The Development of Female Ascetics in the Early Church

The Development of Female Ascetics in the Early Church This paper will explore the development of female ascetics during the early Church and show how these practices affect the 21st century Churches outlook on woman. We will explore many aspects of asceticism such as the scriptural examples, spiritual motivations, reasons for choosing this lifestyle and the overall implications upon church history. Asceticism, along with monasticism, are two spiritual disciplines encouraging and focusing on the elimination and/or de-emphasizing of worldly pleasure(s) in order to further focus an individual upon achieving a higher, more spiritual life. Many faith backgrounds across many religions have adapted both asceticism and monasticism. Essentially, asceticism practices extreme self-denial in order to grow spiritually. Monasticism focuses on this as well but typically also includes seclusion and the separation from the world entirely. Asceticism is taken from the Greek word askesis, meaning â€Å"exercise, training, practice† (FOOTNOTE). The ascetic believes that the world is full of pleasures and environments that will detract from and lead you down an immoral lifestyle. They will renounce these distractions in hopes of spiritual growth and enlightenment and live a life of abstinence, austerity and extreme self-denial. As stated above it is common to many various religions, including: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. Though asceticism is similar to stoicism it isShow MoreRelatedThe Development of Female Ascetics in the Early Church1809 Words   |  7 PagesThe Development of Female Ascetics in the Early Church INTRODUCTION Christian ascetics in the fourth and fifth centuries were pioneers in working out what must be done by people who find the ordinary human concerns of household and city an intolerable distraction from their commitment to God. They experimented with styles and structures; tried out and competed with each other’s techniques for strengthening the soul against harmful desires and demonic attack; and shared and analyzed their experienceRead MoreThis project examines the construction of subjectivity in Eleanor Antin’s Carving: A Traditional2700 Words   |  11 Pagesto regularly throughout their careers. My reading prioritizes theories of the body, subjectivity, consumption, gender and difference, refusing to see these works, or the practice of anorexia, as simply a testament to pressures on the contemporary female body or the demonstration of a cardinal relationship between the feminine and food. Instead, it locates these practices as a site of complex and, at times, resistant subjectivities. At the heart of my reading is recent sociological and anthropologicalRead MoreSolution to Ignou Papers2652 Words   |  11 Pagespeople belonging to all sections of society and infused in them bravery and self-confidence. Millions now braved the repression resorted by the govt boldly courted imprisonment and faced lathicharges and firings.Gandhiji lived the simple life of an ascetic and talked to the people in a language they could understand. He came to be known to the people as Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji made social report a part of the programme of the nationalist movement. His greatest achievement in the field of social reformRead MoreMaking Moral Decisions in Different Religious Context.8874 Words   |  36 Pagesancient Chou.) 3. The book of Poetry. (Poetry dealing with numerous themes.) 4. The book of Ritual. (Rules of conduct.) 5. The spring and autumn annals. (Shows the state of Lu between 722-484BC.) The four books: 1. The Analects. (An early collection of Confucius thoughts.) 2. The Doctrine of the Mean. (Written by a disciple and includes religious aspects of Confucius’ views.) 3. The Great Learning. (Short account of moral education.) 4. Mencius. (The teachings ofRead MoreReligion And Its Role Within Societies 600 B.c11006 Words   |  45 PagesReligion and its role in societies 600 B.C.E. - 600 C.E. Codifications and further developments of existing religious traditions provided a bond among the people and an ethical code to live by. Religion has been a dominant cultural, ethical, and political force throughout human history, both recent and ancient. Religion has been science and asylum for many generations of very many people, uniting them in their common faith. Temples were built for people to pray and perform sacrifice in, givingRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesintellectual traditions that contribute to our understanding of organizations. Professor Tomas Mà ¼llern, Jà ¶nkà ¶ping International Business School, Sweden . McAuley, Duberley and Johnson’s Organizational Theory takes you on a joyful ride through the developments of one of the great enigmas of our time – How should we understand the organization? Jan Ole Similà ¤, Assistant Professor, Nord-Trà ¸ndelag University College, Norway I really enjoyed this new text and I am sure my students will enjoy it, too. ItRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesextremely difficult to say with absolute certainty which one is the most decisive. It should be noted as well that the conflict of a story may exist prior to the formal initiation of the plot itself, rather than be explicitly dramatized or presented in an early scene or chapter. Some conflicts, in fact, are never made explicit and must be inferred by the reader from what the characters do or say as the plot unfolds (as, for example, in Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†). Conflict, then, is theRead MoreA Picatrix Miscellany52019 Words   |  209 Pagesother two decans are allotted the lords of the signs situated trigonally (120 °) distant from them, as, in Aries, the Sun (Leo) and Jupiter (Sagittarius). The effects only are given, not the images (pp. 141-43). We continue with information on Brahmin ascetic practices, which are performed at astrologically significant times and, by enabling the practitioners to reach a state of dematerialization, allow them to dominate the celestial powers. They are guided by a â€Å"Book of the Buddha†, from which extracts

Weather anomalies very challenging Free Essays

Nino weather anomalies very challenging. (10)Countries in the Monsoon climatic region of SE S Asia depend on the rains that come with the precision of Calender dates (due to the precise dates of Sun’s seasonal shift as per Calender dates). It is essential for their agriculture, where countries with huge populations have to feed them, made possible with assured crops. We will write a custom essay sample on Weather anomalies very challenging or any similar topic only for you Order Now Any variation in timing ; rainfall quantum affects their crop production adversely. It also leads to unforeseen flooding caused by excessive rains (other environmental factors ike soil erosion aiding it) that washes out the crops. Monsoon is created by the Sea surface temperature variation (Pacific Ocean largely) as per Calender dates. El Nino refers to the unusual, unseasonal warming of the equatorial currents of the Pacific Ocean that upsets Monsoon. We all know how huge is this Ocean and how very broad (about 10000 miles) it is at its Equator; its sheer volume of water absorbs the solar heat energy and acts like an engine for the Monsoon. It is a challenge to these countries. Modellig it mathematically (an exercise in atmospheric Physics) is one of the most complicated problems with an innumerable set of parametrs ; that is a challenge. India bought the first ‘Cray’ Super-Computer for its meteorological department that can give accuarte predictio(a) Suggest why many countries find El Nino weather anomalies very challenging. (10) El Nino is referring to the dramatic change that occurs in the walker circulation cell and in other areas but I am going to focus on this specific area, where the usually outh-easterly trade winds going from west of South America to Australia and Indonesia across the Pacific Ocean reverse or severely weaken. This occurs usually every 3-7 years and can last between 12-18 months. During an El Nino the warm sea in the western pacific migrate towards the South American coast because they are being dragged across by the winds. This stops the upwelling near South America and means that there are little nutrients in the sea. This lack of nutrients ruins the South American fishing industry and courses them to loose lots of income and money, for xample in 1982/83 El Nino the South American fishing industry lost $290 million. Also as you can sea from fgure 7 there is lots of rain fall on the west coast of South America due to the low pressure, this heavy rain fall cause severe flooding and mudslides that result in loss of life, an example of this was in central Ecuador and Peru in 1997 when it suffered rainfall 10 times the average rainfall, this caused extensive flooding and erosion as well as mudslides, there was loss of life and destruction of property as the country wasn’t able to cope with the severe weather. On the other side of the pacific in Australia and Indonesia the cold weather reduces evaporation, which causes very little rain and therefore drought, for example in the 1982/83 El Nino eastern Australia suffered one of it’s worst drought ever, resulting in a $2000 million loss in agriculture production. It causes crop failure and famine and many people died as a result. How to cite Weather anomalies very challenging, Papers

Discussion on Brothers Karamazov By Fyodor Dostoevsky

Question: Discusss about the Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Answer: Introduction: The Brothers Karamazovf is a family tragedy that centers around a father and the three sons that he has had from his two wives. The three sons are Dmitri, Ivan and Alyosha and the name of their father is Fyodor. The Karamzov brothers did not get the chance of growing together in the same house because their neglectful father gave them away to relatives in order to be free from all types of responsibilities (Connolly, 2013). But after a while they had returned home to visit their father along with gaining inheritance and pursuing a particular damsel for which they got the opportunity of spending some time together. But the main theme of the plot revolves around the murder of their father, Fyodor Karamazov. First of all there is a dispute between the eldest son, Dmitri and the father, Fyodor about the inheritance of property and also the fact that both of them want to pursue the same girl, Grushenka (Dostoyevsky and Garnett, 1955). One of the main underlying themes of the whole novel i s the conflict between Faith doubt. Faith can be asserted as the type of belief system practiced by Zosima and Alyosha where they have a strong trust on God and anticipate that positive activities will occur in the long run. This helps them to enhance the feelings kindness, forgiveness and the love for mankind. Doubt on the other hand would refer to the logical skepticism that is expressed by the youngest of the three brothers, Ivan Karamazov. He intends to pursue the truth by the application of proper and appropriate logic and reasons. This consequently makes him reject God or even have the minimum level of faith on religion as a whole along with the conventional notions of morality. It is to be noted that the author, Dostoevsky has not presented these two positions in a neutral manner. On the contrary, he advocates for the position of faith and even show different examples where a life of faith is much more significant and happier than a life of doubt (Dostoyevsky and Garnett, 19 96). This particular novel has endeavored a lot to examine the psychology of doubt with great level of objectivity as well as passion. Another underlying theme of the novel is that of the pervasiveness of the moral responsibility. It can be understood by reading the novel that the author wants to convey that people need to forgive the sins of others and also at the same time need to pray for the redemption of the criminals instead of praying for their punishment. As Zosima explains that each and every action done by a human being has numerous effects on another and therefore a single consequence of an action can never be traced out (Dostoyevsky and Garnett, 2009). Thus each and every human being need to be supportive of each other and encourage each other for a better future. References Connolly, J. (2013).Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. Dostoyevsky, F. and Garnett, C. (1955).The brothers Karamazov. Chicago: Encyclopdia Britannica. Dostoyevsky, F. and Garnett, C. (1996).The brothers Karamazov. New York: Modern Library. Dostoyevsky, F. and Garnett, C. (2009).The brothers Karamazov. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Floating Press.

Social Context of Dementia Essay Example

Social Context of Dementia Essay Social Context of Dementia Name: Course: Institution: We will write a custom essay sample on Social Context of Dementia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social Context of Dementia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social Context of Dementia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Instructor: Date: Social Context of Dementia Dementia refers to a decline in a person’s mental abilities such as memory and thinking capacity. It occurs because of the physical changes that occur on the brain due to damaged brain cells. This affects the person’s ability to perform their daily tasks. Dementia also affects communication and language, ability to pay attention, visual perception, judgment, and reasoning (Duggleby et al, 2009). One of the most common types of dementia is Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s affects a person’s behavior, and this has a negative effect on the person’s health and social relationships. People suffering from dementia have problems remembering things, and this makes it especially hard for those living with them. Symptoms often develop slowly, and they continue to worsen. In this review I will discuss how dementia does not only affect a person’s identity, but it also affects family, friends and the community i n different ways. People suffering from Alzheimer’s are not able to take care of themselves properly because of the limitations of their cognitive abilities. This places a huge burden on the people who take care of them. The caregivers have to ensure that patients are okay, and they cannot leave the patients alone (La Fountaine et al, 2007). Caregivers experience physical, mental, psychosocial, and spiritual stress. Some of the physical problems caused by Alzheimer’s include a decrease in the response of the immune system, high risks of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, high rates of depression and anxiety symptoms and sleep interruptions. Patients depend on their family members to take care of them, although some of them are institutionalized. Family members are saddened when the patient does not recognize them. Caregivers are often stressed and exhausted when taking care of patients. Some of them are in a dilemma, and do not know what to do since they have to take care of patients. This makes them feel trapped and helpless because they cannot find a solution to their problems. They have to alter their lives, and their social life changes. They do not have as much freedom as they used to since they have to take constant care of the patient (Duggleby et al., 2009). Spouses have a hard time dealing with their partners who have dementia, especially when patients have not been diagnosed. Patients forget their partners and they forget their responsibilities. The period before diagnosis is especially challenging and trying for families. It is a period of misunderstanding, irritation, conflict, and tension in the home. Spouses do not understand why their partners have to keep forgetting things, and the patients do not understand why their partners keep blaming everything on them. Memory loss is a big problem, and the person who forgets often feels frustrated (Duggleby et al., 2009). They have a hard time doing basic things around the house because they cannot remember. Before diagnosis, children are often irritated with the parent who has dementia and they resent them for the negative behavioral changes. Parents with dementia do not pay attention to their children. It is especially hard for children if their parents do not remember them. They do not understand why their parents have to behave the way they do, and this causes conflict in the home. It becomes worse when patients become inconsistent with their thoughts or how they talk. This inconsistent behavior is a good sign of suspecting dementia (Deliane et al., 2011). Caregivers have a hard time taking care of patients. Despite this, many caregivers find meaning and joy when taking care of their family members. They feel devoted to them, and they feel that they have to keep hope alive. Hope is important for caregivers who are taking care of their families. This is not only the case with caregivers who are taking care of patients with dementia, but also to the caregivers taking care of patients with terminal diseases. It balances the stress the caregivers experience and maintaining their well-being. It gives them an inner strength, and they feel motivated to keep on taking care of patients. It gives them the physical and mental strength they need to continue taking care of their patients. Caregivers hope that the patient’s condition will not get worse rather than hoping that it will improve (Deliane et al., 2011). The hope that caregivers have is more for themselves rather than for the patients. They are, therefore, concerned when this hope starts fading. They worry that they will not be able to go on, and they will not find the encouragement they need to continue. Caregivers have to find ways of renewing their hope. They talk to other family members, friends, and people who are going through the same things that they are experiencing. Caregivers learn from one another and encourage each other. Caregivers renew their hope by coming to terms with the situation. They learn more about the condition and understand it better. They learn things such as maintenance and treatment of the condition. This helps them to have a realistic view of the situation. They know what is possible, and how they can improve the patient’s condition. Caregivers get encouraged when they know that they are doing their best to take care of patients. Once they face the situation, they begin finding positive things. Some patients are happy when they observe small changes in the patient’s condition. Any instance of positive change from the patient encourages them. They are happy when the patient’s heath does not worsen. The caregivers set short-term goals as a way of renewing their hope (Duggleby et al., 2009). Families are important, and in most cases, they provide better care giving than institutions. Having a positive relationship with their children provides patients with attachment, recognition and positive outlook (Surr, 2006). Dementia affects a person’s identity and personality, mostly in negative ways (Surr, 2006). Before diagnosis, patients go through periods of denial, and they might convince themselves that they are not suffering from the condition. Some patients feel the need to cover up their condition, and they end up lying to their families. It may take considerable time before the patients agree to seek medical help. Caregivers may have different explanations concerning the patient’s condition. They give reasons such as stress, depression, change of environment, and old age among others. In most cases, the caregivers are the ones who seek for medical intervention, rather than the patients. The patients do not think that there is anything wrong with them, and they may refuse to seek any medical help. The patients do not remember their actions, and they do not think that they have done anything wrong. Some of them live in denial as a way of protecting themselves. They think that everyone is against them, when people tell them things that they cannot remember. Therefore, they choose to hide their problem to avoid any negative attention for their symptoms. This affects the person’s personality because the person will find ways of lying and deceiving their families, friends, and colleagues at work (Deliane et al., 2011). Some patients tend to contradict what they. They confuse statements since they cannot remember what they previously said. A wife may not recognize her husband. He or she may talk about past events and make them look like they are currently happening. If they are corrected and anyone suggests they are unwell, they might become violent. Some of them have to be taken to hospital under coercion. All these changes make these people look different and it changes their personality (Surr, 2006). Sometimes it becomes hard for families to accept the changes. Patients tend to deny any mistakes they have done, cover up any deficits in their cognitive abilities, and undermine any difficulties they may be experiencing (Deliane et al., 2011). Some of the patients suffering from dementia may also become aggressive because they do not remember the people around them. They might think that the people are taking advantage of them, or that they want to harm them. Memory loss leads to behavior change, and this affects the person’s personality. He or she cannot remember the most obvious things. For instance, a mother will have a hard time in recognizing their children. Alzheimer’s affects the community in different ways (Deliane et al., 2011). These effects may be economic loss realized from the loss of jobs once a person is diagnosed with the condition. Patients become less productive in their work. They are unable to perform the simple and routine tasks they used to, since they cannot remember the processes. They have more conflicts with their colleagues because they develop short-term memory loss. They will therefore do something, and then forget that they are the ones who had done it. This affects the work environment. The situation worsens if the management or the colleagues at work do not know of the patient’s problems. Some patient’s end up becoming stressed and depressed because of the conditions at work, and this worsens their conditions further (Deliane et al., 2011). People in different cultures have different perception of Alzheimer’s. Some societies view dementia in a negative way. They are more likely to stigmatize people with dementia and develop negative stereotypes because they do not understand the condition (Surr, 2006). This negative perception is not good for people with dementia, and it worsens their condition. When the patients experience negative stereotypes, they tend to age more quickly, and their memory performance worsens. This is because they become upset and frustrated with their environment and treatment from people (Surr, 2006). The stigmatization happens because people in the community find it hard to cope with dementia patients. The community isolates the patients and their caregivers. Due to the embarrassment of these patients and their caregivers, they are unable to seek formal services for help. Many patients are at home using informal treatment instead of seeking professional help. The notion of assuming it is normal for old people to have dementia is another reason for using informal treatments. A large number of these patients are dying quickly because they do not seek professional help when dealing with the condition. The Western culture has some understanding of dementia. They know it is a medical condition brought by a number of diseases. People are also aware of services offered to dementia patients and their caregivers. The best way to begin to handle this condition is accepting the situation and to seek help. Different health institutions have helped patients and others who have sought their help. They help patients to deal with their social life and advice the caregivers on how to adjust smoothly. Some of the services relevant to dementia patients are nursing homes for old people. They are good caregivers to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients. Family and friends can visit them in the nursing homes (Surr, 2006). Some cultures mostly consider dementia as normal stage of old age (La Fontaine et al., 2007). Others view it as mental disability. Different communities have varied definitions of dementia. Generally, it is a shame to have a dementia and it is not easily accepted. This is why patients are stigmatized and some are even neglected. There is need to create awareness of this condition to educate people about it. People might change their attitude when they understand better about dementia. Some have developed negative attitudes because they just adopted the beliefs they found in the community. The Indian communities, dementia problems are contributed by negligence of the patient and the family. It is advised that such communities should deal with family problems and overcome them. There is inadequate knowledge of dementia illness. Other physical and emotional problems are understood but there is little knowledge about dementia. This is why these communities isolate and discriminate dementia patients. Old people withdraw themselves from the rest of the community. This is why it seems acceptable to stigmatize dementia patients (La Fontaine et al., 2007). The community should take time to understand dementia conditions and change any negative attitude towards these patients. They are part of the community and they should not be isolated. It is unacceptable for children to abandon their parents or any relative because they think they are mentally ill. Dementia should be approached with a lot of understand and support to the patients. Regardless of lack of treatment to some conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, patients can live longer. This will happen if they are given enough care by those who are with them (La Fontaine et al, 2007). Around the world, more people that are elderly are reporting cases of dementia. People who are forty years of age are still prone but their chances are minimal compared to those who are more than sixty-five. Families with the elderly should learn more about dementia and prepare in case one of the members become affected. All people within these ages prone to this condition should also be aware of it and accept th3e changes in case they become affected. Dementia is hereditary and most probable in families, which has a history of it. People should stop viewing dementia as mental illness. This will help them eliminate the attitude of stigmatization towards the affected people (La Fontaine, 2007). It has been observed that dementia patients lose close relationship with people. This is a common characteristic of how communities treat these patients. It is recommended that people should maintain these relationships for the welfare of the patient. He or she should continue experiencing the same kind of environment as before. However, it is difficult to maintain the environment as it was, since the rest of the family and friends become affected by the change. A family with dementia patient should seek counseling to help them cope with the changes. References: Deliane, V., Vugt, E. M., Bakker, C., Koopmans, R. T. et al. (2011). Caregivers’ perspectives on the pre-diagnostic period in early onset dementia: A long and winding road. International Psychogeriatrics 23, (9), 1393-1404 Duggleby, W., Williams, A., Wright, K., Bollinger, S. (2009). Renewing everyday hop: The hope experience of family caregivers of persons with dementia. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 30, 518-521 La Fontaine, J., Ahuja, J., Bradbury,N. M., et al. 2007. Understanding dementia amongst people in minority ethnic and cultural and cultural groups. Journal of Advanced Nursing Volume 60, Issue 6, pages 605–614. Surr, A. C. (2006). Preservation of self in people with dementia living in residential care: A socio-biographical approach. Social Science Medicine 62, 1720-1730.

Never Found The Time Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Never Found The Time Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Never Found The Time Author unknown Submitted by Jaz ******** I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work For bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, And jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done My soul could rest at ease. All day long I had no time To spread a word of cheer. No time to speak of Christ to friends, They'd laugh at me I'd fear. No time, no time, too much to do, That was my constant cry, No time to give to souls in need But at last the time, the time to die. I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God held a book; It was the book of life. God looked into his book and said.. Your name I cannot find. I once was going to write it down...but never found the time.

BluePrint LSAT Courses

BluePrint LSAT Courses If youve set your sights on mastering the LSAT before you register, then you know youll need to prepare for it with practice tests, books, apps, tutoring or LSAT courses. If taking a class has been on your mind, then youre in the right spot! Many test prep companies out there offer LSAT courses to help you master the skills, testing techniques and knowledge youll need for test day. BluePrint is one of those companies. BluePrint LSAT Courses BluePrint does nothing else but LSAT test prep. Thats right. Their entire company, founded in 2005, is focused on getting you to ace this bad boy of a test. Personally, I like the companys wit and flavor. If you decide to register for a BluePrint LSAT class, which you can at the bottom of the page, and visit their website, youll see what I mean. Boring test prep it is certainly not. With some other test prep companies like The Princeton Review and Kaplan, youll get a higher score or satisfaction guarantee. BluePrint does not offer one, but on average, their students are earning 11 points higher from their first to best practice LSAT exams. Live LSAT Course At press time, the BluePrint Live LSAT course was offered in 28 different locations from New York to LA. If youre not in one of the areas, you can sign up for the online course, which is a little less expensive, too. At press time, the cost was $1,299 Whats Included 112 hours of practice: 88 lecture hours and 24 hours of practice exams16 lessons devoted to introducing new concepts and strategies. They use current events or real-life examples to help illustrate challenging material.3 workshops for review situated at the end of each course book.3 clinics, one for each type of section on the LSAT6 proctored practice exams4 Blueprint textbooks and one supplement, as well as access to every available LSAT question legal to license – 6,500 questions.MyBlueprint student page featuring hundreds of additional hours of LSAT instruction, exam scoring, and explanations for every homework questionA class TA to help track your progress BluePrint: The Movie (Online, On-Demand LSAT Course) Not in one of the locations where BluePrint offers live classes? Thats okay! They have an online version of the class, too, so youre not left out in the cold. Plus, since the class is on-demand, you can study whenever you want to. There are no set class times or dates you need to remember. Youll have access to the course for two full LSAT administrations. At press time, the cost was $799 Whats Included 112 hours of practice: 88 lecture hours and 24 hours of practice exams16 lessons devoted to introducing new concepts and strategies. They use current events or real-life examples to help illustrate challenging material.3 workshops for review situated at the end of each course book.3 clinics, one for each type of section on the LSAT6 proctored practice exams4 Blueprint textbooks and one supplement, as well as access to every available LSAT question legal to license – 6,500 questions.MyBlueprint student page featuring hundreds of additional hours of LSAT instruction, exam scoring, and explanations for every homework question Upgrades to Your LSAT Course In case you miss an LSAT class, need more study time, could use a tutor, or want help with your law school application, BluePrint offers upgrades to your online or live course. If youre a live student and want to sign up for BluePrint: The Movie for additional practice, they offer it at a discounted $200! If youd like 1-on-1 tutoring with a teacher whos earned a 170 on the LSAT (wow!), then they have 10, 20 and A La Carte Tutoring options, too. In addition, BluePrint offers application consulting, too, in case youre feeling shaky in that area. Signing Up for BluePrints LSAT Courses If you like what you see, you can call 888-4-BP-PREP or email infoblueprintprep.com to enroll. Or, you can head to BluePrints website to check availability, try a class for free, and sign up online.

Social network marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social network marketing - Research Paper Example A good communication network can give an organization an upper hand in the advertisement sector; this can either be marketing or conveying urgent information to the public. In an education institution for example, it is very useful in educating people, a good communication network can be used efficiently in conveying information to the students. It attracts even those people who are not even directly involved in the institution hence it reaches out to a large area network. In the past the means of communication were not so advanced and it took long to convey information to a wide area network, this, however has changed over time and the communication network is getting more and more efficient such that you can reach anyone you like , anywhere and with very minimal time (Bosari, J. 2012, pp 53). The social media has been the core of communication in this era, hence for an institution it is very recommendable that there is a social media means of conveying information to the members an d public. Social media is the best tool for marketing available to the people right now, communication is simplified, and there are minimal delays. However for one to come up with an efficient social networking site it takes a lot of dedication and patience, it is not built in a day and one has to work hard to make their social network site efficient in the field. Social media marketing is a branch of internet marketing that entail the use of the internet to reach out to other people. Social network marketing therefore is a fundamental tool for an organization aiming to maximize on their marketing chances. Social media networking is open to many different form of communication, this include; the use of video calls, audio or voice messages, and written messages. This is possible when using social sites to convey information (Cambia, E. Et Al. 2011, pp 59). It goes without doubt that social media networking is the most efficient method for educational institutional marketing, in addit ion to the many advantages of social media; it also gives the liberty to navigate through different links and access more information from the internet. It can be used as a way of uniting other communication networks. The advantages of social media marketing are almost limitless; this mode of communication gives room for even very small corporate or business entities to, market their products without any form of victimization so long as they have an effective social media account, one that can be easily accessed by many individuals. Engaging in online conversations is a very effective way of using the social media to convey information to individuals (Deis, H. & Kyle, H. 2010, pp 87). One could also use the social media to combine it with other promotional brands to better their products; it gives room for research on the products and gain extra information on the marketing strategies. This is done in an entertaining and more interactive way such that you have direct access to your target audience. It is like having a personal conversation, but from very different geographical positions. Having online conversations is the most effective way of having a basis for a better background in making a reliable social site. It helps one to gain the confidence of other institutions such that they can give you access to some of their internet products hence expands the range of potential contacts and audiences. Social media network is no longer a trend, it is a necessity in the marketing industry and a must have for every serious institution. Research has it that more than 94% of all institutions in the world use social media network as their preferred marketing option. social media not only

M10 clean energy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

M10 clean energy - Assignment Example Projects such as CCPI-1 and CCPI-2 have demonstrated significant mercury removal, reduced sulfur and nitrogen emission, byproduct utilization, carbon dioxide capture, and improved efficiency (Leonard, 2008). Clean coal technology has not yet resulted in what would be termed as clean energy because it still releases carbon dioxide among other harmful particulate matter into the environment. Like of other fossil fuels such as diesel, coal releases sulfur and nitrogen gases as well as release of chemicals such mercury during its mining into the environment (Leonard, 2008). Such chemicals have negative pollute the environment leading to detrimental effect on the living things. However, biodiesel produced from biological waste has limited negative impact on the environment because it produces relatively reduced greenhouse gases. In this case, biodiesel can be termed as a cleaner source of energy compared to coal energy. Our dependency on fossil fuels can be fast track through determination of the rate of developing and using alternative sources of energy such as biodiesel and solar energy. The use of renewable sources of energy can clearly depict our dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and

The making and breaking of port kembla Essay Example for Free

The making and breaking of port kembla Essay Locality and society are interlinked with worker communities as new labor is inducted in areas which are industrializing. The interaction between workers and communities is thus not constant and remains dynamic. As industrialization took place in the early 20th Century in Australia, workers communities grew around a predominantly agricultural hinterland. These got bigger each day and in turn threatened to displace local communities particularly the indigenous people who were unable to adapt to the changing environment. The emerging conflict led to creation of social institutions by workers in the form of unions to collectively bargain from a position of strength with the community. While this empowered worker communities as a whole, it had varying influences on the lives of workers within the community as well as at the work place. The post industrialization phase where production has been automated and has become far less labor intensive has added a new dimension to this relationship. By drawing upon the example of Port Kembla, the Australian steel township, Erik Eklund has successfully weaved together the historical narrative of interaction of the diverse forces which create a modern industrial society and how social forces enable some organizations to survive while others perish for lack of adaptability. Eklund’s social history of workers in Port Kembla very aptly describes the manner in which the working class fits into the community, the social institutions that the workers create to survive and flourish and the control that the workers gain over their own lives at work and in the community in the process. Port Kembla – The Social Environment Port Kembla is a classic case of emergence of an industrial society amidst the tectonic shifts that take place due to influence of many factors, global, local, war, peace and a depressed economy. Steel represents the primary agent of change in the industrial World. Port Kembla was the principal steel making area in Australia, where prominent steel makers had established their factories which had grown into large behemoths. But steel making is much more than just technology or organization of labor. It has many other facets such as creation of social classes, assimilation of outside forces, suppression of indigenous forces and resistance between these. The steel industry in Port Kembla underwent a number of changes over the years which in turn impacted the development of the community. Till the 1930’s the worker community relationship was mixed with a balanced influence of the informal non market economy and workers communities. However thereafter with the emergence of an industrial society the influence of class politics defined by the powerful role played by the unions which attempted to gain control of both the communities and the workers dominated the socio political panorama of Port Kembla. Global events such as the Depression, the World Wars, the global Depression and post War industrialization also had a powerful influence on community politics in Port Kembla. The creation of localities and their structures set the stage for discussion of class, locality and politics. The struggle waged by the indigenous people, the Kooris to survive the onslaught of industrialization in their native land is illustrative of the large scale social changes in Port Kembla which led to emergence of the supremacy of the Industrial Society in the post Second World War milieu. The final stage is the post industrial society; a process could lead to emergence of new social structures. The model of the workers in Port Kembla provides a successful portray of the social history of industrial society in Australia emerged over the years. Working Class and Overall Community Life The working class has emerged as a result of industrialization which has led to a large congregation of people working together in factories. There has been no other human activity which has brought together so many people in one location as production of goods through a machine economy. A study of the bureaucratic structure, the technology and external factors which influences work in factories and the interaction of the new work society which is formed due to redesigned occupational activity with the community provide an innate social perspective of this phenomenon in the industrial age. The working class emerges as a separate locality within the larger community; it gives them a sense of distinct identity. The co relationship between the working class and the community denoted is thus that of interdependency. However this relationship takes a long time to develop and cannot emerge merely by the artificial process of creating jobs. Jobs are just one part of the exercise of industrialization; it is the manner in which the working class and the community homogenize with each other that marks the holistic growth of an industry. This lesson stands out quite clearly through lucid portrayals of worker communities in Port Kembla. From the dirty, sooty, black image of steel furnaces which marked the early stages of industrialization in Port Kembla, it is seen that as the community grew so did the industry as well as the commercial establishments in the city. The social changes which brought about these linkages enabled a whole, â€Å"locality† of workers to emerge within the community. In turn the impact of local life and tenor on the emergence of the industrial society provides a fascinating perspective. The various waves that brought about change in the industry and concomitantly with the society also need to be well understood. Whether it is migration, gender awareness, a class struggle or redefining the identities of the locals, the working class fits into a local community’s life by creation of institutions for their own well being in the form of unions. Workers Social Institutions The workers needed to create support establishments to survive varied types of pressures, from capitalists, the depression in the economy and loss of jobs. They succeeded in creating adequate safety mechanisms to support themselves as a community. Port Kembla did not have many social institutions in the initial stages when industry was set up in the township. Thus there was a mixed culture with the establishment of Electrolytic Refining and Smelting (ERS) and Metal Manufacturers which carried on with the pre industrial age non formal institutions based on agriculture, fishery and hunting. But the growth of the steel industry under the leadership of BHP which established the Australian Iron and Steel led to creation of an industrial society. The congregation of labor in large numbers was implicit in creation of institutions by them for sustaining their rights and obtaining fair treatment. Unions were a natural corollary to industrialization in Port Kembla. The creation of unions was a safety mechanism that provided the labor working in the large steel factories a sense of security. This was the initial period of localism which soon came under threat from regionalism with the expansion of the steel industry linking Kembla with Wollongong. These forces attempted to displace gradually the locals who had focused on their own borough in the city and tried to create all encompassing institutions. On the social side, workers safety systems were also seen to be based on their kinship affiliation. This was more than evident in the early stages of migration of communities post Second World War as a large number of people from Eastern Europe, Greece and Italy as well as Vietnam and the Middle East came in to feed the expanded need of labor. These however remained a sub text within the larger text provided by the industrial associations of labor unions, which were the primary institutions for support created by workers in Kembla. Control of Workers Within and in the Community While the workers seem to have developed reasonable order in their working lives due to creation of unions, their influence within the community was relatively weaker. Thus while there was unity amongst the workers themselves due to unionized structure of their organization which was to provide a safety network, within the society there were many pressures. Firstly the worker community itself was divided into a large number of unions such as the AWU, the Federated Ironworkers, the South Coast Labor Council and also political parties as the Communist party which had a strong presence in Port Kembla. This division perhaps led to weakening the position of the unions as a whole in the community.

The Prioress Tale :: essays research papers

The Prioress’ Tale Prologue Prioress, now it is your time, Speak up loud, be not a mime. â€Å"Fine then, I’ll tell you a tale from my mother, ‘Twill be unique, unlike any other. My story will teach you change isn’t good, Understand it you will, make you better it should.† The Tale Across the town and down the street People stopped to sample his delicious treat Sweet, thick and full of custardy goodness There was a man, not Elliot Ness Who fulfilled the Bronx’s pudding needs. A fat man, he was, pudding was his seed To plant on the earth to grow. The lunch rush on Monday was quite slow, But Pudding Man knew not what to do. So he shut down his shop and put on his shoe And walked right home and started to nap, He fell asleep quick, unlike dripping maple sap. All of a sudden something made him scream, Was it a seizure, no it was just a dream. The dream inspired him to rethink his life Should he shut down his shop or kill himself with a knife? No, Pudding Man thought to himself, Just remodel the shop and add some new shelves. Change his image and his shops image too, Add new flavors of pudding, none tasting like poo. The next day Pudding Man began his plan, New recipes, new store front, new sign that read â€Å"Pudding Man.† Even with the new image, no business came. In fact his new image was incredibly lame. Then Pudding Man began to think, Appeal to new customers, along the lines of a mink. â€Å"I’ll cater to animals of all different kind, I’ll make new recipes that I think up in the mind.† Scour the world is what Pudding Man did, Looking for new ingredients, like Beruitan Malkafid, Venezuelan Tapioca and Chinese Vanilla Bean, Would make his pudding quite peachy keen. And for decoration add a bone or catnip His pudding was so good, his dog licked his lip. Pudding Man thought to himself, â€Å"I don’t know what I should, Oh well, I’ll make it up, just knock on wood.† He opened for business at a quarter to eight, He arrived early, not to be late. The first customer strolled in at 7:46, Hoping for goo business, he prayed not for a jinx. The customer brought in his pet porcupine. â€Å"My pet ‘pine likes pudding, and yours looks quite fine.† The man told our jovial Pudding Man. So, He ordered a bowl of Mongolian Poe. â€Å"What is exactly Poe, my good fellow?† Pudding Man didn’t know but he acted quite mellow. â€Å"Ummmmm†¦it tastes likes a mixture of apples and grapes.† But what Pudding Man didn’t know, is that Poe was the snot of apes.

Bahamian environment Essay

Question: Littering and irresponsible disposal of garbage by humans is destroying our Bahamian environment. In order to define the littering we must first define the word litter. Litter refers to different waste products such as containers, papers, and wrappers that have been disposed onto streets, yards and remote areas. This means â€Å"littering† is the pollution of our environment by different litter waste. Littering not only destroys our beautiful Bahamian environment but it also affects wildlife, human health and the economy. Littering and irresponsible disposal of garbage in our environment is a very important issue, which many people overlook. Although people know littering is an illegal act, many continue to carelessly scatter their trash around nonetheless. Litter creates toxins and pollutants that are harmful to our environment. When Bahamians throw glass bottles and cigarettes in bushes and along the roads the sun reflects off of them, resulting in a fire igniting. The smoke from the fire will soon fill the air, slowly polluting and destroying the atmosphere. Litter is harmful to wildlife also. They may ingest the plastic and paper then suffer from serious illness. Small animals crawl into bottles and jars looking for food and may become stuck and slowly starve to death. Littering not only affects land creatures but marine life as well. Many marine animals confuse plastic bags, balloons, bait packets, candy wrappers and rubber with prey and eat them. Plastic bags and balloons floating in the water look like jellyfish. Turtles often eat them and choke or starve to death because they have so much plastic in their stomachs. In addition, illegally dumped items containing hazardous waste can harm the environment and have a potentially negative impact on human health. Food, packaging, and other materials left to rot provide a fertile breeding ground in which bacteria thrives, resulting in a health hazard for those that come into contact with it. Litter can also create safety problems, with items such as broken glass bottles and metal cans having the potential to cause injury to anyone that steps or falls on it. In the Bahamas, mainly in Freeport we experience many bush fires. When pollutants are left in the air we as humans inhale them, this contaminated are travels to our lungs which slowly kills them. Furthermore, littering can widely affect the economy. Due to animals consuming litter and dumping they sooner or later die. Because these animals are dying they will very shortly become extinct. With no marine life and wildlife, the Bahamas will lose it main attraction which is its beautiful coral reefs and sea creatures. With no tourists coming to see these attractions, the economy of the Bahamas will soon fall dramatically all from littering and pollution. Littering is an extremely important issue in Bahamian society that should not be overlooked. It can affect the Bahamas in ways such as environmental, economic, health and wildlife. Our beautiful country is filled with many undiscovered wonders; let us not kill them by failing to do such a small action. Throw garbage in the trash and not the sea; keep litter in your hand and not on the land. So remember â€Å"Keep the Bahamas clean, green and pristine.

How are adults presented in “Romeo and Juliet” Essay

There is a large difference between youths and adults in Romeo and Juliet. The adults often make emotionally driven decisions, often ones that go back on what they have previously said. An example of this is Lord Capulet, who changes his mind on the marriage of his daughter. This drastically changes the plot of the story and could have been the reason for the death of Romeo and Juliet. They see the world in a different light to the youths. The younger men in the Montague and Capulet families love to fight, and would happily insult the other family in order to start a fight. However, Lord Capulet, and maybe Lord Montague, is less happy to begin the fight, although he would try to join in, like in act one scene 1. Lord Capulet says â€Å"’tis not hard. I think / for men as old as we to keep the peace† and later on in the play he also compliments Romeo by calling him a â€Å"virtuous and well-governed youth†. Capulet and Montague could have ended a feud, which was started by their ancestors â€Å"ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny†. You do not find out what Lord Montague thinks about the feud, only that Capulet â€Å"thinks† that Montague has the same opinion as he. Later in act 1 scene 5 Capulet gets very angry with Tybalt for wanting to start a fight with Romeo. Capulet expects Tybalt to obey him, as he is the master of the house. When Tybalt still refuses to give in to Capulet, his multi faceted side comes out. Capulet changes from arguing to Tybalt â€Å"Marry, ’tis time† to complementing the guests â€Å"Well said, my hearts!† and then back to arguing with Tybalt. Lord Capulet loves his daughter very much. In act 1 scene 2, when Paris asks for Juliet’s hand in marriage, Lord Capulet tells him that Juliet is too young, but he can start to court Juliet and in 2 years, they may marry. You can tell that he cares about Juliet because he says that Paris may only marry if Juliet agrees, â€Å"An she agreed within her scope of choice, / Lies my consent and fair according voice.† This is surprising for a patriarchal society and where the daughter has to do what the father says. When Lord Capulet says that Juliet is too young to marry Paris he makes a indirect reference to his wife. â€Å"And too soon marred are those so early made† who we later find out married Lord Capulet when very young. Lord Capulet changes after Tybalt dies. Maybe because he loves Juliet so much he wants to help her, but instead he makes her life worse. He tries to cheer her up -believing that she cries over the death of Tybalt- by moving the date of the wedding forward to three days time – Thursday. When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, lord Capulet becomes very violent, and shows another side of himself. He threatens to hit her and says â€Å"unworthy as she is, that we have wrought / So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?† He goes on to say that he was cursed when she was born, and then insults the nurse by calling her a â€Å"mumbling fool!† The nurse is used as comic relief in the play. She is bawdy and comes from a lower class than the majority of the rest of the cast. Simply the fact she is from a lower class makes her slightly funnier, and she often jumbles up her words – â€Å"I desire some confidence with you† and speaks in prose. She gets on better with Juliet than Lord or Lady Capulet, and so Juliet confides in the nurse. The nurse is loyal and caring but very bawdy. However, when Juliet needs her most, the nurse turns away from Juliet, and changes her loyalty by saying â€Å"I think you are happy in this second match,† She goes on to say that Romeo is no longer there so she has to marry Paris. This is shocking because you believe that the nurse was always on Juliet’s side, In act 1 scene 3, the nurse talks about Juliet when she was a little girl, and of many slightly rude tales of Juliet. These stories horrify Lady  Capulet, but the audience find them funny. It shows the difference between the nurse and Lady Capulet, and their different upbringings. The nurse knows more about Juliet than her own mother The nurse brings a lot of tension into the balcony scene, because she keeps calling Juliet inside. You worry that she may come outside and ruin Romeo and Juliet’s romantic moment. But it also brings an element of comedy to it, because it annoys Romeo and Juliet, and you imagine in your head how she would act if she did come out and see Romeo and Juliet on the balcony, confessing their love. The nurse adds a bit of tension in act 2 scene 5 when Juliet is waiting to find out what Romeo has said about their marriage. She will not tell Juliet what Romeo has said, and even though the audience already know what has been said, they are still concerned in case something terrible has happened. When Lord Capulet is insulting Juliet about her marriage to Paris, the nurse stands up for Juliet, even when Capulet attacks the nurse verbally. This may be when the nurse has a change of thought, and decides the marriage between Juliet and Paris is a good thing.

Why Do You Wish To Study In The United States †Example Admission Essay

Why Do You Wish To Study In The United States – Example Admission Essay Free Online Research Papers Why Do You Wish To Study In The United States Example Admission Essay My name is Lo Yu Yang, and now I’m studying in Northeast School, which is one of the key middle schools in Liaoning Province for my third year of senior high school study. After I entered Northeast School for senior high school study, my parents always encourage me to study hard and earnestly in order to make a solid foundation for my future study and development, not only because most of the students in class are outstanding students and the competition is fierce but also for my future plan. At that time, my parents had already had the idea to send me to study abroad in the U.S. They say that it is the best choice for me as the U.S. has the best education system and aims to cultivate students’ practical competence combining with the knowledge learned from books. I didn’t have definite goal and just studied hard at that time, but as time goes on, now I am in my third year of my senior high school which is the turning point for my future and I gradually realize that I have to consider my future seriously, such as what I want to do and what I can do, etc., and choose the best way to achieve my objective. After deep consideration, I find that studying abroad is my best choice compared with other choices. So I participated in New Orie ntal to study TOEFL, which made me more and more confidently and firmly for my studying in the U.S. During studying English there I not only got my TOEFL result nearly 600, but also learned some New Oriental spirit from teachers there which give me great encourage on my studying abroad. What’s more, I have learnt philosophy toward life which is revivified and acquired things that I have never touched. For me it is curious and also interesting, and the most important, it can guide my direction in my life. All in all, I am confident that studying in the U.S. will lead me to my bright future and realize my life value. Research Papers on Why Do You Wish To Study In The United States Admission EssayStandardized TestingPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHip-Hop is ArtThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseCapital PunishmentResearch Process Part OneThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)

Automating computer usual processes Essay Example for Free

Automating computer usual processes Essay Nowadays, almost all kinds of establishments are relying on computers for automating their usual processes. Most of the manual systems in offices are replaced by the automated systems which use computer technology. Moreover, computers have also diminished the total manual works and the effectiveness of employees has also increased because of the dependence of establishments on computer technology. It helps also to perform the routine business tasks much quicker compared to the manual way of doing things. Computer nowadays is no longer considered a luxury but rather a necessity with the emergence of information technology 1 â€Å"We are in the so-called information age, and every transaction at every phase of the establishments depends on modern computing. † As observed, there are already many manual systems that are being replaced by the computerized ones. Some of these are the payroll, sales and monitoring, point of sale, enrollment, grading, library, and other related systems.. Integration with the people in the society is in demand for progress. The relation field of Information Technology concerns the use of computer-based information system to convert, process, protect, share, store, transmits and retrieve information. Technologies have brought us more advances on personal computer, to build new industries and change the lifestyle of each individual. These advances became more powerful and more productive for simultaneous growth in society and industries. Using Internet is one of the medium of today’s communication, people easily connect in the current events in their community and even outside their places and acquire necessary information in just a short period of time. 2As the saying goes, â€Å"Nothing is permanent than change† so as with Information Technology. This field will continue to prosper and continue to help change lives by improving it. Although most people, especially in the Philippines still prefer the old ways or manual transactions, the future Filipino generations will eventually embrace ch ange and not only that, but also be the one to provide change through the future students and graduates that will courageously take this field. Every bit of information is now considered as a powerful tool hence it should be used and managed with the utmost caution. This mere reason prompts many establishments to produce their own system  that will protect information. The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) was established to address the existing health condition in the Bicol region. It is a coordinating system involving various institutions in the region with interest in health research. The BCHRD was created upon the partnership with Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), Regional Development Council (RDC) with the member institutions of : Department of Health (DOH) ,Bicol Regional and Training And Teaching Hospital(BRTTH), Commision on Higher Education (CHED) , Bicol University (BU), Catanduanes State University (CSU), University of Saint Anthony, Ago Medical and Educational Center (AMEC), Atedeo de Naga, University of Nueva Caseres, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Aquinas Univ ersity of Legazpi (AUl), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bicol Medical Center, Partido State University (PSU) . The existing health condition in the region necessities the establishment of a strong health research and development (R&D) coordinating system involving various institution in the region with interest in health research. Putting them together to work on consortium arrangement will promote complementation, thereby increase the synergy despite limited resources for R&D undertakings. The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) was therefore established to address the afore mentioned concerns. The primarily goal and objective of BCHRD is to institute/strengthen the system collaboration in Bicol to develop and enhance the capacity of research institution within the region which have interest and engage in health related researches, as a strategy to improve the health condition of Bicolanos Specifically the consortium aims to : (a) Undertake and/or spearhead health related Research and Development (R&D) activities; (b) Establish a collaborative system for effective sh aring and utilization of physical, financial and manpower resources among member-institution as well encourage the active involvement of non-members that will fave the way for expanding the membership of consortium; (c) Promote an effective collaboration and harmonious working relationship between among member-institutions in the conduct of researches in health, nutrition related fields; (d) Encourage, generate and provide funds for health –related researches in accordance with the health and nutrition priority  areas/sectors indicated in the plans of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS); (e) Develop the capability in manpower, facilities and other infrastructure for health and nutrition and other related researches; (f) Effectively promote the proper utilization of health research findings; (g) Serve as clearing house for all health related researches; (h) Establish linkages/network within and outside the region ; and (i) Institute a mechanism and implement strategies for a sustained visibility of the consortium and ensure a long-term viability of the consortium. Monitoring system is not just used in the field of industry; it has also a very significant role in improving the quality of education in the country (Philippines). Once this technological approach is implemented a full assurance that the aimed quality of educational system will be able to reach its peak of being more organized and well improved system In terms of paper works, these two types of management system can easily manage the projects through having an Proposal monitoring system. Archiving system refers to the process of moving data through an automated storage device that helps the people to access the data easily. Before, an archival record was identified with manuscripts or with written records. Years passed by, archival record refers to recorded information, specifically in paper-based transforming it to automated form method. Implementing an archiving system of records can do task of organizing, monitoring and easy generation of reports. On the other hand, all the Research proposal that are pending, denied or approve must be monitored in order to ease the different operations and functions of organizations. In this study, monitoring system for the research proposal of the institution is the most needed to work to. This system updates the current status of the research project. In addition, monitoring system has a significant role in improving the quality of the implemented projects to be able to reach its goal. Because of its function, they are having problems in a certain field. They seem to have problems in the management of projects from time to time. In addition, the increasing burden of creating and maintaining the archive of projects. Their file storage is full of projects making it a burden when finding a needed project. This study aimed to create a system for the Bicol Consortium for  Health Research and Development. It covered the storing and updating of projects that are processed in the department and al so uploading projects in the system that can be retrieved easily. Statement of objective General Objectives This study aims to develop a research proposal and monitoring management system for the Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development. Specific Objectives 1.) To create a system that will facilitate research proposal and monitor status for approval. 2.) To develop a monitoring system for all ongoing researches. 3.) To record all pending, approved and rejected proposals, and ongoing and completed research of the health proponent/researcher. 4.) To create a secure system for monitoring of research proposals and projects. 5.) To generate reports on the status of research projects and proposals. Check the requirements for filing a proposal Keep track of the status of the proposal Keep track of the research’s accomplishments and budgets Monitor progress of ongoing research This study is about Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development. This will cover the checking of requirements the tracking and monitoring of the proposal. It has the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to completion. The system records the detailed planning, proposed, on-going and finished projects in the department. Old  files were also scanned and be saved as pdf. The secretary, regional administrator, institution head and all the member of the health research were given privileged to view the system. The employees may ask the administrator of each section if they need files that were in the system. The head administrator provides admin accounts for each section head. The proposal monitoring management system has different sections for the storage of projects (proposed, on-going and finished projects) and it provided easy access to the projects’ status and tracks the finished projects that are archived. Old and new files are archived in this system. The date could only be searched, retrieved and printed. The archive could be searched by date, name etc. As for the proposal monitoring management system, it provided an automated monitoring and checking the status of ongoing research development. It has additional features, like the user is notified for the reminders of the agency; and the system is secured by providing administrator restrictions. On the other hand, the proposed system would not include other health researcher that are not member of the institutions that are part of BCHRD. The study only focused on the automation of storage of all projects that would be made and were done, monitoring its status among various sections of PDMO and provide an automated maintenance plan in monitoring, checking and repairing of items. Significance of the Study The result of the study will benefit the following: Bicol University. College of Science One of the four-fold functions of a university or any academic institution is research. This study will be another contribution to the research achievements of the university. BCHRD (Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development).This lessened the manual labor of the agency through the use of the system which operates the research projects and monitoring plans for BCHRD. Employee. The system helped the employee to do their job efficiently, properly and effectively. Students This study will serve as an educational  and reference material for their future studies and undertakings. This may also give an idea on making their own versions of the existing software, thus presenting their own modifications. Researchers. This study which is connected to the Research Proposal Monitoring and Management System will improved the researchers’ knowledge in programming skills and their sense of responsibility. Future Researchers. Students who will undertake future research projects can use this study as reference material. This will provide the future researches sufficient information with regards to system development. For better understanding of the study, the following terms were defined operationally or concepltually: Research Proposal an study that request time and fund from instition Monitoring Management System the process of checking the updates and status of ongoing health research Proponent in this study the proponent is the person who is requsting or conducting health researh Storage. , this term refers to the method of storing finished and proposed projects for future use. Secure System in this study this term refers to a system that cannot be easily tamper the information that is stored. EDIT OR E-REVISE NIO Notes 1 The Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, USA: Grolier Incorporated, 1995 (accessed on May 19, 2014 9:05am) 2http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/information-technology-and-software-development/9788131760291/information-technology-basics/ch008006 (Accessed on: May 20, 2014 2:18PM) â€Å"What is Information Technology?†. Automating computer usual processes. (2016, Apr 18). 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Project proposal for up-gradation of our e-mail system Essay

Project proposal for up-gradation of our e-mail system - Essay Example The current system is a mix of five different e-mail systems being used across twelve departments. This has been found to be inadequate to meet the present and future demands of effective and uninterrupted communication. This proposal is aimed at integrating different systems into a single system by powering and installing a comprehensive communication package. LONG TERM OBJECTIVES: The objective of the project is to implement an integrated e-mail system by replacing the existing fragmented system that is currently being used. Once implemented, the new system will be capable of handling a comprehensive range of communication needs to support our growth. It is estimated that this system will be geared to handle all our future needs for a period of ten years. Expected Project results: All problems we had with the old e-mail system will be eliminated with the new software and hardware. The whole project will take ten days to implement and to become operative PROJECT SCHEDULE AND WORK PLAN: The project plan is given here in detail. The project costs and a Gantt chart is reproduced at the end. Till the process of the implementation of the project is over, the required staff will be required to work on all days including weekends. The following tasks are required for completion. a. a. Purchase of new software package: Five vendors were identified and a comprehensive review of their product and services had been done with the help of the IT department. It has been decided that the package sold by Company X will be most suitable for our situation. The company is willing to customize the whole software to our specifications. The review report will be made available to the stakeholders and the board of directors for final approval. Once approved, the contract can be signed in three days. b. Replacing obsolete hardware like modems, switches and routers. Our IT staff on the direction of the software vendor, has estimated that all communication hardware will have to be changed. Fifteen incompatible computers will have to be replaced. An additional ten nodes are also required to be purchased. Suitable vendors have been identified and are awaiting approval of the board of directors after review by the stakeholders. The whole process would take seven days to complete including installation. The old system will run concurrently till the new one becomes functional. c. Backup of all exiting communication received and sent so far: The new package has been designed to read the backup files of all existing communication stored in our systems. The backup will be done by our IT staff and it will take two days to complete. It will not seriously affect our day to day operations.

Is Marxs analysis of capitalism still valid today Essay

Is Marxs analysis of capitalism still valid today - Essay Example These among other economic predictions are some of the reasons that supplement Marx’s relevance in the present time. The ideology of the social structures and economic interests dictate the political movements and intellectual conceptions of the people. This fact is evident in many circumstances in the present day. The political parties nowadays are controlled by the association of certain members of the public with clear and similar goals. These parties with a particular member associations define the economic state of the nation considering the people they represent. Marx developed this theory in 1840 so as to explain the different systems of royalism that France had that were affecting the social structure. In Marx’s view, he claimed that the economic interests revolved around the social groups (Schumpeter 2013, p. 20). Politically, it is possible to rise to power through reaching out to these groups and changing the economic status of a nation will certainly affect these groups. In the last presidential elections of the united states of America the tea party which supported the candidate mitt Romney was formed as a result of being fed up from the taxes of the Obama administration. The tea party started as a social group that were of the opinion they were being taxed more than the usual and the fruits of their taxes were not being experienced. This led to an association of people who wanted to change their financial status, through the changing of the political setup to attain the economic interests of the members (Sperber 2013 ). This is an example of the current events that are applicable to the theories that Marx put out in assessing the leadership of a place relative to the economic status of the region. The labor theory of value is also a Marx ideology which tends to describe the pricing of a commodity in relation to the cost of labor induced in production. A commodity

Draft for Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Draft for Case Study - Essay Example This little story is much like the case we have before us today. The injury suffered by the Plaintiff is being attributed to an advice given by employees of the Defendant, although there in fact exists no logical connection between the two. The defendant, Bethlehem Ice Solutions, is a popular ski resort for a number of reasons – it has good ski slopes the avid skier enjoys, it has comfortable and well appointed facilities for its guests, and it has a good safety track record. Had it been otherwise, lovers of skiing would not have flocked to this place such as the April morning when the incident occurred. Let us summarize the facts so far established. On that morning, a guest at the resort by the name of Craig approached Bethlehem’s staff Dan and Abby and asked about â€Å"a slope that is open and suitable for the moderately skilled skier.† Dan and Abby pointed him to Willie’s Wander which was acknowledged by all as a â€Å"relatively easy run.† When he took that slope, Craig felt that he could not after all take it, and decided to walk down. Not only did he decide to walk down, but he also decided to â€Å"cut across to a neighboring slope† that he adjudged to be closer to the parking lot. It is in this slope that Craig encountered Alex, the plaintiff in this case, on the way down, which resulted in injury to Alex. These are the facts as they stand in the present case. Now, Alex has brought action against Bethlehem because he believes Bethlehem is responsible for his accident. In short, Alex says Bethlehem caused his injury, by sending Craig down the Willie’s Wander run. Specifically, Alex says Bethlehem was negligent in giving Craig the wrong advice that sent him down the slope on which he collided with Alex and therefore caused his injuries. But wait, am I getting this right? Was Alex on Willie’s Wander when he and Craig accidentally collided? The facts say NO, they collided on another, nearby run, the more dangerous run where

International Business Environment Of Countries Hg Operates Economics Essay

International Business Environment Of Countries Hg Operates Economics Essay To identify and gain an understanding of the environment for international business in Germany, several factors will be reviewed. A countrys geography, culture, population demographics as well as political and economic structure can all play a role in either contributing to or working against the existence of a climate favourable to international business. By examining issues such as Germanys participation in area economic integration, its attitude toward foreign direct investment and its participation Germanys Geography Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with almost 83 million people inhabiting 357,022 square kilometres of land. The country consists of 16 federal states and 32 kingdoms, principalities and small towns. The countryside is quite diverse with five major landscape types, including sandy beaches along the North and Baltic Seas, hills and lakes in the North German Plain, numerous islands, fertile lands, lowland bays, and mountain ranges in the Alps.    The Bavarian plateau in the southwest averages 1,600 feet above sea level, while its highest point, the Zugspitze   Mountains, reaches 9,721 feet. Germanys major rivers are the Danube, the Elbe, the Oder, the Weser, and the Rhine. Natural resources present include iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt and nickel.   Ã‚   Germanys Population Demographics The estimated 2006 population of Germany is 82,422,299 with a population growth rate of -0.02% Balance of Trade Germany continues to be a very export focused, as noted below in its current account balance. Germany exports account for more than one-third of national output. Although production costs within Germany are very high it continues to be a top exporter of goods. German export sales are concentrated in motor vehicles, machinery, chemicals, and heavy electrical equipment. France is Germanys second-largest trading partner, with the U.S. being the second largest. Trade with the U.S. totalled $89.1 billion in 2002; U.S. exports to Germany totalled $26.6 billion while U.S. imports from Germany totalled more than $62.5 billion. Foreign Debt Obligations Germanys focus on being a lead exporter lends it to continue to carry a positive trade/debt ratio compared to that of competing countries such as the U.S. Estimates based on 2005 data show that the U.S. continues to run a current account deficit compared to that of Germany. Germany continues to run a positive current account balance; this has been one of the factors supporting the increase of the euro compared to that of the dollar. World Trade Organization Involvement Germany was one of the inaugural members of the World Trade Organization founded in January of 1995. Today it remains committed to promoting multilateral trade and in 2000 began a series of contributions to the WTOs technical assistance and training activities.    Germanys most recent donation of EUR 1.7m in 2006 makes it the second biggest voluntary contributor to the WTO. Currency of Germany Germany is the worlds third-largest economy and the largest in Europe, but has recently been one of the slowest growing economies in the European Union for a number of reasons including: the continued integration of the eastern German economy, inflexible labour practices which continue to increases unemployment rates to 11.7%, taxation and high social insurance cost.    The bureaucracy associated with labour practices have led German employers to consider investing in oversee operations or automating production rather than to create jobs in domestic facilities.   Historically Germanys main currency was the Deutschmark, but in 1999 the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used within its members financial institution and by January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for all member countries. As of the November 30, 2006 the euro was trading at 1.3167 compared to that of the U.S. dollars, this is an increase over the 2005 average of .8041. (Yahoo Finance)    Due to the creation of the euro it is difficult to determine Germanys overall impact on this increase of the euro compared to that of the dollar, however, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) information illustrates Germanys dramatic impact on the increase. Although Germany has experienced a high level of unemployment in recent years, 11.7% in 2005, it continues to hold a major labour force of approximately 43 million; Analysing the above data shows that although the growth rate has been low in recent years Germany has experienced a relatively stable economy with the potential to increase it performance. Conclusion Although Germany has experienced recent slow economic growth and the cost of producing goods is higher than other foreign countries, Germany offers an environment that strongly supports international business, evidence of this includes the presence of a highly skilled and productive worker force and its prime location in the heart of Europe. Investing in Germany appears to be a sound business decision; various incentive packages can offset real costs as well as provide tax incentives in future years. To help structure a successful integration with German consumers, companies should ensure that they have a high quality innovative product. Culturally, German consumers do not focus on the cost of a product but are extremely focused on the quality of a product. Promising sectors to consider for international business opportunities in Germany include computer software, management consulting services, drug and pharmaceuticals, and telecommunication equipment.   United Kingdom Major Elements and Dimensions of Culture in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom is rich in cultural heritage. The country is a tourist destination known for its landscape, art galleries, architecture, parks, palaces and museums.    Although the sites are remarkable, the culture is distinctive.    In the United Kingdom, their culture is considered a reflection of their diversity. Languages The official language of the United Kingdom is English which is said to be spoken by 95% of the population.    Although the Unites States speaks English as well, they are very different.    The dialects are not only different between the United Kingdom and the United States; they are also very different between the regions in the United Kingdom.    The American English and the British English are the reference forms of English that recognized in the rest of the world. Economic value The United Kingdom is the third largest trading and financial center in Europe.    Over the past few years, the United Kingdom has been focused on growth of the economy and reduction within the social welfare system. The government of the United Kingdom has been researching possible ways to stimulate the economy; however, they are currently facing economic slowdown, high unemployment, declining home prices and increased consumer debt.    The rate changes in the United Kingdom are driven by the rate moves of the Bank of England; this is similar to the moves that are driven in the United States by the Federal Reserve (The economy of, 2010). When doing business with the United Kingdom, it is first necessary to determine whether you have established a presence with your business activities.    If your business with the United Kingdom is simply exporting goods, then there is no a presence established.    If there is a permanent base in the United Kingdom, then the a business has a permanent establishment that will require consideration which will possibly be taxable in the United Kingdom, if business is conducted from that base with regularity (Bryan Cave, 2009). If a permanent establishment is created there are additional considerations the United States based company must consider. The United Kingdom has a tax system has gone through many changes.    It is based on an income system, much like that of the United States.    When a business has been permanently established in the United Kingdom they are subject to taxation in the same way that the local businesses are.    The tax systems measures the rates based on cash flow, instead of profits as it has been in the past.    According to a study of King and Fullerton the corporate tax rate for the United Kingdom has changed consistently since the war.    They have continued to experiment with the rates with legislative approval.    In addition to the corporate taxes, they also have social security tax and capital gains tax. Banking It is important to understand that to conduct business in the United Kingdom will be required to establish a local bank account.    Due to increased issues surrounding corruption and money laundering, the United Kingdom establishes the Money Laundering Regulations. As a result of this program, the banks in the United Kingdom have undertaken a process for due diligence, which is required as part of this law Imports and exports Since the beginning of 2011, UKs monthly trade deficit has hit record levels of more than  £4 billion per month. The monthly deficit in the UK for 2011 is also exceeding the previous record level of  £3.5 billion per month reached in 2007. Total value of exports: US$405.6 billion. Primary exports commodities: manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco. Primary exports partners: US (14.71 percent), Germany (11.06 percent), France (8 percent), Netherlands (7.79 percent), Ireland (6.89 percent), Belgium (4.65 percent), Spain (4 percent) Total value of imports: US$546.5 billion Primary imports commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs Conclusion Scanning the business environment is an activity that needs to be conducted on a continual basis by all international businesses. The reasons are diverse when dealing with countries risks. When global companies enter into the international arena, consistent efforts must be made to understand the ever-changing business climate in each country that they are involved in .Thus company objectives and policies must be aligned accordingly to meet these changes. In dealing with country risk, strategic usage of joint ventures and partnerships may be used to minimize the risk involved. P2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Describe how the following mechanisms regulate international trade: the work of the WTO in international trade; Quotas and Tariffs; The legislation on product safety and reliability. WTO The WTO as an Organization was created on January 1, 1995, as a result of the Uruguay Round Negotiations. Currently consisting of 140 members worldwide, it is based with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and has a secretary staff of over five hundred. The organization of the WTO consists of a head Ministerial Conference, with branches of a General Council, Trade Review Body, and Dispute Settlement Body. Below these branches lie several councils and committees to deal with many different trade issues. One branch consists of a committee with the name Trade and the Environment, which concerns itself with issues relating to trade and the environment. Overseeing the organization of the WTO is the director-general, currently Michael Moore. The basis for all WTO decisions lies in its multilateral trading system, where a large amount of agreements that are negotiated and signed by members must finally be ratified in each countrys individual Senate. While the individual agreements are signed and ratified by each countrys government, the primary purpos e of the legislation is to assist the countrys producers, exporters, and importers. The overall goal of the WTO is to make trade freer, resulting in, claims the WTO, a promotion of peace worldwide, an increase in income and a stimulation of economic growth. As part of its preamble, the WTO claims an interest in the environment, and thus created the Committee on Trade and the Environment to make decisions when environmental issues are involved. The preamble itself states it will promote trade while allowing for the optimal use of the worlds resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable development, seeking both to protect and preserve the environment. The organization, in the past few years, however, has encouraged a lower tariff universally, thereby encouraging producers to look towards less developed countries as prime places for cheap labour and low regulations, especially low regulations relating to the environment. These less developed countries, or LDCs, are known u niversally for having very cheap, productive labour, and are not even close to having the environmental protection efforts seen in the United States and Europe. So these countries are encouraged to make waste of the land and save profits. Yet the WTO maintains that freer trade will benefit all, and their concern for the environment is shown in the existence of a council concerned with only environmental matters. The tariffs   The discussion of tariffs covers both tariffs on quantities within quotas and those outside. Traditionally, the tariff reductions that resulted from trade negotiations came from bilateral product-by-product bargaining, or they were based on formulas that applied over a broad range of products, or combinations of the two. How the reductions will be handled in the present negotiations is still undecided. Some countries such as Canada and the US are advocating that in addition, sectoral liberalization should be negotiated. In some sectors, in past negotiations these have sometimes meant zero-for-zero deals. It would include negotiating the complete elimination of tariffs (and possibly other measures such as export subsidies or subsidized export credits) by at least the key WTO members in specific sectors such as oilseeds, and barley and malt. Some countries for example Japan have said they do not support this. One country, the US, has gone so far as to argue that because so many agricultural tariffs are high, the negotiations to reduce tariffs should start with applied rates (the tariffs governments actually charge on agricultural imports) and not the generally higher bound rates (the legally binding ceilings committed in the WTO as a result of previous negotiations). This has proved quite controversial because it would break a tradition of basing negotiations on bound rates. A number of countries have also countered that they should be given credit for unilaterally applying tariffs that are more liberal than the negotiated bound rates, instead of being forced to make even deeper cuts than countries that kept to their higher bound rates. Some countries that recently joined the WTO also feel that they accepted low tariffs in order to become members and therefore should not have to reduce them much further. A number of developing countries also complain that they face difficulty if they try to increase their incomes by processing the agricultural raw materials that they produce. This is because the countries they see as potential export markets impose higher duties on processed imports than on the raw materials known as tariff escalation in order to protect their own processing industries. Some countries see tariffs and other import barriers as necessary in order to protect domestic production and maintain food security. For this reason, some countries are linking lower import barriers with disciplines on other countries export restraints and export taxes if producing countries do not restrict their exports, then importing countries can feel more secure about being able to obtaining food from them. Some developing countries say they need flexibility in deciding the level of import duties they charge to protect their farmers against competition from imports whose prices are low because of export subsidies. The tariff quotas Quota administration is a technical subject, but it has a real impact on trade on whether a product exported from one country can gain access to the market of another country at the lower, within-quota tariff. Methods used for giving exporters access to quotas include first-come, first-served allocations, import licensing according to historical shares and other criteria, administering through state trading enterprise, bilateral agreements, and auctioning. The terms can also specify time periods for using the quotas, for example periods of time for applying for licences, or for delivering the products to the importing countries. Exporters are sometimes concerned that their ability to take advantage of tariff quotas can be handicapped because of the way the quotas are administered. Sometimes they also complain that the licensing timetables put them at a disadvantage when production is seasonal and the products have to be transported over long distances. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, and many WTO members acknowledge that it can be difficult to say conclusively whether one method is better than another. Several countries want the negotiations to deal with tariff quotas: to replace them with low tariffs, to increase their size, to sort out what they consider to be restricting and non-transparent allocation methods, or to clarify which methods are legal or illegal under WTO rules in order to provide legal certainty. Who has tariff quotas?  Ã‚   43  WTO members currently have a combined total of 1,425  tariff quotas in their commitments. The numbers in brackets show how many quotas each country has. Australia (2) Barbados (36) Brazil (2) Bulgaria (73) Canada (21) Chile  (1) China  (10) Chinese Taipei (10) Colombia (67) Costa Rica (27) Croatia (9) Czech Rep (24) Dominican Rep (8) Ecuador (14) El Salvador (11) EU (87) Guatemala (22) Hungary (70) Iceland (90) Indonesia (2) Israel (12) Japan (20) Korea (67) Latvia (4) Lithuania (4) Malaysia (19) Mexico (11) Morocco (16) New Zealand (3) Nicaragua (9) Norway (232) Panama (19) Philippines (14) Poland (109) Romania (12) Slovak Republic (24) Slovenia (20) South Africa (53) Switzerland (28) Thailand (23) Tunisia (13) United States (54) Venezuela (61) P3  Describe  how the environment and culture of another country affects HGs business operations.  You are asked to present a PEST (L) analyse on both the Netherlands and China. PEST Analyse The Kingdom of the Netherlands General Facts Full name: The Kingdom of the Netherlands Population: 16.6 million Capital: Amsterdam; seat of government: the Hague   Dependencies: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Area: 41,864 sq km (16,164 sq miles)   Major language: Dutch Major religion: Christianity   Export commodities: Machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs GDP per Capita: $ 47,042 Political Risk Factors Political Structure Analysis   The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy (since 1815) and a parliamentary democracy (since 1848). Dutch monarch has no real political power: from the representative side head of state (Queen Beatrix), from the executive side person uniting the divided parliamentary politics. Thus, the Netherlands is usually governed by an alliance of different political parties. Prime minister comes from the party, which won the most seats in the elections, and forms the new government. These days Dutch government is in uncertain situation due to its collapse in mid-February 2010. Whichever government alliance comes to power after the June 2010 election will continue to focus on managing the after-effects of the political and financial crisis. Limits of press freedom Dutch constitution guarantee freedom of the press, as is free speech. Moreover, journalists dont present flagrant news in the light of tabloid sensationalism. But government limits press freedom establishing rules especially regarding countrys secret service. Every day there is papers confrontation with the government. Journalists have to make out where are secret information and not. And government needs to clarify free speech statement. Key Internal Political Risks Political unrest in the light of financial crises. Decision-making of financial crises results is held up at least until the general election in June due to the collapse of the government in mid-February. The two main parties failed to agree on whether or not to withdraw troops from Afghanistan as planned in 2010 and it served the main reason for government breakup. Indeed, the future of a new road pricing suggestion (the kilometre tax), based on charging motorists for the distance and time driven, has become uncertain. This scheme has been hanging in the air since its initiator, Mr Eurlings, has announced his departure from the political scene and this question hasnt got its following consideration. The kilometre tax question isnt a sole problem that previous government hasnt had time to solve them. New solutions of residual tasks will be founded when new government comes to the office. Corruption and private property Private property and contracts are secure. There is no difference between citizens and foreigners purchasing real property. Although intellectual property rights are generally protected, there is piracy of optical disc media as everywhere. Government needs to increase arrangements against these criminal organizations. Corruption is on the minimal level. So the Netherlands ranks 6th place among 180 countries in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index (2009). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developments    Anti-Bribery Convention leads struggle against corruption by penal offense. However low-level law pressure corruption doesnt have to allow government to relax its attention regarding corruption. Key External Political Risks The Netherlands Antilles as a part of the Netherlands The Netherlands Antilles are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and acknowledge the Dutch monarch. In comparison with its motherland, the Netherlands Antilles dont have very low political risk. In 2010, Curacao and St. Maarten (two largest islands whose production accounts more 70% of GDP) will achieve independence from the rest of the islands and the Netherlands Antilles probably will desist to exist because of    financial insolvency (poor tax collection and high social spending contribute). Economic Risk Factors The Netherlands has one of the most advanced economies in the world, which is modern and diversified, with institutional strengths in the sphere of legal framework and impregnability of property rights. Exports and imports account more than 60 % of nominal GDP. Strategic geographic position and a small size of its domestic market play a key role on the world arena and by attracting foreign investments. The Netherlands showed significant economic performance and GDP growth in the nineties. The economys main focus is export commodities. Dutch trade mainly comprises chemical products, fossil fuels and agricultural products, machinery and transport equipment. Exports contributed 70 % of GDP in 2000 in comparison with 58.3 % of GDP in 1996. In 2001 the rate of GDP decreased sharply and the economy didnt see growth improvements at all in 2002-2003. Cyclical shock was caused by lower rates of export growth as part of the global economic slowdown. 2006 however, showed a promising 3% growth, which steadily accelerated to 3.5 % in 2007. The economy still grew 2 % in 2008, but due to global financial crisis the economic activity had been shrinking; exports and imports dropped rapidly in 2009, by 8.4 % and 8.9 % respectively. The Public Sector Fiscal policy in the Netherlands is designed to reduce taxes and to create a favorable climate for business investors. The Income Tax of 2001 represented significant tax cuts since the war. Total tax revenue was 37.5% of GDP (2005), which is below the EU average. In January 2007 Dutch government has deducted corporate tax to 25.5%. The following tax reform gave international companies a green light for FDI in the Dutch economy. Dividend tax has also been diminished from 25% to 15% and a patent box with a 10% tax rate on income from innovations was proposed. The Dutch tax system combines 30% tax break for top qualified foreign workers, wide tax treaty network and participation exemption. The Monetary Sector The Netherlands joined economic and monetary union on January 1st 1999. European Central Bank controls monetary policy and sets interest rates in euro zone. The Netherlands is a member of the euro zone. Inflation level between 2006 and 2008 has been relatively low, averaging 2% and is expected to stay low at about 1.5% in the coming years.   Refinancing rate was raised by 25 basis points eight times to 4 % since December 2005. Due to recent financial turmoil intervention rates have risen very rapidly to 4.7 %. Since 2009 these rates remain unchanged and likely to continue to do so in 2010. The External Sector The Netherlands had strongly positive balance of payments in 2005 estimated at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬31.5 billion, because more than two-thirds of GDP was derived from merchandise trade. Top leading export markets in 2007 were Germany with 28.2 % of the total export share, Belgium with 15.6%, the United Kingdom with 10.5 % and France with 9.8%. Germany topped the list as leading supplier to the Netherlands with 20.5 % share of imported goods. From these figures it becomes obvious, that Germany is the most important trading partner of the Netherlands.    According to EIU World Investment Prospects foreign investments increased particularly in 2007 on a worldwide basis. Inward foreign direct investments to the Netherlands have skyrocketed from US$ 635 billion in 2007 to US$ 796 billion in 2010. (see Appendix 4) The Netherlands showed good results in co-operation with multinational companies from emerging industrial companies, like India, China and Korea. The Labour Market The Dutch labour market and welfare system is similar to the German model. Policy making and industrial relations are key elements in dealing with most issues. In recent years the labour market has become more flexible than in Germany. Labour regulations are relatively strict in the Netherlands. The non-salary cost of employing a worker is high, and dismissing an employee is costly and unenviable process. The pension system is financed by pension funds, which invest pension contributions in shares and other assets. One unique characteristic of the Netherlands labour market is a large number among women, who work at part-time jobs. The one and a half earner model has become very popular in Holland, in which man has a full-time job and a woman works part-time. The current labour market is in a structurally better position.   Social Risk Factors   Ã‚   Social Spectrum of Netherlands Introduction to Social Structure of Netherlands   The Netherlands is a country where native population is nearly 81%. Dutch society is tolerant to the homosexuality but undergo Islamic conflict. This country also is well-known for the most comprehensive system of social security in the EU. It is also one of the worlds most densely populated nations. As in many European countries, there is the tendency of growing 65s population that lead to greater demands on the welfare system. Facts of social structure of Netherlands: Population: 16,715,999   Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.4%;  15-64 years: 67.7%;  65 years and over: 14.9%   Median age: total: 40.4 years; male: 39.6 years female: 41.2 years   Population growth rate: 0.412%   Net migration rate: 2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population   HIV/AIDS: people living with HIV/AIDS: 18,000   HIV/AIDS: deaths: fewer than 200   Ethnic groups: Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Netherlands Antilles Aruba 0.8%, other 4.8% Religions: Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006) Key Social Risks   Over the past decade there is trend of the politicization of childhood which links with certain risks. In many countries, these risks are known as the new social risks (services for the elderly and disabled; services for families with children; active labour market policies). One of the reasons for it results from income and service gaps in post-industrial labour markets. This is one social risk of insufficient income security. Besides there has also been an increase in the female employment rate and virtually all adults are now expected to be involved in employment. (see Appendix 7) In addition, changes of labour markets and transformations of family and demography create challenges of social care (especially child care) when young families lack access to affordable and quality child care and yet all adults in the family must enter the labour force.   Demographic changes   Around 68% of its population is aged between 15 and 65. A short term risk Netherlands faces is the very low birth rate. Declining working population and low rate of migrant inflow are present these days. In the Netherlands, the legality of guest workers that arrived in the 1960s to work temporary for Dutch industries but never left the country afterwards leads the countrys current migrant labour situation and conflicts what link with it. The social care sector has some difficulties in immigration sphere. Government officials maintain that there is no demand for migrant labour in the social care sector, and hence there is wide field of activity for low-skilled labour. Religious restrictions   Nearly a half    (42%) of Netherlands citizens are atheists but Muslims are the main problem for the country . There is no evidence which suggests strict religious regulations in this country. In general, religious restrictions risk hence remains very low but government should continue improve situation regarding Islamic groups.   Technical Risk Factors Superior logistics and technology infrastructure The Netherlands is located in the center of Europe and provides a strategic location to run international businesses with global market leaders. Rotterdam is one of the worlds largest seaports and Schiphol Airport is considered as one of the busiest hubs in Europe.   The Netherlands is ranked as one of the most wired countries in the world, because of dynamic communications, e-commerce boom and outsourcing; but although the quality of transport and high speed Internet, cable communications network is fantabulous, the railway and road density thousand citizens is relatively low. Total government spending on rail, harbor, road and airport infrastructure improvements is one of top priorities and this plan is estimated to cost a total of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬37 billion. Highly qualified workforce The Netherlands labour market predominantly consists of highly educated and competent workers. Dutch prof