What Is Ethnocentrism Essay Example

What Is Ethnocentrism Paper In America, the greatest supremacy of the world, we have the most advanced and sophisticated culture in history. The inferior British drive on the wrong side of the road, and Greeks reek of the scent of Garlic. Does garlic really smell bad? Maybe the right side is the wrong side of the road, and other countries may feel the same way about their culture as those Yankees feel about their USA. What do we call the sense of cultural superiority? Sociology has a term called ethnocentrism, which is defined as â€Å"the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of ones own culture† (about sociology). Many claim that ethnocentrism occurs in every society. The opposite of ethnocentrism is multiculturalism, which is the belief that all cultures are basically equal. Ethnocentricity is essentially a double-edged sword, and has been shown to be a powerful force that exhibits both positive and negative consequences inside a cultural group. There are three major causes of why ethnocentricity exists: individuals’ different life experiences, social and political power, and economic rationale. The truth is there is no one who can wholly abstain from being ethnocentric. Since it is impossible to experience the life situations of everyone in the world, we will always base some assumptions on life built from our existing finite life experience. It must also be noted that a worldview in which someone does not consider their view as the correct one, is inconsistent as it would be admitting falseness. In a social group or culture, ethnocentrism can produce a diligent, productive, and innovative society, while unchecked or distorted ethnocentrism can lead to racism, chaos, or war. Causal support for the existence of ethnocentrism can be found in the very definition of ethnocentricity itself, â€Å"characterized by or based on the attitude that ones own group is superior† (Merriam-Webster). The belief that one’s own group is better usually brings a sense of entitlement or power. Ethnocentrically based lust of power has created numerous instances of human rights violations, wars, racial conflicts, and colonization. The power struggle in the Darfur region of Sudan is a tragic example of ethnocentricity between two groups engaging in a civil war. We will write a custom essay sample on What Is Ethnocentrism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What Is Ethnocentrism specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What Is Ethnocentrism specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The battle between the totalitarian Muslim government and African rebel groups has left approximately 400,000 people dead, and millions displaced (Associated Press). The Sudanese government has been accused of supporting the Arab terrorist group Janjaweed commit genocide throughout the country with an aim to annihilate the African insurgent groups that want a larger share of influence in the Sudanese government. The ethnocentric view of national imperialism has greatly affected most developing nations around the earth. An illustration of imperialism would be the European nations’ colonization of Asian nations. After monopolizing many Asian countries resources by gaining control of their trading ports and routes, the Europeans impressed much of their cultural ideals on these nations. As a result, people living under the British came to adapt their culture to match the British perspective. The colonies’ commercial interests, education and other concepts revolved around the British. The same occurrence happened to colonies under the Dutch, French and Spanish too. 831 was the year that Alexis de Tocqueville coined the term American Exceptionalism, which refers to the belief that qualitatively the United States differs from other developed nations, on account of its unique credentials, origins, and political system. This national pride has helped the United States in the past, including declaring their independence from being a British colony, and winning the Revolutionary War. Abraham Lincoln had a pro American Exceptionalism outlook and said, â€Å"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth. Critics of American Exceptionalism argue that the United States is not the only country founded as a republic with those ideals, and they feel that foreign policy has been economic self-interest than an actual desire to spread their ideals. A case for American Exceptionalism rationale can be made because of statistics that show that that the United States has the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any nation in the world at 14. 265 trillion dollars (worldsrichestcountries. com), and a Gallup poll states that Americans generally are happy,† More than 8 in 10 Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives at this time. So while obviously there are many problems in the United States, American Exceptionalists have ethnocentric pride in their culture. Additionally, economic systems are reasons for ethnocentricity, whether it is socialism, capitalism, or communism. The majority of citizens that inhabit most socialist and capitalist countries believe that their system is better since they have not experienced living in a dissimilar economic environment. One needs to look no further than Korea for the occurrence of economic ethnocentrism. North Korea, one of the worlds most centrally directed and least open economies has a GDP of only 40 billion dollars according to the website CIA. gov. As a result of governmental control and lack of free enterprise, a large proportion of North Korean citizens suffer with poor living conditions and malnutrition which is a serious predicament. South of the border, South Korea has a more open economic policy and therefore has the 15th largest GDP in the world of 1. 364 trillion dollars. Ethnocentricity is inevitable; my very writing about the subject is from an ethnocentric point of view. Applied correctly, ethnocentrism produces a diligent, productive, and innovative society, while unchecked and perverted ethnocentrism is leading to many atrocities happening all around the world. Cultures must learn to embrace and accept other groups’ differences, and learn from the positive and useful aspects of other societies. An ethnocentric philosophy is necessary in order to recognize violations of basic human rights, and just like in science, grounded understandings are not developed from the complete absence of bias, but instead the recognition and control of biases.

Free Essays on How A Case Researches The Supreme Court

The vast majority of cases reach the Supreme Court only as appeals from lower federal court decisions or from the highest state court. These cases come to the Supreme Court in one of two ways – on appeal or by writ of certiorari. A few cases start at the Court because they fall under its original jurisdiction. When petitions for certiorari come to the Court, the justices or their clerks identify cases worthy of consideration and then place them on a list. At a conference, the justices review and discuss the selected cases, and then vote on which cases to accept for decision. When the justices accept a case, they also decide either to ask for more information from the opposing lawyers or to rule quickly on the information that was provided. Cases decided without further information are either returned to the lower court for a decision or announced with a per curiam opinion. After the Court accepts a case, the lawyers on each side submit a brief. After the briefs are fil ed, a lawyer for each side is asked to present a thirty minute oral argument before the Court, in which he or she summarizes the key points of the case. On Fridays, the justices meet in conference to discuss and decide the cases they have heard. Then, the Court issues a written opinion stating the facts of the case, announcing the Court’s ruling, and explaining its reasoning in reaching the decision. Some people criticize the fact that the Supreme Court is not very democratic because nine people speak for the entire country. These individuals, critics argue, are ultimately responsible for settling disputes and interpreting the meaning of laws. Through judicial review, they examine the laws of local, state, and national governments and cancel them if they violate the Constitution. The Court may also review Presidential and Congressional policies. In addition, when the Court applies the law to specific disputes it often determines what national poli... Free Essays on How A Case Researches The Supreme Court Free Essays on How A Case Researches The Supreme Court The vast majority of cases reach the Supreme Court only as appeals from lower federal court decisions or from the highest state court. These cases come to the Supreme Court in one of two ways – on appeal or by writ of certiorari. A few cases start at the Court because they fall under its original jurisdiction. When petitions for certiorari come to the Court, the justices or their clerks identify cases worthy of consideration and then place them on a list. At a conference, the justices review and discuss the selected cases, and then vote on which cases to accept for decision. When the justices accept a case, they also decide either to ask for more information from the opposing lawyers or to rule quickly on the information that was provided. Cases decided without further information are either returned to the lower court for a decision or announced with a per curiam opinion. After the Court accepts a case, the lawyers on each side submit a brief. After the briefs are fil ed, a lawyer for each side is asked to present a thirty minute oral argument before the Court, in which he or she summarizes the key points of the case. On Fridays, the justices meet in conference to discuss and decide the cases they have heard. Then, the Court issues a written opinion stating the facts of the case, announcing the Court’s ruling, and explaining its reasoning in reaching the decision. Some people criticize the fact that the Supreme Court is not very democratic because nine people speak for the entire country. These individuals, critics argue, are ultimately responsible for settling disputes and interpreting the meaning of laws. Through judicial review, they examine the laws of local, state, and national governments and cancel them if they violate the Constitution. The Court may also review Presidential and Congressional policies. In addition, when the Court applies the law to specific disputes it often determines what national poli...

Review of Arthur Millers Play The Crucible

Review of Arthur Miller's Play The Crucible Of all Arthur Millers classic dramas, The Crucible remains his most difficult play to convincingly produce. One wrong choice from a director, one wrong gesture from a performer, and the play will elicit laughter instead of gasps of pathos. From a literary standpoint, the story and characters are easy to comprehend. Set in Salem, Massachusetts the plot moves at a brisk pace and the audience quickly learns that the protagonist, John Proctor, is the object of young, wicked Abigail Williams desire. She will stop at nothing to recapture the heart of this married man, even if it means accusing others of witchcraft and igniting the deadly flames of hysteria, a paranoia that will ultimately lead many to the gallows. Summary John Proctor carries a dark weight in his soul. A respected farmer and husband, he has committed adultery with a seventeen-year-old girl (Abigail). Yet, although he hides this fact from the rest of the community, he still values truth. He knows that the allegations of witchcraft are vengeful lies. John struggles throughout the play. Should he accuse his former lover of lying and attempted murder? Even at the cost of being publicly branded an adulterer? The conflict intensifies during the plays final act. He is given a chance to save his own life, but to do that he must confess that he had worshiped the devil. His ultimate choice provides a powerful scene that every leading actor should strive to play. Other complex characters within the play are a boon for actresses. The character of Elizabeth Proctor calls for a restrained performance, with occasional bursts of passion and grief. Perhaps the juiciest role of the play, though she doesnt get as much stage time, is that of ​Abigail Williams. This character can be interpreted in many ways. Some actresses have played her as a childish brat, while others have portrayed her as a sinister harlot. The actress who takes on this role should decide, how does Abigail truly feel about John Proctor? Was her innocence stolen from her? Is she a victim? Or a sociopath? Does she love him in some twisted way? Or has she been using him all along? Producing The Crucible Now, if the plot and characters are amazingly coherent, then why should this play be a challenge to successfully produce? The scenes of pretend witchcraft can evoke a comic effect if performed the wrong way. For example, many high school productions have gone over the top during the possession scenes. The script calls for young women of Salem to gyrate as if in a demonic fit, to envision birds flying around them, and to repeat words as though they are hypnotized. If done correctly, these scenes of mock-witchcraft can create a chilling effect. The audience will be able to understand how judges and reverends could be fooled into making a deadly decision. However, if the performers become too silly, the audience might chuckle and chortle, and then it might be hard to make them feel the profound tragedy of the plays end. In short, the magic of this play will come from the supporting cast. If actors can realistically recreate what life was like back in 1692, the audience will have a vicarious experience. They will come to understand the fears, desires, and disputes of this small Puritan town, and may come to relate to the people of Salem not as characters in a play, but as real people who lived and died, often in the face of cruelty and injustice. Then, the audience will be able to experience the full weight of Millers exquisite American tragedy.

Social Welfare for Children in Kuwait Research Paper

Social Welfare for Children in Kuwait - Research Paper Example In general, the state is committed to providing the welfare of children as stipulated by the constitutional principles, as well as Kuwait’s international obligations under the conventions and treaties it has signed and ratified. Some of these treaties and conventions include the 1973’s International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention, which concerns the minimum age for admission to employment (No. 138), and the 1999’s ILO convention that concerns primary with the prohibition and immediate action for eliminating worst forms of child labor (no. 182). The government has taken the convention regarding the rights of children, and two optional protocol measures to protect the rising generation from any forms of exploitation, and spiritual or physical harm.   In addition, it guarantees a right to education, introduced free compulsory education, and delivers treatment as well as healthcare for infectious diseases. Therefore, the government has taken up a number of mea sures as discussed below in order to keep up with these principles (Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations, 2007).   The government provides primary healthcare along with preventive services for children, in order to lower the mortality rates, and encourage healthy living behaviors. Furthermore, it also shields children from exposure to delinquency, neglect, bodily harm and infringements of their freedom through criminalizing such acts and imposing very high penalties on them (United Nations, 2011).   In order to deal with these.

Acne and Its Phychosocial Impacts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Acne and Its Phychosocial Impacts - Essay Example 438). In a society which places high regard for appearance, and a healthy, glowing skin, skin disorders are often associated with uncleanliness, In many cases, people with skin conditions are avoided, because of the perception that all skin problems are contagious. Minor skin conditions can have major psychosocial effects to individuals experiencing it. Such condition affects a person’s self image, as well as how an individual interacts with others. Interpersonal relationships often suffer and affected individuals are traumatized with stares and expression of revulsion that they receive from society. In cases when skin conditions are chronic, affected persons may be branded as social outcasts, hence leading to other psychological issues such as depression or social anxiety. For the purpose of this paper, the author will explore the effects of acne on an individual’s social experience. Acne vulgaris (common name, acne) is a â€Å"disease of the hair follicles of the fac e, chest, and back† (Rockoff & Cole, 2011). It is considered as the most common disease and almost all males and females have experienced it. It usually appears during puberty, peaks at around 14 to 19 and resolves by mid-twenties (Adityan & Thappa, 2009, p. 272). The disease tend to be more persistent in females but the more severe form is more commonly experienced by males. To gauge its severity, lesion counting is often used. Acne typically appears as blackheads or whiteheads (congested pores called comedones) or tender red bumps more commonly known as pimples. In more severe cases, acne takes the form of pustules and cysts. Acne happens when an hair follicles attached to oil glands enlarges. This causes the bump visible on the skin. Sometimes the walls holding the follicle may rupture which then allows skin bacteria to enter the deeper levels. When this happens, inflammation can happen. Pimples are inflammation in the deep levels, but deeper levels produce cysts. Whitehead s are oil which breaks out of the surface of the skin while blackheads are â€Å"black oil†, they are either oxidized oil or they may have accumulated melanin. In a study conducted by F. Ballanger, P.Baudry, J.M. N’guyen, A. Kammari, & B. Dreno (2006) shows that heredity is a prognostic factor for severe acne but in the case of minor to mild conditions, heredity does not matter. Moreover, there is indication that the parents experience is not always the same as that of their children. Choice of food can aggravate acne but there is no real evidence showing that it has a direct impact on the occurrence of the skin disease. Stress is also often cited as a cause of acne, but researches show that its effects are not direct (Rockoff & Cole, 2011). Some factors which may contribute to acne includes increased pressure from helmets, suspenders, etc., use of drugs containing steroids and prednisone, and use of comedogenic (skin clogging) products. While acne is a normal conditio n among adolescents, and will typically resolve on its own, there are instances when it will require treatment. Harald Gollnick, Andrew Finlay, & Neil Shear (2008) presents several indicators when acne should be considered a chronic disease: when its distribution and severity is constantly increasing, when acne treatment becomes necessary for months at a time, and if it affects the individual’s quality of life. The authors believe that acne should be treated as a chronic disease and that effective treatment must be made available through research. Several studies show that people suffering from acne are more â€Å"prone to depression, social withdrawal, anxiety, and anger and are more likely to be

CanGo Analysis Essay Example for Free

CanGo Analysis Essay 1. CanGo has too many activities without having specific goals or setting priorities. As they find something that needs to be accomplished, it is always as soon as possible without setting definite time deadlines. Setting priorities is one way to insure that the tasks which need immediate attention are worked on first, while other task can be delayed because they are not as important. Being able to schedule people to complete specific task requires careful planning while know what resources are available. According to the Business Dictionary, a resource is â€Å"an economic or productive factor required to accomplish an activity† (Resource, 2013). CanGo needs to make a chart showing what its resources are which includes how much time each employee is able to work, how much money they can spend or invest, and what needs to be done by when. This can be accomplished in a number of different methods depending on the personnel who will be responsible for compiling the data. As shown on the Adaptive Path website, one method would be to use a spreadsheet which shows three major criteria and then apply a scale to them graphing the results. Equally important, once the priorities are determined, is setting specific deadlines for completion of task so that the employees know exactly when a report is needed, or when another department needs a specific resource if a resources needs to be shared or allocated, such as an employee working on multiple tasks. When setting the times, it is also important to know if one task needs to be completed before another on starts or if tasks can be worked on by different employees concurrently.  Setting up a written schedule or calendar, for example in Microsoft Outlook which everyone can view would be a good tool so each employee knows who is working on what and when it needs to be done. 2. CanGo needs to find out their customer base so that they can market to current customers and bring in new customers. There are a few ways to find their customer base. This first step to help find a customer base is to make the company a brand name. They need to make the company known to everyone for the great services and products offered. This will make the company more noticeable on any search engine or social media. Another step to finding the base would be to use onsite analytics. Google is the best known option for this. This will analyze the sites traffic patterns. It shows what websites they come from, how long they stay on your site and each individual page. This can even determine what page the customers get to and then leave (Staff Editor). If there is a certain page that customers’ get to and then leave the site, than this is the page that needs to be looked over and re-done. CanGo should also take advantage of social media. If CanGo used a social media outlet such as Facebook, their fans could leave comments and say what they like and dislike about the company. This can help fix any problems within the company. The final step in reaching a good customer base is to make sure their website is user friendly. Make sure the homepage has the most important content on it and that it has easy to understand menus for the customers to navigate. The company should also make sure to look at the reviews both good and bad and leave all of them on there. By showing that you are not trying to hide anything the customers will have more respect for the company. . CanGo wants to implement a new technology that involves a new layout that incorporates barcoding and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). Jack is proposing this new implementation by contrasting the new technology versus CanGo’s current technology. Jack assures Juan that every cost has been included in the detailed analysis, but when Juan asks about how they are going to deal with the IT department, Jack replies that they need to make sure that the entire department is focus about 70 % of their time to this project in multiple locations. He also remarks that the department has to be pulled off from their current projects, so this implementation can be a priority. Prior to make the final decision of purchasing ASRS technology, there needs to be some deeper discussion as to what would happen to the security of the company’s network if the IT department had to spend more time on data integration. According to Ehow website, â€Å"the information technology department in an organization is responsible for the architecture, hardware, software and networking of computers† meaning that putting the IT department full time on the implementation of ASRS technology, can cause improper function of the mainly IT department functions, for instance, server maintenance (Kelchner, n. d. ). Agreeing to Wisegeek website statement, â€Å"if maintenance is not conducted on a computer network, regardless of whether the network is small or large, pplication software usually will not run as well as expected. In some cases, a network may even experience total or partial network failure if proper maintenance is not conducted. † Jack’s proposal can cause CanGo extra costs that have not been accountable for and put the entire company’s network at risk (server maintenance, n. d. ). In other to make this analysis effective, Jack should meet up with the IT department first and discuss how the implementation of this new technology will impact IT’s current work schedule. Jack and the IT department need to come with a plan that includes a work schedule for the new implementation without interrupting current projects. Therefore, if extra hours are demanded to complete the implementation whether CanGo will pay overtime to the IT department employees or temporary IT employees will be hired, this cost has to be added to the analysis. When choosing a strategy, every single department that is involved in the implementation should be contacted and informed about the project prior to present the final analysis.  It seems that Jack didn’t contact or discuss the implementation of ASRS technology with the IT department. 4. CanGo consumer buying process is in question when one of CanGo’s employee shares an elevated statistic that reveals over 75% of online shoppers don’t end up buying the products that they have selected in the website; as a result, Andrew replies that CanGo’s website mirrors the consumers choice by applying product recognition, informative search, alternating evaluation, etc. It seems that CanGo does not have an ongoing method for tracking hits vs. purchases on their website. The problem is that CanGo is not evaluating their consumer buying process properly. Andrew clearly wonders if that high statistic applies to CanGo clients. According to Aspire website, â€Å"using website metrics and tracking your leads and conversions should play a vital role in measuring what’s working and what’s not on your company’s website. Building up a history of metrics will enable you to identify trends and opportunities, analyze your traffic data to consistently improve your site’s effectiveness, and monitor your lead generation process, conversion rates, and your return on investment. CanGo should invest in website metrics because this will allow CanGo to conduct proper follow up that will confirm if the implemented consumer buying process is satisfactory (Website metrics, n. d. ). 5. CanGo needs to monitor the changes in purchases so that they can modify their marketing strategy. There are a few ways that CanGo can monitor changes. The company should start using web bugs on their site. A web bug is a graphic in a website or a graphic-enabled e-mail message. The Web bug can confirm when the message or page is viewed and record the IP address of the viewer (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). This can help determine how many people are viewing their homepage and any other page on their site. CanGo can also apply direct marketing to their site. Direct marketing is a sales pitch targeted to a person based on prior consumer choices (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). An example would be if the customer buys a romantic novel, then there will be suggestions for other romantic novels in a similar nature. Another method CanGo can use is behavioral marketing. Behavioral Marketing is the practice of collecting and compiling a record of individuals online activities, interests, preferences, and/or communications over time. Companies engaged in behavioral targeting routinely monitor individuals, the searches they make, the pages they visit, the content they view, their interactions on social networking sites, and the products and services they purchase (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). After they have done the tracking they are able to show advertisements to the customers based on their behavior. This type of marketing is used through cookies, flash cookies, device fingerprinting and many other technologies. Whenever the customer goes to websites or social media that have advertisements on the side, the company’s ad would be there if the services were something that interested the customer. 6. CanGo seems to lack knowledge of unfamiliar territory. Since the online entertainment market is becoming saturated with entrepreneurs entering the industry, CanGo can definitely benefit from researching this particular market before they enter it. There are many reasons for any company that’s entering a new market to research it first. One reason is because it’s a way of keeping up with market trends, and in today’s fast paced world it’s paramount to stay on top of the industry and business trends. Lacking knowledge of unfamiliar territory can be extremely costly to an organization. Expanding into a new market involves a great deal of market research in addition to target customers. CanGo needs to develop an in-depth understanding of market growth rates, forecasted demand, competitors, and potential barriers to entry. CanGo isn’t entering a relatively undefined market, however, its new territory for the company. Needless to say maintaining a competitive edge is an important aspect of management today because organizations exist in a more global environment than in the past. Within most industries organizations compete with other companies that are able to provide the same goods and services. According to Steve Jobs, â€Å"Some people say, ‘give the customers what they want. ’ But that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, ‘if I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse! ’’ People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page. † This was a pretty controversial quote but it was how he actually felt. Unfortunately, although he was extremely successful and considered a genius by many there we’re times in his career where understanding customers’ wants could have led to even more success, such as with his computing company NeXT. There are both and cons to researching a market before entering but the pros definitely outweigh the cons. researching your market is also very vital to understanding your target market and increasing sales. There are many reasons for CanGo to conduct research on a market they’re entering, for instance, identifying potential customers. It’s important who will be using your product or service. Are they male or female? How old they are? and so on. It’s also important to understand CanGo’s existing customers such as; why would customers choose their product over their competition. A market should be prioritized based on the strategic fit and the ability for CanGo to serve them. CanGo should be able to answer questions like: Are there gaps in this marketplace that can be filled? If so can they do better than their competitors? What value can they deliver to this market and how much are they willing to pay for it? (Isaacson, 2011).

The Charge of the Light Brigade :: Free Essays

The Charge of the Light Brigade October 1854, the attention of the world's most powerful empire was fixed on the territories of modern-day Ukraine. It was by no means a benevolent gaze the British Empire cast eastward. For it was the Crimean War, and at Balaclava, Britain took a beating which has been immortalized in Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade. Half a league, half a league, half a league onward - repetition is used. There is a sense of movement distance and rhythm. All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred - valley of death is a metaphorical language. 600 hundred becomes important later on. "Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" he said: - this is direct speech, very adventurous. Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred - slowly building up, repetition. "Forward, the Light Brigade! " - more repetition Was there a man dismayed? - Was there a man not looking into it, all doing there duty, sense of doubt. Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die: - rhythm, only concentrating on the duty. Don't reason why just do it. Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred - repetition Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; - sense of awareness, repetition, surroundings, danger and movement, sound and excitement. Into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of hell - jaws of death is a metaphor. Speaking as if they're going into a mouth, nearly there. Excitement but much danger. Sense of hesitation. Rode the six hundred - repetition Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, - the waving of their swords. Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while all the world wonder'd: - the waving of their swords. Fighting against guns. 'ALL the world wondered', how honourable.

Mariam and Laila Essay

Les miserables by Victor Hugo and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossieni both have tragic themes. Les miserables is a story set during 1815 in Digne, France (Hugo, 1994) about the struggles and quest for freedom of a convicted man by the name of Jean-Valijean. During the course of the story, his encounters and connection to two of the most important characters in his life – Fantine and Cosette was actually the main plot of the story. A Thousand Splendid Suns had its name through a poem entitled â€Å"KABUL. † This poem symbolizes Mariam, who is one of main characters in the story. It is a poem describing the beauty of the city of Kabul and how on the same city, a person is able to see a splendid sun each day (Hosseini, 2007). Aside from having the same themes, both stories (Les miserables and A Thousand Splendid Suns) also was able to show its readers the conflicts and the hardships that women during those times face. In Les miserables, Fantine was forced to become a â€Å"prostitute† in order to provide for her daughter (Hugo, 1994). This was because she was laid off from the factory she works for after her employers discovered that she has an illegitimate child. A thousand Splendid suns, on the other hand, shared to readers the story of young Mariam who was forced to marry, was discriminated by the society and finally was imprisoned for her honesty (Hosseini, 2007). The two stories, although written on different genres by authors of different cultures speaks of the experiences of every man and women. It talks of life in general (Jean’s search for freedom, Mariam questioning the meaning of her life, Javert’s obsession to make all offenders of the law pay and Cosette’s unconditional love for Marius). The two stories, amidst its dark tone give its readers a choice on whether to stay in the dark side of life or to eventually come out of the sun and continue living despite of all the struggles they need to overcome. The characters in both stories are unforgettable. In Les miserables, readers see a young Jean who seems to prefer being an outlaw. During the coursework of the story, readers are able to witness how the goodness in every man has won over Jeans’ weaknesses. He turns out to be the hero who saves the future of Fantine and Cosette. While on A Thousand Splendid Suns, readers are presented with two very powerful women – Mariam and Laila. Their strengths come not from physical attributes but from being able to walk through the storms of life and still stand unabashed. The difference between the two literary pieces can be seen with the way human values was depicted by the main characters. Mariam in A Thousand Splendid Suns showed readers a very important human value which is honesty. Amidst the knowledge that she can be imprisoned for her admission of accidentally killing her husband, she still surrendered herself to the authorities and accepted her fate. Jean-Valijean in Les miserables, run all his life from the responsibility of what he has done in the past. He lived a life outside the prison bars but was a prisoner of his own fears. Among the two, we can say that it was Mariam who was truly free for she has died while â€Å"paying† for her sins and thus, leaves the society without guilt in her heart. Les miserables is a literary piece with timeless life lessons. It is still popular today because it speaks of human nature in general. A Thousand Splendid Suns is also acclaimed not only because it depicts of the harshness of society’s pressures but it also reminds us that is always the truth which can set us free. There is nothing better than having to read books that not only touches the spirit and soul but also tickles every reader’s imagination. References: Hosseini, K. (2007). A Thousand Splendid Suns. Bandung: Mizan Media Utama. Hugo, V. (1994). Les Miserables. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Classics.

Report on Fmcg Market Sructure and Market Share

PROJECT REPORT ON FMCG MARKET SRUCTURE AND MARKET SHARE What is FMCG? FMCG is an acronym for Fast Moving Consumer Goods, which refer to things that we buy from local supermarkets on daily basis, the things that are non-durable, sold quickly, at relatively low cost, have high turnover and are relatively cheaper. FMCG’s constitute a large part of consumers’ budget in all countries. The most common in thelist are baby foods, toilet soaps, detergents, shampoos, toothpaste, cosmetics, shaving products, shoe polish, refined cooking oil, packaged foodstuff, soft drinks, chocolate bar, tissue paper and other household accessories and extends to certain electronic goods and other non-durables such as glassware, bulbs, batteries, paper products and plastic goods, such as buckets etc. These items are meant for daily of frequent consumption and have a high return. FMCG are products that have a quick shelf turnover, at relatively low cost and don't require a lot of thought, time and financial investment to purchase. The margin of profit on every individual FMCG product is less but as they sell in large quantities so the cumulative profit on such products are high. Hence profit in FMCG goods always translates to number of goods sold. The main segments of FMCG sector are : ) Personal care, Oral Care, Hair Care, Skin Care, Personal Wash (cosmetics and toiletries (soaps), deodorants, perfumes, male grooming, feminine hygiene, paper product); 2) Household care (fabric wash laundry soaps, synthetic detergents, household cleaners, such as dish/utensil cleaners, floor cleaners, toilet cleaners, air fresheners, insecticides and mosquito repellents, metal polish and furniture polish); 3) Packaged food and health beverages (flour, tea, coffee, sugar, staples, cereals, dairy products, chocolates, soft drinks, juices, bottled water, snack food, chocolates a nd cakes) 4) Tobacco. India ; the FMCG Market: The Indian FMCG sector is an important contributor to the country's GDP. The Indian FMCG sector with a market size of US$14. 8 billion is the fourth largest sector in the economy and is responsible for 5% of the total factory employment in India. The FMCG industry also creates employment for 3 million people in downstream activities, much of which is disbursed in small towns and rural India. This FMCG industry has witnessed strong growth in the past decade. This has been due to liberalization, urbanization, increase in the disposable incomes and altered lifestyle. Furthermore, the FMCG boom increased due to the reduction in excise duties, packaging innovations etc. and unlike the perception that the FMCG sector is a producer of  luxury items targeted for the elite but in reality, the sector meets the every day needs of the masses. The lower-middle income group accounts for over 60% of the sector's sales. At present, urban India accounts for 66% of total FMCG consumption, with rural India accounting for the remaining 34%. The growing incline of rural and semi-urban folks for FMCG products will be mainly responsible for the growth in this sector, as manufacturers will have to deepen their concentration for higher sales volumes. Many of the global FMCG majors have been present in the country for many decades. But in the last ten years, many of the smaller rung Indian FMCG companies have gained in scale. As a result, the unorganized and regional players have witnessed erosion in the market share. Availability of key raw materials, cheaper labor costs and presence across the entire value chain gives India a competitive advantage. The FMCG market is set to double from USD 14. 7 billion in 2008-09 to USD 30 billion in 2012. FMCG sector will witness more than 60 per cent growth in rural and semi-urban India. The bottom line is that Indian market is changing rapidly and is showing unprecedented consumer business opportunity. History of FMCG in India: In India, companies like ITC, HLL, Colgate, Cadbury and Nestle have been a dominant force in the FMCG sector well supported by relatively less competition and high entry barriers (import duty was high). These companies were, therefore, able to charge a premium for their products. In this context, the margins were also on the higher side. With the gradual opening up of the economy over the last decade, FMCG companies have been forced to fight for a market share. In the process, margins have been compromised, more so in the last six years (FMCG sector witnessed decline in demand). The following are the main characteristics of FMCGs: †¢ From the customer’s perspective: 1. Frequent purchase 2. Low involvement (little or no effort to choose the item — products with strong brand loyalty are exceptions to this rule) . Low price †¢ From the companies perspective: 1. High volumes 2. Low contribution margins 3. Extensive distribution networks 4. High stock turnover Major FMCG companies in India: Hindustan Unilever Ltd. , ITC (Indian Tobacco Company), Nestle India Ltd. , GCMMF (AMUL), Dabur India, Asian Paints (India), Cadbury India, Britannia Industries, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care, Marico Industries, Nirma, Coca-Cola, Pepsi MARKET SHARE OF FMCG COMPANIES (BABY FOOD) IN INDIA FROM 2001 TO 2010 Bottom of Form In the above pie chart we see the total sales during the financial years from 2001 to 2010 of various FMCG Food Beverage companies in India . THE COMPARATIVE DATA OF % MARKET SHARE OF NESTLE INDIA LTD. WITH ALL OTHER COMPETITOR, DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS FROM 2001 TO 2010 (Above graph showing the FMCG Food Beverage – Baby Food companies percentage market share in the last 10 years from 2001to 2010) So we can see that in overall FMCG business Nestle India Ltd is distantly ahead of the rest of the companies as far as market share is concerned. MARKET SHARE IN THE YEAR 2010 Measurement of Market Structure: Herfindahl–Hirschman Index: Si is the market share of the ith firm Numbers-Equivalent of firms: Reciprocal of HHI FOOD BEVERGE COMPANIES (BABY FOOD)| MARKET SHARE IN 2010 (Si)| | Cadbury India Ltd. | 0. 185753| 0. 034| Cepham Milk Specialities Ltd. | 0| 0| Continental Milkose (India) Ltd. | 0. 012213| 1. 491| Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare Ltd. | 0. 188628| 0. 036| Heinz India Pvt. Ltd. | 0| 0| Jagatjit Industries Ltd. | 0. 084911| 7. 209| Kaira District Co-Op. Milk Producers' Union Ltd. | 0. 028029| 7. 856| Nestle India Ltd. | 0. 75272| 0. 225| Raptakos, Brett & Co. Ltd. | 0. 025194| 6. 347| TOTAL =| 23. 198| Therefore, HHI = = 23. 198 Reciprocal of HHI = 1/23. 198 =0. 043 Priyanka please check the previous calculation, I am not getting the correct data. FMCG SALES GROWTH OF LAST 10 YEARS As per the sales figures received of the year 2001 to 2011, in the past 10 years from 2001 to 2010, after plotting the datas, we notice that the graph f or Nestle is steeply rising, where as for Cadbury and Glaxo, the graph rise is considerable, but for Jagatjit and Milkfood the graph rise is very minimal. Thus Nestle being the market leader enjoys the position of the market laeder and also the profit. FMCG SALES VOLUME GROWTH IN THE LAST 10 YEARS FROM 2001 TO 2010 (Graph showing the FMCG trend throughout the last 10 years. ) FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES India is a fast developing country with a huge population whose per capita income is growing rapidly and there is huge opportunity for the FMCG companies. The opportunities are as follows: * Increasing per capita income is driving FMCG growth in India * India’s consuming class is growing rapidly Changing consumption pattern: Per capita income of Indian customer is increasing and FMCG products are relatively elastic in nature hence the expected sale should increase. PER CAPITA INCOME (Rs) (Above graph showing the trend of Per Capita Income of Indians and datas are collected from a research made by Govt. of India). ) As shown in the above graph the Per Capita Income of an Indian increases gradually throughout the years, and if this trend continues, then in future Indian Population will have more purchase power and will purchase more FMCG products. % OF PAST POPULATION RISE AND FUTURE EXPECTATION Above graph shows the past population and expected future population rise, data are collected from the research made by Govt. of India). Here by the above graphs we can see that there is huge scope for FMCG products and since Nestle India Ltd. is the market leader in India hence it can gain the most out of it. SWOT ANALYSIS: Strength 1. Low operational costs 2. Established distribution networks in both urban and rural areas. 3. Presence of well-known brands in FMCG sector. Weaknesses 1. Lower scope of investing in technology and achieving economies of scale. . Low exports levels 3. Counterfeit Products. Opportunities 1. Untapped rural market 2. Rising income levels 3. Large domestic market-. 4. Export potential 5. High consumer goods spending. Threats 1. Removal of import restrictions. 2. Slowdown in rural demand. 3. Tax and regulatory structure. CONCLUSION Customers in India are also spending more in FMCG as their standard of living are growing. Though there was some downfall in sales and profit, in the beginning of this decade but after that considerable rise in both sales and profit, is seen. Many FMCG companies has started project, to directly reach the rural market. This may be considered as a revolutionary step since the urban market is reaching its saturation level and there is a huge scope exploring in the rural market. This will also be helpful not only increasing its market share but also fight competition. BIBLIOGRAPHY In order to make this project we have taken the help of the following websites & books: * www. wikipedia. com * www. oppapers. com * www. scribd. com Besides it, various books were also consulted to prepare the project report.

Why Shellac Isnt Vegan

Why Shellac Isn't Vegan Shellac is made from the secretions of the lac beetle and is not vegan because it comes from this small animal. The beetles secrete the resin on tree branches in Southeast Asia as a protective shell for their larvae. The males fly away, but the females stay behind. When the flakes of resin are scraped off the branches, many of the females who remain are killed or injured. Some branches are kept intact so that enough females will live to reproduce. Shellac is used in a variety of ways, including foods, furniture finishes, nail polish and other applications. In foods, shellac is often disguised as confectioners glaze on a list of ingredients and creates a shiny, hard surface on candies. Some vegans may argue that eating and harming insects isnt necessarily non-vegan - however, most still maintain not harming any living creature  as one of their core principles. Are You Still Vegan If You Eat Bugs? For vegans, harming and especially eating any creature that can feel and experience it is considered wrong - even for insects. Thats because, despite an insects nervous system being different from a mammals, they still have a nervous system and can still feel pain. Some question whether insects are capable of suffering, but its been documented that they will avoid unpleasant stimuli. However, recent scientific data suggests that an all-vegetable diet may inherently harm more animal populations because of competition for resources as well as loss of ecosystems due to commercial farming. With this new evidence, many vegans are considering switching to the more eco-friendly diet of an insectivore. Commercial farming has also led to an increased number of sentient creatures deaths because the farmers consider small animals like squirrels, rats, moles and mice pests. The key difference is that its an indirect effect of eating vegan - an argument that vegans generally point out when making this claim. How is Shellac Not Different? The resin of the lac beetle used to make shellac is sometimes called lac resin, and is produced as part of their reproductive cycle. The issue vegans have with this product - which is largely used to coat fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh and pretty - is that harvesting the natural secretion of these insects directly harms many of them.   Vegans also dont eat or use animal by-products like cheese, honey,  silk, and carmine because of the suffering commercial farming causes the animal that produces these products. For them, its not just about if the animal dies or if youre consuming the animal itself, its about the animals rights to live a life free of torture and unjust suffering. So, if you truly wish to be a full-fledged vegan, most would argue that you should avoid purchasing products known to use shellac such as mass-produced and low-quality fruits found at chain supermarkets. For vegans, its not just that youre consuming beetle secretions, your use of shellac directly harms many of these Southeast Asian insects.

How to Write a Term Paper Thesis

How to Write a Term Paper Thesis How to Write a Term Paper Thesis There are many tips a student needs to keep in mind while writing a term paper thesis. A student needs to put in as much effort as possible in order to secure a decent grade. First of all, it is imperative that the student starts early and makes sure that their topic is chosen within first seven days, during the next week the student should study the research articles. If the student becomes lazy and does not follow such a schedule, it will create problems for the student. It is important that students take into consideration what interests them when selecting a topic. Students should also make sure that sufficient discussion has taken place with the professor before the topic has been finalized. Regular meetings should continue to take place with the professor to ensure that the student is on the right track, while making sure that the selected topic is neither too narrow, nor too broad. It is always a good idea to see your professor on a regular basis, since the professor will see you are working hard and you will also extract information, regarding proper indexes and catalogs, from the instructor. You should also make a complete list of potential key words that might be used to collect research material for the research topic. It will be best if you try to use mostly primary sources for your research material. Meanwhile, remember tips such as noting down ideas in a separate journal so that you do not forget them, and you can make use of them later. Clearly identify the notes on research material, and point out the areas which are to be directly quoted, and which are to be rephrased. One must be careful to avoid plagiarism since it is still considered a crime if it is detected. Ensure that your paper is checked for plagiarism and corrected before it is submitted. Note taking is also very crucial in order to maintain the progress you have made while making sure that the notes are clear and not vague. If you consider making the notes on a computer then you can easily retrieve them whenever they are required. However, it could complicate things since you will not be able to view all the notes at the same time, so this could cancel out the benefit of ease of access that computer note taking brings. Moreover, it is important that a very good outline for the paper is created before starting to write the paper. This will ensure that the structure of the paper is well managed and systematic, while also making sure that you have covered all the points. You need to ensure that a proper and clear thesis has been stated and that the whole study revolves around that thesis statement. Meanwhile, stating facts and figures is a very crucial element of a research paper. Ensure that the statistics that have been stated on the paper are accurate by checking them several times. Finally, the sources used for the research should be mentioned carefully, and after concluding the essay, there should be sufficient time for the student to proofread the document several times, to ensure the grammar, spelling, and punctuation in the document is flawless. will gladly help with term paper writing on any topic and discipline. Our writers are willing to write high-quality custom term papers from scratch!

Analysing organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysing organisation - Essay Example The key insights from Meyerson & Martin (1987) indicate that organisation is a culture imbued with the collective beliefs, meanings and values of the people and not a discrete variable. The three paradigms seem to diverge and converge on certain aspects and reveal the real status of large organisations. Consider Integration paradigm that aims to bring together disparate groups of employees by creating a single encompassing structure that glues together all. However, paradigm 2 differentiation does not agree with paradigm 1 and it indicates that culture is made up of a number of conciliatory and opposing views. The third paradigm of ambiguity is aligned with paradigm 2 since it proposes that people have contradictory views in an organisation. The three insights are best represented in the following figure. The key insight from Meyerson & Martin (1987) is that out of these paradigms, one would be dominant while others serve as sub cultures. The three paradigms have diverging implications and they would tend to produce mixed results when a cultural change is needed. One factor that emerges is the quality of leadership that guides and ushers in organisational change. Meyerson & Martin (1987) conclude that the best method is to use paradigm 1, integration, since it can be used to bring various cultures under the dominant organisational culture. Yet at the same time, integration allows individuals to maintain their unique characteristics so that they agree and differ on certain view while maintaining the organisational goals and objectives. The key insights can be applied in practice by using the principles mentioned by Meyerson & Martin (1987) who used these paradigms to analyse the operations of Peace Corps in Africa. In this case, volunteers from different African nations with different and often opposing ideology came together.