Marketing Strategy Selection And Discussion Of Whataburger...

4.2 – Entry Strategy Selection and Discussion Whataburger should adopt the franchising strategy to enter into Canada. This way Whataburger can use their existing business plan to enter into the market. Since it doesn’t stay to far from what other fast food chains exist there (McDonald’s, Wendy’s, AW) Whataburger shouldn’t have a hard time fitting in. But, the restaurant will have to give up some of its â€Å"southern classics† in exchange for more Canadian choices like poutine, to show Canadian customers that they are trying to integrate into the culture and not force their way in. Then once business picks up Whataburger can feature the classics they have in the United States. 5.0 – Whataburger Target Market Analysis Segmentation 5.1 – Target Market Analysis Whataburger’s current target market is families or people looking for a fresh fast food with a value. The company’s advertising definitely leans on the family orientation of the restaurant. It was started by families and makes the restaurant to be a down home family kind of place. Their focus is more so on family and southern hospitality than so value like McDonald’s, so Whataburger may cater to a slightly more sophisticated group. 5.2 – Recommended Target Market Analysis In Canada, Whataburger should target the same group, families, people with a traditional outlook, since Whataburger focuses on family and tradition. And since Canada is a very family oriented traditional country. In addition to this market,Show MoreRelatedRetailing Characteristics of Fast Food Stores and Their Impact on Customer Sales and Satisfaction29639 Words   |  119 Pagessold by supermarkets. While the quantities sold by supermarkets c an be accurately calculated, it is almost impossible in most countries to know the quantities of fruits and vegetables being sold through traditional marketing channels. Supermarket growth around the world has, in part, resulted from the considerable competition between supermarket chains, particularly in the United States and Europe. In the West this competition has led to

Why Is Diotima a Woman Essay - 825 Words

Diotima, Socrates great teacher from the Symposium, a work by Plato was one of the most influential women thinkers of all time, whether she was a real person or a literary fictional character. She related to Socrates the theory of love that he described to the partygoers at Agathons banquet, a celebration of Agathons victory at the competition of Dionysis in Athens and of Eros. Before we search for the idea of why Diotima is a woman, we should first discuss a little about her. We know that, if she were an actual person, she would have been born around 470 BCE and died around 410 BCE. She might have been a priestess from Mantinea. Now if she was a real priestess or poet is uncertain. There is archaeological evidence, plus the fact†¦show more content†¦The first is obvious. Diotima is a woman because she is not a man. If Diotima had been portrayed as a man then Socrates would have been seen as having been initiated into the mysteries of erotic desire by an older and wiser male. This would have inevitably suggested to Platos contemporaries that Socrates owed his deep understanding of the nature of the erotic (Symposium 177.d) to the passionate attention of a former lover. By having a woman educate Socrates in the ways of Eros, Plato avoided the suggestion that the he was Socrates real lover. Plato wanted to rule out that he and Socrates were sexual lovers, rather than just merely platonic lovers. (Gould p.193) Plato strenuously wanted to avoid this, not only because it would have lent the stamp of Socratic approval to a social practice for which Plato himself entertained the liveliest mistrust but, more importantly, because it would have had the effect of valorizing the Athenian institution of paederasty (Sexual relations between a man and a boy (usually anal intercourse with the boy as a passive partner)) on the very grounds on which Platos Pausanias, earlier in the Symposium, had celebrated. (181.c-d3) We can further this by saying that if Pla to had represented Socrates as having benefited from the erotic expertise of a mature male, the principle underlying Socrates later rejection of Alcibiades (Symposium 222.c3) would have been obscured, and Plato would haveShow MoreRelated Why is Diotima a woman? Essay examples805 Words   |  4 Pages Diotima, Socrates great teacher from the Symposium, a work by Plato was one of the most influential women thinkers of all time, whether she was a real person or a literary fictional character. She related to Socrates the theory of love that he described to the partygoers at Agathons banquet, a celebration of Agathons victory at the competition of Dionysis in Athens and of Eros. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Before we search for the idea of why Diotima is a woman, we should first discuss a littleRead MoreSocrates and Love Essay912 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Symposium, written by Plato, Socrates and others engage in a dialogue in the home of Agathon on love. Instead of singing the honours (94) of love like the other participants, Socrates uses a retelling of a discussion that he had with a woman named Diotima to tell the audience of what he perceives to be the truth of love. He first speaks to Agathon in order to be on the same wavelength with him. Socrates asks Agathon a series of questions - which leads to Agathon being thoroughly confusedRead MoreLove in Platos Symposium1227 Words   |  5 Pagespoints on their definitions on love, it is a woman that makes the best definition be known. I will concentrate on the difference between the theory of Common and Heavenly love brought up by Pausanias and the important role that Diotima plays in the symposium. Pausanias brings up an excellent way to think about Love. He explains that love can be broken down into two types, that of Common and Heavenly love. The common love is that when a man and a woman join merely to satisfy their sexual desiresRead MoreIs Diotima A Man Not A Woman?1925 Words   |  8 PagesMost people believe the argument that Diotima is a woman is true solely because she is not a man. However, I find that there are other arguments that are capable of proving that Diotima is indeed a man, not a woman. To be able to explain my theory in an understandable manner, I must clearly illustrate gender roles in Ancient Greece. When it comes to women’s roles in Ancient Greece, it is safe to conclude that they were simply a symbol of inferiority when compared to men. I’ll list a few things womenRead MorePlato s Symposium, By Plato1273 Words   |  6 PagesEryximachus who states that love affects everything in the universe and that it should be protected, next we have Aristophanes, who states that the reason why love is on earth is because god has split humanity in half and that man should fear the gods and should embrace love to feel whole again, and last we have Socrates who suggests what Diotima explains that love is in the middle of two things or objects and has both characteristics. Phaedrus starts off the conversation of love stating how theRead MoreLove Is Characterized By Oedipus The King And Diotima s Definition Of Love1221 Words   |  5 Pagesunderestimated reasons of Love. Despite having different occupations, they all seem to agree on their views of love except for Socrates. Socrates communicates that Love is a god, and then decides to add that he came to his conclusion with the help of a woman named Diotima. Although their views of love are similar, they are also different and can be seen through another philosopher’s stories; Antigone and Oedipus. Socrates’ definition of love is characterized by Oedipus the King and Diotima’s definition of loveRead MoreComparison And Contrast Of The Understanding Of Love1576 Words   |  7 Pagesshe opposes and rebels unlike the other women of the time. In fact, Creon the ruler acknowledges that Antigone is rebellious and says â€Å"We must defend the men who live by law, never let some woman t riumph over us. Better to fall from power, if fall we must, at the hand of man-never be rated inferior to a woman, never.’’ (Antigone, Pg. 94, 755-760). Antigone is not only madly open about her idiosyncratic beliefs but also takes part in living by those beliefs. This makes her make harsh and confidentRead MoreForms of Love in Platos Symposium Essay2587 Words   |  11 PagesAristophanes draws attention to the origin and purposes of Love; Agathon enunciates that the correct way to present an eulogy is first to praise its nature and gifts. As the last speaker, and the most important one, Socrates connects his ideas with Diotima of Mantinea’s story of Love’s origin, nature and purpose. Different from the earlier five speakers who regard Love as an object and praise different sides of it, Socrates, referring to Diotima’s idea, considers Love as a pursuit of beauty graduallyRead MoreSocrates On The Nature Of Death Before His Execution1884 Words   |   8 Pagesspan of eternity. In his fourth argument, Socrates elaborates on the Theory of Forms. A Form is unlike anything seen in the physical world, it is perfect and has no opposite. The Form of Beauty does not contain ugly/not beauty. He says a beautiful woman person could be considered beautiful to other humans, but would not be considered beautiful to a god and is ultimately not perfect (Grube 69). Socrates implies that is is the soul what truly drives us. He suggests that the soul is deeply entwined withRead MoreLove and Beauty1208 Words   |  5 Pagesreproduction these things of beauty are given immortality. Plato reveals Socrates view through a dialogue between Socrates and Diotima: All of us are pregnant, Socrates, both in body and in soul, and, as soon as we come to a certain age, we naturally desire to give birth. Now no one can possibly give birth in anything ugly; only in something beautiful. That s because when a man and a woman come together in order to give birth, this is a godly affair. Pregnancy, reproduction Ââ€" this is an immortal thing for

International Joint Venture on Globalization - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the International Joint Venture on Globalization. Answer: Introduction Globalization in the current time means incorporating the economy of the country with the economy of whole world. Sometimes, for some countries the means of globalization is to open up the economy for the foreign direct investments by providing the opportunities to foreign companies to invest in various fields of country. In simple words, globalization can be described as having the whole world as one market. It is the process of growing the economic interdependence between the countries in all over the world (Gutterman Brown, 2011). The globalization includes cross-border movements of the products and goods, technology, capital, services, information and people along with the economic activities by crossing the national boundaries. It is basically focused on adopting the global position in terms of marketing, human resource management, manufacturing, lancing and other areas of business. There are various modes of entry by which organizations are able to invest in the foreign market such as merger and acquisition, joint venture, strategic alliances, and restructuring etc (Simonet,2012). This report focuses on the successful mode of entry i.e. joint venture and impact of this process on the globalization. The report describes the role and advantage of joint venture in expanding the business across the national boundaries. Along with this, the report discusses the reason of the joint venture done by the organizations at the global level. Joint venture: Definition It can be seen that the competition in the international market is growing continuously and many companies are using various alliances to enter in the new market. For this manner, they learn new skills, share risks, transfer knowledge, resources and competences with other companies. So, use of the joint venture is increasing dramatically in both, domestic as well as international market. By the process of joint venture, companies are able to enhance their competitive advantage by sharing the assets and resources with the local and foreign partners. For understanding the term joint venture, it is important to take a view on the various definitions of joint venture provided by the literatures (Utzon Hede, 2014). There are lots of scholars who have given various concepts from the different aspects. According to the Mariti and Smiley (1983), joint venture is the cooperation agreement between two different companies to form a third independent company for the business operations. Further, Park and Ungson (1989), the term joint venture can be described as the contractual agreement for creating the separate legal entity under which the parent company take ownership with the conditions and provisions by the legal document. So, joint venture among the multinational companies, the foreigner company cooperates with the local companies to form a third company. This third company is helpful to local companies in sharing the risks and improving the competitive advantage in the market. There is the joint control of both partner companies on the third company as it is the combination of different culture and organizational backgrounds (Corri, 2012). Reason to form joint venture It is an important question why one company cooperates with other company or what are the basic objectives behind participating in the joint venture. Generally, by the joint venture, the organizations are able to spread risk among them. Joint venture improves the capacity of the organizations for the capital investment and financial support. Basically, joint venture is the source of the learning for the partners which are involved in the joint venture process. Based on the study, there are some benefits in the joint venture i.e. competitive benefits, strategic benefits and internal benefit. Internal benefit can be described as the internal strengths that cab generated by the company within the joint venture. Those internal strengths include getting managerial knowledge, risk sharing, generating profit, and achieving knowledge and learning. Other one benefit is competitive benefit for the companies in joint venture. The process of joint venture can be effective and powerful tool to enhance competitive strengths of the companies. The competitive benefits for the companies include developing effective competition, response to the impact of globalization and influence over the industry structure. Last benefit is the strategic benefit. In the strategic benefit, joint venture is helpful for the companies to change their strategy at the global level. For instance, one biscuit company can be able to change its original market to producing biscuits to producing all types of breakfast products after cooperating with the business with the food manufacturing company. By this collab oration, the biscuit company can expand its business from domestic market to international market (Jing'an, 2013). So, there are various reasons for the formation of the joint venture between the companies. Joint venture can provide the resources and skills that are not available at any reasonable cost. Along with this, it can also be risky for the companies in terms if ability and willingness. The success of the joint venture depends upon both the partners and their roles in the joint venture. So, before entering in the process of joint venture, companies must understand the reasons for entering in the joint venture. If any company does not have sufficient financial resources for achieving the business objectives then that company can enter in the joint venture process. By the joint venture, company may seek for the partner to share the financial burden and many other risks of the business. A company can establish the joint venture with the foreign partner in the global market and can adopt market penetration in the foreign market. The company seeks to the foreign partner to provide the knowledge of local preferences, government regulations, customs and the advertisements in that country. By the joint venture, the company entering in foreign market is able to satisfy the rules of that country (Stewart Maughn, 2011). If any company wants to access the skills and technical skills of another company then joint venture is the best option for that company. By the joint venture, managers of both the companies would be able to exchange some information related to existing and new technologies. Any company may select the structure of joint venture rather than the network of contractual relationship. To ensure the good position in the market, the process of joint venture is important and effective. By managing research work, distribution, manufacturing and technology, joint venture is the effective alliances for the companies. Companies may use joint venture to decrease the cost incurred in the production or manufacturing of the products. By the joint venture, companies are able to have some control over the quality of the process and technology which can be used to complete the manufacturing activities. Process of international joint venture The process of joint venture can be understood based on various perspectives. According to the Culpan (2002), the process of joint venture can be described as the decision-making process among the partners. There are four various different stages while the organizations establishing joint venture i.e. initial, formation, operation and outcome. In the initial stage of joint venture, the companies decide about talking the step ahead towards the joint venture for achieving specific advantage in the business. If the business benefits are free of risks and costs then the companies decide to take the step further in joint venture process. On the other hand, if there is high risk and cost involved in the process, and then they have to take the step against the joint venture and have to select other options. After the initial stage of the decision, next stage is formation stage that is involved in making different follow-up decisions into place. These types of decisions are based on the selection of right and appropriate business partner and type of the joint venture. The decisions made by the organizations have important value in the whole process of joint venture. High level of failure in the strategic partnership happens due to wrong selection of the partner companies. The process of selecting the partner is very important for the joint venture. According to Culpan, there must be compatibility during the process of joint venture and he suggested that the success of joint venture depends upon the compatibility of the partners. Basically, there are two types of compatibility i.e. resources and cultural compatibility. Further, during the formation stage another decision made by companies is the selection of joint venture. According to the researchers, there are three traditional types of joint ventures based on the ownership patterns. First one is majority equity ownership, second one is equal ownership and last one is minority equity ownership. The type of the ownership or joint venture ultimately impacts the procedures of the joint venture among the companies (Ahmed Pang, 2009). Third stage in the joint venture is the operation stage in which the process of joint venture is analyzed based on the control and performance assessment. The performance of the joint venture can be analyzed based on either assessing the degree of satisfaction level of the partner in joint venture or evaluating the profit or sakes volumes made by the joint venture. Some of the controls can be exercised by the partners based on their stake. One of the most effective and common way to control over the joint venture is to hire expatriate managers. Along with this, company can exert the control by outcome based control in which the partner companies pay attention on the profit and enjoy the autonomy (Forbes, 2013). Last stage in the joint venture is the outcome stage to analyze whether to continue or leave the joint venture in the business operations. This decision is based on the performance of the joint venture for the partners. The partners involved in the joint venture must formulate the exit strategy also if the joint venture does not meet the requirements of the business objectives. The formation stage of joint venture has important strategic value for the success of the joint venture. By implementing this stage, partners are selected by the companies based on the compatibility in terms of culture and resources. Benefits of international joint venture Generally, companies come together to establish the joint venture when they believe that they will not be able to get success on a specific project, business or product. In such situation, companies seek for the partnership with other companies in terms of formation of joint venture. There are some key benefits of formation of joint venture between two companies. By the formation of joint venture, the companies are able to share their tangible and intangible assets for achieving common goals. For instance, two or more companies may collectively own the intellectual property which is required to develop a new technology and product. It is understood that none of the individual company has all the IP rights to complete the projects. Further, in the joint venture, one company may provide the cash and fund and another company may supply the property rights suppliers equipments, and other assets (Lande, 2014). Another key benefit of joint venture is sharing cost between the partners. Joint venture allows the companies to undertake the venture and share each cost equally. Labor and management, research and development, supply and administrative cost, distribution cost can be reduced significantly for each participants. Along with this, economies of scale may also be reduced because of the high level of efficiencies of joint production (Churchwell, 2004). Joint venture allows the companies and participants to share their business risks when creating any new product or service or expanding the business in a new country. There can be various risks while entering in the new market. Companies may not get enough revenue to make development cost so by the joint venture; companies would be able to share the resources and costs to reduce the burden of risks in the business. By the formation of joint venture, companies can share the business experience and expertise, technological capabilities, industry knowledge, and many other expertises which are important for the business. For example, one company may have experience and knowledge of the business for developing a product then that would seek for the joint venture partner which can contribute with the fund or one that has more experience in that specific industry as compared to others (Lupton Beamish, 2009). Joint venture is the key process for the companies to enter in the new market. Joint venture enables the companies to access the high growth market. By this, both the partners may get the access to the customers or suppliers. One of the partners may have the needed intellectual property for the venture and on the other hand, another may have the distribution networks to target the markets and customers. Despite of the advantages and benefits, there are some challenges which have to face by the companies while forming joint venture in the business. While achieving the business objectives, there can be conflicts among the partners due to different culture, background, risks and decision making process. Some of the challenges in the international joint venture are described below: The parent-specific characteristics are important attribute of the company that includes ownership type, reputation, international culture, practices and policies. Sometimes, these policies and practices can be the cause of conflicts in the operations of joint venture as they reflect different methods, requirements, and procedures. Different leadership styles management behaviors and the culture of organizations may create problems and conflicts among the partners and managers (Deloitte, 2010). Issues of different regulations There can be conflicts in the operations of joint venture due to the regulations of the host and home government as the managers in the international joint venture have to act based on the regulations of the government. There can be conflicts due to the rules and policies of two governments on same issue (Zheng, 2010). The host government may have own objectives and concerns and they may use the power by political system, economic resources and various opportunities. There can be conflicts due to some actions of the host government i.e. restrict outbound transfer of fund, restriction on transferring the prices, maximizing tax revenues, pressure on the joint ventures and MNCs to increase the product line etc. There can also be some regulations such as export controls, foreign corrupt practices, antitrust law, tax and accounting, staffing and many others (Hieu, 2013). Final and important reason for the conflict among the partners of joint venture is cross cultural issues. According to the study of various researchers, there are various cultures involved in the international joint venture. Cultural distance can occur between the partners of the joint venture. The cultural distance can lead the communication problem and impact on the organizational learning. Further, cultural differences can increase the managerial conflicts because of the misunderstanding and lead additional costs. Cultural diversity can impact the partner company approaches to conflict resolution that can impact the business operations negatively (Oeve, 2010). Current situation of the globalization suggests that international joint venture is important for the success and survival for the multinational companies. Globalization is one of the big reasons for the organizations to form joint venture for the growth of the business. International joint venture is very common today and it can be seen in one of the good example i.e. Wal-Mart has done successful joint venture with Mexicos Cifra. These types of joint ventures indicate that that domestic company can get benefit by partnering with the foreign companies to get an effective presence in the global market. In the 21st century, international joint venture is helping in facing the new challenges in environment. Joint venture provides various types of support to the companies in business activities. In the time of globalization, every industry is differing from each other because of their structure, core competencies and funding focus. Along with this, joint venture increases the market powe r of the participants in the business activities (Shahzad, 2008). Conclusion From the above analysis, it is observed that in the current time of globalization, joint venture is the strategic alliance which allows the partners to share their business experiences, risks and profits mutually. By the discussion in the report, it can be said by the process of joint venture companies are able to enhance their competitive advantage by sharing the assets and resources with the local and foreign partners. Joint venture can provide the resources and skills that are not available at any reasonable cost. Joint venture improves the capacity of the organizations for the capital investment and financial support. References Ahmed, A. Pang, Z., (2009), CORPORATE CULTURE IN AN INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURE - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A224194/FULLTEXT01.pdf Churchwell, C., (2004), Rethink the Value of Joint Ventures, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/rethink-the-value-of-joint-ventures Corri, C. A., (2012), INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www.bmpllp.com/files/joint_ventures_united_states.pdf Deloitte, (2010), A study of Joint Ventures The challenging world of alliances, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/fr/Documents/finance/Publications/Etude_Joint_Venture_juillet%202010.pdf Forbes, (2013), Making Joint Ventures A Strategic Success, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/lbsbusinessstrategyreview/2013/11/26/making-joint-ventures-a-strategic-success/#535f620b7d9a Gutterman Brown, (2011), Going Global: A Guide to Building International Business, 31, 31.7 Hieu, D. P., (2013), Problems and Conflicts in ManagingInternational Joint Ventures in Vietnam: Philippine Management Review, 20, 47-64 Jing'an, T., (2013), Joint Venture Formation and Internationalization: A Japanese MNEs' Perspective: Journal of Asia-Pacific Business, 14.2, 107-129 Lande, L. K. R., (2014), The Key Benefits Of Forming A Joint Venture, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www.gibsondunn.com/publications/Documents/La-Lande-Key-Benefits-Joint-Venture.pdf Lupton, N. C., Beamish, P. W., (2009), Managing Joint Ventures, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=B3873C5FE5FBD073410BA50148074489?doi=10.1.1.620.9307rep=rep1type=pdf Oeve, K. F., (2010), Causes of international joint venture instability: An institution-based view: Bachelor Thesis Organization Strategy, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=121697 Shahzad, N., (2008), Expanding Business Opportunities across the Globe, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-international-joint-ventures-expanding-business-across-shahzad/ Simonet,D.,(2012),EntrymodesofEuropeanfirmsinVietnam. Emerging Markets Journal, 2,10?29 Stewart, M. R., Maughn, R. D., (2011), INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES, A PRACTICAL APPROACH, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://www.dwt.com/files/Publication/1b841dbe-3453-4983-97cd-d6f5b44e5b2f/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/47d38fc0-1cc3-4c3e-b91f-d8aacd2ce6d1/International%20Joint%20Ventures%20Article_Stewart.pdf Utzon, N., Hede, J., (2014), A study of joint venture performance and institutional distance: Finance Strategic Management, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://studenttheses.cbs.dk/bitstream/handle/10417/4842/jonas_hede_og_nikolai_utzon.pdf?sequence=1 Zheng, Z., (2010), How can national cultural differences among participating companies of a joint venture positively influence on profitability of the joint venture, accessed on 24th September 2017 from https://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=122234

Racism Essays (1979 words) - Racism, Discrimination, Hatred

Racism People see it everyday across America. A group of whites burn down a black church, someone gets hurt or murdered from a racial slur, or fights break out at school or in public. These are the extremes of racism. Racism is definitely not a good thing, it's a power that has taken over through the last two years. In doing research on Racism, I hope that my feelings towards blacks would improve and they have. What will the future bring for Racism? What are the main problems of racism? Can we get a hold on racism throughout America or will we self-destruct in our own hate? Racism is everywhere, as much as today tries to hide it or say that we resolved it forty-to-fifty years ago. Racism is still all over the place. Racism first showed it teeth in America, when the segregation of blacks and whites came along. The segregation shut down all activities or actions from whites and blacks. It absolutely separated whites and blacks from being close to each other in public and blacks having no rights. Then the movement took place when Rosa Parks wouldn't give up her seat to a white man on a bus. At the time she was tired of the treatment her and fellow African-Americans were getting. She said she was tired and on this fateful day she bgan the turning wheels of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement took place and gave blacks their future as they have now. It gave them the freedom that they deserved and needed. They were given the ability to vote; not having to be separated in such insane ways against whites, as they were. Positive helpers in the r ole of black's rights were Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. King had a dream that little black boys and girls would be able to join hands with little white boys and girls. His dream came true. On April 4th 1968, King was leaving his motel room. When he was shot and killed (Schulke). 2 Everybody knows what racism is, but there are so many other factors that tie in with racism. If someone is a racist they are of course, prejudice. Prejudice is when someone doesn't like someone for the way they look. A big problem with racism is many live in racist conditions and don't even see it. It flies right over their heads. Schools, the workplace, our community, our friend's house, even our homes. We hear a racial slur, oh well, it's just a joke. Hardly. If you think racist joke are harmless than you should take a reality check. Racist jokes are just the start of it. Many people think the jokes are funny. Maybe they are, but they still hurt the people the jokes are about. Some of the worst racists are the ones who think that they are not racist, and they really are. They really have to come to grips with reality. Why are they some the worst racists? They are, because they can't comprehend what is happening. They don't realize what they are saying and doing are racist. Until th ey come to grips with it, there is no problem. No problem, in their minds. They say that they aren't racist, even when they don't hire the East Indian employee who was the most qualified of the candidates. Even when the basketball team that they coach is all white. And even the time when they moved from their seat at the movie theater because of the black person next to them. Well, gee, they could have been a criminal. A robber from "the hood." After all, isn't that what most of "them" are. No one deserves to be prejudged like that. The prejudice of people in the world is disgusting. The worst part of it all is that they don't even know that they are doing it. They think it's normal behavior, it doesn't even phase them when they do it. Born of the civil rights movement three decades ago, affirmative action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment, education and contracting decisions. In its modern form, affirmative action can call for an admission's officer faced with

Comparisson Between Democratic and Republican Parties essays

Comparisson Between Democratic and Republican Parties essays Even though Republicans and Democrats had similar organization and purposes, there were many issues separating the two. Some of those differences were in the ways the parties described themselves in their platforms and any other campaign appeals. By waving the bloody shirt, Republicans asserted a virtual monopoly on patriotism. But that wasnt the extent to which the Republicans exploited the Civil War legacy. They voted to provide federal pensions to Union army veterans, widows, and orphans. Republicans cultivated the Grand Army of the Republic and urging them to vote as you shot. Another theme for the Republican campaign was prosperity. They pointed to the economic growth of the postwar era claiming that their wise policies were responsible for it. Republicans never actually committed themselves in favor of prohibition but announced that they were in favor of all wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality. So while describing all Republicans as uprig ht and virtuous citizens, the portrayed Democrats as the old slave-owner and slave-driver, the saloon-keeper, the ballot-box-stuffer, the Kuklux [Klan], the criminal class of the great cities, the men who cannot read or write, and also adding in Boss Tweed. While Republicans focused on describing what their party did and who they were, Democrats focused on explaining what they opposed. They stood firm against governmental interference in the economy. They said the public domain should provide farms for citizens, not subsidies for corporations. All in all, Democrats position was much closer to laissez faire than that of the Republicans. In addition to that, they also opposed government interference in social relations and behavior. They condemned prohibition in the North, especially in Irish and German communities, calling it a violation of personal liberty. They defended Catholics from political ...

How Lactose Free Milk Is Made

How Lactose Free Milk Is Made If you avoid regular dairy products because of lactose intolerance, you can turn to lactose-free milk and other dairy products. Have you ever wondered what being lactose intolerant means or how the chemical is removed from milk? Lactose Intolerance Basics Lactose intolerance isnt an allergy to milk. What it means is that the body lacks insufficient amounts of the digestive enzyme, lactase, needed to break down lactose or milk sugar. So, if you suffer lactose intolerance and ingest regular milk, the lactose passes through your gastrointestinal tract unaltered. While your body cant digest the lactose, gut bacteria can utilize it, releasing lactic acid and gas as products of the reaction, which lead to bloating and uncomfortable cramping. Ways Lactose Is Removed from Milk There are a few different ways to remove lactose from milk. As youd guess, the more involved the process, the more the milk costs at the store. A common method is to simply add the enzyme lactase to milk, essentially pre-digesting the sugar into glucose and galactose. The resulting milk still contains the enzyme, so the milk is ultra-pasteurized to deactivate the enzyme and extend the shelf life of the milk.Another method is to pass milk over lactase that is bound to a carrier. Using this procedure, the milk still contains the sugars glucose and galactose, but not the enzyme.Membrane fractionation and other ultrafiltration techniques may be used to mechanically separate lactose from milk. These methods completely remove the sugar, better preserving the normal flavor of milk. Why Lactose-Free Milk Tastes Different If lactase is added to milk, the lactose breaks into glucose and galactose. There isnt more sugar in the milk than before, but it tastes a lot sweeter because taste receptors perceive glucose and galactose as sweeter than lactose. In addition to tasting sweeter, milk that is ultra-pasteurized tastes different because of the extra heat applied during its preparation. How To Make Lactose-Free Milk at Home Lactose-free milk costs a lot more than regular milk because of the additional steps required to make it. However, you can save most of the expense if you turn regular milk into lactose-free milk yourself. The easiest way to do this is to add lactase to the milk. Lactase drops are available at many stores or online from stores, such as Amazon. The amount of lactose removed from the milk depends on how much lactase you add and how long you give the enzyme to react (usually 24 hours for full activity). If you are less sensitive to the effects of lactose, you dont need to wait as long or you can save more money and add less lactase. Aside from saving money, one advantage to making your own lactose-free milk is that you wont get that cooked flavor of ultrapasteurized milk. Reference: Membrane fractionation processes for removing 90% to 95% of the lactose and sodium from skim milk and for preparing lactose and sodium-reduced skim milk. Morr CV and Brandon SC. J. Food Sci. 2008 Nov: 73(9).

Promoting healthy life style Choices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Promoting healthy life style Choices - Essay Example The girl needs to be educated and informed about total effects of smoking and why it is important to quit smoking, thus the reason for choosing smoking cessation. Tobacco smoking is a major healthcare issue around the world. In the U.S., Canada and some first world developed nations, it has been identified as the leading cause of preventable mortality. One out of five deaths in the U.S. has been attributed to tobacco. Annually, it is estimated that there are almost 440,000 deaths in the U.S. alone. Individuals inhale tobacco through various means such as pipes, hookahs and kreteks. Smoking poses adverse health consequences such as cancers of the throat, lung, and larynx. Additionally, ailments such as stroke and heart diseases can be attributed to smoking tobacco. The effect is widespread even to non-smokers they inhale the smoke through involuntary smoking. In the U.S. alone, it is approximated that there are close to 7,500 lung cancer deaths annually among non-smokers. The addictive substance in the tobacco is as nicotine. A typical cigarette contains about 13.79 to 22.68 milligrams of nicotine. If inhaled consistently it becomes easily absorbed in the blood and eventually becomes addictive to the consumer. From that point onwards an individual is termed as a tobacco addict. After a number of years, one may choose to quit smoking. However, it is not an easy task. Some individuals experience short-term effects such as; anxiety, difficulty in reacting to situations, craving nicotine substances and increase in weight. In a recent survey, 7 out of 10 smokers in the U.S. indicated that they wanted to quit smoking. For smokers aged 18-24 years, an estimated 5 out of 10 wanted to stop smoking. Quitting is a process that can be undertaken through inpatient or outpatient techniques. Also, various methods have been applied to assist smokers quit. Among them include; counselling, therapies and replacing

Reducing mongoose in Hawaii Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reducing mongoose in Hawaii - Essay Example address the issue through mobilizing collective efforts by the public as well as the government agents responsible of wildlife conservation and management into resolving the issue. There is the need to have the endangered species of animals and plants (threatened by mongoose) saved while still conserving the mongoose because the retaliation efforts by the citizens present another threat to the mongoose species. This paper therefore proposes the creation of management/conservation zones for the mongoose in Hawaii, which would help through protecting them from human beings while at the same time reducing their detrimental effects towards human beings. The position of this paper that conserving the mongoose through conservancy zones would present an amicable solution to the current issue is because the solution has proven with other species on endangered species of wildlife. By keeping the species out of unauthorized interaction with human beings would allow them to breed to the capacity that the ecosystem would naturally support while reducing their risk of threatening existence of other species of animals and plants as claimed. Adaptive management has therefore been shown to be a paramount area of study in the 21st century especially with the increase in human populations and the resultant interference with natural ecosystem. The study is therefore not only interesting but also informative and presents an opportunity for people to devise practical solutions to emerging issues such as the one at hand. Hays, W. S., & Conant, S. (2007). Biology and impacts of Pacific Island invasive species. 1. A worldwide review of effects of the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (Carnivora: Herpestidae). Pacific Science, 61(1),

At Kearney Luxury Report Essay Example for Free

At Kearney Luxury Report Essay October 2010 Confederation of Indian Industry The Mantosh Sondhi Centre 23, Institutional Area Lodi Road New Delhi – 110003 India Tel: + 91 11 24629994-7 Fax: + 91 11 24626149 Contact: Amita Sarkar, Senior Director (amita. [emailprotected] in) Jaya Gupta, Deputy Director (jaya. [emailprotected] in) A. T. Kearney Limited 1st Floor, Future Capital House Peninsula Corporate Park Ganpatrao Kadam Marg Lower Parel (W) Mumbai 400 013. India Tel:+91-22 4097 0700 Fax:+91-22 4097 0725 Contact: Neelesh Hundekari, Principal (neelesh. [emailprotected]); Hemant Kalbag, Vice-President (hemant. [emailprotected] com); Pameela Pattabiraman, Manager (pameela. [emailprotected] com) Subhendu Roy, Manager (subhendu. [emailprotected] com) This report has been jointly produced by Confederation of Indian Industry and A. T. Kearney Limited, the contents of which are meant only for information purpose of the reader. Readers are advised to conduct their own investigation and analysis of any information contained in this report, and not rely on the information contained in this report for any purpose. Neither Confederation of Indian Industry, nor A. T. Kearney make any representation regarding the accuracy or completeness of such information and expressly disclaim any or all liabilities based on such information or any omission thereof. No part of this report may be reproduced or distributed without the prior written consent of Confederation of Indian Industry and A. T. Kearney Limited. Copyright: CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRY. 2010, and A. T. KEARNEY, INC. 2010 iv FOREWORD The Luxury industry in India is no longer a new comer. Like many other industries in India, it is of great interest to both international and Indian players. International brands see India as an emerging luxury market which could become a significant part of their portfolio tomorrow. Indian companies also see the growth at the top end of the market as an opportunity to introduce premium offerings. This enthusiasm was reflected in the first moves of several iconic international brands in the last 5-7 years. Indian companies have also seen the opportunity and a handful of players are now very active in the space. Apart from luxury products such as watches, apparel, accessories, large Indian five star hotel chains, fine dining and spas, apart from luxurious houses, the latest luxury cars and yachts have expanded the definition of luxury. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and A. T. Kearney have been active players in the luxury space. CII through its National Committee on Retail has played an active role in trying to create an industry forum for players in the luxury industry. CII brought the industry together to help organize the industry and create a forum for dealing with issues of common interest. A. T. Kearney, apart from serving clients in the luxury industry has also contributed to providing a robust fact base and perspectives on realizing the potential of the industry through their first study in 2007 (The Economic Times A. T. Kearney India Luxury Review 2007). Just when the industry was showing signs of coming of age in 2007, from the third quarter of 2008, the global recession dampened the hopes of the industry. The industry suffered internationally, and that acted as a brake on the emotional euphoria for a good 9-12months in India as well. Several players used that time to consolidate their position, right size their business, restructure real estate deals and become fitter. A few others suffered. Now with positive signs in the Indian economy, optimism about the industry is on the rise, as demonstrated by heightened market activity and consumer spending. However, key issues such as a relatively new market, duties, access to quality real estate etc continue to pose a challenge to exponential profitable growth. A few key questions keep bothering CEOs in the sector: How to make the luxury business a successful proposition in India? How big is the market really? When will the market be fully ripe? What operating models work and do they need to be customized for India? Given this backdrop, CII and A. T. Kearney decided to team up and take stock of the industry and address key questions that current players, potential entrants and other stakeholders have about the industry. Our desire was to study and understand the major changes in the industry in the last 3-4 years and the implications of these for the future of the industry.. With this end in mind, over the last three months, we conducted an exhaustive and comprehensive research of the industry. The A. T. Kearney team collated and analysed large amounts of data, interviewed several industry leaders and luxury consumers to develop all round insights on the industry. The report establishes the growth trajectory for the industry over the last three years, takes stock of the opportunities and the potential as well as the continuing challenges that it faces and estimates the likely potential over the next 5 years and recommends actions for industry players to undertake. We believe that this report will serve as an important step in the industry’s v journey of growth. It clearly confirms that the hope in the potential of the Indian luxury industry is not misplaced, that there is still a huge latent demand in the market and that India will be an important market and player on the global luxury platform. While the hope in the potential remains undaunted even after the recession, infrastructural and regulatory issues continue to impede the development. Like in all other sectors, though we are confident that the Indian industry will discover a uniquely Indian way of converting them into opportunities. We are grateful to all the industry leaders and consumers who spent time with us in sharing their perspectives and validating our hypotheses. We hope this study will act as a milestone in the evolution of the Indian luxury industry and will take the collective understanding of the industry a few steps forward. Confederation of Indian Industry A. T. Kearney vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Over the last two decades, post liberalization in the 90s, the new maharajahs of business have created some serious wealth in India. This new found prosperity has attracted luxury brands that were looking for new engines for growth to make up for slow growth in their traditional markets. While most industries are now coasting along smoothly, the small and emerging luxury industry players have not stopped reflecting on the past to ask some fundamental questions about the market. This report attempts to answer these questions through a wide and deep coverage of all segments of the luxury market in India. To get the most credible answers, we adopted a robust methodology with a large element of primary interviews and extensive data collection. We collated data from a variety of sources to size the market and understand the growth rates over the last few years. Indian Luxury Consumer passport to the elite segment of the society and conspicuous consumption is their way of announcing it to the society. The children are the bigger spenders, having been educated abroad and hence familiar with brands and the luxury way of living. Traditionally wealthy families/large industrialists: This group comprises two sub-segments the first is the traditionally wealthy families who have been consuming luxury for several decades and go for the finer things in life. The other sub segment comprises the promoters of some very large businesses which have come up in the last two decades and have created a disproportionate amount of wealth very quickly. Corporate executives: Senior executives of corporate India who are paid in excess of INR 1 crore (USD 225,000) and bankers who earn big bonuses epitomize this category. These executives are well traveled and are aware of brands. Most of this segment consists of people who are in their mid-late forties and represent some of the brightest minds in the country. Many of them though have come from middle class backgrounds and hence have a conservative approach on conspicuous spending. Other segments include self employed professionals, young professionals, expatriates, politicians and bureaucrats. A correlation between the size of the luxury market, the GDP/capita, number of HNIs and HNI wealth over the years 2004-2009 shows that in terms of importance the number of high net worth individuals is the most important driver. Interviews with leading luxury brands in India point to the fact that family wealth is a stronger determinant of spending than household income. The masstige phenomenon can also be observed very clearly in India. Luxury products in India are appealing to, and purchased by, middle-class consumers that do not fit the typical profile of an elite consumer segment. While Indian consumers talk about exclusivity, uniqueness and appeal to personal taste, the majority of the market is still far away from this and brand/logo/badge value drive luxury purchases very clearly. That said, traditional attributes such as high quality, heritage, longevity, the â€Å"stories† associated with brands are beginning to emerge as drivers of purchase. The mindset is still that of an â€Å"aspirer† not that of a â€Å"connoisseur†. The Indian luxury consumer is young 30-45 years old. While the average Indian luxury customer values High Quality, Exclusivity and Social Appeal as key drivers of luxury purchase, they are also very Price Conscious and often straddled with a â€Å"middle-class mindset†. The segments are composed primarily of: Medium size enterprise owners: This is the largest segment in terms of number these are typically the medium enterprise owners industrialists and traders who run businesses with revenues upwards of 50 cr. Their wealth is their vii The distribution of the rupee millionaires is a good indicator of the luxury consumer distribution in the country. While Delhi and Mumbai continue to be the mainstay markets for luxury consumption, there are several other cities with a large base of potential luxury consumers. We believe in the next 57 years, at least 5-7 new towns will get added on the luxury map of India. We also believe that the potential in Delhi and Mumbai has not been fully exploited and that there exists a few more micro markets within these cities that need to be tapped. Luxury Market 2007-2009 watches and jewellery as well wines, spirits and high-end electronics. This market has been estimated to be USD 1. 5 billion in 2009. Most luxury product categories have witnessed over 15% growth over the past 2 years performance of categories like Electronics, Wines and Spirits, Apparel and Jewellery has been exceptionally strong. The Indian luxury services market was severely hit by the recession over the past 2 years. Nonetheless, the India Luxury Services industry is considered to be one of the best in the world. Consumer interviews revealed that consumers prefer Indian hotel chains like the Taj, Oberoi or ITC even when International chains like the Hyatt, Hilton or Four Seasons have entered the country. The current Indian luxury assets market is estimated at USD 2. 45 billion. The growth of the Luxury Assets market is driven mainly by the phenomenal growth of the Real Estate and Automobile sectors. Latent Demand and Future Potential Our endeavor in this study has been to provide robust data on the size and growth of the Indian luxury market for stakeholders to consider, debate and if it makes sense to base their decisions upon. For sizing the market, Product, Price and (where possible brand also) filters are applied to isolate the luxury from the non-luxury in all segments. We err on the side of conservatism i. e.only pure luxury is included. Based on a category wise build-up, the size of the Indian luxury industry in 2009 is estimated at USD 4. 76 billion (at retail prices). This includes all luxury products, luxury services and luxury assets sold in India. The total luxury market has grown at a CAGR of 13% between 2007-09, with luxury products growing at 22%, services degrowing at 5% and assets growing at 18%. Luxury market in India The Indian luxury market is still very small compared to global standards. While India has one of the highest GDPs in the world, its luxury consumption, in absolute terms, is still very small. We believe that there exists a large latent demand in India, constrained by both demand side and supply side factors. On the demand side, there are several potential consumers in India who either do not buy luxury at all or do not buy enough of it from the local market. As we had mentioned, Rupee millionaires with incomes between INR 10-30 lakhs do not really spend on luxury. On the other side, supply of most luxury products in India is present is mostly present Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore. However, wealth creation in the country is now no longer limited to these cities. It is taking place at a rapid rate in Tier I and Tier II cities like Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad. The current market size for luxury products in the country is around USD 1. 5 billion. A regression based on India’s GDP per capita and Number of HNIs, indicates that the size of the Indian luxury products market should have been around USD 3-3. 5 billion. This implies that there is a latent demand of almost USD 1. 5-2 billion. As percentage of the current market size, India’s latent demand is estimated at 120-150% while for China it is estimated at only 10-15%. We have estimated the expected growth in the luxury goods market using a number of methods. Regression of the mar- Source: A. T. Kearney research and analysis The most visible segment of the luxury industry is the luxury products segment. This includes the most visible fashion luxury segments such as apparel, accessories, personal care, viii Country comparison based on GDP and # of HNIs 1. 2. 3. Source: Altagamma, A. T. Kearney research and analysis, Merrill Lynch Capgemini world wealth reports ket size for luxury products against the number of HNIs results in a growth estimate of 18%. Based on numerous interviews with luxury company CEOs, executives and industry experts as well as secondary research, a bottom-up build up of category wise growth rates leads to an average of 21%. Given this and considering the huge latent demand, we believe that India’s overall Luxury Market will grow 21% to become almost 3 times its current size by 2015. Projected growth of luxury market in India 4. Difficulty in reaching the target consumer: The scattered nature of the target population and absence of critical mass in India is a big concern for the industry. While luxury magazines have increased in maturity and volumes, they still reach only a small fraction of the existing consumers and a much smaller fraction of new consumers. Cost of reach is high, results uncertain and word of mouth continues to be best method to create a â€Å"buzz†. Consumer reservations about luxury purchases: India is faced with a low luxury penetration, with most of the rupee millionaires with income between INR 1030 lakh segment having the capacity but not the propensity to spend on luxury goods and services. Furthermore, there are reservations against buying lesser known brands as well as shopping in India. Infrastructure and regulatory constraints: Companies have to struggle with lack of credible real estate options, underdeveloped back end infrastructure like warehouses and logistics as well as regulatory restrictions on FDI and high import duties. Lack of talent: Absence of skilled manpower has hindered luxury players from being able to provide the same customer service experience as that in international locations. However, there are several ideas that could be used to address these challenges. To convert potential customers, who have the financial wherewithal, to luxury consumers, players should look at micro-segmentation of the population to identify specific â€Å"high potential† professions. Once identified, focused communication would be needed to reach out to them and convince them of the offering. Players also need to look at effective media vehicles to reach their target consumers. Consumer perceptions and reservations about shopping for luxury goods in India can be addressed by breaking the myth, getting high recall brands and bringing in â€Å"ladder brands†. To address the infrastructure and regulatory challenges, players can use smaller retail formats to increase store densities far above the global benchmarks in order to drive higher sales productivity. A multi-brand environment would also help players attract a critical mass of consumers and also lower the burden on each brand in terms of operating costs. Other options include mini high streets, collaborative efforts with competition for both retail and supply chain and airport retailing. Indian companies can capitalize on the regulatory. Source: A. T. Kearney research and analysis Luxury Industry Challenges Fundamentally there are four key challenges that any luxury player faces in India. ix restrictions imposed by the Indian government to enhance their presence in the market. The resource crunch needs to be addressed through the creation of a parallel education ecosystem similar to what has happened in the IT, ITES, airlines and fashion industry. Critical Success Factors There is no instant formula for success in the Indian luxury market. Everything about our country is different the consumer, the challenges and also opportunities for luxury players. The Indian consumer is in a state of flux evolving rapidly, but perhaps along a path that is inherently different from that taken by other developing economies. Several luxury players have managed to seize opportunities in the market early. We believe that the critical factors for success in this market include exploring formats that enable players to attract footfalls; getting the pricing right to encourage Indians to purchase locally; Providing a world class experience e.g. ambience and service; bringing in iconic brands as Indians still buy luxury products for brand value and not to make a fashion statement; getting the cost structure right by ensuring the cost base is justified by the sales realized; getting access to local expertise to get the best real estate deals; experimenting with new formats such as a luxury discounter (liquidation channel) that can help open the market by getting consumers exposed to last year’s collections at attractive prices and help them move up the ladder. While we believe there is a clear opportunity to make an impact in this market, a systematic, smart and careful approach is what will differentiate the winners from the losers in the long run. x.

Independence: Building a New Nation 1947-1977 :: Essays Papers

Independence: Building a New Nation 1947-1977 In 1942, after the considerable pressure of Mahatma Gandhi's "Quit India" campaign and needing to maintain Indian support against Japanese troops advancing on India's Eastern border, Sir Stafford Cripps proposed a new constitution to the Indian National Congress, including the right of the new government to secede from the Commonwealth. The proposal was rejected but the arena of independence had been opened and, in 1946, after the defeat of the Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, local and provincial elections were held. The Muslim League, led by Muhammed Ali Jinnah, won most of the Muslim vote. Britain, most of whose military units had disappeared, agreed to Indian self-rule and, in the succeeding negotiations determined that the date of independence would be midnight of 14 August. Following intensive rioting, it was also agreed that the demands of the Muslim League should be met and an India-Pakistan partition conceded at the same time, defined by the Radcliffe Boundary award. Thus the new government's first difficulty was a divided Punjab and a divided Sikh community. Percival Spear estimates that five and a half million refugees travelled each way across the Punjab border, the chaos intensified by the continual Hindu-Muslim-Sikh massacres. By the time the 1950 constitution was implemented, Jawarharlal Nehru was in sole leadership of congress and he embarked upon a plan of industrialisation, intensified in 1956 by a series of five-year plans. Social reform accompanied this. In 1964, Nehru died and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, became prime minister. Having confirmed this in a 1970 election, she was faced with war between the East and West wings of Pakistan. Refugees poured into India from the former wing, causing a crisis in the economics of the country. Pakistan raided Indian airfields and war was declared on 6 December 1971.East Pakistan was captured on 18 December and the new state of Bangladesh was created. Mrs Gandhi's second crisis came in the shape of O.P.E.C quadrupling of oil prices, increasing over-population and massive inflation.

Interagency disaster management Essay

Introduction: A disaster can be defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of affected society to copy using only its own resources. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset (sudden or slow), or according to their cause (natural or man-made). Recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina have exposed the vulnerability of the nation in times of disaster and this has lead to discussions on disaster management. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, severe weather, and wildfires can strike any time. They can build over days or weeks, or strike suddenly without warning. Throughout history, people in various parts of the world have suffered due to the unpredictability of natural disasters. Some disasters can be predicted such as floods in valleys, droughts in areas of low rainfall and oil spills in shipping lanes. There can also be manmade unpredictable disasters such as bioterrorism that involves the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Disaster Management: Disasters are inevitable but the destructive impact of disasters can be substantially reduced by adequate preparation, early warning, and swift, decisive responses. Disaster Management encompasses all aspects of planning for and responding to disasters. It applies to management of both risks and consequences of disasters. However, disasters need to be declared to secure the release of government resources for intervention. Government through its various agencies plays a huge role in such prevention and mitigation. This is done through legislation, through resource allocation and through rational planning and sustainable development. State and local governments are closest to those affected by natural disasters, and have always been the lead in response and recovery. The federal government acts in a supporting role, providing assistance, logistical support, and certain supplies. Local government is responsible for providing for the safety and security of citizens in advance of a hurricane. That means they are in charge of developing emergency plans, determining evacuation routes, providing public transportation for those who can’t self-evacuate, and setting up and stocking local shelters with relief supplies. State government is responsible for mobilizing the National Guard, pre-positioning certain assets and supplies, and setting up the state’s emergency management functions. They are also in charge of requesting federal support though the formal disaster declaration process. Federal government is responsible for meeting those requests from the state – before, during and after the disaster. This includes providing logistical support for search and rescue, providing food, water and ice, establishing disaster centers and processing federal disaster claims, and participating in short and long-term public works projects, such as debris removal and infrastructure rebuilding. National Response Plan: The National Response Plan, published on May 25, 2006, by the DHS, provides an all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the nation to manage domestic disasters. The plan includes best practices and procedures from incident management disciplines—homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, firefighting, public works, public health, responder and recovery worker health and safety, emergency medical services, and the private sector and integrates them into a unified structure. It forms the basis of how the federal government coordinates with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents. The National Response Plan aims to save lives and protect the health and safety of the public, responders, and recovery workers and thereby ensure security of the homeland. The National Response Plan establishes a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents. It forms the basis of how federal departments and agencies will work together and how the federal government will coordinate with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents. It establishes protocols to help protect the nation from terrorist attacks and other natural and manmade hazards; save lives; protect public health, safety, property, and the environment; and reduces adverse psychological consequences and disruptions to civilian life. The Plan identifies police, fire, public health and medical, emergency management, and other personnel as responsible for incident management at the local level. The Plan enables incident response to be handled at the lowest possible organizational and jurisdictional level. The Plan ensures the seamless integration of the federal government when an incident exceeds local or state capabilities. There are some new Coordinating Features in the National Response Plan such as: †¢ Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC): The HSOC serves as the primary national level multi-agency hub for domestic situational awareness and operational coordination. The HSOC also includes DHS components, such as the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), which has primary responsibility for coordinating communications with the Nation’s critical infrastructure during an incident. †¢ National Response Coordination Center (NRCC): The NRCC, a functional component of the HSOC, is a multi-agency center that provides overall federal response coordination. †¢ Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC): At the regional level, the RRCC coordinates regional response efforts and implements local federal program support until a Joint Field Office is established. †¢ Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG): A tailored group of senior federal interagency experts who provide strategic advice to the Secretary of Homeland Security during an actual or potential Incident of National Significance. †¢ Joint Field Office (JFO): A temporary federal facility established locally to provide a central point to coordinate resources in support of state, local, and tribal authorities. †¢ Principal Federal Official (PFO): A PFO may be designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security during a potential or actual Incident of National Significance. While individual federal officials retain their authorities pertaining to specific aspects of incident management, the PFO works in conjunction with these officials to coordinate overall federal incident management efforts. The Department of Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in close coordination with the DHS Office of the Secretary, will maintain the National Response Plan. The Plan will be updated to incorporate new Presidential directives, legislative changes, and procedural changes based on lessons learned from exercises and actual events. The Department of Homeland Security: In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. The department is responsible for providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. According to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 the mission of the Department of Homeland security is to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; and minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States. Biohazards: Biohazards are biological agents or substances that present or may present a hazard to the health or well-being of the worker or the community. Biological agents and substances include infectious and parasitic agents, noninfectious microorganisms, such as some fungi, yeast, algae, plants and plant products, and animals and animal products that cause occupational disease. Generally, biohazards are either infectious microorganisms, toxic biological substances, biological allergens or any combination of the above. Today, biohazards ar also used as weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists – the use of anthrax virus to spread disease, death, fear and panic among the public is a case in point. As such, biohazards not only come under the purview of the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) but also under Department of Homeland Security.

The traditional material known as aluminum

The traditional material known as aluminum is often too soft to meet the requirements of certain applications, especially when considering aeronautic applications. These structural demanding applications thereby require the making of aluminum alloys which are structurally tough materials. Aluminum alloys are made to increase mechanical strength, increase corrosion resistance of the material, and thus increase overall shock survivability of the material (Subodh, K. D. , 2007).Here, we are concerned with Aluminum alloys 2024 and 7075 which are particularly used in aircraft structures, and aerospace applications. The review presents the similarities and differences of each material with regards to their chemistry, processing, and heat treatment measures. Aluminum 2024 The aluminum 2024 was first introduced in 1931, and was available as an alclad sheet and plate forms. Due to its high corrosion resistance, the material is often used in areas of an aircraft where fatigue resistance and st rength are required. Those areas include fuselage, wings, shear webs, and ribs of an aircraft.As an alloy, aluminum 2024 is made up of several materials among which are aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and silicon. Such a composition gives the ending material adequate mechanical and thermal properties demanded for aircraft structural components. However, the material is also used for truck wheels, screw machine products, scientific instruments, and orthopedic equipment. Overall, the aluminum 2024 material may be used in any application where there is a need for high strength to weight ration materials, and/or structures.

Die Prinzen Deutschland and Millionär German Lyrics

Die Prinzen 'Deutschland' and 'Millionr' German Lyrics Pop music fans in German-speaking countries are very familiar with the band Die Prinzen. They topped the charts in the 80s and  90s with songs like  Deutschland and  Millionr, and their songs are filled with satirical lyrics about German society. If you have yet to discover this famous pop band, now is a perfect time. Two of their hit songs are included below with a direct English translation that demonstrates the bands humor. An Introduction to Die Prinzen (The Princes) With 14 gold and six platinum records  and over five million recordings sold, Die Prinzen (pronounced  DEE PRINT-sen)  are one of the most popular German pop bands of all time. Before they became Die Prinzen, the groups members were all in the Thomanerchor of the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) in Leipzig, which is one reason they specialize in  a capella  music (singing without instrumental accompaniment). In the 1980s, the bands members were Sebastian Krumbiegel, Wolfgang Lenk, Jens Sembner, and Henri Schmidt. The lyrics of their songs are usually satiric and humorous, with tongue-in-cheek criticism of the German government and German society. In 1990, the bands album Das Leben ist grausam, and the singles Gabi und Klaus and  Millionr  were big hits. The band gained more recognition when it toured with Germanys Rock-Opa  Udo Lindenberg  in 1992. Their second album, Kà ¼ssen verboten, with its title hit song, sold well. In later albums, the band also added an instrumental techno sound to their voices. After a lull in the late 1990s, Die Prinzen regained their popularity in Germany with the popular song Olli Kahn, referring to Germanys World Cup star goalie Oliver Kahn. The band has played concert tours in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.   Popular Songs A few of Die Prinzens songs were really big hits, and many of them can be found on the Ganz  oben  - Hits album as well as the albums they were originally released on. Millionr (1987) Album: Das Leben ist grausamAlles nur  geklaut (1993) Album: Alles nur  geklautKà ¼ssen verboten  (1992) Album: Kà ¼ssen verbotenSchwein sein  (1995) Album: SchweineSchlottersteinhymne  (1996) Album: Die CD  mit  der  mausDeutschland  (2001) Album: D Deutschland Lyrics Album: DReleased: 2001 Deutschland  is an irreverent, satirical song that makes a few pointed remarks about the homeland of Die Prinzen. This single from the album D (for Deutschland) was released on the 40th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall in 2001.   Some references in the song text are borrowed from right-wing, neo-Nazi phrases and the opening chorus of Deutsch, deutsch, deutsch... is reminiscent of Nazi times. But the song satirizes such overt patriotism and other behaviors that are typisch Deutsch. In case theres any doubt that this is satire, Die Prinzen use their favorite word (Schwein) at the very end to replace sein (to be). Below you will find the original German lyrics to Deutschland along with an English translation. Only the primary verses have been included and the chorus  Deutsch,  deutsch,  deutsch... is repeated between most verses. WARNING: Some words in these lyrics may be offensive to some people.   German Lyrics Direct Translation by Hyde Flippo Natrlich hat ein Deutscher Wetten, dass* erfundenVielen Dank fr die schnen StundenWir sind die freundlichsten Kunden auf dieser WeltWir sind bescheiden - wir haben GeldDie Allerbesten in jedem SportDie Steuern hier sind WeltrekordBereisen Sie Deutschland und bleiben Sie hierAuf diese Art von Besuchern warten wirEs kann jeder hier wohnen, dem es geflltWir sind das freundlichste Volk auf dieser Welt Of course a German invented Wetten, dass*Many thanks for the enjoyable hoursWere the friendliest customers in this worldWere modest - we have moneyThe very best in any sportThe taxes here set a world recordVisit Germany and stay hereIts this kind of visitor we wait forAnyone who likes it can live hereWere the friendliest people in this world Nur eine Kleinigkeit ist hier verkehrtUnd zwar, dass Schumacher** keinen Mercedes fhrt Just one little thing is out of whackAnd that is, Schumacher** doesnt drive a Mercedes Refrain:Das alles ist Deutschland - das alles sind wirDas gibt es nirgendwo anders - nur hier, nur hierDas alles ist Deutschland - das sind alles wirWir leben und wir sterben hier Refrain:All that is Germany - all that is usYou wont find that anywhere else - only here only hereAll that is Germany - all that is usWe live and die here Es bilden sich viele was auf Deutschland einUnd mancher findet es geil, ein Arschloch zu seinEs gibt manchen, der sich gern ber Kanaken beschwertUnd zum Ficken jedes Jahr nach Thailand fhrtWir lieben unsere Autos mehr als unsere FraunDenn deutschen Autos knnen wir vertraunGott hat die Erde nur einmal geksstGenau an dieser Stelle, wo jetzt Deutschland istWir sind berall die besten - natrlich auch im BettUnd zu Hunden und Katzen besonders nett Many people are arrogant about GermanyAnd some think its cool to be an aholeThere are some who like to complain about Kanaken [foreigners]And travel to Thailand every year to f-We love our cars more than our womenBecause we can trust German carsGod kissed the earth just onceRight on the spot where Germany is nowWere the best everywhere - naturally also in bedAnd were especially nice to dogs and cats Wir sind besonders gut im Auf-die-Fresse-haunauch im Feuerlegen kann man uns vertraunWir stehn auf Ordnung und SauberkeitWir sind jederzeit fr nen Krieg bereitSchnen Gru an die Welt, seht es endlich einWir knnen stolz auf Deutschland... SCHWEIN! Were really good at busting someone in the chopsWe can also be relied on for starting firesWe like order and cleanlinessWere always ready for a warFriendly greetings to the world, understandWe can be proud of Germany... SWINE! Millionr Lyrics   Album: Das Leben ist grausamReleased: 1987 Millionr is another of  Prinzens hit  songs. It was first released on the Das Leben ist grausam (Life is Cruel)  album. The lyrics are about how great it would be to become a millionaire and, as you can see, it is definitely another satirical song. Again, the main verses of this song have been included here with the English translation. The phrase Ich wr so gerne Millionr... (I would love to be a millionaire) is repeated between most verses. German Lyrics Direct Translation by Hyde Flippo Ich wr so gerne MillionrDann wr mein Konto niemals leerIch wr so gerne MillionrMillionenschwerIch wr so gerne Millionr Id really like to be a millionaireThen my account would never be emptyId really like to be a millionaireWorth millionsId really like to be a millionaire (Geld, Geld, Geld...) (Money, money, money...) Ich hab kein Geld hab keine Ahnung, doch ich hab n groes MaulBin weder Doktor noch Professor, aber ich bin stinkend faulIch habe keine reiche Freundin und keinen reichen FreundVon viel Kohle hab ich bisher leider nur getrumt I have no money, have no clue, but I do have a big mouthIm neither a doctor nor a professor, but Im terribly lazyI have no rich girl friend and no rich male friendUnfortunately, up to now Ive only dreamed of having dough Was soll ich tun, was soll ich machen, bin vor Kummer schon halb krankHab mir schon paar Mal berlegt: Vielleicht knackst du eine BankDoch das ist leider sehr gefhrlich, bestimmt werd ich gefasstUnd auerdem bin ich doch ehrlich und will nicht in den Knast What should I do, what should I try? Im half sick with worryA few times before I thought: Perhaps you could rob a bankBut unfortunately thats very dangerous; Id get caught for sureAnd besides Im actually honest and I dont want to go to jail Es gibt so viele reiche Witwen, die begehrn mich sehrSie sind scharf auf meinen Krper, doch den geb ich nicht herIch glaub das wrd ich nicht verkraften um keinen Preis der WeltDeswegen werd ich lieber Popstar und schwimm in meinem Geld There are so many rich widows who want me badlyTheyre hot for my body, but I wont give it to themI dont think I could handle that for any price in the worldThats why Id rather become a pop star and swim in my money The German lyrics are provided for educational use only. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended. The  literal, prose translations of the  original German  lyrics is by Hyde Flippo.

How to Calculate a Tip in Your Head

How to Calculate a Tip in Your Head It is customary to leave a tip for many services that are supplied by people like waiters and waitresses, taxi drivers, hotel maids, moving company staff and hair salon staff to name a few. The rule of thumb amount is 15%, although there are varying thoughts as to the amount that would be appropriate for exceptional service (usually 20%) and poor service (10% or less). Some people frown on giving no tip, as in many instances the server is not the reason for the service issue; traffic snarls and kitchen issues can be the problems and these people rely on tips to supplement their minimum wage. So now that we have some ideas as to the etiquette involved, lets look at some simple math ideas to make the calculation simple but effective. Easy Way to Calculate a 15% Tip Rule of thumb - standard service - 15%. The most commonly used shortcut to 15% is to find 10% and then add a half. This is an easy calculation, since all you need to do to find 10% is move the decimal point one space to the left (make the number smaller). Consider a bill for 47.31. First impressions show us 10% is 4.70 and a half of this amount is 2.35, so a tip of 7.00 is reasonable. This is a simplification as we can do the exact math - 4.70 add 2.35 is 7.05 - but we are looking for an easy method, not an exacting science. Another sound strategy is to work from the highest place value, in other words, if the bill is in the 50s then the tip should be in the 7.50 range. If the bill is 124.00, the logic follows that 12 add 6 18 so a total of 124 add 18 or 142 is reasonable. Calculating a Tip Based on Sales Tax Another very sound strategy is to work from the sales tax. Look at your sales tax rates and devise a strategy based on the amount. In New York city, the tax on a meal is 8.75% so you can just double the amount of tax and your service provider is happy. There are also some fun and unique answers to the question of how to do the math without straining yourself. Consider the following examples that people have provided:Great service - bill times 10%, then doubled.Less then great service - bill times 10%. For a bill under $50:Great service - bill times 10% then doubled - you will be over 15 and the appreciation should be noticed.Good service - somewhere in between great and less than good. Add a little to less than good and you will be safe.Less than good service - bill times 10% - the message will be conveyed but you are smart enough to realize that it may not be their fault alone. For a bill over $50:Make sure you start your calculations based on the pre tax amount of your bill.Great service - 10% of the bill - doubled - round down.Less than great - 10% round down. With the exception of those bills where the tip is already included, tipping and how to figure out the tip is a very individualized experience. Estimation and rounding is something I do all the time for tipping as I am not going to worry about a few extra cents here and there. And tip-ically I round up as its a rare event when I dont feel like being generous when Im out for a meal. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

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

Knowledge Management - Essay Example Knowledge management encompasses the creation, representation, distribution, and adoption of organizational insights and/or experiences that are highly informed by individual and/or organizational knowledge (Gloet, 2006, p.409). Essentially, knowledge management provides for individual and organizational aspects as far as knowledge is concerned. In other words, the provision to manage knowledge can be approached from an individual and/or organizational point of view. Notably, collaboration of individuals within the organizational setting constitutes the team that drives organizational performance. Therefore, both individual and organizational factors in knowledge management are vital. All the operations undertaken by an organization influences the overall performance of that organization. In this respect, the fundamental role played by knowledge and knowledge management in the process cannot be downplayed. The application of knowledge management in the organizational setting is undou btedly diverse and dynamic. Knowledge management is essentially employed across business administration, management, information systems, information sciences, and library among other key areas (Halawi, McCarthy, & Aronson, 2006, p.391). This means that the concept of knowledge management is intensive and extensive, subject to the specific area of use or application. Most importantly, individual organizations approach management of knowledge differently, resulting in differentiated strategies that foster organizational success. The application of knowledge management in the business context takes narrowed and specific aspects. This is because what works for one organization may not necessarily do so for another. Therefore, knowledge management at a business enterprise level takes an enterprise-specific approach. This is to say that the different types of knowledge management are aligned differently with the operations undertaken by an enterprise. The freedom to provide for knowledge management dynamics in the organizational setting rests with the management or leadership of the organization in question. The different types of knowledge managed by organizations or business enterprises include, but are not limited to, explicit, tacit/embodied, and embedded knowledge (Denning, 2006, p.13). All these types of knowledge are fundamental because they collaboratively enhance business performance in the organizational setting. For instance, the formalities associated with explicit knowledge allow firms to operate within streamlined procedures and business paths. Tactic knowledge allows firms to make use of the knowledge, experience, and skills possessed by its workforce. Finally, embodied knowledge makes it possible for a firm to institute a functional organizational base of operation. This process is integral of the pillars of knowledge management, namely: discovery, use, organization, and sharing (Wellman, 2009, p.158). Specific employment of knowledge management can be considered in the context of Trinidad Cement Limited (www.tcl.co.tt/about-tcl). The company primarily deals with the manufacture and sale of a number of cement products, namely: TCL Premium Portland Pozzolan Cement, Ordinary Portland Cement, and Class G, High Sulphate Resistant (HSR) Oilwell Cement (www.tcl.co.tt/about-tcl). Knowledge management in this company is broad and spread across all its organs of operation. The key organizational organs at the company encompass operation and equity structure, environmental policy, and raw materials

ESSAY Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ESSAY - Research Paper Example The age of Callisto is around 4.5 billion years, the same as that of the planet where it is located which is Jupiter. Callisto is the furthest of the Galilean moons since it orbits from Jupiter at around 1,168,000 miles. Due to this distance from Jupiter, it takes seven days of earth to make a single complete orbit around the planet. Its orbit outside Jupiter’s main radiation strap makes the moon experience less tidal influences as compared to other Jovian moons. The size Callisto is about 3,000 miles in diameter, which is 4,800 kilometers. It is approximately the same size as planet mercury making it the third largest moon of the solar system. Callisto has the lowest density. Callisto’s mean surface temperature is 218.47 Fahrenheit (Zimmermann). Callisto was discovered by Galileo Galilei on January, 7 1610. Of all the Jupiter’s moons, it was the fourth to be discovered. It was discovered along with other three Jovian moons and it was the first for a moon to be found circling a planet which is not Earth. Galileo’s discovery finally led to the knowledge that planets orbit the sun (Zimmermann). Jupiter and its moons have been visited by several spacecraft. In 1973, Pioneer 10 arrived and by 1974, pioneer 11 had followed. During their flybys, Voyager 1 as well as Voyager 2 brought back outstanding photos. Detailed images were later to be formed by the Galileo spacecraft that travelled as near to the ground as 162 miles which is 261 kilometers over the exterior of the Galilean moons. Craters are the most noticeable feature of Callisto. This is because of the entire solar system Callisto has the most craters. According to scientist’s approximation, of the entire solar system, Callisto has the eldest surface. This moon has glimmered keen scientific interest since in 4 billion years, there is no sign of change on its geologic landscape. With no impact change on the

Change the ethic form for your dissertation Essay

Change the ethic form for your dissertation - Essay Example In this research, the researcher has done extensive research on the impact of hospitality on tourists from Western countries of the world. The culture of West and that of China are very different and there is a need to explore the factors that contribute to maximizing the level of satisfaction for the tourists. Literature review has shown that it is the intangible services like hospitality that is the core reason of maximum customer satisfaction in tourism industry. The main research objective of the study is â€Å"to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the tourism and hospitality industries of China as perceived by Western tourists and enhance the strong points while overcoming the weak areas so that the industries can be boosted and tourism in the country can reach to its desired position†. Tourism industry has been growing at an exceptional rate and it is expected that it will continue to expand more in the future. The most important aspect that the tourists consider when deciding about their travel destinations are the information gathering process. The tourists use variety of sources to gather sufficient information. As Gursoy and McCleary (2004) have stated that tourist information is the most valuable concept and the two vital aspects that are given utmost consideration comprise of the image that the tourists have about the destination and the selection mechanism that the tourists conduct to make their final destination choice. The study of World Trade Organisation, cited by Enright and Newton (2005), indicated that China’s economy is growing at an accelerating rate and since it is entering the growth phase, it has been successful in attracting various international business organisations either for starting their operations or doing huge amount of investments. Chinese government has made sure that it can attract huge number of tourists by developing effective plans and for

Implications of Oklahoma House Bill 1341 of 2015

Implications of Oklahoma House Bill 1341 of 2015 Kesha Abbananto In looking over the multitude of bills being presented to the 2015 Regular Session of the Oklahoma State Legislature, many could be related to health. Health is affected by so many issues; one could ponder how an agricultural food labeling bill or a burn ban could potentially have negative consequence to one’s health. The amount of legislature presented in the 2015 session was a little daunting but quite educational. At this time, there is no shortage of health related bills in this state. One such piece of legislation introduced deals with an issue affecting children nationwide: smoking while a child is passenger in a motor vehicle. Second-hand smoke causes numerous complications to the health of non-smokers; most of which are completely preventable. Children are vulnerable to the dangers of second-hand smoke, such as: asthma, bronchitis and lung infections (Rees Connolly, 2006). Jarvie Malone (2008) state effects of second hand smoke on children are sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory issues, lung cancer, and heart disease, to name a few. The authors go on to say, although, the issue of an adult’s right to smoke threatens autonomy, the children’s health and well-being should be the primary focus (Jarvie Malone, 2008). Desapriya, Turcotte, Subzwari, Pike (2009) explain that toxin concentrations within a motor vehicle containing cigarette smoke is twenty-three times greater than that of a bar and they further point out that many public areas alr eady discourage or prohibit smoking due to the negative health effects of cigarette smoke. Murphy-Hoefer, Madden, Maines, Coles (2014) report the prevalence smoking in car and home were significantly decreased after Maine passed its smoke-free vehicle law. This result is supportive of the implementation of laws such as Oklahoma H.B. 1341 (2015). Issue Oklahoma House Bill No. 1341 was introduced to the Oklahoma House of Representatives on February 2, 2015, where it was read for the first time in the House. The second reading occurred on February 3, 2015 and it was then then forwarded to the House Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances Committee, where it remains. The bill was authored and sponsored by Oklahoma Representative Jason Dunnington. It would act as a new law under Crimes and Punishments within Title 21 and under Public Health and Safety within Title 63 (Oklahoma H.B. 1341, 2015 The Oklahoma State Courts Network, 2014). Bill Summary Oklahoma House Bill 1341 (2015) deals with the subject of an act relating to tobacco use that makes smoking in a vehicle while a minor child is present, unlawful. Violation penalty, defining terms, and effects on driving record are disclosed as well. H.B. 1341 (2015) proposes that no person may smoke in a motor vehicle where a child is present. The result of this violation would be a fine of one hundred dollars. The bill defines a child as a person sixteen years old or younger and defines smoke as â€Å"the burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from or the possession of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked† (Oklahoma H.B. 1341, 2015). The bill additionally states that the Department of Public Safety will not record points toward the driving record of a person when convicted of a violation of this law. The projected effective date of this bill is November 1, 2015. Policy Initiation The model design that would most effectively produce the desired results is the Kingdon model of agenda setting and policy formation. This model was developed in 1984 by Professor John Kingdon. He established three streams; problem, policy, and political that can facilitate government policy changes. When these three streams come together, a window of opportunity opens (Furlong, 2016). The identified problem is the harmful effect secondhand smoke has on children in motor vehicles. Children usually do not have a choice of who they ride with and whether someone in the car smokes, yet they are at a greater risk of second-hand smoke damage due to a faster breathing rate and immune systems that are less developed (Clinical Digest, 2012). Even when windows are roll down the car window, the levels of toxic matter exceed maximum limits set for safety. The policy stream is the proposed law of Oklahoma House Bill 1341 (2015). Research in the area of negative health effects of secondhand smoke to children support the need for mandates created for accountability of persons who smoke around children in the confines of a vehicle. Violation of this mandate should result in a fine. The political stream is supported by non-smoking laws already passed by legislatures such as: Oklahoma Statutes on Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces which includes childcare facilities, the focus on preventive health measures in Obamacare, and for growing concern for the health rights of those that do not have a say in their exposure. With the converging of these three streams, the window of opportunity for H.B. 1341 (2015) is open and it is likely public opinion on this subject will support change. Implementation This bill could potentially change and/or improve the health of children in Oklahoma. The long term effects of healthier children will be healthier adults, thus projecting a future decrease in health care cost would be acceptable. Passing this legislation will be a step forward in protecting the rights of those who do not have a say. H.B. 1341 (2015) is currently in the House Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances Committee. At this stage in the process, there is still time for nurses to become politically involved in support of this bill. Lanier (2016) suggests strategies individuals can participate in advocacy of legislative change. Lobbying legislators by mail, social media, or personally are examples of advocacy. Since the bill has remained in the House Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances Committee from February 3, 2015 to present, contact with this committee would be reasonable, followed by contact with your area Representatives. Tips for communication in writing to a legislator, if a nurse chooses, include professionally worded personal letters with professional credentials and contact information added. Research articles that support your position on the bill are encouraged attachments. Phone calls or email can be used when making initial contact or follow up (Lanier, 2016). Social media is an additional method of communication (Lanier, 2016). Organization online platforms, networking sites, blogs, and online media are great ways to draw support or attention to a topic and an efficient way to disperse information. Additionally, in-person meetings are effective and can make a lasting impact on legislators, staff, and professional and layperson alike. If an in-person meeting is scheduled, remember to include credentials when identifying one self, structure your time well, and do not assume the legislator understands technical medical jargon (Lanier, 2016). Lanier further recommends to providing a one page summary of key points and to send a thank you note or email after the meeting (Lanier, 2016). Education can and should be used in all of the above venues. Nurses can offer unique perspectives and insight to various topics due to the nature of their profession and all that nursing addresses when it comes to patient, community, and global issues. Nurses can also join professional peer committees and groups so one voice becomes many. The American Nurses Association is one such professional group that is politically active. The uniting of nurses to focus on specific issues is an effective way to support positive legislative change in healthcare. Implications Stakeholders in H.B. 1341 (2015) are in one of two groups; pro-tobacco stakeholders or anti-tobacco stakeholders. Both sides have interest in the outcome of this bill and those groups are listed below as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2008): Pro-tobacco stakeholders: Tobacco growers Tobacco processing companies Tobacco manufacturers Cigarette manufacturers Advertisers Smokers or right-to-smoke supporters Anti-tobacco stakeholders: Government agencies like public health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention State tobacco control programs Health care insurance providers Local smoke-free programs and laws Smoke-free associations and supporters Healthcare professionals Child health protection groups and supporters Oklahoma H.B. 1341 (2015) would include anyone who smokes in a motor vehicle while a child is present, children that are in vehicles while someone smokes, the healthcare system, and any of the above listed groups. Excluded from this bill would be non-smokers, those that do not smoke while children are in the vehicle, children who do not ride in vehicles with a smoker, and those that do not care to get involved. Evaluation The evaluation of policy is a normal event in the political arena. Government funded programs, non-profit organizations, and many private foundations require regular evaluation of programs or policies to ensure programs are conducted properly, that set goals are being met, and that the outcomes are desirable (Sudduth, 2016). Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and nurses are accustomed to evaluation and have used this method to measure things such as programs, goals, self, clinical-based outcomes, and effectiveness of treatments. The evaluation of policy is a natural extension of this skill and one that comes in handy in politics. The evaluation of the bill presented in this paper, is listed below in five responses: The problem that needs to be addressed is children being exposed to second-hand smoke in motor vehicles, where they cannot get away from it. Although there aren’t effective tools for stopping this from happening at this time, laws have been made to limit or outlaw smoking in some public areas and facilities. Advantages of this bill are that it will not cost the state any additional funds to initiate and enforce this law and much of the public should accept this law due to the health risks to the child. Other positive outcomes are that fines from violations of the law should increase state funds and health risks from second-hand smoke should decrease as a result of this bill being signed into law. Disadvantages of H.B. 1341 (2015) are that some of the public may not support the law due to feelings of rights infringement and fines may prove too costly for some violators. The effectiveness of this law is only as good as the enforcement of said law, enforcement of not smoking in a vehicle with a child may be difficult to enforce. Also, police may be tied up ticketing this population, instead of fulfilling other lawful duties. Fines for smoking while a child is in the motor vehicle can be an effective tool in reducing this issue. However, law enforcement officer time directed toward upholding this law could leave other, more pressing matters unattended. Additionally, enforcement of this law may prove to be difficult, as smoking can be easily concealed. Conclusion During the course of this class and in writing this paper, I have realized how little I knew about politics and the amount of advocacy available for nurses to partake in. I have learned much but have volumes remaining to learn. The need for nurses to be advocates beyond the bedside is dire and educating nurses beyond nursing school of these opportunities are a must for effective healthcare changes to culminate from support and efforts of the profession. Participation in local or work-related political oriented events would be one way to increase knowledge, awareness, and empowerment of nurses. Issues like H.B. 1341 (2015) are easy to understand, easy to support, and the benefits to a child’s health is evident in research. These points make exposure to this piece of legislation the perfect starter for nurses that are new to politics. The issue of smoking in a motor vehicle while a child is present is an international issue. Although this bill will only be an enforceable law in the state of Oklahoma, similar laws have already been passed in other cities, states, and countries. With the educational information available concerning this subject, I’m hopeful the importance of this issue is noted so this law will find support by legislators. The confinement of a car combined with smoking produces increased health risks for children. With all of the potential dangers out there, passing H.B. 1341 (2015) can help in controlling preventable health issues children face when subjected to second-hand smoke in a motor vehicle. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Evaluation toolkit for smoke-free policies. Retrieved May 16, 2015, from www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/secondhand_smoke/evaluation_toolkit/pdfs/evaluation_toolkit.pdf Clinical digest . (2012). Smoking in cars likely to be harmful to child passengers’ health. Nursing Standard, 27(11), 14. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.okbu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=c8hAN=2011758286site=ehost-livescope=site Desapriya, E., Turcotte, K., Subzwari, S., Pike, I. (2009). Smoking inside vehicles should be banned globally. American Journal Of Public Health, 99(7), 1158-1159. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.160127 Furlong, E. A. (2016). The Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Healthcare Decisions. In J. Milstead (Ed.), Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (pp. 50-54). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Jarvie, J., Malone, R. (2008). Childrens secondhand smoke exposure in private homes and cars: an ethical analysis. American Journal Of Public Health, 98(12), 2140-2145. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.130856 Lanier, J. K. (2016). The Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Healthcare Decisions. In J. Milstead (Ed.), Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (pp. 87-90). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Murphy-Hoefer, R., Madden, P., Maines, D., Coles, C. (2014). Prevalence of smoke-free car and home rules in Maine before and after passage of a smoke-free vehicle law, 2007- 2010. Prevention of Chronic Disease, 11. 130-132. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/pdf/13_0132.pdf Oklahoma H.B. 1341. (2015). Retrieved April 25, 2015 from http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB%201341 Rees, V.W., Connolly, G. (2006). Measuring air quality to protect children from secondhand smoke in cars. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 31(5), 363-368. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046406?dopt=AbstractPlus Sudduth, A. (2016). The Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Healthcare Decisions. In J. Milstead (Ed.), Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (pp. 196-207). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning. The Oklahoma State Courts Network. (2014). Oklahoma Statutes Citationized. Retrieved May 16, 2015, from http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/index.asp?ftdb=STOKSTlevel=1