Of Mice and Men Themes Dreams, Weakness, Nature

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, tells the story of two migrant farm workers in California. By exploring themes such as the nature of dreams, the relationship between strength and weakness, and the conflict between man and nature, the novella paints a compelling and often dark portrait of Great Depression-era American life. The Nature of Dreams George and Lennie share a dream: to own their own land, allowing them to live off the fatta the lan. This dream comes up repeatedly throughout the novella in conversations between George and Lennie as well as with other farm workers. However, the significance of this dream differs depending on which character is discussing it. To innocent Lennie, the dream is a concrete plan. He truly believes that he and George will someday have their own farm with plenty of alfalfa and rabbits. Whenever Lennie feels scared or worried, he asks George to tell him about the farm and the rabbits. Hearing George describe the imaginary farm comforts and reassures Lennie. The farm plan is supposed to be a secret, but Lennie accidentally lets it slip during a conversation with Crooks. Crooks rejects the dream immediately. He tells Lennie that people are always making big statements about getting land or going to heaven, but that [n]obody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head.† For Crooks, there is no point in dreaming—dreams dont offer solace because he is certain that they wont come true. George has yet another relationship to the dream. For most of the novella, it is unclear whether he truly believes that the farm dream will become a reality, or whether he simply talks about it to keep Lennie happy and to pass the time. At the storys end, however, it becomes clear that for George, the dream was never a potential reality. Up until the instant he shoots Lennie, George is telling him about the farm theyll have one day. In this moment, George knows that Lennie will never see the farm, but still uses the dream to keep Lennie calm; Lennie, on the other hand, truly believes that he will one day be tending rabbits on the farm that George describes. This moment perfectly symbolizes the conflict between Georges skepticism of the dream and Lennies innocent hopes about the dream, as well as the violent power of the former over the latter. Strength vs. Weakness Violence is never far away in  Of Mice and Mens hardscrabble world, and one of the most important themes is the uneasy relationship between strength and weakness. The theme plays out in the behavior of most of the characters. Curley, a physically diminutive man, uses his position of authority on the farm to assert his dominance over the others. Curleys wife silences Crooks through racial slurs and violent threats, despite being physically weaker than him. And Carlson, one of the ranch hands, shoots the elderly dog owned by Candy, who happens to be an aging handyman himself. The theme of strength vs. weakness is most apparent in the character of Lennie, a man who is himself both strong and weak. Physically, Lennie is by far the most powerful man on the farm. However, his demeanor is gentle and often fearful—he doesnt want to fight the other men—and he has a mental disability that leaves him dependent on George. This tension between strength and weakness is highlighted when Lennie, who adores delicate objects and small creatures, interacts with animals. When the novella begins, George and Lennie are sitting by the side of the road, and Lennie is petting a dead mouse (he loves to feel soft materials). Later, Lennie gets a puppy from one of the farm workers. He adores the small creature, but he accidentally kills it by stroking it too strongly. This situation is repeated—with graver consequences—when Lennie breaks Curleys wifes neck while stroking her hair. Because he fails to understand his own strength, Lennie kills physically weaker beings: the puppy and Curleys wife. These mistakes ultimately lead to Lennies own death, as George shoots him in an effort to protect him from Curleys wrathful mob. In the dog-eat-dog (or, perhaps more accurately, man-crush-dog) world of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, strength in the form of mental and emotional toughness is essential, and the weak cannot survive. Man vs. Nature The novella begins with a passage describing an idyllic riverbank, where the golden foothill slopes curve up to the mountains and the warm water slip[s] twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight. When humans enter the scene, however, the passages tone shifts: there is a path beaten hard by boys and an ash pile made by many fires. This early passage demonstrates the uncertain (and potentially harmful) relationship between the natural and human worlds that arises throughout the novella. The characters in Of Mice and Men work on a ranch—one of the most fundamental examples of humans exerting control over the natural world. Lennie and Georges desire to own land again reinforces this theme; their image of success and fulfillment involves dominance over nature. However, the relationship between man and nature is not as clear-cut as these examples might suggest. Sometimes, humans destroy nature unwittingly, like when Lennie kills the puppy. On other occasions, humans destroy nature for morally ambiguous (maybe even natural) reasons, like when Carlson shoots Candys old dog in order to put it out of his misery. Lennie himself reflects some aspects of the natural world, as he seems largely unaware of many social constructs of the human world. Ultimately, the moment that most blurs the line between the human and natural worlds is Lennies death at Georges hand. The scene asks us to consider whether it is natural for George to kill Lennie for his own protection (to put him out of his misery), or whether the killing is an act of societal intervention. The novellas conclusion suggests that the distinction between human society and nature—and between mice and men—is, perhaps, not so great after all.

The Parallels Between Animal Farm and Soviet History...

The Parallels Between Animal Farm and Soviet History Prior to writing Animal Farm, George Orwell had stated: History consists of a series of swindles, in which the masses are first lured into revolt by the promise of Utopia, and then, when they have done their job, enslaved over again as new masters Together this statement and Soviet History provided a basis for a political allegory which is depicted through Animals and tells of the tribulations which surround certain political ideals. In many ways, the story parallels to an era of soviet history from the revolution in 1917 to the Teheran Conference in 1943. When many critiques review this book they fail to realize how each significant detail parallels to an entity in†¦show more content†¦This is in fact a witty and ironic example of specious Marxist polemics: A Birds Wings, Comrades is an organ or propulsion and not manipulation, It should there be regarded as a leg.(pg 31, Orwell) As the animals had their anthem known as the beast of England, the communist also had an anthem known as Linternationale (1848). The Animal anthem actually paraphrases several components of the Linternationale. In this magnificent fable, there lie many small similarities between Russian history and the Animal farm. In the prologue to Animal Farm George Orwell puts in writing: Although various episodes are taken from the actual history of the Russian Revolution, they are dealt with schematically and their chronological order is changed. As there are countless similarities a few significant ones are: the human beings are the capitalists, the animals are communists, the wild creatures who could not be tamed and continued to behave very much as before are the muzhiks or peasants, the pigs are the Bolsheviks, The Rebellion is the October Rebellion, the neighbouring farmers are the western armies who attempted to support the Czarists against the Reds, the wave of rebelliousness that ran through the countryside afterward, is the abortive revolutions in Hungary and Germany in 1919 and 1923; the hoof and horn is the hammer and sickle, the Spontaneous Demonstration is the May Day celebration, the Order of the GreenShow MoreRelated Messages of George Orwells Animal Farm Essay1412 Words   |  6 PagesOrwells Animal Farm Though Animal Farm can be considered nothing more than a charming animal fable depicting a doomed rebellion, its origin is actually of a more serious and political nature. It is not only the tale of Napoleon and Animal Farm, but a satire and commentary on that of the Russian Revolution, Stalin and Communism. For a person to gain a true understanding of Orwells meaning in Animal Farm, it is best that he or she has an understanding of the political parties and history surroundingRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwells Animal Farm1711 Words   |  7 Pagescharacter because his actions and bad deeds provoked the animal rebellion, similarly to how Tsar Nicholas II ignorance led his abdication, ending the Romanov rule and replacing it with the new Bolshevik government (Krieger 185). Moreover, in the story, the animals replaced what used to be â€Å"Manor Farm† to â€Å"Animal Farm†, and Orwell does this to resemble the transformation of Russia’s government. There are othe r events in the story that parallel the true events that resemble Tsar Nicholas. For exampleRead MoreAnimal Farm: An Allegory of Russian History Essay903 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm is an allegory of the period in Russian history between 1917 and 1944. It is a satirical story written in the form of an animal fable. In writing Animal Farm as a fable, George Orwell is able to present his subject in simple symbolic terms by treating the development of communism as a story that is taking place on a single farm with talking animals. The characters of Animal Farm represent figures in Russian history during the Russian Revolution. Places, objects, and events of theRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesAnimal Farm is of course, a satirical allegory, very specifically of the Russian Revolution and of Stalin (Napoleon in the book), but more generally of revolution, the idealism of utopias, and the way in which people take control of societies founded on principles of equality. It is a satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism. Orwell based major events in the book on ones from the Soviet Union during the Stalin era. Orwell, a democratic socialist, and a member of the Independent Labour PartyRead MoreAnimal Farm Or Ussr Part II1243 Words   |  5 Pages10 10 April 2015 Animal Farm or USSR Part II Animal Farm written by George Orwell is a hopeful novel about a group of animals that overthrow their farmer and create an animalistic government. Much like All the King’s Men a novel by Robert Penn Warren, Animal Farm has strong political undertones relating to the the skewed government of Soviet Russia. Throughout the book many animal characters can be identified with the political leaders and influences throughout Soviet Russia. According to NewRead MoreThe And Its Impact On Modern Society1578 Words   |  7 Pages The entirety of the story was written from the perspective of the â€Å"surrounding farmers† from Animal Farm. 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This essay will discuss what opportunities Animal Farm provides Orwell by writingRead MoreOrwells Comparing Animal Farm and The Russian System Of Communism971 Words   |  4 PagesOrwells Comparing Animal Farm and The Russian System Of Communism Animal Farm is a satire and prophecy of the Russian revolution, which was written by George Orwell in 1945. George Orwell was a political satirist who led a somewhat strange life. His original name was Eric Arthur Blair, which was later changed to his familiar pen name for its manly, English, country-sounding ring. He was a lonely boy and had many uncertain jobs until he finally became a writer, crossing Read MoreRevolutions Everywhere!: Animal Farm by George Orwell873 Words   |  4 Pages Revolutions are a big part of our world and throughout history, for thousands of years, we have experienced more of these uprisings than we can keep track of. Revolutions are necessary to bring change to a country’s government unwilling to listen to its people. When a government becomes a tyranny, it’s time for a revolution! A revolution aims at overthrowing a government or a certain part of one and this is important to us in order to repair a country undergoing abuse of power on its citizens.Read MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm2708 Words   |  11 PagesLuke Shadley 20th Century Russia 10/16/14 Orwell’s Animal Farm: Fact and Fiction, Caution and Critique George Orwell’s Animal Farm is, first and foremost, a political satire warning against the pursuit of utopian desires through unjust and oppressive means. Operating under the pretense of an animal fable, Orwell disparages the use of political power to poach personal freedom. He effectively alerts his readers to the dangerous price that can accompany the so-called â€Å"pursuit of progress†. And

Qnt565 Free Essays

University of Phoenix Material – Sonya Cargill 11/12/12 Week Five Calculations Read the following scenarios, and answer the accompanying questions. 1. Statistics students were asked to fill a one-cup measure with raisin bran, then tap the cup lightly on the counter three times to settle the contents. We will write a custom essay sample on Qnt565 or any similar topic only for you Order Now If necessary, they were instructed to add more raisin bran to bring the contents exactly to the one-cup line, then spread the contents on a large plate, and count the raisins. The 13 students who chose Kellogg’s Raisin Bran obtained the results shown below: 23334436294231336136342324 †¢ Calculate the mean, median, and mode. Is the distribution skewed to the left or to the right? Mean: 34. 5, Mode: 23,33,36, Median: 33 The mean is greater than the median†¦. therefore the distribution should be skewed to the right. †¢ Which is the best measure of central tendency and why? Mean – the data doesn’t have any real outliers and is roughly symmetric. Calculate the standard deviation. Why is there variation in the number of raisins in a cup of raisin bran? Why might it be difficult for Kellogg’s to reduce variation? Standard deviation is: 10. 3087. The variation in the number of raisins in a cup of raisin bran could be a result the size flakes or possibly the size of the raisins that may skew the numbers from being equal. 2. The following are monthly rents paid by 30 students who live off-campus. 730730730930700570 901030740620720670 560740650660850930 600620760690710500 730800820840720700 †¢ Find the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation. Mean: 725 Mode: 730 Median: 720 Standard Deviation: 114. 28 †¢ Describe the typical rent paid by a student. 720 †¢ Do the measures of central tendency agree? Explain. Yes, they are pretty close to each other (mean, mode, median) in range. †¢ Are there outliers or unusual data values? No †¢ Do you think the data could come from a normal population? Yes How to cite Qnt565, Papers

Internet Addiction for Behavior and Social Network- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theInternet Addiction for Behavior and Social Network. Answer: Introduction Addiction is a specific type of brain disorder that is characterized by the obsessive engagement in satisfying stimuli in spite of unfavourable consequences (J Kuss et al. 2014). Despite of the involvement of several numbers of psychological factors, a particular biological procedure is induced by the repetition of exposure to an addictive stimulus. This type of brain disorder forces the victim to be addicted to any particular thing or place. One of such dangerous and infamous addiction is in the connection of Internet (Kuss, Griffiths and Binder 2013). This addiction is extremely common in todays world and is especially found in the youth or young generation. The following report outlines a brief description about the addiction in Internet. There are several harmful effects due to this addiction (Kardefelt-Winther 2014). This report focuses on the various causes and effects on modern society and how this addiction is affecting the youth generation. The report will also discuss about the probable and available treatment interventions for the Internet addiction. Discussion Internet Addiction Internet Addiction Disorder or IAD is the characterization by poorly or excessively managed behaviours, urges or preoccupations about the utilization of Internet. This can lead to distress or even impairment (Brand, Young and Laier 2014). Internet addiction can be referred to the obsessive requirement to be present online in such a way that it can be interfered with normal life and which can negatively affect acquaintances. There are various types of Internet addiction. They are as follows: i) Cyber Relationships: This is one of the most important type of Internet addiction. Cyber relationships is the addiction to all types of social networking sites, social media, messaging, chat rooms and many such things to such a point where online friends or virtual friends become more vital than the real life relationships (Kuss et al. 2013). The victim of this type of disorder is more interested in cyber or virtual relations, rather than affected with his or her own family or friends in real life. ii) Cyber Sex: This is the second type of Internet addiction that focuses on the compulsive utilization of the Internet pornography, adult fantasy and adult chat rooms (Young 2015). This obsession about cyber sex affect the youth generation in concentrating in their studies. Internet Compulsion: This is the third type of Internet addiction. The compulsion over Internet lead to constant gambling, online gaming, visiting auction sites, stock trading and many more and thus, the victim is constantly affected with the Internet connection (Starcevic 2013). This type of Internet addiction often result to various job related issues and financial problems. iv) Online Shopping: This is another type of Internet addiction and here the victim is constantly visiting and shopping from the online stores in all over the world. Online shopping often lead to financial crisis and the victim is affected by this. v) Internet Surfing: This is the fifth type of Internet addiction, where the victim is obsessed with the Internet surfing. He or she surfs the Internet and is obsessed with web surfing or any type of database searching (Cheng and Li 2014). This often leads to productivity of low work and lower social interaction with friends and family. Thus, this affects his personal, professional and social life. Causes of Internet Addiction There are various important causes of the Internet addiction. These are the sole reason ns of enhancement of Internet addiction is spread in all over the world. The most important and the most significant causes of the Internet addiction are as follows: i) Loneliness: This is the most important cause of internet addiction for the youth generation (Goel, Subramanyam and Kamath 2013). When the victims do not have someone to talk with or share their problems, they often end up in the virtual world of Internet. ii) Depression: This is the second important cause of this type of addiction. Victims are often depressed and they try to find peace and bliss in the cyber world. Overwhelmed: The third major cause of Internet addiction is being overwhelming. Statistics denote that around 35% of the youth generation spend their time on Internet, as they are overwhelmed with any kind of topic or situation (Lortie and Guitton 2013). They want to share their experience and want the people to know about their life and activities. This type of addiction is mostly seen in children, young adults or people aging between 20 to 30 years. iv) Introvert: This is again one of the major causes of Internet addiction. Many people or children are introvert in nature. They face problems in sharing their feelings or issues with others in face-to-face meetings (Starcevic 2013). However, they can speak freely when they are in the virtual world. These types of individuals spend most of their time online and are affected with Internet Addiction Disorder. Effects of Internet Addiction on Modern Society The above-mentioned causes clearly depict that there can be serious issues due to this type of harmful addiction. Although, Internet has various advantages, there are several disadvantages or demerits for this Internet addiction. The major disadvantages for the Internet addiction are as follows: i) Isolation: This is the most significant disadvantage of Internet addiction. The person is addicted to this type of connectivity and he spends most of his or her time alone by locking himself in a particular room. Due to his isolation, his social life is affected. ii) Health Problems: The second disadvantage of Internet addiction is poor health. This type of Internet addiction often leads to extreme health issues or problems (Goel, Subramanyam and Kamath 2013). It has been noticed in recent statistics that most of the health problems of the youth generation is due to Internet addiction. Poor eye sights, migraines, spondylitis, back pain, neck pain are some of the major health problems caused by Internet connection. Life Interference: It has been noticed that some of the addicts are losing their jobs or failing in classes as they are spending most of the time on online activities. Often people are not present in schools, colleges or work places since they are completely indulged in online activities. iv) Aggressive Behaviour: This is again one of the major disadvantages of Internet addiction. People are turning aggressive when they are interrupted or disturbed while present on the Internet (Starcevic 2013). Moreover, they are not paying attention to their family or friends and are thus being totally separated from the rest of the world. These effects have totally conquered the world and are responsible for many of the cyber crime or depression. Available Treatment for Internet Addiction The addicted people are required to be treated as soon as possible so that they are not affected any more (Winkler et al. 2013). This is only possible with the help of medical science and psychologists. Medical science is conquering the world by its amazing therapies and invention. The available treatments for the Internet addicts are as follows: i) Group and Family Therapy: This type of therapy is considered as the best therapies in the world. Family therapy refers to the quality time spent with the victim by counselling him or her (Young 2015). It has been noticed that the victims believe their families more often than any other doctors or nurses. If the victim does not have a family, his friends can also do the same task. This reduces his depression and he is able to share his problems. ii) Dialectical Behavioural Therapy: DBT is a cognitive behavioural treatment that emphasizes training classes on group skills and individual psychotherapy (Lortie and Guitton 2013). These classes help the victims to learn as well as utilize innovative strategies and skills for developing a successful life. When the victim is learning new skills, he is diverted from the world of Internet. Art Therapy: This is a specific form of psychotherapy that involves encouragement of free self expression with the help of art skills like painting, singing, moulding and many more. This also reduces the addiction of Internet. Recreation Therapy: This type of therapy uses recreation and several other activity based interventions for addressing the assessed requirements of individuals, who are suffering from psychological problems (Ko et al. 2013). Recreation therapy mainly helps to build confidence and restore gross motor skills. Conclusion Therefore, from the above discussion it can be concluded that, addiction is the most dangerous and harmful brain disorder for any individual. It causes and brings out various disadvantages, which can cause extreme harm to the society. The most significant disadvantage of this addiction is distraction. People are distracted with this di0soirder and thus often face problems in concentrating in work or studies. Addiction can be featured by the compelling engagement for fulfilling the demand or satisfying the stimulus. A person is usually addicted to anything; right from a small pen to a building. The most dangerous or significant addiction in todays world is with the connectivity of the Internet. The most affected people in this type of addiction are the children and youth generation. They face problems in concentrating on studies and thus their career is affected. The above report has provided a concise description regarding the Internet addiction. Moreover, this report has also mentio ned about the several causes that are the sole reasons for this type of addiction. The effects of Internet addiction on the modern society are also given here. The report has also described about the treatments that are available for removing this type of addiction from any particular individual. References Brand, M., Young, K.S. and Laier, C., 2014. Prefrontal control and Internet addiction: a theoretical model and review of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings.Frontiers in human neuroscience,8, p.375. Cheng, C. and Li, A.Y.L., 2014. Internet addiction prevalence and quality of (real) life: a meta-analysis of 31 nations across seven world regions.Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking,17(12), pp.755-760. Goel, D., Subramanyam, A. and Kamath, R., 2013. A study on the prevalence of internet addiction and its association with psychopathology in Indian adolescents.Indian Journal of Psychiatry,55(2), p.140. J Kuss, D., D Griffiths, M., Karila, L. and Billieux, J., 2014. Internet addiction: a systematic review of epidemiological research for the last decade.Current pharmaceutical design,20(25), pp.4026-4052. Kardefelt-Winther, D., 2014. A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research: Towards a model of compensatory internet use.Computers in Human Behavior,31, pp.351-354. Ko, C.H., Liu, G.C., Yen, J.Y., Chen, C.Y., Yen, C.F. and Chen, C.S., 2013. Brain correlates of craving for online gaming under cue exposure in subjects with Internet gaming addiction and in remitted subjects.Addiction biology,18(3), pp.559-569. Kuss, D.J., Griffiths, M.D. and Binder, J.F., 2013. Internet addiction in students: Prevalence and risk factors.Computers in Human Behavior,29(3), pp.959-966. Kuss, D.J., Van Rooij, A.J., Shorter, G.W., Griffiths, M.D. and van de Mheen, D., 2013. Internet addiction in adolescents: Prevalence and risk factors.Computers in Human Behavior,29(5), pp.1987-1996. Lortie, C.L. and Guitton, M.J., 2013. Internet addiction assessment tools: Dimensional structure and methodological status.Addiction,108(7), pp.1207-1216. Starcevic, V., 2013. Is Internet addiction a useful concept?.Australian New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,47(1), pp.16-19. Winkler, A., Drsing, B., Rief, W., Shen, Y. and Glombiewski, J.A., 2013. Treatment of internet addiction: a meta-analysis.Clinical psychology review,33(2), pp.317-329. Young, K., 2015. The evolution of Internet addiction disorder. InInternet addiction(pp. 3-17). Springer, Cham.

Indian Economic Environment Essay Example

Indian Economic Environment Essay Companies and their suppliers, marketing intermediaries, customers, competitors, and publics all operate in a macro environment of forces and trends, increasingly global, which shape opportunities and pose threats. These forces represent â€Å"non-controllables†, which the company must monitor and to which it must respond. The beginning of the new century brought a series of new challenges: the steep decline of the stock market, which affected savings, investment, and retirement funds; increasing unemployment; corporate scandals; and of course, the rise of terrorism. These dramatic events were accompanied by the continuation of existing trends that have already influenced the global landscape. Within the rapidly changing global picture, the firm must monitor six major forces: demographic, economic, socio-cultural, natural, technological, and political-legal. Economic Environment- The available purchasing power in an economy depends on current income, prices, saving, debt, and credit availability. Marketers must pay careful attention to trends affecting purchasing power, because they can have a strong impact on business, especially for companies whose products are geared to high income and price-sensitive consumers. India’s economy has been showing vibrancy of growth from 1991 ever since the government initiated programs to ease control on industry and commerce. In 1998-1999, the GDP of the country was estimated to be Rs. 17,410 billion, at current prices. By the year 2006-2007, the GDP was estimated to be Rs. 41,000 billion. We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Economic Environment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Economic Environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Economic Environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By applying the purchasing power parity (PPP) method, India’s GDP is estimated to be about $3. 319 trillion, making India the fourth largest economy in the world. GDP has also been growing at more than 7% per annum. The per capita income is also estimated to be increasing at the same rate. In addition, India has healthy foreign exchange reserves to cover the county’s imports for nearly one and a half year. Inflation has also been showing a healthy trend of less than 5%. These figures indicate that India has strong economic fundamentals that suggest a positive climate for business growth. India was under social democratic-based policies from 1947 to 1991. The economy was characterized by extensive regulations, protectionism, public ownership, corruption and slow growth. Since 1991, continuing economic liberalization has moved the country toward a market-based economy. A revival of economic reforms and better economic policy in 2000s accelerated Indias economic growth rate. In recent years, Indian cities have continued to liberalize business regulations. By 2008, India had established itself as the worlds second-fastest growing major economy. Indias large service industry accounts for 55% of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the industrial and agricultural sector contribute 28% and 17% respectively. Agriculture is the predominant occupation in India, accounting for about 52% of employment. The service sector makes up a further 34% and industrial sector around 14%. Previously a closed economy, Indias trade has grown fast. The Economic Survey for 2009-10 presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament on Thursday has revealed Indias share in world merchandise exports after remaining unchanged at 1. 1 per cent between 2007 and 2008, reached 1. per cent in 2009 (Jan-June) mainly due to the relatively greater fall in world export growth than India. Income Distribution- Macro economic indicators of the country provide the overall health of the economy as well as direction of economic growth. A marketer needs to understand the distribution of income to reach more meaningful conclusions about taking spe cific decisions. In India, we see that 77. 7% of urban households in India have a monthly income of up to Rs. 3000. Urban households with a monthly income between Rs. 3001 and 6000 are estimated to be about 16. 2% and another 4% with a monthly household income of Rs. 001-10,000. Only about 2. 1% of urban households have a monthly income over Rs. 10,000. Income distribution of households in India has been changing significantly over time. Households belonging to the lower income segment have been steadily declining over the years, and the middle income households have been showing an increase. These are the results of economic growth. The NCAER (_) has classified Indian consumers into five categories destitute (annual household income of Rs. 16,000; not active participants in market exchange for a wide range of goods), aspirants (annual household income of Rs. 6,000-22,000; new entrants into the consumption systems due to increase in their real income), climbers (annual household in come of Rs. 22,000-45,000; have desire and willingness to buy, but have limited cash at hand), consuming class (annual household income of Rs. 45,000-215,000; households that form the majority of consumers; have money and are willing to spend), and the rich (those who have money and own a wide range of products). The patterns of income distribution in urban and rural areas also vary. SECTORS- †¢ Industry and services Industry accounts for 28% of the GDP and employ 14% of the total workforce. However, about one-third of the industrial labour force is engaged in simple household manufacturing only. Economic reforms brought foreign competition, led to privatization of certain public sector industries, opened up sectors hitherto reserved for the public sector and led to an expansion in the production of fast-moving consumer goods. Post-liberalization, the Indian private sector, which was usually run by oligopolies of old family firms and required political connections to prosper was faced with foreign competition, including the threat of cheaper Chinese imports. Business services (information technology, information technology enabled services, business process outsourcing) are among the fastest growing sectors contributing to one third of the total output of services in 2000. The growth in the IT sector is attributed to increased specialization, and an availability of a large pool of low cost, but highly skilled, educated and fluent English-speaking workers, matched on the demand side by an increased demand from foreign consumers interested in Indias service exports, or those looking to outsource their operations. In 2009, seven Indian firms were listed among the top 15 technology outsourcing companies in the world. †¢ Agriculture India ranks second worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry, logging and fishing accounted for 17% of the GDP in 2009, employed 52% of the total workforce and despite a steady decline of its share in the GDP, is still the largest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic development of India. Yields per unit area of all crops have grown since 1950, due to the special emphasis placed on agriculture in the five-year plans and steady improvements in irrigation, technology, application of modern agricultural practices and provision of agricultural credit and subsidies since Green revolution in India. †¢ Banking and finance Prime Minister Indira Gandhi nationalized 14 banks in 1969, followed by six others in 1980, and made it mandatory for banks to provide 40% of their net credit to priority sectors like agriculture, small-scale industry, retail trade, small businesses, etc. o ensure that the banks fulfill their social and developmental goals. Since then, the number of banks has been increasing in the country and the population covered by each branch has decreased. Since liberalization, the government has approved significant banking reforms. While some of these relate to nationalized banks (like encouraging mergers, reducing government interference and increasing profita bility and competitiveness), other reforms have opened up the banking and insurance sectors to private and foreign players. †¢ Natural resource Indias major mineral resources include coal, iron, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium, chromite, limestone and thorium. India meets most of its domestic energy demand through its 92 billion tonnes of coal reserves (about 10% of worlds coal reserves). Indias oil reserves, found in Mumbai High, parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and eastern Assam, meet 25% of the countrys domestic oil demand. Indias total proven oil reserves stand at 11 billion barrels. In 2009, India imported 2. 56 million barrels of oil per day, making it one of largest buyers of crude oil in the world. The petroleum industry in India mostly consists of public sector companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). There are some major private Indian companies in oil sector such as Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) which operates the worlds largest oil refining complex. †¢ Pharmaceuticals India has a self reliant Pharmaceuticals industry. The majority of its medical consumables are produced domestically. Pharmaceutical Industry in India is dotted with companies like Ranbaxy Pharmaceutical, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, and Cipla which have created a niche for themselves at world level. India including China, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, Russia and South Korea are called â€Å"pharmerging† countries. Today, India is an exporter to countries like the United States and Russia. In terms of the global market, India currently holds a modest 1-2% share, but it has been growing at approximately 10% per year. External trade and investment ? Global Trade Relations Indias economy is mostly dependent on its large internal market with external trade accounting for just 20% of the countrys GDP. Until the liberalization of 1991, India was largely and intentionally isolated from the world markets, to protect its economy and to achieve self-reliance. Foreign trade was subject to import tariffs, export taxes and quantitative restrictions, while foreign direct investment (FDI) was restricted by upper-limit equity participation, restrictions on technology transfer, export obligations and government approvals. Indias exports were stagnant for the first 15 years after independence, due to the predominance of tea, jute and cotton manufactures, demand for which was generally inelastic. Imports in the same period consisted predominantly of machinery, equipment and raw materials, due to nascent industrialization. The Indian export has grown by 22. 5 per cent at $16. 64 billion in August 2010. India is a founding-member of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since 1947 and its successor, the WTO. While participating actively in its general council meetings, India has been crucial in voicing the concerns of the developing world. For instance, India has continued its opposition to the inclusion of such matters as labour and environment issues and other non-tariff barriers into the WTO policies. ? Balance of payments Since independence, Indias balance of payments on its current account has been negative. Since liberalization in the 1990s (precipitated by a balance of payment crisis), Indias exports have been consistently rising, covering 80. % of its imports in 2002–03, up from 66. 2% in 1990–91. Indias growing oil import bill is seen as the main driver behind the large current account deficit. Although India is still a net importer, since 1996–97 its overall balance of payments (i. e. , including the capital account balance) has been positive, largely on account of increased foreign direct investment and deposits from non-resident Indians; until this time, the overall balance was only occasionally positive on account of external assistance and commercial borrowings. As a result, Indias foreign currency reserves stood at USD 283. 5 billion at the end of December 2009. [pic] Due to the global late-2000s recession, both Indian exports and imports declined by 29. 2% and 39. 2% respectively in June 2009. The steep decline was because countries hit hardest by the global recession, such as United States and members of the European Union, account for more than 60% of Indian exports. However, since the decline in imports was much sharper compared to the decline in exports, Indias trade deficit reduced to 252. 5 billion rupee. Indias reliance on external assistance and commercial borrowings has decreased since 1991–92, and since 2002–03, it has gradually been repaying these debts. Declining interest rates and reduced borrowings decreased Indias debt service ratio to 4. 5% in 2007. In India, External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) are being permitted by the Government for providing an additional source of funds to Indian corporates. The Ministry of Finance monitors and regulates these borrowings (ECBs) through ECB policy guidelines. ? Foreign Direct Investment In India As the fourth-largest economy in the world in PPP terms, India is a preferred destination for foreign direct investments (FDI); India has strengths in telecommunication, information technology and other significant areas such as auto components, chemicals, apparels, pharmaceuticals, and jewelry. Despite a surge in foreign investments, rigid FDI policies resulted in a significant hindrance. However, due to some positive economic reforms aimed at deregulating the economy and stimulating foreign investment, India has positioned itself as one of the front-runners of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific Region. India has a large pool of skilled managerial and technical expertise. The size of the middle-class population stands at 300 million and represents a growing consumer market. Indias recently liberalized FDI policy (2005) allows up to a 100% FDI stake in ventures. Industrial policy reforms have substantially reduced industrial licensing requirements, removed restrictions on expansion and facilitated easy access to foreign technology and foreign direct investment FDI. The upward moving growth curve of the real-estate sector owes some credit to a booming economy and liberalized FDI regime. In March 2005, the government amended the rules to allow 100 per cent FDI in the construction business. This automatic route has been permitted in townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development projects including housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, and city- and regional-level infrastructure. A number of changes were approved on the FDI policy to remove the caps in most sectors. Fields which require relaxation in FDI restrictions include civil aviation, construction development, industrial parks, petroleum and natural gas, commodity exchanges, credit-information services and mining. India has been ranked at the third place in global foreign direct investments in 2009 and will continue to remain among the top five attractive destinations for international investors during 2010-11, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in a report on world investment prospects titled, World Investment Prospects Survey 2009-2011 released in July 2009. India attracted FDI equity inflows of US$ 2,214 million in April 2010. The cumulative amount of FDI equity inflows from August 1991 to April 2010 stood at US$ 134,642 million, according to the data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). The Indian rupee is the only legal tender accepted in India. The exchange rate as on 23 March 2010 is 45. 40 INR the USD, 61. 45 to a EUR, and 68. 19 to a GBP (British pound). The Indian rupee is accepted as legal tender in the neighboring Nepal and Bhutan, both of which peg their currency to that of the Indian rupee. The Rupee hit a record low during early 2009 on account of global recession. However, due to a strong domestic market, India managed to bounce back sooner than the western countries. Since September 2009 there has been a constant appreciation in Rupee versus most Tier 1 currencies. On 11 January 2010 Rupee went as high as 45. 50 to a USD and on 10 January 2010 as high as Rs. 73. 93 to a British Pound. The RBI, the countrys central bank was established on 1 April 1935. It serves as the nations monetary authority, regulator and supervisor of the financial system, manager of exchange control and as an issuer of currency. The RBI is governed by a central board, headed by a governor who is appointed by the Central government of India. According to The Times of India, a majority of Indians have per capita space equivalent to or less than a 10  feet x 10  feet room for their living, sleeping, cooking, washing and toilet needs. and one in every three urban Indians lives in homes too cramped to exceed even the minimum requirements of a prison cell in the US. The average is 103  sq  ft (9. 6 m2) per person in rural areas and 117  sq  ft (10. m2) per person in urban areas. Around half of Indian children are malnourished. However, India has not had famines since the Green Revolution in the early 1970s. While poverty in India has reduced significantly, a 2007 report by the state-run National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) found that 65% of Indians, or 750 million people, lived on less than 20 rupees per day with most working in informal labour sector with no job or s ocial security, living in abject poverty. Since the early 1950s, successive governments have implemented various schemes, under planning, to alleviate poverty that have met with partial success. All these programs have relied upon the strategies of the Food for work program and National Rural Employment Program of the 1980s, which attempted to use the unemployed to generate productive assets and build rural infrastructure. In August 2005, the Indian parliament passed the Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, the largest program of this type in terms of cost and coverage, which promises 100 days of minimum wage employment to every rural household in all he Indias 600 districts. Recent statistics in 2010 point out that the numbers of high income households have crossed lower income households. Agricultural and allied sectors accounted for about 60% of the total workforce in 2003 same as in 1993–94. While agriculture has faced stagnation in growth, services have seen a steady growth . Of the total workforce, 8% is in the organized sector, two-thirds of which are in the public sector. From 1983 until 2000, Indias Unemployment Rate averaged 7. 0 percent reaching an historical high of 8. 30 percent in December of 1983 and a record low of 5. 99 percent in December of 1994. The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The non-labour force includes those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalized and those serving in the military. [pic] Indias labor force is growing by 2. 5% annually, but employment only at 2. 3% a year. Unemployment in India is characterized by chronic or disguised unemployment. Government schemes that target eradication of both poverty and unemployment (which in recent decades has sent millions of poor and unskilled people into urban areas in search of livelihoods) attempt to solve the problem, by providing financial assistance for setting up businesses, skill honing, setting up public sector enterprises, reservations in governments, etc. Child labor is a complex problem that is basically rooted in poverty. The Indian government is implementing the worlds largest child labor elimination program, with primary education targeted for ~250 million. Numerous non-governmental and voluntary organizations are also involved. Special investigation cells have been set up in states to enforce existing laws banning employment of children (under 14) in hazardous industries. In spite of the high growth rate in India, the country still continues to be a low-income country since decades. Though it is believed the country could be a â€Å"motor to the world economy† if it fulfills its growth potential. In order to achieve its growth potential, things needed to be done are: o Improve Governance Raise Educational Achievement o Increase Quality and Quantity of Universities o Control Inflation o Introduce a Credible Fiscal Policy o Liberalize Financial Markets o Increase Trade with Neighbors o Increase Agricultural Productivity o Improve Infrastructure o Improve Environmental Quality. ? Agriculture The low productivity in India is a result of the following factors: o According to India: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural Development by World Bank, Indias large agricultural subsidies are hampering productivity-enhancing investment. Overregulation of agriculture has increased costs, price risks and uncertainty. Government interventions in labor, land, and credit markets are hurting the market. Infrastructure and services are inadequate. o Illiteracy, slow progress in implementing land reforms and inadequate or inefficient finance and marketing services for farm produce. o The average size of land holdings is very small (less than 20,000  m? ) and is subject to fragmentation, due to land ceiling acts and in some cases, family disputes. Such small holdings are often over-manned, resulting in disguised unemployment and low productivity of labour. o Adoption of modern agricultural practices and use of technology is inadequate, hampered by ignorance of such practices, high costs and impracticality in the case of small land holdings. o World Bank says that the allocation of water is inefficient, unsustainable and inequitable. The irrigation infrastructure is deteriorating. Irrigation facilities are inadequate, which result in farmers still being dependent on rainfall, specifically the Monsoon season. A good monsoon results in a robust growth for the economy as a whole, while a poor monsoon leads to a sluggish growth. Farm credit is regulated by NABARD, which is the statutory apex agent for rural development in the subcontinent. Indias population is growing faster than its ability to produce rice and wheat. The most important structural reform for self-sufficiency is the ITC Limited plan to connect 20,000 villages to the Internet by 2013. This will provide farmers with up to date crop prices for the first time, which should minimize losses incurred from neighboring producers selling early and in turn facilitate investment in rural areas. ? Corruption Corruption has been one of the pervasive problems affecting India. The economic reforms of 1991 reduced the red tape, bureaucracy and the License Raj that had strangled private enterprise. Yet, a 2005 study by Transparency International (TI) India found that more than half of those surveyed had firsthand experience of paying bribe or peddling influence to get a job done in a public office. The Right to Information Act (2005) and equivalent acts in the Indian states that require government officials to furnish information requested by citizens or face punitive action, computerization of services and various central and state government acts that established vigilance commissions have considerably reduced corruption or at least have opened up avenues to redress grievances. The 2009 report by Transparency International ranks India at 84th place in terms of corruption and states that significant improvements were made by India in reducing corruption. Education India has made huge progress in terms of increasing primary education attendance rate and expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of the population. The right to education at elementary level has been made one of the fundamental rights under the Eighty-Sixth Amendment of 2002. However, the literacy rate of 65% is still lower than the worldwide average and the country suffers from a high dropout rate. ? Infrast ructure In the past, development of infrastructure was completely in the hands of he public sector and was plagued by corruption, bureaucratic inefficiencies, urban-bias and an inability to scale investment. Indias low spending on power, construction, transportation, telecommunications and real estate, at $31 billion or 6% of GDP in 2002 had prevented India from sustaining higher growth rates. This has prompted the government to partially open up infrastructure to the private sector allowing foreign investment which has helped in a sustained growth rate of close to 9% for the past six quarters. Some 600 million Indians have no mains electricity at all. While 80% of Indian villages have at least an electricity line, just 44% of rural households have access to electricity. India has the worlds third largest road network in the world. Container traffic is growing at 15% a year. Some 60% of India’s container traffic is handled by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Navi Mumbai. Internet use is rare; there were only 7. 57 million broadband lines in India in November 2009, however it is still growing but at a slower rate. Most urban cities have good water supply water 24 hours a day, while some smaller cities face water shortages in summer season. A World Bank report says it is an institutional problem in water agencies, or how the agency is embedded in the relationships between politics and the citizens who are the consumers. ? Labour laws India’s labor regulations  Ã¢â‚¬â€ among the most restrictive and complex in the world  Ã¢â‚¬â€ have constrained the growth of the formal manufacturing sector where these laws have their widest application. Better designed labor regulations can attract more labor- intensive investment and create jobs for India’s unemployed millions and those trapped in poor quality jobs. Given the country’s momentum of growth, the window of opportunity must not be lost for improving the job prospects for the 80 million new entrants who are expected to join the work force over the next decade. ? Economic disparities One of the critical problems facing Indias economy is the sharp and growing regional variations among Indias different states and territories in terms of per capita income, poverty, availability of infrastructure and socio-economic development. Six low-income states Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh are home to more than one third of Indias population.

Homelessness1 essays

Homelessness1 essays In our days we see more and more often people living in the street with no place to live and spent the night, especially in big cities, unsecured and usually with no food. These people are homeless. First we have to find the reasons that cause homelessness. Many believe that homeless people have no family or someone to care about them, or they lost their money and their fortune for some reason. Lot of them its true that they dont have anyone to take care of them, and live in public homes spending the night there and get some food by special restaurants which the state provide for them. The strange thing is that event how they have suggestions to get some work they refuse to earn some money and prefer to live in the streets. Many of them they chose to be homeless while other the born from homeless parents. Its true that these people usually have low educational back round and they dont really care about finding a job. Others are addicted to drugs and spend their time by committing crimes like stole and selling drugs. But what it can be done to get a solution for those people? Firstly the state has to provide a lot of places for them where they can find a secure place to live, we have to offer jobs to them and give them the chance to get their own money. We have to give them the chance to improve their knowledges so they get chances for a better job and way of life. ...

Technological Convergence in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Technological Convergence in Business - Essay Example In addition, it can be observed that one of the majority productive benefits that latest technology has provided in interpersonal and e-communication aspects of business department now is definitely the pace of communication among businesses. Since the time required in initiating and getting communication from diverse business units has lessened during the previous few decades. Thus, this thing just confirms that since latest technology progresses, with the pace of the business communication capabilities having great influence on interpersonal communication aspects (Free Articles Directory., 2011). This paper will discuss how key technological events in the last century have changed the way business communication is done by the businesses. Overview During the previous few years, people’s way of communication has altered extremely. Latest technologies which were on the bounds have turned into adamantly a majority. In this e-communication era the development of the internet tech nology has been contrasted with the discovery of the printing-press with respect to its basic affect on how business information is created, utilized and distributed across the world. In addition, this worldwide system and its connected technologies have had an immense influence on business communications, and, next to this, evolutions in the areas of digital imaging technology, digital information processing and storage, and development computerization have expressed again how businesses communicate at every phase of the development (Moukoko, 2011). Moreover, at the moment in this competitive environment every business (regardless of its nature and size) enjoys some type of web based or online existence, offering their clients access to a strong and unlimited client support. Currently, the United Kingdom invests 30 billion yearly on online businesses. In this scenario, e-commerce structures imply that clients are able to buy products and valuable services by clicking a button, and that the company is able to design an impressive performance of client actions. The entire of these technology based evolutions have modernized business communications approximately further than conviction. These capabilities have enhanced interpersonal skills and electric communication in business infrastructure. Furthermore, to improvise business interpersonal skills and e-communication the technology of social networking is possibly the majority modern exhortation within business communications. At the present, companies know that websites similar to Twitter and Facebook are advertising areas they are able use, as well as that they may perhaps as well utilize these websites for networking purposes in addition to clients’ dealings. Thus, due to massive innovations in technology business communications has altered much, and will persist to act as technology develops (Moukoko, 2011). In this era technology looks to be overexcited because of steady developments. Innovative tec hnologies are being introduced continually, as well as the influence this can have upon the field of business communication is immense. Since technology persists to go ahead, it is imperative to appreciate the implication of technology inside the area of business communication. In the business communication technological convergence brought following innovations: (eHow, 2011; McGrath, 2008; Management Study Guide, 2011) Pace Because technology has developed a

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

Containment - Essay Example In this regard, the Russian–American Cold War confrontation started with catastrophic effects. These included as included mass destructions and deaths (Carr 1946). After the end of the World War II, many Americans just wished their lives returned to normal. Consequently, there was a resumption of normal life precipitated by several amendments to the constitutions.Later, the creation of the strategy referred to as the containment life would eventually come resume its normal stature (Wynn 2010). Before the World War the United States of America and the Soviet Union were politically on the same side. Consequently, both countries had survived previous scenarios of unrest which typified their political strength .In contrast, most of the Asian and European territories had been left in ruins. Incidentally though, it was during this very time that the strong relationship between the two superpowers fell into disagreement and consequently leading to the famous cold war. During that time, there were two secretaries of United States; Dean Acheson and George marshal; under the presidency of Harry Truman. They set out to protest and agitate against the spread of communism abroad. It was during this time that the Containment policy was born (Wynn 2010). Differences in political view led to conflict between Hitler and the Grand Alliance (Wynn 2010). Thereafter, American critique adopted in response to Hitler’s aggression led to persuasion of a more aggressive policy that was directed towards Stalin and the Soviet Union. Incidentally, Kennanre identified this as a domestic weakness since it led the Soviet Union to step up foreign threats in order to increase their. More so, pressure against the governments in Turkey and in Greece by Leftist sympathizers gave Truman the perfect opportunity to implement the new policy and to thereafter convince the Americansof its wisdom. Truman demonstrated that acts of protecting Americans abroad were a

Can Islam live at peacr other faiths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Can Islam live at peacr other faiths - Essay Example eaching of this particular religion often argues about the source of peace to be the inner-thoughts of individuals which he/she depicts in front of others (Siddiqui 1-16). However, in the recent decades with the increasing activities of terrorism all over the world and active involvement of Islam in the same, it is often argued that whether this particular religion can live at peace with other religions in this ever globalizing society. It is evident that Islam also has its own philosophies and practices that can ensure peace within the religion and all over the world. In order to provide a better and a clearer understanding on this particular debate, this essay will intend to depict the religious differences and similarities of Islam with other faiths on the basis of social peace. This can further enable to provide an apparent response on whether Islam can live at peace with other faiths. People hold different beliefs about the prevalence of peace in Islam especially owing to the fact that the religion is involved in conducting good deeds as well as involving in active terrorism throughout the world over the years. Peace in Islam is often regarded as a myth since little clear perception prevails among the people about the same. It is quite a fact that as per the teachings as well as the religious significance of Islam, the aspect of violence and terrorism and the overall religion of Islam are contradictory to one another (Ernst 18-26). It is argued that violence and terrorism were never been within the core values of the Islam religion. Relating the values of the Islamic religion with terrorism and violence will simply be an approach of denying the principles and teachings of the prophet. The alignment of the Islamic religion with peace can also be comprehended from the fact that the term Islam itself means ‘peace’ as per the Arabic slim (Siddiqui 36-41) . As per the values and teachings of the Prophet, a person belonging to the Islamic religion will have the

Reflective presentation of the risk assessment conducted in ealing christian centre

Reflective presentation of the risk assessment conducted in ealing christian centre Introduction Under the permission of the head pastor of Ealing Christian Centre, Northfield, London, I was granted the permission to do my practical placement with the church in December 2008. I was directed to the staff in charge of the churchs health and safety whose induction given to me in December 2008 and willingness to supervise me in my forty hour practical project scheduled to start on 11th January 2009 was beneficial to me. Since the church building and it surrounding environment are places where people often meet to fellowship, it is very important to ensure the safety of these places such as the Church, the Church halls, churchyards and ground are safe for worshipers and staff to use. If these places are ignored of assessing their risk of usage they can cause serious pain and suffering to people which may often disrupt the peaceful running of the church and its activities. Risk assessment by definition is suggested to be a progressive stage in risk management process, which determine s measurable characteristic value of hazards in relation to definite situation and the identification of the threat. And in this practical reflective presentation, I will base the health and safety risk assessment I conducted in Ealing Christian Centre on the Systems put in place for safer place of worship as briefed by my supervisor at induction, and the Daily Time log on my observations. Systems Put In Place for Safer Place of Worship Security of the Church Building Ealing Christian Centre as I learned from my induction day, is a big building used as place of worship for both able and disabled adults, young people and children of various age groups. The boundaries of the church premises are clearly defined with concert walls and good wooden fencing. The door ways are protected such that they do not give cover to intruders. When not in use, all the entrances and windows are securely locked. There is no easy access from points such as lower adjacent structures, compounds, walls or pipes to the roof and has an intruder alarm installed there. I also learned that their musical instruments, computers and private files are securely protected from thieves. Vehicle access to the church grounds as I learned was controlled only on Sundays and any other major event in the church. There is a gate that is locked to prevent access when the parking spaces are full. Theft and Damage There are storerooms for securing valuable items such as audio, visual and musical instruments when they are not in use. The church has offices which are also locked when not in use but all staff and members are advised to safeguard their personal belongings in the church. Cash is counted in a secure room out of sight, removed from the premises overnight and holdings are kept in the minimum, stored in safe installed for small valuable items. The offering how ever is not adequately protected from theft since the offering basket allows every hand to reach the collected money at its base. Items that could be used as missiles to commit damage are removed from around the building, and refuse stored safely away in metal containers from vulnerable areas. Management and Practice The church has no specific annual budget for crime and vandalism prevention measures separate from any general repair funds. Even though staffs have suggested people should report acts of vandalism immediately on recovery, most people do not. However damages are quickly repaired to discourage further similar acts while criminal acts reported automatically to the police if known. Details of the nature, time, place and cost of theft or vandalism are to be recorded in logbooks but mostly it is not done. Advice has been sort from the Police Crime Prevention Office, Fire Prevention Office, the Insurer and the Security Industry so; there is detailed procedure for recording and investigating fires. The community through the police and Church watch scheme are involved in the in safeguarding the church building. But for security reasons there is no procedure put in place for the police and fire service to contact the church key holders in the occurrence of incidents in the building. Other Established Methods There is a proper procedure for keys control and an established procedure for locking up the church. When the building is being locked after activities, the stewards are to inspect the kitchen, toilet, and store rooms to make sure no one is hiding in the building. I learned that the locks of the church are periodically checked to avoid duplication of the keys. Visitors who come to the building are urged to use a particular door that has been signed, but there is no means to monitor the arrival and departure of visitors during church service times and so visitors sometimes wander into the unauthorized areas such as childrens classrooms and office area. There is no arrangement set in place for surveillance during outside opening times except during special events such as youth programmes. This, I find suggest inadequate patrols and checks from the church officials. However, there is an external security lightening system provided to light up the premises during the evenings. Natural s urveillance from the area around the building provides a beef-up security for the premises. There is a caretaker living on the site, whose house is readily accessible. When contractors are working in the building, extra security fitting safety and fire precautions are taken by Christians known by the church. The parties involved meet on the site to identify hazards and correct methods of necessary to handle them during work on site. Most of the people who work alone in the building are the people working in the Prayer Centre and enough provision has been made for their personal safety in the building. During organised childrens events, a register of the children in the building are kept while child protection policies are enforced. Children in the building especially on Sunday services are protected from members of the public who access the building to look for someone or join worshipers. I further learned that all internal fire doors are fitted with self closing devices and labeled to be kept closed with adequate training to relevant people in locating escape routes. The fire escape routes and exits are sometimes obstructed by staff and so memos are often sent to all staff as reminders to keep them clear of obstructions. The floors surfaces are free from tripping and slipping risks and emergency exit doors are free to open from inside the building without using keys. The emergency lighting systems are installed in correct working order and tested weekly. My Observation from (11/01/2009-19/04/2009) I was welcome and introduced to the stewards group for the mornings safety briefings. I went with the supervisor to check the fire exit by the pulpit. On our way I observed that there were some parked chairs obstructing the exit. She notified one of the leaders to see to the removal of the obstruction. I came to help with the arrangement of the seats for the congregation, where I learned how to arrange the seats in their safety locks. A lady asked the supervisor not to use the chairs safety locks in the areas where the elderly people sit because they were not comfortable with the restriction of the chair to one place. The supervisor then explained to her the importance of the safety lock in time of emergency. She told her that it was a standard requirement by the health and safety rules and the purpose was to prevent the chair becoming hazards in case of evacuating the building on emergency. Commitment and response by some stewards to duty, fire alarm testing time and drill was an is sue. I understood that the expected number of stewards for Sunday service was twenty-one; but an average of nine seems to be dedicated to take fire drill by 09:30. Most of them arrive after worship had begun. The possible problem I observed was that most of them miss team briefing and go on the floor without team discussions and so might not be able to react according to team plan in time of emergency. This made me to learn how important team briefing is. Parental control of children before children were separated for safety keeping during service was also an issue since some parents leave their children aged between three to five years to wander dangerously around the information area of the auditorium near where the reserved chairs are parked. The heights at which these chairs are parked in the information area are of much concern. I found that they are parked over the required number of twelve making them unstable and could easily fall over a child who may playfully stray into th e store or an adult who may go there to pick a chair since there is no door at the entrance. In comparism to other churches I had visited, the reserved chair store house was securely locked. From this I learned that children should not be left on their own before they are separated to safety. After the service the stewards checked all the exits and locked them. I visited the non-English speaking evening service. I discussed with my supervisor how safe it was for those who could not read English to escape in times of emergency? She explained to me that safety signs included pictures illustrating the written instructions which could help people who could not read English writings to follow the instruction in case of emergency. I also observed at a point that two groups (the singing team and the Bible college students) have separate meetings on same day. There was no security at the door to question the purpose of all those who came through the door. The safety of staffs children waiting for their parent was of another concern. In the closed reception I saw some children sitting alone in the dimly lit quiet office. Those who entered into the building rand the door bell from outside the reception door and called their names and they were opened from inside the office without any identity check. This suggests that anybody could follow a genuine person coming into the building through the same door into the reception which could easily be opened from inside when access is gained into the reception. In the main auditorium was also another issue of concern on cables of cleaning equipment running across the auditorium floor without any warning signs. Here also, I saw member of staff children playing in a dimly lit isolated area while their parent was busily cleaning out their sight. The storage of chemicals used for cleaning has been provided with a lock but chemicals is left unlocked to easy access to any one including children who may stray into the cupboard. I discussed the issue with my supervisor form which I learned that there is a problem of supportive agreement and commitment among the stewards and some staff concerning health and safety on the floor, which makes the supervisors work very difficult in area of house-keeping, security of staff, worshipers and children. There were times when fire alarm was scheduled to be tested but was not done for the thought and feeling of the discomfort in interrupting church service. I discussed the emergency lighting system with the supervisor and I was shown how they light automatically from a standby barberry power in the event of power cut. The head steward was not in by the time worship started so the fire alarm was not tested. I had a chat with one of the choristers about how safe she felt when on stage; she said lead wires running across the state during worship time made her feel unsafe. From foyer, I observed that door security was of another concern. Once worshipers enter the building they move around without being monitored. I took some time to observe how some worshipers move around in the foyer. I saw a worshiper squeezing himself through a door to the foyer. My curiosity was aroused to find out the safety of the area to which that door led to. I went through the exit leading to the balcony from th e foyer and went through the door and headed to the staircase. I realised that the area was quite and secluded and emergency doors there. The place could be a safe hiding place for anyone with the thought of doing harm in the building. I found two children on the stairs that were vulnerable and could easily be victimised in this secluded area since the attacker could easily escape through the emergency exit out the building. I also observed a woman with mental health issues entering the church and I prompted the attention of an steward and my supervisor. The supervisor said sometimes they come there regularly and when they sit at the main auditorium they employ a steward to sit with them. After service, I observed the lady with the mental health issues walking among children unsupervised in the foyer with children running around. No steward seemed to be trying to control the children from running around. I asked my supervisor if the stewards had any role to play in controlling child ren from running around. My supervisor took me the door of the stewards briefing room and showed me the notice pasted there that. Part of their responsibility after church was to see to it that children are not running around. But to my surprise some of the stewards did not even know what was on the notice pasted there. The supervisor sent two stewards out to control the children from running around. But, the stewards went into the main auditorium and sublimed amongst the crowd. On the day of water baptism, I went round the foyer to see if there was any way to the balcony. The doors were safely locked. In both male and the female changing room, the baptized were given support safely to dry them self and change clothes. I observed some level of risks with the worshipers being baptised by immersion in water and the baptizers in the auditorium. Only one person baptised 25 people, some of them who might be almost twice the height and weight of the baptizer. This could strain his ribs an d back. Some stewards left leaving the remaining work load of locking up for the committed few. I realised that there was the need for Church workers to be aware of their skill, commitments and knowledge of their work and to work as thought they are working for Christ (John 9:4). Conclusion From this practical attachment, I learned the importance of risk assessments in the church environment. I have also learned that despite all the safety measures the church had put in place for the worshipers and staffs to be safe in the building, personal disagreements among some staff and various voluntary workers of the various church departments to implementation of safety measures play major contributing factors that create hazardous circumstances for both children and adult in the Church. This has made me to understand how the effectiveness of good team work in the church environment can affect the health, safety and the security of people in the church.

Biodiversity :: essays research papers

Biodiversity is described by Ruth Patrick as, â€Å"the presence of a large number of species of animals and plants†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Patrick 15). In other words, biodiversity is the term for the measure of the variety of different species that do exist still on our plant. These species can range from the simplest bacteria to the very complex primates. Biodiversity can relate locally or globally. For example the Southern New England forest contains 20 or 30 tree species while in the rainforest of Peru there are hundreds of species of trees (Patrick 15). There are also further ways to view biodiversity and that is in levels. These levels can be the â€Å"diversity of higher plants, number of species, or expressed as sheer weight (biomass)† (Patrick 15). Biodiversity is different is each part of the world. Not every part of the world contains the same amount of creatures yet there are parts of the world that might contain similar amounts. These regions of the world have similar we ather patterns and therefore similar species will develop there but they are not necessarily the same. One of the more important regions of the world that contain a large amount of biodiversity is the tropical rainforest region. â€Å"The forests comprise roughly 7% of the dry land surface of Earth and may hold more than 50% of all species† (Patrick 15). Yet us as humans do not know all of the creatures and organisms that live on this planet at all. We only have discovered, in one way or another, about 1.4 million species yet the number that is estimated is about 10-100 million (Patrick 15). The unknown species that do exist on this world can have many and countless benefits to the human race. A good example can be the rosy periwinkle, which is a plant found on the island of Madagascar, helped cure the Hodgkin’s disease and lymphocytic leukemia. (E.O. Wilson 3). Another can be the cyclosporin that was found in an obscure Norwegian fungus that is the foundation for the organ transplant business (Wilson 3). There also exist countless other potential uses and numerous other benefits that can be found in nature. The only problem is that we do not know even half of the amount of life that exists on this planet and many of them are disappearing faster than we can discover. With the advancement of technology and the growing population go mankind, nature seems as if it is in the way.

Treibacher Industrie

Treibacher Industrie, A. G. v Allegheny Technologies, Inc (2006) Facts: The case proceeded to a bench trial, where TDY and Treibacher disputed the meaning of the term â€Å"consignment†-the delivery term contained in both contracts. ? TDY introduced experts in the metal industry who testified that the term â€Å"consignment,† according to its common usage in the trade, meant that no sale occurred unless and until TDY actually used the TaC. Treibacher introduced evidence of the parties' prior dealings to show that the parties, in their course of dealings (extending over a seven-year period), understood the term â€Å"consignment† to mean that TDY had a binding obligation to pay for all of the TaC specified in each contract but that Treibacher would delay billing TDY for the materials until TDY had actually used them. TDY now appeals. ? TDY contends that, under the CISG, a contract term should be construed according to its customary usage in the industry unless the parties have expressly agreed to another usage. TDY argues, in the alternative, that the district court erred in finding that, in their course of dealings, Treibacher and TDY understood the term â€Å"consignment† to require TDY to use and pay for all of the TaC specified in each contract. ? Finally, TDY contends that, if we uphold the district court's ruling that TDY breached its contracts with Treibacher, we should remand the case for a new trial on damages on the ground that the district court erroneously found that Treibacher reasonably mitigated its damages. SUMMARY AND FINDINGSA) By analysis of the CISG, which governs the formation of and rights and obligations under contracts for the international sale of goods. ? CISG, arts. 1, 4. ?Article 9 of the CISG provides the rules for interpreting the terms of contracts. ? Article 9(1) states that, â€Å"parties are certain by any usage to which they have agreed and by any practices which they have established between themse lves. † ? Article 9(2) then states that, â€Å"parties are considered, unless otherwise agreed, to have impliedly made applicable to their contract which under international trade and well known? All parties to contracts of the type involved in the particular trade concerned. † ? Article 8 of the CISG governs the interpretation of the parties' statements and conduct. ? A party's statements and conduct are interpreted according to that party's actual intent â€Å"where the other party knew ? what that intent was,† CISG, art. 8(1), but, if the other party was unaware of that party's actual intent, then â€Å"according to the understanding that a reasonable person ? would have had in the same circumstances,† CISG, art. (2). ? To determine a party's actual intent, or a reasonable interpretation thereof, â€Å"due consideration is to be given to all relevant circumstances of the case including the negotiations, any practices which the parties have established between themselves, usages and any subsequent conduct of the parties. † ? CISG, art. 8(3). Which Treibacher’s materials in consignment store, published usage reports and invoices to support the order made. One of evidence to goods receive parties are known the action made.In arguing that TDY knowing the term's customary usage takes precedence over the parties' understanding of that term in their course of dealings, in which states that, â€Å"parties are considered, unless otherwise agreed, to have made applicable to their contract† customary trade usages.? In support of its argument, TDY can points it out anytime when they are question and revise the contract in between themselves. If not, intended the word â€Å"agreed,† in article 9, to mean express agreement, as opposed to silent agreement by course of conduct. ? B)?The district court did not commit clear error in finding that, in their course of dealings, TDY and Treibacher defined the term â€Å"con signment† to require TDY to accept and pay for all of the TaC specified in each contract. ? The parties do not dispute that they executed, between 1993 and 2000, a series of contracts in which Treibacher agreed to sell certain hard metal powders, such as TaC, to TDY. ? Which TDY has number of times to discuss the contract and terms, also whereby how Treibacher agreed to sell a fixed quantity of materials at a fixed price for delivery to â€Å"consignment. In additional, some of material needs to install upon TDY's request and all the logistic issue follow in between Treibacher and TDY such kept the materials it received from Treibacher in a â€Å"consignment store,† where the materials were labeled as being from Treibacher and segregated from other vendors' materials with all the usage report and record. ?In each instance, TDY ultimately withdrew and paid for the full quantity of materials specified in each contract.Obviously they had been communicated each other for t he order. In regards of damages claims, the district court did not commit clear error in finding that Treibacher reasonably mitigated its damages. ? The CISG requires a party claiming breach of contract to â€Å"take such measures as are reasonable in the circumstances to mitigate the loss. †, but it places the burden on the breaching party to â€Å"claim a reduction in the damages in the amount by which the loss should have been mitigated. † ?In sum, the district court properly determined that, under the CISG, the meaning the parties assign to a contractual term in their course of dealings establishes the meaning of that term in the face of a conflicting customary usage of the term. Which in the normal practices for order and the judgment of the district court is affirmed.? The district court was not clearly erroneous in finding that Treibacher and TDY understood their contracts to require TDY to purchase all of the TaC specified in each contract and that Treibacher t ook reasonable measures to mitigate its losses after TDY breached. ?

Free Essays on Inerrancy Of The Bible

come from? B.A. Robison in an article on ReligiousTolerance.org lists three main theories as to how this inspiration was provided: The Automatic Writing Theory in which human author â€Å"becomes possessed by God and loses consciousness of self, surrendering to the divine spirit and its communicatory powers"(Robison); the Dictation Theory in which the... Free Essays on Inerrancy Of The Bible Free Essays on Inerrancy Of The Bible The Inerrancy of the Bible The Bible is the inspired word of God. It is inerrant and infallible. As a Christian I believe this with all of my heart. The Christian faith, in one form or another, has been basing its beliefs on this fact for nearly two thousand years. The question asked by many people, both Christian and non-Christian alike, is why? Why do we believe this way? What is it that makes us base our very spiritual existence on the words of men and women dead thousands of years? This paper will briefly layout where these beliefs originate and why we are willing to wager our eternal souls on that belief. What does it mean to say that the Bible is the inerrant inspired word of God? Henry Thiessen defines it as being "inerrant in the original manuscripts†¦.in all that it affirms.† (Thiessen 63). If the Bible is written by men then doesn’t that mean it can contain errors? If this was just a case of man writing a book or letter then that would be so. However, the Bible is no such book. The source of the material in the Bible came directly from God. Scripture itself tells us He is the ultimate source. In Revelations 14:13 John writes â€Å"I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘write†¦..’†. In 2 Timothy 3:16 the apostle Paul tells us â€Å"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.† (NKJV) Throughout Scriptures we are told that God is the source of the writings and the inspiration of such. However, we also know that God did not put his pen to paper and write the actual words we read. So in the sense of actually writing the Bible, where did these words come from? B.A. Robison in an article on ReligiousTolerance.org lists three main theories as to how this inspiration was provided: The Automatic Writing Theory in which human author â€Å"becomes possessed by God and loses consciousness of self, surrendering to the divine spirit and its communicatory powers"(Robison); the Dictation Theory in which the...

The end of the cold war essays

The end of the cold war essays The period of the Cold war was a very awkward time. Nobody really knew what was going to happen. Some were frightened and some didnt even pay attention to it. Communist and democratic relations in the late 1980s were not going too well. The United States and the world stood back and watched uprisings from both sides that eventually led to the fall of many communist governments. During the beginning of the end of the cold war, Reagan was in office. All in all he wanted to stop the fighting period. Some people thought that the way he went about it was a bit awkward. At this time all superpower nations were trying to be bigger and better than the other. This meant that a lot of money was being spent just to stay on top. Much research was done technology wise and a lot of money was put to military use. When Reagan spent more money to increase the power of the United States military, The USSR took it personally. Soon enough Russia was almost bone dry in the funds category and they knew peace must be made. When Reagans term ended, George Bush took office. He began to make relations between the two governments better. He started negotiations and peace talks with the Soviets. The first of which was held in Malta. It was the Summit meeting of 1989 between Bush and Gorbachev. Bush then made a state of the union message in which he stated he would cut US troops in Europe to 195,000. The next agreement was made on September 12 it was called the Treaty of the first Settlement and gave respect to Germany. President Bush and the heads of state of 21 other countries then signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces. It was also known as the CFE Treaty. This document was signed on November 19, 1990 it took place at a three-day long summit meeting. This particular treaty was said to have been one of the most complex and ambitious arms agreements ever concluded. It covered thousands of tanks, air ...

Twelve O'Clock High a Position Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Twelve O'Clock High a Position Paper - Essay Example Therefore, everyone is viewed as a potential leader and in trained as such. Even those who are in a leadership position currently will not always be in that position, so individuals must be able to move between the two roles quite readily. Also, once a leader begins to lose his edge and his results begin to suffer, he will be replaced. This is because since there are lives at stake, a leader cannot afford to lose the confidence of his soldiers. There is no time for loyalty towards a formerly good leader because people will die if a leader loses his effectiveness. The Army should keep the status quo in its quest to find good leadership because there is the potential for everyone to be a good leader at some point and also leaders who are not getting the desired results should not be permitted to lead in the long term. The first thing that a leader in the Army must remember is to Be. This means that this individual must hold the qualities that are becoming of a true leader. Leaders should be people who are honest, competent, and inspiring, as â€Å"Army leadership begins with what the leader must Be, the values and attributes that shape a leaders character† (Cavanagh et al, 2004, P. 9). This is because a true leader is someone who people wish to follow. If the leader does not have the values and attributes that other would wish to follow, then the leader will not be very successful. This can be applied to civilian life as well. If a manager at a store does not appear to be a very good leader, the staff will lose respect for this person and, therefore, will not follow him or her. This will cause the store as a whole to under-perform, which will negatively affect the store’s bottom line. The leader in every situation must truly â€Å"Be† a leader who people want to follow and wh o people believe in. If he or she is not, then the organization as a whole will not succeed. An example of this can be found in the film and

Political Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Political Science - Essay Example They do not have to get intervention from state regarding taxes, tariffs, enforced monopolies and restrictive regulations. (laissez-faire principle; sourced from www.wikipedia.org). It is a fortunate one for private parties to be free from such matters, but for the citizens there are still taxes to be paid. Taxes would not be a big deal for people as long as they can afford to pay. Of course, it is determined from how stable their economic conditions sourced from their incomes. What has happened is that The United States taxes its citizens more lightly and as a result less money to be used for social programs. There is comparison since most west European countries spend more money on social programs. From the economic factors, it can be analyzed that when The United States government has decided to reduce its citizens` taxes, there might be economic instability. It can be seen mostly after war in Iraq (2003) that The United States economic condition decreases slowly and life conditio n of its people had not been as comfortable as it was used to be. Furthermore, the global crisis that has happened in recent times has an impact too. The United States citizens cannot afford certain levels of life standards like they used to have. The condition can be observed from how stagnancy occurred to mortgage and many banks were closed that makes more people become jobless. The tax reduction has been a relieving fact for The United States citizens, but since it gives impact to the social programs, a consequence prevails. In this case, social programs are ways for those who are unfortunate to get help and even have better living. When the money for the social programs is reduced, some people do not get benefit anymore. Analyzing this matter from the political side, basically it is not far from what happens in the economic factors. A political instability might occur when economic condition falls down moderately. For example, when the jobless number rises higher and higher, the re must be a shock therapy for its political condition. People would like to be frank to the government that an action to decrease problems is absolutely needed. Even though The United States has its â€Å"American Exceptionalism† which had made them be the strongest as ever, but as Barack Obama – the president of the United States – mentioned that â€Å"I see no contradiction between believing that America has a continued extraordinary role in leading the world towards peace and prosperity and recognizing that leadership is incumbent, depends on, our ability to create partnerships, we create partnerships because we can’t solve these problems alone†. (Barack Obama – April, 2009). It can be analyzed that although comparisons among countries are acceptable to be observed, but like The United States instability is also being influenced by the whole worlds. An agreement must be put to Obama`s statement that every country in this world should gat her to find solutions to any problems; including how to maintain the running of social programs in this global crisis situation. Cultural factor could be the least impact but also the unfortunate one to face this American Exceptionalism. Culture is the whole unity to define people and their origin. Culture has more to be shown to express people’s happiness. The very basic culture that American people have is Thanksgiving celebration. (Once again, it is needed to emphasize that the tax reduction does not always