Thursday, October 31, 2019

Tort law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tort law - Essay Example The following sections of this assessment are specifically going to focus on the relevant statutes that can be inferred when negotiating for a settlement as well as remedies. Case list and relevant statutes Briefly outline any cases/statutes you have researched in this area which are relevant to our client’s claim. This should be more than just a bulleted list. Basically, tort law commonly refers to a civil wrong not arising from a contract and in the case of negligence, everyone has a duty of care owed to the neighbour (Capiro Industries vs. Dickman 1990). Cooke (2010) suggests that a remedy can be given in the form of compensation where the plaintiff can prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant owed duty of care in the event of injury. Thus, in case of tort law, specific duties apply to everyone and are imposed by the law. According to Terry & Giugni (2009), there are four elements of the tort of negligence that have to be proved by the plaintiff and these include th e following: there is need to prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, the defendant breached that duty by falling below expected standards, the defendant’s conduct caused the plaintiff to suffer physical or economic harm (causation) and the harm suffered by the plaintiff was reasonably foreseeable (remoteness). Under common law, duty of care must be observed whereby the breach of such duty, causation of damage, remoteness of damage and the defences would be taken into account as illustrated in the following cases below. Facts The case of Murphy v Brentwood[1991] 1 A.C. 398 can be used to establish the duty care owed by the contractors in the construction industry. Issue Were defendants negligent? Rule They were negligent because they did not take into account safety precautions when constructing the house. In our case, we did not constantly check the state of condition of our buildings. Analysis The court found that the engineers as well as contractors wer e negligent when they failed to take necessary measures to ensure that they construct a solid foundation of the house. In the case of Blyth v Birmingham Water Works Company, the facts are as follows; the defendants installed a fire plug near the plaintiff’s house that leaked during a severe frost, causing water damage and the jury found the defendant negligent, and the defendant appealed. Issue Were the defendants negligent? Rule Defendants can only be negligent when they fail to do what a reasonable person can do. Analysis This was an accident caused by natural causes. The case of Bolam V Friern 1957 also illustrates a case involving negligence but the court ruled in favour of the doctor because he was acting within his profession. In most cases, for a claim to be successful, the four elements mentioned above have to be proved. The Occupiers’ Liability Act (OLA) 1957 is mainly concerned with the duty care owed to the occupiers of a building and these can be classified as employees or visitors. They ought to take into consideration the risk of danger that may prevail. On the other hand, the employer is liable for breach of his duty if he fails to provide his employees with safety as well as safe equipment to use (Wilson and Clyde Coal Co Ltd v English [1938 ] AC 57 (HL) 141). This also includes a duty to

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

American Expansionism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

American Expansionism - Essay Example However, the expansionism was not good for the American population and other people across the world. The most important reason why United States wanted to expand was for economic benefits. During the time of Confederation, the United States continued to extend its territory westwards. For instance, between 1960 and 1890, United States created nine new states after purchasing Alaska from Russia. After the end of the American Civil War, the interests of expanding the country’s territory rejuvenated. There was renewed investment in land, railway construction, and exploitation of natural resources in the west part of the country. The American traders started looking for land for investment in the western part of Canada. This raised the interests of the country towards this part. This is because majority of these investors opted to settle in these areas. Americans believed that acquiring more territory will make it easy for them to produce products at decreased costs. The second aspect that led to expansion is the spirit of nationalism. With the European nations expanding their t erritories, Americans also wanted to take pride in expanding its boundaries further. This was fueled by the increased scramble for territory by other major economies. United States expanded its role and influence through military influence. For instance, the country treated its colonies as military bases. The country established military bases in these areas in order to take control of their economic, political, and social activities. Secondly, the US used its cultural influence to expand its role. The country expanded its cultural ideologies to other areas. This was achieved through the spirit of nationalism and propaganda. Thirdly, the US used economic influence to expand its boundaries. This is through funding major investments in the

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Common Law and Equity Essay

Common Law and Equity Essay Common law originally developed under the inquisitorial system in England during the 12th and 13th centuries,[11] as the collective judicial decisions that were based in tradition, custom and precedent Equity is designed from the English law system and its role as a common law, as the common law was created and analysed the basis of equity was brought up and is now used in the royal courts, the story of Equity brings us back to the days of 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded England, he found that there was no single system of common law but rather a system where the local courts based rulings of traditional courts, such as Shires, Boroughs and Hundreds, and applied local rules and customs to the cases. These were openly known as the customary laws which later on became the foundations for the common law. William I using subtle tactics gained control of the country and then introduced the feudal system, where all land belonged to the King and where he would grant areas of land to those people who supported him and were willing to help him. He made himself available to any landlord who had a dispute or problem and who could not get redress from his lord. This idea of applying directly to the King became known as the â€Å"Kings Justice† and became available to everyone. This Kings Justice was administered by the â€Å"Curia Regis† (Kings Court), which was a body of advisers to the King. The Curia Regis would apply a system of rules which applied to whole country thus it became known as the ‘common law which applied in a series of Royal Courts which were erected as time came to pass. At first people recognised that this law was indeed fair and with it being common to England was just. However, later problems were found with this law; two in specific: The fact that there were only one remedy available, damages soon became a problem. Damage being money ordered to be paid as compensation for injury or loss. It soon became a common issue that remedy was not always the appropriate form of remedy and this would have no significant concluding impact within cases. The other major issue was that a civil action, legal action to protect a private civil right or to compel a civil remedy, could only be started with a writ. A writ was a document on which was written why and what the legal basis the person was being sued. Circumstances arose that when a problem was not covered by the writ, this meant making a new document every time one arose, however this was stopped in the 13th century. This meant if your case was already not under a writ it was not carried forward. People found themselves very frustrated under this common law, where they found they may have had to settle for remedies they did not want or their case was sometimes found not even actually taken to the courts as it was not under the ‘writ. As the public became dissatisfied with the system they began to petition to the King, as the â€Å"foundation of justice† for a remedy. The King took note of the petition, which resulted in the case being taken up by the Chancellor when people found that the ‘common law would not help them with their cases. Asif Laher Gradually, over the years he built up a large body of principles, which he had gathered from cases which he had dealt with in which he decided what he thought was fair. These principles together then formed a law; ‘Equity. Equity can be simply thought of as ‘fairness and was a very powerful source of law as it overcame any problems with the common law, because of the right justification it was thought to give. It gave people a ‘safety valve allowing them to seek different appropriate remedies and even actually be given a case when common law did not. However, the law of equity would have been useless to this day if the dispute between the two would have not been resolved. Because of the conflict, a decision to resolve the two was finally made in 1616 when it was referred to King James. The dispute between the two systems was eventually resolved as a result of the Earl of Oxfords Case 1616; the outcome of this case was that if the two were to be in conflict and may contradict each other â€Å"equity would prevail.† The outcome was important as equity would have been worthless as it could not fill in the gaps of the common law unless it was dominant. Common law could just override equity if common law is more important, equity would have been powerless. After many years had gone by the judicature act 1873-1875 came into place. Before this common law and equity had separate courts. The judicature acts did not fuse the common law together, however, did fuse the administration. This is significant due to the established court structure we have today, provided that equity and common law could only be administrated by all courts and that there would no longer be different procedures for seeking common law and equitable remedies. In conclusion they were joined into one High Court, they are still separate laws which have different principles, common law being the major law, and equity brought into cases when needed. Because of the fact that they have different principles and were not fused together when the administration were, they are referred to as ‘The Twin Pillars

Friday, October 25, 2019

Causes Of The Cold War Essay -- essays research papers

Causes of the Cold War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Cold War occurred during a time of rebuilding for Europe. It characterized international relations and dominated the foreign policies of Europe. It affected all of Europe and determined lasting alliances. The Cold War was caused by the social climate and tension in Europe at the end of World War II and by the increasing power struggles between the Soviet Union. Economic separation between the Soviets and the west also heightened tensions, along with the threat of nuclear war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One main conflict between the Soviet Union was the vast ideological differences. One of the main tenets of communism is that capitalism is inherently bad and posed a threat to the working class. The communists view all capitalist nations as possible enemies. According to them, capitalism will eventually destroy itself and it is their duty to help it along. They refuse cooperation between themselves and capitalist nations ideologically. These extensive differences in beliefs widened the gap between the Soviet Union and the west. Another cause of the Cold War was the Soviet Unions control over Eastern Europe and the forming of economic alliances in reaction. At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union began transforming the newly freed countries and engulfed them one by one until all of Eastern Europe was part of the Soviet Union. The United States became alarmed with the growing of communism in Europe and set up...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

A Financial Analysis of Next

A Financial Analysis of NEXT By Tingyu WANG AC2407 Shakil Iqbal Patel Tuesday, 1st November, 2011 CONTENTS 1. Introduction3 2. Roles of Accounting and Finance3 3. Financial Analysis4 3. 1. Discussion of NEXT4 3. 2. Finance of NEXT5 3. 3. Ratio Analysis6 3. 4. Application of roles to NEXT9 4. Conclusion10 5. References10 6. Appendices11 1. Introduction ‘Accounting is the process of recording, classifying, and reporting and interpreting the financial data. ’ (Johal et al, 2010:2). Accounting provides a key source of information about a business to those who need it, such as managers or owners.The framework makes cash and profit can be monitored, planned and controlled. It is essential to the running of any business or organization. (Jones, 2006:3). ‘Finance exists to help users to make better decisions and is concerned with the financing and investing activities of the business. ’ (Eddie et al, 2005:21). This essay will discuss the roles of accounting and fina nce within an organization and include a financial analysis of NEXT, which through the following structure: the next section identifies the roles of accounting and finance to NEXT.Section three makes some financial analysis, including the discussion of NEXT, evaluation of its finance, and ratio analysis. The fourth section is to examine the application of roles to NEXT. The final section is to make conclusion. 2. Roles of Accounting and Finance There are three main roles of accounting and finance within an organization. * Financial Accounting: Deals with the mechanistic bookkeeping progress and the preparation and interpretation of the financial accounts. For companies, it also includes the preparation of the annual report.It concludes measuring and reporting financial position, financial performance and anlaysing and interpreting financial statements. (Jones, 2006:13). * Financial Management: It is about managing the sources of finance of an organization which involves ‘manag ing the working capital (that is, short-term assets and liabilities) of a company or finding the cheapest form of borrowing. ’ (Jones, 2006:14) * Management Accounting: Covers the internal accounting of an organization. It consists of costing, budgeting, standard costing, short-term decision making, strategic management accounting, capital investment appraisal and discounted cash flow. IBID). 3. Financial Analysis 4. 1. Discussion of NEXT NEXT plc is a UK based retailer offering exciting, beautifully designed, excellent quality fashion and accessories for men, women and children together with home products. The company was founded by Joseph Hepworth in Leeds in 1864. The first NEXT shop opened on 12 February 1982. In 1986, Davies moved the headquarters from Leeds to Leicester, to be closer to the main garment manufacturers. In autumn 2009, NEXT plc launched an online catalogue for the United States offering clothing, shoes and accessories.It distributes through three main cha nnels: Next Retail, a chain of more than 500 stores in the UK and Eire; NEXT Directory, a home shopping catalogue and website with nearly 3 million active customers; and NEXT International, with more than 180 stores around the world. NEXT also has a growing website capability in more than 30 countries worldwide. (Next Corporate, 2011). In UK, there are three analogous brand companies like Top shop, Monsoon, and Aquascutum. They all operate as similar home products as NEXT, like clothing, footwear, and accessories for men, women and children and have online services and various strategies.It is obvious to increase competition to NEXT. While for NEXT, they use their influence to promote good practice and raise awareness, believe working together in partnership is the best way they can make a positive difference. Using approach to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use, minimize waste produced and increase the quality recycled, increase the efficiency of their delivery fleet h elp NEXT to increase revenues, profits, earnings per share and dividends per share from 2010 to 2011. It is believed that NEXT will have a brighter future. (IBID).According to the report in Financial Times (2011), FTSE 100 drops to fortnight-low, while NEXT was up 2. 9 percent to ? 26. 14, which plans to launch a fixed-odds sports book next year could boost group profit by 50 percent. The fact claims that NEXT have a specific operating strategy make brilliant finance performance. 4. 2. Finance of NEXT The sources of finance of NEXT were used include following: * Use of funds: According to NEXT report (2010), the company use funds for registered charities, groups or organizations and purchased a further ? 1. 4million shares at a cost of ? 28million. * Internal Sources of Finance: 1) Short-term: ? Delay payment to creditors: For NEXT, the business has more trade payables in 2011 than 2010, it delays payment to creditors can keep cash longer. ‘Suppliers are in effect offering a b usiness an interest-free loan, the period of the ‘loan’ is extended and funds can be retained within the business. ’ (Peter et al, 2008:395). ?Tighter credit control: ‘All customers who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. ’ (NEXT plc, report of 2010:79). It is possible for the business to reduce the proportion of assets held in this form and so release funds for other purposes. 2) Long-term: Retained profit: From 2009 to 2011, the profit earnings have been increasing from ? 1523. 2, ? 1615. 2, to ? 1782. 6. (NEXT, 2010: 46) The profits are retained within the business rather than being distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends, the funds of business are increased. * External Sources of Finance: (1) Long-term: ? Ordinary shares: For NEXT, the ordinary shares were changed several time at different time because of the high risks associated with this form of investment, the ordinary shareholders also re quired a comparatively high rate of return. Loans: The unsecured bank loans in 2010 is ? 75million and ? 115million in 2011. Their interest rate are ? 22. 7million and ? 24. 3million. (NEXT, 2010:47). ‘The company’s medium term borrowing facilities may be subject to early repayment if a majority of lending banks gave written to notice to the company within 30 days of the change of control. In addition, there are some security social costs. ’ (NEXT, 2010:24). This means interest will be paid only on amounts drawn and so the business will not have to pay interest on amounts borrowed that are temporarily surplus to requirements.Term loans tend to be cheap to set up and can be quite flexible as to conditions. Besides, corporate bonds are a type of long-term loans. In 2010, it is ? 520. 9million and ? 471. 2million in 2011. The decreased gearing ratio states the company has the lower risk to pay the interests on its loans. (Peter et al, 2008:399) (2) Short-term: ? Ban k overdrafts: The bank overdrafts in 2010 is ? 4. 7million and ? 10. 2 million in 2011. It represents a very flexible form of borrows and easy to arrange as the size of bank overdraft can be increased or decreased. Debt factoring: Take over NEXT’s debt collection agencies. ‘It can result in savings in credit management and create more certainty with the cash flows. It can also release the time of key personnel for more profitable activities. ’(IBID:425) 4. 3. Ratio Analysis Profitability | Year 2011| Year 2010| Gross Profit Margin| 29. 21%| 29. 26%| Net Profit Margin| 16. 67%| 15. 58%| Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)| 60. 01%| 56. 72%| Asset Turnover| 3. 60| 3. 64| The gross profit margin was decreased 0. 05% from 2010 to 2011. The lower the gross profit margin, the worse for the company.The decline in this ratio is because of the change in the cost of goods sold, the stock sell more expensive; this year more inventory wastage and fewer products selling than la st year. The net profit margin increased 1. 09% due to the expenses being controlled very well. The business can make more profit, means the bigger, the better. The ROCE ratio increased 3. 29%, which comes from the returns from the bank. It measures high efficiency the assets are used to generate profit, the bigger ratio, the better return. The asset turnover decreased 0. 04. This result is affected by the increased ROCE.The smaller, the worse for the company. Efficiency | Year 2011| Year 2010| Inventories Turnover| 55. 0 days| 46. 8 days| Trade Receivables Turnover| 56. 4 days| 55. 7 days| Trade Payables Turnover| 29. 2 days| 26. 5 days| The inventories turnover increased 8. 2 days. The more frequently stock is turned over the better. The reason of the improvement is the more inventories and lower cost of sales in 2011 than 2010. The trade receivables turnover has a slight increase as at 0. 7 days. It means more cash was tied up in trade receivables for each ? 1 of sales revenue in 2011 than in 2010.Therefore, it is bad for the company. It may because of incurring lower expenses, such as discounts allowed to customers who pay quickly in 2010. The trade payable turnover increased 2. 7 days, in the average length of time that elapsed between buying inventories and services and paying for them. This result depends on the length of credit period agreed with trade creditors. It is beneficial because the business is using free finance provided by suppliers. Liquidity | Year 2011| Year 2010| Current Ratio| 1. 28:1| 1. 37:1| Quick Assets Ratio| 0. 84:1| 0. 97:1| The two current ratios are between 1 and 2. A range from 1 to 2 is considered optimum. ’ (Patel, 2010:11). It decreased 0. 09 because of the type of the business of NEXT, the higher the ratio, the more liquid the business is considered to be, the decline is good for the company. The quick assets ratio decreased 0. 13 due to stocks removed from the numerator. ‘The optimum range is usually consider ed to be in the range 0. 75-1. 00. ’ (Patel, 2010:12). It is obvious to see that the ‘liquid’ current assets do not quite cover the current liabilities, so the business may be experiencing some liquidity problems.With the decline of the quick assets ratio, it is beneficial for the company. Capital Structure | Year 2011| Year 2010| Gearing| 49. 1%| 55. 7%| Interest Cover| 23. 7 times| 21. 0 times| ‘Broadly, the gearing range 30% – 60% is considered OK. ’ (Patel, 2010:2). The gearing decreased 6. 6%, because it has borrowed more in 2010 than 2011. ‘The higher the gearing, the higher the risk that the business will be unable to pay the interest on its loans or make repayments in times of economic recession. ’ (Jill et al, 2007:197) So, this is good for the company. The interest cover increased 2. times, because the decreasing long-term debts. ‘Generally, a figure over 2 is needed to be on the safe side. ’ (Patel, 2010:4) . It is positive for the company, the higher the level of operating profit coverage, the smaller the risk to the shareholders. Investor | Year 2011| Year 2010| Earnings per share (EPS)| 221. 9p| 188. 5p| Dividend Cover| 3. 1 times| 3. 4 times| Return on Equity (ROE)| 2. 7| 1. 7| The latest price earnings ratio (PE) is = 11. 44 (Financial Times @ 24/10/2011) The latest dividend yield is = 3. 32% (Financial Times @ 24/10/2011) The EPS increased 33. p because of particular business over time. The bigger, the better for the company. The dividend cover decreased 0. 3 times because of the proportion of earnings have been paid out as dividend is changed. ‘The more usual situation of a high value, greater than 1, shows only a proportion of the profits being paid out as dividend. The higher the figure the more profits have been retained in the business. ’ (Patel, 2010:7). The ROE was increased 1. 0. It is a very big improvement, because the company put much profit on equity hold ers than shareholders’ equity.For the company, the bigger, the better. 4. 4. Application of roles to NEXT Based on the annual report and accounts of NEXT in January 2011, it is one part of financial accounting. The financial statements such as Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement show evidence of financial accounting, because all of the finance information and financial ratios can help assessing the financial health of NEXT, and examine various aspects of financial position and performance. They are helpful to plan and control operating purposes for NEXT.By considering the main sources of finance of NEXT to examine various aspects of the capital markets and identifying the factors that must be taken into account when managing the working capital of NEXT, the business can make financing decisions on investment and new objectives and so on. These evidences can be the role of financial management. Because of the management accounting consists of costing, budge ting, standard costing, short-term decision making, strategic management accounting, capital investment appraisal and discounted cash flow. There is no evidence in this case, therefore, For NEXT, it has no management accounting. . Conclusion In order to make a financial analysis of NEXT plc, the essay was first to identify the three main roles of accounting and finance to an organization, they are financial accounting, financial management and management accounting. After that, it discussed some issues of NEXT, such as the history, size, future, economic climate and topical information and so on. Based on the NEXT annual report and accounts in January 2011, to understand how the company is financed, the report was listed some sources of finance which NEXT used, added the changes and the reasons as well.Following was the ratio analysis for NEXT, including profitability, efficiency, liquidity, capital structure and investment ratios. Through the results, it was clear to see the trend and effects on NEXT. Finally, by examining the annual report and accounts, it has applied the roles of accounting and finance to NEXT. In this case, NEXT plc applied the financial accounting and financial management. To sum up, financial analysis is the important basis for evaluating financial position and operating performance. It also realizes financial goals and the important steps to implement correct investment decisions. . References 1. Johal et al, (2010) in Patel, S. ,(2011), What is Accounting, University of Central Lancashire. 2. Jones, M. (2006), Accounting, John Wiley, Chichester. 3. Eddie McLaney, Peter Antrill (2005) Accounting: An Introduction, FT Prentice Hall. 4. Peter Atrill, Eddie McLaney, (2008), Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialists, FT Prentice Hall. 5. Jill Collis and Roger Hussey, (2007), Business Accounting, Palgrave Macmillan 6. Patel, S. , (2010), A Ratio Analysis Worksheet (Part 1and 2), University of Central Lancashire. 7.Financial Times, (2011), FT SE 100 Drops to Fortnight-low, p4, 20 October 2011. 8. Financial Times, (2011), Companies & Markets: Retailers: NEXT plc, 24th October 2011. 9. NEXT plc, (2010), Annual Report and Accounts. 10. Next Corporate, (2011), About Next. Available at: http://www. nextplc. co. uk/about-next. aspx. Accessed: 25th October 2011 6. Appendices 1) Profitability Ratios: Gross Profit Margin = Gross ProfitSales * 100% FY 2010: Gross Profit Margin = 996. 93406. 5 * 100% = 29. 26% 2011: Gross Profit Margin = 1008. 73453. 7 * 100% = 29. 21%Net Profit Margin = Profit before Taxation and InterestSales *100% FY 2010: Net Profit Margin = 505. 3+25. 33406. 5 * 100% = 15. 58% 2011: Net Profit Margin = 551. 4+24. 33453. 7 * 100% = 16. 67% Return on Capital Employed = Profit before Taxation and InterestTotal Assets less Current Liabilities * 100% FY 2010: ROCE = 505. 3+25. 31693. 5-758. 1 * 100% = 56. 72% 2011: ROCE = 551. 4+24. 31792. 3-832. 9 * 100% = 60. 01% Asset Turnover = SalesTotal Assest less Current Li abilities FY 2010: Asset Turnover = 3406. 51693. 5-758. 1 = 3. 64 2011: Asset Turnover = 3453. 71792. 3-832. = 3. 60 2) Efficiency Ratios: Inventories Turnover = InventoriesCost of Sales * 365 FY 2010: Inventories Turnover = 309. 02409. 6 * 365 = 46. 8 days 2011: Inventories Turnover = 368. 32445. 0 * 365 = 55. 0 days Trade Receivables Turnover = Trade ReceivableSales * 365 FY 2010: Trade Receivables Turnover = 520. 23406. 5 * 365 = 55. 7 days 2011: Trade Receivables Turnover = 533. 33453. 7 * 365 = 56. 4 days Trade Payables Turnover = Trade PayablesCost of Sales * 365 FY 2010: Trade Payables Turnover = 175. 02409. 6 * 365 = 26. 5 days 2011: Trade Payables Turnover = 195. 52445. * 365 = 29. 2 days 3) Liquidity Ratios: Current Ratio = Current AssetsCurrent Liabilities FY 2010: Current Ratio = 1041. 2758. 1 = 1. 37:1 2011: Current Ratio = 1067. 3832. 9 = 1. 28:1 Quick Assets Ratio = Current Assets-InventoriesCurrent Liabilities FY 2010: Quick Assets Ratio = 1041. 2-309. 0758. 1 = 0. 9 7:1 2011: Quick Assets Ratio = 1067. 3-368. 3832. 9 = 0. 84:1 4) Capital Structure: Gearing = Long-termnon-currentloansTotal Assets less Current Liabilities * 100% FY 2010: Gearing = 520. 91693. 5-758. 1 * 100% = 55. 7% 2011: Gearing = 471. 21792. 3-832. 9 * 100% = 49. % Interest Cover = Profit before Taxation and InterestInterest Payable FY 2010: Interest Cover = 505. 3 +25. 325. 3 = 21. 0 times 2011: Interest Cover = 551. 4+24. 324. 3 = 23. 7 times 5) Investment Ratios: Dividend Cover = Profit on ordinary activities after taxationOrdinary equitydividends FY 2010: Dividend Cover = 364. 1108. 5 = 3. 4 times 2011: Dividend Cover = 401. 1129. 6 = 3. 1 times Return on Equity (ROE) = Profit on ordinary activities after taxationEquity Shareholders'Funds * 100% FY 2010: ROE = 364. 1133. 6 * 100% = 2. 7 2011: ROE = 401. 1232. 3 * 100% = 1. 7

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Discuss the Importance of Sales Training for both new and experienced Sales People

Sales people are the heart of most customer relationships forged in the business world today. Most organizations are becoming increasingly customer-centric in a bid to remain competitive (Leigh & Marshall 2001). Sales people are the primary face of the organization that most customers relate with. The manner of sales strategy and approach adopted reflects on the organization as a whole. Recent evidence indicates that relationships with customers can be strengthened by practicing sales strategies centered on achieving customer satisfaction rather than achieving immediate financial returns and revenue gratifications (Williams 1998). The importance of sales training within an organization cannot be overemphasized. The increasing rate at which market demands and product innovations evolve have necessitated the introduction of new strategies directed at improving sales within any industry. Sales training is necessary in order to keep staff within the organization knowledgeable about any changes and modifications within the industry. Sales training is needed in order to increase the overall revenue generated by an organization. The increase in the number of competitors, changes in customers’ purchasing power and market structures need to be considered in developing sale strategies so that these challenges can be adequately addressed (Pelham & Kravitz 2008). When there’s no sales training, negative outcomes may be experienced. A major disadvantage of inadequate sales training is that the expectations of management are not relayed to the sales people appropriately. This may result in management and sales people working towards achieving different goals. A unified vision and strategy needs to be identified and used to set a target for sales people. Both new and experienced sales people can experience considerable setbacks during the course of their work. They may be affected by frustration and a generally low level of confidence. During the course of their work, they may also be tempted to utilize old and ineffective ways of selling and marketing their products and services. When this happens, expected targets may not be achieved. Training is essential to ensure that sales people can perform their jobs effectively and prevent loss in revenue. Sales training results in increased performance and also ensures that sales people are trained to deal with any type of customer they encounter. Systematic and proven selling tricks should also be used on customers to ensure that buying signals are adequately monitored. Training improves the ability of sales people to carry out organizational selling procedures and strategies. Professional Sales training also helps sales personnel to understand the buying patterns of customers and quell customer concerns about the products and services on offer. Training assists experienced sales people to get more from the existing opportunities they have in their portfolios. This also has the overall effect of ensuring that the effects of training are seen in all aspects of the business such as sales support and marketing (Schwepker 2003). Sales people require training courses in order to add to their present value, cut the duration of sales cycles, improve relationships with customers and stifle competition to a significant extent. In summary, attitude has a significant effect on the level of sales generated. The right attitude can only be generated by exhibiting sufficient passion and having the right skills. New sales people also need to be trained on the product that’s being sold. They should however ensure that they deliver on their promises to clients and not exaggerate the benefits of any product or service being rendered.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Thoughts After Ruskin

reflect the meaning and tone trying to be conveyed, a... Free Essays on Thoughts After Ruskin Free Essays on Thoughts After Ruskin â€Å"Thoughts After Ruskin† by Elma Mitchell, is the poem that will be looked at for this essay. The poem will be analysed and commented on, with the aim of showing the use of skills that have been acquired during the â€Å"Reading Poetry† module. In â€Å"Thoughts After Ruskin†, one of the first things that stand out is the actual layout of the poem on the page. The poems structure consists of five sections, with a very distinct and longer seventeen line third section. This section is distinct, both in the layout on the page, as well as the actual grammatical style. It is enveloped at either end between two shorter, four to five line sections. The first section is the one that is most like a normal stanza, in that it begins by following a rhymed quatrain of abac, even though the syllable count is not consistent. â€Å"Roses† ends the first line; â€Å"soap† the second; and â€Å"noses†, the third, however, this pattern is not continued and is disrupted with the addition of the word â€Å" places† which ends the forth line of the stanza. We go on to read a five lined unrhymed stanza, and from here, the reader can no longer expect to read a poem with a strictly structured rhyme scheme, b ut it is each of the shorter sections of the poem that are closest to having an iambic ‘da dum’ rhythm. Subsequently, this diversion from the traditional reflects the whole content and tone of the poem, and leads the reader onto the third section. This section adopts a challenging layout on the page where line and syntax are re-arranged to evade and exploit our usual expectations. This technique proves effective, as it also reflects the unexpectedness of the allegories and descriptions that are to follow. We as readers are used to hearing women being compared to objects of beauty, but it is not very often that they remind us of â€Å" blood and soap† (line 2). The movement of the words reflect the meaning and tone trying to be conveyed, a...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Qualifier Words in English

Qualifier Words in English In English grammar, a  qualifier is a word or phrase  (such as very) that precedes an adjective or adverb, increasing or decreasing the quality signified by the word it modifies.   Here are some of the most common qualifiers in English (though a number of these words have other functions as well): very, quite, rather, somewhat, more, most, less, least, too, so, just, enough, indeed, still, almost, fairly, really, pretty, even, a bit, a little, a (whole) lot, a good deal, a great deal, kind of, sort of. Compare their usage with  intensifiers, which amplify what they modify and are adjectives or adverbs, and  degree adverbs, which can modify verbs and other modifiers. Some qualifiers have more limited usage contexts than others. In the third edition of English Grammar: A University Course, Angela Downing illustrates, using fairly:   Fairly  as a modifier indicates an almost large or reasonable degree of a quality (fairly accurate, fairly well-off). It can be used more easily with favourable and neutral adjectives than with strongly  unfavourable  ones, as with  fairly honest, fairly intelligent, fairly reasonable, but not  ?fairly dishonest, ?fairly foolish, ?fairly [sic] unreasonable: He seems to have a  fairly  good idea  of what he wants to do. (Routledge, 2014) Writing Advice An over-reliance on qualifiers is a sign of amateurish writing. To improve your writing, go through your text and find all the qualifiers. Take them out wherever you can. As needed, revise the sentences or sections relying heavily  on them to give more detail  and more specifics. Use better verbs in the sentences or description to show- rather than tell- whats going on. Then you wont even need the qualifiers, because the imagery or the argument will be painted much more thoroughly for the reader. Qualifiers have their place, Mignon Fogarty advises, but make sure theyre not just taking up space (Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students, 2011).   The famous writing book by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White has more strict advice:   Avoid the use of  qualifiers.  Rather, very, little, pretty- these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words. The constant use of the adjective  little  (except to indicate size) is particularly debilitating; we should all try to do a little better, we should all be very watchful of this rule, for it is a rather important one, and we are pretty sure to violate it now and then. (The Elements of Style, 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1979) Qualifiers vs. Adverbs Qualifiers seem to work like adverbs- and theyll even be in the dictionary listed as such- but they differ slightly from your basic adverb.  Thomas P. Klammer and Muriel R. Schulz explained:   Traditional grammarians usually classified qualifiers as adverbs of degree, and at first glance, judging on the basis of meaning and function, this seems reasonable. Degree adverbs- like  completely, absolutely, extremely,  and  excessively- can fit into the same position as the prototype, and they have similar meanings.However, qualifiers are not true adverbs; they fail to fulfill several of the criteria for adverbs....First, qualifiers do not modify verbs....Second, with one or two exceptions, like  really  and  fairly, qualifiers do not have adverb derivational  suffixes. Third, qualifiers cannot be made  comparative  or  superlative....And fourth, qualifiers do not  intensify. (Analyzing English Grammar. Allyn and Bacon, 1992)

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Double Genitive Definition and Examples in English grammar

Double Genitive Definition and Examples in English grammar In English grammar, the double genitive is a phrase in which possession is indicated by the preposition of followed by the possessive form of a noun or pronoun, as in a friend of Erics. Also called a  double possessive, an oblique genitive, and a postgenitive.  Some linguists argue that the double genitive is not a true genitive but rather a type of partitive construction. In The Careful Writer (1965), Theodore Bernstein noted that Grammarians have argued over the origin and nature, but not the validity, of the double genitive with the fervor of hot-stove league fans rehashing a Word Series play. Examples and Observations The Dude: Who are you, man?Knox Harrington: Oh, just a friend of Maudies.(The Big Lebowski, 1998)We heard the news from a neighbor of Alices.My bedroom, like that of my potential roommates, is cell-like in both its size and simplicity, furnished with only a bed and a small chest of drawers that easily accommodates the little I brought with me.(David Sedaris, Naked, 1997) Bernsteins Defense of the Double Genitive Not infrequently someone questions a construction that reads like this: He is a political associate of the Presidents. Since the of indicates the possessive (genitive), the someone argues, why tack on another possessive in the form of s? Grammarians differ as to the origin and explanation of the construction, but they do not question its well-established legitimacy. . .  [T]he double genitive is of long standing, idiomatic, useful and here to stay.(Theodore Bernstein, Miss Thistlebottoms Hobgoblins. Farrar, 1971) An Idiomatic Construction Despite their apparent redundancy, double genitive constructions such as a friend of ours or no fault of Jos are established English idiom. Grammarians since C18 have puzzled over the way the construction iterates the of genitive with a genitive inflection on the following pronoun or personal noun.(Pam Peters, The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge University Press, 2004) A Subtle Difference To say youre a friend of Gregs means that Greg looks upon you as a friend. To say youre a friend of Greg means that you look upon Greg as a friend. A subtle difference. It seems that the addition of -s to . . . Greg is a way of focusing attention on [this person] as having a more active role in the relationship being expressed. Double possession has given us a way to express quite fine distinctions that we couldnt convey before. The extra marking is not overkill in this case.​(Kate Burridge, Weeds in the Garden of Words: Further Observations on the Tangled History of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2005) Purists and Language Liberals A good many of us do use some double genitives and do not notice that they are double. Some language liberals argue that in informal and casual contexts the double genitive is idiomatic and not overkill, but few editors of Standard English will be likely to let it stand in formal writing. Its either friends of my sister or my sisters friends; even in conversation, friends of my sisters may grate harshly on some purists ears.(Kenneth Wilson, The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, 1993)The double possessive is a matter of some controversy. Some insist that constructions like a friend of Bills are redundant and therefore should be avoided. Others see an old pal of mine and extrapolate that, because youd never say an old pal of me, you also must reject a friend of Bill.I say trust your ear over either dogma. A friend of Bills probably is better . . ..(Bill Walsh, Yes, I Could Care Less: How to Be a Language Snob Without Being a Jerk. St. Martins Press, 2013)

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Basquiat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Basquiat - Essay Example While the novel is key to point out the significance of Basquiat's brand "Broken Heart," the film just shows him plastering it all over anything that inspires him wherever he goes. While the book describes the unique character of many of the odd balls and eccentrics that surround Basquiat, the film relates this to the audience by actually having contemporary actors who they perceive as eccentric and odd in their own right. Actors like Dennis Hopper, Benisio Del Toro, David Bowie, Gary Oldman and Christopher Walken, all have their respective reputations with being connected to drug culture. Jeffrey Wright's depiction of Basquiat is a perfect example of a life of addiction lived in the new wave art movement of the 1980's. Wright adds certain mannerism to his body language and inflictions in his dialogue that the book can't translate over to the reader. Basquiat is a mysterious and intriguing character and many fans of his work wouldn't mind retracing his life. There is also the aspect of 80's culture in America, which is a blend of art and pop culture that is not often clearly defined through films produced in that era. The decade poses just as much mystery as the life of Basquiat. Hoban's book expresses very well how deeply imbedded Basquiat was into the drug culture. It also keeps a close grasp of the characters that surround Basquiat, allowing for a better case of name recognition. Throughout the film many characters like Gina Cardinale, Bruno Bischofberger, Albert Milo and pretty much anyone else in the movie other than Andy Warhol all get lost and can only be recog nized through their personalities, or talent of the particular actor playing them. -What light did Hoban shed on other artists and art dealers of the 80s and how well did she describe the "glitzy" art world of that era' Cite example from the book illustrate your points. Did the film give more or less insight into the decade' Compare and contrast the reading and the film. Be certain to explain which Explain why or why not. Hoban's novel does do a good job of expressing the extent of greed and decadence that was being cast upon the artists of the 80's. Ironically enough, the ideology of Andy Warhol and the rest of his entourage of fellow eccentrics called for a revolution of capitalism and marketing in art. Essentially the works of artists like Basquiat and Warhol can be deemed as the start of graphic design as it is known today. The closely knit relationship between art and capitalism that exploded into a cultural movement in the 80's is immediately depicted in Hobman's novel with Basquaits death in the opening of the book when the author says, "His father invited only a few of the artist's friends to the closed-casket funeral at Frank Campbell's; they were outnumbered by the phalanx of art dealers'The eulogy was delivered by Citibank art consultant Jeffrey Deitch, lending the moment an

Friday, October 18, 2019

Employers Genre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employers Genre - Essay Example These two letters analyze the genre of the employer instructions. The instructions are laid down and every other professional ought to follow them to the letter. This is despite you being a resident of Arizona or not. Well, the purpose of the instructions may be clear, to set a record for the professional community. However, it is critical to note that everyone has a different belief and having these instructions only make the professional community to be higher.The third letter that is written by Miami resident is quite different from the two mentioned above. Well, the genre to be analyzed is still the same, employers instructions. For instance, from my reading, I could only add it up that the instructions were clearly stated that the letter should be addressed to the search committee hence theâ€Å"dear, search committee." Genres mainly represent communities of different individuals, as well as they, give out a conclusion on very significant interest as of certain communities. It becomes difficult for a community that is narrow-minded to uphold the interests of the set genres. However, most genres developed are aimed at making the functions of a community uniform such that even nonmembers have no option but to follow the same. Language pattern used in the letters is that of the request, formal and informative as well. The collection of the three letters written by Adriana Smith, Jamey Rodgers, and Maureen Garcia are requesting for job opportunities at different fields in the career world.

Assess the assertion that an increase in Eucharistic devotion Essay

Assess the assertion that an increase in Eucharistic devotion contributed to a narrowing of medieval society - Essay Example As a result of such circumstances, where individuals in the society were content with their lot, most of the population of medieval Europe could neither read nor does write, leaving these to the higher rank of the priesthood. In addition, this period saw the growth of the power of the Church, where almost all of the activities of the Christians in the whole of Western Europe was dictated from Rome, thus solidifying the authority of the Church hierarchy.1 Therefore, the Church established the doctrine, which was followed by medieval Europe, and this more often than not was developed in the Church’s favour, since it worked towards the promotion of its power. While these situations often worked in favour of the church, they had the negative impact of ensuring that there was little development of independent thought within the populace, meaning that the society became narrowed. Among the major causes of the narrowing of medieval society was the practice, instituted by the Church, of Eucharistic devotion, which was a requirement for all of those people who professed the Christian faith during this period. The practice of Eucharistic devotion was a church tradition, which was based in the exhibition of the Blessed Sacrament by a priest so that it could be adored by the faithful. The adoration of the sacrament was considered a sign of the devotion that individuals felt towards Jesus Christ as their saviour. The faithful believed that Christ was present in the form of the consecrated altar bread and their adoration of it meant that they were opening their hearts to receive him. Furthermore, the faithful in medieval Europe, through their devotion to the sacrament, were able to meditate by looking directly at it, adding to the belief that they were participating in the continuation of the Eucharist. The Eucharistic devotion was considered to be a form of the worship of Christ as the saviour, which involved his being present in

Any topic (writer's choice) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 180

Any topic (writer's choice) - Essay Example To be more precise, this paper will make an attempt to detect the role of meditation in such philosophies of thought as Yoga and Daoist philosophy as well as Zen Buddhism. I shall argue that despite that all of these the common characteristics and purposes typical of these three quite different philosophical practices, there is a number of distinctive features that define the general purpose of meditation in each of the philosophic trends. Speaking about an Ancient Indian view on meditation, one should point out that Yoga itself implied a certain state or condition, as well as a technique, and a particular kind of union. Patanjali considered Yoga to be â€Å"the cessation of the modifications of the mind† (â€Å"The Meaning and Purpose of Yoga†, n.d.). From the point of view of an Ancient Indian, the search for truth was in fact the fundamental problem of philosophy. The truth itself was not of great value, but the knowledge of it help an individual to be released. Thus, it appears that the release, attainment of absolute freedom was a chief aim of the spiritual practices, but not the knowledge of the truth. To become free meant to advance to the next level of being, gain another modus of existence that would surpass the â€Å"normal† life and set it on a new more advanced plane. Indeed, Yoga was regarded as a way analyzing the concepts of perception and cognition, lying at the root implying suffering. Besides, it was perceived as a rising and expansion of one’s consciousness.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Evaluation of Websites Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Evaluation of Websites - Research Paper Example The ability to develop good quality content and deliver them is the main driver of marketing values. The content should be exceptional and stand out in a platform that already has hundreds of other content. Vodafone.com is committed to helping the users access credible and professionally written information about the mobile telecommunications industry. It provides a single platform where users can also view the company products and any services that are being offered by the company. The title is informative as it only lists the name of the service provider so that users can have a clue of what the website is about. Vodafone is a global brand and the name can be recognized in many places across the globe. It is also unique and easy to understand. Most of the articles on the website are from the Vodafone team and no single author has been listed. Due to this, there are no email addresses that can be used to contact the authors of the articles in case of any query. To make the website a ttractive, there are various illustrations. However, the dominant feature all through the website is the brand color which is red and appears in all the web pages. This makes it attractive and appealing to the viewers. The layout of the home page gives the users access to information from various sources of information and this makes it very informative. On the introductory page, there are link to articles that summarize the function of the website and make the users aware of what the website is all about.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Commercial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Commercial - Essay Example Just when the camera is panned on the windscreen, there is a work-in-progress shown being carried out at the middle of the road and just when there is about to be a collision, the driver steps on the brakes and the car halts before it could collide and kill him. The driver then turns to the grim reaper and says sorry with a smirk for spoiling the plan. In the end, the ad copy says: â€Å"Senses danger and increases braking power† (Youtube.com, 2010). The message in the advertisement is clear and concise which is clearly promoting the technology of the sensor which would increase the braking capability of the car when it senses an object or any obstruction nearby at a certain distance. The ad depicts that just because the driver owns Mercedes with the mentioned sensing technology, he could avoid the accident. Secondly, as the brand of Mercedes is already established, the advertisement contains minimal branding rather, the idea of sensor brakes has been shown. The logo appears at the end of the ad when the message is being shown (Youtube.com, 2010). From the visuals of the ad, the target audience is most likely to be men, aged between 35 and 45, who live in the sub-urban areas or have travelling routes similar to that which has been shown in the advertisement. As Mercedes is a luxury brand, the people who can afford the amenity would be the most accurate target audience as they would be the target market as well (Youtube.com, 2010; Farbey, 2002). Besides this, the advertisement also carries a personality which suits the corporate sector or in other words, the target audience of this ad, judging from the imagery which has been used, is people who are employed (Youtube.com, 2010; Farbey, 2002). Secondly, the ad shows how Mercedes could avoid a serious accident therefore the target audience of this ad would also be those people who value security and safety more than they value other attributes in a car (Youtube.com, 2010; Farbey, 2002). Not only

Evaluation of Websites Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Evaluation of Websites - Research Paper Example The ability to develop good quality content and deliver them is the main driver of marketing values. The content should be exceptional and stand out in a platform that already has hundreds of other content. Vodafone.com is committed to helping the users access credible and professionally written information about the mobile telecommunications industry. It provides a single platform where users can also view the company products and any services that are being offered by the company. The title is informative as it only lists the name of the service provider so that users can have a clue of what the website is about. Vodafone is a global brand and the name can be recognized in many places across the globe. It is also unique and easy to understand. Most of the articles on the website are from the Vodafone team and no single author has been listed. Due to this, there are no email addresses that can be used to contact the authors of the articles in case of any query. To make the website a ttractive, there are various illustrations. However, the dominant feature all through the website is the brand color which is red and appears in all the web pages. This makes it attractive and appealing to the viewers. The layout of the home page gives the users access to information from various sources of information and this makes it very informative. On the introductory page, there are link to articles that summarize the function of the website and make the users aware of what the website is all about.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Early to Middle Childhood Essay Example for Free

Early to Middle Childhood Essay If you ever seen a preschooler rushing off to play with a neighborhood friend, you know the enjoyment that children derive from being with their peers. Aside from this enjoyment, peer relationship is significant to a child’s social development. At the beginning of early childhood up to the middle childhood, children become less dependent on their parents. At the age of 2, children play independently with their toys but later in this period, children will tend to play with interaction. This change in the mode of playing of children will be formalized in the start of school age. Other than enjoyment, play becomes a material for social improvements. It allows children to be more competent in their social interactions with others and serves as a way to develop self-control. They avoid hitting an opponent who outlasted them and they tend to develop control of emotions (Selman et al. , 1983; Feldman, 1982). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development The theory of psychologist Jean Piaget is the most well known of all the theories in cognitive development. He suggested two stages during early childhood and middle childhood. The movement from one stage to another requires a proper amount of maturation and experiences. Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years) The use of language is the major development during the preoperational stage. In this stage, children develop their sense of representation of the world that allows them to describe people, events, and feelings. They even use symbols in play to represent a particular object. For example, a book that was pushed across the floor is a car for them. Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 12 years) The mastery of the concept of conservation marked the beginning of the concrete operation stage. During this stage, children develop their ability to think in a more logical manner. The egocentrism characteristic of the preoperational period is slowly disappearing in this stage. One of the things that the children learn at this stage is the principle of reversibility, the idea that some changes can be undone by reversing the earlier action that result to the change. Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development In trying to trace the course of social development, Eric Erikson developed the most comprehensive theory of social development. He included two stages during childhood which include the initiative versus guilt stage and the industry versus inferiority stage. Initiative versus Guilt Stage (age 3 to 6) In this stage, the major conflict is the desire of a child to initiate an activity independently but feeling the guilt that bring by the consequences of such activity. Parents take a big part in helping their child to adapt with this stage. They should react positively and take time to resolve problems under this stage. Industry versus Inferiority Stage (age 6-12) During this period, successful psychosocial development is featured by increasing competency across all tasks, may it be social interactions or academic skills. Intelligence Intelligence can take on many different meanings. A person who reason logically and identify more solutions in a problem is considered intelligent. Another is verbal abilities which are also attributed as being intelligent. Intelligence in a more focused meaning is the capacity to understand the world, think critically and rationally and use resources in an effective manner when face with challenges. The first formal intelligent test was performed by Alfred Binet. He used this test to identify the dullest student in Paris school system in order to provide them with corrective assistance. However, theories of intelligence began to unravel the mysteries of our intellect. One of the first theory in intelligence assumed that there was a single factor contributing to mental ability, called the g-factor (Spearman, 1927). Consequently, psychologist L. L. Thurstone suggested that there are several primary mental abilities underlying general intelligence. By using innovative statistical technique, he classified a variety of subcomponents of intelligence which includes numerical ability, reasoning, verbal fluency, memory and verbal comprehension. Other than that, Howard Gardner proposed an idea that we have seven multiple intelligence. In these seven multiple intelligence, musical intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic, linguistic, and interpersonal intelligence can be seen during childhood years. Gender Identity Our society holds well-defined stereotypes about men and women, and they prevail regardless of age, economic status, and social and educational background. Although the difference in many studies about men and women may conclude large difference, still it is not the reality. In considering the differences that were documented, it can be seen that there are more similarity than difference between men and women. One of the most known differences between men and women is their degree of aggression. By the time they are 2 years old, boys tend to show more aggression than girls and this continues throughout their lifespan. Furthermore, during the middle childhood, children are quite different in the level of self-esteem. Girls, on the average, have lower self-esteem compared to boys. References Feldman, R. S. (1982). Development of non-verbal behavior in children. New York: Spriner-Verlag. Harder, A. F. â€Å"The Developmental Stages of Erik Erikson†. Learning Place Online. Retrieved April 3, 2009 @ http://www. support4change. com/stages/cycles/Erikson. html Selman, R. L. , Schorin, M. Z. , Stone, C. R. Phelps, E. (1983). A naturalistic study of children’s social understanding. Developmental Psychology, 19, 82-102 Spearman, C. (1927). The Abilities of Man. London: Macmillan.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Effects of Excessive Petroleum Use

Effects of Excessive Petroleum Use Researches shown that in 2014, the world’s oil consumptions would reach 90, 78 million barrels per day. This indicates the importance of the oil in every country, both developing and developed countries. But in the same research, the supply of oil in one day in the world’s only estimated about 89, 74 million barrels per day, which means the supply will soon can’t afford the usage of oil in the world. This lack of supply can easily cause the exhaustion of petroleum and then it may lead to the power crisis. Petroleum supply exhaustion is one of the biggest problems in every country in the world, governments and scientists are trying to find ways to solve this issue. Amongst some effort that have been done to solve the supply exhaustion problem, this essay will argue about the degradation of the oil’s quality in some area and improve the quality is one of the best way to put an end to the hardness. Litten by oil was shown to have been used in the ancient Chinese. In the 8th century, the oil production had appeared in Iraq where people use pitches, a waste of petroleum to cover the streets. The first oil drilling was said to be around Baku, Azerbaijan. But it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that oil exploitation was strongly developed. At that time, the main fuel was the spermaceti but it was too expensive, none can afford it except the rich people. Although the price was very high but it had a very bad smell so that people want to find a replacement. In the middle of the 19th century, scientists found many ways to exploit the crude oil efficiently. The first modern drilling was in 1859 in Pennsylvania and it put a start to our current petroleum industry. As the crude oil is becoming one of the most important thing for our lives, it is being overexploited that lead to the supply exhaustion, one of the biggest and the most significant problem in petroleum industry. Over two centuries, trillion of oil barrels have been exploited, this number is not decrease but it increase significantly in the last two centuries and it’s becoming more and more. In some researches, scientists have pointed out that people used 30 billion barrels of oil per year; this horrible number shows that people are using too much oil but the supply and the reserves do not enough for us to use. According to the chart posted by Michael Morrison, the world supply and demand change repidly from 2008 to the first quarter of 2012, in 2008 and 2009, the demand and supply are very similar, but from the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of 2012, the demand always higher than the supply, even in some times, the differences reach 3 million barrels per day. With those evidences, the exhaustion of petroleum is becoming more and more serious. It is said that the lack of petroleum supplement is becoming more and more severe, and the causes of this problem is observable. Supply exhaustion come from both subjective and objective reasons. One of the reason why the petroleum supplies deficiency than the need is the usage of everybody in the world. As we have known, oil is used in most aspect of our life. People use petroleum or at least its waste to process it into products such as all leather foot, aspirin, waxen, chewing gums, and the most important apply of oil is fuel and gas; two of the most important power resources in the world. Since oil has become so important and the products which made of oil are becoming more useful, its high usage is understandable. We all know that it is easier to use than make, so that the supply always have to follow the need. The next main reason is about the use of the low quality crude oil. Low quality oil contains a great amount of sulfur, a toxic. According to Greg Karras, low quality oil can increase the greenhouse gas emission by as much as 17 %-40 %( Environ. Sci. Technol, 2010, 44). Some statistics have shown that Middle East is the region which has the most oil reserves in the world, but in some others statistics; the Middle East’s oil has the worst quality (G. Houlton, 2010). Most of the imported oil in the world comes from Middle East, which means we are using the low quality oil; this can cause significantly bad effects to our health and our environment. This can cause severe damage to the supplement of oil. Petroleum industry is not the only one that suffers from this, industries, people, social and even some governments also have trouble with this hardness. The aspect which will be affected the most serious is the economics. The most adverse effect is price of petroleum will have to be increased. If the price of petroleum is increased, since some industries have to use the products of petroleum as its materials, those industries will be in difficulty and with the higher and higher prices of crude oil, the producer’s prices raised significantly. It is followed by every other product must increase their price which lead to the restructuring of the economics and damage directly to the life of the social groups, products excess and even economics crisis ( Kiseok Lee, Shawn Ni, 2002). Plus, the countries those who focus on export petroleum such as Russia, Arabia, UAE, etc†¦ will be suffered from the raise of the price of petroleum for some countries can’t afford it. Furthermore, some countries have the intensifying unemployment rates and the taxes collected from citizens are lower because of the low employment and with the raise of the petroleum, those countries now have to face a very pernicious problem. To sum up, the lack of supply of petroleum has many causes. Although the impact of this problem at the present is not so serious and some solutions have been given out. However, people have to overcome this soon to prevent the problem from being severely. In the case of the lack of supply, people have to take action to control this problem, not only during the event but also after it. These are the most fundamental solutions. First, the government should control the usage of petroleum in each country. There are four main ways I want to suggest to reduce the usage of petroleum. Petroleum is known to have been the most used fuel in the world and most of the products of petroleum are used to make fuel. In the event of the number of the vehicles are rising, the world need more and more fuel to run those vehicles, which lead to the explosion of the oil demand. In order to solve this, the scientists have found some replacements for the petroleum such as biofuel, power source from sticks; carrots; †¦ (R.J.Kopp, 2006). Apply those replacements in the real life will surely ease the pressure on the petroleum supplement. The next way to reduce the usage of petroleum in life is the change in people’s using habits. People have used some organic, green products instead of products made from oil. Avoid using personal vehicles to travel from place to place and replace it by cycle or public transport, using packaged without plastic products; recycle and re-use bottles, etc†¦ (J. Lucie, 2010). Plus, some industries which use petroleum as its raw materials should decrease the usage of petroleum and manipulate some others resources as the main raw materials (NASEO). It will followed by the lowered of the demand. In addition, to reduce the use of petroleum in the world, scientists should find alternatives to petroleum products. There are many sources that can replace the petroleum and petroleum-based products like electric, natural gas, hybrid gas, bio-diesel; a little known replacement to diesel fuel which is made out of used vegetable oil and can be burned in diesel cars and in home oil burners (Baltimore Monthly Meeting of Friends, Story Run, 5116 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210). I would add that photovoltaic, passive solar, wind turbines and some others renewable fuels can be used to replace fuel. These are some alternatives for petroleum fuel which people can use it to reduce the usage of petroleum. However, most of those alternatives are little-known ones, only a little people know about it, then how can they use it There should be some propaganda campaigns that help the people know about the situation of the petroleum supplement then show them the advantages of using the alternati ves for oil, this could help people reduce using petroleum as their most important power source. Last but not least, a very effective way to reduce the use of petroleum in people and teen is some programs that the government should set up such as â€Å"weekend without oil†. This is a program which was set up by dosomething.org, an organization help young people to tackle against some impact from their own behaviors and habits. These programs should aim to helps people to recognize the ways that their daily routines help increase the oil consumption and provide the people how to avoid it (C. Tackett, 2010). This is not only help to reduce the use of oil but also make the people to be more active with some outdoor activities such as walk or ride a bike,†¦ Although all these solutions are very effective, but it’s also have some disadvantages. There’s one most optimal solution that I have given, and it is:† people should use alternatives fuel†. This is the most effective way to restrict the usage of petroleum; it’s also the best way to improve the quality of our environment which is being severely damage by the over-using of petroleum. In this solution, people can reduce their petroleum usage by using others kind of power source such as solar energy, power of the wind, biofuel, biodiesel†¦ and especially fuel for driving vehicles. As most of the amount of petroleum is used as the fuel to run the vehicles, changing the fuel of the vehicles is the best ways to reduce the petroleum usage, which biodiesel and solar energy can be the best one. Using these alternative can help reduce the reliance on petroleum of most of the country in the world. Plus, some alternatives are renewable resources while petroleum is non-renewable resources, which mean we can use as much as we can without worry about the exhaustion of those resources. Furthermore, those alternatives’s bad effects are extremely small while petroleum can cause huge damage for our environment, every year; using and exploiting petroleum emit 381.740.601lbs of toxic air pollution, 3.3 trillion lbs of CO2 (J.Sandry,2013). Using alternatives for petroleum is very useful and it’s also the easiest way to reduce our reliance on petroleum so that we can solve the petroleum-exhaustion problem, and even the environment problems. Biofuels is an example, these are result from the photosynthesis of plants which convert solar energy into chemical energy, its green and renewable though their slightly less energy than oil and gasoline but much cleaner (ecoreps). Some researches shown that using solar energy instead of petroleum in 25 years can help reduce 199.679lbs of CO2, 2316 trees can be planted with the surplus and help the drivers saving 208.166 miles driven (RGS energy,2014). This way is not being limited in any country but for every country in the world, everyone can use these replacements, it’s even cheaper than the cost of the petroleum, then why shouldn’t people use these alternatives, for both themselves and the world. However, the only downfall of this solution is that it can’t be spread through some dev eloping countries, people should find some way to widespread these alternatives to developing countries to help them. In order to reduce petroleum usage and saving our environment, replace petroleum in most of aspect in our lives is the best way to achieve our goal. In conclusion, supply exhaustion in petroleum is a significant problem in every phase of petroleum industry, but this is a most severe time when the surplus between supply and demand is at the highest ever. Industries, power, products, etc†¦ now have to rely too much on petroleum and its waste which is the most fundamental reason for this problem. This reliance does not damage the petroleum industry with the depletion of supply but also damage the economics with the raise of the cost of petroleum. However, the most significant effect is the damage our environment with the use and the waste of petroleum. In that consequence, people have to reduce their use of petroleum to save them from the reliance on petroleum. The best way to reduce the use is using alternatives, solar energy; wind energy; biofuels†¦ are very effective alternatives that people should consider to use them instead of using too much petroleum. This is not only to save the petroleum industry but also our envi ronment. Everyone should join hand to solve this problem.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Buddhism Essay -- Papers Religion Buddha Essays Papers

Buddhism is one of the biggest religions founded in India in the 6th and 5th century B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as â€Å"the Buddha.† As one of the greatest Asian religion, it teaches the practice and the observance of moral perceptions. â€Å"Buddhism begins with a man. In his later years, when India was afire with his message, people came to him asking what he was. Not ‘Who are you?’ but ‘What are you?’ ‘Are you god?’ they asked. ‘No.’ ‘An angel?’ ‘No.’ ‘A saint?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then, what are you?’ Buddha answered, ‘I am awake.’ His answer became his title, for this is what Buddha means. The Sanskrit root budh means to awake and to know. While the rest of humanity was dreaming the dream we call the waking human state, one of their number roused himself. Buddhism begins with a man who woke up. Buddha was born a prince named Siddhartha Gautama in a small kingdom in what is now Nepal. Siddharta’s birth is described as a miraculous event, his birth being the result of his mother's impregnation by a sacred white elephant that touched her left side with a lotus flower. The scriptures claim that when Gautama was born â€Å"immeasurable light spread through ten thousand worlds; the blind recovering their sight, as if from desire to see his glory" (Evans 141) Shortly after his birth, his father consulted with a number of astrologers, all of whom declared that the newborn prince would become a great king and that he would rule the world in truth and righteousness. Among these astrologers, there was one who declared that if the prince were to see a sick person, an old person, a corpse, and a world-renouncing ascetic, he w... ...he physical world and one's perceptions of it as a means towards enlightenment. All activities, including sex, can be used as a meditative technique. This was called Vajrayana, or "The Vehicle of the Thunder-Bolt." The Vajrayanans believed that each bodhisattva had consorts or wives, called taras These female counterparts embodied the active aspects of the bodhisattva, and so were worshipped. One learned the teachings of Tantrism from a master, and then one joined a group of others who had been trained. There one would practice the rituals learned from the master. For the Tantrists, the physical world was identical with the Void and human perception was identical with Nirvana. Buddhism, however, was slowly fading off of the Indian landscape; Tantrism came on the scene just as Buddhism began to slowly lose its vitality.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Plot Line Revealed in Act 1 of Shakespeare’s As You Like It :: Shakespeare As You Like It Essays

The opening scene of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, in which there is nothing light – hearted, is completely expository and contrived but fulfilling its function of revealing the plot line to the audience. The fact that Shakespeare uses this kind of dramatic technique in the first scene twice shows that he wants to make the wickedness of Oliver perfectly clear. The action starts when Orlando, the younger brother decides to rebel against the oppression of his older brother, who is treating him like a common pheasant. He tells Oliver: ‘The spirit of my father, which I think is within me, begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer endure it, yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it.’ Orlando’s complaints are completely justified, as Oliver is mean spirited and malicious in the treatment of Orlando, which the audience can clearly see from this opening scene. Oliver appears cold and distant when he speaks with Orlando: ‘Now, sir, what make you here?’ -And this contrasts greatly with the ‘sisterly bond’ between Rosalind and Celia. Orlando approaches Oliver with defiance and a confrontational attitude, arousing the audiences interest at this quarrel, and establishing his character: assertive, honest and bold, a character that every audience will like and take an interest in. Oliver also shows that he is adept in the wordplay matches the play holds. Orlando and Oliver exchange much verbal sparring in the first scene, including when Orlando seizes his brother by the throat, Oliver exclaims, ‘Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?’ Orlando picks up the root meaning of these words, that he is a person of ignorable birth and replies, ‘I am no villain: I am the younger son of Sir Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains.’ Shakespeare uses an artful device to portray information to the audience by using the two quarrelling brothers. In Oliver’s soliloquy we can almost anticipate that he is planning something against Orlando: ‘I hope I shall see an end of him’ The opening scene begins with conflict and tension, which arouses interest in the audience. It also presents us with strong character interactions and strong feelings: jealousy, hatred and wickedness, all of which are appealing for anyone watching the play. The theme of injustice also entices the audience and the fact that Oliver is planning against his younger brother is particularly interesting.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Music Concert Paper

Emily Scott Music Appreciation 28 Feburary 2013 West Michigan Concert Winds Concert On February 24th, I attended the West Michigan Concert Winds â€Å"Winner and Winds† concert. West Michigan Concert Winds is a volunteer group that performs instrumental music to the community. This ensemble contains a wide range of musical talents from all different backgrounds. Some members are college students, some teachers. There was also many current or retired band directors apart of the ensemble. They performed all different genres of music from a Sousa march to an Irish wake by A.J. Potter. There was also a scholarship acceptance performance by a local high school junior who was amazing at the clarinet. The first song was titled â€Å"Fanfare for Saint Cecilia. † This piece was composed for Saint Cecilia on a special occasion called â€Å"Three Countries Day. † This is an example like we talked about in class where a composer had a job of composing music for a certain eve nt because prerecorded music wasn’t available at that time. The song had a magnificent and triumphant feel to it with many brass heavy parts specifically trumpet.Woodwinds played the accompaniment underneath but were not heard exclusively. Some parts I liked about this piece was the overall excitement that it had and the energy that the ensemble put into it. It was very easy to tell that the instrumentalists enjoyed playing the song. Polka and Fugue from the Opera â€Å"Schwanda, The Bag Piper† was another piece I found fascinating. It was a Chek Folk tale which told the story about the lonely bag piper and his adventures. It started out with the woodwinds playing the theme of a cheery thrill note and triplet.The feel of the music was cheery and you were almost able to hear the story being told. I also enjoyed hearing the Fugue part of the song because that was also something we discussed in class. The fugue was characterized by imitation and variation on the imitation by different sections throughout the band. The band also played a Sousa but surprisingly this piece was not a march but a waltz. Although this song was characterized as a waltz, I felt like it had the elements of a march in it like clearly defined beats and ascending and descending full ensemble runs.The music was very bouncy and you could almost picture the dancers waltzing on stage. I was very impressed with the brass section because of their strong tone and intensity. I throughly enjoyed my experience of listening to The West Michigan Concert winds. I was impressed with the talent of the ensemble and the professional way they looked on stage. They provided a wide variety of music compositions and kept me entertained throughout the concert.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Comparing and contrasting three poems that portray the yearning to belong Essay

We all long to be a part of something and to feel accepted, irrespective of age, culture and society. Similarly, Stephen Spender’s poem, â€Å"My Parents kept Me from Children who were Rough†, Moniza Alvi’s â€Å"An Unknown Girl† and Phyllis McCormack’s â€Å"Crabbit Old Woman† talk about how each of the poets long to be a part of a certain society or culture, and this longing outlines the underlying theme across all three poems. My Parents kept Me from Children who were Rough is about childhood bullying and regret. The narrator experiences bullying at a young age and I sense a feeling of regret as the poet wished he could be a part of the group of rough boys. I get the impression that the narrator, now at his adult stage, feels that he did not make the most of his childhood, and this was perhaps due to class differentials. Whereas, Moniza Alvi’s poem reveals how the narrator had left her hometown at a young stage and when she returns, she yearns to be a part of it. I believe she finds it difficult to reconcile her roots with her foreign lifestyle and falls under the dilemma where she is forced to choose one life, despite her strong desire for both. We get a contrasting idea in Crabbit Old Woman, as it is a plea to break free from the stereotypical image of old people. The old woman feels that she is being judged unfairly because her body has crumbled. She expresses how her soul remains intact, and would like the nurses to realize that her â€Å"battered heart swells† with undiscovered vivacity. All the three poems have an underlying theme of belonging. My parents†¦ is about how the narrator â€Å"longed† to fit in with the group of bullies. The world being so brutal, made growing up hard for the narrator. At a young age, the narrator probably needed to feel wanted and important and hence, wanted to be part of a group. There are many other significant themes present, such as a theme of childhood bullying, as the narrator fears the boys who had â€Å"muscles like irons†. A theme of regret, coupled with loneliness is distinguished, as the poet â€Å"longed to forgive† the bullies, but never had the chance. The constant use of â€Å"I† and â€Å"Me† tells the readers how the poet was lonesome. Therefore, I get the impression that the poem is written based on a bitter childhood memory. I feel sorry for the poet as he was made fun of for his â€Å"lisp† and the bullies’ â€Å"salt-coarse pointing†, which seems to have a ffected the poet’s life greatly, even throughout his adult phase. Similarly, in An unknown girl, the poet wants to belong to her native community, which she once left behind. There is a theme of admiration, as her fascination for the â€Å"evening bazaar studded with neon† is clearly depicted. In addition to that, a theme of self-identity is found, as the poet is desperately trying to find herself through her roots. She is â€Å"unknown† to herself. Whereas, the narrator in Crabbit Old Woman wants to belong in a world and society untouched by the evils of stereotype. She would like to feel accepted and gain the same respect as everybody else. She hopes the â€Å"nurses† would include her in their world, and would look beyond her physical inabilities, in order to admire and recognise the beautiful life she has lived and experienced. Alongside that central theme, a great deal of regret is conveyed, as the narrator immensely resents the way she is stereotyped, and hopes to prove that she is still young at heart. There is also a nostalgic sensation in the poem, as the narrator indulges in reminisces about her past experiences and life stages. I believe that the titles of each poem represent the reason for the narrators’ inability to belong. â€Å"My Parents kept Me from Children who were Rough† suggests how the poet blames his parents for not being able to bask in the pleasures the bullies experienced, as they were very protective of him. I get the impression that he envied the other children’s freedom, in contrast to his restricted life enforced upon him. On the other hand, the title â€Å"An Unknown Girl† has a double meaning as it could refer to the actual girl hennaing the poet’s hand or it may refer to the poet itself. The poet finds this culture overwhelming yet admires it, and she strongly craves to be a part of it. Moreover, the title â€Å"Crabbit Old Woman† itself illustrates the way the old woman is perceived by the nurses. This stereotypical image is what prevents the nurses from exploring the real â€Å"old woman† and prevents her from belonging into their worl d. Structure aids a reader to visualise a poem and the free verse structure in An Unknown Girl expresses the narrator’s exploration of thought and conveys her dream-like admiration. The lack of pauses in the poem is successful, as these would break the connection between the narrator and the bazaar. I felt the layout of the poem was particularly striking, and this furthermore made me realize that it could symbolize the pretty henna, which is described as â€Å"icing† to us, enhancing its graceful manner. Similarly, the use of enjambment in Crabbit Old Woman depicts to the reader the constant running of thoughts and memories of the various stages of life of the old woman. This creates a fast pace coupled with a constant rhyme and free flowing rhythm, which contrasts with the impression the nurses have of old people being slow. I believe the poet chose to use a fast pace and rhyme, to further emphasis that point. Moreover, I feel the use of three structured stanzas with four lines each in My parents†¦ made me realize how the narrator was always forced to follow his parents’ rules and hence, control himself from many things. As a child, one is helpless in front of his or her parents’ decisions and therefore, I feel as if the author felt caged. I sometimes feel obligated to my parents’ decisions and this often aggravates me, hence I can understand the underlying tone of anger and blame placed upon the parents in this poem. The use of effective language by the poets helps suggest the ideas of the poems. The constant use of similes in My Parents†¦ show the child’s admiration and interest for the bullies; as â€Å"muscles like iron† suggests strength and power, which are qualities that generally excite young boys. â€Å"Torn Clothes† reveal class differentiation and this helped justify the reason why the parents did not want the narrator to be a part of the bullies. On the contrary, Moniza Alvi uses striking imagery in her poem, as she paints a wonderful metaphoric image in our minds depicting her state of longing to be a part of this culture. The way the narrator will â€Å"lean across a country [India] with my hands outstretched longing for the unknown girl in the neon bazaar† is a very powerful image. I can almost imagine an anxious woman holding out her arms, in hope to receive her roots; it gives me the idea that the narrator is practically begging for this connection with her hometown. â€Å"Colours leave the street float up in balloons† is another influential metaphoric image. This symbolizes how the poet is trying to reach out for something [her roots], but it is not within her grasp. Moreover, the constant repetition of â€Å"an unknown girl is hennaing my hand† gives me the impression that the poet needs to constantly remind herself that she connects with this place; showing her desperation to remain connected to her roots. I chose these poems as I felt I could relate to them very well. I can understand Alvi’s situation, as I myself am away from my country of origin and often I find myself indulging in a more foreign culture, yet many a times I get nostalgic about the place I come from, despite feeling detached and distant from it. In addition, I think I could share my thoughts and feelings very well with My parents†¦ as it is about a young adult, just like me. Fitting in and being part of a group of children is very vital and therefore, I solemnly sympathize with the narrator. Lastly, I think Crabbit Old Woman deals with a great problem of stereotypical images, which are present in all works of life. It was inspiring to see the old woman standing up against these stereotypical images created by society. The poem made me to realize that I need to offer more respect and admiration for the older generation. All the three poems are written in a unique style and each one conveys very deep issues, in accordance with the universal theme of belonging. All the poets were very much successful in conveying their ideas and they were able to create a lasting impact upon the readers.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Tallgrass Prairie

The tall grass prairie is an ecosystem native to central North America, with fire as its primary periodic disturbance. In the past, tall grass prairies covered a large portion of the American Midwest, just east of the Great Plains, and portions of the Canadian Prairies. They flourished in areas with rich loess soils and moderate rainfall of around 30 to 35 inches per year. To the east were the fire-maintained eastern savannas. In the northeast, where fire was infrequent and periodic wind throw represented the main source of disturbance, beech-maple forests dominated.Once this prairie covered approximately 140 million acres; now only isolated remnants exist. (Heat-Moon 261). The homesteaders saw it as a nuisance to be replaced as soon as possible with crops that paid their way. Within one generation a great majority of the native land was plowed under and developed. Currently, less than 4% remains, while the majority is located in the Kansas Flint Hills and surrounding areas. (Manning 76). Today, prairie is being brought back in places using a land management technique borrowed from the Plains tribes: controlled burning.Spring fires clear out non-native grasses before the later â€Å"sun-seeking† native grasses begin to grow. ( Heat-Moon 43-44). Fire also burns up dead plant debris on the ground, allowing the sun and rain to penetrate the soil, and releases nutrients, promoting growth and increasing seed yields. This and other prairie restoration methods help ensure that, at least in some places, we can look out over a sea of grass and feel the wonder of the first homesteaders.According to a long-term research study on tall grass prairies done at the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area by a trio of Kansas State University biology professors, bison grazing or mowing increases the species diversity or the number of plant species that exist at a particular site of grasses on the prairie. (KSU 1). Grazing and mowing keep plant diversity high even in annually burned or fertilized prairie where some plant species would otherwise be lost. Their research was published today in the journal Science.Alan Knapp, John Blair and John Briggs, along with two other colleagues have been conducting long-term studies on the effects of fire, grazing and climatic variability on tall grass prairies. This on-going research looks at these various factors alone and in combination. â€Å"One of the things we have learned in the past is that if you burn a prairie annually, species diversity tends to decrease,† Knapp said. â€Å"Grazing the prairie or removing part of the plant canopy, tends to offset the effects of frequent burning. Knapp said the re-introduction of bison, the prairie's native herbivores, over the past decade also has increased species diversity. (Cushman 13).â€Å"Bison, which were historically a very abundant herbivore on the tall grass prairies, played an important role in maintaining the plant species diversity in these systems,â €  Knapp said. â€Å"The increase in plant diversity we see at Konza Prairie after bison are re-introduced can be related to increases with bison grazing activities. (KSU 1). The bison that once roamed these prairies numbered close to 30 million, once settlers began to encroach on the area, and began to use the land for homesteading and agriculture the numbers dipped to nearly 500 individuals. As the bison left, the domestic cattle moved in with the homesteaders, once again disrupting the natural biodiversity of the land. In addition to the loss of the bison, fire on the prairie was a key element as well. (White 88).Typically, prairie fires were naturally occurring due to lightening strikes, and were in fact beneficial. As people began to settle and live in these areas these fires were seen as a hindrance, and were extinguished as quickly as possible. (Savage 124-26). These actions were not favorable for the grasses as these fires typically helped the natural species regenerate and helped to keep trees at bay as well. As time went on, the more human interaction that took place, the more it was destroying the natural tall grass prairie as it once was.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Sustainability - Essay Example Sustainability is the agenda of leading companies and it has gained recognition as a driver for strategic product as well as business innovation (Deloitte n.d, p.1). A business that considers the change as an opportunity and come up with innovative products as well as business models to thrive in a sustainable way have high likelihood of reaping advantage, be relevant to consumers, capture market share and operate efficiently in a quick transforming world. Firms face increased expectations from investors and consumers regarding their way of operations; therefore, companies are keen to be considered as accountable corporate citizens. It is expected in the future that consumers will place strong emphasis on convenience, price and quality in making decisions regarding their shopping. In the increasingly transparent world with high number of consumers digitally empowered since information on brands and products is regularly found on and discussed in blogs, forums and in social media site s. Companies that never respond to the development increase their likelihood of being in the spotlight for the wrong reasons since brands and businesses have little control over the internet (Berns et al 2009, pp.20-26). Business proactivity, involvement and the changing consumer attitudes to sustainability increase demand for products and services responsibly produced. Therefore, the organization has to respond to the changing patterns this can be achieved through integrating sustainability within the company’s supply chain and development products that enable consumers to buy ethically. Companies neglecting to embrace the changes face the risk of their products being less relevant to the sentiment of consumers and expensive. Social media platforms like twitter and facebook ensure corporate transparency; therefore, companies have increased pressure to meet the sophisticated corporate transparency and accountability standards. In the current’s information society, corp orate offences can no longer be ignored and bad behaviour has permanent reputational as well as financial repercussions for corporations. Young people are increasingly aware of the impact they have through their buying choices thus, they buy from companies that stand for more than profit (Deloitte n.d, pp.3). Sustainability has been one of the business’s urgent mandates thus stakeholder management perspective is essential since it requires managers to establish various groups or individuals with stakes in the firm as well as incorporating stakeholders concerns into the firm’s day-to-day operations and strategic plans. Sustainability mandate has attracted the attention of leaders in business since it is the goal of business ethics. With the challenge of globalization, considerable interest is directed toward development of ways for addressing the different impacts of companies in society (Crane, Dirk and Andrew 2007, p.254-263). Most of the impacts are far-reaching such as the environmental pollution resulting from transportation, production and use of products like refrigerators and cars. Whenever in society a corporation has to engage in the debate concerning its social role in order to ensure that it becomes a major contributor of sustainability instead of being a social and environmental predator that undermines the world. Therefore, the company has a huge opportunity of