National academy of sciences Essay

I HAVE spared you, even as I spared myself, an arithmetical consummation of my inquiry, but the data here cited instruct us that the cost of the drug war is many times more painful, in all its manifestations, than would be the licensing of drugs combined with intensive education of non-users and intensive education designed to warn those who experiment with drugs. We have seen a substantial reduction in the use of tobacco over the last thirty years, and this is not because tobacco became illegal but because a sentient community began, in substantial numbers, to apprehend the high cost of tobacco to human health, even as, we can assume, a growing number of Americans desist from practicing unsafe sex and using polluted needles in this age of AIDS. If 80 million Americans can experiment with drugs and resist addiction using information publicly available, we can reasonably hope that approximately the same number would resist the temptation to purchase such drugs even if they were available at a federal drugstore at the mere cost of production. And added to the above is the point of civil justice. Those who suffer from the abuse of drugs have themselves to blame for it. This does not mean that society is absolved from active concern for their plight. It does mean that their plight is subordinate to the plight of those citizens who do not experiment with drugs but whose life, liberty, and property are substantially affected by the illegalization of the drugs sought after by the minority. I have not spoken of the cost to our society of the astonishing legal weapons available now to policemen and prosecutors; of the penalty of forfeiture of one’s home and property for violation of laws which, though designed to advance the war against drugs, could legally be used — I am told by learned counsel — as penalties for the neglect of one’s pets. I leave it at this, that it is outrageous to live in a society whose laws tolerate sending young people to life in prison because they grew, or distributed, a dozen ounces of marijuana. I would hope that the good offices of your vital profession would mobilize at least to protest such excesses of wartime zeal, the legal equivalent of a My Lai massacre. And perhaps proceed to recommend the legalization of the sale of most drugs, except to minors. 2. Ethan A. Nadelmann We turned to Mr.Nadelmann to pursue the inquiry. Formerly in the Political Science Department at Princeton, he is now the director of the Lindesmith Center, a drug-policy research institute in New York City. He is the author of Cops across Borders: The Internationalization of U. S. Criminal Law Enforcement. THE essayists assembled here do not agree exactly on which aspect of the war on drugs is most disgraceful, or on which alternative to our current policies is most desirable, but we do agree, as Mr.Buckley expected, on the following. The â€Å"war on drugs† has failed to accomplish its stated objectives, and it cannot succeed so long as we remain a free society, bound by our Constitution. Our prohibitionist approach to drug control is responsible for most of the ills commonly associated with America’s â€Å"drug problem. † And some measure of legal availability and regulation is essential if we are to reduce significantly the negative consequences of both drug use and our drug-control policies. Proponents of the war on drugs focus on one apparent success: The substantial decline during the 1980s in the number of Americans who consumed marijuana and cocaine. Yet that decline began well before the Federal Government intensified its â€Å"war on drugs† in 1986, and it succeeded principally in reducing illicit drug use among middle-class Americans, who were least likely to develop drug-related problems. Far more significant were the dramatic increases in drug- and prohibition-related disease, death, and crime. Crack cocaine — as much a creature of prohibition as 180-proof moonshine during alcohol prohibition — became the drug of choice in most inner cities. AIDS spread rapidly among injecting drug addicts, their lovers, and their children, while government policies restricted the availability of clean syringes that might have stemmed the epidemic. And prohibition-related violence reached unprecedented levels as a new generation of Al Capones competed for turf, killing not just one another but innocent bystanders, witnesses, and law-enforcement officials. There are several basic truths about drugs and drug policy which a growing number of Americans have come to acknowledge. 1. Most people can use most drugs without doing much harm to themselves or anyone else, as Mr. Buckley reminds us, citing Professor Duke. Only a tiny percentage of the 70 million Americans who have tried marijuana have gone on to have problems with that or any other drug. The same is true of the tens of millions of Americans who have used cocaine or hallucinogens. Most of those who did have a problem at one time or another don’t any more. That a few million Americans have serious problems with illicit drugs today is an issue meriting responsible national attention, but it is no reason to demonize those drugs and the people who use them. We’re unlikely to evolve toward a more effective and humane drug policy unless we begin to change the ways we think about drugs and drug control. Perspective can be had from what is truly the most pervasive drug scandal in the United States: the epidemic of undertreatment of pain. â€Å"Addiction† to (i. e. , dependence on) opiates among the terminally ill is the appropriate course of medical treatment. The only reason for the failure to prescribe adequate doses of pain-relieving opiates is the â€Å"opiaphobia† that causes doctors to ignore the medical evidence, nurses to turn away from their patients’ cries of pain, and some patients themselves to elect to suffer debilitating and demoralizing pain rather than submit to a proper dose of drugs. The tendency to put anti-drug ideology ahead of compassionate treatment of pain is apparent in another area. Thousands of Americans now smoke marijuana for purely medical reasons: among others, to ease the nausea of chemotherapy; to reduce the pain of multiple sclerosis; to alleviate the symptoms of glaucoma; to improve appetite dangerously reduced from AIDS. They use it as an effective medicine, yet they are technically regarded as criminals, and every year many are jailed. Although more than 75 per cent of Americans believe that marijuana should be available legally for medical purposes, the Federal Government refuses to legalize access or even to sponsor research. 2. Drugs are here to stay. The time has come to abandon the concept of a â€Å"drug-free society. † We need to focus on learning to live with drugs in such a way that they do the least possible harm. So far as I can ascertain, the societies that have proved most successful in minimizing drug-related harm aren’t those that have sought to banish drugs, but those that have figured out how to control and manage drug use through community discipline, including the establishment of powerful social norms. That is precisely the challenge now confronting American society regarding alcohol: How do we live with a very powerful and dangerous drug — more powerful and dangerous than many illicit drugs — that, we have learned, cannot be effectively prohibited? Virtually all Americans have used some psychoactive substance, whether caffeine or nicotine or marijuana. In many cases, the use of cocaine and heroin represents a form of self-medication against physical and emotional pain among people who do not have access to psychotherapy or Prozac. The market in illicit drugs is as great as it is in the inner cities because palliatives for pain and depression are harder to come by and because there are fewer economic opportunities that can compete with the profits of violating prohibition. 3. Prohibition is no way to run a drug policy. We learned that with alcohol during the first third of this century and we’re probably wise enough as a society not to try to repeat the mistake with nicotine. Prohibitions for kids make sense. It’s reasonable to prohibit drug-related misbehavior that endangers others, such as driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, or smoking in enclosed spaces. But whatever its benefits in deterring some Americans from becoming drug abusers, America’s indiscriminate drug prohibition is responsible for too much crime, disease, and death to qualify as sensible policy. 4. There is a wide range of choice in drug-policy options between the free-market approach favored by Milton Friedman and Thomas Szasz, and the zero-tolerance approach of William Bennett. These options fall under the concept of harm reduction. That concept holds that drug policies need to focus on reducing crime, whether engendered by drugs or by the prohibition of drugs. And it holds that disease and death can be diminished even among people who can’t, or won’t, stop taking drugs. This pragmatic approach is followed in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, and parts of Germany, Austria, Britain, and a growing number of other countries. American drug warriors like to denigrate the Dutch, but the fact remains that Dutch drug policy has been dramatically more successful than U.S. drug policy. The average age of heroin addicts in the Netherlands has been increasing for almost a decade; HIV rates among addicts are dramatically lower than in the United States; police don’t waste resources on non-disruptive drug users but, rather, focus on major dealers or petty dealers who create public nuisances. The decriminalized cannabis markets are regulated in a quasi-legal fashion far more effective and inexpensive than the U. S. equivalent. The Swiss have embarked on a national experiment of prescribing heroin to addicts. The two-year-old plan, begun in Zurich, is designed to determine whether they can reduce drug- and prohibition-related crime, disease, and death by making pharmaceutical heroin legally available to addicts at regulated clinics. The results of the experiment have been sufficiently encouraging that it is being extended to over a dozen Swiss cities. Similar experiments are being initiated by the Dutch and Australians. There are no good scientific or ethical reasons not to try a heroin-prescription experiment in the United States. Our Federal Government puts politics over science by ignoring extensive scientific evidence that sterile syringes can reduce the spread of AIDS. Connecticut permitted needle sales in drugstores in 1992, and the policy resulted in a 40 per cent decrease in needle sharing among injecting drug users, at no cost to taxpayers. We see similar foolishness when it comes to methadone. Methadone is to street heroin more or less what nicotine chewing-gum and skin patches are to cigarettes. Hundreds of studies, as well as a National Academy of Sciences report last year, have concluded that methadone is more effective than any other treatment in reducing heroin-related crime, disease, and death. In Australia and much of Europe, addicts who want to reduce or quit their heroin use can obtain a prescription for methadone from a GP and fill the prescription at a local pharmacy. In the United States, by contrast, methadone is available only at highly regulated and expensive clinics.

Guns Germs and Steel Essay

Yali asked the question of â€Å"why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had so little cargo of our own?† (Diamond 14) In other words, he is asking â€Å"what is the factor between our people and ours that causes human development to proceed at different rates?† (Diamond 16) What Yali is really asking though, is, what is this mysterious factor? According to Diamond, the basis for development is the environment around us including the resources and the native people of New Guinea don’t live in an area where a chance is provided for them to take advantage of. The natural resources are just enough for them to get by. This is why the people of New Guinea produce so little â€Å"cargo† of their own. Pizarro’s capture of Atahuallpa and destruction of the Incas made the Europeans realize what power they head, and what they could do to the rest of the world. They easily wiped out the Inca’s of 80,000 with 168 men. From the Battle of Cajamarca, Pizzaro came back to Charles I saying that Europe had the power to conquer the Americas. There were reasons Pizarro and the Europeans could conquer the Americas†¦ They had better warfare than the Incas. Pizarro’s men had armor rode horseback and used steel compared to their wooden weapons. Eurasia happened to have an abundance of edible material because of the right environment leading to the domestication of plants and animals led the people to settle down in one place instead of being nomads. When people started to settle down and bring the food to them, they started to have a surplus which led for the people to have extra jobs and it started to also support a higher population while allowing women to have more children contributing to job specialization. These specialists were not devoted to farmers or food producers but varied to priests, blacksmiths etc. Permanent agriculture societies were able to from with the food surpluses leading to empires. Some of the reason that people began to settle down and farm are because at the time many wild foods began to decrease due to hunters and gatherers killing off too many large animals leaving life unsustainable. More wild plants that could be domesticated became available at the time. Technological advances allowe3d people to harvest and store greater amounts of food that they cultivated. Human populations rose it’s not clear how much it caused food production and how much food production caused it but researchers believe there’s a connection. As populations rose, they needed to have better food supplies and started farming. The farm societies were able to drive out neighboring hunter-gatherers. A continent with long east-west axis like (Eurasia) has an advantage over continents with long north-south axes (like Africa and the Americas). The reasons it does have to do with crops and longitude. In general similar crops can grow at similar longitudes. In other words a cropped that developed in one place can be spread east to west (or west to east) but less likely to spread north and south. Epidemic diseases developed among the societies that had been farming the longest. These were Eurasian societies. Societies in the Americas, Australia, and other places had not been farming as long and lacked epidemic diseases. When Europeans came in contact with Native Americans, for example, European epidemic diseases killed huge percentages of the Native Americans. This helped the Europeans conquer and the conquest made them richer and more powerful. Therefore germs help to answer Yali’s question. The societies that did independently invent writing were those with complex hierarchie s and sophisticated systems of food production. Writing was needed for politics and was generally learned by bureaucrats who had the comfort of available time and energy. As food was available to them, they had no need to hunt and gather for themselves. Since their basic needs were being met, they could focus on a higher level of existence and communication. There are two conditions in which technology may develop. The first is â€Å"mother necessity ideology† which is when a society needs something to make things easier they invent it. Technology differed from place to place because there were more people to invent and better diffusion to spread the invention. The opposite happened in the Americas because there were less people and a slower diffusion rate. Also different cultures had different ideas for change. The only way that society can emerge is through food. Such developments include jobs, such as the chief and the beginnings of government. The institutions of society changed over time based on how organized they were. They evolved based around various factors like war and other societies. They are related by diffusion. Whenever a state is conquered by another state they enforce use of their technology or exploit it. States are going to develop weapons, troops, and religion in order to make the state survive. They develop in response to need of their population size. They use these agents of conquest to become larger and to conquer other societies; and for that they need guns, germs, and steel. What Diamond is saying is that he thinks that people really should not think that history is so much different from the sciences. He is saying that the study of history can be pretty â€Å"scientific† if it is done correctly (and that some sciences are not as precise as things like chemistry). Diamond is trying to argue that historians should use what he calls â€Å"natural experiments.† He thinks that there are many â€Å"experiments† where there are two or more places that are pretty similar in many ways but which then turned out differently (like his experiment in Chapter 2). He argues that historians can use these — they can look at what was different and what was similar and how the differences led to the differences in the outcomes. Guns, Germs, and Steel Book Review I think Diamond’s central intent of writing the book is to explain how varying societies become dominate, and how certain others can become dominated. By looking at environmental conditions that caused the disparities that lead to certain societies developing guns, germs, and steel, including other technology, and forming a government necessary for conquest. He introduced the book with Yali’s question â€Å"Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people has so little cargo of our own?† This question used a scientific/geographic background, and set his intent is to answer the question or inform how to answer the question. He also tries to analyze the causes of the expansion of civilizations’ in some parts of the world, since all people are physically the same what could cause some to be successful and others to die? He used archaeological and historical case studies and evidence from genetics and linguistics, he argued that technological and gaps in power are not caused by race or culture differences but by environmental differences, He used the idea of the axis as one saying that Eurasia had an east to west (or west to east) therefore having an advantage over Africa or the Americas for instance, because crops could grow at the same longitude but it was more difficult as they went north and south. Also when cultural or genetic differences have favored Eurasians like for example written language or resistance to epidemic diseases he says these advantages occurred because of the influence and geography on societies and cultures and were not inherited as genes from Eurasian ancestors. Diamond’s book argues that the differences in progress for different societies around the world do not result from one group being smarter or more resourceful than another. Rather, he focuses on the impact of geography — whether food and other key items were plentiful, whether and how disease spread, and how these developments led to different levels of industrialization, and wealth The book â€Å"Guns, Germs, and Steel† was very well written in the sense that Diamond had a question in which was the foundation of the book, he throughout the book acquired evidence and explanations and ideas of how to answer the question. The book had evidence to back it up by explaining how Eurasia had a better opportunity being west to east meaning they had better crop farming. Which led to a growing civilization and soon conquest. The book wasn’t exactly dull or boring but it wasn’t exciting or entertaining either. It was like any other history book it asked a question, then went on to the point. There was an explanation of the main topic which was Yali’s question and evidence that dealt with answering the question. From beginning to end, Diamond stre sses that he realizes that efforts to compare societies have frequently been used by racists or nationalists to belittle groups or justify mistreatment of them. He argues that his analysis is in fact anti-racism at work because it shows that the white people who enjoy the comforts of modern life are ultimately luckier than, not more deserving than, people in impoverished nations.

Flavonoids - Critical regulators of seed development Literature review

Flavonoids - Critical regulators of seed development - Literature review Example It has been observed that the size of a seed has influence on the germination process as well as on how the plant survives and grows in the long run. Seeds that are large in size generally possess greater germination and survival power that smaller sized seeds (USDA Forest Service, 2010, pp.132-137). This reflects on the importance of the seed size in the development of the seed. Mizuno et al had mentioned that when hybridization is considered in relation to development of seeds, the speciation of hybrid can be learnt to be present in two classifications. These classifications depend on the ploidy level of the plant and thus can be either homoploid or polyploidy. Genetic incompatibilities might occur in the process of such hybridization that might be considered as barriers for the process. The barriers in the hybridization process might occur as a result of the abnormalities in the hybrid like the hybrid necrosis that includes a reproductive isolation in the plant development phenomenon (Mizuno et al, 2010). According to Thompson et al, flavonoids and transporters of flavonoids are necessary in the developmental process of seeds. The Arabidopsis flavonoid transporter plays a major role in seed development. The flavonoids protect the seeds from the ultraviolet light as well as pigmenting the flowers of the plants for the enhancement of pollination which is essential for seed development. The flavonoids regulate the transport of auxin in the seed. What is more important is the manner in which the compounds conduct their transportation in between the synthesis site to the necessary cell location and tissues (Thompson et al, 2009, pp.439-451). Studies of Fulton et al represent the fact that the behavior of a cell needs controlling measures that are efficiently conducted by intercellular signaling. The integument cell development has been observed in the Arabidopsis that presents the

Unit 8 Application 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unit 8 Application 2 - Essay Example The exit of a manager must be categorised as downsizing, voluntary or discharge exit so that the calculation of turnover rates in the end becomes possible. Factors contributing to leaving HCLC may be low motivation or external factors in relation to what HCLC offer. It is important to analyse so that the organisation knows what managers are going for that is not being offered (Heneman, Judge and Kammeyer-Mueller, 2012). The organisation may fail to retain some of those valuable managers unless we are concerned about the issue. A higher turnover may be faced in the future if we do not address the issues in the present. This may spoil the image of the organisation such that getting contracts may become problematic. Managers who are leaving may leave with other employees leading to reduced performance and indiscipline. Later, it may be hard to find, attract or hire managers with value. HCLC should look at the basis upon which the managers have left the organisation in the previous year. It is important to find out how long they worked in the organisation and how they were managing their positions. (Harris and Brannick, 1999) It would be very wise to interview those managers who have quit knowing the major reasons of managerial turnover. Sometimes employees are said to quit their bosses but not their job. This is a result of the kind of relationship between managers and their bosses (Gully and Phillips, 2010). Proper research and collection of data on relationships that managers share with operations manager should be conducted. Benefits and costs resulting from managerial turnover should be conducted. Categories of cost should be known in terms of training, replacement and separation and all financial non-financial costs estimated. Benefits must be weighed in association with costs of managerial turnover. This information will

Assignment ( Crappy Professor) Module 6 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

( Crappy Professor) Module 6 - Assignment Example b. Step 2: Examine the difficulties that are existing in the situation (Chapter 9 Power Point, 2015). In this step, the administrator has to classify the problem and two main mistakes to get the facts. c. Step 3: Come up with a criteria that gives a satisfactory outcome. In this step the administrator has to identify what is good, the musts and the wants, the conditions existing and the minimum aims to achieve (Chapter 9 Power Point, 2015). d. Step 4: Come up with an action plan or strategy. In this stage it is important for the administrator not to make an ineffective decisions. It is also important not to make decisions that others are likely to make. In my opinion, administrators must satisfice because when they optimize, the solution to the problem that they identify does not necessarily provide a feasible solution. Hence, the administrator has to satisfice and come up with the problem to satisfice. Yes, the garbage-can model is useful despite its name. Under this model, one knows that they have made the right decision when the solution matches with the problem at hand. Administrators also have the chance of scanning the problems and opportunities that help in their job (Chapter 9 Power Point, 2015). The only problem is that the model operates on the assumption that decisions are reliant on the chances that occur and not on choices the administrator makes. Values are a part of decision-making because they are the key to motivating a person. When a person is motivated and not stressed, it becomes easier to make the right decisions which people can use in attaching their meaning and importance to things (Hellriegel, 2008). I would use my values to negotiate or use persuasion before arriving into final decisions. I would use my positive personal values to determine the outcomes that I set for myself and the decisions I would make to achieve these outcomes. The other issue is whether the

Source evaluation Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Source evaluation - Annotated Bibliography Example For instance, the institutions of learning in the United States are also known to provide some very generous scholarships to deserving individuals from poor countries; consequently, they receive many applications every year since individuals recognize that they might be given an opportunity to make their lives better. Even though, many have been associated with the urge of studying abroad, there are some cases approving that studying abroad is definitely a wrong option. In essence, answering this research question will help in discerning the associated negative impacts. Studying abroad can offer a lot of benefits to the students and the development of the society, but on the other side, it also have some drawbacks and disadvantages , over all studying abroad turned out to a good investment, but at the mean time people should realized that the profit exists paralleling risk. While looking up for relevant sources to back up the research, there are many credible articles that talk about the research question. This makes the completion of the project tedious since there is need to carry out evaluation of each source before picking up the most suitable for the study. Schemo discusses the gifts that are likely to befall students going abroad. Essentially, this source will help in answering the research question about why many students are attracted to the notion of travelling abroad for their studies. Schemo asserts that one of the benefits that students acquire from studying abroad is that they get a chance to pursue their education in an environment that is not limited by either geography or economic circumstances because they are able to work within an environment that is completely new and full of opportunities. Moreover, studying abroad makes it possible for students to develop the necessary skills at an international level that allows them

Pharmacology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pharmacology - Assignment Example Here, they are absorbed into the blood through the epithelial cells and into the blood stream. From the bloodstream, they may enter the tissue fluid and then into the cell where they are metabolized and converted into active form. During this process, the drugs encounter several obstacles in their path that they have to overcome. They occur at almost every stage of the process from administering to action at the target sites. The main barriers are the cell plasma membrane, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, blood capillaries, glomerular membrane, capillaries and renal tubules among others. The plasma membrane is a lipid barrier. It only allows passage of lipophilic molecules and hydrophilic molecules, like water, into the cell. It is partially permeable to larger molecules such as larger lipophilic ones. The intestine is the main site for absorption be it drugs or food. The gastrointestinal epithelium also acts as great barrier to the movement of drugs. This layer is a single cell thick. These cells are closely packed together making it difficult to for drugs to move from the intestines into the blood stream. The layer is covered with a mucosal membrane which bars the movement and absorption of the drug. The drug has to go through two plasma membranes to get to the bloodstream. In the bloodstream, the drug is transported to various tissues where the vascular endothelium must be overcome for the drug to enter the tissue. The cells may so closely packed together that they impede the passage of large drug molecules into the tissue fluid. A good example of vessels with tightly packed epithelial cells is the capillaries at the central nervous system. The endothelial cells may also be loosely packed making it easy for the body to eliminate the drug. The spleen has ‘leaky’ epithelial lining. There is also the capillary membrane that is very selective of the size of molecules that go through. They allow movement of both polar and non-polar molecules. Thi s is useful in the kidney during elimination of drug and waste products that are polar. The kidney is a site for drug elimination as well as re-absorption. Due to the nature of its membrane, only non-ionized and lipid compounds get reabsorbed (columbia.edu). The method of transportation also affects drug activity. Methods such as active transport require a lot of energy to perform, therefore, delaying the time of action of the drug. There could be delays in the time taken for the stomach to empty its contents into the ileum, thus, postponing absorption. Intestinal motility is also crucial when bringing the drug into contact with the cells of the epithelium for absorption. The duration of contact between the cells the drug should be adequate to promote absorption. For absorption to be successful, the flow of blood should be high for maximum absorption. Blood determines the diffusion gradient. Other factors that affect the rate of drug absorption include: the food we eat, the pH of th e gastrointestinal environment, age and state of health (Washington et.al, 2000). Question 2 The half life of a drug is the time it takes to for a drug to move from full pharmacological, physiological and radioactive potency to half. This information is useful to the nurse in that is informs him or her that the drug might not be as effective. The nurse should therefore request fro the replacement of the drug with a potent one. This will ensure a patient receives proper treatment using active drugs.

Analysis an issue Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analysis an issue - Assignment Example However, this requires self-discipline and coherent thinking abilities which are lacking among many drivers. However, people often find themselves in situations that force them to text while driving. For instance, emergencies arise and the driver is required to communicate with another party to be directed or informed about the emergency. The driver may not have the chance or time to drive off the road. Such emergencies are common and the law should recognize them. Apparently, the argument that drivers who text while driving should be cripplingly penalized is based on the idealistic axiom that the driver is texting to be informed on some casual matters or to be entertained. Conclusively, the value of human life is precious than anything else. The law is out to protect lives and we need to abide by the law. You should not be a narcissist or think of yourself as a superhero on the road. Be attentive, prioritize driving, and circumvent distractions. In this way, you as well as other road users will be

Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Music - Essay Example It renders new understanding of beauty associated with Impressionism. The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky was composed under the influence of avant-garde art movement in the beginning of 20th century in France which was a center of cultural experiments. At the same time, this piece focuses on Slavic culture and its specific musical elements. This piece is an interpretation of Russian folk music in an avant-garde key; complicated rhythmic structure, dissonance, disorganized melody and unconventional approach to ornamentation make this piece exceptional. It is not background music; it requires attention and understanding to be appreciated by people. It seems to be too difficult to understand at some points, but it is very engaging and beautiful music. The first half of the 20th century was the time when music changed significantly in the USA under the influence of African American culture. Swing became very popular with American population due to its lively rhythm, cheerful mood and ability to dance. Cotton Tail by Duke Ellington is a great example of swing music. It is performed by the swing orchestra; its cheerful rhythm and dancing vibes cannot make people listen patiently. Swing music gives beginning to jazz in the USA; it is simpler in its rhythmic structure but it already has syncope and harmonies typical for jazz. It is music for people who belong to the lost generation born between two wars; it is carefree, joyful and entertaining. Indeterminancy by John Cage shows a new understanding of music born in the second half of 20th century. It becomes an example of how music can be performed in other ways. Indeterminancy presents a cycle of short stories accompanied by specific sounds of various objects that are not music instruments in their primary function. This piece challenges the traditional definition of music because it is not perceived as music. However, sound effects enhance perception of the text and

Inter cultural communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Inter cultural communication - Assignment Example Furthermore, as has been discussed during the course of the semester, before being level of effective intercultural communication to take place, or the level of the nation all that, a relationship must at first exists. The depth and complexity of this relationship varies between individuals that issue(s) that are being discussed. However, in the event that the stakeholder wishes to have an effective level of communication with another partner, it is absolutely required that a relationship built on respect must exist first. Although this determinant alone does not guarantee that a level of agreement will be reached, the quality and depth of the communication, and the subsequent respect and trust that is fostered, will maximize the likelihood for this to take place. Accordingly, the need to focus upon this metric has encouraged many multinational firms and different governments to seek to build cultural appreciation and respect; prior to expecting a level of success with respect to com munication to be exhibited. Ultimately, human beings are extraordinarily impressionable creatures. As has been proven time and again, the culture and environment within which an individual is raised by profound and definitive impact with respect to the way in which they integrate with the world around them. With that being understood, it must also be understood that human beings are not programmable robots. Ultimately, for the thousands of individuals that might be influenced by particular culture and shoes to integrate with it, there may be a handful that rejected entirely; choosing to follow their own in life. However, instead of making the fundamental to stay at this juncture and saying that not all individuals are impacted by culture or are able to resist it, it must be noted that even those individuals who rejected entirely are impacted by. As such, even though culture can be resisted, the impact upon the individual is nonetheless profound as

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Essay The objective of this paper is to compare the major players in the beverage/soft drink industry, Pepsi Co. Coca Cola Co. This paper will give you sound information on which company to invest in as well as taking a deeper look at both companies over all. My analysis will be made based on the company’s income statements, horizontal, vertical analysis, balances sheets and financial statement ratios. This along with other information should give you a clear picture of which company is the best company to invest in. Researching this analysis is needed find the soundest corporation for investment. Out of the myriad of sodas, Coca Cola and PepsiCo. are the most recognized name and the most known rivalry in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola owns the somewhat disputed title as being the best cola brand worldwide. Some on the other hand know PepsiCo as the rival brand because Coca Cola has had such great marketing and advertising. In 2004, PepsiCo achieved marginally growth rate in net profit and sales, where Coca Cola has maintained profit margin. The PepsiCo. presented lower short-term liquidity risk to investors compared to Coca Cola. Coca Cola and PepsiCo. There was low long-term solvency risk with PepsiCo’s risk being marginally greater than Coca Cola’s. PepsiCo’s overall asset in my opinion was more proficient than Coca Cola. These and other companies help investor confidence and market share with their sales margins. PepsiCo stock is dividend-generating stock, but Coca Co la has had a higher yield and payout. Coca Cola has had a superior profit margin and dividends are lucrative to investors in this industry but PepsiCo’s diversification, low short-term liquidity risk, low long- term solvency risk, make it a proficient asset application for PepsiCo stock look like a better investment. The competition between these two soda giants is strong. Having said that, there is still a point where price is not the issue but taste. Some people swear by the taste in this loyal brand market. These two corporations have concentrated on cultivating brand management through applicable advertising, marketing campaigns. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, â€Å"Coca-Cola remains the best globally recognized brand across all industries for ages, while PepsiCo’s brand ranked number 26 in year 2008.† PepsiCo has been able differentiate itself from competitors by tapping into other markets like chips and healthy alternative foods. While PepsiCo is known for their soda, their expansion is clear in showing there is a need for other things being non-soda. The time for vitality comes with diversification because there are true signs of a shift in consumption. The decrease in soda consumption raises PepsiCo. has positioned it to continue to remain profitable for its shareholde rs. The income statement of PepsiCo’s COS to sales percentage slightly rose from 43.31% in year 2004. Coca-Cola’s five-year average COS to sales percentage was only 35.26%, much lower than PepsiCo. Coca Cola was able to achieve a higher gross profit margin with lower COS to sales percentage. PepsiCo is the consequence of its tougher pricing structure. â€Å"PepsiCo arguably has the most diverse set of distribution systems of any consumer product company, including direct store delivery (DSD) at Frito-Lay and our bottling partners, warehouse delivery for Quaker products, and warehouse delivery and chilled DSD at Tropicana. The reach and scale of these systems provide considerable cost efficiency and system effectiveness in driving value. Our systems deliver product freshness and quality for the consumer; generate cash flow for our retail customers, and pro- vide economic value for PepsiCo. Our products respond very well to merchandising, and need to be replenished ofte n because they sell so quickly. By having our DSD associates deliver products and stock the shelves themselves, we save retailers money by doing this labor for them, and help make sure our products are fresh, available and displayed to our advantage.† http://www.pepsico.com/Download/2004-Annual-English.pdf According to the Business Insider, Coca Cola has 42% of the market share while Pepsi Co. has 31%. The annual revenue for two companies is $35.2 billion and $57.8 billion respectively. Coca Cola spending roughly $2 billion on advertising while their rival spend around $1.1 billion. http://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-vs-pepsi-timeline-2013-1?op=1 â€Å"PepsiCo is the largest food-and-beverage company in the United States, and the second-largest in the world, after Nestlà ©. If PepsiCo were a country, the size of its economy—sixty billion dollars in revenues in 2010—would put it sixty-sixth in gross national product, between Ecuador and Croatia. Many studies point to the ubiquity of high-calorie, low-cost processed foods and drinks as one of the major drivers of this condition. Snacks, in particular, play a role in childhood obesity, which is growing even faster than obesity in adults. Americans consume about fifty gallons of soda a year, more than four times the a verage per-capita consumption sixty years ago. Americans also ingest about thirty-four hundred milligrams of sodium per day, twice the recommended amount; sodium has long been linked to high blood pressure. almost half of PepsiCo’s business is overseas (thirty per cent of it in developing countries), foreign markets eventually tend to follow U.S. trends. The markets of the future may well be in â€Å"packaged nutrition†Ã¢â‚¬â€in enriched products like PepsiCo’s SoBe Lifewater, which contains vitamins, and in its pricey Naked line of fruit juices and smoothies, which contain antioxidants. Another growing category is â€Å"functional† foods and beverages, like varieties of the sports drink Gatorade, which PepsiCo markets for specific physiological or metabolic attributes. (Thanks to Gatorade’s new â€Å"fit series,† you can drink G1 Prime before you work out, G2 Perform during your workout, and G3 Recover when you’re cooling down.† http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/16/110516fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=2 The above quote taken from the New Yorker shows that diversity in such a highly competitive beverage market, diversity is needed. Coke depends on the consumption of their product. That is still their main source of revenue for the company. It could be said that maybe PepsiCo is too diverse. I would say I see this as an example of ensuring a proper return to the investor and keeping the integrity of the company. PepsiCo displayed advanced long-term affluence risk due to its higher debt to equity ratio of 1.24 and higher long-term debt to equity ratio of 0.68 on average, compared to Coca-Cola’s 0.90 and 0.29. The soda industry is wide and there are always new players but PepsiCo has managed its debt obligations more so than Coca-Cola by the measure of times interest earned ratio. PepsiCo had a better average return on common equity of 33.92% than Coca-Cola’s 30.29%, whereas both companies had similar return on assets with Coca-Cola’s 16.54% average only being slightly better. PepsiCo and Coca Cola are the leaders in the caramel color soda market. There earning regardless of the company you select show the investor that their staying power is evident. References Books Brigham, E, F, Erhhardth, M, C (2005). Financial Management Theory and Practice. Eleventh Edition. South Western Publishers Thomas, A, (2002). Introduction to Financial Accounting. Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill. Websites Kulawik, A (2009), The development of Coca Cola Advertising Campaigns, retrieved on November 29th, 2010 from, http://images.nexto.pl/upload/publisher/All%20Free%20Media/public/the_development_of_coca-cola_advertising_campaigns_(1886-2007)_demo.pdf Andrew (2002), A brief Pepsi History retrieved on November 29th 2010 from, Day, J (2008), Theme: Analyzing Financial Statements, retrieved on 30th November 2010 from Gattis ,C,G.(2009).Using Financial Ratios http://bluepointstrategies.com/uploads/White_Paper_-_Using_Financial_Ratios.pdf [30th November 2010]

Transformative Learning Theory and Multiple Intelligences Essay Example for Free

Transformative Learning Theory and Multiple Intelligences Essay This writer reflection paper is about transformative learning theory and multiple intelligences. Sunny Cooper (2004) stated that â€Å"the study of transformational learning emerged with the work of Jack Mezirow (1981, 1994, 1997). Transformational learning is defined as learning that induces more far-reaching change in the learner than other kinds of learning, especially learning experiences which shape the learner and produce a significant impact, or paradigm shift, which affects the learners subsequent experiences† (para. 2). Cooper and Wallace (2004) stated that â€Å"transformational learning was reviewed in four areas: (1) theories of transformational learning, (2) roles of participants in transformative programs, including students and instructors, (3) course content, environments and instructional activities as they relate to transformational learning, and (4) challenges for instructors who teach transformational material† (para. 1). According to Armstrong (2009), â€Å"the theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited. Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These eight intelligences are: Linguistic, Logical Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Naturalist† (para. 1). According to Wallace, she described Transformative Learning Theory as a adult education based theory that suggests ways in which adults make meaning of their lives. It looks at â€Å"deep learning,† not just content or process learning, as critical as those both are for many kinds of learning, and examines what it takes for adults to move from a limited knowledge of knowing what they know without questioning (usually from their cultures, families, organizations and society). It looks at what mechanisms are required for adults to identify, assess and evaluate alternative sources of information, often sources that may looks at how adults can identify,  assess and evaluate new information, and in some cases, reframe their world-view through the incorporation of new knowledge or information into their world-view or belief system. According to Mezirow (1991), the roles of participants in transformative programs, including students and instructors. The educators must help learners become aware and critical of their own and others assumptions. Learners need practice in recognizing frames of reference and using their imaginations to redefine problems from a different perspective (p. 11). According to Mezirow (1991), course content, environments and instructional activities help the students relate to transformational learning. The key idea is to help the learners actively engage the concepts presented in the context of their own lives and collectively critically assess the justification of new knowledge. According to Columbia University, the challenges for instructors who teach transformational material is very important because transformational teaching goal is to create independent, self directed, self-motivated learners who are capable of critiquing and directing their own work, who are open to alternative vie wpoints, and who have strongly developed higher order thinking skills (para 1). During the fifth week in class, this writer made up a question asking â€Å"In order to practice and teach transformative learning the instructor must experience transformative learning† The answer is True. This writer found one college on the Wed Site that teach instructor transformational learning. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/tat/pdfs/Transformational%20Teaching.pdf (Teacher Center located at the Columbia University in the city of New York. According to Armstrong (2009), Gardner, described the eight multiple intelligences theory in detail below and they are: 1. Linguistic Intelligence: the capacity to use language to express whats on your mind and to understand other people. Any kind of writer, orator, speaker, lawyer, or other person for whom language is an important stock in trade has great linguistic intelligence. Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence. 2. Logical/Mathematical Intelligence: the capacity to understand the underlying principles of some kind of causal system, the way a scientist or a logician does; or to manipulate numbers, quantities, and operations, the way a mathematician does. . In Howard Gardners words, it entails the ability to  detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking. 3. Musical Rhythmic Intelligence: the capacity to think in music; to be able to hear patterns, recognize them, and perhaps manipulate them. People who have strong musical intelligence dont just remember music easily, they cant get it out of their minds, its so omnipresen. According to Howard Gardner musical intelligence runs in an almost structural parallel to linguistic intelligence. 4. Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence: the capacity to use your whole body or parts of your body (your hands, your fingers, your arms) to solve a problem, make something, or put on some kind of production. The most evident examples are people in athletics or the performing arts, particularly dancing or acting. Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity as related. 5. Spatial Intelligence: the ability to represent the spatial world internally in your mind the way a sailor or airplane pilot navigates the large spatial world, or the way a chess player or sculptor represents a more circumscribed spatial world. Spatial intelligence can be used in the arts or in the sciences. 6. Naturalist Intelligence: the ability to discriminate among living things (plants, animals) and sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanist or chef. 7. Intrapersonal Intelligence: having an understanding of yourself; knowing who you are, what you can do, what you want to do, how you react to things, which things to avoid, and which things to gravitate toward. We are drawn to people who have a good understanding of themselves. They tend to know what they can and cant do, and to know where to go if they need help. 8. Interpersonal Intelligence: the ability to understand other people. Its an ability we all need, but is especially important for teachers, clinicians, salespersons, or politicians -anybody who deals with other people. During my teenage years, this writer assumed that people were born with special brains, special brains cells or special pysch power to out perform other people normal ability with in the eight multiple intelligences group. According to Gardner, he stated that it true that some people possesses all eight intelligences and can develop all eight to a reasonable level of competence. This writer knowledge from the class discussions and assigned  reading on multiple intelligences had enhance my understanding why some people exciled more in one or all of the multiple intelligence group. This writer no longer feels insecure to other people with a higher intelligence then mine. This writer multiple intelligence is the naturalist intelligence because I enjoy planting flowers in the garden and growing variety of vegetable in the garden. During the sixth week in class, this writer made up a question asking â€Å"Why did Dr. Howard Gardner introduce the multiple intelliences theory?† This writer answer was â€Å"Dr. Howard Gardner introduced the theory of multiple intelligences in his classic book, Frames of Mind in 1983. In this scholarly work Dr. Gardner provided extensive support for his proposition that there is more to intelligence than what shows up on an IQ score. Based on a unique definition of intelligence and eight criteria, he carefully describes how a broad array of evidence supports the powerful idea that the human mind possesses at least seven distinct forms of intelligence. In 1996 he added the eighth intelligence to the list, Naturalist, in recognition that the understanding of living things is not sufficiently covered by the original se ven intelligences. http://www.miresearch.org/mi_theory.html this web site gives you more in-depth detail about Dr. Howard Gardner and his eight multiple intelligences theory. According to Mezirow (1991) Transformative Learning Theory provides a structure and process through which to better understand adult growth and development. Early theorists including Jean Piaget and Maria Montessori, developed very thorough theories about childhood development and for years few scholars probed how adults learn and make meaning of their lives. Mezirow (1991) study on women returning to school as adults, discovered much of what we now know as Transformative Learning Theory, a theory that started with Mezirow and has been greatly enriched by many others. This writer is a transformative learning because I am a female adult over fifth years old and it is hard trying to re-train my brain to retain new information. The instructors and other staff members at Spring Arbor University helped developed my â€Å"frame of reference† by motivating me to enhance my mind by learning new information. According to Jack Mezirow (1991) the â€Å"frame of reference is defined as â€Å" Adults have acquired a coherent body of experience associations, concepts, values, feelings, conditioned response called frames of reference that define a  person life world. Frames of reference are the structures of assumptions through which a person understand the experiences. A frame of reference encompasses cognitive, co-native, and emotional components, and is composed of two dimensions, habits of mind and a point of view† (p. 5). References Cooper, Sunny., (2004). Theories of Learning in Educational Psychology: Jack Mezirow Transformational Theory. Retrieved December 14, 2012, http://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/humanist/mezirow.html Mezirow, Jack, (1991). Article called Transformative learning: Theory to practice (pp. 5- 11). Retrieved December 12, 2012 and Web Sit http://www.lifecircles- inc.com/Learningtheories/humanist/mezirow.html Smith, Mark K. (2002, 2008). Howard Gardner and multiple intelligences, the encyclopedia of informal education. Retrieved December 14, 2012, http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm. Wallace, Scott., (no year). Transformative learning Theory. Retrieved December 14, 2012., http://transformativelearningtheory.com/

Eco Hotel Business Plan

Eco Hotel Business Plan Business Plan ECO-REST Non-Profit Hotel Executive Summary The current hospitality and tourism market finds itself under threat, almost as a direct result of the heightened awareness of the impact that is being Imposed by the relatively new phenomenon that is know as climate change. The market: As an industry the hotel and hospitality sectors have an abundance of establishments, particularly in the Greater Miami areas. In essence it could therefore be argued that there is no need for yet another hotel. The answer to this viewpoint is that the proposed ECO-REST hotel project has two distinctive and unique features and benefits that provide it with a potentially new business model that, to a large extent, will enable the hotel to create its own niche marketplace. Further, the diversification into the non-profit arena, with the objective of feeding excess income out to support community based environmentally positive projects, does show that the non-profit hotel organisation can bring about change in an effective manner and one that involves every member of the local community. Customers: Research has shown that the business and leisure traveller are becoming more discerning; In particular this reveals itself in the concerns that are being expressed relating to business response to climate change. The overwhelming majority of consumers now believe that it is the duty of the hotel operator to encompass the improvement and changes needed to combat global warming and they are prepared to pay a premium to those establishment that can prove they have adopted eco-friendly systems and structures within their operational procedures and methods of trading. With 80% of travellers being of in favour of this position it is clear that there is a need for the hospitality organisations to adapt their objectives to a set of rules that takes into account the demands of the consumer and face the environmental issue. Alternatively, they face the risk of the loss of competitive advantage and market share, neither of which options would be received positively by shareholders who are the m ajor investors in the hotel sector. Hotel features: The features that are being included within the design and build of ECO-REST are intended to include all the latest technology and design that is being used and recommended as a template for reducing the impact that hotels have upon the environment. These include energy saving systems, methods by which the maximum benefit is gained from the use of daylight; solar and wind-power and the recycling of all basic discarded and waster material. The green features also extend beyond the needs of the building to address environmentally friendly systems in the garden and grounds belonging to the business. In fact the whole ethos of the business is to approach every aspect of the business operation of the basis of â€Å"how green can it be.† Research has shown that this approach not only provides a competitive advantage when seeking to increase market share but also has a positive affect upon the profitability of the business as well. Operating principles ECO-REST has a philosophy that is specifically designed based on giving back to the customer, which is the reason why it was decided that this project should be styled as a non profit making charitable organisation. This allows the business to have the extra flexibility to be able to donate to organisations of its choice that will be of positive use to the community and its environment. The Future There is little doubt that as the warning relating to climate change becomes more vocal people are going to become more strident in their demands for the traditional systems of commerce. It will not be acceptable in the future to react with cosmetic measures designed to appease. In the future consumers will want to proof of improvements. Hotels such as ECO-REST are examples of structures and establishments that contain that proof. Therefore there is little doubt that the opportunity exists to be able to take this business model and replicate it, not only in other areas of the US but also to the international community. Contents (Jump to) Executive Summary 1. Introduction 2 Target market opportunity 2.1 Tourism 2.2 Business Eco-travel 2.3 The hospitality and tourism market in Florida 3 Marketing 3.1 Tourist and corporate travel operators 3.2 Advertising and promotion 3.3 Strategic alliances 4 Competitors 4.1 Five forces analysis 5 Corporate strategy 5.1 Start up strategy 5.2 Operating principles 5.3 Operational programme 6 Management and governance structure 7 Financials 1. Introduction It is extremely rare to find a hotel establishment within the commercial market that operates on a non-profit making basis, with all excess revenue earned during the year being used for charitable purposes rather than to enhance shareholder/owner value. Similarly, few hotels have taken full advantage of all the green and eco-friendly and sustainable measures that are available to this sector of the hospitality industry. The ECO-REST hotel project is designed to fit within both of these criteria. ECO-REST Hotel, an establishment that will have 120 rooms and be based in Greater Miami, Florida, will make full use of all currently available environmentally friendly practices and partner with environmental organisations to donate all profits to help fund local green and sustainable projects. This report contains the proposed business plan for ECO-REST Hotel and will outline the research that has been conducted into the market, its competitors, the anticipated financial performance and req uirements for the project. 2. Target market opportunity Research has shown there is an increasing demand from tourists and business travellers for hotel establishments that took the incorporation of environmentally measures within their establishments seriously and were prepared to pay a premium for accommodation that fulfilled these requirements. 2.1. Tourism Although there are various forms of tourism[1] in the context of the ECO-REST project the concentration will be focused upon Ecotourism and sustainable tourism. In these two areas there are significant indicators that these forms are the future growth sectors of the industry, as can be evidenced from the following: From the beginning of the last decade it has been estimated that ecotourism has been growing at an annual rate of between 20% and 34%[2] Eco and sustainable tourism numbers in 2004 was outpacing the overall tourism industry growth by three times[3] Produces economic benefit for the local community, in terms of increased employment 62% of Americans consider it important to learn about other cultures when they travel[4] 80% of Americans consider hotels should take steps to protect the environment[5] and an increasing number base their accommodation selection upon these factors In addition to the above most research has indicated that these forms of tourism have economic benefits for the hotels and destinations. 2.2.  Business Eco-travel The corporate market is also becoming increasingly involved with environmental and sustainable issues[6]. This has occurred both because of the increasing national and international legislation that is being introduced to tackle the effects of climate change and is being influenced by the changing demands of their consumers. An integral part of annual reporting for the majority of corporations today is the inclusion of a corporate and social responsibility report (CSR). Within this document is included an overview of the business response and performance upon issues such as steps to make the corporation processes and operations more environmentally friendly and its contribution towards sustainability within the local community. Reducing the corporate carbon footprint is as essential element of these CSR performances and therefore the importance of the environmental impact of business travel, which hotel and hospitality accommodation is an element of, is becoming increasingly importan t for the business brand. The US travel industry is one of the economy’s largest sectors and produces revenues in excess of $100 billion per annum, of which 70% is spent on domestic travel. Of this domestic travel element approximately 45% is related to business travel and accommodation requirements. Based upon the fact that 80% of the US population believes that hotels should take a protective approach to the environment, it therefore is apparent that there is a considerable potential for revenue growth to be generated by offering corporate hospitality, with the product being enhanced to include the environmental and sustainable factor that are becoming increasingly important. 2.3.  The hospitality and tourism market in Florida As can be seen from the following graph (figure 1), the visitor numbers to Florida as a state has experienced a year on year growth of domestic, overseas, and Canadian visitor numbers since the turn of the century[7]. These numbers include both the business and tourism sectors. As can be seen from this graph, although the numbers of overseas an Canadian visitors have remained relatively flat for the period, the significant rise in domestic tourists has increased by nearly thirty percent as more US citizens are taking domestic vacations. In addition, the same research indicates that, of this number, approximately 44.3% uses hotels and other paid accommodation, which in 2007 equates to around 37.4 million guests to be accommodated. In terms of the hotel market specifically related to Miami, a recent report indicated that occupancy rates for the Greater Miami area for the first four months of 2008 were up to 80.5% with room rates averaging $196.61[8]. However, this position is expected to have slowed during the final part of the year and is likely to remain static for 2009 due to the global economic downturn. Nevertheless, as will be shown later within this report, these rates are considerably higher than the business plan for this project envisages. 3. Marketing ECO-REST hotel has set its target occupancy rate for the business at 70% with an average room rate, taking into account discounts and special offers, of $170. To achieve the targets set, a strategic marketing programme has been designed, which will concentrate upon the following three areas. 3.1.  Tourist and corporate travel operators Although a number of eco-tourists and business travellers tend to book and compile the component parts of their visits to Florida and Miami via the Internet, a large number still rely upon the services of external agencies. These include travel agents and tour operators. It is the intention of the business to create relationships with these organisations, particularly those that have an interest in eco and sustainable tourism and hospitality. To cement these relationships, the hotel will offer discounts at certain times and also provide evaluation and inspection visits, particularly at times of low occupancy, to enable representatives from these organisations to have a better understanding of the facilities offered by the hotel and its aims and objectives. 3.2.  Advertising and promotion It is important part of the strategic marketing programme for the business to promote the unique selling points (USP’s) of its business. Therefore, the focus of promotional material will be the environmentally friendly aspects of the business accommodation and the charitable support it provides to local and regional organisations directly involved with projects that address these issues. Furthermore, it will be necessary to ensure that the promotional message is directed to the most appropriate market segment. To achieve this objective the business intends to take a threefold approach. Promotion to destination organisations, such as cultural and nature attractions, including seeking to have the hotel advertised on their advertising literature Linking with members of such organisations through newsletters or other advertising based upon their membership lists Appropriate advertising targeted at the publications and media events relating to the issues that are relevant to the hotel’s aims and objectives In addition to these methods, it is intended to design an attractive website that displays and promotes all the important aspect of the hotel and its facilities. This will include visual and video images of the hotel and audio as well as written data and an interactive booking facility. The online promotion programme will also include a significant element of networking. This will be achieved by the creating of a corporate blog, interactive links with relevant organisations and charities and involvement with appropriate social networking sites, such as â€Å"You-tube†. 3.3.  Strategic alliances The third aspect of the marketing strategy for the business is to create strategic alliances with organisations and corporations that provide a fit for ECO-REST hotel’s USPs. Included amongst this selection will be the state tourist and environment offices, local NGO’s such as Friends of the Everglades and historical and cultural destination operators. To access the corporate market alliances will be formed local and regional trade and commerce associations supported by personal invitations to local corporations to visit the hotel and experience its facilities with the objective of securing occupancy from the out of areas suppliers and sales personnel that visit these businesses. It is anticipated that a targeted and disciplined marketing and promotional programme that incorporates the above described elements will enable the business to achieve its occupancy target within the first year of operations. 4. Competitors There are a considerable number of hotels and similar establishment in Florida and in the Greater Miami district. A reasonable segment of these hotels, due to their small sizes and limited facilities, would not present a competitive threat the ECO-REST’s project. Furthermore, in terms of specific comparisons, whilst most of the hotels have made certain attempts at becoming eco-friendly, many still have areas in this regard that require improvement. Evidence of this can be found at a website called Best Green Hotels, which reviews hotels and accommodation by a set of environmental indicators[9]. An example of this criterion can be found in appendix 2. The scoring system, based upon a â€Å"green† tree badge system, works in the following manner. 1 tree=1-4 ticks on the list 2 trees=5-9 ticks 3 trees=10-15 ticks 4 green trees=16-22 ticks 5 trees=27-29 trees 6 trees= 27-28 ticks 7 trees=29 ticks (maximum) A review of the 224 hotels listed for Florida and the six specific to a Miami search shows that none of these establishments have so far achieved a position of more than four stars. The aim for ECO-REST hotel is to create an environment that will enable the establishment to fulfil all of the stated criteria, thus achieving the highest award level offered by this listing. The intention therefore is to use this criterion as a guide to ensure that the environmental objectives of the business are achieved. 4.1.  Five forces analysis Addressing the hotel market in the Greater Miami area by using the five forces strategy developed by Michael Porter[10] it is anticipated that, whilst there are some concerns, the objective discussed earlier should place ECO-REST in a strong position to be able to gain a competitive advantage. Figure 2 Porters five forces Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_5_forces_analysis Rivalry Due to its location and brand awareness in the tourism and hospitality industry, the supply of hotel rooms in the Miami area is reasonably high, with a number of establishments that the tourist and business traveller. With the ECO-REST project involving the razing and rebuilding of an existing establishment it is unlikely that there will be any appreciable increase in the supply of room nights available in the area. Similarly, as the business average rate determinate is in line with current market rates it is considered unlikely that rivalry based upon price will be an immediate issue. It is further anticipated that the strategy being adopted by the ECO-REST hotel has a sufficient level of product differentiation to reduce the influence that rivalry might have upon its establishment[11]. In addition, research undertaken to date, mainly web based, has revealed few hospitality establishments operating on a non-profit basis apart from those directly aimed at the social service market, for example, those dealing with issues such as homelessness and persons experiencing social deprivation for a number of reasons. Supplier power Because the business is seeking to work through a number of strategic alliances within the travel industry and providing incentives from which these stakeholders will benefit, the level of supplier power will be reduced. An additional benefit in this respect will be accomplished by the fact that excess revenues from the ECO-REST project will be fed back to local environment and cultural project, thus leading to a level of competitive advantage that would not be achievable by the commercial hotel sector. With the requirement of creating â€Å"added value† for their shareholders, together with the cost of dividends, taxes and management benefit packages; these corporations will not be able to compete with the donation levels available to ECO-REST. Furthermore, the prospect of such funding will enhance the value of the relationship that ECO-REST will enjoy with local suppliers. Buyer power Buyer power is perhaps the most volatile element of the five forces framework to assess for two reasons. Firstly because the product has to match with the buyer’s or consumers purchasing determinates and demands and secondly because the experience has to match with their expectation in terms of satisfaction. However, based upon the researched that has been outlined in sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this proposal it is considered that the product offered by ECO-REST hotels addresses the first of these issues in that the hotel environment matches the increased demands for an environmentally friendly product. In terms of the second aspect, it is considered that, with the degree of quality attached to the hotel establishment and the anticipated service quality, the physical experience should exceed the consumers’ expectations. Substitute products Existing hotel establishments will find it impossible to match the product that is being offered by ECO-REST hotels without a severe disruption to their current trading levels. The benefit for ECO-REST is that this project is commencing with a â€Å"clean sheet† approach. This approach allows for the incorporation of eco-friendly systems at the design and construction stage of the project (see more detail in section 5). These will be applied to the building itself, its utilities and the external landscape. The cost of conversion or redevelopment of an existing hotel, particularly if undertaken by a commercially orientated organisation, would prove prohibitive to existing operators. Additionally, in the event that such organisations should decide to follow the lead set by ECO-REST hotel, the timescale for redevelopment provides this project with the benefit of being able to consolidate its market share and â€Å"first-mover† position in this niche sector of the hospitality market. Barriers to entry Barriers to entry into the niche market that is being anticipated within this project are considered to exist in the following areas: Non-profit structure The fact that the ECO-REST hotel is designed to be a non-profit organisation will reduce the numbers of new entrants by eliminating the commercial investor from this sector of the hospitality market as, if this model is followed; there is no commercial return on the investment made. Cost and timescale for development To commence a development of the nature of ECO-REST hotels does require the outlay of a considerable cost. Moreover, the timescale to completion is anticipated to be in the region of nine months. These factors will have a deterrent effect upon new entrants in two ways, particularly if this entrant is a commercially minded organisation. Firstly, the return on the investment in the short term will influence the level of costs attributable to the project. Secondly, the time taken for completion will provide first movers and preceding entrants, such as ECO-REST with the ability to establish the Brand and gain competitive advantage Strategic alliances The development of strong strategic alliances with the organisations as outlined in section 3.3 of this report, together with a programme that ensures continuing process of bi-directional and interactive communication between the ECO-REST business and these stakeholders will serve to reduce the potential of such organisations being tempted to change their allegiance to new entrants. Research has shown that, providing the right quality of service and commitment to stakeholders is maintained their inclination to change to a new promotional or revenue source will be reduced. Economic benefits As will be evidenced in the financial details contained within section 7, the reduction and elimination of the commercial elements from an operation that is conducted within the non-profit sector does present certain advantages to the beneficiaries of the product. In particular, in the case of this specific project those beneficiaries exist within two main areas. In the first instance of the profits (or excess revenues) from the ECO-REST project are being returned to the local economy. Secondly, and of equal importance, the project is designed to attract a more affluent and discerning visitor to the locale, which will increase revenues enjoyed by other commercial organisations situated in the Greater Miami district. Community benefits Finally, the project is designed to bring benefits to the local community. By increasing tax revenues to the district it enables the local authority to undertake more improvements to the community infrastructure and the environment in which its citizens dwell. Similarly, by increasing the funding available to local tourist natural and cultural destinations the project will improve the community’s enjoyment of their leisure facilities. 5. Corporate strategy Within this section of the business proposal the strategy and operational principles and procedures for the ECO-REST hotel project are presented and discussed in further depth. 5.1.  Start up strategy ECO-REST hotel is currently working closely with the WTO[12], a local architect and a US construction corporation renowned for their involvement with the construction of environmentally friendly buildings. With the increased levels of concerns relating to environmental issues and the desire to sustain local destinations and environments, it is anticipated that the planning application and approval stage of this development should be completed within two months of that application being lodged with the local authorities. Currently two sites are being evaluated and discussed concerning their suitability for the project. The basis for continuation of the project has been agreed to concentrate around the following format. The construction company, taking advantage of the favourable grants and loans available for the construction of environmentally friendly structures, have agreed to fund the cost of the building works. In return for this advantage, the property, when completed, will be leased back to ECO-REST for a period of forty years at a rate that is commensurate with current market values. Consideration is being given to extending this business model and concept throughout other US states in the future, thus increasing the funds available to local natural and cultural destinations and enhancing the lifestyle and economic wealth that attracts to the local community. This project will also serve the purpose of heightening the awareness of the population to the environmental issues and dangers currently being faced by the global community, whilst at the same time demonstrating that the solution to these issues does not always require the motivation of the profit or shareholder â€Å"added value† drivers. Furthermore, it will also show that, providing the desired relationships can be developed between social and environmental needs and the commercial ethos in a manner that merges the motivational needs and requirements of all of the stakeholders, each and every one of these stakeholders will benefit from the concerted effort required to complete and fulfil these pro jects. 5.2.  Operating principles The operating principles, or mission statement, that has been proven to be the driving force behind the ethos upon which this project has been developed is: â€Å"It is possible, by the building of a new and unique relationship between the varied objectives of numerous stakeholders, to create a vision for the future that satisfies the needs and aspirations of all of these parties.† Furthermore, following the success of this project it will also show that, providing corporations within the tourism and hospitality sector fulfil the promises that are made to other stakeholders within the supply chain, . Environment To ensure that the ECO-REST project addresses the environmental issues being faced by the global community in the twenty-first century, and to set an example for the future, the following are some of the environmental systems of improvements will be used in the construction and design of the new building. These methods are also intended to enhance the comfort of the experience for the guests who stay at the hotel. Building The basic structure will be circular in shape and all of the rooms will be build around a central core which will house on the ground floor the extra facilities such as the conferencing rooms, dining and lounge areas. A special glass central roofing section will be installed, enabled to warm the building in the winter and cool it during the summer. As many common areas as possible will be walled in glass (similar to the design on the book cover left). The advantage of this design and roofing is that it will increase the amount of daylight that penetrates the building, thus reducing energy usage. Much of the structural work will make use of recyclable materials. It has also been noticed that in standard hotels one of the major sources of energy waste evolves from the fact that the bedrooms and accommodation areas are often quite dark, even during the course of the day. To reduce the use of lighting in these areas the bedroom windows will stretch the width of the room. Moreover, the main doors will be panelled with non-see-through toughened glass to improve daylight access to the rooms from the centre of the hotel. Energy systems Modern environmentally friendly energy systems will be incorporated into the building. This will include the use of Geo-thermal underground heating, solar panelling for water heating and other power supply purposes. In addition, miniature wind turbines will be strategically placed around the building structure to support the efforts to make the hotel free from reliance upon fossil fuels. Water In terms of the water supply a grey water system will be installed to ensure that waste water is cleaned and recycled for use in such areas as the toilet system and for garden irrigation purposes. Additionally, modern water saving techniques will be used in the bathroom facilities and the central hotel laundry. Finally, water storage systems will be installed to ensure maximum usage of natural rainwater. Waste As much human waste as is possible will also be treated and recycled in the outdoor garden areas. Guests will also be encouraged to help in the recycling process through the provision of special bins in their rooms so that they can separate the waste paper etc that is left from their stay. Garden and landscaping It is intended to also extend the environmentally friendly and sustainable systems into the garden area with the designing and implementing of xeric gardens and, furthermore, one new tree will be planted in the grounds for each of the bedrooms and suites that the hotel offers in

Judiasm & Rastafarianism: A study of the Falashas Essay -- essays pape

Judiasm & Rastafarianism: A study of the Falashas In this research paper I will discuss the ethnic groups of Africans in the Caribbean and Jews in Ethiopia. Jews in Ethiopia call themselves Beta Israel which means `house of Israel.' They are also known as the Falashas. Falasha means `stranger' or `immigrant' in the classical language of Ethiopia (the Ge'ez tongue). I will also describe the culture of the African people displaced into the Caribbean who identify themselves as the Rastafarians and the connections I have made between them and Judaism. I believe that these connections between Judaism and Rastafarianism are more than just similarities that can be found between any two Bible- following religions. I choose the Falashas as the topic for personal, religious and spiritual reasons. I was born into a Jewish household, rich in the traditions and customs of my Hebrew ancestors. I grew up however in the Caribbean, home of the unique culture known as the Rastafari. Throughout my life I have felt a deep connection between Judaism and Rastafarianism. In this paper I seek the origins and history of the connection that I feel in my heart. I believe that the Falashas are the bridge between these two cultures. The connection of the Rastas to Ethiopia is a deep and mystical one. It would take hundreds of pages to illustrate the connections of this culture to Israel. In briefly describing their culture I attempt to illustrate what sparked my attention about the similarities between Jews, Falashas, and Rastas. The Rastas believe that they are originally and ancestrally Ethiopians. They were stolen from their homeland in times of slavery and brought to the `New World'. To say the least, the Rastafarians believe in many of the similar ... .... Leonard E. The Rastafarians. Boston: Beacon Press, 1977. Messing, Simon D. The story of the Falashas,"Black Jews"of Ethiopia. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Balshon Print. & Offset Co., 1982. Campbell, Horace. Rasta and Resistance. New Jersey: First Africa World Press Edition, 1987. White, Timothy. Catch A Fire. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1994. Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton. Reggae - The Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides, 1997. Chevannes, Barry. Rastafari - Roots and Ideology. New York: Syracuse Univ. Press, 1994. Rapoport, Louis. Redemption song: the story of Operation Moses. San Diego: Harcourt, 1986. Laing, Arlene. Introduction to Jamaica. URL:"http://lamar.colostate.edu/~laingg/" Eznoh, Michael. Jammin Reggae Archives. URL:"http://www.niceup.com/" Bob Marley - The Unofficial Home Page. URL:"http://www.won.nl/dsp/usr/svketel/Music/bmarley.html"

Mainstreaming: Does it Help Childrens Special Needs? Essay example --

Mainstreaming: Does it Help Children's Special Needs? Inclusion describes the practice of placing children with special needs in regular classrooms. Inclusion, also known as mainstreaming, gives all students the opportunity to learn from their individual differences. It allows special needs children to receive their education in a "normal society." Children with special needs are encouraged by the challenges that face them in a regular classroom. They also learn to defend themselves from the attitudes of other students. At the same time, non disabled students will learn to recognize and respect the talents and abilities of their peers. Mainstreaming focuses on providing services to students in a regular classroom setting rather than pulling them out to receive special services. For many schools, mainstreaming is the norm. All students, disabled or not do have the right to an equal opportunity in education. Kate Manners, an intelligent, funny, eight-year-old with cerebal palsy is an example of a disabled child striving for her opportunity in a regular classroom. Sometimes it takes a very large key to open even a small door (Baldrige, 1). Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was the key to her door of education. After attending the Schreiber Pediatric Center in Lancaster for children with disabilities, her parents, professors, and therapists, felt that she was ready for the public school system. The recommendation of the multi-disciplinary evaluation team from Rohrerstown Elementary in the Hemfield School District in Lancaster was for her to attend a kindergarten class in another school that provides support and student aid for those students not ready to attend a regular kindergarten class. After one y... ...r extra help in certain subjects. All of this scheduling can become distractive to the classroom. A third issue that faces mainstreaming is the budget constraints. The cost of providing all the needs of disabled children is especially high. The costs of the teachers aids, and therapy can put a strain on public school districts budgets. Educators d parents. If administrators, teachers, and parents come together to learn about the change then they can open up a new world of education for children. Mainstreaming allows disabled and non disable children to learn and grow together. This experience helps them to deal with individual differences and to learn to look beyond them. In my opinion mainstreaming is only a positive outcome for the education of children. Both disabled and nondiabled students have the right to an equal occupation despite their differences.

Patriot :: essays research papers

THE PATRIOT FADE IN: EXT. THE SWAMPS OF SOUTH CAROLINA - NIGHT Dark. Ominous. Kudzu hangs from the swamps maples. A dark and forbidding place. A bird CRIES EERILY in the darkness. Insects HUM ominously. SUPERIMPOSITION: FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR A detachment of French soldiers with several wagons makes it's way along a muddy road cut through the swamp. The soldiers are wary, scanning the underbrush, weapons ready. In the swamp, parallel to the road, SHADOWED FIGURES, hidden among the brush, silently track the French soldiers. As the lead wagon rolls over a muddy puddle, straddling it, a MUD-COVERED FIGURE, reaches up, grabs the wagon's undercarriage, pulls itself up and clings, unseen to the underside of the wagon. The figure, obscured by the mud, barely looks human. As the other wagons roll over other muddy depressions in the road, three more mud-covered figures reach up, grab and cling to the underside of other wagons. FORT CHARLES The gates are opened. The relieved French soldiers quicken their pace and hurry into the relative safety of the fort. In the fort yard the weary detachment disperses. UNDER THE LEAD WAGON The first dark, mud-covered figure silently drops to the ground and draws a distinctive TOMAHAWK from his belt as the other figures drop from the other wagons. The figures crawl through the shadows toward the sentries who are closing the main gates. THEY SPRING... the lead figure dashes forward, raises his TOMAHAWK and HACKS DOWN at a TERRIFIED FRENCH SENTRY... The other muddy figures join the attack... stifling the screams of the French soldiers with VICIOUS KNIFE SLASHES... gaining precious seconds... A FRENCH SOLDIER CRIES OUT... sounding the alarm... other FRENCH SOLDIERS come running out of the darkness... The four muddy figures, make a stand at the gate, brutally killing the French soldiers as they come, holding the gates open as... Dozens of other muddy figures race out of the surrounding swamp, tearing through the fort gates, joining the slaughter... The lead figure, HACKS, again and again with his tomahawk... Blood and flesh cover his arm as the vicious blade rises and falls amid the SCREAMS in the darkness... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTRYSIDE - DAY Beautiful sunlight. AERIAL SHOT of a post rider galloping along a road through peaceful untamed woodlands. Soaring old-growth elms arch over riverside maples along the shores of the gently curving, deep-water Santee River. SUPERIMPOSITION: SOUTH CAROLINA April, 1776 The post rider rides along a raised swamp road. On either side of the road, gorgeous shafts of sunlight pierce the canopy falling onto soft, swaying ferns that cover the high grounds. Hundreds of BIRDS SING. The water is clear, with fields of floating lily pads, each with a stark white flower rising from it. EXT. FRESH WATER PLANTATION - DAY

Demonstrative Communication Essay

â€Å"Communication is an exchange of information, verbal pr written message and is the process of sending and receiving message†. () With communication there must be a sender and a receiver for it to take place. In this paper I will provide examples how effective and ineffective demonstrative communication can be positive or negative on situations. Also I will explain how demonstrative communication involves listening and responding. Demonstrative communication is nonverbal and unwritten communication thought facial expression or body language. Effective ways for a sender and receiver to communicate in a demonstrative way would be to send the right message. Sender would want to make sure the receiver comprehends and understands the sender. For example Kinesics: â€Å"refers to the many behaviors of the body†() these would include posture, gestures, and facial expressions. To make a positive gesture one could give the sender two thumbs up letting them know they did a great job. Letting the sender know they understand the message. A negative gestures would be a frown or to raise an eyebrow. This would provide feedback to the sender letting them know you disagree. Effective communication is a two way street for the sender and receiver. Ineffective ways for sender and receiver to communicate would be if the sender was demanding or ordering the receiver for something, and persuading or lecturing them. For example, using words like â€Å"you must† this may make the receiver think you are being demanding and they may resent you. Lecturing the receiver is another negative way to communicate with them. This may cause them to feel like they are wrong. Hepatic is a powerful form of communication. This would include giving the sender a pat on the back letting them knows you understand and everything was great. A native communication result would be a slap in the face. This would lead to many problems. Demonstrative communication between the sender and receiver will be positive if the sender does not overload the receiver with to much information at one time. If the receiver provides active listening or reading, this will allow the receiver to engage in what the sender is trying to get across to them. Demonstrative communication can also be negative if the receiver has a lack of eye contact or crossing of the arms. Things like this tell the sender one may not be interested in their message they are trying to get across. Provide feedback is a part of responding and giving the sender insurances that you are listening and understood what was being said. With demonstrative communication for example, one can respond by providing feedback like, â€Å"What I’m hearing is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This lets the sender know you are listening to the message.

Language Change Essay

The history of slope voice communication has seen many a nonher(prenominal) transfigures everywhere referable to sociable and pagan influences with an array of reactions from its physical exercisers. English has wobbled due to the ever emerging technologies and the need use them as efficiently as possible. The views and determine of its users consider a huge fix on the direction phraseology takes in the way it changes and develops. Although there are many people who accept and embrace the changes in lecture, there are just as many people whom believe otherwise. massess views of one another and societal cultural values change over time and this affects the connotations attached to tidingss and ideas. The users of a run-in are the sole energise to why words change or lose meaning to be come about obsolescent because their current perceptions will be reflected in the row. A number of words have come to carry informal connotations due to the idea becoming a taboo to pic of conversation, and then people utilise other words along with form language to imply these ideas. Words such as hussy and slut, which sooner meant housewife and untidy, have come to mean promiscuous women and loose women.This reflects the change in perception of womens gender and social roles, and how women are being sporting to be seen as sex objects. As words rat gain meaning, they can also lose meaning. An example of this is the word fuck, which origin totallyy had the connotations relating to sex and intimate activity, it is now employ freely as a means to submit many different emotions and no overnight thought of as a sexual word although the connotations still exist. Words change to suit the needs of its users of the current time, sometimes the original meaning is carried until today epoch others change drastically.It is argued that texting has destroyed the language with all its shorthand and the language is going down-hill because immature people are not utilise language correctly, however many linguist believe otherwise. The use of cut language has been used ever since the language began to be compose down and it is not just used by the young people tho people of all ages. History shows that Anglo-Saxon scribes used abbreviations such as & for and and 3 for three, which have now even off become standard, this proves that texting is not what initiated written language to be used this way. The growth of abbreviated language paired with the need for fleetwritten communication has caused the language to be used with less grammar and therefore the language is not used correctly. However, Charlie Higsons (author) says that the only turn tail language needs to perform is to be tacit and therefore correct use of grammar is not necessary in spontaneous contexts. These people, oftentimes referred to as grammar Nazis, are bothering with language in quite a the wrong way as denotative by Stephen Fry.The English language has always c hanged and will continue to change as long as its users social cultural views and values change, and as the contexts in which the language can be used expand. bulk will have an opinion on the changes in language, irrespective of time. Whether they like it or not language change is inevitable, therefore its users should see this in a irrefutable light and help change the language so it can become to a greater extent expressive and diverse.