Driving Under the Influence Essay - 1409 Words

Drunk driving is an issue that effects many people across our nation. People do not realize the affects alcohol can have on the body and mind that slow decision making while driving. This issue begins in the home. Children see their parents, or other adults figures, have a beer or a cocktail and get in the car. Thus, making it seem like it is acceptable to drink and drive. â€Å"One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime† (MADD). Driving under the influence is measured by a person’s blood alcohol level (BAC). BAC is determined by the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream. Individual counties and states have their own legal level on blood alcohol percentages that they measure a person’s†¦show more content†¦Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities were 1,028 in 2008 for the state of California (Century Council). Of those deaths, 68% of the drivers were considered â€Å"Hardcore Drunk Drivers†; drivers who had a BAC level of 0.15+ (Century Council). Unfortunately, the drivers who got behind the wheel of those vehicles now have to deal with the fact that they slaughtered a person(s), because they made the choice to drive their car when they knew they had consumed alcohol. Not so fun fact: In 2009,â€Å"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths last year, that is, on average someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired driving crash every 45 minutes in the U.S.† (National Highway). Doesn’t that just make you want to get in your car and go on road trip?! It seems odd to me that people would get behind the wheel after drinking. However, that is what alcohol does. Our brains are altered with a false sense of security. Alcohol impairs our thinking, making us have irrational thoughts or views. Yet, I also believe that individuals who choose to drive drunk have been brought up in a home where they witnessed a parent drive a car after consuming an adult beverage. Giving them a false idea that â€Å"my parents have been doing it and they are fine† kind of attitude. For myself, I do believe that a child who grows up in a home where they are exposed to parents drinking and driving will followShow MoreRelatedDriving Under The Influence Of Alcohol1945 Words   |  8 PagesDriving under the influence of alcohol not only presents a danger to the driver, but also to every other motorist or pedestrian near the roadway. Being intoxicated impairs ones judgment, vision and reaction time, all of which is critical when operating any motor ve hicle. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 6–27 and alcohol is a big factor to those numbers (jstor). Every 20 minutes, someone will die in an alcohol related traffic accident. Most people think itRead MorePenalties for Driving Under the Influence Essay726 Words   |  3 Pagesdirect effect on repeated offenders and drinkers who disregard the law. Some people argue that if stricter DUI laws existed, it will only have a negative financial effect on cities instead of stopping drunk driving. In the article, â€Å"At Issue: Drunk Driving†, the author explains how drunk driving remains an issue and what the effect of stricter DUI laws would have on social drinking in cities. The article states how people feel about tougher laws on social drinking: â€Å"Others feel that the current legalRead MoreDriving Under the Influence of Alcohol Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesDriving under the influence of alcohol has been a major issue in America, spanning all the way back to more than 50 years ago (Raymond). Many accidents are caused from drinking and driving yearly, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries involving innocent people. When alcohol is mixed with driving a motor vehicle, there are no limits to who may be at risk. This means that drunk driving has been harming, hurting and killing many innocent people in America. O ver the years I have witnessed manyRead MoreMyths around Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol1173 Words   |  5 Pagespast few years, therefore there have been many myths on how to not obtain a DUI or a DWI. New York became the pioneer state in which, they made to first drunk driving laws in 1910, followed shortly after California then the other forty-eight states followed. These DUI laws stated that a driver could not operate a vehicle while under the influence, although intoxication was not defined by legislature at this period of time. Then in the 1930’s committees wanted to make the roads safer. So The AmericanRead MoreThe Dangers Of Driving Under The Influence Of Alcohol And Drugs Along With Texting While Driving861 Words   |  4 PagesL. (2016). Texting, drugs, and driving: A triple threat to driving safety? Journal of Ergonomics, 6 (2), 1-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7556.1000154 This journal explains the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs along with texting while driving. This journal is useful in identifying the risks associated with intoxicated driving. It can also help in determining the effects of alcohol exposure in contrast to drugs and texting while driving to see if there are any performanceRead MoreAdolescents Attitudes Towards Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs1799 Words   |  8 Pagesadolescents’ attitudes towards driving under the influence of drugs. Adolescents will watch a documentary on drugged driving and then will be interviewed on their attitudes towards driving under the influence of drugs and their intentions to do so. Student’s experiences will be captured at three data points (i.e., prior to viewing the documentary, after watching the documentary, and 30 days after watching the documentary). Keywords: adolescents, driving, drugs, drugged-driving, intervention, young adultsRead MoreDriving Under the Influence4388 Words   |  18 PagesRunning head: Driving While Intoxicated Driving While Intoxicated SIM American University-Online Instructor Paul Jake Table of Contents Abstract 3 Driving While Intoxicated 4 DWI Offenders 5 Statistics 5 Type of Crime 7 Identifying 8 Facts and Myths 9 Sanctions and Counter Measures 10 Current Sentencing 11 Cost 12 Court 14 Current Preventions 15 Proposed Solutions 15 Read MoreEssay Persuasion, Indoctrination, and Inoculation1178 Words   |  5 PagesPERSUASION, INDOCTRINATION, AND INOCULATION 2 There are many dangers that plague us in today’s society. One of the most pressing issues is that of driving under the influence of alcohol. This is a problem for many reasons. Firstly, driving while intoxicated is illegal. It shows the rising problem of substance abuse, and most importantly, driving drunk is deadly. According to  Drinkinganddriving.org  (2008-2013),  900,000 are arrested each year for DUI/DWI and a full 1/3 of those are repeat offenders†Read MoreAlcohol Abuse At An Event944 Words   |  4 Pagespeer pressure. Alcohol has detrimental effects, both physical and mental health. Alcohol’s detrimental effects lead to the results of drinking and driving, antisocial behaviour, and it causes self embarrassment. Alcohol should not be served at an event. When alcohol is served at a party, unless a designated driver is used, the guests drive home drunk. Driving home drunk can cause severe consequences. Brad Tuttle, writer for Time Magazine, in an article he wrote â€Å"Skip the DUI and get a free ride homeRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol Abuse On The Body1644 Words   |  7 Pagesin the home, and so forth. (American 1). In the beginning, friends and family may protect and help the person that is addicted and abusing alcohol out of love, support, and concern. However, chronic offenses committed by the alcoholic while under the influence may permanently drive loved ones away. The disease of alcoholism and addiction is a family disease and affects everyone close to the person. Not only does the alcohol or drug user need help, so do the surrounding people, even if they do not

Similarities Between Hero And Beowulf Superhero - 753 Words

Superheroes are unique and have abilities to do things that ordinary people cannot. A superhero does not have to have physical abilities. A superhero is a overall strong individual, whether their strength is mental or physical. Superheroes are unique and can vary in abilities. Beowulf is a superhero like the well known superheroes in television. Beowulf has similar characteristics to Incredible Hulk, Superman, and Spider-Man. Although Beowulf shares many characteristics, he also has many that makes him unique. Beowulf is strong like Incredible Hulk, but does not hurt anyone unless necessary. Beowulf is brave like Superman, although he is not as big. Lastly, Beowulf is daring like Spider-Man, even though he cannot shoot webs from his†¦show more content†¦Beowulf’s strong abilities allow him to lift a sword made for the giants. Although Beowulf is like Incredible Hulk, they also have differences. Unlike Incredible Hulk, Beowulf is not mean. Beowulf cares for his country and only strives to protect them. Incredible Hulk is mean, and bullies anyone in his way. People run away from Beowulf, just like they would Incredible Hulk. People runaway from them because they are scared of their strengths. â€Å"Grendel’s one thought was to run from Beowulf†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Raffel, 1963, l.330-331). Beowulf is capable of lifting very heavy things, and which make him very powerful to the world. Secondly, Beowulf is daring and wild like Spider-Man. Beowulf is daring in many ways, and is not afraid to try new things and take risks. Beowulf will do whatever he has to in order to keep his country safe including going into a lake full of monsters. As stated in the book, â€Å"He leaped into the lake†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Raffel, 1963, l.467). Spider-Man is different from Beowulf, in the fact that he can swing from building to building using webs that come from his fingers. Beowulf and Spider-Man are similar by the risks they take. Beowulf takes many risks to save his country. â€Å"Beowulf resolves to kill Grendel’s monstrous mother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Raffel, 1963, p.52). Beowulf is daring and takes many risks. Lastly, Beowulf is brave like Superman. Beowulf and Superman are both trying to help save their areas. Beowulf is trying everything he can do to save his country including doing thingsShow MoreRelatedThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1317 Words   |  6 Pagesdescribe a hero: immense strength (physically and/or mentally), loyalty, honesty, dependability, etc. A hero is somebody who is a role model to many, so it makes sense that traits like the ones above are commonly looked for. When comic books were first introduced, in the early part of the twentieth century, they were not very popular. However, when World War II began, people began reading and enjoying comic books because of the different stories they told. Wonder Woman is a very well-known superhero. HerRead MoreBeowulf and Superman Essay689 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf, an anonymous English epic, is an archaic poem written in the times of the Anglo-Saxon reign in England. It speaks of a mighty hero, Beowulf, who thro ugh his great courage, strength, and cunning is able to defeat evil and vicious monsters and save his people. Beowulf shows great power and resourcefulness, and in this way is similar to one of my heroes, Superman. Beowulf and Superman have many similarities and differences. Superman and Beowulf have some obvious similarities. ForRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare953 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf is one of the most well known pieces of literature in history. Written between 700 and 1000 AD, this poem has captured the minds of scholars, historians, and readers across the globe. However, despite the fact that it has been passed down for numerous centuries, perhaps one of its most fascinating characteristics are the intriguing battles that Beowulf, the protagonist, takes on. Throughout this epic poem, Beowulf takes on many battles, all of which are practically unwinnable. Each battleRead MoreBeowulf, By William Shakespeare1512 Words   |  7 Pagesmore at play in Beowulf than just heroism and monstrousness (for lack of a better term) and their interrelation; however, a great deal of the poem’s meaning derives from the parallels between them. It is clear from his depiction in the poem Beowulf that the titular hero is clearly drawn as a parallel to the very monsters he fights. To today’s reader, the poet’s attempt to create this similarity may be off-putting. After all, the meaning of ‘monster’ is likely different than that of ‘hero’ to a contemporaryRead MoreLiterary Vs. Real Life Heroes1618 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"What makes a hero different in literature compared to real life heroes?† The heroes in literature works can be traced back through centuries of stories. A hero is usually seen as the â€Å"good† guy or the savior. They exhibit heroic behaviors. A literary hero can be critiqued into many different forms of literary heroes. Real life heroes are people in everyday life that do nobel exhibits in everyday life that people see as heroic. Both literary and real life heros have some similarities and differencesRead MoreThe Modern Medieval Hero1679 Words   |  7 Pages The Modern Medieval Hero The Modern Medieval Hero Bruce Wayne was only but a child when he watched helplessly as his parents were gunned down in front of him during a mugging in Gotham City. This crime would come to define his life. To the public, he would excel and succeed his father and become the heir and millionaire of the Wayne corporation. In secret, he would dedicate himself to becoming one of the world’s greatest weapons against crime—the Batman. Batman perfectly embodies

The Bribery Scandal at Siemens Ag Free Essays

1. †¢ In your opinion, is â€Å"bribing† unethical illegal or just a cost of doing business? Discuss this in light of Siemens’ bribery scandal. We believe that bribing is unethical because it takes away the fairness of a business transaction between bidders of a contract. We will write a custom essay sample on The Bribery Scandal at Siemens Ag or any similar topic only for you Order Now Bribing also has a negative impact on competition because it allows for oligopolies and monopolies to emerge in an industry due to smaller competitors being unable to financially compete with the amount of the bribes. This in turn   creates a barrier for entry for prospective companies and promotes the oligopoly or monopoly in place. The lack of competition affects consumer choice by reducing their options which then stifles innovation within the industry as there is no need to generate a competitive advantage to attain customers. The legality of bribing depends on the laws of the home country that the business is based from. For example, Siemens is a German based business and German law states that bribing officials of another country to win business contracts is illegal. So, under German law, Siemens was guilty of bribing an official when it bribed employees of the Italian company Enel to gain a contract as Enel was 68% owned by the Italian government. The counter-argument is that bribing is the cost of doing business. We disagree with this because the economic benefits gained from bribing are not outweighing the cost to a company’s reputation. As we see in this case, Siemens paid a 6 million euro bribe to secure a contract valued at 450 million euros which would seem like a cost of doing business for Andreas Kley and Horst Vigener but the legal and political cost almost triple the value of the contract in euros and a loss of reputation. These executives were fortunate to escape imprisonment for the illegal actions that were committed. A company must avoid bribing government officials to win business contracts however they can ask their own government for some type of aid in the situation. We believe that having your home government involved in fostering or mediating the trade relationship with another company can potentially give better results than bribing. Siemens should have gone on a business trade mission with German officials to another country because trade missions can help form a relationship and are sources f contacts which are valuable tools to win business contracts. †¢ What options do companies have to win business contracts without bribing, especially in foreign countries? Companies can use a combination of a number of alternatives to gain a business contract without violating the law. Internally, the organization can build a better product through investing money into research and development whi ch would then provide them with a competitive advantage to entice other businesses to choose them over a competitor. Externally, the organization can (1) contribute to the host country, (2) use complementary relations, (3) establish the status as a market leader, (4) provide attractive business trade agreements, (5) offer outstanding business intelligence, and/or (6) differentiate service with quality contractors. Contributing to a host country would include assistance in a country’s development in terms of infrastructure, job generation, investments, and through imports. The use of complementary relations is a common practice in the business world. An example would be the relationship between car manufacturers and host countries. For a foreign company to enter the Chinese auto market, they need to establish a joint venture agreement with a local car manufacturer. It is a policy that the Chinese government imposed to protect the local auto business from strong foreign competitors. (source cited http://factsanddetails. com/china. php? itemid=349catid=9subcatid=62 ) Establishing the status of a market leader is less risky for a company with strong sales and a promising market for its products. This can be an advantage in securing a deal with a strong company status in the industry. Providing attractive business trade agreements by making bigger concessions when negotiating a deal can be a great way to win a business contract. By offering a larger bulk order discount or other forms of compensation such as a royalty after a set number of units sold. This shifts the bribe from an illegal under the table pocketed amount of cash to an above the board legal bonus contingent on performance. Offering outstanding business intelligence skills is the ability to transfer organizational skills to better manage costs, strategies, and tactics in developing quality products and services in the foreign country. The transfer of these skills will most likely develop a long term relationship between the company and the foreign nation it operates in. In addition, companies value intelligent partners. With this in place, companies can stand out with this knowledge or expertise. 2. †¢ Was the board right in not extending Kleinfeld’s term, especially in view of his over performance as a CEO? The decision to refrain from extending Kleinfeld’s term was undoubtedly a difficult one for a number of reasons, however it was the right decision given the awkward circumstances surrounding his term   as CEO. The primary concern with this decision was that Kleinfeld had brought many benefits to Siemens in a short time. In just two years under his direction Siemens’ stock price shot up and there was a shift in the way the company did business as the importance of Siemens’ customers was stressed as equally important to their technology. Kleinfeld’s drastic reform of the corporation, although disliked by some of the older fashioned managers, was visibly effective. This previous concern also sprouts another, by not extending Kleinfeld, Siemens would now have to find a replacement CEO; a task that would surely be difficult after the public backlash resulting from the scandal. However, despite both of those concerns the decision to neglect to extend him was made. One of the reasons is that although he was impressive in his short tenure, all of the successes of the corporation under his guidance are now questionable. In other words, how much did the corrupt practices of bribery that Siemens was accused of impact the increased success of the company in that same time. This thought alone tainted the view of Kleinfeld’s time as the CEO. Even if Kleinfeld was truly fully ignorant to these corrupt practices, it does not absolve him because as the CEO it is his duty to be in full control of Siemens. He failed at clearly explaining to the entire corporation their code of conduct with regards to bribery and the consequences, therefore he is personally to be held responsible for the actions of his employees. It is for these easons that Siemens needed a clean slate if they were to reform their public image. If Kleinfeld had been retained then much of these beliefs would continue and it would have been harder still for Siemens to recover from such a devastating scandal. A new leader was needed to represent an ethical overhaul of the corporations code of conduct in order to effectively rebound from th e backlash of the events. †¢ What is likely to be the impact of his departure on the company? Kleinfield’s departure as a CEO from Siemens had an impact on the employees, the board of directors, the company’s revenues, and the intellectual property. Kleinfied was very popular in the company and a charismatic leader to a number of young and proactive employees, there is a possibility that these employees to follow his departure. Also, because of the employees’ admiration of Kleinfield’s management style there is a possibility that these workers might regress to the old fashioned ways of doing things in the company. Another element in the company that was affected by Kleinfield’s departure was the board of directors. We know that Kleinfield did a major restructuring in Siemens, but didn’t create a good relationship with the supervisory board. This potentially made him expendable when the corruption scandal hit, and opened the eyes of everyone on the board of directors to a new change in conduct and social responsibility. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, another way where Kleinfield’s departure might affect the revenues of the company would be in the future election of a new CEO. Given the bad reputation Siemens acquired, it stands to reason that they will have to overpay a new qualified person to become the CEO because that person will have to deal with resucing the company in the wake of this scandal. Nevertheless, one of the biggest impacts of Kleinfield’s departure from the company is the loss of intellectual property. By losing a very efficient CEO, who transformed the company in a short period of time, Siemens lost a great asset that can also become a threat to the company if hired by a competitor. †¢ Was Siemens really at fault or was it just unfortunate to have got caught given the perception that many companies have to resort to bribing to win contracts? We believe Siemens was unfortunate to get caught but that it is also their fault. Firstly, we think it is unfortunate because there are many other companies that bribe in the world. Being one of the few companies caught bribing made Siemens’ situation unfortunate, but it didn’t exempt it from being the company’s fault. Since the company decided to bribe, they fully understood the consequences of getting caught. Compare this with a thief: just because all the other thieves are stealing, it does not mean robbing someone is without recourse. In the end, because Siemens acted illegally by choosing to ignore its corporate social responsibility and by abiding the rules of the country, it is reasonable to recognize the company made a mistake by taking a poor risk and having it backfire. Work Cited Helen Deresky,  International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures, 7th ed. (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2011), 61-71. Facts and Details. â€Å"Foreign Companies Foreign Investment in China†. Last modified April, 2012. http://factsanddetails. com/china. php? itemid=349=9=62 How to cite The Bribery Scandal at Siemens Ag, Essay examples

Comparisons of the Renaissance and Baroque Periods free essay sample

This enlightenment movement eventually spread throughout Europe and became known as the Renaissance period. (Dewitt, Alarming, Shields, 2012). Prior to the Renaissance, the Church had influenced art with emphasis on religious themes. The basic reason for paintings was to be viewed in a religious setting. Art was one dimensional with no shadows and solemn expressions. Statues were non-existent less they be mistaken for Idols. But Renaissance art placed emphasize on realism and objectivity. Lighting, lines and form were implemented into paintings.The human body was drawn and sculpted with Roman and Greek Influence. Artist attempted to make art that was believable and real. New techniques such as linear perspective, chiaroscuro (use of light and dark) and a wide spectrum of colors were used to project three-dimensional space. Some of the artists 1 OFF The Baroque Era began around the 16th century in Rome. It was a time of exploration, increased trade and further discovery of the sciences. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparisons of the Renaissance and Baroque Periods or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was also a time of frequent battles throughout Europe as a result of the religious struggle. Dewitt, Alarming, Shields, 2012).The Reformation movement had challenged the Catholic Churchs influence on society and religion and the Church was reasserting itself by constructing elaborate buildings and commissioning new art. (Dewitt, Alarming, Shields, 2012). Religious themes, bright colors and dramatic subjects define Baroque art. Paintings had extravagant and ornamental settings. Common themes were grandiose visions, ecstasies and conversions, martyrdom and death, intense light, intense psychological moments. (McKay, Brett Kate, 2010) Artist of this era includeAggravating, Rembrandt and Peter Paul Rueben. The Renaissance and Baroque share similarities in their existence. Both forms were developed as a response to the prior era. Teachers and philosophers who questioned theology dictation as a way of life developed the Renaissance period. They thought that man could have an individual relationship with God without the Church acting as the conduit. They also thought that man and his accomplishments should be celebrated. In their mind, God had in fact created the world, but man could be a creator as well. They challenged common beliefs about the solar system and integrated math and science into education. The Baroque period came about as the Church attempted to reassert itself into both art and the society that had been altered by the Renaissance era. Reformers such as Martin Luther and Charles Calvin had embarrassed the Church by exposing hypocrisy and unethical behavior among its leadership. To combat this religious setback, large churches and religious buildings were erected and art was commissioned for them. But this religious art was different than the art of the Middle Ages.Renaissance techniques were added to give perspective and dimension to the paintings along with bright colors and dramatic themes. But the eras are dissimilar as well. Styles were dramatically different in appearance. Renaissance painters strives for realism and had removed the drama and emotion leaving their paintings still and lifeless. Baroque was the opposite and in comparison, some thought Baroque art was curious and strange (which is roughly what the word means in French). (Dewitt, Alarming, Shields, 2012). The Catholic Church needed a visual language to reemphasizes the faith.Baroque art deviated from Renaissance with dramatic and lifelike scenes. There was a realism and immediacy to the viewer. Colors and textures were vivid and dramatic. Two pieces of art that show both similarities and differences of the eras are The Mood Crucifixion by Raphael and Crucifixion by Anthony Van Deck. Both works show the same subject of the crucifixion of Christ but Van Docks painting is much more dramatic showing pain, suffering and dramatic colors. The piece by the Renaissance artist Raphael is expressionless and flat.This is also evident in the comparison twine the Baroque period painting, Madonna and Child with Saints by Sebastian Rice and the Madonna del Grandeur by Raphael. Again, same subject but dramatically different presentations with color and emotion. Historically, the Renaissance is stilled looked on as an influential period. Celebrated today. Philosophies and ethics formulated by Socrates and Aristotle are evident in business and studied in school curriculum. The accomplishments of that era are still researched and Renaissance art and culture is romanticizes at fairs and meetings.

La Haine Review free essay sample

In exploring racism in the Paris suburbs, this film has a direct contrast with more typical French films, such as Amelie(2001) which presents a far more romantic and idyllic vision of French life. The beginning of La Haine shows the beating of a Parisian in comparison to the beginning of Malcolm X which in the beginning, shows the beating of Rodney King and these two have a direct comparison as they both represent inequality as those people being beaten up had done no crime or malignant deed to deserve the beatings. La Haine† has such a huge impact as the film remakes how the riots in the outskirts of Paris were created and how the three adolescents from different ethnic backgrounds, where Vinz is Jewish, Said is Arab and Hubert is African, cope with ongoing riots. The director(Mathieu Kassovitz) inspiration was the riots of LA and the riots in Paris and how the riots had similar effects. We will write a custom essay sample on La Haine Review or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Post industrial revolution, the main situation in France at this time was that people were succumbed into creating riots due to a police beating a person off-duty which happened in Les Banlieues. Les Banlieues also had a policy of ensuring that not one culture or ethnic group was over represented in Les Banlieues which intended to prevent a power struggle of independence. Les Banlieues are mainly in the outskirts of the city and are teeming with high drug use, social fragmentation, racial conflict, suburban decay, violence, crime, delinquency and even civil disorder in comparison to the â€Å"ghettos† in LA . In Les Banlieues, riots started to occur and multiple violent acts were committed against property and people These environments gradually became more public and developed strong opinions about life in Les Banlieues. This environment reinforces the adolescents need to construct a masculine identity as Les Banlieues is a dangerous, threatening society to live in so this reinforces the need for a masculine identity because the adolescents feel that they have succeed in certain situations that requires physical strength and fitness and also tend to express themselves verbally and physically. This is shown after the beginning when Vinz has a banter with Said. Kassovitz develops the identities of Vinz, Said and Hubert in certain scenes. In the scene where Vinz finds a policemans gun, his normal persona changes as Vinz vows to kill every policeman if the trios friend,Abdel, dies. This depicts his masculinity as Vinz is subtly pressured to act masculine due to Abdel being in hospital and if Vinz appears to look or become weak then it will appear to Said and Hubert that Vinz is more feminine if Vinz expresses his emotions. This will also, as a whole, ruin Vinzs self-esteem. Another scene where there is another development of Vinzs identity is the scene where the trio confronts an off-duty cop. Vinz seemingly â€Å"plays† with the cop with the gun in his hand, suggesting that they should kill the cop. This shows another development in Vinzs masculine identity as Vinz is was challenged by Hubert that he wont kill a cop and this threatens his identity and therefore plans to prove to the trio. The effect of this is to show how mens masculinity are constructed in harsh conditions and how this affects their personality to become more reckless. â€Å"La Haine†, as a story, is more symbolic than realistic. Motifs are repeated throughout the film, such as in the beginning the phrase â€Å"What is important is not how you fall but how you land†.. In â€Å"La Haine† there are American influences such as near the beginning of the film, it shows footage of the beating of a Parisian person and the Parisian riots and how it affected people which was in juxtaposition to The Beating of Rodney King which lead to the riots in LA. Kassovitz does this to reinforce the message of social inequality and its effects. Also how lower class people are disadvantaged more than upper class people due to economic issues. Phrases are shown throughout the film poster integrated into several shots such as The world is yours which shows the hypocrisy of the phrase with in relation to scenes such as as in contrast to the footage of the beating of a Parisian. Also another link would be the Taxi Driver impersonation where Vinz talks to himself in front of his bathroom mirror. The film also is in monochromatic black and white which implies how good and bad correspond together. Violence is depicted in the film mainly near the end when an off-duty police ambushes Vinz and accidentally shoots him dead and then Hubert points a gun at the policeman, intent on killing the policeman. This is important as this shows the reality of life, how valuable life is and how easy it is to take away life. In a summary,â€Å"La Haine† is an outstanding film which portrays society in different locations and different perspectives of how people are recognised due to masculinity and social status and how people adapt to harsh surroundings.

Information Technology (IT) Vocabulary for ESL

Information Technology (IT) Vocabulary for ESL The Information Technology Field is large and accounts for a lot of jobs. If English isnt your native language, it can be difficult to know what vocabulary you need to use for work or talking about the industry. You can find the right words in the Occupational Handbook provided by the United States Department of Labor, but looking through all of them can be overwhelming. To make things easier, here is a list of some of the most important English vocabulary items for the information technology field, selected from the Occupational Handbook. This list is by no means complete. However, it provides a good starting point to further explore the vocabulary youll use in the industry. Each word includes its ​part of speech. There are a number of suggestions at the end of the list to help you build on and further improve your vocabulary. Top Information Technology Vocabulary Ability - (noun)Accounting - (noun)Addition - (noun)Adequate - (adjective)Administrator - (noun)Advance - (noun / verb)Analysis - (noun)Analysts - (noun)Analyze - (verb)Annual - (adjective)Application - (noun)Architect - (noun)Area - (noun)Arise - (verb)Associate - (noun / verb)Background - (noun)Business - (noun)Carpal - (adjective)Carrier - (noun)Certification - (noun)Chapter - (noun)Chief - (noun)Code - (noun / verb)Common - (adjective)Communicate - (verb)Communication - (noun)Competitive - (adjective)Computer - (noun)Computing - (noun)Concentrate - (noun / verb)Considerable - (adjective)Consultant - (noun)Consulting - (noun)Coordinate - (verb)Create - (verb)Customer - (noun)Cyber - (adjective)Data - (noun)Database - (noun)Deal - (noun / verb)Decline - (verb)Demand - (noun / verb)Design - (noun)Designer - (noun)Detailed - (adjective)Determine - (verb)Developer - (noun)Development - (noun)Discussion - (noun)Effectively - (adverb)Efficiency - (noun)Electronic - (adjective)Employ - ( verb) Engineering - (noun)Engineer - (noun)Enterprise - (noun)Environment - (noun)Equipment - (noun)Expertise - (noun)Eyestrain - (noun)Finance - (noun)Financial - (adjective)Firm - (noun)Force - (noun / verb)Function - (noun)Goal - (noun)Graduate - (noun / verb)Hardware - (noun)Implementation - (noun)Install - (verb)Institution - (noun)Instruction - (noun)Insurance - (noun)Integrate - (verb)Intranet - (noun)Introductory - (noun)Involved - (adjective)Keyboard - (noun)Knowledge - (noun)Laboratory - (noun)Language - (noun)Latest - (superlative adjective)Lead - (noun / verb)Leadership - (noun)Level - (noun)Location - (noun)Lowest - (superlative adjective)Maintain - (verb)Maintenance - (noun)Marketing - (noun)Mathematics - (noun)Matrix - (noun)Median - (noun)Mobile - (adjective)Monitor - (noun / verb)Nature - (noun)Network - (noun)Networking - (noun)Officer - (noun)Office - (noun)Offshore - (adjective)Order - (noun / verb)Organization - (noun)Outsourcing - (noun)Oversee - (verb)Pdf - (noun)Per form - (verb) Performance - (noun)Period - (noun)Plan - (noun / verb)Prevailing - (adjective)Problem - (noun)Process - (noun / verb)Product - (noun)Program - (noun / verb)Programmer - (noun)Project - (noun)Projections - (noun)Promoted - (adjective)Prospect - (noun)Provide - (verb)Publishing - (noun)Rapid - (adjective)Reduce - (verb)Relevant - (adjective)Remote - (adjective)Replace - (verb)Research - (noun / verb)Resource - (noun)Respond - (verb)Rounded - (adjective)Sales - (noun)Science - (noun)Scientific - (adjective)Scientist - (noun)Section - (noun)Security - (noun)Service - (noun)Simultaneously - (adverb)Site - (noun)Software - (noun)Sophisticated - (adjective)Specialist - (noun)Specialized - (adjective)Specific - (adjective)Spend - (verb)Staff - (noun)Statistic - (noun)Substantial - (adjective)Sufficient - (adjective)Support - (noun / verb)Syndrome - (noun)System - (noun)Task - (noun)Technical - (adjective)Technician - (noun)Technological - (adjective)Technology - (noun)Telecommunications - ( noun) Title - (noun)Tool - (noun)Training - (noun)Transfer - (noun / verb)Uncommon - (adjective)Understanding - (noun)User - (noun)Variety - (noun)Vendor - (noun)Web - (noun)Webmaster - (noun)Wireless - (adjective)Worker - (noun)Workplace - (noun) Improving Your Vocabulary Tips Review each word in the list. Do you know its meaning? If not, look it up in the dictionary.Use each word in a sentence. Using a new word both when speaking and writing will help you remember it.Use the words to describe your job, or working in the information technology profession in general. How specific can you be? Which words do you need beyond this list? Make sure to keep track.Learn synonyms and antonyms by using an online thesaurus  to further extend your vocabulary.Use a visual dictionary. It  will help you learn the names of specific equipment used in the industry.Listen to co-workers and note how they use these words. Ask co-workers about new words when youre not sure.Ask co-workers questions about how new words are used at work.Search online for information about information technology. Listen to podcasts on the subject, read a blog about agriculture. Keep informed in English and your knowledge of related vocabulary will grow quickly.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example When determining strategies, it is important to integrate social issues as an element of a business’s social responsibility to further instill social realignment of businesses. A firm must implement those social business practices that have economic benefits. The business must carry out its operation in a socially responsible manner which reflects its commitment to corporate social responsibility. Do for the society which is legally required and also benefits the business. Firstly, the business must be able to make enough profits so that future costs can be covered and social responsibility met (Fred R, 2005. Corporate social responsibility can be defined as a form of corporate self-regulation incorporated into a business model. The concept first came into use after the advent of many multinational firms after 1960s. The self-regulated conduct of businesses must abide by the law, ethical standards and international customs. The goal of CSR is to basically endorse the firms to take responsibility for their actions and must not negatively impact the environment, consumers, employees, stakeholders and communities. The must make sure not to harm the public in any way and promote their interest by encouraging community development. It instills the concept of ‘triple bottom line’ that is; people, planet, and profit by including public interest in the decision-making of firms. The businesses have to bring some much-needed changes into their mission statements to comply with the social responsibility. Many businesses have started to introduce the concept of social accounting which emphasizes the need for corporate accountability, that is; developing appropriate measures and reporting techniques to those who the firm is accountable to. There are some standards and frameworks which the business can use as a guideline for their auditing and reporting like AccountAbility’s AA1000 standard. CSR requires firms to produce ethically strong annual fin ancial report and sustainability report so that their social, economic and environmental performance can be measured (Visser, 2008). A business might have to forgo short-term financial benefits when adopting CSR strategy, but there are many long-term advantages that help a business in future, other than financial ones. By adopting CSR, the recruitment and retention can improve. The recruits are more likely to enroll in a firm which follows CSR. The morale of the employees is also lifted when they are asked to participate in social activities like payroll giving, fundraising programmes and community volunteering. A company’s decade old reputation and goodwill can be easily damaged by socially irresponsible actions like corruption scandals or environmental accidents. Negative reactions from media, government, courts and regulators can affect the public image of a firm. CSR also helps build consumer loyalty by practicing distinctive ethical values. Successful businesses such as The Body Shop and American Apparel have a strong reputation for integrity and best practice and therefore maintain a strong brand loyalty. The Body Shop strictly opposes product testing on animals and support community trade with developing countries. Companies easily get a license to operate in many countries when they follow Corporate Social Responsibility. There is also a great argument of insincerity and hypocrisy attached to CSR. Some people

Business Writing and Presentation Research Paper

Business Writing and Presentation - Research Paper Example Apparently, these economic activities include trade, which requires investment and the help of technology. Evidently, globalization needs the support of the political machinery in different countries. Notably, since it impacts the general environment and culture in different countries, the processes of trade affect culture and the processes themselves get affected by culture and adapt (Bonacich, 1998). Furthermore, globalization increases competition and adds to the quality of goods and services produced in a country (particularly less developed countries) (Lechner, 2012). Evidently, globalization has been present for a great deal of time Moreover, with the advent of technology, specially in the fields of communication, a great amount of mutuality now exists in terms of financial dependency and economic trade (Rein, 2012).It is importat to note that there is a lot of speculation regaridng globalization recently. On that point, the growth rate of international trade which was rapid, h as diminished in the past few years, especially with global economies going into recessions (Bonacich, 1998). However, globalization is still in the running and growing phase. In the past investments and technology innovations were moving from the Developed countries to the Developing or Less Developed countries (Lechner, 2012). However, that is a thing of the past now. Emerging markets are taking over the role in innovation and investments worldwide. For instance, Apple’s chief rival is not a European or even Japanese company, but South Korea’s Samsung (Arnett, 2004). Apparently, it is worth noting that as the textiles industry developed in China and Japan, China began exporting textiles and is now the leading exporter in the world. Notably, globalization has altered the competition in the world, which is further fuelled by economic reforms unique to its own country (Lechner, 2012). Although, globalization aims to enhance effeciency in production through

Directive analysis of what to do in the evnt of a disatser that is Essay

Directive analysis of what to do in the evnt of a disatser that is possibly due to global warming, such as a hurricane - Essay Example Preparing for a hurricane before it arrives involves making an emergency plan and getting together the important supplies. The first step is to see what your insurance covers and see if any adjustments are needed in the policy. Many valuables, like cars, are damaged so it is best to make sure that all costly belongings are insured. Also, have an evacuation plan and map out the closest escape routes that will take you and your family away from the danger zone. Have emergency family or friend contact numbers and decide beforehand where to go in case of an evacuation. This also involves organizing a list of the absolute necessary items to take along to avoid confusion and panic when a storm does hit. It is also important to locate the safest room or area of the house, preferably on the lower level, if the need arises to stay inside rather than evacuating. After a plan has been set up, it is now important to get the supplies and disaster kit ready. Make a list of the items needed such as a first aid kit, non-perishable food items, water, blankets, medication, hand crank powered radio, batteries and flashlights (Henthorn 2011). It is essential to secure all the important documents in water proof bags or containers. Make sure to have a sufficient amount of cash at home and do not wait till the last minute to fill up your vehicle with gas. Also get together plywood or shutters and the required tools to board up windows and doors if hurricane warnings are close. If your budget allows, have a back up generator in case of power outages and electricity failure. Be knowledgeable about any weather changes and continue to listen to the news about updates. This will help you and your family make any necessary adjustments to the plan and gathered supplies. Knowing what to do during a hurricane is just as important as planning for it. If staying inside, seek protection in the safest area of the house and keep yourself and your family away from windows and glass doors. Make sure to turn off all heavy duty appliances, like refrigerators and microwaves, to minimize damage. Do not go out to check on the hurricane even if it seems calm, because there can still be flying debris and rapidly increasing winds (Henthorn 2011). Through out the storm continue to communicate with your family in order to engage in a normal activity and help with any feelings of fear and panic. Also, keep on listening to the radio to be informed of any changes taking place. If the need arises to evacuate, try to turn off all utilities and appliances, gather only the necessary items and follow the proper evacuation routes. Remember that during a hurricane it is important to stay calm and ensure the safety of your loved ones. It is equally critical to be precautious after a hurricane because injuries can still be sustained even if the storm has passed. Do not leave the house in order to check on the damage done until a clear sign is given by the authorities. Avoid coming into contact with puddles, loose wires and smashed trees (Henthorn 2011). Try to use your phones for emergency purposes only, reporting broken gas or water pipes, and unstable power lines. If power had to be restored, carefully go about the house checking on food and other items, staying clear of electrical appliances and wires. In the

Vodafone Advertising Strategies Analysis

Vodafone Advertising Strategies Analysis Marketing Strategy is a key part of overall corporate strategy, which is concerned with developing plans for finding out what customers want and then effectively meeting their requirements. Vodafones marketing aim is to attain market leadership, network quality and maximize the customer satisfaction. They strategy used by Vodafone is customer focused and product led; the company is continually developing new products and services which utilise the latest technological advances. The aim is extended to provide the customers with e value added services and also competitive charges to the existing customers. The objective of the study is to understand the advertisement strategies adopted by Vodafone Essar in India, and to study the effectiveness of the campaign of Vodafone- Indian Premiere League Season 2 and to make a study of effectiveness of the advertisement strategies of Vodafone in their current market. Vodafone is the most valuable as well as leading international telecommunication company. It has partnered a joint venture in the Indian market with the Essar Group. Essar is a perfect example of the diversified business corporation which is spanning the services and the manufacturing sectors, for eg, steel, shipping and logistics, communications, energy etc. This group has a base asset of about 400 million rupees and an employee group of more than 20,000 people. 21st September 2007, the launch of memorable joint venture, the Vodafone Essar group. Vodafone in India was welcomed with a fantastic phrase Hutch is now Vodafone campaign. Hutch was as it is very famous among people of India, now it was wisely transitioned to Vodafone. This was a significant chapter in the history of telecom, as the evolution of Vodafone, considered to be a very dynamic and at the time ever-growing brand. This brand across India was unveiled country wide through high profile ad-campaign. This migration of Hutch to Vodafone was the fastest and most comprehensive in the history, with 400,000 multi-brands outlets, from which over 350 were Vodafone stores, over 1,000 mini stores, over 35 mobile stores and over 3,000 touch points that were rebranded within 2 months. The company now has 74.08 million customers**. It has earned titles over the years that are Most Respected Telecom Company, the Best Mobile Services in the Country, Most Creative and Most Effective Advertiser of the Year. The study has found out that the advertisement strategies that have been used by the Vodafone Essar have give them better results by increasing their sales. This fact has been proved by the various research tools that can be used such as the correlation, hypethesis testing. This research will sure help the companies to work and improve their advertising strategies, because advertisements are the best ways to convince the people about our brand or product, and make their minds to go and get them. Problem Statement The research statement is To study and analyze the effectiveness of the advertisement strategies adopted by the Vodafone Essar Group The above problem statement quoted is not exactly a research that is to be performed instead it is an analysis to find out whether the advertisement of Vodafone Essar were effective or not. This study will definitely benefit the company by suggesting them if any future changes required in the present strategies. This will also help them in attaining good result in the next financial year with better sales. Research Objectives The objectives of the research are To understand the advertisement strategies of Vodafone Essar. A study of the effectiveness of the campaign used in the Indian Premiere League season -2. To study the effectiveness of the advertisement strategies in the current the market condition. Vodafones Marketing Strategies : Hutch to Vodafone Re-branding of Hutch with Vodafone Vodafones new advertisement strategies started with the very same and familiar character of pug, brand ambassador of Hutch, the hutch dog. Tagline previously was wherever you go, our networks follows with the pug following the child wherever he goes. The message given with the brand transition exercise was The new Vodafone is the same old Hutch. In the advertisement the pug finds a new house after it returns from an outing and feels that the new change is better. They came with the new catch phrase Make the most now. Vodafone had also tied up with the entertainment channels like Star India to run the advertisements and completely roadblock it for 24-hours with the rebranding campaign. Vodafone used all its commercial airtime on 13 channels in 5 different languages from 9pm 20th September to 9pm 21st September to show this campaign. Promotion of the Re-branding to the public Conventionally if we see, for any rebranding to be promoted requires ample period of time. But this challenge was readily taken by Star Network and Maxus, to make it as fast as possible by road blocking the channels on the day of rebranding taken place. Since Star is the leading network in India, this platform proved itself to be very beneficial for the launch of the Vodafone. This not only helped in promoting the brand awareness but also breaks the clutter going on the most happening sector of telecom. The print media came into picture on 21st September one day after the splash from the television. While the rebrand campaign were doing their work on television on the other hand the company was preparing itself to fight the price war, which was again very important factor firstly in telecom sector and secondly in the Indian market. Entry of Vodafone in the Handsets Market Vodafone also launched low-costs handsets to its new subscribers under the Vodafone brand and also co-branded the handsets sourced from the other global vendors. This was done by bringing many low- costs handsets from around the world into India. Vodafone distributed these handsets through its network of 400,000 outlets. By doing all this Vodafone also became a mass mobile phone brand along with continuing to stay as the telecom service provider. The above strategy was used by the CDMA players like RCOM and TATA Tele-services but Vodafone was the first GSM to do this. The Vodafone, a communication leader in an increasingly connected world also enriches the lives of the consumers, helping the individuals, businesses and also the communities to be more connected by delivering them their total communication needs. Vodafones logo is itself a representation of that belief the start of a new conversation, a trigger, a catalyst, a mark of true pioneering. Advertising is the most frequently used tool to support or promote the rebranding, also its very easy, flexible and quick to change. There are also many examples where advertising has rebranded and repositioned or strengthen brands. There were also examples which developed strong emotional link with the public. The advertising agency of Hutch and now Vodafone, O M(Ogilvy and Mather) had two-folded task to do, first to announce the entry of Vodafone to India and second to highlight the transition of Hutch to Vodafone. Which they did very wisely with the pug, in a campaign they showed the pug coming out of the pink kennel and then entering into the red one, the pink color depicted Hutch whereas the red depicted the Vodafone. A more energetic and chirpier version of the song You and Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ tune associated with Hutch was also played towards the end and it concludes Change is Good, Hutch is now Vodafone. Advertising agency that proved the success of Vodafone OM also introduced four commercials, which had animated boy and a girl who launched the logo of this new brand to consumers. The four creatives which were merely of 5 seconds included the duo peeping over the wall just to see the logo; parasailing with the logo flying high behind them; releasing a rocket bomb where the explosion in the air reveals the brand logo; and last was the trendy one in which curtain was raised in order to introduce the logo. Another bunch of four advertisements casted the very old Hutch dog pug. These commercials were of 10 seconds and they shot pug in the situations where he literally, saw red, color created the visual impact on the consumers this strategy made the public remember the color of the brand. The pug was shown in a basket that was red in color, popping from a red cart, drying itself on a mat which was also red in color, finally hiding itself in a beautiful red color blanket. Here also the target was fulfilled with the help of the punch line Hutch is now Vodafone. The print ads were working in their own way, in various languages and in various dailies. These print ads were made very simple as in a still shot of the pug was taken inside a red colored kennel. The same creative was used on the outdoor hoardings as well, in all the 16 circles in which Vodafone was now operating. It wasnt easy as it seems to be to integrate the two brands like Hutch and Vodafone. Hutch as is known is a subtle, understand the brand, while globally, Vodafone represents high energy, dynamics and young vitality, all these were represented by its bright red speech mark logo. And because of all this it always had a very energetic background music and feel of the ads. A few advertisement include Hutch is now Vodafone: if we watch any of the start channels or tuned to the 20-20 world cup, the ads were seen. On 11 February 2007, Vodafone agreed to acquire the controlling interest of 67% held by Cheung Kong Holdings in Hutch-Essar for US$11.1 billion and now had to rebrand itself so it had decided to run a new ad series which piggy banked on Hutchs dog mascot and the theme Change is Good. This required nearly 250 crores of spending by Vodafone, but they have successfully painted the town into their color that was red. The most interesting part of it was the 24 hours roadblock that was done on the day of rebranding on the channels of Star network, so that other than this one no other commercials was aired(apart from the in-channel promos). Vodafone also came up with the Valentine Day Special Ads: Vodafone released a very sweet and simple ad of the musical greetings that were targeted at the couples during the Valentine week. The feature of the campaign is its simplicity and believability and is quite well received. It uses the positioning Make the Most of Now enjoy the video. Vodafone Chota Credit Ink Ad: this ad came as a refreshing change and more so that this ad takes a very refreshing look at the school and at fountain pens. This ad creates very wonderfully subtle message which really puts the point of Chota(small) credit across. Vodafone and the Funny Advertisements Everyone likes Funny commercials. Creative people like creating them. Advertiser are pleased to be running them. The consumers enjoy watching them.(Roman and Mass, 1976) In market today there is a lot of competition among the producers, and a lot of choices among the buyers. There is actually a race for proving that one product is better than the other. Producers/ sellers apply a lot marketing skills and advertising strategies in gaining the attention of the public in market. Its a human nature to get attracted towards the things that relieve their minds from hectic schedule. Companies spend millions of dollars to make the public smile and make them buy their products. This can be done through the below ways: Funny ideas for advertisements Make customers Hoardà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..use funny Billboard! Mascots dance to your tune by wearing funny costumes! Press the laughter button while they watch TV (zoo-zoo) Make Catchy Jinglesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Your stars would Twinkle!! Want heaps of money..Use inflatable that are funny Vodafone ZOOZOOZ Innovation is always a part of advertisements and the advertising agencies reach out for new ways to capture the prospective consumers heart. Vodafone capitalizes on the innovative ideas and always came with the new advertisements that took the brand on heights always. Out of all the commercials launched by Vodafone, ZOOZOOZ are the best. OM the mastermind behind Vodafone Zoozooz Advertisements and the main objective was to set the position of Vodafone as an innovative leader in the mobile services sector. The promotion strategy was to hit massive levels by maximising the target audience. IPL-2 was the best option for Vodafone to do go for. The advertising strategy behind it proved itself from the fact that the name Zoozooz got coupled with the brand Vodafone and gathered more publicity and reception than IPL. Repetition of the advertisements of Zoozooz may bore the viewers, so OM came up with new Zoozooz Ad every day. Zoozooz were the new brand ambassador for Vodafone, has created a furore in the advertising industry. Zoozooz succeeded in giving the exact makeover Vodafone was looking for along with amazing brand presence. ZOOZOOZ strategy hit in the market The main reason of the advertisement to succeed was that is was very well planned and launched during the time of the Indian Premiere League- 2 using it as its platform. Cricket in India in nothing less than religion, and Zoozooz captured attention of all those people who saw the matches, and this count was huge nearly 2 billion people were targeted through this campaign. People were so attracted that they use to wait eagerly for the break to come and to watch more stories of Zoozooz. Zoozooz has become such a hero in history of advertisements that people will not forget in generations to come. Zoozooz are basically animated character, with egg shaped head, round belly, but hands and legs are extremely thin. It was brand new and innovative concept and also Vodafone wonderfully promoted their services by creating different and more interesting stories featuring Zoozooz in it. The charm of the Zoozooz was so much that self-marketed strategy was also followed and they were instant success to the mass of people. Zoozooz for themselves created such huge audience and also gave boost to the brand of Vodafone. People were as it is excited about the cute and lovable character zoozoo, but this curiosity heighted when Vodafone disclosed that Zoozooz were not animated, rather humans were playing their characters. People became hungrier to know about their favourite Zoozoo. In the second phase Vodafone started promoting these characters on social media sites, which is considered to be a wise decision. People started joining fan club of Zoozooz on these social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and many more. Also the communication started building amongst these people. Vodafone also came up with the Zoozoo goodies like zoozoo toys, zoozoo mugs, zoozoo keychains, zoozoo t-shirt, etc. Zoozooz have now become a brand. Vodafone Zoozooz are the new Hutch Puppies One often wonders what is it about these advertisements that they clicked the people to certain extent. Is it merely because the Zoozooz are cute or is it because of the humour that is the base theme of the advertisements. Whatever it may but it has given Vodafone, the worlds leading mobile telecommunications company. Zoozooz were launched in the IPL-2 whereas in 2008 i.e. IPL-1 Vodafone came up the advertisement with tagline as Happy to Help services. An animated character was hired in 25 commercials to promote the various Value Added Services(VAS). Vodafone operates in the Oligopoly. Oligopoly is a market structure that has unique features because it is characterised by few sellers and mutual interdependence. Price, Quantity and Revenue are the main players of this market. There are various price wars (cutting down the price) as well as non price wars taking place. Advertising is the non-price war where advertisements are the way to cut the chance of the competitors by making use of various strategies. How did this Ad contribute to revenue Revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2009 rose to 10.7 pounds ($17.7 billion), in line with analyst estimates, clearly proved that the Ad has contributed maximum. Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said that its total communications strategy was delivering well, with group data revenue 7 % higher than last years comparative period. He also said that the free cash flow generation was strong at  £ 1.9 billion, up 21%. But while Vodafone has shown signs of combating the recession; some areas of weakness still remained. Not considering the positive effect from foreign exchange fluctuations and acquisitions. Vodafone results also highlight several areas in its core businesses that require close attention. According to a report in the Telegraph on 24 July 2009, Vodafone the worlds largest mobile phone firm by revenues, reported sales in line with market expectations for that quarter to end-June as strength in India and Africa compensated for the weakness in Europe. According to CEO Vodafone added 8 million customers in this quarter, taking its proportionate customer base to 315 million. Growth in India and South Africa helped the mobile phone giant report a 9.3% rise in revenue in the three months to end of June to  £10.7 billion. Conclusion After going through the Advertisement Strategies of Vodafone, I conclude that promotion whether it be through print media or through the ads shown on television, plays a very important role in building a Brand. Hutch and Vodafone rebranding is the memorable and most big event in the telecommunication industry. And the advertisement made this event bigger by continuously broadcasting the ads for 24 hours on national television. The main motive is to make people know about your brand. And that is what is done excellently by Vodafone. The advertisement also puts a very big question in front of the other telecom companies, does having big movie stars and cricketers as their brand ambassador really help? Doesnt a simple white character with egg shaped head, round belly and thin legs called Zoozoo can gain the attention of masses. This is definitely a new trend and also a new wave. Thus it can be seen that oligopolistic market structure of this industry has played a significant role in the generation of revenue for Vodafone, especially through this unique advertising strategy.

Foreign Essay :: Foreign Language Education Development Essays

Foreign Essay Efnisyfirlit Inngangur 2 Einkenni gà ³Ãƒ °rar menntunar 2 Stiklaà ° à ¡ stà ³ru à ­ uppeldissà ¶gunni 2 Stà ¦rà ° skà ³la og samband vià ° umheiminn 3 Litlir umbà ³taskà ³lar skila betri à ¡rangri 4 Kennsluaà °ferà °ir og uppeldisstefnur 6 Hvernig là ¦ra bà ¶rnin best? 6 Montessori 7 Waldorf 7 Reggio Emilia 8 Ofurnà ¡m (Super-learning) 8 Tillaga um Hà ¡gà ¦Ãƒ °askà ³la 9 Umrà ¦Ãƒ °a og nià °urstà ¶Ãƒ °ur 10 Heimildaskrà ¡ 11 Inngangur Ritgerà ° à ¾essari er à ¦tlaà ° aà ° leita svara vià ° spurningum er varà °a nà ¡m barna à ¡ grunnskà ³laaldri à ¾ar sem aà °alà ¡herslan er à ¡ skà ³laumhverfià ° og kennsluaà °ferà °ir. Leitast verà °ur vià ° aà ° svara à ¾và ­ hvaà ° einkennir menntun og skà ³la sem skila betri nà ¡msà ¡rangri og là ­Ãƒ °an hjà ¡ bà ¶rnum. Meà ° tilliti til skà ³laumhverfis verà °ur kannaà ° hvort stà ¦rà ° skà ³lans skiptir mà ¡li à ­ sambandi vià ° nà ¡msà ¡rangur og là ­Ãƒ °an barnanna. à  sambandi vià ° kennsluaà °ferà °ir verà °ur leitast vià ° aà ° finna leià °ir sem virka vel à ­ nà ¡mi barna og à ­ kjà ¶lfarià ° verà °a kynntar nokkrar kennsluaà °ferà °ir og uppeldisstefnur sem skilaà ° hafa gà ³Ãƒ °um à ¡rangri à ¡ sà ­Ãƒ °ustu à ¡ratugum, meà ° à ¾roska og à ¡huga barnsins aà ° leià °arljà ³si. Aà ° lokum verà °a dregnar saman nià °urstà ¶Ãƒ °ur og farià ° yfir à ¾au atrià °i sem skilaà ° hafa gà ³Ãƒ °um à ¡rangri à ­ skà ³lastarfi. Umfjà ¶llun mun byggja à ¡ erlendum bà ³kmenntum, frà ¦Ãƒ °igreinum og rannsà ³knum à ¡ svià °i uppeldis- og menntunarfrà ¦Ãƒ °i. Einkenni gà ³Ãƒ °rar menntunar Þaà ° hefur alltaf verià ° mikià ° à ¡litamà ¡l hvaà ° à ¾ykir einkenna gà ³Ãƒ °a menntun, en hà ©r à ¡ eftir verà °ur farià ° aà °eins yfir nokkur atrià °i sem lagt var à ¡hersla à ¡ snemma à ­ uppeldissà ¶gunni sem là ½kur svo meà ° à ¾và ­ aà ° kynna hugmyndir umbà ³tasinna sem à ¾Ãƒ ³ttu rà ­kjandi à ¡ sà ­Ãƒ °ustu à ¶ld. à  framhaldi af à ¾và ­ eru svo kynnt nokkur atrià °i sem virà °ast skipta mà ¡li à ­ sambandi vià ° là ­Ãƒ °an og à ¡rangur barna à ­ nà ¡mi og à ¾ykja einkennandi fyrir gà ³Ãƒ °a menntun à ­ dag. à  à ¾và ­ sambandi verà °ur meà °al annars fjallaà ° um stà ¦rà ° skà ³la og kennsluaà °ferà °ir. Stiklaà ° à ¡ stà ³ru à ­ uppeldissà ¶gunni Allt frà ¡ à ¾và ­ fyrir à ¾rjà º à ¾Ãƒ ºsund à ¡rum sà ­Ãƒ °an à ¾egar fyrstu frà ¦Ãƒ °ingar uppeldissà ¶gunnar litu dagsins ljà ³s hefur mà ¶nnum greint à ¡ um hvaà ° helst eigi aà ° leggja à ¡herslu à ¡ à ­ uppeldi og menntun barna og ungmenna. Þà ³tt uppeldisfrà ¦Ãƒ °ingar fyrr à ¡ à ¶ldum hafi haft mismunandi à ¡herslur, bar à ¾eim à ¾Ãƒ ³ nokkuà ° saman um aà ° mennun innihà ©ldi meira en einungis hià ° hefà °bundna bà ³knà ¡m sem felst à ­ lestri, skrift og stà ¦rà °frà ¦Ãƒ °i. Flestar stefnur fyrri tà ­ma innihà ©ldu einhvers konar fà ©lagslegt og sià °ferà °ilegt uppeldi en auk à ¾ess var meà °al annars là ¶gà ° à ¡hersla à ¡ listir, heimspeki, stjà ³rnmà ¡l, mà ¦lsku- og rà ¶kfà ¦rslulist, là ­kamsrà ¦kt og handverk.

Impact of globalization on manufacturing in the U.S

Globalization owes its origin to at least the late 1980s. During this period, new nations were entering into manufacturing, which was in some logic the weakest connection in the U. S. series of science, development, manufacturing, and sale of goods and services. However, for some nations such as Japan, lower wages firstly made it possible to exploit this relative U. S. weakness. Nevertheless, Japan swiftly developed other diverse advantages articulated on improved manufacturing methods (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). Impact on labor market Globalization stimulates extensively differing views and projections, varying from rosy portrayal of a supple, worldwide borderless labor market to awful situations of severe polarization between labor market â€Å"winners† as well as â€Å"losers. † First, let us examine globalization impact on careers (labor) and its subsequent consequences on manufacturing. With reduced trade barriers, new international market crop up as well as advanced information and communication technologies, the job market was tremendously affected. Globalization has had an astonishing effect on working-class citizens in the United States, chiefly through the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs brought about by outsourcing, with limited benefits to society (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). The key motivation for the outsourcing of jobs was to cut the extremely high labor costs that are thought to diminish revenue. Employers are reluctant to hire workers due to high cost of employee benefits, competitive wages, and skyrocketing health-care premiums hence they consider outsourcing the work to be cheap (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003). In essence, it is more economical for an American firm to hire a computer programmer in India who would be eager to perform the work for about one-fifth the pay of an American employee with a degree, whose starting salary would be about $50,000-$70,000 (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). This leads Americans to be more uncertain about their job security since they cannot compete with their foreign counterparts that perform the same quantity of work for considerably less pay. Studies show that an estimated more than 2 million workers in the United States have lost their jobs in the last several years due to business closures in addition to layoffs (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003), (Benjamin and Perry 2003). Whereas higher productivity and new management and hiring practices are associated with loss of jobs, a number of companies are increasingly transferring their businesses to other countries with cheap cost of wages as opposed United States. Manufacturing industry has suffered largely in terms of job losses, involving mostly blue-collar workers. It is however acknowledged that many of white-collar jobs are going to China (for manufacturing) (Benjamin and Perry 2003). In the case of working Americans, they have been negatively affected by the colossal increase in foreign trade. There has been loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs, important downward pressure on wages as well as increased disparity. The doubling of trade as a share of the economy over the last 25 years was accompanied by a substantial trade deficit, directly displacing several million jobs (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). Majority of the jobs were in the manufacturing region, which incorporated millions of union jobs that were well paying compared with average wages (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003). Within a period of five years from 2000 to 2005, there was decline as well as disappearance of more than three million manufacturing jobs. It is estimate that at least 30 percent of the decline was due to the rise in the manufactured goods trade deficit (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003). With U. S. multinational corporations being occupied on both sides of the international trade, almost 50% of all U. S. -owned manufacturing production is now situated in foreign countries, thus an imperative part of the manufacturing job loss has been due to most of U. S. firms exporting back to the U. S. or producing abroad what they once produced locally (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). The loss of manufacturing jobs as result of globalization saw wage losses for displaced workers, majority of whom never regained their former wage levels even after acquiring new employment. Globalization had also the effect of increasing world production capacity, which had had the effect of lowering the prices of traded goods, the consequence of which saw workers pay being reduced to reflect the value of goods produced (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003). Employers to oppose wage increments for the manufacturing employees used the direct foreign threat. Similarly, the flow of investment in plant and equipment and technology oversaw increase in foreign productivity in sectors that used to be U. S. export strongholds, resulting in declining terms of trade and hence declining real income growth. Last but not the least, as foreign trade drove workers out of manufacturing into poorly paid service jobs; the new supply of workers competing for the same jobs orchestrated lowering of wages of similarly skilled service workers. What does it imply? It implies that throwing the American workers into competition with production derived from low-wage countries, both those workers engaged directly in import-competing sectors as well as all employees economy-wide who have similar expertise and qualifications will have their wages squeezed. In fact, whereas trade flows with low-wage nations have increased, the distribution of income and wealth in the U. S. has grown more and more unequal (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). Impact on input versus output International Trade is increasingly imperative in the global economy and to the United States in particular. During the last 15 years, global sells abroad have more than tripled and have accounted for more than a third of global economic growth. In deviation from the previous decades, when industrialized economies dictated global trade flows, there has been an increase in developing economies’ share of global exports by just over a quarter in the late 1990s to 41 percent by 2004 (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003). Increased participation in international trade by the developing world is a crucial force behind what many refer to as â€Å"globalization†. Actually more than 50 percent of US trade presently carried out with developing countries, up from just over a third in the late 1980s. In US economy, manufacturing is the most trade-engaged sector accounting for 60% of the country’s exports and 80% of imports. Globalization has had an important impact on U. S. manufactures, as manufactured products accounts for 75 percent of worldwide trade (Bhagwati & Marvin, 1994). Following vigorous intensification of both U. S. manufactured exports and imports at some stage in the mid 1990s; a noteworthy departure has taken place. Ever since 1998, U. S. sells abroad have grown by just 3 percent per-year (Bardhan & Kroll, 2003). The country’s share of world exports fell from 13 percent in 1998 to just 9 percent in 2004 – the lowly allocation dating 17 years back. Happening correspondingly, imports grew by 8% per-year and the manufactured trade shortfall increased from -240 billion to -603 billion by 2005 (Bhagwati & Marvin, 1994). Whereas a variety of the latest import surge has been as a result of the strong U. S. conomy (especially since mid-2003) the truth remains that today, trade ins account for over a 35 percent of manufactured products consumed in the United States – an increase from 25 percent in 1992 and just 15% a 10 years earlier (Bhagwati & Marvin, 1994). A 66 percent of the increase in manufactured imports since 1998 originated from the developing world, and half of that has came from China alone. This rise in import penetration and loss of export competitiveness has had a sign ificant impact on the current state manufacturing (Bhagwati & Marvin, 1994). While in general, manufacturing production has improved from the 2001 decline, currently positioning at 6 percent above its pre-recession high, in addition to manufacturing employment increasing moderately subsequent to bottoming out earlier in 2004, the present manufacturing resurgence has developed half as fast as the recoveries following the preceding four declines (Bhagwati & Marvin, 1994). Of eminent concern is the loss of market share both at home and abroad in recent years by the Unite States manufacturing. While some articulate this market share loss to be because of the inevitable bad trade policy as well as globalization, to others this serves as a pointer to the fact that in a time of severe global competition, changes in a country’s competitiveness have much larger effects at present than they had in previous decades. Consider dollar value for instance. After sustaining stability for the better part of a decade, its value increased by 28 percent through the period running from 1996 to 2002. Dollar value increase led to imports being competitive in the US market, whereas concurrently it made U. S. exports more costly in markets overseas. It was during this period that, the rise in import penetration as well as the loss of global export share abroad was most significant. In a period of elevated international competition, US manufacturers have crucially been burdened by high structural non-production costs. Over the last decade, U. S. manufacturers have increased their productivity by over half, more than 150 percent the pace of their major trading partners. Conversely, much of these efficiency gains have been offset by rising non-production costs at home. As per a research carried out several years ago by the NAM’s Manufacturing Institute, which compared non-production costs on U. S. manufacturers to their nine major trading competitors: The findings indicated that Corporate Taxes on U. S. manufacturers were 16% high than those of their major trading partners. Benefit costs 36% higher, Regulatory burden 85% higher and Litigation 250% higher. Summed up, these excessive non-production costs add 22% to the cost of manufacturing in the U. S. and put U. S. manufacturers at the same level with Germany as most expensive place to produce in the world (Benjamin & Perry, 2003). Moreover, the recent rise in natural gas prices in US has only exaggerated the problem. If US could exclude those excessive costs, it would actually be a lower-cost place to manufacturer than most of their industrialized competitors (Broda & David, 2006). Outsourcing has seen the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States within the manufacturing industry. Outsourcing not only benefited US corporations, but also minimized the benefit to society (Broda & David, 2006). To offer an anecdote to this observation that outsourcing only benefits corporations while, only minimizing the benefit to society, Tyco Corporation, recently relocated to a location in Texas. Two of the major grounds for their relocation were due to the fact of lower labor costs as well as cheaper manufacturing costs (Broda & David, 2006). This was due to the comparatively close proximity to Mexico. Tyco perhaps took advantage of the great number of immigrants that move to Texas, who can work for comparatively low pay, which would facilitate raise, their bottom line. In so doing the company laid-off more than two hundred employees, some of this had been with the company for almost thirty-five years who had been making close to $22 per hour. The net effect was that these employees had to look for fresh employments, in lower-paying positions that maybe paid half as much, as well as they lost all of their seniority (Broda & David, 2006). Conclusion Even though there has been decline in jobs as well as universal interest within the manufacturing sector, outsourcing has had its benefits within the United States (Mandel, 2004). Sadly, it has been a consequence of just corporate welfare. Outsourcing has absolutely maintained costs low because of cheap input costs, which drips downward to the end user in low-priced products. In addition, with productivity rising from annually, corporations have been capable to raise their bottom lines while avoiding price surges (Mandel, 2004). Regrettably, corporate profits are escalating, save for there are no new jobs being created—jobs relocated to other countries are not being replaced. If blue collar, working-class citizens as well as the jobless workers who experience no job intensification are losing out, in that case who is winning the battle? Fine, additional productivity as well as lesser-input expenses decode to higher wealth. Businesses with their continually increasing profit limits; consumers, who experience near to the ground cost of goods. Furthermore, with no job growth in the current economy, there is really no new job industry to lead the way in creating new jobs. Too many U. S. jobs are being outsourced, and without the innovation of new industries, â€Å"job growth will stay sluggish, demand will eventually sag, and†¦incomes will be driven down under the continued pressure of competition from China, India, and other low-wage countries† (Mandel, 2004). However, with the innovation of new upcoming technologies there can be an explosive surge in employment and enormous potential for the economy.

Biology Notes Essay Example

Biology Notes Essay Example Biology Notes Essay Biology Notes Essay ACT Friday, 24/04/2009 Citrus trees are dying in Indonesia. The cause is citrus greening disease, a bacteria spread by insects. Australia is in real danger of catching the bug, with scientists suggesting it might blow on the wind, or fly in with a tourist. Australias biosecurity protection is one of the reasons our country has the massive commitment to aid in Indonesia. Citrus greening disease has already spread in the US, most recently into the orchards of South Carolina. On the populous island of Java, farmers should now be harvesting their small mandarins called jeruk but most trees have been pulled or are diseased. Citrus greening or Huanlongbing as its known in Asia was first found in the 1950s on one of the Indonesian islands, but its rapid spread over the past 10 years has surprised researchers at Gadja Mada University. Its a bacterium is spread by the psyllid insect and it destroys the phloem cells, the veins that carry sugar and nutrients throughout the plant, leaving the fruit barely edible. The fruit becomes abnormal, and more sour and hard, says Dr Siti Subandiyah, the Indonesian project leader on the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, (ACIAR) project based at Gadja Mada University in Jogjarkarta. Within just a few years the tree dies and there is no cure, so prevention is the main course of action being taken by the extension staff. Huanglongbing disease is also destroying citrus in Vietnam, so the ACIAR project has partners in Vietnam too. Meanwhile Australia should be on alert for the psyllid insect carrying the bacteria- which could devastate citrus production in Australia too. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 13 A case study Quarantine and the spread of plant and animal diseases within Australia South Australia grows approximately 42 per cent of the annual Australian vine crop and produces more wine than all other States combined. One reason for South Australias viticultural success is that grape phylloxera (pronounced fil-er-a), the worst insect enemy of grape vines, has never been introduced into the State. Since 1899, quarantine regulations have forbidden the introduction of any part of a vine into South Australia. Quarantine of grapes, grapevines and grape rootstock is necessary to protect Australias wine and dried fruit industry from grape phylloxera. Grape phylloxera exists in most of the grape growing areas of the world. It does not occur in most grape growing areas of Australia. Phylloxera appeared in France in 1869, and within 30 years destroyed 75 per cent of the vineyards of this most important wine-producing country. By 1919, people carrying.\Â  infested parts of grape vines to clean areas had spread phylloxera to most wine-growing countries in the world, including the eastern States of Australia. Only Chile and Cyprus and two Australian States South Australian and Western Australia continue to grow European vines in soil that is free of phylloxera. Travellers carrying grapes or parts of vines could easily cause an outbreak of grape phylloxera in South Australia or Western Australia or re-infest other grape growing areas in Australia where phylloxera has previously been eradicated. An outbreak of grape phylloxera in the early 1900s in areas of Victoria and New South Wales caused widespread damage to the Australian grape industry. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 14 Its an aphid Grape phylloxera is an aphid or plant louse. It is native to the eastern States of North America. Over the centuries, American vines have developed a resistance to it. Wherever phylloxera has appeared, European vines have been grafted on to the resistant American rootstocks. The tiny insects are too small to be seen without a microscope. They have a soft body and a tube-like mouth that they use to suck the sap of vine roots. This sucking causes hard round swellings, called galls, to form on the vine roots. A few months later, the galls decay, damaging, stunting and eventually killing the vine roots. A fertile aphid The reproductive power of the species is almost impossible to imagine. It has been reported that the offspring in one season from one egg may total 40,000 million aphids. Aphids may be present in soil clinging to vehicle wheels, footwear, cultivating equipment, picking boxes and, most likely of all, vine roots. Residents of South Australia visiting interstate vineyards should take care not to transport phylloxera back into South Australia. With the benefits of continuous research into grape growing, the South Australia Phylloxera Board has kept grape growers aware of phylloxera and its disastrous consequences should it ever be introduced. Not only would whole vine-growing areas be wiped out but it would also affect South Australias dried vine fruit industry and wine industry, currently a major export earner for the State. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 15 Quarantine precautions Overseas travellers should never bring grapes or any parts of vines into Australia. The only safe method of introducing plant and vine material is through AQIS. The movement of grapes, grapevines and cuttings between the States and Northern Territory is either very restricted or, in most cases, prohibited. There are also restrictions on the interstate movement of various other fruit, vegetables and plant material designed to prevent the spread of pests and diseases to clean areas. Has quarantine been entirely successful in preventing the entry of grape phylloxera into Australia? Has quarantine within Australia been successful? When equine flu entered Australia in 2007, infected horses were found in New South Wales and in Queensland. Quarantine measures were enacted to prevent the transport of horses to regions that were free of equine flu. Equipment was disinfected, horse racing events were cancelled and animals at risk were vaccinated to prevent the disease from spreading. Because of the measures put in place, Victoria remained free of equine flu and there has not been another outbreak. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 16. Evaluate the effectiveness of quarantine The greatest quarantine risks are plants, plant products, animals, animal products and soils. All items that pose a quarantine risk can carry hidden plant or animal diseases. At airports or shipping terminals, as well as at mail centres, prohibited goods are intercepted by AQIS. Quarantine checking stations are also set up across both State and agricultural region borders to intercept produce that may be a quarantine risk. The table below shows interceptions of goods and personal effects entering Australia, 1996 – 1998. Year 1996 1997 1998 Interceptions 5121 10 952 15 060 What do these figures suggest about the effectiveness of our quarantine service? Is it likely that all prohibited goods were intercepted? Suggest some reasons why quarantine would fail to intercept all prohibited goods. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 17 To evaluate the effectiveness of quarantine in preventing the spread of plant and animal diseases into Australia or across regions of Australia, you firstly need to decide on criteria on which to base your judgement. What information do you need before you can make a judgement about the effectiveness of quarantine? You will need to show ways that the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) has successfully prevented the introduction or spread of diseases, and examples of failure. Identify examples of quarantine successes in preventing the entry of plant and animal diseases into Australia. Identify examples of quarantine successes in preventing the spread of plant and animal diseases across regions of Australia. Identify examples of quarantine failures in Australia. Read the article from the World Health Organization (www. who. int/csr/don/2004_01_15/en/) HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 18 Avian Influenza The disease in birds: impact and control measures Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease, which was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide. All birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza, though some species are more resistant to infection than others. Infection causes a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness to a highly contagious and rapidly fatal disease resulting in severe epidemics. The latter is known as highly pathogenic avian influenza. This form is characterized by sudden onset, severe illness, and rapid death, with a mortality that can approach 100%. Migratory waterfowl most notably wild ducks are the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses, and these birds are also the most resistant to infection. Domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys, are particularly susceptible to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza. Direct or indirect contact of domestic flocks with wild migratory waterfowl has been implicated as a frequent cause of epidemics. Live bird markets have also played an important role in the spread of epidemics. Recent research has shown that viruses of low pathogenicity can, after circulation for sometimes short periods in a poultry population, mutate into highly pathogenic viruses. During a 1983-1984 epidemic in the United States of America, the H5N2 virus initially caused low mortality, but within six months became highly pathogenic, with a mortality approaching 90%. Control of the outbreak required destruction of more than 17 million birds at a cost of nearly US$65 million. During a 1999-2001 epidemic in Italy, the H7N1 virus, initially of low pathogenicity, mutated within 9 months to a highly pathogenic form. More than 13 million birds died or were destroyed. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 19 The quarantining of infected farms and destruction of infected or potentially exposed flocks are standard control measures aimed at preventing spread to other farms and eventual establishment of the virus in a countrys poultry population. Apart from being highly contagious, avian influenza viruses are readily transmitted from farm to farm by mechanical means, such as by contaminated equipment, vehicles, feed, cages, or clothing. Highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in the environment, especially when temperatures are low. Stringent sanitary measures on farms can, however, confer some degree of protection. Could migratory birds carry avian influenza to Australia? Explain What impact would this have on the effectiveness of Australian quarantine control? Use all of the previous information to make a judgement of the effectiveness of quarantine in preventing the spread of diseases into Australia OR across regions of Australia. Give reasons for your decision. (Hint: Using a plant and an animal disease example, describe the quarantine measures in place, explain how these measures assist in preventing the spread of disease into Australia or across regions of Australia, and, make a judgement about the effectiveness of the quarantine measure, which can be supported by data on the occurrence and spread of the disease. ) HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 20 Strategies for disease control and prevention There are several strategies for the control of preventable diseases. These include vaccination and quarantine. Three other strategies are public health programs, pesticides, and genetic engineering to produce disease resistant plants and animals. We will briefly look at all three of these, but concentrate on one, public health programs. Public health programs Public health programs provide sanitation, safe drinking water, immunisation programs and even the quarantine of disease sufferers entering the country. These have all played a part in disease control. You may accept a safe water supply as a fact of life, but that has not always been the case in Australia and certainly is not the case in many other countries. One of the first things aid agencies try to establish when working in these countries is a safe water supply. A classic epidemiological study was performed by English physician John Snow. He found that people who suffered from cholera in the 1849 London epidemic lived mostly in the area of the Broad Street pump. Water was collected daily from village pumps or wells. Snow found that nearly every person with the disease had consumed water from the Broad street pump. He had the pump closed and no further outbreaks occurred in the area. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 21 Read the article The Development of Public Health and answer the questions below. Compare the age of death in Leeds with the age of death in a country area in 1842. What were living conditions in Leeds like in 1842? What were the main causes of death in Leeds? How are these diseases spread? Cholera and typhus epidemics in Leeds prompted some improvement. What was the government response? The Public Health Act in 1875 compelled Councils to improve what? What diseases were reduced as a result? How do improvements in housing reduce the incidence of tuberculosis? How do vaccination programs reduce the incidence of disease? HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 22 Modern public health programs Because you have probably seen TV advertisements showing the gruesome effects of smoking, sun exposure and alcohol you may be aware that health programs have been set up in NSW to prevent and control human disease. While pathogens are not implicated in non-infectious diseases, health strategies also target these diseases and aim to reduce their incidence. Methods used by NSW Health include public education such as advertisements about the health effects of alcohol, smoking (remember the ‘Quit’ campaign) and of having unprotected (without a condom) sex; mass immunization procedures such as for MMR (measles, mumps, Rubella) or Human Papilloma virus in schools; screening for high blood pressure, cervical cancer and breast cancer (BreastScreen NSW provides free mammograms to those over 50); and laws requiring that certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS are notifiable (there are penalties for not notifying public health units within 24 hours) or that people with other diseases such as rubella and chicken pox must be isolated. The table below shows some examples of notifiable diseases. To be notified by doctors HIV/AIDS Food poisoning (two or more cases) Gastroenteritis (in educational or residential institutions) Measles TB To be notified by laboratories Anthrax Giardiasis Hepatitis Malaria Influenza Rubella To be notified by hospitals Cholera Legionnaire’s disease Meningococcal disease Poliomyelitis Rabies Tetanus To be notified by school principals Diphtheria Measles Mumps Pertussis Poliomyelitis Rubella HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 23 Compulsory notification ensures early detection of these diseases so that strategies can be put in place to control the spread of the disease. Government regulations ensure that garbage is collected and disposed of correctly, sewage is removed and treated and water supplies are protected. Government regulations also ensure that safe procedures are in place for the handling, storage and preparation of food and for disease control in hospitals. Identify a public health strategy and explain how it can control or prevent disease. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 24 Pesticides Pests are organisms that affect the normal growth of a plant or animal. For example, the cotton bollworm is a pest that can devastate a cotton crop, and ticks are pests that can affect the health and growth of cattle. Mosquitoes are pests because they can transmit diseases like malaria. Agricultural pests can be controlled by the use of pesticides or by biological control. Pesticides include insecticides that kill insects, fungicides that kill fungi, and herbicides that kill weeds. Because pests can kill or stunt food plants, the use of pesticides has been critical in contributing to the quality and quantity of food production. Since they are cheap, pesticides have been the preferred method of pest control but there have been serious environmental problems associated with the use of pesticides. Some long-term effects include: Pests have evolved resistance to some pesticides Non-target organisms are killed Toxic residues accumulate in food chains Farm workers can be poisoned by contact with pesticides Pesticides have been important in killing disease vectors, such as mosquitoes. You will remember the earlier section of work on malaria and how the malarial parasite, Plasmodium is transmitted by mosquitos. Malaria can be controlled by spraying with pesticides to kill mosquitos. Adult mosquitoes are killed by pesticides such as DDT or dieldrin. Beginning in 1956, the World Health Organisation began a campaign using DDT for mosquito control in malarial areas. This campaign successfully controlled malaria in Sri Lanka and other areas of the world but did not eliminate it globally. DDT resistant mosquitoes are now a problem in many areas. Insecticide-treated bed nets, which can reduce the transmission of malaria by 17% are cheap and effective ways to prevent people from getting malaria, but only 4% of Africa’s children sleep under one each night. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 25. Biological control has been an effective alternative to the use of pesticides in some situations. Genetic engineering Genetic engineering is the purposeful manipulation of genetic material to alter the characteristics of an organism. Genetic engineering (and plant breeding) has been used to develop crops that are resistant to certain diseases. Rust resistance in wheat is an example of breeding being used to develop disease resistance. Genes from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis has been genetically engineered into cotton plants to eliminate the need for spraying for cotton bollworm caterpillar, Heliothis. Many predator insects feed on Heliothis caterpillars, so spraying with insecticides is not ideal. The Bt genes that produce the toxin responsible for caterpillar death have also been introduced into tomatoes, corn and potatoes. In Australia Bt cotton was the first genetically engineered crop grown. Cattle ticks cause significant economic loss because heavy infestation by ticks reduces the growth rate of cattle and ticks can also cause disease. Ticks are normally controlled by dipping the cattle in baths of pesticide, but these are toxic and can remain in meat. Genetic engineering has now been used to produce an anti-tick vaccine for cattle. Insulin produced by recombinant DNA technology and is another example of a strategy to fight disease by genetic engineering. HSC Biology 9. 4-6 Page 26 Read the Scientific American article Seeds of Concern abou.