Marketing Campaign: Organic Foods Essay

Our campaign, â€Å"why organic? †, includes a series of print ads that increase awareness to consumers about chemically injected foods. Our campaign is differentiated from other campaigns by the multiple perspectives our ads take while sharing a common theme in design and overall point. Humorous, fearful, and informative pictures and facts are used to show consumers the connection between non-organic foods and disease, cancer, and other disorders in consumers. Although organic foods are more expensive in the long run the benefits of eating healthy outweigh the cost of purchasing them. SWOT Analysis: Strengths. In general, the growing concern for healthful habits is beneficial to our campaign. Mothers’ desire for a long and healthy life for their children is largely helpful. Consumers are becoming more aware of the toxins and chemicals used in foods, and want better grocery options. This is apparent in the recent increase of organic food retail sales. â€Å"The Health of Organic Foods† states that sales have steadily been increasing in recent years. The prevalent demand for organic foods will increase the attractiveness of our campaign while catching the attention of other consumers who are not yet aware or sold on the idea. The honesty of â€Å"why organic? † has the strength to build a strong brand image, making the campaign a credible influence to shopping mothers. Weaknesses When promoting organic food choices, there are factors that could potentially weaken the effectiveness of the campaign. Cost is an important purchasing consideration for consumers and a potential weakness for a campaign supporting organic foods. Traditionally, organic foods are more expensive than average groceries. The recent recession has raised consumers’ cost sensitivity. In addition, consumers lack awareness and require further education about the dangers of food additives and the benefits of organic food choices. Opportunities The opportunities pertaining to a campaign centralized around moving to organic food choices includes improving the standard of living for people who do make the choice to avoid chemically injected foods. Food habits have been changing, which creates big opportunities for our campaign. One opportunity we are implementing is partnering with the Breast Cancer Society to motivate women to eat organic foods, which is proven to help prevent breast cancer. A second opportunity is to pair up with restaurants and have them come up with some organic dishes for their menus to offer consumers. A third opportunity is to form an alliance with the Food Network and allow the chefs to start cooking organic meals, and inform their audiences on the benefits of eating organic food. Food habits have been starting to change, which will help allow us to reach consumers better than ever before. Threats A potential threat to a campaign targeting the dangers in U. S. meats is the potential negative reaction from the USDA. Being a direct advocate for avoiding purchasing their products could possibly lead to heavy controversy and ultimately litigation. So, treading lightly and focusing on solid facts is pertinent. Another threat includes competitors such as McDonald’s and other fast food places, where it’s very quick and easy to get processed foods that the campaign is fighting against. Market Selection We have selected mothers of all ages and incomes as the target market. Typically mothers are the influencing agents on grocery purchases. Making mothers the target of the campaign will increase their awareness regarding the dangerous effects of food additives in non-organic milk, meat, and other non organic products that they feed their children. The dangerous diseases and effects of non-organic foods, creates the incentive to make organic food choices. Promotional Advertisements Our advertisements, â€Å"why organic? †, are designed to attract the concern of mothers regarding the foods their families are eating. Our advertisements make consumers question their current non-organic buying habits and consider organic foods. We developed a print ad targeting consumers who purchase fruits and to increase awareness of the pesticide sprays used when farming and how it affects consumer’s health. Another print ad targets Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) additive links to Breast Caner in women. Studies of animals exposed to rBST, which increases levels of insulin-like growth factor in cows, raise concerns about potential changes in milk protein that links estrogen exposure to breast cancer. The longer the exposure to high levels of the hormone, the greater the breast cancer risk (Organic Valley). The processed chicken print ad is targeted to the 90 percent of Americans who spend their food budget on processed meats that tastes appetizing but have dangerous future health defects (Sustainable Table). Our final print ad targets food coloring and additive links that lead to increased levels of hyperactivity, irritability and restlessness that are common signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) in children. An upset baby surrounded with additives being fed to it will be used as the face of our â€Å"why organic? † campaign. This advertisement will reach our target market of mothers, and convey the message that they are essentially feeding their children ADHD, ear infections, eczema, and other health problems. The call to action will leave consumers questioning whether they would in fact feed their children harmful additives. Benefits Sought/Solutions Provided The benefits of encouraging consumers to follow our campaign â€Å"why organic† increases awareness of the dangerous effects associated with food additives, food preservatives, food coloring and pesticides ingested by consumers daily. The value that will be communicated through the integrated marketing campaign is removing the veil that the meat, dairy, and farmers have put in place through educating consumers and ultimately improving their health and children’s future eating habits. The value extends beyond tangible benefits of preventing cancers, neurological problems, and behavioral issues. The value of the campaign is more than just functional but offers emotional benefit as well like security and confidence. Knowing that the parent is instilling healthy eating habits in their children, as well as being a positive example, plays a significant role in the importance of the campaign. The solution of our campaign ideally will be to ultimately eliminate all forms of genetically altered foods by increasing awareness in consumers to make a difference in their lives as well as others by making the decision to purchase organic and ultimately decrease the profits of companies producing unhealthy foods for consumers. Campaign Execution Print ads with the slogan â€Å"why organic? † followed by a specific health risk and an emotional connection to the picture shown is the basis for the integrated marketing campaign to increase awareness about the dangers of food additives and the importance of transitioning to purchasing organic foods. Specifically, hormone injected chicken which is shown in a photo as a â€Å"pink mush† reveals the truth about processed chicken that most mothers have fed children since childhood. The veil that meat suppliers and non-organic farmers have placed over consumers eyes have shielded the true effects of the processes that food goes through. The whole basis of processing food is to gain more profit through bigger produce and bulkier meat products. The result of these injections and additives are dangerous cancers, hyper-activity, neurological deficiencies, and physical disorders. By keeping the print ads consistent at each consumer touch point is important to conveying a recognizable and memorable campaign in the consumers mind. In order to instill a loyalty to the concept of organic foods, it is important to have multiple touch points that involves more than just the magazine print ads. Joint promotions with the National Breast Cancer Association in the campaign to â€Å"fight for a cure for breast cancer† touches the perfect target market for this campaign, women. According to nationalbreastcancer. org, â€Å"NBCF is one of the most highly visible and recognized breast cancer charities in America. † At the â€Å"Race for the Cure† this October in Charlotte, the magazine print ads will be displayed along the run path which had a participation level of 1 million people in 2010, according to http://www. komencharlotte. org. The ultimate goal for the joint promotion with the Breast Cancer Society is to inform the target market of a possible cause of breast cancer (and prostate cancer). In addition, we aim to motivate them to make adjustments in their food habits and transition towards purchasing organic foods to decrease their risk for the very cancer they are fighting. To have an opportunity to reach such a large portion of the Charlotte target market is a substantial step in impacting mothers in the greater Charlotte area and a step towards moving nationally. In order to spread the awareness of the dangers in food additives the print ads will continue to travel as the race for the cure travels across the country in addition to being placed in four national magazines, on food network TV and on foodnetwork. com which will be detailed in a later section. The combination between magazine print ads and a joint campaign with the Breast Cancer Society will ultimately provide the consumer education needed to persuade the target market to follow our campaign and impact their decision whether to change their food purchasing habits. Marketing Mix: Product The marketing mix is a pertinent factor in the integrated campaign because it ties together each individual effort to create awareness. First, magazine print ads that advocate purchasing organic meat, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables will be implemented. The print ads emphasize the link between dangerous health effects and hormone injected bovine, diary products, and pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables. Pesticides may increase the risk of cancer and neurological problems (such as Parkinson’s disease), impair the immune system, and may even result in hepatitis A found from consuming strawberries. In addition, E-coli infection has shown to stem from non-organic alfalfa sprouts and lettuce. These dangerous effects are just a few of the hundreds of health risks pertaining to non-organic food choices. Place. The awareness about the health risks of non-organic foods will be created via catalogue print ads in Parenting, Women’s Health, Cooking Light, and Mothering Magazine and Internet ads on each catalogue website as well as teaming up with foodnetwork. com and food network TV. Food Network chefs advocating using organic meats and dairy products in home cooking would have a significant impact on mothers learning to cook and grabbing new recipes from such a well renowned source. In the magazines, one print ad shows the link between ADHD, hyperactivity, and food coloring. This ad would be placed in Parenting Magazine to target mothers who are dealing with the increasing problems with hyperactivity disorders in children. The importance of the ad would be to make mothers aware of a potential source for these disorders and to motivate them to make a change in purchasing food items and ultimately decrease their children’s risk of developing a hyperactivity disorder. Another touch point to reach mothers would be placing two of the print ads in Women’s Health Magazine and website. The two applicable print ads would include the photo of non-organic fruit causing neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. A call to action, â€Å"join the fight†, in Women’s Health Magazine would feature the connection between non-organic meats injected with rGBH and rBST and breast cancer. The same print ads pertaining to women can be printed on five by three foot banners and hung at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this October in Charlotte. The final consumer touch point would be included on foodnetwork. com, their magazine, and Cooking Light Magazine. The print ad to be published on these cooking sites would be the ad showing processed chicken which has been mashed, dyed, injected with hormones and ammonia, and will be turned into chicken nuggets. Chemically injected chicken has been shown to cause underdeveloped metabolism in infants and neurological problems in adults according to buzzle. com â€Å"Pregnancy and Nutrition. † A successful marketing mix is the backbone in creating an integrated marketing campaign and the key to creating awareness among mothers about the true dangers of food additives and the benefits of purchasing organic foods. Promotion In addition to public relations activities to foster goodwill through joint advertising with the National Breast Cancer Society, the event sponsorship will be paired with Internet communications on nationalbreastcancer.org with links to the campaign’s website and facebook page. From the campaign website and Facebook page consumers can learn about the specific dangers of the foods they purchase, the effects of the additives in their non-organic choices, and download organic food recipes that are plausible for young mothers who are creating the foundations for their cooking habits. Works Cited â€Å"10 SWOT Analysis. † Organic Food Cafe. 25 Jan. 2008. Retrieved Web. 06 May 2011.. ADHD linked to food coloring. Retrieved 8 May 2011. Organic Valley. Retrieved 8 May 2011. http://www. cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20048725-10391704. html> Organic Valley. Retrieved 8 May 2011. http://www. organicvalley. coop/why-organic/synthetic-hormones/about-rbgh/> Processed Chicken Effects. Retrieved 8 May 2011. Sustainable Table. Retrieved 8 May 2011. â€Å"The Health of Organic Foods. † Reference Articles on All Topics. CBS, May 2003. Web. 06 May 2011. . â€Å"Processed Chicken,† Agro Products. Retrieved 2 May 2011. http://www. agriculturalproductsindia. com/processed-foods-snacks/processed- foods-snacks-processed-chicken. html> Reference Articles on Organics. CBS, May 2003. Web. 06 May 2011.

Disinvestment: Capitalism and Public Sector

DISINVESTMENT – BOON OR BANE INTRODUCTION 1. Public enterprises are neither new nor unique to India. In good old days, Kautilya in his ‘Arthasastra’ talked of a public sector. A person was made incharge of salt manufacture and fixing its price. Similarily there were people made responsible for mining, coinage and gold, all in public sector. Nowadays there is hardly any country that is not engaged actively and directly in the management of economic and industrial enterprises. Various names given to these enterprises are ‘Public Sector Undertakings’ or PSUs, ‘Public Sector Enterprise’ or PSEs, ‘Trading Corporations’, State Owned Enterprise or SOEs, Government Owned Enterprise or GOE etc. 2. The role of government in businesses and otherwise has been questioned in the past. Thoreau said , â€Å"That government is best which governs least†. The only purpose of government would be to protect its citizens from force or fraud. The protection from force, that is, the protection of individual rights, would be achieved through the use of a police force to protect the rights of citizens at home; a military, to protect the rights of citizens from foreign aggression; and a court system to enforce contracts and settle disputes between citizens. It is not government business to do business. The poor performance of government owned enterprises around the world led to a world wide withdrawal of government from businesses and coining of a new term called ‘Privatisation’. Privatisation process in India is euphemistically called ‘Disinvestment’ to make it palatable to those who consider privatisation a dirty word. Disinvestment or privatisation in India was initiated in 1991-92 by the Chandrashekhar government and carried forward by subsequent governments. AIM 3. The aim of this paper is to study various aspects of Disinvestment so as to conclude whether it is a boon or bane for India. SCOPE 4. The paper would be covered under the following heads:- (a)What is Disinvestment? (b)Capitalism, Socialism, Communism and Market economy. c)Genesis of Government Participation In business. (d)Performance of Government Controlled Enterprises. (e)Objectives of Disinvestment. (f)Genesis of Disinvestment process. (g)The Disinvestment process in India. (h)Advantages of Disinvestment. (j)Disadvantages of Disinvestment. (k)Disinvestment-Boon or Bane. WHAT IS DISINVESTMENT 5. Disinvestment can be defined as withdrawal of state from production of goods and se rvices or transfer of ownership from the public sector to the private sector. CAPITALISM, SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM AND MARKET ECONOMY 6. Before we proceed further it would be worth our time to understand the concepts of Capitalism, Socialism, Communism and Market Economy. CAPITALISM 7. Capitalism is a political system in which factories, companies, land, etc. are owned privately in order to create profit for the owners. Prices of goods and services fluctuate depending on the desire of the consumer and the availability of the goods (the law of supply and demand). In a capitalist society their will be significant differences in wealth and power between those who have capital (machines, factories, ships, land, etc. and those who do not. 8. No one can say when capitalism first began. Clearly the development of capitalism was not revolutionary like that of communism. Instead it emerged gradually without anyone making a plan of what it should become. However, aspects of modern capitalism such as the stock exchange, banks and great disparity in wealth came about during the industrial revolution. 9. In 1776 Adam Smith, a Scot tish university professor, produced a book which described the workings of a capitalist society. He believed that a country's wealth depends on all people pursuing their own interests. If a person promotes his own interest he or she is unintentionally promoting his country's interest. Smith thought that governments should promote free trade and not interfere by protecting certain industries from competition. The only duty of governments, Smith wrote, was to provide services that couldn't be profitable like the building of roads, schools etc. 10. Capitalism means the complete separation of economy and state, just like the separation of church and state. Capitalism is the social system based upon private ownership of the means of production which entails a completely uncontrolled and unregulated economy where all land is privately owned. But the separation of the state and the economy is not primary, it is only an aspect of the premise that capitalism is based upon: individual rights. Capitalism is the only politico-economic system based on the doctrine of individual rights. This means that capitalism recognizes that each and every person is the owner of his own life, and has the right to live his life in any manner he chooses as long as he does not violate the rights of others. The essential nature of capitalism is social harmony through the pursuit of self-interest. Under capitalism, the individual's pursuit of his own economic self-interest simultaneously benefits the economic self-interests of all others. In allowing each individual to act unhampered by government regulations, capitalism causes wealth to be created in the most efficient manner possible which ultimately raises the standard of living, increases economic opportunities, and makes available an ever growing supply of products for everyone. The free-market operates in such a way so that as one man creates more wealth for himself, he simultaneously creates more wealth and opportunities for everyone else, which means that as the rich become richer, the poor become richer. It must be understood that capitalism serves the economic self-interests of all, including the non-capitalists. SOCIALISM 11. Socialism believes that the inequalities that exist in our society are unjust and that the minority of the population should not own the vast majority of the wealth. Socialists do, nevertheless, differ on ways by which this change should be achieved. Some believe that the change should be gradual, achieved through parliament, and others believe that the change should be rapid, brought about through revolution. 12. Karl Marx became the prophet and teacher of socialism whose writings transformed socialist thinking all over the world. Marx was a philosopher and an idealist Marx believed that man should labor not only for himself as an individual but for society as well. Implied in Marxist philosophy is the notion that man, being a social animal, has his destiny and his reality inextricably linked with his society. His analysis describes capitalism as the first stage followed by socialism and finally communism. Marx believed that socialism is an unrealised potential in capitalism and once most workers recognized their interests and became â€Å"class conscious,† the overthrow of capitalism would proceed as quickly as capitalist opposition allowed. The socialist society that would emerge out of the revolution would have all the productive potential of capitalism. People would be aided on the basis of social needs. COMMUNISM 13. The final goal, communism, toward which socialist society would constantly strive, is the abolition of alienation. A class-less society would be advantageous for the vast majority of the population. Communism, a form of government, inspires some people with the zeal of a religion. Communism in theory stands for total public ownership and rejects private property and personal profit. In practice, however, the state determines how strictly the doctrine is applied in any particular country. MARKET ECONOMY 14. The market economy idea is based on, or at least explained by, Darwin's theory of evolution. Companies are viewed as organisms in an ecosystem. A company with a successful formula will prosper and grow, spread its formula and ideas, while a company with a bad formula will wither and disappear. A profitable company can grow, or at least survive, while an unprofitable company will wither and die out. 15. Post Karl Marx, The fight against inequality was viewed as a fight by the collective worker class vs the individual entrepreneur. The individual who complements the group was seen as a contradiction. Some states evolved on this contradiction, wherein an individual was supposed to surrender his individuality and entrepreneurship for the state and the social security provided by it. On the other side of the world this fad for collectivism was viewed as a threat to its existing capitalist system which not only proved successful in the past, but also held promise for the future. It is this clash in ideologies which gave as a bi polar world of communism and capitalism. 16. Contrary to widely held beliefs, capitalism is not a system which exploits a large portion of society for the sake of a small minority of wealthy capitalists. Ironically, it is actually socialism that causes the systematic exploitation of labor. Since the socialist state holds a universal monopoly on labor and production, no economic incentive exists for the socialist state to provide anything more than minimum physical subsistence for the workers except to perhaps prevent riots or revolutions. Exploitation is inherent in the nature of socialism because individuals cannot live for their own sake, rather, they exist merely as means to whatever ends the socialist rulers — the self-proclaimed spokesman of â€Å"society† — may have in mind. Inequality is and progress are directly linked and progress always causes inequality. To reach for something high, we would have to stand on one another and not together on the same platform. GENESIS OF GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN BUSINESS GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN BUSINESS WORLDOVER 17. Before considering the need for disinvestment and why disinvestment, it is relevant to consider the main reasons for rise of state power world over. The following are few reasons for state power:- (a)Great depression of 1930s, unemployment and hardship. b)Rebuilding war-torn economies. (c)Redistribution of income, protection to the needy for ethical reasons. (d)Developing countries do not have markets in which individuals can operate and ill-developed private enterprise. (e)Rise of non-economic objectives (sanctions against apartheid policies, or restraining ethnic minorities dominating an economy). (f)Protect employment or ensure good working conditions. (g)Total lack of faith in markets and priva te ownership. (h)Cold war, wars among developing countries and border disputes. j)State investment in and the control of the strategic sectors of the economy was necessary for the economic development of those sectors and the security of the country. (k)Government stepping in to rescue certain enterprises, whose closure could result in significant loss of jobs. (l)An economic consensus around the world accepting public enterprises as an integral part of the economy, particularly to manage natural monopolies as also the core industries, like infrastructure, which in turn would promote rapid economic growth and the pace of industrialisation. GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN INDIA 18. Before independence, there was almost no â€Å"Public sector† in Indian economy. The only industries worthy of mention were Railways, The Post & Telegraph. The Port Trust, The Ordnance and the Aircraft factories and few Government controlled undertakings. 19. In the 1948 Industrial Policy Resolution, the manufacture of arms and ammunition, production and control of atomic energy, ownership and management of railways became the State monopoly. Six basic industries viz. iron & steel, coal, aircraft manufacture, ship building, mineral oils, manufacture of telephone, telegraph and wireless apparatus were to be developed by the State. All other areas were left open to private initiatives. 20. Within a decade of laying down the policy parameters in 1948, another policy statement was issued in April 1956 by the Government to give a new orientation to the â€Å"mixed economy† concept. The passage of Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 and adoption of socialist pattern of society as the national economic goal of the country built the foundation of the dominant public sector as we see it today. It was believed that a dominant public sector would reduce the inequality of income and wealth and advance the general prosperity of the nation. 21. The main objectives of setting up the Public Sector enterprises as stated in Industrial policy Resolution of 1956 were:- (a)To help in the rapid economic growth and Industrialisation of the country and create necessary infrastructure for economic development. (b) To earn return on investment and utilise generate resources for development. (c)To promote redistribution of income and wealth. (d)To create employment opportunities. e)To promote balanced regional development. (f)To promote import substitutions, save and earn foreign exchanges for the economy. 22. The 2nd Five year Plan document clearly stated that â€Å"all industries of basic and strategic importance, or in the nature of public utility services should be in the public sector. Other industries, which are essential and require investment on a scale, which only the state, in th e present circumstances, could provide have also to be in the public sector†. If further emphasized that, â€Å"the public sector has to expand rapidly. It has not only to initiate developments which the private sector is either unwilling or unable to undertake, it has to play the dominant role in shaping the entire pattern of investment in the economy†. The investment in public sector enterprises has grown from Rs. 29 Crore in 5 PSU on 01Apr 51 to Rs. 2,52,554 Crore in 240 PSU on 31Mar 2000. PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED ENTERPRISES 23. What was the outcome of government investment in business. Over a period of time, the States failed in achieving the goals and results for which State Owned Enterprises had been created. The following are some of the reasons for the same:- (a)Politicians govern the state and they serve group interest and not public interests. (b)Bureaucracy operates to maximise budget of individual departments, their own prospects and perks. (c)Expansions of state control resulting in the loss of economic and freedom and thereof-political freedom as well. (d)Regulation by state tends to serve the interest of regulated. (who capture regulators) rather than public. (e)Costs of regulation tend to exceed benefits of regulation. f)Supply by public authorities is inherently costly, inefficient usually in over supply, with less choice for consumers. (g)Developing countries have weak institutional structures for governments to operate services efficiently. (h)Public enterprises or state owned enterprises tend to be monopolistic, have no risk of closure and are liable to political and bureaucratic manipulation. (j)Property rights and transferability with gains or losses are important if owner s were to demand information and make the enterprise really accountable and efficient. 4. During the last ten years, the Tax-payer has had to give about Rs. 80,000 crore directly or indirectly to the public sector, so that it could survive. During 1999-2000 alone, the CAGs report on PSUs for 1999-2000 indicates that the tax-payer has taken a huge burden in one year alone which amounted to Rs. 23,140 crore for supporting PSUs. OBJECTIVES OF DISINVESTMENT 25. ‘Is the business of government business? ’- Easily the million-dollar question that plauged the minds of policy makers, intelligentsia and the public alike. The performance of PSUs world over led to introspection and a need for privatisation/disinvestments was felt. Technology and W. T. O. commitments have made the world a global village and unless industries, including public industries do not quickly restructure, they would not be able to survive. Public enterprises, because of the nature of their ownership, can restructure slowly and hence the logic of privatisation got stronger. Besides, techniques are now available to control public monopolies like Power and Telecom, where consumer interests can be better protected by egulation / competition. Therefore, investment of public money to ensure protection of consumer interests is no longer a convincing argument. Disinvestment aimed to achieve the following: – (a)Promote economic efficiency by fostering well functioning markets and competition. (b)Redefine role of the State in order to allow it to concentrate on the essential task of governing and to withdraw from activities, which are better suited to private enterprise. (c )Reduce fiscal burden of loss-making public enterprises, in order to help regain fiscal control and macroeconomic stability. d)Reduce the public debt. (e)Release limited State resources for financing or other demands, for example in the field of education and social health. (f)Generate new investment including foreign investment. (g)Mobilise domestic investments and deepen domestic financial development (h)Spread and democratise share ownership by encouraging it among individuals, making employees share-owners and by rising productivity through incentives for holding stock. GENESIS OF DISINVESTMENT PROCESS GENESIS OF DISINVESTMENT PROCESS – WORLDWIDE U. K (Post 1979) 26. Although the idea of privatisation has been around for a long time (Adam Smith wrote about it as long as 1762), privatisation has been tried widely since the mid 1970s. Privatisation first attracted world-wide attention in 1979 when the Conservative Government of Prime Minister Margaret Thacher began transforming the ailing U. K. economy by selling public holdings in industry, communications and other service sector areas. Since 1979, over 105 countries all over the world have initiated their own privatisation programmes. Following are the salient features of the privatisation programme in the UK:- a)Privatisation carried out in three phases (i)Phase I: Commercial enterprises (e. g. , British Aerospace) (ii)Phase II: Utilities (involved more complicated structural & regulatory issues) (iii)Phase III: Less commercial industries, mainly those performing socially desirable services and dependant on subsidies (e. g. , the railways). (b)Around 60 major businesses, representing 10% of GDP, transferred to private sector. (c)Fundamental issues addressed were:- (i) Ensuring commitment to the policy from the top of the Government. (ii) Setting clear objectives. iii) Careful planning. (iv) Engaging intermediaries-financial, technical and legal advisers. (d)Regulation & competition effectively used while privatising services and infrastructure. (e)Initially resisted both by consumers and employees. (f)However, consumers benefited from lower prices, greater choice & better service and productivity improved. (g)Employees too benefited in the medium term due to increase in economic activity, though some loss of jobs in the short run as productivity increased rapidly. Offered liberal opportunities to invest in divested shares. France 27. 8 large groups and 3 medium size banks were privatised. Shares divested to domestic public (about 50%), large shareholders (about 25%), employees (about 10%) & foreign investors (about 15%). 21 companies privatised, including 2 of the largest banks and 3 largest insurance companies. Shares divested to domestic public, large shareholders, employees & foreign investors in. China 28. Market reforms first started in 1978. Corporatisation and then listing on both domestic and foreign stock exchanges favoured for efficient large and medium size SOEs. Foreign investors permitted to invest in various infrastructure and utility businesses, including railways, toll roads, ports and power plants. In 1978, over three-quarters of industrial output was produced by the state sector. This fell to 34% by 1995. The collective sector increased from 32% to 37%, individual sector (small capitalist businesses) jumped from 1. 8% to 13% and others (including all other capitalist enterprises – local and foreign) leaped from 1. 2% to 16. 6%. Thus, the private sector grew at the expense of the state sector. Gradual stage-by-stage approach followed for reforming State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). According to the World Investment Report 1997, foreign direct inflows to China amounted to US $42. 3 billion in 1996. Some Other Countries 29. Some other countries which have undergone privatisation are :- (a)Eastern EuropeBulgaria, Czech. , Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania (b)Latin AmericaArgentina, Brazil (c)Far EastKorea, China, Philippines (d)S. E. Asia Malaysia, Thailand (e)South Asia Pakistan, Sri Lanka (f)Middle East & AfricaEgypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria THE DISINVESTMENT PROCESS IN INDIA Genesis 30. A decade ago, the concept of privatisation as a catalyst was hardly acknowledged in India. Not long ago, it was nationalisation that was in vogue. Even international aid-donors such as the IMF and the World Bank had recommended a larger role for the public sector during the 1950s and 1960s and they refused to grant loans to those countries which did not have government-sponsored development programmes. Now, it is just the other way round. The prescription of privatisation is being sold, rather over-sold, as a panacea to cure our economic ills. India, for almost four decades was pursuing a path of development in which public sector was expected to be the engine of growth. But by mid-eighties their short comings and weaknesses started manifesting in the form of low capacity utilisation, low efficiency, lack of motivation, over-manning, huge time and cost overrun, inability to innovate and take quick decision, large scale political and bureaucratic interference in decision making, etc. But instead of trying to remove these defects and to increase the rate of growth of national economy, gradually the concept of self-reliant growth was given a quiet burial. The Government started to deregulate the imports by reducing or withdrawing import duty in phases. This resulted in dwindling of precious foreign exchange reserve to abysmally low level. The foreign debt repayment crisis compelled Government of India to raise loan from IMF against physical deposit of RBI gold reserve, on conditions harmful to the interest of the country. 31. Thus started the reversal of policies towards PSU. The Industrial policy of 1991 started the process of delicensing and except 18 industries, Industrial licensing was withdrawn. The market was opened up to domestic private capital and foreign capital was provided free entry upto 51% equity in high technology areas. The aim of economic liberalisation was to enlarge competition and allowing new firms to enter the market. Thus the emphasis shifted from PSEs to liberalisation, of economy and gradual disinvestment of PSEs. A paradigm shift of Government's economic policy orientation originated in 1991 from a foreign debt servicing crisis. Disinvestment Process 32. The Industrial Policy of 1991 limited the priority areas for the public sector to : (a)Essential infrastructure goods and services. (b)Exploration and exploitation of oil and mineral resources. c)Technology development and building of manufacturing capabilities in areas which are crucial in the long term development of the economy and where private sector investment is inadequate. (d)Manufacture of products where strategic considerations predominate such as defence equipment. 33. Congress Government in 1991-92 offered up to 20% of Govt. equity in selected PSUs to mutual funds and investment institutions in the public sector, as also to wor kers in these firms. The objective was to raise resources, encourage wider public participation and promote greater accountability. 4. As per Rangarajan Committee recommendations in Apr 93, there were only six Schedule ‘A’ industries where the Government might consider holding 51% or more equity, namely (a) Coal and lignite. (b) Mineral oils. (c) Arms, ammunition and defence equipment. (d) Atomic energy. (e) Radioactive minerals. (f) Railway transport. 35. The Common Minimum Programme of the United Front Govt in 1996 aimed for the following:- (a)To carefully examine withdrawal from non-core strategic areas. (b)To set up a Disinvestment Commission for advising on disinvestments issues. c)To take and implement decisions to disinvest in a transparent manner. (d)Job security, opportunities for retraining and redeployment to be assured. 36. Disinvestment Commission Recommendationsin Feb 97- Oct 99 aimed for the following:- (a)72 PSEs were referred to the Disinvestment Commis sion during 1996-99. The Disinvestment Commission gave its recommendations on 58 PSEs. (b)The Disinvestment Commission recommendations gave priority to strategic / trade sales, with transfer of management, instead of public offerings, as was recommended by the Rangarajan Committee in 1993. 37. In 1998-99, the govt aimed to bring down Government shareholding in the PSUs to 26% in the most of cases, (thus facilitating ownership changes, as was recommended by the Disinvestment Commission). 38. In 1999-2000, the Govt. aimed To strengthen the strategic PSUs, privatise non-strategic PSUs through gradual disinvestment or strategic sale and devise viable rehabilitation strategies for weak units. 39. On 16th March 1999, the cabinet approved classification of PSUs into Strategic and Non strategic. (a)Strategic PSUs: (i)Defence related (ii)Atomic energy related (iii)Railway transport b)Non-strategic PSUs: All other 40. Strategy for Non-strategic Public Sector Enterprises wasReduction of Government stake to 26%to be worked out on a case to case basis,on the following considerations: (a)Whether the Industrial sector requires the presence of the public sector as a countering force to prevent concentration of power in private hands. (b)Whether the Industrial sector requires a proper regu latory mechanism to protect the consumer interests before Public Sector Enterprises are Privatised. 41. In 2000 – 2001, the main elements Policy were:- (a)To restructure and revive potentially viable PSUs. b) To close down PSUs which cannot be revived. (c) To bring down Government equity in all non-strategic PSUs to 26% or lower, if necessary. (d)To fully protect the interests of workers. (e)To put in place mechanisms to raise resources from the market against the security of PSUs’ assets for providing an adequate safety-net to workers and employees. (f)To establish a systematic policy approach to disinvestment and privatisation and to give a fresh impetus to this programme, by setting up a new Department of Disinvestment. (g)To emphasize increasingly on strategic sales of identified PSUs. h)To use the entire receipt from disinvestment and privatisation for meeting expenditure in social sectors, restructuring of PSUs and retiring public debt. Utilisation of Proceeds 42 . In the Budget of 2000-2001 the Govt. outlined its aim for utilisation of the disinvestments proceeds as enumerated below. (a) Restructuring assistance to PSUs. (b) Safety net to workers. (c) Reduction of debt burden. (d) Additional budgetary support for the Plan, primarily in the social and infrastructure sectors (contingent upon realisation of the anticipated receipt). ADVANTAGES OF DISINVESTMENT 43. After disinvestments the following would be achieved: – (a)Releasing of huge amounts of scarce public resources locked up in non-strategic PSUs, for deployment in areas much higher on social priority, such as, public health, family welfare, education and social and essential infrastructure; (b)Stemming further outflow of public resources for sustaining the unviable non-strategic PSUs. (c)Reducing the public debt that is threatening to assume unmanageable proportions. d)Transferring the commercial risk, to which the tax-payers’ money locked up in the public sector is exposed, to the private sector wherever the private sector is willing and able to step in. The money that is deployed in the PSUs is really the public money; and, is exposed to an entirely avoidable and needless risk, in most cases. (e)Release of other tangible and intangible resources, such as, large manpower currently locked up in managing the PSUs, and their time and energy , for redeployment in areas that are much higher on the social priority but are short of such resources. f)Disinvestment would expose the privatised companies to market discipline, thereby forcing them to become more efficient and survive or cease on their own financial and economic strength. They would be able to respond to the market forces much faster and cater to their business needs in a more professional manner. It would also facilitate in freeing the PSUs from the Government control and introduction of corporate governance in the privatised companies. (e)Disinvestment would result in wider distribution of wealth through offering of shares of privatised companies to small investors and employees. f)Disinvestment would have a beneficial effect on the capital market; the increase in floating stock would give the market more depth and liquidity, give investors easier exit options, help in establishing more accurate benchmarks for valuation and pricing, and facilitate raising of f unds by the privatised companies for their projects or expansion, in future. (g)Opening up the erstwhile public sectors to appropriate private investors would increase economic activity and have an overall beneficial effect on the economy, employment and tax revenues in the medium to long term. h)In many areas, e. g. , the telecom sector, the end of public sector monopoly would bring relief to consumers by way of more choices, and cheaper and better quality of products and services. DISADVANTAGES OF DISINVESTMENT 44. Having seen so many advantages, what do we have on the flip side? Is disinvestments without any disadvantages? Some of the likely disadvantages could be:- (a)Non realisation of actual value of the PSU as the realisation would on unit potential and not assets held. The logic is similar to an old Fiat car in Delhi selling for less than what it would fetch as scrap. (b)Short term retrenchment occurs in order to increase efficiency. However, It is offset in the longterm by a profitable organisation creating more employment. (c)It is the wealthy who would buy the PSUs making them wealthier. Therefore, they inequality in society increases. (d)Creation of monopolies may take place. DISINVESTMENT-BOON OR BANE 45. After having seen the advantages and disadvantages of disinvestments, the ast performance of our PSUs, the non accountability of the Public sector to the Tax payer and the consumer we are sure that there is no doubt about the Disinvestment process being a boon for the nation. As the world changed in this era of globalisation, a country living in the past is doomed and economic slavery is not far behind. Proponents of anti-disinvestment campaign have a past record of pushing conglomerate like Coca-Cola out of the country, little realising that it all about creation of wealth by production and not about transfer of wealth to another country. For the poor to get rich, the rich must get richer and conversely for the rich to get richer the poor must get rich. It this is understood by one and all then the inequalities in the society become acceptable and progress becomes the norm of the day. Going slow on the disinvestments process would be to delay the progress of the country and turning around from it would only prove catastrophic for the economy and the industry. Effecieny is the keyword in the present day world and any thing produced inefficiently is at a cost that the nation has to pay one way or the other. It is better to give dole than to hire extra people and breed inefficiency. Let the government improve governance before it even thinks of Business. Let not the Pseudo profits earned by monopolistic mineral oil selling agencies like Indian Oil, HPCL etc cloud our vision. We have the example of BSNL, which when faced with private competition is coming out with innovative ideas to lure the customer, while in the past it was sleeping. CONCLUSION 46. Every time utopia is discovered in a system, utopia redefines itself. The process of corruption and correction is continuous. Same may happen with the concept of privatisation in the future. In retrospect, it is easy to fault the vision our leaders of yesteryears. If we need to fault them, it should not be for creating public owned enterprises but for killing the private enterprise by means of license raj, red tapism, lack of infrastructure, rules and rules for rules, corruption and capacity control. It remind me of a statement made by JRD Tata in one of his last interview and I quote â€Å" It is in this country that I was penalised for producing more†. I had not heard a sadder statement that day and stayed the saddest statement for a long time to come. Entrepreneur and the worker complement each other and need to co-exist. Today, government as an entrepreneur is passe. Yet, the indiscriminate pursuit of the policy, unmindful of the social setting is not without its failings. For in the interregnum, when the benefits of privatisation have not yet completely trickled down, we need sufficient social security mechanisms to ensure the poor do not turn poorer. We further need strong regulatory regimes and stronger competition laws concomitant with privatization in order to install the ‘consumer as king’, and prevent distortions in the functioning of the market by the big monopolistic players. A fine balance of these competing interests, with the ultimate goal of ‘public good’, which is essentially what the business of government is all about, should be the primary focus of any privatisation agenda.

Professional Sports Teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Professional Sports Teams - Essay Example A good example is the US where the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major Baseball League, and the National Football League (NFL) are a major source of attraction and income for the country (Dobson & Goddard, 2011:206). Commercialization of sports follows the principle of economic of profit maximization, and it is with such understanding that economists have taken a keen interest of evaluating sports club and franchises owners’ objective and their influence on regulations and structure of leagues. This paper seeks to analyze the objectives of team owners and the impact they may have on the regulations and structure of professional sports leagues. From an economic standpoint, professional team sports are a form of enterprise, the owners of the teams being the entrepreneurs and the game being the product. The customers are the fans supporting these teams, while the players and the coaching staff are the inputs (Mayhew, 2003:79). Professional players and athletes earn milli ons of dollars per season, with team prices shooting past 500 million dollars (for Washington Redskins and New York Jets). With such huge figures, professional sports teams have been organized into sealed leagues with the identity and number of competitors being fixed by the league members themselves, thus the influence of the league by the owners of these teams (Masterlexis & Hums, 2011:295). Figure 1: Graph showing one-year change in total value of football clubs in the US (emphasis on New York Jets and Washington Redskins). Retrieved from http://www.data360.org/dsg.aspx?Data_Set_Group_Id=1358 Unlike other contemporary economic sectors principle of monopoly, success of the professional team sports relies on extreme competition between the teams. The more competitive the game, the higher the ticket charges as well as the attendance, resulting to higher profits. The implication of this fact is that teams with consistent unbroken winning streaks become common and boring. This has led to the formation of leagues that manage and organize games with the aim of eliminating unfair competition in the sector (Rodney, 2004:25). These leagues have become so popular, going past the country’s border and spreading over the world. Prime examples include the Premier League in English football, La Liga football league in Spain, Super Bowl baseball league in the US, and NBA basketball league in the US (Kern, 2000:101). These leagues are multi-billion dollars ventures that contribute significantly to the GDP of their respective countries. Players’ drafts, salary caps, roster limit, and player trading restrictions govern the labor market of professional sports. Gate collection sharing, collective sale of television broadcasting rights, and joint merchandising limit economic competition in the product markets. These agreements apply to such leagues like the ice hockey, baseball, basketball, and American football. These agreements are based on the economic principles of profit maximization, which is often the objective of the professional team owners (Melicher, 2011:9). Team owners in Europe and the US have always deferred in objectives, with the paradigm of profit maximization dominating the North and non-profit making objectives, like maintenance of winning streaks, being a more embraced approach in Europe. In the economy of sports, the objectives of team owners, and the controlling leagues is important, considering the monopolistic nature of the league enterprise. The issue of profit

The Extended Marketing Mix Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Extended Marketing Mix - Assignment Example In order for customers to recognize your product, it is required to differentiate your product to highlight it in the eyes of the customer. Differentiation can be done on any basis; depending on what is more highly rated in your potential customer. The company on since it started working in 1981 has been focused on providing the best quality for their product. Crosland employed the method of carefully manufacturing various electronic goods such as amplifiers, tuners, record disks, cassette players etc and imported speakers from a relatively smaller shop and branded them with their own name. Since it relied on quality and produced specialized electronic equipment; they differentiated their product on this basis only. They provided quality services to their customer; the price was not their competitive factor. Distribution patterns are considered extremely important in marketing because no matter how beautiful and penetrating the marketing activities are, if the product is not available to the consumers when they ask for it, they will probably move to another product and start using it. Many products have failed due to the failure of the company to address the problem of proper and timely distribution of the product in the areas where there is extensive demand. The company under consideration was not paying enough attention to the changing marketing tastes and the ever changing consumer tastes and therefore, has started suffering in profits. The company had attained their advantage by providing quality products. However, because the world is becoming fast paced and the changes that are usually taking place in the minds of the consumers have dented the demand for their products. People are asking for more innovative products which are being provided to them by other competitive companies w hich have employed just in time production methods so that they stay in complete cohesion with the demand for their different products. The methods of the competitors have made them the market leader. Therefore in order to get their strategic advantage back, they need to employ such distribution methods that the consumers get timely availability of the product as and when they demand it. The improvement in their distribution channel should be done so that they can increase their customer base by increasing the customer satisfaction and convenience. They should improve their inventory management by increasing the introducing the just in time methods of inventory management; this method leads to quality improvement. Customers get better product in time and eventually they will be attracted to use the company's products due to timely availability and quality. As the company is already competing based on their quality, a little improvement in distribution patterns might help them in inc reasing the quality of their products and services to a much greater extent. Another strategy that they are using is exclusive distribution which in a way hinders the availability of product in all the markets (Elizabeth, 1996). Therefore, this reduces the probability that the customer will come to but the product to the specific shop if considering the current situation when the competitors are providing with better products. 3. Pricing Strategies Price is one to the most important and the basic variable that marketing managers

ANDRAGOGY Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ANDRAGOGY - Article Example It has a long history of evolution and development. It was coined by Kapp Alexander in 1833. Chan notes that Knowles was instrumental in developing Andragogy into a theory in adult education. Knowles andragogical perspective is based on six assumptions. These include self-concept, readiness to learn, role of experience, internal motivation, orientation of learning and the need to know (Chan 26). The author outlines the importance of human capital development to the global economy. He notes that for businesses to survive, there is the need to invest in modern machinery, technological advancements and human capital (Chan 28). The latter factor is crucial when it comes to keeping up with the transformations that are taking place in the business environment. He notes that the competitive advantage of various businesses can be sustained via human capital development. The main objective of today’s education is to produce individuals that have multifaceted training. The Knowles’ andragogical approach of education provides a solution to most of the problems that pertain to human capital development (Chan 27). The author then delves into the applications of Knowles’ Andragogy. He notes of a previous research demonstrating that Andragogy has been adopted by various countries in multidisciplinary teaching and learning. Some of these countries include England, Germany and Russia. Chan also notes that the Andragogical approach has been incorporated into various disciplines including education, criminal justice, medicine, management and police training (Chan 28). The author highlights several accounts that review the use of Knowles’ Andragogy in various fields and disciplines. He begins with Forrest (2006), who claimed that Andragogy is crucial in management education (Chan 28). Chan notes that incorporation of andragogical approach in management helps in the preparation of students for the working environment. Management instructor can tailor the

Theories & Methods Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Theories & Methods - Thesis Example (Waltz, 1979) The criteria for good or sound theory are evident enough: it should be conceptually clear and rigorous, historically aware, able to yield substantive analysis and research agenda, and, where appropriate, able to engage with ethical issues. Theory is a necessary part of all human understanding, from the numbers of mathematics or divisions into colours we use in everyday life to the abstractions of Hegel, or of the sociologist Talcott Parsons. International Relations as a field emerged after the First World War with the aim of studying the reasons for the history's first major conflict and means of avoiding it in future. It borrowed theories and ideas from other disciplines such as political science, economics, and to some extent sociology and anthropology but according to Halliday it sought most inspiration from international law when Woodrow Wilson's liberalism attempted to bind state actors into a legal relationship backed by the League of Nations and the incumbent study named "International Relations" was introduced in the academia (Aberystwyth, Oxford and London School of Economics) in Britain and contemporaneously in the American universities. When International Relations took shape as a subject in the later 1... from international law when Woodrow Wilson's liberalism attempted to bind state actors into a legal relationship backed by the League of Nations and the incumbent study named "International Relations" was introduced in the academia (Aberystwyth, Oxford and London School of Economics) in Britain and contemporaneously in the American universities. When International Relations took shape as a subject in the later 1920s and early 1930s and began to influence policy makers, it was more or less, based on "idealism" with a normative approach, that is, researchers and writers of that era laid down norms for states to behave with each other. But a similar thought was expressed as early as 1795 by Kant, for instance, in his tract, Perpetual Peace, he "prescribed" an international authority to assert an international rule of law and so ensure peace between nations. IR was based on the presumption that states were naturally benign and did not wish to enter a conflict unless forced upon. Kant (1795) again: "We ordinarily assume that no one may act inimically toward another except when he has been actively injured by the other. This is quite correct if both are under civil law, for, by entering into such a state, they afford each other the requisite security through the sovereign which has power over both." Idealist school of thought in international relations which harkens back to the eighteenth century Kantianism essentially holds that a state should make its foreign policy reflect its internal political philosophy. But soon "realist" school of thought contested idealism as a non-workable theory and advocated that instead of setting norms for the states' behaviour or international rule of law, states should be left alone and relations between them should be dictated by the

Statistic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Statistic - Essay Example Since the figure bracket we are wondering about is somewhere between $45 and $50k, we must use the product rule and the sum rule to gain the answer. The chances of a graduate earning a $45k salary begins in the first noted price bracket but is only represented by the second half of that bracket. That means we must multiply 50% x 33% = 17%. This is the same for the second and third bracket requiring us to employ the sum rule. 17% + 17% = 33%. B. The probability of a new graduate making a starting salary which exceeds 55k is as follows: The farther away we get from the mean, the more income brackets need to be added in both directions in order to maintain $47,500 as the mean leaving only a 20% chance of a new graduate being hired at a starting salary of 55k or more. C. The percentage of staring salaries which are no more than $42,250 is a 36% chance. This was calculated by representing 5 brackets with 20% chances: 38.5k, 43k, 47.5k, 52k and 56.5k all with a 20% chance each due to even distribution. The bracket between 38.5k and 43.k together represent a 40% chance cumulatively. Those brackets can be divided into smaller brackets leaving the bracket of 42.5 k and everything beneath that amount represented by a 36% chance. First, let us allow n to represent the sample size and N to represent the population size. In the event that the value of n is greater than 5% of the finite population N, the population correction factor may be used. In this case, n=40 and N=500. The sample population is equal to 8% of the finite population of 500 which is again, represented by N. B. To establish standard of error utilizing the given information thus far, we can use the formula , which represents the variability of the original data which can divided by the square root n. We may also find the answer by utilizing the following formula: ((N-n)/N-1)) which gives us the number 9.5917 as our standard error. Using

The Contribution of Theodore Roosevelt to the issue of conservation Essay

The Contribution of Theodore Roosevelt to the issue of conservation - Essay Example ment and thus put the set aside conservation area under protection in order to protect and conserve the different species that were there of nature (Brinkley 56). As a result of the love he had for the environment and its conservation, he not only set aside land and ensured the protection of the species but also developed some of the farmlands in the Westside of America that were near natural resources in a bid to also protect them for not only the then current generation but also the future ones. The fruits of his hard work in conservation are still being experienced up to date. In order to ensure that his conservation legacy stays for long, he put his environmental conservation ideas and wishes to writing. These included even conservation of the soil, water, forests and even the areas of recreation. He used his presidential influence to build up other environmental conservatives and conservation groups and hence became a role model. The next presidents after him also became challenged and hence bid to continue his legacy. This included even Presidents Carter and

What Happened to Muses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Happened to Muses - Essay Example They find the inspiration in something else. Usually these methods to get it are not right and decent: drinking alcohol, using drugs etc. Not very long ago actual women, wives or girl-friends, played a role of Muse for some artists. Today it is not necessary to an artist to have a Muse. In ancient times three Muses were divine creatures and the daughters of Zeus. Their mother, Mnemosyne, was the goddess of memory. Hesiod decided to expand the number of muses, so now we know nine: Clio, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Melpomene, Thalia, , Polyhymnia, Urania, Erato. Nine Muses were given different roles later by Romans: Clio was the muse of history, Erato of lyric poetry, Polyhymnia of sacred poetry and so on. Nine muses were considered to be kind, caring creatures. According to Hesiod, they came to the chosen and lucky artist and presented him with their invaluable gifts. At the same time Muses could punish artists and other creatures. We all know how they punished Sirens when they want to compete with them: they made them loose their wings and Sirens fell into the sea. The power of the ancient Muses was transferred to the modern ones. Many modern Muses were mostly strong women with difficult characters and interesting lives. Among them we can define Gala, the Muse of Salvador Dali, Georgia O’Keeffe, the Muse of Alfred Stieglitz, and many other. In the 21st century it is not very easy to find a Muse. Some artists still have Muses, very often they are their own wives, but the relationships between them does not have an element of divinity any more. They are just partners and their relations are the relations between two people, just human beings, usually with equal talent. Women do not limit themselves to the role of Muses any more, they want to create masterpieces themselves. Feminist ideas do not allow to treat women as objects. Muses did not completely disappear, just the idea of them was changed.

Being asian in north America Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Being asian in north America - Assignment Example At the onset of her college days, Ruth experienced both negative and positive reactions from the community she interacted. Her Race influenced a lot the setbacks. Embarrassment greeted Ruth immediately she met with her roommate. The colleague inquired on the duration she has been in America. At another instance, the professor assumed her to be Japanese and insisted on knowing her opinion regarding Japanese style of management. As time progressed, at another incident author reveals a resident assistant who paused uncontrollably upon meeting Ruth. She expected her to be a Swedish. Furthermore, her fellow Asian colleague criticised a lot. They required Ruth to understand in their native language. The scenarios depict Ruth being turned away with a judgemental smile. Finally, the author talks of a situation in which Ruth had gone on a date with a white man. A Chinese girl in her done uttered a word that discouraged Ruth. The word was sarcastic. Ruth being told, "banana" mocked her religio n (Lee &Christine 3). On a rather pleasant note, the author mentions Ruth while being encouraged by a math professor. The professor assured her that she would do well especially with the skills associated with Asian people. It is quite clear that Ruth faced much negative criticism unlike positive criticism from her

500 Word Essay Essay Example for Free

500 Word Essay Essay What a thing of beauty is the well-written 500-word essay. In some ways, it is the perfect length to express a certain level of knowledge about a particular subject. It is long enough to allow the writer to show familiarity, and possibly expertise, regarding her chosen topic. But it is not a length that requires copious amounts of research. When sufficiently motivated, one can manage to research, write, and revise such an essay in an hour or two, given enough practice. Given the fact that students will write dozens, if not hundreds, of essays in their high school and college careers, it can be advantageous to become familiar with the mechanics, tools, and resources associated with essay writing. The mechanics of a paper include such elements as accurate spelling, correct grammar, and proper formatting. The conscientious writer does not simply rely on spell check to make sure his paper does not contain misspellings. A thorough proofreading will catch mistakes that spell check misses. For instance, spell check might not know the difference between homophones such as â€Å"there,† â€Å"their,† and â€Å"they’re. † A careful review by the writer (or a friend) should catch these errors. Using correct grammar in all its forms – the parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation – can ensure that brilliant writing is not overshadowed by careless or sloppy mechanics (Writing Mechanics). The â€Å"look† of the paper is important as well. High school teachers and college professors alike appreciate readable papers with a consistent appearance. This means using the Times New Roman font, size 12, and double-spacing the body of the essay. The title should also be a size 12 font, center justified, with the first word, the last word, and other important words all capitalized. The default margin settings of one inch at the top, bottom, left, and right, give the paper a professional look. While having a crisp, clean look is valuable, the substance of the paper is of the greatest importance. Supplementing one’s own personal knowledge with well-researched material is the key to a terrific essay. A 500-word essay is not going to require as much research as a six- or ten-page paper. The individual assignment and the topic will determine where to seek out information. But once the research is done, the bibliography (or Works Cited list) can be assembled quite easily using EasyBib (EasyBib). What used to be quite a laborious task – putting sources in the correct MLA format, then alphabetizing them all – is now a fairly automatic process using this handy website. Some students are intimidated when given a writing assignment. Hopefully, the hints given in this essay will make it easier for students to get started on their own essays. Becoming fairly automatic about formatting a paper prevents too much time from being wasted â€Å"reinventing the wheel. † Using viable, trustworthy websites and resources for research will help writers supplement their own knowledge. Knowing how to organize these resources into a coherent bibliography will cap off the paper quite nicely. Using these â€Å"tricks of the trade† should help students concentrate on the composition of their papers, and not obsess on the minutiae.

Role Of Quantity Surveying Profession Construction Essay

Role Of Quantity Surveying Profession Construction Essay According to Williss Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.1), the role of the quantity surveying has been defined by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS, 1971) as ensuring that the resources of the construction industry are utilised to the best advantage of society by providing, inter alia, the financial management for projects and a cost consultancy service to the client and designer during the whole construction process. However, the roles of the quantity surveying profession within the contemporary built environment will be discussed as follows: Preliminary cost advice One of the quantity surveyor roles is to ensure that the proposed project is carefully constructed, in terms of costs arising throughout entire design and construction process (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.121). Quantity surveyor also acts to suggest his professional and reliable advices to his client on matter of cost at various stages during the design and construction process. The advices given during inception stage are vital important as the decisions taken in this stage will seriously affect the quality of works to be carried out (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.122). Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.121) stated that the quantity surveyor will offer cost advice for the comparative design solutions of the alternatives materials to be used or the form of construction to be adopted. Quantity surveyor is the recognized professional cost and value consultant, their measurement and valuation knowledge are without equal (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.123). Cost planning According to Williss Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor, Ashworth Hogg (2007, p.126) stated that the cost planning process commences with the preparation of an approximate estimate and then the setting of cost targets for each element. As the design evolves, these cost targets are checked against the developing design and details for any changes in their financial allocations. Quantity surveying profession under this aspect will require the quantity surveyor to allocate the approximate estimated costs into subdivisions, known as elements within a building. Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.122) stated that These elements costs can be compared against the element costs of other similar projects from the quantity surveyors cost library records. The purpose is to provide a better value of money for client. It also keeps the designer fully informed of all the cost implications of the design. Quantity surveyor might also try to reduce the estimated costs by simplifying the details without modifying the design. Besides, contract document will also be prepared on this basic to make the preparation of cost analysis easier. Cost planning will be developed and while taking account of appearance, quality and utility, the cost is planned to be within the economic boundary (Willis, Ashworth Willis, 1994, p.95) Procurement and tendering procedures It is important that quantity surveying profession to be applied during this stage. As stated by Ashworth and Hogg (2007, pp.237-238), role of quantity surveying profession in this aspect will include as follows: Recommending an organizational structure for the proposed development of a project (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Advising on the appointment of the various consultants and contractors in the knowledge of the information provided by the employer (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Managing the information and coordinating the work of the different parties (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Selecting the methods for the appointment of consultants and contractors (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Determining the employers requirement in terms of time, cost and quality (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Assessing the viability of the project and providing advice in respect of funding and taxation advantages (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Quantity surveyor plays a crucial role to provide appropriate advices on the method of procurement to be used for clients who wish to undertake construction work (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.237). There are various procurement methods to deal with the different demand and various situation, client should not select an inappropriate form of procurement unwittingly (Ashworth Hogg, 2007). Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.237) stated that Quantity surveyors are in an excellent position as procurement managers with their specialist knowledge of constructions and contractual procedures. They are able to appraise the characteristic of the competing methods that might be appropriate and to match these with the particular needs and aspirations of the employer. Hence, clients are advised to seek for quantity surveyor for relevant and reliable advices or recommendation before making their final decisions. Due to this, advices and recommendation provided by quantity surveyor must be independently without the intrusion of individual bias and self-interest (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.237). Contract documentation Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.243) stated that When the choice of form of contract has been decided, the next step is the preparation of the documents that will accompany the signed form of contract. The contract documents for any construction will normally include the following information: Contract drawings It includes plans, elevations and cross section. Some other additional details will also be prepared based on the complexity of the project. This will provide information for the client to get the idea of architects or engineers design intentions. The contract drawings are normally provided by architect and engineer (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, pp.243-244). However, the role of quantity surveyor is to collect the drawings and any specifications from the architect and at the same time discuss the job. There is however some more detailed questions will arise, therefore a timetable for the completion of the contract bills will be agreed, along with dates when additional detailed information and drawings can be expected (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.259) Contract bills Quantity surveyor will involve in preparation of contract bills. Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.258) stated that The appointment of the quantity surveyor is likely to have been made at early stage when early price estimates were under consideration. This may be before any drawings are available, in order to provide some cost advice to the client. Due to this, quantity surveyor will normally be needed except for on a very small project, the demand for the profession of quantity surveyor might only to be eliminated (Ashworth and Hogg, 2007, p.258). Besides, there is a condition for contractor who wishes to submit tenders in competition to provide approximate quantities required for particular works. Therefore, quantity surveying firms are then sometimes involved in preparing approximate quantities depending upon the completeness of the drawings and other information from which it was prepared contractors (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.258). Articles of agreement Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.246) stated that This is the part of the contract which the parties sign. The contract is between the employer (building owner) and the contractor (building contractor). The blank spaces in the articles are filled in with the (i) names of employer, contractor, architect and quantity surveyor; (ii) date of the signing of the contract; (iii) location and nature of the work; (iv) list of the contract drawings; (v) amount of the contract sum. Condition of contract The condition of contract includes the contractors obligation to carry out the work shown on the drawings and described in the bills to the satisfaction of the architect. They cover the matter of quality of work, cost time, nominated supplies and subcontractors insurances, fluctuation and VAT. (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.246) Appendix Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.246) stated that The Contract Particulars for the Conditions of Contract include that part of the contract which is peculiar to the particular project in question. It includes key information, for example, on the start and completion dates, the periods of interim payment and the length of the rectification period for which the contractor is responsible. Evaluation of tenders Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.274) stated that In public authorities, tenders will probably be addressed to the secretary or principal chief officer. With private clients they are usually forwarded to the architect or the quantity surveyor. On the due date for receipt of tenders, the envelopes received will be counted to check that they have all been received, prior to being openend. Quantity surveyor will then prepare a list of the tendered amounts after the envelopes are opened. Preliminary examination will be made after that to ascertain which tenders will be taken into consideration for acceptance. A fuller report will be made later by the quantity surveyor (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.274). Besides, according to Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.274), the architect will rely extensively on quantity surveyor for advice on these matters. A report will be made for the client, setting out clearly the arguments in favour of acceptance of one tender or another. Quantity surveyor will have to check and examine for the copy of the priced bills submitted by those tenderer who is under consideration (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.275). Financial reporting and interim payments, cash-flow forecasting According to Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.286) JCT 2005 makes clear duty of the clients quantity surveyor in this respect (clause 4.11): Interim valuations shall be made by the quantity surveyor whenever the architect or contract administrator considers them necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the amount to be started as due in Interim Certificate. Ashworth and Hogg (2007) stated that Most construction projects encountered by the surveyor will have contractual provision for the payment of the contractor for work done, at regular intervals during the contract period. Between the date of the first interim certificate and the practical completion certificate, interim certificates have to be issued by quantity surveyor at a certain intervals stated in the contract particulars. It is the responsibility of quantity surveyor to calculate the amount for the interim payments during each interval (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, pp.286-287). A professional quantity surveyor should always aware that there are conditions for employer to prevent the employer getting penalties and punishments and quantity surveyor should always provide his or her appropriate advices where necessary (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.288). Besides, clients generally desire the final cost of a project to be no more than contract sum. Due to this, it is the role of clients quantity surveyor to try to manage the costs by monitoring the design and site development and provide his professional advices of the likely impacts and remedies (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.302). It is also necessary for quantity surveyor to review all the correspondence and meeting issued on the project in order to identify the potential cost implications. Monthly financial reports will normally be required to advise the client of the anticipated outturn costs (Ashworth Hogg, 2007). Cash-flow forecasts report will be prepared in association with the contractor since it will be greatly influenced by the intended programme of works. Cash-flow forecasts are used as a basis upon which to arrange project finance and monitoring the progress of works (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.305). Final accounting Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.310) stated that The majority of construction projects result in a final cost that is different to that agreed by the client and contractor at commencement of the construction works. The calculation and agreement of this final construction cost, the final account, is usually of the utmost important to both the employer and contractor. Therefore, parties to the contract need to ensure that the final account incorporates a fair valuation of the works carried out. In this aspect, the quantity surveyor will decide on the suitable subdivisions into terms that will be adopted into the account prior to any abstracting or bill remeasurements. As the list of variations develops, quantity surveyor will be able to decide on how to group them. For example, there may be one instruction from the architect for increasing the size of storage tanks, another for the omission of a drinking water point and a third for the addition of three lavatory basins. Each of these will b e measured as a separate item, but the quantity surveyor might decide to group these together as variations on plumbing. It is preferably to highlight the reason for variation in cost report to acknowledge the client on reasons of the costs changed. (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, pp.315-316) Settlement of contractual disputes Quantity surveyors involved themselves in contractual disputes either in litigation in the courts, in arbitration or in alternative dispute resolution cases (ADR) cases. They sometimes involve themselves as witness of fact or expert witness, adjudicators, arbitrators or mediators in ADR cases (Ashworth Hogg, 2007, p.353) Project management Financial expertise of quantity surveyors make them ideally suited to project management services. According to Ashworth and Hogg (2007, p.376), project management provides the important management function of bringing the project team together and may be defined as The overall planning, coordination and control of a project from inception to completion, aimed at meeting a clients requirements in order to produce a functionally viable project that will be completed on time within authorized cost and to the required quality standards. (CIOB 2002) Quantity surveyor sometimes take overall control and responsibility of for coordinating the activities of the various contractors, subcontractors, processes and procedures for the full duration of the project (Ashworth Hogg, 2007) Ashworth and Hogg (2007) stated that The skills of the quantity surveyor traditionally included measurement and valuation and to these were later added accounting and negotiation. As the profession evolved, quantity surveying profession were extended to forecasting, analyzing, planning, controlling, evaluating, budgeting, problem solving and modeling. The quantity surveyor knowledge has also been developed by a better understanding of the design and construction process (Ashworth Hogg, 2007).

Priestleys Paradox Communication

Priestleys Paradox Communication Communication is an essential part of everyday life. There are many things which have effect on communication, technology having a very large effect. Through the increase of communication technology, there has been a decrease in the quality of effective communication. While considering the theory of Priestleys Paradox, the lack of interpersonal communication in new forms of technology have significantly affected the quality of communication. Modern technologies decrease the quality of communications through the lack of verbal and non-verbal feedback, the distortion of messages and also the unequal access to forms of these technologies. Verbal and non-verbal elements of interpersonal communication have effectively declined due to technology. The most impacted area of communication in society today is interpersonal communication. Interpersonal communication is referenced as communication between two or more people which try to create and understand meaning (Turner West 2009: 8). Throughout interpersonal communication there can be noise. Noise is anything which can distort or prevent communication (Eunson 2008: 18). Interpersonal communication has many elements which contribute to quality communication. Interpersonal communication requires verbal and non-verbal feedback, which is not given effectively through modern technologies. The quality of effective communication is rapidly decreased with the increase of technology. This type of communication (interpersonal communication) has two main elements, verbal and non-verbal skills. Verbal communication is the use of languages, words, sounds and letters and uses great emphasis on tone and pitch. Modern technology therefore decreases the quality of communication because verbal communication is not always possible. Non-verbal communication is communication through only visual forms. Non-verbal consists of gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and numerous other signals of the human body (Eunson 2008: 260). This non-verbal element of communication however cannot be seen through most technologies so distorts the message to the receiver. Both verbal and non-verbal communication skills assist, distort and block communication between indiv iduals (Eunson 2008: 286). The theory of Priestleys Paradox is most relevant when considering the quality of communication through technologies is declining. Email is an example of modern technology which has an impact of the quality of communication. Through email, the receiver cannot communicate using verbal and non-verbal communication. This distortion is happening with all types of technology and is having affect on the interactions of individuals and creating problems. Without face-to-face verbal and non-verbal interactions the sender is unable to make assumptions on the receivers perceptions of the messages. Some particular new technologies have the ability for messages to be distorted excessively due to the language used. Technology has decreased quality of communication because it can cause misunderstanding through abbreviations that distort messages. This particularly effects our societys younger generation. Generation Y in particularly are media interactionists, not knowing a world without media and technology (Kundanis 2003: 43). An example of technology which is most commonly the source of abbreviation is SMS (short messaging service). Evidently, abbreviations are a weak substitute for body language, oral and tonal expression. These are replaced by using uppercase lettering and quirky symbols (emoticons) which leads to misinterpretation while decoding the message as there is no shared meaning of the context (Danet 2001: 17). The English language is often comprised to become shortened abbreviations and phrases. This language has since blended into the everyday modern society causing the younger generations to be less likely using proper English language. While communicating through technology, the sender and receiver need to have a clear understanding of one anothers abbreviations and context or else the message will be distorted. This may then lead to a breakdown in communication if the receiver is unable to decode the message given (Eunson 2008: 14). This is also evident as there is a digital divide between people with the unequal access to technology. The decrease in quality of communication is due to technology not being equally accessible for our whole society. Priestleys Paradox theory expresses the point that people coming from low -economical societies have a greater quality of communication rather than people coming from a higher-economical society because it is filled with modern communication technologies(Eunson 2008: 5). There is a digital divide between people due to new forms of technology. This causes distortion in communication because of the misunderstanding of messages that are received through modern technology. It is now expected of a person to have knowledge of modern technologies which may not be universally accepted due to the unequal access of technology (Turner West 2009: 105). Modern technology-driven communication is constantly revolving, developing and expanding (Eunson 2008: 4). They are expensive and therefore low income earners would not be able update technologies frequently. The digital divide is not only based on this however, there are many other issues. The accessibility of modern technology is affected by geographical location, income status, culture, education and also age (Mossberger, Tolbert Stansbury 2003: 15-23). This causes the decrease in effective communication and interpersonal communication as everyone does not have the same available technology. New technologies have significantly decreased the quality of effective communication. Ultimately interpersonal communication elements such as verbal and non-verbal skills are not able to be effectively used through modern technologies. This can distort messages in communication just like abbreviations can. Both people participating in the communication need to have similar understanding of the context and language or else the quality of communication will be diminished. The digital divide because of the unequal access of modern technology also has an impact of the quality of communication. Priestleys Paradox theory suggests that the quality of communication is minimised because of new technologies. This theory is most evident in modern communication therefore modern technology has decreased the quality of communication. Words: 1021

The Relationship Between Oklahomans and Native Americans Essay

The Relationship Between Oklahomans and Native Americans I. Introduction When the name Oklahoma is mentioned, there are certain things that come to the minds of many people and one of those things are Native Americans. Native Americans and Oklahoma share a special bond that neither one of them ever thought would come into fruition. This special bond between Native Americans and Oklahoma is something that started with great hesitance but has blossomed into something great. During this paper, the evolution of this relationship between Native Americans and Oklahoma will be discussed. Oklahomans and Native Americans share a mutual respect relationship that has blossomed very much so. II.) Introduction to Native Americans Way before there was ever a state of Oklahoma or even an America there were American Indians all throughout North America. The term â€Å"Paleo-Indians† is generally used to refer to early Native Americans up through the end of the Ice Age (c.8000 BC). Most authorities believe these â€Å"Paleo-Indians† entered North America from Siberia as small bands of migratory big-game hunters. Such a journey could have been made by means of a land bridge, known as Beringia, which emerged several times during the Pleistocene. Native Americans or the American Indians were free to roam wherever they pleased before America became a nation. This time was the best time for the Native Americans they were free to do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. The Native Americans each had their own property/territory that other Native Americans knew about and would not come into. This was a mutual respect thing. However, there were plenty of instances where Native Americans prior to the w hite man coming to America had difficu... ... this happens quite frequently at least once a month.† This is how Rhonda Hamilton thinks that casinos helps not only her little community but also all the communities within the state and the state as a whole. The relationship between Oklahoma and Native Americans is a very good one now. However, it is not great, but it does continue getting better and better. Hopefully this relationship keeps growing and only gets better as time goes on and the Native Americans keep trusting the State of Oklahoma, and the state of Oklahoma keeps helping the Native Americans when it can. This is a relationship that arose from something horrible, but it has blossomed into something great. I believe that neither side the Native Americans nor the state of Oklahoma would change anything about their relationship. I believe that they are very happy that this relationship came about.

Poverty and Voting in America Essay -- American United States Politics

Review of the Literature: For my topic of research, the dynamics of poverty and voting in America, I used a vast number of sources in an attempt to produce the most accurate and broad discussion possible. The sources I believe to be the most reliable were: 1) the scholarly works (Friedman; Raskin), which were purely scientific and did not include political biases, but rather examined the facts from as neutral a point of view as possible; 2) the government reports (DeNavas-Walt; Dept. of Commerce; Dept. of Labor, McNeil), which also appeared to be politically neutral and created in a scientific fashion. These two types of sources mainly provided statistics on voting and poverty numbers through charts and graphs. The next set of sources came from less reliable media (â€Å"Election†; Loughlin; Wetherell), but still were purely observational and not opinionated. They came from online news sites, so they cannot be considered as academic as the first set, but the type of articles they are leaves little for the author’s own opinion. They also weren’t intentionally targeting a specific political party or ideology. The following set of sources hint of bias in the way they present their information, but the information itself seems scientific (Cervantes; Drum; Piven). These sources integrate some liberal opinions of the information into the material; however, they give seemingly accurate facts. â€Å"America,† James, and Wicker make up the next group of sources, which aren’t necessarily biased, but are more opinionated than factual. Facts are provided, but the authors’ ideas play a large part in these works. They are fairly neutral politically, however, and look at government more as a whole; both political parties are criticize... ...rg. 2005. Center for Community Change. 1 March 2006 . ProjectVote.org. 2004. Project Vote. 1 March 2006 . Raskin, Jamin B. â€Å"Race, Poverty and the ‘Wealth Primary.’† Poverty & Race. 6.2 (1997): 1-5. Shipler, David K. The Working Poor: Invisible in America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. Sood, Suemedha. â€Å"You don’t need a home to vote.† Alternet.com. 26 August 2004. Independent Media Institute. 1 March 2006 . Wetherell, Derrick. â€Å"The Bush 100: Center Releases Report on Bush’s Top Appointees.† Publicintegrity.org. 14 January 2002. The Center for Public Integrity. 12 February 2006 . Wicker, Tom. â€Å"Delivering the Vote.† New York Times. 15 August 1971, E15 (1 page).

Blood Pressure Essay -- Health, Diseases, Walking

Distance Other studies have attempted to measure the effect of distance on blood pressure response in order to find if there is any correlation between distance and a significant blood pressure reduction. One of these studies (see Moreau et al, 2001) involved 24 sedentary post-menopausal American women (15 in the intervention group ) with high blood pressure. The results found that, after a 2-year walking programme, that there was a statistically significant drop of 13 mmHg in the systolic blood pressure of those participants who were taking anti-hypertensive drugs and of 11 mmHg in those not receiving medication, whereas there was no difference found in their diastolic blood pressure and in the blood pressure of the control group. The participants in the intervention group were instructed to walk 3 kms per day in addition to their normal daily physical activity. After the first year the reduction in blood pressure was significant: 6 mm Hg in the systolic blood pressure of the participants wh o were taking anti-hypertensive medication and 7mmHg in the non-medication group. In this study , the magnitude of the reduction of systolic blood pressure as a result of a walking programme is similar to that which has been found in earlier studies in response to traditional exercise (see Seals et al,1997, and Hagberg et al, 2000). Frequency Several studies have examined the impact of the frequency of walking per week on blood pressure in order to determine what frequency is most effective in terms of blood pressure reduction response. A study by Gettman et al, conducted in 1976, which compared the effect of fast walking between one, three and five days per week on blood pressure response, found that the difference in frequency was no... ...ffect on systolic blood pressure only. Lee et al (2010) found that moderate to high intensity waking was more likely to decrease blood pressure than low intensity walking. This result supports the findings of the study conducted by Quinn in the year 2000. Nemoto et al (2007) compared the effect of continuous walking at moderate intensity (50% of peak aerobic capacity) and interval walking at high intensity (70% of peak aerobic capacity) on reducing blood pressure. They found that blood pressure reduction was greater in the group who walked at high intensity: 9 mmHg for systolic blood pressure and 5 mmHg for diastolic. The results of a study conducted in India by Gosh (2006) to measure the effect of walking intensity (2 Km/30min) for 20 weeks, showed that there was a significant reduction in systolic/diastolic blood pressure by approximately 10 mmHg/4 mmHg.

Jhumpa Lahiri

The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 The Treatment of Immigrant Experience in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Name Sake D. Ebina Cordelia Assistant Professor in English Holy Cross College,Tiruchirappalli Tamilnadu. Indian writing in English is one of the voices in which India speaks. It spreads the traditional and cultural heritage of India within India and also introduces it to the whole world.It is Indian in sensibility, thought, feeling and emotion and experience but submits itself to the discipline of English for expression. The contemporary novelists tread new paths and this shows the vitality of Indian fiction. Arun Joshi, Khushwant Singh, Salman Rushdie and Vikram Seth depict the Indian social scene, the partition scene, the theme of alienation and the social, economic and psychological problems of modern man.Writers who are cultural hybrids like Maxine Hongkinstun, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Bharati Mukherjee, Jhumpa Lahiri and many others take up is sues like identity crisis, nationalism, alienation, marginalization, insider – outsider and the hegemonic power discourses in the fiction that they are writing today. Jhumpa Lahiri as an immigrant novelist clearly fits into the school of writers better known as the writers of the ‘Indian Diaspora’. The word ‘diaspora’ has been taken from Greek, meaning â€Å"to disperse†. ‘Diaspora’, is the voluntary or forcible movement of peoples from their homelands into new regions†¦. Ashcroft, Griffiths, Tiffin] Normally, disapora fiction lingers over alienation, loneliness, homelessness, existential rootlessness, nostalgia, questioning, protest and assertions and the quest for identity; it also addresses issues related to amalgamation or disintegration of cultures, discriminating margins of two different social milieus, internalizing nostalgia and suffering a forced amnesia. We may call it a literary / cultural phenomenon with a distinc t melting pot syndrome or that of a salad bowl where the identity of each ingredient is under question. Diaspora is the communities of people living ogether in one country who â€Å"acknowledge that the old country as a nation often buried deep in language, religion, custom or folklore, always has some claim on their loyalty and emotions†. (qtd. in. Kaur, 192) Diasporic experience is a spring of agonized inspiration, multiple identities, new subjectivities, creative memories and fresh perspectives of language and life. The earlier immigrant works of the neo-colonial and post-colonial works were often a product of forced immigration of people running away from religious and other political or social persecution.But several Indians who migrated to America in the mid 1970s and afterwards were in search of a better life, and material success and prosperity. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 1 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in Eng lish ISSN-0976-8165 Jhumpa Lahiri was born in 1967 and raised in Rhode Island. She was the daughter of Bengali parents. She was influenced by both Indian and American culture and heritage. This multi-cultural life style plays a central role in many of her stories, which depict the alienation and loneliness of immigrants caught between two drastically different worlds.Her novel, The Namesake focuses on the lives of Indians and Asians who have migrated abroad. Her writings tell us about the adjustment problems of Indians (both first and second generations) who have now settled in America. The tension between adhering to Indian culture and imbibing American culture, between upholding family tradition and subscribing to the individual freedom and realization that one is an outsider even though one is born there is beautifully highlighted in her works. Jhumpa Lahiri portrays immigrant experience and the clash of cultures.The conflicts portrayed in the novel bring great empathy to Gogol a s he stumbles along the first – generation path, strewn with conflicting loyalities, comic detours and wrenching love-affairs. With penetrating insight, she reveals not only the defining power of the names and expectations bestowed upon us by our parents but also the means by which we slowly, sometimes painfully, come to define ourselves. The Namesake, is the story of the Ganguli family. Following an arranged marriage in Calcutta, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli move to the U. S. and settle in Cambridge and Massachusetts.An engineer working at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ashoke adapts more quickly to life in America in contrast to his wife, who resists all things American and pines for her family, in Kolkatta. When a son is born to Gangulis, they are faced with the realization that they cannot wait for a suitable name for the child. Ashoke names the boy Gogol after a Russian writer, whose book he credits with saving his life. But Gogol who does not know the reason for gi ving him this name, is unable to identify either with the Americans or with the Indians.Intimately interacting with the American environment, the Indian diaspora continues to feel that they are the outsiders even though they have an insider’s insight. The question of cultural identity occurs in Lahiri’s writings. In India no single culture exists. Too many cultures have crossed and blended here, and produced a hybridity in us that cannot now unmix. The Indian cultural identity has acquired a heterogeneous composition with today’s youth who are on the move in search of better jobs.Hence the bonding between the people and the settlement is fast disappearing. The familiarity and uniformity of basic cultures across communities in the states of India makes for easier assimilation and preservation of one’s own culture. But when one leaves India and goes abroad, one realizes that even though one may try and assimilate with that culture, yet it is a baffling new world. The west which appeared alluring when one viewed it from one’s locale, appears complex and complicated when one settles there and realizes that one is exiled by choice from one’s home.Immigration is the movement of people from one country or area of the world to another to establish a new permanent residence. People become immigrants primarily for economic, political or religious motives. The U. S. has often been called the â€Å"melting pot†. The name is delivered from the United States’ rich tradition of Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 2 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 immigrants coming to the U. S. looking for lucrative jobs and having their cultures melted and incorporated into the fabric of the country.Most of them (immigrants) were not highly educated and did not possess wealth or power in their home countries other than these few commonalities of what they didnâ₠¬â„¢t possess, their backgrounds were vastly different. The thread, however, that bound these immigrants together was their vision of improving their current situation. Emma Lazarus, in a poem entitled â€Å"The New Colossus†, which is inscribed on the pedestal of the statue of liberty tells of the invitation extended to those wanting to make the U. S. their home. â€Å"†¦. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free†. Encyclopedia Americana, 1998, Vol. 637) To a question in an internet interview, regarding Lahiri as a child of immigrants in America and the conflicts she felt while growing up, she says, It was always a question of allegiance of choice. I wanted to please my parents and meet their expectations. I also wanted to meet the expectations of my American peers, and the expectations I placed on myself to fit into American society. She adds that it’s a classic case of divided identity, but depending on the degree to whi ch the immigrants in question are willing to assimilate, the conflict is more or less pronounced.Her parents were fearful and suspicious of America and American culture when she was growing up. Maintaining ties with India, and preserving the Indian tradition in America, meant a lot to them. The first generation immigrants try to stick to the mannerisms, values and beliefs of their own culture and any clash between their concept of â€Å"home† and their beliefs baffle them. In most of the second generation people these emotional links and ties with the past in most of the matters are loosened. They mainly go by American styles in food and habits, and their marital relations too are crumbling.The term first generation immigrant may be used to describe either of two classes of people. One may be, an immigrant to a country, possible with the caveat that they must be naturalized to receive this title. The second class may be the children of immigrant parents, first in a family lin e to be born in the new country. The ambiguity of this term extends to the term â€Å"second generation immigrant†, which may refer to the first generation born in the new country, or the first generation born to parents who were themselves born in the new country.The living ‘in-between’ condition is very painful and marginalizing for them. There is the yearning for â€Å"home†, to go back to â€Å"the lost origin†, and â€Å"imaginary homelands† are created from the fragmentary and partial memories of their homelands. The novel opens with Ashima recalling her homeland fondly. She is in an advanced state of pregnancy, admitted in a hospital for her delivery. To quote, †¦. nothing feels normal to Ashima. For the past eighteen months, ever since she’s arrived in Cambridge, nothing has felt normal at all.Its not so much the pain, which she knows, somehow, she will survive. It’s the consequence: Motherhood in a foreign land. â € ¦. It was happening so far from home, unmonitored and unobserved by those she loved. (The Namesake 6) Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 3 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 They also face cultural dilemma when their cultural practices are mocked at and there is a threat to their cultural identity. They stand bewildered and confused, and show resistance also to the discourse of power in various forms.In the following generations these confusions, problems and yearnings become less intense as they get influenced by the culture of that country and also adapt themselves to it. To a question in an internet interview, regarding her immigrant experience, Jhumpa Lahiri says, †¦The way my parents explain it to me is that they have spent their immigrant lives feeling as if they are on a river with a foot in two different boats. Each boat wants to pull them in a separate direction, and my parents are always torn between the two. They are always hovering, literally straddling two worlds†¦.She feels an immigrant must teach us so much about the world and about human beings, things we can’t understand if we are born and raised and live our whole life in one place. â€Å"The generational differences† of the migrants and their children occupy different spaces in the ‘representative’ culture but their experiences of feeling rootless and displaced can be similar on nature. Though the children born to migrant peoples enjoy better settlement and place in that country â€Å"their sense of identity borne from living in a diaspora community is influenced by the past migrant history of their parents or grand parents†.Ashima tries to settle in and adjust herself to her surroundings, but she feels strange and lost in this country and spends hours remembering her parents and family, and reading the same five Bengali novels time and again. While waiting for the child to be born, she relives the past until the point of her depature for Boston. The thought of bringing up a baby in an alien land terrifies her. †¦to raise a child in a country where she is related to no one, where she knows so little, where life seems so tentative and spare. (The Namesake 6) Ashima gives birth to a boy and he is named Gogol after the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol.She feels, without a single grandparent or uncle or aunt, at her side, the baby’s birth, like most everything else in America, feels somehow haphazard, only half true †¦. She never known of a person entering the world so alone, so deprived. (The Namesake 25) Gogol who does not know the reason for giving him this name, is unable to identify either with the Americans or with the Indians. Gradually Ashoke and Ashima’s circle of Bengali acquaintances grow and the cultural spirit of Bengal is recreated whenever the friends meet. Robert Cohen comments that distinct diaspora communities are con structed out of the, †¦. onference of narratives of the old country to the new which create the sense of shared history. As Ashoke and Ashima continue to maintain a solidarity with the community, they identify Gogol continues to search for his own identity, for a set code that will not make him feel an â€Å"insider – outsider†. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 4 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 The first time his parents leave him alone overnight he goes with his friends Colin, Jason and Marc to a party in the university where his father teaches.This is his first visit to a dorm. There he meets a girl and he introduces himself as Nikhil and â€Å"he feels at once guilty and exhilarated†. (The Namesake 96)â€Å"Stunned at how easy it is† to say Nikhil, he who never dated a girl before and feels brave. He manages to kiss her before he goes. But it hadn’t been Gogol but Nikhil, â€Å"That Gogol had nothing to do with it†(The Name Sake 96) One must note the dual identity or identity crisis in Gogol. Prior to his depature for college, Gogol officially changes his name to Nikhil. But even though he had longed to change his name, he finds that he has to get used to being called Nikhil.And when his parents also refer to him as Nikhil he feels, â€Å"†¦ in that instant that he is not related to them, not their child†. (The Namesake 106) Ashoke and Ashima make adjustments which are absolutely necessary. They try to bring up their children the way it is done in India. Sonia and Gogol try to assert their individuality, and Gogol goes to the extent of reminding his parents that he is eighteen. Ashoke and Ashima cannot think of Pemberton Road as their home, but Nikhil refers to his New Haven hostel as his home. Ashima is outraged by his remark. â€Å"†¦. Sorry, I left it at home† (The Name Sake 108). Ashima says †¦. hat aft er twenty years in America, She still cannot bring Herself to refer to Pemberton Road as home. (The Namesake 108) Though Ashoke and Ashima have a large circle of Bengali migrants as their friends; the sense of alienation can be felt in them. Gogol and Sonia, American born and educated, want to be accepted as Americans. However, they feel alienated both from their parents and from their American friends who consider them as outsiders. The insider outsider feeling is prevalent in all migrants. It is through the eyes of the first generation settlers that the second generation learns about their homeland.The idea of ‘home’ is central to all human beings in every culture. Having sampled the pleasures and pains of the world, one longs to return to one’s home. Ashoke and Ashima’s body language and demeanour change, the minute they are in India. They are more confident and assertive. It is true that every time one returns one comes back to a different home, becaus e times change and so do people, but nevertheless it is a home where one’s roots are anchored. The first generation wants to preserve their culture and customs in the foreign land.It is significant that every other Saturday Ashoke and Ashima send Gogol for Bengali language and culture classes at the home of one of their Bengali friends. But, The children in the class study without interest, wishing they could be at a ballet or softball practice instead. (The Namesake 66) Lahiri also shows that most of the first generation people adjust well and make a space for themselves in the new country. Ashima is a good example of Lahiri’s first generation people. She tries to adapt herself with the society, she tries to work in a library and manages to drive a car by herself.They concede to Sonia and Gogol’s demand of celebrating Christmas, and having an American dinner once a week. However, when Gogol gets involved with Ruth, they disapprove openly saying ‘Youâ€⠄¢re too young to get involved this way. (The Namesake 117) Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 5 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 When Ruth goes off to oxford to do a course he misses her and he, †¦longs for her as his parents have longed, all these years, for the people they love in India†¦ for the first time in his life, he knows this feeling. The Namesake 117) He attends a panel discussion about Indian novels written in English. There the question about marginality is discussed. Teleologically speaking, ABCDs are unable to answer the question ‘where are you from? ’ the sociologist on the panel declares. (The Namesake 118) Gogol realizes that ABCD [ABCD stands for American born confused â€Å"desi†] refers to him also. He ponders over the question of identity. After graduating Gogol gets a job in a firm and is posted in New York. He meets Maxine and is invited by her for dinner. While eating dinner with Maxine’s parents, he recalls his mother’s hospitable nature and how, â€Å"She would never have served so few dishes to a quest. † (The Namesake 133) Lahiri shows that comparisons and contrast between Indian culture and Western culture are bound to occur. Cultural displacement involves the loss of language, family ties and a support system. Salman Rushdie says, A full migrant suffers, traditionally, a triple disruption. He loses his place, he enters into alien language, he finds himself surrounded by beings whose social behavior and codes are unlike and sometimes even offensive to his own.And this is what makes a migrant such a pathetic figure, because roots, language and social norms have been three of the most important parts of the definition of what it is to be human being. For the second generation the question of identity is a complicated issue. At home Indian culture and value system are adhered to, while in public the American co de of conduct is followed. This becomes doubly problematic. Added to this is the fact that Ashoke, Ashima and all first generation settlers want their children to do well and get good jobs.The American dream looms in their eyes and they want their children to exploit the situation and derive the maximum benefit for themselves, but they must follow the Indian moral and cultural code at home. However, Gogol, Sonia, as well Moushumi want to chart out their own lives. Gogol’s shifting in with Maxine is an assertion of his independence, and his desire to completely merge with the American culture. Gogol eventually marries Moushumi, but they are not happy and so they part. Ashoke dies, and Ashima decides to sell the house on Pemberton Road. Hence forth she would spend six months in India and six months in the states.True to the meaning of her name, she will be without borders, without a home of her own, a resident everywhere and nowhere (The Namesake 276) Initially when she had com e in 1967, she had been petrified of living in America. But now as she makes the journey back home alone, she is no longer terrified. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 6 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 It is the last Christmas party at Pemberton Road after the death of Ashoke. Gogol, Sonia and her fiance Ben, and other guests gather around Ashima to enjoy this moment.Gogol goes to get his father’s camera and finds the book, which his father had given him on his birthday and which he had never bothered to open and read. As the party goes on downstairs, he sits on his bed and begins to read the book. The first generation migrants face cultural dilemma but do their best to retain their cultural identity and cultural practices in their beliefs, values, cloths and eating habits. These ‘beliefs, traditions, customs, behaviours and values along with their ‘possessions and belongings’ are c arried by migrants with them when they arrive in â€Å"new places†.The children of the migrants do not face the same problems because of their parents living â€Å"here now†. Thus Lahiri has shown dynamically the shifting concepts of ‘home’ and ‘displacement’ in the successive generations of migrants. Lahiri uses her own craft, technique, style, format and structure. Her narrative voice is elegant, bitter sweet and gentle. Her novel talks of Indian culture, traditions, including food and festival, clothes and customs. Her novel, The Namesake, exhibits her signature style and in it she revisits issues that she knows well, those of cultural displacement, sense of identity, and belonging with one foot in two words.Lahiri gracefully shifts the narrative focus from the Ganguli parents to Gogol as he reaches school age. Gogol struggles with his name, which he regards as absurd and inappropriate. The issue of culture permeates the novel, from the ear ly dislocation of immigration in the first half of the novel to Gogol’s departure from home to Yale University. This transition is marked by Gogol’s decision to change his name to Nikhil. Gogol’s college experience in one way resembles what might be called typical; he falls in love; he discovers architecture; he begins to assert, against his parent’s desires, his independence and individuality.And yet his experiences are always complicated by the particular, as in any life. Gogol can never, even when he moves to New York to work in a large architecture firm, shake his past, his culture or his name as he wishes to do. The novel exposes the fallacy of the American myth of selfcreation. Gogol grows up, moves out and goes through life suffering personal tragedies that also shape his identity. The novel ends with Gogol in his early thirties. Although the novel never feels busy or hectic, the characters are always in transit. America and the west have always be en idealized by the Indians.But when qualified Indian migrate to America then the adjustment problems begin between the traditions, one has inherited and the day to day life one encounters there. There is a gradual adjustment, and assimilation and then a hybrid culture comes to the fore. Gradually one develops a respect for other cultures even though one’s own culture remains ingrained within oneself. Culture is not defined now-a-days by a place, it is defined by time ‘the now’. As identity becomes the core issue, names become quite significant. The expressive function of a name varies from culture to culture.In Lahiri’s novel, Indian names, the Indian identity of her characters become potent symbols and tools to highlight the immigrant identity. Lahiri’s works are scattered with details of Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 7 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 Works Cited Bhadu r, Gaiutra. â€Å"An interview with Jhumpa Lahiri† www. citypaper. net Bhagava, Rajul, ed. , â€Å"Indian writing in English The Last Decade. Rawat Publications: New Delhi. , 2002 Dodiya, Jaydipsinh, K, ed. â€Å"Critical Essays on Indian writing in English†. – New Delhi : Sarup & Sons. 2006 Edwards, Paul. â€Å"The Encyclopedia of Philosophy 8 Vols. New York. Macmillan Publishing co. , Jha, Gaurishankar, ed. , â€Å"Current Perspectives in Indian English Literature. New Delhi : Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. , 2006 Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. New Delhi : Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. , 2007. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th traditional Indian names, food items, cooking details and wardrobe lists providing the Indian an ethnic touch. In Lahiri’s novel The Namesake the role of memory in a process of change is often used by the writer in an effective way. Memory plays tricks on all of us.Memory often idealises its perception of a place to convince oneself t hat there is one entity which remained constant in world of flux. Food in the novel is a talisman, a reassuring bit of the homeland to cling to. Spices and flavor waft through like themes in a piece of music as evidenced by the following passage. †¦with the samosas, there are breaded chicken, cutlets, chickpeas with tamarind sauce, lamb biriyani, chutney made with tomatoes from the garden. (The Namesake 148) Lahiri uses food as a tool to explain Bengali culture: and also tries to distinguish it from other cultures.For example : †¦. Gogol’s annaprasan, his rice ceremony thre is no baptism for Bengali babies, No ritualistic naming in the eyes of God. Instead, the first formal ceremony of their lives centers around the consumption of Solid food. (The Namesake 38) Ashima is shocked to see whiskey and wine bottles instead of cereals and tea on top of the refrigerator in Judy’s house. Here Lahiri emphasizes cultural difference through food. Lahiri is keenly sensiti ve to the fine ruptures and sudden disjunctures which make the familiar alien, which delink one from the ies of humanity, family kin leaving one with the acute sense of being alone. She maps the emotional lines of her characters. Lahiri’s elegant prose guides us through their lives. Toward the end of the novel Gogol’s mother, Ashima, thinks, â€Å"They are not willing to accept, to adjust, to settle for something less than their ideal of happiness† That pressure has given way, in the case of the subsequent generation, to American common sense†. The perpetual tensions between cultures, between individual minds, between the mind and the world beyond it, runs through this empathetic, beautiful novel. eC rit 8 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 Naikar, Basavaraj, ed. â€Å"Indian English Literature. Vol. 2† New Delhi : Atlantic Publisher & Distributors. , 2002. Patel, Vibhuti. â€Å"Interview : The Maladies of Belonging†. Newsweek International, 20 Sep 1999. Prasad, Amarnath, and John Peter Joseph. â€Å"Indian Writing in English : Critical Ruminations. New Delhi : Sarup & Sons. , 2006 Shankar, Radhika. â€Å"A writer Free to write All Day† . http. //www. rediff. com/news/1999/aug23 Vol. II. 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