The impact of the foreign intervention on the uprisings during the Essay

The impact of the foreign intervention on the uprisings during the Arab spring - Essay Example Foreign intervention has played significant role in accelerating the uprising and influencing their outcome. This paper examines the impact of foreign intervention on the Arab awakening. Origin of Arab uprising The extent of foreign intervention in Arab uprising varies across the different countries that experienced or are currently undergoing the upheavals. Before investigating the various foreign interventions, it is important to investigate the underlying social, economic and political factors in various Arab countries in North Africa and Middle East. According to Timo and Mika, protests in Tunisia and Egypt were driven by similar social, economic and political motives. Uprisings in both countries took an identical course of events that ultimately resulted to the fall of the existing governments. The dissatisfaction with the economic situation played a critical role in causing the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia. For several decades, both countries had initiated economic reforms to stimulate and enhance trade in the region in response to globalization. However, the reforms adversely affected the living standards of the majority middle and low-income groups creating resentment. Prior to the uprising in Tunisia and Egypt, majority of the citizens experienced decline in real wages, high inflation, and increasing levels of unemployment. The situation was worse among the youth, especially graduates, who experienced high levels of unemployment (Kitchen, 14). The â€Å"Jasmine Revolution† that was precursor to Arab spring in Tunisian was started by unemployed graduate Mohamed Bouazizi who set himself ablaze after he was denied authority to sell groceries in the streets of a Tunisian city(Kumaraswamy, 6) Although the economic reforms generated significant job opportunities, in these regions, most jobs were low skilled and of dismal wages. Moreover, the high population growth in these countries has not been accompanied by proportionate economic growth to absorb the citizens into the labor market. A combination of these factors left many unemployed and middle class youth disillusioned with countries’ political systems (Kumaraswamy, 6). The political structure in Egypt and Tunisia also played a critical role in causing the uprising. According to Timo and Mika, the political governance in these countries is dictatorial, where cronyism and nepotism reigned supreme. The poor, â€Å"unconnected† and educated individuals lacked access to employment opportunities while the crony capitalism amassed wealth and power in the country at the expense of meritocracy (5-6). The disenchanted but educated youth formed the core of the uprising in the affected countries. Political oppression is another major defining characteristic of the countries affected by the uprising. For long period, leadership in the affected Arabic countries has been autocratic, suppressing fundamental human rights and freedoms. In Egypt, the leadership of President Hosn i Mubarak was characterized by ruthless crackdown on public protests and other forms of expression. In addition, the government manipulated elections in favor of the incumbent, who had remained in power for over three decades. The government utilized state security agencies to

Monsanto Issue in Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Monsanto Issue in Europe - Essay Example This article will also discuss the global effects of the use of Monsanto products on humans, other organisms, and the environment. It will also give us some of the precautions that users of Monsanto products should consider before consuming the modified foods. The agricultural modified products in Europe banned due to claims of poisoning individuals. Due to the harmful factors associated with GMOs, Europe has involved its funds in fighting against the spread of such variety in its locality. It has only approved two varieties of GMOs to trade in their states. Varieties of corn and potato are licensed for trade (Wesley, Spital, and Lane 2002, p.3). Due to pressure from anti- GMOs, the government renews its contracts with the Monsanto Company every year to ensure that products introduced in the market are legal. The restrictions on trade of modified varieties hence need to remove such restrictions for the need for agricultural produce got sustain the increasing populations. To increase the market knowledge about the existence of these foods, the Monsanto group can make use of new marketing strategies, which are more likely to be efficient when compared to the old methods of advertising. Some of the new methods may involve active participation of the consumer and the government. The use of the social sites like internet pages may help establish a greater connectivity with the constituents in the market and hence increase the trust by the consumers. Other methods may involve giving samples to customers and giving reward to its consumers. Consumers also need to get approval from the authorities showing how efficient the products may be and assuring its natives of secure commodities. The consumer attitude towards this foods results to the need for the government to protect its citizens from harmful products that may endanger their lives.

Social Work Observation Report

Social Work Observation Report This essay will demonstrate a clear understanding of what the social work role is by reflecting on my shadowing experience and using this experience to provide a view of the differences between social work and social care. On October the 11th I was able to shadow a social worker on the sensory services team in Gloucestershire, whilst shadowing I was able to observe the social worker on two home visits. The first visit required the gathering of information from a carer to fill out a Carers Emergency Scheme plan. The second visit involved the completion of a Carers Assessment. Explain the role of the social worker observed, the difference in the social work role to that of a care role The role of my social worker was to assess the needs of the service users and also the needs of their carers. She was also able to give them some equipment such as a day light lamp to enhance the ability to read, however, I was informed by the social worker that she was in a different position than most social workers and that the ability to provide specialised equipment is an unusual opportunity for social workers. The role of a carer would contrast from this as a carer would have been able to support them with practical help. Skills for Care (2010) stated that Social care work is about helping people with their lives. People who have physical or psychological problems often require practical help coping with the everyday business of life. Social care provides this practical care. (cited in Trevithick, 2012). IFSW (2006:9) depicts that The term social workers refers to those workers trained to asses and respond to people with complex personal and social needs. It is a protected title and can only be used to refer to those who are qualified and registered and hold a social work qualification recognised by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) †¦Social workers carry out a variety of tasks, including casework, acting as an advocate, risk assessment and working as a care manager. As a profession, social work promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. (cited in Trevithick, 2012). These two definitions show a clear contrast between social care and social work but there is an evident overlap with the two roles, however, the professional accountability and legal requirements of a social worker implies a high importance that these two roles have clear distinctions. Where possible insights gained into service users and carers experience/perceptions of the service provided by the agency At the end of the first visit the lady was unclear on what a she was supposed to do so my social worker sat back down and explained to her that she had nothing to do and that she had nothing to worry about, this comment was repeated by the service user but I believe that this made the service user relax. On my second visit the gentleman that is caring for his wife got his calendar out to fix a date for the social worker to visit again, he told my social worker that he was busy on the day that she wanted to visit but said he would cancel his plans as he would much rather see her, I found this comment heart-warming. On this visit my social worker was able to provide the lady with a day light lamp to aid her sight when reading, I believe this was a good experience for the service user as she seemed very impressed with the lamp and read us her paper without the use of her magnifying glass. The gentleman also comment a few times about my social worker filling in the forms for him and that he would look at the next form but would wait and let her fill it in whilst she read out the questions, I think this showed that he had confidence in the ability of that social worker and that he trusted her. Discussion points raised about the work of the agency, its legislative and policy context When I spoke to the social worker about legislations and policies I was informed that this was a hard question to answer as there are numerous legislations that have to be consider when working for the sensory team, reciting them all would not be possible. I was told that the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 was one that could be remembered and then I was offered a printed copy of their policy that related to assessments. According to Horner (2006) the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 sought to change the balance of care with four key directions which gave the local authorities the responsibility to make plans to meet the needs identified in partnership with user and carers and to assess the needs of those requesting care. Davis (2012) states within the guide to adult assessment in Gloucestershire that people are put at the middle of the decision making with self-directed support, this allows choice and control over services that are received and who provides it. The carers assessment section seems relevant to my shadowing experience as this is what I observed, this section comments on the opportunity for the carer to give their perspective about the service user, approaching the identification and management of risk positively, procedures of safe guarding are explained and followed if this is an issue, establishing if support is available and would be maintained and an encourage discussion for carers to have a Carers Needs Assessment. Outline how the experience links to the Professional Capabilities Framework and Standards of Proficiency The social work reform board developed the professional capabilities framework (PCF) to provide foundations for social work education and to support development after qualification. The PCF sets out the capabilities required, at every stage of career, for social workers in England (The college of social work). Social work knowledge, understanding and abilities are set out within the standards of proficiency, which was developed by the health and care council alongside the professional liaison group. In addition to this the PCF and the standards of proficiency both describe the expectations of social workers when they reach the end of their training and start practising (Health and care professions council). The shadowing experience links to the PCF as it allowed me to gain a better understanding of the social work role it also enhanced my ability to communicate on a professional level with emails and face to face conversations. This experience would also link to the standards of prof iciency due to the knowledge and understanding gained by observing a qualified social worker. Conclusion There are important differences between social work and social care and it is of high importance that these differences are not overlooked. Service users Policies and legislations used within an agency seem complex and numerous however, the policies of a particular area allow these complications to be simplified PCF and standards of proficiency have many immeasurably positive links to the experience and opportunity to shadow a social worker.

Wake Up, Stark County! :: Sleeping Disorders Essays

Wake Up, Stark County! Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from chronic disorders of sleep and wakefulness, such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and insomnia. The majority of those affected remain undiagnosed and untreated. At the Doctors Hospital Center for Sleep Disorders, 1001 patients are regularly treated for some form of these disorders at the present time (Roman interview). Fewer than 5% of these patients are children and 65% are men over the age of 40. Dr. Frankie Roman, a Board Certified Sleep Specialist, operates this Center. It is the only one available to Stark County residents at this time. To adequately discuss these disorders, first we must provide a working definition of the individual conditions that the terms denote. Sleep apnea is a cessation of air exchange at the nose and mouth, lasting at least 10 seconds (Williams, pg. 48). Narcolepsy is a disorder of excessive sleepiness. This sleepiness is characterized by brief episodes of lapses into sleep that occur throughout the day, usually lasting less than an hour. Insomnia means an inability to sleep. There are many kinds of insomnia, some chemical, some emotional, and some psychological (Thorpy 104). In addition to the 40 million people with chronic sleep disorders, there are 20 to 30 million people who experience intermittent sleep-related problems. These may be due to demanding work schedules and/or various other lifestyle stress factors. The consequences of sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, and excessive sleepiness can be significant. They could even include morbidity. It has been estimated that, in 1990, sleep disorders and sleepiness cost the United States a minimum of $15.9 billion in direct costs alone (National Commission, vi). This estimate does not include the billions of dollars in indirect and related costs, such as those attributable to sleep-related disasters (e.g. Exxon Valdez grounding, motor vehicle accidents, and diminished productivity in the work place). Some sleep disorders are potentially fatal, while others are little more than an annoyance. Some are life-long, with effects on family members; others are brief and non-recurring. Falling asleep inappropriat ely can blot out a few minutes of television, or it can cause catastrophic damage to life and property. Patients are often thought to be lazy and can become socially isolated from friends and family. I am a victim of sleep disorders. I suffer from sleep apnea and narcolepsy. I am a regular patient at the Sleep Disorder Clinic at Doctors Hospital. Here, I am wired to various electrodes which protrude from my head and then am told to go to sleep naturally! My breathing and brain waves are monitored, and I am later informed of how many times a night I have ceased to breathe on my own.

Newman’s Sermon

A summary 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Faith presumes. Reason examines. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Because we believe one thing it is easier to believe the next. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Faith and Reason have different starting points. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Faith has a bearing on practice. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Faith is presumption rather than proof. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We cannot inherit faith but must acquire it for ourselves. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To have Faith is to test oneself. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Religion won’t convince someone who doesn’t want to be convinced. 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What we believe is based upon our previous experience. 10.   Faith is a test of character not of intellect. 11.   Reason is opposed to Faith, but so is unbelief. 12.   Faith doesn’t depend upon intellectual ability. 13.   There seems to be no rule about what to believe and what not. A safe guard is there needed. Many think this should be education. Faith is then an act of reason. Not so. Faith’s safeguard is a right state of heart. 18 and 19. Personal faith is the way to eternal life. 20. Because we love we can recognise the love of the Saviour. 21.We believe because we love. 22,23,24. Examples from scripture. 25. Holiness and love will keep us safe and on track. 26. Faith is an act of reason and based upon a presumption prompted by love 27. Faith turns us away from evil towards good. 28. Lack of faith leads to disobedience. 29. For the Christian faith supercedes sacrifice because of the atonement. 30. For many Christians their faith is tinged with superstition. 31. We should act on faith   and so not be misled as to what is God’s will. 32. Gospel truths cannot be contradicted by modern ideas. 33. Paul said the   gospel was the fulfilment of the law. 34. Judaizers first believed, but clung to law. 35. The Gospel completes the faith of the Jews. 36. It builds on what is revealed by nature 37. True faith is moving from the unknown to the known, from darkness to light. 38. That is all we need. Love, the safeguard of faith against superstition â€Å"The sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers.† John 10 v. 4, 5. 1.Looked at logically Faith has this characteristic – it presumes, it trusts, rather than looking at evidence, rather than by measuring and examining. This is what distinguishes it from Knowledge as we use that word in our everyday lives. We say we know something when we have found it out by natural methods. We can be said to know a mathematical fact when we can demonstrate it to be true. We know that things are present because we sense them. We know about events that take place by using our moral judgement and so judge them to be good or bad. We know about the past and things we will never see by the evidence that we find . When for instance we hear testimony of a miracle occurring from honest men who are neither being deceived or out to deceive us we may be said to know what they testify to as fact. We know about the nature of the case because of the Evidence and when we believe in a miracle because of such Evidence we can be said to believe because of reason. 2. By using our reason we look at the evidence and we believe, and because we believe one thing we can go forward and believe something else. In the general sense Faith is this kind of knowledge – a presumption based on evidence. But as in earlier discourses Reason can be contrasted with Faith as meaning what can be inferred from evidence and which therefore leads to knowledge. 3. Faith is based on presumption and Reason on factual knowledge. Reason makes the fact that is to ascertained the most important point [1].It then looks at the evidence available. It doesn’t exclude what has gone before [2], but doesn’t begin with that. Faith has a different starting point. It begins on a basis of previous knowledge and opinions which, though they may not lead to exactly the same conclusion tend towards it. To take a step of faith is to act before absolute certainty. It could be said to be against Reason or even to triumph over Reason, to take hold of what Reason sees as beyond its reach. Faith is beyond argument, and so is not capable of being argued against and cannot defend itself by using logic i.e. it seems illogical. 4. So why are we bothering with it. Because I believe that Faith has a bearing on practice. Our text was ‘The sheep follow him because they know his voice.’ Their faith leads them to follow. 5. As things turn out day by day we see that Faith is a judgement made by reaching out towards facts, a presumption in their proof, rather than a search for proof. There is no doubt that for the vast majority of sincerely religious   who stake their happiness upon Faith, do so not from examination of the facts , but from a spontaneous move of the heart. They reach out to meet with God despite the fact that they can’t see him. They discern his presence in symbols that are provided [3]. They may perhaps later examine more closely the evidence on which their faith is founded and see whether or not they are justified in believing, but their faith did not begin with the evidence, nor is it affected by the strength of their knowledge,[4] although it may be strengthened by such knowledge. They believe because of something within themselves, not basing their faith only on what Religion teaches. 6. Many Christians can be said to have merely inherited the Faith. They need a faith of their own. 7. Everyone needs to test his own Faith rather than merely accept what he is told. 8. Not that such evidence is deficient, but whether of true religion or a false one the evidence for or against religion is not of the kind that will convince someone against his will. I don’t mean that the evidence has no value one way or another, for or against Christianity, but that few people, in the bustle of their daily lives, have time to consider all the evidence before making decisions. Most of us, most of the time, make judgements by stepping out and meeting the evidence to a greater or lesser degree.[5] 9. This is the way in which we make judgements, because we cannot do it any other way. We act upon only part of the evidence. We make judgements based on the way we feel, how credulous we are, and what seems feasible and safe often based on our previous experience. It is the same with religious experiences. When we apparently experience the supernatural we judge it according to how much we want to believe it. Such judgements are based upon such things as our views of life and our knowledge of the miraculous. We decide whether or not something is true according to how the alleged miracle fits into our existing religious life and knowledge. 10. These religious judgements are not exactly like those we make in our ordinary lives. Evidence about worldly matters is all around us and our minds are not necessarily capable or discrimination between truth and falsehood. Religious facts are fewer in number and of a different kind and the powers we use to judge them are correspondingly stronger. Even the wisest person can make worldly judgements that are wrong, and go against the evidence available, but this does not necessarily mean that even the most ordinary intellect need be wrong in making judgements about the more important kingdom of heaven. I believe that a merciful God are so ordered things that faith, based on presumption, will lead to the same conclusions as if, as the minority do, we carefully examine the evidence. I am not speaking of the trustworthiness of Faith, but of its nature. Faith is a test of moral character. This is the essence of religious faith as opposed to Reason, which by its nature excludes prejudice or what we want to happen in favour of carefully examining the facts. We make multiple decisions on the way when using reason, before we come to a fixed conclusion. This means that there is little merit in getting   the right answer in, for example , a mathematical problem or indeed little guilt involved in making a wrong decision because of a faulty memory. 11. So we see Faith as being opposed to Reason, but we must not forget that Unbelief is also opposed to Reason. Unbelief considers itself to be totally logical, but when it comes to questions of religion Unbelief criticizes the evidence not in a logical way, but because it doesn’t suit. It makes presumptions in a similar way to that which Faith does, but in a negative rather than a positive way. It is the opposite of Faith. It considers religion to be so impossible that it fails to see the evidence. Unbelievers consider themselves rational beings, but they do not decide by evidence. They just make decisions and stick with them. Hume,[6] in the case of alleged miracles, said ‘What have we to oppose†¦..but the absolute impossibility or miraculous nature of the events†¦.’ Hume   sees improbability as sufficient reason for denying the evidence, but presumptions made on either the   side of Faith or Unbelief cannot, by their nature, be proved. Hume went on to say of Faith, ‘Mere Reason is insufficient to convince us of its veracity. 12. Faith   is an exercise of presumptive reasoning which is open to all and does not depend upon intellectual ability. If the majority believe, not because of careful examination of the evidence, but because they are ‘ordained to eternal life’ then this must be the way that God wants it. There may be difficulties with our Faith, but let us face up to them and so overcome them. 13. Such a view of Faith may be made an excuse for all kinds of bigotry and lead to superstition. There seems to be no rule for what is to be believed and what not. If we are to accept the miracles and Revelations of Christianity why not those of other faiths? 14. So a safeguard is needed if Faith is not to become superstition.   The consensus seems to be that if you educate people about their Faith and encourage them to reflect you will avoid fanaticism and superstition. 15. If this is so then Faith is an act of Reason. 16.Yet I deny that any intellectual act is necessary for right Faith, that it needs to be more than a presumption or that it necessarily needs to be fortified by education. The safeguard of Faith is a right state of heart. It is holiness and love which is the principles behind true faith. 17.18.19. Christ is the way into the kingdom of God. Knowing him in a personal way and following him in Faith is the way to eternal life. 20. The Jews didn’t love Christ   and so were unable   to see him as Saviour. Just as a child trusts his parents because of the affection he receives so we believe because we love . 21. Just as sheep do not follow a stranger so we won’t be misled if we know and follow Christ. We believe because we love. 22. This doctrine is expounded in several places such as Ist Corinthians 2 which teaches us the worthlessness of natural Reason. 23.24. Other examples from scripture. 25. Holiness and love are what keep us on track and prevent us getting caught out by things that are wrong. 26. Right Faith is the Faith of a right mind. It is an intellectual act, an act of reasoning based upon presumption and stirred into action by a spirit of love and purity. We will recognise true Revelation because it not be in opposition to the nature of God. 27. Superstition is the worship of evil spirits. Faith is an instinct of Love towards both God and man. It will cause us to turn from what is evil and towards what is good. 28. Lack of faith leads to disobeying God’s laws. 29. However what is superstition for a Jew or Christian is not necessarily so for a heathen   who is not bound by the rules of his Faith. Blood sacrifices for a heathen are not   necessarily superstitious, but for the Christian they have been superseded by the   blood of Christ in the Atonement. 30. Take the example of the viper which bit St Paul on Malta. The people might have been mistaken in believing him to be a god, but at least they were aware of the possibility of heavenly intervention in human life. They weren’t Christians but they recognised the presence of God with Paul. 31. The woman with an issue of blood. Was that superstition? Her action did not fit with what she knew. She recognised in Jesus someone who could save her, yet she stayed on the edge. She didn’t want to bother him. Yet Christ commended her faith . In her faith tinged with superstition and humility we see many believers through the ages, who impair their true vision of God by concentrating on outward emblems. 32. In I Kings 13 we have the story of prophet of Judah who was credulous enough to be misled by the lying prophet. Not   a well known story, but an important one as it reminds us that even God’s people can be led astray. 33 It is not Faith but superstition that leads to stories of omens, charms and so on. We have found Christ already. If the doctrine of today contradicts that which has already been revealed we must disguard it or face the consequences. 34. That was what the Judaizers did. They received the Spirit but went back to the Law. Paul fought against such ideas and   proclaimed that the Gospel was the true fulfilment of the Law. 35. In the case of the heathen he paid respect to their beliefs, but tried to show how the Gospel was the completion of Faith.[7], a fulfilment of what had already been revealed to them by nature. This is real Faith, a moving forward, closer to God. A move from the known to the unknown. It is made perfect not by intellect but by obedience, the act of a pure, obedient and devout mind. 37.This is sufficient. [1] As when a scientist states the hypothesis which his experiment will prove [2] As when Newton said ‘I stand on the shoulders of giants.’ [3] Such as the bread and wine of communion. [4] And so is not affected by their intellectual capacity – a child may have faith and so may a university don. [5] As when we meet someone for the first time and make judgements about his character based on only a brief acquaintance. [6] David Hume, Philosopher, ‘An enquiry concerning human understanding’. [7]   Acts 17 v 16 ff.

Cultural Interaction Analysis Essay

Mining is a process that is composed of three major logical, organized and sequential phases; exploration, development and production with unique risks, economic considerations and constraints characterizing each stage. Before deciding to develop a mine the mining company first considers the social, socioeconomic and environmental consequences of the decision. This paper discusses the problems that the foreign mining companies face while undertaking their mining processes in a community with different culture than theirs. The major hitches they faced mostly included; power differential, permeability and psychosocial factors like suspicion and fear between the company staff and the local community members. A Canadian gold mining company in Ghana faced these challenges during their stay in this West African country. The crises originated from language barrier and past experiences the local communities encountered with other mining firms. Although the official language in Ghana is English the larger percentage of local residents were illiterate and were only conversant with their local dialects. This made conversation a problem as the miners could not learn those languages easily. Even with the assistance of interpreters there was distortion of facts resulting into power differences. Similarly, sections of the community were so indifferent with the mining company since the previous mining companies had negative effects to their environment and families. Their children whom they taught were to earn their living from these mining companies were instead exploited. However, the major factors that affected the company-community relations and which also had an immense impact on how exploration activities were viewed by this community included: First, the cultural diversity between modern business practices of developed countries as represented by exploration activities and traditional communities. Second, was the extreme power differential that existed in any contact between the two interacting groups. The locals perceived the exploration activities in seclusion and with minimal knowledge of the larger picture within the mining industry and therefore they were not only uncertain but also fearful concerning the exploration activities. The local community rarely understood the risks that were associated with mineral exploration as well as the period of time required to prove the economic viability of the mineral deposits. They further assumed that a mining company would only invest huge amounts of money with a fixed time frame for advanced exploration. The mining companies were unable to bridge these power differentials that resulted into justifiable expectations as well as fears from the locals. But the expectations were antagonistic to the reality on the ground about the mine to be developed. These communities were unable to distinguish between a major company and a junior company whereby to them these companies appeared to be equally rich, powerful and potentially threatening. Additionally, the local community feared being marginalized due to language barrier and power impermeability and wished to be given a continuous update of day-to-day events of the company. They further expected to receive immediate answers to their worries from the company officials. Since these fears were not addressed in time by this Canadian company there immerged ill-founded rumors and misinformed messages which gained credibility within and among the community members resulting into increased fear and disquiet from the community (Ian Thomson and Susan A. Joyce 2000). This situations surrounded by fear and distrust between the community and the company severed the communication and understanding between the two giving way to outside interest groups and thus impairing further efforts for deliberations. The experiences and the extent to which the community felt uncertain about the future impacts of mining activities mining industry led into increased suspicions. The Communities viewed the mining industries differently depending on the previous exposure to mining explorations. Members of those communities without a history of mining were naive and inactive towards exploration activities which were taking place around them since they believed that good things like job opportunities and development of the area were to be associated with these explorations as well as mining activities. On the other hand, the responses of those communities which had an history of mining were diverse since some were willing to welcome exploration while others unwilling and instead turned hostile to the presence of foreign interest or as well as opposed a return to environmental and social destructiveness experienced in previous mining activities. Areas with small scale artisan mining were so much opposed to these mining activities since they feared being displaced, their traditional livelihoods being destroyed and alteration of their way of life within their community. The mining company did not take time to make the local community understood well the nature of their work as well as address the hopes, fears, traditions and social norms that may result into conflict and negative consequences to all parties. However, the mining company could prevent all these from occurring by forming a community relations team whose major role would be to mitigate the impacts as well as to build a harmonious relationship based on proper handling of expectations, prevention and resolution of conflicts. The community relations team should also be involved in incorporating the results of stake holders, mapping process, identification of Impact area and summarizing quantifiable objectives and targets based on management indicators that are measurable (Chuck F and Fernando R. 2007). Equally, the community relations programs and policies should cover local purchasing, local manpower, hiring training, land purchase and resettlement grievance resolution. The community should be consulted in every endeavor that the industry engages in as well as collaborating with the local communities to fully understand the social cultural values and aspirations and reach a consensus on the best priorities identified by the community. 2nd Analysis It has been established that Canadian mining companies have the largest stake in the mining industry in most third world countries. Official records indicate that this stake is at 30% of all mining prospects in Africa. South Africa too plays a huge role, it is home to many giants mining companies in Africa and consequently the largest mining company is the world DeBeers is based and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, it has mining interests expanding throughout the world. These two companies have dominated the mining industry mostly in the third world and have over the past years been on the focus over various issues but mostly centering on their relationships with the surrounding environment and the communities As afore maintained, mining companies have strained relations with the locals. This relation is centrally compounded by the difference in cultural dispositions and the overbearing ulterior motivates of mining companies. Profit remains the basic drive in business and the mining companies pursue it at whatever cost, many times with no consideration of the locals’ needs and priorities. An analysis of cultural interaction between the miners and the local communities must take this in to account. A look too in Latin America also produces this grim picture. Latin Americans have been up in arms over what they claim are exploitative tendencies from the mining companies. This is the basis of analysis of the culture between the miners and the neighboring communities. The relationship between employees and the neighboring community is also equally strained and both have a rough time interacting with each other. A look at the mining culture over time indicates that it tends to disregard the community interests and the relations between the two are usually digress to a point of hostility Jacobdeen Higgins is an engineer with one of Canadian companies based in Latin America. This is his fifth month in Ecuador, having been transferred to Quito after leaving an equally lucrative job in his homeland Canada. His relocation to Ecuador was after a promise of a hefty allowance as well as other fringe benefits. In his middle age, this is his first time to travel out of Canada and consequently his interaction with people from the developing countries. He has been born and raised in a country and a neighborhood that has not amply prepared him to interact with people of diverse backgrounds and mostly those that live with an income of below a dollar per day. This factor is further exacerbated by the nature of his occupation. He is a miner and the perception the locals in Ecuador have of miners is one of fear and hatred. They see them as exploitative and only seeking to deflower the vast virginal and resourceful land in Ecuador. The first issue Higgins has come to grapple with is the difference in the orientation of the local communities cultures and way of life with that of Canadian miners. There exist such fundamental variations in the two cultures such that the interests between them are always at a crossroad. The first barrier and major difference that Higgins has had to cope with is the language. This however is not unique to Canadian miners in Latin America but is a problem faced by most miners in foreign lands and aggravates an already sour situation. This is one predicament that miners tend to overlook. They do not take time to learn a few lessons on the cultural disposition of the local communities. Higgins is only fluent in English, it is his only language and beside that he can only catch a few French words. On the other hand Ecuador is a Spanish speaking country and in deed it is the official language. Besides that, there are other local dialects that would take years to learn. His company has based its operations in Napo province. It is a territory that is laden with mineral resources, but the company has centrally for the time being focused on gold. The communities residing in Napo province are yet to come in to contact with large mining companies with such huge machines and large workforce mainly composing of foreigners. Very few too understand or speak English. The majority of the leading personnel on these mining companies do not understand Spanish or worse still the local dialects Higgins has been at pains trying to interact with local community and mostly has to employ the use of interpreters who charge exorbitant prices. His position in the company requires him to source for laborers from the neighboring villages and small towns, in so doing the potential laborers have to undergo strenuous interviews to establish their skills and competencies. This is a nightmare he has to contend with in his daily activities. First comes the issue of hostility from the locals and then the tricky situation of the local language (www. mineralresourcesforum). Small-scale mining has been entrenched in the local community’s economic system. Artisan miners roam all over and wield so much influence in the community due to the lucrative nature of their venture. To them, and equally to the rest of the community, Higgins and his work colleagues are foreigners and should be accorded the treatment befitting intruders. This however is understandable as the large companies pose a threat to their livelihood. To the rest of the community the miners are a threat to their lands and open hostility is only way to pass this message. Others in the same community view Higgins with a mixture of dread and awe. He drives a big four-wheel state of the art vehicle, a luxury machine and a reserve of the top government executives and rich businessmen. He clearly does not understand the lives of the locals and does not understand why the locals are reluctant to leave their lands when there is a goldmine lying underneath. In his first days in Napo province, Higgins had been enthusiastic of this first chance to interact with the locals, however his friendly grins were usually met with cold stares and mostly harsh insults form the locals as he later came to learn from a political representative who nowadays acts as his guide just because he understands a few English words. Communication has been difficult to a point of frustration, attempts to reward with kind words or reprimand his employees are met with again cold stares; they just cant communicate with each other. This has resulted to a situation characterized by hostility from both the company and the local community. They rarely communicate with each other beyond a point of need. Higgins is now filled with disparage for the locals. He has been unable to understand their needs and neither their hostility, to him and to the rest of the miners. The minimal interaction he has had with the locals has not helped patch this ill feeling towards them. But for the cheap source of labor, Higgins would not wish to interact in any way. This is the notion and the perception held by both parties and emanates from the inherent cultural differences existing between the miners and the communities. Whereas miners such as Higgins are driven by personal economic motives, the locals on the other hand are wary of the miners and fail to see the long term economic benefits that may arise, they abhor the environmental degradations and social afflicts the mining will have on the surroundings and especially on their lands. 3rd Analysis This Canadian mining company has also to contend with the challenge of safety, more so, convincing the community of the appropriateness of the measures put in place to ensure the safety of the workers and the environment. The issue of communication not withstanding, safety concerns continue to bug the mining companies. It is not a secret the extent of devastation meted out against the locality of the mining operations. They leave huge dents on the surface of the earth and damage the natural habitat permanently. The surrounding communities are aware of this and they usually fight tooth and nail to have the companies relocate their activities or demand huge compensations, which in most cases pass unyielded to. Higgins is in the same position; he stands between a rock and a hard place. The company wants to mine, explore and exit within the allocated time but the neighboring communities are unrelenting in their adamant resolve not to give way. Miners culture has over time not demonstrated any considerations for the welfare of the environment, driven by surreptitious intentions, environmental needs take a back seat being overridden by profit maximization needs. Rarely does it have any room for plough backs directed towards environmental conservation. Being in an influential position as he is, Higgins is at the forefront in building a favorable relationship between the community and the company. He is also aware of the implications of the company’s mining operations but he is not in a position to call the shots within the management. He has a rough time trying to make his guide understand this. He also thinks that the devastations caused by the miners are exaggerated compared to the benefits that are reaped through mining. As the guide tells him, the local community’s hostility emanates from this fear. They fear the environmental impact of the mining project, the hazards that lie in wait resulting from the industrial wastes and air pollution from clouds of dusts emanating from the earth’s bowels. A look at the vast lands in Napo province reveals an expansive land untainted by the vulgarities of modernity. Most of the land is still in its virginal state and is characterized by uninhabited territories that remain revered and cherished by the locals. The mood on the ground is set against the mining companies operations. The vast natural habitat is a source of spiritual inspiration to the surrounding communities and has come to wither a lot of human onslaughts. To Higgins and the mining company in general, those perceived considerations do not hold any water. They are in business and will pursue their interests to the end. It is an economic venture that eventually stands to benefit the locals through employment opportunities. Producing more benefits than the natural habitat in its current state stands to do. Mining culture is impervious to environmental hazards consideration; its eyes are on the prize and not on the sideshows. It is not in line with the local communities worries on safety in the environment. Miners are hungry for profit and the only way to maximize it is through intensifying their explorations. Higgins’ guide cannot understand this selfish drive and likewise the local community’s does not. They value social interactions and solidarity more than economic ventures. The community is close knit and not highly commercialized to a point of neglecting social ties. The attachment with the environment is to a point of divinity. The environment is clean and the mining operations are a threat to this, they fear that it will bring pollution that in the end might result to diseases and other health complications. The safety of the environment remains the central factor. To most local communities where mining takes place, the environment is not the only safety consideration; safety within the mine is also taken into account. Higgins has had a rough time trying to explain the safety measures put in place to ensure that his (and that of other employees) safety in the mines, but the few incidences in the mines world over that have resulted to fatalities are a prove that the unexpected sometimes happen. His guide as well as the rest of the community are convinced otherwise. The prevalent perception and notion held by the majority of the local people is that the mines are not a safe place to work in, the sight of the complicated machines and the large pits confirms this, the miners recognize these machines and the large pits as a source of livelihood. Higgins is an engineer and understands the internal dynamics of these machines. He has operated these machines and been in the bottom of the pits for years and is convinced that they are safe. The necessary measures have been put in place to ensure this. This is the same headache facing Higgins as he tries to recruit more and more workers. The local community is adamant on the safety hazard of the mine. They claim that it can collapse any moment as a result of the spirits vexation towards humanity for destroying its habitat. Few people are volunteering for the underground mining due to the perceived hazards. The local community is also set against this. Families, even in the rampant poverty, are willing to see their family members involved in the mining activities. Pressure is being put by the families of the young men who are in search of quick bucks in the mines, they don’t want to see them volunteering for the underground operations. The local community, according to Higgins’ guide, knows that the dust from the mine can lead to health complications that can turn fatal in the long run. A look at the local communities cultural beliefs, practices and perceptions reveals that they are different from the mining culture. Miners are more concerned with the output and the benefits in the mines more than with the safety environmental consideration. Miners are trained scientists and rarely take a course on social relations. They do not understand the complexities of the local community and the diverse nature of their culture (Lia Bryant and Delrdre Tedmanson 2002). To them, mining is just but a renewed opportunity to make a killing. It is important that the mining culture undergoes a major transformation to ensure that miners are more responsive to the local communities’ needs and aspirations. They should enact mechanisms through which the mining companies should plough back a portion of their profit back into the community to ensure a trickle down effect to the people on the ground. The hostility that arises between the mining companies and the locals usually is fostered by the reluctance of the miners to take time and understand the local community. People are of diverse cultural backgrounds and have some ununderstandable attachment to their ancestral lands. This is not expected to change over night. Understanding the underlying cultural factors and language should be a prerequisite to mining activities. References Ian Thomson and Susan A. Joyce (2000-08-17). Minerals exploration and the challenge Of community relations: PDAC accessed online on 23/10/07 http://www. pdac. ca. pda/members/community/relate. pdf Chuck foster and Fernando Rivera (2007): Mining in Ecuador Hard assets investor. com Accessed online on 23/10/2007 http://hardassetsinvestor. com/index. php Lia Bryant and Delrdre Tedmanson (2002): Diversity in the mining industry: the International journal of knowledge, culture and change management. Accessed Online on 23/10/2007 http://ijm. cgpublisher. com/product/pub. 28/prod. 241 Doctor Mthethwa, Matthews Hlabane, and Ibinini Mara: Breaking communication Barriers between communities affected by mining and the mining industry in South Africa accessed online on 2007 October 23rd. http://www. mineralresourcesforum. org/docs/pdfs/communication. pdf

Doing Business in Vietnam Essays

Doing Business in Vietnam Essays Doing Business in Vietnam Essay Doing Business in Vietnam Essay Vietnam has had an impressive economic growing over the last two decennaries and continues to turn quickly. Over a short period of clip Vietnam has gone from a hungering state to a major exporter of agricultural goods. Today Vietnam is considered one of the most unfastened economic systems in the universe. with entire import and export value matching to approximately 160 per centum of GDP. In 2007 Vietnam joined WTO and since so legion reforms have helped the investing clime better significantly. ensuing in a turning influx of foreign investings and companies. For foreign investors Vietnam has chiefly been. and continues to be. an attractive pick for set uping labour intensive. low-technology production. However. as the income degrees addition and the consumer behavior alterations. it has become more common to set up concerns orientated towards selling goods on the Vietnamese market. Many companies describe Vietnam as a good complement to the place market. with turning potencies offered by a really immature. dynamic population. It is described as inexpensive to set up new trade names and commerce is still comparatively immature. Advice for get downing a concern in Vietnam. One of the chief jobs for concerns in Vietnam is troubles with predictability. transparence and lucidity in footings of ordinances and dealingss with public governments. The spreads between statute law. execution and enforcement are large in Vietnam. Get downing a company is associated with some disposal ( several signifiers and processs ) and besides associated with strategic considerations in footings of the legal signifier of the company ( e. g. joint stock company. representative office etc ) . So. the first advice is Be prepared to pass a batch of clip taking attention of administrative processs ( e. g. different signifiers. contracts and licences ) . it means: * Try to acquire a good overview of the different ministries. governments and sections you are likely to be in touch with within your concern country. * Make certain to hold person with good webs on the relevant province disposal degree. whom you can confer with on these issues The 2nd advice: Make a throughout research o n Human Resource in Viet Nam. Human resource issues are frequently described as the most hard country when making concern in Vietnam. This is chiefly because of different civilizations. The employee turnover is by and large high in Vietnam. It is hence of import to supply the employees with grounds to remain in the company. Most companies stress the importance of puting in the employees. One of the keys to concern success in Vietnam is understanding that local imposts and behaviors have a important consequence on concern relationships. which means paying more money do non maintain your employees. understand and being friend with them do. The 3rd advice related to Export/Import affair. The Vietnamese authorities has shown itself committed to implement the WTO committednesss. As a consequence. trade ordinances are softening up easy. However. when inexperient. trading can be a hard country in Vietnam. As there are no extended ushers or manuals to trading and no kicking mechanisms at the usage offices. Efficient trading ( import/export ) is frequently a affair of learning-by-doing. Problems can to big extent be avoided by making thorough research on ordinances. in order to guarantee that all paperss are in order and all Torahs are followed.

Top 10 Current Issues in IT †Current Issues in Information Systems Article

Top 10 Current Issues in IT – Current Issues in Information Systems Article Free Online Research Papers Top 10 Current Issues in IT Current Issues in Information Systems Article For this assignment we are required to write a top 10 list of issues that the IT industry is currently facing. The list should try to avoid broad topics such as the following to focus on: Outsourcing, Centralized versus Decentralized, Mergers and Acquisitions, Object Oriented Methodology, Security, Telecommuting, Enterprise Architecture and Standards, Portfolio Management, Programmers as a Commodity, Knowledge Management, Grid Computing, and Biometrics. 1.)SEO Search Engine Optimization the process of increasing the amount of visitors to a web site by ranking high in the search results of a search engine for specific keywords or phrases that are most relevant to a business. Simply put the higher a web site ranks in the results of a search, the greater the chance that that site will be visited by a user. It is common practice for Internet users to not click through pages and pages of search results, so where a site ranks in a search is essential for directing more traffic toward the site. SEO helps to ensure that a site is accessible to a search engine focusing on enforcing valid web code, traffic analysis, keyword and phrase analysis, product understanding, internet marketing, content development, and other human factors such as ad placement. All in all SEO improves the chances that the site will be found by the search engine. 2.)SPAM %30 of all Internet traffic is claimed to be SPAM related. This includes ad-ware, junk mail, pop up traffic, etc. Consequently, there are many organizations, as well as individuals, who have taken it upon themselves to fight spam with a variety of techniques. But because the Internet is public, there is really little that can be done to prevent spam. However, some online services have instituted policies to prevent spammers from spamming their subscribers. This is a step in the right direction. 3.)Data Ownership refers to both the possession of and responsibility for information that may or may not have value. Ownership implies power as well as control. The control of information includes not just the ability to access, create, modify, package, derive benefit from, sell or remove data, but also the right to assign these access privileges to others at any time. With the sale of myspace.com for 581 Million one could ask why is such a site so valuable? 4.)Google Sandbox There is no official response from Google but the trend seems to be that when new sites are first uploaded they receive close Google attention and decent rankings for their keywords and phrases. After two to three weeks these new sites drop in the rankings and pages from these sites drop from the index as well. There is no real mention or data that shows how long this â€Å"phase† lasts but exports are suggesting somewhat extreme measures like allowing spiders into the site before its completion, perhaps getting the site over the Google drop phase before the initial role out. 5.)Online Learning – With many players in the online learning, CMS (Content Management Systems), and portal business right now competing for the same customer; there is much progress being made to lour new customers in one direction over the other. The big three are WebCT, Blackboard, and Moodle; each with a different business model and each showing benefits in different areas. 6.)Blogs – a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual, group, or organization. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author and are a proven method for making a regular income if the author can capture an audience. However, with often times very personal information so accessible is there a downside? 7.)Common Data Security Architecture – this is Intel’s vision for managing hardware cryptography. The advantage of using a hardware processor over software is that hardware is considered more secure because as long as cryptographic operations are in software, the sensitive key material will be in software. Intels cryptographic co-processor can compliment the software-based security framework released by Microsoft called Authenticode. Authenticode is Microsofts technique for securing digital signatures on the Internet. While not guaranteeing bug-free code, Authenticode technology is designed to identify the publisher of the code and to assure end users that software has not been tampered with before or during the download process. 8.)Identity Theft identity theft is the deliberate assumption of another persons identity. Usually to gain access to their credit or frame them for a crime. However, less commonly it is used to enable illegal immigration, terrorism, espionage, or changing identity permanently. It may also be used in a variety of forms of blackmail, especially if medical privacy, political privacy, or other personal information has been leaked and thus possibly resulting in serious consequences like loss of job or marriage. 9.)FTTP – Fiber-to-the-premises is now being deployed to homes and businesses in Virginia as well as in parts of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania by Verizon. Thus bringing the total to nine states where work is under way. Verizons FiOS broadband Internet packages come in speeds of up to 5 Mbps, 15 Mbps and 30 Mbps, with upstream speeds of up to 2 Mbps for the first two products and 5 Mbps for the third. The 5 Mbps service sells for $34.95 per month, when purchased with a package of Verizon services, and $39.95 when purchased separately. 10.)PPC (Pay Per Click) A model of web site inclusion where you pay an agreed amount every time a user clicks to your website through a search engine. Google, MSN, and Yahoo all offer these services. Usually you buy the position you want to rank at, for a particular keyword or phrase and pay the search engine every time it generates a hit to your website. Research Papers on Top 10 Current Issues in IT - Current Issues in Information Systems ArticleThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresDefinition of Export QuotasInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Article Analysis for Organizational and Citizenship Behavior

This paper looks at organizational aspects and workplace relations, which can be, used in   developing commitment and enabling a setting that enhances   the innovative behavior of nurses who are working within the Australian health care system. It also provides an insight into the link between different factors and their influence on enabling employees to have organizational commitment and innovative behavior (Brunetto & Xerri 2013). The Australian healthcare system is being affected by a shortage of nurses. Nurses are leaving the profession due to different issues and there is a problem of retention across a number of Australian hospitals. Many wards in the public and private healthcare institutions are being forced into closure due to the shortage of nurses. It is therefore in the best interest of healthcare organizations to delve into the issues that affect nurses such that they cannot maintain their commitment. When effective relationships in the work place are made, the organization gets a number of benefits as successful relations amongst staff at different levels in the organization results in   sharing of information and trust hence making employees feel empowered and they also embrace accountability (Brunetto & Xerri 2013).This enables them to perform their roles in an efficient and effective manner. The authors provide an insight into how hospitals are able to enhance efficiency of nurses. They conclude that relationships which are social can be used to improve the innovative actions of nurses. Hospitals must therefore ensure that nurses are attached emotionally to healthcare institutions and that they have enough social relationships in the workplace that will enable them to get knowledge, information and resources that will support the innovative process (Brunetto & Xerri 2013).   Brunetto, Y. and Xerri, M.J, 2013. Fostering innovative behaviour: The importance of employee commitment and organisational citizenship behaviour.  The International Journal of Human Resource Management ,  24(16), pp.3163-3177. Looking for an answer 'who will do my essay for cheap',

Manned mission to Mars Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Manned mission to Mars - Essay Example Moon is the natural satellite of earth which is located near to the earth compared to other planets. Only Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were able to land on moon so far even though many other satellites were send to moon for explorations. The access to moon is still not easy for the humans. Under such circumstances manned missions to Mars has made lot of controversies. Some people argue that manned missions to mars are the only way to find more things about our neighboring planets and to explore the possibilities of any life there. Moreover, only manned missions will be able to prove beyond doubt that how useful the external planets for human beings. On the other hand, critics believe that manned missions to mars is a risky topic because of the immense possibilities of danger both on the way and while landing on moon. This paper briefly analyses the arguments in favor and against manned mission to mars Critics of manned mars mission have raised three major questions; a) how to get funding?, b) how to land on Mars safely?, and c) how to ascent from Mars safely? (Heinonen). It is not easy to send manned spacecrafts to mars. Billions of dollars are needed for mars exploration. It is practically difficult for a single country to bear such huge expenses. But somehow if we are bale to manage the expenses for manned mission, the second question is how to land safely on mars. We have less knowledge about the atmosphere and others dangers waiting for us in Mars. Even the landing on moon was not easy for us even though we did succeed once. Many people believe that high energy cosmic rays and other ionizing radiations might be available in Mars. Moreover, mars have low gravity than earth which may cause further problem to the explorers. The third major cause of concern about manned mars mission is the question of how to ascent from mars even if we succeeded in landing safely on mars. On the other hand,

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 46

Reaction paper - Essay Example They had cultural loyalty and were considered as underclass (Gonzalez 98). Puerto Ricans, on the other hand, went mainstream. They fully assimilated into the Central American culture. However, they were also considered as underclass. The government policies in Central America made it easy for the Puerto Ricans to adapt to their culture since they were their protectorate (Gonzalez 114). However, the policies in the Caribbean were much harder for them to adapt because of harsh government policies. The population profile and community structure of the Caribbean population was that they lived in isolation. This is due to the fact that they chose to remain loyal to their culture (Gonzalez 116). The population profile and community structure of the Central American population was that they lived in harmony. The reception of the Caribbean migration made them economically marginalized and politically disenfranchised. They were also considered as underclass individuals, who did everything that the underclass did (Gonzalez 120). The Puerto Ricans maintained their class since the United States declared them a protectorate, unlike the Caribbean population who where detached from the labor

Daily Social Responsibility in Action Assignment

Daily Social Responsibility in Action - Assignment Example The involved actions in social responsibility may not necessarily remedy the actual effects on the society but aim achieving an overall social benefit. Organizations also engage in social responsibility in order to meet interest of people who influence the organization’s existence and operations. Partnerships and other contracts may for example be tied to terms for corporate social responsibility and this forces organization to honor their obligations to the stakeholders (Grossling, 2011). Another reason for organization’s participation in social responsibility is that the role averts pressure that would have built against the organization’s interest such as crimes into vandalism of assets (Visser, Matten, Pohl and Tolhurst, 2010). Organizations derive diversified benefits from their participation in social responsibility. Such benefits include reduced costs due to recycled resources, innovation into new products, motivated staff and a safer environment. The organization’s employees however benefit from â€Å"environmental awareness,† and â€Å"improved staff morale† towards higher output levels (Frank and Neergaard, 2012, p. 86). My experience with a company that involved in corporate social responsibility involves witnessing academic sponsorship by a commercial bank to needy students. The bank’s partners initiated this role and it improved customer’s loyalty to the bank, especially people from the beneficiary

Improving the Interface of Empirical Modelling Tools Dissertation

Improving the Interface of Empirical Modelling Tools - Dissertation Example Related Work Throughout the Empirical Modelling research several tools have been developed to provide a definitive notation environment for developing models. Each of them serves different purpose, but most are based on the EDEN language. The most well known tool used in EM research is tkeden; many models have been built using tkeden. It is a definitive system that can manage definitions based on the EDEN language and is implemented with tk/tcl. Tkeden has had massive contributions throughout EM research and led to many variations based on EDEN. Abstract Definitive Machine Meurig Beynon, Mike Slade and Edward Yung designed the Abstract Definitive Machine (ADM) in 1988. It is designed as a computational model that is based upon definitive representations of state. ADM is a tool for animating the LSD specifications to represent concurrent action by parallel redefinition and reflects context dependence of agent actions by the use of scripts. Cadence Cadence is an environment that is based on the DOSTE interpreter. Candence IDE, the Warwick Games Design (WGD) library and EDEN are examples of modules that can communicate with DOSTE. DOSTE itself is conceived as a special kind of operating system, and has been deployed in this way [3]. In Cadence, DOSTE captures current state via a combinatorial graph: a family of nodes connected by directed edges. There are also labels nodes in the graph. The DOSTE state is constantly being updated, so the structure of the graph is subject to change.

Cyclical, Frictional and Structural Unemployment Statistics Project

Cyclical, Frictional and Structural Unemployment - Statistics Project Example Fifty percent, 10 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent of the total U.S unemployment accounts for unemployed persons due to layoff, those who have already quit their previous jobs, those reentering the labor force and new entrants to the labor force respectively. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the number of unemployed persons in the U.S stood at 11.7 million while the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent in March 2013. This was a decrease from 7.7 percent in the previous month. In March 2013, the unemployment rate for adult males was 6.9 percent, adult females 7.0 percent and youths 24.2 percent. Categorized according to race, the unemployment rate for whites was 6.7 percent, blacks 13.3 percent, Hispanics 9.2 percent and Asians 5.0 percent.   In the same month, the number of persons unemployed for 27 or more weeks, stood at 4.6 million accounting for 39.6 percent of the unemployed. The labor force participation rate reduced by 0.2 percent while the civilian labor for ce reduced by 496,000. The involuntary part-time workers dropped by 350,000 to 7.6 million in March. They are regarded as involuntary part-time workers because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. In the same month, employment in the retail sector declined by 24,000 while employment in the health sector, professional and business services increased by 23,000 and 51,000 jobs respectively.The construction industry added 169,000 jobs. Job decline in clothing and accessories stores stood at 15,000, building material and garden supply stores at 10,000 and electronics and appliance stores 6,000. Some sectors in the government such as Postal Service employment fell by 12,000. Compared to previous months, major industries such as mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, state government, and local government recorded dismal changes in employment. Since 1948, to 2013, the average u nemployment rate has been 5.81 percent. The highest unemployment rate was in 1982 hitting a high of 10.8 and the lowest ever was in 1953 hitting a low of 2.50 percent. Unemployment is defined as the fraction of the total people looking for a job to the total labor force. Since the great depression, the U.S has recorded the highest stretch of the  unemployment rate of above 8 percent. The congressional budget office projects that the unemployment rate will remain above 8 percent until 2014.

Validity and Reliability; Which is More Important in Today's High Research Paper

Validity and Reliability; Which is More Important in Today's High Stakes Testing - Research Paper Example While high-stakes testing may return similar outcomes in the tests of different students, which is an element of reliability, one might wonder whether it is reliability that America really needs. In this regard, it is necessary to examine the validity, where this paper proposes that validity is more important as far as this testing approach is concerned. Validity has been defined as the extent to which a test measures what it is meant to measure. If a test is valid, it measures exactly what it is meant to measure as purely as not to, by chance, influence any other factors. With validity, focus is not precisely on the scores measured, but on the inferences that one is able to deduce from the instruments. As such, the inferences made from a valid test are supposed to be â€Å"suitable, meaningful, and useful† (Lang & Wilkerson, 2008). This is the complex link that sheds clean light on the clear distinction between validity and reliability. In other words, as one would infer, it is possible for a testing instrument to measure something apart from the construct that it was supposed to measure, and do it reliably. On the other hand, a measure that is not reliable can never be said to be valid. In this light, reliability is quite necessary a measure, but it is quite inadequate in relation to validity – a valid instrument, therefore, has to be reliable, which a reliable instrument does not have to be valid. In testing, it is a common understanding that based on the aforementioned relationship, violations of validity are expected to have more severe impacts, as compared to reliability. One would, therefore, agree that validity is more complex and important an instrument that reliability and is less understood compared to the latter. In addition, it cannot be substantiated by any one statistic. Having mentioned that, it is important to discuss the important

Cyclical, Frictional and Structural Unemployment Statistics Project

Cyclical, Frictional and Structural Unemployment - Statistics Project Example Fifty percent, 10 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent of the total U.S unemployment accounts for unemployed persons due to layoff, those who have already quit their previous jobs, those reentering the labor force and new entrants to the labor force respectively. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the number of unemployed persons in the U.S stood at 11.7 million while the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent in March 2013. This was a decrease from 7.7 percent in the previous month. In March 2013, the unemployment rate for adult males was 6.9 percent, adult females 7.0 percent and youths 24.2 percent. Categorized according to race, the unemployment rate for whites was 6.7 percent, blacks 13.3 percent, Hispanics 9.2 percent and Asians 5.0 percent.   In the same month, the number of persons unemployed for 27 or more weeks, stood at 4.6 million accounting for 39.6 percent of the unemployed. The labor force participation rate reduced by 0.2 percent while the civilian labor for ce reduced by 496,000. The involuntary part-time workers dropped by 350,000 to 7.6 million in March. They are regarded as involuntary part-time workers because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. In the same month, employment in the retail sector declined by 24,000 while employment in the health sector, professional and business services increased by 23,000 and 51,000 jobs respectively.The construction industry added 169,000 jobs. Job decline in clothing and accessories stores stood at 15,000, building material and garden supply stores at 10,000 and electronics and appliance stores 6,000. Some sectors in the government such as Postal Service employment fell by 12,000. Compared to previous months, major industries such as mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, state government, and local government recorded dismal changes in employment. Since 1948, to 2013, the average u nemployment rate has been 5.81 percent. The highest unemployment rate was in 1982 hitting a high of 10.8 and the lowest ever was in 1953 hitting a low of 2.50 percent. Unemployment is defined as the fraction of the total people looking for a job to the total labor force. Since the great depression, the U.S has recorded the highest stretch of the  unemployment rate of above 8 percent. The congressional budget office projects that the unemployment rate will remain above 8 percent until 2014.

Sole Trader Companies Essay Example for Free

Sole Trader Companies Essay Sole trader companies are the ones which are opened individually. For example, there is one person and he fascinated about doing business so he can invest money into the business and he has to do it by himself. It means he has to find out where can sources of finance come and how to control it because he must work by himself without shareholders. There are some sources of finances as follows: * Retained earnings: this is profits of a company after removing taxes, salaries and expenses or something like that and this source should be applied after few months from the beginning. For example, after removing all of expenses like sundry costs, training courts costs we have the balance in our savings account about 9500 pounds. Pizza hut can use that money actively to purchase for their raw materials it is also an advantage of them when they can control their expenditure and save some money so that they can use their money without thinking about charging fees or interests. However, if they base on the money which is saved too much they are going to meet problems because the situations of company will be different depends on different economics phase so they need to think of some ways to make sure that saving money will not take a lot of place in their account. * Selling assets: in case the entrepreneur set up their business but they have problems in capitals so they should sell some products to get money to invest and getting profits. For example, pizza hut can sell their old machines, equipment, or even their own logo. This is seemed to be a risk way because after selling assets they will be lose their control in their business a little and it can lead to situations of having not enough assets to support for producing. * Personal capital: The owners can invest their own money into business for expansion. This will prevent him from the burden of interests from borrowing and he or she can control their business by himself or herself without depending on others one. * Debt finance: it is often used when people start to set up a business, entrepreneurs will ask for borrowing money from their families and friends  first and finally then they will ask for borrowing from others business’s helps. In short, debt finance is used for subscribing the borrowing action of a business to report for their productions. In case Pizza hut is a Public Limited Company Public Limited Companies is the ones which are created from 2 or more than 2 persons. And those persons are called shareholders and each shareholder will own a part of the company which is depends on their financial ability by the ones called shares. The more shares you owned the more donation you have in control of company. By this way the company can mobilize capital easily and there are some sources of finance as follows: * Issuing shares: business can collect money by issuing shares to stock exchange and outsides the business there are going to be some people want to invest money to make profits for themselves so they can use their money to buy the shares and by that way the business can get money and for the person who invested money they will have a position in the business and they will receive dividend each month. * Venture capital: venture capital is becoming increasingly important sources of finance for growing business. This can be done by individuals or groups of shareholders, they have to look for a lot of potential companies or projects and making decisions exactly is not being lacked of. Otherwise, they can easy to meet debts for dividends for example or they can go to bankrupt because they are lost a lot of money for failure projects. * Bank loans: Business can raise their fund by borrowing money from banks and this is seemed to be a good way to get money immediately. However, the business has to think a lot about the interest rate and the repayment ability in case they don’t want to go to bankrupt because of debts. And, business consider loans as long or short term plans to support their business and the considering is depended on the purposes and the amount of money the business want to borrow. For instance, if the business had 1 billion and they borrow 100 million, it would be considers as short – term loans because the amount of money they borrowed is not main money for projects because it too small compare to 1 billion. 1.2 Advantages and Disadvantages * Debt finance: Advantages: everyone when they want to set up a new business so borrowing money is very necessary because it will help the entrepreneur feel more confident and they are going to be stronger in doing business. Disadvantages: besides, they have to think about ways of repaying loans to others. The reason is that they will create a trust and increase their reputation so that they can borrow in next times easily. So, doing business is not always favorable so it requires businessmen to think about ways of existing a lot and when they go to bankrupt there will be not easy for them to face with creators and in the worst case they can be a prison. * Issuing Shares: Advantages: businesses can raise their funds easily by issuing shares and they can expand their business as well. This mobilization capital will not create a debt which the business has to repay. Besides, issuing shares can help business attract and keep good force of staff and the business can connect to potential partners. Disadvantages: The businesses have to accept high fees of issuing. Issuing shares can disperse the ownerships, controllerships and revenues as well. * Bank loans: Advantages: Bank loans are seemed to be a good resources for a business to raise their funds because the business can get mortgages from bank easily and the mission they need to complete is that try to earn profits as much as possible to repay. Disadvantages: In case, the business make lost so that will be a really big issue because if they did not repay on time they will lost their assets but the thing is they have to delay the debts and that’s the reason for interests are going to be increased immediately and the delayer the more interest. Finally then, the more money cannot be paid the more risks of bankrupting.

Effect of the Financial Crisis on the Automotive Industry

Effect of the Financial Crisis on the Automotive Industry Globalization refers to the shedding down of the walls of distrust and the barriers of suspicion in between countries to make a bridge where ideas and beliefs can cross the borders. We are divided into different worlds, and therefore could never have managed to deal with deadly epidemics and natural holocausts which have time and again challenged us. Globalization has strengthened the nexus and has helped us to understand each others need in a better way. Globalization has helped us to break the walls that separated us and have restricted our natural identity of being fellow human beings. It is true that the impact of globalization is clearly visible and affects the politics and economy of the country but it also affects the mindset of the people and their way of thinking. Globalization has made way for free trade and business and has communication between various parts of the world. It was made a world a better place to live in. Recently with the recession hitting the market, there has been doubts in many peoples mind weather globalization has made our lives better or not? Had the impact not been that great if the world was not that connected? Especially in the Automotive Industry with such heavy dependence on the Big three companies in the United States. There had been a sudden collapse in this sector which had made it difficult for car manufactures world over. The car industry, which is seen as a barometer of the world economy, is storming itself into deep recession, with sales and profits dipping(BBC News). Manufacturing plants are closing, jobs are being axed, share prices of the car companies are tumbling and production being cut back. The economic meltdown has taken its toll in almost all the industrial sectors across the globe. While the scale of the crash was unprecedented, so was the coordinated response by the Government and Banks in providing to get the financial markets industry working again and also to gain back the consumer confidence. The 2008-2009 automotive industry crises were an integral part of the global financial recession. The crisis affected the European and Asian automobile manufactures, but it was primary felt in the U.S automobile manufacturing industry. It also had an impact on Canada by the virtue of Automotive Products trade agreement. The Automotive industry was mainly weakened by the increase in the prices of the automotive fuels which is linked to the 2003-2008 energy crisis which dint encourage the purchase of low fuel economy vehicles such as the sports utility vehicles(SUVs) and the pickup trucks(MSNBC News). With the increase in the popularity and having high profit margins of these vehicles have motivated the Americas â€Å"Big Three† automakers also know as Detroit, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford to produce vehicles in this segment.   With the fuel-efficient models presented to the consumers, sales began to go down. The pressure on the prices of raw material being so much it had turned the credit crunch by the 2008. The US automakers suffered from considerably higher labour cost than their other counter parts including salaries, benefits, healthcare and pension. A letter to the CEOs of the Big Three automakers were sent by the Democratic Congressional party leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to present a â€Å"credible restructuring plan† involving â€Å"significant sacrifice and major changes of doing work† At the beginning, U.S sales fell down to 32% which brought down the car sales of General Motors by 45%, Ford by 30% and Chrysler by 35%. GM and Ford both having their components manufactured from India, with such a steep fall in the sale of cars it made a tremendous impact on the auto components manufactured in India. A cut in the production made them to cut down their orders of the car components manufactures. India is a strong and growing economy but the hit of recession has put red marks on the entire balance sheet of the Indian economy. The business analysts have reported that the Indian car industry had recorded a continuous growth of about 17.2% over the past few years. But with the hit of recession it has brought the growth down to about 7-8%. Be it Tata Motors or Maruti Suzuki or even Mercedes-Benz the market has gone down to a negative terrain. In addition, the uncertainty in exchange rate and increase in the dollar value against the Indian rupee has caused the slowdown. Increased dollar value has lead to an increase in the landed cost of imported machine tools and even the raw materials needed for production by approximately 14%. Steel and alloy prices have also not reduced which have forced the car manufactures to increase their car prices. To make the matters even worse is that the steel manufactures across the country are looking for re-imposition of custom duty on steel. Seeing the drop in the production numbers the State Bank of India has reduced the interest rates on loans in February, 2009. In 2008, the Chinese government had reduced the automotive taxes in order to encourage flagging sales. In January 2009, Chery a Chinese auto manufacturer reported unprecedented monthly sales. With the weak US economy in 2008, Japanese automaker Toyota recorded a double digit decline in sales. Toyota declared that it had expected a first time loss of $1.7billion in 70 years. Its sales saw a dip of 33.9% and that of Honda motor by 31.6%. In December, 2008 Japans second largest car manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation announced that it will cut down the production in Japan by 30,000 units due to the shortage in the demand. The company is likely to face its first plunge in the profit after eight years. Mitsubishi Motors because of the fall in demand had to cut their production requirements. It was roughly reduced by 110,000 vehicles in this year because of the fall in the sales of Japan, the U.S and the Europe. Japans car sales will fall to the lowest in about 31years according to the countries automobile manufactures. Toyotas President Katsuaki Watanabe said the Impact on the company from the struggling global economy has been â€Å"faster, wider and deeper than expected†. On 4th November, 2009, Toyota announced that it was pulling out from Formula One, ending the teams sports involvement. The crisis even affected the South Korean automakers, in December 2008, Hyundai Motor Company had reduced production in the plants at U.S, India, China and Turkey because of the sluggish demand. Amid the global financial crisis the company in an earlier projection had missed about 4.8 million units for 2008.they shortened factory operations and froze the wages of the administrative workers. South Koreas fourth largest automakers, SsangYong Motor, owned by SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) the Chinese automobile manufacturer is the worst affected in the crisis as they manufacture mainly high petrol consuming SUVs. The car maker incurred its straight fourth quarterly loss by the end of 2008 with losses amounting to $20.8 million in the third quarter. Also the sales dropped from 63% to about 3,835 vehicles. In Europe the sales of the car have so drastically reduced that consideration was being given to give monetary support for the automotive industry, particularly in France, Germany and Italy. French automobile manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen sales dropped by 17% in the last quarter of 2008, as a result it planned to cut 2700 jobs. In February 2009, PSA announced a cut of 11,000 jobs worldwide. Renault also saw a steep dip in sales in 2008. There was a dip in profits by 78% compared to the previous year. European sales fell 4% and worldwide the sales fell by 7% forcing Renault to abandon their growth targets of 2009. Fiat in Italy announced its temporary closure by a month. Alfa Romeos main plant of cars will be shut for four weeks. In January 2009 Fiat announced a 19% dip in revenues in the last quarter of 2008. Spanish automobile manufacturer SEAT cut their production at Martorell plant by 5% due to fall in its sales. In the United Kingdom, Jaguar Land Rover, now owned by Tata Motors, was demanding a $1.5 billion loan from the government to manage with the credit crisis. Nissan Motors UK announced that it was to get rid of 1200 jobs from its Washington factory near Sunderland due to the automotive industry crisis. The Canadian auto industry is closely related to the U.S due to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and is in similar trouble. Canada has about 3500 car dealers which employ 140,000 people, are at the risk of losing their jobs from the financial crisis. Chrysler Canada demanded for $1 billion in support, making it the only Canadian arm of the Big Three to call for any dollar request. The CTF has opposed the bailout for the Canadian subsidiaries $3.5 CAD billion for the Big Three. The CTF noted that federal and provincial governments have already spent $782-million in the past five years. On December 20th, government of Canada and the province of Ontario offered a loan of about $3.3 billion on the auto industry. Under the loan GM got about $3 billion and Chrysler got the rest. Ford only asked for small amount of credit but they will not be participating in the bailout. Chrysler vice-chairman and president and Fords chief of manufacturing said that the â€Å"GM-CAW deal wa s insufficient† signifying that they will break the pattern set by the GM. Chrysler may also pull back from Canada if it fails to achieve substantial cost saving from the CAW. In March 2009, the Canadian federal and Ontario governments jointly discarded the restructuring plans given by the GM and Chrysler. This came a day later when US President Barack Obama had rejected the restructuring plans of the parent companies. As recession was seeing in all parts of the world it was most affected in the United States. In November 2008, there was a hearing by the United States Senate in the presence of the heads of Chrysler, General Motor and Ford. They all demanded an aid of about $25 billion if they were to evade bankruptcy. The Republican Senators were reluctant to give aid; some even suggested that bankruptcy would be the best option as it would help the manufactures free from the deal between them and the unions. General Motors share prices steep down to the lowest since the Great Depression. Ford share prices also fell considerably. On 2nd December, 2008, the Big Three submitted a revised plan to the Congress which included more drastic measures. The total bailout aid demanded had now increased to about $34 billion, giving a gloomier image of what would happen if the Congress will not give aid. Chrysler required $7 billion by the end of the month just to continue the business, while Ford required $4 b illion immediately. In an interview with the President Barack Obama said, ‘the last thing I want to see happen is for the auto industry to disappear, but Im concerned that we dont put $10 billion or $20 billion or $30 billion into an industry, and then six months to a year later, they come back hat in hand and say, ‘Give me more. Under the Obama administration the idea of the car czar was approved and an agreement was reached on about $15 billion in emergency loans to the auto industry. On 18th February, 2009 Chrysler and General Motors again approached the U.S government on obtaining a second of $21.6 billion, of which General Motors asked for $16.6 billion, while Chrysler took $5billion. General Motors also agreed in line to reduce 47,000 jobs, close 5 plants and axe 12 car models. Chrysler managed to cut 3,000 jobs and reduce one shift from production and axe 3 car models. Ford was able to stand on its own but General Motors and Chrysler had to file for bankruptcy. On 30th April, 2009 Chrysler filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11after the talks with all the leaders had broken down. On 14th May, 2009 Chrysler announced to shut 25% of its U.S operations as a part of the restructuring process. On 1st June, 2009 General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the deals with the bond holders had failed. The application to the court in the New York marked the biggest collapse of an industrial company in the U.S. The restructuring process will involve a loss of about 20,000 jobs in the U.S. they also announced that nine other plants will be shut down while three more will be idle. It was the largest ever industrial bankruptcy in American history. In the new GM, in line with the financial regulation planned out by the U.S treasury, the federal government will take 60% of the ownership stake and the Canadian government about 12.5% along with the united auto workers getting a 17.5% share and the unsecured bondholders getting about 10% of the equity. Chapter 11 bankruptcies would allow Detroit to reorganize but not cause the massive job losses feared by some, Any bailout of the auto industry is really a bailout for the health benefits of the UAW [United Auto Workers]. Thats a ll it is. stated by Wharton finance professor Jeremy Siegel, author of the book The Future of Investors. There have been made arguments made which feel that there was no need to file for the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This will be a visible shift in the consumer choice to choose a car as they may not be able to depend so easily from the bankrupted companies, as there will be no warranty of the vehicles. G.M also states that the bankruptcy will also cause a loss of a lot of jobs and make it difficult for the governments as they will not be able to get so many jobs. The bankruptcy served as a blessing in disguise for the Big Three as it helped them to void the outrageous union contracts and escape them from under worker obligations which were entered decades ago. It will also allow the automobile industry to be more competitive than before and be more sustainable. The government of America has also committed that it will help in the restructuring process of the auto industry as a whole and will wants the consumers to ensure on the cars they buy and also the suppliers to support them to weather the storm. The Administration will help stabilize the industry by the following ways: protection of consumer warrantees, supplier support program, unlocking the flow of credit for the consumers and dealers. The hit of the crisis at the automobile industry affected the whole world economy. The crises have not only caused problems for the car manufactures but also squeezed the car component manufactures. The component suppliers are an important part of the car industry that contributes 70% in the production of the car. The car component manufacturing companies are impacting the overall car industry in a big way. There were thousands of people being jobless and slowly people had no money with them to even buy a car. This drastically affected not only the sales of United Stated but the world over. Globalization played a crucial role in spreading this crisis world over as the automobile industry is highly dependent on United States and Canada for its manufacturing. Recession has hit the world economy through globalization causing problems not only in the auto industry but in every sector. There are millions of people world over who are jobless now as so many plants world over have been effected. Even with the inflation increasing such heights workers all over are facing pay-cuts which have made it difficult for them to survive. There is a constant pressure on the employees working as there is a fear of products being outsourced from the developing nations at a cheaper rate. Although because of globalization it has marked a new civilization which has enabled the people to stay in touch with each other and making the world a smaller place. But still it has a lot of evils which we cant overlook and we have to make sure that something is done to ensure that from the future such a thing is not repeated. There should be some measures or restrictions imposed to insure that if anything major happens either in Europe, India or even United States it should not cause problems for the whole economy. Unemployment, social degeneration and the main problems of globalization which people must be aware of that globalization is a one way tale. None the less, it is hoped that even after such an impact on the industry, the whole automotive industry which has stood the test in the previous recessions as well will bounce back once again. REFERENCES: BBC NEWS. Jorn Madslien,Business reporter, BBC News Car companies look beyond recession(online) Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7674505.stm MSNBC News. Gas prices put Detroit Big Three in crisis mode(online) Available from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24896359/