Figurative Devices Comparing We Wear the Mask and...

Paul Laurence Dunbar and Langston Hughes were considered to be early black poets during the twentieth century around the period of civil right movement. â€Å"We wear the mask† and â€Å"Theme for English B† were written in 1895 and 1951 respectively. Even there is approximately 50 years gap between these two poems, the theme that these two poems address is somewhat similar. Even though Dunbar uses symbols as figurative devices while Hughes uses Irony, they both have the same goal, which is to point out the racial issues within American society. Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the first black poets in his time to confront the hypocrisy he saw around him. â€Å"We wear the mask† was one of his outstanding works that addressed racial injustices in†¦show more content†¦Literally, people wear â€Å"masks† to cover their faces. In the poem, â€Å"we wear the mask† to hide our true feeling. For example, on the first line â€Å"We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shaded our eyes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dunbar, 527) shows that do not be deceived by that mask because it is full of lies. â€Å"They wear a grinning mask that hides their true feelings. This image of the grinning mask evokes an ancient and ritual African mask used for ceremony, hiding the eyes and face of the wearer with an impersonal expression. In that case, the mask carries a divine dignity, something superhuman, mysterious, and perhaps implying a terrible retribution to the enemy in the future.† (â€Å"Overview: ‘We wear the mask’ †) Plus, by wearing the masks, people cannot see the emotion shown on the face. People also cannot look into each other’s eyes to understand the thoughts. According to Huff, â€Å"To ‘hide our cheeks’ means to stiffen the face so as not to reveal genuine emotion, and to ‘shade our eyes’ has the triple meaning of adopting an indirect or deferring manner, of avoiding the eye contact that implies a shared understanding of the situation, and of internalizing societys artificial barriers so that an individual will not embarrass himself or others by appearing to desire things that are clearly beyond his reach.† On theShow MoreRelatedMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 PagesChicago Press, Chicago 60637  © 1974 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved. English translation. Originally published 1974 Note on Translation  © 1991 by the University of Chicago University of Chicago Press edition 1991 Printed in the United States of America 09 08 07 6 7 8 9 10 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Metz, Christian. [Essais sur la signification au cinà ©ma. English] Film language: a semiotics of the cinema / Christian Metz: translated by Michael TaylorRead MoreMarketing Management130471 Words   |  522 Pagescandidate to the public (b) the director of an art museum providing new exhibits to generate greater attendance and financial support (c) a labor union marketing its idea to members and to company management; and (d) professors trying to make their courses interesting for students. In addition to the range of items normally considered as products and services, what is being marketed might include (a) ideas such as reducing air pollution or contributing to the red cross (b) people, such as new football

A Review of Intelligence for an Age of Terror (Treverton, 2009). Free Essays

Introduction This book by Treverton (2009) is argued here to be a vitally important area of work that looks specifically at the way in which the use of intelligence has naturally had to change as a result of modern society. Interestingly, although there is a clear aim not to apportion blame specifically for the recent atrocities, the author indicates that he feels there is a link between the United States and their flawed approach to intelligence and the high profile terror attacks that have taken place in the US. Significantly, the author is very careful not to apportion blame or finger point and maintains a balanced and critical approach when trying to establish a link and to look at the role of intelligence. We will write a custom essay sample on A Review of Intelligence for an Age of Terror (Treverton, 2009). or any similar topic only for you Order Now Main Arguments Presented In this book, the author actually goes on to break down the failures, in order to try to identify the impact that the specific shortcomings are having on the magnitude and nature of the target of the threats. He recognises in this analysis that, in many cases, the intelligence approaches are enshrined in the Cold War security approaches of looking at the organisation and the tactical decisions of the intelligence offerings, rather than focusing on the actual threats that are being faced in the current climate (Riley et al 2005). One of the main aspects of the book which provides added value to the information that is being presented is that, although the author spends time identifying the failings, he also spends some considerable time looking at the way in which the changes he suggests could be implemented, in practice. As a professional with experience in the field, this shows and adds considerable value to what would otherwise be a potentially academic discussion. In order to achieve this, the author takes a very pragmatic view, with the initial stage being to look at the nature of the risks that are looking at being targeted from intelligence operations. He states that recognising the threats is the first step towards then being able to recognise the way these should be handled. It is this pragmatic approach which looks at both the practical reality and the academic study that makes this book so informative in the area of intelligence being used in the terror context. The author follows themes and after identifying them he then goes on to look at how intelligence should be reformed to deal with the modern challenges. In order to identify the best way to deal with intelligence and to look at the reform of intelligence culture, there is a need first to consider the actual route of the threat and where it emanates from. One underlying argument and theme which is presented by the author here and which adds particular value to the discussion, in the opinion of the reviewer, is to look at the role of the nation state as being at the root of the changing dynamic. For example, during the Cold War, the focus of terror attacks was typically nation states and as such the intelligence gathering focussed on these entities. As time has passed, the nation states have become much more than simply target areas. Nation states can often offer a great deal of information that adds to the knowledge and understanding of the general issues of intelligence. Increasingly however in the modern context, the non-state actors play a vitally important role and it is argued by the author here that much of the role of the modern intelligence officer is to look at understanding the distinctions and various nuances that exist within these non-state actors, in such a way that their own motivation and actions can be better understood (p.141) Linked to this thread of discussion and again a vitally important aspect of the role of intelligence is that there are considerably more individuals, groups and entities that are involved in the area of intelligence gathering to prevent terrorism. With this increased number of people involved, the author places a great deal of focus on the idea that, whilst agencies may well have the technology to share information, they do not necessarily have the appropriate policies in place and therefore the underlying policies need to be reviewed, if modern challenges are going to be dealt with. As an overall position, the author maintains that there needs to be a reasonable means of supplying information across all relevant actors and to ensure that the information which is being presented is relevant and measured, so that the correct people can react quickly and appropriately. By focusing on some of the practical difficulties faced in the current climate, it is argued here that the author gains a much higher degree of legitimacy than other academic analyses in this area may achieve; in particular, the author recognises that it is necessary to take a balance between the need to improve security, but also to provide privacy and security for individuals’ information (Snowden, 2002). He notes that paying attention to legality and legitimacy is in fact increasingly important to the anti-terror efforts and that there then needs to be a total review of the policies associated with anti-terror activities as the main way of managing and combating such issues. He supports this by suggesting that factors such as encouraging intelligence authorities to create a method whereby they can share information with other entities in a constructive and balanced manner is as important, if not more so, than the actual intelligence itself. Conclusions On balance, it is argued that this book presents an interesting and well informed opinion on the modern challenges facing the intelligence industry. By being an author who has practical experience in this area, it is suggested that this allows the text to gain legitimacy and also to take a more rounded view of the challenges being faced. Finally, providing practical and well backed up suggestions for the future means that this text presents real value to the area of intelligence and counter terrorist activities. It is concluded, therefore, that this is a well-balanced and informative text that fills a gap within the current understanding of the intelligence industry. Reference Riley et al., (2005) State and Local Intelligence in the War on Terrorism, Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation Snowden, D (2002) Complex Acts of Knowing: Paradox and Descriptive Self-Awareness, Journal of Knowledge Management, Special Issue, September. Treverton, G. (2009). Intelligence for an Age of Terror. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. How to cite A Review of Intelligence for an Age of Terror (Treverton, 2009)., Essay examples

The role of the youth in establishing unity in a diversified multicultural society free essay sample

The Role of the Youth in Establishing Unity in a Diversified Multicultural Society Years passed. grownups have tried to command young person because they represent the hereafter. Young people frequently fight back. seeking to make their ain universe that is separate from their parents. At the terminal of World War II, they were eventually given a name: â€Å"teenagers. † an idea of immature people as consumers. That theoretical account for young person spread around the universe. and still exists today. Throughout history. immature people have played an active function in determining major societal and political promotions.Today’s turning globalization and cross-border motions make an environment. which is progressively diverse in footings of civilization and faith. Young people’s part to understanding the impact of this diverseness on mundane life every bit good as political relations is now more important than of all time. Furthermore. as they constitute the largest section of the population in many parts. We will write a custom essay sample on The role of the youth in establishing unity in a diversified multicultural society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page the function of the young person in determining their country’s response to cultural and spiritual diverseness is critical. We clearly see youth as an indispensable plus – an important pool of endowment. thoughts and energy – that play a critical function in turn to the challenges related to planetary and local instability. We must acquire control of this. We must actuate our young person. We must learn duty and end scene. I fear if we do not we will shortly be back uping full coevals of homeless and needlessly on public assistance households. Things have to alter. with our schools. with the older coevals being good function theoretical accounts. with the older coevals being wise mans. and with the young person who is right now making nil.We believe that it is of import to acknowledge immature people’s in part to advancing regard and apprehension and fostering duologue among people of different backgrounds. With adolescent unemployment surging. immature people can no longer act upon the universe with their billfolds. As pupil protests began detonating across the Earth this autumn. we felt compelled to link our work to these burgeoning motions. Similar generational struggle and disparate young person motions were born out of the Great Depression. These motions portion a common end: to re-imagine the hereafter. It’s an exciting premise that is possibly the trademark of adolescence. and a vision typical of history’s most influential young person civilizations. Many grownups discredit vernal rebellion merely as an emotional rite of transition. However. it is our belief that this manner of agitation can convey about the existent alteration.

Macbeth Guilt Essays - Characters In Macbeth, English-language Films

Macbeth Guilt This was an oral presentation, in which I prosecuted Macbeth. I received a grade of A-, however was told that it was my actual presentation rather than my essay that stopped me getting a higher grade :) Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be brief. You have heard the testimonies and seen the evidence; it is now time for the fate of Macbeth to be decided. Today you have met scores of witnesses testify, under oath, the defendant's entirely good and honest character, and have pondered as to how the King of Scotland could commit such atrocities. However, unmistakable evidence opposes such testimonies and proves beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant Macbeth killed his King, Duncan the II of Scotland, his life-long friend Banquo and Lady Macduff and her children. Over the last six months we have seen Macbeth degrade from a fearless and heroic warrior to a murderer, a conscious villain who felt extreme guilt after killing his King out of pure greed and ambition. His servant, as testified, overheard Macbeth express his guilt to his wife on the night of the murder: "I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on ?t again I dare not." Following his crowning at Scone, King Macbeth hired three assassins to murder his long-time friend Banquo, in order to protect his crown. It was after the murder of Banquo that Macbeth then turned into an unmerciful, non-repentant tyrant. This man, once heralded a hero, became the bane of Scotland and his people. The defense has tried to manipulate facts to persuade you that Macbeth is not to blame for these murders and has placed responsibility for these deaths on everyone from Lady Macbeth to the witches, who occasionally conversed with the accused. You have heard testimonies of the three witches, who told us of their encounters with Macbeth. What sort of man would associate with such evil beings, and most of all, believe the nonsense they foresee? The witches did not directly influence Macbeth to assassinate his King, they only speculated as to what the future may hold and these predictions ignited his overwhelming ambition to become King. These associations with the witches bring serious doubts to the goodness of the defendant's character. Speculations that Lady Macbeth is responsible for Duncan's murder have been made by the defense. But blood found on this cloak hidden in Macbeth's quarters proves without doubt that it was Macbeth who actually committed the murder. He is ultimately to blame. The accusations made by Macbeth's lawyers that Lady Macbeth pressured her husband to assassinate Duncan are irrelevant. It is unthinkable that such a brave and valiant soldier could be so weak as to be influenced by his wife to commit murder, unless he had already considered doing it, or had something to gain from the death of Duncan, such as the throne of Scotland. The defense has tried to convince you that Macbeth was insane at the time of King Duncan's murder. If he were not sane, would he have been seen as such a well-loved and courageous soldier? Would he have been so respected by his King to be honoured with the title of Thane of Cawdor, had he been ill at mind? These notions themselves are insane! Macbeth was sane and rational at the time of the murder! ...Yes, Macbeth did show signs of derangement a week after the murder at the banquet, as testified by Ross, who attended the feast and described to you the accused's strange behaviour. Could an innocent man be driven mad over a period of a week? It was his conscience, my friends, which drove him insane! After the pre-meditated murders of Duncan and Banquo, the pressures of being King, and the mounting guilt of the murders he had committed, were increasing. Overheard by his servant, Macbeth said to his wife "I am in blood, Stepp'd in so far..." The outlet for his rage was Lady Macduff and her family. This pointless, and motiveless, massacre shows the cruelty and immorality that has become a part of Macbeth. He did not stand to gain anything from the deaths of these innocent people. No longer was he the honoured soldier, or the compassionate King, but the brutal tyrant. We must stop making excuses for this cold-hearted man. He was not influenced by his wife or witchcraft. He was sane when he brutally murdered his King. He was influenced only by his ambition and greed to become King; he was influenced by his selfishness and hunger for power.

Foreign Language Requirements for College Admissions

Foreign Language Requirements for College Admissions Foreign language requirements vary from school to school, and the exact requirement is often not clear for any individual school. For example, is the minimum requirement really adequate? Do language classes in middle school count? If a college requires 4 years of a language, does a high score on the AP fulfill the requirement? Requirements and Recommendations In general, competitive colleges require at least two years of foreign language classes in high school. As youll see below, Stanford University would like to see three or more years, and Harvard University urges applicants to take four years. These classes should be in the same language- colleges would much prefer to see proficiency in one language than a superficial smattering of several languages. When a college recommends two or more years of a language, they are clearly signaling that language study beyond two years would strengthen your application. Indeed, no matter where you apply for college, a demonstrated proficiency in a second language will improve your chances of being admitted. Life in college and after college is becoming increasingly globalized, so strength in a second language carries a lot of weight with admissions counselors. That said, students who have just the minimum can win admission if their applications demonstrate strengths in other areas. Some less competitive schools dont even have a high school language requirement and assume some students will simply study a language once they get to college. If you score a 4 or 5 on an AP language exam, most colleges will consider that evidence of adequate high school foreign language preparation (and youre likely to get course credit in college). Check with the schools to which you apply to find out exactly what their Advanced Placement policies are. Which Foreign Language Is Best In general, colleges want to see foreign language proficiency, and they dont really care which language you study. Most students, in fact, have few choices. Many schools offer just a couple of languages such as French and Spanish. That said, it can be a plus if your study of a foreign language aligns with your career goals. German and Chinese are both valuable languages for students interested in business, and strong French skills would be ideal for someone who wants to teach English or work in public health in Francophone Africa. In 2018, when Harvard Universitys Dean of Admissions testified in court about the schools admissions policies, he revealed that students who studied Greek and Latin and showed an interest in the ancient classics had a slight edge over many other applicants. On the whole, however, study the language that you are most interested in learning. Let your passions guide you. Where would you be most interested in traveling? What language is most likely to intersect with your future plans? If you might study abroad, where would you go? Examples of Foreign Language Requirements The table below shows the foreign language requirement at several competitive colleges. School Language Requirement Carleton College 2 or more years Georgia Tech 2 years Harvard University 4 years recommended MIT 2 years Stanford University 3 or more years UCLA 2 years required; 3 recommended University of Illinois 2 years University of Michigan 2 years required; 4 recommended Williams College 4 years recommeneded Keep in mind that 2 years truly is a minimum, and you will be a stronger applicant at places like MIT and the University of Illinois if you take three or four years. Also, its important to understand what a year means in the context of college admissions. If you began a language in 7th grade, typically 7th and 8th grade will count as a single year, and they should show up on your high school transcript as a unit of a foreign language. If you take a true college class at a college, a single semester of a language will typically be the equivalent of a year of high school language (and those credits are likely to transfer to your college). If you take a dual enrollment class through a collaboration between your high school and a college, those classes are often a single-semester college class spread out over the course of a full year of high school. Strategies if Your High School Doesnt Offer Adequate Language Classes If youre a high achiever and want to graduate from high school with three or four years of language classes but your high school offers only introductory-level classes, you still have options. First of all, when colleges evaluate your high school academic record, they want to see that you have taken the most challenging classes available to you. They recognize the significant disparity between schools. If upper-level and AP language classes simply arent an option at your school, colleges shouldnt penalize you for not taking classes that dont exist. That said, colleges want to enroll students who are well prepared for college, for these students are much more likely to persist and succeed if admitted. The reality is that some high schools do a much better job at college preparation than others. If youre at a school that struggles to deliver anything beyond remedial education, your best bet may be to take matters into your own hands. Talk to your guidance counselor to see what opportunities exist in your region. Typical options include Taking language classes at a local community college. You are likely to find evening or weekend courses that work with your high school schedule, or you may be able to take an early morning or late afternoon college class during a high school class period.Taking online language classes. If there is no college in your area, you can find many options for online college language classes. You may even be able to get high school credit for an online college course. Ideally, youll want a course that includes audio or video conferencing so that you can develop the listening and conversational skills that are so important to language learning. Be forewarned that many colleges will not transfer language credits earned online.Self-studying to take an AP language exam. There are lots of programs out there such as Rosetta Stone, Rocket Languages, and Babbel that can help you learn speaking, reading, and writing skills. An AP study guide can help guide your self-study so that you are targeting ma terial that is likely to be on the exam. Travel that immerses you in a foreign language can also be extremely beneficial. Ideally, youd want to take the AP exam your junior year so that youll have the score in hand when you apply to colleges. Earning a 4 or 5 on the exam (and perhaps a 3) is a convincing way to demonstrate your language knowledge. Note that this option is only good for self-motivated students. Languages and International Students If English is not your first language, you most likely wont need to worry about foreign language courses as part of your college education. When a student from China takes the AP Chinese exam or a student from Argentina takes AP Spanish, the exam results arent going to impress anyone in a significant way.   For non-native English speakers, the much bigger issue will be demonstrating strong English language skills. A high score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or a similar exam will be an important part of a successful application to colleges in the U.S. A Final Word About Foreign Language Requirements As you consider whether or not to take a foreign language in your junior and senior years of high school, keep in mind that your academic record is almost always the most important part of your college application. Colleges will want to see that you have taken the most challenging courses available to you. If you choose a study hall or an elective course over a language, the admissions folks at highly selective colleges wont view that decision positively.

MKTG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

MKTG - Essay Example Using posters, banners, carry bags and even consumer goods to promote one’s product and services has become common. Sponsorship of events like sports events, cultural festivals and carnivals have become highly attractive propositions for big and small business. But in the recent times, the companies have started using mobiles phones as their media of advertisement. The huge database of mobile phone users offers the companies with wide options to send messages regarding products to the prospective customers. While mobile advertisement might be a big nuisance value for the mobile users, it nevertheless provides the firms with huge opportunities to exploit new market. The companies like Suzuki, Vodafone, AIG etc are using this media to promote their products and services. Indeed, the new approach and innovative ideas of promoting products have increasingly transformed alternative media into highly accessible and effective tools of advertising. (words: 242)

Walmart Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Walmart - Case Study Example Wal-Mart has not been as successful in the e-commerce marketplace as other online vendors such as EBay and Amazon. A third weakness of Wal-Mart is its high operating costs including having the largest private workforce in the world. During the last two fiscal years the company’s operating expenses increased by 2.7% and 1.7% respectively (Walmartstores, 2011). The company is also susceptible to a variety of risks including foreign currency, lawsuits, and impairment of assets. I think that the neighborhood store format is at conflict with the company’s grand strategy of offering its customers the lowest prices in the retail market. The firm has always place high emphasis on running an efficient operation without any unnecessary added costs. The concept of the neighborhood store format goes against Wal-Mart’s strategy of standardizing its stores in the United States. The firm is able to lower its infrastructure costs by using a similar format in all its stores. Economies of scales are achieved at Wal-Mart by purchasing goods in bulk. Economies of scale are a key advantage for a business because it lowers a firm’s cost per unit (Tutor2u, 2012). Wal-Mart has been able to differentiate its product offering by providing its customers with a higher variety of items at lower prices. The neighborhood store format threatens Wal-Mart’s corporate culture and its long term success in the retail industry. The retail industry generated reven ues in the United States of $4,691 billion in 2011 (Plunkettresearchonline, 2012). Wal-Mart should expect a variety of challenges in its international expansion efforts. The first challenge the company faces is being able to carry over its US brand value into the international markets. Wal-Mart has gained its brand value through the accumulative efforts of its founder, managers and employees for over 50 years. Once the company started to operate outside the United States the company had to start from scratch by

Leaders Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leaders Analysis - Case Study Example Henry Ford is the pioneer of the Ford, who is well known for his leadership and intelligence. He manufactured first economy automobile that a middle-class person can afford. The primary reason behind Ford’s success is the strong relationship between Henry with the employees. The increment in the salaries of employees and initiative of eight hours work inspired the labor. Hiring employees of different citizenships and selecting incapacitated workers reflects the non-discriminated attitude of Henry. His interpersonal relationship with customers and comprehending their needs gave a successful future to the Company (Peng). Alexander Trotman took charge in 1993 as a Chairman and Chief Executive of Ford. His 38 years with the Company provided effective plans that ensured the Company’s success. Shares of Ford were increased from $11.45 to $32.25 in just five years. Ford gained a worldwide reputation and became a competitor of several international automobile companies. Trotman also received an award for his leadership from Excellence in Technology Award Committee. Although some of his plans failed due to a fault in implementation, his visions lead the company to success

MNC Corporation Production Assignment

MNC Corporation Production Assignment MNC Corporation Production Analysis of MNC Behavior Introduction Multinational corporation (or transnational corporation) (MNC/TNC) is a corporation or enterprise that manages production establishments or delivers services in at least two countries. Very large multinationals have budgets that exceed those of many countries. Multinational corporations can have a powerful influence in international relations and local economies. Multinational corporations play an important role in globalization (Bartlett et al). Multinational corporations can be divided into three broad groups according to the configuration of their production facilities: Horizontally integrated multinational corporations manage production establishments located in different countries to produce similar products. (Example: McDonalds) Vertically integrated multinational corporations manage production establishment in certain country/countries to produce products that serve as input to its production establishments in other country/countries. (Example: Adidas) Diversified multinational corporations do not manage production establishments located in different countries that are horizontally, vertically or straight (Example: Microsoft or Siemens A.G.) The paper deals with analysis of MNC behavior of three popular MNC’s viz. Exxon Mobile, Royal Dutch and BP. These are oil and gas companies from India and China. The paper will explain about how the products of these companies differ or are similar to each other and how their marketing strategies corporate strategies differ. All this will be explained through the Dunning O-I-L framework and Global Integration Local Responsiveness framework. This paper represents the compare and contrast studies of different strategies. About the companies MNC behavior differs across various locations and is different regarding marketing, finance, human resource and other aspects related to the products. The three companies selected for analyzing MNC behavior differ in geographical locations, political conditions, cultural considerations and legal frameworks. The general introduction of the all the 3 companies is as follows: Exxon Mobil Corporation or Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM): It is an American oil and gas corporation and a direct descendant of John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil company. Formed on November 30, 1999 by the merger of Exxon and Mobil, Exxon Mobil is the worlds largest company by revenue at $404.5 billion for the fiscal year of 2007. It is also the largest publicly held corporation by market capitalization, i.e. $501.17 billion. While it is the largest of the six oil super majors with daily production of 4.18 million BOE (barrels of oil equivalent). Currently, the company ranks 1st in the world in net income, which was almost $40 billion last year. The Exxon Mobil Corporation global headquarters are located in Irving, Texas. The company markets products around the world under the brands of Exxon, Mobil, and Esso. It also owns hundreds of smaller subsidiaries such as Imperial Oil Limited (69.6% ownership) in Canada, and Sea River Maritime, a petroleum shipping company (Exxon Mobile Corporation 2008). Royal Dutch Shell: It is commonly known as Shell, a multinational oil company of British and Dutch origins. It is the second largest private sector energy corporation in the world, and one of the six super majors. The companys headquarters are in The Hague, Netherlands, with its registered office in London, United Kingdom (Shell Centre). The companys main business is the exploration, production, processing, transportation and marketing of hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Shell also has a significant petrochemicals business (Shell Chemicals), and an embryonic renewable energy sector developing wind, hydrogen and solar power opportunities (Royal Dutch Shell: About Shell 2008). BP (British Petroleum): It was previously known as British Petroleum but now using only the initials, it is the worlds third largest global energy company, a multinational oil company (oil major) with headquarters in London, UK. The company is among the largest private sector energy corporations in the world, and one of the six super majors (vertically integrated private sector oil exploration, natural gas, and petroleum product marketing companies). Though, all these companies are involved in similar business practices, yet there are also certain differences among them. There is a compare and contrast scenario among these companies. To analyze these three MNC’s, the â€Å"Global Integration- Local Responsiveness† framework and â€Å"Dunning’s O-I-L† framework can be used (BP Global: About BP 2008). Similarities and Differences The products of all three companies are similar in the sense that all have natural resource seeking and efficiency seeking products. All three companies produce the same kind of products, so they also require the same kind of raw materials for the products. The products they produce are all location specific. All the companies have their established positions in the international market and are among the six super majors in the oil and gas industry. They possess abundant resource utilization capacity. They have competitive advantage, which helps them to achieve their strategic goals. The products of the companies are globally marketed. The major differences among the products of the companies are the quality and quantity of the products and the capital requirement for the products. The products also differ in the level and type of technology used and the customer demand for the product. The location where the product is manufactured is also important and it makes a big difference for the company. The export and import of the products vary from company to company. The manufacturing and innovation among the products also vary depending on the Government rules, regulations and policies in the countries in which the companies operate. The products also differ on the basis of marketing strategies used to market the product. The reason for these differences can be explained through the â€Å"Global Integration- Local Responsiveness† framework popularly known as I-R model. It is generally related with ideas of value creation. It states that these differences occur because of differences in the competitive advantage of the companies and the strategies used by them. Strategies can be global, international, multinational or transnational (Bartlett et al). The risk handling capability of the companies is also one of the possible reasons for the differences among them. The proportion of the global assets, number of countries in which the company operates in value added activities and the value of the output are responsible for significant differences among the companies of the same industry (Rugman Hodgetts 1995). These differences are not general differences. These differences are responsible for the company’s success and help it in making popular among the general public. The products of the company become known to the customers because of these significant differences and they are responsible for the growth and revenue of the company (Bartlett et al). The marketing strategies also differ between various firms and countries on the basis of the strategies used to market the products. The differences between countries occur because of alterations in the market structures among various countries with respect to the transactional costs. Differences also occur on the ground of capital availability and resource utilization. The difference in the market size is also very important. Marketing strategies differ across firms due to differences in the extent of market diversification and market stability of the firms. They differ according to the number of customers for the product and because of the market allocation for the product. The firms have set up in their respective locations because according to â€Å"Dunning’s O-I-L† framework, the assets which these companies possess are ownership specific and location specific. Though, they are available to all the firms, yet they are unique in nature and help the company to establish a difference for itself. This criterion of Dunning is based on the eclectic paradigm. The assets can be tangible like manpower, capital, etc. or intangible like technology, marketing, etc. Global, International, Multinational Transnational Firms As the companies grow and develop, there category changes and they become international, global, multinational or transnational firms. As time passes, their product category also changes. Global Firms consider the world as a single integrated unit with centralized scale intensive manufacturing. Through world wide diffusion and adaptation, these companies exploit the parent company’s knowledge and capabilities (Dunning 1993). International Firms take the overseas units as offshoots of domestic strategy. Here the core competencies are centralized and others are decentralized. It builds cost advantage through global scale operations (Dunning 1993). Multinational Firms consider the world as a portfolio of national opportunities. They are self sufficient and decentralized. Through strong resourceful national operations it creates a response to national differences. Transnational Firms comprise of all the above three firms. They are dispersed, interdependent and specialized. They have flexibility, global efficiency and great learning capability. Different Corporate Strategies The corporate strategies of the MNC’s differ across different locations as the Government policies and regulations are different in different countries. The goals and the means to achieve them differ according to the customer size and the market adaptability in different countries. The collaborations with the local partners also create a difference in the corporate strategies because they also have their company’s policies and requirements. It also differs according to the company law of the respective countries. The terms and conditions of the local partners differ, which causes significant variations in the corporate strategy (Dunning 1993).. Innovations in MNC’s Innovations are a growing trend in today’s world and MNC’s are successful till they maintain their innovativeness and creativity. Innovation does not necessarily come from the home country but it can also be sourced in the local country. The MNC’s hire the employees of the local country so it can be possible that innovations are from the local country. Government and the MNC’s There are differences among the MNC’s about the Government policies and regulations. Government’s encouragement or inhibition for the oil and gas industry depends on the type of country and the requirement of such an MNC in the country. There are also significant differences across various locations for the involvement of Government in the MNC activities. This depends on the need of the country to grow and develop and also on the economy of the country. This can also be explained with the help of â€Å"Dunning’s O-I-L† framework. The Government involvement depends on the asset availability of the country which is location specific. Social Cultural Factors The MNC’s are also affected by social and cultural factors of the local country. They have to conduct the business according to the conditions in that country. The products should be manufactured according to the needs and requirements of the people. The cultural and social sentiments of the people should be taken care of. For example, when Mc Donald’s started its business in India, it made beef burgers. But this was failed in India, as it was against the cultural, religious and social sentiments of the people of India, because Indians worship cows so they would never prefer a beef burger. But many a times it happens that MNC’s also shape the social, cultural, political and even the legal framework of the local country. The people of the local country many a times adapt to the products of the MNC’s. For example, Pizza Hut, Dominos, etc. have totally changed the eating habits of the people wherever they have spread their business. The dressing style of the people changes, e.g. Indians started wearing western style clothes. They also convince the Government to make its legal policy flexible to suit their business conditions because the country is being benefited by the MNC’s. The role of WTO in MNC activity WTO and regional trade agreements influence the MNC activities in many ways. The fundamental principles of WTO are non discrimination, free trade, encouraging competition and extra provisions for less developed countries. Through non discriminatory trading system, all the MNC’s are provided with their rights and obligations to be used while performing their operations. Each country and MNC receives fair exports and fair treatment in the markets of other countries. It provides responsibilities regarding implementation of agreements, technical cooperation and increased participation in the global trading system. These agreements help in removing trade barriers and duty free access. It also helps in protecting industrial property rights and dispute settlement. The trade agreement system helps in promoting peace, provides more choices of products and qualities (Cherunilam 2005). Export processing zone refers to one or more specific areas of a country where some of the normal trade barriers are ruled out and bureaucratic necessities are let down in the desire of attracting new business and foreign investments. This zone also refers to the manufacturing centers, which are labor intensive involving the import of raw materials and the export of factory products. This zone is of great importance for the operations of MNC’s. Geography of production The linkages in the value chain also differ around different locations. The relationship between the various functional processes is different at different locations. The spread of production differs according to the spatial distribution. This differs according to the elements of the value chain. The working of the functional processes affects the production. It differs from firm to firm because the functional units like finance, marketing, etc. differ across firms and across various locations. So the firm’s production differs according to geography as the resource availability differs from place to place. Also, the human resource management, organizational structure and managerial responsibility differ between the firms and locations. These are not the same at all the places and with all the firms. The manpower availability differs from place to place and from firm to firm. Because of workforce diversity, human resource management differs and is not the same at all places. The organizational structure also differs because of each firm’s policies and regulations. The managerial responsibility is different depending upon the size of the firm and its working. It also depends upon the strength of the organization, type of business it deals with and the amount of work done by the organization (Cherunilam 2005). MNC’s also hire local people for key positions because its not possible for the MNC’s to hire people from the home country as it is a time consuming and costly affair. Instead of doing so, they can spend money on the training of the people in the local country. The Country Subsidiary Manager is responsible for the administration and management of the MNC in the country. He helps the MNC to recruit highly efficient and energetic people. He also helps in the growth and development of the MNC along with marketing its products. Comparison and Contrast between the Indian Market and Chinese Market for Exxon, BP and Shell The strategies in both the countries will be different for all the three companies i.e. BP, Exxon and Shell. The business environment, culture and traditions of both the companies differ from each other. The customer requirements, economic growth, political and social environment and legal obligations for both the countries can be compared and contrasted. Comparison CEOs of global energy giants BP, Exxon Mobil and Shell are thrashing out their plans with Indian companies and state government officials to pump dollars into 5 states Orissa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat. The oil and gas giants (Exxon, Shell, BP), can enter the Indian market through Joint Ventures with the Indian companies like Reliance or any ONGC. To establish joint ventures with Indian companies for manufacturing, all the 3 companies should track the key trends and survey the competitive environment in the oil and gas industry, which will enable them to maximize their returns in India (BP, Exxon Shell may invest in 5 Indian states 2008). Currently, Indian conversion kit markets are overflowing with duplicate and inferior quality products. Manufacturers must devote adequate resources for research and development to create world-class offerings that stand apart from the competition. Producing less expensive, lighter, and stronger fuel storage tanks could help the companies establish a leadership position in the marketplace. Reinforcing innovative products with strong after-sales service will allow companies to establish a brand image (Indian Automotive Alternative Fuel Conversion Kit Markets 2001). The entry strategy for China will be different. In China, the companies can enter through Merger or strategic alliance with a Chinese oil company. The companies should do a detailed study of the Chinese market to enter into strategic alliance with the Chinese companies, their growth patterns and their position in the market. As the entry strategy in both the companies will differ because of their business environment; similarly, business strategies would also differ on the following grounds. Firstly, the customer ratio and demand differs in both the countries. China has more population than India, so it has a large consumer market than India for these companies. Secondly, as compared to China, the price hike in petrol is more in India, so the companies can earn high revenue in India (Cherunilam 2005). Thirdly, China’s economy is growing at a much faster rate than India’s economy. Fourthly, the income level in both the countries is different. Middle class population is high in India. The per capita income of China is more than India and even the disposable income in China is more. Nowadays, BP is focusing on an eco-friendly campaign, which can be a great success in India where pollution is a major problem. This way, it can easily attract customers and become popular. Fifthly, the culture of both the countries is different, which affects the strategies of the companies. India is a country of diverse cultures and customs, so people with different thinking and values are found in India. But China has cultural unity, so the values and traditions do not differ across the country. This is good for advertisement and publicity to the people. Sixthly, it is also the political and legal environment that plays a crucial role in any business. A company cannot ignore the political situation and legal formalities either in the home country or in the host country if it has to operate successfully abroad. There is a quasi-federal-form of government in India and democracy is the rule of the country. Whereas China is a communist country, so the political setup can make a difference to the strategies. Also, the legal environment differs from country to country. India’s market has easy access and there are no strict regulations for the trade. In India, after the liberalization in 1991, most of the sectors are opened for foreign companies. Foreign Direct Investment is increasing rapidly. FDI policy is liberalized and 100% investment is allowed, whereas in China, there is not so much liberty for foreign companies. Only, a limited number of foreign companies can establish themselves in China. Contrast There are several points of similarities that affect the strategies of the companies in both the countries. Both the countries are in a developing stage and follow collectivism. Collectivistic culture tends to embrace interdependence, family security, social hierarchies, cooperation; and low levels of competition (Cherunilam 2005). As such, the Chinese and Indian society historically focuses on social interests and collective actions, and de-emphasizes personal goals and accomplishments. Also, the people of both the countries are dominated by foreign products and import items. Conclusion Thus, from the above discussion about MNC’s, it is concluded that they differ across different locations in terms of their resources, working, legal framework, etc. They also affect the culture and social life of the people of the local country. References Bartlett et al. Building Layers of Competitive Advantage. Europe: McGraw Hill Companies Inc. BP Global: About BP. 2008. [online]. [Accessed July 19, 2008]. Available from World Wide Web: BP, Exxon Shell may invest in 5 Indian states 2008. [online]. [Accessed July 19, 2008]. Available from World Wide Web: Cherunilam, F. 2005. International Business: Text and Cases. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd. Dunning, J. H. 1993. The determinants of MNE activity. In Dunning, J. H., Multinational Enterprises and the Global Economy: 76-85. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co. Exxon Mobile Corporation. 2008. [online]. [Accessed July 19, 2008]. Available from World Wide Web: Indian Automotive Alternative Fuel Conversion Kit Markets 2001. [online]. [Accessed July 19, 2008]. Available from World Wide Web: Ramaswamy, V.S Namakumari, S. (3rd ed.) 2005. Strategic Planning Formulation of Corporate Strategy. New Delhi: Macmillan India Ltd. Royal Dutch Shell: About Shell. 2008. [online]. [Accessed July 19, 2008]. Available from World Wide Web: Rugman, A.M. Hodgetts, R.M. (1st ed.).1995. International Business. New York, McGraw Hill Publishing Company. Appendix Generic Value Chain of OPERATION OUTBOND LOGISTIC MARKETING SALES SERVICE FIRM INFRASTRUCTURE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROCUREMENT INBOUND LOGISTIC Secondary Activity Or Supporting Activities Primary Activities Source: Ramaswamy Namakumari 2005.

Marks & Spencers :: essays research papers

During 2003/2004 Marks & Spencers have worked to improve their performance across their wide range of corporate social responsibility issues. THEIR BUSINESS †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clothing: clothing accounts for 50.1% of the UK sales and it’s their biggest business. Provides a wide range of clothing for women, men and children. They have 11% share of the UK marketing. Marks & Spencers Public Relations program: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Customer: I think we should keep a sales information, annual independent Survey and customer consultation and a continues research program, so we can keep a good relation with core customer to know what they are looking for. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Employees: we should do continues surveys among our employees. We need to keep our â€Å"Confidential help line†, so we can keep improving the working environment. Also, apart from our employee magazine, I think we should send continues information about the group, send updating about some of the decisions making and benefits through their emails. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shareholders: we have our annual general meeting. We need to improve our programme to survey shareholders satisfaction. A good point is to have regular meeting and presentations with investors. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Suppliers, including franchisees: regular visits, meeting and discussions. Programmes to survey their satisfaction. Direct relationship with important raw material suppliers. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Community: Regular meetings with key charity partners. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Government: Regular meetings with bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, environmental regulators and financial services authority. Local authority partnership on environmental health and trading standards. PROGRAMS †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organic cotton: We have increased our use of organic cotton to 3,000kgs. It’s still a very small proportion. Our long-term target is 5% of all the cotton we produce should be organic by 2010. MEDIA †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vogue magazine is the number one of fashion authority.

Against Space Program Funding Essay

Opening Statement: The government uses approximately 17.6 billion dollars of the taxpayers money to fund NASA every year. We shouldn’t be funding NASA that money when our economy is the worst it’s been since the Great Depression; we need to focus and spend our money on the problems here on Earth. NASA hasn’t done anything significant in space in years. And it’s incredibly risky and dangerous going up there. Arguments: 1)Our economy is the worst it’s been since the Great Depression, why are we even considering funding NASA 17.6 billion dollars when we have big problems here?! Barack Obama, our soon to be President, agrees. We elected him so he must be doing something right with the changes he wants to make. Millions of Americans die from preventable diseases all because they don’t have healthcare, and millions more go to bed hungry at night because they can’t afford to eat. If we took that 17 billion dollars and used to help people get health insurance at least our world would be a better place. Also, global warming & issues like that are happening. If those NASA scientists used their knowledge to figure out a way to better help the earth instead of space, we’d be so much better off. 2)NASA hasn’t made any kind of discovery in recent years that’s been of any kind of use to us. Sure, finding out Pluto doesn’t really count as a planet is cool and all, but how does that help us in anyway?! It doesn’t make a difference if we know how many planets there are right now, what matters is that we use our money to help stop destroying the Earth & try to fix the damage we’ve done. It’s great that we have the technology and skills to travel into space, but it’s becoming unaffordable and we have bigger expenses on our hands. 3)Its incredibly risky and dangerous traveling to space. Remember the space shuttle Columbia tragedy? Also, the radiation on Earth and Space is very different and the radiation in space can cause damage to human cells and possibly cancer. Osteoperosis is another risk. Because of microgravity, bones become brittle and a full recovery when arriving back on Earth may not occur. Space travel can also cause temporary and sometimes permanent hearing loss. And the biggest danger while in space? The debris that is constantly orbiting earth  travels at high speeds and can be deadly if collided with. Closing Statement: Before we continue any more exploration in space, we need to focus on exploring the ways we can help the Earth. We don’t need to spend 17 billion on NASA to find out facts that aren’t of great importance, to put the astronauts and people on the launch site in danger, and when we have so much work to do on Earth. The money will be better spent on fixing the economy and making the Earth a better place.

Teaching Question Tags

Teaching Question Tags If we want to ask for information we usually use the standard question form. However, sometimes we just want to keep a conversation going, or confirm information. In this case, question tags are often used to solicit input or confirmation to what we are saying. Using question tags well also promotes a keen understanding of the use of various auxiliary verbs. Aim: Developing active and passive knowledge of the use of question tagsActivity: Gap-fill followed by sentence matching and, finally, an oral practice exercise to promote active usage of question tagsLevel: Pre-intermediate to intermediate Outline: Activate target area by asking students simple yes/no questions insisting on the correct use of the auxiliary verbs. For example: Do you play tennis? - Yes, I do. Have you been to England - No, I havent.Introduce the idea of question tags by asking students questions using information that you already know about them. For example: You are studying English, arent you? - He didnt go to New York last year, did he?Explain the usage of question tags to students and when they are more preferable than direct questions.Divide students into groups of 3 - 4 and have them complete the gap-fill exercise.Give each group the sentence halves (which you have cut into strips prior to the lesson) and ask them to match them.Correct the sentence matching as a class.Focus on pronunciation by demonstrating the different meaning indicated by a rising voice (asking for more information) and a dropping voice (confirming information).Practice using the question tag examples with both types of intonation.  A sk each student to write his/her name on a piece of paper followed by five simple statements about him/herself. For example: I have been married for four years. I live in San Francisco. etc. Collect the statements and re-distribute the sheets to different students. Make sure that the students keep the sheets upside down until they are called on.Each student then uses the statements to form question tag questions asking the student who has written the statements. For example: You have been married for four years, havent you? You live in San Francisco, dont you? Question Tag Exercises Put the following question tags in to the correct gaps. Each question tag is used only once. isnt it?, has he?, were you?, arent you?, doesnt he?, do you?, is she?, didnt you?, did she? She didnt watch the film last night, ________Its great to see each other again, __________He comes every Friday, _________Youre married, __________You went to Toms last weekend, _________You dont like tripe, ___________She isnt much of a cook, ________He hasnt lived here long, ________You werent invited to the party, __________ Match The Sentence Halves Sentence Question Tag They enjoy playing footballShe isnt thinking of movingHell go to universityShe hasnt studied for very longJack bought a new car last weekThey arent seriousYou live in an apartmentShe doesnt speak RussianThey wont shut upHe isnt concentratingThey hadnt visited you beforeThis music is fantastic is shedoes shehad theydont theywont hedont youwill theyhas shedidnt heisnt itare theyis he Answers They enjoy playing football, dont they?She isnt thinking of moving, is she?Hell go to university, wont he?She hasnt studied for very long, has she?Jack bought a new car last week, didnt he?They arent serious, are they?You live in an apartment, dont you?She doesnt speak Russian, does she?They wont shut up, will they?He isnt concentrating, is he?They hadnt visited you before, had they?This music is fantastic, isnt it?

buy custom Higher Education essay

buy custom Higher Education essay The importance of higher education in the twenty first century cannot be overlooked. The modern society is mostly inclined to studying, with only those who are left out of this experience being as a result of inadequate time, resources or other personal commitments (Allen, 2005). Generally, higher education helps to improve the quality of life of the person since such people are able to access better employment opportunities, exercise better health practices and are more financially stable among other countless advantages (Allen, 2005). As a result, this article will focus on higher education. It will address the reasons for pursuing a college degree as well as using the learning various styles in relation to effective learning of a student. It will also look at the relation between the results of a GEMS survey and the career that an individual can pursue. People pursue higher education due to different reasons, and therefore my reasons for further learning are outlined below. I would like to get higher education so as to pursue my career job. After attaining a college degree, I will be able to secure a good job that I have always dreamt about. Additionally, I want to develop my personality so that I can be in a position to handle most of the real life situations. I believe that the prcess of attaining a college degree involves a holistic transformation of an individual in almost all life aspects. This entails qualities such as problem solving, effective communication among other life skills. There are various types of learning styles which students adapt to. Some students have a dominant style while others show a combination of various styles. My learning style is more oriented to auditory and tactile. When learning something new, I prefer to read out aloud since this style makes more sense and enhances my level of understanding (LeFever, 1995). As a matter of fact, I am able to memorize more information while using this method. In addition, I like to engage in a group discussion that comprise of a small number of people. This helps me to have the object of discussion in my hands. Consequently, I would prefer to have most of the lessons done in this format where I can apply my auditory stimuli to learning. After a GEMS survey was carried out, it was found that my Grand type was a People Oriented Achiever and a team facilitator. I concur with this result since even at work; I am a very friendly person. One of the my unique qualities is that I like surpassing the targets set for me thereby creating a difference on what I settle down to undertake. In most cases, I stand out as a potential leader but this is usually restricted by my personal reasons and the job positions that I hold. For instance, the story below displays my leadership and people oriented qualities. There is a time when an opportunity presented itself for a leadership role at my duty station. After arriving at the station, I noticed the problem and realized that a social committee to handle the problem was missing. I was not acquainted with the morality of the unit and therefore, I decided to inquire about it from the concerned people in the area. As a result, I understood the activities that were done in the unit as well as how money was being raised in the unit. Moreover, I was appointed the social committee president. This move has allowed us to organize events aimed at raising funds for the unit. This is a clear indication of the correlation between my personality and the career that I will be pursuing at the college level. Therefore, it is worth noting that the GEMS survey helped me a great deal to confirm my career choice. This should be emulated by all the students who intend to pursue higher education. They should be in a position to understand how their career concurs with their personality since it is on this platform that successful careers are built on. Buy custom Higher Education essay

The Society Effects of the Iraq War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Society Effects of the Iraq War - Essay Example There has lot of controversies on whether the deployment of troops must come to an end sooner rather than later. The cost of the war so far has estimated to be somewhere between two and three trillion. Most of this money goes to deployment of the huge troops in Iraqi soil post war. While the crime rate in Homeland is on the rise, much of US citizen's tax has been spent in protecting Iraqi citizens. Instead of investing this heavily in a war, the security systems and homeland protection could have been developed to counteract terrorism. Its true there had been no terror attacks on US in homeland post September 11, 2001. But the loss of US citizens as troops in Iraq and Afghan and loss of US diplomats and tourist on foreign soil has been on the rise. The cost relating to these attacks has also been on the rise. The wages of war roadside bombings, military funerals, shattered mosques, wounded children have shaken people far from the violence. Post war, US had to spend millions in rebuilding Iraq. They had to bring the fallen economy of Iraq back to stable, using their dollars. With the US economy falling into recession with the war, its motives in foreign affairs has also been questioned. US started the war stating that Iraq is engaged in accumulation of weapons of mass destruction. But to date no such arms and ammunitions of mass destruction has been discovered in Iraq. ... Many families have lost their family members in Iraq war and some soldiers have been separated from their family for more than three years. This creates a lot of criticism of the motives of the government on US homeland. The military hospitals are not equipped to handle the skyrocketing number of soldiers affected by war and returning with significant mental problems caused by living on edge of death for months at a time and compounded by multiple combat tours. The support the veterans of this war much more than we did in the Vietnam era, but the mental health treatment they are receiving is only marginally better. Average Iraq citizen always lives in the fear of being attacked. Ever since the end of the war, the Iraqi's have suffered huge losses than it was during Saddam's reign. Though Saddam's period was one that of dictatorship, there has been not this much terror attack. Most of the Iraqi's are now questioning the purpose of US soldiers out there in Iraq and doubt the very intention of US. This has been deliberately utilized by terrorist to create hatred on America. Wars remain subjects of debate not just because their "necessity" is in doubt but also because their results are mixed. Though US task of removing Saddam from power has been accomplished, it real purpose of war on terror has been on serious scrutinizing. The confusion in Middle East has triggered the rise of oil prize and has created a lot of diplomatic failures for US in Middle East. Post war, a lot of new insurgent groups not related Al Qaeda has been formed and they continue their attack on democracy. Conclusion: The war on Iraq is certainly an issue worth debating and only time knows how the historians are going to perceive

Restorative Justice and Young People. A professionals view Dissertation

Restorative Justice and Young People. A professionals view - Dissertation Example With the exclusion of any of these assumed notions or procedures, a RJ process may be potentially weakened, and its basic ideals in tension. Often in a RJ there may be a lack of rectitude or proportionality in the achieved results, however it must be borne in mind that the processes through which justice is achieved (RJ or otherwise) is often replete with incomplete endeavours. This is primarily owing to the theory that though justice cannot be achieved, one must strive tirelessly to achieve it. RJ is a process, in which from some perspectives justice cannot be achieved, yet it is worth striving for, to enable a better social output from the criminals. 1 Introduction 1.1 Background study The traditional mode a practiced in the criminal justice system is based on retributive justice, which is founded on the â€Å"system of institutionalized vengeance† (Price, 2001, par. 1). ... The prosecutor represents the State, and not the victims who are seen as mere witnesses in the case. Thus, we find that the present criminal justice procedures are primarily offender-centric, and focus on guilt, sentencing prison terms (punishment), and protecting the offender’s rights. Thus, incarceration (or the threat of incarceration) is major process and achieving justice in the traditional method and appears as a deterrent, though empirical results have shown its failure in proving itself as an effective long-term deterrent effect (ibid). In the traditional justice system, it is assumed that to punish the criminals in a manner (through incarceration) that would disallow them going back into the normal society, which is a rare exception, as most criminals are released and allowed to re-enter the society. As they re-enter the other members of the society become dependent on them for not causing any further damages within the community. High percentages of reconviction of t he released criminals, thus, show that the traditional criminal justice system is lacking in some form (Sherman and Strang, 2007). The theory that harsher punishment helps to deter crime rates by creating an aura of fear, has been proven to be false for many criminals, for time and over (Sherman, 1993), thus, making it necessary for the governmental agencies and the experts to look for alternatives approaches, the most popular of which is restorative justice. Restorative justice  often referred to as "reparative justice" (Weitekamp, 1993) is a modern method within the criminal  justice  system that tends to address the needs of the concerned parties, the victims (or the victims’ families) and the offenders. In this

Explain the concept of time, value of money, and give some examples Research Paper

Explain the concept of time, value of money, and give some examples. Explain difference in ways to calculate FTEs and explain - Research Paper Example For instance, you can invest your dollar for one year at a 6% annual interest rate and accumulate $1.06 at the end of the year.   You can say that the  future value  of the dollar is $1.06 given a 6%  interest rate  and a one-year  period. It follows that the  present value  of the $1.06 you expect to receive in one year is only $1. A key concept of TVM is that a single sum of money or a series of equal, evenly-spaced payments or receipts guaranteed in the future can be converted to an equivalent value today.   Conversely, you can determine the value to which a single sum or a series of future payments will grow to at some future date. You can calculate the fifth value if you are given any four of: Interest Rate, Number of Periods, Payments, Present Value, and Future Value.   FTEs FTEs are basically the full time equivalents and help in analyzing the work done in hours according to the number of laborers employed. Efficiency indicators for benchmarking frequently require a benchmarking health unit to provide the number of FTEs involved in a particular activity. This is not a problem where programs are specialized, i.e. where full and part time staff is assigned to specific activities.

The Red Scare of 1919 Essay Example for Free

The Red Scare of 1919 Essay The Red Scare of 1919 was the first of two major periods in American History when fear of radicalism culminated in the persecution and deportation of Americans thought to be radicals (communists, anarchists, or socialists). An unprecedented event, the Red Scare of 1919 exhibits how popular suppression and fear of radicalism can have disastrous consequences. The causes of the Red Scare are numerous and varied, however, one of the most important factors that contributed to the scare was the acts passed during World War I. During the war, social-anarchists did not support American involvement, nor did they support the subsequent draft. In response to the dissent, Congress passed the Sedition Act (actually, amended the Espionage Act). It was important in relation to the Red Scare because it allowed for censoring of radical literature as well as regulation of the mail. It was directed against subversives and, therefore, cast a very broad net. Because of the Sedition act, many individuals were arrested for distributing media that criticized the American military (Eugene Debs, head of the Socialist Party, was one of them). It was in response to this act that Justices Oliver Wendell Holmes set forth the clear and present danger doctrine and marked the beginning of modern First Amendment jurisprudence. Therefore, the Sedition Act of 1918 was important in the imposition of censorship after World War I. Reds were seen as a danger to the American system of government, economic stability, and way of life. In this sense, the war produced an era of intolerance for subversives, and it was this attitude that provided a ripe setting for the Red Scare of 1919 to take place. The Sedition Act was the legal excuse people used to regulate, censor, prosecute, and deport Americans thought to be radicals. Intolerance during the war would cause Americans to fear immigrants and radicals afterward, and it would only take a little spark to cause full blown hysteria. The Bolshevik revolution in Russia only deepened Americans fears because they felt the same thing could happen on their soil. The labor unrest following the end of World War I would prove to be instrumental in igniting the fire that was the Red Scare of 1919. The years after the war were marked by economic turmoil and labor unrest. At first, laborers expected the good working conditions, a staple of the wartime economy, to continue after the war was over. The economy was in good shape because war time contracts had cased industry to boom. Labor was supported by the government during the war in order to keep production levels high. After the war ended, however, contracts were canceled, which caused rising unemployment, and managers stopped cooperating with labor. Also, the cost of living had risen 99% by 1919 because of inflation. Without government support, labor unions began to strike in order to recapture the gains they had made during the war. One such strike took place in Seattle and involved sixty thousand workers (Painter, 346). Soon, this strike and others were labeled as a communist effort to undermine the American economy. The cycle of hysteria had begun. Labor unions were seen as Bolshevik sponsored organizations, and union members were labeled as communists. America began to become afraid because they saw there way of life slipping away. This fear would soon turn into action. The fear of radicalism stemmed, as stated earlier, from the era of intolerance during World War I. Propaganda techniques that once united the American public against Germany and hyphenated Americans during the war were easily converted into an instrument to cast a negative light on Bolsheviks. After all, America was not happy with Russia leaving the war and instituting a form of economy that was directly opposite of capitalism. Bolsheviks, therefore, were seen as a threat to democracy. Likewise, the forming of the Communist International was seen as an attempt to spread communism throughout the world. People felt insecure after the war, and this feeling was only bolstered by the idea that communists were working to overthrow the American economy and government. When a series of mail bombs were discovered, one of which exploding at Attorney General Palmers home, they were labeled as a communist effort to undermine America. The Red Scare of 1919 had begun. Labor unions were hardest hit. However, anyone seen as radical was persecuted and labeled a red. Elected officials who were members of the socialist party  were dismissed from office. In fact, the New York State Assembly dismissed five elected socialists. However, the most vivid example of the extent of the scare is illustrated by the Palmer raids, in which six thousand people were arrested and five hundred were deported. There were very few Communists in the United States in 1919, yet Palmer viewed them as a huge threat. Encouraged by Congress, Palmer began a series of showy and well publicized raids against radicals and leftists. Striking without warning and without warrants, Palmers men smashed union offices and the headquarters of Communist and Socialist organizations. They concentrated, whenever possible, on aliens rather than citizens, because aliens had fewer rights. As quickly as it had began, the Red Scare of 1919 ended. Although the hysteria had subsided, consequences still arose. The scare, as well as the raids, was seen as unproductive. Of the numerous arrests made in association with the scare, only a small percent of the suspected communists were deported. Therefore, government persecution of subversives only stopped because it was not working as well as hoped, yet the fear and hatred of radicals was still looming in the distance. It would again resurface in the 1950s during the McCarthy era when another Red Scare, more organized and brutal, would take place. America had learned how to deal with reds, and these lessons would be effectively applied in the next crusade against communism in America. Finally, a more visible and immediate consequence of the Red Scare of 1919 was the mass fear of immigration that took place afterwards. The highly visual raids by Palmer had a deep effect on Americans because the raids exposed the enemy. Restrictions and quotas were placed on immigration, especially on those people coming from Eastern Europe. Fear of communists turned into hatred of immigrants, and American citizens would have a hard time excepting new arrivals. In many cases, immigrants were automatically labeled as subversives, anarchists, and communists. The association between immigrants and social upheaval would have a negative effect on American immigrants in the years to come, a fact most vividly portrayed through the trial of Sacco and Venzetti. Also, for many years to come, unions were seen in a negative light. The association of communism with unions would continue  to be a hindrance for labor and the advancement of labor reforms.

Rumination Disorder: Causes, Epidemiology and Treatment

Rumination Disorder: Causes, Epidemiology and Treatment Rumination disorder is an eating disorder whereby an infant or toddler brings back up and re-chews food that was already swallowed and digested. This is known as regurgitation. In most cases, the re-chewed food is then swallowed again; but occasionally, the child will spit it out. For this to be considered a disorder, the behaviour must have occurred to a child who had been eating normally previously, and it must occur frequently for atleast a month. The behaviour may occur during feeding or right after eating. What Are the Symptoms of Rumination Disorder in Babies and Kids? Symptoms of rumination disorder in infants and toddlers may include (1) repeated regurgitation of food (2) repeated re-chewing of food (3) weight loss (4) repeated stomach aches (5) raw and chapped lips. Infants, in addition, may make unusual movements such as straining and arching the back, holding the head back, tightening abdominal muscles and making sucking movements with the mouth. These movements could suggest that the infant is trying to bring back up the partially digested food. What Causes Rumination Disorder? The exact cause of rumination disorder is unknown although there several speculation. According to () some factors that may contribute to this disorder are those that are physical. Physical illness or stress may trigger the behaviour. It may be a way for the child to get attention; it has been found that neglect from the primary care giver may cause the child to engage in self comfort.It has been found that rumination may occur in a state of self relaxation , self absorption and self pleasure. It appears to have a self soothing or self stimulating function. The infant gets some satisfaction from this. For the first four to six months of an infants life, breast milk or an alternative formula is a baby’s source of energy and nutrients (Santrock, 2011). it has been found that breast fed infants have lower respitory tract infections, they are less likely to develop otitis media (a middle ear infection) and breast fed infants have fewer gastrointestinal infections (Santrock, 2011). According to (Chial, Camilleri, Williams, Litzinger, Perrault, 2003) rumination is a functional gastrointestinal infection. This suggests that there is a possibility that children who develop this disorder may have had a lack of breast feeding as an infant which further elaborates that neglect from the primary caregiver is vital. Rumination is common in disorders such as bulimia nervosa. It is a learned disorder and comes from a manifestation of rejection. http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/eating-disorders-in-children-rumination-disorder?page=3 Epidemiology It is difficult to know exactly how many people are affected by this disorder mainly because most cases are not reported. Children tend to outgrow it and as they grow into the adolescent stages and adulthood, they become embarrassed by it and it often happens in secret. Rumination disorder is generally uncommon. Rumination disorder occurs often in infants between the ages of three and twelve months as well as in children with cognitive impairments. It may occur slightly more often in boys than in girls, but few studies of the disorder exist to confirm this. (webmd) For the purpose of this paper, the South African context will be put into consideration. It is important to remember that reality is socially constructed. South Africa is a diversified country with many cultures. Amongst many of the African cultures, western culture is often overlooked and shunned upon. It is difficult to change the minds of others and it would be unethical for an â€Å"outsider† to come and talk against their belief systems. When there is behaviour that is unusual, it is common for the average traditional African woman or man to put their trust in the customary traditional healer. People tend to keep their parental and ancestral roots, this is quite common more often in the homelands where majority of the financially deprived stay; even though sometimes it happens that those who move to the city to look for jobs may adopt new ways of thinking but still truly remaining to their roots. Because of these strong traditional beliefs, primary caregivers may opt for traditional healers than westernised medical attention. It is also much easier to go to a traditional healer than it is finding a good clinic or good health care facility. The social and economic pressures make it hard for children to get the right kind of medical attention. It is common for these primary caregivers to believe it is witch craft, it is something they learn. When something cannot be explained, it is easier to put blame in witchcraft. —often with grandparents staying in rural areas and the younger people moving to the cities in search of employment, better education, and health care. The effects of disrupted bonds are manifold. In our field, the geographical separation between young mothers and the maternal grandmothers has particularly far reaching consequences. We have called our Service theMdlezana Centre. This is a Xhosa word depicting the early bond between mother and child, when they are still one unit—equivalent to the Winnicottian term of the state of primary maternal preoccupation. Infant Mental Health was a new concept in 1995, but it took root in the city of Cape Town immediately. There are no problems in obtaining referrals to the Rondebosch pillar —in fact, at times we are inundated, and can barely cope with the workload. In Khayelitsha, the situation is different and the population was initially hard to reach. There are various reasons for this: In a community where unemployment is unimaginably high, where families are disrupted, where there is often no food, the emotional life of the infant is not a priority. Mothers, who are the main caregivers (I have only seen fathers on two occasions in the past five years) are often depressed and suffer in silence. They have a helplessness that is real and in a way adaptive in the sense that the great majority of women have no choice, but to cope and make do with what they have. They bear their fate stoically and will not spontaneously open up. Then there are cultural factors in that one does not easily share with strangers one’s intimate family problems. There is a sense of privacy and possibly shame and thus problems are often borne silently. A visit to a Traditional Healer is for many a more familiar option. I shall return to this point shortly. The infants themselves are mostly not a problem— they are generally quiet and seemingly content—this is an observation that all western visitors who come with me to the clinic make. The wait is often long, but the noise level low and there is immense patience, even in the babies and toddlers. It is only the physically obvious, such as delayed milestones, that will readily be seen as a reason for a consultation. On a diagnostic level the infants fall into three broad categories: developmental delay, failure to thrive, and increasingly, depression. When a condition sets in after birth, then the presence of evil spirits or bewitchment is  very much in the foreground. For whatever individual reason, the protection of the  ancestors has been withdrawn and the child has become exposed to forces of evil, the  impundulu. The muthiis said to drive out the evil  spirit or to strengthen and protect the child against it. Mostly these interventions are  harmless from a medical perspective —however, there are some mixtures which, when  ingested, can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Operations and anesthetics are at times viewed with great fear. This may have to do  with a giving up of the child to be put to sleep —which, in effect, could mean a kind  of death. The father of one ill infant whom we saw and who required surgery spoke  about â€Å"sacrificing† his child. The healer who was involved in this case also said to the  parents that surgery would interfere with the workings of themuthihe was using. The  end result was that the child did not receive the operation in time and died. A working alliance with traditional healers is being established with the recent founding  of the Traditional Healers’ Association. It is hoped that with collaborating with the traditional  healers in diagnosis and treatment gaps can be bridged and unnecessary suffering be prevented. I will end this section by giving a brief case illustration. How Is Rumination Disorder Diagnosed in Infants and Children? The diagnosis of rumination syndrome is based upon the characteristic symptoms and the absence of signs of disease. Although diagnostic criteria (symptombased, Rome II) for childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders have been developed, such criteria for children and adolescents with rumination syndrome have not been defined. The lack of formal criteria for diagnosing rumination syndrome in children and adolescents likely contributes to the lack of awareness of the condition and to the difficulty in making the diagnosis. We anticipate that such criteria will be developed in the future. How Is Rumination Disorder Treated in Children? Rumination disorder is a voluntary, learned behaviour which patients are frequently unaware. As infants grow older, clinical features of regurgitation are similar to those of bulimia nervosa. Before one can be diagnosed it has been found that individuals with this disorder undergo several medical interventions and experience prolonged symptoms before a diagnosis is made. (Chial, La Crosse, Camilleri, Bean, 2009) One important aspect in the history is the timing of the regurgitation. Diaphragmatic breathing has been shown to be clinically beneficial in rumination syndrome; although this type of treatment can only take place starting from ages where toddlers can understand. According to (Chiktara, van Tilburg, Whitehead, Tall, 2006) this method is useful to treat children as young as six years of age. Patients should be encouraged to practice diaphragmatic breathing midway through the meal or after meals for three different 5 min periods of inactivity with 10 min in between periods. They should also repeat this plan after each episode of regurgitation. The goal is for diaphragmatic breathing to occur unconsciously during events that may incur regurgitation. Treatment of rumination disorder mainly focuses on changing the childs behaviour. Several approaches may be used, including:Continue reading below Changing the childs posture during and right after eating Encouraging more interaction between mother and child during feeding; giving the child more attention Reducing distractions during feeding Making feeding a more relaxing and pleasurable experience Distracting the child when he or she begins the rumination behavior Aversive conditioning, which involves placing something sour or bad-tasting on the childs tongue when he or she begins to vomit Psychotherapy for the mother and/or family may be helpful to improve communication and address any negative feelings toward the child due to the behavior. There are no medications used to treat rumination disorder. What Complications Are Associated With Rumination Disorder? Among the many potential complications associated with untreated rumination disorder in infants and children are: Malnutrition Lowered resistance to infections and diseases Failure to grow and thrive Weight loss Stomach diseases such as ulcers Dehydration Bad breath and tooth decay Aspiration pneumonia and other respiratory problems (from vomit that is breathed into the lungs) Choking Death What Is the Outlook for Children With Rumination Disorder? In most cases, infants and young children with rumination disorder will outgrow the behavior and return to eating normally. For older children, this disorder can continue for months. Can Rumination Disorder Be Prevented in Infants and Children? There is no known way to prevent rumination disorder in infants and children. However, careful attention to a childs eating habits may help catch the disorder before serious complications can occur. (culture and psychiatry journal) The culture of the patient In addition to individual factors—such as level of education, medical knowledge, and personal life experiences—culture will contribute to the patient’s understanding of illness, perception and presentation of symptoms and problems, and reaction and adjustment to illness. The patient’s expectations of the physician, motivation for treatment, and compliance with treatment recommendations are also influenced by culture.

Contrasting Silkos Yellow Woman and Chopins Story of an Hour :: comparison compare contrast essays

Contrasting Silko's Yellow Woman and Chopin's Story of an Hour On the surface, the protagonists of Silko's "Yellow Woman" and Chopin's "Story of an Hour" seem to have little in common. Yet upon closer inspection, both stories relate tales of women who are repressed by the social tenets that define their roles as wives. From the viewpoint of Western society, the narrator of "Yellow Woman" might be considered immoral for her willing sexual encounter with a stranger. However, the stories related by her grandfather of the Yellow Woman demonstrate within her culture a more accepting attitude of her brief interlude: "Yellow Woman went away with the spirit from the north and lived with him and his relatives. She was gone a long time, but then one day she came back and brought twin boys."(188) Her grandfather certainly liked telling the stories and seems to have admired the Yellow Woman on some level. Other societies do not share the Western idea of moral sexual behavior. The Egyptian ruling class, for example, sometimes married brother to sister, and other cultures have incorporated fertility rites into their belief systems. Even within our own society, marriages to cousins, which are considered wrong today, were not uncommon in past centuries. Given that her attitude regarding sex and marriage might diff er from the Western norm, the central conflict of the story seems to be the narrator's desire for freedom to choose her own destiny versus her more Westernized view of her role as wife and mother, a role that is traditionally subservient to the husband in Western society. There is the sense that she finds her daily life dull, though perhaps not unhappy, and when a chance encounter turned sexual, she again takes on a subservient role to a male. Her inability to make sense of her conflicting feelings causes her to appear weak and lacking in character and portrays her in a negative light. By contrast, Louise Mallard, the protagonist in Chopin's "Story of an Hour", is a moral woman and loving wife, at least by Western standards. Her life is defined by the accepted social ideal of a husband's will as final. She is so inured to this concept that only upon hearing the news of his death does her true feeling of something "too subtle and elusive to name" (199) come forth. What she acknowledges to herself is that her marriage is not happy for her and she often resents her subservient role and "a kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime".

Aquarius Case Analysis Essay

1) Analyze Aquarius in terms of the five contextual variables: * Goals: Aquarius has realized a huge problem in regards to the rapid turnover of their major accounts. An agency reorganization would be a realistic goal in changing their competitive techniques. This reorganization might be able to set them apart from the other agencies by reducing their response time and increasing the communication between the different departments to boost efficiency. * Culture: In my opinion I believe that Aquarius has a very low and undefined organizational culture. It seems like the employees are all looking out for themselves and trying to get ahead of everyone else. These values although unwritten provide the glue to having everyone on the same page and are absolutely essential in providing clients with top of the line work. * Size: Since Aquarius is a mid-sized firm with various specialists on the professional staff of the operations and marketing divisions I would say they have anywhere from 1 000-1500 employees. With this many employees it is critical to have effective communication between the different departments. This would in turn increase flexibility in this unpredictable environment. * Environment: Changes in the environment is the main reason why the agency is considering the need for reorganization. It is typical for advertising agencies to gain/lose clients quickly, this is why is it so essential to have everyone in the organization effectively communicating with each other in order to satisfy their clients and reduce turnover. * Technology: Aquarius has a number of different specialists on their team that work together in assisting their clients, but there is always room for improvement in regards to better communication. It would seem to me that Aquarius would have a number of different programs and internet sites to assist them achieving their services. 2) A new organizational structure that takes into consideration the contextual variables in the case and the information flows is the divisional structure. This structure is suited to fast change in an unstable environment and provides high product or service visibility. A major problem that occurs in Aquarius is that each client account is coordinated by an account executive who acts as a liaison between the client and various specialists. Unfortunately this isn’t followed because sometimes the account executives don’t even know what is going on until a week later. The divisional structure leads to customer satisfaction because product responsibility and contact points are clear. This in turn involves high coordination across functions which will make everyone check with the executive first to get approval before contacting the client. Coordination across functions will allow their services to adapt to the requirements of the individual clients and perform beyond their expectations. This structure would allow Aquarius to achieve their goals while increasing their organizational culture as a whole and being able to adapt more quickly to this unstable environment. 3) Would a matrix structure be feasible for Aquarius? I my opinion I believe that a balanced matrix structure would be hard to implement and maintain. This is due to the fact that account executives as one side of the authority structure would often dominate over the specialists. In order for the account executive to do their job correctly they need everyone on their side and in coordination to run important information by them first. Perhaps a better alternative would be a product matrix where the executives have primary authority and the specialists assign technical personal to the projects and provide advisory expertise as needed. With dual authority I feel that it would be frustrating and confusing for everyone, there needs to be a clear contact points. There would always be a need for frequent meetings to resolve any conflicts between the different authorities, it would simply just require to great of an effort to maintain the power balance.

Elderly need care, not neglect and indifference Essay

PHYSICALLY, the elderly are not longer as able and agile as the young. To most old people, walking can be an ordeal – and crossing the road is even more difficult without help. While it is already hard for most of the aged to get to the other side of a busy road that has no pedestrian crossing, what is even sadder is that motorists seldom stop for them. Old people whose sense of judgement is impaired through ageing, are frequently run over on the road. They can no longer handle heavy traffic, and left to their own devices, are likely come to grief. As one observer notes, it seems modern society is built by the young for the young – a dynamic creation that does not give much consideration to the old, sick, handicapped or disabled. The infirm and frail elderly are usually tolerated as a liability or nuisance, and with self-esteem ripped away from them, they suffer in silence as they go through what is left of their twilight years. This busy world is certainly not looking too kindly on old folks. Crossing the road is just one problem the elderly encounter, another is getting onto a bus. The old timer is usually the last to get on. And even if he manages, he very likely will have to stand. Rarely does anyone care give up his or her seat for an old man or woman. In the old days, the family unit was strong. Today, it is breaking up as young men and women travel widely in search of greener pastures. Normally, what this entails is neglect – with the elderly being left to fend for themselves, most times under very difficult circumstances. The more fortunate ageing parents may have a child or two staying with them while the less lucky ones may have to live out their lives in an old folks’Â  home – or in their empty house after all the children have flown the roost and may only return to visit once in a blue moon. Such a situation poses a very real problem for society and it is what the old dread most – being unwanted and uncared for while on borrowed time. There are other problems old folks face but none can be as painfully heart-breaking as the indifference and neglect shown them by their own flesh and blood. Most senior citizens end up in welfare homes because they are abandoned by their families – frequently at public hospitals which, in turn, have little choice but to turn them over to shelters run by the government or NGOs. In most cases, family members refuse to take their elderly parents back. Invariably, these public hospitals have to hand the abandoned old folks to NGOs. Even so, shelters, run by benevolent societies, are mostly full these days. According to the Social Welfare Department, between 2008 and 2011, the number of old folks, abandoned by their families, has steadily gone up one per cent each year. Welfare homes caring for the 60 and above, admitted 340 senior citizens last year compared to 248 in 2010. Stats from the National Population and Family Development Board, an agency under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, showed that as at 2004 when the Fourth Malaysian Population and Family Survey was undertaken, over half a million elderly parents were not given financial support by their children. It is, of course, unfair and incorrect to say all young people desert their parents in their old age. What is obviously a disturbing trend though is that a lot of sons and daughters are leaving their ageing parents to die at old folks’ homes. Why? In trying to look for an answer, sociologists argue it is important for society to understand the needs of young people with changing times. These experts explain that young couples nowadays need to work to support themselves and their own growing families. As such, most not only send their old parents to welfare homes but their own children to nurseries or playschools as well just to keep up with the rat race. While it’s reasonable for young families to want their own space and privacy, there are some who simply do not want to look after the elderly due to what is generally referred to as the generation gap manifesting itself in the lack of understanding and tolerance for the changes in their parents’ behaviour which could be caused by insecurity and mental illnesses. Whatever the reasons that may have caused the young to shirk their responsibility of caring for their elderly parents, they, nonetheless, still have the moral responsibility to support and cherish them. After all, the young will themselves become parents and grow old one day – and quite naturally, also expect their own brood to look after them in the final phase of life. Needless to say, it’s important to inculcate filial piety in children at a young age. Wholesome family values such as caring for the elderly spontaneously out of love should be continuously fostered to create a truly caring Malaysian society.