The United States - 1777 Words

Recently emerging as a significant trend amongst the health-conscious community, quinoa has become a symbol of healthy and organic living across America. Due to this sudden rise in demand, this Bolivian superfood has been hitting the shelves of stores around the country faster than ever. This journey to American supermarket shelves is one that has recently come under scrutiny for its effects on the environment and the Bolivian farmers who grow and harvest it. In this paper, I will discuss the details of the importation of quinoa from Bolivia, the impact this grain has had on the natives of Bolivia and the environment as a whole, and the symbolic and material value this grain possesses in the everyday culture of the United States. The†¦show more content†¦The means of production are not owned by Ancient Harvest, rather the company purchases the quinoa from the small farming communities, but in order to ensure the organic quality that is expected in their quinoa the company sp onsors farmer support programs that help farmers achieve organic certification and educate them on practices like using organic fertilizers and pesticides (Ancient Harvest). The company helps enable the means of production through these programs, as well as provide funding for certain projects that assist the quinoa production, such as the building of a road in one of the farming communities that helped them access better, higher altitude quinoa fields (Ancient Harvest). Though the company seems to be ethical with their suppliers, the company’s website fails to include any details as to whether their products are fair trade certified, which means their products are not fair trade certified. This leaves that possibility that Ancient Harvest’s suppliers could be subject to unethical practices. The company markets the healthy aspects of its products heavily, clearly stating the fact that their product was organically grown, gluten-free, and kosher. The company also really highlights their prosperous 30-year relationship with the Bolivian farmers they trade with, but the absence of a Fair Trade certification leaves the conscientious consumer to wonder if the

The Glass Ceiling A Human Capitalist Perspective

The Glass Ceiling: A Human Capitalist Perspective The glass ceiling is an invisible barrier preventing women and minorities from advancing into upper management (Bell 67). Despite extensive legislation and the widespread implementation of equal opportunity policies, there is still widespread structural inequality and job segregation in organizations throughout the United States. The level of the `glass ceiling varies among organizations and is reflected in different employment patterns, hiring practices, and promotion plans (Adler 451). The purpose of this paper is to provide background as well as a more in-depth analysis of the glass ceiling phenomenon and apply a human-capitalistic theorist perspective to the issues. Women are†¦show more content†¦Women are perceived as being less knowledgeable or less qualified than men. They are also viewed as being less responsible or unreliable, due to family related issues, than men are. In addition, women are seen to be less committed to labor force participation than men. High turnover rates and low productivity levels in females-dominated occupations produce this stereotype (Adler 450). Gender stereotypes of this nature result in loss of opportunity for women to gain the necessary job experiences for advancement (Bell 67). Women s advancement often stops short of the general management level as a partial result of discrimination by white men in positions of power, which include the differences of developmental job assignments they are afforded (Ohlott 46). Developmental job assignments have been found to be one of the most important factors in preparing both men and women for upper-level management positions (Ohlott 46 - 47).If women do not experience these same job assignments, they may be less prepared than men for handling future upper-level management jobs. These types of job assignments lead to high-level positions, make managers more visible, and prepare them for future jobs. With men being in the top ranks

The Relationship between Medical Technology Free Essays

It Is Important to study biochemistry if you want to be a medical technologist, because it is a basic knowledge required in a clinical practice. It is an Important building block if you are going to study medicine. Biochemistry discusses the chemistry of various body portion Like the blood, urine or any other fluids, since medical technologists analyze those to determine a disease. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship between Medical Technology or any similar topic only for you Order Now Biochemistry will help medical technologists understand physiological disorders and diseases. In geochemistry we study about the cell It’s parts, functions and chemical reactions, a medical technologists should understand the cell because It Is the cell, which Is being observed whenever someone Is trying to figure out what Is wrong with his or her health. There Is what we call the â€Å"CB† or complete blood count this Is an evaluation of the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, If you know nothing about cells it will be impossible for you to figure out what is doing okay and what is not, if there is a difference or if something is wrong, if you don’t know about all the acacias then you can not perform your job as a medical technologists well. There are many other test associated with the cell so it is important to know about basic properties first before moving into much advance subjects so that you will have a guide or you can prepare yourself or at least you already have an idea on what you will do. Also we study about carbohydrates, learning and understanding carbohydrates is essential so one medical technologists can monitor your blood’s glucose level, to know if you have diabetes or not. Because high level of glucose is usually a sign of diabetes. Proteins is also one of the lessons being taught in biochemistry Protein builds, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. The right amount of protein is important in our diets, for growth and repair, and also protein is a important building block in the body. Proteins can be antibodies, hormonal, enzymes and contractile proteins, so that is why I think it is a must that medical technologist know about it because it provides structural support and it is a defense against germs and infections. Lipids is also being discussed, it is important o medical technology because it is the bulk of a living matter is made up of lipids, Lipids carry fat soluble vitamins and form special bimolecular. Lipid imbalance can lead to serious diseases like obesity and atherosclerosis. Break down of fatty acid produce energy, excessive breakdown cause ketosis, acidosis’s, coma and death. And It Is the Job of a medical technologist to figure this out before things become worst. Biochemistry talks about nucleic acids about DNA and RNA and etc. Tests of DNA and RNA can be used to find most of the conversions found by cytokine tests. They can also find some conversions or change Involving parts of chromosomes too small to be seen under a microscope with usual cytokine testing. This type of advanced testing can help classify some leukemia and, less often, some sarcomas and carcinomas. These tests are also useful after treatment to find small numbers of remaining leukemia cancer cells that may be missed under a fluids because Medical technologists are known to perform and analyze the results of complex scientific tests on blood and bodily fluids. One of the MAJOR subject a tech student would encounter is homology and I like to believe that biochemistry will serve as a guide for us to be prepared and have basic idea about that subject. When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your total health. That is why it is important for a certain mediate to know or analyze so he/ she can deliver test results to a doctor or patient. And of course there is urine, urinalysis have, for hundreds of years, been one of the ways physicians have looked at health, studying urine might not be the best thing to do but it will all be worth it in the end. One should be accurate and analyze things well and I think everything will Just be fine. I know there is a lot more because after doing this I concluded that maybe biochemistry is one of medical technologies bestrides because they are so much alike and it comes hand in hand. After doing this essay I realized that biochemistry is not Just something you should be â€Å"easy easy’ with because it will play a major role in those major subjects that doesn’t sound easy, I’m glad this serves as an eye opener for me to do my best, listen and study really well. How to cite The Relationship between Medical Technology, Papers

Ways to Prevent Accident free essay sample

Accidents are unpredictable happenings that can catch anyone off-guard when you least expect it. Thats why the simple, yet so overlooked prevention methods need to be taken into consideration before going on the road. 1. Carefully look both ways — twice — before entering an intersection. It’s easy to miss an oncoming car at first glance because it’s hidden by your car’s windshield frame. A second look only takes a second and it might avoid a serious collision. Don’t accelerate into an intersection the instant the light turns green. This is a good way to get rammed by someone running the red light who’s coming from the other direction. 3. Look right before pulling out. After waiting for traffic from the left to clear before you make your right-hand turn, don’t forget to look to the right again just before you proceed. Pedestrians or cars may have suddenly materialized in your path while you were waiting to turn. We will write a custom essay sample on Ways to Prevent Accident or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 4. Anticipate unexpected changes in traffic. For example, if you’re in a fast-moving lane with empty road ahead and the next lane over is backed up, be prepared for impatient motorists to dart into the lane in front of you. 5. Know your blind spots. Find out where your blind spots are when checking the road behind you in your mirrors. You might have to turn to look directly into the lanes beside you to avoid missing something left undetected by your mirrors. This is particularly important when changing lanes — don’t just rely on your mirrors. 6. Watch other drivers’ blind spots. Practice extra caution when passing large vehicles, such as semi trucks, which have less maneuverability and even larger blind spots. If you can’t see a truck’s mirrors, chances are its driver can’t see you. 7. Watch for children and pets. Pay special attention to posted speed limits around schools and in residential areas; children and pets may unexpectedly dart into the street. 8. Don’t tailgate. Leave enough space between yourself and the car ahead of you, when traveling and when stopped. On the highway, this may save you from a fender bender. Remember to leave even more room if the roads are slick. If you stop on a hill behind a car with a manual transmission, the extra room may save you from being rammed if the car slides back. Leaving yourself extra room can also help you make a quick exit if you’re approached by a carjacker in a dubious neighborhood. 9. Keep your car operating safely. Don’t procrastinate about performing safety maintenance and repairs on your car. Check tire tread depth and pressure regularly. Have your brakes checked and wheels aligned as soon as they need it. 0. Go back to school. Go to a high-performance driving school to learn accident avoidance maneuvers and how to control skids. Understanding how to make your car do what you want it to do in emergency situations could save your life. These tips can help you prevent a car accident, although they are not fool-proof. You can control your own actions on the road, but not the actions of other drivers. Nevertheless, taking steps to keep y our driving at its best can keep you – and others around you – safer on the roads.

Joya de la Tierra Essays - Joya, Malalai Joya,

-104775295275 Settle at Joya de la Tierra00 Settle at Joya de la Tierra NEY YORK TIMES August 24, 1825 Come down here and join us at Joya de la Tierra where we only charge twelve and a half cents for one acre. Right now we have our own doctor in commission who has cure d ninety-five percent of his pa t i ents. We also have our own church in the process of being used with its own preacher for the Christian faith. If you can just pledge loyalty to Mexico, practice Christian faith and speak Spanish, we will give you and your whole family seven years of no taxes except for tobacco. Right now we have fifty families have come from Ireland to New York in our colony right now and are expecting twenty more coming in the summer. Once my friend comes over and settles here from Mexico he will be happy to teach Spanish to the colonists. 7143751255395 A New Life Starts Here at Joya de la Tierra A New Life Starts Here at Joya de la Tierra Although we suffered a brief drought over last summer, this spring has given us lovely green lands and fields full of crops. Soon if we get enough people I will start putting in ranches for have the prices of acres. Right now I have settled with the Natives of when they come through for trade and when they can hunt or plant. 4495800246380 For 7 years020000 For 7 years 12477752190750 4762530797500

Essential elements of Calvinism Essays

Essential elements of Calvinism Essays Essential elements of Calvinism Essay Essential elements of Calvinism Essay Essay Topic: Religion John Calvin published his first edition of Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536 as he arrived in Geneva, having being expelled from his native France. Two years later, Calvin left Geneva due mainly to opposition from the council, which was increasingly dominated by Articulants who were strongly opposed Calvin and all that he stood for. From Geneva, Calvin travelled to Strasbourg where he learnt much from Strasbourgs reformer, Martin Bucer. During his time in Strasbourg Calvin worked on his institutes that expressed Calvins key beliefs and was an important element to Calvinism. Calvins theology also gave an all important representation of the reformers plans and ideas, and gave the people a clear portrayal of what was seen to be right and wrong, undoubtedly an important essence to Calvinism. The Ecclesiastical ordinances organised the reformation and were a great success to the movement. The consistory was also a key element in the success of Calvinism in the years of 1536-1564 with a strong ability to keep the population in order. Lastly, the use of French missionaries was a major element in Calvinism especially the spread of the movement across Europe. According to John Lotherington, the Institutes was the single most important book written by any of the Protestant reformers. The Institutes experienced prolific development from just six chapters in 1536 to a restructured published edition in 1539 of nearly three times the length; this continued to flourish and reached eighty chapters by 1559. The fact that they developed so extensively in length shows that Calvins views, and therefore the key ideas in his theology developed over time, according to Keith Randell; his ideas changed and developed in the light of his experiences and further study. Calvin possessed great intelligence and was very familiar with the Bible and writings of the early Church Fathers so was able to effectively express his ideas in a way which would make his ideas inarguable. Calvin had the advantage of being a second generation reformer and this is clearly revealed in his Institutes and many of the ideas expressed are in line with those of Luther but not Zwingli whom Calvin clearly regarded as being second rate, (Randell). Sola fide, (Faith Alone), was taken as the key principle, only faith was able to compensate for mankinds weakness when it came to obeying the law of God, the priesthood of all believers was accepted as a logical consequence of that. Sola scriptura, stated that the Bible alone should be the source of authority for Christians rather than the traditions of the Church or the Popes statements. Calvin was also in agreement with Zwingli and Luther in the view that there were only two sacraments, baptism and the Eucharist. However, the Institutes provided a logical statement of Protestant ideas and teachings and were far superior and important to Luthers, as Luther merely wrote pamphlets. The Institutes enabled Calvin to develop the traditional doctrine of predestination into a doctrine came to be known as double predestination, according to Randell it is the most widely known aspect of Calvins religious thinking. The original theology of predestination from St Augustine stated that God had predestined those who will go to heaven while the rest will have their fate determined by their sin, this was an idea supported by Luther. However Calvins double predestination stated that God had already decided who would go to heaven and who would go to hell, but a persons outcome could only be known after death. This could be interpreted by people as meaning that whatever they did in life did not matter, so sinning would have no effect to whether they go to heaven or hell. However, Calvin was quick to suggest that those who considered themselves damned (to hell) should not use this as an excuse to continue their evil ways, (Randell). Dont know what to do with this or if do include it at all. The Institutes of the Christian Religion outlined Calvins protestant reformation ideas and therefore were key elements in Calvinism. They played a major role in defining Calvins plans for Geneva and the spread of his ideas across the state. Calvin disregarded Zwinglis early teachings which ostensibly reduced the Eucharist to a mere tribute and symbolisation of the Last supper, Calvin stressed that the believer is fed with the substance of Christ. However, this statement is not to say that Calvin was in agreement with Luther who regarded the believer was fed with the physical substance of Christ transubstantiation, Calvin saw the bread and wine as a real but spiritual substance (Lotherington), that the believer consumed at the Eucharist. According to Woodward, Calvin attached less significance to the Eucharist than either Luther or Zwingli, perhaps he was well aware of the theological disputes generated by this subject, showing that perhaps Calvin wished to keep people on his side. As well as disagreeing with transubstantiation, Calvin also denounced indulgences, celibacy and pilgrimages and the most important doctrine to him was the justification by faith. Calvins theology was outlined in the Institutes of the Christian Religion and in four books that explained and expanded on Calvins religious beliefs, and was an invaluable aspect in developing the essential elements of Calvinism. According to Imperato the theology of Calvin was more daring than Luthers moderate beliefs and says that it offers a major alternative to the Lutheran vision of Protestantism. The four books were The Knowledge of God and the Creator, The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ, on the manner of receiving the grace of Christ and on the outward means by which god invites us into the fellowship of Christ. In his first book Calvin outlined his ideas about God, such as the ideas that God is omnipotent and omniscient. In his second Calvin explored sin, an important factor as Calvin perceived much of the Genevan population as particularly unspiritual, (Randall). This book also gave the Genevans security as made clear that if they knew the real truth (Calvinism) they would go to heaven. This book therefore gave to the Genevans in Calvinism and in turn support to Calvin. The third book outlined Calvins ideas about the holy spirit belonging only to believers hearts and that God chooses who will have eternal life and who will be condemned, these ideas would have an important role in keeping control over the people and affecting their actions. The book would encourage citizens to behave if it makes clear that god has a decision over who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it would also encourage people to embrace Calvinism if they wished to possess the Holy Spirit. The Fourth and final book described the organisation of the Church which was expanded on in his Ecclesiastical Ordinances and was a critical element of Calvinism and the imminent success of it. Calvins theology expressed the importance of congregational singing, which would have brought the church and the citizens together more, helping the population feel more at one with the church. Calvins theology gave a clear portrayal of the ideas behind the movement and played a major part in helping the population understand what they were meant to do and how they were meant to act. During his time in Strasbourg Calvin learned a lot from the citys leading reformer, Martin Bucer, and on his arrival back in Geneva in 1541 Calvin presented his plans for the reorganisation of the Church to the council, this was known as his Ecclesiastical Ordinances. He made it clear on his return that he would only remain in the city if these Ordinances were ratified with the Council and Calvin based his whole institutional Church reform around these ordinances so they were undoubtedly an essential element of Calvinism. The Ecclesiastical Ordinances created a civil and religious structure around which Calvin could foster and guide a community of believers (Armstrong). The Ordinances were partly set up in union with the Little Council which implicated that the Church and State had their own independence but also needed to work together, which ensured that Calvin could work within the system. Calvin proposed four types of church officer, which he had the likes of in Strasbourg, Pasto rs, Doctors, Deacons and Elders. Pastors would preach, teach, administer the sacraments and generally guide citizens in a Christian way of life by proclaiming the word of God (Woodward) They would meet weekly to discuss the Bible, they formed the Company of Pastors. The Doctors were to instruct the faithful in sound doctrine (Woodward), they took some of the load off the pastors in explaining the scriptures and teaching the community the true doctrine. The Deacons task was to look after the sick and needy (Lotherington) An aim was to keep vagrants off the street through offering support and by acting as an early version of the welfare state (Lotherington). This was particularly necessary in Geneva at the time given the fact that Calvinism meant an end to Catholicism and therefore an end to Catholic alms giving. Elders were appointed by the Government and met once a week to oversee the consistory; they were to supervise every persons conduct and so were spread out throughout the city to keep an eye on all of it. Calvin was not setting up a Church in rivalry to the authorities of the state; he was incorporating those authorities into the Church (Lotherington). This shows that the Ecclesiastical Ordinances gave a great sense of structure and organisation to the reformation and Calvinism itself. The fact that the Church and the authorities were working in conjunction with each other was an essential element to the overall success of Calvinism. Calvin made extensive use of French missionaries and without them Calvins word would never have spread as far as it did. The use of French missionaries is significant as it shows that Calvin only really trusted his fellow countrymen, and there was a regular influx of French immigrants to the city particularly in the 1550s. Some of the immigrants had come to the city to train as missionaries but Calvin was aware that training was inadequate, (Lotherington). Lotherington says this because the training was given by the Company of Pastors, but they were very hard pressed as it was. In 1559, the Genevan academy opened to train clergymen in the ideas of Calvinism and encourage missionary activities abroad (Imperato). The missionaries were not only used to spread the word but also to train other missionaries, this ensured that the cycle would continue and that many more people, not just in Geneva, but throughout Europe would hear Calvins ideas. The Institutes of the Christian Religion clarified the key elements of the Calvinist Reformation clear. Without the Institutes Calvins ideas and plans may not have been so evident and therefore the spread of Calvinism would not have been so wide. The Institutes outlined the theology of Calvinism which gave a clear insight into Protestantism and the ideas behind it. Calvins theology enabled the Genevan people to understand what they should believe in terms of religion and morality, i. e. what is right and what is wrong. The fact that Genevans were clear on what they should believe in terms of religion, i. e. the Eucharist meant that the ideas could successfully spread. The Ecclesiastical Ordinances helped to give a strong sense of structure and organisation to the reformation and Calvinism itself. They also led the way for the Church and authorities to work together which would prove to be a crucial element in the success of Calvinism. The Consistory was also an essential element in Calvinism as it imposed strict moral and social regulation s on the Genevan population to keep order and maximise control. The Consistory also ensured that the citizens kept to the religion as they should, the people of Geneva could do little to resist the Consistory and could in turn do little to resist the spread of Calvinism. Finally the use of French missionaries was a strong element in the dispersal of Calvins ideas across Geneva as well as the rest of Europe, without the missionaries spreading Calvins words it is very doubtful that Calvinism would have grown as successfully as it did.

Robin Hood Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Robin Hood - Research Paper Example Strategically, the size of the group is problematic; however, the charismatic charm of the leader and his predisposition to reward the poor by stealing from the rich may compensate for this. New members are added on a regular basis, but there is a lack of screening, which allows for potential infiltration by enemy spies. While non-violent solutions may be the most desired outcome for the project, RAE has recognized that it has been contracted by terrorists and therefore must take into account that this band of thieves has little to no honour amongst them. The goal of killing the Evil King is, unfortunately, the most effective when weighed against the likelihood for a peaceful, negotiated settlement. The management and sustainability of the band and its place in the community following the project must also be explored: once the project is complete, how will the band align with Barons and other Officials? These questions must be addressed in to determine the longer term effects for th e community as a whole. â€Å"It should be stressed that civil society is not only a descriptive category but also a normative one for it presupposes a certain level of civic culture and civic consciousness.† (Pietrzyk, D. 2003) Continuity and the necessity for maintenance of the team will be factors at the termination of the project.

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

Trap - Essay Example Today's "consumer society" has further strengthened this trap. Since the industrial age, social bonds that were previously an essential part of everyday life have become only secondary concerns amidst the new forms of collective behavior espoused by large commercial institutions, where individuality is no longer valued. Individuals are now replaceable cogs in a wheel, not an essential part of anything deemed "important" in the grand scheme of things. It is true what Mills says: an increasing awareness of events in the wide world leads to an increasing awareness of one's powerlessness, with the seeming irrelevance of everyday life amidst the workings of contemporary society, "with its alienating methods of production, its enveloping techniques of political domination," so that individuals are not able to fully understand the greater sociological patterns related to their private troubles. Examples are everywhere. One is the women of today; feminism and related movements, while ensuring that women are no longer relegated to being "domestic goddesses," also throw them into ambivalence about their roles in the family.

Ancient Art Forms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ancient Art Forms - Essay Example From the Louvre museum I will look at the Stele of a master craftsman. The stele is made out of limestone. It was found in a place called Abydos where many Egyptians went for pilgrimage. The stele has fifteen lines of hieroglyphic text covering its body. It symbolizes the Egyptian ritual of pilgrimage. There are religious images below the text that symbolize the Egyptian practice of making offerings to their gods and goddesses. In the same museum we have the ‘Spoon in the form of a bound ibex†. It is curved out of tamarisk wood. It is a spoon with an animal body sculpture. The animal body represented is a Nubian Ibex which is a desert animal. It represents the Egyptian Environment which is primarily a desert and the Egyptian culture of being animal hunters. Finally I will highlight works from the Smithsonian Institution Freer Gallery and Sackler Gallery. First I look at A Journey to Xiangtangshan. This is a stone sculpture carved into the mountains in northern China. They represent a moment of glory of the Qi (â€Å"Chee†) dynasty as they were curved to mark the achievements of the dynasty. The mountains are covered with limestone and as a result the sculpture was curved out of limestone. Finally from the same institution, I go through the â€Å"Fresco†. It is a rock painting found in the Ajanta caves in India. It represents the way of life at the time of the people in India, their belief and cultural practices. Starting with the metropolitan museum I will look at the Statuette of an African also known as Ethiopian.

Analysis Of The Industry: Porters Five Forces

Analysis Of The Industry: Porters Five Forces After the three decades of the war ended the political situation in the country is stable and the current government enjoys 2/3 of the majority of the parliament and president remains the most popular person in the country. But the political turmoil surrounding the Middle East and Iran affecting the local export market since most of the tea products were export to the Middle East market. Also, the economic sanctions impose by the United States and the European Union on Iran affecting the local export market. 2.2 Economic Environment The fluctuating exchange rates are affecting the local producers since most of them import the raw material from China and India and produce their main products. The world economic downturn affects the local economy. The opening of the new port and expansion of Colombo port will bring more vessels to the Colombo port. This will definitely increase container volumes to the country. 2.3 Legal Environment The government has introduced a system to regulate the shipping and freight forwarding industry in the country. All shipping and freight forwarding agents must register with Merchant Shipping department. Where they will categorise to two separate groups and issue licences. This is renewable yearly. 2.4 Technological Environment The Sri Lanka customs department has introduced the new EDI (electronic data interchange) system to update shipping manifest through the entering in to customs department website , which will benefit the industry where cost and time of the forwarders will be saved .previously the manifest were submitted by manually and separate person should allocate to do the job. Also this will help the accuracy and duplication of work. 3 ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRY THOUGH PORTERS FIVE FORCES 3.1 The Threat of new entry In the Sri Lankan freight forwarding industry the threats of new entry is rather high because there are no legal requirements other than registration as a company with register of companies. Any one or any party can enter in to the industry with only requirements are recognition in the industry, business contact and Agent network with minimum capital can easily enter in to the industry . The new entry enters in to the market will be burden for the existing freight forwarders in the market. The industry is already overcrowded with so many players completing for slow growing market and everyone have to share the existing customer base with new entry. The entry barriers to the market can be arisen due to economies of scale when the new entrant does not have the volume advantage at the start of the business. Another barrier is the new regulation by the government which comes under the Merchant Shipping Department. The forwarders must have the licence to carry out the business with in the local Market. 3.2 The Treats of Substitutes The substitutes service can be provided by the carriers and air lines by way of value additions or part of the supply chain to the customers. Ware these carriers can provide additional services like warehousing, transportation, inventory control etc. The Maersk the world leading carrier has started their own arm to provide the additional value added services to the customers by in the name of DAMCO international .this will surely make the adverse effect on the current forwarding market in the country. 3.3 The Bargaining Power of the Buyers In the Sri Lankan freight forwarding market the bargaining power of the buyers are very high. when compared to other markets in the world county have very small import and export market in year 2011 countrys export containers were around 260047 and imports containers were around 487901.other than forwarders the main carriers are also competing to get the business direct from the customers. The freight forwarder has to convince the buyers and must offer more value for the money. Due to high completion and small market the buyer power high within the industry. 3.4 The Bargaining Power of Suppliers The suppliers for the freight forwarders either shipping lines, airlines, ware house provider or Logistics Companys provide services to the freight forwarders. In Sri Lanka the shipping lines and air lines are dominating the market .if other than the freight forwarder has large volumes they can bargain with the shipping lines and air lines other than that the bargain power of the suppliers are very high. 3.5Competitive Rivalry among Existing Firms As per the merchant shipping department there are 296 freight forwarding companies operating in the local market and there is also other freight forwarders operating in the market without licences. There is high competition among the forwarders since the export market is only expand around 6% in year 2011and import market did expand by 17% when compared to 2010as mentioned by the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA).in the industry there are lot of equal size competitors in the market competing for the same market share will resulting intense competition within the market .and there are few major size competitors competing in different sectors of the market .most of these competitors complete in the appeal and tea sector since those are the most exported commodities in the country. CONCLUSION When analysing the five force frame work in the freight forwarding industry in Sri Lanka there is little information about the individual performance of the rival organisation. And there is no ranking system to identify who the best company is providing the forwarding services in the industry. And there is lack of understanding among competitors within the industry about the growth and there is no growth forecast within the industry. When analysing the above finding there are lot of competition in the market for sea freight export since the market is very small compared to the countries. Most of the freight forwarders concern about the full container cargo (FCL Containers) in market and less about the loose cargo load (LCL) and multi country consolidation (MCC). 4. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS 4.1 Primary Activities 4.1.1 Inbound Logistics When comes to the export of goods organisation provide transport from shippers place of production to the organisations ware house. Fumigation, obtaining relevant certificates for the export purposes is other value added services. In the import sea freight communication with relevant shippers in the various destinations, picking up the relevant goods, storing in the ware houses in the relevant destinations till it ships to relevant destination. 4.1.2 Operations In sea fright exports the operation is stuffing the relevant cargo inside the container according to the stuffing plan. In this case the Cargo must be stuffed to the container without any damages and relevant cargo must be send to the relevant containers accordingly. And should send to the relevant ships accordingly. In Import Sea cargo must be DE stuffed accordingly. 4.1.3 Outbound Logistics When is come to the import shipments after receiving the goods to the Colombo port the organisation must issue the relevant documents to the relevant consignees to clear the goods from the relevant ware houses operated by the Sri Lanka ports authority. Also tracking down the cargo from the various ware houses. 4.1.4 Marketing and Sales Promoting sea freight business with relevant rate to the direct and cooperate customers, overseas agents and shippers with value added services are the part of the sales and marketing 4.1.5 Services Tracking the customers cargo till its deliver to relevant parties, issuing Delivery orders, Bill of ladings, surveying for the damage cargo and issuing relevant letters to obtain the insurance claims and sending arrival notices some of the additional services provided by the company. 4.2 support activities 4.2.1 Technology Development The firm provide tracking system to all their customers to track their cargo through new innovative system .using this system customers can see where their cargo are currently lying on or which vessel the shipments are on and time this shipments will be delivered to the destinations. 4.2.2 Firm Infrastructure and Human Resources Management The firm has a good reputation among the customers. The organisation poses a good customer centric culture. The MIS support the innovation and responsiveness to the customer needs. 5. THE SOURCE OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH ONION MODEL THE GOOD ONION MODEL 5.1.1 The Agent Network The organisation poses a worldwide agent network .the organisations has 40 associate offices in 13 countries and cargo ships to over 120 countries reaching more than 1200 destinations worldwide which unmatched by the local competitors . 5.1.2 Superior Rate Structure Cost Leadership in LCL Market The organisation offers the most competitive rate in the LCL cargo sector in the market and most of the other freight forwarders in the market co-load their shipments with company since they do not have the capabilities match the rate offered by the firm. 5.1.3 Leading Multi Country Consolidator The organisation is the innovator of the large scale of operations of the multi country consolidation among the competitors. Firm is the leading MCC to Indian sub-continent. 5.1.4 Innovative Cargo Tracking System The customers can track their cargo through the system only the have to do is enter the bill of leading numbers to the system and will able to get the full details about their cargo 5.1.5 Customer Centric Culture The organisation is fully focused on customers needs and requirements. Organisation have separate department focusing the customer care and even has customer complaint line which is first for the Sri Lankan freight forwarding industry. 6.THE BAD ONION MODEL 6.1.1 Parochial Top Management Mind Set Even though the organisation very centric towards the customers and customer need they are not much focused on the developing business to the next level or stepping up for the next level. They poses very narrow set of business vision for the company and does not want step outside the comfort zone their currently in and change the current business dynamics. 6.1.2 Employee Engagement The organisation lacks the motivation to achieve its goals .where employer wants employees to do their best work and drive the organisation towards its goals. To do that employer must engage with the employees and find the ways to get more from the employees other than the primary work set they have been assigned to do . 7 THE SWOT ANALYSIS 7.1 Strengths of the Organisation 7.1.1 Agent Network As mentioned earlier organisation has good agency network around the world. Using this network firm can import and export any cargo according to the customer requirements. 7.1.2 Rate Structure Since the firm operates most parts of the world with various agents organisation can offer the cheapest LCL rate in the market. Most of the agents the firm work are the market leaders in those destinations and they have the lowest tariff with in that particular destination .with the collaboration with them organisation can offer the best rate in the market. 7.1.3 Transhipment Cargo Volume The Colombo port is a strategic transhipment point in the world. So most of the cargo to Europe from Indian sub-continent tranships through the Colombo port and most of the European Cargo to Indian sub-continent tranship through Colombo port. Large numbers of agents send their transhipment cargo to consolidate in Colombo and deliver to the various destinations. 7.2 Weaknesses Of the Organisation 7.2.1 Working Capital Inadequacy The firm always works with the thin profit margins with credit to the customers sometimes with low volumes will create a loss situation where it will affect the working capital requirements of the company. The other scenarios is there more imports to firm than exports and the firm has to pay to the agents and should provide credit to the customers this will also create working capital inadequacy. 7.2.2 Human Resource Management The firm not very keen in developing good human resources management process .this will lead to the less employee engagement and will hinder the achievement of organisations goals through performance. 7.3 External Opportunities 7.3.1 Development of Colombo and Hambantota Port The development of Colombo port efficiency and increase of the handling of the containers will affect the industry also opening of the new port in Hambantota will increase the vessel calling specially the car carriers are promoted in the new port. Expansion of the Colombo port to will attract more vessel to the port and will benefit the local industry by more volumes and less cost 7.3.2 Stable political Environment The ending three decades of the war and stable political environment will attract more investors to the country. The more investment comes and starts new business will create more imports and exports from the country. 7.4 External Threats 7.4.1 Weak Economic Development of United States and European Union The European Union and United States economic crisis were affected to the local garment and tea and other sectors badly and this crisis has been effected to the freight forwarding industry also the export market were grown only by 6% in last year. 7.4.2 Turmoil in Middle East and Sanctions to Iran One of the best export market for the country is middle East and Iran .the current turmoil in Syria, Egypt ,Libya has halted the export to those countries also the sanction by the US and EU to Iran also effected the industry . 8. THE VISION, MISSIONS, CORE VALUES OFTHE COMPANY The Colombo office uses the same vision statement as head office in Singapore. This is a border group with different SBUs and freight forwarding is a one SBU among other business units. Colombo office should have a different vision for its objectives. Modified vision statement for the firm would be TO BE A ONE OF LEADING FREIGHT FORWARDING COMPANY IN SRI LANKA WITH GLOBAL FREIGHT FORWARDING CAPABILITIES. The mission statement by the head office will be the mission to the company since to become the leading freight forwarding company in Sri Lanka the firm must move to the other sectors of the logistics to provide best value to the customer. 8.1 Core Values 8.1.1 Service Reliability Provide the best service to customers and to improve the service levels and consistently upgrade the service levels 8.1.2 Competitiveness To provide competitive freight rates in the market and pass any reductions possible to valued customers so they can keep their cost down to the minimum levels. 8.1.3 Customer Focus To understand the customers requirements and utilise the knowledge of the organisation to deliver quality, committed service to the customer 8.1.4 Teamwork As a reputed organisation it values the strength of an individual and combined together to deliver the objective of the firm 8.1.5 Quality The firm to ensure customers receive a standard of service which provides quality and assurance that can deliver time and time again. After analysing the firm performance trends for the year 2008/2009/2010/2011/2012the growth target was set. The average profit for the previous years is about 11% for the export and imports therefore the target was set as 13% of profit increase for two sectors. The target was set as 13% due to increase volumes and profit margins for the current year and previous year and expansion of Colombo port and operations in the new port will increase the volumes for next few years. Also political stability in the country and increase of forgin direct investment to the country will improve the economical growth. The target could not raise tan 13% due to the economic turmoil in the Middle East, US, EU these markets are still recovering and it will take more than three years improve the current crisis. 10. STRATEGY OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE GROWTH 1. The Ansoff Approach 10.1.1 Market Penetration Increasing the sales volume through new marketing recruitments, providing sales discounts to encouraging the customers to purchase more services, offering the best possible rates to competitors to attract their cargo to the company 10.1.2 Market Development Firm can enter in to the new market segments like Garment and telecommunication through supply chain management .Also can enter in to the alliance with Maldivian hotel trade to exclusively suppler of from various destinations. 10.1.3 Product Development Firm can combine their import and export business together and provide services such as imports goods from one country and export the same goods to an another country .bundling the products together and offering as a one product (freight, transport, packing ,entry passing together as one product ) 1.4 Diversification Firm can move in to a commodity markets where they can buy and sell commodities using freight services as base. 10.2. The Porters Approach 10.2.1 Cost Leadership Currently the firm provides the lowest cost in the market. Where firm cut the costs to the minimum and pass the savings to the customer with lower price .this help to attract more volumes to the organisation. 10.2.2 Differentiation The firm can differentiate their product and services more attractive than the competitor .this can be create through customer service, image of the organisation, faster services to one destination to another. 11. STRATEGY FOR THE GROWTH The firm to use hybrid strategy for the growth .the organisation need to penetrate in to the market using cost leadership and use the strengths to pursue opportunities. The firm currently have superior agency network and best rate structure using these strengths firm can pursue more penetration in the market to achieve the growth target set. Through market development using differentiation as a tool firm can enter in to the new local and overseas markets. Currently the group does not operate in Maldives and therefore firm can represent the group by opening up a branch office in Maldives. Currently Maldives have one shipping line and one freight forwarding company and the whole group has not promote the Maldivian cargo especially there is lot of cargo moving in to the hotel sector from Europe and china. Currently firm only offers few services such as freight, transport, packing and entry passing. This will limit the growth opportunities. Firm can enter into a new market segment using supply chain management. This will help the firm to tap in to the appeal industry which is one of the largest import and export market in the country. The growth target growth for the next 3 years is 13% increase of profit and volume. Through new product development firm can attract more customers and volumes to achieve the set target. Combining few product and services as new product and offering to the customers services like imports from one destination to other destination without importing the goods to Colombo will be a new product development to the firm Sri Lanka is world famous for its tea, rubber, coconut, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper. The firm can concentrate on those commodities with advantage of knowledge on logistics can enter in to the commodity market as a diversification strategy Attracting more customers will increase the volume and with improved volumes firm can reduce the barging power of the suppliers and reduce the direct cost of the freight, transport and warehouse to improve the firms profit margins. 12. THE RESOURCE IMPLICATION To achieve the target growth organisation must control the administration, marketing, finance and cost of sales expense wisely. 12.1Human Resource Management Implications The growth target is only to be increased by 3% so the organisation will use the same work force to achieve the target except the marketing department. Marketing really need to hire few personals to enter in to the new markets and promote products. 12.2Capital Implications The organisation need to provide credit to the customers and will have to work on thin margins therefore there should be an initial capital injection required to ease working capital requirements. 12.3 System and IT Implications The organisations have to modify the current system since its runs with full capacity. Therefore adjustments should be made to the current system to accommodate more data inputs with different modules. Also need to develop modules for supply chain management and branch office monitoring and improved MIS. 12.4 Finance Department Implications The finance should gear up with knowledge of accounting and audit standards required for the new business units and should able handle the large debtor and creditors list and should able to manage efficient cash and bank balances to support the growth 12.5Ware House and Transport Implications The current ware house space has to increase to accommodate more cargo. Therefore the firm has to find more space or efficiently handle the cargo movement without adding more space. Also the transport providers will have to increase or transporters with large vehicles to hire. 13 HOW CHANGE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED 13.1. Developing Momentum To achieve the target firm must develop a momentum inside the organisation. Then should communicate the aspirations and growth targets to the staff and align them behind the change required. Top management should come out from their shell and should lead the way. Management should engage with employees to get maximum out from them to achieve the set target. 2. Planing the Change Firm to break down the growth plan in to twelve months set milestones in to each month. What should achieve in the first month and should establish measures for success. Identifying key talent of the organisation and allocating and delegating responsibilities for planning and implementation to them. After every month the results to be reviewed extensively to find the results were achieved accordingly. If not preparing the contingency plan to fill the identified gap. 3. Top Management Leading the Implementation Top management must inspire other for the change required. Also they must communicate with the staff, stake holders, and customers about the change. Seeking early success will improve the momentum for the growth and motivate staff. Every step of the change must monitor, control, and review. Also they must prepare to deal with the unexpected turns in PESTEL factors and should plan for the continuous improvement till the target is achieved

Native American Genocide :: American America History

Native American Genocide b. causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; c. deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; d. imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; e. forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. (Destexhe). In this paper, I will argue that the act of genocide as here defined, has been committed by the United States of America, upon the tribes and cultures of Native Americans, through mass indoctrination of its youths. Primary support will be drawn from Jorge Noriega's work, "American Indian Education in the United States." The paper will then culminate with my personal views on the subject, with ideas of if and how the United States might make reparations to its victims. In lieu of the well known and brutal "Indian Wars," there is a means of cultural destruction of Native Americans, which began no later than 1611. This method was one of indoctrination. Methods included the forced removal of children from their cultural milieu and enrollment of these children in "educational programs," which were intended to instill more European beliefs. As the United States was not formally a Nation, until 1776, it would not be fair to use evidence, before this year in building a case against it. The most damaging, to the United States, are parcels of evidence that are drawn from events after 1948, the year of the Convention on Genocide. Beginning in 1778, the United States Board of War, a product of the Continental Congress appropriated grants for the purpose of, "the maintenance of Indian students at Dartmouth College and the College of New Jersey..." The young people who had returned from the schools are described by Seneca leader, Cornplanter as, "...ignorant of every means of living in the Woods, unable to bear either Cold or Hunger, [they] knew neither how to build a Cabin, take a Deer, or kill an Enemy, [they] spoke our Language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for Hunters, Warriors, nor Counselors; they were totally good for nothing" (Noriega, 376). Grants given to other schools was just the beginning. In 1820, the United States made plans for a large scale system of boarding and day schools Noriega, 377). These schools were given the mission to, "instruct its students in 'letters, labor and mechanical arts, and morals and Christianity;' 'training many Indian leaders'" Noriega, 378).

Film Production Descriptive Essay

The development stage is one of the most crucial stages for a producer, it is where you get the chance to plan every aspect of your production before you begin pre-production and production. The chance to get the ball rolling right. During the discovery stage of the film it is the producers role to obtained rights or an option to a film that he thinks is promising, if the rights owner is worried that their novel might be tainted by a film maker the producer must come to a legal agreement to maintain a certain set of standards concerning film director, cast and art department. Pre-production Producers role is to meet with all other heads of department to discuss direction of film, intent, budget and other relevant items needed before any production is to start. Legal documentation, planning, hiring, actors, art department. It is the producers role to helm all the creative people involved in the production as well as give some creative input. Financially it is the producers role to organise financing for the film whether that be through loans, offsets, co production, investors. The producer must discuss with all heads of department information gathered during development phases. Production The producers role during production is to organise all departments into a functioning crew. The producer may often not be on set personally whilst much of the principal photography is going on, thus they will appoint executive producers, line producers and associate producers to oversee their interests during production. Post production The producer has final say in the edit and sound used for the film, what scenes are shown and ultimately whether or not more footage will need to be shot after principal photography. For example, they might want an alternate ending. Distribution Distribution is the second of the most important stages of the production process. Distribution is where you get to create an audience for your film! As a producer your goal is to obviously have people watch your production and the distribution phase is where the producer gets to plan marketing objectives and then distribution objectives. This is the most rewarding stage of the process but also the most difficult for many considering our media overloaded world. What is meant by Genre, Auteur and Mise-En-Scene†. Give examples of three different feature film genres and the major elements that define each particular genre, as well as some specific examples of the genre. Also give an example of an auteur, including examples of his/her films. Give an example of two completely different mise-en-scenes for a simple dialogue scene between two people having an argument about their relationship. The basics for the genre is drama, or the type of it. In feature films there are many types of genre, for example action, horror, romance, sci-fi, comedy. Essentially drama is telling you what the film will be loosely based around. Action – Action scenes where there is intense action!! Guns, Cars, Stunts, Explosions Romance – Often a story about a romantic encounter, relationships, sex Comedy- Often a story with comedic elements – intended for the audience to enjoy themselves and laugh An autuer is a filmmaker who’s pieces of work are distinctive in terms of the cast, locale, theme and visual style and is therefore considered an author of their work. One of my favourite authors is Baz Lurhmann who’s first three productions are said to be the red curtain trilogy in which each of the three films has similarities. Each film establishes their story through a established thematic device, Dancing from Strictly Ballroom, poetry from Romeo and Juliet and music in Moulin Rogue. Each film also has a plot which is based off a well known story or myth. And there is a theatre motif which appears throughout all the films. What are the various contracts and other documents a Producer is responsible for when producing a feature film? There is quite a lot of documentation and contracts that go along with a film production, all of which a producer is responsible for. Contracts and agreements range from; assignment of copyright, production and investment agreements, film producers indemnity, multi-risks insurance, safety reports, Production agreement, non-disclosure agreements, post production deals, facilities deals. Chain of Title Assignment of Copyright The assignments of rights from the original artist to the producer, therefore the producer is now able to reproduce the work. Chain of Title The chain of title in film is a set of documentation that establishes the producers right to create and market the film. Typically includes, scriptwriters agreements, development agreements option agreements and rights assignments. Buyout A re-assignment to the producer from a development investor acting on behalf of the copyright owner in a project on repayment of the development investment plus interest. Option A purchase of time for a film to develop the work. Producers typically take out options on a work for a specific time and fee. This gives them the exclusive right to develop and finance the film.m Producers indemnity Insurance which provides financial compensation for the films budget in case of the production going over budget because of death, injury or illness. Multi-risks insurance Insurance that provides compensation if any production equipment is damaged during principal photography What are the various financial sources for an Australian Film? Explain what each one is Screen Australia Screen Queensland Producer Offset This is a grant given by the government to the production after completion of the film – some films use this money for the budget as they can rely on it after completion or it helps to achieve a film that will do better in distribution. Broadcasting Company grant/funding Co-Productions Grants Money that is donated to the production that does not need to be paid back

Report Writing And What Advantages It Offers

Report Writing And What Advantages It Offers Writing a report is one of those tasks, which help estimate student’s knowledge and ability to present thoughts and analyze materials. Therefore, some educational institutions give these tasks once a week or month. As a result, students may get tired of it. would like to solve the problem by offering its report writing help. Any subject you need Our team consists of specialists in many fields of study – from Chemistry to Biology, from Literature to History, and so on. You could hardly find the topic we don’t have a specialist in. Due to our great team of writers, we have experts in all possible subjects and scopes. We are proud of our team as we can take any order and offer our report writing help to everybody no matter how difficult assignment may be. Rely on those who have written hundreds of report and will easily complete yours. Free time instead of writing Can you imagine that now you can put your assignment aside and relax. You don’t have to worry what to write about or what information to use. Our writers will provide a great paper for you. It’s an amazing chance to forget about writing a report and do what you wanted but didn’t have time for it. 100% originality Most educational establishments have strict rules towards plagiarism issues. Nowadays anyone can surf the net and load a ready paper within 10 minutes. It is not a report writing, it is stealing. For this reason, teachers prefer to make sure a paper is original and written from scratch. We offer only 100% unique papers written in conformity with your specifications and guides. You won’t find anything similar on the Internet. On-time delivery Mostly students turn to us when they need report writing within the shortest time frame. We always pay attention to deadlines. If you need a report outline in 2 days, it will be ready in 2 days or even earlier. Low price for top-quality service We provide only high quality papers for reasonable price. Any student can afford a report outline. Stay with us and place an order.

20 Topics for a Domestic Violence Research Paper to Discuss the XXI Century Problems

20 Topics for a Domestic Violence Research Paper to Discuss the XXI Century Problems When a professor assigns you a paper to write, you might be given the option to choose what you want to write about. Other professors will give you a broad topic, such as domestic violence. This means that you can choose a smaller category within the overarching topic. This is easier said than done. Deciding on an essay topic can be one of the hardest parts of the entire essay writing process. You have to make sure that your idea has plenty of research and information that you can include in your paper. A strong topic with good evidence makes for an easy research paper. If you need to write a research paper on a topic related to domestic violence, take a look at these topic ideas: What Role Does Today’s Economic Situation Play in Domestic Violence? Recent Efforts in Domestic Violence Prevention Plans Why Is Intimate Partner Violence Currently One of the Leading Causes of Domestic Violence? Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Relationships How Are Family Members Affected by Intimate Partner Violence? How Have Government Solutions for Domestic Violence Improved Over the Past Decade? The Connection Between Economic Abuse and Domestic Abuse Long-Term Effects of Domestic Violence on Millennial Victims What Types of Technology Are Available for Noticing and Reporting Domestic Violence Situations? Negative Impacts on Children Who Witness Domestic Violence in Their Homes or in Movies Up-and-Coming Treatment Options for Domestic Violence Victims What Kind of Role Does Social Media Play in Domestic Violence? How Does the New Rise of Feminism Help or Hinder Domestic Violence Progress? Is the Stigma of Men Being Abusers in Domestic Violence Situations Changing? How Does Violence in Current Films Influence Domestic Violence Statistics Today? Are Current Laws Against Domestic Violence Being Enforced? What Needs to Be Changed for Better Regulation? Is There a Connection Between Domestic Violence and Violent Video Games? New App Development for Domestic Violence Rescue Situations Current Domestic Violence Statistics and Treatment Options Around the World What Is the Current Correlation Between Domestic Violence and Social Status? Those are some of the best topics that you can use for a domestic violence research paper. You can choose just one or combine a couple of the ideas to create your own topic. These themes can spark new ones as well. Maybe they highlight an area you hadn’t considered exploring! To get more ideas to disclose in your paper, have a look at 10 facts about domestic violence that could come in handy to hook the audience. Sample Essay: Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Relationships With same-sex relationships and marriages on the rise, some questions have arisen, especially relating to the structure and roles within the relationship. People on the outside often wonder which heterosexual relationship challenges occur in same-sex relationships. This uncertainty can sometimes lead to confusion and misconceptions, specifically in domestic violence situations. Though it may seem as if domestic violence only occurs in heterosexual relationships, it is just as prevalent in same-sex relationships in various ways and for several different reasons. Firstly, it is necessary to realize that every relationship, regardless of its members, has a different structure. These various roles can influence who might be in control in a relationship or how responsibilities are distributed. These factors apply to couples of all types. Because of this, a power struggle can always become a possibility and may result in domestic violence. Often, the control continues to rule over the relationships. In these situations, the victim feels trapped and cannot safely escape from a threatening relationship. The control can be too much for the victim to handle, or they might feel like they cannot speak up about their lack of voice in the situation. This is true no matter the partners are of the same sex or not. Secondly, same-sex couples are the subject to all of the same challenges as heterosexual couples. There are family problems, work issues, personal struggles, and more. Certain relationship types do not protect people from these natural difficulties. One major contributor to domestic violence and abusive situations is often an economic status. Again, it is important to note that this can happen to any person or couple, regardless of any other demographics. Financial and economic issues lead to tension and arguments in some cases. This can, then, progress to violence. These events usually arise in lower-income homes, but that is not always true. While low-income homes are more susceptible to domestic violence, there are still plenty of well-off couples who experience violence within their marriage or relationship. Having enough money and resources is not protection against abuse. Thirdly, it is critical to mention that there are fewer abuse treatment options available for those in same-sex relationships. Homosexual individuals are not necessarily excluded in these places, but there is no clear mention of them being welcome. This can also be true of male domestic violence victims. Most of the time, treatment is geared toward women who are leaving abusive situations. Because of this, homosexuals of all types, and men as well, can feel excluded. There is a stigma surrounding domestic violence that pairs getting help with weakness. In general, this is one of a few things that keeps men from seeking out help. This can appear in homosexual partnerships too. Additionally, it is important to consider who the abuser is in same-sex partnerships. There should be equal treatment opportunities for all people, regardless of their gender or their place in a relationship. Sometimes, if a female is abusing someone, there will be little to no sympathy. This also contributes to the action taken on the issue. In lesbian relationships, bouts of domestic violence might be seen as a catfight. This misinterpretation of the potential violence leads to unresolved problems. A woman is doing the abusing does not delegitimize the entire act of violence. In conclusion, there are more than a few important aspects of violence to consider specifically in the same-sex relationships. Most of these issues arise in heterosexual relationships as well, but they are not often recognized in the same way. This can be displayed through fewer treatment opportunities or issues that involve victims being taken less seriously. These include things like power struggles and gender roles that are present in all types of relationships. References: Estes, M. L., Webber, G. R. (2017). â€Å"More Closeted Than Gayness Itself†: The Depiction of Same-Sex Couple Violence in Newspaper Media. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 088626051773627. doi:10.1177/0886260517736271 Hamilton, G. (n.d.). Current Issues in Domestic Violence. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://www.calsouthern.edu/content/articles/psychology-articles/current-issues-in-domestic-violence Pearlman, D. N. (2003). Neighborhood Environment, Racial Position, and Risk of Police-Reported Domestic Violence: A Contextual Analysis. Public Health Reports, 118(1), 44-58. doi:10.1093/phr/118.1.44 Renzetti, C. M., Miley, C. H. (2014). Violence in gay and lesbian domestic partnerships. London: Routledge. Savage, C. (2010, June 10). Gay Couples Gain Under Violence Against Women Act. Retrieved March 23, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/us/politics/11gender.html Stiles-Shields, C., Carroll, R. A. (2014). Same-Sex Domestic Violence: Prevalence, Unique Aspects, and Clinical Implications. Journal of Sex Marital Therapy, 41(6), 636-648. doi:10.1080/0092623x.2014.958792 Wasarhaley, N. E., Lynch, K. R., Golding, J. M., Renzetti, C. M. (2016). The Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Legal Perceptions of Lesbian Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32(5), 635-658. doi:10.1177/0886260515586370

Op-ed paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Op-ed paper - Essay Example Thank you for considering my opinion article. Respectfully yours, Beyond the Pink Slip With pink slips comes the slipping away of our educational system as well. This country boasts of technological breakthroughs and researches in the field of genetic engineering, space exploration and in almost every field of science. Our country have led the world into new inventions and incomparable advancement, never been seen in human history. Thanks to the persevering grade school teachers to university professors who have guided scientist, physicist, economist, military tactician, and artist that have steered this country’s prowess in the economic politico-military and socio cultural life of the world. This is what America owes to its excellent educational system. Teachers are at the heart of our country’s excellent educational system. But where are we pushing our teachers now? Where are we pushing our whole educational system? At the moment, the recent distribution of nearly 3,0 00 pink slips in Bay Area alone is generating a great stress not just to public school teachers, but to the whole academic community. Along with looming joblessness comes the lost of morale and deep anxiety for the teachers which eventually will lead them to poor teaching performance,(unconsciously). Students, on the other hand are left disillusioned on the importance of education, amidst on the situation of their teacher’s job instability. Are we to blame the teachers? Teaching remains one of the noblest professions around the world. I believe every teacher has a sincere and purest desire to impart knowledge and skills to every learner. Behind every doctor, engineer, or even the president of this nation is a persevering teacher, who had painstakingly taught the first stroke of writing and the sound of each letter in an alphabet. The job insecurity hounding their way it’s like executing the soul and pillar of our educational system. Pink slip snatches away the noblenes s of teaching profession. It strips off our teachers of their self worth and sense of dignity. In the long run, it will be stripping off our society with talented and devoted individuals who are committed to passing on knowledge to current and generations to come. Pink slip is not just a pink slip. It’s a manifestation of a declining state budget to education. At a glance, budget cut is equivalent only to massive lay off of public school teachers along with other non teaching staffs. But at the end of the day, who really suffers at the impeding new round of budget cut to education? Parents have to brace themselves for additional expenses in sending their children to school. Students have to contend with overcrowded classrooms .Teachers that luckily did not received pink slips this year are left anxious on who’s next on the pink slip list in the coming school year. Unconsciously, this vicious cycle has pitted teachers against one another in the race called survival of t he fittest which can become very stressful. Moreover, teachers are burdened with more workload and cheap salary. Pink slips reflect the current values of our state. They can afford to send bombs to Libya and Iraq through the UN Security Council. There is budget in so called â€Å"peacekeeping† measures and â€Å"national security†. There is budget for war while we have budget cut for education. Are we not in effect? Actually not securing our society with the declining

International area study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International area study - Essay Example The significance of the slave trade made historians feel the need of coming up with literature on the practice. Numerous literature pieces have been written with different scopes on slave trade. For instance, some pieces are written by slaves, by the slave traders and by the slave masters. This particular paper will analyze two literature pieces: one by Mary Prince, a slave and the other by John Barbot who was a slave trader. Additionally, the paper will also analyze the significance of historians in distributing the moral responsibility of the slave trade. The narration by Mary Prince is done by a slave. The story is a narration of the slave’s life in the hands of her masters. Mary Prince was a slave to more than one master since her birth (230). She was born of a slave mother, what made her an automatic slave (Prince 230). At a young age, Mary Prince was not subjected to hard labor like the rest of the slaves. Her role as a child was to ensure that the duties given by her ma sters or her mother were done. As years progressed under her master, the duties given to her became more complex like taking care of the master’s children. However, in this particular narration, her first master had a polite wife who took care of her as her own. She developed a connection with her master considering her status at the farm as a slave. Indeed, this was a rare relationship (Prince 231). It is evident the master was a cruel man, and spent time away from home which gave her wife an opportunity to be nice to the slaves (Prince 282). As she grew older, she was sold to a neighboring farm which also had a polite master (Prince 282). She acted as a guardian to a master’s child after which they became close. Apart from these two farms, Mary Prince was exposed to cruelty in other farms as she was subjected to hard labor and mistreatment (Prince 289). It is at this juncture of the narration that the real perspective of the slave trade is displayed. At one point in the narration, Mary gives a description on an elderly slave who died after being thrown in a thorny bush by her master (Prince 289). She also narrates when she had to be tied with their hands and flogged till they shed flesh from their back (Prince 289). From this narration, the reader is able to get a glimpse of the slave trade on the view of a slave. Other written stories are based on scholarly literatures. The narration by Mary gives the real picture of the situation inside slave farms. Additionally, the fact that she was traded from homestead to homestead is a clear indication of how insignificant slaves were to their masters. The narration by Mary Prince also explains the tribulations of slaves in a detailed perspective in terms of raising families and slaves and losing children to their masters. The narration by Barbot is neither based on a slave nor a master. The story is a report of a slave trader. The account also focuses on the origin and destination of slaves from the Atl antic to Europe. Barbot starts the narration of his account by highlighting trading specification in the Atlantic (Barbot 181). Apart from precious stones, the author cited slaves as the most valuable commodity in the Atlantic trade (Barbot 181). Slave trade in the Atlantic was a chain or an organization by major European dynasties. The slaves mostly originated from West Africa (Barbot 180). Upon arrival, each trader would mark their slaves with a hot iron as a mark of ownership. Purchasers of slaves in the

The Killing of Osama Bin Laden by United States Forces Dissertation

The Killing of Osama Bin Laden by United States Forces - Dissertation Example Only the courts have the right to sentence a criminal or the erring to death or imprisonment. On 2 May 2011 Osama Bin Laden was killed. President Barack Obama’s 2 May 2011 account of the circumstance of the killing is this: â€Å"†¦We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda --- an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies†¦.I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network†¦.Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.† British Broadcasting Company’s documentation of President Barack Obama’s 2 May 2011 statement on Osama bin Laden’s death corroborated the version posted in the official webpage of the White House. The British Broadcasting Company’s documentation of Obama’s 2 May statement reflected that President Barack Obama said that Osama bin Laden was killed AFTER and NOT DURING A FIREFIGHT. The 2 May 2011 press briefing provided by the US President Office of the Press Secretary via conference call described the Obama killing in this manner: â€Å"Bin Laden was a sworn enemy of the United State

The Lottery Essay Example for Free

The Lottery Essay The Lottery The specific details Jackson describes in the beginning of â€Å"The Lottery† set us up for the shocking conclusion. In the first paragraph, Jackson provides specific details about the day on which the lottery takes place. She tells us the date (June 27), time (about 10 A.M.), and temperature (warm). She describes the scene exactly: there are flowers and green grass, and the town square, where everyone gathers, is between the bank and post office. She provides specifics about the town, including how many people live there and how long the lottery takes, as well as about neighboring towns, which have more people and must start the lottery earlier. In the paragraphs that follow this introduction, Jackson gives us characters’ full names—Bobby Martin, Harry Jones, and Dickie Delacroix, among others—and even tells us how to pronounce â€Å"Delacroix.† Far from being superfluous or irrelevant, these initial specific details ground the story in reality. Because she sets the story firmly in a specific place and time, Jackson seems to suggest that the story will be a chronicle of sorts, describing the tradition of the lottery. The specifics continue throughout the story, from the numerous rules Mr. Summers follows to the names of the people who are called up to the box. In a way, there is safety in these details—the world Jackson creates seems much like the one we know. And then the stoning begins, turning reality on its head. Because Jackson is so meticulous in grounding us in realistic, specific details, they sharpen the violence and make the ending so incredibly surprising. Themes The Danger of Blindly Following Tradition The village lottery culminates in a violent murder each year, a bizarre ritual that suggests how dangerous tradition can be when people follow it blindly. Before we know what kind of lottery they’re conducting, the villagers and their preparations seem harmless, even quaint: they’ve appointed a rather pathetic man to lead the lottery, and children run about gathering stones in the town square. Everyone is seems preoccupied with a funny-looking black box, and the lottery consists of little more than handmade slips of paper. Tradition is endemic to small towns, a way to link  families and generations. Jackson, however, pokes holes in the reverence that people have for tradition. She writes that the villagers don’t really know much about the lottery’s origin but try to preserve the tradition nevertheless. The villagers’ blind acceptance of the lottery has allowed ritual murder to become part of their town fabric. As they have demonstrated, they feel powerless to change—or even try to change—anything, although there is no one forcing them to keep things the same. Old Man Warner is so faithful to the tradition that he fears the villagers will return to primitive times if they stop holding the lottery. These ordinary people, who have just come from work or from their homes and will soon return home for lunch, easily kill someone when they are told to. And they don’t have a reason for doing it other than the fact that they’ve always held a lottery to kill someone. If the villagers stopped to question it, they would be forced to ask themselves why they are committing a murder—but no one stops to question. For them, the fact that this is tradition is reason enough and gives them all the justification they need. The Randomness of Persecution Villagers persecute individuals at random, and the victim is guilty of no transgression other than having drawn the wrong slip of paper from a box. The elaborate ritual of the lottery is designed so that all villagers have the same chance of becoming the victim—even children are at risk. Each year, someone new is chosen and killed, and no family is safe. What makes â€Å"The Lottery† so chilling is the swiftness with which the villagers turn against the victim. The instant that Tessie Hutchinson chooses the marked slip of paper, she loses her identity as a popular housewife. Her friends and family participate in the killing with as much enthusiasm as everyone else. Tessie essentially becomes invisible to them in the fervor of persecution. Although she has done nothing â€Å"wrong,† her innocence doesn’t matter. She has drawn the marked paper—she has herself become marked—and according to the logic of the lottery, she therefore must die. Tessie’s death is an extreme example of how societies can persecute innocent people for absurd reasons. Present-day parallels are easy to draw, because all prejudices, whether they are based on race, sex, appearance, religion, economic class, geographical region, family background, or sexual orientation, are essentially random. Those who  are persecuted become â€Å"marked† because of a trait or characteristic that is out of their control—for example, they are the â€Å"wrong† sex or from the â€Å"wrong† part of the country. Just as the villagers in â€Å"The Lottery† blindly follow tradition and kill Tessie because that is what they are expected to do, people in real life often persecute others without questioning why. As Jackson suggests, any such persecution is essentially random, which is why Tessie’s bizarre death is so universal. Motifs Family Family bonds are a significant part of the lottery, but the emphasis on family only heightens the killing’s cruelty because family members so easily turn against one another. Family ties form the lottery’s basic structure and execution. In the town square, families stand together in groups, and every family member must be present. Elaborate lists of heads of families, heads of households within those families, and household members are created, and these lists determine which member draws from the box. Family relationships are essential to how the actions of the lottery are carried out, but these relationships mean nothing the moment it’s time to stone the unlucky victim. As soon as it’s clear that Tessie has drawn the marked paper, for example, her husband and children turn on her just as the other villagers do. Although family relationships determine almost everything about the lottery, they do not guarantee loyalty or love once the lottery is over. Rule s The lottery is rife with rules that are arbitrarily followed or disregarded. The intricate rules the villagers follow suggest that the lottery is an efficient, logical ritual and that there is an important purpose behind it, whereas the rules that have lapsed, however, reveal the essential randomness of the lottery’s dark conclusion. Mr. Summers follows an elaborate system of rules for creating the slips of paper and making up the lists of families. When the lottery begins, he lays out a series of specific rules for the villagers, including who should draw slips of paper from the black box and when to open those papers. When someone is unable to draw, the lottery rules determine who should be next in line. At the same time, there are ghosts of rules that have been long forgotten or willfully abandoned altogether, such as those for salutes and songs that accompany Mr. Summer’s induction as the  chairman of the lottery. The fact that some rules have remained while others have disappeared underscores the disturbing randomness of the murder at the end of the lottery. Symbols The Black Box The shabby black box represents both the tradition of the lottery and the illogic of the villagers’ loyalty to it. The black box is nearly falling apart, hardly even black anymore after years of use and storage, but the villagers are unwilling to replace it. They base their attachment on nothing more than a story that claims that this black box was made from pieces of another, older black box. The lottery is filled with similar relics from the past that have supposedly been passed down from earlier days, such as the creation of family lists and use of stones. These are part of the tradition, from which no one wants to deviate—the lottery must take place in just this way because this is how it’s always been done. However, other lottery traditions have been changed or forgotten. The villagers use slips of paper instead of wood chips, for example. There is no reason why the villagers should be loyal to the black box yet disloyal to other relics and traditions, just as there is no logical reason why the villagers should continue holding the lottery at all. The Lottery The lottery represents any action, behavior, or idea that is passed down from one generation to the next that’s accepted and followed unquestioningly, no matter how illogical, bizarre, or cruel. The lottery has been taking place in the village for as long as anyone can remember. It is a tradition, an annual ritual that no one has thought to question. It is so much a part of the town’s culture, in fact, that it is even accompanied by an old adage: â€Å"Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.† The villagers are fully loyal to it, or, at least, they tell themselves that they are, despite the fact that many parts of the lottery have changed or faded away over the years. Nevertheless, the lottery continues, simply because there has always been a lottery. The result of this tradition is that everyone becomes party to murder on an annual basis. The lottery is an extreme example of what can happen when traditions are not questioned or addressed critically by new generation s. Foreshadowing and Suspense Many of the seemingly innocuous details throughout â€Å"The Lottery† foreshadow the violent conclusion. In the second paragraph, children put stones in their pockets and make piles of stones in the town square, which seems like innocent play until the stones’ true purpose becomes clear at the end of the story. Tessie’s late arrival at the lottery instantly sets her apart from the crowd, and the observation Mr. Summers makes—â€Å"Thought we were going to have to get on without you†Ã¢â‚¬â€is eerily prescient about Tessie’s fate. When Mr. Summers asks whether the Watson boy will draw for him and his mother, no reason is given for why Mr. Watson wouldn’t draw as all the other husbands and fathers do, which suggests that Mr. Watson may have been last year’s victim. Jackson builds suspense in â€Å"The Lottery† by relentlessly withholding explanation and does not reveal the true nature of the lottery until the first stone hi ts Tessie’s head. We learn a lot about the lottery, including the elements of the tradition that have survived or been lost. We learn how important the lottery is to the villagers, particularly Old Man Warner. We go through the entire ritual, hearing names and watching the men approach the box to select their papers. But Jackson never tells us what the lottery is about, or mentions any kind of prize or purpose. She begins to reveal that something is awry when the lottery begins and the crowd grows nervous, and she intensifies the feeling when Tessie hysterically protests Bill’s â€Å"winning† selection. And she gives a slight clue when she says that the villagers â€Å"still remembered to use stones.† But not until the moment when a rock actually hits Tessie does Jackson show her hand completely. By withholding information until the last possible second, she builds the story’s suspense and creates a shocking, powerful conclusion. Quotations 1. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box. This quotation, from the fifth paragraph of the story, reveals how firmly entrenched the villagers are in the lottery’s tradition and how threatening they find the idea of change. The villagers have no good reason for wanting to keep the black box aside from a vague story about the box’s origins, and the box itself is falling apart. Beyond shabby, it barely resembles a box now, but the villagers, who seem to take such pride in the  ritual of the lottery, do not seem to care about the box’s appearance. They just want the box to stay the same. Their strident belief that the box must not change suggests that they fear change itself, as though one change might lead to other changes. Already, some towns have stopped holding lotteries, but these villagers do not seem to be headed in that direction. Instead, the y hold firm to the parts of the tradition that remain, afraid to alter even this seemingly insignificant part of it for fear of starting down a slippery slope. 2. Although Mr. Summers and everyone else in the village knew the answer perfectly well, it was the business of the official of the lottery to ask such questions formally. This quotation appears about halfway through the story, just before the drawing of names begins. Mr. Summers has asked Mrs. Dunbar whether her son, Horace, will be drawing for the family in Mr. Dunbar’s absence, even though everyone knows Horace is still too young. There is no purpose to the question, other than that the question is part of the tradition, and so Mr. Summers adheres to the rule despite the fact that it seems absurd. Even though other parts of the ritual have changed or been discarded over the years, this rule holds firm for absolutely no logical reason. Large things, such as songs and salutes, have slipped away, and wood chips have been replaced with slips of paper. Yet this silly, pointless questioning continues. The villagers seem strident in their adherence to the tradition. Old Man Warner, in particular, is adamant that tradition must be upheld and the lottery must continue. But the reality is that there is no consistency among what rules are followed and which are discarded. This lack of logic makes the villagers’ blind observance of the ritual even more problematic because the tradition they claim to be upholding is actually flimsy and haphazard. 3. Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones. This quotation, which appears near the end of the story, distills the lottery down to its essence: murder. The villagers may talk of tradition, ritual, and history, but the truth—as this quotation makes clear—is that the traditional parts of it have long been discarded. The original ritual and box may indeed have borne along a tradition, violent and bizarre as it may be, but now, without the original trappings, songs, and procedures, all that remains is the violence. The  haphazard ritual, the bits and pieces that have been slapped together into some semblance of the original, have led to this essential moment of killing. The villagers are all too eager to embrace what remains, eagerly picking up the stones and carrying on the â€Å"tradition† for another year. Character Analysis Tessie Hutchinson When Tessie Hutchinson arrives late to the lottery, admitting that she forgot what day it was, she immediately stands out from the other villagers as someone different and perhaps even threatening. Whereas the other women arrive at the square calmly, chatting with one another and then standing placidly by their husbands, Tessie arrives flustered and out of breath. The crowd must part for her to reach her family, and she and her husband endure good-natured teasing as she makes her way to them. On a day when the villagers’ single focus is the lottery, this breach of propriety seems inappropriate, even unforgivable; everyone comes to the lottery, and everyone comes on time. The only person absent is a man whose leg is broken. Although Tessie quickly settles into the crowd and joins the lottery like everyone else, Jackson has set her apart as a kind of free spirit who was able to forget about the lottery entirely as she performed her chores. Perhaps because she is a free spirit, Tessie is the only villager to protest against the lottery. When the Hutchinson family draws the marked paper, she exclaims, â€Å"It wasn’t fair!† This refrain continues as she is selected and subsequently stoned to death, but instead of listening to her, the villagers ignore her. Even Bill tells her to be quiet. We don’t know whether Tessie would have protested the fairness of the lottery if her family had not been selected, but this is a moot point. Whatever her motivation is for speaking out, she is effectively silenced. Old Man Warner Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, has participated in seventy-seven lotteries and is a staunch advocate for keeping things exactly the way they are. He dismisses the towns and young people who have stopped having lotteries as â€Å"crazy fools,† and he is threatened by the idea of change. He believes, illogically, that the people who want to stop holding lotteries  will soon want to live in caves, as though only the lottery keeps society stable. He also holds fast to what seems to be an old wives’ tale—â€Å"Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon†Ã¢â‚¬â€and fears that if the lottery stops, the villagers will be forced to eat â€Å"chickweed and acorns.† Again, this idea suggests that stopping the lottery will lead to a return to a much earlier era, when people hunted and gathered for their food. These illogical, irrational fears reveal that Old Man Warner harbors a strong belief in superstition. He easily accepts the way things are because thi s is how they’ve always been, and he believes any change to the status quo will lead to disaster. This way of thinking shows how dangerous it is to follow tradition blindly, never questioning beliefs that are passed down from one generation to the next. Mr. Summers Despite his breezy, light-hearted name, Mr. Summers wields a frightening amount of power in the village, power that seems to have been assigned to him arbitrarily. A married, childless business owner, Mr. Summers is â€Å"jovial† and pitied by the townspeople for having a nagging wife. No one seems to question his leadership of the lottery, and it seems to have never been challenged. Perhaps he took on the role himself, or perhaps someone offered it to him. Whatever the case, he now has complete control. Mr. Summers not only draws the names on the day of the lottery, but he also makes up the slips of paper that go into the black box. It’s up to him to make the black circle that ultimately condemns someone to death. Jackson never explains why the villagers put such pure faith in Mr. Summers, and the assumption that he will continue to conduct the lottery is just one more inexplicable but universally accepted part of the ritual.

Analyse And Discuss Strategic Issues In Unilever Food Marketing Essay

Analyse And Discuss Strategic Issues In Unilever Food Marketing Essay Introduction Because the market in which the world of business operates is highly dynamic, it is essential for a company performing in this industry to understand its background and structure in order to develop a business strategy. This essay focuses on strategic issues in one of the foods business giants, Unilever Food Division and based on the Porters five forces of competition framework, the aim will be to analyse the strategic positioning of Unilever food division. Porters Five Forces of Competition Framework In order to cope with the competition, it is necessary to understand the rivals and the industry in which the company performs. In addition to the knowledge about competitors, the knowledge about suppliers, customers, potential entrants and substitute products has a major role in developing strategic issues in a company. (Porter, 2006, 2008) In order to analyze and comprehend Unilever Food Divisions strategy, the five forces of competition framework is chosen since it recognizes the main influences in industry. (Porter, 2008, p.80) Rivalry among existing competitors Unilever Food Division has numerous competitors -transnational companies such as Nestlà ©, Kraft Foods or Mars Food which are generally equal in size. All these companies offer a wide range of products to a customer, which leads to an intensive rivalry. The Unilever products are divided into strategic groups: edible fats, ice-cream, beverages, meals and meal components. (Maljers, 1992, p.47) These are represented by brands such as Flora, The Heartbrand, Lipton, Bertolli and Knorr, respectively. (Unilever, 2010) Although Unilever Food Division owns such premium brands, the products of its competitors are in most cases nearly identical, e.g. Maggi, a  Nestlà © solutions brand (Nestlà ©, 2010) or Mars Foods Uncle Bens brand providing ready meals (Mars, 2009). Moreover, for the food products are perishable, there is a relatively urgent need to sell them before their value is lost. Rivalry among existing competitors takes many familiar forms, including price discounting, new product introductions, advertising campaigns, and service improvements. (Porter, 2006, 2008) It can be thus concluded that the competition from established rivals does play a large role and is worth considering while developing a strategy. The bargaining power of buyers The buyers play a vital role in the industry by forcing prices down, demanding better quality or more service (thereby driving up costs), and generally playing industry participants off against one another. (Porter, 2006, 2008) With regards to all the Unilevers competitors, a customer has a wide range of products to choose from. It is to be acknowledged that although one customer might stay loyal to one particular product or brand, the buyers costs of switching from one product to another is not high. This is, however, relative since for Unilever supplies with food retailers such as Tescos or Carrefour, such distributors risk losing their customers (thus decrease in profits) by not providing Unilever food products. In many cases, the importance of the buyers price sensitivity needs to be emphasized. Given that a consumer is offered two similar products of the same quality but different prices, there is a higher possibility that the cheaper product will be chosen. Even though one might stay loyal to the brand, the other can incline to try a rival product. The power of buyers is therefore of high importance. The bargaining power of suppliers Suppliers can exert bargaining power on participants in an industry by raising prices or reducing the quality of purchased goods and services. (Porter, 2006, 2008) Even though every company is dependent on its suppliers, it can be stated that in terms of food production there is a wide range of raw materials providers that Unilever can choose from. In this case, Unilever becomes the buyer. Hence, it is suggested that Unilever has a wide range of substitutes at disposal and a strong bargaining power. Moreover, what Unilever might need in order to perform is office and technical equipment, means of transportation and spaces for production. As previously discussed, Unilever in the position of a large customer can choose and negotiate prices. The emphasis should be instead put on labour suppliers since the workforces in warehouses play a vital role in production processes. Having understanding of the scope of the employment can avoid many complications. Other workforces also play a vital role. In order to develop new tasteful and healthy options of solutions, cooks and specialists are needed. Unilever, in term of its Foodsolutions division trains its people, thus ensuring development of its employees knowledge. (Unilever Foodsolutions, 2010) It is suggested that the bargaining power of the suppliers shapes the strategy only to some extent, given that the price of suppliers drives the price of products as well. However, for Unilever has many substitutes for use, in this case the prices are not driven significantly. Threat of substitutes As stated, a substitute performs the same or similar function as an industry product by a different means.  [1]  (Porter, 2006, 2008) In case of Unilever Foods, one of the possible substitutes would be a homemade product. The customers might use alternates due to various reasons; due to the belief that the costs of e.g. preparing a homemade pasta sauce will be lower than actually buying a Bertolli pasta sauce. (Unilever, 2010) Other buyers might switch to this alternative in order to live healthier. Nevertheless, homemade products do not signify a huge competition to the food giant Unilever. Recently, there is an increasing trend of eating out. Using services can also be considered to be a substitute to purchasing food. The foodservice division of Unilever Unilever Foodsolutions, therefore co-operates with restaurants and caterers, by providing them with its brands and products. In doing so, Unilever benefits from peoples using services. It can be thus concluded that the threat of substitutes to Unilever Foods is not high. Threat of Entry New entrants to an industry bring new capacity and a desire to gain market share that puts pressure on prices, costs, and the rate of investment necessary to compete. (Porter, 2006, 2008) The threat of entry in food industry is, however, low. As already mentioned, Unilever is one of the leading companies in food business. It already competes with other food giants (Nestlà ©, Kraft Foods or Mars Foods). Due to positions of the mentioned companies, it would be difficult for new companies to enter the market. Relatively high barriers to entry will have to be overcome in order to success. Besides restrictive government policies and the need of large financial resources or diversification of products, there will be also lack of tradition, experience and advantages that incumbents already possess. The competition from entrants is thus relatively insignificant. Conclusion Whilst not underestimating the threat of new entrants, the power of suppliers and the threat of substitute products or services, it can be concluded though that mainly the power of buyers and the rivalry among existing competitors shape the strategy of Unilever Food Division.