Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essays - African Writers Series

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart presents its readers with an African tribe and its culture. Okonkwo, a well-respected member of the tribe, has some very interesting attributes. Specifically, he has an undying desire to be manly at all times complimented by a deeply rooted fear of being thought of as weak. Okonkwo has a very short, violent temper that is immediately triggered in response to actions that he deems to be weak. Okonkwo basically lived by the phrase, act first and think it through later. Unfortunately, almost every time that Okonkwo lets loose his violent temper in his manly way, he brings trouble upon himself, as well as those around him. One way to explain his actions and the misfortunes that usually follow is to conclude that Okonkwo has bad luck. Another way of looking at this fact is to say that the events are a result of coincidence. However, I disagree with these views, and instead assert that Achebe deliberately made sure that after each of Okonkwo's outbursts, a tragedy befell him and those around him. I think that Achebe could have been trying to hint to the reader that placing too much emphasis on acting manly is bad. One example of Okonkwo's quick reflexes is seen when he kills Ikemefuna because he did not want his fellow clansmen to think that he was weak. After the Ikemefuna's slaying, Okonkwo is unable to eat or drink for two days due to the fact that he is upset over the death of Ikemefuna. However, he must fight against his manly pride, which reminds him that killing someone should not bother him. However, he has trouble accepting this, but must for fear of being considered weak, like a shivering old woman (Achebe 45). Another instance of Okonkwo's hot temper arises while he and some other men are locked up in a cell and Okonkwo reaffirms how he believes they should have killed Mr. Smith. A messenger overhears this remark and beats each of the men on their backs and heads with a large stick. A final illustration of Okonkwo's rash actions leading to suffering for himself and those around him occurs when he hastily kills the head messenger who comes to Umuofia to break up a town meeting. The m essenger is only able to speak 2 short sentences, before a furious Okonkwo assassinates him. This brings the ultimate suffering to Okonkwo, who hangs himself, as well as suffering for the rest of the tribe, who may not bury him and some of whom are brought to the court where Okonkwo and the others suffered earlier. In conclusion, Okonkwo's tragic flaw was his constantly flared temper, which was a result of a fear of being considered weak, or womanly. It was this temper that was constantly bringing problems to Okonkwo and others around him. In the end, Okonkwo could fight no more and had to take his own life. I believe that Achebe purposefully arranged the novel in this manner in order to convey that being manly is not as important as some believe it to be. English Essays

International Involvement Paper

International Involvement Paper Introduction During the first half of the 19th Century, America experienced no major involvement in international affairs. Most of the American expansion during this period was towards its bordering lands which were occupied and readily became part of the US. The last half of the 19th Century saw America’s expansion into possessions that were separate from the American continent. The United States was now joining a league of other countries, such as, France and Germany that were scrambling for the control of the underdeveloped world.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on International Involvement Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Imperialist America The period between 1890 and 1905 saw the US become an aggressive imperialist state. America engaged herself in several international affairs including her involvement with Hawaii and Samoa islands, the war with Spain and controversies over Cuba, Puerto Rico and Philippine (Brinkley, 2007: 559). Fear of dwindling natural resources was among the factors that motivated international involvement. Other drivers included the American politicians’ aggressive push for a foreign policy to address the bloody labor disputes amongst other humanitarian courses and foreign trade. Hawaii and Samoa The involvement with Hawaii is among the earliest of the American international involvement. The island of Hawaii served as a very important way station for the ships belonging to America in its trade with china. America wanted to establish a permanent base for the Navy and Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu. The number of Americans settled in Hawaii was also increasing and by late 1880s were dominating the Hawaiian economy and politics (Brinkley, 2007:442). These events were exerting pressure on the native Hawaiians who saw Americans as wrestling power from them. American penetration into this island state started as early as 1790 when the first Americ an set foot in Hawaii. Since then, many merchants, missionaries and planter settled in Hawaii and began devastating the society. In 1887, America opened a naval base at the Pearl Harbor. By 1890, most sugar plantations in Hawaii were owned by the Americans who depended on immigrant Asian workers. The rise of a powerful Hawaiian queen into the throne in 1890 who challenged American dominance resulted in the lifting of the privilege granted to Hawaiian sugar in international trade. This action by the US greatly hurt the economy of the Hawaii islands prompting American planters in Hawaii to conclude that the only option for them was to join the US. In 1898, Hawaii was fully adopted and became part of the US. During the period beginning in 1878, America was eyeing the island of Samoa with an aim of establishing a naval base at Pago Pago harbor. America successfully convinced Samoan administration to sign a treaty that granted US permission to establish a station at Pago Pago in exchange for the American arbitration of any difference that would arise between Samoa and any other nation.Advertising Looking for assessment on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Samoa also attracted other powers who were also interested in controlling her harbors. Great Britain and Germany too secured treaties that enabled them get privileges from Samoa. After a long intrigues between the three powers, Samoa was divided between the US and Germany with the US retaining Pago Pago harbor. The Spanish-American war The war between the US and Spain arose as a result of events happening in Cuba. Cuba was under the rule of Spain and since1868 fought in a bid to attain independence. Cubans again took arms in 1895 complaining of Spanish misrule. Both the Spanish and the Cubans side and the outcomes were devastating. Spain established concentration camps where civilians were confined and died in their thousands due to malnutri tion and diseases. This time round, the conflict received much attention from the press and shocked Americans sensibilities. Cuban immigrants flocked into the US and gave strong support to a party based in New York and also supported Cuba’s bid for independence. The rise to power of President McKinley in 1897 set the war into action (Brinkley, 2007:549). McKinley strongly protested the uncivilized and inhuman conduct of the Spaniards in Cuba. Fearing reprisal, the Spaniards agreed to modify conditions in the camps and to grant Cuba semi autonomy. However, a letter written by a Spanish minister and the blowing up of an American battleship in Havana harbor ignited hostility from America (Walter, 1963:425). Though at first McKinley was reluctant to go into war, there was push by others in his administration. A declaration for war was received in April 1898 leading into the ‘splendid little war’ as john Hay, the America secretary of state called it. The war started i n April and was over in august 1898 and gave the Americans the victory. The major reason for this fast success was because the Spanish were already weakened by the Cuban resistance. Immediately war over Cuba was over, the Americans the wrestled Puerto Rico and the Philippines from the Spanish rule. Conclusion 1890s was a very significant period in the American history as she plunged herself in international affairs. This era saw America acquire several overseas colonies. It was a period of the American imperialism that initially took the form of humanitarianism intervention. It is worth noting that the purpose of this international intervention was initially unclear. America became a new voice in international affairs and her decisions were listened to by other world powers.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on International Involvement Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Brinkley, A. (2007). Ameri can History: A survey, 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Walter, F. (1963). The New Empire: An Interpretation of American Expansion, 1860-1898. New York: Cornell University Press.

Hat do you think is the most important economic issue facing the Assignment

Hat do you think is the most important economic issue facing the United States today - Assignment Example aced in procuring jobs this summer, a widespread job loss is still being anticipated even in sectors that are showing promising growth such as manufacturing and construction. This has resulted in many people saving more of what they earn and spending less thus resulting in lesser growth rate. A good stimulus package from the government would help the people to get over the recession period. In addition, employment either on a part-time basis or temporary basis would also help the economy. Surveys have noted that people are opting for a lesser pay-package to boost their family’s income and to reduce debt rather than remaining unemployed. During the recovery phase a better salary package could be provided. The number of part-time workers has increased considerably over the pat two years as more people are opting for the same. More people are also opting for starting a business such as recruitment agencies which has an increased demand at present as more people are approaching su ch firms to help them secure a job. Thus it is vital for people to remain employed to help them during this time of recession. Meanwhile it is up to the government to spend wisely and release the stimulus packages to slow down the recession and boost the

Oral History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Oral History - Research Paper Example I thought that the best way to explore this would be through learning about her experiences with culture shock when coming to the United States. To do this, I knew that I needed to get to know Soo Park’s reasons for coming to the United States. This would have an impact on the level of culture shock she experienced and how she dealt with it. Soo Park was born in a rural area of Korea. Today, we would call it South Korea, but Soo Park never used this term. She insisted that there is only one Korea and that soon there would be no rebel government in the North of the country anymore. Her family was well off. Her father had a shop that supplied everything from fertilizer to small tractors for local farmers. Soo Park recalls that she was luck to have such a good man for a father. He loved her and never made her feel unimportant. In those days, she explained, the rural Koreans placed all privileges upon their sons. Soo Park’s younger brother was chosen to take over the family business at a young age. She said that it was typical for girls to simply prepare for marriage. But she loved school and was a good scholar. Her father saw this and arranged for her to go live in Seoul at a private school that taught in English as well as Korean. There were American students that attended the school along with Korean students. The only problem with this plan was that problems were starting in Korea. Soo Park was twelve when she was to enroll in the school. This was 1958 and Korea was still an uncertain place as a result of the recent war. There were any American soldiers in and around Seoul and many of the rural Koreans did not trust the Americans. Soo Park remembers her father speaking favorably of the American soldiers he had met, but still expressed concerns about them being in Korea. She remembers him telling her that the Americans would be here in Korea for 100 years. Soo Park knew that her father was a wise man, but she had no idea that his words would be so true. In 1964, Soo Park finally could go to Seoul to finish her schooling. Her father had kept his word and felt confident that his daughter would be safe for one year in Seoul. She earned the equivalent of her High School diploma and tried to learn some English, but found it very difficult. Soo Park recalls being so good at everything in school ex cept English. She was actually a better math student than most of the boys, which made some of them furious. There was one male student, Henry Lee, which was even better than she at math. They became friends and fell in love. She knew that Henry was going to spend the next four years in the United State attending college on a scholarship. She wante3d to go with him badly, but knew she could not. The next four years of her life were difficult. She lived for letters from Henry. He studied in California, but she was not able to attend college. Her mother pressed her to find another boy to marry, but she refused. Her father was sad because she was sad. She spent her time helping in the family business and writing to Henry. Finally he graduated and sent a letter that informed her he was graduating, had become a United States citizen and was going to work for a statistics firm in northern Virginia. He invited her to come to live with him in America as his wife. Soo Park arrived in Washing ton D.C. in 1970. Her father and mother accompanied her. She spoke little English and was completely unfamiliar with American culture, save the bit she picked-up from her classmates during her last year at school. Soo Park’s mother was glad she was marrying a Korean boy, but was disappointed there would be no traditional wedding. Henry, who spoke perfect English now, said that a traditional weddin

Managing and Working in a Virtual team Case Study

Managing and Working in a Virtual team - Case Study Example gain and maintain the trust of his or her charges, they must understand that trust depends on reliability, in virtual relations because there is usually limited personal interaction between members of a team. This eliminates chances of meeting and evaluating an individual’s potential or level of reliability. The only means to achieve this is to make sure that, as a team leader, you show team members that you are a reliable person by delivering on your responsibilities in time and in a competent manner, which serves as an example to the rest of the team. This will demonstrate to the members the level of quality of work expected of them, and this makes the team members respect and trust their virtual team leader (Lepsinger & DeRosa, 2010). Team leaders should establish guidelines in communication, which account for the differences in time zones, cultural and geographical variations between members. They can also specify the type of medium to be used when communicating to help av oid incompatibility and confusion when a meeting is about to begin. When considering how to enhance communication efficiency in a virtual team, a leader can consider creating team agreements on how and when to communicate across different time zones, team leader visits to the different members which helps establish engagements and trust by meeting the team leader face to face. A leader in a globally diversified team should formalize roles and duties of each team member starting with their own because this is the only way to ensure that the members have a clearly defined direction, which removes ambiguity in the roles that each member plays (Lepsinger & DeRosa, 2010). Staff changes on a virtual team can happen at any stage in the execution of a project, and how fast and effectively a new member is recruited and integrated into the team determines the successful completion of the project (Lepsinger & DeRosa, 2010). Integrating a new member, in the team, requires that the individual be

Concept of liberalization:

Concept of liberalization: Introduction: The early 1990s was an era of intense changes in the Indian economic system. The torrent of international companies that we see today in India was born as a result of the economic transitions the country went through in 1991. It was the age of relaxation of a number of rules popularly known as â€Å"Liberalization†. With liberalization, there was an increase in competition and certain categories were facing competition for the first time. There could be no lackadaisical attitude on the part of the companies existing pre-liberalization as the whole economic system was overthrown to willingly accommodate more players. Liberalization had far reaching impacts. One are which it impacted significantly was the arena of advertising. Organizations couldnt take their customers for granted as there were other organizations waiting to eat into their market share. Advertisements hence became a more incisive tool for organizations to make their presence felt and appeal to their target audie nce. It is this change in the pattern of advertising that this thesis wishes to track. Literature Review Exploring the Concept of Liberalization: â€Å"in July 1991 with the announcement of sweeping liberalization by the minority government of P.V. Narasimha Rao opened the economy dismantled import controls, lowered customs duties, and devalued the currency virtually abolished licensing controls on private investment, dropped tax rates, and broke public sector monopolies. We felt as though our second independence had arrived: we were going to be free from a rapacious and domineering state† Das (2000), on the reforms that originated with the July 1991 package announced by Manmohan Singh (Panagariya, 2004). To ‘Liberalize means remove or loosen restrictions on (something typically an economic or political system).   Generally, Liberalization (Liberalisation) refers to removal or relaxation of restrictions imposed by the previous government usually in areas of economic or social policy.   In the area of social policy, liberalization refers to the relaxation of laws for example, laws on homosexuality, drugs, abortion, divorce etc.   In the area of economic policy, liberalization can either be privatized or be liberalized.   Like, India has liberalized various markets, instituting a system of competition, but still some of the departments like Gas and Energy remain partially or completely in government ownership. The economic liberalization in India refers to the current reforms in India.   The Indian economy was liberalized in 1991.   That marked the end of â€Å"License Raj†.   License Raj, also known as Permit Raj, was the brainchild of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister.   It was the result of Nehrus decision to have a planned economy in India where all the aspects of economy are controlled by the government (state).   License Raj refers to the elaborate licenses and regulations and the accompanying ‘red tape, which was required to set up and run businesses in India between 1947 and 1990.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the late 80s, the government led by Rajiv Gandhi eased restrictions; removed price controls and reduced corporate taxes. This did increase the rate of growth, but it in turn led to high fiscal deficits and a worsening current account. Soviet Union, Indias major trading partner collapsed at the same time and the first Gulf War, which caused a spike in oil prices, caused a major balance-of-payments crisis for India. The Gulf war also led to a reduction in repatriation from expatriate workers (an important source of foreign exchange at that time).   India asked for a $1.8 billion bailout loan from IMF, which in return demanded reforms.   In response to this, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and the finance minister Manmohan Singh initiated the economic liberalization of 1991. The reforms did away with the License Raj and ended many public monopolies, allowing automatic approval of foreign direct investment in many sectors. On licensing, the new policy explicitly stated, â€Å"industrial licensing will henceforth be abolished for all industries, except those specified, irrespective of levels of investment.† (Sivadasan, 2007) Liberalization is about Encouraging growth of private sector Simplification of policy, regulation, tax structure Facilitating Foreign Direct Investment Restructuring public sector for efficiencies Providing incentives for exports and allowing more imports Put emphasis on modernization of plants and equipment through liberalized imports of capital goods and technology (Sivadasan, 2007) Expose the Indian industry to competition by gradually reducing the import restrictions and tariffs Moving away from protection of small scale industries Realization that economies of scale is necessary for economic growth (Singh Shankar, 2008) Life before 1991 Various rules were imposed on foreign companies operating in India, under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (1973).   Foreign ownership rates were restricted to below 40% in most industries. In addition, restrictions were placed on the use of foreign brand names, on remittances of dividends abroad and on the proportion of local content in output (under the Phased Manufacturing Program).  Ã‚   (Sivadasan, 2007) Very limited brands available on the supermarket shelves Upto 97% taxes on private players High-level corruption.   Frustrated Entrepreneurs State monopoly in many key sectors including TV broadcast.   Hence, the monopoly of Doordarshan. [Television and public policy: change and continuity in an era of global liberalization, David Ward, 2009] Legendary battle between the two textile magnates Dhirubhai Ambani and Nusli Wadia in the latter part of 1986.   The battle between these 2 corporate rivals Dhirubhai Ambani, Chairman Reliance Industries Ltd., is not the first in the history but the weapons such as the Press employed by them on the large scale is certainly without a parallel. This shattered the concept of objective journalism in a business controlled press (Aggarwal, 1989) Movies of that era young man rebelling against the ‘system a reflection of common mans angst against a state-run, corrupt, bureaucratic machinery which slowed down the progress of India rather than facilitating it. Life after 1991 Foreign direct investors were now allowed up to 51% equity stakes in certain industries, under the â€Å"automatic approval route. Further, restrictions relating to use of foreign brands, remittances of dividend and local content were relaxed. Following these reforms, there was a significant increase in amount of foreign direct investment into India(Sivadasan, 2007) Media Explosion Introduction of Cable TVs.   Since most of the Doordarshans programming was seen to be unimaginative and dull, large audiences switched to satellite television channels made available through cable. Influx of western ideas and lifestyle Conspicuous consumption Entry of foreign players and hence multiple players in each category.   Great increase in competition and hence, customer at the advantage Increase in challenges of Media Planning and Brand Building due to the widespread channels Emergence of TVR, GRPs, TAM ratings etc  · Much more buoyant and optimistic state of mind was reflected in Bollywood.   Hence, all soft, mushy, romantic blockbusters like ‘Hum Aapke Hai Kaun,Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge,Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Joshi, 2001) Defining Advertising: Advertising is so familiar to modern readers that it may seem odd to ask what an advertisement is.   Although advertising is all around us perhaps because it is all around us we dont often pause to think about its nature as a form of discourse, as a system of language use. There are multiple definitions of advertising like ‘Advertising is simply one of many available channels of communication and ‘Advertisements are the messages that advertising carries, in an attempt to achieve those ends. Advertising is a form of communication used to influence individuals to purchase products or services or ideas Advertising is a non-personal form of promotion that is delivered through selected media outlets that, under most circumstances, require the marketer to pay for message placement Any paid-for communication, intended to inform and/or influence one or more people is Advertising Of few of the above mentioned definitions, I could best relate advertising being ‘any paid-for communication, intended to inform and/or influence one or more people Paid-for Any advertisement that is not paid for is not an advertisement Communication Every advertisement is attempting to bridge a gap between a sender and one or more potential receivers.   That bridge is a form of communication. Intended Not all advertisements ‘work, in the sense of achieving their desired objectives, but they are nonetheless part of advertising. Inform and/or influence The purely informative advertisement may be rare and the distinction between information and persuasion may be difficult to draw, but an advertisement does not have to set out to influence either attitude or behavior in order to qualify (Bullmore, 2003) History of Advertising Worlds first ever advertisements appeared some 3000 years B.C. as ‘stencilled inscriptions on bricks made by the Babylonians. History tells us that out-of-home advertising and Billboards are the oldest form of advertising.   Printed advertising began to make itsappearance for ‘Royal announcements in early Europe: China, Turkey, England (1100 -1711). Moving on to American advertising in 1729 1850; several changes occurred interms of medium, message, manner of presentation. These changes are nothing but areflection of the social, economical and technological changes over time. Changing times and society called up for changes in the way advertising was planned. There has been one or the other peculiar aspect of advertising strategy, which kept it growing in volumes of success and importance. In 1870 the first ‘Brand advertisement for St. Jacobs Oil appeared and this phenomenon continued till early 80s. Further ‘slogans and trade characters took over the job. Then there came a time to appeal; variety of creative appeals (humor, sex, fear, love, affection etc.) made the further way up for advertising (Pincas Loiseau, 2008) Medium of Advertising Medium is nothing but a channel that carries the Advertisers message.   There are six major categories of advertising media 1. Print Media refers to any published, printed medium such as Newspapers and magazines. a. Newspapers are one of the traditional mediums used by all types of businesses to promote their product or service or idea. Advantages Huge reach in a given geographic area Flexibility in deciding the size and the placement of the ad Exposure to the ad is not limited.   People can go back to see the ad Quick turn around.   The ad if decided to run today can be in the hands of the customers in a day or two Disadvantages: Expensive ad space Lot of competition Poor photo production Highly visible medium, and hence the competitors can quickly react to your prices Newspapers facing stiff competitions from internet b. Magazines more focused, expensive compared to newspapers Advantages: Better targeting of audience Higher reader involvement and hence more attention paid to the advertisement Better color reproduction Disadvantages: Long lead time Limited flexibility in terms of ad placement and format Higher costs compared to newspapers 2. Electronic Media consists of radio and television a. Radio is a universal medium enjoyed at one time or another during the day. Advantages: Negotiable rates Less inflation in radio media compared to other media Disadvantages: Listener cannot go back to the ads for the important points Ads, an interruption in the entertainment Radio is a background medium.   Most listeners are doing something else while listening b. Television permits you to reach large number of people Advantages: Television permits you to reach large numbers of people on a national or regional level in a short period of time New opportunities to pinpoint local audiences Television being an image-building and visual medium, it offers the ability to convey your message with sight, sound and motion Disadvantages: Lot of competition.   Requires multiple exposure for the ad to get noticed Preferred ad times are often sold out far in advance Relatively expensive in terms of creative, production and airtime costs Limited length of exposure, as most ads are only thirty seconds long or less, which limits the amount of information you can communicate 3. Out-of-home media is focused on marketing to consumers when they are on the go in public places, in transit, waiting (such as in a medical office), and/or in specific commercial locations. a. Out door advertising: is essentially used for any type of advertising that reaches the consumer while he or she is outside the home. Advantages: Specific Target Audience Good for branding and positioning Creates greater consumer awareness Disadvantages: Less effective in tactical and short term campaigns b. Transit Advertising: Transit advertising is typically advertising placed on anything, which moves, such as buses, subway advertising, truckside, and taxis, but also includes fixed static and electronic advertising at train and bus stations and platforms. Airport advertising, which helps businesses address an audience while traveling, is also included in this category. Advantages: Good for all ranges of a businesses advertising budget You get what you pay for A target audience is exposed to a single advertisement for a long period of time It picks up the speed due to frequency Timeliness Geographical selectivity Disadvantages: People on transit may not even notice such advertisements, simply because they became used to transit advertising Many of those people may not be interested in you and your product at all; hence, transit ads are not easy to target despite the high level of reach * Design limitations 4. Internet Advertising is a form of promotion that uses Internet and World Wide Web for communicating with the customers. Advantages: Rapidly growing industry Affluent market Selective Targeting Interactive medium Immediate Response In-depth information Disadvantages: Security and Privacy Slow downloads Global marketing limits Untested medium 5. Direct Mailers is a marketing technique in which the seller sends marketing messages directly to the buyer. Direct mail include catalogs or other product literature with ordering opportunities; sales letters; and sales letters with brochures Advantages: Personalized marketing message Effectiveness of the response can be easily measured Control Ad campaign is hidden from the competitors Active involvement- the act of opening the mail and reading it Disadvantages: Selectivity problem Long lead times are required for creative printing and mailing Can be expensive, depending on the target market and size of the campaign Monitoring Advertising Dealing with advertising is still one of the hardest tasks facing marketing people.   It remains notoriously difficult to demonstrate this return, to show clearly that advertising is paying its way.   It is also difficult to understand how advertising works, how consumers respond to it.   How do we choose the best way of developing our advertising, testing it, checking it out, ensuring that it meets the objectives we have set for it let alone evaluating how far it has done so, and how we should improve it? (McDonald, 1998) Research Problem To analyze the change in content and pattern with regard to the nature of print advertisements in the pre-liberalization and post-liberalization era Research Objectives To understand liberalization and the changes resulting as a result of this measure To understand the implications of liberalization on advertising from a regulations perspective To trace the change in the nature of advertisements before and after liberalization Research Methodology The research will be qualitative in nature.   And the method which will be used will be content analysis. An analysis of the advertisements of top five brands in the soaps and chocolates category will be carried out, bathing Soaps, coming in daily usage category and chocolates in occasional usage category. Here print advertisements of the top five brands pre and post liberalization will be taken and a content analysis will be done on them. This will be used to track changes in pattern and using these two categories the results will be extrapolated for the FMCG category as such.

East-Asian Crisis Essay

Has state played a leading role in upgrading technologies in Asia Pacific? Answer with reference to relevant theories and use comparative country or corporate examples. Introduction: The state is a lever that navigates economic process. It is managed by the country government which consists of all educational, socio-cultural, economical and geographical factors. The national innovation systems in Asia have a great significance in the process of technology adjustment (the national institutions, their incentive structures and their competencies, that determine the rate and direction of technological learning (or the volume and composition of change generating activities) in a country.† (Patel and Pavitt (1994: 79)) (4) It sustains governmental institutions and forms economic conditions and opportunities. It influences a market by all restrictions and policies which navigate all import and export activities. The Asia Pacific region includes one of the most economically developed c ountries in the world. According to academic articles(8) developmental states as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan quickened their industrialisation in order to synchronise their economies with globalisation growth. From a historical perspective South Asia went through enormous industrial and state transformation after 2nd World War till the beginning of 21st century. An effective industrialisation process created the need of upgrading technologies and expanding business relations so to sustain the Asian competitive advantage and stabilise its economy. Furthermore a governmental institutional reform appeared to be essential element of the whole adjustment stage. The â€Å"tiger†(9) economies of Hong Kong and Singapore (plus these of South Korea and Taiwan) impressively adapted to balanced level of navigating their market and a â€Å"miracle† GDP growth followed. Examining the transformation processes in these economies creates an objective view of how the state influenced changes in technologies and why it has such a significant part in the East-Asian success. Body: The developmental states Japan: The process of industrialisation is a key developmental factor. It emerged in the beginning of the 20th century by the development of four machine industries: the rolling stock, spinning and weaving machines, machine tools and electric machinery(5)Between all of them the government held strongest influence on the rolling stock-a sub railway system which is an official representative of the system, having trade responsibility and negotiates with suppliers(6).The JNR(Japanese National Railway) policy changed after the 1950s and the private sector started managing its policies with governmental assistance. The rolling stock trading process established the Japanese co-operation with West-European suppliers. Essential approaches like government’s guidance in applying industrial policy, adjustment in labour-management relations, tolerating entrepreneurial firms seen as innovators instead of the zaibatsu-structured equivalents, were taken (3).The mentioned events , concerning Japanese technology adjusting, show the strong relation between state policies and technology level . The state itself is the agent which drives all innovations by the power of its policies and regulations. It played a main role in the factory legislation. Women workers needed protection and they could only receive it by governmental intervention. A report by AAB(Agricultural Affairs Bureau) in 1900 confirmed the negative affect of night shifts onto labour efficiency and technical progress. By taking in consideration this example the state role can be considered as more than crucial. It maintains the economy growth by securing its population conditions (human rights; socio-cultural perspective).In this way it sustains the workforce of the country, which is a main element of stabilising competitive advantage. Despite the fact that most economic articles stress on the â€Å"Japanese Miracle†(1) as a significant period of technology updating and state-system adjustment, the pioneers in technology investment appeared in the Meiji period. These businessmen founded a significant process which contributed to the rapid economic growth after World War II. Japanese role in the Electro-chemical industry has massively influenced the power of Japanese Army. Scientifically educated employees contributed for a better business analysis and strategies. A continuous growth is achieved when a government is concerned both for its trading power and socio-educational system. If both elements are properly maintained a country is able to sustain its competitive status worldwide as its observed in the Japanese case of Toyota-one of the most successful car manufacturer’s. â€Å"The key to the Toyota Way and what makes Toyota stand out is not any of the individual elements†¦. But what is important is having all the elements together as a system. It must be practiced every day in a very consistent manner—not in spurts†(11) Toyota is a great example of brilliant cooperation between increasing labour efficiency and a djusting technology system. Toyota took some fruitful approaches from the Western European managerial model and kept its unique values from the Japanese culture. It is observed that the more an Asian industry is independent from the state the better it adapts to the global business environment. State policies founded initial basis of the most important Asian features that should be taken and not changed in the business-cycle of a company. Toyota managed to follow the roots of the Japanese â€Å"know how† and at the same time keeps attracting professionals from all over the world in order to sustain its competitive advantage. Furthermore as a modern massive share-holder in different sectors it transformed into customer-oriented company targeting more market segments and reassuring to keep the demand of current customers. This is just one of the many great Japanese examples of sustaining a global market share. It can be stated that the more globalisation expands the higher is the need of rapid adaptation m ethods. Strongly centralised firms should transfer into more de-centralised strategic schemes if they want to achieve bigger success on a international level. Korea: From historical perspective Korea was controversially affected by both US (United States-South Korea) and the USSR(Union of Souviet Socialist Rebubplics-North Korea)During the Rhy government period(7) Korea focused on two massive industrial sectors: consumer goods and construction. After the Korean War (1950-1953) they become leading suppliers in these niches. Collaboration between the’’chaebols’’-â€Å"a group of companies, owed by a specific family, has centralised control and business in different industries that are not directly interrelated†((10)Korean Managerial Dynamics p.29) and the state can be considered as a main reason for the rapid industrialisation in the 1960s.The earlier establishment of cartels( Flour Mill, Sugar and Spinning Manufacturers)and corrupted Japanese and American support contributed to the chaebol growth. Hyundai is the major Korean constructor, which used to sustain and still does the Korean economy. Between 1940s and 1970s the ‘’chaebol’’ transformed into a large-multidivisional private system which expanded its business sectors. In this way the new system created economies of scale under a centralised management strategy. The renovated state policies enhanced the labour force and implemented the export industrialisation strategy. In order to (2)The chaebol business structure created highly-controlled production in the 1970s by hiring managers which took the role of supervisors. In the 1980s the government prioritised the need of higher workforce independence. The state shaped the legal frame of Korea, while supporting the chaebol economic and interest policies.((2);p.3)After the KCTU(Korean Confederation of Trade Unions) was established a significant decrease in the chaebol monopolism was noticed. In 1974 a â€Å"concentration of economic power† emerged as a negative issue.(Korean Managerial Dynamics; Chung, Khae and Lee, Hak Chong p.16) The Ko rean bank was forced to take action due to its monopolistic strength: all private businesses provided information to the open capital market. All monopolistic and cartel structures were constricted from entering new markets. Expectedly or not the existing cartels sustained their barriers of entry. Despite the fact Korea was stimulating domestic manufacturing there was a lack of physical technology ability and it has no choice but looking for external â€Å"packaged technology†(Korean Business: Internal and External factors) –component parts, specialised details, product specifications, quality control and professional assistance. In 1980 this resulted in high-inflation rates. Four recovering movements were taken: better managing of market mechanisms and stabilising price levels (led to export of domestically manufactured technologies); transforming domestic monopolism to a free-competitive foreign markets (increasing of social welfare); encouraging foundation of small-medium businesses. It can be concluded that all state reforms derived from either political external or internal problems. The complicated internal reforms caused to a non-balanced upgrading processes. Korea needed a quick re-navigation and focus on catching up with Western Europe rivals. Good examples of chaebol companies are Samsung and Hyundai. Samsung (founded in 1938 (12))business group is the largest one in terms of annual sales-21 billion dollars in 1987 with 160,000 workers in 42 companies (10 p.29) It entered the insurance, security and enterprise sectors. Nowadays it possesses a major shares in electronics, chemical, construction, manufacturing, land development, service and technology markets. By a constant governmental navigation and assistance this great example of East-Asian conglomerate diversified its supply. While the state takes responsibility of providing well-educated and strong workforce the company itself is concerned of the trading process and constant technology upgrading. â€Å"When Samsung has difficulties in transferring technology, it relied on several different strategic avenues: seeking alternative sources of technology, buying it from financially troubled, small American firms; developing its own technology; or entering a consortium with other local competitors to develop technology†((15)â€Å"Korean Business: Internal and External Industrialisation†) By analysing this strategic approach an excellent decision-making skills are observed. The alternative of â€Å"buying† from American small firms shows that the Korean leader constantly generates cash flow in order to afford such activities in a critical moment. Even â€Å"consortium† schemes were made which shows the great adaptation to the market condition and to all supplying competitors. By competing in different markets and upgrading its business structure Samsung enhances Korean economic stability and competitiveness on international level. A leading competitive ad vantage of Samsung is the brilliant combination of price and quality. The possession of well-educated managers and continuously upgraded technology provides a great reputation of top gadget- producer. Taiwan: The favourable geographic location of the country between the Far-East and Southeast Asia made it a desirable trading place between Western Europe and Asia. Different rivals colonised it as well. Taiwan started its technological developmental in a later stage comparing to its bigger neighbours Japan and Korea. After the 1990s Taiwan became one of the leading ICT(Information and technology communications)suppliers(16)Its well-maintained Research and Development sector and patented technology are fair reasons of the current success. Chinese neoliberalism: A slower economic growth in China is observed comparing to the Japanese and Korean one. A high negative influence of the conserved socio-cultural environment is a main reason. The CFB(Chinese Family Business) internal managerial system has a closed-family ideology. There was a conflict between Chinese conservatism and Chinese world-economy adaptation. Its governmentally centralised system suffered lack of managerial professionalism. This introvert attitude of CFB to business created an obstacle for further technologic improvement because establishing new operational system needs well-educated navigators familiarised with the technology. Furthermore loosing the market trading processes of import and export was irreversible. Modernisation schemes were taken: increase of international trades and foundation of FDI(Foreign Direct Investment- investing in country A, by taking advantage of its geographical and labour conditions and controlling from country B which owns all assets and benefit the bigger prt of the incentive) , which was quite beneficial strategy both for China and Japan. It was necessary to minimise the cultural interference and radically involve western techniques. By focusing onto micro-level variables as behaviour China kept losing its macro level of structural and technological competitiveness. The strong communism affected negatively on both industrialisation and technology adjustment. Recent technology-transfer Laws in the Asia Pacific: Setting up Transfer Laws has essential role in the whole Asia-Pacific trade legitimacy. They also determine the significance of technologies and how they are used in a more effective way. In China a warmer attitude to foreign companies is observed. Its entry into the WTO(World Trade Organisation) encouraged cross-continental transfers. In 1999 China accepted the UCL(Unified Contract Law) which gave more freedom by license agreement which can be signed between partners and fasten all transfers. In 2003 The Ministry of Commerce was founded as well as new three-type technology categorisation: prohibited, restricted or permitted. The foundation of such institutions was a necessity in order to exclude all wasting money and time processes, which is both beneficial for suppliers and buyers. The determinant of accepting import transfer is whether it will enhance China’s technological improvement. Furthermore it should not be an environmental and security constraint. Equivalent technology licences(legal and contractual) were formed in Japan. In April 2004 the National University Corporation Law was accepted, providing bigger educational independence which enhances the social welfare and gives more opportunities to young individuals specialise their skills into different sectors. Historically observed, South-Korea always had strictly controlled technology-licensing system in order to preserve newly-founded firms from their out-boundaries rivals and ensures continuous development. Co-operation between education and management led the Asian Pacific to a top place in the technology world. The laws approved in the end of 20th century were turned into a new transfer law in the 21st century. The FIPA(Foreign Investment Promotion Act) is in charge of all foreign investment s. It is an autonomous institution which has the power to simplify and navigate all import activities for the sake of higher country incentive. Its strategy is to attract investment and sustain competitive international advantage. The Monopoly Regulation and FTA(Fair Trade act )(Hill,2006)(19) Conclusion: While the Asia Pacific was struggling to escape out of its cultural constraints and its isolated business system during the first half of the 20th century, it appeared that it adapted rapidly through the second half of the century. It went under serious governmental and structural transforms. It seems that the Asian recovery period after the Second World War was far away more intensive and successful comparing to some European countries. From 1990 to 1997 Asia generated over one-third of the global value-added production by high-technology production industries, higher to the the European and US shares.(13) Investments in the Research and Development sector are significant for successf ul technology adjustment. The establishment of new universities and modifying their educational systems provide scientists and intelligent individuals who can operate and cope with the technology process. The importance of conserving culture-oriented models is of the same sensuality as expanding growth on international level. The Asian ambition of establishing leadership in important world industries contributed to its success. Although there were huge periods of struggling adapting new managerial work-plans the â€Å"tiger economies† managed to survive during tough war and reform periods. Even not really friendly-orientated of cooperating between each other Asian economy survived because of the common adaptation strength and control of markets. The connection between the state and business was not simply one of interference or direction by the state of the market. â€Å"It was rather a positive partnership involving many connections between entities† (Johnson,1997)A geographical advantage of more isolated location in the world enhanced the Asian state independence and its technology orientation. Obviously the bigger sized Asian economies like China and Japan overtook cultural and religion influence.They started their recovering processes more rapidly comparing to the late-comer economies of Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.(Warner,2007) Bibliography: 1. Maidement, R., Mackerras C., (1998) Culture and Society In The Asia-Pacific, United Kingdom: Routledge 2. Rowley, C., Bae, J., (1998) Korean Business Internal and External Industrialization, Chippenham: Antony Rowe Ltd. 3. Yui, T., Nakagawa, (1989) Japanese Management in Historical Perspective, Japan: University of Tokyo Press 4. Kwon, S., O’Donnell, M., (2001) The Chaebol and Labour in Korea The development of managmenet strategy in Hyundai, Oxon: Routledge 5. Rowley, C., Warner, M., (2009) Management in South-East Asia Business Culture, Enterprises and Human Resources, Oxfordshire: Routledge 6. Chung, K., Lee H., (1989) Korean Managerial Dynamics, New York: Praeger 7. The Japanese Miracle, http://www.japanese123.com/japanesemiracle.htm Date accessed 2/12/2012 8. Borisova, N., (2011) The market, the state, and the culture in economic development in Asia, http://nataliaborisova.hubpages.com/hub/market-state-culture-asia Date accessed 2/12/2012 9. (2004)Four The Rise of the Regions: Fiscal Reform and the Decline of Central State Capacity i n China 10. http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft5g50071k&chunk.id=d0e3492&toc.depth=100&brand=ucpress Date accessed 2/12/2012 11. Wu Y., (2004) The China Quarty, Volume 177, pp 91-114 12. Samsung History, http://www.samsung-mobiles.net/history-of-samsung.html Date accessed 3/12/2012 13. Taiwan’s Technology Industry Marks Global Success http://www.forbescustom.com/DiversityPgs/UnityFirst/3_4_09/UFNAACPTaiwanTechP1.html Date accessed 4/12/2012 http://www.pom.ir/wp-content/uploads/PDF/book/The%20Toyota%20Way.pdf 14. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf07319/pdf/nsf07319.pdf 15. http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr41/pdf/f14_miz.pdf 16. http://www.economist.com/node/13649520 17. 10) 18. Hill, D., 2006, â€Å"Developments in Asia†,The Licensing Journal

Original Writing – A Short tale

A few miles south of your usual city packed with loud, noisy, busy people lay a small village of friendly folk. It was Spring in the land and in that one rural village the orchards blossomed, birds sung and the sun did not want to stray from this peaceful green valley. Only one particular person could hear the sound of trickling water at that precise moment, a Master Will Briscoe. He lay peacefully against one of the white blossom trees. His tatty breeches and white shirt flickered around in the wind. His toe poking out of a hole in his sock felt light blossom brush against it tenderly touching the surface. He was drifting off into a deep sleep until â€Å"Ahoy there!† called a certain Tom Davis. He stood around 5 foot 5 inches tall with brown, curly hair tied up in a ponytail that was blowing in the breeze. His shirt was a perfect white and had a pendant poking out the top which looked to be a sharp tooth of some kind. His friend who had arrived with him was of the larger sort of size, so as to speak. He had what looked to have once been food down the front of his shirt. He had chubby cheeks, and wild black hair. His eyes were a friendly kind of brown and he wore odd socks having not been fully awake when dressing that morning. â€Å"Tom, Brown,† Will replied while nodding at each of them in turn. Brown as he was called was the second, larger and grubbier of the two boys, his actual name was Tim, Tim Brown. But his friends felt the name Tim just didn't suit him and with not much brains between the lads Brown seemed like an easy and suitable name. So Brown it was and they had stuck to that name since their first meetings of each other. â€Å"Will, you got a moment?† Tom asked. â€Å"They're wanting hands to help prepare for the festival tonight,† he finished. â€Å"Sure,† Will replied, â€Å"I was only down here to get away from the house.† Brown who was watching the bees fly from flower to flower turned towards Will and asked with a soft tone, â€Å"Trouble at home again?† â€Å"Nah just the landlord being a jerk that's all.† â€Å"Nothing new then, † Tom added. They chuckled on while walking back towards town, the trip from town to the orchards was short, which may have been why Will spent so much time there. Or maybe he just preferred the peace compared to the hustle and bustle of town. As the boys approached the town they could see the outline of another friend of theirs Ray Staines, Ray wasn't small but he wasn't really very tall either. He had short blonde hair and to be honest just usually tagged along with the group. â€Å"Hi Will! Hi Tom! Hi Brown!† Ray shouted enthusiastically. â€Å"Going to help with the festival?† â€Å"Yes,† Will replied while casting quizzical looks at the others. â€Å"We can all go together right?† asked Ray. â€Å"Sure,† Will answered. By the time they had arrived there was only a few hours till the festival begun. They moved over towards the man who seemed to be directing everyone about. â€Å"Hello there,† the man boomed. He was large, balding and his only other distinguishable feature was his button nose. His name was Riordan, Captain Riordan when addressed. â€Å"Sorry lads we've just finished setting up for the evening, so you can't get any discounts for helping to set up, so go home freshen up and spend lots of money tonight,† he said while chuckling to himself. Will, Tom, Brown, and Ray split up. â€Å"See you later guys!† Will called while walking home to prepare for the night's festival.

19 Research Essay Topics on the Profession of a Medical Assistant

19 Research Essay Topics on the Profession of a Medical Assistant This is a three-part guide to assist you in writing a detailed research essay on medical assistant as a profession. The first part of this guide is all about interesting and informative facts. We have accumulated 19 in-depth facts to help you research on this topic. Professors love to put their students to test and this topic isn’t a very conventional one. However, we promise you that you won’t find a better and more collective analysis on the subject of medical assistant as a profession. Other parts of this guide will be explained to you once you go through all the topics. Here are 19 facts on the profession of a medical assistant for a research essay: Most medical assistants are required to perform and assist in routine tasks and day to day tasks pertaining to patient care. They are also required to schedule appointments, maintain medical records, keep a check on bill, code certain information for life and insurances purposes, prepare patients for examinations and medical tests, and administer dosages to patients. It’s one of the fastest growing careers in the world, with high demand and very good salary packages. The employment rate in this field specifically has grown by 31% between 2010 and today. That’s remarkably higher than all other fields in medicine. Medical assistants have to be experts in recording patient history and medical report writing as one of the basic functions of their job description is to maintain patients’ medical history records. Medical assistants have to be trained in laboratory sciences to manage lab specimens and deal with them accordingly. Medical assistants themselves have to be physically fit, have good hand-to-eye coordination as well as good motor skills in order to perform their jobs efficiently. Medical assistants are almost entirely responsible for running the doctor’s offices. They can find jobs in every field of medicine including podiatry, obstetrics, podiatry, and medical weight loss. The job can offer flexible hours, and most assistants are able to earn good money while managing their work schedule between various offices and clinics. This also helps them work in a variety of circumstances and learn more, which ultimately results in a higher experience level coupled with an increased pay. The working conditions for medical assistants are favorable as well. They work in well-furnished offices with proper lighting, though the job requires them to interact and deal with people from all walks of life. The job may also be stressful depending upon the circumstances a doctor and his team may have to deal with. The varieties for medical assistants to specialize in any of the medicine fields are endless, and so are the career paths. Approximately 60% of medical assistants work in clinics and doctors’ offices in the US. The field is rapidly changing and equips employees with real-world experiences to grow and handle the human conditions in the world. Most medical assistants pursue this career choice because like all professions concerned with medicine, this isn’t only a way to earn a good living, but also a way to serve people and look after their wellbeing. Medical assistants mostly report feeling more fulfilled than other career oriented people due to the fact that their work is considered as directly serving humanity. Most medical assistants are highly qualified, however one does not need a certificate to start a career as a medical assistant in most states. According to a recent survey conducted in May 2015 in the US, the median income of a medical assistant was recorded at $30,590. Formal training is not often required, apart from the obvious educational choices. This fact also makes students flood into this field as they may be given opportunities to train on the job and learn firsthand from practicing doctors. Another fact that makes this field so lucrative is that medical assistants are able to formulate their own work schedules according to what suits them best. This allows them to juggle between various specializations, learn more, and ultimately earn more. Various titles for medical assistants include dental assistants, dental hygienists, licensed practical and vocational nurses, surgical staff team members, medical machinery operators, historical patient record maintainers, health information and technology technicians, nursing assistants and ward supervisors, therapy, aids trauma assistants, pharmacy technicians, just to name a few. The agencies that accredit and certify medical assistance are The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) Even the training on the job may vary and depends on the field the medical assistant chooses to pursue. The duration of the training varies accordingly. It is generally thought that ton-job-training for medical assistants takes a shorter time span compared to formal doctors and surgeons. Medical assistants have a lot of room to diversify their future career path as technology advances and the field of medicine expands further. They may one day find themselves in the shoes of corporate employees in the hospitals/clinics or choose to train under doctors’ supervision to become certified doctors themselves. They might also branch out towards medicinal research and development, choose a teaching job in addition to their regular job or become professional paper writers on medicine etc. The opportunities are endless and the pay scale is expected to constantly increase in the field of medicine. We’re quite sure you found these 19 facts interesting as well as beneficial towards your own research. As we mentioned earlier, this is a three-part guide. The next part of this guide called: 20 topics on the profession of a medical assistant for a research essay will take you a step further. And the third part, how to properly research an essay on medical assistant, will give tips on research. References: Booth, K. A., Whicker, L., Wyman, T. D. (2014). Medical assisting: Administrative and clinical procedures including anatomy and physiology. New York: McGraw-Hill. Medical Assistant Careers: Duties, Training Job Outlook. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from medicalassistantcertification.org/career-center/ Medical Assistant Job Description. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from snagajob.com/job-descriptions/medical-assistant/ Medical Assistants. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from https://collegegrad.com/careers/medical-assistants What Does a Medical Assistant Do? (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/blog/what-does-a-medical-assistant-do/ What is a Medical Assistant? (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2016, from aama-ntl.org/medical-assisting/what-is-a-medical-assistant#.V46FUkZ97GI Linton, C. B. (2002). Medical abbreviations and acronyms. Boca Raton: BarCahrts.

Copperhead Snake Facts (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Copperhead Snake Facts (Agkistrodon contortrix) The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) gets its common name from its coppery reddish-brown head. Copperheads are pit vipers, related to rattlesnakes and moccasins. Snakes in this group are venomous and have a deep pit on either side of the head that detects infrared radiation or heat. Fast Facts: Copperhead Scientific Name: Agkistrodon contortrixCommon Names: Copperhead, highland moccasin, pilot snake, white oak snake, chunk headBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 20-37 inchesWeight: 4-12 ouncesLifespan: 18 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Eastern North AmericaPopulation: Over 100,000Conservation Status: Least Concern Description Copperheads may be distinguished from other pit vipers by their color, pattern, and body shape. A copperhead is tan to pink with 10 to 18 darker hourglass- or dumbbell-shaped crossbands on its back. Its head is solid copper-brown. The snake has a broad head, distinct neck, stout body, and thinner tail. A copperhead has tan to reddish brown eyes and vertical pupils. The average adult snake is between 2 and 3 feet in length and weighs from 4 to 12 ounces. Females have longer bodies than males, but males have longer tails. Habitat and Distribution Copperheads live in the United States, from southern New England to northern Florida and across to western Texas. They extend into Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico. The snake occupies a variety of habitats, including forests, swamps, rocky woodlands, and along rivers and streams. Copperhead snake range. Craig Pemberton Diet and Behavior Copperheads are ambush predators that camouflage themselves against the leaves and soil and wait for prey. They find their targets by heat and scent. About 90% of their diet consists of small rodents. They also eat frogs, birds, smaller snakes, and large insects. Copperheads climb trees to forage on caterpillars and emerging cicadas, but are otherwise terrestrial. Except for mating and hibernating, the snakes are solitary. The snakes hibernate in the winter, often sharing a den with other copperheads, rat snakes, and rattlesnakes. They feed during the day in spring and autumn, but are nocturnal during hot summer months. Reproduction and Offspring Copperheads breed anywhere from spring to late summer (February to October). However, neither males nor females necessarily breed every year. Males wrestle in ritual combat for breeding rights. The winner may then have to battle the female. The female stores sperm and may defer fertilization for several months, usually until after hibernating. She gives birth to 1 to 20 live young, each measuring about 8 inches in length. The young resemble their parents, but they are lighter colored and have yellowish-green tipped tails, which they use to lure lizards and frogs for their first meals. Baby copperheads are born with fangs and venom that is as potent as that of adults. Females sometimes reproduce via parthenogenesis, an asexual mode of reproduction that does not require fertilization. Copperheads reach sexual maturity when they are about 2 feet long, which is around 4 years of age. They live 18 years in the wild, but they may live 25 years in captivity. Juvenile copperhead snakes have yellowish green tail tips. JWJarrett, Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the copperhead conservation status as least concern. Over 100,000 adult snakes live in North America, with a stable, slowly declining population size. For the most part, copperheads are not subject to significant threats. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation diminish snake numbers about 10% every ten years. In particular, populations are geographically separated in Mexico. Copperheads and Humans Copperheads are responsible for biting more people than any other snake species. While the copperhead prefers to avoid humans, it freezes instead of slithering away. The snake is difficult to spot, so people unknowingly step too close or onto the animal. Like other New World vipers, copperheads vibrate their tail when approached. They also release a cucumber-smelling musk when touched. When threatened, the snake usually delivers a dry (nonvenomous) bite or low-dose warning bite. The snake uses its venom to incapacitate prey prior to ingestion. Since people are not prey, copperheads tend to conserve their venom. However, even the full amount of venom is rarely fatal. Small children, pets, and persons allergic to snake venom are most at risk. Copperhead venom is hemolytic, which means it breaks red blood cells. Bite symptoms include extreme pain, nausea, throbbing, and tingling. While its important to seek immediate medical attention if bitten, usually antivenin is not administered because it poses a greater risk than the copperhead bite. Copperhead venom contains a protein called contortrostatin that may help slow tumor growth and cancer cell migration. Sources Ernst, Carl H.; Barbour, Roger W. Snakes of Eastern North America. Fairfax, Virginia: George Mason University Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0913969243.Finn, Robert. Snake Venom Protein Paralyzes Cancer Cells. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 93 (4): 261–262, 2001. doi:10.1093/jnci/93.4.261Frost, D.R., Hammerson, G.A., Santos-Barrera, G. Agkistrodon contortrix. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T64297A12756101. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64297A12756101.enGloyd, H.K., Conant, R. Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 1990. ISBN 0-916984-20-6.McDiarmid, R.W., Campbell, J.A., Tourà ©, T.  Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists League, 1999. ISBN 1-893777-01-4.

International marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International marketing - Essay Example The fashion retail industry in Spain is turbulent as the fashion conscious consumers expect and thrive for constant change. Added to the changing consumer preferences are the factors like globalization and the technological changes that have truly revolutionized the Spain fashion retailing industry. Thus Levis has to primarily take into account the SLEPT factors or the social, legal, economical, political and technological factors. S-social factors include the demographics and the market segmentation is based on these factors. The class structure, culture and the consumption pattern has to be taken into account. The highest spending age group in the jeans market is between 15 and 24. Jeans are now even worn to work. Broader assortment of jeans is now available to suit different occasions. In the apparel industry demand is uncertain because it is difficult to foresee the fashion trends in advance for a certain season and product failure rates can be as high as 10 percent (Diaz, 2005). Demand can also be volatile because demand can change suddenly due to a variety of external factors. L-legal: The abolition of the quotas in the textile industry has pushed down the prices of clothes in general, making the market very competitive. The cheap chic revolution has turned the European fashion market upside down (Mesure, 2007). Jeans in the market are trying to differentiate themselves with cult connotations, lifestyle images, and distinctive details. E-economic: The Spanish fashion industry has experienced exponential growth in the last decade, not merely in women’s clothing as fashion is generally associated with, but in menswear childrenswear and accessories as well. The fashion industry today is marked by short life-cycles, high volatility, low predictability and high impulse purchasing (Christopher, Lowson & Peck, 2004). The weakening of the US dollar has caused a shift in the

Book Analysis Evironmantalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book Analysis Evironmantalism - Essay Example Richard white view on environmentalism is that nature can act multipurpose to provide for human beings. This is evident by the fact that humans get food from the Columbian river and they generate hydroelectric power from the river. His view is the division of nature into different parts to maximize productivity and enhances development from nature. Richard White has evidently addressed with humans controlling nature to profit them, there are many consequences accompanied with it. Some people start wars claiming they own certain parts of nature and this erupts to social and political wars. This evident when the some people in Colombia tried to divert the course of the river to suit their social and political interest. This kind of actions results in struggles and oppositions about certain forms of nature. These struggles show that humans are fighting and claiming something they have not created and they do not have full rights of that natural resource. Richard perilously emphasizes th at what was supposed to happen did not happen in accordance to nature. Richard’s environmental concept is that humans can get all forms of energy from nature and use it for development purposes. This is emphasized through the generation of hydroelectric power for electricity, and the salmon fish that provide calories for human beings. He argues that the natural resources can provide the needed energy in the making of political and financial decisions that will enhance the developmental process3. Richard white addresses the misfortunes of human beings of trying to over control nature. With an aim of getting profits from nature, human beings have tried to dominate nature, which is not practical. This has resulted in conflicts between nature and human beings, as nature is not ready to conform to man’s ideas. Both nature and human begins end up becoming losers because they are unable to connect. This is because humans are trying to divide nature so as to maximizing profit thus forgetting the social values that should be upheld. Edward Abbeys Form of Environmentalist Edward Abbey’s form of environmentalist is one that advocates for the preservation and protection of the environment and natural resources. This is addressed by how the author brings out characters that are ready to protect a desert from the exploitation of developers.4 The characters in this book are in the move of stopping developers especially those who are in construction areas. These characters are stopping road buildings by destroying the equipments involved in the construction of roads. Edward is advocating for the preservation and conservation of the environment. The author has practically shown how he is ready to protect the environment fully. He is in the campaign of burning down billboards that are advertising construction projects, and he intentionally sabotages the bulldozers that are constructing roads in the quest of protecting the environment. Edward Abbey worked as a forest wanderer whose main aim was the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources.