What is Anthropology Essay Sample free essay sample

* Anthropology uses a holistic position to understand human civilization and what it means to be human * The working definition: the empirical comparative survey of worlds as biological and cultural existences. informed by the overarching rules of cultural relativism and by the turning away of ethnocentrism * Four Traditional Fields of Anthropology * Physical anthropology* Besides known as biological anthropology. Examines the biological and behavioural features of worlds and nonhuman Primatess. including their ascendants * Primary involvement in retracing anatomical and behavioural evolutionary record of human species and fossil record-includes medical anthropology and forensic anthropology * Second country of involvement in primatology: the survey of our nearest life relations * Archaeology * The survey of life ways of people from the past by unearthing and analysing the material civilization they have left behind * Artifacts. characteristics. constructions. and ecofacts serve as stuff records for life ways and environmental versions * Linguisticss * The modern scientific survey of all facets of linguistic communication * Possibly the most typical characteristic of being human. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Anthropology? Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page as linguistic communication. enabled by physiological versions. has transmitted civilization across coevalss and enabled abstract idea for more than 40. 000 old ages * Includes historical linguistics. descriptive linguistics. ethno linguistics. and sociolinguistics * Cultural Anthropology * Besides known as societal or Sociocultural anthropology. it is the survey of specific modern-day civilizations. and the more general underlying forms of human civilization derived through cultural comparings * Cardinal constructs: field work demands. development of trust and norms. participant observation. descriptive anthropology. ethnology. urban anthropology. medical anthropology. development. environmental anthropology * Key considerations in anthropology * Ethnocentrism: the belief that 1s ain civilization is superior to all others- be cautious to avoid civilization bound theories * Cultural relativism: the belief that attempts at understanding other life ways are most successful if one positions those imposts in their ain traditional context and avoids judging them harmonizing to the values of one’s civilization * Fundamentally rejects the impression that any civilization including our ain possesses a set of absolute criterions by which all other civilizations can be judged. * Key footings * Cultural romanticism: the thought that a civilization is better than it is * Life ways: customary manners of life: the ways in which people obtain what is necessary to populate * What is civilization? * A society’s shared and socially transmitted thoughts. values. and perceptual experiences which are used to do sense of experience. which generate behaviour and are reflected in that behavior * Everything that people have think and do as members of a society * Systems of arbitrary symbols with assigned significances ( ace organic. lodging. colourss. Canis familiariss. gender ) * Features of civilization * Learned. symbolic. general and specific. all embracing. shared. patterned amp ; maladaptive ( LISSA ) * Learned* Culture is learned from others in a society through socialization * Enculturation occurs through observation. interaction with others. and through linguistic communication and can be modified over clip * Difference between socialization. socialization and assimilation? * En: the procedure by which people learn the demand s of their encompassing civilization and get values and behaviours appropriate or necessary in that civilization * A: explains the procedure of cultural and psychological alteration that consequences following meeting between civilizations. * As: is the procedure by which a groups current linguistic communication and civilization is lost to organize to the dominant coercing one. * Integrated * All facets of civilization are interrelated* Holistic position* If one facet changes the others will probably alter every bit good * Mono vs. polychromatic civilization. matrimony spiels. abode forms. economic system. societal organisation. affinity. beliefs. values. environment. linguistic communication. etc. * Shared * Culture is shared within a society* Peoples can foretell how others are most likely traveling to act in a given circumstance. within ground * In pluralistic societies. contrary behaviour may be interpreted as pervert by some while normal by others ( BUYING THE PONY TO EAT ) * Difficulty in covering in symbolic significance can frequently ensue in civilization daze * Symbolic * Symbols have particular significances to members of a civilization and theodolite that intending * Symbols enable worlds to show experiences discourse the hereafter and to larn from the corporate wisdom of past coevalss * Adaptive * Culture provides the cognition of how to which allows us to accommodate to different scenes. conditions. etc. ( irrigation methods allow the desert of Bahrain to be farmed ) * Franz Boas* Refuted unilinear development as bad theorizing masqueraded as scientific discipline * All modern-day societies have evolved an equal sum of clip * Emphasized information collected through fieldwork. particularly participant observation * Could still do some ethnographic analogies though focused on a period of description and historicism * Emile Durkheim * Gallic sociologist* Father of functionalism* Developed structural functionalism* Searched for ways beliefs. establishments. and patterns of societies contributed to the care of human life and cultural stability- Function of establishments * Structural functionalism * The functional position of civilization lays down the rule that inevery type of civilisation. every usage. stuff object. thought and belief fulfils some critical map. has some undertaking to carry through. represents an indispensable portion with a on the job whole * Bronislaw Malinowski * PHD in natural philosophies mathematics and doctrine* Spent clip in the islands during WWI* Discredited Sigmund Freuds Oedipus complex-individual psychological science depends on cultural context * Functionalism comes to Anthropology* Bronislaw Malinowski* Focus on single and psychological maps* A. R. Radcliffe-Brown* Envisions societal systems to be composed of more than merely the persons * Persons as elements of the corporate organism- â€Å"culture† * Societies may be thought of as organic entities with beings and demands of their ain * The societal forms that exist in a given society can be conceptualized as effectual ways of run intoing these demands * Margaret Mead * Studied kid raising and personality* Coming of age in Samoa. Turning up in New Guinea* Times female parent of the universe in 1969* Components of cultural anthropology* Ethnography- a elaborate description of a peculiar civilization chiefly based on fieldwork * Ethnology- the survey and analysis of different civilizations from a comparative point of position * Empirical informations * Quantitative: statistical or mensurable information such as demographic composing the types and measures of harvests grown. or the ratio of partners born and raised within or outside the community * Qualitative: Non statistical information such as personal life narratives and customary beliefs and patterns. Acknowledges the presence of counterfactuals * What are ethnographic research methods * Although anthropology relies on assorted research methods. its trademark is extended fieldwork in a peculiar cultural group *Fieldwork characteristics participant observation in which the research worker observes and participates in the day-to-day life of the community being studied * Stages of field research * 1. Choosing a research job* 2. Explicating a research design ( IV. DV. four )* 3. Roll uping the information ( PO. interviewing. studies. twenty-four hours histories ) * 4. Analyzing the information* 5. Interpreting the information* Participant observation* A research method in which 1 learns about a groups beliefs and behaviours through societal engagement and personal observation within the community every bit good as interviews and treatment with single members of the group over an drawn-out stay in the community * Informants * A member of the society being studied. who provides information that helps research workers understand the significance of what they observe * Doing participant observation* Advantages and readying* Obtaining clearance* Role selection/introductions* Continuing slowly/modifying 1s ain behaviour* Determining function as pupil* Enhancing resonance * Distinguishing between what one should make and what one really does* Detecting non verbal behaviour* Disadvantages* Restrictions in sample size* Standardizing comparative informations* Challenges in entering informations* Obtrusive consequence on capable affair* Interviewing* Unstructured interview: an informal. unfastened ended conversation. in mundane life * Structured interview: a formal question/ reply session carefully notated as it occurs and based on prepared inquiries *Ethnographic tool bag * Census pickings. ethnographic function. twenty-four hours histories. paperss analysis. genealogical method. photography/video. proxemic analysis. event analysis. sociometric trailing. multisite research * Photography * Anthropologists can utilize exposure during fieldwork as arousing devices. sharing images of cultural objects or activities. for illustration to promote locals to speak about and explicate what they say * Challenges of cultural anthropology * Among the legion mental challenges anthropologists normally face are * Culture daze. solitariness. isolation from household and friends. experiencing like an nescient foreigner. being socially awkward in a new cultural scene. deriving credence. set uping resonance. confronting rejection. developing proficient/insightful proficiency in linguistic communication. willingness to reassess one’s findings in visible radiation of new informations. confederations traumatic episodes and distinguishable cultural attacks in treating those events * Physical challenges typically include * Adjusting to unfamiliar nutrient. clime. and hygiene conditions. working 24/7/365 necessitating to be invariably watchful because anything that is go oning or being said may be important to 1s research * Changing grades of hazard taking to entree informations can sometimes ensue in physical security challenges * Ethnographers must pass considerable clip questioning doing voluminous notes and analysing informations * Language * Language is a system of communicating utilizing sounds. gestures ( symbols ) that are put together harmonizing to certain regulations that result in significances that are understood by a group of people who portion that linguistic communication * There are about 6000 linguistic communications in the universe today * 95 % of the world’s population speak 100 linguistic communications * What is the cardinal method for separating linguistic communications ( linguistics ) * Linguisticss * Is the systematic survey of all facets of linguistic communication* What precisely do linguists analyze* Descriptive linguistics* Unlocks the implicit in regulations of a linguistic communication* Historical linguistics* Investigates the relationship between earlier and later signifiers of linguistic communications* Deciphering dead linguistic communications* Sociolinguistics/ethno linguistics* Investigates the relationship between linguistic communication and societal and cultural contexts* Descriptive linguistics* Phonology: the survey of linguistic communication sounds * Phoneticss: the systematic designation and description of typical address sounds in a linguistic communication * Phonemes: the smallest units of sound that make a difference in significance and linguistic communication * Morphology: the survey of the forms or regulations of word formation in a linguistic communication * Morphemes: the smallest units of sound that carry a significance in a linguistic communication * Example: together. the phonemes c. o. tungsten is the morpheme cow adding s to the morpheme cow will ensue in two morphemes cow and s. s adds extra significance to the initial morpheme cow ( more than one ) * Key to making descriptive linguistics is to put aside premises. make non presume that linguistic communications must hold nouns. verbs. prepositions or any other signifier categories identifiable in English * Syntax: the forms or regulations by which morphemes. or words are arranged into phrases and sentences * Grammar: the full formal construction of a linguistic c ommunication including morphology and sentence structure * Allow linguistic communication to talk for itself-see what patterns emerge when unbound * Historical linguistics * The survey of how linguistic communications change throughout clip and infinite * Language household: a group of linguistic communications descended from a individual hereditary linguistic communication * Linguistics divergency: the procedure of development of different linguistic communications from a individual hereditary linguistic communication * Language divergency ( causes ) * Selective adoption from one linguistic communication to another* Technology and specialisation prompts lingual displacements* Affilial groups such as street packs. sororities. prison inmates and military units develop esoteric vocabularies * Cultural value of fresh vocabulary add-ons * Linguistic patriotism* Sociolinguisticss* Study of the relationship between linguistic communication and society. * Examines how societal classs ( such as age. gender. ethnicity. faith. business and category ) influence the usage and significance of typical manners of address * Language as a societal speech-performance * Gendered address: distinguishable male and female address forms * Dialects: changing signifiers of a linguistic communication that reflect peculiar parts. businesss or societal categories which are similar plenty to be reciprocally apprehensible * Code shift: changing from one manner of address to another as the state of affairs demands. whether from one linguistic communication or from one idiom to the other * Diglossia: exchanging the manner we talk when our audiences are different * Ethnolinguistics * Studies the relationship between the linguistic communication and civilization and how they reciprocally influence and inform each other * Linguistic relativity: the thought that differentiations encoded in one linguistic communication are alone to that linguistic communication * Example: the cultural classs of colour. Languages distinguish between the different chromaticities of colour. English is ruddy. orange etc. and Mexico autochthonal groups have same colour for green and bluish * Linguistic determinism: linguistic communication shapes the manner in which people view and think about the universe around them ( sapir whorf hypothesis ) * Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: a linguistic communication is non merely an encryption procedure but is instead a determining force. Language guides thought and behaviour by predisposing people to see the universe in a certain manner * Gesture call system * Gestures: consists of facial looks and bodily positions and gestures that convey messages ( more than 60 % of our communicating is non verbal ) * Proxemicss* Micro and macro degree culturally shared sense for significance of propinquity * Intimate ( 0-18 inches ) personal ( 1. 5-4 foot ) social-consultative ( 4-12 foot ) public distance ( gt ; 12ft ) * Tonic linguistic communication * Tonal linguistic communications: a linguistic communication in which the sound pitch of a spoken word is an indispensable portion of its pronunciation and significance * Critical acquisition hypothesis* First purposed by Wilder penfield and lamar Roberts* There is a critical period in which worlds can to the full get a first linguistic communication. If linguistic communication is acquired after this ideal timeframe the person may non hold a normal. full bid of linguistic communication Book survey usher * holistic theory* Holistic attack to the survey of human groups* It is comprehensive and involves looking at both biological and Sociocultural facets of humanity * Longest clip frame of all time* Studies all assortments of people wherever located and analyze the different facets of human experience * Cultural relativism* Preventing 1s ain cultural values from colourising descriptive histories of the people under survey * Boas said you could accomplish this through cultural relativism- any portion of a civilization must be viewed in its proper cultural context instead than from the point of view of the perceivers civilization. Rather than inquiring how does this tantrum into my cultural position. one must inquire. how does a cultural point tantrum into the remainder of the cultural system of which it is a portion of? * Rejects the impression that any civilization including our ain has a set of absolute criterions by which all other civilizations can be judged * Symbols * Something that stands for or represents something else * LISSA* Shared: thought. thing or behaviour form to measure up as being cultural it must hold significance shared by most people in a society * Example: shaking manus in our ain civilization means friendly relationship non harmful aggression. * Uncertainty of 1s experiences when seeking to run in an unfamiliar civilization leads to civilization daze: a signifier of psychological hurt that can ensue in depression etc. * Subculture: in a extremely complex society in add-on to mainstream civilization you should happen sub civilizations * Learned: acquired though acquisition and interacting with 1s cultural environment * Socialization: procedure of larning civilization after we are born * Being born into an already existing civilization and they merely have to larn the ways of thought and moving set down by their civilization ( illustration ) * Peoples from different civilizations learn different cultural content * Monochronic civ ilizations: position clip in a additive manner and prefer to make one thing at a clip topographic point a high value on promptness and maintain precise agendas * Polychromic: preferring to make many things at the same clip and see no peculiar value on promptness * Adaptive/ maladaptive * Because of the adaptative nature of civilization people are now able to populate in many antecedently inhabitable topographic points * Between cultural and biological* Integrated* Organic analogy: the physical homo organic structure comprises a figure of system all working to keep the overall wellness of the being –all interconnected * Theory of evolution* All societies pass through a series of distinguishable evolutionary phases and we find differences in civilizations because they are different evolutionary phases of development * Diffusionism * Certain cultural characteristics were invented originally in one or several parts of the universe and so spread through the procedure of diffusion to other civilizations * Franz Boas* Wanted to set the subject on a sound inductive terms by roll uping specific informations and so developing general theories * Insisted on roll uping elaborate ethnographic informations through fieldwork * Functionalism * Bronislaw Malinowski established the tradition of firsthand informations aggregation. looked on how modern-day civilizations operated or functioned * All facets of civilization have a map. they are besides related to one another * Kula ring illustration * Structural functionalism- the thought that they contributed to the well being of the society alternatively of merely the person ( Radcliffe brown ) * Neoevolutionism: civilization evolves when people are able to increase the sum of energy under their control * Multilinear development * Steward created it* Focuss on the development of specific civilizations without presuming that all civilizations follow the same evolutionary procedure

Privacy paper essays

Privacy paper essays I believe law enforcement should do a better job of protecting private information from abuse. Law enforcement tells us they are tracking down more criminals with surveillance. Since the introduction of surveillance techniques the crime rate has not dropped. If law agencies observed peoples actions more responsibly, it would protect citizens without jeopardizing their privacy. Instead, law enforcement is compromising our privacy under the guise of crime prevention by using cameras, wire tapping, and the Internet. The use of cameras for the purpose of law enforcement most often does not deter criminals. Crime rates have not decreased since the introduction of cameras in public places. Some criminals, who actually desire recognition for committing a crime, are encouraged when video surveillance is being used. Strossen states, In Tempe, Arizona, officials stuck a rotating camera-nicknamed Sneaky Peak-atop the municipal building (Barnet and Bedau 681). Invasion of privacy resembling sneaky peak spying abilities are constantly going on, such as the highly ineffective camera put up in Times Square. Strossen stated, Surveillance cameras that had been mounted for 22 mounts in New York Citys Times Square led to only 10 arrest before they were dismantled... (Barnet and Badau 681). Ineffective cameras, like the one in Times Square, should be removed to guarantee the preservation of our constitutional right to privacy. If law agencies are not satisfied with camera usage, they can also use tapping techniques to hear and see everything inside or outside a house. Law enforcement agencies can easily wiretap and eavesdrop on every conversation in a citizens home. A 1994 case has made it relatively easy for law enforcement to get permission to tap our personal conversations. Simson states In 1994, Congress passed the Communications Assistance ...

Andrew Carnegie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Andrew Carnegie - Essay Example ers and acquisitions, cost minimizing measures, and centralization of supplies created some of the big industry giants in America, and by extension, the world. Andrew’s first venture into the Iron and steel industry was as a result of his engagement in the railroad transport industry, first as a telegrapher and secretary then as superintendent of Pennsylvania Railroad. Here he was charged with, among other things, acquiring the steel rails for the expanding railway networks and engines. Through the railroad contacts he met while working here, he recognized the opportunity of manufacturing the heavy equipment needed for the industry. He was successful in organizing Keystone Bridge Company, the first successful manufacturer of iron rail, and Pittsburgh Locomotive Works into a unit to supply the equipment. He also encouraged George Pullman to join up with him and form the Pullman Palace Car Company to market sleeping cars to the Union Pacific, is so doing he created a monopoly. Eventually, his close ties with John Pierpont Morgan led him to sell his vast interests in the steel industry to J. P. Morgan. The negotiations that ended in Ma rch 2, 1901 to form United States Steel Corporation is the largest such industrial takeover to date. Carnegie is also remembered for his drastic cost cutting measures is partly responsible for the events that shaped the labor force in the iron industry in America. His payment schedule for instance was racial informed. He paid Slavs, Russians, and Italians $12 per week, native-born whites got $22 per week, and Irish and Scots got $16 per week. His steelworks were also said to have been in deplorable conditions. In addition, in his early days as an employer, he is said to have single-handedly fell the giant steel workers union, Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. Some of his tactics include hiring strikebreakers and spies, blacklisting workers who were thought to be capable of causing trouble, and maintaining the

Research Methods For Engineers (Factors Affecting Project Alliances in Proposal

Methods For Engineers (Factors Affecting Project Alliances in Construction Industry ((Australian Construction Industry )))) - Research Proposal Example This was a source of losses to both the construction companies and the general public. It was also a blow to the government since it was not able to complete the planned development projects within the stipulated timeline. These are the factors which contributed to research and proposition of the Industry Alliance design in strategic operation and management of projects (Shayne, 2012: 382). Project alliance is strategic management proposition that works to integrate the objectives various stakeholders in the construction industry. This is a concept in relationship contracting that dates back to the 20th century. This concept entails sharing risks and benefits between those involved in the construction projects. This method was first used in streamlining operations in the UK oil and gas industry. It was then first applied in Australian in the 1990s. Since then, project alliance has been modified to suite various sectors. For instance, project alliance is now widely used as a procurement tool for public infrastructural projects (Mounir, 2011: 263). The initial procurement rules applied pricing tactics in tender allocation. This old process was flawed as it failed to address the key problems related to large cost construction projects. For instance, there were foreseen and undetermined project outcomes. In event of such, some stakeholders were forced to fully absorb the outcomes, a factor that was demoralizing. Project alliancing shifted from these traditional procurement procedures by creating new guidelines for procurement. These new procedures called for complete and thorough evaluation of bidders in objection to price bidding. This helped to ascertain the capabilities of the bidders to meet any unseen occurrences and their corporate social responsibility strategies (Diponio & Dixon, 2013: 167). During its inception, its major aim was to unify all those involved in the Australian construction industry.

Birth Order and Empirical Studies Indicating Significant Essay

Birth Order and Empirical Studies Indicating Significant Birth-order-related - Essay Example There are strong stereotypes that people try to attach to the birth order of siblings and most of these are considered to be quite accurate in many respects. However, it must be cautioned that this is not an exact science. There are many variables that can affect an individual, from inherited genes to the family environment, school and the workplace, eventually. Sibling science, as it is sometimes referred to, is just beginning to catch the serious attention of scientists from being considered a fringe science before. The present trend should be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism. For all its scientific research work so far, all that can be said is there are as yet no definitive answers to whether birth order really is a strong factor that influences individuals' core personality development. There is a comment that sibling science is much like reading a horoscope; one can impute anything to it (Kluger, 2007, p. 1). With this in mind, this paper nevertheless still explores som e of the more interesting findings so far but the reader is advised to keep an open mind about this topic. Discussion There is not much doubt that people exhibit certain predictable personality attributes or characteristics based on their birth order. For example, first-borns are generally considered to be assertive of their social status, implied authority over their younger siblings, with strong motivation to succeed and has generally a higher IQ and EQ. Personality of First-borns – according to the journal article compiled by Eckstein, the scientific evidence so far points to a significant correlation between birth order and the people personality which they observed in their study subjects. Two researchers found a total of 26 different personality characteristics to an oldest child, with about six of these attributes quite recurrent or re-appearing and these are: the highest achieving, highest IQ, greatest academic success, highest motivation, over-represented among learned groups and lastly, also the most affiliative under stress (ibid., pp. 482-483). Personality of Middle Children – most researchers on sibling science found out at least six common personality characteristics with three attributes frequently most appearing which are: fewest â€Å"acting out† problems, sociable and greatest feeling of not belonging to any group of people (ibid.); there is also a matrix on birth order (Isaacson & Radish, 2002, p p. 27-28). Personality of Youngest Child – two researchers had likewise attributed a total of 14 different characteristics to the youngest child, with three attributes appearing most frequently. These three are the following: the most number of psychiatric disorders, more empathetic and also exhibits a greater tendency towards becoming an alcoholic. Single Children – researchers were able to correlate at least about 13 characteristics that are attributable exclusively to being a single child. Out of these 13 personal attributes, about 4 of them are very prominent, which are the following: the most need and driven for an achievement, generally higher achievers compared to their siblings except for the first-borns, most likely to go to and finish college but has the most potential for behavioral problems. Single children are often of the same personality chara

Various Aspects Of Integrated Logistics Economics Essay

Various Aspects Of Integrated Logistics Economics Essay A New Zealand entrepreneur is planning to launch a business in Western Europe; Japan; China and CIS/Eastern Europe and they have appointed you as a consultant to advice on opportunities and challenges facing firms seeking to perform logistics activities in the above mentioned countries. (Your answer should not exceed 1500 words) Global Logistics Opportunities and Challenges Western Europe consists of United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Malta and microstates of Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Andorra and Liechtenstein. Western Europe is considered as major contributor of the European economy. Its determining characteristics are common currency, tax equalization, political homogenization and standards homogenization. Logistically speaking Western European markets offer a great opportunity for exploiting economies of the scale and size in moving goods throughout the Europe opting from a number of transportation modes. European transport networks have grown because of deregulation of transportation; shipments, optimal route and plan scheduling, and the development of national services. The number of long-distance transports has grown significantly with the largest share of freight transports as road transports. The preferred mode s of transportation in the area are roads and rails, closely followed by sea freight. In addition, the Chunnel links the UK with the rest of Europe reducing the transportation cost to a great extent. Figure 1: Logistics Hubs in Western Europe Source: (DHL Discover Logistics, n.d.-a) The logistics systems in Western Europe are characterized more by political change associated with EU enlargement than by geographic features. In Western Europe transport, storage, packaging and administrative jobs are becoming noticeably more efficient due to uniform regulations. The transport networks are very well developed but average shipping distances have grown principally in the wake of the European Unions enlargement. Outsourcing activities are increasingly affecting logistics in Western Europe because companies no longer consider logistics to be a core business. Instead, larger distribution networks are developing at a rapid pace. Global firms prefer vertical integration and go for direct marketing and distribution in order to reduce inventory and total logistics costs. The changes in the logistics sector have generated challenges of increased efficiency in shipping, packaging and labelling. Here, the reduction of customs processing plays a critical role. In addition, techn ological improvements throughout Europe are almost uniform and not just clustered in individual countries. As a result, order processing, inventory management, warehousing and IT technology are being further centralized. In nutshell, the competitive situation in Western Europe is intense as compared to the rest of Europe. Japan Japan has evolved into an economic powerhouse of Asia and created a highly developed logistics system in spite of challenging geographic conditions. On one hand, such a system is necessary to offset the Japanese islands lack of raw materials. On the other hand, it is the foundation for expanding the positive growth of the export nation. The countrys main manufacturing and therefore, logistics hub lies in a triangle around the cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka on the island of Honshu. Air transport, in particular, plays an important role here. The most important means of freight transport in Japan are road transports and coastal shipping. Almost ninety percent of the transport is carried by trucks. The role of rail transports is almost non-existent. But this could change in the years ahead. A portion of sea freight has been shifted to air transport in recent years. As a result of this shift, international air transports on trans-Pacific routes have climbed tremendously. Compared with other industrial countries, Japans distribution system is very complex and inefficient leading to high distribution costs. Most aspects of goods distribution in Figure 2: Logistics Hubs in Japan Source: (DHL Discover Logistics, n.d.-b) Japan is tightly regulated by the government. Joint distribution is typical; competitors who make deliveries to the same businesses tend to use joint delivery capacities and trucks. The logistics market in Japan is opening up to international service providers which are already successfully competing against Japanese companies in areas such as storage, distribution and complex contract logistics. The major logistics challenge is traffic congestion in metropolitan areas around the industrial hub. Just-in-time systems require small and frequent shipments to meet customer requirements. The distribution system in Japanese market is characterised by non-store channels, carrying least inventory. It is helpful in introducing new products through mail order, catalogue sales, and tele-shopping. Shared distribution system is common among competitors. Uniform palletization is used to avoid complicacy in operations. China Chinas logistics market is opening up gradually to the outside world. Logistics enterprises are reorganizing and integrating in the competitive environment. It is more and more obvious that state owned, private owned and foreign funded enterprises are surviving and thriving in the competitive markets. With the increasing demand of logistics, the logistics service for enterprises is changing from low value fundamental services to the high value added services. Logistics infrastructure, integrated logistics, traffic and transportation, and delivery services provide huge investment opportunities. However, the related risks must be put into account, and firms should be cautious when choosing investment projects. Figure 3: Logistics Hubs in China Source: (DHL Discover Logistics, n.d.-c) In some parts of China, due to advancement in technology, the road network now approaches Western standards. Modern freeways have been built in the Pearl River delta as well as in Shanghai and Beijing. Parts of this network extend far into the countrys interior but the standards and quality of the road drops as we move away from the cities particularly in the areas located away from the metropolitan areas. As a result of the underdeveloped infrastructure outside the metropolitan areas, logistics costs are high in an international context. In comparison to other means of transport, the rail network is almost inappropriate for logistics operations due to poorly built rail lines. For example, a container takes five days to journey by train from Hong Kong to Shanghai (DHL Discover Logistics, n.d.-c). A transport by ship takes about the same amount of time, but is much cheaper. Rail transports play a major role only in the shipment of bulk cargo like coal or iron ore. As a result, rail tr ansports are not particularly attractive to international companies for general logistics operations. The key challenges for the Chinese logistics industry are: Poor infrastructure: insufficient integration of transport networks, information technology (IT), warehousing and distribution facilities. Regulation: exist at different tiers, imposed by national, regional and local authorities and often differ from city to city, hindering the creation of national networks. Bureaucracy and Culture: companies need to build links with political agents at various levels. Moreover, it is difficult to repatriate profits back to home country. Poor training: in logistics sector and the manufacturing and retailing sectors, both at a practical level, i.e., IT, transportation and warehouse as well as at a higher strategic level. Information and communications technology: lack of IT standards and poor systems integration and equipment. At a very basic level, there is no consistent supply of energy. Undeveloped domestic industry: logistics sector is fragmented and dominated by commoditized and low quality transport and warehousing, unable to meet the growing supply chain demands for industrial and commercial enterprises. High transport costs: almost 50% more than Japan, Europe and North America, mainly due to high tolls on roads. Logistics costs (including warehousing, distribution, inventory holding, order processing, etc.) are estimated to be two to three times the normal. Poor warehousing and storage: high losses, damage and deterioration of stock, especially in the perishables sector. Regional imbalance: of goods flows from the developed east of the country to the more undeveloped west leading to higher costs for haulage companies which are then passed on to their clients. Domestic trade barriers: besides lowered trade barriers such as tariffs and quotas for international shipments, there are still problems such as unofficial border tolls from an inland manufacturing location to a port city or vice versa. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe Four out of fifteen former Soviet Republics belong to CIS are in Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. Eastern Europe is made up of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Albania, and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The countries of Eastern Europe occupy a strategically central position on the continent and are located at Western Europes interface with Russia. As a result of the European Unions enlargement to the east, they are increasingly serving as a bridge. As a result, many manufacturing companies have moved their production facilities to Eastern Europe for cost reasons. Logistics service providers entered either following these companies or to exploit the new markets by carrying out mergers or acquisitions. The opportunities for the companies interested in entering these markets vary significantly from country to country. Although, these countries have relatively well developed transport ne tworks but they do not meet western European standards. Despite the rapid growth of road transports, railroads remain the dominant means of transport. Figure 4: Logistics Hubs in Eastern Europe Source: (DHL Discover Logistics, n.d.-d) The Eastern European logistics market is characterized by wide regional differences. While the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Poland have made major strides, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia are trailing far behind. The infrastructure is in even worse shape farther to the east. The road-based freight transports have limited ability to meet the demands of European industry in a cost effective manner. The causes of these limitations include traffic jams, the limited potential for expanding network capacity, rising energy costs and growing intermodal competition from railways. Eastern European harbours, particularly the major sea ports in Poland, perform a significant amount of trans-shipping and are being increasingly expanded. The European Unions enlargement and the increasing transport volumes have resulted in intensified storage and distribution activities in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. One of the major challenges is to overcome the barriers that exist between Eastern and Western Europe, including the transport infrastructure. Further, they would like you to advice them on several strategies available to them to enter the above mentioned markets. Discuss all available strategies and give your specific recommendations. (Your answer should not exceed 1500 words) Foreign Market Entry Strategies Foreign market entry strategies are mainly categorized into: Indirect exporting Direct exporting Manufacturing strategies Cooperative strategies Risk and Control in Market Entry Control Risk Risk Indirect Exporting Piggybacking Trading Companies Export Management Companies Domestic Purchasing Cooperative Strategies Joint Ventures Strategic Alliances Direct Exporting Distributors Agents Direct Marketing Franchising Management Contracts Manufacturing Own Subsidiary Acquisition AssemblyFigure 1: Foreign Market Entry Strategies Source: (Doole Lowe, 2001, p.249) Indirect Exporting Piggybacking An established international distribution network of one manufacturer may be used to carry the products of a second company without such a network. The second manufacturer is said to be piggybacking on the first in these cases. The first company has an established reputation and contacts in an international environment. It handles the logistics and administration costs of exporting for the second manufacturer. Piggybacking can offer many advantages to firms; such as cheaper and quick access to new markets, an established knowledge base of the foreign markets and economies of scale with regards to administration, shipping, marketing and distribution. Piggybacking may lead to unsatisfactory marketing arrangements such as lack of strategic fit, providing technical support, and after sales services for buyers potentially leading to disagreement. This method of exporting too is not ideal for building a long-term foreign market presence. Trading Companies A trading company trades on its own account. It performs many functions as; buying and selling as a merchant, handling goods on consignment, or it may act as a commission house for some buyers. Trading companies match sellers with buyers and manage all the supportive functions such as export arrangements, paperwork, transportation, and legislative requirements. Firms initially choose this mode, because of TCs extensive contacts, experience, operations and long-term commercial relationships in many different trading regions in the world. After some experience in the international market, exporting firms want more control over decision making, so TCs are not their long-term partners. Export Management Companies Export Management Companies are specialist companies that act as export department for a number of companies. They provide companies with access to foreign buyers, take orders from those foreign buyers, purchase finished products, and handle the transporting and distribution of the goods in the foreign market. Their core competency is in export logistics and deals with the necessary documentation and extensive knowledge of purchasing practices and government regulations in the foreign markets. This is a less risky and fast penetration strategy suitable for new entrants in the international market in the short-term. Disadvantages of EMCs include; export strategy conflict among both parties, lack of manufacturers control over foreign market decisions and market knowledge. Due to expertise in exporting, the EMC has complete control over all foreign market decisions. In addition, EMC may even export products that are in direct competition with each other. Therefore, manufacturers need to devote resources to monitoring the performance of an EMC and invest in managing the business relationship. As the manufacturers revenue from exporting increases, moving away from the EMC or eliminating EMCs from the business may prove harmful due to lack of foreign buyer contacts or market knowledge or because of contractual agreements. Domestic Purchasing Domestic purchasing is a method of market entry which involves the least company involvement. This export method often involves an unsolicited purchase request from a foreign commercial buyer. The company may not even have considered the export potential of their products until approached from the foreign buyer. In general, companies can use this method to sell off excess stock with the least inconvenience. It generates a relatively low level of revenue and the company is completely dependent on the foreign buyer. The company gains limited knowledge of the international markets, as it has no direct contact with them. The foreign buyer often picks up the goods at the factory gates and proceeds to transport the goods, market them, and distribute them in one or more overseas market. Direct Exporting Distributors Export distributors differ from agents in that they take ownership and responsibility for the goods. Distributors usually take limited rights for the sales and servicing of a particular territory where they represent the manufacturer in all respects. The capital investment can be particularly high for a firm exporting goods requiring specialist handling. Due to this large investment both parties undertake to maintain a long-term relationship. Agents Export agents are usually individuals or firms operating in a foreign market, contracted by the firm, and paid a commission to obtain orders for the product. After entering into a contractual agreement, sales targets are usually agreed with agents by the firms. Agents are usually contracted to carry non-direct competing products therefore providing a lower exposure to risk. Although agents are the cheapest and quickest form of market entry, the long-term profitability is moderate to low with a short payback period. Agents can be beneficial to the company in that they have local market knowledge, established relationships and provide adequate feedback regarding further product or market development strategies. Agents do not owner goods which limits their motivation to improve performance. They can take the form of brokers, manufacturers representatives, managing agents and compradors performing specific functions (Cateora Graham, 2002). Direct Marketing Using database marketing tools such as mail order, telemarketing, media marketing, direct mail and the internet can be a useful technique to expand a firms customer base abroad. Usually, this market entry method is very useful when there are high barriers to entry exist in a foreign market or where markets have insufficient or underdeveloped distribution systems. Success using direct marketing can only be obtained if the standard product/service is customized to meet the personal needs of the target market in different markets. Issues of product promotion and privacy needed to be addressed when engaging in telemarketing, direct mail or Internet commerce. Franchising In franchising, the firm grants the legal right to use branding, trademarks and products, and transfers the method of operation to a third party (the franchisee) in return for a franchise fee. Franchising is less risky and less costly due to the nature of the agreement. The franchisee provides the local market knowledge, capital, time and resources needed to develop the franchise. The two types of franchise agreement used by franchising firms are that of a master franchise and licensing. A master franchise often operates a multi-unit franchising agreement or it may take the form of a trading company whereas in licensing the franchiser uses the property, trademark and intellectual rights for a royalty or fee. Management Contracts Management contracts usually involve selling the skills, expertise and knowledge of firms in an international context. The contracts undertaken are usually those for installing management operating and control systems and the training of local staff to take over when the contractors are finished (Doole Lowe, 2001). Manufacturing Strategies Own Subsidiary This form of market entry requires the maximum commitment in terms of management and resources and offers the fullest means of participating in a market. Before investing huge capital, the firm must evaluate the pros and cons of the business as the cost of withdrawing from the market would be significant. Although sole ownership provides high level of control, the firm may not only incur the costs if withdrawal is eminent but also the companys reputation can be damaged both in the foreign and domestic market. The advantage is of avoiding communication and conflict of interest problems which may occur through other methods like acquisitions and joint ventures. Acquisition Acquisition occurs where an organization develops its resources and competences by taking over another organization. It is a faster entry strategy in new product or market areas. A firm may acquire cost efficiencies, immediate access to a trained labour force, recognized brands, existing customer and supplier contacts, an immediate source of revenue and an established distribution network or otherwise as a result of acquisition. In return, the acquiring company may have to make certain sacrifices. Assembly Assembly involves establishing plants in foreign markets simply to assemble components manufactured in the domestic market by the firm. This method of market entry is attractive for certain companies when they see that the importation of components is subject to lower tariff barriers than assembled goods which eventually decrease their costs. Moreover, it can be more advantageous if the finished product is large and transportation costs are high. The domestic plant in addition, can focus on development and production skills and investment, hence, profiting from economies of scale. Assembly firms also take advantage of lower wage costs and government incentives. Cooperative Strategies Joint Ventures Joint venture (JV) is a market entry option in which the exporter and a domestic company in the target country join together to form a new incorporated company. Both parties provide equity and resources to the JV and share in the management, profits and losses. The JV should be limited to the life of a particular project. This option is popular in countries where there are restrictions on foreign ownership, e.g. China. Its advantages include; acquisition of competencies or skills not available in-house, risk sharing of a large project with other firms, faster market entry/penetration and payback, and avoiding technical trade barriers. Its disadvantages are; divided management control, difficult to recover capital invested, disagreement on new export markets, and different views of partners on expected benefits. Strategic Alliances Strategic alliances are a wide range of cooperative partnerships and joint ventures which unite to follow a set of important, agreed goals while in some way remaining independent subsequent to the formation of an alliance. The partners share both the benefits of the alliance and control over the performance of assigned tasks during the life of the alliance. The partners contribute on a regular basis in one or more key strategic areas, for example, technology or products. Strategic alliances are usually formed in three areas technology, manufacturing and marketing. The main reason behind strategic alliances is competition. Other reasons include; the reduction of risk, the attainment of economies of scale and complementary assets such as a brand name and government procurement. Firms, which employ strategic alliances, have the advantage of simultaneously penetrating several of their key markets. Specific Recommendations The decision of, which foreign market to enter, depends on firms external as well as internal factors and foreign countrys market conditions. The strategy to be adopted should be based on firms short and long-term corporate objectives. Initially, the firm should choose among direct or indirect exporting leading to cooperative and then manufacturing strategies. If exporting is a long-term goal of the firm, then indirect exporting methods may not prove to be the wisest strategic choice. In long-run, the firm has to trade off among costs and control over the decision making. Explain why it is usually more difficult for a firm to provide the same level of customer service in its international markets that it provides in its domestic markets. Under what circumstances may an organization actually be able to provide better customer service to international markets than to domestic markets? (Your answer should not exceed 1250 words) Customer Service When a firm becomes extensively involved in international business, logistics is seen as a critical part of the strategic planning process and a deterministic factor of customer service level. The complexity of the international business environment, including different business customs, inadequate/inappropriate transportation infrastructure, restrictive regulatory frameworks, and different levels of logistics services, presents barriers that make operations in foreign countries far more complicated and less controllable than in domestic markets. Generally, existing or emerging barriers result in longer order cycle times, higher logistics costs, and greater customer dissatisfaction. The customer service level chosen for use internationally is based on expectations encountered in each market. These expectations are dependent on past performance, product desirability; customer sophistication, and the competitive status of the firm and industry. Therefore, additional logistics costs are required to support operations which may be so important that, if not handled properly, they may offset any potential cost savings from using inexpensive labor and other resources in foreign countries. The need for cost-service trade-off analysis becomes inevitable for the managers in such an indifferent situation. Under these circumstances, logistics barriers obviously make it difficult for firms to gain a competitive advantage from their international operations. Table 1 summarizes the firms major external factors affecting its logistic performance (and therefore, customer service) at domestic and global level. It also depicts how difficult it becomes for the firms to provide same level of customer service at international level. Another major external (and therefore, uncontrollable) factor which has made international logistics more vulnerable and complex is security risks after 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a result security clearance procedures have lengthened and transit times of shipments have extended. Insurance rates for cross-border shipments have also climbed. Some factors internal (and therefore, controllable) to the firm, for example, centralized logistics activities, do not make the customer service work best, as it can be under local control in foreign market. Financial aspects such as working capital, inventory, capital investments in buildings and equipments, and accommodation of merchandise are also difficult to manage in the cas e of international operations. The managerial capability of logistics management in deciding optimal cost-service mix plays a major role in determining the customer level. Table 1: External Factors Affecting Customer Service Level Factors Domestic Conditions Global Conditions Culture Homogeneous Heterogeneous Currency Uniform Different currency and exchange rates Economy Stable and uniform May be variable and unpredictable Government Stable May be unstable Labor Skilled workers available Skilled workers may be hard to find Language Generally a single language Different languages and dialects Marketing Many media, few restrictions May be fewer media and more restrictions Transport Several competitive modes May be inadequate Source: (Marilyn Gale, 2006) In order to establish an efficient logistics system to support international operations, especially customer service, a firm should be able to evaluate when and where logistics barriers may disrupt materials flows in the distribution channel. The identification of barriers is important in designing an effective international operations network. A better understanding of those barriers enables a firm to take actions to reduce or avoid them so that it can improve its competitive position in international markets. The firms entering in the international market should obtain as much as possible information about the business conditions and operating expenses of potential markets. As the customer service levels and hence the cost incurred, vary between countries, the firm must examine the service requirements of customers in each foreign market. A flexible and responsive global customer service strategy is based on inventory policy and control procedures, packaging and containerization, sourcing raw materials, managing export shipments and terms of trade. International logistics is characterized by inventory points at more levels between suppliers and customers making it much complicated than at domestic level, leading to longer transportation times. Depending on the length of transit time and more inventory volume needed to cover the resultant delays, the firm can develop inventory policies and control procedures most appropriate for each market area. Another component of customer service is the products physical condition (must be in right condition). Packaging and containerization are important for product handling, climate effects, potential pilferage, communication and language differences, freight rates, and customs duties when a product moves across the borders. The quality of a product is determined by the quality of its raw materials. International sourcing may enable a firm to optimize products quality at lowest possible cost. The services of many facilitator organizations involved in international logistics activities are continuously utilized by almost all of the firms operating internationally. These organizations include export distributors, customs-house brokers, international freight forwarders, trading companies, and non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCC). These organizations are highly professionalized in performing their functions and operate at economies of the scale. A firm involved in exporting for the first time would likely utilize the services of a facilitator organization. There are a number of shipment modes/terms, each one of them having its own pros and cons. These terms of trade/shipment used in international logistics are Ex-Works, FCA, FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF, CPT, CIP, DAF, DES, DEQ, DDU and DDP. Terms of shipment have a major impact on a firms logistics performance as each of them yields a different cost of shipment and value to the customer. Finally, integrated logistics management (ILM) is the ultimate strategy to deal with the international customers efficiently. ILM integrates all the logistics activities; facility location and network design, information management, transportation management, inventory management, warehousing management, material handling, and packaging into a single activity or process of logistics directed towards servicing the customer effectively and at the lowest total cost of all the functional activities taken together. The methodology of integrated logistics conforms to the logistics objectives; getting the right item to the right customer, in the right quantity, in the right condition, at the right place, at the right time and at the right cost. Customer service level of a firm is the representation of managerial capability of its management team. A firms executive management is likely to use any or a combination of some or all of the above mentioned customer service strategies to deliver value

Exemplification Essay: Welfare, A Vicious Circle -- Expository Exempli

  Ã‚  Ã‚   It's Diana's turn at the tiny glass window. Her face burns red with shame as she is handed her monthly check. Two small children tug at her dress, their stomachs growling from a day without food. She looks down at her two children, her face filled with pain and guilt. What had happened to their happy life? With just the stroke of the pen across a divorce decree, Diana and her children were thrust into the humiliation of the welfare line. For two years now, Diana has tried to get back on her feet, but with only a high school diploma, she can't find a job to support her family. Getting a college degree is her only way out, but her check isn't enough to afford daycare, so she's stuck accepting welfare.    This is not an uncommon scenario. Most people on welfare are looking for a way to rejoin the American work force; yet, society's stereotype of a welfare recipient is consistently that of a lazy, immoral woman who continues to have children out of wedlock just to increase her welfare benefits. This image could not be further from the truth; most single mothers who turn to welfare do so for the purpose it was originally created for: to be a temporary safety net for those trying to get back on their feet after a job loss or tragedy. Though welfare is supposed to be a temporary source of help, once the woman begins to receive her benefits, she has actually trapped herself in a vicious cycle of poverty, and while the U.S. government takes credit for providing budget money to help thousands of people regain their positions in American society through welfare programs, it actually robs them of their dignity and self-determination. Not only that, but this system, ostensibly devis ed to uplift women and chil... ...rs in the system, there will never be any hope for those on welfare to get off. The welfare program has turned into a vicious circle that traps the recipient, namely single mothers, into a cycle of poverty. But before we can change anything politically or economically about the welfare system, we must first re-evaluate our beliefs and prejudices against those who did not ask to be put in this situation is the first place.    Works Cited Abramovitz, Mimi, and Frances Piven. "What's Wrong With Welfare Reform?" The New York Times 2 Sept. 2001: A23. Buchsbaum, Gerbert. "The Welfare Debate." Scholastic Update 11 Mar. 1999: 6-8. DeParle, Jason. "The Entitlement Trap." The New York Times 27 Jan. 1994: A12 Lavelle, Avis. "Welfare: Means to an End?" Essence Apr. 1998: 124 Peart, Karen. "Life On Welfare." Scholastic Update 11 Mar. 1994: 9-10.

Environmental Policy Essay

Last month in the New York Times, Kate Galbraith noted that the campaigns of both Barack Obama and John McCain presented widely differing views on climate change and energy policy, particularly with regards to cap and trade schemes, market-based policy instruments intended to maneuver industrial sectors into reducing their greenhouse emissions. Cap and trade schemes have recently been gaining much currency within the discussions of environmental policy as a means to address the negative impacts which industry has upon the greenhouse problem. Such systems work by creating a financial incentive for emission reduction through the imposition of costs on emissions. By establishing a ‘cap’ which limits the total amount of emissions that can be made by a designated group of polluters and leaving them free to trade permits to pollute with one another, it encourages these polluters to meet or fall below the cap in a flexible market-based fashion, rather than forcing them to comply with stringent regulations that could needlessly compromise their business operations. Companies able to cut their emissions can further profit from selling their permits to those companies facing difficulty in reducing their own emissions. The incentive is that all the companies would choose to bring their emissions to cap levels and try to do so in the most cost-effective fashion. It encourages them to innovate the means to reduce emissions. Other governments have already taken action to introduce cap-and-trade schemes of their own: Australia has the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme; the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill was recently enacted in New Zealand; and the European Parliament has its own system known as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. At present, no system similar to these exists in federal law, and representatives for both candidates – Dan Esty for Barack Obama, Douglas Holtz-Eakin for John McCain – maintained that this should be remedied as soon as possible. Where they disagree is how such a system should be structured. According to Esty, Obama favors distribution of emissions permits through auction, as this would force polluting businesses to pay competitively during initial distribution. Speaking for McCain, Holtz-Eakin advocates pre-determined distribution, limiting transactions to the permit trading market itself. The design of a cap and trade system is not a trivial matter. A poor design can wreck the efficacy of a cap and trade system as a policy instrument. If permits are distributed too generously, as Holtz-Eakin proposes, what could result is a situation in which industries have little incentive to expunge their business operations of greenhouse emissions, as they would effectively be operating in a trading market where permits are near worthless. Also, cap and trade systems cannot stand alone as an emission-reducing policy instrument, as there is a potential for traders to ‘game’ the market by deliberately holding out on purchasing permits until the last minute so as to reduce their value, making unreduced emissions affordable to even the worst emitter. Furthermore, cap and trade systems lack transparency and present opportunities for fraud. Worse still is that a poorly designed cap and trade system will not account for the geography of polluters, resulting in a NIMBY effect where pollution becomes localized to create ‘emissions ghettos. ’ As such, it should be recommended that any cap and trade system be designed to account for environmental justice, be subject to transparency, and should distribute permits at a market price, perhaps even stabilize such a price at a level high enough to incentivize the development of techniques and technologies to reduce emissions. Furthermore, a cap and trade system must be complemented by other policy instruments such as pollution zoning and carbon taxes. Works Cited Galbraith, Kate. â€Å"Candidates’ Advisers Spar Over Cap-and-Trade. † New York Times. 23 September 2008. Retrieved online November 9, 2008 from: http://greeninc. blogs. nytimes. com/2008/09/23/candidates-advisers-spar-over-cap-and-trade/? scp=3&sq=cap%20trade&st=cse Parker, David. â€Å"Historic climate change legislation passes. † New Zealand Government. 10 September 2008. Retrieved online November 9, 2008 from: http://www. beehive. govt. nz/release/historic+climate+change+legislation+passes Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme 2008, Introduction to the greenhouse gas reduction scheme, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme. Retrieved online November 9, 2008 from: http://greenhousegas. nsw. gov. au/documents/Intro-GGAS. pdf Pearce, Fred. â€Å"European trading in carbon-emission permits begins. ’† New Scientist. 6 January 2005. Retrieved online November 9, 2008 from: http://environment. newscientist. com/channel/earth/dn6846-european-trading-in-carbonemission-permits-begins. html

FAQs for Writing Your Graduate Admissions Essay

FAQs for Writing Your Graduate Admissions Essay When graduate school applicants learn of the importance of the admissions essay to their graduate school application, they often react with surprise and anxiety. Facing a blank page, wondering what to write in an essay that can change your life can paralyze even the most confident of applicants. What should you include in your essay? What shouldnt you? Read these answers to common questions. How Do I Choose a Theme for My Admissions Essay? A theme refers to the underlying message that you intend to convey. It may be helpful to make a list of all of your experiences and interests at first and then try to find an overlapping theme or connection between the different items on the list. Your underlying theme should be why you should be accepted into graduate school or specifically accepted into the program to which you are applying. Your job is to sell yourself and distinguish yourself from other applicants through examples. What Type of Mood or Tone Should I Incorporate in My Essay? The tone of the essay should be balanced or moderate. Dont sound too cheerful or too morose, but keep a serious and ambitious tone. When discussing positive or negative experiences, sound open-minded and use a neutral tone. Avoid TMI. That is, do not reveal too many personal or intimate details. Moderation is key. Remember not to hit the extremes (too high or too low). Additionally, do not sound too casual or too formal. Should I Write in the First Person? Although you were taught to avoid using I, we and my, you are encouraged to speak in the first person on your admissions essay. Your goal is to make your essay sound personal and active. However, avoid overusing â€Å"I† and, instead, alter between I and other first-person terms, such as â€Å"my† and â€Å"me† and transition words, such as however and therefore. How Should I Discuss My Research Interests in My Admissions Essay? First, it is not necessary to state a specific and concise dissertation topic in your essay. You only to need to state, in broad terms, your research interests within your field. The reason you are asked to discuss your research interests is that the program would like to compare the degree of similarity in research interests between you and the faculty member you wish to work with. Admissions committees are aware that your interests will likely change over time and, therefore, they do not expect you to provide them with a detailed description of your research interests but would like for you to describe your academic goals. However, your research interests should be relevant to the proposed field of study. Additionally, your aim is to show your readers that you have knowledge in your proposed field of study. What If I Don’t Have Any Unique Experiences or Qualities? Everyone has qualities that can distinguish themselves from other individuals. Make a list of all your qualities and think of how you utilized them in the past. Discuss the ones that will make you stand out but will still have some connection to your field of interest. If you do not have many experiences in your field, then try to make your other experiences relate to your interests. For example, if you are interested in applying to a psychology program but only have experience working at a supermarket, then find a connection between psychology and your experiences at the supermarket that can show your interest in and knowledge of the field and portrays your ability to become a psychologist. By providing these connections, your experiences and you will be depicted as unique. Should I Mention Which Faculty Members I Would Like to Work With? Yes. It makes it easier for the admission committee to determine if your interests match with the faculty members you’re interested in working with. However, if possible, it is recommended that you mention more than one professor you wish to work with because it is a possibility that the professor you are interested in working with is not accepting new students for that year. By mentioning only one professor, you are limiting yourself, which can decrease your chances of being accepted. Additionally, if you only wish to work with a specific professor, then you are more likely to be rejected by the admissions committee if that professor is not accepting new students. Alternatively, it may be helpful to contact professors and find out if they are accepting new students before applying. This reduces the chances of being rejected. Should I Discuss All Volunteer and Job Experiences? You should only mention volunteer and employment experiences that are relevant to your field of study or have helped you develop or acquire a skill that is necessary for your field of interest. However, if there is a volunteer or job experience that is not related to your field of interest yet has helped influence your career and academic goals, discuss it in your personal statement as well. Should I Discuss Flaws in My Application? If Yes, How? If you think it may be helpful, then you should discuss and provide an explanation for  low grades or  low GRE scores. However, be concise and do not whine, blame others, or try to explain away three years of poor performance. When you discuss flaws, make sure you aren’t giving unreasonable excuses, such as â€Å"I failed my test because I went out drinking the night before.† Provide explanations that are reasonably excusable and comprehensive to the academic committee, such as an unexpected death in the family. Any explanations you give must be very very brief (no more than roughly 2 sentences). Emphasize the positive instead. Can I Use Humor in My Admissions Essay? With great caution.  If you do plan on using humor, do so cautiously, keep it limited, and make sure it is appropriate. If there is even the smallest possibility that your statements can be taken the wrong way, dont include humor. For this reason, I advise against using humor in your admissions essay. Should you decide to include humor, do not let it take over your essay. This is a serious essay with an important purpose.  The last thing you want to do is offend the admissions committee or let them believe that you are not a serious student. Is There a Limit to the Length of the Graduate Admissions Essay? Yes, there is a  limit  but it varies depending on the school and the program. Usually, admissions essays are between 500-1000 words long. Do not exceed the limit but remember to answer any assigned questions.

The Complex Life of Charles Maurice De Talleyrand

The Complex Life of Charles Maurice De Talleyrand Charles Maurice de Talleyrand (born February 2, 1754, in Paris, France- died May 17, 1838, in Paris),  was a defrocked French Bishop, diplomat, foreign minister, and politician. Alternately renowned and reviled for his tactical skills of political survival, Talleyrand served at the highest levels of the French government for nearly half a century during the reign of King Louis XVI, the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the reigns of Kings Louis XVIII, and Louis-Philippe. Admired and distrusted in equal measure by those he served, Talleyrand has proven difficult for historians to evaluate. While some tout him as one of the most skilled and proficient diplomats in French history, others paint him as a self-serving traitor, who betrayed the ideals of Napoleon and the French Revolution- liberty, equality, and fraternity. Today, the term â€Å"Talleyrand† is used to refer to the practice of skillfully deceitful diplomacy. Fast Facts: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Known for: Diplomat, politician, member of the Catholic clergyBorn: February 2, 1754 in Paris, FranceParents: Count Daniel de Talleyrand-Pà ©rigord and Alexandrine de Damas dAntignyDied: May 17, 1838 in Paris, FranceEducation: University of ParisKey Accomplishments and Awards: Foreign minister under four Kings of France, during the French Revolution, and under Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte; played a key role in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchySpouses Name: Catherine Worlà ©eKnown Children: (disputed) Charles Joseph, comte de Flahaut; Adelaide Filleul; Marquise de Souza-Botelho; â€Å"Mysterious Charlotte† Early Life, Education, and Career in the Catholic Clergy Talleyrand was born on February 2, 1754, in Paris, France, to his 20-year-old father, Count Daniel de Talleyrand-Pà ©rigord and his mother, Alexandrine de Damas dAntigny. Though both parents held positions in the court of King Louis XVI, neither earned a steady income. Having walked with a limp since childhood, Talleyrand was excluded from his anticipated career in the military. As an alternative, Talleyrand sought a career in the Catholic clergy, bent on replacing his uncle, Alexandre Angà ©lique de Talleyrand-Pà ©rigord, as the Archbishop of Reims, one of the wealthiest dioceses in France. After studying theology at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice and the University of Paris until age 21, Talleyrand went on to become an ordained priest in 1779. A year later, he was appointed Agent-General of the Clergy to the French Crown. In 1789, despite being disliked by the King, he was appointed Bishop of Autun. During the French Revolution, Talleyrand largely abandoned the Catholic religion and resigned as a Bishop after being excommunicated by Pope Pius VI in 1791. From France to England to America and Back As the French Revolution progressed the French government took note of Talleyrand’s skills as a negotiator. In 1791, the French foreign minister sent him to London to persuade the British government to remain neutral, rather than joining Austria and several other European monarchies in the looming war against France. After failing twice, he returned to Paris. When the September Massacres broke out in 1792, Talleyrand, now an endangered aristocrat, fled Paris for England without defecting. In December 1792, the French government issued a warrant for his arrest. Finding himself no more popular in England than in France, he was expelled from the country in March 1794 by British Prime Minister William Pitt. Until returning to France in 1796, Talleyrand lived in the war-neutral United States as a house guest of influential American politician Aaron Burr. During his stay in the United States, Talleyrand lobbied the French government to allow him to return. Always the crafty negotiator, he succeeded and returned to France in September 1796. By 1797, Talleyrand, recently persona non grata in France, had been appointed the country’s foreign minister. Immediately after being appointed foreign minister, Talleyrand added to his infamous reputation of placing personal greed above duty by demanding the payment of bribes by American diplomats involved in the XYZ Affair, which escalated into the limited, undeclared Quasi-War with the United States from 1798 to 1799.   Talleyrand and Napoleon: An Opera of Deceit Partly out of gratitude for his assistance in the 1799 coup d’à ©tat that saw him crowned Emperor in 1804, Napoleon made Talleyrand his minister of foreign affairs. In addition, the Pope overturned his excommunication from the Catholic Church. Working to solidify France’s gains in the wars, he brokered peace with Austria in 1801 and with Britain in 1802. When Napoleon moved to continue France’s wars against Austria, Prussia, and Russia in 1805, Talleyrand opposed the decision. Now losing his confidence in the future of Napoleon’s reign, Talleyrand resigned as foreign minister in 1807 but was retained by Napoleon as vice-grand elector of the Empire. Despite his resignation, Talleyrand did not lose Napoleon’s trust. However, the Emperor’s trust was misplaced as Talleyrand went behind his back, secretly negotiating personally profitable peace agreements with Russia and Austria. Having resigned as Napoleon’s foreign minister, Talleyrand abandoned traditional diplomacy and sought peace by accepting bribes from the leaders of Austria and Russia in return for Napoleon’s secret military plans. At the same time, Talleyrand had started plotting with other French politicians on how to best protect their own wealth and status during the struggle for power they knew would erupt after Napoleon’s death. When Napoleon learned of these plots, he declared them treasonous. Though he still refused to discharge Talleyrand, Napoleon famously chastised him, saying he would â€Å"break him like a glass, but it’s not worth the trouble.† As France’s vice-grand elector, Talleyrand continued to be at odds with Napoleon, first opposing the Emperor’s harsh treatment of the Austrian people after the end of the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809, and criticizing the French invasion of Russia in 1812. Though he was invited to return to his old office as foreign minister in 1813, Talleyrand refused, sensing that Napoleon was quickly losing the support of the people and the rest of the government. Despite what had become his utter hatred for Napoleon, Talleyrand remained dedicated to a peaceful transition of power. On April 1, 1814 Talleyrand convinced the French Senate to create a provisional government in Paris, with him as president. The next day, he led the French Senate in official deposing Napoleon as Emperor and forcing him into exile the island of Elba. On April 11, 1814, the French Senate, in approving the Treaty of Fontainebleau adopted a new constitution that returned power to the Bourbon monarchy. Talleyrand and the Bourbon Restoration Talleyrand played a key role in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy. After King Louis XVIII of the House of Bourbon succeeded Napoleon. He served as chief French negotiator at the 1814 Congress of Vienna, securing advantageous peace settlements for France in what was then the most-comprehensive treaty in European history. Later the same year, he represented France in negotiating the Treaty of Paris ending the Napoleonic Wars between France and Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia.   Representing the aggressor nation, Talleyrand faced a daunting task in negotiating the Treaty of Paris. However, his diplomatic skills were credited for securing terms that were extremely lenient to France. When the peace talks began, only Austria, the United Kingdom, Prussia, and Russia were to be allowed to have decision-making power. France and the smaller European countries were to be allowed only to attend the meetings. However, Talleyrand succeeded in convincing the four powers to allow France and Spain to attend the backroom decision-making meetings. Now a hero to the smaller countries, Talleyrand proceeded to secure agreements under which France was allowed to maintain its pre-war 1792 boundaries without paying further reparations. Not only did he succeed in ensuring that France would not be partitioned by the victorious countries, he greatly enhanced his own image and standing in the French monarchy. Napoleon escaped from exile on Elba and returned to France in March 1815 bent on forcibly retaking power. Though Napoleon was ultimately defeated in the Hundred Days, dying in the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Talleyrand’s diplomatic reputation had suffered in the process. Bowing to the wishes of his quickly expanding group of political enemies, he resigned in September 1815. For the next 15 years, Talleyrand publicly portrayed himself as an â€Å"elder statesman,† while continuing to criticize and scheme against King Charles X from the shadows. Upon learning of Napoleon’s death at Waterloo, Talleyrand cynically commented, â€Å"It is not an event, it is a piece of news.† When King Louis-Philippe I, a cousin of King Louis XVI, came to power after the July Revolution of 1830, Talleyrand returned to government service as ambassador to the United Kingdom until 1834. Family Life Well known for using relationships with influential aristocratic women to advance his political position, Talleyrand had several affairs during his life, including a longtime intimate relationship with a married woman who would eventually become his only wife, Catherine Worlà ©e Grand. In 1802, French Emperor Napoleon, concerned that the French people viewed his foreign minister as a notorious womanizer, ordered Talleyrand to marry the now divorced Catherine Worlà ©e. The couple remained together until Catherine’s death in 1834, after which the now 80-year-old Talleyrand lived with the Duchess of Dino, Dorothea von Biron, the divorced wife of his nephew.   The number and names of the children Talleyrand fathered during his life is not clearly established. Though he may have fathered at least four children, none were known to have been legitimate. The four children most widely agreed on by historians include Charles Joseph, Comte de Flahaut; Adelaide Filleul; Marquise de Souza-Botelho; and a girl known only as â€Å"Mysterious Charlotte.† Later Life and Death After permanently retiring from his political career in 1834, Talleyrand, accompanied by the Duchess of Dino, moved to his estate at Valenà §ay. He would spend his final years adding to his voluminous personal library and writing his memoirs. As he neared the end of his life, Talleyrand realized that as an apostate bishop, he would have to rectify his old disputes with the Catholic Church in order to be given an honorable church burial. With the help of his niece, Dorothà ©e, he arranged with the Archbishop de Quà ©len and abbot Dupanloup to sign an official letter in which he would acknowledge his past transgressions and beg for divine forgiveness. Talleyrand would spend the last two months of his life writing and re-writing this letter in which he eloquently disavowed â€Å"the great errors which [in his opinion] had troubled and afflicted the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church, and in which he himself had had the misfortune to fall.† On May 17, 1838, abbot Dupanloup, having accepted Talleyrand’s letter, came to see the dying man. After hearing his last confession, the priest anointed the back of Talleyrand’s hands, a rite reserved only for ordained bishops. Talleyrand passed away at 3:35 in the afternoon of the same day. State and religious funeral services were held on May 22, and on September 5, Talleyrand was buried in the Notre-Dame Chapel, near his chà ¢teau in Valenà §ay. Did You Know? Today, the term â€Å"Talleyrand† is used to refer to the practice of skillfully deceitful diplomacy. Legacy Talleyrand may be the epitome of a walking contradiction. Clearly morally corrupt, he commonly used deceit as a tactic, demanded bribes from persons with whom he was negotiating, and openly lived with mistresses and courtesans for decades. Politically, many regard him as a traitor because of his support for multiple regimes and leaders, some of which were hostile toward each other. On the other hand, as philosopher Simone Weil contends, some criticism of Talleyrand’s loyalty may be overstated, as while he not only served every regime that ruled France, he also served the â€Å"France behind every regime.† Famous Quotes Traitor, patriot, or both, Talleyrand was an artist with a pallet of words he used skillfully to the benefit of both himself and those he served. Some of his more memorable quotes include: â€Å"Whoever did not live in the years neighboring 1789 does not know what the pleasure of living means.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is not an event, it is a piece of news.† (upon learning of Napoleon’s death)â€Å"I am more afraid of an army of one hundred sheep led by a lion than an army of one hundred lions led by a sheep.†And perhaps most self-revealing: â€Å"Man was given speech to disguise his thoughts.† Sources Tully, Mark. Remembering Talleyrand Restorus, May 17, 2016Haine, Scott. â€Å"The History of France (1st ed.).† Greenwood Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-313-30328-2.Palmer, Robert Roswell; Joel Colton (1995). â€Å"A History of the Modern World (8 ed.).† New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 978-0-67943-253-1. . Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Pà ©rigordNapoleon and EmpireScott, Samuel F. and Rothaus Barry, eds., Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution 1789–1799 (vol. 2 1985)Weil, Simone (2002). â€Å"The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind.† Routledge Classics. ISBN 0-415-27102-9.

Real Life Bargaining & Negotiation Situation Research Paper

Real Life Bargaining & Negotiation Situation - Research Paper Example The cooks were only two, the waiters were two, and I was the only cashier. Employees, including me, were free only on Sunday when the business closed. We were also given a small amount of salary weekly. There was need for a negotiation that would ensure that the owner of the business was satisfied with the business profit while at the same time boosting the morale of employees with reduced workload and increased wages. The negotiation was faced by a lot of challenges. For instance, some employees were afraid of complaining or raising their concerns because they feared that they would lose their jobs. The employer was a strict person with a very serious personality. The economy was bad, and getting a job was difficult. Losing one’s job would therefore mean that things would become more difficult for the employees as they struggle to meet their daily needs. The employees also came from different backgrounds in terms of culture, social status and demography. Therefore, understanding each other in terms of ideas and items of negotiation was difficult. Despite this challenging environment, employees were compelled to approach the owner of the business for a negotiation for higher wages and reduced workload. The workload had caused significant level of stress among the employees and the wages barely met their daily needs. This would have a negative impact on the performance of staff and cause lower productivity and profitability. Therefore, the negotiation was not only necessary for the employees to meet their needs but also for the business to earn profits and grow. The people involved in the negotiation process were the employees, the business owner, regular customers, a few members and leaders of the community, and a member of the local government. I was one of the employees, and we were supported by some of the customers and members of the community who had noted how

Director Moustapha Akkad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Director Moustapha Akkad - Essay Example In the year 1954, with the age of 18years, Akkad arrived at the airport for his departure. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles for 4 years and marked off in 1958. Upon graduation, he interned under the Sam Peckinaph; an American director, while pursuing his Master’s degree at the USC (University of Southern California). The director of Los Angeles; Sam Peckinaph contacted Akkad while looking for an Arab speaking advisor to assist him develop a movie about the revolution of Algeria for independence. Regrettably, the movie was dropped by the end of this revolution by the end of this revolution, but the relation between the two remained. Akkad proceeded and formed the FIP (Falcon International Productions), to completely distribute and finance John Carpenter’s Halloween; humbled budget spine cooler, written and produced by John. Carpenter, a hopeful filmmaker as well as the producer Irwin Yablans decided to make a low budget horror film on the babysitte rs being abducted and killed on Halloween. They went to Moustapha Akkad for the film financing and support. After a long discussion with Carpenter and an understanding of his passions and ideas for the film, Akkad accepted to finance and produced the movie. He definitely understood that to be embraced, the movie would have to adhere to the life of Muhammed without presenting him or showing him his voice. Despite this, the movie generated bones of contention including financing among others, hence, the movie production was transferred from Libya to Morocco. However, the movie went on and became famous. It even surpassed the existing produced movies which were privately produced and distributed (Lancaster, 2011). After the prosperity of Halloween, Moustapha set his eyes on the next epic narrative of resistance. His next movie was the Lion on the Desert; which enabled him reunite with Anthony Quinn in the topic role. Akkad continued producing movies in the Halloween series as well as o thers in the horror type, however, they were evidently meant to be stepping stones to his true passion that was to produce a movie on Islam and heroic Semitic Arab heroes. Former prime minister of Jordan; a friend to Moustapha pointed out that Akkad had a good rationale of what he intended to perform. He further stated that Akkad intended to develop an Arab film production company to produce more films about the Arab history as well as political figures. Generally, it is imperative to take into account this mission whenever an individual reflects upon the present budget and proper demonization Muslims, Islam and Semitic people, an individual is able to understand the way this would not concur with Zionist mechanizations. The defamation and denigration of Arabic peoples have frequently been the primary goal and focal point of post Israel Zionism. An individual only requires examination of the Hollywood film and television production from the aforementioned period to substantiate this preposition. In the present Hollywood, Mustapha’s positive movies on Islam as well as its heroes would never see the reality of the day such as financing, the resources to produce it as well as the associated distribution. The forces of deliberately infiltrated Zionist interests have developed an infrastructure in place which only shows that the media need to advance their agenda. Mustapha Akkad was renown as a very intelligent