Gay Marriage Argument Essay

Two editorials were posted in the â€Å"New York Daily News† and â€Å"Times of Trenton† pertaining to the subject of legalizing gay marriage. Both articles argue the position against gay marriage and use the same focal point in their articles: the negative effects that legalizing gay marriages will have on children being raised by same sex parents. Also, both articles contain logical fallicies in their argument and use many of the same tactics to argue their point such as scare tactics, statistics, and quotes from people on the other side of the argument. However, the â€Å"Times of Trenton† editorial is able to cover up these fallicies and present their side in a cleaner and more efficient way than the â€Å"New York Daily News† by making the statistics seem more credible, the quotes from the other side of the argument more persuasive, and the overall organization of their logic more rational. Unfortunately, the legalization of same sex marriage is a highly divided and controversial topic that our nation has been debating over since the day American was founded as a country. While the movement persisted throughout the centuries, it was not until the turn of the millennium in the year 2000 that Vermont became the first state to allow civil unions for same sex couples. Since then, milestones have been made in the LGBT community as thirteen states have legalized same sex marriage and eight states recognizing same sex civil unions as of 2013. However, America is taking the matter at a slow pace compared to the thirteen countries that have already completely recognized same sex marriage—Denmark legalizing the practice since the late 1980s. In fact, many states have taken a few steps backwards, such as California passing an amendment to overturn its previous decision to legalize same sex marriage along with 32 states adding amendments to ban same sex unions to their constitutions. However, the most recent polls show majority support for the legal recognition of same sex marriage, with supporters first achieving the majority in 2010. There is a general trend between supporters for same sex marriage with lack of religious fundamentalism, young age, higher education, and residence in the Northeast and West Coast. Also, supporters come from mostly liberal and moderate political ideologies and the female gender. In opposition are mostly the South and Midwest regions, men, and conservative political ideologies. The defenders of opposite sex marriages generally argue against same sex couples raising children as well, generally basing their stance on outdated studies—many of which have been revoked by their own researchers. Both articles used research statistics to support their claim. The â€Å"NY Daily News† quoted a statement from Obama stating that children who grow up without a father are more likely to become destructive citizens of our society. The article poorly executes the utilization of research in two ways: first they use Obama as a figure of false authority and fail to cite the origin of the research, loosening its credibility. Secondly, even if it is credible, the research overall is misinterpreted and a red herring to the argument. The research is only relevant to children who grow up without a father not directly to same gender parents—it could easily be possible that the research pertains to single parent households. The author also sets up a straw man against Obama by stating â€Å"Obama is right. Children are better off with both a mother and a father. † Firstly, it does not state anywhere in the quote given that Obama said children need strictly a mother and father, only that children without both parents present are more likely to end up in a poor situation. Secondly, even if the research was relevant with same gender families, it would only present a stance against children raised by two mothers instead of two fathers. Not only is it a hasty generalization for the author to assume that this single study proves that marriage needs to involve a man and a woman, it is non-sequitur to believe that because children without fathers do not grow up well, that same gender situations where both parents are present will yield the same results. In the other article, the author uses research to support his claim slightly more efficiently—the first research study the author uses is cited and actually is directly relevant to same gender family studies. The study showed that children raised by same sex parents are more likely to be homosexual, abuse drugs, be molested by their parents/adult figure, and participate in risky behavior. The average reader scanning over the article quickly would see the author stated where the research came from and automatically assume that it is credible. However, when the research was further investigated, it was found that not only was the study widely considered by scientists to be inconclusive. Even the author, Mark Regernus, stated in an interview that the study lacked enough foundation to make such a claim. The article then declares there is an increase in people identifying as homosexual since 1994. The author then claims this increase falsifies the theory that people are born homosexual but instead is due to cultural factors encouraging same-sex behavior. The first mistake with this claim is that the author does not provide where this information originates. It is non sequitur to believe that because the culture is becoming more accepting of homosexuality, it increases homosexuality and debunks the theory that people are born homosexual. More or less, this claim is a hasty generalization because the author does not consider possibilities such as culture changing to accept homosexual individuals giving people comfort and security to openly identify as homosexual. Both authors clearly stack bias evidence against homosexual behavior instead of providing or arguing against any of the available evidence that suggests being homosexual has genetic components or children from same sex families do as well as heterosexual parented families. While the lack of arguing against evidence refuting their claims may seemingly strengthen their opinion, the blatant bias makes their argument less convincible to readers because it comes off as close-minded and opinionated rather than open and persuasive, especially to readers that support gay marriage. To strengthen their argument, both articles used quotes from the opposing side to argue their claim. Again, the â€Å"Times of Trenton† article uses this method more strongly than â€Å"New York Daily News†. The â€Å"New York Daily News† claims that the LGBT community supports the author’s thesis that gay marriage is based on a lie. They first quote an author named Masha Gessen, a supporter of gay marriage: â€Å"Fighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there—because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change. † The author set up a straw man manipulating these words to make it appear that the LGBT community agrees with their thesis. Gessen, however, is not directly stating that gay marriage is based off a lie, but that it is a lie to say that the institution of marriage is not going to change as a result of legalizing gay marriage. Then, the author quotes another gay marriage advocate named Judith Stacey repeatedly throughout the article essentially making evident her support for polygamy and that redefining marriage will hopefully give way to accepting polygamy. It is non sequitur and a hasty generalization to claim that if same sex marriage is legalized, it will instigate the acceptance and legalization of polygamy as well. It is also a red herring fallacy to distract the readers with irrelevant information on polygamy and somehow correlate it with the legalization of same sex marriage. This pulls away the reader from the main issue of gay marriage and the main point the author is trying to make becomes vague to the reader. Furthermore, the credibility of using these people to represent the LGBT community is put into question. The author even states that these people are radical advocates, but the author gives the illusion that since these people support same sex marriage, the LGBT community is guilty by association and therefore shares the same opinions. The author also gives these radical advocates false authority, granting them authorization to speak for the LGBT community as a whole. The â€Å"Times of Trenton† article uses a better source to support their argument: providing an article written by a gay man raising children. He says that Mainwaring can see why people oppose same sex marriage because â€Å"Moms and dads interact differently with their children. To give kids two moms or two days is to withhold†¦someone whom they desperately need and deserve. † This quote is effective because it comes from a gay man who is actually raising children and giving his perspective, instead of radical advocates. It persuades the reader that even if someone who is gay admits there is a problem with same gender families, then maybe it shouldn’t be allowed after all. However, this is using authority instead of evidence. If a gay man claims that children of same gender families are deprived of benefits that come with heterosexual parents, then it must be true because he’s gay and has children. While it is convincing, there is no substantial evidence to support that this is claim is applicable to all same gender families.

Sentencing Paper

Sentencing Paper Deadrian Williams CJS/ 200 3/3/2013 Bryan Maglicco Six Forms of Punishment Fines are one of the oldest forms of punishment, the use of fines as criminal sanctions suffers from built in inequities and a widespread failure to collect them (Schmalleger, 2011). Fines can deprive offenders of the proceeds of criminal activity, and also promote rehabilitation by enforcing economic responsibility (Schmalleger, 2011).People have to pay fines when they break minor laws, such as driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, disturbing the peace, public drunkenness, and vandalism (Schmalleger, 2011). Capital punishment is the death penalty. Capital punishment is the most extreme of all sentencing options (Schmalleger, 2011). Capital punishment is sentenced when someone comments a capital offense. In 2008, for example, a twenty eight year old man was sentenced to death in the atrocious murder of a ten year old girl in what authorities said was an elaborate plan to cannibalize the girls flesh (Schmalleger, 2011).Today, the federal government and 35 of the 50 states permit execution for first degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated rape, the murder of a police or corrections officer, or murder while under a life sentence (Schmalleger, 2011). Probation is another form of punishment. Probation means testing the behavior or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer (Wikipedia, 2013).Offenders are ordinarily required to refrain from firearms, and may be ordered to remain employed, have a curfew, live in a decent place and not leave the jurisdiction (Wikipedia, 2013). Incarceration is another form of punishment. Jails are shorter lock up centers ran by counties and operated by sheriffs (Cliffnotes. com Types of Sentences, 2013). Usually inmates that are in jail are waiting to go to trial who were unable to make bail, people with misdemeanors , and felons who violated probation (Cliffnotes. com Types of Sentences, 2013). Also people re incarcerated in prisons who are convicted felons. Prisons are operated by the state (Cliffnotes. com Types of Sentences, 2013). Community service is another form of punishment. Community service is paying your debt back to society for the wrong doings that a person does, by doing work that benefits the community (Cliffnotes. com Types of Sentences, 2013). People doing community service clean up highways, cut grass, plant trees and flowers, and wash away graffiti. People who are punished with community service have a certain amount of hours they must do to complete the community service order.Failure to complete community service can lead to possibly jail time and more fines. Reducing recidivism Recommendations on how to modify the sentencing process would be to look at the record of the defendant and also the severity of the crime when sentencing. If someone has committed a murder or a rap e, or kidnapping then they should get the severest sentence possible even if it is their first time because those crimes are against people. Families have been destroyed because of what the person did. Good behavior should not play in the sentencing of these offenders.They did not think about the victims when they committed the crime so the courts should not give them a break because of good behavior. If the sentencing process was stricter and focused more on the offender punishment and not what other people would say and feel about the crime then it would be a lot less crimes. References Cliffnotes. com Types of Sentences. (2013, March 4). Retrieved from Cliffnotes. com: http://m. cliffnotes. com Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal Justice Today. Prentice Hall. Wikipedia, (2013).

Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy

Around 12% of all pregnancies occur to women who continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy. Two thirds of those involved in maternal smoking during pregnancy are Caucasian. More than 500,000 infants each year are exposed to cigarette smoke in utero. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been heavily linked to many infant and toddler health issues. Health issues are also apparent in women who do not smoke during pregnancy, but are regularly exposed to smoke during their pregnancy.   This applies most to those who live with a smoker, or those who work in smoking environments. It is a known fact that maternal smoking during pregnancy produces more premature births and babies with lower birth weights. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has also been associated with babies who have colic. It has been found that tobacco smoke raises levels of motilin in the blood and intestines when maternal smoking during pregnancy is apparant. These raised levels causes contractions of the stomach and intestines to increase. The increased levels of motilin can cause colic in infants, which can cause the infants pain and discomfort for months. Studies show that infants who had colic at 3 months of age had more sleep difficulties and temper tantrums at 3 years of age in comparison with those children without colic. Studies show that maternal smoking during pregnancy leads to more rebellious and aggressive infants and toddlers, helping to link smoking during pregnancy to behavior in infants and toddlers. Mothers who smoked during pregnancy also reported more negative behavior from their infants and toddlers than mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy. Studies show that maternal smoking during pregnancy can have behavioral affects on the infant well into adulthood. Question Does maternal smoking during pregnancy affect the personality (behavior, mood) of an infant and continue to have an affect into toddler hood? Hypothesis It is suspected that maternal smoking during pregnancy does indeed have an affect on the personality (behavior, mood) of an infant and continues to have an affect into toddler hood. Conducting a study on the behavior of infants born to mothers who smoked during their pregnancy, and continuing the study through their toddler years can provide adequate research for this question. This study would need to monitor the child in his or her normal environment as well as in typical social environments. The child’s behavior would then be compared to the behavior of children of the same age and developmental stage that were born to mothers who did not smoke during the pregnancy. By collecting all of the data and analyzing it, there may be a pattern of behavior differences between the children who were born to smoking mothers and those who were born to non-smoking mothers. Problems It may be difficult to pinpoint aggressive or negative behavior from children on the sole fact that their mother smoked during their pregnancy. It will be difficult to factor in behavioral and discipline techniques used by guardians of these children. It may be difficult to get mothers to admit they smoked during their pregnancy, as they may be embarrassed of their lack of attention to the health issues that may have been affected. It may be impossible to set a standard and determine what is normal rebellious behavior for an infant and toddler and what is abnormal behavior. Sources Hitti, Miranda. â€Å"Tobacco Smoke May Increase Colic†. 4 October, 2004. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/94/103060.htm. Acquired on 22 June 2005. â€Å"Infant Deaths Tied to Premature Births†. New York Times. 1 March, 1995. http://www.stat.berkeley.edu/users/statlabs/papers/sample.pdf.   Acquired on 22 June 2005. â€Å"Prenatal Smoking Data Book: Smoking and Reproductive Outcomes†.   www.cdc.com. Acquired on 22 June 2005. Schonfeld, Amy Rothman PhD.   â€Å"Dreading the ‘Terrible Twos'? Don't Smoke, Mothers Warned†.   13 April, 2000. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/23/1728_56585.htm. Acquired on 22 June 2005. ; ; Maternal smoking during pregnancy The Research Question would be â€Å"Are babies born from mothers who smoke during the pregnancy have greater chances of developing low-birth weight, compared to those born from mothers who do not smoke?†A study was conducted on pregnant women that belonged to a Maternity Hospital in Haguenau, France, in 1974.   248 pregnant women that smoked at least five cigarettes a day were defined as ‘cases’, and 196 pregnant women who did not smoke were defined as ‘controls’.Tests conducted on the placenta demonstrated higher incidences of defective trophoblasts in smokers compared to non-smokers.   The signs of intrauterine hypoxia, low birth-weight and low placental weight, were also higher in smokers compared to non-smokers.   However, the study was not able to establish a relationship between low birth-weight and low placental weight or intrauterine hypoxia (Shipra, A. Et al, 1977).Another study conducted demonstrated that mothers who smoked during one pregnancy had produced infants with lower birth-weight, compared to those infants born during pregnancy when they did not smoke.   This was irrespective of the birth order and other factors that affect the growth of the unborn baby in the utreus.   The reduction in the birth weight was directly associated with the number of cigarettes smoked.Mothers, who smoked less, produced infants on an average 90 grams less than normal, whereas those who smoked heavily developed babies on an average 533 grams below normal.   Smoking brought about the development of several lesions in the placental due to under-perfusion (which was usually periodic).   Besides, pregnancy during smoking was on an average 1.5 days shorter than without smoking (Naeye, R.L., 1978).A study was also able to demonstrate that women who quit smoking during pregnancy are able to reduce the several risks associated with pregnancy such as low birth-weight, preterm labor, spontaneous abortion, etc, and period of brea stfeeding also improved (Giglia, R.C. Et al, 2006).A study conducted in Johannesburg and Sweto, in 1990, demonstrated that women who smoked (6.1%) and used snuff (7.5%) during the pregnancy, produced babies who weight an average 2982 grams compared to babies of non-smokers who weighted 3148 grams, on an average.   However, environmental pollutants (such as passive smoking) did not significantly adversely affect the birth weight (Steyn, K., Et al, 2006).Another study conducted in Pelotas, Brazil, in 193, demonstrated that smoking in mothers produced babies on an average 142 grams below that of the non-smokers average.   The study also demonstrated that the risk of fetal retardation was higher with the extent of smoking.   However, the study did not find any relationship between preterm delivery and smoking (Horbta, H.L. Et al, 1997).Hence, it is obvious that birth-weight of the baby is directly affected to the extent of smoked (number of cigarettes) by the mother during pregnan cy.   Further studies need to be conducted on the exact manner in which smoking causes a reduction in the birth-weight of the child.References:Giglia, R.C., Binns, C.W., & Alfonso, H.S. (2006). Which women stop smoking during pregnancy and the effect on breastfeeding duration. BMC Public Health, 2696Z), 195.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16869976?dopt=AbstractPlusHorta, B.L., Victora, C.G., Menezes, A.M., Halpern, R., & Barros, F.C. (1997). Low birthweight, preterm births and intrauterine growth retardation in relation to maternal smoking. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 11(2), 140-151. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9131707?dopt=abstractplusNaeye, R. L. (1978). Effects of maternal cigarette smoking on the fetus and placenta. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 85(10), 732-737.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/708656?dopt=abstractplusSpira, A., Philippe, E., Spira, N., Dreyfus, J., & Schwartz, D. (1977). Smoking during pregnancy and placental pathology. Biomedicine, 27(7Z), 266-270.http s://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/588667?dopt=AbstractSteyn, K., de Wet, T., Saloojee, Y., Nel, H., & Yach D. (2006). The influence of maternal cigarette smoking, snuff use and passive smoking on pregnancy outcomes: the Birth to Ten Study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 20(2), 90-99.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16466427&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Case study 3 whole foods Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

3 whole foods - Case Study Example Whole Food Market Inc. operations are fully supported by its headquarters, distribution centers, commissary kitchens, regional offices, meat and produce procurement centers, bake-house facilities, as well as specialized tea and coffee procurement and roasting facilities (Whole Foods Market, Inc.). Whole Food Market Inc. deals in a variety of products that include meat, sea food, grocery, catering and prepared foods, cheese, tea, beer, coffee, body care, nutritional supplements, as well as lifestyle products such as pet and household products. Whole Food Market Inc. 365 and 365 Organic Every Day Value trademarks account for more than half of its trademark products. Other trademark brands include the Whole family trademark brands such as Whole Catch, Whole Foods Market, Whole Living, Whole Paws, Whole Pantry and Whole Fields, Engine 2, Nature’s Rancher, Allegro Coffee and Well-shire Farms (Whole Foods Market, Inc.). Whole Food Market Inc. also has a specialized health approach known as Health Starts Here. This approach is based on four simple facets aimed at building better meals. These facets entail Healthy Fats, Plant Strong, Whole Food, and Nutrient Dense. All in all, Whole Food Market Inc. is devoted towards promoting a healthy living by offering products that are free from artificial preservatives, color, flavor, and chemicals (Whole Foods Market,

An Evaluation of Financial Accounting & Reporting Essay

An Evaluation of Financial Accounting & Reporting - Essay Example In 2005, 80% companies in Japan and 71% of UK companies have reported about CSR, which can be described as highest reporting in this area. Between 2002 and 2005, South Africa reported about 17% increase in reporting and this is considered to be a remarkable increase. KPMG research report published in 2005 also demonstrated a significant change in the nature of reporting, and it modified from chiefly environmental reporting until 1999 to sustainability (environmental, economic and social ) reporting of late. (Nehme& Wee 2008:135). CSR is not a new concept. It has been in existence in many parts of the world including Australia since from the nineteenth century. For instance, US Steel is continuously reporting on CSR issues regularly from the twentieth century onwards. Further, as early as 1850, Levi Strauss & Co has stated in its annual reports that it committed to offering a quality product, a best community service and good working atmosphere for its employees. (Nehme& Wee 2008:143). Socially responsible companies offers olive branch or positive signals to all of its stakeholders and distinguish themselves from their rivals , thereby augmenting both of their short and long-term gains; Philanthropic and ethical considerations- companies have general obligations to the societies they operate from. Under â€Å" noblesse oblige† which connotes the obligation of nobility , the notion that a company as an entity is far more vigorous than any single individual and hence assumes larger obligations toward society. (Nehme& Wee 2008:135). A company has to look into not only its financial bottom line but also to give due importance to their environmental and social performance. (Figge and Hahn 2001). The GRI states that ‘the triple bottom line of environmental, economic and social performance is to be dealt in a sustainability report. (Schaltegger, Bennett and Burritt 2006: 584). A research study namely â€Å"International Survey of Corporate Sustainability

Civil rights movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Civil rights movement - Essay Example This was the period that was closely associated with the rise of Black Nationalism. Therefore, in the late 60s, there were several organizations including SCLC, SNCC and NAACP which faced challenges from militant organizations such as the Blank Panther party. Black Nationalism was significantly influenced the pan-African leaders such as Muhammad and Malcolm X (Mcwhorter 17). The proponents of racial liberation usually viewed the African-American freedom struggle as a movement for human rights. The strategy of the Black Panther of picking up the gun revealed some of the sentiments of most of the individuals in the black society. Jackie Robinson was also one of the celebrated individuals in civil rights. This was after the Dodgers participated in the Civil Rights Game on Saturday. Most of the honest citizens were killed together with the black protestors. The civil rights activists used civil disobedience to implement change. For example, Emmett Till who was an African American boy was murdered brutally in Mississippi. He was 14 years old when he was murdered in Mississippi after he was reported to be flirting with a white woman. This brutal murder included torture before the actual killing of the innocent African-American boy. Therefore, the killing of the boy triggered the civil rights movement since; he was beaten and shot by two white men. On the other hand, it was evident that Emmett was disobedient to her mother after she discovered that he had an affair with the white woman (Mcwhorter 19). Additionally, Curt Flood who was a renowned baseball payer for the St. Louis Cardinals was a pivotal player in the team. During this epoch, he refused to accept a trade after the 1969 season. It was quite evident that the trade was closely associated with racism. However, he was unsuccessful after appealing to the Supreme Court in the United States though his legacy still remains alive even after his death (Mcwhorter 23). In 1962, most of the citizens staged a protest wh en the court ordered the University of Mississippi to register black students. The University is also known as Ole Miss. Martin Luther King Jr. was an active minister and a civil rights advocate who had established the nonviolent protest movement. He occasionally led several protests and boycotts regarding human rights in the black society. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most effective boycott leader since; he understood and used several tactics to defend the rights of the black people. This made Martin Luther King Jr. an essential and honored leader amongst the African Americans. In fact, the African Americans throughout the American nation were receiving immense attention when they were fighting for their rights. As stipulated above, the American society was at unease during the 1960s. This violence got worse when the blacks started fighting back violently (Mcwhorter 25). The most illustrious boycott during this era was the protest for jobs and freedom. Malcolm X was also another believer of black rights. According to Malcolm X, the blacks have a right to fight for their lives. Therefore, he was a considerable influence to the young black youths in the society based on the aspect of racism. However, he was not promoting violence as he was always accused by his critics. Before his death, he had published a book regarding black America. During this period, the African

Social Media Marketing Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Social Media Marketing - Article Example This paper highlights that  planning and strategy development can be considered as important aspects of successful social media presence. There are several small and medium enterprises that do not even plan before adopting and implementing social media marketing strategies. For this specific reason, those organisations failed to get success through the adopted and implemented social media marketing strategy. Example of Dove Real Beauty Campaign can be considered as a perfect planning of social media marketing strategy. The organisation used common people in the videos and texts while putting the advertisements on social media networking platforms. They tried to convey emotional marketing and promotional message.Accordings to the paper findings the planning of consideration of common women in promotional campaign can be considered as the example of ultimate planning of an effective social media marketing strategy. This specific social media campaign helped the organisation to create significant brand awareness among the target customers. In addition to this, effective implementation of planning and strategy development process helped this campaign to redefine the face and concept of real beauty.  The organisation is the first ever organisation that adopted and implemented social media marketing strategy in UK retail industry. Slowly and gradually, the organisation promoted its products through several leading social media networking platforms that helped the organisation to create significant brand awareness among the target customers.

Rise of the electronic music scene in todays generation Research Paper

Rise of the electronic music scene in todays generation - Research Paper Example From that time, music that became created with electronic instruments, instead of the electromechanical designs from which they were made. Major factors promoting the rise of Electronic Music Electronic music scene in its self has seen so much rise and advancements from the very first days of its origin when it was created. These changes are due to a number of factors, which can be given timelines right from the onset of the production of the first electronic instrument. For example in the seasons of the 1940s and the 1950s, the Electroacoustic tape music was introduced. This brought about the production of the very first practical audio tape recorder in Berlin (Brophy et al, 2009). It was the development of the audio tape recorder that gave way to the electroacoustic tape music. Then in the 1960s, there was further expansion of electronic music with the advent of computer music and live electronic. Indeed, this was going to be a major break through for the rise and advancement of el ectronic music as computers were engineered to play recognizable tunes by the use of complex amplification of sounds (Brophy, 2002). Today, the developments have reached sections whereby there have been the production of sequencers and drum machines, MIDI, chip tunes, circuit bending, digital synthesis, among others as part of the expansion of electronic music. To sum it all, electronic music has grown to a stage where it has become more accustomed with today’s generation. Electronic Music as Popular Culture Whether by accident or as a plan, the people of today have become more sophisticated with the genre of music they cherish to listen to. Indeed, the people of today’s... This "Rise of the electronic music scene in today’s generation" essay outlines the origin of this musical style and its impact on the modern society. Discussions on the rise of electronic music would almost be incomplete if the subject of globalization is not mentioned. This is because globalization has shot up the popularity of electronic music so much so that there is virtually no corner of this world that electronic music is not found. It is not surprising therefore that some analysts choose to say that electronic music has grown beyond the description of how a piece of music was produced into a genre of music. With globalization, which is led by the use of computers and its sophisticated partner, the internet, music produced in the smallest part of America can reach the smallest part of Asia or Australia in a matter of seconds. This way, what was originally supposed to be the line of music of the American people, has today become a global music genre because of globalizati on. One other trick that electronic music is doing so well and so fast is the fact that the production of electronic music has become a universal phenomenon. In other words, a person living in Africa would not only have the pleasure of listening to an electronic music from America but also have the honor of using sophisticated electronic devices in composing electronic music even when he wants to make a genre of music popular to his culture. There are several impacts of the rise of electronic music scene on today’s generation that can be pointed out.

Critique of a play to be watched Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critique of a play to be watched - Essay Example In this version a variety of critical interpretations are advanced, with the interpretation most centrally being that Greek theatrical productions remain important aspects of the literary and cultural landscape not through being reimagined and reinterpreted but through the preservation of their core structural dimensions. In viewing Peter Hall’s production of the Eumenides one of the first aspects one notices is it preservation of traditional Greek structural dimensions. In the opening scene the speaker is masked (indeed, this is thematic throughout all the characters) indicative of a traditional Greek production. In these regards, Hall himself stated that, â€Å"Greek plays are impossible without the mask... its very mystery solved not only the problem of expressing unbearable feeling, but also how to make the unending laments of the chorus understandable to a modern audience". In these regards, the mask clouds the identity of the characters such that audiences throughout hu manity can cast their own insights and emotions onto the characters. In addition to these authentic elements, the play includes an orchestra that accompanies the production much like one would imagine the Greek stage of antiquity. It’s indicative of Hall’s intentions in the production of keeping the play true to authentic form as the music does not function in the background as is the case with film, television, or indeed a great many stage productions, but is intermingled with the stage action seamlessly. This demonstrates Hall’s vision as the viewer shares the same presence as would a viewer listening to the orchestra during a performance of the Eumenides in antiquity. This element also demonstrates the everlasting nature of Hall’s perspective when one considers that in great part this structural format – the melding of music and on-stage narrative – has persisted even into the mainstream contemporary social environment in terms of the mus ic video; all the more remarkable considering that this production occurred the same year as the emergence of MTV. The stage dimensions of this opening scene are also indicative of what one envisions the Greek stage place to be as, with the speaker subtly cognizant of the expansive nature of the audience. The physical dimensions of the stage space are also directly reminiscent of the ancient Greek stage with round stage platform with a backdrop outlining the screen. If there is any room to critique Hall’s production it would be in his firm reliance on this element of the Greek stage, but as the play advances one witnesses the implementation of modern methods of shot selection and editing that are melded into this otherwise authentic production. In these regards, Hall’s version of the Eumenides is not as entirely authentic in the classic Greek sense as he would have the audience believe, yet is perhaps more powerful for it, as his subtle re-workings emerge in aspects th at open the play to broader contextual meaning and purpose. In great part the screen space is outlined in black and white. While it is a filmed stage production and one can argue that this is simply an aspect of its reproduction onto the screen space, it nevertheless takes on aesthetic meaning in the context of analysis. Without delving too far into literary critique the black and white simply functions as a means of bringing out the color that has possible symbolic implications; however this critique does not delve into these literary elements but rather considers how director Hall

Summary and response 1315 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary and response 1315 - Assignment Example Joe Posnanski expresses a sharp criticism of the well known baseball players such as Willie Mays who had received a lot of public recognition due to their exemplary performance on the pitch. In his opinion, such athletes are not genuine and their great performance is a result of the use of steroids which enhances their performance. Cheating in his opinion amounts to any form of divergence to the officially allowed rules of the game which some writers and athletes seem to ignore. The cheerleading aspect that Jennie Yabroff is against is that of the view that cheerleaders are generally people with low moral standards. The view has been in existence due to the conduct of some of the cheerleaders. The cheerleaders need to disapprove this general belief by being good examples and role models to the society. The argument is found in the second page in the last paragraph. Sara Maratta is of the opinion that sporting activities are still dominated by men. The view is supported in his book by sidelining of Andrea Kremer a football reported who has witnessed criticism for her comments on men’s game. Female fans do not receive a fair treatment from their male counterparts who tend to sideline them in their fan base despite having sacrificed to attend the

Social Policy Essay Example for Free

Social Policy Essay Demonstrate an understanding of the historical and ideological developments of UK social policy, identifying the underpinning principles and values. Social policy is defined as actions aimed at promoting social well being (Alcock). It is not just about state legislation but also about what the government does to support and interfere with the well being of citizens. Policies can be regarded as embodying ideas about society, the economy and views about justice, equality and individual responsibility (Alcock). Social policy as a whole looks at the rules and procedures made by the government to keep the publics best interests at heart. The social policy that is being focused on is Healthcare. In the early 1940s a report was written by a man called William Beveridge, highlighting problems in society. Ever since then, this social policy has been subject to changes and reforms made by each political party in their time of running. Healthcare as a whole has a huge impact on its service users as well as its service workers and I believe it to be one of the most important social policies. In 1942, Beveridge published a report recommending ways that the government could improve post war Britain. He stated that they should begin by tackling the 5 Giant Evils : Want, Squalor, Disease (Health), Ignorance and Idleness. This led to many social reforms and in 1945 when the labour party was elected into power, Clement Atlee was made priminister. This proved to be beneficial for the country and resulted in over 200 acts being passed from 1945 to 1948. One of the acts passed was the National Health Service act passed by the minister for health Aneurin Bevan. He wanted to make sure that every citizen could access the best medical care when they needed it and for it to be free at the point of use. The aim of the NHS was to reduce ill-health and promote good health in all citizens. Between high infant mortality rates and general poor health of the public he knew actions had to be taken. Before the NHS, the 2,700 hospitals were either run by charities or local authorities with only those in employment entitled to free treatment. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7405526.stm). Prior to the actual start of the NHS, many of the working doctors shared a conservative and neoliberal  ideology about this new act. They believe that a government run health service would take away the individuality of their profession and make them ‘puppets of the state’. The conservative party shared these views as well as the British Medical Association, who started a survey voting against the NHS. Conservative politicians had a very right wing approach to things, believing in social hierarchy and believed social inequality to be inevitable. The labour party adopted a collectivist way of thinking. They focused more on those who were disadvantaged and devised ways to improve it which resulted in the introduction of the NHS in 1948. On the 5th July 1948 the NHS was introduced and resulted in free healthcare for UK citizens. In addition it created a mass amount of jobs in the healthcare sector. The Election of Clement Atlee in 1945 proved to be beneficial and resulted in over 200 acts being passed from 1945 to 1948 as well as the NHS act. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher led the conservative party into power. The conservative party shared right wing, neoliberal ideas about the way things were being run. As an individualistic ideology neo liberalism was very much pro market and against public provision and involvement of the state. Thatcher and the conservatives believed that collectivism and free welfare services encouraged lazy people to become dependant on the government.

Cellular Processes Essay Example for Free

Cellular Processes Essay When molecules move from a high to low concentration it is called moving DOWN the concentration gradient. †¨When molecules move from a low to high concentration it is called moving AGAINST the concentration gradient. †¨When the concentration of a solute is the same throughout a system, the system is at EQUILIBRIUM.†¨What kind of transport DOES NOT require energy? PASSIVEWhat kind of transport requires energy? ACTIVE†¨Which CELL PART provides the energy for active transport? MITOCHONDRIA†¨Which MOLECULE is produced by mitochondria and provides energy for transport? ATP †¨Movement of molecules FROM a region of HIGH concentration TO a region of LOW concentration = DIFFUSION †¨The movement of molecules FROM a region of HIGH concentration TO a region of LOW concentration with the HELP of carrier proteins or channels = FACILITATED DIFFUSION Membrane proteins that move molecules across membranes by attaching, changing shape, and flipping to the other side like a revolving door = CARRIER PROTEINS Membrane proteins that help molecules across membranes by providing a tunnel = PROTEIN CHANNELS†¨The movement of WATER molecules from HIGH concentration to LOW concentration across a cell membrane = OSMOSIS Stage 3 Stages 1 2Which kinds of transport use VESICLES to help molecules across membranes? ENDOCYTOSIS (PHAGOCYTOSIS PINOCYTOSIS EXOCYTOSIS Photosynthesis Chemical Reaction for photosynthesis: Water + Carbon dioxide à   Glucose + Oxygen 6H2O + 6CO2 ïÆ'   C6H12O6 + 6O2 Process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches Chloroplast- site of photosynthesis Cellular Respiration- process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen; Aerobic means with oxygen (O2); Anaerobic means without oxygen (O2) -Glycolysis- Means the splitting of glucose; Occurs in the cytoplasm of all cells in every organism; It does NOT require oxygen; A net of 2 ATP is made during glycolysis. -Fermentation – Anaerobic Pathway-There are 2 types of fermentation: Alcoholic Fermentation-Occurs in yeasts and bacteria, CO2 and ethyl alcohol are produced (bread dough rising); Lactic Acid Fermentation-Occurs during strenuous exercise (burning fatigue in muscles) -Cellular Respiration Totals: Energy produced per glucose molecule; -Glycolysis = Net of 2 ATP; Kreb’s Cycle = 2 ATP; Electron Transport Chain (ETC) = 32 ATP; Total = 36 ATP per glucose molecule Mitochondria â€Å"powerhouse†- site of cellular respiration= MAKING ENERGY! Manages the process by which energy stored in food molecules is transformed into usable energy for the cell. Other cell organelles: Vacuole- stores water, waster, enzymes and other materials (like a water tower) Golgi body- sorts and packages proteins (think of UPS) Nucleus- brain/control center of the cell; instructions for making proteins Lysosome- digests worn out organelles, food particles, and engulfed bacteria viruses (like a janitor/clean up crew) Ribosome- site of protein synthesis (think of meat-has protein in it) Cell membrane- controls what enter and leaves the cell, â€Å"semi or selectively permeable† (like a bouncer) Mitosis: produces 2 genetically identical, diploid body (somatic) cellsDiploid: full set of chromosomes Meiosis: produces 4 genetically different, haploid sex (gametes) cellsHaploid: chromosome # is half Practice Questions: Cell organelles carry out specific metabolic processes. 1. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which proteins are sorted and packaged to be sent where they are needed? a. ribosomesb. lysosomesc. Golgi bodiesd. vacuoles 2. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle is responsible for storing  enzymes and other materials needed by the cell? a. ribosomesb. vacuolesc. mitochondriad. lysosomes 3. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which proteins are assembled based on DNA instructions? a. mitochondriab. lysosomesc. ribosomesd. vacuoles 4. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which energy stored in food molecules is transformed into usable energy for the cell? a. lysosomesb. golgi bodiesc. mitochondriad. ribosomes 5. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which worn out organelles, food particles, and engulfed viruses or bacteria are digested? a. ribosomesb. lysosomesc. vacuolesd. golgi bodies 6. Which of these is not an advantage gained by organisms which reproduce sexually? a. Genetic recombination created genetic diversity within a species. b. Some percentage of organisms within a species will be likely to survive and reproduce despite harsh environmental conditions. c. Genetic diversity reduces the risk of species extinction caused by hard environmental conditions. d. Genetic diversity weakens a species’ overall ability to survive harsh environmental conditions. 7. A fertilized egg created through sexual reproduction- a. has a combination of genetic material that is unique in the species b. is genetically identical to other eggs of the same parents c. is genetically identical to the parents d. contains genetic material from only one parent 8. Organisms reproduce asexually in a variety of ways. A bacterium reproduces by making a copy of its chromosome, growing larger, then dividing into two separate, genetically identical cells. This process is called- a. regenerationb. binary fissionc. vegetative reproductiond. budding 9. Which of the following statements about sexual reproduction is false? a. Organisms that reproduce sexually produce sex cells called gametes. b. Fertilization is part of the sexual reproduction process. c. In sexual reproduction, a single parent produces identical offspring. d. A zygote is produced through sexual reproduction. 10. Study the chemical reactions below. Photosynthesis: Cellular respiration: Plants produce more oxygen during photosynthesis than they use in cellular respiration. What happens to the excess oxygen produced during photosynthesis? a. It is used as an energy source by plant cells. b. It is released into the air and is used by other organisms for respiration. c. It is converted into heat energy. d. It is a waste product which is never reused. 11. Which of these is inhaled by animals, then used in respiration? a. carbonb. oxygenc. nitrogend. water 12. One of the products of photosynthesis is glucose (C6H12O6). Which of the following statements about the production and use of this molecule is false? a. Plants use the energy from glucose to convert nutrients to body tissues and grow larger. b. Glucose that is not immediately used by the plant is stored for later use. c. Plants use the energy from glucose to manufacture a variety of plant products. d. Glucose that is not immediately used by the plant is lost as waste material. 13. Tigers, goldfish, peacocks, and humans all reproduce sexually. Which statement is true about sexual reproduction? a. It is not a factor scientists use to define different species. b. It involves the joining of an egg and sperm into one cell. c. The offspring are genetically the same as their parents. d. Sexual reproduction can only take place by internal fertilization. 14. Jackson is growing a bean plant in a pot. One day Jackson notices that the plant is wilting. He waters the bean plant and within a few minutes the plant begins to perk up. This is because the plant has taken up water by osmosis. At what structural level does osmosis occur? a. organs b. tissues c. cells d. organ systems Organisms as different as bacteria, mushrooms, algae, oak trees, and human beings are all made of cells. 15. Read the information above. Which statement is true for all cells? a. All cells have the same shape. b. All cells need energy to survive. c. All cells are surrounded by a rigid wall. d. All cells belong to organ systems. Michelle is looking through a microscope at a cell from an onion root. She sees a cell that is in the process of dividing to make a new cell. This is what Michelle sees: 16. Study the diagram and the description above. If Michelle were able to find an onion cell that had completed division, what products of cell division would she see? a. four different cellsb. only one cellc. two identical cellsd. four identical cells 17. Study the diagram and the statement above. Michelle is observing cell division in an onion cell, but this type of cell division also occurs in the human body. Which statement is not true about this type of cell division in humans? a. This type of cell division is humans produces sex cells as well as body cells. b. This type of cell division in humans occurs while bones are forming during development. c. This type of cell division in humans can be affected by viruses. d. This type of cell division in humans is necessary to heal cuts and wounds 18. Study the diagram and the description above. What is the name for the process Michelle is observing? a. mutationb. meiosisc. mitosisd. metamorphosis 19. Study the diagram and the information above. Which of these statements about cell division is true? a. A newly formed daughter cell has less DNA than its parent cell. b. Cells divide at random times. c. New cells formed by cell division can replace dying cells in an organism. d. The phases of cell division can occur in any order. 20. A special type of cell division, called meiosis, is used to form sex cells or gametes. Which statement is true above this type of cell division? a. The products of meiosis are two identical cells. b. DNA is not copied at all during meiosis. c. The new cells have half the DNA of the parent cell. d. Meiosis is complete after only one round of cell division. 21. A person with swollen gums rinses his mouth with warm salt water, and the swelling decreases. Which has occurred? a. The swollen gums have absorbed the saltwater solution. b. The saltwater solution lowers the temperature of the water in the gums. c. The salt in the solution has moved against the concentration gradient. d. The water in the gums has moved from a high to a low concentration of water. 22. What advantage do sexually reproducing organisms have over asexually reproducing organisms? a. genetic variationb. genetic stabilityc. increased fertilization rated. increased reproductive rate 23. What is the most likely function of a group of cells that contain a high number of chloroplasts? a. respirationb. transpirationc. fermentationd. photosynthesis 24. In humans, glucose is kept in balance in the bloodstream by insulin. Which concept does this best illustrate? a. adaptationb. homeostasisc. metabolismd. organization 25. In which way are photosynthesis and cellular respiration different? a. Cellular respiration stores ATP, while photosynthesis releases ATP. b. Cellular respiration produces oxygen, while photosynthesis uses oxygen. c. Photosynthesis releases energy, while cellular respiration stores energy. d. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide, while cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide. 26. Which statement best distinguishes aerobic from anaerobic respiration? a. Only aerobic respiration involves fermentation. b. Only anaerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondria. c. Only aerobic respiration requires oxygen. d. Only anaerobic respiration produces carbon dioxide. 27. Which most accurately describes the difference in ATP production between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration? a. Aerobic respiration produces more ATP than anaerobic respiration. b. Anaerobic respiration produces more ATP than aerobic respiration. c. Only anaerobic respiration produces measurable amounts of ATP. d. Anaerobic and aerobic respiration produce the same amount of ATP. 28. A human skin cell contains 46 chromosomes. How many chromosomes are present in a human sperm cell? a. 23b. 46c. 92d. 138 29. What is homeostasis? a. the ability of an organism to maintain a relatively stable internal environment b. the production of a hormone by an endocrine gland that works on another endocrine gland c. a series of events that monitor how hormones work in the body d. a process in which a change in the environment causes a response that returns conditions to their original status 30. If the body stopped producing new Beta cells, what would the expected outcome be? The pancreas would no longer release glucagon High blood glucose levels would continue to become normal Insulin would no longer be released Alpha cells would become beta cells 31. You just ran a marathon (26.2 miles) and your body is trying to reach homeostasis. Which of the following statements is true? Your blood vessels will constrict to conserve heat Your blood vessels will dilate to release body heat Your body’s control center will shut down Your brain will tell your body not to sweat

Analysis of New Dawn Drilling Company

Analysis of New Dawn Drilling Company New Dawn Drilling (NDD) is a company focused on identifying, acquiring and exploring gold and platinum deposits. It is also a major player in underground drilling operations on South African land. The company currently has its operation spread over 6 towns in South Africa. This report is produced by carrying out investigative business analysis on NDD and its external environment to determine company position and ability to survive in the competitive mining sector of SA. The analysis will help in developing a long term strategic plan to improve the business of the NDD Company. The good reputation that NDD has developed in the market is used to develop a business strategy to make it a brand for drilling operations and developing a niche market for its drilling operations. The role of an information system in a business and how it can be used to coordinate the paper work, development process and efficient working of the regional offices is evaluated. Use case, activity and class diagrams are techniques used for modeling the information system. The assumptions made can be used to interpret the system in a number of different ways. 1.1 Introduction to Strategic Analysis tools NDD can use several TPI can use several analysis techniques to discover the potency of its business model, while examining the attributes of the business environment in which it operates. The techniques discussed below include SWOT, PESTEL and Porters Five Forces. SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis SWOT analysis is a business tool used to evaluate the companys position in the market and its ability to survive. It helps to predict the capability of the organization. The strengths and weaknesses deal with the internal facts and factors of the business. The opportunities and threats deal with the external factors of the organization. Exploiting the right opportunity and safeguarding against the analyzed threats can set a company apart from their competition. PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, and Technological) The PESTEL analyses are used to scan the external environment. The Pestle analysis factors are out of the businesses control as they are always subject to change. Still, they have a significant affect they have on companys performance. They help the businesses to take a pro-active approach and be ahead of these changes instead of hastily changing the products and processes. (Robert Mark Brown) Porters Five forces Porters 5 Forces can be best described by the following figure: Fig: Schematic diagram of Porters 5 forces. (Robert Mark Brown) They are used determine the, expected level of competitive intensity (Grà ¼nig and Kà ¼hn, 2008, chap 11.1). They analysis help to detect which are the dominant forces which can control the business. Using Porters five forces concurrently with SWOT analysis will add more depth to the analysis (Mind tools, 2010) 1.2 PESTle Analysis: PESTLE Analysis factors How does it affect NDD Potential Impact: Importance Political: 1.There is an increasing black unionism which has caused a significant change in South African politics leading to reforms in legislation. 2. The Government has employed policy reforms which allow foreign direct investment in Africa resulting in transfer of new technologies for exploration and drilling services, skills and production methods for efficient use of the mineral resource. 3. The government has introduced ABET (Adult basic education and Training) to improve the skills and literacy of the people. 4.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) is been continuously updated by implementing more stringent rules making it more difficult for companies to adhere to them. (Rapidbi,2010) Employees of NDD are benefitted. NDD can contact foreign companies for partnerships. More skilled labour to hire from. Additional costs might have to be incurred Medium Medium Low High Important Critical Unknown Critical Economic 1. South Africa is in a recession leading to low long term interest rates. The economic crisis had led to reduced tariff, taxes and fiscal deficit. 2. The production of many big mining companies was halted due to accidents on site owing to reduced activity on the mining front. The gold and other prices also dropped owing to reduced growth. 3.Global recession has weakened the rand has led to South Africa becoming a competitive place to perform drilling operations for mining industry.(Robert Mark Brown) 4.The mining employers are investing and spending less as the banks have reduced the lending tightened their budgets because banks are controlling lending more strictly. 5. Presently, the drilling, exploration and any mining company for that matter has been faced to spend the 5 to 10% of their payroll in the skill and development programmes required for their perspective operations.(Rapidbi.,2010) Capital crunch Less Business to do. Increased rivalry Cant borrow Money for expansion. Reduced profits High High High Medium Medium Important Unknown Critical Important Important Socio-cultural 1.South African mining sector has lower levels of skilled employees than other sectors in the economy. But still they have strong mining culture which helps them produce new ideas. 2. South Africa has a large presence of HIV/Aids epidemic and is high amongst young SA population. The mining sector is the deeply hit industry as the labor required by them is mostly young as the work required is physically taxing and dangerous. 3.NDD has to keep in mind that when they expand their business locally or internationally they have to consider the local preferred way of living and doing things. 4.South Africa has growing ethnic, cultural and gender diversity leading to new opportunities as well as challenges.(Rapidbi,2010) Labour with Strong mining background. Deal with discrimination which is bound to happen. Carrying out extensive research of demographic where they enter. Management Challenges Medium High High Medium Important Critical Important Critical Technological 1. Alternative cheaper and inexpensive sample retrieval techniques other than diamond drilling can be used ex.RVC Drilling 2. The implementation of information systems to the mining companies has helped them to mine site production reporting and accounting. It also helps them to calculate their raw material requirements and helps in creating wok purchase orders. 3. South Africa has a huge science base invested in improving Mining operations. They are continuously pushing the boundaries to automate most of the processes involved. It would help the companies to reduce labor cost. 4. The lack of investment in Research and innovation in the Mining sector has generally contributed to lower levels of operational productivity compared to its strong global competitors like China and Australia.(Robert Mark Brown) Considerably reduce operation costs. Help manage Paper work efficiently. This can help reduce the labour costs Due to this NDD cannot compete with the inter-national local big players High High High Medium Critical Important Unknown Unknown 1.3 Porters Five Forces: Threat of New Entry It is unlikely that there is a threat of new entry as the capital required to set up a business similar to NDD is quite high. This can only be afforded by companies with huge balance sheets and strong set of contacts. The industry is highly regulated which makes it difficult to enter. Few, but not all, exploration and drilling companies have established co-operation with mining companies to remain in business and these contracts are not easily awarded Competitive Rivalry: There are 25 local competitors of which few have thrice the turnover of NDD. This shows that NDD is a small/medium player in a saturated market. As the South African rand has weakened the mining operation have been slowed down resulting in increased competition to land the existing few projects. and will not be able to benefit from the economies of scale of the larger mining sector. Some local rivals have partnerships and acquisitions with the larger mining groups based locally or internationally. The companies cannot win the contracts by keeping their prices low as the cost of materials is going to increase due to recession. Bargaining power of Buyer: The negotiation strength of the customers is high because, for example, a gold mining company will try to merge with its larger counterpart involved in gold, diamond, platinum, etc and this may offer us to have a larger share of the market. Though switching from one buyer to another is difficult NDD can be able to exercise its market power. Threat of Substitution The threat of substitution is a harsh reality NDD has to face. But the organizations out there which might perform operations similar to that of NDD are substantial but limited. There are no new companies entering so the threat of substitution tends to be low. Bargaining power of Supplier: The bargaining power of the supplier will be high. Drilling operations are going to remain consistent and they are going to need materials from suppliers. Due to the current economic conditions it has lead to prices rise and inflation which have made prices of the commodities required a bit unaffordable (oils, grease).This has threatened the supply-chain relationship. 1.4 SWOT Analysis (Intelligence Phase) Strengths 1. NDD is a company targeting copper, gold and platinum metal ores in Orkney, Randoftein, etc which the rich mineral belts of South Africa are. 2. It has a consistent underground drilling business which will continue to be as the companies are obliged to carry out core sampling for safety reasons. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) 3. Their management team is good competent, experienced and have set of technical expertise. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) 4. Surface exploration lends itself well to a high degree of automation which can help reduce labor cost and improve production rates. 5. South Africa is a low risk sovereign country.NDD has focused its exploration and drilling operations only in South Africa which is justified by the past economic global events. 6. Amalgamation of the orders at the central offices enables the company to buy at cheaper rates from suppliers. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) Weaknesses 1 The exploration business is extremely sensitive so it requires a strategic business plan to survive and flourish.NDD does not have any sort of plan if they were going to lose a significant amount of business. 2. In the current situation, NDD cannot track whether excessive replacements of parts are taking place at certain project sites. 3. NDD has poor communication channels. The absence of centralized management system restricts the main office from accessing information in real time. They have to wait for the regional sites to compile the information and mail it to them. 4. NDD is dependent entirely on its underground drilling operations for profit as surface drilling business is merely making a profit. 5. NDD has not yet ventured into the mining sectors internationally. (Helix Resources Limited, 2010) Opportunities 1. South Africa has been long involved in mining and it has a promising geological setting for other minerals. They can start applying for projects which include exploring and drilling for minerals like nickel, Rare earth elements (Rees), etc. 2. To enter into international markets preferably starting from the African neighbors. 3. The current shortage of high quality deposits has caused a huge market interest in new exploration activities. This can be a great opportunity to rope in a few extra projects from companies. 4. Opportunity to merge with other companies in the mining industry, to benefit from shared knowledge, economies of scale and offer more services like competitors. 5. NDDs major chances of success lie in proving a reserve. This can be achieved by implementing latest or alternate drilling and exploration techniques. 7. NDD can use farm-in-opportunities in regions which they think have potential for copper, gold or any other mineral. 8. A new employee shift system can be implanted to ensure drilling operations at non- peak times. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) Threats 1. Exploration is inherently a risky business as it is very difficult to predict and only handful of exploration operations turn into production. 2. Regulatory risk- If any changes happen to the health and safety rules or environmental laws and regulations, it would result in company bearing additional costs. 3. Challenges from local and foreign companies performing the similar services are high. 4. Over reliance on technology The PCs at the project sites will be linked to the server at Johannesburg for access to the application software and database. So if the system is down it can bring the working of the business to halt. It is critical that the servers are running for the activity based costing system to function efficiently since the business is based in two geographical locations. (New Dawn Drilling, 2010) 1.5 Conclusion of the strategic analysis techniques The strategic analysis from the SWOT, PEST and Porters five forces indicate that the strengths of the company are outweighed by its weaknesses and threats. The business which the company is operating is very sensitive and strategic analysis of NDD helps us to conclude that the existing business policy will not help it to survive in the long term. The opportunities presented to NDD through the SWOT analysis suggest how the business could target a specific segment in the market, rather than the mass market which is saturated as overseas manufacturers enter the industry in the UK. A major strength of NDD is the reputation and a small but strong foothold in the gold and platinum ore bodies of mining industry. This opportunity can be exploited to the fullest by branding itself and using a the existing projects as a leeway to obtain new projects in the other mineral ore bodies like nickel or even the rare earth metals (REEs).NDD has a good working relationship with its mining employers and it is possible that the company can use this strength to carry out Research Development to implement new and latest drilling and exploration technologies. This might also help in finding and serving a gap in the current drilling services provided by the companies if it exists. (Helix Resources Limited, 2010)(Fin Metal Mining Ltd, 2010) The greatest weakness of NDD is a fact that it is a small player in a competitive South African mining industry dominated by larger organizations and also will not be able to compete on cost with their Asian counterparts.NDD needs to implement a management information system and streamline its operations so that it can track the cost of drilling, keep a record of excessive replacement of costly parts and identify operations where costs are exceeding the income. The Management information system being implemented in the form of an activity based costing system can help to carry out the price fixing exercise with the mining companies. 1.6 Five year Business plan: The draft of the five year business plan for NDD is developed on the basis of the conclusion of the strategic analysis of NDD using PESTEL, Porters Five Forces and SWOT. In the current situation NDD does not have any Strategic plan and their business is hugely sensitive depending upon the local and global market events. If NDD were to lose their current share of business they would have no way forward. Therefore, NDD needs to weigh its options locally as well as internationally as there are other countries too those are involved in mining. Branding, though quite rarely used in mining industry it is becoming an upcoming trend for companies to differentiate themselves from their rivals. They can concentrate on a particular market; make changes to their employee work pattern and their business plan for the future 1.6.1 SWOT-Design Phase: Weaknesses 1. They dont have a system in place to estimate correct contract rates. Even if slight changes occur in the contract rates they seriously impact the income stream. 2. NDD is relatively a small/medium player with a turnover of up to 20 million dollars. NDD cannot have the same level of resources that are available to their big competitors Strengths They can keep focusing on gold as it is a flourishing business. 2. The company has a healthy pipeline of projects in hand with in minerals ranging from gold, copper and platinum spread over six geographically different areas. 3. The annual price fixing of the contract enables the company to assess its variable costs in relation to the existing economic conditions. Opportunities NDD can brand itself for operations they are currently performing. They can implement Management information system to track materials and calculate contract pricing. They can enter the stock market making the private business public. . A new employee shift system can be implanted to ensure drilling operations at non- peak times. Threats 1. Economic Factors: interest rates, political decisions, inflation al affect the mining industry very badly. 2. Lack of Skilled workers Although the number of people entering the mining sector is high in SA, many lack the specialist skills required to carry out specific operations. 1.6.2 Using Branding as Business Strategy: NDD already has a reputed name as it is involved in projects spread over six geographically different towns in SA. This means that company can use some form of marketing strategies to establish itself as a brand in the services and operations they are performing. For branding NDD needs to consider two basic strategies. The first is to be different from the others and stress on the distinctive feature that NDD offers when it is employed by the organization. Every employer is willing to consider something different which is profitable for them. This can be a different work roster or an innovative system to perform operations required. The second will be to put through the NDDs vision, values and culture. While doing this if we stumble upon that a certain aspect of the company is not worth publicizing then we can always focus on the strengths we have derived from the SWOT analysis. This is a long term solution which will make the Company competitive as it will take some time for mining employers to develop confidence in them. Also, an important advantage is the fact that the amount of resources required for branding an organization go on decreasing with time as more and more Companies start noticing. (Helix Resources Limited,2010)( Fin Metal Min ing Ltd,2010) 1.6.3 Targeting a Niche Sector in Mining Sector; NDD is currently working on 9 shafts related to gold. This can use as an advantage by NDD by targeting all the gold shaft related projects. Most of the companies are focused on platinum markets which can help NDD reduce some of the perceived threats to its business by targeting the gold market. The mining sector is becoming increasingly competitive and there any many big multi-nationals out there ready to put small/medium industries out of business.NDD can use the contacts from the existing gold mining employers to farther there ambition. They can even enter into partnerships with their current employers and sign future gold shaft contracts and ensuring a stability of income to their business. Due to NDDs previous and present track record the companies might consider entering into partnership. Even though there have been global recession, the gold production and mining hasnt been affected badly. They can also venture into international markets for gold related projects. They can star t with applying for contracts in Zimbabwe and Tanzania which are also rich for gold deposits and less competitive than South Africa.NDD compared to other companies in these countries can be termed as Medium/Big player which help give them an advantage. The labor and operating costs will also be low compared to SA. Thus targeting gold related operations can prove to be a huge safety net in these uncertain times. Though it cant be neglected that the Pestle analysis are going to dictate the income and pricing for the contracts. (Fin Metal Mining Ltd. 2010) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). 1.6.4 Operating Strategic plan For NDD: NDD can focus their existing strategy on the finding out near surface targets for gold (niche) or the other two minerals they are operating. This will allow them to perform underground drilling operations on surfaces which are suitable for open cut mining operations. This focus on areas which have a rich history for previous success, for example, targeting projects in areas of Kimberley Reef group will keep the income cash flow constant in these current economic conditions. (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). NDD can also enter into drilling projects for minerals other than gold, platinum, copper .NDD can try uranium, nickel or the Rare earth elements (Rees).For uranium they can focus on exploring areas like Gauteng in Witwatersrand basin which are rich in content ensuring underground drilling operations to be performed on them for the mining employers to start their mining production. Similarly for Nickel which is even easier as Phalborawa where they are currently operating are rich in Nickel deposits. They can acquire projects related to them as they are already well-known in that area. They can NDD can prioritize their accepting of surface exploration projects in the following sequence: In areas requiring near surface exploration with mineralization targets not more than 70 m below which are extremely high potential for Mining operations. Targeting areas which have a mining history Areas which have not been mined previously but seem to have potential for underground mining They can also undertake projects from companies which require refurbishment for their shafts. The refurbishment for the shafts will include an underground drill program to take rock sample from the shafts and perform tests on them. This will allow the mining companies to help estimate the amount of mineralization left in the foots or hanging walls of these shafts. These contracts will not require any new technologies and investment from NDD as it is already doing it for its current employers in some way. This can be a way to expand their business. (Exploration Strategy, 2010) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). 1.6.5 Alternative operating technique: NDD can also try out a different operating strategy for underground Drilling. At present, Diamond drilling is used for retrieving core samples which is expensive and time consuming. Instead of this, NDD can implement RVC drilling which give small rock samples instead of a solid core which are easier to look under microscope. Figure: Rvc Drilliing (Delta Mine training center, 2010) RVC drilling requires a bit larger equipment but it has high rate of penetration and low cost per foot. This makes it faster and inexpensive than diamond drilling. This can help NDD reduce its operational costs. (Trevor Fletcher) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines). 1.6.6 Going Public: The other strategy NDD can adopt is making the private company go public. This will help it enter the South African stock exchange where people can buy NDDs Shares. This will also automatically serve as a purpose of branding as it will help the company get noticed. This will also help them to get international recognizition.They can enter into partnerships with the foreign companies which are looking to invest in Africa due to new FDI Policy implemented by South African government. This can serve as an opportunity for NDD to get projects locally as well as internationally. 1.6.7 Employee shift system: At present the company operations on site are carried out 7 days a week and 3 x 8 hour shift basis. This can be replaced by be 2 x 10 hour shift on a continuous basis. Often the drill started on one shift ends on anothers shift. This can sometimes cause delays. New shifts will minimize these chances and also save time. The overtime will be calculated above the set 10 hours reducing the costs incurred by the company. This will also help in decreasing the non-productive hours. (Shift Schedules, 2010) (Otjihase and Matchless Mines) 1.6.7 Role of the director managing the future: NDD cannot change its operating strategies overnight. It will require a step-by-step process form the management personality (1 director) which is experienced and has a proven field experience. He will also play a major role in evaluating pricing for tenders, contracts and acquiring the projects. The employees are going to face a lot of social difficulties while trying to operate with new information systems at offices and also new operating techniques on site. Therefore, the management has to solve the problems on site or the glitches in the information systems by appointing people for that purposes. Later, when the plans work he has to dedicate funds for their maintenance and continuous improvements. He will have to combine the top officials from NDDs regional offices and work together for better future of the company. 1.6.8 Legal Factors to be considered: The stringent health and safety rules mean that NDD will face legal challenges to make sure the company and staff have been vetted by the government and have obtained a level of safety clearance deemed fit to carry out its drilling operations.. The company must follow The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)which stated that the work equipment should comply with the strict and complex safety control procedures necessary for mine related operations. They must also have evacuation methods in place in case a catastrophe occurs. The business of the NDD is susceptible to a number of risks and hazards which involve labor disputes, on-site accidents, unforeseen geological and environmental conditions, cave-ins or even earthquakes for that matter. This can cause damage to the company equipments, properties or even death of the employees which can get the company into a legal mess. Therefore, NDD must have an insurance policy to cover itself if these calamities were to o ccur.. Companies providing insurances for mining industry generally at high premium costs. Losses from these events might be difficult to recover from for NDD so they need to have them even though it is not on their terms. Chapter 2 2 a) Use case Diagram: 2 b) Class Diagram: Class Diagrams: Activity Diagram: 2 c) Activity Diagram: 2 d) Architecture of the Information System: The Johannesburg office has a server and 2 computers which are connected using a switch. This switch is used to create 2 subnets of which one contains the server while the other contains 2 pcs. This will assist in management and maintenance of the information systems and also help in future expansion. The switch is connected to the router which is in turn connected to the internet through a firewall. This firewall will protect the internal network and also handle the VPN connections from the regional offices.The regional offices will use local internet providers to connect to the internet. This will be much cheaper and flexible than having private dedicated lines from the regional offices to the main office. Network connections: An Ethernet cable is used to connection between the PCs and the router and the router and the server is carried out using an Ethernet cable. All pc at the regional offices will have internet connection so that they are connected to the server in Johannesburg. As a security measure firewall will be placed between the internet connection and the server. Barcode readers will be made mobile by connecting them to the pc using a wireless connection.. Virtual private networks (VPN) will be used over the network connection for the pcs to communicate with the server in Johannesburg (Beynon-Davies) Software required Windows NT is used as the operating system and server software. The software will have applications such as purchasing, word processing, activity based costing system, and stock control .The pcs at regional offices will have installed the windows operating system and must log in to the server to use the applications. Pcs will be equipped with software linked to the server for barcode reading procedures. (Beynon-Davies) Security A firewall is in place to stop any unauthorized access. There is log in system available on each pc to restrict it to only employees of the company.VPNs are used by the regional offices to connect to the Johannesburg server over any other unsecured network connection. (Beynon-Davies) Chapter 3 Conclusion The report gives a wide perspective by carrying out analysis of NDD and how developing and implementing a strategic business plan can help the NDDs business to survive and grow in a competitive environment. It is extremely vital to understand that decisions made using the strategic analysis techniques are based on assumptions for, e.g. will the investment be made by the company venture into international markets, or will they invest in the equipments necessary for exploring minerals ore bodies other than gold, copper and platinum, train its employees for this purpose and also finding and providing drilling services which are yet not out there in the maket.NDD must also be willing to spend to buy new automated drilling machines if they are available or invest in automating their existing machines NDD must understand that the analysis techniques have their limitations and realize that committing itself to sudden change by undertaking projects for different minerals or REEs might be risky, although the risk can be well afforded as it is likely that if the business continues to function as it is of now it would be pushed out of the mining sector by local and overseas competitors entering the South African mining industry. Moving into exploring and drilling for other mineral ores such as nickel,REEs,etc or expanding into foreign markets can have their share of threats as it is likely that there are specific companies who will have built a great deal of experience in the field and have long term strategic contracts with their customers. New players like NDD, may be ignored by customers in the international or local untried mineral markets because they may be perceived to not have the necessary skills to serve the industry

The Negative Effects of Automobile Emissions Pollution Essays -- Envir

The Negative Effects of Automobile Emissions Pollution Charles Dickens wrote about the dirty conditions of London, England by saying, "Smoke lowering down from chimney pots, making a soft black drizzle, with flakes of soot in it as big as full-grown snowflakes – gone into mourning, one might imagine, for the death of the sun . . . Fog everywhere . . . fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping, and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city" (Qtd. Langone 28). The problem with the air back in Dickens’ day was all of the coal that was burned for heat and power. Today, we do not often use coal in our individual homes or businesses, but we still have a big problem with our air. Automobiles are our main problem today. In almost every large metropolitan area in the world, the effects of the pollution released from the cars can be seen, smelt and felt by the average person. When science and technology step in and actually measure the amounts of pollution present, the effects become even more shocking. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measures the amount of pollution in our air on a scale they call the Pollution Standards Index or the PSI. This scale measures several different pollutants including: carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide (EPA 2). Automobiles contribute to four of the six pollutants measured on the scale: Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (Patterson 6). The scale also explains at what levels the pollutants become unhealthy and what we should do to protect ourselves. At the Good and Moderate levels of the scale, there are no serious health effects found. At the Unhealthful... .... Phoenix, August 1991. "Environmental Profile for: Maricopa County, Arizona. Air Quality". Environmental Protection Agency. 24 November, 1998. http://www.epa.gov/epahome/general.htm Kraft, Michael. Vig, Norman. Environmental Policy in the 1990’s. Washington D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1994. Langone, John. Our Endangered Earth. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1992. Levy, John. Contemporary Urban Planning. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1997. Lorenzetti, Maureen S. Alternative Motor Fuels. Tulsa: PennWell Publishing Co., 1996. Morgan, James, et al. The Technical Feasibility, Socio-Economic Impact and Environmental Benefits of Alternative Energy Vehicles As Related To The State of Arizona. Northern Arizona University, 1986. Patterson, D.J. Emissions From Combustion Engines And Their Control. Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Science Publishers, 1972.

Free Process Essays - How Boats Work :: Expository Process Essays

How Boats Work   As most people probably know a propeller is what drives a motorboat through the water. However, the water gives off quite a bit of resistance. If you want to travel at greater velocities you have to speed up the boat to push against the water and to move the hull higher. The force of the water against the hull is called friction. This slows the boat down. If a boat hull is designed well the water will flow around more easily. The sail of a modern sailing boat or yacht catches the wind and pushes the boat forward. The sail of a boat is very similar to the wing of an airplane or even a bird's wing. The same principles that govern those structures happen - a plane's wing lifts the plane and a boat's sail lifts and pushes it forward. Imagine the sail of a boat cutting into the air. As the sail cuts through the air some of the air goes around the curved side and some air goes across the shorter (back side). The air on one side makes the sailboat lean over and the air on the other side pushes the boat sideways. Another question now arises what makes the boat go forward? Well the hull is weighed down by a keel; this huge weight counters the wind push and makes the boat go forward. Now when discussing boats there are many types, another type of interest would be a jet boat. If   it was possible to see through the hull of a jet boat and into the jet unit which propels the boat to high velocities we would see amazing things. The water flows in a given direction. The spinning turbine blades cause water to be sucked up through the intake under low pressure. Once inside the turbine chamber the water gains velocity and is powered out of the back of the turbine under high pressure by the specifically designed turbine blades. The opposing force of this powerful jet blast powers the boat forward. Another principal of boats is how they float.   Floating was first recorded by

Causes of Natural Hazards Essay -- hurricanes and earthquakes

Hazards are possible sources of danger. Types of hazards are those such as hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A cause is what makes something happen and is a reason for it happening. The two types of hazards I will be outlining the causes for are hurricanes and earthquakes. A hurricane and tropical storms are cyclones. When the winds reach a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more, it is called a hurricane. A hurricane is caused when a large mass of air is warmed up and the warm humid air begins to rise. As the air rises, it cools and condenses to cloud and rain. They are tropical storms. The hurricanes winds blow in a large spiral around a calm centre called the ‘eye’. The eye is usually 20-30 miles wide and the storm itself may have a diameter of 400 miles. As a hurricane approaches, the skies begin to darken and the winds grow stronger. The hurricane can bring torrential rains, high winds, and storm surge as it comes close to land. A single hurricane can last more than two weeks. An earthquake is a shaking movement of the earth’s surface. It results from faults. The earth’s surface is in continuous slow motion. This is plate tectonics – the movement of rigid plates at the surface of the earth in response to flow of rock within the earth. These plates cover the whole surface of the earth. Since they are all constantly moving, they rub against each other at the boundaries (for example, the San Andreas Fault in California). They sink beneath each other, or spread apart from each other (like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). At such places the motion becomes less smooth - the plates are stuck together at the edges ... ... into the areas were blocked or bridges were destroyed. If the bridges had been built to survive a hurricane, aid would be able to get to the areas sooner and save lives as they would be able to reach people in time. MEDC’s and LEDC’s are both affected by hurricanes, although MEDC’s are able to respond to them quicker and more effectively then LEDC’s. Both of them need funding so that they can research and monitor hurricanes so that they can respond to them, but the difference between them is that MEDC’s are able to provide themselves with funding as apposed to LEDC’s who are unable to provide themselves with the funding required. The research helps people to learn more about hurricanes and the more people know about hurricanes, makes it easier for them to respond to them in the right way so that they can save lives.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance are the two important inevitable corporate practices all over the world today. Once voluntary acts, these practices have now been made mandatory in the wake of various corporate scandals that shook the corporate world in the past decade. 1. 1 Aims and Objectives With the above background, it is proposed enquire into the corporate practices in the realms of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance that are prevalent in the U. K. and to ascertain how effective the practices are in achieving the objectives behind the said concepts and finally conclude whether U. K has established standards of these practices or still lagging behind. This paper shall be a proposal to determine feasibility of such an exercise. 1. 2 Problem Statement As the term suggests Corporate Social Responsibility is an obligation of the corporate entity in addition to the duties owed to its shareholders. Maximising profit for the shareholders is not the only goal of a company. It owes responsibility to all the stake holders in the company. The group of stake holders are share holders, employees, suppliers, customers, Government agencies, and Environment. It implies that while maximising the value of the firm for the sake of shareholders, interests of these stake holders should not be sacrificed in the process. Hence ensuring the social responsibility of a corporate entity is part of Corporate Governance. Corporate Governance is a wider term encompassing the corporate social responsibility also. Hence the managers of the companies must establish sound standards of corporate governance based on the combined code of corporate financial reporting. A corporate entity must comply with code or explain why it has not, in its annual reports as per the guideline set out by Cadbury report. Prior to the Cadbury report, there was no requirement as such on the part of the U. K. Corporates. It was only after the surfacing of corporate scandals in U. K, that the Cadbury report was required to be made by the Government. This proposal therefore gains significance to make a study on the practices of UK companies complying with their social responsibility and other aspects of corporate governance. That there is a Minister in the U. K. for corporate social responsibility would show the importance attached to it by the Government. The two aspects of CSR and Corporate Governance are part of business ethics. Chapter2 Literature Review Literature review is an exercise to justify this research proposal. This involves examining the literature available on the subject of this proposal which will form part of secondary data for the study. 2. 1 Corporate Governance It is a system by which the corporate entities are directed and controlled. Thus accountability is required on the part of the board to make sure that te corporates are managed in the best interests of their shareholders. (Higgs 2003) There must be an effective board which while providing for entrepreneurial leadership should also at the same time control the incumbents of the board. To achieve this, the board must consist of a balanced structure of directorship with executive, non-executive, independent non-executive in right proportion to ensure against concentration of power and at the same time ensure balanced decision making. Where there are conflicts of interests likely, the board should appoint sub-committees for nomination and remuneration of directors and auditors to make proposal to the board for approval. The board is expected to deal with shareholders effectively ensuring transparency and accountability. The combined code issued by the Financial Reporting Council and revised from time to time prescribes general principles and procedures of Corporate Governance for listed companies. (CSR) However Corporate governance is not a new concept. Adam Smith’s(1776) ‘An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations’ gave rise to Berle and Means’(1932) agency theory which enunciated separation of corporate ownership from control. Corporate Governance is precisely that. Bruce (2006) states that it is a myth that concentration of power improves firm value. Rather dispersed ownership enhances firm performance. This warrants corporate governance. 2. 2 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Rather than shareholder interests, CSR principle requires companies to have a wide range of stakeholder interests. In pursuit of its business activities, a company should keep in mind the interests of the stake holders as well so that maximisation of firm value in the long run is consolidated. In the process, key relationships with consumers, employees, and other stakeholders are improved. Interaction with consumers results in better understanding of their needs and improvement in the quality of the products besides becoming more competitive in the market. Efficiency increases through cost minimisation. Corporates such as BT and Cooperative Bank are in the practice of giving feed back on their competitiveness as a result of their CSR initiatives. Similarly showing the company’s concern towards its employees in whatever ways possible including facilitating their work-life balance and giving of additional benefits to physically challenged employees would result in increased productivity and over all improvement in the company’s image. Company’s environmental concern also is demonstrated through its practice of energy saving , participation in greening projects, compliance with pollution control requirements, minimising carbon consumption and taking part in carbon credit programs. Desisting from giving bribes to Government officials is also considered a part of CSR. 2. 3 Corporate Governance Practices in UK The Corporate governance gained more significance in the U. K. ever since the collapse of BCCI bank and the Robert Maxwell pension funds during 1991. In order to put its own house in order, Government set up a committee under the chairmanship Sir Adrian Cadbury which gave a report known as Cadbury Report with ‘comply or explain’ directives. It was later followed by Greenburg Report in 1995 concerning remuneration to directors. And both the reports together were integrated to make a combined code in the year 1998. And this has been twice updated once in 2003 after Enron and World com scandals of the U. S. and again in 2006. The Financial Reporting Council enlists the following as key aspects of corporate governance in the U. K. There is a single board of directors with collective responsibility to the company’s success. A balancing act is achieved by a separate chief executive and chairman. A right proportion of executive and non-executive directors to ensure balanced decision making in the affairs of the company. Presence of independent audit and remuneration committee. Evaluation annually by the board of its own performance. Maintaining transparency in the matters of appointments and fixation of remuneration. ‘Comply or explain’ are the basic guidelines when making annual reports for compliance or failure to comply any of the codes recommended by the financial reporting council as regards corporate governance. As a result, the U. K. is the leading country with best standards of corporate governance as per the report by FISE ISS in 2005. National Association of pension funds as also certified in the same year that 94% of the U. K. pension funds complied with corporate governance measures in more efficient manner. Compliance cost for companies is also reported to be lower than in other countries. This positive corporate governance makes investors to prefer the U. K. for listing their companies in preference to the U. S stock exchange as per the Oxera report of 2006 (FRC 2006) As a part of its corporate social responsibility, the company Procter & Gamble has introduced a product ‘turn to 30’ as a substitute to its own ‘Ariel’ in order to reduce carbon consumption while people washed clothes. This is as part of their commitment towards removing carbon foot print in their product. The company was awarded with Ethical Marketing Prize by the U. K. marketing society. The company found that rather than the presence of carbon foot print in their product, the carbon emission took place when people washed clothes in hot water. So the company developed ‘turn to 30’ which could be used for washing in cold water without giving rise to emission of carbon while washing. As a result the percentage of population using cold water for washing rose from 2 percent to 17 percent. This could amount to a great deal in terms of carbon emissions that were saved. (Baker 2008) Chapter 3 Methodology The methodology for the research chosen will be qualitative. The literature review will be the major contributor for arriving at conclusions though about 25 companies will also be randomly selected for the sake of primary data to gain first hand knowledge of the subject of research. And to corroborate the findings in the secondary data gathered through literature review. Chapter 4 Conclusion The Brief literature review above proves to be of immense value as an indicator of practices in the U. K. as regards Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance. Commitment of the companies and the Government in the U. K. towards the CSR and Corporate Government encourages further detailed research in the discipline so as to understand the implications fully and suggest measures to increase the present compliance rate in the U. K. by identifying bottle necks still faced by the corporates in that connection. With this in view, the researcher hopes to make a substantial contribution to the field through this proposed research. References Baker, Mallen. 2008 How to make friend and influence customers: Buisness Respect issue 129 June 10 Berle, A. A, & Means, G. C. (1932) The Modern Corporation and Private Property, Larcourt, Brace & World Inc. , New York, N. Y. Bruce N Douglas. , 2006 Corporate Governance, Capacity Utilisation and Growth CSR Corporate Social Responsibility: A government update. Accessed 17 June 2008 FRC 2006 Financial Reporting Council: The UK Approach to Corporate Governance Higgs, Derek. 2003 Review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. Accessed 17 June 2008