Status report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Status report - Assignment ExampleHouseholds are also be educated on maintenance including protective measures to save units and panels from heavy rains.Scenario 1. Consulting/ knowing the facts are needed in planning the communication (Wolf, 1974). There is a reason why many of the proficient staff do not come before 900 a.m. Possibly, they need to complete a heavy work bear down since they leave riper in the leveling. Prior to written communication, the project manager arouse meet the technical group to understand the problem and gain commitment for a stricter 900 a.m. rule. Compromise on late hours work whitethorn be reached through overtime incentives, if needed. An objective and well supported memorandum can then be prepared.Scenario 2. General announcements will involve informing all levels-- department heads, supervisors and rank-and-file. If the new committal is great in scope, the upper/middle management should be consulted. With gathered insights/greater objectivity, a oecumenic memorandum announcement can then be made channeled through various departments. The company newsletter can also be used to ensure wider dissemination in the company, while the company website training can serve outside clientele.Scenario 3. Action must support communication (Wolf). Project manager should get out the cause of the problem. Then a personal visit to the aggrieved manager, if he/she is open to an appointment, can be used to cordially explain your sideyour regular reporting, as well as the inclusion in the list of the executive sponsor, and the cause of the problem. Possibly, a formal memo of explanation may not even be needed, unless the executive asks for it.Scenario 4. Business communication is reciprocal and multidirectional (Wolf). It goes in vertical, horizontal and diagonal directions. Thus, communication may go horizontally at the project team level, upward-downward between

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

English - Essay ExampleEven when I was small, I wanted to know how things worked, and I wanted to be the one to fix them.My mother t experienced me that as a small child, other than my fits when I couldnt get things back together the way they had come to me, that I was helpful and sweet. My greatest felicity was sitting on the counter when she would wash the dishes, taking each dish carefully in my piffling hands and wiping it dry for her. When I was three, she began to give me chores, not because she felt that a three year old needed them, but because my older brother had chores and I felt left out when I wasnt given a task. It was my job, supervised always, to feed the dogs, to sweep the small porch step out behind the house, and to rinse the keys of the piano that sat in our living room. Every week when I had done my chores, she would give me cardinal coins to put in my little treasure box. I was able to buy my first bike with the coins from that box, or at least, my mother ma de me believe that I had paid for it.Because of these early years of work and accomplishment, I wanted to work in the world as soon as was possible. When I was seven, I went to my soda pops friends local electronics store in the town and was fascinated with the variety of wonderful things that I would amaze there. I begged the manager to give me a job, and he would smile and tell me that I was too early days to work for him. This did not dissuade me. I went back to the store frequently, and one day decided that I would help out enough that they would have to give me a job. I would sweep the floor, straighten the shelves, and consider the customers until the manager would finally tell me that I would have to leave. One day, though, he finally relented and allowed me to work for him. I straightened the papers on his desk and he gave me some money for my job. I began going every day after school and the manager would give me a little money at the end of the week. I am pretty sure t hat it was done

Financing the Short Term Obligations of The Business Coursework

Financing the Short Term Obligations of The parentage - Coursework ExampleSources of shortstop term finances available to a business 1. Trade credit this is similarly referred as suppliers credit, ledger credit or open book account. It is needed when commercial purchases are not to be cleared immediately. In this case the order holds an accounts payable for the amount it owes to the suppliers while in identification number running business on not paid for bills. Trade credit varies in length, type of customers and cost prevailing in a particular industry. However, the customer has to forego any discounts that would have been offered on busy payment. The follow jackpot resolve to one month single statement bill or evening the open book this is where they have an extra ten days to clear the bill (Guerard, 2007, 108). 2. Bank loans companies denotation for commercial loans from banks in order to meet or cover temporary gross working peachy needs. The loan can either be sec ured or nonsecured. Secured loans have a lien against a high societys asset e.g. inventory, outstanding receivables et cetera, or a pledge of credit, to back the loan. Unsecured loans are issued depending on creditworthiness of the business. The cost of the loan varies with its size and pass judgment charged on the loan. However, a prime rate is use as a benchmark for these types of loans. Other methods used are revolving line where money is lent on a recurring basis letters of credit where the bank guarantees by writing, the payment of a companys overdraft for a given period of time and for specified amounts (Gitman, 2003, 24). 3. Open market commercial papers these are negotiable notes with maturities from a range of one to nine months which are floated on the market by big corporations. Commercial paper dealers sell the issues to pension funds, smaller commercial banks, corporations, insurance companies to raise funds. The rates on commercial papers are however, below the pri me rate for loans. The advantage to the company victimisation commercial papers for borrowing funds is that the issue is widely distributed in the national market. This frees the company from relying on commercial banks. 4. Finance companies and factors large commercial companies are deemed as the departmental stores of the financial world. These companies have subsidiaries or branches where they practice direct sales financing. They are in close contact with dealers of their merchandise therefore can offer goods to be paid for on installments. Their rates are much higher than commercial banks. work out arrangements are based on an advance of funds to a company by the factor against an concession of trade receivables. An agreement is signed between the two companies to govern their relation. This is usually on a never-ending basis depending on the terms applied by the two companies. Nonrecourse factoring allows the factor to buy the accounts of the company and takes up the loss es thereto. However, in recourse factoring, the factor does not take up the loss on bad accounts. Either case, factoring charges are based on a firms daily balance, general cheer rate, specific factoring agreement and outstanding credit (Guerard, 2007, 115). Question two a) Financing Mark and spencer uses short term borrowings from banks and medium term notes to source for funds. Trade credit has been used for meeting financial obligations. Morrison on the other hand, has applied trade credits, borrowings from banks to source for short term funds. b) Liquidity ratios liquidity ratios for Mark & spencer present-day(prenominal) Ratio = Total

U.S. Fiscal Cliff Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

U.S. Fiscal Cliff - Essay ExampleThe primary obstacle towards a greater mind between the deuce political parties with regards to austerity, spending, and the national debt is with regards to how the situation should be handled. On the one side the participatory Party oftentimes if much more fisc all(prenominal)y liberal than the Republican Party and as such(prenominal) oftentimes has few qualms in running up high deficits. However, the Republican Party itself under the scrubbing years added to the national debt by a figure of over 4 trillion dollars. Such a sum for the time was an unimaginable one. Aided by nearly a decade of conflict and two wars, the Republican Party lost any and all credence that they had formerly retained with reference to world the party of fiscal responsibility. However, with regards to the individual positions that the political spectrum retains, there can be said to be two. The republican Party believes that the best way to find a reasonable solution for such economic difficulties revolves just about raising taxes (specifically on the upper middle class and wealthiest citizens). Such an approach has merits however, speaking economically, it also serves to punish those job-creators that most directly influence the level of growth and recovery that the nation would experience if such a deadweight loss were not experienced. Similarly, those that support the alternate view to the one listed above claim that any and all budget shortfalls must be remedied by relying on austerity and/or budget cuts to achieve the desired result.

Marketing Plan For MBNA Platinum Credit Card Assignment

merchandise Plan For MBNA Platinum impute Card - Assignment Examplecredit card market. MBNA kept issuing the credit cards with its protest brand identity till late in 2006, but gradually, all these cards will be replaced with credit cards from slang of America in 2007. Therefore while preparing a marketing externalise for MBNA Platinum cards we need to consider this aspect as well. MBNA Corporation also offers deposits insurance products and consumer loans. The US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Mexico and china argon the main operating areas for the federation, employing about 26,300 people. MBNA credit cards are offered on the MasterCard, Visa and American Express networks. It offers a variety of customized credit cards endorsed for affinity programs and for programs under its own brand name. The cards include standard, gold, Platinum positivistic and Quantum. term devising a marketing visualise for MBNA Platinum confident(p) cards for the year 2007, we need to think about two broad strategiesA marketing intention for MBNA forms an integral part of its broader business plan implying in words and numbers how, where and to whom MBNA proposes to sell its Platinum Plus cards, outlining the companys approach in attracting potential customers to its cards and convincing them to buy. In general the components of a marketing plan may include1. 1. Terms of Reference MBNA requires a feel of the market, particularly after its merger with Bank of America, renewed emphasis of ITES services from Europe, USA etc. towards countries like China and India, other cost shimmy exercises to take on the competition more effectively..2. Executive Summary Year 2007 may well shew to be a very happening year for MBNA on account ofIts merger with Bank of America, and the movement of completion of the merger formalities.The Platinum Plus Card will invite stiff competition from the likes of HSBC in UKUK market being very divergent will also present unique experience to the co mpany. While the strengths of both MBNA and Bank of America give the new organisation more strengths, their weaknesses too will work up matters difficult for it.MBNA needs to approach the prospective customer in order to enroll the new customer and continuously nurture the customer base in order to retain their loyalty.3. Marketing Mission and mass Stating the founding philosophy called the mission statement and company objectives provides the target/s to be achieved by the company and forms the guiding principles while doing the business. For example MBNA UK has a strategic plan that can be summarised in baseball club words, Success is getting the right Customers ... and keeping them. A mission statement needs to take tutorship of Key market, Key Contribution and Distinction of the company in selling this particular proposition.4. External Marketing Audit/ Competitor Analysis Such an psychoanalysis in the marketing plan helps in explaining in detail the external challenges and opportunities a business may face in the coming year. Such an analysis will help in identifying the competitive strength of MBNA while taking cues from competitors strengths. Some of the top competitors of MBNA are Capital One Financial Corporation, Citigroup Inc., HSBC Holdings plc, JP Morgan Chase & Co, KeyCorp, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo & Company, Comerica Bank, Discover Financial Services, Inc. etc. HSBC for

Asian history Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Asian history - query Paper ExampleOn the other hand, proponents of excavation argue that by unearthing the mausoleum, archaeologists and historians would access what is inside and break up up the findings to help with finding answers to questions related with the rulers empire (Ferroa, and Chan 18). The proponents add that the site pull up stakes be an authorized tourist attraction whose go-ahead will create jobs and income for the local population. This paper explores the benefits and shortfalls of opening the Qin Shi Huangs tomb. Cultural and historical teemingness of the tomb The cultural and historical richness of the mausoleum is well captured in the history of the emperor. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was eldest son of the Qin emperor, whose family comprises one of the half-dozen autonomous empires in the contemporary China. He is believed to shit died around 210 BC (Liao, Pan, and Ma 395-399). These empires had been at crossroads for over two centuries, but Qin Shi Huangs van quished them all, ahead declaring himself the king. After his death, his body was interred in a large site located to the east of Xian in Shaanxi Province of China. His large army of terracotta soldiers was also buried alongside him to give him protection in death. His lavish burial place is now at the center of an excavation debate. Although archaeologic activities have been through with(p) on most parts of the mausoleum, the most important parts remain uncovered. The archaeologists have tho to comprehend the grounds near and including the tomb where the emperor was buried. According to Smith (87) part of the area that has not yet been touched is a raised ground where it is believed emperor Huangs remains were interred. There is a calorific debate as to whether it is appropriate to proceed with the excavation exercise or not. The Debate Inadequate technology, and honour for the cultural values of the local community are perhaps the greatest accuses behind the stoppage of th e archaeological activities in the mausoleum. Some of the archaeologists have suggested that the postponement move is partly influenced by the honor for the local elders, and the pretermit of adequate technology that can be used to excavate the site and still preserve the important values there. According to Portal (53), the resolution by Chinese officials not to tolerate further activities is a positive one at least based on the outcomes of similar activities in the past. Chinas authorities do not seem to be ready to engage in the same hapless archaeological activities that might result in the loss of the culturally invaluable items at the site. In Egypt, for instance, proto(prenominal) twentieth century archaeologists with poor technology engaged in an excavation exercise to retrieve the rich cultural artifacts in King Tuts tomb. The 1930s exercise ended in lost valuable information. In light of this, archaeologists believe that there is a lot that could be lost if current tech niques were deployed in the tomb. Ferroa and Chan (19) point out proponents of the halting of excavation activities are clear in their mind they want a slow up of the dish out until better technology is available to support a better process. A postponement of the process by three to five decades would be a sound conservation strategy, they suggest. In light of this,

Week 8 Student Blog Post Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 8 Student Blog maculation - Assignment ExampleThe Special Purpose Rooms contain locker rooms for temporary storage, movie theatre Studies Lab et al. In addition, authorized persons can just go with their own reading material.The Knight program librarys houses a collection of unique and irreplaceable materials and special collections, which range from government documents, prominent population personal papers to maps. This demands that the security of the building to be highly maintained thus indicating the state of power.Students, qualification and supply hasten access to the library. No one without authorization can enter the library. For verification, student and staff ids are used. Yes, I feel welcomed because being a student at the university of Oregon campus I have full access to the Knight library and its resources. In addition, there are friendly staffs that are doctor to assist in using any facility that one is not conversant with and in inquisitory for specific reading

Risk and Return Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Risk and Return daybook - Assignment ExampleThis journal examines the importance of jeopardize and returns balance (De Bondt and Werner, 1993).Investing in a unhazardous portfolio leads to low or no return on investment specie. For example, an investment in risk-free government bonds yields refined returns on investments. Investors tend to increase their profits by venturing into riskier portfolios. Increasing income is the primary function of doing business, so it is indispensable to venture into a substantial amount of risk to achieve this objective. Keeping this in mind it is prerequisite also to note that taking on a large risk does not necessarily cover high returns. There are two aspects of risk, first is the probability of loss on investment. For example, if an investment yields pull down returns than expected. Then there is the possibility of earning more than what is. For instance waiting to get 11% return localise but getting a 13% return rate (Bailey, 1994).It is authorised to maintain a risk and return balance to reduce exposure to losses brought about by risk. When evaluating the risk and return balance, the investment period is arguably the most important factor to be. If the investment period is long, it is advisable to maintain a relatively higher risk tolerance level. If the investment period is short, an investor is advised to maintain a pooh-pooh risk tolerance level. Another equally important factor is risk capital that is the amount of funds available to pile without affecting daily business operations. Having many risks capital gives angiotensin-converting enzyme freedom to trade in high-risk investments. On the other hand, having a small amount of risk capital limits ones freedom to sell in high-risk investments (Bailey, 1994).The amount of investment experience held is another important factor. Relatively new investors are not advised to commit significant sums of capital. However, experienced investors with enough intimacy on risk can invest

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Economics - Essay ExampleEconomists Brad DeLong and Stephen Cohen beget expressed in their book, The End of Influence that as other nations are rapidly gaining economic power, race impart soon experience a major change in life style. People hand over conventionally tried to associate themselves with America in terms of culture and life style because Americans, existence rich, have been idealized. In the recent years, the free-market capitalism has identify American economical stability into crisis and has transferred the power to the scrimping of emerging nations as India, China and Latin America. This transfer of economical power will soon put an end to the long sustained dominance of American ideology, culture and fashion over other nations. This will essentially be an end of the neoliberal dream. It is being realized that in early 2000s, policymakers in America unnecessarily became too satisfied with the trends of economical power and stability whereas the actual situation required them to think otherwise. Some economists are of the view that banks should look forward to an inflation target of 4 % sort of of the targeted 2 % so that they can manipulate things as required. Blanchard suggests that raising the inflation now would ease the monetary policy during financial crisis, and the fiscal positions would thus be saved considerably.

North Korea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

northward Korea - Essay ExampleAccording to estimates by The United States Bureau of East Asian and Pacific personal matters the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of North Korea is 24.8 Billion U.S. Dollars which works out to a Per capita GDP of approximately $1,800. all the same it I expressly stated that these are merely estimates based on incomplete selective information. With this incomplete data in hand one can draw a few conclusions. Firstly the economy has trades originally in raw materials such as mining products, agriculture and fisheries. Secondly the company spends a marvellous amount of money on military expenditures which not only is a direct draw on state financial resources (Which could also be directed towards economic development) but it also removes a satisfying number of people who could spend their time performing more economically valuable activities. According to Hardin (2009) everywhere the last decade there was a small influx of private enterprise within the kingdom which ultimately ended up employing about half of the working population. However, the article went on to argue that the establishment implemented policies that greatly restricted the freedoms of these markets because of a perceived lack of control over these forces. It was argued by Sang-Hun (2009) that this specific action represents a kind of shock therapy to crack down on black market concern that undermines the control of the government.

Cllinical Skils in haematology and bone marrow transplantion Nursing Essay

Cllinical Skils in haematology and bone marrow transplantion Nursing Module - Essay ExampleAlthough blood transfusion is an manifestly acceptable treatment, this is not the final therapy for many types of anaemias, and they would need definitive therapies for those clinical indications. As a nurse, sedulous in the care of such uncomplainings, work in this area needs considerable specialized clinical skills which are based on specific knowledge in this area. In this work, I will converse the care of a patient with aplastic anaemia and explore the requisite clinical skills for such a patient on the basis of existing and current knowledge and also seek to examine the rationale of investigations, management, and nursing plans of such a patient from those perspectives and to investigate the alternative treatments in a patient with aplastic anaemia that I was assigned care of (Young, NS., 2002).Normal Erythropoiesis Hematopoiesis is the process by which the formed elements of the bloo d or the cadres in the blood are produced. The process is regulated through a series of steps beginning with the pluripotent haematogenic stem cell. Stem cells are capable of producing red cells, all classes of granulocytes, monocytes, platelets, and the cells of the immune system. Commitment of the stem cell to the specific cell lineages appears not to be regulated by known exogenous growth factors or cytokines (Choi, JW., 2006). Rather, stem cells develop into differentiated cell types through incompletely defined molecular events that are integral to the stem cell itself. Following differentiation, hematopoietic primogenitor and precursor cells come increasingly under the regulatory influence of growth factors and hormones. For red cell production, erythropoietin (EPO) is the regulatory hormone. EPO is required for the maintenance of committed erythroid progenitor cells that, in the absence of the hormone, undergo programmed cell death. The regulated process of red cell produ ction is

Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 23

Discussion Questions - Essay Examples pacify a big field for most business people and academics to be concerned with it, oddly in todays connected and digital world, enhanced by advanced information and communications technologies like the cellphone phone and the Internet. These inventions in improved communications has also presented a new set of challenges for marketing professionals because of the celerity of these changes and with it, the speed by which information travels in the World Wide Web by way of dissemination.The tempt of the Internet today reaches far and wide it also influences daily lives in many ways because it has live ubiquitous as more people get connected on-line with the rise or harvest in the Internet penetration. The sheer omnipresence of the Internet has presented new opportunities and problems for marketeers as they struggle to connect with their consumers in a digital world. An example of this is the rise of so-called on-line communities put up by th e firms to dish out them connect with buyers but has presented some difficulties for them in most instances, because of their failure to recognize the four pillars of a thriving hyper-sociality in tribalization efforts (Moran & Gossieaux, 2010, p. 238) and the primary reason for shutting these sites down.Many big firms, especially global enterprises, confuse resorted to use of a fancy integrated marketing communications (IMC) but the hold also has its drawbacks. In particular, not many people know or understand what it actually means, because it is still an emerging discipline. It is still in infancy and there is a dearth of literature on the subject (Kitchen, Kim & Schultz, 2008, p. 532) such that what happened is that practice has instead gone ahead of the theories on IMC. The way to counter this seeming ignorance is that proposed by using a consumer-centric perspective that combines both IMC and relationship marketing to sustain loyalty (Finne & Gronroos, 2009, p. 180) among consumers of the company which transcends

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Strategic Management - Assignment ExampleThe core competencies of an organisation are centre on satisfying customer needs and demands to carry out more than average returns (Thompson, 2001). The Business-level strategies help the organisation to achieve its targets. The actions of Business level strategies provide lever to customers and help the organisation to gain a matched service (Kaplan and Norton, 2001). The Business-level strategies are also concerned with the position of the firm in an industry, with respect to competitors and to the five forces of competition (Hill, Jones and Schilling, 2014).A competitive advantage is a benefit which is gained over its rivals by a company by whirl customers value for the products, through lower prices or by providing additional benefits and service that can justify mistakable or higher prices (Ansoff and McDonnell, 1990). Manufacturers or producers who are involved in niche marketing, exploring a competitive advantage, to them it es sence increased profit and a sustainable business and its success over the long term (Pearce and Robinson, 2000). The quest categorisation defines competitive advantage better and discusses several strategies which help in building a competitive advantage of a company.Cost Leadership is a strategy by which the company makes continuous efforts to deracination costs relative to its competitors (Goldman and Nieuwenhuizen, 2006). Here the company aims to compete for a wide range of customers based on price. Differentiation is a strategy by which a unique feature in the product provides value to the customers. It is created by lowering buyers cost, sustainability and raising buyers performance (Stevenson and Hojati, 2007). In centre low cost strategy, the company selects a small segment of market to sell its products or work at a competitive price (Thompson, et al., 2008). In

Average education on workers and opening business time in Tel aviv Essay

Aver fester education on workers and opening business time in Tel aviv - Essay ExampleInvestors should also register their companies with tax authority where all the necessary details of the political party should be provided by filling form number 4436. A corporate tax should be paying to the Israel tax authority. Moreover, investors should also be aware of the social security contribution for their employees. The law requires employers to withhold around part of their employees income and submit it to the National Insurance Institute for purpose of providing employees with a medical cover. Finally, investors should be aware of the two types of incentives provided by the Israel government to encourage investors namely declining corporate tax and investment incentives (Ministry of frugality State In Israel, pp.1-3)The average education on workers is 83 percent among men and women between the age of 25 and 64 years who have attained an equivalent of high school degree. investigate indicates that having a good education is an important factor of getting a good job in Israel. Research further indicates that the quality of education score stood at an average of four hundred and ninety seven-spot whereby average boys perform less than girls by eleven points (Publishing and OECD,

Global crime's Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Global crimes - Research Paper ExampleThis paper attempts to present a brief overview of cybercrime, beginning with its varying definitions, how it evolved and became dangerous, its types, and past real-world instances.Cybercrime involves criminal acts that be committed using computing machine networks such(prenominal) as the internet (Bidgoli, 326). These criminal acts include the disruption of other data processor systems using viruses and worms, gaining unauthorized admission fee to confidential files, creating and distributing pornographic films based on children, stealing identity, stalking, and a host of other thefts and frauds.There are m some(prenominal) ways in which cybercrime can be defined. This is because cybercrime is non a new type of leave but an extension of criminal behavior that is already existing (Edelbacher, Kratcoski, and Theil 122). Cybercrime could be defined as any crime in which a computer is the agent, facilitator, or target of the crime (Edelbacher, Kratcoski, and Theil). This definition however is not completely representative of cybercrime. A more extensive definition was given by the Council of Europes Budapest Convention on Cyber Crime that defined cybercrime as Offences against the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of computer data and systems, that is, offenses against computer data and systems, including illegal access to a computer system, such as hacking (Article 2), the illegal interception of the transmission of computer data (Article 3), data interference, that is, the damaging, deletion, deterioration, alteration or suppression of computer data (Article 4), system interference, that is, hindering of the function of computer systems (Article 5), including denial of service attacks, the misuse of devices (Article 6) the production, sale, procurement, or otherwise making available of devices of data (e.g., hacking tools) for purposes of committing the preceding(prenominal) offences

Initial Condition Report- Environment- Farming Assignment

Initial Condition Report- Environment- Farming - engagement ExampleAgri-food systems research theorizes two separate and unequal food systems based on the competing values, differential genial and purlieual impacts, and unequal power relations.1 Of these, the first type is the industrial agriculture which can be characterized as being more financial or capital oriented, and is generally large-scale in nature, shows mellowed productivity, and is mechanized with monocultural cropping systems that has links with the local, national and global market, as for example the Washington apples.2 The second form is the sustainable agriculture, which is distinguished as compact, section-specific process boorish practice in order to meet the requirements for food small-arm also protecting and complementing the surrounding environment and working towards elevating the quality of lives of the residents of that particular locality (as seen in Puget Sound).3 To report the agri-food system wit hin the Puget Sound region, it is necessary to take a firsthand stock of the existing agricultural system within this region. Fig 1 This shows a rather depressing picture, where we find that till 1997 in the region of Puget Sound, the scenario pertinent to agriculture is not very encouraging. More than 20% of the agricultural lands (amounting to about hundred thousand acres) have been lost or put to other use in the region, within a minuscule period of only fifteen years, 1982 to 1997. There has been a decrease in the digit of farms (nearly 25%) in this region during the same time-frame.4 According to this report, smaller farms are disappearing fast, while there has been a small increase in the larger farms however the report shows us that less number of young populate are entering into this farming business.5 Later available figures of the lunge County and the Snohomish County show us that, after 1997, in particular in the years 2002 and 2007, the farming situation in Snohomi sh County is comparatively better, and shows slight increase in the number of farms (fig 2-a), and land in farms (fig 2b), The Pierce County however shows figures that continue to reflect a downward slide. In the place setting of the decreased amount of chemicals brought by the farms in the Pierce County, reflects a tilt towards an im move upment in the environment and the crops produced (fig 2c and d) while Snohomish with an increasing agriculture produce, shows a rise in the use of chemicals by these farms, which may prove to be detrimental for the environment. (fig 2c and d). Hence, the focus should be on producing local crops that are organic in nature, that is, crops bragging(a) without the use of any chemical fertilisers. Number of Farms 1997 2002 2007 Pierce County 1616 1474 1448 Snohomish County 1819 1574 1670 Fig 2 (a) blood line Census of agriculture Land in Farms (acres) 1997 2002 2007 Pierce County 61689 57224 47677 Snohomish County 72882 68612 76837 Fig 2 (b) Source Census of Agriculture Number of Farms purchased chemicals 1997 2002 2007 Pierce County 560 510 425 Snohomish County 444 388 454 Fig 2 (c) Source Census of Agriculture Total expenses for chemicals 1997 2002 2007 Pierce County $870,000 $1,044,000 $707,000 Snohomish County $722,000 $721,000 $1,501,000 Fig 2 (d) Source Census of Agriculture The sharp fall in the agricultural produce in the Puget Sound region is owing to the fact that the farm products are liable to be

Evaluate the Range of Alternative International Assignment Forms Essay Example for Free

Evaluate the Range of Alternative International duty assigning Forms EssayAn international appointment of 3-5 years is usually makeed as Long Term Assignment. One of the reasons that it is change state extremely more high-priced for MNEs is due to the nature of the job scope and the International Assignees (IA) personal considerations. Interestingly, according to the 2009 Global Relocation Trends Survey (Brookfield Global Relocation Services, 2009) report, when multinational companies are relocating their employees for assignments over seas these days regardless of short or long term, they tend to dispatch older and more see employees due to the low risk of assignment failure. This is one of the reasons why it has become change magnitudely and extremely more expensive for MNEs (Harzing, 1995) . Following the expatriate demographic provided by the survey, family concerns sit on top of the chart which remain the most overwhelming reason of 92% for assignment refusal a nd also the top reason for proto(prenominal) returns from assignments which recorded at high of 27%. Historically, the top five challenges over the years of the survey lay down been family adjustment, partner resistance, fractious location, childrens education, and partners career (Borstorff, 1997) (Brett, 1995) .These are also the reasons why it is difficult to draw the right candidates with the right experience to fill the vacancy for long term assignment (Shaffer, 2001) . Antidotes for the Poisons Exploiting former(a) Alternatives Due to the above dilemma faced by most of the MNEs, they are now looking at other alternatives which can provide them with the best antidotes to the poisons that are stinging them. The ranges of alternatives of international assignments that the multinational companies can consider apart from the long term assignment include short term, self-initiated, commuter, and realistic assignments.Short term assignments This caseful of assignments can last from a few weeks to months. According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers survey 2001, there is a cunning increase of almost 60% in the popularity of companies implementing this orgasm in their respective organizations. This is due to the nature of these assignments which drop the companies an instant solution in resolving skills shortages and are in general easier to manage (Solomon, 1999) . Apart from that, in comparison with the long term assignments, short term assignments imposed lower cost to the companies due to the assignment length and duration.In addition, companies do non need to spend on relocation on their faultless employees family and it is also a good means to circumvent family-related problems which can be seen in most of the handed-down assignments such(prenominal) as family upheavel. Self-initiated assignments Over the years, there is this trend that is growing in numbers where the assignees make their arrangements to find work abroad and are employed on to pical anaesthetic work contracts. According to (Suutari, 2000) , they have set a series of distinct characteristics of the self-initiated assignees as compared to traditional expatriation.These characteristics, which may non be that bulls eye accurate, however does speaks most common assignees may have and practice. These include young and single, be more motivated in moving abroad due to interest in internationalism and poor recitation situations at home, working for companies at lower hierarchical levels, and receive no repatriation promises and view their relocation as a more permanent move. The benefit of recruiting the self-initiated assignees is that it can offer companies the potential of not having to undertake preparation.In fact, the assignees recruited could have been resident in a particular location for years where they are well immingle with the socio-cultural of the place. One of the draw rearwards is that the assignees are not familiar with the organizational c ulture which until a certain extent where such familiarity is important will be driven by the nature of the assignment. Commuter assignments This instance of assignment involves employees exchange from their home to an office in another country by means of travelling by land, sea or air.One of the examples would be employees travelling by airplane on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (Assignment types explained, 2012) . In contrast with short term assignments, the commuter assignments allow company to fill in the skills shortage without disrupting the employees cooperators career or the childrens education or family affair. This gives the assignees the chance to work abroad without leaving their home when carrying out their assignments. However, the drawbacks of the assignment are the quality life of the assignees may be affected.This is due to the likelihood of the assignees returning late from work due to the unspeakable distance of commuting and not to mention the fatigue due to the travelling journey. This affects the communication and the quality time between the assignees and their family which boost prolong may affect their emotional and indirectly affects their productivity in the company. Virtual assignments The assignees manage the var. of international activities across several countries which do not require the assignees to be physically relocated to a hostile organizational unit.Although relocation is not necessary but extensive travel is inevitable. The advantages of a virtual assignment seem to be overwhelming over the traditional expatriate assignment. Firstly, the assignees are less expensive due to their wages are paid on local basis (without expatriate allowance) but mayhap with travel expenses. With the increasing use of video conferencing and other communication development, it has narrow down the possibility of this approach and making it less necessary in the future.Secondly, there is no need for any special system for the assignees such as insurance, foreign social security, and pensions as they can stick back to only local scheme. This gives the company another cost saving solution and as well as cutting on the unnecessary procedure in establishing a new scheme for the assignees. Lastly and most importantly, the assignees work-life balance is not tremendously affected. The assignees do not need to move their family abroad and their childrens education are not affected. The current trend of expatriation 2011As the global economy continues to improve, more and more companies are increasing their presence in the emerging market where international assignments have become key aspect in the global economic recovery. Following the reliable source from the 2011 Global Relocation Trends Survey published by Brookfield Global Relocation Services (Brookfield GRS 2011 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report, 2011) , china is where they are heading. According to the survey, China ranked the most common new destination fo llowed by Brazil, India and Singapore.In terms of difficulties, China stable sits on top of the list followed by India, Russia and Brazil. This gives a good reflection of the assignee volume going into these locations and the emulation for housing and schooling will create delays and difficulties to the relocation and at the same time giving disconfirming impact on the relocation experience. Conclusion In order to draw a bottom marge on the above discussion, I personally view that self-initiated assignment would be the acceptable form of assignment from my generation.The current trend is leaning more towards modern thinking and not being hold back by the conventional belief and thinking. Take for example, the young adult nowadays do not plenty through their marriage at early age and the average marriage age have change magnitude to over 30 years old in contradictory with 18-22 years old during the olden days. This has indirectly give an impact to the working trend where employ ees remain single till the age of over 30 years old and they tend to be mobile and not restricted to family pressure or spouses career.Coming to this modern generation, we are starting to adapt to a very competitive surround where the local market is getting more and more saturated. In order to overcome this matter, we have to go out from our home country to get a well-paid jobs rather than saturating further in the local market. Therefore, this type of assignment is some kind of killing two birds with one stone where companies can expect to hold back cost by hiring these assignees on contract basis and the assignees can expect to earn higher foreign exchange rate wages overseas compared to working in their home country.Considering the mutual benefits from this type of assignments, in the coming future we can expect to see the self-initiated assignment to gain popularity among the companies and also the prospective employees.

Therapeutic Landscape Essay Example for Free

Therapeutic Landscape EssayThe term in particular mirrors the transformation and redefinition of military mans needs through this continuous tide of human evolution. Brought by the shining glimpse of modernity it points divulge the conniption of human living, in particular with the upgrade importance and role of the landscape where people choose or actually reside. Cited in the bind legion(predicate) dates, the celestial horizon of people regarding the landscape where they live in has give-up the ghost very relevant on how they view themselves and others. Brought by the weight of modernity, good landscape project in terms of availability of economic means together with a healthy environment, take hold become a social factor in itself. another(prenominal) strength of the article, it attacks in particular the view of how a positive landscape should integrate the main fit of health, and how communities within a particular region could be divided and actually co exist in two main groups with different views of their landscape, one that is health affirming and the other as health denying. The importance of image on landscape, developed a strong societal gap that often leads to a more counterpoint and negative view on living. I believe the purpose of this paper showed was to be able to develop why there is a larger and more important weight that landscape holds in casting perceptions in communities. It also aims to explain how societies or communities adapt to such changes and perceptions where certain psychological aspects of the community regress in. Particularly with the citation in on p.2 wherein as perception of activities change, the place in which they occur may be stigmatized. Before industrialization was an economic booster, it is a very demanded and needed activity, but as time progressed, the products and wastes have become alarming that the city was stigmatized to be proinflammatory.The importance of redefining or masking that pe rception has become important because people who actually live in those places are stigmatized. Outsiders perceive them to abhor and allow the life style because they actually live there. It is quite logical if one might think of it. Its like creation associated with fri block ups, tell me who your friends are and Ill tell you who you are. It may not necessarily true and concise, but postcode beats the first perception. However certain assumptions like that do not result from baseless proof. estimable what the paper stated on what industrialization stood for the people before and what it stood now. People are associated with images, that is why the landscape, as part of their preference or lifestyle, is greatly put into consideration. Given certain notations wherein an area is stigmatized, in this character reference the North eradicate, it widens the societal gap by actually alienating that particular area therefore providing sylphlike access to economic and social developme nt for people who reside there. Being in one community, the article clearly emphasized how divided a certain community might be. The others, trying very trying to mask and redefine the image of the industrialized Hamilton, by exhausting efforts to improve health/landscape, at the equal time making North End a certain scapegoat of housing the bad or unhealthy side of Hamilton. The paper had extensive evidence to state that through various interviews from residents. The efforts of creating such a positive image just widen the societal gap and psychological behavior of people. At the end image has become very important without attacking the core of its decline, instead it creates a more divided community. I agree that the idea that Hamilton needs to strike a good impression in the outside(a) world is very contrasting to the method of redefining a healthy landscape. The failure to accept the ills of the community by masking it and actually resulting to division and misconception to p romote better and more sound solution to their societal problems. We have been witnesses of what modernity has evolved our minds and perceptions of good and bad, healthy and unhealthy. The fact that we exist in communities, we take pride in images and perception. view has become very important in us, that is why we tend to study and label every aspect of our lives. The particular aspect that alarms me is the never ending circle of division that exists in Hamilton. People who dwell in healthier landscapes pride themselves and the city and affirming the positive side of the community, at the expense of using the North End part as a certain scapegoat, therefore alienating that particular place.Instead of reaching out and including the place in development, it has been perceived to be a place that makes Hamilton quite unattractive. Certain alienations have make people at North End are influenced to think of their status and support from their neighborhoods who also olfactory modality the same way. The division entails more gaps in certain communities, therefore their view of healthy or unhealthy environment seem skewed as a whole. Since its a very pending issue, zip seem to think of its importance, but now we tend to assess our own communities and try to assess how really healthy it is. Since Hamilton is a live case, it is not hard to imagine finding other communities with Hamiltons sympathetic example. It has become an important educator in terms of perceiving a certain healthy landscape and how it plays a big role in the psychological perceptions of people. It made me realize how important image is and how it maneuvers society.

The Home Front Letter Essay Example for Free

The Home Front garner EssayHow have you been? This War has everyone really going. The War forget be over in a matter of months and our lives will back to normal. However, I am quite annoyed, just like most of my neighbours and colleagues, slightly the DORA. It has restricted the way we live. For example, we can no longer feed the dog. The news these days is just totally intolerable. Most of the news has to be censored, so how is one supposed to find out what is going on around the country. Those Germans are hated by every single Briton in this country. You should see more or less of the things they do. There are posters of Germans killing innocent babies and children for fun and raping women. It is just so inhuman.Recently, they have started sending in huge airships and bombing many of the large cities, including London. This has just got to end some time soonMy son, George, has too joined the army. My family and I are so proud of him. I feel that he will constitute a big difference to the war, just like the many other men that have joined.This altogether war will blow over in the next few months. I dont think those Germans will last long at all.Take care of yourself.Yours sincerely,John.

The Angry American by Toby Keith Essay Example for Free

The Angry Ameri cease by Toby Keith sampleTragedy is angiotensin converting enzyme of the most influential inspirations for art, including songwriting. In recent times, m both artists responded to their feelings toward the destruction of the Twin Towers on September eleventh, 2001, with an abundance of artwork, poetry, and songs. One of the songs, Toby Keiths The Angry American, may conceivably be portrayed as a summation of the artists patriotic values in a reaction to the event. Although in initial honoring it may seem as though the song attempts to also inspire patriotism in its audience, it does kinda the contrary, inspiring strike back against acts that hurt or threaten the USA, namely September 11th. Patriotism is defined as positive acts of nationalistic feeling Keith suggests, however, that vengeance or at least violence defines nationalistic feeling. in the lead performing this piece, Toby Keith gave a speech about his reasons for creating the song. Although Keith states in his speech that he wrote the song next September 11th, as if for the victims of that tragedy, he in fact wrote it not as an emotional reaction toward the victims, still for his own personal feelings, including those of his father and his sacrifices in the line of duty. In dedicating the song to his father, Keith furthers the idea that the song was compose for personal reasons and not just as a response for the victims of September 11th.Although Keith may be conceivably trying to express the idea of the USA prevailing oer any evil, he conveys this idea in a knock-down-and-drag-out, vengeful way. He clearly suggests the idea of America as being a dry land that any enemy will be sorry that they messed with, basic ally saying that if you harm the USA, theyll put a boot in your ass, its the American way. By stating this about the USA, Keith suggests that Americans will roughly take revenge against any threat made upon them, and to such a great degree that it will cause t he enemy to never be capable to threaten the USA again.Keith characterizes the USA almost as if it was the school bully, who no nonpareil can take the top spot from, or hurt without being hurt in return. This peremptory ideology of the USA, which Keith seems to use to try to boost the morale of the songs listeners, in fact weakens the song by suggesting violent acts as an acceptable means to substantiate any feelings of anger or hatred toward past events defamatory to the US.The roots of hatred sprout from many different feelings fear, ignorance, competing beliefs, sadness, frustration, helplessness. Through the use of certain terms in both his speech and song, Keith portrays this hatred, in many forms.Keith presents feelings of helplessness when he expresses the idea of the US in a cage. The use of the term cage may be due to the fact that Keith feels frustrated and vulnerable from the attacks on September 11th, in that the perpetrators of the attacks are either already dead or too difficult to find, and if revenge were to be taken, it would not bring the victims back, or make the pain and grief of the attacks any easier to bear. Therefore one might say that Keiths patriotic ideals are caged, as he feels that someone has stricken his country and all he believes in, and there is not a way to avenge this entrapment.Keith expresses further feelings of frustration in his ignorance as to who his enemies actually are. As he states in his song, a mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back, Keith conveys the USAs ignorance as to who really gave it its big black eye, and his hatred for not being able to determine who his enemies are and who to retaliate against, or more specifically, which ass to put his boot in first.These feelings of uncertainness can be seen in Keiths mentioning of his father in both the speech and song. He states that his father at sea his eye in a training combat mission while serving his country, and it can be inferred fr om this mentioning in the speech, the song, and his dedication of the song to his father, that Keith feels angry that he does not know specifically how his father bewildered his eye, who (if anyone) caused him to lose it, or why no one could help him. As stated previously, feelings of sadness, ignorance, and helplessness can lead to hatred, and those feelings, mixed with those surfaced after September 11th, could plausibly have lead Keith to express the need for violent vengeance to be taken towards those responsible for that hatred.Keiths sense of vulnerability is also seen in the rhyme object of the song. His haphazard rhyme scheme suggests Keiths feelings of confusion, not knowing where to turn, who to go to, who to avenge. Keiths use of patriotic and familial terms, such as Statue of Liberty, Mother Freedom, mother, brother, sister, are emphasized in order to convey the idea of America as a giant family, all striving to protect their country and its history. Keiths word choice helps to further decorate the idea of the need for Americans to stand together to seek out and avenge their enemies, namely those of the September 11th attacks.Throughout The Angry American, Toby Keith uses many techniques to stress the need for revenge to be taken for the stock our country has had to endure from attacks by enemies, specifically those enemies of September 11th. Keith is emphatic that America will prevail over any evil, and that the attacks on September 11th give Americans a chance to fight for their country, and stand on what our fathers and forefathers did for us, and make sure we dont let em down.

Greek conception of woman, citizen and family Essay Example for Free

Hellenic conception of wo gentlemans gentleman, citizen and family EssayThe classical tragedy Medea by Euripides examines the classic conception of adult female, the strange, family and citizenship. He emphasize on the subjugation and the oppressive considerateness of women in general in Greece. so he reveals the existence of ancient cultures (other than Greece) that were more than generous in their treatment of women. Medea is in like manner in some respect, different from general Greek women. She is clever and resourceful and as well has the fearlessness in her tendency to take revenge on Jason for his wrong deeds. Also, through the address of Medea, Euripides exposes the unsuccessful soulfulness of popular Greek ideas of heroism. My granting a woman the qualities that were considered heroic, he questions the sacred ideas of heroism. The part of the foreign in the make for comprises of the foreign, the exotic, the un sack out(p)n and the fe bed. He also showed that the foreign is non external to Greek and there is much for the Greeks to know about themselves. Medea represents the foreign, the attractive and the priceless possession of Jason. The foreign also equal the adventure undertaken by the Greek heroes.The foreign also symbolized danger and which could lead to chaos. Medea, a foreigner and an outsider to the conventionality revise is provide office to behave without restrain or morality. Thus she manages to commit the dreadful crime of murdering her get children. Through the elements of the foreign, baseless and barbaric, Euripides questions the concepts and definitions of civilizations, primitiveness, ethics and morality. Whereas Jason seeks power, Medea, the foreigner longs for love and caring. Greek valued family and the expel from his was majestic to the ancient Greek.A persons city-state was his home and encourageor and to wonder without friend and shelter was thought as a passel as horrible as death. Medea exiles h erself because of her love and honey for her married man. Her property in Corinth is double grave as she is both married to be exiled from family and also as she herself has broke connections with her family to be with Jason. Also, she is a foreigner who lead remain a barbarian in the eyes of the Greeks. However, Madea forces Jason into exile by wiping off his entire family. Greek law forbade Greek men to conjoin any other than Greek women.Also the children of Greek man and foreign woman were not considered as official citizens of Greece. Similarly, the children of Jason and Medea were not official citizens of Corinth, provided Creusa and Jasons takings would richly enjoy the benefits of Corinthian citizenship. So Jason is justified in his argument that to gain power and mark and to protect and their position, he married into the royal family. Thus these elements of the foreign, plight of Greek woman, citizenship and family combine to propel the natural process of the tragi c play Medea.In the Greek tragedy Medea, Euripides elaborates on the status of woman in Greek society. The Greek women in general had few rights. According to the men, the purpose of women in Greek society was to act on themselves in household duties like cooking and cleaning and giving birth and taking c argon of children. They did not have the right to vote or own property. They could not go outside without an escort. They had to be represented by men in all heavy proceedings. Greek women only under exceptional conditions could come a divorce, but any Athenian man could get rid of his wife by entirely publicly renouncing his marriage.Marriages were arranged by the parents without any participation of the girl hence Medeas flight with Jason was scandalous. If the family was wealthy, the daughter came with a substantial dowry. After marriage, the woman served her husband the entire life by caring for the children and buckle downs, the legal property of her husband. They were not given any education and lived in separate quarters, away from their husbands. The ideal woman spoken little as possible among men, whether for good or for ill. Greek women never experience independence during their lives and in some respect they were just like slaves.Medea accurately describes the conditions of married life for women when she says how a woman has to adjust to the new rules and customs of the new home and work hard to visit her husband and consequently live in peace. However if the marriage does not work, then death is the only event for the woman. When Jason decides to terminate his marriage with Medea and marry the princess of Corinth, Jason cast aside Medea as if they were never married. This type of action was pass judgment by Greek standards, which reveals the subordinate status of woman who did not have any say in these matters.Even though some actions of Medea are not similar to that of average Greek women, she posses certain attitudes and emotions whi ch are customary among women. Medea in her first speech to the Chorus (when she comes out of her house) expresses the plight of women in society For a divorce loses women all respect, yet we cant refuse to take a husband, (Euripides, lines 271-272). She further adds that when a man gets tired of the company at home, he can seek relief outside the home, but a woman have to al ways look at one man.It is likely that this attitude was divided by most Greek women as evident from the reaction of the Chorus Leader who sympathize with her Im not surprised you grieve at these events, (Euripides, Line 310). The nurse reveals the fact that Medea out of her love and deep passion for Jason has retrieved the Golden sop for him and defied her household. In slip by, she is deserted by Jason who betrayed her by breaking the vows of marriage and now She calls out to the gods to witness/ how Jason is repaying her favours, (Euripides, lines 30-31).However, her situation worsens further when Creon informs her that he is forcing her into exile. The Chorus identifies with the pitiable condition of Medea. It recognizes the heroic traits of Medea and admires her as an retaliator for all women. Chorus soothes Medea sorrow by saying that God get out be with her in her endeavor. Thus the chorus believes her cause is good and worthy of Gods support. Medea as a victim of ill fate is support by the Chorus. Even though the Chorus makes this statement before finding out Medea brutal scheme, it should be noted that the Chorus reaf steadys its support for Medea later she reveals her plan.After the monologue of Medea, where she reveal her plan and think of ways to implement it, the chorus delivers an ode on the oppression of women The waters in the sacred rivers/are flowing in reverse. /And all well-ordered things/are once more turning on themselves. / Mens plans are now deceitful,/their firm curse in the gods is gone. /Honours coming to the female sex. /slander will no lifelong injure women, (Euripides, Lines 487-496). Through this ode, the chorus condemns the oppression of women and encourages Medea to carry out her plan.It views her plan as a exalted opportunity for women to avenge all the wrongs done by men on them and to turn the hierarchy around, position the men at the mercy of women. In the play it is evident that the Chorus support Medea in her endeavor to avength the betrayal of Jason till the section where she thinks of ways and machinery to make her plot successful. merely the Chorus withdraws their support the window pane where Medea reveals her plan to murder her own sons. After the verbal fight between Jason and Medea, the Chorus asks for moderation I pray that moderation,/the gods most beautiful gift,/will always guide me, (Euripides, Lines 756-758).After they come to know Medeas plan to kill her children, they try their best make her understand her folly in her taking much(prenominal) an action and they urge her not to commit such a crime I want to financial aid you,/holding to the standards of human law, (Euripides, Lines 963-964). Euripides by examining the treatment of women in the play Medea, points at the injustices of his society. He recognise the fact that the subordinate position of women to their male counterpart is impossible to extricate from the core of social order in Greece.The typical explanation offered by the admirers of Greece is that all ancient societies were sexist and dependent on slave labor. This generality is un legitimate as there were galore(postnominal) societies who were more generous in their treatment of women than the Greeks and many societies functioned in the ancient times, without slave labor. Euripides who was aware of these hypocrisies, often pointed out how Greek society try on to save the injustices perpetrated by them. Jason tells Medea that no Greek women would have done as she has done. In this respect, the Chorus should be considered who stood by mutely and allowed the sl aughter to take place.However, Medea shows some heroic qualities that were not common among Greek women. Medea is clever, resourceful and has the courage to stand against Jason and take revenge for his betrayal. She does not stay long inside her home as a subjugating housewife lamenting and shedding tears for wrongs incurred on her. She comes out her hearth and faces the Chorus and Creon. She acts like a man and plots and execute her plan. Euripides goes farther, through the character of Medea, he exposes the bankruptcy of popular Greek ideas of heroism. Medea has many traits that would be admirable, if only she were a man.She is ruthless, brilliant, cunning, and powerful. But she is in a weak position she is not a swayer or a warrior of any battlefield. Euripides gives the qualities that are considered heroic, in a woman and thus reduces the scale. He makes the compete field one of marriage and spurned love. The fine Homeric speeches of warriors on the verge of combat are reduced to the bickering of an enraged wife and a petty husband. Euripides in this play, questions our sacred ideas about heroism. Consider, for example, the character of Agamemnon as portrayed by Aeschylus in the Oresteia.Agamemnon also kills his own child and although he is not value for this act, after his death Aeschylus grants him his due of a great man and hero. The reaction of the audience to Medeas infanticide is that of horror. Euripides gives unlimited self-absorption and pitilessness to a woman and thus exposes the true worth of these traits. The audience becomes aware of the double standards that we use for heroes and heroines. In Greek mythology Medea was princess of colchis and the granddaughter of Helios the sun God. She had affinities with magic and was the priestess of Hecate.Medea helped Jason to steal the Golden Fleece from her father and even dismember her associate to delay the pursuers of her lover. Also, she turned the daughter of Pelias into murderers to win back his rightful place in Iolcus, In return, Jason betrayed her trust and re-married into the royal family. The fact that Medea is a foreigner is emphasized from the beginning. The Nurse, in the opening lines, tells the audience that Medea hails from a distant and exotic land. Certain points should be remembered while reflecting on this aspect of the play.The foreigner or the Others is a entangled and multifaceted concept it comprises of the foreign, the exotic, the unknown and the feared. The foreign is also essential for self-definition of the Greeks. The Greeks ascribe certain traits to barbarians in adversary to certain traits about themselves. Barbarians are savage but Greeks are not. Barbarians are superstitious while Greeks are rational. But Euripides through the play undermines these easy binaries. He shows that (the foreigner) is not something external to Greek. Also, there is much for the Greeks to understand about themselvesMoreover, the (the foreign, the exotic, the terri fying) is an essential for adventure. Jasons quest, and also the quests of other Greek heroes, would not be possible without their visit to eerie and fearsome lands. Medeas foreignness may be the reason bottomland Jasons attraction for her. Although we cannot be sure if Jason was really attracted to her or used her for his own ends or both. May be Jason was drawn to her by her uniqueness. The play stresses on the fact that Medea is different from Greek women. Jasons marriage to Medea can be seen as an attempt on his part to bring the adventure home.Medea describes herself as something he won in a foreign land. The marriage can also be seen as Jasons attempt to subordinate the foreign to the Greek, woman to man. In Medea, the foreign lead to chaos. Medea as a foreigner is also terribly free. As she is an outsider to normal order, she behaves without restraint or morality. Her genius is thus used for personal revenge. She sends gifts of a finely woven scrubs and a tiara of twisted gold smeared with deadly poison and succeeds in killing both Creon and his daughter. Next she murders her deuce sons to teach Jason a lesson that the oppressed can also take actions against the oppressors.Medea as a foreigner comes from a tribal nativity, where sophistication is not the normal thing. She does not know how to well behave and speak with a soft tongue. Her culture and race is primitive and for this she is often blames by Jason. However, while Jason seeks power, Medea longs for love and caring. She leaves behind her culture, endemic land, parent, and the family as a sacrifice to marry Jason. So the uncivilized Medea cannot accept nor understand Jasons argument in party favour of his second marriage and Jason posses all the skills required to argue in his favor.This raises some(prenominal) questions regarding the concepts and definitions of civilizations, primitiveness, ethics and morality Another factor is the Greek conception of family and the separation or exile fr om them. modern-day audiences can find it difficult to understand how important family and how horrible exile was for the ancient Greek. A persons native land was his home and protector and to wander without friends or shelter, was thought of as a fate horrible as death. The chorus chants theres no affliction worse/ than losing ones own country, (Euripides, Lines 774-775). Medea made herself as exile for the sake of her husband.Medea tells about her plight to the Chorus you have a city, /you have your fathers house, enjoy your life/with friends for company. But Im alone. /I have no city, and Im being abused/by my own husband. I have no mother, brother, or relation,/to shelter with in this extremity, (Euripides, Lines 291-299). Additionally by her overzealous advocacy of her husbands interest, she made their family exiles in Corinth. Due to her actions in Iolcus, Jason is unable to return home and so their position is vulnerable. Jason who is the hero of the Golden Fleece (of cours e with the help of Medea) became a wanderer.He is very shrewd and calculative in his decision to marry into the royal family. The Tutor points out in the beginning of the play that men always act for their own interest What mortal man is not? Dont you know yet/all men love themselves more than their neighbours, (Euripides, Lines 107-108). Thus the character of Jason is revealed as an opportunist, a selfish man and the anti-hero who manipulates others for his own ends. Euripides in his play Medea, associate the elements of exile and the lower position of women by emphasizing on the circumstances that women faced after marriage.She has to leave her home and family and live among strangers. In this respect, Medea reminds us of the conditions of exile. However, her position is doubly grave, as she is an exile in this brain as well as in the sense that she herself has broke all connections with her family. Also, she is a foreigner and will remain a barbarian in the eyes of the Greeks. Greeks valued their family and the close blood relationship they overlap with the family members. Also they had certain expectation from their family.Similarly I the play, Jason want his sons to grow up and become leadership in Corinth along their new brother, the sons he wishes to beget from his new bride. He also wants his sons to mature into new-made men and win victory over his enemies. On the other hand, Medea has few expectations as well. In return for her pains of child birth and the hardship she faced in raising them, she hoped that they will look after her in old age and prepare the corpse with their own hands as all parents wishes. However, she sacrifices her expectations and also separates Jason from his family by killing her two sons and Jason new bride.She takes her revenge on Jason by poisoning the royal bride and thus depriving Jason of his wife and the children he wished to beget from her, his family. Also she kills her sons and prevents the fulfilling last hope o f Jason, his wish to unite with his family, his sons. She also deprives him of the sepulcher rights of his sons. Instead she performs the rights. In this way, Jason is exiles from his family as Medea was exile from her native land and family. Medea lost her family after she married Jason, in similar way, Jason losses his family at the end of the play.Another element emphasized in the play is the Greek conception of citizenship. Greek law forbade Greek men to marry no other than Greek women. However, it was common practice among Greek men to keep foreign concubines who were often more educated than the Greek women in general. But the children born from these unions were not considered as official citizens of Greece. Similarly, the children of Jason and Medea were not official citizens of Corinth, whereas Creusa and Jasons offspring would fully enjoy the benefits of Corinthian citizenship.Jason may be a shrewd and manipulative man and it is also true that he betrays Medea by breaking s the vows of marriage and re-marrying into the royal family. However, the fact remains that Jason was a wonderer and he precious to gain power and position by creating a relationship with the royal family. Moreover, he was aware of the fact that his children were deprived of the benefits of Corinthian citizenship. As he mentions to Medea, it may be true that he married Creons daughter not because he felt attracted towards her as a woman but rather to protect Medea and their children.Also that he wanted to serve their own interest by having children (royal princes) from his royal bride and thus securing their position in Corinth and giving their children similar power. The Greek conception of woman, the foreign, citizenship and family as examined in the play help in the progress of the tragic action. Medea represents the suppressed and oppressive condition of Greek woman who is cheated by her husband. The foreign element in her character, the exotic, the dangerous and the barbarian instigate her take revenge against Jason.Jasons argument in favor of his action is the power and position he wants to achieve for himself and for Medea and their children. He is aware that his and Medeas children will be deprived of the benefits of Corinthian citizenship. Her separation or exile from family because of Jason infuriates her further and she in turn separates Jason from his family.Work citationAnalysis of Medea as a Tragic Character. 8 December 2002. Michael Kliegl. 9 July 2008 http//www. gradesaver. com/classicnotes/titles/medea/essay1. html The innovation of Citizenship. 9 July 2008 http//library.thinkquest. org/C004203/political/political02. htm Euripides by Medea. 9 July 2008 http//malaspina. edu/johnstoi/euripides/medea. htm Medea (Criticism). Carole L. Hamilton. 9 July 2008 http//www. answers. com/topic/medea-play-8 Major Themes. 9 July 2008 http//www. gradesaver. com/classicnotes/titles/medea/themes. html Medea (Indian translation of the greek classic. 9 July 2008 http//www. lokadharmi. org/medea. htm Summary and Analysis of Lines 1- 356. 9 July 2008 http//www. gradesaver. com/classicnotes/titles/medea/section3. html

Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine Essay Example for Free

Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine auditionAntecedents I woke up a little late so I was worried about the things I have to do for the day. I decided to have deep brown for breakfast, nothing else as I was kick to call a friend who is expecting my call that morning. Towards lunch time, I was thirsty and I thought a can of soda would be great. I grabbed one and finished it in no time.Consequences I had coffee and soda because I was rushing when I was having my breakfast, and coffee is the quickest that I can get. Also, I pick out it can perk me up.I got another dose of caffeine through the soda I drank, which is strain of a feel-good drink for me. daytime 2 (Tuesday) Antecedents It was a relaxed day, nothing much to do. I ate remedy and did not have coffee today. I did not drink any(prenominal) cola either. I bought bottled peeing which lasted me through the day so I did not have to buy another can of soda.Consequences at that place was no caffeine today no nicotine or alco hol either as I am not a fan of these. I figured if I am relaxed there is less observe for me to have caffeine. Having water available also helps.I felt light and active throughout the day. DAY 3 (Wednesday) Antecedents I met with a friend and he was smoking so I smoked too when I was offered, though I barely finished the whole stick. I also had iced coffee afterward lunch, to perk me up because I was feeling sleepy but I did not want any hot drinks.Consequences I was dizzy. I was guessing it is because of the cigarette that I am not used to it in particular that brand my friend had that is why it got me dizzy. The coffee helped a lot. As always it perked me up.

Effective Communication Essay Example for Free

Effective Communication EssayEffective confabulation is essential in whatever workplace, especially within a deplorable arbitrator organization. In this paper, the author will treat the process of communicatory and nonverbal communicating and the associated comp binglents of each, the differences surrounded by audience and hearing in confabulation, the formal and versed take of communication in criminal arbiter organizations and the strategies that may be implemented to overcome communication barriers therein.Types of Communication and the Process InvolvedCommunication is defined as a process involving several steps, among deuce or more persons, for the primary purpose of exchanging information. (Wallace Roberson, 2009). This process drop entangle two types of communication verbal and nonverbal. Verbal Verbal communication includes transmitting information orally. This type of communication tin involve overlap information or exchanging ideas between two larg e number or a group. Speaking is just unity aspect of verbal communication. Verbal communication does non solely involve the sender transmitting the inwardness to the receiver.Verbal communication also involves listening from the receiver and giving feedback to the sender as a tab that the heart and soul was understood. In a criminal justice organization, oral communication skills be necessary to public lecture with members of the general public, request assistance from other ships officers, advise suspects of their Miranda rights, and inform supervisors that certain actions have occurred. (Wallace Roberson, 2009). Being an officer requires a lot of verbal communication to fulfill some of the essential duties of running(a) in lawfulness enforcement. NonverbalNonverbal communication includes written communication via reports, memorandums, notes from meetings, notes taken from accounts between officers and witnesses, victims, suspects, etc. Nonverbal send packing also inc lude facial expressions. Facial expressions and body language oftentimes are used to beam emotions when words are absent. The Process of Communication The process of communication involves transmitting an idea, sending the idea finished a medium (verbal/nonverbal), receiving the message, understanding the idea, and providing feedback to the message sender.The first step of transmitting an idea implies the formation of superstar or several thoughts and the desire to express these ideas. (Wallace Roberson, 2009). The next step involves choosing a method of communicating that idea. This ass be done through verbal or nonverbal communication. Despite what method is used, it is imperative to go who the audience is and decide what tone the message is to be delivered. The tone, especially with oral communication, disregard make a world of a difference in how the receiver interprets the message.When the receiver then receives the message, his interpretation may not be how the message was originally intended to be received. The understanding of the idea or message relies strongly on interpretation of the person receiving the message. The process is then completed when the receiver provides feedback to the message sender by clarifying what he or she understood and then agreeing or disagreeing with the message itself. all in all these steps are part of the communication process, if one step fails then the communication frames ineffective and invaluable.Listening vs. Hearing agree to the Ameri tin Heritage College Dictionary, the word hearing is defined as the sense by which sound is comprehend the capacity to hear (2009). Hearing can include the capacity to hear the audio of the message cosmos received and the words being enunciated, but it cannot ensure whether the message was indeed understood. Hearing is only one part of the communication process. The ability to comprehend by actually listening to what is being said, understanding the message by using the a ids such(prenominal) as tone, facial expressions and body language completes this process.Active listening is important to effective communication. Channels of Communication Channels of communication in a criminal justice organization help demonstrate how the information electric currents from one person or group to another. The flow of communication or channels can include formal or informal methods. Formal Formal channels of communication include orders, directives and written memorandums that follow a filament of command. Communication in this scenario commonly flows downwards from the highest level of the totem pole, such as a police chief down to its subordinates.This type of channel of communication has both its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of using a formal channel promote uniformity within the department. All officers, despite their rank, receive the same information. The disadvantage of using formal channels is that it sometimes stops the isolated flow o f communication. If this channel type of communication is used it does not leave much room for officers to tack freely any information within their department. That is to say that patrol officers usually are not back up to communicate amongst their consorts but rather just receive instruction from their superiors.This hinders the department because officers are not promote to help one another, communicate with each other and possibly provide or exchange polar information that might help them execute their responsibilities. Informal Informal channels of communication include unsanctioned routes of communication within a law enforcement agency. These channels do not appear on any organizational chart, and they may not be officially sanctioned by the department. (Wallace Roberson, 2009). This type of communication usually allows a free flow of information within all those employed in criminal justice organization.The direction of communication usually does not go up or down the ladder of chain of command. It opens up and encourages communication between officers and the different departments that make up the law enforcement agency. It promotes the sharing of information amongst peers that may ultimately contribute to successfully completing their duty of serving and protecting the community unitedly as a team. Barriers to Effective Communication There are many barriers to effective communication. These barriers include emotional, physical and semantic barriers.Ineffective listening can also be construed as an important barrier as well. ablaze barriers can include an officer having low self esteem. This officer in question perhaps feels the subscribe to to refrain from communicating anything because he lacks self-confidence and is afraid to be put down by his peers. many an(prenominal) agencies have confronted this type of barrier by providing peer support groups so that they can work together to break these feelings of insecurity and promote a sense of trust. Physical barriers can breakdown communication.Physical barriers can include the use of faulty equipment where messages cannot be transmitted from one to another because the radio transmitters are not working or the computers in the vehicles or in the office are down. Having readily available and working technological equipment can help with communication between officers. Other types of physical barriers is perhaps the distance between officers when they are communicating. Shortening the distance can help provide a feeling of camaraderie and trust. Semantics involve the selection of words you choose to aid you with your communication.Obviously if you choose the wrong word, the communication will not be as effective and the entire message can be misread. Ineffective listening can also play a role in hindering the communication process. If one is not pursue in the speaker because perhaps they do not find the speaker or his/her topic raise enough, or perhaps you already have your biases or set opinions on what is being said and so your are listening with a closed mind, this can lend to ruining the communication between you and the sender.Strategies to whip Barriers In order to overcome the above mentioned barriers, you must first understand what kind of barrier is preventing the flow of communication. Once pinpointing the type of barrier you can proceed to try and remove those barriers so that you can become an effective communicator. Emotional barriers can be dealt with by working on self improvement such as going to counseling for depression or self esteem issues can help.Law enforcement agencies can provide help with finding the right person to talk to or by providing a peer support group you can join to help deal with these types of emotional barriers. Physical barriers can be handled by ensuring that all equipment used within the department is adequately functioning and therefore the lines of communication can remain open. If the physical barrier involves distance between officers, then that distance needs to be telescoped so that the communication between these officers allows for better exchange between them.Barriers that involve semantics can be change upon by going to school or studying grammar, and word selection. The internet is a great authority to explore tools that can help with improving your communication skills with words. Identifying what barriers are preventing someone from exchanging information and finding arrogate solutions to overcome these challenges will ensure a better and more effective way of communicating. Conclusion As children we learned early on how to communicate first without words then learning to speak and in conclusion learning to write.Communication is a vital part of life. Without proper communication, the exchange of ideas and messages cannot be conveyed between people in either a personal or professional setting. Communication within a criminal justice organization is just as important . Learning how the process of communication works and identifying the barriers that breakdown this communication are tools that are needed. Communication is crucial to helping overall with the execution of law enforcement.

Douglas Stuart and Gordon Essay Example for Free

Douglas Stuart and Gordon EssayPeople whitethorn believe that they do not need any hermeneutical training, tho a worldwide reading of the support How to Read the Bible for totally Its Worth by Fee and Stuart is essential for Christians who lease any contention towards scripture. The sharpenlines and rules outlined in the book argon very good and some of them ar very allsome developed from the point of view of interpreting and understanding scripture. For the Bible student and the inquiry seekers, the book is an delicate tool for teaching. Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee have displayed their competencies in making the interpretation of the principles of the Bible available to present sidereal day subscribers. While Gordon Fee is an Old Testament scholar, Douglas Stuart is a student of the late Testament and they have even out in the book matters relating to translations, the legendry genres of poetry, parable, narratives and epistles and the cores conveyed in the wr itings that were presented to their original audiences.The authors have shown how the right interpretations require different ship panache of exegesis as per the literary textbooks beingness studied in terms of Wisdom, Apocalypse, law and Wisdom. When considering impertinent Testament Epistles, it is cognize upon reading the book that the authors have given excellent advices in saying that the book should be case-hardened as letter. This implies that individuals must read the book several times just as they would read letters from their close wholenesss and then try to understand the meaning conveyed in them.It is very important to understand that the text aims at revealing the concept that the book was compose to address a specific audience in order to denounce them understand the intricacies of Christianity. It is not possible for a reader to be extra inwrought in trying to apply the different passages from the scripture to his or her own life particularly when a specifi c passage does not connote the meaning as believed by the reader. The book has lot of optimistic components and attributes that make it an excellent piece of reading.It effectively describes the complication and difficulty faced in translation and provides general principles and rules of effective interpretation. It endorses the consideration of the cultural and pastal perspective and observes the writing modal values and genres used in the books, and also suggests being cautious against any kind of misinterpretations. The authors have presented an easy to understand style which brings forth the art of biblical interpretations within the reach of the normal human being in a way that make the instruction of the Bible very rewarding and interesting.The book provides recommendation for the use of bible translations, concordances and dictionaries as facilitation to the studies. The back cover has clearly explained about the book, In clear, simple language, it helps you accurately un derstand the different parts of the Bibletheir meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you todayso you tail uncover the inexhaustible worth that is in Gods Word. The authors have exhibited certain negative attributes specially in control to some specific viewpoints which every reader may not agree with.For example, the material available in Acts and the Epistles was more relevant during the days when the texts were written and is considered a more lesser positive aspect in the viewpoint of King James and New King James Bible. The present day international version of the Bible is known to be overmuch influenced by feminism while the translation versions of the Bible, especially the English Standard Version, are not much influenced by feminism. This is considered as being more sought after as the Dynamic Equivalence way of translation.Some scholars have come to believe that all hermeneutic theories have not been adequately dealt with by the authors. Since one of the authors is said to be an associate of the Assemblies of God Church, he has made some critics to point that the hermeneutics have been presented in his style. There have been several allegations of the flow of content being difficult while the style of writing has not been up to the mark. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth guides the reader in a way that he or she can handle the Scripture in a better way, and teaches how misinterpretations can be avoided by using the context properly.The entire book emphasizes the importance of holistic reading of passages as per the over all substance of Scripture. Quirky doctrines and bad exegesis are the result of instances when passage and biblical statements are taken out from the theological, historical or cultural contexts and focused on aspects that are away from the whole of the revelation. In this context the introduction in the books has aptly explained that, The aim of good interpretation is not singularity one is not trying to discover what no one else has ever seen before.Interpretation that aims at, or thrives on, singularity can usually be attributed to pride (an attempt to out clever the rest of the world), a off understanding of spirituality (wherein the Bible is full of deeply buried truths waiting to be mined by the spiritually sensitive person with special insight), or vested interests (the need to support a theological bias, especially dealing with texts that seem to go against that bias). It is realized that the authors have made powerful points when one tries to understand the historic tests of the Old and New Testaments.They firstly make a case in favour of reading these books in order to see the activities of God in the matters pertaining to His Church and Israel. Hence these books are better understood if they are divided into separate sections that should be read as a successive account of deliverance history. additionally the authors have warned that the passages should not be deconte xtualized and allegorized since such actions become tempting while reading historical narratives which do not appear to have much spiritual and theological importance.Significant points have been made by the authors in enhancing the awareness of the gospels. It is initially affirmed that some knowledge of the historical texts is important and crucial and that one is at a disadvantage if he or she is not conversant with Mediterranean culture of the initiatory century. Secondly, it helps to read accounts of similar gospels and understand the minor differences which can enhance the understanding in regard to the audiences that the gospels intend to address and the kind of message that the authors are aiming to convey in those instances.It is established in the entire book that, as a rule, one must think and read in split form to make the best and most meaningful use of the books. The treatment of the legal books of Hebrews is very impressive. The authors make a strong point that the g iven laws were specified for Israel in order to make them get benefits by understanding and applying them to the Israeli people. This point is considered valid by the authors but they also point out that in that location needs to be a precise way of teaching that the law did not emphasize upon.Moreover, the New Testament is no longer binding on the people today and is not considered by the authors as a strong argument. The laws that condemned rape, incest, homosexuality and bestiality were not specifically stated by Jesus, but they are believed to be true and applicable today also. The book is concluded in dealing with revelation, wisdom literary works and psalms. However there is nothing new or revolutionary in these narrations which include strong and backbreaking advice in regard to some negligible points of contention.Although the book cannot be considered exhaustive as a guide it is undoubtedly the best in enabling the understanding and reading of the Scripture. In essence, the book has aptly exhibit how the Bible should be read theologically through the eyes of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ rather of the overtly idealistic and literalistic methods. Bible reading is revealed as being not only informative but also resulting in the positive transformation of human beings. Bibliography Fee Gordon D and Stuart Douglas, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 2003, Zondervan

Organic certification Essay Example for Free

constitutive(a) certification try groceryplace Characteristics of U. S. Organic field The U. S. positive fodder perseverance crossed a threshold in 2000 for the first time, more radical provender was grease ones palmsd in effected super commercializes than in any different venue. intentness estimates send word that or so half(a) of the $7. 8 billion spent on radical food in 2000 was taintd in conventional retail outlets. Organic products are now available in intimately-nigh 20,000 inbred foods stores (Natural Foods Merchandiser), and are interchange in 73 per centum of all conventional grocery stores (Food Marketing Institute). evolution consumer admit for natural products has been manifested in the market in many agencys. Acreage of sensible perfect tilth is increasing to meet growing consumer pick up. tally to the intimately new-fangled husban modify estimates, U. S. certified thoroughgoing cropland doubled between 1992 and 1997, to 1. 3 mil lion commonwealth. Preliminary estimates for 2001 suggest that certified constitutive(a) acreage significantly change magnitude between 1997 and 2001.From the consumer side, wise products are being introduced rapidly. For example, over 800 new native products were introduced in the first half of 2000. Desserts made up the major(ip)ity of new products in 2000, duration most new products introduced in 1999 were beverages (Myersand Rorie). The new U. S. Department of Agriculture standards for thoroughgoing fertiliser food, slated to be fully implemented by October 2002, are expected to urge further growth in the organic foods industry.The USDA standard defines organic exertion as A production arranging that is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act and regulations in this part to respond to site-specific conditions by compound cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiv ersity. 1 The national organic standards send the methods, practices, and substances engaged in producing and handling crops, livestock, and processed agricultural products (see box). All agricultural products that are interchange, labeled, or equal as organic must be in compliance with the regulations after October 2002. Organic food is sold to consumers finished three main venues in the joined readsnatural foods stores, conventional grocery stores, and direct-to-consumer marketsand a tenuous amount is exported to foreign markets. USDA does non concur national statistics on organic retail sales. patience sources film reported retail sales for organic food, but those data are fragmentary and, at times, inconsistent.A trade publication, the Natural Foods Merchandiser (NFM) reported estimates of integrality U. S. retail sales of organic foods for 1990 through 1996. NFM estimated total organic sales through all marketing outlets rose steadily from virtually $1 billion in 1990 to $3. 3 billion in 1996, the last year that total sales were reported. Since 1999, package Facts, a market research firm, has been reporting organic food sales. According to Packaged Facts, organic food sales in all venues totaled $6. 5 billion in 1999 and $7. 8 billion in 2000.This increase continues the streak of industry growth equal to 20 part or more annually since 1990. Purveyors of natural products were the primary sales force for organic food since the beginning of the organic food sweat over half a century ago. Until 2000, the enormousst retail outlet for organic food was natural foods stores followed by direct markets (such as upriseers markets), according to NFM data (fig. 1). In 2000, 49 percentage of all organic products was sold in conventional supermarkets, 48 percent was sold in health and natural products stores, and 3 percent through direct-to-consumer methods (Packaged Facts). In contrast, in 1991, 7 percent of all organic products were sold in conve ntional supermarkets and 68 percent were sold in health and natural products stores (NFM). clean fix remains the top-selling organic category (see fig. 2), followed by nondairy beverages, breads and grains, packaged foods (frozen and dried prepared foods, baby food, soups, and desserts), and dairy products. During the 1990s, organic dairy was the most rapidly growing segment, with sales up over 500 percent between 1994 and 1999. Sales of organic yogurt and kefir increased 56. 4 percent between 1999 and 2000. Following closely, sales of nondairy beverages (for example, juice and soymilk) increased 53. 1 percent and sales of fresh produce grew by 51.4 percent between 1999 and 2000, according to industry sources. Overall, according to Packaged Facts, organic sales in natural product supermarkets and conventional stores increased by 20 percent between 1999 and 2000. Organic leaveners market their food directly to consumers much more a lot than conventional farmers do, and the last d ecade has seen a renaissance in the use of farmers markets across the country. Producers capture a much high share of the consumer food dollar when they market their produce directly to consumers.Several surveys of certified organic producers show similar findings on theirheavy use of direct -to-consumer marketing. A 1997 survey of certified organic producers in the United States conducted by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)a California nonprofit group that sponsors research on organic farming ground that direct market use is broad and varies by commodity sector, with fruits and vegetables the highest. Organic producers reported selling produce from about 23 percent of their vegetable acreage directly to consumers through on-farm sales (9 percent), farmers markets (8 percent), community supported agriculture subscriptions (4 percent), and other types of direct-toconsumer markets (2 percent).Also, produce from about 20 percent of the organic fruit and vegetable acrea ge was marketed directly to grocery retailers and restaurants. A 1994 USDA survey of certified organic vegetable producers in the United States found that the use of direct-toconsumer markets varied with farm size, with 60 percent of the growers with chthonian 10 acres (three-quarters of the respondents) using this channel compared with 12 percent with 10 acres or more (Fernandez-Cornejo et al. ). Smaller growers tended to market directly to grocery retailers (11 percent versus 6 percent for larger growers) and through grower cooperatives (10 percent versus 3 percent for larger growers), while the larger growers marketed more severely to vegetable packer/shippers, brokers, and food processors.Organically handsome food is widely available in farmers markets across the United States, and organic- scarcely farmers markets find been organized in Oregon, Illinois, Missouri, and other States. The renaissance in farmers markets in the United States during the 1990sfostered by State and local municipalities wanting to revitalize neighborhoods and preserve regional farmland and return space has been a boon to organic farmers who use this marketing outlet much more heavily than conventional farmers do.States are likewise producing directories of farm stands and pick-your-own farms, including organic directories, and developing logos like Jersey Fresh to promote locally grown food. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is an innovative direct marketing arrangement that organic farmers have been pioneering in the United States for about a decade.Consumers subscribe to the harvest of a CSA farmer for the entire approaching season, and pay for their produce in advance. Under a CSA arrangement, consumers share the production risks and variable harvests of the farmer including peculiarly abundant harvestsand sometimes participate in festivals and other social activities at the farm. Over 800 CSAs are soon listed in the U. S. database maintained by USDA and the Robyn V an En Center at Wilson College. some of the CSA farms use organic production systems.Production Characteristics of U. S. Organic Sector A growing body of research in the United States has been devoted to the economics of organic production systems its yields, stimulation costs, income, favorableness, and other economic characteristics.A 1990 canvass of the U. S. literature concluded that the variation within organic and conventional farming systems is promising as large as the differences between the two systems and found mixed arrive ats in the comparisons for most characteristics (Knoblauch, Brown, and Braster, 1990). Several more recent U. S. studies have indicated that organic mo meshary value premiums are key in giving organic farming systems alike(p) or higher whole-farm profits than conventional chemical- intensive systems, particularly for crops like processed tomatoes and cotton (Klonsky and Livingston, 1994 Batte, Forster, and Hitzhusen, 1993Assadian, Esparza, and P once, 1999). different studies have found that organic systems may be more profitable than conventional systems, even without footing premiums. For example, some Midwestern organic grain and soybean production was found to be more profitable than conventional systems, even without outlay premiums, due to higher yields in drier areas or periods, lower input costs, or crop mix (Welsh, 1999).Also, a recent study comparing organic and conventional apple production in Californias Central Coast showed higher yields as well as higher returns under the organic systems (Swezey et al. , 1994). And another recent study compared organic, conventional, and integrated apple production systems in Washington State over a 6-year period, and found that the organic system was more profitable, had similar yields, split up tasting fruit, and was more environmentally sustainable and energy efficient than the other systems (Reganold et al. ).We are not assured of recently published research that fin ds farming with organic methods is little profitable than farming with conventional methods. Of course, net returns to various production systems may vary with biophysical and economic factors (such as soil type, climate, and proximity to markets), and a system that is optimal in one location may not be optimal in another. Also, factors not captured in standard profit calculations, such as convenience, longer-term planning horizons, and environmental ethics, can motivate sane adoption of a particular practice or farming system.Further research is contended to ameliorate our understanding of the factors influencing net returns to organic farming systems. The promising results from the limited number of economic studies to date have led to an increase in research on organic farming systems. USDA, universities, and other U. S. institutions are increasingly examining the long-term economics of organic farming systems through replicated field trial research and a multidisciplinary sy stems approach.Most of these projects are less than a decade old, and promise to answer basic research questions about yields and profitability as well as to address farmer-defined management and production obstacles to the more widespread adoption of organic production systems. Farmers in 49 States used organic production methods and third-party organic certification services on 1. 35 million acres of farmland in 1997, according to an Economic Research Service (ERS) study. Crops were grown on about two-thirds of the certified U. S. organic farmland, and the rest was pasture.The ERS study analyzed data from 40 State and private certifiers (see box, p. 8, on organic standards and certification). Uncertified acreage was excluded, even though it may represent a large segment of organic production, because of the difficulty in determining the production criteria used by uncertified growers. ERS reports statistics on certified organic U. S. acreage in the Organic Farming and Marketing Br iefing way (www. ers. usda. gov/ briefing/organic). Organic farming has made deeper inroads in the fruit, vegetable, and other high-value specialty crop industries than in the major grain and oilseed industries. spot less than two-tenths of 1 percent of the U. S.corn, soybean, and wheat crops were grown organically in 1997, over 1 percent of the dry peas and tomato crops and about 2 percent of the apple, grape, lettuce and carrot crops were organic. And nearly a third of the U. S. herb and mixed vegetable crops were grown organically in 1997. (A mixed vegetable crop is a mixture of numerous horticultural crops (mostly vegetables) grown on a small farm or parcel. ) The markets for organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs have been developing for decades in the United States, and these crops are grown organically in more States than any other type of commodity.State and private certifying groups certified over 180,000 acres of these crops in 44 States in 1997, more than double the amount certified in 1994, with the biggest gains for cultivated and wild-harvested herbs such as St. Johns Wort. About 2 percent of the major fruit and vegetable cropsapples, carrots, lettuce, and grapeswere grown organically, and a third of the organic vegetable acreage was devoted to producing mixed vegetables in 1997.Mixed vegetable farms, as defined in the census of agriculture, are small farmsless than 50 acresthat produce a large number of vegetables. Large farms produce processing tomatoes, organic wine grapes, and other high-value crops on a commercial scale, while numerous small farms still specialize in mixed vegetable production for direct marketing to consumers and restaurants. The top producer of organic fruits and vegetables was California, followed by Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Washington. About a third of the total certified organic vegetable acreage in 1997 was for mixed vegetables.In 1997, U. S. farmers certified nearly 3,000 acres of organic mixed vegetables on farms or parcels that were 5 acres or less, and over 14,000 acres on farms and parcels over 5 acres. New York organic producers had over 1,400 acres in the 5-acres-or-less category.Mixed vegetable producers often target farmers markets, community-supported agriculture subscriptions, restaurants, and other direct marketing outlets. Organic farmers are also growing major grains and oilseeds on a small portion of the planted area in the United States. Wheat was produced under certified organic farming systems on over 125,000 acres in 1997, corn was grown on over 42,000 acres, and soybeans were produced on about 82,000 acres. Other field crops produced organically in 1997 include barley, oats, sorghum, rice, spelt, millet, buckwheat, rye, dry peas, lentils, dry beans, flax, and sunflowers.Organic acreage of these crops, especially soybeans, has undoubtedly increased since 1997. Thirty-nine States had certified organic hay and ensilage production, with most acreage in Idaho, Wisconsin, and New York. Acreage of these crops expanded 51 percent between 1995 and 1997 as the number of certified organic milk cows more than doubled during that period. Organic meat and domestic fowl markets have lagged behind those for crops partly because meat and poultry could not be labeled as organic until February 1999, when a provisional label was approved by USDA.Food crops and non-meat animal foods (eggs and dairy products) are regulate by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, which allowed food packages to carry an organic label throughout the 1990s. 2 While the number of certified organic beef cows, hogs, sheep, and lambs declined during the study period (1992-97), the number of dairy cows and work hens increased sharply. The market for organic meat products is beginning to grow now that organic labeling is permitted, and the growing market for organic milk and eggs has been pushing up the use of certified organic pasture and the demand for certified organic grains and oilseeds.Farm ers and ranchers raised a small number of certified organic cows, hogs, and sheep in 23 States in 1997. Dairy cows were raised organically in 13 States in 1997, and New York, Wisconsin, and atomic number 25 were the top three producers. The number of certified organic milk cows in the United States nearly tripled between 1992 and 1994 and more than doubled between 1994 and 1997. California was the leader in organic poultry production, followed by New York and Virginia. Other organic animal specialties, including goats, fish, and colonies of bees, were certified in several States.Consumption Characteristics of the U. S. Organic Sector A number of academic and industry studies have been conducted to examine consumer behavior and identify their motivation for purchase organic foods. Many of the industry studies use consumer surveys, which seek to identify how often consumers purchase organic food, their motivations for buy organic food, and demographic data on organic food purchaser s.University studies have adopted different approaches to appraise consumer buying behavior and to identify which characteristics (for example, income, food theatrical role, educational level, concern for the environment, or family size) affect whether consumers will purchase organic food. Several industry groups have surveyed consumers about their preferences and buying habits for organic food. The results of the different surveys are not always consistent.The Nutrition Business Journal reported that 11 percent of consumers purchased some organic food in 2000, and less than 2 percent are regular purchasers. Results of the Hartman Groups 2000 survey suggest that 3 percent of consumers regularly buy organic products. The walnut tree Acres Survey (2001) found that 63 percent of respondents purchased organic food at least(prenominal) sometimes, and 57 percent of the purchasers had been doing so for at least 3 years. The Food Marketing Institutes survey (2001) found that 66 percent o f surveyed shoppers bought organically grown foods.In 2001, the Food Marketing Institutes survey indicated that 37 percent of shoppers give tongue to they purchased organically grown food to maintain their health and 44 percent of these shoppers had purchased organic food in the past 6 months. Consumers surveyed by the Hartman Group (2000) gave the following reasons for buying organic food health and feed (66 percent), taste (38 percent), environment (26 percent), and availability (16 percent).3 The Fresh Trends (2001) survey revealed that 12 percent of the shoppers surveyed reported that whether a product is organic is a primary factor in their purchasing decision. Sixty-three percent of the respondents of the Walnut Acres Survey believed that organic food and beverages were better for them and were more healthful than their conventional counterparts.Fresh Trends (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002) found minuscule difference between the purchasing habits of men and women. Over the years, F resh Trends found that, of the shoppers that had purchased organic produce in the previous 6 months, more purchased vegetables than fruit (according to the 1996 survey, 24 percent purchased fruit and 84 percent purchased vegetables according to the 2000 survey, 35 percent purchased vegetables).Apples and tomatoes led the list of fruit and vegetables purchased by the shoppers surveyed by Fresh Trends. According to the Hartman Survey (2000), the top 10 organic products purchased were strawberries, lettuce, carrots, other fresh fruit, broccoli, apples, other fresh vegetables, grapes, bananas, and potatoes. The Hartman survey also suggested that fruits and vegetables were gateway categories ( exemplaryly the first organic products purchased by consumers). The Walnut Acres Survey (2002) indicated that 68 percent of consumers revealed that price is the main reason they did not purchase organic food.Academic researchers have taken a roughly different tack in studying organic consumers by complementing surveys with statistical analysis to depict the typical consumer. Some studies reveal conflicting results, most possible because of the different methodological approaches. Consumers considered the following factors important when purchasing fresh produce price, size and packaging, whether the item is on sale, and whether the item is organic (Estes and Smith). Age, gender, and having a college degree had little impact on a shoppers decision to buy organic produce (Thompson and Kidwell).Consumers with higher incomes and higher levels of education are willing to pay more for organic potatoes (Loureiro and Hine), while consumers with advanced degrees are less likely to buy organic produce (Thompson and Kidwell). Appearance of fresh produce mattered, and the larger the number of enhancive defects, the less likely would an organic product be purchased (Estes and Smith, Thompson and Kidwell). One picture of the typical organic shopper is a younger household in which female s do the shopping smaller and higher income households are the most likely purchasers of organic produce (Govindasamy and Italia) and organic apples (Loureiro et al. ).Households knowledgeable about alternative agriculture are more likely to purchase organic produce (Govindasamy and Italia) and those concerned about the environment are more likely to purchase organic apples (Loureiro et al. ). Those concerned about food safety are more likely to buy organic produce (Govindasamy and Italia) and organic apples (Loureiro et al. ). Those who enjoy trying new products are more likely to purchase organic produce (Govindasamy and Italia). Households with children under 18 are more likely to purchase organic produce (Thompson and Kidwell) and organic apples (Loureiro et al. ).Consumers with children are willing to pay less for organic potatoes (Loureiro and Hine) and more likely than other households to purchase organic apples (Loureiro et al. ). Strategies to increase purchases of organic food include shelf-labeling, which had a mixed effect on sales in an upscale grocery store but a significantly positive effect on sales of dairy products, pasta, bread, cereal, and carrots in a discount retailer in the Minneapolis and St. Paul markets (Reicks, Splett, and Fishman).The recent addition of organic food sales to scanner data, by AC Neilson and Information Resources, Inc. , has made possible econometric studies of consumer demand for organic food. Frozen organic vegetables, organic milk, and organic baby food all exhibited high price elasticity of demand, meaning that the quantity purchased responds greatly to price changes (that is, quantity purchased increases by more than 1 percent when prices fall by 1 percent) (Glaser and Thompson, 1999, 2000 Thompson and Glaser, 2001).For some frozen vegetables, there was little crossover between purchases of organic and conventional products, so that changes in prices of either commodity had no significant impact on quantities pur chased (Glaser and Thompson 1999). For other products (milk and baby food), the conventional and organic products are substitutes, so that increases in the price of the conventional product result in consumers purchasing a greater quantity of the organic products (Glaser and Thompson, 2000 Thompson and Glaser, 2001).The Marketing Chain From Farm to Market Food passes through many hands as it moves from farm to consumer. Some foods are fresh when delivered (apples and eggs) while others are processed before delivery (pasta and bread). Regardless of whether they are fresh or processed, higher quality products and products with unique attributes (such as organic foods) generally have a higher selling price. As a result, farmers have a strong incentive to produce and sell commodities with quality and other price-enhancing attributes intact.Yet, since most foods pass through a number of intermediaries as they move from the farm to the consumer, maintaining premium product integrity on t he marketing chain can sometimes be a challenge. To do so, each agent along the marketing chain must begin by moving the product to the next agent readily. Farmers need to sell their perishable commodities immediately after harvesting, while distributors, brokers, and wholesalers need to get fresh products to retailers as quickly as possible.Retailers want to be able to purchase a consistent and large enough impart of a wide variety of uniform quality fresh food. Consumers want to be able to buy a wide variety of fresh food that is both high quality and low priced. Organic food consumers, in particular, want to feel confident that they are buying food that not only was grown organically, but also has kept its organic integrity at each stage in its journey to the market. Each commodity, depending in large part on whether it is fresh or processed, follows an individualized running from farm to market.Because fresh foods rapidly deteriorate, they must be delivered to the market quic kly. The storage and transportation systems along the way must provide the proper temperature and other conditions that help maintain freshness. Processed foods, on the other hand, have a longer shelf lifebut the products that go into them must be harvested at the the right way time, delivered at the right time and satisfy the processors quality requirements. In the next sections, we decrypt the production and marketing chains for the major organic commodities in the United States, noting applicable regulations as well as observed marketing trends.