Definition and Examples of Antanaclasis (Word Play)

Definition and Examples of Antanaclasis (Word Play) Definition Antanaclasis is a logical term for aâ type of verbal play in which single word is utilized in two differentiating (and frequently funny) detects a sort ofâ homonymic quip. Otherwise called the bounce back. Antanaclasisâ appears frequently in adages, for example, If we dont hang together, we will definitely hang independently. See Examples and Observationsâ below. Additionally observe: AntistasisAsteismusDiacopeJanus WordLogologyParonomasiaPloceTraductioWord PlayWords at Play: An Introduction to Recreational Linguistics EtymologyFrom the Greek, reflection, bowing, breaking against Models and Observations Also, theres bars on the corners and bars on the heart.(Tim McGraw, Where The Green Grass Grows)People in a hurry . . . go for Coke.(advertisement for Coca Cola)If you arent terminated with eagerness, you will be terminated with enthusiasm.(Vince Lombardi) Viola: Save thee, companion, and thy music! Dost thou live by thy tabour?Clown: No, sir, I live by the church.Viola: Art thou a churchman?Clown: No such issue, sir: I do live by the congregation; for I do live at my home, and my home doth remain by the church.(William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 1)For each lady developing on edge about diminishing hair, there are thousands developing it back.(advertisement for Rogaine)At first look, Shirley Polykoffs sloganIf Ive just a single life, let me live it as a blonde!seems like only another case of a shallow and aggravating expository figure of speech (antanaclasis) that currently happens to be trendy among publicizing duplicate writers.(Tom Wolfe, The Me Decade and the Third Great Awakening) Passing, tho I see him not, is nearAnd feelings of resentment me my eightieth year.Now I would give him all these lastFor one that fifty have run past.Ah! He strikes all things, all alike,But deals: those he won't strike.(Walter Savage Landor, Age) Antanaclasis in Hip HopRarely is it that a solitary expository structure can basically characterize the poetics of one MC as well as of a whole club. Such is the situation with the Diplomats and the metaphorical figure of speech of antanaclasis. Antanaclasis is the point at which a solitary word is rehashed on numerous occasions, yet each time with an alternate importance. For the Diplomats, the prevalence of it likely started with Camron, the main individual from Dipset, who began his vocation rapping close by Mase. Consider the accompanying lines off one of his blend tape discharges: I flip China White,/my dishes white china/from China. Playing with only two words, he renders them in a few particular changes. China white is a specific as sortment of heroin. White china is a conventional term for dishware, and he at that point proceeds to indicate that his dishware really is from China. What may seem like drivel or reiteration for sound alone before long uncovers itself as an expository figure in action.(Adam Bradley, Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop. BasicCivitas, 2009) From Antanaclasis to AposiopesisHem! again said the frugal Roland, with a slight emphasis of the creepy crawly temples. It might be close to nothing, Maamsisterjust as a butchers shop might be close to Northumberland House, however there is a tremendous arrangement among nothing and that next neighbor you have given it.This discourse was so similar to one of my fathersso credulous an impersonation of that unpretentious reasoners utilization of the explanatory figure called Antanaclasis (or redundancy of similar words from an alternate point of view), that I chuckled and my mom grinned. In any case, she grinned respectfully, not thinking about the Antanaclasis, as, laying her hand on Rolands arm, she answered in the yet progressively impressive interesting expression called Epiphonema (or outcry), Yet, with all your economy, you would have had usTut! cried my uncle, repelling the Epiphonema with an excellent Aposiopesis (or severing), tut! in the event that you had done what I wished, I ought to have had more delight for my money!My poor moms expository ordnance provided no weapon to meet that guileful Aposiopesis, so she dropped the manner of speaking by and large, and went on with that unadorned expert articulation normal to her, as to other extraordinary budgetary reformers.(Edward Bulwer Lytton, The Caxtons: A Family Picture, 1849) Genuine Word PlayThe present day reasonableness favors the mechanics of an expository impact to be avoided see; anything which bears a resemblance to invention or ingenuity, any development which leaves the platform set up, is respected with some doubt. . . . At the end of the day, the more evident the play on words to the peruser (paying little heed to what accomplishments of resourcefulness went into its creation), the less delight there is to be gotten from it. This is maybe why antanaclasis, the figure where a word happens and is then rehashed from an alternate point of view, has never been restored . . .; the reiteration hails the impacts, and it conceals from being cunning into being smart astute. This hasnt consistently been the situation. In the Renaissance, conspicuousness was no hindrance to euphoria: an incredible inverse, in fact.(Sophie Read, Puns: Serious Wordplay. Renaissance Figures of Speech, ed. by Sylvia Adamson et al,. Cambridge University Press, 2008) Articulation: a tan-ACK-la-sister

Choosing the Best Research Writing Services

Choosing the Best Research Writing ServicesMost people believe that the best research writing services will always be easily available but this is not the case. There are several good research writing services, and it all depends on how you choose to go about finding them.The first thing you need to consider is how many different research teams there are in your area. This can be found by asking around or simply doing a search online for research companies in your area. There are so many good research writing companies out there and choosing the right one should be very easy.Once you know what types of research you want done you need to know the price range you're willing to pay for this service. Most reputable and top quality research writing services will charge on a project to project basis. This means that you could get the same quality of research done from different providers, and the only difference would be the amount of money it costs to do the project. Some writers may even offer to have this done for free if the project is short.How much you're willing to pay for your research services will depend on the scope of the project, the number of individuals involved and other variables. The price of the project itself will also play a big role in the amount you pay for the services.When you're looking for the best research writing service, the best way to narrow down your choices is to think about the projects you're looking to complete. You will want to keep in mind the type of project you're working on, whether it's an article or a complete report, and the general subject matter that the project will be based upon.Next, you'll want to decide which type of research you want to do; or if you want to do any research at all. If you're a writer and simply need examples for research, there are plenty of freelance writers online who are willing to help you with the research you need. You may also want to consider having a business partner to help you with the r esearch work; if you're able to get someone who specializes in a certain field to help with your research projects.When you're choosing the best research writing services, it is important to choose someone who specializes in what you need them to do. If you are more technically minded, a research writer with an understanding of scientific jargon will be perfect for you. If you're the type of person who needs factual information, then a research writing team that focuses more on research facts and data may be what you're looking for.When you're looking for the best research writing services, these tips should help you narrow down your search. You don't want to choose the wrong writer and waste your time and money on research writing services that aren't up to par or deliver mediocre results.

Dorothea Dix and the Dangers o essays

Dorothea Dix and the Dangers o expositions The report I read was about Dorothea Dix, and her mission to help the individuals who were intellectually sick. This was during the Jacksonian time frame, 1820 through 1840, and the residents were getting precarious, and that it would cause a significant issue for what's to come. The individuals of the Jacksonian time frame felt the requirement for lodging and educating however with this precarious issue, madness or intellectually sickness, and shield society from self-destructing. Schools were accentuated more, to instruct understudies to be deliberate and devoted. New settings called refuges were made to give request for those disarranged personalities, however all these new thoughts required help and cash to be cultivated, and many were prepared for the test, as Dorothea Dix. Dorothea Dix would offer want to individuals in the Jacksonian time frame that on the off chance that she could get the assistance from the states, at that point so might anyone be able to else. She was conceived in Hampden, Maine, 1802, and didnt have an incredible youth, yet it wouldnt stop her later on in life from achieving the objectives of getting councils of the states to subsidize refuges. She didnt make an enormous crusade for it, or have pledge drives, yet by and by proceeded to converse with those she expected to converse with, to get the objective achieved. Shed make trips around the states to assemble data of how the intellectually sick are being dealt with, and carry it to the lawmaking bodies, with clarifications and thoughts. Dixs work wouldnt go to squander, she wouldnt get the Presidents vote in favor of the bill, yet her fantasy wouldnt be overlooked on the grounds that by the twentieth century, her desire was in truth, the Sheppard Towner Act of 1921 and the Socia l Security Act of 1921. I ponder Dorothea Dixs assurance is an incredible report since it shows that self control will get you far, and in the event that you dont achieve your objective, you move others to go out and give their resolve. Shes an extraordinary good example for anybody to have. ... <!

Greeces Financial Crisis Greece - 1796 Words

Introduction: Greece’s financial crisis has been in existence for almost two decades, and unfortunately is still widely unknown what has caused this prolonged catastrophe. The general population does not necessarily know that this economic crisis originates to a mistake made years ago, not due to the recession in 2008 that an abundance of countries around the world suffered. Greece intended to join the Eurozone, a group of European Union nations whose currency is the euro, in 1999. Initially, Greece was denied admittance due to its poor economic standing. After approximately three years, Greece was able to pose a fabrication of its own economic success, constituting a healthy economy, and meeting all financial goals that existed (Hahn). Once admitted into the Eurozone, Greece maintained the lie they initially had created in order to keep the euro as its currency. As anticipated, Greece’s budget deficit increased exponentially and soon led Greece into a recession, in which promulgated the truth of its economic stability. Greece is at fault for its own economic crisis and if it did not join the Eurozone, there is a large probability Greece would be an economically stable country. International issues around the world are often ignored, individuals tend to have the mentality, â€Å"if its not happening here, then I do not care†. It is unfortunate, that world issues go unnoticed, which is why people should not be only aware of what is happening in Greece, but also other parts ofShow MoreRelatedGreece Economic Crisis Analysis986 Words   |  4 PagesWall street financial market in 2008, Greece become the center of Europe’s economic crisis. With employment rates more than 25 percent, Greece is suffering from a financial crisis equivalent to if not greater than the U.S. Great Depression. The source of the crisis originated in the inefficient management of the Greece’s economy and government finances. Additionally, Greece’s involvement in the euro zone reflected a monetary policy that was at odds with its fiscal policy. The crisis resulted in troikaRead MoreGreece - Debt Crisis890 Words   |  4 PagesBackground on Greece’s Debt Crisis â€Å"You cannot spend more than (what) you earn†¦you should not borrow more than (what) you can afford.† This, according to an editorial published by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, may be the lesson Greeks are now learning the hard way.1 Unrestrained spending of successive Greek governments over a long period may have driven the country’s budget and current account deficits.2 Greece borrowed heavily from international capital markets to finance public sector jobs,Read MoreGreek Economic Crisis Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesThe economic crisis in Greece showed various concerns within the market that drew my attention away. Greece suffered a great loss since the market in wall street imploded in 2008 and is still suffering. The information I gathered from Greece may compel you to turn your cheek and walk away. Culture Diversity Greeces distinct culture have helped thrive many innovations, moreover, Greece does not suffer from any cultural impediments but one, anti-capitalism. Much different from Greece, a capitalistRead MoreEssay on Globalization Study Greece Economic Crisis975 Words   |  4 PagesGreek economic crisis Introduction: In September 2009, Greek economic crisis exploded. Greek government announced that the country’s financial deficits and public debt to gross domestic product would be along about 12.7% and 113%, which are far from the provision of European Union: 3% financial deficit and less than 60% public debt to gross domestic product. Moody’s, SP and Fitch, the three major credit-rating agencies, all reduced the credit-rating of Greece. The directRead MoreFinancial Crisis And Its Effect On The Stock Crisis1155 Words   |  5 PagesBACKGROUND: The Global Financial crisis started with the burst of US housing bubble, which peaked in 2006. The main reason for this was the subprime lending, deregulation of the financial sector, off book financing and underwriting practices. Loans were issued to the customers with poor credit rating thinking that the price of houses will rise in the future and due to overvaluation. This resulted in decline in credit availability, damaged investor faith, and reduced international trade and an impactRead MoreThe European Union And The Euro Crisis1218 Words   |  5 Pagesby 17 European Union countries, including Greece (â€Å"EUR†). Greece adopted the euro in 2001, and their economy has been struggling ever since. Since joining the European Union, Greece has struggled economically, politically, and might continue to struggle in the future. When the European Union was â€Å"founded with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992,† it included many of the countries that were a part of the previous European Community, including Greece (Prono). The European Union was formed toRead MoreGreek Government s Debt Has Been Around Since 20101346 Words   |  6 PagesGreece government’s debt has been around since 2010. The countries surrounding Greece are now worried that it may affect them. The economy in Greece started getting worse after United Stated had its crisis in 2007. Since Greece entered the Eurozone changes in the economy, financial stability, and employment had caused Greece to go into more debt, but it could have been avoided if Greece would have not entered the Eurozone. There are several events that led to Greece being bankrupt, but for a betterRead MoreGreeces Relations With Greece Case Study911 Words   |  4 Pagesmonths after being out of the limelight, Greece has just returned to the forefront as an imminent reimbursement deadline on its latest consignment of rescue-package loans. Greece’s relations with Europe are in a delicate state, and quite a lot of it is significant. The origins of the existing emergency were propagated over 20-30 years ago, and the present condition is just the indication of the essential complications that have not been fixed. Basically, Greece was jammed in an inflationary spiral whichRead MoreThe European Central Bank ( Ecb )1277 Words   |  6 PagesGreece is a member of the Eurosystem, a collection of 19 European countries. Together, the Eurosystem is the third largest economic system in the world, falling just behind the United States and China (https://www.ecb.europa.eu/mopo/eaec/html/index.en.html). The European Central Bank (ECB) acts as the head of the Eurosystem, providing the citizens of 19 European nations with a single currency (ECB WEBSITE). The area that is within the jurisdiction of the ECB is collectively known as the EurozoneRead MoreGreece : A Period Of Economic Crisis1667 Words   |  7 Pages2009 Greece hit a period of economic crisis. The Greek government had made debt obligations that they could not fulfill. As a result, Greece entered a period of deep economic down turn. Given the nature of how the European Union (EU) is constructed with an internal market economy, Greece’s issues spread to Ireland and Portugal. Eventually, it led to the European debt crisis where Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and Cyprus could not pay back government debts. In the same fashion that Greece affected

Dikes Defined and Explained

A dike (spelled dyke in British English) is a body of rock, either sedimentary or igneous, that cuts across the layers of its surroundings. They form in pre-existing fractures, meaning that dikes are always younger than the body of rock that they have intruded into.   Dikes are normally very easy to find when looking at an outcrop. For starters, they intrude the rock at a relatively vertical angle. They also have a completely different composition than the surrounding rock, giving them unique textures and colors. The true three-dimensional shape of a dike is sometimes hard to see at an outcrop, but we know that they are thin, flat sheets (sometimes referred to as tongues or lobes). Clearly, they intrude along the plane of least resistance, where rocks are in relative tension; therefore, dike orientations give us clues to the local dynamic environment at the time they formed. Commonly, dikes are oriented in line with local patterns of  jointing. What defines a dike is that it cuts  vertically across  the bedding planes of the rock it intrudes. When an intrusion cuts horizontally  along  the bedding planes, it is called a  sill. In a simple set of flat-lying rock beds, dikes are vertical and sills are horizontal. In tilted and folded rocks, however, dikes and sills may be tilted too. Their classification reflects the way that they were originally formed, not how they appear after years of folding and faulting.   Sedimentary Dikes Often referred to as clastic or sandstone dikes, sedimentary dikes occur whenever sediment and minerals build up and lithify in a rock fracture. They are usually found within another sedimentary unit, but can also form within an igneous or metamorphic mass. Clastic dikes can form in several ways: Through fracturing and  liquefaction  associated with earthquakes. Sedimentary dikes are most often associated with earthquakes and often serve as paleoseismic indicators.  Through the passive deposition of sediment into pre-existing fissures. Think of a mudslide or glacier moving over an area of fractured rock and injecting clastic material downward.  Through the injection of sediment into a not-yet-cemented, overlying material. Sandstone dikes can form as hydrocarbons and gases move into a thick sand bed overlain by mud (not yet hardened into stone). The pressure builds in the sand bed, and eventually injects the beds material into the above layer.  We know this from the preserved  fossils of cold seep communities  that lived on such hydrocarbons and gases near the top of sandstone dikes. Igneous Dikes Igneous dikes form as magma is pushed up through vertical rock fractures, where it then cools and crystallizes. They form in sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks and can force open the fractures as they cool. These  sheets range in thickness, anywhere from a few millimeters to several meters. They are, of course, taller and longer than they are thick, often reaching thousands of meters high and many kilometers in length. Dike swarms consist of hundreds of individual dikes that are oriented in a linear, parallel or radiated fashion. The fan-shaped  Mackenzie dike swarm  of the Canadian Shield is over 1,300 miles long and, at its maximum, 1,100 miles wide.   Ring Dikes Ring dikes are intrusive igneous sheets that are circular, oval or arcuate in overall trend. They form most commonly from caldera collapse. When a shallow magma chamber empties its contents and releases pressure, its roof often collapses into the voided reservoir. Where the roof collapses, it forms dip-slip faults that are nearly vertical or steeply sloping. Magma can then rise up through these fractures, cooling as dikes that make up the outer edge of a collapsed caldera.   The Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire and  Pilanesberg Mountains  of South Africa are two examples of ring dikes. In both of these instances, the minerals in the dike were harder than the rock that they intruded into. Thus,  as the surrounding rock eroded and weathered away,  the dikes remained as small mountains and ridges.   Edited by Brooks Mitchell

Company Profile Of Anheuser Busch Inbev - 1025 Words

AB InBev Profile Anheuser-Busch InBev is a publicly traded company based in Leuven, Belgium. AB InBev was formed through successive mergers of three international brewing groups: Interbrew from Belgium, AmBev from Brazil, and Anheuser-Busch from the United States. Overtime AB InBev has evolved into a multinational beverage and brewing company; in fact, it is the leading global brewer with about twenty one percent global market share. This includes global brands Budweiser ®, Corona ® and Stella Artois ®; international brands Beck’s ®, Leffe ®, and Hoegaarden ®; and local brands Bud Light ®, Skol ®, Brahma ®, Antarctica ®, Quilmes ®, Victoria ®, Modelo Especial ®, Michelob Ultra ®, Harbin ®, Sedrin ®, Klinskoye ®, Sibirskaya Korona ®, Chernigivske ®, Cass ®,†¦show more content†¦Through a combination of strong internal growth and aggressive acquisitions, AB InBev has taken leading positions in the most profitable beer markets in the world. AB InB ev uses a strategy that focuses most of its resources on the brands that they believe have the best long-term growth potential. These resources go through continuous reductions of non-consumer and non-customer facing expenses to improve cost management and efficiency. These strategies have given AB InBev the reputation of having industry leading margins and strong cash flow generation. AB InBev’s brands are the â€Å"foundation of our company, the cornerstone of our relationships with consumers, and the key to our long-term success† (ab-inbev). Ultimately, AB InBev believes that it is their goal to be the Best Beer Company Bringing People Together For a Better World that gives them a sustainable and competitive advantage. Strategic Plans for Growth AB InBev has maintained long term, sustainable value through top-line growth and expanding profitability. The business model and strategies put in place to achieve growth rely on six pillars: Dream-People-Culture, Brand Portfolio, Point of Connection, Leading Market Position, Strategy, and Financial Discipline. AB InBev’s shares the desire to be the Best Beer Company Bringing People Together For a Better World with its workers. This desire makes AB InBev strive

Eminem Essay Example For Students

Eminem Essay Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, has had many achievements in his life, but life wasnt always good. Growing up in a poor trailer park in Warren Mich. He failed out of ninth grade, which led to him dropping out of high school. He tried to go back but couldnt do it, he just wanted to rap and to be a star one day. Over the years he freestyle in some local clubs and participated in some competitions. It wasnt until 1997 that he was recognized, he won the Wake Up Show Freestyle Performer of the Year from L.A. Djs Sway and Tech and earned second place in Rap Sheet magazines Rap Olympics, an annual freestyle rap competition. Then in 1998 he released The Slim Shady LP, his first known record. Slim Shady is the evil side of me, the sarcastic foul-mouthed side of me, Eminem says during and interview with the Source. In 2000 he released his second cd, The Marshall Mathers LP. Eminem has been known as one of the most provocative, controversial rappers in contemporary pop music. A lot of people think he can get away with this because he is the first legitimate white rapper. Im white in a music started by black people. Im not ignorant to the culture and Im not trying to take anything away from the culture, he said in his defense. But no one has a choice where they grew up or what color they are. If youre a kid or a ghetto kid you have no control over your circumstance. The only control you have is to get out of your situation or stay in it. There have been several attempts to keep Eminem from playing certain shows in his tour, because they think that his lyrics violate harassment categorically on the basis of sexual orientation and sex within the state or school. Dont take everything I say literally, Eminem said shortly after the albums debut, when furor over his lyrics mounted. I might say some things that are kinda left field, but that doesnt mean that every single thing I say, I mean. I may tend to push a lot of buttons and piss a lot of people off a lot of criti cs, and a lot of people who dont really know hip-hop. But thats, basically, what I came to do is upset that balance of everything thas normal, of everyday things that people are used to hearin. I admire Eminem because he doesnt let a few people get him down. His music is great, yes there might be some that are uncalled for but he has said not to take him seriously during interviews and even in a few of his songs. For people to get upset, especially parents, over some simple lyrics is ridiculous. If you dont like what he has to say then dont listen to him. There have been other artists who say things that people dont like but it never gets blown out of proportion like this. I think Eminem has great music, hes a very talented person, and I think he will be around for a while longer. I also think he has a lot of guts, he went out on a limb to get himself into a type of music that is known for by black people, and to bring with him such controversial lyrics. Eminem is not afraid to spea k his mind, no matter what it might be. And that is why I admire Eminem. Music

Swissair alliances case study free essay sample

The Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd. , was founded in 1931 to fly between Switzerland and a handful of central European locations. By 1949, the company had become the Swiss flag airline, and had inaugurated long-haul intercontinental service over the North Atlantic. By 1970, Swissair also served destinations in Asia, Africa, and South America. In 1990, Swissair was among the top 20 airlines in international revenue-passenger-kilometers flown and among the top ten in international passengers carried. The carrier had revenues of $2. 2 billion in 1989, with strong enough cash flow to self-finance between 50% to 100% of its expenditure for aircraft and other capital equipment each year. It owned several subsidiaries, including two charter airlines and the largest travel agent in Switzerland. Unlike many of its European competitors, Swissair was not owned by the national government. Only about 22% of its equity was owned by various Swiss authorities. Swissair’s main hub was Zurich’s Kloten airport with European traffic also routed through Geneva. We will write a custom essay sample on Swissair alliances case study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page About 7 million people lived in Switzerland, Its two major cities, Zurich and Geneva, were important global business and financial centers, helping Switzerland become the wealthiest nation, per capital, in Europe. Switzerland’s gross domestic product was forecast to reach nearly $175 billion in 1990, having grown steadily at between 2% and 3% per year over the previous five years. Labor markets were extremely tight in Switzerland during the period, with unemployment as low as 0. 5%. Despite this, Swiss inflation was low and stable; prices rose an average of 2% per year in the 1908s. Although Switzerland had not joined the European Community (EC), almost 60% of imports and over 70% of exports were traded with the European neighbors. Swissair’s route structure in 1990 consisted of flights to over 100 destinations. Most flights were â€Å"short hauls† within Europe (Swissair carried 5. 9% of European traffic in 1990) but it also flew to destinations on every continent except Australia. Government approved prices for short haul flights between Western Europe and Switzerland were among the most expensive in Europe. Swissair concentrated on attracting international business travelers. Despite high fares, 5. 4% of passengers travelled first class on Swissair, compared to 2% for the average European airline. Similarly, 38. 5% of Swissair’s passengers flew full fare economy, while 34. 8% did so on the average European carries. Swissair repeatedly won awards and strong praise from the air transport and business media for excellence in customer service and overall product superiority. Swissair faced higher wages and operating costs than most other European airlines. The 1000 pilots and flight engineers bargained collectively, as did the 2500 flight attendants. Swissair invested heavily in aircraft maintenance. They sell their planes very young (average age for a Swissair plane was 7 years in 1990, compared to an industry average of 12 years). Like most major international airlines, Swissair also invested heavily in computerized reservation systems (CRSs) during the 1980s; it cost Swissair SFR 20 million (about $16 million) in 1989. In 1989, there were 157 member airlines in the International Air Transport Association (IATA). They transported approximately 858 million passengers in 1989, of which 25% flew internationally. Operating revenues of the world’s airlines had grown 10. 1% annually between 1984 and 1989. Reaching $182. 5 billion in 1989. In fact, by 1990, limited global deregulation became a reality: governments of many industrialized nations in Europe and Asia were loosening restrictions on operating rights and fare pricing, while retaining regulation of traffic safety and security. Swissair’s management viewed its primary competition as large quality-oriented European firms. They were Air France, Lufthansa, British Air, KLM, and SAS. The European Community passed the single European Act in 1985, they set in motion plans to integrate the area into a single, unified trading zone, with reduced regulation by the end of 1992. They will have a home market of 350 million, compared to our seven million. Negotiations on tariffs, market access, and capacity will be lopsided and we will be over a barrel. In March 1989, Swissair and Delta signed an agreement for transatlantic cooperation. Swissair and SAS signed a cooperation agreement which led to the formation of the European quality alliance with Austrian Airlines and Finnair in October 1989. II. Environment Analysis A- General Environment GENERAL ENVIRONMENT FORCES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Socio-demo-cultural 1. The customers are willing to pay high fares. 2. Swiss inflation was low and stable; prices raised an average of 2% per year in the 1908s. 1. As a small country, Switzerland has 7 million people who lived in Switzerland. Technological 1. Using Computerized Reservation System (CRSs) were the chief methods by which airlines influenced the air carrier selections of travel agents and passengers. Economic 1. Switzerland’s gross domestic product was forecast to reach nearly $175 billion in 1990, having grown steadily at between 2% and 3% per year over the previous five years. 2. Although Switzerland had not joined the European Community (EC), almost 60% of imports and over 70% of exports were traded with the European neighbors. 1. Airlines had almost no leverage vis-a-vis fuel suppliers in the short-term, for airlines had no way to control the price, or their consumption, of fuel. Politico-legal 1. Government approved prices for short haul flights between Western Europe and Switzerland B. Industry Environment ENVIRONMENT FORCES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS Rivalry among competing firms 1. 2. 1. In 1989, there were 157 member airlines in the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 2. Swissair had higher fare compared with other Airlines Economic 1. 3. Operating revenues of the world’s airlines had grown 10. 1% annually between 1984 and 1989. Reaching $182. 5 billion in 1989. 2. In fact, by 1990, limited global deregulation became a reality: governments of many industrialized nations in Europe and Asia were loosening restrictions on operating rights and fare pricing. 1. 2. n. Bargaining power of suppliers 1. 2. 1. Limited bargaining power with aircraft suppliers. 2. C– Internal Environment FUNCTIONAL AREAS STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Finance 1. Swissair had revenues amounting to more than $3 billion in 1989. The company also had strong cash flows to self-finance its aircraft expenditures and capital equipment. 2. Willingness of its passengers to pay premium fares in exchange for its excellent carrier services were among the main reason for the company’s financial strength. 1. Swissair had low profitability ratios compared with other airlines such as return on assets was 1. 6% and return on equity was 6. 59%. Marketing 1. Strong in marketing poisoning as ‘one of the premier air carriers in the world†. Production Operations 1. By 1949, the company had become the Swiss flag airline 2. Swissair was also undeniably superior as compared to most of its competitors. 3. Provided high quality services. 1. Swissair is mainly short-haul routes; number of long-haul routes is few. Organization and Management 1. Swissair was strong line-up of customer service, technical and maintenance staff (pilots, flight attendants, flight engineers, ground personnel,.. ). 1. High cost structure of its wages and operations. 2. Swissair’s management was also too centralized as all decisions were being made in Zurich. III. Assumptions 1. General environment stability Based on the facts identified in the case study, it would be safe to assume that Swissair was part of a general environment that was relatively stable economically and politically. As part of a country with an unemployment rate that was almost zero percent, a low and stable inflation rate and a profitable business environment, Swissair had all the opportunities to expand its business and go beyond its geographic limits to tap new markets and strengthen its position in its existing customer bases. 2. Industry Growth Prospect The case study facts emphasized the consistent travel demand growth in the airline industry that has been happening for many decades since Swissair was founded. Thus, it would be safe to assume that the industry growth will continuously transpire for many more years and will open up more opportunities for international air carrier companies such as Swissair to expand their business. The travel demand growth will more likely continue as the population expands which will further strengthen the airline industry business. However, more intense competition will more likely be stirred up among the different international air carrier companies. 3. Financial strength of the company During the latter part of 1980s, Swissair had revenues amounting to more than $2 billion dollars. The company also had strong cash flows to self-finance its aircraft expenditures and capital equipment. The strong customer service reputation of Swissair and the willingness of its passengers to pay premium fares in exchange for its excellent carrier services were among the main reasons for the company’s financial strength. One solid proof of the strong financial capabilities of Swissair was its initiative in forming several global and intercontinental alliances with other international air carrier companies. Given these facts, it would be logical to assume that Swissair’s act of establishing global alliances was driven not by the need to become financially strong but to maintain and further establish its financial strength and strong competitive position in the airline industry in the long run. However, Swissair had low profitability ratios compared to other airlines such as return on asset was only 1. 60% and the return on equity was 6. 59%. I. Liquidity Measurement Ratio 1. Current Ratio: CR = Current Assets/Current Liabilities II. Profitability indicator ratios: 1. Return On Assets ROA = Net Income/Average Total Assets 2. Return On Equity Return on Equity = Net Income/ Average Shareholders’ Equity Swissair Delta SIA SAS American United BA Lufthansa JAL 1. Current Ratio 1. 94 0. 56 1. 57 1. 51 0. 60 0. 85 0. 49 NA 1. 16 2. Return On Assets 1. 60% 4. 19% 14. 58% NA 4. 18% 4. 50% 5. 09% 1. 10% 1. 60% 3. Return On Equity 6. 59% 11. 67% 21. 83% NA 12. 08% 20. 72% 24. 45% 3. 78% 7. 24% I. Problem Statement Swissair faced several challenges and obstacles in confronting the new competitive environment that emerged in the early 1990s. The first important issue that Swissair encountered was the global deregulation which drove governments in Asian and European nations to loosen their restrictions on operating rights and fare pricing. The new policy implemented by ASA (aviation service agreement) imposed restrictions on international air carriers such as Swissair in operating within another country’s domestic borders. Through ASA’s new policy, Swissair was no longer allowed to fly and operate domestic flights within the United States (e. g. , flights from New York to Boston) although it maintained international flights from Zurich to any point in the United States and vice-versa. Thus, Swissair’s operations became limited and its profitability was adversely affected. Another significant issue that was faced by Swissair was the rise of a new and more radical political environment in Europe. The European Community’s Single European Act of 1985 brought about political and regulatory consequences on the Swissair operations. Among the important repercussions of this new regulation was the deregulation of the fare pricing structure on all international flights which placed emphasis on deep-discount fares. This huge change in the pricing structure led to profitability issues for the Swissair business. In forming global alliances with other international air carrier companies, Swissair found itself in a precarious position of not knowing whether or not the global alliances it formed will help the company weather the upcoming changes in the competitive airline business environment. II. Alternative Course of Action A. Description of Alternative 1 The Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd should launch its own airline carrier brand apart from Swissair that offers cheap or discounted international flights to cater to the business travellers who are part of the lower end of the market. Since Swissair has a strong financial position, it has the capacity to finance a new airline brand that would take travellers to and from Europe at more affordable airfare rates. However, Swissair must be cautious of maintaining its premium brand image and its excellent customer service so as to differentiate itself from the new airline brand that its mother company will establish. A. 1. Advantages Creating and launching a new airline brand that offers cheaper international flights to and from Europe to other continents will enable Swissair to tap more profitable markets of business travellers who are searching for a more affordable means of travelling around the world. The Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd will not be able to violate the European Community’s Single European Act of 1985 which includes provisions for deep-discount fares as it will be launching a new carrier with cheaper international fares. A. 2. Disadvantages It would be require a huge amount of investment for the Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd. to create and launch a new airline brand that offers cheaper international flights. It may take longer time for the Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd. to respond to the European Community’s Single European Act of 1985 as it would take years to create and launch a new airline brand. Profitability issues may arise from creating and launching a new airline brand that offers cheap airfare rates. B. Description of Alternative 2 Swissair should focus on maintaining its brand reputation of delivering premium quality and excellent customer service that will justify its high airfare price rates. Swissair must do niche marketing to specifically target business and luxury travellers who are not price sensitive and are willing to pay a huge amount of money for a uniquely superior and one of a kind travel experience. B. 1. Advantages By further improving its brand position, Swissair will be able to build a loyal following of customers willing to pay airfare prices at premium. Swissair will eventually own the niche market of business and luxury travellers who prefer a superior and excellent travel experience. Swissair will be able to further improve its current quality and excellent customer service which will make the travel experience of its customers more exciting, fun and memorable. B. 2. Disadvantages Swissair will encounter cost-structure issues with the European Community’s (EC) Single European Act of 1985 and will be required to renegotiate terms with the European ASAs and the representatives of the EC. Swissair’s customer base will be very limited. Sustaining good profit may become an issue in the long run. C. Description of Alternative 3 Swissair must find a way to overhaul its existing cost structure and cut down unnecessary expenses on wages and operations. The Swissair management must assess all the variables affecting the company’s airfare rates and identify which cost areas it must cut down. C. 1. Advantages By cutting down unnecessary costs, the Swissair management may be able to lower down its â€Å"expensive† airfare rates. Lower airfare rates will enable Swissair to tap additional markets of travellers. Profitability issues may potentially be solved through cost-cutting measures. C. 2. Disadvantages The premium image of Swissair may be negatively affected by the cost-cutting measures. The quality of Swissair’s products and customer service may decline as the management will be focused on cutting down all unnecessary costs. VI. Recommended Alternative and Action Plans Based on the analysis above, alternative No. 3 is the best alternative among three alternatives and it should be chosen to implement. Function area Objective Strategies Timeline Budget Marketing Production To negotiate costs of production of every new aircraft and others inputs purchased by Swissair Ensure that Swissair personnel are able to successfully negotiate production costs for the Swissair aircrafts. Within one year Operation Management To cut 10% cost of operation and management The Swissair management must inform all its operations and marketing personnel of the areas where the cost-cutting measures will be applied. Within one year Finance

Al-Awa Paper Essays - Criminology, Penology, Criminal Law

Al-Awa Paper Essays - Criminology, Penology, Criminal Law Alexandra Tolhurst Al-Awas paper on the Islamic penal law system is one that can easily be broken down to the main contributions that make up the theories of punishment in the system: retribution and deterrence make up the main theories, while I would argue that circumstance, morality and reformation each would make up a smaller theory. To understand the application of these theories, one must first understand what is considered a crime in Islamic law and where these are derived from. Islamic criminal law recognizes six major offenses, two of which Al-Awa doesnt even recognize because their punishments are not defined in the Quran or the Sunna, which is the definition of a hadd punishment. Along with the fact that hadd punishments are written in the text, its important to point out the distinguishing factor from tazirs in that they cannot be pardoned by any non-divine authority once reported. This divinity was the reason the original jurists found no reason to prescribe a purpose for the punishments an d is now the basis for all of the theories of punishment and the Islamic law system itself, which we will now discuss. The first theory of punishment is retribution. Retribution is a universal theory and is revealed in the Quran as the purpose of punishment in this world and the Hereafter (which greater confirms the divinity of the law.) The Arabic word for retribution is jaza which means punishment and reward, which makes the theory of retribution similar to the usage in Western law, apart from the divinity. When it comes to hadd punishments, its important to remember that they are the most severe punishments in the world for the crimes theyre prescribed to, which draws attention to the consequences, and also that mediation is prohibited, so combining these features brings a very retributive effect in Islamic culture. The theory of retribution in punishment is shown by the fact that in the case of multiple offenses, multiple sentences will be imposed, with the criminal serving them from least severe to most severe ending with the death penalty. The second theory of punishment is deterrence, which is recognized as the most dominant reason for the hadd punishments. This fact is interesting to me in that the idea of deterrence is the opposite of retribution because deterrence justifies the punishment with regards to the future while retribution justifies punishment with regards to the past, seeing each offense as an isolated offense. With deterrence, two effects are seen: general deterrence on the population as a whole and individual deterrence on the criminal. The punishment is justified with this theory because future crime is being prevented, both by the population because the punishment is made as public as possible, and by the individual criminal because the inhibitive effects of serious punishment makes one reluctant to ever offend again (or so the theory goes.) This theory has evidence to back it up in that Saudi Arabia has seen a significant decrease in their crime rate since re-implementing hadd punishments in the 20t h century. While retribution and deterrence are the main recognized theories of punishment, I think circumstance, reformation, and morality are worth being noted. What is meant by circumstance is that many determinations for punishments were once made to be based on what suited the community of the Prophet. Now because of circumstances that have changed with the times, the punishments (more-so certain characteristics of the punishment) have had to change with the times. We see this in the case of theft where one of the controversies between jurists is the value of the stolen property; a relevant value for hadd punishment in the Prophets time surely would be sufficient for our time. We also see this in the case of the hadd punishment of execution for armed robbery, which is to be done by the sword. Some would argue this is more of a medieval practice and the method should be changed to meet the current circumstances of the time. Reformation as a theory of punishment only has roots in one hadd cr ime, which is armed robbery. One of the hadd punishments for this crime is banishment or imprisonment, which naturally would suggest that the reason for the punishment is to

Operating a Retail Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Operating a Retail Business - Essay Example The main daily operations management role are cash handling, safety and security, visual merchandizing, customer services, and inventory and stock management (Pinson2004) . Cash handling is an essential operation of any business .The business involves selling of artifacts on cash basis and so management of cash must have tight internal controls. In addition, since the aim of the business is to make profit, the amount of cash is an essential measure of profitability and a mean of covering operating expenses. The most appropriate cash management technique is computerized (electronic) cash management system (Balkin &Cardy, 2008). Customers are assets in any business and so a good customer care service is an important business strategy that any organization must prioritize. The customer service include assisting customers when shopping, allowing customer to make their purchases choice without unwarranted influence from the staff, giving customers correct and honest information and feedback, ensuring that the quality of the products is of high standard, and offering appropriate after sales services such as packaging(Pinson2004). Visual merchandising is a daily operation management that ensures that enhances the ability of the business to attract potential customer once they note the presence and arrangement of its stock. The important visual merchandising include attractive display of products, ensuring that there is enough lamination within the shop, enhancing ventilation, daily cleaning procedures, advertisement charts and portable advertisement boards are to placed in right places, and ensuring that there is enough space for customers to move within the premise(Sullivan &Steven, 2003) . Stock and inventory management ensures that the business has sufficient stock for its customer. This operation management action also ensures that adequate steps are adopted and adhered to avoid loss of stock (Sullivan &Steven, 2003). Safety and security ensures

Criminal Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Criminal Law - Assignment Example The criminal liability of Claire in the present case is getting involved in the murder of her husband. The criminal law always protects the interests of the persons who are forced to commit violence. This holds good especially in those cases where self-protection takes the priority. In several occasions, the people may undergo mental tension for long term affecting their regular mental state and in the events of unforeseen nature, they will be compelled to take some action immediately. In these cases, diminished responsibility may be applied while deciding the nature of the punishment. Claire is involved in killing her husband, but her mental state which was disturbed due to the unacceptable behavior of her husband and the thinking of protecting the genuine interests of her daughter led to this incident. Hence, she should be protected under criminal law and she was forced to indulge in this act only due to the circumstances happened during this period. The possible defense for Claire is discussed as follows: 1. Claire has not initiated any violent action from her end, rather she was patient for last 15 years with the unacceptable attitude of her husband. She knew that her husband was not in the process of transformation and hence she was very much convinced about his violent behavior. She was forced to protect herself and children and hence her mental balance was severely affected leading to the murder of her husband. Tony would have been punished for his forceful attempt for forcing his daughter to have sex with him if he had been alive by the court of law. ... Claire has not initiated any violent action from her end, rather she was patient for last 15 years with the unacceptable attitude of her husband. She knew that her husband was not in the process of transformation and hence she was very much convinced about his violent behavior. She was forced to protect herself and children and hence her mental balance was severely affected leading to the murder of her husband. Tony would have been punished for his forceful attempt for forcing his daughter to have sex with him if he had been alive by the court of law as in the case of Regina Respondent v R. Appellant4, 5. In this case, the husband was punished for attempting rape on his wife against her will and who has applied for divorce. According Section 1(1) of Sexual Offences Amendment Act (1976), any person who is indulged in attempting rape or any other sexual violence would be punished under court of law (S. v. H.M. Advocate6; Advocate, H.M. v. Duffy7; Reg. v. Casewell8). In the present case study, the attempt was made by Tony to rape his daughter which is unacceptable. There was no chance for her to stop him from that attempt and hence she decided to stop him and in that process, she committed a murder. The punishment of persons indulged in forceful sexual intercourse was also justified in cases such as Reg. v. Jackson9; Reg. v. J. (Rape : Marital exemption)10; Reg. v. Sharples11; Reg. v. Roberts12. This case is similar to that of R v Rose13 where a son has murdered his father to protect his mother from the serious assault. Moreover, the diminished responsibility and provision of partial or complete defence in cases of gross provocation and fear of serious violence was well documented in final recommendations of English Law

Oil, War and U.S. Foreign Policy. Essay Example for Free

Oil, War and U.S. Foreign Policy. Essay The war against Iran by the Anglo-American powers has been in planning since 1990s as part of their Greater Middle East strategy. A number of sources have recently reported plans by the Iranian government to institute a Tehran oil bourse and this might be the hidden agenda behind the evident march to war by the Anglo-American powers on Iran. The oil bourse argument is a red herring which diverts the attention of people from the real geopolitical grounds which is behind the real motive for the march to the war which is a high risk game on the nuclear weapon. In 1996, two neo-conservatives, Douglas Feith and Richard Perle who later played an important role in the formulation of the Pentagon policy in the Middle East under the Bush administration authored a paper which was presented to the elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The advisory paper, â€Å"A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm†, had the intention of making Netanyahu to make â€Å"a clean break from the peace process†. Feith and Perle also demanded Netanyahu to strengthen the defense of Israel against Syria and Iraq and to attack Iran as the prop for Syria. More than a year before the declaration of the former US president George W Bush of his â€Å"shock and awe† operations against Iraq, he made his January 2002 State of the Union address which is now infamous to the Congress in which he Iran, together with North Korea and Iraq as members of the â€Å"axis of evil† trio. This occurred before anybody in Tehran had even considered establishing an oil bourse in trading oil in various currencies. According to Engdahl, the US believed that the Tehran oil bourse would be the casus belli, which would trigger the pushing of Washington down the road to the potentiality of annihilation of Iran, which seems to be based on the notion that trading on oil openly to other nations in other currencies would make Tehran set in to motion a chain of events in which buyer after buyer, nation after nation, would come to buy oil no longer in US dollars but in euros. This in turn according to an argument, would lead to a panic in selling of the US dollars on the world foreign exchange markets and also lead to the collapse of the role of the US dollar as the reserve currency, which is one of the pillars of the â€Å"US Empire†. According to Engdahl in his book, A Century of War, the creation of â€Å"petrodollar recycling† in 1974, which is a process where the by then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger was deeply involved, led to oil price hike of 400% and this was orchestrated by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Engdahl puts it that US dollar did not manage to become a â€Å"petrodollar† even though Kissinger emphasized the process of â€Å"recycling petrodollar†. According to the author, what Kissinger was referring to was the initiation of a new phase of global hegemony of US in which the export earnings from the petrodollar of OPEC oils lands would be recycled back to the hands of the major London and New York banks and later re-lent in the form of US dollars to other nations which are deficient in oil such as Argentina and Brazil and this led to the creation of what was soon to be known as the Latin America debt crisis. By this time, the US dollar had been a fiat issue since August 1971 following the abrogation of the Bretton Woods Treaty and refusal by the then US president Richard Nixon to redeem US dollars which were held in foreign central banks for gold. Due to the 400% increase in oil prices, nations such as Germany, France, and Japan suddenly had the reason to buy oil in their own currencies with the aim of lessening the pressure on their reserves of trade dollars which was rapidly declining. This led to the coming up of the Pentagon and US treaty partly with their secret diplomacy by Kissinger through bullying threats According to Engdahl, the US military were sent to Afghanistan for two main reasons; the first reason was to restore and control the world’s largest supplier of opium in the world while at the same time use the drugs as a geopolitical weapon against their opponents especially Russia. The control of the drug market is an essential ingredient for the liquidity of the corrupt and bankrupt Wall Street financial market. U. S. Military and CIA Interventions in the Middle-East. Blom traces the origin of the current conflict from the brutal 1980-88 war which was between Iran and Iraq. At the time of the war, Kuwait was busy stealing oil from the Iraqi territory which was worth more than $2. 4 billion of oil. Soon after the battle, United Emirates and Kuwait started to exceed the production quotas that had been established by OPEC and this led to flooding in the oil market leading to a reduction on oil prices. This led Iraq to become deeply in debt and the then president Saddam Hussein declared this policy a threat to hi country by pointing out that Iraq was loosing billions of dollars each year due to the drop in oil prices. In an attempt to offset these loses, Saddam decided to gain possession of the two Gulf islands which were blocking Iraq from ownership of Rumaila oilfield. Kuwait continued to ignore Iraq’s territorial and financial demands and the OPEC’s request to follow the quota system and this led to Iraq to form large number of troops who were posted along the Kuwait border. This led to the intervention of the US who viewed themselves as the world’s supper power. After Iraq attacked Kuwait, US came to the defense of Kuwait by declaring that their interest was in protecting nations with whom they had longstanding and deep ties while at the same time, The White House declared their concern about the buildup of troops by Iraq. According to the author, United States had an official position on the Kuwait-Iraq border dispute. This is evident from the official statement that were found by the Iraqis in some of the Kuwait intelligence files which was a memorandum concerning a meeting between the CIA Director William Webster and Kuwait state security in November 1989. in the document, there was an agreement between the Americans and Kuwait that it was of great importance to take advantage of the deteriorating economic situation in Iraq with the aim of putting pressure on Iraq’ government so as to delineate their common borders. It is evident that US was involved from the beginning and advised Kuwait to apply pressure on Iraq so as destabilize the country economically. The CIA later denied these allegations saying that it was a fabrication. Blum puts it that the US has been behind the Kurdish’ slaughter of many innocent citizens and also encouraged the Shiite Muslims in Iraq to rebel. All these were done in an attempt to incite Saddam so that he could incite a coup which would result in to the intervention of the United States. The killings in the Persian Gulf by the American soldiers have been due to a voice command from George Herbert Walker Bush according Blum. The United States started supporting Afghan Islamic fundamentalists in 1979 in their bid to fight the Soviet Union. The US continued with their support despite the kidnapping of American ambassador in the capital city of Kabul in February 1979. American intervention according to Blom had some hidden agenda. The US was using lies and tricks to gain influence of Iraq so as to control the oil prices. In both cases, the authors recognize the use the use of tricks by the US government to make the Middle East unstable. Both the authors share a common view on the idea behind the control of Middle East affairs. In both cases, the authors acknowledge the use of military force in the wars in the Middle East and in both cases, it appears that US is the main cause of all these wars. The aim of the United States according to the two authors is to take control of the rich oil nations and make sure that they continue to price and sell oil in US dollars. They both acknowledge the pretence of the US to send their military force in these countries with the aim of restoring peace while in the real sense; the US is after establishing permanent military base in places such as Iraq so that they can control the resources of these countries. Under the Bush administration, there was a severe military attack in Iraq with the aim of removing Saddam from power with the pretence that he was behind manufacturing of nuclear weapons. After the attack, it became apparently clear that such a thing never existed in Iraq. Bush was only accomplishing a war that was started by his father against Saddam who had refused to consent to the demands of the United States. The Use of Torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. A lot has been said regarding what lies behind the shocking images of torture at Abu Ghraib which were released in 2004. many American were shocked by such images and novel with the exception of one American; Alfred McCoy who had been following the operations of the Central Intelligence Agency since the early 1970s, when the agency tried unsuccessfully to stop the publication of his book, The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade. McCoy had long been conducting study on the pioneering research by the CIA in to the methods of psychological torture. He writes that the CIA had started this project in the early 1950s with their initial study on the Chinese and Soviet methods of breaking and interrogating prisoners. The author has a negative image regarding the torture policies that America has used in the last decades. The CIA’s discovery of Psychological torture had its breakthrough in the 17th century. This was in contrast to the physical approach which they saw most of the times produced unreliable information or heightened resistance. Under the new psychological paradigm introduced by the CIA, the interrogators used two essential techniques; self-inflicted pain or disorientation so as to make the victims feel responsibility of their own suffering. The first stage of psychological torture involves the use of non-violent methods to by the interrogator to disorientate the subject. After disorientating the subject, the second stage involves simple self inflicted discomforts which may be in form of standing for many hours with the arms in extended position. Although psychological torture is less brutal due to the fact that there is no touch, the torture leaves both the interrogator and the victim with deep psychological scars. Victims normally require long-term treatment in order to recover from the trauma far much more than the physical pain. On the part of the interrogator, they may suffer from dangerous expansion of ego which may eventually lead to escalating cruelty and lasting emotional problems. According to McCoy, torture was conducted by the CIA directly and also indirectly through outsourcing. The use of torture is against humanity since it involves forcing the subject to confess in criminal cases with the assumption that they are guilty prior to trail. The CIA also used this method to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders. According to the author, torture did less in bringing any trustworthy information or truthful confession neither did it prevent other people from breaking the law in any significant way. Following the September 11 bombing of the Twin Towers in the US, the administration of the former President George W. Bush allowed US intelligence service and the military to use torture as the only means to â€Å"quickly obtain information†. They did this by creating a category of prisoners who they claimed fall outside the protection by any treaty or law obligations and are deemed to be tortured. According to the CIA, they argue that this policy which considered the most abusive approach to interrogation is the most efficient and effective quick way to get information that is accurate and useful. From McCoy’s book, he clearly puts it that torture is always not a good way of producing reliable information. The experience from Colonel John Rothrock, who was heading a combat interrogation team in Vietnam, reported that â€Å"he doesn’t know any professional intelligence officers of my generation who would think this [torture] is a good idea,† but the US under the Bush administration failed to listen and this led to death of many innocent people in the name of state security. These torture cases were concealed from the general public and the Congress when CIA was busy for the past half of the century developing and applying a sophisticated form of psychological torture which were meant to go against investigation, prohibition or prosecution and this made it very successful. Americans have found themselves have found themselves in six separate accounts of this same moral quagmire in the last 50 years period. The first was the exposure of the CIA sponsored torture which took place in South Vietnam in 1970, Iran in 1978, Brazil in 1974, Honduras in 1988, and the cases in Iran and Iraq. Each of these cases was exposed at different times and as each case fades, the agency resumes with their lethal work in the shadows. The role of torture in the geopolitics of the Middle East is to divert attention on the real issue. While the CIA was busy torturing prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq, they were at the same time busy exporting opium to other countries. The use of torture was also a means of making sure that no information was leaked to the public. Another role that torture play is to make the subject confess to what the interrogator expects them to do. Also the use of torture by the CIA was to make people from Middle East to desist from any corporation with those who could get in to their secret conducts in these countries. An example is when McCoy was doing a research for his book in the mountains of Laos; a group of CIA machineries attempted to kill him and even threatened his translator to stop working for him. While these were happening, the CIA was secretly transporting opium using Air America helicopters to South Vietnam. Use of torture helped the American’s to exert great influence in the Middle East as those who experienced the tortures gave their experiences once they were out of the prison. The psychological damage was so much that the victims could not become normal again. This coupled with the killings of many people during the war led to weakening of these nations such that American control of oil and drugs like opium could be easy. All these acts were conducted with the aim of building an â€Å"American Empire†. Works Cited. Alfred McCoy. A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror (American Empire Project).

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay example -- Business Corporate So

Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a very controversial topic. A question that has been debated for the past few decades is; is it corporately viable to introduce social responsibility as a proposed addition to the work ethic of business organisations. As well as, if adopting the framework of corporate social responsibility would yield positive improvements for those organisations. The purpose of this essay is to research the notion of CSR and uncover its true framework and outline what social responsibility truly means to corporate organisations, and whether it should be seriously considered to be a legitimate addition to the corporate framework of an organisation. This will be done by outlining some of the basics through the explanation of some terms underpinning CSR and managerial involvement. An explanation of how CSR is an essential part of business language. This will then be followed by a breakdown of the complex framework that CSR is believed to have. The social expectations that consumers have of business, and ways those businesses can meet these expectations will be addressed. Then an outline of the role management plays in the incorporation of socially responsible attributes to a corporation will be expressed, evidence to suggest that ?if this means that there a social contract that requires business to honour a moral bare minimum, then a business manager is duty-bound to obey it? (Bowie 1991: 56-66). This essay shall also investigate some of the classical theories of CSR and its contribution to profit maximisation. Finally, some specific arguments that state that the introduction of social responsibility is not a good idea and how it has failed to create the ?good society? (Friedman 1970: 122-126) will be discussed. Corporate social responsibility has undergone a definitional evolution over the past half century but has always and will always remain an essential part of business language. Definitions of CSR have became more specific; since the 70?s, with alternative emphases, being placed on issues such as the understanding of corporate citizenship (which is a key concept of CSR), and the stakeholder theory. In early writings CSR was referred to more often as social responsibility (SR) rather than as CSR. Bowen (1953: 6) set forth an initial definition of the social responsibility: "It re... ...974. ?Social responsibilities of business managers?. Academy of Management Journal, vol. 17, pp. 135-143. McWilliams, A. and Siegel, D. 2001, ?Corporate Social Responsibility: A Theory of the Firm Perspective?, Academy of Management Review, vol 26, no. 1, pp 117-128. Mitchell, R., Agle, B., & Wood, D. 1997. ?Toward a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: Defining the principle of who and what really counts?. Academy of Management Review, vol. 22, pp. 853-886. Robbins, S. P., Bergman, R., Stagg, I. and Coulter, M. (2000) ?Management?, French?s Forest: Prentice Hall. Verschoor, C. (2001) ?Corporate Power Must Be Balanced With Good Citizenship?, Strategic Finance, vol. 83, no. 3. Waddock, S., & Graves, S. 1997. ?The corporate social performance--financial performance link?. Strategic Management Journal, vol. 18, pp. 303-319. Weigelt, K., & Camerer, C. 1988. ?Reputation and corporate strategy: A review of recent theory and application?. Strategic Management Journal, vol. 9,pp. 443-454. Wright, P., & Ferris, S. 1997. ?Agency conflict and corporate strategy: The effect of divestment on corporate value?. Strategic management Journal, vol. 18, pp. 77-83.

The Decline in the Ecological Quality of the woodland, Heathland and Wetland Areas in the New Forest

The New Forest, a landscape enjoyed by many as a wonderful break from the bustle of city life, An abundance of species rich habitats, a place of solitude, as open space to be valued and conserved for both present and future generations. To many the New forest may seem an unchanging mosaic of forest, heath and wetland interlocked with small rural settlements whose traditional character seem almost timeless. However beneath this uniquely picturesque landscape lies an environment which is both complex and forever changing, a landscape which through history, has been heavily influenced by man and his activities. The precise role of man and the influence he is having upon the natural environment often creates a complex set of management issues. These issues embody not only concerns for the environment but often have economic implications for the wider community. The New Forest is a good example of this; it has many conflicting uses and hence requires management. Figure two displays this range of habitats. Habitat Area/ha Heathland/Acid Grassland 11740 Valley Mires and Wet Heaths 238 Unenclosed Deciduous Woodland 4049 Statutory Silvicultural Enclosures 8100 Unenclosable (open to exercise of common rights) 19028 Fig2: The proportions of different habitats It is the largest area of unsown vegetation in lowland Britain. Each habitat is affected differently by different uses, which in the past may have caused a decline in their ecological quality, it is both these uses and the management strategies associated with them that will be the focus of this article. History of Landuse and Management The forest became appointed to the crown as Royal Forest nine hundred years ago, it was used as a reservation for deer and domestic stock. This grazing and browsing limited the regeneration of trees and shrubs. It is currently under the management of the Forestry Commission as detailed in the Forestry and New Forest acts. The Forestry Commission is responsible for the ancient and ornamental woodlands and their timber enclosures this is refered to as the ‘Crown Land'. They are required to give priority to conservation of the forests traditional character. They practice forestry in the Silvicultural Enclosures and have a responsibility for managing the unenclosed forest. The New Forest Heritage area will be referred to as the ‘New Forest'. The common land within the perambulation will be referred to as the ‘Open Forest'. Privately owned and fenced lands will be refered to as ‘Enclosed lands'. Fig 1:Dockens area Fig 3: The New Forest Heritage Area Ten Verderers became responsible for management of communal animals depastured in open forest. They regulated the right of the common promoting the improvement of grazing for the commoners. However these days there are strict guidelines which commoners must adhere to, to try to ensure the retention and sometimes improvement of the landscape quality. In July 1994 the government recognised the New Forest as a unique area giving it similar protection as a national park. It also possesses other designations, it is a SSSI although this offers protection from development it offers little in the way of conservation. In 1996 the New Forest Committee published a management plan entitled ‘A strategy for the New Forest' its individual aims and strategies will be assessed throughout this article. The Committee represents the principal central and local government organisations in the forest who include Countryside Commission English Nature Forestry Commission Hampshire County Council New Forest District Council Verderers of the New Forest Salisbury District Council Test Valley Borough Council Wiltshire County Council (as Observers) Country Landowners' Association National Farmers' Union (as Observers) The development of a management strategy like The New Forest Strategy is important as it recognises the interests of all groups concerned, although the participation of so many organisations that often have conflicting interests may often make management difficult. Today most of the New Forest exists as a pastoral economy based on the exercise of common rights and grazing. The community of farmers made up of between three to four hundred commoners depend upon this for their livelihoods hence the combination of this and conservation makes management more difficult. It is thought that grazing has had a greater effect on vegetation than peat cutting and deforestation, indeed it is thought the landscape has evolved to its present state through the effects of grazing. In each area ecological quality is affected differently by a variety of different uses, so it will be necessary to assess the decline of each one in turn. Woodland Although there are both Silvicultural enclosures and ancient unenclosed deciduous woodland it is the later that possess the most nature conservation value. The silvicultural enclosures though contain approximately 40% of Oak and Beech some containing unmodified former pasture woodland. Because these enclosures have been less grazed than the unenclosed woodland contain many rare plants including bastard balm and the lungwort. These enclosures also contain large populations of predatory birds such as Buzzards and sparrow hawks. Fig 4: Native trees during flood Oak and Beech dominate the unenclosed deciduous woodland, Oaks being more dominant on heavier soils varying in proportion. Under this canopy Holly dominates along with maple and hawthorn. Older oaks contain the richest woodland lichen flora in Lowland Europe while insectivorous birds colonise decaying timber. This area is open to the exercise of common rights and has been for many years, indeed this habitat is Semi-natural, and exists as a Plagioclimax. There has been much research to determine whether this grazing of domestic stock has caused an ecological decline in these forests The animals can be very selective hence the less edible plants may become the most dominant. As a result much research has been undertaken to assess the effects of grazing on woodland. This is in many ways an attempt to determine the level of grazing necessary to prevent further damage to the environment and slow down any ecological decline associated with it. During 1960 Dr George Peterken established ‘The age structure of the enclosed woodlands was related to fluctuations of large herbivores since at least the eighteenth century'. He also found that the most recent periods of regeneration of woodland were 1860-1910 and 1930-1945. The first of these followed the killing of most of the deer population after the order of the deer conservation act in 1851, while the second was due to a slow market and a corresponding reduction in stocks. This had a dramatic effect on the landscape and remains proof of the limiting effect of grazing both on woodland quality and area, as it followed the generation of new trees in adjacent areas. However nowadays commoning has been more intensive and there have been too many invertebrates to allow such natural regeneration. Clearly Herbivores influence species composition and age structure of woods so much so that in the New Forest today elm lime and hazel no longer make up the canopy of the majority of woodland. Research by Prof. Barber of Southampton Univ. has highlighted these reductions in diversity. His pollen diagrams show that elm and lime die out suddenly. He attributes this to them being felled and failing to regenerate. He has also documented a decline in hazel and its disappearance recently. Documentary evidence from 16th and 17th centuries shows hazel to be common. All of this evidence shows a slow increase in browse resistant holly, a decline in ecological quality, which can only be attributed to selective grazing. In comparing this to private forest of similar edaphic quality that has mainly been coppiced we find hazel still abundant along with a rich herb layer. This is in comparison to the sparse herb layer of the grazed area, which comprises of around a poor thirty species. The ungrazed area also contains many lichens and deadwood invertebrates, hence a wide variety and species richness. Management of Woodland The New Forest Committee in their Strategy for the New Forest recognises that ‘Grazing in open forest by sheep and cattle has a strong influence on the age regeneration and species type of the vegetation' They also recognise that the numbers and proportions of ponies to cattle have a significant effect on the ecology of the forest. It refers to ‘The Lingworth Report' on grazing. It suggests that pony and cattle premium schemes and marking fees should be used as a mechanism for influencing numbers turned out. Recent research however has shown that social and cultural factors play a greater role in decision making. The report recognises that commoning is poor source of income for commoners and that restrictions on landuse and stock numbers may have profound effects on their livelihoods and the local economy. The Forestry commissions policy is ‘to conserve woodland as an essential component of the traditional character of the forest'. Part of the ‘New Forest review' recommends that ‘The maximum feasible area of native area of broardleaved component should be grown on the longest feasible rotations, and the possibility of restoring some conifer plantations to broardleave should be investigated'. Such recommendations are encouraging for conservation however the actual implementation may be more difficult to put into practice, while the affects of any recent measures are too early to assess. Unfortunately it is difficult for the Forestry Commission to assess the extent of deterioration or have any control over development in the privately owned forests. This is identified in the ‘Strategy for the New Forest', it recognises ‘Changes in the design and siting of new planting, changes in management practices and species composition and loss of hedgerows all have important implications for the forest as a whole' Indeed comparison of the area today to that recorded in the New Forest by English Nature during 1994 shows a reduction in quality of the landscape. It identified 94 sites supporting ancient woodland amounting to 2330ha in privately owned areas. The Report identifies that 37% of ancient woodland from these areas has now been replanted with conifers. Heathlands These are the result of mans activities particularly burning over the last three thousand years and are hence regarded as Semi-natural. Heathlands similar to woodlands have been grazed throughout history. Some heaths were part of the commoning system these are outside the Crown lands and have been enclosed since the 19th Century. Some heath is unenclosed on higher ground. The fringes of the forest in the west have extensive heaths. The heaths inside the perambulation have become degraded through recreational use and gravel extraction, this has contributed to much fragmentation and a reduction in this habitat. Scrub encroachment has become a particular problem and has led to a reduction in bio-diversity through competition. Grazing by Ponies is believed to have led to the rapid decline in populations of Dwarf Gorse an important component of the heathland. The evidence is indicating that grassland is expanding while heathland contracts and this is leading to a decline in the ecological quality of the forest. It is thought and shown by observation that this is apparent where there is intensive grazing and trampling. In 1973 Dr Colin Tubbs showed that areas of heath that had been burnt failed to regenerate due to the grazing pressure. Heathlands support birds like the Dartford Warbler, which in the New Forest has been put under threat by grazing. In 1974 Colin Bibby conducted a national survey of Dartford Warbler populations he concluded that burning and heavy grazing had reduced the birds habitat namely the heathlands, and had hence he attributed a decline in populations of Dartford Warbler to this decline in habitat. It is thought by entomologists that insects particularly butterflies were more frequently sited during the 1930's. However this is difficult to place certainty on as much of the data is unreliable. They have found that species such as High Brown, Dark Green, Pearl Bordered and many other rare species, which were abundant, are now confined to local areas. During the 1930's there was less grazing, both this and the higher diversity and this can be said is proof of this ecological decline. Colin Tubbs has expressed concern over buzzard populations who rely on heathlands as their habitat. Competition with large vertebrates is causing them to decline through limiting the number of small ground vertebrates such as rabbits by over grazing. This is the underlying Hypothesis surrounding much of Colin Tubbs work in this area. He established in 1973 that there was a large fall in buzzard production with only one out of six pairs known to rear young since then the number of successful pairs has stayed below the levels during the 1960's. This followed a large fall in the number of small rodents counted in southern England during 1970. It is difficult to place much reliability on this data. The grazing by ponies continues to be intensive and remain so unless the Forestry Commission takes action. Actions such as the erecting of fences are of little use, as Ponies seem to have a remarkable ability to leap over fences. The Forestry Commission has had to dedicate time to the removal of Ponies and this can often be very costly. Management Of Heathlands The Heathlands are managed by the Forestry Commission, during 1986 the New Forest Review group recommended that some conifer or open woods should be returned to open heathland to reduce there decline, purely in the interests of conservation. The Forestry Commission has already started this holistic approach away from the economic needs of forestry to those of conservation. Many of the proposals outlined in the ‘Strategy for the New Forest' aims to: ‘work with landowners to conserve and extend heathland reinstating traditional management where possible' RA3.73b.8. This will be possibly hard to implement, as the economic needs of commoners may be difficult to overcome in the pursuit of conservation. This may only be possible through the adoption of joint marketing of Forest animals and produce to offset the financial implications of this proposal. This is outlined in section 4.1.6 of the report. The Forestry Commission is responsible for the management of the majority of these areas and there is a tendency for their economic implications to override those of conservation. Management also aims to: ‘Raise awareness of the ecological importance of heathland and encourage local support for its conservation' [RA3.7c]. This is important as raising awareness of the public can lead to involvement through voluntary organisations which can lead to a reduction in expenditure by government and an increase in the amount of positive management for conservation. Although this is hard to implement as it often involves some expensive form of interpretative media. All these policies aim to restore and recreate heathland, although the effects of these actions to the problems already discussed are not yet visible. Wetland's The New Forest possesses ninety valley mires of which there are only 120 in the whole of Europe, these have high conservation importance. Draining during the 1950's and 60's has lead to a reduction in the ecological quality of these environments. Restoration of these areas is important as some pockets contain unique flora and flora, an immense biological richness. They provide both grazing and water for forest animals. Rare species include slender cotton grass (Eriophorum gracile), bog orchid (Hammarabga paludose) which are very rare in Southern England. The Forestry Commission previously had a duty to drain many mires in an effort to fulfil the statutory obligations of ‘The New Forest Act of 1949'. Unfortunately it is only recently that the importance of this habitat ecologically has become realised. It is now part of the ‘New Forest special area of conservation' and is both a ‘RAMSAR' wetland and a ‘SSSI'. The most important Mires are located in the Crown lands. The wetlands also include many rivers and their floodplains, while there are historic water meadows and fifty ponds, these also posses high bio-diversity and require management. Many of the streams are rare due to there acid nature hence they support rare species. There has been a reduction in the ecological quality of these areas by modifying or straitening of the marine channels. Low levels in the Rivers and streams have been attributed to a lowering of the water table by boreholes and streams. Management of Wetlands In relation to rivers and streams, the ‘Environment Agency' has developed a ‘Catchment management plan' for the New Forest. Which is concerned with the future management of these areas. The recommended actions associated with this management I am unaware of. In relation to mires the Strategy aims to: ‘Restore and enhance damaged valley mires' [RA3.8b]0 This involves techniques to slow the flow of water restoring levels of water to how they were before drainage. This is achieved by installing small dams along small ditches in an attempt to drain the mire. It tries to mimic natural channel blocking; it is hoped that this will halt headwald erosion. Deep channels have developed in some places, which are a hazard to livestock and damaging to the mire. ‘The Forestry Commission' has been aiming to infill these with local material to hope that they blend in with surrounding heathland vegetation. Again many of these important areas of conservation occur in the Crown land i.e.- Mires. In one of its recommended actions the Forestry Commission work with land managers and advise them in areas where conservation may not be the land managers highest priority. In Relation to this the strategy aims to: ‘Identify wetland features important to the traditional character of the New Forest and work with landowners/land managers to secure their conservation.' [RA3.8a], see also RA3.3c0 It is clear now that the New possess a very complex range of management issues and that successful management will require great co-operation between all groups who have an interest for one reason or another in the New Forest.

If You Touch a Butterflys Wings, Can It Still Fly

If youve ever handled a butterfly, you probably noticed the powdery residue left behind on your fingers. A butterflys wings are covered with scales, which can rub off on your fingertips if you touch them. Will losing some of these scales prevent a butterfly from flying, or worse, will a butterfly die if you touch its wings? Butterfly Wings Arent as Fragile as They Look The idea that merely touching a butterflys wings may prevent it from flying is more fiction than fact. Although their wings appear fragile, consider the following butterfly flight records as evidence of their strong construction: The longest documented flight by a migrating monarch butterfly was 2,750 miles, from Grand Manan Island, Canada to the overwintering grounds in Mexico.Painted lady butterflies are known to fly even farther, covering 4,000 miles from North Africa to Iceland. Researchers studying the flight of this species using high-speed cameras reported that painted ladies flap their wings an astounding 20 times  per second.  The Paralasa nepalica, a butterfly found only in Nepal,  lives and flies at an altitude of nearly 15,000 feet. If a simple touch could render a butterflys wings useless, butterflies could never manage such feats. Butterflies Shed Scales Throughout Their Lives The truth is, a butterfly sheds scales throughout its lifetime. Butterflies lose scales just by doing the things butterflies do: nectaring, mating, and flying. If you touch a butterfly gently, it will lose some scales, but rarely enough to prevent it from flying. A butterfly wing is made of a thin membrane webbed with veins. Colorful scales cover the membrane, overlapping like roof shingles. These scales strengthen and stabilize the wings. If a butterfly loses a great number of scales, the underlying membrane may become more prone to rips and tears, which in turn, could affect its ability to fly. Butterflies cannot regenerate lost scales. On older butterflies, you may notice tiny clear patches on their wings, where scales have been shed. If a large section of scales is missing, you can sometimes see right through the clear membrane. Wing tears, on the other hand, do affect a butterflys ability to fly. You should always try to minimize tears to a butterflys wing when catching them. Always use a proper butterfly net. Never trap a live butterfly in a small jar or other containers in which it may damage its wings by flapping against the hard sides. How to Hold a Butterfly So You Wont Damage Its Wings When you handle a butterfly, gently close its wings together. Using a light but firm touch, hold all four wings together and keep your fingers in one place. Its best to hold the wings at a point close to the butterflys body, to keep it as still as possible. As long as youre gentle and dont handle the butterfly excessively, it will continue to fly when you release it and live out its life cycle no worse for the wear. Sources: Insect Flight, Encyclopedia Smithsonian website, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed online June 9, 2015.Frequently Asked Questions, Learn About Butterflies website.  Accessed online June 9, 2015.Monarch Tag and Release, Virginia Living Museum website.  Accessed online June 9, 2015.Gammon, Katharine. The Mathematical Butterfly: Simulations Provide New Insights On Flight. Inside Science News Service, April 19, 2013.  Accessed online June 9, 2015.