Monday, December 30, 2019

Terrorism, Employment, and Education - 1357 Words

This paper attempts to explain whether economic depravity in a region leads to support for terrorism using the case of the Israel/Palestine conflict in the Gaza strip. I will present and analyse quantitative data from a public opinion poll conducted in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which queried participants about their support for militant and terrorist attacks against Israel. The presented data will be supplemented by statistics from the data that Alan B. Krueger of Princeton University that contains information on the employment and education of participants, which was procured from an original researcher in the aforementioned poll. In the end, the results of this poll do not suggest that there is a positive correlation between an†¦show more content†¦Over 100 scholarly or diplomatic definitions exist. The range of things that can be included under the umbrella of ‘terrorism’ using these definitions is impractically large. On top of this, the use of the w ord ‘terrorism’ has changed over time. When it was first used politically in the French Revolution, it was a word reserved for labeling those who used violence in the name of the state. In 1798 the word was first recorded in English dictionaries as meaning systematic use of terror as a policy†. While there is still no internationally unified definition of terrorism, there are comprehensive definitions. One such definition is that used by the US State Department since 1983: â€Å"the term terrorism means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.† - U.S. Code, Title 22, Code  § 2656f- at section (d) It is worth noting that using this definition, the US government would not be considered a terrorist organisation (â€Å"subnational groups†) but using other definitions, often scholarly ones that emphasise the intention to cause fear and terror while allowing nation states to be labelled as terrorists, the US government would be included in the scope. Also, since the term ‘terrorism’ is loaded with such negative connotation, one will find that both sides in disputes can accurately call one another a terroristShow MoreRelatedEconomic Problem in the Philippines1582 Words   |  7 Pagescredit rating agencies Standard and Poors, Moodys and Fitch upgraded the countrys credit ratings and outlooks. In 2011 the government cut spending on economic services, including infrastructure, in the same vein did not fill in for shortfalls in education, health and housing sectors. As a result, over the first three quarters of 2011, income from public construction contracted by ab out 46% whereas government consumption reduced by a mere 1.7% in comparison to the same period last year. MisplacedRead MoreThe Threat Of Nuclear Terrorism986 Words   |  4 PagesThe USA has reported Nuclear Terrorism as the number one issue that all Americans are facing today. Nuclear Terrorist attacks in Paris, San Bernardino, California, and New York have raised tension between the US and other countries, especially Islamic countries such as Iran. Nuclear terrorism has killed many innocent people around the globe. It has become the subject of debate in the USA since the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 (Muller, 2016). Nuclear arms production is one of the rootRead MoreThe Rise Of Islamophobia Has Affected The Lives Of Many Muslims Living Of Western Countries1708 Words   |  7 Pagestradition. Yet western converts to Islam are often met with incomprehension, a white Muslim does not fit in with most people’s association of Islam with foreignness. It is necessary to remove the ‘otherness’ of Muslims, and for the West to promote education as a way to foster inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, â€Å"People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each otherRead MoreEssay on Human Rights, War and Terrorism1226 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Rights, War and Terrorism After every war come the peace talks; after millions of people had been killed. After the terrorist attacks comes the investigation, reason, or counter-terrorism; after lives had been wasted. 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Although National Security is a high-priority agenda item to the overall safety of our country, our elected government officials fail to prioritize domestic terrorism with the same urgencyRead MoreCriminal Justice Trends Evaluation1581 Words   |  7 Pagescommunication, giving the idea that there is a misalliance between higher education, and economic conditions, and trends. According to Roslyn Muraskin and Albert R. Roberts (2009 ), information technology reframes the structure and content of work environments. Workforces are becoming dispersed and more normal as electronic technology creates a way to link workers and functions at numerous places. When corporate, and public employment gets smaller, they increase reliance on virtual organizations, causingRead MoreEducation is Key to the Development of a Country Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesunder the process of development. The economy of Srilanka is still very unstable due to domestic violence, insecurity, less trade and terrori sm (mtholyoke). A country is like a multi-axle truck. It is capable of work only if all the tires of the truck work in synchronize manner. Similarly, a country progresses only if all the factors work together. Although education is an important factor for the economic development of a country nevertheless many other factors also contribute a major role towardsRead MoreThe Soviet Withdrawal From Afghanistan1224 Words   |  5 Pagesimpediments in private-sector production and investment such as an underdeveloped financial sector and infrequent access to finances. It has seen a severely underdeveloped labor market, and very poor social welfare programs. Afghanistan sees very low education rates and mass unemployment. The country also sees a problem with resource and economic distribution. This poverty, underdevelopment, and instability are often associated with country’s that are willing to be safe havens for terrorists. Because ofRead MoreThe Rights Of The United States847 Wo rds   |  4 PagesEvery year people from all over the world come to the United States for a myriad of reasons. Some to seek employment, some education, and others to seek safe haven from violence and oppression from foreign governments. Regardless of the reason, the beauty of the United States is that the protections afforded by the constitution apply to anyone within its territory. However, since the terrorist attack against the United States on September 11, 2001, the protections of the constitution have sinceRead MoreInternational Order : The United States1381 Words   |  6 Pagesother countries be really superior to them, so I believe in order for them to try and keep up with the developed countries. There are some threats to international order in the world today, and some of them include; global warming/ climate change, terrorism, failed states, and also the rise of China. I’m going to discuss how these threats affect international order, and which of them is the biggest threat to the international order. To start with, I’m going to talk about the first threat to international

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Canadian Healthcare System The Principles Of The...

Healthcare systems and policies are the organizational frameworks that reflect and support the health goals of populations to optimize patient care. The Canadian Health Care System has a long history of improving and refining existing legislations in order to meet the dynamic needs of the population. However, a current and notable barrier to access healthcare resources for individuals is drug costs, with 22% of total Canadian prescription drug costs being paid out of pocket by patients (1,2). In response, the Government of Ontario plans to implement Ontario Health Insurance Plan Plus (OHIP+) effective January 1, 2018 as a means of alleviating this financial barrier for a portion of population that meet certain criteria. OHIP+ aims to†¦show more content†¦The continuity of care is a fundamental principle of enhancing patient experience in the healthcare system, and ultimately patient care. The implications of OHIP+ being available solely to the population of ages 0-24 inclusi ve, threatens the objective underlying continuity of care. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) describes the continuity of care as being concerned with the quality of care over time (6). Often times, the continuity of care is perceived as the coordinated transition between institutions and health care providers, but continuity of care can also be interpreted as individuals having a continuous service accessible to them over time. With OHIP+ coverage being limited to the ages of 24 and under, individuals that are 25 years of age become especially susceptible to the drug cost burden as they lose access to the additional drug coverage provided by OHIP+. In doing so, the continuity of care is potentially compromised if other barriers to access, namely cost, prevent the individual from adhering to the needed medications. This inability to purchase prescription drugs out of pocket is known as cost-related nonadherence (CRNA), and poses as a health risk for patient outcomes, l eading to increased costs in other areas of the healthcare system (1,7). In acknowledgement of the importance of early recognition and prevention strategies in overall wellness, OHIP+ canShow MoreRelatedFederal, Provincial And Territorial Governments1585 Words   |  7 PagesCanada’s health care system including the achievement of the social determinants of health such as proper housing, education, sanitation for every eligible citizen (Health Canada, 2011). Majority of the responsibilities of delivering, maintaining and improving health and social services are directed by the provincial and territorial governments, while the federal government is responsible for funding health care services to provinces and territories that are covered by the Canada Health Act (CHA)Read MoreThe United States And Canada843 Words   |  4 PagesStates society upholds the American Bill or rights; it is organized around the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness† (Barr 36). Alternatively, Canadian foundational principles were built upon collectivist concepts. The Canadian government preserves the principle of parliamentary supremacy; it is organized around â€Å"peace, order, and good government† (Barr 36). 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Healthcare in Cuba is regarded as a human right, therefore making â€Å"healthcare a national priority† (Iatridus, Demetri, 1988) and free for all its citizens. Cuban healthcare policies state that the attention is greatly focused on â€Å"prevention, primary care, services in the community, and the active participationRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of The Canadian Health Act1011 Words   |  5 PagesPharmacare is outlined as recommend in joining the covered benefits for Canadian citizens - Canadians pays slightly less than their U.S. counterparts for Pharmaceuticals (Armstrong, p51). Privatization influences an unequal system - creating significant hindrances for impoverished people in Canada, again creating a rich-poor divide that does not influence equality, which is the essence of the Canadian Health Act. As pointed out in The Canadian Regime, â€Å"In European Countries, drugs are covered by public insuranceRead MoreEssay On Canadas Healthcare System867 Words   |  4 Pagesto a universal healthcare system, celebrating cultural diversity of the people and the educational opportunities are elements that contribute to Canada’s remarkable reputation. To appreciate the benefits of Canada, it is important to acknowledge the history and effectiveness of these organizations. Canada’s healthcare system is viewed as â€Å"one of the most beneficial systems in the world†(QUOTE) for the reason that it focuses on promoting the overall health and happiness to all Canadian citizens. TheRead MoreHealth Care Criteria Throughout the World853 Words   |  4 Pagesfollow in order to establish health care for people in different societies. The way the resources are allocated, and the standard of health care delivered, varies from country to country. 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Saturday, December 14, 2019

Word Activity Free Essays

This Method may be considered as the predecessor of the conventional multiplication procedures. The method involves the use of arrays or tables, the sizes of which depend on the number of digits in the multiplier and the multiplicand, respectively. Unlike the conventional method, however, which altitudes numbers from right to left and from bottom to top, the grating method multiplies numbers from left to right and from top to bottom. We will write a custom essay sample on Word Activity or any similar topic only for you Order Now This method also includes diagonals to be drawn along the corners of the array. One advantage of this method is that it performs multiplication operations before addition operations Bones Method. This method was introduced in 1617 by John Napier of Scotland in his attempt to reduce tedious calculations involving large numbers. His â€Å"bones or rod†, made a great impression on the Europeans and the Chinese. The principle behind he bones method may be considered as a mixture of the principles of the abacus and of the grating method. Each rod is divided into nine squares, each of which is divided into nine squares, each of which is divided diagonally. The top square holds a number (1-9). The remaining eight squares in the rod hold the product of multiplying that number by 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Once it is set up, it is easy to get the product of a single-digit number and any other value from the top squares and the left rod, because the numbers in the middle are used to obtain the product. Sluggard Method. With the introduction of paper, the Arabs and the Hindus were able to develop a method which may give the product of numbers up to 10 x 10. This method, which was then called the sluggard method, is similar to the finger-counting method in principle. In fact, it can be said to be the finger-counting method on paper. Because, likewise, one has to memorize the multiplication table from 1 – 5 before this could be applied. The â€Å"Arabic Numerals† System. The present number system is of Hindu origin, based on the use often fingers. This system was introduced in Europe by the Moors in the the century as a result of the expansion of the Moslem empire. It was modified in India in what is now called the â€Å"Arabic Numerals†. True numerals are still used in some parts of the Middle and the Near East. Directions 1 . Type the document below. Save using filename â€Å"lifter† 2. Follow the procedure to center a text. Save file â€Å"centered† 3. Change the font color of each of the line in the poem 4. Follow the procedure to right align the text. Save using filename â€Å"Activity† think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth s pressed against the earth’s sweet flowing breast, and lifts her leafy arms to pray. A tree that may in summer, wear a nest of robins in her hair; upon whose snow has lain; who intimately lives with rain; poems are made by fools like but only can make tree. 2. Follow procedures in paragraph indent 3. Use the font â€Å"Arial†, â€Å"Bold Italic†, font size = 20 for the title. 4. Change the font style and font size of every paragraph. . Save files as â€Å"Activity† Dalai Lama Test This little exercise is fun. Take a few minutes out of your frantic day to enjoy a bit of enlightenment. Dalai lama personality test The dalai lama said read it to see if it works for you. Personality test. Very interesting. Just 4 questions and the answers will surprise you. Do not cheat by looking up the ans wers. The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is opened. This is fun to do, but you have to follow the instructions very closely. Do not cheat. Make a wish before beginning the test!!! A warning! Answer the questions as you go along. There are only four questions and if you see them all before finishing, you will not have honest results. Don’t look ahead, get a pencil and paper to write your answers as you go along. You will need it at the end. This is an honest questionnaire which will tell you a lot about your true self. 1. Put the following 5 animals in the order of your preference. A. Cow b. Tiger c. Sheep d. Horse e. Pig 2. Write one word that describes each one of the following: Dog cat Rat Coffee them to the following colors (do not repeat your answer twice. Name Just one person for each color. ) Yellow Orange Red White Green 4. Finally, write down your favorite number and your favorite day of the week. Finished? Please be sure that your answers are what you really want. Look at the interpretations below: But first before continuing, repeat your wish. This will define your priorities in your life. Activity No. 7 2. Save your file using â€Å"Activity† 3. Follow the font format and its line spacing. Wish â€Å"Close your eyes and make a wish Angels will be there to blow you a kiss They will guide your way and Make your dreams come true Like what they did to me when I Ask for a friend like you† â€Å"It’s harder to find a true friend than it Is to find a lover. In one’s lifetime I can have many lovers; but to have Just One true friend like you is a blessing† â€Å"If one day you find yourself trapped in The dark, Just look up in the Sky and if you see one little tiny Light up there†¦ That’s me Reminding you that I’m still there even Activity No. 4 1 . Type the document below using bullet style 2. Save your file using â€Å"Activity† International School of Asia and the Pacific Penance, Canaan International School of Asia and the Pacific has to offer you: The best of the Archdiocese of Autograph in Catholic Education; Priest educators committed to service of God’s people. How to cite Word Activity, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Dynamic Strategy and Disruptive Innovations

Question: Discuss about the Dynamic Strategy and Disruptive Innovations. Answer: Introduction The following report makes an analysis of the different stakeholders of Snap Inc, a company that runs Snapchat app and makes cameras. The report is further about the strategy program the company follows with regard to four of its specific stakeholders. The strategy with regard to four stakeholder groups is also discussed. Snap Inc Stakeholder View of the Organization model The following diagram shows various stakeholders of Snap Inc: Description of Specific Snap Inc stakeholders Snap Inc is a company which runs the popular mobile app snap chat that allows the customer to send videos and pictures both of which self destruct after a few seconds of a person viewing it. The company also sells specialized cameras. There are many stakeholders in this company. Stakeholders are the persons which get affected by the company achieving its objectives. In the case of Snap Inc the various specific stakeholders are: Competitors The major competitors of Snap Inc are the Facebook and its service Instagram. On the Facebook a person can download pictures and also post comments. Facebook allows a person to share ones feelings on the internet with thousands of viewers. The message that comes on the Facebook gets spread very easily (Ranieri, Manca and Fini 2012, p. 754). Snapchat ate into the market of Facebook. The latter launched an app similar to snap chat which did not become so popular. Facebook wanted to acquire snapchat but the company did not succeed in its efforts. Snapchat did not want to sell itself. A company like snapchat knows that it is on the right track when a big company like Facebook wants to acquire it. Snap chat was able to create an identity for itself in the market and would not like to lose it. Another major competitor of Snap chat is South Korean app Snow which is very popular in Asia and is in very ways similar to Snap chat. Facebook has also launched new app Lifestage only for teenagers. Then there is Twitter a social media platform on which one can post comments. Customers The customers of the company are mostly teenagers and also grown ups who have been using you tube including some celebrities. They like to send funny pictures to each other and this is a source of entertainment for them (Best, Manktelow and Taylor 2014, p. 27). Then there are cameras of the company in the form of spectacles which have become popular among college students though they are priced higher than expected by the consumers. Media There is media which keeps track of new products and companies. The media can be print media, television, radio and internet. The media was critical of the remarks of Evan Spiegel the Snap Inc Chief executive officer that the Snap chat was meant only for rich people and not for countries like India which were poor. The parents of the children are also worried that indecent pictures might be shared on Snap chat and their children who use the service might become corrupt. This story was also in the media. Government The permission of the government has to be taken before a new product comes into the market. The governments in the developed countries are fairly open still if a product harms the society the government can ban it later on. Management The management of Snap Inc is also an important stakeholder which would like the company to succeed. The company was founded by its current CEO Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy who is Chief technology officer (Carson and Heath 2017, para 1). Bobby leads Snaps engineering and research teams. The individual also works on spectacle glasses project. Murphy and Spiegel own 44% of the stock. Imran Khan is companys Chief strategy officer. Former Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton is Chairman of the board. All these people are important stakeholders in the company. Pressure Groups There are certain social and educational organizations which are not happy with the growing influence of social media platforms. They think that these platforms have an adverse impact on the development of school and college students as they ignore their studies and also do not go out to take part in outdoor sports. Suppliers One important stakeholder of Snap Inc are the suppliers of the company. The enterprise makes cameras which have different components and are made from various raw materials. If the company does well, the suppliers also prosper. Behaviour and motives of Four Specific Stakeholders of Snap Inc Facebook Facebook has been trying to kill the competition offered by Snap chat by offering services similar to the latter. Facebooks Instragram has the Instragram Stories feature which is more or less the imitation of Snapchats My Story feature (Castillo 2017, para 1). Users of the service can put filters or stickers on photos and videos shared with friends. Facebook is trying to lure same kind of customers as that of Snapchat. Some of the users of Facebook would have shifted to Snapchat when the company offered the My Story feature. Now the Facebook wants these customers back. Companies do not like to lose customers, not even a single one. Facebook lost many customers to Snapchat. The company could not think of some better idea to lure these customers back, so it resorted to starting a feature Instragram Stories which shows that even a big company like Facebook with such a talented and a huge staff could not offer a new unique service of its own and had to copy Snapchat. Many would see this as a win for the latter. Snap chat service remained as popular as it was. But the move would have also added to customers of Facebook. Many would call this a clever move by Facebook which would have prevented further loss of customers to Snapchat to an extent (Wang, Woo, Quek, Yang and Liu 2012, p. 428) Teenagers Snapchat is becoming more popular among teenagers (Castillo 2016, para 1).. According to a recent study there are 160 million daily users of Snapchat and 60% are between 13 and 24 years old. The teenagers are moving towards more video and image based online media. They are attracted more by the use of attractive images which can be chosen and combined in innovative ways. They find this better than writing just text messages which also takes up more time and are also boring to them. Moreover Snapchat has become popular among teenagers because of initiatives like Snapchat discover and live coverage of Oscars. Evan Spiegel Evan Spiegel believes that the business of Snap Inc was built on the basis of creativity. Snap Inc went public recently in order to procure more funds for business. Evan wants to educate people on how the business of the company was created. The company is now valued at $ 28 billion. The company has been making losses still Evan Spiegel is upbeat about the prospects of the company and brought the public issue of capital (Vanian 2017, para 1). The individual thinks they can come up with new popular products and continue to give stiff competition to competitors like Facebook. The company Snap Inc has been adding new features like more video and picture filters under the individuals leadership. Internet The internet has on the whole been good about the company Snap Inc and its management. Evan Spiegel has been praised for building a social media platform at such a young age which could take on big companies like Facebook and Twitter. There was some adverse publicity relating to Evans comments about India but it has also been reported that Evan did not mean it that way and was misquoted (Dhapola 2017, para 1). The success of the recent capital issue has been displayed prominently. The companys products and developments are tracked and reported by the media.. Generic Strategic Programs for Each Stakeholder Facebook falls in the stakeholder category of defensive. It will cooperate less with Snap Inc and is a high competitive threat to the company (Akpinar and Vincze 2016, p. 53). The actual behavior of Facebook has been that of a competitor which has copied Snap Incs products and also been disturbed by Snap Inc eating its market share. The company will not cooperate and will remain a competitor. Teenagers fall in the stakeholder category of offensive. Teenagers can cooperate more with the company and are low competition threat. Teenagers have been using and supporting the products of Snap Inc and look forward to a healthy relationship with the company. They fall in the category of offensive. Evan Spiegel also falls in the stakeholder category of offensive. The individual is a person who would like to see Snap Inc grow and cooperate with the employees of the company. The individual falls in the category of offensive also because in the past also the individual has contributed magnificent ly to the growth of the company. Internet falls in the stakeholder category of Swing. It has a high cooperative potential but can also be adverse and a competitive threat. The internet has been a supporter of Snap Inc in the past but has also written negatively about Evan Spiegel. Therefore internet falls in the category of Swing. Snap Inc would form the generic strategy program for each of the above mentioned stakeholder on the basis of the category the stakeholder falls into (Missonier and Loufrani 2014, p. 1108). Facebook has been a competitor of the company since a very long time. It lies in the category of defensive. The actual behavior so far of Facebook has been a competitor who has also tried to show that it is a friend by giving the offer to buy Snap Inc. But accepting that offer would have meant an end to the independence that Evan Spiegel and the individuals team had got in running the company. Facebook was trying to kill the competition by purchasing Snap Inc. In future also the company would not cooperate with Snap Inc in any way and remain a competitive threat (Yang, Wang and Jin 2014, p. 74). Snap Inc would follow a strategic program that would help the company in defending the competitive threat from Facebook. This would involve developing and launching new products that can help the company retain and increase its market share. The company would spend on advertising that would show its products as being better than that of Facebook. The company would take steps to retain its creative team so that they are not lured by Facebook. Teenagers fall in the category offensive. The generic strategy program of the company would be to find new ways of cooperating with the teenagers in the promotion of the company products. The company would interact more with the teenagers and strengthen its customer relationship management (Castillo 2016, para 1). The company would try to exploit new opportunities like holding campaigns and functions in which teenagers would be invited to take part and try out the new products that the company is developing. The company can consider making teenagers their brand ambassadors. The company can hold functions in schools like quizzes to spread more solidarity with the group. Evan Spiegel falls in the stakeholder category of offensive. The individual created the company and would not be a threat to the company willingly. The person would like to see the company grow and would help the company make new products and increase its market share. The company as an entity should try to build better relations with Evan Spiegel and the employees of the company should show enthusiasm for any of the individuals ideas for better management of the company. If Evan Spiegel comes with any proposal of a new product the top and the middle management should thoroughly look at the proposal. Even if they do not agree with Evan Spiegels idea, the relationship with the person should not be allowed to deteriorate. It is in the companys interest to search for new ways to associate with a talented person like Evan Spiegel. Internet is in the stakeholder category of swing. It has high cooperative potential but is also a high competitive threat (Akpinar and Vincze 2016, p.53). While there have been positive stories about the company in the internet, there have also been negative responses on the medium which hurt the company. Snap Inc should also focus more on print media and television. It should not rely excessively on the internet for spreading positive news about the company. It should have positive stories in other media. This would counter any negative stories on the internet. The rules of engagement of the company with internet would change. The internet would no longer be as powerful to malign the name of the company. Recommended Strategic Program for Each of the Four Selected Stakeholder Groups The four selected stakeholder groups of Snap Inc are competitors, customers, management and media. The competitors of a company are a very important stakeholders which cannot be ignored. Facebook is the biggest competitor of Snap Inc. So far Snap Inc has been more popular among the youth. The school and college going youth use the services and products of the company very much. The company should continue to make innovative products and make attractive additions to its current products. In order to accomplish this task the company should employ more creative people who can make new impressive designs even at the cost of paying them high salaries. This is one area where the company should not shy away from spending. South Korean app Snow has been giving tough competition to Snap Inc (Ramirez 2016, para 1). The latter should study the culture and society of Asian countries more and come with products that can appeal more to the Asian masses. Another important stakeholder of Snap Inc are the customers. No company can survive if it ignores its customers. Snap Inc should get more feedback from its customers. The company should ask its customers to give ideas as to how the services of the company can be improved. The company can get the idea for the next big product from a customer. The company should not ignore the older generation like parents of children. They can also be good customers of the company which should not ignore text messages. It should not rely only on video messages and pictures. There is lot of scope for text with pictures. The older generation likes to write also. This is the reason why so many messages are posted on twitter (Lin, Hoffman and Borengasser 2013, p. 39). The Facebook also makes profits on the basis of text messages. One more stakeholder group is the media which is interested in giving information to people in order to make money. People like to read about the corporate world. The company which stays in news for all the correct reasons can make more customers. The executives of Snap Inc should give interviews in the print media and also on television and internet talking about the future plans of the company, the areas in which the company wants to grow, the kind of research that is going on in the company to make new products. Snap Inc has in its team people like former CEO of Sony Entertainment Michael Lyton who understands what entertains the teenagers. Michael, an important stakeholder in the company can give direction to the product designers and technologists of the company on how to create products that appeal to the youth (Chaykowski 2017, para 1). There are certain areas of interest to teenagers like movies and cartoon characters. These can be used as stickers and inspire the designers o f the company. The team of Snap Inc should give full support to the top management like Imran Khan the Chief strategy officer of the company and learn from the individuals knowledge and experience. There should be unity of direction in the company. Even if the employees have certain issues with the top management, they should be sorted out through cordial discussions and work should be carried on. Conclusion Snap Inc works in a business environment where there are many external and internal stakeholders also. These stakeholders respond to the business moves of the company. Similarly, Snap Inc also has developed strategies to create a distinct identity for itself in the market. So far the company has been able to compete with companies like Facebook. The enterprise has so far been following the policy of differentiation which has led to formation of customer base for the company. The success of the company in future would depend on its ability to use technology and creativity to come up with innovative products that customers find attractive. References Best, P, Manktelow, R and Taylor, B 2014, Online communication, social media and adolescent wellbeing: a systematic narrative review,Children and Youth Services Review, vol41, pp.27-36, viewed 18 April 2017, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740914000693 Brenes, E, Montoya, D and Ciravegna, L 2014, Differentiation strategies in emerging markets: The case of Latin American agribusinesses,Journal of Business Research,vol 67, no. 5, pp.847-855, viewed 18 April 2017, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296313002683 Carson, B and Heath, A 2017, Meet the power players who help Evan Spiegel run the $ 25 billion Snap Inc, Business Insider, 7 February, viewed 17 April 2017 https://www.businessinsider.in/meet-the-power-players-who-help-evan-spiegel-run-25-billion-snap-inc-/articleshow/57022322.cms Castillo, M 2016, Snapchat is king among teens as facebook declines in popularity, survey shows , CNBC.com 13 October, viewed 17 April 2017 https://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/13/snapchat-is-king-among-teens-as-facebook-declines-in-popularity-survey-shows.html Castillo, M 2017, Here are all the ways facebook has copied Snapchat, CNBC.com, 9 march, viewed 17 April 2017 https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/09/facebook-copies-snapchat-examples.html Chaykowski, K 2017, Sony entertainment CEO Michael Lynton steps down to serve as snapchat chairman, Forbes.com, 13 January, viewed 18 April 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2017/01/13/sony-entertainment-ceo-michael-lynton-steps-down-to-serve-as-snapchat-chairman/#204ef657354d Dhapola, S 2017,Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegels comment on Poor India : Did he even say this?, Indianexpress.com 17 April, viewed 17 April 2017 https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/snapchat-ceo-evan-spiegel-poor-india-comment-anthony-pompliano-lawsuit-everything-to-know/ Lin, M, Hoffman, E and Borengasser, C 2013, Is social media too social for class? A case study of Twitter use,TechTrends,vol57, no.2, p.39, viewed 18 April 2016, https://search.proquest.com/openview/e3681d3d7089902e7cef70cb8f7f1614/1?pq-origsite=gscholarcbl=40581 Missonier, S and Loufrani, S 2014, Stakeholder analysis and engagement in projects: From stakeholder relational perspective to stakeholder relational ontology,International Journal of Project Management,vol32, no. 7, pp.1108-1122, viewed 18 April 2017, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263786314000325 Ramirez, E 2016, Facebook tries to buy Asias Snapchat- but is the Korean App just a clone?, Forbes.com, 1st November, viewed on 18 April 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/elaineramirez/2016/11/01/snow-the-asian-snapchat-clone-that-facebook-tried-to-buy-might-also-be-a-clone-of-another-app/#50a942eb740d Ranieri, M, Manca, S and Fini, A 2012, Why (and how) do teachers engage in social networks? An exploratory study of professional use of Facebook and its implications for lifelong learning,British Journal of Educational Technology,vol43, no. 5, pp.754-769, viewed 18 April 2017, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2012.01356.x/full Salavou, H 2013, Hybrid strategies in Greece: a pleasant surprise,European Business Review,vol25, no. 3, pp.301-314, viewed 18 April 2017, https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/09555341311314834?journalCode=ebr Salavou, H 2015, Competitive strategies and their shift to the future,European Business Review,vol 27, no.1, pp.80-99, viewed 18 April 2017, https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/EBR-04-2013-0073 Vanian, J 2017, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel just got a lot richer, Fortune.com, 2nd March, viewed 17 April 2017 https://fortune.com/2017/03/02/snap-ceo-evan-spiegel/ Wang, Q, Woo, H, Quek, C, Yang, Y and Liu, M 2012, Using the Facebook group as a learning management system: An exploratory study,British Journal of Educational Technology, vol43, no. 3, pp.428-438, viewed 18 April 2017, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01195.x/full Akpinar, M and Vincze, Z 2016, The dynamics of coopetition: A stakeholder view of the German automotive industry,Industrial Marketing Management,vol57, pp.53-63, viewed 22 April 2017, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019850116300803 Yang, R, Wang, Y and Jin, X 2014, Stakeholders attributes, behaviors, and decision?making strategies in construction projects: importance and correlations in practice,Project Management Journal,vol45, no. 3, pp.74-90, viewed 22 April 2017, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pmj.21412/full

Thursday, November 28, 2019

International Financial Management Essay Example

International Financial Management Essay INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Undertaken at â€Å"TECNIA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES† Submitted in the partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Under the Supervision  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Submitted by and Guidance ofRAMAN KUMAR Ms. Sakshi Goel 05117003910 (Lecturer IFM)MBA- 3rd Sem SESSION: 2010 2012 TECNIA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES (Approved by AICTE, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India) Affiliated To Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi INSTITUTIONAL AREA, MADHUBAN CHOWK, ROHINI, DELHI- 110085 E-Mail:[emailprotected] rg, Website: www. tecniaindia. org Fax No: 27555120, Tel: 27555121-24 Ques 1) Bring out the similarities and dissimilarities in the financing facilities at IMF and World Bank. Discuss how the two institutions help in the development of developing countries? World Bank and IMF * The World Bank and the IMF are twin pillars supporting the worlds economic and financial structure. The World Bank is an investment bank owned by its member nations. The IMF functions more like a credit union whose members can draw from a common pool of funds to assist in emergencies. As of Aug. 1, 2010, its biggest borrowers were Romania, Ukraine and Hungary. 19441969 * From July 1 to 22, 1944, the IMF and World Bank Articles of Agreement were formulated at the International Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. On May 8, 1947, France became the first nation to borrow from the IMF. On Sept. 29, 1967, the IMF board approved a plan to establish special drawing rights (SDRs), which are international reserve assets used by member countries to supplement their foreign exchange reserves. 19701985 * On Aug. 15, 1971, the U. S. topped using the gold standard to settle international transactions. In 1974, the IMF adopted a new method of SDR valuation based on a basket of 16 currencies. This basket was simplified on Sept. 17, 1980, to hold five currencies, and today it holds fou r: the U. S. dollar, euro, Japanese yen and pound sterling. On Dec. 2, 1985, the two agencies expressed support for a U. S. initiative for comprehensive adjustment measures by debtors, increased and more effective structural lending by multilateral development banks, and expanded lending by commercial banks. 1986-Onward * On Dec. 9, 1987, the IMF established the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) to provide resources to developing nations undergoing fundamental debt restructuring and economic reform. Countries of the former Soviet Union joined the two agencies in 1992. The IMF, in conjunction with the G7, helped stabilize the 1995 Mexican peso crisis and the 1997 Asian currency crisis. On Jan. 8, 2001, the IMF and the Bank announced debt relief for 22 countries, 18 of them in Africa. On Apr. 13, 2003, a joint IMF-World Bank project was launched to monitor the policies and actions needed to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015. On Sept. 25, 2005, agreement was reached on a G7/G8 proposal to provide 100 percent debt relief to the worlds heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). During their April 2006 meetings, the IMF and the Bank focused on ways to finance clean energy in developing countries, and the role of governance in meeting worldwide social, health and economic goals. Similarities Differences The overall structure of the  United Nations System  and  World Bank Group  has been described in previous posts. Both of those groups have expanded exponentially since their creation. Given that both the UN and World Bank were born from the same parents almost simultaneously, the extent of differences among organizations both within and between those two broad institutional systems is surprising: 1. Although membership in all entities within the UN System and World Bank Group is limited to sovereign- states, all members of the United Nations  General Assembly  are not necessarily members of  IBRD  (or other  World Bank  subsidiary bodies or specific UN  specialized agencies); 2. We will write a custom essay sample on International Financial Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on International Financial Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on International Financial Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Although sovereign-state members are represented by their respective governments within  UN  System  and  World Bank Group  entities, different agencies within those governments represent them in those different international bodies (for example, [i] ministries of  foreign affairs  generally represent their governments  in the  General Assembly  and  Security Council, [II] bi-lateral development agencies, ministries of external affairs, or sector-specific  line ministries  normally represent them inspecialized agencies, and [iii] ministries of  finance  or  central banksnormally represent them in the  World Bank  and  International Monetary Fund  [IMF]); 3. Although informal agreements existed that the  Administrator  of the  United Nations Development Programme  (UNDP) and thePresident  of the  World Bank  should both be Americans,6  a wide range of other nationalities have always served in the highest leadership position of other UN specialized agencies; 4. Although senior leaders within both systems stressed the importance of â€Å"country-knowledge† among staff, the UN system began posting  Resident Representatives  to client countries very early-on while the World Bank continues to rely primarily on staff and consultants dispatched from its Washington headquarters; and 5. Although the UN system fairly rapidly expanded its interests in international development assistance and capacity to provide it, the attention of its overall leadership and Secretariat staff remains focused on, in the words of Craig Murphy, â€Å"matters of international high politics. † IMF and World Bank help in the development of developing countries The IMF and World Bank collaborate regularly and at many levels to assist member countries and work together on several initiatives. In 1989, the terms for their cooperation were set out in a  concordat  to ensure effective collaboration in areas of shared responsibility. High-level coordination: During the  Annual Meetings  of the  Boards of Governors of the IMF  and the World Bank, Governors consult and present their countries’ views on current issues in international economics and finance. The Boards of Governors decide how to address international economic and financial issues and set priorities for the organizations. A group of IMF and World Bank Governors also meet as part of the  Development Committee, whose meetings coincide with the Spring and Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. This committee was established in 1974 to advise the two institutions on critical development issues and on the financial resources required to promote economic development in low-income countries. Management consultation. The Managing Director of the IMF and the President of the World Bank meet regularly to consult on major issues. They also issue joint statements and occasionally write joint articles, and have visited several regions and countries together. Staff collaboration. The staffs of the IMF and the Bank collaborate closely on country assistance and policy issues that are relevant for both institutions. The two institutions also often conduct country missions in parallel and staff participate in each other’s missions. IMF assessments of a country’s general economic situation and policies provide input to the Bank’s assessments of potential development projects or reforms. Similarly, Bank advice on structural and sectoral reforms is taken into account by the IMF in its policy advice. The staffs of the two institutions also cooperate on the  conditionality  involved in their respective lending programs. The 2007 external review of Bank-Fund collaboration led to a  Joint Management Action Plan  on World Bank-IMF Collaboration (JMAP) to further enhance the way the two institutions work together. Under the plan, Fund and Bank country teams discuss their country-level work programs, which identify macro-critical sectoral issues, the division of labor, and the work needed from each institution in the coming year. A recent  review of JMAP implementation  underscored the importance of these   joint country team consultations in enhancing collaboration. Reducing debt burdens. The IMF and World Bank also work together to reduce the external debt burdens of the most heavily indebted poor countries under theHeavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative  and the  Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). The objective is to help low-income countries achieve their development goals without creating future debt problems. IMF and Bank staff jointly prepare country debt sustainability analyses under the  Debt Sustainability Framework (DSF)  developed by the two institutions. Reducing poverty. In 1999, the IMF and the World Bank initiated the  Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)  approach—a country-led plan for linking national policies, donor support, and the development outcomes needed to reduce poverty in low-income countries. PRSPs underpin the HIPC Initiative and most  concessional lending by the IMF  (in particular, the  Extended Credit Facility (ECF)) and World Bank. Monitoring progress on the MDGs. Since 2004, the Fund and Bank have worked together on the  Global Monitoring Report  (GMR), which assesses progress needed to achieve the UN  Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The report also considers how well developing countries, developed countries, and the international financial institutions are contributing to the development partnership and strategy to meet the MDGs. Assessing financial stability. The IMF and World Bank are also working together to make financial sectors in member countries resilient and well regulated. The  Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP)  was introduced in 1999 to identify the strengths and vulnerabilities of a countrys financial system and recommend appropriate policy responses. Ques 2) What to do understand by swap? What are the various types of swaps? An Introduction To Swaps Derivatives  contracts can be divided into two general families: 1. Contingent claims, i. e. , options 2. Forward claims, which include exchange-traded futures,  forward contracts  and  swaps   3. A swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange sequences of cash flows for a set period of time. Usually, at the time the contract is initiated, at least one of these series of cash flows is determined by a random or uncertain variable, such as an interest rate, foreign exchange rate, equity price or commodity price. Conceptually, one may view a swap as either a portfolio of forward contracts, or as a long position in one bond coupled with a short position in another bond. This article will discuss the two most common and most basic types of swaps: the  plain vanilla  interest rate and  currency swaps. The Swaps Market Unlike most standardized  options  and  futures  contracts, swaps are not exchange-traded instruments. Instead, swaps are customized contracts that are traded in the  over-the-counter  (OTC) market between private parties. Firms and financial institutions dominate the swaps market, with few (if any) individuals ever participating. Because swaps occur on the OTC market, there is always the risk of a counterparty defaulting on the swap. (For background reading, see  Futures Fundamentals  and  Options Basics. ) The first  interest rate swap  occurred between IBM and the World Bank in 1981. However, despite their relative youth, swaps have exploded in popularity. In 1987, the  International Swaps and Derivatives Association  reported that the swaps market had a total notional value of $865. 6 billion. By mid-2006, this figure exceeded $250  trillion, according to the Bank for International Settlements. Thats more than 15  times  the size of the  U. S. public equities market. Plain Vanilla Interest Rate Swap The most common and simplest swap is a plain vanilla interest rate swap. In this swap, Party A agrees to pay Party B a predetermined,  fixed rate of interest  on a  notional principal  on specific dates for a specified period of time. Concurrently, Party B agrees to make payments based on a  floating interest rate  to Party A on that same notional principal on the same specified dates for the same specified time period. In a plain vanilla swap, the two cash flows are paid in the same currency. The specified payment dates are called  settlement dates, and the time between are called settlement periods. Because swaps are customized contracts, interest payments may be made annually, quarterly, monthly, or at any other interval determined by the parties. (For related reading, see  How do companies benefit from interest rate and currency swaps? ) For example, on December 31, 2006, Company A and Company B enter into a five-year swap with the following terms: * Company A pays Company B an amount equal to 6% per annum on a notional principal of $20 million. Company B pays Company A an amount equal to one-year LIBOR + 1% per annum on a notional principal of $20 million. LIBOR, or  London Interbank Offer Rate, is the interest rate offered by  London  banks on deposits made by other banks in the  eurodollar  markets. The market for interest rate swaps frequently (but not always) uses LIBOR as the base for the floating rate. For simplicity, lets assume the two parties ex change payments annually on December 31, beginning in 2007 and concluding in 2011. At the end of 2007, Company A will pay Company B $20,000,000 * 6% = $1,200,000. On December 31, 2006, one-year LIBOR was 5. 33%; therefore, Company B will pay Company A $20,000,000 * (5. 33% + 1%) = $1,266,000. In a plain vanilla interest rate swap, the floating rate is usually determined at the beginning of the settlement period. Normally, swap contracts allow for payments to be netted against each other to avoid unnecessary payments. Here, Company B pays $66,000, and Company A pays nothing. At no point does the principal change hands, which is why it is referred to as a notional amount. Figure 1 shows the cash flows between the parties, which occur annually (in this example). (To learn more, read  Corporate Use Of Derivatives For Hedging. ) | Figure 1: Cash flows for a plain vanilla interest rate swap| Plain Vanilla Foreign Currency Swap The plain vanilla currency swap involves exchanging principal and fixed interest payments on a loan in one currency for principal and fixed interest payments on a similar loan in another currency. Unlike an interest rate swap, the parties to a currency swap will exchange principal amounts at the beginning and end of the swap. The two specified principal amounts are set so as to be approximately equal to one another, given the exchange rate at the time the swap is initiated. For example, Company C, a  U. S. firm, and Company D, a European firm, enter into a five-year currency swap for $50 million. Lets assume the exchange rate at the time is $1. 25 per euro (i. e. , the dollar is worth $0. 80 euro). First, the firms will exchange principals. So, Company C pays $50 million, and Company D pays  ¬40 million. This satisfies each companys need for funds denominated in another currency (which is the reason for the swap). | Figure 2: Cash flows for a plain vanilla currency swap, Step 1. | Then, at intervals specified in the swap agreement, the parties will exchange interest payments on their respective principal amounts. To keep things simple, lets say they make these payments annually, beginning one year from the exchange of principal. Because Company C has borrowed euros, it must pay interest in euros based on a euro interest rate. Likewise, Company D, which borrowed dollars, will pay interest in dollars, based on a dollar interest rate. For this example, lets say the agreed-upon dollar-denominated interest rate is 8. 5%, and the euro-denominated interest rate is 3. 5%. Thus, each year, Company C pays  ¬40,000,000 * 3. 50% =  ¬1,400,000 to Company D. Company D will pay Company C $50,000,000 * 8. 25% = $4,125,000. As with interest rate swaps, the parties will actually net the payments against each other at the then-prevailing exchange rate. If, at the one-year mark, the exchange rate is $1. 40 per euro, then Company Cs payment equals $1,960,000, and Company Ds  payment would be $4,125,000. In practice, Company  D would pay the net difference of $2,165,000 ($4,125,000 $1,960,000)  to Company C. | Figure 3: Cash flows for a plain vanilla currency swap, Step 2| Finally, at the end of the swap (usually also the date of the final interest payment), the parties re-exchange the original principal amounts. These principal payments are unaffected by exchange rates at the time. | Figure 4: Cash flows for a plain vanilla currency swap, Step 3| Who would use a swap? The motivations for using swap contracts fall into two basic categories: commercial needs and  comparative advantage. The normal business operations of some firms lead to certain types of interest rate or currency exposures that swaps can alleviate. For example, consider a bank, which pays a floating rate of interest on deposits (i. e. , liabilities) and earns a fixed rate of interest on loans (i. e. , assets). This mismatch between assets and liabilities can cause tremendous difficulties. The bank could use a fixed-pay swap (pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate) to convert its fixed-rate assets into floating-rate assets, which would match up well with its floating-rate liabilities. Some companies have a comparative advantage in acquiring certain types of financing. However, this comparative advantage may not be for the type of financing desired. In this case, the company may acquire the financing for which it has a comparative advantage, then use a swap to convert it to the desired type of financing. For example, consider a well-known  U. S. firm that wants to expand its operations into  Europe, where it is less well known. It will likely receive more favorable financing terms in the  US. By then using a currency swap, the firm ends with the euros it needs to fund its expansion. Exiting a Swap Agreement Sometimes one of the swap parties needs to exit the swap prior to the agreed-upon termination date. This is similar to an investor selling an exchange-traded futures or option contract before expiration. There are four basic ways to do this. 1. Buy Out the Counterparty Just like an option or futures contract, a swap has a calculable market value, so one party may terminate the contract by paying the other this market value. However, this is not an automatic feature, so either it must be specified in the swaps contract in advance, or the party who wants out must secure the counterpartys consent. . Enter an Offsetting Swap For example, Company A from the interest rate swap example above could enter into a second swap, this time receiving a fixed rate and paying a floating rate. 3. Sell the Swap to Someone Else Because swaps have calculable value, one party may sell the contract to a third party. As with Strategy 1, this requires the permission of the counterparty. 4. Use a Swaption A  swaption  is an option on a swap. Purchasing a swaption would allow a party to set up, but not enter into, a potentially offsetting swap at the time they execute the original swap. This would reduce some of the market risks associated with Strategy 2.. Conclusion Swaps can be a very confusing topic at first, but this financial tool, if used properly, can provide many firms with a method of receiving a type of financing that would otherwise be unavailable. This introduction to the concept of plain vanilla swaps and currency swaps should be regarded as the groundwork needed for further study. You now know the basics of this growing area and how swaps are one available avenue that can give many firms the comparative advantage they are looking for.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Blue Ocean Strategy Paper Essays - Marketing, Blue Ocean Strategy

Blue Ocean Strategy Paper Essays - Marketing, Blue Ocean Strategy Blue Ocean Strategy Paper MKT421 June 1, 2015 Blue Ocean Strategy Paper Many companies entering the business world, whether offering a product or service, find the progressiveness of the revolutionary business atmosphere to be rather problematic. Opposition, contention, and competitive space in the market are factors that many companies are discovering to be challenging in the succession and relevancy of their freshly offered product or service. With the use of the blue ocean strategy, establishing the appropriate environment that paves the way to success can be an enormous relief for any company. Blue Ocean Strategy Description and Importance Kim and Mauborgne (2004) describe the blue ocean strategy as having the ability to create market space without competition in order to collect the most profits. In an industry that has become fully established, companies are continually competing for every space available in the market. The blue ocean strategy eliminates the struggle for market space by providing companies with the proper education to become pertinent, essential, and lucrative. In the world of business, a blue ocean refers to open water, meaning a market without competitors. Competition can be expensive for a company, and without that added expense, it has the ability to operate, expand, and create innovative ideas, which ultimately allows the company to capitalize profits and utilize every possible opportunity that arises. In order for a company to cease the rivalry with competitors, they must switch motives. This creates a blue ocean because a new demand is created, transforming the competition into irrelevant sour ces. The blue ocean strategy utilizes analytical instruments such as value pioneering, differentiation, and lower costs, as the jumping off point in the blue ocean process. Four principles are the key elements in the next steps of the blue ocean process. Those principles, how the market space without competition is created, preserving that the big picture remains in focus, aiming beyond the current demand, and keeping to the strategic arrangement, allow a company to conquer risk-causing obstacles leaving the structure of the current market open for tackling. Fair process and implications of leadership are dealt with, including organizational hindrances. These hindrances, whether political, motivational, or cognitive, can deter a company from its path to success by way of the blue ocean strategy. An Example and Why The blue ocean strategy has been the innovative plan of action for many companies in their quest for total industrial domination. 3M is one company that has become particularly innovative in leading the way. 3M has led the way for many years in a wide variety of innovative products by creating products that are reverent in a very competitive market. Focusing on such a huge company, narrowing 3M Corporation down to just the division of stationary products is a difficult task. Such innovations that include Post it note, Scotch Bright, Scotch tape, along with many, many other innovative product 3M leads the way with useful innovations that pave the way using the blue ocean strategy. By implementing key concepts, value innovation, and differentiation, 3M created products that fit both low cost, and create an open market because such products were not available. Next by addressing contested market space, 3M reconstructed market boundaries, focused on the big picture, created a product that addressed existing demand placed strategic sequence that fit to the 3M label. Narrowing down to a single product, Post-it-note by 3M, fit all of the blue ocean strategy because it was the first of its kind and created open water for the 3M corporation to expand and maximize revenues. Being introduced in 1977, Post it notes is a piece of notepaper with an adhesive strip of glue on the back that temporarily attaches the note to documents or surfaces. Post it notes were the first of their kind, and is a prime example of how the blue ocean strategy works fitting all key elements to attract customers with just a piece of paper. Red Ocean Strategy Start here. The Red Ocean strategy focuses on the opposite of the blue ocean strategy. A company implementing a new product or service into a crowded marketplace can difficult. Such things as similar products and lower cost points can be unattractive for a product or service. Furthermore, there is a way of manipulating a

Thursday, November 21, 2019

World History Soldier's Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World History Soldier's Journal - Essay Example However gradually I realized that it is my duty, my responsibility and I should not be emotional about it. With the passing time, I started perceiving my job as a symbol of manhood and started feeling proud about being a soldier. The advancement of nationalism in the 19th century had many severe outcomes. Rivalry for trade and colonies started to increase. Europe’s immense powers were rapidly segmented into two alliances, the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. Predicaments in the Balkans within 1908 to 1913 made several European countries annoyed with one another. They were enthusiastic to go to combat to safeguard the supremacy of their national regions. Not all racial sections turned out to be nations. However the development of nationalism made the Poles, the Slavic and the Irish people’s demand of forming their individual national states. The National demands were not the sole reason behind the developing internal divergences during the initial years starting from 1900. During those times the socialist labor movements became further authoritative. These progresses were more and more intending to make use of strikes to achieve their objectives, even though this procedure paved the way f or hostility. A few of the conventional leaders were scared of the fact that their countries were on the edge of mutiny. Some history scholars claim that the terror of upheaval and the willingness to restrain internal disputes influenced the authoritative figures of some countries to take part in the war of 1914. Subsequent to 1900, the magnitude of armies all around Europe started to growth at a shocking rate. Conscription, a military draft, was utilized by the majority of the Western countries prior to 1914. It brought about the size of the European armed forces to an amount that is double the earlier number of armies between the time period 1890 and 1914. Militarism (arrangement for war) was developing. Military guides got to be

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Involving Parents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Involving Parents - Essay Example After successfully contacting and personally interviewing a citizen academy official, I was able to obtain substantial information on the measures and plans that they put in place to ensure an effective partnership and participation of culturally and linguistically parents in their organization. The first question I posed to the official was on the approximate number of CLD parents who participate in the organization. Unfortunately, the official did not have an exact figure of the number of CLD parent in participation in citizens Academy. However, according to the views received from the official, it was evident that only a few CLD parents are involved despite the organization’s effort for equal representation of all CLD parents in the Academy despite regardless of cultural and linguistic diversity. The last meeting that was held, the official revealed to me that only five families precipitated. Regarding the groups from which the parents come from, it was evident that a number of diversified groups are represented in the organization. The groups of parents, as retrieved from the interview, are from the Louisa county public health, the university of Lowa, Columbus junction lion’s club, family credit union, Columbus junction police department, and the united Presbyterian church. CLD parent in Citizen Academy participate in a various ways to ensure that all issues and questions they raise are appropriately answered. The major participation of the parents is through the attendance of frequent held meetings held by the organization. The organization also holds field trips to various destinations, which provide a medium for the parents to participate actively. The concerns from the CLD parents are mainly because of the diversity in cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The unique characteristic raising a major concern is that the parents are refugees from underdeveloped countries, who are new to the region; hence are

Monday, November 18, 2019

Micro Economy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Micro Economy - Research Paper Example Choosing one alternative requires giving up a number of other alternatives. There is an opportunity cost involved in making choices. Opportunity cost is considered to be the most important concept in economics. It is the value of the best alternative that is given up in order to make a choice (Rittenberg and Tregarthen 2011). It is on these ideas that the theory of comparative advantage is based. A country is deemed to have a comparative advantage in producing a good if it has a low opportunity cost n producing that good. Firms as well as countries have a comparative advantage in producing one good or offering one service over another. It therefore means that since resources – labor, capital are land are scarce they need to make a choice. The production possibility curve (PPC) is a graphical representation of the different combinations of goods and or services that can be produced in an economy with the resources and technology available. It brings together the three concepts of scarcity, choice and opportunity cost. The choice of producing one good instead of another or a particular combination of goods reflects scarcity of resources, making a choice between alternative options, and highlights the concept of opportunity cost. The slope of the PPC represents the opportunity cost of giving up one good or service for another – in the case of a simple two good/service model. It is this opportunity cost that is used to determine whether a comparative advantage exists. An economy is deemed to have a comparative advantage in the production of a good or service if the opportunity cost of doing so is lower for that economy than any other. Deardorff in his article entitled The General Validity of the Law of Comparative Advantage though making the point that the law does not hold in multi-commodity world indicates that the comparative advantage determines the form that international trade exhibits (941). This proposition, Deardorff indicates

Friday, November 15, 2019

History of Nude Drawings in Art

History of Nude Drawings in Art Nudity vs. Nakedness The nude figure is the most volatile subject in the history of painting. The artists treatment of the nude dictates whether her gaze addresses the viewer with a coy obliqueness or a confrontational directness. The figure has the ability to condemn, invite, and often perform both simultaneously. Through the viewers inverted projection an immediate response to nudity, the nude figure attains the ability to undress us. The vulnerability and splendor of nudity is that in its elemental form, with no adornment or intention, it is looked upon with grace and beauty but the moment that it dallies on the line of effortful pleasure, it will be seen in the opposite light. Even today, certain nude photos, in the culturally appropriated context, are appreciated as art, whereas pornographic images are viewed tactlessly and cheaply. The reclining nudes contentiousness can be charted from Cabanels Venus to Manets Olympia through the writers Zola, Clark and Castagnary. They argue that it is the contex t that demarcates the crucial difference of acceptable and refutable works of nudity and explain that these artists, most notably, Manet, disobey traditional conformity by being able to belong to multiple facets of prostitution therefore, in essence, not belonging to any singular categorization. To preface my explication on Manets Olympia, Ill first give some background. Edouard Manet was born on January 29, 1832. He was well educated but showed a great liking toward drawing and the arts. His Uncle Charles Fournier encouraged Manets appreciation for the arts and often took him and his friend, Antonin Proust, on outings to the Louvre. In 1850 Manet entered the studio of Thomas Couture and studied there until 1856. During this time, Paris began its massive transformation of the city under the supervision of Baron Haussmann. Haussmanns revitalization affected the physical environment of Paris as well as the cultural and social atmosphere. Thousands of jobs were created, stores redesigned, and buildings torn down and redeveloped. All of this happened to try to make Paris the most beautiful and cultural city in the world. This idea of change might have prompted Manets decision to paint his Olympia so boldly naked. But I believe the answer lies in the artists lifelong ill-health; it was in fact Manet himself suffered the physical pain from which he suffered on a daily basis was the result of a syphilic virus contracted during one of his aforementioned youthful encounters, a misconception which haunted the artist throughout his life . Taking this point into consideration, one must therefore consider the psychological effects that Manets own feelings of guilt and regret concerning the cause of his illness, and consider the effects that it had upon his life and his work, and thus in turn the way in which those feelings influenced his view of women as a whole, but particularly those of ill-repute. Although he has been hailed as the first modern painter, Manet was inspired by the great tradition of artists like Giorgione, Titian, Velazquez and Raphael, whom the Pre-Raphaelites had rejected. For example, Olympia (1863) is undoubtedly based on Renaissance works and shows his re-examination of old masters where as traditionally, nude figures were always depicted in classical settings or as goddesses, details like the choker and shoes of the subject of this painting make it clear she is a contemporary courtesan. Also, she does not have the typical demure, slightly coy expression the public would expect, but instead looks straight out of the painting in a matter of fact, challenging manner which would be shocking and considered unacceptable at this time. This painting also shows Spanish influences, and was described by a critic as a crazy piece of Spanish madness; due to the way the figure seems to be asserting a powerful physical presence. This idea of a powerful female figure was possibly inspired by the Spanish ballet troop who performed at the Hippodrome in Paris starring a woman called Lola, depicted as a robust, red-blooded figure. In the Salon of 1863, Manets Olympia was criticized her unacceptable composition and directness of gaze while Cabanels Venus, later purchased by Napoleon III, was lauded for its refined eroticism. Castagnary epitomizes this idealized view of the nude in his account of 1863 when he uses the words dazzling, immaculate and naked beauty to describe the nude form of the goddess Venus. Castagnary also comments on Venuss harmonious pose and pure, well arranged contours. Cabanels Venus is perfectly, technically drawn- idealized, devoid of any blemish or body hair. She is sexually passive, characterless and more perfect than is humanly possible- which fitted with the accepted style of the time. According to Frances Borzello, Cabanel adheres to a strict set of conventions when he paints his Venus as historically, the reclining nude is painted in the guise of a classical goddess and tends to lie with her eyes turned from the spectator, half closed, or even closed (as in Cabanels piece), offerin g no obstacle to his free-ranging glances over her body she often stretches out in a landscape whose hummocks and valleys metaphorically echo her curves (hence the significance of the swelling sea Venus floats atop) . The Salon goers were used to seeing paintings with elaborate shades between light and dark, and because Manet covered up nearly all such shades, the critics could not see Olympia as a three dimensional figure, only as an arrangement of flat patterns. But this engaged the eye more, forcing it to assemble continuity from extremes of light and dark. Manet chose instead to paint bold brush strokes, implied shapes, strong simplified forms, and used simple colours. He allowed the viewer to see the paint itself as a part in the painting and to see the texture, and elements of colour. His work looked natural with no actual fixed composition. Olympia beyond doubt shows Manets determination to simplify. Manet highlights his subject with a thick, blackish outline that closes in o n her. As a result, all of these techniques forced the viewer to see Olympia not only as a naked woman, but also as patches of paint precisely laid on the surface of the canvas. Manets use of color in Olympia separates it from many of his other paintings. Olympias chest is very lit up making her the focus of the painting. This flattens the image of Olympia by extracting the roundness of her. Everything in this painting is either light or dark. The light and dark both make up two different planes, the foreground and the background. The white sheets, pillows, flower bouquet, and the servants dress are the entire foreground layer. The dark green curtains and rust like wallpaper make up the background. These two layers, however, are joined together with the servants dark face, the black cat, and Olympias black jewelry. Without these elements the foreground would look like it was just cut out and pasted down on a background. The contrast of colors within Manets painting appeals to the viewers senses. Emotional responses to the painting, such as purity, are caused by the white colors of the bed and the woman upon the sheets. Her white, pure skin tone relates to th e natural association with virgin purity. The darkness that surrounds the women upon the bed then relates to dark, harmful feelings that most relate to evil. The woman upon the bed inhibits the natural innocence of the painting. The flower that is placed within her hair contains colors of pink and red hues. These brighter colors of the painting bring a very strong interest to the womans head and facial features. There are other various color relationships within this painting as well. The different flowers seen in the bouquet can also be seen in the blanket Olympia is laying on. The dress of the servant matches that blanket also. The wall in the background coincides with the couch or bed that she is laying on. Overall the repetition of color allows the painting to flow smoothly. The use of color within the painting allows different perspectives based on feelings and emotions. The subject matter of this painting is both intriguing as well as artistic. The woman, Olympia, is portrayed in a very different way than most of paintings in that time period. Her naked body shows her physical beauty, but the way she is propped upon the bed gives the idea of her not having respect for her personal body. The reason for this is that other paintings of this time show women presenting themselves in a more graceful matter, stereotypically ladylike. Her complete nudity, with the exception of her bracelet, necklace, and shoes shows that she feels that accents are needed to make her beautiful. If the womans view of herself was different she would see herself and her body as a piece of art work within itself. Her jewelry, flower, and shoes show us she needs more to feel beauty outwardly. The bed beneath her gives the pretrial of laziness because it is unmade. Yet the lines of the sheets accent her body curves to give an even idea of shape. Some might view her as a sexual par tner to many men because of her willingness to be nude and the flowers that are being brought to her by the servant. The flowers symbolize Olympia being very lady-like, and proper. However she maintains a very impersonal relationship with the viewer because of her flat gaze. Camille Lemonnier states that in order for a nude to stay pure in art she must be made impersonal and this is what Cabanel does by draping the arm across Venuss face, obscuring it and allowing her just to peek out through half-closed eyelids and by ridding her body of imperfections (which explains the absence of pubic hair) that make her personalized, and therefore flawed. The view that comes across very strongly in Castagnarys account is that all artists that paint nudes should strive to create perfection. This is a very different view compared to both Zola and Clark. Cabanel also includes the group of flying cupids that accompany Venus on her journey (to finally stand erect and reveal herself to men as Castagnary puts it). They play the part of the necessary allegorical trappings that must be included in a traditional reclining nude, as the aim of the painter is to elevate his model to goddess status and present her idealized, modest form to the spectator to appreciate and admire in her immaculate beauty. By placing cupids in his painting it ensured that the spectator would know that this was Venus- not just a naked girl Cabanel got to model for him, a mistake Manet makes with his Olympia. The fact that Manet copied his model, in Zolas words, just as she was caused much shock and outrage among the crowd at the salon of 1863. Manet disrupted the convention that the reclining nude should in no way cause embarrassment to the viewer. He caused a scandal by posing his model as a modern woman (with no allusions to her being a goddess) who stared boldly back at the spectator, challenging and discomforting. In Zolas account of Manets Olympia he focuses on the technical merits of the painting and highlights the new style that Manet was painting in, saying that everything is simplified and that if you wish to construct reality you must step back a bit, he believes Manet had performed a miracle. This view differs highly from Castagnarys, as in his account of Cabanels Venus he stresses the fact that Cabanel is a skilful draughtsman and much emphasis is placed on creating a technically correct painting. However it is my view that Venus in Cabanels work doesnt sit as comfortably in her setting as Manets Olympia does in hers. To me Venus appears stuck on to the crest of the wave- as if Cabanel had sketched his model first and added the background in later, working it around his model and not actually incorporating her into the scene very effectively. However, despite Manets miracle brushwork and his courteous nod to Titians Venus of Urbino people found the painting offensive. We can clearly distinguish Olympia as being a courtesan and this is what I believe caused the public react in a hostile manner towards it. She is adorned with many of the trappings that would have been familiar to them as they would have been able to tell she was a prostitute- her pink flower placed on the side of her head, her black ribbon around her neck and slipper dangling from her foot. A black maid offers flowers to her- no doubt sent by one of her clients, also whereas Titians Venus delicately covers her sex, Olympias flexed hand firmly protects hers, as if to refuse to let the viewers eye roam freely over her. This, accompanied with her calm, almost insolent glare further adds to the feeling of discomfort the visitors to the salon must have felt. There were many prostitutes around at this time that chose ancient names for themselves (like for example Olympia and Aphrodite) and numerous members of the nobility kept open mistresses. It was normal to go about your business and family life during the day then mix with women like Olympia at night. These high class men would have attended the Salon with their families and been confronted with something from their other life- a prostitute. The fact that she was a prostitute elevated to goddess status many people thought was unacceptable. Countless felt that this kind of image didnt fit in the setting of a respectable salon. Its because of this fact that Zola states that Manets work is more real than any other- when other painters correct nature (as Cabanel does in his work) they lie why not tell the truth? He says that Olympia is a girl of our own times whom we have met in the streets. Manet incorporated the present with the classical in a way that had never been seen before, it was a comment on society but more importantly he wanted to capture his subject as she really was. Titian turned his model into a goddess, whereas Manet turned Titians goddess back into a simple woman. Here we see the differences in Castagnary and Zolas opinion. Its my impression that Castagnary advocated that nudes should be objects of perfection to be viewed as a way of deepening our appreciation of beauty, whereas Zola stresses the importance of telling the truth and painting from real life, to create a comment on society. However Clark takes a different stance on the nude altogether and argues that the nudes purpose is to stir erotic feelings within us- if it fails in this objective he believes the artist has created bad art. Clark says this is the obvious point of the nude, and that however abstract, it shouldnt fail to arouse in us some vestige of erotic feeling. Manets Olympia certainly does this and so do countless other artists versions of the nude. Artists like Giorgione and Ingres show how the nude can be erotic in the traditional sense and artists such as Henry Moore, Modigliani, Picasso and Egon Schiele have explored new ways of portraying the nude- set free by Manets rebellion in 1863. However I do not wholly agree with Clarks view that the nude should always be erotic as I think that the nude evoke other feelings besides this. For example Egon Schiele can emit the feeling that is conveyed to me is one of intense vulnerability and this is something Clarke doesnt explore at all. To be nude/naked is to be stripped of our clothes, laid bare for all to see with nothing to hide us. It is true to say also that many nude paintings are too erotic- to the point where as a spectator you feel more like a v oyeur. Lucien Freuds painting Naked Girl Asleep for example, shocks me whenever I look at it, as do any of his paintings. However it is true to say that in the period we are living in we have been desensitized, which makes me believe that my reaction to Freuds work is similar to the salon goers of Manets day, to his Olympia. Its my opinion that the subject in Naked Girl Asleep is placed centrally on the canvas so that it forces you to look at her (much like how Manet made the focal point of his painting, Olympias eyes where she challenges you to engage with her). Everything in Freuds piece seems too stark and amplified, the rib cage juts out and the skin tone of the girl has an almost death like quality. Funnily enough this view is very similar to comments made by critics of Manets time about Olympias dirty flesh. I think it is very important to remind ourselves therefore of the period that each of these extracts were written in, as both Castagnary and Zolas account come from 1863, whereas the extract from Clarks book was written in 1956 and therefore what society found acceptable as art had changed quite dramatically. For centuries the reclining nude had been constrained by rules and conventions. After 1900 a reclining nude could be fractured by cubism or dissolved by abstraction painters were able to depict the previously unemitable. The nudes are no longer passive like Cabanels Venus but force you to interact with them, as did Manets Olympia. However, I do agree with Clarkes point that a nude should be erotic, but I dont believe that is its only purpose. I also agree with his point that if it does not evoke any feeling then it is bad art and I think this is true to says of all art in every genre. I believe a painting has to make you feel something whether its a bad feeling or a good one, as then it is creating a response- this is what I believe good art does. For me I get more out of looking at Manets Olympia than I do looking at Cabanels Venus as I feel there is more to engage with in the painting- the black servant presenting a bouquet of flowers, the cat arching its back and the mystery this creates. Is the cat arching his back and hissing because an unexpected person has just walked into Olympias room? Has Olympia sat up straighter, placed her hand coyly over her pubic area and met an unannounced guest with accusing, challenging eyes? Are we, as the spectator, in the position of someone bursting in? Is it us she chall enges, looking out as we look in? Cabanels painting in contrast fills me with none of these questions apart from the fact that I want to know why it is that Cabanel thought it acceptable to plonk Venus on top of the wave; I feel that she and the background do not fit together at all. Saying this I wouldnt say that Cabanels Venus was completely devoid of any erotic overtones, as I believe the way she gazes out at the spectator through half closed eyes is, in a way, inviting. I think the main thing that irritates me about this painting though is her passivity, almost as if she cant be bothered to really acknowledge you. She seems resigned to the fact that she is there as an object of desire and just accepts it. Whereas Olympia is much more aware of her sexuality and is in control of it- this to me, living in a post-feminist era is a lot more interesting and I feel I can identify with the painting more. In conclusion I believe that each of the writers attitudes towards the nude in the three extracts is valid and interesting. I can see Castagnarys point that the nude should be perfect as it can be an object of beauty, but this is an idealized view of how a woman should be. This view is still prevalent today in the culture we live in, where we are bombarded with images of perfect (often airbrushed models) on a daily basis. The idea of what perfection is may have changed but the concept has not. I believe that Zolas opinion that painters should tell the truth is correct in reference to painting the nude, as I agree with showing the body as it is, complete with every blemish as Picasso said if it is pure (as Venus is in Cabanels painting) it is not art . I also agree with Clark to some extent when he says that a nudes purpose is to be erotic, but I do not believe that this is its only purpose. The nude can evoke all sorts of feelings within the viewer- feelings of pity, of empathy, of a mazement, or of appreciation of our human bodies. To be nude is to revert back to the way we were in the beginning. Bibliography CLARK, T.J.- Olympias Choice, The Painting Of Modern Life- Princeton- 1984- p. 212, p.214 BORZELLO, Frances- Nude Awakening- The Guardian Online- 2009 (Found athttp://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,824240,00.html) CLARK, Kenneth- The Nude- A Study Of Ideal Art- John Murray- London- 1956; repr 1957- p. 6

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Pride and Prejudice Essay: The Character of Elizabeth -- Pride and Pre

The Character of Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice       In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen portrays Elizabeth Bennet as "strong and intelligent, yet bewitching in a completely feminine way". Elizabeth's possession of these attributes: strength of character and moral integrity, great intelligence, and an attractive personality, make her an admirable person. Yet Elizabeth has faults, which makes her more human. Austen's portrayal of Elizabeth is realistic and masterful, often juxtaposing her with characters lacking her attributes to heighten our appreciation of her. The claim that Elizabeth is strong is indisputable. The strength of her personal integrity is highly evident in her refusal of Darcy's first marriage proposal. At the time, she believed Darcy to be arrogant and selfish, based on Wickham's account of Darcy's disgraceful behaviour towards him. She was also furious with him for ruining Jane's chance of happiness (through marrying Bingley). Yet, it would have been prudent for her, a girl with only  £1,000 and 4% interest annually from it, to marry Darcy, whose estate is worth  £10,000 a year. She never wavers, though -- "her intentions did not vary for an instant". The strength of her convictions and loyalty towards her sister made her reject his offer, and with it, probably all possibility of her every marrying "well" and securing a comfortable future. Also, she was not intimidated by Darcy's wealth and high social status, daring to tell him exactly what she thought of him and to risk his anger by offending him -- "You could not hav e made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it." It is very clear that Elizabeth's principles are uncompromisable. Elizabeth ... ...on & Company, 1966. 374-388. Litz, A. Walton, Jane Austen: A Study of Her Artistic Development. Oxford University Press, 1965, p. 198. Moler, Kenneth. Pride and Prejudice: A Study in Artistic Economy. Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers, 1989. Mullane, Janet & Wilson, Robert Thomas, Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc., 1988, Vol. 19, pp. 2, 4-8, 14, 17, 32, 42, 55-6, 58, and 66-7. "A Review of 'Pride and Prejudice,'" Critical Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, March, 1813, pp. 318-24. Southam, B.C., (ed.), Jane Austen: The Critical Heritage. Landon, NY: Routledge & Kegan Paul - Barres & Nobel Inc., 1968. Weldon, Fay. Readings on Jane Austen Taplinger Publishing Co. Inc, 1984 in. Ed. Wright, Andrew H. "Feeling and Complexity in Pride and Prejudice." Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1966. 410-420.   

Monday, November 11, 2019

Consumerism Essay

Taking the green to the extreme A lot of consumer groups are starting to show up against capitalism and consumerism. They strive to come out with the message that â€Å"less is more†, meaning that buying less is better for the environment. They are taking recycling to another level. The question is, is it possible to make a huge impact? Do we really need to stop consuming to make a difference? And how bad do we need a change? One of these groups are called freegans. Freegans are people living an anti-consumer lifestyle, they choose to re-use food that is being tossed to the curbside but the food being tossed is edible.A lot of people think that it is obscene to eat food out of a dumpster or curbside and that it is impossible to know how long the food has been out there. They are not necessarily being freegans out of economical issues they are doing it out of principle because they do not wish to fund those big corporations that are spoiling the environment and they also think about the homeless people and give them some of the food they find since they get so much that they cannot take it all home. Their message is being well received, since some stores put the food in way that makes it easy for them to pick and choose and they even wink at them.Another group is the Compact that are against consumerism. It originated in 2005 at dinner party in San Francisco, where the guests decided to take recycling to another level by going a whole year without making a new purchase but they are allowed to buy used items and are encouraged to borrow and reuse whatever possible. They too think that consumerism is destroying the world and that most of us own more than we need. Their concept is being taken rather seriously and has quickly been spread all across the United States of America. Almost 3. 00 people from all over the world has taken part of the concept on Yahoo and the participants think that it has been a rewarding experience. Quote from John Perry the co-foun der of the Compact group – â€Å"We’ve enjoyed the camaraderie and competitive spirit with friends,â€Å" Perry said. â€Å"And it’s been really good for us to think about what we need, as opposed to what we want† When Colin Beavan got the news about global warming and he did not feel that the government was doing something about it, so he decided to do something about it, therfore he did something that nobody has done in thousands of years.Colin Beavan decided to live without electricity through a whole year with his daughter and wife. Other initiatives are to use low-energy transportation, eliminating trash, eating locally and seasonal and so on He wrote a book called â€Å"No Impact Man: A Year Off the Grid† based on his experiences throughout the year he was living without electricity. Colin Beavan says that whenever they were bored they went to the park and hung out with their neighbors and in this way they were both being social and sparing the environment. Colin Beavan has encouraged people to do the same by starting the No Impact Experiment.There is a webpage were you can register yourself to join the No Impact Experiment, you can schedule how you are going to live a week and upload videos of how well you are doing, so that everyone can see your results. Personally I think that these are some amazing initiatives and it is very inspiring but I do not think I would be able to live by eating food from the dumpsters or without electricity, I am too accustom to the way I am living like right now and I believe a lot people would have difficulties because they are to accustom to the way they are, I know a lot of people who cannot live without their cell phones or being on Facebook.A lot of the things that a couple years ago we almost did not use have become a necessity for us, e. g. internet, or at least for my generation. I do think that even the smallest thing you do, can help the environment and the small steps are the ones that are going to help the environment. ?