Saturday, August 31, 2019

English Literature- Lamb to the Slaughter

Lamb to the slaughter -Roald Dahl     By P. Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan Author of: Language and writing, DSB Publication Thimphu Communicative English, P. K. Books, Calicut A perception on Literary Criticism, P. K. Books, Calicut     Black comedy/blackhumour -is concerned with the humorous treatment of the shocking, horrific and macabre. Black comedy is actually a form of drama which displays a marked disillusionment and cynicism.It shows human beings without conviction with little hope, regulated by fate or fortune or comprehensible powers. In fact, human beings in an ‘absurd’ predicament at its darkest, such comedy is pervaded by a kind of sour despair; we can’t do anything. So we may as well laugh. The wit is mordant and the humor sardonic. Dramatic irony When the audience understands the implication and meaning of a situation on stage, or what is being said, but the characters do not. Example-Oedipus does not r ealize his crime. Sir Peter Tezel (in school for scandal) does not know his wife is behind the screen when he is talking about Joseph Surface.Symbols. ? The ‘warm’ and ‘clean’ attic indicates the desire for normal domestic pattern. ? The ‘curtain drawn’- shows a calm atmosphere that foreshadowing of hidden subconscious desires that are yet to surface in the form of murderous action. ? Two lamps alight- point to Mary and Patrick. ? Fresh ice cubes in the thermos points to coldness and heat. Ice is cold and thermos brings heat to the mind. Contemporary story. ? Story tells of how a pregnant woman when faced with the certainty of her husband leaving her, takes control of her situation. ? Powerful woman protagonist -breaking away from the stereotypical role of a woman. Packed with suspense and humor. ? Fast-paced action. ? ? ? ? ? ? Third person omniscient narrative. Conventional and straight forward language. Role reversals- reversal of Maryâ€⠄¢ the merry innocent docile wife to a cruel murderer Dramatic irony, A type of situational irony. A best example of a black comedy. . . Contrasting what a character perceives and what the audience and one or more of the characters know to be true. Revenge, deception and ethics are some of the issues that one could explore in this story. Theme- love- betrayal, revenge and deception. Mary Maloney a victim and a villain. A faithful, docile pregnant wife who gets cheated. Story of? Married and a romantic couple. ? Maloney’s unexplained decision to leave his wife†¦.. ? Violation of the marriage law(deception) ? Mary’s killing of her husband and her ultimate deception ? ? ? ? ? ? Setting-Maloney’s drawing room -Entire room of the house. -Sam’s grocery shop (short scene). ? Lamb is a Biblical Symbol of innocence/ symbol of peace, but here a powerful weapon of murder. ? So lamb symbolizes here violence, death and revenge- topsy-turvy to its conventional bib lical concept. By P. Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan *********************************

Friday, August 30, 2019

Religious Experience Essay

Religious experience is seen as a non-empirical occurrence which means it does not depend or can be verified through observation or examination. Majority of people believe it’s supernatural. It is also seen as an experience to make a person aware. Certain religious people believe who have had the experience has drawn them into a deeper knowledge/ awareness of god. Most importantly it is seen as the experience itself is not a substitute for the divine but a vehicle that is used to bring people closer to the divine. It is also known as unique and cannot be shared with anyone. 3 Types of characteristics of religious experience * Vision * Conversion * Mystical experiences Visions: is when an individual believes they’ve seen or heard something supernatural. There are three ways in which an individual can experience this. An intellectual vision brings knowledge and understanding such as a revelation from the almighty god. An imaginary vision is where something that strengthens the faith is seen with the mind eye. Corporeal vision is where the figure is externally present. Examples of this is st Bernadette who was 14 years old, who had a few visions but the visions started off her seeing a figure which didn’t speak to her but then later on the figure begun to speak which was known as virgin Mary gave her a set of instructions saying that the spring water at Lourdes had healing power and that a chapel was to be built on the site. Numinosity : this word was given to describe the sense of a an awesome power, but feeling very distinctly separate from it. Rudolph otto used this so called term

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Comparative Study Of Styles And Patterns Of Code Switching

Code-switching is known as the switch from one codification ( linguistic communication ) to another within the same context. It is besides known as a state of affairs where a individual is able to jump between two or more linguistic communications in his or her discourse. In her book, Myers-Scotton ( 1993 ) said that code-switching is a conventional method of communicating in any bilingual or multilingual society. Hence, in a multilingual state like Malaysia, it is customary for us to see a merger of one or more linguistic communications, idioms and manners in spoken and besides written signifiers. The promotion of the epoch of multimedia and engineering agencies that code-switching is no longer restricted to talk signifier but it can be observed in written signifier excessively. With a more developed communicating system, code-switching can be observed in changing interaction such as chat rooms, forums, web logs and web sites like Myspace, Friendster and Facebook. ( Montes-Alcala , 2007 ) . Therefore, different forms and manners of code-switching are emerging and people code-switch more frequently in written signifier of linguistic communications and this includes one of the ill-famed medium, web log. Blood ( 2000 ) and Werbach ( 2001 ) stated that John Barger was the first individual who came about with the term â€Å" weblog † in his web site on 17th December 1997 where the term was used to mention to a web site where an single updates on a regular basis ( Branum, 2001 ) . With the tendency of having a web log traveling ballyhoo over the state in recent old ages, we can somehow notice in each web log, code-switching in different spheres takes topographic point. These switches in term of forms and manners differ from people of each age group.Problem StatementSometimes, it crosses our head to utilize merely English as our manner of communicating but under certain fortunes, we tend to code-switch accidentally. This state of affairs happens particularly in a multilingual society. There are times when we realize that merely the usage of certain codification in a peculiar sphere can do linguistic communication meaningful. Over the old ages, in our state, we frequently face the quandary of taking the ‘appropriate ‘ codification to do a linguistic communication meaningful in different spheres. The codification or linguistic communication choice is dependent on the communicator ‘s age group every bit good. Sometimes, it confuses us whether or non a individual of a peculiar age group web logs utilizing same or different manners and forms of code-switching in web logs every bit good as the critical parts that domains play in finding which codification to take to exchange to.Significance of StudyMontes-Alcala ( 2007 ) noted in the yesteryear, there have been a batch of researches done on code-switching in spoken signifier but merely a minority of research workers focus their findings in written signifier. Hence, she conducted a survey on code-switching in the web logs of English-Spanish bilinguals to happen out the frequence of code-switching within their web log entries. Similarly, in our state, a figure of surveies on code-switching have been done on spoken discourses but so far, merely a minority of researches has been carried out to analyze code-switching in web logs in Malaysia. Therefore, this survey is important because it provides a new comprehensiveness for code-switching in written discourse by integrating the usage of CS in web logs. The ground is because different manners of communicating on the cyberspace such as confabs, web logs and chirrups are quickly catching traditional signifiers of communicating for both professional and leisure activities ( Norizah & A ; Azirah, 2009 ) . Therefore, surveies on CS in written signifier should be taken into history.AimsThis survey aims to look into the ground why a individual code-switch from one chosen standardized linguistic communication, English, to another in his or her web log, taking into history bloggers of different age groups. At the same clip, it besides serves to find in which spheres do these bloggers tends to code-switch the most every bit good as their manners and forms of code-switch. Simultaneously, it besides focuses on the factors that initiate and act upon code-switching in their web logs every bit good as the grounds why they chose a specific linguistic communication to code-switch to from English, for illustration, from English to Mandarin or from English to Malay.Scopes of StudyThis survey focuses on code-switching which involves more than two linguistic communications in the most sought-after on-line diary, web log. It focuses on bloggers from two age groups and how the bloggers from this age group web log, taking into consideration the frequence of code-switching within selected entries. Furthermore, different forms and manners they use in different spheres while blogging are highlighted.Restriction of StudyThe country of survey for this research is restricted to those bloggers who use merely English as their chief medium of blogging over a declared period of clip. Merely five bloggers of two different age groups will be selected to take part in this rese arch. Group 1 – 20 to 30 old ages old Group 2 – 50 to 60 old ages old In add-on, merely bloggers from an English instruction background will take part in this research. However, the Numberss of bloggers selected to take part in this research do non stand for the whole.Theoretical ModelThis survey is guided by the old work from assorted research workers such as Montes-Alcala ( 2005 & A ; 2007 ) and Norizah and Azirah ( 2009 ) in their surveies of the code-switching in written discourses.Research QuestionsWhat are the spheres and grounds that influence the bloggers of different age groups to code-switch? What are the differences in the forms and manners of code-switching between bloggers of these two different age groups?Literature ReviewBlom and Gumperz are considered the innovator research workers in code-switching as they did an early survey in the twelvemonth 1972 on the linguistic communication used in a Norse fishing small town through observation and analysis of tape recordings of the society. Through that, they discovered the society used and code-switched in several different linguistic communications when they were pass oning to each other. As the affair of fact, it was dependent on who the talker was turn toing to every bit good as the sphere both addresser and addressee was in. On the other manus, Valdes-Fallis ( 1976 ) , Poplack ( 1981 ) , McClure ( 1981 ) and Gumperz ( 1982 ) in the article, â€Å" Blogging in two linguistic communications: Code-Switching in Bilingual Blogs, † introduced the categorizations of code-switching maps – direct citations, accent, elucidation or amplification, contextual switches, lexical demand switches, triggered switches and others in support of the grounds why people code-switch. Montes-Alcala ‘s ( 2000 ) research merely to happen out that that most of those maps typically manifested in the literature of unwritten code-switching were besides present in the written signifier. Hence, it explains why she did a survey on code-switching jumping between English and Spanish in web logs.Research DesignQualitative method is chosen as the design as it is able to supply factual informations needed to back up the theory that linguistic communication does transform. On the other manus, with qualitative method, a comparative survey on the manners and forms of code-switching in two different age groups in selected spheres can be reasoned with the presence of sufficient informations. Data will be obtained through analysis of web logs to find the spheres of code-switching in selected entries. In add-on to that, a set of questionnaire will be distributed to the selected bloggers to get information of their backgrounds and experiences in blogging. The ground is to acquire to cognize the grounds why they want to code-switch and besides if there is any cause that influences them to code-switch from English to another linguistic communication, be it Mandarin, Malay or others.SubjectsFor this survey a entire Numberss of five bloggers from each age group as stated below are selected to take part in it: Group 1 – 20 to 30 old ages old Group 2 – 50to 60 old ages old These bloggers have to be bi- or multilingual in order to be selected, maintaining in head that English must be their chief medium of blogging. Lone entries with existent code-switching for illustration, alternation of different linguistic communications within the same entry are considered entries without incorporation of other linguistic communications is non considered as code-switching. The ground of restricting the range of the survey is to put a criterion and besides to homogenise the findings so that the informations collected can be more precise to peculiar age groups being studied.Data CollectionThe continuance for informations aggregation of this survey runs from September 2009 to March 2010. Therefore, in the period of six months, the entries posted by these 10 bloggers will be selected indiscriminately and analyzed, foregrounding the differences in forms and manners of code-switching in different spheres. At the same clip, questionnaires with consent signifiers will be distributed to these bloggers in the hope of happening the grounds why they code-switch from English to other linguistic communications and besides to detect the frequence of code-switching among them.Datas AnalysisThe information in this survey is analysed by utilizing the work of Montes-Alcala ( 2000 ) as a guideline. The spheres of which code-switching takes topographic point are noted from the entries of web logs collected. Then, the frequence of code-switching will be tabulated before analysis of findings. On the other manus, the distributed questionnaires will help in happening out under what fortunes or spheres does the bloggers code-switch? Thereafter, these spheres will be categorized and account for code-switching in each sphere will be included. Finally, a comparing of differences in manners and forms of code-switching among these bloggers will be drawn and analyzed.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Distribution of Economic and Social Resources Essay

The Distribution of Economic and Social Resources - Essay Example The essay "The Distribution of Economic and Social Resources" discusses the article "Families on the Fault Line: America's Working Class Speaks about the Family, the Economy, Race, and Ethnicity" by Lillian B. Rubin who identifies four different working class families: white, black, Latino and Asian. They have much in common fighting with harsh realities of life and social problems. The three main themes cover social, cultural, and economic changes which affect these families. A major concern of social thinking is to identify the nature of these relations and to trace their social and political effects. Taking into account social factors, Rubin unveils social realities form the backdrop for future generations. For instance, Rubin explains that white ethnicity has deep roots and is closely connected with psychological and political factors. The author underlines that new immigrants including Latino, Asians, and blacks force the white working class to ‘establish a public identity ’ that helps them to rise above new comers. It includes job opportunities and equal pay, training and childcare, etc. Poor education and absence of equal opportunities with â€Å"white† working class majority are the main factors limiting the equal distribution of economic and social resources. To analyze the issue of racism, it should be mentioned that racisms are depicted as regimes of state power organized via institutional frameworks as part of the disciplinary power of state agencies, but which is subject to ongoing contestations.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Ethics and the Indian Laborer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics and the Indian Laborer - Essay Example Therefore, Indian government and manufacturing supervision are putting profits ahead of the Indian health condition with no additional compensation for these poor working conditions for the laborer. Even though international agencies such as the United Nations continue to exert pressure on improving labor reform, such groups have little to no legal influence in these countries and no changes are implemented for the Indian employee. Â  Another difficulty in providing ethical behavior for the workers is the tiered system of production common for clothing manufacture in India. Many American companies source their apparel brands with a large textile company where orders are placed and final shipment of the merchandise is delivered. However, these companies have tiers of manufacture that include small factories and individual workers that do hand-beading, sequin work, embroidery and other associated decoration on more expensive clothing (Level Works Limited, 2009). Those smaller companie s’ low-skilled laborers that are not protected under the jurisdiction of certain labor laws are usually managed by independent business owners. The companies from the U.S. that source in this way are aware of these tiers of supply, but do little to invest capital into building a more efficient supply network in the larger company. In this case, the American manager is turning away from the plight of the exploited second and third tier employees in the process while India allows private companies to keep quality laborers in the poverty zone.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Staff development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Staff development - Assignment Example In the evaluation, it is more about what they have done for the organization and whether it was I line with the goals, mission and vision of the organization or not. In evaluating staff performance, the manager should allow for the employee to discuss their self-evaluation, what their needs are as well as the differences in the current and previously carried out evaluations. This allows bonding time and more communication as the interviewer and interviewee have interacted in the past hence an unstructured interview (Edenborough, 2007). In the staff selection interview, the manager takes all the charge and the staff is not allowed the open communication and personal input. This is necessary in order to create barriers and level of authority from the initial start with the employee. Managers that are too open may lead to employees that slack in performance, don’t take authority too seriously and hence leading to poor performance and manager-staff relationship in

Internet and the E-Commerce Flower Business Research Paper

Internet and the E-Commerce Flower Business - Research Paper Example The paper tells that individuals in the modern society over-rely on the internet for easier transactions that may involve reaching the message receiver more conveniently. Traditional methods that would entail physical involvement in the transaction are being surfaced by the technological advances that promise faster and more convenient business and social transactions than the previous methods. There are always various setbacks involved in businesses and the internet developments majorly entail reducing constraints and extra costs incurred in the traditional means. The internet has managed to integrate various forms of communication and entertainment entities in a single library that various individuals can access. The other advantages that the internet entails are in its inability to discriminate against age. Any individual with the proper documentation can create their own website to host their business and complete transactions with the click of a button. The development of this t echnology has presented numerous advances in the overall profit generation creating a wider market for a company to generate maximum profits. Marketing and advertising strategies have been established as the major entities to sell an idea and promote new products presented to the consumer population. Depending on the creativity of the marketer, and the resources applied to reach the customer population the returns expected are measured. The internet guarantees a wider market target to explain the desired product to the user. In this case, the flower business that presents numerous challenges may apply the E-commerce method to offer its sustainability within the market. The E-commerce concept normally involves distribution of the trading qualities over the internet and the transaction completed online. The final process normally involves the product delivery to the customer. This paper seeks to explain the developments achieved in the business industry by applying the internet as the trading media and the flower business as a reference. Impacts of the Internet on Global Finances Grosse explains that the internet has changed the global financial trends sine 1990 from offering financial service like banking to the provision of insurance packages that have found new measures in selling their provisions (Grosse, 35). He majorly dwells on the positive implications that the internet has accorded the banking industry with the electrical money transfer system that ensures safer measures in handling the transactions. It had become cumbersome top queue for longer hours to be serviced by the bank tellers and sometimes insecurities attributed to mugging and loss of money. The major contribution that the E-commerce has directed in the market is the management of the business time, offering minimal period spent on negotiations. The constituent of the trading commodity may be tangible or limited to internet transfer trends including money transfer. The E-business entity means the transaction happens exclusively via the electronic device, and in this case the internet provides the platform (Basu, 18). The E-commerce entity had initially been crude and mostly provided unsafe venues of trade because hackers could gain access to the information that jeopardizes the overall process. With several measures and security inscriptions, safer measures have been applied to reduce on piracy as a series of input codes and security firewalls developed to promote the medium. The aspect of internet trading revolves around the presented transaction and its nature and bulk. Normally, the internet is capable of handling the majority of the business transaction provided the parties reach an agreement towards the terms presented to make it a success. Through exchange of policies, figures in numbers ad possibly images of the advertised entity, the agreement can be solved easily. The negotiation oversees the transfer of the agreement over the internet

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Comparimg Rigidising Methods Using Reenforced Material Literature review

Comparimg Rigidising Methods Using Reenforced Material - Literature review Example Glass fibers are more effective in achieving shear strengthening. Various methods can be used in the reinforcement of polymers using carbon or glass fibers. Some of the methods include curing pressure increase and filler incorporation and vacuum infusion. This paper outlines a comparison among the various rigidising methods using reinforced material to increase the general strength of the materials. The electrical conductivity of the materials has also been analyzed [8]. Curing pressure increase and filler incorporation This ridigising method enhances the through-thickness thermal conductivity of carbon fiber polymer-matrix. This method is used to increase heat dissipation by enhancing the low through-thickness thermal conductivity of carbon fiber polymers. The conductivity is normally raised by 60 percent by enhancing the curing pressure from 0.1 to 2.0 MPa and almost by 35 percent by incorporation of a filler. This was reported in an experiment conducted at Composite Materials Rese arch Laboratory in the University of Buffalo [4]. The experiments were conducted to determine the effect of curing pressure and filler incorporation on the mechanical and conductivity properties on a material. The mechanical test was conducted on a 15-lamina crossply composite plate under flexure using a hydraulic mechanical testing procedure. The thermal resistivity (m2 K/W) and the thermal resistant (K/W) were used to report the increase in thermal conductivity of the resultant material after this treatment. The thermal resistivity increased after a raise of the curing pressure from 0.1 to 2 MPa. This resistivity further increased after the filler incorporation [4]. This implies that the thermal conductivity of the material increased after subjecting the material to the two treatments. It was also noted that increasing curing pressure increases the through-thickness thermal conductivity more that the filler incorporation. The experiment revealed that the optimum through-thickness thermal conductivity achieved through the process was 1.5 W/m K. The highest ever recorded value for this form of rigidness enhancement technique is 3.3 W/m K. this does not imply that the process is ineffective or inconsistent. The difference could have aroused due to the process prepreg. The material resistivity and intralaminar fiber-fiber interfacial resistivity are lowered by close to 56 Percent by enhancing the curing pressure and by around 36 percent though the filler incorporation [4]. This further proves that curing pressure increase is more useful in increasing thermal conductivity compared to filler incorporation. Vacuum infusion Vacuum infusion of vinyl ester resin into biaxial knitted glass and carbon fiber complexes enhances the strengths of the materials under tensile and indentation forces. The carbon fiber complexes after this vacuum infusion are mechanically stronger when subjected to loading pressures [7]. The strengths of the carbon fiber material can be proved b y carrying out various tests including tensile strength test, compression strength test, open hole tensile (OHT) strength test and Open hole compression (OHC) strength test. An experiment conducted at the department of mechanical engineering in Lehigh University proved that in deed the mechanical properties of carbon fiber complexes is enhanced through vacuum infusion using vinyl ester resins. In the experiment, the tensile strength

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Dangerous Driving Habits Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dangerous Driving Habits - Personal Statement Example It was a usual maddening, Monday morning and at 8:45 a.m. the drivers driving their cars were getting impatient to reach office on time. Amy was particularly concerned since her office had a policy of cutting off sick leaves after the first two late comings of the month. Hurriedly she looked at her flip mobile phone, opened it and saw the time.8:46, it was time to freak out, she was left with less than fifteen minutes to park her car, take the long walk and punch her attendance card on time. Every minute counted and she realized that waiting on any of the signals would mean tat she will be certainly late. She sped at 40 MPH at an orange signal, which was about to turn red. Apparently, the drivers on the other side were equally desperate to reach destination and used the orange light and raced ahead. As a result, Amy’s car was standing bumper to bumper with another car, while the rest of the traffic jammed in behind her. The series of incidents lead to what we may see as a viol ation of most written traffic rules and ‘driving ethics’ if such a term has been coined, including violating signal, talking on the mobile phone while driving, honking, undertaking & tailgating. Amy heard what she had always heard from others â€Å"Women Drivers!† filled with venom. My question is did this happen because Amy was a woman? Or are other drivers equally prone to such mistakes? The answer is quite obvious. ... These include undertaking, speeding, and talking on the mobile and signal violations. The second type of offense is a violation of the 'driving code of ethics', for which no regulations have been made as yet. These include tailgating, honking unnecessarily, driving very slow on a highway or in the right lane, weaving from lane to lane, wrong indicators, jamming brakes instantly and orange signal rushes. These offenses tend to test the patience of other drivers and often lead to more than usual traffic violations due to impatience. In our example, it can be seen that Amy did not directly violate the written laws. However, it could have bee an accident where both parties though orange signal is a go ahead. Considering the above, I would conclude by stressing that traffic rules need to be updated to include offenses of the second type. These offenses can be significant as well and can cause the aggressee their peace of mind while not providing any benefits to the aggressors. Honking at certain hours for example at night or outside a hospital should lead to tickets. Likewise, orange signal violation should be taken to be a violation. In our case, this could have actually leaded to a head on collision. Other offenses include tailgating, which unnerves the other driver and reduces their patience levels. In the meanwhile, eating and checking time on mobiles can even be dangerous. Consider another case in which you are driving behind another car at a speed of 80 Km/ hour .All of a sudden, the car in front of you jams the brakes. This leads to a series of collisions where by the chain of cars following each other bang into each other. The generally accepted rule is, it is always the fault of the person behind you, if you get hit from the back.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Demonstrating Effective Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Demonstrating Effective Leadership - Essay Example Thus, each student optimized his or her learning. In parallel, my articles in school journal triggered school management into changing some of the managerial practices making them increasingly student centric through introducing counselor services in order to relief student educational stress thus, almost eliminating the possibility of drug intake and other criminal activities in students. In the light of above discussion, I consider myself as a transformational leader because; I caused cultural change in my school that also offered variety of subjects to the students. One of my recommendations was to introduce music as a subject because, I believed in its ability to relieve humans from stress. School management, therefore initiated a musical program for the students in the summers, so that fresh talent can be pumped in the industry. On the other hand, fellow students considered me as a source of highlighting their problems in the school journal; therefore, I managed to have a signif icant influence on them. However, as I grew older my intellectual endeavors subsided due to increased educational stress. But, I nevertheless kept on motivating my juniors towards writing, thus, emplaced a culture of sharing knowledge. My leadership ended when I graduated from school. However, during composing this document, my old spirit of leadership came back to life and I am now planning to revitalize it through joining politics in future. This essay viewed my past leadership activities and designated.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Business Administration Essay Example for Free

Business Administration Essay You should use this file to complete your Assessment. †¢ The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk †¢ Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly †¢ When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference †¢ Then, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via your My Study area – make sure it is clearly marked with your name, the course title and the Unit and Assessment number. Please note that this Assessment document has 8 pages and is made up of 7 Sections. Name: Sophie Griffith-Allen Section 1 – Know the employment rights and responsibilities of the employee and employer 1. Identify four main points that would be included in a contract of employment. If possible, use an example contract to support your answer (feel free to obscure any confidential information). In a contract of employment there are certain details which need to be included about the employer and employee, such as their names. Other information that must be included are about the job itself, such as job title, date of employment, duties and responsibilities that are expected from the employee. At Morrisons a probationary period of 13 weeks is included in a contract of employment and the employees contracted hours of work per week. 2a) List three key points of legislation that affect employers in a business  environment. Health and safety Act 1974 Copyright designs and patents Act 1988- Copyright refers to laws that control the use of the work of a creator, such as an artist or author. For a copyright to apply to a piece of work it must be an original idea of their own that is put to use. Data protection Act 1998 2b) List three key points of legislation that affect employees in a business environment. †¢ Pensions- Are very important for employees as the government think that people aren’t saving enough money towards pensions, as of 2012 pensions will undergo a considerable amount of change. †¢ Pay-there is lots of legislation about employee pay. Some examples include: The Equality Act 2010 which contains measures to protect women from being paid less than men for doing the same job. †¢ The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 an Act that was introduced to prevent very low pay. †¢ Employment rights and responsibilities- ‘Employees are expected to carry out their work in a way that has regard to the safety of others. Employers are expected to abide by a range of requirements governing such aspects as providing safe machinery and equipment, carrying out regular health and safety checks, ensuring the training of employees in health and safety issues, and carrying out a risk assessment to assess the dangers of particular work activities.’ http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/business-theory/people/rights-and-responsibilities-of-employers-and-employees.html#axzz2ENr4by5I 3. Identify a range of places where a person can find information on employment rights and responsibilities. You should identify at least two internal and two external sources of information. Sources of information where a person can find information on employment  rights and responsibilities are internal sources, such as books and documents held within the organisation, informed colleagues and line managers. Another source of information is external which are found outside of an organisation, such as libraries, the government, equality and human rights commission. 4. Describe how representative bodies can support employees. Representative bodies are one of the ways that employees can receive help and support in the work place. The best known examples of representative bodies are trade unions, which are a large organisation that represent the interests of their membership, they can offer assistance through work based representatives and they will also have regional and national expertise that they can use. Union representatives have a right to paid time to help employees, some of the areas where they can support employees are health and safety, workforce agreement, pensions, information and consultation representation. 5. Briefly describe employer and employee responsibilities for equality and diversity in a business environment. You should give at least two employer responsibilities and two employee responsibilities. If possible, provide relevant equality and diversity procedures from your workplace (or place of study) to support your answer. These documents should be annotated to highlight the relevant sections. In any organisation it is important for everyone to be treated equally. Employees and employers should be treated in a fair way and to be given equal opportunities. This is why there are certain responsibilities to be followed by employees and employers to prevent discrimination, such as people who are doing the same job equally well should all be rewarded fairly. It is morally right to treat people fairly and to avoid unfair discrimination. To prevent discriminatory and unfair behaviour there have  been many laws put in place. Both employers and employees should make sure that inappropriate labelling, stereotyping and prejudice do not influence the way an organisation operates. ‘At Morrisons the issue of equality and diversity are taken very seriously. They recruit, develop and keep the most talented people regardless of gender, race, disability, age sexual orientation, religion and nationality. Morrisons is dedicated to being an equal opportunities employer and support all employees to make the best of their skills’. ‘’Our policy aims to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment. We will treat staff, potential staff and the public fairly and with dignity’’. 6. Briefly explain the benefits of making sure equality and diversity procedures are followed in a business environment. Your answer should include one benefit for the employer, one benefit for the employee and one benefit for the overall organisation. Benefits of making sure equality and diversity procedures are followed in a business environment are: Employer: Reduces the incidence of bullying and harassment. Employee: Employees will want to work harder, they feel valued, happier and more efficient. It will increase the chance of open competition for opportunities. Overall organisation: As employees are treated with equality organisations will be more successful. Helps to maintain morale and motivation of the workforce leading to increased quality of products, overall it will become more of a successful organisation. Section 2 – Understand the purpose of health, safety and security procedures  in a business environment 1. Identify employer and employee responsibilities for health, safety and security. If possible, provide relevant health, safety and security policies / documents from your workplace (or place of study) to support your answer. These documents should be annotated to highlight the relevant sections. Employers and employees in any organisation have a legal duty that the working environments are safe and secure. The health and safety Act should be followed at all times. Employer responsibilities: Are to provide a secure, healthy and safe workplace that is free from hazards recognised by the organisation. Ensure that employees have safe tools, equipment and materials. Ensure that equipment provided is always properly maintained. Employers must report any fatal accidents. Employers must provide employees with accurate training and medical examinations when required. Employees responsibilities: Are to inform employers of any hazards that have accrued in the workplace. Report job-related accidents that result to injuries and illnesses. Follow the regulations of health and safety that are set by the employer. Familiarise and obey with the organisations standards. ‘Morrisons are committed to achieving and maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and security standards across the company. All staff at Morrisons receives regular health and safety training. There are many rules that all staff at Morrisons must follow in order to prevent any harm not only to staff but to their customers as well, such as always checking floor surfaces are clean with no spillages etc. Morrisons makes sure that there are always staff present that are first aid qualified in case of any incidents or accidents that have taken place. If any accidents or incidents  did occur within Morrisons all staff recognise that they must be reported as soon as possible.’ 2. Explain the purpose of following health, safety and security procedures in a business environment. The purpose of following health, safety and security procedures in a business environment include: Ensuring the safety and welfare of the individual and others is kept at all times. Ensuring the business/organisation is following relevant legislation. 3. Describe three different ways of maintaining a safe and secure business environment. Ensuring all employees have the necessary safety equipment. Taking time to find where health, safety and security responsibilities lie. To promote a safe working environment is to make sure that safety equipment used by employees is often maintained. Workers must always wear suitable clothing given for the job. Organisations should require that each new member of staff receive and read a company handbook highlighting all safety procedures, and receive regular health and safety training. Having an employee sign a statement that he/she understands and is willing to follow all safety and regulations at all times.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay Example for Free

Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay Liam O’Flaherty (1896-1984) †¢ Served in the Irish Guards of the British Army from 19151917 †¢ Suffered serious injury from a bomb blast in Belgium; was discharged due to depression. †¢ Following WWI, traveled widely and developed a world view based on atheism, communism, and the notion that Ireland should be an independent nation Liam O’Flaherty (1896-1984) †¢ Joined the Irish Republican Army to push for Irish independence. †¢ Opposed the 1921 treaty that made Ireland a part of the British Commonwealth. †¢ Wrote 13 novels between 1923 and 1976, many of which focused on the effects of war, revolution, and social upheaval in Ireland. Anglo-Irish War Origins The Easter Rising took place on 24 April, 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) successfully incited a rising of about 1,600 rebels, which was quickly crushed by Crown (British) forces. The handling of the rebels, however, created mass sympathy and the consequences of this rebellion are still felt in Irish and international politics. The Anglo-Irish War †¢ 1919: The Irish Parliament, lead by Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins, declared Ireland a free state. †¢ The Irish Republic army launched guerilla warfare during the Irish War of Independence Anglo-Irish War 1920 March — Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork was shot in front of his family by British forces. October — His successor, Terence McSwiney, dies after a 74-day hunger strike. 1 November — Kevin Barry, an 18-year-old medical student, was hanged for his part in an ambush he took part in when he was 16. 21 November — Collinss Squad killed fourteen members of an elite British spy group known as the Cairo Gang. Revenge was taken by Crown forces, who fired on the crowd in Croke Park. 12 people were killed and 60 wounded. Later that evening, two IRA men and one innocent man were shot while escaping — in fact, they were marched into the prison courtyard and told to run, and when they refused they were shot in the back. Afterwards, 21 November became known as Bloody Sunday5. Bloody Sunday The Anglo-Irish War 1920 (cont.) 28 November — a flying column led by Tom Barry killed 18 auxilaries in an ambush at Kilmichael in west Cork. Shortly after, revenge was taken by the burning of the centre of the city of Cork. December — the Government of Ireland Act set up Home Rule parliaments in Dublin and Belfast. Each parliament was given control over domestic affairs. Sinn Fà ©in rejected it. This Act implemented the Partition of Ireland. The Anglo-Irish War 1921 25 May — the IRA burned Dublins custom house, where seven government departments were located. The attack led to the capture or death of more than 80 IRA men. 22 June, at the opening of the northern parliament at Stormount, King George V appealed for a truce: Pause, to stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation, to forgive and forget. King George V, 22 June, 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty An Irish Free State (Saorstà ¡t Éireann) of 26 counties was established The Irish state was a Dominion and was still part of the Commonwealth The British Monarch would remain as head of state and would be represented by the Governor-General The Royal Navy retained control of the ports of Cobh, Berehaven and Lough Swilly The border between the Free State and Northern Ireland would be drawn up by a Boundary Commission Aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1922: The Irish civil war breaks out between pro- and anti-treaty parties. Armed groups crossed into Northern Ireland and attacked British installations. They hoped to force the British to give up control of Northern Ireland. Todays IRA stems from anti-treaty forces. May 1923: The civil war ends and Northern Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom. 1937: A new constitution ratified by the Irish government changes the name of the Irish Free State to Ireland. 1949: Ireland formally declares its independence from Britain. Ireland had cut all ties with the United Kingdom and became an independent republic.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Environmental factors that influence Sony Corporation

Environmental factors that influence Sony Corporation Sony Corp. History and introduction Sony was founded in 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. With a mix of a inimitable blend of product innovation and marketing savvy, both of them form a company that eventually grow into more than $60 billion global organization. (Sony, 2010) With branches all over the world and with an annual revenue about 68.39 billion US dollars, it can be considered as a huge company. The companys headquarters are situated in Shinagawa, Tokyo. It is one of the leaders in the field of electronic equipment, communication and information technology (IWALOM LIMITED, 2010). In this assignment, we will discuss about the macro and micro environmental factors that might influence Sonys company. Macro environmental factors Political factor Political factors could have a direct impact on the ways Sony operates. Government often makes new decisions involving policy or legislation and it affect daily business In the directive of businesses, the political factors have a huge influence. An example of political factors that affects Sony which includes government laws is minimum wage law. This would affect Sony as the minimum wage law keeps changing every year. As in the same time product cost also keeps on changing, this will make Sony facing losses. Due to various governmental regulations in the different countries, Sony has to adapt different strategies in the countries it operates. Sony had passed a Global Policy On Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in 1998. It deals with group standard and shows Sonys cares about the health and safety of its employees. It also requires fullfilment with all the laws regarding ooccupational health and safety. (Sony Corporation, 2009). To manage the chemicals which the use of it is controlled by goverment ennvironmental legislation use at sites, a group-wide common approach is developed by Sony. Sony not only manage the chemicals used but also the amount released into the air, water and soil in order to not affect the environment. Sony sites apply internal standards based on Japans Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) (Sony Corporation, 2009). Among Class 1 substances, Sony used 412 kilograms of mercury as an additive in button batteries and 30 kilograms of lead solder, which is used in certain exceptional cases, including automotive applications. Sony used perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS) that is Class 2 substances in semiconductor fabrication in fiscal year 2009, but eliminated this substance in March 2010. Class 3 chemical substances are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases. The Sony Groups target in terms of the atmospheric release of VOCs is to achieve an absolute reduction of 40% or more from the fiscal year 2000 level by fiscal year 2010. In fiscal year 2009, Sony released approximately 1,190 tons of Class 3 chemical substances, which is 204 tons less than in fiscal year 2008 and 35% less than in fiscal year 2000. The principal factor behind this decline was the implementation of production adjustments in response to the global economic downturn. With new semiconductor fabrication facilities expected to come on line, Sony expects emissions of Class 3 substances to increase and will take steps to counteract these increases, including installing gas scrubbing equipment and amending production processes. (Sony Corporation, 2009) This is how Sony Corporation manage all the harmful chemicals used by them. Lastly, political factors could have a direct impact on the ways Sony operates. The impact that could impact Sony Corporation is an international company and in all countries the leadership style is different. Sony utilsed a Global Policy On Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in 1998. It shows Sonys cares about the health and safety of its employees. Sony not only manage the chemicals used but also the amount released into the air, water and soil in order to not affect the environment.Although Sony use three class of chemical substances which are quite harmful for their products, but Sony have taken a full measures to make sure not harming the environment This shows Sony Corporation cares about the environment and also obey goverment rules that is do not harm the environment. Lastly, Sony Corporation is an international company that does business in the whole world. It is important for Sony to follow all the rules implied by the goverment. Social factors Demographic and cultural aspects includes in the social factors of the external environment. Sony has also been affected by social issues from time to time. This is mainly because Sony has so widely expanded into different cultures and different markets that it tends to become hard to deal with all the diversity. The social factors which influences Sony varies in each country. These show the customers needs and the size of the potential markets in every country. Social factors such as health consciousness of customers and consumer health rates might affect Sony. Usually the older population may not be interested in the latest Sony Products which includes more advance technology despite the better income they may receive, they are more interested in the simplicity of the products they buy. Countries such as third world countries, for example some Asian and African countries may not be able to afford to buy Sony products which are quite expensive products. Instead these consumers will on the other hand buy a cheaper brand. Home life changes have a big influence on attitudes and expectations of consumer. Nowadays, telephone and catalogue sales are increasingly popular. Lately many youths demand better features such as better access to entertainments in their electronic products. This creates a demand for Sonys products such as Play Station Portable (PSP) and Sony MP3 Player. Research shows that by 2005 Japans population will be over age of 65. Thus, Sony home-care robots for elders will soon be a social necessity (Kunii, I. M. and Port, O., 2001). Lastly, social factor is one of the factors that affect Sonys business. The social factors which influences Sony varies in each country. These show the customers needs and the size of the potential markets in every country. Social factor involve customers income, attitude, behaviour and other factors of a customer. It is important for Sony to fully understand and know well about customer. So that, they can target their specific product to which type of consumer they want to sell. Ecological Environment Climate change is something unpredictable and unchangeable. It might become a threat to Sony corporate activities and also society. Generally, it is also give a chance to Sony an opportunity to become one of the solutions. Sony tackle climate change is an important commitment for them. this is to ensure their business continuity. Sony strongly believes that there is a need for protect the environment. Moreover, responses and eco conscious actions must be taken before it gives impact to Sony Company. For instance, rising sea levels and abnormal weather which cause by climate change could predict the underlying physical risks. Furthermore, the markets might change a flow, as their perceptions change to another purchasing trend. Sony has realized this problem where it could be social and financial ramifications, so to deal with legal and regulatory developments; the Company is evaluating the risks and also be alert to solve this problem anytime. For example, the Company started to collect information on laws and regulation in force in different countries to make sure that activities and products are match with the existing requirements. Moreover, climate change might influence Sony existing opportunities. An obvious example is the highly use of products boasting improved energy efficiency ratings to help minimize the factors that spur climate change (Sony, 2011). Sonys electronics products mainly contain few hundred or thousand parts that made from chemical substances. If these parts are not handed well, it may harm the environment. To prevent such environmental harm, Sony has set up necessary procedures according with the EUs Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations requirement. So, Sony follows the JIB initiative (Joint Industry Guide) to collect data on certain chemical substances that buy from suppliers. At last, Sony follows the survey response tool by JGPSSI (Japanese Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative) for materials declaration that contains information on the parts, purpose of use and so on (Sony, 2011). Sony should obey the rules and laws to continue their business and also to preserve the environment. Additionally, Sony has to think more solution to face the climate change and ways to protect the environment. Environment technology Sony is working hard on their products to reduce the effect towards the environment. It is to decrease the total energy that used and also reduce the resource in their product, such as BRAVIA and VAIO. Moreover, Sony has an effective supply chain management of controlling, reducing, and eliminating the use of chemical substances on their products. For instance, recycled plastic in product and the development of vegetables based product. All these are to preserve the environment being polluted (Sony, 2011). Sony has compliance lab at Stuttgart, Germany which specialize in efficient and accurate of chemical compounds and materials that can match with their electronic products. Among their initiatives, they are using more and more recycled materials, and renewable energy in factories and offices which use around 32 sites in Europe alone itself. However, starting 2010, Sonys objective is to maintain sustainable consumer electronic brand. Moreover, they are also wish to continue their success work in 2009. The main purpose of the eco activity is to show that technology can overcome the climate change and how they can help with the change. So, Sony office, warehouses and manufacturing around Europe have cut down CO2 emissions drastically, but they are still aiming to cut down more 10% emission for UK specific sites. Sony has established green teams in the UK businesses where people coordinate activity and the communication at different sites. This includes cutting general power consumption i n facilities and offices, employee travel especially flights. Additionally, some of the effort and new ways can bring former costs down and help reconstruct business models in a different economical ways. Nowadays, people are more concern companies environment standpoint. Companies which are environmentally friendly, practices, products, and services are being seen by the buyers and also stakeholders (GreenPacks.org, 2011). Sony Europe is applying their eco thinking so that they can maximize the use of the renewable energy. Sony uses renewable energy is to reduce carbon dioxide emission. In year 2008, a record shown that a reduction of 55,216 tons of CO2 emissions in Europe, itself (92,000 tons globally). Sony uses shipping more efficiently by reducing the packaging and the size towards less CO2 intensive forms of transport such as barge transport (Sony, 2011). Next is about dye sensitized solar cell. It can produce electricity by converting energy from light. This type of cell is produced by low cost materials so manufacturing expenditures will be lower. Moreover, vegetable based plastic can last long and fire resistant which is suitable use for durable consumer goods. Sony has decided use this material in year 2002 for walkman cases use. After that, it has been widely used in different products including DVD players, VAIO devices and so on (Sony, 2011). It is undeniable that technologies can help to protect the environment, so Sony should take this advantage to maximize the use of technology and contribute it to the environment. The uses of technology can reduce carbon dioxide; apparently can avoid green house effect. Customer No customer there is no business. Customer satisfaction will be a target of company. SONY business can improve customer satisfaction. (David Eaves, 2010) If we make the customer feel that they are special, customer will be appreciate us and help in increase our dividends in business with support our product. (Adhijik Naik, 2011) For example, SONY camera gives a high quality services to customers and meet their needs. Sonys promoter will give more details and information to customers when they have question or problem with buying SONY camera. Information about SONY camera will attract their interested in SONY camera and needs. They will feel more satisfy when using SONY camera. Then their satisfaction will be achieved through SONY camera. So, customers are very important in our business because they can easily influence our level of business. Then, with customer it will increase sales by up selling and cross selling other products. (David Eaves, 2010) Up selling means promote the product to attractive customer to buy it while cross selling means sell the product in another branch. SONY will have an excellent profit and their sales will increased with loyal customer to support it. For example, SONYs promoter describes the function and advantages of SONY camera to customer and compared with another product. They use their technique to persuade customer such as cheaper prices or special package of SONY camera. Besides, customer can satisfy and increasing requires of business on the need to efficiently route and apply fresh idea. Customer can also help in increasing business revenue. (Gaynor Borade, non-year) For example, customer will purchase the SONY camera and SONY Company will earn profit from them and their business will achieve a high target. SONY Company also always creates some new fresh function of SONY camera to attractive customer to purchase in order to earn profit and their loyalty to SONY camera. So, SONY Company will have a stable commerce with emergence of the customer. In addition, customer can become addition of the businesss behavior. Thats mean customer enable the entrepreneur to observe the growth of business into dream mission planned. (Gaynor Borade, non-year) To success in a business, entrepreneur always observe customers needs, wants, and demands in order to make a strong strategy to attain achievement. For example, they create the SONY camera according to customers favourite for instance different colour of camera and it will attract them to purchase it even improve business environment to better. From the analysis above, it is obviously that customer is very important to SONY Company because customers needs, wants, and demands even their response will influence the SONY camera will be purchased or not. More customers there will higher market value of SONY camera while fewer customers there will lowest market value of SONY camera. Supplier Suppliers always work as equal partner and building relationships according to mutual trust (Sony Corporation, 2011). A supplier can satisfy a market function when he creates a new relationship with customer and partners. (Walter A., 2003) For example, suppliers promote and transmit the SONY camera to partners and have a good communication with them when they are selling SONY camera to customer. When partners satisfy with supplier and SONY camera then they will continue have a business with them in order to satisfy a market function. After that, Sony strengthens relationship with suppliers in make stronger technological capability, guarantee and advancing the quality of parts and sustaining competitive prices. Besides that, Sony manage and observing Sony Group Environmental Vision together with supplier in order to protect the global environment and realize a sustainable culture. (Sony Corporation, 2011) So, suppliers have strong bargaining power in SONY Company. Suppliers are very important in developing new technology of SONY camera in SONY Company. Sony Company always creates and supply camera to customers in order to fulfil their needs, wants and demands. So, suppliers are important to become Sony partners to provide the product to customers and create a value in SONY Company. When supplier provides different prices and materials of SONY camera then it will affect competitive among SONY. Then SONY Companys business will reduced and less profit will be gained. So, SONY Company are always expects supplier to provide items at greatly reasonable prices and make a concentrated effort to decrease cost. (Sony Corporation, 2011) Lastly, it shows that supplier is vital in SONY companies. It plays a role in building relationship and strengthens it among customer and SONY product. Suppliers service will bring good outcomes for SONY companies and get a well performance in the market. Intermediaries Retailer and wholesaler are included in intermediaries. Regarding to SONYs website analysis, without intermediaries there is a difficult to get SONY product. (Sony electronics Inc, 2011) For example, intermediaries need to purchase SONY camera from SONY Company and set an acceptable prices even a quality package of SONY camera in order to fulfil customer and let them easy to purchase SONY camera. These processes are vital in a business. Through research of SONYs website, retailer is also helps customer to prevent from buying low quality product. When customer purchase SONY camera from retailer, they can be assured that they are purchasing a high quality product. Retailer can confirm quality of SONY camera and provide warranty for customers. If retailer fulfil customer satisfaction there will achieve a high level of business because of high responses from SONY customer. So, retailer can assure customers to have greatest experience when buying a SONY camera from reseller. (Sony electronics Inc, 2011) With SONYs analysis, SONY retailers can produce assistance in setting up customers products and provide a good customer service to them. They can provide a good customer experience that can helps the customers to make a right decision. SONYs retailer also can assist in sending the value products and service to customers when they buy a SONY camera. (Sony electronics Inc, 2011) For example, retailer can help them and explain the whole SONY cameras function and uses to them and introduce them a good quality product that suitable them and satisfy their needs when they want buy camera. A good service such as talk politely to customer will persuade and influence customer to purchase it. So, retailer is important for customer. From the analysis above, retailer is strongly to help in SONY companies to get a high value in the market. They try to give a good performance to customer and try to meet customers needs. Retailers also fulfil customers requirement. So, retailer is quite vital and their service will be appreciated by customers. Competitors It is crucial for Sony Corporation to watch attentively to its competitor so that they can maintain its position in the market. Sony Corporation has two types of competitor, that is, direct competitor and indirect competitor. Direct competitors are organisations that produce similar products and services (wiseGEEK, 2011). Nokia, Motorola, Canon, Fuji Photo are all examples of direct competitors to Sony (Upvery.com, 2010). Indirect competitors are firms producing different types of products but satisfy the same needs (Rich Harshaw, 2011) of customers. The indirect competitor of Sony is video iPod. In which Sony PSP and iPod produced similar striking feature (Frank Hedley, 2008). Other competitors, especially in the software industry are Microsoft. To maintain its competitive edge, Sony keeps updating the products with latest technologies that make it stable and sustainable over its competitors. The use of advanced technology in products has raised the quality and uniqueness, and has resulted in a mark demand increase. Though other competitors may seemed to be a threat to Sony Corporation, however with the fast paced advance in technology and the unstable global economy, Sony has embarked on collaboration and strategic alliance with its main competitors. Sony is in joint venture with Sony Ericsson which itself is a threat for new market entrants (Butod, 2010). Advanced use of technology in Sony products such as Game Consoles, Video Equipment and Mobile, and continuous production, switching costs and product differentiation has made Sony rather unbeatable in the electronic industry. Apart from forming strategic alliances with its competitors, Sony has reviewed its manufacturing priorities and streamlined its resources to produce electronic products that are in greater demand and has continued producing differentiated products which could ensure its competitive advantage. As reiterated above, Sonys ongoing process and product innovation has made it almost impossible for any current competitors and new entrant to compete them successfully, and this will be the core factor that will ensure Sonys dominance in electronic products consumer market. Thus, despite threats of current competitors and new entrants to the market, Sony Corporation is one of the worlds leading producers of electronic products. Approximately eighty (80) percent of hand-held computers in the United States operate on a Sony operating system while Microsoft which is a major competitor has only sixteen (16) percent of market share. Sony Corporation has hardware market share of sixty (60) % (2002), and other major competitors, Handspring is using Sonys operating system, and hold about 7% and 14% market shares respectively. (Butod, 2009). Government The government imposed regulations to ensure business transactions are conducted in a fair and just manner. Legislations that are passed often influences the productions possibilities of a company and hence the type of goods and services that can be offered to the consumers. Apart from the above, the government also enforce taxation to collect revenue that will maintain itself and supply public services that may be needed by companies such as Sony. For example, Sonys income taxes benefit amounts to $19billion resulting in an effective rate of 10% in Oct 30, 2009 (wikinvest, 2009). In addition to the governments role in regulating companies and taxation, the government also plays a major role in ensuring companies observe corporate social responsibility. An example of Sony taking over public responsibilities is the attitude of how Sony enthusiastically engages themselves in activities related to environment and climate changes. Sony plans to cut down 7% or more of CO2 gas emission comparing to the fiscal year of 2000 levels (Sony Corporation, 2009). In July 2006, Sony joined the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) with companies that plan and also carry out efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. By participating in this program, Sony is committed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and lower the product annual energy consumption. In short, Sony maintain corporate social responsibility, and though it incurs cost, but in the long run it ensures business sustainability. The Financial Community Shareholders are very important for Sony Company because they support the organizations future expansion. There are two types of shareholders, that is private and institutional. As seen in the chart below, a major portion of Sonys shareholders are the corporation itself (60.18%), followed by foreign investors (27.27%) and subsequently financial institutions (8.74%) (Sony Financial Holdings, 2010). Figure 1: Ownership and distribution of share Resource: http://www.sonyfh.co.jp/en/financial_info_e/shareholder_e/shareholder.html Sony cooperation has to consider the needs and hope of possible investors. The shareholder share represents a certain small percentage of ownership in the company therefore, stockholders has the right to obtain certain percentage of the companys profits in the form of dividends (Farlex, 2009). As in Sony, one of its important management task is to increase in returns to its shareholders, as well as return on equity. Its basic policy on returning profits to its shareholders is to maintain the trust of current shareholders and attract new ones, as well as securing enough retained earnings for future business expansion. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, Sony provided the year-end cash dividend of  ¥3,000 per share of Sony Financial Holdings totaling to  ¥6,525 million as approved at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on June 25, 2010. With regards to its retained earnings, Sony has planned to utilize it in exploring new business, including the establishment of an individual annuities subsidiary, investing in information technology systems accompanied by business expansions (Sony Financial Holdings, 2010). Thus, with Sonys dominance in the electronic company, and its high returns to shareholders and retained earnings, Sony is not only able to generate high profits with its current business ventures, but has also sufficient funds to ensure its future expansion in the competitive industry. In conclusion, Sony must not be harming the environment and human being as they are using a lot of chemical substances in their product. Next, they must proper dispose their chemical waste. Furthermore, Sony should cooperate with supplier, government to continue their business and also to compete with their competitors. Sony also has to change their strategy in every country to boost their sales.

Law and Ethics in Nursing :: Nursing Ethics Research Paper

In every nurse's career, he or she will face with legal and ethical dilemmas. One of the professional competencies for nursing states that nurses should "integrate knowledge of ethical and legal aspects of health care and professional values into nursing practice". It is important to know what types of dilemmas nurses may face during their careers and how they have been successfully dealt with in the past. It is also important for nurses to understand what malpractice is and how they may protect themselves from a malpractice lawsuit. LAW VS. ETHICS It is important to first understand the difference between law and ethics. Ethics examines the values and actions of people. Often times there is no one right course of action when one is faced with an ethical dilemma. On the other hand, laws are binding rules of conduct. When laws are broken, it is punishable by an authority figure. There are four types of situations that pertain to law vs. ethics. The first would be an action that is both legal and ethical. An example of this would be a nurse carrying out appropriate doctor's orders as ordered. A nurse may also be faced with an action that may be ethical but not legal, such as allowing a cancer patient to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes. The opposite may arise where an action may be legal but not ethical. Finally, an action may be neither legal or ethical. For example, when a nurse makes a medication error and does not report it. ETHICAL DUTIES Nurses have many ethical duties to their clients. The main ethical duties are: nonmaleficence, beneficence, fidelity, veracity, and justice. The duty of nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. The nurse first needs to ask him or herself what harm is. When a nurse gives an injection she is causing the patient pain but she is also preventing additional harm such as disease development or prolonged pain. Therefore, the nurse must ask herself a second question about how much harm should be tolerated. The duty of beneficence is to do good. In a sense, it is at the opposite end of nonmaleficence or at the positive end of the nonmaleficence > beneficence continuum. The duty of fidelity means to be faithful, or to keep to your promises. Therefore, if a nurse tells his patient that he will

Monday, August 19, 2019

Jacksonian Democracy Essay -- essays papers

Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian democracy was created during antebellum America. The Jackson democrats attempted to aggrandize the puissance of lower classes poor while decreasing the influence of the rich and potent. Economically, they benefited from governing during a time of paramount advances in transportation, which boosted commerce and helped the common man. Politically, they invested power into an overwhelmingly powerful executive branch. The Jacksonian democrats portrayed themselves as saviors of the common people and ruled via a powerful executive who attempted to destroy aristocracy in America. However, they were atypically wealthy, supported equality between white men only, enacted calamitous economic policies, and disregarded the capability of the federal government. Further, they did not introduce democracy in America, rather merely used it and benefited from it. During the first half of the 19th century numerous advancements expedited the growth of the United States. A market revolution occurred as a yeoman and artisan economy was replaced by cash-crop agriculture and capitalist manufacturing. Despite the prosperity, a split was emerging between the industrializing, urban north, agrarian, rural South, and the expanding West. The Jacksonians passed the Tariff of 1828, which opened opportunity for western agriculture and New England manufacturing, but was detrimental to the South. Andrew Jackson and Jacksonian democrats believed that the US bank placed to...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

World Literature Essay -- English Literature

World Literature Essay â€Å"The Jane Austen novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is basically concerned with the education of a young heroine† The statement â€Å"The Jane Austen novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is basically concerned with the education of a young heroine† raises many questions. The term education in this context means a journey of ones self rather than a formal schooling education. From the beginning pages of the book the idea of Elizabeth being the heroine is established. Since there are other themes of the novel, themes of love, reputation and class, it can be questioned as to whether the novel is centred on the education of Elizabeth. Darcy is also a major character to the plot of the novel and contains the same faults as Elizabeth so the book could be centred on his journey as well as hers. However, Elizabeth’s education in overcoming her obstacles is a very long one compared to that of Darcy’s In the first three pages of the novel the character of Elizabeth is depicted as a very intellectual character by her father. ‘ â€Å"..they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of a quickness than her sisters.† ’[1] It is clear that Austen introduces and forms such an impression of Elizabeth early in the novel in order to promptly get the reader into the plot and communicate the heroine of the novel. No other character commands the same interest as Elizabeth. Even though Elizabeth is depicted as the heroine, she possesses faults which are very set. The character’s biggest issues lie with pride and prejudice, each one in the way of her conquering the other. Whether the novel is basically concerned with the education with Elizabeth can be questioned as there are other major... ...enguin Books, London 1996. * Williams.M, Jane Austen: Six Novels and Their Methods. Macmillan, London 1986 * Lambert. J, A Text Response Guide to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Wizard Books, Ballarat 1993 * Curtis.T, Get Smart Study Guide: Pride and Prejudice. Science Press, Australia 1999 * Handley.G, Brodies Notes on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, London 1990. --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp 7 [2]Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp 36 [3] ibid.,pp33 [4] ibid.,pp57 [5] ibid.,pp309 [6] Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp21 [7] Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp 89 [8] ibid.,pp94 [9] ibid., pp 202 [10] ibid., pp 295

Saturday, August 17, 2019

History: american civilization essay

William McKinley was proposed as the presidential Republican with the support of Mark Hanna, who was very wealthy industrialist he favored tariffs so as to protect the nation’s prosperity and a limitation on silver and ended up defeating William Jennings Bryan, who was feared as a menace to the administration during 1892 election.  McKinley was adapted to the international bimetallism idea which was a contract of a number of countries in the usage of both silver and gold as the currency base.   He later opened the way to acceptance of the1900 Gold Standard Act.William McKinley was the president of diverse historical period. William McKinley lived during the Populist period and was the US president during the Progressive era.   In that period, as the president of the United States, traditional values such as the gambling and brothels were being eroded.   The ideology was changing of all the political parties.   Factionalism rose as a consequence.   The United States Peoples ways of life was shifting rapidly.   America moved to industrial economy from the agricultural economy and to urban environment from the rural environment and from the producer’s culture to the consumer’s culture.Small businesses and factories and increased in number.   Immigrants were moving to America very quickly as Workers demanded more rights and planned means to get them.   Aggressive labor movements pursued. There were radical changes in the government and the politics that were meant to make America further democratic.   William McKinley was against corruption and the vice in his government as People demanded businesses to be further be responsible too.   The city dwellers demanded better living conditionsNevertheless, Theodore Roosevelt became the president in these continuing circumstances when William McKinley was assassinated. Some historians believe Roosevelt became the president when the modern era had already been begun.  Roosevelt w as fond of writing about himself boastfully and excessively, besides that he was reckless.   His behavior towards the courts and the Congress displayed his highhandedness.   He never made long term plans but his life was illustrated by contradictions and inconsistencies.In the year 1900, Roosevelt had claimed that he could not be a vice president, but changed his mind later.   After leaving the office in 1904, he had said that he would never run for the US presidency again, but contradicted himself eight years afterward.   His understanding of the global affairs was deficient.   Roosevelt’s aspiration was also â€Å"adolescent† sine he had left the post of the New York police commissioner without a success.   Roosevelt was successful strenuous in improving the navy technologically.   He believed the Navy should be used for offense. The major function of the US Navy was to destroying the enemies and not defending its coastline. The navy had only seven main ships when Roosevelt became president, but were twenty two by the time he left was considered 5th best in the world.McKinley sponsored a protective tariff in 1890 that bore his name which was the highest tariff in the United States history.   While he was Ohio governor and later became he favored negotiation between labor and capital and frequently favored the poor.  After the Spanish American War and the1900 re-election, he revealed a fresh and a broader means for an internationally conscious America.   Ironically, this became his final speech as he was mortally wounded by an assassin’s the following day on 6th, September, 1901.McKinley competently manipulated both the politicians and the public.   His domestic achievements and programs were overpowered by the foreign policies that dominated his administration.   Ever an advocate for a healthy and a wealthy economy, McKinley supported creation of new overseas markets for products from United States.     These foreign markets put America at danger of being involved affairs of the other nations.Though the Spanish-American War that ended in August 1898 was short-lived, the US surfaced as a world super power.   He played a major role in organizing the US military effort where he was directly functioning as the Commander-in-Chief.   Peace negotiations with the Spanish government led to US occupation of Cuba until 1902 when it gained independence, besides the acquisition of Guam and Puerto Rico.Not willing to let the previous Spanish ownership, the Philippines islands fell into competing hands, he, McKinley directed his envoys to get the islands.   After getting the news of the conquest of Admiral George Dewey against the Spanish fleet on 1st may 1898 at Manila Bay, McKinley ran a campaign persuading the Americans that the islands had to become the ownership of the US.   Despite the opposition, he engineered ratification by the senate of the Treaty of Paris which was an achievement tha t expanded the influence and the powers of the president.The rest of McKinley’s life as president was shaped by the results of the Spanish-American War.   .The American Civil War of 1861 to1865 that outshined the Spanish American War and the U.S. participation in World War One of 1917 to 1918, united with the recent national sense of guilt concerning the Spanish-American War clouded McKinley’s reputation.   McKinley strengthened the presidency, toured widely, and offered the press greater accessibility to the White House.   He had a masterful management of the congress led to evolution of the modern presidency; in fact, he laid the base for further development of the presidential office under the presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.REFERENCESGeorge William Norris (1992) Fighting Liberal, University of Nebraska Press, USKathleen H. Jamieson (1996) Packaging the Presidency, Oxford University Press, USON HISTORIANS’ CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF THEODO RE ROOSEVELT PRE-1950s AND POST-1940s, retrieved on 3rd, October, 2007, available at http://workingpapers.org/writings/roosevelt.htm

Friday, August 16, 2019

The Impacts Of Hazardous Waste On Nature Environmental Sciences Essay

Industrialization has caused a huge sum of risky compounds to come in our ecosystem and finally have a negative consequence on ecological diverseness, H2O handiness and human nutrient concatenation. The past century has seen worlds populate and present a big figure of risky chemical substances into the natural environments. Waste merchandises from industries, agricultural procedures, structural stuffs, medicine/drugs, e-wastes and pesticides which all destructively consequence the environment. The ambiance, biosphere and the hydrosphere, work in unison together to supply a habitable environment to the life being of the universe. Chemicals penetrate dirt, enter the air as emanations and the H2O as wastewater, finally poisoning aquatic beings and impacting the dirts ability to back up workss. Carbon dioxide which is the chief subscriber to the nursery consequence and clime alteration is besides caused by industrial emanations. Chlorofluorocarbons caused ozone depletion planet and over decennaries has caused an inflow of ultraviolent radiation into our planet. Pesticides and fertilisers from farms and gardens overflow into the H2O supply doing eutrophication, the physique up of algae in the river and lake systems doing decease to aquatic beings and doing it impossible to last. There are besides some unsafe chemicals which enter the dirt and groundwater doing familial defects in workss and beings doing it difficult to last and reproduce, therefore doing extinctions of certain workss and carnal species. A survey conducted in Southeast Ukraine found that 0.8 % of the Dnepropetrovsk Region remains portion of the one time 100 % natural ecosystem. This part is known for its huge supply of natural resources. Due to provide industries populated and began mining and fabrication, utilizing and huge sum of resources and bring forthing a big supply of waste, accordingly destructing the environing environment. Hazardous stuffs in ambiance, dirts, flora and H2O were badly contaminated and trials were conducted to find the badness of the issue. Gritsan, NP. , Babiy, AP. , 2000 found In Dnepropetrovsk Region, the release and composing of industrial emanations caused the hapless air quality. In respects to the dirt it was found countries non populated by industries where clean and pollution free, whereas the countries like Dnepropetrovsk and Dneprodzerzhinsk which had a high concentration of environmentally degrading industries consisted of chemicals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, lead and fluoride and where found in high concentrations. † It was determined that concentrations of fluorides in workss turning near big or specific industrial companies were up to 15 times higher than normal. † ( Gritsan, NP. , Babiy, AP. , 2000 ) Food is a necessity for endurance and get downing from hapless disposal or industrial waste we are faced with a job that produces a concatenation of events stoping up in the blood supply of developing fetuss and the blood and tissues of kids, grownups and wildlife species. Man-made risky compounds are come ining animate beings through exposure, inspiration or ingestion. These risky compounds produced by industrial procedures accumulate up the nutrient ironss, inappropriate disposal and leeching from waste and landfill sites and stop up in the natural environment and finally in the manufacturers and consumers. Worlds are the top of the nutrient concatenation and hence consume the overall accretion of risky compounds. A study conducted by Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek ( Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research: TNO ) in the Netherlands shows that many of the different types of risky compounds exist in human blood indicating that worlds are exposed to these chemicals. Exposure can be through additives to consumer merchandises or through nutrient merchandises. Since many of these chemicals have a lipophillic nature they bioaccumulate in the nutrient concatenation. The TNO group tested manmade chemicals and found that many of th e compounds where nowadays in nutrients at a concentration of 0.1 to 10 ng/g. The World Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) study Chain of Contamination the Food Link found besides that the most of import exposure path for many of semisynthetic chemicals was through a bioaccumulation. Chemicals being DDT ( DDT ) a man-made pesticide and Polychlorinated Biphenyls ( PCBs ) which are organochlorine found in early industrial merchandises. DDT and PCBs are passed through diet. WWF conducted trials on organochlorine, polychlorinated Biphenyls, brominated fire retardent, perfluorinated chemicals, phthalates, unreal musks, Alkylphenols isomers of nonylphenol and organotins and found all these risky compounds to be present in nutrient merchandises across seven different states. The trials provide an penetration into the earnestness of this planetary job. Food being one concern, H2O handiness is another major concern. Many workss and animate beings need freshwater to last and risky compounds are come ining waterways and polluting fresh water, doing it unsafe and unsuitable for ingestion. Slavek Vasak, Rianne Brunt and Jasper Griffioen in their study â€Å" Arsenic in Groundwater † research maps of groundwater taint based specifically on ; happening of no fresh H2O, high flouride, high arsenous anhydride, high nitrate and the pollution from assorted beginnings. In their research they found many states to hold contaminatd H2O but really diffucult to nail less developed countries around the universe with the same job. Many states rely on groundwater for thier H2O supply and do non hold the resources and fundss to develop ways to take the chemicals from the H2O and are forced to devour contaminated H2O. Hazardous compounds have been used since the beginning of industralisation and it is merely in the past decennary or two where the effects of these compounds have affected our natural ecosytems and manner of life and still their full affect on iving things may non yet be known. New chemicals and merchandises are being manufactured mundane all in which may do injury to the the environment. E-waste is a authoritative illustration of recent merchandises incorporating types of chemcals which are harmful to the environment. In 2005 an estimated 697,000 metric tons of electronic and electrical equipment was consumed while 313,000 metric tons was disposed. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/electricals/index.html, 12/05/10 ) E-waste contains risky stuffs including quicksilver, lead, arsenic brominated fire retardents, Be and Cd. If non desposed right potentailly all the compounds present can leach into natural ecosystems and cause terrible nowadays and future jobs. Australia and the universe recognize they are faced with a planetary job in respects to risky wastes. They strive to restrict and forestall any amendss on the natural environment. In 1992 â€Å" The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.environment.gov.au/settlements/chemicals/hazardous-waste/conventions.html 14/05./10 ) was implemented and in 2002 was sanctioned by 151 states including Australia. Australia signed the Basel Convention in 1992. The Convention is implemented in Australia by the Hazardous Waste ( Regulation of Exports and Imports ) Act 1989. ( http: //www.environment.gov.au/settlements/chemicals/hazardous-waste/conventions.html, 14/05/10 ) . It forced states to environmentally pull off risky wastes in a safe manner when importation and exporting. In implicating the minimisation of risky waste production, supplying disposal installations, cut downing the motion of risky waste, pull offing waste with respects to the environment and prevent and punish illegal traffic of waste. In visible radiation of the above there are options at a local graduated table where concerns and persons can forestall risky waste jobs in many ways ; risky compounds can be recycled, diminish the usage of risky stuffs in production, better labeling and record maintaining of stuffs, better storage and supply safer transit methods The environment is a complex system made up on interrelated ecosystems and any changes can do dramatic impacts on present and future environments. The impact of worlds is besides complex we live a complex life style and as we progress technologically and as a species we do it at the disbursal of the environment. The extinction of species along the concatenation may intend the loss of utile familial stuff or life salvaging malignant neoplastic disease drugs or safer options to the unsafe chemicals in usage at the minute. In order to battle this job we need to weigh out the hazard and benefits of a munificent life style and happen options to go on progressing without destructing the natural environment.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

How illiteracy influences people’s life Essay

In the movie, â€Å"The Reader,† Kate Winslet played the role of Hanna Schmitz, an illiterate train conductor who was sent to jail without even understanding what she has done wrong. When Hanna said the line, â€Å"I would rather listen to you†¦ ,† I was moved because these few words allowed me to empathize with people who are illiterate. It gave me a glimpse of the feelings of helplessness and frustration they must encounter in their everyday life. The movie also showed me how illiteracy can affect a person’s life. Because of the fact that they do not have access to the information the rest of the world has, they end up being enslaved by the opinions of the literate. It is impossible for them to construct opinions as they do lack the details needed to create one. At the same time, they are forced to be dependent on people who can provide them with this information. They are also under the mercy of people who have knowledge in the written law. The movie also showed me how humbling it must be not to be able to read or write. At the start of the movie, she had an affair with a man half her age. And, whenever the man would read for her, her seniority faded away because of the way she would act like a child waiting for her father to read her a bed time story. Hanna’s story shows how important being literate is. It plays an important role in a person’s life as it can change his or her destiny. In this essay, I would like to talk about the changes and effects of literacy to a person’s mind and life. I would like to show how literacy can give intellect and power to a person by going through the works of Staple, Douglass and Kozel which they created in order to emphasize the importance of literacy in the democratic world. Brent Staple, an author and editorial writer for the New York Times, recounted the way his grandfather changed his life by learning how to read. In one of his articles, he wrote: Name of Author – 2- â€Å"Nevertheless, the ability to read and write gave them a vantage point on their circumstances and protected them from swindlers who regularly stripped illiterate people of land and other assets. † (p. 1) Staple’s grandfather was able to gain his independence by learning how to read and write. He also learned how to distinguish what is good from what is bad, what can benefit him and what can ruin his life. He also found himself with the power to think and give his opinion as he now has a better grasp of the issues around him. Armed with the knowledge he was able to acquire from reading, he found the power to make his own decisions and fight for his rights. He was able to free himself from the prison of other people’s thoughts. Another writer, Frederick Douglass, who is famous for his line: â€Å"I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong,† wrote an article that is parallel to Staple’s article in the way that he talked about the way literacy influenced his life and his thinking. Douglass’ story, however, is quite different from that of Staple’s grandfather. In his story, he recounted that he learned how to read in secret with the fear of being beaten. Being born a slave, Douglass was passed on from one owner to another. The wife of one his owners taught him the alphabet even though she knew that there was a law against teaching slaves how to read. Her husband obviously disapproved about this when he found out. He believed that a slave who gains literacy will be unsatisfied with his condition and yearn for freedom. Even with the threat of being caught and beaten up, Douglass learned how to read with the help of the white children in the neighborhood. He also did his best to observe the way the order white men would write. His perspective changed after he has attained literacy. Douglas realized that black men are not brutes or savages who should be limited to working as a slave, Name of Author – 3 – they have the right to be educated and respected. As his master predicted, he yearned for the freedom that the white people have. As he continues to learn how to read and write, Douglass’ attitude to life is gradually transformed by literacy. Douglass mentions in the article: â€Å"I read them over and over again with unabated interest. They give tongue to interesting thought of my own soul†¦. The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder. † (p. 45) By learning how to read and write, Douglass learned not only the meaning of words and sentences, but the power of knowledge. He slowly became aware of his rights as a human being and how unfairly the black people have been treated. He also realized that illiteracy is the reason why the white people were able to enslave his race for so long. Not only did illiteracy keep them unaware of their rights, it also made them unable to think for themselves, to distinguish from right and wrong, what is harmful and what is not. It also stopped them from acquiring the knowledge that they need to pursue their freedom. Hence, they were influenced by the white people to believe that their only purpose in life was to work for them. With his newfound knowledge, he was able to change his life and gain his freedom. At the same time, having appreciated the value of literacy, he passed on the knowledge to other slaves, giving them the opportunity to change their own lives. In Kozol’s article, he focuses on how illiteracy can threaten a person’s way of life and thinking. He believes that one will never really have ability to protect himself if he is illiterate because he is always unaware of what’s going on. He can’t read the strange signs on the street that warns him of danger or tells him that he is breaking the law. Neither can he read legal documents, making him vulnerable to being swindled. He is also unaware of his rights. Kozol Name of Author – 4 – says, â€Å" They do not know what rights they have, what deadlines and requirements they face, what option they might choose to exercise. They are half-citizens. Their right exist I print but not in fact. † (52-53) They cannot protect their own rights since they don’t know what their rights are. Neither can they apply their rights or make a choice because they do not know what their options are. The same points were tackled by Douglas in his article when he said that black people were treated like slaves because they were not literate and were not given the chance to know that they do not have to limit themselves to such a status. They just thought that would go through this nightmare for the rest of their lives because no one could save them. What they didn’t know was they could’ve saved themselves had they known that they had rights to fight for. If they had been literate, they would have realized that they are not slaves and they have right to be educated and respected because they are humans. Illiteracy, however, has exiled them to such an nightmarish existence where their destiny is dictated by their masters. Now literacy still plays the most important role in society. If you are not able to read and write, it would be really hard for you to live. You wouldn’t know how to deal with a lot of things. You wouldn’t know what is right or wrong, what would benefit you and what would harm you. Because of the numerous things that you do not know, your lack of knowledge can bring you harm. At the same time, your lack of knowledge, stops you from having your own beliefs or opinions. And, since you have know access to the options you can choose from, you end up believing that there are none and the only thing you can do is follow what the other people are doing or to have the same opinion as they do. Without literacy, all the people can do is follow and obey, allowing other people to take charge of their own lives. If a country is filled with illiterate people then democracy is useless since the mindless majority can be controlled by the Name of Author – 5- government and the votes of those who are literate and have their own minds can be surpassed by those who aren’t. If that is the case, then the government can become a dictator in the guise of democracy. Hence, it is safe to say that without the presence of literacy, there is no knowledge. Without knowledge, there are no choices. And, without knowledge, there is no freedom which is the very essence of democracy.