Flood Myth of the Holy Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh...

The Biblical Flood and The Epic of Gilgamesh Flood In Genesis of the Old Testament the account of the Flood approximates the account recorded on Tablet 11of the Sumero-Babylonian version of the epic of Gilgamesh, discovered in the 1800’s by British archaeologists in Assyria. N.K. Sandars in the Introduction to his book, The Epic of Gilgamesh, sums up the involvement by the pagan gods in the Sumero-Babylonian Flood narrative: In the Gilgamesh flood Ishtar and Enlil are as usual the advocates of destruction. Ishtar speaks, perhaps in her capacity as goddess of war, but Enlil prevails with his weapon of the storm. Only Ea, in superior wisdom, either was not present, or being present was silent, and with his†¦show more content†¦In Column 2 of Tablet 11 the Sumero-Babylonian Flood narrative continues with the measurements and construction of the ark: One acre was its whole floorspace; ten dozen cubits the height of each wall; ten dozen cubits its deck, square on each side. I [Utnapishtim] laid out the contours, drew it all. I gave it six decks and divided it, thus, into seven parts. Its innards I divided into nine parts. I struck water-plugs into it. I checked the poles and laid in all that was necessary. I poured 24,000 gallons of bitumen into the kiln; the same amount I laid on the inside. The basket-bearers brought on three shars of oil in addition to the shar of oil consumed in the seed-meal and the two shars of oil stowed away by the boatman.(Gardner 231) On the seventh day the ark was completed. It was launched, and then loaded with â€Å"all my kin and family† and with â€Å"the animals of the fields.† This ark has twice the number of floors as Noah’s ark. After the Jewish Old Testament establishes reasons for the Flood, then it proceeds with specific building instructions to Noah in Genesis 6:14:Show MoreRelated Flood Myth of Epic of Gilgamesh and Book of Genesis of the Holy Bible816 Words   |  4 PagesComparison of the Flood of Gilgamesh and the Bible People grow up listening to the story of Noah and the flood. They remember the length of the flood, the dove, and the rainbow very vividly. However, most people do not realize that the story is told throughout many different cultures and with accounts older than Genesis ¹s version in the Bible. Although each of the accounts tells of the flood, there are many variations to the story. One such story can be found in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Although theRead MoreGilgamesh VS â€Å"Genesis†: Noah and the Flood1121 Words   |  5 Pagesthe power of institutions and the passage of time- Richard Dawkins†. We all know the breath taking story of the Genesis flood, but have we ever noticed how similar it is to the Epic of Gilgamesh. Genesis is the story of how one God created mankind, along with everything else on Earth, and what punishments he put upon them when they acted wrong .Genesis is a chapter in the Holy Bible, which was written in the 18th century B.C. by Moses. Genesis is a Hebrew story about the creation of life and how GodRead More The Biblical Flood of Genesis Based Upon the Flood of the Epic of Gilgamesh1650 Words   |  7 PagesBiblical  Flood Based Upon the Flood of Gilgamesh      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the middle of the nineteenth century, archaeologists unearthed twelve clay tablets. Around the turn of the twentieth century, archaeologists finally managed to decipher the tablets written in Akkadian, the language of ancient royalty and diplomacy. The tablets tell of the story of Gilgamesh. (1) The eleventh tablet tells that Gilgamesh, in his quest for immortality set out on a long journey to look for his ancestor, UtnapishtimRead MoreBiblical Vs. Classical Phenomenon2078 Words   |  9 Pageshumankind. These myths and legends are known as the oldest in centuries and possibly the first sight of written text that humans have encountered. Dating back to the times of traditional oral-based stories, texts such as The Epic of Gilgamesh have given humankind a sense of emergence in the old times of script and literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh was one of the many classical publications that were printed, including the epistles of the Old Testament and Gospels of the New Testament in the Bible. Both setsRead MoreEssay on Gilgamesh vs. Genesis1436 Words   |  6 PagesGilgamesh vs. Genesis In our society, which is overwhelmingly Judeo-Christian, students often find it difficult to compare Bible stories with tales from other cultures, because our own belief system is wrapped up in the prior, and it is hard for many of us to go against our traditional faith to evaluate them objectively. But in a comparison of the Biblical book of Genesis with the ancient Sumerian text, Epic of Gilgamesh, many parallels suggest that the same type of spiritualRead MoreBiblical Flood Story Vs. Gilgamesh Flood1981 Words   |  8 PagesBiblical Flood Story versus Gilgamesh Flood Story The Biblical Flood story and the Gilgamesh Flood story include similarities and differences. There are two versions we know of the flood story in Babylonian literature, and both have different hero’s in each, although the cause of each flood is different. I will prove that I understand the task at hand by reading both of the stories, and taking it apart piece by piece to understand it in a whole. By doing this, I am able to know what I am readingRead MoreThe Purpose of the Biblical Flood narrative1977 Words   |  8 Pagesand early Judaism† (Coogen 2008) that contains many forms of writings and stories which address not only myth, main historical events and laws, but also those that follow the Israelites unique relationship with God. The first book of the Old Testament is known as Genesis, which is highly concerned with the world’s creation and its initial stages. It is also the origin of the biblical Flood Narrative concerning Noah and the Ark. The story is characterised by a man that is instructed to build anRead MoreEssay on Flood Legends From Around the World1695 Words   |  7 Pages There are flood stories from many cultures. The flood stories usually consist of a higher power that floods a civilization due to some act that has made the higher power angry. The stories talk about one specific family and how the flood consumes the entire globe. So many cultures have a story about a great flood that have many similar details that it is hard to not believe that it is not true, but whether the story of a great flood is true or not, it is up to the individual to decideRead MoreModern Influences Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh2276 Words   |  10 PagesThe Modern influences of The Epic of Gilgamesh â€Å"Who says Gilgamesh ever died?† (Ziolkowski 57). The Epic of Gilgamesh has remained a widely read story throughout the years. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story of an imperfect hero on a journey for everlasting life. It features Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, and Enkidu, a wild beast man, on a journey of heroic quests and misadventures. This story has inspired many new literary and visual works in many languages; it has also inspired modern archeologistsRead MoreDoes Science Explain All?1599 Words   |  7 PagesEarth. These similarities occur in civilizations not only far from each other but also in cultures separated by seemingly impossible to traverse oceans of water. Many of these similarities occur in the cosmological or creation myths of the various religions. In the Bible and other in other comparable ancient literatures, creation is a theme expressed in parables or stories to account for the world. In almost every ancient culture the universe was thought of as darkness, nothing and chaos until

Motivation And Long Term Goals - 1149 Words

Motivation and long term goals: My desire to study at your reputed university is the result of nearly 3 years of step-by-step self-discovery of my abilities, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses as well as my perception of current needs and goals. The notion of pursuing Masters in Computer Science grew stronger during my tenure working at CAPGEMINI, a prominent French MNC where I worked as a Senior Software Developer as well as a Business Analyst interacting with clients from the USA, Singapore, Malaysia as well as India. This working period of nearly three years allowed me to learn a lot about how a business works, the entire cycle how a software is developed, how people from various countries interact and decide as a team the best solution for a problem. But, most importantly this proved to be a turning point in my life where my abilities were tested and I grew confident about my inclination towards problem solving, analysis and research. The realization dawned upon me I want to do a lot more by opting for rese arch work. I intend to solve real life problems or end up with a start-up of my own through which I can give back to the community. A prosperous career in computer science and engineering can only be built above the firm foundation of a better education. Background and achievements: As a part of my of undergraduate curriculum in Computer Science, I was exposed to many inquisitive subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Operating Systems, Design Show MoreRelatedGroup Topic : Getting Motivated1092 Words   |  5 Pagesfor today’s group was to assist group members in developing motivations and strategies for staying abstinent and change their life for better. Group members were to identify problem areas in their current life and identify steps that would take to achieve long term goals. PO attended group on time as scheduled and moderately participated in the group activity. PO completed the worksheet, and identified the top three long term goals are â€Å"stay clean and healthy, work on partner relationship conflictsRead MoreMotivation in Sports1245 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation in sports is why people do what they do. It is also the direction and intensity of one’s effort and determination to achieve. The more motivated one is, the more likely one is to succeed. Sports—which involve emotion, competition, cooperation, achievement, and play—provide a rich area for psychological study. People involved in sports attempt to master very difficult skills, often subjecting themselves to intense physical stress as well as social pressure. research has expandedRead MoreThe Theories Of Motivation, The Managerial Skills, And Job Design951 Words   |  4 PagesMotivation can be defined in numerous ways. Is it a person’s internal drive, or an applied external force that compels people to strive towards a particular goal or achievement? According to Bateman Snell (2015), â€Å"motivation refers to forces that energize, direct, and sustain a person’s efforts† (p.440). This paper is going to explore the theories of motivation, the managerial skills, and job design needed to motivate employees to increase their performance, and a few successful organizationsRead MoreMarket Based Management Essay1069 Words   |  5 Pages MBM is based on rules of just conduct, economic thinking, and sound mental models which harnesses the dispersed knowledge of employees, just as markets harness knowledge in society. Market-Based Management enables an organization to succeed long term by applying the principles that cause a free society to prosper. Market-Based Management applies concepts and tools posed in the application problems, it allows you to learn experientially by changing input values to see how different situationsRead MoreMotivation As A Foundation For All Sports Around The World1555 Words   |  7 PagesMotivation forms a foundation for all sports around the world. (Spray, Wang, Biddle Chatzisarantis 2006).It is of vital importance for athletes to improve the degree of determination and desire of sporting performance, because it can be the decisive factor for emotional control, strengthening attention, improving confidence and degree of loving sports. For an individual to become the best in any sports activity, motivation is crucial as it helps him or her to do the necessary to maximize his orRead More Motivation: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Essay1077 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation can be defined as the desire or inspiration to carry out specific tasks or to do something. Motivation is required when goals are being set and more so in their execution. In a work setting, motivation can be defined as a process through which individuals choose between alternative forms of behavior with the aim of achieving personal objectives. The goals sought by individuals can be extrinsic or relatively tangible such as monetary rewards and promotion, or intrinsic or intangible suchRead MoreDeveloping a Motivational Plan Essay1192 Words   |  5 Pages Developing A Motivation Plan Grand Canyon University: EDA 575 Developing a Motivational Plan A motivation plan for any school is extremely important for the success of any educational program. Students who are not motivated will not learn and in turn won t succeed. Many components should be included in a motivational plan so that all the needs of students are met and each student has goals that are attainable and can be reached. According to Hersey (2008), Goals should be set highRead MoreAcademic Goals665 Words   |  3 Pagesless affluent, I have always set goals for myself. Not long term goals because being modest long-term goals were unimaginable. I had to focus on today’s goals which were attainable. Mother always told me that competition is the key to success. Will, held on to that belief until I got older and needed to rely on goals rather competition. Competition can only carry you to a certain point; however, goal setting is for a lifetime. II. Thesis Statement: Goals setting is a greater predictor ofRead MoreMotivation is defined as an inner drive that encourages action or feeling towards a desired goal.1300 Words   |  6 Pages Motivation is defined as an inner drive that encourages action or feeling towards a desired goal. It is moving forward and not staying static. A person’s efforts are energized, directed and sustained towards achieving their goal. It is a basic desire which begins with a physiological or psychological need which triggers a behaviour that is aimed at a goal or incentive. For example hunger motivates the need for food. Desires and goals are the inherent strength that drives us to moveRead MoreEssay on Goal Setting1185 Words   |  5 PagesGoal Setting In the first article that I found It stated that Goal Setting is a formal process for personal planning, and is a form of motivation. It is used for a target that a person works for so they can be successful. The process of goal setting is used by many people throughout the world that are trying to and have already achieved something in their lifetime. Setting goals helps a person remain focused on being successful, stay away from distractions, and will help with motivation

Personal Statement My Future Plans Essay Example For Students

Personal Statement My Future Plans Essay As a first generation university student of Latino descent, Ive dedicated myself to improve the quality of life of underrepresented populations in the United States. Being a product of the Providence school system, within one of the most violent and poorest neighborhoods in Rhode Island, I was still able to rise above my surrounding and expectations placed upon me. I have witnessed how a lack of opportunity can negatively impact a communities most valuable natural resource, its youth. I have had to aggressively pursue opportunity while bearing chains of poverty and overcome the barriers and challenges that consume so many. Thurgood Marshall said it best, None of us has gotten where we are solely by pulling ourselves up from our own bootstraps. We got here because somebody bent down and helped us. Without the assistance, support and dedication from a few key figures of my past, I too would have never made it to the steps of a university. Therefore, I firmly believe that it is important for those who circumvent societys expectation of underperformance or failure to return to their decaying communities to aid others in securing economic stability, illuminating obscure paths to higher education and an enhanced quality of life. The most salient challenges facing New York Citys youth are similar to those facing inner city youth from across the nation: a lack of consistent parental supervision in their lives coupled with the negative influences of the wider community. I have worked with youth since I was a youth. Many come from homes which are headed by single parents who work so often that they are not able to consistently monitor and guide their children. As a result many young people become victims of the influences around them and engage in self destructive behavior. I hold this statement to be true because I was one those adolescences. I was involved with drugs and violence and allowed myself to be defined by what society expected of me. Left to my own devices, I would have ended up just like my older brother, without a high school diploma, an active member of the Latin Kings and constantly looking over my shoulder. The only difference between us was that I met someone that took the time to care about who I was and not where I came from. I was blessed to stumble across my mentor, boss, and surrogate mother Tina Shepard. She led a non-profit called Project Ujima which focused on HIV/AIDS prevention education, and empowered youth to make healthy long lasting life decisions. When I looked in a mirror I only saw a punk kid from the streets but when I looked at myself through her eyes I saw a youth that was more powerful beyond measure. With her guidance I found my voice and was surprised by how loud and clear it was. My interest in urban communities, equal opportunity education, and community development has been inspired by my history of overcoming social and economic adversity, my experiences in serving various communities, and in traveling to underserved areas within the United States. A Masters in Nonprofit Management with a specialization in Public Administration and Educational Policy will enable me to become an effective activist, advocating for social, educational, and economic justice. My ultimate goal is to create a community center that will be a safe haven for creativity, expression of self and help our young people to find self worth. I will contribute to the advancement of underprivileged communities by mobilizing people and promoting social and economic justice within local setting at first, and then expanding to utilize resources nationally and perhaps globally. A Masters in Non Profit Management will allow me to reach my goal by developing managerial skills, developing resources, and organizing communities. I will be able to research and contribute to the body of knowledge regarding social-economic development and community development through advocacy and nonprofit organizations. During and after receiving my graduate education, I intend not only to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding economic, social, cultural, and political development, but I also hope to put theory into practice by promoting the advancement of typically underserved communities for generations to come.

Topic English-Emerson Self-Reliance Essays - Self-Reliance

topic: english-Emerson "self-Reliance" Misunderstood Greatness The quote that most provoked thought and emotion from within me comes from the essay "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. "To be great is to be misunderstood" was used by Emerson to explain the lagging growth of the conception of ideas and thoughts of his generation. Original and novel ideas were scorned by conservatives who believed the best method for learning was by repetition and memorization of proven classics written by previous generations. The continuing timelessness of his quote is still in effect today as the scientific community has evolved to accept unaccustomed theories, yet encounters difficulty when relating to the public new and extreme ideas that rebut the system. In history, the results of individualism has been spread world wide. Important leaders, thinkers, and philosophers with radical ideas in virgin areas of research were making significant finds rapidly. Yet progress was slowed by short-sighted men who failed to see greatness. Aberham Lincoln was a revolutionary in his time with his views on slavery and forgiveness of the South. Yet his death was the result of one man's refusal to accept what was once a proud and rich land reduced to tatters- left to ruin because of her failure to accept civil reform. Herman Melville's work in Moby Dick was considered a classic, yet Melville died a figure with lost prestige, poor and unaccepted. When he was laid to rest in 1891, he was remembered only as the author of entertaining novels of the South Seas. It was not until 1920s when his place in America's foremost writers was assured. His works are now great masterpieces of emotion that were misunderstood while he was still alive. Another important example is democracy. In medieval times, monarchies and kingdoms ruled the land. Today, the monarch is merely a figurehead behind the power of democracy. At the birth of the democratic rise of the United States of America, the colonists were thought of as upstart fools- dreamers believing the impossible. English royalists were aghast at the indignation of the colonies to separate from England and form their own country. In present day, the United States is the sole world power, a great country born out of dreams. "Self-Reliance" expressed the need for creative thinking. Society during Emerson's era resisted reform and scorned the reformer. Emerson saw individualism in direct conflict with society. "The effect of society," he thought," was not to strengthen the individual, but to breed conformity and fear." Although he often criticized society, he stressed more importantly the openness of the individual through the soul. The quote " To be great is to be misunderstood" reflected upon the lack of acceptance of new thought and theory during his time.

Orientalism A Brief Analysis essays

Orientalism A Brief Analysis essays ...the generic term that I have been employing to describe the Western approach to the Orient; Orientalism is the discipline by which the Orient was (and is) approached systematically, as a topic of learning, discovery and practice. By this, Said is saying because we treated the East like a school subject, we have learned to treat the East as an inferior. Which has developed into something called Orientalism. The poets, authors and statesmen of the nineteenth-century have made Orientalism every thing that it is. They started out with the intent of learning about a civilization of people that was extremely different from ours. Their intentions were academic and nothing more really. Unfortunately, their almost unconscious prejudices and fears of the unknown, led to the slow cultural and then political domination of the place referred to as the Orient. I agree with Said on the matter of knowledge leading to slow domination, but I think he needs to be much clearer on the fact that it was arrived at with good intentions. Our predecessors wanted to understand, unfortunately there were much too eager, and presumptuous. In 1798, Napoleon invaded down through Syria. Although this was one of the first attempts to invade the Orient, two people were ahead of him. Both were scholars from Europe, Antiquetil-Duperron and Abraham-Hyacinthe. These men gave the first images of language, text and civilization to Europe. The started the fascination with the Orient, and Napoleons urge to dominate it. Out of his failed plan to take over Egypt, came more people who wrote about the Orient without experiencing it. Said called these authors textual children. Said also goes on to describe the textual attitude; this mindset believes everything you read. In this case reading about places, and the generalizations made, and believing these simplifications of a rather complex area, to be the concrete truth. This ...

Understanding Cultural Materialism in Sociology

Understanding Cultural Materialism in Sociology Cultural materialism is a theoretical framework and research method for examining the relationships between the physical and economic aspects of production and built society, social organization and social relations, and the values, beliefs, and worldviews that predominate that society. It is rooted in Marxist theory  and is popular in anthropology, sociology, and the field of cultural studies. History and Overview The theoretical perspective and research methods of cultural materialism emerged in the late 1960s and were developed more fully during the 1980s. Cultural materialism was first introduced and popularized within the field of anthropology by Marvin Harris with his 1968 book  The Rise of Anthropological Theory. In this work, Harris built on Marxs theory of base and superstructure to craft a theory of how culture and cultural products fit into the greater social system. In Harriss adaptation of Marxs theory, the infrastructure of society (technology, economic production, the built environment, etc.) influences both the structure of society (social organization and relations) and the superstructure (the collection of ideas, values, beliefs, and worldviews). He argued that one must take this whole system into account if one wants to understand why cultures differ from place to place and group to group,  why certain cultural products like art and consumer goods (among others) are produ ced in a given place, and what their meaning is to those who use them. Later, Raymond Williams, a Welsh academic, further developed the theoretical paradigm and research method, and in doing so, helped create the field of cultural studies in the 1980s. Embracing the political nature of Marxs theory and his critical focus on power and the class structure, Williamss cultural materialism took aim at how culture and cultural products relate to a class-based system of domination and oppression. Williams built his theory of cultural materialism using already existing theoretical critiques of the relationship between culture and power, including the writings of Italian scholar Antonio Gramsci and the critical theory of the Frankfurt School. Williams asserted that culture itself is a productive process, meaning it is responsible for making intangible things that exist in society, like ideas, assumptions, and social relations. The theory of cultural materialism that he developed holds that culture as a productive process is part of the larger process of how a class system is made and remade, and it is connected to the class-based inequalities that pervade society. According to cultural materialism, culture and cultural products play these roles through the promotion and justification of certain values, assumptions, and worldviews within the mainstream and the marginalization of others that do not fit the mainstream mold (consider the way rap music has been routinely vilified as violent by mainstream critics, or how twerking is often framed as a sign that someone is sexually loose or morally deficient, while ballroom dance is held up as classy and refined). Many scholars who followed in Williams tradition expanded his theory of cultural materialism, which was focused on class inequalities, to include the consideration of racial inequalities and their connection to culture, as well as those of gender, sexuality, and nationality, among others. Cultural Materialism as a Research Method By using cultural materialism as a research method we can produce a critical understanding of the values, beliefs, and worldviews of a period through close study of cultural products, and we can discern how they connect to the greater social structure, social trends, and social problems. Per the framework that Williams laid out, to do so one must do three things: Consider the historical context in which the cultural product was made.Conduct a close analysis of the messages and meanings communicated by the product itself.Consider how the product fits within the greater social structure, its inequalities, and the political power and movements within it. Beyoncà ©s Formation video is a great example of how we can use cultural materialism to understand cultural products and society. When it debuted, many criticized it for its imagery that appears critical of police practices. The video features images of militarized police and ends with the iconic image of  Beyoncà © laying atop a sinking New Orleans Police Department car. Some read this as insulting to police, and even as a threat to police, echoing a common mainstream critique of rap music. But apply cultural materialism as a theoretical lens and a research method and one sees the video in a different light. Considered in a historical context of hundreds of years of systemic racism and inequality, and the recent pandemic of police killings of black people, one instead sees Formation as a celebration of blackness in response to the hate, abuse, and violence routinely heaped upon black people. One can also see it as a completely valid and appropriate critique of police practices that desperately need to be changed if equality is ever to be possible. Cultural materialism is an illuminating theory.

Displaying Communications Between Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers Research Paper

Displaying Communications Between Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers in Digital Readouts - Research Paper Example The ultimate objective of Able Flight program is to assist the disabled or handicapped individuals to acquire the aptitude to fly an airplane. This is because different types of disabilities needs distinct solutions to assist them fly airplanes. Note that despite the fact that the program fundamentally helps the disabled people, it also assists normal people who have passion and interest of flying airplanes but do not have the ability. The ultimate aim of this context is to examine how Able Flight program helps the disabled individuals to fly airplanes as well as to provide solutions following the difficulties encountered in flight training. It winds up by examining the implementation process of a voice recognition technology in pilot’s communication (Karat, Vergo and Nahamoo 2007). How Able Flight Helps Disabled People to Fly Airplanes Just as mentioned, the Able Flight program does not offer flight training or classes. However, it is involved in teaching flight related life lessons that make the participants good pilots and flight attendants. The organization corporate with different flight schools among them being Purdue University campus. Able Flight has been associating with this university for two years in a row where it has brought four scholars to the campus to be educated on how to fly. Each of them has physical disability that, up to present day, has prevented them from undertaking an interest or career in aviation. Nevertheless, with the assistance from special aircraft and scholarships from Able Flight, the scholars have been able to acquire light sport pilot certificates after exhaustive five-week training period. According to Geoff Aschenberger, â€Å"The most interesting part of it is that these scholars are able to cover the whole package in one month while the Purdue flight scholars take five to six months to cover†. Due to the density of the schedule at Purdue, the scholars and flight instructors take most of their time at the ai rport in the classroom and in their specially modeled aircraft. A partial day engross an early morning arrival, 90 minutes of flying, debate, more flying and landings, lunchtime meals, even intense flying and ground institute lessons. Note that all these things take place at the Purdue University campus flight school. That does not mean the Able Flight has no role that it plays. As far as those disabled scholars are concerned, Able Flight must participate or take part in ensuring that they obtain exactly what they went to acquire. The organizational program is developed in a way that it has to follow up the students’ progress, know their strong points and motivate them to keep it up; identify their weak points and help them both find permanent solutions to them in order to make sure they progress. Generally, Able Flight makes follow up on all the disabled students it gives scholarships and makes sure they are safe and healthy. The school included time for social time where so me of the Able Flight staff goes there to spend sometimes with them as well as join them with the other flight students so that they can feel accepted and embraced in the community. The school’s training personnel also help the disabled students to participate in school’s activities and to mingle with others so that they do not feel lonely or rejected. Besides, the school’s staff and Able Flight made it possible for the students to live together in First Street Towers, which is a university’s owned dwelling hall. Whereas the Able Flight scholars

Role of Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Role of Management Accounting - Essay Example Apart from collecting, recording and reporting the financial matters, the main role that the managerial accounting plays is of the budget. The budgets are a major aspect of an organization. It is the vital organ in the industry that controls the overheads and makes certain the preparation of an organization for the upcoming period and challenge. Budgets function as analysts that outline the prospect as to how the company is going to dwell in the upcoming phase. Without a strategic planning, an organization cannot carry on. The budget helps the company to ensure that the spending limits are adequate. Speaking about the managerial and financial accounting, the basic difference between them is that the managerial accounting interprets the people working in a specific organization. It analyzes the work that is going on and also plans for the work that would take place, aiming for a better future of the company as they do so. Whereas, the financial management relates to the effective use of money that can be utilized and maximize the value of the firm as well. They are the base on which the profit making of the whole company depends. They are the protectors of the company’s assets and strengthen the accountability, exhibiting on how the financial supplies are utilized. Thus, managerial accounting plays a fundamental role in the success of an organization. It requires awareness and skills to outline the challenges that are faced by the company. Overcoming them and organizing them helps a business to prosper and interact with other business organizations more fluently and more

Recruitment and Selection Strategies Essay Example for Free

Recruitment and Selection Strategies Essay An Organization can process Recruitment and Selection strategies by using a simple technique based on the knowledge and skills of an applicant. It is imperative that an Organization be able to recruit the most experienced, skilled and suitable candidates. Having a recruitment process is critical for new Organizations. The first step consists of managing applicants and welcoming potential participants (Cascio, 2013). To entice and recruit highly knowledgeable and experienced employees, Landslide Limousine must wisely develop a strong recruitment strategy and plan. Organizational Goals While looking at all past communication, the client communicated that Landslide Limousine would require 25 employees, with a projected revenue of $50,000 in the first year, and an expected yearly revenue growth of 5%. They also expect an annual turnover of 10%, while maintaining an expected yearly revenue growth of 5%. This can seem overwhelming while keeping track of it all. By following the recruitment and selection strategy plan, you must use it to employ the most skilled and suitable candidates. This will help the organization in accomplishing its Organizational Goals and offering superior service to its clients is priority. This in turn, will add value to the Organization. Demographic Changes In today’s world, many changes are occurring in demographics due to globalization. It’s imperative that there be focus on a more diverse  workplace. Being able to manage a diverse workplace can have its challenges. By having a diverse workplace, it benefits the Organization by offering opportunities to influence and obtain its potential employees. Using proper recruiting and selection strategies, Landslide Limousine Services are able to compete with other competitors by providing customers with superior service. It is highly recommended that the company intend to hire theut most skilled and knowledgeable candidates. Having a proper recruitment and selection strategy along with a rewarding reward and compensation plan. With all of these in place, Landslide Limousines Services can achieve the challenges given at hand and those challenges involved in managing workplace diversity. Organizational Branding As a small business owner, it is important to first create awareness, by advising current employees to spread the news about the company friends and family. Employees can also use the employee referral system to help the company in seeking experienced and qualified applicants. This will help the company in generating job satisfaction and a culture in which employees feel valued and trusted. The company can also accomplish two highly important objectives by caring for the current employee’s concerns and desire for promotion. These objectives consist of forming a high-quality learning environment and choosing individuals for current opening in various divisions within the organization (Cascio, 2013). The most important stage of developing a successful limousine service consists of managing the selection of drivers and hiring chauffeurs. These positions represent the face of the company. Customer service is very key and vital in these positions, as they type of service the customer receives will determine their continued business and longevity with the company. With this, it is important for the management teams to focus on the selecting, hiring, and retaining the organizations valued resources. It is also important that the organization abide by the organizations local and state laws and regulations. Not following the company’s proper employment practices can cause harm to the organization as well as the client. When selecting a chauffeur, management must create job ethics and standards.  It is important these standards are followed by each applicant applying for the chauffeur position. The next step is to develop a job description. Developing a job description will ensure that each applicant is aware of the jobs responsibilities and expectations associated with the position. Properly developing strong job responsibilities will also assist in disciplining chauffeurs who are not performing efficiently. Upon offering the chauffeur position it is important to give each applicant a copy or the job description. The next step in recruitment is to prepare a job application form. This will ensure that the correct information is provided to the applicants in regard to the working in the limousine business. The final step in the recruitment process is developing a limousine driver training and employee placement package. The training and placement package will assist in helping management and employ ee to move forward after the hiring process is complete. Methods for Screening Once an applicant has submitted their application and each application has been carefully reviewed, a formal interview should follow for all qualified candidates. When conducting a formal interview, they will assist the hiring manager by giving them an overview of the client. From how they are dressed, to how well they speak and act, to include all other body language. According to Cascio (2013), when conducting the proper interview it is important to follow the following steps. It is important for Management to have a comprehensive list of questions to ask applicants. Prepare for the interview and select a designated time in a quiet location. Pay close attention to the applicant and listen to their answers with an open mind. It is crucial to avoid all unnecessary interruptions and answering the phone when conducting a formal interview. Remember to avoid making promises to prospective applicants. If a promise has been made, it is imperative that it be done to avoid misrepresenting or misleading an applicant. It is critical that during this interview, management evaluate appearance, knowledge, communication skills, education and character for determination. Methods for Recruiting Candidates It is important to consider any laws that may be used for recruitment and  selection. Acknowledging and abiding by these laws passed to protect the rights of people in the workplace, are very important when trying to run a successful business. Being able to adapt to a changing society is crucial to have continued success and growth in an Organization. Some of the laws that Management must be aware of are: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967- protects employees from discrimination on the basis of age. Both private and public employers need to adhere to the provisions of the law which calls for eliminating discrimination of employees above the age of forty (EEOC, 2014). The Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination based on religion, color, sex or origin. This is law is particularly applicable to workplaces employing more than 15 people (EEOC, 2014). The Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination based on religion, color, sex or origin. This is law is particularly applicable to workplaces employing more than 15 people (EEOC, 2014). The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1975 – which prohibits refusal to employ pregnant female employees (EEOC, 2014). Selecting Candidates After the interview process, potential candidates move on the next step of the process which consists of forming an analysis of all applicants or potential candidates, to include all information gathered from the formal interview. Each potential applicant must be screened for the important requirements that Landslide Limousine Services will be needing candidates that have superior driving skills, review a copy of their motor vehicle records if applicable, and a background check. These requirements will help in assisting Landslide Limousine Services in providing adequate information for each potential applicant and help in selecting the right employee for the position. Conclusion Selecting the correct candidate is an important process for any business. Although some applicants have excellent work history, it is imperative that management recruit the most qualified. Candidates who not only have the experience, but will maintain great communication, customer service with clients and can help make the goals of the Organization a reality. Hiring the right employees in a business can have a big impact on the business. It can either be very good or very bad. So, making sure to hire the right  employees will dictate the type of service your Company will be giving. It might seem simple to train an employee for their position, however, it is impossible to train an employee on morale, attitude and motivation. (Cascio, 2013). References Cascio, W. F. (2013). Managing Human Resources: Productivity, Quality of Work Life, Profits (9th ed.) Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin EEOC (2014). Discrimination by Type, retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/index.cfm

Essay --

Written Final Exam Intolerance and disrespect are common themes and aspects of many pieces of writing. Harper Lee, Freedman Russell and Homer all use this theme to not only convey truth, but emotion and feeling. These authors all use the â€Å"Evil† and â€Å"Greed† of man to create a story that we all recognize today. Similarly, the pieces end with a conflict resolved in blood and pain†¦when the only goal was peace and maturity. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper lee revolves greatly around the court case of a black man’s rights during the segregation in the south. During this story, we can identify the pure evil done by characters such as Bob Ewell. He displays intolerance and disrespect towards black men, and to a point anyone who disagrees with his ways of life. We see also obvious racism in Russell Freedman’s Freedom Walkers. In both stories, a group of people are discriminated against and hated on. This minority was given lower life standards, and their way of living was usually harder. Together these two stories represent a period of time when greed and power overtook our people, as it s...

Project Management of Resources

Successful organizations must manage resources and control the diverse range of projects operating within their systems at any one time. To be successful in the current business climate, organizations need to focus on how to manage the many competing requirements for resources. Conflicting resource requirements across multiple projects and corporate priorities not centrally managed usually are grounds for failure. I believe that a properly organized enterprise project office is the formula for successful project implementation. This paper briefly outlines what I feel is the main philosophy of the project office and two functions it can provide. The main philosophy of the project office is to provide the organization with a single point of enterprise project planning and control. The project office supports all levels of management by monitoring all current projects in an integrated form. It stores all relevant data and disseminates information to all the various managers involved in all projects. It is the only office that has a global view of all the corporate projects and their history. One function the project office can provide is assistance with resource availability for the project managers and project teams. As resource requirements and assignments are submitted to the project office, that information can be entered into an enterprise project database. This gives the project office the ability to not only track resource allocations for a single project but also determine the assignments and constraints of resources throughout the organization. Without this big picture, project impacts caused by resource constraints are difficult to determine. Another function the project office can provide is maintaining the â€Å"issues† log. The project manager and possibly functional managers raise issues when changes to the project scope occur, or when changes and problems occur outside the control of the project management team. The project office collects this information and performs various â€Å"what if† scenarios. They then can determine the impact on schedule, resource availability, and budget for that project and the organization as a whole. The project office can provide the enterprise the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions that benefit the organization as a whole. Without a single point of enterprise project planning and control, decisions such as resource assignments and issue rectification are not efficient. For an organization to perform project management successfully, they must have an enterprise project office.

How to answers Case Studies Essay

1. What are the inputs, processing, and outputs of UPS’s package tracking system? Inputs: The inputs include package information, customer signature, pickup, delivery, time-card data, current location (while en route), and billing and customer clearance documentation. Processing: The data are transmitted to a central computer and stored for retrieval. Data are also reorganized so that they can be tracked by customer account, date, driver, and other criteria. Outputs: The outputs include pickup and delivery times, location while en route, and package recipient. The outputs also include various reports, such as all packages for a specific account or a specific driver or route, as well as summary reports for management. 2. What technologies are used by UPS? How are these technologies related to UPS’s business strategy? Technologies include handheld computers (DIADs), barcode scanning systems, wired and wireless communications networks, desktop computers, UPS‘s central computer (large mainframe computers), and storage technology for the package delivery data. UPS also uses telecommunication technologies for transmitting data through pagers and cellular phone networks. The company uses in-house software for tracking packages, calculating fees, maintaining customer accounts and managing logistics, as well as software to access the World Wide Web. UPS has used the same strategy for over 90 years. Its strategy is to provide the ―best service and lowest rates.â€â€" One of the most visible aspects of technology is the customer‘s ability to track his/her package via the UPS Web site. However, technology also enables data to seamlessly flow throughout UPS and helps streamline the workflow at UPS. Thus, the technology described in the scenario enables UPS to be more competitive, efficient, and profitable. The result is an information system solution to the business challenge of providing a high level service with low prices in the face of mounting competition. 3. What strategic business objectives do UPS’s information systems address? Some problems this information system solves relate directly to logistics and supply chain activities, not just for itself, but also for other companies. These services include supply chain design and management, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, mail services, multimodal transportation, and financial services, in addition to logistics services. Because of the advanced integration of its technology, UPS can provide these services cheaper and more efficient than most companies can create them in-house. 4. What would happen if these systems were not available? Arguably, UPS might not be able to compete effectively without technology. If the technology were not available, then UPS would, as it has through most of its history, attempt to provide that information to its customers, but at higher prices. From the customers‘ perspective, these technologies provide value because they help customers complete their tasks more efficiently. Customers view UPS‘s technology as value-added services as opposed to increasing the cost of sending packages.

Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings

Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings Introduction ‘Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings’ is the article by Andrew K. Persily and Steven J. Emmerich. The article is devoted to the problem of the indoor air quality. The authors focused their attention on the energy-efficient approach of its achievement.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The background of the article The energy efficiency is the urgent problem nowadays. The engineers and contractors have paid a particular attention on this problem since 1970s. At that period, the mankind faced the keen energy supply problems. The energy inefficiency is a burden for the economic development. In addition, it results in the environmental pollution. The wide discussions of the problem encouraged the construction companies searching for new materials and technologies. â€Å"Some di scussions of net-zero energy buildings also speak to the need for high performance, which generally includes a range of non-energy performance attributes, such as indoor air quality (IAQ)† (Persily Emmerich 2012, p.5). The indoor air quality system as a building technology of new generation The indoor air quality (IAQ) systems play a crucial role in the maintenance of the proper ventilation of the premises. The systems are aimed at regulating the quality of the air which is important for the people’s health. The poor IAQ systems may lead to the serious diseases including the lung cancer, carbon monoxide poisoning, and Legionnaires’ disease (Persily Emmerich 2012). There are a number of IAQ systems performance assessment tests. These tests evaluate the effectiveness of the system. However, the authors of the article mention that these tests â€Å"do not address health impacts, particularly from contaminants that are not perceived at low concentrations or for wh ich the health outcomes occur long after exposure† (Persily Emmerich 2012, p.5). The authors focus on the relationship between the IAQ and the energy efficiency of the building (Persily Emmerich 2012). They emphasize that the outdoor air ventilation is the area linking both of them (Persily Emmerich 2012). The evaluation of the energy efficiency strategies The authors evaluated certain energy efficiency strategies including the reduced outdoor air ventilation rates, increased thermal insulation, and cooling equipment efficiency increases (Persily Emmerich 2012). According to their evaluation, the first strategy leads to the increase in the concentration of the contaminants (Persily Emmerich 2012).Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second strategy may lead to the biological growth as it is connected with the increase in the condensation of the buildin g envelopes (Persily Emmerich 2012). The last strategy may also result in the biological growth as it has a high probability of the increase in the indoor humidity levels (Persily Emmerich 2012). Strategies supporting the iaq and the energy efficiency The authors of the article have suggested the strategies which are able to support the IAQ and the energy efficiency of the building (Persily Emmerich 2012). In particular, they suggest the heat recovery ventilation, demand controlled ventilation, economizer operation, dedicated outdoor air system, displacement ventilation, task ventilation, natural/hybrid ventilation, envelope and air distribution systems tightness, more efficient particle filtration, gaseous air cleaning, source control and low ventilation, and QM re-commissioning (Persily Emmerich 2012). The authors enumerate the main effects of these strategies and briefly describe the way they work. The authors make a conclusion that some of the main challenges for creating th e energy efficient IAQ system are hot and humid climates (Persily Emmerich 2012). Furthermore, the poor outdoor air quality can result in the IAQ inefficiency (Persily Emmerich 2012). The authors of the article state that the design of the building is the primary determinant of the energy efficient IAQ. â€Å"High-performance buildings should provide better IAQ conditions than exist in current buildings, and there are many strategies for doing so that will not necessarily conflict with energy efficiency† (Persily Emmerich 2012, p. 19). Conclusion In order to sum up all above mentioned, it should be said that the article ‘Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings’ by Andrew K. Persily and Steven J. Emmerich reflects the newest tendencies in the building construction. The authors of the article have touched upon the problem of the indoor air quality. They put a particular emphasis on the relationship of the IAQ system and the energy efficienc y. A number of strategies for the realization of the energy efficiency and the maintenance of the IAQ system have been suggested by the authors.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Persily, A. K. Emmerich, S. 2012, ‘Indoor air quality in sustainable, energy efficient buildings’, HVACR Research, vol. 18. no. 1-2, pp. 4-20.

Battle of Santa Cruz in World War II

Battle of Santa Cruz in World War II The Battle of Santa Cruz was fought October 25-27, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945) and was part of a series of naval actions tied to the ongoing Battle of Guadalcanal. Having built up troops on the island in preparation for a major offensive, the Japanese moved naval forces to the area with the goal of attaining a decisive victory over their counterparts and sinking the remaining Allied carriers. On October 26, the two fleets began exchanging air attacks which ultimately saw the Japanese suffer one carrier heavily damaged and the Allies lose  USS Hornet (CV-8). Though Allied ship losses were higher, the Japanese suffered heavy casualties among their air crews. As a result, the Japanese carriers would play no further role in the Guadalcanal Campaign. Fast Facts: Battle of Santa Cruz Conflict: World War II (1939-1945) Date: October 25-27, 1942 Fleets Commanders: Allies Vice Admiral William Bull HalseyRear Admiral Thomas Kinkaid2 carriers, 1 battleship, 6 cruisers, 14 destroyers Japanese Admiral Isoroku YamamotoVice Admiral Nobutake Kondo4 carriers, 4 battleships, 10 cruisers, 22 destroyers Casualties: Allies: 266 killed, 81 aircraft, 1 carrier, 1 destroyerJapanese: 400-500 killed, 99 aircraft Background With the Battle of Guadalcanal raging, Allied and Japanese naval forces clashed repeatedly in the area around the Solomon Islands. While many of these involved surface forces in the narrow waters off Guadalcanal, others saw the adversaries carrier forces clash in attempts to alter the strategic balance of the campaign. Following the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942, the US Navy was left with three carriers in the area. This was quickly reduced to one, USS Hornet (CV-8), after USS Saratoga (CV-3) was badly damaged by a torpedo (August 31) and withdrawn and USS Wasp (CV-7) was sunk by I-19 (September 14). While repairs quickly progressed on USS Enterprise (CV-6), which had been damaged at Eastern Solomons, the Allies were able to retain daytime air superiority due to the presence of aircraft at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. This allowed supplies and reinforcements to be brought the island. These aircraft were not able operate effectively at night and in the darkness control of the waters around the island reverted to the Japanese. Using destroyers known as the Tokyo Express, the Japanese were able to bolster their garrison on Guadalcanal. As a result of this standoff, the two sides were roughly equal in strength. The Japanese Plan In an effort to break this stalemate, the Japanese planned a massive offensive on the island for October 20-25. This was to be supported by Admiral Isoroku Yamamotos Combined Fleet which would maneuver to the east with the goal of bringing the remaining American carriers to battle and sinking them. Assembling forces, command for the operation was given to Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondo who would personally lead the Advance Force which was centered on the carrier Junyo. This was followed by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumos Main Body containing the carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho. Supporting the Japanese carrier forces was Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abes Vanguard Force which consisted of battleships and heavy cruisers. While the Japanese were planning, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, made two moves to change the situation in the Solomons. The first was speeding repairs to Enterprise, allowing the ship to return to action and join with Hornet on October 23. The other to was to remove the increasingly ineffective Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley and replace him as Commander, South Pacific Area with aggressive Vice Admiral William Bull Halsey on October 18. Contact Moving forward with their ground offensive on October 23, Japanese forces were defeated during the Battle for Henderson Field. Despite this, Japanese naval forces continued to seek battle to the east. Countering these efforts were two task forces under the operational control of Rear Admiral Thomas Kinkaid. Centered on Enterprise and Hornet, they swept north to the Santa Cruz Islands on October 25 searching for the Japanese. At 11:03 AM, an American PBY Catalina spotted Nagumos Main Body, but the range was too far for launching a strike. Aware he had been spotted, Nagumo turned north. Remaining out of range through the day, the Japanese turned south after midnight and began closing the distance with the American carriers. Shortly before 7:00 AM on October 26, both sides located each other and began racing to launch strikes. The Japanese proved faster and soon a large force was heading towards Hornet. In the course of launching, two American SBD Dauntless dive bombers, which had been serving as scouts, hit Zuiho twice damaging its flight deck. With Nagumo launching, Kondo ordered Abe to move towards the Americans while he worked to bring Junyo within range. Exchanging Strikes Rather than form a massed force, American F4F Wildcats, Dauntlesses, and TBF Avenger torpedo bombers began moving towards the Japanese in smaller groups. Around 8:40 AM, the opposing forces passed with a brief aerial melee ensuing. Arriving over Nagumos carriers, the first American dive bombers concentrated their attack on Shokaku, striking the ship with three to six bombs and inflicting heavy damage. Other aircraft inflicted significant damage on the heavy cruiser Chikuma. Around 8:52 AM, the Japanese spotted Hornet, but missed Enterprise as it was hidden in squall. Due to command and control issues the American combat air patrol was largely ineffective and the Japanese were able to focus their attack on Hornet against light aerial opposition. This ease of approach was soon countered by an extremely high level of anti-aircraft fire as the Japanese began their attack. Though they took heavy losses, the Japanese succeeded in hitting Hornet with three bombs and two torpedoes. On fire and dead in the water, Hornets crew began a massive damage control operation which saw the fires brought under control by 10:00 AM. Second Wave As the first wave of Japanese aircraft departed, they spotted Enterprise and reported its position. The next focused their attack on the undamaged carrier around 10:08 AM. Again attacking through intense anti-aircraft fire, the Japanese scored two bomb hits, but failed to connect with any torpedoes. In the course of the attack, the Japanese aircraft took heavy losses. Dousing the fires, Enterprise resumed flight operations around 11:15 AM. Six minutes later, it successfully evaded an attack by aircraft from Junyo. Assessing the situation and correctly believing the Japanese to have two undamaged carriers, Kinkaid decided to withdraw the damaged Enterprise at 11:35 AM. Departing the area, Enterprise began recovering aircraft while the cruiser USS Northampton worked to take Hornet under tow. As the Americans were moving away, Zuikaku and Junyo began landing the few aircraft that were returning from the mornings strikes. Having united his Advance Force and Main Body, Kondo pushed hard towards the last known American position with the hope that Abe could finish off the enemy. At the same time, Nagumo was directed to withdraw the stricken Shokaku and damaged Zuiho. Launching a final set of raids, Kondos aircraft located the Hornet just as the crew was beginning to restore power. Attacking, they quickly reduced the damaged carrier to a burning hulk forcing the crew to abandon ship. Aftermath The Battle of Santa Cruz cost the Allies a carrier, destroyer, 81 aircraft, and 266 killed, as well as damage to Enterprise. Japanese losses totaled 99 aircraft and between 400 and 500 killed. In addition, heavy damage was sustained to Shokaku which removed it from operations for nine months. Though a Japanese victory on the surface, the fighting at Santa Cruz saw them sustain heavy aircrew losses which exceeded those taken at Coral Sea and Midway. These necessitated withdrawing Zuikaku and the uncommitted Hiyo to Japan to train new air groups. As a result, the Japanese carriers played no further offensive role in the Solomon Islands Campaign. In this light, the battle may be seen as a strategic victory for the Allies.

Compare and Contrast Smoking in USA and Smoking in Saudi Arabia Essay - 1

Compare and Contrast Smoking in USA and Smoking in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The global aspect of smoking occurrence is well documented. For instance, Audrain, Janet, and Jon (1743) provide a general findings on how smoking is a major problem affecting the modern society. This research provides a detailed account of the increase in the number of smokers from 19th to 21st century. With its severity in mind, many nations across the globe have implemented laws that ban smoking in public places. This research seeks to compare and contrast smoking in the USA and smoking in Saudi Arabia. In his article, Alturki (72) affirm that smoking level in developing countries is quite alarming. While the developed countries such as Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States have enjoyed the benefits of, decreasing rate of smoking for the past four decades, developing countries such as Saudi Arabia still report rapid smoking rate. Tobacco smoking has been the main cause of death in developing countries with the number of addicts increasing rapidly. Based on a recent study conducted in 2007, Al-Haqwi All, Hani, and Asery (146) argue that, 11% of female and 34% of male secondary students were smoking in their teenagehood. Likewise, Saudi Arabia estimates that 30% of adult men smoke while 10% of adult women smokes. This indicates a major difference between smoking habits in Saudi Arabia and other settings such as the United States where the number of female smoking is considerably higher than Saudi Arabia. Obaidullah and David (4) also noted that, the highest rate of smoking is among the young generation between the age 21 to 45 years. Additionally, tobacco smoking is more common among married couple, uneducated, and those in certain occupations such as army officers, businessmen, and manual workers just to name a few. Since 1960, there has been a tremendous increase in the quantity of tobacco import,

Pathophysiology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Pathophysiology - Essay Example The two tests will be crucial in the diagnosis of the retinal detachment in Mr. Ally’s eyes. The presence of the floaters and dark areas is a possible indication that the vitreous has pulled away from the retina. The shrinkage of the vitreous results in tugging on the retina, and can lead to retinal detachment (Kreissig, 2005). In addition, the floaters might show that the retina has dislodged from the inner part of the eye, which contains oxygen, blood, and nutrition for healthy functioning of the eyes. The symptoms that Mr. Ally manifest point to the presence of the retinal detachment. The doctor should treat Mr. Ally with a laser surgery or vitrectomy. Laser surgery is important in reattaching the retina to its right place in the eye (2005). The doctor should also perform vitrectomy by making an incision in the white part of the eye. Then, the physician should use an instrument to remove the vitreous and inject gas into the eye to facilitate the reattachment of Mr. Ally’s

Position Paper - Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Position Paper - Death Penalty - Essay Example Death penalty has been present ever since the societal shift from being primitive communal to the slave society state wherein civilizations were formed and rulers were made. The death penalty was implemented by the earliest civilizations yet there were no formal records of a death sentence being served. According to the Web site library.thinkquest.org, death penalty has very old roots; in fact, there is evidence of its application even in peoples such as Babylonians, ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. (). The earliest recorded death sentence according to the Web site www.pbs.org was in the 16th century when a member of the Egyptian nobility was accused of magic, and was ordered to take his own life. (). Through the ages death penalty was implemented, it was only the manner of which it was executed and of how it was perceived changed through time, the manner changed from the guillotine and hanging through the firing squad and lethal injection, a brief history of how death penalty w as done and the violations which led to a death sentence is presented in the Web site www.pbs.org. () It was only since after World War II, that there has been a consistent trend in abolishing the death penalty. (â€Å"Death Penalty Worldwide†, en.wikipedia.org, ). Political as well has humane considerations have been taken into account in the abolition of death penalty as a punishment for some crimes. Since the start of abolition, the number of death penalty sentences served curved down, although capital punishment was still retained in other countries, most of these countries are those with religious considerations. The Instruments of death were also changed, some were more harsh than others, in some countries morbid methods

Strategic Analysis Of Carnival Corporation And Plc Tourism Essay

Strategic Analysis Of Carnival Corporation And Plc Tourism Essay Humans have since time immemorial been fascinated with ships, seas and oceans. Whilst ships have in the past been used mainly for transportation of goods and people and of course for war, seafaring has always been associated with travel to new and strange destinations, excitement and romance. With the contemporary day and age being firmly focused on new alternatives for leisure, excitement and life experiences, the western tourism industry has astutely used this human fascination with the seas to develop an extremely desirable tourism option; namely sea and ocean cruises. Such cruises offer exciting and pleasurable vacation options for people. They are offered by specialised cruise liners and provide customers the experience of travelling on the high seas in large, well appointed and luxurious ocean going vessels. Cruise holidays provide customers with luxury experiences and opportunities to engage in numerous leisure activities like (a) sun bathing on expansive ocean liner decks, (b) use of large swimming pools, (c) a range of body comfort activities through the use of spas, gyms and Jacuzzis, (d) various types of eating and dining options, and (e) a range of on ship holiday activities like games, contests, singing and dancing. The modern day cruise industry emerged in the 1970s in North America (Dowling, 2006). Whilst cruises originally aimed to provide customers with luxurious trans-ocean transportation options, the industry has since then transformed into a vacation alternative for people to travel to land based destinations or to sightseeing locations in the oceans (Dowling, 2006). A cruise now stands for a complete start-to-finish experience in luxury, comfort and the good life, rather than an option for travelling from point A to point B (Dowling, 2006). Whilst cruise vacationers still form a very small segment (just about 2%) of the global tourism industry, their volumes grew from 500,000 passengers in 1970 to 6.6 million passengers in 2000 (Gisnas et al, 2008). Such volumes have continued to grow during the last decade and are estimated to be 17 million annual passengers today (Gisnas et al, 2008). The industry experienced significant growth in the 1970s, when it first emerged, and has been growing at between 8 and 9% since then (Gisnas et al, 2008). Sectoral growth in the cruise sector has also not been cyclical like other shipping segments (Gisnas et al, 2008). Carnival Corporation and plc (Carnival Corporation) is the worlds largest operator of cruise ships. With 11 individual brands and a total fleet of 96 vessels, the organisation operates cruises in North America, Europe and Australia (Carnival, 2010). Whilst the global recession affected the travel and tourism industry significantly and also affected the revenues of the company to some extent, Carnival Corporation expects to grow significantly in the coming years, as recessionary forces weaken and individual and business spending starts moving upwards once again (Carnival, 2010). This specific analysis attempts to (a) examine the operations and mechanisms of the cruise industry, (b) analyse the strategies and operations of Carnival Corporation, and (c) recommend suitable future growth strategies for the company. 2. Overview of Cruise Industry 2.1. Brief history of Cruise Industry The first cruise route, historical records reveal, was established by British PO in 1882 with the introduction of S/Y Ceylon for pleasure cruising (Cartwright Baird, 1999). The ship operated on the western coast of Norway and was well known to wealthy UK citizens (Cartwright Baird, 1999). The most famous example of a cruise liner of those days is that of the Titanic, which sank on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, in April 1912, after a collision with an iceberg (Cartwright Baird, 1999). Whilst trans-ocean services between North America and Europe expanded greatly between the two great wars, the emergence of commercial aircraft after the closure of the Second World War led to the elimination of human transportation through ships (Cartwright Baird, 1999). The years that followed the closure of human transportation through ships however saw the emergence and the steady growth of pleasure and tourism oriented cruises (Cartwright Baird, 1999). The cruise market is currently dominated by three important organisations namely, Carnival Corporation (the subject of this study), Royal Caribbean International and Star Cruises. Whilst the industry was home to a number of players in the 1970s and 1980s, progressive mergers and alliances have led to the formation of oligopolistic market situation that is dominated by three strong entities (Gisnas et al, 2008). Carnival Corporation leads the business with a 45% market share, followed by Royal Caribbean (21%) and Star Cruises (10%) (Gisnas et al, 2008). Appendix 1 provides details of the capacities of the major cruise liners. The cruise market is divided into two main geographic segments, (a) the US market and (b) the European market. The US market, which includes North America and the Caribbean, forms 62% of the total market, whereas Europe accounts for 24% of cruise users (Kamery, 2004). The European market, whilst smaller than the US market, is growing swiftly and is expected to increase by more than 9% per annum in the coming years (Kamery, 2004). The UK market has until now been the dominant European market, even as the German, Scandinavian, Benelux, Austrian and Swiss markets are showing strong growth (Kamery, 2004). Cruises can be segmented into five main categories, namely contemporary cruises, budget cruises, premium cruises, luxury cruises and special cruises. Appendix 2 provides details of the different types of cruises. The industry can otherwise be segmented by languages, which surprisingly is an important point of differentiation (Gisnas et al, 2008). Individuals prefer to go on cruises with people who speak the same language (Gisnas et al, 2008). Important market segments are (a) American families, (b) senior citizens from the EU, (c) conferences and incentives, (d) themes and (e) adventure (Gisnas et al, 2008). In North America the target population for cruises companies comprises of adults, who are more than 25 years in age and earn more than 40,000 USD per annum (Gisnas et al, 2008). The target market includes (a) people who have cruised before, (b) vacationers who have not previously engaged in cruises and (c) non vacationers as well (Gisnas et al, 2008). The segment makes up practically 44% of the US population (Gisnas et al, 2008). Whilst the average age of passengers has come down to just below 45 in the US, The average age of passengers in the UK is also coming down significantly (Gisnas et al, 2008). The potential of the market is high because the existing penetration rate at 3% for North America, 1% for Europe and 2% for UK is very low. The main markets continue to be North America and Europe. The Asian market is however growing very slowly. Appendix 3 Provides details of passengers both by nationality and by origin. 3. Analysis of Carnival Corporation 3.1. Company Overview Carnival Corporation plc is the market leader of the cruise industry. Carnival Corporation was founded in 1972 by Ted Arison (Carnival, 2010). Both Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc have grown organically, as well as through mergers that have led to significant increases in organisational operations (Carnival, 2010). The present organisation came about from a merger between Carnival Corporation and PO Princess Cruises plc, wherein it was agreed that PO would be listed on the London Stock Exchange (Carnival, 2010). The organisation is thus dually listed on the London and New York Stock Exchanges and has head offices at Miami, USA, and at Southampton, UK (Carnival, 2010). The company has 11 cruise line brands, each of which controls a geographical location. To elaborate, AIDA cruises controls the German business, Carnival Cruise lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and the Seaborne Cruise Line operate in the United States, Cunard Line, Ocean Village, and PO Cruises service the UK market, Costa Cruises controls the Italian business, Iberio Cruises controls the Spanish business, and PO Cruises Australia controls the Australian business (Carnival, 2010). The organisation earned revenues of 13.1 billion USD in 2009 compared to 14.65 billion USD in 2008. It owns 93 ships, has a passenger capacity of 180,746, and employs 85,000 people. Carnival Corporation carried 8500 passengers in 2009 (Carnival, 2010). 3.2. Operational Performance The operations and financial performance of the company suffered significantly in 2009 compared to 2008. The sales and net income figures for these two years are provided below. Year 2009 2008 Sales Million USD 5912 6550 Percentage Movement (10%) Net Profits Million USD 885 1090 (19%) Net Profit Ratio 0.15 0.16 Whilst the company management states that they have been able to cushion the impact of the recession effectively, the financial analysis of key performance indicators reveals a different picture. Both sales and profits have come down sharply (Carnival, 2010). It also needs to be noticed that the sales of the organisation have come down by 10 %, even as the cruise industry overall contracted only by 3 % in 2009 (Carnival, 2010). Other operational and profitability ratios like ROI and have also come down in the wake of reduction in sales and profitability. 3.3. PESTEL Analysis The PESTEL frame works helps analysts to examine environmental factors in a methodical manner (Porter, 1980). The specific examination of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors assist in understanding key change drivers and external influences on the working of organisations (Porter, 1980). A PESTEL analysis helps organisational managements in aligning organisational strategies with environmental realities and work towards ensuring that organisations do not purposely follow strategic rules that are at variance or in opposition to environmental forces (Porter, 1980). With cruise lines essentially being international in the nature of their operations, their working can be significantly affected by terrorism related conditions (Porter, 1980). Increase in terrorism activities invariably leads to stricter immigration laws and to reduction in tourism enthusiasm (Porter, 1980). Apart from terrorism, cruise activity can also be affected by political instability in geographical locations that are part of the cruise network, as well as by tourism related taxation policies in different countries (Porter, 1980). Tourism, being an essentially discretionary activity is strongly influenced by changes in global economic conditions (Porter, 1980). The last two years have seen reduction in tourism business and cruise activity. Apart from the economic environment, the movement of exchange rates can also affect tourism and consequently cruise activity. Whilst tourism is currently going through a difficult phase, (having reduced by 4% in 2008 and 2009, and expected to grow by 0.3% in 2010) a post recession boom is likely considering that tourism contributes approximately 10.6% of global GBP. Social and cultural features play important roles in the cruise industry (Porter, 1980). The majority of cruise customers come from affluent and western social segments and place great stress on lifestyle quality (Porter, 1980). The market for cruises has until now been dominated by customers from the advanced western nations. Cruise liners are constantly investing in technology to make their ships more customers friendly as well as easier to operate. Internet sales enable customers to reduce costs through elimination of intermediaries (Porter, 1980). The tourism industry, because of the associated travel costs, is strongly associated with emission of green house gases. Any sort of rationing of petroleum products can as such lead to significantly adverse effects upon the tourism and cruise sector. The cruise business can also be influenced to some extent by trade laws and customs procedures and regulation. The existing global visa regime is tremendously skewed in favour of the inhabitants of rich countries and this can affect the growth of cruise customers from the emerging nations. 3.4. Critical Success Factors Analysis of available information leads to the conclusion that success in the shipping industry will depend essentially upon economies of scale and degree of differentiation (Gisnas et al, 2008). Extending this concept to the cruise industry, the critical success factors in the industry can be narrowed down to the four following factors (Gisnas et al, 2008). Exploitation of scale economies: Economies of scale can be achieved in different operational areas like vessel size, maintenance programmes, and economies of hotel operations Product Differentiation: This can be achieved through the conceptualisation and implementation of different types of cruises. Generation of Customer Loyalty: This will enable companies to obtain higher shares of repeat customer business Management of Strategic Investments: This will enable an organisation to get infrastructural advantage through optimisation of investments, both in terms of money and costs. 4. Strategic Recommendation Carnival Corporation is currently experiencing difficult environmental conditions because of the global recession that was triggered off by the housing collapse and the subprime crises in the USA (Porter, 1980). With the economies of affluent North American and European countries, wherein the brunt of the crises, global tourism was significantly affected during the past two years (Porter, 1980). The bulk of the cruise industry services the citizens of the United States, the UK and other affluent European nations and a sharp economic downturn in these nations will expectedly have significantly adverse on the sales and operational performance of the members of this sector (Porter, 1980). The strategic growth plans for carnival Corporation must accordingly incorporate the impact of the extra ordinarily difficult current environment (Porter, 1980). Whilst the current economic environment is challenging the companys operational and financial capabilities, it is also providing significant opportunities to strong existing players (Porter, 1980). The growth recommendations for Carnival Corporation have been based upon the information obtained from the PESTEL analysis, the utilisation of strategic theories like Porters generic growth strategy and Ansoffs growth matrix, the critical success factors for members of the industry and the opportunities and threats that exists in the current environment (Porter, 1980). Michael Porter, in his seminal contribution towards corporate strategy forwarded the theory that companies can achieve competitive advantage only through the adoption of specific strategies, namely cost leadership, differentiation, or niche occupation (Porter, 1980). Porter went on to state that whilst many organisations feel the need to adopt more than one of such strategies, such an attitude was essentially faulty, and the desire by company managements to adopt essentially distinct operational strategies could lead to loss of focus, confusion in growth objectives and engagement in contradictory and self destructive actions (Porter, 1980). Carnival Corporation has constantly followed a strategy of differentiating of products from that of its competitors. Whilst the organisations growth is also due to its origin and operations in the extremely strong US and British markets, the company has constantly differentiated its offerings through innovation in the types and lengths of cruises to its customers. The company is otherwise strongly focused on sustainability and is taking action to reduce its carbon footprint through the lowering of energy use on its ships, preserving clean air, and reducing operational waste. The PESTEL analysis reveals that whilst the industry is vulnerable to global terrorism actions and the political instability of countries that form part of the operational area of the industry (Porter, 1980). Apart from such political factors, the industry is vulnerable to economic downturns. It is however becoming obvious that the downturn has possibly bottomed out and that western economies are moving towards recovery (Porter, 1980). Whilst recent economic developments in Greece and Spain are disquieting, broad economic indicators show the possibility of some economic improvement in 2010 and firm upward economic movement in 2011. This situation provides abundant opportunities to the companys growth plans. Whilst 2009 has seen a dip in the companys sales and profitability, financial reports reveal that the company has a very strong cash position and comfortable leverage ratios. With its considerable financial ability and its experience in growth through buyouts and acquisitions, the current economic circumstances should provide significant opportunities for the company to acquire smaller and financially weaker organisations, who would be finding it difficult to survive in the present circumstances. Igor Ansoffs model of growth stipulates that companies move in their growth curve from selling currently available services in existing markets through various phases to selling new products in new markets (Tutor2u.net, 2009). Ansoffs growth model is provided in appendix 4. Carnival Corporation should clearly follow a carefully formulated strategy of external and internal growth. External growth should be targeted through the search and acquisition of attractive cruiser lines whose operations and viability has suffered because of the crises. The corporate management should aggressively scout for acquisition and use its strong financial resources to good effect. Such a strategy will also lead to better scale economies and will of course need efficient management of strategic investments (Tutor2u.net, 2009). The company, in accordance with Ansoffs model should steadily pursue strategies for differentiating their services through the conceptualisation and implementation of different cruise themes. It is also opportune for the company to seriously look at the emerging Asian tourism sector, preferably through the acquisition of a local cruise operator. The Asian economy is fairing much better than the European economy and significant accretion is occurring in the upper middle class segments of China and India. Such population segments are totally unexposed to cruise vacations and provide fertile ground for Carnival Corporation to thrust their Asian operations. Carefully conceived strategic plan of organic and acquisitive growth will enable the company to consolidate its leadership position and exploit current environmental opportunities (Tutor2u.net, 2009). 5. Conclusions

Game Theory as it Relates to Abortion in Canada Essay -- Politics

Flanagan’s Status Quo In 1988 abortion legislation was abolished by the supreme court of Canada (Flanagan 120). Current law was deemed to violate a women’s â€Å"security of person† under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Wikipedia). Drafting and passing abortion legislation became the responsibility of the current Prime Minister and the House of Commons (Flanagan 121). Attempts by Brian Mulroney to introduce abortion legislation into the House of Commons and senate failed repeatedly (Flanagan 121). ) Despite public opinion favoring moderate legislation, abortion in Canada remains unlegislated (Flanagan 121).Under the circumstances stated why does Canadian abortion law remain in a state of limbo? In Game Theory and Canadian Politics Thomas Flanagan attempts to elucidate this seeming anomaly in Canadian politics. Firstly, the inability to pass new legislation is explained by the tendency for the status quo to prevail when a â€Å"cyclical opinion structure†(Flanagan 121) is present in the legislating body (Flanagan 121). Secondly, Flanagan (121) emphasizes how parliamentary outcomes are influenced by the procedures with which legislation is passed. These two points are illuminated and analyzed using aspects of game theory. Rational choice theory is used to analyze the parliamentary procedure and cyclical opinion structure that caused all possible resolutions and amendments introduced into the House of Commons to fail. Than, the game of chicken and extensive form games are introduced to explicate bill C-43’s majority vote in the House of Commons and subsequent failure in the senate. Although enlightening, Flanagan’s analysis lacks in-depth explanations and pertinent aspects of game theory. He comments on the vote’s failure t... ...the outcome is seen to mirror real life events. Finally, certain aspects of Flanagan’s sequential game model were critiqued and found deficient. Although Flanagan’s case study was enlightening, some aspects may be flawed and an enhanced analysis farther explicates the phenomenon of the â€Å"staying power of the status quo.† Works Cited Abortion in Canada." Wikipedia. 01 Apr.-May 2007 . Brams, Steven J. Rational Politics. Washinton, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1985. Flanagan, Thomas. Game Theory and Canadian Politics. Toronto: University of Toronoto Press, 1999. Gates, Scott, and Brian D. Humes. Games, Information and Politics. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1997. Green, Donald P., and Ian Shapiro. Pathologies of Rational Choice. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1994.

Deepest Fear

My deepest fear is fear within itself. In life there is no failure but only feedback. Being presented with different obstacles and making sufficient decisions in my life's path, has made me who i am today. As a child, my family always taught me that I must perform to the best of my abilities as a person in order to succeed in whatever I  pursue in life. As a child growing up in Clinton Public School Districts wasn’t such a walk in the park because success was the only option and the key to your future.It took me a while to understand everything I was brought up against as a student there but it made me learn a great deal about the diversity of cultures and how others may perceive the world differently than I would. It made me understand the concept when it came to things I can manage, with others that I cannot. Being a student at Clinton High made me realize that I could do anything to my fullest potential if I put forth effort.I had also overcame the feeling of being unlove d, abused and mistreated by someone I thought cared tremendously about me. I received many awards and recognitions throughout my school years such as hardworking, dedication, good Spirit, track Awards and many more. I participated in the choir, track, basketball, the Spanish club, pure guidance club, FCA (fellowship with Christians Association), help serve at the stewpot and many more.On May 25, 2012 not only did I overcome my fear of failure and doubt but I proved everyone one whoever went up against me wrong. This was the day that I rejoiced because I graduated from Clinton High School with a clean record, no baby and an acceptance letter to one of the top African American Schools in the state of Mississippi, Jackson State University.I believe majoring in Computer Science will be a great experience because I love computers and technology is my greatest strength. It will better me when it comes to dealing with things hands-on and challenge my thinking process even more. I believe a lso, that majoring in Computer Science will also build me up as a person because setbacks in one's life better prepare one  for the greater challenges that will lie ahead.

Demographic Winter and Its Effects on the Society Essay

Concept Paper Final Draft: â€Å"Demographic Winter and Its Effect on Society† For years, people have in mind that the world’s population has been increasing annually. While it is true that a daily increment of 215,060 and yearly growth of 1.10% is happening on our world population of 7,174,592,903 (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, population Estimates, and Projections Sections), the demographic trend is actually changing in contrast to the beliefs of many. Historical events that occurred in the past, particularly the World Wars, have paved the way for the eradication of a large portion of mankind, but it also resulted to population explosion. The Baby Boom, a demographic phenomenon in Western countries, rose to fame wherein rapid growth in population was recorded around 1960s. This is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2 per 100 women (or approximately 2% of the total population size) (Wikimedia Foudation, Inc). As the paper progresses, such belief will be proven as a myth these days. In 1968, Stanford University Professor Paul R. Ehrlich published the controversial book, The Population Bomb which warned of the mass starvation of humans in the 1970s and 1980s due to overpopulation. People grew scared of the idea of a population explosion and its detrimental effects to society. As they acquired the paradigm that babies are burden, a trend not to be sexually active anymore in Western countries was created. This, in turn, resulted to a new demographic occurrence called by demographers as Demographic Winter. Demographic winter is a global phenomenon characterized by population decline in birth rates. The term â€Å"nuclear winter,† popularized in the 1980s, alluded to the catastrophic environ mental impact of a nuclear war. The long-term consequences of demographic winter could be equally devastating (Feder). The Total Fertility Rate, the expected number of children born per woman in her child-bearing years of 2.1, is said to be the point of equilibrium in which a country’s population is neither growing nor decreasing. Essentially, a woman must replace herself and a man. This TFR is important because this only shows that an average woman is able to produce  2.1 children during her lifetime which is needed because some children die before maturity and also to stabilize the number of the population. (Fluctuating Fertility: The Baby Boom and the Baby Bust). When the Total Fertility Rate of a State is 2.1 births per woman who has reached the end of her productive life (that is around 50 years old), the Net Production Rate is 1, that is to say, the state has reach population age stability. When it is not, or is less than the nation’s previous TFR, the nation undergoes the phenomenon called demographic winter. (Fluctuating Fertility: The Baby Boom and the Baby Bust). Although demographic winter is a global incident, geography and the country’s economic status are underlying factors that contributed to what extent and to which nations such an event would occur. Demographic winter is currently more evident in developed countries such as in Europe, Australia, East Asia (Japan) and North America (U.S.), whose populations were the first to mature. Maturity here is defined as the average age of the population relative to the economic development of society. These countries also suffered the worst depopulation during the World Wars and experienced rapid population growth after (Yew). We shall focus more on these countries as we elaborate the concept of demographic winter for the cases which will be mentioned later applies more to their population trends. Of the 1 0 countries with the lowest birth rates, 9 are in Europe. Overall, the European fertility rate is 1.3, well below replacement level (2.1). No European nation has a replacement-level birth rate. Italy’s fertility rate is 1.2. Spain’s is 1.1 (Feder). That means, in the not-too-distant future, these countries will lose half of their people in every generation. Russia’s birth rate fell from 2.4 in 1990 to 1.17 today – a decline of more than 50% in less than 20 years. Each year, there are more abortions than live births in the Russian Federation (Demographic Winter). In U.S. alone, Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is almost 3.5 in the early 1960s, then began declining sharply — to below 3.0 in 1965, to about 2.5 (and temporarily holding steady) in the late 1960s, and down to about 1.8 by the mid-1970s. Hence, the TFR fell by almost half between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s. After a decade of stability at a level of about 1.8, the total fertility rate rose slowly after 1986, reaching 2.08 in 1990. It presently st ands at a little over 2, just slightly below the replacement level of 2.11 (Fluctuating Fertility: The Baby Boom and the Baby Bust). Japan’s TFR has continued to fall since dropping below 2.0 in 1975. It slumped to an all-time low of 1.26 in 2005. The number of babies born in the nation in 2012 fell by 13,705 from the previous year to hit a new low of 1,037,101 (Durden). With such data on hand, we now ask: â€Å"what are the factors that led to demographic winter?† According to the documentary film Demographic Winter: a Decline of the Human Family, fertility decline is caused by (1) economic prosperity, (2) sexual revolution, (3) women in the labour force, (4) Divorce revolution, and (5) inaccurate assumptions. As developed countries continue to rise in their economic status, a paradigm shift among members of the labour force occurs. Previously, babies are considered as blessings and investments by parents. Nowadays, they are viewed by parents as an added expense and burden to them. As standards of living in the urban areas of different countries continue to increase, life becomes harder to sustain. An added mouth to feed is just something that can’t be considered especially by realists. Richer countries want to invest and spend their money on adults, the more affluent, whom they can use for further economic development than children. Sexual revolution is also eyed as a contributing factor wherein Feminism is evident. The number of women in their 20s who had a child in 2012 decreased by 16,200 from the previous year, while the number of births among women aged from 35 to 39 and from 40 to 44 increased by a combined total of about 8,700. As more women are empowered and gain equal treatment in education and employment, they now opt to join the labour force, the corporate world and pursue career paths than devoting themselves to family life. Growing valuable time of working mothers constructed the mindset that they don’t want children, they want jobs instead. The labor force participation rates among married women with children, particularly young children, have been steadily increasing since 1970. In 1985, nearly half of all women with children under age 18 were in the labor force, as compared with less than 40 percent in 1970 (Hayghe). Moreover, the declines in fertility rates, as well as declines in family size, increasing childlessness, and delayed childbearing have freed many women to pursue employment opportunities outside the home. Completed family size, for example, decreased from 2.4 children in 1970 to 1 .7 in 1984 among white women, and from 3.1 to 2.2 children among blacks (U.S. Department of Health And Human Services). With the increase of participation of women in  the labour force, an inverse reciprocal in the fertility rates is also observed. Along with sexual revolution and the greater involvement of women on the labour force, divorce revolution can be viewed as a related contributing factor to the decline of fertility rates. With more women gaining financial and social capabilities in the society, marriage is now viewed as something superficial especially with the legalization of divorce in developed countries such as the United States. Not only has marriage been increasingly pushed to a late age, but once accomplished, marriages are more likely to end in divorce than at any previous time in History. Preston and McDonald (1979) estimated that although 16% of all marriages in the United States in 1915 ended in divorce, 36% of the 1964 marriages will end that way. However, by 1988, the data were suggesting a levelling off at about 43% of marriages ending in divorce (Schoen and Weinick). The Un ited States is certainly not unique in experiencing an increase in divorce probabilities. William Goode, in his book World Revolution and Family Patterns (1993), compiled data for Europe showing that throughout the said continent the percentage of marriages that will end in divorce virtually doubled between 1970 and the mid- 1980s. For example, in Germany in 1970 it is estimated that 16% of marriages would end in divorce, increasing to 30% in 1985. In France, the increase went from 12% to 31% during that same period of time. Australia has experienced similar trends (Weeks). With the said increase in the number of divorce cases, an inverse reciprocal for the fertility rate equals. Thus, divorce revolution is a cause of demographic winter. And lastly, the main culprit for all the causes of demographic winter is the inaccurate assumption made from the increasing population. As mentioned earlier in this paper, Stanford University professor Paul Ehrlich’s controversial book â€Å"The Population Bomb† propagated the idea that the rapid increase in population will eventually lead to population explosion causing food shortage. Such occurrence according to him cannot be sustained by the global community. Malthusian Theory stating that human population grows exponentially while food production grows at an arithmetic rate, made people including Ehrlich that such insustainability and shortage in resources is truly imminent. The predictions came true but not exactly as Ehrlich perceived it. The effects are mainly unfelt in the developed world and food production grew exponentially at a rate higher than population growth in  both developed and developing countries. Food per capita is the highest in history. During the greatest population-growth period in human history, food became cheaper and more abundant (prices dropped up to 70%). Population gro wth rates, on the other hand, significantly slowed down especially in the developed world (Erlich). The sad reality at present is this misconception still lingers on the thoughts of the educated ones. This now resulted to interference of government to population growth by creating and implementing policies that aims to decrease rates of population growth. Examples are Reproductive Health Act in U. S. and One-child policy in China and Singapore. The biggest impact on fertility from the pill was from eliminating â€Å"unwanted pregnancies† by 70% of married woman (Demographic Winter: The New Economic Reality). Secularization is also a factor that affects fertility rates. The anti-Christian, anti-family ideology which can be rooted to the Marxist view of activists currently sweeping across most of Western civilisation has precipitated a culture of death that is slowly but inexorably killing off the human family. Those who believe about meaning of life have children. Those who don’t, don’t (Feder). We can therefore say that all aspects of modernity work against fam ily life and is in favour of singleness, having a small family, or opting to have no child at all. Add up to that none of these problems can be easily fixed. It’s who we are and what we’ve become increasingly in these modern times. But the question here that remains is, if we are experiencing demographic winter, why is that population continues to grow? This now can be attributed to the Alternatives of developed countries to compensate for their declining population which is immigration (esp. on Europe and Australia) (Demographic Winter: The New Economic Reality). Also, the issue of ageing population comes in. What we currently perceive is that death rate is less compared to before. Less people are born but also lesser die thus creating that aged population. Given the origin, definition and causes of demographic winter, let us now focus to its effects on society. This can now be classified into (1) biological, (2) political, and to the (3) economy. However, these can be inter-related. Research has shown that demographics can have a significant impact on countries’ stability, governance, economic development and the well-being of its people (Population Action International). As stated earlier, an ageing population is an issue that can be attributed to  biological effects of demographic winter. In 1998, there was a 48-year lag between births and peak spending of those individuals. Japan is one of the countries to first experience demographic winter after the world war for they did not experience the Baby Bomb, unlike U.S. Developed countries will have this age trap or the said modern inverted pyramid wherein number of grandparents is greater than the number of children. This is in contrast to the trend before wherein the number of children is greater than the grandparents’. With this occurrence, the children will not be able to sufficiently take care of the old due to lack of number. Also, some countries might cease to exist. There are fifty-nine (59) nations, namely, Russia, China, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, (Central Inteligence Agency) – with 44% of the world’s population – th at are now experiencing below-replacement birth rates. Worldwide, there are 6 million fewer children (under age 6) today than there were in 1990. The United Nations estimates that if current trends continue, by 2050 there will be 248 million fewer children (under age 5) than there are now. Overall, Europe’s fertility rate is 1.3; a birth rate of 2.1 is needed just to replace current population. In this century, countries such as Italy, Spain, Russia and even France could cease to exist – at least as they’re currently constituted. Demographer Philip Longman (author of The Empty Cradle: How Falling Birth rates Threaten World Prosperity) observes: The on-going global decline in human birth rates is the single most powerful force affecting the fate of nations and the future of society in the 21st century. â€Å"Demographic winter is a great predictor of a country’s fate and future because children are essential for a country’s economic survival,† Longman added. As Japan’s population has aged beyond 48 years old, its consumer spending has steadily declined. Here now enters the effects to economy. Never in history is an ageing population able to develop a prosperous economy (Demographic Winter: The New Economic Reality). Why? The ratio of young to old will shift dramatically and wreak havoc upon existing social security and healthcare systems. The economy at large may also suffer, as the elderly cease spending and a smaller generation of workers is crippled by the taxes needed to support their parents. â€Å"The world this will bring about, according to the filmmakers, is bleak: grandparents left untended and alone in the streets of Europe as intergenerational bonds are  shattered; the potential desolation of small countries such as Latvia, and a worldwide depression that will touch even those countries that don’t disappear under the sheath of snow that the film shows blanketing the entire globe.† (Joyce). So argues Harry S. Dent, Jr., an economist who specializes in â€Å"demographic-based economic forecasting,† and who predicts that the West will follow Japan’s aging population bust. Politically, demographic winter can be associated with the voting body. A political analysis said that political preference reveals that the metaphorical eggs of Republicans rest entirely in one basket: the vote s of older white people. According to the exit polls conducted by the New York Times of the 2012 presidential election, Republican nominee Mitt Romney won 59 percent of white voters, and 56 percent of voters over age 65. The intersection of those two areas is the demographic base of the Republican Party, and it is dying. Markos Moulitsas posited that conservatives’ endeavours to weaken the social safety net have made it harder for these seniors who comprise the Republican base to stay alive (Atkins). While some may still debunk and not accept the fact that such phenomenon is happening, it just happens, and will still continue despite of us shunning the thought of it. Demographic winter is no joke. Further neglect of the declining rates of population growth will soon not only affect political, biological, and economic aspects of society but may also jeopardize even the existence of mankind in the future. I value intellectual integrity and the highest standards of academic conduct. I am committed to an ethical learning environment that promotes a high standard of honor in scholastic work. Academic dishonesty undermines institutional integrity and threatens the academic fabric of the University of the Philippines. And because I believe that dishonesty is not an acceptable avenue to success, I aff ix my signature to this work to affirm that it is original and free of cheating and plagiarism, and does not knowingly furnish false information.† ______________________________ Mary Philline Descalzo Works Cited Atkins, Dante. Daily Kos. 23 June 2013. Web. 29 August 2013. . Central Inteligence Agency. The World Fact Book. n.d. Web. 12 September 2013. . Demographic Winter. n.d. Web. 29 August 2013. . Demographic Winter. Demographic Winter: The New Economic Reality. 2011. Web. 29 August 2013. . Durden, Tyler. Japanese Birth Rate Plunges To Record Low As Death-Rate Hits Record High. 7 June 2013. web. 29 August 2013. . Erlich, Paul R. The Population Bomb. New York: Ballantine Books, 1968. Print. 29 August 2013. Feder, Don. Demographic Winter. 5 March 2008. Web. 29 August 2013. . Fluctuating Fertility: The Baby Boom and the Baby Bust. n.d. Web. 29 August 2013. . Gone for Goode. Dir. Barry Levinson. Perf. Ned Beatty, Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, Wendy Hughes, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto, Melissa Leo, Jon Polito, Kyle Secor Daniel Baldwin. 1993. Web. Goode, William Josiah. World Revolution and Family Patterns. New York: Free Press, 1963. Document. Hayghe, Howard. â€Å"Rise in mothers’ labor force participation includes those with young children.† Monthly Labor Review (1986): 43-45. Print. 29 August 2013. Joyce, Kathryn. Kathryn Joyce. n.d. Web. 29 August 2013. Population Action International. Topic  » Population Trends and Demography. 2012. Web. 29 August 2013. . Schoen, Robert and Robin M. Weinick. â€Å"The Slowing Metabolism of Marriage: Figures from 1988 U.S. Marital Status Life Tables.† Demography 30 (1993): 737-746. Document. 29 August 2013. . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Vital and Health Statistics. Primary Research Report. National Center for Health Statistics. Hyattsville, Maryland: DHHS Publication, 1986. Web. 29 August 2013. . United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, population Estimates, and Projections Sections. United Nations. n.d. Web. 29 August 2013. Weeks, John R. â€Å"Population and Contemporary Issues.† Weeks, John R. Population: an Introduction to Concepts and Issues. Ed. Eve Howard. Sixth. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1996. 338. Print. 29 August 2013. Wikimedia Foudation, Inc. Baby Boom. 25 July 2013. web. 29 August 2013. Wikimedia Foudat ion, Inc. The Population Bomb. 25 August 2013. web. 29 August 2013. Yew, Lee Kuan. Warning Bell for Developed Countries: Declining Birth Rates. 25 April 2012. Web. 29 August 2013. .