Macy's case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macy's case - Essay Example Macy’s has for some period has been one of the most influential and innovative players in departmental store sector, contributing to adoption of numerous managerial and technological innovations that include data processing, store merchandising, inventory control, among others. By the 50s, almost every state, in America, had its own departmental store. However, fifty years later, this had changed drastically with a decline in sales. Macy’s decided on converting regional departmental stores into one brand while also repositioning the store in order to differentiate it from its competitors. While the move was derided in some quarters as futile due to the demise of the departmental store as a whole, some analysts were of the idea that the store’s strategy was vital in revitalizing the declining industry. Which factors in the external environment could affect (positively and negatively) the success of Macy’s new strategy? Which internal factors could affect th e success of the company’s strategy? Departmental stores are currently in danger of extinction. While there were thirty-five major chains of departmental stores in the 80s, there are only thirteen left in operation today. Conventional departmental stores in the 90s accounted for two and a half percent of total income for American households, which have dropped to 1.6%, forcing departmental stores to reinvent their business strategies or suffer the risk of being run out of business. This results in the emergence of two models in for the departmental store sector in search for a profitable return. One has been the strong retail brand. The approach has been successful for departmental stores in the promotion and creation of in-house merchandise brands. Departmental stores are, therefore, able to promote their brands and name, assuming that the brands will reach a significant level of popularity, as opposed to relying on individual third party brands. Another model involves the s howcase approach that involves leveraging vendors of brands that are accountable for a substantial share of the retail process. The key, in this model, is the promotion of the shopping experience attraction, although this model leads to lower margins of profit. One factor that affects retail sales is the economic environment that dictates the consumer’s expendable income. At Macy’s 2005 consolidation, the retail business operated under positive economic conditions. This changed in 2008 with the advent of the economic recession that stretched throughout 2010. Some improvement was noted in 2011, although this was tempered by the increased oil prices and an increase in cotton prices. Another factor was industry products and services with the new departmental store model of the 90s utilizing decreased space and coming to resemble specialty-clothing stores. Women’s products, such as cosmetics and apparel wear accounted for sixty percent of floor space, men, and child ren accessories accounted for 20%, and household goods accounted for 20%. The new model did away with traditional departmental store wares. Departmental stores placed increased emphasis on fashion, differentiating them from low-end competitors and responding to complaints of blandness from customers. Departmental stores also began attempts at developing unique positions from a selection of five categories including low end, lower middle, upper-middle, high-end

World War 1 Essay Example for Free

World War 1 Essay In this essay, I am going to explore the similarities and differences between different WW1 poetry. I will be looking into the points that the poems show and comparing them with each other. Different poems are written for different reasons and they are written to show different things. In terms of the realities of war, In Flanders Fields is the only poem that truly shows this. This is because John McCrae wanted to show the realities of war because his friend had died during the war, this meant that McCrae was determined to show the realities of war and not let people think that it was easy or fun as people said it was. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow (In Flanders Fields) This shows that war isnt all that good. It explains quite bluntly that they are dead, this is to show the harsh realities of war. It represents that they no longer have lives because they are soldiers and so do nothing else but fight. It explains this by using past tense, which shows that it no longer exists. The poem In Flanders Fields also shows mans inhumanity to man. This is also because McCrae is trying to show what war was really like and show the insensitive realities of war. Take up our quarrel with the foe (In Flanders Fields) This shows that people in war did show inhumanity to the opposition because they were not suppose to be a team together, they are fighting. By using the word foe, it is dehumanising the enemy and making them a lesser worth. Also the word take, is an imperative and shows that war isnt fair. This poem is quite clearly not propaganda. On the other hand, some poems were very positive for war and try to show war as a positive thing so that they recruit young men and soldiers and encourage them to enlist. To show war as a positive thing, the poets often used euphemisms for death in order to make it sound good. His lance is broken; but he lies content (The Volunteer) This shows death in a positive way and makes it sound as if it is something good. It shows the reader that even though they have died, they feel good about it and are proud to die for their country. However in the same poem, there are also some negative points which show that the poem is not completely propaganda or positive for war.

Dvorak :: essays research papers

Dvorak   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Antonin Dvorak was born in Nelahozeves on September 8, 1841. Dvorak was one of the greatest of the Czech composers. He grew up with an appreciation of local folk songs and demonstrated a talent for music at an early age. His first experience with music was of a violinist and violist. He got the attention of Johannes Brahms with his Moravian Duets and soon won a competition in Vienna that he would have never won if it had not been for the insistence of Brahms. Since his patriotic composition, Hymnus, was so popular in 1873, he decided to dedicate himself to composing and teaching music.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unlike most of the contemporaries, Dvorak was not a pianist/composer. His compositions for the piano are rare. His piano compositions have a quality that makes them both beautiful and powerful. Someone said that they are much like a jewel: they are revered by those who appreciate the beauty of their shape, the smoothly polished surface, and the glow that comes from within.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As his fame spread throughout Europe, it spread to the United States as well. He was invited in 1892 to the National Conservatory in New York City where he became the artistic director. At the time, he was earning a little less than $500 a month as a professor at the Prague Conservatory. When he took the job at the National Conservatory, he made a salary of $15,000 a year. He served at the Conservatory for three years and wrote some of his best-known music during his time, which includes his Symphony #9 in E minor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When in New York City at the Conservatory of Music, Dvorak taught composition three mornings a week and conducted choir and orchestra another three mornings. He encouraged his students to develop their own â€Å"American style†. He also encouraged them to develop the folk songs and â€Å"plantation music† of the South.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dvorak was nationalistic in his earlier works back home; the New World was a nationalistic composition for America. The time he spent working on the New World made him homesick for his native home; Bohemia. His personal secretary suggested the family go to the tiny Czech community in Iowa, known as Spillville. The village was located on a river and the hills and countryside reminded Dvorak of his native Bohemia. In Spillville, everyone spoke Czech and the Catholic Church had an organ that Dvorak would be able to play.

Stop This Train by John Mayer

Connecticut, John Mayer charmed his listeners with his poignant lyrics, sweet melodies, and mellow grooves. Since the release of his successful debut album, Room for Squares, his clever songwriting has grown Into breathtaking poetry. He demonstrated his ever evolving progress with the release of his fourth studio album, Continuum, in 2006. The album takes maturity as a theme throughout, with songs ranging from the politically charged â€Å"Waiting for the World to Change† to the heartbreaking and sultry sound of â€Å"Slow Dancing in a Burning Room. Stop This Train,† also a song from John Mayor's Continuum, speaks of the unpredictable ground between adolescence and adulthood. It was written during a time which Mayer referred to as â€Å"solitary refinement;† He lied In bed suffering from double kidney stones and living in a hotel while finding a new residence. In a state of uncertainty and seemingly hopeless venture, John Mayer wrote the song for those of us stra ddling the new world, trying to figure out not necessarily who we are, but how to be who we are.He knew that, despite their lack of familiarity with his personal tuition, any person who listened to the lyric of the song could relate to life's daunting train ride. In the song, the train ride acts as an extended metaphor for the onward rush of life, which carries us forward and takes us past people and things we wish to linger with. Meyers lyrics echo the feelings of so many young adults who are contemplating their future-?starting to build a new life, leaving old ones behind, losing loved ones, and becoming their own person. In the first stanza, Mayer introduces his perplexed state of mind with his struggle to face truth.He begins his Eng with Irony, â€Å"No I'm not coloration / I know the world Is black and white† (1-2), claiming that he possesses the ability to see the true colors of the world. The colors black and white represent the speaker's belief that the world is simp ly one way or another. The word ‘blind' and the speaker's ability to see create an oxymoron because of their contradicting natures. In lines 3-4, â€Å"Try to keep an open mind but†¦ I Just can't sleep on this tonight,† Mayer expresses his troubles that make him restless. The song also symbolizes a reminder of life's Inevitability.It streams forward like a train, ND never can you go back to a certain point In time because there's no getting off, no changing direction, no stopping. Mayer creates a mental picture of the careening train ride in lines 5-8, â€Å"Stop this train / I want to get off and go home again / I can't take the speed that it's moving in. † The use of imagery demonstrates Meyers understanding of what his audience experiences. In attempt to fully transport the listener to the scene, the song begins with a catchy up and down melody that simulates a feeling of a trait's wheels turning over and over again.The snares played wrought â€Å"Stop T his Train† match the rhythmic sound of a train so as to allow the audience to picture themselves also on this never ending journey. The high and low notes of the guitar may also signify life's ups and downs. By using the train as a metaphor, Mayer mirrored the rush of nostalgia as people live their lives day by day and suddenly decide to take a look back at how far they've come. Just like a train ride, one doesn't realize how far and fast their Journey has taken them until they stop to take a look around. In life, everyone fears death or loss.As adulthood looms, so does ten mortar y AT our parents Mayer vocalizes tans Tear, â€Å"Don't want to see my parents go' (9). And while no one ever does, the time we become adults ourselves is when we begin to see the age in those that have shaped our lives. We see the death of our grandparents and realize we are a â€Å"generation away from fighting life out on my own† (10-11). And we panic because our parents, for so many of us , have been the safety net into which we fall. We begin to realize that safety net will not always be there. In truth, we are afraid of what we don't know, which is why Mayer claims â€Å"I'm only good at being young† (17).The thought of adulthood can be overwhelming as we realize that there's no stop button, that no one can stop this train. In the stanza about the conversation with his father, Mayer learns the best way to experience life is by not changing it. His father advises, â€Å"Don't for a minute change the place you're in / Don't think I couldn't ever understand†¦ John, honestly we'll never stop this train† (23-26) The only thing we can really do is appreciate life's train ride; because wherever it may take us, we're all in it together. The lyric in â€Å"Stop This Train† somewhat reflects life's timeline.At a younger, more naive age we take for granted our family until we start aging and realizing that our time with them is, in fact, limited. In the song, Mayer goes from begging for someone to stop this train to accepting that he can't so he might as well enjoy the ride. The song is about being forced to let go of things, and accepting these losses. It's about the angst and unfamiliarity that comes with moving into unknown parts of life. The fact that no matter what, we can't stop a day from turning into a week or a year from into turning into a decade, and the thought of this can seem a little intimidating and disheartening.As humans we only know what we've experienced, and the idea of having to readjust and move forward without any regard for personal desire can be downright terrifying. Growing up, children aren't inclined to to miss a thing because they haven't experienced the state of apprehension when they're asked the inevitable question: What do you want to do with your life? â€Å"Once in a while when it's good / It'll feel lie it should / And they're all still around / And you're still safe and sound† (27-31 ). But as time progresses, the days when we were lulled into a false calm are gone and we realize we don't miss what we have till it's gone.And you don't miss a thing / till you cry when you're driving away in the dark† (32-33). Mayor's style of songwriting mirrors a sort of conversation he is having with himself, his family and friends, and also with his own time. Just as the songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart, Mayor's songs are Just as full of importance as the music and beats to which they are set. Many people listen to songs for their uplifting melodies and dance-inspiring beats, but the deeper words in the lyrics prove that what's in a song is equally important to what's not there.In â€Å"Stop This Train,† Mayer oratory himself as Just another person coping with the apprehension and fear of loved ones dying, growing old, and facing life and all its difficulties. His fame and talent may veil the sorrows he faces on a daily basis from being away f rom his loved ones. The hidden message behind â€Å"Stop This Train† could embody a more personal than empathetic message. The harsh truth remains that, no matter how memorable or eventful our lives are, no one can escape time. Whether or not we'll grow to be 68, we will all be forced to brave more responsibility, expectations, and independence as we mature.

Implementation of Supply Chain Management Essay

Supply chain management is an oversight of processes when moving goods from the stage of customer order to the raw material stage and it includes the supply, production and distribution of products to the customer. Every organization has supply chain of different levels, depending upon their size and type of product they are manufacturing. Their aim is to provide the customer with enough information necessary to give the value that they demand and to gain the information regarding the customer too. The ultimate goal for any supply chain management is to reduce its inventory. For a successful supply chain, software systems are provided with web interfaces to provide the customer with enough information they demand. Hershey Foods Corporation and NIKE inc. are both very renowned organizations, one known for its food products and the other for athletic footwear, equipment and accessories for sports and fitness activities. Both of these organizations adopted supply chain management systems in order to lower down their inventories and to increase their profit. But both of them failed in achieving their objective which was to reduce the inventories. The main mistake made by Hershey Food Corporation was, that they hired a supply chain system costing $112 million from SAP AG, Manugistics, and Siebel systems. The supply chain system was supposed to put in data of everything from production to delivery. But getting software from three different providers created unpredicted delays and complex problems in implementation. Also, another mistake made by the organization was that they implemented the whole system at once instead of in stages. So therefore they faced problems in placing the orders and then executing them to warehouse for fulfillment. The problem faced by NIKE, inc. was a bit more complex, as said by 12 technologies marketing Chief Katrina Roche â€Å"NIKE problems were not tied to the software but to the way the software was installed. † (Sridharan, Caines, & Patterson, 2005) Moreover he says that his company accepts the responsibility for â€Å"not being more aggressive in telling them that they needed to follow our implementation methodology. † (Sridharan, Caines, & Patterson, 2005) 12 technologies wanted to track each and every little product of NIKE which made the job more complex and therefore it took their time more than they had expected. The NIKE people made the same mistake as Hershey foods, that they implemented the system before they were ready to execute it. (Sridharan, Caines, & Patterson, 2005) So overall at initial stage supply chain systems were a bad experience for Hershey Foods and NIKE, Inc. There are certain things which if the company would have followed then hopefully the things must have been the other way round. First of all only one supply chain system provider must be hired for the software, as more than one supply chain systems for same job results in failure. Then provider’s implementation methodology is very important for client to follow in supply chain systems especially when they are modified to suit client’s requirement. More over supply chain systems are very complex as they have to track over numbers of product varieties so therefore it must be implemented in stages rather than executing it at once. And if the company is switching from one system to another then first the system should be tested in order to check whether it is fulfilling the company’s requirements or not. ?

How Insects Attract a Mate

How Insects Attract a Mate If youve spent any time watching insects, youve probably stumbled on a pair of lady beetles or flies joined together in the throes of love. When youre a lone bug in a big world, finding a partner of the same species and the opposite sex is not always that simple. So how do insects find a mate? Love at First Sight- Visual Signals Some insects begin their search for a sexual partner by looking for or giving visual cues or signals. Butterflies, flies, odonates, and luminous beetles use visual signals most often. In some butterfly species, males spend much of the afternoon patrolling for receptive females. Anything that looks like a female may be inspected, especially if the object is a desired color and floats like a butterfly, to borrow a phrase from Muhammed Ali. Many species of flies perch in a place that provides a clear view of the area. The fly sits, watching for any flying object that might be a female. If one appears, he quickly takes flight and makes contact. If his quarry is indeed a female of his own species, he escorts her to an appropriate place for mating- perhaps a leaf or a twig nearby. Fireflies may be the most famous insects that flirt using visual signals. Here, the female sends the signal to lure a male. She flashes her light in a specific code that tells passing males her species, her sex, and that she is interested in mating. A male will reply with his own signal. Both male and female continue to flash their lights until they have found each other. Serenades of Love- Auditory Signals If youve heard the chirp of a cricket or the song of a cicada, youve listened to insects calling for a mate. Most insects that make sounds do so for the purpose of mating, and males tend to be the crooners in species that use auditory signals. Insects that sing for a partner include Orthopterans, Hemipterans, and Coleopterans. The best-known singing insects must be the male periodical cicadas. Hundreds or even thousands of male cicadas congregate in an area after emerging and produce an ear-splitting chorus of song. The cicada chorus usually includes three different species, singing together. Remarkably, the females respond to the song and are able to find mates of the same species from within the chaotic choir. Male crickets rub their forewings together to produce a raspy and loud song. Once he lures a female close to him, his song changes to a softer courtship call. Mole crickets, which are ground dwellers, actually construct special entrance tunnels shaped like megaphones, from which they amplify their calls. Some insects simply tap on a hard surface to produce their love calls. The death-watch beetle, for example, bangs his noggin against the roof of his tunnel to attract a mate. These beetles feed on old wood, and the sound of his head tapping resonates through the wood. Love Is in the Air- Chemical Cues French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre discovered the power of the insect sex pheromones quite by accident in the 1870s. Male peacock moths came flitting in the open windows of his laboratory, landing on the mesh cage of a female. He tried to fool the males by moving her cage to different locations, but the males always found their way back to her. As you might suspect from their plumose antennae, male moths search for suitable female mates by sensing sex pheromones in the air. The female cecropia moth emits a scent so powerful it attracts males from miles around. A male bumble bee uses pheromones to lure a female to a perch, where he can mate with her. The male flies along, marking plants with his perfume. Once he sets his traps, he patrols his territory waiting for a female to land on one of his perches. Unmated Japanese beetle females release a strong sex attractant, which quickly draws the attention of many males. Sometimes, so many male suitors appear at one time that they form a crowded cluster referred to as a beetle ball.

Values Important in My Life Essays - Identity Management, Law

Values Important in My Life Essays - Identity Management, Law Values Important in My Life Hiral Patel MGT 111*BC Professor McMillin 10/19/2012 Personal values are referred to as the defining principles in a person as an individual. These principles help determine how a person will face the world and relate with people as required. Personal values are a conviction concerning what a person believes is vital and desirable in his or her life. To me, a value is known to be a belief, or a philosophy, which is useful or can be useful in the future. My culture, environment, background, and family instill my values and ethics. There are many values that are important and that define my existence: family, independence, wisdom, education, progress and change, privacy, friendship, love, helping others, and achievement and success. I have grown up understanding the importance of family and relationships. I have been taught that your family are one of the only few people in the world who will be by your side and support you at all times. My family members are basically my advisors who teach me the right and wrong in life. My mother would always say, "If a family is and stays together, there is a solution for everything." I have always believed that keeping relationships with my family members is quite important because not only do they guide me through life, but they also help me with all kinds of dilemmas. Independence is prominent because I live according to my principles and I make my own decisions. It is my freedom and a chance to choose my way and my belief, which I am able to follow without it being prosecuted. Independence is having the right to agree, to disagree, and to have an education regardless of my race or gender or where I was born. It is my ability to choose. It is fine if I make mistakes because that is the only way I will learn. I will trip, and get back up and try again. Wisdom helps express my individuality. It is the light that guides my life and allows me to see the truth and not be blinded by others. With wisdom, I have the ability to se e beneath the surface of things, and I have the ability to make the best, informed decisions at any given time. If I use my wisdom when I am in a problem, I realize that I have solved many problems similar to the one I am in right now. Wisdom then assists me in getting rid of my problem. Wisdom prevents me from making and committing unethical decisions and actions. Education is a form of gaining knowledge of the world around me. It helps me build opinions and have points of view on aspects in life. Education is not just about lessons in textbooks, but about lessons of life, as well. It brings up questions and also helps me devise ways to find satisfactory answers to them. Also, I have grown up understanding the importance of education and how it opens doors to brilliant career opportunities. Every employer today requires expertise and employees to be well educated. Thus , education becomes an eligibility criterion for employment in any sector of the industry. Progress and change are both necessary in having and leading a successful life. Without them, I would just remain where I am forever. Progress is necessary in every aspect of life, as the world seems to be continuously changing all of the time. It does not have to be a major leap because small steps add up with time. Changes in life are inevitable. They make life more challenging for me because life without challenges is boring. It is better to try, experience, and accept new things. For me, privacy is necessary to protect my interests in certain situations. I do not consider privacy important due to embarrassment in front o f people, but rather because I personally l ike aspects of my life to be private. Yes, I would reveal things to a few people such as my family members, but other than that, I take privacy seriously. To me, it is the only way to be safe and avoid any kind of trouble. Having

The Definition of Quest in Literature

The Definition of Quest in Literature A quest is an adventurous journey undergone by the main character or protagonist of a story. The protagonist usually meets with and overcomes a series of obstacles, returning in the end with the benefits of knowledge and experience from his quest. There are several elements to a quest in storytelling. Typically, there must be a protagonist, i.e. the quester; a stated reason to go on the quest; a place to go for the quest; challenges along the journey; and sometimes, the  real  reason for the quest - which is disclosed later on during the journey. Examples in Literature Can you think of a favorite novel, movie or play with a strong protagonist ready to go on a quest? Here are a few examples to get you started.  In J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins is persuaded by the wizard, Gandalf, to set out on a great quest with thirteen dwarves desirous of reclaiming their ancestral home from Smaug, a marauding dragon. L. Frank Baums  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz  features protagonist Dorothy, who is on a quest to find her way back home. In the meantime, shes joined on her journey by the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion who work together to find their way back to Kansas. Dorothy develops new understanding and self-knowledge during her sojourn of Oz, symbolized through her friends: brains, heart, and courage. In literature that spans more than one volume, such as  J. K. Rowlings  Harry Potter  series, J.R.R. Tolkiens  The Lord of the Rings, or Pierce Browns  Red Rising, there will often be a quest for the protagonist(s) in each volume which are part of the overall quest of the entire series.

Household Economics and Class (responses) Assignment

Household Economics and Class (responses) - Assignment Example The working woman can easily do her maternity and baby care with much less struggle and depression. Feminine mystique was one time a big barrier in the improvement of class and income in the sense that many women were convinced to accept their position as it was. Now, most women have little to worry about when worrying about their places in the society. This proves to be a major breakthrough in the household economies since the woman can now serve in the capacity of the husband and can be a major force in the decision making process of the family. Friedan proposes that for the society to erode the feminine mystique even further, women should be exposed to an educational program that benefits the women satisfactorily. (Friedan 271) Women who initially were not free to discuss any issues far from their house, husbands and kids can now freely discuss other issues. The media can advise families on tips of â€Å"How to make your marriage happier† and books have since been published addressing similar issues. In comparison to the early and mid 18th century when any attempts by women to speak out were strongly discouraged by the experts, now, the women are free to dialogue. This proves that they have attracted attention and thus, respect. Respect comes with class. It is therefore true that household economies, income and class have changed with

In Depth Divorse Law Case Study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

In Depth Divorse Law Case Study - Assignment Example Fixed resource bargaining or simply â€Å"Zero-Sum† is sometimes referred to as win-lose or distributive bargaining. It is a negotiation strategy in bargaining that is usually employed in the distribution of fixed resources like money hence the name Fixed resource bargaining. Each party in the negotiations usually feel that their objectives or interests are in a balance and therefore the major goal is the trying to and securing concession from the party that is unwilling. Hence one of the parties will lose and thus the name win-lose bargaining.It is a bargaining type that is significant since it aids in solving disputes that would otherwise no have been resolved by employing any other method. In the event that the stakes involved are very high, the resistance to decree is oftenly heightened. It is very difficult to announce as to how the matter that is being negotiated will be dealt with.The captious layout in the â€Å"Zero-Sum† bargaining method is analyzed by a †Å"bargaining some model of negotiations†. There are three vital negotiation points in the model in the book. The first is the offer point in which one side opens an offer to the opposite side. By doing this, expectations from both groups are stipulated as a beginning point. Nevertheless this is done with the supposition that stipulating the desired point in which they contain their rational and final agreement. Of course the other party will rebut this favoring the target they contain.

Social Engineering (ethical hacking ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Engineering (ethical hacking ) - Essay Example However, while the internet has been a blessing to humankind, along with its bounties and huge number of facilities, it has brought a few risks as well. Studies (Erickson, pp. 49-56) have indicated that stealing of valuable information, corruption, and vanishing of computer systems are some of the major risks associated with the utilization of internet. Although in the past, it was an understanding that information locked in a file cabinet is more vulnerable than the existence of that information in electronic mode. However, things have changed now, and people are again relying on file cabinets to keep their records due to huge amount of issues related to information systems security on the internet. In this regard, internet has resulted in commencement of various beneficial things such as electronic commerce, e-mail, e-advertisement, and e-education; however, along with such technological advancements, there is one major issue among the various IS security related issues; hacking (McClure & Shah, pp. 20-26). In other words, a huge number of issues and threats exist in the world of information systems; however, hacking is one of the major issues that have been deteriorating the security of information security systems, which will be the focus of this report in detail. Analysis of different sources (Harris & Ness, pp. 49-63) has indicated that until today, the computer industry is using the term of hacking or hacker for dual purposes. In the beginning, hacker would be an individual who was interested in learning new things about the computer systems, and was keen to discover new capabilities of the computer networks unlike usual users of the computers who were interested in learning only standard usage of the computers. In other words, enthusiastic programmers were hackers, and as the time passed, skillful programmers continued to

GOSSIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GOSSIP - Essay Example For Dunbar (2004), gossip’s function is to weed out unscrupulous individuals which, in turn, helps the species to propagate. These two theories are examined in depth below. The first theory that will be examined is one put forth by Wert and Salovey in their article â€Å"A Social Comparison Account of Gossip† (Wert & Salovey, 2004). Wert & Salovey state that gossip has a function in social comparison theory, which states that we, as human beings, have a need to compare ourselves to others, because, by doing this, we are evaluating ourselves by actual, objective criteria (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 123). Wert & Salovey’s theory is helpful to understand why people gossip in a negative way, despite the fact that such gossip may backfire on the gossiper because the people hearing the gossip may feel threatened because the gossiper probably negatively talks about the hearer in the same way (Kurland & Pelled, 2000, p. 429). The six types of this kind of social comparison , and how gossip functions in each, are defined below. The first kind of comparison examined is the comparison with similar others. Gossip serves a function is this kind of comparison, because individuals are trying to figure out how to behave and act, and how not to behave and act, by comparing themselves to these similar peers. ... This kind of comparison is sought to make people feel better about themselves – as in thinking â€Å"my life isn’t great, but look at that person – my life certainly could get worse† (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 125). Gossiping serves a purpose in this kind of comparison, because it provides a way to indirectly compare oneself to others who are less fortunate or less skilled then oneself, and this bolster’s one’s self-esteem (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 125). The third type of social comparison is the upward social comparison, in which one compares oneself to others higher on the proverbial totem pole. One of the functions of this kind of gossip is to tear down the wealthy person if one does not have a chance to attain the wealth for oneself, and this can result from a feeling of injustice, in that the person does not â€Å"deserve† his or her wealth(Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 127). The fourth type is in-group and out-group comparisons. This i s a classic â€Å"them v. us† comparison. In this case, gossip serves the purpose of making the out-group seem negative, in order to bolster the in-group, and the individuals’ sense of identity that comes from belonging to the in-group (Wert & Salovey, 2004, pp. 127-128). It also establishes who is and who is not a part of the group, as well as establishing the norms for the in-group (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 128). Baumeister et al., (2004) refers to this as gossip as cultural learning, in that people in a given culture may learn more about their own culture by relating the successes and failures of others, both within and without that culture (Baumeister et al, 2004, p. 120). Related to in-group and out-group comparisons is the fifth type of social comparison, which is constructed social comparisons, in which an

International Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Business Management - Essay Example   The main reason for the choice of Samsung as a global business is that it offers a wide range of products fitting different budgets, sizes, and shapes for each consumer. These products range from Galaxy S5 to Samsung Galaxy K zoom that has an optical zooming lens, the only Smartphone in the market with the feature and other products for every consumer to choice from depending on their need and abilities. The firm aims at meeting all the needs of the consumers through a wide range of product offerings for the consumers.    The main limitation of the global strategy is that there is high standardization of products limiting the ability to meet the needs of people who have differing tastes and preferences as tastes, preferenc3es, economic status, and the social condition cannot be equal global.  The company chosen for the discussion on international strategy is Starbucks with the reason being the high growth rate it expanded to different areas to have operations in over 60 count ries, 170,000 stores and revenues were 13.29 billion, 1.38 billion in profits and employed 149,000 employees in 2012. This rate of expansion and success shows a successful company in the international market, giving the need for an understanding of the international strategy employed in the company.  The reason for the choice of Starbucks as an international business is that the company in its early stages had plans for cross border stage overcoming the fear of international business by use of cross border integration.

Application essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Application - Essay Example Secondly, during the beginning of the last semester, I joined the Emory Volunteer Program. I have learnt a lot through the activities of the program. In addition, we had an opportunity to visit Furkid, an animal shelter that takes care of cats. The event was successful; we touched the lives of a number of animals. Another opportunity arose to visit Atlanta PAWS, a shelter for homeless dogs. We fed and cleaned the dogs while presenting a number of items for them. The management of the center was very pleased with our kindness while applauding the Emory fraternity for the kind-hearted deed. Thirdly, I am a member of the Sunday school of Tzu Ching Emory. This is an internationally recognized humanitarian non-governmental organization; it is the largest of its kind in the Chinese-speaking world. In addition, the NGO has a special consultative status in the UN economic and social council. We meet every Sunday to plan for the activities of the NGO as well as learning about its mandate. The motivation to join the NGO emanated from my strong passion for charity work. Fourthly, The Sight for Unit club attracted my attention while I was still fresh at Emory. This club has offered me a spectacular opportunity to be of help to others. The club’s mandate is to mobilize resources in aid of people that have lost sight and in need of help. Through the club, we have engaged in various money generating activities including selling of bubble tea and frozen yoghurt to the student community. This activity generated some substantial amount of money that we gave to Sight for Unit organization. Finally, this semester I founded the Emory Tea Ceremony club, a dream that came to me late last semester. The essence of having the club was to spread the Asian tea culture to the students at Emory. I am optimistic that the club will facilitate further celebration of cultural diversity at

International Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Business Management - Essay Example   The main reason for the choice of Samsung as a global business is that it offers a wide range of products fitting different budgets, sizes, and shapes for each consumer. These products range from Galaxy S5 to Samsung Galaxy K zoom that has an optical zooming lens, the only Smartphone in the market with the feature and other products for every consumer to choice from depending on their need and abilities. The firm aims at meeting all the needs of the consumers through a wide range of product offerings for the consumers.    The main limitation of the global strategy is that there is high standardization of products limiting the ability to meet the needs of people who have differing tastes and preferences as tastes, preferenc3es, economic status, and the social condition cannot be equal global.  The company chosen for the discussion on international strategy is Starbucks with the reason being the high growth rate it expanded to different areas to have operations in over 60 count ries, 170,000 stores and revenues were 13.29 billion, 1.38 billion in profits and employed 149,000 employees in 2012. This rate of expansion and success shows a successful company in the international market, giving the need for an understanding of the international strategy employed in the company.  The reason for the choice of Starbucks as an international business is that the company in its early stages had plans for cross border stage overcoming the fear of international business by use of cross border integration.

Japanese Cars in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Japanese Cars in America - Research Paper Example The Americans want economy and performance. They see the features of the car and the Japanese are ahead in this respect. Also, the Japanese are ahead because of their capability to meet customers' demands. The Americans liked their cars with a "swagger and attitude" (Americans Still Think Japanese Cars Best, 2007). The Japanese cars provided just that. While the domestic cars did not fare so badly at 29%, it was the Japanese car that gave the clear lead at 44%. The Japanese car models were clear winners because of their eye for details. The Americans were impressed with the capability of Japanese cars to perform for longer periods at lower costs. The Japanese cars were closely followed by American models. The Americans, by and large, prefer cars' performance over its nationality. The American models lacked in the strategy of staying a step ahead in the competition although they were adept at closing the gap once foreign cars established the lead. However, that is all that the American models succeeded in achieving. They could not overtake the lead. Having closed the gap, the American models still failed to supersede the foreign cars in the areas of economy and performance, "Eighty-five percent of foreign car owners said they were very satisfied with their cars, while eight in 10 owners of American cars were very satisfied" (Americans Still Think Japanese Cars Best, 2007). ... The American models lacked in the strategy of staying a step ahead in the competition although they were adept at closing the gap once foreign cars established the lead. However, that is all that the American models succeeded in achieving. They could not overtake the lead. Having closed the gap, the American models still failed to supersede the foreign cars in the areas of economy and performance, "Eighty-five percent of foreign car owners said they were very satisfied with their cars, while eight in 10 owners of American cars were very satisfied" (Americans Still Think Japanese Cars Best, 2007). The American models were close second even in this respect. It appears the American models have been done in because of the inability of the manufacturers to align with the buyers' demands and also the devil-may-care attitude of the American buyers. The Americans are cagey about models that appear inferior. The cost-conscious Americans also believed in better economy and chose to purchase second hand and well-maintained Japanese cars over brand new domestic models. "It's more attractive financially to obtain a car directly from Japan, even when you include the extra fees and monies you pay for shipping and taxes. It's simply cheaper to buy a car directly from Japan than it is to buy a similar car made in the U.S. Another reason behind this great demand of Used Japan cars is that Japanese drivers are careful to maintain their car cosmetically and mechanically so virtually all cars put up for sale or export will be in great condition" (Advantages of Buying Used Japan Cars, 2008). Conclusion It is all in the mind! The difference in the American psyche and the Japanese psyche reflect in the position of their

Peace and Free

Peace and Freedom Essay General accounts that place the American combat experience in the broader context of the 1918 campaign can be found in literature. Authors provide sound overviews of the AEFs European combat experience. Accounts of specific battles contain an excellent general description of the Marine combat experience on the Western Front. Perhaps influenced by recent trends in military history, many authors have attempted to come to grips with the wars impact on the individual soldier. Authors look at the Armys treatment of its black soldiers and of those soldiers reactions. There are also more detailed works on the black experience. They provide a fine general account of the African-American experience in the U. S. military. At the same time historians focused on the very important role women played at home. In The Women and the Warriors, Carrie Foster looks at the early history of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom. He finds that its experience during the World War I greatly shaped its view of the world and the strategies it pursued during this period. The important scholarship on women during the war challenges the traditional interpretation of the war as, on the whole, a liberating experience for women. For historians are important local studies, focusing on official policy toward women and workers in general. There is also the psychosocial impact of the war on gender relations. What happens when the men come home is described by historians. Historians investigated also the history of industrial workers. They focused on the militarization of labor and on the relations among union leaders, capitalists, and military authorities. Historians covered labyrinthine administrative arrangements that economic mobilization engendered and trade union organization. Recent scholarship on the working class in wartime features a great many local studies. The history of daily life among civilians during the World War I has been investigated chiefly via local case studies. Many historians propose that the experience of the war on the home front often came down to â€Å"steel and turnips†Ã¢â‚¬â€ever-increasing demands for work and â€Å"efficiency, † and less and less to eat in the bargain. It almost goes without doubt that a disproportionate number of those undergoing these experiences were women and children. Some writers focus on the ideological impact of war work for the womens movement and consider the related issue of â€Å"pronatalism† as an element of wartime mentality. As to the children for whom working women continued to care, historians have studied the day-to-day life of those still in school and considered youth movements within the middle class. One social group of importance to both women and children was doctors. The relationship of both politicians and soldiers with the press has drawn a number of scholars. They have concentrated upon the issue of control and censorship touching on both censorship and ownership. The press was naturally an instrument for propaganda. The impact of theatre, photography, the infant cinema and, especially, the pioneering wartime film has been the subject of detailed consideration. Today the World War I is in modern memory as an incredible experience of our parents and grandparents. Its places of battles are partially preserved. Its equipment and accoutrements exhibited in museums. A balanced account of the entire period is captured in excellent historical works that always will be read with curiosity and amazement, as well as a growing understanding. References Coffman, Edward M. (1968). The War to End All Wars: The American Military Experience in World War I. New York: Oxford. Foster, Carrie A. (1995). The Women and the Warriors: The U. S. Section of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, 1915-1946. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press. Kreidberg, Marvin A., and Merton G. Henry. (1955). History of Military Mobilization in the United States Army, 1775-1945. Washington, DC: Department of the Army. Perret, Geoffrey. (1989). A Country Made by War: From Revolution to Vietnam—The Story of Americas Rise to Power. New York: Random House. Plaschka, Richard Georg, Horst Haselsteiner, and Arnold Suppan. (1974). Innere Front: Militarassistenz, Widerstand und Umsturz in der Donaumonarchie, Vienna. Weigley, Russell F. (1973). The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy. New York: Macmillan.

Communication In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Palliative Care Nursing Essay

Communication In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Palliative Care Nursing Essay The following is an evaluation of enhanced communication techniques in palliative care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with reference to a case study. COPD is a debilitating terminal condition that is distinguished by a progressive airflow obstruction, primarily caused by smoking. It is usually not fully irreversible (NICE, 2010). For an airflow obstruction to qualify, post bronchiodilation FEV1/FVC is less than 0.7 ( FEV: forced expiratory volume in one second, FVC: forced vital capacity). The course of COPD is highlighted as being an illness characterised by a long inexplorable disease, punctuated with protracted periods of disabling breathlessness, reducing exercise tolerance, causing recurrent hospital admissions and premature death (Buckley, 2008). Diagnosis of COPD is not entirely dependent on severity of breathlessness but also history, physical examination and also spirometry confirmation of airway obstruction (Buckley, 2008; NICE, 2010). Because of the difficulty with the prognosis of COPD, it presents a challenge for physicians and healthcare practitioners to provide adequate care to patients (Curtis, 2006; NICE, 2010). Due to the nature of symptoms associated COPD (such as dyspnoea), patients more often die with COPD or related than from it (NICE, 2010) with mortality rate for men steadily reduced from 1970 while womens has seen a small but steady rise, although COPD mortality is on the general rise. Buckley (2008) reported that there was a relatively higher proportion, (72%) of COPD who die in hospital care, compared with 12% at home and none in hospices. Palliative Care Palliative care has several definitions but has similar concepts according to Campbell (2009). NICE (2010) guidelines define palliative care as active holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. Curtis (2006) defines palliative care as the goal being to prevent and relieve suffering and support the best possible loyalty of life for patients and their families and their families, regardless of the state of disease or the need for other therapies. The general aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of care through alleviation of symptoms and promoting comfort over treatment as some treatment involve mechanical aids which patients might find taxing (Curtis, 2006). This has brought about the suggestion for the need of specialised centres (Curtis, 2006) considering how little attention palliative care quality has received. Curtis (2006) then went on to report that there was a very low number of patients who talked about end of life care with their physicians, which can be made even more difficult with loss of emotional control or fear of having little training (Wittenberg-Lyles et al., 2008). There is also a need for patients to show more confidence in their carers (Curtis, 2006). The Gold Standards Framework GSF (2006) Prognostic Indicator Guidance (PIG) lists the criteria that would assist in making a prognosis for requirement of palliative care as: Severity of disease, such as FEV1 being less than 30% predicted Recurrent hospital admissions Long term oxygen therapy Shortness of breath with 4/5 grade on the Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnoea scale Signs and symptoms of right heart failure Other factor such as non invasive ventilation (NIV) The GSF (2006) PIG summarises which three steps are key to determine which patient needs palliative care. They are Identifying patient based on criteria Assessing needs Planning administration The above steps are dependent on patients satisfying chronic condition criteria listed earlier. Communication Communication is the process of enhancing thoughts or information between individuals through different media: spoken or written and through body language gestures (Payne et al., 2004). Buckley (2008) states that good communication is the key to the delivery of effective supportive palliative care services as it has an interpersonal perspective that is about health professionals and patients engaging emotionally (Wittenberg-Lyles et al., 2008). Delivering bad news is not an easy or comfortable feat. The United States EPEC (Education for Physicians on End of life) is a training program based on SPIKES model (Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Empathy, and Strategy/Summary), that has listed steps to follow that in the delivery of bad news, summarised below: Preparing to meet i.e. location setting Assess what patient knows about condition Determine amount of information to give patient Delivery of news Respond to any questions from patient and/ or family Make follow up plan Case Study: Patient profile The subject used in the case study was an eighty year old man in a nursing home who presented as generally quiet, with long standing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Consent was obtained from him to participate in the study with the potential benefits explained to him. The subject had history of chain smoking and was diagnosed with heart murmurs in 1986. Long term smoking causes the damage to the lung tissues and repeated chest infections (NICE, 2010) and is a major contributor to COPD. The subject was prescribed bronchodilator salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vial, administered by mask one or two ampoules four times a day. It was used as and when it was required although he did not usually exceed three doses daily. The subject had shortness of breath with basic living tasks and dependent on staff. The subject had several GP visits for COPD associated chest infections in the last twelve months and had to be supported by pillows in an almost upright position to sleep to reduce the discomfort caused by the dyspnoea. The subject was chosen as he satisfied most of the criteria from the GSF (2006) in terms of shortness of breath, reliance on the bronchiodilator, several GP visits for chest infections and long history of smoking. The do not resuscitate (DNR) forms were filled in passed on to the multidisciplinary team that include the Ambulance service with the family aware. Communication in Palliative care with COPD Different communication techniques were employed when it came to dealing with the subject to reassure him and the family skills i.e. maintaining appropriate eye contact, low tone of voice is the key to the delivery of effective supportive palliative care service (Buckley, 2008). A SPIKES model approach was employed with the current case study. Discussion It is essential for nurses to establish a therapeutic relationship with patients as they interact more with the patient, employing strategies such as empathy, spending more time listening and being more initiative (Edwards, et al 2006). Communication sometimes can also been limited by workplace policies or insufficient training (Edwards, et al 2006), which raises the need for proper training to better these relationships (Davidson et al., 2002). The current case study was able to overcome the difficulties of communicating with the patient and family as they had been there already offering support, and hence during the meeting to discuss the end of life they stated that they were satisfied with the progress as part of the continued care. The subject did not seem to be happy with the nebulisation therapy at first and he expressed fear and anxieties because it was a new therapy, which was not unusual (Stevens et al., 2009). Curtis (2006) study argues that health care for patients with COPD was often initiated proactively based on a previously developed plan for managing their disease. The subject was given a choice if he wanted a member of his family to be present and if the time was appropriate to which he had no objection, being emotionally functional and able to make his decisions (Lemmens et al. 2008). It was also noted that the subject became more relaxed when the nebulisation therapy was explained to him that it would reduce the dyspnoea, rattly chest, symptoms that he acknowledged made his breathing difficult and other symptoms such as wheezing and sleep disturbance. It is important to have a suitable location where there would be few disturbances when breaking bad news (Stevens et al, 2009; Wittenberg- Lyle, 2006). In the case study, the subjects family was contacted in order to arrange a meeting to discuss his diagnosis, the way forward regarding his treatment and control of his symptoms and also make them aware of any changes that would need to be made in terms of his care. This afforded the subject and family to be to be reassured that the patient would be made as comfortable as possible to alleviate the symptoms of his condition through to end of life and bereavement. Conclusion Palliative care for COPD has not received much attention until recently. Communication is a very important aspect for high standards of care particularly in end of life care. Nurse to patient relationships are even more important as they play a major role; liaising with the family and multidisciplinary team to make the end of life as comfortable as possible. There is still much to be done in terms of communication training for nurses and also getting more physicians involved. The role of a multidisciplinary team is highly valued as it helps streamline the planning and administration of palliative care. The current case study found that the patient was happy with the way that the way that his care was planned.

Privacy - Information Collection and National Security :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Information and National Security Many people believe that the U.S government is hiding information from their citizens. But has anyone stopped to think that perhaps the government withholds information for the nation's safety. I disagree with the college student who said, "Despite the horror stories of war, I would want to know the truth. If you know the truth of a situation, you might be able to do something about it." I do not believe that 'we' can do something about it. It is ultimately our government who decides on how to act. For the most part, the government should be allowed to conceal the truth for our nation's safety. If the government was to tell the public the truth about everything, it could lead to an uneasy nation. The government releases information that we need to know. If the government were to tell us everything that they have been withholding, it might break citizens into chaos. Our government is here to protect us and not to insight violence in us. We should have faith in our government. For example, if the public were told about a planned attack that could not be prevented, chaos would ensue. People would panic and perhaps cause more damage. Our country needs unity and not chaos. The government is only trying to protect us by keeping secrets. In this time of war, the government has more of a reason to be secretive. The enemies are watching information that goes public. During this time our country needs to be very careful of what kind of information they divulge. If the government were to release important information it may be used against us. It is understandable that the public has curiosity of what is really going on during this war. But ultimately, the public needs to have faith that our government is doing what needs to be done. Many people argue that the government also holds a lot of petty information away from the public. While people may understand why certain information is kept a secret, they would like to know why some 'not so important' information is not released. In my opinion, if the information is petty why should anyone care what it is anyway.

A Message from Disadvantaged Children of Friends for Street Children in Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam

A message from disadvantaged children of Friends For Street children in Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam Ladies and Gentlemen, Ho Chi Minh City is an economic city of Vietnam, with a population of more than 8 million. Attracted by the rapid economic expansion of Ho Chi Minh City, a large number of migrants from many parts of the country is coming. However, they mostly are poor in material, education, professional skills which leads to unstable jobs and low salaries. They live together with many other family’s members in a temporary houses or narrow rental rooms. They cannot earn enough for living.It becomes so difficult for these parents to manage school fee for their children; even they need financial help from their children. Many children of these families have to support financially by selling lottery tickets, newspapers, shoes polishing, or begging. Why we help disadvantaged children? The reality of early labors and dropping out of school of migrant children in Ho Chi Mi nh City is so common. Adding to these labor migrant children is poor children of Ho Chi Minh City who live in slums. They are also the target for child labors, illiterate and many social issues.Facing with the reality that many children cannot access school and their rights are neglected, Friends For Street Children Association was established in 1984, purposely to assist the disadvantaged children in their studies. The Association organizes seven Development Centers to serve about 1200 children studying from Kindergarten to Grade 5. What do children benefit from your help? With the help of donors, sponsors, individuals and groups, and organizations for disadvantaged children at cities of development countries like Vietnam, we can prevent and resolve little by little the basic issues such as: Preventing the dropping out of the school of children. – Reducing illiterate. – Resolving child labor. – Reducing child malnutrition. – Increasing child self-confide nt and self-esteem due to lacking social integrating environment. – Encouraging respect of child basic rights. – Providing a good environment for education in order to reduce social crime concerning children. Your support will help us to organize what activities? Your support will give children chances to access a good education. In FFSC system, we organize free education for children from 5 to 15 years old included Pre-school and Elementary School classes.This is a very important step to support all children to excel certain knowledge in order to integrate public schools. Without supporting, it will be impossible for poor and labor child to access further education. – At the center, we also organize language classes such as English, Japanese for children; – Vocational training courses such as sewing, embroidery for girls; – Building up child self-confident and social understanding through life skills and life values courses; – Improving chi ldren’s creativities through recreation programs according to age such as circle games, drawing; Improving their health through outdoor body exercises; – Healthcare, teeth care and providing milk; – Sponsorships for poor children who study at public schools to prevent dropping out due to financial reason; – Supporting children and families psychologically through home visits. What’s impact of our support for children? Our purpose focuses on and enhances well-being and a better future of disadvantaged children. – These disadvantaged children will have chance to access and integrate the public school and to develop their talents. Some girls who are trained can earn living in the future. – They are served better in nutrition and health. – They will gain a balance on psychology. – They have chances to have fun as any other children. – These poor children can proceed higher education in order to graduate from high scho ol and college. – They are provided necessary knowledge and skills to live healthily, happily and usefully in future society. Our dear guests, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for your kind presence here today. Thank you for your attentive listening.

The ways in which ideas were communicated to the audience in War Spectacular

We constructed War Spectacular to be an abstract piece made up of a number of unconnected scenes; this structure enabled us to tell numerous different stories, all with their own message. We realised early in the devising process that in order to keep this piece objective we would have to keep all of the scenes and settings non-specific, if we used the real names of locations, religions or people it may have caused offence to the audience, thus drawing away from our message. There were many different messages we wanted to convey to the audience; however there was one theme which ran throughout the piece, ultimately connecting the disjointed scenes; we were showing the different ‘faces of war'. The first ‘face of war' which we wanted to show was the human element of war. The original concept for the play was to show the affect of a conflict upon two families, show their struggle, and ultimately their collapse. Although this concept was scrapped the themes were kept for use during War Spectacular. You can read also Audience Adaptation Paper If we were to show the human and emotional side of war it was obvious that we needed to use a group of ‘real' characters (opposed to the more abstract characters which would use throughout the play which would lack exposition and depth) who would open up to one another and show their hatred for the conflict. We constructed a scene with three soldiers who had been split from their unit and were forced to take shelter from the enemy in a bomb crater. My character was bitter and angry with my superior who, with his little leadership experience had got them no closer to safety. With talk of home and arguments together the two showed their insecurities and ultimately their fear. In this scene home was constructed to be the place which was away from this conflict, it is ‘safe, it's warm†¦ and dry'. However, in the scene ‘War spectacular' this ideal of home was destroyed. The execution of a man within his own house was used to show that war is now not just on the battlefields but in our streets and homes. This intrusion of safety was not just meant literally but metaphorically too – with modern media we are spared no detail of a conflict; past generations believed that their ‘brave boys' were safe and doing the good of the country, now the truth is only too evident. At the beginning of the devising process I was very keen to have a subtext of media manipulation throughout the play; this was achieved through two scenes. First I wanted to make the ironic point about the hypocrisy of a news report (‘War Spectacular' by Kate Adie) which compares a missile launch to a fireworks display, and then attempts to convey the reporters concern for the human suffering of mugged refugees. Reciting this piece while playing Holst's Saturn, an eerie classical track gave the reading a strange poetic nature which a war report really shouldn't have. This recital was made DSR, whilst a soldier robbed a dead body CS; this abstract staging was used to show the reporters obliviousness to the events which were actually happening around her. With these juxtapositions, the article lost all the sincerity with which it may have be written; showing how easy it is to both overlook the true meaning of news we are being provided with, and how what we are being shown with can never be the full story, and just the observations of one person. The second scene showing our media subtext was our most complex, both to construct and to perform. Set in a Middle Eastern bar we meet three journalists, Danny Richards, Kate Stevens and Malcolm Grey – Danny and Kate are both shown as rookies and Malcolm the veteran. A number of flashbacks are used throughout the scene as a means of exposition for each of the characters but also showing their different journalistic styles. Half way through the journalist scene we cut to Kate standing DSR reporting from the aftermath of a missile attack. We see her emotional report which describes a graphic and horrific scene. When her report is finished she asks the cameraman ‘brutal enough? ‘ – again showing the hypocrisy of the so-called emotionally attached reporter. Continuing in the bar Malcolm questions Danny's integrity, calling him a ‘Two-bit rookie' in response to this the audience is shown an interview between Danny, an interpreter and a woman living in a village which has been raided by American troops. This scene was used to show how drastically information can become. Statements coming from the village woman, through the interpreter and then to Danny are changed ‘Chinese whispers' style until their meaning has been completely lost. For example, the word ‘Americans' is changed to ‘military' and then to ‘militants'. We ensured that it was the interpreter which made the most drastic mistakes, showing that it was not Danny who was at fault, and that this corruption of the truth could happen even to the most professional reporters. So to contrast this media orientated aspect of war we wanted to show a side of war that has very little understanding to it; the new warfare of fanaticism and blind allegiance. However much research we did for these roles it was always impossible to collect information which was objective as everything that we had collected was opinionated and not factual. With this stigma in mind, I felt that it was important to work with the theme of connection between all human beings which had been established in the opening scene as it would have been easy to just cast the characters in this section as inhuman, and so we worked to show the audience familiarities with these characters that they otherwise would have trouble connecting with. With the child soldier it was the shock of his revealed age which worked to remind the audience that the ‘inhuman' soldier was still a small boy, and as the audience was made up of students and parents we felt that this would force them to think of children close to them. Similarly, the suicide bomber, whilst fanatical, still showed very human traits. He had thoughts of his family, performed this act because he believed that he was right and ‘just', and ultimately showed fear. In contrast to this very new attitude to war we wanted to depict a very old fashioned warfare which looking back on it is now highly comical. The ‘new generation' of weaponry was presented to the audience in the form of a ‘1950's style' advert. The main purpose for this scene was to provide the audience with a comic relief from the seriousness of the play. However, whilst this was an opportunity to relax placing this scene previous to the suicide bomber scene it to show a drastic change in attitude to warfare, whilst the character of the advert believed that that their weapons would drive the empire into the 20th century, the suicide bomber represents a very modern and much more dangerous enemy; one which does not have a flag or country, but just a cause and the will to cause destruction. The piece was concluded with the recital of the poem, ‘All things are connected' which we quoted for the opening sequence. With lines such as ‘Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it' it worked well to convey our themes of unison as a race – although the hope of total peace is a fantasy, it is the theme which ultimately runs throughout the whole of the piece.

Business Proposal Essay

Market Structure and Elasticity The elasticity depends on if in a year Google sells over one million and stays under the competitor price of $80 dollars by Belkin Miracast then it can fluctuates it price to $50 per Chromecast. The elasticity of demand is once a manager knows the marginal cost, they should then set the price over marginal cost. This is the profit that the product will produce. The industry for Chromecast is to allow people the choice to go beyond the monopolistic competitive market structure such as Comcast to a lesser monopolized substitution for cable: Chromecast. Pricing Strategy based on Market Factors Having a strategy for Chromecast will address the competition and the day to day operations. Using cost leadership, differentiation and having focus will allow the pricing strategy to affect marginal cost and allow you to profit by selling more of the lower price item to focus in a on a smaller audience which will provide revenue in the future due to the differentiation that you have for your product and stepping out amongst your competitor to offer the lower price for the Chromecast. How will changes in the quantity supplied as a result of your pricing decision affect marginal cost and marginal revenue? Changes in Revenues and Costs Lead to Changes in Profits (Markup Pricing, 2014) We see here that if a company changes their price, it can lead to changes in the cost and revenue, the profit is equal to the change in revenue minus the change in cost—that is, the change in profit is marginal revenue minus marginal cost. When marginal revenue equals marginal cost, the change in profit is zero, so a firm is at the top of the profit hill (Markup Pricing, 2014). Non Pricing Strategy The non-pricing strategy can be used for Chromecast to gain sales due to many customers valueing quality over cost, consumers want to know that if they pour money into something that they are getting what they paid for and expect more from the product than they paid for. The non pricing strategies that will be used in determinning the increased barrier to entry from the normal price slashing will be network effects, compactability to be able to ownership of control of a key resource, high set up cost, advertising, and finally having a strong brand. Having a pricing entry of $35 dollars is an impluse to buying the device, but the non pricing strategy can be the most potent strategic weapon, â€Å"Chrome is a focus at Google; Android is an  afterthought,† (Keizer, 2013). Another non pricing strategy is the simplicity rules that Chromecast leverages demonstrable consumer behavior with wireless media recievers, and marries that with the mobile ecosystem (PBS, 2014). Economic cost concepts and how could changes in your business operations alter the mix of fixed and variable costs in line with your strategy? Everything has a cost, deciding on if that cost is something a company can control can be a challenge to the business, looking at fixed cost and variable cost, such as interest paid back on a car loan it’s the same. Can the money be controlled such as fixed cost, or does the needle money the money for a variable amount. A few examples of a fixed cost is rent on a building to be able to make the product and depreciation over time. This can lead to knowing what the cost will be advance for the product and how it factors into the profit will lead a company to understanding more about their product and the overall outcome of how it affect the budget. A few variable cost involved with the product can have a cost of labor, this can change due to the experience of the workers and overtime that meets the demand of the time sensitive product to release to the world. Cost of labor can change and factoring this into your budget is a must to formulate your budget, hence every year cost of labor goes up if you give raises or bonuses. Another demanding variable cost is the shipping and delivery charges, if your are shipping all over the world and products have to go thru customs, then the price goes up, factoring a baseline for the product will help a business calculate the plan for the business and allow a budget to be factored into the everyday profits that the product produces. Conclusion Overall, Chromecast is a product of Google and allows a choice for the over demanding cable industry. Giving your customers a choice promotes respect and loyalty, in this business proposal the topics of economic principles were presented and statements about the market structure and the elasticity of demand for the good or service. Chromecast is a thumb- sized media streaming device that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. Set it up with a simple mobile app, then send your favorite online shows, movies, music and more to your TV using your smartphone , tablet or laptop. Chromecast is remote free and as simple as a plug and play and only cost  $35. In this business proposal the market structure and elasticity of the product was identified, the following questions were answered: How will pricing relate to elasticity of your product? How will changes in the quantity supplied as a result of your pricing decisions affect marginal cost and marginal revenue? Besides your pricing decisions, what are your suggested nonpricing strategies? What nonpricing strategies will you use to increase barriers to entry? How could changes in your business operations alter the mix of fixed and variable costs in line with your strategy? The proposal demonstrated an understanding of the uses of product differentiation by not allowing certain content to be streamlined to your television and native apps or services installed in the product (Google, 2014). References Google. (2014). Keizer, G. (2013). Computerworld. Retrieved from http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241170/With_Chromecast_Google_reveals_Chrome_as_its_strategic_big_gun Markup Pricing. (2014). Retrieved from http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/theory-and-applications-of-microeconomics/s10-04-markup-pricing-combining-margi.html McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., & Flynn, S. M. (2009). Economics: Principles, problems, and policies (18th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin. PBS. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/07/5-reasons-google-chromecast-will-transform-tv/

Snake Populations and Human Intervention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Snake Populations and Human Intervention - Essay Example Both areas are known C. horridus habitats. Snake population sizes shall be determined for both areas from local reports of spottings in summer. Adults, young ones and neonates shall all be considered for the study. The two population sizes shall be compared. The population size from the conserved area shall serve as the control as there is supposedly no human intervention and the snakes are left in their pristine state. If the population size from the non-conserved area is larger than or the same as that from the conserved area it will be construed that the hypothesis is correct. If the converse is true the hypothesis will be proved wrong and this research study shall be considered successful. The entire study will be supplemented by a questionnaire that shall be presented to locals residing near the two survey areas. The questionnaire design will be such that information on the respondents' awareness of conservation efforts and their attitude towards the snakes can be judged. This, together with the study results can help immensely in future studies conducted to assess how snakes can co-habit with humans without friction. Taxonomy: The timber rattlesnake is a member of the almost worldwide family Viperidae. These viperids include both Old World and New World snakes that have existed since the Miocene Age (Adams, Jennifer P., 2005). Crotalinae, commonly called pit-vipers, is a sub-family comprised of 16 genera and 144 species (Adams, Jennifer P., 2005). Crotalinae members are characterized by two pitted heat sensors between the eyes and nares, hollow retractable fangs, a single row of sub-caudal scales and vertical pupils (Adams, Jennifer P., 2005). There are 33 Crotalus New World species and sub-species, of which 25 inhabit North America. The rattle and the broad head narrowing at the neck and descending into a thick heavy body most characterize this genus (Adams, Jennifer P., 2005). Distribution and Status Distribution: Timber rattlesnakes range widely from New Hampshire south to Florida, west to Texas and north again to southeast Nebraska through to southeast Minnesota (Fig. 1, Appendix) (Staff, CRACM, 2003). Despite this wide distribution timber rattlesnakes are usually found in isolated pockets to the western and northern limits of their ranges. In particular context to West Virginia, where this study will be conducted, the species ranges from the eastern panhandle through the Alleghenies south to Mingo and Mercer counties (Fig. 2, Appendix) (West Virginia Snakes, 2003). Status: Evolutionary trends have produced Crotalus horridus as a 'long-lived, slow-reproducing

Nutrition 6 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nutrition 6 - Assignment Example The symptoms of infection include diarrhea and excessive vomiting that last up to a week. Further, other symptoms that accompany vomiting and diarrhea include fever, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and nausea. 2. Do you believe that GM foods should be readily widely distributed to the public? (Make sure to refer to the facts in the article to support your ideas. Address the benefits and risks associated with GM organisms. GM food should not be widely distributed to the public because they might cause health problems this is because genetic foods are produced using poisonous synthetic fertilizers, animal feed antibiotics, and growth hormones that are harmful to human health. Genetically modified foods should be labeled so that people have a choice on what kind of food they want to purchase. However, genetically modified foods are beneficial since they lead to high yields. Proper labeling matters a lot because it reveals nutritional values of the foods which gives a consumer an easy time deciding whether to buy or not (Crinnion, 2010). Organic foods use organic fertilizers, which mean they are free from chemical contamination. On the other hand, genetically modified foods are produced using synthetic fertilizers that contain toxins and chemicals. Conventional farming use synthetic fertilizers made from nitrogen, which in turn finds its way into lakes, rivers, and other ecosystems thus affecting water surroundings (Singer, 2012). Contrary, organic farming does not pollute the ecosystem because farmers use fewer fertilizers and in some cases, they do not use any fertilizers. It is significant to note that organic method of farming enables the soil to store more carbon thus reducing the rate of carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere (Crinnion, 2010). Organic foods are healthier than other foods because Consumers believe that organic foods have fewer poisonous chemicals and higher nutritional value. The levels of nutrients in organic foods vary because of the

The Rationale of the Supreme Court's Decision in Citizen United (The Essay

The Rationale of the Supreme Court's Decision in Citizen United (The Majority Opinion by Justice Kennedy) - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that in the course of 2008 election, Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization, produced Hillary: The Movies, a documentary criticizing Senator Hillary Clinton by then. The movie was considered by Federal Election Commission (FEC) as an electioneering communication due to the political nature of the movie and because Citizen United aimed at purchasing airtime on a video-on-demand service on a cable television. Thus, this movie was subject to laws governing the production of political advertisements as well as limitations on who may fund them. Citizen United prosecuted in federal court to capsize decision lost and appealed to the Supreme Court. When pronouncing their verdict, the majority maintained that political speech is crucial to a democracy, which is not less than truth due to the fact that the speech originated from a corporation. The majority also asserted that disclosure requirements of BCRA were constitutional as appl ied to Hillary: The Movie, with a reason that a governmental interest justified disclosure by offering the electorate with information regarding election-connected spending resources. They also maintained the disclosure rules for political advertising sponsors and it maintained the outlaw on direct contributions to candidates from organizations and unions. Books Llc asserts that in a separate compatible opinion, Justice Steven stressed the manner in which the court handles constitutional issues and its efforts to shun constitutional issues when at all probable. He asserted that here, the court lacked narrower grounds upon which to rule, apart from handling issues of the First Amendment personified in the case. Steven also argued that corporations are not members of society and that there are convincing governmental interests to control ability of corporations to spend money in the course of local and national elections. Even though majority rationale was right when it said that poli tical speech is crucial to a democracy as it influence electorates, it was not right for them to rule against Citizen United. This is because as far as First Amendment has to be observed, all citizens have constitutional rights to express themselves freely and freedom of speech.

Womans eyes an american history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Womans eyes an american history - Essay Example Baking bread is a hard task, therefore, it is not done daily – it is a weekly chore. I will also get a jug of cider or beer from the cellar for my family. This is a daily staple for my family’s breakfast; we have beer, ale or cider with our breakfast. This is especially handy when there is nothing else to serve for breakfast, as we just have a mug or two of it for breakfast before going about our daily business. At first glance the above quote may sound chauvinistic and anti-feminist, however, after reflection, I feel, I cannot disagree with the implication of this statement. Yes, it does not seem like the politically correct thing to say, but the purpose of higher education should not only be limited to becoming a professional. The role of the mothers in rearing children is celebrated much; most of us observe that it is primarily the mothers, not the fathers, who shape the worldview of their children; it is the philosophies of the mother get ingrained in the children. Therefore, it is very important for the women to receive a good, solid education. This is by no means a declaration on my part for the prevention of women in work place; on the contrary, I think that all individuals, irrespective of gender, should have the freedom to pursue their professional dreams and aspirations. A woman has just as much right as a man to become a surgeon or an attorney or a farmer, but this should not stop her from utilizing her education and training to raise children as sensible and effective human beings. In conclusion, if we rise above the gender bias of this quote, we will come to see that there is much truth to the assertion that well-educated women can raise kids more effectively than either uneducated women or, generally, educated

Animals abuse Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Animals abuse - Research Paper Example Different people have different perspectives regarding this issue. Therefore, perception and attitudes towards this issue has been reflected in this research paper. Lastly, some solutions have been provided to overcome this ongoing issue. Animal abuse is referred to the human infliction of harm or suffering upon non-human animals, for purposes that are other than survival or self-defense. Majority of the cases related to animal abuse signifies the purpose of specific gain or violent nature of humans against animals. Animal rearing and killing of animals for obtaining food and fur also fall under the category of animal abuse. Based on several research reports and statistical data on animal abuse, it has been clear that on average every 30 seconds crime against animal is reported. The most terrifying fact is that majority of animal abuse related crimes go unreported, which signifies the inhuman nature of people. This research paper supports the thesis statement. Recent animal abuse statistics express a depressing and grave scenario to the suffering of animals by humans on a broader perspective. In the rural as well as the urban areas animals are tortured greatly and they are considered as normal in the eyes of people. Most of the animal abuse crimes go unreported, which shows the negligence against animals’ torture that is made by people. There are mainly two types of animal abuses i.e. active cruelty and passive cruelty. Passive cruelty has been very common form of animal abuse and it is includes lack of action from preventing suffering and pain of animals (Flynn 87. On the other hand active cruelty is the kind of animal abuse wherein humans cause trouble to animals intentionally, for a specific cause or for fun and amusement. Animal abuse has developed on a large scale as the requirement of meat and animal fur has increased rapidly in the world. The most common victims of animal abuse are dogs and cats. Based on an animal abuse sur vey conducted

Hamlet cigar Essay Example for Free

Hamlet cigar Essay The well known brand for cigars Hamlet is produced by Japanese Company. It was initially launched in the year 1964 in United Kingdoms. Their tagline spread a little happiness is well described in their art work. Art Work for Hamlet Cigar Art work for Hamlet Miniature Cigar’s urinal advertisement is very interesting. It has the background of a men’s washroom. A tall man’s back is placed on the extreme left who is urinating, while in the 80% of the remaining art work three vertically challenged people are standing. Being short heighten they can’t reach up to pee in the urinal. One standing in the right has his knees bent and the one standing in left has his knees crossed. They both have flinching expressions on their faces and they holding their stomach. Where as the third vertically challenged person standing in the middle looks content and is smoking and offering Hamlet Cigar from the packet to the person standing left to him. Though his legs are a little bent too which mean he also wants to take a leak but his expression are very cool and calm. The moral of the advertisement is Hamlet Miniatures Cigar can satisfy you even in the dire of situations. Top right of the green tiled bathroom wall has cigar’s cover pasted. Their tagline ‘Spread a little happiness’ is placed right next to hamlet miniature cigar cover. The fonts are big and in white making it prominent on green background due to the color contrast. This advertisement received 19 complaints. It was considered offensive and vulgar. It was more of a mockery to short people. The company in its defense claimed that it was portray of problems these people face in their daily lives (BBC, 2002). Never the less, the art work conveys the message very clearly to its target audiences.

Conflict Between Mole National Park And Larabanga Community Politics Essay

Conflict Between Mole National Park And Larabanga Community Politics Essay Historically, conservation strategies have been dominated by exclusive management approaches, reserving places for nature, and to separate humans and other species. According to Adams and McShane (1996) the method for establishing parks has always involved the expensive operation of removing those people living on the newly protected land. In almost all cases, the result is a park surrounded by people who were excluded from the planning of the area, do not understand its purpose, receive little or no benefit sharing and hence do not support its existence. As a result, local communities develop a lasting distrust of park authorities, in part because of the glaring lack of attention those authorities, supported by conservationists, have traditionally paid to the link between park ecology, the survival of wildlife and the livelihood of the displaced people. In the longer term the effect of the de-linkage of park wildlife from village livelihoods, encouraged by the preservationist views of nature on which the national park as an institution is founded, is to make local people hostile to wildlife conservation (Knight, 2000). In Ghana, the Mole National Park and one of its surrounding communities, Larabanga, have for a long time being involved in a series of conflicts that have negatively affected the peaceful co-existence of man and nature. This paper explores the causes of the conflict and the values, interests and positions of the key stakeholders involved in the conflict. An analysis of the conflict using the social conflict theory and various techniques in conflict management is also employed. The authors also present a new view of the conflict and present alternative dispute resolution methods that are applicable in resolving the conflict. Inclusive governance as a key participatory process is also discussed in the paper. Key words: Environmental Conflict, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Inclusive Governance, Protected Area, Stakeholders Introduction National parks and other wildlife reserves are a major source wildlife conservation conflicts in most parts of the world. In Ghana, wildlife conservation conflicts are prevailing in the north of the country between the park authorities of the Mole National Park (NP) and the park-adjacent communities especially Larabanga (Marseille, 2004). Mole NP is a typical example of coercive conservation or exclusive management, during its creation a policy of externally enforced exclusion was pursued and no serious attempts were made to involve the local communities in the management of the park (Marseille, 2004). The control of Mole NP is vested in central government by means of the Ghanaian Wildlife Division [WD]. Throughout the years the WD and the communities have been engaging in a poor relationship which created a breeding chamber for different conflict situations (Marfo, 2003). Marfo (2003) however states that recently there has been a shift from the traditional preservation approach in p rotected area management to the more flexible concept of conservation through sustainable use. Despite a range of protected area [PA] outreach strategies targeted at improving the relationship with the local communities and reducing the conflicts tension still exists. The lack of communication and the tension between local people and park staff is a common theme from different parks (Newmark et al 1993 in Bergin 2001). The WD holds the view that local communities have done little to change their negative perceptions about the activities of the Park. Particularly the communities surrounding the Mole NP are notorious in violating park boundaries and regulations. Among the local communities both suspicion and mistrust for wildlife staff and bitterness over the process by which the Park was created is prevailing. Hulme and Infield (2001) found that the community attitudes towards protected areas is influenced by the nature of community use of park resources, the physical proximity to the park, influencing both problems caused by wild animals and negative interactions with game officials, and the history of both positive and negative interactions with park staff. Problem statement Though the Mole NP authorities have made efforts to reduce local conflicts there appears to have been little concerted effort to apply the principles of conflict management to protected area-people relationships (Hough, 1988). It is almost universally evident that the question of power and how it plays itself in specific conflict setting is an important dimension to the conflict management problem. The crucial role of power in natural resource conflict management has driven the debate in search for its dynamics and how to deal with it in policy and practice. Conflict is a complex phenomenon, with the possibility of involving several actors. However, at a superficial level there are only two actors involved in wildlife conservation conflict, namely the local national park administration and the local communities (Hough, 1988). Within natural resource management one major reoccurring issue relates to the question of how to control and manage natural resources on an official level while simultaneously taking into account the needs of the local population (Caspary, 1999). The emerging challenge is to encourage a scientific and policy rethinking of wildlife conservation conflict management intervention processes, guiding wildlife conservation conflict towards constructive rather than destructive results favors both the communities living on the fringes of the Mole NP as well as the park management. 1.3 Aim of the study The aim of the study is formulated as follows: To explore conflict management strategies in wildlife conservation conflict using Mole National Park and the Larabanga Community in Ghana as a case with a view to making appropriate recommendations for wildlife conservation conflict management Objectives In order to achieve this aim, the following specific objectives are formulated: To identify the background and basics of the conflict To explore the positions, interests and values of the key actors and the strategic action exercised during the conflict To examine the linkages of the conflict to the foundations and theories of conflict and conflict management By identify conflict management approaches that are currently being used to address the conflict To propose alternative conflict management and participatory approaches that could be used Research questions What is the basis of the conflict? Why? Which actors are involved in the conflict? Why? What conflict management approaches are being used or could be used Which concept(s) of inclusive governance, which theories of democracy, is Is the governance process participatory and which theory of democracy is it built on? The analysis of this case study will focus clearly on conflict management techniques and interventionist strategies. A third party intervention strategy will focus on understanding the strategies different actors use to empower themselves during conflict and providing alternative ways of resolving the conflict towards a constructive end. Mole National Park The Ghanaian Wildlife Division is responsible for 15 integrated protected areas covering a total area of 13,489 sq. km under which Mole National Park, see map of Mole NP in figure 1. Mole NP is one of the six national parks in Ghana and one of the three established in the interior savannah. Fig. 1: Map of Ghana showing Mole NP and LarabangaThe IUCN defines a National Park as a protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation. Mole NP is a category II park by IUCN classification of protected areas (IUCN, 2010). A National Park is a national asset and as such remains under the jurisdiction of a central authority personified by the WD (Symonds and Hurst, 1998). The Mole NP Protected Area in Ghana and it is considered to be the most prestigious in terms of its attraction to visitors facilities for visitors (IUCN, 2010). The protected areas system in Ghana is designed to conserve key representative areas of Ghanas varied wildlife habitat (Symonds and Hurst, 1998). ontextMole National Park (4840 km2) is found in the western half of the Northern Region in the Guinea grassland zone (see figure 1). Mole is named after the river Mole which runs through the conserved area. In the 1930s about 2330 km of Mole was initially designated a Game clearance area for purposes of tsetse control. The policy of game clearance was abandoned and in 1958 an area of 1,916 sq. km. was officially constituted as the Mole Game Reserve and placed under the Forestry Department (FC, 2010) In 1971, the reserve was almost doubled in size (4912 km) and gazetted a National park under legislative instrument 710 of the wildlife reserves regulations. In 1992, with the removal of another village in the North west the park (Gbantariga), Mole NP was subsequently extended to the present 4840 km (Marseille, 2004). The park is very popular with tourists visiting northern Ghana, 93 mammals, 33 reptiles, 9 amphibians and 304 bird species have been recorded at Mole. The dominant faunal species are elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), waterbuck (Kobus defassa), roan antelope (Hippotragus equnus), kob antelope (Kobus kob), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), warthog (Phacochoerus aethipicus), green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops), patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) and olive baboon (Papio anubis) (FC, 2010). Larabanga community Approximately 4 kilometres from the entrance gate of Mole NP lies the village of Larabanga, or Home of the Arabs as its name signifies. The Larabanga community is a 100% Muslim which has being in existence since the 15th century and originally a hunting tribe (Marseille, 2004). Larabanga is poor rural community whose main source of livelihood is farming closely followed in importance by hunting and fishing. Basic social amenities and infrastructure are critically lacking in the community (UNDP, 2007). Larabanga has a population size of about 3800 people, most community members are engaged in farming subsistence crops such as yam, maize, guinea corn and cassava (UNDP, 2007). The farm lands surround the village in all directions and are communally owned with most farmers practicing shifting cultivation. The ancient mosque of Larabanga is of Sudanese architectural style and is recognized officially as a World Heritage Site. A few retailers in the village also generate some profit by selling provisions to visiting tourists. In Larabanga 99% of the community is illiterate, the same situation counts for all other fringed communities (Marseille, 2004). Causes of the Conflict Knight (2002) describes human-wildlife conflict as relations of rivalry or antagonism between human beings and wild animals which typically arise from territorial proximity and involve reliance on the same resources or a threat to human well-being or safety. It is proposed there are two dimensions of human-wildlife conflicts: political and social. Political An increasingly important factor in the political determination of wildlife conservation conflict is the role of the established political actor, the state. Many wildlife conservation conflicts are informed by people-state conflict. When wild animals become the object of official protection measures whether in the name of game management or wildlife conservation, local victims of wildlife damage may well attribute blame to and seek political redress from, state authorities (Knight, 2000). In this case study wildlife conservation conflict is defined as follows: a situation where an actor experiences the action of other actors in the use and management of wildlife resources as an impairment to their interest in those wildlife resources The state through the Wildlife Department (WD) has adopted a preservationist approach in managing the Mole NP (Jachmann, 2008). This has resulted in the alienation of local communities and has excluded opportunities for participatory rural development activities and the sustainable use of the reserves resources, thus generating antagonism resulting in conflicts between local communities and wildlife/forestry officers (Marseille, 2008). One of the key obstacles to establishing key processes for the effective management of national park-people conflict identified by Hough (1988) is the large difference in power between government-backed parks and local people in rural areas. Central government has the weight of the legal and enforcement mechanisms of the nation state. The key infraction during the creation of the park was the compulsory acquisition of land without due compensation being paid to the evicted communities. The state has also being accused of using its power to expand the park several times without the consent of the local communities (Bosu, 2010). The local communities however are relatively powerless, the villagers try to get something back by poaching park animals or by collecting inside the park and thereby restore some degree of balance in the village-park relationship. According to Hough (1988) this difference in power is the root cause of the conflict in that the desires of central government were initially forced on the relatively powerless resident populations. Social The conflict is manifested through three major social conflict bases; issues of illegal hunting, crop damage and land access into Mole NP (Marseille, 2004). Source: Marseille, 2004 Illegal hunting Illegal hunting can be defined as the unauthorised harvesting of any wildlife species for either subsistence or commercial purposes (FC, 1994). Regulation 2 of the wildlife reserves regulations of 1971 (L.I. 710) prohibit any person at any time to hunt, capture or destroy any animal or collect or destroy any plant within the reserve (FC, 2010). Group hunting, a group of two or more individuals hunting together, is with or without a license prohibited. Nearly all hunters surrounding the park however do not carry valid licenses and hunt mainly inside the park (Marseille, 2010).Once hunters and patrolling scouts clash with each other conflict is initiated, this practically means that causing arrest is similar to causing conflict Crop damage Crop damage occurs when animals cross the boundaries and move into the farm fields to feed on the cultivated crops like maize, millet, cassava, yam, guinea corn and ground nuts. The most troublesome animals are elephants, baboons, green monkeys and red monkeys. The WD is seriously concerned about crop damage and problem animals but does not have financial resources available to grant compensation for lost crops (Wildlife Division, 2001). The current legislation does not provide sufficient incentive for farmers to care and protect wildlife on their properties. The result is that wildlife for most farmers is considered a pest that in many cases is directly competing with their agricultural activities (Wildlife Division, 2001). The farmers feel the WD should take responsibility of their animals to reduce the amount of damage. The WD has the opinion that the farmers are exaggerating the actual amount and frequency of damage, farmers are using crop damage only to create resentment (Wildlife Division, 2001). Resource access The wildlife reserves regulations of 1971 (L.I. 710) states that no person at any time can enter a reserve except with the consent of the Senior Wildlife Officer. It is thus illegal to enter Mole NP without official permission. The denial of land access is the third identified social conflict base, meaning that the villagers are not allowed to enter the reserves, also for purposes other than hunting such as fetching water, collecting fire wood and NTFPs as well as visiting sacred groves (Marseille, 2004). The sacred stream case for example is a conflict relating to the issue of land access. Villagers are not permitted access to the stream creating disagreement which is primarily values and interest-based. The villagers value the stream based on its traditional and spiritual importance whereas the WD values the stream for its biological and ecological features. The villagers also have a different interest in the stream, they would like to use the stream for both swimming and fishing purposes as well as the fetching of water. The interest of the WD in the stream is linked to conservation purposes (Marseille, 2004). Also, more indirectly the conflict is history-based, culture-based due to the way the park was created and the influence of government institutions. The situational circumstances that surround the initial conflict setting determine the actual conflict base. The identified conflict bases are the surfacing fundamentals of the wildlife conservation conflict in general, however, these conflict bases have by no means static characteristics. As the conflict evolves the initial conflict base might develop into another conflict base. Conflict bases are also interrelated with each other. Ghana ´s Wildlife laws Ghana ´s wildlife policy states that although the Government cannot be liable for damage caused by wildlife, it will take reasonable measures to protect people, crops and property against wild animal damage. The 11th and 12th item of the Policy states that the conservation of wildlife within Parks and Reserves will over-ride all other interests in them (FC, 2010). No use of Parks and Reserves that will conflict materially with wildlife conservation will be allowed. It presents specific principles on rights of local access to basic natural resources, local democracy, participatory management and protection of forest and wildlife resources (Kotey et al, 1999). The policy entrenches a biocentric approach to wildlife conservation which is reflected in exclusive management and thus denies human access to resources because degradation of biodiversity has been verified (Caspary, 1999) Stakeholder analysis The stakeholders, generally referring to all the people who affect and/or are affected in the conflict situation, are hereby classified into these three broad groups namely; government, local community and third party. By analyzing using the conflict onion, the positions, interests, needs and fears/hopes of these stakeholder groups were identified and presented in the table 1 below. Table 1: Stakeholder classification using the conflict onion Elements of conflict Stakeholder Government Local Community Third party Position In favour of the national park Against the national park In favour of the national park Interest Biodiversity conservation Exertion of authority Access to resource Protection of heritage Resource conservation Social justice need Income (tourism) International convention Subsistence Employment Cultural values Sustainable resource management Political success Fear/hope Biodiversity loss Loss of land and cultural heritage funding The government being in favour of the creation and maintenance of the national park could be considered as the proponent in contrast with the local community as opponents in this conflict situation. The third party could be regarded as social based group which is also in favour of the national park in terms of position in the conflict. There are varying interests from the stakeholder groups with only resource conservation overlapping between the government and the third party as opposed to resource access by community. However, while the governments interest is to show that it holds the final authority over all forest and natural resources, the local community is also interested in preserving the heritage their ancestors had handed over to them from generation to generation and the third party is also interested in social justice for the local community. Power structure of stakeholders The government represents all agencies in favour of the national park comprising the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (MLNR), Forestry Commission (FC), Wildlife Division (WD). These are state agencies are mandated by law to manage the forest and wildlife resources for the common good of all Ghanaians. With the decentralized system of governance, the Ministry of Local Government (MLG) and the District Assembly (DA) form an allied group that supports the government in its decision. Though the MLG and the DA have the mandate to see to the sustainable development of the district, with respect to forest and wildlife resources the MLNR and the FC wield more power in this conflict situation. Hence, the DA is seen to be indifferent in this situation. The local community comprises farmers, hunters, youth group, women group and community-based organizations. These are mostly individuals and informal community associations which are easily alienated from any formal decision making processes. The third party in this conflict case is the Netherlands Development Cooperation (SNV) and other local and international non-governmental organizations such as Plan Ghana. These are considered to be social based group which operate as watch dog to ensure social justice. They serve as intermediary between the government and the local community. The power relation is depicted in the figure 1 below. Figure 3: Relationship between key stakeholders in the conflict Conflict Theory The power relation between the stakeholders is asymmetrical and could be analysed with the social conflict theory. This theory argues that in any conflict situation where power is unevenly distributed, the stakeholder group with more power exploits those with less power (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). This is the case where the government by executive instrument forcefully evicted the inhabitants during the creation of the national park without adequate compensation and resettlement plan. Type of conflict The conflict is basically over the forest and wildlife resource. The land and the wildlife resources served as the source of livelihood to the local community. The denial of access and use right to the park signifies the removal of the local communitys source of livelihood and threat to their lives. The use of arms to guard the borders of the park and ward off entry by local community members has resulted in the conflict taking on a relational dimension. Hatred and unfriendly relation between local community and staff of the park is a key factor in the conflict. Moreover, the conflict encompasses different form and nature of incompatibility. These interconnected elements culminate in the complexity of the conflict. The different bases of incompatibility (Wehr, 1979 in Walker and Daniels, 1997)), see table 2, are all to a varying degree included within the different conflict bases. Table 2: examples of incompatibility in the conflict Nature of incompatibility: Example: Fact-based The actual amount of crop damage reported by farmers Value-based The elephant :a farm pest or a valuable species Interest-based The presence of fertile arable land within the park Person-based Suspicion and mistrust among villagers about the wildlife staff History-based The way the park was created; exclusive management Culture-based Traditional linkages with sacred places within the park It could be seen that this case of a resource conflict is multifaceted and all these elements presented in table 2 above must be addressed and an acceptable agreement achieved through a participatory decision making process. The conflict phases Using the conflict escalation model, the conflict has been a long standing one with multiple phases. The resource area was first created as a wildlife reserve in 1958 and later re-designated at a national park in 1971 (FC, 2010). The period between 1958 and 1971 could be considered as the pre-conflict phase because during this period the local community started to sense the threats to its very existence. Though during this period the local community members could have access into the reserve and some communities were actually sited in the reserve, they were not allowed to engage in any commercial activity from the resources they have customary rights over (Marseille, 2010). However in 1971 when the reserve was re-designated as a national park, all the local communities within the area were forcefully evicted by the use of state security apparatus and that led to the first eruption of conflict (Marseille, 2004 ). Prior notices had been given to the local communities to evacuate from the area where they lived to outside the borders of the national park without any resettlement plan by the government for the local communities. Hence, the community readied itself to engage in open confrontation and the government knowing this also deployed the military to maintain order. The violence continued because the local communities were not ready to give up the historical heritage but with the heavy presence of military forces the violence finally calmed down (Marseille, 2004). After the eruption of the first conflict, no efforts were made to address the concerns of the local communities but between 1971 and 1992 the conflict became latent largely due to the military political regime. However, from 1992 when Ghana became a multi-party democratic state the local communities started to mobilize themselves for an action to attract attention to their plight. In 2004, an invasion of local community farmlands by wild animals, particularly elephants, triggered a massive community protest with attack on the national park through killing of animals and bushfires (Marseille, 2004). This represents the second eruption of conflict and being a democratic society, a peaceful solution was sought to resolve the conflict this time. This brought in the third party group in 2005 to address the conflict situation. Hence, the conflict is in its second post-conflict phase till date. The figure 2 below gives a representation of the stages of the conflict. Fig.4: Phases of the conflict between Larabanga and Mole NP Previous conflict resolution approaches The first formal process of conflict resolution started in 2005 with the coming in of the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) as a third party to bring the opposing sides together to find a peaceful agreement between them. Two alternative dispute resolution (ADR) approaches were employed; namely facilitation and mediation. The facilitation process sought to deal with the strong emotions and to prepare the two sides to engage in a formal process of dialogue towards finding a common solution to the conflict. This was followed by a mediation process where the opposing sides presented their cases to the neutral mediator. In the end, the mediation process saw to the shifting of the position of the local community from opposing the existence of the national park to a new position of acceptance for the common good of the whole country (Marseille, 2004). Consequently, a agreement was successfully negotiated with the local community demanding adequate compensation, proper resettlement plan and participation in the management of the national park. (Mason and Danso, 1995) Challenges of the conflict resolution process It is indisputable that the facilitation and mediation processes employed by SNV were successful in dealing with the strong emotions and bringing these opposing sides to sit down to dialogue. Also, a peaceful agreement was reached with some level of satisfaction by both sides at the end of the negotiation (Marseille, 2004). However, the implementation of the outcomes and the action plan of the mediation process were faced with some challenges that were overlooked during the negotiation process. Stakeholder representation: from the stakeholder analysis above it could be realized that not all stakeholders were represented at the negotiation process. Typically, only the leaders of the community and the park managers were brought at the table. Hence the issue of legitimization became a limiting factor to the implementation of the outcome of the process. The park managers do not have the constitutional mandate to pay compensation and to meet the other demands of the local community. It is not clear the strategic behaviour of the MLNR, which have the ultimate authority to implement the outcomes, to stay out of the negotiation process. The legitimacy of the outcome was questioned since the creation of the national park was by executive instrument and the conflict transcends the domain of the local community and the park management team to the bigger domain of national politics. Non-binding agreement: the non-binding agreement was not appropriate for the conflict resolution process since the outcome required more of a legislative or executive instrument to implement. Again, because the agreement is non-binding, with every change of government the new administration tends not to continue with any programme of the previous government if it is not legally binding. It must be emphasized that when a new government comes to power, certain positions in the state organizations, mostly the Ministers, Chief Executives and directors, are replaced by new ones for political reasons. A new view of the problem A theoretical approach to the conflict Conflict may involve various kinds of issues: substantive, procedural and relationship. Substantive issues refers to interests that relate to tangible (observable, definable, measurable) products such as availability of firewood, protection of crop-raiding animals or stopping illegal hunting activities (Walker and Daniels, 1997). Procedural issues include a groups need to be included in decision-making, to have their opinions heard and to be respected as a social entity (Borrini-Feyerabend et al, 2000). Conflict management involves making progress on these three fundamental dimensions of a conflict situation. Any conflict situation includes substantive, procedural and relationship dimensions (the type of conflict) and a conflict situation is initially addressed through any of the three dimensions. Natural resource policy conflicts are complex; they arise within some context which typically is defined by a complex array of factors, such as numerous parties, multiple issues, deeply held values, cultural differences, scientific and technical uncertainty and legal and jurisdictional constraints (Walker and Daniels, 1997). It has been contended that natural resource conflicts are inevitable and unavoidable but also desirable to the extent that it can lead to negotiated, innovative agreements among stakeholders (Daniels and Walker, 1997). While conflicts over resource use are never favourable, when they do occur they can be used to demonstrate the need for a conflict management approach. According to Walker and Daniels (1997) well-managed natural resource conflicts can lead to better decisions, improve social cohesion, stimulate innovation and increase morale. Complex conflict situations may never be resolved, so that an agreement is reached that puts an end to those incompatibilities that caused the conflict. Whatever the conflict situation and how it is characterized, co