Monday, September 30, 2019

Integration and Disintegration: Indians in South Africa Essay

The story of Indians in South Africa is both a story of integration and disintegration into the national space. The processes and patterns of integration and disintegration of Indian community as a minority ethnicity is closely linked to the larger reality of South African freedom struggle and the subsequent efforts of building the new nation of South Africa as a post-apartheid democracy. On the other hand, it is important to remember that the very existence of Indians in South Africa itself is a result of the colonisation of South Africa. It is through the protracted decolonization process of South Africa, the Indian community too got assimilated into the national space. Struggles against both racism and colonisation have played an important role bringing the Indians and the black natives together in their fight against the white colonial masters. The purpose of the essay is to provide an overview of the experiences of Indians in South Africa and their participation in the nation building with special reference to the post-1994 period of democratic development. The Indian Community and the ‘New’ South Africa It is the British colonial rule in nineteenth and early twentieth century that catalysed the Indian immigration to South Africa. Therefore, the Indian community in South Africa includes people from countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh as well since they were part of India until Indian independence. There are other cleavages in the Indian community in South Africa as they are divided in the lines of religion, caste and language. Obviously, the idea of an Indian community in South Africa is essentially problematic due to the extreme heterogeneity within the Indian diasporas. However, it is still possible to identify Indian South Africans as a racially distinct group. Ironically, even there is no consensus in the very way for the Indians in South Africa to be addressed. According to Singh, â€Å"people of Indian origin varyingly refer to themselves in one of three classificatory ways: ‘South Africans’, ‘Indian South Africans’ or ‘South African Indians† (2008, p. ). It is just a reflection of the openness of identity against the idea of identity as a closed concept. The Indians in South Africa are originated from the diverse regions of colonial India, including today’s Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu and Urdu are the major languages spoken by the Indians in South Africa. They also follow different religions such as Christianity, Hinduism and Islam besides their particular individualist beliefs. Within South Africa, Indians have the highest concentration in Durban. In the beginning, it is the â€Å"the development of the sugar industry in Natal necessitated the immigration of indentured labourers to South Africa in the 1860s† (Jithoo, 1991, p. 344). If they were mainly from South India, then came the ‘free’ Indians from Gujarat after 1874, who were largely into business and commerce. Hofmeyr has pointed out that even a single religious group like the â€Å"South African Hindu community is concentrated in four linguistic groups, these being the Gujarat, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. As in India, each has its favoured system of religious ritual, belief, and literature† (1982, p. 139). The processes of modernization has changed the nature of the identity formation of these groups; although, it has not altered the internal diversity of Indian community in South Africa. And, as a minority within the new nation of South Africa, processes of globalisation and trans-nationalisation too have started marking their influence on the (re)definition of the identities of South African Indians. It is important to note that identity building among any community, especially among the Indians in South Africa is an ongoing process shaped by multiple factors and largely amenable to (shifts in) historical processes. Identity is revealed at first through self classification and self reference. Importantly, classificatory references are â€Å"politically loaded, for historical reasons, in that they demonstrate the individuals’ affinity or lack of it either to India or to South Africa. When a person makes reference to being ‘South African’, ‘Indian South African’ or ‘South African Indian’, they are usually making a statement about how they wish to be seen in the context of their personal beliefs and identity formation† (Singh, 2008, p. 5-6). As a subject race, in the apartheid times, the South African Indians defined themselves against the master race of whites and placed themselves adjacent to the social position(ing) of blacks and other natives. However, at present, South African Indians are seeing themselves distinct from the blacks and complains that the state which is dominated by the blacks discriminating them for not being black enough. However, it is not fair to undermine the complexities involved in â€Å"the dynamics of the cultural politics that is inherent within the heterogeneous population of Indian origin† (Singh, 2008, p. ). The fluidity of the identity of the Indians in South Africa resist any idea of total classifications and binaries as â€Å"such categorizations are broad based and tend to ignore the dynamics of regional, religious and linguistically based politics that are intrinsic to the politics of belonging among Indians overseas† (Singh, 2008, p. 6). The crucial point is that India ns in their huge diversity are (being) differently integrated into the South African democratic space of post-apartheid era. For instance, it has been argued that â€Å"the ‘high caste’ Gujarati speaking Muslim household of passenger origin, differs from the ‘low caste’ Tamil speaking Hindu household of indentured origin† ( Jithoo, 1991, p. 347). The very invention of racial categories in the South Africa was induced by the early decades of twentieth century by the British rule. To perpetrate the colonial rule, in this period, â€Å"formal distinctions were introduced among Whites, Bantus (Africans), Indians/ Asians, and Colored† (Mabokela, 2001, p. 205). From this point, the practice of racial segregation acquired a new momentum as it was put into legislation by the National party’s implementation of apartheid system. Extreme forms of racial segregation were integrated into the education policy and education system. it has been argued that â€Å"the Bantu Education Act of 1953 created a hypersegregated education system, mandating a different system of education for each racial group in the nation. In accordance with apartheid ideology and policies, White students received the best academic training, followed by that for Indians, Coloreds, and last, Africans. Although Africans have comprised the majority, about three-fourths, of the South African population, they historically have received the smallest share of educational resources compared to Whites, who comprise 15% of the total population; Coloreds, who make up less than a tenth (7%); and Indians, who comprise about 3%† (Mabokela, 2001, p. 206). Until the independence in 1994 and the subsequent election of African National Congress, the black majority had very limited access to education in comparison to all other social groups in South Africa. Importantly, Indians got access to compulsory education in the 1980s itself. It has been noted by many theorists that the ethnic roots of Indian South Africans are often revoked and mobilised by the competitive democratic environment of post 1994 period. At present Indian ethnic minorities have a tendency to juxtapose themselves with Whites for a number of reason such as â€Å"affirmative action in employment and the rapid escalation of violent crime are widely seen in racialized terms- especially in the sense that Africans are viewed as the culprits and Indians and Whites as the victims† (Singh, 2008, p. ). It means that the Indian perception of being part of the majority of blacks gives way to the new perception of being part of white minority. This is the disintegration of Indian community from the Black majority and re-integration to the white minority national space. Moreover, Jithoo (1991) has argued that the Indian community in South Africa has undergone tremendous inte rnal changes related to joint family structures and the caste institution which in turn is reflected in their relations to the external world. The infamous Group Areas Act (1950) was central to defining the Indian family structures as it involved many restrictions such as compulsory segregation on them. Although a minority, the Indian community cannot be termed as less privileged, especially in comparison to the black majority in the sphere of education. It is true that Indian community were as oppressed and exploited by the white apartheid regime but the point is that they enjoyed a relatively better position than the black majority. Lindsay has noted that, even after the end of apartheid, â€Å"the presence of â€Å"Blacks† (African, Indians/Asians, and colored groups) and women of all races and ethnicities in South African universities as students, faculty, and professionals is still limited in various disciplines, faculties and administrative areas† (1997, p. 522). Although classified into a single group for the purpose of affirmative action policies, it is a matter of fact that Indians are far advantaged in terms of education in South Africa than Blacks and Coloured people. It can be well argued that â€Å"education was the institutional mechanism set in motion, maintained and secured by the apartheid government to control the black majority economically, politically, and socially† (Lindsay, 1997, p. 522). If the secondary school enrolment of black Africans 1 in 5 in the period of 1969 to 1989, it was 1 in 2. 6 for the Indians in the same period. At the sphere of education, it indicates that the position of the Indians were as twice as better of the Blacks Africans until 1994 free election. The present non- juxtaposing of Indian community with the black Africans and the tensions arise from it are thus deeply rooted in the historical reality of segregated nation building of South Africa. It is one of the peculiarity of the South African reality that still a number of groups or members of particular group do not identify themselves simply as South Africans. Apparently, a recent survey shows that â€Å"although South Africans are increasingly identifying as ‘South Africans’, 36% still identify as ‘African’, black, white, coloured, Indian, Zulu, Xhosa, English or whatever† (de Jongh, 2006, p. 5). It means that the South African national identity is still relatively weak with relations to strong racial and ethnic identities. On the other hand, it does not mean there is a necessary tension between such a racial or communitarian indemnification and modern national identification. It could be especially the case of Indian ethnic minorities than other racial groups as the Afrobarometer 2000 survey shows that â€Å"only Indians listed racial identities more frequently than nonracial ones (61% naming a racial identity). The other three groups predominantly gave nonracial responses (Africans identified racially 30% of the time; whites, 12%; and coloureds, 45%)† (Ferree, 2006, p. 807). It also point fingers to the (possible) disintegration of Indian community from the New South Africa. Also, Indian community has most profound distrust of the economic polices of the black Africans led government as they perceive them as favouring the blacks vis-a-vis the Indians. Obviously, the foundations of legitimacy of the state with relations to the Indian community have been weakened in an unprecedented manner. It is also important to note that Indians largely perceive the African National Congress as an African party. It has affected the political legitimisation process of the new South Africa as well. Conclusion The very idea of South African Indians itself is problematic as the Indian community in is heterogeneous in multiple ways. Even as an ethnic minority, they are internally diverse with reference to religion, region, language and self reference. Importantly the groups within the Indian community in South Africa are not similarly integrated into the South African national space. The integration of diverse groups within the Indian community is different in both quantity and quality. The fluidity of the identities of South African Indians is well expressed in the fact that they tend to revive and reconstitute their identities and belongings with relations to the prevailing social, political, and economic conditions. The changing social, political, cultural and economic conditions in South Africa have led the Indian community to identify themselves with the whites as a fellow minority community. This disintegration from the black majority cannot be perceived as disintegration from the South African national space.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Ethics of Starbucks Corporation Essay

Starbucks Corporation is the international coffee and the largest coffeehouse in the world based in seattle, Washington. The company has expanded rapidly with over 16,858 stores in 50 countries, including 11,000 in the united states, over 1000 in Canada and over 700 in uk. Starbucks don’t sell only coffee but there are variety in the consumer products that they offer such as hot and cold sandwiches and Panini, pastries ,snacks and other hot and cold drinks. The company’s products are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Starbucks also has an entertainment division and hear music brand, the company also markets books, music and films. Starbucks brand ice-creams and coffee are also offered at grocery stores. The Mission statement of Starbucks is to † inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time†. Starbucks believe that conducting business ethically and striving to do the right thing are vital to the success of the company. However, Starbucks corporation have been a target of protests and vandalism in the previous years on issues related to sustainability. But Starbucks have always been socially responsible and made it a priority to the development of new ways of addressing diverse impacts of business in society. Like every corporation, Starbucks has its own Standard of Business Conduct which facilitates legal compliance and ethics training; investigates sensitive issues such as potential conflicts of interest; and provides additional channels for partners to voice concerns. Partners are encouraged to report all types of issues or concerns to the program through their choice of the offered communication channel. The key goal and the important aspect of Business ethics is Sustainability. Sustainability is emerged from the environmental perspective because of the effective management of physical resources that are conserved for the future. But the concept of sustainability is not only broadened to include environment but also economic and social consideration. Starbucks have made its priorities in addressing ethical issues related to the environment through formal and public relations. Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business. This is done by understanding the environmental issues, developing innovative and flexible solutions to bring about change, attempt to buy, sell and use environmental friendly products, instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value, measuring and monitoring our progress for each project. However, The Three components of Sustainability actually represent in terms of goals for business ethics. a) the environmental perspectives for Starbucks Corporation In 1999, Starbucks started† grounds for coffee† where they would give away the grounds to anyone for composting. They also reduced the size of their paper napkins and garbage bags to reduce wastage and lightening their solid waste to 816.5 metric tons. In response to the excessive water consumption ,Starbucks have replaced pitcher and dipper wells with push button faucets for rinsing utensils. Starbucks are trying ways to make recycling services available for its plastic cups as the services are very limited. By 2015 it is will make these services available in every store across the country. Previously, there were issues that plastic cups were non-recyclable because of the plastic coating that prevents the cup from leaking also prevents it from being recycled so they changed the material from prolypropylene (PP) to polyethylene teraphthale (PETE) which can be recycled. Starbucks is now considering the use of biodegradable material instead of plastics to line the cups. Starbucks gives 10 cents discounts to its customers for using its own mug and it now uses corrugated cup sleeves made up of 60% post consumer recycled fiber. As a Corporate Citizen, Starbucks have taken the ethical responsibility by conserving energy and increasing efficiency to reduce contribution to climate change. Purchasing of renewable resources to avoid impact on the climate yt and investing in new lighting and improving the efficiency of HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling systems) and other equipments. Starbucks also has build greener stores which include a mix of design elements such as using recycled floor tiles, improve light efficiency, installing low flow valves throughout the stores, using paints with lower amount of volatile organic chemicals. b) the economic perspective for starbucks corporation A broader concept of economic sustainability would include the company’s attitude towards and impacts upon economic framework. Starbucks Corporation responsibly grows coffee and launching its Fair Trade Coffee has undeniably made a significant contribution to their family farmers through rapidly growing FTC coffee volume. Starbucks has established support centers for the farmers in Rwanda and Costa Rica to provide them with necessary resources and expertise to help lower the cost of production, reduce fungus infections, improve coffee quality and increase the production of premium coffee. During the growing and harvest cycles, many farmers find it difficult to cover the expenses prompting them to sell their crops for less to the local buyers. To avoid such situation, starbucks provides funding to the organization that make loans to the coffee growers which will sell their crops at the best time to get the right price. It will also help the farmers to invest in the farms and make capital improvements. Starbucks coffee and cocoa buying is designed to long-term supply of high-quality, ethically sourced cocoa and coffee while contributing positively to the environment and to cocoa-farming communities. Starbucks argues that it pays above market prices for all of its coffee. According to the company, in 2004 it paid on average $1.42 per pound ($2.64 kg) for high-quality coffee beans. This is in comparison to commodity prices which were as low as $0.50–$0.60 in 2003–04. c) the social perspective for Starbucks corporation The key issue in social perspective on sustainability is that of social justice. Starbucks Corporation is involved in communities’ services bringing people together, inspiring change and making a difference in people’s lives. Engaging young people to identify and address the needs of their community. Young people also receive advocacy ,training, financial help and other resources for their efforts. This is done by providing monetary aid and establishing relationship with International Youth foundation and Youth Venture. Starbucks is also involved in combating HIV/Aids to coffee growing community in Africa. Starbucks began selling RED goods in November 2008, enabling the supply of AIDS medicine for 3800 people for a year. The Starbucks Foundation has served the society for many years providing access to clean waters to the developing countries from its brand water bottled ETHOS, fostering education in china, rebuilding the Gulf coast. Although these goals and targets are identified by the UN are essentially the responsibility of the government to achieve, some of them have direct significance for business. Finally we have identified sustainability as a crucial concept that helps to determine the goals and objectives of the business activities from ethical point of view.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

International Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Human Resource Management - Essay Example In such circumstances, it becomes difficult for the employees working in foreign countries to cope with culture that drastically varies in almost all aspects of the business (Ronny et al., 2007). This may create stressful impact on the expatriate employees. Hence, it becomes necessary for the organisation to provide necessary cross-cultural training to those employees selected for relocation in the foreign countries (Xu, 2011). Literature Review According to Nikolaeva (2010), it is vital for the organisations to provide and prepare expatriates with extensive training before departure in order to ensure that the expatriates are familiar with the cultural differences between the native and the host country. Accordingly, the author emphasises that proper training is extremely necessary for the expatriates, which should reduce any possibility of cultural shock (Nikolaeva, 2010). As per Scagliotti and Mujtaba (2010), pre-departure training creates a comprehensive support system for the ex patriates and makes them familiar with the foreign culture that extensively helps them to reduce their stress in the foreign land. At the same time, they claim that providing cross-cultural training to the expatriates helps the entire organisation to gain substantial knowledge of the cultural differences between the native and the host nation (Scagliotti and Mujtaba, 2010). According to Morrison and Conaway (2007), the organisation operating internationally may suffer from the cultural shock which may hurt its profitability and render organisational initiatives to be inefficient. Hence, it is necessary for the organisation

Friday, September 27, 2019

Identification of managerial, financial, legal and ethical Essay

Identification of managerial, financial, legal and ethical implications - Essay Example Ethical Implications: Nurses all over the world are taught ways to minimize the chances of errors, however these errors still occur. Such errors also carry ethical implications and they should be answered properly in order to choose the best course of action. These errors include harm to the patient, whether to disclose important but unnecessary information to the customers and whether or not the healthcare personnel should accept their mistakes. One good solution to this problem is that everything in the healthcare system should be based on patient welfare. Information should only be disclosed to the patient if it is considered that it will benefit the patient, otherwise information should be kept with the healthcare institution and doctors and nurses who have treated the patient. (Nguyen et al. 2010) Financial Implications: Medication errors carry some financial risk and costs also. There are two types of financial costs associated with medication errors. First type of costs is dir ect costs and these are the cost of treatment. The second type of costs is indirect costs. These costs occur to reverse an error or money spent in eliminating the medication errors.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Effectiveness of NGO'S in Haiti Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Effectiveness of NGO'S in Haiti - Research Paper Example occupations (twice), brutal dictatorship, and militaries), which have contributed to the worsening of the public infrastructure and pervasive poverty within the country. 80% of the Haiti lives below the poverty line, a situation that remains aggravated by wide income inequality. It is widely approximated that NGOs operating within Haiti numbers around 3000 to as high as 10,000. Aid groups usually avail close to four-fifths of social services, and NGOs may account for close to 25% of the GDP (Schwartz 235). One of the most memorable leaders who have played a remarkable role in the country’s history is Aristide, who was ousted out of power in a coup by General Cedras Raoul in February 2004. In particular, the government is left without the capacity to fight poverty or address the country’s most harmful impacts such as education and health, entrusting most of these functions to international NGOs (Schwartz 236). Introduction Haiti is heavily aid dependent as the country ca nnot execute majority of the key functions of government inclusive of operations, and maintenance or the delivery of core public services devoid of foreign aid expertise and funding. A prominent reason for Haiti’s over-reliance on aid and the subsequent negligible impact draws from the series of corrupt, incompetent governments (Schwartz 235). Systemic corruption has been highlighted that the most prominent obstacle facing successful reconstruction and development of Haiti. This thesis analyses of the impact of NGOs effectiveness on Haiti development (economic, social, and political). I argue that the bulk of NGOs in Haiti has not been effective in discharging their mandate owing to absence of accountability and coordination (Kivland 248a). 1.2 Statement of Research Problem Most Haitians are very poor, living on less than $2 a day, a situation that has been worsened by the inability of the Haitian government to provide basic services such as health care and education (Buss 25 6). The UN approximated that international donors awarded Haiti more than $1.6 billion in relief aid since 2010 (close to $155 per Haitian) and more than $2 billion in recovery aid (close to $173 per Haitian), yet despite the massive aid, Haiti appears as if the earthquake happened less than four months ago (Johnston and Main 3). Close to half a million individuals remain homeless habited within hundreds on informal camps, and the bulk of the debris from destroyed buildings still remain on the streets, and cholera, a preventable disease is increasingly becoming an epidemic annihilating thousands and sickening hundreds. It is apparent that roughly none of the money that the public perceived was going to Haiti went directly to Haiti. The international community selected to sidestep the Haitian people, government of Haiti, and Haitian non-governmental organizations, whereby the funds were rather diverted to other governments, private entities, and international NGOs (Haggerty 25). One of the reasons given for the donors not dealing directly with NGOs rather than the government is the perception of widespread corruption in Haiti (Gurt 10). Overall, progress has been extremely low in all ways, a situation that can be attributed to ineffectiveness and lack of accountability in the channeling of donor funds and implementing projects. The question of accountability

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Human Resources Management Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resources Management - Research Proposal Example Simply put, IHRM is Human Resources Management (HRM) that cuts across national boundaries. It is important that the IHRM policies are congruent with the firm's strategy and its formal and informal structures and controls. IHRM has to ensure that the firm has the right people in the right places at the right times. The task is complicated by profound differences between countries in labor markets, culture, legal and economic system. (Adler 1-7) We will illustrate how the IHRM policies f a multi-national company should be in line with its overall strategy and complement its existing structure and controls by focusing on the staffing policies. The training and development, performance appraisal and compensation policies should be similarly aligned with the overall strategy and consistent with each other. However, because f the constraints on time and space, we have focused only on staffing policies. Broadly classifying, international organizations can be said to have one f the following strategies or models: Multi-domestic, International, Global, and Transnational. These strategies and the structure and controls to implement them are listed in the following table: It is quite obvious that all companies must strive to be transnational. However, becoming transnational is a difficult goal to achieve because the coordination required and thus the costs associated are very high. Now the staffing Now the staffing policy f an IHRM is concerned with selecting individuals - across different countries in which its operations are located - with the requisite skills to do a particular job. Clearly, staffing policies are important tools for developing and promoting a common corporate culture across all nationalities in which the company is present. Culture Shock It refers to the overall sense f difficulty in coping with a foreign locale and sometimes upon retuning home as well. It is also used when employees move from one company to another in their own country, for organizational cultures can vary greatly. According to Philip Harris and Robert Moran, differences in culture (particularly national or ethnic) can be contrasted along the following ten dimensions: 1. Sense f self and space While self-identity and appreciation is shown by a humble demeanor in one culture, another culture exhibits it through macho behavior. While one culture appreciates group cooperation, another might stress independence and creativity. Americans like more physical space between individuals while the Latin and Vietnamese prefer to be much closer. 2. Communication and language Various gestures have different meanings in different countries. Some nations have as many as 15 different languages and within those different dialects, accents, slang and jargon. 3. Dress and appearance Garments and body decorations vary by culture. Examples would include Englishman's bowler and umbrella and the Polynesian sarong. 4. Food and eating habits Selection, preparation and eating habits vary across nations. While beef is a favorite f many Americans, it is forbidden in the Hindu culture. The manner f eating also varies across cultures. Eating with one's hands is customary in some while use f chopsticks or a full set f cutlery is a rule in others. 5. Time and time consciousness The sense f

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Civilian Contractors on the Battlefield Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Civilian Contractors on the Battlefield - Essay Example The following discussion is going to explore the ethical problems, whilst defining the actual position of a civilian contractor on the battlefield. Also it will consider the security problems in depending on civilian personnel, because there interest is in the monetary value of their service rather than the loyalty and security of a nation4. Therefore this may jeopardize the security of battle planning, because if civilian contractors are working on a business level then if the opposition offered a better business deal then these civilian contractors become a breach in the US military strategy5. In the first place the role of the civilian contractor can be seen as military personal as the Hague Convention of 1907 allows that other persons can be combatant in a time of war than just military personnel. Therefore under the Geneva Convention these individuals will be afforded the protections as prisoners of war. This means that on the ethical grounds of using contractors on the battlefield, governments such as the USA can legitimately affirm their use. In essence under the Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention these individuals are in fact quasi-military, i.e. ... ercenaries.7 British Human Rights lawyer Helen Kennedy has illustrated that there is vast problems with the USA naming freedom fighters, armed guerrillas who are not part of a state army as terrorists in order to punish them through vengeance ethically and a breach of humanitarian law. We [the UK] should not be tempted to take the American route There should never be a direct role for victims in punishment. If victims have a direct say in sentencing decisions, how will consistency be achieved between the victim bent on vengeance and the person willing to forgive8 The actions of the US authorities in Guantanamo Bay are an example of a nation of victims having a say in the punishment of possibly innocent people and these victims have no objectivity and mass cruelty and torture is happening. This is happening of civilians that have taken up arms to protect themselves and named terrorists. How does the US government legitimize civilian contractors who are getting paid for there services on one hand, but not freedom fighters on the other The distinction does not make legal or ethical sense, because morally a freedom fighter has a better argument for their actions and to become a war prisoner protected under the Geneva Convention than does the civilian contractor.9 Finally, the security issues that the uses of civilian contractors raise are vast. In the first instance is a contractor is being highly paid there are business reasons for their use on the battlefield.10 Therefore is it not conceivably possible that if the contractor is offered a higher price on the opposition, the needs of the business and money outweigh loyalty Secondly, there is the possibility that there will be infiltration by the opposition through the use of civilian contractors; especially in the case

Monday, September 23, 2019

American Military Occupation of Japan (1945-1952) Changed Japans Term Paper

American Military Occupation of Japan (1945-1952) Changed Japans Political Institutions And Processes - Term Paper Example Japanese people religiously believed that they were superior, but when they started to think that the Americans regarded them as inferior creatures, the conflict has intensified. The attack in Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 were the major violent charges happened between the U.S. and Japan. After the atomic bombings, Japan has accepted its defeat, and Emperor Hirohito requested his military forces to submit to General Douglas MacArthur being the appointed Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan. The American conquerors occupied Japan from 1945-1952, and within these years, the relationship between the two countries was strengthened. In 1952, the Occupation authorities have returned Japan to the Japanese people; however, they make sure that Japanese leaders were already equipped with knowledge, dedication, and sincerity on their positions. Thus, they were already capable of bringing the country to success and not to demis e. Source: â€Å"Australia and Japan† Figure 1 illustrates the GDP of Japan after the American Occupation. It shows that Japan and the U.S. have equal footings in terms of GDP growth, but there is a reverse of growth on the 20th century. According to Hobbs and Dolan, â€Å"Japan’s special relationship with the United States boosted the economy long after the American occupation ended† (402). At present, the two countries are now very good friends and closest military allies. In fact, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that the whole Japan is truly thankful for the U.S. unwavering support, and he further acknowledged the â€Å"importance of the U.S. military presence for the peace and security of the region† (Ito). The American people also felt... The Occupation has made Japan a strong democratic country and its basic objectives include the â€Å"abolition of militarism and ultra-national organizations in all forms; disarm and demilitarize Japan; strengthen democratic tendencies and processes in government†. When the Occupation started to dominate the country, the Westerners concluded that the change process would not be visible because people would not cooperate. However, Occupation authorities have been good to the Japanese people; in fact, they have been compassionate and did not abuse their power to show to them that they were not enemies, but friends who were willing to help. They have also emphasized that they could not enforce anything to Japan without their approval and support because democracy is all about freedom of expression. Thus, understanding, respect, and cooperation have been formed between the two countries. The American Military Occupation of Japan is very significant to the history of Japanese people, particularly to their political setting. Most of the reforms introduced during the Occupation are still intact until today; in fact, these are the reasons why Japan has become one of the most developed countries in the 20th century. Also, it helped Japanese leaders to regain the trust and confidence of their people, which was wasted during their surrender in 1945. Japan totally became a democratic country under the American conquerors, which had unlocked the gap between the two countries and became close allies in military and political matters. The Japanese people are very grateful to the American’s influence during the Occupation, and the American conquerors have appreciated the people’s willingness to accept their fate under their governance.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Law and Policy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Law and Policy - Case Study Example Information security in an organization involves ensuring that only people with rights to read, change, broadcast and use it have access to it. Different organizations have their own policies which guide the implementation of any new system. Policies in an organization need employees to comply with them. Policies describe the rules and procedures for organization employ to comply with (Kiefer, Wu, Wilson & Sabett 2004). The need for information security is to primarily protect information from any unauthorized party. Several threats can pose to make information insecure. There is a need to ensure information is secure while ensuring that the policies and legal guidelines of the organization and the surrounding environment are adhered with (Kiefer, Wu, Wilson & Sabett 2004). Government and organizational policies dictate the implementation of an information security system. The government policies are determined and issued to organizations depending on the type or kind of governing en vironment within the organization’s operation. The government can be federal, state, local or tribal. The on the type of the business industry, the government policies act as a framework for organizations’ administration or management to comply with in order to secure information and information systems (Straub, Goodman & Baskerville 2008). The need for government policies is to control and regulate the relevant market in order to avoid conflicts which might arise among the industry players. The government policies give a procedure and guidelines for organizational governments to follow when implementing information security systems. Organization policies are devised by the organization as a guideline when implementing a new system. The policies are devised to ensure that laws, regulations and policies are complied to. The policies provide a framework for relevant restrictions and privileges for use of information for every employ. The organization policies strive to e nsure that people and information are protected (Straub, Goodman & Baskerville 2008). This is normally accomplished by setting the rules for access of information for each and every employee use of information (Straub, Goodman & Baskerville 2008). Organizational policies assists the organization in complying with governmental policies in order to avoid violation of the latter’s policies. The policies include the rules which control the actions of information users and management. The policies include authorization privileges for use of information, need for probe, monitoring and investigation on the use of information. The policies also include information infringement consequences, the information security baseline position by the organization. The policies restrict users from accessing what they are not supposed to in order to reduce risk and tampering of information (Straub, Goodman & Baskerville 2008). Organizations need information security policies in order to eradicate or minimize any looming risks associated with the use of information. The eminent risks can be unauthorized access to organization information either internally or externally. The policies set the laws required before the use of any information or implementation of

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Source I suggests that attitudes to Elvis Presley Essay Example for Free

Source I suggests that attitudes to Elvis Presley Essay Q. 5. Source I suggests that attitudes to Elvis Presley were beginning to change by 1958. Use the source, and you own knowledge, to explain why this was happening. By 1958 Elvis Presleys popularity and acceptability with adults was still unchanged, and his manager, Colonel Parker, decided to revamp Elvis image to better suit the tastes of the older generations. In order to achieve this Elvis was persuaded to do what every other young American man was obliged to do at the time: spend time assigned to the US Army for National Service, wearing fatigues and earning a pittance. This gained him good publicity as can be seen from Source I, which is obviously keen on Elvis as it is using him to demonstrate the brilliance of Americas society and American democracy. The article is making use of his rise to fame (how he was a nobody who became a somebody so quickly) to prove how the American dream (how anybody can be famous and dreams can come true in America) is really possible. The article also states how Elvis did not simply use his riches and influence to buy his way out of this duty to his country. By serving his time in the Army alongside other, ordinary draftees and not asking for special favours, and because of the good publicity he got from it, Elvis gained great respect from the older, patriotic generation, making them feel less negative towards him. It would have seemed now to parents that Elvis was setting a good, nationalistic example to their children, showing them the right path, and they liked him and the impact he was having better for this reason. He was also seen as not rebelling against what society expected of him, again making him more acceptable by the old as a role model for the young. The source differs from sources B and C in that it is not being critical of Elvis, and it is showing how he might have a good influence rather than a wholly bad one. The opinions have changed so much at this point and continued to change after Elvis returned from the Army mainly because Elvis was no longer as shocking, and therefore not as dangerous an influence on the young, or the morality of American society through outrageous television performances (after the third Sullivan appearance, Elvis manager raised his television price from $50000 to $300000, and the networks refused the new proposal, so Elvis didnt do TV again until 1960). For example, Elvis shocking ducktail haircut was shorn, and Pageant magazine reported: Fans cried, parents sighed. On becoming a G. I. in the Army, Elvis said: Its a duty Ive got to fill, and Im gonna do it. I guess the only thing Ill hate about it is leaving my mama. Shes always been my best girl. This showed that Elvis had family values, and love for his mother, which would have made him seen more normal and down-to-earth (or less shocking and less rebellious). Again Elvis would have made parents think he would lead their children the right way, rather then corrupting their morals. By the time Elvis had returned from the Army in 1960, his TV appearances would have lost their initial shock. He was still popular, but the primal hysteria was gone, and shortly the fan magazines for teenagers would have had the Beatles to talk about. After joining the Army, Elvis also changed his musical style, performing some religious songs and doing a duet with Frank Sinatra, the grown-ups music star, making him a lot more acceptable, even likeable. It was around this time that Elvis started to star in his own films, but these films werent action packed or shocking. They were mainly romances and love stories, portraying the softer, tenderer side of Elvis that seemed less threatening to the adult generation. Generally, adults attitudes towards Elvis were beginning to improve by 1958 because of the change in his image. The youth however maintained their rebelliousness, and Elvis popularity among teenagers dropped slightly as they saw that adults found him more acceptable, or lost interest because he was no longer as downright shocking or rebellious as before.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Postcolonial literature

Postcolonial literature Postcolonial Literatures in English Title: What do you understand by the term postcolonial within the field of literary studies? You should refer to at least two texts you have read on the course. ‘Without responsibility, straddling Nothingness and Infinity, I began to weep. This comment of Fanons about the frustration of the inability to free ones black self from the oppressive aspects of racism and colonisation echoes through much of the postcolonial literature that has been studied throughout the course. Postcolonial literature refers to texts written about the effects of colonial rule after ‘the very first moment of colonial contact. Postcolonial authors often originate from colonised countries and, it seems to be the case that those writing about the consequences of colonisation have themselves encountered existence at the hand of the colonisers however; this is not always the case. What I aim to accomplish in this essay is to reveal the varied effects of colonisation on the colonised people in two of the texts that I have read on the course. I will be relating the experiences of those in Nervous Conditions, written by Tsitsi Dangarembga, alongside the occurrences in Miguel Street, written by V.S Naipaul. Although these two books are written by different authors and relay vastly contrasting happenings, there are significant similarities in both books which cannot be overlooked. Themes of childhood, education and struggle inevitably communicate through both novels in similar ways. What is most remarkable however is the method different characters in each narrative use in response to the strains caused, inevitably, by colonisation. Nervous Conditions, set in Zimbabwe around the 1960s or 1970s, portrays the developing life of a young female, also the narrator of the book, named Tambu. This coming-of-age novel reveals not only the trials and tribulations of the main female character but, it shows the ordeals suffered by her surrounding family. Likewise the narrator in Miguel Street also takes on the persona of a child however, this novel is set in Trinidad and the narrator is unnamed. The reader is aware that the unidentified speaker is male and this fact presents interesting contrasts between the two Bildungsroman novels with relation to male and female experiences under colonisation. The weight of Miguel Street conveys the lives of the unnamed storytellers friends and neighbours, rather than his direct family. That said, both of the postcolonial authors disclose their narratives directly from the focal point of colonised communities, coincidently both of which have political conflict in their back-drops. I found the theme of childhood very prominent throughout my reading of both Dangarembgas and Naipauls novels. Both authors use of children as narrators created a sincere naivety something which I do not feel would have been achievable through more experienced relaters. However, I am not suggesting that everything related in the narratives is entirely impartial. Both children, Tambu and the unnamed narrator, encounter, and illustrate to the reader, their lives after the initial occurrence of colonialism on their very different countries. Both young people also experience extreme poverty but, of course whilst Tambu is initially raised on the homestead, the latter develops in to an adult in a much more industrial area. These contrasting, yet ironically similar, lifestyles in the texts reveal the collective impact that colonisation can have on citizens oppressed by colonial rule, irrelevant of their precise locations. Although there are definite similarities between the experiences of Tambu and the unnamed narrator, womanhood serves as an extremely prominent theme in Nervous Conditions. Miguel Street, on the other hand, focuses the readers main attention on the experiences of male hood. This is not to suggest that the women in Naipauls novel do not encompass a purpose, I am merely implying that, through my reading of the text, the male occurrences in the novel are at the forefront of the readers attention. The opening line of Dangarembgas novel, ‘I was not sorry when my brother died. immediately insinuates that the novel will contain some aspects of struggle and resistance. What is most remarkable however is the fact that this powerful statement is declared by a female character, a character that is of a young age at the death of her sibling. Tambu is clearly seen to suffer at the hands of her brother, right up until his death. The narrators destitute parents use what little income they obt ain to send Nhamo to school. This lack of money for educational means highlights the inability of poor, black families, living in colonial areas, of ever ridding themselves from such their current situations. However, the narrators destitute parents decision to provide schooling solely for the male child of the family reveals an awfully apparent situation of female inequality. Nhamos harsh words towards Tambu, after her attempts to grow maize in order to send herself to school, provide a fine example of the oppression felt by the women in the novel. Nhamo uses Tambus femaleness to belittle her when he remarks, ‘Did you really think you could send yourself to school? This satisfactory tone in Nhamos words, as well as his unkindness in stealing Tambus maize, reveals the double struggle experienced by the women in text. MaShingayi, Tambus mother, poignantly highlights the situation of black women when she informs her daughter that life for her, ‘with the poverty of blacknes s on one side and the weight of womanhood on the other, will not be trouble-free. The women in Nervous Conditions endure domination in two different ways; not only are the females in the novel subjugated for being black, they are also repressed for being women. Further evidence in the novel of female strain is through the use of Nyasha and her mother, Maiguru. Although both women are black, they are educated and are reasonably wealthy in comparison with Tambus direct family. Nevertheless, Maiguru and her daughter inevitably still suffer nervous conditions. Nyashas personal toil becomes extremely apparent when she brawls with her father, Babamukuru. Babamukura, the head and main provider for his entire family is highly educated and greatly respected. On Babamukurus return from England with his family, Jeremiah, Tambus father, repeatedly refers to his brother as ‘Our returning prince. There is a great family celebration and the entire family is relieved at their ‘returning hero [s] homecoming. The obvious reason for the admiration of Babamukura is his educative status. Tambu, later in the novel, relates her uncles education with his superiority when she remarks, ‘he had made himself plenty of power. Plenty of power. Plenty of money. A lot of education. Plenty of everything. Unfortunately however, Babamukurus educated daughter and wife do not experience equivalent praise and control. Nyasha and her father, after a continuing conflict of principles, furiously exchange physical blows. Babamukuru scolds her daughter for defying his morals and eventually ‘condem[ns her] to whoredom. In contrast to Nyashas weighty presence in the novel is the heavy absence of her brother Chido. For example, Chido does not attend the Christmas celebrations with his family at the homestead. Unlike Nyasha, Chido is given full reign to do whatever he pleases and go wherever he desires. Although Babamukuru is ‘disappointed that his son will not be accompanying his relatives, there is no transference of harsh words between the two males. It seems to be the case that Babamukuru is gloomy at his sons absence not for the reason of dissatisfaction but for the loss of well-educated male company. The aspect of female inferiority is all too obvious through the contrasting attitudes of Babamukuru towards his son and daughter. Nyasha, according to Tambu, is ‘a victim of her femaleness, a ‘Femaleness as opposed and inferior to maleness. Evidence of the accuracy poignant comment about female suffering in the novel is not sparse. Nyashas development of an eating disorder, along w ith her mental breakdown later in the novel, reveals that not only is Nyasha affected psychologically by her suppression but her physical self is also jeopardised. It is clear that Nyasha loses her sense of self through visiting England and then returning to her country of origin, Zimbabwe. Nyasha confesses her personal damage to Tambu when she claims that she and her brother are ‘hybrids. Tambu also experiences her cousins alter ego when she is searching for Nyasha shortly before leaving to attend Sacred Heart. Tambu sadly finds Nyasha ‘reminding her of the closed girl who had come from England in a pink mini-dress, not the cousin and friend she had mellowed into in the three years since then. The extremity of Nyashas condition becomes clear on Tambus return from the convent school. Tambu describes Nyasha as ‘grotesquely unhealthy from the vital juices she flushed down the toilet and, she gives the reader a commentary of her nervous breakdown. After Nyasha ‘ rampaged, shredding her history books between her teeth, breaking mirrors, her clay pots, and jabbing the fragments viciously into her flesh, her parents finally realise that their daughter is genuinely suffering. Nyashas uncertainty about where she belongs and, according to Tambus mother, ‘the Englishness, ultimately leads to her downfall. Similar to the frustrations felt by Nyasha, although not to the same extremity, are the hardships experienced by Maiguru. Maiguru, although educated, does not receive comparable respect to Babamukuru, from Tambus direct family. Whilst Tambus uncle is welcomed home with an almost royal status, Maiguru attracts little of the praise given by the relatives. Maiguru is belittled by Babamukurus family and Babamukuru provides her with no real support For example, Lucia remarks to Maiguru, ‘Dont worry yourself, Maiguru. The matter concerns Babamukuru. This dismissal by Lucia, along with constant disagreement with Babamukuru about the running of her own household inevitably causes Maiguru to leave her family however she is never really able to escape her situation. Nyasha solemnly claims that her mothers homecoming is ‘such a waste with regards to Maiguru having the possibility to better her lifestyle. Maiguru obviously feels that inevitably she should be at home with her family h owever, it is clear that this believed duty is at the expense of a career of her own. Although the educated Maiguru does have an opportunity for escape, the restraints of her family life are holding her back from a desired profession. It seems to be the case that for the women in Nervous Conditions, to escape from colonial lands and male oppression, one has to leave their family life behind them. By exploring the life experiences of Nyasha and her mother, it can without doubt be supposed that education for women does not offer the same power that it puts forward for men. It would seem that for women, irrelevant of their schooling, there really is no real escape from colonialism or their own men. Fanon, although a highly influential writer, does not tend to regard femaleness in his writings. Fanon claims, ‘My blackness was there And it tormented me, pursued me, disturbed me, angered me. Although these aspects are extremely apparent to the black men in Miguel Street, Nervous Conditions reveals Fanons experiences being largely dedicated female characters. However, as we have already seen, Dangarembgas women are not only imprisoned by their black but also by their femaleness, by men. Nervous Conditions, its title being taken from the introduction by Jean-Paul Sartre to Frantz Fanons The Wretched of the Earth, is unmistakably a feminist re-writing of Fanon.[1] Contrasting with the women as the main focal point in Nervous Conditions, it is the mens experiences and struggles in Miguel Street which makes up the bulk of the novel. Although some of the women in Naipauls novel are seen as victims at the hands of men, the males in the book are often seen as equally foolish, if not more so than the women. Whilst Babamukuru is highly respected by most in Nervous Conditions, Naipauls George is seen as extremely idiotic and compared to a ‘donkey. After the death of Georges wife, whom the reader is led to assume died at the hands of her husband, the unnamed narrator remarks how George ‘went about crying in the streets, beating his chest. This mocking, monkey-like image is far from the genteel representation of Babamukuru. Another illustration of male mocking in the novel is through the use of Man-man. Laughter is a substantial theme in Miguel Street and almost everyone in the novel, at some point, laughs or is laughed at. Man-man is no exc eption. After it is revealed that Man-man always receives ‘exactly three votes when he puts himself ‘up for every election, Hat remarks that ‘Perhaps [it] is two jokers that have voted for Man-man, as well as himself. The idea that this male figure only obtains electoral support from two people who are ultimately ridiculing his sense of self emphasises male weakness in the novel. The scorning towards Man-man continues when he is illustrated as the ultimate irrational fool. After deciding to ‘crucify his-self, Man-man remarks to the surrounding people, â€Å"Stone, stone, STONE me, brethren! Although this behaviour is absurd, I as a reader could sympathise with Man-man for his attempt at escape from the confines of his life. However, as soon as the male extremist shouts, ‘I go settle with that son of a bitch who pelt a stone at me., the bafflement simply conveys Man-man as ludicrous. Inevitably, the contempt shown towards many of the male figures in the novel could be due to Naipauls own personal hatred of Caribbean people. Naipaul was treated extremely badly by his Afro-Caribbean neighbours, which inevitably led to an acquired detestation for them that still remains to this day.[2] Some postcolonial countries go so far as to view Naipaul as a racist.[3] On the other hand, the use of characters such as George and Man-man may be for sympathetic devises. Man-man is conveyed as a pathetic character however, his search for a sense of self echoes the behaviour of Nyasha in Nervous Conditions. The narrator remarks, ‘The authorities kept [Man-man] for observation, Then for good. This occurrence highlights a double oppression. Not only is Man-mans sense of self trapped by colonialism but it is also confined by law enforcement. Similarly, Nyasha is trapped by her femaleness as well as by colonialism. Both characters produced in me a sense of pity; both individuals act irrationally to attempt to free themselves from their surrounding restraints however there is no escape for either. Although most of the male figures in Nervous Conditions are revealed as ridiculous, Elias, the son of the detested George, makes real attempts at bettering his life, and inevitably escaping from life in Miguel Street, through schooling. The narrator claims, ‘I was prepared to believe that [Elias] would become a doctor some day. Unfortunately however, the young man is unable to achieve the desired grades and is destined to life as a cart driver. The inability to escape from his disheartening destiny, without appropriate qualifications, highlights further the importance of education. Without education, men in the novel have no choice but to exist in poverty in colonial lands. Due to Naipauls negative judgements of Caribbean people there is some ambiguity in the narrative about whether Elias situation is presented by the author to generate sympathy or scorn. The fact that Elias has lost his mother generated compassion however, the use of other characters in the novel that reveal wasted chances due to lazy and brainless suggests that Elias exists in the novel just as another dim-witted black man. Another possible case of Naipauls contempt is through the use of Titus Hoyt. Although Titus Hoyt is shown as reasonably intelligent and is regarded with an evident admiration, mainly by the narrator, his achievements do not compare with those of Babamukuru. Although both Babamukuru and Titus Hoyt eventually run schooling institutions, the latter is made to seem like a fool in front of his students. For example, when Titus Hoyt battles to teach his associates Latin Boyee remarks, ‘Mr Titus Hoyt, I think you making up all this, you know, making it up as you go along. The accusative statement ultimately disparages Titus Hoyt and reflects the lack of achievements of some of the more obviously senseless characters in Naipauls novel. Even when Titus Hoyt finally gets recognition through having his photograph placed in the local newspaper, there is a suggestion that through the anonymity of the student who apparently wrote the correspondence , he composed a letter to himself praising his own ‘virtue. Even the description of Titus Hoyt as ‘pop-eyed in the photograph makes the teacher appear as a counterfeit of success. Recognition is an important factor for most of the men in Miguel Street however it seems that there is always some underlying factor which is preventing them from succeeding. Whilst the struggle of colonised lands is extremely apparent throughout this novel, it cannot be ignored that perhaps Naipaul is prohibiting the triumph of the Caribbean male figures for his own satisfaction. Although the men in Miguel Street are shown as foolish and disaster-prone compared to Babamukuru, some of the male figures in Nervous Conditions are also portrayed as idle. Tambus father, Jeremiah, for example, is shown as an extremely futile man, depending on the successes of his brother to support him and his family. It emerges that whilst ‘Babamukuru had defied ‘the weight of his poverty., Jeremiah had merely ‘cringed ‘under the evil wizards spell, the spell that is inevitably colonial rule. The use of Jeremiah as a character may be for the purpose of a mocking devise by Dangarembga to highlight Tambus success as a woman in comparison with her fathers failure as a man. Conversely, Dangarembgas use of a character like Jeremiah may also be to highlight the importance of education and, to reveal that men can suffer frustration just as women can. It becomes clear that nobody in either novel really escapes the oppressions of colonialism. Whilst the failures in Miguel Street are all too apparent, Nervous Conditions promote more subtle disappointments, mainly through women. Although the unnamed narrator gets away from Miguel Street at the end of the novel, it is only through his his mothers bribing that he is able to do this. Furthermore, although Tambu physically breaks away from her toils through genuine personal achievement, there is a psychological part of herself that remains with her previous life. Fanons comment at the opening of the essay cleverly fits in to both Dangarembga and Naipauls novels, as well as much of the other postcolonial texts I have encountered on this course. The frustration Bibliography 13 [1] [2] [3]

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Microsoft :: essays research papers

Abstract: The following research is designed to provide the reader with an understanding as to how Microsoft and Sony have developed as a company throughout the years. The research will show the combined efforts of two large companies and there mark into the gaming industry. Microsoft and Sony’s environment, company, and leadership styles are what have kept the company on the leading edge of technology. However, where do the companies begin to mark their niche into the market will be interesting to see with the difference in the two companies and their corporate ideas. The research will also focus more on the market issues, design issues, and economic impacts of the corporate wars going on. Thus, the research will provide the user with a better understanding of Microsoft and Sony’s position for market control of the gaming industry. Introduction: Microsoft is arguably the most influential IT company ever, controlling standards in both the corporate and domestic computer marketplace. With their share of the desktop PC software market and a substantial proportion of the server business, Microsoft is now dictating many of the standards on which today's information systems are built, and has achieved an unprecedented level of recognition among business management. Microsoft is following a long-term strategy to dominate four interconnected core markets (the enterprise, the Internet, electronic commerce, and information appliances), and looks set to exert a major influence on every aspect of IT over the next few years. How large enterprises react to these developments will affect their business strategy into the next millennium. Despite the rapid acceptance of Microsoft technology within the enterprise, there are real concerns about the direction the company will take in the future. The company clearly faces stiff competition on several fronts within the business-critical environment. In addition, legal issues and software delays, together with the technical shortcomings of some of Microsoft's key offerings, have raised doubts about the company's long-term success. Sony the Japanese consumer electronics giant has been at the cutting edge of new technological developments since the company's founding by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka in 1946. Sony is one of the most respected companies world-wide. Its ability to innovate new markets and constant drive for self-improvement earned Sony world-wide sales of $36 billion in 1995. Sony manufactures video equipment, televisions, audio equipment, but is not just a leader in the world of electronics. Its acquisition of CBS Records in 1988 and Columbia Pictures Entertainment in 1989 have raised its profile as an entertainment company, backed by the recent launch of its own games console, the Sony Playstation.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Life Without Parole Essay -- essays research papers fc

Capital Punishment in America Capital punishment should be viewed as the stripping away of humanity from a person. The death penalty itself should be "executed" because of racial inequities, the concept of murder, the possibility of error, lack of deterrence, the cost, and an overwhelmed legal system. "The goal of capital punishment is revenge" (Introduction 1). Capital punishment is simply an outlet for the bloodlust of the American people (Introduction 1). The death penalty is very discriminatory when it comes to racial issues. "The death penalty is fraught with abuses and the potential for abuse" (Moral Arguments 1). Capital punishment is largely "divided along racial lines" (Moral Arguments 1). "A 1990 report released by the Federal Government’s General Accounting Office found a ‘pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the charging, sentencing, and imposition of the death penalty after the Furman decision’" (Moral Arguments 1). In the 1970’s, Professor David Baldus examined sentencing patterns in Georgia. He reviewed over two-thousand five hundred homicide cases in Georgia and controlled for two-hundred and thirty non-racial factors. His conclusion was that "a person accused of killing a white was 4.3 times more likely to be sentenced to death than a person accused of killing a black" (Moral Arguments 1). Imagine the statistics when one adds the rest of the states in our country. Capital punishment is murder. It really doesn’t matter how you look at it. The end result is still the same. "What is the difference between the state killing and an individual killing" (Moral Arguments 1). It adds up to be the same end result. It is "one more dead body, one more set of grieving parents, and one more cemetery slot. When we execute someone, we are sending a profound message of cynicism" about the value of human life (Moral Arguments 2). "Every time we execute someone," we are sinking to the same level as the killer (Moral Arguments 2). "The American people have blood on their hands, and it will stay there until we finally remove this barbaric practice from our nation" (Moral Arguments 2). One of the most apparent reasons the d... ... The death penalty is based upon revenge against the murderer. All it adds up to at the end of the day is another corpse to bury. Works Cited "Death." http://donlemaire.homestead.com/deathpen~main.html. "Fight the Death Penalty in USA." www.fp.dk/index-uk.htm. "Innocence and the Death Penalty." www.essential.org/dpic/innoc.html. Greenberg, Jack. "Taking Sides." Dushkin Publishing Group, Inc. 1991. "Introduction." http://pages.prodigy.com/DC/vortex.intro.html. "Moral Arguments Against the Death Penalty." http://pages.prodigy.com/DC/vortex/moral.html. "Netmonkey’s Death Penalty Page." www.netmonkey.com/1998/features/death/death8.html. "Pragmatic Arguments Against the Death Penalty." http://pages.prodigy.com/DC/vortex/prag.html. United States. President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice. "The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society." New York: Avon, 1968.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Essay --

In chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby, a reporter comes to Gatsby’s door to interview him about his personal life. Jay Gatsby’s original name was James Gatz and he was born on a North Dakota farm but went to college in St. Olaf, Minnesota. He dropped out of college and later met the wealthy Dan Cody who hired him as a personal assistant. When Dan Cody died he left Gatsby $25,000, but his mistress prevented Gatsby from claiming it. After that, Gatsby was determined to become rich and successful. Later on, Nick visits Gatsby and is shocked to find Tom Buchanan there, and the next Saturday Tom and Daisy attend one of Gatsby’s parties. After the party Gatsby is worried that Daisy did not enjoy it and Nick tells him to give up on Daisy, however, Gatsby refuses and instead tells Nick about he and Daisy’s past. The quote that best describes Jay Gatsby is, â€Å"He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy† (110). The good qualities of Jay Gatsby are he is a loyal person and he has a good heart. The bad qualities of Gatsby are he is amoral, dishonest, and throws his money away. Fitzgerald developed this character to show how people use their wealth to get love only to discover the love is not real. Additionally, he is developed throughout the novel to be an example of how living extravagantly can be an empty life. A meaningful quote in the chapter is, â€Å"The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself† (98). This quote is meaningful to the story because it reveals the truth of Gatsby changing his identity. Also, it focuses on the fact that Gatsby wasn’t going to let any obstacle stop him from fu... ..., to Nick, â€Å"It was a photograph of the house cracked in the corners and dirty with many hands† (172), and again by Nick, â€Å"On the last night†¦I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more† (179). This symbol is important to the story because it symbolizes the emptiness of Gatsby’s life and shows how his quest for Daisy was a failure. The East and West were mentioned by Nick, â€Å"Even when the East excited me most, even when I was most keenly aware of it superiority to the bored, sprawling, swollen towns beyond the Ohio†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (176). It was mentioned again by Nick soon after, â€Å"After Gatsby’s death the East was haunted for me like that, distorted beyond my eyes’ power of correction† (176). The symbol is important to the story because they represented the different social classes and how they made a barrier between the people from the East and West.

Monday, September 16, 2019

For my project I am going to design a new range of Alco-pop

For my project I am going to design a new range of Alco-pop. I choose this idea as I feel there is room in the current market to introduce a new brand. The current and most popular Alco-pops at present would be drinks such as Bacardi breeder, WKD and red square. These products are available in a range of flavours and have a volume on average of about 5. 5% alcohol; prices vary depending on where the product is purchased. The product I will be basing my advertising campaign around will be a new range of Alco-pop available in five different florescent flavours and designed to glow in the dark, the product will be un-missable due to the bold colours so I will be using this to my advantage to capture public attention. However my project is new to the market and the brand name and product is unknown, this will make introducing the product difficult therefore the advertising campaign will need to be effective. The audience I am aiming the product at will be young outgoing eighteen to thirty year olds. This age is the younger age of clubbers that will be more willing to experiment with new products on the market where as the older audience will be more set in there way as to what they drink. Also the audience will be drinking in more trendy modern bars and clubs in which I plan to match with the product image. The product will be named â€Å"Gloe† due to its obvious glow in the dark stature, with the name of the product being â€Å"Gloe† and the product being new on the market I need a name that people can remember therefore if they realise the drink glows in the dark the name will relates to the product. I have also removed the â€Å"w† and replaced it with â€Å"e† I have done this to imprint the brand with product recognition. The product will be available in a glass bottle, with the product name stuck on at the front. The label of the product will be mainly transparent with just the letter arrangement of â€Å"Gloe† in bold capital letters. The brand slogan will be â€Å"Gloes through† as this compliments the brand name and I am hoping to relate it in some way to the adverts I will be creating. The image I would like the product to be associated with is that of a new, modern, trendy product with slight individuality, a carefree drink that looks good, tastes great and is the only solution to a healthy night out. For the campaign I will be creating three advertisements one will be a billboard poster another will be an advertisement in a magazine and the third will be a large bus-stop poster. I have chosen these three types of media as the billboard is a large advertisement that is difficult to miss I will be placing it around the city centre where most of the nightlife will be and it will also be busy during daytime. The magazine article will be placed in magazines for men like FHM and women in magazines such as Cosmopolitian, New Look, More and 19 these are the younger trendy magazines that appeal to the target audience of the product and have discovered similar advertisements in these whilst researching. The bus-stop poster will be used as a lot of younger people use public transport due to convience and also the cost of cars and petrol. The poster will be placed in a bus station as they can become extremely busy during everyday rush hour. Each of my adverts will display the product and slogan in the top right hand corner of all of the adverts. The first advert featured in the bus-stop will be a pitch black background with a large bottle of â€Å"Gloe† centred in the foreground. The bottle will have a glowing light around it in one of the florescent colours I will use.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Disadvantages and Alternatives to Public Sector Strikes Essay

Strike replacement occurs when employers hire or use individual to perform the work of employees on strike. In the United States, it is not unfair labor practice for employers to replace the striking workers with others in effort to carry on the company’s business. Most other industrialized nations, however, do not allow permanent strike replacement. The United States is already unique among its trading partners in allowing permanent strike replacements and ban on permanent strike replacement would probably raise labor costs and harm international competiveness. For decades, employers have been permitted to hire permanent replacements for striking employees, Congressional action may change this situation, and however, any legislative changes on this issue will most likely become a political hot potatoes for most member of congress or face a probable presidential veto. (Budd, J.W) â€Å"But to maintain a balance of power between employees and employers, hiring permanent replacements is not allowed† and The United States Congress should outlaw the use of permanent replacement workers during strikes and I would argue the followings: workers investments, minimize strategic behavior, encouragement of collective bargaining, voice, Mackay doctrine, role of the law, employer has no real incentive to negotiate, Striker replacements, mandatory or permissive issue, What if negotiations fail and Italian model and Advantages, Disadvantages and Alternatives to Public Sector Strikes. I assert that the key distinction that should be made in the law of striker replacements is one based on the degree of firm ­ specific investments made by the workers involved in the strike. By focusing on that feature, the law  could prevent the use of a strike or the hiring of permanent replacements as an opportunistic behavior weapon designed to expropriate the other party’s rents. Although several proxies could potentially be available to the courts or the NLRB, there are no clear guidelines or definitions that facilitate such distinctions. Banning of replacement workers during strike would further the argument that if Congress make the decision of whether to hire striker replacements a mandatory issue of bargaining, unions and employers could make the distinction between firm-specific and general investments made by workers and thus enforce the contract so as to minimize strategic behavior. Outlawing strike replacement workers would support among the goals of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) which was the promotion and encouragement of collective bargaining. The sponsors of this Act viewed collective bargaining as the means to promote a new labor policy without having to directly regulate the terms of the employment relationship. In enacting the NLRA, Congress rejected a more interventionist approach and opted instead for a system that emphasized the distinct roles of labor and management in which outcomes were to be determined by the ability of the parties to impose economic pressure on each other through the negotiation process. Furthermore, it is somewhat ironic that among the several alternatives that have been progressive to deal with the striker replacements issue, in cases where replacement workers were used, there has been no attempt to use the collective bargaining process as a possible solution. But by incorporating the striker replacement decision into the bargaining process a non-zero-sum situation can be created which makes both parties better off, while at the same time advancing the NLRA’s objectives of industrial peace and collective bargaining by protecting the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection which is voice, and I contend that bargaining over the striker replacements issue creates a cooperative solution because in the cooperative game theory of bargaining, the parties can both benefi t by cooperating with each other. Banning Strike Replacement would further support Mackay doctrine to distinguish between â€Å"opportunistic behavior† by either the union or the employer, and behavior that is â€Å"no opportunistic.† Therefore, whatever modification proposal is introduced should be measured by its ability to redress this problem of strike replacement. The United States Congress need to ban strike replacement because I would argue here that the law if passed is based on the assumption that through the negotiation process the parties themselves will be best able to resolve disputes concerning the hiring of striker replacements by making the necessary trade-offs and establishing rules that commit them to mutually enforce the contract. In the law and economics parlance, if someone values an asset more than its owner, then there is scope for mutual gain by exchange. Though, under the Mackay approach to striker replacements, the decision to hire striker replacements is not amenable to resolu tion through the collective bargaining process because the rule makes bargaining over this decision too costly for a union and makes it easy for an employer to behave opportunistically. Strike Replacement Ban by United States Congress if enacted should then focus on providing the proper framework in which negotiations or mutual exchange should take place. In this sense, the role of the law is threefold. First, the legal framework should allocate the initial rights or entitlements in a way that increases the likelihood of successful bargaining. Second, the law should seek to minimize the transaction costs associated with bargaining. Finally, the legal framework should provide adequate enforcement mechanisms for cases in which bargaining fails. However, bargaining situations characterized by zero transaction costs are rare. If there are no obstacles to exchanging legal entitlements, they will be allocated efficiently by private agreement, so the initial allocation by the courts does not influence the efficiency of the final allocation; and the assignment of property rights does not matter when the transaction costs are zero. By negotiating to an impasse and then hiring permanent replacements. The employer has no real incentive to negotiate over the striker replacement issue because any negotiation will by definition make the employer worse  off. Even if the union places a high value on protecting at least those employees that are subject to opportunistic behavior, and even if the union is willing to compromise on the protection of other (less-skilled) employees or on any other issue, no bargaining is likely to ever take place under the Mackay rule. In this sense, and using the language of bargaining theory, the Mackay doctrine makes it less likely that bargaining will take place and in that sense it is inefficient. It is necessary, therefore, that any reform pro ­posal start by changing the initial allocation of rights, by granting union protection against the hiring of permanent striker replacements. On the other hand, giving unions protection against the hiring of permanent replacements, without an ything more, will also result, as developed above, in the likelihood of opportunistic behavior by the union. Thus, if unions are allowed to strike, knowing that their members cannot be permanently replaced, they will be free to engage in strikes and in that way negotiate more freely. Ban on Strike Replacement would more likely if making the striker replacement issue a mandatory subject of bargaining, therefore, providing this protection, will make it more costly for employers to force a strike in the hope of getting rid of the union. The employer will only be able to accomplish this by paying a fairly high price. Even though another means of union bursting is closing operations. By making it a mandatory subject of bargaining, will minimize transaction costs by giving the union, the party which probably values this right the most, the opportunity to exchange the protection against permanent replacements for other bargaining demands they might value more highly. In this sense, the proposal facilitates bargaining by making more explicit the types of exchanges the union has to make. Striker replacements: mandatory or permissive Issue? The NLRA imposes on the employer and the union a duty to bargain in good faith. This duty requires the parties to bargain to impasse over mandatory issues. Permissive issues can be brought to the bargaining table, but neither party is required to bargain over them. But a question that is likely be raised by the proposal of banning strike replacement workers would be, is whether the duty to bargain over the decision to hire permanent. The rationale for arguing that unions will, as opposed to the employer, be more likely to bargain over the  striker replacement issue if given the initial legal entitlement, is based on the realities of the industrial relations process. First, the protection against striker replacement does not make the strike a â€Å"risk free† venture for the union. The adversity of doing without a paycheck and health insurance puts enormous pressure on the strikers to settle a dispute as soon as possible. Most American workers have no cushion, no money socked away to make house payments and car payments, to buy food or to pay doctors’ bills. Second, unreasonable pressures or unwillingness to bargain over this issue could represent a matter of survival for the union. Workers have no incentive to make demands that will throw their employers into bankruptcy or otherwise cause permanent economic harm to their employers. The worker, after all, is dependent on the employer’s long-term economic health. Workers realize this, and this realization significantly moderates worker demands. What is the scope of this duty: For the purposes of my argument, to bargain collectively is the performance of the mutual obligation of the employer and the representative of the employees to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Supreme Court classified subjects of bargaining as mandatory, permissive, or il legal. Mandatory subjects are defined as those that regulate wages, hours, and other conditions of the relationship between employer and employees. Permissive issues are those dealing with subjects other than wages, hours, and working conditions. Replacements can be characterized as a mandatory issue of bargaining. I would contend that bargaining during contract negotiations over the utilization of striker replacements in the case of a strike should clearly be considered a mandatory topic. Although there do not appear to be any cases directly on point, the striker replacement issue could be considered a mandatory subject based on several grounds. First, like a no-strike provision, bargaining over the use of striker replacements involves a critical aspect of the relationship between the employer and the union, and should on these grounds be seen as a mandatory bargaining subject. Second, similar to work rules such as attendance and absenteeism policies, the striker replacements decision deals with the obligation of the employees to report to work under the employment contract. As such, they regulate an issue central to the day-to-day employer-employee relationship, and finally, making the striker  replacements provision a mandatory issue of bargaining could be sup ­ ported as a means of advancing the objectives of the NLRA in evading industrial conflict and what happens if all out negotiations fail. What if negotiations fail, it could be argued that if Congress by banning Strike Replacement will not, in practice, produce results any different than could be accomplished by merely overruling the Mackay doctrine. Thus my contention could arguably say that bargain to impasse over the striker replacement issue, call a strike, and then behave opportunistically, because employers will not be allowed to replace economic strikers. I argue from both a practical and theoretical perspective that a contrary dynamic will likely prevail. As discussed above, the bargaining process by distributing the initial allocation of rights in a way that is conducive to mutual gain exchange. Bargaining over the striker replacement issue is not likely to occur under current law because employers are given the right to permanently replace strikers and the general issue is not clearly defined as a mandatory topic of bargaining. Thus, under the current scheme of things, there is almost no incentive for employe rs to bargain with respect to this issue. By overruling Mackay, while at the same time making the striker replacement issue a mandatory topic of bargaining, it increases the likelihood that the two parties will reach an agreement. The collective bargaining agreement between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Olin Corporation, for example, provides: The employees as well as the Union shall cross all picket lines for the performance of work which is essential to the maintenance of the Company’s plant and equipment for standby operations.†189 Similarly, the agreement between the Steelworkers and Harbison-Walker Refractories, provides that: No strike or lockout shall occur at the establishment covered by this Agreement during the life of this Agreement, and continuous kilns shall be maintained at all times at a temperature which will result in no loss of ware or damage to the kilns, and periodic kilns under fire shall be burned off. Pumping operations shall also be continued during any strike or work stoppage that may occur. These two labor contracts clearly indicate the ability of unions and employers to, through the collective negotiations process, devise rules governing behavior in the event of, and during, strikes. An instructive example can also be found in  recent labor legislation enacted in Italy which regulates strike activity involving essential public services. Act 146 of the Italian Labor Code, enacted in 1990 follows the recent trend in Italian labor law towards consensual regulation. It relies in part on collective bargaining as the means of regulating the impact of strikes on the provision of essential services. Indeed, collective bargaining agreements have proven to be the main source of strike regulation under the new Italian law. Agreements have been negotiated with respect to most of the so-called essential services covered under the Act. Bargaining has occurred at both the national and local levels, with local agreements being used as a means of tailoring the rules to the specific needs of the participants. For example, the national agreement covering urban and suburban transportation establishes the principle that during a strike, service must be guaranteed for six hours a day at â€Å"peak times.† The local agreements then specify the definition of peak times and indicate the number of employees required to guarantee the service, as well as the way of selecting those employees. The Italian experience demonstrates, albeit in a different setting, that bargaining is likely to occur on the issue of the regulation of strike activity when and if the proper legal framework and structure is provided to the parties. Although I am not advocating the adoption of the Italian model in the United States, I believe that it provides some hope that a negotiations approach to the striker replacement issue of the kind we have here could bring positive net results to unions, employees, employers, and the general public. In sum, the striker replacement issue and the outlawing or legislative over ­ ruling of the Mackay doctrine are highly controversial and command considerable attention. The issue is, as exemplified in the strike during the fall of 1993 at American Airlines, fraught with emotion, with one side decrying the â€Å"union-busting hiring of scabs† and the other pronouncing the right to hire permanent striker replacements as essential to the preservation of free enterprise and a free society. Though, economic  efficiency of the Mackay doctrine as it currently operates, I would however, dispute the debate that the Mackay doctrine promotes â€Å"economic efficiency.† In particular, I content that employees that have made firm-specific investments are â€Å"inefficiently† vulnerable to an employer’s opportunistic behavior given the ability of employers to permanently replace such workers during a strike. To reform this situation I advocate: (1) the repeal of the Mackay doctrine, thereby granting unions protection against the hiring of permanent replacements; and (2) requiring that the issue of striker replacements be explicitly made a †mandatory† bargaining subject under the NLRA, with any agreements regarding this issue clearly surviving contract expiration. With the 1990 Italian strike regulation statute serving as a general model, the idea is that the resolution of this controversial issue can be most efficiently accomplished through negotiations between the parties themselves. I highly recommend these proposed statutory reforms to Congress and others currently studying reforms of the NLRA. There are however, differences, advantages and disadvantages between private and public sector strikes. (Budd, 2013) â€Å"Prohibiting public sector strikes is rooted in several traditional beliefs: that striking against the government is an unacceptable threat to the supreme authority of the government, that public sector employee bargaining power is too high there are no markets-based checks on their demand, and that government services are too critical to be interrupted†. Advantages and Disadvantages to Public Sector Bargaining From the perspective of the public sector union and the workers they represent there can be seen a number of advantages and disadvantages to bargaining in an environment like the public sector. Advantages: A few of the advantages available to union bargaining representatives seem simplistic in nature, but there is a definite advantage present. First of all, public sector employers do not have the option of relocating. One very important bargaining advantage possessed by public sector unions concerns the mopolistic nature of public services. Public sector labor can exert more pressure than can their private sector counterparts because there are generally few good substitutes available for public services, and any withholding of these services will immediately be felt by those depending upon the service. This increases the incentive for public employers and managers to settle with the union and avoid any action by the union which might result in their having to face an angry public. In case of impasse and strikes occurs: Advantages available to public sector unions and employees as a bargaining tool is the potential that a strike can have as a bargaining weapon in some ways the strike has the potential for being more formidable tactic for the public worker than for private sector unions. For many government services there are few good substitutes available for the service. When the service is denied by a public worker job action, then the public has few available alternatives to turn to in place of the service. The greater the inconveniences to the public brought about by the strike, the greater is the pressure up on the public employer to make concessions and end the work stoppage. Unions can also strikes in the public sector so that they occur when they are the most politically effective. This also increase the incentive for an early settlement. In short, the effectiveness of the public sector strike depends upon public opinion and consequent political pressure that would coerce management in the public sector to concede to the demands of labor. Disadvantages: So far it may seem that labor has controlling advantages in terms of the public sector bargaining relationship, but some very definite disadvantages also face unions in the public sector. The political process and decision approval in the levels of benefits to public workers go through political process. Public managers have far less authority and flexibility in their decision making than do their private sector partners, and the decision making process may take place far away from the actual agency. Strikes in the public sector, labor relations, and the issue which is most controversial and elicits the most attention is the strike issue. In the  past, public sector workers have frequently resorted to the work stoppage in an attempt to exert pressure on public sector management. These workers actions have net with varying degrees of disfavor from public sector management, and have had mixed results as to being successful. There is an important economic implication of denying public employees the right to engage in a work stoppage. In order for the rights of public workers under collective bargaining to be upheld there must be some sort of cost or incentive for managers to bargain seriously. The public sector strike, however, has a few disadvantages which can keep it from being effective. While strikes in the private sector impose costs upon management by preventing the organization’s operation, strikes in the public sector exert no economic pressure. However, there are alternatives to the strike, the strike has significant potential as a bargaining tool in the public sector, but the problems involved with the strike make it a very risky and unpredictable tool to use. There are a number of alternatives to the strike that perform the same basic function as the strike weapon does, namely, that of protecting the right of public workers to bargain effectively. These alternatives also have the added advantage of protecting the rights of public sector employers as well as the general public. Such alternatives are not equal in effectiveness, however, and each possesses its own unique advantages and disadvantages over other types of dispute resolution. Fact Finding: finding is used, the two parties to a dispute select a neutral third party to act to investigate the dispute and to submit recommendations as to the proper course of action. It is not the job of the fact finder to reach an agreement on the dispute. It is important to note that the fact finder’s report is advisory and not binding in nature. One or both of the parties to the dispute may reject the recommendations of the fact finder. The fact finder’s report, however, will become a part of the public record, and if one party has taken an unreasonable stance in bargaining this will soon become apparent to all. In public service industries sensitive to public opinion, the threat of publication is particularly effective as an incentive to bargain in good faith. Another alternative is the mediator who acts as an advisor in bargaining to both parties, and uses his own persuasive influence and other techniques available to him to bring the  parties to an agreemen t