An essay on shopping malls and the power struggles going...

An essay on shopping malls and the power struggles going on within them. In this essay, I have given a critical analysis of Fiske s Shopping for Pleasure, from Reading The Popular. In this analysis, I will be examining the main points in this chapter and discussing Fiske s explanation for including each one. I will also be examining counter arguments from other sources on his theories. There are five distinctive sections within this chapter: malls, power and resistance , consuming women , commodities and women , conspicuous consumption , and progress and the new. I intend to look at each section separately, finally connecting the whole chapter at the end of my analysis. The first section from this chapter is titled†¦show more content†¦In this section the author reminds us that buying and ownership offers a sense of control and forms the main means of achieving this. ( Williamson : 1986) However ownership is not the only sense of control available to the consumer - the moment of choice is also an empowered moment. Fiske demonstrates this by including a paragraph describing a woman taking her daughter shopping and the daughter recalls the sense of power her mother felt over the shop assistant. De Certeau describes this as tactical raids ; the empowerment felt by the girl s mother was in the consumer versus distributor relationship. However, the author feels that there can be another explanation: the girl s mother was traditionally middle-class , so her actions could be explained as mistress-servant relationship, which is seen as less politically acceptable than tactical raids upon the system. Fiske suggests that in light of this produc tion may be essentially proletarian and consumption bourgeois. On the other hand, however consumption is more than a bourgeois act and appears to strengthen rather than menace the values of the bourgeois and forges social allegiances. The point is made that shopping itself can t be radical as commodities are produced by the capitalists, so can t as a product be radical, but the way they are consumed as items can be. Stedman-Jones (1982) points out that

Gender Dysphoria and Gender Reassignment Analysis of a...

1. Introduction Sexuality and gender identity issues have had a long history in the fields of mental health and public policy. There has been much debate surrounding the inclusion of issues related to gender and sexual identity in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual since its initial stages of development (Drescher, 2010). Debates in this field of interest have been fragmented between several stakeholders (Ehrbar, 2010). This fragmentation has created complications in the process of developing United States policies that are inclusive of individuals with gender identities that do not match the gender to which they were assigned at birth. Specifically, policies surrounding gender reassignment surgeries have been difficult to develop and†¦show more content†¦2. Historical Development Discussion of issues related to non-normative sexual and gender identities as related to mental health began in the 19th century (Drescher, 2010). Initially medical and psychiatric providers viewed issues related to gender identity as resulting from delusional thought processes (Drescher, 2010). As a result the concept of surgery as a solution to gender identity differences was viewed as unnecessary and ultimately an incorrect form of treatment (Drescher, 2010). In 1952 the first gender reassignment surgery was performed in Denmark on an American citizen (Drescher, 2010). The publicity in the American media that followed this surgery brought the concept of gender identity to the public eye. During the 1960s research about gender identity started to develop and it was the work of Money, Stoller, Benjamin, and Green that ultimately change professional and public concept of Gender Identity (Drescher, 2010). These four individuals were among the first to conduct clinical and academic res earch on gender identity and gender roles (Drescher, 2010). As a result of their research beliefs about non-normative gender identity shifted from a problem of the mind to a biological disorder that was fixed and should be treated with

Human Trafficking †Sexual Slavery Free Essays

The truth is, however, that not every human trafficking case is pulled from a Lima Nesses movie; any sexual enterprise involving foreign immigrants and underage girls regardless of whether or not it is voluntary is considered human trafficking (Baker, 2). In order to rid the world of this vulgar, damaging corporation that directly conflicts with the moral principles of freedom and self-worth, we must concentrate on spreading awareness, eradicating domestic violence and perfecting the law enforcement system. Summary If you were to meet Syrupy Chain, ;a chubby cheeked 18 year-old with an infectious laugh (Pasta,l)†, you would never guess that she was forced to have sex with hundreds of men before the age of 10. We will write a custom essay sample on Human Trafficking – Sexual Slavery or any similar topic only for you Order Now At Just seven years old, Chain was sold Into a Cambodia brothel, where she and dozens of other pre-pubescent girls were forced o have sex with at least 20 men a day (Nair) Syrupy was a victim of sexual slavery, like an estimated 12 million others worldwide. The business of buying and selling humans is a 32 billion dollar global enterprise, and despite being illegal in virtually every country, twenty-seven million people are enslaved worldwide (Pasta, 3). Slavery, especially sexual slavery, deters natural relationships, encourages the objectification of women, prevents evolution from poverty and Isn’t necessary for a country’s financial or cultural survival. Sexual slavery has Its roots in family violence, power intro and monetary desperation. Though many countries such as Thailand, the unofficial child-sex capital, are attempting to crack down on the sex trade, ineffective law enforcement, financial incentives (the sex tourism industry makes millions a year in Cambodia alone) and lack of motivation prevents the industry from dying out all together (McClellan, 2). From China and Cambodia to Mexico, Sweden and our very own United States, the Sex Trafficking Industry Is rapidly escalating, becoming a major underground enterprise that crosses cultural boundaries and reiterates age- old gender struggles. Though human trafficking in the United States is a wildly ignored and taboo subject, 14,500-17,500 people are trafficked into the US annually and thousands of girls and boys are kidnapped or coerced Into different forms of slavery each year (Baker, 2). The CIA estimates that 30,000-50,000 of these trafficking victims are sex slaves (Landsman, 2) and the MGM, the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group, states that 100,000 children US children are victims of commercialese sex exploitation each year (Baker, 2). Many of these prostituted children are victims of domestic abuse, growing up in broken homes and depending on pimps as father surges. Pimps ensnare such young girls by gaining their trust, supplying the love that was devoid at home and utilizing the girl’s new-found dependence to manipulate r Nine typical age AT a sex tracking volt Is plummeting; In ten past most girls were in their late teens or early ass’s, but now the average girl is from 12 to 14 years- old (Landsman, 6). The life of a US prostitute is wildly dangerous and harmful to the development of under-aged girls; the victims are put through strenuous mental and physical abuse by their financially motivated pimps, the recent demand for violent ND aggressive sex causing the occupation to become more damaging than ever (Landsman, 6). Often times, if these girls escape and return to their families, they aren’t accepted back into their communities and the girls return to the only home they know – their pimp. Even when offered help by organizations such as GEMS (Girls Education and Mentoring Service), many victims slip back into â€Å"the life† due to their lack of confidence and dependence on their pimp. Because they were forced into the business at such a young age, it’s their only way of supporting themselves (Very Young Girls). Each one of these factors prevents American sex slaves from rising to a good life that benefits society and proves that damaging effects of the US sex industry. While American trafficking is not as well publicized as its foreign counterparts, the entire enterprise reveals deep rooted issues such as domestic violence and poverty that prohibit demolishing the sex industry. Sex slavery is rampant in Asian countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in the sexual exploit of underage girls and debt-oriented imprisonment. Prostitution makes up 59-60% of Thailand government budget each year (McClellan, 1), whilst there Asian countries have numbers in similar ranges. Though trafficking laws are in place throughout the cotangent, the poverty and financial desperation of local authorities inhibits the prevention of such issues (McClellan, 4). Unlike America, Asian pimps and brothel owners rarely lure girls into their enterprises using charm or love, but rather prey on needy parents by offering Jobs in the city, a better life or sometimes Just a good deal (Luggage, 2). There are prostitutes in Cambodia and 35% are minors (Landsman, 4). Boys and girls as young as infants are sold into sex slavery, where they are kept in miniscule, dungeon like rooms with remises of freedom at the completion of their contract. Children are often times forced to have sex dozens of times a day with strangers, burnt, cut and abused at the slightest mention of protest (Landsman, 4). Asian countries place an extremely high value on virginity, believing that intercourse with a virgin perpetuates youth and heals medical ailments (Luggage, 3). Unfortunately, this results in Sais’s title as the child sex capital of the world.. The life expectancy of a prostitute in Cambodia is around twenty-eight, while 20% of the girls are HIVE positive, a statistic that cannot be reified since the majority of sex workers never get a blood test (McClellan, 4). The prostitutes, both child and adult, are nothing but commodities; they are so ubiquitous that they have become disposable and often killed when they cease to be useful (McClellan, 2). Due to this, Asia has huge gender imbalances, lack of financial opportunities for half of its people and little chance of rising from third-world status. From pedophilia to squalid conditions and absolute slavery, the Asian sex slavery system is one of the most dangerous and harmful worldwide. Though the Cambodia and Thai sex industry are well publicized in terms of brothels ND local men, sex tourism, â€Å"tourism organized with the primary purpose of facilitating the effecting of a commercial-sexual relationship with a child,† is a largely unreleased student (Song, 1). Every year, tonnages AT adults travel ten globe to sexually exploit children as young as 5 years old, while many more stumble upon such opportunities while traveling for business or pleasure (Nair). According to the International Labor Organization, countries such as Thailand, India and the Philippians report that 2 – 14% of their gross domestic product comes from sex tourism and other related fields (Nair). This horrible industry that includes 2 million children is ubiquitous in beautiful, well-traveled countries with widespread poverty (Song, 2). Young girls with desperate parents and lack of educational opportunities are often tricked or sold into the sex tourism industry with no idea what awaits the (Nair). Another major issue in ending sex tourism is the Internet; sellers and pimps can put online profiles of their victims, while foreign sex tourists can exchange locations, stories and tips (Nair). A mere Google search turns up horrific information on what awaits the average sex tourist in Thailand; meticulous details describing the co’s and don’t of the Patty Sex Scene. The website describes the dangers of trusting the women, wearing watches, giving them tips or treating them as anything less than whore’s, while encouraging the adventurous sex tourist to experiment with gabbros and nude shows (so the buyer â€Å"knows what he’s going to get†) and take extra cash to compensate for the unavoidable â€Å"sex-crazes† (wry. Mayhap. Com). Deeper exploration into the website reveals details on Soapy Massage Parlors, a Thai Sex Tourism Attraction that involves huge quantities of highly trained, pre-pubescent girls using their bodies to engage in a fantasy world of bubbles and sex Wyandotte. Mom). Though most sex industries remain within a single country o continental region, the sex tourism industry causes conflict between countries and changes the relationships that they would otherwise have had. The entire industry degrades females and children, abuses multicultural boundaries and continues the cycle of gender imbalances. Unlik e American and Asian countries, Eastern Europe depends on promises a better future to lure potential victims into the sex trade. It is estimated by European Union Nations that there are over 500,000 women in prostitution in Europe (Kristin). Traffickers use fictional Jobs as models or nannies in the US to lure girls into the system, often times paying their own air fare and giving up their passports. In most cases the women are then held captive in transition countries such as Mexico, waiting to be moved into the United States and sold into sex slavery (Landsman, 2). Prostitution was very rare in the Soviet Union up until about 22 years ago, when the communist government fell and the country was cast into poverty (Landsman, 5). A a result, many young women turned to the prospects available in the US (Landless 2). Though many women were aware that prostitution could be involved in the opportunities offered, the glorified ideas of solicitation presented in movies like Pre Women (a top 10 movie in the area) shielded the truth of a horrid industry (Kristin). Once the girls were bought by a pimp they would have to be â€Å"broken in†. This is terrifying process used to mentally break down the girls’ dignity and force them to resign too life of sex slavery. In many cases the children are locked in a basement squalid conditions, they are kept cold and starving, and they are beaten and raped their captors. Spherical items are forced down the little girls’ throats to retract their gag reflex, and honey is put on John’s penises as a training mechanism for girls undo ten age AT / (Linesman, 4) once ten gulls are phonically Ana mentally Drunken down they are ready to be transported to other locations for work (Landsman, 4). European trafficking is especially dangerous due to the unpredictability of victims, the danger it poses to inter-cultural relationships and the images it reiterates of women as second-class citizens. While Eastern European traffickers often kidnap and mislead their victims, Mexican imps, often known as â€Å"Los Lemons†, rely on charm and young women’s desperation to find El Norte to lure them into the United States. Though in most other countries pimps work alone or in pairs, Mexican pimps work in larger family groups, selling and exchanging with other well-known brothels and organizations (Landsman, 3). Los Lemons begin their training at the age of 12, when they are pulled out of school and given a girl of similar age to rape and pimp out. In such a family hierarchy system, the father or grandfather is in charge of the organizational aspects, while older sons and cousins hunt, kidnap and entrap victims (Landsman, 3). Los Lemons wait at bus stops and school dances, befriending young girls and pursuing them as suitors, much like American pimps enamored potential victims (Chin). After the initial introduction period, the results are thoroughly predictable – the girls are drugged, raped and taken to brothels in major cities like Tangoing, Mexico City or the United States (Landsmen, 3). However, these issues are constantly reiterating, as Mexican officials â€Å"see sex trafficking as a U. S. Problem† (Landsman, 4). Over the years, Mexican pimps have taken tips from European traffickers by setting up a sexual introduction system. Young prostitutes (some of them as young as 4) are kept in underground stalls divided by frayed curtains, mentally abused by women and raped by cheap Johns in 15 minutes intervals for 20 hour a day (Landsman, 4). While the American system relies on simply having girls, Mexicans, like Europeans, depend on emotionally degrading and physically breaking them. Once the girls have completed their training, the most talented’ are sold to American pimps or local tourist hot spots (Landsman, 4). Though many countries with prominent sex industries cater to Americans, Mexican slavery is an issue that must be taken seriously without placing he blame on American influence. Though the sex trafficking industry is an old and dangerous system, it can be compensated for through media coverage, careful police work and international policies. From Cambodia and Europe to Mexico and the United States, human trafficking ruins lives, destroys relationships, seals social stereotypes and inhibits development from poverty. The tradition of women’s bodies being traded and sold is a common one, but careful work can prevent it from continuing. Eventually, children will be able to attend school instead of brothels; women in 3rd world countries will e able to have Jobs and countries will be able to develop past a world where violence, trafficking and crime are the main forms of finances. Argue Prostitution and sexual slavery are common motifs in modern culture; from Grand Theft Auto and Blockbuster action films to dingy street corners and clothing styles, the sex trade is ever present in our world. Though most people accept that prostitution is wrong, it is hard to define why. The fact is that all people have the right to be free from slavery. The concept that one human can be owned by another disagrees with the principles tha t our country was founded on. Secondly, the sex industry is degrading to women and prevents the enslaved from developing as individuals. Though it may seem like a line straight from Opera’s daily talk show, the truth is that all people have the right to confidence and a positive self-image. In reality, sex slavery prevents the development of individuals and societies due to its conflict with the basic moral principles of freedom and self worth. Among the undeniable human rights imposed on all people is the right to freedom. All over the world, millions of men and women are being denied their essential right to freedom and being forced to work against their will. In the Declaration of Independence, the fundamental document that our country was founded on, the writers state that â€Å"†¦ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness Professor). † A huge flaw in the moral makeup of the sex industry is that, among the unalienable rights every person is granted are â€Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Such goals cannot be procured through the life of a slave, for whom the idea of pursuing their win dreams is almost as outlandish as the notion of freedom. Freedom and the triumph it brings are hugely important to the success of a nation. When people are given the creative license to think and thrive without being subordinate to another individual, society can develop new ideas and have a more successful population. While Socrates once said, an â€Å"unexamined li fe is not worth living† (Rosenberg, 21). Individuals who do not even have the means to examine their own lives have little chance to flourish. Therefore, the sex trade directly contrasts with the fundamental unman right of freedom and should be eliminated. Self esteem, defined as a realistic respect for yourself (dictionary. Com), is an essential right that all humans should have. Part of having a devoted sense of self worth is having the confidence to demand your rights, make your own choices about your body and stand strong in the face of adversity. The sexual, physical and mental manipulations of others, practices that are routine in the sex industry, are major catalysts in self esteem issues of under-age girls such as not valuing their bodies as their own and viewing them self as subordinate. In fact, the entire industry depends alertly on ten velum’s Initially to anemia wages Ana Treetop, consulting themselves to unfair conditions and inhumane practices. Pimps repeatedly beat and rape girls until their self confidence is entirely shattered and they are ready to work, ensuring that their internal respect does not intervene with subordination. Confidence is key to achieving goals, continuing education and pursuing happiness, and as Robert Collier said, mirror chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself (Coppersmith). † People who achieve aret, hat trust their instincts and push boundaries get much further in the world than those that are ambivalent about their life and don’t believe in themselves. Unfortunately, the sex industry and it’s extremely merciless customs prevent girls from overcoming boundaries and burdens, their agony, and thriving as individuals. Just as lack of liberty prevents the development of a society, it is crucial to the success of society that girls are free, confident and able to thrive In reality, sex slavery prevents the development of individuals and societies due to its conflict with the basic moral principles of freedom and the right to self worth. Every day, millions of people are denied their freedom and fundamental rights, but unable to take charge and fight due to their depleted sense of self worth. This vicious cycle perpetuates sex slavery and prevents individuals from developing and reaching their aret, or full potential. The huge toll sex slavery is taking on the economies of various countries worldwide demonstrates the magnitude of such a crisis, and issues a silent plea of help to the general public. Eliminating the sex trade is an ambitious mission that may seem impossible but is so crucial to societal success that it cannot be swept under the rug. Though there are many sides of the human trafficking crisis, it is important to concentrate on three major categories; domestic violence, media and law enforcement. Domestic violence prohibits the development of self confidence and provides an initial incentive to Join the sex industry. Secondly, an unknown problem cannot be solved and it is thus vitally important to publicize the truths that ignored by the general public. Finally, employing a politically correct and moral legal system that prosecutes Johns and provides support for victims of sex slavery helps eradicate the remaining trafficking inns. By paying attention to family life, spreading information on the sex industry and utilizing proper legal systems the sex industry will be well on its way to abolition. Domestic violence, ever-present in poverty stricken regions of the US, is a huge contributor to the sex trafficking crisis. Just as self-worth aids success, women with low esteem due to family friction are much more likely to fall prey to pimps or manipulative men. Domestic abuse, which can be categorized as physical, sexual, mental or neglectful ill-treatment, drastically alters an individual’s abilities to thrive. Common side effects of childhood abuse are often â€Å"fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor self esteem, tendency toward substance abuse and difficulty with close relationships† (Farley) and thus inhibit the victim’s ability to thrive. Individuals who cannot form normal relationships, who abuse substances, are sexually inappropriate and depressed tend to fall easy to pimps who provide relationship substitutes for such unstable individuals. After all, 95% of teenaged prostitutes were abused as children (Farley) and 60 million survivors live worldwide (Farley). I nuns, It Is crucial to laminate mostly violence Ana supply potential victims with the skills to cope with adversity and the self-confidence to stand up for themselves. An active social service system is essential to eliminating domestic violence; having a system to check in on children and families and place them in safe foster homes are necessary to end domestic violence. After all, 80% of girls in the foster system are sexually abused (CAW, Sex Trafficking) and attention to such placements helps prevent potential victims from entering the cycle and developing substance abuse issues, fear, anxiety and relationship problems. Another important step is training teachers to recognize the signs of abuse such as excessive sadness, sudden social anxiety, strange bruises and odd parental encounters (Helped). If teachers educate about family life in school and update social services on troubled children, potential victims can be removed from toxic environments before the develop the characteristics that aid the sex industry and prevent them for attaining a normal life. Finally, mandatory support groups for victims of domestic ill- treatment help girls mend their wounds and learn to develop the confidence the need to thrive. Overall, the keys to ending domestic violence lie in developing a comprehensive social service system and paying attention to victims who may need help. A huge obstruction to the demolition of the sex industry is the lack of media coverage the crisis receives. When a hundred people were asked details about human trafficking, 70% knew it existed but very few knew anything else, let alone that it’s present in the US (CAW, Violence at Home). The truth is, sex slavery cannot be stopped until the American people are tuned into the reality of such a gruesome enterprise. Honestly, media and public speakers have a huge impact on the average American – A Million Little Pieces, the drug-addiction memoir of James Frey, had hardly BE SPECIFIC sold 10 copies when Opera featured it in her monthly book club and before the end of the year the sales averaged $3. 8 million (Wyatt). Regardless of the legitimacy of the novel, it brought massive amounts of publicity to the drug crisis and was a pioneer in addiction honesty. In reality, media proves time and again to be a priceless tool that cannot be underestimated in the quest to end trafficking. Though television often portrays prostitutes as manipulative temptresses who sell homeless for their own financial gain, the truth is that most are frightened, underage girls who are sold, coerced or forced into the sex industry. In reality, the average new prostitute is 13 years old (Landsman) and 90% of prostituted women are managed by pimps (Beveling Gibe, 1987). And while that 10% of women may appear to work willingly, the truth is that the universal abuse of sex workers proves the fact that â€Å"sex slaves† and prostitutes† are often one in the same. It is thus crucial that we utilize media to help end the sex crisis, initially by correcting the modern mage of prostitution in film and television. Instead of portraying them as willing, the reality of the sex industry should be shown in movies and TV shows alike. If CNN and BBC broadcasted sex trafficking cases and let the public know that many prostitutes are underage and working against their will, the entire enterprise would be more likely to condone? In addition to this, it is important that an overview of sex slavery be included in the high school Sex De classes. According to Benedict Berne, speaker at the Conference of World Affairs at CUE Boulder, the world should get to a place where ten not AT Dulling sex Is almost as Torrent as ten not AT segregating cocoons Day race† (CAW, Human Trafficking). Finally, it is crucial to supply media coverage on the truths of street life and ensure teenagers have a realistic perspective on the ordeal. Sadly, modern misconceptions that portray the street as a good life, causing an estimated 1. 6 million kids to run away from their troubled families (Determinate). Runaways act as a huge feeder to the sex industry, and 1/3 of all runaways turn to prostitution and pornography for survival within the first 48 hours (Thinkers). In order to demolish the sex industry, it is crucial to publicize the realities of sex slavery, develop in-school programs to spread awareness and prevent the runaway epidemic from increasing. Law enforcement plays a key role in the elimination of sex slavery. Even if every humanitarian group does all in their power to console SP victims and spread awareness, the trafficking system cannot be thoroughly eradicated without a comprehensive law enforcement system. The modern misconceptions that were previously discussed cause law enforcement officials to prosecute the victims and ignore the true perpetrators. Many people, including cops, see prostitution as consensual whilst the majority of such workers are underage and coerced into the business. This leads to unresponsive law enforcement systems that concentrate on the wrong aspects of the sex industry and prevent the admonishment of prostitution. A former victim of sex slavery, Rosetta Minified, reported that â€Å"cops didn’t help, when they busted me with Johns they told the guys to ‘get the hell out of there’ and put cuffs on me and laughed at me. They called me a bitchy and ‘a disease ridden crack head†(Hunter, 2). To avoid such miscommunication it is crucial that police are properly introduced to he sex industry and given strict orders on how to treat those under suspicion of solicitation. Teaching introduction courses to sexual slavery and solicitation would help police prosecute the real criminals who perpetuate the sex industry and prevent demolition. Secondly, it is vital that the protection laws for underage prostitutes are enforced and mandatory therapy programs need to be put in place for the girls to be enrolled in. The programs, which vary in details between countries, tend to orient around teaching the girls basic skills and redeveloping their self-esteem. In a Cambodia clinic for underage sex slaves, the recovery process revolves around â€Å"the girls living at the center, which is run by a former victim of sex slavery named Somali Mama, and attending a nearby school, as well as learning Job skills like sewing and hairstyling† (Nair). If local authorities require therapy programs for ex-prostitutes, it will help portray them as victims and prevent their re-entry into the business. Finally, establishing a system that protects underage sex slaves from being prosecuted is vital to ending the sex trade system. The fact that a twelve year-old having sex with a hairy year-old man is considered rape but if money is exchanged the girl, who would otherwise be considered a victim, is thrown in Jail is preposterous (Landsman, 21). Due to this situation’s immoral parameters a Safe Harbor system was created under which the purchase of sex is illegal while the sale is not. The Safe Harbor act, originating in Sweden but spreading quickly worldwide, proved to be very successful. It has now spread to US states such as New York and Pennsylvania (Nair). Because of this, more legal concentration is put on prosecuting the Johns rather than the victims. Therefore, a major asset in ending the sex trade industry is through careful law enticement, tannery programs Ana creating a legal system Tanat prosecutes ten buyers of sex. Regardless of the state or country in question, worldwide sex trafficking is a major international issue that prevents the development of societies both financially and culturally. Until the sex industry crisis common knowledge to the average person, domestic violence is drastically reduced and the law enforcement system is effective and legitimate, the entire enterprise cannot be ended. This will give governments the accessory means to deal with trafficking rings that pop up in the near future. Like Polio, small pox and other eradicated diseases, the sex industry will be simple keep under control even when new trafficking rings begin to develop. The sizeable goal of ending the sexual exploitation can be achieved with persistence, will power and motivation of the people. In order to rid the world of the human trafficking system, a damaging corporation that directly conflicts with the moral principles of freedom and self-worth, we must concentrate on spreading awareness, eradicating domestic violence and perfecting the law enforcement system. Sexual human trafficking, a multi-cultural enterprise whose financial value ranks in the billions and for whom violence and abuse are the norm, is a hugely undervalued crisis in America. How to cite Human Trafficking – Sexual Slavery, Papers

Child Abuse Childrens Participation Rights

Question: Discuss about theChild Abuse for Childrens Participation Rights. Answer: Introduction: Child abuse or child maltreatment means any unusual behavior of parents, care takers or other person that cause physical or mental harm to the child or any other person. Such behavior can be in any form such as child neglect or child abuse. Child abuses are mainly in these forms such as physical or mental abuse, neglect, sexual assault and any other type of violence. There is no accurate or universal definition for child maltreatment and child abuse, result of which every professional field introduce the definition of child abuse in their context. In Australia all the states and territory have statutory responsibility of child protection. All the state governments provide protection to the childrens of their state. Childrens include all those persons who are less than 18 years of age and also include unborn child. In this paper we discuss the causes of child abuse and effects of child protection system in society (Australian Government, n.d.). Child Abuse and Related Issues: (Introduction to topic) As discussed above any unusual behavior of any person which cause physical and emotional harm to any children is considered as Child Abuse. In this we discuss the theories related to causes of child abuse. There are three types of theories which are related to the causes of child abuse known as psychological, sociological, and multidimensional theories. These theories differently explain the, meaning and causes of child abuse. Psychological theories are fall under micro-oriented theories, this theory explain that the main cause of child abuse and neglect is the personal factor which is present in the individual or impact of the violent environment in which person live. In Sociological theories author describe that main cause of child abuse are social factors such as oppression, poverty, unequal distribution of economic resources and discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and sex. Multidimensional theories consider both the psychological theory and sociological theory. It recogn izes the factors on both individual and social level (Western Sydney University, n.d.). According to the survey conducted by AIHW, matters related to child abuse and neglect is increasing in Australia. Report issued by AIHW in March, shows that number of childrens involve in child abuse are increasing from 31500-37800. An authority which works for child protection provide evidence for the notification they issued related to child abuse, if they found the reason to believe that offence of child abuse and neglect is committed. Report also concludes that victims of child abuse are generally the young childrens. It was also found in the report that childrens under the age of one year are most likely to be the victim of child abuse. Tim beard, spokesperson of AIHW said that children under the age of 15-17 years are the least victims of child abuse (Peterson, 2013). After analyzing the above facts and figures it was clear that this problem was at global level, and child abuse is not defined anywhere. Every organization defines it in their perspective. Definition of child abuse contains many types of violence in its ambit such as physical or mental abuse, neglect, sexual assault and family violence. According to me it is necessary that we deal with issue with seriousness, and contribute in resolving this issue either at social level or individual level. As above mentioned, rating related to child abuse is increasing day by day, which become serious issue for all the governments and society at world level. This issue attracts the discussion at both social and political level. Government takes many measures to protect the children which we discuss later in this paper. It must be noted that factors which cause child abuse are mostly related to unemployment, poverty and low income, but this is not over. These factors are highlighted because cases related to poor families are reported, but there are number of cases which are related to well reputed and established families, and are not reported. We have chosen this topic because it contains a number of issues which are required to discuss at individual level also. Therefore, we can say that this topic contains most serious issues which require discussion at social and political level, and need to be resolved. (Overview of Readings and Literatures) Relationship between child abuse and health is very important to understand. Many theories are concluded on this topic. Research shows that child abuse can result in depression, mental disorder, physical disorder, sexual disorder and many others. It was also found that victims of child abuse have low self confidence and it is difficult for them to cope with their family and lead a normal life with their family. Study show that these effects can be last for the lifetime of the victim. Such effects are: Mental disorder Unhappiness in life and difficulty in leading a normal life. Bad health and any other kind of physical disorder. Risk of diseases such as cardiovascular in case of females. Relationship issues which result in broken marriages. Victims cannot establish connection with society. Effects on behavior of individual (Blue Knot, n.d.). On the basis of the information mentioned in the registers of child protection, we can conclude that cases of child abuse and neglect are mostly found in the poor families, working class families, and other most common factors of child abuse are unemployment, single parents, domestic and family violence. These are the only factors because usually cases of child abuse in high social groups are not reported. Australian Government initiates many policies and plans for providing care and protection to the childrens. Many models are framed which focused and state that child protection is the primary responsibility of parents. If parents does not provide protection and care to the children then in such case state has right to intervene in the matter. A policy framed by Australian government was looking after children under which state provides care and protection to those childrens who are separated from their families under child protection act. Under this policy a group of people fulfill all the responsibilities of parents of the child. These groups are generally includes the care takers, workers related to child protection, other family members and in some cases parents of child. These kinds of groups are generally called as childs care team (Kirton, n.d.; Landsdown, n.d.). (Critical Issue and Responses Related to Child Protection) In my view, Child protection system has one more face which shows the brutality of child care system. Many parents of the country are treated as disabled parents and child care authorities forcefully separated their childrens from them. These childrens are sent for out of home care. New generation parents who labeled as disable parents enjoy these provisions because they get chance to start a new life, but for the past generations these practices are hard to digest. I have seen in many cases, in which Parents are labeled as disable parents, and they lost their right on their childrens, and rarely receive any information regarding their children who are under care and protection of child care authority. Usually child care authorities connect all the difficulties of parents with intellectual disabilities. These authorities did not look on other factors and circumstances, and provide along list in the court in which authorities relate all the disabilities with the intellectual disability. Some common allegations imposed by these authorities are dirty and unhygienic home, an unhygienic lifestyle, conflicts in the relationship of parents and many more. Allegations related to physical and sexual abuse are very rare. These authorities usually imposed allegations which can be committed in future but not yet committed. Usually these authorities put question mark on the capacity of parents in fulfilling the basic need of their child and forcefully separat e their child from them. I have observed in many cases that authorities have no evidence to prove these allegations. These authorities also use some other type of allegations in which they alleged the mother that she is not able to protect her child from the adults. In these types of cases the primary concern is related to sexual assault. If mother face any type of violence or if she is also a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, then in such case authorities claim that mother is not able to provide safe environment to the children. These authorities conclude that mother cannot protect her children from the adults who can cause harm to the children (McConell and Sigurjonsdottir, n.d.). Situations in case of aboriginal groups are worse than the non-aboriginal groups. Usually it is noted that these protection systems shattered these families and leave these families in more trauma. Child protection systems are very important for the nation, but we argued that these systems leave the aboriginal families in more trauma and grief. These situations are not new, and these policies are practice from many decades which result in more loss to the aboriginal families and childrens. After the colonization aboriginal peoples are facing extreme difficulties such as rape, murder, imprisonment, pillage, removal from their countries and most important separation of their childrens from many years these communities are traumatized by the child protection authorities and judicial systems. These practices are still continued in the Australia. Many new born babies are taken away from their mothers on a concern that they face domestic and family violence in their families (Bessarab and Crawford, 2010). In last we can say that child protection system has many loop holes but we cannot ignore the fact that this system play very important role in the protection and care of childrens in Australia. Conclusion: This paper consist discussion on causes of child abuse and effects of child protection system in society. In this we understand the meaning and causes of child abuse and also discuss the different faces of child protection system in Australia. We also held that situation of aboriginal groups are worse because of child protection system and judicial activities. References: Australian Government, Child protection Australia 201314, Retrieved on 29th September 2016 from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129554513. Bessarab, D. Crawford, F. (2010), Trauma, Grief and Loss: The Vulnerability of Aboriginal Families in the Child Protection System, pg 275. Blue Knot, General information on abuse and impacts of abuse, Retrieved on 29th September 2016 from: https://www.blueknot.org.au/WHAT-WE-DO/Resources/General-Information#2274109-impact-of-child-abuse. Kirton, D. The care and protection of children, pg 316-334. Landsdown, G. The realisation of children's participation rights. McConell, D. and Sigurjonsdottir, B. H. Caught in the Child Protection Net, pg 172-176. Peterson, F. (2013), Rates of abused and neglected children on the rise in Australia: report, Retrieved on 29th September 2016 from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-19/child-abuse-children-safety-neglect-video/4968066. Western Sydney University, chapter 2: Theories about Child Abuse and Neglect, pg 21-31

Ramadan Features

Introduction Since time memeorial, rituals and myths that are held by a certain community have alsways been some of the main elemetns that define and differentiate that community from the rest of the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ramadan Features specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although presently societies have undergone a great revolutuion in terms of development and embracing new cultural practices as compared to few decades ago, there is little that has changed in most myths and rituals that are respected not only by societies, but also religious groups globally (Bell 2-7). For instance, the Muslims have specific rituals that identify them; rituals that have been there since the onset of this religion. Although some of them are very old, adherents of this faith respect and believe in them, because they define their entire way of life. Ramadan is one of those Islamic ceremonies that are associated wit h numerous myths and rituals. Myths and Rituals A myth is a traditional story with a purpose. It is usually concerned with early history of people and explanations of some social phenomenon. Typically, it involves supernatural beings or events that are done by these supernatural beings (Kluckhohn 47-52). Myths also try to explain why the world is the way it is and the relationship between gods and humans. There are two main classes of traditional tales, which are common in most societies. These are fables or myths, which have some aspect of truth in them or those that are just imagined and told (Campbell 3-5). Myth stories are false stories because they took in primordial age. In addition, the supernatural beings in the stories make the events in a myth usually impossible. But in their explanations, they try to send a message that has a very important social or religious meaning. Mythology – the study of myths- tries to search for the connection between myths and different cu ltures. Hence, to larger extent, myths are used to establish models for behavior by providing meaningful religious experiences. On the other hand, through the use of myths, in most scenarios communities have a tendency of separating themselves from the contemporary world by embracing the mythical world. They also try to answer numerous common questions asked by humans like; who made the universe? And what, why, and when was the entire phenomenon in the world created (Campbell 3-6). A ritual on the other hand, is a custom, ceremony, a procedure or series of systematic set of actions that are performed at specific events, time and place with a symbolic meaning. The significance of a ritual primarily depends on tradition or religion of a society.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Actions performed in a ritual are usually chosen by the performers but the words and what they symboli ze must conquer and endorse the any myths that are held by that society. The function of rituals varies from one community to another. This is because, rituals symbolizes different things ranging from religious obligations or ideals, spiritual satisfactions, emotional needs, strengthening of social bonds, and giving of moral and social education. They can be also used to demonstrate respect or submission, the passage or commencement of an affiliation, the getting of social acceptance or approval, and sometimes they can be performed just for pleasure. In other cases, societies perform rituals as a form of adoring God of some gods, as a way of blessing matrimony, or as a way of appeasing the dead. Generally, although societies perform rituals, because of different reasons, it is the myths and beliefs that are held by these societies that make them to perform them (Bell 3-23). This is the case primarily because; these rituals are one of the primary factors that are used to identify a g roup or a community, because they help in promoting good interpersonal relationships, for example, the Islamic Ramadan. Ramadan Although the word â€Å"Ramadan† in Arabic speaking communities is used to refer to very intense heat, in Islamic, Ramadan is a name of a month in the Islamic calendar (Bell 124-127). As research studies show, this title was selected, as it wholly represented the real climatic conditions and biological changes that are associated with fasting. Throughout the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which runs for a time span of approximately twenty nine to thirty days, followers of the Islamic religion, spend the entire twilight without food. There are so many things that are commemorated during this period, the most important confession of sins or any wrong doing. In most cases, this fasting season commences mostly after the astronomical new moon. This is the case primarily because; followers of this religion believe that, the appearance of this moon is a sign of a new month beginning. However, because of the time differences of different places in the world, Ramadan begins on different days in various parts of the world, more so those that are found in different time zones. This fact has been one of the primary causes of disagreements every year on the exact time when observing of Ramadan should begin. This is evident in the recent attempts of clerics from this religion to try and solve the misery behind this conflicting concept using astronomical calculations (Hill 1-2). What happens during Ramadan? Fasting The most important thing Ramadan commemorates is confession of sins, as individuals take this time to worship and have a spiritual reflection. Majority of followers of this religion will always do anything at their disposal in order to keep themselves holy during this season.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ramadan Features specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition to this, by all means individuals refrain themselves from sexual intercourse until wee hours of the night, when daylight is gone. On the other hand, eating, drinking as well as falling into temptation is discouraged. According to this religion’s tenets, fasting is one of the primary methods of ensuring purity of both thoughts and actions. That is, in doing this, followers of Mohamed believe that, fasting is one of the most important way of directing the whole heart away from worldly activities, it being the only method of ensuring that they are cleansed together with their inner soul (Bell 124-136). Also, during this period, every part of the body; right from the tongue, is restricted from back biting and gossip; eyes must be restricted from looking at unlawful things; the hands are not supposed to take anything that does not belong to it and ears are prohibited from listening to idle talk and obscene words. Therefore, fasting is not just physical but rather, th e commitment of one’s fasting routine is meant to teach the Muslims self discipline self control, patience, sacrifice, and empathy towards those who are less fortunate. As a result, it creates a sense of generosity and charity that is commonly referred to as Zakat (The Outreach Center: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Havard University 5). Prayer and reading of the Qur’an During this season, all adherents of this religion are also supposed to go through the entire Qur’an and comprehend its teachings. Others prefer to recite the whole Qur’an as a form of saying special prayers that are known as Tarawih. These prayers must be done every night of the month. During these nights, the whole section of the Qur’an is recited and by the end of the month, one is supposed to have completed the entire Quran. This is the case primarily because; Muslims hold a notion that, by reading this book, there is a strong link that will form between them and their God, as the reading reminds them of how wonderful God has been to them; hence, the need of them to be good to others by being charitable, doing good deeds, and showing kindness. To show this they prepare special foods and gifts which they give the poor and the needy that are not in position to afford (Bell 124- 129). If’tar Firstly, If’tar primarily entails avoiding any consumption of food and drinks, until the sun goes down. After the sun has gone down, individuals are supposed to come together and share a meal that is commonly refererd to as If’tar. This meal usually begins by eating three dates (the same way Muhammad used to do) followed by the Maghrib prayer (the fourth prayer of the five daily prayers Fard).Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After this, the normal meal is served. Over the recent past, If’tar has grown to be a banquet festival, because during this time, families, neighbors, friends, and even the whole community come together for fellowship (The Outreach Center: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Havard University 6). Charity This is very significant in Islam and its meaning magnifies more during Ramadan. From time memorial, Ramadan is specifically a blessed time; therefore, Muslims celebrate it by giving in charity (sadaqa) (Ghazi and Rauuam 9-22). Laylat al-Qadr Among Muslims, Laylat al-Qadr is assumed to be one of the main holy nights. Muslims strongly hold the notion that; it is during this night that the Islamic Holy book was given to Prophet Muhammad. It occurs on an odd numbered night during the last ten days of the same month of Ramadan. It can be either the night of 29th, 27th, 25th, 23rd, or the 21st of Ramadan (Bell 124-133). Eid Al-Fitr Eid Al-Fitr is a feast that is used to celebrate t he conclusion of the fasting period and the commencement of a new month. Following the moon’s signals, it is the day when another new moon appears and it means the back to the fitrah. It a special day with cerebrations as food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr); everybody wears his or her best clothes followed by communal prayers that are done in the morning. These types of prayers are different from the Fard, as they done as a form of worship and thanksgiving. After prayers, different festivals and visiting of relatives and friends follow, as a way of showing love and togetherness (The Outreach Center: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Havard University 5-6) Conclusion In conclusion, all this features of Ramadan are forms of rituals that are performed by those who profess the Islamic religion. These rituals are normally done by Muslims, because of the strong myths they hold about their religion. For example, by giving freely to the needy, Muslims believe that God will r eward them too, for their generous deeds. Regardless of whether this is practical or not, this is one of the rituals that have encouraged cooperation among members of this religion. Another example is fasting as a way of getting pardon from the most high. Although nobody understands how God (Allah) work, to some level, this myth that God pardons those who fast, has encouraged members of this religion to embrace this ritual; hence, the nature of respect they accord Ramadan. Therefore, there is a clear connection between the myths and beliefs held by Muslims, in relation to celebrating the Holy Month of Ramadan, because it is the beliefs that have been transferred throughout ages that has made observing of Ramadan a habitual ritual. Works Cited Bell, Catherine. Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Web. Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. New York: Anchor Books, 1991. Print. Ghazi, Hamid and Rauuam, Omar. Ramadan. New York: Holiday House, 1996 . Print. Hill, Margaret. Carlifonia Three Rs Project: Rights Responsibilities, and Respect. August 31 2011. Web. Kluckholm, Clyde. Myths and Rituals A General Theory. The Havard Theological Review, 35. 1 (1942): 45-79. Print. The Outreach Center: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Havard University. Celebrating Ramadan: a Resource for Educators. Harvard University. Web. July 2008. This essay on Ramadan Features was written and submitted by user Claudia Salazar to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on The Reforms Of Diocletian

Diocletian’s Reforms The Roman empire regained order and stability through its powerful emperor Diocletian. He made a set of reforms to stabilize the empire. He knew that if he did not do so, the empire would eventually fall. One of the first notable things Diocletian decided to do to stabilize the empire was to establish a capital. He said,†Wherever I am, that’s where the capital is.† The capital was in no specific place. However he did spend most of his time fighting for his empire against the Germans along the Northern border. The next set of reforms involved the military. First, he took each legion and divided them in half. This created double the amount of legions, but they were significantly smaller. When he drafted soldiers to fight, he did not draft a certain number of men but rather a number of legions. He never increased the men per legion. This then led to the military becoming more mobile. Since the Roman army moved too slow, Diocletian wanted to mount them on horses. This created a light calvary and enabled them to move on and off the battlefield more of a swift fashion. His next set of reforms included the establishment of the Oriental Monarchy. This meant that their was a psychological distance between him and his subjects. This created a huge bureaucracy and his subjects had to wait weeks just to see him. He overwhelmed his subjects by wearing a huge gold crown and cape that took nearly 12 men to carry behind him. He then set up economic reforms. These played a huge part in Diocletian’s attempt to reconstruct the empire. He invented a coinage system and put a value to each coin. It is similar to the system we have today. ( for quarters equal one dollar. So on and so forth.) However, some problems developed from his economic system. Their were not enough metals to go around, which made it impossible to create more coins, and eventually led to gold being worth much more ... Free Essays on The Reforms Of Diocletian Free Essays on The Reforms Of Diocletian Diocletian’s Reforms The Roman empire regained order and stability through its powerful emperor Diocletian. He made a set of reforms to stabilize the empire. He knew that if he did not do so, the empire would eventually fall. One of the first notable things Diocletian decided to do to stabilize the empire was to establish a capital. He said,†Wherever I am, that’s where the capital is.† The capital was in no specific place. However he did spend most of his time fighting for his empire against the Germans along the Northern border. The next set of reforms involved the military. First, he took each legion and divided them in half. This created double the amount of legions, but they were significantly smaller. When he drafted soldiers to fight, he did not draft a certain number of men but rather a number of legions. He never increased the men per legion. This then led to the military becoming more mobile. Since the Roman army moved too slow, Diocletian wanted to mount them on horses. This created a light calvary and enabled them to move on and off the battlefield more of a swift fashion. His next set of reforms included the establishment of the Oriental Monarchy. This meant that their was a psychological distance between him and his subjects. This created a huge bureaucracy and his subjects had to wait weeks just to see him. He overwhelmed his subjects by wearing a huge gold crown and cape that took nearly 12 men to carry behind him. He then set up economic reforms. These played a huge part in Diocletian’s attempt to reconstruct the empire. He invented a coinage system and put a value to each coin. It is similar to the system we have today. ( for quarters equal one dollar. So on and so forth.) However, some problems developed from his economic system. Their were not enough metals to go around, which made it impossible to create more coins, and eventually led to gold being worth much more ...

Progress women achieved in field of Math, Science and Engineering Essay

Progress women achieved in field of Math, Science and Engineering - Essay Example This paper takes into consideration the conditions of women in the professional spheres in India, a country that has been known to hold strong biases towards the female population and prefer the birth of males in their households. All throughout the long history of the country, it can be seen that gender inequality has prevailed in the societies of the region as a whole whose reflection could also be seen in the educational and professional spheres. The past century however, could be seen to have brought a change in this respect. People as a whole got more inclined towards working for the betterment of the status of women in India, and to make efforts for the positive development of women in the region. During this period there have been developments in this domain in regards to greater involvement of women in the public spheres, striving for more balance in the ratios of men to women in the school enrolments, and an increased visibility of women in the labour force etc. (Segran, 201 0). Although, these developments might signify the start of changes in the fundamental mind-sets of the people over there, but India still has a long way to go in terms of trying to somewhat suppress gender discrimination in the region as a whole. ... It all began with the British colonization in South Asia. Although, Britain had the initial policy of non-intervention, however, once it had well established itself in the region, it started reforming the constitutions and the legal system for the betterment of every strata of the society as a whole, particularly for women that had been observed to be subject to serious violence, both within and outside their households. This was an attempt to civilize the people of the nation. The efforts on their part, combined by the local liberals, started to bring about reforms for women, which in turn resulted in somewhat betterment of their status and lives (Dasgupta, 2002a). Previously, the women of India could not gain access to the justice system on violation of their rights, but ever since the British colonization, the need to utilize the legal system to combat violence against women has been greatly stressed upon. Over the past few decades, the Indian legal and justice system has brought about various innovations to cater to the disadvantaged population of the country, in terms of violation of human rights, particularly for women. This in turn, has also enabled them to create an increased awareness about the issues of women for creation of policies and developmental initiatives. Other than that, the courts have also been able to give the women a public voice and it has put in great efforts to eliminate discrimination of women on legal fronts at least, if not completely on a societal level, which would require a much longer time (Dasgupta, 2002b). Societal Norms: Gender inequality has always been a major issue for the women of India. The aspect of gender closely defines the roles and behaviours assigned to men and

ICS Extra Credit Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ICS Extra Credit - Assignment Example This pattern may continue or new words are introduced and the pattern is repeated for a whole song. Depending on artists, songs may have different patterns because their beauty and melody are brought out differently. Irrespective of which pattern is adopted by a performer, the crowd is always left yearning for more performance. One of the renowned Ranchera music performers is Vicente Fernandez who electrifies crowd with his unmatched performance and stage presence. Despite of his Latino affiliation, his performances in US are usually filled to capacity owing to his great stature in ranchera music. His stage presence is often enhanced by supersized sombreros and backed by an orchestra of guitar or string players that belch out sweet melodies. Most of ranchera performers have operatic voices that delve into the emotional spectrum of the crowd for better artistry connection. The rhythms being let out are quite scintillating and relaxing which work out the crowds to fever pitch. Much of this has been attributed to the fact that the songs talk about love which is a common phenomenon that unites people. No wonder ranchera music performances are flocked by people of all cultures in US and around the world. Akoma Arts Culture Drum Performance This is a cultural performance that is inspired by African culture specifically from West Africa. The word Akoma is borrowed from Ghana language known as Akan and is used is associated with such attributes as patience and consistency. People have to be very patient and keen during performances so that they grasp the proceedings of beats and enjoy it. As the name of the performance suggests, the main instrument here is the drum. However, these drums come in different shapes, types and sizes which are performed together by different players to enhance the tone of the melodies. Once in while there are singers who sing or recite poems or words to accompany their drum rhythms. To make the performance more colorful, artists are usually clothed in different attires and ornaments which reflect the culture where the performance has originated from. This cultural performance is not limited and segregated to shows from Africa but other cultures are also incorporated during performance. Such incorporation is undertaken under the spirit of tolerance where Caribbean and Latino artists are also included. It would be quite monotonous to have only cultural performance from Africa origins whereas the US has people of diverse cultural backgrounds. The most interesting and captivating element of this performance is the variation in vocal expertise and exhibition of interesting traditional dances. Singers and dancers usually respond to the rhythmic proceedings of the drummers who dictate the tempo and tone of performance. The displays are simply amazing especially dancers perform to high pitched rhythms and fast routines which are done by different groups. Some routines are short while others are a bit long because they combine singing and dancing in traditional regalia. Movable Feast Culture Events As the name suggests, movable feast culture events are held annually in different states to celebrate the cultural diversity of foods that are consumed in US. The foods present are usually both highly nutritive and others are junk which are offered to the crowds that flock these events. It is always organized in such a way that food is brought in trucks which may either be prepared on the ground or

How has the United States Affected me so far Essay

How has the United States Affected me so far - Essay Example For example, parents play a more vital and dominant role in a child’s life and are influential on the majority of important decisions that he or she is likely to make such as marriage, studies and so on. However, the United States is almost the complete opposite, with parents trying to make their child more independent and capable of making his or her own decisions. I have changed my views on parenthood and the role parents should play in a child’s life. I now believe that allowing a child to become more independent will help him in several aspects of his life and he or she is able to make hard decisions and hold responsibility for his or her choices. Living in the United States has also made me more capable of taking risks and making my own decisions. The United States believes in freedom of speech more than my native country and it was here where I first saw people express their opinions publicly without fear of being intimidated or even assaulted. For example, our country is very religious and the laws are based on these principles hence we are incapable of stating some of our opinions as these would be offensive religiously and other people may not be so tolerant with them. However, America has showed me that there are numerous religions on the world and every person is entitled to his or her opinion. Therefore, one should not condemn another person for having opposing views. In this case I believe America has made me more tolerant and a better person. I am able to questions things I don’t understand in my own beliefs as well as value the beliefs and views of others. I also feel that the American society in a way has also placed me in a position to make mistakes. For example, too much freedom may lead to some individuals adopting certain behavior that they would not otherwise engage in if they were under strict control. Hence, I feel in a way the society creates a

Ecological Agriculture for Sustainable Development

Ecological Agriculture for Sustainable Development Siddaraju V. G [*] Dr. M. Indira [**] Introduction Sustainable development is relevant issue of the present day. Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs. Sustainable development is achieved through sustainable agriculture. Food security for the common man is a basic right. Over 800 millions people in the world suffer from hunger which has to be reduced by half by the year 2015. Agriculture plays a crucial rule in addressing the needs of a growing global population, and is inextricably linked to poverty eradication, especially in developing countries. Sustainable agriculture and rural development is essential to the implementation of integrated approach to increasing food production and enhancing food security in an environmentally sustainable way. According to Pingali (2001) many countries across the world provide support for modern agriculture, mainly to increase the productivity for commercial purpose without considering the environment sustainability. Therefore, the concept of sustainability of agriculture is gaining momentum from last few years. The concept of ‘Sustainability’ has been discussed in Earth Summits of 1992 and 2002. The Earth summit offered an opportunity for the global community to address key action on agriculture with a view to sustainability and reducing poverty and hunger, protecting biodiversity and access to resources for small farmers everywhere. Sustainable development has three components i.e., economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Ecological agriculture addresses the environment or ecological aspects of sustainability. Sustainable agriculture embraces several variants of non-conventional agriculture that are often called organic, alternative, regenerative, and ecological or low input. Ecological agriculture based on ecological principles aim at maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment and conserve natural resources without using chemical inputs leading to sustainable development. The difference between sustainable agriculture and ecological agriculture is that sustainable agriculture is a broad concept compared to ecological agriculture. Ecological agriculture systems are one of the means of attaining sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture aims continuous increase in yield and greater resilience. For a sound future, ecological agriculture offers a dynamic interaction between soil, animal, humans, ecosystem and environment. Ecological agriculture is economically viable because: Reduction in the use of external inputs and increase in farm organic inputs with the greatest potential to benefit the health of farmers and consumers. More productivity through the incorporation of natural process as nutrient cycles, nitrogen fixation, and pest predator relationships in to the agricultural production process. Greater productive use of the biological and genetic potential of plant and animal species. Improvement of the match between cropping patterns and the productive potential and physical limitations of agricultural lands to ensure long term sustainability of current production levels and Profitable and efficient production with emphasis on improved management and conservation of soil, water and energy and biological resources. The basic requirement in organic farming is to increase input use efficiency at each step of the farm operations. This is achieved partly through reducing losses and adoption of new technologies for enrichment of nutrient content in manure (Sravanan, 2006). The concept of organic farming lays emphasis on economic and ecological sustainability of agricultural system and hence avoids the dependence on chemical pesticides use (Dhawan and Deshmukh, 2005). According to Charjan and Hajare (2002) organic farming is only an alternative, which may not be acceptable on short-term basis, but may be viable on long-term basis, perhaps due to number of issues. An attempt is made in this paper to analyze the economic performance of ecological agriculture and modern agriculture system and to identify the reasons for the transition from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture. Methodology The present study is based on primary data collected from 50 ecological farmers and 50 modern farmers in the production of Paddy and Sugarcane in Mysore and Mandya districts of Karnataka. Economic performance of any system could be analyzed by analyzing the costs and returns. In the present study relative economic performance of ecological and modern agriculture is analyzed in terms of Farm Business Income (FBI). Location, distribution of sample farmers is presented in table 1. Table 1: Particulars of selected district and taluk District Taluk No. of Ecological farmers No. of Modern Farmers Mysore Mysore 16 16 Nanjanagud 9 9 Mandya Mandya 14 14 Maddur 11 11 The above table shows that Location, distribution of sample farmers. Ecological farmers are located in Mysore and Nanjanagud taluks in Mysore district and Mandya and Maddur taluks in Mandya district. Mysore taluk in Mysore district has the large number of ecological farmers and Mandya taluk in Mandya ditrict has more number of ecological farmers. Equal numbers of modern farmers were selected for comparative analysis. Analysis and Discussion Economic Performance Farm Business Income (FBI) is one of the indicators to measure the economic profitability of an agriculture farm. It has been chosen to understand the relative economic profitability of ecological farming and modern farming systems in the production of selected crops. FBI is the difference between the gross returns and Cost A1. Farm Business Income = Gross Income – Cost A1 Cost of Cultivation Average cost and returns under ecological and modern agriculture in the production of paddy and sugarcane are presented below. Paddy Average cost per acre in the production of paddy under ecological and modern farming systems, yield per acre, returns from main product and returns from by product, net returns per acre are presented in table 2. Table 2: Costs and Returns from Ecological and Modern Agriculture in the Production of Paddy Sl. No. Particulars Ecological Agriculture Modern Agriculture 1 Farm Power 6147 5539 2 Organic Nutrients 1957 655 3 Chemical Fertilizers 1030 4 Seed 367 352 5 Irrigation 379 389 6 Land Tax 29 24 7 Depreciation Charge on Farm implements 1018 449 8 Depreciation Charge on machinery 623 603 9 Repair of Machineries 449 233 10 Total Cost of Cultivation (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9) 10968 9274 11 Yield (Quintal/acre) 23 22 12 Price Received (Rs/quintal) 639 612 13 Returns from main Product (Rs/acre) 14697 13464 14 Income from by-product (Rs/acre) 1067 786 15 Gross Returns/Rs (13+14) 15764 14250 16 Net returns/Rs (15-13) 4796 4975 Source: Survey Data Gross returns from paddy produced under ecological agriculture found to be marginally higher compared to the paddy produced under modern farming system. While gross returns from ecological agriculture was Rs. 15764 per acre, the same from modern agriculture was Rs. 14250 per acre, a difference of Rs 1514 per acre. But net return was relatively low from ecological agriculture (Rs. 4795 per acre) compared to modern agriculture (Rs. 4975/acre), because cost of cultivation was higher for ecological farms (Rs. 10969 per acre) compared to modern farms (Rs. 9274/acre). Cost of organic nutrients, farm power, farm depreciation charges are higher in ecological agriculture. Marginal differences could be seen in other costs. While organic nutrients were expensive, the transportation of FYM, its administration, transplantation, weeding require more labour, which is reflected in the farm power. Farm depreciation charge is higher in ecological agriculture due to more use of farm equipments. The yie ld from ecological agriculture was not found to be much higher than modern agriculture. While ecological farms produced 23 quintal/acre, 22 quintal/acre were produced from modern farms. Ecological farmers received Rs. 27 per quintal of paddy, which is slightly higher price than the modern farmers. The yield and price was not much difference under the two methods of cultivation. Therefore, net return also was not much different. Sugarcane Sugarcane is a commercial annual crop grown mainly in Mandya and Mysore districts of Karnataka. Average costs and returns in the production of sugarcane is presented in table 3. Table 3: Costs and Returns under Ecological and Modern Agriculture in the Production of Sugarcane Sl. No. Particulars Ecological Agriculture Modern Agriculture 1 Farm Power 22589 20441 2 Organic Nutrients 2414 861 3 Chemical Fertilizers 3502 4 Seed 1300 1300 5 Irrigation 424 443 6 Land Tax 27 26 7 Depreciation Charge on Farm Implements 1800 3403 8 Depreciation Charge on Machinery 1172 1499 9 Repair of Machineries 500 204 10 Total Cost of Cultivation (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9) 30225 31679 11 Yield (Ton/acre) 52 49 12 Price Received (Tonn/Rs) 989 961 13 Gross Returns/Rs 51428 47089 14 Net Returns/Rs (13-10) 21203 15410 Source: Survey Data Net returns from sugarcane were found to be higher from ecological farms (Rs. 21202 per acre) compared to modern farms (Rs. 15410 per acre). Similarly the gross returns were Rs. 51428per acre from ecological agriculture and Rs. 47089 per acre from modern agriculture. Relatively higher cost of cultivation in modern agriculture is due to higher cost of chemical fertilizers and farm depreciation charges. Chemical fertilizers like Urea, Potash, Complex and Salt were expensive. Farm depreciation charge is higher in ecological agriculture due to more use of farm equipments. Marginal differences could be seen in other costs except farm power. Because the cost of the transportation of FYM, weeding, harvesting and its administration require more labour, which is reflected in the farm power. The cost of cultivation of sugarcane with modern agriculture is costing Rs. 1454 more per acre. Yield per acre under ecological farming is nearly three ton more than that from modern cultivation and ecolog ical farmers received Rs. 28 higher for one ton of sugarcane than the modern farmers. Higher yield and returns have contributed to higher returns from ecological farming than the modern farming. Net returns from sugarcane under ecological farming are Rs. 5792 more than that from modern agriculture. Farm Business Income Farm business income under ecological and modern agriculture in the production of annual crops (paddy and sugarcane) is presented in table 4. Table 4: Farm Business Income of Annual Crops under ecological and modern farming system Paddy Sugarcane Variables Ecological Agriculture Modern Agriculture Ecological Agriculture Modern Agriculture Gross Returns 15,764 14,250 51,428 47,089 Cost A1 10,968 9,274 30,225 31,679 Farm Business Income (FBI) 4,796 4,976 21,203 15,410 Source: Survey Data The above table shows that larger variation in the FBI could be observed in the production of Sugarcane, which is a commercial crop. In the production of Paddy, FBI under ecological farming is marginally lower i.e., by Rs.180. Cost A1 under ecological agriculture is higher by Rs.1694 per acre. However gross returns is higher by Rs.1514 per acre. But in the case of sugarcane, FBI from ecological cultivation is higher by Rs.5, 793 per acre. In the case of sugarcane, cost of cultivation under ecological cultivation is relatively low. It is lower by Rs.1, 454 per acre. Gross returns are higher under ecological agriculture. The above analysis clearly shows that ecological agriculture is economically profitable. It has double advantage to the grower; it provides greater returns to the growers at present and ensures the sustainability of these returns in future by protecting the fertility of the soil. Transition Transition is the process of conversion from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture. After introduction of all necessary changes needed also, it might take some time before the transition is completed. Modern farming system depends on external inputs and is market oriented. On the other hand ecological farming is based on ecological principles of nature and depends more on inputs produced on farm. The production under ecological agriculture need not necessarily for subsistence. The growers may have several objectives in shifting from modern system of cultivation to ecological system. By understanding the motivation behind the shifting, it is possible to encourage more conversions. Reasons for Transition Process Information on what made the selected farmers to switch over to organic farming system from modern farming system was gathered. In many cases majority of the farmers reported that transition from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture was due to the possibility of producing healthy food, environmental protection and soil fertility management under organic farming system. A detailed analysis of Paddy and Sugarcane is presented in table 5. Table 5: Crop wise Reasons for transition from modern agriculture system to ecological agriculture system Sl. No Reasons for transition Frequency and Percentage Paddy Sugarcane 1 Cost of cultivation is low 8 (28.6) 10 (35.7) 2 Health 28 (100.0) 23 (82.1) 3 Employment 14 (50.0) 15 (53.6) 4 Soil Fertility Management 20 (71.4) 22 (78.6) 5 Environmental Protection 16 (57.1) 19 (67.9) 6 Yield 18 (64.8) 12 (42.9) Source: Survey Data, Note: Values within brackets represent percentage to total growers (Percentage don’t add to 100 due to multiple response) In recent years paddy farmers are practicing ecological agriculture due to different reasons. According to selected farmers, more than 70 per cent of the total farmers have shifted from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture, in order to maintain soil fertility. According to them, by using cowdung, ash, farm yard manure soil fertility can be maintained for many years. Health is one of the important factors influencing the paddy farmers to shift from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture. According to these farmers ecological food has positive impact on health and to be sure of the supply of organic food, they shifted to ecological agriculture. Paddy farmers also said that ecological agriculture creates more employment compared to modern agriculture. Survey results have shown that employment in ecological agriculture is more by 9 mandays/acre compared to modern agriculture. More than 50 per cent of the total farmers have shifted from modern agriculture to ecological agric ulture due to employment. Cost of cultivation is high in ecological agriculture compared to modern agriculture, because initially more investment is required in ecological agriculture. After completion of transition (5 years) gradually cost is decreased in ecological agriculture. Nearly 65 per cent of the ecological paddy farmers said that they shifted due to higher and stable yield that they are expected under ecological agriculture. The results support this and yield under ecological farm is more by 1 quintal per acre. In the case of sugarcane, 82.1 per cent of the total farmers have shifted from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture because they believe that it leads to healthy life. More than 65 per cent of the total farmers have transformed from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture due to soil fertility maintenance and environmental factors like pollution control, sustainability, water management etc. Sugarcane farmers also opined that ecological agriculture creates more employment compared to modern agriculture. Only 36 per cent of the farmers shifted because they think that cost of cultivation is low under ecological agriculture. In the case of paddy more shifts took place due to ecological factors than economic factors. The main reasons for transition can be found in environmental sustainability as well as health and soil fertility management. Paddy and sugarcane farmers mainly reported that cost of inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides are highly expensive. The results clearly show that the awareness about environmental impact of modern agriculture is the main reason for the farmers to shift to ecological agriculture. Conclusion The over all analysis of the study highlights that ecological agriculture is economically profitable compared to modern agriculture. It provides greater returns to the growers at present and ensures the sustainability of these returns in future by protecting the fertility of the soil and enhancing the quality of environment and conserve natural resources. Farm Business Income from ecological agriculture is more due to higher yield and price. It is mainly due to the purchase of organic manure by the growers. Efforts should be made to encourage farmers to keep livestock to produce on farm organic inputs in order to reduce the cost of organic manures. The main reason for transition from modern agriculture to ecological agriculture was the awareness about environment and health. This awareness is limited only to those who are educated. Efforts should be made to create awareness about two aspects of ecological farming i.e., awareness about environmental consequences of ecological farming and economics of ecological agriculture. References: CharjanY.D and T.N Hajare (2002), Ecological Agriculture Solves the Problems of Indian Agriculture, Kisan World, l29 (7), pp. 43-4. Dhawan AS and MS. Deshmukh 92005), Organic Farming in Relation to Environment Pollution, Kisan World, 32(2) February 2005, Pp: 27-28. Saravanane M et al (2007) â€Å"Organic Production System† Kisan World, 34 (03), Pp. 45 – 47, March 2007 Thakur and Sharma KD (2005), Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture and Meeting the Challenges of Food Security in 21st Century: An Economic Analysis, Indian Journal of Agriculture Economics, 60 (2), April-June 2005, Pp: 205-219. 1 [*] Senior Research Scholar, Department of Studies in Economics and Cooperation, University of Mysore, Mysore, Email: [emailprotected] [**] Reader, Department of Studies in Economics and Cooperation, University of Mysore, Mysore, Email: [emailprotected].

Lollos dream :: essays research papers

One day Lollo was having intercourse with a donkey, suddenly he realized that he was doing a donkey. the ass and the lapdog jumped on the masters lap, and the ass killed himself because he was jealous that the lapdog was sitting on its masters lap. this was very upsetting to the master, so he killed himself because of his sudden loss of his manipulative donkey, which caused a sudden fluctuation of money. Many people cried over their deaths. The lapdog was left alone because so many people killed themselves. Since he was so deprest and lonely, he began a sudden art of masturbation, which he continued to do by himself until he realised that he could engage in sexual intercourse with dead asses and people. This caused in a battle of harmony and peace in this sick, inhumane, and corrupt world. I hope we should never live through this experience again! If you don't have much money but you do wand to train you're pet stop buying codestones and buy dubloons. Those are at least 4 times as c heap it take 2 or 4 hours longer but its much cheaper. Play games every day, I make 5000+ every day just buy playing destruct o match, kiko match, poke match and Swich-a-Roo. Just find easy games that give a lot of np. I also look for bargains on the shop wizard and sell things for a little more then I buy them for. When things are cheap buy a couple of them and put them in your safety deposit box. At one point or another they'll probably go up. If not at least you'll have some thing to fall back on. My last tip is to get free stuff. Get an omelette from Tyrania, and your free Tombola and Fruit Wheel Spins.

“Good Will Hunting”: Cognitive Dissonance Essay

Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, in the movie â€Å"Good Will Hunting† is the epitome of a psychological paradigm. He can be analyzed in so many ways, touching on many of the different fields of psychology. The most interesting thing about Will is the cognitive dissonance he goes through throughout the film. He is torn between these two cognitions, both of which contradict each other. One of these cognitions is the fact that he is an orphan from South Boston, meaning he should only have a low pay job and live there for the rest of his life. It would be wrong of him to forget about his roots and try to become something of himself, which would be unfair to his friends who aren’t as blessed as Will. On the other hand, he is a profoundly smart individually; to such a degree that Prof. Gerald Lambeau compares him to Einstein. He knows he has potential to get out of South Boston and possibly do many great things with his superior intelligence, but he makes himself believe he doesn’t want to because of this other cognition. This cognitive dissonance he bares is the one main thing that keeps him from making a concrete decision of moving on to be something better. His intelligence is also something spectacular to look at, especially from a psychological approach. Although he has a much higher intelligence than others, the intelligence he has is concentrated on only one aspect of intelligence. His Componential intelligence is so over developed that it possibly caused the underdevelopment of his Contextual intelligence and emotional intelligence. His Componential intelligence is obviously much higher than others, which is seen when he works these complex math equations with such ease. His lack of Contextual intelligence is made very clear by Sean Maguire, his psychologist, played by Robin Williams. In one particular scene, Sean breaks down Will by stating that every response Will has to anything comes from a book. None of his responses come from real world experiences and therefore he has no real knowledge of the things you just can’t learn from books, such as love. One example is when Will speaks about Sean’s wife, he obviously had no knowledge of the pain or suffering Sean went through, but acted as if he did because he analyzed a painting Sean did. He is also lacking emotional intelligence substantially, which is shown regularly throughout the film. The scarcity of this part of his intelligence is possibly due to the fact he was beaten numerous of times as a child. This  caused his intelligence to possibly becoming immature in some parts and highly established in others. An example of this is evident throughout almost all the scenes with his somewhat girlfriend Skylar, played by Minnie Driver. He doesn’t quite know how to deal with relationships, mainly because he is lacking in this part of his intelligence, especially those relationships with the opposite sex. Through numerous of sessions with Sean and the aide of Skylar and his friend Chuckie, Will begins to confront this Cognitive dissonance. Not only does he realize that he indeed has a gift that needs to be utilized, but he also confronts this emotional intelligence deficiency by maturing it a bit and realizing that it’s not always bad to let someone inside and discover who you really are. By the end of the story Will has matured vastly in all aspects of Cognition. His emotional intelligence has increased greatly along with his Contextual intelligence. He also has found some Cognitive Consistency, which is what many people long for, especially those with extreme cognitive dissonance such as Will did.

Speech to the Young, Speech to the Progress-Toward

Bryce Donahue Professor Harsh English 102 16 March 2013 Speech to the Young. Speech to the Progress-Toward The poem â€Å"Speech to the Young, Speech to the Progress- Toward† by Gwendolyn Brooks is about keeping your head up and living each day to the fullest. The poem, given the time period, is most likely aimed towards African American people, but can now be related to anyone who may be having a rough day.Gwendolyn starts off the poem with four specific epithets. Gwendolyn states, â€Å"Say to the down-keepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers† (398)†¦ All of these epithets are used to describe negative people or someone who will try and get you down. She is trying to say don’t listen to what people say just go and live your life. Gwendolyn continues with, â€Å"’Even if you are not ready for day it cannot always be night† (398). Related article: Having Children While YoungShe tries to use night as a symbol of unhappiness and says if you are not ready to get over what has happened or whatever is making you feel down, you will have to at some point because the day, or happiness, will have to come at some point. Gwendolyn writes, â€Å"You will be right. For that is the hard home-run† (398). Gwendolyn uses a home-run to describe something that is hard to obtain, meaning that it will not always be easy to be happy, but you have to fight for it.Gwendolyn ends her poem with, â€Å"Live not for battles won. Live not for the-end-of-the-song. Live in the along† (398). In these final three lines Gwendolyn tries to tell people not to be stuck in the past, but do not try to rush through life, instead live in the moment and enjoy life and all the great things life has to offer. Work Cited Pearson. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Fourth ed. New Jersey: Kennedy Gio ia, 2010. Print.

Walt Disneys Company Strategy

Walt Disneys Company Strategy Introduction This report reflects some of the important findings in terms of strategy, organizational behaviour as well as recommendations that should be put in place for further growth. Walt Disney has been in the forefront of the entertainment industry especially in its four consumer markets namely: Studio and Motion pictures, media networks, consumer products and theme parks and resorts.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Walt Disneys Company Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This report further identifies some of the strengths and weaknesses that befall Walt Disney even with such glory. There are also some threats and opportunities that face this giant company. This report also analyzes the strategic goal of Walt Disney, especially in terms of product positioning, segmentation, pricing, channelling and also promotion. The recommendations that are outlined in the end will enable this company to prepare itsel f in dealing with the present threats as well as those that might come up in the future. Company History Walt Disney was established by Walter Elias in the early 1920’s and began as a cartoon studio until its growth to a global corporation. This company provides high class entertainment for people around the world. Walt Disney owns massive networks of media together with parks all over the world and operates mainly in North America, Asia, Europe as well as Latin America. This company has a strong brand image that enables it to draw huge numbers of customers especially to the extended entertainment products. This is a world class entertainment company with over 180,000 shareholders and employs about 60 thousand employees. Walt Disney has over the years relied on market diversification to achieve its main goal which is to draw more customers. This has enabled the company to grow massively developing from development, marketing as well as research (Jones 273). Walt Disney has be en able to enjoy the benefits of en masse production since it has been a market leader. An example would be when this company utilized extreme amounts of money to invest in its European theme park. It is estimated that the amount totalled to about $3.6 billion, which is a huge amount for other companies to afford. Walt Disney also enjoys the involvement of the government policy which is also demanding.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is estimated that the French government at one point invested about $1.2 billion in this project, provided transport as well as tax relief on cost of goods estimated to be 7 percent from the previous 18.6 percent. Since the entertainment industry in Disney is designed in a unique way, suppliers are less dominated hence bringing up concentration (Jones 274). Its growth is basically drawn from its size. The company is able to establi sh a dependable relationship with its suppliers since it orders products in large quantities. The Disney Company has been able to compete tirelessly with competitors by upgrading all products as well as services to fit customers’ expectations. Internal strength and weaknesses Walt Disney is one of the Hollywood’s largest studios, owning about eleven theme parks as well as other product channels. It owns media networks, theme parks and resorts all embedded in the company’s strong brand. However, there are other aspects like competition that affect its operations in terms of pricing, which leads to low margins. Some of the internal strengths include widened product portfolio, well established brand image as well as wells of Disney’s competitors include Universal Studios which has massive targets in Disney’s customers (Clark 5). Another weakness that Walt Disney has is the protest by some of the religious groups. Some of them claimed that the material s released by the company were offensive. Walt Disney also lacks innovative ideas that would work towards retaining customer’s attention. There have also been some negative sexual implications especially in some animated movies such as â€Å"The Lion King† and â€Å"Aladdin†, among others. External environment surrounding Walt Disney External Environment (p 1) states that Walt Disney is surrounded by competitors who are mainly saturated in the market especially in the U.S. Examples include Busch Entertainment which has equivalent financial resources to Walt Disney. However, with the demanding capital to enter the entertainment industry, Walt Disney finds itself comfortable with less competition. The corporate hierarchical structure of Walt Disney is stable, with decisions made from top to bottom management. The middle management is the one responsible for carrying out the available projects with the help from the lower management. The culture of the corporation is well defined where all employees must adhere to (External Environment 4). Disney has remarkable quantity of resources that are available for allocation. This is where Walt Disney associates with its brand name and quality to promote their products and services. The main financial objective of Walt Disney is to diversify in a tremendous rate so as to maximize their shareholder equity returns. Another strength that Walt Disney boasts about is the proper organization of its logistics operations, HR management, as well as Information Systems. Walt Disney has been able to grow over the years because the management has been in a unique position in the industry. They have been able to relate to past experience, thereby identifying the customers’ expectations.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More SWOT Analysis of Walt Disney Though Walt Disney has since grown to be a successful company, it is clear that there are market forces that drag or affect its performance. This analysis will focus on strengths of this company as well as weaknesses, not forgetting the possible opportunities and threats that befall this company. Strengths The main strength of Walt Disney is stored in its brand name. This company has a famous brand that is known to almost every one around the world. This strength is basically drawn from the company’s objective to be the world’s leading entertainment provider, differentiating its products and services from the competitors’. The Disney brand focuses on vibrant characters like Mickey Mouse, Pooh, just to mention a few, to attract customers especially children. Marimax studios together with that of Pixar have been beneficial to the company in reaching a large base of characters as well as attracting more brands (Clark 2). Disney has alwa ys focused on low-cost strategy which has enabled them to stay in the market for a while. It is clear that a company must have new and fresh ideas to stay in the current environment of business. This company is able to control costs and at the same time provide goods and services of high quality. Weaknesses The large workforce in the corporation has been one of the setbacks of this company, not forgetting lofty overhead expenses. Frequently changing the management system interferes with company’s operations because sometimes it becomes more complicated. One should also not forget that this change will always be associated with unwanted expenses. Threats The main threat that faces Walt Disney is within its television network. TBS (Tuner Broadcasting System) has mounted much pressure that Walt Disney cannot handle. It is also important to note that in the business environment, competition is inevitable even if there are high costs involved. There are small companies that risk i t all in order to fit in the market (The Walt Disney Company 9). One threat in the Disney’s cartoon industry is the introduction of new cartoon characters. There are quite a number of new characters that are seen everyday in the Television Network. This brings us to the question, â€Å"will the characters like Mickey Mouse hold the pressure internationally?† This can only be determined by observing the industry carefully. Walt Disney also faces major threats of its security system due to issues of terrorism. Employees also have the threat of losing their jobs because the company frequently engages in acts of introducing new executives. Opportunities Focusing on this SWT analysis, it is evident that Walt Disney uses demographic segmentation as its strategy. In today’s market, it would be important for this company to conduct psychographic strategy in order to increase the volume of customers. Corporate and Business Level Strategy Walt Disney is currently using an informal management approach which is horizontal and decentralized. The available departments are responsible for bringing up new ideas which are considered in the low hierarchy awaiting final decisions. The main focus of the management is on collective creativity of the groups as well as team work. Walt Disney has set aside a special Sunday when all the creative individuals meet in order to share their ideas (The Walt Disney Company 16). Every employee in this meeting is supposed to participate and pass on his or her ideas to the rest of the team. Walt Disney has also benefited from the services of the executives that are brought in by employees of the top management. These executives bring with them significant ideas and experience earned from previous entertainment industry to Walt Disney (The Walt Disney Company 19). Walt Disney uses emergent strategies which are not specifically planned. In this strategy, ideas come from the lower to the top management without the intervention of the seniors. This is one of the best strategies to be used by companies because many people can combine ideas to come up with a concrete strategy. Since Walt Disney has the intention of targeting families that love entertainment, it is strongly recommended that they cater for the ever changing trends as well as people’s life-styles. The success of Walt Disney has been in the vision of customers’ value. Walt Disney has been able to visualize the expected results and work upon achieving the best. The other principle of Walt Disney’s success is the ability to demonstrate leadership courage. Disney was able to portray his visions which inspired other people’s ambitions. He operated by trading values for values with those who felt the need to benefit from the corporation (Linetsky 3). Walt Disney also operates to provide the best quality. This is one of the ways that enables a company to establish long-term relationships with customers. The third principle used by Walt Disney is to be perfect in all possible ways without compromising the quality of the products and services. Disney is a profound perfectionist and wanted his ideas to work in every means. All his standards are set high because they demonstrate high moral value. Along with his standards, he also considered the costs of achieving as well as failing to achieve them. Disney maintained his high standards because they were the guide to his success. In some cases, Disney had to engage in some arguments with his employees and even family members in order to preserve the integrity of his standards. The fourth principle was about money. Disney believed that money was not an end but rather a means. He valued money as a source of financing his ventures and this made him achieve meaningful results (Linetsky 4). The fifth principle is exceeding the expectations of the customers. Disney ensured that his company created a positive customer experience so as to achieve great results. He believed that the most important achievement a company could have is have highly satisfied customers. The other principle was to create experiences that are much valued through the design of the entire business. This can be witnessed by the success and design of Disneyland. Its design took much planning techniques that later contributed to the present relaxing and refreshing experience. The excellent designs are also clearly demonstrated in Walt Disney’s film and park industries (Linetsky 5). The seventh principle was all about treating minds with total respect. In this aspect, Disney made use of the ideas of his employees to achieve his intended goals. He created a favourable working environment that enabled people to exchange ideas for better growth of the company. The eighth principle was all about treasuring creativity. Disney believed that dreams were creative and that it is important to translate them in real life. The last principle that worked for Disney was to think from all direction. Walt encouraged his workers to think and come up with developing ideas. At some point, he used sketches to implement his thoughts and dreams so that his workers could have a clear understanding of his ideas. He was actually comprehensive of those contributing ideas as well as insights (Linetsky 7). Structure and Control Systems Walt Disney has been profitable due to its use of diversification. Disney also uses synergy effectively as well as employee relation (Kirkman 1). These aspects have made this corporation to stay on top of the niche market. According to the analysis and prospects of Disney, it is clear that they are on the verge of competing with giants like Yahoo and the rest. The ability of Walt Disney to link innovative creativity to meet customer expectations is what makes him prevail in the entertainment industry. Converting imagination to real life or physical existence positively influences other people. Disney has been on the list of people who are responsible for technological and organizational innovations in animation as well as film industry (Dilts 1). Recommendations The first recommendation that I would strongly suggest is that Walt Disney should expand their line of production by engaging in market segmentation. This can be done through psychographic as well as observing the lifestyle characteristics of the customers. I strongly believe that Walt Disney can greatly benefit if it ventures into other industries like fast foods. Using the brand name Disney, they can attract a large group of customers especially kids. Walt Disney can as well consider introducing online learning software where children can learn more about animation. Walt Disney should as well analyze all the financial capabilities as well as policies that are implemented in the organization. This can be done through trend analysis in order to determine the financial growth of the corporation. There is also another aspect to be monitored further which is li quidity. This can be used to indicate the capability of the firm to meet its obligations; both short term and long term. Another change that would be necessary for the company’s profitability is to avoid the frequent change of the management. Though new executives bring with them new concepts, this posses a great risk in terms of communication efficiency within the organization. It is important that Walt Disney should focus on promoting the existing employees. This is simply because they understand the rules and the regulations of the company as well as capabilities of the other employees. It would also be important for Walt Disney to specialize in providing consumer products as well as rely on its marketing strategy. They should not only think of diversifying into a new line of products, but concentrate on the existing products and services as well. Walt Disney should put much emphasis on divisions such as the theme parks as well as film entertainment. This will avoid the ri sk of engaging in those markets that do not address customers’ needs in terms of products and services. I would also recommend that the company increases its asset requirements and maintain them under strict control. In terms of product delivery, it would be wise for Walt Disney to establish its own distribution channels. This can be done through channel strategy, delivering services and products to its esteemed customers. Promotional campaigns are also important which would see products expanded all over the market (Ali 19). Since Walt Disney is a multinational corporation, I strongly believe that they have the capability to financially promote their campaign programs. They can have large promotional budgets since they have their own line of media, hence saving costs of running ads on other media. The issue about pricing can as well be closely monitored so as to cater for a large number of customers. The pricing strategy should in fact focus on the Kim line of products (Ali 21). Ali, Shabir. Analysis of case: Walt Disney. 2009. Web. Clark, Wendel. â€Å"Walt Disney world SWOT analysis.† Demand Media Inc., n.d. Web. Dilts, Robert. Walt Disney: Strategies and genius, volume 3. Santa Cruz, CA: Meta Publication, 1996. Print. External Environment. Opportunities and threats. Scribd Inc. 2012. Web. Jones, R. Gareth. Case 21: Walt Disney Company 1995-2009. p. C273-C283, 2009. Print. Kirkman, Christopher. Strategy analysis of the Walt Disney Company. 2001. Web. Lai, Wilfred. Mixed opinions and less support persist with Hong Kong Disneyland. 2008. Web. Linetsky, L. Barry. Nine principles of Walt Disney success. 2007. Web. Media Releases. Residents have mixed opinions towards Hong Kong Disneyland. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2006. Web. The Walt Disney Company. A case study. 1996. Web.