The Avant ­Garde Cinema Community Essay - 2247 Words

During the 1960s, the Avant ­Garde cinema community began to see the emergence of an Underground camp cinema that was intrigued with the concept of homosexuality, the normative constructs of society and how the two co ­existed. J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbuam believed this new transformative cinema arose from a need to â€Å"defragment the official cinematic senses†(Hoberman, p. 39). In turn, creating new ideas and concepts to be explored. During this time period, queer/homosexual directors like Jack Smith, Kenneth Anger, and Andy Warhol created pictures like Flaming Creatures, Scorp io Rising, and Blowjob. These films addressed the relationship of heteronormative constructs to homosexuality in new ways via the use of unconventional methods, including over the top acting, the incorporation of pop icons, androgyny, minimalist framing and intense focus. Sus an Sontag who wrote, â€Å" Notes on Camp† which said these films arose from a need to express and address the feelings of the marginalized (Sontag, p. 278). During this time the homosexual community was marginalized making them the perfect subjects for these films. By casting them as subjects in these films, viewers are allowed to see what it meant to be homosexual during this time period. These films produced the creation of queerness and gave those who associated themselves with being a queer theory we see in the 1990s emerges. Much like the queer theory, underground cinema rose out of a need to address the normative form andShow MoreRelatedExperiencing Bollywood2798 Words   |  12 PagesExperiencing Bollywood: An Avant-garde Attempt Introduction Bollywood has been characterised for its larger than life plots, elaborate song and dance sequences, melodramatic acting which underpins the Indian social framework. 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Ancient Egypt Anatomy Of A Civilisation By Barry J. Kemp

(Image 1: quotefancy.com, We are not made by History, n.d) In this essay, I will be discussing the reasons we study history, and will delve into the issues historians may face when writing history. I’ll also examine how individual and group perspectives could affect interpretations of history. I’ll clarify the difference between a Primary Source and a Secondary Source, will investigate the strengths and weaknesses between Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilisation by Barry J. Kemp and Tutankhamun’s Armies by John Coleman Darnell and Collen Manassa, and will examine Pyramids of Giza and King Tutankhamun’s tomb to explore their value to historians. The society of today is based upon the actions and decisions made yesterday, and this is†¦show more content†¦This is not without problems though. ‘History is written by its victors’, Winston Churchill famously said in the 1930’s, and Julius Caesar was no stranger to this. During the Battle of Alesia he employed an historian to follow him around and document the events. Of course, this was all written to please Caesar and paint him in the best light, so this made it very biased. This, along with many other historic events which contain biased accounts, make it very hard for historians to do their job properly, as this is not an accurate representation of what really happened. Historians are no Saints though, and they too can write history with a hint of bias. ‘Historians can infer particular facts about the past from the evidence available to them, the way they give meaning to those facts by presenting relations between them is a function of their own creative imagination’ (McCullagh, 2000, :1) We rely on historians to tell us the tales of the past, and we trust everything they say to be true, but they can subject us to biased views and opinions. They could misinterpret evidence, they could use fake facts to write an account, or they could explain events omitting information in the bid to make people’s opinion sway a certain way. For example, rich and clever white men used to write history, and thought the only history worth noting was made by leaders, and all other

Describe and Evaluate Social Explanations of Aggression Free Essays

Describe and evaluate social explanations of aggression. Aggression can be defined in many different ways. Bandura suggests that it is the intent to cause harm to another human being who is motivated to avoid such treatment. We will write a custom essay sample on Describe and Evaluate Social Explanations of Aggression or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of the main social psychological explanations of aggression comes from Bandura and Walters in 1963. He suggests that aggression is learned either indirectly; through observational learning and only replicated if vicarious reinforcement occurs, or directly- where aggressive behaviour is directly reinforced. While both are a form of operant conditioning, the direct approach parallels the ideas much closer. Bandura outlined the following three steps in the modelling process of SLT: Observation- by watching the behaviour of role models and then imitating that behaviour, mental representation- the child will only display the learned behaviour as long as the expectation of reward is greater than the expectation of punishment, and production of behaviour- if the child is rewarded (maintenance through direct experience) or by building the confidence from expectancies of like likely outcomes of their aggressive behaviour (self-efficacy). In support of this theory, Bandura et al. proved that if children watch someone else behave aggressively towards a Bobo Doll, they were more likely to be aggressive themselves later on, specifically imitating individual actions they had previously seen. When the model was rewarded, the child was more likely to reproduce through vicarious reinforcement compared to those models punished, thus showing that observational learning only results in imitation when it is vicariously reinforced. This study however, does not take into account of the nature vs. urture debate. Although it seems that Bandura’s research proves that behaviour is learnt (nurture), it must however be noted that there were many gender differences where the boys produced more physical aggression than girls, which consequently support the argument that such behaviour is innate (nature). In addition, research findings are not only culturally bound but may be due to demand characteristics. It was noted by Noble (197 5), after the study occurred, that many of the parents told the children what to expect, consequently causing little face validity. Furthermore, although this study tells us that children do acquire aggressive responses as a result of watching others, it does not tell us much about why a child would be motivated to do so in the absence of the model, nor does it include the cognition or biology of these behaviours. This study also holds many ethical issues. It was carried out in the knowledge that children may reproduce the aggressive behaviours they were exposed to and therefore it is difficult to establish the scientific credibility. It is also difficult to further test the social learning theory experimentally due to the concern of needing to protect participants from psychological and psychical harm. Moreover, a weakness of the Social Learning Theory is that people are never consistently rewarded for aggression. Often, and if not in most cases they are punished, not rewarded. While media can sometimes portray certain acts as ethically ambiguous, it is rare to find these days aggressive behaviour rewarded in a mainstream way to suggest that the population are learning this behaviour through SLT. Deindividuation, another social psychological theory is defined as the loss of a sense of personal identity that can occur when, for example, in a crows or wearing a mask. It is associated with a reduced sense of personal responsibility and increased anti-social behaviour. The theory relies heavily on two components; anonymity and reduced self-awareness. Anonymity describes the presence of crowds (or groups) leading individual members to feel anonymous and act according to a different set of norms and values which are imposed or encouraged by them (Zimbardo 1969). The alternate explanation for deindividuation to cause aggression is reduced self-awareness. Proposed by Prentice-Dunn ; Rogers 1982, they suggest that crowds do not lead necessarily to anonymity or public awareness (while this may contribute) but instead lead to a lack of private awareness, often strengthened by the presence of drugs and alcohol. Normally, people are aware of their personal morals, however within a group it is argued that they may lose sight of such ‘private’ principles and instead follow the group. The majority of research evidence in deindividuation comes from the work of Zimbardo. He repeated the Milgram paradigm, where female participant were either wearing a nametag (individuated) or in a hood (deindividuated) and it was found that by wearing a hood, participants were much more likely to give shocks to the learner. Furthermore, Diener et al. observed the behaviour of over 1000 children on Halloween. The children were asked their name, and for those that didn’t give it, rates of stealing candy or money when alone rose ramatically. These studies support the idea of anonymity and how they are more likely to carry out antisocial behaviour when they cannot be identified. Cannavale et al. (1970) found that male and female groups responded differently under deinviduated conditions and therefore reflecting gender bias in Zimbardo’s research. This can further be linked to the biological approach as it fails to consider the biology of aggression, such as the hormones. The male sex hormone, testosterone, is thought to influence aggression from young adulthood onwards due to its action on brain areas involved in controlling aggression. This is supported by Dabbs et al. (1987) who measures salivary testosterone in violent and non-violent criminals. They found that those with higher levels of testosterone had a history of violent crime whereas those with the lowest levels had committed only non-violent crime. Dramatic support for the deadly influence of deindividuation comes from a study by anthropologist Robert Watson (1973). He collected data from tribes on the extent to which they killed, tortured or mutilated their victims. He found that societies where warriors changed their appearance (through the use of war paint and tribal costumes etc. ) were more destructive towards their victims compared to those who did not change their appearance. This study not only provides research support for the idea of anonymity, but also gives evidence that this theory takes account of cultural differences. However, most of the research focuses on the relationship between deindividuation and antisocial behaviour. But Spivey and Prentice-Dunn (1990) found that deindividuation could lead to either prosocial or antisocial behaviour depending on the situational factors. When prosocial environmental cues were present (such as a prosical model), deindividuated participants preformed significantly more altruistic acts (giving money) and significantly fewer antisocial acts (giving electric shocks)c compared to a control group. Furthermore, desirable effects of deindividuation can be found on cyberspace. Adolescents reported feeling significantly more comfortable seeiking help with mental health problems under deindividuated circumstances of Internet chat rooms as opposed to individuated circumstances of a personal appointment with a health professional (Francis eta al. 2006). This lends support to the deindividuation theory and displays the positive aspect of deindividuation. How to cite Describe and Evaluate Social Explanations of Aggression, Essay examples

Communication in Business for Hofstede Model- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theCommunication in Business for Hofstede Cultural Model. Answer: Introduction Fostering business process for achieving growth in terms of financial profitability requires international market penetration. Hence, Mary, the owner of The Aroma Shop wishes to emerge into the market of China (as the products of the shop contains chilli sauce, chutneys, pasta and jams) for having business growth and for this reason, the study aims to highlight the Chinese business etiquette and the steps that Mary can utilise for taking a favourable first impression when the person visits China to meet Mr Lau (a manager of a popular store). The purpose of the study is to include the areas of potential cross-cultural miscommunication by utilising the cultural framework of Hofstede. In addition to this, the study will provide significant recommendations so that, it becomes possible for Mary to increase the chances of success of the meeting. Business etiquette in China With the increasing globalisation, more and more people try to expand business in China. While language is an essential aspect in bridging an intercontinental relationship, the etiquette and cultural expectation behind the language are even more important. By gaining understanding of the Chinese business culture and social etiquette of the country, it will be possible to avoid any form of business miscommunication. Chinese business mentality requires a well-prepared person for the meeting and hence, a small talk can be considered as particularly important at beginning of the meeting. Chinese people generally like to establish a strong relationship before closing a deal and thus, they take a much time to finalise a deal (Usunier, Van Herk and Lee, 2017). Further, it is worth mentioning that, maintaining composure during the meeting is vital and hence, showing too much emotion has that potential to impact on the business negotiation negatively. It is worth mentioning that, in case of decision making, people in China usually takes a lot of time for making a decision and thus, sometimes the negotiation process crosses the ultimate deadline. Hence, Mary needs to be prepared and she should not mention any form of the deadline in the negotiation process as this can be proved a disadvantageous aspect of her business development. As stated by Sethi (2016), Chinese people enter their meeting venue in form of hierarchical manner and therefore head of the delegation usually enters the venue first. Apart from this, a handshake is common in Chinese business meeting but it will preferable to wait for the Chinese counterpart to initiate this gesture for developing an effective business communication. Further, it is essential to avoid any form of political discussion especially that is political unrest in Taiwan which often tends to affect the sentiments of Chinese people. Thus, it is essential for Mary to respect the beliefs during the negotiation process. In case of body language, Chinese business etiquette is very controlled and calm. This process shows the personality of Chinese people and hence, it can be mentioned that the body poster of Chinese people is formal and they prefer self-control and respectfulness to reflect through their body poster. However, if the idea and concept of business are strong, then to Chinese people, all the business meetings are merely a deal signing opportunity (Thomas and Peterson, 2017). In relation to the given case scenario, Mary uses a number of elements in her products such as chilli sauces, pasta and all that sounds preferable to the Chinese people. Thus, Mary needs to present herself to Mr Lau in such a manner (as stated above), so that, the business manager takes no time to sign the deal and allows Mary to expand business in China. Cross-cultural miscommunication Each culture has a different set of business ethics, behaviour, values, expected etiquette, language and expression and from this perspective, it can be mentioned that not knowing the differences in culture across the countries may lead to a potential barrier in penetrating into the target market. A common cross-cultural barrier in effective business communication is the use of language. According to the viewpoint of Warren (2017), language barrier comes in the form of either the utilisation of foreign language or the utilisation of improper language. It is worth mentioning that, when the communication is effective, the business venture becomes able to tailor the product or service properly and it results in the use or purchase of the product by the offeree. As opined by Triandis (2018), ineffective communication can offend, confuse cross-culturally and send a misunderstood message to leads to unsuccessful business dealings. This can be considered as the impact of cross-cultural misc ommunication. Thus, emerging into the target market demands the knowledge of law, ethics, morality, art, belief and culture of the country so that, it becomes possible for the business executive to avoid cross-cultural miscommunication. As stated by (Pauluzzo and Shen, 2018), one of the essential approaches for ensuring the cross-cultural communication is to be an active listener. With the help of this, it becomes possible for the business executive to clarify the message. In developing business in China, it can be stated that use of English will be beneficial for Mary however the use of a couple of words in Chinese will help Mary to impress Mr Lau significantly. Further, it is essential for a business venture to be proactive and to use some cultural rapport for developing an effective cross-cultural business communication. Hofstede cultural model According to Hofstede Model, values of employees in the workplace environment are influenced by their prospective countrys culture and therefore, for understanding those values, it is essential for a business venture to analyse the six primary dimensions of the nations culture (Bakir et al. 2015). These elements can be marked as follows Power distance index: Through the power distance index, the degree of inequality between people with and without power can be shown. In case of Australia, the way of communication is informal and thus, managers prefer to engage employees in decision making for improving the motivational level among the employees and enhancing the effectiveness of the decision-making process besides. The scenario is somewhat different in case of China. As stated by Bargiela-Chiappini and Nickerson (2014), power abuse is a very common thing among the superiors. The leaders generally leverage the superpower and employees have to abide by all the decisions taken by the administration. Hence, it is essential for Mary to focus on the negotiation process by engaging with the managers only. Individualism versus Collectivism: Its index addresses the degree of interdependence a society usually maintains among its members. In Australia, people prefer the individualist culture. Thus, in the world of business, employees are expected to display initiative towards decision-making and be self-reliant. However, in case of China, the situation demands some different aspects. They prefer collectivist culture and those hiring and promotional processes take place in in-groups. Employee commitment is low towards the organisation and it is worth mentioning that, personal relationship prevails over the company and task. In this case scenario, it is essential for Mary to develop a strong relationship with the managers to get the task done. Masculinity versus femininity: China is a masculine society and thus success oriented and driven. Thus, apart from Australian culture, it is worth mentioning that, impactful work culture along with direct gaining process is preferable in the concerned nation. Thus, it is essential for Mary to take the business work culture as the prior concern rather than anything else. Uncertainty avoidance: In this case scenario, it can be marked that, Chinese people are comfortable with the ambiguity and thus, for Western people, it becomes difficult to deal with the Chinese ambiguous business environment. According to the viewpoint of Moshiri and Cardon (2014), Chinese are entrepreneurial and adaptable. Therefore, it is worth mentioning that, Chinese business tends to be small to medium size. Hence, this aspect will be beneficial for Mary. Long-term orientation: Chinese people rank high in long-term orientation and this means that they focus on perseverance and persistence. This leads to Chinese people to be more dedicated towards their jobs and performances. Thus, these people take a long time in finalising a negotiation process so that, it becomes possible for them to focus on long-run results. Indulgence: China is a restrained society and thus, society does not put emphasis on leisure time and thereby control the gratification of the desires. People with this orientation encompass the tendency that their feelings are restrained by the social norms (Mazanec et al. 2015). Recommendations From the above-held discussion, it can be stated that Mary needs to show more dedication while working with the Chinese business environment. Thus, it is essential for the person to develop a healthy relationship with Mr Lau and consider a strong business idea so that, the business meeting becomes a merely deal signing opportunity. Further, it is essential for Mary not to set any deadline for the negotiation process in order to have some of the extra advantages in the business environment. Further, it can be recommended that a concept of a small or medium size organisation will attract Mr Lau more to take part in the proposed business. Conclusion It has been observed that a business venture needs to understand cross-cultural business etiquette for penetrating into the target market. Chinese communication is indirect, ambiguous and highly contextual. Lavish gift-giving is one such significant part of the Chinese business communication. Thus, the study has provided knowledge of Chinese business etiquette and how to develop cross-cultural communication, so that, it becomes possible for Mary to enter the Chinese market efficiently. Reference list Bakir, A., Blodgett, J. G., Vitell, S. J., and Rose, G. M. 2015. A preliminary investigation of the reliability and validity of Hofstede's cross-cultural dimensions. In Proceedings of the 2000 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 226-232). Springer, Cham. Bargiela-Chiappini, F., and Nickerson, C. R. 2014. Writing business: Genres, media and discourses. Abingdon: Routledge. Mazanec, J. A., Crotts, J. C., Gursoy, D., and Lu, L. 2015. Homogeneity versus heterogeneity of cultural values: An item-response theoretical approach applying Hofstede's cultural dimensions in a single nation. Tourism Management, 48, pp.299-304. Moshiri, F., and Cardon, P. 2014. The state of business communication classes: A national survey. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 77(3), pp.312-329. Pauluzzo, R., and Shen, B. 2018. Chinese Cultural Roots and Their Influence on Managerial Issues.In Impact of Culture on Management of Foreign SMEs in China (pp. 139-163). Springer, Cham. Sethi, D. 2016. Business Etiquette in China: Analysis Based on Literature Review. Routledge. So, Y.L. and Walker, A., 2013. Explaining guanxi: The Chinese business network. Abingdon: Routledge. Thomas, D. C., and Peterson, M. F. 2017. Cross-cultural management: Essential concepts. Sage Publications. Triandis, H.C., 2018. Individualism and collectivism. Abingdon: Routledge. Usunier, J. C., Van Herk, H., and Lee, J. A. 2017. International and cross-cultural business research. London: Sage. Warren, T. L. 2017. Cross-cultural Communication: Perspectives in theory and practice. Abingdon: Routledge. Weller, R. P. 2018. Alternate civilities: Democracy and culture in China and Taiwan. Abingdon: Routledge.

Archaic Period - Ancient American Hunter-Gatherers

Archaic Period - Ancient American Hunter-Gatherers The Archaic period is the name given to generalized hunter-gatherer societies in the American continents from approximately 8,000 to 2000 years BC. Archaic lifestyles includes a dependence on elk, deer, and bison depending on where the site is, and a wide range of plant materials. In coastal areas, shellfish and marine mammals were important food sources, and fish weirs were an important technological advance. Archaic Advances Important advances of the later Archaic period include earthworks at sites such as Poverty Point and Watson Brake (both in Louisiana), and the first pottery in the Americas, a fiber-tempered ware named after Stallings Island South Carolina were an important invention. During the Altithermal, Archaic peoples dug wells to stay alive in the high plains of west Texas and eastern New Mexico. The Archaic period people are also responsible for the domestication of such important New World plants as bottle gourd, maize and cassava, the use of which plants would flourish in later periods. Regional Archaic The term Archaic is quite broad, and covers an enormous area of North and South America. As a result, several regional archaic groups have been recognized. Regional Archaic Traditions: Plains Archaic, Oshara Tradition, Maritime Archaic, Shield Archaic, Ortoiroid, Piedmont Tradition, Pinto Culture, San Dieguito, Orange Culture, Mount Albion See Guide to the Mesolithic for information about the roughly parallel period in the Old World.

Nigeria essays

Nigeria essays Should the Western Worlds experience of development in the modern era serve as a model for the development of Nigeria? Nigeria is a developing West African country that has experienced periods of political instability, corruption, and mismanagement at the hands of its government. The development of Nigeria has increased dramatically since 1991 when the new constitution was introduced and the government was transferred from military to civilian rule. Development in Nigeria has been hindered by various issues; government corruption, a relatively uneducated and unhealthy population, and civil unrest resulting in outbreaks of violence. What Nigeria needs is a guiding hand that does not intervene and impose itself on the country, but goes unnoticed as it steers Nigeria in the right direction. Nigerias participation in international organizations like the WTO are appropriate steps in the right direction as they expose Nigeria to the influences of the world and will ultimately lead to increased development of Nigeria. Unfortunately, there is a large rift between the cultures and ideas of the wester n world and the cultures of Nigeria. The disparity of languages and ideas there is an estimated 350-400 different languages in Nigeria causes problems in communication which will hinder development. Nigeria has taken steps in the right direction however, cash crops and the oil industry has helped strengthen the economy and gone towards reducing the massive debt. The new government is determined to reach development goals as part of its Goals of the Millennium campaign. In the years to come, with a little help from outside nations, Nigeria could begin to recover and become one of the premier African nations. The development of a country can be defined using a variety of factors. Economy, poverty, education, healthcare, and unemployment are factors that are used to measure the development and standard of...

Construction and Deconstruction - Function Research Paper

Construction and Deconstruction - Function - Research Paper Example In doing so, the artist seeks to produce with the onlooker a dialogue one that fills us with appreciation or apprehension about the world, others and ourselves. The Uses of Deconstruction Deconstruction has often been used or shock or stun the onlooker in the tradition of surrealism. Deconstructive art believes that we should not rely on any previous assumptions (Mundy, 2001). In general parlance, we can equate this to describing the meaning of a word by using another group of words. So we will find that there is a hierarchical or strong-weak or teacher-student relationship between the words generally used in a language. This is frowned upon by the followers of deconstructive art. Such artists believe as much in the importance of leaving things out as in conveying no specific meaning. Though deconstruction has been criticised as a nihilistic and frivolously sceptical pursuit, yet some scholars have welcomed it as a useful reminder in, perhaps, politics where what is said is sometimes less important than what is purposefully left out. Deconstructive art can inversely remind us of the importance of structuralism in our lives and how it aids us in constructing logic and giving meaning to language, thought etc. Alternatively, it can also form a basis for equating things that we normally never do, being of interest to inventors etc. I will now proceed to comment on the works of a number of different practitioners of deconstructive art, trying to fathom what message they are trying to convey through their works. The Works of Mona Hatoum Mona Hatoum (born 1952) is a Lebanese artist but has resided in the UK ever since the days of the war in 1975. She has never regarded herself as a Lebanese and her love of art was never encouraged by her family especially her father, since he wanted her to do something more practical in life. While in exile in London, she had a chance to study at the Slade School of Art and the Shaw School of Art. Mona was especially interested in Min imalism and the psychological manifestation of art. In her own words: â€Å"I don’t think art is the best place to be didactic- I don’t think the language of visual art is the most suitable for presenting clear arguments, let alone for trying to convince, convert or teach† (Archer et al, 1997). Mona surprises by using seemingly innocuous materials to convey messages of fear, danger and isolation. One of her first works, ‘Measures of Distance’ (1988) is a video tape she recorded that shows the distances between Arab and Western society, between male and female gender, between war and peace, freedom and exile. It is a monologue by her mother and a reply to all her questions. It speaks of fragmentation, of not knowing one’s place in society, of the dangers in living in Lebanon during the war. It appeals to the senses and the heart in a particularly personal way if you hear the work using headphones (as I did). In ‘Silence’ (1994) Mo na uses glass tubing to construct a child’s bed, reflecting the vulnerability of the child being hurt by glass in a place it equates with comfort, thus, there is a paradox here as well. In ‘Mexican Cage’ (2002) Mona again depicts the plight of Mexican workers. They are enslaved by low wages and even bonded labour. The red, blue, orange and white colours of the cage look so inviting but we must remember that it is a

Introduction for Postnatal Depression (PND) Essay

Introduction for Postnatal Depression (PND) - Essay Example irth but these issues are distinct from postnatal depression by means of preponderance, the clinical demonstration of the illness, the time of onset, period of illness, and time of recurrence of disease. The most usual mental illness linked with post pregnancy and birth of the child is unipolar depression either major or minor, this depression can happen to any women anytime after the childbirth and within the first postnatal year. Postnatal depression is chiefly second to women with caesarean cases, as these cases result in more frequent complexities during and after childbirth (Walsh, pp. 24-29, 2009). During the last few years, the facilities and services rendered to the expected women, mothers and their infants have undergone major improvements complimenting with exponential decline in death rate of infants and the expecting women (Affonso et al, pp. 255-271, 1991). These improvements are due to the development in different departments such as obstetrics and medicine, bettered obstetric standards, much improved midwifery care and concern, and the development in health education, social service, health of people and maintenance of general hygienic environment. Nevertheless, the sector of mental healthcare has not achieved such great improvements in order to reduce the mental illness and depression among the expecting women, mothers and their infants. The wide range of variation in symptoms of the mental illness can result in difficulty in diagnosis of postnatal depression (Affonso et al, pp. 255-271, 1991). The situation gets even more difficult when the women do not have enough knowledge to understand the symptoms as signs of depression or if the corporeal symptoms have greater influence than the symptoms of mental illnesses. Sad, gloomy, irritated and exhausted moms attend the primary care more often but with issues related to their child only and not themselves. Authentic methods and reliable techniques are compulsory in order to recognize depression and

Ratios Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ratios - Case Study Example Furthermore, the times interest earned ratios computed above implies Wal-Mart has a better financial position of servicing interest obligations compared to Target Corporation. The times interest earned ratios indicate the WAL-Mart has the capacity of servicing the interest expense by 12 times using earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) while Target has capacity of 8.7 times (Brigham & Houston, 2010). Consequently, the solvency financial position of Wal-Mart Corporation is better compared to that of Target Corporation. However, the profit margin ratios reflect the financial performance of Target is better compared to that of Wal-Mart Corporation. The profit margin ratios indicate the Target Corporation in 2014 was able to generate gross profit worth 0.29 cents of dollars for every one dollar of sales revenue generated. In contrast, the Wal-Mart was able to generate 0.24 cents of gross profit for every one dollar generated (Maynard, 2013). Thus, the Target Corporation was more profitable compared to the Wal-Mart Corporation. However, the efficiency of WAL-Mart management in utilizing the assets to generate sales revenue is higher compared to Target Corporation according to asset turnover ratio. The asset turnover ratios indicate Wal-Mart’s assets were able to generate $2.38 of sales revenue for every one dollar of asset utilized. In contrast, the Target Corporation was able to generate $1.75 of sales revenue for every one dollar of assets utilized (Brigham & Houston, 2010). Consequently, Wal -Mart Corporation is more efficient in utilizing assets compared to Target

Moral And Ethical Issues Of Human Cloning Philosophy Essay

Moral And Ethical Issues Of Human Cloning Philosophy Essay Cloning is rapidly emerging as one of the most controversial and emotion-laden of topics in todays world. To clone or not to clone: that is the million-dollar question. The prospect of cloning humans is highly controversial and raises a number of ethical, legal and social challenges that need to be considered. So, is it right or is it wrong? Can we not overlook this aspect since there are many advantages to it? But then again, a line has to be drawn somewhere, does it not? Before going into the controversial debate over cloning, a concrete, dictionary definition of what a clone is, must be given in order to prevent any confusion that may occur later on. A clone is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as the aggregate of the asexually produced progeny of an individual as well as an individual grown from a single somatic cell of its parent and genetically identical to it. To put it in simpler words, it is an asexually reproduced offspring who has the same genetic information as anothe r organism or organisms. With that said, A matter of much debate in current society is whether human cloning should be allowed so that infertile couples could have the opportunity to have genetically related children, give people the chance of life after death, and open the way for perfect match organ transplants, or should it be banned because it involves the waste and destruction of human embryos, could lead to unfair treatment of cloned individuals and their original, and it may lead to a designer society. A 1997 CNN poll conducted among 1,005 American adults found that 69% are scared of the possibility of cloning humans (Poll). Why is this? This fear of the unknown has always excited the human race, from the Marina trench to the outer limits of space, we as humans have always strived to increase our scientific and technological knowledge. In order to over come the fear of the dark we must shine light on the unknown. Many Americans feel very strongly one way or the other on the issue of human cloning, thr ough this paper we will research and discuss where each of these sides are coming from, exploring the ethical, moral, and logical aspects of both pro and anti- cloning concerns. Jeff Sessions, junior United States Senator from Alabama has stated, We, in this country, have believed by a substantial majority that cloning human beings is not right and should not be done. We certainly have all seen the rejections of Nazi Germanys abuses of science. As a society and a nation, there ought to be some limit on what we can allow or should allow(Brainy Quotes). This statement in its self, makes are minds race to the internal sacred parts of our bodys, it make us ask the personal question, is human cloning ethical, does it truly meet our own standards of right vs. wrong? On one side of the debate are those who are against human cloning. These people feel that cloning could very possibly do more damage than good. First of all, in the beginning stages of cloning it will take many years to perfect it. It took at least 208 attempts, which means embryos, to succeed in cloning Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned (Gibbs 52). It is suspected that it will take even more attemp ts to successfully clone a human being. Presently, in the cloning of mammals, 98% of cloned embryos do not implant, or die off during gestation or shortly after birth (Gibbs 52). Also, those who are against cloning respond to the argument that cloning allows for bringing the dead back to life, that a clone will not have the same personality that the original person had. This is due to the fact that much of personality is determined by nurture and environment, not genes. So, they believe that if someone clones a person in hopes of having them be exactly like the original person, the clone will end up being treated unfairly and have unrealistic expectations set upon them. Thirdly, as for clones providing a perfect organ and blood match, those against cloning are afraid that clones may be produced only for the reason to take their organs or blood. This means that the clones would not be treated as a real person, if they are alive at all, assuming they are not created for use of their h earts or other vital organs. Also, anti-cloning people feel that it is possible that society could become homogeneous because only the best and most talented people would be cloned and therefore, society would lose all of its diversity (What Would a Human Clone Be Like). On the opposing side many pro cloning activist believe cloning great individuals with exemplary talents, genius, or character can be reproduced. Another Einstein, Mozart or Michael Jordan could benefit our society. They could teach us and help us teach our children, thus creating a stronger and healthier society  Ã‚  (Human cloning). Biologist hope that endangered species could be saved. They hope that through the research and perfection of the technology to clone mammals, preservation of endangered species will become available. Many other individual supports believe that with cloning, infertile couples could have children. Despite getting a fair amount of publicity in the news current treatments for infertility, in terms of percentages, are not very successful. One estimate is that current infertility treatments are less than 10% successful. Couples go through physically and emotionally painful procedures for a small chance of having children. Many couples run out of time and money without successfully having children (Human cloning). So a simple question to ask, how do the scientist themselves feel about the ethics behind cloning? The scientists of the Missiplicity Project (Missy, the first dog to be cloned in history, following Dolly the sheep. The project started with the wish of Missys owners to have her reproduced) answer to the question on ethics by saying that since they do believe in ethics, they developed their own Code of Bioethics. This code sets out guidelines regarding issues such as ethical treatment of the animals as well as the effort to minimize the waste of viable embryos or the destruction of flawed embryos. The scientists believe that cloning is definitely a new form of assisted reproduction, just as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization were new and criticized as ungodly in their day. People have very different views of what is natural. Embryo cloning still depends on a human egg from a woman and sperm from a man. Human embryo cloning just tweaks apart a zygote at the two-cell stage, changing a single two-cell form of life into two one-cell forms of life. One can argue that God did not intend cloning to be done. But the same argument was used, largely in the past, to oppose such techniques as in vitro fertilization. It all depends upon what one is used to, and what one considers being natural(Jesse Rainbow). Some claim that cloned humans may be born without souls. They speculate that the soul enters the body when a sperm fertilizes an ovum. Since there is no sperm involved in cloning, perhaps the fetus would develop without a soul. There is no way to know whether a soul is present; it has no weight, it cannot be seen, touched, smelled, heard, or detected in any other way. In fact, many people believe that souls do not exist. Speculation on this topic can never be resolved. The final moral question raised by cloning is this: who is to be held responsible for taking care of this new life? The person whose genetic material is being used could easily be separate from the clone and claim no responsibility, as does a sperm donor. The person involved in giving birth to the child could also claim no responsibility since she is merely a surrogate. Human cloning is dangerous to society. The moral implications and the psychological ramifications toward clones and their progenitors only add to the urgency for many to want to permanently ban cloning. Many who picture cloning as immoral imagine a person cloning him or herself so that the clone could be robbed for a needed organ. This argument is irrelevant; one has to separate possible abuses of a technology from the debate over whether a technology is moral. Quantum physics is not immoral because it has been used to design nuclear weapons. The Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II made a recent statement against cloning of all life forms. The Vatican issued statement specifically condemning the cloning of humans but has not come out officially against cloning of other animals.   If God had wanted us to clone ourselves, he would have given us a way for a-sexual reproduction. But because we were made to reproduce bi-sexually, this is the only way we should continue to do so.   However, in contrast to the opinions of their peers, some Jewish and Muslim religious leaders testified before the National Bioethics Advisory Commission that they feel that embryo and cloning research might provide discoveries that would lead to an appropriate way to counter infertility (Jesse Rainbow). On August 29th 2000 Pope John Paul II addressed the International Congress on Transplants. He commented that medical methods that fail to respect the dignity and value of the person must always be avoided. I am thinking in particular of attempts a t human cloning with a view to obtaining organs for transplants: these techniques, insofar as they involve the manipulation and destruction of human embryos, are not morally acceptable, even when their proposed goal is good in itself (Pope Paul II). On the same note, scientists are attempting to create transgenic pigs, which have human genes. Their heart, liver or kidneys might be useable as organ transplants in humans. This would save many lives. Thousands of people die each year waiting for available human organs if this is achieved, transgenic animals could be cloned to produce as many organs as are needed (Cloning Debate). A thought we as humans must explore is can we live with ourselves if we set ideal while men, women and children are dieing all over the world from dieses. Dont we have a moral and ethical obligation to not just our county but to our selves to strive and find not just answers, but antidotes to diseases such as cancer, Parkinsons, and Alzheimer? How do you feel about it, does the end really justify the means? So with so much debate and so much controversy, what could possible cause a human to want to clone another living life? Where is the logic behind all this madness, is trying to clone mammals a logical idea? Scientists hope that one day therapeutic cloning can be used to generate tissues and organs for transplants. So that it may some day be used in humans to produce whole organs from single cells or to produce healthy cells that can replace damaged cells in degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers or Parkinsons. To do this, DNA would be extracted from the person in need of a transplant and inserted into an enucleated egg. After the egg containing the patients DNA starts to divide, embryonic stem cells that can be transformed into any type of tissue would be harvested. The stem cells would be used to generate an organ or tissue that is a genetic match to the recipient. In theory, the cloned organ could then be transplanted into the patient without the risk of tissue rejection. If organs could be generated from cloned human embryos, the need for organ donation could be significantly reduced (Cloning Fact Sheet). The British Organ Donor Society (BODY) supports cloning efforts to relieve the strain of the lack of organs that are available. Cloning technology is expected to aid the result in several medical breakthroughs.   It is thought that there may one day be a cure for cancer.   This is because the cloning process helps us understand the process of cell differentiation. Theories exist that if a cure for cancer can be found, then further testing may lead to a cure for heart attacks and cloning organs for organ transplantation. Scientists believe that they may be able to treat heart attack victims by cloning their healthy heart cells and injecting them into the areas of the heart that have been damaged.   The cloning of organs would eliminate individuals waiting on a list for an organ transplant.   Skin for burn victims, brain cells for the brain damaged, spinal cord cells for quadriplegics and paraplegics, hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys could be produced. By combining this techn ology with human cloning technology it may be possible to produce needed tissue for suffering people that will be free of rejection by their immune systems (Human Cloning). Biotechnology company Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (ACT), based in Worcester, Massachusetts, said the human cloning breakthrough was aimed not at creating a human being but at mining the embryo for stem cells to treat diseases ranging from Parkinsons to juvenile diabetes. Michael West, chief executive officer of ACT hopes to further treatment of ailments such as diabetes, cancer, AIDS, Parkinson s and Alzheimers disease . Megan Regan wrote to the Human Cloning Foundation for not help, but awareness. This is an exert from her plead to inform even persuade those against cloning I, too, was at first against cloning as I didnt like the idea of playing God. However, ten years ago I developed endolymphatic hydrops, which is an autoimmune disease of the middle ear. Since then Ive lost my hearing, developed balance problems and dizziness and there is no cure. As such I had to give up my job, which I loved; but worse was yet to come. I began getting bad headaches, blurred vision and pressure in my brain. I was then diagnosed with Arnold Chari malformation. Ive since had neurosurgery twice. Its helped but not cured the problem. Also I have osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, which likewise cannot be cured. So, to stem cell research, cloning and DNA manipulation, I say bring it on so people who, like me and in other cases worse off than me, would benefit from it. I dont want to live forever and become a superhuman through this technology. However, I believe I, and so do others, deserve a better quality of life. Might I add that healthy people who are against cloning would no doubt change their minds if placed in my position or in other peoples positions who see the great need of this technology (Hope). Still how logical is it? Reproductive cloning is expensive and highly inefficient. More than 90% of cloning attempts fail to produce viable offspring. More than a hundred nuclear transfer procedures could be required to produce one viable clone. In addition to low success rates, cloned animals tend to have more compromised immune function and higher rates of infection, tumor growth, and other disorders. Japanese studies have shown that cloned mice live in poor health and die early. About a third of the cloned calves born alive have died young, and many of them were abnormally large. Many cloned animals have not lived long enough to generate good data about how clones age. Appearing healthy at a young age unfortunately is not a good indicator of long-term survival. Clones have been known to die mysteriously. For example, Australias first cloned sheep appeared healthy and energetic on the day she died, and the results from her autopsy failed to determine a cause of death (Cloning Fact Sheet). Cloning may be good and it may be bad. Probably its a bit of both. The question must not be greeted with reflex hysteria but decided quietly, soberly and on its own merits. We need less emotion and more thought (Richard Dawkins is an eminent Brithish ethologist, evolutionary theorist, and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair in the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University). Due to the inefficiency of animal cloning (only about 1 or 2 viable offspring for every hundred experiments) and the lack of understanding about reproductive cloning, many scientists and physicians strongly believe that it would be unethical to attempt to clone humans. Not only do most attempts to clone mammals fail, about 30% of clones born alive are affected with large offspring syndrome and other debilitating conditions. Several cloned animals have died prematurely from infections and other complications. The same problems would be expected in human cloning. In addition, scient ists do not know how cloning could impact mental development. While factors such as intellect and mood may not be as important for a cow or a mouse, they are crucial for the development of healthy humans. With so many unknowns concerning reproductive cloning, the attempt to clone humans at this time is considered potentially dangerous. Cloning is definitely a sensitive issue that must be handled very carefully. Although cloning of animals has already been done, the human race may not yet be ready for the cloning of humans, regardless of the matter that it has already been done or not. There is no doubt in my mind that cloning has great advantages to it, but with it comes the fear that many lines may be crossed which should not be crossed. Scientists may believe that ethics may cease scientific development but with care and regard for ethics that are also within reason, I believe that this development will not be ceased. We have explored some of the major pro and cons in the controversial issue of cloning; from the ethical, morality and logic stand points we beginning to understand the sensitivity and grave importance of this topic. Now to say cloning is right or wrong is a personal decision. One that I hope I have shed light upon so that you might explore more the cause and effects of cloning the human race.

Impact of the Technological Advancements of Preserving Food :: Expository Essays

Impact of the Technological Advancements of Preserving Food The consequences of the technological advancements of preserving food in the early days of America are quite profound. In the scope of just 100 years, agricultural business went from being locally owned and operated where goods were produced and sold within the parameters of small towns, to an intricate network of business that spanned the entire continent. Most rural dwellers at the time were self sufficient forn the food that their land provided. This greatly affected the diets, outlook, and consumption patterns of individuals. With an expanded array of foods to choose from, Americans could have a more fine tailored diet according to their nutritional wants and needs. Abundance was the key term, and when there is abundance, there is bound to be creative forces working with it. Now that more food was available to the average person, cooking shifted from being a remedial chore of survival into an art, or hobby. In the late 1800's cookbooks became increasingly popular amongst housewiv es and cooks, which had an impact on what the family ate on a day-to-day basis. Gone were the times of eating bread, salt pork, and corn pone day in and day out, and in came meals tailored to creative tastes. Things like Texas raised roast beef cooked with apples from Washington and sugar from the West Indies was becoming more of a comman and appealing thing. Growing food markets also led to the decline of locally owned and operated farms. Families abandoned their backyard gardening in lieu of the quick and efficient market system. Local farms could no compete with the big-scale farmers outside of the city, who at this time began to seed the future for monoculture food where a plot of land is used primarily for growing one particular crop. With a declining number of people actually working the land, our internal biorhythm clock has been altered and re-adapted to the market economy. Instead of a crop being harvested a certain time of the year, people focused on the time in which the meat man or egg man was going to be in town. With refrigeration also came an increased knowledge in the field of food nutrition. People were becoming more conscious with what they put into their body and the farmers were there to supply. Studies by the American Food Administration began to come out more and more, informing citizens of the nutritional value of foods that influenced their buying.

Sydney Sheldon’s Master of the Game: Reaction

Master of the game is a kind of story that will make you see life from the other side. Sheldon is really is the best story teller. Showing the reader a sequence of event from the very root of the story. It really amaze me how he arrange the story. How you see or realize the transition of the story. We Just then look back and realize that wow, many things already happened but then you're not yet even at the center part of the book or you're not half way there.But theirs a lot to take in already. Sheldon will do that to you, or at least that's what I felt. The story then moves one hundred years back to Jamie McGregor. He leaves his home in Scotland for Klipdrift, South Africa in 1883 under the assumption that many get wealthy there by mining diamonds. He nearly dies making it there due to the only safe means there being fully booked, and Jamie nearly dies by taking the mail carrier which does not stop moving for two days.Making it there, he is encouraged by the town's bartender Smit to see the wealthy Dutch storekeeper, Salomon Van Der Merwe, for assistance in mining. Besides meeting Van Der Merwe, he meets Banda, Van Der Merwe's black servant, and Margaret, Van Der Merwe's daughter, who encourages him to get assistance. However, after nearly risking his life to find diamonds, he finds out that he has been defrauded and that the Afrikaans-written contract states that Jamie is merely a laborer for Van Der Merwe looking for a diamond mine and Van Der Merwe now owns the mine on his own.When Jamie attempts to fght back, it is revealed that Smit and Van Der Merwe are working together and they make Banda leave Jamie in the desert to die. Banda later revives and saves Jamie from being eaten by vultures, saying he believes Jamie will help Banda find vengeance for Banda's sister who died at the age of eleven after being aped and then eventually giving birth to Van Der Merwe's child. They plan an extremely risky diamond heist in the Namib Desert and make it out alive. Band a only takes enough for him to buy a farm and a wife while Jamie keeps the rest.Jamie, now rugged and unrecognizable, returns to Klipdrift after a year of being taken into the desert, where no one faintly remembers him and he goes under the assumed name of Ian Travis. By depositing his diamonds into a bank, the whole town recognizes Ian Travis as a wealthy businessman. Van Der Merwe takes an interest to Jamie/lan's plan o invest in a diamond mine, hoping to capitalize on it. With help from a reformed Smit, Jamie eventually makes Margaret fall for him and makes love to her. When they learn that Margaret is pregnant, Jamie tells Van Der Merwe the truth, and refuses to marry his daughter.

Admiral George Rodney in the American Revolution

Admiral George Rodney in the American Revolution George Rodney - Early Life Career: George Brydges Rodney was born in January 1718 and was baptized the following month in London. The son of Henry and Mary Rodney, George was born into a well-connected family. A veteran of the War of the Spanish Succession, Henry Rodney had served in the army and marine corps before losing much of the familys money in the South Sea Bubble. Though sent to the Harrow School, the younger Rodney left in 1732 to accept a warrant in the Royal Navy. Posted to HMS Sunderland (60 guns), he initially served as a volunteer before becoming a midshipman. Transferring to HMS Dreadnought two years later, Rodney was mentored by Captain Henry Medley. After a spending time in Lisbon, he saw service aboard several ships and voyaged to Newfoundland to aid in protecting the British fishing fleet. George Rodney - Rising Through the Ranks: Though a capable young officer, Rodney benefited from his connection to the Duke of Chandos and was promoted to lieutenant on February 15, 1739. Serving in the Mediterranean, he sailed aboard HMS Dolphin before switching to Admiral Sir Thomas Matthews flagship, HMS Namur. With the beginning of the War of the Austrian Succession, Rodney was dispatched to attack a Spanish supply base at Ventimiglia in 1742. Successful in this endeavor, he received a promotion to post-captain and took command of HMS Plymouth (60). After escorting British merchantmen home from Lisbon, Rodney was given HMS Ludlow Castle and directed to blockade the Scottish coast during the Jacobite Rebellion. During this time, one of his midshipmen was future admiral Samuel Hood. In 1746, Rodney took over HMS Eagle (60) and patrolled the Western Approaches. During this time, he captured his first prize, a 16-gun Spanish privateer. Fresh from this triumph, he received orders to join Admiral George Ansons Western Squadron in May. Operating in the Channel and off the French coast, Eagle and took part in the capture of sixteen French ships. In May 1747, Rodney missed the First Battle of Cape Finisterre when he was away delivering a prize to Kinsale. Leaving the fleet after the victory, Anson turned command over to Admiral Edward Hawke. Sailing with Hawke, Eagle took part in the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre on October 14. During the fighting, Rodney engaged two French ships of the line. While one pulled away, he continued to engage the other until Eagle became unmanageable after its wheel was shot away. George Rodney - Peace: With the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle and the end of the war, Rodney took Eagle to Plymouth where it was decommissioned. His actions during the conflict earned him around  £15,000 in prize money and provided a degree of financial security. The following May, Rodney received an appointment as governor and commander-in-chief of Newfoundland. Sailing aboard HMS Rainbow (44), he held the temporary rank of commodore. Completing this duty in 1751, Rodney became increasingly interested in politics. Though his first bid for Parliament failed, he was elected as MP for Saltash in 1751. After purchasing an estate at Old Alresford, Rodney met and married Jane Compton, the sister of the Earl of Northampton. The couple had three children before Janes death in 1757. George Rodney - Seven Years War: In 1756, Britain formally entered the Seven Years War after a French attack on Minorca. Blame for the islands loss was placed on Admiral John Byng. Court-martialed, Byng was sentenced to death. Having escaped from serving on the court-martial, Rodney lobbied for the sentence to be commuted, but to no avail. In 1757, Rodney sailed aboard HMS Dublin (74) as part of Hawkes raid on Rochefort. The following year, he was directed to carry Major General Jeffery Amherst across the Atlantic to oversee the Siege of Louisbourg. Capturing a French East Indiaman en route, Rodney was later criticized for putting prize money ahead of his orders. Joining Admiral Edward Boscawens fleet off Louisbourg, Rodney delivered the general and operated against the city through June and July. In August, Rodney sailed in command of a small fleet that transported Louisbourgs defeated garrison into captivity in Britain. Promoted to rear admiral on May 19, 1759, he began operations against French invasion forces at Le Havre. Employing bomb vessels he attacked the French port in early July. Inflicting significant damage, Rodney struck again in August. The French invasion plans were cancelled later that year after major naval defeats at Lagos and Quiberon Bay. Detailed to blockade the French coast until 1761, Rodney was then given command of a British expedition tasked with capturing the rich island of Martinique. George Rodney - Caribbean Peace: Crossing to the Caribbean, Rodneys fleet, in conjunction with Major General Robert Moncktons ground forces, conducted a successful campaign against the island as well as captured St. Lucia and Grenada. Completing operations in the Leeward Islands, Rodney moved northwest and joined with Vice Admiral George Pococks fleet for an expedition against Cuba. Returning to Britain at the end of the war in 1763, he learned that he had been promoted to vice admiral. Made a baronet in 1764, he elected to remarry and wed Henrietta Clies later that year. Serving as the governor of Greenwich Hospital, Rodney again ran for Parliament in 1768. Though he won, the victory cost him a large part of his fortune. After three more years in London, Rodney accepted the post of commander-in-chief at Jamaica as well as the honorary office of Rear Admiral of Great Britain. Arriving on the island, he worked diligently to improve its naval facilities and the quality of the fleet. Remaining until 1774, Rodney was forced to relocate to Paris as his financial situation had collapsed a result of the 1768 election and general overspending. In 1778, a friend, Marshal Biron, fronted him the money to clear his debts. Returning to London, Rodney was able to secure back pay from his ceremonial offices to repay Biron. That same year, he was promoted to admiral. With the American Revolution already underway, Rodney was made commander-in-chief of the Leeward Islands in late 1779. Putting to sea, he encountered Admiral Don Juan de Lngara off Cape St. Vincent on January 16, 1780. George Rodney - American Revolution: In the resulting Battle of Cape St. Vincent, Rodney captured or destroyed seven Spanish ships before proceeding on to re-supply Gibraltar. Reaching the Caribbean, his fleet met a French squadron, led by the Comte de Guichen, on April 17. Engaging off Martinique, a misinterpretation of Rodneys signals led to his battle plan being poorly executed. As a result, the battle proved inconclusive though Guichen elected to call off his campaign against British holdings in the region. With hurricane season approaching, Rodney sailed north to New York. Sailing back to the Caribbean the following year, Rodney and General John Vaughan captured the Dutch island of St. Eustatius in February 1781. In the wake of the capture, the two officers were accused of lingering on the island to collect its wealth rather than continuing to pursue military objectives. Arriving back in Britain later that year, Rodney defended his actions. As he was a supporter of Lord Norths government, his conduct at St. Eustatius received Parliaments blessing. Resuming his post in the Caribbean in February 1782, Rodney moved to engage a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse two months later. After a skirmish on April 9, the two fleets met at the Battle of the Saintes on the 12th. In the course of the fighting, the British fleet managed to break through the French battle line in two places. One of the first times this tactic had been used, it resulted in Rodney capturing seven French ships of the line, including De Grasses flagship Ville de Paris (104). Though hailed as a hero, several of Rodneys subordinates, including Samuel Hood, felt that admiral did not pursue the beaten enemy with sufficient vigor. George Rodney - Later Life: Rodneys victory provided a much needed boost to British morale following key defeats at the Battles of the Chesapeake and Yorktown the year before. Sailing for Britain, he arrived in August to find that he had been elevated to Baron Rodney of Rodney Stoke and that Parliament had voted him an annual pension of  £2,000. Electing to retire from the service, Rodney also withdrew from public life. He later suddenly died on May 23, 1792 at his home on Hanover Square in London. Selected Sources George Rodney: Tactical PioneerRoyal Naval Museum: George Rodney Government House: George Rodney

Policy Program for Mt. Rossmoor Community College

Policy Program for Mt. Rossmoor Community College Successful development should not only encompass the growth of productivity, but should also ensure that the adopted pattern of growth is broad-based. This way, the management ends up with a variety of policy options that can be evaluated to select the best development strategy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Policy Program for Mt. Rossmoor Community College specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The selected strategy must tailor those policies to the objectives of growth and development (Kind, 2013). However, since the world is rapidly changing, the long-term development needs of institutions are often overlooked. Instead, prompt and drastic measures are taken so that the institution remains competitive and relevant to stakeholders (Borman Hewes, 2002). In the long run, organizations find themselves in complex situations that sometimes call for an entire system overhaul. However, it is important to point out that at tim es, the complex situations in which organizations find themselves result from external factors. Mt. Rossmoor Community College’s case is a typical example an externally instigated complexity. Unfortunately, the college’s management has to bear the burden of navigating it out of the delicate circumstance. This paper examines MRCC’s condition and outlines policy options that can be explored to move it forward. For Mt. Rossmoor Community College (MRCC) to be the fifth among the fastest growing community colleges in the nation, the management must have implemented some prudent policies. Therefore, the 24% growth is not only due to the housing boom as claimed, but also as a result of proper strategy formulation and implementation. Unfortunately, MRCC did not escape the tide of the national economic crisis that prompted the government to reduce its budgetary allocation to public institutions.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consequently, MRCC’s faces a 15% reduction in the financial support it gets from the government reduced by 15%. This adjustment is likely to affect the well being of all the stakeholders of the college. As such, the management must act swiftly to formulate new strategies and come up with a lean mode of operation. MRCC needs a new budget that will guide its new mode of operation. The new budget should outline how much the program will cost, give a forecast of its sustainability, and align the program’s implementation costs with MRCC’s fiscal strength. The stakeholders that are likely to be affected directly by such drastic measures would include the local community, the management, students, employees, the government, and suppliers. Students expect value in the form of proper service delivery since they pay fees. They gauge the level of service delivered based on the quality of accommodat ion facilities, catering services, and most importantly, academic services. The management for its part expects the college to run smoothly while the community expects transformed individuals who can successfully take up societal roles after training. For employees, the most important concern is that their jobs should be satisfying and rewarding. The jobs should avail opportunities for career growth and advancement. Suppliers, like all other stakeholders, also have their expectations. They expect their merchandise to be ordered and paid for in time. Finally, the government, despite reducing its financial support, expects the college to produce responsible and productive workers. To meet all these expectations in the face of financial scarcity, MRCC has to take some drastic measures to reduce its expenditure.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Policy Program for Mt. Rossmoor Community College specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Konzelmann (2012), austerity measures become handy when there is little money to spend. In other words, they are measures associated with cutting costs. MRCC will employ some austerity measures to help it go through the tough financial situation that it is in. Therefore, it will reduce spending on stationery, staff development activities, property maintenance, and student welfare. These measures are drastic and will undermine the interests of students, suppliers, and the staff, but for the sustainability of the college, they are necessary. The saved funds will facilitate the construction of new tuition blocks for new students besides cushioning the college from the adverse effects of the 15% reduction in the government’s financial support. Arguably, money in its own respect cannot improve the situation of an institution. This assertion is inspired by the idea that in the presence of abundant financial resources, poor planning and misappropriation of funds c an still result in poor school quality. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that sufficient financial resources are a necessary prerequisite for providing quality education (Baker, 2012). In view of this assertion, a small fee increment will be plausible. This increment will be factored in after lengthy deliberations with the concerned stakeholders because many students stand the risk of being locked out of the system if rush decisions are made concerning this issue. As a policy option, fee increment is considered plausible because it will bring in significant amounts of additional income for MRCC.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Cascio (2010), an organization that decides to eliminate redundant workers can do so using four strategies viz. attrition, voluntary termination, early retirement incentives, and compulsory termination. These four options are also at the disposal of MRCC if the above options prove inadequate. Attrition, in which firms do not replace the people who leave, is the most alluring since it does not directly interfere with the interests of the remaining workers. However, the management usually has limited control over the process. Therefore, it is not a viable option for MRCC because there is need for prompt budget reduction. Voluntary termination is another option that has the advantage of allowing the staff to opt out or stay. However, this approach may also be inappropriate for MRCC since no one may be willing to leave voluntarily. Early retirement in which an organization offers a generous retirement package to an employee who chooses to leave, is the third policy option f or downsizing the MRCC workforce. Its attractiveness is, however, reduced by the considerable amounts of money will be lost in the form of send-off packages. Compulsory termination, therefore, becomes the most appropriate policy option for MRCC because it gives the management direct control over the downsizing process. The management will objectively audit the needs of MRCC to ensure that only redundant workers are laid off. Weinstein (2008) notes that such audits are necessary to ensure that managers stay focused on the objectives of downsizing instead of personal preferences. This policy option will have an effect on the economic circumstances of the affected employees and the economic strength of the local community, but it is justifiable since it will protect the interests of MRCC. The challenge of navigating MRCC through this financial tide seems insurmountable. However, running the institution on a lean budget under the auspices of the proposed policy options can see it throug h the difficult time. Human dignity will be taken into consideration during downsizing because there will be proper communication with the affected individuals before the exercise is executed. Criticism and resistance are factors to consider during the implementation of the policies. Nonetheless, proper communication between the management and the stakeholders will ensure that a consensus is reached. The support of all stakeholders is crucial to the success of the whole process. As such, it is important that all the stakeholders reach a consensus before the proposed policies are implemented. References Baker, B. (2012). Revisiting the age-old question: Does money matter in education? Washington, DC: The Albert Shanker Institute. Borman, G., Hewes, G. (2002). The long term effects and cost-effectiveness of success for all. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 24 (4), 243-266. Cascio, F. (2010). Employment downsizing and its alternatives. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Pr ess. Kind, P. (2013). Disruptive challenges: Financial implications and strategic responses. Washington, DC: Edison Electric Institute. Konzelmann, S. (2012). The economics of austerity (Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge Working Paper No. 434). Web. Weinstein, B. (2008). Downsizing 101. Web.

Auntie Mame Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Auntie Mame - Essay Example Auntie Mame does not hide her lifestyle from Patrick, and she takes care of him with as much honesty and assurance, as she possibly can. Mame is appointed to raise Patrick by her brother as the legal guardian, but when Patrick arrives at her house, she is hosting a party for other people. She feels sorry about that, and she asks Norah, Patrick’s nanny, â€Å"But why didn’t you tell me you were coming today? I’d never have been giving this party† (10). After Auntie Mame laments on her mistake, she happily embraces and kisses him, giving him the reassurance that he is safe. Auntie Mame is also very proud to have Patrick around, as she goes around and introduces him to her guests. Her pride is apparent from her statement that â€Å"This is my brother’s son and now he’s going to be my little boy† (13). After Mame welcomes Patrick into her home, she apologizes for her mistake and promises him that they will talk more the following day. This relationship is an exemplary example of the importance of honesty, acceptance and assurance to a child. Mame does not want to hide anything from Patrick, and she readily admits that she has made a mistake for forgetting about his arrival and hosting a party. Her behavior also provides him with comfort and makes him feel cared for and safe. Auntie Mame and Patrick not only share a child-parent relationship, but also a youngster-mentor bond. For instance, Patrick looks up to her aunt to learn the difficult words that she uses in her conversations with other people. When Mame finds out that Patrick does not comprehend her words most of the time, she is happy to have the chance to teach him or engage in â€Å"molding a little new life† (19). She instructs Patrick to write all the words that he does not understand for later explanation. Patrick seems very excited about this learning process because he â€Å"immediately wrote down six new words which Auntie Mame said to scratch o ut and forget† (19). Patrick’s father stated in his will that he would like him to be sent to â€Å"conservative schools†, but Mame thinks that the schools are â€Å"dull†, â€Å"tiresome† and â€Å"tedious†, and she wants him to go to her friend’s new school since it is â€Å" Coeducational and completely revolutionary and all classes are held in the nude under ultraviolet rays† (20). Many parents or adult guardians give their children a strict education and make it an obligatory and tiresome process, but Mame tries to make education a fun and engaging process. This not only promotes Patrick’s willingness to learn new information, but it also increases his curiosity in learning about life’s experiences. Even though Mame faces many difficulties especially in regard to her financial problems, she does not give up taking care of Patrick. For instance, during the Great Depression, Mame’s investments fail, and s he can only have â€Å"two hundred dollars a month†, so she has to go to work in order to â€Å"keep Patrick in that wretched St. Boniface school† (40). Mame finds and engages in many jobs during this period, but none of them lasts long. For example, Mame becomes a copywriter at Vanity Fair and is fired due to inaccurate writing; she also works as a reader, but she loses the manuscript and gets fired. Mame keeps working and finding jobs to sustain her family until she meets and falls in love with Beau Burnside, who is a

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Answer questions - Essay Example The documentary includes various personal stories of individuals who have tried to fight the status quo in a bid to transform the health sector (Susan and Mathew, 2012). Question One: Importance of Preventive Medicine in Family Care Preventive medicine is at the core of the documentary. One of the objectives of the documentary is to encourage prevention rather than curing diseases. The current healthcare system is focused on treating diseases rather than on finding preventive solutions. This has resulted in Americans spending a lot on healthcare yet the condition seems to be worsening in recent years. The documentary reveals that the healthcare costs in America are rapidly increasing ad could reach an annual figure of about 4.2 trillions, which is about 20% of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in ten years’ time (Susan and Mathew, 2012). The film further reveals that the nation spends up to the tune of 300 billion dollars on pharmaceutical drugs and about 75% o f the total healthcare costs are spent on preventable diseases (Susan and Mathew, 2012). These preventable diseases can also be attributed to the rising cases of disability among Americans. The greatest importance of preventive medicine in family care according to the documentary would be a reduction in healthcare costs (Susan and Mathew, 2012). Americans would have to spend less on treatment and their lifestyles would be improved a great deal. The country will be able to save a lot of money to invest in other sectors of the economy. This will also promote healthy living among people hence avoiding preventable diseases. Question Two: Main Issues the Film Raises with Current Healthcare System The documentary brings many of the problems affecting healthcare sector to the forefront. It raises issues affecting service providers in all sectors including primary care and family care among others. The documentary describes the current healthcare sector as broken in the sense that it is pro fit driven as opposed to patient driven, and focused on quick fixes rather than promoting prevention (Susan and Mathew, 2012). The current healthcare system is portrayed as being hugely extravagant with many unnecessary expenses going in to health problems that can be prevented. The film also states that the current health system has failed to realize any tangible results since the health issues have persistently been affecting Americans with more people being disabled and more other suffering from weight problems due to preventable causes. Question Three: Ways in Which an Existing Practice May Undermine Patient Outcomes Patient outcomes may be undermined in many ways in the current health system. Most of the service providers are profit centered as opposed to being patient centered. They would rather offer patients short-term solutions so that the patients spend more on treatment at the service provider’s benefit. Question Four: New Approaches for Improving Patient Outcomes The documentary puts forward two main approaches that can effectively reform the entire health system and improve patient outcomes. These are putting more focus on high-touch and preventative strategies. An approach relying more on high touch will ensure a lot of attention is given to the patient and the service they receive through a more face to face approach that ensures there is an understanding between the patients

Banking Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Banking Crisis - Essay Example The crisis is thus perceived to have occurred as the result of exposure to Market Risks due to such risk transfer mechanisms (Banks normally are never exposed to market risks because they reply on internal systems in managing the credits) that caused many loopholes in the Credit Risk Management in management of lending to Sub-Prime customers. These customers are individuals or companies who do not have clean credit history or regular source of income. The Banks & Financial Institutions preferred to lend loans to Sub-Prime customers to avail the benefits of higher interest rates at a perceived calculated exposure of the investment capital to higher risks. To facilitate this in a secured and manageable manner, the banks & financial institutions used the mechanism of "Securitization" that essentially is the mechanism of distributing the risk of the lending to the investors outside the Banking system through a process. The process of "Securitization" resulted in the boom of Credit Deriva tive Market and was used extensively in the US Sub-Prime Mortgage Market by increasing the number of risky products but still reduce the liabilities on their balance sheets (thus shielding the same from external auditors). The money was shown to be flowing through so called "conduits" from investors to the borrowers through the SPV and SIV system. As described by experts the primary drawbacks that occurred in this process are poor valuations of assets acquired against the credit instruments thus resulting in uncertain asset valuation & high credit risk exposure that couldn't detect the imperfections in the Credit Markets. Even the external rating agencies got trapped in this mirage and couldn't predict the Sub-Prime crisis because the Securitization Process was extremely complex and the dependency was upon scattered and unreliable data outside the core banking system. Moreover, the Bank's risk assessment didn't demonstrate due diligence in screening the sub-prime borrowers and infor ming the investors about the associated risks in the so called securitized products. The overall system expanded uncontrollably and the competition became very stringent resulting in loans getting sanctioned at the flash of light and there was no time for adequate risk management. The actual risks ware completely covered under hyped data and analytics about the new credit instruments which, frankly no one understood correctly - not even the external auditors and the statutory & governance

Masks and Disguise Essay Example for Free

Masks and Disguise Essay In William Golding’s novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ and Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ masks and disguises are used to serve different purposes. Both texts use masks and disguise to allow characters to behave in ways that they usually would not or could not. For example, in Lord of the Flies, the boys go from being civilised to becoming savage. This is evident when it says â€Å"the mask was a thing on its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self consciousness†. The fact that the mask is â€Å"a thing on its own† shows that the boys, Jack in particular, feel as if they are not responsible for their actions because of the mask. This is supported by the quote â€Å"The mask compelled them.† It also suggests that the boys have become completely different people after wearing the mask. The word â€Å"hid† suggests that the boys are also protected from the repercussions of their violent actions because the mask creates anonymity. At the masquerade ball in Romeo and Juliet, people are able to speak openly to each other as their true identities are hidden beneath their masks. This is evident when Capulet says â€Å"I have seen the say/ That I have worn a visor, and could tell/ A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear.† This shows that Capulet was able to charm a lady with his stories with the aid of his mask. The word â€Å"whispering† suggests that Capulet’s action was something that had to be done with secrecy and that the mask allowed him to speak openly with the â€Å"fair lady†. Romeo, hidden beneath his mask, is also able to charm Juliet. This is shown when Juliet says â€Å"My only love sprung from my only hate! / Too early seen unknown, and known too late!† The word â€Å"unknown† reinforces the fact that people are anonymous beneath masks and are able to do things they usually wouldn’t. It also shows that Juliet fell in love with Romeo because she did not know his true identity. Also, if Romeo did not wear a mask, he would not have been able to meet Juliet, so the plot would not be able to move forward to reveal their â€Å"death-mark’d love†. During the time in which Romeo and Juliet is set, people often had masked parties as cultural occasions or for celebrations, â€Å"†¦the nuptial of Luciento†¦ and then we masked†. However, in Lord of the Files, masks are used to represent the removal of culture and the dehumanisation of the boys. This is shown in the quote â€Å"The forest near them burst into uproar. Demoniac figures†¦ rushed out howling†¦ stark naked†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This shocks the reader as the boys go from completely civilised children to savages. The word â€Å"uproar† makes it sound as if there is chaos on the island. The word â€Å"demoniac† shows that Jack and the boys have become the embodiment of evil, unlike their former selves. The word â€Å"howling† makes the boys sound more like animals than humans. It may also suggest that the boys have freed their inner beasts and that wearing a mask makes it easier for their inner beasts to come out. The fact that they are â€Å"stark naked† shows that they are not civilised anymore and have become ‘less British’. The boys are also hidden behind masks when they brutally kill Simon and behave like savages. The masks used during Simon’s death protect the boys from punishment as their identities are hidden so no-one can be held accountable. This makes the reader feel upset because Simon gets no justice. Golding may have included this to show that all humans have the potential to become uncivilised and evil, and to show that civility is what contains a person’s inner beast.

Market Oriented Development Strategy for Niger Delta

Market Oriented Development Strategy for Niger Delta ADOPT MARKET-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT. PURPOSE: To provide you with advice on policy strategy for market-oriented development for Niger Delta development and a recommended course of action. BACKGROUND: Conflicts in Niger Delta have generated domestic and international concerns. For more than 20 years, Niger Delta has experienced recurring conflicts often followed by violence which have been inspired, largely, by broad range of economic factors (for example, increased sense of marginalization, exploitation and injustice by the Niger Delta people, and increased poverty and inequality), political factors (for example, long-lasting corruption, mismanagement of allocated resources, and insensitivity of government to the needs and concerns of the Niger Delta people), environmental factors (for example, land degradation and other environmental disasters) and socio-cultural factors (for example, poor value orientation, particularly amongst the youth). Conflicts in Niger Delta have revealed a paradox in the economic development of the region. Niger Delta has remained the driving force of Nigerias oil and gas wealth, having the second highest recognized oil reserves in Africa and being the eight largest oil exporter in the world. Despite the abundance of natural resources, particularly oil and gas, in Niger Delta, and the huge amount of financial resource allocations from the federal government to, and financial investments by oil companies and donor agencies in, the region, Niger Delta has continued to produce disappointing economic development results. There has been a complete disconnection between the level of socio-economic developments in Niger Delta and the amount of financial resources that government, donor agencies, and oil companies operating in Niger Delta have invested in the region. These huge financial resources do not reflect in the living standards of the Niger Delta people; hence they have had insignificant impact on economic development in the region. The paradox in the economic development of Niger Delta has stimulated difficult development challenges, most especially as the conflicts between communities and oil companies, and government, as well as amongst communities, over resource allocations continue to manifest. Though the past governments have adopted many intervention programmes, through various government agencies, which have, indeed, helped to stabilize security situation in the region and created opportunity for economic development engagements, however, the fundamental causes of conflicts have not been tackled. The fundamental causes of conflicts reside in chronic poverty and inequality in Niger Delta. These are still largely deep-rooted in the regions checkered history of marginalization and deprivation, and are connected very much with the continuing forms of instability in the region. ISSUES: The key issue is the paradox in the economic development of Niger Delta. Development results in Niger Delta have been disappointing, despite the abundance of natural resources in the region, and huge amount of financial resources that government, oil companies and donor agencies have invested in the region (See Attachment A in the Appendix). Another issue is the continued difficult development challenges in Niger Delta, for example, administrative oversight, deteriorating socio-economic infrastructures, increasing poverty, inequality and unemployment, declining value orientation amongst young people, and long-lasting conflicts, despite governments interventions. These development challenges have continued to undermine intervention programmes by various government agencies. As a result, the fundamental causes of conflicts in Niger Delta have remained unsolved. These issues have revealed the imperative for a market-oriented economic development strategy. This is particularly important now that the security situation in the region has been stabilized to a large extent. The premise is that for the economic challenges in Niger Delta to be solved, development strategy needs to capture what the Niger Delta people perceive to be their interests, concerns and needs. The precept is that the federal government should focus on providing co-dependent elements of market-oriented development, for example, creating enabling environment for private sector participation in infrastructure development, while the private sector and donor agencies should assist the government in building the capacities of the Niger Delta people and strengthening the policymaking environment. ANALYSIS: Conflicts in Niger Delta have, historically, been framed on resource allocations. In all the conflicts, government has always been blamed for not returning to Niger Delta the proceeds that are derived from the sale of resources produced in the region. In recent years, as part of governments intervention programme to develop the region, government has set up agencies, for example, the Niger Delta Development Commission (in 2000), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (in 2009), the Presidential Amnesty Programme (in 2009), and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (in 2012). Through these agencies government has channelled funds for the development of the region. Available data shows that between 2010 and 2014, federal government has allocated about NGN7.4 trillion to Niger Delta. This amount came from different sources, for example, statutory oil revenue allocation, federal allocations to Niger Delta states, budgetary allocations to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme, and Ecological Fund, Pipeline Security Contracts for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, allocations from the Millennium Development Goals, financial contributions from international oil companies, and financial support from development donors (See Attachments A B). What these mean is that the fundamental problem with the development of Niger Delta is not lack of agencies to implement development plans, or allocation of funds to the region, but managing the funds allocated to the region. The processes for managing the funds allocated to Niger Delta have been deficient in transparency and accountability. The issues with the management of funds allocated to the region speak volumes about the poor governance structures and processes of various development plans. Findings from the reports published by the National Bureau of Statistics and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative between 2010 and 2013 have shown that there is presence of overlap and duplication of projects amongst agencies that are involved in Niger Delta development. The overlap and duplication are as a result of absence of a coherent development plan that is shared by the agencies. This has created inefficiency in project delivery, as resources are unevenly distributed. For example, while many projects are abandoned for lack of funds, other projects are duplicated. Other findings from studies done on states and local governments in the Niger Delta region have shown that there is lack of community engagement in the design and implementation of development programmes, as well as in budgeting processes for infrastructure projects. Many development projects do not include the preferences of the communities; hence the projects are often not tailored to the needs of the people. OPTIONS: There are three options to consider: Option A: Adopt a coherent market-oriented economic development strategy for Niger Delta development. Option B: Review the effectiveness of all the existing development plans that have been developed by various government agencies involved in Niger Delta development, and integrate the relevant initiatives into the strategy in option A. Option C: Recommend to Mr President to mandate all the relevant government agencies involved in Niger Delta development to collaborate and consolidate efforts towards developing the strategy in option A. RATIONALES: The current development plans for Niger Delta do not work for the vast majority of the poor people in the region because of the reasons (and more) stated in the analysis above. Therefore, the region needs a coherent market-oriented economic development strategy that will focus largely on tackling the fundamental issues poverty and inequality. Niger Delta development requires market-based systems that benefit the people, include the people in policy/decision making processes, have efficient governance structures and processes for managing funds allocated to the region, and can be sustained. The proposed strategy is not a new plan, rather an operational instrument, with a unified governance framework that is shared by all agencies involved in Niger Delta development, for implementing the existing development plans. To support Option A, the following cases are made: Case 1: Market systems must be beneficial to the poor: This makes the case that the market systems must be all-inclusive; well-organized; represent the interests of the poor; and sustainable in order to work for the poor. Case 2: Markets are integral part of peoples livelihood: The underlying principle here is that poor people rely largely on the market systems for their means of livelihood. Thus, peoples lives can be improved significantly through functional and sustainable market systems. Case 3: Social inclusion is essential for reducing poverty and closing inequality gap: This presents the case that the key to reducing poverty and closing inequality gap facing Niger Delta is enhancing the opportunities for people to participate in policy/decision making processes. Case 4: Access to the market systems: The guiding principle here is that access to the market systems creates an economic virtuous circle, where peoples standard of living is improved, productivity is enhanced, incomes are increased, food security is strengthened, and hunger and poverty are reduced. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The activities that will be carried out in respect of Options A and B will be funded from the budgetary allocations of the government agencies that will be involved in the processes. There is enough scope within their budgets to undertake the activities. Option C has no financial implications. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Honourable Minister is graciously invited to: Agree to adopt the strategy proposed in this brief to ensure consolidation of the gains from the stabilized security situation in, and development of, Niger Delta. Note that the proposed strategy is not a new plan, but an operational instrument, with a unified governance framework, for implementing the existing development plans. Agree to direct for a review of all the existing development plans developed for Niger Delta development. Agree to recommend to Mr President to direct all the relevant agencies involved in Niger Delta development to collaborate and consolidate efforts towards developing the proposed strategy.