Law Enforcement Information Sharing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Law Enforcement Information Sharing - Essay Example es and technology (National Institute of Justice, 1999).   Organized criminals, taking advantage of these developments, have become more agile than governmental agencies (Brock et. al. 2006). On the other hand, though technology and other infrastructure are available to law enforcement agencies, democratic governments require a consensus among leaders and citizens to establish priorities and allocate funds before significant changes are implemented. (Broude & Teichman, 2009). This constraint slows down government progress and makes law enforcement a complex process. Thus, making policy change and implementation becomes difficult and is not always successful (Broude & Teichman, 2009).  In contrast, criminals act independent of bureaucracy, advancing their own interests (Beare, 1997).  The agility of the criminal enterprises makes it difficult to anticipate criminal activity, making such activity an insurmountable threat (Williams & Godson, 2002).  The reluctance of some commun ities to recognize a developing or already present criminal threat can also contribute to the growth and entrenchment of crime. (Mackenzie, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Available literature on the topic chronicles twentieth and twenty-first century efforts undertaken by the federal government to combat transnational crime. (Dowling et al. 2006).   However, there is a dearth of literature on the trends in criminality from the perspective of federal law enforcement officers (Small & Taylor, 2006).   Statement of the Problem: Transnational crimes, especially terrorism, have remained a huge threat to nations all over the world from time immemorial. Experts in the fields of law enforcement and counter terrorism believe that proper sharing of information among various intelligence agencies in different countries... From this research it is clear that events of September 11, 2001 demonstrate what can happen when the law enforcement community fails to adequately share and analyze information available to them. Those events are an extreme example, but many other terrorism and transnational crimes threatened society long before 9/11 and continue to do so today. The U.S. Government recognized key information sharing gaps that contributed to the terrorist’s ability to execute their attack and took measures to curtail such gaps in the future. One noticeable paradigm shift was the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, merging 170,000 employees from 22 federal agencies, and move by DHS leadership to develop unique â€Å"one-DHS† culture. The purpose of this case study is to describe what measures federal law enforcement agencies have implemented, and what steps can still be taken, to enhance information sharing with State and local partners and other peer agencies. A review of t he literature on sharing in the law enforcement community includes an exploration of factors related to (a) An awareness of transnational criminal and terrorist threats before and after 9/11, (b) Human factors related to the sharing of information in person and through technological tools, (c) Organizational changes contributing to information sharing, (d) Factors affecting sustainability of information sharing initiatives. While modern transportation and technology enhanced the developmental activities on one hand, it also accelerated the country’s illegal enterprises on the other.

Communication Styles †Analysis of a Special Interaction Essay Example for Free

Communication Styles – Analysis of a Special Interaction Essay The paper is an analysis of the special interaction between a Noble and a Reflective. The analysis is a process to see how communication styles affect the interaction, and how changing one’s style when communicating with another style can result in different outcomes. This paper illustrates how I adjusted my communication style to adapt my boyfriend’s communication style and how the result changed. The paper addresses the following: 1) A description of the interaction, 2) An analysis the interaction, and 3) Conclusion. see more:describe how to support different communication abilities and needs of an individual with dementia A description of the interaction The specific interaction I want to demonstrate is the interaction between my boyfriend, Tony, and me. Because we have different communication styles, we sometimes argue and get mad at each other. He is a straight forward person; he tells me right away what I am doing wrong. As a Noble, Tony is very decisive. He likes to be center of every discussion. In contrast, I have a Reflective style; I tend to be quiet. I love spending time alone; I think deeply and do not make decisions quickly. The interaction The following scenario is an illustration of our communication styles. The interaction took place late at night two weeks ago at the Home Depot store where Tony and I went to buy some fixtures for my room. We went inside the store; he grabbed the products he needed quickly, while I took my time looking around. I showed him the light I had chosen and he said, â€Å"It is not a night light. Let’s go over another row†. He held my hand and tried to move quickly to another row, but I pushed his hand away and stood in the same area. He went by himself and said, â€Å"We have to hurry up, or we can come back tomorrow†. I was very angry, but I did not say anything. Finally, I went to the cashier, and I saw him holding a pretty night light in his hand. The impact of different communication style Although he still helped me choose the night light, his behavior made me feel like he was rushing me and did not care about me. He thinks he knows what I want, and he should have asked me what kind of light I needed. If I chose the wrong one, he should have explained what kind of light I needed. He acted as if he needed to make the decision for me because I was taking too long. An analysis of the interaction Last week, Tony helped me repaint my room and we went to the Home Depot to purchase colors and painting tools. Tony was very unhappy because I took too long to decide the paints. He also complained why I did not plan ahead of time. In the meantime, I decided to speak out what I was thinking instead of being quiet and doing my own thing. I told Tony that he should have helped me on selecting the paints because the color I wanted was not available and the instruction of choosing and mixing colors in the store was confusing me. I described what kind of color I wished to use for my room and asked him for advice. I also talked to Tony directly that I tried to ignore his offended comments, but those unconscious words irritated me. Tony realized his unintentional attitudes made me upset and he said apologize to me. We both felt like we removed the communication style barrier between us after the frank conversation and we finished shopping and painting my room successfully. I will remind mys elf to use this method in our future conversations to prevent conflicts and arguments. Conclusion Learning the communication styles concept has helped me better understand the way people interact. Each person has a distinct style of communication which has both good and bad aspects. Any miscommunication can cause unexpected outcomes, but if I can adjust or control my communication style, I can predict the result of most interactions. Therefore, I recognize that learning and understanding other styles and applying what I have learned in real life will help to bring good results.

Campaigns Of Sultan Mehmet Fatih History Essay

Campaigns Of Sultan Mehmet Fatih History Essay The Conqueror Fatih Sultan Mehmet, also known as Mehmet II or The Conqueror, was born in 1432 in Edirne; however, he died in 1481. Garraty, 1986, P: 606 Mehmet II was ascended the throne in his 20th year old. He ruled the Ottoman Empire for a short time, from 1444 to 1446. (Hourani, 1991, P: 210) Fatih was the son of earlier Sultan Murad II. Conversely, his mother was Huma Hatun. Sultan Mehmet was a tall man, strong in addition to muscular man. Mehmet II was a political leader as well as a military leader. (Hitti, 2002, P: 804) He was further involved in literature, besides cultivated arts along with monumental architecture. Fatih Sultan Mehmet was speaking seven languages effortlessly. He more interested in philosophy in addition to science. Conquering Constantinople: Mehmet II took the nickname conqueror (fatih) following the take-over of Istanbul. As within two years of repossessing the throne in 1451, he put an end to the Byzantine Empire because of conquering Constantinople, (Hitti, 2002, P: 811) by this means merging the Ottoman Empire along with marking the closing stages of the middle Ages as well. (Garraty, 1986, P: 606) Throughout the blockade of Constantinople, Fatih Sultan Mehmets soldiers numbered greater than 100,000, along with around 125 warships were at his discarding. (Hourani, 1991, P: 211) Fatih Sultan Mehmet utilized gunpowder to stimulating outcome all through the blockade. As well as the Sultan squeezed new-fangled technical developments that inclined the scales in his support, together with Orbans cannon, a portion of weaponry greater than 25 feet extended that could blaze cannonballs up into a mile as well that he had specially made commencing a European artist named Orban. (Hitti, 2002, P: 812) On the morning of Tuesday, May 29, 1453, (Hourani, 1991, P: 211) the Ottomans went into Constantinople all the way through breaches in the walls stuck between Edirne and Top Kapi. The last Byzantine emperor; Constantine XI, had unsuccessfully sought after help commencing the European states; nevertheless they were so reluctant to act so. Sultan Mehmet II, the Ottoman principal did not go into the city for three days throughout which his soldiers were allowable to swipe it. (Hitti, 2002, P: 804) On the other hand, this unwelcoming peak in the historical development of Constantinople was the commencement of a freshly start for the reason that Mehmet II determined to changed place the capital of his kingdom from Edirne to the occupied city. (The Sultans, 2012)This regulation was destined to give details the sultans maintain to be looked upon as the new-fangled Roman emperor, the rightful descendant of Augustus as well as Constantine along with that reason, he preserved the citys former name. (Pamuk, 2005) Hagia Sophia As A Mosque: On Friday, June 1, 1453, the Turkish Sultan Mehmet Fatih (the Conqueror) entered the defeated also now defeated capital late in the afternoon furthermore rode to Hagia Sophia. He was astonished at its attractiveness. (Basic Istanbul, 2012) Moreover, Mehmet Fatih decided to revolutionize the Cathedral Hagia Sophia into his imperial mosque. For the reason that he alleged that this was observed in Holy Koran that Istanbul ought to be conquered moreover curved to be an Islamic territory. (Basic Istanbul, 2012) Some other people said that he saw a dream ordering him to vary Hagia Sophia into a mosque as a return aptitude for getting the most powerful city at the world at that time. (Hitti, 2002, P: 806) Campaigns of Sultan Mehmet Fatih: The confine of Istanbul was gone after through a long series of campaigns, which resulted in a tremendous growth of personal Ottoman rule. Further, among those districts that cut down to Mehmet II was Serbia, besides Greece, the kingdom of Trezibizond, as well Wallachia, along with Bosnia, also Karaman, Albania in addition to some Venetian and Geneose maritime establishments. (Garraty, 1986, P: 609) Moreover, he reached Belgrade by 1456. His attempts to get Belgrade failed, although his Empire continued to dominate most of Serbia. His ultimate goal was to capture Rome, solidifying Constantinoples position as the New Rome, and to this time he attacked Italy in 1480; (Hitti, 2002, P: 804) Sultan Mehmet Fatih faced with resistance unfortunately, he died prior to he was talented to perceive his dream comprehended. (Pamuk, 2005) Sultan Mehmet Fatih and Arts: Fatih Sultan Mehmets time in power was recognized for its understanding of doctrinal differences and mental vigor; the Sultan was dependable for the building of eight universities. (The Sultans, 2012)He was a keen art collector; as well developed a set interested in the Renaissance; forged cultural ties through the West, also maintained a private library overflowing through texts on medicine, as well geography, besides philosophy, in addition to ancient history. (Hourani, 1991, P: 210) Beneath his regulation, the Ottoman Empires domestic in addition to criminal laws were codified into a singular form of law as well. The Sultan is extensively looked upon as an accomplished linguist and is credited with introducing the term politics into the Arabic language. He was accomplished by his son, Byazid II. (Hitti, 2002, P: 804) Reforming of Sultan Mehmet Fatih: Fatih Sultan Mehmet handled the burden of establishing the administrative procedures for the expanding empire with a large portion of pragmatism well. This move toward was in reality quite comparable to Fatih Sultan Mehmet practices in further areas. (Hourani, 1991, P: 210) Consequently, there emerged within the empire zones through untrustworthy degrees of administrative power. At the core, there were areas most intimately administered through the capital through institutions most intimately resembling those in the capital region. (Pamuk, 2005) through increasing remoteness commencing the capital, the institutions as well as administrative performs revealed the impact balances flanked by the capital in addition to the local structures along with forces. (Hitti, 2002, P: 804) Conclusion: Fatih Sultan Mehmet ruled the Ottoman Empire for 30 years moreover joined 25 campaigns himself. (Garraty, 1986, P: 608) He was a real careful political leader and a remarkably courageous soldier. He took the position in front of his armed forces in the wars; moreover, he encouraged his soldiers. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet died on May 3 1481. (Hourani, 1991, P: 210) He was buried in Fatih Turbesi, in proximity to the Mosque of Fatih in Istanbul. He had four sons, Mustafa, Bayezid II, Cem, Korkut, and one daughter Gevrehan Sultana. (Hitti, 2002, P: 806)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Religion Essay examples -- Mental Il

Obsessive Disorder and Religion Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects up to 2.1% of adults and features pervasive and intrusive thoughts that lead to repetitive uncontrollable behaviors aimed to reduce anxiety (APA, 2000). Further, these thoughts and behaviors impede and disrupt daily living and cause marked distress in the lives of the sufferer. The recurrent thoughts often center on fear of contamination, harming self or others, and illness (Himle, Chatters, Taylor, and Nguyen, 2011). Those who experience the compulsive behaviors associated with OCD report feeling as though they cannot stop or control the urge to perform the compulsive behavior and that the urge is alien or from outside conscious control. Behaviors often involve washing the hands or body, repeatedly checking, and mental acts such as counting and repeated prayers. (Himle, Chatters, Taylor, and Nguyen, 2011) According to Obsessive-Compulsive Working Group (1997, 2001, as cited by Abramowitz, Deacon, Woods, and Tolin, 2004) OCD can be classifi ed into six domains. The domains include inflated responsibility, beliefs about the importance of thoughts, importance of controlling thoughts, overestimation of threats, intolerance of uncertainty, and perfectionism. Inflated responsibility involve excessive feelings of responsibility for actions seen as harmful or failing to take action to prevent harm, whereas the domain of importance of thought involved attributing excessive authority or power to unwanted thoughts and beliefs. Similarly, the importance of controlling thoughts entailed the belief that one should be in control of every thought at all times. The unrealistic belief that unlikely events will always occur and bring with them extreme consequences characte... ...rurinsky, S., Rosmarin, D. H., & Pargament, K. I. (2009). Community attitudes towards culture-influenced mental illness: Scrupulosity vs. nonreligious OCD among Orthodox Jews. Journal of Community Psychology, 37(8), 949–958. doi:10.1002/jcop.20341 Rosmarin, D. H., Pirutinsky, S., & Siev, J. (2010). Recognition of scrupulosity and non-religious OCD by Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29(8), 930–944. doi:10.1521/jscp.2010.29.8.930 Siev, J., Baer, L., & Minichiello, W. E. (2011). Obsessive†compulsive disorder with predominantly scrupulous symptoms: Clinical and religious characteristics. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(12), 1188–1196. doi:10.1002/jclp.20843 Yossifova, M., & Loewenthal, K. M. (1999). Religion and the judgment of obsessionality. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 2(2), 145–151. doi:10.1080/13674679908406343

Distribution of US Budget in Military and Education

Even though the Cold War era is a distant memory, encased in glass forever like some museum piece, our government is still spending as if the Soviet Union was in its prime. If the arms race is a forgotten memory, then why is the military still spending 86% of what it was spending during the Cold War. It†s not that us Americans do not want a solid military, we just believe that our military is wasting billions of dollars at the expense of our children†s education and well being. 50 years ago our country, and the entire world was in disparate need of a strong U.S. military. We inflated our military budget, and gave the government and private businesses an enormous appetite. Without a major threat to the United States since the collapse of the Soviet Union, our government seems to be in competition with itself. 50 years ago we sent tons and tons of troops overseas to fight in a foreign land, while we pumped private businesses up with the manufacturing of military equipment. The need for such products and the need for an over-healthy military allowance is long gone. While we sunk billions after billions of taxpayer†s money on wars that we were boisterously proud to spend (it gave us all the prestige we could ever ask for), our Allies were investing in their children†s education and well being. The result now is that while we have the most elite military capabilities, our children†s educational level is extremely under developed. European and Japanese children significantly outperform American children in math and upper-level reading. This should not be too surprising, our children are studying history books that are from a decade ago. This creates difficult obstacles for our children to keep up on current politics and other global events. Also the over crowding of classrooms makes it extremely difficult for your child to get that personalized learning which may determine his or her ability to learn at all. Every child learns at a different rate and possibly in different ways, this makes it virtually impossible for teachers to tap into every child†s full learning potential. If your child needs that extra, personalized attention, but is not â€Å"defined† as handicapped their specific learning needs will most likely be overlooked and that may be the beginning of your child†s inability to learn. According to a study done by the state of Tennessee, reducing classroom size in early grades (K-3rd) can improve a child†s performance even after being placed back into their regular sized class. Another major problem hindering our children†s education is the fact that the teachers with the priceless responsibility of developing our child†s mind are absolutely underpaid. Teachers barely make an honest living and are often subliminal role models to our young students. Although there are countless exceptionally dedicated teachers in America, a significantly higher salary would ensure the quality of almost all teachers. Remember what we were taught about incentives at a young age, the carrot in front of the rabbit, well that would definitely apply for these individuals we need to count on everyday. So, where is all of the money going to come from to improve our children†s education, well, remember our friend with that uncontrollable appetite? During the Cold War†s prime the U.S. was spending $325 billion a year. And today, with the Cold War boxed up and put on a shelf, the military is still spending $290 billion a year (NCR,1999). This is an alarming figure that we are spending on a military without any outside threat to contend with, in fact it seems to be their only real mission is to play servant to the United Nations, fighting little skirmishes in countries that don†t want our help. One would be hopeful that since we are in an era of peace time that we could enjoy â€Å"peace dividends.† However, the military and those private sector businesses that created such an enormous appetite refuse to exercise a Post-Cold War diet. Maybe we need to e-mail the pentagon, they might be reading our children†s decade old history books, in that case they wouldn†t know that the Berlin Wall is down and the Soviet Union has collapsed. Another astonishing fact is that our country has become the world†s largest arms dealer, selling to almost any country with the money to do business. And if they can†t afford them, our government will put them on a payment plan, acting much like a scene right out of The Godfather. Is this our government, or is this Don Corleone, striking deals with some pretty shady characters. One can†t help wondering where all of this cold hard cash is going from these deals. It is no mystery that our government budgets are in desperate need of reform, well, there are active groups lobbying to change the spending habits of our government. One of the most effective of these groups is the Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, which is comprised of influential individuals like Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry†s; and former assistant secretary of state, Lawrence Korb, along with a cabinet of ex-military and big business leaders. The group is most certainly not an anti-military faction, however they are dedicated to refocusing the military†s useless spending (NCR, 1999). They are not opposed to our military having the best equipment possible, that is if someone were to donate it to them. If the decision is for the military to have a great new ship, or for our children to have a better education, of course the military is going to have to make due. Currently the federal government only participates in 7% of the funding for our schools, while the state and the local community split the rest. This is an raises enormous concerns due to the fact that poorer communities are at a significant disadvantage. Some communities can spend up to five times as much as less fortunate ones (NATIONAL PTA, 1996). To achieve these goals for a better future for our kids and further more, our country, we need to make education our biggest priority. Adding up the military†s inflated $290 billion a year, and comparing it to what†s left over for all other spending, including education, a meager $246 billion (NCR, 1999). This is an insult to our children†s development as growing intellectuals. 6% of the entire budget is allocated for our children†s education, this states the true fact that their education is not important. The money is truly there, we simply need to redirect it and our governments priorities. Like stated by Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, † The winners and losers are not going to be determined by the size of their gunboats, but by the level of their children†s level of education.†

The Case Of Ufo On Earth Essays - Ufology, Roswell UFO Incident

The Case Of Ufo On Earth Essays - Ufology, Roswell UFO Incident The Case Of Ufo On Earth UFOs and Aliens on Earth If you had mentioned seeing a Unidentified Flying Object (UFO), or spaceship from another planet 100 years ago, you would probably be thought of as a raving lunatic. If you had mentioned one 50 years ago, the case would be thought about, but with much suspicion. Today, many people would believe you, and, if you had evidence to prove it, the government would take a very close interest in your case, yet many people would call you an idiot. Despite all the evidence that indicates UFO's exist, there are still many people who will not listen to any evidence, and the government covers up evidence and alters news releases on the subject. The Roswell case is one of the best documented, and most controversial UFO cases ever. In July of 1949, at a small airforce base in Roswell, New Mexico, a small, brightly glowing object was observed to crash land at about 11:30 P.M. There were many people who had seen the crash, and they had described that it was brighter, and fell much slower than any meteors they had ever seen. At St. Mary's Hospital in Roswell, two Catholic nuns, saw the crash, directly north of them, and logged the crash to have occurred on July 4, between 10:00 and 11:30 PM. Southwest of the base, Corporal E. L. Pyles looked to see what at first he thought was a shooting star, only it seemed to be to large to be one. He testifies that the crash happened about 11:00 PM also. There were many Military officers in the area who had seen the object as well. The object was appearing on military radars for many days before the crash. Before the crash, on July 1, all of the officers and technicians at the base had been tracking an unidentified object on their radars. Starting on July 2nd, Steve MacKenzie, who was stationed at Roswell, was ordered to report to the White Sands Proving Ground radar sites and report directly to the brigadier general at the base. The Brigadier General's orders were to inform him of all the movements the object made. At White Sands, there had been doubt as to whether this object was a malfunction of radar equipment, or, if it was in fact, real. So , the airforce had other radar sites in Albuquerque and Roswell look at the area on their radars. It was shown that they had, in fact, a real object. During the evening of July 4, the object changed. It was growing bigger, then shrinking back to it's original size, the blip was pulsating, then the blip grew quite large, and disappeared from the screen. Because sites in Albuquerque, White Sands and Roswell were tracking the object, the airforce had a vague location about where it crashed. The airforce then decided to launch a comprehensive search the following morning. The airforce, however, was the last to arrive at the site. A group of archaeologists being led by Dr. W. Curry Holden, had arrived earlier. One of the students recorded the object as a crashed wingless plane, with a flat fuselage. The archaeologists then left to inform local authorities of an aircraft accident. When the airforce arrived at the Roswell crash site, there were two other people exploring, a man named Ragsdale and a woman named Truelove. They had been collecting pieces of metal from the site, tossing it into their jeep . But, what they saw after that was much more significant. There were bodies, lying about. There were several of them, about four or five feet long. There were five in total, obviously not human. There were three dead bodies, one in critical condition, and one, apparently fine. They threw the debris clear of their jeep when the airforce started driving up, and got out of there as fast as they could because of fear of being arrested. When the airforce arrived, they looked around, and they saw the large craft in the side of the mountain, partly buried, leaning at about a 30 degree angle, with large pieces of debris scattered about. After the airforce had searched and photographed the area, they began cleaning up. The bodies

A Collection of Love Proverbs

A Collection of Love Proverbs They say, Love is all you need. Who is this they? Who are these people who are quoted so often that their quotes acquire the status of proverbs? They are people like us who, having fallen in love, could not help putting their feelings in words. Given below are a few such axioms and proverbs on the subject of love. Ovid To be loved, be lovable. Edmund Spenser Gather the rose of love whilst yet is time. Don Byas You call it madness, but I call it love. Ralph Waldo Emerson All mankind love a lover. Plato At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. Barbara de Angelis You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. Paul Tillich The first duty of love is to listen. William Shakespeare Love comforteth like sunshine after rain. Woodrow Wyatt A man falls in love through his eyes; a woman through her ears. Torquato Tasso Any time not spent in love is wasted. Anonymous There is no difference between a wise man and a fool when they fall in love. Jean Paul F. Richter Paradise is always where love dwells. Oscar Wilde Who, being loved, is poor? Jeff Zinnert Never have regrets, follow your heart. Christopher Marlowe Whoever loved that loved not at first sight? Latin Proverb A man is not where he lives, but where he loves. Alfred Lord Tennyson Love is the only gold. Jean Anouilh Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.

Legalizing Marijuanna essays

Legalizing Marijuanna essays How can something so good be so bad There is a large drug problem facing Canada today, and this problem extends to all citizens. It's not just the poor and the uneducated that are affected by this problem. The most largely used illegal drug in Canada is Marijuana, and thus is targeted as the drug for law enforcement to target the most, costing the taxpayers lots and lots of money. I will show you that Marijuana is not as large an evil as it may appear, and that if legalized the economy would be strengthened and the efforts of law enforcement could be focused on more serious drugs. First off, to understand what we are dealing with I will give a brief explanation of what Marijuana is and it's uses. Marijuana is classified as a hallucinogen and is a psychoactive drug. Its medical name is Cannabis Sativa and it is found in the Indian hemp plant, of which there are three types; Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Rudderalis. Some of its nicknames and street names are pot, weed, green, herb, and sensi. The drugs use dates back in manuscripts back to 2700B.C. in China (Nadelmann). Jamestown settlers also cultivated the drug, 1611, who used the drug for its fibers to make rope and clothes. Marijuana is widely used, an estimated one out of every three people have used it, and among high school students 44% have experimented with it (Bowmen). Marijuana is almost always smoked to experience the effects, but eating it and brewing it into tea are common practice also. It can be smoked by rolling it into a paper (joint) or by placing it into a pipe (often called a bowl). Often times there is a mixture of marijuana with tobacco to create a pleasurable taste. When someone smokes marijuana for the first time they do not get high, it is usually the second or third time a user feels the effects. These include chronic laughter and heightened senses. Afterwards a dry mouth and hunger, called the munchies, often follow. The ingredient in cann...

Organizational Communication Unit 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organizational Communication Unit 4 - Essay Example Perhaps the most fundamental of these is organizational culture† (National Defence University) Organizational communication and culture has definite relationships. It is easy to understand the communication processes in an organization if the organizational culture analyzed properly. Organizational communication is meant for the improvement of organizational life and its output. â€Å"Research in social psychology has demonstrated that people often act out the roles in which they are placed. Various types of symbols elicit this behaviour. Many difficult and abstract issues in organizations are shrouded in discussions of dress codes, employment and product advertising, annual reports, logos, titles, or other organizational symbols† (Rafaeli & Worline) All the above organizational symbols are directly or indirectly revealing the organizational culture. Apart from the parameters mentioned above, location of various offices of different authority levels, display items both i n and outside the organizations, space allocations for different entities of organization, different methods employed for communication, the tone of the languages used in employee communications - all have definite relationships with the organizational culture. Space management or space allocation is important for an organization since effective management of the organizational activities can be accomplished through the judicious utilization of space. I have worked in a tire manufacturing unit for about 5 years and have a better idea about the functioning of this organization with respect to organizational culture and communication. This organization has three separate divisions for the tire manufacturing plant. Division A was meant for the mixing purpose, Division B for the green tire building and Division C for curing process. Each division has lot of machineries and

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infection Prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infection Prevention - Essay Example The role that education plays in preventing foot ulcers have been emphasized in a comprehensive study written by the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) (2010). Their report evaluated and compared diverse studies which focused on non-healing wounds, or initially termed chronic wounds (European Wound Management Association (EWMA), 2010). The paper thereby defined non-healing or chronic wound as â€Å"a wound that has not healed for at least 4–6 weeks from its first observation at a trial screening visit† (European Wound Management Association (EWMA), 2010, p. 264). Since there were different types of wound that were apparently identified (diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, as well as pressure ulcers), the focus of the current review is clearly on diabetic ulcers. Concurrently, relevant issues and concerns regarding providing relevant information to patients, management, diagnostic and therapeutic protocol, as well as factors influencing the outcome of suggested int erventions were revealed (European Wound Management Association (EWMA), 2010; Faglia, et al., 2002; Schaper, Apelqvist, & Bakker, 2012).The main concern among the articles evaluated on the subject emphasized that management of diabetic foot ulcers actually require a multi-disciplinary approach (Schaper, Apelqvist, & Bakker, 2012; Lavery, Peters, & Armstrong, 2008). For instance, merely understanding the risk factors or variables associated with the development of foot ulcers was deemed insufficient and virtually ineffective in addressing the dilemma. Most of the interventions that were expounded were reactionary; as opposed to preventive – where education plays a relevant role. Only in the studies written by Dorresteijn, Kriegsman, Assendelft, & Valk (2012) and Lavery, Peters, & Armstrong (2008) did the authors emphasize education.... The paper thereby defined non-healing or chronic wound as â€Å"a wound that has not healed for at least 4–6 weeks from its first observation at a trial screening visit† (European Wound Management Association (EWMA), 2010, p. 264). Since there were different types of wound that were apparently identified (diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, as well as pressure ulcers), the focus of the current review is clearly on diabetic ulcers. Concurrently, relevant issues and concerns regarding providing relevant information to patients, management, diagnostic and therapeutic protocol, as well as factors influencing the outcome of suggested interventions were revealed (European Wound Management Association (EWMA), 2010; Faglia, et al., 2002; Schaper, Apelqvist, & Bakker, 2012). The main concern among the articles evaluated on the subject emphasized that management of diabetic foot ulcers actually require a multi-disciplinary approach (Schaper, Apelqvist, & Bakker, 2012; Lavery, Peters, & Armstrong, 2008). For instance, merely understanding the risk factors or variables associated with the development of foot ulcers was deemed insufficient and virtually ineffective in addressing the dilemma. Most of the interventions that were expounded were reactionary; as opposed to preventive – where education plays a relevant role. Only in the studies written by Dorresteijn, Kriegsman, Assendelft, & Valk (2012) and Lavery, Peters, & Armstrong (2008) did the authors emphasize education as one of the interventions for preventing diabetic ulcers. Accordingly, the authors asserted that â€Å"educating people with diabetes about foot care (would potentially) help reduce foot ulcers and amputations†

Project Management Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Project Management Theory - Essay Example A project manager is a person that is responsible for planning, implementing and delivering a project on time and within an allocated budget. A project manager is a multi-skilled professional whose job entails a lot of different roles within a project. The principal role of the project manager is successful completion of a project. His job entails managing the project, business analysis, work design and writing documentation (Lifecyclestep, 2005). He must be able to effectively manage people in order to motivate them and build working relationships to get the most out of his human resources. An efficient utilization of an allocated budget is important since the project manager has to complete the project without going over budget. When a project runs out the money allocated it is at risk of full failure and the project could become sunk costs for the company. Most of the roles and responsibilities of the project manager are illustrated in the list below: The project manager works in a team environment in which he is the person responsible of managing that team. He must motivate the team and utilize his leadership skills to challenge the members and ensure their work complies with the expectations for the project. To better understand the needs of his colleagues he has to listen to them and provide insightful feedback to them. It is important that the workers understand their duties and responsibilities. The project manager has to layout clear guidelines and of what is expected from each member. This is accomplished by good written and verbal communication from the project manager. A company in the process of hiring a project manager must look for a specific set of skills from a professional. An advertisement for a project manager position could look like the example illustrated in the table below: Looking for a motivated project manager with 5-10 experience in various industries with great

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bhopal Gas Tragedy - Essay Example   Union carbide had 50.9% share in UCIL, the company which caused this huge tragedy. The Indian government had control over the remaining 49.1% of the shares. Supreme Court of India allowed Union carbide to sell out its shares to Eveready Industries India Limited in 1994 even though the compensation cases were pending in the Civil and criminal courts in Bhopal, India. In 2010, one of the district court of Bhopal convicted seven ex-employees of UCL along with its chairman Warren Anderson. The court declared 2 years imprisonment as punishment and $ 2000 as fine to these culprits. However, Anderson refused to accept these punishments, citing the reason that Indian courts do not have the authority to punish him since he is an American citizen. Anderson’s argument has caused many controversies and debates with respect to international law. It should be noted that plenty of companies operating internationally at present. It is quite possible that these companies may create problem s in overseas soil and the question of compensation arises then. Moreover the compensation distributed for the victims also created controversies in India. There are plenty of people who believe that the compensation given to the victims are not sufficient. To get more insights into the topic of compensation, while companies operate internationally, this research analyses Bhopal gas tragedy compensation case. Out of 10,29,517 registered cases claiming compensation, 5,74,376 have been awarded compensation after adjudication, said Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers, Srikant Kumar Jena. "A total sum of Rs. 15500.9 million (Rs.1549.19 crore) has been disbursed in 5,73,920 cases upto 31.3.2012. A further sum of Rs. 15105.3 million (Rs.1510.53 crore) has been paid as pro-rata compensation to 5,62,789 of these cases upto 31.3.2012, as per the orders of the Supreme Court. In the remaining 11,587 cases, pro-rata amount is yet to be disbursed," said Srikant Kumar Jena in Lok Sabha (Singh). After reading these statistics presented by the Indian minister one would believe that the compensation dispersed in this case was more than fair. However, a person who analyses this case more deeply may arrive at different conclusions. It should be noted that nobody has any idea about how many of unaddressed victims are there in this tragedy. It is a fact that majority of the victims in this tragedy was those who were waiting for trains in the nearby railway stations. Moreover, many others who died in this disaster were yet to be identified. Government is dispersing compensation only to the identified victims and that also after around 28 years from the tragedy. Majority of the victims who survived this tragedy have already died within this 28 years of period. Under such circumstances, how the government can claim that justice is given to the victims. It should be noted that only the relatives of the victims are currently getting the compensation since the victims are no more to re ceive this compensation. It is difficult for the government to justify the delays caused in this case to disperse the compensation. The major objective of giving compensation is to provide some kind of relief to the victims.

How SOX (SarbanesOxley Act of 2002) affects corporate governance and Research Paper

How SOX (SarbanesOxley Act of 2002) affects corporate governance and what additional improvements need to be added to SOX to improve corporate governance - Research Paper Example Oxley, thus the act’s nomenclature, and enacted on July 30, the act aimed to regulate and control the corporate and accounting sectors, particularly in the public company boards of management, and the management and public accounting companies (Shakespeare 333). The act goes by several names, considering its purpose. The act was referred to as the Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act when in the house, whereas in the Senate is as per the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act. The SOX (also Sabox) was proposed as an act that would protect investors by ensuring improvements in the corporate disclosures precision and trustworthiness for among other purposes pursuing the securities market and laws. The outcome of the act is sections that dictate the responsibilities expected of a public corporation board of directors, the criminal consequences to various misconduct, and creation of regulations by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on the compliance of public corporations to the act’s laws. The laws of the act are encased in eleven titles under the elements which include the Corporate Responsibility, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Corporate and Criminal Fraud Account ability, Auditor Independence, White Collar Crime Penalty Enhancement, Enhanced Financial Disclosures, Studies and Reports, Analyst Conflicts of Interest, Commission Resources and Authority, Corporate Tax Returns, and Corporate Fraud Accountability. The section covers the legal provisions which include disclosure controls (302), Improper influence on conduct of audits (303), disclosures in periodic reports also termed as Off-balance sheet items (401), Smaller public companies (404), criminal penalties for influencing US Agency investigation/proper administration (802), criminal Penalties for CEO/CFO financial statement certification (906), and criminal penalties for retaliation against

Treasury and risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Treasury and risk management - Essay Example 60 165 28 -$28.00 Do Not Exercise $32.00 Long Share Profit or Loss = Current Stock Price – Spot Share Price For instance, when current stock price is $121 and the Purchase price is $171, the Long Share Profit or Loss = $(121-171) = -$50. Option Value = Strike Price – Current Stock Price For Instance, when the strike price is $165 and the current stock price is $121, the Option Value = $(165-121) = $44 (In-the-Money) Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(Option Value – Premium paid), Premium paid] For Instance, when the premium paid is $28, Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(44-28), -28] = $16 The option will be exercised only when there is a Long Put Profit otherwise the option will not be exercised and the loss will be limited to the initial premium paid. Hence, this strategy is also known as the ‘Protective put’ strategy. For instance, when current stock price is $121 and premium paid is $28, the option should be exercised. Similarly, for different current st ock prices, the protective put strategy can be computed. ... e), Premium paid] = Max [(165-121), -28] = $34 So, from the above it can be said that if the put is at $121, only loss of $34 and if put is not exercised, loss will be $50. Hence, the breakeven share price is $199. It implies that the hedger will start to make profit after crossing the breakeven point of $199 when all premiums are paid and initial purchasing cost of shares are taken into consideration. Section (c) The protective put strategy diagram along with the breakeven point is shown below, Answer 2. Section (a) Introduction Many analysts believe that the European economy is likely to face more turmoil before it finally gets better. Greece owes a total debt of â‚ ¬490 billion to various banks in Euro zone. Analysts believe that if Greece fails to repay its debt then the impact of default will be directly felt by the small as well as the large businesses in UK. With such a huge amount of debt, if Greece really fails to repay and leave Euro, then the consequence of that will be mostly felt by the various banks in UK and Euro to whom Greece owes. Argument Defaulting of Greece or separating Greece from the Euro zone may not be suitable options to revive the European economy since the implication of both outcomes will paralyze the European economy as well as the global markets. This is mainly because of the fact that the banks do not work in isolation. They are connected to each other through debt guarantees or collaterals and insurance products (Mylonas, 2011, pp.81-84). Assuming that the Greece will default and then the most probable impact will be that about eighty percent of British banks will have less money to lend out to individuals and businesses. Consequently, if the bank’s lending slows down then the consumer consumption will decline leading to deflation in

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bhopal Gas Tragedy - Essay Example   Union carbide had 50.9% share in UCIL, the company which caused this huge tragedy. The Indian government had control over the remaining 49.1% of the shares. Supreme Court of India allowed Union carbide to sell out its shares to Eveready Industries India Limited in 1994 even though the compensation cases were pending in the Civil and criminal courts in Bhopal, India. In 2010, one of the district court of Bhopal convicted seven ex-employees of UCL along with its chairman Warren Anderson. The court declared 2 years imprisonment as punishment and $ 2000 as fine to these culprits. However, Anderson refused to accept these punishments, citing the reason that Indian courts do not have the authority to punish him since he is an American citizen. Anderson’s argument has caused many controversies and debates with respect to international law. It should be noted that plenty of companies operating internationally at present. It is quite possible that these companies may create problem s in overseas soil and the question of compensation arises then. Moreover the compensation distributed for the victims also created controversies in India. There are plenty of people who believe that the compensation given to the victims are not sufficient. To get more insights into the topic of compensation, while companies operate internationally, this research analyses Bhopal gas tragedy compensation case. Out of 10,29,517 registered cases claiming compensation, 5,74,376 have been awarded compensation after adjudication, said Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers, Srikant Kumar Jena. "A total sum of Rs. 15500.9 million (Rs.1549.19 crore) has been disbursed in 5,73,920 cases upto 31.3.2012. A further sum of Rs. 15105.3 million (Rs.1510.53 crore) has been paid as pro-rata compensation to 5,62,789 of these cases upto 31.3.2012, as per the orders of the Supreme Court. In the remaining 11,587 cases, pro-rata amount is yet to be disbursed," said Srikant Kumar Jena in Lok Sabha (Singh). After reading these statistics presented by the Indian minister one would believe that the compensation dispersed in this case was more than fair. However, a person who analyses this case more deeply may arrive at different conclusions. It should be noted that nobody has any idea about how many of unaddressed victims are there in this tragedy. It is a fact that majority of the victims in this tragedy was those who were waiting for trains in the nearby railway stations. Moreover, many others who died in this disaster were yet to be identified. Government is dispersing compensation only to the identified victims and that also after around 28 years from the tragedy. Majority of the victims who survived this tragedy have already died within this 28 years of period. Under such circumstances, how the government can claim that justice is given to the victims. It should be noted that only the relatives of the victims are currently getting the compensation since the victims are no more to re ceive this compensation. It is difficult for the government to justify the delays caused in this case to disperse the compensation. The major objective of giving compensation is to provide some kind of relief to the victims.

Treasury and risk management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Treasury and risk management - Essay Example 60 165 28 -$28.00 Do Not Exercise $32.00 Long Share Profit or Loss = Current Stock Price – Spot Share Price For instance, when current stock price is $121 and the Purchase price is $171, the Long Share Profit or Loss = $(121-171) = -$50. Option Value = Strike Price – Current Stock Price For Instance, when the strike price is $165 and the current stock price is $121, the Option Value = $(165-121) = $44 (In-the-Money) Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(Option Value – Premium paid), Premium paid] For Instance, when the premium paid is $28, Long Put Profit & Loss = Max [(44-28), -28] = $16 The option will be exercised only when there is a Long Put Profit otherwise the option will not be exercised and the loss will be limited to the initial premium paid. Hence, this strategy is also known as the ‘Protective put’ strategy. For instance, when current stock price is $121 and premium paid is $28, the option should be exercised. Similarly, for different current st ock prices, the protective put strategy can be computed. ... e), Premium paid] = Max [(165-121), -28] = $34 So, from the above it can be said that if the put is at $121, only loss of $34 and if put is not exercised, loss will be $50. Hence, the breakeven share price is $199. It implies that the hedger will start to make profit after crossing the breakeven point of $199 when all premiums are paid and initial purchasing cost of shares are taken into consideration. Section (c) The protective put strategy diagram along with the breakeven point is shown below, Answer 2. Section (a) Introduction Many analysts believe that the European economy is likely to face more turmoil before it finally gets better. Greece owes a total debt of â‚ ¬490 billion to various banks in Euro zone. Analysts believe that if Greece fails to repay its debt then the impact of default will be directly felt by the small as well as the large businesses in UK. With such a huge amount of debt, if Greece really fails to repay and leave Euro, then the consequence of that will be mostly felt by the various banks in UK and Euro to whom Greece owes. Argument Defaulting of Greece or separating Greece from the Euro zone may not be suitable options to revive the European economy since the implication of both outcomes will paralyze the European economy as well as the global markets. This is mainly because of the fact that the banks do not work in isolation. They are connected to each other through debt guarantees or collaterals and insurance products (Mylonas, 2011, pp.81-84). Assuming that the Greece will default and then the most probable impact will be that about eighty percent of British banks will have less money to lend out to individuals and businesses. Consequently, if the bank’s lending slows down then the consumer consumption will decline leading to deflation in

Deutsche Brauerei Essay Example for Free

Deutsche Brauerei Essay The agenda attached (EXHIIBT 1) became the focus of Ms. Greta Schweitzer’s concentration for the next 24 hours. She relied on her team from her EMBA class in Frankfurt to assist her with the recommendations she would need to address this board tomorrow morning. Upon initial analysis, it became obvious that DB was in trouble with respect to the Ukraine market, much less the proposed capital expansion. Several items alarmed the team when we read the statements from both Lukas Schweitzer and Oleg Pinchuk. The sales and marketing manager has an obviously different approach than that which made DB successful in the past. Oleg Pinchuk has extended credit to its â€Å"distributors† which is causing a rise in sales and accordingly an increase in his salary (as it is based on sales). This needs to be corrected; given such a volatile environment and this firm’s recent history, a person in his position should earn a salary based on accounts receivable collections, rather than sales. Perhaps then, his discretion would be more restrictive with respect to extension of credit. Furthermore, if the distributors are in fact expanding and enhancing their stores by purchasing new equipment and restocking inventories, then obviously they have the cash to pay DB for their outstanding invoices. This raises considerable questions regarding the prudence of â€Å"trade-credit extensions† and compensation packages offered Mr. Pinchuk, and accordingly, we recommend his termination. A new salary structure and job description delineating required results can be negotiated with Mr. Pinchuk’s replacement. When considering adopting the budget for 2001, we must consider the proposed expansion and investments in new plant and equipment (warehouse and distribution center). With the overuse of short term debt and a borrowing rate over 2% higher than the government rate, it will be impossible to finance this capital expansion. We cannot recommend approval of the budget in its current form. There is not enough cash being collected, too much inventory carried on behalf of the distributors, too much risky short term debt and too many capital improvements budgeted to justify this expansion. Without actually collecting cash from the receivables, we do not recommend declaring any additional dividends, as indicated in the budget. Historically, declared and paid dividends were right at or below $2,000 (in thousands of Euros) and the proposed budget increases those to well over $3,200. We recommend restricting dividends declared to what was done in the past, without any increase. Once collections are received and with the change in marketing, credit policies, and inventory control, the company would be in a better financial position to pay additional dividends. As a matter of final note, we strongly urge the Board of Directors of DB to consider the short term effects of expanding into a new market economy. The Ukraine is just transitioning into becoming a market economy (experiencing supply and demand that guides the allocation of resources). Such a transition is politically and socially difficult for businesses because of rising inflation, unemployment, and economic uncertainty. We have serious questions about the vitality of DB and whether it can survive until the long term benefits of this transition are realized.

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) ORIENT OVERSEAS CONTAINER LINE (OOCL) 01.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OOCL. Container shipping is most popular types of merchant shipping over the world. Due to size, use, and accessibility, it is famous and convenient for transporting from one place to another place to all customers from small trader to big trader. OOCL is the leading container main line operator in shipping industry having own information technology facilities. OOCL is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of OOIL (Orient Overseas International Limited) group which listed on Hong Kong Stock exchange as a public limited company. OOCL is one of the worlds largest integrated international container transportation, logistics and terminal companies having global brand images in container shipping (OOCL, 2010a) The founder of OOCL is CY Tung who dreamed to create Chinese merchant fleet in international shipping. In 1947, he succeeded when first ship with all Chinese crew reached in USA and Europe under the name of his company Orient Overseas Line (OOL). Due to the demand of container vessel and age of containerisation in shipping, OOL renamed to OOCL in 1962. Today, it has more than 230offices in 58 countries around the world and the present Chairman is CC Tung. OOCL Mission Statementis â€Å"To be the best and most innovative international container transport and logistics service provider; providing a Vital Link to world trade and creating value for our customers, employees, shareholders and partners† ( OOCL,2010b). The core values of OOCL for people or employee of the company, customers and wants to maintain high standard of services through community responsibilities. OCCL is a renewed container carrier who has own mother and feeder vessel, rail track, containers, trailers and terminals. In December 2008, OOCL awarded â€Å"Best of the Best† ocean career by World Trade Magazine of USA (Shister, 2008).All vessels of OOCL achieved the quality certificate of QUALSHIP 21 issued by US Coast Guard. However, recent world recession covered OOCL also and its container traffic fell 17.2 per cent compared with the first half of 2008, while revenue fell 37.2 per cent to $2.05bn and operating loss for the half of $197m, against a $216m profit in the first half of 2008 ( Lau and Wright,2009). United Nations Conference on Trade and development- UNCTAD positioned OOCL within the leading container transport operators of 20 MLO (Main Line Operators). Year Position Number Of Vessels TEU Capacity (TEU-Twenty feet Equivalent) 2008 11 90 364384 2007 09 84 351542 2006 12 71 275057 2005 11 68 236018 2004 11 63 216527 Figure 1 (Table) Performance of OOCL in world container trade 2004-2008 (UNCTAD,2010) The position of the OOCL is world container industry is fluctuating highly year by year. There is no constant improving that means growth in performance indicator by UNCTAD. However, they are increasing the number of vessel and container capacity (TEU capacity) in every year. Within 5 years they increased the number of vessels approx 50% and capacity over 68%. As a total logistics service provider, OOCLs international freight consolidation and logistics service unit, OOCL Logistics, provides its customers with innovative freight management services and leading-edge IT solutions. OOCL China Domestic Ltd. offers extensive domestic distribution services and supply-chain management to customers in China, the growing market which OOCL has been serving for over 50 years ( OOIL,2010 ) OOCL is renowned for its pioneering approach to developing intermodal connections. All means of intermodal transport are carefully integrated with trunk ocean services to offer seamless connections across continents using feeder services, barges, trucks and block trains (OOCL, 2010c) 02.STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT People have different views for understanding, developing and implementing strategy economically and timely to gain special advantages in business. Before taking any strategy, need to justify and assess the organisations present situation especially internal environment of the organisation. After that, external environment will help to set a preliminary plan for going forward. This is very important to assess the situations by marketing mix and political factors also. In a study (Johnson et all, 2005) of strategic exploration found that, there are three strategy lenses: design, experience and ideas which are useful to develop a strategy in a organisation. Model of Strategic Management (Johnson et all, 2005) The above model indicates that strategic management indicates the strategic position of a organisation depends on the environment and its capabilities to adapt also its expectations. The choice of strategy may be in business level or corporate-level; it may be internationally for the development of the organisation by following the strategic direction or methods. Furthermore, need to organise, enable the strategy into action to get competitive advantage. The research and development of the strategy based on the some environment analysis such as SWOT, PESTLE , value chain , Porters Five forces mode and etc. By applying these organisations can find the position where it placed and take effective measure to correct modify for developing the situation. 03.SWOT ANALYSIS FOR OOCL In a study Stacey (2000) stated that â€Å"SWOT analysis is the list of an organisations strengths and weaknesses indicated by an analysis of its resources and capabilities, plus a list of the opportunities and threats that an analysis of its environment identities. Strategic logic obviously requires that the future pattern of actions to be taken should match strengths with opportunities, ward off threats, and seek to overcome weaknesses.†(P-5). In addition, Strengths (Koch, 2000) can serve as a foundation for building a competitive advantage, and weaknesses may hinder it. By understanding these four aspects of its situation, a firm can better leverage its strengths, correct its weaknesses, capitalize on golden opportunities, and deter potentially devastating threats Container Shipping is the most complicated globalized industry which has to compete with internal competitors like other container operators also homogenous business like dry bulk or tanker operators. Moreover, it has a big competition with air transportation. Customer always wants to know the good and bad matters of the company before stuffing his cargo. By SWOT analysis of a company we can easily find out the negative and positives of an organisation. So, SWOT analysis is very important for developing company profile by correcting present weaknesses and aware the threats internally, externally and environmentally. OCCL has huge competition with other operators nationally and internationally and need to manage small shipper or big customer, moreover, fluctuation of international trade create the environment to forecast its all sight. Furthermore, it is a customer focused organisation. SWOT analysis will help to attract the customer for better business also develops the organisation economically and socially. 04.SWOT ANALYSIS A. STRENGTHS OF OOCL OOCL is a subsidiary of a global group of company OOIL group, Hong Kong. They can take any organizational or financial help from the group even from the government. Offering quality services in Asia, Europe, America and Australasia where container service is highly demanded as quick ocean transportation and easy access to shipper or consignee premises. Quick and speedy service, transit time is less, easy connection, global service network Pioneer in IT (Shipping).Very strong in information technology. Vendor services are performing by specialized software â€Å"Operationsmart†, â€Å"Depotsmart† and â€Å"Schedulesmart†. Vendor can easily log on and contract with OOCL from anywhere by using this facilities. Any customer can know his cargo position by this link. All vessels are handling by using information technology. Has own carriers (Mother and feeder vessels), rail track ( Owned in China and partnership in America Europe) Global brand image identification to trader, importer and exporter. Trained and skilled employees whos are really professional devoted in their jobs. Market leader in refrigerated container trade and temperature -controlled environment over ocean, rail and load line. Strong intermodal network in Asia, Europe and America. â€Å"DGsmart† which cares the dangerous goods customer. OOCL provides training for all for handling these types of cargo B. WEAKNESSES OF OOCL High competition and market fluctuation. Insignificant market growth of the line. No constant business growth in the industry. High freight costs. Peak season surcharge on service routes. Limited allocation of container in various routes and country GSA trade in maximum country. No direct trade for maximizing profit and mass customization. Imbalance of equipment. Huge lease container. Africa service is not available. C. OPPORTUNITIES OF OOCL OOCL can increase the number of vessels and container as world demand is increasing day by day. Introduction of Africa and South American services and intermodal connection there. Increase market share in Asian region by direct business. Introduction of feeder service in south Asia and investment in terminal business. More investment in port and terminal business. D. THREATS OF OOCL World recession which may be incurred huge loss which will impact to the share market and shareholders view to divert from their position or sell the share. Due to surcharge or extra payment, customer may divert to other operators. Heavy competition with national and international carrier. Globalization of the industry. May loose domestics cargo. Limited Feeder Vessel allotment from hub port to spoke port in Asian market 05.BUSINESS STRATEGY Business strategy is the key component of developing the organisation as reputed organisation of the world. In addition, it will help to establish the operational guidelines by which company can proceed step by step. This good plan may help to reach the target point for achieving the desired outputs. It will help to make plan, revision, control and implementation of the project. In a study Lasserre ( 2007) argued that a company business strategy is a set of fundamental choices which defines its long-term objectives, its value proposition to the market, how it intends to build and sustain a competitive business system and how it organises itself. He added that a business strategy will generally cover the followings for getting the maximum outcomes:- Ambition. This will help to set a long-term objectives of the company by which it is possible to create a target especially increasing the size of the organization economically, nationally and internationally. Positioning. It will add the value proposition to customer. Branding the product and service, customer segmentation, preference of customer choices will set a standard of the company and good position on the market. Investment. Business strategy will help to create the environment of investment for going very near of the customer. Also create a system that is able to deliver value to customers competitively. Organization. The profound beliefs of the organization will add value to the employee and long-term working facilities will develop a good structure of human resources management. From human resources to the production, everywhere will be a process and will maneuver the organization in a system. The business strategy of an organisation may be different in different location or region. The company business strategy may be FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), MA (Merger and acquisition), Diversification, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) or Global Strategy or any corporate strategies that will dominate or indicate how the company will bring competitive advantages to do business. 06.DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY OF OOCL a)Diversification Diversification (Johnson et all, 2005) is a strategy that takes the organisation into both new markets and products or services and be undertaken for a variety of reasons, value creating than others. It may gain the economies of scope by organisations existing facilities also corporate managerial capabilities. Keeping the product is the main challenge of diversification. Instead of increasing growth, it sometimes is a burden for the organisation. The growth of the core business of the organisation may create the financial or distribution channel strength to expand the business in related or unrelated function. Sometimes managers or employee motivates the owners to engage in new business. In addition, the good brand value may attract to diversify the product or introduce new product by which company can give additional customer service. Furthermore, offer from government to do business in a new area or product for protecting the national interest towards a strong position of the compa ny also financial stability in a country. In a research of diversification , Reed and Luffman ( 1986) argued that basic strategic aims can only be decided after deliberate concentration on the companys present limitation and future needs which helps to survive, growth , use of resources or adapting to customer then diversification is one alternative in several option available to the company. They also added that analysis of market; material supplies, technological development and production process are required before moving to the decision of diversification. Where the opportunity is available but risk to develop, organisation may not diversify from their core business. The assessment to expand the business in various ways can help to take a decision in what way they will look forward towards existing or new customer but offering the qualitative product or service depends on the customers desire and availability of channel by which they can promote the product or service. Otherwise, risk will be increased and core business may be hampered by the new one. Grant (2008) argued that diversification strategy or decisions by the company involves for two issues: attraction of the industry and output by competitive advantages. The economics of scope can be tangibles or intangible resources of the company even organisational capabilities can also be transferred within the diversified company. OOCL had competitive advantages by its diversified products like information systems and terminal business. The group business expanded business in related and unrelated industry for getting the logistics support for its core business ocean shipping. He prescribed that diversification motivates the organisation for growing, reducing risk and making profit to create inconsistency of shareholder view. OOCL diversified in both concentric and conglomerate to develop their organisation economically also creating brand value. But they highly focused on concentric diversification because shipping is the derived demand and highly globalized business where customer needs all kind of logistics support. Providing the logistics support they made strong information systems from the origin of transport to the final destination which one is the full version of logistics. The OOIL group diversified in container business by creating the OOCL logistics which helps to add value in their core business ocean shipping. In addition, they involved in port terminal business in Kaoshiung (China) and Long Beach (North America) which form an integral part of international containerised transport business ( OOIL,2010a). The cargo smart is the innovative software of OOCL by which they can keep relation with their clients in 24 hours. Preliminary it is developed for their own organisations but now using by most of the logistics company of the world. It ( CargoSmart,2010) is a Software as a Service (SaaS) global shipping and logistics solutions provider that enables companies to lower transportation management costs, streamline operations, and reduce the risk of late shipments. For getting the domestics cargo, they established OOCL china domestics limited for getting the domestics cargo which also add value in their business. Due to heavy industrialization in China and having competition with national and international shipping company, OOCL diversified in their product to create a good marketing approach to the local trader. Kaoshiung port terminal is supporting them by giving logistics centre facilities to the shipper and consignee in China. Furthermore, road and rail transportation also help to attract the customer as it is the multimodal facilities for transporting the cargo at carriers risk. Enhance, they structured intermodal service in China, Europe and North America In conglomerate diversification, they established property business in two countries ( China and USA) as OODL which helps to increase the shareholder value and future of the company for any crisis or recovery of their core business. b) Vertical Integration in OOCL There is a vertical integration in OOCL diversification as they set a list of product and service in front of their clients. The core business of OOCL is ocean shipping that means selling the vessel space to the customer and providing the facilities of instrument container for caring the cargo. Along with this business they integrated the services by backward and forward integration. The backward facilities are the information facilities by which customer can log on from any place of the world. In addition, Logistics Company like OOCL logistics, intermodal systems also added in backward integration. The forward facilities are port and terminal business which added value to attract the customer for clearing the cargo easily and economically. C) Performance and Outcomes. Diversification and performance are correlated in their potential activities but depends on the acceptance of the customer. Grant (2008) believes that diversification has the potential to create value for shareholders where it exploits economics of scope and where transaction costs in the market for resources make it inefficient to exploit these economics of scope through market contracts. The shipping market depends on its cycles from the ship building to scrapping and mid times using facilities. Moreover, its perishable service where customization is very important to use its all cycles. As a container service main line operator, it is very difficult to run the business by only its vessel performance but also need connecting facilities to keep the customer. Diversification in OOCl helps to create logistics products or service like Cargo Smart, Intermodal, Port Terminal and catalyst their core business ocean shipping. The conglomerate diversification of OOCL in property business he lped to survive in recession. Due ( Reuters,2010) to global economic downturn and company huge loss in this downturn , OOIL group has sold $2.2 billion in Chinese property to raise cash and focus on its core shipping business. 07. CRITICAL ANALYSIS The diversification strategy of OOCL is partially failure. Due to economic downturn, group is unable to sustain and sold their unrelated property business OODL. It will be impacted to their core business because shareholder will not be influenced to keep their share. In addition, they had opportunity for developing their business in port terminals but sold two terminals out of four. Port terminals are big access of a shipping company. However, their present terminal is using by their own and grand alliance vessels. The best option for container shipping in strategic management may be in global strategy because this is the highly globalised industry. They can choose the strategy for increasing their services in all over the world. Some companies are very successful in MA like MAERSK. They merged with Sealand firstly and finally acquired PO Nedlloyd which one is the great and highly capitalized acquisition in shipping industry. OOCL has great opportunity to merge with some African or South American container line to diversify their business in these regions. It will bring more customers. In addition, their core competence of HR policy indicated that CSR may be the best strategy to develop the business. The Grand Alliance ( Hapag-lloyd,2009) formed in 1998 is the leading integrated consortium in global container shipping by the leading main line operator in container shipping Hapag-Lloyd (Germany), MISC Berhad (Malaysia), NYK (Japan) and OOCL (Hong Kong). Jointly they are introducing shipping rout es and new services day by day to extend the container shipping. 08.CONCLUSION Lasserre (2007) stated that managers, politicians, journalists and academics are commonly using the concept of globalization along with global industries, competition, or corporation or strategies to globalize or die. Container shipping industry is highly globalised as it is the derived demand of world trade. Moreover, it has to fight with same line industry like dry bulk or tanker shipping. The business rivalry among the main line container operators is very high. In addition, world alliance by some companies that making groups and start consolidated business is the new dimension to minimize the loss or maximizing the profit. Strategic alliance between two or more firms like the grand alliance of OOCL with other operators brought competitive advantages in business. OOCL is the family business organisation and featured the core competency of human resources. SWOT analysis of the organisation and diversification strategy may show the ways to face the global economic downturn and be mo re strategic in their business.

Marketplace Madness :: Personal Narrative Writing

Marketplace Madness On a Friday afternoon I traveled with two others from my English class to a rather ordinary patch of farmland next to Highway 101 and adjacent to the Promenade. From out of the car window we looked at a seemingly endless field of cabbages, bordered at least an acre thick with black dirt. It looked strange that the busy Promenade abruptly ended at this sea of dirt. To the left we could see cars streaking by on the highway. The field had a tilled appearance, yet it looked as if nobody had been working on it for a while. Weeds grew sporadically on the black dirt. The sight of it told of half hearted farming efforts and neglect. We decided that one pass of this field would yield all that it had to give visually. However, the controversy surrounding it takes much research to understand. This field is the proposed site of the San Luis Marketplace, a shopping center bigger than any single building project in the history of San Luis Obispo. Spurred on by curiosity, I researched the field in the hopes that I could learn more about it than what I saw at first glance. The field contains Salinas Soils, the most productive kind of soil found in the county. Salinas Soils are alluvial, containing nutrients and minerals washed down from the hillsides by rainwater. The fertility of the soil makes it a very productive field for growing, yielding crops many times a year. The dark black color of the soil indicates how fertile it is. This made me think of something that my girlfriend’s mom said. She works at the El Dorado County Agricultural Department, and she came down here a few weeks ago. When she passed by the Dalidio field she exclaimed â€Å"Wow! Look how black the dirt is!† The owner of the property, a farmer named Ernie Dalidio, struck a deal in 1992 with developer Bill Bird to build a forty-acre shopping centre on the property. Proponents of the marketplace argue that the shopping centre will generate an enormous amount of sales tax that the city can use to support the community.

Inner Happiness in Hemingways The Old Man and the Sea Essay

Inner Happiness in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hemingway's view of human nature was that happiness was rare and was found within a man and not in his outside circumstances or surroundings.   Hemingway illustrates this in three ways.   First, he portrays the human nature of Santiago, the main character, as being one of humility and compassion, full of strength and pride.   He is shown not as a gleefully happy man, but one who meets life with a serene, quiet resilience.   Second, Santiago's fellow villagers are shown as shallow and materialistic, with a narrow view of life compared to his.   Their focus on appearances is in sharp contrast to Santiago's focus on intrinsic values.   Third, it will be shown that his rare brand of happiness comes from within.    Poignant circumstances surrounded the composition of this novel, which bring out many of the above points. It is widely recognized that Hemingway was possessed of a turbulent personality and suffered from emotional depression.   This was despite the fact that he enjoyed much critical acclaim.   The Old Man and the Sea was written after a ten-year hiatus of public and critical approval. This period saw much of his work receive negative criticism in literary and journalistic circles.   This affected Hemingway adversely and very deeply (Carey 9).   Therefore, Hemingway's personal battle with seeming failure in his life's work and society's attendant criticism parallel Santiago's stoic resolve in the face of his neighbors' disdain.   The author's struggles symbolically match those of Santiago and set the stage for the writing of this novel.    The acclaim generated by this book was due largely to the author's   " complex knotting of spiritual and phys... ... Gardiner, Patrick. Schopenhauer. Middlesex, England: Penguin , 1963.   Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995. Hutchins, Robert Maynard, ed. Great Books of the Western World. 54 vols. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1952. Vol. 1.   Plato. The Dialogues of Plato. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. Great Books of the Western World. 54 vols. Chicago:Encyclopaedia Britannica 1952. Vol. 7. Schopenhauer, Arthur. Counsels and Maxims. Trans. T. Bailey Saunders. Amherst, New York:Prometheus Books, 1995.     - - -.   On the Basis of Morality. Trans. E.F.J. Payne. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill.   1965.     - - -. The Wisdom of Life. Trans. T. Bailey Saunders. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 1995.   Waggonner, Eric. "Inside the Current: A Taoist Reading of The Old Man and the Sea" Hemingway Review Spring 1998.     

Paradise Road Notes Essay

Bruce Beresford first gained wide critical success as director of Breaker Morant (1980), a landmark film about three Australian soldiers wrongfully executed for alleged war crimes during the Boer War. Like Breaker Morant, Paradise Road (1997) is based on a true story. Beresford again takes up the theme of Australians’ involvement in war – this time during World War II. This film, however, is not about the exploits of soldiers; it’s about the resilience of women prisoners of war. Beresford researched the story extensively, studying the diaries of prisoners and Japanese historical material to understand the events from both points of view. On The Movie Show (http://www.sbs.com.au/films/movie/3156/Paradise/Road) in June 1997, Beresford explained that there were many ‘prison camp’ films about the heroism of men. What he wanted to convey in Paradise Road was the heroism and resourcefulness of women, and he wanted also to celebrate their ability to create beauty in the dreadful conditions of the jungle prison camp. After the film’s release, some American critics accused Beresford of being anti-Japanese and argued that these things were best forgotten, but Beresford insisted that the story needed to be told. He tried to play down the atrocities and to portray events as he believed they had happened. Encountering Conflict in Paradise Road Paradise Road explores ideas about conflict and examines the many ways in which people encounter conflict. For example: †¢ The historical setting of the film is the global conflict of World War II. †¢ This conflict is a military one, fuelled by political conflicts which, in 1939, finally erupted into the violent conflict of global warfare. †¢ The geographical setting is the tropical island of Sumatra, where the prisoners are often in conflict with the hostile physical environment. †¢ Compounding the political conflict are deeply embedded cultural and racial tensions. As Mrs Tippler points out, the people the Japanese most dislike are ‘Europeans, prisoners and women’. The guards’ treatment of the women highlights the cultural divide between the Western female captives and their Asian male captors. †¢ Inner (personal) conflict is also encountered by the women who are often pushed to breaking point by the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers, such as when they are forced to witness the injustice of Wing’s execution in silence. †¢ The prisoners sometimes find themselves experiencing interpersonal conflict as the hardships they encounter make them edgy and vulnerable. Discussion questions †¢ What are the consequences of conflict for individuals, communities and society as a whole? †¢ Can conflict be the catalyst for positive social or individual changes? †¢ Does inner conflict lead to external conflict? †¢ Will cultural differences always result in conflict? †¢ Why do acts of cruelty seem to be part of wars that arise from political conflicts? Conflict can have tragic consequences for ordinary people The women in Paradise Road are quintessentially ‘ordinary’. The characters in the film are based on real people: nurses or wives of prominent officials and civilians. These women are caught up in the global conflict of World War II and those who manage to survive are, despite any positive outcomes, dreadfully damaged by their encounter with conflict. Beresford makes the point that innocent people too often become caught up in, and suffer from the effects of, conflicts that are not of their own making. The audience is strongly positioned to identify with the three main characters, Adrienne, Margaret and Susan, as they come to terms with the harsh and often tragic conditions of their situation. In the film’s opening scene, we see a glimpse of the sheltered and ordinary lives led by women who were somewhat peripheral to the conflict of war. Now, plunged into a frighteningly violent and unfamiliar world, they encounter the tragic consequences of the conflict. On the journey to the camp, Beresford highlights the ordinary qualities of the women as they struggle to retain their meagre possessions or endeavour to help each other endure the long walk. Fearful, hungry and exhausted, the women are herded like cattle. On their arrival in Sumatra they see the severed head of a political prisoner displayed on a pole in the public square. The victim, a local man accused of spying, was also an ordinary person. His wife, Wing, is perhaps the film’s most tragic figure. Having risked her life to procure black-market quinine tablets for Mrs Roberts, Wing is caught. She is set alight and burns to death as the assembled prisoners are forced to watch in horrified silence. The effect on them is profound; nothing in their previous experience could have prepared them to cope with such utter cruelty. The tragedies that befall the prisoners become part of their daily lives, as some succumb to the effects of untreated illness. The scene with the two children making simple wooden coffins for dead babies clearly highlights the tragedy of war in the lives of ordinary people, and suggests that no cause could justify the terrible consequences of violent conflict. Children are a symbol of innocence in the film. The death of the child whom Adrienne tries to protect on the Prince Alfred encapsulates Beresford’s key contention: that the innocent suffer most in situations of extreme conflict.The camp cemetery, with its rows upon rows of white crosses, is shown as the camera pans across the prison compound during a performance of the vocal orchestra, revealing the large numbers of prisoners who died during the course of their internment. In deliberately avoiding a heroic narrative about death in battle in defence of ‘king and country’, Beresford asks us to be aware of the shattered lives of ordinary people caught up in violent global conflict. Rosemary Leighton-Jones is another of the film’s tragic figures. Her kindness and beauty evoke the audience’s sympathy and we see, in Singapore, her love for her husband Dennis, as they discuss their plans for a future together. This sustains Rosemary through her ordeal in the camp and gives her the strength to support others. When she sees that Dennis has been captured whilst trying to escape from the men’s prison camp, and realises that his execution is inevitable, Rosemary loses the will to live. The tragedy of Rosemary’s death is rendered all the more bitter as it occurs during the removal of the women prisoners to a more remote camp where she glimpses Dennis under heavy guard. Ironically, the women are moved because of the advance of the Americans and the impending defeat of the Japanese in the Pacific. Mrs Roberts and Margaret also die – tragically – just as their liberation is imminent. The damaging effects of conflict are also evident in other relationships. Rosemary’s supportive relationship with the shy Dutch girl, Helen, crosses the cultural boundaries that divide some of the other prisoners, and the friendship strengthens Helen. Her grief at Rosemary’s death reinforces Beresford’s condemnation of war on the grounds that too many innocent people become its tragic victims. Adrienne is similarly devastated by the death of her friend and fellow-musician, Margaret. In a relationship that crosses class boundaries, Margaret and Adrienne unite and inspire the other women. In doing do, they convey another of Beresford’s central messages – that in times of conflict, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. This positive outcome, however, does not significantly diminish the tragic consequences of war; the ultimate deaths of such characters as Margaret and Rosemary are rendered the more poignant for the strength and wisdom they demonstrated in an extreme situation. The film also shows how extreme conflict situations place ordinary people under unusual pressure, provoking and exacerbating conflicts on a personal level, both between and within individuals. Stressed, sorrowing and deprived, some of the women in Paradise Road find themselves placed in a morally and politically compromised situation when confronted with the choice as to whether to remain at the Japanese ‘officers’ club’, providing sex in return for food and comfort, or to return to the camp. Those who elect to accept the bribe of the officers are not only prostituting themselves but are also consorting with the enemy. Similarly, Adrienne is placed in a compromising position when she’s asked if the orchestra will perform a Japanese folk-song for Colonel Hirota. She refuses, risking severe punishment. While she makes a different choice to that of the women of the officers’ club, Beresford emphasises that war, and the struggle for survival, places severe and unusual pressure on individuals, which can cause them to behave in ways they would not ordinarily behave; as Sister Wilhelminia wisely acknowledges, it is not fair to judge the actions of others in times of extreme conflict. Similarly, the extreme conditions under which the women must live also results in interpersonal conflict. Mrs Tippler, the outsider, tries to undermine the solidarity of the group through criticism of the orchestra. There is also tension between the Dutch and the English-speaking women, which erupts in an argument over soap. This incident illustrates the corrosive effects of conflict on ordinary people, who can be not only physically harmed by violent conflict, but who are also prey to subtler damage. Beresford positions us to consider how we ourselves might respond in circumstances of similar hardship and, while he celebrates the general resilience and courage of the women, he ultimately condemns the brutality and the futility of war. Discussion questions †¢ Ordinary people can respond in surprising ways to conflict situations. What factors do you believe can affect the way we react to conflict? †¢ In order to survive conflict, we need a reason to live. Do you agree? †¢ Does self-interest determine people’s actions when they encounter conflict? †¢ To what extent can we condemn people for making decisions based on their need to survive? †¢ Is it ever justifiable t o sacrifice your principles in order to survive? Conflict can bring out the best and the worst in people The responses of the women prisoners to their encounters with conflict are very different. The character of Adrienne Pargiter is the main vehicle for the exploration of ideas about courage and resilience in the face of conflict. Adrienne emerges as a natural leader in the prison camp. Her response to conflict is to maintain her dignity and to resist, as far as possible, the unjust authority of the Japanese guards. In forming the vocal orchestra, Adrienne responds to the tragedy of Wing’s death through her belief in the healing power of music and her desire to draw the women together. They have all been traumatised by Wing’s execution and the racial and class boundaries which divide them lead to conflict with each other, which must be resolved if they are to survive. Adrienne is determined to assert something of her own Western cultural heritage at a time when it is under attack. She is also   courageous enough to defend herself from a physical attack by a drunken Japa nese soldier, despite the fact that striking him is an offence punishable by death. Conflict brings out the best in Adrienne and, through her courageous challenge to unjust authority, she emerges as a symbol of hope for oppressed and disempowered people everywhere. In the midst of conflict Adrienne forms a close relationship with Margaret Drummond, recognising the humane qualities they share. Margaret draws strength from her religious faith and provides a focal point for the group when they need spiritual comfort. Her words at Wing’s funeral help ease the shock and pain they all feel. Margaret’s quiet determination is evident when she stands up to ‘The Snake’, whose terrifying visit to their quarters to recruit volunteers for the officers’ club is met with her calm and polite question: ‘What can we do for you, Sergeant Tomiashi?’ She also defies the authority of Colonel Hirota when she attempts to take water to Susan. Margaret’s encounter with conflict strengthens her capacity for Christian charity – as she explains to Adrienne, she can’t hate the Japanese, only pity them. Margaret epitomises the comfort and strength drawn by many from religious belief during times of bitter conflict. Susan Macarthy finds an unexpected inner strength in response to conflict. She stands up to Mrs Tippler, the destructive and divisive presence among the prisoners, and angrily accuses Colonel Hirota of human rights violations. She also finds the strength to endure a horrifyingly cruel punishment and unites the other women in their support and admiration of her. These three characters embody the most positive ways of responding to conflict. Sergeant Tomiashi also ultimately discovers inner reserves of compassion as a result of his experience of conflict. Despite his cultural predisposition to despise women, foreigners and prisoners, he is so moved by the music of the vocal orchestra that he humbles himself before Adrienne, singing to her alone in the forest. Tomiashi’s encounter with conflict, and the opportunity it gives him to observe and understand a group of people he has been conditioned to dislike, changes him for the better, as demonstrated by his respectful removal of his cap as Margaret’s funeral procession passes. By contrast, a highly negative response to conflict is exhibited by Mrs Tippler, who becomes even more critical and pessimistic as the women’s stay in the camp goes on. She grows spiteful and resentful, exacerbating racial tensions with her accusations against the Dutch, and accusing Adrienne of endangering their lives with the vocal orchestra. Mrs Dickson and Mrs Pike initially side with her but eventually see how destructive her attitude is. By the end of the film, her negativity has completely isolated her. Her eating of potentially toxic snails reveals a selfdestructive impulse, exemplifying her refusal to make positive changes in the face of conflict. Through the unsympathetically constructed character of Mrs Tippler, Beresford shows us that if conflict situations can bring out the best in some individuals, for others the strain induced by high conflict situations can be corrosive, provoking anger and resentment, to the detriment both of the individual and those around them. While Beresford suggests that Mrs Tippler’s negative attitude ultimately harms herself more than it does others by his unflinching portrayal of the horrors of the prison camp, he also positions the viewer to understand how extreme situations can provoke extreme reactions in people. Discussion questions †¢ Do you agree that people’s response to conflict reveals who they truly are? Is this what the film shows us? †¢ Why do some people choose to be outsiders in times of conflict? †¢ Why are some people able to make positive changes as a response to encountering conflict, while others are not? Conflict can unite families and communities As a response to conflict, the community of women prisoners is very much united by the vocal orchestra (with the notable exception of Mrs Tippler). The orchestra firstly unites Adrienne and Margaret across the divisive boundaries of class, which have previously prevented women from the upper ranks of colonial society (like Adrienne) from associating with missionaries, like Margaret. Through her encounter with conflict, Adrienne becomes aware and ashamed of her snobbery and apologises to Margaret. Adrienne is distraught when Margaret dies, recognising her as a genuine friend and a woman of strength, courage and integrity. Mrs Roberts is another snobbish woman who expresses concern about the kinds of people she might be mixing with if she joins the orchestra. Her racial prejudice against the Malayan prisoners is condemned by her daughter, Celia, who bluntly informs her of the reasons for Wing’s black market dealings. Mrs Roberts is mortified and reassesses her values – a very beneficial outcome of her encounter with conflict which enables her to develop in positive ways. She joins the orchestra as a sign of her participation in the community of prisoners. The Dutch and the Anglo-Saxon prisoners initially regard each other with suspicion that sometimes erupts into hostility. The conflict over the soap shows how easily something trivial can ignite a conflict when underlying tensions have not been resolved. It takes the intervention of Sister Wilhelminia (the voice of wisdom and tolerance) to defuse the conflict and restore order. However, it is the participation of Dutch prisoners such as Mrs Cronje in the vocal orchestra that most effectively breaks down racial barriers and diffuses residual tensions. Susan’s reluctance to join, based on her dislike of classical music, is overcome by Adrienne’s gentle persistence, showing that generational boundaries can be dissolved by music, and also by uniting in a worthwhile common purpose, whatever it might be. The smiling, shining faces of the singers as they perform works by Dvorak and Ravel amidst the squalor of the prison camp show not only how strongly they are united by their participation in the orchestra, but also how the beauty of the music can transcend the appalling conditions of prison life. The music also symbolically unites the living and the dead, as suggested by the camera panning across the graves in the cemetery as the orchestra sings. Even some of the orchestra’s strongest critics have, by the end, joined and become part of the community. Mrs Dickson, a supporter of the unpleasant Mrs Tippler, admits that joining the orchestra was the best thing she’d ever done. As well as establishing strong bonds between the prisoners, the vocal orchestra goes a long way towards making tentative connections between the prisoners and the guards through their shared appreciation of classical music. Sergeant Tomiashi’s wistful expression as he listens to the orchestra, and his angry dismissal of an  interruption from another soldier, suggest his feelings of connection with the music, and thus with the women who provide it. Colonel Hirota, too, enjoys the music. Despite the ban on congregating or writing imposed on the prisoners, the vocal orchestra is permitted to continue practising and performing and the Japanese officers attend as guests. This is an endorsement of the music (and, implicitly, of Western culture). Colonel Hirota’s gift to Adrienne is an affirmation of her creative spirit and her courage, both of which have been instrumental in forging bonds in the community of which all the characters are inescapably a part. The one exception to this is Mrs Tippler, who resolutely distances herself from the orchestra and all it represents. She is perhaps the only character who gains nothing positive from her encounter with conflict. Discussion questions †¢ Are groups able to resolve conflict more effectively than individuals? †¢ Does the strength of a group always depend on excluding those with differing values? Violence is never an effective means of resolving conflict The Japanese prison guards and officers exemplify the violence wielded by the powerful in order to assert their authority. The physical violence in the film is very explicit and deliberately shocking, from the violent deaths of innocent children to the savage beatings inflicted on Rosemary and Mrs Dickson. Indeed, the film opens with a scene that quickly becomes violent, with the sound of exploding bombs disturbing the festive atmosphere of Raffles Hotel. The violence escalates with further explosions as the evacuees hurriedly board ships bound for safety. The response to the violence of the Japanese is retaliatory violence from Britain and America and their allies; the women are caught up in this conflict as their ship is attacked and sunk. The suggestion is that responding to violence with more violence only worsens the situation and increases the likelihood that innocent victims will become caught up in the escalating conflict. At the camp, the guards’ use of violence effectively intimidates the prisoners but it does not resolve conflict; indeed, tensions are exacerbated by the brutal suppression of basic rights and freedoms. The prisoners respond to their captors’ brutality with resistance, subversiveness or bitter resentment. The vocal orchestra is a symbol of resistance, while the black-market dealings are acts of subversiveness. The deep resentment engendered by gratuitous and brutal violence is not always made explicit in the film, except perhaps by Adrienne, whose conversation with Margaret implies her hatred. She says, ‘You don’t hate them, do you?’ to which Margaret replies that she pities them. It is perhaps Adrienne’s hatred of the brutality of her oppressors which drives her to defy them by establishing the orchestra. Her hatred is again suggested in the final scene and is directed at the most unsympathetically constructed character in the film, the sadistic Captain Tanaka, who seems to take pleasure in the fact that there is no music from the women at Margaret’s funeral. Adrienne’s defiant response conveys her deep dislike of the man and reinforces Beresford’s point about the destructive effects of violence. The inability to forgive is testament to the unresolved conflict that results from extreme violence. With his depiction of brutal violence and his unsympathetic portrayal of many of the Japanese soldiers, Beresford encourages the audience to empathise with the bitterness engendered in Adrienne and some of the other women by the violence of their captors. When Adrienne hits the guard who attempts to rape her, it is presented as a justifiable act of self-defence. However, ultimately Beresford suggests that responding to violence with violence can never resolve conflict. While acknowledging the discrimination experienced by the Japanese by the Western world, Beresford implies that the violent response of the Japanese soldiers to the women and children in their care only increases the distance between the two groups. The film shows that genuine connection between people of different races, genders and backgrounds is possible as, for instance, when Sergeant Tomiashi sings for Adrienne in the forest. But violence inhibits the possibility of such connections. Instead Beresford invites us to contrast the violence of the guards with the peaceful and positive responses of the women, and to admire the latter. Music, for instance, is shown to have the power to unite disparate groups and individuals, and to (at least temporarily) bring about a truce between enemy factions, in a way that continued violence never could. Likewise, we are encouraged to celebrate the non-violent protest led by Adrienne at Margaret’s funeral, which is both an expression of defiance against the soldiers and a demonstration of the genuine love and regard for Margaret felt by the women. Such moments affirm the possibility of an effective, nonviolent response to violence. Discussion questions †¢ Is violence ever justified as a response to conflict? †¢ Is violence used more often by men than women to resolve conflict? †¢ Can you think of a conflict which had the potential for violence but which was resolved peacefully? †¢ Is it possible to effectively deal with physical violence without resorting to violence yourself? SAMPLE SCENE ANALYSIS This section shows you how to identify Context ideas in a key scene from Paradise Road. Raffles Hotel, Singapore: scene summary The opening scene is set in the majestic ballroom of Raffles Hotel, an extravagant monument to British imperialism. The conversation of the guests reveals racial prejudice against the Japanese, who are described as needing thick glasses because they ‘can’t see’ and being unable to fight because they can only make ‘tin toys and cameras’. Adrienne Pargiter denounces the racist sentiments as a ‘load of poppycock’ and points out that the Japanese have conquered most of Asia. Key characters are introduced in order to highlight the dramatic effects of their subsequent encounters with conflict. Suddenly a bomb falls nearby and an Australian officer arrives to announce the imminent fall of Singapore. Bombs continue to fall as women and children are hurriedly loaded onto ships. The urgency of this ‘last-minute’ departure highlights the arrogance of the British, whose notions of their own cultural and military superiority have left the m vulnerable to attack. Questions for exploring ideas †¢ Is violent conflict the most effective way for the powerless (such as pre-war Japan) to challenge the powerful (such as Britain)? †¢ Can a lack of understanding lead to conflict? †¢ How significant are divisions of class and social status in causing conflict? †¢ Does strong loyalty to one group inevitably lead to conflict with other groups? Focus on text features As well as drawing on ideas from Paradise Road in your writing about Encountering Conflict, remember that the language and style of your writing may also be inspired by the structure and features of the film. For example, the following aspects of Paradise Road may influence how you respond to ideas in the text. †¢ Settings (physical, historical or cultural) can be used to place characters in situations of conflict, such as the prison camp where the women are in direct conflict with their captors, or a natural landscape which is (at times) a temporary refuge from conflict. †¢ Dialogue is instrumental in revealing a character’s state of mind and a useful way of ‘showing’ (rather than telling) the effects of conflict. In the opening scene, Adrienne’s comment that the stereotyped views of the Japanese are a load of ‘poppycock’ shows that she is a straight-talking and independent thinker, well-informed on current political events. Her common sense and outspokenness, which set her apart from the other women in her social group, exemplify her attitude throughout the film. †¢ Contrasts such as peace and war, and the past and the present, are built into characters and settings. They are an effective way for the creator of a text to sway audience approval or disapproval. The elegant setting of Raffles stands in strong contrast to the bombs falling outside and even stronger contrast to the squalor of the prison camp, suggesting a step-by-step descent into hell for the women. †¢ Humour, in times of conflict, can show the resilience of a character or create dramatic irony. For example, Margaret’s comment about Thomas Beecham being unavailable to conduct the vocal orchestra and Topsy’s complaint about the inadequate room service in the camp show how effective humour can be in lifting people’s spirits in times of conflict. †¢ Recurring motifs work in subtle but powerful ways. ‘Showing’ something significant through character, theme or music can be an effective vehicle for conveying ideas about resistance, resilience and hope. Significantly, the film opens with beautiful music in the ballroom of Raffles Hotel and its continuation, despite the bomb, makes a clear statement about the capacity of music to transcend the effects of conflict. Points of view on the Context These discussion questions and activities are designed to help you reflect on and refer to ideas raised by the Context in your chosen text. For further discussion/writing †¢ In times of conflict, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. †¢ Conflicts are only resolved through compromise. †¢ By dissolving the boundaries which separate and divide people, conflict can be avoided. †¢ Conflict is sometimes necessary to bring unresolved tensions to the surface so they can be dealt with. †¢ Forgiveness is necessary to satisfactorily resolve conflict. †¢ Differences between people will always lead to conflict. Activities †¢ Write a diary entry for one of the characters who has returned home and is reflecting on the importance of the vocal orchestra in helping her to survive the conflict. †¢ Sergeant Tomiashi gives an interview on Australian television ten years after the end of the war. He reflects on what he learned from his encounter with conflict. Write down some questions the interviewer might ask and the answers that Tomiashi might give. Consider the ways in which conflict might provide the opportunity for growth and reflection. †¢ Construct a scene for a film script that extends the narrative of one or more of the characters to include their return home. Has the encounter with conflict changed them? Can they readjust to a normal lifestyle? What does this suggest   about the lasting effects of conflict on ordinary individuals? †¢ In a small group, research and prepare material for a blog or wiki on the reasons for Japan’s involvement in World War II, focusing on the historical and cultural factors which contributed to the conflict. Explore the main crises and turning points (especially involving relations between Japan and countries such as Russia and the US) to show an awareness of how the conflict developed. In your piece, reflect on what your research suggests about common causes of political conflict and what factors seem to aggravate it.