“Storyteller” by Liz Lochhead

Liz Lochhead's poem â€Å"Storyteller† talks about a woman who worked on a shelter or orphanage for kids. Her formal work was to wash the dishes, cook and clean, but her really work, what mattered about her, was telling stories. In the first stanza Lochhead describes the situation before the woman started telling the story, when she â€Å"sat down at the† table in the already cleaned up room. Stanza number two the audience listening to the stories; none of them â€Å"could say the stories were useless†, this is because they were not. Living in conditions were you have to be with kids that are alone, miss their parents or never had them, and having to deal with them and their possible frequent questions that are not easy to answer, the hunger, the tiredness, is not easy, so when they listen to the stories, they forget about all that stuff and imagine in their head a whole different world. The people listening to the story are presented as a whole, not as individuals, so this gives the reader the idea that there is a lot of people there working. Also because it says: â€Å"five or forty fingers stitched†, this may suggest something uncountable. Stanza three says what people thought about her: they did not care whether â€Å"her soup† was â€Å"tasty† or not, or how good she â€Å"swept† the â€Å"kitchen†, that was not important. What was important were the stories she told, and how she told them. Because it is not only the story itself what mattered, it seems that she had a special talent to tell them, because even though workers â€Å"knew† â€Å"the ending† â€Å"by heart† they were still excited when the moment came. The last stanza describes what happens while she is telling the story and when it finishes. They built â€Å"the fire†, â€Å"peasant's feet† were looking for their â€Å"clogs†, and finally they went to rest. The poem is full of literary resources most of them alliterations spread all over the text. These alliterations are not only words together starting with the same sound, but in the whole of a stanza the same sound is repeated. For example in the first one, the â€Å"s† sound is very present: â€Å"she sat†, â€Å"scoured†, â€Å"swept†. Also in the third line of the second stanza there is an alliteration beginning with â€Å"f†: â€Å"five or forty fingers†. All these resources make the reading easier and faster. It may suggest how the story flows. Other devices are used, not only alliteration, also enjambments, onomatopoeic sounds like â€Å"tongue clacked†, and a metaphor too. This metaphor compares the workers with bats; bats are wonderful animals that are awake at night and sleep â€Å"upside down†. The metaphor is introduced in the second half of the last stanza that says they â€Å"hug themselves upside down† â€Å"till they flew† (like bats). The structure of the poem is completely irregular and has no rhyme. It consists of four stanzas, none of them have the same amount of lines, but the first two are shorter than the others. This may be the way the story she is telling is being told. It starts introducing the main ideas and then can not be controlled.

The Princess fairytales

â€Å"How have I become who I am today? † This is a question that adults ponder on a daily basis. There is a large amount of resources such as authoritative figures, books and experiences, which can influence your character. There is however, an important force that contributes to a human’s characteristics today- fairytales. Fairytales are fanciful tale of legendary deeds and creatures, usually intended for children. What is not known though is what effect a fairytale has on a person today. Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment, reveals a revelation on the enormous value of fairytales. In order to support Bettelheim’s theories the fairytales The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, The Mouse Princess and The Seventh Father of the House have been analyzed. Theories similar to Bettelheim’s by psychologists Sigmund Freud, Renee Hall and Jack Zipes are used to describe the meanings and importance of these fairytales. Characters representation in these fairytales support psychologists' theories such as those in Bruno Bettelheim's The Uses of Enchantment that suggest that fairytales have an influence on children through the principles of reality versus pleasure principle, self discovery and approach to problems. Representation of characters in the fairytales Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid and The Mouse Princess, support psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Sigmund Freud's theories that suggest fairytales contribute to progress in a child through recognition of pleasure to the reality of life. Bruno Bettelheim develops the concept of the moral conscience first explored by Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud's theories says, † The commands of the moral conscience come from the personal perception and appropriation of values which we discover in the stories or examples of persons we want to be like†. SG1) Freud means to say that our thoughts come from our perceptions of stories or persons that we wish to be like. Bettelheim builds on this theory, and further explains, † Identification with [characters] teaches that there are developments-possibilities of progress from the pleasure principle to the reality principle†. (UE43) Bettelheim means that fairytales can help a c hild realize the difference between pleasure and reality, through the solutions characters find to their problems. For example, in the fairytale The Princess and the Frog, the main character Tiana is characterized as a girl who wishes upon an Evening Star. Tiana therefore finds pleasure in believing that her dreams can come true by wishing on the star. Reality is shown to Tiana by her father though, when he says, † †¦ that old star can only take you part of the way, you've got to help it along with some hard work of your own. † (P&F8) From this fairytale, a child can learn that success takes work and dedication, and that one must not believe in success coming instantly. Another fairytale where the reality versus pleasure principle can be shown is The Little Mermaid. Like Tiana, the little mermaid is a character who seeks pleasure in dreams of transforming from mermaid to human. The mermaid's reality though, shows in the excerpt that says, † A two-edged sword seemed to thrust itself through her delicate body; she fainted, and lay as though dead. † (LM61) Children can learn that in reality, a sacrifice, big or small, sometimes has to be made in order to achieve your goals in life. In the story The Mouse Princess, pleasure is shown by the Prince's brothers when they choose beauty in order to find success. Reality is shown to the brothers though, when the authors says,† Indeed, there was little to choose between them for looks and arrogance. (MP206/207) The Prince's brothers find that their wives were not adequate enough. A child gets the message from this fairytale that there are consequences when one does not search for quality in order to gain their desires in life. CONCLUSION The character's representation in the fairytales Princess and the Frog, The Seventh Father of the House, and The Little Mermaid, support the theories of psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Megge Hill Fitz-Randolph which suggest that fairytales contribute to a child's progression through the process of self- discovery. In The Uses of Enchantment, Bettelheim states, â€Å"Children are searching for the solutions†¦ â€Å"Who am I? How ought I to deal with life's problems? â€Å"†¦ the fairytale has a consistent structure with a definite beginning and a plot that moves toward a satisfying solution which is reached at the end. † (UE47/57) Bettelheim explains that fairytales provide answers to important questions that children begin to question when their lives begin. The answers that they obtain help to shape the child's process of thought, leading him to discover his capabilities. The structure provided in the fairytale in turn gives the child a guideline to follow. A child identifies with the structures and characters, which both help the child understand why the child feels and thinks the way he or she does. Psychologist Megge Hill Fitz-Randolph, in her article entitled, Fairytales as Guide to Self Understanding, she says, â€Å"Due largely due to the work of Carl Jung, Marion Woodman, Joseph Campbell and others fairy tales along with myths have become a satisfying and surprising way to get a larger view of oneself†¦ Becoming one's authentic self or Individuation is always the endgame of the fairy tale’s journey. † (MR1) Randolph simply states that through reading and understanding fairytales, one can find themselves by the end of the story. The process of self discovery is shown in the fairytale The Princess and the Frog, when Tiana is faced with the problem of being magically turned into a frog. Tiana finds herself when the story states, â€Å"There was something special about her. She knew that my daddy taught me well. He always knew what was important. â€Å"(PF54) Throughout the story, Tiana finds that her strength is staying focused to the task that she had originally planned to succeed at, which was having her own restaurant. From this experience, a child learns that there may be extraordinary problems that one may encounter, but at the end of the trial, one will always learn something about himself. In the fairytale The Seventh Father of the House, the traveller discovers that he has the drive to follow through with his plans to find a place to stay. The traveller must ask seven men in order to find a place to stay. By the end of the process, the traveller finally asks,† Good Evening Father! Will you put me up for the night? † (7F14) By the end stage of this fairytale, the traveller has learnt that he indeed has the drive to follow through on plans, even though he had to go through many men in order to get to where he has ended. From this ordeal, a child learns that in order to find yourself, or what you are good at, you must never give up. The process of self discovery can finally be seen in the fairytale The Little Mermaid. The mermaid almost lost her life in an attempt to figure out what she truly wanted in her life. In a turn of events, the fairytale states, â€Å"The knife quivered in her hand-then she flung it far out in the waves; she looked at the prince, she threw herself from the ship into the sea, where she felt her body dissolving into foam. † (LM68) The mermaid thought she knew what she wanted, then realized that the suffering she had gone through was not worth her dream. A child can learn that one has to go through ordeals, big or small, and some may even suffer in the hopes of finally becoming the person he would like to be. CONCLUSION A character's representation in the fairytales The Princess and the Frog, The Mouse Princess and The Seventh Father of the House support psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Jack Zipes theories that suggest fairytales contribute to the development of a child through the concept of the correct approach to problem solving. In The Uses of Enchantment, Bettelheim states that, † †¦ too many parents want their children's mind to function as their own do.. f he becomes more able to understand others, and eventually can relate to them in ways which are mutually satisfying and meaningful. â€Å"(UE1) This means that fairytales can help a child's mind function in a manner that is understanding to them and give the child proper problem solving skills that would be essential to them for the future. Jack Zipes analysis o f problem solving through fairytales can be found in his work entitled, Why Fairytales Stick, Zipes says, † fairy tales were designed to communicate ideas about natural instinct, social relations, normative behaviour, character types†¦ (JZ99). Zipes suggests that a fairytale was meant to serve the function of helping to solve problems, therefore shadowing the beliefs of Bettelheim. In the fairytale The Princess and the Frog, when Tiana turns into a frog, the reader is introduced to an unrealistic situation, but still a process where problem solving tactics are involved. Tiana was able to solve her problems by asking questions and making sure she received answers that would help her solve the dilemma. A child can learn the important skill of problem solving from Tiana by following in her footsteps and asking for help from the right person in order to solve a problem. In the fairytale The Seventh Father of the House, problems arise between the Prince and his brothers. The story says, â€Å"But the Countess and the Duke's daughter glared haughtily at one another over their bridegrooms' heads, all their past friendship forgotten in their present rivalry. † (MP215) The Prince was able to successfully find a bride through this hard work and perseverance. The Prince was able to solve his problem and gain positive aspects when he earned his father's crown, and earning the resentment of his lazy brothers. This story teaches children that without the correct problem solving skills, the result of the task will be negative. Similarly to Tiana, the traveller in The Seventh Father of the House was able to analyze the situation that he was put in, and ask a multitude of questions to several people, and finally able to find a healthy solution to his task- finding a place to stay. â€Å"How have I become who I am today? † This is a question that adults ponder on a daily basis. There is a large amount of resources such as authoritative figures, books and experiences, which can influence your character. There is however, an important force that contributes to a human’s characteristics today- fairytales. Fairytales are fanciful tale of legendary deeds and creatures, usually intended for children. What is not known though is what effect a fairytale has on a person today. Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment, reveals a revelation on the enormous value of fairytales. In order to support Bettelheim’s theories the fairytales The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, The Mouse Princess and The Seventh Father of the House have been analyzed. Theories similar to Bettelheim’s by psychologists Sigmund Freud, Renee Hall and Jack Zipes are used to describe the meanings and importance of these fairytales. Characters representation in these fairytales support psychologists' theories such as those in Bruno Bettelheim's The Uses of Enchantment that suggest that fairytales have an influence on children through the principles of reality versus pleasure principle, self discovery and approach to problems. Representation of characters in the fairytales Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid and The Mouse Princess, support psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Sigmund Freud's theories that suggest fairytales contribute to progress in a child through recognition of pleasure to the reality of life. Bruno Bettelheim develops the concept of the moral conscience first explored by Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud's theories says, † The commands of the moral conscience come from the personal perception and appropriation of values which we discover in the stories or examples of persons we want to be like†. SG1) Freud means to say that our thoughts come from our perceptions of stories or persons that we wish to be like. Bettelheim builds on this theory, and further explains, † Identification with [characters] teaches that there are developments-possibilities of progress from the pleasure principle to the reality principle†. (UE43) Bettelheim means that fairytales can help a c hild realize the difference between pleasure and reality, through the solutions characters find to their problems. For example, in the fairytale The Princess and the Frog, the main character Tiana is characterized as a girl who wishes upon an Evening Star. Tiana therefore finds pleasure in believing that her dreams can come true by wishing on the star. Reality is shown to Tiana by her father though, when he says, † †¦ that old star can only take you part of the way, you've got to help it along with some hard work of your own. † (P&F8) From this fairytale, a child can learn that success takes work and dedication, and that one must not believe in success coming instantly. Another fairytale where the reality versus pleasure principle can be shown is The Little Mermaid. Like Tiana, the little mermaid is a character who seeks pleasure in dreams of transforming from mermaid to human. The mermaid's reality though, shows in the excerpt that says, † A two-edged sword seemed to thrust itself through her delicate body; she fainted, and lay as though dead. † (LM61) Children can learn that in reality, a sacrifice, big or small, sometimes has to be made in order to achieve your goals in life. In the story The Mouse Princess, pleasure is shown by the Prince's brothers when they choose beauty in order to find success. Reality is shown to the brothers though, when the authors says,† Indeed, there was little to choose between them for looks and arrogance. (MP206/207) The Prince's brothers find that their wives were not adequate enough. A child gets the message from this fairytale that there are consequences when one does not search for quality in order to gain their desires in life. CONCLUSION The character's representation in the fairytales Princess and the Frog, The Seventh Father of the House, and The Little Mermaid, support the theories of psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Megge Hill Fitz-Randolph which suggest that fairytales contribute to a child's progression through the process of self- discovery. In The Uses of Enchantment, Bettelheim states, â€Å"Children are searching for the solutions†¦ â€Å"Who am I? How ought I to deal with life's problems? â€Å"†¦ the fairytale has a consistent structure with a definite beginning and a plot that moves toward a satisfying solution which is reached at the end. † (UE47/57) Bettelheim explains that fairytales provide answers to important questions that children begin to question when their lives begin. The answers that they obtain help to shape the child's process of thought, leading him to discover his capabilities. The structure provided in the fairytale in turn gives the child a guideline to follow. A child identifies with the structures and characters, which both help the child understand why the child feels and thinks the way he or she does. Psychologist Megge Hill Fitz-Randolph, in her article entitled, Fairytales as Guide to Self Understanding, she says, â€Å"Due largely due to the work of Carl Jung, Marion Woodman, Joseph Campbell and others fairy tales along with myths have become a satisfying and surprising way to get a larger view of oneself†¦ Becoming one's authentic self or Individuation is always the endgame of the fairy tale’s journey. † (MR1) Randolph simply states that through reading and understanding fairytales, one can find themselves by the end of the story. The process of self discovery is shown in the fairytale The Princess and the Frog, when Tiana is faced with the problem of being magically turned into a frog. Tiana finds herself when the story states, â€Å"There was something special about her. She knew that my daddy taught me well. He always knew what was important. â€Å"(PF54) Throughout the story, Tiana finds that her strength is staying focused to the task that she had originally planned to succeed at, which was having her own restaurant. From this experience, a child learns that there may be extraordinary problems that one may encounter, but at the end of the trial, one will always learn something about himself. In the fairytale The Seventh Father of the House, the traveller discovers that he has the drive to follow through with his plans to find a place to stay. The traveller must ask seven men in order to find a place to stay. By the end of the process, the traveller finally asks,† Good Evening Father! Will you put me up for the night? † (7F14) By the end stage of this fairytale, the traveller has learnt that he indeed has the drive to follow through on plans, even though he had to go through many men in order to get to where he has ended. From this ordeal, a child learns that in order to find yourself, or what you are good at, you must never give up. The process of self discovery can finally be seen in the fairytale The Little Mermaid. The mermaid almost lost her life in an attempt to figure out what she truly wanted in her life. In a turn of events, the fairytale states, â€Å"The knife quivered in her hand-then she flung it far out in the waves; she looked at the prince, she threw herself from the ship into the sea, where she felt her body dissolving into foam. † (LM68) The mermaid thought she knew what she wanted, then realized that the suffering she had gone through was not worth her dream. A child can learn that one has to go through ordeals, big or small, and some may even suffer in the hopes of finally becoming the person he would like to be. CONCLUSION A character's representation in the fairytales The Princess and the Frog, The Mouse Princess and The Seventh Father of the House support psychologists Bruno Bettelheim and Jack Zipes theories that suggest fairytales contribute to the development of a child through the concept of the correct approach to problem solving. In The Uses of Enchantment, Bettelheim states that, † †¦ too many parents want their children's mind to function as their own do.. f he becomes more able to understand others, and eventually can relate to them in ways which are mutually satisfying and meaningful. â€Å"(UE1) This means that fairytales can help a child's mind function in a manner that is understanding to them and give the child proper problem solving skills that would be essential to them for the future. Jack Zipes analysis o f problem solving through fairytales can be found in his work entitled, Why Fairytales Stick, Zipes says, † fairy tales were designed to communicate ideas about natural instinct, social relations, normative behaviour, character types†¦ (JZ99). Zipes suggests that a fairytale was meant to serve the function of helping to solve problems, therefore shadowing the beliefs of Bettelheim. In the fairytale The Princess and the Frog, when Tiana turns into a frog, the reader is introduced to an unrealistic situation, but still a process where problem solving tactics are involved. Tiana was able to solve her problems by asking questions and making sure she received answers that would help her solve the dilemma. A child can learn the important skill of problem solving from Tiana by following in her footsteps and asking for help from the right person in order to solve a problem. In the fairytale The Seventh Father of the House, problems arise between the Prince and his brothers. The story says, â€Å"But the Countess and the Duke's daughter glared haughtily at one another over their bridegrooms' heads, all their past friendship forgotten in their present rivalry. † (MP215) The Prince was able to successfully find a bride through this hard work and perseverance. The Prince was able to solve his problem and gain positive aspects when he earned his father's crown, and earning the resentment of his lazy brothers. This story teaches children that without the correct problem solving skills, the result of the task will be negative. Similarly to Tiana, the traveller in The Seventh Father of the House was able to analyze the situation that he was put in, and ask a multitude of questions to several people, and finally able to find a healthy solution to his task- finding a place to stay.

Attitudes Against Homosexual Women in Rural Areas

Attitudes Against Homosexual Women in Rural Areas Issues in Sexuality Coming out and living as lesbians and gay men in regional and rural areas (Peer-Reviewed) Hypothesis The attitudes and perspectives about homosexuality in Western society have undergone through periods of both tolerance/acceptance as well as periods in which gay men and lesbians were looked down upon or even prosecuted. This paper tests the hypothesis that the negative attitudes against women are exacerbated in rural areas (Gottschalk., 2008). Data collection The study was mainly conducted through questionnaires and interviews. Profile of Group Researched The respondents in the study were recruited at random from lesbian and gay social groups. However, since a concise demographic profile of the gay men and lesbian population did not exist in some regions in Victoria, this research cannot claim to be representative to all homosexual persons in this region (Gottschalk., 2008). Table 1 Age of Respondents at time of study Women Men Age n = 55 % n = 40 % Less than 20 2 3.6 5 12.9 20 to 24 7 12.6 7 17.9 25 to 34 14 25.4 9 23.1 35 to 44 22 40.2 16 41.0 45 to 54 8 14.6 0 0 55 or older 2 3.6 2 5.1 Missing value 1 Results Table 2 The age of first realization of same-sex attraction Age Women % Men % Less than 10 16.4 23.1 10 to 14 29.1 35.9 15 to 19 29.1 33.3 20 to 24 3.6 0 25 to 34 12.7 5.1 35 to 44 5.5 2.6 45 to 54 3.6 0 55 or older 0 0 According to the table 2 above, it was found that while more women than men formed their sexual identity during the adult stages, more men than women identified themselves as homosexuals at a younger age. Table 3 Marital Status Women Men Marital status n = 55 % n = 40 % Never married 28 50.9 32 82.1 Currently married 4 7.3 4 10.2 previously married 23 41.8 3 7.7 Missing value 1 It was found that 41.8% of lesbians had been married previously compared to 7.7% of men. Table 4: Current Relationship status Women Men    n % N=39 % Not in a relationship at present 20 36.4 23 59.0 In a relationship with a woman 34 61.8 0 0 In a relationship with a man 1 1.8 16 41.0 The study found that 61.8% of women were currently in a relationship as compared to only 41% of men. It was also found that findi ng partners in rural areas was more difficult compared to urban areas (Gottschalk., 2008). Interpretation and conclusion The study shows that both young people as well as those who form their homosexual identities during adulthood do so in a stigmatized social environment. It confirms that gay men and lesbians in rural regions face more challenges as compared to those living in urban areas. The respondents in the study agree that what is deemed as absence of services and support in rural areas has made embracing a gay or lesbian lifestyle more difficult. This is due to the higher rate of hostility, discrimination, and social stigma combined with negative stereotypes (Gottschalk., 2008). Homophobic? Maybe You are Gay (Popular Media) Hypothesis In an article published by the New York Times in April 2012, the question is raised as to why public figures so often in the frontline of anti-gay rights campaigns are found in same-sex partner scandals. The article generally proposes that when homosexual urges are repressed due to fear or shame, these urges can manifest themselves as homophobia. This process is known as ‘reaction formation.’ This refers to the fight with one’s external environment against feelings that have been inwardly repressed. The articles hypothesis is quite compelling, even offering an example Ted Haggard, a well-known evangelist who advocated against homosexuality and termed it a sin. During his apology speech for his involvement in homosexuality he admitted that he advocated so strongly against homosexuality so fiercely partially due to his struggle with it (Ryan & Ryan, 2012).

The United Nations mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global Essay

The United Nations mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global community - Essay Example UNFICYP was initially developed by the Security Council in 1964 to avoid further hostility between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot population1. After the conflicts of 1974, the Council commanded the Force to execute certain supplementary functions. Without a political agreement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP has stayed on the island to supervise armistice lines, preserve a buffer zone, embark on humanitarian activities as well as sustain the proper offices mission of the Secretary-General. Subsequent to the 1974 Greek Cypriot overthrow and the Turkish offensive of Cyprus, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expanded and enlarged the mission to avert the dispute spinning into war, and UNFICYP was dispatched to patrol the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus and support in the maintenance of the armed status quo. Since its founding, the force has further worked in conjunction with the special envoy of the Secretary-General and diplomats of the two communities to inquire about an amicable discreet solution to the Cyprus row. Primarily, UNFICYP consisted of armed and civilian groups drawn from Finland, Sweden, Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom and Canada, though over its long history the force has been the theme of various UNSC declarations and restructurings, and currently encompasses contingents from Hungary, Croatia, Argentina, Peru, Italy, Australia, Slovakia, Montenegro, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, El Salvador Netherlands, India, Canada, Ireland, United King dom, and Ukraine. This paper evaluates the Cyprus problem from the perspective of the UN mission and its mandate on the island. At the heart of the discussion is the argument that the UN mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global community as a way of resolving the problem. In essence, the increasing hostility between the two warring communities - Greek and Turkish Cypriots- after independence in the 1960 was escalating, and the

The Crucible Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Crucible - Essay Example The plot involves a series of accusations about people participating in witchcraft. Reverend John Hale, an expert in witchcraft, is called from a neighboring town, to investigate the unnatural events that have recently been reported in Salem. Many people accused of witchcraft end up in court and are hanged for their supposed involvement in unnatural activities. The scenes reveal that many of those who undergo trial for involving in witchcraft are in fact innocent people accused by others for personal reasons. The Crucible features many prominent characters among them John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, Ann Putman, Thomas Putnam, Giles Corey, Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, Thomas Danforth, and John Hathorne. John Proctor (Husband to Elizabeth), a humble famer, had an affaire with Abigail at the time she was working for the Proctor family as a house help. Abigail a great liar wishes to see Elizabeth dead in the belief that upon Elizabeth’s death she would be married to John (Grade Saver par. 3). In a private conversation, Abigail reveals to John Proctor that the entire witchcraft saga was a hoax. Abigail accuses Elizabeth of attempting to murder her as she feels a needle-stab while she is eating. This she does knowing fully well that Mary had made a poppet and given it to Elizabeth as a gift with a needle stuck to it. It is based on the needle and the poppet that she accuses Elizabeth. In court, Proctor denounces Abigail’s claims stating that she is a liar an d a whore. As a result of Abigail’s lies Proctor is hang, Elizabeth is imprisoned awaiting her hanging after delivering her unborn child, and Rebecca Nurse is scheduled to face the gallows. The setting of the plot is Salem, at a time when accusations of being involved in witchcraft could draw the death penalty. The author is keen enough to involve create characters with different traits so as to be able to develop a captivating plot. In the Crucible, if

International trade Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International trade - Assignment Example With due consideration to the various assumptions made by John Miller in his article, the discussion henceforth will intend to discuss the impact of the then working condition towards the development of the nations. Therefore, the evaluation of the arguments will consider the theories of Mercantilism, Liberalism and Marxism to define the actual notion presented through the article in relation to labour and economic development. Discussion Position of the Article in the Wider Debates in International Political Economy The phenomenon considered in the article concentrates on the Anti-Sweatshop movement held during the 1990s by young students, especially in American and European industrial regions. The sole concern behind this movement was to mitigate the violation of labour rules in respect of wages, child labour practices and safety measures along with health related issues (United States General Accounting Office, 1988). In this context, the term ‘Sweatshop’ is referred as the working conditions or rather environment where labours need to work for extra hours on a regular basis following rules which apparently disregard human values in relation to the minimum wage rate, or minimum working hours (Arnold & Hartman, 2010). The article further presents a view on the positive role of low wages for the labours working in Sweatshop which can be understood with reference to the Liberal approach of international trade theory. The two most apparent assumptions considered under this theory can be identified in terms that liberalisation denotes a massive inclusion of the government in deliberating the rules and policies concerning employment. This further exhibits the significance of freedom to be enjoyed by labourers through human rights and the role of free markets in the overall development of the economy (Slaughter, 1995). Emphasising on the liberal economic theory, the discussion of the article tends to elaborate on the economists’ view in favour o f the imposition of legal codes to ensure that every factory abodes by the policies which in turn guide the ‘freedom of human rights’. The article further elaborates on the fact that the employees of factories should be treated with equality and liberty in their workplaces with the aid of proper safety and healthcare measures in order to mitigate the conflicts arising and thereby ensuring better economic growth. As connoted by Miller (2003), â€Å"What to do about sweatshops? This is not a difficult question for most main-stream economists to answer. Just enforce law, they say† (pp. 131). However, on the contrary, the discussion in the article also deliberated that a certain degree of freedom was enjoyed by the labourers by willingly opting for such hard works to earn a relatively better pay than that offered by other sectors. The discussed theories of the article also states the economists’ views about the overall labour market development so as to improv e economic conditions which can be illustrated with the help of Mercantilism approach to international trade. The Mercantilism approach attempts to pay major attention to the significance

The Value of SWOT in General and Regarding Planning Case Study

The Value of SWOT in General and Regarding Planning - Case Study Example SWOT is essential in the planning stage of any management or marketing implement because it defines the internal and external environment of which the plan will be based. The efficacy of a plan depends on the accuracy of the assessment of the environment of which it will be applied as defined in the SWOT. SWOT provides a reality check in the execution stage of any management or marketing implement. It fine tunes the execution as SWOT considers the new realities in the internal and external factor of the organization. a) The extent to which the foregoing listed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are generic, ie. insofar as product and service providers are concerned? SWOT can be generic in terms of the internal assessment (strength and weakness) in terms of assessing the competency of its people. It is usually expressed in general terms such as â€Å"we have very talented people to execute the task†. In the weakness aspect, factors such as ailing equipment that ca n no longer perform the task adequately are expressed in general terms. With regard to external factors, competition is typically expressed in general terms in the threat aspect of SWOT. Assessment of opportunity in SWOT can be expressed in general in terms of growth of companies if they will be successful in the identified market. b)What SWOT considerations would you delete, change categorically, or add, if you were in the sports shoe industry and wished to be known as a socially responsible producer? The threat factor would be removed in the SWOT in order to be known as a socially responsible producer of shoes. It is because the competition must be ruled out in the consciousness of the business that compels it to compromise social responsibility in exchange for competitiveness.

Business Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Business Report - Essay Example There are restrictions on disposals of securities and sales are on hold for the lock-in periods that differ but are for long periods. Provisions and specific conditions have been examined for US, Australian and Indian markets and a comparative study reveals a common thread running between them base of stable politics, liberal economic outlook and good legal systems. There are some differences but of local nature due to unequal maturity. Financial Markets all over the world have been formed to enable companies to raise capital for their needs and to allow investors to invest in companies of their choice. Advanced Financial markets have expanded on this simple premise that has expanded with time and maturity. The concept of an investor today does not mean just the individuals who have wealth that they would like to invest. Indeed the individual investor today stands marginalized with the emergence of Institutional Investors No doubt these Institutions are themselves comprised of a huge number of individual investors, who invest in them by choice (Mutual Funds) or by law (Pension Funds). But the control of their money does not lie in the hands of the individual but in the hands of the few who are chosen as directors. Raising capital now requires a different approach. Earlier the companies had to woo the individuals to attract them to their issues. Now they have to attract the big investors as the amount of capital required is also getting to be huge. The companies want to play it safe by ensuring that a large amount of their capital needs are covered by private placements prior to their going for a public issue. One of the primary roles of the Stock Exchange Authorities is to safeguard the interest of the investing public. Although rules may differ from one country to another, the common feature is that they require a very comprehensive disclosure from the companies on their financial information. They are asked not only to

The Constructivist Approach in International Relations Essay

The Constructivist Approach in International Relations - Essay Example The paper tells that the constructivists have over and over questioned the rationale behind the self-centred notion of rationalism. In place of this, Constructivism has favoured some form of social ontology. Its proponents believe that human beings are social actors, and as such can never live away from the society’s power to shape their actions, so that they can conform to certain forms of behaviour. However, Wendt admits that, since constructivism is unable to provide international relations with â€Å"a clear test of their predictive power...† and without a clear theory to help in assessing domestic politics, it cannot, therefore, solely in studying international relations. It needs a backing from some other theories of international relations. Therefore, my paper seeks to critically assess the strengths and shortcomings of the constructivist approach in International Relations. In doing this, the paper will give a brief discussion on how constructivism has come to b e one of the major theoretical approaches of IR. It will also look at the strengths and weaknesses of constructivism. Moreover, it will give a comparison between constructivism and neorealism. The works of various constructivists will be visited to shed more light on the topic. These constructivists include Martha Finnemore, Alexander Wendt, Thomas Risse, and Peter Katzenstein. Today constructivism is actually one of the main theories of International Relations. It is built on the premise that almost all important features of global politics owe their existence to some given social circumstances and events in history. The theory strongly refutes the claim that international politics are controlled by intentional human actions that can never be controlled. It also does not agree with the notion that international politics is controlled by the uncontrollable nature of the same. The intention of constructivism to look at international relations as a result of social construction makes the theory clearly distinct from the traditional approaches to not only realism but also liberalism. There is a lot of emphasis on the human nature of humans as being an outcome of the relations we have with others. We are who we are today because of the social relations. As such, the argument here is that it is our social relations that construct us. However, the same world cannot exist without human beings since it is what it is because of the social relations. Therefore, as the world controls us, we equally control the world. Both humans and the world make each other (Zehfuss 2002, p.4). Constructivism’s importance in international relations is clearly brought out in the claim that the most important debate, now or in future, is that â€Å"between rationalists and constructivists.† Another factor that makes constructivism an important tool in the study of international relations is the fact that it occupies â€Å"the middle ground between rationalism and more radic al approaches, often called reflectivist or relativist†

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 17

Case Study Example The other cause was the statement by the apprentices that they never felt that they were learning anything and were preparing to leave. The apprentices did not do any meaningful work apart from chopping and cutting things, sweeping and mopping the floor. The other reason is that Hank, the banquet chef failed to meet with her and discuss her work schedule as had been promised. The action proved the statements from the other apprentices. The leadership and the management of Shady Lane Inn played a big role in the negative perception of Marietta concerning the company in various ways. First, they did not follow the training schedule and did not review the apprentices journals. The management did not supervise the apprentices as seen when Hank left Marietta with the others and arrived very rate. The leaders are not trustworthy from the way they do not review their apprentices work as they promised, which make them stay there longer than anticipated. The management of the company also lacks honesty, a fact displayed when Hank forces Marietta to have a positive attitude towards the company for her to stay longer. The steps that were necessary for Marietta to have a positive attitude are good supervision for instance Hank should have given her work himself instead of leaving her in the hands of the other apprentices. The apprentices should have explained to Marietta on the method to slice the onions instead of waiting until she was half way. Hank should have made an effort to meet Marietta as promised to create a good relationship and a sense of commitment. Shady Lane Company should do a number of things to avoid creating a negative attitude to the future apprentices by employing responsible managers for supervisory work. The top leaders should always make a follow-up ensure that the other managers are doing their work perfectly. The company management should analyse the apprentices views and their feelings about the company and

Organic Food Industry Analysis Essay Example for Free

Organic Food Industry Analysis Essay The organic products industry has shown consistent growth over the last 25 years, growing 3,400% (Flynn, 2014). The organic industry earned $35 billion in 2014 up from $1 billion in 1990 (Flynn, 2014). Credited with being the primary market force drivers, food safety and health concerns have been driving the industry since the end of the 2009 recession. This research paper examines the organic products industry and identifies how supply and demand affects future prices of organic products. ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 3 Organic Industry Analysis This paper provides a succinct market analysis of the organic food and product industry. The paper provides background and description of the organic product market. The paper examines U. S. and global market trends of the organic food and product industry by examining demand and supply for organic products. This paper identifies key box store retailers and describes their roles in driving the organic food industry. Analyzing various studies from the USDA and its Economic Research Section (ERS) identified the driving market forces behind the popularity of the organic foods and products, which are the improvement of health and reduction of pesticides from individual diets. The purpose of this paper is to identify market trends and the driving forces behind the global organic food and product market. The driving forces behind the organic food market are health conscious millennials and new mothers who want to reduce chemicals from their diet. Background and Description The term organic has been the topic of controversy for academics and business leaders since the 1940s. The controversy involves several sub-topics such as lack of international standards for organics, cross contamination of organic products during transport, genetically modified organisms (GMO), chemicals and pesticides, and costs to produce organic goods. The definition of organic is: made or grown without the use of artificial chemicals (Organic, 2015). The premise of organic food is not new; however, the creation of national standards has objectively standardized what may be considered an organic product. As the global population grows, the demand for food has caused farmers to increase efficacy and reduce crop waste; however, the methodology utilized to preserve crops may be more of a detriment to human health resulting in the higher demand for uncontaminated food sources and products. ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 4 Demand The organic food market was supply driven for many years; however, demand now drives the organic market (Dimitri Oberholtzer, 2009, p. 10). The demand for organic products is increasing every year as people use marginal analysis to justify the higher expense for organic products: Do the benefits out weight the costs? Consumer mistrust in conventional food producers, who add harmful dyes, trans-fats, and high fructose corn syrups to products, is another variable driving the organics market. Environmentalists are also another market force mechanism contributing to the demand for organic products because organic farming reduces environmental pollution. The emergence of organic food is directly linked to an amalgam of food safety and health concerns, which directly relate to ingestion of chemicals used to grow, treat, and preserve foods. The organic food industry has shown consistent global growth over the last two decades and is projected to continue to grow until 2018 (Research and markets adds report: United States organic food market report 2013-2018, 2014). The organic food market has grown 3,400 % in the last 25 years (Flynn, 2014). Organics are divided into several categories such as, fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, and packaged organic products. In 2014 annual organic food sales, mainly fruits and vegetables, reached $35 billion, $290 billion if packaged products are included, up from $1 billion in 1990s (Flynn, 2014). The United States and Europe have the highest demand for organic products compared to other nations (Lohr, n. d. p. 68). Identifying potential organic product consumers is a challenge, but some market research has shown consumers who choose to purchase organic products are generally well educated, millennials, higher income families, and households with children (Dimitri Oberholtzer, 2009, ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 5 p. 4-5). The United States consumes approximately 44% of the global organics market followed by Europe at 41% (Aggarwal, 2014 p. 3). The remaining countries that contribute to the consumption and export of organic foods may have difficulty in exporting goods due to individual national standards and export acts (Aggarwal, 2014 p. 3). Demand for organic products is not central to one part of the world; many countries and cultures realize the importance of consuming foods free of harmful chemicals. Supply Demand has grown for organic products; however, there is a shortage of organic farming land, which may negatively impact supply. The organic industry is constrained by its supply chain; there are only so many farms to produce organic goods and organic goods can only be shipped so far. According to the 2012 U. S. Census of Agriculture, there are now around 17,000 organic farms in the U. S. out of an estimated 2. 1 million total farms; acreage used for organic agriculture accounts for just 0. 6 percent of all U. S. farmland, while organic food sales make up over 4 percent of the total annual food sales. (Young, 2014) The organic farm shortage is an important variable to the organic industry because consumers who tend to purchase organic products generally want to support local farmers in a grass roots type of movement; excluding climate specific food such as, bananas, coffee, limes, and pineapples (Greene, 2013). Contributing to the supply shortage in the United States are strict national standards set in place by the USDA and strict requirements for potential farmers looking to transition into the organic industry. Also contributing to the shortage in organic food and ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 6 products are large box retail stores, such as Whole Food Markets, Wal-Mart, Tesco, and Target. Wal-Mart is the United States’ largest grocer and is competing for organic goods to remain competitive against its competitors, such as Target, which has made agreements with organic producers to supply products for its stores (Hopkinson, 2014). Partnering with organic companies, large retail box stores have created their own brands of organic products to reduce costs associated with providing customers a wide range of product choice. Price Changes Due to Supply and Demand: Historically, organic food is more expensive than conventional food (Dimitri Oberholtzer, 2009, p. 5). Organic food prices come with a premium due to costs involved in growing and harvesting crops. Prices are set through the suppliers because the organic standards restrict the certification of potential farmers. The certification process slows down potential farmers entering the industry, which reduces the number of producers available to farm the produce and make products. The reduction in organic products available reduces supply and increases demand. Market shelf placements of organic foods are fetching premiums and farmers are realizing the advantages of entering the market. As demand rises for organic products, the current producers are not able to sustain sufficient crop production compared to industry growth. In any competitive market, when demand rises so does opportunity. Due to the premium prices associated with producing products in the organic industry, many farmers may potentially conform to industry standards and convert their farms. The potential for commercial organic farms may also increase due to the undeniable growth of the industry. As more competition enters the organic industry, prices will drop. Large retail box stores, such as Whole Food Markets, Wal-Mart, Tesco, and Target may also have a significant effect on the price of organic ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 7 foods and products. Wal-Mart’s expansion into the organic market has the capability to reduce organic food prices alone due to the numbers of stores across the nation. In conclusion, the undeniable growth in the organic industry is a product of consumer mistrust of conventional growers, mainly due to toxic chemicals used in the production of food. The growth of the organic food industry is directly related to food safety and health conscious consumers who do not mind spending more money to consume uncontaminated products. Consumer demand has been the driving force of much of the organic industry since the end of the recession in 2009. The high consumer demand for organic food is part of an initiative from well-educated people, millennials, higher income families, and households with children, resulting in a 3,400% in the last 25 years creating a $35 billion industry (Flynn, 2014). With the high demand for organic goods, suppliers are unable to maintain sustainable level operations due to lack of organic farmland. Many of the problems associated with the organic food industry are centered on strict certifications that are necessary to maintain product integrity; the stringent certifications are creating supply shortages. The strict organic standards hinder potential farmers from entering into the organic industry. For example, farmers must be pesticide free for at least three years before being certified to produce organic food. Large retail box stores are recognizing the growth of the organic food industry and are currently adding more products annually, but even so, demand exceeds supplies. As the organic food industry continues to grow, prices for organic goods should reduce due to the increased competition in the market. ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 8. References Aggarwal, P. (2014). Supply chain management of locally grown organic food: A leap toward sustainable development. Retrieved from http://www. cognizant. com/InsightsWhitepapers/Supply-Chain-Management-of-Locally- grown-Organic-Food-A-Leap-Toward-Sustainable-Development-codex928. pd Dimitri, C. , Oberholtzer, L. (2009). Marketing U. S. organic foods recent trends from farms to consumers. USDA, Economic Research Service, (58). Retrieved from http://www. ers. usda.gov/media/185272/eib58_1_. pdf Flynn, D. (2014). Report: Organic industry achieved 25 years of fast growth through fear and deception, Food Safety News. Retrieved from, http://www. foodsafetynews. com/2014/04/report-fast-growing-organics-industry-is- intentionally-deceptive/#. VL0ILWd0xjo Greene, C. (2013). Growth patterns in the U. S. organic industry. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/1518534011? accountid=35796 Hopkinson, J. (2014). Will Wal-Mart gobble up organic food supply? Retrieved from http://www. politico. com/story/2014/04/walmart-organic-food-105631. html Lohr, L. (n.d. ). Factors affecting international demand and trade in organic food products. USDA, Economic Research Service. Retrieved from http://www. ers. usda. gov/media/293617/wrs011j_1_. pdf ORGANIC INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 9 Organic. (2015). In Merriam-Webster. com. Retrieved from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/organic Research and markets adds report: United States organic food market report 2013-2018. (2014). Manufacturing Close Up, Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/1498350288? accountid=35796 Young, T. (2014). Organic check-off. Retrieved from https://ota. com/organic-check.

Violent video game Essay Example for Free

Violent video game Essay Violent video games are successfully marketed to youth and are easily obtained regardless of age and easily obtained by children and adolescents. Violent video games become top best sellers because violent video games are popular with male and female children, adolescent, and adults. Even the U. S. government sees through this point; they have created and distribute the violent game like America’s Army to youth without checking the ages of which whom can download this game from the internet or can be obtained from recruiting offices. The main factor studies of violent video games that conclude with a general discussion of several key issues, including: developmental issues, game effect on children, average time child spend playing video game, beneficial environmental effects, and bias towards violent video games. Video games have become a ubiquitous form of entertainment in the United Stated; they are behind only television in popularity. Video game first emerged in the 1970s, but it was during the 1990s, that violent games truly came of age. Starting in the late 1980s, video game producers experimented with what the public would accept in video games. Gradually it became clear that games sold better if the contained more violence, such as: a fighting game one-on-one like Double Dragon, Mortal Combat, or Street Fighter games became all time best sellers (Anderson 6). The second most popular from entertainment after television, video games have rapidly became the largest segment of the entertainment industry, taking in 6. 3 dollars to 8. 8 billion dollars in 1998, compared with 5. 2 billion dollars in Hollywood box office receipts. For now, video game can be played at home on a computer or a television, which more option choice to become top market in America (Espejo 9). For that reason, the violence in video games is cause for concern. Numerous studies have found a correlation between violent video games and increased aggression in children. In addition, several popular video games may be teaching children how to kill by simulating the techniques used to train soldiers for combat. The skills acquired from these games are tragically evident in recent school shootings perpetrated by teens who were heavy users of video games (Espejo 9). Therefore, the Federal Court of Appeals decided to ban the sell or rental the violent video games to minors. According to Kenny Knudson, twelve years old boy, said even the government or his parent did not allow him to rent or buy violent video games, but he would properly find it at his friend’s house (â€Å"Violent Video Games and Kids Ruling. ). To protect children from violence, parents should carefully consider a suitable rating game for their children. If parents and rating systems do not prevent these games from falling into the wrong hands then banning them is a step that needs to be taken. Video games can have both positive and negative impacts on children. According to Douglas A. Centie, the video games have both positive and negative effect on children and that parents need to be aware of each. The positive effect from games on children is highly motivating. Video games are natural teachers, and they provide repeated practice for skillful play. Video games have been shown to teach children the attitudes, skills, and behaviors that they were designed to teach. They also can have negative effect. According research by Centie, time spent playing video games has negative correlation with academic performance. Playing violent games has a positive correlation with antisocial and aggressive behavior. Content analyses show that a majority of games contain some violence. A majority of fourth to eighth-grade children prefer violent games (Hamilton 24-25). Parents need to set limits on the time their children spend playing games and make sure the content of games is suitable for the child. The average time children spend playing video games has been increasing since 1980. In the mid-1980s, children averaged about four hours a week playing video games, and in early 1990s, the average amount was still fairly low. In result, girls spent time about two hours of home play per week, and about four hours of home play per week for boys. By the mid 1990s, home use had increased for fourth-grade girls to 4. 5 hours per week, and to 7. 1 hours per week for fourth-grade boys. This same sample of fourth-graders reported that most of their favorite video games were violent. According to recent national surveys of parents, school-age children devote about seven hours per week playing video games. In a recent survey of over six-hundred eighth and ninth- grade students, children averaged nine hours per week of playing video game by averaging thirteen hours for boys and five hours per week for girls, and it seems to be increasing every year (Anderson 7). It became clear that both boys and girls are spending more time with video games. Video games are highly beneficial because they give children a unique interactive learning environment and far from harmful. The interactive element of video games benefits children because it imparts the fundamental thinking skills needed for creativity and problem solving. Playing video games is inherently similar to interactive activities such as chess or playing the piano except that video games are stigmatization of video games ultimately discourages children from learning (Espejo 53). David Deutsch believes games are far from harmful, he asked, â€Å"Why do so many adults hate them? What evidence is there that there is anything bad about them? (Espejo 54)† Violent video games have the correlations between video games and violent behavior can be explained by being attracted from violent entertainment. According to Ron Wilburn, he believes video game violence is harmless fantasy, and it is not a main factor in youth violence. Children raised in households where they are treated with respect are able to differentiate between fantasy and reality (Biscontini). In the following, Christopher J. Ferguson argues that violent video games do not cause people to be violent. According to his research, there is no good evidence linking violent video games with aggression, violent behavior or any other key word of â€Å"harm. † He consistently found that violent games are not related to violent criminal behaviors or aggression. Frequent players of violent video games are no more likely to commit violent crimes that non-gamers (Hamilton). In addition, if video games do cause juvenile to be violent, then violent crime should be more increased as youth play violent video games, but the rate for juvenile violent crimes has fallen 49. 3 percent between 1995 and 2008, while video game sales have became top in the same period(Video Games ProCon. org. ). Parents need to be involved with their children; it is good for he or she to think and learn to understand and teach his or her children to avoid and not to follow evil side that come with the game’s story. Violent video games have been blamed for school shootings, increases in bullying, and violence towards women. There are two example incidents in Japan that people put the blame on games when it came to violent action. Reported by BBC news in June 2008, Tomohiro Kato, a twenty-five years old guy, drove a large white van on the side of the road at a busy intersection in the Akihabara district of Tokyo, and he went after the crowd and tried to kill them. The second incident, at the same year in January, a sixteen years old boy attacked five people with kitchen knives. Two people injured from the attacking in a Tokyo shopping street. Reports say it is still a little early to say what provoked the attack, but the police point these incidents might be caused from imitation to action games because both of them like playing video game (Hogg). Does game really become a conclusion for violent action status? There is some limited evidence that explicit discussions with children and adolescents about the harmful effects of media violence and the inappropriateness of aggressive and violent solutions to interpersonal conflicts, and practice at thinking about potential nonviolent solutions to conflict, all guided by parents or other adult authority figures, might reduce the harmful effects of exposure to media violence. Furthermore, parents who merely play violent video game with their children are likely to make matter worse, rather than better. Additionally, suppose children are for some reason unhappy with their daily’s life. Playing video games is something they never get from real life. It is not the video game that is doing them harm, it is that they have been funneled down a blind alley and not let out. The thing to do is to let them out by not stealing his last remaining source of joy and learning. Parents should offer them something which they might prefer, try conversation, try anything; if that does not work, do not blame the video game. Be thankful that there is still something good in the children’s life, to tide them over. However, parents or guardians are responsible for knowing if their children are able to handle violent video games without resorting to violence in reality. Parents should use the right power to lead their children play the right rating video game because video game play can and does have effects of both positive and negative attitudes and behaviors. Works Cited Anderson, Craig Alan, Douglas A. Gentile, and Katherine E. Buckley. Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print. Biscontini, Tracey Vasil. Youth Violence. Greenhaven Press: Detroit, 2007. Print. Haugen, David M. Video Games. Detroit: Greenhaven/Thomson Gale, 2008. Print. Espejo, Roman. Video Games. Greenhaven Press: San Diego, 2003. Print. Hamilton, Jill. Video Games. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2011. Print. Video Games ProCon. org. Video Games ProCon. org. ProCon. org. 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2012. . â€Å"Violent Video Games and Kids Ruling. Consumer Watch. KSBW. 9 Feb. 2009. Television. Hogg, Chris. Bewilderment in Tokyo after Attack. BBC News. 6 Aug. 2008. Web. 5 Apr. 2012.

Analysis of New Dawn Drilling Company

Analysis of New Dawn Drilling Company New Dawn Drilling (NDD) is a company focused on identifying, acquiring and exploring gold and platinum deposits. It is also a major player in underground drilling operations on South African land. The company currently has its operation spread over 6 towns in South Africa. This report is produced by carrying out investigative business analysis on NDD and its external environment to determine company position and ability to survive in the competitive mining sector of SA. The analysis will help in developing a long term strategic plan to improve the business of the NDD Company. The good reputation that NDD has developed in the market is used to develop a business strategy to make it a brand for drilling operations and developing a niche market for its drilling operations. The role of an information system in a business and how it can be used to coordinate the paper work, development process and efficient working of the regional offices is evaluated. Use case, activity and class diagrams are techniques used for modeling the information system. The assumptions made can be used to interpret the system in a number of different ways. 1.1 Introduction to Strategic Analysis tools NDD can use several TPI can use several analysis techniques to discover the potency of its business model, while examining the attributes of the business environment in which it operates. The techniques discussed below include SWOT, PESTEL and Porters Five Forces. SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis SWOT analysis is a business tool used to evaluate the companys position in the market and its ability to survive. It helps to predict the capability of the organization. The strengths and weaknesses deal with the internal facts and factors of the business. The opportunities and threats deal with the external factors of the organization. Exploiting the right opportunity and safeguarding against the analyzed threats can set a company apart from their competition. PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, and Technological) The PESTEL analyses are used to scan the external environment. The Pestle analysis factors are out of the businesses control as they are always subject to change. Still, they have a significant affect they have on companys performance. They help the businesses to take a pro-active approach and be ahead of these changes instead of hastily changing the products and processes. (Robert Mark Brown) Porters Five forces Porters 5 Forces can be best described by the following figure: Fig: Schematic diagram of Porters 5 forces. (Robert Mark Brown) They are used determine the, expected level of competitive intensity (Grà ¼nig and Kà ¼hn, 2008, chap 11.1). They analysis help to detect which are the dominant forces which can control the business. Using Porters five forces concurrently with SWOT analysis will add more depth to the analysis (Mind tools, 2010) 1.2 PESTle Analysis: PESTLE Analysis factors How does it affect NDD Potential Impact: Importance Political: 1.There is an increasing black unionism which has caused a significant change in South African politics leading to reforms in legislation. 2. The Government has employed policy reforms which allow foreign direct investment in Africa resulting in transfer of new technologies for exploration and drilling services, skills and production methods for efficient use of the mineral resource. 3. The government has introduced ABET (Adult basic education and Training) to improve the skills and literacy of the people. 4.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) is been continuously updated by implementing more stringent rules making it more difficult for companies to adhere to them. (Rapidbi,2010) Employees of NDD are benefitted. NDD can contact foreign companies for partnerships. More skilled labour to hire from. Additional costs might have to be incurred Medium Medium Low High Important Critical Unknown Critical Economic 1. South Africa is in a recession leading to low long term interest rates. The economic crisis had led to reduced tariff, taxes and fiscal deficit. 2. The production of many big mining companies was halted due to accidents on site owing to reduced activity on the mining front. The gold and other prices also dropped owing to reduced growth. 3.Global recession has weakened the rand has led to South Africa becoming a competitive place to perform drilling operations for mining industry.(Robert Mark Brown) 4.The mining employers are investing and spending less as the banks have reduced the lending tightened their budgets because banks are controlling lending more strictly. 5. Presently, the drilling, exploration and any mining company for that matter has been faced to spend the 5 to 10% of their payroll in the skill and development programmes required for their perspective operations.(Rapidbi.,2010) Capital crunch Less Business to do. Increased rivalry Cant borrow Money for expansion. Reduced profits High High High Medium Medium Important Unknown Critical Important Important Socio-cultural 1.South African mining sector has lower levels of skilled employees than other sectors in the economy. But still they have strong mining culture which helps them produce new ideas. 2. South Africa has a large presence of HIV/Aids epidemic and is high amongst young SA population. The mining sector is the deeply hit industry as the labor required by them is mostly young as the work required is physically taxing and dangerous. 3.NDD has to keep in mind that when they expand their business locally or internationally they have to consider the local preferred way of living and doing things. 4.South Africa has growing ethnic, cultural and gender diversity leading to new opportunities as well as challenges.(Rapidbi,2010) Labour with Strong mining background. Deal with discrimination which is bound to happen. Carrying out extensive research of demographic where they enter. Management Challenges Medium High High Medium Important Critical Important Critical Technological 1. Alternative cheaper and inexpensive sample retrieval techniques other than diamond drilling can be used ex.RVC Drilling 2. The implementation of information systems to the mining companies has helped them to mine site production reporting and accounting. It also helps them to calculate their raw material requirements and helps in creating wok purchase orders. 3. South Africa has a huge science base invested in improving Mining operations. They are continuously pushing the boundaries to automate most of the processes involved. It would help the companies to reduce labor cost. 4. The lack of investment in Research and innovation in the Mining sector has generally contributed to lower levels of operational productivity compared to its strong global competitors like China and Australia.(Robert Mark Brown) Considerably reduce operation costs. Help manage Paper work efficiently. This can help reduce the labour costs Due to this NDD cannot compete with the inter-national local big players High High High Medium Critical Important Unknown Unknown 1.3 Porters Five Forces: Threat of New Entry It is unlikely that there is a threat of new entry as the capital required to set up a business similar to NDD is quite high. This can only be afforded by companies with huge balance sheets and strong set of contacts. The industry is highly regulated which makes it difficult to enter. Few, but not all, exploration and drilling companies have established co-operation with mining companies to remain in business and these contracts are not easily awarded Competitive Rivalry: There are 25 local competitors of which few have thrice the turnover of NDD. This shows that NDD is a small/medium player in a saturated market. As the South African rand has weakened the mining operation have been slowed down resulting in increased competition to land the existing few projects. and will not be able to benefit from the economies of scale of the larger mining sector. Some local rivals have partnerships and acquisitions with the larger mining groups based locally or internationally. The companies cannot win the contracts by keeping their prices low as the cost of materials is going to increase due to recession. Bargaining power of Buyer: The negotiation strength of the customers is high because, for example, a gold mining company will try to merge with its larger counterpart involved in gold, diamond, platinum, etc and this may offer us to have a larger share of the market. Though switching from one buyer to another is difficult NDD can be able to exercise its market power. Threat of Substitution The threat of substitution is a harsh reality NDD has to face. But the organizations out there which might perform operations similar to that of NDD are substantial but limited. There are no new companies entering so the threat of substitution tends to be low. Bargaining power of Supplier: The bargaining power of the supplier will be high. Drilling operations are going to remain consistent and they are going to need materials from suppliers. Due to the current economic conditions it has lead to prices rise and inflation which have made prices of the commodities required a bit unaffordable (oils, grease).This has threatened the supply-chain relationship. 1.4 SWOT Analysis (Intelligence Phase) Strengths 1. NDD is a company targeting copper, gold and platinum metal ores in Orkney, Randoftein, etc which the rich mineral belts of South Africa are. 2. It has a consistent underground drilling business which will continue to be as the companies are obliged to carry out core sampling for safety reasons. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) 3. Their management team is good competent, experienced and have set of technical expertise. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) 4. Surface exploration lends itself well to a high degree of automation which can help reduce labor cost and improve production rates. 5. South Africa is a low risk sovereign country.NDD has focused its exploration and drilling operations only in South Africa which is justified by the past economic global events. 6. Amalgamation of the orders at the central offices enables the company to buy at cheaper rates from suppliers. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) Weaknesses 1 The exploration business is extremely sensitive so it requires a strategic business plan to survive and flourish.NDD does not have any sort of plan if they were going to lose a significant amount of business. 2. In the current situation, NDD cannot track whether excessive replacements of parts are taking place at certain project sites. 3. NDD has poor communication channels. The absence of centralized management system restricts the main office from accessing information in real time. They have to wait for the regional sites to compile the information and mail it to them. 4. NDD is dependent entirely on its underground drilling operations for profit as surface drilling business is merely making a profit. 5. NDD has not yet ventured into the mining sectors internationally. (Helix Resources Limited, 2010) Opportunities 1. South Africa has been long involved in mining and it has a promising geological setting for other minerals. They can start applying for projects which include exploring and drilling for minerals like nickel, Rare earth elements (Rees), etc. 2. To enter into international markets preferably starting from the African neighbors. 3. The current shortage of high quality deposits has caused a huge market interest in new exploration activities. This can be a great opportunity to rope in a few extra projects from companies. 4. Opportunity to merge with other companies in the mining industry, to benefit from shared knowledge, economies of scale and offer more services like competitors. 5. NDDs major chances of success lie in proving a reserve. This can be achieved by implementing latest or alternate drilling and exploration techniques. 7. NDD can use farm-in-opportunities in regions which they think have potential for copper, gold or any other mineral. 8. A new employee shift system can be implanted to ensure drilling operations at non- peak times. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) Threats 1. Exploration is inherently a risky business as it is very difficult to predict and only handful of exploration operations turn into production. 2. Regulatory risk- If any changes happen to the health and safety rules or environmental laws and regulations, it would result in company bearing additional costs. 3. Challenges from local and foreign companies performing the similar services are high. 4. Over reliance on technology The PCs at the project sites will be linked to the server at Johannesburg for access to the application software and database. So if the system is down it can bring the working of the business to halt. It is critical that the servers are running for the activity based costing system to function efficiently since the business is based in two geographical locations. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) 1.5 Conclusion of the strategic analysis techniques The strategic analysis from the SWOT, PEST and Porters five forces indicate that the strengths of the company are outweighed by its weaknesses and threats. The business which the company is operating is very sensitive and strategic analysis of NDD helps us to conclude that the existing business policy will not help it to survive in the long term. The opportunities presented to NDD through the SWOT analysis suggest how the business could target a specific segment in the market, rather than the mass market which is saturated as overseas manufacturers enter the industry in the UK. A major strength of NDD is the reputation and a small but strong foothold in the gold and platinum ore bodies of mining industry. This opportunity can be exploited to the fullest by branding itself and using a the existing projects as a leeway to obtain new projects in the other mineral ore bodies like nickel or even the rare earth metals (REEs).NDD has a good working relationship with its mining employers and it is possible that the company can use this strength to carry out Research Development to implement new and latest drilling and exploration technologies. This might also help in finding and serving a gap in the current drilling services provided by the companies if it exists. (Helix Resources Limited, 2010)(Fin Metal Mining Ltd, 2010) The greatest weakness of NDD is a fact that it is a small player in a competitive South African mining industry dominated by larger organizations and also will not be able to compete on cost with their Asian counterparts.NDD needs to implement a management information system and streamline its operations so that it can track the cost of drilling, keep a record of excessive replacement of costly parts and identify operations where costs are exceeding the income. The Management information system being implemented in the form of an activity based costing system can help to carry out the price fixing exercise with the mining companies. 1.6 Five year Business plan: The draft of the five year business plan for NDD is developed on the basis of the conclusion of the strategic analysis of NDD using PESTEL, Porters Five Forces and SWOT. In the current situation NDD does not have any Strategic plan and their business is hugely sensitive depending upon the local and global market events. If NDD were to lose their current share of business they would have no way forward. Therefore, NDD needs to weigh its options locally as well as internationally as there are other countries too those are involved in mining. Branding, though quite rarely used in mining industry it is becoming an upcoming trend for companies to differentiate themselves from their rivals. They can concentrate on a particular market; make changes to their employee work pattern and their business plan for the future 1.6.1 SWOT-Design Phase: Weaknesses 1. They dont have a system in place to estimate correct contract rates. Even if slight changes occur in the contract rates they seriously impact the income stream. 2. NDD is relatively a small/medium player with a turnover of up to 20 million dollars. NDD cannot have the same level of resources that are available to their big competitors Strengths They can keep focusing on gold as it is a flourishing business. 2. The company has a healthy pipeline of projects in hand with in minerals ranging from gold, copper and platinum spread over six geographically different areas. 3. The annual price fixing of the contract enables the company to assess its variable costs in relation to the existing economic conditions. Opportunities NDD can brand itself for operations they are currently performing. They can implement Management information system to track materials and calculate contract pricing. They can enter the stock market making the private business public. . A new employee shift system can be implanted to ensure drilling operations at non- peak times. Threats 1. Economic Factors: interest rates, political decisions, inflation al affect the mining industry very badly. 2. Lack of Skilled workers Although the number of people entering the mining sector is high in SA, many lack the specialist skills required to carry out specific operations. 1.6.2 Using Branding as Business Strategy: NDD already has a reputed name as it is involved in projects spread over six geographically different towns in SA. This means that company can use some form of marketing strategies to establish itself as a brand in the services and operations they are performing. For branding NDD needs to consider two basic strategies. The first is to be different from the others and stress on the distinctive feature that NDD offers when it is employed by the organization. Every employer is willing to consider something different which is profitable for them. This can be a different work roster or an innovative system to perform operations required. The second will be to put through the NDDs vision, values and culture. While doing this if we stumble upon that a certain aspect of the company is not worth publicizing then we can always focus on the strengths we have derived from the SWOT analysis. This is a long term solution which will make the Company competitive as it will take some time for mining employers to develop confidence in them. Also, an important advantage is the fact that the amount of resources required for branding an organization go on decreasing with time as more and more Companies start noticing. (Helix Resources Limited,2010)( Fin Metal Min ing Ltd,2010) 1.6.3 Targeting a Niche Sector in Mining Sector; NDD is currently working on 9 shafts related to gold. This can use as an advantage by NDD by targeting all the gold shaft related projects. Most of the companies are focused on platinum markets which can help NDD reduce some of the perceived threats to its business by targeting the gold market. The mining sector is becoming increasingly competitive and there any many big multi-nationals out there ready to put small/medium industries out of business.NDD can use the contacts from the existing gold mining employers to farther there ambition. They can even enter into partnerships with their current employers and sign future gold shaft contracts and ensuring a stability of income to their business. Due to NDDs previous and present track record the companies might consider entering into partnership. Even though there have been global recession, the gold production and mining hasnt been affected badly. They can also venture into international markets for gold related projects. They can star t with applying for contracts in Zimbabwe and Tanzania which are also rich for gold deposits and less competitive than South Africa.NDD compared to other companies in these countries can be termed as Medium/Big player which help give them an advantage. The labor and operating costs will also be low compared to SA. Thus targeting gold related operations can prove to be a huge safety net in these uncertain times. Though it cant be neglected that the Pestle analysis are going to dictate the income and pricing for the contracts. (Fin Metal Mining Ltd. 2010) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). 1.6.4 Operating Strategic plan For NDD: NDD can focus their existing strategy on the finding out near surface targets for gold (niche) or the other two minerals they are operating. This will allow them to perform underground drilling operations on surfaces which are suitable for open cut mining operations. This focus on areas which have a rich history for previous success, for example, targeting projects in areas of Kimberley Reef group will keep the income cash flow constant in these current economic conditions. (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). NDD can also enter into drilling projects for minerals other than gold, platinum, copper .NDD can try uranium, nickel or the Rare earth elements (Rees).For uranium they can focus on exploring areas like Gauteng in Witwatersrand basin which are rich in content ensuring underground drilling operations to be performed on them for the mining employers to start their mining production. Similarly for Nickel which is even easier as Phalborawa where they are currently operating are rich in Nickel deposits. They can acquire projects related to them as they are already well-known in that area. They can NDD can prioritize their accepting of surface exploration projects in the following sequence: In areas requiring near surface exploration with mineralization targets not more than 70 m below which are extremely high potential for Mining operations. Targeting areas which have a mining history Areas which have not been mined previously but seem to have potential for underground mining They can also undertake projects from companies which require refurbishment for their shafts. The refurbishment for the shafts will include an underground drill program to take rock sample from the shafts and perform tests on them. This will allow the mining companies to help estimate the amount of mineralization left in the foots or hanging walls of these shafts. These contracts will not require any new technologies and investment from NDD as it is already doing it for its current employers in some way. This can be a way to expand their business. (Exploration Strategy, 2010) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). 1.6.5 Alternative operating technique: NDD can also try out a different operating strategy for underground Drilling. At present, Diamond drilling is used for retrieving core samples which is expensive and time consuming. Instead of this, NDD can implement RVC drilling which give small rock samples instead of a solid core which are easier to look under microscope. Figure: Rvc Drilliing (Delta Mine training center, 2010) RVC drilling requires a bit larger equipment but it has high rate of penetration and low cost per foot. This makes it faster and inexpensive than diamond drilling. This can help NDD reduce its operational costs. (Trevor Fletcher) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). 1.6.6 Going Public: The other strategy NDD can adopt is making the private company go public. This will help it enter the South African stock exchange where people can buy NDDs Shares. This will also automatically serve as a purpose of branding as it will help the company get noticed. This will also help them to get international recognizition.They can enter into partnerships with the foreign companies which are looking to invest in Africa due to new FDI Policy implemented by South African government. This can serve as an opportunity for NDD to get projects locally as well as internationally. 1.6.7 Employee shift system: At present the company operations on site are carried out 7 days a week and 3 x 8 hour shift basis. This can be replaced by be 2 x 10 hour shift on a continuous basis. Often the drill started on one shift ends on anothers shift. This can sometimes cause delays. New shifts will minimize these chances and also save time. The overtime will be calculated above the set 10 hours reducing the costs incurred by the company. This will also help in decreasing the non-productive hours. (Shift Schedules, 2010) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines) 1.6.7 Role of the director managing the future: NDD cannot change its operating strategies overnight. It will require a step-by-step process form the management personality (1 director) which is experienced and has a proven field experience. He will also play a major role in evaluating pricing for tenders, contracts and acquiring the projects. The employees are going to face a lot of social difficulties while trying to operate with new information systems at offices and also new operating techniques on site. Therefore, the management has to solve the problems on site or the glitches in the information systems by appointing people for that purposes. Later, when the plans work he has to dedicate funds for their maintenance and continuous improvements. He will have to combine the top officials from NDDs regional offices and work together for better future of the company. 1.6.8 Legal Factors to be considered: The stringent health and safety rules mean that NDD will face legal challenges to make sure the company and staff have been vetted by the government and have obtained a level of safety clearance deemed fit to carry out its drilling operations.. The company must follow The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)which stated that the work equipment should comply with the strict and complex safety control procedures necessary for mine related operations. They must also have evacuation methods in place in case a catastrophe occurs. The business of the NDD is susceptible to a number of risks and hazards which involve labor disputes, on-site accidents, unforeseen geological and environmental conditions, cave-ins or even earthquakes for that matter. This can cause damage to the company equipments, properties or even death of the employees which can get the company into a legal mess. Therefore, NDD must have an insurance policy to cover itself if these calamities were to o ccur.. Companies providing insurances for mining industry generally at high premium costs. Losses from these events might be difficult to recover from for NDD so they need to have them even though it is not on their terms. Chapter 2 2 a) Use case Diagram: 2 b) Class Diagram: Class Diagrams: Activity Diagram: 2 c) Activity Diagram: 2 d) Architecture of the Information System: The Johannesburg office has a server and 2 computers which are connected using a switch. This switch is used to create 2 subnets of which one contains the server while the other contains 2 pcs. This will assist in management and maintenance of the information systems and also help in future expansion. The switch is connected to the router which is in turn connected to the internet through a firewall. This firewall will protect the internal network and also handle the VPN connections from the regional offices.The regional offices will use local internet providers to connect to the internet. This will be much cheaper and flexible than having private dedicated lines from the regional offices to the main office. Network connections: An Ethernet cable is used to connection between the PCs and the router and the router and the server is carried out using an Ethernet cable. All pc at the regional offices will have internet connection so that they are connected to the server in Johannesburg. As a security measure firewall will be placed between the internet connection and the server. Barcode readers will be made mobile by connecting them to the pc using a wireless connection.. Virtual private networks (VPN) will be used over the network connection for the pcs to communicate with the server in Johannesburg (Beynon-Davies) Software required Windows NT is used as the operating system and server software. The software will have applications such as purchasing, word processing, activity based costing system, and stock control .The pcs at regional offices will have installed the windows operating system and must log in to the server to use the applications. Pcs will be equipped with software linked to the server for barcode reading procedures. (Beynon-Davies) Security A firewall is in place to stop any unauthorized access. There is log in system available on each pc to restrict it to only employees of the company.VPNs are used by the regional offices to connect to the Johannesburg server over any other unsecured network connection. (Beynon-Davies) Chapter 3 Conclusion The report gives a wide perspective by carrying out analysis of NDD and how developing and implementing a strategic business plan can help the NDDs business to survive and grow in a competitive environment. It is extremely vital to understand that decisions made using the strategic analysis techniques are based on assumptions for, e.g. will the investment be made by the company venture into international markets, or will they invest in the equipments necessary for exploring minerals ore bodies other than gold, copper and platinum, train its employees for this purpose and also finding and providing drilling services which are yet not out there in the maket.NDD must also be willing to spend to buy new automated drilling machines if they are available or invest in automating their existing machines NDD must understand that the analysis techniques have their limitations and realize that committing itself to sudden change by undertaking projects for different minerals or REEs might be risky, although the risk can be well afforded as it is likely that if the business continues to function as it is of now it would be pushed out of the mining sector by local and overseas competitors entering the South African mining industry. Moving into exploring and drilling for other mineral ores such as nickel,REEs,etc or expanding into foreign markets can have their share of threats as it is likely that there are specific companies who will have built a great deal of experience in the field and have long term strategic contracts with their customers. New players like NDD, may be ignored by customers in the international or local untried mineral markets because they may be perceived to not have the necessary skills to serve the industry

Race Stereotyping Leads to the False Accusation of Kabuo Miyamoto Essay

Race Stereotyping Leads to the False Accusation of Kabuo Miyamoto David Guterson based his novel, Snow Falling On Cedars, during a racially charged time of history. This book takes place during the time period of 1940 to 1955. The setting of this novel is a small town, Amity Harbor, on the island of San Piedro. This is a small island, and Amity is the largest town on the entire island. This island is home to Japanese strawberry farmers and one-man gillnetting boats. This novel is based around the murder trial of Carl Heine Jr. The accused man is Kabuo Miyamoto, a Japanese gill-netter as well as a World War II veteran. By non-fiction facts, from historical documents, and fiction facts from the novel itself, Kabuo Miyamoto was accused solely because of his race. On December 7, 1941, aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. About half the United States fleet was at Pearl Harbor at the time. More than 2,400 American servicemen and civilians were killed. Another 1,200 were wounded. Eight battleships of the Pacific Fleet were damaged or sunk, though the fleet's aircraft carriers were at sea. Hundreds of aircraft were destroyed. The same day, or shortly thereafter, the Japanese launched attacks against Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Guam and Wake Island. Because of the swift advances of the Japanese military, many Americans concluded that an invasion, either of Hawaii or the West Coast, was inevitable. (Leitich 1) In February 1942, Lieutenant General John DeWitt, the commanding general of the Western Defense Command, which included California, Oregon and Washington, urged the evacuation of all Japanese American citi... ...anese decent then they are the ones that fought against and killed American soldiers during World War II. Many of the American’s of Japanese decent fought and died for the same country, the same cause, and the same humanity that the American soldiers did, but this was never looked at, never taken into consideration, and never respected. Works Cited Guterson, David. Snow Falling On Cedars. New York: Vintage Books, 1995. Internment Camps. Ed. 04/15/2001. . Japanese Internment. Ed. Lamb, Judith. St. Francis Xavier School. 04/5/2001. . Leitich, Greg H. Japanese American Legal History: Internment/Relocation. 04/17/2001. 04/5/2001 .