A Review of School Funding In Texas

The article shows the various efforts that the state of Texas has implemented in order to source funds for its schools.The first laws enacted for the purpose of school funding were the Gilmer-Aikin Act which was passed in 1949. Under this law, the funds would be sourced from state and local donors. In my opinion, this is a very comprehensive law because it provided for a top to bottom reorganization of the state funding system (Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools, 2004).The current law right now is the â€Å"Robin Hood System† (Coalition to Invest In Texas Schools, 2004). From the name itself, the funding for schools would be sourced from the wealthy districts of Texas. The aim of this system is to ensure equity in financing the schools.Soliciting the help of the affluent states of Texas is a good way of fostering cooperation among the districts of Texas. It would help the low income districts to use their funds for other activities (Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools, 2004 ).In 2004, this system of using the revenue of wealthy districts was able to generate $1.2 billion annually which was used as budget by the Foundation Program of Finance. Putting an end to the Robin Hood System proved to be a difficult decision as the local government of Texas would have to find substitute funding in order to support the schools (Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools, 2004).The Robin Hood System became very controversial and was even the reason for the filing of a class suit by more than 300 school districts. The main argument of the plaintiffs was that by levying the maximum rate on property tax, it became equal to the ad valorem tax levied by the state, which violated Texas Constitution (Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools, 2004).The case needed three years before it was resolved. In September 2004, a decision was handed down in favor of the plaintiffs. In October 2005, the Travis County District Court ordered the Texas Legislature to resolve the unconstitutional element of the school funding system which also includes budget for facilities (Coalition to Invest In Texas Schools, 2004).The article proves the fact that funding school systems is a very sensitive issue that should be addressed by the proper authorities.Works CitedCoalition to Invest in Texas Schools. (2004). A Brief History of School Funding in Texas.Retrieved June 5, 2008 from http://www.investintexasschools.org/schoolfunding/history.php

Pollution in Vellore

CASE STUDY ON POLLUTION IN VELLORE: SOURCES AND MEASURES TO CHECK IT. SOURCES AND METHODS TO REDUCE POLLUTION IN VELLORE Shraddha Sahu and Akshay Ahuja B. tech- Electronics and communication Engg. , SENSE, VIT UNIVERSITY, Vellore, Tamil Nadu – 632014 Email id- shraddha. [email  protected] ac. in ABSTRACT: Vellore, also known as ‘fort city’ and a historical destination in southernmost India , is one of the fastest growing cities. This city is a hub for leather industries, chemical industries as well as automobile and mechanical industries.It ranks 8 in the most polluted cities on the survey conducted by The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in conjunction with IIT-Delhi. The observation of pollution in this city was conducted with an aim to study the sources of pollution in the city and measures to control it. The observation of pollution was done by roaming around in the city between chittoor bus stand to new bus stand. The rapid industrial growth is respon sible for the pollution. KEYWORDS: Historical destination, conjuction, pollution. INTRODUCTION: Since the industrial revolution the world has witnessed the rapid expansion of its cities.For years humans have been flocking to these urban centres in search of jobs, commodities, entertainment and other phenomenathat can commonly be found in cities. [1] Pollution of Environment or environmental pollution means making the environment foul. Our environment means the surrounding of our house where we live, the surrounding of our village where we live or the surrounding of our town or city where we live. If our surrounding gets polluted we suffer from many kinds of disease and sickness. If our surrounding gets highly polluted, our life gets endangered. [2] Modern evelopment processes, especially industrialization, have come in for a great deal of criticism for their utter disregard for the environment. Trash and garbage is a common sight in urban and rural areas of India. It is a major sour ce of pollution. [3] Street corners are piled with trash. Public places and sidewalks are despoiled with filth and litter, rivers and canals act as garbage dumps. [4] Air pollution  is a serious issue with the major sources being fuelwood and biomass burning, fuel adulteration, vehicle emission and traffic congestion. [5] In urban areas, vehicle emissions are another source of air pollution.Vehicle emissions are worsened by fuel adulteration and poor fuel combustion effi    ciencies from traffic congestion and low density of quality, high speed  road network  per 1000 people.. [6] Rapid urbanization during the recent decades has given rise to a number of environmental problems such as water supply, waste water generation and its collection, treatment and disposal. Vellore city which came up on the bank of palar river have not given a proper thought to the problems of wastewater, sewerage etc. In urban areas, the wastewater is let out untreated and causes large scale water po llution. [7] METHODOLOGY:To find out the source of the pollution and think over the measures to control it the region between chittoor bus stand and new bus stand of vellore city was selected as the locale for this study. The observation of the pollution was carried out by roaming around the streets. Photographs were taken out and normal discussion of source of pollution was done with local people. The local people were asked about the difficulties they face due to the pollution and how can we overcome this from their point of view. Use of internet and e-books were taken to study more about this problem and to check it. RESULT:From the above study we came to know that the pollution in vellore city is no more different from other cities. The common sites seen were roadside garbage dumping, unhygienic area around water sources, air pollution due to emission of gases by vehicles, accumulation of solid waste and poor sanitation. This problem is common to almost every city in India. The common traditional known sources of air pollution are power plants, industries, road dust, construction work, garbage burning, vehicle exhaust and domestic fuels. The sources of land pollution are garbage dumping and improper disposal of solid waste.The sources of water pollution are sewage discharge from industries, poor sanitation, disposal of waste in water sources and religious sources. DISCUSSIONS AND FINDINGS: The important landmarks that come between old chittoor bus stand of vellore to new bus stand of vellore are Pillayar koil, thiru nagar, silk mill, gandhinagar, doordarshan, virthumpet and new bridge road over the palar river. Problems related to city: Use of tetrapacks, plastic plates, cups and bags, tin cans and similar throw-away items has increased in the last decade.Lack of proper waste collection, segregation and management systems and poor sanitary conditions are aggravating health problems. The reason for the contamination of the ground water in Vellore is because the tanneries are dumping their effluents into city’s lifeline—the Palar River. All the tanneries here from Vaniampadi to Ranipet dump their effluents into the river. [8] Problem related to palar river bed: The Palar River bed is dry most of the year because it is a seasonal river. It stirs to life every year during the monsoon. When the river is devoid of water the riverbed is quarried for its 15 feet of sand.Palar is the primary source of drinking water for the residents of Vellore. But those who live in this city made famous by the super speciality hospital, Christian Medical College, say that the clear water of Palar has turned into blood red. A local environment group, Pasumai Thayagam, affirms that the red toxic water has destroyed sources of potable drinking water in various localities of Vellore like Ambur, Vaniampadi and Ranipet. Measures taken by government to check pollution in vellore: Exnora Green Cross, supported by UNICEF, initiated a pilot project on s olid waste management in a ward of Vellore municipality in 2000.ZWM [Zero Waste Management] is a system of managing solid wastes that strives for maximum waste recovery through recycling and reuse, aiming at zero waste generation. †¢ It minimizes pollution of ground water and air by doing away with disposal of wastes at dumpsites and land? lls. †¢ Zero waste management integrates the informal recycling sector (ragpickers and waste collectors) into the solid waste management system providing opportunities for income generation. Possible measures that can be taken: 1. Conversion of waste paper into pepwood: Conversion of waste paper into pulp articles is an old art.We can reduce garbage by recycling the waste paper in a decentralized manner. It will help in prevention of burning of waste paper & ? lthy sights. Women/SHG members/unemployed youths/after receiving thorough training can undertake this activity. 2. Liquid Waste Management through Root Zone Treatment: Under the li quid waste management practices at community level, the waste water from toilets is being treated naturally through â€Å"Root Zone Treatment Method (Natural plant based system)†. The treated water (5500 liter per day for 50 person’s occupancy) is recycled for toilet flushing and landscaping purposes. . Eco Friendly plastic fuel [Conversion of waste plastic into liquid hydrocarbons/ energy]: Prof. Mrs. Alka Umesh Zadgaonkar, Head of Department of Applied Chemistry at the Nagpur based G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, invented an Environment friendly catalyticadditive process for disposal of waste plastic. The invented process involves degradation of waste plastic using `catalytic-additive’ and is different from the generally existing pyrolytic processes. The products obtained in the process are Liquid hydrocarbons, Gas and residual Coke.It is a major breakthrough in the arena of non-conventional sources of energy! 4. Black water management from community toi let: EXNORA International Chennai, through its unit in Tiruchi District, has taken up construction of Decentralized Waste Water Treatment System (DEWATS), which is ideally suited for small colonies, apartments, slum areas etc. Salient features: †¢ Decentralized treatment of black water. †¢ Reuse of treated water for raising trees, vegetables. †¢ Use of biogas for cooking and lighting. †¢ No Electricity or chemical is used for treatment. Very easy for operation and maintenance since it does not have hazardous or complicated machinery. CONCLUSION: Urbanisation brings prosperity but at the same time creates environmental problems like pollution, accumulation of solid waste and poor sanitation. . In this context, solid waste management is an area of challenge and of innovation for urban planners and city corporations. A zero waste management (ZWM) project by NGO Exnora Green Cross, initially piloted with UNICEF, in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district is an example o f a successful solid waste management programme and its bene? s. REFERENCES: 1. â€Å"The little green data book†. The world bank. 2010. 2. â€Å"Environment assessment, Country data: India† , The world bank. 2011. 3. Radhakanta Swain, Essay. 4. â€Å"Drowning in a sea of garbage†, New York times. April 2010. 5. Atmanand et al. (2009). â€Å"Energy and Sustainable Development-An Indian Perspective†. World Academy of Science. 6. â€Å"Urban air pollution, catching gasoline and diesel adulteration†. World bank 2002. 7. Krishnakumar Asha, 1995. Streams of poison. 8. V. K. Shashikumar, Tehelka magazine, 16 july 2005

Four Season Hotel Analysis

Amy Huboi TIP-Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels The company that I have chosen for the theory in practice report is the Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels. The company is dually listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FS and it is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FSH. The company originated in Toronto, Canada over forty years ago when owner and CEO, Isadore Sharp, opened up the first Four Seasons hotel. His concept was to create a chain of luxury hotels that offered excellence in service and amenities.The hotel currently has sixty-four properties in twenty-nine countries. The majority of properties are held under the Four Seasons and Regent hotel brands. The company has also established branded share ownership properties and private residences. My personal interest in this company is a result of my husband’s employment at the Four Seasons Aviara over the last nine years. I have seen first hand how this company takes immense pride in their staff and their well-being.The company also has extensive training for employees and provides many benefits, such as promotions and management training programs. The company has been extremely successful throughout the years because of their strong focus on specific market segments and their needs. The company has utilized successful strategies, which have aided in their financial success and stability when other competitors have failed or taken a loss. Chapter 1 Mission Statement and Values The Four Season’s has created a mission and values statement that encompasses the company’s goals, beliefs and principles.The mission statement has been developed to serve as a starting point for the company’s overall business strategy. It is also meant to be a source of guidance for Four Season’s employees. Their mission statement incorporates four important attributes of the company; â€Å"who we are,† â€Å"what we believe,† â€Å"how we behav e,† and â€Å"how we succeed[1]. † The Four Seasons main purpose is to provide the finest luxury accommodations to their guests. The company’s goal is to be regarded as the best in hotel and resort management.The Four Seasons believes their employees are their most vital assets. The quality of the employees is paramount for the company in their achievement of organizational objectives. Four Seasons believes it takes a unified and cooperative employee effort to satisfy the guests’ needs and to achieve success in the industry[2]. The company has developed the philosophy that individuals (employees and guests) should be treated fairly, ethically, and respectfully. Four Seasons has adopted the â€Å"Golden Rule,† which states: â€Å"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you[3]. This has become the underlying foundation for the Four Seasons company culture. Although the Four Seasons wants to be known as the leader in the luxury hospitality ind ustry, they have a strong belief that the pursuit of this objective should not overshadow their high ethical standards. The overall financial goal of the company is to earn â€Å"a fair and reasonable profit† in order to protect the investments of all stakeholders[4]. Four Seasons also focuses on long-term strategies, which ensures profitable growth. Chapter 2 Porter’s Five Forces ModelRisk of Entry by Potential Competitors: Low The companies in this specific industry offer customers a highly differentiated product. The luxury hotel industry has high brand loyalty among their customers. This can be justified by the premium price customers are willing to pay for a hotel room. According to Karl Huboi: â€Å"Once a guest experiences luxury hospitality they will never settle for anything less[5]. The existence of strong brand loyalty is difficult for new entrants to break unless they offer a superior service, which can be quite costly.It is difficult for new entrants to g ain access to the capital requirements needed to develop and build a luxury hotel. It can cost over $200 million to build a new luxury hotel and this does not include the cost of employees and marketing[6]. The industry’s incumbents have established relationships and experience, which enables them to achieve significant cost savings. In addition to brand loyalty and costs the new entrants must also contend with the probability of retaliation from the established hotels. Rivalry Among Established Companies: HighThe luxury hospitality industry is fairly concentrated. There are approximately 10 key competitors of the Four Seasons. The hotel companies are: Accor, Fairmont Hotels, Hilton, Hyatt, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Orient-Express Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Thistle Hotels and Wyndam[7]. The level of diversity among the companies is medium to low because the majority of the companies provide similar types of high quality service. The high cost of b uilding, furnishing and servicing the hotels in the industry create high fixed costs and high exit barriers.In addition to monetary costs the companies also have strong relationships and bonds with employees, investors and guests, which are difficult (financially and emotionally) to divest. As a result of the economic downturn in the last few years the hotel industry has experienced slow or even stagnant growth. There were several hotel companies that held back development projects and laid off employees in order to avoid a financial loss. Currently, there has been a steadily increasing demand for luxury hotels in the lodging industry. The Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood luxury collection, St.Regis and W Hotels luxury chains are the primary hotels that have begun to witness the increase in consumer demand[8]. Power of Buyers: Low The consumers of the luxury hotel industry purchase a low volume in relation to the industry’s total capacity. The level of differentiation tha t the companies offer is high. This makes it difficult for consumers to compare luxury accommodations with standard accommodations. Consumers that want to stay at hotels, such as the Four Seasons, are willing to pay the higher premium because they value the service.When the quality of the service is high the buyer usually has low pricing power. There is very little threat of backward integration from the consumer due to the high costs of startup in the luxury hotel industry. Power of Suppliers: Medium The number of suppliers to the hotel industry is extremely high. The types of suppliers for hotels include: furniture suppliers, linen and bedding suppliers, food suppliers, decor suppliers, appliance suppliers, and uniform suppliers. The availability of substitutes is generally high, except when supplies are developed exclusively for hotels.For example the Four Seasons uses specially made Bulgari and L’Occitaine products in their hotel bathrooms. The Four Seasons also has mattr esses made specifically for the hotel rooms. In instances like these hotels can become reliant on specific supplies. The majority of hotels have regional contracts with suppliers. This locks the hotel companies into using certain suppliers and creates switching costs. Supplier power is slightly reduced by their reliance on the hotel industry, especially in the case of uniform and food suppliers[9]. Power of Substitutes: LowThere are substitutes for lodging, such as camping, hostels and motels, but none of these offers the service and amenities that luxury hotels provide to their guests. This is the main reason why there is a low threat of substitutes to the luxury hotel industry. Overall, the luxury hotel industry can be relatively profitable due to the low threat of new entrants, low power of buyers and low threat of substitutes. Chapter 3 Building Blocks of Competitive Advantage There are four â€Å"building blocks† that create a competitive advantage for companies: superio r efficiency, superior quality, superior innovation and superior customer responsiveness.Each of these factors can contribute to increasing the consumer’s perception of quality and decreasing the company’s cost structure[10]. The Four Seasons Hotels strives to achieve superiority in each of these components thus allowing them to maintain an advantage over their key competitors. At the Four Seasons employee productivity is the main measure of efficiency. The company has developed a rigorous interview process to ensure the hotel hires employees that match the Four Seasons criteria. Four Seasons requires that their employees have strong moral values, teamwork mentality and high quality work ethics[11].The Four Seasons has also developed extensive employee training in order to further develop the employee’s skills and traits. The company believes in empowering their employees in order to shorten the process when dealing with problems. This gives the employees a sens e of importance and pride at work regardless of their status at the hotel. The Four Seasons also provides full benefits and other perks, such as â€Å"comp nights,† in order to further generate employee satisfaction, productivity and to realize the guests experience[12].The superior quality of the Four Seasons experience is measured by the guest’s perception of service and value. A key indicator of the consumer’s value for the Hotel’s service is the achieved daily room rates (ADR). If a guest perceives the quality and value of the Four Seasons to be high then he/she is willing to pay a higher room rate. The company’s overall ADR has increased by 4. 3% in 2003. This was above the average ADR for the luxury hotel segment. The high quality of the Four Seasons service/product is also reflected in the numerous awards and accolades they have received.Several of the Four Seasons have achieved the five diamond status, which is a prestigious award given by the American Automobile Association (AAA). In 2004 the company had 19 properties that were awarded five diamonds[13]The Four Seasons has also dominated many surveys and polls, such as Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report. In 2003 the company had over 13 hotels listed on the top fifty of the Harper’s Hideaway Report[14]. The Four Seasons has been a pioneer in developing innovative standards in the hotel industry[15]. They were the first U. S. ompany to include bathroom amenities, like shampoo, bathrobes, hairdryers and make-up mirrors in their hotel rooms[16]. The Four Seasons provides 24-hour room service, overnight dry cleaning, shoe shining and fitness centers. The hotels also prepare specialty meals for guests who prefer low fat meals or who have dietary requirements. The innovation of these standards has created and strengthened brand loyalty among guests who value these types of services and attention to detail. The Four Seasons has made an unwavering commitment on pro viding â€Å"uncompromising service† to their guests[17]. Uncompromising service is more than a paper strategy, it has become the defining competitive difference for Four Seasons[18]. † The power that the company gives to their employees allows them to quickly and efficiently handle the most unusual requests. This enables the company to exceed the guest’s expectations of consumer responsiveness. Chapter 5 Business-Level Strategy The Four Seasons has developed their business strategy based off the concept of differentiation. They provide their guests with a distinctive and unique level of service.Their customer focus is primarily business travelers, corporate groups and leisure travelers. Although the hotels generally attract certain clientele the Four Seasons policy does not allow for discrimination and believes all guests deserve the same exceptional experience[19]. The company has created a strategy that focuses on four important components. The Four Seasons co ncentrates on â€Å"small to medium sized luxury hotels[20]. † This allows hotel management to effectively operate each hotel and provide the guests with more intimacy. The hotel company also concentrates on hotel management services instead of hotel ownership.Management service is one of the Four Seasons main distinctive competencies. The company has established partnerships with investors who provide the backing for hotel development. The investors receive ownership in the hotels while the Four Seasons takes sole responsibility for managing the hotels and resorts. Approximately, ninety to ninety-five percent of the companies earnings are a result of the management fees[21] The company currently has majority ownership in only three properties[22]. Another component of Four Seasons strategy is their â€Å"golden rule† philosophy.The company believes it is important for every level of employee to participate in treating others fairly and respectfully. This principle cre ates an atmosphere, which facilitates a positive work environment and adds to the guest’s experience. The Four Seasons has also identified their â€Å"uncompromising service† as another component of their strategy and as their â€Å"distinctive edge† against competitors[23]. The company’s knowledge and background in creating unique experiences for customers provides the Four Seasons with pricing power thus giving the company an advantage over rivals. Chapter 6 Mature IndustriesThe hotel industry is a mature industry. There are several different types and sizes of hotel companies, but the larger companies generally dominate the industry. The luxury hotel segment focuses more on non-price competition to deter new entrants, such as market penetration, product development and market development. The Four Seasons concentrates on increasing their market share and continuous growth by developing new hotels in different regions. At the end of 2004 the number of F our Seasons properties will have reached 70. The company president, Isadore Sharp, hopes to have a total of 100 properties by 2010[24].The Four Seasons has also begun to expand into new niches or markets with product proliferation. In 1997 the company opened its first luxury vacation ownerships (timeshares) at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad, California. The company believes this is another way to reach and satisfy guests who value the quality of Four Seasons experience. â€Å"The Four Seasons Residence Club experience will bring an exclusivity, privacy, luxury and service level never before available in the vacation ownership arena[25]. † They have also opened up residence clubs at the Scottsdale, Jackson Hole, and Punta Mita properties.In addition to the fractional ownership venture the company has also developed private residences in Jackson Hole, San Francisco, Miami and Scottsdale. The luxury hotel segment rarely uses price-based competition, such as price sig naling or pricing games. These types of tactics can drive down room rates to a level that is not profitable for any company in the industry. This is not the goal in the luxury hotel segment. Many companies, like the Four Seasons, want to create superior value so they can justify the premium room rates. The Four Seasons does not believe in using pricing games as a strategy to deter entry.It against their policy to cut prices as a competitive means. This strategy is warranted by the fact that the hotels attract guests based on the product not the cost[26]. Chapter 7 Technical Standards There are many established standards or specifications that must be upheld for a hotel to be classified as a luxury accommodation. These standards are also important in the selection of hotels to be deemed a five diamond or five star establishment. According to the AAA the factors to be considered when judging a hotel are its age, size, architectural design and appeal. In ddition the AAA bases its asses sment on the guests overall impression of the establishment[27]. It is important for luxury hotels to follow these criteria and to receive superior evaluations because these ratings impact the hotels credibility among consumers. There are also other specific features that hotels must have in order to achieve five star or five-diamond status. Some of the examples are: valet service, 24 hour room service, live flowers and plants inside the rooms and premises, real wood detailing, fine art work, fitness centers, minimum of two restaurants (one being fine dining) and pressing services[28].These standards make up the dominant design for each Four Seasons Hotel. This means that every hotel that is built must adhere to certain specifications that have been established by the industry. The differences that do exist among the hotels are seen in varying features such as the furnishings, architectural layouts, color schemes and locations. Chapter 8 Multidomestic Strategy The Four Seasons has f ollowed a multidomestic strategy throughout their expansion into international and domestic regions. The key distinguishing feature of multidomestic companies is that they extensively customize both their product offering and their marketing strategy to match different national conditions[29]. † This strategy is also feasible when the company is not reliant on cost reductions for maximizing profitability. In the luxury hotel industry it is necessary to modify certain aspects when entering the global market. The Four Seasons has maintained the highest levels of local responsiveness in their aggressive overseas expansion.The modification of the hotels for different regions is often reflected in the hotel design and in the service features. When the Four Seasons builds hotels they always take into account the natural environment of the location. For example the, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa have been designed to resemble the tropical huts of the region[30]. The Four Seasons also considers the size of the hotel when entering a new location. It is important to not build a hotel that over scales its environment because it could be seen as offensive to the community.The Four Seasons is also conscious of blending the local culture in with the service features of the hotels. For example each hotel offers cuisine that is unique to its location[31]. The Four Seasons has been successful at transferring their distinct corporate culture and core standards to each hotel it manages. The company is not overly concerned with lowering costs thus making it possible for them to provide customized service and quality regardless of the hotels location. The premium rates charged by the Four Seasons for their customized product offering offsets the added costs of being locally responsive. Chapter 9Horizontal Integration In the mid 1990’s the Four Seasons decided to horizontally integrate by acquiring Regent International Hotels, a luxury hotel chain in Asia[ 32]. The Regent brand was experiencing a significant financial burden and was on the verge of bankruptcy. The Four Seasons decided that acquiring the Regent Hotels would help them build their market share. After being extensively investigated by Regents investors, the Four Seasons was sold the right to takeover Regent’s fifteen properties[33]. The acquisition allowed the Four Seasons to become â€Å"the dominant company in the luxury hotel market worldwide[34]. After the Four Seasons became listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto and Montreal Stock Exchanges in 1997, the company decided to sell off the Regent brand. The Four Seasons sold only the â€Å"rights to future development of the Regent Brand name to Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality services[35]. † The agreement between Carlson and Four Seasons allowed both companies to utilize the Regent brand reputation as a source of competitive development. The Four Seasons still maintains ownership rights to eight of the established Regent Hotels.The Four Seasons was fortunate to acquire another company that actually increased their overall value and market share. Traditionally it is difficult for firms to successfully horizontally integrate because of the difficulties associated with merging company cultures and accurately estimating the benefits of integration[36]. The company was able to look past any potential risks in order to see the future opportunity for growth. Chapter 10 Joint Ventures The Four Seasons has recently formed a joint venture with the cruise ship developer, Ocean Development Group.The companies plan to develop and launch the luxury cruise ship by 2006[37]. The Four Seasons will be responsible for managing the cruise ship. The concept for the cruise ship is similar to the ResidenSea, which provides its guest with the atmosphere of home while at sea. The joint venture is beneficial for both companies because they can share the risks and costs associated with the development and marketing of the cruise ship. The business venture also allows each company to focus on providing their specific assets and capabilities that will enhance the success of the project.The Ocean Development Group will own the cruise ship and will be responsible for the cost of development. The Four Seasons will use their distinctive competencies in management service to operate the hotel under their name. The company will use their skills in customer service to create an atmosphere that is comparable to any Four Seasons on land. IRME’s SouthWest: Both the Four Seasons and Soutwest airlines have developed strong company cultures. The companies also view their employees as their most important asset.Both companies believe that productive and loyal employees are a source of efficiency and profitability for the company. Southwest uses employee efficiency to lower costs and the Four Seasons uses their employees to create high differentiation. Harley Davidson: Both Harley Davidson and Four Seasons focus on providing their customers with a highly differentiated product/service. The companies have also developed strong brand loyalty among their customers by providing a unique experience and by being responsive to customer needs. Airborne Express: Both companies have not developed extensive advertising campaigns (i. e. TV ads).Airborne Express has avoided this because they want to avoid attracting certain customers (like non-business shippers). The Four Seasons does not advertise on a large scale because they do not need to appeal to the general public. Their customer focus is only on specific market segments, like the business traveler. It would be a waste of resources for both companies to participate in mass marketing because of their customer focus. Dell & Shaw: The Four Seasons, Dell and Shaw have all developed strong business models, which have added to their profitability and allowed the companies to experience signi ficant advantages.Dell developed the direct selling business model, which allowed the company to capture a specific market (big businesses and knowledgeable buyers). Shaw developed a business model focused on providing inexpensive wine by mass marketing. This allowed the company to realize economies of scale and lower cost savings. The Four Seasons has developed a business model that is based on providing differentiated service by focusing on their expertise in hotel management services instead of hotel ownership.Coke & Pepsi: The Four Season’s key competitor is the Ritz-Carlton, but unlike Coke and Pepsi the companies do not participate in competitive pricing and marketing strategies. Interesting Points An interesting fact that I have learned from doing this report is that the Four Seasons main business focus is in providing hotel management services. I was unaware that they only had majority ownership in three properties. I also did not realize that they had several differe nt investors for each developed property.This strategy has been successful for the Four Seasons, because it allows them to earn significant profits (an operating margin of 53% in 2003) through the use of specific skills and assets[38]. Another interesting thing I have learned is that the Four Seasons was able to maintain profit levels well above their competitors throughout the past economic downturn. The company refused to lay off employees and cut room rates (which is important to my husband and I) when several other hotel companies made significant cutbacks to decrease their overall costs.The Four Seasons believed that lowering cost and service standards would ultimately have an adverse effect on the company’s reputation and established brand loyalty. This strategy has allowed the company to retain their status and to earn higher ADR than their competitors. Works Cited AAA Five Diamond Award. 2004. www. ouraaa. com Four Seasons Annual Report. 2003. www. fourseasons. com. F our Seasons EmPact. 2004. Karl Huboi’s Employee Handbook. â€Å"Four Seasons Receives Top Billing by Readers of Andrew Harper’s Report Rank as Best City Hotel in the U. S. and Abroad Plus Best Hotel in 10 Major Cities. † PR Newswire. (September 9, 2003). ww. factiva. com. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kura Huraa. 2004. www. fourseasons. com. Garrahan, Matthew. â€Å"A New Spring for Four Seasons. † Financial Times. (November 26, 2004). www. factiva. com Hill W. L. , Charles and Gareth R. Jones. Strategic Management Theory: An Integrated Approach. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004). Hoover’s Company Profiles. Four Seasons Hotels Inc. (November 14, 2004). www. factiva. com. Huboi, Karl. Interview with Four Seasons Employee. (December 1, 2004) Warson, Albert. â€Å"Hotels are Hot. † Mortgage Banking 65. (October 1, 2004). www. factiva. com. ———————– 1] Four Seasons Annual Report, ( 2003), p. 6, www. fourseasons. com [2] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 6 [3] Four Seasons EmPact, Karl Huboi’s Employee Handbook, p. 8 [4] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 6 [5] Karl Huboi , Interview with Four Seasons Employee, (December 1, 2004) [6] Karl Huboi [7] Hoover’s Company profiles, Four Seasons Hotels Inc. (November 14, 2004), www. factiva . com. [8] Albert Warson, â€Å"Hotels are Hot,† Mortgage Banking 65, (October 1, 2004), www. factiva. com. [9] Karl Huboi. [10] Charles W. L. Hill and Gareth R. Jones, Strategic Management Theory: An Integrated Approach (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004), p. 6 [11] Karl Huboi [12] Karl Huboi [13] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 11 [14] â€Å"Four Seasons Receives Top Billings by Readers of Andrew Harper’s Report Rank as Best City Hotel in the U. S. and Abroad Plus Best Hotel in 10 Major Cities,† PR Newswire (September 9, 2003), www. factiva. com. [15] Four Seasons EmPact, p. 7 [16] Four Seasons EmPa ct, p. 7 [17] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 8 [18] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 8 [19] Karl Huboi [20] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 7 [21] Matthew Garrahan, â€Å"A New Spring for Four Seasons,† Financial Times (November 26, 2004), www. factiva. om. [22] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 7 [23] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 7 [24] Matthew Garrahan [25] Four Seasons EmPact, p. 8 [26] Matthew Garrahan [27] AAA Five Diamond Award, (2004), www. ouraaa. com. [28] Karl Huboi [29] Charles W. L. Hill and Gareth R. Jones, p. 272 [30] www. fourseasons. com/maldives/index. html. [31] Karl Huboi [32] Four Seasons EmPact, p. 8 [33] Four Seasons EmPact, p. 8 [34] Four Seasons EmPact, p. 8 [35] Four Seasons EmPact, p. 8 [36] Charles W. L. Hill and Gareth R. Jones, p. 304 [37] Hoover’s Company profiles [38] Four Seasons Annual Report, p. 12

Policy Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Policy Analysis - Research Paper Example Following the implementation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifetime blood donor deferral policy (1983) that required all homosexual men who had engaged in sex with a male partner since 1977 not to donate blood, San Jose State University’s president decided to suspend all blood drives that were ongoing at the campus and also those held outside the campus by the official student organizations and those held by employees representing the organization. the blood drive ban came as a result of investigations that had been conducted at the campus following issues of the fairness of the university policy introduced by one of the university’s employees to the campus Office for Equal Rights. The president’s reasoning was that aligning the university’s blood drive policy with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifetime blood donor deferral policy violated the non-discriminatory policy enacted by the university because it denied homosexuals a chance to donate blood like other students. San Jose State University is a public institution in the policy making process. As such, it plays a key role in society (Verschuere, 2009). The blood drive ban was followed by nationwide reactions immediately. Major media outlets all over the country ran it in their news after picking the story from Associated Press. The blood drive policy received support and criticism from various quarters in the country. Many students and university employees positively commended on the university’s move. A section from the outside community also expressed its satisfaction with the policy stating that it would serve as the beginning point to ensure that discrimination of homosexuals is discouraged in matters such as this. The university and its president also received criticisms following the implementation of the blood drive ban policy. Some students, blood-collecting organizations and a section of the outside community

The Spaces between Stars by Geeta Kothari Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Spaces between Stars by Geeta Kothari - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of Hinduism as one of the oldest religions of the world. It evolved in the Indian subcontinent over 5000 years ago and has a rich body of literature. Unlike monotheistic religions such as Christianity or Islam, Hinduism is polytheistic, with thousands of deities and gods being worshipped. Even in terms of ethnography and culture, there is a rich diversity of Hindu expression. The sacred rituals and beliefs related to Hinduism vary across ethnic communities in India. The Hindu scriptures explain morality in the form of legends and myths. More than a religion per se, Hinduism can be looked at as a philosophical system. The key themes of this system are that of the interconnectedness of life, repercussions of good and bad deeds (karma), the temporariness of earthly existence and the aspiration toward liberation from it (moksha). Texts such as the Upanishads and epics such as Ramayana and Mahabaratha serve as mediums of this philosophic discou rse. While the Hindu idea of karma is deterministic, it does not promote fatalistic attitude. While the circumstances we find ourselves in are somewhat arbitrary, there is much we can alter our future through the exercise of free will.   Towards the end of the story, Maya seems to realize this truth.   She is seen to slowly make a resolution that she will henceforth be more faithful to her feelings and no more live in denial.

Benefits of using pieces of crushed brick in the concrete Essay

Benefits of using pieces of crushed brick in the concrete - Essay Example Aggregates in the concrete make the concrete weather resistant through their design and composition. Brick can not be considered a suitable material for mixing in concrete if its weather resistance is declined. To increase the durability of concrete structures, Romans tried several materials in place of aggregates. Owing to the lower modulus of elasticity and higher tensile strength than stone aggregate concrete, brick aggregate concrete is considered a suitable option. Three different concrete mixtures were produced and tested in different conditions. The first sample group was made of 100% gravel, the second sample group contained 100% crushed bricks and the third sample group contained 50% bricks and 50% gravel. A total of 33 concrete cubes were cast, 11 from each group. The concrete cube samples were subjected to repeated cycles of the frosting and thawing process to simulate the real-world conditions. For each concrete mixture, 3 of the cubes were not frozen at all, 3 cubes unde rwent 10 freeze-thaw cycles and the last 3 cube samples were subjected to a maximum of 20 freeze-thaw cycles. The remaining 2 cubes were subjected to the oven temperatures to determine their porosity. Each concrete cube was tested for its compressive strength, and tensile strength. Brick concrete showed more compressive and tensile strength than ordinary concrete because of lower w/c ratio.

The Importance of Motivation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Importance of Motivation - Research Paper Example The researcher states that motivation applies in many areas including the classroom, working place and even at the home place. This paper will discuss the importance of motivation in the mentioned areas, the positive effects of motivation and the happenings if there is no motivation. In a classroom with no motivation, the students with less learning capabilities or rather those who are slow in learning get disadvantaged. They become frustrated and bored with assigned tasks that they cannot handle. These students tend to have little interest during class time thus their concentration lowered. Their view of the importance of education is changed and such students will take it as a burden. Their attendance for classes decreases while some can even stop schooling. In a classroom, motivation comes in where the students feel some sense of belonging. The teachers base the syllabus according to the interests of the students. The students instructed using different approaches. Some theory wor k put into practice to break the monotony of being in a classroom. The students have the opportunity to make decisions about how they prefer to learn a given subject or topic. Motivation in a classroom is important since it has a positive result in the long run. The desired achievements of success attained. The gap between the fast and slow learners brought closer. The courage, pride, behavior, and performance of motivated students generally rise compared to those who are not motivated. A workplace is a social place where combined capabilities or different individuals bring out a tangible effect. Motivation at the workplace is all about what and how workers want to work. It entails what they want to be introduced, improved, or abolished for them to work comfortably. Lack of motivation in workplaces brings in headaches to the managers and employers, as the employees do not produce the best. There arise issues of low profitability, company failures, and thus closure due to low product ion.

Evidence-Based Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Evidence-Based Practice - Assignment Example ew of the secondary literature was conducted by selecting different research papers which were focusing on the use of echocardiography and chest x-ray in the diagnosis of various cardiac problems. The keywords explored were heart problems in teenagers, chest X-ray vs. Echocardiogram and cardiac disorders diagnosis. The databases used for the search include Google scholar, Ebscohost and PubMed. To understand the use and function of echocardiography and chest x-ray, different websites were searched on Google search engine. Literature review showed that a number of studies were available on using chest X-ray and echocardiography in cardiac problems especially for evaluating cardiomegaly. However, no relevant data was found related to teenagers. Research revealed that the heart problem is a major issue in adults therefore; studies have conducted to examine the utility of the two diagnostic tests in cardiac problems in elderly and adults. The research has limitation of not having related data for the use of chest X- ray and echocardiogram in studying cardiac problems of teenagers. No comparative analysis was found on search. The studies comparing data of both diagnostic tests on a practical setting and primary research were included however; studies that do not address the comparison of both tests and representing limited population were exempted from the research. Two studies were chosen for interpreting the comparison data. On the other hand, three sources were used to explain the key concept of both t ests and the research. Different Approaches and tests are used for the diagnosis of heart problems in teenagers admitted in medical telemetry unit. These include a physical examination, Chest X-ray and Echocardiogram. Chest X-Ray is an important diagnostic test for determining heart problems in individuals. It is used for viewing the picture of lungs and heart to determine their shape, blockages, fluid accumulation in lungs and pulmonary congestion (Dickstein et al.,

Sociology unit4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sociology unit4 - Essay Example These processes are largely intertwined and result in specific challenges to societies in general and to family life in particular, in both direct and indirect ways.† (Editors' note & Introduction†, 2008) Further it could be suggested that this list is accurate but incomplete as changing gender roles and division of labor both within and outside the family have also evolved. The wealth gap has increased in the United States over the last fifty years. The wealthy have gotten wealthier and the poor have gotten poorer. This increases the affluence of the wealthy and increases the poverty of the least affluent. Most importantly, however, it increases the differences between the lives of the very wealthy and those of the very poor. This significant wealth gap increases differentiation within American society and between classes leading to resentment and the loss of a sense of shared destiny and cooperation. Second, as a result of the demographic transition families are getting smaller. It was not uncommon at the start of the twentieth century ffor a family to have six or eight children and possibly also have grandparents living with them. Households were much larger one hundred years ago than they are today. In 2000 the average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14. Household size refers to persons living under the same roof but not necessarily related. (US Census, 2000, Fact Sheet) That the family size is larger than the household size is evidence of a weakening of the family in terms of families living together. It also speaks to the massive increase in marital breakdown that has become a common feature of modern family life. According to divorcerate.org, â€Å"50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce, according to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri.† (â€Å"Divorce Rate†) John R. Lott Jr., argues that the wider av ailability of abortion as a birth control option increased casual and pre-marital sex and single-motherhood. He argues that this was the cause of the burgeoining crime rate during the 1980s and 1990s. He arguess that, â€Å"more out-of-wedlock births, fewer adoptions than expected, and less pressure on men "to do the right thing"--led to a sharp increase in single-parent families.† (Lott, 2007) Further he asserts that this led to more children being raised in single-parent families and had no impact on the declining crime rate. â€Å"Legalizing abortion increased crime. Those born in the four years after Roe were much more likely to commit murder than those born in the four years prior.† (Lott, 2007) The increasing divorce rate and the increase in single-parent families all point to a weakening of the traditional family. References â€Å"Divorce Rate†. Www.divorcerate.org. "Editors' note & Introduction." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 39.3 (2008): 1+. Han isch, Carol. (2006). â€Å"New Intro to 'The Personal is Political'. Web. http://web.archive.org/web/20080515014413/http://scholar.alexanderstreet.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=2259. Lott, John R., Jr. (August 13, 2007). "Abortion and crime: one has an effect on the other, but it may not be the effect you think." National Review18. US Census, 2000, F

The League Of Nations And United Nations Essay Example for Free

The League Of Nations And United Nations Essay Introduction International organizations were created basically to function according to the principles of decision-making among member countries represented by appointed or elected representatives. These powerful leaders unite and agree on an issue or in determining solutions and conclusions that involves the welfare of all races across the world. Issues like economics, international law, human rights and security of not only for developed countries but of the third world countries as well. There is a common purpose and goal, joined together for world peace. Nations are associated to work as a single unit. Such associations are founded many centuries ago by leaders of past generations to avoid riot, confusion and continuous killings among nations. Within these organizations, principal subordinate groups, bodies, assembly, mandates and members were structured accordingly. However, not all powerful organizations have strong foundations. Others may fail due to coincidental flaws and lapses that lead to its eventual demise. They have failed to achieve matters that concern the welfare of the people. Their approach to issues might be weak. Thus, conflicts were not resolved as they were highly expected to have been done. The League of Nations is one organization that led to such failure. This paved way to the emergence of The United Nations. After The League of Nations’ failure to prevent war, it was decided to create a new body to replace the League’s role. The League of Nations and the United Nations are international assemblies that have the same vision. They both aim to achieve peace among nations and security which may lead to economic stability. The difference is that the former failed as history narrates, and the latter still exists and continuously binding nations for a better and peaceful world to live in. It also has its flaws and negative approach to some activists who are against some processes the organization implements but we can only hope that their advocacy for peace may succeed. League of Nations To put an end to the World War I, an international organization was formed. This was called The League of Nations. The organization was founded by signing peace agreements. The aim of the League was to uphold harmony and safety among international countries. The First World War resulted to the League of Nations in a way that it made people realize that there is a need for prevention of another catastrophe (League of Nations). Its philosophy is sincere and its legacy will continue on for the next hundred years. However its foundation became weak and has not proven that it can prevent future world wars. The League failed to have its own armed forces. It was very much dependent on Great Powers on inflicting decrees. Also, the Great Powers still had the control on which sanctions chosen by the League would be implemented. The League was also not capable of deciding whether or not to accept taxes. Furthermore, the United Kingdom and France were hesitant on choosing military sanctions by the League. These two nations are the most powerful members of the League. League of Nations failed to achieve its mission. They should have successfully met their goals of preventing war, by means of collective security, diplomatic negotiations in calming down disputes between nations and developing global welfare (Sambasivam). The League of Nations back then had three principal structures: the assembly, the council, and the secretariat. The assembly is the central body of the League. Each state’s representative made up the assembly. They conducted meeting every year. They were responsible in making resolutions and legal advisories. The council is a sub-group of the representatives but they were apart from the assembly. Their role was to intercede and straighten out between disputing countries. The secretariat was the office of the General Secretary. He was the overall in-charge of the League and responsible for its every action. It also established mandates which refer to territories defeated in the war. It formally took away sovereignty of the controlling states then transfer mandatory powers to individual states among the Allied Powers (League of Nations). Due to the right of the members to represent each of their nations, they ended up protecting their own interests and lost its dedication to the goals of the League. The outbreak of World War I would be the effect of these weaknesses and failure to convince leaders lost its supposedly powerful grip. The League of Nations would have met the dream of races of all nations all over the world of a better place to live in. The United Nations Taking over that job, after thirty years of eventual failures, is the United Nations. All services, mandates, and property were turned over to them. Founded after World War II and came into being on October 1945, it hopes to continue the vision of the past assembly for peace and security, social progress, and guide minorities and the common people of their awareness of their human rights (History of the United Nations) . The United Nations has a more comprehensive and in-depth approach to matters concerning all nations. According to the official website of UN, the union intends to uphold respect among human races and their rights and keep and preserve the environment. It also gives attention the improvement of living standards, and fight against disease. Furthermore, agencies of UN delineate standards for safely and economically air traveling. It also deals with illegal drugs selling and terrorism through worldwide campaigns. Aside from these issues, UN also gives assistance to refugees and develops strategies in clearing up landmines. Essentially, the union also provides opportunities towards the stability of global interdependence and national sovereignty. It also encourages interests among countries when tackling international problems (â€Å"UN in Brief†). Compared to the League of Nations, UN has opened its doors to all nations, advocates of peace who are willing to comply with obligations presented in the Charter. The attitude of the members greatly affects the decision of the General Assembly, by the recommendation of the Security Council. It has a more systematic structure based on five principal branches. These are UN General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, and International Court of Justice respectively. It designates committees to address issues on peace and security, peacekeeping, human rights, humanitarian assistance, international development, and bureaucratic inefficiency (â€Å"How the UN Works†). Conclusion The League of Nations was a failure and ineffective with its performance as an assembly that might have prevented World War II. Eventually, the United Nations inherited the crisis of warring nations. UN, up to this day has continued to maintain its ability in deploying armed forces of its member nations as peacekeepers. It engages in peacekeeping and not only deals with issues of politics but also displays empathy and reaches out to other cultures through humanitarian missions. United Nations was structured as in the first place to assemble a more effective body compared to the League. Apparently, it has succeeded in calling for its nation members to give contributions with regards to armed inventions. However, in some instances unavoidable, it has been relying on economic commendations for funding.   The dream continues. The UN founders envision a pleasant world to live, wherein there would be absence of conflicts and wars between nations. It is a fact that the vision is not yet realized until this day. Conflicts continue that rages across the globe. Countries decide to break-up and the dominance of leadership brings out further challenges for the United Nations. REFERENCES: History of the United Nations. United Nations, 2000. How the UN Works. United Nations, 2000. League of Nations. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 6th ed: Columbia University Press, 2007. League of Nations. Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security.: The Gale Group, Inc., 2004. Sambasivam, Sivakami. Lessons from World War II. 2006. â€Å"UN in Brief†: United Nations, 2000.

Causes of the 2008 Global Economic Crisis

Causes of the 2008 Global Economic Crisis Essay Topic: Outline the major arguments put forward to explain the emergence of the 2008 crisis. Discuss in detail the two that seem most relevant together with the supporting evidence about their validity The world economy witnessed its most dangerous crisis in 2008 since the Great depression in the 1930’s. The contagion, which began in the United States when the housing prices finally turned assertively downward and spread quickly to the entire financial sector in the U.S and then to other financial markets abroad through financial and trade linkage . The financial crisis prompted in the early 2006 when the subprime mortgage began to show an increasing rate of mortgage defaults which later increased higher than normal rate in the late 2007, and on September 15,2008, one of the biggest investment banks in the world, failed, Lehman Brothers (2008financialcrisis, 2015). This essay would look at the major factors that explains the emergence of the 2008 crisis and also critically discuss in details the two most relevant arguments with supporting information and data that proofs its validity. Various arguments were proposed to explain the emergence of the crisis, which are; capitalist instability, financial deregulation and innovation, debt and crisis and rising inequality. The financial crisis shows inherent instability of capitalism; John Maynard Keynes believed that it was necessary to use monetary and fiscal policy to tame instability because he sensed that the market economy was unstable, this system became the pillar after the Great Depression and was a success this success later was carried to extreme and became overgrown and highly wasteful. Financial capitalist revolted against higher rates of inflation in the 1980s by forcing government to adopt restrictive policies, especially tight monetary policy (this is higher interest rates) and the result was less inflation and a return to higher unemployment, this shows that government policies have affected the combination of unemployment and inflation at specific times. Milton Friedman later came up with the neoclassic al theory that states that the market economy should be kept free from government intervention and regulation to enable more efficiency and stability. This thinking has been carried too far by the Bush Administration of 2001to2008, which has sought to do away with regulations and allows securitization of debts and everything else imaginable, these workings of market was spread globally. It is however fair to say that what led to the financial crisis can be a grand experiment of global scale aimed at the creation of the laissez-faire ideal comprehended by the neoclassical school (Katsuhito, 2008). The financial liberalization is also considered as one of the main causes of an increased frequency and intensity of financial crisis, these deregulations has a potential negative effect on the financial stability. Although the evidence towards these effects is inconclusive for several reasons, it increases bank risk-taking in both developing and developed countries through different channels in both groups of countries. In the developed countries, increased bank competition is the main channel of bank risk but in the developing country increases in bank risk associated with increased bank competition is not found. However, research also indicate a different effectiveness of capital regulation, official supervision, and financial transparency for limiting bank risk-taking across countries, this essay would later focus on the financial deregulation and innovation to explain the emergence of the crisis with theoretical background and hypotheses to discuss the potential effects of finan cial liberalization on bank risk-taking. Household indebtedness has a cause and a long-run macroeconomic implications, this has grown in most considerably developed countries over the past 25years, sustaining consumption growth and contributing to the fall in the household saving rate. The rapid household indebtedness manifested in the USA, housing bubble started to burst in 2006 and fell about 25 percent from the peak so far after prices stopped to increase in 2006 and decreased in 2007. This decline was obvious that homeowners could no longer refinance when their mortgage rates were reset, this caused delinquencies and avoidances of mortgages to increase rapidly, especially among subprime borrowers. The percentage of mortgages in foreclosure tripled in the first quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2008 from 1 percent to 3 percent or at least thirty days delinquent more than doubled , from 4.5 percent to 10 percent. The delinquency and foreclosure rates are higher than that of the Great Depression which was 6.85 in 198 4 and 2002, the American dream of owning your own home turned into an American nightmare for millions of families. By 2009, a total of about 6 million mortgages are either in foreclosure or has already been foreclosed which is about 12 percent of all the mortgages in the United States, this means losses for lenders and it was estimated to be $1trillion or more. In addition to losses on mortgages, due to the weakness of the economy, there were also losses on other types of loans which was ranged up to another $1trillion, so total losses for the financial sector as a could be as high as $2trillion. It was also argued that rising inequality in the past three decades has led to political pressure for redistribution that eventually came in the form of subsidised housing finance and has been found in general to impede growth. Political pressure was applied so that low-income households who overall would not have qualified gotten enhanced access to mortgage finance. The subsequent lending boom made an enormous run-up in housing prices and empowered consumption to keep above stagnating incomes. The boom switched in 2007, prompting to the emergence of the 2008 crisis. Along the lines, this essay would further review evidence that suggest that unequal access to political impact produces unequal access to finance and eventually unequal opportunities, which can underpin any initial economic inequality. Inequality has blended much contention amongst economists due to its role in the economy, a critical number of economist have exhibited the implications created by rising economic inequality and its role in the current global financial crisis while different other economist reject this thought and also minimalizing the importance of inequality as a contributor by stating other factors that contributes to the crisis. Most developed countries have experienced a great increase in inequality in the last few decades, especially in the US where there has been a wide aggregation of wealth and capital amongst the top-earning bracket of society whilst the average workers have encountered a relatively small increment in real wages in connection to inflation and rising productivity. This has in turn increased household debts for low income earners in the economy due to the need of maintaining a comfortable living. Krugman (2013) believed and argued that these two phenomena are possibly related â€Å"Inequality is linked to both the economic crisis and the weakness of the recovery the followed†. Figure 1 shows the common trends in the share of total income amongst the high income earners in the US. The share of total income grew gradually from 1943 to 2008, although there has been a slight decline in shares over the period but the overall trend has been a significant increase. Going before the current financial crisis, the to 5 percent accomplished far more prominent increments than the next 5 percent, which income stagnated. Also, there is a sharp increment in the share of total income of the top 1 percent before the Great Depression and the current global financial crisis. In both cases, the share of total income reached roughly 24 percent within a year of the crisis that is 1928 and 2007 correspondingly. Following the financial crisis, both periods had a sharp decline in share. Wisman (2013) discovers that the rate of income increases for the first bottom 20 percentile was just 6.3 percent and 15.8 percent for the second bottom 20 percentile, Which is significantly lower than the top 1 percentile that witnessed a staggering increase of 228.3% and the to 20 percentile increased by 79.9%, wage stagnation is a clear evidence. Based on household debt, as a rate of GDP, there has also been a non-stop increase from third quarter of 2006 to third quarter of 2009 as seen in Figure 2. As the overall debt increases, whilst top 10 percent earners experience increasing earnings, this would inevitably result in an â€Å"ever-growing gap between the rich and the rest† (Krugman, 2013) However economist differs in their assessment of the inequality contribution towards the crisis, it was also argued how inequality affects access to finance. Another empirical study focuses on firms; firms reliably need to bribe officials to dodge regulatory harassment in developing countries (Berger and Udell, 1998). Access to financing can help overcome most barriers, as money is fungible. Recent evidence demonstrates the significance of access to finance for less established producers, Perotti and Volpin (2007) proofed that in a large study of entry rates across countries; better investor protection is indeed allied with larger average entry rates, and in addition with more firm density in sectors which depend all the more on external finance. This then shows that poor financial access is a major source of entry barriers. Their outcome indicates that poor investor protection is more probable in nations with poor political institutions and in countries with more economic inequality . Interestingly, they find that it is no longer significant once they present effective investor protection while the size of domestic capital markets subsidises to explain entry. Consequently individual access to finance is more dangerous for new entry than the general state of financial markets. Also, Firm data demonstrate that, in specifically affecting their growth, access to finance is top three barriers for growth, so it therefore affects smaller firms more compared to the larger counterparts. Estimations of the effects of absence of financing constraints propose that small, medium and large firms have grown slower by 10.7, 8.7 and 6.0 percent correspondingly in the period 1996–1999 (Beck et al., 2005a). This low growth suggests that absence of access to financing raises indirectly inequality. Financial deregulation and Innovation, the 2008 crisis has highlighted the limitations and hazards of financial innovation while dimming the light on its core benefits for an economy. The sole purpose is that complex financial instruments related with innovation were broadly used as vehicles in the credit expansion that prompted to the crisis (Sà ¡nchez, 2010). Mortgage securitizations during the housing bubble years did not diminish the information problem that neither are typical of credit transactions, nor edit it induce appropriate risk assessment. Moreover, innovation has had a critical and positive role in financial innovation, leading to the development of economic wellbeing. Hence provided that we reinforce sensible regulation to discourage excessive risk taking in the future, innovation can continue to benefit our societies (Sà ¡nchez, 2010). The most important conditions are those needed to abate possible causes of excessive leverage and risk taking. Notably, monetary policy should pursue its objectives and avoid any expansionary undue credit or assert price booms. Similarly, fiscal policy should make sustainability of financial institutions a priority without resorting to subsidies loan that may lead to risk taking. Regulation should focus on making financial system resilient to crises; there aim should be to align incentives toward responsible risk taking and moral hazard risks. It should be borne in mind that regulation is not a guarantee for protection. Rather, regulation should make customers and risk managers more demanding, as it does not eradicate the risk inherent in financial products. Regulatory and supervisory efforts should never crowd out the responsibility and due diligence of market participation. An analysis on monetary and fiscal policies in the US prior to the recent global crisis by Taylor (2009) focuses on Taylor Rule which examines the rate of growth and the level of interest rates. This rule explains that an increase in economic growth must be equalled by a subsequent increase in interest rates (Taylor, 1993). He stated that interest rate reduced in the 2001 recession, as it was expected to expected to rice back but then it became very low, which fuelled the housing boom and eventually resulted in a housing foreclosures. Interest rates stayed far too low as the US economy experienced economic growth (2009:166). The demand for houses would decline once the short-term interest rates increased back to its normal levels significantly, followed by a decrease in construction. Housing prices inflation declined. Delinquency and increases in foreclosures followed, which lead in â€Å"the meltdown in the subprime market and on all securities that were derivative from the subprim es† (Taylor, 2007:3). Essentially, government policies, rather than increases in inequality, were the source of the housing crisis and eventually the financial crisis. Cheap credit influx of capital from China into the United States was one reason, China’s capital surplus was the mirror image of the U.S. trade deficit, lots of dollars were sent to China in exchange for cheap good sold to the U.S consumers by the U.S corporations. The shift in which institutions hold mortgages, is a key reason that mortgages were made available so widely and with such little review of recipients. Financial Deregulation and Unchecked Financial â€Å"Innovation†. Initially, banks created mortgages and held them. In the current global crisis, banks and non-bank mortgage lenders created loans, but these loans was then sold to others. Investment banks sealed lots of mortgage loans into â€Å"Collateralized Debt Obligation† (CDOs) and then was sold to Wall Street, with an insurance of a steady stream of revenue from interest payments. These system was pretty much unregulated, no one took account of how sub-standard the loans were or more fundamentally, the certainty that huge numbers would go bad if and when the housing bubble popped, despite the fictional erudition of the investors involved (Weissman, 2011). In conclusion, the arguments presented in this essay explaining the emergence of the 2008 crisis which are capital instability, financial deregulation and innovation, debt and crisis and rising inequality, an also focused more on two arguments which are Financial Deregulation and Inequality in financial market. The financial crisis was avoidable, because this crisis was more or less due to human action and inaction, not by natural factors or computer models miscalculation. It obviously ignored warnings and failed to question the knowledge and manage developing risks within a system crucial to the well-being of the Citizens of the United States. References 2008financialcrisis.umwblogs.org,. Overview. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2015. B. Taylor, J. (2009). THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE POLICY RESPONSES:AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF WHAT WENT WRONG. [online] Available at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w14631.pdf [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015]. Barba, A. and Pivetti, M. (2008). Rising household debt: Its causes and macroeconomic implicationsa long-period analysis. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33(1), pp.113-137. Crotty, J. (2009). Structural causes of the global financial crisis: a critical assessment of the new financial architecture. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33(4), pp.563-580. Caprio, G, Demirguc-Kunt, A and Kane E. J (2010) ‘The 2007 meltdown in structured securitisation’ The World Bank Research Observer, 25 (1): pp. 125-155 Moseley, F. (2012). The U.S. economic crisis. [online] Isreview.org. Available at: http://isreview.org/issue/64/us-economic-crisis [Accessed 21 Mar. 2015]. Katsuhito, Iwai. Global Financial Crisis Shows Inherent Instability Of Capitalism — The Tokyo Foundation. Tokyofoundation.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 22 Mar. 2015. Minsky, H. P. (1980) ’Capitalist financial processes and the instability of capitalism’ Journal of Economic Issues, 14 (2): 505-523 Krugman, P. 2013. Why Inequality Matters. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/opinion/krugman-why-inequality-matters.html [Accessed: 14 Mar 2014]. Phillips, M. (2013). Americans Are Now Taking On More Debt Than At Any Time Since 2008. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/americans-are-now-taking-on-more-debt-than-at-any-time-since-2008/281537/ [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015]. Wisman, J. D. 2013. Wage stagnation, rising inequality and the financial crisis of 2008. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 37 (4), pp. 921945. Weissman, R. (2011). Deregulation and the Financial Crisis. [online] The Huffington Post. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-weissman/deregulation-and-the-fina_b_82639.html? [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015]. Sà ¡nchez, M. (2010). Financial Innovation and the Global Crisis. IJBM, 5(11). Appendix Figure 1 – Shares of Total Income Accuring to Each Group in The US (Kenworthy and Smeeding, 2013: 36) Figure 2 – Total US Household debt balance (Phillips, 2013)

William Goldings Lord Of the Flies :: Golding Lord Flies

William Golding's Lord Of the Flies Theme: Most people perceive children as being innocent, precious beings. Some believe that they are angelic. Put in the wrong situations though, they can become savage beasts. The innocence leaves their bodies and they are no longer precious. The survival of the fittest instinct kicks on and they can become killers. In the book Lord of the Flies the theme is that kids are not as innocent s they seem. At the beginning of the book the boys seem to have peace and order. They help one another out. They elect Ralph as their leader. They follow his orders when they need to work together. The conch shell is used to bring order within the group of boys. Soon these practices die out and the kids start to change. Jack and his group of hunters, began to get a thrill from killing pigs. Jack and the hunters also lose all respect for Ralph and the conch. They start their own tribe, who soul purpose is to hunt and have rituals. The killings of the pigs start to bore them so they began to find other things to kill. The hunters start forcing people to join the tribe through threats. Then the threats lead to the killings of two boys. The hunters first kill Simon , whom they think is a beast. Then they kill Piggy by rolling a stone on top of him. With the two killing under their belt they soon began to go after Ralph. They chase him all over the island but soon he is rescued. The naval officer witnesses how the children had turned from well-behaved boys to savage beast. Though children are not as innocent as they seem they still hold a close place in their parents heart. They are also human just like everyone else. They know the difference between black and white and right and wrong. The survival of the fittest instinct is something that every creature on this planet has. The weak one always loose. The book showed this well. Important Passages: "Ralph sat on a fallen trunk, his left side to the sun. On his right were most of the choir; on his left the larger boys who had not known each other before...before him small children squatted in the grass.

Biographical Writing :: Papers

Biographical Writing It started the day he moved in. My grandfather came first to get everything organized. That was when everything began to happen. It started with the door knocker. Whenever the door was opened, the knocker would hit the door and make noises. Well, the first night alone he heard the door open and close. Then, he heard footsteps walking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator door. He heard the door close and the footsteps continued to walk around the kitchen and into the dining room. Through the dining room, they persisted into the living room and on to the basement. My grandfather searched the house top to bottom. He found no one. As he walked upstairs, he heard the footsteps again. This time, they were walking back through the house and out the front door. These footsteps were heard often. My aunts and uncles heard noises also. There was a pool table in the basement for my five uncles. They were playing one day when they heard the mysterious footsteps upstairs. Each uncle grabbed a weapon. They were armed with pool sticks, knives and bottles. They searched the house top to bottom finding nothing. As they walked back downstairs, they heard the footsteps go out the front door. My brother is the only one to have actually seen this intruder. He was five and forbidden from going downstairs because of the pool table. My mother couldn't find him anywhere so she went downstairs. She found him and asked why he was in the basement. He told her that he was talking to "the lady with the big teeth". My mother freaked thinking there was someone in the house that wasn't supposed to be there. So, one of my uncles went downstairs to see who was there. They couldn’t find any trace of anyone, but it did scare my mother badly. Part 2: My sister and I were very interested in the Ouija board. So, we borrowed a friend's board. At first we were skeptical about it

Arab-israeli Conflict Essay -- essays research papers fc

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted to divide the Middle Eastern land called Palestine into two independent nations, one Arab and one Jewish. On May 14, 1948, a new nation was born: Israel. The Jews of Israel and the world celebrated with joy and gladness, because for over two thousand years, they had hoped to return to the land of their heritage. (Silverman, 1) However with Jews from all around the world returning to Israel, the Arabs residing in this land were forced into exile. The rebirth of Israel marked the beginning of conflict, violence, and peace treaties between the Arabs and the Jews of the Middle East. Tensions between Jews and Arabs have been present since biblical times in the Middle East. In 132 AD, when Israel was under Roman rule, the Jews revolted and fought for independence. In 135 AD the Romans crushed the Jewish revolt and expelled nearly all of the Jews of Israel. The Romans then renamed Israel-Palestine, so as to remove any connection between the land and the Jewish people. (Tessler, 12) The Jews never forgot their homeland, and prayed three times a day to return to Israel and to the holy city of Jerusalem. In the 7th century, a new religion, Islam, arose in the Middle East. The Muslim Arabs conquered Palestine from the Byzantines and began to settle the land. They built the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem, where they believed Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven to receive parts of the Qur’an. (Goldschmidt, 46) During the early 1500’s, Palestine was captured and put under Turkish rule. During the First World War, the Turkish government placed severe restrictions on Jewish daily life, because the Turks believed that the Jews were plotting with their enemies. In December of 1917, the British army under the command of General Edmund Allenby defeated the Turks and captured Palestine. Four hundred years of Turkish rule had ended. Just six weeks before the annex of Turkey and Palestine, the Jews had learned of a British document called the Balfour Declaration. It was one of the most important documents ever written concerning the Holy Land. It announced th at the British government favored the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and would do all it could to make it happen. Meanwhile throughout the world, but especially in Europe, Jews were persecuted and murdered. In the ... ...b-Israeli conflict. Both sides feel that Israel/Palestine belongs to them. Since the United Nations partition of Palestine in 1947 and the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948, there have been four major Arab-Israeli wars (1947-49, 1956, 1967, and 1973) and numerous intermittent battles. (Goldschmidt, 280) The Arabs still thirst for revenge, which is denied as the Israelis prevail once again. These issues still rage today and have fueled many armed conflicts between the two developing nations. WORKS CITED: Benvenisti, Meron. INTIMATE ENEMIES. Jews and Arabs in a Shared Land. United States of America: University Of California Press, 1995. Cozic, Charles, P. ISRAEL: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1994. Goldschmidt, Arthur, Jr. A concise History of the MIDDLE EAST. United States of America: Westview Press, 1999. Hiro, Dilip. Sharing The Promised Land: A Tale of Israelis and Palestinians. Canada: Olive Branch Press, 1999. Silverman, Maida. ISRAEL: The Founding Of A Modern Nation. New York, NY: Dial Books of Young Readers, 1998. Tessler, Mark. A HISTORY of the ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. United States of America: Indiana University Press, 1994.

Othello Character

loWhen an individual experiences feelings of jealousy towards their partner in a relationship, it often results in feelings of anger and distrust, which cause them to sabotage the partnership and possibly end it. Shakespeare's protagonist, Othello, becomes deceived and unable to decide in whom to place his trust. The noble Moor chooses wrongfully and places himself under the loyalty of Iago, allowing him to corrupt and transform him, destroying his sanity and relationships with others. Consequently, the Moor's trustworthiness and envy become his weaknesses and result in his downfall.In the play â€Å"Othello†, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist's flaws contribute to his downfall from a noble soldier to an irrational man, suggesting that when a an individual experiences jealousy in a relationship, it becomes the corruption that destroys a person's conscience and ultimately the relationship itself. Othello is initially portrayed as an honest natured individual of royal stat us and reasonable character. his love for Desdemona, his wife, acquires him the essence of a respectable, loving husband, implying his success as a firm, yet affectionate husband.After Cassio is relieved of his duties by Othello, Desdemona promises to put an effort into convincing her husband to take him back as his lieutenant. After multiple rejections and rebounds, the Moor finally gives in: â€Å"I will deny thee nothing. / Whereon I do beseech thee grant me this, / To leave me but a little to myself† (Oth. 3. 3. 83-85). Although the Moor was very upset with Cassio, Desdemona's good-natured pleas were enough to change his mind into reconsidering Cassio's position.In saying that he would â€Å"deny [her] nothing† demonstrates his love for her and suggests that there is a special place in his heart for his sweet wife that he cannot help but succumb to at times. Furthermore, Othello's strong, sophisticated character is demonstrated through his logic and patience, empha sizing his greatness as a warrior. Upon being accused false doings and being challenged to a duel with his father-in-law, Brabantio, the Moor calmly responds, â€Å"Hold your hands, / Both you of my inclining and the rest. / Where it my cue to fight, i should have known it / Without a prompter† (Oth. . 2. 82-85). Othello's control over the situation makes it evident that he is a reasonable and gentle man, contrasting his self-control with Brabantio's lack of restraint. Othello's composed reaction makes him seem more rational than his racist father-in-law by thinking his actions through before reacting on impulse. Further analyzing the goodness of Othello, Anthony Hecht comments, â€Å"While everywhere it is noted that he is given to self-dramatization, Iago, who has no affection for him, admits that he is of a free and open nature. Which is to say, he is both guileless and guileful.There is no question of his courage, nor of his weakness† (Hecht 19). Moreover, the trus ting nature of the Moor is reflected in his relationship with others, suggesting his easy-going atmosphere. Needing his wife to be taken care of safely, he tells the Duke, â€Å"So please your grace, my ancient; / A man he is of honesty and trust. / To his conveyance i assign my wife, / With what else needful your good grace shall think / To be sent after me† (Oth. 1. 3. 283-287). Othello's confidence in his relationship with his ancient, Iago, demonstrates his trusting personality.Once the Moor has belief that a man is trustworthy, he will give them his whole heart, making it evident of his value in loyalty. Yet, Othello's respectable qualities become the cause of his corruption, which bring upon jealousy, deception, and delusions, ultimately leading him closer to his tragic death. Although the Moor loves Desdemona greatly, his strong bond with her has taken away the control he held for himself. Plotting against him, Iago muses to himself to himself, â€Å"His soul is so en fetter'd to her love / That she may make, unmake, do what she list, / Even as her appetite shall play the god / With his weak function† (Oth. . 3. 316-319). Saying that Othello is â€Å"enfetter'd to her love†, Iago is suggesting that his love for Desdemona is the Moor's weakness, being â€Å"chained† to her in a way where she â€Å"shall play the god† and take away his mastery since he does not believe the Moor can think for himself. By willingly being with Desdemona, Othello puts himself in a position of vulnerability and cannot blame anyone else for this but himself. Likewise, without seeming so at first, Othello's whole hearted trust in Iago becomes a mistake that he is not aware of initially.As Iago utilizes subtle manipulation on the Moor, he successfully plants the seed of doubt in his mind, suggesting Desdemona's disloyalty to him. Othello says to him: I think thou dost; And, for i know thou'rt full of love and honesty And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more; For such things in a false disloyal knave Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just They are close dilations, working from the heart That passion cannot rule. (Oth. 3. 3. 117-124)The dramatic and verbal irony when Othello describes Iago's â€Å"love and honesty† demonstrates his unwise and gullible nature, making his full trust in him an error. The way Iago's pauses fright [him] the more† concludes that the Moor has been tricked without realizing it and reflects his foolishness despite his strong, controlled character. As critic William Hazlitt suggests, â€Å"Ironically it is Othello's judgment that allows Iago to manipulate him; Othello is a trusting man who believes that people are what they seem, thus believing in Iago because he appears to be honest and loyal† (Hazlitt 29).Subsequently, logic, patience, and self-restraint has become lost in the Moor once his emotions have been u sed against him and his jealousy is played on. After Iago explains a dream he heard Cassio had about making love to Desdemona to Othello, the Moor says, â€Å"But this denoted a foregone conclusion: ‘Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream† (Oth. 3. 3. 428-429). Then almost immediately after he concludes that â€Å"[he] will tear her all to pieces† (Oth. 3. 3. 432). Othello at this point in the play has transformed from the loving husband he once was, to a jealous individual that must act on his envy as soon as the chance arises.Ignoring the absence of solid proof his wife's disloyalty, he has let Iago torture his conscience with lies and consequently confusing and agitating his sanity. Consequently, Othello's corruption leads to chaos as he realizes too late the destruction his actions have caused that eventually bring him to his tragic death. His hamartia has come into play, which brings upon anarchy and reflects Othello's loss of control and reason. Convi nced without proof that Desdemona has been cheating on him, he proclaims to Iago, â€Å"Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! / Come, go with me apart. I will withdraw / To urnish me with some swift means of death / For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant† (Oth. 3. 3. 475-478). The Moor's marriage is officially destroyed and his conclusion to make Iago, the man responsible for causing him grief, his new lieutenant guarantees his doom. His quick decision to kill Desdemona for her unfaithfulness without real evidence demonstrates the destruction his jealousy has caused to their relationship. Inevitably, Othello's corruption becomes an unstoppable force, which ends in the deaths of many innocent lives. After killing his wide and confessing so to Emilia, Iago's wife, Othello explains: â€Å"Cassio did top her.Ask thy husband else. / O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell / But that I did proceed upon just grounds / To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all† (Oth. 5 . 2. 136-139). Dramatic irony emphasizes how confused the Moor really is about what is delusion and what is reality because he uses Iago's word as proof, which is false, as well as going as far as to say â€Å"I did proceed upon just grounds to this extremity. † Othello did not actually have a just reason for committing his murderous act as Iago never gave him proof, reflecting the way in which jealousy corrupts the mind and an individual’s entire reasoning.This all becomes evident once chaos was unleashed upon the Moor, which consequently costs him his nobility, marriage and life. The Moor realizes his mistakes too late, but comes to understand that he is reasonably the one to blame for all the devastation he has caused. Upon becoming aware of Iago's true intentions and Desdemona's faithfulness, Othello speaks some of his last words: When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand, Like the base Judean, thew a pearl away Richer than all his tribe; (Oth. 5. 2. 341-349) Thus, Othello finally realizes his emotions were manipulated to do the deeds of an evil man he once trusted. A part of his old noble character us shown when he asks the soldiers to â€Å"speak of [him] as [he is]. Nothing extenuate, / Nor set down aught in malice. † His humbleness is paired with bitterness because of the needless death of his wife brought upon by his own envious actions, demonstrating his own contribution to his tragic death.Also, as Shawn Smith believes,†If Othello earlier in the scene has been a minister of justice deliberating Desdemona's fate, he is now turning judicial attention to himself, and in doing so he recognizes his own mis-judgments. It is here we see Othello returning to his exotic narratives we associate with his language in the earliest scenes of the play. And in his return to these exotic narratives, Othello offers his retreat from Venetian life – and, indeed, life altogether† (Smith 47). He simply cannot deny the errors in his accusations and the killing of his wife, foolishly â€Å"[throwing] a pearl away. â€Å"By experiencing the delusions of envy, Othello himself becomes the evil force behind the deception and deaths of innocent people, including his own. He is initially loved and respected by many for his lpyalty, royal status, and honourable marriage. Nonetheless, the qualities he is honoured for become his imperfections, resulting in deception, jealousy, and his fall from nobility. Consequently, chaos ensues and destroys a once loving marriage and sane man. Thus, jealousy transforms an individual to harm those they love most, a dangerous and monstrous emotion that requires reason and logic to restrain it from destroying relationships.

Nation-building refers Essay

Nation-building refers to the process of constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state. This process aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. Nation-building can involve the use of propaganda or major infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth. It involves the development of behaviors, values, language, institutions and physical structures that protect the present and insure the future identity and independence of a nation. The nation is a country considered as a group of people living in a certain territory under one Government. â€Å"Building† here means not masonry constructed, instead the development of the nation, the future of our country. There is a great role of men in nation building. In men, youth is the most energetic type. Youth play an important role in nation building. Youth is the spring of life. It is the age of discovery and dreams. They have the power to transform the nation into a better place. They also have the ability to lead their fellow citizens into the right direction. Youths are fighters. They fight for an identity in society, equality, unemployment, exploitation, poverty and other problems which the world faces today. They need good morals and values to handle conflicts in a positive way. That’s why Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah always considered them as a future and insists them to work hard for the betterment of their nation. Quaid-e-Azam never talked about the wealth and property, he always emphasized on education and mental awareness of the young generation. Because education and awareness of people can lead the country to the highest level of success. Men should show humanity in their behaviours and they should work hard. Social harmony and unity is very necessary for building of nation. We should follow our religion because our religious history is filled with the examples of nation building. We can see that how our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) reformed Arabs and made them a successful and civilized nation. We should remain honest in our relations and deeds despite of all sufferings. Men  should maintain their individuality. As Russel Simmons said: â€Å"Any kind of lasting success is rooted in honesty.† Wealth is not needed to support and build a nation. The necessary thing is bravery and unity of people. As the old nations such as ancient Greeks, the Persians, the Roman Empire and Pharaohs of Egypt are still very famous. Bravery and unity were their uniqueness. A nation’s strength not gold but only men can make people great and strong. Men who for truth and honor’s sake, stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while other sleep who dare while other fly they build a nation’s pillars deep and lift them to the sky. (Ralph Weldo Emerson) Conclusion: So wealth has no part in building of a nation. Only men can lift their country to the highest level of success by maintaining their national identity, individuality, social harmony, honesty, humanity, truth and hard work.