Key Principles Enshrined In The Shariah Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 12 Words: 3654 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? The key principles enshrined in the Shariah which shape the way Islamic finance has evolved are riba, gharrar, maisir and haram. The Quran categorically prohibits the giving or receiving of interest, regardless of the purpose for which the loan is made and regardless of the rate of interest charged. Although there is consensus among the Muslim scholars that riba is banned, some controversy exists over what the concept actually is,  [2]  and consequently what financial transactions are prohibited.  [3]  Dr Siddiqui in his book on Islamic banking attempts to resolve the issue when after examining and debating on the true nature of riba he reaches the conclusion that bank interest in all its forms and intent is riba.  [4] In Islam, to be entitled to a permissible return, money should be invested through the purchase and sale of tangible assets, and income streams should be derived from the economic use of those assets.  [5]  Heavy reliance is placed upon the existence of physical assets in contracts  [6]  so as to avoid riba, as well as gharar. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Key Principles Enshrined In The Shariah Finance Essay" essay for you Create order This prohibition of riba is the core difference between Islamic Banking and conventional banking. Islamic banking is primarily an equity based system featuring zero based interest rates, equity participation, joint ventures, and mutual funds and leasing. The way that it differs itself from conventional banking is through the replacement of interest rate mechanisms with profit and loss sharing models i.e. mudarabah and musharaka, and other interest free instruments such murabaha, bai istisna, bai salam, ijarah. These all enhance the practical scope of Islamic finance and enable better risk management and diversification. Depositors in Islamic banks play a major role in the financing used by banks as not only do they share in the banks profits made but they also share in the losses as their deposits are not guaranteed. Profit and Loss instruments i.e. mudaraba and musharaka are contractual agreements between two or more parties based on the notion of no fixed rate of return for t he borrower but rather a share in the profits of the venture or if the case may be the liability for the losses of the venture. Both PLS instruments can be used for short term, medium term and long-term projects. Mudarabah, although not based on shariah sources but rather on darrura (necessity) is a means of providing capital to entrepreneurs known who are then known as the mudarib, to go ahead with a project. It can be between the Islamic bank and an individual or a multinational corporation. It is in essence a silent partnership where the partner providing the capital is silent. The Islamic Bank being Rab al mal (financial provider) enters a contract with the mudarib in which he forwards a sum of money to the mudarib to utilise his skills and labour, while having no involvement at all in the management of the project. The mudarabah can be restricted, which is where the Rab al Mal has the right to specify the line of business for the mudarib to work within or specific projects. An unrestricted Mudarabah is where the mudarib has the right to choose any line of business that he wishes without the interference of rab al mal. The Rab al mal, in return for the financing provided does not receive a fixed return but a fixed share of the profits, which are agreed upon by both parties in the contract stage. The financial loss is solely incurred by the Islamic bank. The bank losses the capital invested with the Mudarib as well as the future expected cash flow from the profits gained, whereas the mudarib only loses his time and effort. The risk is therefore all the banks to bear and as a result they have to stringent in the procedure adopted to screen entrepreneurs and the measures taken to ensure a low risk and high return. Musharaka is a hybrid of sharikat and mudarabah, combining the act of investment and management. They are partnerships, where two or more people combine either their capital or labour or even reputations to form a business in which all the partners share in both the profits and the losses in predetermined ratios which reflect their share of input into the business either through the capital invested or the labour and time put in. They all also are liable for the losses in proportion to the capital they put in. Every partner has a right but not a duty to partake in the management of the business. An agreement can be reached for the partnership to be a silent partnership, with only one person managing the business and the rest taking no part in management, but still entitled to his share of the profit. Each and every partner in the musharaka is both the agent and guarantor of the other. There is also a Diminishing musharaka which is used for large assets such as property or machinery. Diminishing musharaka involves both an ijara agreement and a musharaka agreement . The borrower along with a bank purchase a property jointly, with the share in the property reflecting the amount put forward. The borrower at the same time enters into a ijara agreement to rent the banks share of the property. So the borrower owns his share and rents the banks share. Both the amount repaid under the diminishing musharaka agreement and the amount paid under the lease agreement are amalgamated. This is then used to calculate how much of the property owned by the bank the borrower has purchased through monthly instalments. At the end of the agreements, the bank will pass the title of ownership to the borrower after a single and last payment after which the borrower owns 100% of the property. There are two types of risk associated specifically with PLS contracts. One is the risk of the investment itself, the risk of rate of return, while the other is the risk associated with the moral conduct of the entrepreneur and his integrity. The first can be minimised through strict practices of selecting potential investments and calculating the risk and profit potential. But it cannot be fully eradicated. The second stems from t he existence of imperfect markets and asymmetric information. Islamic scholars and jurists consider PLS to be a centre pillar in Islamic financing, which it was during the early stages of the emergence of the Islamic financial markets. However, sampling from ten Islamic banks during 1994-1996, show that the percentage weight of musharakah and mudarabah in the total activities was only 7% each, with murabaha, a non-PLS method claiming 70% of the total financing  [7]  . The reason for this being that Islamic banks made considerable losses and as a result have almost completely stopped using PLS methods of financing. This is due to more than just one factor, but the most dominant are the effects of asymmetric information on the relationship between the bank and the customer and the detrimental effects that this has on the profits made by the bank. The first problem encountered by the Islamic bank, is the adverse selection problem. Islamic banks as we know do not operate with interest but instead use profit sharing schemes, where they are entitled to a specific predetermined share of a projects profit. Potential borrowers have inside information about their activities and intent and their prospective projects likelihood of success that the bank cannot verify easily. Due to the nature of PLS contracts, Islamic banks will attract applicants with inside knowledge that their project is highly risky, and borrowers who will inflate their declared profit expectations in the hope of being quoted a lower profit-sharing ratio by the bank.  [8]  As a result, the rate offered by banks rather than being tailored to specific projects is averaged out to minimise losses. The low risk and high profit projects refuse to pay what in effect is a higher rate for them due to their low risk and as a result do not enter into the market at all leaving only low risk projects for the banks to invest with. Once the borrower has been transferred the funds needed for the speci fic project, the bank has limited control over the funds and how they are used. With unrestricted mudaraba the mudarib has complete discretion to do with the money as he wishes. The mudarib, once given access to the funds can potentially undertake riskier projects without the banks knowledge, indulge in perquisites and mislead the bank about profits earned, leading him to have more information than the bank. This is essentially a moral hazard problem. The third and most significant problem arises as a direct result of the corporate relationship between the management of a project and owners, which is attributed as a major cause of the lack of PLS contracts being practised by Islamic banks. Once the contract has been entered into by both parties, the mudarib as manager and agent not only has no incentive to act in the banks best interest as principals but also has a disincentive to do so. This immorality and lack of integrity impose risks on the bank and their bottom line. The age ncy problem, as this is, is essentially the conflict of interests that arise between the manager and the owners. The principal as owner engages the agent as a manager to act on his behalf in the day to day management and long term success of the company, and as such, expects the agent to act in the principals best interest as financier/owner of the company. However, the mudaraba contract as a silent partnership inherently limits the control rights of the financier, while they are exposed to the financial risk of the project. Due to the nature of the agents role as manager of the company, he is privy to information that the principal is not, thus has an advantage over the principal. Here, the borrower acting as the agent has the incentive to deceive the principal with regards to profits earned. Because the principal has a predetermined fixed share (although uncertain), by manufacturing lower profits statements or even showing no profits at all the mudarib can keep 100% of the profits and offer the rab al mal nothing in return for its financing. They can also deflate the profits earned by taking excessive perks or extra leisure, empire building or resorting to accounting subterfuges to disguise the deceit. Islamic banks would have to incur costly monitoring expenses to ascertain whether the declared profits are a true reflection of the activities of the projects or not. This argument is based on the idea that parties to a business transaction will shirk if they are compensated less than their marginal contribution in the production process, and as this happens in the case of PLS, the capitalists hesitate to invest on PLS basis.  [9] Firstly, Islamic banks lack the regulatory frameworks and tools needed in order to successfully assess the risk profile of each borrower and determine whether they are a viable investment to avoid the adverse selection problem. Secondly, the costs that would be incurred to monitor the borrowers activities and finances outweigh a ny possible gain from the project and prohibit the bank from conducting any monitoring activity. Barring any of these problems Islamic banks still face other issues such as taxation and poor accounting standards which limit the success of these banks. Any attempts to re-establish PLS methods of finance would be met with great opposition especially by the customers of the banks who would almost immediately withdraw their deposits due to the fear that the bank will lose the money through the PLS modes. To avoid the problems of asymmetric information and to subdue the worries of the depositors the Islamic banks need to utilise other permissible Islamic finance modes such as ijara and trade based financing. Explain carefully how Islamic banks may mitigate the effects of moral hazard and agency costs in practice and compare Islamic banks strategies with those used by conventional banks. Islamic banks as mentioned before have made considerable losses through the use of PLS instruments in the past mainly due to the problems associated with asymmetric information. These problems being, adverse selection before the contract is agreed upon and both moral hazard and the agency problem after the funds have been extended. Due to the impact these losses have had on the finances of the Islamic banks, they have resorted to using other less risky means of Islamic financing such as ijara contracts. In Malaysia PLS instruments only account for 0.5% of Islamic bank financing, and this is the case across many other countries in the Middle East.  [10] Islamic banks have to some extent tried to mitigate the problems that have arisen from the PLS contracts but none the less they have not been successful in limiting the losses incurred. Conventional Banks are prone to the same problems, although not as poignant as the Islamic banks because the musharaka contracts are mainly equi ty based, but regardless, they have managed to minimise the risks associated with financing in a way that the Islamic banks cannot compete with. In order to rectify the markets and attract the high profit low risk project associated with the contracts, the bank has to individualise its rates but it then faces the problem of trying to screen potential projects. This in itself is extremely difficult for a bank to do in an imperfect market where information asymmetries exist. Barring this the bank is left with the only other alternative, which is to not extend credit to anyone at all which would have a devastating effect on the banks profit. The bank can to some extent avoid this final situation by negotiating different rates with each individual potential mudarib based not only on the risk associated with the project but also additional signalling devises that low risk persons can use in order to prove to the bank that they are indeed low risk. The first problem addressed was th e adverse selection problem. Being able to distinguish between the high quality low risk borrowers and low quality high risk borrowers is essential to a bank in order to eliminate the potential problems that can occur once the contract is undertaken, such as the borrowers inability to pay and the complete failure of the project. Conventional banks have successfully minimised the risks of adverse selection through techniques of initial screening and guarantees of finance. Banks decide who to make loans to based on the borrowers credit worthiness. They use the borrowers financial statements and other public information they can access such as the value of the borrowers assets, as well as using the borrowers credit rating obtained through other specialised companies. They also use the private information they may hold if they have done business with the borrower in the past. They have established an effective and cost reducing standard screening method that applies to most cases. Th ey also have standardised contracts and do not need to tailor each contract to the individual borrower. Restrictive covenants are also used and dictate who the funds go to specifically, when they can be used and for what. Using all the information gained from screening they forecast and value the borrowers probability of default and potential profitability. Alongside screening, banks also require the borrower to offer collateral for the loan. This guarantees that if the borrower defaults on the loan the bank can seize the collateral and sell it to regain the capital lost. The bank also has to do its due diligence in checking up on the borrower and valuating the project and potential cash flow stream. Islamic banks have more to lose from the problems of adverse selection than conventional banks and as a result need to put more effort into screening potential borrowers. Islamic banks initially apply a moral and ethical screen, which screens the business of the borrower and the prod ucts to make sure that they are shariah compliant which comes at a very high cost. Once it is established that they are shariah compliant the Islamic bank can then screen the borrowers finances. Screening imposes a great cost on the firm, the cost of information, which to some extent can be lowered by implementing a more efficient and effective standard screening system which the conventional banks have done. After the preliminary screening the bank has to do its due diligence in investigating the borrowers financial plan for the proposed project to ensure that the estimates are correct, the business strategy and management are capable of producing the profits expected and that the project itself is viable. Then the bank can value the net present value of the project and calculate the rate of return needed to compensate it for the risk taken. This is not only costly but, both the screening and the due diligence take considerable time and resources. There are 2 solutions for the m oral hazard issue, monitoring and control of the borrower. Through the PLS contract itself the Islamic bank can impose penalties on the borrower for non compliance or bad behaviour that jeopardises the banks profits. This would entail placing restrictive covenants in the contract itself to prohibit the borrower from conducting certain and to legally allow the bank to act to protect its own interests. However in order to enforce these penalties and covenants the Islamic bank has to effectively monitor the borrowers behaviour and financial actions. The cost of monitoring is high and ongoing throughout the entire length of the contract between the bank and the borrower and therefore uses a substantial amount of resources and time. For both Islamic and conventional banks, U.K. regulations for companies under the Companies Act 2006 require public companies to submit annual financial reports of the company which can be viewed by everyone. These reports include the firms financial accou nts. This enables the banks in the UK at least to have easier access to the information needed to assess the financial welfare of the borrower. There is similar regulation in place across the European Union and U.S.A. however, countries where Islamic banks are the norm i.e the Middle East and South-East Asia have little if not any regulation for companies, which makes it even more difficult to screen and monitor borrowers. Conventional banks primarily use a combination of incentive contracts, monitoring and collateral as mechanisms to align the interests of the borrowers and the lender. However, the use of collateral in Islamic banks is limited due to the nature of Islamic instruments. PLS instruments are collateral free instruments due to the equity nature of them. Islamic banking itself also to some extent relies on the moral and ethical standards that Islam itself places on people. Professor Rodney Wilson argues that there is a higher level of trust between Islamic banks and t heir clients than is the case with conventional banks and hence the moral hazard risks are less.  [11]  Higher levels of trust reduce risk and uncertainty that banks face. The agency problem is the most detrimental problem that Islamic banks face with PLS contracts. Islamic banks are affected on both the asset side and liability side. The principal-agent problem is essentially the conflict of interest of managers and shareholders, which causes the manager to shirk effort and indulge in perquisites and damage shareholder value. Therefore, a standard contract that aligns both these interests and covers all possibilities is the best way to mitigate the agency problem. Monitoring has to also be used in conjunction with the contracts to ensure that the asymmetric information is not exploited and that the terms of the contract are adhered to. Without monitoring it would be impossible to implement or enforce any contractual obligations on the borrower. Islamic banks have implemen ted alternative PLS contracts where the banks share of profits is altered. The borrower keeps 100% of the profit until the profit reaches a certain limit, after this the bank receives it predetermined share of profits, which essentially makes this a debit like instrument. This has been done in Malaysia in the Bank Muamalat and has had great success. The debt contract with deterministic monitoring (in case of default) (Diamond, 1984) or stochastic monitoring (Townsend, 1979) has been shown to be optimal for financial intermediation between a large number of savers and a large number of entrepreneurs.  [12]  Although Townsend has shown that stochastic monitoring, that is monitoring and verification is done in a random way. He has shown that not only does this limit the costs associated with monitoring but also creates an incentive for honesty on the part of the borrower.  [13] Monitoring of the borrower is an essential part of guaranteeing returns. Monitoring can be done t hrough investigating the borrowers financial situation through financial statements and annual reports. The borrower has a contractual duty to provide the Islamic bank with financial reports. Islamic banks can also impose a member of their bank (usually a bank manager) as a director over the borrower. This allows the bank much greater access to the borrowers financial information and enables easier and more effective monitoring and control of activities. Advocates of Islamic banking, therefore argue that a primary advantage of PLS banking is that it leads to a more efficient allocation of capital because the return on capital and its allocation depend on the productivity and viability of the project.  [14]  However, Islamic banks lack the regulatory framework and structure to be able to achieve this efficiency and are constantly being overcome by asymmetric information problems. Even if banks were to now try and adopt the PLS methods again with the solutions to counter the pr oblems faced in the past, the depositors would almost immediately withdraw funds. The depositors do not trust banks who conduct PLS banking unless the legal framework to protect both them and the bank was implemented and regulatory and supervisory structure for companies is put in place. This is especially the case in the under developed Muslim countries were company law and regulatory bodies are few.

The Current Chinese Government Fits Into The Category Of...

The current Chinese government fits into the category of Authoritarian Regimes because Chinese government just use the coercion to limit political pluralism in order to maintain their power, but allows some social pluralism and does not use ideology or coercive mobilization to shape citizen’s interests, or support for the regime. However, China had been in a category of totalitarian regimes once after the World War 2 ended. After the world war 2, under the Mao’s control, China’s sovereignty imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people, which is the totalitarian regime. When China was under Mao’s control, citizen’s interest and identities were shaped by the ideology created by the government, and the ideology motivated Chinese citizen to act politically in particular way. The ideology that China promoted under Mao’s control was the communist ideology, which they believe that efforts should be made to redistribute economic wealth as much as possible and that a single political party should direct the government and control the state. After 1978, Mao’s successor Deng and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000, output had quadrupled. Therefore, after 1978, China changed the system of government to allow more freedom for citizens instead of the total control over citizens by the coercive mobilization.For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personalShow MoreRelatedThe Political and Legal Environments Facing Business4014 Words   |  17 Pagesthey encounter dynamic and challenging political and legal environments. Chapter Three provides a conceptual foundation for the examination of the political and legal dimensions of international business operations. 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Significance of Virginity as a reflection of the hypocrisy in the society Essay Example For Students

Significance of Virginity as a reflection of the hypocrisy in the society   Essay The novella â€Å"Chronicle of a Death Foretold† by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is part fiction part history, and is based on an incident that took place in Sucre in 1951, where Marquez had been living with his family. In this melodramatic incident, a landowner, Miguel forsook his wife, Margarita, when he found on his wedding night that she was not a virgin. Through a journalist style, and the genre of magic realism, Marquez blends facts and fiction to show the farcical honor codes and double standards of the people of the society. This novel is a reflection of a society wherein every one is closely related to the other, yet the people are indifferent and elusive to the moral and ethical actions that are violated in the name of honor, religion and double standards. The use of the setting, characters and conflict help Marquez lash upon the virginity paradox, the hypocritical thinking and superficial religious values prevailing in Columbia. To begin with, Marquez chooses the Columbian town, which is deeply engulfed in the Latin American culture to show the poignancy of the importance of virginity and honor codes. The setting of this town is very instrumental in understanding the cultural and societal norms prevailing here. Through the setting, Marquez speaks of the people whose lives are filled with alehouses, whorehouses and gambling places. Marquez uses the natural setting of Columbia to establish surrealism, and also gives the reader a sense of what Latin culture is, which makes the death of Santiago much more personal. Marquez’s focus is on the cultural setting of the town rather than the historical setting. The quote â€Å"On the upper deck, beside the captains cabin, was the bishop in his white cassock and with his retinue of Spaniards† indicates that the Bishop, although a 20th century priest, is still wrapped in the vestiges of Spanish culture. He has his retinue and dress code, everything of which is a reminiscent of the long gone Spanish colonization. The Bishop is a man of authority for the people gathered around to welcome him. The reader does not understand why the Columbian people are still living in the shadows of the culture of the colonist country, although Columbia has long been liberated from the clutches of Imperialism. The setting shows that the people of the town are zealot catholic Christians, who wait on the river bank for the arrival of Bishop on every festive occasion. The novel is a strong depiction of a society that has stereotyped values and sets for men and women. Man is the breadwinner. He has every right to enjoy his life, and exercise his prerogative to choose from plenty of girls for marriage. Every woman in the society is earmarked as a conventional bride from her very childhood. The role of the women is confined to â€Å"sewing,† â€Å"stitching† and â€Å"embroidering.† In contrast to this, â€Å"The brothers were brought up to be men but the girls had been reared to get married.† The quote claims that men are the rulers of the patriarchal society, who have the right to merry making and indulge in sexual pleasures. Wine, women, gambling and promiscuity are the order of the day for them. Santiago is a philanderer who went nipping the bud of any wayward virgin who began showing up in those woods. Garcia tells about, Maria Alejandrina Cervantes, the town whore, It was she who did away with my generations virginity.† At the death of Santiago, she is there with her mother, an allusion that reminds the readers of the presence of Mary Magdalene at the death of Jesus. The reference shows the importance of the â€Å"madam of the local Bordella† in the town, but it is the irony of human kind that the other women have to lead a stereotyped life. Marquez’s quote is is remarkable in that it shows how the Columbian society has perceived the notions of the Spanish culture that has obliterated the native culture and values of Columbia. The reader is surprised to see the prevalence of the stereotyped roles of men and women even in the 20th century Columbia. Marquez uses the word â€Å"broth ers† to show that the brothers act as a unit for the family. But the â€Å"girls† are reared to marry separately, and that they are disintegrated form the family soon after the wedding. .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c , .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .postImageUrl , .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c , .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:hover , .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:visited , .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:active { border:0!important; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:active , .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u48f832eb6ec85f65f1dbea36e210af7c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Analyse the various forms of prejudice you encounter in the novel EssayMarquez reflects on the closely-knit people of the society who gather at the bank of the river to wait for a Bishop, who hates them. The word â€Å"hates† is not commensurate with the profession of the Bishop. But he does not bother any more than to wave his hand from the boat and turn back. Marquez shows how religion has been reduced to corrupted man made traditions, customs and superstitions. The town is still revolving around communal values set hundreds of years ago, thereby showing the laxity and reluctance of the people to overcome these values, and adjust themselves to modern values. Placi da Linero tells the readers of the hatred of the Bishop for this town by this quote â€Å"He won’t†¦. this town.† The character of the bishop that is reflected in the eyes of the readers is that of a man who loves coxcomb soup, may be a sexual innuendo, more than the people. The Bishop either fails in his duty, or perhaps he understands that this town is in the imprecation of heinous honor codes. The confused reader does not understand the reason behind his hatred for this town and rather feels confused as to why the Bishop gives the obligatory blessing. Marquez uses short sentences to show the pauses in the flow of Placida’s ideas. She knows the routine affair of the Bishop but she too does not understand why he behaves so. The honor codes have a predominant role in the Columbian culture. Since the people in the town are very closely knit, it is very important for every family to maintain its sense of honor. The women have to keep their virginity intact, and the men have to wreak vengeance if some one violates the honor of a family. â€Å"Honor is love† Angela’s mother says to to show how deeply honor dwells in the psyche of the Columbian women. The main honor lies in protecting the girls from getting wayward, as a deflowered girl becomes alienated from this rigid society. This is the reason Angela’s blind father always accompanies her outside home. The reader is shocked to see that although there have been so much furor on honor codes, the women are secretly indulging in the forbidden fruit. Honor code is nothing but a farce, and it has lost its values in the eyes of the modern women. Marquez uses a very short sentence in â€Å"Honor is love† to show that the people of Colum bia are never going to compromise with the honor codes although they know it very well that the concept is losing its hold on the people. The murder of Santiago Nasar creates a conflict in the mind of the characters. Some consider the murder threat only an absurdity while others leave Santiago to his malignant fate. Some are of the opinion that he must be killed for violating the honor of Angela Vicario. It appears that this society is so staunchly ruled by honor codes that â€Å"death† can be â€Å"foretold† and truly Santiago â€Å"died without understanding his own death.† The quote â€Å"There had never been a death so foretold† shows the paradoxical beginning of the novella wherein the death of Santiago is foretold. Santiago’s murder is pronounced but as fate would have it, he is, fortuitously, aloof to the echoes of this proclamation. He is lost in merry making, in the â€Å"apostolic lap of Maria,† and it is the irony of his fate that no one bothers to warn him. The â€Å"foretelling† tells the negligence of the people of Columbian society. The reader is surprised to find the indifference of the people to a murder, which is yet to take place. Marquez uses an oxymoron in the very title of the novella. He fills the reader with tension and suspense, and makes him desperate to see the outcome of this threat. It is Marquez’s literary genius and powerful style that he starts the novella straightaway with the murder of the protagonist. .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 , .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .postImageUrl , .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 , .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:hover , .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:visited , .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:active { border:0!important; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:active , .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995 .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2e8ecff414d19721017f7fec5c095995:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: English Literature An Inspector Calls EssayTo conclude, Marquez is very successful in showing that the Columbian society is ruled by primitive customs of virginity and honor codes. The men take advantage of religion to impose virginity on women, in order to enjoy â€Å"fresh meat.† But the women are not to be considered less smart than them. They use â€Å"old wives’ tricks† and are dexterous enough to blindfold the men. Through the use of characters and conflict Marquez penetrates the gossamer of the farcical Columbian society with which it is woven. The novel successfully shows that Columbia is still in the specter of the Latin American culture, and the people have to pay the price of following a foreign culture blindly.

Panera Bread Company

Panera Bread’s Strategy Panera Bread Company has expanded its business rapidly considering the demand of the US market; in addition, it focused on distinctive menu, prompt services, and signature cafà © design to achieve long-term objectives and to become the dominant restaurant operator (Thompson 615).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Panera Bread Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, this company has already launched a catering service in order to expand its market, for instance, people need such service to arrange parties or other gatherings; as a result, this company should carry out this type of effective services while it had earned more than $80 million in the fiscal year 2004/05 from this service. Most closely fit strategy from the five generic competitive strategies: Figure 1: The best strategy of Panera Bread Broad differentiation strategy would fit with this company because Tho mpson (615) stated that the prime objective of Panera Bread is to attract local customers with quality food menu at reasonable price (typical meal costs $7 – $12) and achieve loyal customer base; however, type of competitive advantages are – it offers quality food items, atmosphere and rapid services to attract target consumers. SWOT Analysis of Panera Bread Company Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Figure 2: SWOT Analysis of Panera Bread Company Source: self-generated Strengths Main strongest points are – High customer satisfaction rate in accordance with the survey report of Power and Associates’ and Sandleman Associates; It has more than 66,000 loyal customers who like the products due to excellent taste, flavour and quality; Panera Bread is committed to offer healthy food items; It has well trained employees, chefs, and dealers; Panera B read management team had long experience and outstanding leadership quality to develop good supply chain and distribution channels; It has already received several awards due to maintaining quality of food items; Weaknesses Panera Bread Company needs to focus on the price of raw materials and operating expenses to compete with the rivals; Some competitors have more establishment and brand awareness; Opportunities Thompson (2) stated that Panera Bread has opportunity to expand its business in the international market using broad market appeal, brand awareness and existing customer base; Rising demand and earning from franchise operation would create new business dimension to diversify product line; Financial strength creates new scope to consider vertical diversification; Threats Many large competitors like Atlanta Bread Company offer similar products at affordable costs; Strategies along with marketing policies of the other competitors including franchise food companies; Locat ion and menu selection Core Competencies or Distinctive Competencies According to the view of Thompson (167), Panera’s lineup of bread varieties, quality products and skilled employees are the key success factor and core competencies of this company; therefore, many food its including Panera’s signature sourdough bread, Asiago Cheese items, traditional Italian flatbread Focaccia, Tomato Basil, Artisan Sesame Semolina and classic French bread become more popular items day by day. Panera’s Closest Competitors in Accordance with the Information of Exhibit 9 Thompson pointed out key variables of different fast-casual restaurant chains (about 21 renowned companies), such as, number of locations, financial condition and menu categories to assess completive position; however, considering the presence of different states, it can argued that Chili’s Grill and Bar, Cracker Barrel, and Starbucks are the main competitors of Panera Bread. According to the data of exh ibit nine, Cracker Barrel has about 527 combination retail stores as well as restaurants in 42 states, Chili’s Grill operates in more than 1074 sites in 49 states and 23 nations, Starbucks has business operation in 3000 places in the global market and more than 7500 locations in the local market. However, number of outlets and business operation in the international place are not only criteria to find out closest competitors; however, California Pizza Kitchen, Jason’s Deli, Brinker International, Cracker Barrel, Qdoba Mexican Grill, and Starbucks offer some signature food items and popular dishes.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Panera Bread Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, Thompson analysed the financial position, for instance, in 2005, Au Bon Pain earned $245 million, California Pizza Kitchen generated about $480 million, Qdoba Mexican Grill earned $2.5 billion and Starbucks generated $6.4 billion; however, Panera’s closest competitors is Starbucks considering all variables. The Strategic Concerns and Problems Those Need to Concentrate by the Management The management team of this company should broaden the target market because this company highly targeted urban employees and suburban dwellers to increase demand of the bakery and cafà ©; on the other hand, large competitors have focused more on the mass population. At the same time, the management of Panera Bread Company has concentrated more on the marketing strategy to enhancing the quality and demand of its breads and baked items; however, other strategic issues and problems are – The company has experienced success by selecting suitable place for the restaurant; therefore, the management should always penetrate new market considering market survey reports and population of the area; The management team carry out new campaign like â€Å"chill out† campaign because t hey had gained competitive advantages by taking some successful marketing initiatives to develop awareness and increase multiple meal times; Since the position of the competitors is one of the main strategic concerns, the management needs to increase customer demand and new customer base; The management teams eager to open a number of franchised bakery-cafà ©s in order to meet growth target, but the company not grant single unit franchises, which creates hindrance to expand its business This case study on Panera Bread Company was written and submitted by user Joy Hansen to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

King Lear Essays (452 words) - King Lear, Operas,

King Lear "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive". Sir Walter Scott may not have intended to describe the tangled web of secrets that fuels Shakespeare's tragedy "King Lear", but it certainly applies. Secrets come in many shapes and sizes, and in works of literature they can be categorized as either secrets that are unknown to the reader or secrets that unknown to the characters. In "King Lear", the secrets are kept from the characters. As in many great tragedies, it is the secrets in Shakespeare's "King Lear" that cause the tragedy to occur. In the first scene of "King Lear", Lear tells his youngest daughter that "nothing will come of nothing", referring to her refusal to profess her love for him, but unfortunately for him, he was dead wrong. Lear refuses to recognize that his two eldest daughters are evil and only his youngest truly loves him. This is the secret in the story; the two older daughters hide their wickedness behind a mask of kind words, and Lear allows the secret to remain a secret, by his unwillingness to accept the fact that his daughters do not love him. What follows plunges Lear into the depths of hell, and then through his eventual realization of this secret, he is able to redeem himself. Shakespeare writes this story in a manner that the reader understands the cause of Lear's problems, but Lear himself does not. This draws the reader into the story because the reader knows that Lear's actions will lead to his downfall. As the story progresses the reader begins feeling very sympathetic towards Lear, because they understand the failure of Lear to expose the secret. Without the secret, however, a lot of heartbreak would have been saved, but there would have been no story. For it is the secret and the subsequent heartbreak that draws the reader into the story. The overall effect of this secret is crucial to the development of the tragedy. This technique is seen in many tragedies. In "Oepidus Rex", the secret during this story is that Oedipus married his mother and killed his father, in" Romeo and Juliet" it is their secret love, and in "Desire Under the Elms" it is that the son is the secret father of his father's baby. The secret aspect in all of these stories aid in the mystery and also the horror. The secrets in "King Lear" set the story in perpetual motion, and aid in the effect and overall impression the story has on the reader. As seen in many tragedies the secretive element creates the story, fuels the plot, and sets the stage for the tragedy to occur. As the secret is exposed and the heartbreak occurs, the tragedy unfolds. The reader's knowledge of the secret draws them into the story allowing them to see the classic struggle between good and evil.

About the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

About the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) Medical schools take several factors into account when considering your application: your transcript, letters of recommendation, and of course, your medical college admissions test, or MCAT, score. What Is the MCAT? The MCAT is a standardized exam designed to measure your aptitude for a career in medicine. It provides medical schools an objective measure of your ability to process and analyze information and attempts to predict your future success in medical school. It also taps your critical thinking skills and problem-solving ability. While not the sole determining factor in acceptance decisions, it provides admissions officers with a basis of comparison for the thousands of applications they review. Who Administers the MCAT? The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, a nonprofit organization composed of accredited U.S. and Canadian medical schools, major teaching hospitals and professional medical societies. The MCAT Consists of 4 Sections The latest version of the MCAT was rolled out in 2015. Its four sections are: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological SystemsCritical Analysis and Reasoning SkillsBiological and Biochemical Foundations of Living SystemsPsychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior The critical analysis and reasoning section consists of 53 questions and is 90 minutes long. The other three sections each contain 59 questions that must be answered within 95 minutes per section. When to Take the MCAT The MCAT is administered multiple times between January and September. Take the exam the year before you intend to enroll in medical school (i.e., before you apply). If you think that you might take the MCAT more than once, make your first attempt in January, March, April or May so that you have enough time to get your scores, decide on whether to take it again, register for a seat and prepare. How to Register for the MCAT Seats fill quickly so register well ahead of deadlines. Information about the test, test  centers, and registration details can be found on the Medical College Admissions Test website. How the MCAT Is Scored Each MCAT section is scored individually. Multiple choice questions are scored right or wrong, with wrong answers worth the same as unanswered questions, so dont skip questions. Youll get a score for each of the four sections and then a total score. Section scores range from 118 to 132, and total scores from 472 to 528, with a score of 500 being the midpoint. When to Expect MCAT Scores Scores are released 30 to 35 days after the exam and available online. Your scores are automatically released to the ​American Medical College Application Service, a non-profit centralized application processing service.

Situational Analysis Report about Jetstar Airways Essay

Situational Analysis Report about Jetstar Airways - Essay Example It has continued to expand, opening new routes every now and then. Its dominance in Australia is apparent. Nonetheless, Jetstar Airways has on several instances been accused of discrimination against persons with disability and poor employee relations. However, Jetstar Airways is not immune to competition. It has faces stiff competition form other low-cost airlines such as Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways. This report therefore provides an extensive analysis of Jetstar Airlines with regards to its market situation, product situation, distribution situation and competitive situation. Also, using the SWOT analysis, the report gives a brief summary of Jetstar’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and finally an analysis of two main issues that the airline has created as a plan for market strategy. In this regards, the identified issues are: desire to expand and enhancing employee relations. Product overview Jetstar Airways specializes in providing a low-fares network o f airlines that operate in the leisure as well as value based markets. In Australia, Jetstar operates across 17 domestic destinations. Its mission is to provide all day, every day low fares to enable more people to fly more often (Jetstar.com). Indeed, it is palpable that Jetstar Airways has been committed to its mission as it continues to offer the lowest air fares in Australia as compared to its major competitors. Due to its amazingly low-cost services, a Jetstar airway has been crowned a myriad of awards. For instance in 2009 and 2011, it was ranked the best low-cost airline in Australia by Skytrax. In 2007 and 2008, it was awarded the Low-cost Carrier of the Year (CAPA), among many others. It is credited for being the first Australian airline to allow its passengers an opportunity to select their seats when booking for a flight (Jestar.com). With specific reference to pricing, Jetstar offers exceptionally low prices for fights. The airline operates over fifty airbuses of various sizes, majority being Airbus A320. Currently for instance, the charges from Sydney to Brisbane is $ 79, Sydney to Cairns is $139, Sydney to Hobart is $ 99 whereas from Sydney to Adelaide is $ 100.Despite this amazingly low prices, Jetstar still affords incredible margins. For instance, as per the six month ended 31st, 2011, Jetstar Airways recorded an unaudited earnings of $1,565 Million in terms of total revenue and other incomes. This was an increased from the previous $1,346 million reported in the previous year (Jetstar.com). With regards to competition, Jetstar Airline veneers s stiff competition from two major airlines in Australia. The most eminent competitor is Virgin Blue Airways which commands about 31 percent of the domestic flights in Australia. It operates 2,100 flights in a week with 68 modern aircrafts. Virgin Blues Airline provides very competitive prices. For instance, whereas Jetstar charges about $100, for a flight form Sydney to Adelaide, Virgin Blue charged $12 0 for the same flight. As a fact, Jetstar was established as a response to the threat posed by Virgin Blue. The other major competitor is Tiger Airways. Based in Singapore, Tiger Airways was launched in 2007 to provide low cost airlines as well. It tends to charge lower prices compared to Jetstar. For instance, the price of a flight form Sydney to Adelaide is $49, to Melbourne is $29 whereas to Gold Coast is $39. SWOT analysis At this juncture, it is important to

Career as a Registered Practical Nurse (Canada) Research Paper

Career as a Registered Practical Nurse (Canada) - Research Paper Example As Pandit (2011) states, â€Å"being a registered nurse is beneficial for a long-term career.† Working as a registered practical nurse is a challenging and rewarding task in Canada. People like to choose the profession of registered practical nursing because it injects the sense of social responsibility in their minds, as well as helps them serve humanity in an appropriate manner. The profession of registered practical nursing requires a person to have a deep interest and effective nursing skills in order to be successful in this field. An interest in the field of medical science and 20 years experience in healthcare as a Personal Support Worker in long-term care, home care and Hospice Palliative care best match the profession of registered practical nursing. Skills in long-term care and hospice palliative care reflect actual nursing role of a registered practical nurse. A registered practical nurse also needs to have a caring and sympathetic personality along with other nursing and clinical skills. According to VandeCreek (2000), love and healing are such intangibles, which are imperative for a patient’s recovery (p. 48). Moreover, he/she should also have a deep knowledge of nursing and direct clinical practices. Such qualities and skills are the perfect match for a person who wants to establish his/her career as a registered practical nurse. There are two main ways for a person to become a registered nurse. First way is a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. A Bachelor’s degree (BSN) is the most common way that people use to earn the status of a registered nurse. A person has to spend full four years as a nursing student to earn this degree and become a registered practical nurse. This degree helps a person get additional clinical experience, as well as career flexibility. Another positive aspect of a BSN degree is that it prepares nurses for clinical practices and for teaching and

International business short essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International business short - Essay Example Regional integration further helps countries to benefit from absolute advantage on goods that they are able to produce at lower costs as compared to their neighboring countries. There are different theories that characterize regional integration which include removal of tariff barriers on trade. Through the removal of tariff barriers, companies are able to reduce the costs connected to marketing (Drexl, 2012, p.17). Another approach is adoption of external export policy that is common and this ensures that the integration does not discriminate on third parties conducting business with the member countries. Mobility is also enhanced through regional integration where movement of goods across borders is easy and fast (Drexl, 2012, p.21). Harmonization of policies related to economy further ensures that member countries have a common currency of conducting trade. Examples of regional integration include COMESA, ASEAN, Free Trade Area of Americans and African Economic Community (Sergi & Adekola, 2007, p.45). The different regional blocs prospective are to create a common market and boost their bargaining power in the international market. In summary, regional i ntegration enables member countries to expand their market and reduce costs related to exports due to reduced trade barriers. Culture is defined as the set of norms, beliefs, attitudes and values within a specific group of people (Deari, et al., 2008, p.18). Culture could be based on different aspects which include language, religion, race, ethnicity, income level and age. Culture is important in international business in that it influences how easy international businesses penetrate new market in foreign country. Culture is varying and changes from one region to the other and thus understanding these changes is important for international business managers (Ferraro, 2002,

Offshore Drilling Impacts And Solutions Environmental Sciences Essay

Offshore Drilling Impacts And Solutions Environmental Sciences Essay Nowadays, there is a growing demand for hydrocarbons in the world market. This study was to determine the impacts of offshore drilling to the aquatic lives and methods to reduce it. Offshore drilling is the process to discover the hydrocarbons by drilling exploratory boreholes or wells on the seabed. The ocean is not that vast to dilute all the chemicals that had been discarding to it. The chemicals that remained in the sea are called pollutant. This research paper will discussed three main impacts of offshore drilling and three suggested solutions to reduce it. The three impacts are offshore drilling operation noises will destructed marine lives, improper disposal of waste products will poisoned marine lives, and oil spill accidents will gradually killed marine lives. As human is at the top of the food chain, which receives the greatest impact, should find solutions to save ourselves. The three suggested solutions are government and organizations should enhance the rules and policie s respectively, professionals should consider accepting Khan and Islams five sustainable management models and try to work them out, and professionals should use their knowledge to improve monitoring and develop strategies. Therefore, concluded that human should try to protect the marine lives from being sacrifice because of us. Offshore Drilling: Impacts and Solutions Petroleum hydrocarbons play a very important role in society (Khan Islam, 2008). Nowadays, people tend to rely very much on the use of gas, petrol and oil. Hence, the growing demand for petroleum hydrocarbons on the world market has cause the development and production of oil resources to grow rapidly (The Prevention of Pollution from Offshore Installations, 2002). Gbadebo, Taiwo and Eughele (2010) stated that the only way to confirm the presence of hydrocarbons in an identified promising geological structure is to drill exploratory boreholes or wells (p.284). It is well known and generally accepted that the waste products of the offshore drilling activities are usually dumped into the sea (Khan Islam, 2008). The ocean is not as vast as people thought. It could not dilute all the chemicals that had been disposing to it, thus, the waste products of offshore drilling and the oil spill accidents are actually causing pollution to the ocean (Pollution in the Ocean, 2007). The main purpo se of this research paper is to identify the consequences of offshore drilling to the marine lives and solutions to reduce it. Practicing offshore drilling will gradually disturb the communication calls of marine lives (Offshore Exploration and Exploitation in the Mediterranean, 2012), improper disposal of chemical waste products will toxic the marine species (Gbadebo, Taiwo Eughele, 2010), and oil spill accident will cause deaths of a wide variety of marine species. Therefore, we have come out with some suggestions to decrease the pollution level. Government and concerned organizations should enhance the rules and reinforce the policies (Amos, 2011); professionals should consider to adopt the theoretical idea of the five sustainable management models of Khan and Islam (Khan Islam, 2008), and scientists and professionals should use their knowledge to improve monitoring and continue to develop pollution source-reduction strategies (Pollution in the Ocean, 2007). Very few people actually realize that the operating noise produce from offshore oil drilling can put aquatic animals lives at risk (Offshore Exploration and Exploitation in the Mediterranean, 2012). There are approximately 119 species of aquatic animals use sound as their primary sense (Pollution in the Ocean, 2007). They use sound to communicate, navigate and forage (Pollution in the ocean). However, the loud noise made by the drilling operations of offshore oil and gas production and other noises generated by human activities will confuse them, hence, causing them to do abnormal things such as stranding. According to The National Academies, in March 2000, fourteen beaked whales and two minke whales became stranded; six of the beaked whales died (Pollution in the Ocean). Autopsies revealed three of the beached whales bleeding in the inner ears and one whale has inner bleeding in its brain (Pollution in the Ocean). Many of the impacts of offshore activities on marine environments are inconstant, as the complicated relations between many types of species in marine ecosystems and difficulties associated with conducting research at depth (Amos, 2011). Thus, there is still lacking of scientific evidence to prove the actual impact of the short and long term effects of noise on marine mammals. Nonetheless, we can still assure that the noises of sea activities had disrupted the sense of the marine mammals, causing them to have difficulties to communicate, navigate, and forage. In addition, the public are very concern about the improper disposals of chemical waste products. This is because they afraid that the marine species will get poisoned and they afraid of eating them (Gbadebo, Taiwo Eughele, 2010). The accumulated toxicity in the fish can cause illness, sometimes fatal, to anything or anyone that consumed it; thus, will destroying the food chain and reproductive cycle (Rose, 2009). According to American petroleum institute (API) (1989) as cited in Khan Islam (2008), both the well cuttings and the drilling fluids compose about 2% of the total exploratory wastes. Besides, there were two recent studies do research on the impact of drill cuttings from offshore installations on corals and marine worms (Offshore Exploration and Exploitation in the Mediterranean, 2012). The first result shows that the coral were able to withstand and self-clean in short period of time; however, the coral will smother and started to die over weeks (Offshore exploration and exploitation in the Mediterranean). Whereas, the second result shows that the populations of marine worms are decreasing when exposed to concentrations of barium, which is a similar heavy metal in drill cuttings. Taking Dibi and Ewan offshore wells as background, the result shows that the concentrations of various polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons analyzed in cuttings from both oil wells are very high (Gbadebo, Taiwo Eughele, 2010). If the drilling wastes are not discharged properly, it will endanger the marine lives and also our health (Gbadebo et al.). The results of heavy metals analyses also tell us that the concentrations in the cuttings and mud are high, which could lead to bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms (Gbadebo et al.). If anyone accidentally eats those aquatic organisms, he or she might get sick easily. The problems of oil spill accident happened around the world (Offshore Exploration and Exploitation in the Mediterranean, 2012). Oil spill accident, such as the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, causes deaths of a wide variety of marine species (Offshore Exploration and Exploitation in the Mediterranean, 2012). When there is a quick flow and concentrated oil during a spill makes them especially harmful to localized marine organisms and communities, plants and animals that coated with oil will cause them to die (Rose, 2009). Oil that covered the surface of the animals, such as sea gull, cannot keep its body warm will die in the Artic; whereas, when there is a layer of oil covered the surface of sea, sunlight will be difficult to reach the the seabed. Since it needs a long time to recover the sea, the plants and animals live on seabed will gradually die. Therefore, in June 2010, National Energy Board (NEB), Canadas federal energy regulator, organized a review of safety and environmental protection requirements for Canadian Arctic offshore drilling for oil and gas (Amos, 2011). Despite the great economic and social benefits, public also concern about the solutions to reduce the impact of offshore drilling activity (Khan Islam, 2008). Government and related organizations should strengthen the rules and improve the policies (Amos, 2011). Government should always transmit positive feedback to the public when a new method is in probation (Pollution in the ocean, 2007). This is to convince and to increase peoples confidence level towards that new method. Given the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, NEB should learnt the lesson and strengthen the offshore drilling safety requirements (Amos, 2011). In order to strengthen the rules applied to future Arctic offshore exploration NEB should maintain the capability requirement of same season relief well (SSRW), improves policy, regulatory and liability requirements; polish the comprehensive filing requisites for future applications for offshore drilling requiring thorough ecological baseline studies (Amos). Khan and Islam had reviewed the new environmental management techniques on solving the existing problems of offshore oil and gas drilling. Professionals should consider adopting the theoretical idea of the five sustainable management models, which were marine protected areas in oil sites (MPAOS), ocean fertilization and CO2 utilization (OFCU), integrated coastal pollution balancing (ICPB), artificial recruitment in fisheries (ARFS), and artificial rigs from oil rigs (AROR) (Khan Islam, 2008). Professionals should take a look on the idea of them to generate more applicable methods for reducing the level of pollution in ocean. Scientists should choose the applicable theory to undergo experimental studies, understand how these proposals will function in real ecosystem context. MPAOS model is to designate an oil site as a protected area (Khan Islam, 2008). This could protect and improve fisheries production. Since the fishes are protected, hence, we no need worry about the toxicity of the fishes. Secondly, OFCU model is the idea of balancing carbon dioxide emissions by sinking enough organic carbon in the ocean bottom. Thirdly, ICPB model is to apply the principle of bioremediation or food web enhancement to utilize the runoff oils and pollution through balancing ecosystem components. Fourthly, ARFS model is the idea of compensate the fisheries production of certain species in a targeted area and to restore the stocks. Lastly, AROR is the idea to keep the original sites of the abandoned rigs to establish a reef community or transported to another planned site. The models are following the principle of natural functions in marine environment and take into account ecological, biological, and technological factors (Khan Islam). The impact of offshore drilling will be lightening by applying these five models. Professionals should use their knowledge to improve monitoring and continue to develop pollution source-reduction strategies (Pollution in the Ocean, 2007). It is difficult to clean up oil spills. In those days, people use complicated method such as water shut-off, bottom separation and down-hole separation of oil and water (The prevention of pollution from offshore installations, 2002). Nowadays, they usually use biological agents to break down the oil, use materials that absorb oil, and gelling agents that make oil easier to skim from the surface. People also physically clean up the spills by using high- pressure water hoses on shores and cleaning oil off from animals (Pollution in the Ocean). These methods were used because of the improvement of technologies and sciences. Therefore, the professionals should work hard to figure out easier method to solve the oil spill problem. Scientists should work together to find the solutions from reduce the harm towards the living organisms in the sea; whereas, the technicians should invent other types of machine that will do less harm to the environment (Tyack, 2008). In conclusion, human should safe the marine species because the innocent marine lives are suffering because of our selfishness. We should know that practicing offshore drilling will disrupt the main sense of marine lives to hunt, communicate and navigate (Offshore Exploration and Exploitation in the Mediterranean, 2012). In addition, improper disposal of chemical waste products of offshore drilling will toxic the marine lives (Gbadebo, Taiwo Eughele, 2010). Moreover, oil spill accident will cause deaths of a wide variety of marine species. Considering human is at the top of the food chain, which will receives the greatest impact, we should stand up and do something for rescue ourselves. Thus, government and concerned organizations should strengthen the rules and improve the policies (Amos, 2011). Furthermore, professionals should consider to accept and carry out the theoretical idea of the five sustainable management models (Khan Islam, 2008). Additionally, scientists and professio nals should use their knowledge to improve and develop pollution source-reduction strategies (Pollution in the Ocean, 2007).

Defining and Preserving the Well-Being of the Cree: waamistikushiiu v. miyupimaatisiiun :: Essays Papers

Defining and Preserving the Well-Being of the Cree: waamistikushiiu v. miyupimaatisiiun For the Cree, health is more than individual physiology. Health is definied by miyupimaatisiiun, a complex word that refers to an individual's enriching connection to his community and his natural environment. Miyupimaatisiiun can be interpreted as "being-alive well," a condition that includes the safety and security of family, friends and tribal members, as well as for the resources the Cree depend on to survive. Thus, the health of the Cree becomes a political entity, defined through challenging â€Å"environmental, social, political† as well as physiological threats to traditional life. Politcially, the term signifies â€Å"the ability to negotiate the obstacles that threaten the survival of the Cree† (57). To understand the significance of Cree health, there is much to be said for cultural definition through opposition. The key element of waamistikushiiu, or "whiteman health," that distinctly separates it from the miyupimaatisiiun is its numbing divorce from the earth. Removed from a lifestyle of hunting and dwelling in the bush, waamistikushiiu life is by and large unattached to the intimate land-life story of the Cree people. Without such a story, â€Å"whiteman health† is alien and blind in Adelson’s ‘Being Alive Well’. Perhaps most significantly, waamistikushiiu health stubbornly denies the existence of other definitions of human health. Defined by individual physiology, waamistikushiiu health is universally evaluated against simple biomedical standards and â€Å"determined in proportion to a relative absence of disease†(5). Cree miyupimaatisiiun, however, is not a â€Å"biased and incomplete† standard of fitness, but a complex process compr ising social relations, land and cultural identity (4). In Whapmagoostui, â€Å"accidental and suicidal deaths, drug and alcohol related illnesses, infectious diseases, and chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cancer are all found- sometimes in disproportionate number-in native communities across Canada† (14). By waamistikushiiu standards, such health conditions are deplorable; yet for the Cree, these ailments readily signify a deeper, perpetual ache of land and culture. For centuries, influences of waamistikushiiu culture have altered Cree living. Devastating fur trades, land usurpation, mercury poisoning in fish and waterways, and flooding damage are only a few of the casualties to Cree life in the whiteman’s pursuit of happiness. As â€Å"the only way to acquire [miyupimaatisiiun] strength is to eat Cree food, and the only way to get Cree food is by hunting,† the Cree are bound to defy whiteman devastation of their land and assert rights to survival on their own terms (94).

Lorex Pharmeceuticals

Overview After reviewing your request, Cougar Consulting performed an analysis to assist Lorex Pharmaceuticals in determining a target fill rate for Linatol. The target fill that we selected is intended to maximize expected contribution during the manufacturing process and was based on information contained in a report given to Cougar Consulting. The analysis that we performed is described in further detail. Current Situation Even though the automatic filling mechanism used for production can be set to a specific target fill, the information we obtained about Linatol suggested inconsistencies in the fill amount during operations.Since revenues and specific variable costs of Linatol are directly affected by fill amounts and contribution is the difference of these costs subtracted from revenue, ultimately, contribution is affected by the inconsistent fill amounts. Once we establish how these revenues and costs are affected by the fill amounts, we need to determine how the filling mecha nism will function when set at a specific target fill. These understandings will give us the information required to figure a target fill that maximizes contribution for Linatol.Revenue Before we established a method to determine how the filling mechanism functioned at a specific target fill, we had to consider how the target fill affected the revenues and the variable costs when calculating contribution. Starting with revenue, we learned from the report that the bottles filled at or above 10 ounces would sell on the commercial market for $186 per case. On the other hand, bottles filled below the advertised 10 ounces would be sold for government use at $148. 80 per case and are referred to as â€Å"seconds. From this information, we created a formula (Figure 1) that calculated the revenue per case as a weighted average. The relationship between revenue and target fill is shown graphically in Attachment 1 Figure 1 Revenue = (% commercial) $186/case + (% seconds) $148. 80/case Costs As previously mentioned, calculating contribution for Linatol consists of subtracting specific variable costs from revenue. The variable costs related to target fill were found in the Projected Operating Profit exhibit provided to Cougar Consulting.The first cost we determined for calculating contribution was the blending direct labor and active ingredients. To use this cost in calculating contribution, we divided the sum of these two costs by the total batch volume. The rounded cost of this calculation equaled $0. 4027 per ounce, and its positive linear relation to the fill amount is graphically shown in Attachment 2. In other words, the cost increases per unit as the fill amount increases per unit.Another cost needed to calculate expected contribution consisted of an additional cost associated from the number of seconds produced by the automatic filling mechanism. This additional cost is a result from the special packaging required by seconds and is figured from dividing the labor rate by the number of cases the laborer can package in an hour. This cost equals $0. 7083 per case and diminishes as the fill amounts increase because a higher target fill results in less seconds produced. This relationship is shown as a graph in Attachment 3.Since the cost associated for all cases is calculated in ounces, this unit was changed to cases by multiplying the cost by 12 bottles per case and a target fill amount in ounces per bottle. The additional cost per case from packaging seconds was figured by multiplying this cost by the probability of seconds created from the filling machine. This calculation will create an additional cost per case based on the number of seconds produced. The formula in Figure 2 was used to calculate costs. Figure 2 Costs = (12 bottles/case*target fill (oz)/bottle*$0. 027/oz) + (% of seconds) $0. 70833/case Statistical Survey Before we could determine a target fill to use for calculating maximum expected contribution, we needed to determine the probability of seconds produced by the automatic filling machine at different target fills. The best method we had to determine this probability came from the sample results provided in the Filling-Line Test performed by Lorex. These test results were found in Exhibit 2 from the provided report and allowed us to determine the probability of seconds produced at any target fill.Assuming these samples were chosen truly at random and each sample was independent from one another, the sample data was analyzed and found to be very evenly distributed meaning the fill amounts precisely varied above and below the mean and median of the data set. In fact, the sample fill amounts were so evenly distributed that we could use a statistical method to determine the probability of seconds produce by the mechanism set at a specific target fill amount. For example, with a target fill amount set at 10. 2 ounces, the method used figures that 10. 6% of the bottles will be filled less than 10 ounces, and the rest will be filled at volume suitable for commercial retail. Based on this statistical method, we created a graph (Attachment 4) to show the probability of seconds produced as the target fill amount increased. Calculating Contribution Since we found a method to determine the probability of seconds that will be produced based on the target fill amount, we can determine a target fill that maximizes expected contribution per case because we have formulas for revenue and costs based on the expected production of seconds.The completed formula is shown below as Figure 3. Figure 3 Contribution = (% commercial) $186/case + (% seconds) $148. 80/case – (12 bottles/case*target fill (oz)/bottle*$0. 4027/oz) + (% of seconds) $0. 70833/case Results The contribution formula in Figure 3 was used to determine the target fill that maximized contribution based on the probability of seconds produced. A chart was created below as Figure 4 using the formula to figure contribution at different target fills.The target fill that created the highest contribution value per case is the target fill the mechanism should be set at to maximize contribution. Attachment 5 shows the relationship between contribution per case and the target fill graphically. The graph and chart both demonstrates that the target fill should be set at 10. 4 ounces to maximize contribution. Figure 4 Target Fill (oz)Probability of Seconds Probability of CommercialContribution Per Case 912. 0523E-10$104. 60 9. 10. 999999999. 2754E-09$104. 12 9. 20. 999999712. 8665E-07$103. 63 9. 30. 999993936. 0716E-06$103. 5 9. 40. 999911588. 8417E-05$102. 67 9. 50. 999110970. 00088903$102. 22 9. 60. 993790330. 00620967$101. 93 9. 70. 969603640. 03039636$102. 37 9. 80. 894350230. 10564977$104. 74 9. 90. 734014470. 26598553$110. 33 100. 50. 5$118. 72 10. 10. 265985530. 73401447$127. 11 10. 20. 105649770. 89435023$132. 70 10. 30. 030396360. 96960364$135. 07 10. 40. 006209670. 99379033$135. 51 10. 50. 000889030. 99911097$13 5. 22 10. 68. 8417E-050. 99991158$134. 77 10. 76. 0716E-060. 99999393$134. 29 10. 82. 8665E-070. 99999971$133. 81 10. 99. 2754E-090. 99999999$133. 33 112. 0523E-101$132. 84Closing The results of this analysis were based on the data results from the Filling-Line Test and only apply if the filling mechanism performs consistent with these results. To ensure the filling mechanism is performing consistently with the data used for this analysis, we recommend that Lorex performs a frequent Filling-Line Test. If the data from a more recent test varies from the data used in this analysis, we also recommend that Lorex requests another analysis to be performed by Cougar Consulting to determine a new target fill that maximizes contribution for Linatol.

Puritan womens place in society during Colonial America essays

Puritan womens place in society during Colonial America essays The Puritan Revolution of 17th-century in America endorsed an intimate classification of women with domestic life that achieve a wide acceptance throughout the 18th century. Women were thus locked in the created domestic sphere while men were busy in the political sphere. However, Anne Hutchinson was a religious dissenter and she challenged the Puritan principle of conformity with religious laws was a symbol of godliness and that the Bible as the sole source of those laws. Nevertheless, Hester was a feminist and she challenged the Puritan belief of women belonging in the cult of domesticity. Up to this time, Puritan women were very restricted to life at home and therefore judged as inferior to men. For example, in my research I found that women were sent to the colonies as prospective wives for the settlers and the women lived in homes with married couples where they would receive suitors if they chose (source 1, 24). This exhibits how women did not come to America for the same reason as men did because the men came here for religious, economical reasons, or more. Nevertheless, women were immigrating to America to be the wives of the settlers; this demonstrates that women were expected to live in the household for the rest of their lives. In addition, in The Scarlet Letter, as Hester is standing on the scaffold in the beginning of the book, a judge, a general, and the minister of the town; all of whom sat or stood in a balcony of the meeting house, looking down upon the platform of the spectacle without risking the majesty or reverence of rank and office...(55) Thi s shows how men are looking down at Hester implying that she is inferior. The reason they stand on a balcony is to protect their majesty or reverence of rank and office since they think their reputation will be ruined if they are at the same level as women. Hence, women were separated into a differe...

10 Job Search Strategies from Recruiters

10 Job Search Strategies from Recruiters When it comes to tapping into best practices in the job search process, recruiters tend to be experts. Therefore, even if you’re not working directly with recruiters in your job search, it’s advisable to pay attention to what they are saying! This week I’ve compiled advice from recruiters that I recommend you follow. It could make the difference between being employed and remaining in job search mode. When you invite a recruiter to connect on LinkedIn, don’t use the generic â€Å"I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.† In fact, whenever you connect with anyone, personalize it and provide value. See Recruiter: Stop making this mistake on LinkedIn. Craft your LinkedIn profile to contain the best / most relevant key words, job titles and industry names. Recruiters and hiring managers spend significant time sourcing prospects on LinkedIn and you must key your profile to the searches they are performing. See Recruiters Reveal Their Secrets. Tailor your resume. You must at least appear as if you have a target and are sticking with it. If you have two targets, tailor a resume to each. See What Recruiters Want Candidates to Know and 100 Job Search Tips from Fortune 500 Recruiters. Write a cover letter that helps the recruiter or hiring manager envision you in the open position. Technical recruiters might not read cover letters, but recruiters in other industries do. See Recruiters Reveal Their Secrets. Apply for jobs you are qualified for. Look at the job description carefully; if you can’t state examples in your resume of how you have already succeeded in the required duties for the position, you are probably not a fit. See What Recruiters Want Candidates to Know. Prepare for your interview by researching the company and having specific examples of your accomplishments and previous experience at your fingertips. You *will* be asked for examples of how you approached situations in the past! See What Recruiters Want Candidates to Know. Write a thank you note- and send it by email in addition to snail mail! One candidate snail mailed a note, but someone else emailed a thank you which arrived at the employer’s office before the snail mail; guess who got the job? See Recruiters Reveal Their Secrets. Don’t make typos!! See Recruiters Reveal Their Secrets and What Recruiters Want Candidates to Know. Network, network and network! See 100 Job Search Tips from Fortune 500 Recruiters. Tell the truth. Getting caught in a misrepresentation, including a â€Å"harmless embellishment,† will kill your chances of getting a job. See 100 Job Search Tips from Fortune 500 Recruiters. All of the above tips are in line with what a resume writer or job search coach will tell you but isn’t it great to hear it from people with decades of recruitment experience? If you said yes, you might want some more tips from this valuable source. Thankfully, they’re not that hard to find. For a wealth of advice from recruiters on how to succeed in the job search, I recommend 100 Job Search Tips from Fortune 500 Recruiters. Did you learn anything? Did you get confirmation that you’re doing something right? Please share in the comments!

Is there such thing as a normal sexual orientation Essay

Is there such thing as a normal sexual orientation - Essay Example Traditional perception of sexuality takes it origins from the ancient times. Ruse (1988) implies that Ancient Greeks and Jews were the groups who were primarily influential on the morality of modern civilization. However, over the matter of sexual orientation, Greek and Jewish thoughts enter the conflict, and it is often the Jewish tradition that proves triumphant. As a result, people’s perception that the â€Å"normal† sexual orientation is heterosexuality has long since become tradition. This essay will argue that in spite of traditional views against homosexuality and bisexuality, there is no such thing as a normal sexual orientation. It will further conclude that heterosexuality as a sexual orientation is a socially constructed view. On the one side, there are several factors that prove the existence of the concept of normal sexual orientation. Firstly, the religious way of looking at sexuality forbids any homosexual acts. For example, Magonet (1995) notes that Juda ism, as one of the oldest monotheistic religions, considers homosexual acts as a â€Å"halakha† (which means a violation of traditional Jewish law). In addition, Hertzberg (1991) implied that The Torah forbids the act of homosexuality, which is known as mishkav zakhar, and considers a homosexual act between two men to be an abhorrent thing (which is known as to’evah), and is punishable by death—a strong prohibition. Likewise, Islam regards homosexuality as a sin and a vast deviation from the norm: "We also sent Lut: He said to his people: ‘Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds. Quran 7:80-81)’†. Moreover, according to a pamphlet produced by Al-Fatiha, there is a consensus among Islamic scholars that all humans are naturally heterosexual. All Islamic schools of thought and jurisprudence consider gay acts to be unlawful and sinful (Habib, 2010). Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity also does not accept homosexuality, and considers it is an illicit lust that is forbidden by God. He said to His people of Israel, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (Leviticus 18:22).† "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them (Leviticus 20:13).† In these passages from The Old Testament of the Bible, homosexuality is condemned and shown as a prime example of a sin, a sexual perversion. A Christian can neither alter God's viewpoint nor depart from it (Boswell, 1980). They may believe otherwise, but this does not change how Christianity as a whole views homosexuality. From the scientific perspective, sex is made for reproduction and a male and female’s genitals are designed to mate with one another. Arguments from biol ogy have proven to be very powerful in maintaining heterosexual relations. The anatomical construction of genitalia is a great necessity for heterosexual relations. It is not possible to create future generations without heterosexual relations between genders not only for human being, but also for animal species. For example, Kant, in his Lectures of Ethics, argues that homosexuality is unnatural in that it "degrades mankind below the level of animals, for no animal turns in this way from its own

Databases Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Databases - Coursework Example Relational databases use specific integrity rules to facilitate accurate collection of data and to make that data accessible. Firstly, the rows in a relational database must all be unique. In case of duplicate rows problems can crop up when resolving which of the two likely selections is the right one. For most DBMSs (databases management systems) users are able to specify that duplicate rows are not permitted, and when that is done the DBMS will block the addition of any rows that are identical to an existing one. Another integrity rule of relational databases is that column values should not be repeating arrays or groups. The third involves the logic of a null value. A database handles situations where information may not be available by employing a null value to show that a value is absent (Pathak, 2008). It is not equal to a blank or zero; a blank is equal to another blank and a zero is only equal to another zero. Two null values are not equal. When each row in a table is unique, it is possible to use one or more columns to mark a specific row. This distinct column or group of columns is referred to as a primary key. Any column that forms a primary key cannot be null; in any case it were the primary key which it is a part of would cease to be a complete identifier. This rule is known as entity integrity. Relational databases can greatly enhance the quality control and accessibility to organizations’ sensitive and valuable information materials. It can contribute towards a competitive edge by facilitating business analysis that can help to determine methods of improving products and services (Pathak, 2008). In comparison to non-relational database settings, relational databases are more flexible hence easily adapt to dynamic business needs. In addition, unlimited access to sensitive data means better data for more effective decision-making. Relational databases can also have a huge positive impact on numerous MIS

English Film and Literature Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English Film and Literature Analysis - Essay Example Heroes too have been of varied kinds in the world of American art, ranging from the frontier hero of the Westerns to the hero of the Everyman variety. These two movies look at two such characters and the heroes have elements of different such types. The importance of the genre of the works and the time periods in which they are set shall also be a part of the discussion in this paper. The paper shall argue that these works have influenced the manner in which the American hero has been envisaged over the years and conceived of in other works of art. The character of Hawkeye is one who is able to maneuver through several situations that the settlers have to face. In a period that was marked by a great amount of political turbulence, he is able to navigate himself and others into situations of safety. He is able to also further the agenda of the side that he is on. One needs to remember that this was an era when America was still open to nations of the world and people like Hawkeye were necessary in order to consolidate the power that America had over the world. Such a hero is commonplace in American movies and books. In many movies of the Western genre, one finds that the hero moves to a place which is populated by a large number of Indians. The narratives of such westerns are almost always based on the extension of the American frontiers. Such an extension would then place the character in the mold of a hero as the character would be seen to be performing a service to his community and to the larger community of America. This is seen to also be a patriotic move. Apart from this, it also furthers the idea of the masculine hero who is able to subdue the forces that create problems in the lives of his community. The fact that such heroes are more often than not, men, goes a long way to prove this point. Even in the recently released movie Django Unchained, which seeks to reinvent the genre of the Western, the hero remained a man while the lead female character was a largely passive presence. The masculine hero is then seen as a symbol or crystallization of American manhood. One of the interesting features of the book is the fact that Hawkeye does not appear to be an intensely racist character. On one occasion, he actually says, There is reason in an Indian, though nature has made him with a red skin!’†¦. ‘I am no scholar, and I care not who knows it; but, judging from what I have seen, at deer chases and squirrel hunts, of the sparks below, I should think a rifle in the hands of their grandfathers was not so dangerous as a hickory bow and a good flint-head might be, if drawn with Indian judgment, and sent by an Indian eye. (Cooper 49) However, this sense of tolerance is often offset by the race pride and sense of superiority that he displays at various points in the novel. One such instance is given below. I am not a prejudiced man, nor one who vaunts himself on his natural privileges, though the worst enemy I have on earth, and he is an Iroquois, daren’t deny that I am genuine white. (Cooper 49) The hero of the Western too was in many cases white and held racist notions of white superiority. Such notions were then used in order to justify his actions that were meant for the progress of a society that was largely white. Many of these movies were also set in pre-Civil War scenes. The hero of Mr. Smith goes to Washington, on the other hand is a person who is closer to the model of Everyman. He is a part of the American