Work on Bax's article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Work on Bax's article - Essay Example Bax also noticed the inconsistencies in the analysis of Warschauer as he does not give precise dates and a comprehensive list of his sources and this is actually true as Warschauer does his analysis with no clear-cut objective. Bax’s analysis is more useful as it gives a more accurate account on not only the history of CALL, but also gives us a fundamental understanding of it. Bax helps us to understand the reasons that some events took place in the history of CALL and gives us a glimpse into what could likely take place in the future with regards to Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). Warshauer’s analysis show significant discrepancy in several publications and this is another factor that makes his analysis unreliable. Bax noted that Warschauer’s Structural CALL was formerly called Behaviouristic CALL (Bax 2003, p.15). The discrepancies in the dates of Warschauer’s analysis are also something that invalidates his work. Thus, Bax's analysis seem to be more useful than that of Warschauer as it corrects the anomalies noticed in the work of Warschauer and provides a more authentic account on Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). Bax’s analysis seem to be less confusing than that of Warchauer as it gives a solid and chronological account of the CALL software and this is another reason that the analysis of Bax is useful than that of Warcshauer.

Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Crime - Essay Example Expressive crimes (e.g., rape) are committed for the sake of expected pleasure; instrumental crimes (e.g., burglary) mainly for the sake of expected gain. Both often can be deterred by disincentives -- the fear of pain the threat of punishment. To the criminal, the cost of a crime is the risk of punishment. Not what is threatened by the law, but the punishment he risks given his actual chances of being convicted and imprisoned At present the actual punishment is much lower: 6 to 7 days per burglary, roughly 2 years per murder, 6 months per rape, 2 months per robbery; aggravated assault costs 8 to 9 days; car theft 2 to 3 days. These risks still deter many prospective criminals, but are too low to reduce the crime rate. Most people are not aware of how small the actual chance of punishment is; but professional criminals are. It is what makes the career attractive. They know that on average they will serve no more than 40 per cent of their sentence, and that most of them will not serve at all--they are rarely caught. Some people become criminals because small offenses are not dealt with effectively. In our childhood, most humans learn that there are social limits to their natural aggression. While some are inherently more aggressive than others, virtually all humans have a potential for becoming aggressive. This is due to a rich genetic past which favored aggression in early humans. Humans still have the remnants of a reptilian brain that told its host, "kill, eat, reproduce." Family structures and functioning have crucial impacts on socialization, the capacity for symbolic interaction, self-concepts. Families are primary agents of socialization are tempting to consider as direct causal agents of crime. All except a handful of jurisdictions recognize the immediacy of this connection in "contributing to delinquency" statutes, parental liability laws, and a number of other restitution schemes. Many criminological theories (social disorganization, social learning, and especially social control) grant the family causal significance. It has been demonstrated statistically significant causal relationships between family contexts and both juvenile and adult crime. Seven family conditions are considered: parental imprisonment, divorce, stepfamilies, adoption, punitive parenting, incompetent parenting, and single parenting. The first four come primarily from what is called the "broken home". Punitive and incompetent parenting have been taken from the literature on dysfunctional families, which are in fact "functionally broken". Single parenting refers to unwed mothering, either by misfortune or choice, the latter not qualifying as either broken or dysfunctional but deviating from the cultural standard of nuclear family structure. Six behavioral outcomes are considered: property crime, violent crime, mental disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction, and status offenses. Through a combination of bad parenting, institutional failure and the weakness of people they learn to exploit, some children grow up learning they can get away with aggressive actions. When they commit offenses that are serious enough for police, courts and social workers to deal with, it is often too late - a cumulative pattern of successful aggression is already established. Some causes are uncontrollable, for e.g. the age of the population: the more young males, the more

Devaluation and its impact on different economic sectors

Devaluation and its impact on different economic sectors We are proudly presenting the assigned report. We hope you will find it up to the specified mark. The central thrust of this report is about devaluation and its impact on different sectors of economy. More specifically, this report seeks to analyze the extent to which the current devaluation of Pak rupee has affected the economy on micro as well as macro levels. Information needed to address these issues was obtained from different trade economic journals and also from internet. We also interviewed different professionals and industry people. Well say that this study has been an educating experience, eventually giving us a real sense of achievement. Thank you, Table Of Contents: Description Page # Background and History Devaluation and its functions International Trade and devaluation Foreign exchange Rates International Trade Devaluation and its effects on Export Declining Export and current devaluation Is massive devaluation is avoidable Recent Devaluation and its short term impact Repercussion of competitors devaluation of Pak Economy Advantages and disadvantages of devaluation Recommendations to Govt Conculsion Back Ground and History: Pakistan has unusual history of successive devaluation. The rupee was first devalued in 1950 in response to a similar move by India. Later in 1972, Z.A. Bhuttos government massively devalued the rupee by 133%. The rupee was further devalued in early 1980s during General Zia regime. Moeen Qureshis caretaker government in 1993 also devalued the rupee by 7%. After that it was Benazir Bhuttos government that further devalued the rupee and finally same measure are being taken by the present government of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan has been on a system of managed float since January 8, 1982. For most of the past decade the rupee had been fixed in relation to the US dollar at the rate of Rs 9.9= US$1. The new exchange regime commenced with an official nominal depreciation of 5 percent in the month of January, and a cumulative 30 % for the year 1982. This was accompanied by the abandonment of the fixed peg to the US dollar and its replacement by a flexible basket peg whereby the authorities manage the nominal exchange rate actively. The exchange rate system has remained unlettered up to the present and the Government has periodically re-affirmed its commitment to this flexible management in stabilization and adjustment programs negotiated with the IMF. Since the introduction of the new system there has been a continuous downward slide in our exchange rate. At present the rate of Pak RS in 2010. This represents a depreciation of 260 percent since Devaluation and its function: Depreciation or devaluation refers to the downward movement of the rate at which the home currency exchanges against the foreign currency or an increase in the domestic price of one unit of the foreign currency. Depreciation is the name given to this drop when it occurs in a free market; devaluation is the same thing resulting from government actions in a market that is not free. Since 1973 most of the currencies are on the floating currency system, through the system of dirty floating still allows government/ central banks to interfere to some extent. The question of devaluing the external value of the currency is one of the hotly debated issues in public policy discussions. On the one hand, the IMF and the World Bank supports devaluation as an important component of their recommended policy package for less developed countries (LDCs). On the other hand many economist and economic policy makers are strongly opposed to devaluing currencies has become a dirty word in many countries. Technically, devaluation of a currency is the last resort when other fiscal and monetary measures like demand management , financial incentive, trade restrictions have proved to be less effective in solving problem of balance of payment, by boosting the countrys exports and decreasing imports. In countries like Pakistan where major economic problem is lack of growth, exports are low because of poor quality of goods rather than the value of the currency. The mechanism of the open market keeps on adjusting exchange rate automatically and has made devaluation obsolete. Balancing Mechanism: Basically devaluation is a measure to correct a fundamental disequilibrium in countrys balance of payments. Equilibrium in a countrys balance is a result of restraint on imports and foreign payments of all sorts and an expansion of exports and foreign exchange earning of all sorts. The restraint on import cannot be achieved through appeals. It has to be done through direct restriction and/or through operation of the price mechanism, that is to say through making imports costlier by operating on import duties, and this in fact has been extensively done in many developing countries, including Pakistan. However, this is open to some objections and limitations so a simple way of making imports costlier is not adjustment of the exchange rate. The entire burden of making imports costlier is not generally placed on the exchange rate mechanism. It is shared by the device of import duties and also quantitative regulations. The import duty mechanism can also be used to make transition to the n ew exchange rate and to give a certain amount of discretionary treatment to individual items of import. The Price Factor: The other major objective of devaluation is to promote export. It should be noted that what is contemplated is an increase in exports in foreign exchange; in term of domestic currency. Exports on the whole will have to increase by more than the percentage of devaluation. Expansion of exports depends upon a number of factors, the elasticity of supply in devaluing country and of demand for the products of that country abroad. Much depends on the prices at which the devaluing country is able to offer its goods. Contractionary Impact: Reluctance to adjust the exchange rate in downward direction is due to its possible contractionary impact on output and employment, re-distribution of income from wages earner to property owners, cost-push inflationary pressure and the initial favourable effect on the balance of payment. All of the above will eventually reserved through a process of domestic inflation and larger imports. When quantitative controls on imports duties are reduced along with the devaluation, imports and exports are not particularly sensitive to price changes especially in the short run. This is particularly applicable in the case of UDCs whose imports are often consist of essential capital goods, intermediate inputs including fuel and fertilizer and sometimes basic consumer goods like food grains, edible oils etc. There is little scope for cutting down these imports. The exports of UDCs on the other hand mainly consist of primary commodities and processed materials whose supply elasticity are rather low in short run. If devaluation has to improve the balance of trade in short run, it should come through a reduction in the level of output and changes in the distribution of income towards high saver which would reduce the demand for imports and generate a bigger exportable surplus. Recession, unemployment and unequal distribution of income are the costs of a successful devaluation. Inflationary Pressure: The ineffective of exchange rate adjustment in securing improvement in the external balance primarily comes from the fact that changes in costs arising from exchange rate movements feed through quickly and extensively into the economy and contribution to the accerlation of prevailing inflationary pressure associated with an improvement of the monetary conditions. The rigid climb in price over a long period has stimulated defensive inflationary responses amoung industrialists, agriculturalist, business mens, and wage earner and has nullified the impact of exchange rate adjustments on the international competitiveness of our exports. It should be taken into account that devaluation corrects the past inflationary and other economic development that led to adverse movement in the balance of payment. This does not protect the balance of payments against further inflationary and other adverse developments. Frequent devaluation of a currency is undesirable. It stimulates speculation and res ults in distortion in income, consumption, industrial growth and public finance. This also erodes the confidence in the currency. DEMAND Management: Unfortunately, for keeping our external accounts disequilibrium within sustainable limits, we have relied rather heavily on exchange rate adjustment and not paid attention to the efficiency dimension of our economic system. Economic efficiency at the macro and micro levels requires high productivity, technological efficiency, high rates of saving and investment, and incomes policy that does not lead to cost-push inflation and fiscal-monetary policy that provides a stable environment for careful demand management. These are the simple and inflexible economic laws that were recognized and grasped. Neither negative controls nor artificial stimuli like frequent depreciation of external value of the currency with help except a little and temporarily. International trade and Devaluation: Globalization is the strategy of todays world. The concept of information sharing has reinforced the process of globalization throughout the world. The consultant and analysts are, therefore, working on the integration of the entire system to run smoothly without any hindrances. Looking at the economic activity in this scenario, there is two major classifications, good and services. The globalization of goods can be seen in the prospective of international trade. By international trade we mean exchange of goods between the nations. Looking at the economies of the world we find that the states are broadening their activities by offering investors to share their share of excellence and encouraging their local manufacture to explore the possibilities of selling their goods in the foreign markets. International trade is very important in terms of increasing the foreign exchange of the country which ultimately prospers the people. The Government of Pakistan has liberalized its trade policy with devaluation of Pak rupee and encouraged the manufacturers to export their goods and invited foreign companies to compete in the local market. The key reason for international trade is provided by the theory of Comparative costs importance of relative cost saving in the production of one item over the other. Obviously it would be better to buy a product from china at the price of Rs 1/= instead of producing it at the cost of Rs. 2/- that can be ultimately be sold for Rs 2.50 in the market. There are various other reasons which strongly support the trading among the countries, few of which are: Decreasing cost Consumption of excess production Difference in taste Foreign Exchange rate: From international trade, we mean buying and selling the goods among nations. The deal cannot, of-course, be taken place without availability of currency to be accepted by the seller, on the other hand an exporter/importer would definitely like to know how the exchange rate of Pakistan rupee into dollar is being fixed, and how can her benefit from it?. At present in Pakistan we have managed float of currency to determine exchange rate as an independent policy instrument. We need some criteria to fix the exchange of currency amoung the countries. It is important to note that only a favourable exchange can really benefits the nation and by favourable exchange, we mean, getting more foreign currency by paying less local currency. Theoretically there are two type of exchange rates: Stable Exchange rate: Altough stable exchange rate has no pratical value now a days, yet it helps in understanding the determination of exchange theory. A stable exchange rate was set by the value of gold. However, with passage of time, the limitation and deficiencies of gold standard started emerging. Few of these were carrying inconvencies, remelting of gold, shipment of gold, different valuation of gold by different countries, and unavailability of sufficient gold to meet with the heavy demand. That is why the gold system was found inadequate ans was replaced with the flexible exchange rate. Flexible or floating exchange rate: Flexible exchange rate is set by the interaction of demand and supply schedule for foreign exchange indepently. The optimum level in demand and supply teory is set at the point where supply equal to the demand. So if a person want to buy electric equipment from America worth $ 100000/- and an American in contrast wants to buy cotton and the parity between US$ and Pak rupee is 1:1, the equation will be somehow similar to as follows: Demand for US$ by Pakistan 100,000 Demand for Rs. By America 50,000 Pakistan is demanding more dollars than America wants to supply. The demand and supply are not in balance, consequently Pakistan shall have to refix the parity between $ and rupee at a level where our demand for $ will become equal to the supply of $. Now if we reduce the price of our goods by half of the existing price: Demand for US$ by Pakistan 100,000 Demand of Rs by America 25,000 This reduction price will have dual effects: Dollas will become more expensive, the American goods will become more costly. Pakistani Rupee will become more cheaper, our goods will become cheaper and as a result the demand for our goods will increase. From the above it can be included that demans for imports should be in line with supply of exports. Total value of imports and exports of a country can also help manufacturers to design their plans for future expansion. With an expensive foreign currency, export may be increased with relatively low price supply of goods and quality production within the country. At the same time with a cheap currency investment can be made in foreign countries to utilize the cheap resources and ultimately increases the value of the firm. DEVALUATION its effects on Exports: As the reason for the devaluation has been to strengthen the countrys balance of payment by stimulating exports, curtailing imports and by encouraging overseas Pakistanis to remit their earning through banks by narrowing the wedge between the official exchange rate and the kerb rate in the open market. It is universally accepted concept that the exchange rate mechanism is used to create a balance between the imports and exports but what is lesser known fact is that this mechanism need to be implemented at the right time and for the right economic reasons to be fully effective in achieving the desired purpose. Advantages and Disadvantages of Devaluation Advantages of Devaluation Devaluation helps in obtaining international market demand perfection in quality and reduction in price up to a competitive level. As both developed and underdeveloped countries function in one international market therefore, it is not easy for Pakistan to sell a product which is also produced by France, Germany or Holland if the prices are high. However, we are competing with the underdeveloped countries, it is, therefore, very necessary for us to adjust our prices with the prices of our competitors to serve in the market. Every new product has four stages, out of which the first stage is introduction stage. An introduction stage demands lot of efforts to promote the product and create awareness among the buyers. At this stage it is vital to sell it at even below the cost. That is why the government provides certain duty drawbacks for a specified period, until that time when the product is self-sufficient. Each country maintains an account for its total imports exports schedule along with balance of payment chart. At times when its imports increase from its exports and the balance of payment deteriorates it becomes vital to increase its exports immediately. The reduction in prices is one of the quickest ways of increasing the exports. At times when people tend to buy imported goods and local industry start suffering, it is necessary to discourage the people so that they cut down their expenditure towards foreign buying and direct towards local goods. Devaluation is one of the techniques to decrease imports and encourage the local industry. Reduction in price through devaluation has long term effects, which can be seen over a period of time. All the above conditions are currently prevailing in Pakistan. However the question arises as to why all these conditions have comparatively more drastic affects on our economy. The answer to this question relates to our policy of income projection and receipt from foreign donors and countries. In the past, we were used to manage our budgetary gaps with the help of aids and debts. But this time the situation is different we could not did any foreign source of income. The IMF was used to extend loans for our development programs in the past. However, during the current year the IMF had stopped its $300 million trench of its ESAF credit. The result is quite obvious: devaluation and imposition of new duties/taxes Disadvantages of Devaluation Devaluation with all its disadvantages has become an irregular policy. It is rater an ad-hoc arrangement for less demand. Instead imperfect planning is essential to forecast the future when the original price level will be maintained again. Devaluation involves high risk of inflation with the country for e.g if the exports do not increase as the result of decrease of price the country will suffer losses due to increase cost of all imports as well as local imports. Loss resulted due to decrease in prices in international market. Devaluation automatically increases the value of external debts and correspondingly the amount required for debt servicing Devaluation of a currency is considered as a last step to be taken after failure of all other fiscal and monetary measures. Before devaluing currency to boost economy through increasing exports, other factors need to be evaluated, for example, lower exports may be because of poor quality of goods, trade barrier, lower value added goods, unavailability of export items e.t.c Continued depreciation of currency may result in unlawful import of goods within the country. Such unlawful import and export may creat unlawful parallel economy within the country, which will be completely out of the control of the government. Devaluation is always supported by special incentive package to reduce the internally produced items for export. By critically analyzing all the above referred factors, it is proposed that the following necessary action should be taken to improve the situation: Tax Network should be enhanced by a) levying tax on agriculture, b) improving collection procedure, c) bringing small businessmen under tax nutshell etc. Imports should be discouraged by encouraging locally produced quality goods. Export of value added items should be increased instead of increase of low value exports to compete with the other developing countries. Needless to say that government should reduce drastically its own expenditure. It is vital for government to build up its creditability through investing money in public projects very honestly. The proceed from privatization of public sectors should be utilized to pay off our external as well as internal debts. Rescheduling of the debt should also be requested from the lenders. In case of our low priced items in the international market, we should prove that the reason of our low price quality items is not government support but cost efficiency. This can be done only with the help of very competent professional people i.e management accounts, engineers and managers. With the current devaluation, it is vital that necessary incentives must be given to industry and fixed income group for their survival and to reap the benefit of devaluation. The government should build capacity to deal with economics problems on both macro and micro level. It is generally believed that the government does not possess necessary capabilities, out of elected representative and bureaucrats to deal with it. That is why most of our key position holder is either current of Ex World Bank/IMF officials. It is also suggested that major businessmen and industrialist should be taken into confidence before any major decision. Effectiveness of price control committees very necessary. In countries like Pakistan where every individual has the power to determine the price of his own product, inflation is automatically multiplied Conclusions Clearly, devaluation has not been the answer. It has rather contributed to a further increase in the trade gap. The important consequences of devaluation are the burden it is putting on the repayment of the foreign debts. The ensuing depletion of reserves has such a negative effect that the positive impact, if any, is more than wiped out by the increased foreign exchange burden. Reviewing the policy of devaluation by successive governments in the last 50 years, one finds that devaluation has miserably failed to resolve any problems or improve the macro or micro economic conditions in the country. Rather, devaluation has been counterproductive. In the existing scenario of the forces of demand and supply, the rupee is expected to continue with its downward trend. If the counter measures through cost cutting and efficiency management are not taken to check the inflation, which is already running in double digit, the advantages of devaluation will be offset as in the past, leaving adverse impacts as our economy which mainly depends on imported raw-materials, fuels and capital goods. That will certainly bring more hardships for common Pakistani people because our industry has substantial imported inputs in a wide range of locally produced goods and will also retard the process of industrialization in the country. Similarly defense budget and debt servicing will c ost more due to costlier dollar. Our main problem is still uncontrolled i.e. the rise in non-development expenditures, which has given rise to the culture of living beyond means. This can be countered by adoption of practical harsh measures by the government especially at the top level to set the example for the whole nation.

The Revolutionary Aftermath of the Civil War Essay -- Racism Discrimin

The Revolutionary Aftermath of the Civil War Despite many hardships that remained from the antebellum state of the union, reconstruction was a socially and constitutionally revolutionary period. The attempts to deter black voters were greatly outweighed by the numbers of blacks voting, as well as the laws that were passed to protect the rights of American citizens, black and white alike. The years after the war saw a rise in the number of human rights laws that were passed, most of which were primarily focused on blacks, but included whites as well. In document D, Gideon Welles stated that the national government didn’t hold the power to grant suffrage to anyone, nor had it shown any interest in the matter. Because of this, the state governments were able to enact black codes which restrained citizens, both black and white, from voting because they were illiterate or because they weren’t of a high enough economic status. This later changed as blacks became more active in government and voiced their upset to the national government, as shown by Document C. B...

Rewrite-the Cask of Amontillado Essay

It was in the middle of carnival season when Montresor approached me. In retrospect, I should have noticed the deviant twinkle in his eye. Alas, it was a time of celebration, and I had had much to drink, which seemed to deter me from Montresor’s true intentions that evening. At the time, I was enjoying myself at the carnival festivities, wearing the attire of a jester, complete with cap and bells. Montresor approached me and I was delighted to see him. We chatted, and he informed me that he had purchased a pipe of Amontillado. He told me that he was not certain as to whether or not it was true Amontillado and asked me to look at it for him. Being a connoisseur of fine wines, I was intrigued. Montresor then noted that, since I was occupied, he was going to call upon Luchresi to assist him with his dilemma. I was quite taken aback by this, as Luchresi cannot compare to my taste. Montresor was about to depart, but I was adamant and won my way to Montresor’s vaults. I subsequently grabbed Montresor’s arm, and we made our way to his dwelling. Once again, I should have perceived right away that something was about, considering the entire home was empty. However, I brushed it off, assuming that all of the help was out being merry. Montresor obtained two candles off the wall, handing one to me, and we made our way down into the catacombs. By this point, the intoxication I was experiencing seemed to worsen. Holding onto Montresor for support, I inquired as to how far we would be going. He informed me that20it was much farther down, and, as I looked at the nitre upon the walls of the murky and sodden catacomb, a coughing fit took hold of me. It was then that Montresor attempted to have us turn back. However, his diligent attempts at making me turn around just made me want to go forward even more. I was not about to willingly allow Luchresi to take my spot as the finest wine connoisseur in the area. Handing me a leak of Medoc, we continued down the dingy catacombs. He would continue to feed me wines for the duration of the walk, all the while my intoxication worsening. For much of our journey, the only sound to be heard was that of the bells upon my hat jingling, along with our footsteps. Looking back on the evening, I ought to have realized something was stirring in Montresor’s head. The morose look on his face worsened with each step we took. At last, we made it to the Amontillado.

Alcon Gove PTY Limited

The economic valuation principles highlights the bottom line of any energy efficient or cost saving measure that will determine whether to proceed with a specific implementation (Anon n. d. ). The company ensures that in all cases when necessary they prevent, minimise, mitigate and remediate potential harmful effects of the Group's operations on the environment (Rio Tinto 2010). The company has been very much proactive with the program of Greenhouse Challenge and since 2001 they even voluntarily submitted its annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory.Since Rio Tinto Alcan Gove’s operations as a whole expends a lot of energy they continuously identify energy efficiency improvement projects prior to the of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act (Australian Government Dept of resources, energy and Tourism 2009). According to the company on their Sustainable development review, their focus on providing sound governance and high standards of conduct in which they felt that this wo uld give a competitive advantage over the industry.They are an active member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) for the purpose of providing leadership on scientific and policy matters, consistent communication with all stakeholders and promote applying the sustainable development principles to promote best practice performance standards (Rio Tinto 2010). Just recently an example of this activity was displayed.When the company plans to invest $340 million in a molybdenum facility, in which has the capability of processing a lower-grade molybdenum concentrate to be processed more efficiently than through conventional roasters, basically this facility is much more safer and reliable to use for its employees and produces a more high quality product that even its by-products can be utilized which will be also beneficial for Rio Tinto (Utah Pulse 2010). 2- What will be the impact on the consumer of the product or serviceThe impact based on these strategies and polic ies employed internally by Alcan Gove will actually benefit all consumers for its products and services. By being cautious regarding safety and mitigating risks for environment, Rio Tinto displays its integrity by building this foundation of compliance with relevant local laws and regulations and international standards. Consumers tend to choose a company that offers a good quality product that also has done measures to ensure that overall business operations reduces or better yet prevent risks to safety and damaging effects on the environment.3-How might consumer behaviour affects the business's profitability in general terms Consumer behavior definitely has great effects on any overall business profitability. People’s needs and expectations drive demand, and based on statistics on industries especially for developing economies the growth rate in terms of this market can be related to potential significant sales for Alcan Gove (United Nations 2005).Another thing that may imp act demand is the perception of Alcan Gove’s consistent measures to ensure safety for its employees and reduction on environmental impacts, this will create a reflection on how concerned the company is on its surroundings which translates better to the behavior of overall consumers to purchase from them. 4-How could the business respond to these changes to minimise their impact and maximise the benefit to stakeholdersThe company should maintain their strategy on sustainable development, and guarantee that their operations and products as well will be continuously used and developed appropriately throughout their lifecycle. Another strategy that can be employed is on reduction of environmental footprint of their operations, which includes making sure that balancing the impact of overall operations with enhanced environmental outcomes, economic development and overall efficiency of operations.For various types of stakeholders, instant and significant monetary gains may not be e xpected as early as now, but with the continuous improvements focusing on sustainable development and steady growth, stakeholders will reap those rewards soon. References Anon (n. d). Economic Evaluation Principles. [Online] Available from . [27 May 2010] Rio Tinto. (2010). Environmental stewardship.[Online] Available from < http://www. riotinto. com/ourapproach/17194_environmental_stewardship. asp> [27 May 2010] Australian Government Dept of resources, Energy and Tourism (2009). Alcan Gove Pty Limited, Energy Efficiency Opportunities Public Report 2009. [PDF] United Nations (2005). World Population Prospects. [PDF] Utah Pulse. (2010). Rio Tinto to invest $340m in molybdenum facility. [Online] Available from >. [27 May 2010]

Speech (Linguistics) Definition and Examples

Speech (Linguistics) Definition and Examples In linguistics, speech is a system of  communication  that uses spoken words  (or sound symbols).   The study of speech sounds (or spoken language) is the branch of linguistics known as phonetics. The study of sound changes in a language is phonology.For a discussion of speeches in rhetoric and oratory, see Speech (Rhetoric). Etymology:  From the Old English, to speak Studying Language Without Making Judgements Many people believe that written language is more prestigious than spoken languageits form is likely to be closer to Standard English, it dominates education and is used as the language of public administration. In linguistic terms, however, neither speech nor writing can be seen as superior. Linguists are more interested in observing and describing all forms of language in use than in making social and cultural judgements with no linguistic basis.(Sara Thorne, Mastering Advanced English Language, 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008) Speech Sounds and Duality The very simplest element of speechand by speech we shall henceforth mean the auditory system of speech symbolism, the flow of spoken wordsis the individual sound, though, . . . the sound is not itself a simple structure but the resultant of a series of independent, yet closely correlated, adjustments in the organs of speech.(Edward Sapir, Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech, 1921)Human language is organized at two levels or layers simultaneously. This property is called duality (or double articulation). In speech production, we have a physical level at which we can produce individual sounds, like n, b and i. As individual sounds, none of these discrete forms has any intrinsic meaning. In a particular combination such as bin, we have another level producing a meaning that is different from the meaning of the combination in nib. So, at one level, we have distinct sounds, and, at another level, we have distinct meanings. This duality of levels is, in fact, one of the most economical features of human language because, with a limited set of discrete sounds, we are capable of producing a very large number of sound combinations (e.g. words) which are distinct in meaning.(George Yule, The Study of Language, 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2006) Approaches to Speech Once we decide to begin an analysis of speech, we can approach it on various levels. At one level, speech is a matter of anatomy and physiology: we can study organs such as tongue and larynx in the production of speech. Taking another perspective, we can focus on the speech sounds produced by these organsthe units that we commonly try to identify by letters, such as a b-sound or an m-sound. But speech is also transmitted as sound waves, which means that we can also investigate the properties of the sound waves themselves. Taking yet another approach, the term sounds is a reminder that speech is intended to be heard or perceived and that it is therefore possible to focus on the way in which a listener analyzes or processes a sound wave.(J. E. Clark and C. Yallop, An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology. Wiley-Blackwell, 1995) Parallel Transmission Because so much of our lives in a literate society has been spent dealing with speech recorded as letters and text in which spaces do separate letters and words, it can be extremely difficult to understand that spoken language simply does not have this characteristic. . . . [A]lthough we write, perceive, and (to a degree) cognitively process speech linearlyone sound followed by anotherthe actual sensory signal our ear encounters is not composed of discretely separated bits. This is an amazing aspect of our linguistic abilities, but on further thought one can see that it is a very useful one. The fact that speech can encode and transmit information about multiple linguistic events in parallel means that the speech signal is a very efficient and optimized way of encoding and sending information between individuals. This property of speech has been called parallel transmission.(Dani Byrd and Toben H. Mintz, Discovering Speech, Words, and Mind. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010) Oliver Goldsmith on the True Nature of Speech It is usually said by grammarians, that the use of language is to express our wants and desires; but men who know the world hold, and I think with some show of reason, that he who best knows how to keep his necessities private is the most likely person to have them redressed; and that the true use of speech is not so much to express our wants, as to conceal them.(Oliver Goldsmith, On the Use of Language. The Bee, October 20, 1759) Pronunciation: SPEECH

Biography of Fulgencio Batista, Cuban President and Dictator

Biography of Fulgencio Batista, Cuban President and Dictator Fulgencio Batista (Jan. 16, 1901–Aug. 6, 1973) was a Cuban army officer who rose to the presidency on two occasions, from 1940–1944 and 1952–1958. He also held a great deal of national influence from 1933 to 1940, although he did not at that time hold any elected office. He is perhaps best remembered as the Cuban president who was overthrown by Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution of 1953–1959. Fast Facts: Fulgencio Batista Known For: President of Cuba, 1940- 1944 and 1952–1958.Born: January 16, 1901, Banes, Cuba.Parents: Belisario Batista Palermo and Carmela Zaldà ­var Gonzles (1886- 1916).Died: August 6, 1973, Guadalmina, SpainEducation: Quaker grade school in Banes, 4th grade.Spouse(s): Elisa Godinez (m. 1926- 1946); Marta Fernandez Miranda (m. 1946–1973).Children: 8. Early Life Fulgencio Batista was born Rubà ©n Fulgencio Batista Zaldà ­var on January 16, 1901, the first of four sons born to Belisario Batista Palermo and Carmela Zaldà ­var Gonzles, in the Veguitas section of Banes, in Cubas northeastern Oriente province. Belisario had fought in the Cuban war of independence against Spain under General Jose Maceo, and he was a sugar cane cutter employed by a local contractor for the United Fruit Company. The family was poor, and the relationship between Fulgencio Batista and his father was not good, and so Fulgencio took it upon himself to raise, educate and care for his younger brothers Juan (born 1905), Hermelindo (b. 1906), and Francisco (b. 1911).  Ã‚   Fulgencio began studying at the age of ten at the Quaker school in Banes when it opened in September, 1911. The mostly Cuban students were taught in Spanish, and Batista graduated in 1913 with a fourth-grade education. After he graduated, he worked in the sugar cane fields with his father, and in the off-season in a variety of small jobs in town, including as apprentice to a barber and a tailor. His mother died in 1916, and the next year at the age of 15, Fulgencio Batista ran away from home.   Joining the Military During the five years between 1916 and 1921, Batista was frequently destitute, often homeless, and traveled working an odd assortment of jobs until landing a job with the Ferrocarriles del Norte railway in Camagà ¼ey Province. He sent money home when he could, but was nearly killed in an accident at the railroad that left him hospitalized for several weeks and scarred him for life. Although there were late night parties, drinking and womanizing among the railway employees, Batista rarely attended and was instead remembered as a voracious reader.   In 1921, Batista enlisted in the Cuban Army and joined the First Battalion of the 4th Infantry in Havana on April 14, 1921. On July 10, 1926, he married Elisa Godà ­nez Gà ³mez (1905–1993); they would have three children (Ruben, Mirta, and Elisa). Batista was made sergeant in 1928, and worked as an army stenographer as General Machados chief of Staff, General Herrera. Collapse of the Machado Government Batista was a young sergeant in the army when the repressive government of General Gerardo Machado fell apart in 1933. The charismatic Batista organized the so-called â€Å"Sergeant’s Rebellion† of non-commissioned officers and seized control of the armed forces. By making alliances with student groups and unions, Batista was able to put himself in a position where he was effectively ruling the country. He eventually broke with the student groups, including the Revolutionary Directorate (a student activist group) and they became his implacable enemies. First Presidential Term, 1940–1944 In 1938, Batista ordered a new constitution and ran for president. In 1940 he was elected president in a somewhat crooked election, and his party won a majority in Congress. During his term, Cuba formally entered World War II on the side of the Allies. Although he presided over a relatively stable time and the economy was good, he was defeated in the 1944 elections by Dr. Ramà ³n Grau. His wife Elisa was the First Lady of Cuba, but in October 1945, he divorced her and six weeks later married Marta Fernandez Miranda (1923–2006). They would eventually have five children together (Jorge Luis, Roberto Francisco, Fulgencio Jose, and Marta Maluf, Carlos Manuel). Return to the Presidency Batista and his new wife moved to Daytona Beach in the United States for a while before deciding to re-enter Cuban politics. He was elected senator in 1948 and he and his wife returned to Cuba. He established the Unitary Action Party and ran for president in 1952, assuming that most Cubans had missed him during his years away. Soon, it became apparent that he would lose: he was running a distant third to Roberto Agramonte of the Ortodoxo Party and Dr. Carlos Hevia of the Autà ©ntico party. Fearful of losing entirely his weakening grip on power, Batista and his allies in the military decided to take control of the government by force. Batista had a great deal of support. Many of his former cronies in the military had been weeded out or passed over for promotion in the years since Batista had left: it is suspected that many of these officers may have gone ahead with the takeover even if they had not convinced Batista to go along with it. In the early hours of March 10, 1952, about three months before the election was scheduled, the plotters silently took control of the Camp Columbia military compound and the fort of La Cabaà ±a. Strategic spots such as railways, radio stations, and utilities were all occupied. President Carlos Prà ­o, learning too late of the coup, tried to organize a resistance but could not: he ended up seeking asylum in the Mexican embassy. Batista quickly reasserted himself, placing his old cronies back in positions of power. He publicly justified the takeover by saying that President Prà ­o had intended to stage his own coup in order to remain in power. Young firebrand lawyer Fidel Castro tried to bring Batista to court to answer for the illegal takeover, but was thwarted: he decided that legal means of removing Batista would not work. Many Latin American countries quickly recognized the Batista government and on May 27 the United States also extended formal recognition. Fidel Castro and Revolution Castro, who would likely have been elected to Congress had the elections taken place, had learned that there was no way of legally removing Batista and began organizing a revolution. On July 26, 1953, Castro and a handful of rebels ​attacked the army barracks at Moncada, igniting the Cuban Revolution. The attack failed and Fidel and Raà ºl Castro were jailed, but it brought them a great deal of attention. Many captured rebels were executed on the spot, resulting in a lot of negative press for the government. In prison, Fidel Castro began organizing the 26th of July movement, named after the date of the Moncada assault. Batista had been aware of Castro’s rising political star for some time  and had once even given Castro a $1,000 wedding present in an attempt to keep him friendly. After Moncada, Castro went to jail, but not before publicly making his own trial about the illegal power grab. In 1955 Batista ordered the release of many political prisoners, including those who had attacked Moncada. The Castro brothers went to Mexico to organize the revolution. Batista’s Cuba The Batista era was a golden age of tourism in Cuba. North Americans flocked to the island for relaxation and to stay at the famous hotels and casinos. The American mafia had a strong presence in Havana, and Lucky Luciano lived there for a time. Legendary mobster Meyer Lansky worked with Batista to complete projects, including the Havana Riviera hotel. Batista took a huge cut of all casino takings and amassed millions. Famous celebrities liked to visit and Cuba became synonymous with a good time for vacationers. Acts headlined by celebrities such as Ginger Rogers and Frank Sinatra performed at the hotels. Even American Vice-President Richard Nixon visited. Outside of Havana, however, things were grim. Poor Cubans saw little benefit from the tourism boom and more and more of them tuned into rebel radio broadcasts. As the rebels in the mountains gained strength and influence, Batista’s police and security forces turned increasingly to torture and murder in an effort to root out the rebellion. The universities, traditional centers of unrest, were closed. Exit from Power In Mexico, the Castro brothers found many disillusioned Cubans willing to fight the revolution. They also picked up Argentine doctor  Ernesto â€Å"Chà ©Ã¢â‚¬  Guevara. In November of 1956, they returned to Cuba  on board the yacht Granma. For years they waged a guerrilla war against Batista. The 26th of July movement was joined by others inside Cuba who did their part to destabilize the nation: the Revolutionary Directorate, the student group that Batista had alienated years before, almost assassinated him in March of 1957. Castro and his men controlled huge sections of the country and had their own hospital, schools and radio stations. By late 1958 it was clear that the Cuban Revolution would win, and  when Chà © Guevara’s column captured the city of Santa Clara,  Batista decided it was time to go. On January 1, 1959, he authorized some of his officers to deal with the rebels and he and his wife fled, allegedly taking millions of dollars with him. Death The wealthy exiled president never returned to politics, even though he was still only in his fifties when he fled Cuba. He eventually settled in Portugal and worked for an insurance company. He also wrote several books and died on August 6, 1973, in Guadalmina, Spain. He left eight children, and one of his grandchildren, Raoul Cantero, became a judge on the Florida Supreme Court. Legacy Batista was corrupt, violent and out of touch with his people (or perhaps he simply didn’t care about them). Still, in comparison with fellow dictators such as the Somozas in Nicaragua, the Duvaliers in Haiti or even  Alberto Fujimori  of Peru, he was relatively benign. Much of his money was made by taking bribes and payoffs from foreigners, such as his percentage of the haul from the casinos. Therefore, he looted state funds less than other dictators did. He did frequently order the murder of prominent political rivals, but ordinary Cubans had little to fear from him until the revolution began when his tactics turned increasingly brutal and repressive. The Cuban Revolution was less the result of Batista’s cruelty, corruption, and indifference than it was of Fidel Castro’s ambition. Castro’s charisma, conviction, and ambition are singular: he would have clawed his way to the top or died trying. Batista was in Castro’s way, so he removed him. That’s not to say that Batista did not help Castro greatly. At the time of the revolution, most Cubans despised Batista, the exceptions being the very wealthy who were sharing in the loot. Had he shared Cuba’s new wealth with his people, organized a return to democracy and improved conditions for the poorest Cubans, Castro’s revolution might never have taken hold. Even Cubans who have fled Castro’s Cuba and constantly rail against him rarely defend Batista: perhaps the only thing they agree on with Castro is that Batista had to go. Sources Argote-Freyre. Fulgencio Batista: The Making of a Dictator. Vol. 1: From Revolutionary to Strongman. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2006. Batista y Zaldivar, Fulgencio. Cuba Betrayed. Literary Licensing, 2011.   Castaà ±eda, Jorge C.  Compaà ±ero: the Life and Death of Che Guevara. New York: Vintage Books, 1997. Coltman, Leycester. The Real Fidel Castro. Kindle Edition, Thistle Publishing, December 2, 2013. Whitney, Robert W. Appointed by Destiny: Fulgencio Batista and the Disciplining of the Cuban Masses, 1934–1936.  State and Revolution in Cuba: Mass Mobilization and Political Change, 1920–1940. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2001. 122–132.

All Hail the Weirdos

The places the make me content are the endless rows of books at a library, a whimsical town in a Sarah Addison Allen novel, and a multitude of other places. There is not just one place that makes me content, the world is filled with amazing places from the Parthenon to Buckingham Palace. How could I choose just one? In these places I experience a rush of happiness that keeps my soul warm for a moment of bliss. The only thing that can keep that warmth and content pulsing through my veins are my friends. Wherever they are I will always be. Half the time, my hands begin to twitch with anger and annoyance when my friends come around, ready at a moments notice to slap them silly. But that annoyance easily gives away to laughter and smiles. Its because we CAN annoy and poke fun at each other that we are close friends. After all, its when my friends are not making fun of me that I need to worry. However, there is a second layer to my group of lovable morons which makes me want keep them in my arms for eternity. My friends were raised in chaotic households that could even make the most hardened criminal grimace. We often laugh and joke about the peculiar experiences weve had because of the deranged families we were born into. But, sometimes those laughs turn to faces stained with tears and heartache, this is when the meaning behind my friendships clearly emerges. We have been brought together through hell and high water to pick up the pieces of each others lives when we fall apart, we are the sticky glue that holds each other together. That and loads of inappropriate jokes fueled by plenty of Swedish Fish. I am perfectly content in any place as long as my friends are there as well. We always help each other through every strange problem and we always make each other laugh until our sides hurt at every strange joke. None of our lives are even close to perfect, and I would nev er want it any other way.

OBLIGATIONS A Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

OBLIGATIONS A - Essay Example re contractual relationship.3 In the milieu of lengthy negotiations between the contracting parties, it becomes difficult to establish whether the contract has been formed and the time when it becomes effective or the conditions under which it was formed.4 This document examines a case study involving a negotiation between Andalasia and Arundel PLC to determine whether their negotiations could be construed as offer and acceptance leading to a legal agreement. A contract must have an offer by from one party to the contract that must be accepted by the other party to signify mutual consent to form a legal agreement.5 Offer expresses the willingness of one party to enter into an agreement with another party under the terms specified in the offer and which the other party must accept outright. The offer must communicate their intention to the other party whose acceptance forms the basis of the legal relationship.6 The acceptance of an offer should not alter the terms of an offer a condition referred as â€Å"mirror image rule.†7 However, in case the party to whom the offer is made introduces new terms as the prerequisite for acceptance that will amount to counteroffer that is tantamount to rejection of the offer.8 As described in the principle of UNIDROIT, a contract can be established by an acceptance of an offer or conduct of the parties as long as they are sufficient to demonstrate agreement.9 The parties intending to form a contra ct must demonstrate their intentions to be legally bound before a contract is recognized as binding. In addition, there should be the consideration between the parties forming a contract though it needs not be adequate.10 Consideration could be anything of value exchanged between the parties or a detriment one party is likely to suffer due to the breach of conditions set in the agreement. There are other requirements the parties must satisfy in order to establish a formal agreement. For example, the parties must have contractual capacity

Directed Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Directed - Research Paper Example president has the authority and powers to remove marshals prior to the expiration of their terms, their appointment must be confirmed first by the Senate. Since the early years of America’s independence, the marshals have been the federal court’s chief law officers (Miller, 2008). They direct the activities of about 4,000 personnel and officers stationed at over the 350 locations across the United States and the country’s territories. It should be noted that even after the establishment of over 50 specialized federal law enforcement agencies during the twentieth century, the US Marshall Services retained the broadest authority and jurisdiction (Green, 1999). Since the earliest period of America’s independence, they have served as the civil authority instruments for all the three organs of the government. They have been involved in most of the major historical events in the history of the United States (Dautrich, 2010). The United States Marshall Services is mandated to carry out a number of responsibilities within their jurisdictions (Collins, 1998). The primary responsibility of the service is to provide protection and support for the federal courts that include security for over 700 judicial facilities and over 2,000 magistrates and federal judges, in addition to the trial participants like attorneys and jurors. Recent years have witnessed increased responsibility because of the dramatic rise of threats against the judiciary members. The Marshall Services also involves operations such as the Federal Witness Security Program whose mandate is to ensure that the safety of endangered government witnesses is guaranteed (U.S. Marshals Service, 2013). They maintain transport and custody of thousands of federal prisoners every year, apprehend majority of federal fugitives, and execute arrest and court orders warrant. In addition, they manage, seize, and sell property that has been forfeited to the gover nment by criminals such as drug traffickers and help the

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

E-commerce - Essay Example In this article, the author claims that E-commerce happens to be the electronic commerce, it's some sort of business in which the sale of products and alternatives or both companies carried out about gadgets including the Web and other home Laptop or computer networks to further improve institutional basic performance. The development of e-commerce has reformed company across nations. From when it turned out released, companies have taken gain it to, enhance essay online service products, improve their marketplace share, expand profitability and scale down shipment time. E-commerce was quite simply non-existent in most parts within the planet. In the 21st century, immediate development of information technology and the swift increase in information exchange have helped to bring new drives and innovative ideas to the complete society. The wide adoption of it by the community has resulted in great changes. These are changes which have an impact on how we communicate with each other, ho w exactly we organize our daily activities, how we educate the younger generation, and how we run the business enterprise. The development and extensive adoption of it, computer network, and the Internet have altered the method of operation of several businesses, and at the same time have helped bring along unprecedented work at home opportunities. Companies are now in a position to conduct ventures across geographical boundaries. This is one of the best essays about E-commerce. Hurry up and get this highest-A potential work just now!... However, this sector is highly competitive because the barriers or costs of entering the web e-tail market are few, which caused many small e-tail stores to come up on the internet. Becoming profitable and surviving is difficult for e-tailers without brand name or experience since they face the challenge of differentiating the business from the existing stores or websites. E-commerce start-ups that intend to earn money by offering content face difficulties unless they have unique sources other content providers cannot access since the traditional content providers dictate most of this business category. As well, competition among online transaction brokers has been fierce in the last few years with new entrants like E*Trade, Datek and Schwab offering more appealing offers to consumers. Market prospect for online market creators is vast for firms with financial resources and marketing plans for attracting adequate buyers and sellers to the marketplace. Thus, new firms desiring to crea te a market need aggressive branding and awareness programs to draw sufficient customers like large web-based firms like Amazon that leverage large customer base and start auction. The advantage of B2C is that it bases on reputable physical infrastructures, knowledge of consumer preferences, culture and language, brand recognition and trust (â€Å"E-commerce Business Models†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , 2009; Nemcova, 2011). Most of the revenue in e-commerce involve business-to-business (B2B) even though most public attention focus on B2C since most of B2B is unseen by average consumer. E-distributor companies like W.W. Grainger supply products and services to individual businesses thus e-distributors are owned by a company that seeks to serve various customers. More products and

Outline a basic model of interpersonal communication Essay

Outline a basic model of interpersonal communication - Essay Example [4] First and foremost are the verbal communication skills. There are five communication skills in human beings that determine the ability (to communicate).Two for sending; writing and speaking and two receiving skills; reading and listening. The fifth skill namely reasoning, affects all the above mentioned skills and is important to both sending and receiving. [1] The second factor is that of Knowledge or more precisely the level of knowledge about the subject in focus during communication (of either the sender or receiver). Take for example an electrical engineer talking to a doctor on medical issues might be ill at ease and vice versa since the knowledge domains of the two are entirely different. AT the same time, however both might be quite comfortable in discussing the current political situation. [1] The position of the sender and the receiver in their respective social systems is also one factor that affects the nature of communication. The position can be looked at from different dimensions such as those of age, gender, religion or other demographic factors as well as social status, income level e.t.c. one can either be in a similar, higher, or lower position in their respective social systems.

Management Process Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management Process Analysis - Essay Example Change management is best defined as the process of continuous reviewing and renewing of the direction, structure and capabilities of the organization in order to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of internal and external customers (Todnem, 2005). Organizational change is a very important element of the organizational strategy. It is very important for an organization to have the ability to identify where it needs to be in the future and then manage the change management process in order to get there. The business environment is constantly changing with increased globalization, technological innovation, deregulation, dynamic workforce, shift in demographic and social trends, etc (Todnem, 2005). This makes the change management process even more important. For any organization, to sustain growth and remain successful it is very important that it effectively manages its change management process. One of the best examples of effective change management in modern day businesses is Apple. Apple Inc. Founded in 1976, Apple has become the most valuable company on the planet today. Started as a computer company, Apple has revolutionised the personal computer industry. Apple started with a personal computer, but today its products range from music (iPod) to phones (iPhones). Chief Architect of Apple’s success story is Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple (Royston, 2009). Apple’s journey to the top has not been a smooth one. It has had failures along the way and at one stage was on the verge of being shut down. Apple has adapted to changing environment and the industry needs and demands to become the most successful and valuable company on the planet. Apple’s products include iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTunes (Apple, 2011). Apple is also developing cloud computing products and services which are not commercially available at. Apple – Change Management Apple is one of the best examples for effective organizational change management. It can be said that Apple has mastered the art of change management. Apple has been successful in understanding the changing needs and demands, and at same time adapt to those changes and needs. It has been able to build a loyal customer base, build new technologies, products and services. Leadership The most important element of Apple’s change management is Steve Jobs, i.e. his leadership. Apple’s nightmarish run started with the exit of Steve Jobs in 1985 and ended with his return in 1996. With the return of Steve Jobs in 1996, there was a major change in the organization’s leadership. The bureaucratic management style that had replaced the creative and entrepreneurial culture (organizational culture that Steve Jobs had infused into Apple in the beginning) had to undergo a major change. Steve Jobs along with him brought back the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants entrepreneurial culture back to Apple (Anderson & Anderson, 2010). He redefined the organization’s DNA and ensured its effective implementation. The original culture and the mindset were welcomed by the workforce and they responded with creativity and innovation. With the change in leadership, the management structure was now redefined with only very few management layers. This was vital in order to accommodate the change in the leadership and organizational cul

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

E-commerce - Essay Example In this article, the author claims that E-commerce happens to be the electronic commerce, it's some sort of business in which the sale of products and alternatives or both companies carried out about gadgets including the Web and other home Laptop or computer networks to further improve institutional basic performance. The development of e-commerce has reformed company across nations. From when it turned out released, companies have taken gain it to, enhance essay online service products, improve their marketplace share, expand profitability and scale down shipment time. E-commerce was quite simply non-existent in most parts within the planet. In the 21st century, immediate development of information technology and the swift increase in information exchange have helped to bring new drives and innovative ideas to the complete society. The wide adoption of it by the community has resulted in great changes. These are changes which have an impact on how we communicate with each other, ho w exactly we organize our daily activities, how we educate the younger generation, and how we run the business enterprise. The development and extensive adoption of it, computer network, and the Internet have altered the method of operation of several businesses, and at the same time have helped bring along unprecedented work at home opportunities. Companies are now in a position to conduct ventures across geographical boundaries. This is one of the best essays about E-commerce. Hurry up and get this highest-A potential work just now!... However, this sector is highly competitive because the barriers or costs of entering the web e-tail market are few, which caused many small e-tail stores to come up on the internet. Becoming profitable and surviving is difficult for e-tailers without brand name or experience since they face the challenge of differentiating the business from the existing stores or websites. E-commerce start-ups that intend to earn money by offering content face difficulties unless they have unique sources other content providers cannot access since the traditional content providers dictate most of this business category. As well, competition among online transaction brokers has been fierce in the last few years with new entrants like E*Trade, Datek and Schwab offering more appealing offers to consumers. Market prospect for online market creators is vast for firms with financial resources and marketing plans for attracting adequate buyers and sellers to the marketplace. Thus, new firms desiring to crea te a market need aggressive branding and awareness programs to draw sufficient customers like large web-based firms like Amazon that leverage large customer base and start auction. The advantage of B2C is that it bases on reputable physical infrastructures, knowledge of consumer preferences, culture and language, brand recognition and trust (â€Å"E-commerce Business Models†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , 2009; Nemcova, 2011). Most of the revenue in e-commerce involve business-to-business (B2B) even though most public attention focus on B2C since most of B2B is unseen by average consumer. E-distributor companies like W.W. Grainger supply products and services to individual businesses thus e-distributors are owned by a company that seeks to serve various customers. More products and

Management Process Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management Process Analysis - Essay Example Change management is best defined as the process of continuous reviewing and renewing of the direction, structure and capabilities of the organization in order to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of internal and external customers (Todnem, 2005). Organizational change is a very important element of the organizational strategy. It is very important for an organization to have the ability to identify where it needs to be in the future and then manage the change management process in order to get there. The business environment is constantly changing with increased globalization, technological innovation, deregulation, dynamic workforce, shift in demographic and social trends, etc (Todnem, 2005). This makes the change management process even more important. For any organization, to sustain growth and remain successful it is very important that it effectively manages its change management process. One of the best examples of effective change management in modern day businesses is Apple. Apple Inc. Founded in 1976, Apple has become the most valuable company on the planet today. Started as a computer company, Apple has revolutionised the personal computer industry. Apple started with a personal computer, but today its products range from music (iPod) to phones (iPhones). Chief Architect of Apple’s success story is Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple (Royston, 2009). Apple’s journey to the top has not been a smooth one. It has had failures along the way and at one stage was on the verge of being shut down. Apple has adapted to changing environment and the industry needs and demands to become the most successful and valuable company on the planet. Apple’s products include iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTunes (Apple, 2011). Apple is also developing cloud computing products and services which are not commercially available at. Apple – Change Management Apple is one of the best examples for effective organizational change management. It can be said that Apple has mastered the art of change management. Apple has been successful in understanding the changing needs and demands, and at same time adapt to those changes and needs. It has been able to build a loyal customer base, build new technologies, products and services. Leadership The most important element of Apple’s change management is Steve Jobs, i.e. his leadership. Apple’s nightmarish run started with the exit of Steve Jobs in 1985 and ended with his return in 1996. With the return of Steve Jobs in 1996, there was a major change in the organization’s leadership. The bureaucratic management style that had replaced the creative and entrepreneurial culture (organizational culture that Steve Jobs had infused into Apple in the beginning) had to undergo a major change. Steve Jobs along with him brought back the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants entrepreneurial culture back to Apple (Anderson & Anderson, 2010). He redefined the organization’s DNA and ensured its effective implementation. The original culture and the mindset were welcomed by the workforce and they responded with creativity and innovation. With the change in leadership, the management structure was now redefined with only very few management layers. This was vital in order to accommodate the change in the leadership and organizational cul

A Comedy in Two Acts Essay Example for Free

A Comedy in Two Acts Essay A naive yet charming sixteen year old going out on her first date. She is the youngest of three sisters and was raised mainly by her traditional mother. She often finds herself caught between her mothers’ traditional views and her older sisters’ modernity and aggressiveness. She admires her sister Georgia the most for her individuality and sense of freedom. (Definition of Feminine – Gentle (easily handled) by Bernessa Wilson, co-worker; Timid (shy) by Pam Magel, co-worker; Weak (soft) by John Nowicki, co-worker. ) MARTHA – The matron of the house and mother of Olivia, Georgia, and Julia. Her petite frame belies a strong and rugged personality. She is around forty years old and although she shows signs of age and weathering, she wears it with grace and a quiet self-assurance. Her husband passed away early and she has had to raise her daughters by herself on meager savings and odd jobs. Julia is her favorite daughter. (Definition of Feminine – Corsets by Craig Jensen, co-worker; Modest (not bold) by Johannes Laun, boss) TYRA – A close friend of Olivia. She is in her early thirties and although her occupation is not clear to us, it seems evident that she is some kind of model or works in television. She has fashionably short hair and a very slim and long legged body. She has a beguiling charm about her and is not shy to use it on men in order to have her way. She views being feminine as an asset and uses it to her advantage. (Definition of Feminine – Cleavage by Dave Atkins, co-worker; High heels by Matt Tuttle, co-worker; Beauty by Danya Slozerek, co-worker) OLIVIA – The eldest of the three daughters and the most accomplished. She is in her early thirties and works as a senior executive in a bank. She is slim and pretty but has an air of manly seriousness about her and this makes her even sexier. She is the archetypal modern independent woman and views femininity as a liability in her predominantly masculine world. She has learned how to be taken seriously without losing her sense of femininity. (Definition of Feminine Elie Tahari’s shoes designed to let a woman’s true beauty shine through. Made in fine fabrics and leathers, Tahari shoes feature clean lines and tasteful embellishments. His designs are smart, sexy, and feminine) GEORGIA– The middle child in the family and somewhat boyish. She is similarly pretty like her two sisters but is less self-conscious about herself. With strong traces of Audrey Hepburn, she embodies Ralph Lauren’s vision of a modern denim version of the traditional Gregory Peplum Jacket – modern, practical and rugged yet somewhat delicate and fanciful at the same time. (Definition of Feminine: Ralph Lauren describes the Gregory Peplum Jacket as an inspiration, which lends a modern edge to the structured stretch denim jacket, defined by its shape, a feminine flared peplum and puffed sleeves. ) BEN – Julia’s date for the night. A shy and awkward sixteen year-old. ACT ONE: Before us is a modest two-story house. It is around 6pm in the afternoon and the sun is just about to set. The ground floor of the house is divided into a sparsely decorated living room to the right and a dining room and kitchen to the left, separated by a swinging door. The front door opens to the right side of the living room while the back door opens to the left of the kitchen. The living room holds a practical yet smart looking leather couch big enough to seat four and matching wooden chairs around a low glass coffee table with a few magazines. A stairway behind the couch leads upstairs to a woman’s peach-walled bedroom. In the living room, Olivia is seated casually on the couch browsing through a copy of Vogue. She is dressed in a blazer and a skirt and looks as if she has just come home from the office. Georgia is looking through some bills and writing down some notes on a notebook. She is wearing a slim fitted denim Peplum jacket and purple pajama pants. In the kitchen, Martha is quietly preparing food in a plain dress and apron. Upstairs Julia (in a red dress) is seated in front of an ornate ivory colored powder table with a large oval shaped mirror. She is sitting unnaturally straight with her chin up to the mirror looking in mild anxiety as Tyra (dressed in a white tank top and tight dark jeans) puts make up on her. TYRA: There†¦ that’s it! You’re all set baby girl. JULIA: (stands up and twirls around looking at herself in the mirror) TYRA: Damn I wish my ass still looked that good! JULIA: (blushes in embarrassment) What? Don’t you think it’s too much? Maybe I should†¦ TYRA: (interrupts quickly) I’m just kidding dear, you look great and that’s how you’re supposed to look. Besides boys love older looking women. And I know that for a fact (winking at Julia). JULIA: (tentatively) Umm†¦ maybe I should just wear my jeans and pink sweater. I don’t think we’re going anywhere that fancy anyway. TYRA: Hell no! (defiantly) If that boy’s worth anything he’d better be taking you somewhere where they at least serve some Cabernet. And if he’s not planning to well baby we’re sure as hell going to make him. JULIA: (exasperated) But I’m not even allowed to drink! GEORGIA: (calls from downstairs) Hey Julia come on lets see you! JULIA: (calls back) Coming! TYRA: All right, go on now (heading towards the door) Julia goes down the stairs followed by Tyra. Both Georgia and Olivia look up from their business and look admiringly at Julia. Julia walks down the stairs gingerly in new strappy heels and in a slightly skimpy maroon dress. She looks beautiful but awkward as if her clothes are itching her. GEORGIA: (in admiration) Oh Julia! You just look absolutely lovely. OLIVIA: Wow nice work Tyra. Yeah Jules you look fantastic. You’re going to break some hearts tonight. JULIA: (unsure) Do you really think so? Don’t you think it’s a bit too much? Aunt Tyra picked out this dress from some Italian woman’s shop. I think it’s supposed to be for adults. TYRA: Darling please, I’m too young to be your aunt. And I bet there are going to be girls younger than you trying to dress like Paris Hilton with skirts ten times shorter than that. You have to show those boys what you got. MARTHA: (Enters from the kitchen carrying a teapot. She looks at Julia in both shock and awe. ) Julia?! Oh my! Where on earth did you get that dress? Cover your chest young lady! OLIVIA: (guffawing in disbelief) Oh please mother! It’s called cleavage and it seems to be the most highly prized commodity a woman can posses these days. GEORGIA: (in a calm soothing voice) It’s alright mother that’s a very conservative dress by today’s standards. Besides I’m sure Julia here has the best reputation as a lady (smiles warmly at Julia). JULIA: (stuttering) Y†¦yes mother I promise to be at my utmost behavior tonight. MARTHA: (loudly to Georgia) I don’t care what today’s standards are. If I followed today’s standards I’d be dressed in a bikini mowing the lawn. I know what’s right and proper for a lady and that dress does not look proper to me. (turns her attention to Julia and addresses her patiently) Oh my sweet innocent child, I just don’t want boys to get the wrong idea about you Julia, you’re such a sweet sweet girl and I don’t want you turning into a†¦(stops herself as she glances involuntarily at Tyra and Olivia). OLIVIA: (completing her mothers sentence)†¦into a successful empowered woman? (says defiantly) The days of housewives are over mother. These days either a woman fends for herself or she gets stuck with three kids in a tiny one bedroom apartment while her husband elopes with some nineteen year old intern. MARTHA: (looks as if about to shout but then collects herself and says resignedly to Julia who looks at her pleadingly with puppy eyes) Well dear†¦ at least just put a jacket on won’t you? So you don’t catch a cold? TYRA: (enjoying the tirade) Oh don’t worry I took care of that too. She won’t be catching any colds tonight. I already showed her how to put on a jacket. (gives Julia a sly wink) JULIA: (looking puzzled) †¦a jacket? MARTHA: (looks threateningly at Tyra and starts to open her mouth) OLIVIA: (gives Tyra a look of warning) GEORGIA: (stands abruptly) Come mother! I’ll help you dinner. MARTHA: (takes a deep breath) No it’s alright it’s already done, let’s just all sit down and have some tea. TYRA: (smiling apologetically) Let’s! Anyways, so Julia why don’t you tell us a little about this boy toy of yours. What car does he drive? I for one would never go out with a guy who drives anything less than a BMW. MARTHA: (surprised) Driving?! Oh I’m sure he’s too young to drive. And where will you be going anyway? JULIA: Well his dad usually drops him at school everyday so I don’t think he drives yet. But I think we’ll just be walking tonight mother, we’re only going to the plaza down the block for a burger. TYRA: The plaza? For a burger? Baby with you looking like that it ought to be a damn expensive burger. Well the least he can do is bring us home some of apple pie and chocolates. And if he gives you anything less than half a dozen roses†¦ MARTHA: (interrupts Tyra) Well if he does bring a car I don’t want you to spending any time in there you here me? You just finish your dinner and you order him to take you back home you understand? GEORGIA: (laughing) Mother please! Let the young lady enjoy a night out. JULIA: (in eager agreement to Martha) Yes mother, I promise I won’t even hold his hand, we’re only friends that’s all. Besides Ben is a nice boy, all the teachers like him MARTHA: Oh I know all those tricks the boys use these days, they haven’t changed since your father. Sure he may have gotten me at first but I won in the end. OLIVIA: Mother please can we have one day of not mentioning dad? MARTHA: (ignoring Olivia) But men†¦boys these days, you just don’t know what to think of them†¦ OLIVIA: I’ll tell you what to think of them sis, they are absolutely useless. All they’re good for is making babies. All I need is a decent good-looking guy to get me pregnant and I can live peacefully. The doorbell rings and all the women stop and look at the door, then look at each other questioningly. JULIA: (nervously) That must be him! MARTHA: Alright girls behave yourselves. Julia, go upstairs and put on a jacket. JULIA: (looks at Georgia for help) GEORGIA: Just go put a jacket on honey, you can take it off later if it gets warm. JULIA: Ok mother. ACT TWO The setting is in an old-fashioned diner where a few other young people are having burgers and fries. BEN: Boy you sure have one weird family†¦that’s a really nice dress. You look really uh†¦grown up. JULIA: Thanks Ben, my aunt Tyra got it for me. BEN: Well your aunt sure knows how to dress up. JULIA: I know, you sure couldn’t seem to keep you eyes off her. BEN: uhh†¦well (blushes) JULIA: I’m just kidding Ben, (brushes her hand against his hot cheek) BEN: (becomes flustered) JULIA: (enjoying the moment) So have you ever kissed a girl before? BEN: um†¦well (becomes even redder) JULIA: (coyly) Would you like to? BEN: (looks at Julia in disbelief) uhhh†¦ JULIA: But first you have to promise me something Ben. BEN: (quickly) Sure, I mean anything. JULIA: Promise you’ll take me to the movies next week? And we can have dinner in a nice restaurant. Somewhere with ca-ver-nay. (trying to say Cabernet). BEN: (tentatively) Yeah, yeah sure. JULIA: (excitedly) Great! And you can bring me a dozen roses for me to put in my room when you pick me up in a car. BEN: Uh†¦ a car? Yeah sure. JULIA: (suddenly) Oh! And Ben! BEN: (starting to get scared) yes? JULIA: The car that your dad drives†¦ BEN: uh-huh JULIA: It’s a BMW right? Curtain Falls The End

Is Keeping Animals In A Zoo Cruel?

Is Keeping Animals In A Zoo Cruel? Until recently, the existence of zoos in our society was never something which we thought twice about. Zoos were widely accepted as educational and entertaining institutions. Children, and adults, love seeing animals, and a visit to the zoo has always been something we look forward to. Gradually, however, discussion has aroused about the morality of keeping animals, and other creatures in captivity, as animals have rights such as we do. There are around 430 zoos in Britain alone and 10,000 worldwide. Conditions vary greatly, with the worst being nothing more than concrete prisons holding very distressed animals. (Born Free Charity). This quotation shows the insensitivity of the proprietors of such establishments and gives us a clear picture of the conditions in which creatures are kept. Rather than encouraging animals to thrive in natural settings, zoos place very unnatural boundaries on their residents. For example, in zoos, polar bears are usually confined to spaces that are only around one-millionth the size of their minimum home range in the wild. Animals who stray across large distances in nature often develop zoo chosis in captivation which is similar to dementia in humans. Typical behaviours resulting from boredom and distress when placed in zoo enclosures, are endlessly pacing or swimming in circles. Animals have evolved from nature, just as humans, and each belongs undisturbed in its own natural habitat. To remove these animals from what they are used to against their will is immoral. As humans, we must treat animals humanely in our role as stewards of the earth. It is therefore unacceptable that animals in zoos under our care, are suffering from neglect and early death, through distress and health problems. In the wild, creatures such as the ones found in zoos are free to roam without restraint and interact with other species. Whereas, in captive conditions they are only able to mix with their own species, sometimes only being a few of each species. If these animals do not get on with the others in the enclosure, they have no way of escaping each others company, and animals, like us, have personalities and forge friendships and rivalries. Furthermore, animals do not gain the necessary skills for survival in zoos and so will never be able to be reintroduced back into the wild and survive. Therefore they will have to live an enclosed, cramped lifestyle entirely dependent on humans who do not always care for them appropriately, for the entirety of their lives. On this note, Attachment relationships between animals are often studied by separating pack animals and recording their subsequent behaviour. Studies of primates have shown that separation results in changes of behaviour that are symptomatic of both psychological and physiological stress. Because of this, it is clear that in order to maintain physical and psychological well being in animals, it is vital that animals which are used to being together with animals of their kind should not be isolated from one another. In many zoos, it is felt necessary that animals should be alone as it saves costs and ensures there are no conflicts between them. Zoos are therefore knowingly causing the animals psychological and physiological trauma. Animals kept in zoos have no privacy; they are continually watched by the public and have little enclosed space where they can hide. Zoo animals develop anxious behaviours if they are always in the public gaze. Being stared at all the time can be predatory and threatening. Another strange species staring at you or enproaching in your environment is disconcerting and agitating for wild animals in the same way that a tiger coming into your house and staring at you would be not just threatening, but simply terrifying. This in turn can lead to aggression and distress in the animals. Even when the animals are not disturbed by human presences watching over them, there is constant noise of other creatures and maintenance works on the zoo (e.g. Tractors). They will get no peace and quiet. This is not natural for any animal. They should be able to have time on their own to relax in harmony. Zoo Keepers and many employees of zoos do not treat the animals living within the exhibitions with enough compassion or care. A San Diego Zookeeper described an incident in which an African Elephant was beaten for two days with axe handles, as a way of motivating the animal to put on a display for visitors. This kind of treatment is extremely vindictive and clearly demonstrates how in some zoos, the living beings are not treated as well as they should be. Even though they are given all the necessities for life and they have a veterinary surgeon on hand at all times, the animals only get enough to get by, and no more. After all, zoos are a money making business. They often scrimp and save at the expense of the animals well being and comfort. Large animals such as elephants are often subjected to cruelty above and beyond that of smaller animals. A study has proven that in a certain American zoo, the elephants there were dying at a faster rate than they were breeding, as a result of dis ease spread by the lack of space and dirty cages. The exhibition of animals in captivity tells an impressionable public that cruelty to animals can be condoned. Many zoos claim that they are of high educational benefit, and although some visitors only spend around two minutes at each inclosure, using the animals for entertainment rather than for instructive matters. Although, children do get to see animals and experience how they live, which they wouldnt get the chance to do if animals were only in the wild. Zoos have to educate the public about the value of animals so that people understand the importance of conservation. After a fun trip to the zoo, visitors leave with a newfound awareness and perceptive about animals. How are they going to discover these interesting facts if they dont get to see the creatures? Zoos give people an appreciation for animals. They need to see, listen to and smell an elephant to gain love and respect for the creature. Viewing an animal on TV does not give a person the same effect as seeing it first hand does. An arguable advantage of having zoos present in todays society is that many endangered species will be protected and will refrain from becoming extinct. Zoos promote the awareness of animals that are being wiped out. This would allow for people to help fund the repopulation of those animals. If more people are aware of new animals on the endangered species list, there is more of a chance that researchers will get more funds. But endangered species may not gain as much support and attention of the crowds as people are only usually interested in popular species like Lions. Furthermore there is some debate because of the inadequate gene pool of a species in zoos. This could, lead to inbreeding which would then create mutations and defects in the offspring. In conclusion, animals are born wild and therefore should live and die wild. It is wrong that wild creatures should be kept in enclosures in zoos as they do not get to behave naturally: a lion cannot hunt for its prey, or experience the nobility of living with other lions in a pride. My overall view is that keeping animals in zoos is extremely cruel as they are not free to convey their natural way of living, whether it is to roam in a large area, to breed with a partner of their choice, or to kill their own prey. The animals are troubled every minute of the day by people observing them, something which, in the wild, would hint great danger. All of these factors contribute to my strong sensitivity to this topic of treatise. Word count- 1310 Sources www.bornfree.org http://www.captiveanimals.org/zoos/zfact1.htm Pros and Cons : A Debaters Handbook [Paperback] published 1999 http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=1 Trees in Celtic Culture and Art: An Analysis Trees in Celtic Culture and Art: An Analysis The use of yew, rowan, birch and Scots pine trees in Scottish Celtic mythology, legend, symbolism, religion and literature Preface Celtic society was dominated by its links to nature and the spirituality of the world around it. Of these natural objects, trees represented the ultimate in spirituality and wisdom. This is not only due to the life giving properties of trees within the forest-strewn wilderness of Europe at the time, but also because of the supposed wisdom and power that trees offered people. Their longevity, practicality, power and importance within Druidism means that trees, and in particular yew trees, formed the basis for literature, religion, myth, legend and symbolism within Scottish Celtic culture. Introduction Trees play an important role in Irish and Scottish Celtic traditions in terms of mysticism, legend, medicinal remedies and religion and literature. The most famous example of this is probably the Celtic notion of the Tree of Life, a tree that symbolizes the connection that links all the worlds in Celtic mythology. The Irish Celts often took this even further with each chieftain having their own specifically grown sacred tree that would allow the clan leader to stay in contact with the Otherworld and his ancestors (Conway, 2000, p. 69). This essay will examine these concepts with particular emphasis on the importance of yew, rowan, birch and Scots pine trees in Scottish Celtic mythology, legend, symbolism, religion and literature. The first section will look at the history of trees within Celtic mythology and literature. Sections two and three will then examine the importance of trees in Scottish Celtic myth, legend, symbolism, religion and literature. History of Trees in Celtic Mythology and Literature The importance of trees in Celtic mythology is linked to their belief that all living things were spiritual and mystical beings. Whilst other cultures only saw animals as being spiritual, the Celts attached spiritual meaning to both animals and plants. Trees were also initially important because they provided food, warmth and housing for people, and therefore were seen as a sort of sustainer of life. The Celtic landscape of Northern Europe was also one where thick forests dominated the landscape. All of this contributed to trees becoming extremely important in Celtic history. Trees have also been used from the very early stages of Celtic existence as a type of alphabet and calendar known as Ogham. This intricate pattern of carved grooves has different trees representing different months (Matthews, 2001, pp. 6-8). Trees played a part in helping the sick in a physical way as well as a spiritual way. The oils and barks of different trees were used to treat illnesses ranging from abscesses and bronchitis to general disinfectant. The trees were seen as having great wisdom and being linked to both this world and the Otherworld (Conway, 2000, pp. 39-41). Trees were part of the magic of the time, and not just in Celtic culture. Throughout Europe there were examples and symbols of trees as powerful creatures. In Germany the rowan tree root could be formed into a humanlike image called an Alraun that could house a spirit and be communicated with (Greer, 2003, p. 19). The birch and yew trees were also mentioned extensively within the old Germanic language as part of the runes within Anglo-Saxon culture (Greer, 2003, p. 63, 149). It is clear that trees and plants have played an important part in language, culture and literature since the beginnings of the Scottish Celtic culture. In fact, the belief in the power and spirituality of plants can be traced right back to the Celtic religion and culture at its foundation. The very term Druidism is a testament to the Celtic worship of trees and plants. This is because Druid as a word is formed from a root DR. This root signifies a tree – in particular the oak – in several of the Aryan languages. Therefore, the very fabric of Celtic religion is based upon the sacred tree (Squire, 2003, p. 33). The original word for church at the time, kirk, was in fact derived from quercus – a type of oak. This species of oak was particularly sacred, and therefore its name became the basis for the place of worship that has been transformed through language to the modern church of today’s world (Thiselton-Dyer, 2004, p. 22). Trees were also important for warding off evil spirits and protecting the land. They protected the land physically through their thick branches that provided wood, shelter and shade from the elements (Davidson, 1988, pp. 13-14). However, they also provided protection from the evil of witches and other demons. The yew tree was particularly painful and disliked by the witches – mainly because it had an association with churchyards and being planted in such places. This gave the tree such holy power that it could take away the abilities and evil of witches (Thiselton-Dyer, 2004, p. 44). Trees could also be inhabited by spirits, which meant they were important vessels to link the current world with the spirit world. Trees were seen as a form that ghosts and spirits could take in order to contact the living, and this was something to be both worshipped and feared in equal measure. The trees were often seen as ‘semi-tangible’ objects that were not as vastly important as the highest gods, but they were symbolic of the demi-gods and along with animals were far more important than many of the other elements and objects around them (Macbain, 2003, p. 33, 37). The other element that made trees so sacred and valued was their longevity. Trees could live hundreds or even thousands of years, which made the people of the time see them as something almost eternal. They were timeless and ageless in many ways, and their longevity also gave them supposed wisdom. Man would decay and crumble, but the trees would live on and gather knowledge throughout the centuries. This is another reason why they were revered and worshipped as sacred objects (Murray and Card, 1998, p. 8). This section has outlined some of the background reasons and history as to why trees were sacred in the Celtic culture. The next section will look at specific examples of trees in Celtic myth, legend and symbolism. Trees in Myth, Legend and Symbolism Perhaps the most important elements of tree symbolism, legend and myth within Celtic society are the calendar and alphabet of trees and the Tree of Life. The tree calendar has 13 of the 25 tree letters as names for months. For example, birch is the symbol for new starts and therefore represents November – the first month in the Celtic calendar (Murray and Card, 1998, pp. 8-9). The yew, rowan and ash trees were also included in this alphabet (Crews, 2005). Each letter or tree symbol within the alphabet means something quite different and symbolizes a certain attribute within human existence. One famous poem and story shows the power of trees in Celtic myth and legend. ‘Big MacVurich and the Monster’ tells how the whelp of a monster is captured by MacVurich and in order to get it back the monster must build a house for MacVurich with timbers in the roof. The beast agrees, but will not use certain types of wood. Whilst the house is built and it seems that MacVurich has what he wants, the beast has in fact denied MacVurich fertility (wild fig), safe passage to the next life (yew) and protection against illness (white poplar) amongst others. The fact that these trees were left out of the construction is significant for it means that MacVurich would not have a good life – the monster was taking revenge through the power of trees (Murray and Card, 1998, pp. 19-20). Trees were also symbolically important for culture and art at the time, as they were the surroundings and inspiration that gave rise to the art of the time. Celtic artists worked predominantly with metal, and their works focused on the animals and plants around them (Green, 1998, p. 1). Symbols such as this show how the tree binds the worlds together, from the living world to the Otherworld and beyond. The tree is the link to all worlds with its roots deep in the ground and its branches far into the sky (Green, 1992, p. 25). The tree of life is also a symbol for the fact that trees provided protection, food, shelter, fuel and warmth for people and animals throughout the forest-strewn landscape. The trees were the objects that gave people the greatest resources that could sustain them, and therefore practically they were a life force (Green, 1998, pp. 3-4). Trees could also symbolize power and political force, as reported by the Romans in their fights with Druids. The Druids would use the forests to gather their clans together, communicate with each other using the branches and fight back. This is why the Romans, who did not specifically believe in the divine power of trees, cut down as many trees as possible to stop the Druids. This was both a practical and spiritual measure, given the significance of trees to the Druids (Heinz, 2008, pp. 139-140). The yew tree has perhaps the greatest significant and myth surrounding it, and even today has an element of mysticism around it due to its old age and the dwindling numbers of yew trees in Europe. Yew trees are in fact poisonous, and so they were used as parts of weapons within Celtic times. They also symbolize the dream-state, as the poisonous vapours from a yew tree can make a person become light-headed or even hallucinate. The tree is in fact given thirty three different titles and meanings in the 12th century Book of Leinster (Heinz, 2008, p.151). However, the most common meaning associated with the yew tree is death, rebirth and regeneration. As one of the longest living trees it was a symbol for the continuation and renewal of life (LaFey, 1999). The birch tree is also associated with birth or inception. The birch is the beginning of all things in the link between life and death and is used in the training of ‘beginning’ for Druids. The rowan tree is seen as a magical tree that grew food of the gods. The berries of the rowan tree were highly sacred and protected. The pine tree represents hardiness and continuation in life – a characteristic of the evergreen tree (LaFey, 1999). All of these trees and many more played a vital role in the development of Celtic myth, legend and symbolism. The next section will move on to look at the importance of trees within the religion and literature of the Celtic tradition. Trees in Religion and Literature As already discussed, trees were an important part of the Druid religion during the time of the Celts. Not only were trees the location for gatherings of Druids, but the trees themselves were part of the Druid religion. The birch was used to train those in the religion, and the carvings of the alphabet from trees were used for communication. Even the calendar that was observed by the Celtic Druids was based upon the tree alphabet. Much of the church of the Druids was based around the sacred importance of trees. Even special houses for religious and spiritual purposes were constructed out of vast quantities of wood to add a sacred element to the construction. Basic houses such as the Pimperne Down round-house used over 200 trees for construction for both practicality and religious advantage (Green, 1996, pp. 195-197). However, literature also contains a number of tree references and stories. In a practical sense, trees were obviously important in the physical creation of stories with wood and then eventually paper. However, before paper the use of trees for carving stories upon was commonplace. The tree alphabet characters were easy to inscribe and were carved upon wood, and such tree tablets served as early writing surfaces within Celtic society. The particular use of trees and the order of characters or letters often depended on when and where the particular trees shed or grew leaves and spread within a particular area. This is why certain areas put more emphasis on the importance of yew or rowan trees above birch or pine trees, and vice versa (Crews, 2005). One of the most famous of these tree stories is the ‘Battle of the Trees’, reworked by Robert Graves. It shows the rise of the belief in trees and the rise of a class of people devoted to agriculture from those who were merely priests within the Bronze Age. The story shows trees and plants as not only being part of the ruling of the nations, but also spirits that contribute to the decision making of who is to lead. Trees are the wisdom behind the power that rules within Celtic society (Rosenfeld, 2005, pp. 196+). There are references to all the various trees within texts and literature throughout Celtic culture. The rowan tree is mentioned extensively in the Dindsenchas or History of the Names of Places. This book tells of a female Druid called Dreco who wounded a man called Cethern (a word derived from rowan) with a rowan spear. Incantations took place when the weapon was used, showing that the rowan was more of a magical weapon than just a physical weapon formed from the tree (Blamires, 1997, p. 77). The birch tree can be used to call upon different beings such as the Daghdha. This rough looking man with unkempt appearance, long hair and a large belly can be used with the birch to help you understand the trees more effectively and communicate with the newly born and the Otherworld (Blamires, 1997, pp. 71-72). The yew is written about more than any other tree and is worshipped as two of the five sacred trees within the Druid religion. It is used to prepare magical literature, wands and in divination. As the oldest of the trees it holds more wisdom than any other and is used for the most important tasks within Druidism. The yew has no special significance in the sense of being about one object or element – the yew simply is and always will be in the same way that God or other worshipped entities whose existence is merely enough to understand the greatness of their power (Blamires, 1997, p. 210). The holiness of the trees and wood can also be seen with fines that had to be paid if you damaged trees such as the oak, yew, ash pine or apple tree. These ‘lords’ of the wood were sacred and could only be used for certain things. Any damage to these trees meant a fine and potentially replanting a tree to replace the one damaged. Rowan and birch were classed as lower trees within this system, and a lesser fine needed to be paid. However, all the trees were seen as precious commodities not only physically but spiritually. This is why trees were the inspiration and object of worship for so many within Celtic society and culture (Delahunty, 2002, pp. 16-18). Conclusion Trees have a long and rich history within Scottish Celtic society in a variety of areas. The reverence of trees came about because of the huge prevalence of trees within Europe at the time of the Celts. These trees provided the life force, shelter and sustenance for people to live their lives. As this developed along with the Druid religion, trees gained a spiritual significance along with the other elements of nature. Animals and weather are important within Celtic tradition, but trees are the basis of the Druid religion and Celtic myth. The concepts of the Tree of Life and the Ogham tree alphabet and calendar show how trees penetrate all areas of Celtic life. Different trees have different meanings, with the rowan and birch trees symbolizing magic and birth respectively. However, the most important tree within the Celtic tradition is the yew tree. This tree represents the highest power of trees. Its longevity, poisonous properties and ghostly shape make it the most revered and feared of all trees whose existence is as important as any modern God. This fear and reverence of trees as a link between worlds inspired the art, literature, legends, symbolism and behavior of Scottish Celtic society. Bibliography Blamires, S., 1997. Celtic Tree Mysteries: Practical Druid Magic and Divination. Llewellyn Worldwide. Conway, D.J., 2000. Advanced Celtic Shamanism. United States: The Crossing Press. Crews, J., 2005. Forest and tree symbolism in folklore. (Online). Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y9882e/y9882e08.htm (Accessed 13th January 2009). Davidson, H.R.E., 1988. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Delahunty, J.L., 2002. 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