Using Financial Planning To Manage Financial Resources Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1189 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Financial management is that managerial activity which is concerned with the planning and controlling of the companys financial resources. The basis for financial planning, analysis and decision making is the financial information. Financial information is needed to predict compare and evaluate the companys earning ability. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Using Financial Planning To Manage Financial Resources Finance Essay" essay for you Create order It is also required to recognize in economic decision making investment and financial decision making. Financial analysis is the process of identifying the financial weaknesses and strengths of the by properly establishing relationships between the item of the profit and loss account and balance sheet . Financial Statements are primary need for decision making. They play a key role in setting the framework of managerial decision makings. financial management is very important to every firm. Financial management take the decision about the firm accounts and financial position ,and they should follow the local government financial policies. the objective of affirm should be to create value for its stockholders, value is represented by the market price of firm. the company should be concentrates on profit maximization. Financial manager is follow with determining the best financing system or structure. Financial management is analyze the yearly financial position of the firm . And fi nancial managers take the major decisions on the firm economical position. objectives of the study: The main objectives of the study are to evaluate financial performance of M.G FABRICATIONS. Analysis the financial performance of M.G FABRICATIONS financial position. To know the changes occurring in economic resources and obligations. Analyze the three years financial position Determine the economical recourses of the company Use the founds in proper way Analyze the company economic position and performance Interpret the financial statement , planning and decision king scope of the study: The study represented to the analysis the different types of accounts in the company. Company incomes ,expenses, profit and loss also studied in this analysis. What is the significant role in company ,which dessions are taken in the form about the financial development also need to company development. methodology used in the study : Methodology is a systematic procedure of collecting information in order to analyze and verify a phenomenon. The collection of information is done two principles. They are as follows: Primary Data Secondary Data Primary Data: Primary data is the information collected directly without any references. In this study it was mainly through interviews with concerned officers and staffs either individually or collectively some of the information had been verified or supplemented with personal observations. The data includes Conducting personal interviews with the officers of the financial department. Guidelines and necessary information taken from my guide. By using primary methods to collect the primary information or data. observation method Survey method Interview method. Secondary Data: It was collected from already published books. This includes magazines and other internal records. The data includes: By referring to the books in the company. By collecting data fr om the websites. By collecting data from company annual reports. Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may be way to systematically solve studying how research is done scientifically, in it we study various steps that are generally adopted by a research in studying, but also methodology. limitations of the study: Though financial statement are relevant and useful for me concern, still they do not present a financial picture of the concern. The utility of there statements is dependent upon a number of factors. The case is limited to only by following:- The study is mainly based restricted to only three years. While computing ratios, averages and percentages the figures are appropriated to two decimal places. Therefore some times the total may not exactly tally. Only ratio analysis has been taken for the study of a tool of financial analysis and no other techniques is used. Assuming of the results of financial performanc e. Analysis is subjected to the accuracy of the data collected from the annual reports of MG Fabrications. The study is based on the historical data. Therefore it may not be future indicators. PROFILE OF MG FABRICATIONS: MG Fabrications is a private corporate company, It has number of branches in the worldwide.it is US based company,categorized under fabric manufactures and located in North Syracuse, it was established in 1996 and incorporated in Newyark ,current estimated show this company has an annual revenue of 380,000,employs a staff of approximately 5, Statement of Comprehensive Income 2008 2009 2010 Â £ Â £ Â £ Total sales 26006.8202 40960.742 56564.83 Less: cost of sales 20805.4561 34133.951 48112.62 Gross profit 5,201 6,827 8,452 Less: expenses 2600.68202 3250.8525 3901.023 Less: loan interest 0 0 6960.118 Net profit 2,601 3,576 -2,409 ======== ======== ======== Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 March: 2008 2009 2010 Â £ Â £ Â £ Fixed assets 61945 64729 70297 Current assets: Inventory 17400 34801 69601 Accounts Receivable 34801 73081 167043 Cash at bank 12345 18705 14208 Current Liabilities: due in less than 1 year Trade accounts payable 38977 77953 115538 Bank overdraft 0 0 0 Non-Current Liabilities: due in more than 1 year Loan 0 0 69601 87514 113362 136010 ======== ======== ======== Equity Capital Capital brought forward 69601 87514 113362 Add: profit for year 2601 3576 -2409 Less: dividends 15312 22272 25056 Capital carried forward 87514 113362 136010 ======== ======== ======== interpretation: From the above analysis it is observed that during the year 2008, there has total sales 26006.8202. Total sales has been an increase in during the year2009 upto 37695.92 i.e., 15.75%,and the next year(2010) also total sales has been increased upto 15604.088 i.e 13.80 Cost of sales has been increased from 2008-2010 Less the cost of sales from sales for find gross profit Gross profit=sales cost of sales From the above analysis Gross profit has been increased in 2008-2009(1626 i.e. %13.12) and also increased Gross profit in 2009-2010(1625 i.e. %12.38). And less the expenses and loan interest to get the Net profit In 2010 the expences and loan of interst has been increased during the year 2010 so the netprofit has been dec resed The above Statement of Comprehensive Income Net profit has been increased In2008-2009( i.e975. %13.75) In 2010 therese is net profit it gain only loss i.e 2,409 In the statement of Assets and Liabilities, fixed assets increased in year by year The current assets and fixed assets increase in 2008-2009(2784) and 2009-2010(5568) the percentage of fixed assets are increased . The current liabilities increased to 38976 i.e., 19.99%. In 2008-2009,the liabilities in 2009-2010 has been increased to 37585 i,e14.82 No non-current liabilities in 2008 and 2009. In the above assets and liabilities statement in2010 there is no impressive d evelopment in firm Dividends are increased from 2008-2009 (6960 i.e. %14.54) and 2009-2010(2784 i.e. 11.25) here also the percentage of dividends decreased. The overall financial position of the firm is not satisfactory but in 2010 not good result . GROSS PROFIT MARGIN=(GROSSPROFIT/SALES)*100 YEAR GPM 2008 19.99 2009 16.99 2010 14.94 The gross profit margin is decrease 2008-2010 Ratio Analysis: Current ratio year current assets current liabilities current ratio 2008 64536 38977 1.655745696 2009 126587 77953 1.62388752 2010 250852 115538 2.771164465 1 conclusion In the 2008 current ratio is 1.655745696,in 2009 current ratio is1.62388752 So, the current ratio has been decreased from 2008 to 2009 Current ratio has been increased in 2010 i.e 2.77116445 Current assets has been increased in all years, as well as current liabilities also increased But net lass has been there in 2010 compan y should be concentrate on profit maximization company has been perform well BIbilographyreferance IM .panday;financial management;tata McGraw Hill;6th James c. Vanhorne; financial management policy;PHI;12th edition RP.Travedi;financial accounting;springer ;7th Accounting for non-specialists;Michael Jones;John Wiley sons; www.googlebooks.com. www.refwork.com www.wikipeidea.com

The Truth Of Drug Addiction - 2365 Words

Brandon LaVoie Mr. Calaver American Literature 2: Period 1 May 9, 2016 The Truth Of Drug Addiction â€Å"Life was good before I met the monster. After, life was great. At least for a little while† (Hopkins 1). In Ellen Hopkins novel , Crank , the main character, Kristina experiences her life collapsing due to methamphetamine. Kristina’s life had many possibilities of being successful. She was a gifted high-school student, discreet and never in trouble. Her talent was thrown away when she was introduced to methamphetamine. The reader follows Kristina s downward spiral as she attempts to feed her addiction and deal with the consequences of the bad decisions that she has made. At one of her lowest points, Kristina gains knowledge that she is†¦show more content†¦Methamphetamine and heroin affects American society negatively. Daniel Pontzer talks about how methamphetamine laboratories are dangerous. The illicit production of methamphetamine is a very dangerous activity. Explosions and fires are a serious risk, especially if the toxic and combustible chemicals used to produce meth are exposed to too much heat, whether from the cooking process or from open flames. The heating of the chemical red phosphorus, an ingredient used in the drug’s production, creates a deadly gas. Each pound of manufactured methamphetamine produces about five to six pounds of hazardous waste, and meth producers take no special precautions when disposing of this waste. In some areas, the dumping, burning, or burial of such waste can threaten the drinking-water supply and contaminate the septic system. The health risks created by the toxic waste produced by meth labs include dizziness, hypertension, skin and respiratory system damage, asphyxia, cardiac arrest, stroke, coma, and death (Pontzer). Daniel Pontzer illustrates the dangerous activity of making methamphetamine. Poorly made methamphetamine laboratories are in risk of exploding, affecting areas around the exploded structure. Laboratories produce toxic fumes, that could harm living individuals nearby. Toxic waste produced by methamphetamine laboratories are often disposed carelessly. Drinking water may be affected

Pepsi Rhetorical free essay sample

Often times we don’t really think about the things that we see and how they are presented to us. We tend to focus on what is being showed to us rather than how we feel about the certain objects. Many companies and manufacturers use advertisements that will focus on a certain age group and use pictures or facts that people of that age would be interested in. Along with focusing on a particular age group, companies and manufacturers also use rhetoric and Aristotle’s three appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos). One particular advertisement that shows great examples of rhetoric and Aristotle’s three appeals is the advertisement shown to the right. These are the parts of advertisement that we don’t think about when looking to buy something we necessarily weren’t interested in but was brought to our attention. This Pepsi ad is a rather interesting way the company chose to persuade an audience into buying their product. We will write a custom essay sample on Pepsi Rhetorical or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this case Pepsi, the soft drink company, is focusing on rather young audience. As mentioned before, focusing on a specific age group or style of group is more effective in getting more customers for the product. In this case the ad has youthful people whom seem to be enjoying themselves while doing a variety of activities. On top of the pictures the words â€Å"LIVE FOR NOW† are displayed to persuade the targeted audience that they should live in the moment and enjoy their lives with a soft drink. This is where the first of Aristotle’s three appeals comes in. Ethos is the appeal to the credibility of the speaker or in this case, Pepsi. We would like to believe that Pepsi ads are credible on how people should live their lives but they aren’t. That’s the reason why they put pictures of other people having fun to make the ad more credible. Besides Nicki Minaj, we don’t know if the people displayed are random people or actors. This makes the intended audience believe that they could have happy and enjoyable lives if they drink Pepsi. I believe that the targeted audience for this advertisement is people in the age range of 15 to 30 year old. Of course younger and older people could be persuaded but in reality their biggest customers from this ad will be their targeted audience. The next of the three appeals that this advertisement touches on is pathos. Pathos is the way that manufacturers and companies use words or phrases that appeal to an audience’s emotions, values, or beliefs. In this ad example the words â€Å"LIVE FOR NOW† would be considered the pathos. This phrase helps by making people feel like they can only live in the moment and have fun by drinking Pepsi. Also everyone in the ad has smiles on their faces and they look good. This gives off a happy vibe that makes people want to purchase soft drinks even more. The last of Aristotle’s three appeals is logos. This appeal deals with reasoning. In this still ad there isn’t a strong showing of logos, besides the fact that everyone in the ad is having fun doing certain activities while supposedly drinking Pepsi. The Pepsi commercial I chose to analysis was made in 1984 featuring Michael Jackson (MJ). The commercial starts out by kids dancing, and drinking Pepsi, to the beat of MJ’s song â€Å"Billie Jean†. Eventually the kids tried to have a dance off against some teenagers but it never happens due to the fact that MJ interfered. After he showed up everyone started dancing together and MJ started to sing how the new generation of kids should drink Pepsi. In my opinion I feel that ethos in this commercial is quite similar to the still ad; the only difference is the targeted audience. I feel that the targeted audience for this commercial is younger since MJ is singing to a whole bunch of kids that aren’t in their teens. The pathos in this commercial was MJ’s singing. He remixed his Billie jean song to persuade the youth population in the 80’s to drink Pepsi. In his song he mentioned how the whole new generation was the best and how everyone should â€Å"feel† the Pepsi way. In other words he said that the kids should drink Pepsi to become the best generation. If you were to see the commercial you would soon realize that almost all people are dancing and enjoying themselves while drinking Pepsi. This is similar to the still add mentioned earlier. I feel like this is an advertisement strategy that is used in a variety of different commercials. Also in a coca cola study they concluded that kids are more easily influenced than adults (Zinkhan, LaTour, and LaTour 330). That’s the reason why in the 80’s they targeted such a young age group. What I also noticed is that there really isn’t much of the logo appeal in this commercial. They really don’t use any hard facts to support what they’re promoting. The people in the commercial don’t even represent logos because they would all be considered actors. In my opinion most advertisement made by Pepsi doesn’t contain Aristotle’s logo appeal but with or without the presence of logos, this advertisement has many appeals to it that would make it interesting and would make someone want to purchase Pepsi soft drinks. Pepsi now a day’s us a well known company that produces soft drinks. According to their mission statement they plan on being the premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and beverages. They also strive for honesty, fairness and integrity (Our Mission and Values). I feel, from the shorten mission statement, that they have been able to accomplish everything they wanted to do. Even though they have been successful they plan on being the top producer in their business. In my opinion I feel like if they were to produce more advertisement containing more of Aristotle’s logo appeal there customer base should rise. Something inside of us makes us view things and analyze them to fall under certain categories that we find most interesting. Manufacturers and companies take it upon themselves to portray items in ways that they know will satisfy someone’s appeals. We subconsciously make decisions about the object being presented and if we like it, we choose to buy it. By doing this, we don’t realize that we are going off of the three appeals of logos, pathos, and ethos. Now we can think about these things before we pull out our wallet.

Cultural Components in Phraseology free essay sample

In recent  Ã‚  years , phraseology in the broad sense has become a unifying  Ã‚  theme for an increasing number of theoretical and practical linguistic studies. Among this broad palette of investigations into the meaning, structure or use of set-phrases, cross-linguistic research is one of the major and fascinating  Ã‚  topics. An Englishman may sleep like a dog, but Frenchman  Ã‚  will, among other possibilities, sleep like marmot(dormer comme une marmotte), a Dutchman like a rose, a German like a stone. This list might be extended to all  Ã‚  the languages of the world and would reveal  Ã‚  the amazing richness and diversity of language. Is the no rhyme or reason to the unbridled imagination underlying set phrases in different languages or is it possible to discover  Ã‚  some universal principles? Will set phrases enable researchers to gain information about the cultural patterns and ways of life prevailing in other parts of the world? Set phrases in the broad sense  Ã‚  have been identified in many languages. We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Components in Phraseology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It’s well known that phraseological tradition originated in Russia and Germany. As a result, Russian and German were among the first languages to be fully described from the point of view of phraseology, although the movement later extended  Ã‚  to English, French and most European languages. There is a close link between culture and phraseology. This is best revealed by proverbs and fully idiomatic set phrases, because they tend to rely heavily on images, traditions or habits, that are characteristic of a given culture. It’s no easy matter, however,  Ã‚  to draw a line between images that are related to more or less universal aspects of the human mind, and features of the specific culture. There is also a common idiomatic heritage to all European languages, originated from biblical, Latin and Greek expressions. The assumption that phrasemes, particularly idioms and proverbs allow access to a collective way of thinking of a language community belongs to the more general  Ã‚  and highly complex issues of the relation between language, cognition, and  Ã‚  culture. The idea that the world is principally perceived through the medium of language, which determines the speaker’s world view can be found in several directions of phraseological research. This conception postulates, that the analysis of phraseology allows insight into the speech  Ã‚  community’s own culture and mentality, if not into its national character. In our essay we  Ã‚  have attempted  Ã‚  to approach the complex of  Ã‚  figurative phraseology  Ã‚  and culture. A look at entire conceptual domains has then shown that cultural phenomena are determinable at the levels of complete source concepts and semantic  Ã‚  fields. Finally, the possibility of capturing aspects of a cultural world-view by means of the analysis of cultural components  Ã‚  and cross-linguistic  Ã‚  comparisons has been touched upon briefly, as have etymology and historical phraseology. To summarise, phrasemes  Ã‚  as conventional  Ã‚  figurative multi-word units that are passed on from generation to generation through continual repetition turn out to be especially suitable for revealing cultural relevant concepts.

Warfare and innate human aggression

Warfare is a common characteristic of all primate societies and its main feature is violence or conflict. The objective is usually to achieve a psychological or material domination over the enemy because one group perceives that the opponent is more dominant and two groups are unable to agree to equality as way to solve their differences. There are many motivating factors that lead to war including resources, power, sociological and psychological elements. The point of focus here is the psychological elements.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Warfare and innate human aggression specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Psychologists have argued that human beings are inherently violent, this is to mean that they are naturally aggressive thus the reason for them engaging in wars.Psychologists like E.F.M. Durban and John Bowlby believe that aggressiveness is caused by anger hatred, and bias against other nations, rel igions, ideologies, races and other attributes that make the human race different. Sigmund Freud a person considered as father of psychology argues that there is a reservoir of aggressive energy in humans naturally and spontaneously and that this energy must be occasionally released trough sports to prevent it from causing violence. However others believe this is just a theory and that human aggressiveness is more of a characteristic acquired through nurture not nature, making the question† Are Humans Innately Aggressive?† or is it just a fallacy and hence the need to critically examine the reality. The first step would to examine the controversy of nature or nurture as mentioned above. This has to do with the extent to which human behavior is instinctive or affected by environmental factors such as culture, role of parents and peers. The question of nurture and nature as been there since the Darwinian era with the argument taking three sides: some say that culture is to blame; others argue it is instinct and thirdly some argue it is genetic. â€Å"Aggression is an action with the intent to create harm; however, violence refers to an action with extreme harm as the main goal of the action Culture is also the entirety of the instinctual forces of humans channeled into institutions that allow for good and bad behavior, where those who follow the guidelines are good and the violators are bad (Fornari, 261). Culture can therefore not be completely separated from instincts or human desires but can only be used to help humans fit to the specific society that a person is living in and hence the two elements should be handled together.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Different cultures have diverse values that they believe in and are instilled in the people for guidance. Some cultures encourage violence and even reward those that are very violent and are considered as pride of the community. Most of these communities are found in Africa and the Asian nations. Other cultures are calm, gentle encourage peace and even punish those that engage in violence. Human beings unlike other animals are biologically created to enable; rational thinking, consideration, creativity and culture and hence it is this factor that should enable them to cooperate and to coexist. Again because of this factor, humans choose what they want and who they want to be, there is no such thing as nature it all depends on the values and norms that we hold on to. Furthermore some scientist have argued not all human beings have instincts, which are; innate predispositions such as desire to eat and reproduce, thus the argument if indeed there is one for aggression. However all humans have some degree of aggression for protection and feeding, what maters is how far is an individual wiling to be aggressive and that depends on the values that have been instilled i n the individual by culture (Fornari, 265). Genetically testosterone has been believed to be the cause of aggression, however it is just a source and there has to an external factor that influences aggressiveness.Serotin is another hormone that is believed to cause aggression, for it is responsible for antisocial behaviors in human if it is low in the body but similar to testosterone it can not be solely blamed for aggression but is used by people as a scapegoat. Most of the proponents of this idea of innate aggression have received criticisms such as: their studies are based on animal experiments ignoring the major differences that there between animals and humans, secondly many types of animal aggression are not similar to human aggressions, humans are complex and have ability to reason rationally unlike animals, and finally there is little biological evidence that supports this theory. Having looked at innate human aggression it’s evident that it not a cause of warfare and it is found it is all societies People who believe otherwise are also unlikely to support peace movements but instead support wars.( Fisk and Schellenberg)explains that† we do have a choice with respect to aggression and war. To an extent, such destructiveness is due precisely to the mistaken assumption that we are helpless to control an essentially violent nature’. The major causes of war as mentioned earlier are ;power, one of the major cause of wars in the world’s history ,leaders such as Hitler led to the deaths of many due to wars that they initiated due to their personals ambitions of achieving absolute power, resources the other major element that has been a major force that led to war over the centuries all in pursuit for more territory and wealth, sociological wars are other kinds of wars that have featured in the world and ere caused by social political and economic factors for example the world wars, religious wars also very common especially with the Muslims and Jews ,some are about leadership ,worshipping places like temples and also ideologies supported by a particular religion.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Warfare and innate human aggression specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are factors that have characterized modern wars such as; Marxists theories wars are as a result of free market and the class systems that have led to competition for resources and markets, the theories argue that these wars would only end only if the two classes would disappear but it would take a revolution for that to happen. The other type of modern wars is sanctioned by the UN so as to foster peace in a nation that is experiencing crisis for example the gulf wars and Korean Wars. Most wars come to an end and people often result to, rational reasoning to solve their differences which involves negotiation, mediation, arbitration, arbitration and implementation of t he agreements. This shows that there are better ways of conflict resolution instead of wars. Conclusion Humans being a product of their societies and cultures, their actions and decisions are solely dependent on the environment in which they live and not human instincts. Human aggression is universal but wars are not, since there are so many peaceful nations where people are civilized and reason beyond their personal instincts. Some societies too have been involved in wars in past ,for example Sweden, but it has transformed from a society characterized by wars to a calm and industrialized nation and this can only be explained in terms of social and political factors and not humans instincts because people still exist there and they are not fighting. The role of the environment is so vital that the innate behavior theory seen to be out of place because other human needs like sex have been controlled through celibacy, while people survive hunger when they fast voluntarily. It could be considered as saying; it is the nature of buildings to burn because there is oxygen in our planet. Many fallacies have been created such as ‘we are born to be killers, we have an excuse to act like killers† and people have been made to believe in them by there creators who are often our rulers and law makers. If human beings are aggressive in nature and war cannot be avoided we then need very powerful leaders, governments, strong armies and security forces, and a lot of guidance from the church to save us from ourselves. To understand aggression psychologists need to find out the how human beings are able to stay in one group and peacefully coexist but yet attack other groups just because they don’t belong to the same group although they are still humans.This is evidence that wars are beyond instincts and nature but more of nurture, and that aggression is learned or acquired.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Fisk and Schellenberg. Patterns of Conflict, Paths to Peace. Peterborough,ON: Broadview Press, 2000. Print. Fornari, Franco. The Psychoanalysis of War. NewYork: Doubleday: Anchor Press, 1974. Print. This research paper on Warfare and innate human aggression was written and submitted by user Gloria F. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Rajneesh Movement

Rajneesh Movement Rajneesh Movement Rajneesh is a multicultural movement following the teachings of the mysterious Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, an Indian extremist who lived between the years 1931 and 1990. It appears to be an amorphous peculiar religious cult which still has its following today. However, it can also be regarded as a terrorist group because of its subversive acts. Its threat was greatly felt in the 1970s and 1980s when it prolifically wrecked significant havoc to the communities living in India and Oregon. One of the major threats associated with this movement is bioterrorism. This is an act of intentionally releasing harmful microorganisms, like various viruses, bacteria and toxins, in order to poison, contaminate or even kill people. The emergence of this lethal act can be traced to the early 1980s when the cult members applied such methods to cause tension in Oregon City (Carter, L.F. E.Q. Campbell, 2000). They performed such actions because they were in dire need of influencing the local election in order to gain certain power and position in the newly established regime. Thus, the organization also resorted to other strategies like food poisoning. They believed that conducting such actions would help them to be much stronger than any other minority group in Oregon. Today, bioterrorism has become one of the major issues affecting the worlds security. Since the world and its societies have become more divided along religious and geographical lines, many people have taken advantage of this state of affairs to resort to the use of this deadly weapon in dealing with potential enemies. In the United States of America (USA), bioterrorism has been in existence since the attempt by the members of Rajneesh cult who deliberately poisoned 75 people. In other words, it has become a major threat to both the local, state and federal governments as well as innocent American citizens. Sporadic cases of bioterrorist activities have emerged in the recent past. For instance, in 2001, anthrax was used to kill at least five innocent Americans. Hence, the government has responded by instituting the US Army's 20th Support Command (CBRNE) and the United States Marine Corps' Chemical Biological Incident Response Force as specialized units to tackle the menace (Tucker, J .B. C.W. Seth, 2008).

Comparative advantage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Comparative advantage - Essay Example rative advantage theory is one of the most important concepts in the theory of international trade and is first mentioned by Adam Smith in his book ‘The Wealth of Nations’. He implied that it is better to buy a commodity from another country if it would cost less than manufacturing it locally, giving the buyer some advantage. According to Deardorff (2005), David Ricardo formulated the law or model of comparative advantage. The ‘Ricardian model’ was formalized through a simple but compelling numerical example investigating in detail the relative/alternative opportunity as well as advantages, which involved Portugal and England. This was outlined in his book ‘On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation’ published in 1817. Portugal has potential in cloth and wine production using less labor as compared to producing the same amounts in England. Remarkably, production’s relative costs for the two commodities differ in both countries. Wine production is difficult in England but cloth production more viable. Portugal has ease of production for both commodities. Portugal can produce excess wine and trade it for English cloth. The cost of cloth in England is covered by the cheaper price at which, England obtains wine from Portugal. The conclusion here is that each country stands to benefit through specialization in the good over which, it has comparative advantage by trading it for the other. Arnaud Costinot (2009) proposes a simple theory to relate to the origins of comparative advantage through international trade where endogenous productivity differs across countries. His core analysis is in determinants of division of labor. Considering a world economy that is composed of two countries that have a continuum of goods as well as a single production factor, which is labor, he asserts that complexity characterizes each good. This complexity in short is the number of tasks to be performed for production of a single unit. Performance of every task

Group Dynamics and the impact upon the function of management Essay

Group Dynamics and the impact upon the function of management - Essay Example Basically this is the core premise and assumption supported in this paper: that it is favourable, more civil, and more ingenious to engage the entire individual in question and interaction and makes a lot of sense to engage the group in its own learning, development, and resolution (Benson 2001). For the purposes of this paper, group work practice denotes the well-organised, conscious, and methodical application of understanding about the mechanisms of collective human interaction, so as to get involved in a knowledgeable manner, or advance some wanted goal in a group context (Luthans 2005). Group work is a creative, healthy, and productive experience, performed based on open agreements, explicitly practised and clearly attained, about the task and goal of the group, responsibilities, rights of members (Greenberg 2000). Therefore, in order to address the premises of this paper various literature on managing organisational behaviour and group dynamics are used. It is evident that group situations evolve as an outcome of the energy produced by devotion and motivation divergences in the group. Exploring and understanding the adjustment in situations is an essential capability of group work practice (Mullins 2005). By observing the fluctuation in situation and determining the patterns and premises of behaviour, interaction, and relationship, it is possible to discern what needs or demands exist in the group at any specified time, and allow intervention to arise out of the given group condition (Robbins 2004). Tuckman, Garland, and his associates along with several scholars assume a sequential or linear progression in group development. This academic and systematic demarcation of group dynamics can be unknown to the experience of several novice group members as they analyse the evident disorder and uncertainty of their own

Affect of Language Learning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Affect of Language Learning - Assignment Example Researchers have discovered that reading skills, intelligence levels, and verbal fluency are always improved through learning a second language. The researchers conducted their research on this issue by using 853 individuals. They used the data of these individuals when they were at the age of 11 and later when they had attained an age of 70. Previously, a certain research had proved that the bilinguals had delays of several years during the onset of dementia (Wolfgang, 2001). Most of the people who choose to learn a second language are always in their later stages of life. When a person attains bilingualism in the later stages of life, there are many benefits to an aging brain. The cognitive abilities are always altered when individuals attain bilingualism at a later stage of their life. Apart from having an improved intelligence level, those who learn more than one language at an older age tend to possess considerably superior cognitive abilities. The reading skills and the general intelligence level are most greatly affected. Such effects are not only present in those individuals who learn a second language in their earlier stage of life, but also those who acquire bilingualism in their later years. It is important to test bilingualism of a person both in early and later stages of life since it is easier to note the transformation in terms of intelligence, cognitive ability, and fluency (Wolfgang, 2001). This research was conducted using two sources. The first source is an article called â€Å"Block play performance among preschoolers as a predictor of later school achievement in mathematics† by Charles Wolfgang et al. The second source is a book called â€Å"Affect in Language Learning† written by Jane Arnold. The two sources are best suited for this essay since they use practical examples in their analysis of the issue.

Capacity Of Minors In Contracts

Capacity Of Minors In Contracts A contract involves s a promise between two persons for the exchange of either good or services. A contract signifies the free consent of the parties to the contract to be bound by law. For a contract to be valid, it must have these basic elements: mutual assent, consideration, capacity, and legality. Mutual assent is characterized by offer and acceptance through mutual accent; consideration, on the other hand denotes any form of compensation with something of value for the goods or services traded. A contract between persons, either natural persons or legal persons, who have no capacity to contract can either be voidable or void depending on the case. Legality gives the condition that should be satisfied for a contract to be excised by the law. Illegal contracts are for example those involving illegal activities. For example one cant bring a plea of damages to a court of law for breach of a contract entered into to kill another person. The possible remedies for breach of contract are; consequential damages, general damages, , and specific performance. This paper will examine the capacity to contract as pertains to contracts entered by minors minors. Keywords: capacity, contract, capacity, legality, consideration, mutual accent void/voidable. Capacity of Minors in Contracts Capacity to contract relates to both natural and artificial persons. Although the general case is that an adult of sound mind will have full capacity to contract, they may claim that the contract is not enforceable due to such reasons as undue influence, or mental incapacity at the time of entering into the contract. Contractual capacity also does apply to corporate. The age of a minor may vary from country to country but the most states put the age at 18 years. The genera rule that bound contracts entered with minors are that they are not legally liable for any contract which they enter into whether willingly or not (Koffman Macdonald, 2007 p. 476). This does not however remove the burden of performing the contract for the other person to the contract. If the breach the contract, they are liable to the minor for damages. If however the minor when they attain the age of minority choose to ratify the contract, they are legally bound from the date of ratification. If the minor upon reaching the age of majority chooses to end the contract, he relieves himself of any liabilities that the contract placed on him. There are however some contracts which when the minor enters into, he is bound by. These include the contracts for supply of necessaries, employment or beneficial contracts and those for analogous supplies. There is another category of contracts which are voidable at the option of the minor but are binding on him upon reaching the age of majority and does not repudiate them within a reasonable time after that (Koffman Macdonald, 2007). Among the contracts that form the major part of exception for the general rule of lack of capacity of minors is the contract that relate to provision of necessity. The law require that the other part to the contract to prove that the contract that they entered into with the minor is for necessity (Nash v Inman 1908). Necessities include both goods and services. In chapel v cooper (1844) it was held that a contract entered by a minor to bury his father was a contract of necessity. The case will decide whether the contract is for necessity subjectively and this will even depends on the social status and age of the minor. Generally, the things regarded as necessary are those which a person cant live without such as food but articles for luxury are mostly disallowed irrespective of the class of the infant contractor (Chapler v Cooper per Alderson ). The sale of goods act however defines goods of necessity as those goods sustainable to the condition of life of the minor (peter v Fleming ( 1840)) (Contracts, 2010). In this case a breast pin and a watch chain were considered as necessities. A person cannot rely on the fact that the terms to the contract are harsh or onerous to remove the contract from the generally beneficial category. This was seen in Barnes V. Smethurst where it was the court held that the existence of such terms may make the unenforceable against the minor (Anson Huffcut, 1899). This exception is based on the foundations of the minors obligation to make fair payments for the goods that they received irrespective of the satisfaction that they get from the goods. This removes the minors liability incase the contract is a purely executory one (Nash v Inman (1908)). The second exemption to the general rule relates to employment and analogous contracts. This is based on the value that prevents a minor from seeking skills that will enable them to earn a living. This is the reason why employment and analogous contracts are enforceable on the minor provided that the contract as a whole is beneficial to the minor (Koffman Macdonald, 2007 p. 469). In Clement v London and north western railway co. (1894), the courts held that the contract as a whole was beneficial to the client and prevented him from claiming under the 1880 act since the insurance contract covered him from even those injuries that were not due to the negligence of the employer. It was therefore ruled that on the overall, the contract was to the advantage of the minor. There are some contracts that are considered a beneficial to the minor. These include contracts for services such as those of education, training, apprenticeship. If these contracts contain clauses that are not overly beneficial to the minor, the minors liability to in the contract will be waived such as in De Francesco v Barnum (1889). Although the law gives a minor protection from contractual obligation on them, they are liable under tort and also if they are emancipated. Minors are liable, in tort, provided that the tortuous activity is not one that will not amount to enforcement of a contract. In R. Leslie ltd V Shiell (1914), the court held that the plaintiff could not recover the amount in loan from the minor who had misrepresented his age since the courts would have been enforcing a contract that is not otherwise binding on the minor. This is also the case where a minor guarantees a loan (Koffman Macdonald, 2007). The law also seeks to provide protection to these who deal with minors. If a minor escapes a contract for example for rent, they can be sued for rent that has accrued during their stay in the house but not that part which is not yet due. To protect the suppliers, the law will prevent the minor from claiming the money that they have already paid whether or not the contract was for the supply of necessities (Abbott, Pendlebury, Wardman, 2007). Equity will not allow the minors to seek specific performance against the other party to the contract since equity will not allow for specific performance against minors. This statute and that of subrogation see to protect the other party to a contract with the minor while at the same time seeking to uphold the interests o f the minor (Abbott, Pendlebury, Wardman, 2007 p. 115). Emancipation on the other hand gives the minor some adult rights. Emancipation refers to freeing someone from the control of another. A minor is emancipated from the parents upon getting legally married, when they reach 18 or when in active duty with the armed forces of the United States (Emancipation of Minors). When one is emancipated, their parents no longer have control over their affairs and are also not legally bound to pay for damages the minor causes to others properties. This means that they will be liable for the breach of contract that they enter into regardless of whether they are of necessity or not. The laws reacting to capacity to contract can vary from state to state to state as well as from country to country. In the US, the major variation on the minors capacity to contract is o the age of minority which varies from state to state. However, most states put the age at 18 but this ac vary to up to 21 years in other states. Another law tat varies from individual state is that relating to disaffirmance of voidable contracts. Some states will allow disaffirmance for tort violations while others dont if the consideration cannot be returned. Different countries have different laws regarding minors capacity in a contract and especially as regards to age of minority. Most countries have the ages of a minor fixed at 18. These include countries like New Zealand, Canada and Australia while others disregard the age especially where the minor engages is serious crimes and he is tried like an adult. In the US, the age is 18 but different states will vary the age based on their cultural diversity (Contracts, 2010). The US laws allow the minors to consent on matters affecting them such as on use of contraceptives, abortion and treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. They are also allowed to seek expert help from doctors on such matters as reproductive health and other confidential services that they would rather not do with their parents. They can therefore enter into legally binding contract to get those services. The issue of incapacity applies due to the need to protect the person who is incapacitated (or in the case of companies, the shareholders) but at the same time not treat so harshly the other party to the contract. This is always the case because the incapacitated person may not comprehend the effects that the contact as pertains to the on the rights of the other person to the contract. The laws of capacity of a minor because they help to form legal boundaries that ensure that minors are not exploited. This is especially in regard to minors whose parents have left them vast estates. In such cases, since the minor will not always act in a way that is of best interest to the estates that they inherit, expert trustees are put in charge of taking care of the estate until the person reaches the age of majority when they can make independent and well informed choices. Standardization of the legal age and the rules that govern contracts with minors is important to those who deal with them since although the contract with a minor creates legal liability to the other party to the contract and not the minor, standardized definition of the minor is helpful to avoid losses that accrue due to contracts with incapacitated persons Conclusion The law of contract is especially important since most of the transactions that we carry out on a day to day basis involve contracts. As such it is important to lay guidelines as to when a contract is valid and can be exercised by law and when its void. Contracts with minors on the other hand present special challenges since minors may not always act in their best interests. The laws of different states have well laid down laws that are the basis for dealing with cases that involves minor contracts. Most of these laws are based on UK common law and the law of equity. Equity will seek to protect the other party to the contract from the actions of the minor to ensure that they dont suffer unduly when they deal with the minor. The two important statutes of equity are those based on subrogation and specific performance.

The Health Benefits of Exercise Programming Essay -- Strength Training

Investigate the contemporary body of knowledge that underpins the current recommendations for exercise programming in the pursuit of improved health. Pate et al. (1995) stated that physical activity is needed for health promotion and disease prevention. They also stated that every adult should do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise everyday if possible. Moderate intensity exercising includes activities such as brisk walking and cycling as stated by the Department of Health (2011). They also state that regular physical activity will improve a person’s mental health as it will increase self esteem and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Physical wellbeing is also enhanced by an increase in physical activity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2002) found that in developed countries 20% of heart disease and 10% of strokes are due to physical inactivity. Furthermore a lack of physical activity is found to cause 3% of all diseases. Kerr (2012) states that there are 3 main types of exercise which are aerobic, strength/resistance training and flexibility exercises. Aerobic exercises will help keep the heart, lungs and muscles healthy, and when paired with a healthy diet will aid in weight loss. Appropriate resistance training will help to improve strength, posture and balance as well as causing the participant’s body to look more toned. Also the build up of muscle will aid with weight loss as at rest muscle burns more calories than inactive tissue. These exercises should be done two or three times a week. Flexibility exercises are important because if a muscle isn’t stretched then overtime it will shorten and become less elastic. Therefore joint mobility will decrease and the likelihood of injuries to muscl... ...ll, B, Willett, W, Manson, J, Leitzmann, M, Stampfer, M, Hunter, D, & Colditz, G (2001), 'Physical activity and mortality: a prospective study among women', American Journal Of Public Health, 91, 4, pp. 578-583 The American College of Sports Medicine. (2014) ACSM Issues New Recommendations on Quantity and Quality of Exercise. [Online] Available from: http://acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/news-releases/2011/08/01/acsm-issues-new-recommendations-on-quantity-and-quality-of-exercise [accessed 19 May 2014] World Health Organisation. (2002) The world health report 2002 - Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. [Online] Available from: http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/whr02_en.pdf?ua=1 [accessed 19 May 2014] Yung,, L.M., Laher, I., Chen, Z.Y., Huang, Y. and Leaung , F.P. (2009) Exercise, Vascular Wall and Cardiovascular Diseases. Sports Medicine. Vol. 39, No. 1: 45-63

THE CORE

The same pole always ended up pointing north. All magnets have a north and a south pole, no matter what shape they might have been bent into, or even if you break it apart into pieces. The magnetic field is the strongest at these poles. As magnets are brought near one another, they exert a force on each other. The force can be either attractive or repulsive and can be felt even when the magnets don't touch (force at a distance). This leads us to the Law of Magnetism which says â€Å"Like poles repel and unlike poles attract†. This is like the force between electric charges, but not exactly the same.Electrical charges and magnetic poles are different Many people wrongly assume that magnets can stick to any metal. In fact only a few elements on the periodic table actually have any magnetic properties strong enough to be worth mentioning. These elements are known as a group as ferromagnetic elements. The name comes from the Latin name for iron, ferrule. The ferromagnetic elements are: 1. Iron 2. Cobalt 3. Nickel 4. Gadolinium As time passed, more and more people tried to explain magnetism. William Gilbert, wrote a book called De Magnet on the subject.He was able to spores some old superstitions about magnets, while at the same time presenting his own scientific ideas. He even proposed the idea of an â€Å"orb of virtue† surrounding every magnet, basically he was describing a magnetic field. The Effects of MME An electromagnetic pulse (MME), also sometimes called a transient electromagnetic disturbance, is a short burst of electromagnetic energy. At a higher level an MME can induce a spark, for example when fuelling a gasoline- engine vehicle. Such sparks have been known to cause fuel-air explosions and precautions must be taken to prevent them.A large MME can induce high rents and voltages in the victim, damaging electrical equipment or disrupting its function. A very large MME event such as a lightning strike is also capable of damaging objects such as trees, buildings and aircraft directly, either through heating effects or the disruptive effects of the very large magnetic field generated by the current. An indirect effect can be electrical fires caused by heating. These damaging effects have led to the introduction of MME weapons. Most engineered structures and systems require some form of protection against lightning to be designed in.The Animals that Navigate sing Magnetism Abominations is the phenomenon of magnetic fields produced by living organisms; it is a subset of blameworthiness's. In contrast, organisms' use of magnetism in navigation is misconception and the study of the magnetic fields' effects on organisms is negotiability. Researchers believe some migratory birds can sense the magnetic field through their upper beak because there is a magnetite receptor there, which is made up of iron-based magnetic crystals. This senses the strength of the magnetic field, which is strongest at the poles, and it measures the an gle of the field compared to the round.The beak is similar to a compass. According to the experiment done by Max Plank Institute in Germany, they found that when they re-magnetized the iron particles in the beaks of migratory birds like robins and red warblers, it suggested that the beaks do act as a type of compass or navigational device. It partially allowed the birds to decide in what direction to go in. Re- magnification is similar to when you rub a magnet with a piece of metal allowing for the metal to become magnetized, by doing this you can change the direction of magnetism by rubbing it in the other direction.The research shows that migratory birds may have sensory systems linked to their beaks that use iron to detect the Earth's magnetic field. How are the Aurora Borealis and Australia formed? The aurora Borealis (northern lights) form when charged particles emitted from the sun during a solar flare penetrate the earth's magnetic shield and collide with atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. These collisions result in countless little bursts of light, called photons, which make up the aurora. Collisions with oxygen produce red and green auroras, while nitrogen produces the pink and purple colors.This reaction encircles the polar regions of the earth and occurs at an altitude of 40-400 miles (65-650 km) in a zone called the ‘Aurorally Oval The aurora Borealis most commonly occur between 600-750 latitude, but during great geomagnetic storms the aurorally oval expands equatorial and can reach 300 latitude or further. In the northern hemisphere they are called the aurora Borealis (northern lights) and in the southern hemisphere aurora Australia (southern lights). How Magnetism is created by moving charges? When an electrical charge is moving or an electric current passes through a ire, a circular magnetic field is created.Magnetism is seen whenever electrically charged particles are in motion for example, from movement of electrons in an electric cu rrent, or in certain cases from the orbital motion of electrons around an atom's nucleus. They also arise from â€Å"intrinsic† magnetic dipoles arising from quantum-mechanical spin. The same situations that create magnetic fields, charge moving in a current or in an atom, and intrinsic magnetic dipoles, are also the situations in which a magnetic field has an effect, creating a force. QUESTIONS/EXPLANATIONS What was the cause of death of 32 civilians within the 10 mile block radius in the film?The reason why 32 people died in that movie is because when the core of the Earth stopped moving, the NEFF or Electro Magnetic Field of the Earth deteriorated causing massive problems on people with pacemakers. Pacemaker is a device that helps control the heart of people that have abnormal heart beats. Why did the wrist watch stopped ticking? Because of the MME, a pulse of electromagnetic energy, this induces a very high current thousands of volts in parts of the watch, and since many electrical items, such as microchips, are very sensitive to high voltages, it causes them to break.Explain the Erratic Behavior of the Pigeons in the Film Because the Pigeons are affected by the change of the Earth's Magnetic Why did the Borealis appear in Washington DC? When super charged particles enter the earth's atmosphere from the solar wind they tend to be channeled toward the poles by magnetic forces causing them to spiral around the magnetic field lines of the earth. They are energetic enough to unionize air molecules, so a considerable number of atoms and molecules are elevated to excited states.When they make the transition back to their ground states they emit light characteristic of the atoms and molecules. Red and green light emitted from oxygen atoms is a constituent of the light seen at the poles. Atmospheric nitrogen also plays a role. How is the Earth's Magnetic Field created according to the film? The magnetic field is generated by the rotation Of the dense, iron, liquid outer core and that this field extends about 126,000 meters (proxy. 78 miles) out into space.As the outer core fluid is driven by convection currents, a dynamo effect of circulating electric current is produced inside Earth. The Space Shuttle in the film was 12 miles off course. Explain what happened. The Space Shuttle, returning from space, suddenly turns up far off course and headed for impact in Los Angels due to a momentary glitch in its navigation, positioning systems (GAPS on overdrive), and a faulty ground transponder which resulted in the shuttle being off-course by 12 miles.Enumerate the effects of losing the earth's Magnetic Field according to the film. People with pacemakers, all within a 10-block radius, will be dead. The Golden Gate Bridge collapses, sending hundreds of people plunging to their deaths. Flocks of pigeons lose their ability to navigate, flying into panicked crowds, slamming into windshields and causing drivers to lose control of their cars. And an electrical superstore. Give the scientific explanation how the terra shuttle was found under the ocean at the end of the film.Keyes and Child's realize they can use the unobtainable shell to convert the heat and pressure from the waveforms to power the Virgil, and they are able to escape the core. They break through the crust underwater, leaving them on the ocean floor without power and communications. They believe themselves lost but use the remaining power o activate a weak sonar beacon. The beacon attracts a nearby whale pod, and Finch is able to trace their whale songs to locate the Virgil.

Deng Xiaopeng essays

Deng Xiaopeng essays Deng Xiaopeng was a good leader for China though at times Deng hit some bumpy roads and was said to infringe some of the Chinese rights still Deng controlled China with order and efficiency. Deng raised Chinas economy to national high all around. Deng also strengthened its political status up to that of a very powerful country. Though Deng did things bad his achievements rose above his failures. As newfound leader of communist China after Maos death Dengs first goal was to raise the technological status of China to standards that could possibly rival those of the west. He did this quickly and efficiently by allowing an open door policy on foreign trade affairs, which made China very appealing to foreign marketers. This open door policy also worked out for Deng because it opened up communication technology through out China so he could speak directly to his people in their own homes much like President Roosevelt did here in America. Deng listed technology as on his list of expansion goals but he also listed three other important goals agriculture, economy, and military. Deng had great need to expand Agriculture because China has the highest population in the world. If Deng could not put food on the table then chances are the people are not going to really like him or trust him. So he increased farming technology and with the increase in technology the military grew stronger as well. Now Deng had the ability to protect his country from foreigners and he could also now enforce laws. With the military increasing then the economy increased significantly. Now Deng could say that he wields the ability to feed, protect, pay, and give useful technology to his people but Deng was missing one very important thing. Chinas political status with some countries was not at all desirable. This is so because of past wars and many unfair treaties during Chinas tim ...

How To Get Along With Your Roommate In College

How To Get Along With Your Roommate In College You’ve started college or university, everything is new and shiny, everything is exciting, you’re going to meet so many new people! Of course, one of those new people is likely to be your new roommate, someone you are going to be sharing a lot of time and space with over the coming year or so. You need to get along with this person, so how can you do it? Well, hopefully you find someone who is like you in terms of personality, someone who shares common interests and can support you in difficult situations. But dont be desperate if not. Here are a few tips on how to get along with your college roommates, as well as a few pointers on how to set house rules in your dorm room. Don’t Expect Miracles Straightaway Rome wasn’t built in a day they say, and it’s true in many cases in life. Everyone is going to be a bit nervous or even a little defensive when they start college or university. Some people take a little longer to settle in than others. If you find your new friends in college are a little shy, then they may come across as defensive or cold, but that’s not to say they are that way in reality, they’re just finding their feet. Give it a little time, and don’t expect everything to be roses straightaway; in a week or two, you’ll be getting along like a house on fire, although not literally, of course! Be a Little Sociable Suggest a night out or a few social activities in the first week of moving in, so you can enjoy relaxing time away from the house and away from college. When dealing with college roommates, you need to find common ground, and being sociable and relaxed is the ideal way to do this. You will probably find that your new friends are wanting to get out and experience the place just as much as you are, but they’re probably waiting for someone else to make the first move. Set a few House Rules Whilst you want it all to be fun and relaxed, it’s important to set a few house rules for college roommates, so you know you’re all on the same page, and you’re not treading on any one’s feet, so to speak. If someone wants to share food cupboards, but someone else wants to have private ones, you need to find common ground and set a rule. You also need to have rules regarding cleaning, so nobody is going to get resentful of doing more than the others. Appreciate That Everyone Needs Space Not everyone wants to talk all the time, and some people may need a little space away from everyone, in order to get their work done, to speak to friends and family at home, and to basically chill out and have a little ‘me’ time. This is perfectly normal, so don’t get offended if your new roomie decides to lock themselves away for an hour or two; appreciate everyone’s need for space and you should get along fine. Sort Out Arguments and Bickers Quickly One of the best pieces of advice when dealing with college roommates is to sort out any problems quickly, and not to let them fester. You’ve been thrown together, when perhaps you wouldn’t have chosen to live together otherwise, so of course, there are going to be differences in opinion or problems that occur from time to time. Sit down and talk about them, and don’t turn the smallest thing into a slanging match – this means you will be able to smooth out any choppy waters, without it turning into World War Three. Getting along with your new roommate is about give and take – you need to recognise differences. Of course, it’s not going to be plain sailing all the time, but the key is to be adult about the situation and see it as the great opportunity to gain a lifelong friend.

Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet and the modern world Essay

Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet and the modern world - Essay Example The play illustrates how long term arguments between privileged families can get out of hand. Young men feel obliged to take up arms to defend the family honour. It shows how the normal rules which keep society in order break down in this atmosphere of prejudice and hate. The strongest theme in the play is the way that young people suffer because of the mistakes of their older relatives, and they are prevented from growing up to experience normal young love and passion with their chosen partner. The parents decided for them when and whom they should marry and this causes a lot of trouble. One result of this is that the younger members rise up against their families and lose respect for their elders. The only way to end this kind of situation is to find a way to stop the senseless violence and let peace come out of a new appraisal of each person’s human value, regardless what family they come from. These themes all exist in the modern world, from the gang cultures of our inner cities to the arranged marriages that occur in some cultural groups. Many couples still love each other in spite of the opposition of their families and this is one reason why Romeo and Juliet still makes sense to a modern audience, even though it was written over four hundred years ago. The play opens with the words â€Å"Two households, both alike in dignity,/In fair Verona, where we lay our scene† (Prologue: lines 1-2) and this tells the audience what the fundamental tension of the play will be. The chorus reveals that the main characters will love each other and will die, and that this will be the way that the â€Å"ancient grudge† between the two families will be removed. One indication of the strength of the hatred that exists between the families is the way that they call each other names such as â€Å"A dog of the house of Montague† (Act 1 , scene 1, line 7) or â€Å"A dog of that house (Act 1, scene 1, line 10) and â€Å"Thou villain Capulet (Act 1, s cene 1, line 76). The young men challenge each other to draw their swords, and it is clear that the only reason they want to fight is because they are sworn enemies. Gang rivalry is very often carried out by men. They are motivated by pride and arrogance, wanting to show off their strength . Tybalt even reveals that he hates the idea of peace as much as he hates the Montagues. (Act 1, scene 1, line 67-68) There does not seem to be any reason for the hatred other than that the people who bear the opposite name are the enemy. This kind of unthinking prejudice leads to all kinds of violence even in the present day and the carrying of weapons is a sign that this is a real grudge with serious consequences. The women seem to be more reasonable, and Montague’s wife tries to hold him back, even though he resists her. This kind of behaviour can be seen in the modern world when very strict fathers try to lock up their daughters and prevent them from going out and seeing other people, e specially men. They have too much power over others, and they use it to make people obey their will. In gang warfare it is a matter of pride to carry guns or knives, and very often the only people who try to stop the violence from getting worse are the mothers, sisters and girlfriends who have lost their loved ones. The Prince in the play represents the force of law and order. There was no such thing as a police force in the time of Shakespeare, and so the rulers had to find other ways to make sure that people kept the law of the land. In this case he summons the two older representatives of the families to come and see him. Capulet has to go with him immediately, and Montague is to come in the afternoon. This is a bit like them being arrested so that they can be told what is right and what is wrong, and they

Can global governance avert economic crises Term Paper

Can global governance avert economic crises - Term Paper Example terized by prolonged periods of increased unemployment and inflation, reduced international trade and investment, a loss of foreign reserves and recession. Various types of crises can arise in the global economy. An example of the crises is the financial crisis that is usually observed globally. A Financial crisis according to Portes (1998) is a situation where the financial markets are disturbed in such a manner that the markets fail to allocate the capital. As a result, the investment and the financial intermediation are gravely affected. A ‘financial crisis is’ a term that is usually broadly used for many types of crises. According to Portes (1998) a financial crisis is used to refer to exchange rate problems, bankruptcy, and debt defaults. Some of the examples of the financial crises are explained below. According to Jahjah (2000), defaults refer to a situation where any individual or a country fails to comply with the terms and conditions of an agreement and also is not able to pay the required debts at the already proposed time. An example of a default crisis would be the sub prime crisis that occurred in the US in 2008 where the borrowers were provided with the loans that could not be sold in the prime market according to Whalen (2008). The term ‘sub prime’ was used for the ‘sub prime’ crisis because it actually defines the status of the borrower. This means that during the crises that borrowers who had poor credit history were granted loans. As mentioned above, these loans could not be sold out to anyone in the prime markets. There was a sub prime crisis because the borrowers and lenders both were at risk. The reasons were that the sub prime lending according to Whalen (2008) meant that the borrowers and the lenders had to face markets with higher interest rates, a high rate of default and poor credit history. In the US according to Shankar (2008), the sub prime lending increased from 9% in 1996 to 21% in 2004. Some analysts argue that the

Organisational transformation in practice Essay

Organisational transformation in practice - Essay Example The behavior of organisational leadership identifies how successful leaders will be at attaining the values, objectives and goals of the organisation (Tsai, 2011). It is worth mentioning that in order to remain competitive it is quite significant for an organisation to continuously assess its values and practices to ensure that they are aligned with the developed corporate strategies. With this concern, a culture audit permits an organisation to map and to assess its organisational values and current practices. It can also be utilised to evaluate the gap existing between the benchmark and the organisation’s actual behaviour in relation to its desired values emphasising on the fact that whether executives and employees practice the way they state (Cha & Edmondson, n.d.). According to Kets de Vries (2011), most of the organisational changes arise as a result of a stream of interaction between the numerous stakeholders in the systems, each of which is considered to be complex in its own way. In the contemporary times, one of the significant challenges that the leaders might face can be identified as related with managing their organisational culture in order to impede mounting happenings of corporate wrong doings. In this regards, they are supposed to assemble the market needs by making sure that internal environment of the organisation is aligned with the external forces (De Vries, 2011). In my organisation, cultural change took place because of the change in the organisational structure. I have experienced such changes numerous times in my recent past performances. However, most of the colleagues were not ready for such change in the organisational culture. With my personal experience upon change, I was aware of the fact that change in the workplace is inevitable. Such changes will have an influence upon all parties who tend to be involved with the organisational process. Yet, if the change in not managed properly, it might lead to several difficulties fo r the organisation. From my past experiences, it came to my understanding that when change takes place in an organisation, the most significant way of coping up with such changes is the ability of leadership to lead the organisation properly. In other words, it can be stated that during the time of change taking place in the organisation, leaders have a significant role to play (Bell, 2006). When the employees have complete faith on the capabilities of the formal leaders, they tend to expect high from the leaders for numerous aspects. For instance, when drastic changes take place, employees will expect that the leaders are going to demonstrate effective and sensible planning, proper decision making and complete communication in a timely way. I also noted the fact that when change takes place, employees will perceive leadership as sympathetic, concerned and devoted towards their welfare. It can be stated that playing the role of a leader is not at all easy. The leaders not only have the responsibility to lead; rather, as an employee themselves, they are supposed to deal with their own reactions to change and their role in the process (Ledez, 2008). From my past experiences, I further understood that communication also has a significant role to play in resolving most of the issues at the organisation. It is highly crucial for the leaders of the organisation to communicate regarding the mission, vision, goals and objectives of

Character of Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Character of Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men Essay The novel Of Mice and Men was written in the 1930’s by a man named John Steinbeck. The book is set in America and at a time during the Great Depression. This was when the stock market had crashed some years prior, lots of companies went bankrupt, the banking systems failed and a massive soar in unemployment was witnessed. Also during this period of the Great Depression droughts were seen in the southern and western states of America with failed harvests in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. The fertile grassland that once was, became desert like and the area became known as the â€Å"dust bowl†. During this time the women fitted into this society as the home keepers, the men would go out to earn money whilst the woman stayed home to ensure things ran along smoothly there. The key terms that I will be evaluating in this essay, is how Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife and how he attempts to make the reader either feel dislike or sympathy towards her. In chapter two Steinbeck describes Curley’s wife as a â€Å"tart†, this is a derogatory term used to describe a female who could possibly be â€Å"loose† or â€Å"promiscuous† even if they are not. Even before the reader is introduced to Curley’s wife, Steinbeck begins to tempt the reader to dislike her. Further on in the chapter when she is being introduced for the first time, Steinbeck uses imagery to describe Curley’s wife, he writes about her â€Å"full rouged lips†, her â€Å"red finger nails†, the â€Å"bouquets of red ostrich feathers† and the â€Å"red mules† she is wearing. Here the reader can see that Steinbeck is using connotations of the colour red. Red is seen as a provocative or seductive colour, it can also be seen as a colour of warning or danger. Here Steinbeck could possibly be trying to foreshadow future events to come. From this the reader may begin to already form a dislike towards Curley’s wife as it appears that she attempting to attract the attention of the workers on the farm, this would be an un-natural way for a married woman to behave. In chapter three Steinbeck continues to describe Curley’s wi fe in a negative manner. Steinbeck uses the term â€Å"jail bait† when she is being spoken about by the farm workers. The term jail bait is a metaphor as you cannot literally be a piece of bait that will end another up in jail. A woman who is described as jail bait is somebody who attempts to look older than they  actually are, and are possibly attempting to attract a suitor to take the bait, if this event comes to fruition the suitor could find himself serving a lengthy prison sentence. Further on in chapter three, Steinbeck writes about Curley’s wife as having â€Å"the eye† all the time, Steinbeck again is using a metaphor to descried Curley’s wife actions towards the farm workers. You cannot actually have the eye, what Steinbeck is doing is attempting to show the reader that she is always looking for attention and has to act in a provocative manner to obtain this. The reader may begin to feel strong dislike towards Curley’s wife now, as this is not the way any married woman should act. However it also begins to show the reader what a lonely existence it was for women during this era and possibly all that Curley’s wife actually craved was social interaction which is a basic need for any human being. Steinbeck again could possibly be foreshadowing future events to come. In chapter four Steinbeck begins to touch more on the lonely existence for a woman during this period of time. Curley’s wife speaks about wanting to â€Å"talk to somebody ever once in a while† this again represents the loneliness that she may be experiencing and again possibly the cause for her acting in the manner that she does around the workers. Steinbeck here uses imagery as the reader can imagine Curley’s wife being completely alone from female contact and only having Curley to speak to and the farm workers when Curley is not around. Steinbeck could also be possibly foreshadowing future events to come. Further on in the chapter Steinbeck also creates an element of fear towards Curley’s wife, this is seen when she is talking with Lennie and Candy. Curley’s wife states to Candy that she could get him â€Å"strung up† on a tree when she is challenged by him. Steinbeck a gain is using imagery and a metaphor to describe what will have. Being strung up is a referral to being hung, this would be done by making a noose at one end of a rope and hanging it over a branch and tying it to a tree, unfortunately a person then has the noose put over his head and then the rope is pulled tight and the person is effectively â€Å"strung up†. From this the reader may begin to feel a strong dislike to Curley’s wife even though she could possibly be lonely, the way she is going about getting the attention she craves is not the way to win people over. Making threats to a person who already may not get the best treatment, will only make them fear the consequences more if they are found out. In chapter five Steinbeck uses imagery to describe the way  Curley’s wife quietly approached Lennie in the stable, the reader could feel that this is a sneakily way to get close to Lennie and then before he can get away from her she is upon him. Steinbeck also describes Curley’s wife as having little â€Å"sausage curls†, Steinbeck is using personification to describe her hair, as in reality you would not have sausage as curls in someone’s hair, and again may be attempting to sway the reader to dislike her, also from this the reader may feel that Curley’s wife can be quite sly and cunning at times, the way that she approaches Lennie in the barn is not the norm if you are just strolling about, it must be a calculated act, knowing full well that she will catch Lennie alone. From this the reader may feel a strong dislike towards her, this is due to the fact that although she is married, she is still attempting to get one of the farm workers alone. It is almost like she cannot resist the temptation. And ultimately in the end if anything was to happen, the worker would move on and she would have knew victims to try and entice. Throughout the novella the readers opinions of Curley’s wife may slightly sway from dislike to sympathy, this is because the way Steinbeck uses imagery to describe her at the beginning it is that of a loose and easy woman, craving the attention of men on the farm in an almost sexual and provocative manner even though she is recently married. This theme continues throughout the majority of the story at different intervals. She enjoys to wear red, she is always asking if anyone have seen her husband, she seems to relax more if they have not and enjoys the attention she attracts. The reader may also feel sympathy for her as when Steinbeck describes her wanting company, this could possibly be a reason for her always hanging around the worker and looking for Curley. Ultimately I feel the reader will show great dislike towards her, the way she acts is not the correct way for a woman to act regardless of loneliness. I feel that Steinbeck is attempting to draw attention to how lonely life must have been for any person during that period of time. The struggles that they must have come over and lengths that some people would have gone to achieve that.

The Pros and Cons of Contracting Out In The Public Sector Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Contracting Out In The Public Sector Introduction Many public agencies in recent years have followed the trend of privatization, or contracting-out. Activities and functions that were once performed, or services that were once provided, by public employees are now being performed by private sector employees (Lyons). Vehicle towing, health services, police protection, and solid waste collection are among the many services and functions that government has contracted out. A survey in 1995 that was sent to mayors or city managers of America's largest cities (based on population) revealed that only three of the 66 cities that responded to the survey had not privatized any city services. http://fpac.fsu.edu/parbaby/pdf/1997/janfeb/dilger.pdf This trend translates to not only an administrative concerns but a staffing concern faced by many managers. Privatization As A Staffing Concern Replacement Of Civil Servants By Contract Employees Privatization of governmental functions has a direct relationship with the number of contract employees in government and an inverse relationship with the number of civil servants. As privatization has become more acceptable, contract employees are being hired to do the jobs, thus, replacing civil servants. As indicated by Gregg Lodan, Assistant Administrative Analyst for the City of Long Beach Community Development Department, approximately 20% of the department’s employees are contract employees, as opposed to approximately 5% three years ago. He stated that other departments and other cities might have even higher percentages because functions of whole departments or individual functions are now being considered for privatization (Lodan). In India... ...3. International City Management Association. Service Delivery in the 90's: Alternative Approaches for Local Governments: Washington D.C.: International City Management Association, 1989. Lodan, Gregg and Jesus Gomez. Personal interview. November 18, 1998. Lyons, James. "Contracting Out for Public School Support Services." Education Urban Society, Feb. 1, 1995: 154 Pinchot, Gifford, and Elizabeth Pinchot. The End of Bureaucracy & the Rise of the Intelligent Organization. San Francisco: Berrett, 1993: 180. Rehfuss, John A. Contracting Out in Government. San Francisco: Jossey, 1989 Wolfe, Michael N. "That's Not an Employee, That's an Independent Contractor." Compensation & Benefits Review, July-August, 1996: 60-64. Nigro, Lloyd G., and Felix A. Nigro. The New Public Personnel Administration. Itasca, Illinois: F.E. Peacock Publishers, Inc., 1994.

Language and Imagery in Punching Out Essay example -- Punching Out Ess

Language and Imagery in Punching Out In the critical praise for the poetry of Jim Daniels which fills the back cover of the anthology, Peter Stitt of the New York Times praises Daniels’s ability to "articulate the feelings of inarticulate people," in his clear and often creative free verse style. But the culture which Daniels illuminates in his poetry is far from inarticulate, as the critic indicates; more precisely the culture articulates its feelings and emotions in a vernacular unfamiliar to those outside it and to those accustomed to the eloquence and expression of loftier themes in traditional poetry. Daniels simply distills the essence of these feelings through a gesture, a thought, an image or a scene more adroitly than the blue collar workers which surround him, using poetry to meet the hardships, hopes and concerns of this culture on its own terms. Throughout the poems contained in Punching Out, Daniels creatively manipulates the poetic devices of imagery, allusions, language and rhythm to vividly portra y the oppressive environment of the factory and the demoralizing effects of the repetitive labor on its workers. One image which Daniels frequently co-opts to highlight Fords’ ironic approach to its workers is the manufacturer’s slogan. Quality appears to be job one in Daniels’s portrayal so long as it does not impede on the bottom line. Buying a cheap radio from a merchant who assures him that he is purchasing "Quality Merchandise", (author’s italics) the author curses the mal-functioning machine, remarking to himself that he should "know all about quality by how." The shrewdly placed slash in the title of "Quality/Control", again highlights the company’s ambivalent stance on quality versus profits. In the poem,... ...over portrays the utopian vision of a fresco by Diego Rivera showing all type of workers, black and white, young and old working together for the common cause of the auto industry. Jim Daniels’s more disturbing vision shows that the industry’s real leveling effect comes not from some Socialist Unity of the workers of the world, but by stripping every worker equally of his or her human dignity. Daniels is able to capture, by the simplest of gestures and stories, the desperation of the auto workers’ lot. In "Old Green, he tells of the worker retiring after nearly half a century of dedication to the company, given an aerial photo of factory. "As hard as you look you’ll never find him," notes Daniels, and all of his poetry eloquently reflects this plight of the worker. Works Cited Daniels, Jim. Punching Out. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990. Â   Â   Language and Imagery in Punching Out Essay example -- Punching Out Ess Language and Imagery in Punching Out In the critical praise for the poetry of Jim Daniels which fills the back cover of the anthology, Peter Stitt of the New York Times praises Daniels’s ability to "articulate the feelings of inarticulate people," in his clear and often creative free verse style. But the culture which Daniels illuminates in his poetry is far from inarticulate, as the critic indicates; more precisely the culture articulates its feelings and emotions in a vernacular unfamiliar to those outside it and to those accustomed to the eloquence and expression of loftier themes in traditional poetry. Daniels simply distills the essence of these feelings through a gesture, a thought, an image or a scene more adroitly than the blue collar workers which surround him, using poetry to meet the hardships, hopes and concerns of this culture on its own terms. Throughout the poems contained in Punching Out, Daniels creatively manipulates the poetic devices of imagery, allusions, language and rhythm to vividly portra y the oppressive environment of the factory and the demoralizing effects of the repetitive labor on its workers. One image which Daniels frequently co-opts to highlight Fords’ ironic approach to its workers is the manufacturer’s slogan. Quality appears to be job one in Daniels’s portrayal so long as it does not impede on the bottom line. Buying a cheap radio from a merchant who assures him that he is purchasing "Quality Merchandise", (author’s italics) the author curses the mal-functioning machine, remarking to himself that he should "know all about quality by how." The shrewdly placed slash in the title of "Quality/Control", again highlights the company’s ambivalent stance on quality versus profits. In the poem,... ...over portrays the utopian vision of a fresco by Diego Rivera showing all type of workers, black and white, young and old working together for the common cause of the auto industry. Jim Daniels’s more disturbing vision shows that the industry’s real leveling effect comes not from some Socialist Unity of the workers of the world, but by stripping every worker equally of his or her human dignity. Daniels is able to capture, by the simplest of gestures and stories, the desperation of the auto workers’ lot. In "Old Green, he tells of the worker retiring after nearly half a century of dedication to the company, given an aerial photo of factory. "As hard as you look you’ll never find him," notes Daniels, and all of his poetry eloquently reflects this plight of the worker. Works Cited Daniels, Jim. Punching Out. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1990. Â   Â  

History Genocide Alert in Sudan Essay

Recently, newspapers and journals discussed the plight of the millions of people of Sudan as there has been the government sponsored genocide. This victimization of a few people has been discussed in the press as well as in the various websites. These various forums have condemned the atrocities committed against the innocent people. Hence, at different levels one can find the call for alert regarding the indiscriminate killing of large number of the people in Sudan. The Sudanese government has indirectly and sometimes directly sponsored the atrocities committed against the civilians. The government has encouraged the local militias to loot, murder and rape the innocent people in the southern region of Sudan. They have attacked the churches, buildings providing relief to the victims, and the market places. Ethnic and tribal warfare in the southern Sudan has been encouraged in order the keep the south divided. The government has destroyed the food supplies which have led to the death of large number of people due to starvation. People are persecuted based on their race, ethnicity, and religion. The main reason for this atrocity is that these people have opposed the imposition of extreme form of Islamic law. The government has been persecuting non Islamic and non Arabic people in an attempt to destroy those people who were politically opposed to the plans of the government. An important reason for this persecution is the attempt to control the oil fields which have been owned by the victims of the genocide atrocities. In fact, after the government signed agreements with the foreign oil companies, the atrocities against the civilians have increased. The government has used all the armaments and military vehicles to destroy the villages and areas inhabited by those people who opposed the government policies. Consequently, many civilians have been forced to leave their land as their villages, lands, churches, and schools have been destroyed due to the bombings. This government attempt to clear these lands has been termed as â€Å"scorched earth strategy†. (Survivors’ Rights International, 2001) However, the new settlements of displaced Sudanese have been earmarked for the future oil exploration which would imply that in the future the government may attack the people in this region. With the help of this genocide, the government has been able to multiply its oil revenues. However, a major part of this revenue has been spent on military machinery. Unfortunately, the government of Sudan believes that it can win the war with the help of oil money. This has led to killing of more than 2 million people. In addition to this, 4 million people have suffered internal displacement. Another 3 million people are facing starvation. In such a situation, international community including USA should pressurize the Sudanese government to stop its atrocities. (Survivors’ Rights International, 2001) The victims have argued that the government of Sudan has targeted the â€Å"blacks† as there is attempt to destroy the all the black population. This shows the racial and ethnic discrimination of the government actions. In the region of Darfur, even now thousands of people are dying due to the military attack and food shortage. This genocide has been noted by the US government agencies, international human rights bodies, and the United Nations. The displaced people are afraid of returning to their homeland because they are afraid of persecution. The Sudanese government has mainly attacked the Africans belonging to Fur, Zaghawa, and the Masaalit ethnic groups. The government sponsored militia is also termed as the Janjaweed who belong to the Arab tribes. Due to the ethnic wars, the civilians are suffering. This crisis has continued to bother the international human rights activists. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2005) Many international government and non-government organizations have established their associations to fight against the atrocities committed against the particular ethnic and racial component in Sudan. For instance, one can notice the establishment of Genocide Intervention Fund (GIF) which is a non government association of the civilians. GIF has supported the UN supported African Un ion Mission in Darfur. The main aim of this association is to support the peace keeping forces to protect the life of the innocent civilians in Darfur. In fact, African Union needs greater funding in order to manage the financial requirements to send the troops, supply food, and equipments to the peace keeping soldiers fighting for the lives of the people in Sudan. GIF has started the campaign to protect the lives of the Sudanese from the government attack. In fact, it aims to send 100000 letters to the government officials urging them to take action against the Sudanese government. This organization has requested the support of the government officials and civilians to raise $100000 to fight against the atrocities of the Sudanese government. The UNO has commissioned few committees to submit report regarding the nature of atrocities committed by the Sudanese government. In January 2005 International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur report was published. This report gave information regarding the recent developments in Darfur. This report can be used by the international agencies to take action against the government of Sudan. However, there is difference of opinion among the permanent members of the Security Council. The US government wants to create an ad hoc tribunal for Darfur. However this can delay action for many months. Further, Russia and China, which have strategic trade ties with Sudan, also halted the decisive action against the Sudanese government. However, the US senior officials have accepted that genocide is being committed in Sudan. In spite of this realization, international organizations are reluctant to take action against the government of Sudan. (Preventgenocide. org, 2005) In spite of the statistics available regarding the genocide in Sudan, media did not give much importance to these events. However, the film maker Jen Marlowe decided to present the human face of the disaster in Sudan. This film is given the title: â€Å"Darfur Diaries: Message from Home†. Marlowe visited Darfur and the refugee camps in the neighboring region of Chad. Marlowe obtained information by interviewing the victims of the government sponsored genocide. The filmmaker has discussed with the children regarding their sufferings. Marlowe considers that children are the most vulnerable groups in the society. Further, it is necessary to provide protection to the lives of large number of civilians who face the threat of losing their lives and properties due to the government policy. The attempt of Marlowe has succeeded in providing a human face of the genocide in Darfur. This has also showed the failure of the journalists to cover this topic as very few journalists have covered the story narrated by the refuges in Chad. (Ellis, 2005) Recently, attempts have been made to redress the grievances of the victims. However, most of these attempts have failed due to the increase in the intensity of the conflicts and the international organizations have failed provide aid to the victims. Ellis, 2005) I learnt from the above research that greatest importance should be given to protect the lives of millions of people in Darfur. To achieve this objective, the members of the international organizations such as UNO should take immediate action against the Sudanese government. Secondly, the associations should increase the funding to help the peacekeeping forces to provide aid to the victims of genocide in Darfur. The media also should give more coverage to the developments in Darfur.