Kellys (2005) account of Britains trades unions demonstrates that Essay

Kellys (2005) account of Britains trades unions demonstrates that workers in Britain no longer feel the need for the collective representation of their intere - Essay Example A quarter of a century ago almost 75% of the workforce were enrolled as members of a trade union. Presently in the public sector 3 out of every 5 workers are union members and has greater aggregate membership than the private sector where only one employee out of 6 is a union member. Sue Fernie and David Metcalf in their Book "Trade Unions: Resurgence or Demise" 2 (2005) analyses the decline of trade unions and its future prospects. It contains contributions from leading analysts on the labour movement including Richard Freeman, John Kelly, Paul Willman, Howard Gospel, Rebecca Givan, David Marsden, Morris Kleiner and Claus Schnabel. In Chapter 4 of the Book discussing "Social Movement Theory and Union Revitalization in Britain", John Kelly, paints a very gloomy picture on the future prospects of trade union movement in Britain. According to him a stage has reached where workers in Britain no longer feel the need for collective representation of their interests. In this treatise we shall try to understand how relevant Kelly's observations are. The trends over the last two de... Another disturbing trend noticed was the reluctance by the employers to recognise unions as representatives of their employees for collective bargaining. As a result of this unions have not been able to retain their authority at workplaces. It was noticed that with the erosion in their bargaining power there was a drop in the incomes of the unions adversely affecting their vibrancy. Managements started bypassing unions over work models, deployment/ redeployment of labour force, their recruitment and training etc, which were domains where unions had a dominating influence. Unions being circumvented by the managements had an adverse effect on union membership and its influence over the employees. Unhelpful government legislations in the 1980s further eroded union status and employers started taking advantage of the situation. This state of affairs led to another far-reaching trend in workplace disputes. Meaningful two-way dialogue was a recognized form of unions' collective bargaining ethos. Gradually this form of two-way communication started to spillover beyond unions to non-union formats. This form of informal direct two-way dialogue with entities such as problem-solving groups and the statutory works council, etc, started making incursions into other domains of formal two-way dialogues also. It is of interest to note that in the United States under the Wagner Act the union voice is the only permitted form of dialogue for resolution of work place disputes. Countries who have adopted democratic principles of governance for their society accepts only formal employee voice provided by recognised trade unions as an accepted arrangement for workplace dispute resolution. However, in Britain a new approach

Terrorism and the Media Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Terrorism and the Media - Assignment Example However, research continues to show that as much as the enlightening of people on the happenings with regard to matters terrorism continues to influence people psychologically. Debates on whether such news ought not to transmitted have been held with controversy looming on the possibility of rights of citizens with regards to freedom of speech, as well as, freedom of information as exercised by broadcasting houses arising (Hoffman, 2006). A thorough analysis on the issue of broadcasting terrorist activities and successes and the psychological impacts they hold on various groups of people will be discussed borrowing from credible scholarly journals and articles. Also, the issue of whether it is reasonable to limit broadcasting the same will be visited with the effect the same will have on the freedoms of information and of speech as provided for in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The war on terror that started in the year 2001 has since an increase in terrorism attack. By and large, there is a correlation between transmitting news about terrorism and the happening of terrorism. As such, it should be noted that the continual broadcasting of terrorism and the successes that follow have instigated a feeling of the terrorism group to continue with their unfortunate activities considering that many people are excited by the happenings of the same. There have been arguments that the broadcasting of terrorism news has had a positive impact on various groups of people which are contrary to the belief that the broadcasting of the same will lead to psychological torture (Pape, 2008). Truth be told, there are many atrocities that are placed on media that are damaging terrorism being one of them. Considering that thousands of people across the world are affected directly or indirectly is a major cause of concern. Psychologists have noted that Americans and other people from areas affected

Bio-based Polymers and Their Future Trends: Article Review

Bio-based Polymers and Their Future Trends: Article Review The selected article, Current progress on bio-based polymers and their future trends[1], provides insight into the present tendencies, technological advancements, and the prospective utilisation of bio-based polymers obtained with renewable means. A wide domain of bio-based polymers are analysed in this article specifically focusing on its production, its characteristics and its potential in commercialisation. The review also measures the subsequent challenges whilst introducing these polymers for appliance. Consequently, the analysis of the review article pertains generally to specialists such as scientists possessing a background knowledge of bio-based polymers, to entrepreneurs who intend to commercialise these bio-based polymers due to their increase in allure as a renewable and environmentally friendly product and perhaps to enthusiasts. Part of this reasoning is due to the extensive use of chemical jargon and its passive and scientific articulation. Subsequently, the review art icle was difficult to comprehend as a scientifically sound reader. The discipline ideally suited for the review article is a combination of organic chemistry, polymer chemistry. Organic chemistry and polymer chemistry are both a chemistry subdiscipline where the former deals with the study of organic materials[2], matter formed with carbon atoms, and where the latter deals with the study of synthetic polymers[3]. The article examines the bio-based polymers, hence falling into the categories of organic chemistry and polymer chemistry. Additional disciplines can be related to this article but may seem ambiguous such as materials science which briefly covers the study of polymers[4] and industrial engineering[5] which examines the cost effectiveness of the production of these bio-based polymers. Therefore, article should be categorised as a discipline of organic chemistry as it focuses on bio-based polymers. The association concerning the discipline of organic chemistry and the review article from the journal Progress in Biomaterials relates thoroughly within. As stated in the description[6], this journal examines the preparation and characteristics of biomaterials in vitro and in vivo and assesses its compatibility in areas such as tissue engineering, drug delivery and implants and regenerative medicine. The editorial board regarding this journal is of an international standard where people from universities universally gather in order to publish and review this journal. Hence this journal is open accessed and peer reviewed published under the SpringerOpen brand and also approved by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, obtaining a high credible standard[7]. The journal, published by one of the many leading academic services[8], is therefore associated with the discipline of organic and polymer chemistry. The purpose of the review is to assess a variety of bio-based polymers of their production, characteristics, their effective future applications in our society and its difficulties. The review article investigates and assesses as much as ten bio-based polymers, each with diverse scrutinies, and therefore cellulose[9] will be briefly discussed as an example of what is reported as it is also associated with the primary article[10] that will be compared from the review articled. In this review article, cellulose, reported to be one of the largest bio-based polymer produced[11], is attained through the two methods: sulfite and pre-hydrolysis kraft pulping and has a ninety seven percent purity rate[12]. Cellulose is a rigid polymer and is highly tensile relative to other bio-based polymers. This causes processing problems and therefore is plasticised, mixing itself with other polymers, to soften itself for ease of use[13]. Subsequently, there are three main branches of which cellulosoic p olymers are classified under after chemical modification for applications: cellulose esters, cellulose ethers and regenerated cellulose. Each of these have difference uses: cellulose esters are mainly utilised for film and fiber, cellulose ethers are used in food and personal care and regenerated cellulose are used for disposables, textiles and fabrics[14]. The main drawback to the production of this renewable source is the low yields compared to its high expense.[15] The immense amount of professional research expressed into this review article accounts for the 159 references. Many of these references are primary articles which are peer reviewed whilst there are also some that are also review articles. Most of these references are linked to reputable academic services such as Oxford Academic and Science Direct. The sources of the review article are generally recent as most of them are from the 21st Century. The selected primary article, Cellulose Extraction from Palm Kernel Cake Using Liquid Phase Oxidation[16], is an experimental report that investigates the production of cellulose via its extraction from palm kernel cake with the method of liquid phase oxidation. Specifically this primary article highlights the optimization of this process where the yield of cellulose would increase as a variable changed such as the ration of hydrogen peroxide and the hot water treatment. As a result a theoretical optimal point was discovered. The investigations of this primary article is significant to the review article as it contributes through the production of cellulose, one of the many bio-based polymers discussed in the review article. This helps the audience to understand how cellulose is produced, providing insight on its benefits and drawbacks. While both articles relate to cellulose, the nature and purpose can be distinguishable. The primary article contains experimental data and methods which aimed to optimise the yield of cellulose whereas the review article aimed to provide information to an audience, gathering its data from a variety of sources. Reference List Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. Babu et al.: Current progress on bio-based polymers and their future trends. Progress in Biomaterials 2013 2:8, accessed 22 March 2017, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2194-0517-2-8> Farm Yan Yan, Duduku Krishniah, Mariani Rajin, Awang Bono. Cellulose Extraction from Palm Kernel Cake Using Liquid Phase Oxidation. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology 2009, accessed 25 March 2017, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yan_yan_Farm/publication/49593921_Cellulose_extraction_from_palm_kernel_cake_using_liquid_phase_oxidation/links/57bc0e4e08aefea8f0f5f46e.pdf> [1] Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. 2013 [2] ACS, Chemistry for Life, accessed 25 March 2017, https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/college-to-career/areas-of-chemistry/organic-chemistry.html [3] ACS, Chemistry for Life, accessed 25 March 2017, https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/college-to-career/areas-of-chemistry/polymer-chemistry.html [4] Merriam-Webster, accessed 25 March 2017, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/materials%20science [5] Oregon state University, accessed 25 March 2017, http://mime.oregonstate.edu/what-do-industrial-engineers-do [6] Springer Link, accessed 25 March 2017, https://link.springer.com/journal/40204 [7] Springer, accessed 25 March 2017, http://www.springer.com/materials/biomaterials/journal/40204?detailsPage=editorialBoard [8] Springer, accessed 25 March 2017http://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer [9] Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. 2013 [10] Journal of Engineerring Science and Technology, accessed 25 March 2017 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yan_yan_Farm/publication/49593921_Cellulose_extraction_from_palm_kernel_cake_using_liquid_phase_oxidation/links/57bc0e4e08aefea8f0f5f46e.pdf [11] Farm Yan Yan, Duduku Krishniah, Mariani Rajin, Awang Bono. 2009. Sec. 1 Para. 1 [12] Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. 2013 Page 9 Para.1 [13] Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. 2013 Page 9 Para 2 [14] Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. 2013 Page 9 Para 3 [15] Babu, R.P., OConnor, K. Seeram, R. 2013 Page 10 Para 1 [16] Farm Yan Yan, Duduku Krishniah, Mariani Rajin, Awang Bono Sec.4 Para.1

Stonehenge :: European Europe History

Stonehenge Stonehenge, one of the great Seven Wonders of the World, but what do we really know about it. What was its purpose, how was it built and by whom. Many different answers come up when asking the question "What was the purpose of Stonehenge", some say that it was a horrid place, which the Druids used for religious sacrifice, but most others have a more positive idea. A temple of the sun, a Pagan Cathedral, or a holy sanctuary in the midst of blessed ground, or maybe a clock or even a place to Predict Eclipses. No one really knows what it was used for; this is due to a great number of facts surrounding all of these ideas. Many ideas come up when talking about why this great structure was built along with an equal amount on who built it. The Druids is the most common response because the Druids inhabited most of the area in which Stonehenge is built. The Pagans are another common answer to this age old question because of the building structure of Stonehenge how it resembles a Pagan Cathe dral. Whoever built Stonehenge, they were an extremely advanced society either on purpose or by complete fluke. Many say that because of Stonehenge's exact solar and lunar alignment. That is was the most common thought is that it was built to predict eclipses for worshiping. The following essay is going to state the facts and myths about the great Stonehenge. By the end of this essay, hopefully a solid conclusion will be found to be the most plausible answer for Stonehenges construction. The moon, it has been a sight for all over time. Back long ago little was none of the reasons for an eclipses, it was thought to be a sing from the gods. In a society which worshiped gods for all the mysteries of the world, the eclipse must have been very special. The builders of Stonehenge must have been marveled at the sight of this holy event, which happened every four years. Most likely the great Stonehenge was built to be a prediction device for the eclipse. Many people have studied Stonehenge and many have found that the stones are mathematically placed to show when and eclipse might occur. "In favor of this solution - that the Aubrey holes were used as a computer are these facts: the number 56 is the smallest number that measures the swing of the moon with an over-all accuracy of better than 3 days, and lunar cycles provide the only method of long-range eclipse prediction related to the seasons of the year.

Pros and Cons of Social Networks Essay

I bet that if I go onto Facebook or Twitter right now, I could find almost every one of you on there. When someone says â€Å"social network,† the first site to come to your mind is Facebook, right? Facebook is now the most identifiable social network, and according to Facebook statistics it’s recently reached over 300 million active users. Combined worldwide, they all spend over six billion minutes online every day. I got most of my information about social networking from facts on file. A statistic from the Pew Internet Project’s research on social networking found that as of December 2012, 67% on online adults use social networking sites. The earlier social networks, such as Friendster. com and myspace. com, started in the early 2000’s, and since then they’ve become very popular and even more sites have emerged. There are many effects and uses for social networks, and many people have different opinions on them so today I’m going to share those with you. Let’s see what supporters admire about social networks. Supporters say that social media and networking sites have changed the way that we communicate for the better. see more:social networking and young generation They say that with all the different possibilities it’s much easier to keep in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. If someone was tired of emailing or simply chatting, they could use Skype, which is a software application that allows users to make voice or video calls over the Internet. Social networks can also provide a way for people to express themselves, through forums, Internet messaging boards, or by creating their own blogs that others can comment and post on too. Through social networks people can also make friends more easily by connecting with others who have similar interests. It’s become a daily habit for us to sign into our favorite social networks, so that whenever we get the chance to do so, it seems to relax us. A large and important impact of social networks, however, is its ability to raise awareness and keep everyone throughout the world informed. Reading about current events isn’t limited to the newspapers anymore, now news sites and social networks are constantly updating us with the latest information. We can learn about natural disasters that strike all over the world and learn what we can do here to help. If any of you are on Facebook, I’m sure you’ve seen popular pages posting pictures of someone’s sad life story, some asking for prayers and others asking for recognition for one’s actions or heartbreaking life. As you all know, when MaKayla passed away, her friends and family worked endlessly to gain the attention of her hero, LeBron James. Through Facebook and Twitter her memorial page has received almost 8,000 likes and grabbed the attention of Packers player, Clay Matthews. He helped to raise awareness by asking people to tweet to LeBron to obtain any sort of recognition from her hero. With everyone’s help from social networks in the end, that goal was accomplished. Seeming to be on the more old-fashioned side, government officials are even getting into the networking hype. They’re using them to help get ahead in the polls, connect with voters and find out their opinions as a mass. In 2011, President Barack Obama tweeted the following message, as seen on the smartboard. Included in this tweet was a short video with tributes from his 2008 supporters. Today, he still tweets asking for the public’s opinions on controversies and issues. These points make you think that social networks are all good; however, people who oppose them have quite different opinions. Opponents argue that social media and networking sites are ruining how we communicate and that it can only get worse as time goes on. The rise of social networks has also coincided with an erosion of the quality of conversation. MIT psychology professor Sherry Turkle says, â€Å"As we ramp up the volume and velocity of online connections, we start to expect faster answers. To get these, we ask one another simpler questions; we dumb down our communications, even on the most important matters. Comedian and commentator Dean Obeidallah writes for CNN saying that social media is turning Americans into â€Å"the laziest generation† yet. Companies and businesses are using social networks to advertise and promote themselves, so if you’re applying for a job with a company or business, they could check your own profile to see what you’ve been posting. If someone were to be tagged in some inappropriate pictures, companies might see them and it could ultimately cost you the job. Social networks can also be very dangerous. Con artists have been known to create scams via emails, and now they’re trying to take your money using social networks. Because social networks let you create your own profile, some people decide to put in fake information and photos. So you never really know if the person you’re talking to is real or not. Bullying now isn’t restricted to throwing hits and talking smack face-to-face. Networking sites have unfortunately made it much easier to tease others, and now cyber-bullying and harassment has become a major problem. An article from the periodical Educational Leadership has said that cyber-bullying is focused on students and teenagers, and that it can cause severe mental, emotional, and sometimes even physical pain. An anonymous 17 year old from New Jersey said, â€Å"When I was being cyberbullied I felt like I wanted to never go out of the house or talk to anyone ever again. It led me to depression, and the person who was bullying me †¦believed that it was funny. † Now that I’ve gone over all of my points, let’s review the pros and cons of social networks. Along with helping us make new friends, they can help us keep in touch and communicate with our family and friends. They are also very useful in connecting officials to the public and helping us learn about how we can help make a difference in charities or fundraising events. However, with the convenience of online chatting, real face-to-face conversations are eroding. With the anonymity of peoples’ identities, it can be dangerous to talk to strangers. As we’ve seen, there are both positive and negative effects of social networks on us, but depending on how we use them is how we allow them to impact our lives. With all of the advancements in technology, social networks will become more prominent in everyday lives. It’s still likely, in one form or another, that social networks will continue to grow and evolve.

How do poets use ‘voice’ to instil their poems with personality? Consider with reference to three poets

For poetry to be truly personal, a voice is needed. It is through the voice of a poet that the reader can glean some sense of that poet's identity and nature. Who are they? What are they trying to say? Why? One could even go so far as to say that the voice of a poem or poet is fundamental to its aesthetic value and ‘readability' – without a distinct and clear voice, how can we distinguish a poem from the surrounding, ambient babble? It is the voice which endears a poet to the reader – without a voice, how can we identify with a poet? All these questions must be considered carefully. The voice of a poet can be a vehicle for political, personal, and social expression, as well as instilling a poem with a sense of personality – one might say the function of a poet's ‘voice' is to stamp their poem with their identity. It is the idea of an author's voice, rather than the voice itself which draws us towards the author as an entity – someone with whom we can identify, converse and understand. The actual process of reading may be, on one level, entirely one-sided, but in reading a poem (or any piece of literature for that matter) we bring as much to the work as we take from it. In this way, reading a poem is not one-sided at all, and is instead a rich progression towards a higher understanding from the reader. In the end, it comes down to the age-old question: do words on a page in a closed book actually mean anything until they are read, and even when they are, is it possible to be both ‘voiceless' and meaningful? It has been argued in Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory (Bennett & Royle, 1999) that every literary text has a voice, be it that of an omnipotent and omniscient ‘god-like' authorial voice, or a character of the author's creation. According to this theory, even the Biology textbook – that most mundane and impersonal of publications – is infused with the voice(s) of its author(s). As Roland Barthes points out in his landmark essay â€Å"The Death of the Author† (Image, Music, Text, 1977), this is the sole reason why authors put their name on a piece of work. An author will lend their name to their novel/poem in order to distinguish it from other novels/poems. Ultimately, however, Barthes argues that this is meaningless: an author is nothing more than a product of his or her society and background, and therefore, the author cannot claim some sort of absolute authority over his or her text because, in some ways, he or she did not write it. In oth er words, it is writing that makes the author and not vice versa. There are, however, flaws in Barthes' argument, which will be analysed further on. It is important at this stage, however, to make a clear distinction between the ‘author' and the ‘voice' in order to avoid any confusion that may arise. In many ways, the ‘author' and the ‘voice' of a poem or any work of fiction are intrinsically linked: the author is the voice and the voice is the author, in much the same way that Sylvia Plath is the voice in her poems or her work of fiction, The Bell Jar. There is no getting around the fact that we ‘hear' Jean-Paul Sartre's voice in The Age of Reason and Nausea, or Fontane's voice in Effi Briest. The same can be said of the poets I have chosen: Linton Kwesi Johnson's voice is clear and distinct, as are those of Tom Leonard and Sylvia Plath. In this way, one might say, the author or poet and their voice are one and the same – indistinguishable from each other. In other ways, though, it is easy to trip up and become muddled in the literary thorn bush that blocks our path whenever we try to make a generalisation. A novel like Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange (1962) displays no apparent sign of the author's ‘voice' – indeed it is written in a language entirely of his own creation (NadSat – the disjointed, disorderly jargon of a future jilted generation) and through the voice of the novel's protagonist, ‘Alex'. Obvious questions arise. Whose ‘voice' is Burgess speaking with? His own or Alex's? Can they be both? Of course, Alex is a creation of Burgess' mind and therefore the voice is ultimately that of Burgess himself – he thought of the character, put pen to paper, and put words in Alex's mouth. But how far does this go? To what extent is Alex his own entity, free to evolve and grow within the limits and boundaries imposed by his author? How far and to what extent is Alex simply a mouthpiece for Burge ss' ‘voice': moralising and ominous. In the end, we are never really sure whether Alex has been ‘cured' or not, or (which is more interesting) whether the author even knows. The same theme is explored in Flann O'Brien's novel, At Swim-Two-Birds (1939), in which issues of ‘author', ‘voice', and even the idea of a character, are thrown into question. But how does this relate to poetry and the issue of ‘voice'? To start with, the same problems of discerning the ‘voice' from the ‘author' are present, but much more subtle, in the poets I have chosen. I have deliberately picked poets who ‘speak' in their own ‘voice' as it were, in an attempt to highlight the different motives with which ‘voice' is used. For example, in Sylvia Plath's poems, ‘voice' is used to express deep and intimate emotional feelings, and in some cases, psychological trauma as in her moving poem â€Å"Daddy†. In this poem, Plath's voice is clearly enunciated, and the effect of this is to give the reader a powerful insight into the workings of the poet's mind. The poem deals with Plath's relationship with her dead father, and how she must reconcile his past and her roots in a post-war world. As the poem progresses, however, the reader comes to realise that ‘Daddy' is not the bà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½te noir we suppose him to be – and instead we understand that he is an integral part of Plath as a person. A part she has come to hate and associate with her father. A part she can never escape: â€Å"Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I'm through.† (80) Plath's voice comes through in a number of cunning ways here. It seems as though she is addressing her father, and therefore speaks in the first person singular for example: â€Å"I used to pray to recover you.† (14) As a result, the poem seems all the more intense and personal – perhaps because we are listening in on a one-sided conversation which we feel we should not be listening to. The effect is akin to reading someone's personal letter, when feelings of guilt compete with an innate curiosity about other people's intimate details. In this way, her anguish is eloquently expressed in the first stanza: You do not do, you do not do Any more, black shoe In which I have lived like a foot For thirty years, poor and white, Barely daring to breathe or Achoo. 5 (1-5) But we could also make a case that the â€Å"Daddy† in the poem is not only her father (and perhaps a part of herself), but her husband, Ted Hughes, as well. For example, towards the end of the poem, various subtle references to marriage are made: â€Å"And I said I do, I do.† (67) The idea of two men (the two men in Plath's life) is brought up again when we are told that â€Å"If I've killed one man, I've killed two†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (71), and a direct reference to the poet's marriage is made at line 72: â€Å"The vampire who said he was you/And drank my blood for a year,/Seven years if you want to know† (72-74). It is almost as though Plath is being suffocated by the omniscient and omnipotent men who surround her – both alive and dead. We can only understand this because Plath has instilled her poem with her own ‘voice' – had the poem been written in an impersonal, detached way, completely devoid of any discernible ‘voice', the intensely personal sense we get of Plath being smothered would be lost. But the strong and clear voice that comes through also raises issues about Plath's identity: who she feels she is and is not. She says at one point that she thinks she â€Å"may well be a Jew† (35), when in fact she is not. This is echoed by her despondent, resonant cry in a foreign language: â€Å"Ich, ich, ich, ich.† (27) It is clear that the poem has a strong personality, and this personality is only made possible with the presence of Plath's voice. A link can be made here to another of Plath's poems, â€Å"The Bee Meeting†, which also raises the question of identity. Unlike â€Å"Daddy†, this poem is not addressed or aimed at anyone in particular, but this does not mean that it is any less personal, and it still retains Plath's ‘voice' as she is again speaking in the first person. The poem reinforces the poet's sense of abject loneliness in a world populated by well-to-do figures of society who (it seems) neither really care for, nor understand her. In â€Å"The Bee Meeting†, Plath joins various members of the parish to collect honey from the â€Å"white hive†(34). When the other figures don their veils and heavy outer garments for protection, however, their identities are lost, and this frightens Plath, who does not want to be lost in turn: Is it some operation that is taking place? 30 It is the surgeon my neighbours are waiting for, This apparition in a green helmet, Shining gloves and white suit. Is it the butcher, the grocer, the postman, someone I know? 35 (30-35) Plath's voice comes across most strongly, however, when she tells us of her fear and her nakedness while all others are clothed. We are told that she is â€Å"nude as a chicken neck, does nobody love me?† (6) and â€Å"Now I am milkweed silk, the bees will not notice./They will not smell my fear, my fear, my fear.† (9-10) Clearly, a tortured, lonely, forlorn voice is at work here, appealing vainly for understanding in the hopelessly detached way that abject melancholia brings. Her tired, sad, frail voice is heard at the end: â€Å"Whose is that long white box in the grove, what have they accomplished, why am I cold.† (55) The lack of a question mark at the end implies that an answer is not expected, perhaps because Plath knows that she will never receive one. The subtlety in the image of the coffin-like â€Å"long white box† hints at hidden depths to Plath's feelings – depths which are both limitless and moving. We could go so far as to say that Plath associates and identifies herself with the hive and its angry bees: confused, chaotic, and directionless. By putting the bees to sleep, the hive, â€Å"as snug as a virgin† (34), is violated. In the same way perhaps, Plath sees herself as violated or raped by the world around her. Once again, it is only through her powerful voice that we understand these emotions. Problems of identity are strongly linked in both poems (the â€Å"Ich, ich, ich,† of â€Å"Daddy† and images of lost identity in â€Å"The Bee Hive Meeting†), and this question surfaces again in the poems of Linton Kwesi Johnson. In a poem like â€Å"Mekkin Histri†, Johnson's voice is immediately clear and challenging: â€Å"now tell mi something/mistah govahment man/tell mi something.† (1-3) Johnson's voice searches, accuses, demands: how lang yu really feel yu coulda keep wi andah heel 5 wen di trute done reveal bout how yu grab an steal bout how yu mek yu crooked deal mek yu crooked deal? ` (4-9) It is clear that the voice coming through here is a purely political one, and the colloquial language that Johnson employs reinforces his poems' sense of ‘otherness' and originality. The language is both alien and familiar, both intimidating and soothing. But it is also a collective voice – a voice of the people, but not all the people. It is a voice demanding complete and radical change, an alien voice that has become disillusioned with the society that surrounds it. The title of the poem, â€Å"Mekkin Histri† implies a time of great change, and this is exactly what Johnson was doing at a time when the British establishment was threatening to revert back to an entirely conservative, jingoistic and exclusive mindset. It is not surprising that Linton Kwesi Johnson has earned himself the nickname of ‘The Prophet', who, with his eclectic mix of dub beats and chanting poetry, captured the political heart and soul of Britain's black youth in the 1980s, and, many say, continues to do so today. It is perhaps due to the African tradition for collective storytelling and music that Johnson's voice is so much more powerful and raw compared to other poets/songwriters talking about the same thing, for example Gil Scott-Heron. Perhaps it also has something to do with the way the poems are written and their apparent inaccessibility to the ‘Western' reader. What it succeeds in doing is creating, once read aloud, a true sense of Johnson's voice – its rhythm and patterns, recreated in our own, individual voices. These are poems that cannot be read silently: they make no sense just as words on a page. For them to be truly understood, these words, seemingly unfamiliar at first, become familiar once we voice them ourselves. In a way, Johnson is raising the whole concept of ‘voice' in poetry to another level – ‘voice' is no longer something we get a sense of when reading words on a page; it is something we must enunciate for ourselves. When it becomes colle ctive poetry (Johnson's words through everybody else's voice), it speaks for everyone, regardless of his or her colour. We cannot help but identify with the poet and his words because, essentially, they become our own. This sense of a collective poetry, of Johnson speaking for everyone, comes across strongly in all of his poems, and â€Å"BG† (his tribute to Bernie Grant, the first black Member of Parliament) is no exception to this rule: yu woz wi cheef yu woz wi choice yu woz wi champian yu woz wi face yu woz wi voice 20 yu woz wi main man (16-21) But if Linton Kwesi Johnson is using ‘voice' in his poetry to achieve a political end, then Tom Leonard is using his voice to represent a social one. Like Johnson, Leonard writes in the strong dialect he speaks, hailing from Glasgow. Like Johnson and Plath, his poems are infused with his own voice, and, by writing in his colloquial way, forces the reader to read the words aloud, or imagine how they would sound spoken. Thus, what seems to be an incomprehensible passage can be understood when read aloud in a broad Scottish accent: ifyi stull huvny wurkt oot 35 thi diff- rince tween yir eyes n yir ears; 40 – geez peace, pal! (From â€Å"Unrelated Incidents† 33-42) Not only does Leonard's voice come through very strongly here, the form of this particular poem (â€Å"Unrelated Incidents†) adds to the overall effect Leonard is trying to achieve – namely by breaking up the flow of the writing, the reader is forced to ponder over and analyse individual words and phrases at a time. It seems also that Leonard is concerned with the subjectivity of language, and the way different words and different intonations mean different things to different people. It has been said that language is a slippery medium, and this is all too true in the cultural divide between England and Scotland. Although on paper both countries speak the same language, in reality, the different ways in which English is used by both the Scots and English themselves, suggests that this is not the case. Leonard points out the root of these differences in â€Å"Unrelated Incidents†, in an excerpt called â€Å"The 6 O'clock News†: thirza right way ti spell ana right way 90 to tok it. This is me tokn yir right way a spellin. this is ma trooth. 95 (â€Å"The 6 O'clock News† 88-95) Leonard seems to be highlighting here the discrepancy between ‘tokking' (or talking) and spelling. There may be a ‘right' way of spelling, says Leonard, but there is no ‘right' way of talking (not in these days when ‘received pronunciation' is an institution which is frowned upon and laughed at, anyway). Your right way of talking is not my right way of talking. Similarly, Leonard says, your right way of spelling is no longer my right way of spelling. â€Å"this/is ma trooth† (94-95). We see this most clearly in his poem â€Å"In the Beginning was the Word†, in which spelling and language is slowly corrupted and deconstructed, leaving in its place something new and startlingly clear: . in the beginning was the word . in thi beginning was thi wurd in thi beginnin was thi wurd in thi biginnin was thi wurd in thi biginnin wuz thi wurd 5 n thi biginnin wuz thi wurd nthi biginnin wuzthi wurd nthibiginin wuzthiwurd nthibiginninwuzthiwurd . in the beginning was the sound . 10 We can see, then, that these poets are all linked in the way they use their ‘voice': Sylvia Plath uses hers to instil her poems with a sense of her own personality and intimacy; Linton Kwesi Johnson uses his to use our voice, in effect, in order to put a political point across; and Tom Leonard uses his to illustrate the subjective nature of language, and how we use it to achieve our own ends. In this way, we can see how these poets have all used their ‘voice' in different ways – all to create the effect that it is their poetry and no-one else's. These poets are distinct in their original and compelling use of their own individual ‘voices'. Earlier in this essay, I mentioned Roland Barthes' piece, â€Å"The Death of the Author†, and it seems appropriate here, now that I have highlighted the ways in which these poets operate concerning ‘voice', to analyse his essay in this context. Barthes holds that an author or poet cannot be individual or original because he or she is merely a product of the society that surrounds them. This throws the whole concept of the ‘author function' into question: is an author really an author? Have they really written what they have written? I believe that the use of ‘voice' in poetry proves that a poet or an author can be individual and original. It is true that a poet like Tom Leonard or Linton Kwesi Johnson writes in the dialect of his society, and is therefore (to an extent) a product of that society, but this does not address the fact that these poets are entities in themselves, bringing something original to their work, and they are not simply blank sheets which society has filled in. In short, these poets do not regurgitate their society: they regurgitate themselves. Every poet brings something new and original to the world of poetry and literature, and if this were not the case, then poetry and literature would never have advanced at all. Wordsworth said that a poet is someone who is â€Å"pleased with his own passions and volitions, and who rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life that is in him; delighting to contemplate similar volitions and passions as manifested in the goings-on of the Universe, and habitually impelled to create them where he does not find them,† (â€Å"Preface to Lyrical Ballads†, 1798) and to this I would only add that today, a great poet should have a strong voice. The voice of a poet is his true identity – that which he is judged against, and that which compares him to all others. Ultimately, a poet's voice is his defining feature: an existential monument to who he is – something entirely unique, and something that should be cherished.

The Island †Movie Review and Critical Analysis

The Island – Movie Review and Critical Analysis Free Online Research Papers Some may claim that, as a nation founded upon liberty and freedom of choice, America must well uphold its tradition as a democracy rather than backslide into a Communist reign of pure governmental authority. Individualism and capitalism have always been central themes in American literature, and private enterprises have been embraced wholeheartedly without question throughout its history. However, as modern scientific progress slowly creeps towards its potential climax, how will society face the dreading possibilities of a moral and ethical recession, which shall manifest itself as an origami of changing societal laws, especially when governmental regulation is often debated when it comes to controversial issues? We must decide. Do we want the government to control certain aspects of our lives and protect us from potential dangers looming around us? Even so, how much governmental regulation can we tolerate? It may seem that the majority vote of the House symbolizes that most people want scientific progress – and that President Bush is the only man who wants to halt it. If that were the case, however, I do not believe that America would reelect him as president. Furthermore, to answer the prompt using an ethical approach, pro-lifers argue that research of stem cells requires the destruction of an embryo, the equivalent of murdering a child. Even if researchers can extract the stem cells without harming the embryo, the issue of cloning is distressing. A movie I watched called â€Å"The Island† alludes to the issue discussed in the essay. The insinuation of the hazards of stem cell research is manifested in the movie through cloning to create doubles of these original humans. The independently-funded private corporation, apart from government control, who produced these clones did not educate them, but instead deceived them about their purpose in life. The clones, hidden in this secret building, were forbidden to step out of it and taught to believe that their purpose was to journey to this island, where luxury awaited them (it was like winning the lottery if chosen to go there). The irony is that those clones chosen were needed to supply whatever their original doubles wanted to replace (such as body parts – organs) for themselves. Thus was the health insurance of that futuristic society. The scientists who nurtured the embryos in a controlled environment also utilized tri-keys – basically one key with three different heads – that opened all the doors in the building. I thus realized that the tri-keys symbolized the (Holy) trinity, and that the movie essentially portrayed these men as trying to assume the role of God by opening the doors of science and new life. The idea that â€Å"if I can give life, then I can take life† is unethical and supports the pro-life argument. Obviously, this is an extreme view and more a form of entertainment than a predicament of the future. However, it is a social commentary about how often private interests conflict with benefits for society. Anthropology teaches that humans act in their own best-interest, which does not always benefit society. Government should regulate research by neither halting nor allowing private individuals to monopolize it. But President Bush’s veto disallowed the government to fund stem cell research, thus forcing individuals to take initiative into their own hands. An alternative proposal aimed at limiting independent stem cell research, when the claim is to propel advancements in treatments, is that society would be better off researching the preventatives of diseases than trying to find the cures. People claim that similar research is needed to find preventatives, but such claims prove false, for stem cell research is targeted at finding cures for diseases already exposed to humans. In the movie, while the cloned doubles remained in the secret building, everyday, they went through routine fitness trainings and ate healthy dietary meals to ensure a physically-fitted cloned double. In the meantime, their originals were living hedonistic lives in the real world and indulging in such pleasures as excessive drinking, smoking, and eating, until their livers, lungs, and other organs failed them, when they could have prevented the need for such research and the controversy about its ethics. Research Papers on "The Island" - Movie Review and Critical AnalysisGenetic EngineeringWhere Wild and West MeetMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesBringing Democracy to Africa19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenQuebec and CanadaResearch Process Part OnePETSTEL analysis of India

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Grow up near a fire station, the excitement that arose.... Growing up near a fire station, the excitement that arose from the building always peaked my curiosity of what went on within its walls. This interest soon turned into a dream. I wanted to be firefighter when I grew up. As a kid, I remember running after fire trucks every time I heard the distinctive sound of their roaring sirens. I was mesmerized by firefighters and tried to watch as many firefighter related movies as possible. Not only did they just save other peoples' lives, they risked their own lives fighting the blazing infernos. I saw firefighters heroically twirl down the fire poll and decided that I would start my firefighting career in the playground by practicing sliding down the poll as well. However, as I began to get older, I saw that my idealistic vision of being a heroic firefighter wasn't reality! Although disappointed, I still held onto my dream of becoming a firefighter one day.Firefighters CompetitionUnexpectantly, the chance of fulfilling my childhood dream came without notice. The day started just like any ordinary day. Waking up at 8 o'clock, I remembered it was the first day back to school from the long winter break and I hurried as I got ready to go to the school. As usual, school went forth as usual with no disturbance all through first, second, and third period. However, during our fourth period, we were in for a surprise. No one could have imagined what was to happen next. It all started suddenly with a siren that was so loud I couldn't hear myself screaming. As my teacher tried to calm the class down by saying that it may be a fire drill, we started to see the lack of truth in her words as we saw black smoke swallowing the...

What Does It Mean to Be Agnostic

What Does It Mean to Be Agnostic SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In 2018, Scientific American published an article titled â€Å"The Number of Americans with No Religious Affiliation Is Rising,† which looked at the rising number of Americans who don’t identify with any religion. In 2018, a survey done by the Pew Research Center found 34 to 36 percent of millennials identify as atheist, agnostic, or just â€Å"nothing in particular.† While most people have a general understanding of atheism, agnosticism can be a little more confusing since it falls in the grey area between total belief and total disbelief in the existence of a higher power and/or God. In this article, we’ll explore what it means to be agnostic.First, we’ll define the term agnostic and talk about what agnosticism looks like in practice, then we’ll dive into the differences between being agnostic vs. atheist. Finally, we’ll share a list of famous people who are agnostics. So let’s get started! Agnostic Definition: Understanding the Origin of the Term Let’s take a moment to define agnostic. The term was first coined by English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley in 1884, who coined the term â€Å"agnostic† to refer to people who: â€Å"...confess themselves to be hopelessly ignorant concerning a variety of matters, about which metaphysicians and theologians, both orthodox and heterodox, dogmatise with the utmost confidence.† For Huxley, being agnostic meant recognizing that you couldn’t confidently believe in- or disbelieve in- the orthodoxy of religion or metaphysics. Huxley’s idea is still a key piece of what it means to be agnostic today. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, theagnostic definition is "a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (such as God) is unknown and probably unknowable.† In other words, someone who is agnostic is â€Å"not committed to believing in either the existence or non-existence of God,† a god, gods, or some sort of higher power. So what does this mean, exactly? To understand it, we first have to look at what it means to believe in a god. Many of the world’s major religions- like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism- believe that there is a higher power that controls the universe and orchestrates the events in a person’s life. These religions believe this higher power is incredibly powerful and transcendent, meaning that it’s totally beyond man’s comprehension. While these religions disagree about the particulars of who and/or what god is, they all agree on one thing: the universe was created by a higher power, which continues intervene in both the world and human life. When someone is agnostic, however, that person neither believes nor disbelieves that there is any sort of higher power. In other words, agnostics aren’t persuaded by arguments that there is a God (or gods, as the case may be)...nor are they convinced arguments that God doesn’t exist. More importantly, they believe that the existence of a higher power cannot be proven or disproven, just like Huxley explained back in 1884. In short, if you answer the question â€Å"Does God exist?† with â€Å"I don’t know,† you’re probably agnostic! The 3 Categories of Agnosticism The term â€Å"agnostic† refers to being in the middle between belief and unbelief in god(s), which makes it a catch-all term for anyone who isn’t sure whether there is or isn’t a higher power. But that doesn’t explain why agnostics think the way they do! That’s why philosophers tend to break agnosticism down into three distinct categories, which we’ll talk about below. Category 1: Strong Agnosticism Strong agnostics- which are sometimes called hard or absolute agnostics- believe that there is no way that anyone can know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God exists. In the same way, they don’t believe that anyone can totally, 100 percent prove that God doesn’t exist, either! That’s because we can only know what we experience, which means our belief in God is subjective rather than objective. Here’s what we mean. A verifiable, provable, objective observation is something that- through verifiable science or universal experience- everyone can see is true. A good example of an objective fact is that the sun rises and sets every day in most parts of the world. Even without scientific calculations to verify that this happens, it’s a universally observable phenomenon. That’s why everyone can agree that it happens! Because of that, you can think of the sun rising and setting as an objective fact. A subjective observation is one that relies on a person’s individual thoughts, perspectives, and feelings about a subject. For example, think of someone you know that hates spicy food. For them, eating spicy food is an uncomfortable- and maybe even painful!- experience, so they steer clear of anything with hot peppers in it. You, however, might live for spicy food, so much so that you add hot sauce to pretty much everything you eat! Neither you nor the other person is wrong...it’s just that you’ve had different subjective experiences that impact the way you think about habaà ±ero peppers. And that’s the difference between an objective observation and a subjective one: subjective observations only hold true for the person who experiences them. Strong agnostics believe there is no way for anyone to prove, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God neither exists or doesn’t exist. That means that any argument people make for one side or the other are using subjective arguments to try and prove their point. And because those depend on a person’s unique beliefs, thoughts, and experiences, they aren’t objective...which means that neither side’s arguments about the existence of a higher power can’t be considered â€Å"fact.† Weak agnosticism doesn't mean that it breaks under pressure. It has more to do with whether the existence of God can ever be proven! Category 2: Weak Agnosticism Weak agnosticism- which is also known as mild or open agnosticism- agrees with strong agnosticism in that they believe no one currently knows whether a higher power exists. But weak agnostics believe that just because something cannot be proven right now doesn’t mean it can never be proven! Germ theory is a good example of how previously unprovable ideas can become fact. In 1546, an Italian scholar named Girolamo Fracastoro wrote that epidemic diseases were caused by tiny, seed-like organisms called seminaria morbi that were spread by touch or by air. It would take another 300 years before scientists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch would prove Fracastoro’s hypothesis about germs was correct! Just because Fracastoro couldn’t prove his idea was right in 1546 didn’t mean it would never be proven correct...which is the same idea behind weak agnosticism. Thus, people who are weak agnostics are agnostic because they’re waiting on objective evidence. They don’t believe that the answer to this question will forever be unknowable...they just think the answer isn’t knowableyet. In many ways, weak agnostics can be seen as â€Å"withholding judgement† on whether God exists until undeniable facts can be brought to the table. Category 3: Apathetic Agnosticism The third category of agnosticism is apathetic agnosticism. Like the first two schools of agnosticism, apathetic agnostics also believe that there is no proof that a higher power does or doesn’t exist. But unlike strong and weak agnostics, apathetic agnostics believe that in the end, it doesn’t matter. Here’s why: apathetic agnostics believe that any God (or gods) that may exist seem to be completely unconcerned with the well-being of the world or its inhabitants. They point to issues like war, famine, and ecological destruction...and the lack of observable divine intervention. Thus, apathetic agnostics believe that since any higher power that might exist isn’t intervening in the people’s affairs, it doesn’t matter whether that entity exists or not. They think of the debate about God as an academic exercise rather than one that has any real-world impact. While there are agnostic groups you can join, agnostics don't worship or have services like theists (or believers in God) do. How Does Someone Practice Agnosticism? Because agnostic is a label for people who neither believe or don’t believe in a higher power, the term serves as a broad category that encompasses people from all races, classes, and walks of life. In that way, agnosticism is known for inclusivity. Because agnosticism doesn’t have a set of rules and rituals that a person can practice, it’s easier to understand agnosticism as a way of thinking rather than a system of belief. (Those fall more in line with organized religion, which as we mentioned earlier, falls on the â€Å"belief† side of the â€Å"does a higher power exist?† equation.) That means that you probably aren’t going to find specifically â€Å"agnostic† buildings or group services in your town like you might for specifically religious organizations. (There are, however, agnostic organizations that you can join, like Atheist and Agnostic Unitarian Universalists or the Center for Inquiry.) Just like these shoes, atheism and agnosticism have a lot in common...but they aren't exactly the same! Agnostic vs Atheist: What’s the Difference? Now that you know more about agnosticism, you’re probably wondering about what makes it different from atheism. The answer is actually pretty straight-forward: Merriam-Webster defines an atheist as â€Å"a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods† or â€Å"one who subscribes to or advocates atheism.† In other words, whereas agnostics are uncertain about the existence (or non-existence) of God, atheists don’t believe any god exists. Unlike agnostics, who answer the question â€Å"Does God exist?† with â€Å"I don’t know,† atheists answer the same question with a solid â€Å"no.† Like agnosticism, atheism can be broken down into subcategories based on why a person does not believe in the existence of a higher power. Strong atheists (sometimes called â€Å"positive† atheists) firmly assert that there is no God, gods, or controlling higher power. Strong atheists are so firm in their stance that they consider God’s non-existence to be fact. Weak atheists, which are sometimes called â€Å"negative† atheists, also don’t believe in the existence of any higher power. However, unlike strong atheists who actively believe that the non-existence of God(s) is fact, weak atheism is better understood as the absence of a belief in a higher power. While weak atheists don’t believe in God, they also don’t assert there are no God(s) as a fact. Someone who is a weak atheist might sum up their beliefs like this: â€Å"I don’t believe there is a higher power, but I cannot say for 100 percent certain that there isn’t a higher power. I just know that the arguments in favor of God’s existence aren’t persuasive, so I don’t believe God exists.† Now go back and look at the definitions for strong and weak agnosticism. You’ll notice that the key difference between atheism and agnosticism hinges on their position on God’s existence. While both strong and weak atheists believe that there is no God(s), agnostics of all varieties believe that there’s no way to know whether God is real. Because of that, agnostics neither believe nor disbelieve that a higher power exists, whereas atheists believe that no higher power exists. 6 Famous Agnostics Although the tension between atheism and religion gets the most press, there are plenty of people who fall into the middle, grey area of agnosticism. Here are some famous people who self-identify as agnostic: Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906): women’s rights activist and suffragette Carrie Fisher (1956-2016): actress, screenwriter, and author Neil Gaiman (1960-present): novelist, screenwriter, and comic book author Brad Pitt (1963-present): actor and film producer Albert Einstein (1879-1955): theoretical physicist Warren Buffett (1930-present): Business mogul and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Now What? Are you thinking about using your experience with agnosticism as a topic for one of your college admissions essays? Be sure to check out our step-by-step essay guide to make sure you’re writing an essay that will catch the admission committee’s attention! If you’re not sure what a good college admissions essay looks like, don’t worry. Here’s a list of 101 essay examples with expert analysis to get you started on the right foot. But what are college admissions committees, anyway? Get to know more about what a college admissions committee is, and its role in the admissions process, here.

Current issues in disabilities studies Activity1 Essay

Current issues in disabilities studies Activity1 - Essay Example Individuals are then able to give and receive the good things in life and live a more valuable personal lifestyle because of the government establishing a clear social role. The authors of this argue were attempting to define and analyze the effectiveness of a new inclusionary program at the University of Manchester for individuals with learning disabilities or deficiencies in a higher learning environment. Through the course of observations and analyzing partnerships of individuals with and without learning disabilities, the authors were able to successfully argue that these individuals should be included in the learning and teaching environments because they provide an alternative learning and teaching style to the classroom environment (Boxall, Carson & Docherty, 2004). Many students without learning disabilities are able to value their learning skills more when they are paired with students that have struggles. A teacher will be forced to accommodate the curriculum of the course sessions for both types of students, but the quality of learning will probably increase over time. The author of this article defined the existence and prevalence of disability in a social environment. There are many contradictory socio-political views that involve medicine, economics and political theory to explain how societies define disability. This defining process that is used within societies suggests how the society views disabilities and the ability for a society to be accepting or non-accepting towards individuals with disabilities (Osburn, 1998). Much of the strength for this article is in the beginning where the author states the striking statistics for the prevalence of disability across England, Europe and worldwide. This is clearly a very crucial topic to be discussed and it is evident that each society must work to develop a clear fundamental definition of disability in order to accept it as a part of society and not to be shunned by

Investment Valuation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Investment Valuation - Coursework Example We highly recommend buying the property. With the growing redevelopments in the Moorfoot area, a large number of investors in all sectors are likely to get attracted. This will generally increase the value of the buildings. The rent is likely to increase bringing in more profit. This report outlines the achievable amount of income that can be expected from leasing the property over a given period of 15 years. It will stipulate probable and effective ways to determine the market value of the property. It focuses more on Moorfoot new development considering the current issues and tendencies that can be subjected due to such redevelopment. Economic and financial aspects are considered in the valuation of the property and the general effect of the construction. The building being under construction and the first phase will be completed by mid-2015 while the rest by 2016. This enhances the determination of the maximum achievable rent and at the same time giving the actual value for selling the other part. Moor chambers is a mixed property use situated in Moorfoot area. The building is composed of two phases; the first part being office apartments and is projected to reach completion by mid-2015 while the rest part of it to be completed by 2016. Its first phase will be majorly retail while the adjacent segment will be available for sale by 2016. The property is available for purchase from the SWIP Property Trust To obtain the most probable market value for the above mentioned property while at the same time give an expertise view of the market quotation in terms of the best price to sell the rent and sell property. This report is for the sole purposes of the above named together with the professional advisors of the client. It should be relied on by no other person and for no other purpose than that stated. Neither the whole nor any part of this report or any

Macroeconomics College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Macroeconomics College - Essay Example 1. Exchange arrangements with no separate legal tender - These are countries that belong to a currency union where there is a common legal tender that are used by all the members. An example of this is the Eurodollar of the European Union. 2. Currency board arrangements - a kind of exchange rate regime implemented by the government based on an explicit legislative commitment in exchanging its local currency for a specific foreign currency with corresponding restrictions that ensures the compliance of its legal obligation. 3. Conventional fixed peg arrangements - a country's exchange rate regime that pegs its currency within margins of less that 1 percent as compared with another currency; a cooperative arrangement; or a basket of currencies, "where the basket is formed from the currencies of major trading or financial partners and weights reflect the geographical distribution of trade, services, or capital flows." 4. Pegged exchange rates within horizontal bands - The currency's value "is maintained within certain margins of fluctuation of more than 1 percent around a fixed central rate or the margin between the maximum and minimum value of the exchange rate exceeds 2 percent." 5. ... 6. Exchange rates within crawling bands - The currency is maintained within certain fluctuation margins of at least 1 percent around a central rate-or the margin between the maximum and minimum value of the exchange rate exceeds 2 percent-and the central rate or margins are adjusted periodically at a fixed rate or in response to changes in selective quantitative indicators. 7. Managed floating with no predetermined path for the exchange rate - influence of the monetary authority to the exchange rate is done herein without having a specific exchange rate path or target. 8. Independently floating - Under this the market is the one that determines the exchange rate. The central bank intervenes in the foreign exchange market with the aim to moderate the rate of change and to prevent "undue fluctuations in the exchange rate," rather than imposing a level for it (De Facto Classification of Exchange Rate Regimes and Monetary Policy Framework). It is the responsibility of a nation's central bank to choose the appropriate exchange rate regime for its own country. Economic managers, particularly central bank heads, in a country use this as a tool to maintain economic stability. The importance of having the appropriate and fitting exchange rate regime for a specific country is to protect the country from its susceptibility to create economic problems because of its monetary authority's power. Each type of exchange-rate regimes manifests diverse characteristics and produces different results. Reclassifying the existing de facto exchange rate regimes enumerated above will result into the fusion of the eight regimes into three: floating, fixed and pegged exchange rate. For Hanke

Political Science - What common features of small states Foreign Essay

Political Science - What common features of small states Foreign Policy distinguish it the most from Great powers Foreign Policy - Essay Example Foreign policy has deeper connotations with stated and un-stated objectives that a country to tries to fulfil through political, economic, military, and diplomatic means. Dean Rusk quoted by Seabury, interprets foreign policy as a â€Å"galaxy of complicated factors.† Hoffman quoted by Seabury too sees the current picture of international relations as â€Å"the crisis of complexity†. He feels that in the past century the sheer dimension of international equilibrium has multiplied. States have added significantly to these dimensions with different manifestations of foreign policy under varying set of conditions. Foreign policy is a dependant variable conditioned by internal power configurations of the state (Wagner). As such foreign policies of small Asian, African, and Latin American states have foreign policies have changed with changes in the domestic power structures. Smaller states are more vulnerable to domestic and international changes as they show greater tenden cy to change foreign policy. Scholars have studied the changes in foreign policies of nations and dichotomised the international behaviour of great and small nations. Reiter, for example, infers how a small and a great power learn from their experiences of war to chalk to out their foreign policies. East for example cites Roseau’s observation that the size of a nation plays a great role in creation of its foreign policy. Small states never have permanent and extended interests in international arena as big powers. Other than studying foreign policy on the basis of ‘greatness’ and ‘smallness’ foreign policies have been studied in contrast to authoritarian regimes, traditional or modern societies or in stages of economic development (Pfaltzgraff,1974).

Is it fair to suggest that the German state is a 'frozen landscape Essay

Is it fair to suggest that the German state is a 'frozen landscape - Essay Example Criticising the trend of confining welfare state to the element of social spending, he contends that the social expenditures are â€Å"epiphenomenal to the theoretical substance† of welfare states (p.19). Thus, he denotes the inflexibility of continental welfare state system and refers to it as a â€Å"frozen continental landscape† deriving from the â€Å"frozen Fordism† existing in countries Germany, Italy and France and concludes that the situation favours a â€Å"status quo† in these countries (Palier and Martin, 2007, p.538). However, Scharpf and Schmidt (2000), as quoted in Palier and Martin (2007), challenges this notion and contends that social insurance based welfare systems â€Å"face the biggest difficulties† among welfare states (p.538). Therefore, to accommodate the changes in economy, the welfare state system of Germany has evolved to align with the transition and it may not be fair anymore to call it â€Å"a frozen landscape.† P alier and Martin (2007) contend that the Bismarckian welfare system has initially been unable to cope with the problems due to the rigidness of â€Å"their own tradition† while the other welfare regimes have done so by adapting to the changes through the implementation of various structural reforms (p.358). However, they concede to the fact that with some reforms introduced after the year 2000, the Bismarckian system has been able to incorporate drastic changes within their system, which may account for the emergence out of the frozen landscape. In the modern day of complex economy, states cannot focus too much on social welfare, ignoring other aspects that deserve better attention. Quoting Therborn (1983), Esping-Anderson (1990) argues that if one considers the historical changes in the activities of the states, it appears that only when countries invest the majority of its resources for â€Å"servicing the welfare needs of households† they can be called welfare state s (p.20). But, it has transpires from historical evidence that countries usually spend a greater part of their funds on â€Å"defence† and â€Å"administration† than on social welfare and, therefore, no state can be called a welfare state (p.20). Therefore, it appears that Germany’s continued existence as a Bismarckian welfare state has become impractical, forcing them to adapt to the changing environment. The country, over a period of time, has hence been evolving various strategies and changing their rigid stance on welfare orientation, incorporating various changes in their systems. Gosta Esping-Anderson again finds a possible failure of the welfare states to stand up to the â€Å"edifice of social protection† which remained â€Å"frozen† due to socio-economic pressures of the past and the system became incompatible to the emerging economic conditions and needs (Esping-Anderson, 1996, p.2). Developing nations such as the US and UK have prospered in the twentieth century by their focus on developing technology rather than investing on social welfare schemes. However, it becomes evident from the examples of these countries that when aspects such as technology is accorded adequate priority, the resultant growth in industry as well as other employment avenues will offer the citizens better jobs and living conditions and thereby improve the overall standard of living. This situation also seems to have

Relevant Information for Decision Making case assignment 3 accounting Essay

Relevant Information for Decision Making case assignment 3 accounting - Essay Example Firstly because similar to the first situation, this is also a future cash flow. Again here the amount should be considered, however the lost profits should definitely not be finalised as this is not a sure value, but is merely an approximation. c) In the third situation, ‘The loss of $2.1 million on the "Without Basinger" film’, the lost profit value needs to be revised. This is mainly because it is the duty of Main Line to reduce its losses by law and this is referred to as the ‘Doctrine for Avoidable Consequences’ (Slovenko). When the company is aware of the possible loss, there is no chance that the company would enter into making the movie after having a clear view of the possible losses, i.e. $2.1 million. Here it is also essential to note that Basinger will not be held responsible for the losses as these are based on the expected sales versus the budgeted costs for Main Line. a) The $3 million salary drawn by Basinger for the final analysis is irrelevant to the determination of lost profits for Main Line. The main reason being that this is an opportunity cost for Basinger, for the course of action adopted by her. However in the case of lack of alternatives, Basinger will be able to contract her services at $1 million and the $3 million will prove to be a compensation for her services. Hence this is in no way relevant to the lost profits of Main Line (Cushman and Carter). b) In the case of ‘The comparison of revenues for Basinger films with revenues for Fenn films’, this again will not be relevant. Basinger is known for the historical success however there is a lack of predictability to determine the possible impact of Basinger’s participation in the current or future films and the revenues of the films. This can be based on the views of Lilliston that movies with big stars do not mean big revenues. The movie by Whoopi Homer and Eddie Bruce also provided complete support to this argument. Hence based on

Is it fair to suggest that the German state is a 'frozen landscape Essay

Is it fair to suggest that the German state is a 'frozen landscape - Essay Example Criticising the trend of confining welfare state to the element of social spending, he contends that the social expenditures are â€Å"epiphenomenal to the theoretical substance† of welfare states (p.19). Thus, he denotes the inflexibility of continental welfare state system and refers to it as a â€Å"frozen continental landscape† deriving from the â€Å"frozen Fordism† existing in countries Germany, Italy and France and concludes that the situation favours a â€Å"status quo† in these countries (Palier and Martin, 2007, p.538). However, Scharpf and Schmidt (2000), as quoted in Palier and Martin (2007), challenges this notion and contends that social insurance based welfare systems â€Å"face the biggest difficulties† among welfare states (p.538). Therefore, to accommodate the changes in economy, the welfare state system of Germany has evolved to align with the transition and it may not be fair anymore to call it â€Å"a frozen landscape.† P alier and Martin (2007) contend that the Bismarckian welfare system has initially been unable to cope with the problems due to the rigidness of â€Å"their own tradition† while the other welfare regimes have done so by adapting to the changes through the implementation of various structural reforms (p.358). However, they concede to the fact that with some reforms introduced after the year 2000, the Bismarckian system has been able to incorporate drastic changes within their system, which may account for the emergence out of the frozen landscape. In the modern day of complex economy, states cannot focus too much on social welfare, ignoring other aspects that deserve better attention. Quoting Therborn (1983), Esping-Anderson (1990) argues that if one considers the historical changes in the activities of the states, it appears that only when countries invest the majority of its resources for â€Å"servicing the welfare needs of households† they can be called welfare state s (p.20). But, it has transpires from historical evidence that countries usually spend a greater part of their funds on â€Å"defence† and â€Å"administration† than on social welfare and, therefore, no state can be called a welfare state (p.20). Therefore, it appears that Germany’s continued existence as a Bismarckian welfare state has become impractical, forcing them to adapt to the changing environment. The country, over a period of time, has hence been evolving various strategies and changing their rigid stance on welfare orientation, incorporating various changes in their systems. Gosta Esping-Anderson again finds a possible failure of the welfare states to stand up to the â€Å"edifice of social protection† which remained â€Å"frozen† due to socio-economic pressures of the past and the system became incompatible to the emerging economic conditions and needs (Esping-Anderson, 1996, p.2). Developing nations such as the US and UK have prospered in the twentieth century by their focus on developing technology rather than investing on social welfare schemes. However, it becomes evident from the examples of these countries that when aspects such as technology is accorded adequate priority, the resultant growth in industry as well as other employment avenues will offer the citizens better jobs and living conditions and thereby improve the overall standard of living. This situation also seems to have

Education System India Essay Example for Free

Education System India Essay Education is a co-current state level subjects and under the Indian Constitution education is made a Fundamental Right and Directive Principles of State Policy further needed free education and other facilities to children. There is no discrimination among the people on the basis of religion, caste or creed/faith etc. However, the minorities are given right to run their own educational institutions with financial aid from Government and they are free to introduce their religion, language in their institution. Education is compulsory and free upto primary standard. Indian education system has a wide structure and the educational institutions can introduce the education or learning pattern as below VA years in pre-nursery schools, in the primary schools upto V class or so. Education is further upgraded upto 10+2 system where the examinations are conducted by the Board at 10 and 12. Thereafter, students are free to choose the courses of their own at any stage, i.e. primary, secondary, senior secondary level. Schools are of different levels. Local Boards run the schools upto Primary, V standard, both in mother tongue and English medium. Thereafter the schools may upgrade themselves upto X known as Secondary schools. They can also be upgraded upto 12, called Senior Secondary schools. The education is a co-current (state level) subject and the Central Government cannot interfere in their functioning. As such schools are pre- primary, pre-nursery, then primary, secondary and senior secondary run both by the private bodies as well as by Government. Indian schools are not as well organised as they are expected. Private/Public school charge high fee and have control on their institution. They only need the registration by the Centre/State Government or their Bodies and Management. While the Education Department has a loose control over these Private/ Public Schools government has its own schools where the normal fee is charged and the students belong with poor section of society. Overall the condition of government schools is pathetic. At state level School Education has its own organisational set up. Under this democratic set up Education Deptt is supported by the Minister of Education who has a Secretary of Education to supervise the Department with the help of Director Education who belongs to I.A.S. cadre of service. The Department is further divided into districts Deputy, Joint Directors to look after the working of schools. Under the educational system Central Board Secondary Education (C.B.S.E) is set up to maintain, the quality in Education and provide minimum qualification of the teaching staff and other necessary requirement for the school and conduct the Exams 10 and 12 standard. It has a control over both Public Private and Government Schools. After the exam; issues certificates of 10th and 12th class/standard this student who passed the Examination. C B.S.E. has its office in New Delhi. Under the Education system to keep the hi standard of Education and to maintain to quality Education an independent body is set up known N.C.E.R.T. that is National Council of Educatio n Research and Training with its Headquarters at N Delhi. This institution published textbooks for t school on all subjects and has a panel of specialists its list. The books are to be taught at schools in t country. It also conducts the competitive examination at all India level for the talent search from primary lei upto graduation and provides stipend or sponsors to that highly talented students. Teachers are the backbone of the educational system in India. Government has set up a permanent body for the selection of the teachers known as N.C.T. i.e. National Council of Teachers Education. It conducts the training and selection of the teachers and provides certificate/degree for the teachers which are an essential qualification for the teachers who seek the employment in teaching schools known as B.Ed, or Shastri education. MIEPA in set up by the Government to look after the administration and planning of education in the country the body is known as National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration. It looks ail the work of the educational /teaching/administration under the ministry of HRD an autonomous body. Kendriya Vidyalay Organisation (KVO) was set up under the Education Ministry, Government of India, New Delhi. It established 10+2 system in schools all over the country for the Government employees who use to effect posted or transferred in the country. It is good for the Central Government employees and schools are run on the medium of English from primary to twelfth standard. State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) are set up in all the states to look after the training and research work on the lines of NCERT which is at all India level. Its refresher courses, even modifies the curriculum of the schools and textbooks arc written for the secondary level standard in the state. It also arranges seminars, discusses and refresher courses for the teaching staff. There are a number of educational institutions at the District level. A Distt. Officer/ Inspector of schools looks after the educational institutions in his/her district. He/She also coordinates the different activities upto the Commissioner, State level in each district. Under this scheme, a college (Inter) 10+2 on the Government expenses is to be spent in each District and other schools are under his observation. Besides, a training centre for Primary teachers, or other refresher courses also opened in the district. The recruitment institute for the teachers, examination centers and the Boards offices are also on the line, such as Minorities schools. Local educational institutions play an important role in the area of education. As our country is poor and cannot afford the heavy expenses of Educational institutions, local education bodys arc allowed opening their schools and Government recognizes these institutions at par with the Government institutions. Minority institutions have their own schools with their own expenses or Government grants in-aid. But they fill the gap and help the Government to reduce its burden.

Strategic marketing management for Boots in the UK

Strategic marketing management for Boots in the UK Boots is a leading UK retailer, selling health and beauty products through its chain of Boots the Chemists stores. Around half the Boots brand products are developed and manufactured by the company. In this case the company is in control of the entire supply chain. From its foundation in 1849 Boots has always believed in and practiced what is today known as Corporate Social Responsibility. The company is proud of this heritage and its strong sense of social responsibility. Today it is reflected in values and behaviours and made explicit in the company statement of business purpose. We seek to respond to the legitimate concerns of our stakeholders whether they be in the marketplace, the workplace, the communities in which we operate or the environment that affects us all. Marketing Strategy Options. Boots is a member of Alliance Boots, an international pharmacy-led health and beauty group. Our purpose is to help our customers look and feel better than they ever thought possible. Our customers are at the heart of our business. Were committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare, offer innovative products only at Boots, with great value our customers love. Our people are our strength and they tell us that Boots is a great place to work. We are always be the employer of choice, attracting and retaining the most talented and passionate people.The strategy is to focus on its two core business activities of pharmacy led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution, while increasingly developing and internationalising our product brands to create a third dimension. growing the core businesses in existing markets,continuing to deliver productivity improvements and other cost savings,pursuing growth opportunities in selective new high growth markets and launching our product brands in new markets. This strategy is underpinned by our continue focus on patient or customer needs and services selective partnerships and our strong financial diciplines.we are commited to providing exceptional customer and patient care be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare offer innovative products only at Boots,with great va lue our customer love. Pharmacy-led health and beauty strategy : Boots is the largest pharmacy chain in Europe with an excellent reputation for differentiated health and beauty products and customer care.Our strategy is to develop Boots into the worlds leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retail brand,focused on helping people look and feel their best. The key steps we are taking in the uk to execute our strategy are:- -Making Boots more convenient and accessible for our customers. -Developing our people to be at their very best for our customer -Improving our customer in store shopping experience -creating a compelling multi-channel health and wellbeing consumer offering -Increasingly differentiating our product offering -Continuing to provide customers with excellent value -Opening new stores in markets where Boots is already well established -Developing new store in markets where Boots is already well established -Developing country specific Boots branded trading formats to meet local needs. Marketing strategies options: Every marketing strategy is unique, but if we abstract from the individualizing details, each can be reduced into a generic marketing strategy. A brief description of the most common categorizing schemes is presented below, Strategies based on market dominance In this scheme, firms are classified based on their market share or dominance of an industry. There are a number of ways of categorizing these generic strategies. Typically there are four types of market dominance strategies: Leader Niche Follower Challenger Porter generic strategies: Michael Porter assessed strategy on the dimensions of strategic scope and strategic strength. Strategic scope refers to the breadth of market penetration while strategic strength refers to the firms sustainable competitive advantage. He felt three types were important: Market segmentation Product differentiation Cost leadership Innovation strategies:- This deal with the firms rate of new product development and business model innovation. It asks whether the company is on the cutting edge of technology and business innovation. There are three types: Close followers Late followers Pioneers Growth strategies:- In this scheme we ask the question, how should the firm grow? There are a number of different ways of answering that question, but the most common gives four answers: Diversification Intensification Vertical integration Horizontal integration Aggressiveness strategies: This asks whether a firm should grow or not, and if so, how fast. One scheme divides strategies into: Holding Building Harvesting Warfare based strategies: This scheme draws parallels between marketing strategies and military strategies. There are many types of marketing warfare strategies, but they can be grouped into: Flanking marketing warfare Defensive marketing warfare strategies Offensive marketing warfare strategies Keys to Success: An analysis of successful partnerships has identified common features. These include: Project delivery focused on addressing local requirements over a sustained period of time. Likely to include issues as varied as access, car parking, addition to their local Business Rate, to pay for additional services. Where there is a majority vote in favour, all businesses are required to pay. The genuine commitment of the Local Authority (both at senior officer and political level) Adequate funding identified from a broad base of supporters/ sponsors and other sources A Business Plan and a programme of projects endorsed and funded by the partners A robust, inclusive partnership that represents a genuine cross-section of all the elements of town centre activity. A management structure with clear accountabilities to deliver the Business Plan and to monitor and evaluate progress A realistic, achievable vision for the centre that identifies the necessary steps required for its delivery The precept is gathered by the Local Authority but passed to a business-led local partnership to manage and deliver the BID Business Plan. Support available from Alliance Boots, Corporate Affairs: 1. Links and contacts to a broad range of external organisations that can assist with sourcing information and practical support. 2. An additional programme is facilitated by Boots UK for those sites currently without an effective local partnership, but wishing to establish one 3. The Company continues to support the core funding of 100 Town Centre Management initiatives. A twice-yearly Induction Programme is provided by Boots UK (at no charge to ATCM members), for newly appointed Partnership Managers. The programme focuses on the key issues that challenge partnerships and offers help to successfully resolve them 4. A series of short briefing papers have been prepared that store managers and town centre managers can receive upon request. These include; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Developing a Retail Crime Partnership à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Participating in Working Groups and Steering Groups à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Business Improvement Districts what are they à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Influencing Car Park Provision à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Developing Christmas à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Business Improvement Districts lessons learnt à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Preparing a Business Plan à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Broadening the Base of Business Engagement membership services à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Funding à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Marketing and Promotion. Launching an effective campaign to promote your centre à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Business Improvement Districts key criteria necessary for Alliance Boots support à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sunday/extended Trading hours 5. Advice and guidance to store managers and Town Centre Managers, via contact details on page one of this brief Development of Boots Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy: The launch in 2004 of a new CSR strategy has enabled Boots to develop a framework to integrate sustainable development holistically into all areas of operations covering the sectors of: Workplace Marketplace Community Environment This strategy ensures that sustainable development is integrated effectively across the organisation and underlines Boots commitment to social responsibility as a business value. Progress is reviewed quarterly and reported to the Corporate Social Responsibility Action Group chaired by the Group Operations Director. In addition the Board Social Responsibilities Committee chaired by a non-executive Board Director reviews consistency against operational planning on a quarterly basis. Within these sectors are a total of 21 focus areas. For each one a review was undertaken to benchmark against similar organisations, analyse strengths, weaknesses and identify opportunities for improvements. From this our ambition and annual targets have been developed Targets and progress made in meeting them is reported annually and made publicly available. Porters 5 forces analysis: Competitive rivalry All the other retailers have different competitive advantages. The other factors which compete with the Boots bank is different banks and building societies The retail market is filled up with high competitors as more and more companies are trying to step into the Health Beauty industry Boots reach in different stores allows it to reach large number of customers. Barriers for entry Local knowledge is required for a new business in order to establish, which is highly difficult for new firms to replicate. Barriers to entry is high due to a number of factors: Secondly, company in retail sectors are increasing, which itself means there is very less chance for any new entrances. Firstly, company looking to set up its business in UK requires lots of investment, brand development, which takes years to establish. Threats of Substitutes The only major threat of substitute is an internal industry threat, wherein one supermarket can lap up the business of other supermarkets. The threats for newcomers or substitutes is less, as the consumers views that as a necessity, especially in the developed world. The retail market is always trying to look around for new innovations with respect to Health Beauty products, alternative businesses. As a result of which it is difficult for substitution. Buyers power During the time of recession consumers wants are taken into more demand, thereby increasing their power. Because of the presence of too many competitors in the retail Health Beauty sector selling the same product, buyer power is high in the industry. Supplier power Suppliers in itself is huge company providing products to the supermarkets. If the products are not sold, consumer will shift loyalties, making suppliers more powerful. And also when the products do not reach the supermarket, sales do get affected hugely. Developing Tools and Processes: The company has formal processes for all new product development and introduction. To integrate sustainable development criteria consistently across our product range new and revised tools and processes were introduced. Mckinsey growth pyramid It is similar to that of market matrix. This model argues that business should develop their growth strategies based on: Growth skills Privileged assets Operational skills Privileged assets The model outlines seven ways of achieving growth, which are: New product and services A combination of market matrix and diversification strategy-by developing and marketing new products. Some of these can be sold to the existing customers who trust the business but new customers would require more persuasion. Existing products to new customers Taking the current customers as a base, the objective is to find entirely new products that these customers may buy, or else start to provide the products the existing customer is buying from the competitors. Existing products to existing customers The lowest-risk option; try to increase sales to the existing customers; which can be done by increasing the frequency of purchase and maintaining customer loyalty. New competitive arenas This option requires a business to think about opportunities to integrate vertically or consider whether the skills could be used in other industries. New geographies In this businesses are encouraged to consider new geographical areas into which to sell their products. Geographical expansions is one of the most powerful option for growth-but also one of the difficult ones. New delivery approaches This focuses on the use of distribution channels as a possible means of growth. Are there any ways in which the products can be sold using the current or new emerging channels which may boost sales? New industry structure It considers the possibility of acquiring troubled competitors which can be done through a general acquisition program. TASK2 MARKETING ENVIRONMENT Using of PESTEL analysis, marketing mix elements can be produced to contribute the goals and values of Boots, after analyzing the current marketing environment. PESTEL analysis: PESTEL ANALYSIS (Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal)The PESTEL analysis is a useful tool for understanding market growth or decline, and as such the position, potential and direction for a business.. The PESTEL analysis headings are a framework for reviewing a situation, and can also, like SWOT analysis, and Porters Five Forces model, be used to review a strategy or position, direction of a company, a marketing proposition, or idea. Its an external factor. PESTEL is used to assess the market for a business or organizational unit. A PESTEL analysis is a business measurement tool. A PESTEL analysis measures a market; a SWOT analysis measures a business unit, a proposition or idea. Considering each factor individually :- Political European/international legislation international regulations government term and change regulatory bodies and processes current legislation home market government trading policies funding, grants and initiatives Economic The UK has been in recession since August 2009 with two successive quarters of decline , affecting the economical factors nationally and globally. general/ product specific taxation issues customer/end-user drivers overseas economies and trends home economy situation/ trends specific industry factors market routes and distribution trends Social Factors including the demographic changes, the way people live, work and think and cultural aspect of the place, affecting customer needs and the potential markets demographics consumer attitudes and opinions lifestyle trends advertising and publicit .media views consumer buying patterns brand, company, technology image ethnic/religious factors Technological It includes RD, computerization, technology incentives and rate at which technology changes. These changes affect the cost and quality of the product motivating for improvement. competing technology development research funding intellectual property issues consumer buying mechanisms/technology maturity of technology associated/dependent technologies manufacturing maturity and capacity technology access, licensing, patents replacement technology/solutions information and communications innovation potential technology access, licensing, patents technology legislation Environmental Boots uses the carbon foot printing tool in their farms which says about the total amount of greenhouse gases caused directly and indirectly in the making and transportation of that product climate Weather climate change .. Legal The cost of production and operation and effect on employees working in Boots was affected when government increased the labour wages by 15%. It also follows legal factors like no child labour, special consideration for disables ,etc. health and safety law employment law antitrust law discrimination law consumer law Globalisation:- After considering all the above factors Boots should put plan and put down proper strategies before entering the global market and also reviewing the progress on regular basis , so as to make the necessary changes. Following are the areas which should be consider by the organisation: Well planned Strategies to develop the profit and to attain long term goal Know clearly the goals , objectives and targets with a regular follow up. Organisation should identify and assess their product in the market need to plan strategically as well as operationally market growth using the PESTEL analysis. logic, self-discipline and to operate systematically SWOT analysis STRENGTHS Strengths Weaknesses Strong Brand Equity Low profitability Store Network Lack of International Presence Opportunities Threats Store expansions in UK Intense price competition Expanding product offerings High regulatory oversight WEAKNESSES Declining Reputation Boots is only presented in UK. Therefore there can be an issue if the company wants to have growth in the retailing Health Beauty Division sector. OPPORTUNITY Online sales are a great opportunity for future growth. Staff which works at Boots are essential buyers, administrators, systems designers, finance workers and so on all are part of the whole team that must work together to make things operate smoothly and efficiently Boots alternative business, investing in properties can have major growth in the future. THREATS As a result there needs to be investment related to environmental and green issues. Boots operations have become a topic on various issues like environmental, planning and other factors. Conclusion It is important to recognize that sustainable development is a journey of continual improvement. The processes and tools we have developed are under continual review and refinement. Some of our priorities for the immediate future include: Extending and adapting the risk assessment model for use in other business functions. Developing product sustainability benchmarking Building sustainable development criteria into brand and departmental key performance indicators. Understanding the climate change impacts of products. Developing strategies for consumer information on sustainable development issues. In short Boots UKs views sustainable development as a Holy Grail given the scale of the challenge, the complexity of our business and the pace of change. But we know that it is a key differential for Boots UK, that we are leading the way on many of the issues, and it is no less than what is expected of us by our customers and wider society. Journals/Magazines European Journal of Marketing (Emerald Group Publishing) Campaign ( Haymarket Publishing) Admap ( World Advertising Research Centre) Revolution ( Haynet) Journal of Consumer Behaviour ( Academy of Marketing Science) Marketing Intelligence and Planning (Emerald Group Publishing) Marketing Business (The Chartered Institute of Marketing Magazine) Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science ( Academy of Marketing Science) Marketing Week (Centure Communications Ltd) Websites http://www.boots-UK/Media/PDFs/CSR/2BCE_AWARDS_Paper_v3_general_release.pdf http://www.boots.com/en/Help/About-Boots.com/ http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt.PDF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEST_analysis http://www.businesspme.com/uk/articles/marketing/6/Types-of-marketing-strategies.html http://www.chicagoexec.net/chicago.nsf http://www.boots-uk.com/Our_Group/Alliance_Boots_Board.aspx http://strategy-guide.blogspot.com/2006/03/mckinsey-growth-pyramid The Strategic Marketing Process