The Armistice of 1850

The Armistice of 1850 With the belief of their young country’s â€Å"manifest destiny†, and victory over Mexico in the Mexican-American War, the United States of America conquered most of the western portion of their continent. While obtaining large territories of land through victories from warfare and at the cost of bargained prices, this proud nation found itself with an immense crisis sitting within the palms of their hands. As the improvement of the United States came through territorial gains, their triumphant progress was met with digression.Although new territories were under the possession of the United States, many leaders of this powerful nation were unsure whether their newly acquired land was fit to be a territory of free soil or slavery. While many proposed arguments for pro-slavery land, many counter acted with free soil proposals and arguments. During the year of 1850, the United States of America managed to ease the tension between those at opposite spe ctrums of this confrontation through the Compromise of 1850.Before the passage of the Compromise of 1850, many of the United States’ leaders found themselves at odds with one another. John C. Calhoun, a publically known pro-slavery Congressman, believed that slavery should not have been excluded from territories prior to admission to state hood. Calhoun thought that Congress did not have the power to regulate slavery in the nation’s newly acquired territories.In Calhoun’s Speech on the Admission of California- and the General State of the Union, he assesses the nature of the Union and the needs for its overall preservation. In the beginning of Calhoun’s speech, he clearly believed that the state of the Union was at harm due to its division, and was at the verge of great disaster and disunion. Although Calhoun did not provide a solution for the unity of the country, he did on the other hand argue that the power of the Union rested upon the Northern majorit y. At that time there was nearly a perfect equilibrium between the two, which afforded ample means to each to protect itself against the aggression of the other; but, as it now stands, one section has the exclusive power of controlling the Government, which leaves the other without any adequate means of protecting itself against its encroachment and oppression,† wrote Calhoun. Calhoun justified his opinion on the North oppressing the South through the South’s deprivation of territory in the Northwest Ordinance, the Missouri Compromise, and the Oregon Territory.Calhoun, like the other representatives of the southern states, realized that the institution of slavery would either have to be fought for or the Union would eventually abolish it. â€Å"It will be found in the belief of the people of the Southern States, as prevalent as the discontent itself, that they cannot remain, as things now are, consistently with honor and safety, in the Union,† stated the Congress man. Calhoun believed that the South had no compromise to offer to the North, but only that of the Constitution.The Congressman placed the burden and the responsibility of the preservation of the nation within the Northerners hands. Opposed to Calhoun’s view, Congressman David Wilmot believed that the institution of slavery should have been banned from all the newly acquired territory of the west. He was adamant that Congress possessed the power to regulate slavery in these new territories. David Wilmot’s Wilmot Proviso urged the banning of slavery within any territory acquired from  Mexico from the  Mexican American War  or any territory acquired in the future. Provided,  That, as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly convicted,† wrote Wilmot. Although the Wilmot Proviso was an unsuccessful amendment, Wilmot’s view of free soil became a rallying point for opponents of slavery.Wilmot was adamant that all land gained within the United States of America should be free of slavery. While Calhoun and Wilmot demonstrated the extreme views of the pro-slavery South and the free soil North, the Compromise of 1850 managed to settle the sectional divided views of Congress for the short term. The  Compromise of 1850  was an amalgamation of eight distinct orders which managed to ease the confrontation between the  free states of the North and the slave states  of the  South  in regards to the newly acquired territories from the Mexican-American War.The compromise was drafted by  Kentucky Congressman,  Henry Clay, in which avoided  Southern secession, reduced sectional conflict, and prevented civil war. The Compromise of 1850 allowed for California to be admitted as one of the States of the Union, as long as it was a free state. It also banned slavery in Washington D. C. â€Å"Resolved, That it is inexpedient to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. † This compromise also made Texas surrender its border to the Rio del Norte to New Mexico, and allowed Texas to transfer its debt to that the national government.The Compromise of1850 also prohibited Congress from introducing or excluding slavery from the nation’s newly acquired territory, and ordered that the territorial governments were to decide upon the issue of slavery. In other words, the new territories’ actions on the institution of slavery came from popular sovereignty. Although slave trade was prohibited from Washington D. C. , the compromise managed to preserve slavery, while demanding â€Å"for the restitution and delivery of persons bound to service or labor i n any State, who may escape into any other State or Territory in the Union†.Northerners became infuriated of the idea that runaway slaves, upon capture, were to be returned to their masters of the South. This precedent became known as The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This act became the sole prize of the South for their compromise in allowing the admission of California to be a free state. Not only did the South manage to keep their traditional ways of enslaving Africans, or African Americans, but they also managed to gain more power over their slaves.While many viewed the Compromise of 1850 with pleasure, William Seward opposed Clay’s compromise which managed to cause momentary peace within the Union. Seward found discontent with the compromise because it was founded on many unconstitutional grounds. Seward believed that the states were unequal due to slavery, and that slavery should not exist. He thought that slavery was unconstitutional whether classified as property or not, because â€Å"it is (was) repugnant to the law of nature and of nations†. In no way did Seward find the compromise constitutional because he felt slavery was unconstitutional.On the flip side, Henry Clay believed that the Compromise of 1850 was a chance for his nation to become reunited. He demonstrated this by addressing the president in A General Review of the debate on the Compromise Bills by stating, â€Å"I believe from the bottom of my soul, that the measure is the re-union of this Union. I believe that it is the dove of peace, which, taking its aerial flight from the dome of the capitol, carries the glad tidings of assured peace and restored harmony to all the remotest extremities of this distracted land. It’s clear that Clay believed the compromise was drawn out for the betterment of his young nation, in hopes that it would reconcile their sectional differences, and become one whole nation again. In 1850, many believed that the Compromise of 1850 had s olved the sectional conflicts between the Northern free-soilers and the Southern slave holders. Although there were those who opposed the compromise, for the time being it managed to ease the tension between a divided nation.Although the Compromise of 1850 was an act in which all parties had to give up important ground, it allowed the nation to momentarily fade into bliss for a couple of years. It’s hard to believe that the expansionists of our country would have predicted these problems while trying to improve our country. Our nation’s â€Å"manifest destiny† at the time seemed to be the answer to improve upon a young nation, but the newly acquired territories from Mexico only stirred up intense emotions and caused for greater division within the nation. Although the Compromise of 1850 managed to ease tension, it ultimately did not cease sectional conflict.

Knowledge to Assess Essay

Sources A and B agree with the interpretation that the creation of the Kingdom of Northern Italy was due mainly to the support of France with Source A arguably providing the strongest argument for this. Both the Sources confirm that France was committed to providing military assistance to Piedmont with Source A clearly stating that France has ‘decided to support Piedmont with all [their] power in a war against Austria’ and Source B backing this up by saying ‘Piedmont might rely upon our vigorous support if attacked by Austria’. Both the Sources also prove that French support was important as both Sources show concern for the diplomatic consequences in the event of war with Austria with Source A saying ‘provided the war could be justified in diplomatic circles and in the eyes of†¦French public opinion’ and Source B confirming this by saying ‘my first duty was to my country and its interests’. Both Sources are reliable as evidence that the creation of the Kingdom of Northern Italy was due mainly to the support of France. In Source A, Cavour is attempting to persuade the King to support war as Piedmont has the support of the French. The author and purpose prove reliable as at the Congress of Paris after the Crimean War, a healthy relationship was established between Piedmont and France. Cavour is right to say such things in his letter as Napoleon did in fact show a great enthusiasm for the Italian cause and was a dedicated supporter of the Carbonari in his youth. In Source B, Napoleon is attempting to gain support from Queen Victoria of England whilst not alarming her at the prospect of war with Austria, a country whom she was pre-disposed to liking. What Napoleon says in Source B is unsurprising and he is correct to say such things as 7 months have passed since the ‘secret meeting’ at Plombieres which was in fact no longer secret by now. Tensions had been raised and Napoleon had become alarmed by this. The author, date and purpose of Source B prove reliable in Source B as well as Source A. The importance of French support is also mentioned briefly in Source E where Victor Emmanuel states that Piedmont has ‘gratitude to France for the services she has rendered to Italy’ and makes a ‘sacrifice’ for France. Again Source E is reliable as  concessions in the form of Savoy and Nice were made to France in return for their support in the 1859 war against Austria. Arguably Source C also implies that French support was important in creating the Kingdom of Northern Italy. Piedmont are seen to be struggling alone and French support was therefore important in victories such as those at Magenta and Solferino where French military support was the main factor in securing the victory. To conclude, Sources A and B provide the strongest evidence that French support was the main reason that a Kingdom of Northern Italy was created with Sources C and E also backing this up. Source A and B are reliable, accurate evidence considering opinions from both the French and Piedmontese making this group in support of the interpretation very strong. On the other hand, Sources C, D and E disagree with the interpretation that the creation of the Kingdom of Northern Italy was due mainly to the support of France with Sources E and D providing the strongest argument for this and claiming Piedmontese initiatives to be of greater importance. Both these Sources state that the work of Piedmontese citizens were far more important in securing the creation of a Kingdom of Northern Italy with Source E clearly stating ‘central Italy has been delivered thanks to the remarkable courage of its inhabitants’ and ‘Lombardy has been freed thanks to the glorious exploits of our heroes’ and Source D backing this up by saying ‘Assemblies which now exist in central Italy’. Contrastingly, Source C claims that French support was extremely lacking and accuses Napoleon of inactivity and duplicity, forcing the burden of the war effort to be shouldered by Piedmont whilst implying that France were self-interested and enquiring as to what they would get out of it. Sources D and E are reliable as evidence that the creation of the Kingdom of Northern Italy was due to Piedmontese initiatives. In Source D, Walewski is warning the Piedmontese of the consequences of sidelining the French in the Central Duchies. Walewski is right to make such warnings as the French had concerns about instability spreading into the Papal States and that therefore the terms of the Villafranca agreement would be invalid and Piedmont would not be guaranteed the possession of Lombardy. In Source E, Victor Emmanuel is attempting to explain to the Parliament in Turin why he has ‘sacrificed’ ‘Savoy and Nice’. What Victor Emmanuel says in source E is also unsurprising as it is typical of him to make a Risorgimento speech crediting Italians rather than the French as he was a believer in ‘Italia fara da se’. The date of Source E also makes it reliable as in April 1860, the war against Austria had finished and, when compared with source C and D, Victor Emmanuel has the advantage of hindsight enabling him to comment on both the importance of Italian initiatives as well as French support, despite leaving ‘the services’ that France rendered to Italy undefined. However, Source C is far less reliable as evidence that the creation of the Kingdom of Northern Italy was not due to the support of France. In Source C, the English political cartoon is attempting to belittle the importance of French support by making the French out to look greedy. What the cartoonist shows in Source C is unsurprising as British hostility toward Napoleon and the French was rife due to the long wars with Napoleon Bonaparte which ended in 1815 and the bitter relations that then existed between the British and the French. To conclude, sources B and D, written by the French Napoleon and Walewski stress the importance French in regard to diplomacy and agreements made between France and Piedmont. Sources A and E however, written by the Piedmontese Cavour and Victor Emmanuel stress the role of Cavour’s diplomacy and Italian heroes whilst simply acknowledging moral and military support of the French. In summary, the importance of the French was an extremely important factor in the creation of a Kingdom of Northern Italy as France provided military support at the battles of Magenta and Solferino and gave Lombardy and eventually Venetia over to Piedmont thus creating a Kingdom of Northern Italy.

Socrates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Socrates - Essay Example Socrates uses himself as an example when he teaches that beauty does not guarantee happiness. True beauty is inner beauty, the beauty of one’s spirit and character. In conjunction with happiness, which was also a construct that Socrates discussed, he denotes that one cannot tell if a person is happy or not based on his external appearance, but happiness, like kindness, is a matter of inner qualities. His famous motto: â€Å"An unexamined life is not worth living† is a testimony to how much he values thinking and philosophy and the perennial introspection of why we exist. Constantly reflecting about one’s life and impact on others creates meaning for a person and Socrates encourages that we indulge in deep, critical thinking ourselves at all times. Socrates’ legacy is not volumes of his philosophical writings, but how he impacted the thinking of other philosophers. Plato described him as an â€Å"unambivalent† individual who stood clearly for some va lues and firm against others. For him, there were no gray areas2. As a sophist, or wizened people who taught valuable skills for a price, Socrates went against their practice and did not charge for his instruction3. He is considered a paradigmic individual who is known to provoke intense reactions among people – love and acceptance or rejection and exclusion of his ideas. Being so, he is very â€Å"influential as a teacher, adviser, social reformer or a significant religious figure†4. His words are powerful enough to strike one’s emotions and conscience especially with moral dilemmas that can compromise one’s integrity. He has been known for his discourses using questioning or the Socratic dialectic wherein he draws out the truth from people by asking them questions. He believes that each person possesses an inherent truth and it only takes deep questioning to let it out. In doing so, the person comes up with a clearer definition of a key concept from his own thinking. Socrates believes this as a more effective method of learning rather than filling up an empty vessel with knowledge, or spoonfeeding information. The Socratic method involves a series of questions until a contradicting view surfaces to oppose the initial assumption.5 His controversial style is unparalleled and can be considered too heavy for some people because he communicates on more than one level. With his Socratic irony, he maintains two levels of meaning – the literal or obvious level and the hidden or real level. People with deep wisdom can easily understand his thinking and realize that things are not always as they first appear. Sometimes, there is a deeper meaning that should be unearthed6. The inquisitor begins with a position of not knowing anything but leads the questioning.7 At times, though, he uses ambiguous, but well-chosen examples in his discourses. They may even be counterintuitive or poorly supported claims, but he uses them with discernment , knowing that it would bring about more thinking from his students and could be a better strategy in achieving protreptic and pedagogical goals.8 In this way, Socrates may be considered a unique kind of teacher who successfully keeps his audience at awe of his teachings, ever alert and vigilant for bits of knowledge they can gain from such a wise man. From his earlier interest in scientific theories, he moved on to thinking about the development of the moral character of a person.9 Having served as a

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Economics - Essay Example In micro-economic theory, the supply and demand model attempts to describe, explain and predict the price and quantity of goods sold in competitive markets. This model assumes that markets are perfectly competitive i.e. there are many buyers or sellers, none of whom have the capacity to influence the price of goods or services on offer. A simple supply and demand model is as shown below. The slope of the demand curve indicates that a greater quantity will be demanded when the price is lower. Similarly, the supply curve shows that as prices rise, firms will produce more goods or offer more or better services. The point where these curves meet is the equilibrium point. A market is said to be in perfect competition when no producer or consumer has the market power to influence prices. In such a market, prices of goods would instantly shift to the point of equilibrium as illustrated in the supply and demand graph. In competitive market economies, actual prices tend to the equilibrium prices at which demand equals supply. At the point of equilibrium there is no incentive to change either the price or the quantity. (Stiplitz J & Drifill J, 1993, p 73). Since the price is fixed as the result of interaction of supply and demand, nothing producers can do will aff... that there is no product differentiation. Perfect and Complete Information - all firms and consumers know the prices set by all others. Equal Access - all firms have access to production technologies, and resources are perfectly mobile. Free Entry - any firm may enter or exit the market as it wishes. Since the price is fixed as the result of interaction of supply and demand, nothing producers can do will affect the price and for every unit that sells results in a marginal revenue. They are in a perfect competition, price = marginal revenue = average returns (Whitehead, p 105). Demand has a very direct and immediate effect of prices since the supply factor will always have some lead time, i.e. till adequate stocks are built up or surplus stocks disposed off. This temporary shortage or excess has a bearing on prices. A temporary shortage has the effect of boosting prices, and under the influence of these profits there is an increase in production until supplies one again catch up with demand and until a new equilibrium point is reached, as shown in the figure below. Conversely a drop in demand lowers prices and eventually leads to decreased supply. Thus competition results in a higher output at a lower rice. Monopoly A monopoly is defined as a persistent market situation where there is only one producer of a particular product or service. They are characterized by a lack of economic competition for the goods or services provided including the lack of viable substitutes. As per the Wikipedia Encyclopedia, the primary characteristics of a monopoly are as follows: Single seller - single firm is the sole producer of a product or service. No close substitutes - the product or service is unique. Price maker - a single firm

History short paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History short paper - Essay Example The primary source indicates that during this time period, religion was prevalent and almost all France citizens and residents could identify with some sort of religious belief. The edict was basically addressing religious issues. The law outlines that during this time period, Catholic was the recognized religion, with most of the French practicing or being expected to practice Catholic as a religion, as provided by the edicts and statues. The Edict of Nantes also brought out the fact that identifying with a particluar religion was a cause for religious discrimination. The Protestants were not permitted to worship freely and in public. In addition, it shows that during this time period, the government was biased and did not serve its subject as equals. Apart from denying them their religious freedom, the government did not recognize protestant marriages and termed them as illegal leaving the children to be branded as illegitimate. This, therefore, was a hindrance to property rights and property inheritance. The increased level of discrimination and conflicts among religions resulted into violence in various regions. In France, for example, there were a total of eight outbreaks of violence as a matter of religious differences. The greatest being St Bartholomew’s Day massacre in Paris (Bramlett 2-4). The greatest issue that the Edict of Nantes intended to address was religious freedom. It indeed o recognize that France had many subjects who had different interests. These interests included issues such as worship and it was crucial for them to be allowed to practice what they believed. The other issue that the edict clearly brought out was that marriage had to be legal, regardless of ones religion. This was beneficial for the protestants whose marriages, as indicated above, were not recognized as legal. Legalizing marriages for all religions ensured that all children attained the right to inherit property. The edict, however, still emphasized on Catholic

The Future of Nursing in an Evolving Health Care System Research Paper

The Future of Nursing in an Evolving Health Care System - Research Paper Example The report recommended nurses to join the talks regarding the transformation of healthcare service delivery by giving them a greater voice and control in making reliable and effective decisions (RWJF, 2012a). The main objective was reforming the healthcare delivery approach, and ensuring patients received better and reliable care at much lower costs that they could afford. To make service delivery more affordable and efficient, nurses had to be the focus in all deliberations; they are much closer to patients in healthcare facilities. Such were the proposed strategic decisions to transform the future of nursing in improving healthcare delivery. The IOM report on the future of Nursing was of much importance to the nursing profession. Nurses have varying levels of education and competencies raging from the licensed practicing nurses, who in most cases are in contact with patients in nursing homes, to nurse scientists who are actively involved in research work on how to improve the care of patients and improving the nursing profession. The IOM report considered all classes of nurses across education levels, roles, and settings in envisioning the future of the profession (Institute of Medicine, 2010). ... Â  states, with regulations related to the scope of practice defining what activities a qualified nurse has to perform, all which affect different nurses in different ways (Institute of Medicine, 2010). Moreover, the recommendations of the IOM committee sought to improve the nursing profession by recommending that nurses had to achieve higher levels of education and training by going through a much-improved education system with seamless academic progression (Institute of Medicine, 2010). This was aimed at ensuring nurses are better equipped to deal with the rapidly changing patient needs, which are becoming more complicated. By advancing their academic levels, nurses would be better equipped to deliver high-quality care with competencies such as leadership, system improvement, health policy, and research and development being injected in the nursing profession. According to the Institute of Medicine (2010), the purpose of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action intended to guide the implementation of the recommendations by the Institute of Medicine report on the Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health; a report that was considered a blueprint in the medical sector. It was taken as the roadmap for future direction and actions in the nursing sector, towards making the recommendations of the committee a reality. The campaign aimed at enabling and preparing the nurse to lead changes within their areas of operations, advancing and improving the nursing education, removing barriers in nursing practice across the states, fostering an effecting interprofessional collaboration between various stakeholders, enabling an infrastructure for data collection in interprofessional healthcare staff, among other reasons (Institute of Medicine, 2010).

A Hole in His Parachute Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Hole in His Parachute - Essay Example On the other hand, stockholders are those that have shares in a company and are directly affected by the ups and downs of the market affecting their operation as a business. A corporation being a creature of law cannot refuse to abide by the acts of its incumbents as long as it is being provided by the general law in business and ethics. With all these said, the lawful and right decision of whether to give Knight the right to collect the balance of the salary from the corporation which Murdoch promised to give him while he serves as adviser to the newspaper company for five years strongly relies on the intricacy of laws behind the accountability of Murdoch, the new owner of Knight-Ridder Corporation towards his stakeholders, which includes employees. In this case, because Knight had a sort of proprietorship of the company because he is providing his services for it, he has the right to run after Murdoch and get his salary even when the company has already been dissolved before any amount was given to him. This is because of the fact that any company has the responsibility to be able to deliver on every provision that is stated in any contract relating to Knight’s employment, which would hold his right to be paid the exact amount in exchange for completed work, whatever the circumstance is. Another point that would support Knight’s right to demand his salary from Murdoch would be the fact that it is being provided in Corporate law that the property and assets of a certain corporation includes not only the assets of any subsidiary of the corporation instead the whole entity comprising the company, directly or indirectly, that encompasses corporations, partnerships, and its liability partnerships which is where employees fall in. Thus, the dissolution of the company does not dissolve its obligation to pay Knight what is due

Reflecting on the main issues affecting the international tourism Essay

Reflecting on the main issues affecting the international tourism sector and how these have challenged conventional forms of tou - Essay Example Section 5: How These Factors Are Being Addressed – This section discusses how governments are trying to tackle these issues. Section 6: Conclusion – This section gives a summary of the issues affecting international tourism. Section 7: References – This section states the sources that were used to come up with the findings of this paper. International Tourism Introduction International tourism is to a situation where individuals travel globally outside of their home country and region (Beaver, 2012). This refers to a short movement of individuals from their residential place to another region for diverse reasons such as recreation, business, health or other reasons (Beaver, 2012). Tourism is significant to the world due to the volume of income it brings to nations, and it enhances international relations the world over. International tourism offers tourists great services in the nations they decide to tour while they boost their economy. It aids in providing jobs to the local residents of the nations being toured not just in the tourism, as well as the service industry, but also in the manufacturing industry because many individuals return home with local keepsakes in hand. Tourists are more inclined to have disposable income, which they use in the nations they are touring (Lennon & Foley, 2000). ... Even with all the natural disasters, which have overwhelmed the world of late, as well as the tragedy of 9/11 and the 2005 London Bombing among others, individuals are still traveling the entire world to see tourist attractions and see what other nations have to offer. Other major issues affecting this field can be divided into economical factors, technological factors, political factors, demographic factors and cultural factors (Ineson, 2005). This paper will reflect on the main issues affecting the international tourism sector and how they have challenged conventional forms of tourism activity. The paper will also discuss to what extent responsible tourism presents an opportunity for addressing some of these issues. Economic Factors Intentional tourism can cost local governments, as well as local taxpayers, loads of money (UNEP, n.d). Developers might require the government to develop the roads, airport, railways and other infrastructure such as enhancing their water transport syst em, and perhaps grant tax breaks and other financial benefits, which are expensive events for the government. Public resources used on support tax breaks or infrastructure might decrease government investment in other vital areas such as health and education (Lennon & Foley, 2000). This, therefore, makes a country oppose international tourism. Raising the demand for basic goods and services from tourists will normally lead to price hikes, which disapprovingly affect locals whose proceeds do not rise proportionately (UNEP, n.d). International tourism and its associated rise in real estate demand have radically increased land values and building costs. Not

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 14

Personal Statement Example inance is to develop advanced mathematical knowledge and skills that will help me provide innovative solutions to the multifaceted economic problems in China. My interest in economics and finance bolstered during my junior year. I played with simulated stocks programs and discovered my proficiency in and enthusiasm for it. After completing my Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration and majoring in economics and finance, I found myself driven to work in the field of investments. I want to seek employment in an investment bank and serve as an investment banker. I see myself advising clients on high level issues of financial management, where I can recommend and carry out strategies of mergers and acquisitions and handle stock strategies for public selling. Most of all, I want to use my advanced finance and economics competencies to address poverty in China. I will use my graduate studies to research on financial and economic analysis and planning that will soon help me contribute to programs that can enable China to attain a more equitable distribution of wealth. I want to carve another milestone, where after acquiring my Master’s in Finance, I can help develop strategies for poverty alleviation measures. I want to integrate the Chinese rural poor into the world market, where they can tap diverse opportunities for growth. Your program will empower me to achieve my dreams, so that I can spread empowerment to others

Drinks that Influenced History and Civilization Essay Example for Free

Drinks that Influenced History and Civilization Essay The author describes the origin of six drinks that greatly influenced history and civilization around the world: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. He explains how each drink was the defining drink during a historical period from antiquity to present day. The fluids are vital because each had a role of shaping the modern world. They have been used as currencies, in religious rites, as a political symbol, sources of philosophical and artistic inspiration. Some have served to highlight the power of the elite, and appease the downtrodden. They connected world cultures by impacting trade, economy, religion, and politics. Beer was discovered through different methods of cooking and storing cereal grains. When the ice age ended, lands such as the Fertile Crescent provided abundant cereal grains. Such grains provided a reliable source of food, and the ability to store cereal grains began to encourage people to stay in one place. This resulted in permanent settlements as societies transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming. Although the residents of such villages continued to hunt, skeletal evidence suggests that they subsisted mostly on plant-based diets. Beer was shared, and it was symbol of hospitality and friendship. To Neolithic drinkers, beer’s ability to intoxicate and ferment seemed magical, and it was concluded that it was a gift from the gods. Beer-drinking cultures tell stories and myths of how it was discovered. Mesopotamians and Egyptians saw beer as an ancient, god-given drink that supported their existence, formed part of their cultural and religious identity, and had great social importance. It was consumed by anyone regardless of status, age, or gender. Beer impacted the growth and diffusion of the earliest civilizations greatly. The emergence of complex societies, the need to keep written records, and the popularity of beer all followed from the surplus of grain. It was also used as a form of currency and payment. Beer also had a direct link to health. Mesopotamians and Egyptians used it medicinally. The Egyptians used bread and beer in funerals. Without the discovery of beer, the earliest civilizations of Southwest Asia and Egypt would not have been as prosperous.

Responsible Travel To Natural Areas That Conserves The Environment Tourism Essay

Responsible Travel To Natural Areas That Conserves The Environment Tourism Essay Ecotourism can be seen as a solution or contribution to the problems related to environmental conservation, and also as a threat.  This is because by promoting the integration of locals and tourists to areas of high ecological value, such as natural reserves and forests, fauna and flora of these sites may be affected negatively.  In addition, ecotourism promotes the development of infrastructure and facilities that protect the activity, such as gazebos, trails, eco-lodges, among others.  Similarly, it is critical that only promotes local economic development. On the other side, ecotourism activity helps keep wildlife healthy.  Some places, like the Galapagos Islands, ranches in Namibia, wetlands in Brazil, among others, thanks to tourism and what derives from it, residents of such places are motivated to work for conservation, in the way to keep a tourist activity. Ecotourism is more than people visiting a new place, it has to do with the environment and the activities in which a person involved that may harm the environment. There are some objectives that were implanted with ecotourism: First of all, the most important aim that emerged from the implementation of ecotourism is that travellers need to be more aware of the environment and damage, their actions as travellers and members of the society on earth. The main objectives are to minimize the potential environmental impact on natural and cultural environments of sites visited.  Generate awareness about the nature and care.  Tourism experiences that are favourable for visitors and locals. Funds arising from these tourist activities to the preservation of the place are one of the ends sought to ecotourism, thus establishing the basis for the maintenance of ecological tourism and growth. Funds like these can improve economic development that can lead of having more activities and ways that tourists could use and admire the nature of the land without destroying it.   Another factor that usually does not consider is that ecotourism is a source of income for civilizations not too close to the cities.  Usually, they have the same attraction for a city because in reality, there is much to do in a forest or something.  But nature has much to offer as well.  So if the countries with the special nature can find activities that the public would like to participate, visit the site and those who live there are going to collect the benefits of nature. UN acknowledges in its report World Resources 2002, for the most part, nature tourism fails to meet the ideals of social responsibility implicit in this definition. It also ensures that you may travel destinations and are marketed as ecotourism opportunities to focus on providing accommodation to the environment more favourable to community development, conservation and tourism education.  Therefore, the reality of these trips is that they can sustain ecosystems and degrade at the same time.  Given that the majority of ecotourists come from North America and Europe and most destinations are in the developing world would be doing a damage to these countries if they do not get that nature tourism is  compatible with conservation. But the UN also recognizes that even some of the ecosystems that are carefully managed under the principles of ecotourism are showing signs of degradation.  To illustrate the dangers that ecotourism can lead to natural ecosystems, the UN report takes the example of the Galapagos Islands, a natural paradise and the nerve center of biodiversity.  Not surprisingly, half of birds, 32% of plants and 90% of the reptiles that live there do not exist anywhere else in the world.  At first glance, the report says, the Galapagos Islands exemplify the promise of ecotourism.  Each year the archipelago attracts over 62,000 visitors who pay to dive and walk among the 120 volcanic islands and ecosystems, among other exotic species, contain the turtles are named for the islands. According to UN figures, tourism in Galapagos produces up to 60 million dollars a year and is the source of income of 80% of its residents.  Since 1970, the number of visitors has increased tenfold, helping to expand the resources of the park service to Ecuador and create a model of ecotourism high quality and low impact.  However, when things look closer displayed the consideration involved. Thus, the permanent population of the islands has tripled in the last 15 years due to the arrival of immigrants seeking work in the tourism economy of the islands, which also leads to increased pollution and exploitation of fisheries resources.  And, contrary to the purport ecotourism, it is estimated that only 15% of the capital that is entered from tourism goes directly to the Galapagos economy. In some cases not even a single pound reinvested in conservation and tourist park management, but that money goes to government treasury or at the hands of corrupt officials of the park. Ecotourism Impacts The impact of ecotourism is not only economic, but socio-economic, since it involves the communities.  The achievements in the economic order can even benefit communities and areas of the country that usually are depressed from the position of economics and finance, but have very specific natural resources and with hospitable people, traditions and  very special charms. Ecotourism is also a channel to link the activities of local governments or municipalities with other state and society as a whole, but also engages the municipality with the outside world, thus breaking the isolation  internal and external know yet many of our communities.  In the United States of America, for example, has realized that without direct intervention by local governments is impossible to develop ecotourism.  Recall that in this vast country emerged from the beginning of the twentieth century, the first spaces and protected natural areas that would become national parks, without which they would have lost significant wealth who today are usufruct by the communities living in the vicinity  . In short, ecotourism is an important ingredient to strengthening cultural identity. The close links we forge between everything that defines us as people, that is our way of life and production, our culture, our identity, and nature is what will make us turn this activity called eco-concrete manifestation of that  symbiosis, as a social practice that opens new horizons in todays changing world, where the features that differentiate us from other countries are put in evidence and become thus a unique appeal to attract new tourists and  stimulate us. In short, ecotourism combines natural resource management, environmental protection and land to productive action of society, generating jobs, income and new procedures, forms and techniques of living and working in areas  rural and urban areas. As such, ecotourism is an economic activity, environmental and cultural battle against the scourge of poverty, social exclusion and the exodus that started the inhabitant of a town of traditions, and why not, to overcome their  limitations along with its people. Ecotourism development contributes to motorized, national and local, comprehensive and sustainable. Devastating effects from ecotourism Several studies reported any adverse effect on Environment ecotourism course offerings. The ecotourisms offers may be generated in many cases more harm than good for environmental conservation, according to recent scientific studies on various tourist destinations in the expanding mode that is presented by defining as environment-friendly and  lovers whose main customers are reported in Nature. For example, orcas living in the United States coast are struggling to communicate with the noise generated by boats full of tourists looking to find out, as reflected in a study by the University of Durham (United Kingdom) and the Whale  Museum in Washington and published in the journal Nature. As the number of killer whale watching boats has been increasing over the past decade currently 72 commercial ships and 22 small private boats surrounding the whales every day the length of calls of these animals has also  extended in an effort to overpower the engine noise.  The calls have duration of approximately 15% higher when the number of vessels is higher. Also, the British magazine New Scientist reported that the presence of tourists in natural environments of species such as polar bears, penguins, dolphins and many types of birds in animals generated nervousness situations that begin to result in difficulties  chronic for playback. The impact of human presence in the natural environment of animals may seem a priori mild or nonexistent.  However, small changes in animals such as rapid heartbeat, changes in hormone levels and alteration of eating habits are raising fears of long-term survival of certain species. A team from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) has observed the dolphins along the coast of New Zealand since 1996 and has found these marine mammals reach a state of frenzy by the presence of the boatloads of tourists, reducing or  virtually eliminating its quiet time. Also, Canadian researchers at the University of Manitoba have reported the saturation of photographic tourism with the polar bears as protagonists.  The presence of tourists in the bears habitat during the months of October and November produces irreversible condition for the animal, because in those months is bound to an almost total rest to preserve a surplus of body fat. Other examples of the undesirable consequences of ecotourism are the lower the weight of the baby penguin, and therefore less chance of survival in areas with presence of travelers because the parents neglect their offspring feed to be entertained  by tourists -, reproductive problems experienced by some types of pheasants in the Amazon, where it was found that only 15% of nests containing a baby in the areas visited by tourists, compared to 50% in regions  fully protected.

The Character of Dee in Everyday Use :: Everyday Use Essays

The Character of Dee in Everyday Use While reading the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, I found that I had a surprising amount of anger towards the character named Dee, or as she prefers Wangero. The anger that was instilled in me was caused by numerous comments and actions that occurred throughout reading the short story. I feel she was selfish, uneducated and unappreciative of her past and that the way she carried herself was ridiculous. Right from the beginning of my readings you are introduced to a character named Dee, before you ever get the opportunity to warm up to her character, she shows a very selfish characteristic and that trait is repeatedly brought out in the story. From the start, shortly after the introduction to her new boyfriend, Dee begins to ask for things. For instance, the desk and the chair, Dee wants to take them to help spice up her and Hakim the Barber's house when those objects are still in "everyday use" in their own home. Another instance is when she asks her mother for the quilts her grandmother had quilted, her mother said they were for Maggie (Dee's sister), Dee's reply was that Maggie wouldn't appreciate the quilts and Maggie, being the beautiful person she is, says her older sister can have them. Another reason I had feelings of anger for the character Dee, was that she was uneducated. Not the usual education, such as in college, because she had that, but the education of her heritage, or past. The second statement to her mother was when her mother says "Dee", Dee replied saying her new name Wangero, followed by the statement that Dee is dead and that she could no longer bear the name of the people that oppress her. At no point during the story was Dee oppressed or even mentioned being oppressed in the past. Then she tries to track back where her name came from, to show her mother it was a slave name or something along those lines. Her mother tracked it back as far as she could remember and no such thing was pointed out. To move on to another situation where Dee made herself look foolish and uneducated is, when they are leaving, she tells her mother that she just doesn't understand.

The Jungle :: essays papers

The Jungle From the point of view of history, The Jungle, is both a comment on and a product of its own times. Those times most definitely need to be viewed in relation to what happened in the last half of the nineteenth century. This incredible time period saw the making of great industries and great fortunes (for those who were in control of the industries). So far as the relationship between business and government was concerned, it was a time of laissez-faire, where government had very little to do with what business was doing. If as Calvin Coolidge said in the 1920’s, ‘the business of America is business,’ what did this mean for individuals, their rights and expectations? The Jungle appeared in January of 1906. It is completely understandable to me that the reading public responded to details on meat production and plant sanitation instead of the conditions of workingmen or Sinclair’s Socialist message. In turn, The Jungle helped to do something completely different than what the book’s author meant for it to do. The Jungle helped to push the Pure Food and Drug Bill out of a House committee and force president Teddy Roosevelt to jump into action. Roosevelt quickly requested the Department of Agriculture to send an investigating committee and through additional pressure, including Sinclair’s personal appeal, Roosevelt sent in an additional committee (Neill-Reynolds Commission). Also, at the same time a Beef Inspection Act was submitted in the Senate, all of this with Roosevelt’s complete approval. Somehow, when the meat industry found out about all this they were able to get articles published which defended present practices. Since Roosevelt was not able to exert the pressure he himself felt, he released a portion of the Neill-Reynolds report, which basically confirmed the truths of the packinghouse conditions that were depicted in The Jungle. It is my opinion that the fact that The Jungle could cause such a large industry to fight back powerfully attests to its own power as a persuasive medium. Upton Sinclair’s often quoted remark about aiming for the heart and hitting the stomach definitely rings true when reading The Jungle. Most readers mistook it for another muckraking effort, on unsanitary conditions in the packinghouses. If Sinclair had not written the last three of four chapters of the book then it would have read much more like a social protest novel. Most definitely the purpose of The Jungle is to promote socialism as the only answer to the wage slavery enforced by capitalism.

A Look into House Music :: House Music Disco Essays

A Look into House Music House music was first and foremost, the direct descendant of "Disco". Many older and wiser Chicago, New York and New Jersey House dj's will agree with me on this. They will acknowledged that fact that it was due to New York's, huge Disco club and music scene that helped to create the music of House and Garage and its culture within Chicago, Usa. Frankie Knuckles, the acknowledged "godfather" of Chicago house, got his start as a Dj via Manhattan, New York, Usa. Whilst there he was spinning Disco, Philly Soul records during the early 1970s with another legendary deejay figure, the late, great Larry Levan, New York. Disco, the music that everyone loves to "joke" about or "snigger" about had already been going on for 10 years when the first electronic drum tracks began to appear out of Chicago, Usa. A great Description of Disco can be explain to us like this. "The first days of Disco were filled with hope, and joy. The last days of Disco might seem very similar the fall of the Roman Empire". Disco music presided over a era of social change, such as War in Vietnam, the Oil Criss in the early 1970's, Economic recession, and also Improved social conditions with regards to the Black and Gay population within the Usa. Also Disco was the one music's that was to carry forward the ideas of the late 1960's "Hippy Philosophy" of "Making love not war". But with Disco music and culture it went onto carried on the Hippy philosophy of making love and not war - in more fun and acceptable way for one and all. If I do say so myself on a more grander and a more sophisticated level. On a musical tip, Disco, revoluntionise music as we used to view it. It also changed how we viewed club culture today around the world. Disco music and culture helped change how radio programing was to be done in the future, and lastly it had a important effect on how the balance of power in the music industry had between the small independent labels and the major labels records. By the end of its regin (*Disco music) was also responsible for the commericial creation of the 12 inch single to be made available for the general public and Dj's alike. The "remix"that has become standard practice within dance music, and a new set of studio techniques were available for imaginative dance music producers that heralded from the Disco Craze.

Slumdog Millionaire Analysis

The film †Slumdog Millionare† tells a compelling story of an eighteen year old Indian boy from the dirty slums of Mumbai who manages to cash in the main prize of the TV-show †Who wants to be a millionaire?† Combined with the directing of Danny Boyle and co-direction from Indian Lovleen Tandan, this 2008 movie is a great mash up between Hollywood and Bollywood. The film based on Vikars Swarup’s novel tells a dramatic and romantic story with a twist of humour through a set of very cogent actors. The protagonist of this movie is eighteen year old â€Å"slumdog† Jamal Malik. Taking Jamal’s past in consideration, it’s highly unlikely that an uneducated boy from the Mumbai slums is able to reach the final question of â€Å"Who want’s to be a millionaire?† Some people aren’t happy with this, and he is being accused for deceit. This is primarily what we are being introduced to in the opening scene, and it starts off with Jamal being interrogated and tortured by suspicious minds who think he has cheated. The story then flashes back in time to the day he participated on the TV show. Shortly after the story takes a leap back to his childhood, where Jamal and his brother, Salim, and some friend are running away from Indian officers for playing of private property. Throughout the movie we unravel more stories of his life, which ultimately helps him win the main prize. As Jamal continues to answer questions, he looks back at his childhood. We soon find out that Jamal’s mother is killed and that Jamal is forced to live on the streets with his brother, Salim. During their stay at the reckless streets of Mumbai they meet a girl named Latika. The three of them is then later discovered by a man who runs an orphanage where they get shelter and food, in return the children is sent out on the streets during the day to collect money as beggars. As it turns out the man is not as nice as he appears to be and Jamal and Salim manages to escape, unwillingly leaving Latika behind. Once again Jamal and Salim are back on the streets. As the story progresses Jamal is portrayed as a person who never gives up on what he sets out to do. In this context, it’s his quest to find the love of his life, Latika. His love for her sets him out on a life experiencing journey which finally places him in the seat of â€Å"Who wants to be a millionaire?† His brother, Salim on the other hand is portrayed as a more dynamic person. In fact he is quite unreliable, he is not an evil person, but his selfishness and hunger for money and control hurts the ones around him, tearing him apart from his own brother and rescinding their connection. As stated earlier there are flashbacks in this movie, in fact the flashbacks are present throughout the whole movie. The fascinating thing about this though is how cleverly the directors have combined two stories running parallel to each other, making them crash together during the end and creating the present. This leaves the viewer curious how Jamal will answer the final question in an exciting and creative way. Through clever camera use and light setting, the film has an intriguing feeling to it. There is a lot of shifting between warm colours and dark colours, the latter mostly used in dramatic and scenes shot during the night. The warm colours on the other hand create a feeling of heat which fits perfectly to the setting. Also the music plays a big role in setting the mood of the film. The use of Indian music especially furthers the intriguing feeling. Focusing on camera use, it’s interesting to see the way the directors shot scenes from a children’s point of view during the flashback scenes from Jamal’s childhood. This gives the viewer a feeling that the children are small compared to the big wide world. Furthermore a lot of close-up shots are used during conversations which give the viewer the ability to see more detailed facial expressions which is something that pulls the viewer more in to the story. Also worth mentioning is the contrast we see of the wealthy parts of India compared the poor parts through the use of camera. For example we get an overview from the Mumbai slum during one of the flashbacks; this really helps stating that India has had an enormous economic growth during recent years. In my eyes the film creates a message that’s telling you to never let go of your goals, and to be optimistic and focused. Just because someone grew up with a poor and tough childhood, it does not mean that this person have a lesser intellect life or is worth less than you. Anything is possible, with good dose luck. Subliminally I think this movie also wants to show off India’s present economic situation compared to a decade ago and how India’s wealth has increased. Personally I really enjoyed watching this film, one of the main reasons for that is the way the story is laid out. It makes it exciting and it also blows some new life in to the well know â€Å"Who wants to be a millionaire?† It is certainly not the first thing I would have thought making a movie about. The fact that behind every question there is a story is quite exciting and it leaves me waiting for the next turn. On this foundation, I strongly recommend this movie to everyone.

Equal Opportunity for Financial Aid

Most post secondary institutions consider themselves to be equal opportunity establishments, although their financial aid system does not always seem to agree. In leaving my native country for university I have personally gone through the difficulties of trying to get financial aid. If you are an international student your only hopes of obtaining any aid are based on your athletic ability or your SAT scores. If we chose to come to America to get a university education, we should be treated as equals and allowed to apply for all the same financial aid that the American students do. It is every student-athletes dream to come to an American university. Athletes from around the world try to obtain athletic scholarships in hopes of getting the training and recognition to be able to go professional. Unfortunately not every athlete is able to obtain a full athletic scholarship, leaving the student to come up with the remainder. Not that we all deserve full scholarships, but in order to qualify for an I-20 student visa you must show proof of having 15,000 American dollars at your dispense. Once that amount is converted to Malaysian funds that amount is nearly $60,000, significantly more than ny American student needs proof of. The Malaysian government does not agree with giving of athletic scholarships, therefore they withhold any funding for student-athletes to leave to study in the United States. There is one source of financial aid for post secondary students from Malaysia, For students studying internationally, called the Malaysia Student Assistance Program. This is a near impossible student loan to obtain, it is available to students who's parents either make enough money to send them anywhere they want to go, or for students who could ot afford to go to university in Malaysia, therefore needing the athletic scholarships only offered in the United States. Being from a middle class family I, like many other Malaysian student-athletes could not qualify for this loan because of my working class The other option for international students to obtain financial aid from the institution of education would be from their SAT scores. The United States is the only country in which this standardized test is mandatory. In Malaysia the cost of taking this test is $100 American, which converts to approximately $ 400 Malaysian, the cost of aking this test restricts most people from taking it numerous times as we are prompted to do. I could only afford to take the test once, therefore limiting my academic scholarship American students also have to opportunity to hold employment while in university. International students according to the I-20 student visa are unable to hold employment. We are not given social security numbers or citizenship status, although the majority of us will end up acquiring a green card and living in the United States by the time that we are done our university educations. For the amount of money we are giving to the American economy one would think that they would be grateful and be willing to give back by helping to subsidize our education. We are forced into bank loans, and personal loans to pay for our education. The thought of living in debt for the rest of by life trying to pay back seven years of post-secondary education is absolutely terrifying. As well as the thought of only being nineteen years old an already being in debt, because I am unable to hold a job or obtain any sort of financial aid because I am not an American The Malaysian government has a right to withhold money from its citizens for leaving the country, as well as the American government has a right to only give to American citizens. I am just unsure as to why either country would want to with hold money from any student from any country. In a time where education is so important to the future why would either country want to hold its youth back. We would not be aiding or taking away from either economy by studying in another country. We aid the American economy by continuing our education here, and then we return to our country f origin where we pursue summer and winter employment, where we still pay taxes. We are not helping solely our economy of our country of origin, but we are helping a global economy by becoming aware of not just our country, but also other countries. We remain sheltered if we stay in one place all our lives, we need to explore and see the world, and we can start by going from our home country to another for post secondary education. The opportunity to study in another country does not come to everyone, but to those it does come to, it is a very difficult opportunity to pass up. If we are invited to this county to continue our education, why are we not treated as equals, both emotionally and financially. We, like the American students are just that, students. We do not come here because we do not want to study in our native countries, we come for the opportunity to experience new things, meet new people and become more educated, just like the American students. We do not come here to be judged or treated differently. We came to be treated like what we are, students, regardless of where we came from.

The Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy wasn't always a problem. Even a hundred years ago, men and women married and started their families young: life expectancy was far shorter than it is today; school wasn't nearly as important or widely available; and young families conformed to the established social norm. However, today in the developed world, teen pregnancy is a problem that causes a wide range of social and economic problems. The United States leads the developed world in teen pregnancies, with over twice as many per year as Great Britain or Canada, four times as many as France, and ten times as many as Japan or the Netherlands (Popenoe). As many as 34% of all teenage girls become pregnant at least once before they are 20 years old, resulting in an astounding rate of 820,000 pregnancies a year. Nearly all of those pregnancies are out of wedlock and unwanted and so about half of those pregnancies result in abortion. Poverty and race are correlated with teen pregnancy, too, as teen mothers are more likely to be poor and remain poor if they start a family. Teen mothers are unlikely to finish high school: fewer than one-third of teen mothers receive their degree and a mere 1. 5% receive a college degree before they are 30 (â€Å"The National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy†). Additionally, teenage pregnancies frequently result in short- and long-term health problems for both mother and child. Long-term social effects include the perpetuation of poverty and the weakening of the economic muscle of the nation; clearly something must be done to prevent teen pregnancy in the United States. Many people believe mistakenly believe that sex education and birth control distribution will solve the epidemic of teen pregnancy. The underlying message is that if the birth control methods and education fails, then at least the teen can have an abortion to prevent starting a family. Sex education focuses on safe sex: the proper use of birth control devices including prophylactics and hormonal contraceptives. Barrier birth control devices like condoms can prevent sexually-transmitted diseases as well as pregnancies. Many schools, community and health centers distribute condoms for free to encourage teens to practice safe sex. The birth control approach to teen pregnancy is based on an assumption that teenagers are going to have sex no matter what, because sex is a natural biological instinct or because of peer pressure. By teaching safe sex, teachers and parents feel that at least they are minimizing the chances of causing a pregnancy or spreading a sexually transmitted disease. Sex education also eliminates the need to address the complex moral and psychological issues associated with teen pregnancy: issues that are controversial politically and difficult to discuss. In spite of the rationale behind the prophylactic approach to teen pregnancy, distributing birth control freely to teenagers will fail to solve the epidemic and in fact contributes to the problem of teen pregnancy. Telling teens that they should use birth control and then handing them birth control devices is frankly condoning and even encouraging premarital teen sex. The practice is irresponsible and irrational, because teen pregnancies are far more common now than they were in the 1960s, when birth control and sex education were not a part of the school curriculum. Moreover, sex education starts at a young age, in many cases before the young person is even interested in having sex, increasing the likelihood of misunderstanding, misinterpreting, or misapplying the information. In many cases students do not pay attention either. Contrary to what many people believe, teenagers in the modern industrialized world do not have the mental or emotional maturity to understand the ramifications of sexual intercourse. In the old days, teens married young and their pregnancies usually occurred within wedlock and in a socially-sanctioned setting. Now, teen pregnancies lead to social and economic problems. Furthermore, all birth control devices fail occasionally and many are difficult to use properly by adults, let alone inexperienced teens. At least half of all teen pregnancies result in abortion, which many teens begin to view as a form of backup birth control. The emphasis on birth control and sex education compound the underlying moral degeneracy that causes teen pregnancy in the United States, contributing to racial, gender, and social inequity, to poverty as to the denigration of life. Teaching abstinence is the only meaningful way to reduce teen pregnancy because teaching abstinence addresses the root causes of the problem and provides an effective long-term solution. Abstinence is not a religious idea or a superstitious idea; abstinence is a practical solution to a serious problem. Parents and teachers should teach abstinence first, before they teach children about birth control. Teaching abstinence now won't be easy because teens expect to have sex and because the media targeted at teens reinforces a view that having sex is normal, cool, and healthy. A message of abstinence goes against what teens see on television so many teens as well as adults may resist the idea. The idea of abstinence may be linked to religious beliefs and therefore many will construe the teaching as being biased. It's not biased. Teaching abstinence is a universal, practical, simple way to prevent teen pregnancies and the concurrent health, social, and economic problems that go along with it. Teaching abstinence requires a two-fold plan. First, abstinence must be taught from an early age, in school and at home. Second, abstinence teaching must be continued throughout junior and high school and reinforced through community messages and outreach. Teaching abstinence from an early age ensures that the individual will develop an emotional and cognitive framework that will last through their lives. When taught from an early age, abstinence becomes the norm, replacing sexual promiscuity or experimentation as the norm. Teaching abstinence at a young age, from late elementary school, is inexpensive and easy, requiring no special materials or funding. The education does not need to be presented from a religious perspective, but young students should learn about the moral and social ramifications of pregnancy so that they can independently choose abstinence when they reach puberty. Abstinence is a preventative teaching that must be reinforced throughout the pre-teen and teen years. Because they are influenced heavily by the media and by their peers, teenagers must receive continual guidance and support, and regular exposure to the message of abstinence. Therefore, abstinence education must continue into junior high and high school, if not in a formal class setting than through posters, pamphlets, and other accessible material. Parents must also participate by regularly talking to their teenage children, asking them questions about their social life, answering the teen's questions as honestly and frankly as possible. Basically, abstinence must become a state of mind, a new social norm. Reducing the alarming and embarrassingly high rate of American teen pregnancies requires not a more aggressive birth control campaign but a more systematic abstinence campaign. If we fail to teach abstinence soon, from an early age, and systematically, then teen pregnancies will continue to plague young American women, contributing to social and economic injustice as well as widespread health issues. All Americans can see the negative of teen pregnancy; it is a problem shared by all of us and therefore all of us are responsible for changing the underlying social norms that contribute to the problem and promoting abstinence.

Discuss the themes of identity explored Essay

Identity is made up of individual characteristics by which a person is recognized individually, as a member of a group, and of a wider society. We can draw this identity from our environment and setting, other individuals, memory, and also by contrast and similarities. Identity is needed to give people the ability to know who they are and to exude their individuality, as a form of existence, upon others. The forms of identity explored in these two plays are; the confirmation of identity and the sense of self. We can then maintain our identity by having physical identification and keeping personal relationships. The search for identity is a theme in Sophocles’ Ancient Greek tragedy, â€Å"King Oedipus†. Oedipus lacks sense of self because of a curse set upon him from birth. Before he was born, a curse stated that he would fulfill the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother. The play focuses on the gradual and delayed revelation of this oracle that he has already fulfilled. Moreover, it specifically focuses on Oedipus’ quest for his inner identity. In â€Å"King Oedipus†, Oedipus has drawn his identity from his surroundings. The setting of the palace, the riches, and the status define Oedipus, which is one reason as to why he is very confident at the beginning of the play. He also exudes confidence because he had previously saved the city of Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and became king. However, his confidence is ironic, because he begins to question â€Å"who am I?† as his quest for the identity of the murderer of King Laius is eroding his own identity. Therefore, the revelation that Oedipus was the man who killed his real father, King Laius, married his true mother, the Queen, and raised a family through incest, begins to erode his confidence. Further evidence of this loss of identity is presented, when Oedipus goes through this discovery that he has fulfilled the prophecy. After insisting on hearing the truth, again and again, in the face of reluctant tellers, and after calling for an investigation of La ius’s murder, Oedipus says:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Then once more I must bring what is dark to light.† This brave statement is ironic because it is not brave at all. The underlying meaning is that these words foreshadow his future blinding. It is foreshadowing because the investigation will reveal the dark secret of his incest, which metaphorically enlightens him with the truth, therefore giving him back his identity and individuality, but literally blinds him. This foreshadowing comes to the forefront when presented in the desperate tone of the comment: â€Å"Let all come out,  However vile! However base it be,  I must unlock the secret of my birth.†Ã‚  At this point Oedipus realizes he can no longer bear to look at his family, so he blinds himself by extracting his eyes with the Queen’s brooches. He is famed for his clear-sightedness and quick comprehension, which is ironic because he has been blind to the truth and is now physically blind. This blinding symbolizes that he cannot accept his true identity and has therefore lost his sense of self. The search for identity is also a theme in Samuel Beckett’s â€Å"Waiting for Godot†. The character Pozzo is constantly in need of confirmation of his identity, since he does not truly know whether he is recognised as an individual entity by those in his surroundings. The two most frequent characters, Vladimir and Estragon also need confirmation of existence. However, this is due to the fact that they are contemplating whether they truly exist. In complete contrast to these characters, there is Godot. He is a character that never appears, and rather than having his own obscure beliefs about his own identity, it is questioned by Vladimir and Estragon. Although, he does not have a search for identity, Vladimir and Estragon question his identity. A display of the constant need for confirmation of existence is shown through the character Pozzo. He attempts to achieve this confirmation through needing to be witnessed at all times. He demonstrates this in two ways: through material possessions, and through voice. Pozzo owns many material items such as a watch, a slave, and a food basket with wine and chicken, which is in complete contrast to the turnips and carrots consumed daily by Vladimir and Estragon. This contrast between Vladimir and Estragon and Pozzo provide Pozzo with his identity, and because he can compare himself to them, he knows he is Pozzo. He often consults his possessions such as his watch and his slave, he also pretends he has a need to use them like when â€Å"he puts on his glasses†¦he takes off his glasses.†3 Pozzo is lonely and starving for attention, which is why he strives for companionship in Lucky and attempts to stay as long as possible in Vladimir and Estragon’s company. A strong proof for this need of attention is presented in his â€Å"|terrifying voice|†;  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I am Pozzo! Pozzo! Does that name mean nothing to you? I say does that name mean nothing to you? †¦PPPOZZZO!† This authorative language is a faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade covering his insecurities with himself, as is his use of power and cruelty over his slave, ironically named Lucky. Pozzo knows who he is, it is evident in the way he informs everyone he is â€Å"PPPOZZZO!† However, he needs confirmation of his identity from other people’s perception, which is why he always consults Vladimir and Estragon, questioning, â€Å"I am perhaps not particularly human, but who cares?†5 In this there is a great lack of self-acceptance, which demonstrates Pozzo’s strongest weakness. Additionally, Pozzo wants to make an impression on whomever he meets so that they can confirm his existence for him.

Luxury as a Requirement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Luxury as a Requirement - Essay Example The joy and luxury only come about after a long battle for dynasty with the help of God to establish the dynasty. Only time can fade away the memory of the establishment of the dynasty, leading the new generation to forget about the struggle and spirit of togetherness leading to the destruction of the kingdom. Further still, once power is vested in a given royal family, it is passed over to the next generation granting them the luxury of leadership. At a given point after the establishment of the dynasty, the memory of the establishment will fade away. The fading of memory will give way for the people having a new look at their leader and his family. Resultantly, all members of the royal family are considered as leaders. The leadership is shared in the family with less support of the group feeling required, but rather obedience of the people to the government. The help of outsiders in establishing the government may be necessary to retain power. Luxury in the royal family can still be maintained by having influence over other nations in the neighborhood. In some cases, the group feeling of the leader is so strong that it attracts other nations to believe and trust in the leadership of the given leader. As such, when the leader desires to leave the kingdom, other nations embrace them and a re willing to submit to their power thus the leader retains their leadership position in a foreign land. Furthermore, religion has a major role to play in the success of leadership based on group feeling. The royal leaders derive their power from being superior as the people lift them up in the spirit of togetherness. However, it is not easy to divert the people’s mind from the pleasures and treasures of the world to oneness in the interest of the whole group. It is only God who is able to bring the people together in sound mind to disregard worldly pleasure and pursue the interest of the community,

Is todays technology having a positive or a negative impact on the Essay

Is todays technology having a positive or a negative impact on the live performing arts How should those arts respond to the changes being brought about by technology - Essay Example Recorded music, followed by radio, television, audios and CDs began to replace live performances and attracted audiences. But, there lies a paradox in this since even though the rise of technology led to a diversion of audiences from a more art based industry to a more commercialized form, even to this day people enjoy live performances. It is true that that rapid growth of technology has had both positive and negative impacts on the industry of performing arts. It is not really clear as to whether these impacts are absolutely good or absolutely bad for the industry. Most of the organizers in today’s times feel that technology is one of the biggest competitors of live art performers. In order to attract potential audiences for live shows, organizers need to compete with almost 3000-5000 both print and visual commercial marketing messages that a typical American citizen comes across every single day. It is hard for the live performing organizations to reach out to the vast expanse of the audience in the way technology based performances such as audios and CDs do. Today, people have become self-oriented and need privatization, customization and easy access to almost everything. Live performances do not meet such demands. Live performances are bound by number of performances, timing of performances, artists performance and even travelling to the set venue and parking. In contrast to this technology such as iTunes or YouTube and even the humble recorded music allows easy access to music and other art forms to everyone and the young generation especially is attracted to such commercialized forms which allows all types of flexibility to the audience (Cameron, 2011). This is perhaps where both accessibility, convenience and financial aspects come in. When the audience can freely enjoy performances through the television, internet or watch videos, whenever they want, at whatever location while paying almost a negligible amount for this. In

Any citizen who does not have a criminal record should be permitted to Essay - 1

Any citizen who does not have a criminal record should be permitted to carry a concealed weapon - Essay Example This can occur in the case an official is committing a crime against a citizen. Additionally, there are activists who strongly oppose the whole idea of citizens possessing weapons. The concern however is, should the citizen helplessly watch the officials use their power to mistreat citizens instead of working for them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the restrictions against ownership of weapons are still strict, the level of crime is still high. Most of the violent attacks are executed using weapons meaning that the criminals, who are still citizens, possess the weapons though illegally (Cothran 40). The government has not been in a position to completely provide security to the citizen; this is because of the long distance between the security quarter and the scene of the attacks. The security officials find it difficult to respond to a citizen’s security concern in time. As long as the security official takes much time, the criminals tend to have enough time to hurt the victim. The dilemma remains, should the government formulate and enforce more restrictions or should the restrictions be relaxed. The activists against the possession of weapons by citizens still hold strong to their belief (Lovelace 56). They argue that if a person is legalized to shoot in the event of an attack, this reduces the power of the law. The State government is left with no law to enforce. However, in this proposal, a clear explanation is given as to why a person should be allowed to own a weapon so long as he meets the qualifications given. While there is a need to legalize the ownership of the weapon by the citizens, some of the cases presented in court in past, have proved some of the people in possession of weapons use them in committing criminal offences. For instance, a citizen may use the weapon to revenge (Lovelace 39). A law to legalize carrying of weapons by citizens is a

Answers quesitons from video Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answers quesitons from video - Case Study Example such as test and bookkeeping, audits and reviews, client tax returns, strategic business planning, mergers and acquisitions, valuation, and litigation support. The firm has designed these services to ensure superior customer service and client satisfaction. Rosanne Ammirati, a tax partner with the firm, mentioned that even though the firm offers a number of services, it targets specific entrepreneurial companies in real-estate, personal service, and trucking industries. Katz, Sapper and Miller want to work with people for the long-term and provide services to specific industries where growth can happen in order to ensure a healthy business relationship. Neither the firm nor any potential clients would benefit from poor decision-making and entering a relationship that would not be beneficial for both parties. One of Katz, Sapper and Miller’s most successful business practices is in the form of recruiting and retaining new talented employees. College recruitment fills 1/3 of the firm’s annual hiring plan with recent college graduates. The firm maintains high standards for good grades, high GPA, passing the CPA exam when that is required, and that the individual has very strong communication skills and can interact well with the team and clients. The direct of human resources mentioned in the video that the employees can at any time be required to speak with presidents and CEOs of their clients. Recent college graduates must have strong communication skills and be able to interact well with these high-profile clients in order to be trusted to do the work of the firm. Through excellent business practices, and a philosophy that the firm comes first, the Katz, Sapper and Miller is able to retain over 90% of their current employees every year. This statistic shows that the compan y is an excellent company to work for and that the management team and owners support the work of the employees. Dave Resnick, the management director, stated that the firm has a

U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM EVOLUTION Research Paper

U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM EVOLUTION - Research Paper Example Health insurance association define health insurances the coverage that provides payments benefits as a result of sickness or injury in summary they include accidental death and dismemberment, medical expense, disability expense and losses from accident (David, 1999). U.S is among the world industrialized countries it is however, a country without a national healthcare. The U.S citizens are still strangling to have a national healthcare. This call for the private sector, individual and the government to find a lasting solution to healthcare reform. During the genesis of 20th century, the medical care was relatively inexpensive; there were progressive attempts by reformers to protect workers against both wage loss and medical costs which was formulated at around 1915. Despite a general mood of complacency during the 1920’s, started to emphasize the illness cost instead of lost wages and advantage for sickness insurance, this was mainly done to the middle class due to the inadequacy of rural facilities (Edwin, 1998). Multiple changes were brought in by the great depression that ended in 20’s, the main historical changes that occurred was the enactment of the social security act in 1935. A Roosevelt administrations push to include health insurance was however, defeated by internal government conflict over priorities. After the depression, more severe cash flow was created for medical personal. This resulted to hospitals creating the first structured pooled financing mechanism for health insurance, which was against the advance of insurance professionals. Blue cross shield insurance company offered private coverage for hospital care in dozens of states. The cover was mainly originally limited to surgical procedures performed in the hospital however, later expanded to office visits lastly evolved into major medical coverage (Edwin, 1998). Simultaneously to the events, employers started to

Classical And Scientific Schools Of Management Theory Essay - 26

Classical And Scientific Schools Of Management Theory - Essay Example The top management agrees on the objectives, and the strategies and tactics, to achieve the goals they set for the enterprise they lead, by employing a large workforce to produce the goods, and provide the services for consumers the world over. Management theory with the concern for how to get the most out of front-line workers in industrial and commercial concerns became very much a twentieth-century phenomenon. Earlier, following the industrial revolution, large concentrations of workers were needed in mills and factories to mass produce goods which replaced agricultural and craftwork hitherto produced in the small rural family or communal units. In those days the managers were authoritarian and tyrannical when slave labor or indentured labor including child labor at starvation wages could be deployed at the behest of the ruling, the capitalist class. The world has changed since, and owners of capital can no longer treat labor as a disposable commodity. Trade Unions, Communism, and universal education along with worldwide markets meant that the old methods of almost forced, the repetitive back-breaking labor of the ‘dark satanic mills’ could no longer be sustained. New disciplines like economics, psychology, and sociology sprang up. These social sciences were called upon to build theories of management and organizational behavior that would explain and help understand the dynamics of an ever more sophisticated and demanding workforce. Early theories of management exemplified by the work of Frederick Winslow Taylor (1911) had been described colloquially as the ‘carrot and stick’ approach. Taylor coined the term ‘scientific management’ for his theory which was later simply referred to as ‘Taylorism’. He sought to break down tasks to their simplest elements so that an assembly line robot could perform them without any need for thinking.

Importance of Shipping in the Transportation of Cars Essay - 2

Importance of Shipping in the Transportation of Cars - Essay Example Contemporarily, there are easily available cargo ships to transport 300 cars direct from Emden, Germany to Davisville, RI. The company that undertakes and supervises the whole shipping process of auto cars from Germany to the U.S is Metris Limited Company. The ship used by the company in the shipping processes is of the trump category that does not operate in a specific route. The company co-owned by a German business person together with two Americans from the state of West Virginia is easily available when contracted. The company has been shipping machines from Emden, Germany to Davisville for the last two years. The request to hire their ship is made one month earlier to facilitate legal and logistic preparation. So far it’s hard to quote the price. According to the policy of the Metris Limited Company, it negotiates their prices only after seeing and weighing the loads since they impose charges based on the weight of the cars for transportation. Secondly, if you make a longtime contract with them they will always allow 10 percent discount from the total cost to the customer. Therefore, it is more economical to make a long-term agreement with them to enjoy the weaver. They also take ownership of any loss incurred during transit of the cars from Emden, Germany to Davisville, RI in America as long as you attain the legal requirements. The remaining 50 percent of the payment is made before delivery and the rest made immediately after delivery. The shipping process takes the duration of approximately two months for the transportation and delivery of the auto cars from Emden, Germany to Davisville, RI. Hence, when making an order for the shipping transportation, it is essential to consider this time factor so as to adequately plan for the timely delivery and receipt of the cars. Importation of a vehicle to the Davisville, RI has a lot of legal handles and procedures. You have to subject a vehicle to several acts like the Motor vehicle Safety standards act 1966 and the clean air act of 1968 (Hinkelmans 272). The shipping regulations in the U.S require that foreign manufactured vehicles must meet the above standards. Destruction of vehicles is the penalty charged for failure to comply with the policies.

Nature Versus Nurture Essay Example for Free

Nature Versus Nurture Essay Nature versus Nurture The nature versus nurture debate has been one that has been around for centuries. This debate was spawned from the idea that nature and nurture are both pieces of the human puzzle. Are we as humans shaped because of our genes only or are we influenced by our peers and environment? The opinion of this writer is that a person is who he or she is based on both principals of nature and nurture. Personal Thoughts My thoughts on nature and nurture have never been explored until now. I have always assumed that I am who I am because God made me this way. Now that I have learned a bit more about this debate, I find that I am a product of both nature and nurture. I am tall, have brown hair, wear glasses, and speak with a country accent because of my gene structure given to me by my parents. The way that I act and my thought processes come from influences in my environment and the teachings of my family. â€Å"We are a product of nature and nurture, but we are also an open system† (Myers, pg. 167). This means that even though genes and culture are influences in a person’s overall structure, a person can defy each. For example, as a teenager, I was always pressured to go with the crowd and conform to their ways of thinking and acting. I wanted so badly to fit in and found it difficult because I was tall, lanky, and had acne which was all given to me by my nature or genetic structure. Growing up in a smaller town, teenage drinking was a pressure of my social group and while I knew it would be the â€Å"thing to do†, I opposed what culture was telling me was okay. I chose not to go with the crowd and for that, I enjoyed my high school experience in my own way. I was taught by my parents the consequences of right and wrong and knew that making such choices were wrong for me which was instilled in me through the nurture part of my makeup. God says Train up a child in the way in which he should go (Prov. 22:6) which must have been a very important verse as I was growing up. My parents and grandparents have always been influential in making me a self-respecting, confident adult who can make conscious decisions on my own. History The nature versus nurture debate first began in the 13th century in France. Our genes give us our internal imprint that tell us what color our eyes are, how tall we will be, and how big our feet will be. Our genetic structure makes us unique. Psychological influences refer to our beliefs, feelings, and expectations of life experiences. These characteristics are based on the â€Å"gene-environment interaction† and can give us â€Å"responses evoked by our own temperament, gender, etc. † (Myers, pg. 167). Finally, social-cultural influences are how society influences our development. These can come from our parents, friends, culture, and even gender. A person’s social-cultural influences can cause them to see people differently than they normally would. I could see this being the state where racism is influenced. Unfortunately, I see this becoming a bigger influencing factor in the years ahead and we, as a society, have many different cultural groups in our everyday lives. Conclusion In conclusion, the nature versus nurture debate can take on many different forms in how it is perceived. One could see that they are who they are based on their heredity while another could see it from an environmental viewpoint.

D1 Pest Analaysis of Tesco Essay Example for Free

D1 Pest Analaysis of Tesco Essay Social There have been many changes over last 40 years .Customer possess mobile and car, Tesco has responded to this change by developing extra stores with larger parks. Customers want one stop shopping. Tesco has responded to this by making sure that their stock has nearly got everything a customer might need. Over last 40 years travellers have been abroad to try and taste different foods. Tesco has responded to this change by increasing the range of foreign food such as Mexican, Chinese and Indian etc. Because of the large ethnic populations that have moved to the UK, this encouraged Tesco to increase the range of foreign. When microwaves were launched and people have started buying them. Tesco has responded to this change by introducing frozen foods. Political Customers are wishing to eat to healthier, Tesco has responded to this by making sure the products are healthy and by putting labels on the product. Customers want to shop more conveniently, Tesco has responded to by offering convenient time including 24 hour shopping and six hours on Sunday. Many customers do not want food that has been grown using chemicals, they want to natural food. Tesco has responded to this change by introducing organic food ranges. Tesco is restricted by law from growing too big.to overcome this they have begun to offer more services. Recession has been biggest political factor as a lot of countries suffer unemployment; Tesco has responded to this change by offering more employment as this will reduce the amount of people who are unemployed. Economical Customers want to shop in a pleasant and clean environment, Tesco has responded to this change by making their shops light and attractive. The government wants everyone to be environmentally aware, Tesco has responded by increasing the amount of recyclable packing that they use for their products. Tesco is also reducing the number of free plastic bags they give away. They have built small local stores called Tesco express to respond to customers’ needs to shop more conveniently. Tesco has responded to local needs by helping community projects. They have also responded to the large amount of people who are unemployed offering them employment this allows people to work around family commitment. Tesco’s prices may reflect inflation rates, an increase in inflation will Technology Customers have been using the internet as a source of information, Tesco has capitalised this by offering online shopping at www.tesco.com. mean and increase in prices and a decrease in inflation will mean prices reduce. Tesco is also providing through the use of online delivery services. Customers are paying with debit cards than with cash, Tesco has responded to this change by introducing self-service check outs. This change is much quicker and easier for the customers.

Marks Spencers Internationalization Ventures and Failures

Marks Spencers Internationalization Ventures and Failures Introduction For years, successful businesses have sought to increase their share of the markets by expanding their operations and by making their products and services available to a larger percentage of customers. Expansion is normally attained on two different levels, namely, local expansion and internationalization. Globalization, and the benefits that can be sought from it, has encouraged businesses to focus more on internationalization strategies as a means of expansion while ensuring that their local footing is firm and not marred by competition or other local issues. Marks Spencer, for one, has been trying time and again to expand its business internationally not only through franchising but also by opening retail stores (retail internationalization) in the most promising of all international markets. A look into the history of Marks Spencers internationalization ventures shows nothing but failure in almost all of its foreign markets leading the company to either exit these markets or p artially selling off its stores (Kollewe 2010). The report throws light on the issues faced by Marks Spencer in the past and also focuses on its current position in order to analyze the newly developed strategies for internationalization, whether or not it is worth the risk. It then follows with possible recommendations for the senior management of Marks Spencer while ending with a conclusion that, keeping in mind the present scenario, recommends whether or not the new strategies for internationalization are worth pursuing and investing capital in to help the company regain its market value and achieve growth. Marks Spencers Internationalization ventures and failures Over the years, Marks and Spencer has faced rocky business ventures in most of the foreign lands where it decided to expand its business. Marks Spencer has opened retail stores and franchises in many countries of Europe and also expanded its business to Canada and America. These ventures, however, did not prove to be as successful as was hoped by the companys management because they were seen as more of a distraction than benefit. The management at MS believed that these low-profit global ventures were making the management lose its focus on UK, the primary market of MS. The company has, therefore, been forced to resort to exit from the some of the markets and partial pullouts from others by closing or selling off 38 of its stores all around Europe under its desire to revamp its stores in Britain in an attempt to shift focus to the retail business of UK and its British customers. These pullouts have resulted in serious damage to the brand image of Marks Spencer as the company perfo rmed brutal overnight layoffs and thus causing widespread anger among employees and customers. These unannounced and abrupt pullouts caused displeasure among MSs loyal customers as they felt betrayed by the company for not being informed about its withdrawal from their markets. This deed of Marks and Spencer is going to cost it employee and customer loyalty in the future, if ever it wishes to step into these markets again. Employees would consider twice before accepting a job at MS while customers too would find it hard to rely completely on the brand. One of the major problems with Marks Spencers earlier ventures, as spotted by Bolland, was that it tried getting into too many markets at the same time without actually completing its entry into one market. It simply shifted its attention from one country to another in an attempt to capture more market share than paying attention towards maintaining a firm grip on the markets share captured already (Holmes 2009). This therefore resulted in less profitability and lower revenues causing the company to withdraw eventually. Current internationalization strategy Marks Spencers new Chief Executive, Marc Bolland, has set new strategies for the internationalization of MS. A new wave of international ventures has thus been planned in an attempt to restore the companys position in Europe and to reach out to the markets of Asia. Marc Bollands strategy of selective internationalization includes stepping carefully into international markets in order to avoid recurrence of failures that the company faced in the past. He has therefore, proposed India and China as the markets in Asia where he would introduce MS (Roy 2008). For this, he has advised a selected approach wherein only markets that promise a higher profitability would be tapped and there will be more franchises than company-owned stores. Marks Spencer has planned on entering India by partnering with the countrys Reliance Group while for China, Bolland has clearly stated that it would proceed to, and focus on Shanghai rather than the whole of China as China is, according to him, a group of multicultural countries that neither shares a same language nor a similar view on style (The richest 2011). The management has been advised by Bolland to make use of Chinese knowledge when establishing the companys presence in China. Bolland has also advised a combination of bricks and clicks in their new internationalization strategy due to which the company would open one flagship store in the capital, a few stores in major shopping malls while the rest of the operations would be taken online as these markets have high internet density and online shopping is not an alien concept for the people of these markets. The company has also planned on moving into Egypt by opening its very first store in the country. A combination of bricks and clicks has not been emphasized upon as internet has not yet gained much popularity in the country thus rendering too much dependence on online business useless. Egypt will not be, however, discussed in this report as the main focus of this report is internationalization with respect to India and China. The new internationalization strategies adopted by Marks Spencer seem very promising and indicate higher profitability and customer shares than the previous strategies adopted by the company. India and China are, indeed, densely populated countries where the rich have high purchasing powers and are more aware of and interested in international brands than most countries of Asia. These countries are also host to a high number of foreign travelers that would help the company gain more in terms of sales and revenues. Conclusion The new plans of international expansion undertaken by Marks Spencer are a series of carefully calculated steps that the company decides to take in order to prevent itself from stepping into the quicksand of failure. The company should, again, try to expand its business internationally so as to increase its business operations. Globalization is an important factor that successful companies should consider as it helps them gain recognition by people all around the world. It is about time that Marks Spencer starts focusing on internationalization as a means of expansion to avoid being forced out of the market by competitors. By moving into the markets of India and Shanghai, MS has not only targeted two of the most densely populated countries of Asia but also two of the largest economies in emerging markets. Investment decisions in these two countries hold a promising future for MS that would not only be promising but also stable. The consumer market of India is also a highly adaptable market. People of these markets are easily influenced and are more prone to shift towards international brands regardless of how expensive their products are. The market of India has adopted the concept of westernization more rapidly and it has gives higher preference to international brands than local brands. China too holds better future prospects as it has now become the second largest economy of the world (BBC, 2011). India ranks as the fifth largest economy in terms of PPP GDP (CIA World Factbook, 2011). Hence the company should proceed with internationalization. Recommendations Even though the market of Asia is greatly influenced by western culture, it is also inclined towards its own regional culture and traditions. In order to gain greater popularity among customers, MS should introduce a line of traditional wear in whichever region it is targeting to operate in. Choosing regional brand ambassadors instead of international celebrities would help them gain popularity faster and even increase their brand equity and credibility. This would highlight the regional emphasis in the brand more. Clothes should be stitched keeping in mind the size definitions of the region being operated in and not simply introducing apparel with UK based sizes. MS should opt for test marketing by opening only a flagship store first to see how well the markets respond to the idea of MS in their country rather than investing heavily all at once. Adopting cultures of the regions or sectors MS is operating in will enhance brand loyalty. The company should also merge into accessories and home apparels market for the sector. Giving options under a single brand increases the likelihood of equity and attraction of customers which will directly effect on the brand and sales. Since China and India are emerging markets, MS should focus more on the middle-class segments of these markets.