Saturday, August 31, 2019
By 2020 the world’s population could well have doubled to around 12 billion people
By 2020 the world's population could well have doubled to around 12 billion people. Are there just too many people in the world, or is it a question of a better and fairer distribution of the world's resources?†The question is asking if there are too few resources available for the increasing population, or if there are just too many people in the world. The keywords in the question are population and resources. By population, the question is referring to the number of people in the world and by resources; it is asking if there are enough natural assets, such as water, food, oxygen and space. The problems caused by an increasing population include the depletion of natural resources, such as non-renewable energy supplies, and food supplies. Currently resources, and population are very unevenly spread and most supplies occur in areas where they are not needed. Mankind has reached the point of the exponential curve. Earths population doubled in the 40-year period from 1960 to 2000, from 3 billion to 6 billion. In the last two years, the population has grown another third of a billion people. That offers the possibility of a doubling time of only 27 years to reach 12 billion. Partly as a result of this, it is reported that 420 million people live in countries that no longer have enough cropland to grow their own food. They have to rely on imports. The reduction of cropland could be caused by an increase in pollution, creating negative effects on the environment, or it could be due to the expansion of urban areas due to an increasing population. A quarter of the developing world's cropland is being degraded, and the rate is increasing. The greatest threat may not be shortage of land, but a shortage of water. More than half a billion people live in areas prone to droughts. In the next twenty years, that number will increase five times, to between 2.4 billion and 3.4 billion people. Currently, that means half of Earth's population will run out of water within 20 years. It is impossible to farm animals and grow crops without water, which will therefore lead to a decrease in food availability, especially in areas already suffering from famines. A recent report, released by the World Watch Institute, declares that, â€Å"Mining consumes 10% of the world's energy, spews out toxic emissions, and threatens 40% of the world's undeveloped forests.†These effects could be drastically reduced but, unfortunately, governments are not moving quick enough to stem the tide. This indicates that it is suspected that a major contributing factor to the problem is the attitudes of people. Very few governments are taking radical measures in an attempt to prevent the foreseen problems of the future. The reason for this is that because the problems are not yet taking a huge effect, by the time the effect becomes apparent it will be too late, and any attempts at solving the problem will be useless. One of the great challenges for governments is to help their poorest citizens feel secure in their own homes, make a living and improve their environment. Around 1.2 billion people live in absolute poverty – surviving on less than a dollar a day. As populations spiral upward, the underground water tables are dropping. Many regions face severe drought. Deserts are growing. Forests are being cut down and the land they leave behind is wasting away. Since forty percent of all vegetable and grain food supplies come from irrigated land, a failing water supply creates sever food shortages. Many countries are facing water shortages in the twenty-first century, especially India, whose population passed one billion in May 2002. They are currently expanding by 18 million per year. Water withdrawals now double the environments ability to re-supply. Half of India's grain harvest comes from irrigated land. World Watch reports, â€Å"In a country where 53 percent of all children are already malnourished and underweight, a shrinking harvest could increase hunger-related deaths.†Another threat is shrinking croplands. Some nations already depend almost entirely upon imported food. Eventually, the food will simply not be available to those nations. First, increased costs will drain those nations of their economic cash flows, and one day, the exporting nations will not be able to supply food at any price. Among the countries where shrinking croplands threaten food supplies are Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Pakistan. Nigerias population will increase from its present 111 million to a estimated 244 million by 2050, while its grain-land per person will stay the same. That means each person will have less than half the current supply. Pakistan is expected to grow from its current 146 million to 345 million by 2050. By that time, each person will be dependent upon a piece of grain-land the size of a tennis court. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan already import 70 percent of their grain. Water supplies are fixed by nature. They cannot be increased. On the other hand, an ever-increasing population can deplete them. This is also true of croplands. I feel that although an increasing population is having a drastically negative effect upon the depletion of the world's resources, and that resources are clearly unfairly distributed. It is the richest and relatively most sparsely populated countries, particularly Western Europe and America that receive the highest share of the world's natural resources. This is because they are the richest countries and can therefore afford to grow their own resources as well as import others, yet offer very little money for them. The effect this has is that the worlds resources are being unfairly relocated into the richest countries where it could be claimed that they are being wasted. It is clear that the richest countries currently have an excess of resources that they could share across the world to help combat the problem stated by the question. The problem with this is that it is non-profitable and the countries would lose a lot of money, which in a materialistic world is more important than tackling issues of poverty and malnutrition.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Essay on Democracy Essay
Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time Introduction            Even though the concept of democracy form of governance has long been in existence for centuries, it was the emergence of country state government system which gave birth to the rise and flourish of democracy that we enjoy today. In the modern day, almost three quarters of the world countries claim to be democratic. As accepted this form of governance may seem to be, still it has some inherent flaws as a system of governance. Most of the critics of this form of government claim that democracy is morally corrupt, humanly unfair, economically inefficient and humanly unfair. It is because of this view that Winston Churchill said that, â€Å"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those that has been tried from time to time. Democracy definition            According to the English oxford Dictionary, democracy is defined as the system of government by all the eligible members of the state or the whole population. One time US president, Abraham Lincoln, summed up the very essence of democracy as it being, the government of the people, by the people and for the people (History Place 2012). This of course was an idealist view and in regard to the current system, we can say that the true democracy was only demonstrated in 1918 when the representation of people act gave women the right to vote or they were declared as eligible voters. Before this act enactment or reform, democracy in Britain was only afforded by the rich and in fact up to the end of the 18th century, only about two percent of the population were entitled to vote. Following a number of vital reforms in the break of the 19th century, voting rights were extended slowly that lead to the culmination of the third Reform Act of 1884 that saw all men acquiring votes. This is the time that we can term as the crucial turn of event that led to the democracy that we all enjoy today.            There are differences to the democratic forms of government that exist today. In UK, we have the centralistic form of government where decisions are made in the capital and the local authorities are demanded to act according to these decisions and rules. In contrast to this, the federal government of Germany gives a lot of power to the federal state and this is the same form of democracy that is practiced in the United States (Dobson, 2012) Other forms of government            As we know, democracy is not the standardised form of government that is practiced all over the world. There are many other alternatives that are apparent in other countries. For example in the republic of Korea, there exists a totalitarian regime. This form of government is solely based on ideology. This ideology claims the general validity for all the life aspects and often tries to replace religion. A totalitarian form of governance does not tolerate any kind of deviation from the known ideology and any person who attempts to oppose this ideology is persecuted. This was of course the form that was adopted by the Nazi Germany that led to the political opponents being persecuted and tortured and also detained in the concentration camps leading to the genocide of the ethnic minorities who were in line with the Nazi policy.            Even though the authoritarian form of governance is linked to the totalitarian regime, they have no distinct state ideology and they also grant some cultural and economic freedoms being careful not to jeopardize their policies. The goal that the authoritarian regime takes as being the most important is the maintenance of power along with personal enrichment on the cost of the population and the country as a whole (democracy-building website, 2005.).            There are other forms of government that are apparent and the one that is of particular interest is the Theocracy form of governance that is practiced by the Republic of Iran. This is known as â€Å"government by God†. This is where the official policy is governed by divine guidance or by people or official regarded as divinely guided, or it is simply pursuant to the doctrine of a specific religion or a religious group (merriam-webster online encyclopaedia 2012).            With regard to the UK’s democratic form of governance that we have in place, its success can be determined by how the government interpret what we as people wants. The recent changes like the Scottish devolution along with the creation of the Welsh assembly sends light that if democracy is for the people, then such constitutional changes can be termed as integral and also successful part of practice of democracy.            As we said earlier, the literal meaning of democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people. But when the concept of democracy is mixed up with that of governance, this is really not the case even though we get the supporters of democracy pretending to be so. When the people are told that democracy is the rule by the people, then that’s a fallacy. If there is governance that is over those people, than there exist no government or governance by the people. Owing to this argument, the democracies that are adopted by many countries for instance the western countries are in fact oligarchies in every detail. But the people who are the main subjects believe that there are free and become apathetic of the same and they do not see any further need for revolution. The formation that is surely oligarchy is the one that makes democracy to be termed as the worst form of government like Winston Churchill termed it. Bel ow the arguments that point out the worseness of the democratic form of government are discussed. Among these are democracy and economic instability and Democracy as a vehicle of chaos and anarchy. Also the connection of police violence in Canada and democracy will be discussed in details citing the main features of the issue, the advocates of the issue and also the perspectives of the issue. Democracy breeds Economic instability            The frequent changes of power that follows the democratic concept of carrying a general election after a term period of four or five years is a major source of economic instability for the countries that practice democratic form of government. Prior to election, each political party comes out with their manifesto of how they will govern the nation. A political party that wins the election may not be the one that was previously on power. When a new political party takes power they bring other policies that were not the ones adopted by their successor. This leads to frequent changes of policies with regard to the country’s economy. These changes can not only highly daunt investments but also affects corporate and individual businesses, hence limiting the country’s economic growth. The short and limited duration that a certain political party takes power also leads to short term policies. This comes in because the politicians ha ve the idea that they are in power for a limited time period and so they adopt This leads to frequent changes of policies with regard to the country’s economy. These changes can not only highly daunt investments but also affects corporate and individual businesses, hence limiting the country’s economic growth. The short and limited duration that a certain political party takes power also leads to short term policies. This comes in because the politicians have the idea that they are in power for a limited time period and so they adopt short term policies that will bring immediate gratification for the citizens so that they can win their votes for the next general election. These policies are adopted even though they could be disadvantageous in the long-run. This means that the democratic nations mostly will sacrifice their short term pains for the long run gains. This adversely affects the economy of the country. In most cases, the economies are the ones that suffer because policies are not given that time period to be tested and tried before they are adopted. Only come with a policy that will proof to be effective to the common people even though it could be disastrous in future. The These policies are adopted even though they could be disadvantageous in the long-run. This means that the democratic nations mostly will sacrifice their short term pains for the long run gains. This adversely affects the economy of the country. In most cases, the economies are the ones that suffer because policies are not given that time period to be tested and tried before they are adopted. Only come with a policy that will proof to be effective to the common people even though it could be disastrous in future. The ever rising debt of the UK and Us and many of other democratic countries could be attributed to the economic instability that is brought about by short-termism which is the main flaw of the democratic form of government. These changes can not only highly daunt investments but also affects corporate and individual businesses, hence limiting the country’s economic growth. The short and limited duration that a certain political party takes power also leads to short term policies. This comes in because the politicians have the idea that they are in power for a limited time period and so they adopt short term policies that will bring immediate gratification for the citizens so that they can win their votes for the next general election. These policies are adopted even though they could be disadvantageous in the long-run. This means that the democratic nations mostly will sacrifice their short term pains for the long run gains. This adversely affects the economy of the country. In most cases, the economies are the ones that suffer because policies are not given that time period to be tested and tried before they are adopted. Only come with a policy that will proof to be effective to the common peopl e even though it could be disastrous in future. The ever rising debt of the UK and Us and many of other democratic countries could be attributed to the economic instability that is brought about by short-termism which is the main flaw of the democratic form of government. This means that the democratic nations mostly will sacrifice their short term pains for the long run gains. This adversely affects the economy of the country. In most cases, the economies are the ones that suffer because policies are not given that time period to be tested and tried before they are adopted. Only come with a policy that will proof to be effective to the common people even though it could be disastrous in future. The ever rising debt of the UK and Us and many of other democratic countries could be attributed to the economic instability that is brought about by short-termism which is the main flaw of the democratic form of government.            The free market economists like Milton Friedman believed that democracy produces inefficient economic systems. These economists argue that if the government were to make effective economies, they need to make what is generally regarded as unpopular decisions, for instance mass privatisation; removing the rights of the workers and also deregulation especially a time like this of economic austerity. This example is the one that is termed as ‘governing paradox’ (Flinders, 2010, p. 311). Mostly, this is what is seen as inherent contradiction between capitalism and democracy in that, as economic agents, all individuals are expected to act in their own interest but when it comes to casting their votes, they are expected to act in the interest of the society.            The critics are perhaps rights when they say that democracy can lead to ineffectual government. This can be traced many years ago when Aristotle started establishing typologies and categorising political systems. According to him, democracy was a ‘perverted’ form of governance or rule by many. Democracy as a vehicle of chaos and anarchy            The ancient great thinkers and philosophers like Plat, Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes were very critical on the flaws that come by with the democracy form of governance. They saw the concept of democracy as an unlimited freedom and liberty for all which is a tool of manipulation that can culminate into chaos and disorder in the society. Despite democracy being the most popular form of governance in today’s world, this form of government is prone to the manipulation of wild politicians and other stakeholders who are out to use it as a tool to acquire power and accumulate the country’s wealth for their selfish interest hence create anarchy and chaos to the society as a whole. For instance, Tomas Hobbes saw democracy as a form of government that permits reckless liberty that will usually undermine the law conservation and the societal order. Most of the politicians usually will exploit the antagonism between the economic classes and the dissimilarity in the ethnic groups to turn them into votes for their political parties. Instead of intervening for good and for the passions of the people, these politicians unruly politicians will obviously fun them so that they can be seen as the heroes. Firstly, they monopolize the media and use it to propagate these courses. This eventually pokes holes into the community and creates differences that eventually results into chaos and riots in these groups. In the year 2006 for instance, two major national wide riots erupted in the country of France. The first was in economic in nature and started in the month of February and the next was both religious and ethnic erupted in November the same year. These riots are among the examples that can be brought about by the diverse opinions within the nation. For instance, Tomas Hobbes saw democracy as a form of government that permits reckless liberty that will usually undermine the law conservation and the societal order. Most of the politicians usually will exploit the antagonism between the economic classes and the dissimilarity in the ethnic groups to turn them into votes for their political parties. Instead of intervening for good and for the passions of the people, these politicians unruly politicians will obviously fun them so that they can be seen as the heroes. Firstly, they monopolize the media and use it to propagate these courses. This eventually pokes holes into the community and creates differences that eventually results into chaos and riots in these groups. In the year 2006 for instance, two major national wide riots erupted in the country of France. The first was in economic in nature and started in the month of February and the next was both religious and ethnic erupted in November the same year. These riots are among t he examples that can be brought about by the diverse opinions within the nation. For instance, Tomas Hobbes saw democracy as a form of government that permits reckless liberty that will usually undermine the law conservation and the societal order. Most of the politicians usually will exploit the antagonism between the economic classes and the dissimilarity in the ethnic groups to turn them into votes for their political parties. Instead of intervening for good and for the passions of the people, these politicians unruly politicians will obviously fun them so that they can be seen as the heroes. Firstly, they monopolize the media and use it to propagate these courses. This eventually pokes holes into the community and creates differences that eventually results into chaos and riots in these groups. In the year 2006 for instance, two major national wide riots erupted in the country of France. The first was in economic in nature and started in the month of February and the next was both religious and ethnic erupted in November the same year. These riots are among t he examples that can be brought about by the diverse opinions within the nation. For instance, Tomas Hobbes saw democracy as a form of government that permits reckless liberty that will usually undermine the law conservation and the societal order. Most of the politicians usually will exploit the antagonism between the economic classes and the dissimilarity in the ethnic groups to turn them into votes for their political parties. Instead of intervening for good and for the passions of the people, these politicians unruly politicians will obviously fun them so that they can be seen as the heroes. Firstly, they monopolize the media and use it to propagate these courses. This eventually pokes holes into the community and creates differences that eventually results into chaos and riots in these groups. In the year 2006 for instance, two major national wide riots erupted in the country of France. The first was in economic in nature and started in the month of February and the next was both religious and ethnic erupted in November the same year. These riots are among t he examples that can be brought about by the diverse opinions within the nation.            Democracy can be said to be a pluralist system of power distribution that is set to distribute power among the many and diverse competing groups even though not equally. Even if democracy can be said to be somehow worse, it achieves a greater level of political equality amongst the citizens than any other form and hence reflects the fundamental belief that all individuals or humans are all born equal and so the consent of governance should originate from the governed (Dahl, 1998). In addition, this form of government allows individuals to protect their self interests. The nature of humans dictates that each and every individual desires some control over their needs and wants and John Stuart Mill said that the ability to protect ones interests protects us from evil in the hands of others. The competition that exists between different groups of people within the society is exactly what differentiates democracy from authoritarianism. As it wa s argued by (Flinders, 2010), â€Å"Difference is good†. The discussion and debate along with the exercise of the right to freedom of speech act as the pillars upon which democracy is formed. Inherently, democracy is a system of rights. By definition, democracy grants both civil and political rights to the citizens so that they can fully participate in the democratic process. The nature of humans dictates that each and every individual desires some control over their needs and wants and John Stuart Mill said that the ability to protect ones interests protects us from evil in the hands of others. The competition that exists between different groups of people within the society is exactly what differentiates democracy from authoritarianism. As it was argued by (Flinders, 2010), â€Å"Difference is good†. The discussion and debate along with the exercise of the right to freedom of speech act as the pillars upon which democracy is formed. Inherently, democracy is a system of rights. By definition, democracy grants both civil and political rights to the citizens so that they can fully participate in the democratic process.            So as for all the citizens to participate and hear the voice of their people, it is then very vital to grant these citizens the right to the freedom of assembly that is not provided for in the totalitarian nor in the authoritative regimes. The belief of equality is also one of the building pillars of democracy and thus enforcing and establishing the rights gives this a greater degree of equality than any other non-democratic form of government. In fact, granting these rights helps shield the minority from persecution and also allow them to also protect their interests. The society that we are in these days is made up of heterogeneous groups, all which represent different and varied interests; all these must be respected and recognized. If we do not observe this, we will obviously be committing ourselves to rule by an elite or selected few who think that their interest are over those of the other people. The police violence and democracy in Canada            In Canada, the use of police force and violence has become one of the greatest concerns to the society. Many civilians and students are becoming more concerned about the force that is applied by the police in most encounters with the citizens in different situation. Following some of the bad encounters the people had with the police officers, many people are now tending to think that police in most of the time act to deprive the people their constitutional rights and hence they are violating the rule of democracy. The critics say that police sometimes employ much power to the civilians by use of violence and force. On the other hand, the advocates of this say that the police are entitled to use any power to stop crimes and also secure the people’s wellbeing.            For years the violence and force that has been used by police officers and the local authority in Canada has been not only of major concern but also a significant issue that has to be addressed for democracy to be realised. It all commences when a police officer abuse the powers that has been delegated to them by the state and constitution. In Canada, it has become obvious that each day in and day out there must be a case where a police officer has employed excessive power to the civilians.            As the literacy levels are increasing all day, people are becoming more aware of their democratic rights and the voices are becoming united daily. The authorities and the officers are in place to protect, help and promote safety in communities. There many people who are filing complaints daily against the police officers who are causing violence and using unnecessary force during arrest. In many instances in the city, we have seen how two or three police officers beat up a defenceless citizen using their batons or how they mistreat women and teenagers. These are all the cases that are act against democracy of whom the people should be enjoying, owing to the fact that this is a rule for the people, for the people and by the people. The heightened technology and the media has promoted the awareness that the police are culminating violence by abusing their powers. This has created fear and mistrust by the people towards the police departments . In accordance to the penal law guidelines, the police are only justified to use force that is only necessary to prevent homicide or a crime. The advocates            The advocates for the police usage of power and force term the police as an armed force for participation and protection. They declare the power of the police by them being armed forces; then, they demonstrate their power by stating protection and express their community connection by stating that they participate. First these officers have the delegated power by their weapon that they carry and the ability that this weapon has to make other people to comply to the law. They argue that, by the fact that police have been given the mandate to protect; they must in any means pursue this goal even if it means use of excessive or unnecessary powers. Finally, the participation concept emphasizes the relationship between the officer and the community. To ensure that the communities are safeguarded effectively, they are free to use any power whether it means to deprive a person his/her constitutional rights or not. How we can improve democracy on this issue            The police officers also being one of the citizens, they should strive to serve the communities they are in with their best interest at heart while safeguarding the democratic rights of the civilians. The police officers are the officials that are mandated to impose the laws while preserving order in the society and they should not act in a manner that may culminate violence or in any case deprive any individual his/her democratic rights. In the cases that the police officers are called into some stressful and dangerous events that may involve violent altercations, that must be controlled. We as the citizens also do not want to see our streets run by criminals who terrorize other people. It is true that in some cases police officers are allowed to use force but not in all the situations or self created situations geared at harassing a civilian or depriving him/her his/her democratic rights. Let us all observe the law. References Abraham Lincoln. The Gettysburg Adddress. Available http://www.historyplace.com/speech/gettysburg.htm. Last assessed 05 June 2012 Dahl, Robert A. On Democracy. New Haven: Yale UP, 1998. Print. Dobson, William J. The Dictator’s Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy. New York: Doubleday, 2012. Print. Flinders, Matthew V. Democratic Drift: Majoritarian Modification and Democratic Anomie in the United Kingdom. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2010. Print. Johnson, Marilynn S. Johnson, ed. Street Justice: A History of Police Violence in Canada. Beacon Press. p. 365. 2004. Loree, Don â€Å"Corruption in Policing: Causes and Consequences; A Review of the Literature†. Research and Evaluation Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing Services Directorate. Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2006 Peterson, Amsterdam.Democracy, Policy and Economic development. Stockholm: Stockholm Press, 2005. Stein Ringen. Three Priorities to Improve UK Democracy,2007 Theocracy. Available: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theocracy.Last accessed 05 Jude 2012 Source document
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Left Turning Tendencies
We know the four basic forces that act on an aircraft that make it fly. There are however a combination of physical and aerodynamic forces that contribute to a left-turning tendency in propeller driven airplanes. The forces of P-factor, torque, slipstream, and gyroscopic precession all work to create a left-turning tendency during high-power, low-airspeed flight. P-Factor is a force from the propeller. It is also known as Asymmetrical Thrust. When you are flying an airplane at high angles of attack, the descending blade (right side) of the propeller takes a greater †bite†of air than the ascending blade(left side). This then causes the airplane to yaw to the left about the vertical axis. P-Factor is most pronounced when the engine is operating at a high power setting, and when the airplane is flown at a high angle of attack. In level flight, P-Factor is not apparent, since both the ascending and descending blades have almost the same AoA and are approximately creating the same thrust. Torque is greatest at low airspeeds, high power settings, and high angels of attack. Torque is better remembered by knowing Newton’s third law of motion. â€Å"For every action there is an equal and opposite reacion. †Most single engine aircraft where the motor is mounted on the front, the propeller rotates clockwise when viewed form the cockpit. When the engine puts a force on the propeller turning it to the right, the airplane reacts and rolls in the opposite direction about the longitudinal axis. As the propeller creates thrust and produces a backwards flow of air, or slipstream, the air â€Å"wraps†around the airplane. Since there is a clockwise rotation of the propeller, the resultant slipstream flows over the top of the fuselage back around and underneath, then comes around to strike the left side of the vertical stabilizer. Which then yaws the aircraft to the left. As airspeed is increased, the slipstream tends to â€Å"stretch†out and the left turning force is less apparent. The propeller on an airplane can be compared to a gyroscope – rigidity in space and precession. The characteristic that produces a left-turning tendency is precession. Gyroscopic Precession can be defined as the resultant reaction when a force is applied to a rotating disc. When a force is applied to say the top of the disc, the reaction then is moved in the direction of rotation and approximately 90 degrees ahead of the point where the force is applied. Clockwise turning propellers, when this force is in effect, will yaw the airplane to the left. The effects will be experienced when the aircrafts attitude is changed. This force is not so apparent on tricycle landing gear aircraft, but on tail wheel airplanes, when on takeoff roll as the tail is raised the precession is greatest. Remember that these four left-turning tendencies in propeller driven aircraft, torque, gyroscopic precession, asymmetrical thrust (p-factor), and spiraling slipstream, have their greatest effect during high power, low-airspeed flight conditions. A good and thorough understanding of the effects can help you anticipate and correct for their effects. â€â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]
Cubas Importance in Global Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Cubas Importance in Global Marketing - Essay Example In so doing, the role of a country like Cuba in global marketing cannot be overlooked. Cuba, a Caribbean country, qualifies for use as a marketing strategy in the global arena. Cuban products hold special allure in the global context, but this potential is limited by the embargo United States has against Cuba. The limited participation of Cuba in international trade has left millions of consumers across the globe yearning for her locally produced goods. From rum to cigars to coffee, Cuba significantly challenges the United States when it comes to global marketing. Given the limited presence of Cuba in international trade, both domestic and international firms have opted to use Cuba as a strategic factor in global marketing. In other words, Cuba drives global marketing both locally and internationally; especially in the United States context. The U.S-Cuba business factor continues to experience trademark wars. Legal processes are never ending filed from both sides; American and Cuban sides. This has further heightened consumer attention and concern towards Cuba. It appears that the more U.S and Cuban firms engage in trademark wars, the more influenced the consumers get in favor of Cuba. As a result, marketers have moved swiftly to exploit emerging opportunities. Essentially, global marketing has to embrace global diversity and dynamism, aspects that Cuban business fosters. Domestic and international consumers are highly influenced by product uniqueness. Where quality is met, needs are satisfied, and tastes and preferences are accounted for, consumers will go an extra mile to ensure that they manifest their business zeal. This is the case as far as Cuba is concerned in the global marketing context. The Cuban products issue has been highly politicized both at home and away; in the United States.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Women, Sex, Role and culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Women, Sex, Role and culture - Essay Example Among the dedicated writers include Brettell and Sargent, who are inclining their work towards modern topics in anthropology. Most of their works are designed in a manner that deems appropriate for scholars at various levels of their studies. In this essay, we will appraise one significant topic within the field of anthropology, and subsequently relate Brettell and Sargent’s work to ideologies contained within the underlying topics. Fortunately, the writers’ work takes an accessible and open-ended approach in covering a subject matter. Therefore, we will have to establish an objective link between theses contained in the primary readings and that of selected essay from the two writers mentioned above. Primary Reading: Cultural Solidarity of Maasai Women In the first primary ethnographic reading, we will explore the role of gender among Maasai women in Kenya. Within the reading, the writer Llewlyn Melissa analyses two contexts of cultural solidarity observed among women in the Maasai community. The underlying thesis statement within this reading is that Maasai women have over the past decades stood in solidarity to defend their gender roles within their societies. Despite infiltration of western ideologies into Kenyan tribes, Maasai have managed to preserve their traditions to date. They are nomadic pastoralists which mean that they move from one place to another in search of water and pasture for their domestic animals, especially cattle. Fortunately, their unique culture and proximity to wildlife reserves attracts tourists and anthropologists. Currently, a small number of Maasai men and moderate women have been absorbed into white collar jobs in the tourism sector (Llewlyn 209). However, majority of Maasai women and men are still subscribing to conventional roles as contained in their cultural norms. At this juncture, it is worth acknowledging the fact that Maasai culture is a patriarchal community dominated by men. Women within the Maasai tribe enjoy minimum opportunities, and faces numerous challenges form decisions made by their communities. As a show of solidarity to their patriarchal cultures, Maasai women still believes in early and forced marriages (Llewlyn 212). Parents show little interest in education of their girl child because these girls will be married immediately after elementary school. In fact older women in the Maasai community participate joyfully in preparing their daughters for forced marriages. This shows that women in this community are in solidarity with the cultural norm of early and forced marriages of their girls. As if forced marriage was not enough, Maasai women still demonstrate cultural solidarity through female genital mutilation. This context relates to women sexuality in the society. In an effort to curb free expression of woman’s sexual desires, the Maasai community chooses to perform this primitive act of mutilating their girls. Unfortunately, older women are the ones at the forefr ont in organizing for these initiation ceremonies as a show of love for their culture (Llewlyn 230). In this regard, one can appreciate the fact that culture plays a significant role in influencing norms of men and women in different social settings. In this case, a strict solidarity to their culture influences Maasai women into perpetrating primitive and harmful cultural practices. Brettell and Sargent: Culture, Sexuality and the Body The excerpt on Maasai women fits with Brettell and Sargent’s essay on culture, sexuality and the body in inter-cultural perspective. Based on the primary reading, we acknowledged the fact that Maasai community controls sexuality of women in their societies. The aspect of early and forc
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
'The great strength of the market is that it is a decentralised means Essay
'The great strength of the market is that it is a decentralised means of resource allocation.' Discuss - Essay Example However, the markets deviate because of the demand and supply levels that shape the market conditions. The following context is a depth discussion of free market enterprise economies with incorporation of the liberalists and socialists approaches. Innovation The free market economies are crucial for general growth of a country as the production factors seem to coincide with the market forces in exploitation of resources to achieve improvement in lives through the satisfaction of consumer needs (Lightenstein, 2005:56). Economists argue that free markets comprise of sellers of different products and buyers to the different products and the extent at which these factors prevail without coercion is the best of economic growth. Mainly, supply of the products is dependent on demand levels prevailing in the market. A supplier defines a particular need for a product in the market and depicts on the best method of solving the consumer need (Block, and Block, 2008:58). At this point, the suppl ier shall indulge in the process of developing a product tailored to cater for the anticipated need. Producers to new products in a free market find ease in accessing value through the effective ascertainment of anticipated needs from the target consumers. This occurs from the essence that the consumer expresses the needs he feels deprived of and at that point, the innovative and knowledgeable producer gains access to a product idea (Kasper, 2006:122). A producer should depict the market eyed on and establish the probable rate of competition that may prevail in the market. Economists hold on innovation as of critical value to enhancing production and increased economic performances at the long run (Barth, Lin, and Wihlborg, 2012:43). For example, a new product in a free market enterprise encourages different producers to derive a norm that producing towards the different consumer needs could be beneficial to the urge to grow. As Smith established in the 18th century, suppliers deriv e the urge to produce just as the consumers derive the urge to purchase a given. Studies depict that innovative supply of products is positive to growth in the economy. For example, a new product in the market would imply to a new demand and supply module that will include a monopolistic competition approach. The law is that the product will gain a gradual increase in the level of demand and slowly incline in accordance to the purchase model (Lightenstein, 2005:59). This process shall implicate a level of returns on investment to the producer who shall in turn engage in production of more output to cater for the raising demand. At this point, producers shall stand the threat of competition in the absence of substitute commodities in the market. Free market economists embrace monopolistic competition as ideal in that different suppliers have distinct products thus will attract different buyers. Therefore, monopolistic competition is relative to decreased rivalry (Kasper, 2006:124). T he libertarians hold on free market as ideal to the distribution of wealth and equity to the entire society in general. For example, the new products shall lead to the creation of employment rates for knowledgeable and innovative individuals. This labor force shall derive earnings from the initial demand of the product at the initial price (Barth, Lin, and Wihlborg, 2012:45). With the opposing factors remaining constant, the product demand shall increase accordingly and will be the yields to the producer. Hence, increased production
Monday, August 26, 2019
Family Counseling Approach Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words
Family Counseling Approach - Research Paper Example paid closer attention to some of the details and this allowed them to evolve the concept of the family into a more descriptive entity where strong supportive bonds and long-term roles and relationship help people build their lives around (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). These relationships may or may not be even by blood or by marriage but the fact that they count in the overall organization of the family makes them essential. The report herein will look at one of the many approaches that were developed as a way of dealing with this context and its point of view delved into to help understand its principles and theorems. This approach is the Bowen family systems approach or the intergenerational approach. Coined by psychiatrist Murray Bowen, this theory views the family as an emotional unit and utilizes the symbolism of a systems’ thinking to describe the intricacy of the interactions therein. As a family, connections are very intense and mostly border on the emotional perspective. Family members are profoundly attached to the other’s thoughts actions and even feelings naturally making it seem like they are one and the same thing. It is at the family level that children grow learning some of the basic attribute such as love, belongingness, need for attention and approval, and the way people react and support each other’s expectations and needs and how the lack of these may affect their growth later on in life (brown, 1999). However, when some of these are lacking, the child may not understand and will grow thinking that they way they are was meant to be. Their interactions create emotional interdependence which is presumed to be a significant factor in the promot ion of cohesiveness and cooperation in the family. It is expected that the family is the only unit that is supposed to provide all the basic requirements such as shelter, clothing and food as well as protection for its members (Guerin et al., 1996). Despite these expectations, any heightened
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Child soilder literature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words
Child soilder literature review - Essay Example Sierra Leone is a small republic founded in 1842 on the West Coast of Africa (Grover, 2009 p1). It is bordered to the north and east by Guinea, to the South by Liberia and to the South-West by the Atlantic Ocean. The country plunged into civil war which lasted throughout most of the 1990s. In the heat of the Sierra Leonean War in 1997, AFROL News announced that about 5,400 children were involved in the war and this was in sync with the UNs official figures. After the war, it was reported that Sierra Leones conflict involved about 6,914 child soldiers (Facts of Sierra Leone, 2011). These children were recruited to take part in the Sierra Leonean Civil War that lasted between 1991 and 2001 (Sillinger, 2003: p3). The root of the Sierra Leonean Civil War and the recruitment of child soldiers has a strong and deep root in international relations. The connection between the Sierra Leonean Wars and international relations has a strong connection with the diamond deposits of the country. Diamonds are found in approximately a third of Sierra Leones territory (Levy, 2003 p2) Up until the late 1980s, Sierra Leone produced about $90m worth of diamonds each year (LeVert, 2007 p81). This figure represents the official value of diamonds that was exported through the legally accepted route of the Government Diamond Office and this could be just a fraction of the actual figure (Forde, 2011 p21). Primarily, British and South African companies have been at the forefront of the exploration of the countrys diamonds and other minerals (Hirsch, 2007 p18). Multinationals from these countries were granted legitimate rights to mine and export the countrys diamonds for several years after the country gained independence from Britain in 1960. The countrys first government led by Sir Milton Margai handed over power peacfully to Siaka Stevens
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9
Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example There are absolute negative terms such as racial injustice. Such a term elicits a feeling of alienation on the subjective race and dominance on the objective race. In this context, the terms are supposed to dig deep into the feelings of the black community and present a well-behind theme that is supposed to be subject of concern. But how is this supposed to work? This question is relevant because the writer comes to the direct irony of presenting views of the critics. These critics are not non-blacks alone. There are also blacks who present such critics and call the ideas of the writer as unjustified, irrational and impractical. This is symbolic of disunity. The same disunity is presented when some of the people have to be coerced into joining social identity groups at the beginning. The fundamentalism of these disagreements is brought to the effect that they are important for the sake of nationalism. Putting the nation first is said to be the most important aspect as compared to for ming solid social identity groups that would try to neutralize the aspect of alienation. Nationalism language is also presented in two fronts. This is used to exhaust the fact that there are explanations that relate to categories of nationalism. Nationalism is not just a collection of all the people agreeing to support America or the white/black race. Classical nationalism is presented on the basis of voluntary separation and retention of equality and self-determination. This means that all blacks are supposed to be united as one but against the discrimination of the whites. There is also pragmatic nationalism in which case there is a common oppression for the blacks for which they should unite and suffer for. The writer presents a lot of collected information on unity. He goes to an extent as to provide Black Nationalism that does not involve those that do not suffer under such a cause. Much rhetoric is however created at this point.
Friday, August 23, 2019
Identify and discuss the risks of either or both parties Case Study
Identify and discuss the risks of either or both parties - Case Study Example Thus it needs get food products from various overseas suppliers to continue its distribution business. Majority of food products that the company distributes are manufactured by companies which are located in USA. Now the company has developed a new market for spicy chicken noodle soup product which is desirable among Asian customers. Thus to avail this products the company is searching manufactures for this particular product who will be able to add special flavor and aroma to attract the Asian customers. Among many other manufacturers, it has shortlisted two companies, Slick Willie and Gumpbell Soup Company. But the finalization depends on the price quotes and the quality of the product provided by the companies. Gumpbell Soup Company Inc. is a New York based old line food manufacturing company which was founded in 1896. It went public in 1999 and has offered majority of its stock to the public. It has a high reputation among its customers as a renowned international food company t hat manufactures and sells wide ranges of food products across the USA and rest of the world. The company has a very comprehensive operation which includes research and development department for development of new and unique products, production plant and department to control the quality of food products all over the USA. It also has strong domestic and international distribution network to boost its sales. Although it has strong reputation among its customers but still it faces a strong competition from its major competitor Slick Willie’s Foods on the ground of pricing strategy.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Missed Opportunities Essay Example for Free
Missed Opportunities Essay Located between East Asia, Southeast Asia and the vast Pacific Ocean lies an archipelago of 7,107 islands collectively called as the Philippines. Due to its strategic location as the Pacific’s Gateway to Asia, as well as its abundant natural resources, the Philippines had become one of the most prized possessions of the superpowers. This archipelagic nation had been subjected to colonization under Spain, Japan, and the United States. In July 4, 1946, independence was finally granted to the Philippines by the United States. Just like many newly-independent states, it was hard for the country to undergo the process of decolonization. But despite the rough road for development and self-government, the Philippines had the best promises of economic prosperity back then. Its economic indicators were among the best in the region, just following behind Japan. It was predicted to be one of Asia’s emerging superpowers. Apparently, it seems that the Philippines fell short of these expectations. The economy plummeted, especially under the authoritarian regime of the infamous dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. This paper will take a look at the political and economic conditions of the Philippines under the leadership of Ferdinand Marcos from 1965-1986. It will strive to find explanations as to why unlike the similarly strong, authoritarian, and strict governments of Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, and Deng Xiaoping of China which brought prosperity to their respective countries – Ferdinand Marcos’s government failed, and even brought the Philippine economy into its darkest times. Background Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was a revolutionary man, a respectable figure in Philippine politics. He was the son of a teacher and a politician, and since his early years, his potential as a great leader was seen. The most remarkable story preceding his political career was when he was accused of killing his father’s political rival. He successfully petitioned the Philippine Supreme Court to release him on bail, thus allowing him to finish a Bachelor’s Degree in Law in the University of the Philippines. He eventually passed the board exam in flying colors. But shortly after this victory, the verdict has arrived, and he was guilty of murder, which sentenced him to ten years in prison. With his brilliance and wit, he prepared his own appeal and had his case defended only by him. On his own, he was able to cleanse himself of the charges accused of him. He was freed, and news of the brilliance and intelligence of this young man was known and celebrated throughout the country (Steinberg, 2007). For 6 years, Marcos served in the Philippine Army during World War 2. After the war, Marcos had his political career started, while working as an assistant to the former Philippine President Manuel Roxas. Shortly after, he was elected as a congressman in his hometown province of Ilocos. Before running in the national elections, he made a wise move by marrying a very beautiful and charming wife, a former beauty pageant queen by the name of Imelda Romualdez. During campaign period, they were like stars in a romance movie – a couple of wit and beauty, and it proved to be effective in catching the hearts of the Filipino people. This unique appeal, of providing a mother-father appeal to the country was successful – it eventually gave Marcos a seat in the Senate, and later on, the coveted Presidential Seat in 1965 (Steinberg, 2007). In the early years of the Marcos love team, the couple (Imelda, even though she was not an elected politician, was very dominant in all areas of Philippine politics) pushed for projects such as infrastructure and food production. Marcos did not fall short of the expectations of the people. He was successful in improving the country’s situation, especially its economy. In fact, GDP growth increased from 5. 1% in the 1960s to more than 60% in the 1970s. Levels of investment increased, and export growth reached 8% in the 1970s from 2. 2% in the 1960’s. The Philippines also became a leader in rice production during the Green Revolution, with food production per capita growing to more than 20%, allowing the country to be self-sufficient in rice (Jayasuriya, 1986). These statistics partly came from the first presidential term of Marcos. In 1969, he won a second term, thanks to the aforementioned achievements. Growth continued until the first few years of his second term. However, many fundamental problems gradually appeared in the beautiful scenario of the growing Philippine economy. In the South, insurgency among the Separatist Muslim groups was emerging; there were many demonstrations against the government’s support for the US policies in the Vietnam War, as well as the presence of their military bases in the country; and the economy was weakening, painting a picture of dissatisfaction among the Filipino People (Steinberg, 2007). Marcos took advantage of this unfavorable political and social climate of the country. Under the Constitution, a person can only hold on to the Presidential Seat for a maximum of two terms (Jayasuriya, 1986). Clearly, time was running out for Marcos, and so in 1972, with the excuse of stabilizing the country, he declared Martial Law and tightened his grip on to power and wealth through authoritarian rule. Another part of the statistics mentioned before is attributed to the early years of the Martial Law. Martial Law in fact, was lauded by international entities, including the World Bank, stating that â€Å"recent developments offer an opportunity for a more serious attack on the very difficult social and economic problems presently confronting the Philippines†(Boyce, 1993). Under Martial Law, however, there was no free press, key opposition figures were jailed, numerous human rights violations were committed, a curfew and many other restrictions were imposed among the population, and everything the dictator said was a decree. Indeed, power was solely under the hands of the Marcoses and their allies (Steinberg, 2007). However, despite this strict rule, the Philippine Economy was continuing to deteriorate. And by the early 80s, there was crisis and uncertainty in the country’s politics and economy. It was a combination of internal and external factors – there was world recession caused by the second oil shock in 1979, oil imports were becoming more expensive while export prices were falling, and there was a steep increase in the interest rates of foreign borrowings, where the Philippines was heavily dependent on (Bresnan, 1986). He eventually lifted Martial Law in 1981, but called for an election which he eventually won again. Even so, the problems faced by the country were still the same, and Marcos himself started suffering from complications. He acquired an illness by the name of lupus erythematosus, which made required him to undergo dialysis and have his kidneys replaced. His credibility as a leader was further questioned as he appeared to be dying. It was indeed a hard time for the Philippines. All these events climaxed when Benigno Aquino, opposition leader and greatest rival and critic of the Marcos government, was assassinated on August 21, 1983. It was the ultimate event that would trigger and stimulate the urge of the people to let Marcos step down. For the years to come, a sentiment of disgust against the Marcos regime grew. To appease the people, a snap election took place, and the candidates for presidency were Beningno Aquino’s wife, Corazon Aquino, and Mr. Marcos himself. The election appeared to have no credibility, as both parties claimed that they won, and both of them had sworn as President at the same time in different locations. Most people however, doubted the victory of the dying dictator, they believe that Mr. Marcos has cheated his way on to power this time. The people were simply tired of the injustices under the Marcos regime, as well as his greed and tight grip to power. In February 22 1986, hundreds of thousands of people wearing yellow peacefully gathered on Metropolitan Manila’s most important highway, EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue). It was a prayerful demonstration urging Marcos to step down and leave the Palace. Eventually, after four days of tireless demonstrations, Marcos flees and flies to Hawaii for exile (Weir, accessed 2008). The rest was history. Corazon Aquino became the first female Filipino President, and EDSA Revolution inspired other nations, such as Germany during the Collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, to start their own peaceful revolutions.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Job Satisfaction in Hospitality Industry Essay Example for Free
Job Satisfaction in Hospitality Industry Essay Turnover intention The purpose of this study is to investigate the antecedents (i. e. , role ambiguity and con? ct, burnout, socialization, and work autonomy) and consequences (i. e. , affective and continuance commitment, absenteeism, and employee turnover intention) of employee job satisfaction. Data obtained from a sample of 671 respondents drawn from 11 international tourist hotels in Taiwan were analyzed with the LISREL program. According to the results, role con? ict, burnout, socialization, and work autonomy, but not role ambiguity, signi? cantly predicted job satisfaction. In addition, job satisfaction signi? cantly contributed to psychological outcomes in terms of organizational effectiveness (i. . , greater affective and continuance commitment and lower employee turnover intentions). ? 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction 1. 1. Background In the competitive and people-oriented business environment characterizing the modern hospitality industry, frontline employee performance represents a crucial component of service. Better employee performance yields greater guest satisfaction and loyalty. Moreover, frontline employees in the hospitality industry seem to be underpaid and to suffer job-related stress (Weatherly and Tansik, 1993; Karatepe and Sokmen, 2006). An appropriate quality of service includes employee attitudes and behaviors that meet customer expectations. Consequently, employee job satisfaction is a necessary contributor to meeting such expectations (Rust et al. , 1996; Kim et al. , 2005; Karatepe and Sokmen, 2006). The literature on job satisfaction covers an enormous territory with ambiguous boundaries, apparently as a result of the growing interest of academic researchers and managers in three perspectives on this domain. The ? rst views job satisfaction as an antecedent of organizational outcomes, e. g. business performance (Iffaldano and Muchinski, 1985; Schyns and Croon, 2006), employee turnover (Williams and Hazer, 1986; Griffeth et al. , 2000; Lam et al. , 2001a,b; Martin, 2004; Silva, 2006; Schyns and Croon, 2006), and organizational commitment (Chatman, 1989, 1991; Chatman and Barsade, 1995; Harris and Mossholder, 1996; Lowry et al. , 2002; Lam and Zhang, 2003; Martin, 2004; Taris et al. , 2005; Li, 2006; Silva, 2006) . The second treats job satisfaction as an outcome of organizational conditions, e. g. , leadership (Williams and Hazer, 1986; Schriesheim et al. 1992; Podsakoff et al. , 1996; Sparks and Schenk, 2001; Schyns and Croon, 2006), social support (Frone, 2000; Liden et al. , 2000; Schirmer and Lopez, 2001; Schyns and Croon, 2006), and task characteristics (Seers and Graen, 1984; Williams and Hazer, 1986; Stepina et al. , 1991; Dodd and Ganster, 1996; Schyns and Croon, 2006). The third examines job satisfaction in terms of the temperament of employees, which is affected by individual traits (Judge et al. , 1998, 2000; Dormann and Zapf, 2001; Judge and Bono, 2001; Schyns and Croon, 2006). 1. 2. Previous studies of job satisfaction in hospitality Previous studies on the antecedents and consequences of job satisfaction in the hotel industry have examined antecedents in terms of individual, organizational, and job-related factors. Much of the literature regarding individual factors in the hospitality industry has identi? ed salary, bene? ts, and marital status as contributors to employee turnover (Iverson and Deery, 1997; Pizam and Thornburg, 2000). For Chinese managers, job satisfaction was affected by the work environment, the nature of the job itself, and the rewards associated ith the job, but not by manager characteristics (Lam et al. , 2001a,b). Rewards, particularly those related to job security, emerged as an in? uential factor relating to job satisfaction. This study also indicated that high levels of job satisfaction resulted in low levels of turnover intentions among managers. Aziz et al. (2007) studied fast food restaurants and found that satisfaction with ? nancia l rewards minimized absenteeism and hence turnover rates. Martin (2004) and Silva (2006) applied a psychological perspective to a sample drawn from the hotel industry, using a correlation analysis to identify signi? ant relationships among job satisfaction, organizational commitment, employee turnover, and personality traits. Carbery et al. (2003) applied a hierarchical regression analysis to a sample of 89 hoteliers and showed that individual affective * Tel. : +886 935 927 138; fax: +886 7 238 3553. E-mail address: [emailprotected] Nkhc. Edu. Tw. 0278-4319/$ – see front matter ? 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10. 1016/j. ijhm. 2009. 11. 002 610 J. -T. Yang / International Journal of Hospitality Management 29 (2010) 609–619 commitment accounted for a signi? ant amount of variance in turnover intentions, that job satisfaction did not explain managers’ levels of commitment to a signi? cant extent, and that job satisfaction and affective, but not cont inuance, commitment were important factors in predicting the turnover intentions of employees. These ? ndings were also echoed by Iverson and Deery (1997). Second, at the organizational level, organizational support and socialization have been identi? ed as crucial factors in? uencing individual behavior. Cho et al. (2009) empirical study demonstrated that perceived organizational support and commitment negatively in? enced individual intentions to leave, but only the former positively affected intentions to stay. Young and Lundberg (1996) proposed that organizational socialization signi? cantly contributed to newcomers’ job performance, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment and hence to their intentions about leaving the organization. The study indicated that role ambiguity, role con? ict, and job burnout could be minimized by wellorganized orientation and training programs during the early stage of employment, and that this approach would increase the level of job satisfaction. A similar study also showed that socialization dif? culties negatively affected the organizational culture with respect to employee turnover (Iverson and Deery, 1997). Tepeci and Bartlett’s (2002) empirical study went one step further, implying that organizational socialization resulted in increased job satisfaction and intentions to remain in an organization. Subramaniam et al. (2002) empirically showed direct and positive relationships between variables measuring decentralized structures and organizational commitment among managers. Lam and Zhang (2003) surveyed 203 employees in the Hong Kong fast-food industry about their jobs. A multiple regression model showed that organizational commitment was correlated with and predicted by variables re? ecting training and development, job characteristics (including the extent to which a job is challenging, the sense of accomplishment associated with the job, the meaningfulness of the work, the friendliness of co-workers, and job security) and compensation and fairness. Job satisfaction was correlated with the ? st two factors. Subramaniam et al. (2002) found a direct and positive relationship between variables measuring managers’ needs for achievement and their organizational commitment to and use of a participatory budgeting process. Lowry et al. (2002), drawing on a sample of 454 employees working in registered clubs in Australia, show that job satisfaction signi? cantly affected organizational commitment and that formal training plans as well as empowerment and ? exible work hours were dominant factors in? uencing job satisfaction. Iverson and Deery (1997) and Silva (2006) presented empirical results showing that organizational commitment was connected with employee turnover, as mediated by job satisfaction. Kim et al. (2005) re? ned the aforementioned statistical relationship by applying structural equation modeling. Manageable levels of job stress should have a certain number of positive effects on individual and/or organizational behaviors. The most signi? cant empirical studies in this regard were conducted by Faulkner and Patiar (1997) and Iverson and Deery (1997). Zohar (1994) and Brymer et al. (1991) claimed that stress included three aspects of role con? ict and ambiguity: workload, decision latitude, and psychological stress. Faulkner and Patiar (1997) identi? ed ? ve sources of the job stress suffered by front-of? ce employees: ‘‘coping with of? ce politics, dealing with ambiguous situations, inadequate guidance from superiors, under-promotion, and staff shortages’’ (p. 110). This empirical study implied that these ? ve stressors should be eliminated to stimulate individual adaptive behaviors. Recent research conducted by Karatepe and Uludag (2007) with employees of Northern Cyprus hotels found that work–family con? ict did not signi? cantly contribute to job satisfaction or intentions to leave an organization. Karatepe et al. (2006a,b) and Kim et al. (2009) found that role con? ict and ambiguity were signi? cantly associated with job satisfaction, given sex as a mediating variable. The study conducted by Kim et al. (2007) implied that job burnout might increase rates of employee turnover. Employee turnover constitutes a critical issue for many hoteliers and academics. Some hoteliers view turnover as a part of the culture of the hospitality industry as a whole (i. e. , a so-called turnover culture). Hotel operations in Taiwan are also characterized by this sort of culture (Yang, 2008). Recent studies of the hotel industry in Taiwan conducted by Yang (2008) demonstrated that organizational socialization contributed to job satisfaction and commitment and minimized newcomer turnover intention. This study, applying a multiple regression analysis, showed that job satisfaction affected affective commitment and hence in? enced turnover intentions. Yang (2009) indicated that newcomers enjoyed observing and reading job-related information to learn how to perform tasks, implying that organizational socialization and job stress were correlated with job satisfaction. 1. 3. Justi? cation for and contribution of the study Although many empirical studies have focused on issues related to job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and employee turnover, many una nswered questions about the nature of job satisfaction seem to remain. One such unanswered question concerns the importance of different job factors, such as role stress and job burnout, in determining satisfaction. This empirical study attempts to explore the relationships among several components of the antecedents and consequences of job satisfaction. The main impetus for conducting this comprehensive and holistic study derived from the need to narrow three theoretical gaps. First, although prior studies have revealed the relationship between antecedents (i. e. , role stress, socialization, and burnout) and consequences (i. e. organizational commitment and employee intentions to leave an organization) and job satisfaction, few studies have investigated the interactive effects of these variables within the context of a more inclusive model. Second, a great deal of the literature in the hospitality and tourism ? eld shows a strong relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment, but few studies have examined this relationship by dis tinguishing affective from continuance commitment. Third, no empirical evidence about whether absenteeism mediates between organizational commitment and intention to leave has been presented. This study will contribute to a growing body of research on job satisfaction that illustrates the need to adopt a multi-faceted approach to the study of employee turnover intentions. It will also demonstrate the importance of considering not only the effects of job characteristics on job satisfaction, but also the effects of job satisfaction on organizational commitment, absenteeism, and turnover intention. 1. 4. Purpose of the study The study focuses on interactions among employees in hotels in Taiwan and empirically examines the effectiveness of an integrated understanding of applied psychology that includes organizational socialization. The purpose of this research is to explore (1) the effect of role stress, burnout, socialization, and work autonomy on job satisfaction; and (2) the situational relationships among job satisfaction, individual commitment to organizations, absenteeism, and employee turnover intentions. 2. Hypotheses development This study aims to recast our perspective on job satisfaction by applying organizational theories pertaining to job stress, burnout, J. -T. Yang / International Journal of Hospitality Management 29 (2010) 609–619 611 socialization, and work autonomy. These factors contribute to job satisfaction, and hence to organizational effectiveness, in terms of organizational commitment, absenteeism, and employee turnover intentions. 2. 1. Job satisfaction Job satisfaction can be viewed as ‘‘the pleasurable emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job as achieving or facilitating the achievement of one’s job values’’ (Locke, 1969, p. 316). Early comprehensive empirical research conducted by Porter and Steers (1973) and Muchinsky and Tuttle (1979) showed a negative relationship between job satisfaction and employee turnover intentions. Some studies (e. g. , Steers, 1977; Wanous et al. 1984; Lo and Lam, 2002) have found a signi? cant relationship between job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Williams and Hazer (1986) demonstrated that job satisfaction could be predicted by pre-employment expectations, perceived job characteristics, leadership considerations, and age. Job satisfacti on signi? cantly and positively contributed to the outcomes of organizational commitment, which reduced employees’ intentions to leave and subsequently resulted in decreased turnover. Recent research on the restaurant industry conducted by Lam et al. (2001a,b) reported that the relationship between job satisfaction and job tenure ? a U-shaped model. When people entered an organization and/or job, job satisfaction decreased when job expectations were not met. At times, ‘‘reality shock’’ (Hughes, 1958) occurred. After such an experience, employees adjusted their expectations according to the reality of the job. During the course of this transition, job satisfaction increased when jobrelated expectations were reached. Rayton’s (2006) empirical research revealed that perceived levels of job reutilization and higher levels of work involvement, pay satisfaction, managerial support, and career opportunities were signi? ant determinants of employee jo b satisfaction. 2. 2. Role stress All employees, from senior managers to frontline personnel, can suffer from job stress (Ross, 1997). Human resources managers face a great challenge in attempting to ameliorate employee job stressors (Ngo et al. , 2005). Ngo et al. (2005) characterized role stressors in terms of role ambiguity, role con? ict, role overload, and work–family con? ict. These stressors can lead to such personal reactions as employee burnout, job dissatisfaction, and intentions to leave an organization. According to Karatepe and Sokmen (2006), role con? ict refers to situations characterized by incompatible demands in which employees feel obliged to attend to different individuals (e. g. , managers, colleagues, and customers) simultaneously; on the other hand, role ambiguity also refers to the experience of not having (or receiving) the information necessary for pursuing jobrelated tasks in the workplace. Much relevant research (e. g. , Brown and Peterson, 1993; Almer and Kaplan, 2002; Perrewe et al. , 2002; Siu et al. , 2002; Firth et al. , 2004; Ngo et al. 2005; Karatepe and Sokmen, 2006) has empirically con? rmed the association of a variety of work stressors, including role ambiguity and role con? ict, with lower job satisfaction, increased job-associated tension and anxiety, less affective commitment, lower work involvement, and poor job performance (Sohi, 1996; Karatepe and Sokmen, 2006), leading to intentions to resign. Accordingly, the following hypotheses are proposed: Hypo thesis 1. Role ambiguity negatively affects job satisfaction. Hypothesis 2. Role con? ict negatively affects job satisfaction. 2. 3. Burnout Gill et al. (2006) de? ed burnout as ‘‘a syndrome or state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, as well as cynicism towards one’s work in response to chronic organizational stressors’’ (p. 471). Pienaar and Willemse (2008) demonstrated that burnout might be caused by unfair pay systems, imbalance between pay and work-related effort, and lack of organizational support, career advancement, and recognition by superiors. In addition, frontline hospitality employees sometimes encounter dif? cult interactions with demanding customers, and such experiences can also lead to emotional exhaustion and/or psychological burnout. Many empirical studies (e. . , Leiter and Maslach, 1988; Firth and Britton, 1989; Cordes and Dougherty, 1993; Turnipseed, 1994; Wright and Bonett, 1997; Etzion et al. , 1998; Maslach and Go ldberg, 1998; Van Dierendonck et al. , 1998; Gillespie et al. , 2001; Hsieh and Chao, 2004; Gill et al. , 2006; Pienaar and Willemse, 2008) have reported that burnout results in additional negative effects on individuals, including reduced satisfaction and lower levels of productivity. Burnout also impacts the organization and management by eliciting employee mistrust and discouraging teamwork. Thus, the following hypothesis is proposed: Hypothesis 3. Burnout negatively affects job satisfaction. 2. 4. Socialization Louis (1980) de? ned socialization as ‘‘a process by which an individual comes to appreciate the values, abilities, expected behaviors, and social knowledge essential for assuming an organizational role and for participating as an organizational member’’ (pp. 229–230). Socialization aims to alleviate the feeling of emotional vulnerability (e. g. , job uncertainty, ambiguity, anxiety, and stress) by strengthening the social interactions between newcomers and colleagues to accelerate newcomers’ learning and adjustment to a new environment (Kennedy and Berger, 1994).
Nike Football Marketing Report
Nike Football Marketing Report The purpose of this paper is to undertake discussion about the marketing mix of Nikes football boots. Nike football boots are one of the most immaculate products launched under the name of Nike. First of all the paper presents a brief introduction about the Nikes football boots and the proper discussion about the marketing mix is done. In the discussion about marketing mix the element of product is discussed. This discussion entails product features and various football boots that are offered by Nike. The pricing strategy of Nike is discussed and a discussion is done about what makes Nike to charge premium price for its football boots. The stores and centres are mentioned in the section of place. The last and the most intriguing element of promotion mentions thriving and enchanting promotional stunts that are used to promote Nikes football boots including celebrity endorsement of Ronaldo, TVCs and billboard. On the basis of the discussion of marketing a conclusion is presented. After analysis of the marketing mix few strategies are also recommended in the last part of the paper to enhance the marketing mix of Nikes football boots. Ribbon Sport between the years 1964 and 1971 (Nike, 2013). The other brands in Nike Inc.s portfolio are: The Converse Inc., Hurley International, Jordan Brand and the Nike Golf. The company however commenced operations in the design of football boots in the 1990s and created the lightest boots recorded as at the time, The Nike Mercurial which weighed 200g. (Garenthmcknight, 2012). The football boots remain the most immaculate and innovative products of Nike Inc. The boots offer perfect fit, exceptional feel and outstanding ball control as it implies innovative features. With the help of innovative techniques like asymmetrical lacing, strategic stud patterns and by implying All Conditions Control technology, Nike is able to produce these outstanding products. The products provides a wide range of collections to choose from; these include the firm ground to soft ground and indoor. It is not only the product that has earned great response from customers but behind this product of football boots proper and well devised strategies are applied. One of the important facets of these strategies that sum up the overall product philosophy is marketing mix. The following part of the paper discusses marketing mix of the football boots of Nike. Marketing Mix of Nike The marketing mix (or the 4Ps as it is referred) is a marketing tool often used by Marketers to build a strategic plan towards the achievement of the corporate goal whilst also satisfying customers needs. The 4Ps is a combination or mixture of four elements put together to produce the desired plan of action ( Masterson and Pickton, 2010). It was McCarthy who in the mid-twentieth century, called it the theory of the Four Ps as it uses four variables, whose initials in English starting with p. These four Ps are as follows: Product Place Promotion Price Nike football boots are easily recognised from the swoosh logo embedded on all product. Product The product decisions should consider the products advantages and how they will be leveraged (Julian and Michael, 2012, 17). Nike Inc. has several products under its football boots brand and these are the Mercurial Range, Nike Tiempo, Nike T90, CR7, Customised Range (Nike, 2013). Mercurial: This range of football boots were designed using ultra light and ultra responsive technology for the purpose of quick cuts in any direction. This product range features supreme control at high speed with the super lightweight dimpled design. Nike Tiempo Masterful Class: One of the classy pair of boots offered by Nike. The Tiempo is the oldest of the swoosh designs. It was lauched in the summer of 2011 and produced in conservative colour except for the 2013 edition which are in red colour. This brand is designed to particularly improve water retention. Nike T90 Deadly Strike: Designed to deliver the deadliest strike on the pitch. CR7: One of the most famous football boots in the world is CR7. This is the brand that has been endorsed by Cristiano Ronaldo and ingraved with the Love to win, hate to lose graphics. Custom Football Boots: This is another type of boots that are offered by Nike. As the name implies this product allows customers to customise their football boots according to the desired traction, colour and various other options of personalisation. The various brands of the Nike football boots are designed for optima performance aced on the All Conditions Control (ACC) technology to provide optimal ball control in both wet and dry conditions. Three different types of Grind materials are used for the production of football boots. These three different types of Grind materials include upper fabric, foam of midsole and rubber for outsole. For the football boots each Grind material is used to make surface for football field. All products are availables in various colours. Price The pricing strategy of Nikes football boots can be described as competitive to the other sports shoe retailers. This pricing strategy of football boots is akin to the overall pricing strategy of Nike Inc product spectrum. The basis of the pricing strategy is of premium segment and target customers. The prices of Nikes football boots are high when compared to other brands such as Adidas and Puma, however, this could be attributed to the premium quality of the products developed. These high prices are often associated with their successes in sports and with organisations. The price range of Nikes football boots starts from  £60 and goes up to $200. A price list of various products of Nikes football boots is as attached in the appendix (Nike, 2013). Place Place in the marketing mix means distribution channels, outlets and catchment areas. Strategies related to place indicate and takes into account different places where the sale of the product would be consummated (Charles, Joseph and Carl, 2008, 44). Nike Inc. is a global company with many outlets around the world. The exclusive stores sell the different products of the company which includes the various brands of Nike football boots. The football boots are stocked by retailers in almost 200 countries. In the United States alone, these football boots are sold to 20,000 retail accounts. With the help of independent distributors, licensees and subsidiaries Nike Inc. sells its football boots in the international market. Promotion The business uses sponsorship to generate brand authencity in the competitive market. Advertising is a major tool used by the company to drive the brand. A few footballers currently sponsored by Nike football boots are Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Miroslav Klose. Other scores of promotional techniques are also adopted. A promotional strategy is adopted according to the situation and nature of the product. Following promotional schemes are used by Nike for the promotion of Nike football boots. Television Commercials (TVCs) TVCs that run on TV are full of inspiration and hold in-depth messages. The end product of these adverts are the psychological appeal by portraying stars from football arena. Nikes football boots invites customers to have the experience of wearing these boots. Billboards One of the most effective, most famous and most appealing promotional campaigns that is being practiced by the marketers of Nikes football boots are the billboards. In the review of the billboard, attention must therefore be drawn to the brand logo and tag line. The tag line Just Do It play a major role in enthusing energy and sportsmen spirit among the target market. All billboard adverts undoubtedly have the swoosh and tag line present and without a doubt, these parts are the most recognised all over the world. Celebrity Endorsement Celebrity endorsement is another techniques used by the Nike to attract the target market. These endorsements are regarded as the captivating technique. The football boots are endorsed by renowned, eminent and charismatic football players. Celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Andres Iniesta have been used for endorsement for various brands of the Nike football boots. These celebrities are also found on the companies websites and other advertising platforms. Celebrities chosen usually relate with the product and their personality compliment the product. The SWOT Analysis The need for strategic planning towards the actualisation of a companys goals and objectives can not be over-emphasied. The strategic plan creates a framework for the development, performance expectation and maps out the goals of the furture. Nikes marketing strategy would be further examined using the SWOT Analysis. Strengths Nike football boots are produced using very innovative designs. There are three different types of Grind materials often used for the production of football boots. These three different types of Grind materials include upper fabric, foam of midsole and rubber for outsole. High quality of products: The Nike football boots are associated with high quality products on all brands. Sponsorship: The company is often associated with sponsorship of football players Weaknesses The product prices are quite expensive when compared to other brands. Opportunities The company set to sponsor sport activities such as the Olympics and World Cup tournament. Threats The football boots are in extreme competition with other brands such as Adidas and Puma. The global nature of the brand presents the company with a risk in the cost and margin imbalance. Conclusion This report provides in-depth analysis of the marketing strategies related to product, price, place and promotion of Nike football boots. On the basis of the discussion that is done in the above part of the paper it can be concluded that marketing mix is an important part of the marketing strategy. The discussion reveals that with the help of marketing mix and by implementing effective strategies Nike football boots are successful in positioning the right image in the eyes of the market. Marketing mix is the nub of all marketing strategy. In a way, it can be suggested that marketing mix provides direction to the brand and if it is implemented in the right way just like the marketing mix of Nike football boots is implemented then it leads the brand to touch the zenith and allows organization to operate business lucratively. The pricing strategy, the quality of product, product features, and the way it is being promoted all these strategies speaks for the brand and are consistent with the brand image. Recommendations Although the marketing mix of Nikes football boots is in its perfect form and is doing well for the business but, still there is some room for improvement. Following recommendations can be made in order to enhance the brand image of Nikes football boots. The first strategy that can be adopted is of brand ambassador. Nike has brand ambassador but there is no specific brand ambassador for football boots. The product of football boots is endorsed by a lot of soccer players but there is no brand ambassador of Nikes football boots. Another thing that marketers at Nike can do to enhance the promotional campaign is to form a club. Just like Harley Davidson has a club for bike lovers Nike can also formulate online forums and clubs where soccer lovers can be the members and share their views not only about the game but about the product as well. Just like hoop it up which is a basket ball event that is sponsored by Nike several football events can also be sponsored by Nike to promote Nikes football boots. References Charles, W., Joseph, F., and Carl, D. (2008), Marketing, Cengage Learning. pp. 44 Julian, V., and Michael, V. (2012), Marketing Management, Atlantic Publishers Distri. pp. 17 Kotler, P. (1999), Kotler On Marketing: How To Create, Win, and Dominate Markets, Simon and Schuster. pp. 70 Levy, S. (1999), Brands, consumers, symbols, and research: Sydney J. Levy on marketing, Sage Publication. pp. 45-47 Nike.com. (2013), About products, Nike.com. pp. A-1 Stevens, R. (2003), Marketing Your Business: A Guide to Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan, Routledge. pp. 47-50 William, E. (2004), Product life-cycles as marketing models, University of Chicago Press. pp. 31-36 William, M. (2011), The Marketing Plan: How to Prepare and Implement It, AMACOM. pp. 12
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Wal-Mart is a Menace to Society Essay example -- Argumentative Persuas
"Paying your employees well is not only the right thing to do but it makes for good business." -- Jim Sinegal, CEO, Costco Throughout the history of America, there have been many businesses that come and go. Success is not guaranteed to everyone. But in the case of Sam Walton, it was different. Sam Walton was the founder the most controversial supermarket chain in existence: Wal-Mart. From the buyer's perspective, Wal-Mart is just a generous business chain which has extremely low prices. But upon closer inspection, the wickedness of Wal-Mart and the company practices become apparent. I think Wal-Mart has a negative impact on society. Wal-Mart mistreats employees, follows unfair business practices, and hurts small businesses. First, Wal-Mart mistreats their employees. Wal-Mart is known to have the lowest prices out of any other store. A consumer never realizes how Wal-Mart manages to have such low prices. One may think that Wal-Mart goes into a loss for the sake of their customers, but I beg to differ. Wal-Mart buys all of their products from other countries. They have warehouses and production plants in other poor countries such as China. These warehouses are often referred to as "sweatshops", often due to the terrible conditions that the workers have to bare. This saves a lot of money when it comes to wages, since countries like China have no minimum wage laws. The workers range from every age possible. It would be hard making a living when a person only gets paid a dime a day. Also, Wal-Mart does not have to provide benefits or insurance to any of these out-of-country workers. If Wal-Mart was such a great company as people think it was, they should instead make production plants over in the United S tates. Havin... ...ety and has a negative impact on everyone. Mistreating employees, unfair business practices, and hurting small businesses are just some of the vicious activities that Wal-Mart participates in.Wal-Mart is not a business, but a tyrant. This tyrant must be stopped before it is too late. Wal-Mart may have started out with good intentions, but it is not that way anymore. Now they are just another company who cares about their money rather than worrying about customers, employees, and society itself. Wal-Mart will learn its lesson, even if it is at the expense of others. Works Cited De Coster, Karen., and Brad Edmonds. "The Case for Wal-Mart." Kirszner and Mandell 631-36. Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell, eds. Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide. 11th ed. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. New York: Bedford, 2010.
Monday, August 19, 2019
The Great Gatsby: Morality And Gatsby :: essays research papers fc
The Great Gatsby: Morality and Gatsby Morality is a very controversial issue. That is one of the reasons what people are interested in reading about it. Morality can lead to many questions essentially it can lead to the question between right and wrong. In The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway is faced with a constant struggle between right and wrong. Truth is an issue of morality. "It all happened in a minute but it seemed to me that she wanted to speak to us, thought we were somebody she knew." (Fitzgerald 151) Daisy and Gatsby tried to hide the fact that they hit and killed Myrtle Wilson while driving home from New York. Nick Carraway, however, knew the truth and had to decide if he was going to help hide the truth or let Daisy and Gatsby suffer the consequences. â€Å"I don't think that anybody saw us but of course I can't be sure.†(Fitzgerald 151). Gatsby felt that he could hide the car and with it he could hide the truth. The truth is that Myrtle Wilson was killed and Daisy and Gatsby are the ones to blame. They cannot hide that truth. The friendship between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway is a questionable one and full of doubt. "He had seen me several times and had intended to call on me long before but a peculiar combination of circumstances had prevented it- signed Jay Gatsby." (Fitzgerald 45-46) The two had lived next door to each other for awhile however, they had never associated. Therefore, along with the invitation to the party there was some suspicion. Jay Gatsby is a very wealthy man. Nick Carraway, although he lives in West Egg, is not wealthy nor elegant. The two are certainly opposites. Gatsby and Carraway are bound to take
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Hinduism Essay -- Hindu Religion
     Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions in existence (Srinivasan 66). It ranks as the third largest religion. Today there are about fifty million Hindus worldwide, majority of them living in India (Wangu 6). In order to understand the followers of the religion, you must first realize that Hinduism is more of a way of life than a religion (Srinivasan 66). Hinduism holds together diversity and not only for its own spiritual tradition, but for the entire subcontinent of India (Berry 3). All traditions within India are somehow associated with Hinduism. â€Å"The diversity which marks Hinduism begins with the notion of deity†(Boraks 14). â€Å"There is a strange kind of unity in the vast multiplicity of the Hindu pantheon†(14). â€Å"One never really is certain whether the Hindu religion is polytheistic or dualistic or even monotheistic: there are indications that are all of these and none of these†(14)!      The Hindus define sacredness as Brahman (Boraks 14). To Hindus, Brahman is external, is changeless, has no equal, and is infinite (14). Brahman expresses itself through creation, brought itself existence by Brahma, the creator (14). Brahma is the â€Å"sacred one†and is credited with creation, but Brahma creates and then abandons his creation to lesser gods (14).      Hinduism was not founded by one individual, and it was not always the complex religion it is today (Wangu 14). â€Å"Indians call it Sanatana Dharma - the faith with no beginning and no end†(Srinivasan 66). â€Å"It developed gradually, as a merging of beliefs and practices of two main groups - the people of the Indus Valley in India and the Aryans of Persia†(Wangu 14).      Like other religions, the Hindu religion has its own sacred literature. Hindu literature is not considered sacred because it has a Sacred Author, like in some western religions, but because they have sacred subject matter (Boraks 15).      â€Å"There are two main categories of Hindu Scripture - shruti, ‘that which is heard’ and smriti, ‘tradition’ or ‘that which is to be remembered’†(Wangu 9). The Vedas and the Upanishads are shruti texts (9). â€Å"These sacred writings are considered to be inspired by God and to have been revealed to human kind by ancient sages called rishis†(9).      Each of the shruti texts provides a foundation for Hinduism. â€Å"The four Vedas are the oldest of the texts and are primary script... ...elp the deceased reach the homes of the ancestor safely†(115). â€Å"The prenatal, childhood, marriage, and death rituals are also performed for women belonging to the twice- born castes†(115). â€Å"During these times, Vedic formulas are not recited, since women are not allowed to read or hear the Vedas†(115).      Hinduism is made up of several practices and rites. Hindus have the ability to choose their path because of the diversity of Hinduism. Hinduism has many faces (Boraks 14). It is like â€Å"an umbrella which shelters beneath its cover a whole panoply of religions ideas and expressions†(14). Hinduism may have originated in India, but its practices have spread throughout the world and it has had a profound influence on many other world religions.           Work Cited Berry, Thomas. Religions of India. New York: Bruce Publishing Company, 1971. Boraks, Lucius. Religions of the East. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1988. Srinivasan, Radhika. Cultures of the World - India. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation,      1993. Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Hinduism: World Religions. New York: Facts on File Incorporated, 1991. Hinduism Essay -- Hindu Religion      Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions in existence (Srinivasan 66). It ranks as the third largest religion. Today there are about fifty million Hindus worldwide, majority of them living in India (Wangu 6). In order to understand the followers of the religion, you must first realize that Hinduism is more of a way of life than a religion (Srinivasan 66). Hinduism holds together diversity and not only for its own spiritual tradition, but for the entire subcontinent of India (Berry 3). All traditions within India are somehow associated with Hinduism. â€Å"The diversity which marks Hinduism begins with the notion of deity†(Boraks 14). â€Å"There is a strange kind of unity in the vast multiplicity of the Hindu pantheon†(14). â€Å"One never really is certain whether the Hindu religion is polytheistic or dualistic or even monotheistic: there are indications that are all of these and none of these†(14)!      The Hindus define sacredness as Brahman (Boraks 14). To Hindus, Brahman is external, is changeless, has no equal, and is infinite (14). Brahman expresses itself through creation, brought itself existence by Brahma, the creator (14). Brahma is the â€Å"sacred one†and is credited with creation, but Brahma creates and then abandons his creation to lesser gods (14).      Hinduism was not founded by one individual, and it was not always the complex religion it is today (Wangu 14). â€Å"Indians call it Sanatana Dharma - the faith with no beginning and no end†(Srinivasan 66). â€Å"It developed gradually, as a merging of beliefs and practices of two main groups - the people of the Indus Valley in India and the Aryans of Persia†(Wangu 14).      Like other religions, the Hindu religion has its own sacred literature. Hindu literature is not considered sacred because it has a Sacred Author, like in some western religions, but because they have sacred subject matter (Boraks 15).      â€Å"There are two main categories of Hindu Scripture - shruti, ‘that which is heard’ and smriti, ‘tradition’ or ‘that which is to be remembered’†(Wangu 9). The Vedas and the Upanishads are shruti texts (9). â€Å"These sacred writings are considered to be inspired by God and to have been revealed to human kind by ancient sages called rishis†(9).      Each of the shruti texts provides a foundation for Hinduism. â€Å"The four Vedas are the oldest of the texts and are primary script... ...elp the deceased reach the homes of the ancestor safely†(115). â€Å"The prenatal, childhood, marriage, and death rituals are also performed for women belonging to the twice- born castes†(115). â€Å"During these times, Vedic formulas are not recited, since women are not allowed to read or hear the Vedas†(115).      Hinduism is made up of several practices and rites. Hindus have the ability to choose their path because of the diversity of Hinduism. Hinduism has many faces (Boraks 14). It is like â€Å"an umbrella which shelters beneath its cover a whole panoply of religions ideas and expressions†(14). Hinduism may have originated in India, but its practices have spread throughout the world and it has had a profound influence on many other world religions.           Work Cited Berry, Thomas. Religions of India. New York: Bruce Publishing Company, 1971. Boraks, Lucius. Religions of the East. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1988. Srinivasan, Radhika. Cultures of the World - India. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation,      1993. Wangu, Madhu Bazaz. Hinduism: World Religions. New York: Facts on File Incorporated, 1991.
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