Educational goals and rationale for those goals plus short annottated Essay

Educational goals and rationale for those goals plus short annottated bibliography - Essay Example Moreover, it is not necessary that two person who got the same training may have similar knowledge on a particular topic. This is purely because of the differences intelligence and learning styles. Entwistle (1986) has classified learning into three major categories; deep, surface, and strategic (Entwistle, 1986). In other words, some people may acquire only the surface level knowledge whereas others may acquire in depth knowledge. A third segment of people may consider their learning as a strategy to obtain some professional excellence or career goals. In any case, learning or education will never be a waste for anybody in their life. This paper briefly analyses the goals and rationale of education. â€Å"The best way for a person to learn depends on the person, of course† (Understanding Different Learning Styles, n. d) One of the major goals of education is to assist the students in their learning styles and to improve their skills in all areas, specifically in science. Diff erent students may have different intelligence levels and learning styles. In such situations, the teacher should try to provide individualized learning atmosphere for the students. Teachers should assess the learning styles of their students and make necessary changes in their teaching styles. For example, some students may find it easy to grasp when the teacher was able to connect the topic with familiar life situations. In some other cases, students develop curiosity when the teacher was able to develop a particular topic from a known situation to unknown situation. Many students like the problem solving method of learning. In any case, the teacher should be able flexible in his teaching methods to cater the needs of all the students in the class. Scientific knowledge is essential for rational thinking or critical thinking. Critical thinking is the much needed quality to enhance learning. In the absence of critical thinking, students will get only the surface level knowledge abou t a particular topic. As the name implies, surface learning helps a person to learn a topic only at the surface level. The learner may not penetrate deep into the roots of the knowledge in such cases. For example, the knowledge â€Å"Atom is the smallest element of matter† is only a surface level knowledge. On the other hand, if the student was able to analyze why atom became the smallest element, what are the constituents of atom, structure of atom, various internal and external forces which bind atoms together in the molecule etc, the student will get in-depth knowledge about the particular topic atom. The goals of education are to provoke such critical thinking abilities in the minds of the students. The third major goal of education is to improve the academic skills of the students. This can be done through a variety of methods. Technology is developing rapidly and these technological developments can help students to improve their academic skills. For example, earlier, s tudents relied on published books for getting more details about a particular topic. However, the introduction of internet has changed the whole scenario. Now students look into the internet first to get specialized knowledge about any topics. The students should be given adequate training in using modern technologies to enhance their learning potentials. Another goal of education

Meaning of Life and Success Essay Example for Free

Meaning of Life and Success Essay The most important thing in my life is thought to be happiness. In order to achieve success you must adjust to very situation with ease. Success is it the process of doing a task and receiving a positive result, or is it simply achieving one’s own personal goals. According to The American Heritage dictionary success is, â€Å"the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempt†. The word success itself means to achieve your goal or get the point that you looking for. Some people success meant to them to be rich or to finish school and work high pay jobs. But for me success means more than that. Success means to me have peace and love; also to get married and to enter heaven after this life is over. To be sure, everybody who has peace and love is a successful succeeding person. Without peace and love there is no success. You wake up in the morning and you don’t worry about anything that day; that is success for me, because the life is short, you don’t have to be concerned about anything. Also if you have a family that loves you and is always happy for what you are doing, that is success. In addition, if you take care of your old parents and they love you and they live a happy life, which is success for me. Additionally, success is also something that is viewed differently in the eyes of everyone. This is because success means doing what I have always wanted do being where I have always wanted to be. My goal in life is to eventually get married to a good wife and have many happy children and if I accomplished that, then I could view myself as having success. Lastly, meaning of success for me is to enter the heaven after this life is over. We know that life in this world is too short, and we don’t know when we are going to die and what we are going to get after this life. That is a simple answer; do good deeds in this world and you are going to be successful in the life hereafter. That means you enter the heaven for sure and that is big reward from God to his mankind. There is no dying after this life; that means if you don’t enter the heaven you will be the loser and who ever go in the heaven will be the winner. In conclusion, I still agree with the idea I presented: however according to the dictionary and many other resources, success means to them achievement. But according to my own opinion success means to believe the ones of God, and to have peace and love in your whole life, and to get in heaven the life hereafter.

In this cold generation :: essays papers

In this cold generation In this cold generation, called "Generation X," where young men and women find themselves lost wondering what to do with their life, finding a passion for something, a passion that rules your life, is very important. I found out in my interview with Phil Gervais that unlike many of his generation he has a direction. He looks like any other 18 year old, but he is different because in some way he has what many of us lack: he knows what he wants. He wants to become a firefighter. Phil has found a passion that rules his life. Phil is pursuing a major in Social Rehabilitation but as soon as he finishes college, he will apply for a job with the Fire Department in his hometown of Ware Massachusetts. How did Phil develop this passion? Phil's desire to become a firefighter is an inherited trait because for generations many members of his family served as firefighters. This family legacy remarkably influenced Phil's choices in life. His grandfather Ernie, an emigrant from Canada, became the first one to enroll as a volunteer firefighter. Then his father, his uncle and finally his aunt all became firefighters. Phil used to go with his father when he answered his fire calls. While accompanying his father in 1992, a time when Phil was only 8 years old, he saw a victim of a fire for the first time. His first encounter with a dead person did not discourage him from the idea of becoming a firefighter. How did it happen? One afternoon he went with his father to the scene of a fire and there he suddenly saw in the middle of the floor a dead body of one of the victims of the fire. Partially covered with a blanket, Phil could only see a few burned spots on the hands. Nevertheless, he was not scared. While accompanying his father on many fire calls, Phil heard many terrible noises and he felt the heat of the fire. He saw tragic sights such as the dead body on many occasions. These scenes became commonplace during his childhood. Now eighteen years old, Phil works as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown. Only last week he was able to put his training to practice in a real fire call.

American Indian Education Essay

In this article the author argues that the American government should provide the Indian society the opportunity to create their own institution, for further education. He believes the American culture is being forced upon Indian society through education. Arthur C Parker believes in further education, as he himself is a no graduate from Dickinson Seminary. In his experience, Indian Students are being taught to assimilate to common American culture, while disregarding there own family tree. He states that by placing an Indian University, students would be granted the opportunity to further there education, as well as, the opportunity to embrace there own culture. Based upon Indian culture, Indians will be able to expand there education at a superior level, while never being forced to be similar to the white race. The American Indian wouldn’t be no less than an American, now be treated any differently, but he believed that the Indian had the opportunity to be granted the same education. Furthermore, he feels like no other Indian should be left out of the proper education they deserve. In conclusion, Arthur C. Parker strongly stands up for his believes, and does bend his head in shame, he is proud to be and Indian. Considering the time frame, 1913, where America is a developing nation of many cultures, the brining of a single race institution would cause a big controversy. America is known as the â€Å"Melting Pot†, where there is a variety of different cultures. To one, this article will seem to be talking back to American society. Parker has a strong believe and feels like this will improve the Indians education. I believe that he is so passionate for the American Indian University because he did not have the opportunity to complete his education, probably because he didn’t feel comfortable in his learning environment. In my perspective, this article is important, but nothing extraordinary from modern days, this issue continues with other races. The opportunity to have a single race intuition would’ve meant that every single race would have that same right, one has to be accustomed to what America is, as of today, a mixture of many cultures and beliefs. In my opinion, any student who believes, and want a higher education, will do so in any environment they are in.

Netflix Business Model Analysis Essay

Netflix is an online subscription-based DVD rental service that promises to connect their customers to the movies and television shows they love through means of sending discs through the mail or streaming them directly via the internet. For only $7.99 per month, Netflix offers their customers unlimited access to their massive video library (>70,000 titles as of year-end 2006) and is able to deliver DVD’s by mail to over 90% of their nearly 7 million subscribers in only a single business day. There are many factors that go into how Netflix is able to generate profit with this business model. First and foremost, Netflix uses a subscription-based revenue model. This came about after adopting a more emergent business strategy to better adapt to feedback being provided by its customers. Netflix initially used a revenue model similar to that of the brick and mortar video rental stores with the thought that the convenience factor of having discs mailed directly to your home would outweigh the inconvenience of having to wait the extra time it took to ship the discs. In 1999, Netflix shifted to the, more simplified, subscription-based model which, in turn, increased the value proposition that Netflix was able to offer its customers. Another large consideration in generating profit is their partnerships with nearly all of the major movie studios that allows them to purchase DVD’s at a reduced up-front cost in return for a fee based on how often those discs are rented in a given time period. This, in conjunction with a good recommendation system that brings older titles to the forefront of customer’s minds and the Netflix subsidiary company, Red Envelope Entertainment allows Netflix to house a larger library of titles for a lower cost than its competition while satisfying the sizable niche market of individuals who are interested in renting titles that they have missed or re-renting titles they’ve already seen that most video stores could not.

Open World essays

Open World essays In the Introduction to his book Open World: The Truth About Globalization, author Philippe Legrain writes, "Awarding the 2008 Olympics to Beijing was richly symbolica recognition of how far China had come," (3). Legrain continues to note that major multinationals like Coca-Cola, Visa, McDonalds, and Kodak look forward to being able to market to the humongous Chinese market. Using this example as a opening for his wide-ranging book about the implications of globalization, Legrain posits that globalization is ripe with potential for the international community, for which it offers economic, political, and social benefits. Moreover, Legrain critiques what he believes are common misperceptions about the history and meaning of globalization, which he states is "not shorthand for the way the world is today," (10). On these premises, Legrain presents clear and logical arguments in favor of the economic, political, and social trends that accompany globalization, pointing out that its critics are either misinformed or unduly alarmist. The author also demonstrates that globalization is a force that can be molded and transformed to suit the needs of the times and cultures it affects. Open World contains thirteen chapters, all of which are accompanied by detailed and academic references; plus a handy index for easy referencing. Although the author's stance appears starry-eyed and overly optimistic, Legrain nevertheless offers an enlightening perspective to one of the most heated debates of our time. In Chapter One, "Worried Workers," Legrain asserts that globalization should be the last thing that labor should be worried about in spite of fears that foreign workers are infringing on the prosperity of the domestic labor force. Competition in the domestic market and technological advancements cause the majority of pay cuts and layoffs, not foreign factories (Legrain 29). In fact...

Poem- Love Stinks essays

Poem- Love Stinks essays Why do I feel like the more I love you the more you hide? Is it because you are so sure I will always be here? You say you love my smile,yet all you see are these tears. I gave up everything you asked me to. I spend so much time defending myself to your worrys That I have forgotten about love and all of its securities. You have cursed at me and accused me and left me in this pool of lonely tears to drown myself. You say that you love me for life.... yet your love comes with rules, puppet strings and buttons that only you can push and pull. You picked up the pieces of my broken heart and promised me a future, Yet you filled it back up with doubt, lies and torture. Is this the life you have choosen for me? Is this what you call making me happy? I am going to sleep now. I wont wake up in the morning. Im going to swallow this little pill. I still love you! And Ill keep my end of this deal. Ill die loving you isnt that what I said when we met? My promises are forever unlike yours which you will live to regret. This is not the life I choose for you. This is not what I call making you happy. This is what I call loving you till the ending, Keeping my promises from the beginning. Are you secure now knowing I loved you enough to leave? Take care My Love and except this gift. I give you my life,till the end of time. ...

Learn Interesting Geographic Facts About Texas

Learn Interesting Geographic Facts About Texas Texas is a state located in the United States. It is the second largest of the fifty United States based on both area and population (Alaska and California are first respectively). The largest city in Texas is Houston while its capital is Austin. Texas is bordered by the U.S. states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana but also by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico. Texas is also one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. Population:  28.449 million  (2017 estimate)Capital:  AustinBordering States:  New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and LouisianaBordering Country:  MexicoLand Area:  268,820 square miles (696,241 sq km)Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak at 8,751 feet (2,667 m) Ten Geographic Facts to Know About the State of Texas Throughout its history, Texas was ruled by six different nations. The first of these was Spain, followed by France and then Mexico until 1836 when the territory became an independent republic. In 1845, it became the 28th U.S. state to enter the Union and in 1861, it joined the Confederate States and seceded from the Union during the Civil War.Texas is known as the Lone Star State because it was once an independent republic. The states flag features a lone star to signify this as well as its fight for independence from Mexico.The state constitution of Texas was adopted in 1876.The economy of Texas is known for being based on oil. It was discovered in the state in the early 1900s and the population of the area exploded. Cattle is also a large industry associated with the state and it developed after the Civil War.In addition to its past oil-based economy, Texas has invested strongly in its universities and as a result, today it has a very diverse economy with various high tech industri es including energy, computers, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. Agriculture and petrochemicals are also growing industries in Texas. Because Texas is such a large state, it has a highly varied topography. The state has ten climatic regions and 11 different ecological regions. The topography types vary from mountainous to the forested hill country to coastal plains and prairies in the interior. Texas also has 3,700 streams and 15 major rivers but there are no large natural lakes in the state.Despite its being known for having desert landscapes, less than 10% of Texas is actually considered desert. The desert and mountains of Big Bend are the only areas in the state with this landscape. The rest of the state is coastal swamps, woods, plains, and low rolling hills.Texas also has a varied climate due to its size. The panhandle portion of the state bigger temperature extremes than does the Gulf Coast, which is milder. For example, Dallas which is located in the northern part of the state has a July average high of 96ËšF (35ËšC) and an average January low of 34ËšF (1.2ËšC). Galveston on the other hand, which is located on the Gulf Coast, rarely has summer temperatures over 90ËšF (32ËšC) or winter lows below 50ËšF (5ËšC). The Gulf Coast region of Texas is prone to hurricanes. In 1900, a hurricane hit Galveston and destroyed the entire city and may have killed as many as 12,000 people. It was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Since then, there have been many more devastating hurricanes that have hit Texas.Most of Texass population is centered around its metropolitan areas and in the eastern part of the state. Texas has a growing population and as of 2012, the state had 4.1 million foreign-born residents. It is estimated however that 1.7 million of those residents are illegal immigrants. To learn more about Texas, visit the states official website.Source: Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Texas: History, Geography, Population and State Facts- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0108277.html

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

WritingAssignment - Essay Example Lastly, it would enhance responsibility among artists. After all their art works are not covered by public funds. Therefore, this paper will expound on why public money should not be used to help pay for art that some taxpayers believe to be offensive and indecent. To begin with, it is an insult to the public when their funds are misappropriated. People who do not subscribe to obscenities and artworks that insult their faith may protest against the inappropriate use of their money. Case in point is the protests by American Family Association against National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for wrong use of their money in the artwork display. The art work was a painting by Serrano named ‘Piss Christ’ to which American Family Association found distasteful. They described it as obscene, hate-filled, anti-Christ and bigoted. They wrote protest letters to the Congress and NEA showing their displeasure in use of their money (Stokstad and Cothren). In essence, it was an insult to them. Secondly, there is need for observation of general standards of decency as well as respect for the diverse views of the American population. America is a large country with a population that subscribes to diverse beliefs and views. The whole population pays taxes regardless of its diverse nature. Consequently, respect of that diversity is paramount. Artworks that display mockery of other faiths, special population groups should not be funded by public money to which the population groups contributed. Case in point is Chris Ofili’s drawing of ‘The Holy Virgin Mary’ displayed at the Brooklyn Museum of Art which angered Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Catholic leaders. Giuliani considered the art sick and disgusting as well as promoting religious intolerance (Stokstad and Cothren). In view of this, art works should respect the diverse views and religious standings of the citizens. Using taxpayer s money

Taxation Direct and Indirect taxes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Taxation Direct and Indirect taxes - Essay Example There are a number of different terms for taxation and indeed taxation takes on many special sub categories. For example there are capital gains tax   which according to Reynolds (1999) represents a special tax placed on capital gains which are profits recognized from the sale of assets purchased at a lower price such as properties, commodities etc. A second example would be a corporate tax which is a specialized tax placed directly on a corporation or other such business entity (Depending on the jurisdiction). A third example would be an inheritance tax which can be any sort of taxes levied after the death of an individual. Tariffs often form an important element of taxation as it represents a specialized tax levied on the importation of goods or the movement of goods through a nation’s borders (this may hold special significance in an increasingly globalized economy). A last example of a specialized tax is called a toll which is some sort of fee levied for the right to tra vel on a maintained road or waterway, in this regard the income received from such a tax would typically be used to maintain the condition of the passageway.   What is important to keep in mind is that any particular jurisdiction may have any number of direct, indirect or specialized tax used in any combination to suit the needs of the local citizenry. In this regard taxation can be tailored to meet the specialized needs of a particular area. According to Smith (1776) it is the case that every state ought to contribute towards supporting.

Roe v. Wade, 410 US 113 (1973) (opinion of Blackmun, writing for the Essay

Roe v. Wade, 410 US 113 (1973) (opinion of Blackmun, writing for the majority, parts 5 11 or V XI ) - Essay Example Roe’s argument remains controversial throughout Supreme Court history since they are centred towards abortion rights. Blackmun argument divides pregnancies in three stages; first, second and third trimester. In the first trimester, a woman had unrestricted choice to abort if she had consulted her physician therefore; he held that the committee and hospital requirements were unconstitutional. In the second trimester, medical practitioners argue that the abortion poses a threat to the health of a woman and thus state could protect the women by regulating abortion. During the third trimester there was a need to protect a foetus by restricting abortion but Blackmun argued that since the moral and medical status of the foetus are uncertain, the state could not draw their argument on when life begins. For example, the state could not argue whether the fetus and newborn have equal rights if life begun at conception (Goldman 929). Similar justice majority in Doe restated largely and fleshed it to Roe ruling. Justice Blackmun when he wrote to the compact majority, he determined the regulations of the state could pose an obstacle to procedural abortion more specifically in this case, whether the law stipulated that the abortion could be done in a hospital or receive approval by two doctors. This was regarded as a violation to womens intention to terminate pregnancy. Many women have far and wide experience the burden of abortion as a result of the risks that result from aftermath of conception. In this regard, Blackmun argues that the government should relieve the women the burden by allowing them to make independent decisions since they are the transcendental finalist of the effects of abortion or rather not aborting. He further acknowledges the need to resolve the issue of abortion due to its emotional and sensitive nature. The subject of

Political Science Discussion 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Science Discussion 2 - Coursework Example Moreover, ethnic and racial considerations also prove that the members are fully representative of the American people. This follows that minority ethnic groups are also being elected to the Congress. The American people have changed considerably relevant to what they want, as well as, expect in a president as evident from the reign of George Washington to the current president. According to the current expectations, the Americans want a president who can act fast and decisively on problems facing the nation including crime as well as drug abuse. Moreover, the Americans want a president who can perform well under pressure (Zegart, 41). Such a president must communicate effectively and commands a lot of trust from the citizens. These are some of the qualities that make a good president. Based on the above criteria, it is important to say that Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barrack Obama were and are, good presidents. The constitution should be amended in order to allow the federal judges to serve only a single, non-renewable and fixed 10-year term. Doing this cannot undermine the independence of the courts and their ability to uphold unpopular rights. However, amending the constitution to allow federal judges a fixed non-renewable term will be very significant in eliminating the possibility of bad judges remaining in the bench indefinitely. This will make the judges become more competent and very smart in their work, thus offering quality services to the

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

E-commerce - Essay Example The E-commerce revolution has surged forward with applications appearing in the airline industry as equitable with fast and easy modern technology service in the new age. This scientific protocol allows the industry to communicate internally with suppliers and partners and with their customers. Plagued with a series of economic downturns and fierce competition and global critical issues, the airline industry had no other recourse but to adjust and adapt itself to the current business scenario than remain covered in dust as other competitors fly by. Although most airlines were reluctant to engage strategically in electronic commerce giving justification to their highly exceptional personalized service, the Paris Crash in 2000 and the September 11, 2001 downfall made every international flag carrier cringed at the thought of closing its doors forever and were instead forced to lunge for drastic measures to regain its earning equilibrium. Bigger airline industries brainstormed their ma rketing specialists while directors hold close door meetings in the effort to address the problems besieging the entire future of everyone associated with the business. Small players beyond 2003 were still struggling to keep up with the prevailing market scene but bigger players had adjusted faster but then again faced with the critical issue of mass employee lay-off for most of its workers affected by the online economic measures. However the e-business held promises to lower the operating costs of these sectors as well as connections to the wider world in a matter of seconds. Flag carriers like British Airways, KLM, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, American Airlines and Singapore Airlines responded by installing e-commerce platforms as the robust channel for business. The Paris Crash in 2000 and the 9/11 terrorist attacks the following year, coupled by fluctuating maintenance costs, and the future of Concorde was limited despite the expensive modifications after the crash.

Political Science Discussion 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Science Discussion 2 - Coursework Example Moreover, ethnic and racial considerations also prove that the members are fully representative of the American people. This follows that minority ethnic groups are also being elected to the Congress. The American people have changed considerably relevant to what they want, as well as, expect in a president as evident from the reign of George Washington to the current president. According to the current expectations, the Americans want a president who can act fast and decisively on problems facing the nation including crime as well as drug abuse. Moreover, the Americans want a president who can perform well under pressure (Zegart, 41). Such a president must communicate effectively and commands a lot of trust from the citizens. These are some of the qualities that make a good president. Based on the above criteria, it is important to say that Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barrack Obama were and are, good presidents. The constitution should be amended in order to allow the federal judges to serve only a single, non-renewable and fixed 10-year term. Doing this cannot undermine the independence of the courts and their ability to uphold unpopular rights. However, amending the constitution to allow federal judges a fixed non-renewable term will be very significant in eliminating the possibility of bad judges remaining in the bench indefinitely. This will make the judges become more competent and very smart in their work, thus offering quality services to the

Much To Learn From History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Much To Learn From History - Essay Example On many levels through my historical observation of such readings, I have been forever impacted by the diverse fibers that have made up the collective historical record. I found very early on that history would be the right subject matter for me to study. The chance to enter the historical record through the written works of many other historians had and continues to have a great impact on me as I continue my quest for an increased understanding of everything that has to do with history. It is quite empowering to me to be able to read such instrumental works that, in considerable ways, have aided in the formation of an understanding about that which happened between 1865 until the present day. To have the chance to read these works and have the resulting imagery painted in my mind from the words I have read has meant so much to me as a historian and as a person as I seek to learn more about history's offerings. From everything that I have learned personally, I feel that any student in school, or someone who wishes to learn outside of an organized setting, can take away many great things from studying this issue. A student of history can take away a great appreciation and exposure to the many things that have occurred throughout the time that paint a bigger picture of understanding the vast nature of intricacies which are intertwined with each and every historical event that has occurred between 1865 until now. The unique chance to have the opportunity as a student of history to enter the mind, motivation, as well as the circumstances.

Gap Inc. in France Essay Example for Free

Gap Inc. in France Essay Since the 16th century, France has been the epicenter of high fashion. From elegant designs of the old royal court to the stylish threads made by contemporary French Fashion Designers like Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and Jean-Paul Gaulthier. Im very sure we would all agree that location is a key factor in the success of a business and France is  known to many if not all  as the fashion capital of the world hosting many world renowned designers such as Gucci, Chanel, Prada and many more. The country has advantages in being well known for fashion in that many consumers have often travelled to France to obtain firsthand experience of the beautiful glamorous lifestyles associated with the country of fashion. In terms of tourism, France is the most visited country in the world and hosts seventy-five million visitors a year. The success of the tourism industry through the fashion attraction has help the economy grow in that people from all over the world bring money from various countries to spend in France. What better place to set up a GAP, Inc. like banana republic. With our growing base of loyal customers in our various different locations, both in our stores and online, we’re confident that shoppers in France will have a strong appetite for banana republic’s proposition of affordable luxury, as we open yet another location. Introducing something new and slightly different would most definitely be a challenge but would also attract and build a new customer relation experience. Identifying Global Business Opportunities Siddha Param of Worldwide Business Connection online magazine begins one of his articles with the quote â€Å"Opportunity is very often found in solving existing inefficiencies in a market†. I believe this statement as true because identifying global markets; making a proper assessment the inefficiencies affecting that particular market; and making a strategic move to fill that need, is the formula for creating successful business. For instance, a local water purification company may be looking to expand their markets. They may see where a particular region has been affected with a natural ditsier, economic straits or any number of situations; but where left with the need of fresh water. A smart opportunity would see the needs of that community and began to supply their goods to fulfill the demands that region. This would be an example of solving existing inefficiencies by identifying business opportunities. In most cases of supply and demand with in the global community has practically fulfilled the wants and need of all consumers. Leaving no room existing inefficiencies to be resolved. In the case of introducing GAP Inc. to France, an already established fashion haven, I would have to ask where the opportunity to succeed in this market is. A possible opportunity would be establishing GAP as an affordable alternative for clothing competitors. In doing so, you would have created an inefficiency to be filled thus opening the door successful operations in a new global market. Analyzing International Competitors Potential Competitors: Gap Inc. competes with local, national, and global department stores, specialty and discount store chains, independent retail stores, and online businesses that market similar lines of merchandise, probably too many to mention. But to name a few of these companies, we feel are similar to ours include brands like Zara (owned by a Spanish company Inditex) and H;amp;M (from Sweden). This designer brands cater to the same target market as GAP Inc. they offer high quality clothes at an expensive price and the crowd is willing to pay that much to look good. Competitive Advantage: Gap’s style will be rooted in simple, easy to wear pieces that form the foundation of any wardrobe – the jean, the khaki, and the pocket tee. It will epitomize casual cool which transcends trend making it easy for people to express their personal style. Our company offers a range of great versatile wardrobe solutions, delivering elevated design and luxurious fabrications at approachable prices while combining contemporary and traditional elements to evoke the brand’s essence of affordable modern. Assessment of the Geographic and Economic Environment of France Geographical Influences: France is located in Western Europe, bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. The total area covered by France is 419,328 square miles. This number includes France’s other territories located throughout the world including French Guiana (South America), Guadeloupe (Central America and the Caribbean), Martinique (Central America and the Caribbean), Mayotte (Africa), and Reunion (World). Metropolitan France covers an area of 342,807 square miles. France is the 43rd largest country of the world. In comparison, France is slightly smaller than the state of Texas (World Fact book, 2012). France lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel on the west and northwest, and the Mediterranean Sea on the south giving France access to numerous waterways. Metropolitan France is mostly flat plains and gently rolling hills in the north and west, and the remainder is mountainous, especially the Alps in east and the Pyrenees in the south. France’s geographical location allows for a great business opportunity with access to many other European nations. The climate in France is also welcoming with generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean. Major Products and Industries: France is a significant producer of uranium, bauxite, nickel, iron ore, crude steel, aluminum, and coal. According to French Customs, France is the worlds second largest agricultural producer after the United States (Department of State, 2012). France’s agricultural productions include grain, dairy, pork, poultry, apples, beef, fruits, vegetables, and wine. Current Economic Conditions: The current economic conditions in France are looking good. France is currently transitioning from an economy that was mostly controlled by the government to one that relies more on a market driven system. Being able to operate under this new economic system will allow us to control more aspects within our company. This is definitely something to consider in regards to our foreign direct investment (FDI). Frances current leaders remain committed to capitalism by looking to maintain social equity by means of tax policies, laws, and social spending (Department of State, 2012). France’s GDP is $2. 214 trillion dollars, which is 10th in comparison to the rest of the world (World Fact book, 2012). The French government expects GDP growth of 1. 0% for 2012 (Department of State, 2012). This is a great time for us to open a GAP in France knowing that the economic forecast is looking bright. France is one of the founding members of the European Union (EU) and well respected by other members. The currency used in France as well as other countries within the EU is the euro. One euro is currently equaled to 1. 32705 USD. This is one negative aspect of our business proposal that we will have to deal with. The French government’s current economic policy aims to promote domestic growth and investments. Reducing the high unemployment rate and creating jobs has been a top priority (global EDGE, 2012). Infrastructure of France: This will be a welcoming approach to help solve unemployment issues in France. Cultural Analysis: The ethnic groups within France include Celtic, Latin, Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Sub-Saharan African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities (World Factbook, 2012). Religions in France include Roman Catholic (Majority), Muslim, Protestant, and Jewish. France is home to the largest number of Muslims and Jews in all of Europe. The language spoken in France is French. Throughout history, French has been the international language of commerce and diplomacy (Department of State, 2012). Some of France’s biggest cultural accomplishments include those made to fashion, cinema, and cuisine. Noteworthy, Paris, France is considered one of the fashion capitals of the world and is home to successful fashion brands such as Jean-Paul Gaultier Celine, Chanel, Balenciaga, Chloe, Dior, Givenchy, and Vuitton (ParisDigest, 2012). France’s love for fashion will open great opportunities for our business and help us to establish the GAP brand throughout Europe. The reputable fashion industry in France will can be beneficial for us in the development of our operation guidelines. Social Institutions: France is made up of different ethnicities, religious backgrounds, and cultures which we must consider when executing business activities such as marketing. I would suggest that all employees heading to France to conduct business participate in a cultural awareness program. Informal Trade Barriers: Being a member of the EU has helped France and other European nations maintain healthy trade relations. However, there are some informal trade barriers that may hinder these trade relations. Communication failure is one of the biggest informal trade barriers that exist. A current goal of the French government is to reduce budget deficits to help ensure sustainable growth. In 2008, in order to become more competitive, the National Assembly passed four bills to modernize the economy and reform the labor market (Department of State, 2012). President Sarkozy is credited with increasing the tax credit for investments in small and medium enterprises, as well as eliminating the annual flat business tax. These are definite signs that France is moving in the right direction in regards to their economy, and a great sign that this is the perfect time to establish our business. Formal Trade Barriers: There are two factors that seem to motivate the trend toward globalization. These two factors include declining trade barriers and changes in communication, transportation technologies, and information (Hill, 2011). Regional economic integration has stimulated France’s economy by lowering trade barriers and emplacing fewer restrictions to help increase trade among members of the EU. However, if the EU decides to erect trade barriers on non-EU members, France will have to abide by them. This could cause a negative impact on trade relations with other countries outside of the EU. Trade and investments between France and the United States are extremely strong. France currently ranks as the U. S’s eighth largest trading partner for total goods (Department of State, 2012). Promoting Global Business: Promoting global business is a priority among all EU members, especially France. France has worked to strengthen political and economic influences of the EU throughout the world. France’s drive to promote global business will aid us in the establishment of our business. Tax Implications: Recently, France has been pursuing a policy to reduce corporate tax. Currently the nominal rate of corporate tax is 33. 33% higher than the European average. However, according to international comparative studies, France had the lowest business setup and operating costs in the EU (Invest in France, 2012). These costs include labor, facility costs, transport, utility costs and corporate tax. Selecting a Global Company Structure Strategic Planning In an attempt to broaden our customer base GAP Inc. looks to expand its market into France. Today, Paris, along with London, Milan, and New York City, is considered one of the worlds fashion capitals, and the city is home or headquarters to many of the premier fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior, Vuitton, and many more. Fashion has been an important industry and cultural export of France since the seventeenth century. It is our desire to maintain a permanent presence in the region to capitalize on the long-term growth opportunities of that country. Entry Mode Entry will be gained by establishing facilities in the new market. With the help of independent representatives and agents who reside in the new market, we look to construct and capitalize on the market available to us. Organizational Structure Due to the difficulty of working globally with a centralized functional structure, and the communication gaps that come from working in divisional silos, most modern companies employ a hybrid structure that combines elements of each. We look to do the same thing. There is no single hybrid structure, but rather a range from mostly-functional to mostly-divisional, which varies between companies. We will have a central headquarters that sets strategy and high-level policy, combined with geographic divisions that determine their operational methods, and may have internal functional departments within the division. The Action Plan Our business operations will simply be an extension of what has already been established in the U. S. We look to provide France with its very own unique selection based on the trends of each market and region. Our objectives are to establish a long-term presence in the region through participating in one of the country’s most valued areas and also capitalize on the opportunities available within France. One facility will be used as the starting point of this expansion. We will begin by uniquely designing and advertising clothing that fits the new region of France. With a reputation as one the worlds fashion capitals, we will have to adapt to a higher class of fashion and consistently keep on pace with the latest trends and styles. Specifically we will consult some independent designers residing in the new region and work with them alongside our own designers to collectively create new clothing and designs crafted just for this market. This will be and ongoing process for the beginning of the entry into France. Once a solid customer base has been established we will look to expand and establish more facilities within France including Paris. Product and Target Market Planning Product Concept We have a unique opportunity here to expand the knowledge of our multifaceted company. Although GAP, Inc. is our parent company, Banana Republic, Piperlime, Athleta, and Old Navy are well recognized brands we are proud to provide affordable, classic American style clothing. Product Life Cycle There is a previous history of opening locations within this country and we will continue with these vendors and contractors. Expansion projects in France for the entire brand have been on schedule, on budget, and well established within the community. Branding and Packaging With Stephen Sunnucks as President of Gap Inc. ’s International, we have the talent developed in fashion and local icons at New Look, which topped 700 locations throughout Europe. Colin Funnell runs Gap, Inc. Global Supply and has a record of dependable logistics. Our brand has worldwide recognition for our leadership and for its reliable supply of goods. Target Market The primary target for the GAP stores, which are known as iconic, inventive, and classic American, is the original vision for the founder, Don Fisher, and that is the â€Å"Generation Gap† of the 1960’s, and thus the name â€Å"Gap†. This would be middle aged shoppers of both genders. The clothes in the Gap stores have a more timeless and properness about them. The style is not suggestive or skimpy at all. Banana Republic appeals to a more luxurious taste, fashion forward and youthful shoppers. The shoppers here are more confident, mature, and sophisticated when choosing accessories and fragrance as well. Men and women in their twenties and up will enjoy the finer side of casual dressing. These stores even smell wonderful. Old Navy offers more whimsical and friendly side to affordable fashion for all ages of family members. Colorful and durable make it a working class family’s problem solver. Piperlime is where hot trends, fashion news, and boutique styling all meet. Our shopper here is getting a diverse and creative collection of ladies day and evening dressing. Courageous and adventurous style is common and prices vary by item, so anyone can enjoy this eclectic boutique. Athleta is a line of ladies performance and exercise garments. Strong sponsorship in tournaments and health promotion make ladies seek this store out. From newborn pajamas to prom night accessories to a matriarch’s distinguished garments, we have many bases covered in this family of Gap, Inc. We grow with our clients, literally. We have an extensive presence in the region including national and international advertising, promotion, and logistics ensured by proven leadership and secure contracts. Designing a Global Distribution Strategy Promotional Goals: As we continue to expand our presence internationally, were more aware than ever how our decisions affect the communities in which we do business. And our philosophy will be to seek to make a positive, lasting impact on the people in France. We plan to listen to our customers, and share their expectations. For us, that means looking deeper into our supply chain to ensure that we take a responsible path throughout the product lifecycle, from the source to our stores. Promotional Strategy: We will intensify the presentation of denim and sweats, both of which we feel has been under merchandised, and merchandise additional categories such as accessories, outerwear and swimwear, and finally, create more of a departmental distinction between the mens and womens business, particularly the latter which requires more fixturing for hanging garments as the fashion component increases. Media Plan: Advertising is a way of promoting a business, product or service. Advertising introduces consumers to new products and services. It provides exposure and legitimacy, so the more a business spends on advertising, the more consumers are aware a business exists. Here are some different methods of advertising that we would use; magazines- which will give us a way to target a variety of consumers, television-which will give viewers visual representations of our products, the internet- through the internet we will reach out to more households and business enterprises than any available medium, and lastly, another method of advertising that we would use is word of mouth. We would accomplish this by providing a satisfactory service and product to every customer. Planning a Global Promotion Strategy Distribution Channel: Well-chosen channels constitute a significant competitive advantage, so our products will move directly from us to our consumers. Distribution Barriers: Opening a new location in France will be a good strategic plan for the company but the company will be exposed to social, political and economic risks in France. Import restrictions, including the alterations in tariffs and quotas could influence the importation of our products and add to the company’s cost or diminishes supplies.

Mens Rea And Actus Reus Of A Crime

Mens Rea And Actus Reus Of A Crime Two elements comprise nearly all crimes, a guilty mind (mens rea) and a guilty act (actus reus). An act does not make a man guilty of a crime, unless his mind is also guilty. It is, therefore, not the act which is guilty but respectively the man and his mind. A substantiation of an actus reus is required in every crime. Also, there is a presumption that every element of the actus reus needs proof of a consequent mens rea. Where the presumption of mens rea is not applicable, such offences are called strict liability crimes. Most crimes have the element of a mens rea. It must always be proven by the Prosecution that an unlawful conduct is committed by an accused. Furthermore, it will usually have to be proven that the accused committed with guilty mind in engaging such conduct. For instance, to ensure conviction for rape in contradiction to s.2(1), 1981 Criminal Law (Rape) Act, it must be proven by the Prosecution that the accused committed unlawful conduct (i.e., non-consensual sexual intercourse with a woman), knowing that no consent is given by the woman or being thoughtless regarding whether or not the woman was consenting (mens rea). If the guilty act (actus reus) involves the particular outcome which the criminal conduct of the accused caused, a mens rea may have to be proven by the Prosecution as well with regard to the particular outcome. The actus reus, for instance, in the crime of assault producing injury in contradiction of s.3, 1997 Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, is criminal act, i.e., an assault, and a distinct outcome (i.e., injury). Intention and Mens Rea It is impossible to explore somebodys mind to determine their intentions.  [3]  The meaning of intention, in line with s.14, 1861 Offences against the Person Act, deliberated by the Court of Criminal Appeal in The People (DPP) v. Douglas and Hayes,  [4]  provides that whoever shall fire at any person with the intention to carry out murder shall be guilty of a felony, whether or not it will result to any physical harm. The Special Criminal Court convicted the applicants inter alia of an offence in contradiction of s.14 of the 1861 Act. They argued successfully that the requisite intent under s.14 had not been proven. The courts judgment was conveyed by McWilliam J, stating that unless intent has actually been expressed by the accused, the intent of the accused can only be determined from a consideration of his actions and the surrounding circumstances. What the accused intend or did not intend, only he can know such. Apparently, if the accused expressed the intention to do a thing and carried on to accomplish that intention, proving that the accused acted with intent will be reasonably simple. Conversely, lacking such an expression, intention is harder to prove and other statements expressed by the accused must be considered by a jury or judge as well as the actions of the accused and the circumstances surrounding the case in coming to a decision whether intention is to be inferred or not. Omissions Liability and Actus Reus Precisely what is meant by conduct is commonly referred to as an act. In criminal liability, an omission or a part thereof cannot form the actus reus of a crime as a general rule. As stated by McAuley and McCutcheon,  [5]  the common law traditionally disinclines to punish omissions and to illustrate this time honoured example, watching an infant drowning in a shallow pool by an able-bodied person does not constitute an offence. But this principle is also subject to exceptions. The accused in DPP v. Bartley  [6]  had been convicted of different sexual offences. Carney J on passing judgment commented that where a believable complaint of felony is presented to a policeman, the policeman under the Common Law has no discretion in not investigating the complaint and arrest the indentified offender. This duty if not carried out strongly constitutes on the part of the policeman an illegality and makes him liable to prosecution on indictment. Palles CB remarked in Creagh v. Gamble  [7]  that a person shall be brought to justice where a credible suspicion of a felony is present against him. The Peace Officer is entitled and duty bound as well to apprehend him. This Common Law principle still applies. This was substantiated in R. v. Dytham.  [8]   Concurrence of Mens Rea and Actus Reus If mens rea is to be proven by the Prosecution, it must moreover establish that mens rea existed at the time of the actus reus. At times whether the actus reus and mens rea concurred may not be apparent. The accused in Kaitamaki v. R.  [9]  was charged with rape. Having sexual intercourse with a woman without consent is the actus reus of rape. Knowing that it is non-consensual or whether there is consent or not by being reckless is the mens rea of rape. It was established that the woman initially consented to have sexual intercourse with the accused. In spite of the subsequent withdrawal of the womans consent, the accused persisted and did not desist from having sexual intercourse. It was contended by the accused that at the time of the actus reus (i.e., penetration), consent was present, hence, he did not have a mens rea. Lord Scarman, the Privy Council, rejected this contention by stating that the act of sexual intercourse is continuing and ends only with withdrawal. Accordingl y, the woman had the right to withdraw her consent at whatever time during sexual intercourse, even though she had initially given consent to penetration. The case of Kaitamaki v. R.  [10]  can be referred to in sustaining the proposition that an actus reus entails a continuing act, and as such, in order to ensure a conviction, the accused must be proven to have the required mens rea at some period during its continuation, although it is not essential to establish that at the outset the requisite mens rea was present with the accused.

a post-modern analysis of women in the new east Essay -- essays rese

A Post-Modern Analysis of Women in the New East Good intentions do not beget positive results. Indeed what may seem to be good from one perspective may be seen as the complete opposite from another. Case in point: Western Feminism. To prove my point I will analyze the work of Ruth Frances Woodsmall, Women and the New East, written in 1960 as a feminist work, from a post-modern feminist perspective, and using works from Coco Fusco (English Broken Here) and Trinh Minh-ha (Women Native Other). One of the first problems encountered in Woodsmall’s work is in the delineation of her methodology. She writes that she began her study for each country with, â€Å"†¦the selection of a number of women leaders as advisers on the study as a whole and on specific phases†¦ The individual advisers were very helpful in making contacts, in giving advice about special interviews, suggesting institutions and projects and interpreting the general situation.† (viii) These women that she chose as her starting point from were most likely how many of the other informants and sources of information were found and therefore must have had a serious affect on the results of her research. These women are leaders, and therefore not accurate representations of the average women of Turkey. Indeed in the biographical appendix Woodsmall lists some of these leaders and not only do they all have â€Å"careers†, but they are all centered in military or scientific areas – not exactly a cross section of any society. This means much of this work was funneled through one class, and Fusco in her work exemplifies how class can make a difference in cultural views. â€Å"The reactions of Latin Americans differed according to class. Many upper class Latin American tourists †¦ voiced disgust that their part of the world should be represented in such a debased manner. Many other Latin Americans and Native Americans immediately recognized the symbolic significance of the piece, expressing solidarity with us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (56) This means that what Woodsmall really wrote about was Westernized women in the new East. This was not a view of all the women in the Muslim world and India as Woodsmall attains, but just those that had been educated and influenced by the West. In the section entitled â€Å"Political Status†, Woodsmall delineates the â€Å"progress† of Turkish women in attainment of equal political rights when she writes, â€Å"The number of wome... ...rely present in its absence. Subject of discussion, â€Å"them† is only admitted among â€Å"us,† the discussing subjects, when accompanied or introduced by an â€Å"us,† member†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (67) Minh-ha is arguing that third-world non-Westernized feminists have been left out of the analysis of their own lives and societies. It is from this non-acceptance of the voice of the third world feminist, that Western feminism has served to colonize and dehumanize women of the third world rather than help them. It is precisely this point, which proves the argument of this paper. The well intentioned attempt of Western feminist to write a feminist book in order to help, both women in the East in an exchange of ideas and stimulation of still more ideas and women in the West in providing knowledge with which to further aid the women of the East. On both counts it fails. In the West it gives further ground to the false generalizations and assumptions of women in the Muslim and more generally the developing world who are seen as oppressed and in need of â€Å"liberation† while in the East it serves to colonize and dehumanize the women. These good intentions did not create what can be construed as a positive contribution.

Times Roman and D. Williamson

Case Study 1: Prioritizing Projects at D. D. Williamson Due Week 3 and worth 240 points Read the case titled: â€Å"Prioritizing Projects at D. D. Williamson† found in Chapter 2. Write a 3-5 page paper in which you: 1. Critique the prioritizing process at D. D. Williamson. 2. Suggest at least one (1) recommendation to improve the prioritizing process. 3. Create a scenario where the implemented process at D. D. Williamson would not work. 4. Project five (5) years ahead and speculate whether or not D. D. Williamson will be using the same process.Justify your answer. 5. Use at least four (4) resources in this assignment. Your assignment must: ? Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. ? Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s na me, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: ? Assess organizational strategies that contribute to effective project management of human resources. ? Use technology and information resources to research issues in managing human resource projects. ? Write clearly and concisely about managing human resource projects using proper writing mechanics. Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Peloponnesian War Essay

The Peloponnesian War was a very old Greek military war which lasted from 431-404 B. C. , fought by the Athens and its kingdom in opposition to the Peloponnesian League, directed by Sparta. Historians have usually divided the combat into three stages, in the initial, the Archidamian War; Sparta started repeated attacks of Attica, whereas Athens took benefit of its naval superiority to invade the coastline of the Peloponnese trying to restrain signs of disturbances in its domain. This era of the war was finished in 421 BC with the marking of the Peace of Nicias. That agreement, however, was shortly destabilized by renewed combating in the Peloponnesus. Athens posted a huge expeditionary force of military to attack Syracuse in Sicily in 415 BC, the attack failed catastrophically with the demolition of the complete force in the year 413 BC. This escorted in the concluding stage of the war, normally referred to as the Decelean War or the Ionian War. In this stage, Sparta, now getting support from Persia, the demolition of Athens’ navy at Aegospotami successfully ended the war and Athens laid down their arms in the subsequent year. The Peloponnesian War reformed the Ancient Greek Globe. On the height of global relations, Athens, the powerful city-state in Greece prior to the war’s commencement, was abridged to a position of near-complete hopelessness, whereas Sparta was recognized as the foremost power of Greece. The fiscal costs of the war were experienced all over Greece; scarcity became extensive in the Peloponnese, whereas Athens found it totally distressed and by no means recovered its pre-war success. The war also shaped subtler alterations to Greek culture; the clash among oligarchic Sparta and democratic Athens, each of which held up welcoming political groups within other states, made social war an ordinary incidence in the Greek world. Causes of Peloponnesian War The major reason of the War was huge economical, political and communal contentions between the two supreme Greek powers of the era; Sparta and Athens. The Athenian kingdom had become a centre of trade and prosperity on the Mediterranean, dealing with countries such Egypt, Carthage and Persia. Its enormous convoy of triremes destined it could insist financial tribute from minor city states in return for defense. On the contrary, Sparta was a first and foremost land based control, using it a great slave inhabitants to farm the fertile lands of the Peloponnese. Its alarming army made sure its significance in Greek affairs as well as the beginning of the Peloponnese League, a set of states opposed to this expansion. The rising power of both these enormous powers, collective with contrasting political principles of democratic Athens and oligarchial Sparta, destined a predictable clash. The Peloponnesian War was a consequence of this strong contention. After the overcome of the Persian attack in 480-479 BCE, Sparta wanted to send back all Greeks in Asia to mainland Greece to finish the trouble with Persia. Athens planned a violent alliance in opposition to Persia, which as the leading maritime authority it had to lead. Sparta had no curiosity in overseas adventurism and willingly ceded that control to Athens, which shared out contributions to the coalition cities. Some met this in ships, the bulk paid their way out of this, although some went back on and Athens collected the donations by force. With merely the islands Samos, Chios and Libos contributing ships, Athens had an irresistible dominance in amphibious control and the funds to pay for it. This anti-Persian group then increasingly became successfully a domain of Athens. An exact transition took place when the union crushed Persia in a sea and land combat at the Eurymedon River resulting in a tranquility of 449 BCE which limited Persian vessels from moving into Greek-controlled waters. This division of the isolated Spartans and the daring Athenians spilt over when their own allies collided with each other. The sequence of clashes put allied force on Sparta to take action and after a lot foot dragging it issued an ultimatum to Athens. Athens was certain that the amalgamation of its walls and amphibious supremacy was more than a match for the mainly land-bound Spartan coalition and it discarded negotiation, favoring to uphold its naval supremacy and confront Spartan league land supremacy. Neither of the two sides foresaw 27 years of fighting which damaged so much of the Greek world and accidentally led to Persian pressure in Greek affairs and ultimately Macedonian dominance. Four primary sources Thucydides Thucydides was a Greek historian and writer of the Peloponnesian War’s history, which narrates the 5th century B. C. war stuck between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 B. C and the most consistent information approaches from his own record of the Peloponnesian War, which explains his nationality, parenthood and native district. Thucydides tells us that he brawled in the war, contracted the curse and was banished by the democracy. Thucydides marked a history that was alienated into 8 books after his demise: its current title is the History of the Peloponnesian War. His complete contribution to history and historiography is enclosed in this one opaque history of the 27-year war stuck between Athens and its allies and Sparta and its allies. The history breaks off close to the end of the twenty first years, the final vague book suggests that his demise was not anticipated and could perhaps have been unexpected or brutal. Thucydides supposed that the Peloponnesian War symbolized an occasion of matchless size and he also planned for his account of the actions of the late fifth century to serve as â€Å"a possession for all instances. Xenophon Xenophon son of Gryllus, also recognized as Xenophon of Athens, was a warrior, mercenary and devotee of Socrates. He is identified for his writings on the history of his times, protecting the sayings of Socrates and the living of ancient Greece. Xenophon’s writings, particularly the Anabasis, are frequently read by beginning learners of the Greek language. His Hellenica is a chief primary source for actions in Greece; his Socratic writings are the merely existing representatives of the genre of Sokratikoi logoi. Aristophanes Aristophanes was son of Philippus, he was a productive and highly praised comic dramatist of ancient Athens. When Aristophanes’ initial play The Banqueters was created, Athens was a determined, regal power and The Peloponnesian War was merely in its fourth year. The reality that Arristophanes endured the Peloponnesian War, two oligarchic revolutions and two self-governing reinstatements have been understood as proof that he was not vigorously involved in political affairs even in spite of the extremely political posture of the plays. Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, and Cornelius Nepos were also a number of of the primary sources of the Peloponnesian War. Work Cited About. com. (n. d. ). Peloponnesian War Sources. June 21st, 2009. Retrieved from: http://ancienthistory. about. com/library/bl/bl_peloponnesianwarsources. htm Crawley, R. , Lateiner, D. & Thucydides, T. The History of the Peloponnesian War. Barnes & Noble Classics, 2006. Kagan. D. The Peloponnesian War. Penguin, 2004. Thucydides, T. The History Of The Peloponnesian War. CreateSpace, 2009.

Blue Tooth Technology Essay

Bluetooth is an open standard for speech and data transmission. Besides the applications for this new technology, e. g. the wireless connection between mobile station and terminal equipment, also the structure of the Bluetooth system architecture is presented. The set-up of so-called short-range ad hoc networks (piconets and scatternets) will be introduced. Bluetooth wireless technology is an open, accepted standard for wireless communication which means that Bluetooth electronic equipment can communicate as long as they are within approx. 10 meters of each other, making it possible to transfer data, speech, music or images without a physical connection. The mobile telephone manufacturer Ericsson invented Bluetooth technology, naming it after the Viking King Harald Bluetooth. Just as King Harald Bluetooth united Denmark and Norway, Bluetooth technology â€Å"unites† various types of electronic equipment to form a coherent whole. Ericsson formed the foundation for Bluetooth as early as 1994, but the standard was not ready for use until 1998. The first Bluetooth products came on the market in 2000. Today, Bluetooth technology can be found in all types of electronic equipment – including mobile phones, mobile headsets, PCs, keyboards, mouse devices, printers, GPS navigation units, video cameras and pocket PCs – and new products are emerging every day. Today, Bluetooth technology is an essential everyday tool to be found in a variety of electronic equipment. The technology makes it easy to transfer speech between a mobile phone and a headset, a mobile phone and a pocket computer or images from a digital video camera to a PC. Even though two Bluetooth units can find each other and be connected, because they both comply with the standard, it may not necessarily make sense for them to speak to each other. For instance, a Bluetooth mouse would not profit much from a connection with a digital camera, or a headset with a keyboard. The basic requirement for Bluetooth units to be able to communicate is that they are located within 10 meters of each other. That is the range of the Bluetooth radio waves – at least under the current standard. The study intents to (1) know the key features of Bluetooth technology; (2) evaluate Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and its key role in maintaining specifications of the protocol, profiles, testing and qualification, interoperability and compatibility and; (3) how Bluetooth applies to wireless technology. II. Background As Bluetooth technology becomes more common, however, we will undoubtedly see CD players that send sound to amplifiers via Bluetooth, which then transfer the sound to speakers in the same way. A Bluetooth enabled pocket computer will automatically synchronise with a company’s diary and make sure that the day’s e-mails are ready to be read on the screen. And car radios will turn the music down and transfer the speech from a mobile phone when it rings (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. New Standard Encyclopedia, pp. 36-38). Moreover, the Bluetooth brand is now recognized worldwide on products with short range wireless communication capabilities. The brand is a label that is not a single company technology but is shared by many members of the Bluetooth SIG. The brand is applied to devices implementing the Bluetooth technology; even if it says little about the way the technology works (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. New Standard Encyclopedia, pp. 36-38). III. Discussion A. Features of Bluetooth Technology The logo for Bluetooth is based on Runes surrounding the legend of Harald Bluetooth. Bluetooth the technology is based on communications central to man’s own personal space. Fundamentally Bluetooth operates within the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band at 2. 4 GHz. It is a short-range wireless communication standard defined as cable replacement for a Personal Area Network (PAN) (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, pp. 87-94). Figure 1 is the Bluetooth Logo. A cable replacement standard has been defined because cables limit mobility of the consumer; they are cumbersome to carry around, are easily lost or broken. Often connectors are prone to difficult to diagnose failures; or are proprietary. To counteract these limitations Bluetooth is designed to be light and portable. It can be embedded to take the riggers of physical knocks and shocks. It includes standards and protocols to make it mobile, robust, reliable and not limited to one manufacturer (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, pp. 87-94). The operating band also fits the goals of Bluetooth, imposing requirements as a cable replacement. The cost needs to be comparable with cable. Reductions can be achieved by operating in the licence free 2. 4 GHz ISM band, keeping backward compatibility wherever possible lowers the cost of ownership by avoiding upgrades and having a relaxed radio specification enables single chip integrated circuit solutions. It also needs to be as reliable and resilient as cable and cope with errors and degradation caused by interference. For mobile devices it must be compact, lightweight, low power and easy to use (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, pp. 87-94). A. 1 Frequency Hopping We have addressed the reasons for the Bluetooth without delving into the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the technology to discover how it operates. For the majority of countries the ISM band used by Bluetooth is available from 2. 40-2. 4835 GHz, although some countries impose restrictions. In this band Bluetooth uses Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) techniques in order to improve its immunity from interference (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). In unrestricted countries the radios hop in pseudo random sequences around all available channels, this equates to 79 RF channels with a channel spacing of 1 MHz. Starting at a base frequency of 2402 MHz then the frequency of the channels, f, can be expressed as: f =2402 + n MHz where, n, is the channel number with an integer value in the range of 0 to 78. In restricted countries a limited frequency hopping schemes with just 23 channels is used and is catered for in the Bluetooth specification. Both hopping schemes have a 1 MHz channel spacing making it possible to design a simple radio interface whereby the baseband only has to specify a channel number and the radio multiplies this up to the appropriate frequency offset (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). In this FHSS scheme there are 1600 hops per second, which is a hop every 625  µs. Part of this hop timing is taken up by the guard time of 220  µs allowing the synthesizer time to settle. The frequency hopping implements time division multiplexing as shown in Figure 2. The basis of the scheme has the Master device transmitting in the first 625 us slot, k, and here the Slave receives. In the next slot k = 1 the Slave is permitted to transmit and the master listens (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). Figure 2: Frequency Hopping, master and slave interact on corresponding slots The radio must be able to retune and stabilise on a new frequency within tight time constraints. This is pushed further when establishing a connection; the hop rate can be shortened to every 312. 5 us. As the radios are constantly hopping to different radio channels, this ensures that packets affected by interference on one channel can be retransmitted on a different frequency channel. To further enhance resilience both ARQ (Automatic Repeat reQuest) and FEC (Forward Error Correction) form part of the specification (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). One drawback with the normal hop sequence is the time taken for production testing. Bluetooth ensures adequate frequency coverage with a test sequence allowing the radios to be tested at a faster rate (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). A. 2 The Bluetooth SIG and Specifications If the success of Bluetooth is measured by its initial interest alone then its prominence has already been assured. Before products were on sale, hundreds of companies joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and the Bluetooth brand became recognized worldwide. Before investigating the technology further it is appropriate to comment about the role played by the SIG, the administrative structure of which is outlined in Figure 3. With membership of the SIG nearing 2500 members it is only right to look at how the SIG works to promote, shape and define the specification and position Bluetooth in the market place. Positioning of the technology is important when you consider other wireless technologies that share the same ISM band, e. g. IEEE802. 11b, HomeRF and DECT. Differentiation is key in avoiding confusion of potential users.

Meeting Stakeholder and Quality needs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Meeting Stakeholder and Quality needs - Essay Example (Ashley & Amir, 2010) Intermediary stakeholders are not directly related to the organization but may have an interest in the organization. E.g. - government. The list of stakeholders of any company are- The stakeholders have many expectations and it can be categorized as satisfied, exceeded, created or eliminated. The success of the organization depends if the expectations are met or not met. The expectations of the stakeholders can be overlapping and there are various operational and management goals are designed to satisfy the different stakeholder expectations. The expectations of the customers will be to get the better quality service and low costs and the expectations of the management and the company is to improve the return on investment, increase profit margins and control operational expenses. (Kumar, 1998) There are different ways of achieving the stakeholder expectations. Defining standards for input, process and outcomes are very essential for meeting the requirements. The standards laid by the organization must be realistic, reliable, valid, clear and easily measurable. Firstly, the organization needs to analyze the stakeholders and understand their interest and impact in the organization. The organization then needs to develop a strategy that provides guidance to communicate and interact with the key stakeholders. The strategy developed need to be implemented across the organization to achieve the desired results. The stakeholder strategy should incorporate the following elements-   These results have to be periodically checked and monitored to access the results. This helps the organization to evaluate where they stand and what are the additional strategies that need to be adapted in order to improve the results with the organizations stakeholder.  (Lauri, 2009) It is very essential for the organization to organize regular meetings with the key stakeholders and involve them in every meeting. Review process should be initiated and approval of

Global Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Language - Essay Example There are various nations in the world who speak French as their professional and official language. Ability to communicate in French along with English will help an individual in accessing employment opportunities in areas where French and English is used professionally to communicate. An individual who has the ability to communicate in French along with English can gain access to the top universities throughout the world. A total of 41 universities where education is delivered in French language are amongst the top 250 universities throughout the world. One such university includes Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech University (Top Universities, 2015). Individuals who know how to communicate in French can easily gain admission in such universities. Learning French can help an individual learn about the cultures of different groups and regions. Broady states that there are more than 200 million individuals who speak French language and they are divided in five different continents (Broady, 2003, p.200). One can take advantage of having the ability to communicate in French to learn about the culture of these individuals. Two languages that can be considered as global languages includes French as well as English but one needs to learn French along with English to reap the various benefits that the French language has to offer. By learning French one can increase the number of employment opportunities they can access. An individual can gain access to top universities throughout the world by learning French and they can learn about the cultures of 200 million individuals throughout the world with this

Sustainable Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainable Operation Management - Essay Example The sudden shift in the approach of companies towards sustainability occurred due to the sheer pressure from the customers, investors, local people in the area of operation and to some extent the employees (Dernbach, 2002). This report will shed light on the importance of sustainability in an organization. In addition, factors such as benefits of sustainability will also be covered. However, the principal purpose of this study is to address the issues that companies are facing in developing and implementing sustainability policies. Apart from addressing the aforementioned issues, the report will also emphasize the effectiveness of the approaches of different companies towards sustainability. The persisting inconsistencies of those companies in terms of their sustainability will be also highlighted. Finally, based on the outcomes the study will draw a conclusion and will provide recommendations on how to improve sustainability. Before getting further deep into the study, a brief synop sis of what sustainability actually means will be presented below. Discussion Sustainability has always been a significant and relevant issue for a large number of organizations. Sustainability management practices and strategies are of growing importance to every department of the organization. Sustainable development can be defined as a process of development in which the companies meet the present needs of the customers without compromising on the future needs (Bigg, 2004). Over the last few years, there has been an increasing pressure on the companies to reduce operations which harm the environment. Therefore, it is important for the companies to follow sustainable development. The principal driving factors of this drastic shift are competitive pressures, perceived marketing advantages, legal obligations, demands of investors and internal ethical values of the firm. The organizations which have considered sustainable development got benefitted to a large extent. For example, the se companies have been able to reduce their operating costs, increase market share and market penetration, increase investment levels, enhance brand reputation, developed new products and markets and improve customer satisfaction process (Misra, 2008). In order to get these advantages, it is important to take sustainable initiatives. According to a study carried out by Deloitte, several factors act as the enabler of sustainability. The major ones are allotted budget, dedicate employees, technology and also the company’s capability to focus on financial and strategic considerations. The table below will depict these factors more clearly. Figure 1 (Source: Deloitte, 2010) It is important that companies should meet the present needs without diminishing the capabilities of meeting future demands. Sustainable development is therefore regarded as a challenge for the organizations. In order to implement sustainable development, companies have to deal with a large number of issues. F or example, the increase in energy and food prices during the year 2008, led to severe food crisis. Despite in the reduction of energy prices, the food prices continued to remain high. The global economic downturn of 2009 has further exacerbated the condition. The negative impacts were reduced growth rates and increasing unemployment (Department of Economic and Social Affair, n.d.). Figure 2 (Source: Carter and Rogers 2008) The significance of sustainability in every department of an organization cannot be denied. However, the importance is more for a

Investing in Human Assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Investing in Human Assets - Essay Example It might be possible only if proper coordination within the employees of the organization might be seen resulting in the prospects of the firm. This is because; as human resource or employees act as the prime pillars of any organization so it is duty of the management to offer all types of basic facilities to them in order to make them happy and motivated towards work. Only then, the productivity of the organization might increase resulting in amplification of the profit margin and revenue among others. Therefore, it might be clearly stated that the productivity and image of the organization entirely depends on the hands of the human resource and so proper investment over human resource is essential. In this essay, the importance of investing in human resource of the organization is highlighted along with this the significant impact of RBV in making such investments in the fields of HR is also focused. Side by side, the ways by which RBV supports the competitive advantage of the orga nization. Along with five recommendations are also provided to make the implementation program successful in all regards. Importance of the Organization in Making Significant Investments in HR Organization is an association or group composed of employees of varied skills and talents. They are collectively recognized as the human resource of the organization. Human resource is the main part of an organization without which it might not function effectively. This is because it is the employees or the human resource who work for the betterment of the organization thereby enhancing its profit margin and revenues in the market among others. Other than this, the brand image and reputation of the organization is also due to the introduction of varied types of innovative products or services by the employees of the organization. Due to these products or services a large array of customers gets attracted towards it resulting in enhancement of the entire ROI. Thus it is also a duty of the org anizational management to work for the benefit of the employees to make them happy and retain them for a longer period of time. Thus it is a vice-versa process and if one side goes wrong then the entire process might fail (Wright, 1993). Each and every organizational management is commitment to make significant investment in enhancing the interior skills and talents by organizing varied types of training programs. This might prove effective for the employees in improving their job skills and abilities resulting in amplification of their performance level as well as productivity of the organization. It might also improve the dedication level and devotion towards their work resulting in amplification of organizational productivity and revenues (Mello, 2011). Apart from this, proper communication is also essential to improve organizational effectiveness and image in the market with the help of an efficient leader or manager. If the manager very easily mingles with the employees through interpersonal relationship and tries to understand their views and ideas regarding any plan or program then the entire revenue invested in recruiting him might become effective. This might reduce the risks of turnover rates along with the fear to lose good performers of the organizat

Terrorism and Homeland Security Quiz Assignment

Terrorism and Homeland Security Quiz - Assignment Example Terrorism and Homeland Security Quiz Force multipliers, in terrorism, is the process and means that aid in augmented activities in terrorism. The five types of force multipliers in terrorism are: religion, media, transitional support, technology and recruitments as discussed. Religion offers an auspicious environment for member groups to have a common ideology towards a certain goal. Religion offer doctrines used to recruit and train new members. Members have to respect the belief systems of the group such that they can even sacrifice their bodies in order to uphold the teachings. The terrorism groups use various religions such as Islam through quoting verses in the Quran that encourage killings. (Chandra, 2003). The terrorism groups use media to convey their message to the wider world, which enhances their survival, and as a means to elicit fear to the populace (Hamm, 2007). The terrorism groups use media to convey a message of ill intentions that lead to fluctuations in moral behaviors, in the society. The transitional support provides an opportunity to the terrorist to carry out an attack through offering financial support and military empowerment (Hamm, 2007). The terrorist groups use this support to deviate from the law; thus establishing their guidelines in order to control various localities within their dispensation in order to enhance their dominance. Terrorism takes advantage of the rapid advance of technology in the contemporary world, which allows inventions of explosive devices that terrorist groups use to make sophisticated bombs. Terrorist inculcate various technological skills in their training in order to make such explosive devices.

Compare how the theme of loss Essay Example for Free

Compare how the theme of loss Essay As he was inexperienced and had childlike thoughts and imagination, he was unaware of what situation he put himself in, which once again outlines the innocence of his youth. However, it does mention several times that â€Å"He asked to join. He didn’t have to beg† which refers back to the idea that he is only to blame, as whatever position he is now standing in, was completely his decision. He had also been taken away by the persuasive black propaganda. This makes his loss feel more pointless and very regretful. So this defies his argument about blaming Meg. Whilst comparing these characters together they, as well, blame their faults onto somebody else. We, as a reader, understand this, because when he mentions the reasons why he joined up for war, he mentions how it was â€Å"to please his Meg†, and this sounds sarcastic to us that he threw his life away at such a young age for a girl who doesn’t even care enough to visit him anymore, instead leaving him lonely in a â€Å"wheeled chair, waiting for dark†. He is more or less blaming her for making his life futile. Also, again in proximity with the poem ‘Out, Out-’ where he blames it on the â€Å"snarling† saw that appeared to attack at him. Frost personifies the saw repeatedly throughout the poem, how the saw â€Å"leaped out at the boy’s hand† and how it had â€Å"snarled and rattled in the yard†. Giving the image of an animal, waiting to pounce. These two characters are forced to be independent about their lives because they are both rejected by others. In the poem ‘Out, Out-’ he complains about how once he died nobody had taken much interest when he died â€Å"since they were not the one dead†, they â€Å"turned to their affairs†, and this compares nicely within ‘Disabled’ where he talks about how â€Å"women’s eyes passed from him to the strong men that were whole†, as well as having rejection hit at him, it also makes him feel dehumanised, that he is now labelled â€Å"Disabled† and now he has stripped of his masculinity. This again alludes to the idea of loss as he is being abandoned by everyone. He had a massive crowd of people chanting him off to war, whereas â€Å"only some cheered him home†. This gives a lonely, isolated and unloved atmosphere. Furthermore, these two poets have created a contrast between idyllic working environments with the beautiful setting coming into contrast with horrific events. Robert Frost has created a perfect example of this in the poem â€Å"Out, Out-† when mentioning the â€Å"Five mountain ranges one behind the other Under the sunset far into Vermont† and also describes the â€Å"sweet, scented stuff†. The sibilance on the â€Å"sweet† and â€Å"scented† exaggerates the pleasant atmosphere. By mentioning these notes about how everything was delightful, and how all of his five senses are all sensational and pleasurable, it creates a sense of danger in a way that everything at the moment is perfect and it is making the reader predict that it is just leading up to something more hazardous and dangerous. Another example of the use of this effect would be in the poem ‘Disabled’ where Wilfred Owen describes how the disabled soldier listens outside from his hospital bed how the â€Å"Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn† and also their â€Å"Voices of play and pleasure†. The use of this anaphora gives the effect of an echo and how the children’s happiness haunts him. Also the plosive used on â€Å"play and pleasure† gives it a harsh tone to possibly show that he is jealous of the freedom of the children as he barely had any youth himself so he envies those who have. What sounds to the reader (which is mirrored earlier on) is a beautiful setting by which Owen has as well as Frost added a negative perspective to it. However, in this poem it is to show the emotions of the angry and bitter disabled soldier, unlike in ‘Out, Out-’ where it is to show the building tension of a beautiful setting coming into contrast with a scene of horrific events. These characters are very remorseful about why they had made their stupid mistakes in the first place. This once again makes the loss wasted and valueless.

A History Of Air Pollution In Pietermaritzburg Environmental Sciences Essay

A History Of Air Pollution In Pietermaritzburg Environmental Sciences Essay There is enough scientific evidence from various sources to support the fact that Pietermaritzburg is plagued by air pollution, which is worsened by the topography of the city. There is also much research proving the link between air pollution and asthma. Recent trials show, that not only does air pollution exacerbate asthma, it can actually cause asthma. However, there needs to be further research and trials done to scientifically prove this point. Medical statistics are extremely hard to come by in South Africa, which makes proving the link between air pollution causing asthma difficult. However, there is substantial evidence showing how air pollution triggers asthma attacks and makes them more severe. Air Pollution in Pietermaritzburg: History Past to Present day: Air pollution in Pietermaritzburg is not a new problem. There are over two-hundred newspaper articles in the Witness Newspaper Archives, dating back from the 1980s to present day, reporting on this issue. Old and current photographs of the city often show smog hanging over Pietermaritzburg. In the past, air pollution was caused mainly by cooking fires. However, todays pollution has the added toxicity of man-made pollution from factories and motor vehicles (Banfield, 1992). Twenty percent of Pietermaritzburg residents are affected by air pollution compared to five percent elsewhere in South Africa (Banfield, 1992). Pietermaritzburgs air is monitored by the Msunduzi Municipality, which has recorded that the citys air contains the following pollutants: particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen (oxides), ozone, carbon monoxide and many other harmful gases (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007). Figure 1: Showing the smog formation over Pietermaritzburg: (The Witness Newspaper, 28 June 2008) (Wilson, 2008) Location of Pietermaritzburg: Pietermaritzburg, owing to bad town planning, has all of its main industry and landfill site in the citys bowl. This has resulted in a worsening of air pollution. The N3 highway runs straight through the heart of Pietermaritzburg, as the number of large trucks and vehicles increase, so do the emissions from these vehicles. The timber plantations on the escarpment of the citys basin and sugar plantations on the hilltops, add to the pollution in Pietermaritzburg as these plantations need to be burnt as routine farming practice. (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007) Pietermaritzburgs geographical position in a valley causes a temperature inversion to occur. A temperature inversion is not a normal phenomenon, it only occurs in a valley (such as Pietermaritzburg) and the effect is worsened in winter. The cold air sinks down the sides of the valley and remains on the base of the valley frost may form here. The warm air (along with pollutants) then rises and stops half way up the valley slope to form a thermal belt. This belt traps pollutants and enhances their bad properties and negative health impacts, as the pollutants are not able to escape and they remain over the city and cause health hazardous smog to form. The diagrams below show the effect of the Temperature Inversion in Pietermaritzburg: (Sherriffs, 1989) Major Contributors of Air Pollution: The major contributors of air pollution in Pietermaritzburg are: emissions from industry, motor vehicles, fires at the landfill site and the burning of timber plantations and sugarcane plantations (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007). Major industry, such as FFS Refiners, is guilty of adding to the pollution problem of Pietermaritzburgs air. Below are two graphs showing two of the major pollutants specific to the triggering and severity of asthma: Figure 2: Graph showing the daily averages and acceptable level (in red) of Particulate Matter (air pollution) in Pietermaritzburgs air (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007) Figure 3: Graph showing the daily averages and acceptable level (in red) of Carbon Monoxide (air pollution) in Pietermaritzburgs air (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007) In both graphs pollutants exceed the acceptable national pollution guidelines (highlighted in red) in the months of June and July (winter months) this is owing to the temperature inversion which worsens the pollution problem. Health Problems: Asthma is a chronic health condition, which causes inflammation and narrowing of the lungs airways, which causes difficulty in breathing for the patient and the patient may develop a dry, wheezy cough. Pollutants cause the restriction of the airways, as the pollution particles aggravate the airways of the lungs. Dr R.Gilbert, a general practitioner in Pietermaritzburg with an interest in asthma, states that the number of asthma patients that he treats is much higher than one would expect to find in a town the size of Pietermaritzburg. Dr Gilbert mentioned that Dr W.Robates, an ENT specialist, and Dr A.F.Jooma, a paediatrician, supported his views that the air pollution in Pietermaritzburg is a very real problem, which, without doubt, has a significant effect on the control and severity of asthma. He also states that many of his patients who leave Pietermaritzburg for significant lengths of time and then return often do not suffer from their asthma condition while out of the city. However, on returning, their allergies and asthma symptoms reoccur (Gilbert, 2010, Robates, 2010 and Jooma, 2010). In a telephonic interview with Umbalica Balrashie, the regional sales manager for Glaxo Smith Kline, a leading pharmaceutical company which promotes asthma products, information was provided noting that the three highest sales areas for asthma medication in Kwa-Zulu Natal are Richards Bay, Durban South and Pietermaritzburg. Both Richards Bay and Durban South are highly industrialised areas with significant air pollution emissions, when compared to Pietermaritzburg but owing to Pietermaritzburgs temperature inversion, the pollutants are intensified and therefore, the triggering and severity of asthma attacks in Pietermaritzburg are equal to these two industrialised areas (Balrashie, 2010). Community Views and Issues: Many residents in Pietermaritzburg have complained about the issue of air pollution in the city. In the year 1993, Pietermaritzburg residents spent nearly R1,5 million on asthma medication, stating that the citys pollution has significantly contributed to these costs (Quinlain, 1993). There have been many cases reported of families moving to Pietermaritzburg, and developing asthma or suffering from worsening existing asthma conditions, simply owing to the exposure and intensity of the citys air pollution, which is enhanced and worsened by the temperature inversion. Residents in Pietermaritzburg have complained continuously about the state of the citys air. However, the Msunduzi Municipality have done little about the pollution levels, as these levels of emissions are under the accepted and legal levels during most of the year. What the municipality has failed to promote to National Government is the fact that Pietermaritzburg is situated in a valley which causes a temperature inversion, ultimately worsening the levels of pollutants hanging above the city (in smog). This results in the pollutants being trapped over Pietermaritzburg. Industry and the Local Governments Role: Industry is responsible for the output of toxic emissions, which need to be monitored. Local Government need to take a more stringent and committed stance in relation to industry emission levels. The government needs to create awareness about air pollution and its negative health effects. Car emissions are great contributors to health problems (such as asthma). Pollution warning systems have been taught to the public in the United Kingdom (UK) by the government. South Africa needs to do the same (Hutton, 2010). The South African government has recently (March 2010) invested in a new air quality monitoring system (ODonnell, 2010), which monitors the amount of pollutants in the air and the quality of air (whether good or bad). The major areas of concern that need air-quality assessment and monitoring include transportation areas such as highway routes and main roads, urban areas, municipalities and local community exposure. (ODonnell, 2010) this suggests that Pietermaritzburg should be monitored closely along the main highway through the city and where industry is situated. However, for this to be successful, the local government needs to maintain the monitoring system and it costs a lot of money. This maintenance of the monitoring system needs to be put into South Africas yearly budget for the municipalities. National government needs to constantly assess the problematic pollution cities, such as Pietermaritzburg. This monitoring system should show improvement in the air. If not, the government can ascertain from the monitoring system which pollutants are most rife and where they are being emitted from. National government, together with Local government, could then work on strategies to lower the toxic emissions which ultimately cause health problems. Solutions: N3 Highway The N3 highway is a problem as heavy duty trucks create huge emissions. The railroads should be reintroduced to transport containers from Durban Harbour to Johannesburg. This would dramatically reduce the number of big trucks on the highway and as they often travel in the early hours of the morning, air pollution would be reduced as the temperature inversion is most significant in the early hours of the morning. Industry Local Government needs to work with industry in Pietermaritzburg to improve the amount of emissions that factories produce. As discussed, in an interview with Mr J.Pather, the Head of Environmental Health Services at Msunduzi Municipality, industry have complied in many instances to reduce emissions. From information supplied by Mr C.J.Anthony, Pollution Control Coordinator at Msunduzi Municipality, many specific air pollution issues have been dealt with. For example, Greys hospitals oil furnace has been replaced with paraffin (Anthony, Nov 2007 and June 2007). No further industry should be built in the citys bowl, this will contain the present air pollution. Pietermaritzburgs New England Landfill Site The New England Landfill Site needs to be moved out of the citys bowl. The particulate fall out is unacceptable and because of the temperature inversion, the pollution emissions are worsened. The municipality has attempted to improve conditions but the fact is that the landfill site needs to be moved elsewhere. Burning There are strict regulations concerning the burning of forests and sugarcane. These need to be monitored and implemented to prevent fire emissions in the wrong seasons. Monitoring National Government needs to work closely with Local Government and provide funds which will allow the municipality to upgrade and maintain air pollution monitoring equipment. Constraints: Economic Msunduzi Municipality is in a crisis. The control of air pollution is a low priority at present. It would be a huge expense to fix railroads and to move the Landfill Site. Pietermaritzburg lacks both funds and skills to drive the concept of clean air. Environmental Pietermaritzburg is surrounded by timber plantations and sugarcane farms. This cannot be changed. Conclusion: It is scientifically proven that air pollution triggers and increases the severity of asthma attacks. The link between air pollution and asthma is an accepted fact by specialists throughout the world. In recent years scientists have shown that air pollution from cars, factories and power plants is a major cause of asthma attacks. Further research is currently underway in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) to prove this theory. Pietermaritzburg has high levels of particulate matter and ozone which are two pollutants directly responsible for the triggering of asthma attacks. The temperature inversion in Pietermaritzburg is a known geographical fact which worsens the pollution significantly. It is therefore scientifically correct to state that air pollution in Pietermaritzburg is worsened by the temperature inversion and this air pollution triggers and worsens asthma attacks.