed racial heritage in the years just before and during the era of the Third Reich in Germany were rooted firmly in the science of genetics (Muller-Hill, 1988). Rooted not in fringe, lunatic science but in the mainstream of reputable genetics in what was indisputably the most advanced scientific and technological society of its day. The pursuit of genetic purity in the name of public health led directly to Dachau, Treblinka, Ravensbruck and Auschwitz. As early as 1931 influential geneticists such as Fritz Lenz were referring to National Socialism as "applied biology" in their textbooks (Caplan, 1992). As difficult as it is for many contemporary scientists to accept (Caplan, 1992; Kater, 1992), mainstream science provided a good deal of enthusiastic scientific support for the virulent racism that fueled the killing machine of the Third Reich. When the Nazis came to power they were obsessed with securing the racial purity of the German people. The medical and biomedical communities in Germany not only endorsed this concern with "negative eugenics," they had fostered it. Racial hygiene swept through German biology, public health, medicine and anthropology in the 1920s and 1930s, long before the Nazis came to power (Weiss, 1987, Muller-Hill, 1988; Proctor, 1988; Kater, 1992). Many in the medical profession urged the Nazi leadership to undertake social policies that might lead to enhancing or increasing the genetic fitness of the German people (Kater, 1992). Eugenics consumed the German m...

The History of Jell-O

The History of Jell-O Jell-O: It’s now as American as apple pie. Once a twice-failed processed food made from a mash-up of animal parts, it managed to become a hit dessert and the go-to food for generations of sick children.   Who Invented Jell-O? in 1845, New York industrialist Peter Cooper patented a method for the manufacture of gelatin, a tasteless, odorless gelling agent made of out animal by-products. Cooper’s product failed to catch on, but in 1897, Pearle Wait, a carpenter turned cough syrup manufacturer in LeRoy, a town in upstate New York was experimenting with gelatin and concocted a fruit-flavored dessert. His wife, May David Wait, dubbed it Jell-O.   Woodward Buys Jell-O Wait lacked the funding to market and distribute his new product. In 1899 he sold it to Frank Woodward, a school dropout who by the age of 20 had his own business, Genesee Pure Food Company. Woodward bought the rights to Jell-O for $450 from Wait. Once again, sales lagged. Woodward, who sold a number of patent medicines, Raccoon Corn Plasters, and a roasted coffee substitute called Grain-O, grew impatient with the dessert. Sales were still slow, so Woodward offered to sell the rights to Jell-O ® to his plant superintendent for $35. However, before the final sale, Woodward’s intensive advertising efforts, which called for distribution of recipes and samples and paid off. By 1906, sales reached $1 million.   Making Jell-O a National Staple The company doubled down on marketing. They sent out nattily dressed salesmen to demonstrate Jell-O. The also distributed 15 million copies of a Jell-O recipe book containing celebrity favorites and illustrations by beloved American artists, including Maxfield Parrish and Norman Rockwell. The dessert’s popularity rose. Woodward’s Genesee Pure Food Company was renamed Jell-O Company in 1923. Two years later it later merged with Postum Cereal, and eventually, that company became the behemoth known as the General Foods Corporation, which is now called Kraft/General Foods. The gelatinous aspect of the food made it a popular choice among mothers when their children were suffering from diarrhea. In fact, doctors still recommend serving Jell-O water- that is, unhardened Jello-O- to children suffering from loose stools.

Dunkirk Evacuation

Dunkirk Evacuation From May 26 to June 4, 1940, the British sent 222 Royal Navy ships and about 800 civilian boats to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied troops from the seaport of Dunkirk in France during World War II. After eight months of inaction during the Phoney War, British, French, and Belgian troops were quickly overwhelmed by Nazi Germany’s blitzkrieg tactics when the attack began on May 10, 1940. Rather than be completely annihilated, the BEF decided to retreat to Dunkirk and hope for evacuation. Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of over a quarter million troops from Dunkirk, seemed a near impossible task, but the British people pulled together and ultimately rescued about 198,000 British and 140,000 French and Belgian troops. Without the evacuation at Dunkirk, World War II would have been lost in 1940. Preparing to Fight After World War II started on September 3, 1939, there was a period of approximately eight months in which basically no fighting occurred; journalists called this the â€Å"Phoney War.† Although granted eight months to train and fortify for a German invasion, the British, French, and Belgian troops were quite unprepared when the attack actually began on May 10, 1940. Part of the problem was that while the German Army had been given hope of a victorious and different outcome than that of World War I, the Allied troops were uninspired, sure that trench warfare once again awaited them. The Allied leaders also relied heavily on the newly built, high-tech, defensive fortifications of the Maginot Line, which ran along the French border with Germany – dismissing the idea of an attack from the north. So, instead of training, the Allied troops spent much of their time drinking, chasing girls, and just waiting for the attack to come. For many BEF soldiers, their stay in France felt a bit like a mini vacation, with good food and little to do. This all changed when the Germans attacked in the early hours of May 10, 1940. The French and British troops went north to meet the advancing Germany Army in Belgium, not realizing that a large portion of the German Army (seven Panzer divisions) were cutting through the Ardennes, a wooded area that the Allies had considered impenetrable. Retreating to Dunkirk With the German Army in front of them in Belgium and coming up behind them from the Ardennes, the Allied troops were quickly forced to retreat. The French troops, at this point, were in great disorder. Some had become trapped within Belgium while others scattered. Lacking strong leadership and effective communication, the retreat left the French Army in serious disarray. The BEF were also backpedalling into France, fighting skirmishes as they retreated. Digging in by day and retreating at night, the British soldiers got little to no sleep. Fleeing refugees clogged the streets, slowing the travel of military personnel and equipment. German Stuka dive bombers attacked both soldiers and refugees, while German soldiers and tanks popped up seemingly everywhere. The BEF troops often became scattered, but their morale remained relatively high. Orders and strategies among the Allies were changing quickly. The French were urging a regrouping and a counterattack. On May 20, Field Marshal John Gort (commander of the BEF) ordered a counterattack at Arras. Although initially successful, the attack was not strong enough to break through the German line and the BEF was again forced to retreat. The French continued to push for a regrouping and a counteroffensive. The British, however, were starting to realize that the French and Belgian troops were too disorganized and demoralized to create a strong enough counteroffensive to halt the highly effective German advance. Much more likely, believed Gort, was that if the British joined the French and Belgian troops, they would all be annihilated. On May 25, 1940, Gort made the difficult decision to not only abandon the idea of a joint counteroffensive, but to retreat to Dunkirk in the hopes of an evacuation. The French believed this decision to be desertion; the British hoped it would allow them to fight another day. A Little Help From the Germans and the Defenders of Calais Ironically, the evacuation at Dunkirk could not have happened without the help of the Germans. Just as the British were regrouping at Dunkirk, the Germans stopped their advance just 18 miles away. For three days (May 24 to 26), German Army Group B stayed put. Many people have suggested that Nazi Fuhrer Adolf Hitler purposely let the British Army go, believing that the British would then more readily negotiate a surrender. The more likely reason for the halt was that General Gerd von Runstedt, the commander of German Army Group B, didn’t want to take his armored divisions into the swampy area around Dunkirk. Also, the German supply lines had become greatly overextended after such a quick and lengthy advance into France; the German Army needed to stop long enough for their supplies and infantry to catch up. German Army Group A also held off attacking Dunkirk until May 26. Army Group A had become entangled in a siege at Calais, where a small pocket of BEF soldiers had holed up. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill believed the epic defense of Calais had a direct correlation to the outcome of the Dunkirk evacuation. Calais was the crux. Many other causes might have prevented the deliverance of Dunkirk, but it is certain that the three days gained by the defence of Calais enabled Gravelines waterline to be held, and that without this, even in spite of Hitler’s vacillations and Rundstedt’s orders, all would have been cut off and lost.* The three days that German Army Group B halted and Army Group A fought at the Siege of Calais were essential in allowing the BEF a chance to regroup at Dunkirk. On May 27, with the Germans once again attacking, Gort ordered a 30-mile-long defensive perimeter to be established around Dunkirk. The British and French soldiers manning this perimeter were charged with holding the Germans back in order to give time for the evacuation. The Evacuation From Dunkirk While the retreat was underway, Admiral Bertram Ramsey in Dover, Great Britain began considering the possibility of an amphibious evacuation starting on May 20, 1940. Ultimately, the British had less than a week to plan Operation Dynamo, the large-scale evacuation of British and other Allied troops from Dunkirk. The plan was to send ships from England across the Channel and have them pick up troops waiting on the beaches of Dunkirk. Although there were over a quarter of a million troops waiting to be picked up, the planners expected to only be able to save 45,000. Part of the difficulty was the harbor at Dunkirk. The gentle shelving of the beach meant that much of the harbor was too shallow for ships to enter. To solve this, smaller craft had to travel from ship to beach and back again to gather passengers for loading. This took a lot of extra time and there were not enough small boats to fulfill this job quickly. The waters were also so shallow that even these smaller craft had to stop 300 feet from the waterline and soldiers had to wade out to their shoulders before they could climb aboard. With not enough supervision, many desperate soldiers ignorantly overloaded these small boats, causing them to capsize. Another problem was that when the first ships set out from England, starting on May 26, they didn’t really know where to go. Troops were spread out over 21-miles of beaches near Dunkirk and the ships were not told where along these beaches they should load. This caused confusion and delay. Fires, smoke, Stuka dive bombers, and German artillery were definitely another problem. Everything seemed to be on fire, including cars, buildings, and an oil terminal. Black smoke covered the beaches. Stuka dive bombers attacked the beaches, but focused their attention along the waterline, hoping and often succeeding in sinking some of the ships and other watercraft. The beaches were large, with sand dunes in the back. Soldiers waited in long lines, covering the beaches. Although exhausted from long marches and little sleep, soldiers would dig in while waiting their turn in line – it was too loud to sleep. Thirst was a major problem on the beaches; all the clean water in the area had been contaminated. Speeding Things Up The loading of soldiers into small landing craft, ferrying them to the larger ships, and then coming back to reload was an excruciatingly slow process. By midnight on May 27, only 7,669 men had made it back to England. To speed things up, Captain William Tennant ordered a destroyer to come directly alongside the East Mole at Dunkirk on May 27. (The East Mole was a 1600-yard-long causeway that was used as a breakwater.) Although not built for it, Tennant’s plan to have troops embark directly from the East Mole worked wonderfully and from then on it became the main location for soldiers to load. On May 28, 17,804 soldiers were taken back to England.   This was an improvement, but hundreds of thousands more still needed saving. The rearguard was, for now, holding off the German assault, but it was a matter of days, if not hours, before the Germans would break through the defensive line. More help was needed. In Britain, Ramsey worked tirelessly to get every single boat possible – both military and civilian across the Channel to pick up the stranded troops. This flotilla of ships eventually included destroyers, minesweepers, anti-submarine trawlers, motor boats, yachts, ferries, launches, barges, and any other kind of boat they could find. The first of the â€Å"little ships† made it to Dunkirk on May 28, 1940. They loaded up men from the beaches east of Dunkirk and then headed back through the dangerous waters to England. Stuka dive bombers plagued the boats and they had to be constantly on the lookout for German U-boats. It was a dangerous venture, but it helped save the British Army. On May 31, 53,823 soldiers were brought back to England, thanks in a large part to these little ships. Near midnight on June 2, the St. Helier left Dunkirk, carrying the very last of the BEF troops. However, there were still more French troops to rescue. The crews of the destroyers and other craft were exhausted, having made numerous trips to Dunkirk without rest and yet they still went back to save more soldiers. The French also helped by sending ships and civilian craft. At 3:40 a.m. on June 4, 1940, the very last ship, the Shikari, left Dunkirk. Although the British had expected to only save 45,000, they succeeded in rescuing a total of 338,000 Allied troops. Aftermath The evacuation of Dunkirk was a retreat, a loss, and yet the British troops were greeted as heroes when they got home. The whole operation, which some have termed â€Å"the Miracle of Dunkirk,† gave the British a battle cry and became a rallying point for the rest of the war.    Most importantly, the evacuation of Dunkirk saved the British Army and did allow it to fight another day.    * Sir Winston Churchill as quoted in Major General Julian Thompson, Dunkirk: Retreat to Victory (New York: Arcade Publishing, 2011) 172.

Ch2 Literature Review of faculty attitudes towered e-learning Dissertation

Ch2 Literature Review of faculty attitudes towered e-learning - Dissertation Example Faculty attitudes are often perceived to be amongst the main sources that lead towards change efforts in academic programs. There are some studies that reveal that faculty development programs make faculty members to become prone to adopt only such changes that they feel are crucial or desired (Costa, McPhail, Smith, and Brisk, 2005, p. 105). Given that e-learning has been made possible because of new technology, its efficient use is dependent upon positive attitude being adopted by faculty members. There will be more meaningful incentive for using e-learning if faculty attitudes become positive (Liaw Huang, & Chen, 2007). There may be initial reluctance on the part of faculty members to adopt new teaching styles in view of the massive effort that has to be made in adapting to them. It is in this context that there is increasing demand to alter the negative attitudes towards using e-learning amongst faculty members. Only in this way can e-learning teaching requirements be fulfilled. The threats associated with this new style of teaching and technology does not mean that the dangers and risks associated with this system should be ignored. ... According to Magnussen (2008), it has become very important to adopt e-learning as a meaningful option for teaching because of the change towards philosophical concepts through which educators are viewed. They are not considered as distributors of educational content but as facilitators of learning. Bai and Ertmer (2004) have held that faculty attitude towards technology can be made better by integrating the available technology with course work provided to faculty members. A significant aspect in this regard is that faculty members can teach in the same way as they have been educated. It is very true that computer proficiency cannot be transferred to learners until faculty members adopt positive attitude towards e-learning (Yildirim, 2000, p. 481). Liaw (2006) has raised questions if learning institutions will be able to meet the requirements of a diverse student population and transforming societies. Mahdizadeh, Biemans, and Mulder (2007) researched on Perceived self-efficacy of fa culty attitudes toward e-learning and found that the use of e-learning by instructors is explained largely in terms of their perceptions about the value they get from e-learning systems. The concept of computer self efficacy is derived from Bandura’s (1986) self-efficacy construct that relates to a person’s ability to use computers. Perceived enjoyment is defined as ‘‘the extent to which the activity of using a specific system is perceived to be enjoyable in it’s own right, aside from any performance consequences resulting from system use† (Venkatesh, 2000, p.343) Perceived enjoyment is the inherent motivation that has a strong

Public policy problem statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Public policy problem statement - Essay Example ance and lack of concern for the lives of others has turned urban squares into crime dens where criminals with sadistic motives target innocent civilians. As a corollary, the main objective of this document is to establish the most significant factors of enhancing safety in urban squares and to devise a plan for resolving the safety problems. This will be achieved by making a comparative analysis on three outstanding theorists’ perspectives concerning the area under discussion. An urban square should be able to host strangers from different backgrounds and at the same time ensure the safety of the individuals and property within its precincts (Jacobs, 1961, 30). The Pleasance of a place is contingent to its ability to protect the inhabitants from menaces and physical harm as well as psychological protection from insecurity, fear becoming a victim of crime (Gehl, 2008, 162). The concept of a safe urban square can be best defined in contrast with the concept of an unsafe urban square. Insecurity can be looked at from two different perspectives: i.e. the objective and subjective perspectives. From an objective perspective, Insecurity take account of all factors that impedes the safety of an individual, such as aggravated burglary, murder, violent assaults, sexual harassment among others. On the other hand insecurity from a subjective point of view requires a broad-spectrum judgment of an incident in terms of regional safety and space. Insecurity and poverty are two phenomena that are very interrelated. This is because leads to social disorders such as robbery, violence, assault and the like (Salehi, 2008, 107). A plan aimed at ensuring a safe and secure urban square should include elements of both safety (protection against arson, environmental pollutions, car accidents and other unanticipated natural events) and security (prevention against crime targeting individuals and their properties e.g. sexual harassment, robbery with violence among others (Salehi, 2008,

Young Goodman Brown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Young Goodman Brown - Essay Example He decides to go on this journey in the middle of the night through a forest. His wife urges him not to go alone because she knew that something suspicious was going on but he wanted to discover the truth even though he feared his own actions. It was clear that he was having second thoughts about his journey as he says, â€Å"†¦. Methought as she spoke there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight. But no, no; 't would kill her to think it† (Young Goodman Brown, Web). His willingness to go on this journey shows his desire of finding out answers about his life as well as Puritan beliefs. After meeting his fellow traveler who asked him about being late, Goodman replies by saying, â€Å"Faith kept me back a while," (Young Goodman Brown, Web). By faith, Goodman either meant his wife or even his belief and faith in God which required him not to go on this journey. In the story of Young Goodman Brown, the character of Goodman Brown is driven by his own desire of discovering the truth about his fellow members of the Puritan community. The setting of this story is such that Goodman starts imagining fear and evil everywhere along his route in the forest. He says, â€Å"There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree†¦

Challenges to Social Policy in Relation to Globalisation Essay

Challenges to Social Policy in Relation to Globalisation - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the process of globalization has, in fact, weakened several institutions developed by nation-states to structure social policy formation. Systems created by policymakers and by the people within their context are not able to resolve the most serious issues at present. Most believe that social policy formation must presently have a regional or global importance. However, the needed networks or institutions are largely absent in that area. In essence, globalization is the concept that has been used to describe an array of political, social, cultural, technological, and economic factors and mechanisms that are believed to have generally created the specific aspects of current living. National welfare policies and processes have become much more globalized than is generally believed. Consideration of the influence of globalization on social policy, therefore, requires exploring policies and systems that connect people and places all over t he world. Globalisation has influenced social policy in two major ways. First is examining social policy development in domains of extraterritorial governance. These domains of governance could be global (IMF, UN, etc.) or trans-regional (ASEAN, EU, etc.). Second is placing emphasis on cross-border movement of products, services, people, and knowledge as they concern the effects of social policies on communities, policy development, and social welfare

Big sky Big money Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Big sky Big money - Movie Review Example Never at once have I had of politicians being financed by rogues who want something else once the politician assumes office. This information has been withheld from the media and the rest assumed to be propaganda and hence I have never paid any attention to such â€Å"rumors† before. This information is very pertinent and all people not only in the affected regions or this country but to the world in general. The message the documentary is passing in one word is vetting. It is important and necessary for the public to be vetting the aspiring politicians about their sources of finance in detail before being elected into office. The vetting should also be done by investigative officers who will follow the money trail and avoid such incidences in future as portrayed by the documentary. The IRS and other tax bodies should be very keen about which organizations are being exempted from taxation. This exemption should be carried out after thorough investigation of the organization in order to prove beyond any doubt that it is a welfare organization and deserves the

University counseling center - PR Campaign Essay

University counseling center - PR Campaign - Essay Example The College University Counseling Center is conducting a PR campaign to increase its use by the students. As a part of this year long campaign, extensive programs are devised to make the Counseling Centre more student-friendly and approachable.The campaign themed ‘stay cool’ is aimed at increasing awareness about the services of Counseling Centre and at encouraging students to approach the Counseling Centre more freely. As a part of the program, a caring, licensed professional staff will be available to meet your needs. Are you a student who is; Feeling lonely away from home? Feeling sick of the harsh campus regimes? Feeling nervous unnecessarily? Facing problems retaining relationships? Feeling life colorless and boring? Unable to take decisions about future life? Unable to concentrate on studies? An international student facing language and cultural problems? Facing any kind of addiction? Suffering from eating disorders? Facing body disorder issues? Or Are you a parent who is worried about the performance of your son or daughter? Are you a staff feeling fed up with the errands of the curriculum? If your answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, you are the one we are looking for. We have arranged everything to bring you back to the track.The purpose of the year is to make more students use the Counseling Center. For this purpose, the concept developed is to make the University Counseling Center more accessible to everyone in the campus. We want to make it a place of comfort and care. In addition, the students should feel that the Counseling Center is a friend who is always ready to help. To achieve this end, the theme ‘stay cool’ will be selected. In addition, for all the programs under the PR campaign, a specific color code, a particular logo and the slogan ‘stay cool’ will be used. In addition, throughout the year, the Counseling Center will be spreading relaxation tips among students through both electro nic and print media. The Counseling Center aims to make all the students aware about the activities of the Center and feel comfortable and confident to make use of these services. To attract more people to the counseling centr

Big sky Big money Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Big sky Big money - Movie Review Example Never at once have I had of politicians being financed by rogues who want something else once the politician assumes office. This information has been withheld from the media and the rest assumed to be propaganda and hence I have never paid any attention to such â€Å"rumors† before. This information is very pertinent and all people not only in the affected regions or this country but to the world in general. The message the documentary is passing in one word is vetting. It is important and necessary for the public to be vetting the aspiring politicians about their sources of finance in detail before being elected into office. The vetting should also be done by investigative officers who will follow the money trail and avoid such incidences in future as portrayed by the documentary. The IRS and other tax bodies should be very keen about which organizations are being exempted from taxation. This exemption should be carried out after thorough investigation of the organization in order to prove beyond any doubt that it is a welfare organization and deserves the

Meaning of life Essay Example for Free

Meaning of life Essay The humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition, using methods that are largely analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural and social sciences. The humanities, such as classical and modern languages, literature, history, and philosophy, have the overall goal of the exploration and explanation of human experience. Some would include the fine arts (music, art, dance, and drama) in the humanities, but others view the arts as a separate category. (We include the interpretation of the fine arts in this course). In most disciplines in the humanities, written texts are extremely important, especially in history, philosophy, and literature. Historians attempt a systematic documentation and analysis of events related to a particular people, country, or period. Literary authors and artists attempt to capture for others their own human experiences and understanding of the world. The humanities involve inquiry into consciousness, values, ideas, and ideals as they seek to describe how experiences shape our understanding of the world. Humanities can be defined as educational courses that are aimed at teaching individuals about the human condition in a variety of forms. Important of Humanities The importance of humanities is that it is an academic discipline that studies the human condition, it includes ancient and modern languages, such as literature, philosophy, religion, and visual and performing arts such as music and theater, and it is also regarded as social sciences that include history, anthropology, area studies, communication studies, cultural studies, law, economics, and linguistics. All these subjects affect us a humans and has an effect on our historical development as well as where we are headed to. Humanities is the oldest area of study that revolves around the study of human beings, what makes us human, and our historical development and what we are expected to do. Significant use of humanities is that they help us to build up what we have inherited from previous generations. It is important we understand that all that we are today has taken centuries to build and us a society we have indeed been molded by our past. It is through this understanding that makes us not want to go back to  question our origin but build on our present to face the future. The other importance of humanities is that they help us as human being to reflect back on how the past generations tackled issues that are facing us currently. As opposed to the natural sciences that focus on quantitative explanations as well description of life events, humanities explicitly focus on explanations of value. Humanities are liken to arts but it’s important to note that they are intuitive rather than critical, analytical and not expressive, reflective and active. As a whole humanities look back on our curiosity about our human nature and human culture creation. The other importance of humanities is that they are the basis of learning. They involve the study of writing, reading, thinking and language. Branches of Humanities The branches of humanities consist of languages, the arts, literature, philosophy, religion and history. Languages This particular branch of humanities consists of learning the way people communicate in different speaking countries. It brings a sense of culture to individuals as they are likely to be taught the various history and origins of the languages they learn. The Arts The arts consist of theater, music, art and film. They are all mediums of self expression and these courses in particular encourage personal interpretation and analysis. Fine arts courses also come into this category; however, they focus more on the historical forms of art and their origins. Literature Literature refers to novels, short stories, plays and so on. Individuals attempt to decipher the meaning of texts and look into symbolism and themes. Literature courses delve into social aspects that may influence texts. Philosophy and religion These courses study human behavior and the age-old questions such as the meaning of life and the existence of God. They analyze various cultures and their religious beliefs as well as moral codes. History This is arguably the most facts-based course as individuals delve into past events such as war and politics and how societies and cultures have been affected throughout the years. References: http://writing. colostate. edu/guides/teaching/co301aman/pop6b. cfm http://education. blurtit. com/1978174/what-is-humanities-and-its-branches http://www. ask. com/question/importance-of-humanities http://humanitiesforums. org/2012/07/16/the-importance-of-humanities-as-a-discipline/.

Water Scarcity in Singapore: An Overview

Water Scarcity in Singapore: An Overview Abstract Singapore is a no more farmland country so that mean cant save more water. First I will write about Singapore fresh water information, second I will write about the government solution for the water scarcity issue, after that I will discuss the which solution is good for reduce fresh water scarcity and write some of my opinion for solve this issue. In the last I will conclusion the answer and give some suggest. When you want to know the detail information, in the last page I will give some source web site. Introduction Singapore is a famous poor water country and it most water come from another country provid. This report I will talk about Singapore how to reduce fresh water scarcity. Well we know the fresh water is very important to biome because the body have high per cent work from the water and it can help you eating, poop and transport energy. From the research the body have seventy per cent make for the water and when miss fifteen per cent it will meet died danger, so for the research the water is very important for our life. In global have fresh water scarcity problem, some scientist research some solution to reduce this trouble for example in seawater join some special energy can make it become fresh water. We know technology improve our life, most country have water recycle system. I think in the future each house have own small water recycle system. Methodology Before the researchà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’I find the Singapore water come from the nearly country and rain. Although precipition is high than another country but it no more land so it is poor water country. From the internet I find the Singapore how to collect the rain and the water used for. I think the chemistry system is very important for reduce fresh water scarcity because in Singapore is very careful for water. In my opinion this information is very important because it provide me more detail and it is good background befor the article. Findings Singapore is an island and urban city state and not hence so it have high per cent water on Malaysia supply. For the terrain reason, the Singapore cant save more water although it rain high than another country. In early because technology grow up quick and government not very care about industry, so most industry have most pollution and local person use groundwater so in after this country meet drink problem. In beginning the government to put forward buy the water for Malaysia and recycle pollution water. Then it carry out most plan desalt seawater to drink water, develop Newater plan, this plan objective is bring waste water that better than public water. I think they best plan is build impoundments and reservoirs, it can college most rain water and reduce water loss so in Singapore have most this building and most fresh water is come from here. The government dont want fresh water go to sea so they build barrage separate the sea and reservoir, when reservoir cant save more rain w ater it can help it ejectment the more water and it can save the low lying area. In my opinion the government can calculated each family use how much water, when it used more can suggest when they not hear can require pay more money and they also can reward use water less family, it can make everybody save the water and government donate little money to reward save water very well company. Discussion From the finding, we can see the Singapore have big water problem and they also take more measure to reduce fresh water scarcit. So I think my hypothesis is true, my hypothesi is in the future, each house have small water recycle sickle. from the technology grow up quick and the global fresh water scarcity issue to become more serious, we must have save water mentality and now most family have water purifier, it erasure people want to drink health and clean fresh water. In the future, the water recycle sickle have good change, it become not expensive and big, the government will subsidy it. All in all the Singapore do most action is want to solve fresh water scarcity issue. I think solve this issue is not only government work because we cant leave the water, and the water useful for our, so we must have save water mentalit. Well actually the government most action is want to reminds people have save water mind. We know in global have most country have fresh water scarcity issue and t he population become more and more, human most careful about fresh water issue, so I think most country should study Singapore method. Conclusion All in all the government proposed is want to reduce fresh water scarcity and they also want to reminds people to save water. Reference https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-sciences/the-issues-of-fresh-water-in-singapore-environmental-sciences-essay.php

Ray Bradbury :: essays research papers

Ray Bradbury has written over more then five hundred published works and continues to keep writing. He is known as one of the best science fiction novelists and has won many awards and accommodations for it. After publishing his adult novel Fahrenheit 451, it was soon considered one of his best works. There is a question to be asked, Where does he get his inspiration and imagination to write wild stories of great fantasy? He stated that "When people ask me where I get my imagination, I simply lament, God, here and there, makes madness a calling" (Bradbury I). 	American novelist, short-story writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, and poet. Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on August 22, 1920, the third son of Leonard Spaulding Bradbury and Esther Marie Moberg Bradbury. In the fall of 1926 Ray Bradbury's family moved from Waukegan, Illinois to Tucson, Arizona, only to return to Waukegan again in May 1927. By 1931 he began writing his own stories on butcher paper. His childhood was very important to him because it was a constant source of intense sensations, feelings, and images that generate great stories. As a child he was first inspired by seeing "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". "His childhood was that of a pleasant memory of a half-forgotten dream" (Person I). In 1932, after his father was laid off his job as a electrical lineman, the Bradbury family again moved to Tucson and again returned to Waukegan the following year. In 1934 the Bradbury family moved to Los Angeles, California. Bradbury graduated from a Los Angeles High School in 1938. His formal education ended there, but he furthered it by himself -- at night in the library and by day at his typewriter. He sold newspapers on Los Angeles street corners from 1938 to 1942. Bradbury's first story publication was "Hollerbochen's Dilemma," printed in 1938 in Imagination!, an amateur fan magazine. In 1939, 11Bradbury published four issues of "Futuria Fantasia", his own fan magazine, contributing much of the published material himself. Bradbury's first paid publication was "Pendulum" in 1941 to"Super Science Stories." In 1942 Bradbury wrote "The Lake," the story in which he discovered his distinctive writing style. By 1943 he had given up his job selling newspapers and began writing full-time, contributing numerous short stories to magazines such as "Black Mask", "Amazing Stories" and "Weird Tales." In 1945 his short story "The B ig Black and White Game" was selected for Best American Short Stories.

Gun Control in the United States Essay -- second amendment,firearm, we

The second amendment gives people the right to own a firearm. The founding fathers might have thought a gun was the best form of protection but many years have past since then and humans have evolved. Times are different and society is different. Technology has a big impact on people and how we think and all those variables can affect people with how they react in stressful situations. We have to consider the mental stability of those in possession of the weapons, it is important to keep the weapon away from loved ones or other people, and is the law protecting those in possession of the weapons or putting lives in more danger. The human mind is a complex place filled with a variety of thoughts and desires. One may hide the deepest thought in the unconscious without even knowing it or worse, their desires reside in the conscious waiting to be acted upon. With all circumstances no one from the outside knows what is going on in another ones mind even the person himself may not be completely be sure. My confidence in ones mental stability is low because these facts show the mystery of what is inside the human mind. â€Å"To elaborate on this, in a previous study in 2004 researchers discovered that around one in four adults have a mental health disorder and one in seventeen had a serious mental illness but how many of them keep going on with their lives thinking their feelings are normal? All people are given the right to bare arms that means all people even those with these disorders. Now the right to bare arms is the right of the people to protect themselves yet giving those with weak mental stability is a scary thought† (â€Å"Mental Health†). The laws should provide us with a mental state test before being given a weapons license. .. ...929.full>. "Eligibility Requirements." / Concealed Weapon License / Licensing / Divisions & Offices / Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. . "Florida Concealed Carry Permit Information." Florida Concealed Carry Permit Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. . "Guns and Violence." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. "Gun Control." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. "Mental Health." - Healthy People 2020. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. . Gun Control in the United States Essay -- second amendment,firearm, we The second amendment gives people the right to own a firearm. The founding fathers might have thought a gun was the best form of protection but many years have past since then and humans have evolved. Times are different and society is different. Technology has a big impact on people and how we think and all those variables can affect people with how they react in stressful situations. We have to consider the mental stability of those in possession of the weapons, it is important to keep the weapon away from loved ones or other people, and is the law protecting those in possession of the weapons or putting lives in more danger. The human mind is a complex place filled with a variety of thoughts and desires. One may hide the deepest thought in the unconscious without even knowing it or worse, their desires reside in the conscious waiting to be acted upon. With all circumstances no one from the outside knows what is going on in another ones mind even the person himself may not be completely be sure. My confidence in ones mental stability is low because these facts show the mystery of what is inside the human mind. â€Å"To elaborate on this, in a previous study in 2004 researchers discovered that around one in four adults have a mental health disorder and one in seventeen had a serious mental illness but how many of them keep going on with their lives thinking their feelings are normal? All people are given the right to bare arms that means all people even those with these disorders. Now the right to bare arms is the right of the people to protect themselves yet giving those with weak mental stability is a scary thought† (â€Å"Mental Health†). The laws should provide us with a mental state test before being given a weapons license. .. ...929.full>. "Eligibility Requirements." / Concealed Weapon License / Licensing / Divisions & Offices / Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. . "Florida Concealed Carry Permit Information." Florida Concealed Carry Permit Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. . "Guns and Violence." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. "Gun Control." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. "Mental Health." - Healthy People 2020. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. .

The Mohawk Indians

For this project, i choose to write about the Mohawk Indians. These native americans are are group of fierce warriors, where both men and women had vital roles. They were orginally apart of Iroquois Confederation, which included various tribes in the north eastern territory of the United States. They are also one of the most famous and surviving native americans. They were unique and had different traditions. The Mohawks were located in the area, which, now we call New York. This in in the North eastren part of the United States. Altough other tribes resisded in the area, they took up most of the territorty. These Native Americans had many ways to live. There homes, were what we call today longhouses. They were extremely long in the back and were made up of berch and elm bark. To travel the Mohawks had two types of canoes, one made of elm bark which was fast and the other a dugout canoe which could carry many people but was much slower. They also relied on dogs as there pack animals, and in the snow they tied them to sleds to help them get around. The women of the tribe were known as â€Å"clan leaders† because they made all the descions about land and resouces. The men who were Mohawk chiefs made the miltary rulings such as engaging in war. They were only allowed to represent the tribe. There clothing was very tradional. The men wore breecloths with leggings, while woman wore wrap around dresses with shorter leggings. There name, is represented in there hairstyle displayed by men. They mostly had shaved heads except for there mohawks dressed up with feathers or roaches. The women only cut there hair when they were in mourning, and their daily hair was long and in a braid. Childrens roles in the tribes is very different then todays. They went hunting and fishing with there fathers and had plenty of chores. But on the other hand, they did have some time for fun. The girls usually played with there cornhusks dolls, while the boys either played the sport lacrosse or tried to throw a dart through a moving hoop. Mohawk music was based around mainly two insturments. The drums and the flute. The Drums were if not all the time filled with water , mostly to give it a different style and sound. The flutes were used to seduce the women in the tribe, while playing it, it would show he was thinking about a girl. There religion, or more so beliefs were of nature and of everyones sprirt. They belived in wind spirts, the three sisters ( corn, squash, and beans) to help with crops, the thunderer, and the creator twins. The Mohawks are also famous for the myth of the orgin of the rabbit dance, where the native americans used there drums and made a certain sound and all the rabbits came and danced around them. They also known also for there mask making and pottery, the masks they make were so important to them that outsiders may not be permitted to look at them. Just like many other native americans they used bow and arrows to hunt, in battle they used bows and arrows, and clubs and spears. To fish the men used spears and fishing poles. They are so skilled in steaming wood that they made knives and even today the survining members create lacrosse sticks. In conclusion, the Mohawks are a name we know them as, and also there enimies. They were belived to be cannibals but it is not certain. Its said they would eat the warriors there were up against if they won. But they called themselves the Kanienkehaka, or people of the flint. They were a truly restless group and by becoming apart of irqouis nation, they were allowed to thrive and continue there traditions.

Desdemona

I want you to go back in time many years ago, the 16th century in Shakespeare’s time where there was hardly any technology and the society was very different. Now If that’s hard to imagine that’s ok because I’m an actor in the 21st century hear to talk to you about Desdemona. Desdemona was a beautiful, young, white Venetian girl but also she disobeys her father’s expectations by marrying a black man, she also challenges the society that largely disapproves of intercultural marriages and also she gets abused by her husband. In this way, Desdemona’s relationship with Othello speaks to the play’s concerns with the 16th century attitudes about Lust, Defying social standards of the 16th century and also domestic violence. For example in the play it shows this by Othello saying â€Å"She loved me for the dangers I have passed, and I loved her, that she did pity them. † This is an example of a foreshadowing technique used to hint readers a certain plot development that will come later in the story. Also this quote is telling us that this is ardent admiration, which tells us that Desdemona is still not matured. To think about her future and what society’s expectations are. She admired the stories that Othello told about his brave journeys. In nowadays young teenagers are not drawn by personality but by looks and popularity. Also, Desdemona disobeys her father’s wish by refusing to marry any handsome, rich Venetian men and she goes for Othello an old black man, outside of the Venetian society. For example her farther says. â€Å"Look to her, Moor, if though hast eyes to see, She has deceived her farther, and may thee. † This shows that Desdemona is a disloyal character and may disobey her husband as well, she also goes against the societies expectations by defying standards such as not owing the duty to her farther and then a duty to her husband. Also Intercultural marriages where she marries a black man rather than a white man. In modern societies most young people disobey their parents and follow their own will due to their immaturity. Desdemona gets verbally and physically abused by Othello who slapped her and called her a whore in public towards the end of the play, when she was dying she still blames herself for othello’s physical and emotional abuses. In current situations people all around the world especially women get abused by men and usual, stand up for their husbands exactly what Desdemona did back then. Well, there you go even if this plays were written in the 16th century even in today’s time we still have the themes lust, domestic violence and societies expectations in today’s time. It’s easy for us to engage with the character’s in that timeframe due to the setting , the characters are realistic and believable and even this themes are considered in today’s society in different concepts.