Plague - Bacillus Yersinia Pestis Essay - 1364 Words

Identification and Prevention of What Makes Life â€Å"Nasty, Brutish, and Short† Plague is caused by the bacterium bacillus Yersinia pestis, and is carried by rodents, fleas, and mammals. Plague takes three forms: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. Bubonic plague affects the lymph glands, while the pneumonic and septicemic forms affect the lungs and the blood. Today, plague can be prevented by antibiotics and strict public health measures. Three methods of controlling carriers involve sanitizing the environment, educating the public on how to prevent exposure, and using prophylactic antibiotics. â€Å"O happy posterity, who will not experience such abysmal woe and will look upon our testimony as a fable,† wrote the Florentian Renaissance†¦show more content†¦2 Yersinia pestis belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae, a family of Gram-negative, cocobacillus, rod-shaped bacteria. This anaerobic and intracellular agent (â€Å"CRBNE – Plague†) of plague primarily affects rodent populations on every continent except Australia. Plague takes three forms, in which Yersinia pestis is the same agent: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. The bubonic plague, through which Yersinia pestis affects the lymph nodes, is transmitted to humans usually by the bite of an infected rodent flea (Kool, J.). This variety is identified by a sudden attack of high fever, chills, general discomfort, muscular pain, severe headache, and most of all, the buboe. The buboe, from which comes â€Å"bubonic,† is a smooth and painful swelling of the lymph glands that takes place mainly in the groin, but can also occur in the armpits or neck. The symptoms appear usually two to five days after exposure to Yersinia pestis. Although it is the least dangerous of the varieties, the bubonic plague constitutes three-fourths of all plague cases. Those affected by bubonic plague have a 1 to 15% mortality rate in treated cases, and a 40-60% mortality rate in untreated cases (â€Å"CRBNE -- Plague†). The pneumonic plague, in which Yersinia pestis affects the lungs, is the only form of plague transmissible among humans (Kool, J.). This variety is characterized by difficulty in breathing and severeShow MoreRelatedYersinia Pestis And The Plague872 Words   |  4 PagesYersinia pestis and the Plague The infectious disease known as â€Å"the Plague† is spread by a bacterium classified as Yersinia pestis, which is usually transmitted in the bites of fleas or infected animals or people. Infectious Disease: Signs and Symptoms The plague has three different forms: Bubonic, Septicemic, and Pneumonic. The signs and symptoms of the bubonic plague usually include fever, headache, chills, and weakness and one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes. A flea will typicallyRead MoreYersinia Pestis And The Plague1131 Words   |  5 PagesYersinia pestis and the Plague Jin You MMI 133 Dr. Judith Gnarpe One organism that commonly causes diseases in humans is Yersinia pestis. This bacterium is the causative agent of the infamous bubonic plague, primary septicaemic plague, and primary pneumonic plague. Y. pestis was first discovered by Shibasaburo Kitasato and Alexandre Yersin, but due to Yersin’s description of the bacteria being more accurate, this bacterium was named after him (3). There are still disputes going on for who had correctlyRead MoreThe Death Of The Black Death2017 Words   |  9 PagesThe pandemic known to history as the Black Death was one of the world’s worst natural disasters in history. It was a critical time for many as the plague hit Europe and â€Å"devastated the Western world from 1347 to 1351, killing 25%-50% of Europe’s population and causing or accelerating marked political, economic, social, and cultural changes.† The plague made an unforgettable impact on the history of the West. It is believed to have originated somewhere i n the steppes of central Asia in the 1330s andRead MoreThe Black Death And The Plague Outbreak1331 Words   |  6 Pagesoutbreaks in history was the plague outbreak which peaked in 1346 to 1353, in Europe, commonly known as the Black Death. This plague outbreak was extremely deadly and killed 30-60% of the European population at the time of the outbreak. The outbreak is commonly believed to have been caused by the bubonic plague, but modern evidence suggests that the Black Death was caused by pneumonic plague, a much more contagious and deadly infection. The Black Death was the second major plague outbreak in history, theRead More Bubonic Plague Essay2040 Words   |  9 PagesBubonic plague has had a major impact on the history of the world. Caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, and transmitted by fleas often found on rats, bubonic plague has killed over 50 million people over the centuries. Burrowing rodent populations across the world keep the disease present in the world today. Outbreaks, though often small, still occur in many places. The use of antibiotics and increased scientific knowledge first gained in the 1890s have reduced the destruction of plague outbreaksRead MoreBubonic Plague2091 Words   |  9 PagesBubonic plague has had a major impact on the history of the world. Caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, and transmitted by fleas often found on rats, bubonic plague has killed over 50 million people over the centuries. Burrowing rodent populations across the world keep the disease present in the world today. O utbreaks, though often small, still occur in many places. The use of antibiotics and increased scientific knowledge first gained in the 1890s have reduced the destruction of plague outbreaksRead MoreThe Causative Agent Of The Infamous Bubonic Plague, Primary Septicaemic Plague And Primary Pneumonic Plague1604 Words   |  7 PagesYersinia pestis is the causative agent of the infamous bubonic plague, primary septicaemic plague, and primary pneumonic plague. Y. pestis was first discovered by Shibasaburo Kitasato and Alexandre Yersin, but due to Yersin’s description of the bacteria being more accurate, this bacterium was named after him (3). There are still disputes going on for who had correctly identified Y. pestis first. Yersinia pestis belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae bacteria family and is a Gram-negative coccobacillusRead MoreThe plagues in England Essay1044 Words   |  5 PagesIn England there were three specific plagues that i will be talking about, they are the bubonic plague â€Å"The Black Death†, pulmonary plague and the pneumonic plague. These plagues were really interesting to read about. They were so bad that many people died from them. The doctors didn’t know what was wrong with the people since there was that much new technology in the thirteenth century. The black death was a deadly epidemic that was spread from Asia to Europe by twelve trading ships that wereRead MoreThe Black Plague also known as The Bubonic Plague was a huge widespread plague that went through600 Words   |  3 PagesThe Black Plague also known as The Bubonic Plague was a huge widespread plague that went through Asia and Europe. It reached Europe in the late 1340s and then carried on for centuries. It is estimated that 25 million people were dead; one in 5 residents was died. Many people were killed by the plague if not injured and barely living. The Black Plague affected many people. The cause of the plague was thought to be the bacillus Yersinia Pestis which was the most fatal disease of the Middle Ages. TheRead MoreThe Bubonic Plague Essay1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe Bubonic Plague Introduction Plague, was a term that was applied in the Middle Ages to all fatal epidemic diseases, but now it is only applied to an acute, infectious, contagious disease of rodents and humans, caused by a short, thin, gram-negative bacillus. In humans, plague occurs in three forms: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. The best known form is the bubonic plague and it is named after buboes, or enlarged, inflamed lymph nodes, which are characteristics

The Article Learning Through Play Portraits, Photoshop...

The article â€Å"Learning Through Play: Portraits, Photoshop and Visual Literacy Practices† written by Michelle A. Honeyford and Karen Boyd,is about learning literacy through imaginative and visual play. The article gives a detailed look at an afterschool program that lets students learn about literacy while using creativity. Throughout this critique, areas of the article will be discussed that were successful and some that need improvement. One area of success is keeping creativity in education. But there should be a formal assessment to prove this. Next an area of critique is the fact that the article highlights the success if the program without once mentioning how it was funded which raises question. Honeyford and Boyd believe that â€Å"research in early childhood education demonstrates the vital importance of play to young children’s linguistics, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.†(p.65). This particular study was about an afterschool program in Canada that focused on using play and creativity to learn literacy. Honeyford and Boyd designed to answer questions â€Å"about learning and identity but they also provided students with multiple points of entry, varied levels of support, a range of mentors and mentor texts, options to take more or less risk, and time to reflect-to learn from their process and share their discoveries.†(p.63). the activities were inquiry based and the students were given quests. The students were on a quest to give their own

Abstinence Free Essays

Thomas Johnson3/16/09 Period 1 ABC [pic] Abstinence is an equal opportunity behavior. Anyone, at anytime, can make a Smart choice to not have sex. It is a thoughtful choice and a difficult decision is made with a lucid, drug free mind. We will write a custom essay sample on Abstinence or any similar topic only for you Order Now Abstinence is an expression of personal power and self- consciousness. Two reasons why abstinence is 100% effective is because if you follow it, there is no way that you can get an STD/STI, and there are no risks at all.If you decide not to have sex then there is no way you can get pregnant, choosing abstinence is basically the fact that you would constantly have to visit the doctor to get checked for diseases. Five ways to show a partner that you care without engaging in any sexual activity is to ? Talk to each other. ? Buy flowers for girlfriend/ wife ? Write a love poem ? Prepare romantic dinner ? Show affection with words.Two consequences of a person that doesn’t choose to be abstinent are that they could get an STD/STI, or the female could get pregnant. Abstinence is the most effective way of preventing an STD/STI or pregnancy, although it can be hard. You just have to think of it in the most positive way that you can, and understand that being abstinent is the best solution for you at a young age. You should enjoy life instead of having to worry about a child, or some sort of STI/STD How to cite Abstinence, Papers

Adult Education and Continuous Training Sector

Question: Discuss about the Adult Education and Continuous Training Sector. Answer: Introduction: I wish to continue learning new skills and techniques that will enable me become a better professional. I actually strive to be the best that I can be, that means my goals comprise remaining current which imply that I will be attending workshops and seminars. I also wish to utilize the knowledge that I can acquire to assist others reach their full potential. I might see myself being a great manager and leader that pushes the workers to be better and, hence, make the organization I work for better. In the short run, I would like to develop myself to become the best professional. I will possibly learn as much as I can regarding the roles as well as regarding how best I can serve the needs of the organization department and the company I work for in general. In the long-run, I would wish to become a subject matter professional and expert in an area of greatest need within the role I will be serving. I would wish to develop both personally and professionally to the point that I can become that go-to individual whom other depend upon for the greater proportion of the contemporary information. And ultimately, I would wish to become a lead as well as a mentor to assist others developing in the corresponding roles. Show how you have contributed or see yourself contributing to the community Whereas I am engaged my education work, all my colleagues have always focus deeply in ensuring that they individually pass their examinations and would not give room for helping other students in need. As a responsible and empathic individual, I have always made sure that I create time to assist my fellow student who are stuck in one way or the other in enhancing their knowledge. Besides, I do liaise close with my teachers and even other departments via, most specifically wellnesses center and career center. As these student are primarily dependent on teachers who are sometimes overloaded and overwhelmed, my work is substantial importance to both these students and departments. The system I have also establish to gather the salient issues affecting my colleagues have led to formation of an extra department to specifically receive these students and help them effectively. By identifying and acknowledging my colleagues who could be suffering, especially those with learning disabilities and connecting them with the wellness and career center and now, the newly created department, I see myself having contributed to the community and still contributing to the society. This is because more and more student with learning disabilities are currently being acknowledged early enough and given special treatment or intervention mainly focusing on talent and gift development hence realizing their full potential. Moreover, releasing such talents to the society after the completion of their respective courses, is a further and a great contribution to the respective societal sectors. Share about your proposed area of study or research and its relevance to your organization and Singapore I have decided to undertake a study on adult education and continuous training sector in Singapore and showcase the relevance of this study to both my organization and Singapore as a whole. This study will specifically be narrowed down to how lifelong learning, including ongoing training within the labor market, be effectively enabled as well as determine the body that will pay for this as we look forward to 2030 and further examine how this can evolve. The rationale for this study builds on the acknowledgment the current sectoral transformation undergoing in Singapore as they seek workers with relevant skills. I have acknowledged that training and adult education sector that play an important role in upskilling workforce must concurrently upgrade. This study is, therefore, meant to ensure that this sector stay responsive to the fluctuating needs of the economy together with industries (Ppin 2007). This study will, therefore, remain one of its kind to refresh as well as probably enhance the ongoing education and training system in Singapore. This study will be further aligns to the national skills future movement to keep track with the fluctuating needs of the Singapores rapid-growing economy (Tight 2002). It will help suggest the efficient ways for repositioning the sector for growth, strengthening the systems as well as processes for training providers and speaking to the skills and manpower needs. The study will also help measure if training speaks to the labor force performance outcomes, refreshing the learning infrastructure for innovation support as well as upgrading the skills of educators (Georgellis and Lange 2007). This study is, therefore, to my organization since it will ensure a constant supply of skilled and competent workers that ensure better performance and productivity. Accordingly, the aggregate effect of this is that the first-growing economy of Singapore will meet its fluctuating needs in the labor force and hence increased GDP all year round. References Georgellis, Y. and Lange, T., 2007. Participation in continuous, on-the-job training and the impact on job satisfaction: longitudinal evidence from the German labour market. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18(6), pp.969-985. Ppin, L., 2007. The History of EU Cooperation in the Field of Education and Training: how lifelong learning became a strategic objective. European Journal of Education, 42(1), pp.121-132. Tight, M., 2002. Key concepts in adult education and training. Psychology Press.

Population Trends in China Essay Sample free essay sample

Using the Chinese population informations from 1950 to 1995. allow us build a graph utilizing engineering. Before charting the information though. we must foremost find the relevant variables. which are. the twelvemonth and the population ( in 1000000s ) of each co-occuring twelvemonth. The parametric quantities are purely confined to the information for the old ages 1950 and 1995 in the sense that the informations can non fall below the population figure for the twelvemonth 1950 and can non fall above the information for the twelvemonth 1995. Upon reexamining the graph. we notice that the information appears to increase. but non exactly in a consecutive line. Traveling through the tendency lines on excel. we find that the tendency line that fits the best is the multinomial tendency line. which is displayed in the graph down at a lower place. If we were to analytically develop one theoretical account map to find if the multinomial tendency line is so the most accurate tantrum. We will write a custom essay sample on Population Trends in China Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I would suggest making a system of equations. Before leaping to far in front. we need to do it clear the equation we are traveling to be analysing. We will utilize the equation given to us by the multinomial tendency line which is: y= ax2 + bx +c and the ground that we are utilizing this equation is because of the fact that the R2 value is 0. 9955. The closer the R2 value is to 1 the better it will suit the graph. We will rearrange the equation y= ax2 + bx +c so that we can work out for the terra incognitas which are. the letters a. B and c. To make this. we need to add informations to the equation and make three matrices. In order to go on on. allow us foremost add the known values to the equation. Given y= ax2 + bx +c. we know that the y-values are China’s population in 1000000s and the x-values are the old ages at which the population is measured. We will utilize three points to work out this. one from the beginning. one from the center. and one from the terminal in order to make the matrices that will so be used to happen values for a. b. and degree Celsius. So we take the equation y= ax2 + bx +c and stopper 1950 ( first twelvemonth ) in as the x-value and 554. 8 as the y-value and we will make the same with the following two points that will be used.y= ax2 + bx +c554. 8=a ( 19502 ) + B ( 1950 ) + degree Celsius830. 7=a ( 19702 ) + B ( 1970 ) + degree Celsius1120. 5=a ( 19952 ) + B ( 1995 ) + degree CelsiusNow that we have created our system of equations we can divide them up into matrices. Looking at the equations we have come up with. we notice that we have a column of y-values ( bold ) . a column of x-values ( blue ) . and a column of terra incognitas ( purple ) 554. 8=a ( 19502 ) + B ( 1950 ) + degree Celsius830. 7=a ( 19702 ) + B ( 1970 ) + degree Celsius1120. 5=a ( 19952 ) + B ( 1995 ) + degree Celsius We can name the y-values matrix ‘B’ or [ B ] which is traveling to be a 3?1 matrix. the x-values matrix ‘A’ or [ A ] which will be a 3?3 matrix. and the unknowns matrix ‘C’ or [ C ] which is another 3?1 matrix. [ A ] = [ B ] = [ C ] = So so we get an equation that looks like this: [ B ] = [ A ] * [ C ] . We can split [ A ] from one side of the equation to insulate [ C ] so. [ A ] -1* [ B ] = [ C ] . We multiply by the opposite of [ A ] . Multiplying [ A ] -1* [ B ] we get the [ C ] to be. Year | 1950| 1955| 1960| 1965| 1970| 1975| 1980| 1985| 1990| 1995| New Population in Millions| 554. 8| 620. 8| 688. 8| 758. 7| 830. 7|904. 6| 980. 6| 1058. 6| 1138. 5| 1220. 5| Having plugged the original old ages into the found map we receive the information in the informations tabular array above and acquire a graph that looks like the information is close to the original graph. We are following shown an equation where the population at clip is modeled by: P ( T ) = Using a reckoner we can run a logistical trial on the original informations where we get K to be 1950. L to equal 4. 34. and M to be. 0333. We get the informations tabular array below. Year | 1950| 1955| 1960| 1965| 1970| 1975| 1980| 1985| 1990| 1995| New Population in Millions| 537. 8| 605. 0| 676. 5| 751. 8| 830. 0| 910. 0| 991. 0| 1071. 7| 1151. 1| 1228. 1| The graph created by the logistic map is a really close tantrum. it about covers up the original population graph. Even looking at the informations tabular array for the map. we see that the information is really near to the original set of informations. We know that in multinomial maps. the independent and dependent variables are straight related to each other. In this survey the form of the original informations indicates a uninterrupted gradual slope. so as the old ages increase so will the population. The logistic map is different in the sense that while it will go on to increase. after awhile it will non increase as much and will get down to decelerate down until it stops increasing and degrees off. The graphs below are to assistance in the apprehension of the construct. We are following given a set of informations on the population trends in China from the 2008 World Economic Outlook published from the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) Year | 1983| 1992| 1997| 2000| 2003| 2005| 2008|New Population in Millions| 1030. 1| 1171. 7| 1236. 3| 1267. 4| 1292. 3| 1307. 6| 1327. 7| We will get down with the multinomial map and once more choose three different points for the above information. So we will acquire: y= ax2 + bx +c 1030. 1=a ( 19832 ) + B ( 1983 ) + degree Celsius1267. 4=a ( 20002 ) + B ( 2000 ) + degree Celsius1327. 7=a ( 20082 ) + B ( 2008 ) + degree Celsius We can name the y-values matrix ‘B’ or [ B ] which is traveling to be a 3?1 matrix. the x-values matrix ‘A’ or [ A ] which will be a 3?3 matrix. and the unknowns matrix ‘C’ or [ C ] which is another 3?1 matrix. [ A ] = [ B ] = [ C ] =We can split [ A ] from one side of the equation to insulate [ C ] so. [ A ] -1* [ B ] = [ C ] . We multiply by the opposite of [ A ] . Multiplying [ A ] -1* [ B ] we get the [ C ] to be. Graphing this we get the graph displayed below which we see looks indistinguishable to the original to the point where we do non even see the original graph. Now we run the 2nd map trial to see how that one besides fits the new informations. Again we have the equation P ( T ) = Using a reckoner we can run a logistical trial on the original informations where we get K to be 1436. L to equal 1. 36. and M to be. 0633. We get the informations tabular array below. Year | 1983| 1992| 1997| 2000| 2003| 2005| 2008|New Population in Millions| 1030. 1| 1171. 7| 1236. 3| 1267. 4| 1292. 3| 1307. 6| 1327. 7| We so take this found information and see how good it fits the original informations that we graphed earlier. As we see the logistic equation fits the original informations absolutely. Now let us see how both graphs expression together when consolidated into one graph. As we see here. the information from both the original graphs and their logistic maps line up rather good about making one uninterrupted line. The theoretical accounts fit each other with no outliers and making one solid line on the graph. The same can be seen with the 2nd graph of the original informations and the original IMF informations and their several multinomial maps. In decision to this mathematical survey. we have found tendency lines to chart informations. created system of equations for that informations and successfully graphed them against their original graphs. We learned how logistic graphs and multinomial graphs work and how they differ from each other. To make another challenge it would be interesting to seek and prove more maps. It would be interesting to prove parametric quantities and see what would go on if we tested outside of them. It would be a challenge to larn how the logistic map works mathematically to bring forth the Numberss it produces on the reckoner.

7 YouTube Channels to Replenish the Stock of Your Essay Writing Music

7 YouTube Channels to Replenish the Stock of Your Essay Writing Music 7 YouTube Channels to Replenish the Stock of Your Essay Writing Music Music is a great thing to have when you are working. Music in the background can truly be beneficial for you when writing. The reason for this is that the brain does not actually tell time on a regular basis; it tells time based on the surroundings and environment. It is for this reason that listening to a boring lecture can literally feel as though it made time slow down, or when you are having fun with a loved one, time seems to speed up. Music plays a big part in this. Music can dictate to the brain whether time is going by quickly or slowly. Below is a list of great YouTube channels for music you can enjoy while writing your essay: Study Music Club Relax Channel EnjoyStudying Study Music StudyMusicProject Classical Music Compilation Relaxing Study Music Upbeat music with a fast tempo tells the brain that time is moving quickly. This is a great choice for those evenings where you have been working for hours and you are trying to combat sleepiness. Having happier, uplifting and fast music will make you think the work is going by slowly. This is best reserved for those times when you are handling administrative tasks like printing papers, stapling them together, emailing copies to yourself and your teacher, etc†¦ Slow, classical music will convince your mind that time is slowing down. This is ideal for when you need to relax and focus solely on your reading or writing. With calming and relaxing music in the background, your mind and subsequently your body will naturally relax. This is a great thing to have in the background as you are reading over multiple texts for research or trying to calmly put together a well-organized paper. It is very important to remember though that music with lyrics will prove distracting. So if you are trying to write a creative paper, you will likely find it harder to do if the music you have playing (slow or fast) has lyrics. The reason for this is that the brain is listening to the lyrics and going back and forth between focusing on the writing and focusing on the lyrics. This causes many distractions and delays. This is exacerbated by songs to which you have memorized lyrics. If you have memorized a song, or have heard it enough to subconsciously memorize it, then your mind will focus on that instead. When you are writing an essay, it is good to have essay writing music to help you stay motivated, but remember that music plays an interesting role in our level of production. So if you want to slow your mind down, pick something that is relaxing. If you want to speed things up and make a list of mundane actions seem interesting, then pick something fast paced. Just remember to avoid the music with lyrics you know quite well or you will end up distracted more often than not.

History - American Exceptionalism Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History - American Exceptionalism - Term Paper Example From historical facts we find that American exceptionalism was tangled with convoluted and often ambiguous set of assumptions as it is important in explaining how Americans thought and how they have acted. In the opinion of Tyrrell, some historians attribute the terms â€Å"differences† or â€Å"uniqueness† to the exceptionalism; whatever the terminology, the long debated implications of American uniqueness and difference stems from political, intellectual, and even religious heritage, and is enduring. However, it is of equal importance to understand the â€Å"negative† version of the phenomenon, which means, the US had been exceptionally bad, racist, violent, with distorting unique American evils. Whether or not these assumptions are logical or coherent, as according to Pease, it is clear that exceptionalism is an idea that has prospered the American society, even though with many ups and downs in its tread (107). However, some historians say that the United Nat ions was never truly imperialistic in any manner, but was rather expansionist. The United States was a nation born through revolution against imperial control, and has been ostensibly disregarding imperialism, in their strategies with other nations and its own. According to an opinion, â€Å"instead of trying to administer other nations or peoples in an imperialistic or colonial fashion, the United States, has been asserted, fashioned itself as the liberator of the colonized, launching both a rhetorical assault on the practice of imperialism and a practical campaign to bring about its end† (Heiss ,2002, 511). Lipset explains that only in some cases the nation was seen taking control of territory that was not predestined to be included into the nation, and when it did, was for positive reasons, ruling in a liberal and compassionate fashion, providing opportunities for self-government and ultimately independence when seemed practicable. In their opinion, the United States was n ever an imperialist, rather expansionist, practicing benevolent assimilation, closely following its Manifest Destiny. However, some historian points out the darker side too. In the opinion of York, with all positive influences, of Manifest Destiny, filled with a surge of enthusiasm and energy for pushing West, the negative impacts created the belief within that the white men had the right to obliterate anything and anyone. Looking for the roots of Manifest Destiny across the West would point out the mass destruction of tribal organizations, and detention of Indians to reservation, holding high the belief that settlement of the land and civilization of its native were preordained. In the opinion of Walt, perhaps the basic principle of American exceptionalism can be the belief that they always are, and have always been, the good guys, spreading prosperity everywhere they go. He continues that it is a blind-faith that the United States is a uniquely virtuous nation, a nation that uphol ds peace, nurtures liberty, respects human rights, and embraces the rule of law that is so strict. Many hold the view, connecting it with American exceptionalism, that the nation’s values, political structure, and history are exceptional and are universally praiseworthy, which imply them to take a positive and distinctive role in the world stage. The only thing that contradicts this self-sycophantic illustration of the nation’

Integrated Case Study Analysis (Prediction markets at Google). Order

Integrated Analysis (Prediction markets at Google). Order 1111879 - Case Study Example It also aims to find if the product will be successful in the market. The case study actually involves the idea of Bo Cowgill, who is an employee of Google, who joined Google in 2003 after finishing his undergraduate degree in public policy in Stanford. The basic aim of the project was to find improved ways to utilize the huge amount of information, which was at the disposal of the company. Friedrich Hayek and the Iowa Electronic Markets had tried to harness this potential amount but had failed initially to implement this idea. The main problem identified in the employees was the lack of non-monetory motivation. The employees were not interested in earning extra money but wanted to be recognised in the organisation. Thus the HR aspect of Maslow’s Heirarchy of needs can be identified as one of the main issue in this case study. Another issue that cropped up was the high involvement of the employees in the prediction market that hampered the work output of the employees. The report is case analysis based on the prediction market of Google. In the case study, there are several problems related to different domains of management and those have been identified in order to come up with a suitable solution. The different problems identified have been segregated into different parts pertaining to their respective domains such as marketing, finance, human resource, etc. In the end, each of the problems have been analysed in order to find an appropriate solution for each of them. All these solutions have been discussed keeping in mind the success of Google Prediction Markets (GPM) as an effective product for the general public at large. The case study is an in depth discussion of the Google Prediction markets from the origin of the idea and the implementation of the concept into a successful product. We are all aware of Google Prediction market or the idea of a prediction market in general. They are very similar to stock market where there is the

Auditing-Accsys Technologies Plc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Auditing-Accsys Technologies Plc - Case Study Example It is exposed to overestimation of financial figures as in the current fiscal it has adopted IFRS for the group has a whole and follows UK, GAAP for its parent company. Unlike in GAAP, under IFRS it requires companies to value financial items at fair market value. If the market value of the asset is more than its written down value, it will lead to overestimation that increases the inherent risk (Carcello & Nagy, 2004). Accsys Technologies Plc has revised its accounting reporting standards from GAAP to IFRS for its group as a whole and not for the parent or subsidiary companies. It adopted IFRS 13 and IAS 1 for the current period. IFRS 13 fair value measurement implies that the value of the financial and non financial items will be recorded in the books at market price which includes inventory, assets, investments, etc. The change in reporting standard might exhibit highly geared assets i.e. assets might have a relative low price in the domestic market compared to the value of its final product. Accsys Plc reported a 78% increase in its revenue and the EBITDA margin for its Arnhem plant was â‚ ¬2.4 million compared to a loss of â‚ ¬.9 million in the last fiscal. The resulting difference in the operating income and loss is a key indicator of its reporting mechanism than its increased demand in the global market (Accesys Technologies, 2015). In the current fiscal Accsys discontinued its licensing partnership with Diamond Wood China Ltd and as per the order of the tribunal was supposed to pay  £1.6 million. It also incurred legal costs of  £.6 million. Such transactions did not feature in its annual report of 2014 and thus clearly indicates the risk of misstatement i.e. arising out of error or intentional actions (Khurana & Raman, 2008). Accsys Plc is in the practice of recognising all cost of revenue to the Arnhem manufacturing plant if it cannot be recognised with the licensee.

Fords Value Enhancement Plan Analysis

Fords Value Enhancement Plan Analysis Fords Value Enhancement Plan aims to align the interests of various shareholders by offering them different options the choice of $20 in cash, additional new common shares or a combination of cash and new share. Based on the following analysis, Ford should go ahead with Value Enhancement Plan. Characteristic of VEP The Value Enhancement Plan has the feature of stock split and share repurchase. Exchanging existing shares for new shares on a one-for-one basis, shareholders are also offered the option to reinvest $20 to receive additional new Ford common shares. In this sense, share price would decrease while the number of shares outstanding is going to increase. According to Fords announcement mentioned in the case, shareholders choosing the share option would receive 0.748 new Ford common shares in lieu of $20 cash. So, the effect is similar to 1.748 for 1 stock split. However, not all the shareholders prefer share option. For those who elect cash option, they would receive $20 as though they sell part of their shares, which reflects the feature of share repurchase. Advantages of VEP With the combined feature of stock split and share repurchase, VEP has its strength. In terms of cash option, since there is no good things to do with the massive cash reserve, returning the excessive cash allows shareholders to make profitable investment by themselves. Unlike cash dividend, returned cash is taxed as capital gains, so it generates tax efficiency for shareholders. In addition, though the price of new Ford shares would decrease, shareholders will not bear any loss, because the reduced price is offset by the cash they receive. But from the companys point of view, they can reduce dividend payment. Companies tend to keep dividend payout ratio constant, so dividend for each new Ford share will decrease because share price falls. For those who choose to receive $20 in cash, they keep the same amount of shares before VEP is introduced, therefore, the total dividend payment is going to reduce and to some extent, the pressure for increasing dividend level can be relieved a bit. Moreover, the effect of cash option is similar to that of share buyback, the number of new shares outstanding will reduce; thus, earnings per share will increase and it can increase the overall demand for Fords share, which will benefit share price in the long run. If shareholders elect stock option, they can increase voting power and exercise more control over the company. Also, as we discussed in the cash option, share price will increase, so, shareholders will benefit a lot from holding more new Ford shares. As for the combination of cash and new shares, shareholders can take part of their money out of the stock to make other profitable investment, and they can also maintain their interest in the company. On the one hand, they can enjoy tax efficiency by paying tax of capital gains for cash received, on the other hand, they can enjoy the profit when share price increases and they can have a say in the firm. VEP is better than cash dividend in terms of tax effect, and compared with share repurchase, it meets shareholders need to remain or increase control of the company. Therefore, based on the analysis, Ford should go ahead with VEP. Possible Choices of Different Shareholders Ford family member will choose stock option because they want to expand their control in the firm. By supporting VEP, their 40% voting power remains unchanged but their equity in the firm decreases from 5% to 3.6%. If they elect stock option, they hold more common shares, and their voting power is beyond 40%. Institutional investors, such as TIAA-Cref and the Calpers would choose combination of cash and shares. Its obvious that VEP favors Ford family members and dilutes institutional investors voting power, so its hard for them to compete with Ford family members in terms of control even if they reinvest all the $20 cash to buy new Common shares. In this sense, combination of cash and new share is a better choice for them. They can get part of their investment out of Ford stock for good opportunities somewhere else; meanwhile, they can remain interest in Ford. A regular outsider shareholder doesnt care about voting power. The purpose of their investment is profit. So, if I was one of them, I would go for cash option, because I would think Ford cant find profitable projects and there are few growth opportunities. By getting money back, I can make good use of it by myself.

DISCRIMINATION Essay -- essays research papers

Although I had always thought that I could never be discriminated for any reason, two years ago I felt discriminated. One Friday, while working in a large corporation in the administrative department, the president of the corporation organized a meeting for the administrative and accounting departments. The president of the company mentioned that the accounting department was opening a new position as Junior Controller Management. Moreover, he said that there were only two candidates who were postulated for it. I knew I was one of them. In fact, most of my co-workers started talking about it and all were claiming me as the winner. I was extremely happy. But, I wanted to wait for the real nomination that was going to take place the following Friday after the executive meeting in which each department’s director needed to vote either for me or for my co-worker, who was a man older than me. I knew I did not have to worry, so I was extremely relax the entire week. I always loved to work, and I always did a good job, so I thought that the position as a Junior Controller was mine. Unfortunately, it was not true. Although management knew that I was extremely qualified for the position, they could not give it to me for two reasons. The first one is that I was only 22 years old, and they thought that I was too young to handle such a high level position. Second, they told me, men always occupied the highest positions in this company, and even if they understand that life had evolved ...

The Second Coming Analysis

Between the symbolism and allusions, the poem covers the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelations. In the first stanza, â€Å"mere anarchy† refers to the flood in Genesis. The last stanza refers to the anti-christ and the time of the apocalypse. In the final lines Yeats describes the sinners as â€Å"rough beasts† dragging themselves to Bethlehem for the second coming of Christ. The body of the poem describes the decay of society. It refers to the non-believers, or atheists and the real problem, the sinners. However, he does point out that even Christ was tempted in the desert, hell on earth.He uses a metaphor to allude to the Great Sphinx (The body of a lion and the head of a man), which symbolizes the devil’s home. Furthermore, this is also a reference to the Book of Exodus, which describes the morphing of locusts and scorpion’s tails. These layers of meaning make it difficult for high school students to interpret the poem. I suggest that a teacher star t with eight vocabulary words: gyre, vexed, anarchy, revelation, falconer, Spiritus Mundi, reel, indignant. Denote the text. Then discover all the metaphors and symbols. It takes quite a bit of research to connote â€Å"gyre†.The dictionary definition is simple, but Yeats uses gyre in many of his writings. He uses a double-helix to symbolize the spiraling decay of society through â€Å"blood-dimmed tides† or wars. Then he uses the upward spiral to symbolize the times of peace. For Yeats society was a never-ending cycle of war and peace. From there he takes us to medieval times, to a violent, but orderly sport of hunting, until the falcon cannot hear the falconer and it turns into chaotic, unreasonable violence. Is you use the Bible to interpret the rest of the poem, it will be clear: Yeats is a pessimist who saw the underbelly of society.

Dystopian Literature and Film †The Matrix and V for Vendetta

Dystopian Literature and Film – The Matrix and V for Vendetta Free Online Research Papers How does The Matrix blend most of the other works of dystopian fiction we have discussed in class? Which familiar dystopian elements do the filmmakers take up and how do they play with them/ change them? It is a little bit more challenging to compare The Matrix to other dystopian works because you have to be clear if you speak about the whole world including the matrix or just the world inside the matrix. But if we are speaking about dystopian elements we can find some in both of them. Even in the matrix we can make out hints of a system that is in control. Namely the law enforcement, that works like in the United States of today. It is safe to say that such a system does not have to be too suspicious, because it reflects our current world which is not widely considered a dystopian nightmare. Even from the protagonist’s perspective, who knows that he is a criminal, everything is explainable till the agents use a robotic bug to keep track of him. Now we can start to speak of technological control, which becomes more obvious when we learn more about the outside world and how humans are controlled by the artificial intelligence. The protagonists struggle to escape the current system is also considered as a dystopian element. Other elements are the ones revolving surveillance and control. It starts with the wire tapping in the matrix and ends with the ultimate form of control. The matrix, which is applied to all humans from infancy to death, controls everything from information over freedom of speech to time. In a way, for the masses, the matrix also seems to be kind of an utopia. Like in the book of Genesis in the Bible, Agent Smith says that the first matrix was too perfect and therefore implies that this â€Å"twentieth century city life† is, what seems best for most humans. An interesting question is, if The Matrix really is a dystopian work. There is no question that the matrix is the ultimate dystopia, but the work definitely lacks the typical â€Å"warning message†. Novels like 1984 or Brave New World try to warn us how future could change the Society and focus more on individual values like freedom or tolerance. At least the reality (outside world) in The Matrix ignores these questions. It is more comparable to stories like Terminator which brings it nearer to works of science fiction. The Questions that arise in The Matrix are not the ones of other dystopian works. The whole concept of a dystopia is so overdone with the creation of the matrix, that you do not have to worry about certain elements like propaganda or surveillance. In theory, humans can have everything they want inside this artificial world and do not even have a realistic chance to revolt against from inside. Where The Matrix really shines, is its play with reality. Life inside the matrix is that much superior to the reality in the outside world, that, even after the humans have won, they do not seem to abolish the matrix. This makes becoming aware of reality even less desirable than in any other dystopia before. And because there is no relief when you have defeated the system the remaining questions are more like â€Å"is life really better when you know everything about it† or â€Å"what is human†. Another uncommon way is the role of the â€Å"hero†. No one wants to be Winston Smith in 1984 but Neo’s character is far more attractive. If the same â€Å"no rules† would apply to everyone, maybe life in the matrix would not be so bad. Is the movie comparable to the novels of ideas we discussed (Brave New World or Nineteen Eighty-Four) or do you also find formulaic elements that links the film to works such as The Island and Northern Lights? As hinted at before, The Matrix is more a progression of the ideas in these books. If we see the loss of human identity in a more and more mechanized world as the key message of Brave New World, The Matrix goes one step further in two ways. The first is the total control the machines have achieved over the human life cycle. The second, and more interesting, is the question, if a virtual human identity counts. Inside the matrix, humans are relatively free to live their life. Restrictions are just a means to an end and not to suppress their identity. But to decide, if life inside the matrix means more or less than in our so called reality, is not an easy task. Even today more and more people start to spend more time online than in â€Å"real life†. In respect to 1984 which revolves much about topics like surveillance or control of thoughts, Big Brother would have found the ultimate tool in the matrix. It solves all his problems at once and works far more efficiently than his apparatus of ministries. So for me it is less comparable to 1984 because it does not give you, as an individual, much to think about except do not loose the war against the machines or do not nuke our planet. It is especially one aspect that resembles Brave New World. When Aldous Huxley, with his work, wanted to express his fear of what the industrial revolution might bring to mankind, The Matrix might do the same for the internet or virtual realities. The striking resemblance to The Island is the perverted way human bodies are used. They are only raised to serve a certain purpose (human spare parts or batteries) and are killed when they are no good any more. Although it does not matter for the protagonist’s decision to explore the â€Å"outside world† in The Matrix and here actually is true, the idea of a deserted uninhabitable world is also used in The Island to keep people from fleeing. In Northern Lights, apart from the less important use of robotic bugs, it is more the role of the â€Å"hero†. Both are irreplaceable and born to â€Å"save the world†. They have mystic powers which they have to master during the story. Also terms like oracle or prophecy strengthen the mystic notion. Assignment 16.6 What filmic devices are used to render the graphic novel V for Vendetta? How do the filmmakers show that their movie is based on a comic? Interesting, from the side of the filmic means, is first and foremost how the movie renders the relationship between V and Evey. In this movie it is a exceptionally difficult situation because the main character wears a mask and therefore is not able to show any emotions. The Wachowski Brothers try to solve the dilemma by trying to give life to the man behind the mask. They just take close ups and two shot as are commonly used in other movies to emphasise on emotions and focus to give more life to the mask. This is achieved by continuous fluid movements in close ups and lots of dramatic gestures ore movements like body language in wider shots. Then there is the contrast in the use of colours and lighting. In peoples homes more friendly colours are used, but when it comes to the outside world, namely under government influence, the atmosphere more and more becomes one of anxiety and alienation which is supported by extreme close ups. Slow motion scenes are also used either to stress a moment like when Evey steps out in the rain after her fake imprisonment or to demonstrate V ´s fighting skills â€Å"the matrix way†. Also worth mentioning is the use of the flashback scenes. They do not only carry much important information like when they hint at the origins for the suppression of homosexuals, but also change during the course of the movie. They become more real the nearer they come to the current time of the plot. Even though V is no typical comic superhero there are still some points that remind the viewer of the films origin. The most eye catching ones are for sure the overdone action sequences. V is fighting like a bulletproof superhero that simply can not lose. Not only using karate or blades against guns, but also dramatizing every moment. This impression is also underlined by the Wachowski Brothers, when they chose to use matrix style slowdowns or blades that leave echoes in the air as effects during the fighting scenes. Other examples are the overdrawn stylistic demolitions when V even uses fireworks to manage more impressive explosions. Also noteworthy is the overly clear definition of the â€Å"bad† side. Even when his role (terrorist or political activist) is not that much defined, the bad ones definitely are. A dictator, the evil secret police, a paedophile bishop, a tv moderator greedy for power and several high ranked characters involved in suppression of undesirables leave no room for further prejudices. How does the movie tie in with the other dystopian works we have discussed so far? Which elements does it take up? Are there any new themes or angles the movie introduces? V for Vendetta the film plays in a typical dystopian world. The easiest way to proof this, is to compare certain elements with George Orwells 1984 because there several references to this work. In a not too distant future, England is ruled by a totalitarian government. It uses various measures to suppress the freedom of the people. There is only one tv-station that is controlled by the government and used to influence people from large screens or in their homes. Unwanted people are persecuted and imprisoned in mysterious â€Å"prisons†. There is also a secret police that â€Å"misuses† its powers and finally the guilt for all this is laid on the public, for knowing something is wrong with this country and sitting on the couch doing nothing. This is all very close to 1984. A definitely wanted impression because of the open use of similar ideas like the party slogans or the â€Å"big brother likeâ€Å" tv performances of chancellor sutler. Even the end is typical. Its open endedness still leaves some hope that a revolution can save the world. In spite of the obvious similarities there are also some differences. The hints at actual events of political interest are more direct. For example the use of black bags over prisoners heads as were seen on photos of US prisoners in Guantnamo Bay. This is also a good connection to the question of terrorism. Vs actions are also defined from his quest for revenge and the movie does not clearly mark them as good or bad. There are definitely on the fine line between terrorism and political activism. Also interesting is the comparison between the two main protagonist from V and 1984. Especially the question if one man can do something is handled differently. V also needs the support of the masses to achieve his revolution, but it seems as if he wins all important battles more or less alone. He has become â€Å"the idea himself†. In contrast to this 1984 only shows the way to go, when Winston says â€Å"the hope lies in the proles† ,but never comes close to face a change. Comment on intertextuality and intermediality in V for Vendetta. First there is the obvious influences from George Orwells 1984 that underline the dystopian setting. When we subsume intertextuality and intermediality under medial relations or influences, we find connections to wide range of works. The party slogan â€Å"Strength through Unity. Unity through Faith† is very similar to the slogans like â€Å"War is peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strengthâ€Å" from 1984. Also the tv performance of chancellor sutler and the network itself are reminiscent of Big Brother from the same work. Then there are several references to Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo. The count also suffered from an unjust imprisonment and prepared himself for the day of revenge with maximum effort. The movie version is even watched by Evey and V in the actual film. Also somewhat related to revenge but also a guideline for the relationship between Evey and V was Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. Notably here are for example the use of roses or the protagonists lair under the city. Finally stays the relation to current events. The before mentioned black bags in Guantnamo Bay or the governments influence on the media are a too obvious hint at current US policies to be ignored. Research Papers on Dystopian Literature and Film - The Matrix and V for VendettaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMind TravelBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceCapital PunishmentTrailblazing by Eric AndersonGenetic EngineeringAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementEffects of Television Violence on Children

Kevin Mitnick Research Paper

Kevin Mitnick Research Paper Free Online Research Papers I can imagine the headlines of the day back in 1983 they might have read: USC student arrested for hacking the Pentagon. As a young college student Kevin Mitnick hacked into one of the nation’s most secretive buildings, the Pentagon. According to Aguila (2008), Mitnick gained access to ARPANet, the ancestor of the Internet, which was then reserved for the Army, large corporations and universities. Mitnick started his computer exploits as a teenager. Even as a young man he realized the powers of social engineering and used it to gain access to networks. How’d he do it you ask? Mitnick would pose as an employee of a company or organization that had forgotten a password to an internal network. The information would be given to him over the phone, thus providing him with an in to the company’s network. Mitnick quickly learned that people who had access to technology were the weakest link in any company or information system. He utilized the art of Social Engineering to manipulate people with access to technology. Mitnick manipulated people first and then entered secure networks with the information he had been provided. After his numerous exploits of various networks Mitnick ran from law enforcement agencies, was caught and has spent time in prison for various crimes. After his release from prison and completing a probationary period that banned him from the use of t echnology as ordered by the court Mr. Mitnick started his own security company. He is now a reformed hacker and speaks at conferences all over the world. Mitnick is now a security professional. A TechBiz 2001 news report stated that Maffia Boy, Michael Calce, a 15 year old Canadian teenager was responsible for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on many large websites such as Amazon, Yahoo and EBay. Once arrested Mafia Boy plead guilty and was sent to a youth detention center for eight months with one year of probation. While incarcerated he was forbidden to use a computer. A DDoS attack makes a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. DDoS attacks are typically aimed at large internet sites and shuts down the site to the intended users, either briefly or for an indefinite period. Mafia Boy successfully shut down Yahoo and other sites for a few hours. There was some discrepancy in the media as to whether or not the attacks actually cost the companies the millions of dollars certain media outlets claimed. Yahoo released a statement later saying that none of their content had been breached and they were able to reroute traffic. Subsequently, Yahoo played down the story that they had any monetary loss and maintained that their content and user data remained unharmed. Both Kevin Mitnick and Michael Calce have reformed and learned from their experiences. Both are now involved in computer security. Both work to educate companies and users how to prevent exploits (similar to the ones they each carried out) on networks and/or systems. It is of paramount importance to learn from individuals like Mitnick and Calce. These gentlemen found ways to exploit sensitive systems that security personnel never considered. Calce used the internet to obtain access to malicious code that would damage sites: Mitnick manipulated people via Social Engineering. Social Engineering can be extraordinarily sneaky and very useful. Since security is the job of each individual you should be leery of people you do not know questioning you about your job. Especially questions pertaining to network and or computer assets. Often times these individuals will compliment you to get the ball rolling. Another popular way to gain information via Social Engineering is to make false statem ents knowingly. If you work on a military base someone might suggest to you I heard that aircraft can only carry one type of weapon so it is not that useful. You (being challenged) then feel the need to set the record straight. Thereby giving out information you should not have disclosed. Computer security professionals need to learn from the exploits that have happened and study the ways the hackers gained unauthorized access. This way the security professional can be ready to combat these or similar style attacks in the real world. The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at White Hat Security said he still uses Calces Yahoo attack as a point of reference when he needs to talk about what kind of bandwidth it takes to knock a site offline. (McMillan, 2008) References Aguila, Nicolas (2008, March 14). Fifteen greatest hacking exploits. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from Tomshardware Web site: tomshardware.com/reviews/fifteen-greatest-hacking-exploits,1790-6.html Anonymous (2001, September 13). Mafiaboy sentenced to 8 months . Retrieved February 23, 2009, from www.wired.com Web site: wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2001/09/46791 McMillan, Robert (2008, October 16). A hacker seeks redemption. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from www.mis-asia.com Web site: mis-asia.com/news/articles/a-hacker-seeks-redemption Research Papers on Kevin Mitnick Research PaperThe Project Managment Office SystemNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalTwilight of the UAWOpen Architechture a white paperGenetic EngineeringRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseStandardized TestingHip-Hop is Art

No topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

No topic - Assignment Example The overwhelming mortgages did not directly impact the Federal Reserve but through independent investment companies, which really demonstrates how the American economy is almost entirely feeding from the financial industry. I think there is more of a fiscal policy involvement in this case: the Federal Government had the intentions to bail out the projected failing companies such as the Bear Stearns. For instance, the former Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, devised a merger between the Bear Stearns and the JP Morgan, which would allow the Federal Government to shell out $30 billion in order to cover up the dubious assets associated with toxic mortgages. This implies for a relative more expansionary policy strategy by the government. I think one of the most important lessons that I learned from watching the video is how the finance industry has dominantly gained control over our government. Aside from the hints that the economic crash was â€Å"contrived†, the video reveals some of the most undesirable realities of the United States: the country’s goals toward recovery will fall short except if we get rid of the financial oligarchy that is hindering the fundamental

Ethic management Discussion Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethic management Discussion Question - Essay Example Deciding whose life to trade in exchange for who's is inherently an unethical decision to make. It requires placing a higher value on certain lives and lower value on others based on immutable characteristics of those individuals, such as age, gender and station in life. If acting ethically essentially means doing the right thing, there is really no right choice to make in the nuclear fallout shelter exercise. The best one can hope to do in this exercise is to make a utilitarian decision based on who is most likely to live the greatest number of years with greatest quality of life. Yet that basis for a determination is itself unethical because a human life with only a year remaining is arguably no less valuable than one that has just begun. Thus, the exercise presents a true ethical dilemma. Nevertheless, if forced to make a utilitarian determination of who should be allowed into the fallout shelter, a decision in favor of the pregnant college student and the female child seems to be a no-brainer. The pregnant college student gives you a two-for-one benefit, essentially allowing the decision maker to save five people rather than just four. And the child is the only child among the candidates.

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Globalization - Essay Example We are exposed to technology now a day. For every work we have to use technology of certain kind. Technology is everywhere we see; from television to nuclear weapons we see the use of technology. Technology has made this easier for everyone to communicate with each other from different countries. People can see each other, talk to each other, even they live far away from each other. This has only become possible because of electronics. We have to use technology in every walk of life because we are totally dependent on technology as this present era is said to be an age of technology. No work can be done without technology now. We use pen for writing our stuff and now we use laptops for this purpose. Use of technology is the same for both but because of advancement in technology, means of using them differs. But technology remains there every time to facilitate us. We cannot survive without technology in this modern world. If we face any health issues we have hospitals and surgical in struments are there to tackle with operations and surgery work. If we feel unsafe we use weapons and safety instruments for our safety. Globalization brings different nations of the world closer and help them to join hands in terms of economy , society , education and politics. Globalization minimizes the distances among nations and increases their communication level. Globalization and use of technology enables people to communicate with one another for the sake for nation development and this is the biggest achievement by the use of technology that all nations are together and in touch with each other. Having different culture different language doesn’t matter now. Technology has removed all those differences. One culture of a country can be easily mixed up with another country. Globalization amalgamates integration as well as interaction. Globalization is now linked with technologies in every aspect of human civilization through making countries build new policies that wou ld help them to open economies internationally as well as domestically. Free market economies systems is developed and that provides the path for mounting potential for industries and economies and provides the platform for investments and international trade. In this way, technology has played an important role to serve as an opportunity for marketing, production, foreign markets and trades. Technology has an important role in business marketing. E.g. Advertising is basically is the way of communication and negotiating with people whom you think as your potential consumers for the company.. And this has all become possible because of digital-advertising. That’s technology itself. Advertisements and digital promotions contribute a lot to sales volume of the company and as this world is exposed to technology so this is the need of hour to adopt digital ways for promotions to have boom in their sales. So technology plays an essential role in business sector to flourish and grow . As this world is turning into electronic-world and use of internet and its awareness is increasing day-by-day so organizations should go with the flow. Organizations advertise electronically, non-electronically, and promote their products through internet because technology is the major key to increase sales and target the selected market for generating revenue. Firms and individuals have already realized the importance of electronic gadgets and advancement in technology. Globalization is affecting this world in

Book Review on Urban Poverty Essay Example for Free

Book Review on Urban Poverty Essay Urban poverty is the outcome of urban-bias development projects being predominantly financed by the external capital, either in the form of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or Aid. The urban-bias industrialization strategy performed as a pull factor for the rural unemployed. This strategy contributed to the expanding of urban informal sectors where unskilled as well as highly unorganized day labours remain concentrated in the urban and semi-urban areas. It is also debated that the redistribution of capital investment towards the rural based agricultural activities including plantation sectors through the coordinated efforts of both public and private sectors such as civil and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can go a long way to break the growing negative effects of over urbanization on poverty, moral and social crimes as consequent of unequal economic growth. The author, Pramanik discusses urban poverty in Malaysia cases. He begins with the overview of the poverty scenario followed by research methods and research findings along with summarization policy suggestions. This book contented five chapters including appendices, references and index. In the introductory chapter (pp. 1-5), Pramanik says poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon that is hard to come up with a universally acceptable definition of poverty. Most commonly argued issue on poverty is whether poverty should be looked at from absolute or relative perspective. Absolute poverty based on specific income level called poverty line income (PLI) that can be calculated either using the market value of a basket full of goods and services considered essential for reasonably acceptable standard of living. On the contrary, relative poverty arises when we talk about how good or bad one member is doing in relation to another member living in the same society. According to O’Boyle, poverty is a concept that is both absolute and relative because human beings are at the same time individual and social (O’Boyle E.  J, 1990). In chapter two (pp. 7-20), Pramanik talks about poverty scenario in Malaysia. He argues that the income poverty using official poverty line income seems near to the absolute poverty whereas the human poverty based on the degree of human deprivation resembles relative poverty, which is ensuing of unequal access to income earning opportunity. Because of this, the author focuses more on human aspect of poverty in terms of its long term implications of social factors. Micro level study (Pramanik, 2004) do suggest that family size either in urban or rural areas of the four concentrated states namely, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perak is quite above the family size used for the national level. Pramanik (1997 2000) examined that rural poverty in the four poverty-concentrated states on multi dimensional aspects of the problem such as, social, economic, demographic, psychological, political, moral, historical, attitudinal, and natural factors. In chapter three (pp. 5-20), the author discusses regarding research methodology. The study is based on the primary data as well as secondary information. The primary data collected through the administration of well-structured questionnaire in the middle of 2006. The sampling technique used is purposive as well as random and based on participatory observation method. Around 3112 households from 8 major cities living in poverty concentrated areas classified by squatters, low-cost buildings, longhouses etc. were selected for data collection. He defined â€Å"household† as an entity of those living under the same roof as well as eating from the same kitchen. In chapter four (pp. 21-97), he talks about the research findings. The author uses purposive and collecting sampling technique to identify the level of poverty suffered by those living in the squatters and in the area/blocks/buildings designed for the lower income groups in the major cities of Malaysia. This is because those who are living in these areas suffer different degrees and types of poverty measured by the level of deprivations. The household having less than RM 398(less than half of the poverty line) is called hardcore poor, household earning equal to RM 398 but less than 663 is called overall poor and more than RM 663 is called non-poor. The best performing state in terms of lowest incidence of overall poverty (0. 9) with no hardcore poor followed by KL (2. 6) and JB (8. 1) inclusive of hardcore and overall poor. While less developed states- KB, KT, and AS, KB experiences the highest incidence of poverty hardcore poor and overall poor of 33. 7 followed by KT (23. 4) and AS (14). On the other hand, Sabah and Sarawak are worst performing states reported in 9MP and his survey data. The author suggests that as far as poverty reduction is concerned Sabah and Sarawak are still the worst among all other regions states in Malaysia in 2007. The poverty is gender bias is a universal when hardcore poverty is concerned. In terms of hardcore and overall poverty, the female –headed households are more likely to be poorer by 50 percent compared the male-headed households. The higher dependency of more members on a few incomes of earners in the households also creates a constraint on resources allocation by the poor households. Approximately 60 percent of poor household’s more than two members depend on the income of one earner. The lower dependency has implication for the ability of the poor households to hold out poverty at times of economic recession or downturn since higher dependency manifest through the lower dependency ratio is positively related to higher unemployment. Pramanik found on the distribution of households based on the dependency ratio and cities seem to suggest that the relatively higher percentages of households (68. 8) from LDS are associated with higher dependency as emerged through the lower coefficients of DR (0. ) as opposed to a lower percentage of households from MDS (53. 3) experiencing lower dependency ratio. Human capital is considered as the most fundamental asset. The presence of economic opportunities created by the growth, an individual with one additional year of education acquires more ability to compete and derive benefits from the market. As for as the illiterac y, the author suggests that the percentage of households having no education in much higher for the three Least Developed States( LDS) as compare to the More Developed States (MDS). If the education level exceeding 6 years but less than 12 year are considered as a measure of better educational standard, the highest percentage of household members (72. 7) come from 3 MDS followed by the lowest (57) from the two LDS. The better quality of life achievable through higher level of education has convinced the younger generation regardless of race or geographical distribution of population to pursue education by all possible means. So that government spends money for education, skills and training. Dr. Muhammad Yunus claims that access to credit should be treated as a part of human rights. The access to credit empowers the poor households to make use of their survival skills thus unleashing their productive potentials. Every human being is imparted with some sorts of surviving skills by the Almighty –the creator. Dr. Yunus has proven that an access to small credit can significantly help the asset less poor to unleash their hidden potentials to earn more and combat poverty. The poor have nobody to talk to and no place to go. Sometimes, they have no work to do and no food to eat and finally none to depend on. They are always by-passed and looked down upon (Narayan, 2000). The poor are not even trusted because of lack of social status. Of the three races the Chinese seem to be more satisfied with their neighbors (69 percent as very helpful) followed by the Indians (46 percent) and Malays take a middle position (64 percent). The criteria of social capital there appear to be a positive relationship between the lower Mean Monthly Household Income (MMHY) of the Indians and the lower level of trustworthiness as a proxy for very helpful neighbors. The relationship between trustworthiness and success in trade seems quite obvious among the Chinese compared to the Malays and the Indians. There are lots of arguments regarding poverty. â€Å"We are so rich, because they are so poor† (Landes, 1998). It means the existence of poor is essential for survival for rich. Yunus believes that the poverty is created by the system (Yunus with Jolis, 1998). The poor in any society are best known for their simplicity, altruism, moderation, complacency, peaceful coexistence, moral, conservative as well as traditional values. The presence of high morality and the future uncertainty, the poverty stricken parents never consider additional babies as a liability. For the poor, children are always considered as assets and blessing of God because they are the ones the poor parents can really depend on in their old age. Old –age pension or insurance for all are hardly found in the developing world, traditional babies are always treated as insurance for the old age. The author found that in general, the respondents from low income urban households give higher priority to good values like the spirit of tolerance reflected through ability to respect other races or religion, ability to maintain one’s own culture, ability to live like a good human being, having good moral standard. The findings clearly suggest that they show least preference for blindly imitating the life style of the better-off. So, the poor who are known for their simple and moderate life are not the victim of the demonstration effects. Concentration of power, lack of transparency and good governance among many others, interact to perpetual corruption in less developed countries (Pramanik, 2003 2007). In last chapter in his book (pp. 97-106), the author summarizes his findings and gives policy suggestions. Firstly, poverty is gender based. As far as poor, inclusive of hardcore and overall poor are concerned the female headed households far outweigh the male headed households. Secondly, there is an inverse relationship between family size and incidence of poverty. Thirdly, higher dependency measured by lower dependency ratio seems to be positively related to the incidence of poverty across the regions. Fourth, the access to human capital in terms of level of education emerges as one of the most important determinants of poverty. Fifth, the access to financial capital in the form of loan made seems to be a good determinant of household income regardless of regional or racial consideration. Finally, based on the perception of the urban poor about development, Pramanik findings suggest that, the human capital such as easy access to education, social overhead capital encompassing good roads, good and owned house, water and electricity deserve the highest priority. The author gives some policy suggestions relevant to the policy-makers, planners and administrators. First, in line with three major strategies such as, enhancing the nation’s competitiveness, strengthening human capital development and ensuring the well-being of all Malaysians within the contexts of elaborate policy strategies under ninth Malaysian plan, that will be to help the primary and secondary level students from broken families, unemployed parents, low income households living in crammed and unhealthy housing conditions. Second, the plan to establish different growth corridors covering the less and the least developed states. Four, having the good record of NGOs in eradicating poverty and enhancing social-economic well-being of the target groups, the existing public level institutions may gradually encourage the NGOs/welfare organization/civil societies supported either publicly or privately to shoulder responsibility in overcoming poverty. Finally, efforts can be made to raise the status of Aim as a full-pledge bank for the poor as like Grameen bank of Bangladesh to deal with poverty eradication. In conclusion it can be said that the author, Pramanik expounded very well regarding the poverty of Malaysia. The urban poverty is indistinguishably linked to rural poverty. In fact, the former is caused by the latter. The Pull and Push factors can significantly explain the prevailing dismal conditions associated with urban poverty. Based on the details findings on the multi-dimensional aspects of urban poverty, it can be suggested that the development should be taken to the people and not the people to the development which is mostly confined to the urban areas.

A Pestel Analysis Of Malaysia Economics Essay

A Pestel Analysis Of Malaysia Economics Essay Introduction During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the countrys history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapores secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism. Economy overview: Malaysia, a middle-income country, has transformed itself since the 1970s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Under current Prime Minister NAJIB, Malaysia is attempting to achieve high-income status by 2020 and to move farther up the value-added production chain by attracting investments in Islamic finance, high technology industries, medical technology, and pharmaceuticals. The NAJIB administration also is continuing efforts to boost domestic demand and to wean the economy off of its dependence on exports. Nevertheless, exports particularly of electronics remain a significant driver of the economy. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel, combined with strained government finances, has forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce government subsidies. The government is also trying to lessen its dependence on state oil producer Petronas, which supplies at least 40% of government revenue. The central bank maintains healthy foreign exchange reserves and its well-developed regulatory regime has limited Malaysias exposure to riskier financial instruments and the global financial crisis. Nevertheless, decreasing worldwide demand for consumer goods hurt Malaysias exports and economic growth in 2009, although both showed signs of recovery in 2010. In order to attract increased investment, NAJIB has also sought to revise the special economic and social preferences accorded to ethnic Malays under the New Economic Policy of 1970, but he has encountered significant opposition, especially from Malay na tionalists. Statistics GDP $381.1 billion (2009 est.)Rank: 30 GDP growth 2.2% (2009 est.) GDP per capita $14,800 (2009 est.) GDP by sector agriculture: 10.1% industry: 42.3% services: 47.6% Inflation (CPI) 0.4% (2009 est.) Population below poverty line 3.5% (2007 est.) Labour force by occupation agriculture: (13%), industry: (36%), services: (51%) Unemployment 5% (2009 est.) Main industries Peninsular Malaysia rubber and palm oil processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber, tourism, petroleum production and refining, logging Economic Policies The Malaysian New Economic Policy was created in 1971 with the aim of bringing Malays a 30% share of the economy of Malaysia and eradicating poverty amongst Malays, primarily through encouraging enterprise ownership by Bumiputeras. After 30 years of the program, the NEP had somewhat met some of its goals. Bumiputera ownership increased to 18.9% in 2004 against 2.4% in 1970 and poverty decreased to 8.3% in 2004 against 64.8% in the 1970s. The NEP is accused of creating an oligarchy, and creating a subsidy mentality. Political parties such as Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Democratic Action Party have proposed a new policy which will be equal for every Malaysian, regardless of race. When the Democratic Action Party was elected in the state of Penang in 2008, it announced that it will do away with the NEP, claiming that it   breeds nepotism, corruption and systemic inefficiency. On April 21, 2009, the prime minister Najib Tun Razak has announced liberalisation of 27 services sub-sector by abolishing the 30% bumiputera requirement. The move is seen as the government efforts to increase investment the service sector of the economy. According to the premier, many more sectors of the economy will be liberalized. On June 30, 2009, the premier announces further liberation moves including the dismantling of the Bumiputera equity quotas and repealing the guidelines of the Foreign Investment Committee, which was responsible to monitor foreign shareholding in Malaysian companies. However, any Malaysian companies that wish to list in Malaysia would still need to offer 50 percent of public shareholding spread to Bumiputera investors. Politics of Malaysia The politics of Malaysia takes place in the framework of a federal constitutional monarchy, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is head of state and the Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the federal government and the 13 state governments. Federal legislative power is vested in the federal parliament and the 13 state assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, though the executive maintains a certain level of influence in the appointment of judges to the courts. The Constitution of Malaysia is codified and the system of government is based on the Westminster system. Malaysia has a multi-party system since the first direct election of the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya in 1955 on a first-past-the-post basis. The ruling party since then has always been the Alliance Party (Malay: Parti Perikatan) coalition and subsequently from 1973 onwards, its successor the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition. The Barisan Nasional coalition currently consists of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and 11 other political parties. Although Malaysian politics has been relatively stable, critics allege that the government, ruling party, and administrationare intertwined with few countervailing forces. However, since 8 March 2008 General Election, medias coverage on countrys politics has been noticeably increased, making the politics more transparent to the citizens. The current Prime Minister is Dato Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak. He took office following the retirement of Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (colloquially known as Pak Lah) on April, 2009. The national media are largely controlled by the government and by political parties in the Barisan Nasional/National Front ruling coalition and the opposition has little access to the media. The print media are controlled by the Government through the requirement of obtaining annual publication licences under the Printing and Presses Act. In 2007, a government agency the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued a directive to all private television and radio stations to refrain from broadcasting speeches made by opposition leaders. The official state ideology is the Rukunegara, which has been described as encouraging respect for a pluralistic, multireligious and multicultural society. However, political scientists have argued that the slogan of Bangsa, Agama, Negara (race, religion, nation) used by UMNO constitutes an unofficial ideology as well. Both ideologies have generally been used to reinforce a conservative political ideology, one that is Malay-centred Executive power is vested in the cabinet led by the prime minister; the Malaysian constitution stipulates that the prime minister must be a member of the lower house of parliament who, in the opinion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commands a majority in parliament. The cabinet is chosen from among members of both houses of Parliament and is responsible to that body. In recent years the opposition have been campaigning for free and fairer elections within Malaysia. On 10 November 2007, a mass rally, called the 2007 Bersih Rally, took place in the Dataran Merdeka Kuala Lumpur at 3pm to demand for clean and fair elections. The gathering was organised by BERSIH, a coalition comprising political parties and civil society groups(NGOs), and drew supporters from all over the country. Malaysias government has intensified efforts on March 6, 2008 to portray opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim as a political turncoat, days ahead of Malaysian general election, 2008 on March 8, 2008 that will determine whether he poses a legitimate threat to the ruling coalition. Campaigning wrapped up March 7, 2008 for general elections that could see gains for Malaysias opposition amid anger over race and religion among minority Chinese and Indians. Malaysians voted March 8, 2008 in parliamentary elections. Election results showed that the ruling government suffered a setback when it failed to obtain two-thirds majority in parliament, and five out of 12 state legislatures were won by the opposition parties. Reasons for the setback of the ruling party, which has retained power since the nation declared independence in 1957, are the rising inflation, crime and ethnic tensions. Law of Malaysia The law of Malaysia is mainly based on the common law legal system. This was a direct result of the colonisation of Malaya, Sarawak, and North Borneo by Britain from the early 19th century to 1960s. The supreme law of the land-the Constitution of Malaysia-sets out the legal framework and rights of Malaysian citizens. Federal laws enacted by the Parliament of Malaysia applies throughout the country. There are also state laws enacted by the State Legislative Assemblies which applies in the particular state. The constitution of Malaysia also provides for a unique dual justice system-the secular laws (criminal and civil) and sharia laws. Dual justice system The dual system of law is provided in Article 121(1A) of the Constitution of Malaysia. Article 3 also provides that Islamic law is a state law matter with the exception for the Federal Territories of Malaysia.[1] Islamic law refers to the sharia law, and in Malaysia it is known and spelled as syariah. The court is known as the Syariah Court. Looking at the Malaysian legal system as a whole, sharia law plays a relatively small role in defining the laws on the country. It only applies to Muslims. With regards to civil law, the Syariah courts has jurisdiction in personal law matters, for example marriage, inheritance, and apostasy. In some states there are sharia criminal laws, for example there is the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 1993. Their jurisdiction is however limited to imposing fines for an amount not more than RM 3000, and imprisonment to not more than 6 months.[2] In August 2007, the then Chief Justice of Malaysia proposed to replace the current common law applicat ion in Malaysia with sharia law.[3] As an example of the dual system, sometimes a nightclub is raided, and Muslim patrons drinking alcohol are prosecuted in Shariah courts, while the others are allowed to drink. Also the nightclub operator is not charged with any offense, because he is not legally required to check if customers are Muslim before serving them. Complications Complications have arisen with regard to the dual justice system, for example with regard to freedom of religion. Article 11 of the Constitution provides that Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion. However in the case of Lina Joy-a Malay who converted to Christianity-the Federal Court of Malaysia refused to allow her to change her religion indicated in her identity card (MyKad). The judges held that they had no jurisdiction on the matter-that it was a matter of the Syariah Court, as indicated in Article 121(1A) of the Constitution. Technology in Malaysia Science Policy in Malaysia is regulated by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Other ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health also have science departments. Training in scientific areas was promoted during the 1970s and 1980s. From 1987-1997 research and development used 0.24% of GNP, and in 1998 high-tech exports made up 54% of Malaysias manufactured exports. In 2002 the Malaysian National Space Agency (Angkasa) was formed to deal with all of Malaysias activities in space, and to promote space education and space experiments. It is focused on developing the RazakSAT satellite, which is a remote sensing satellite with CCD cameras. In early 2006, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and three other finalists were selected for the Angkasawan spaceflight programme. This programme came about when Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the International Space Station as part of a multi-billion dollar purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. In an effort to create a self-reliant defensive ability and support national development Malaysia privatized some of its military facilities in the 1970s. This has created a defence industry, which in 1999 was brought under the Malaysia Defence Industry Council. The government continues to try and promote this sector and its competitiveness, actively marketing the defence industry. One way it does this is through the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, one of the largest defence and civil showcases in the Asia Pacific, regularly attended by over 500 companies. The Malaysian Armed Forces relies heavily on local military technology and high-tech weapons systems designed and manufactured by foreign countries. Environment of Malaysia The environment of Malaysia refers to the biotas and geologies that constitute the natural environment of this Southeast Asian nation. Ecologically, Malaysia is a megadiverse nation with a biodiverse range of flora and fauna found in various ecoregions throughout the country. Tropical rainforests encompass from 59% to 70% of Malaysias total land area, of which 11.6% is pristine. Malaysia has the worlds fifth largest mangrove area, which totals over a half a million hectares (over 1.2 million acres). Human intervention poses a significant threat to the natural environment of this country. Agriculture, forestry and urbanisation contribute to the destruction of forests, mangroves and other thriving ecosystems in the country. Ecosystems and landscapes are dramatically altered by human development, including but not limited to the construction of roads and damming of rivers. Geographical phenomena, such as landslides and flooding in the Klang Valley, along with haze, stem from widespread deforestation. Subtle climate change occurs as a direct result of air pollution and the greenhouse effect, which in turn is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases. Low-lying areas near the coastline of Sabah and Sarawak are under threat from current sea level rise. The environment is the subject of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment at the federal level. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks is responsible for the preservation of flora and fauna in Malaysia. Several environmental organisations have been established to raise awareness regarding the environmental issues in Malaysia. Environmental issues There are a number of environmental issues faced by Malaysia, such as deforestation and pollution. According to a study by Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies in 2008, about 30% of Malaysian coastline is subject to varying degrees of erosion. According to the United Nations, Malaysias deforestation rate is the highest among tropical nations. The countrys annual deforestation rate increased 86% between 1999-2000 and 2000-2005. Malaysia lost an average of 140,200 hectares of its forests or 0.65% of its total forest area every year since 2000, whereas in the 1990s, the country lost an average of 78,500 hectares or 0.35 percent of its forests annually. Widespread urbanisation, agricultural fires and forest conversion for oil palm plantations and other forms of agriculture are the main causes of Malaysias high deforestation rate. Logging is responsible for forest degradation in the country, and local timber companies have been accused by environmental organisations of failing to practice sustainable forest management. Mining in peninsular Malaysia has left a mark on the environment. Deforestation, pollution of rivers, and siltation have resulted in losses of agriculture, and road projects have opened new areas to colonisation. Air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions is a major issue in the urban areas of Malaysia. Malaysia is ranked 42nd in the world in terms of vehicle ownership per capita, with 273 Malaysians having vehicles out of every 1000. Public transportation has been introduced in the form of bus networks and railway systems as mitigation, but utilisation rates are low. Water pollution occurs due to the discharge of untreated sewage; the west coast of the Peninsular Malaysia is the most heavily populated area. 40% of the rivers in Malaysia are heavily polluted. The country has 580 cubic km of water, of which 76% is used for farming and 13% is used for industrial activity. Cities in Malaysia produce an average of 1.5 million tons of solid waste per year. In 2000, Malaysia was ranked fourth in the world in terms of per capita greenhouse gas emissions after taking into account land use change with 37.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita. Periodic fires, which usually coincide with the events of el Nià ±o, burn thousands of hectares of forests across Malaysia, especially in Malaysian Borneo. The haze originating from these fires and the fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia typically have adverse health effects on the populace, besides causing air pollution. In particular, the 1997 Southeast Asian haze, the 2005 Malaysian haze and the 2006 Southeast Asian haze were caused by slash and burn activities in neighbouring Indonesia. Society of Malaysia Malaysia is a multi-cultural society. The main ethnic groups are the native Malays as well as large populations of Chinese, and Indians. When visiting the country it is clear that the ethnicities retain their religions, customs and way of life. The most important festivals of each group are public holidays. Although growing up, children are educated in the same schools and will eventually work in the same offices, few marry outside their own ethnicity. Families tend to socialise within their own ethnic group all part of retaining their individual traditions and lifestyles. Despite the ethnic differences there are commonalities culturally speaking. Social Stratification Classes and Castes- Class position in Malaysia depends on a combination of political connections, specialized skills, ability in English, and family money. The Malaysian elite, trained in overseas universities, is highly cosmopolitan and continues to grow in dominance as Malaysias middle class expands. Even with the substantial stratification of society by ethnicity, similar class experiences in business and lifestyle are bridging old barriers. Symbols of Social Stratification- In Malaysias market economy, consumption provides the primary symbols of stratification. Newly wealthy Malaysians learn how to consume by following the lead of the Malay royalty and the prosperous business families of Chinese descent. A mobile phone, gold jewelry, and fashionable clothing all indicate ones high rank in the Malaysian social order. Given the striking mobility of Malaysian society, ones vehicle marks class position even more than home ownership. Most Malaysians can distinguish the difference between makes of cars, and access to at least a motor scooter is a requirement for participation in contemporary Malaysian social life. Kuala Lumpur has more motor vehicles than people. Skin color, often indicative of less or more time working in the hot tropical sun, further marks class position. Distinct class differences also appear in speech. Knowledge of English is vital to elevated class status, and a persons fluency in that language indexes t heir social background. Social Welfare and Change Programs The Malaysian government has promoted rapid social change to integrate a national society from its ethnic divisions. Its grandest program was originally called the New Economic Policy (NEP), implemented between 1971 and 1990 and continued in modified form as the National Development Policy (NDP). Since poverty eradication was an aim of the NEP a considerable amount of energy has gone to social welfare efforts. The consequences of these programs disseminate across the social landscape: home mortgages feature two rates, a lower one for Malays and a higher one for others; university admissions promote Malay enrolment; mundane government functions such as allocating hawker licenses have an ethnic component. But the government has also tried to ethnically integrate Malaysias wealthy class; therefore many NEP-inspired ethnic preferences have allowed prosperous Malays to accrue even greater wealth. The dream of creating an affluent Malaysia continues in the governments 1991 plan of Vision 2 020, which projects that the country will be fully developed by the year 2020. This new vision places faith in high technology, including the creation of a Multi-Media Super Corridor outside of Kuala Lumpur, as the means for Malaysia to join the ranks of wealthy industrialized countries, and to develop a more unified society. Porters Diamond of Competitiveness Factor conditions: These are the economists traditional factors of production: land, labor, capital, and infrastructure. Demand conditions: The characteristics of the domestic market, including the size, demand, value, and sophistication. Related supporting industries: The presence of suppliers and supporting industries that are equally competitive and of high quality. Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry: The regulatory and other governmental environment in which companies are created, organized, and managed, including the nature of the domestic competition. Stages in Economic Development The relative importance of the four factors depends on the stage of economic development of the industry or country. National economies, like industries, go through stages in their development. The first stage is factor-driven, with the economy based essentially on the traditional factors of production: natural resources, commodities, and availability of cheap power and labor. This was Malaysia of the 1960s and 70s, its primary competitive advantage being its cheap resources (rubber and tin), land and labor, and favorable tax treatment. These advantages were not only limiting but also transient. When commodity prices dropped, Malaysia lost its competitive advantage. When China entered the game with her endless supply of even cheaper labor and land, Malaysia could hardly compete. During this phase, the basic source of competitive advantage is obviously the factor conditions of the diamond. The next stage is investment driven where the competitive advantage is governed by the willingness of firms and nations to invest in modern factories, upgrade the skills of their workers, and adopt efficient technology. Factor conditions are still important, but in addition, the fourth-firms strategy, structure and rivalry-becomes the major determinant. This is where Malaysia is currently. The third stage is innovation driven where all four points of the diamond are in full play. This is where Malaysia aspires to be. With all four points in equal play, the relative role of factor-driven variables like cheap labor and commodities becomes relatively less important.