Entry Barriers in Liquor Industry

ENTRY BARRIERS IN LIQUOR INDUSTRY When a new firm enters into an industry it can affect all of the firms that are currently in that industry. â€Å"new entrants to an industry bring new capacity, the desire to gain market share, and often substantial resources. Prices can be bid down or incumbents cost inflated as a result, reducing profitability. †24Therefore as new firms enter into an industry the entire industry’s potential for sustained profits is reduced due to the increased amount of competition in that industry. Some factors help reduce the threat of entry as they act as barriers that prevent new firms from entering into an industry. These factors include economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements, access to distribution channels, and government regulations. When these factors reduce the threat of entry, the profit potential for the industry increases. Economies of Scale. Economies of scale is defined as the â€Å"declines in unit costs of a product as the absolute volume per period increase† Therefore the greater quantity of a product that is produced the lower the cost of each will be to the producer. This creates an advantage for a high volume producer like those seen in the brewing industry. Economies of scale in the brewing industry also exist in areas other than in production and these include purchasing, distribution, and advertising. For example, national brewers achieve economies of scale in advertising through bulk media purchases and umbrella brand marketing. Local-craft brewers spend more than twice that spent by large brewers on marketing and advertising per barrel. 25 One company in particular, which is Anheuser-Busch, has done an extremely good job in exploiting the economies of scale that are present in the brewing industry. Anheuser-Busch has been able to leverage its 45 percent U. S. market share into 75 percent of the industry’s operating profits through significant economies of scale in the areas of raw material procurement, manufacturing efficiency and marketing. †26 As shown here there are substantial economies of scale available in the national beer brewing industry. This is a good factor for firms that are currently in the industry as the y can take advantage of these unit cost breaks and while doing so also discourage the entry of new firms into the industry. Product Differentiation. in general, people cannot tell the difference between brands of beer. Second, more expensive brands do not cost proportionately more to make than â€Å"economy† beer. Capital Requirements. The capital requirements necessary to compete on the national level against the established firms are extremely high. These high costs of operation and construction expenses act as a barrier to entry for firms that are considering trying to compete in this industry on the highest level. Access to Distribution Channels. When a new firm is trying to enter into an industry it can find that existing competitors may have ties with [distribution] channels based on long relationships. Government Regulation. The government's excise policy is subject to a lot of sudden changes. The manufacturers sometimes just need to get their L-1 licenses renewed and at times they need to apply afresh, like in the year 2001. In 1993, the L-1 license holders were allowed to set up 5 ‘dedicated' shops in Delhi in which they could sell their approved brands in addition to having them sold in the government retail shops. The policy was withdrawn in an ad-hoc manner in 1994. On being questioned about the effects of this policy, an official in one of the country's leading breweries said that the introduction of this policy had led to an increase in their revenue by almost 30% which they have lost out on since the policy got crushed. Recently, the government's policy to open up 45 private liquor shops was quashed by the cabinet, because it meant that the MLA's power in the issue of a no-objection certificate for the setting up of a retail outlet would be questioned. Had this policy been implemented, the government would have earned Rs. 7. 5 lakhs on each vend as license fees annually.

Human Resource Management Assignment

ASSIGNMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SHEET FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT Serial No: 40074724 Please note: 1. Assignments must be submitted on or before the date due. 2. Students must ensure that they are not guilty of plagiarism which is, essentially, referring to the words/ideas of others without acknowledgment. Students must comply with the statement below. | Students Declaration The attached assignment is my own work, and has never been submitted for assessment on any other course before.Proper referencing has been made to all sources: published or unpublished works and the ideas of other persons. (Student’s Signature) Yasas Kalubowila Full Name of Student Mr. Kalubowila Prathibha YasasDate submitted _14 Jan 2012_ Programme _BA (Hons) – Business Management (Singapore) Course Code _39604BH______ Name of Module/subject _Human Resource Management Class ____1__________ ——————————————â €”—- Assignment Title/Reference no. (if applicable) _HRM 08701 (Part 2) ————————————————-Teacher – Dr Allen / Mr Jeffrey Tan___ ___________________________________________________________________________ For Office Use| You are required to develop a two-day induction training course for Baristas (Day 1 should focus on company induction and Day 2 on job specific induction). The course is designed for all new baristas, and will be delivered to groups of 12-16 people. Write a report which includes a) The overall aim and specific learning objectives for the course. Aim of the CourseAccording to Armstrong (2009), employees are far more likely to resign during the initial months after joining the organization. The main aim of this induction program is to welcome our new colleagues in to Cafe Co. family and to get them to understand their role within the organiz ation. This will help them to settle into their jobs more easily and at the same time this will aid the staff to add value to the company which will help the management to align with the company goals and achieve competitive advantage in the long run.In any training program, the learning objective has to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely (Armstrong, 2006, p506) in order to archive the training goals 1. Understanding the organization and t * History * Understanding Vision, Mission & Value Statement * Basic conditions of Employment ( Working hours, leaves, holidays, insurance schemes, ) * Organizational Structure 2. Working Culture * Effective team Management * Improve leadership qualities * Getting to know the line managers 3. Product Knowledge * Varieties of coffee and preparation methods Food Menu & Beverage Menu 4. Customer service * Importance of customer service * Standard operation procedures (SOP) * Handling a customer complain * Customer appreciation Wo rd Count 170 b) An explanation of how this training program will improve the performance of employees. * Give an understanding about the company history, short term and long term goals * Company’s vision, mission and value statement * Allow the trainees to embrace company culture and understand the rules and regulations * Get to know the management staff and the environment so he trainees will not feel cornered * Understand the food and beverages which will be sold together with coffee * Learning the coffee mixtures and varieties of coffee beans in order to give a good impression to the customers * Build a friendly attitude toward work and improve on customer service to attract new customers * Understand the sequence of service to give a smooth operation in service and decrease time lags Word Count 110 Day| Time| Venue| Description| Media| Remarks| 1| 8. 30 am– 9. 5am| Training Room Foyer | Breakfast & Registration | N/A| The participant will be given with course mater ials, Employee Handbook and other necessary documentation. | | 9. 15am -9. 30am| Training Room`| Welcome speech| N/A| The managing Director of Cafe & Co will deliver the welcome speech. | | 9. 30 am- 10. 15 am | Training Room`| Introduction to Cafe Co. | ProjectorVideo on Cafe Co. | The video will show and elaborate on Cafe. Co History and the current standing. -History -Current Standing in the market| | 10. 15am – 10. 0 am| Training Room Foyer| Morning Coffee Break | N/A| Buffet Spread with refreshments| | 10. 30 am-11. 30 am| Training Room | Our Business and Our Goals| Video, PowerPoint Presentation & Speech| With aid of the Employee Handbook, the trainer will go through ,Company vision ,Mission,Value statement ,Goals – Long term and Short term| | 11. 30 am- 12. 00 Noon| Open area | Leadership icebreaker game| N/A| Trainees are divided into two groups to play the game â€Å"Magic Shoes†. Refer Appendix 1| | 12 Noon – 1. 30pm| Restaurant | Lunch| N/A| Th e Group will be taken for the lunch at a restaurant nearby| | 1. 0pm – 2. 30pm| Training Room | Employment Conditions| Presentation & Speech| The HR manager will brief on the Employment Condition and benefits given by the company * Annual Leave * Absent Reporting * Hours of work * Overtime payments * Contract| | 2. 30pm -2. 45pm| Training Room| Q & A| 2 wireless microphone, Facilitator| The Employees are to ask questions to clarify any doubts they have regarding the contract and the conditions| | 2. 45pm -3. 15 pm| Training Room | Organizational Structure and Career advancement opportunities | PowerPoint presentation| The HR Manager will ntroduce the top management and the company hierarchy. Job advancement opportunities and examples of the individuals who started as baristas which had advancements in their careers | | 3. 30pm – 3. 45pm | Training Room Foyer| Afternoon Coffee Break | N/A| Buffet Spread with refreshments| | 3. 45pm – 5. 00pm| Training Room| Intro duction to Cafe Co. Products | PowerPoint Presentation,Video Clips | The Employees will get to see the line of products which Cafe Co. offering. | | 5. 00pm | End of Day 1| Day| Time| Venue| Description| Media| Remarks| 2| 8. 30 am– 9. 0am| Cafe Co. Outlet| Breakfast| N/A| Buffet Spread with refreshments| | 9. 00am -10. 30am| Cafe Co. Outlet| Food Hygiene and Safety Requirements | PowerPoint Presentation, Demonstration| The trainer will go through the food hygiene & safety requirements. -Food preparation -Handling of equipments -Fire safety-Fire Extinguishers-Fire Drill | | 10. 30 am –11. 00am| Cafe Co. Outlet| Customer Service | PowerPoint Presentation| Trainer will give a presentation,-Importance of the customers-How to attract new customers -Customer appreciation -Customer Loyalty| | 11. 0am-12. 00 Noon| Cafe Co. Outlet| Handling Customer Complains| N/A| Role Play in groups of 3 to 4 -Each group is given a scenario -The trainer will assess them in handling the situa tion -Remarks from the trainer | | 12. 00 Noon- 1. 30pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Lunch Meeting with the Line managers | N/A| Buffet Lunch-The Line Managers will go around and talk with the Trainees during the Lunch | | 1. 30pm-3. 00pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Standard Operational Procedure of Cafe Co. | Demonstration and PracticalCutleries, Cutleries | The Trainer will Demonstrate the service sequence. Welcoming the Guest-Locating a table-Offering the Menu-Taking Orders-Serving -Attending to various requests from the guest -Table Settings (Cutleries)| | 3. 00pm -4. 45pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Coffee Preparation Methods followed by Coffee Break| Coffee Machine, Coffee Cups, Sample Food in the Menu,| The Trainer will Demonstrate how to make Different Coffee Mixtures-Each Group will try to make their own Coffee-All the food items in the menu will be served during this session. -The trainer will emphasize on the importance of product knowledge. | | 4. 45 pm – 5. 5pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Course Summery , Evaluation and Closing Address | PowerPoint Presentation, Evaluation Forms, Facilitator| The Trainer will give the Closing address and will leave the premises where the facilitator will conduct the Evaluations | | 5. 15pm| End of the Induction Program| Word Count 613 a) Explain the training methods and media you would suggest for delivering each part of the program, justifying your choices. (1000 words) Learning Styles Before planning a training program it is impotent for the trainers to understand different styles of learners.According to Honey & Mumford, there are four styles of learning; they are activists, reflectors, theorists and pragmatists (Gray, Cundell, Hay and O’neill, 2004) Honey and Mumford also suggested that the use of the senses (hear, see, feel, smell & taste) can enhance the learners learning experience. Figure 1 -They need models, facts and concepts to engage in learning -like to understand theories behind actions -Involves themselves in new experiences. -Willingness to take Risks -Have an open mind -people who learn by Doing Practical approach -like to put what they learn in to practice -Experimenting -like to try out new ideas -Learn by observing and thinking -takes time to come to conclusion -they avoid leaping in like to watch in the side lines Training Methods Choosing the correct training method to deliver the training is very important for both the trainer and the trainee. There are lots of factors to consider when choosing a method. Some of them are: Audience age, level of education, learning style of the trainees, budget, trainer’s skills and training style.Training Method | Description| Advantages | Drawbacks | Where did we use? | Why did we use? | Lesson/Instructions| The trainer will deliver the lesson to a group of people | Ideal for smaller groups. Can archive transfer of information easilyCan make the learning experience more interesting with the use of the right media. | Cannot handle Larger groupsVery trainer centered Standard of the training depends too much on the trainer| Most of the activities on the first day was more based on this method of training -Our Business and Our Goals -Employment Conditions Organizational Structures and Career Advancement Opportunities-Food hygiene and Safety requirements | This is the most common method of transferring the information out to an audience. Even though this can be bit monotonous, using of a mixture of media like videos can make the learning experience more effective. The topics like business and our goals, employment conditions and etc are very straight forwards topics which can use lessons to deliver.Seeing, Hearing | Demonstration | The trainer will demonstrate a task in front of the trainees. How to Fold a NapkinHow to prepare an espresso | Aids understanding and retention Stimulates learners interest Can give learners a model to follow| Must be accurate and relevant to learnersExamples require lengthy prep timeMay be difficult for all t o see| Standard Operational Procedure of Cafe Co. Coffee Preparation Methods| By Looking at the demonstration they will get an idea on how things are carried out.Also by giving them an opportunity to practice the above demonstrations will increase the effectiveness of the training Researches suggests, by using kinesthetic learning will increase the results in learning outcomes (teaching Mineralogy, 2011) Seeing, Feeling and tasting | Training video| These videos can be specially designed for training purposes or it can be normal media which can be taken from the web| Easier to understandImages and motion pictures can be recalled easily than words and phrases | Production cost can be high for training videos| Our business and our goals. Introduction to cafe. o| It is interesting to see something than listening to someone for few hours. Easier to capture the attention of the trainees. Seeing,| Role play| Trainees act out characters assigned to them. Information regarding the situation is provided to the trainees by the trainer. | Focus on interpersonal responses The more meaningful the exercise, the higher the level of participant focus and intensity | Outcomes depend on the emotional (and subjective) reactions of the other trainees. | Handling Customer Complains| Role playing can be a very interesting way to see how a person reacts to a certain situation.But the scenarios has to be well prepared and the trainer must always facilitate to keep the trainees from derailing away from the desired learning objectives We used this method in order to prepare the trainees or the future employees to handle difficult situations with no hesitation. Furthermore they will be well prepared to face different types of customers with different attitudes and to handle the complains well. Feeling| Games| This is to improve the decision making and sense making capabilities of the trainees. | Build a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere in the training program.Improve the critical thinkin g skills of the learnersTime management and team building skillsBring out the leadership qualities of the participants. | Time consuming. Competition might arouse the conflict among the participants| Leadership Icebreaker Game| The game â€Å"Magic shoe† is used to choose a leader within the group. This will improve the team dynamics and at the same time it will build a unity among the team members. This will benefit the participants in enhancing their decision making skills and consequently improve their time management skills as well.Word Count 904| e) Outline your evaluation strategy for the course. (250 words) Evaluation can be defined as a way of assessing or judging the value of a piece of work (Tufo, 2002). It is the systematic assessment of the worth or merit of some object (Trochim, 2006). The evaluation of this induction program is based on kirkpatrick’s 4 levels of evaluation model. Figure 2 shows the 4 levels of learning and the how it effect the participan ts. Figure 2 Level 1 (Reaction) – This is used to understand how the trainees or the participants felt about the program. Happy sheets’ and feedback forms will be given to the trainees soon after the induction program is over in order to identify the effectiveness of course delivering methods. For long term evaluation, customer satisfaction surveys and employee performance evaluations will be conducted every three months. Level 2 (Learning) – Learning evaluation can be identified as the measurement of the increase in knowledge before and after the program (Chapman, 2009). Observations will be conducted after the induction program on how the new employees handle the coffee machines and equipment.Furthermore a questioner will be given to the new employees to identify the improvement regarding the product knowledge. Level 3 (Behavior) – In one month time follow up surveys will be conducted to both employees and managers in order to identify whether the emplo yees are applying the things which they have learned during the induction program. Also customer service feedback forms will be given to the customers after one month time to find the improvement and the application of knowledge. Level 4 (Results) – Measuring the performance of the company in increase or decrease of sales.Daily sales level followed by monthly sales level. In period of 3- months’ time measure the increase or decrease in product quality and the customer feedback. Consequently by evaluating the effect on company profit will give a broad description on how the induction program has an impact on the business in long run. Word count 311 Reference 1. Armstrong, M. (2006). Handbook of HRM practices, 10th Edition, London, Kogen Page. 2. Armstrong, M. (2009). Handbook of HRM practices, 11th Edition, London, Kogen Page 3. Chapman, A. (2009).Kirkpatrick’s learning and training evaluation theory. Business balls. [Online]. Available at: http://www. businessba lls. com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel. htm . [Accessed: 12th Jan 2012] 4. Fleming,N. ,and Mills,C. ,(1992). Kinesthetic Learning. Teaching Mineralogy. [Online]. Available at:http://serc. carleton. edu/NAGTWorkshops/mineralogy/xtlsymmetry/kinesthetics. html [Accessed: 14th Jan 2012] 5. Gray,D. Cundell,S. Hay, D. O’neil, J. (2004) Learning through the Workplace 7th Edition, Cheltenhan, Nelson Thornes LTD. . Leadership games. (2012). Leadership games for groups. Leadership games. [Online]. Available at: http://leadershipgames. org/ . [Accessed: 14th Jan 2012] 7. Trochim,M. K. W. ,(2006). Introduction to Evaluation. Research methods Knowledge base. [Online]. Available at: http://www. socialresearchmethods. net/kb/intreval. php . [Accessed: 15th Jan 2012] 8. Tufo,S. (2002). What is evaluation?. Evaluation trust. [Online]. Available at: http://www. evaluationtrust. org/ . [Accessed: 15th Jan 2012] Appendix 1 Magic ShoesMake 2 lines on the ground at least 8 feet apart and have the participants break into 2 groups, with each team having one pair of â€Å"magic shoes. † Instruct the team to gather behind one of the lines and have them cross the lava (the ground they are crossing) with only one person at a time using the â€Å"magic shoes† to be able to walk across the lava safely. Each team will be challenged to select a leader who would plan the strategy on how to have the entire team cross without being burned (Leadership games,2012). Section D – Student reflective statementPlease complete the questions below and submit with you assessment on Friday 15th January 2012. Please note that this is worth 5% of your assessment mark and should be approximately 500 words. What have you learnt in the process of completing your assignment? Human Resource Management (HRM) can use as a powerful force to archive organizational goals. But I feel that in the Singapore Context these practices are not carried out effectively. Especially local firms, t hey name the department as HR department but they only do administrative work. Basic things like Recruiting and selection.I feel that they need to focus more on things like HR Development and training in a strategic level. This will give the company an edge in the competition. All in all it gave me lot of insights on to the role of a HR manager and the importance of him or her in the top management to make decision making easier. What helped or hindered you progress? My work experience as a manager helped me in doing this assignment. Lot of the things mentioned in this module is similar to what I do at work. But the tough part is searching for relevant materials and resources and giving references was slowing down my progress.Nevertheless by reading the course materials and the lecture slides gave me a broad understanding regarding Human resource management and also how to build the induction program effectively. But time management was a difficult task for me as I have work during week days and weekends as well. Therefore it hindered my progress and resulted in rushing through the assignment. For each section please reflect on whether you are satisfied with you submission and if not, why not? Considering the overall work, I am contended and happy because with all the time barriers I managed to finish it on time.But because of the given word counts I had to limit my thoughts and findings which was not satisfactory. Furthermore I have doubts in my referencing method and the amount of references I used because I was unable to attend to the special class where the lecturer conducted in regarding referencing. What actions will you take as a result of what you have learnt while doing this assessment? I am working in a small company which has close to 25 employees in the whole Singapore branch which is the head office for all the other branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand.Last week I was in Indonesia for one of the training sessions which they were co nducting for some of their trainers (We are dealing with Schools). And I was very happy how they conducted their training. It was a well detailed and well structured. After the training they had the training program I took some feedback from the trainees and they were very good. On the other hand the training which we conduct here in Singapore is very informal sessions which don’t really follow any standard. So with the help of my knowledge I am going to change the training structure of our company and standardize for all the other countries as well.

Analysis of the Text “the Time-Sweepers” by Ursula Wills-Jones

â€Å"The Time-Sweepers† By Ursula Wills-Jones The following short story is about time-sweepers and lost time. They are people who sweep up all the time that is lost or wasted. They are invisible, but sometimes they can be noticed. They carry a broom, a mop and a big dustpun. The time-sweepers are hard-working. They work every day and are never sick. The lost and wasted time is packed and recycled. But not every type of time can be recycled, the most poisoned time is buried in a tank underneath a disused army base. The rest of the time can be sold to the people who need it or distributed to good causes or emergency situations. The full text is built on the conflict between people who waste time and people who sweep up all the time that is lost and wasted. Ursula Wills-Jones idealizes the time-sweepers and ridicules people. The author uses the stylistic device of climax in order to describe different types of time wasting: the man who has waited so long to propose to his girlfriend; the woman who has spent thirty-five loathed years in an estate agents, dreaming of opening a florists. The author refers to the stylistic device of hyperbole in order to laugh at the people who waste time: the time-sweeper will pass straight by the desk of the woman who is reading a holiday catalogue under the desk, poring over photos of tropical beaches. They will pass by the next desk, where a man is enjoyably wondering what his mother-in-law looks like naked, and stop by the desk of the young man who is counting every minute, and loathing the hours. The author creates a constant presence of time sweepers. The reader feels that they are everywhere: in the railway station, in the office, at your desk. The time-sweepers are hard-working; they don’t like to rest because there is so mush wasted time after holidays: it takes them around three weeks to resume normal service†¦

Auditing and Accounting Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Auditing and Accounting Ethics - Essay Example External auditors must have the minimum requirement of passing the chartered accountants examination. Auditing theory and practice states that auditors must not sign as external auditors if their self interests affects the independence of auditors. The external auditors must be both independent in fact and in appearance. The auditing rule states that the auditor must not have any material self interest in the clients. An auditor has self interest if the auditor, the auditors spouse and children owns a share of stock or two in the audit client(Pollitt et al. 1999, 30). The Companies Act of 1948 is the legal framework for external auditors to follow in terms of independence (Power 1997, 17). Evidently, many auditors will not allow their independence to be affected by self -interests . Also, many auditors will not allow their independence to be affected by self - review. The external auditor must adhere to the independence policy in taking on a new client. The auditor is mandated, without exception, to consider if self -review will affect his independence. The auditor must not continue with the audit or sign as external auditor if he or she believes that self review will violate the auditors independence. Clearly, many auditors will not allow their independence to be affected by self – review (Watkins 1998, 29). Further, many auditors will not allow their independence to be affected by advocacy. The auditors membership in a group will have a strong impression that the auditor is not being independent. The Code of Ethics for auditors state that auditor must not have his membership in an organization affect the independence of the auditors. The auditors must be independent in fact and in appearance. This means that a slight dent in his independence would raise doubts as the auditors independence. Consequently, the auditor must turn down such an engagement. Undoubtedly, many auditors will

Current Trends in Health Care in USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Current Trends in Health Care in USA - Essay Example t of heart diseases it has been reported that 476,009 Americans under 85 died of cancer compared with 450,637 who died of heart disease as per the American Cancer Society’s annual statistical report of 2002. (â€Å"Cancer now top killer of younger Americans†, 2005) Almost one third of the cancer cases traces back to smoking while other are associated with obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise. There have been premature deaths caused by cancer, which arises from radioactive and carcinogenic materials in the surroundings. Unsafe products like hair dyes, food additives, cosmetics and marketed medicines manufactured for quick profits are associated with problems like cancer. The increased consumption of junk food is a major cause. Indiscretion in sexual life and keeping multiple partners are one of the major causes. Considering the variations among gender, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention reports that in 2003, prostate cancer (150 per 100,000) have been highest in men among the other types while breast cancer (119 per 100,000) have occupied the highest rate among the other types in women. Hepatitis B and C cause liver cancer; cervical cancer has been due to human papillomavirus while mainly H. pylori bacteria cause stomach cancer. AIDS related cancer is due to the HIV infection. Most of these cases are preventable through timely prediction, diagnosis and preventive measures through vaccines. (â€Å"Cancer now top killer of younger Americans†, 2005) The other most common types of cancer prevailing among both men and women are Lung and Colorectal cancer. The incidence of cancer is also highest among the blacks or the Afro Americans. Most of these people opt for the western treatment of cancer involving chemotherapy and surgery rather than any traditional methods. The reasons are basically that the process of opting for these drugs and chemicals is faster and easier than the slow progress of traditional methods. Lack of adequate information and knowledge

Falcon City in Dubailand Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Falcon City in Dubailand - Research Paper Example Falconcity of Wonders is a multi-use megaproject in Dubailand and features structures that are based on well-known sites as well as the architectural wonders of the world including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Dubai Tower of Pisa: This will be an actual and precise duplicate of Italy’s leaning tower of Pisa. Dubai Hanging Gardens of Babylon: This building is designed to house a gorgeous garden that overlooks the Falconcity Mall, several restaurants and residences which are eco-friendly. Dubai Eiffel Tower: This structure is an exact replication of the Eiffel Tower in the French Capital and is intended to be the central point of the commercial sector of the whole Falconcity of Wonders megaproject. Dubai Eiffel Tower would be encircled by gardens, entertainment areas, residences, landscaped parks and a shopping arcade (Churchill, 2013). Dubai Grand Pyramid: This building upon completion of i ts construction would certainly be the largest pyramid ever constructed. The structure itself would be a multi-use project offering residences, offices as well as various venues for recreation. There will also be 2 other smaller pyramids which would be the address of Falconcity management facility and a commercial facility. Dubai Taj Mahal: This structure is designed to be a marvelous five-star hotel resembling India’s Taj Mahal. Dubai Taj Mahal would be one of the most excellent hotels within the entire Dubailand (Vidal, 2013). The Dubai Great Wall: A gargantuan wall would be constructed which would be similar to China’s Great Wall and it will feature a large jogging track. It is of note that the Dubai Great Wall would also serve as a buffer zone... As the discussion stresses  FCW is intended to bring the world together within 1 city. The project has been designed to appear similar to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national emblem, the falcon, with its wings spread and symbolizes the spirit of outstanding qualities, pride as well as leadership. FCW harmonizes the vision of the Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of turning Dubai into a principal global tourist destination. Falconcity of Wonders is a multi-use megaproject in Dubailand and features structures that are based on well-known sites as well as the architectural wonders of the world including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.  This study highlights that  Dubai Lighthouse  is intended to be an exact replica of the gigantic Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse that was constructed during the third century Before Christ on the Pharos Island in Alexandria, Egypt. In the 3rd century BC, Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse was viewed as 1 of the seven world wonders; the structure itself was the tallest building on the entire globe. In Dubai, the Lighthouse would serve as a landmark for Falconcity. It will have retail shops, residences recreational and commercial offerings.  Town of Venice  is designed to be a waterfront development that will contain a variety of shops, open-air cafes as well as provide gondola rides.

Employer Policies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Employer Policies - Essay Example Based on ethical basis, an employer should provide retirement plans for the employees. An example is the 401 (k) plan or the IRA plan that is most suitable for small businesses (Steingold, 2015, p. 118). An employer, however, should not promise an employee a specific income level after retirement. Instead, an employee earns his or her contribution to the plan. Based on good managerial skills, an employer should consider all the administrative requirements. That complies with the ERISA that requires employers to have plan administrators. Participating employees must have a copy of the summary plan description, summary annual report and survivor coverage data. An employer must not fail to file Form 5500 with the IRS, annually (Steingold, 2015, p. 122). A key employer policy in the field of technology management is the Affordable Health Care Act. The Act has diverse legal, ethical and managerial dimensions. It is beneficial to women through because it provides insurance options for women covering preventive services at affordable costs. It is suitable for young adults through its coverage provided to them up to when they are 26 years of age. There are several benefits from the various annual wellness visits provided under the Act. In addition, there are preventive services offered for seniors who have Medicare. Front-line supervisor or manager benefits from provisions of the Act that places accountability to insurance companies for any increase in premium by

Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Argument - Essay Example They were able to do so because of their advance military and naval technology compared with the natives’. The natives didn’t have exposure to the viral or bacterial diseases the Spanish had with them this led to their dead in large numbers. The locals who resisted their rule were captured and sold as slaves in plantations (Todorov 30). The main reason for European invasion of Africa in the fifteenth to seventeenth century was trade and specifically human trade. By this time most of Africa’s traditional institutions were unaffected. Trade between the European and Africans led to the development of towns in the coastal regions. The Africans were also introduced to commodities like salt, weapons and clothes. The Dutch were the first to establish permanent colonies around1652 in South Africa. Later in the nineteenth century, European explorers discovered that Africa contained exploitable resources like gold, silver, iron and was fertile for agricultural production. This led to the Scramble of Africa. There was exchange of ideas, values and practices as a result of trade and colonisation. Missionaries had an important role to play in the integration of European culture into Africa and Americas. The colonisation of Africa and Americas led to the introduction of Christianity to these societies. The people were forced to abandon their cultural practices since they were considered primitive. There was the introduction of formal education. The natives were taught the languages of their colonial master, arithmetic and science (Cowen 145). The political systems of the Americas and African communities were disregarded. The Europeans also made boundaries that divided communities and even families. The natives were forced to accept the rule of their conquerors and pay taxes which were usually oppressive. The other consequence of European conquest was ecological destruction of the Indies and Africa. The settlers cut down the

Hong Kong Government dealing with Pollution problems Essay

Hong Kong Government dealing with Pollution problems - Essay Example In this paper, we particularly look at Hong Kong’s strategy of limiting emission of chlorofluorocarbons and analyze its effectiveness. As one of the most important export hubs of Asia, Hong Kong is beset with pollution problems which are regarded as the inevitable and necessary consequences of development (Ibid.). The amount of air pollution in Hong Kong, primarily come from the city’s dense population, from the factories and power stations that emit smoke, from the seemingly endless construction activities as well as the increasing number of vehicles which all have contributed to the very dangerous levels of air pollutants like particulate matter or the so-called RSP and the greenhouse gas nitrogen dioxide or NO₂ (Lou, 2007). In fact, the situation has been so bad that the visibility level in the area has been recorded at less than eighty kilometers for about thirty percent of a year (Ibid.). One of the most felt effects of Hong Kong’s high level of air pollution have been mostly on the residents’ health, which range from allergies like rhinitis, bronchial ailments, and asthma, among others. However, such are not the only effects of air pollution, as researches have reported many others as well as other causes and related issues, which will be tackled in further details in this paper. This paper intends to take a further look at Hong Kong’s pollution problem that has been very alarming even among the international institutions and companies who have stakes in the city, in relation to how the Hong Kong government responds to the situation. In the attempt to carefully analyze the government’s mechanisms and programs that have been put in place to resolve the issue at hand, as well as the milestones and failures of the government’s efforts, this paper will first take a look at the whole scenario to provide better understanding of the responses to it. The Government’s Strategies. The Hong Kong government, as a

Haleeb Relaunch Report Essay Example for Free

Haleeb Relaunch Report Essay Current Size, Growth and Profitability: Recently, Haleeb Foods has reached a turnover of Rs. 9. 2 Billion in the year 2009. It was a loss, though, as Haleeb Foods has been experiencing a slump since 2-3 years due to internal management and quality issues. Competition may pose a threat because the company will have to maintain its leadership in an expanding market so that it doesn’t lose its market share to its competitors. For Haleeb it might be difficult to maintain its market hare in a market where the loyalties exist for such brands as Nestle and Olper’s. These brands have been in the milk industry and have left a mark in the minds of consumers in terms of quality. Competition seems to be getting tougher as a result of new players entering the dairy market. Haleeb’s primary competitors are Nestle milk pack and Olper’s milk. The Secondary competitors are Nirala, Halla, Good milk and Gourmet milk. Primary Competitors: Prema: Prema milk fresh, pure and nourishing, straight from our own state-of-the-art dairy farms. With the combination of natural vitamins, minerals, and a great creamy taste, Prema milk provides truly natural milk, with all the essential nutrients needed for healthy bodies and bones, including rotein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin A. As an all purpose milk, Prema milk is perfect for the whole family for drinking, cooking, as well as a tasty tea whitener. Prema has a market share of 20%. Olper’s: Launched on March 20, 2006, Olper’s milk is EFL’s standardized and homogenized pure UHT (Ultra heat treated) milk with 3. 5 % fat and 8. 9 % solid non-fats. It is EFL’s premier brand, and the choice of quality-conscious consumers who only go for the best. It is available in easy-to-open, 6-layered Tetra Pak Brick Aseptic red packaging and comes with a 3 months shelf life. Olper’s has a market share of 20%. Nestle Milk Pack: Pure, rich and delicious NESTLE MILKPAK standardized UHT milk benefits from Nestle’s expertise in bringing you the very best life has to offer and benefits from 140 years of consumer trust. It comes in four convenient packages and provides a nutritious value to its consumers by educating them about the advantages of milk. They provide valuable information on the packaging and advertise how Nestle milk provides all the essential nutrients. In another words they keep in track of the changing trends and the change in consumer preferences. The market share for Nestle milk pack is 30%. Secondary Competitors: Nurpur, Nirala, Good milk and Gourmet milk altogether comprise of about 10. 5% of the total market share. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths: * Ultra-Modern technology: Haleeb Foods is using a high-tech modern UHT plant known as â€Å"Tubular Heat Exchange System† in which there are closed pipes of hot and cold water which treat the milk at the time. In this process, the milk is first revolved around the hot pipe which raises the temperature to about 140*C to kill bacteria and other germs and then around the cold pipe which lowers the temperature to around 2-3*C. This process gives the milk its natural thickness and taste. Whereas its competitors use â€Å"Heat Injection System† in which steam is injected into the milk to kill the bacteria and then cooled down The Brand â€Å"Haleeb†: Haleeb is one of the oldest UHT Milk providers of Pakistan and has developed its name through out the country. Every person, whether it be a child or an adult or an elderly, knows about this name and would prefer buying Haleeb Milk rather than any other new ones. It is using the ‘corporate brand strategy’ i. e. making use of the corporate image to affect customer purchase decisions. Examples are Haleeb yoghurt, Haleeb butter, Haleeb milk. Here what is important is not only the reputation of the company but also the concept of customer loyalty to the brand. * Owning the color â€Å"Blue†: Haleeb from the very beginning has identified and associated itself with the color Blue. Every time a person enters a grocery shop and sees a blue pack on the milk shelf, he/she instantly recalls the brand as Haleeb which gives it a competitive edge over its competitors such as Olper’s or Ollwell or Nestle. * High Quality Milk: Haleeb has always provided the best quality milk as it claims â€Å"SAB SE GHARA DOODH (THICKEST MILK)†. Whenever this statement is either displayed or heard somewhere, it instantly associates itself with Haleeb. * Rigorous Quality controls: Haleeb undertakes 21 rigorous quality control tests on every portion of the milk to ensure it is the best out there. Efficient Research and Development department: Haleeb often conducts researches to find out the requirements of the consumers before and even after the launch of a certain product which helps them in making changes to their products according to the consumers’ preferences. * Diversified Brand Portfolio: Haleeb, over the time period, has diversified itself into many products other than milk such as juices, ghee, butter, cheese, low fat milk, etc which gives it a competitive edge and helps it to grow even further and increases its profitability. Weaknesses: * Marketing (Advertisements): Haleeb seldom advertises its products which is a big weakness as its competitors spend a huge amount on TVC’s, Radio spots, etc. The only commercial Haleeb use, is for its milk which is quite old fashioned and doesn’t match up with the requirements of the consumers now days. Considering the competitors like Olper’s and Nestle Milk pack, their TVC,s are seen over and over again during prime times along with bill boards in every heavy traffic street. Awareness of these brands is much more as compared to Haleeb. Packaging: Haleeb, since its beginning, has been using the same packaging which has resulted as a bad sign for the company. Haleeb needs to revamp its packaging keeping consumer wants and perceptions in mind. Over the years customers are accustomed to changes as this is the era of fast transformation and anyone who does not keep up with the times will loose. Therefore Haleeb should step out of its comfort zone and co me up with a new packaging for milk with sharper colors, fancier logos and convenient packs for easy accessible usage. Haleeb is dependent upon Tetra Pak for the packaging of its entire dairy products. Tetra Pak is the only option available to Haleeb for packaging because it is having monopoly in the packaging sector in Pakistan. Due to this reason, Tetra Pak can charge them higher and it could increase the production costs. There is a bargaining power of suppliers. * Demand-Supply Imbalance: The demand for milk is not being completely fulfilled by Haleeb as it is a processor of milk rather than a producer. OPPORTUNITIES: * Increased funding by Government: Government has decided to increase farmers’ funding. This is an opportunity for Haleeb because previously due to weather conditions and other reasons there was lots of wastage of milk but now that can be reduced as farmers will be better able to store milk for longer time periods. * Awareness: Growing dissatisfaction with loose milk and increasing awareness about health and hygiene issues have led to increased processed milk consumption. People are becoming more health conscious as education is increasing in villages. The population is becoming aware of the diseases associated with loose milk coming from unreliable sources. The increase in knowledge has also created awareness for nutritional value in any content of food or drink. Nestle unlike Haleeb has used this opportunity to provide consumers with an additional proved reason to buy packaged milk. Haleeb should pursue this opportunity. * Third largest producer of milk: Pakistan is the Third largest producer of milk in the world with a total production of 32 billion liter of milk a year, whose value is more than that of the combined value of wheat and cotton, from a total herd size of 50 million milch animals (buffaloes and cows). Livestock accounts for 46. 8 percent of agricultural value added and about 10. 8 percent of the GDP. Milk is the largest commodity from the livestock sector accounting for 51 percent of the total value of the sector. Due to the steps taken by the government and private sector, country’s annual milk production is expected to grow at an additional 3 billion liters in the next few years. This is quite an opportunity for ENGRO foods as there is lot of growth in this part of the sector. Threats: * Competition: Competition may pose a threat because the company will have to maintain its leadership in an expanding market so that it doesn’t lose its market share to its competitors. Competition seems to be getting tougher as a result of new players entering the dairy market such as Olper’s, Ollwell, Gourmet, etc. Competition is a very important threat because in order for you to excel, you have to be well aware of the next move that your opponent will take. The idea is to prevent losing your potential customers as well as those who were loyal to you. Haleeb milk cannot afford to give their loyal customers a reason to prefer another brand.

Tourism And Travel Management In Portugal Tourism Essay

Tourism And Travel Management In Portugal Tourism Essay To see the world has been a childhood dream of mine since an early age. Although nothing will change my passion for my home country, I also have a great passion for seeing and experiencing the home countries of other people. I believe that the people of the world who are fortunate enough to have the ability to travel should make an effort to visit foreign countries. The benefits that spring from world travel are numerous. By traveling and interacting with people from other cultures one can help those other people understand where they come from. Experiencing another persons home country may help one better appreciate their own. I often wonder if people in the Middle East could hate Americans as much as they do if they had actually met one before they attacked the U.S., or if it would be so easy for people to ignore the human rights violations in Africa if they personally had an African friend. On a trip to the Dominican Republic I established several friendships with the Dominican pe ople. Not only do I feel like I helped them understand American culture, I also feel like I was able to learn more about their culture. I now have a personal connection with the Dominican Republic, and would care more if something good or bad happened there than I would otherwise. Because it may not be feasible for me to visit every country in the world, I am making an effort to visit every continent at some point in my life. So in the spirit of travel soon begins my journey to Western Europe. Upon graduating in the spring of 2011, I will celebrate by kicking off my traveling dream by visiting several places across Western Europe. The list includes Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, England, Scotland, and Ireland. I will loop my travel and spend the entire summer going between the regions, spending roughly 2 weeks in each. The purpose of this report is to focus on the first stop, Portugal. Area History and Customs: Compared to the United States, Portugal has a very long history as a country and this is reflected in everything from its historic architecture to its unique cultural traditions. Geographically, Portugal is a rather small country, slightly smaller than the size of Indiana (CIA World Factbook, 2010). Portugals long history spans over 11 defined periods ranging from the age of crusades and monarchy, to periods of empire and discovery, and even times of dictatorship and democracy (History of Portugal, 2004). One of these historical periods of achievement that Portugal may be most famous for is the Age of Discovery. Portuguese explorers such as Vasco de Gama and Magellan set forth on their explorations from Portugal. It was during this time that Portugal expanded its empire, settling locations in Brazil, Africa, and India and securing trade in the Indian Ocean (Eyewitness Portugal, 48). Portugal has experienced rule under a variety of foreign influences including the Moors, the Romans, a nd the Spanish; and residual influences from these forces upon Portugal have taken form in everything from their architecture to their religion and cultural practices. Present day Portuguese people are generally mild-mannered, easy-going, and polite (Eyewitness Portugal, 15). When traveling to Portugal I should expect to find a normally friendly and relaxed people, whom dress formally and conservatively, yet enjoy fun, laughing, and general merry-making (Eyewitness Portugal 15). A few more cultural points of note regarding the Portuguese are religion, language, and entertainment. The Portuguese are overwhelmingly Catholic, and religion is deeply embedded in the Portuguese lifestyle, especially in the north (Eyewitness Portugal, 16). The Portuguese also take great pride in their language, and although it may seem similar to Spanish, it would be insulting to suggest that in front of a Portuguese person (Eyewitness Portugal, 16). Lastly, the Portuguese are generally very enthusiastic about football (soccer) and fado (a musical style), both of which they enjoy watching and playing in their leisure time (Eyewitness Portugal 17). Although these generalizations may prove true most of the time, I will not let them tint my expectations of Portuguese people, and during my travels I hope to find my own definitions and descriptions of the average Portuguese person. As I have learned growing up in America, there are stereotypes and generalizations about Americans, and there are also distinct differences between Americans from different regions and states, but stereotypes are never 100% true, and as I visit different regions and cities in Portugal I will be sure to keep this in mind. Travel Motivations: As I stated earlier, my travel motivations stem from a love of world travel, a passion for learning more about world cultures, and a desire to make connections with individuals across the globe. During my stay in Portugal I hope to: 1) Learn more about Portugals history and development as a country; visit some of Portugals historical landmarks, parks, museums, castles, and more 2) Learn more about Portuguese culture and entertainment; listen to the unique Fado style of music 3) Experience Portuguese culture in both the urban and the rural settings; visit two of Portugals largest and most famous cities (Porto and Lisbon The Capital) 4) Interact with the people of Portugal at every opportunity, including from shops, hostels, and restaurants 5) Have the opportunity to teach someone I meet about America, represent the United States of America well (not be an Ugly-American tourist) Hopefully at the end of my entire trip I will not only have a greater understanding and appreciation for Portuguese culture, but also that of the six other locations I visit. I want to make my experience as immersive as possible and will make efforts to interact, learn, and explore everything each country, city, and town has to offer at every stop and every turn. http://portugal.travelguia.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/aveiro.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2601723748_3f28b9361a_o.jpg hotel rooms Overview of Tourism Development: Throughout my research of Portugal, mainly of the cities and towns I will be staying in, I found that the area was well-equipped and prepared to accommodate and serve tourists. There were plenty of hotels, hostels, restaurants, and activities to do; most of which were directed towards a tourism crowd. According to Wikipedia (2010), Portugal attracts many tourists each year. In 2006, the country was visited by 12.8 million tourists. Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in Portugals economy contributing with about 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Because of the heavy role tourism plays in the economy, I can generally expect to be accommodated most places I travel within Portugal, and have planned out my trip in such a way that I will already know where I am staying each night. Although Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, ranking #13 on the Global Peace Index (2010), there are still some precautions travelers should take when visiting Portugal , or any other country for that matter. As the SafeTravel Website describes, Portugal is generally a safe country with a low crime rate, although you have to be more careful in the larger cities, especially Lisbon, which has many pickpockets. But you should watch out for the traffic, especially on the IP5 and the N125 (the main route to the touristy Algarve), which have frequently proved deadly (2010). I will not be driving in any of my travels through Portugal, and rather I will spend most of my travel time on mass transit or walking. However, when walking, especially when crossing streets, I should be aware that road safety is a concern and look before I cross. To minimize the probability of being targeted by a pickpocket I have budgeted out my money ahead of time for all activities. Rather than ca rry my wallet around with me everywhere and risk losing bank cards and drivers licenses, I will carry cash with me and keep it spread out in various pockets. I will also avoid pulling out large sums of cash in public places and be sure I have what I need for activities food, and shopping, before leaving the hostel. Currency/Visa Requirements: Portugal, as a member of the European Union, uses the Euro as its form of currency. As of 27 July 2011, the current exchange rate for Euros to American Dollars is 1 Euro = 1.2982 United States Dollars. Although a passport is required for United States citizens to visit Portugal, a visa is not required for tourist stays of less than 90 days (Visa Requirements, 2010). Itinerary: Summer Overview Country Arrival Time Departure Time United States May 23, 2011 Portugal May 24, 2011 June 5, 2011 Spain June 5, 2011 June 20, 2011 France June 20, 2011 July 4, 2011 Germany July 4, 2011 July 18, 2011 England July 18, 2011 August 1, 2011 Scotland August 1, 2011 August 15, 2011 Ireland August 15, 2011 August 29, 2011 United States August 30, 2011 C:Documents and SettingsGarrettMy DocumentsMy PicturesPortuga lTrip Planningwesterneurope map2.JPG Portugal Daily Itinerary Day 1: May 23, 2011 Travel Day { Richmond ,Newark , Portugal } 1500 Arrive at RIC 1715 Flight Departs Continental Airlines (Flight CO2505) $217.40 USD (Round-Trip) $108.70 USD (For this flight) 1842 Flight lands in EWR 1900 Dinner in EWR Burger King $8.50 USD 2026 Flight Departs EWR Air Portugal (Flight TAP114) 629.28 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($813.10 USD) One-Way Day 2: May 24, 2011 Arrival in Porto, Portugal 0621 Flight Lands in Porto Air Portugal (Flight TAP114) 0630 Security/ Customs Porto Airport 0800 Depart Airport Metro: To Trindade Station Andante Tour Pass (3 days) {Unlimited use of metro, bus, and suburban train} 0820 Arrive Trindade Station Walk to Accommodation 0825 Arrive at Accommodation The Spot Hostel Rua Goncalo Cristovao No12; Porto, Portugal 20 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ per night (2 nights) $51.00 USD 0830 Drop off Luggage at (in Luggage Storage Room) The Spot Hostel Rua Goncalo Cristovao No12; Porto, Portugal Check-in not until 1400 0845 Breakfast at Local Cafe Budget: 7.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 0930 Walk Around City Sightseeing Operation, Relax and Enjoy sights and soundsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 1030 Visit Igreja de Sà £o Francisco (Church of Saint Francis) UNESCO World Heritage Site 3.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($4.50 USD) 1115 Leave Igreja de Sà £o Francisco Continue walking westward down by river, passing historic Alfà ¢ndega Nova, then head north towards Jardim da Cordoaria (Park). 1230 After enjoying walk and park, get lunch at a local cafà ©/restaurant Budget: 10.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1330/1400 Walk back to The Spot Check into room, take nap (Recover from jet lag), shower 1630 Take metro from Trindade to Matosinhos Sul Station From Matosinhos Sul walk to beach 1700 Walk down beach to see the Forte de Sà £o Francisco Xavier do Queijo (Castle of the Cheese) After enjoying castle view and walk back to the beach and relax 1900 Head to Buhle restaurant near beach for dinner Budget: 20.00 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($25.00 USD) 2030 Head back to beach to watch sunset {Sunset time: 2054} 2100 Take metro back to Trindade Station and The Spot then to Sao Bento Station in Ribeira district 21452300 Visit Restaurante O Fado for some traditional Portugal Blues music and/or Ryans Irish Pub for some Guinness Budget: 7 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($9.00 USD) 2300-2330 Take metro back to Trindade Station and The Spot ; go to sleep Day 3: May 25, 2011 Porto, Portugal 0800 Wake Up 0830 Complimentary Breakfast 0930 Walk to AntoÅ„io Fernandes (Grocery Store) Buy lunch and dinner items Budget: 12 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($15.00 USD) 1015 Walk back to The Spot Drop off groceries, pack lunch to have on-the-go 1030 Take Metro to Casa de Musica House of Music concert hall 1100 Tour Casa de Musica Cost: 3 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($4.00 USD)(Source: Lonely Planet Book Portugal) 1300 Leave Casa de Musica Walk to Monumento aos Herà ³is da Guerra Peninsular (Park) 1330 Eat Lunch in Park 1400 Take metro to Sao Bento Station, walk around/tour the cathedral district; sights may include: (Sà £o Bento Station, The Fernandine Walls, Santa Clara Church, Terreiro da Sà ©) 1630 Walk to Ponte Dom Luà ­s (Bridge) for view over Douro river and city 1715-1730 Head back to Sao Bento Station; Take metro and walk back to The Spot 1800-1930 Prepare dinner in kitchen and eat dinner 2200 Head to Hot Five Jazz and Blues Club to enjoy some local music Budget: 7 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($9.00 USD) 0000 Be Back at The Spot and get some sleep Day 4: May 26, 2011 Travel to Aveiro, Portugal 0900 Wake Up, Eat Breakfast, Prepare to Leave 1000 Take Metro from Trindad Station to Campanhà £ Station; board train at Campanhà £ Train Station 1052 Train Departs Campanhà £ Station heads for Aveiro Price: 9.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($12.30 USD) 1130 Train arrives in Aveiro eat lunch at local restaurant Budget: 7.00 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($9.00 USD) 1300 Check into BiniBag Guest House (Hostel) Price 2 Nights: 32 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 41. 30 USD) 1400 Walk to tourism info. center Rent Bike, ride around town Price: 1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ {returned when bike is} 1600 Return Bike, Walk to small park near canal 1700 Walk to Carrefour (Grocery Store) Buy food for 2 dinners , 2 lunches Budget: 35 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($45.20 USD) 1740 Walk back to BiniBag House, Cook Dinner Eat then relax on rooftop of BiniBag Hostel 1930 Open Night: explore, read a book, shop, nightlife, or sleep Budget: 20 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($25.80 USD) Day 5: May 27, 2011 Aveiro Lagoons, Museums, and Cathedrals 0900 Wake Up, Complimentary Breakfast at BiniBag Hostel (Pack Lunch to have today) 1030 Boat tour of Lagoon Information and Pricing at Tourist Center Cost: Unknown (Budget: 10 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬) 1300 Lunch (packed) Eat wherever, preferably near canals/outdoors 1330 Head to Museum of Aveira Tour the museum Price: 1600 After Leaving the museum stop by Se Cathedral de Aveiro and Igreja de Sà £o Joà £o Evangelista Two historical cathedrals in the area, worth checking out 1800 Head Back to BiniBag Hostel and Cook Dinner Eat/Relax on Rooftop 1930 Open Night: explore, read a book, shop, nightlife, or sleep Budget: 20 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($25.80 USD) Day 6: May 28, 2011 Depart Aveiro, Head for Coimbra 0900 Wake Up Complimentary Breakfast at Binibag Hostel Pack up prepare to leave 1130 Depart Aveiro via Train 26 minute train ride Price: 9.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 12.30 USD) 1200 Arrive in Coimbra Get Snack at a local restaurant Budget: 5 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 6.50) 1300 Check into Grande Hostel de Coimbra Drop off luggage Price (3 nights): 45 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($58.14USD) 1400 Head to Antonio o Dinis Santos (Grocery) 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners Budget: 35 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($45.22 USD) 1530 Walk to Museu da Cià ªncia da Universidade de Coimbra Science Museum affiliated with nearby university Price: 3 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ (3.87 USD) 1800 Leave Museum, head to Democratica (restaurant) for dinner; cheap popular spot with local students [Not open on Sunday] Budget: 10 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($12.92 USD) 2000 Walk down historic Rua da Sofia (one of the citys main thoroughfares) classified as a national monument Day 7: May 29, 2011 Kayaking Trip 0830 Wake Up, cook and eat breakfast, prepare for kayaking trip 1000 Get picked up for kayaking trip on Rio Mondego Company: O Pioneiro do Mondego (Pack lunch to have with me) Price: 20 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1600 Return from kayaking trip, head back to Hostel to shower , change, and cook dinner 2300 Go to à ¡Capella (local student-run bar featuring live Fado music every night) Budget: 10 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($12.92 USD) 0100 Back to Hostel and sleep Day 8: May 30, 2011 Exploring the city of Coimbra 0930 Wake up, cook/eat breakfast 1000 Spend day walking around historic district, pack lunch, Total Cost/Budget 10à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 12.92 USD) 1000-1900 Sights and stops will include: Se Velha de Coimbra (Old Cathedral of Coimbra) {3 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬}; -Largo da Portagem (Plaza with shopping and cafes) {5 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ budget}; Jardim Botà ¢nico (Botanical Gardens) {free}; eat packed lunch here -Igreja e Mosteiro de Santa Cruz (Church and Monastery of Santa Cruz),{free, can pay 1 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ to see cloister} -Jardim de Manga (Manga Garden), small park with interesting fountain {free} -Pà ¡tio da Inquisià §Ãƒ £o, (Headquarters of Portuguese Inquisition) dungeons and torturing occurred here {free} 1930 Head back to Hostel, Prepare and eat dinner 2100 Day 9: May 31, 2011 Last Day in Coimbra, Travel to Fatima 0930 Wakeup, Prepare and eat Breakfast 1000 Walk around Praà §a do Comà ©rcio (commercial square); shop eat small brunch at local cafà © Budget: 12 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1430 Head to Train Station, Catch Train leaving at 1519 for Fatima Price: 10 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($12.92 USD) 1611 Arrive in Fatima, Check into Luna Fatima Plaza (Hotel) Price: 15 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ (1 Night) 1700 Walk to MiniMercado Eva (Grocery), Buy Breakfast and Lunch items Budget: 15 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 19.40 USD) 1900 Eat Dinner at Restaurante a Grehla(Traditional Portuguese grill) Budget: 12 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($15.50 USD) 2000 Go see Capela das Aparià §Ãƒ µes (Chapel of Apparitions) {Apparent Location of Appearance of Virgin Mary} Price: Free 2200 Free night, explore, possibly go to Là ©rias bar, read, sleep Budget: 5 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 6.50 USD) Day 10: June 1, 2011 Ourem Castle and travel to Lisbon 0900 Wake up, eat breakfast 1000 Head to Ourem via taxi or bus Budget: 15à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1030 Tour Castle at Ourem, eat packed lunch, explore surrounding area Price/Budget: 5 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1400 Head back to Fatima, prepare to catch 1755 Train to Lisbon Train Price à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€  10 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 2039 Arrive in Lisbon (Entrecampos Station), take metro to Baixa/Chiada Station 3-Day Lisboa Card(Free Public Transport and State Museum Entry) Price: 35 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($45.22 USD) 2100 Check into Smile Hostel Price: (3 nights) 48 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 62 USD) 2200 Eat cheap dinner at local restaurant/cafà © Budget: 7 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($ 9 USD) 2300 Explore area for interesting nightlife Budget: 15 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($19.38 USD) Day 11: June 2, 2011 First Full Day in Lisbon (Historic sites in the Alfama Area)) 0900 Wake up, eat breakfast at a local cafà © Budget: 4 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($5.17 USD) 1000 Walk to Supermercado Chen (grocery store) buy groceries for rest of stay Budget: 40 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ ($51.68 USD) 1130 Walk to and explore St. Georges Castle Price 5 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ (30% Discount w/ Lisboa Card) {3.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬} 1230 Lunch, then visit Museu Militar (Portuguese Military Museum) Price: 3 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ (20% Discount w/ Card) {2.40 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬} 1500 Visit Sao Vicente de Fora (Church of St. Vincent Lisbons Patron Saint) Price: Free 1600 Wander around Feira da Ladra (Thieves Market) check out this famous market Budget: 3 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1700 Visit Sà © Cathedral de Lisboa (The citys cathedral), visit cloister Free, Pay 2.50 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ for cloister 1800 Walk back to hostel, pass by Church of Santo Antà ³nio, cook and prepare dinner 2000 Walk to waterfront, view sunset at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€  2056 2100-2300 Checkout local nightlife, try to see some live fado music Budget: 7 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Day 12: June 3, 2011 Second Day in Lisbon 0900 Wake up, eat breakfast 1000 Rent a GoCar, drive around city on self-guided tour Pick up is near Hostel 1200 Visit Belem Tower (also eat lunch) Historic fortress and monument to Portugals age of discovery Free with Lisboa card 1300 Visit Palà ¡cio da Ajuda (historic palace turned museum) Free with Lisboa card 1600 Walk around Belem, visit anything that tickles my fancy Budget: 10à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬, try to take advantage of Lisboa Card 1900 Head back to Hostel and Eat Dinner 2100- Open night, do whatever Budget: 15 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Day 13: June 4, 2011 Last Day in Lisbon (and Portugal) 0930 Wake up, eat breakfast Budget for daily activities: 20 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1030 Head to the beach, spend most of the day at/around the beach relaxing /soaking last bit of Portuguese sun 1500 Head to any Historical locations of note that I may have seen on GoCar tour but didnt explore on foot 1900 Dinner at Local Restaurant Budget: 15-20 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 2100- Enjoy last bit of Portuguese night life Budget: 10-18 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Day 14: June 5, 2011 Depart Portugal, Head for Spain 0900 Wake Up, Breakfast, Pack, Check out of Hostel 1030 Catch Bus from Lisbon to Madrid (arrives in Madrid 2030) Price: 45 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ Total Cost of Vacation [Portugal] Item Price (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬) Price ($ USD) Travel (Airlines, Metro, Busesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) 892.54 1153.25 Dining 258.58 334.11 Hotel 180.00 232.58 Events 137.90 178.18 Misc. Activities / Shopping 170.00 219.66 Total 1639.02 2117.78

thematic essay on identity -- essays research papers fc

Thematic Essay on Identity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many aspects of identity in the poem â€Å"Sex without Love,† by Sharon Olds. I can relate my own thoughts to how the author views the subject that she talks about in this poem. There has been a situation in my own life where I was thinking to myself, just as the author was, â€Å"How do they do it, the ones who make love without love?† (Olds 740). Having been raised as a well-rounded and disciplined person, as well as religious, I know the discouragement of having premarital sex. It’s not just the immorality that these characters are experiencing that the author is talking about, but they probably have personal issues that have to do with a their self worth and identity. These characters think they know what love is, but the truth is that they are in denial of what they are really doing. Even though religion is an issue to the characters, their identity pushes that concept to the side so that they can do what they desire most. I believe that the author is trying to stress the point that these people are not obeying the word of God and leading themselves into their own temptations. Olds compares the truly religious to the ‘lovers’ by introducing them as people who have sex without being in love by saying, â€Å"These are the true religious, the purist, the pros, the ones who will not accept a false Messiah, love the priest instead of the God† (Olds 740). Part of this poem is ironic because the author starts by questioning... thematic essay on identity -- essays research papers fc Thematic Essay on Identity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many aspects of identity in the poem â€Å"Sex without Love,† by Sharon Olds. I can relate my own thoughts to how the author views the subject that she talks about in this poem. There has been a situation in my own life where I was thinking to myself, just as the author was, â€Å"How do they do it, the ones who make love without love?† (Olds 740). Having been raised as a well-rounded and disciplined person, as well as religious, I know the discouragement of having premarital sex. It’s not just the immorality that these characters are experiencing that the author is talking about, but they probably have personal issues that have to do with a their self worth and identity. These characters think they know what love is, but the truth is that they are in denial of what they are really doing. Even though religion is an issue to the characters, their identity pushes that concept to the side so that they can do what they desire most. I believe that the author is trying to stress the point that these people are not obeying the word of God and leading themselves into their own temptations. Olds compares the truly religious to the ‘lovers’ by introducing them as people who have sex without being in love by saying, â€Å"These are the true religious, the purist, the pros, the ones who will not accept a false Messiah, love the priest instead of the God† (Olds 740). Part of this poem is ironic because the author starts by questioning...

Pacifism & Conscientious Objection :: essays research papers fc

During the 20th century America has been involved in many conflicts that have led to war or the taking up of arms against other humans and nations. Although the vast majority of Americans have blindly accepted these actions throughout the century, more and more people are seeing war as morally wrong. Reasons for this epiphany are based off of a variety of things and encompass many other aspects related to war and killing examples include: due to moral and ethical principles, objection to war due to strong religious beliefs, the objection to violence due to the same ideals above, objection to the government's use of force, and the objection to the use of weapons of mass destruction. Many of the core beliefs of conscientious objection derive from the teachings or beliefs of pacifism. Pacifism has been a system of thinking and living for hundreds of years, and, in the 20th century many objection and pacifistic movements have sprung up all around the nation, more so than in any other time. Pacifism and conscientious objection in the United States have been moral issues that have fallen under question due to the belief of the participants that killing, war, and the act of violence is wrong and immoral. To begin to understand the workings of conscientious objection, it is important have a clear view of what pacifism is. The roots of pacifism reach back for literally hundreds of years. Practically all of the messiahs of all the chief religions of the world preached for pacifism including: Allah and Muhammad from the Muslim Koran, Jesus and God from the Bible used by Catholics, Christens, and Quakers, and in the Jewish Torah. Other teachers of pacifism include: Plato and Socrates. The moral and ethical principles of pacifism and conscientious objection have been present throughout United States history. There have been known objectors in every single war that America has been somehow involved, Including: The French and Indian War, The Revolutionary War, The War of 1812, The Civil War, The Spanish American War, The Mexican American War, World War One, World War Two, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Persian Gulf War, and into the ongoing War Against "Terror". Pacifism is the refusal to participate in any violent actions and or killing. This can be derived from the belief that all life is sacred and that it is morally wrong to take another persons life.

The Genome Revolution Essay -- Genetics Genetic Engineering Essays Pa

The Genome Revolution For numerous years, the world’s most prestigious geneticists have been trying to crack the human genetic code, the intricate puzzle that defines each and every one of us as individuals. With the monumental success of the Human Genome Project, a new and exciting biological frontier is ready for exploration. The ramifications of the knowledge derived from this endeavor will no doubt be staggering for residents of the Rio Grande Valley and the world at large. The use of genetic sequencing in the medical field has innumerable possibilities; genomic medicine, as this new field is now called, will enable the human race to make immense advances in understanding how our genetic heredity makes us susceptible to some illnesses and immune to others. The detection of diseases with a high rate of heredity is just one facet of the gem that is genomics; once researchers are able to map out all of the vital components and rare alleles that sometimes play a large factor in disease, it will be possible to target these specific gene combinations, functional elements, and alleles. Because of the fact that protein, produced by our cells’ ribosomes, has an effect on the pathways that help express our inherited traits, it is important that we understand the relationship between DNA and protein, and how this affects the phenotype of an individual’s genetic attributes. For example, sickle-cell anemia is caused by a flaw in one nitrogenous ba se sequence in DNA. This flaw then translates into RNA, then into amino acids that determine the phenotype that the subject will have. The discrepancy in something as minute as a nitrogenous base and one amino acid makes the difference between a healthy, normal life and a life ... ...our already impoverished area; any more of a license given to healthcare providers and employers to rid themselves of those who may potentially get sick would be morally and ethically reprehensible. Assessing the consequences of the information that the Human Genome Project may yield must be taken into consideration; the medical benefits must be weighed on a balanced scale with the ethical and moral ramifications to properly size up what we will do in the future. Residents of the Rio Grande Valley must be prepared to deal with the positive and negative aspects of this modern revolution that we call genetics. Works Cited Valley Baptist Health Care System—Valley Health Care Needs http://www.valleybaptist.net/foundation/healthcare_needs/default.html 18 Sept. 2003 The Human Genome Project—Official Website http://www.genome.gov 15 Sept. 2003

Aviation management

How did Stansted get the go ahead to become London’s 3rd airport? Pursuits for expansion of London airport capacity have been long drawn involving various Airport Commissions and political intrigues (FT, 2014). The quest for the Third London Airport particularly with regard to competing proposals for a new airport at Cublington and the expansion of Stansted is the subject of this section, which also discusses the key players who took part in the process.. Capacity constraints at Heathrow, particularly with the rapid growth in air traffic in the 1950s, led to overflows into Gatwick, UK’s second airport. Neither of these two locations are however ideal given the growth of the city. Built-up areas are not conducive for air safety and there is the additional challenge of noise pollution impacting residents (Helsey and Codd, 2012). It became apparent in the 1960s that there was need to meet considerable growth anticipated into the future. This gave rise to proposals for a new airport and expansion of existing capacity. Stansted, a former military airfield in Essex, was proposed as a third airport in 1963 and was thereafter endorsed by a Government White Paper in 1967 (HC Hansard, 1971; Stansted Airport, 2013). A subsequent inconclusive public inquiry led to the setup of the Commission for the Third London Airport, popularly referred to as the Roskill Commission tasked with review of sites for a third airport (Abelson and Flowerdew, 1972; UKCAA, 2013). With its evaluation of the timing of need, the requirement for expansion of capacity, and after a careful study of a total of 80 proposed project sites, four sites were finally chosen, principal among them a new airport at Cublington in the Vale of Aylesbury. It was deemed to offer best access situated in the key London-Birmingham axis away from built-up areas and would cost less than most of the alternatives (Abelson and Flowerdew, 1972). This proposal however met with strong opposition from local people, politicians and middle-class voters making it politically untenable (FT , 2014). An influential member of the Roskill Commission, Colin Buchanan, in dissent on grounds of environmental and planning concerns, proposed a new alternative at Maplin Sands, Foulness in the Thames Estuary. This opened the door to strong political opposition against Cublington with the latter proposal becoming the preferred option of the Conservative government of the day which thus disregarded Roskill’s proposal (FT, 2014; Helsey and Codd, 2012; Mishan, 1970). Maplin had interestingly been considered by the Roskill Commission and had been decisively rejected on the basis of cost (the most expensive option overall), distance and convenience to prospective passengers (the most remote) (FT, 2014; Mayor of London, 2013). With all the political support and progress towards the Maplin proposal, it was not built (FT, 2014; Helsey and Codd, 2012). The cost of the constituent deep-harbour, rail links, motorways, new towns to accommodate workers, and surface route to the airport was an astronomical ?825 million (estimated at ?8,448 million today) (Helsey and Codd, 2012). To many, including the opposition party then – the Labour Party, this was regarded as unacceptable (FT, 2014). With the coming to power of the Labour Party a change in complexion, the Maplin airport project was abandoned in July 1974 (FT, 2014). A reappraisal of passenger projections in the new regime indicated â€Å"over-optimism† in forecasts showing that there was adequate capacity until 1990 at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, aided by regional airports (AOA, 2013; UKCAA, 2013). However, with increasing competition from abroad and passenger numbers once more rising, the need for expansion became apparent. British Airports Authority (BAA), owner of the Stansted Airport, submitted plans for its expansion and with significant lobbying by its Chairman Norman Payne and the enlisting of support from Margaret Thatcher, the Maplin scheme was abandoned in favour of a cheaper plan to enlarge Stansted (Mayor of London, 2013). This option had also been considered by Roskill and had not made the shortlist of key options (FT, 2014). The expansion of Stansted was accomplished a decade after its proposition but was a predictable failure challenged by a lack of success in attracting and supporting long-haul operations by airlines (World Airline Directory, 2001; UKCAA, 2013). It was however to benefit from the emergence of low-cost carriers, principally Ryanair, which were drawn by attractive landing charges which offset consequent inconvenience to their passengers (UKCAA, 2013; Mayor of London, 2013; BBC, 2011). Airport policy in the UK has been a case study of political short-termism with the location of an additional (3rd) airport for London in a dilemma. Heightened by uncertainy over demand and growth estimates and a general lack of bold political action, decisions are challenged by political considerations making inland airports unfeasible and economic cons iderations making coastal airports unfeasible. This has led to the postponement of requisite action with policy makers often prone to swaying given the intense and incessant lobbying and political pressures. References Abelson, P. and A., Flowerdew, 1972. Roskill’s successful recommendation.† In: Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Vol. 135. No. 4, pp.467 Airports Operators Association, 2013. The Airport Operator, Autumn 2013. BBC, 2011. Heathrow and Stansted runway plans scrapped by BAA, 24 May 2010. Viewed on 30/1/2014 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk Financial Times, 2014. London’s new airport held to ransom by folly. December, 2013 House of Commons Hansard, 1971. Third London Airport (Roskill Commission Report). 4th March. Vol. 812. cc1912-2078. HC Helsey, M., and F., Codd, 2012. Aviation: proposals for an airport in the Thames estuary, 1945-2012. House of Commons Library. Viewed from: http://cambridgemba.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/sn4920-1946-2012-review.pdf Mayor of London, 2013. Why London needs a new hub airport. Transport for London. Viewed from: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/26576.aspx Mishan, E., 1970. What is wrong with RoskillLondon: Lo ndon School of Economics Stansted Airport, 2013. Press Release. Viewed on 1st Feb 2014 from: http://www.stanstedairport.com UKCAA, 2013. UK Airport Statistics – Aviation Intelligence. United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. World Airline Directory, 2001. Flight International. Stansted Airport, Stansted, Essex, 27 March – 2 April 2001. CM241SB, UK Given the urgent need to find a solution to UK airport capacity why do you think the government wishes to delay the process? Political intrigues and myriad arguments still mire the London airport expansion pursuit half a century later with the current Howard Davies Airports Commission set up in 2012 still wading in the long running controversy (FT, 2014). Continued political posturing, hedging and stonewalling still characterizes this pursuit for a viable solution given the readiness to oppose policies espoused by those of different complexions and political stand and complication of issues hindering bold decisions and action (FT, 2014; CAPA, 2013). With reference to previous government airport policies, this section evaluates the desire of government to postpone a decision on the final solution to meet need until after the 2015 general election. In the Davies Commission’s view, the capacity challenge is yet to become critical and there is need for action as there is potential for it to be (The Independent, 2014; Airports Committee, 2013a). These findings contained in its December 2013 interim report (preceding a final report expected in 2015) are based on the acknowledgement of continued growth of air travel, mainly in the South East of England with the need for an extra runway by 2030 and another possibly by 2050. For the short and medium term, the Commission has made a raft of proposals to enhance efficiency of airline and ground operations (Airports Commission, 2013b). Ideally, the latter proposal is arguably most appropriate given that operational and design improvements have hitherto enable d the handling of more volumes than anticipated, extending current capacity and enabling full and efficient use of available resource (UKCAA, 2013; The Independent, 2014). On the Commission’s shortlist of options for the short and medium term include a third runwayand lengthening of an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick. The proposal for a brand new airport in the Thames Estuary is side-lined citing uncertainties and challenges surrounding it with the Commission however promising to evaluate its feasibility and to arrive at a decision regarding its viability later in 2014 as well as longer term expansion options at Stansted and Birmingham (CAPA, 2013; Airport International, 2012). The government however says that it will not make a final decision in this regard until after the 2015 general election pushing the responsibility to the next government (CAPA, 2013; FT, 2014). When the Coalition government came to power in 2010, it scrapped former Labour gover nment’s plan for a third runway at Heathrow to which it had been strongly opposed instead favouring the creation of a new hub airport in the Thames Estuary (Helsey and Codd, 2012). Given renewed focus on Heathrow, there seems to be a deliberate decision by government to avoid offending the electorate in its turnaround from its manifesto commitment, as well as to avoid political turbulence in the run up to the forthcoming elections (FT, 2014; CAPA, 2013). It is widely accepted that Prime Minister David Cameron set up the Davies Commission in a bid to postpone or to defuse controversy, maintaining a dishonest ambiguity until after the general election (FT, 2014). Heathrow is a popular preference given the support it receives from the majority of politicians (except those with constituencies on the flight path); business and powerful representative lobby bodies; airlines; air alliances; remote UK regional airports benefiting from international connections; as well as domestic an d international aviation representative bodies (CAPA, 2013; FT, 2014). Critics state that the inclusion of other airports is intended at making the proposals not to seem too Heathrow-centric and is aimed at political expediency (FT, 2014, CAPA, 2013). It would have been political dynamite for the Commission not to have made positive clamours with regard to runway capacity warding off accusations of ministers trying to kick the controversy ‘into the long grass’, a scenario which has bedevilled such pursuits for half a century (CAPA, 2013; The Independent, 2014). From the 1967 Government White Paper permitting the expansion of Stansted, through subsequent inquiries and the Roskill Commission in the early 1970s, the quest for expanded capacity continues with arguments going back and forth around similar proposals and sites (FT, 2014; UKCAA, 2013). Expansion at Heathrow is an easy road given that it is relatively cheaper and has less challenges but for the environmental con cerns of noise pollution and carbon emissions which cannot be ignored or wished away (Airports Committee, 2013a). The option for expansion at Stansted is impeded by previous capacity limitation by the 1985 White Paper, though it got reprieve in the 2003 ‘Future of Air Transport’ White Paper and an extension of passenger capacity limit by the courts (DOT, 2003). Yet, Stansted has historically been challenged with regard to its support of long-haul flights; preference by airlines; as well as environmental concerns (World Airline Directory, 2001; UKCAA, 2013). The Thames Estuary option despite being the most environmentally sound is challenged by economic considerations regarding not only the cost of building the airport but also the requisite surface links, and costs associated with imminent closure at Heathrow. There is also difficulty in the estimation of effects it will have on demand and airline operations (The Independent, 2014; Airports Commission, 2013b; Airport In ternational, 2012). This scenario highlights the present dilemma facing political players and government, which is what leads to their general uncertainty and a general lack of boldness in approach. Intense lobbying and political pressure has consequently led to the postponement of decisions and the backtracking by government from its pledge. The divide in opinion and arguments causing uncertainty hands politicians a license to continue to do nothing at all. References Airports Committee, 2013a. Emerging thinking: Aviation Capacity in the UK. 7th October. Viewed from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/aviation-capacity-in-the-uk-emerging-thinking Airports Commission, 2013b. Short and medium term options: proposals for making the best use of existing airport capacity. 7th August. Viewed from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/short-and-medium-term-options-proposals-for-making-the-best-use-of-existing-airport-capacity Airport International, 2012. Thames Estuary Airport Is No t A â€Å"Short Term† Solution. 4 July 2012. CAPA, 2013. The Davies Commission’s Interim Report on UK airports: the big loser remains UK competitiveness. Centre for Aviation. Department of Transport, 2003. The Future of Air Transport – White Paper and the Civil Aviation Bill. Viewed on 14/1/2014 from: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers Financial Times, 2014. London’s new airport held to ransom by folly. December, 2013 Helsey and Codd, 2012. Aviation: proposals for an airport in the Thames estuary, 1945-2012 The Independent, 2014. Sir Howard Davies’ Airports Commission: Air travel could be transformed within a few years – with no more ‘stacking’. 17th December, 2013 UKCAA, 2013. UK Airport Statistics – Aviation Intelligence. United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.

Poverty and Crime Essay

Relationship between poverty and crime. Name Course University Tutor Date Introduction There is no single definition of poverty. One definition holds that poverty is the society’s standard of living in a particular time and people are said to be poor when they cannot even afford their basic necessities or if their income is insufficient. Crime is the violation of the rule of law as it is stipulated in the constitution. Its increase calls for measures and sanctions that ensure that social order prevails. There is a correlation between poverty and crime though many who claim that there are some states where poverty is very high have refuted this argument. They argue that the crime in these areas is very is low. This research paper, will discuss intensively about poverty and crime. It will analyze the relationship between poverty and the crime rates, its root causes and means of its eradication. Who are the poor? Poverty is defined differently by various agencies in America. Generally it could be said to be the deprivation of the basic needs such as food, cloth and shelter. Depending on the standards of living opportunities, employment and respect that fellow citizens enjoy their lives but this does not meet that the set living standard is below poverty line. Poverty can be categorized in to three classes namely absolute poverty, social exclusion and relative poverty. These classes have different resources that would promote harmony between the body and the soul. Relative category denotes lack of resources needed for one to participate fully in issues that affect their life. The third class of poverty is what is referred to as an area that lacks Begin Match to source 5 in source list: (8-18-03) http://www. ic. gov. au/conferences/cypc/proceedings. pdfa combination ofEnd Match various necessities Begin Match to source 5 in source list: (8-18-03) http://www. aic. gov. au/conferences/cypc/proceedings. pdfsuch as unemployment, poorEnd Match infrastructure, Begin Match to source 5 in source list: (8-18-03) http://www. aic. gov. au/conferences/cypc/proceedings. pdflowEnd Match income and substandard skills. According to the United Nation’s world summit of social development, poverty is a condition in which one is deprived of the basic needs such as food, clean water sanitation, heath and education. According the 2006 statistics on poverty, the poverty rate in the united state declined from 12. 6%, as it was the case in 2005. When this was translated in to figures it meant that 36. 5 citizens lived in penny, as it was the cases in 2005. Currently about 12% of the population in the United States lives below the poverty threshold. Poverty in America sometimes is not something stable as it fluctuates with time for some people earns more than the set poverty line but in other times, they earn below it. As per the 2001 statistics, minors were the most affected of all groups in the industrialized nations America being the worst because 14. % of the minors lived below the poverty line. This also largely affected the Americans. (Haveman RH. 1987) According to the United States Research Center, the poverty rate has increased over the recent past from what it has been for over twenty-six years. In the past, it was 11. 3 percent but in 2004 it stood at 12. 7 percent though this gradually declined in the year 2006 to 12. 3 percent. In the period between 2000-2006, the poverty level among the minors significantly increased from 16. 2 percent to 17. 8 percent but in following two years it decline to 17. 4 percent. Poverty in America varies across race, family, sex and age but America has registered a decline in poverty rate when compared with the 1990’s figures. This could be attributed to the economic depression. The current rate is still bigger than that of the 1970s. As per the United States Census Bureau, it calculates the rate of poverty by assessing the much one earns and his purchasing power. As it is noted above that poverty varies in America, poverty rate is highest among the juniors who are under 18 years. According to a survey that was done in 1998, the poverty rate amongst children was 18. 9% and this was a decrease from the 1997 figure. The rate of poverty to those who are under six years was 20. 6% in 1998. The rate for those within the bracket of 18-64 was 10. 9%. In 2005 the poverty rate for over those 65 years was 9. 4 percent than that of 2005 which was 10. 1 percent while that of the minors stood at 17. 4% Depending on peoples’ nationality, those who were born in America had a poverty level of 11. 9% or an equivalent of 30. 8 million people in the year 2007 and this was the same as it was in 2006. To the foreigners, the poverty level in 2006 slightly went down to 15. 2% when compared with the 2005 figure and in 207 the figure still went down. Moore D. 2007) Causes of poverty. Poverty has many causes and some of them are overpopulation, unequal distribution of resources high living standards, lack of proper education and skills, lack of employment, economic and distribution of people in a location, natural disasters. Overpopulation can be linked with poverty. In areas that have a lot of people, there is strain in resources as people tend to deplete them because competition there in but this is not a major cause of poverty in US. The real causes of poverty in USA are low wages and lack of reliable and well paying employment. In America over two thirds of all poor households with some children rely on only one or two people who are in jobs. However, many of them are in low paying jobs that cannot help them to meet their needs. Many people do not get jobs because of a number of factors. Some of them do not have the required skills while others are handicaps, personal hazards and general inability to perform. In America people who were sometime in the past employed but due to some reasons such as misconducts were dismissed are poor. They could also have been dismissed due to insubordination, unionism or because of participating in strikes. When people do not get good jobs or are not at all employed, they cannot provide their families with their necessities and hence the high rate of poverty. In America most of the unemployed turn to drug abuse. (Dwarkin R. 2005) Another thing that cause poverty in America is that there is a very high living condition. With little money, it is not possible to get adequate food, shelter and clothing many who claim to be employed are in low paying jobs that pay minimum wages and this is the problem that non employed face. Because USA is a developed nation, the prices of items are very high so anyone earning a dollar a day finds it hard to survive. For example a Mexican can get one dollar in hour and then buy some food for the family. The same case applies in America where food is very expensive; one may earn five dollars in a day only to spend all of this money on food. Generally life standard in America is very high and for this reason many are considered to live below poverty line. This causes most Americans to have physical and mental disabilities and may lead to pathological disorders. This has been a problem to many because once you get addicted to drugs as your life becomes dependent on them. In such a situation, then you prioritize drugs instead of other things that are more important. These drugs cause a mind to fail to function properly and for this reason they cannot secure themselves jobs in America. Mental inability, social problem and disability are some of the challenges that Americans face. Disabled people cannot be able to compete effectively in the search for jobs as physically normal people do. Because they have low incomes, their families give them special attention and this puts strain to their meager resources. These people are also isolated by others something that increases the level of social stigma. Another thing is exclusion in the social processes and this has been another cause of poverty in America. It happens when people do not get a chance of leading a normal life. It occurs to the disabled, the imprisoned and to the people who have language difficulties. The homeless and the ex- prisoners as well as those that are suffering from aids are also affected. These factors have greatly led to the increase in poverty cases. It should be understood that these people though they are not actively participating in social processes, they still require food, shelter and clothing. (Cohen S. 985) Poverty and crime Crime is doing contrary to what is required by the constitution. Many people indulge themselves in criminal activities if they do not meet their basic needs. Most people become criminals because of poverty but it should not be forgotten that others deem it a career. According to the conflict theories, economic strife has been related or associated with crimes. Many people who d o not have any other source of their livelihood, result to crimes such as burglary, assault and robbery. Most of these individuals are socially propelled to behave this way due to their poverty level and social alienation. Increase in per capital income tends to reduce crime rate something that attests to the fact that poverty leads to crime. Crime rate depends on social and cultural factors for example; if many children are born by single mothers then the level of the crime goes up. Most children who are fatherless are more likely to become criminals because they lack proper attention at home as their mother cannot meet their basic needs. They go to the streets to seek solace. Crime rates. There are three things that could be attributed to the rise in crime rates in America. These are for example the rise of outbreaks. This was one major cause of crimes in the 1986 and in 1960s and 70s there were some family policies that were make which resulted to upsurge in juvenile delinquency. The third cause of crime is the saturation of the criminal systems. (Cassdill H. 1962) This has compromised the fight against crime as prisoners are being sentenced for a shorter period than they should and are prematurely released. When this happens, they leave prisons uncorrected. According to a research that was done by the Kirwan Institute increase in poverty was linked to high-level crime rate. This is because when the poverty level goes beyond a certain point it invites crime. In the United States, the high rate of illegitimate births is linked to crime prevalence and this is as a result of many single parented households. When these children do not get the proper care that they deserve, they turn to crimes. According to Milton Eisenhower’s foundation, seventy per cent of all African Americans in America have single mothers. While only eighteen per cent of all the whites have single mother. The increase in single motherhood increases the prospects of people indulging themselves in crimes. Most poor people engage themselves in crimes such as prostitution, selling drugs and even murder while others engage in juvenile crimes. What should be done to control this level of crime rate is to make some reforms in the judicial system to ensure they are more effective. Criminal should be jailed for a term that is equivalent to the crime they committed. The tougher and reasonable judges should be put on the bench to ensure that justice would take its course. Those violent offenders should not be on the loose especially when they are supposed to be serving their term in prison. This is the only way the high rate of crime could be scaled down. The way forward. There are various ways of eradicating poverty in America and one of them is ensuring that property rights that are respected to the letter. Property rights should be seen as the same as human rights. All American citizens have a right to own property wherever they want. If this is properly addressed the gap between the rich and poor would be reduced. The main cause of crime in USA is because the poor living in close proximity with the rich. Also those lacking reliable income are forced to look for alternative means of meeting their basic needs. The presence of both rich and the poor people puts the government in a very tricky place, as it is impossible to collect taxes for it is not easy to determine who should pay and who should not. (Smeeding TM et al, 1990) The United States government can reduce the poverty level by providing the poor with some small amount so that they could start some businesses as it was done in the Western States under a program known as a Welfare State in the 20th Century. Those that should be taken care of are at least the poor and the disabled as they are the most disadvantaged in the society. People are social beings and for this reason they cannot sit back and watch their friends continue suffering so the government should come up with Charity Programs that would allow people to channel assistance of any kind to the poor as the rich might be willing to help them. These organizations should either be voluntary or non-profit making groups. The United States government should embark on subsidized households and medical issues. The government should also analyze the importance of subsidized medical care than the free governmentally supported health care. The poor should be provided with employment by the government as not all poor people lack the relevant job skills. Lack of employment in America is one reason that increases poverty prevalence so if they are given jobs they would be able to meet their basic necessities and this would help in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor. The poor should also be helped in accessing free health care. Most poor people do not even afford to go to hospitals once they get sick and stay at home. This also puts strain on their meager income making them to become even poorer. The government should also offer free family planning programs as many who turn to be criminals are from those households that do not provide them with proper attention. Children from single parented households and especially those that are headed by the mother are more likely to result into becoming criminals. These families should be provided with some family allowances by the government so as they would take care of children properly to avoid them being attracted to become juvenile criminals. The poor who mostly live in ghettos should be provided with better housing facilities for example the government should upgrade these ghettos so that they would enjoy life just like the rich do. This would help in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor Currently the talk on poverty is still on going and has become a campaign tool among the presidential candidates. They are promising Americans what they will do once they become the next US president come the 2008 Election. Obama who is one of these candidates promised the Americans that he would establish Twenty Promise Households and especially in the areas that are affected by high levels of poverty and crime. They would operate just like the Harlem Children’s Home operates. He said he will spend about six US dollars on this program and this will benefit the Harlem, the Town Hall Education and the Town Hall Education. (Kristof N. D. 2008) Both Edward and Obama are challenging Hillary Clinton who up to now has not come up with any poverty reduction proposal. Obama’s speech was mainly on urban and rural areas and most particularly on city initiatives while Edward focused on this poverty issue might have a lot of impact on who will be chosen as the president of the United States of America. Edward said that he would relocate the poor families so that they would be in a place where they would easily access jobs and other facilities. From the research findings, it is safe to conclude that poverty greatly contributes to the rise in crime level that is both are interrelated. This is evident in that poor people inhabit regions that register high crime rate. (Kristof N. D. 2008) When poor people lack their basic needs, they resort to crimes such as drug selling and trafficking, juvenile delinquency and assaults. There are various measures that if they are undertaken, the crime level would definitely go down and some of these are to strengthen the correction and judicial system and to empower the poor people so that the gap between the rich and poor would be closed. This is something that is of prime concern to the 2008 presidential candidates such as Obama who promised to boost the cities initiative especially those that work to help the poor. Indeed, there is a relationship between poverty and crime prevalence in United States of America. Most of the crimes occur in areas that are occupied by the poor people. When people are wallowing in poverty they are prone to indulge themselves in criminal acts. In order to reduce the rate of crime, the government should try to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. The poor should be economically be strengthened and their living standards be uplifted. Houses in the ghettos should be upgraded to improve the quality of life for the poor. To reduce the level of crimes, the judicial system should be adjusted so as to make it more effective. The laws should be enforced to ensure they are followed to the letter.