PG Strategic Analysis - 4489 Words

------------------------------------------------- Strategic Analysis ------------------------------------------------- Procter amp; Gamble: The Beauty/Feminine Care Segment of the Consumer Goods Industry Executive Summary 3 Introduction 3 Company Overview 4 Mandate 4 Stakeholders 5 Internal Analysis 5 External Analysis 7 Competitive Forces 8 Macro Environment 8 Strategic Options 10 Strategy 1: Market Penetration 10 Strategy 2: Product Innovation and New Product Development 10 Strategy 3: Status Quo 11 Executive Summary Procter amp; Gamble (Pamp;G) is a world-leading producer of consumer goods. Today, it consists of over 20 million dollar brands (like Gillette) and operates in 42 countries†¦show more content†¦Mandate Pamp;G’s purpose is to touch and improve people’s everyday lives. This is an inspiring but demanding aspiration. There are nearly seven billion people on the planet today and Pamp;G is currently reaching about 4.4 billion of them. The company knows that if this is done well, it will be rewarded with sales and profit growth, market share leadership, a strong company reputation and, ultimately, the creation of value that allows its people, shareholders and the communities in which they live and work to prosper. Pamp;G’s growth strategy, which was established two years ago, is inspired by its purpose detailed above. Pamp;G is executing this strategy by innovating to improve people’s everyday lives in every part of the world, and by then expanding its portfolio of innovation up and down price tiers, into new markets, and into new and existing product categories (Pamp;G, 2011). Stakeholders Like any private sector organization, Pamp;G’s list of stakeholders may include its employees, the communities in which it operates, its shareholders, various suppliers, and of course its consumers and customers. Internal Analysis Strengths As a large global company, Pamp;G has strengths that have helped them to acquire such a vast market share. The company’s culture, strong product quality, the ability to understand customers, brand equity, and centralized management is at theShow MoreRelatedBusiness Analysis of Procter and Gamble. Essay925 Words   |  4 Pages17 July 2010 Presentation by Michael Rajendra Sai Tunde Yinka Saturday, 17 July 2010 Aim      of      Presenta.on †¢ To   cri.cally   analyse   PG   from   the   strategic   management    perspec,ve   using   various   models   . Saturday, 17 July 2010 Purpose   of   PG †¢ To   provide   large   variety   of   consumer   products   at   an   aï ¬â‚¬ordable    price   without   compromising   quality. †¢To    Read MoreNon Financial Performance : Human Talent1561 Words   |  7 Pagesmaximum support for attainment of desired outcomes. 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Within the familiar MaxRead MoreStrategy Formulation, Situation Analysis and Business Analysis1590 Words   |  7 PagesFormulation: Situation Analysis and Business Strategy Institut fà ¼r Strategisches Management Institut fà ¼r Strategisches Management Situational Analysis Strategy Formulation - developing a corporation’s mission, objectives, strategies and policies Situation Analysis - the process of finding a strategic fit between external opportunities and internal strengths while working around external and internal weaknesses Wheelen / Hunger, 2010, p 224 SWOT Analysis SWOT- Strengths-WeaknessesOpportunities-ThreatsRead MoreA Market Analysis Focused On Procter Gamble1520 Words   |  7 PagesA Market Analysis Focusing on Procter Gamble Dorothy Dilger Herzing University November 23, 2014 A SWOT analysis is an effective tool for acquiring insight toward a company’s internal strengths and weakness, and external opportunities and threats. PG’s greatest strengths are their aggressiveness toward understanding consumer needs, strong research and development, and a diversification strategy. The company’s weaknesses are substantial competition in the consumer goods industry, andRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Procter Gamble856 Words   |  4 PagesCase Study Analysis Procter Gamble (P G) Proctor and Gamble is an American corporation dealing in consumer products. The company markets its range of goods to different global regions having expanded to new markets over time. Among the consumer products offered by Procter and Gamble include cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, and personal care supplies among other products (Proctor Gamble Company Case Study Analysis, 2016). The corporation prides itself on innovations and collaborations asRead MoreCemex Case1142 Words   |  5 PagesIn which industry does Pamp;G compete? Apply Porter’s Five Forces Model to the industry. Is this an attractive industry? 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Berkshire Hathaway Free Essays

Introduction Warren E. Buffett, the chairperson of Berkshire Hathaway (BH), is the world’s greatest investor of the current era. From 1965 to 2007, BH has compounded annual gain of 20. We will write a custom essay sample on Berkshire Hathaway or any similar topic only for you Order Now 3% while SP has 9. 3% (Berkshire Hathaway Inc. , 2009). Most investors get normal returns and believe the market is in semi strong form. However Buffett believes the market is inefficient and acts on his own investment philosophy. This report will analysis BH’s acquisition of PacifiCorp, evaluate Buffett’s performance against EMH and discuss his ethical standards. Berkshire Hathaway Ltd. VS Scottish Power Plc. After the acquisition was announced, BH Ltd. nd Scottish Power Plc. both experienced price ran up. Reilly and Brown (2009) state that, the acquired firm’s stock price usually increases; resulting from the premium offered by the acquiring firm, whereas stock price in the acquiring firm usually decreases as the concern of overpaid. However, the deal between BH and Scottish Power was a different case. BH and PacifiCorp share price increased by 2. 4% and 6. 28% on the announcement day, it indicated that most investors and markets recognized the bid of PacifiCo rp was fair and believed that acquiring PacifiCorp was a good investment that could benefit BH. Malatesta and Thompson (1985, p. 249) stated that an acquisition program is desirable and profitable for active acquirers and successive acquisition attempts associated with positive announcement effects. Therefore, as an active acquirer, BH could benefit from the successful acquisition of PacifiCorp and have positive share price performance. In addition, the share price performance of PacifiCorp proved the existence of its intrinsic value and Buffett made a right decision in recognizing the fact. Jennings and Mazzeo (1991, p. 40) suggested that the acquisition process is usually associated with significant unexpected stock returns and bidder would only make an offer to the target when the value of target is less than the market price. Therefore, Buffett’s calculation of PacifiCorp’s value must have supported this notion. Although the share price performance might be an affect of Warren Buffett’s fame, it was sufficient enough to reflect the exactly value created by the deal between BH Ltd. and Scottish Power Plc. Valuation for PacifiCorp Bruner, Eades and Schill(2010, p. ) stated that MidAmerican Energy Holdings, Buffett’s utility company, acquired PacifiCorp from its parent, Scottish Power Plc, for $5. 1 billion in cash and $4. 3 billion in liabilities and preferred stock. The bid for PacifiCorp can be proved as â€Å"fair† through three methods, including discounted cash flow, intrinsic value, comparable and precedent acquisition. Present Value of Operating Free Cash Flows DCF method can be viewed as the conceptual basis for most relative valuation criteria (Titman and Martin 2007, p. 215) However, the growth rate was unknown in this case. In order to use the model, the growth rate was assumed to equal to the growth rate of 2004 to 2005 which was 0. 0145. In five years investment horizon, NPV of $5. 1 billion’s bid is negative if the growth rate equal to 0. 0145 (Appendix I; table 1 and table 2). If the growth rate is equal or larger than 0. 594, the $5. 1 billion bid would have positive NPV. Therefore, it can be concluded that in five years, the bid for PacifiCorp is â€Å"fair† if the net income of PacifiCorp can increase by 59. 4% or more Intrinsic Value Bruner, Eades and Schill (2010, p. ) indicated that Buffett believes intrinsic value is effective in evaluating the relative attractiveness of investment. (Appendix II, table 3)The $5. 1 billion bid for PacifiCorp could be defined as â€Å"fair† since every dollar to acquire PacifiCorp becomes $1. 22 in the 10 year investment horizon. Comparable Boeh and Beamish (2007, p. 102) stated that it is common to revalue a firm based on the trading multi ples of a group of similar firms. By looking at the direct competitors who have comparable sizes and growth stages, a more appropriate valuation can be obtained. The implied values of PacifiCorp are $9. 23 billion and $9. 076 billion w. r. t. the median and mean multiple of EBITDA (Appendix II, table 4). Titman and Martin (2007, p. 228) indicated that the most popular approach used to estimate a firm’s enterprise value involves the use of a multiple of EBITDA. Therefore, compared to the $9. 4 billion bid for PacifiCorp, it can be concluded that the bid is â€Å"fair†. Precedent Acquisition Boeh and Beamish (2007, p. 102) suggested that precedent acquisition is used to value a firm based on other similar acquisitions that have recently occurred. It directs firm to use the most appropriate valuation. Assessing the $9. 4 billion bid for PacifiCorp can be defined as â€Å"fair†. Bruner, Eades and Schill(2010, p. 13) mentioned that the timing of BH’s bid closely followed Duke Energy’s bid to acquire Cinergy for $9 billion. Compare their characteristics (Appendix II, table 5) PacifiCorp and Cinergy deal in the same industry and have similar amount of customers, capital structure and EBITDA. Therefore, it can conclude that they are comparable and the deal between Duke Energy and Cinergy can be used as a reference to value PacifiCorp. Buffett VS Semi-Strong Form Efficient Semi-strong form efficiency states that security prices adjust rapidly to the release of all public information; that is, current security prices fully reflect all public information (Reilly Brown, 2009, p. 153). According to BH Inc. , (2009), BH’s has compounded annual gain of 20. 3% while SP has 9. 3% since 1965 to 2009. This clearly shows that Buffett obtains abnormal return. Regarding semi-strong form, Buffett states that the only way to result in superior returns is by using private information or relying on pure luck (Buffett); supporting Buffett’s idea the market is not in semi-strong form. Assuming that market is in semi-strong form, the rationale toward Buffett‘s superior performance is that Buffett has accurate market analysis. Market is not efficient to determine undervalued or overvalued assets and capitalize on the inefficiency (Sappideen, 2009). Buffett is one example of superior performance on undervalued stocks. Buffett Investment Philosophy VS Conventional Finance Theory Risk Diversification Risk is directly related to the difference between price and value. With a smaller dollar difference, the investment is more risky. Buffett employs a margin of safety of 25% (Finkle, 2010) before investing. Based on his measure of risk, Buffett expects high returns when risk is low – not high average returns when risk is high. Buffett discounts (seemingly risk-less) cash flows at the risk free rate (similar to the certainty equivalent approach) not the risk-adjusted discount rate. As a result, Buffett rejects benefits of portfolio diversification (top down approach to investing). The use of diversification as a means to minimize risk is an extensively promoted concept in the financial industry (Polbennikov, Desclee, Hyman, 2010; Jorion, 1985); opposite that of which Buffett recommends. Conventional financial theory dictates that investors are willing to take on higher risk with the prospect of gaining higher returns (Dilmore Wilson, 1992). Whereas Buffett, expects high returns when risk is low. Leverage Buffett mentioned not to use leverage in investments (Lewis, 1992), but usually firms choose to be highly leveraged due to tax advantages (Opler and Titman, 1994). In cases of mergers, an increase in financial leverage benefits shareholders through tax deductibility of interest payments on corporate debt. It might also enhance shareholders’ wealth through an expropriation of wealth from bondholders (Ghosh and Jain, 2000). Merging firms increase their financial leverage around mergers and this can signal better acquisitions, which increases the market value (Maloney, McCormick Mitchell, 1993). Berkshire Hathaway Goldman Sachs During financial crisis in 2008, BH invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs Group. During the time, Goldman Sachs was blamed by U. S Securities and Exchange Commission’s for placing its client at stake (McGee Frye, 2010). Buffett was sued for civil fraud by regulators and assaulted by Congress for business dealing; without concern for the crisis situation (Patterson, 2010). As a result of investing in Goldman Sachs, Buffett was benefitted and obtained a large return from it. Even though in general, Berkshire’s movements have been ethically sound, Buffett should be aware of unethical behaviours issues that can impact company reputation. Berkshire Hathaway Petro China In April 2003, BH bought 11% of Petro China (Oster Cui, 2007); one of the largest oil companies in the world. BH shareholders fear the issue of genocide between China and Sudan. Consequently, BH sold its stake in 2007 at the cost of losing potential returns (Kostigen, 2007); most prominently because BH became concerned with Petro China’s connection with the Sudanese civil war. Thus action taken by Warren Buffet has influenced large numbers of colleges, universities and states to take action in divesting companies that help fund the genocide in Darfur (Investors against Genocide, 2007). Ethics and Social Responsibility Even though Buffett has been criticized for using political power for personal gain, Buffett and BH do show evidence of having strong ethical behaviour. Buffett as an active philanthropist has donated 5,000 Class B shares of BH stock, worth approximately $16 million, to an unnamed charitable foundation (Associated Press, 2006). As well in 2006, BH was nominated by Fortune to be one of the twenty most admired companies in America and eighth most admired in the world based on their ethics and social responsibility. (Vogl, F. 2006). This pledge shows that Buffett’s concern for the society and can reflect that the company is one that maintains the importance of social responsibility. Based on this rationale, it is worthwhile to invest in BH Conclusion In conclusion, comparable company estimates suggest the price bid for PacifiCorp was pretty fair and within the valuation range. Buffett believes that markets are inefficient; opportunities to profit arise from searching undervalued or overvalued assets. Buffett’s tenure consists of not using leverage in investment and merging firms to enlarge market value to outperform the market. Besides Buffett’s investment records, he’s considered ethically and socially responsible. All in all, it is sensible to invest in Berkshire Hathaway. 15  December 1810) was a writer and critic of 18th-century British children’s literature. Her periodical, The Guardian of Education, helped to define the emerging genre by seriously reviewing children’s literature for the first time; it also provided the first history of children’s literature, establishing a canon of the early landmarks of the genre that scholars still use today. Trimmer’s most popular children’s book, Fabulous Histories, inspired numerous children’s animal stories and remained in print for over a century. Trimmer was also an active philanthropist. She founded several Sunday schools and charity schools in her parish. To further these educational projects, she wrote textbooks and manuals for women interested in starting their own schools. Trimmer’s efforts inspired other women, such as Hannah More, to establish Sunday school programs and to write for children and the poor. Trimmer’s works are dedicated to maintaining many aspects of the social and political status quo. As a high church Anglican, she was intent on promoting the Established Church of England and on teaching young children and the poor the doctrines of Christianity. Her writings outlined the benefits of social hierarchy, arguing that each class should remain in its God-given position. Yet, while supporting many of the traditional political and social ideologies of her time, Trimmer questioned others, such as those surrounding gender and the family. How to cite Berkshire Hathaway, Papers

Hydrosphere free essay sample

The hydrosphere is the liquid water component of the Earth and it refers to all water found on, under, or over the surface of a planet. Often called the â€Å"water sphere†, it includes all the earth’s water found in the oceans, glaciers, streams, lakes, soil, groundwater, and in the air. The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth with 97% sea water and 3% fresh water. b.Hydrologic Cycle: The hydrological cycle is the endless circulation of water molecules transferring from the oceans and the land surface into the atmosphere by evaporation, dropped on the land as precipitation, and transferred back to the sea by rivers and groundwater. It is the constant movement of water through the earth system. c. Cryosphere: The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the Earth system. It is the scientific name for all the frozen water on the Earth’s surface: ice caps, glaciers, sea ice, land ice, frozen lakes, snow, permafrost, etc. It also plays a vital role in the earth’s climate. 2. Using the video tour of the Cryosphere list 5 important facts about water content and Antarctica. -Antarctica contains 90% of the Earth’s ice 70% of the fresh water. -Antarctica ice averages 2. 7 kilometers thick 4. 8 kilometers in some places. -Ice shelves hold 2% of Antarctic ice but cover 50% of the coastline. -Ocean currents and surface winds drive icebergs northward. -Snowfall provides more than 75% of water resources in the West. -Permafrost covers 18% of exposed land in the Northern Hemisphere. Altogether, the world’s ice sheets contain 77% of the global total of fresh water. 3. List the 8 areas where water is stored on the planet and give their percentages. -The world’s oceans contain 97. 2% of the water in the hydrosphere 2. 8% of it is freshwater -Ice caps and glaciers contain 2. 15% of the world’s water -Groundwater contains 0. 63% -Freshwater lakes contain 0. 009% -The Atmosphere contains 0. 001% -Soil water contains 0. 005% -Streams contain 0. 001% -Saline lakes and inland seas contain 0. 008% 4. Explain in a number of paragraphs how the water cycle works.The sun heats the waters of the ocean by radiation, causing it to evaporate from the ocean’s surface into the air as vapour. The water vapor is carried into the atmosphere by rising currents. At higher altitudes the temperature is cooler. This causes the water vapor to undergo condensation to become clouds. When clouds reach saturation and become too heavy, precipitation is formed as rain or snow. Precipitation that falls onto land instead of back into the ocean flows over the ground as surface runoff, and moves with gravity and the natural geography of the area on which it falls. Some of the runoff enters rivers, and the stream flow moves this water towards the ocean. Other surface runoff waters and the ground waters that do not move, seep into the ground, and can accumulate to become stored as freshwater lakes. Precipitation that soaks into the ground is referred to as infiltration, which can percolate through the ground to the aquifers that store freshwater underground. Some of this water stays close to the land surface, while some seeps back into surface-water bodies as ground-water discharge. When these waters find an opening in the land surface it is called a freshwater spring.Ground waters can also be taken up by plants by their root systems. When water is evaporated out of the leaf surfaces of plants, it is called transpiration. 5. Using the site World Water Council site, explain three important ways to improve the fresh water situation the world’s population. (World Water Council site was not working correctly for me, so used different site. ) One solution is to use the technology of desalinization. This system is described as filtering salty water through membranes and removing the salt through electrodialysis and reverse osmosis.Saline water can be made into freshwater, which everyone needs. The process is called desalination, and it is being used more and more around the world to provide people with needed freshwater. To date, desalination has been an energy-intensive solution to water scarcity. Another way to improve the freshwater situation around the world is to control population growth. Because of the accelerating growth in global population, parts of the world could see a supply-demand gap of up to 65 percent in water resources by 2030.Currently, more than one billion people don’t have access to clean water. And with 70 percent of the world’s freshwater used for agriculture, water’s critical role in food production must be considered as climate and resource conditions change. Improving irrigation and agricultural practices will also help the current situation of water. Some 70 percent of the world’s freshwater are used for agriculture. Improving irrigation can help close supply and demand gaps. Raising prices in developed and high income countries will also help the situation as consumption of water will be reduced.According to the Pacific Institute the average American uses about 70 gallons of water per day while the average Gambian uses about 1 gallon per day and the average European is somewhere in the middle. The Institute estimates that we probably all need about 13 gallons per day to have a good standard of living. 6. Using the video Water Shortage explain the water problems that exist on 5 major continents. (explain a problem from each continent. Asia: They have 60% of the world’s population but they only have 36% of the world’s water. Control of water can be problematic.Israel controls the water in the West Bank and Palestinians now have water problems. 80% of West Bank is consumed by Israelis. Water is hard to come by in some villages but there is a huge Israeli irrigation project in the north of the country. There are water conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries. In the face of rising populations, rapid growth of the middle class, expanding irrigation and water-intensive industries, and spiraling household consumption, per capita water availability in Asia is actually declining by 1. 6% per year. Africa: Africa is facing the greatest challenges over water.Lack of access to water is a larger problem in Africa than anywhere else. Of the 25 nations in the world with the greatest percentage of people lacking access to safe drinking water, 19 are in Africa. A UN report predicts that in 25 years more than half of this continents population will be living in countries suffering as what’s known as water stress. There is violence at the local level for water. Resources are scarce and more than 50 people are killed in the north of Kenya in fighting over water. North America: In Mexico City, most of the water problems are manmade.Some buildings even sunk as water is being sucked from under the city. Another problem is that 40% of all water supplies disappear through leaky pipes. 1 in 4 people in Mexico City no longer has access to fresh piped water. But, though a general abundance of water exists in the region, some areas commonly experience water shortages. Australia: Australia is the world’s driest continent and it is currently in a terrible drought. They can’t get water as the countries major river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, which irrigates Australia’s food bowl, is in bad shape. Some parts of the Basin are facing an ecological disaster because of the lack of rainfall. Cities and municipalities are having a lot of problems. Europe: The distribution of water resources in Europe is far from even, and is beginning to be the source of some significant problems. Many parts of Europe do not have as much water as they need. In 60% of European urban and industrial areas, water resources are overexploited. Spain is in the grip of drought and thousands of farmers have left their lands and farms. Some places have an abundance of water and some places do not.

Profile of a language group present in the Los Angeles area

Living areas The Los Angeles Area is inhabited by a very large Korean American community. At this point, it is very difficult to determine the exact number, but according to the results available in 2008, this minority was represented by 1.1 million people (Kim, 27). These people live predominantly in Los Angeles County and Orange County.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Profile of a language group present in the Los Angeles area specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are some places where there is a large proportion of this group; in particular, one has to speak about such neighborhood as Koreatown. They constitute 23 percent of total population which is approximately 28520 people (Kim, 27). Overall, Korean Americans live in Los Angeles, Anaheim, and many neighboring cities. Reasons for settling in the US and the LA area There are several reasons why these people decided to settle in the United States, and parti cularly the LA area. First, some of them had to immigrate in order to avoid political prosecution. This reason is particularly important when we speak about North Korean refugees or their descendants. Secondly, many Korean people chose to settle in the US because this country could provide them with better economic and employment opportunities. It should be noted that Korean population of the Los Angeles area began to increase dramatically after the adoption of Immigration and Nationality Act (Chen, 41). Many of these immigrants chose this part of the United States because of its rapid economic growth, vast educational opportunities, and mild climate. The use of the language in the private sector Private education The Korean language is not often used in the sphere of private education. Certainly, we can mention Wilshire Private School in which students can learn the Korean language, but it is not a part of the curriculum (Wilshire Private School, unpaged). It is located in Los Ange les on 4900 Wilshire Boulevard. This educational institution can serve the needs of ESL students, and many Korean immigrants want their children to attend this school because in this place they could practice both English and Korean.Advertising Looking for report on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Religious worship Currently, the majority of Korean Americans view themselves as Christians (Yoo Chung, 60). Similar situation can be observed in Los Angeles area. Approximately, 51 percent of Koreans living in the US are Catholic, while 49 percent adhere to the principles of Buddhism (Yoo Chung, 61). These people do not usually read their religious texts in their native language. Only a small group of people representing first-wave immigration can do it. Stores and supermarkets There are some supermarkets and stores in which employees can communicate with the customers in Korean. For example, one can mention Koreatown Plazza. In this supermarket, many labels are written in English and Korean. Besides, those Korean immigrants, who have yet to master the English language, can ask the personnel for assistance. Newspapers and magazines Yes, there is at least one Korean-language newspaper which still operates, namely the Korea Times. It is published in Los Angeles (The Korean Times, unpaged). This periodical is issued every Monday and Saturday. It is primarily intended for people who have settled in the US only recently, but it does not enjoy great popularity among Korean Americans who grew up in the country. Legal services Yes, it is possible to find some organizations which try to attract Korean American clients by saying that their attorneys are able to communicate in Korean. As far as this issue is concerned we can mention Ryu Law Firm which is located in Los Angeles. This organization can help native speakers of Korean. Festivals There are several holidays celebrated by this ethnic minority. One should first mention Dano festival and Seollal. They have no fixed date because are celebrated in accordance with the lunar calendar. Besides, one should not forget about annual Korean Festival and Parade. Overall, these festivals frequently involve dance, song, rites, and various kinds of games. Special Occupations of the language group It is rather difficult to define some specific occupation of Korean Americans living the Los Angeles area. One should take into account that approximately 51 per cent of these people have a college degree, and many of them are highly-skilled white color workers (Chen 44). One cannot say that thee ethnic group is over or underrepresented in a certain area of business.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Profile of a language group present in the Los Angeles area specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Radio and television There are three radio stations the Los Angeles area which broadcast exclusively in Korean, namely KYPA, KFOX, and KMPC (Min, 44). They are available twenty four a day (Min, 44). Moreover, one can mention tvK which is a Korean-language TV station. This channel is not broadcast on a national network. Restaurants Yes, those people, who visit Korean restaurants in Los Angeles, can see that menus are written in Korean and English. The owners of these shops provide both Korean names of dishes and English translation. Such policy can be explained by the fact that these places are often visited by people who have only come from Korea, and their command of the English language may need some improvement. It should be noted that many local restaurants, especially post sign in Korean language. In this case, we can mention Hodori Restaurant located on 1001 S Vermont Ave. Driving schools No, those people, who want to attend driving school, will have to speak the English language. The only institutions which can provide such services is Kim’s Driving Schoo l which can be found on 3306 Venice Boulevard. This organization can offer Korean language sessions. Nevertheless, the majority of Korean Americans living in the Los Angeles Area are able to take English-language driving courses. Public sector and government services In some parts of Los Angeles, especially, Koreatown, the authorities disseminate information in Korean and English languages. For instance, the local government of this district is obliged to give Korean language voting bulleting. The extent to which the language is used Judging from the findings of this report, and my own observation, I can say that Korean Americans are more likely to speak English rather than Korean. Korean-speakers are more likely to be found among the first-generation immigrants, while young people tend to speak English. Overall, it is possible to say that this ethnic group considerable assimilated into the American society. This is one of the reasons why they are often viewed as a model minority (P ark, Lin, Lee, 63). It should be noted that only 20 percent of second-generation immigrants from Korea are bilingual (Chen, 42). The rest of them can communicate only in English. These are the main peculiarities of their language use.Advertising Looking for report on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Chen, Edith. Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Today. NY: ABC-CLIO, 2010. Print. Kim, Heerak. Korean-American youth identity and 9/11: an examination of Korean-  American ethnic identity in post-9/11 America. Berkerley: The Hermit Kingdom Press. 2008. Print. Min, Pyong. Caught in the middle: Korean merchants in America’s multiethnic cities. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. Print. Park, Clara, Goodwin, Lin and Lee Stacey. Asian American identities, families, and  schooling. NY: IAP, 2003. Print. The Korea Times. The Official Website. 2009. Web. Wilshire Public School. The Official Website. 2010. Web. Yoo, David and Chung Ruth. Religion and spirituality in Korean America. Springfield: University of Illinois Press. 2008. Print. Appendix A Korean-language inscription at Hodori Restaurant in LA This report on Profile of a language group present in the Los Angeles area was written and submitted by user W1ll1amStryker to help you with your own studies. 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Time Of The Butterflies Essays - In The Time Of The Butterflies

Time Of The Butterflies Essays - In The Time Of The Butterflies Time of the Butterflies In the world of historical fiction, there are few new and innovative writers, and not often are new styles developed. In the styles of Leon Uris and James Michener, two prolific modern historical fiction novelists, usually the main characters are chronicled over a short period of time in their lives, and their feelings are used only to outline the political matters they are surrounded by. In the Time of the Butterflies is a new breed of this genre, in that it closely follows the four Mirabal sisters from their early childhood up until the very end, and how the tyranny of the Dominican dictator Ra?l Trujillo affected their family. Julia Alvarez, an American of Dominican descent, wrote the novel from the point of view of all four sisters at different times, even using Ded? Mirabal?s point of view in 1994, when she was interviewed by Alvarez for information. Minerva, Maria Teresa, and Patria Mirabal were killed, with their driver Rufino de la Cruz, on November 25, 1960 as a result of their underground opposition to the rule of Trujillo. In the Time of the Butterflies follows these sisters and the sister that was not killed that day, Ded?, from their time in grammar school. Upon hearing horrible stories about Trujillo and his government, each sister except Ded? get involved in the secret resistance to Trujillo and the SIM, a group of guards similar to a secret police. The sisters have various encounters with the dictator, the last after being in jail for seven months. However, much of the novel is filled with happiness and light-hearted feelings among all the characters. The novel is divided into four parts; there are three main parts and an epilogue. The first two parts are, with the exception of the sisters? father?s death, all about the joyful childhood the sisters had, which ironically makes the story all the more sad. These parts describe the girls? time at boarding school, and later their various courtships and becoming aligned against Trujillo, all exciting times for the girls. The second two parts of the book concentrate on the sisters? time in jail and the time at which Trujillo and the SIM?s power went out of control. This is where the family becomes an actual target of the government. Trujillo himself even allegedly said, ?My only two problems are the damn church and the Mirabal sisters.? (51) Had In the Time the Butterflies been written like ordinary contemporary historical fiction novels, it wouldn?t have half its power. The beauty of the novel is the unbelievable emotional effect it has on a reader, combined with the fantastic conveying of the actual terror of Trujillo?s historic reign. A Michener or Uris novel might extraordinarily document a political regime or event, but leave the reader little in the way of emotion or passion; in comparison, works of any other genre generally aren?t beneficial to the reader for historical value, but could be a masterpiece of feeling. A typical critic would be hard-pressed to find a novel comparable to In the Time of the Butterflies in emotional effect and historical significance. Alvarez is a fantastic writer and can bring many a reader to tears, but the emotional effect can be a bit much for such a book. However, it is a true story, and to make it bland enough to not be as powerful as it is would be a travesty.

A View of the Mexican- American Battle and the Reasons behind the Involvement of the United States

A View of the Mexican- American Battle and the Reasons behind the Involvement of the United States U.S. History Honors The Mexican-American War DBQ â€Å"Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico?† This is a trigger phrase similar to watching two siblings fighting over who gets to play the Xbox. â€Å"It’s MY Xbox.† â€Å"But you ruin the whole game.† In this case, Mexico owns the land of dispute and the US is eager to take it. In my opinion, the US should not have gone to war with Mexico for these reasons: the US provoked the war; gaining Texas was another way to spread slavery; and the annexation of Texas would make America a bigger threat, scaring Mexico along with other countries. The â€Å"US Invasion† was just part of the US’s plan to gain land in the early 1800s, once again because of the same excuse, Manifest Destiny. Mexico’s idea of convincing American settlers to move in to even out the contrasting social population of rich and poor backfired and right after winning their independence from Spain: a Mexican horror story! â€Å"[T]he troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor arrived at the Rio Grande†¦ (Doc. C)† From Mexican perspectives, the border between Mexico and the United States was the Nueces River. When the Americans crossed over to the Rio Grande, which was below the Nueces River, Mexico burst into flames. This means that the US initiated the war, forcing the Mexicans to the last straw until they had to finally start defending themselves. â€Å"Polk saw Mexico’s treatment of [the envoys] as an opportunity [to go to war]. He felt America’s honor had been challenged. When word arrived†¦ that Mexican soldiers had fired upon Americans on the ‘Texas side’ of the Rio Grande, President Polk had a reason for going to war (BE).† I think this is full of baloney because previously, the quote implies that the US had a reason for going to war, so why would Mexico attack first? This unlikely event intimates a few element changes of the history of the war . â€Å"A current of emigration soon followed from the United States. Slaveholders crossed the Sabine (river between Louisiana and Texas) with their slaves, in defiance of the Mexican ordinance of freedom. (Doc. D)† This quote makes the US seem very ironic since the US was â€Å"the land of opportunity and freedom† that many people of ethnic groups rushed to yet many slaves did not have opportunity nor freedom. In Mexico, slavery was illegal, so in a way, Mexico was even more free than the US. The Mexican-American War was just another product of Manifest Destiny, an excuse from â€Å"God† to gain land from the Atlantic to the Pacific to spread democracy which eventually turned into an excuse for spreading slavery. If the Americans took over Texas (which happened anyway), the territory would be back to square one: slavery. Considering the fact that Texas was still theirs, Mexico tried to prevent the slavery opposition from being obsolete. â€Å"The combination of American troops at the Rio Grande and the attempt to buy a large part of their country angered the Mexican government. [Polk’s envoys] were asked to leave Mexico City (BE).† How casually the author mentioned that the envoys were asked to leave may hint that the US doesn’t want to admit to looking like a bad guy. This also illustrates that Polk was ambitious to gain this land and maybe even pushy when the offer was bluntly rejected. The quote: â€Å"Imbecile and distracted, Mexico never can exert any real governmental authority over such a country†¦ (Doc. A)† shows how highly the US thought of itself. They shouldn’t be so quick to rise conflict, the US and Mexico being young countries alike. Having Texas secede wasnt so terrible in Mexican eyes, but having Texas secede to join the US was a major problem. Mexico was content if Texas was its own country since Texas alone wasn’t much of a threat; however, the annexa tion of Texas to the US would mean more land, meaning more power. Every other country would rather have the US care for itself and be uninvolved in matters outside of their business. This is the way people thought about England, which means the US eventually became what the Founding Fathers feared. Furthermore, â€Å"America’s wars have often been controversial [with small approval rates] (BE).† The idea I’m getting is that although in many wars citizens opposed going to war, the government doesn’t listen and goes to war anyway, which isn’t being very representative like the way it is defined. So who are the US to say that Mexico can’t govern themselves properly? All in all, I support the Mexicans’ viewpoint on the war. The US deliberately had shots fired at Mexico to own Texas and California. The United States clearly had no business in trying to take over land that originally belonged to the Mexicans. The USs pushiness, impatience, want for more slaves, and rising reign of terror connected to their were not valid reasons to go to war with Mexico. Even though I am American, I have to say that at the time, the US was being a bit snotty for wanting to take over as much as they possibly could. The war is shameful to our history, acknowledging the fact that the US always seemed so glorified and perfect when really, we have committed some of our own sins and went back on our words of equality and justice for everyone.

Proof reading for (blogs) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proof reading for (blogs) - Essay Example Watching this video excitement runs through the veins at first, though the same does not persist till the end. Though it is true that if people are celebrating a victory in war, perhaps they are somewhere forgetting some grave mistakes committed towards humanity. However, I think if people would watch this kind of videos, they would not support any kind of war and soldiers might even refuse to participate in a war. That might not be the best of solutions considering the fact that war is an evil necessity at times. The Shield of Achilles The Shield of Achilles written by W.H. Auden was a hard poem for me to understand. I went online to read and understand the story of Achilles before I started the poem. Achilles was a Greek hero who participated in the Trojan War. Achilles’ mother Thetis prayed to the Greek god Hephaestus to create an invincible armor for her son. Hephaestus made a shield for Achilles. In the first part of the poem Thetis was describing what she see for example War, peace, sun, moon, ocean, and dance. The shilled was referring to the new life. In the second part of the poem, Auden said â€Å"A plain without a features.† It refers to emptiness. ... Force According to Weil, there are three definitions of Force with diverse meaning. The first meaning of force is to kill. It comes from the part where it is said that â€Å"it is that x that turn anybody who is subjected to in into a thing† and â€Å" it makes a corpse† .The second definition of force is â€Å"that not kill just yet†. This kind of force has the ability to kill because of the word â€Å"yet†. Another interesting thing is â€Å"it turn a man to stone† which mean no feeling. Also, the word â€Å"stone† mean no thinking and refers to the fact that he or she would act without thinking. In page 167 it gave example where force can remove human feeling, where it refers to the story of Achilles when he killed Hector. The Third definition is who use Force is foul. There is no one who is as strong that he can control everything in the world. Even though Achilles was the greatest of worriers; he was scare of the forces because it was bi gger than him. The Homer’s Iliad is considered as a war poem because it talked about the Troy and Trojan War. Guernica The first time I looked to the painting, it was like a drawing made by a kid. After having the class dictation, I got the idea that Picasso did mean several things in this painting. There is a woman on the left side of the photo holding a baby, which refers on how war can kill kids and innocent people. There is a flower almost in the middle of the painting, which refer to the future or it may mean that life may come again. Picasso draws a light beam as a path to future. There is a man who has a large foot and trying to reach the light but he can’t, because it looks like his foot is pulling him away from the light. In the

Effects of Work Choices Act on Rio Tinto Case Study

Effects of Work Choices Act on Rio Tinto - Case Study Example Trade unions will find it more difficult to service their existing members, recruit new members and organize industrial action. This legislation also clearly shifts the balance of the power in the employment relationship more towards the employer. This will be most obvious in businesses with 100 employees or less, where employers will have the right to dismiss workers almost at will. Most importantly, if offered an AWA, the only real alternative for many employees will be to quit. This entails the creation of the Australian Fair Pay Commission which will be responsible for establishing and varying the federal minimum wage, all other wages specified in awards, and casual pay loadings. The abolition of the no-disadvantage test will be implemented. Its replacement by the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard covering just five basic conditions: award rates of pay, maximum ordinary hours of work, annual leave, personal and carers leave, and parental leave. These five conditions will be the only award conditions which cannot be varied or excluded in a workplace agreement. Further, in the event of the termination of an agreement it is these five minimum conditions that the parties fall back to. There are major changes in the nature and operation of federal awards. With the exception of the five minimum conditions, workplace agreements will replace all award conditions that otherwise would apply to the workers covered by these agreements. Australian Workplace Agreements, or AWAs will also take precedence over collective agreements, even if those collective agreements are currently in operation. A much simpler approval process for agreements, with all agreements, both collective and individual, needs only to be lodged with the Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA) to take effect. There are tighter rules governing rights of entry by trade unions to workplaces. POSITIVE OPTIONS BY RIO TINTO MANAGEMENT The management can fire employees who are members of the Construction, Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and replace them with non-union workers and immigrant workers. The Management can establish a black list of critical, unproductive or non-performing workers and offer them AWAs. If they refuse it, management can ask them to resign immediately.The Management can enforce a strike ban on the labor union hence guaranteeing industrial peace. If the workers resort to strike, the company can lay off the workers with the reason that they have affected the economy by crippling the company. The Company can request the Labor Minister to declare the strike as illegal. The company can check the collective agreements of the different subsidiaries and decide not to re-negotiate a new agreement with these unions. The company can just offer individual AWAs to the workers. The Management can terminate personnel with medical problems, numerous absences and recurrent poor work performance. AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN LABOR MANAGEMENT The strong anti-union stance of Work Choices Act will enable Rio Tinto Mining to derive financial benefits from the utilization of labor resources. (Nigel Munro) Corporate Affairs

The Ghost of Tom Joad and The Grapes of Wrath Essay Example for Free

The Ghost of Tom Joad and The Grapes of Wrath Essay Through the The Ghost of Tom Joad and The Grapes of Wrath, Springsteen and Steinbeck, in their respective works, comment on the state of social distress and despondency existent within their individual societies. Through making parallels with the depression related issues of the 1930s addressed by Steinbeck and those of the early 1990s recession, Springsteen connects the people and social quandaries of both time periods to remark on the necessity of mans spirit. To this end, through investigating each works characterization of human resolve and unification, employment of Tom Joad and Jim Casy to embody mans spirit, and similar social atmosphere, the connection between the thematic force of the novel and Springsteens subsequent writing is made evident. Throughout his lyrics, Springsteen consistently parallels ideas presented by Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath in order to exhibit past American spirit in social struggles and the need for such resolve to engender change in his own time. Springsteen achieves this rhythmically through keeping the refrain in a constant ABAB rhyme scheme and other stanzas in an AABB rhyme scheme; this provides a consistency and repetition in the speakers message to the reader, and links his own dilemma in Searchin for the ghost of Tom Joad (R), or mans spirit, to the overall plight of the people made evident the non-refrain stanzas. Additionally, this mirrors Steinbecks effort in The Grapes of Wrath to characterize the migrant struggle through both the microcosm of the Joads and then more broadly in the intercalary chapters. Moreover, Springsteens actual description of the current plight parallels Steinbecks ideas on the downtrodden American. In saying Men walkin long the railroad tracks, Goin someplace, theres no goin back (1-2) the speaker is alluding Steinbecks writing of the tenant men came walkingmaybe we can start againBut you cant start. Only a baby can start (119). Additionally, like The Grapes of Wrath, the depiction of social struggles in The Ghost of Tom Joad becomes gradually stronger in tone and more visceral in visualization as made evident by both artists use of various literary devices. The speakers description In a cardboard box neath the underpass, Got a one-way ticket to the promised land, You got a hole in your belly and a gun in your hand(12-14) provokes imagery of man ready to bring about change through violence. This is also concurrent with Steinbecks depictions of the migrant as said in one intercalary chapter -the rifle? Wouldnt go out naked of a rifle. When shoes and clothes and food, when even hope is gone, well have the rifle.(120) Also, Springsteens employment of personification The highway is alive tonight(R) and metaphors Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock (15) augments his attempt to connect and make more vivid, the plights of those depicted by the speaker in the song. Overall there is a building that occurs within the stanzas; from the beginning depictions of the disposed to the pledges made by Tom in the last non-refrain stanza, there is a progression toward exhibiting the need for mans unification. As Steinbeck builds this idea through the exploits and sacrifices of Ma, Tom, Casy and Rose of Sharon, Springsteen does likewise through his lyrics to transport that idea to the modern day. Furthermore, both works use the characters of Tom Joad and Jim Casy as vehicles for expressing the spirit the destitute need to attain in dealing with their troubles. Through juxtaposing images of the impoverished with those of his own introspection, the speaker (who is himself needy) makes evident the importance of what the characters of Tom Joad and Casy embody and how that representation is needed in society. Throughout the work, the speaker gives various descriptions of the downtrodden American Shelter line stretchin round the corner (5), Families sleepin in their cars in the Southwest, No home no job no peace no rest (7-8), Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock, Bathing in the city aqueduct (15-16). These descriptions, inter-cut with the refrain of Searchin for the ghost of Tom Joad (R), Waitin on the ghost of Tom Joad (R) quite clearly show the speakers desire for a change in condition and will. Moreover, when scrutinizing the diction that references Tom Joad as a ghost the absence of his spirit from humanity is made apparent; a spirit both Springsteen and Steinbeck find paramount in ending the plight of the destitute. Springsteen furthers this point in referencing Toms saying Mom, wherever theres a cop beatin a guy, Wherever a hungry newborn cries, Where theres a fight gainst blood and hatred in the airOr decent job or a helping hand, Wherever somebodys struggling to be free, Look in their eyes Mom youll see me (17-24) Though this typifies what the speaker wishes to see in his contemporaries, it also indirectly alludes to Toms ideals as presented in the novel by paraphrasing his last conversation with Ma. Ill be everwhere-wherever you look.when our folks eat the stuff they raise an live in the houses they build -why, Ill be there(572). The use of allusion is key to Springsteens aims here as when characterizing Casy and evidencing the biblical ties made to him. He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag, Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag, Waitin for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last(9-10) The preacher reference is clearly Casy, yet there is a biblical allusion made that is concurrent with idea behind the phrase The meek shall inherit the Earth (Beatitudes, Sermon on the Mount). The saying implies that those who forgo worldly power will be rewarded in the kingdom of heaven. This idea plays to the thoughts that both Springsteen and Steinbeck are trying to get across in their respective works and the selfless nature that Joad and Casy embody. Springsteens use of these two characters in his lyrics propel the thematic spirit of Steinbecks work while serving as an inspirational ideal for those he is trying to reach in his own society. Moreover, the overall similarities between the social climates of the early 1990s and 1930s allow Springsteen to illustrate the need for renewed spirit in his own time. The economic recession that characterized the early 1990s with skyrocketing unemployment, declines in housing starts, and slashes in social-welfare programs, mirrored greatly the atmosphere surrounding the Great Depression over six decades before. With over 34 million Americans below the poverty line, the nation was hardly a new world coming into view as characterized in George Bushs post-Gulf War speech. The presidents promising that the prospect of a new world order would utilize the principles of justice and fair play [to] protect the weak against the strong is denoted with sarcasm by Springsteen lyrics saying Shelter line stretchin round the corner, Welcome to the new world order(5-6). Springsteen utilizes a dire description of the disposed in 1990s America (as well as 1930s) through saying No home no job no rest (8) in order to exemplify their strife and the need for change. Steinbecks describing the Three hundred thousand, hungry and miserable; if they should ever know themselves, the land will be theirs(325) typifies the idea Springsteen is trying to get across; that if the disposed of his time attain a renewed will, they can engender change and end their strife. Both the The Ghost of Tom Joad and The Grapes of Wrath exhibit commentary on the social conditions of their time and the need for change among the people. Though the afore mentioned works have been written in vastly different eras, they comment on very similar social climates. Through creating parallels in the characterization of humanity, using Tom Joad and Jim Casy to embody that characterization and recognizing social similarities between the two time periods, Springsteen generates a work that calls for the return of the human spirit to a despondent society in the same vein Steinbeck does in The Grapes of Wrath.

A View From the Bridge - Arthur Miller - Catherines diary :: English Literature

A view from the bridge- Arthur miller Catherine's diary September 18th 1937 Y' know I was sitting down today and Eddie comes in from work, looked really tired. I had just dressed in my new dress that I bought for my new job and I had done my hair in a different style, it looked really good. I asked him what he thought of it, and do you know what he said? He said the skirt was too short and the heels were too attention drawing. He even told me I'm walking wavy and that he doesn't like the way I have been attracting looks from the people in the shops, I told him they look at every girl that way but this only seemed to infuriate him more. What's up with him these days, he doesn't let me do anything. When's he going to realize that I'm not a little kid anymore? I just want him to approve of me and it makes me so upset when he doesn't, why cant he be like my friends' fathers and let me have more freedom? I'm not saying I don't appreciate him and how hard he's worked and that he took me in and all but sometimes he's just makes me so annoyed. Anyway, he told me that Beatrice's cousins should be arriving today, I'm so excited, and I can't wait. I wonder what they're going to be like. Marco and Rodolfo are their names but that's all I know about them apart from that Marco has kids. You'll never guess what Eddie and Beatrice were arguing about today just after Eddie told Beatrice about her cousins. They argued about where the Beatrice's cousins were going to sleep. I mean can't B just stop moaning at Eddie, he's a good man and she just doesn't appreciate him but they settled it and they made up. I told Eddie about the job, he was so not pleased. He wants me to finish the stenography class. I want to work, I'll be getting paid $50 per week, think of what I could do with that money. It's such a privilege to be chosen out of the whole class, they said I was the best that they saw there so I could still get my certificate at the end of the year, plus there's nothing better than putting what I've learnt into practice. I want Eddie to be happy for me, can't he see that it's impossible to turn the job down, I just can't, for goodness sakes . It's not like I'm going to be working in a bad company, it's

Food Crisis Essay

According to World Bank, they blame that the food crisis in Africa are causing by trade barrier. A lot of countries in Africa are restricted importing food from the border. Due to unfertilized land in a lot of parts in Africa, it causes people to discourage to be a farmer, so the food supply is less. However, African population is increasing rapidly. Therefore, the demand for food will just keep increasing. As a result, the demand for food would exceed supply for food in Africa. Before I move on to the next examples, I need to explain about the result of the demand exceed supply. Identical products around the world should fix in the law of one price, which mean that the identical products should sell at the same price around the world. This is because if it is not the same price, the country that sell high price would go to buy the low price product from another country and sell it to their country. Therefore, the country that sell product for low price with get a result in increasing demand which result in increasing in price. The supply for the high price product will be more because people import to sell in country, which result in decreasing in price. At the result, both countries will sell product at the same price. This will cause the exporter by the rest of the world need to sell the product at the same price (world price). Therefore, we can draw it in the graph as vertical lines while the supply in the country as an upward-sloping and the demand is downward-sloping, but food is necessary product, so the line should be more inelastic. Now we can plot all of this in to a graph, and a graph will look like this. The import is horizontal because of the world price, so they need to supply at this price. As you can see from the graph, the import is restrict at only the small amount according to Africa, only 5 percent of the food import, which resulting in demand exceeding supply, so we can apply this to the food crisis by trade restriction. Therefore, the price of food is increasing because there is high demand for food than supply in Africa, while the farmer is not encouraging by the government because only a little profit goes to them even though the price is high due to the government policy, so he Africa people suffer from hunger due to the unaffordable price of food. Not only Africa that face food crisis, but also the world is suffered during 2008. According to Europe, they claim that the world food crisis is because the trade restriction of many countries in the world such as Argentina, Russia, Japan and South Korea. These trade restrictions cause the price of food in the world to increase. People cannot afford the high price. Thus, the food crisis occurs and suffers many countries around the world. Food crisis occur in the country may lead to other problem. For example, the protest in Egypt also cause by raising cost of food in the country because of trade restriction. In long term solution to solve food crisis should be that the government should not intervene food price because food is necessary product; they choose restrict on the unnecessary product such as cigarette or alcohol instead. 20 million people in Africa are suffering from hunger nowadays due to this food crisis causing by trade restriction.

The Birth of Jesus

The painting depicts the prediction of the birth of Jesus and how it came to pass. This happened after the visitation of angel Gabriel to Mary, who was a simple and humble Jewish woman. The angel broke the news to Mary that she had found favor with God, and she will conceive and give birth to a son, Jesus (Chisholm, Hugh, ed, (1911). He further elaborated that Jesus would be the son of God, the most high. At this point, Mary was totally confused and worried about the abrupt news but she later consoled herself and said since she was God's servant, she will do as he says. Moreover, Mary was betrothed to a man called Joseph, who lived in Nazareth (Baynes, T.S., ed., 1978). During this time, a Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus had ordered a census and both Mary and Joseph had to travel to the town of Bethlehem (Orenstein, Nadine M., ed. 2001). The journey took them several days and by the time they arrived, the inn was already full and they were compelled to spend their night near the livestock's shed. Coincidentally, Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger. In the same night, there were shepherds in the field near Bethlehem and were watching over their flocks. Suddenly, the angel appeared to them and broke the good news to them that savior, the Messiah had been born and is lying in a manger. (Freed, Edwin D 2004). They immediately hurried to the place and found Jesus as they were directed. They later went to spread the news. Later, wise men saw a star in the sky that signified the birth of a new king. They followed it to the place where Jesus was and knelt down to worship him. They brought him gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. According to Mosaic laws, Jesus was taken to the temple where he was named, circumcised and purified. This was conducted by Simeon.In the first scene, angel Gabriel appears to Mary. The second scene shows the shepherds and wise men who came to visit Jesus and his parent Mary and Joseph. Finally, Jesus is taken to the temple by his parents and is received by Simeon. During the visitation of Jesus by wise men, the gifts were used as a symbol of honor to the born king. Joseph is the patron artist who was a simple village man (St. Joseph Biography). His original location was Nazareth. He was chosen by God to be the earthly father of Jesus. He was a carpenter and had gathered exceptional skills in craft work (Alin Suciu, 2009). He feared God and he would obey him in face of severe humiliation. He came from a humble background and this subjected him to engage in carpentry. Also, Joseph was a man of strong conviction and lived his beliefs in his actions (Bart D., 2011). He is celebrated for his obedience and patience even after Mary, his fiancà © gave birth to Jesus although she was a virgin. Jesus was regarded as an artist because he used to give verbal, visual and dramatic forms to the complicated situations (J. Dwight Pentecost, 1998). He taught the word of God by giving analogies, parables, and creative expressions (Andrew S., 25 September 2015). According to the gospels, his birth took place on November of 5 B.C at Bethlehem. After he completed his work on earth, he died on A.D 33 at a place called Golgotha (Pheme Perkins, 2007.). He was known for using parables in his teachings. (John P. Meler 1992). The original location of his artwork was first meant to be viewed in synagogues, where he presented various sermons. Moreover, this artwork was religious and was meant to make his followers think critically so as to understand the word of God fully. Also, they were used as a means of illustrating profound and divine truths. He claimed that such stories were easily remembered and indicated symbolism that was rich in meaning. â€Å"The entire artwork can be traced back to Gospel period where absolute chronology of Jesus is explained into details (Michael Grant, 1977)†. Further, this historical period is recorded in a number of historical and non-Christian documents like Jewish and Greco-Roman sources (Marcus Borg, 1999). Further information indicated that the baptism and crucifixion of Jesus marked prominent historical events. This period simply means the genesis of the good news and it cut across various groups of people. During this period, Jesus started his ministry, which was later considered as fulfillment of New Testament prophecies (W.D Davies, 1984). He walked down all cities along with his disciples preaching the gospel and urging the people to repent so as to see the kingdom of God. This took him the whole of his lifetime on earth. During this period, he faced mockery and humiliation from some groups although he had a good number of followers. â€Å"Artwork was made to make the Christians understand that those who humble themselves, God uplifts them (Ben Witherington III, 1998)†. This is portrayed when Virgin Mary, a simple village woman was visited by an angel and informed her of good news. Later, the birth of Jesus in the manger indicated the humble beginning of his life (Meier, John P, (1991). It also expressed that Jesus was the king since he was visited by various people who came to worship him. Also, Christians should understand the need of recognizing the church as the temple of God. Even the parent of Jesus observed mosaic laws and took him to the temple for various rituals. Therefore, Christians should follow the footsteps of Jesus by obeying the word of God. Works CitedBen Witherington III. (1998). â€Å"Primary Sources†. Christian History, 17(3), 12-20.Freed, Edwin D (2004).â€Å"Stories of Jesus' Birth†. Continuum International: 119. John P. Meler (1992). Bordering Jew on Reconsidering the Historical Jesus.â€Å"A Chronology of Jesus Life,† pp. 375-433. Anchor Bible Reference Library. Michael Grant. (1977). Jesus. An Historian's Review of the Gospels, p.71 Scribner's

Shaelins NaNoWriMo Story Preptober Special

Shaelins NaNoWriMo Story Preptober Special Shaelin's NaNoWriMo Story: Preptober Special Shaelin Bishop is a writer, YouTuber, and a member of the team here at Reedsy. She’s also a veteran of the 30-day novel  writing competition NaNoWriMo, having taken part in it for five years. In this lightly edited transcript of her video, she reveals her personal experience with the competition. Reedsy's @shaelinbishop shares her experience as a 5-time #NaNoWriMo winner At the time this is published, it's near the end of October. If you're doing NaNoWriMo, you're probably pretty ready to go and have  done most of the prep or all the prep you wanted to do.Unless you followed me on my personal channel way back when I was doing NaNoWriMo (which was a very long time ago), you won't have heard me talk about my own writing journey. With November just around the corner, I thought it would be a good opportunity to share my NaNoWriMo journey and just talk about the benefits it had for me and how it shaped me as a writer.I did NaNoWriMo five times: every single year I was in high school starting in 2010 when I was 13 years old. I saw the term float around on random social media. I looked it up, and as soon as I realized what NaNoWriMo was, I was like, "That sounds awesome. I want to try doing that."At the time I was writing a novel. Instead of waiting until next year (because when you're 13 that seems so far away), I made an account, and I signed up. I was using the Young Writers Programme where you can set your own word goal. I just set my own word goal for 15,000, and I did NaNoWriMo for like one week and that was my first NaNoWriMo experience. Finishing my first bookWhat has your experience with NaNoWriMo been like? If you have any questions for Shaelin, or thoughts on this annual competition, drop them in the comments below.

Japanese Art of the Kamakura Period Research Paper

Japanese Art of the Kamakura Period - Research Paper Example Even with constant wars, the Buddhist religion got support from the samurais and other people. Other cultures and traditions were practiced, as they become a popular commodity. The arrival of the Europeans changed the Japanese ways of thinking as the constant wars were reduced. The word medieval may seem to be inquisitive, because it was first applied to European history. It elaborates a middle phase connecting the go down of the Roman kingdom and the beginning of the renaissance. Throughout this era, middle government was unstable and people were divided among feudal leaders. 16th century Japan was separated in the midst of warlords recognized as Daimy, and Europeans who came to Japan at that moment felt it look like medieval Europe. In the 1900s, Japanese educationist also saw this resemblance (Lang & Jujutsu). They took the term medieval to illustrate the era when Japanese imperial authority was unstable and warriors took a significant part in leading the society. These were the t imes of Japan’s first two warrior authorities: the Kamakura and the Muromachi. There are many questions asked about the Japanese’s warriors and their operations. People have come up with different answers and assumptions to these questions. During the late year 1170s, nobody might have imagined that soldiers led by the Minamoto tribe were about to create an autonomous government. The majority of warriors worked as middle-level officers in the district, operating as supervisors on government personal public lands or on confidential estates (Lang & Jujutsu). They took their place to central government upper class and strong temples. If a soldier breaks the rules of his superiors, he would be taken to be a rebel and his properties given to opponents. Consequently, for most of the 12th century, regal officials controlled the soldiers. The two supreme soldiers clans of the moment were the Taira (also recognized as the Heike) and the Minamoto (recognized as the Genji). Both worked for associates of the regal relatives and the Fujiwara relatives of regents. In the years 1150s, the Taira were on the victory side in a pair of disagreements that assisted them go up to places of power. The Taira head, Kiyomori, became prime Minister and wedded his daughter to a potential emperor (Lang &Jujutsu). In difference, the Minamoto were on the losing side in the two disagreements. Consequently, the tribe’s adult male leaders were executed and the boys sent into hideouts. During the year 1179, Kiyomori took the role of a practical dictator. In the year 1180, he forced the regal court to crown his grandson (the kid of his daughter who had wedded a royal leader) the next ruler. That same year, a displeased royal prince, angry that he was passed over for the throne, gave a call-to-arms. Yoritomo sent away leader of the Minamoto tribe and now a grown-up, activated soldiers to join him in ambushing the Taira. The Minamoto and Taira battled the span of the state for five years in a disagreement known as the Genpei fight (Sato 12). When the Taira were at the end defeated, Yoritomo continued with the building of Japan’s initial warrior government. The actual importance of the war was the soldier’s first move towards autonomy from the regal government. Yoritomo won over majority of eastern soldiers over by securing their lands and employment. Consequently, soldiers who were unconfident with the previous system chose to unite with the Minamoto, although they were not really part of the Minamoto

Development of Nationalism in East and Southeast Asia Essay

Development of Nationalism in East and Southeast Asia - Essay Example In terms of East and Southeast Asia, critics assert that nationalism is the process that gave rise to different nationalist movements in the region in the twentieth century. The aim and objective of these movements was to rebel against the colonial ideologies of the West.Nationalism is considered to be a process, which develops with respect to time; it does not emerge abruptly or unexpectedly. â€Å"It is not a phenomenon that appears suddenly. It is the result of a process by which a people become conscious of themselves as a separate national entity in the modern world, a process by which they become willing to transfer their primary loyalty from the village, or the region, or the monarch, to the nation-state† It is this perspective, which can be found in East and Southeast Asia. In order to integrate nationalism, several steps and measures have been adopted by the government. These measures include the suppression of opposition, the selection of a mutual language and the co ncentrate on economic growth in order to sustain and maintain liberty. Nationalism and Communism in Southeast Asia is the product of colonisation. The vast majority of the East and Southeast Asian countries were â€Å"controlled either by the British, French, Dutch, Americans or Portuguese, who sought to control unnatural boundaries and had no regard for the natives of those areas† After the end of World War II, majority of the East and Southeast Asian countries declared independence from the Western imperialist. For instance, Indonesian nationalists fought with the Dutch in order to get their independence. Philippine got it independence from United States; Vietnam got its independence from France after the Indochina war. In Vietnam, the French did not have the ability to withstand Vietnamese nationalism and thus, they adopted repressive strategies in order to control it3. Majority of the Vietnamese nationalist’s politic leaders and activists were jailed. Furthermore, opposition from Vietnamese nationalists made the French to remove them from government positions and to create hurdles and obstacles in their education4. Communism is considered to be movement, which concentrates on changing the social and political structure of the society. The change is brought by creating a society in which there is no class difference among the citizens, they can freely access the goods they need and wage labour and private property concepts are disregarded1. Frequently, nationalism and communism have crossed path. For instance, the civil war in China was between these two beliefs, which concentrated on controlling China. The Chinese Civil War started in 1947 and lasted for a period of three years. China was divided into two parts; Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. The fifties witnessed Communist China, which had gained full control of mainland China4. During the struggle for independence in Vietnam, Vietnamese nationalists fled to China, where they were ignored. However, they provided assistance to them once they realized the advantage of Vietnamese nationalists; they could be used to spy the Japanese military activities in Vietnam. In the year 1945, â€Å"the Emperor Bao Dai abdicated to Ho.   Ho Chi Minh then formed a provisional government with himself as its president and Vietnam declared independence on 2nd of September, in the year 1945†1. During this time, the Americans feared the expansion of communism and thus, provided military

Transportation and Distribution Management - Discuss the importance of Essay

Transportation and Distribution Management - Discuss the importance of air transportation to global trade. Cite a real-world ca - Essay Example Air transportation is now considered as one of the major facilitators of global trade. It offers enormous benefits to the consumers. Some of the major benefits offered by air transportation are wider coverage, fastest means of communication, and high security among various other advantages. The purpose of the study is to uncover the importance of air transport or aviation in the process of facilitating international trade. The importance of air transport in the global trade will be further supported by real world examples. In this context some real examples will be provided to depict the importance of aviation. Apart from that the report will also shed light on various areas, pertaining to the importance of aviation in cross border transaction. The advantages of making use of air transport will be also highlighted. Finally the report will conclude highlighting the extant up to which air transport acts as the facilitator of international trade. Discussion This section will mainly high light the relevant theories and practical examples of air transport to depict its importance in the world trade. Air Transport and Economic Growth Like any other means of transportation, Air transport is allied with global trade in two different ways. First, air transport is used as a service mechanism, and secondly it is being used as a crucial intermediate service provider for a number of trading activities such as tourism. Numerous studies have illuminated the fact that it is important for every country (mostly developing countries) to focus on ensuring an effective, efficient and consistent air transport to gain maximum, from the activities of international trade. With rapid globalization and increased cross border trade activities, the importance of air transport got a greater boost. In addition, the significance is expected to further enhance due to rapid technological innovation, increased market access of multinational companies and deregulation (WTO, 2005). Despite the incr easing importance, the industry has passed through difficult times. The industry constantly struggles in order to survive and sustain in the market place. Whenever a big carrier gets into problem, they make headline and if they collapses the economy of that country gets highly affected. This depicts how air transport is important even for the national economy. Air transport is thus considered to be one of the most important industries of the world. Besides its service and technical achievements makes it as a supreme contributor towards the growth and advancement of modern society. The growth is also unmatched with any other form of transportation. The rising demand of air transport is also for the reason of increasing cross border trade activities. It facilitates rapid movement of people from one place to the other and also makes possible to transport goods worth billions of dollars to several markets throughout the globe (Air Transport Action Group, 2005, p.4). Air Transport and Gl obal Trade The most important economic benefit offered by air transport on the global trade is the ‘spin-off effect’. It plays a crucial role towards the promotion of financial growth in countries around the world. Air transport offers

Career Exploration Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Career Exploration Project - Essay Example In this light, the purpose of this report is to take up informational interview with two key employees of Hilton Group to explore the dynamics that are required for survival in hospitality sector. Mr. Walter Jones works as a supervisor for the hotel for three departments mainly front-desk manager, food and beverage and customer complaint and the Mr. Alex Jordan works in developing the customer relationships. This research is a primary one that will be further used for my own personal development in the professional environment. The interviews have occurred over telephone. I had to obtain the permission of the respondents before conducting the interview and this was done by e-mailing them in advance. The timing of the phone call was discussed over e-mails with the consent of the respondents. The findings from the interview are presented below. Mr. Walter Jones has worked with the Hilton Group for the past six years and he acts as a supervisor of three key areas namely front office, food and beverages delivery and resolution of customer complaints. Three most important skills have come up in the conversation with Mr. Walter Jones, namely, communication, problem solving and self-management skills. He explained that most importantly it is mandatory to manage one-self before managing others. He said that resolution of customer complaints requires having excellent communication skills. These finding is consistent with the findings of Mallinson and Weiler (2000 cited in Barron 78) who had also found that communication is most important requirement of supervisors. Problem-solving has also featured in their works. Mr. Whitman has also added that the organization has also been trying to improve its customer service experience for which it has encouraged every employee to take up computer learning skills. Mr. Whitman informed that he has recently learned internal computer software that makes his job easier. The

The nation states affected by globalisation

The nation states affected by globalisation INTRODUCTION In Viewing Globalisation and the ways it has affected nation states; it is safe to study it from two different schools of thoughts: The globalists and the sceptics. It is almost impossible to talk about Globalisation without relating it to a Nation States economy or politics. The two go together. A Nation State is affected by Globalisation in so many ways, and vice versa. The hyper globalists argue that the nation states have lost their power completely in this era of globalisation. The fact that the world is globalised means the end of the nation states especially through what is termed the â€Å"Borderless World† (Ohmae, 1990:172). For the complex globalists, although the international organisations are powerful, the nation states havent completely lost their powers. (Held et al, 1999: p27). The Sceptics, on the other hand disagree with the theories of the globalists that see the â€Å"end of nation states†. For Hirst and Thompson, The nation states are still very much in control, in fact, they have the most power and there is no such thing as the word â€Å"globalisation†, therefore, the notion that there is an effect of globalisation on nation states does not make sense (Hirst and Thompson, 1999: p256-280) In this essay, the hyper globalists and the complex globalists are classified as the liberalists or the globalists as they accept the concept of globalisation, believe in the reduction of the nation states powers, view the world as â€Å"being governed globally and conceptualise globalisation as a reordering of the frame work of human action† (Held et al, 1999: p10). They believe that globalisation is being spread through the technologies arising everyday. The Sceptics are classified as the realists who believe that the word should not be â€Å"globalisation, rather it is internationalisation and regionalisation† (Held et al, 1999: p10) and this â€Å"internationalisation depends on states acquiescence and support† (Held et al, 1999: p10) Firstly, the term â€Å"Globalisation† would be defined for clarification and the definition would serve as a reference to my points. Secondly, this essay would point out the relationship between globalisation and nation states, the institutions that arose with globalisation and how they affect nation states politically, economically and culturally, with examples. Thirdly, I would raise arguments from the globalists and sceptics points of view; my argument would show that nation states have lost their power due to the spread of globalisation and I would buttress my argument with citations and relative examples. I would also examine concerns (if any). Lastly, I would draw a conclusion which would portray my personal thoughts on globalisation and how it has affected nation states as a whole. â€Å"A globalised world is one in which political, economic, cultural, and social events become more interconnected.by Globalisation, we mean the increase of connectedness between societies† (Baylis, J. et al, 2008:8) Globalization, affects states, not only political but culturally as well as economically. The connectivity of these states and their dependence on one another for political stability, economic growth and cultural modification or awareness is also a factor of Globalisation. Nation states are naturally dependent on themselves for different resources, it could be as a result of competition, power in the international arena, or simply, for sustenance to their own economy (which may not be as rich). One major effect Globalisation has had on nation states was obviously the spread of the Global Crisis earlier this year. The crisis which was believed to have started in the United States seeped its way through other nation states and affected a large number of countries economically. The idea of globalisation which relates to interconnectedness of states, broken barriers and â€Å"borderless world† seems to have played a huge role in spreading the Financial Crisis witnessed by nation states. Banks were shut down as a result of illiquidity, not just in the United States but some countries in the EU, Brazil, and Japan etc. Unemployment rates sky rocketed in countries like Nigeria. People were getting sacked from their jobs all over the world. Even though this economic crisis started in the United States, the fact that it has the biggest economy in the world and lots of other nation states were connected to its economy meant the downfall of these nation states too. It is safe to say that international organisations or institutions have become the defining factor for most nation states in their global relations. The United Nations (for example) is the only international organization that has the authority over a states security and economic developments, â€Å"encompasses the protection of human rights and..the environment† (Taylor Curtis in J. Baylis et al, 2008: p.314). This further explains the effect of globalisation on nation states. Due to the tribal and religious wars in Africa and Asia, for example, The UN stepped in to examine these conflicts. Nation States now have to rely on these international organisations in times of conflicts especially when they cannot solve their problems on their own. The United Nations was created in 1945 and hosts different positions such as UNICEF which assists children; WHO which works on global public health and the UNHCR which provides aids to refugees. (Weiss, Forsyth Coates in OBrien Williams, 2007: p125). In this organisation, Weiss et al also state that the peace keeping/building of nation states are treated and looked into as well as some elections. (2007: p125). The United Nations is a very powerful organisation because it makes its laws and compels nation states to abide by them, and not the other way round. Nation states have more benefits when they work with these international organisations in terms of the security they are being offered (most times). The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was created in 1995 and is usually affiliated with trade and economic activities. The organisation has support from some of the wealthiest economies in the world such as the nation states in the EU, the United States and Japan. Developing countries would argue that some of these international organisations do not favour them because they are real powerful and tend to support the already developed countries in terms of these economic activities. The Rise of the Bretton Woods Institutions and its effect on Nation States. The Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 had a prominent effect on the world today. Out of this conference, two very important institutions: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The World Bank emerged (OBrien Williams: 2007, pp. 209-210). The IMF was the regulatory body that nation states had to apply to, to be part of the â€Å"gold standard† policy. This policy meant that the dollar would be the worlds currency and would be exchange for gold to determine its worth. The policy did not hold but the IMF is still the body in charge of global exchange and interest rates (OBrien Williams: 2007, pp. 86-89). More nation states were trading with each other; therefore, it became necessary, with time, to have exchange rates. The decision on what a dollar is to a pound is based on the outcome of what the IMF has concluded; not the nation states. The World Bank on the other hand is known as â€Å"the lender of the last resort†. Although, it claims to benefit nation states in crisis by bailing them out, there are also strict rules governing this procedure. The World Bank has the final say on which countries are benefitting from whatever money it would lend. The Nation States are entirely under their control here, they play no significant role; their only â€Å"role† is to fulfil all the rules the World Bank has set, and they just might be eligible for these monies. Ngaire Woods describes the IMF and World Bank as â€Å"The Globalizers†. She says that they have inculcated a good number of nation states into world economy by advising the governments of these states to be more open to investments and capital, and to allow for global trade (2006, p 3). She also states that â€Å"they have presented globalisation as a solution to challenges they have faced in the world economy† (2006, p3) Another major effect globalisation has had in nation states; (especially in recent years) is in the area of Migration. In the EU states, the schengen visa makes it possible to visit as many states as there are in the EU. Years ago, one would have needed 12 different visas to visit 12 different countries in the European Union, but today, with the spread of globalisation, one visa gets you to those 12 nation states. The sceptics like Hirst and Thompson might argue that although, we are seeing the emergence of these international organisations (in this case, the EU), which might have a say in national policies, â€Å"people are less mobile than moneythey remain ‘nationalized, dependent on passports, visas, residence and labour qualifications† (Hirst and Thompson,1999: p257). Thereby arguing that in fact, we do not live in a borderless world; rules in terms of migration are still made by the nation states. Globalists can defend their theories here that although individuals may need visas to move around countries, it is still the organisations that determine the nature of these visas especially in the EU where a visa to Italy equates a visa to France. Currencies are no longer national, that is, peculiar to their nation states. The Euro, for example is being used by nation states in the European Union. The use of this single currency by countries in the European Union has made it possible to break barriers (if any) of economic trade across EU nation states. This was implemented, not by the nation states but by the European Monetary System. Globalisation has affected the states in the sense that they had no option than to give into the use of this common currency or face the threat of having a depreciating currency that would eventually lead to a depreciated economy. Therefore the benefit of being in a unit saves exposure in the case of Recession etc. It is no shock that the nation states with the most powerful economies have the most amounts of Multi National Corporations. A survey done in 2006 by Data from Fortune shows that the top 25 (twenty five) MNCs in the world consist of nine in the United States, thirteen in the EU countries and two in Japan. Twenty four out of the twenty five largest corporations (by revenues) are for the wealthiest states (OBrien Williams, 2007: p175). This shows how relevant these MNCs are to their nations economy. MNCs now find their ways into different nation states with thriving economies to make profit from them. Borders are broken when a US based MNC decides to have an operating base in China, for example. The above citation goes to prove that MNCs are no longer ‘nation-owned but actually control the nations in the sense that they move to whichever state they want to be situated. THE CONCERN Speaking as an individual from a third world country, it is easy to say that there is a major concern and it is rightly justified in the sense that these governing international bodies which have been springing up due to the spread of globalisation, has still been one-sided. Politically, in 2007, Nigeria witnessed the election of President Umaru Yaradua. Usually, during elections, the US organises an electoral committee to oversee the process, making sure it is free and fair. During the elections, the national television authority in Nigeria (NTA) announced that some of the ballot boxes had gone missing during the course of the elections. Of course, that meant that something was not right. The individuals sent by the Electoral Commission went on international television (CNN) and announced that they had, in fact, over seen the elections and it was free and fair so whatever the result, the election was a success. Now, to whos benefit? Is it to the Nigerian public? The Nigerian Politicians? Or the United States electoral body sent to conduct these elections? Culturally, norms and values are deteriorating speedily. In todays society, globalisation of the media and internet has made it easy to have access to Hollywood and the Western fashion. It is very easy to get lost in the world of pornography (easy access through the internet where restrictions are not followed), under aged drinking is more prominent with the youth today because they see their favourite stars on television and they believe its the norm. Nation States cannot stop these infringements into their societies because as they have embraced globalisation, they have welcomed its positive and negative results. We are aware of the show down that took place in sports recently. The World cup qualifiers between France and Ireland, to be more specific. A controversial goal was scored by William Gallass of France after Thierry Henry (France captain) was said to have handled the ball and passed it. The goal was allowed by the referee and France qualified on that note. After much contest and ‘a million highlights of that moment, The Irish football association (as a nation state) challenges FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) which is in charge of regulating laws concerning football internationally, to replay the match for a fair result. FIFA ruled against it and France was named as one of the countries participating in the world cup next year. The questions here are direct: Does France deserve to be in the world cup? More importantly, is France in the world Cup because Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president is close friends with French man Michel Platini, the UEFA (Union of Eu ropean Football associations) president? It is notable that FIFA and UEFA, the football governing bodies have the final decision on whatever happens on the pitch, sometimes, it could be a wrong call and nation states that are reportedly treated unfairly have no say in these matters. In my opinion, drawing concerns from globalisation is very crucial to nation states. Globalisations effect on nation states, as important as it may be, calls for a lot of attention and scrutiny. The systems that have come up as a result of our globalising world have not been entirely fair, because in the end, who are those governing in these international organisations and MNCs? Who are those in power making all these decisions? They are the people with hegemony, with power and wealth who are able to control nation states and make them puppets. They are the capitalists whose ultimate goal is to make profit, so we should definitely be concerned since it affects us globally. Globalisation is not successful until concerns are next to irrelevant. Every nation state should be able to benefit from the spread of globalisation, but at the moment, the powerful states are only getting more powerful, sapping resources form the developing countries by situating MNCs strategically. Nation states now go out of their way to create a more suitable business environment because these MNCs chose the best possible location involving cheap labour to situate their business. Therefore, states now compete with each other to be more and more favourable to the MNCs, most times, at the risk of their citizens. Generally, it would be of less concern if it benefitted the whole world equally. Concerns have risen because some nation states are being treated with more advantages than others. In concluding, the nation states played a huge role in policy making which affected individuals but with the spread of globalisation, states roles became very limited and less conspicuous in these political arenas. Territorial boundaries were becoming less important because they became more connected to one another (the states), flows of technology such as the internet and satellite made views and news more global; there by restricting in determining what its individuals are exposed to, movements became globalised such as the NGOs, INGOs; flows of capital ran through borders; and the media made everything recognisable especially through the consistent rise of Hollywood (the US film industry). Ohmae conceptualizes my idea on globalisation and how it affects nation states when he describes the states as â€Å"a dysfunctional unitrepresents no shared community of economic interest† (1990, p.24). It is clear that nation states are now being governed by external forces, whether it is the MNCs, the International Organisations, the NGOs or INGOs and it is important to note that most organisations are in business for profit making so the best possible state with the least possible labour would be a recipient of their businesses. However, many arguments may arise over the concerns of globalisation and how it affects nation states. Some may argue that it has enriched their nations economy; others may argue that it has given their nation states more exposure on the international scene, but a nation state that cannot make its own decisions because of a â€Å"governing body† is almost powerless. Decision making, governing its people, security for its citizens and most importantly, culture of a nations people should be overseen by its government. BIBLIOGRAPHY Baylis, J., Smith, S., Owens, P. (2008) The Globalisation of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 4th edition (New York: Oxford University Press) Held, D. Mc Grew, A., Goldblatt, D. Perraton, J. (1999) The Global Transformations: Politics, Economics Culture (Cambridge: Polity Press) Hirst, P. Thompson, G. (1999) Globalisation in Question, 2nd edition (Cambridge: Polity Press) OBrien, R. and Williams, M. (2007) Global Political Economy: Evolution Dynamics, 2nd edition (New York: Palgrave Macmillan) Ohmae, K. (1990) The Borderless World: Power and Strategy in the Inter linked Economy (London: Fontana) Stone, D. Wright, C. (2007) The World Bank and Governance: A Decade of Reform and Reaction (New York: Routledge) Taylor, P. Curtis, D. (2008) â€Å"The United Nations† in Baylis, J. et al, The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 4th edition (New York: Oxford University Press) pp. 314-315 Weiss, Forsyth Coates (2001) â€Å"International Organisation and Governance† in OBrien, R. Williams, M., Global Political Economy: Evolution Dynamics, 2nd edition (New York: Palgrave Maxmillian) Pg 125 Woods, N. (2006) The Globalizers: the IMF, the World Bank their borrowers (New York: Cornell University Press) Woods, N. (2008) â€Å"International Political Economy in an age of Globalization† John Baylis, J. et al, The Globalisation of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 4th edition (New York: Oxford University Press) pp. 244-258