Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Should We Celebrate Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims

Thanksgiving has become synonymous with family, food, and football. But this uniquely American holiday is not without controversy. While schoolchildren still learn that Thanksgiving marks the day that Pilgrims met helpful Indians who gave them food and farming tips to survive the winter, a group called the United American Indians of New England established Thanksgiving as its National Day of Mourning in 1970. The fact that UAINE mourns on this day poses a question to socially conscious Americans: Should Thanksgiving be celebrated? Some Natives Celebrate The decision to celebrate Thanksgiving divides Native Americans. Jacqueline Keeler wrote a widely circulated editorial about why she, a member of the Dineh Nation and Yankton Dakota Sioux, celebrates the holiday. For one, Keeler views herself as â€Å"a very select group of survivors.† The fact that natives managed to survive mass murder, forced relocation, theft of land, and other injustices â€Å"with our ability to share and to give intact† gives Keeler hope that healing is possible. In her essay, Keeler takes issue with how one-dimensionally natives are portrayed in commercialized Thanksgiving celebrations. The Thanksgiving she recognizes is a revisionist one: These were not merely ‘friendly Indians.’ They had already experienced European slave traders raiding their villages for a hundred years or so, and they were wary—but it was their way to give freely to those who had nothing. Among many of our peoples, showing that you can give without holding back is the way to earn respect. Award-winning author Sherman Alexie, Jr., who is Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, also celebrates Thanksgiving by recognizing the contributions the Wampanoag people made to the Pilgrims. Asked in a Sadie Magazine interview if he celebrates the holiday, Alexie humorously answered: We live up to the spirit of Thanksgiving cuz we invite all of our most desperately lonely white [friends] to come eat with us. We always end up with the recently broken up, the recently divorced, the brokenhearted. From the very beginning, Indians have been taking care of brokenhearted white people.We just extend that tradition. Problematic Historical Accounts If we’re to follow Keelers and Alexie’s lead, Thanksgiving should be celebrated by highlighting the contributions of the Wampanoag. All too often Thanksgiving is celebrated from a Eurocentric point of view. Tavares Avant, former president of the Wampanoag tribal council, cited this as an annoyance about the holiday during an ABC interview: â€Å"It’s all glorified that we were the friendly Indians and that’s where it ends. I do not like that. It kind of disturbs me that we... celebrate Thanksgiving†¦ based on conquest.† Schoolchildren are particularly vulnerable to being taught to celebrate the holiday in this manner. Some schools, however, are teaching revisionist Thanksgiving lessons. Teachers and parents can influence the way children think about Thanksgiving. Celebrating in School An anti-racist organization called Understanding Prejudice recommends that schools send letters home to parents addressing efforts to teach children about Thanksgiving in a manner that neither demeans nor stereotypes Native Americans. Such lessons could include discussions about why not all families celebrate Thanksgiving and why the representation of Native Americans on Thanksgiving cards and decorations has hurt indigenous peoples. The organization’s goal is to give students accurate information about Native Americans of the past and present while dismantling stereotypes that could lead children to develop racist attitudes. â€Å"Furthermore,† the organization states, â€Å"we want to make sure students understand that being an Indian is not a role, but part of a person’s identity.† Understanding Prejudice advises parents to deconstruct stereotypes their children have about Native Americans by gauging what they already believe about indigenous peoples. Simple questions such as â€Å"What do you know about Native Americans?† and â€Å"Where do Native Americans live today?† can reveal a lot. Parents should be prepared to give children information about the questions raised by using Internet resources such as U.S. Census Bureau data on Native Americans or by reading literature about Native Americans. The fact that National American Indian Month and Alaskan Native Month are recognized in November means that information about indigenous peoples is plentiful around Thanksgiving. Some Natives Don’t Celebrate The National Day of Mourning kicked off unintentionally in 1970. That year a banquet was held by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival. The organizers invited Frank James, a Wampanoag man, to speak at the banquet. Upon reviewing James’ speech—which mentioned European settlers looting the graves of the Wampanoag, taking their wheat and bean supplies, and selling them as slaves—banquet organizers gave him another speech to read that left out the gritty details of the first Thanksgiving, according to UAINE. Rather than deliver a speech that left out the facts, James and his supporters gathered at Plymouth, where they observed the first National Day of Mourning. Since then, UAINE has returned to Plymouth each Thanksgiving to protest how the holiday has been mythologized. Giving Thanks Year-Round In addition to disliking misinformation on the Thanksgiving holiday that has spread about natives and Pilgrims, some indigenous peoples don’t recognize it because they give thanks year-round. During Thanksgiving 2008, Bobbi Webster of the Oneida Nation told the Wisconsin State Journal that the Oneida have 13 ceremonies of thanksgiving throughout the year. Anne Thundercloud of the Ho-Chunk Nation told the Journal that her people also give thanks continually, so a single day of the year for thanksgiving clashes with Ho-Chunk tradition. â€Å"We’re a very spiritual people who are always giving thanks,† she explained. â€Å"The concept of setting aside one day for giving thanks doesn’t fit. We think of every day as Thanksgiving.† Thundercloud and her family have incorporated the fourth Thursday of November into the other holidays observed by the Ho-Chunk, the Journal reports. They extend Thanksgiving observance until Friday when they celebrate Ho-Chunk Day, a large gathering for their community. Celebrate Inclusively If you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, ask yourself just what you’re celebrating. Whether you choose to rejoice or mourn on Thanksgiving, initiate discussions about the holiday’s origins by focusing not just on the Pilgrims’ point of view but also on what the day meant for the Wampanoag and what it continues to signify for American Indians today.

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Katrina And 9 / 11 - 1160 Words

There have been many comparisons in the images of the suffering and despair that came from Hurricane Katrina in comparison to the images of grief and destruction that occurred on September 11, 2001. Both Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 were national catastrophes and have given many lessons learned for natural and man-made/terrorism disasters in the way of preparations, during actions, responses from Federal down to local authorities, and recovery efforts. And in both cases, the government has reevaluated its reactions and its structure for preparing for and responding to extreme events. Usually disaster response was traditionally ran by State and local governments with the Federal government performing in a support role, but after such events as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, the application of the principles to the threats need to be better tailored to meet the demands of today’s society and needs. In other words, the federal government needs to continue to build upon the foundation of disaster relief and prepare for a more significant role in the response to a cataclysmic event. Federal Government responded to 9/11 by the almost immediate creation of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorist (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, which authorized â€Å"sneak and peak† searches of homes and businesses – the act applied mostly to drug cases rather than terrorists, but the government also made other changes to some of theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Presidential Leadership During Times Of Crisis And Disaster1645 Words   |  7 Pagesthat disaster is depended on the president’s leadership capabilities. 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina were catalysts for the analysis of presidential leadership and management within the Bush Administration. This analysis brought about great criticism and failures of the United States governments sluggish response to act during a time of crisis. There are federal government policies in places for events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. To gain a clear understanding of presidential leadership, one must analyzeRead MoreIntroduction The general topic for this literature review will be an examination of the Department1600 Words   |  7 Pagessubsections of Homeland Security which will be reviewed. For purposes of defining a time period none of the literature reviewed will be prior to September 11, 2001. The reasoning for this being to examine Homeland Defense using literature pertaining to 9/11 and the Boston Marathon Bombing, and Civil Support using literature pertaining to Hurricane Katrina. The trend for this literature review topic is to discuss the benefits and shortcomings of the Department of Defense and National Guard in regards toRead MoreThe American Red Cross Is A Humanitarian Based Organization Created By Clara Barton1566 Words   |  7 Pagespublic health education. Up to date, the organization has currently 650 chapters and 36 blood drives across the United States ready to deliver assistance to any citizen in need. The Red Cross and the aftermath of 9/11 The striking of the twin towers left New York City in a chaotic scene with the remains of buildings, bodies and panic stricken people running throughout the city. These is where organizations like the Red Cross come in and serve the people and withRead MoreThe Storm Of The Hurricane Katrina1193 Words   |  5 Pages2005 the Hurricane Katrina had stuck. â€Å"When the storm made landfall, it had a Category 3 rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale–it brought sustained winds of 100–140 miles per hour–and stretched some 400 miles across.†(Hurricane Katrina.†) Katrina had destroyed the state, Louisianan is located below the city level. A known target to be floored by the Gulf Coast. â€Å"Local, state and federal -- was unprepared, uncoordinated and overwhelmed in dealing with the Hurricane Katrina disaster that devastatedRead MoreEffects Of Hurricane Katrina On Impoverished New Orleans Essay1738 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effects of Hurricane Kat rina on Impoverished New Orleans Brianna Algazali Sociology 2410 December 16, 2016 Abstract Hurricane Katrina will forever be noted in United States history as one of the worst natural disasters to hit the states. Within its wake, Hurricane Katrina left thousands of Americans dead and many more homeless with no place to call home. A vast majority of the homeless were already living in poverty in New Orleans, where Hurricane Katrina hit the hardest. People thatRead MoreDisaster Management Of The Hurricane Katrina Essay1596 Words   |  7 Pagespost we will discuss Hurricane Katrina, preparedness and Emergency management before and after the disaster. Hurricane Katrina before and after landfall in New Orleans Leaders tend to hide information from citizens, state, and federal organization always state that it is for their own good or that they withhold information because they did not wish to create panic and wanted to lessen the impact it could have on the citizens. Thereby, even before hurricane Katrina, New Orleans governor was awareRead MoreDisaster Management : Disasters And Disasters1565 Words   |  7 Pageswe will confer Hurricane Katrina, preparedness and Emergency management before and after the disaster. The danger of Hurricane Katrina before and after landfall in New Orleans Leaders tend to hide information from citizens, state, and federal organization always state that it is for their own good or that they withhold information because they did not wish to create panic or avoid and lessen the impact it could have on the citizens. Thereby, even before hurricane Katrina, New Orleans governor wasRead MoreEssay Weaknesses in America1290 Words   |  6 Pagesthe planes crashing into the World Trade Center, one question came to most peoples minds: Are we safe in the country we call home? The days went by and no one ever forgot those horrible pictures of 9/11 until a different, but just as devastating, event occurred; her name was Katrina. Hurricane Katrina ravished through New Orleans and Mississippi, leaving hundreds dead, millions without homes, and the whole city of New Orleans under water. These two catastrophes left all of America wondering, whereRead MoreUnited States Government Response to Hurricane Katrina: Where Does the Blame Belong?1645 Words à ‚  |  7 Pagesinterfere with decisions.† Many accuse the United States’ national government of minimal and slow actions taken after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, while others share the blame of this response. Local, state, and national government response will be discussed, focusing on the government’s interaction after the strike of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29th, 2005, but the failure of the local government started before this day â€Å"by allowing building and growingRead MoreEthical Issues Within the American Red Cross Essay760 Words   |  4 Pagesdisaster relief, but to receive a phone call asking â€Å"Where is the Red Cross?† from the Pentagon to activate the specialized teams in response to 9/11 left scars on the ARCs permanent record that are hard to overcome (Ferrell, Fraedrich, amp; Ferrell pg 330). On top that, four years later criticism over the massive failures of communication in Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita created additional wounds to the ARC’s reputation. Each instance further degraded the ARC’s ethical reputation to American’s as the

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Commercialising from the bottom up Onions in central Tanzania Free Essays

Key points: †¢ With minimal assistance and direction, small farmers in central Tanzania have created thriving plots of irrigated onions, marketed in Dar, other parts of Tanzania and in the region. †¢ Lack of formal credit has not prevented many farmers fertilising their crops heavily. Two villages have been able to overcome poor road access. We will write a custom essay sample on Commercialising from the bottom up: Onions in central Tanzania or any similar topic only for you Order Now †¢ Informal marketing work well enough: traders make small margins on the onions they buy and sell. †¢ Farmers are reluctant to co-operate in production or marketing; yet the irrigation depends on local water associations and these function. Government and donor roles have largely been keeping the peace, a stable macro-economy and investing in physical infrastructure — the roads, and upgrading the irrigation intakes. Provision of schools and health posts have brought services to the villages. and outcomes. Surveys of 240 households have been complemented by interviews with groups of farmers, elders and key informants. The study Since 2009, researchers from Sokoine University of Agriculture have been studying four villages in central Tanzania — see Map, where onions are grown under irrigation for sale to domestic and regional markets. Two of the villages, Ruaha and Malolo, are located close to the main Dar-Iringa highway, while the other two, Lumuma and Moswero, have much poorer access down long and difficult dirt roads. The studies are designed to understand and explain the role of commercialisation in the villages, the processes involved FAC Research Update 004 www. future-agricultures. org Research Update Box A: How things began: village history Irrigation began at Ruaha-Mbuyuni when Mohamed Nganyali, a fisherman from Iringa, moved to the village. He showed others how to use traditional intakes to raise water level in the river so that it can flow into earth canals. During that time the rainfall was enough for a typical rainfed cropping of field crops such as maize, simsim and sorghum. This intake was upgraded by government in 1963, after which people started to grow onions with seeds from neighbouring villages. As word spread, the village saw incomers seeking irrigated plots. The valley of Malolo was settled by Wasagara, later joined by Wahehe who fled the German war against chief Mkwawa in Iringa in the late C19; attracted by the water. In-migration accelerated after 1961. The irrigation intakes were upgraded in 2002, with 24 km of main canals lined: funds for the work came from Japanese aid. The first settler in Lumuma was Byalumuma who gave his name to the place and its river. Subsequently settlers have come from all over Tanzania In 1975 onion farming was boosted by extension services demonstrating improved techniques. The irrigation intakes were upgraded in 2003, thanks to Danish funding through the Agricultural Sector Development Programme. A recent memorable date is September 2008, when the first mobile phone signals arrived after installation of a local mast. Msowero was first settled by two Wakaguru and two Wasagara families who came for the chance to irrigate. The numbers rose sharply after ujamaa villagisation in 1975 which saw a school built. Its irrigation was upgraded as part of the works for Lumuma in 2003, since they draw on the same stream. Sources: Interviews with elders and other key informants What can be seen in the villages? Commercial production of onions began when farmers, shown how to do it by an ncomer in the 1960s, diverted water from the streams that flow off surrounding hills to irrigate small plots on the flood plain. Box A tells more of the history of the villages. Later farmers soon realised that onions were a profitable crop on the irrigated land and began to specialise in their cultivation. Onions are sold to traders, mainly small-scale operators who lack their own transport, who buy and bag the onions, then hire trucks to take them to Dar and Mbeya, and sometimes beyond to Zanizibar, the Comoros, and south to Malawi and Zambia. Onions are sold on spot deals to whoever arrives and offers a good price. There are plenty of traders and although farmers complain of their lack of bargaining power, the marketing chains appears competitive. Some farmers are making use of the ubiquitous mobile phones to arrange times for traders to come and collect harvests, and to check prices in distant markets. The villages have few alternatives to farming, but the onion trade has given them a living that they could not aspire to from growing food crops — see Figure A, showing returns to crops. Figure A: Returns to land and labour in the four villages, median values in US$ One surprising finding is that many of the farmers who are most engaged in irrigated onions have few or no food crops. Instead they seem to be obtaining most of their maize and other staples from neighbours who grow a surplus on rainfed fields. Surveys in rural Africa usually find farmers preferring to grow their own staples on part of their land, even when they have more profitable cash crops. Research Update 003 www. future-agricultures. org What has made the difference? Most of what has happened has come from the initiative of local farmers, linked to traders who are mainly small operators from other rural areas. It was the farmers who built rustic offtakes, diverted the water, levelled the plots and learned how to grow onions. Almost all the capital invested is local: very few farmers obtain credit, yet they apply 135–175 kg/ha of manufactured fertiliser on their plots. Almost all of them finance this from their retained earnings. At first sight, government has played a minor role. But that would be unfair. Government has ensured a stable economy where farmers can invest, innovate and market their crops. It has also built roads, maintained them. The villages have schools and health posts. When disasters have struck in the past — major droughts and floods, government has provided some relief. In one case, onion producers benefited from extension. Most interesting of all, government guided two donors, Denmark and Japan, to the villages where they funded the modernisation of the intakes. Ideal aid: the donors just helped the farmers improve on what they were already doing, without trying to tell them what to do. The irrigation systems are maintained by the farmers, through water users associations. Marketing might be improved by farmers investing in storage allowing them to extend sales to the months when onion prices rise. Use of text messages to the mobile phones could supply them with regular price updates that would help them make better decisions on selling. There are threats. Population has been rising steadily in the area, as farmers from dryland areas come looking for irrigated plots. Rents correspondingly are rising. With a heavy concentration on onions, there is always the threat of disease or a new pest that could spell disaster. Moreover, the onions are so profitable, one wonders how long before more villages take up the crop and begin to compete in the market. For the two remote villages, there is the prospect that one day the road will be improved: at the moment they are less than 40 km from district headquarters at Kilosa, but cannot drive there directly and instead have to take a circuitous route where it takes five hours to reach the Dar to Dodoma tarmac highway. The road to Kilosa has been in development plans for some years, but it has yet to be built. What are we going to look at next? Current studies are looking at the water associations. These function well enough: they have to, water supply is vital. Yet farmers do not co-operate in production, marketing or almost anything else. The question then is, when people are reluctant to co-operate, how do the water bodies work and what is the secret of their success? Next year it is intended to go back and resurvey the farmers, so that changes can be tracked through time. What might the future hold? Some scope exists to improve onion cultivation through use of certified, improved varieties instead of relying on the sometimes variable quality of local seed. Research Update 003 www. future-agricultures. org This Research Update was written by Khamaldin Mutabazi, Ntengua Mdoe Steve Wiggins of the Future Agricultures Consortium. The series editor is Beatrice Ouma. Further information about this series of Research Updates at: www. future-agricultures. org The Future Agricultures Consortium aims to encourage critical debate and policy dialogue on the future of agriculture in Africa. The Consortium is a partnership between research-based organisations across Africa and in the UK. Future Agricultures Consortium Secretariat at the University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE UK T +44 (0) 1273 915670 E info@future-agricultures. org Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce material from Future Agricultures Briefings in their own publications. In return, the Future Agricultures Consortium requests due acknowledgement and a copy of the publication. FAC appreciates the support of the UK Department for International Development (DfID) How to cite Commercialising from the bottom up: Onions in central Tanzania, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

A very cheeky lesson learned free essay sample

Lily Allen is growing up. She’s traded in her neon trainers for designer pumps and drunken stumble for a more mature, almost elegant glide, and sure, she still Twitters like a fiend and picks fights with even the most established of celebrities, but now with a slightly wiser and more placid affectation. Where 2007’s Alright, Still was a cheeky (platinum in UK), in-your-face pop gem, Allen’s latest It’s Not me, It’s You is an equally cheeky, in-your-face pop gem in a slightly less smug tune and with even a few morals stuffed between acidic bouts of verbal abuse. That’s not to say it’s an after-school special, Allen is still very much a boisterous twenty-something with a rampaging attitude and this shows on blatantly boorish songs â€Å"Not Fair† and â€Å"Never Gonna Happen†, both of which reject prospective lovers with a less than tactful approach. But she throws anti-prejudiced ideas into songs and makes quips at her own growing celebrity status â€Å"I’ll take off my clothes and it will be shameless, ‘cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous† on â€Å"The Fear†. We will write a custom essay sample on A very cheeky lesson learned or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She chides the media, condemns her and the world’s nasty habits, and contemplates death in the name of religion, but never once forgets her audience, balancing ethics with rude banter and synth-heavy pop hooks. Allen also gets personal, reconciling with her mom over Chinese takeout on â€Å"Chinese† and revealing an equally strained and loving relationship with her dad on â€Å"He Wasn’t There†. Allen abandons her dance-rock sound of Alright, Still for an eclectic mix of synth-led tunes, but none of the hooks quite stick. The electro-western kitsch of â€Å"Not Fair† seems out of place for a pop-star whose persona is based entirely on witty British-ness. Other times, good attempts are misplaced, like the Eastern-European accordion ditty meets summery breakup song, â€Å"Never Gonna Happen†, which is a bit too disjointed. Most songs have just enough dance-beat bass to get stuck in one’s head, even without being completely welcome there. Even when Allen’s uncouth jesting gets a bit too crude for a traditional palate and her tunes almost miss the mark, she cannot be denied her rightful place as reigning pop princess. Her self-created image and hand-penned songs are a genre in themselves, a genre swarming with poor Allen facsimiles, like faux-lesbian Katy Perry. They have the look, but not many tongues are planted firmly enough in cheek to compete with Ms. Lily Allen, pop-star extraordinaire.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Smithfield Food’s Vertical Integration Strategy free essay sample

What are the most important elements of Smithfield Food’s strategy? 1. They chose the food industry – in particular the red meat sector. 2. Their core business focus was on mainly pork, and beef to a lesser extent. 3. The company opted for an aggressive growth strategy which is primarily based on amongst others a geographic expansion: oThey carried out 32 acquisitions since 1981. oThey expanded into foreign markets – Smithfield made acquisitions in Canada, France, Romania and Poland. Acquired meat processors in Poland and Romania; including a hog farming operation in the latter country. . They followed a product diversification strategy, in order to grow: 5. This resulted in diversification into new product segments – they marketed chops, roasts, lions, ground pork, bacon, hams, sausages, sliced deli meats 6. Most importantly, they followed a vertical integration strategy into the pork business: oThis entailed a full or partial integration (depending on location), with operations ranging from operations in hog farming, feed mill, meat packing plants and distribution. We will write a custom essay sample on Smithfield Food’s Vertical Integration Strategy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 7. They also carried out joint ventures 8. Established joint ventures in Spain, Mexico, and China . In addition to that they sought to become a low cost provider: 10. They employed the newest technology available, their plants were efficient, their wages were low and operating costs were relatively low. The pricing was as such very competitive. â€Å"Every effort was made to reduce costs† There was a concerted effort to lower costs and push up sales. Not withstanding the company’s financial performance, this strategy has facilitated the rapid adoption of new technology, improved quality control, assured markets for the hogs and provided a steady flow of hogs for processing. This essentially created economies of scale and lowered production costs. The customers benefited as the company was able to respond to their changing preferences for quality and convenience type products. 2. Is there a moral problem with Smithfield Food’s vertical integration strategy and its resulting concentration of thousands of hog farms and several meat-packing plants within a relatively small geographic area? Is it socially responsible for a company like Smithfield Foods to pursue a rapid growth strategy when that strategy poses environmental problems and adversely affects living conditions in the communities where it operates? Should the company be proud of its business model and strategy? oNo, there is no moral problem with this strategy. Neither the vertical integration strategy nor concentration of operations in small geographic areas poses a moral dilemma. â€Å"A company’s strategy relates broadly to competitive initiatives and action plan for running the business† Hough et al (2008: 7). In a free, capitalist society, this remains the prerogative of the individual firm on how to compete, to make profit and grow the business. Against this background, the company’s strategy is an attempt to contain volatile pricing in the market by controlling the every stage of production, thereby ensure the satisfaction of consumers’ changing preferences. The case study does not make reference to unfair competitive practices, but rather the focus is on ethics and social responsibility. oThe local communities where Smithfield ran its hog farming operation complained about its imposition on them, implying lack of consultation. More importantly, there were allegations of substantial adverse effects of low wages and environmental degradation. Lack of consultation in running business operation is neither paramount nor mandatory; however allegations of environmental damage and unfair labour practices infringe laws of any democratic country. They must therefore be seen in serious light and investigated by authorities. It must be borne in mind that prior to Smithfield’s introduction of the concept of factory farming; the prices of hogs were on the decline, resulting in closure of local packing plants. Smithfield stabilized the local economy and changed the distribution of income. They saved local farms and brought jobs to this region. They also shouldered the risk of hog prices, thereby protecting the farmers. Smithfield was also able to satisfy customer demands of better products at lower prices. The local farming community showed their tacit support by their eagerness to do business with Smithfield as there was a two year long waiting list in 1998 for farmers wishing to enter into contract farming! oThe company should be proud of its business model. A business model refers to how and why the business will generate revenues, cover costs, and produce profits and a positive ROE. Annual sales in 2006 of $11 billion from $1. 5 billion in 1995 and an average compound growth rate of 24% during the decade speak volumes. However attention is required in addressing the following: †¢Concerns from the industry observers on contract farming – more specifically their â€Å"debt laden† nature †¢Allegations of unfair labour practices- low pay/ low quality, in addition the recruitment of migrant labour from Central or South America that may be open to exploitation. Allegations of detrimental environmental practices – impact of concentrated cluster of hog farms on the environment. †¢Limited purchase of feed, machinery and fuel from local sources. †¢Although, trivial the issue of the â€Å"smell† in the air Essentially this business model was able to ensure profitability and sustainability of the com pany, because economies of scale in production and marketing. 3. Does Smithfield Food’s hog raising operation in North Carolina harm anyone? Yes, the following were affected: †¢Grain Farmers Feed grains were no longer purchased locally. At times, grains were imported at lower cost from Australia and Argentina †¢Milling companies – Grain was purchased and milled in the Midwest †¢Farm equipment dealers – Local farm equipment dealers were forced to close as Smithfield purchased equipment directly from the manufacturers. †¢Local fuel dealers – Diesel fuel was purchased directly from the refineries. †¢Local truck dealers – All truck purchases were made in Detroit from national dealers. †¢Local farmers – Inability to bargain and exposure to the risk of default on contract by Smithfield should it suit them to cancel the contract. Furthermore, they could hardly negotiate the terms and conditions of the loans received from Smithfield, as the demand for contracting farming was huge, they became price takers. †¢Workers – Working conditions were hard and unpleasant. Their wages were low. High labour turnover was prevalent as a result of the stressful work environment. †¢Local store butchers – Most grocery chains opted to buy fresh meat cuts, wrapped, packaged and ready for sale from Smithfield. †¢Environment – Allegations were abound that : a. Contaminants from hog lagoons were getting into ground water b. Industry is running out of places to spread the waste c. Emission of large amounts of ammonia gas from hog farms †¢Local community a. The quality of the air declined because of the sharp, pungent odour from hog farms. b. Decline in jobs despite a rise in hog production c. Decline in property prices, perceived to be aftermath of the â€Å"new† look and smell of the countryside. d. Decline in tourism – as a result of the poor image of environment damage, more discernibly the pungent smell. 4. Who is benefited by Smithfield Foods strategy in the hog raising business? It goes without saying that, primarily, the strategy would have benefited the company, its management, employees and shareholders. This is evident in the good financial performance that resulted in the last decade. However other stakeholders also benefited: oFarmers – they were guaranteed a set price per hog hence market access or freedom from market risk. Processors paid the hog producers their full cost of production on average over time or they would have no hogs supplied to them by the farmers. Access to funding in the form of loans was readily available for capital investment on the farms. Inputs, of the right quality were in constant supply. Smithfield also offered them a free veterinarian service. This essentially resulted in the survival of over 1000 family farms. This strategy reduced the risk and managerial demands on the farmers, while increasing availability of credit. oEmployment creation – This resulted in the creation of new agricultural jobs. A typical farm employed five people. Total number of employees by Smithfield increased from 9000 in 1995 to 46 400 in 2004. oConsumers – Increasing concentration of hog raising and ultimately processing, resulted in the decrease of the marketing margins because of economies of scale, and this benefit was passed onto to the consumer as lower food prices. Local economies – Increased efficiency of labour and other resources in agriculture over time accounted for the higher standard of living. Prior to Smithfield hog raising strategy, the local economies were on the decline. oShareholders – Earnings per share increased from $0. 40 in 1995 to $2. 03 in 2004. Net income increased by almost $200 million over the same period. 5. What is your assessment of Smithfield Foods’ environmental policy (as represented in case Exhibit 3)? What evidence indicates that the policy is merely window dressing?

Monday, November 25, 2019

Building Your Email List Part 2 How to Keep Your Readers Engaged

Building Your Email List Part 2 How to Keep Your Readers Engaged Last week I gave you tips for setting up your email list, whether starting from scratch or dusting off an old one. This week we’ll talk more about what to do with that list and how to create content that will keep your readers engaged. First, if you didn’t do it last week, sign up with an email management system (EMS). (I have used   MailChimp, Constant Contact and MyEmma and recommend all three.   Hope Clark uses Aweber.) Besides managing the data, they help you comply with privacy laws Next, you need to decide, and share with your list, how often you’ll be communicating. The two big factors in determining frequency are your audience and your ability to create material. A fiction author may want to have once-a-month check-ins, while a non-fiction author may easily fill a weekly newsletter. For more frequent schedules, offer your audience the option of a â€Å"Digest Version† - once a week for daily emails, once a month for weekly. You’d much rather send them less than have them unsubscribe entirely. Exceptions to the schedule: If you have something big and exciting to share and it’s out of cycle, that’s fine, as long as these random mailings don’t become the norm. If it’s timely, send a special email. If it’s going to be just as cool when it’s time for your next email, hold on to it. probably read it. A short, hyperlinked list of blogs you’ve written recently with a summary no longer than a tweet (140 characters) is okay to draw attention to anything they may have missed. Draft your newsletter in whatever word processor you chose, then copy and paste the text into your Email Management System. Once you’ve found a layout template you like, stick to it. It’ll make formatting future emails much faster, and readers like a familiar feel. Also, try to avoid writing/formatting and sending all in one day. You’re much more likely to catch mistakes if you let the material sit for a day or two between draft and distribution. Things to consider while writing and formatting: Write a greeting and ending (it is a newsLETTER, after all.) Keep blocks of text short and to the point. Lists (bulleted or numbered) make scanning easier. Make use of formatting (bold, italics, underlining) only as appropriate. Use proper grammar/spelling/etc. and have at least one proofreader. This may seem hard for the first couple of weeks or months, but eventually you develop a rhythm. When you provide engaging content on a regular basis, your fans sh

Friday, November 22, 2019

Anti Terrorism Legislation May Infringe Human Rights

Anti Terrorism Legislation May Infringe Human Rights Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work produced by our Law Essay Writing Service . You can view samples of our professional work here . Anti Terrorism Legislation May Infringe Human Right UK Anti- terrorism legislation of the past decade has been a passionately debated topic both within the media and the legislature itself. On one hand, it is argued that any nation should indeed encompass the ability to prevent any terrorist atrocity carried out against its people even if it is at the cost of human rights infringement. On the other hand, a tax on civil liberties has often been deemed an atrocity within its own rights and the recent influx of legislation has done nothing other than help with the evolution of global terrorism.   [ 1 ]    That the horrific events of September 11th 2001 changed the face of Terrorism is not at all in doubt. It was the end of the terrorism the world once knew as guerrilla violence for political gain. The violence administered on the New York skyscrapers was an unprecedented act which prompted an unprecedented reaction. Legislation in relation to terrorism in the UK was eagerly debat ed and following the 7th July 2005 it was accepted that the UK were not immune to attack thus facilitating the new legislation into position. Though anti-terrorist legislation has long existed in the UK and, much of which, has been incorporated within the recent developments, many new offences have also emerged creating a shift in the balance of power between the public and those forces responsible for administering the new legislation. Naturally there has been a significant increase in relation to the scope of police powers. Furthermore, the ‘Intelligence Communities’   [ 2 ]   have also capitalised in the power shift, especially in relation to covert intelligence gathering. To venture further into the effects of the recent developments to the legislation, it is important to analyse the current framework. A natural point of focus would be the definition of terrorist activity. Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000 outlines terrorist activity as: â€Å"the use or thre at of action where, the action involves serious violence against a person, serious damage to property, endangers a person’s life or creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public.†Ã‚  The  Ã¢â‚¬Å"use or threat† must be â€Å"designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚   [ 3 ]    Section 2 of the same Act outlines a terrorist offender is someone who: â€Å"is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism†Ã‚   [ 4 ]    Since the face of terror has changed to cell based networks, certain organisations are listed under the 2000 Act   [ 5 ]   as terrorist organisation, a recent addition to which has been Al-Qaeeda. A recent development emerging from the new legislation is the offence of organisations ‘glorifying’ terrorism being added to the list under s. 21 Terrorism Act 2006. This is not a question of whether such a provision is an intrusion on human r ights; free speech in particular, as it obviously is but rather to what extent is such taxation justifiable. Joining or rallying support of such proscribed groups is also a punishable offence under s. 12(1) of the 2006 Act. Arranging meeting and to address meeting of proscribed groups is also punishable under ss. 12(2) and 12(3) respectively. Even clothing worn in a manner that may raise suspicion that the wearer is a member of a proscribed group may earn a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment as per s.13 of the 2006 Act.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

C & C Grocery Stores Case Analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

C & C Grocery Stores Case Analysis - Article Example Recent structure of C&C also fails to change its environment, i.e. stores that are in sub urban areas are similar to those that are present in low income areas. New systems for supply and chain management were not yet implemented in stores. The friendly and informal environment that is created by the Doug Cummins in C&C was disregarded and therefore the within stores the cooperation get worsened. For instance an issue takes place in Louisiana store between store manager and grocery merchandiser when they decide to improve Diet Coke and Coke as a featured article of merchandise sold at a loss in order to draw customers. But the cooperation among these was poor and result in lack of preparation and communication led to their unwilling to cooperate regarding where the Coke can be displayed by the store manager. These issues could be resolved by powering the store manager in order to coordinate effectively in the stores. By doing this the cooperation would increase as the store manager got the authority and power to change whatever he or she requires for the sales improvement. This power would also increase the satisfaction of the store manager and they run their store in a profitable manner, and also can get training they require for their promotion as well as improvement of store. From my perspective I believe the new structure as much effective. This structure allows distinct responsibility areas and management. However, in the previous structure the name of responsible person was hard to determine, because whenever the store fails and the store manager is blamed he only talk about the way he desire to do something but can’t do the same way he wants because of meat/produce reject that by saying that it was not for their benefit. This issue is one of the core issues of the old structure, and it is entirely eliminated in the recent

Monday, November 18, 2019

How to stop data warehousing and mining before they become more Essay - 1

How to stop data warehousing and mining before they become more trouble than they are worth - Essay Example y service, promote efficient business operations and maintain the organizational productivity, avoiding disclosure of sensitive information and fraud and complying with the legislation. It is essential that the organizations understood the major principles of secure information systems implementation. Jeff Angus (2005) clearly demonstrates that the wrong and excessive security practices do nothing but harm the work, causing losses of money, time, and human labor, without providing the security the organization wanted to reach. He explains that very often the complexity of the initiatives overcomes the efforts, while there comes a moment when people and systems simply cannot cope with it, weakening the stability of system and protection. Angus points to the major error that can be committed by an organization concerned with its security: its concentration on â€Å"what might go wrong† instead of on â€Å"how to cope with the inevitable changes to their operations and business model†. While the organization spends money, energy and time overhead, it can be undercut by the changes in the market, so that it may lack the resources as a result. Mark Miller (2005) tries to highlight the reasons of the erroneous practices taking place. To his mind, the major problem is that computer security field is building â€Å"perpetual motion machines†, without distinguishing possible and impossible goals. Permanent frustration caused by such practices leads to the perception that â€Å"true computer security is impossible†, the breeches in protection are inevitable. This, Miller warns, may result in decrease of demand for the security information systems. First of all, Miller explains, it is necessary to understand that the security issue in the pattern of commerce cooperation is â€Å"how to safely obtain the benefits of interacting with the entities you do not trust†. It is also important to realize which of numerous and various models fits the best for achieving the purposes of the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Aristotle and Meteorology Essay Example for Free

Aristotle and Meteorology Essay Introduction: Aristotle wrote about many subjects that can be grouped into five general divisions: logic, physical works, psychological works, natural history works, and philosophical works. One of the little known physical works concerned meteorology. Aristotles views on meteorology are fascinating, but many of the views were not accurate. This paper compares only a few of his views to actual meteorological facts. I. Biography A. Birth and growth B. Influence on writings II. Basis of Aristotles meteorology A. Elements and theory B. Science and facts III. Water vapor and precipitation A. Aristotles view B. Science and fact. IV. Winds A. Aristotles view B. Science and fact Conclusion: Aristotle explained the various meteorological phenomenon in simplistic terms. The explanations match his theory of how matter and shape were interrelated. Aristotles ideas on water vapor and precipitation were somewhat accurate, considering that there were no tools to measure the atmosphere in his time. His views on wind, however, were not accurate at all. He wrote extensively on winds, but never fully comprehended how wind occurred. September 5, 2000 Aristotle on Meteorology Aristotle was born in 384 BC, at Stagirus, a Greek colony on the Aegean Sea near Macedonia. In 367 BC, Aristotle entered the Academy at Athens and studied under Plato, attending his lectures for a period of twenty years. In the later years of his association with Plato and the Academy, he began to lecture on his own account, especially on the subject of rhetoric. When Plato died in 347, Aristotle and another of Platos students, Xenocrates, left Athens for Assus, and set up an academy (Encyclopedia 2). In 342, Aristotle returned to Macedonia and became the tutor to a very young Alexander the Great. He did this for the next five to seven years. Both Philip and Alexander appear to have paid Aristotle high honor. There are stories that indicate the Macedonian court supplied Aristotle with funds for teaching, and with slaves to collect specimens for his studies in natural science (Encyclopedia 4). Aristotle returned to Athens when Alexander the Great began his conquests. He found the Platonic school flourishing under Xenocrates, and Platonism the dominant philosophy of Athens (Encyclopedia 5). Aristotle thus set up his own school at a place called the Lyceum. When teaching at the Lyceum, Aristotle had a habit of walking about as he discoursed. It was because of this that his followers became known in later years as the peripatetics, meaning, to walk about (Shakian 126). For the next thirteen years, he devoted his energies to his teaching and composing his philosophical treatises. His institution integrated extensive equipment, including maps and the largest library collection in Europe. He is said to have given two kinds of lectures: the more detailed discussions in the morning for an inner circle of advanced students, and the popular discourses in the evening for the general body of lovers of knowledge. At the sudden death of Alexander in 323 BC, the pro-Macedonian government in Athens was overthrown, and a general reaction occurred against anything Macedonian. A charge of impiety was trumped up against Aristotle. To escape prosecution he fled to Chalcis in Euboea so that (Aristotle says) The Athenians might not have another opportunity of sinning against philosophy as they had already done in the person of Socrates (Encyclopedia 5). In the first year of his residence at Chalcis he complained of a stomach illness and died in 322 BC (Encyclopedia 7). One of Aristotles writings is about meteorology. His theories are based on his belief that all objects in the world are composed of form and matter and the world is arranged according to the relative standing each object occupies in the universe (Shakian 127). This basis led to his theory that any motion was from the center or to the center (Encyclopedia 28). Aristotle saw the universe as a scale lying between the two extremes: form without matter on one end, and matter without form on the other end. Additionally, he believed all matter is made of four bodies: fire, air, water, and earth (Encyclopedia 29). With this information as a basis, it is no wonder that any remaining theories would probably be incorrect. Scientific fact cannot disprove that all objects are of form and matter. Any one can agree or disagree with that philosophy. However, scientific fact does show that movement can occur in directions away from the center or toward the center. For example, solar radiation from the sun does not travel in direct lines to or from a center. Some of the radiation scatters into space. Some is reflects from the earths surface and is lost into space (Lutgens 37-43). Air molecules do not move toward or away from a center. Air particles move in an infinite number of directions due to molecule size, shape, weight and composition. Finally, Aristotles theory that matter is made of four bodies is dramatically short sighted. Air is a mixture of at least nine different components and is constantly changing in composition. Nitrogen and oxygen make up nearly 99% of the volume of dry air. Of all the components of air, carbon dioxide is the most interest to meteorologists (Lutgens 5). In all fairness, Aristotle had no way to measure or determine the exact components of the atmosphere. In book 1, part 3 of Aristotles meteorology, Aristotle describes his explanation of water vapor. His explanation describes the area between the surface of the earth and the visible portion of the Milky Way. It is important to note that he views the Milky Way as a plane or upper level surface (Aristotle, Meteorology 253). Aristotle is very close to a scientific answer when he deduced that what immediately surrounds the earth is not mere air, but a sort of vapour, and that its vaporous nature is the reason why it condenses back to water again (Aristotle, Meteorology 253). His logic is interesting when he indicates that this expanse of a body cannot be fire for then all the rest would have dried up (Aristotle Meteorology 254). In part 9, Aristotle addressed the issue of precipitation. He explained that air condensing into water becomes a cloud. Mist is what remains when a cloud condenses into water. He further explained that when water falls in small drops, it is drizzle, and when the drops are larger, it is called rain (Aristotle Meteorology 267). This is one area where Aristotle was close to accurate. One flaw is his view of the Milky Way as a flat plane. Science has shown that the Milky Way is just one of an infinite number of star galaxies. Aristotle realized water vapor existed. He also realized that the area between the earth and the heavens was not fire. What Aristotle deduced as water vapor is scientifically referred to as a parcel of air. As the air parcel rises, it cools and may condense to form a cloud (Lutgens 81). Aristotle believed the remains of water vapor that did not form a cloud was mist. Actually, what remains is just other air parcels. The energy used to condense the air molecule is released as latent heat creating a cycle of rising and sinking air molecules (Lutgens 82-83). Aristotle provided names for the size of water droplets. It is possible that Aristotle coined the names drizzle and rain. Scientifically, drizzle is defined as small droplets of less than . 5 mm. Rain is defined as droplets of . 5 mm to 5 mm (Lutgens 131). Aristotle dedicated several chapters to the theory of winds. Without scientific measurements, the cause or theory of wind was difficult to determine or explain. Aristotle compared wind to a flowing river in book 1 (Aristotle Meteorology 348). Unfortunately, Aristotle could not discern why the river of wind never dried up. Therefore, he abandoned that theory and analogy of wind and simply tried to explain rivers instead. In book two, he dedicated three more chapters to wind. Aristotle used his theory of water vapor and direct observation of something he called smoke to describe the occurrence of wind. He related the rising water vapor and the heat of the sun. This combination created wind. Rain contributed to wind development by causing calm winds after a rain (Encyclopedia 191). Wind must have been a difficult subject for Aristotle to explain, considering how much was written about the subject. The facts indicate he was close to an answer but never fully understood the concept of wind. The definition of wind is the result of horizontal differences in air pressure. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of lower pressure. It is natures method to balance inequalities of pressure. Unequal heating of the earths surface generates the pressure differences. Therefore, solar radiation is the ultimate driving force of wind (Lutgens 149). The effects Aristotle explained were often the results of the pressure changes. He realized the sun had some influence. The clam wind after a rain is an occurrence with strong thunderstorms that leave a micro scale high-pressure dome in their wake (Lutgens 153). Aristotle explained the various meteorological phenomenon in simplistic terms. The explanations match his theory of how matter and shape were interrelated. Aristotles ideas on water vapor and precipitation were somewhat accurate, considering there were no tools to measure the atmosphere in his time. His views on wind, however, were not accurate at all. He wrote extensively on winds but never fully comprehended how wind occurred Works Cited Aristotle. Great Books of the Western World. Volume 1. Chicago: Robert P. Gwinn, 1990. Aristotle. Meteorology 113 438. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Internet Address: http://classics. mit. edu/Aristotle/meteorology. 1. i. html. Translated by E. W. Webster. 27 Aug. 2000. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1-321. University of Tennessee at Martin. Internet Address: http://www. utm. edu/research/iep/a/aristotl. htm. 24 Aug. 2000. Lutgens, Frederick K. and Edward J. Tarbuck. The Atmosphere. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1992. Sahakian, William S. and Mabel Lewis Sahakian. Ideas of the Great Philosophers. New York: Barnes Noble Inc. , 1970.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Faith in Faulkners Light In August Essay -- Faulkner Light August Rel

Faith in Faulkner's Light In August Religion is a big part of the southern world that Faulkner creates in Light In August. It is also a major theme of the novel. Most characters seem to use â€Å"Lord† and â€Å"God† very often in their dialogue, which shows that religion is never forgotten by the members of this society. Light in August portrays a type of religious fundamentalism. In this fundamentalism, among the people of the south, there is only one proper way of following and implementing religion in one’s life. Characters are constantly trying to justify killing, hatred, and racism through their faith. The creation of hatred and racism is the result of each character’s belief that theirs are the only genuine beliefs and therefore, it is their responsibility to carry out the work of God in their own personal way and through their own reasoning. Two characters that are blinded by their own version of living a religious life are Mr. Hines and Mr. McEachern. I will argue that the obsession with their religion and their belief of how it should be followed is an ideology that fails each of these characters in their purpose. Consequently, the more these characters are faced by failure the more they try to embody God and take actions as if they are the Almighty Himself. Ironically, while using religion as a shield these characters fail to see their own sins. These characters see their sins instead, as the most essential and virtuous deeds and the work of God. From the moment Mr. McEachern picks up Joe Christmas from the foster home he stresses the importance of religion to Joe. While introducing himself, Mr. McEachern explains to Joe, â€Å"†¦I will have you learn soon that the two abominations are sloth and idle thinking, the... ...forced upon them. There are other types of religious extremists, like Doc Hines, who see those who do not share their faith as enemies and believe that they are a curse of God and therefore, should be eliminated through killing. These ideologies, even though seen in our world today, cannot be the definitions of faith and religion. In fact, the violence created through them defies the very basic beliefs associated with most world religions. Mr. McEachern and Doc Hines are blinded by their faith and their approach to implement religion in their lives and the lives of others is a forceful and violent one. In the end, both characters fail to spread their faith and instead their forceful teachings and extremist beliefs perpetuate more evil than good in the name of God. Works Cited Faulkner, William. Light in August. New York: Vintage International, 1990.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Brita Products Company Essay

1.To what do you contribute Brita’s success?The success of Brita in the USA market is due on the one hand to attributes of the core product and on the other hand to factors related to the market environment and successful marketing. †¢Attributes of the core productThe pitcher itself had the following benefits: it reduced chlorine and odors, it made water to taste better, it was extracting heavy metals from the water and the water was not depositing salts/sediment when boiled. †¢Market environmentInitially, there was no major concern to the consumers about filtering the tap water. However, the sensitivity that people showed about some health problems and/or accidents that rose during the decade of 1990, aided by significant publicity of these health problems, assisted Brita to easily increase brand awareness to the consumers and create a significant market. Moreover a lot of people perceived Brita filter as a present for their friends. †¢Successful marketingBrita pitcher was a technologically advanced product made from a well known German producer of industrial and consumer water filtration products, characteristics which made it attractive to Clorox who had significant marketing experience and distribution channels in the US. Clorox, which obtained the license from Brita GmbH to set up a subsidiary in USA, knows very well the specific market as it was a major manufacturer and marketer of home products with $3.9 billion dollars of sales in 1998. Clorox provided the support for Brita: capital for 4 years, the desired know how and leadership, as expressed by the insistence and personal involvement of Mr. Couric. Furthermore, Brita was the first very successful system of water filter, which created the home water purification industry. In the distribution area, Brita USA has achieved dominant position in most of the outlets and department stores in the market covering all five possible channels of distribution (Department stores, Mass merchandisers, Grocery stores, Club stores, Drug stores). Another important element that contributed to Brita’s success is the different pricing policy set according to the POS outlet. This means that the company could satisfy its consumers according to different needs and habits. Last, but probably the most successful decision was the great taste positioning concept that helped Brita to market the pitchers with a clear promotion and advertising strategy boosting its sales, as there was no other competitor with such a strong image. 2.What are Clorox’s marketing assets going forward? Can you comment on their positioning choices?Marketing assetsThe Clorox company for the first four years faced real problems to launch the pitcher in the market. After the four years the company managed to create a strong image and build strong brand equity. These assets of the Brita’s pitcher are revealed through the following facts:First of all Brita company is a strong brand name in the market of water purification system. This functions as an asset to support and boost the sales of Brita’s pitcher (or any other water purification system), as there is high degree of brand awareness. Also, by the year 1999 Clorox had created with the Brita pitcher a significant home water purification industry worth of $350 million at retail and was holding about 70% of revenue share or about $250 million, being a market leader. Furthermore there is a strong customer base who will buy new filters for the next years (80% of the buyers who have tried the pitcher were still using it a year later and they were re-buying extra filters of about 2.5 pieces per year). Furthermore, from the Lifetime Value of a Customer (LVC) analysis shown in the next question (No 3), it is obvious that filters contribute  significantly to the profitability of this product. All these details above are showing to us that the Brita company has significant assets (brand equity, loyalty, awareness, being a market leader, having a strong customer base of people who buy filters) for going forward with any clear strategy. Positioning choicesAt the beginning Brita company positioned the pitcher as a purification system providing water of unique taste. They positioned most on this benefit for 3 reasons:a) Surveys showed that taste means health, b) whole bottled water industry had been built without reference to health and c) Brita wanted to develop an unbeatable position (â€Å"be at the top of the mountain†) which would not be possible by positioning on how much of some impurity is removed. We believe that Clorox made an important decision for the promotion and advertising campaign under the idea of taste (â€Å"great tasting water†, â€Å"clear, fresh, wonderful†) because it was also consistent with the attributes of the core product (water indeed tasted better after filtration with a Brita pitcher). Brita stuck on one USP and promoting as taste as one central benefit avoiding a confused or doubtful positioning strategy which would lose the attention of the consumers. The choice that Brita did not make was focusing on health. Filters decrease health hazards by low quality tap water (even if not all dangers are eliminated). The publicity given to health problems due to water could easily serve to strengthen Brita’s position. Health is PUR’s choice for positioning their faucet mounted system, which is not quite a head-on attack, since they would attempt to occupy a different position in the mind of the consumers. 3.What is the lifetime value of a customer with a pitcher? How does it compare with that of a customer with a faucet mounted system? Does their  Ã¢â‚¬Å"bogo† promotion make sense?According to Gupta and Lehmann, Lifetime Value Of a Customer (LVOC) is:LVOC = m r/(1+i-r), where m=margin, i=cost of capital and r=retention rate. Since cost of capital is not mentioned in the case study, we assumed a value of:0% for simplification purposesand a scenario with:3% which can be considered closer to real valuesA hypothesis with cost of capital 0Under this scenario, with r=0.8 (80% yearly retention rate) and i=0, the ratio r/(1+i-r) is equal to 4. From the case study (p.18) the gross margin for the pitcher is 7,36, while gross margin for the filters is 2,05. 1a. The lifetime value of a customer with a pitcher system is the following:LVOCpitcher system= LVOC from pitcher + LVOC from filters== margin from pitcher + 4*margin of filters*2,5 filters/y==7.36+4*2.05*2.5=$27.86So, we can see that Brita is going to receive $27.86 from one customer for the lifetime period of a customer with a pitcher. 2a. At this point we examine the lifetime value of a customer with a mounted faucet in two different models:(i)Best scenario: pricing at $40 and retention at 80% (same as for pitchers)(ii)Worst scenario: pricing at $35 and retention rate of 80%Cost as mentioned in the case study is taken as $15. We have also assumed that Brita will keep on filters for faucet-mounted the same margin as in filters for pitchers. i.(40-15)=25+4*2.05*3=$49.8*LVOCfaucet=ii.(35-15)=20+1*2.05*3=$26.15*The worst scenario of the faucet production for Brita is that it is going to receive $26.15 from the lifetime value period of one consumer and the best scenario reveals that Brita is going to receive $49.8 for the same period. If we compare the worst scenario of (2aii) with 1a we see that the two amounts are close but pitcher systems have higher LVOC ( LVOCfaucet is $26.15 while current LVOCpitcher is $27.9) and in case of (2ai) there will possibly be significantly higher profits by the faucet ($49.8) in comparison with the pitcher system ($27.9). Using the lifetime values of the pitcher and faucet filter, we can conclude that if Brita is going to enter the market of faucet filters, it will receive higher margins of profits by 78% if all goes well, while even in a bad scenario it would lose 6,5% of its margin. A hypothesis with cost of capital of 3%1b.Similarly, the case when cost of capital is considered to be 3% and all other things unchanged, then our calculations will be:LVOCpitcher= 7.36+3.45*2.05*2.5=$25.04a.(40-15)=25+3.5*2.05*3=$46.52**2b.LVOCfaucet=b.(35-15)=20+0.94*2.05*3=$25.78**. As we can conclude from the above calculations the profit Brita is going to receive according to LVOC of pitcher and LVOC of faucet are close to those of the 1st hypothesis. In the best scenario there can be significant profit from the faucet. In the worst case, the faucet remains (even marginally) higher since the higher price of the faucet brings most of the benefit of the LVOC in the beginning (when the system is sold). An important element in the calculations above was the hypothesis that filters will be priced to provide the same margin of $2.05. BOGOThe amount of money Brita is going to receive it is based to the following hypothesis:†¢Retention rate would be the same as for the pitcher. †¢The consumers will use the second filter as the first, replacing filters at the same rate. †¢There was no cannibalization of the market. †¢COGS per pitcher is shown to be $7,8 at p.18 of the case study†¢Cost of capital is also taken at 0% for simplicity reasons. LVOCbogo= 4*2.05*2.5-7.80=$12.7Brita hopes to receive an extra amount of money of about $12.7 from the jag is going to give it as a present. If the conditions / hypothesis presented above are true, then the BOGO promotion did indeed make sense. Bibliography: KOTLER R. – KELLER K, MARKETING MANAGEMENT 11TH EDITION, PRENTICE HALL 2005

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Performing a Business Impact Analysis for an IT Infrastructure Essay

Overview Answer the following questions, specific to the creation and focus of Business Impact Analysis as well as BCP documentation. Lab Assessment Questions & Answers 1 What is the goal and purpose of a BIA? To identify which business units, operations, and processes are crucial to the survival of the business. 2 Why is a business impact analysis (BIA) an important first step in defining a business continuity plan (BCP)? BIA identifies what is crucial which sets the path for what will be included in the BCP. 3 How do risk management and risk assessment relate to a business impact analysis for an IT infrastructure? Risk Management/Risk Assessment identify risks/vulnerabilities to the 7 domains of an IT infrastructure. BIA is basically doing the same thing but at the entire organization level. 4 True or False – If the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) metric does not equal the Recovery Time Objective (RTO), you may potentially lose data or not have data backed-up to recover. This represents a gap in potential lost or unrecoverable data. False 5 What questions would you have for executive management prior to finalizing a BIA report? What is the Maximum Acceptable Outage of a specific server or service? What are some critical business functions? What are the recovery objectives? 6 How does a BCP help mitigate risk? Mitigates risk by ensuring the organization is better prepared for disasters. 7 What kind of risk does a BCP help mitigate? Â  It is mitigating the risk of disaster that either destroys the server or building the server is in. 8 If you have business liability insurance, asset replacement insurance, and natural disaster insurance, do you still need a BCP or DRP? Why or why not? Yes you still need a BCP/DRP as insurance will reimburse you money to help rebuild, but they cannot provide you company data and that is what is needed for survivability. 9 What does a BIA help define for a BCP? Defines what systems and services are critical to the survival of an organization. 10 Who should participate in the development of BCP within an organization? IT Personnel and top level management. 11 Why does disaster planning and disaster recovery belong in a BCP? BCP ensures that the entire business can continue to operate in the event of a disruption, this includes disaster planning and recovery as loss of systems or services affects the organization. 12 What is the purpose of having documented IT system, application, and data recovery procedures and steps? So in the event something happens IT is not scrambling to try and figure out what to do. They set clear guidelines and instructions on what to do and when. If this is not clearly documented the RTO could be impacted which will result in UNHAPPY management and possible loss of revenue. 13 Why must you include testing of the plan in your BCP? Having a BCP is great but testing it proves that it works. You would not want to be in a situation when you need to failover and it is not working and this could have been resolved prior to the actual outage if it was tested. 14 How often should you update your BCP document? This should be updated at a minimum annually, semi-annually is probably a better target to shoot for.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

An Online Degree This Coming Summer Essay Example

An Online Degree This Coming Summer Essay Example An Online Degree This Coming Summer Essay An Online Degree This Coming Summer Essay The summer months are generally a season reserved for relaxation, family trips, and perhaps the pursuit of a warm weather hobby that we have more time to enjoy. But for others, the summer months are a time in which more significant goals can be met – especially when the days are longer, and people have more energy to set out plans that can be met without the pressure of the holidays and dreaded winter blahs. For those seeking to pursue educational goals, the summer offers a perfect time to begin the pursuit of an online degree. With no need for travel, no requirement to sit in class, and the only resources needed a computer and the assigned books, students find that an online degree can be worked towards steadily during the summer when there is more time to spare. In fact, with laptop computers an ever popular possession, students are literally able to work from anywhere – logging on from the beach, from a family vacation spot, or simply from their backyard where they can they can work diligently and still enjoy the warm weather with their family and friends. The pursuit of an online degree differs from traditional degrees only in location. Online degree programs generally adhere to the same syllabus as traditional classes; the only difference is that students logon to complete assignments, required reading, and even to take tests. Many will find that the flexibility offered through online degree programs allows to them to work more productively as they are working during time periods that are most convenient for them rather than trying to fit school into an already busy schedule. Further, the summer marks the perfect time to begin the process of earning an online degree as students can take just one or two classes rather than feel it necessary to load up on classes. With online degree programs students can have their cake and eat it too – school and the warm days of summer.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Marketing Research Proposal for a Study about Determination of Coffee Essay

Marketing Research Proposal for a Study about Determination of Coffee Shop Franchisee Business in Western Australia - Essay Example The client management feels that the strategy to open franchisee stores in the upcoming suburban areas with considerable young population will be appropriate. However they are not sure whether it will do well. Other coffee bars have already come up in the said areas. However, it is too early to say whether they too will be successful. The client wants to gauge the demand for their products which is pizza and coffee with and assortment of snacks. They would like to find the demand for their brand of stores and the way people in the region perceive it. It wants to know whether enough opportunity for franchising exists in the region. To know whether there is enough possibility for the brand to open and run a new store in every area identified for the same in the next two years. Apart from the immediate demand, the client wants to know whether considerable business opportunity for a relatively sustainable span of time exists or not. Research problem As mentioned above, the client wants t o measure the demand for its franchisee stores in the identified areas. They have hired us for the purpose and expect us to present the report within a span of three months. The client problem warrants a thorough study of the market, with measurable outcomes. In order to accomplish the task, a study shall be undertaken to understand the underlying factors for current state of the demand and its future ramifications for the coffee industry in general. The Coffee chain store brands need to be subject to a comparative analysis and the competition from stand alone coffee stores needs to be gauged. A thorough analysis of the consumer trends and preferences towards coffee consumption needs to be done with respect to the locations identified by the client for the purpose. The locations shall be subject to separate inspection on measurable parameters which will eventually contribute to the measurement of the location wise demand for the client coffee and snacks store brand. The study will a lso seek to establish the possibility of enough franchisee ventures at the rate as mentioned by the client. The study will not only seek to measure the current demand for the Clients’ stores but also enough demand for future. The study will analyse the historical sales figures and consumer preferences. In combination with the survey of the consumer tastes it will try and arrive at sales projections for the next five years for each proposed store location. The projections will be categorized for different items on the Client coffee store menu and will suggest ways to maximize profits by better menu planning. Research Objectives Thus, based on the discussion of the research problem, the study will be directed at fulfilling the following salient research objectives: Measurement of current demand for coffee and snack stores in the region (O1) Measurement of current demand for client brand of stores in the locations specified by the client (O2). Measurement of the current and futu re demand for the client’s brand of stores for next five years, based on the Franchisee model in the specified locations (O3) The study shall first seek to do a contextual scan of the above objectives and will check the validity of the objectives against the Client’s research problem. The scan shall be performed with the help of the pre study feedbacks and interactions with the client

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Video of the USC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Video of the USC - Essay Example As seen in the video, the students are very responsive and assertive in contributing their knowledge and experiences to the aforementioned issues that have been the matter of a heated debate for several years. The teacher acts as a facilitator throughout the discussion. She also engages in the discussion to reiterate the need to understand these contexts. Her teaching style is relatively effective, as can be inferred from the video, since she welcomes all the points and contentions of the students. Ultimately, the issues of racism, gender and class stratification in society that affect the children are being dealt with in the video in a proper way; the teaching style can be deemed fit to address the issue and to provide an avenue for intellectual fermentation. 2. Analysis and Interpretation of the Video In its totality, the video evokes an inherent complexity about the issues of race, gender and class division in society. These issues affect the quality of education received by the s tudents. There is a structural problem in terms of implementing educational policies, since there is classification between the students and the selection of a manner of teaching can be problematic (McDermott et al 2008, p. 3). As there in attempt to make the kids realize the importance of engaging with these issues, there is a need to look at the relations of the social structures that affect the kids (McDermott et al 2008, p. 5). Is it important, and to what extent? For Rodgers, there is a need to analyze this matter, since it affects the intellectual condition and perception of the kids inside the classroom (2002, p. 231). The teacher-student relationship is considered to be very vital. This vitality is important; there is an intrinsic irony about American democracy where the person aspires to be accepted by others, yet there is dominance of racist practices despite of the attempts to eliminate them (McDermott et al 2008, p. 4). In relation to the video, the aforementioned ideas have been highlighted. The teacher tries to provide a very conducive learning environment that makes the children aware of racism, sexism and economic classification through a synthetic understanding of history and the political-economic structures that linger in society. As pointed out by McDermott et al, this manner implemented by the teacher to address the complexity of the matter shows that there is a need for reformulation of teaching methods. They must take into consideration the capacity of every student regardless of gender, race, and class (2008, p 13). This is considered a good step towards integration and understanding which will eventually abolish the racist and sexist practices that pose a detriment to the students’ learning capacity. Another positive aspect of the video is the very interactive approach that the teacher implements in making the subject matter interesting to the students. This shows a very reflective learning condition, wherein the understanding o f the students regarding the subject is based upon the input of the teacher and allows them to formulate their own approach which highlights independent thinking and critical reasoning (Rodgers 2002, p. 233). The verbal exchange between the stude

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Reflective Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Reflective Paper - Essay Example s unit, for sure, every company will not work on its optimum for the reason that HRM operates to an aim of improving the effectiveness of the company through its main resource, its people (Gospel, 2009). In order to meet the company’s goals and objectives, the human resource management takes into account a lot of domains. Above all, it should strategically plan on how all these will be met. In this strategic planning, first, the human resource needs must be taken into consideration. There are different views on the strategic aspects of human resource management. Various existing literatures have their own perspective of HRM. Likewise, many definitions of strategic human resource management exist. In 2001, Kazmi and Ahmad discussed the different approaches to strategic human resource management. According to them, definitions of strategic HRM vary depending on the particular approach. The strategic approaches to HRM are strategy-focused, decision-focused, content-focused and implementation focused. Specifically, the strategy-focused approach as considered by Beer, Spector, Lawrence, Mills and Walton (1984) claims that human resource management is strategic by its very nature. This approach greatly believes that all elements that make HRM are connected strategically. For Devanna, Fombrun and Tichy (1981), the decision-focused approach, on the one hand, are based on three decision –making levels such as operational, managerial and strategic. While for the c ontent-focused approach, Torrington and Hall (1995) stated that the strategic human resource management occurs only when there is a match between the elements of HRM and the strategy of the organization. Lastly, implementation-focused approach of strategic human resource management is when each system of HRM facilitates in the designing business strategies and of course, its implementation (Miles and Snow, 1984). However, my real learning of HRM has emerged through my personal experience as a nurse employee.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Why Was The Weimar Republic Unpopular Essay Example for Free

Why Was The Weimar Republic Unpopular Essay Why was the Weimar Republic unpopular in the years 1919-1923? Josef Wines The Weimer Republic was unpopular between the years 1919 + 1923 because of their democratic approach to government. They were not liked by the Germans because they were thought to have been ‘stabbed in the back ´ after they agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles. Some of the reasons why the Weimer Republic was disliked were that Germans believed that by signing the Treaty, Ebert’s government had betrayed Germany. The Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany was not allowed an air force, the army had to be reduced to 100,000 men only and Germany was forced to pay reparations of  £23 billon. Also Germany had to give up 10 per cent of its land; all of its overseas colonies and 16 per cent of its coal and 48 per cent of its iron industry. Signing the Treaty meant that Germany had to accept its defeat. The loss of overseas territory meant the dismantling of the German empire and the loss of Germany’s status as a superpower. The loss of colonies took away the German pride and hurt both emotionally as well as financially.Due to all these loses, the Germans got very angry and rebelled against its government. There were many groups who rebelled against the Weimer Republic but the mainones were the Spartacus League and the Kapp Putsch. The Spartacus League was a communist party which was inspired by the Russian revolution in 1917. They wanted a communist state in which everyone is equal. They were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. The Spartacists main purpose was that they wanted Germany to be ruled by the workers council or the soviets.Early in the 1919 some anti-communist ex-soldiers formed themselves into a vigilante group called the Freikrops. Soon the Sparticists and the Freikorps fought bitterly and the Sparticists leaders were murdered. Ebert’s government faced yet another problem. In March 1920 a right wing opponent had challenged Ebert. These opponents were mainly people who had grown fond of Kaiser’s dictation and wanted Germany to have a stronger and bigger empire but this was destroyed by Ebert signing the Treaty and  changing Germany into a capitalist country. Dr Wolfgang Kapp led 5000 Freikorps into Berlin known as the Kapp Putsch. Germany’s army had refused to fire at the Freikorps but soon the Weimer Republicwas saved by industrial workers of Berlin who declared a strike which meant no transport, power or water into the capital. Within a few days, Dr Wolfgang Kapp realized his defeat and left the country. In January 1923, Germany failed to make a reparations payment on time causing France to invade Ruhr. This humiliated the government, which ordered a general strike, and paid the strikers by printing more money causing hyperinflation. Also between the evening of 8th November and early afternoon on 9th November, the National Socialists German Workers Party unsuccessfully tried to seize power in Munich and Bavaria. In conclusion, I think that the Weimer Republic were unpopular between the years 1919 + 1923 mainly because of the government agreeing to sign the Treaty which instigated rebellion and caused a chain of events.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

A Comparison Of Ben Franklin And The Puritans Religion Essay

A Comparison Of Ben Franklin And The Puritans Religion Essay John Winthrop once proclaimed to the Massachusetts bay colony that we shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon usà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Therefore let us choose life (Winthrop, City Upon a Hill). Winthrop was part of a group of Protestants that separated from the Church of England in order to begin a new life of religious freedom in the New World, and they deemed that God should be central to their existence. Benjamin Franklin, however, viewed God as peripheral and did not orient his life around religion. These fundamental religious differences manifested themselves through alternate ways of thinking and living, and their opposing conceptions of God and humanity elicited specific views of government, relationships, suffering, and Scripture. The Puritans also concluded that Christ was the exclusive way to obtain salvation, and everyone who did not trust in Christ was going to hell (Wigglesworth 3). This belief about Gods exclusive offer of salvation and humans inherent sin interacted to affect their interpersonal relationships because they wanted their family and friends to be saved. Most interpersonal relationships had some spiritual focus. For example, Dane recounts that he was educated under godly parents and that my conscience was very apt to tell me of evils that I should not do (Dane 6). People also comforted each other with the promise of salvation, like when Rowlandson and her son Joseph read the Bible together during their captivity (Rowlandson 18). Franklin, however, had strikingly opposing views than the Puritans because his religion had no mark of any of the distinguishing tenets of any particular sect (Franklin 35). Therefore, in his relationships with others, virtue is the central theme, because he conclude s, the importance of virtue did not depend on Christian dogma or the rewards and punishments of the afterlife (Franklin 29). Therefore, in his interactions with people, he focuses on acting virtuously while avoiding specific tenets of religion (Franklin 35). In addition, the Puritans concluded that God intimately involved Himself in the details of human lives, while Ben Franklin believed that God existed as a peripheral figure. This belief in Gods omnipresence led the Puritans to have complex, spiritual interpretations for all events. John Danes account supports this idea in that he often credits God for good things. For example, John Dane returned some lost gold he had found, and credited Gods goodness in then giving me restraining grace to preserve me from such a temptation (Dane 7). He also sees something as small as a wasp stinging his thumb as a chastening from God, and he proclaims that, God had found me out (Dane 9). Since the Puritans believed that God was omnipresent in every aspect of their lives, their interpretations of even small occurrences had considerable spiritual meaning, and it was up to them to interpret these occurrences correctly. Contrary to these views, Franklin was a thorough deist in that he thought God was very separate and detached from human lives (Franklin 26). He did not believe in the Bible or in the Christian God (Franklin 25), so he voiced that humans were responsible for directing their own lives and improving their circumstances (Franklin 37). He exerts a confidence in his control over his own life by using phrases such as I would conquer, I conceived, I considered, and my circumstances (Franklin 32). He does not used the Bible to guide his decisions, and he does not interpret events as if God was somehow involved, which is very different than how the Puritans lived. These differences in their fundamental beliefs about God led to antithetic techniques for interpreting life circumstances. Also, The Puritans idea that sin led humans astray and needed Gods discipline interacted to affect their perception of hardship (Rowlandson 20). In comparison, Ben Franklin posited that pain and pleasure existed in equal proportion in the world and was not controlled by God (Franklin 27). This idea caused them to attribute difficult circumstances to independent (outside their control) variables, such as God dispensing hardship. Therefore the Puritans often rejoiced in the midst of difficulty because it meant that God still cared about them. Mary Rowlandson exclaims at one point in her narrative that when she saw others under many trials and afflictionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I should sometimes be jealous (Rowlandson 20). Rowlandson was thankful for the Indian raid, because Hebrews 6 says that Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. The way that Rowlandson interprets events in her life coincides with the hopeful way that the Puritans approached hardship, and it reflected their core spiritual belie fs. Ben Franklin, on the other hand, believed that pain and pleasure happened in equal proportion during a persons life, and states in his dissertation that this uneasinessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦produces desire to be freed from it, great in exact proportion to the uneasiness (Franklin 27). Franklin is proposing that pain is just a natural part of life, and is dispelled by actively seeking pleasure, because pleasure is the satisfactionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦which is caused by the accomplishment of our desires, and those desires beingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦caused by pain (Franklin 27). The inerrancy of Scripture was another integral tenet of the Puritans religion that diverged from Franklins beliefs. The Puritans thought that the sinful nature misguided humans and that they needed the Bible to show them the truth, and these views interacted to produce total trust in the Scripture for guidance. Mary Rowlandson often peppers her account with Scriptures that she deems appropriate for a situation. In Marys extreme suffering, she refreshes herself with passages from the Psalms recounting God helping his people in their time of need (Rowlandson 18). Another example of this is when Dane decides to depart to the New World when he tells his father, if where I opened my Bible there met with anything either to encourage or discourage that should settle me (Dane 11). These accounts exemplify the way in which the Puritans viewed Scripture relative to their lives. Franklin, however, regarded the Bible as mostly fables (Franklin 26), and did not recognize it as a divine authority . His opinion about the Bible produced skepticism toward the Scriptures that the Puritans lacked. As a young boy he found the Scripture disputed in the different books I readà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and I began to doubt of Revelation itself (Franklin 25). As a result, he dismissed the bible as divine and instead used the stories about Jesus as a moral guide (Franklin 33). In conclusion, the Puritans Christianity differed significantly from Ben Franklins deism. The colonists conducted all manners of affairs with regard to the religious implications it would have, and all of their decisions were made in light of the faith that was central to their existence. Unlike the Puritans, Ben Franklins philosophy of God and humanity was deistic in nature, and he had a much more hopeful outlook on humanity because he thought that they were capable of living morally without the Christian God. The Puritans and Franklins worldviews shaped their thinking in early colonial New England, and their alternate views resulted in divergent interpretations of the world at large.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Internet Pornography :: Essays Papers

Since the internet is so easy, accessible and essentially unregulated, it leaves room for many controversies, including electronic commerce, credit card fraud, invasion of privacy and more. One of the most controversial problems is internet pornography. Imagine receiving unwanted e-mail and suddenly get sent nude pictures of people and links which invite you to more of what they have already shown. Think about your son, daughter or even yourself being on a music site and you accidentally click a link and before you now it you are being subjected to hard core pornography. It just became apparent that pornography on the net not only encompasses controversies about pornography itself, but also all the other controversies and problems the internet already has. Sex has always been something which has intrigued people, and that is probably in essence how pornography became to be. As society developed in the 21st Century red-light districts flourished which centralized anything which had to do with sex in one geographic location. As sex and pornography became a more and more pertinent issue, the supreme court ruled in 1976 that cities could use their zoning powers to keep out sex-oriented businesses, and that more or less was the end of red-light districts in America. Nowadays with the Internet coming along as a more widespread medium the issue of pornography resurfaces and along with it, it carries many other disputes. One of the main controversies about pornography on the web is if it should be permitted in first place, since it is morally wrong to some people, and because it allows adolescents to access pornography, both willingly and unwillingly. Since there are no specific laws for the internet, a simple disclaimer is the only barrier between a user and X-rated material, in addition some pornographic sites have addresses which are similar to popular sites, such as www.whitehouse.gov (the real site) and www.whitehouse.com (the porn site), causing people to be lured to their sites through a simple misunderstanding or even a minute typing error. Before one can come to a consensus about what is right, there has to be found a way to enforce any laws, which would be written for the Internet. This aspect is so critical, because otherwise any laws would be in vain.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Importance of Being Educated

I believe that Early Childhood centres should create a positive environment where children are more stimulated, happy, comfortable and safe from harm. Where learning is more meaningful and children can be extended. I believe that children learn in a holistic way through play. They learn by being actively involved. The process of a child's work is important not just the results. They learn through stages at their own pace. The adults role in children's learning is to provide scaffolding for the child's endeavours, supports and connections, that are removed and replaced when and where they are needed. Adults need to provide a developmentally appropriate programme to cater for all children. There is a need to plan for each child based on their own interests, strengths and needs. The curriculum planning should be based on the principles of Te Whaariki and the knowledge that all children are individuals. I feel that there is a need for Early Childhood Educators to work in partnership with parents/caregivers and Whaanau. This is an essential part of providing the best possible opportunities for children to reach their fullest potential. I recognise that parent/caregivers and Whaanau are the major sources for this knowledge. Which is a very valuable resource for teachers. Therefore there must be a good relationship between centre staff and parents to provide a strong connection and consistency among all aspects of the child's world. I believe that the uniqueness of each child should be valued. To apply the principle of fairness to all practices within the centre and to avoid discrimination as the basis of culture, gender, disability, religion or class. I feel that all children have the right to attend a centre. I am committed to providing an environment in which every child is enriched by the dual cultures of the treaty partners. I recognise that we are becoming a multicultural society and realise the importance of understanding the diversity that this brings to Early Childhood Education. I believe that Te Reo Maori should be actively included into the centres programme. It is important as an Early Childhood Educator to work as a team member, where each member is encouraged to utilise their own individual skills. There needs to be open and honest communication between staff members to create on effective team. It is also necessary for staff to have common goals and work together to achieve them. I feel that the management of children's behaviour must be fair and consistent. Teachers and adults must model and promote peaceful conflict resolution methods to enable children to learn and deal with conflict in an appropriate way. I also believe that the development of self-esteem by positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviour is important to safeguard the rights and emotional development of every child at the centre. I believe that it is necessary for teachers to be involved in a continuing process of professional development to keep in touch with the changes that are constantly effecting the Early Childhood Education field. The Importance of Being Educated I believe that Early Childhood centres should create a positive environment where children are more stimulated, happy, comfortable and safe from harm. Where learning is more meaningful and children can be extended. I believe that children learn in a holistic way through play. They learn by being actively involved. The process of a child's work is important not just the results. They learn through stages at their own pace. The adults role in children's learning is to provide scaffolding for the child's endeavours, supports and connections, that are removed and replaced when and where they are needed. Adults need to provide a developmentally appropriate programme to cater for all children. There is a need to plan for each child based on their own interests, strengths and needs. The curriculum planning should be based on the principles of Te Whaariki and the knowledge that all children are individuals. I feel that there is a need for Early Childhood Educators to work in partnership with parents/caregivers and Whaanau. This is an essential part of providing the best possible opportunities for children to reach their fullest potential. I recognise that parent/caregivers and Whaanau are the major sources for this knowledge. Which is a very valuable resource for teachers. Therefore there must be a good relationship between centre staff and parents to provide a strong connection and consistency among all aspects of the child's world. I believe that the uniqueness of each child should be valued. To apply the principle of fairness to all practices within the centre and to avoid discrimination as the basis of culture, gender, disability, religion or class. I feel that all children have the right to attend a centre. I am committed to providing an environment in which every child is enriched by the dual cultures of the treaty partners. I recognise that we are becoming a multicultural society and realise the importance of understanding the diversity that this brings to Early Childhood Education. I believe that Te Reo Maori should be actively included into the centres programme. It is important as an Early Childhood Educator to work as a team member, where each member is encouraged to utilise their own individual skills. There needs to be open and honest communication between staff members to create on effective team. It is also necessary for staff to have common goals and work together to achieve them. I feel that the management of children's behaviour must be fair and consistent. Teachers and adults must model and promote peaceful conflict resolution methods to enable children to learn and deal with conflict in an appropriate way. I also believe that the development of self-esteem by positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviour is important to safeguard the rights and emotional development of every child at the centre. I believe that it is necessary for teachers to be involved in a continuing process of professional development to keep in touch with the changes that are constantly effecting the Early Childhood Education field.