Global warming and people going green Essay

The natural environment is the place of all life and non life beings. Natural resources are available to human existences without clear cut boundaries in the natural air. H2O and clime. Natural environment has a beginning of energy. radiation and electric charge and all these are non as an influence of human activity but by the bing nature of our planet. It is the huge creative activity that makes adult male enjoy and take pleasance and hence demands to prosecute in preserving and heightening the natural environment. Great challenges have faced our natural and original environment and accordingly devastation. pollution. and loss of life has been seen to happen through the influence of human activity. Pollution in the air. H2O. and in the environment in general has been apparent through the burning of fuels and other non reclaimable stuff. Water. land and air have non been conserved and this poses a great danger on the bing ecosystem. Man’s interferance has threatened the being of species and has led to some of them being endangered or nonextant. This is a direct impact that shows that adult male has had discourtesy of biodiversity and ecosystems in which human existences and other life beings depend on. Human’s activities have been linked to be an environments large challenge. The release of C dioxide from green houses has been on focal point as this is a human and natural environments interaction with gases has caused clime alteration. These strong concerns are associated to greenhouse gases that cause climate alteration. Global heating has been associated to the rise in the temperature on the earth’s air and oceans. Large heat capacity on oceans have caused the sea degree to lift and do utmost conditions alterations. As a consequence of such environmental concerns assorted authoritiess have signed the Kyoto protocol so that they can be after on cut downing green house emanation. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. globalissues. org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming. asp It is of import at this occasion for adult male to understand that he has a direct influence to the alterations that occur on the Earth surface and should take cautiousness about them. Climate may alter but non entirely by atmospheric concentration of C dioxide from green houses. The ascription of planetary heating can be linked to the industrial epoch where adult male has been vigorous in their activity and have had no cognition on the impact they have to the natural environment. The soaking up of atmospheric gases contributes to warming the lower ambiance and surface of the planet. During the soaking up and emanation procedure of infrared radiation warming occurs. ( Weart 2003 ) . Water vapor. C dioxide gas. methane and ozone are the major green house gases responsible for the heating effects. This is attributed by increased human activity in the industrial revolution such as agribusiness. green houses. motor industries among others. deforestation. One among the greatest human activities that have markedly increased gas emanation is the combustion of dodos. Use of dodo fuel is therefore seen to be lending factor with such dodos fuel militias increasing their emanations through the increased and extended usage of coal and pitch littorals. Evaporated H2O signifiers gas in to the ambiance and as a consequence more H2O evaporates and hence there is more consequence than due to carbon emanations entirely. From the clouds. emitted infrared radiation exerts a warming consequence and when they reflect sunlight they emit infrared radiations that have a chilling consequence. ( Weart 2003 ) . Temperatures were comparatively stable before 1850 but gradual addition in sea temperature than on land is a natural phenomenon. Land has an effectual heat capacity as compared to the oceans which loose heat more readily. Forest glade and Asiatic rice irrigation are human influences that William Ruddiman argued that planetary clime was influenced by these activities. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. incredulity. net/global_warming Global heating consequences to planetary retreat and sea degree rise. The addition in planetary temperatures can take besides to north-polar shrinking and marked pattern alterations in the rainfall. As a consequence inundation or checkerss are a common consequence of the planetary heating. These are utmost conditions events. Death of animate beings and immensely the devastation is really tremendous. Floods and drought seasons cause low agricultural output as endurance of workss is so compromised and the life of animate beings is at interest with addition in diseases. With such catastrophes. inauspicious wellness effects. supplanting and utmost economic losingss destabilize the normal life of the people on planet Earth. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. incredulity. net/global_warming Human activity have great reverberations on their life with the possible decrease of ozone bed and happening of hurricanes and other pelagic interventions that make favorable. the spread of malaria and dandy fever febrility. With political and societal arguments traveling on. hapless parts such as Africa risk the effects of planetary heating. The developed universe and particularly the western portion have accepted the thought that human influence is the major influence to climate alteration. Assorted states now weigh the benefit that would ensue when industrial emanations are limited against the cost they would incur when they adopt new alterations. For the interest of recovering back the natural environment. alternate energy beginnings should be embraced and given opportunity for observation. Vigorous runs that teach on the consequence of planetary activities and stress on adaptation of stricter steps that would cut down gas emanation should have support worldwide. India and Chinas have a batch of C dioxide emanations and the U. S. every bit good. However. worthwhile thoughts and dedications have been recorded in the U. S which is willing to bear the cost and cut down its C emanation. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. globalissues. org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming. asp Many alterations are bound to be realised with the day-to-day effects related to planetary heating. There is so much uncertainness about other warming marks that may be associated to human activity and ensuing to temperature addition. Vector borne diseases are bound to increase due to the migration of the insects from the north parts and particularly due to the consequence of the warmth addition. As it was recorded in 2004 and 2005. black hurricanes were attributed to the heater Waterss on the ocean and no 1 can expect if they will patronize or be stronger as they hit the parts. ( Leroux 2005 ) As a consequence of planetary warming serious checkerss will hold people suffer and particularly Africa and in Europe. In general. the effects of planetary heating can run out the economic system at a state as they try to reconstruct damaged substructure. remedy diseases and seek to pull off such environmental struggles. Though planetary heating has been attributed to other activities that do non associate to adult male. the major intercession by adult male would be to cover with those that are in their control. Solar fluctuations. volcanic eruptions. orbital forcing. glacier retreats and disease vectors may be associated be causative agents to increased temperature. But a critical expression at it lives the inquiry. Should adult male be nescient of his activities on the Earth? hypertext transfer protocol: //www. canadafreepress. com/2007/global-warming020507. html Man should be at the bow forepart. looking for solutions instead than warranting their non- part to the planetary heating. Small and big graduated table preventative steps can be put in topographic point to assist forestall farther injury and make a better topographic point for our kids to populate in. Without green house emanations temperature would be endurable and more hospitable. Use of fossil fuels used to run autos. heat places and concerns should be under cheque so that carbon dioxide concentration is reduced. In this breath. usage of gas. gasoline and Diesel as used in crude oil merchandises should be reduced. In the same manner that adult male has been able to impact the planet. they should be able to consequence alteration through alteration of practise. They should do usage of fuel-efficient autos. cut down travel errands. and utilize alternate agencies of conveyance like walking or merely working from the house. At place. one should take at utilizing energy salvaging contraptions and illuming stuffs. A great trade of deforestation. industrial activities. excavation and agricultural addition has led to gas emanation. As a scheme. trees should be planted and deforestation stopped. Deciduous trees should be planted as they contribute to taking 50 lbs of C from the air yearly. Industrialization should be minimized and compost cavities made for waste disposal such as foliages. Ignorance about planetary heating should be a forgone phenomenon and adult male should wake up to the call of reconstructing the already damaged environment. Air. H2O systems and the environment have degraded and the issue at manus is to come on and change by reversal the eroding that has already taken topographic point. It is of paramount concern. that adult male should non take opportunities to affect themselves in activities that compromise the planetary call to forestalling planetary heating. The hazards involved in planetary heating are far stretching and the effects can be felt for a life-time. As per the United Nations millenary development ends. work outing the environmental job will be regarded as eliminating poorness. Mankind should take to cut down dodo fuel imports and continue the ecosystem through increased consciousness runs that address the clime alteration issue. Citizens and companies should encompass anti pollution and planetary heating bar steps. ( Pringle 2001 ) Policies at local and national degree should be put in operation so that single activities are governed and implemented at province degree. Why would adult male non be willing to do a better topographic point for him and coevalss to come? The major measure to understand that forestalling C emanation is one of the cheapest intercessions that adult male can utilize to halt the threat. Invention in new engineering of autos and major power workss should hold a 2nd idea on the deduction it has the hereafter. All in all adult male should through accustomed pattern. salvage energy and have another option to utilize of fossil fuels. In 1990 to 19995. El Nino was a force per unit area release that was linked to planetary heating. Heavy rains pounded and several thousand displaced by inundations. Death of human and of farm animal marked the season. Beside such conditions events hurricanes have claimed life. caused devastation and economic loss. hypertext transfer protocol: //www. globalissues. org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming. asp Why would adult male be willing to put on the line more? It is the responsibility of all adult male to transport aggressive runs and appreciate the fact that they caused it to go on and they can do it alter for better. With dedication and motive. such calamities can be long forgotten as they work on towards one end of forestalling planetary heating and reconstructing the debauched environment. Its effects are black but our control is the manner frontward. Plants Cited Ball T. Global Warming. worlds. Carbon Dioxide. The Cold. Hard Facts. Retrieved from ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. canadafreepress. com/2007/global-warming020507. htm on Friday. April 11. 2008

The Article, The Land Ethic

While wading through the reserved reading in the library, I came across the article, â€Å"The Land Ethic†, which caught my eye, as well as sparked an interest deep within me. It revealed the idea that we, as humans, tend to be quite caught up in the idea of community; community between neighbors, co-workers, etc. seems to be something we strive for in our society. It seems that we have not integrated the land into our idea of community, and I feel that this is a serious problem that if not treated, will continue to grow and strive until the land turns into the â€Å"dead nothing† many people of today†s society feel it to be. I had been put face to face with the fact that I was one of those careless and self-involved members of our race. Having never thought of the concept of â€Å"land ethics†, I realized that it is very likely that many other people have yet to know of it either. This is a present conservation problem which worries me more than I have ever thought a simple article could be able to do to me. As the author of this revelation piece, Aldo Leopold (1966), stated in his article, that we need to change our â€Å"human role from conqueror, to a member of the land community†. This is vital for the future existence of an Earth that is habitable and non-toxic. Many people claim that they have ethics in their work place, or in general life practices. I have yet, however, had the pleasure of seeing many people proclaiming their ethics about the treatment of this planet. I have yet to see a serious and unwavering campaign to stop placing ourselves so high up the evolutionary ladder that the fate of the world we live in, will eventually crumble, as will our race and every other animal along with us. Michael Soule stated in his article, â€Å"What is Conservation Biology†(1985), that we cannot change the past, but we can modify the rate at which our land and species are being destroyed. Although in recent years, we have seen more legal responses toward conservation issues, such as establishments of national parks, our attempts are not being fully developed due to the lack of education. Although there is some level of awareness of the vandalism we are acting out onto our earth, there is less being said to members of our society on what they can do to reverse, change, or slow down the process of destruction. How can this be changed? This issue needs a bigger voice in today†s media. It is seen as something that, if we forget, may go away. This is simply causing the situation to worsen. The longer it takes for society to accept the land as part of their community, the longer the land will be destroyed, and the more difficult it will be to heal. As each generation passes, our technology and research continues to grow, and find more problems facing our land; things are not getting any better as time moves on. A possible addition to the small amount of education currently being done in this country, is the teaching of basic conservation science classes in elementary school; maybe if we start now, their generation will be brought up to mother the earth that has nurtured them. Other helpful additions include the passing of new city ordinances which would make it mandatory that businesses recycle, and teaching farmers alternative ways to take care of their crops, such as using bats instead of pesticides to keep insects off of their plants. Each culture responds differently to the problems our world is facing. Each generation is hopefully one step closer to saving this planet. We, as the human race, need to adopt the idea of cooperating with our land, rather than competing in a free for all game of greed and ownership towards it (Leopold, 1966). More education, a louder and more permanent voice in the media, and more legal regulations will hopefully further our ability to right the wrongs that have been done to our earth. With time we may be able to save our planet and the animals which inhabit it, including ourselves.

Elementary School Literature Class Essay

The biography genre allows the reader to learn about the events in the life of a non-fictional character. An example would be the book Rocks in His Head by Carol Hurst. After reading the text, the students may then be required to complete a character biography which would outline personal information about the character, interesting information about him, important dates mentioned in the text, his name, where he lived, and such. a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fable The fable genre introduces things which are given human qualities as characters. Fables often contain moral lessons. An example of a fable would be Aesop’s fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Students may then be asked to fill out a dissection chart wherein they will have to describe scenes corresponding to the different parts of the story, such as conflict, resolution, moral, etc. b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fairy Tale Fairy tales are fictional stories which often have magical elements integrated into the story. An example would be Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina. A story map would be one applicable graphic organizer which would require the students to map out the beginning, purpose, conflict, most important moment, and conclusion of the story. c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Folktales Folktales are stories which are grounded on the cultural tradition of a particular place. The story of Johnny Appleseed is one popular American folktale. A venn diagram may be used to graphically organize the information learned from the story. d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Historical Fiction Historical fiction is a sub-genre of fiction. It portrays fictional stories of historical figures or events. An example would be the book The Mary Celeste written by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple. A time line may be used as a graphic organizer in the case of historical fiction stories. e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Informational Text or Nonfiction Informational texts are non-fiction texts which give the reader current and accurate information regarding a particular topic. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine by Sally M. Walker talks about the disappearance of the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in the Civil War and is a leading example of an informational text. For this purpose, a map may be accomplished by the student plotting out the problem and solution found in the informational text. KWLs are also popular organizers for informational texts. f)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mystery Mystery texts involve the solving of puzzles or crimes by the characters in the text. There are several series which involve mystery plots such as Nancy Drew and Babysitter’s Club. With this genre, charts may be used after the reading of the text requiring students to fill out information regarding the characterization of the hero, the villain, the victim, the crime or problem and the solution. g)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Picture books Picture books provides verbal and visual narratives of the plot and story. Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are is a good example of a picture book. The text is quite simple and sparse but the blend with the visual narrative makes for better communication of the author’s intention. A character analysis or a plot diagram may be accomplished by the student after reading a picture book. h)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poetry Poetry depicts a concept or story through a particular form. A famous children’s literature poet is Shel Silverstein. Some of his more popular works are The Missing Piece Meets the Big O and The Giving Tree. Since poems are more complex than story-telling texts, a plot diagram would be a good graphic organizer for students to accomplish. i)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Realistic Fiction Realistic fiction presents fictional characters, plot and settings but depict them in such a way that they could be found in real life. There are many examples of this genre such as Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume. The challenge is for the author to create a story addressing a concern or issue of the target reader audience. Given the purpose of realistic fiction, a character analysis may be completed by the student along with an analogy for what the student would do if they were in the same situation. 7. Design a literature lesson plan to include the following categories: grade, 2 behavioral objectives (Sunshine State Standards), 2 activities, 1 assessment instrument, and 1 follow-up homework assignment. Include the title of the book and its genre. This is a literature lesson plan for a second grade class. One picture book will be used as class reading material, in this case Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are, and several wordless picture books will be provided for the students’ activities. One objective of the lesson is to teach students the various character perspectives that may be employed in telling a story and to have the students apply this learning in the activities. Another objective is to have the students exercise and display their creative talents, particularly their writing skills through the creation of their own story. At the beginning of the lesson the picture book will be read to the students. After the reading of the text, the students will be asked to complete a character diagram for each of the main characters involved in the text. They will be asked to map out the descriptions of the characters as well as the activities which the character actually engaged in throughout the story. This will not only allow the instructor to assess the students’ understanding of the story but it will allow for a better platform for discussing how character perspectives can be used in telling a story. The students will thus be asked to engage in an activity of shifting the character perspectives in the book so that the narrative is told from a first, second or third person perspective. This will be done by focusing on particular scenes in the picture book used for storytelling. Having in mind their description of the characters, the students will be asked to change the text corresponding to the scene pinpointed so that it would be in first, second or third person perspective. Further application of the lesson will be engaged in by having the students break off into groups. Each group is to take a wordless picture book. They will then be asked to draw a piece of paper from a hat. The strip of paper will indicate in what perspective the text of the narrative should be told. The students will then be asked to write a simple narrative for the wordless picture book. One line narrations for each picture would be deemed sufficient. The students would be informed that although creativity in formulating the text would be incentivized, what is more important is the proper use of the perspective as well as the grammatical correctness of the work. At the end of the class the students will submit the completed story. Before dismissal, the instructor will make copies of the students’ stories. The stories of the different groups will be switched so that each student is left with a copy of a story completed by another group. As an assignment, the students will be asked to shift the perspective of the story assigned to them. They are informed that they may vary the manner in which the story was told as long as they maintain the same framework for the narrative and as long as they are able to use a perspective other than that which was used.

William Faulkner's story A rose for Emily Research Paper

William Faulkner's story A rose for Emily - Research Paper Example The story is an excellent example of strong fiction based story telling skills of Faulkner as it took place in his fictional city Jefferson of fictional country Yoknaparawpha (Kerr, p83). The story delicately knits the waves of past and present to form an intricate and attractive tale that basically aims to convey gratitude and empathy to a woman that encountered series of tragedies in her life and acted very strangely towards her life problems (Constance, p848). The story has been told by an unnamed narrator that uncovers the strange incidents of Emily’s life, her relationship with the people around her and the secret that she was hiding from people. The story describes different phases of her life in different parts. Each of the part focuses upon different time frame and different type of circumstances in the life of Emily. The story became very popular among the masses and critics were also inspired from the Faulkner style due to impressive description of several delicate i ssues and complexities of Emily life in very impressive manner. In the story Faulkner reflects his observations and understanding about abnormal psychology and mysteries solved by the time. He illustrates the relationship between North and South and portrays Emily as tragic heroine. It could be seen as a gothic horror tale or an explanation about strong links between past and present that could influence the behaviours and acts of people in very strange manner (Constance, p848). The intricate phenomenon of link between past and present has been explicitly defined in the story. In face the story is based upon the major theme of depiction of past strongly linked with the present. The dialogue of a major character in the story Gavin Stevens clearly tell about the main message of the story â€Å"The past is never dead. It’s not even past†. This idea has been depicted very beautifully and proficiently in the story because it describes the life of Emily spanning around 74 ye ars and different parts of the story take the readers backward and forward while chasing the occurrences in Emily’s life during different phases (Celia, p2) The description of different phases life of Emily linked with each other indicates that the memories pass from one generation to another and influence the present and future of the people by affecting their thinking and behaviours. For instance, when Emily started dating Homer Barron she was actually trying to feel free from the past control of her father and the traditions that always compel her to be a proper lady with values and norms (Clay, p43). The story spans around 74 years during which the readers could experiences the socio-political changes in Post and Pre Civil War era. It also shows the time when American South was on its midpoint and struggling to seek better ways that could honour the goods of past. The Civil was also ended up the greatness of the Old South that is often depicted in many stories written by Faulkner. He writes on the lines that there are some realities and development that people found difficult to accept and â€Å"the reality and myth are difficult to separate† (Faulkner, p78). The end of the Old South greatness was not easy to accept for many people who refused to accept the change in their position and conditions and it was really tough for them to realize the their old days were gone and the society was heading towards new era. These people tried to live in the golden memories of their past be cherishing their precious memories and strived to maintain the values and customers of South. Miss Emily was also among the people who were trying to live with the faded customs and rituals of the past. The folks of her town were also nostalgic and became

Types of Technology in a Business Environment Research Paper

Types of Technology in a Business Environment - Research Paper Example Technology is crucial for war, peace, business, and life. This is the reason why man has abandoned the technology of the bow and arrows to move on to the technology of the nuclear bomb. It is also the rationale why man has to improve his means of communication. Businesses prosper and become competitive only when the most advanced technology is used and life only becomes comfortable when the most advanced technology is tapped. Given the current economic environment of financial crisis where costs have to be tapered down and yet operational efficiency and power must be maintained, technology is a crucial part of the solution for business survival. It is therefore imperative to look into the types of technology that businesses can use to maintain competitiveness, efficiency, and survival if not profitability. In this work, I looked into four types of technology which I believe businesses will have to access if they want to be competitive in their industry. My impression is that the tech nologies that I will discuss will enable businesses to cut on labor and professional costs while making work and life easier for labor as they make the latter more productive. One type of technology which I consider has been significantly changing the way we conduct businesses are the mobile computers. Of course, we have witnessed how the laptop enabled an element of the work force to be productive wherever he or she may be. The laptop enabled the businessman to bring anywhere not only his or her organization’s business data.

Fathers need to be as involved in their children's lives as mother are Essay

Fathers need to be as involved in their children's lives as mother are - Essay Example Fathers should be involved in their children’s lives just as much as their mothers are because fathers offer different skill sets than mothers, children receive a much improved childhood, and fathers good set a good example for their children. One reason why fathers need to play an equal role, in conjunction with their wives, in their children’s lives is that they have certain characteristics that cannot be replicated by mothers. In single-parent households, mothers are generally left to pick up the slack left behind by an absent father. That is not to say that a mother cannot fill the gap of a missing father, but each parent has specific roles that must be performed by them. While mothers are generally left to enforce the rules that children must live by, it is the responsibility of fathers to set these rules and then meter out the appropriate punishment if these rules happened to be broken. For a mother to perform all three of these actions is perhaps too much. Childr en would feel like they were getting singled out for nothing. It is for this reason that fathers often command more respect that mothers do. This is because children instinctively know that fathers are the ones in charge and that the buck stops with them. It is okay for fathers and mothers to have different positions on how to raise their children because each would have an idea on how to raise their kids. As the old cliche goes, â€Å"Two heads are better than one.† This is not to put mothers down; it’s just that fathers fill a place that can help to enhance a family’s relationship. Another reason why fathers must involve themselves in their children’s lives just as much as mothers is that the children are better for it. It is always reassuring for a child growing up to see two parents that are totally committed to each other. Children interpret this as both parents being devoted to the health and well-being of their offspring. This can continue on into other areas of a child’s life such as education and in social settings. Many studies show that children perform better when a father’s is interested in their schoolwork. In terms of a child’s social life, they are better able to make friendships and trust others if they have already experienced this in their family life. The final reason why fathers need to be involved in their children’s lives as much as mothers is that fathers are in a position to be a good example for their children. Fathers have life skills that they can teach to their children that mothers would have no idea about. The role of a father in his son’s life is extremely important. The way a father is involved in his son’s life affects not only how the son’s perceives his father but affects his behaviors later on in life. Fathers who are alcoholics and abusive husbands tend to have sons grow up to do the very same thing. On the other hand, a father who is a loving hus band and has found success in his life will likely have a son who is well-grounded and focused on his life goals. In another way, fathers can show a good example to their daughters too. Fathers who love and care about their daughters will likely find that they grow up to becoming successful young women. Fathers have a very important role to play in the lives of their children because they have always been thought of as the head of the household.

The British Monarchy is a dignified part of the Constitution. Why Essay

The British Monarchy is a dignified part of the Constitution. Why - Essay Example â€Å"In the plight of this, several scandals have been unearthed eliciting interest among the media and thus an increased call for Republicans making the future of monarchy in question† (Blain & O'Donnell, 2003). In order to get an insight into the present and the future view of the British monarch, it is important to involve the composition of the entire British government that is the monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the discussion. Finally, the paper will discuss the British monarchy under the historical-constitutional context, political context and the cultural aspects with a view of establishing its constitutional validity in the UK. â€Å"During the 17th century, British monarchs were empowered to make and pass laws governing land† (Cannon, & Griffiths, 2000). The monarch was therefore an executive one. It is however worth noting that from the beginning of the 18th century, due to their impartiality, the monarch served as a constitutional mo narch. Rules and conventions were drafted that would bind them from making impartial judgements. In addition to this, the monarch’s constitution power was limited during the reign of Queen Victoria. â€Å"The main role of the monarch was mainly that of advisory to the ministers† (Cannon, & Griffiths, 2000). ... As the head of state of the commonwealth nations, the monarch has powers to confer titles, braveries and honours to persons who qualify. It is important to note that the monarch plays a key role in constituent organizations such as the Armed Forces and the Church of England. â€Å"In the armed forces, the monarch acts as the commander and as such, soldiers during their swearing in to work swear allegiance to the crown but not to the state† (Cannon & Griffiths, 2000). In the Church of England, the monarch plays the role of a governor. In addition to the constitutional roles of the monarch, there are non-constitutional roles that the monarch plays. â€Å"The queen for instance acts as a symbol of national unity where she is expected to preside over important state ceremonies as well as representing Britain in international arenas† (Cannon & Griffiths, 2000). Much of the queen’s work lies on that of representing the state within and outside the UK. This alone raises the profile of the nation raising the interest of both foreign and local tourists. A vital role of the monarch that is imperceptible and unconstitutional is acting as a symbolic head of the British Nation. This role represents the intangible part of the British constitution. It is therefore exciting and preserves the admiration of a large population worldwide. â€Å"The monarchy can be described as a dignified part of the British constitution† (Loughlin, 2007). The role of the monarch as enshrined in the British constitution can be examined by looking at various theories of the British state. First, the monarch presents a modern pluralist interaction in governance. â€Å"The ancient angle through which the monarch was first viewed has proved

Industry Solutions and Services Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Industry Solutions and Services - Assignment Example The report concentrates on the factors that enable the development of products and services in a customer oriented manner. The organizational structure depends on the product and services the company develops and offers. This affects the working of functional divisions of the organization. To manufacture the customized products and services ZBZ Company should have a separate unit additional to that of production unit for installation purposes of the hardware the company produces. In the previous context the company used to manufacture and market the products for a large customer base and the installation process used to be done by distributors or assemblers of the hardware into a computer. Now this is not the case and the comp [any needs a separate division in marketing and sales department for the purpose of discussing the needs of the customers. The findings of the department should be conveyed to the production and installation departments for enabling the development of customized products. The work of the scheduling department previously used to be about the planning of production, distribution and marketing. Now the scheduling department can be assigned the work of appointments with the industry leaders to discuss about the customization of the products and to convey the results to the production department. The involvement of production department managers in the discussions of the customization processes with the customers also should be a duty of scheduling department. Previously the scheduling department was not supposed to interact with the customers but now it is inevitable. The customization of the product will decide the internal time variances in the production and marketing activities. The functional divisions of the organization have the responsibilities of marketing function making the production accountable for standards and variances. The responsibility of quality control now will be increased and this division needs much rapport with the production division to avoid the lapses in customized products. This needs the revision of traditional structures in the org anization. The organizational structure in the customized products manufacturing will receive information in the following manner. The marketing division will pass information about the customer requirements to manufacturing division and that division will pass them on to the design division, planning and cost estimation divisions. The design, planning and cost estimating divisions can coordinate their activities with manufacturing or production division to know the feasibility of the project and the priorities of the customers. After this the feedback will sent to marketing division and in turn the information is sent to customers. This sharing of information can be enabled by the scheduling department. This sharing of information from customer to all the crucial departments in the organization will achieve near zero defect in the quality. In the previous structure of the company standards are guiding forces for performing, monitoring and controlling all the activities of the compa ny. In the course of manufacturing customized products, the Quality Zero Defect, Maintenance Zero Breakdown, Materials Zero Inventory, Business Processes Zero

Why do I Believe in Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Why do I Believe in Canada - Essay Example The most important safety need for a human being is personal health. Without health, all other needs are of little consequence. Canada offers all its citizens universal health care, regardless of their income. Unlike the American health care system, in Canada one cannot be denied treatment because he or she does not have medical insurance. Figure 1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Besides medical support, Canadian immigration rules foster family unity and support. People immigrating to Canada can bring their families with them including their children. 40% of the annual immigration to Canada comes under the family reunion and refugee programs .The country’s economic benefits include social support for people who are unemployed or otherwise struggling. Furthermore, those with children are guaranteed child benefits. What’s more, once an immigrant acquires resident status, he or she can help bring over his or her family by sponsoring parents and siblings. Another impor tant advantage is that within three years of being an immigrant in Canada, the person is granted permanent resident status. Permanent residents are entitled to most of the rights and privileges of Canadian citizens. These include equal treatment and equal protection, equal legal rights, freedom of movement from province to province, etc. While most of these rules also apply to temporary Canadian residents, there are some that are exclusive to citizens and permanent residents. These are Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), retirement benefits like old age security, guaranteed income supplement and Canada pension (Berez, 2007). Besides the abovementioned privileges that I received in Canada, my positive opinion of Canada has also been shaped by school, family, teachers, and the... To begin with, â€Å"Canada is among the world's foremost refugee resettlement countries and is signatory to international agreements that affirm its commitment to the protection of refugee rights†. Secondly, Canada offers many benefits to its permanent residents. Commenting on the Canadian immigration policy, Kaur says that Canadian government is interested in the country’s growth and development and its point system helps to bring in highly skilled foreign workers. According to the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, Canada is the fifth most popular country for people to migrate, the first one being the United States of America. Canada has also been shaped by school, family, teachers, and the media, through socialization. Socialization helps people operate successfully and with ease in their social lives. This process takes place via interaction with family members, teachers, schools, and media. When I moved to Canada, my family gave me all-encompassing support. They were my first friends in Canada, which made everything look okay. Before making friends, I would stay back at home and watch the television. This assisted me a lot in seeing how the Canadians lead their lives and in understanding of their culture and norms. The media made it much easier for me as it gave me a rough idea of what I should expect from the Canadians. The internet, newspapers and radio also helped me improve my social norms. The significance of school in socialization cannot be overlooked due to the fact that students spend there about seven hours a day. There, besides studying, the students perform many activities and play games, an d this plays a significant role in their socialization.

Disciplan Plan for Kindergarten Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Disciplan Plan for Kindergarten - Coursework Example No matter how much planning goes into the curriculum, relationship building, and student assessment, it all stands useless if the classroom is inefficiently managed. However, rewards and punishment policy is focused upon the development of a child’s extrinsic motivation but his or her intrinsic motivation is negatively affected especially at the kindergarten level of education. Rewards and punishment power base used by a teacher might help in implementing discipline in the classroom for the short term but since intrinsic motivation is not developing, a seemingly well-behaved child would tend to deviate from his conduct in the absence of the opportunity of rewards. Although this strategy is most effective amongst the primary level of kindergarten level education, the child’s self-development and inherent nature are hampered. Hence one needs to combine this with some other strategies in order to formulate a discipline plan ideally suited for the inherent development of th e child studying in the kindergarten. For instance referent power base demanding the complete involvement of the teacher might be well suited to this level of education system. Hence one or more of such approaches or power system might be implemented. A collaborative strategy might be put into effect where the control lies partly in the hands of the teacher and partly with the students. This is a collaboration of student-directed as well as teacher-directed approach. There are four power bases and three management theories, which need to be selectively chosen from in order to implement a discipline plan for a classroom. The four power bases are referent power, legitimate power, expert power and reward/punishment. The theories are student directed or non-interventionist, teacher-directed or interventionist and collaborative.  Ã‚  

HPV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HPV - Essay Example Furthermore, by making the vaccine mandatory in public schools, it will be possible to immunize a large number of women and girls against HPV infection. School mandates are known to be huge public health successes and compliance rates for vaccines are often high when they are made mandatory in schools (Young, 2009). School mandates especially for vaccinations in the adolescent population have been very successful because otherwise there is poor compliance with routine vaccination among those in this age range (Young, 2009). HPV vaccination in public schools will therefore ensure that a large number of youth are immunized without the stigma associated with the vaccine. HPV vaccine is shown to prevent cervical cancer in women. The Cervarix vaccine protects against two cancer causing strains, namely HPV 16 and HPV 18 that are known to be responsible for 70% of the cases of cervical cancer (Donahou, 2013; immunizationinfo.org, 2008). The Gardasil vaccine protects against HPV types 16, 18, 6 and 11 (Donahou, 2013). The HPV vaccine works best before the individual is infected with the virus. The vaccine is rendered useless when administered to a woman already infected with the HPV vaccine strain because it cannot confer protection to a previously infected individual. Because the virus spreads through sexual intercourse, it is best for the vaccination to be administered before the initiation of sexual activity. Administration of the vaccine in public schools is thus beneficial because statistics suggest a large number of school going students engage in sexual behavior by the end of high school (immunizationinfo.org, 2008). Some contend that introducing the vaccine in public schools will promote sexual behavior among school students (immunizationinfo.org, 2008). Pro-abstinence groups and social conservatives argue that vaccinating youth in schools against HPV vaccine sends out a â€Å"subtle message condoning sexual

Domestic Violence and Social Class Essay Example for Free

Domestic Violence and Social Class Essay Domestic violence is something that happens every day around the world. Young, old, rich or poor, this is an issue that we must look at to better ourselves as a country. One of the things that we look at is how domestic violence relates to the different social classes of the country, this being upper, middle, and lower. Some would thing that it would be more common in lower classes, but the reality of it is domestic violence is a problem across all social classes. In this paper I will discuss different articles about domestic violence and its relation to social class. It is clear to see that any of the articles on this topic focus around women as victims and men get put into a category of the only ones committing violence. From different articles you can see that social class has a relation and an effect on domestic violence. To begin with we need to understand what domestic violence is. The National Domestic Violence Hotline describes domestic violence as pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels (The National Domestic Hotline). This is one of the best definitions you will find. Its important to realize that Domestic Violence can happen to anyone. The focus on economic background is important; there is not one ocial class that domestic violence does not occur in. It is key that we keep this in mind, otherwise we begin to label and fit certain social groups into categories. And as we will find out this is not the case at all. In Gender, Status, and Domestic Violence, by Kristin L. Anderson she discusses many issues related to domestic violence. In her article she talks about social economic status and how it can affect domestic violence. The section on social class begins with how gender and social class play very big roles with each other, or how each social class helps determine the resources available to men for the construction f masculinity (Anderson, 1995). Anderson begins with the working and lower class and how their position they hold at work lacks power and authority. This can lead to violence in the home because they search for positions of power in other aspects of their life. And many times the search for power and masculinity starts in their home life. This could be one explanation for the cause of domestic violence among low income social class. It is very clear that society even thought changing for the better over the years, still puts the man as the breadwinner of his family. And if a man annot produce for their family I agree with her that that will look for other places to find there masculinity and in some cases this is accomplished with violence against their partner. Next Anderson discusses middle and upper class together. She states with reference from another article that Middle and upper class notions of masculinity focus on ambition, responsibility, and professional employment (Segal, society. The research done in this article shows that men or women with low income jobs and less resources are more likely to be violent in their home as a means to gain the lack of power in their life. Men who have fewer resources then there female partners will be more likely to commit domestic assault than the men with resources equal or greater than their female partners (Anderson, 1995). We can see for the research done by Anderson that she focuses on the reporting of violence. I would have like to have seen some numbers on education and or employment in ration to domestic violence. But it is clear and can be understood that men base their masculinity on their economic social status, and if that status is low they begin to search for other ways to gain power, and often that is in the means of domestic iolence against their partners. Social class plays a key role in everyday life of millions around the world. So it is clear that social class would play a role in domestic violence. Knowing that domestic violence knows no boundaries it is correct to say that wealth does not protect against violence. In the article Economic stress and Domestic Violence by Claire M. Renzetti from the National Online Resource Center on Violence against Women, they bring social class and domestic violence into clear view. One discussion in the article which we have to take into account when looking at social class and domestic violence is ell put when she stats the data we have about domestic violence comes from samples to which researchers have greatest access, such as individuals who use social services and these individuals are more likely to have low incomes (Renzetti, 2009). With this in mind it is clear to see why there are so many articles on low income violence. As she states from a study done by Benson and Fox (2003) from analyzing data from the National Survey of Household and Families, the family income increases the likelihood of domestic violence decrease. It is becoming clearer hat even though we know that domestic violence knows no social class, The National Crime Victimization Survey reports the chance of violence in a low income household is five times great then the households with the highest incomes (Renzetti, 2009). As stated earlier it seems that the relation to domestic violence and employment takes a big part of the problem with violence among the social classes. In the article by Anderson early discuss she makes it clear that the feeling of power is directly related to the males economic standing. Renzetti state that sever studies have documented hey deliberate sabotage to their partners efforts to maintain paid employment (2009). We can tie that back to how males base their masculinity and power on their economic status. Women have reported that their attempts to obtain paid employment outside their homes only aggravated their partners. It is becoming clear that men see power in being the main provider in the house and to lose some of that power is demining in some ways, and can result in violence against their partners. She references an article by Bush (2003) say that paid employment if a female intimate partner is threatening for some men, especially men who are unemployed r in low paying Jobs. Renzitti states that some researchers have argued that social class has a greater influence on domestic violence risk than race/ethnicity, and that even the social class of your neighborhood plays into account. Disadvantaged neighborhoods domestic violence rates are significantly higher in neighborhoods By now it is clear that there is a relation between social class and domestic violence. In domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking by Walby Allen (2004) they discuss how it could be the domestic violence that is causing the low economical status. This is a little broader thinking then our other authors but still Walby Allen tie mans need for masculinity and power into the equation. But first to look how they discuss domestic violence as the cause for low social status, the lack of economic resources is clearly associated with domestic violence against women. But it is how we see one leading to the other that they discuss. Walby Allen purpose that maybe it is the other way around. For example that poverty and low social status are the consequences of domestic violence. Women who leave behind their homes and partners in order to escape violence will be much more ikely to be poorer as a consequence of the loss of their home and of their partners income (Walby Allen, 2004). This is a new concept to think about but can easily be seen as possible. From what we have learned low income family are more prone to domestic violence, it is clear to see if the victim does get out of this relationship they have no means of economic support. In return this Just keeps them in poverty and most likely sinks them deeper down the status pool of the world. As Walby Allen (2004) report that eventually making their way back into the abusive elationship because they have no economic support. It seems that the affect that social class and domestic violence have on each other is a never ending cycle. As we found in the research social class plays a big part in domestic violence and in some cases domestic violence plays a big part in social class. Whichever way that you look at it one constant held true across all of the articles, this being that men have been socially constructed by society to have to have the need for power in relationships. And when that power is lacking a nd they feel there masculinity is in eopardy we see domestic violence. Now a lot of the focus of the articles was on the lower class, showing that the economic stress had a direct relation to man and the need for power. We need to understand that the lower social status groups are not the only ones with a domestic violence problem. Like I said earlier domestic violence can happen across any social class, rich or poor. Most of the research that is done focuses on women in poverty because that is where the easy samples are. We know that there is a problem there, we need to move on to research that examines women ofa higher social standing. When we open up to who is we look at then we will begin to get a real grasp on the social class and domestic violence issue. Now I know that that depends on if they are willing to report, but that is a whole different topic for a different day. We have to be careful not to stereotype individuals into this field Just because of the economic standing, but it is clear that social class and domestic violence show a clear and direct relation with each other.

Definition Of Knowledge Hub Commerce Essay

Definition Of Knowledge Hub Commerce Essay An investment in knowledge pays the best interest ,Benjamin Franklin. As said by Benjamin Franklin investing into knowledge will always be an advantage be it whether it is for an individual or for a whole nation. The work Knowledge Hub (KH) is being widely used during the last 2 decades of this century. Many countries are investing massively to implement knowledge based economy which is forecasted to have a very bright future nevertheless every theory have their drawbacks. According to K. Mackay (2009), knowledge based industries have become an important contributor in both economic growth and development. In order to have a competitive edge on the global economy there is the need to have the creation of distinctive assets such as knowledge, skills, innovation and creativity. Knowledge has also become one of the most common and recognized factor of production internationally with a new form of capital being the capacity to generate, assimilate, disseminate and effectively use knowledge. Building a KH is a really vast sets of planning needed to establish the desired results. Many countries have been engaging in such a challenge. Research and Development (RD) is indeed one of the main tools used in order to implement a KH. The world itself is undergoing a new industrial revolution the Knowledge Revolution fuelled by the rapid pace of technological change and globalisation. Mobility of resources is very common nowadays, therefore the mobility of knowledge is definitely laudable. To be able to have a well defined KH there must be loads of investment from both foreign and local investors. Reputable tertiary institutions must be approached to invest and establish in a country, in order to attract investors good infrastructures, appropriate policies established by the countrys government, training of needed labour force, the level of technology that these foreign institutions will be demanding, also the acceptance of the local population about the project and above all a good reputation on the foreign market where a country can base itself on its level of education. All this can be resumed to having a good marketing strategy to move forward and attract investors. For instance in Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s there was a little scope for them carry out high research in their universities which was mainly due to a lack in the infrastructure and lack of funding available to the researchers. This gave a define set back to their program of building a KH. Attracting investors and make them believe in the project is therefore crucial for the setting up of a KH. Definition of Knowledge Hub A KH defined by University of Mauritius is an ensemble of knowledge-intensive institutions and organisations (public, private and overseas) that generate, stores, transfer, apply and transmit knowledge through education and training with the overall objective of fostering economic and social development.. According to Manmohan Singh (2006) It is often said that the 21st Century will be the knowledge century. In the view of building a knowledge hub there must first be the production of knowledge. Production knowledge is mostly based on creative people, professionals and also a proper Research and Development (RD) sector. The KH is not only a way for a country to have a new pillar in the economy but also a way to promote the countrys assets on an international market. According to Evers and Dieter (2008) (MPRA) KHs act as nodes in networks of knowledge dissemination and sharing within and beyond clusters. A KH main function is to transfer knowledge to sites where it can be applied, to generate knowledge from individuals and industries and to transmit the knowledge acquired to individuals by means of training, education and workshops. According to HRDC (2006), A KH is concerned with building a countrys capacity to better integrate itself into the global economy, through the generation, acquisition and transmission of knowledge to support of various economic sectors, in view of fostering social and economic development.. The Knowledge Economy occurs when all sectors of a countrys economy is knowledge intensive, are moving with the outside trend where it can be in terms of technology and generating new and innovative ideas and when an economy is employing highly skilled personnel who are willing to go for further studies. More over the Knowledge Hub which in some cases is also known as Knowledge Economy is defined by Kok, et al, (2004) It covers every aspect of the contemporary economy where knowledge is at the heart of value added- from high tech manufacturing and ICTs through knowledge intensive services to the overtly creative industries such as media and architecture. The creation of knowledge is must to have a good knowledge hub and this can only be done through a strong university sector. If there is a good and solid RD sector in a country where it encourages investor to invest in the economy then the KH will definitely be a success for any country. Renowned university campuses must be willing to invest in a country to be able to gain competitive advantage and to attract greater amount of students to the country. According to Brinkley (2006) the use of new technologies will allow an economy to gain competitive advantage. The reserves of petrol, coal and other natural resources will be depleted but knowledge is the ultimate economic renewable form of resources. Having knowledge is an invaluable asset but one should also know how to share this knowledge to others. Globalisation and Knowledge Hub According to Brinkley (2006), the development of the knowledge economy and globalisation are closely related to each other. Globally known organisations have been able to benefit from this integration as they are now able to lower their cost of production but at the same time maintaining their level of quality. The most common examples that can be given are the data processing, transcription services and simple customer services delivered through call centres operating in these countries. Without the globalisation there would not have been the change in the world economy. It also increased competition when customers were able to benefit from the best quality product for a better price tag. In the same optic the countries engaged in becoming a KH have been able to gain competitive advantage by providing a good quality service for a good price, where reputed international universities settled. According to Derrick and Cogburn, (1998), Due to the economic globalisation and reorganisation of the world political and economic system, there is a need for the level of education to be up to the standards, knowledge and information need to be in line with the changes. This applies greatly for tertiary level, where the future workforce is prepared and nurtured to be able to perform in the different sectors they will be canalised into. As the store of knowledge is expanding in the world, it should be accessible to everyone who is wishing to participate and contribute to the change. According to Mansell and Wehn (1998), formal institutions of education that exist today, and even many of these in the planning stages in developing countries, are becoming less relevant to the requirements of emergent knowledge societies. In this quote of Mansell and Wehn are arguing that countries willing to start a knowledge based economy should reshape their education system in such a way that these countries will be in line with the national priorities. Furthermore the countries engaging to become a knowledge base industry should also consider the change occurring in the worlds economy and new strategies being use by competing countries to be able to achieve competitive advantage on the international market. Countries implementing the Knowledge Hub concept: India as a knowledge Hub India is known for having the fourth largest store of scientific manpower in the world which are tunnelled in different institutions such as in areas of RD, now its time for India to evolve as a knowledge based industry, appeared in IT Times (2006). According to Sarkaris website (2010) in every knowledge based society, education is the main catalyst to fuel the economy, where it empowers research and the creation of intellectual property (IP). India has the largest young population in the world with more than 600 million which are on the verge of becoming professionals or are actually performing as professionals. With a optimum use of this population and minimising the drop out from primary and secondary level of studies India will be able to have a good harvest of knowledge from its youngsters. Based on the National Sample Survey Organisation in 2009, an estimation of 815000 children representing 4.28% of Indias child population from 6 to 13 year old were school drop outs. Following this, in 2010 measure were taken to make it compulsory for every children at the age of 6 to 14 to attend school, where they were given free school facilities. According to Shahid (2009) the Indian Prime Minister of that time set up a National Knowledge Commission in 2005 to leverage various networks and to make India the knowledge engine of the globe. Through the KH India will become the power house for the supply of talent and skills to the rest of the world but also for RD, innovation and sale of its IP. Along with the praises that India has on the global market, Kiran Karniks Blog (2012) came to refute it with a report on the Programme for International Student Assessment saying that India is 73 out of 74 countries surveyed where students of form V had a low grading in Maths, Science and reading. Moreover in an Assessment Survey Evaluation Research report came to say that India had poor academic standards. These facts would definitely have a negative point in the balance of India to promote its KH and the quality of services it is offering. Ireland as a Knowledge Hub Ireland by 2013 will be internationally renowned for the excellence of its research, and will be to the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and social progress, within an innovation driven culture. Martin Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment (2008). According to Building Irelands Knowledge Economy (2004), Ireland is the leading exporter in terms of high technology and services for global market. Ireland is also a hub for electronic commerce and knowledge based activities. Two thirds of RD businesses operating in Ireland comes from overseas. The Government stated as main objectives to develop Ireland as a KH so as to sustain and increase employment in the country, the creation of wealth and to increase the competitiveness of Ireland on the global economy. Erawatch (2004) insists that the Building Irelands Knowledge Economy will reflect in an increase integrated approach in research and innovation, the acceptance of the quality of national research and innovation and technological advancement, which are crucial to gain competitiveness. It is essential for Ireland to increase and improve its RD so as for it to be able to locate itself as a place for high-tech and KH. Failing to improve the following sectors may result as a negative impact for encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country, Building Irelands Knowledge Economy (2004). Singapore as a Knowledge Hub According to Yue al (2001), Singapore is indeed a small island which is often directly linked to limited natural resources. Due to their rapid economic growth, there was a shortage in labour and rising costs and based on this Singapore has lost its competitive edge on the East Asian market. The education policies of Singapore have always been in line with the nations economic priorities (Sidhu, Ho Yeoh, 2010). Education is the technology of hope in Singapore. They are said to have the worlds most competitive or second most competitive economies in recent times. The competitiveness of Singapore is mostly because of its geographical location and the free trade policy implemented by the colonial government and by investing massively in excellent transportation facilities, telecommunication amenities and good services. The success of Singapores economy also depends on the high level of FDI coming in the country. In the 90s Singapore was the country which benefited from major FDI among the Asian developing countries (Yue al, 2001). In the Budget Speech (2006) the government set emphasis to invest in RD to fuel the building up of their intellectual and knowledge capital based. The universities of Singapore are also know for the nurturing of talent and based on the current economic transformation there has been an increase in importance so as to stimulate the economic growth through industrial research, technology being commercialised, the attraction of foreign talents and most important is has to inculcate the entrepreneurial mindset to the young graduates of the country. Consequently the universities have become an important component of the countrys innovation system, Genewired (2011). In the same context of attracting foreign talent, Singapore with a small newly industrialised economy and with a small population, they should be able to attract the top talent to make their KH move forward. Just like regions like Silicon Valley, London, New York and Boston, have been able to beneficiate from the influx of international talents coming to perform for their economy. Singapore is trying to follow the steps of these countries in order to be able to differentiate its economy to other KH economies in Southern Asia. Furthermore, based on the experiences of regions mentioned above, the attraction of foreign talents does nt rely only on the type of work or economy a country is performing into but it starts when the cream of students decide to pursue their tertiary studies, that is with the name o renowned and high quality tertiary institutions Singapore will be able to attract them at the early stages for these students to become young professionals. This has been proven with universities like Stanford, UC Berkeley, Cambridge and Oxford who are top universities in the world, where every student engaging into the tertiary studies will be dreaming to have a seat, may act as a magnet to attract best talents and after studies it is common for the students to stay back and contribute to the countrys economy, Genwired (2011).

Theory of Economics in the Film Industry

Theory of Economics in the Film Industry Introduction In this essay I shall examine the theory of economics within the film industry and how it contributes to the production and distribution of mainstream Hollywood films. For the purposes of this essay I shall be researching and commenting solely upon Hollywood productions. My research will include an examination of different theories that investigate and explain how economics shape the way that film is stripped down to its bare essentials so that the business of making movies can begin in earnest. Throughout this essay I shall investigate the importance of budget, audience, genre, stars and guidance ratings in relation to the success of a movie. With the collation of this data I shall explore how these economic factors sculpt what is recognised as mainstream Hollywood cinema; investigating how important they are in shaping the strengths and limitations of what is exhibited onto cinema screens across the world. Using this information I shall argue the pros and cons of how a rigidly structured industry can produce works of art, passion and brilliance whilst being presided over by a business-orientated mentality that should, in theory, stifle any creative development. In my conclusion I aim to explain how this is possible and what may lie ahead in the future. Economics of Film The way that economics work in film is complex. There are a great number or variables that need to be taken into consideration from the outset when preparing any kind of financial package to put a film project into production. This ‘green lighting’ analysis seems to have become an exact science over the years in Hollywood; it has had to be as the average budget to make and market an-MPAA accredited major film in 2005 was $96.2 million (this includes $60 million in negative costs and $36.2 million in marketing costs).[1] With the average budget totalling almost $100 million the stakes are high, and the pressure to recoup the costs and go on to make the film an official success are immense. Unlike low budget films where the emphasis is to produce the film for as little money as possible, Hollywood aims high and expects high returns. It is this importance of making money in Hollywood that has led to widespread criticism of its methodology of producing films. How can art be held at ransom to the demands of cash flow forecasts and daily target sales? In his book, Hollywood Cinema, Richard Maltby questioned this paradox: For the vulgar Romantic in us all, Hollywood is not Art because it is commercial. For the vulgar Marxist in us all, Hollywoods enslavement to the profit system means that all its products can do is blindly reproduce the dominant ideology of bourgeois capitalism.[2] In its simplest form it is possible to split Hollywood into two significant camps; the business of making movies and the production of film. Obviously this is an extreme simplification, but for the basis of this essay it can be used to identify how the images we see on the silver screen on a Friday night begin life as a list of figures and calculations on an economist’s laptop. The fact that Hollywood is a multi-billion dollar industry guarantees its survival. It deserves to be viewed upon as a completely different entity to any other artistic medium such as photography , painting or sculpture. The reality is that the audience actually sees an identical copy (a reproduction), but this does not take away anything from the original work. It is not like going to a museum and looking at a reproduction print of a work of art instead of the actual brushstrokes of the artist. As such there is no real loss in value because of this. Richard Maltby writes that: The economics of Hollywood rely expressly upon this technical possibility, since any number of prints can be struck from an original master negative and exhibited simultaneously.[3] There have been many different models that have been introduced to analyse the process of how economics work in Hollywood. The common denominator of these theories is that the most effective way of studying the medium of film is to study it on its own merits and not as a broad comparison to other media. This focused view of film in the field of economics has been labelled as ‘micro-economic research’: Given the interesting characteristics of movies as ideal examples of differentiated products and of the institutional arrangements governing their production and distribution, such increased data availability would make this an exceptionally attractive area for applied micro-economic research.[4] In the late 1970s, American economist Thomas Guback wrote his essay Are We Looking at the Right Things in Film? in which he argued that the study of cinema seemed to ignore the ‘analysis of cinema as an economic institution and as a medium of communication’[5]. Nearly thirty years on Guback’s concerns are still relevant in that a lot more attention is given to the understanding of a film’s economics. Another economist, Professor Robert Picard, explained the importance of audience consumption in 1989 when he stated that: Media economics is concerned with how media operators meet the informational and entertainment wants and needs of audiences, advertisers and society with available resources. It deals with the factors influencing production of media goods and services and the allocation of those products for consumption.[6] When Picard speaks of the wants and needs of the audience he is introducing a wide range of attributes that need to be addressed when contemplating how a film must be produced to subjectively please its audience, and therefore returning its costs. This concern is highlighted in the industrial organisation model created by Douglas Gomery. In it he describes how the analyst must focus on the objective description o f the organisation (in this case the film production) and not the subjective response (how the audience reacts): The industrial organization model of structure, conduct, and performance provides a powerful and useful analytical framework for economic analysis. Using it, the analyst seeks to define the size and scope of the structure of an industry and then go on to examine its economic behaviour. Both of these steps require analyzing the status and operations of the industry, not as the analyst wishes it were. Evaluation of its performance is the final step, a careful weighing of what is versus what ought to be.[7] What these theorists introduce to the equation is that there are many problems that need to be addressed before embarking on the goal of putting a film into production. This uncertainty is readdressed by Arthur de Vany in his book, Hollywood Economics. In it de Vany explains the uniqueness of each individual project and how its life as a commercial product in the theatrical market is hazardous. He introduces the idea that films exist in a battling arena, a box-office tournament, fighting against one another for the public’s attention: Motion pictures live and die in the box-office tournament as they are challenged during their run by a randomly evolving cast of new competitors. The challengers come from films previously released and from newly released films. The contending films are ranked by filmgoers and those with high rank survive and are carried over to the next week. Low ranked films fail and are replaced by new contenders.[8] This colourful analogy of films as knights in shining armour jousting for the acceptance of the audience is a perfect example of how weaker films (financially rather than artistically in most Hollywood films) are often tossed aside by bigger and stronger productions. He continues to say that: The leading products command a disproportionate share of the market and they have longer runs. Even then, a films rank in the tournament is ephemeral and its life unpredictable.[9] Using de Vany’s theory it becomes apparent that certain actions by the parties responsible for production prove vitally important to the success of the project. These actions are described by Albert Moran in his study of film policy: â€Å"Policy is a series of practice engaged in by an agency – whether government, private, or commercial – to achieve a particular set of outcomes.†[10] These outcomes, in this particular case the target being that of a successful movie release, rely on many attributes and the policy exists in a â₠¬Å"complex field affected by factors such as constitutional and legislative arrangements, general economic conditions, the prevailing culture, social awareness, and technological capacities, as well as such human agencies as politicians, business entrepreneurs, white- and blue-collar labour, bureaucrats, and cultural and social workers.†[11] It is easy to be bogged down by so many different economic models and theories when analysing how the Hollywood system works. With so many factors influencing the results the process becomes a minefield of potential disasters waiting to happen. How can anyone truly predict what is going to be a successful film? Writer Harold Vogel highlights this quandary when he points out that: â€Å"Of any 10 major theatrical films produced, on the average 6 or 7 are unprofitable, and 1 will break even.[12] If we were to surmise that this list of ten films were produced by the same studio in one year then the models as used by Picard, Gomery, et al really do not ease the pressure faced by the film executives. The cold, hard facts point at only a 20-30% success rate in their annual production slate recouping their costs. It is all very well studying the market, assessing the competition and second-guessing the audiences’ preferences, but the fact is that 60-70% of the studio’s produc t will lose money. If we reintroduce the MPAA’s statistic that the average major release in 2005 cost around $100 million, it would mean that the studio understands that only two movies from their annual releases must do enough business at the box office to recoup their own costs as well as the costs of the $700 million from the other eight films. According to the MPAA in the full calendar year of 2005, only eight films grossed over $200 million, twelve films grossed $100 $199 million and 36 films grossed $50 – $99 million.[13] Economic models can only interpret the market to a certain point; blind faith takes over after that. Vogel breaks away from the other theorists by boldly stating that: There are no formulas for success in Hollywood. We find that much conventional Hollywood wisdom is not valid. By making strategic choices in booking screens, budgeting and hiring producers, directors and actors with marquee value, a studio can position a movie to improve its chan ces of success. But, after a movie opens, the audience decides its fate. The exchange of information among a large number of individuals interacting personally unleashes a dynamic that is complex and unpredictable.[14] Vogel’s theory on the exchange of information from the public audience unleashing a complex and unpredictable dynamic typifies the world in which the Hollywood film is now being made. It is now, more than ever, that the success of a film in the box office is paramount to how Hollywood works. He describes the essence of the movie business as this: â€Å"The mean of box-office revenue is dominated by a few blockbuster movies and the probability distribution of box-office outcomes has infinite variance! The distribution of box-office revenues is a member of the class of probability distributions known as Là ¨vy stable distributions. These distributions are the limiting distributions of sums of random variables and are appropriate for modelling the box-office rev enues that motion pictures earn during their theatrical runs†¦ Movie projects are, in reality, probability distributions and a proper assessment of their prospects requires one to do a risk analysis of the probabilities of extreme outcomes.[15] What I believe Vogel is saying is that the importance of ticket sales from the box office shapes the type of movie that the studio will produce. A blockbuster film that boasts a line up of A-list stars will fare significantly better than a film that has no stars attached; the fact that the blockbuster might be an artistically inferior film has no real relation to its success. In turn, the ‘bigger’ the picture the more people go to see it. The more people go to see it, the longer it runs at the cinemas. The longer it runs at the cinemas, the more revenue the studio gets back. This means that a studio is more likely to release a major film, perhaps one of its 20% profit-movies, with big stars attached; this acts as insurance t hat it should, theoretically, be widely accepted by the audience. Vogel adds that: The complex dynamics of personal interaction between viewers and potential viewers overwhelm the initial conditions. The difficulties of predicting outcomes for individual movies is more sensible than the current practice of greenlighting individual movie projects.[16] Therefore the studios can have a clearer idea of how the movie is going to fare if there is a star attached. This is a Hollywood trait that has been successful since the 1920s and the Hollywood Star System. If you were to ask an average cinema goer what the most important ingredient of a Hollywood blockbuster was the answer, more often than not, would be that of an A-list star in the leading role. This is not a modern phenomenon in Hollywood. The star system was first professionally handled with the introduction of United Artists, a talent management company formed by D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, William S. Hart and Mary Pickford in 1919. Nearly ninety years later the importance of the agent in Hollywood can determine the success of an entire studio; it is their client that attracts a vast number of the public to the cinemas. If it wasn’t for the love affair that the viewing public has for celebrity then Hollywood would be a different place, yet the power of Hollywood as the market leader in film is unassailable; even from competitive new film nations such as India’s Bollywood productions. The ‘Big Six’ (Warner Bros., Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Sony, Disney, and Universal) and the Hollywood stars still ‘front’ the production. As Douglas Gomery writes: The Big Six studios retained a growing appetite for hot new talents. By the late-1990s newcomers Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck, as well as proven box-office winners like Jim Carrey and Tom Cruise, could command $20 million a picture.†[17] He argues that the current climate of Hollywood movie production is more akin to the Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s. He believes that nothing much has changed in this time as the Big Six still have a dominant control over production and distribution: â€Å"†¦the end of the 20th century was the era when the Big Six in Hollywood achieved its greatest power and profitability.[18] Another believer in the power that stars have over a film’s performance at the box office is S. Abraham Ravid who was analysed the impact of well-known and well-loved acting talent on individual productions: Profitabil ity studies have been closely related to the study of stars. Stars have always been a puzzling phenomenon. Some stars seem to have vastly superior talents, whereas many others do not seem very different in looks or any other observable characteristics from many other talented performers. Yet, they receive vastly more attention, money, and recognition than anybody else.[19] Another important factor in understanding the economics of Hollywood is by analysing the demographics involved in worldwide releases. According to the figures from the MPAA, in 2005 the total domestic box office receipts in the United States remained near $9 billion and global box office receipts came in at over $23 billion. Admissions in US cinemas decreased 8.7% in 2005 to 1.4 billion.[20] The importance of understanding how the audience reacts to certain types of films is paramount in determining what projects are most likely to recoup their production budgets. One way of assessing this information is by identifying what genre of film is most successful at the box office. I shall examine the importance of genre in Hollywood later in the essay, but for the time being I shall focus on the importance of the film’s appointed rating. In the UK the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) uses a scale of ratings to ‘give the public information that empowers them to make appropriate viewing decisions for themselves and those in their care.’[21] In the United States the classification system is similar yet it is not fully enforceable as it is here in the UK. The MPAA ratings range from G (General Audiences; similar to our U), PG (Parental Guidance), PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned; similar to our 15), R (Restricted; similar to our 18) and NC-17 (Over 18 Only). Using the statistics supplied by the MPAA it is apparent that, ‘consistent with past years, PG-13 films comprised the majority of top grossers for the industry, with PG and PG-13 films accounting for 85% of 2005’s top 20 films’[22] In closer inspection the top 20 grossing films were made up of 5% G-rated, 25% PG-rated, 60% PG-13-rated and 10% R-rated. It is also interesting to note that since 1968, nine of the top ten grossing films have been PG and PG-13-rated (the other is R-rated); this is even though only 33% of films released since 1968 are PG or PG-13-rated co mpared to 58% of R-rated movies. [23] In his studies, Arthur de Vany examined a ten year period of Hollywood production and found some interesting facts: From 1985 to 1996, inclusive, Hollywood made 1,057 R-rated movies; just 60 G-rated movies were made during that same period R-rated movies accounted for 52 percent of the 1,689 movies that did not feature a star and they accounted for 57 percent of the movies that did feature a star. The 100 stars of the A-list appear in, produce or direct more often in R-rated movies than in any other rating.[24] Using the same research data it is interesting to note that less than three per cent of low budget R-rated movies included a star compared with ten per cent of medium budget and 45 per cent of high budget productions: Success rates are a more representative measure of revenue earning power than is the number of high grossing films. The success rate for R-rated movies is just 6 percent, whereas 13 percent of G- and PG-rated movies are hits and 10 percent of PG-13 movies are hits. The box-office success rates for all non-R-rated movies (G, PG and PG13) are twice the rate for R-rated movies.[25] Mainstream Hollywood To summarise all the information I have analysed above, it would seem that the best possible way for a Hollywood executive to decide whether to green light a project would be to make sure that the film was directed by a known director, starred two A-list actors and had a PG-13 rating. Also to be taken into consideration would be adaptations of popular books or remakes of previous films. True to form, Hollywood’s Big Six released the following last year: Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith (Fox); Harry Potter (Warner Bros.); The Chronicles of Narnia (Buena Vista); War of the Worlds (Paramount); King Kong (Universal); and Hitch (Sony). It is no coincidence that these six films from the Big Six represent six of the top eleven grossing films, with a combined gross box office total of almost $1.6 billion.[26] However, as previously mentioned it is the R-rated movie that is the most popular release in Hollywood. This is mainly due the subject matter of the story that classifies it as such. This subject matter is defined by genre. Film is a medium that can be divided, and subdivided, into different categories. These categories allow the filmmaker to choose what style the script will be filmed with. The resulting production will then attract an audience that appreciates that specific type of film. These categories and sub-categories are referred to as genres and sub-genres. The idea of genre caters mainly for the mass-produced studio films, most notably those of Hollywood. In his book ‘Genre and Hollywood’, author Steve Neale iterates this by stating that: The definition and discussion of genre and genres in the cinema has tended to focus on mainstream, commercial films in general and Hollywood films in particular.[27] This is supported by another writer of genre, Barry Keith Grant, when he identifies that genre movies are those commercial feature films which, through repetition and variation, tell familiar stories with familiar characters in familia r situations.[28] The most popular genres such as action, comedy, gangster and war films are almost always classified as an R-rating; this is why such a large percentage of Hollywood production falls into this category. So why is it that Hollywood still gambles on making films that, according to models, theories and past experience will not go on to make the studios rich? At the start of this essay I simplified the Hollywood process by splitting it between the business and the art. The business of Hollywood is to make money by getting audiences to watch their product, however, it is not as simple as that (thankfully). Even though it may seem that Hollywood is run by men in suits, there is still a lot of power held by the artists. These artists are in turn respected by the business men because they make them money. This money is made by investing in their ideas and vision. This vision is what eventually makes it onto the big screen. There are hugely identifiable strengths weaknesses in the Hollywood system; this is best demonstrated using the first film from the list I have just mentioned. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith grossed $380 million and is a blockbuster science-fiction film. When the orig inal Star Wars was released in 1977 there was nothing to compare it to, it created a new style of filmmaking that was light years away from the B-movie science-fiction films previously. Admittedly, the hype of the film and its predecessors certainly helped its success at the box office but it is still a movie that exemplifies the Hollywood experience; pure escapism. It can be labelled as ‘painting by numbers’ in so much that it has a popular director (George Lucas), a couple of A-list stars (Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson) and a PG-13 rating. However, these attributes are just that; minor factors that make up the whole. Twenty years ago when Hollywood was in its darkest hour, such a major project would probably never have been given the infamous green light. The early 1980’s saw a dramatic drop in box office receipts. The beginning of the decade saw a 9% drop in tickets sold nationwide in American cinemas when only 1.02 billion were sold. This figure got worse in 1986 when just over 1.01 billion tickets were sold[29] (compared to over 4.5 billion ticket sales in 1930). The home video market had certainly dented theatrical sales but Hollywood would always recoup somehow. The immediate problem was the cost of keeping cinemas open; a similar situation to the post Depression period of the 1930’s. Another financial reshuffle was in order. The Big Six were now part of conglomerates. Gulf Western (Paramounts parent company) also owned Madison Square Gardens, Desilu, Simon and Schuster, and Paramount Pictures Television. Yet, only 11% of Gulf Western’s revenues were derived from entertainment industry holdings and just 4% from Paramount Pictures in 1981. That same year, United Artists was bringing only 12% of the revenues in for Transamerica, Universal represented 22% of MCAs income, and Warner Bros. accounted for 24% of Warner Communications revenue.[30] However, by 1989, the entertainment division of Gulf Western, led by Paramo unt Pictures, accounted for over 50% of Gulf Western’s yearly income during a year in which Paramount had only fourteen releases and a 13.8% share of the market thanks to the success of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ($197 million domestic box office),[31] demonstrating again just how important a single film had become by the end of the 1980’s. These blockbusters were to save Hollywood and allow it to grow stronger, and in 2002 ticket sales were over the 1.52 billion mark which was the highest figure for over twenty years, and the blockbuster continues to support the film industry to this day. Without the blockbuster there would not be the same number of people visiting the cinema. Without these audiences cinemas would close. Without the cinemas there would not be the same number of films released; and only the blockbuster would survive. In typical Hollywood irony it is the blockbuster that is keeping world cinema and low budget cinema alive. Conclusion Hollywood is more than just a location on the map. Hollywood is a business, a factory, a production line, a pool of talent, a byword for escapism and a place where dreams come true. Over one hundred years ago when Edwin S. Porter’s 1903 movie The Great Train Robbery introduced complex narrative structure in its editing techniques, and a decade later D.W. Griffith’s 1915 feature The Birth of a Nation grossed $10 million at the box office, it was evident that Hollywood had firmly grasped the concept of making movies. One hundred years later it is still producing films that make enough money to keep the business running. In conclusion to my research I have found that Hollywood operates on the basis that economics contribute considerably to the end product of the films produced. Without an in depth knowledge of how the market works the system would come crashing down. It would seem that this dependence on economic structure and theory would stagnate the film industry; only allowing the studios to release films that were targeted to a specific audience with restricted themes that would guarantee a return on profits. However, the statistics do not back this theory up. Hollywood does release blockbuster films that are almost generic in the way that they play, but the vast majority of films released are not going to return the costs involved. This is where the artistic side of Hollywood shines through. The fact that Hollywood is run as a business does not stop it producing the occasional work of art. There are not many businesses or industries that operate on the basis that around 70% of its product will make a financial loss. This is where the strengths and weaknesses of mainstream Hollywood are most visible. The 20% of film releases that go on to make a profit are all around us; advertising, marketing, merchandising, et al. Sometimes it is hard to get away from the Hollywood publicity machine that pumps its information out to the public, but this is the only way that it can get a return on its investments. It is the blockbuster that keeps the industry running, and as such we have to be prepared that for every Harry Potter there is a Brokeback Mountain and a Capote. Bibliography Burton, Graeme (2002) More than Meets the Eye (Third Edition) Arnold Publishing Curran, James (2000) Mass Media and Society Arnold Publishing de Vany, Arthur S. (2003) Hollywood Economics: How Extreme Uncertainty Shapes the Film Industry Routledge Gomery, Douglas (1989) Media Economics: Terms of Analysis Critical Studies in Mass Communication (Volume 6, Number 1) Gomery, Douglas (2003) The Economics of Hollywood: Money and Media in Alexander, Alison et al [ed.] (2003) Media Economics :Theory and Practice Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Grant, Barry Keith (1986) Film Genre Reader University of Texas Press: Austin Lewis, Jon (1996) Trust and Anti-Trust in the New Hollywood Michigan Quarterly Review Volume 35:1 Maltby, Richard (2003) Hollywood Cinema Blackwell Publishing Moran, Albert (1998) Film Policy: Hollywood and Beyond in Hill, John Church Gibson, Pamela [eds.] (1998) The Oxford Guide to Film Studies Oxford University Press Neale, Steve (1999) Genre and Hollywood Routledge: London Picard, Robert (1989) Media Economics: Concepts and Issues Sage Publications Ravid, S. Abraham (2005) Film Production in the Digital Age – What Do We Know about the Past and the Future? in Moul, Charles C. (2005) A Concise Handbook of Movie Industry Economics Cambridge University Press Smith, Sharon P. Smith, Kerry V. (1986) Successful Movies: A Preliminary Empirical Analysis Applied Economics (issue 18:5) Vogel, Harold L. (1990) Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis Cambridge University Press Wasko, Janet (2003) How Hollywood Works Sage Publications US Theatrical Market 2005 Statistics Leaflet Motion Picture Association of America British Board of Film Classification website www.bbfc.co.uk Box Office Mojo website www.boxofficemojo.com The Numbers website www.the-numbers.com 1 Footnotes [1] Statistic taken from the US Theatrical Market 2005 Statistics Motion Picture Association (p14) [2] Maltby, Richard (2003) Hollywood Cinema Blackwell Publishing (p45) [3] Maltby, Richard (2003) Hollywood Cinema Blackwell Publishing (p45) [4] Smith, Sharon P. Smith, Kerry V. (1986) Successful Movies: A Preliminary Empirical Analysis Applied Economics (issue 18:5) (p506) [5] Wasko, Janet (2003) How Hollywood Works Sage Publications (p6) [6] Picard, Robert (1989) Media Economics: Concepts and Issues Sage Publications (p7) [7] Gomery, Douglas (1989) Media Economics: Terms of Analysis Critical Studies in Mass Communication (Volume 6, Number 1) (p58) [8] de Vany, Arthur S. (2003) Hollywood Economics: How Extrem