What makes Canada an interesting country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What makes Canada an interesting country - Essay Example Located in North America, Canada boasts of 9.98 million square kilometers, making it the second largest country in the world with its borders touching three of the world’s largest oceans, the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans to the East, West and North respectively. Adding to the interesting facts surrounding its borders, the border between Canada and the United States (US) is the world’s longest land border. These among other facts about Canada make it one of the most interesting countries in the modern world. Canada began self-governance in 1867 and gained independence in 1931 following the enactment of the Statute of Westminster and therefore it is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Canada retained its ties with the British crown hence Queen Elizabeth II is Canada’s head of state in the modern day. This implies no elections for the head of state are held since the monarch is driven by heredity. The monarch then appoints a governor general, after a five year term, with advisory assistance from the prime minister. Canada’s parliament comprises of 105 senatorial seats, members appointed by governor general and 308 members from the House of Commons who are elected by the people on a four year term basis. Additionally, governor general appointees serve up to the age of 75 years. Similarly the chief justice and 8 other judges making the high court, are appointed by the prime minister and serve up to 75 up to the age of 75 years. However, there has been attempts to break fr om the British crown but to futility such as the 2014 referendum. Canada has a strong economy that can be attributed to its significantly many natural resources, trading activities and strong relations with the neighboring US. As a result, Canada is regarded a developed countries taking the eighth position in Human Development Index. Canada has a wide

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Assignment Example Some of these programs have shown great success, while others have not. The purpose of this paper is to examine specific population issues in China, India, and Japan and to determine what practices are currently working, and what still remains to be done. China China is now well over a population of 1.4 billion people and it continues to grow. This amounts to a staggering figure of twenty percent of the global population. Because of this China, is now facing serious social and economic problems as a result of this burgeoning population. Population strain has lead to a depletion of land and natural resources, caused severe pollution problems, and had lead to deplorable living conditions amongst the poorest of the Chinese people (Qu, Cui, Yan, Peng, & Zhang, 2011, p. 2077). One can say, however, that the Chinese government saw these problems coming and have worked feverishly to do something about it. In 1979, China implemented the famous one-child policy. Beyond one child, families wou ld be taxed up to 50% of their income or possibly lose their employment, making it unlikely that many would violate the policy. In the end, families who agreed to have only one child would receive certain benefits. Women who got pregnant without authorization or by accident were encouraged to terminate their pregnancy. The result of this program has been mixed. Fearing punishment, many government official falsified population reports, leading to estimates that the number of births reported in China may be off by as many as twenty-seven percent. In the end, population growth has slowed somewhat, but at great costs. There have been political consequences, as many Western countries have criticized China for the policy, particularly their views on birth control and the rampant termination of pregnancies. China has, however, seen tremendous economic growth in recent years, but many fear that there will soon be an imbalance of males and females in the country. This is a result of many Chi nese families working to have a male as their only child, causing an imbalance in the ratio of males to females (Fischer, Winiwarter, Cao, & Ermolieva, 2012, p. 246). If this continues, there will be a reversal in population growth as time goes on, making it difficult for the younger generation to support a growing and sizeable elderly population. India Like China, overpopulation in India a serious concern and one that needs to be addressed. Unlike China, however, India has been able to do little to reverse the trend. India still has the majority of its population living in abject poverty. Add to this the fact that India has not progressed much in the way of feminine rights in recent decades, and one can easily see why the population has gotten out of control (Bloom, et. al., 2010, p. 18). The government has attempted through the years to reduce population growth, but most have not succeeded to any great extent. The ironic part of this problem is that India has sufficient land size and a lot of agricultural potential to support the over one billion that live there. The reality is, however, that the resources are not equally distributed and that a majority of the people of India is not having their basic needs being met. Indian, being faced with the reality that they simply cannot handle the population growth that is occurring, has attempted to

Merger of mittal stell and arcelor steel analysis

Merger of mittal stell and arcelor steel analysis This case is about the merger of Mittal Steel Industry and Arcelor Steel Industry which was merged in 2006. This assignment covers the topics of change management and its theories. The case is related to Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) theory. The headquarters are situated in Avenue Da La Liberate, Luxembourg. The business of these 2 companies are served world wide after the merger. The Chairman of the companies is Laxshmi Mittal. These companies deal with many products such as Steel, Flat Steel, Long Steel products, Stainless Steel, Wire products, Plates. The companies not only provide these products in reasonable ranges but also provide good quality. Before the merger Mittal Steel Industry used to produce volume however Arcelor Steel Industry used to produce highest revenues. After the merger these companies became number one steel industry in producing values and revenues as well. The status of the revenue of this merged company in 2009 was US$ 65.11 billion and profit was US$ 118 billion. The operating income was US$ 1.678 billion in 2009. In further pages of this assignment the theories of change management are also related to the cases. TABLE OF CONTENTS Index INTRODUCTION MITTAL STEEL INDUSTRY MITTAL STEEL co. was formed by the merger of LNM HOLDING and ISPAT INTERNATIONAL.LAKSHMI MITTAL who is the CEO of the company, He and his family hold 88% of the company and its headquarter was in ROTTERDAM NETRHERLAND. The company was produced words largest steel in term of volume and also largest in turnover which merge in ARCELOR MITTAL. The company establish a meal stone in the steel world industry ARCELOR STEEL INDUSTRY ARCELOR was established in February 2002 by combining 3 steel making companies i.e. ARCERALIA [SPAIN], ARBED [LUXEMBOURG] and UNISON [FRANCE].In ARCELOR more than 104000 employees was working in 2006 over 60 countries. ARCELOR revenues were 40.6billion euros and its production was 53.5 million tonnes of crude steel. Their products were flat carbon steel, long carbon steel, stainless steel and steel solution and services. The ARCELOR steel and b MITTAL steel merge in ARCELORMITTAL steel in 2006. Now, ARCELOR MITTAL is words no. 1 steel maker company with the revenue of $ 105.2 billion a year. The company produced crude steel and production of crude steel is 116 millions tons per year. It produced 10% of steel in the world. The co. has more than 310000 employees in over 60 countries across 4 continents. The co. is leader in the global market in various fields which has automotives construction household appliances and packaging. Mittal steel was leader in steel industry in terms of volume whereas Arcelor steel was leader in terms of revenue. After merge it becomes highly fragmented steel industry in the world. This industry belong to steel market, it presence in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. It gives the global exposure to the steel industry. Now ARCELOR MITTAL is looking for high growth in Indian and Chinese market. Its also listed with the stock exchange of New York, Luxembourg, Paris Brussels , Amsterdam and Spanish stock exchange of Barcelona Bilboa. Change Management Theories PLAN DO CHECK ACT (PDCA) Plan-Do-Check-Act first developed by Walter Shewhart and it was popularized by Edwards Deming. PDCA  (plan-do-check-act) is a four-step problem-solving process typically used in  business improvement. Its also known as Shewhart cycle, Deming cycle, PDSA (PLAN DO STUDY ACT), PDCA (PLAN DO CHECK ACT). This Act is useful for change management. The PDCA cycle should be repeated again and again for continuous improvement in an organization. PLAN: To improve your operations first by finding out what things are going wrong (that is identify the problems faced), and come up with ideas for solving these problems. PROCEDURE- Recognize an opportunity and plan a change. DO: Implement the new processes. PROCEDURE- Taking small steps in controlled circumstances for execute the plan. CHECK: Measure the new processes and compare the results against the expected results to ascertain any differences. PROCEDURE- Review the test, analyze the results and identify what youve learned. ACT: Analyse the differences to determine their cause. Each will be part of either one or more of the P-D-C-A steps. Determine where to apply changes that will include improvement. When a pass through these four steps does not result in the need to improve, refine the scope to which PDCA is applied until there is a plan that involves improvement. PROCEDURE- Take action to improve the process Benefits of the PDCA cycle: This cycle can solve the problems, Project management, Daily routine management for the individual and team, Continuous development, New product development. THE CHANGE The merger was started from 27th January 2006 but it finalised on 25th June 2006 It Is valued at 26.8 billion Euros in dollar it was 33.5 billion which was 44% higher than initial offer 18.6 billion Euros MITTAL was the largest share holder with 45% stake in the merged entity. THE MERGER The change was necessary in the Steel Industry and the aim was globalization and consolidation in the Steel Industry. MITTAL defines the deal and set pace for the industry. In June 2006 MITTAL STEEL and ARCELOR reach an agreement to merge the two companies. The combine group which name formed was ARCELOR MITTAL and the head quarter established in Luxembourg. 2006 was a very exciting and growing year for MITTAL ARCELOR because in this year new milestone were achieved by both companies. The company was converted by two companies which lead the industry through mergers and acquisition. Change management was the merger was on the basis of ADHOC basis and it was run on temporary basis. After this the second step was not temporary basis now the ARCELOR adapted the merger and then the new company was formed with the name of ARCELOR MITTAL and it perform all the function of one company and now it leads the whole of the steel industry. ARCELOR + MITTAL = ARCELOR MITTAL ARCELOR MITTAL- BUILDING OUR COMPANY WITH THE NEED OF FUTURE GENERATION IN MIND. WHY CHANGES IMPLEMENTED The aim of company was to become largest company as both company were large but both was in competitor with each other but the aim of the company was to become no. 1 in the steel industry which was not easily possible for both of them individually. Companies want to achieve economy of scale. Economy of scale achievement is very difficult for both of the company. Every company wants to growth but various factor are countable in the way of it. So one of the factors was competition in different field thats why change was necessary for achievement of economy of scale. Steel demand was strong in 2006 in developing industry as the expert shows the relevant data about growing of it thats why one way growth was very difficult in steel industry so change was necessary in steel industry. Both are very strong MITTAL in terms of volume and ARCELOR in terms of revenue which attract to each other. Both knew about their strength and weakness thats why both knew what they are doing because this was the requirement of both of the company. So change is necessary and both companies want to adopt these changes in mutual way. This case can be related to the theory of Plan Do Check Act as following changes were occurred according to the theory: Plan- Both the companies planned to combine with each other as there will be profitable changes after the merger. Do- Both the companies tried to find out the situations of the company that how it can be profitable in the global market. They find out the scale of the economy as the achievement of economy of scale was very difficult for both the companies. Check- The companies checked both the status of the companies as steel demand was strong in 2006 in developing industry so the change was necessary and both companies want to adopt changes in mutual way. Act- Both the companies were very strong in their ways however they finally merged by analysing the future situation and status of the company in the market. They knew their strength and weaknesses so the merger was resulted successful. MARKET POSITION IN REGION AFTER CHANGE NO 1 NORTH AMERICA NO 1 IN WESTERN EUROPE NO 1 IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CIS NO 1 IN SOUTH AMERICA NO 1 IN AFRICA STRATEGIC PRESENCE IN ASIA ACHIVEMENTS AFTER CHANGES Operation of company achieve more than 20 countries The production of steel crossed 116 millions The annual production capacity is 130 million s tonnes Steel shipment produced approximate 110 million tonnes Revenue from shipment is generated 105.2billion US$ Company is announced 35 more acquisition The organic growth of company 20 million tonnes The company has unique capability in the steel industry in the field of R D ARCELORMITTAL GROWTH PLAN IN FUTURE In the shipment company will adopt five year plan in which 20% increase in 5 years It adopt growth plan 2012 and it called growth plan 2012 For 2012 company target focused on 131 million tonnes production Company strategy mainly focused on high growth market and low cost areas The growth plan in 2012 is approximately 75% which have done already or approved For a potential investment of 7billion US$ over 6 years. CONCLUSION WHY THE CHANGE WAS SUCCESSFUL The change management was a synergy change. It is related with the team performance. Both the companies want to work like a team so both were clear in their field thats why change management was successful in these companies. Together they brought iron, technology and marketing expertise which in past they were brought separately it becomes another change which follow both of the company they know their powers in their field so when they combined they use in the combined way and they also share their power in one way thats why change was successful. They follow the merger process which is adept at combining business. The merger process which is follow by many companies but right merger process is that which follow the right way in the right time with the right company. So in this way both company follow the same procedure of successful thats why the change was successful. Both of were knowing the growth of each other thats why they know what they have done and what they earn from this management change because they know where they stand and what they will be done so they know about change very well thats why change process they follow which made history in the steel industry. They was the best competition in the market thats why they knew very well strength and weakness of each other which made best connection with each other which made path for the successful change it shows both of the company leadership techniques for growing one. They have different quality of top level in both ways from the MITTAL point of view the volume they produced and from the ARCELOR point of view revenue they earn so both have unique but also powerful quality in their field which made change successful. Current Status: Total Assets US$ 127.7 billion (2009) Total Equity US$ 65.40 billion (2009) Employees 281700 (2009)

The Scarlet Letter and Aunt Jennifers Tigers :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Scarlet Letter and Aunt Jennifer's Tigers In the course of our life we need to make many decisions. The way we live our life is a decision each person makes for him/herself. Usually, one choice is better than the other, yet society doesn't always support the better one. The poem, "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" and The Scarlet Letter present two ways in which women can react to a society dominated by men and how their lives are shaped by their different decisions. A woman can just ignore the restraints put on her and suffer, or she can challenge men's authority and enjoy her life. In a society where men choose the standards, Hester follows her own set of rules. She is independent, unrestrained and makes her own decisions. The reader's first view of Hester's uniqueness in The Scarlet Letter, is the scarlet letter. Hester has transformed the society's sign of guilt into her own work of art by decoration the "A" with elegant stitching and golden thread. Her interpretation of the punishment clashes with that of her neighbors, and she is not reluctant to stress their contrast of opinions. She does not fear men, as most women did in her time. It was mandatory in her society that women respected their husbands, and did what the men ordered. Hester fears neither the leaders of the community nor her husband. She demonstrates her confidence by standing up to a group of the most respected men in town, when she hears they might take her daughter, Pearl, away from her. She even has the courage to demand the minister for his help. "I will not give her up!" She firmly states. "Speak thou for me... Thou knowest what is in my heart, and what are a mother's rights...Look thou to it! I will not lose the child! Look to it!" (Ch.8). She refuses to let the power of the men intimidate her, and gets what she wants. While most women of Hester's time did whatever their husband ordered them to do, Hester refused to keep a secret that Chillingworth asked her to. She wanted to disclose the evil that her husband was placing upon Dimmesdale. "I must reveal the secret, he must discern thee in thy true character.

Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Essay

Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Often, writers in literature pilfer from the world of reality in their quest to present compelling characters and gripping plots. Nonetheless, others replicate the real world in an abstract sense to sensitize or communicate the malicious and malignant threats, epidemics and plagues prevalent in the world. Such episodes of these phenomena inflict mass threats and destructions, nefarious villains as well as innocent victims who apparel and enthrall novelists. In some instances, divine retribution follows the nefarious villains as well as grapples the ignorant innocent victims. This is well presented by Jose Saramago in his epic novel, Blindness. This paper explores divine power as well as divine retribution in the book Blindness by Jose Saramago arguing that divinity intervention follows in instituting justice. Besides, divinity intervenes to punish ignorance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Indeed, the novel does not state explicitly that the onus of the swiftly hitting epidemic is resultant from the hands of a divine power such as God. However, the author does not resist writing on a divine power, God. This is because Jose Saramago introduces and trails the action of the churches in supplementing the government’s effort to contain the situation. Moreover, there are multiple references to church leaders all observable in the novel. Besides, Jose Saramago’s presentation in the novel suggests that divine retribution followed a nefariously villainous person. He or she was inflicted or struck with blindness. Additionally, it is interesting to note that literal authors cannot write a masterful work in a spiritual, religious or cultural vacuum. Deductively, it is evident that Saramago alludes to divine intervention and divine retribution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Interestingly, the Blindness novel depicts a thrilling plot with an incessantly straying narrator from presentation of dialogues and facts to reflection on moral academic and ethical analysis at great lengths. Divine intervention and retribution features at the onset of the story in the first page. It is here that the author dexterously delineates in detail the expected features at an ordinary road intersection. These include flickering of lights and pedestrians crossing the road. Everything is a routine, and the events unfold as usual. However, a car at the intersection does not move or give way to the traffic behind, in spite of the flickering green light, creating an unusual situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author is innate to this situation and goes on to consider rational motives behind the car’s stillness. He states, â€Å"there have to be some mechanical flaws, a loose accelerator, a stuck gear level, suspension problems† (1-2) and many other listings of things that could have gone wary. This situation does not go unnoticed because a bystander comes to the attention of the driver. He opens the door catching the attention of the driver as well as the reader. It then dawns to the reader that the driver was struck with blindness. This is rather bellowing and discomforting. It is not incidental that blindness just hit the driver cum blind. The cause of the blindness can only be explained in terms of divine retribution or intervention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Saramago twists and turns the novel literally betwixt calamities. The â€Å"Good Samaritan† that came to the aid of the blind man later emerges that he is a thief. On driving the old man home, he steals his car. It is rather ironical that the good natured helper turns to be an immodest, insensitive and hands down thief. Indeed, it is immoral for an able person to take advantage of a handicapped person and exploit them taking advantage of their helplessness. The reader is appareled by the thief and only wishes for divine punishment. Therefore, the thief’s catching of blindness comes as a sigh of relief to the reader for what he or she considers as an immoral and ungracious act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The scene of people being struck with blindness becomes an incessant phenomenon in the following pages. The narrator trails the lives of victims, and it emerges that they all had crossed paths one way or another. It is here that the narrator philosophizes divine retribution and intervention as calamity strikes the nation ravaging and resulting to outbursts among people with â€Å"I’m blind, I’m blind† uproars. In a series of skits between philosophical argument and conventional wisdom, the narrator presents a vivid account of the actions and motives of the escort and the car thief. Finally, blindness strikes these characters long before the narrator can conclude on the cause of the plague. Interestingly blindness strikes immediately without any bouts to announce its arrival. Divine retribution causes a fierily spread of the plague without a scientific explanation or physical symptoms. Blindness strikes swiftly, strange ly and impartially. For instance, the doctor realizes that he too is blind while watching television. The plague replicates in nature and strangeness to ancient floods and plagues that were acts of divine retribution such as in the bible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A clout to divine retribution is protracted from the doctor’s wife. She is the only victim of blindness who separates human flaws and godly affairs thereby attributing the epidemic to divinity. According to her, â€Å"this is unbearable filth of the soul of a human. Of the human body† (279). According to the narrator, â€Å"she said, as if to correct this metaphysical thought, then she added, it is all the same† (Saramago 279). The reader is left the quarry of the thoughts of divine power and retribution. Arguably though, why does divine power not punish the malicious and nefarious villains, as well? Thomas Talbott in his article, â€Å"Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Judgment† argues that retributivist punishment theory. He justifids punishment by questioning if the punishment befits the error or crime committed. Therefore, punishment is not a rehabilitation or crime deterrence tool but a justice and equalit y feature (Talbott, 154).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Just like other narrations, the Blindness narrator is obsessed with the behavior of people when put under extreme conditions. It is interesting to see the huge and expansive wary and panic among people following the blindness plague. Indeed, such a mega scale panic and social disarray contends the prevalence of a divine power with much stronger abilities than man can think. Different institutions in the society fall and crumble thanks to the plague for fear of the plague. The military cannot contain the massively and swiftly spreading plague create a heat of battle and confusion amidst the crisis. The government is also initiated into the crisis. It imposes a quarantine effort to control the contagion unsuccessfully resulting to collapse of the media, military and businesses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Divinity fabling is also evident in the identity of the characters in the novel. For instance, the author does not give them real names but rather opts to identify them in generic form. For instance, there is the blind man, the Good Samaritan cum the car thief, the doctor, the doctor’s wife among many others. The book begins with the first blind man trailing him as his eyesight elopes while at an intersection, in his car. The first blind man is rescued by the Good Samaritan who takes him home. Later on, the good Samaritan steals his car and eventually loses sight. Indeed, divine retribution strikes and the thief is blinded just like other noble souls. The level of blindness infliction is as a resultant of divinity. It trails people who have crossed paths. For instance, the doctor was struck with blindness. Interestingly, he had attempted to treat the first blind man. People who had sat at the waiting room also got struck with blindn ess.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Saramago presents the proclamations of the churches and the church leaders, as well. They preached the end times claiming that the world was coming to an end. The narrator states, â€Å"they were proclaiming the end of the world†. He adds that they preached, â€Å"redemption through the visions of the seventh days, through penitence, †¦the purity and sanctity of the lymph, the black cat’s blood, the sleep of the shadow, the logic of anthropophagy, the rising of sea, painless castration and mainly divine tattoos..† (Saramago, 298). This presents the existence of divine power that claimed the people. References Cooper, Kate, and Thomas Talbot. â€Å"Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Judgment.† Retribution, repentance, and reconciliation: papers read at the 2002 Summer Meeting and the 2003 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Published for the Ecclesiastical History Society by the Boydell Press, 2004. 154. Print. Saramago, JoseÃÅ' . Blindness: a novel. New York: Harcourt, 1998. Print. Source document

Critical Thinking and Old Man

Directions: In complete sentences, answer the following questions. Be thorough in your responses. These are critical thinking questions, which means you will have to go beyond what is written in the story†¦you need to INFER. Your grade will depend on your thoughtful and insightful answers. Answers should be at least 2-3 complete sentences in length. Prologue and pages 3-10 (stop at the asterisk) 1. Why does Coelho open with the modified myth of Narcissus? How does the new version differ from the original one? How does it change the myth’s meaning? What might the author be suggestion about how we perceive ourselves and the world? 2. The novel opens with Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does he observe about their existence? How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives? How does his observation that they â€Å"have forgotten to rely on their own instincts† foreshadow what might be coming in the novel? 3. To what degree is Santiago’s father’s observation about travelers (page 9) true about Santiago? Pages 10 (start after the asterisk)- 25 (stop at the asterisk) 1. Why does the old fortune teller say that Santiago’s dream is difficult to interpret? Why is Santiago suspicious of her? 2. The old man tells Santiago a story about a miner and an emerald. How does it connect to Santiago’s situation? What does the old man mean when he says that â€Å"treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents? † What does this quote have to do with the story of the miner and the emerald? 1) By telling the new version he wants to tell his own interpretation of narcissus. The original version is about finding inner beauty but Coelho’s version is about finding meaning of life and the life’s purpose. The difference is because it leaves out how the lake cared about to much of its beauty and less about there people. The new one reflects upon the positive outcomes as the original has a negative term. The suggestion is made through the book where Santiago had to see what the world looked like and he gave up a his parents dram and followed his own dreams no matter what.

How to Make an Inference in 5 Easy Steps

How to Make an Inference in 5 Easy Steps We all have to take those standardized tests where youre presented with a large passage of text and must work your way through the multiple-choice problems that follow. Most of the time, youll get questions asking you to find the main idea, determine the authors purpose, understand vocabulary in context, figure out the authors tone, and, the topic at hand, make inferences. For many people, understanding how to make an inference is the toughest part of the reading passage, because an inference in real life requires a bit of guessing. On a multiple-choice test, however, making an inference comes down to honing a few reading skills like these listed below. Read them, then practice your new skills with the inference practice problems listed below. What exactly is an inference? Step 1: Identify an Inference Question First, youll need to determine whether or not youre actually being asked to make an inference on a reading test. The most obvious questions will have the words suggest, imply or infer right in the tag like these: According to the passage, we can reasonably infer...Based on the passage, it could be suggested that...Which of the following statements is best supported by the passage?The passage suggests that this primary problem...The author seems to imply that†¦ Some questions, however, will not come right out and ask you to infer. Youll have to actually infer that you need to make an inference about the passage. Sneaky, huh? Here are a few that require inferencing skills, but dont use those words exactly. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?Which of the following sentences would the author most likely use to add additional support to paragraph three? Step 2: Trust the Passage Now that youre certain you have an inference question on your hands, and you know exactly what an inference is, youll need to let go of your prejudices and prior knowledge and use the passage to prove that the inference you select is the correct one. Inferences on a multiple-choice exam are different from those in real life. Out in the real world, if you make an educated guess, your inference could still be incorrect. But on a multiple-choice exam, your inference will be correct because youll use the details in the passage to prove it. You have to trust that the passage offers you the truth in the setting of the test and that one of the answer choices provided is correct without stepping too far outside the realm of the passage. Step 3: Hunt for Clues Your third step is to start hunting for clues – supporting details, vocabulary, characters actions, descriptions, dialogue, and more – to prove one of the inferences listed below the question. Take this question and text, for example: Reading Passage: The widow Elsa was as complete a contrast to her third bridegroom, in everything but age, as can be conceived. Compelled to relinquish her first marriage after her husband died in the war, she married a man twice her years to whom she became an exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common, and by whose death she was left in possession of a splendid fortune, though she gave it away to the church. Next, a southern gentleman, considerably younger than herself, succeeded to her hand, and carried her to Charleston, where, after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow. It would have been remarkable if any feeling had survived through such a life as Elsas; it could not but be crushed and killed by the early disappointment of her first grooms demise, the icy duty of her second marriage, and the unkindness of her third husband, which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort. Based on the information in the passage, it could be suggested that the narrator believes Elsas prior marriages to be:A. uncomfortable, but well-suited to ElsaB. satisfactory and dull to ElsaC. cold and damaging to ElsaD. awful, but worth it to Elsa To find clues that point to the correct answer, look for descriptions that would support those first adjectives in the answer choices. Here are some of the descriptions of her marriages in the passage: †¦she became an exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow.†¦the icy duty of her second marriage and the unkindness of her third husband which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort. Step 4: Narrow Down the Choices The last step to making a correct inference on a multiple-choice test is to narrow down the answer choices. Using the clues from the passage, we can infer that nothing much was satisfactory to Elsa about her marriages, which gets rid of Choice B. Choice A is also incorrect because although the marriages certainly seem uncomfortable based on the clues, they were not well-suited to her as she had nothing in common with her second husband and wanted her third husband to die. Choice D is also incorrect because nothing is stated or implied in the passage to prove that Elsa believed her marriages to be worth it in some way; in fact, we can infer that it wasnt worth it to her at all because she gave away the money from her second husband. So, we have to believe that Choice C is the best – the marriages were cold and damaging. The passage states explicitly that her marriage was an icy duty and her third husband was unkind. We also know that they were damaging because her feelings had been crushed and killed by her marriages. Step 5: Practice To get really good at making inferences, youll need to practice making your own inferences first, so start with these free inference practice worksheets.

CYP Core FINAL Essays

CYP Core FINAL Essays CYP Core FINAL Essay CYP Core FINAL Essay You may ant to look at the following but you could also choose your own, if you wish. It is important that the theory links clearly to practice. For example, if you discuss Skinners theory of positive reinforcement you need to describe how this is reflected in practice though verbal praise of children and giving stickers for positive behavior. The theorists listed below are suggestions only, you may have other preferred theorists. Explain 1 Behaviorism Theorist (e. G. Skinner, Watson) Explain 1 Cognitive Theorist (e. G. Pigged, Bigotry) Explain 1 Social Learning Theorist (e. G. Burner, Bandeau) Explain 1 Humanist Theorist (e. G. Mascot) Your assignment should be presented in an essay format. Please include any references and a bibliography. If you want information on how to do this please contact your assessor. Questions for COPY 3. 1 Each child and young person is an individual whose development is influenced by a variety of factors. These are often referred to as nature and nurture. That is that some of the development that we have is biological nature. This includes our genes which determine our potential and medical conditions or disabilities which may effect our development. The nurture side includes things like parenting styles, stimulation we receive, the impact others have on our development and the availability of resources. In our settings it is important to monitor children and young peoples development so that we can support and facilitate their development. We do this by observing them. Once we have observed them we should be using the EYES to assess what stage of development they have reached. We can then plan further activities to support them to move to the next stages. In settings this is often documented through Learning Diaries or Learning Journeys. In these booklets practitioners collate a variety of observations to document development. Examples of this may include long observations, short observations, event sampling, time sampling photographs, examples of childrens work, tick lists and audio/video samples. It depends on the reason for your observation as to which method you might use. It is essential that we do monitor development as the earlier we can pick up on delays and difficulties the earlier we can either change practice in the setting get help from an internal colleague or seek the support of an external colleague. Our assessments may be formative or assumptive. A formative assessment is the ongoing picture and information we are building up regarding a childs development. We may gather this information over a term and then at the end of that term we may do a assumptive assessment which brings together and summarizes the development that has taken place and may identify milestones the child has reached. This is often done at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage as the child moves from the Foundation Stage and in to Key Stage 1 We may also see this at the end of a school year in the form of a report. A assumptive assessment may also be compiled if a child is changing settings mid way in a year, for example, they move to another county. The childs Learning Diary and a assumptive assessment should go with the child to their new setting so that the staff there can start to plan for the child. Equally, a young person who is moving from one school to another may have a mid year report from their existing school. Appendix A at the end of this unit gives further descriptions of the assessment methods and how they should link in with planning. In preparation for this unit it is important that you have a good understanding of the systems in place in your setting. If you dont already know what observations take place then take to a colleague and ensure that you have time to look at childrens records. When working with children and young people we should also be mindful of their holistic development. That is that areas of development dont develop on their own. For example, if we are looking at supporting a childs physical development of climbing then they need to also have confidence as well as co ordination and strength. So, areas of development can be described as interconnected. As a practitioner we may identify areas of development that may need specific support. We may be able to provide this in the setting, for example We may have a member Of staff who is trained in speech and language development or we may need to consider getting external support from a Speech and Language Therapist. When we are working in a multi agency way it is vital that there is communication between the agencies. Good communication will ensure that agencies are working together and providing a consistent approach and support. This should also include working with the families. If you are not aware of the Common Assessment Framework (CAFE) process then please do some individual research. This framework is specifically designed to support families who have a child or children with 2 or more identified needs. The framework needs the consent Of parents/career. Transitions Transitions can be described as a time of change. Think about when you have gone through changes yourselves. This could be as a child, young person or as an adult. How did that change make you feel? How did others support that change? How did you manage the change? What difference did others make to you? You may have recalled a change that most children and young people go through such as moving school, moving house or going through puberty. These are transitions that we usually know are going to take place and we can plan how we are going to support the child or young person. There are also transitions that we may or may not be able to prepare for such as the death of an animal, friend or family member or an illness or injury to the child or close relative/friend. As a practitioner it is important that we ensure the child or young person is stable and supported within the setting. Consistency of care within the setting will make them feel more secure. If there is change and confusion in the setting this may add to their negative experiences. 1. 2 Explain the difference between sequence of development and rate of development and why the difference is important. 2. 1 . Explain how children and young people?s development is influenced by a range of personal factors. These could include health, learning difficulties, sensory impairment or disability. 2. 2. Explain how children and young peoples development is influenced by a range Of external factors. These could include poverty, deprivation, family background, education, looked after care personal choices. 3. 1 . Explain how to monitor children and young peoples development using different methods. Choose a minimum Of 6 different methods. 3. 2. Explain the reasons why children and young people?s development may not follow the expected pattern. 3. 3. Explain how disability may affect development. 3. 4. Explain how different types of interventions can promote positive outcomes for children and young people where development is not following the expected pattern.

The Eastern Red Cedar and Other Popular Christmas Trees

The Eastern Red Cedar and Other Popular Christmas Trees Americans buy about 20 million real Christmas trees  each holiday season, most at retail lots and Christmas tree farms. Depending on where you live, the kind of evergreen youll find will vary. In fact, there are dozens of evergreens native to the U.S. Cant decide which one you like best? The trees below are some of the most popular Christmas varieties. Fraser Fir The  Fraser fir  is perhaps the most popular variety of Christmas tree because it is hardy enough to survive being cut and shipped across long distances. The Fraser is a native southern fir and grows at elevations above 5,000 feet. The tree has excellent needle retention along with a pleasing piney scent. The Fraser fir was named for Scottish botanist John Fraser, who explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700s. Douglas Fir The  Douglas fir  is another common variety of Christmas tree found throughout the central and northern U.S. It is not a true fir and has its own unique species classification. Unlike those of true firs, the cones of the Douglas fir hang downward. They have a sweet scent when crushed. The tree was named after David Douglas, who studied the tree in the 1800s. Balsam Fir The Balsam fir is a beautiful pyramidal tree with short, flat, long-lasting aromatic needles. The Balsam fir and the Fraser fir have many similar characteristics and some botanists consider them extensions of the same species. However, balsams prefer cool climates and are native to the northeastern U.S. and Canada. They have a nice, dark green color and are very fragrant. The Balsam fir was named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on its bark, which was used to treat wounds during the Civil War. Colorado Blue Spruce The  Colorado blue spruce  is most familiar to people as an ornamental landscape tree. It has dark green to powdery blue needles and a pyramidal form when young. The Colorado blue spruce is very often sold as a living Christmas tree,  which includes an entire root ball and can be planted after the holidays. Its also popular because it rarely sheds its needles indoors. The spruce was chosen in 1978 and planted as the official living White House Christmas tree and is the state tree of both Utah and Colorado. Scotch Pine The  Scotch pine  is one of the most popular Christmas tree species because it rarely sheds its needles and has excellent water retention when cut. The Scotch pine is not native to America; its origins are European. It was first used in reforestation efforts in the New World. The Scotch pine tree has stiff branches and dark green needles that are retained for four weeks. Its aroma is long-lasting and lingers through the entire holiday season. Eastern Red Cedar The  Eastern red cedar  is a popular Christmas tree in the southern U.S., where it is a native species. This evergreen isnt a true cedar; its a member of the juniper family. Unlike some species that must be pruned regularly to maintain the traditional cone shape, the Eastern red cedar comes by its pyramidal crown naturally. The trees ease of maintenance makes it a favorite at cut-your-own tree farms. Its needles are a dark, shiny green color and sharp and prickly to the touch. White Spruce The white spruce is native to the northeastern U.S. and Canada, and one of the most common varieties sold as Christmas trees in that region. Like the Eastern red cedar, the white spruce has a natural conical shape that makes it easy for tree farmers to maintain. Its a common  choice for cut-your-own farms. However, some people dont like white spruce trees because they tend to shed their needles, which have an unpleasant odor. On the plus side, the trees thick branches make it ideal for heavy ornaments. Eastern White Pine The  Eastern white pine  has been valued as a timber tree for centuries, and it is commonly sold in the mid-Atlantic states as a Christmas tree. Because this variety of evergreen has very little scent, it is popular with people who suffer from tree-related allergies. Eastern white pines have excellent needle retention and stout branches to support heavy decorations. White or Concolor Fir The White fir, sometimes called the concolor fir, is known for its long, blue-green needles, excellent needle retention, and pleasing pine scent. Its commonly sold as a Christmas tree in California, where it is a native species. Virginia Pine The Virginia pine is a newcomer to many Christmas tree lots, particularly in the South. This variety was developed as a heat-tolerant alternative to the Scotch pine and has only recently been used as a Christmas tree. The Virginia pine has wide tufts of soft needles ranging from dark green to gray in color. Its limbs are stout with woody branches.

Collective Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Collective Security - Essay Example It was to be an organization that would use peaceful negotiation to maintain international peace and security. Moreover, it would be an organization where all member states would be bound by the belief that all acts of "aggression and war are crimes against humanity" (Harney), and nations would therefore consider it their duty to desist from and prevent aggression. After any major conflict, prevention of future conflicts is always high on the agenda. To this end, the "favorite technique is to institute measures of co-operation and consultationwith a view to preventing war by moderating and restraining the free-for-all operation of the international anarchy" (Buzan, 163). Thus the setting up of the League of Nations, [and later the United Nations] was a paradigm shift from a policy of national defence to one of collective security. However, the League of Nations failed to achieve its goal of securing international peace and security, amply proven by the fact that the world was at war again within twenty years of its formation. Nevertheless, the failure of League of Nations cannot be called a failure of the idea of collective security. It was more a failure of political will amongst nations to look beyond their own short-term gains in order to make collective security a workable proposition. According to Meg Harney, "While an excellent idea in theory, the League met with repeated problems simply because the nations had not adapted their foreign policy to change to look after, instead of looking after the interests of the League as a whole working unit". The lack of political will among the bigger nations to implement collective security is evident in the stand taken by the big powers vis--vis the League of Nations. The rejection of the Treaty of Versailles by the US and by extension to the League was almost a 'death blow' to the fledging organization. As a result of domestic political compulsions, US President Woodrow Wilson failed to garner the support of the Senate, which according to the US Constitution is the body responsible for ratification of any treaty. The Senate voted against the Treaty and as a result the US did not become a member of the League of Nations. This left Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan as the main powers in the League of Nations. According to Karl Schmidt, "The majority of the British public supported the ideals of the League, but the British government viewed the League largely with indifference". This was largely due to the fact that men like Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin and Curzon who dominated the government of the day believed in the 'old diplomacy'. Lloyd George preferred, as per Karl Schmidt, "Diplomacy by conference - where the great powers would meet in a less formal setting to discuss problems - to any such system as the League". Apart from this, the British were also affected by the US defection, as they did not want to shoulder the responsibility of single handedly securing the peace in Europe. France supported the League of Nations less for its idealism and more as a tool for securing its own protection. Ever fearful of an attack from Germany, the French leaders saw no difference between its own national security concerns and the League's collective security elements. Italy on the other hand, viewed the League with a certain amount of skepticism, which turned to dislike once Mussolini came to power,

Com law and ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Com law and ethics - Essay Example There are several issues that portray the publisher of the Larry Flynt as to have violated several ethical concerns. These ethical concerns revolve around privacy, objectivity and accuracy. First, was the issue of accuracy; when Flynt was approached with the nude pictures of the First Lady Jacqueline Keneddy Onassis, he never sought to establish the facts and context on which the pictures were taken. The first lady is said to have been sunbathing when the photos were taken, and yet the same would not be said in the hustler magazine. Secondly, Flynt had violated the right of children. The daughter had reported that at 19, Flynt forced him to appear in the magazine posing naked and threatened to kill her if she refused to cooperate. This was one of the ethical considerations he failed to observe in his publication. He did not seek the consent of some of the images he wanted to appear in his magazine. The involvement of many courts in the case of Larry Flynt was because of appeals that were being made in reaction to dissatisfaction that was witnessed in the lower courts. Usually, when there is dissatisfaction on the findings of a particular court verdict, the parties involved may seek redress of the same matter in higher court through appeal. That is why the people felt that the matter should be addressed in the higher courts. The Supreme Court ruling set some precedence in the criminal justice system. It further proved that individual rights were much protected than any other rights. Though it seemed like Larry was favored by the court, the ultimate victory was the people since the court proved that the rights of individuals would be protected by the constitution. Flynt, Larry, and David Eisenbach. One nation under sex: how the private lives of presidents, first ladies and their lovers changed the course of American history. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

Comparing between two companies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparing between two companies - Research Paper Example It has various components of a corporate ethics program that include the belief of doing the right thing in making good business, an ethical code of conduct to promote integrity, assurance, and effective management. Indeed, it has a code of conduct that dictates the terms of employment in all associates of Novartis Group companies (â€Å"Novartis AG† Web). In addition, the company condemns direct or indirect engagement to acts of bribery and establishes a global Integrity and Compliance program to ensure conformity to the code of ethics. Moreover, the company seeks to uphold high levels of ethics in addressing challenging issues in its business operations. Notably, Novartis conducts business ethically maintaining a code of conduct and governance. On the other hand, Boeing has various components of a corporate ethics program that include conducting its business in an ethical manner that reflects impartiality and fairness. Indeed, the company adopts a code of ethics and a code o f conduct that complies with all laws and regulations. Most specifically, Boeing adopts the Code of Ethical Business Conduct that complies with the New York Stock Exchange's corporate governance rules (â€Å"Boeing† Web). This commitment guarantees integrity and values in their business operations. ... duct where Boeing adopts the Code of Ethical Business Conduct while Novartis adopts the belief of doing business in the right way that reflects ethical conduct. Additionally, the two companies adopt a code of conduct as the communication mode within the companies. More so, both participate in corporate social responsibility. Compared to Boeing, the ethics program of Novartis is more like an integrity strategy than a compliance strategy. Indeed, Novartis commits itself to good corporate governance that seemingly promotes integrity. Its code of conduct ensures an ethical articulation of business operations that upholds its values of integrity. Notably, Novartis strives for operational excellence to secure human rights for all, which translates to a strategy of integrity. Indeed, the company promotes a culture of integrity (â€Å"Novartis AG† Web) to ensure it does the right thing in business and promotes an ethical conduct. For example, the company states that the management car ries out annual performance reviews of associates to maintain and improve integrity (â€Å"Novartis AG† Web) and compliance. Furthermore, Novartis established a global Integrity and Compliance program that ensures compliance to integrity standards. Indeed, Novartis adopts a policy that condemns direct or indirect engagement in acts of bribery and corruption in its operations (â€Å"Novartis AG† Web). This is a step towards ensuring integrity in business activities involving Novartis and hence the ethics program of Novartis is more like an integrity strategy. Nevertheless, I think that Boeing Company has the better Corporate Ethics Program as compared to Novartis Group companies. The ethics program of Boeing has numerous components of corporate ethics program as compared to Novartis Group companies.

Do Catheter Washouts Extend Patency Time in Long-term Indwelling Essay

Do Catheter Washouts Extend Patency Time in Long-term Indwelling Urethral Catheters - Essay Example Bladder washouts do not have to be carried out all the time, however they may be essential when there is a significant amount of sedimentation in the urine; and in treating urinary tract infections. In this process, about 60 mls of water is usually introduced into the catheter gently via a syringe; the syringe is then removed and the catheter end is drained into a container. The procedure is repeated until 500 mls of water is used. This topic was chosen because of the growing interest of the impact of catheterization on long-term care patients and on practices which can be used to minimize the negative impact of catheterization. It is relevant to my future practice as a nurse because it would provide me with evidence on the importance of carrying out catheter washouts on patients under long-term care. This aspect of practice personally interests me because I have often encountered long-term care patients under catheterization and I have always been interested in finding ways to impro ve the quality of their lives. Evidence based practice Evidence-based practice is defined by Sackett, et.al., (1996) as the explicit and effective use of current and most appropriate evidence in health care decisions on individual patients. It also means incorporating individual clinical skills with the most appropriate clinical proof from research. Evidence-based practice is basically about getting the patient the best care possible, as proven by evidence, and according to his needs and preferences (Manzoukas, 2006). It also helps ensure that the knowledge of the nurses are up to date, that it supports clinical judgments, and can reduce time in considering appropriate care (Drisko, 2010). There are various forms of evidence which can be utilized including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series/case reports, and editorials/expert opinion (University of Illinois, 2006). Not all evidence in this case is research base, most e specially in cases of editorials and expert opinion where the weight of the evidence is based on the skill and the authority of the practitioner. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct describes the specific duties of nurses. It also specifies that nurses have the responsibility of providing a high standard of care for patients at all times, and this includes providing â€Å"care based on the best available evidence or best practice† (NMC, 2009, p. 16). These provisions form the legal and practice-based support for the evidence-based care required of nurses. Evidence can therefore be used in this case in order to establish whether or not carrying out catheter washouts would extend the patency of catheters among long-term care patients. Moreover, evidence can be used to determine if these washouts would improve the care of catheterized long-term care patients. Literature review Various studies have been carried out on the current topic under study . Hagen, Sinclair, and Cross (2010) carried out their study in order to establish if some specific washout regimens are better than others in relation to effectiveness, acceptability, and quality of life. About five trials were able to meet the inclusion criteria covering 242 patients in two cross-over and three parallel-group randomised control trials. After witling down the studies based on the inclusion criteria, authors reported that there is no difference between the different washout solutions, however these results were not sufficient to support the conclusions.

Business Communication Trends Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Communication Trends Paper - Essay Example The use of technological tools has also enhanced the capabilities of companies to offer superior customer service. Business communication affects the interaction and communications of employees in all industries. The use of business communication has affected me at my place of work. I am responsible for leading ten employees in daily operations ensuring that all support codes get all necessary supplies and equipment to complete all job tasks. Any person that is put in a supervisory position must have good interpersonal skills and communication abilities. My verbal and written communication skills are excellent. I have learned that the best way to get your employees to respond to is by having the lines of communication open at all times. Every Friday I have a staff meeting with my group to discuss the performance of the week and to plan the job tasks for the following week. A summary of the staff meeting is given to the employees in written form prior to the end the shift. Documentati on is very important to provide an audit trail of business communication. All my employees are given a corporate email account. Electronic communication between the employees is encouraged. The form of communication that I used most often in my day to day activities is verbal communication. â€Å"Business professionals demonstrating effective verbal communication skills use spoken words to convey a message clearly and concisely† (Duggan, 2012). At the start of each shift I speak directly to my staff for five minutes to explain the tasks each team member is going to perform. If I have any special instructions for a particular member of the team I have a separate meeting with the employee in an office where I talk with the person privately. There are lots of new hot trends in the communication industry. Businesses are relying on electronic communication more than ever in the past. In 2011 there were approximately 3.1 billion email accounts registered worldwide and that figure i s expected to reach 4 billion by 2015 (Brownlow, 2012). The growing popularity of emails is forcing businesses to use that form of communication to provide customer service to its clients. Our company also uses a forum to transmit information to customers. The forum has a live chat feature that allows customers to chat with a customer representative. Another hot trend in business communication is the use of telecommuting work arrangements. Telecommuting is a work arrangement in which employees work from remote locations or their homes using communication technology such as fax machines, printers, computers, smartphones, and broadband internet. Currently there are no full time employees working in telecommuting arrangements, but some executives are taking advantage of telecommunication technology to become part-time telecommuters. Two managers of the company get to work from their homes twice a week in order to reduce their previous excessive workload of six ten hour shifts weekly. T he strategy provided these managers with a better work life balance. Telecommuting is a growing trend in the workplace due to the fact that there are so many internet users worldwide. There are approximately two billion internet users globally. â€Å"Users of the internet are multiplying around the globe, and many companies are earning terrific profits in the process of serving those users†

Marketing strategies, tactics and techniques Essay

Marketing strategies, tactics and techniques - Essay Example This is already faster than the normal speed of cars available in the market at present. It is equipped with capabilities that limit the acceleration into 155mph that electronically safeguards the person driving thus avoiding cataclysmic effects of speed in accidents. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/apr2006/id20060426_124236.htmchan=innovation_auto+design_new+%3Cfont+face%3D%22arial%22%3E%2B%3C%2Ffont%3E+noteworthy. Question here is, can this be available to ordinary consumers earning meager income enough to support a family of three Or is this limited only for those who can afford the luxury of buying expensive cars like that of BMWs As Steve Job would say, is the cost effective enough to be accessible to the ordinary masses Or will they be confined to subways and busses I believe that consumers nowadays are better equipped with options and better judgement this is why advertisement gets a bigger chunk of investments. In the end, no matter how popular the product may be , it would still boil down to what is necessary and therefore price is not the only consideration here. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060602/oil_prices_europe.html.v=1 With gas prices increasing unpredictably, shoppers would go for the best value for their money. In as far as economic stability staggers due to the erratic trend of gas prices, sellers are at the same time on their toes for tough competition.

Business Communication Trends Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Communication Trends Paper - Essay Example The use of technological tools has also enhanced the capabilities of companies to offer superior customer service. Business communication affects the interaction and communications of employees in all industries. The use of business communication has affected me at my place of work. I am responsible for leading ten employees in daily operations ensuring that all support codes get all necessary supplies and equipment to complete all job tasks. Any person that is put in a supervisory position must have good interpersonal skills and communication abilities. My verbal and written communication skills are excellent. I have learned that the best way to get your employees to respond to is by having the lines of communication open at all times. Every Friday I have a staff meeting with my group to discuss the performance of the week and to plan the job tasks for the following week. A summary of the staff meeting is given to the employees in written form prior to the end the shift. Documentati on is very important to provide an audit trail of business communication. All my employees are given a corporate email account. Electronic communication between the employees is encouraged. The form of communication that I used most often in my day to day activities is verbal communication. â€Å"Business professionals demonstrating effective verbal communication skills use spoken words to convey a message clearly and concisely† (Duggan, 2012). At the start of each shift I speak directly to my staff for five minutes to explain the tasks each team member is going to perform. If I have any special instructions for a particular member of the team I have a separate meeting with the employee in an office where I talk with the person privately. There are lots of new hot trends in the communication industry. Businesses are relying on electronic communication more than ever in the past. In 2011 there were approximately 3.1 billion email accounts registered worldwide and that figure i s expected to reach 4 billion by 2015 (Brownlow, 2012). The growing popularity of emails is forcing businesses to use that form of communication to provide customer service to its clients. Our company also uses a forum to transmit information to customers. The forum has a live chat feature that allows customers to chat with a customer representative. Another hot trend in business communication is the use of telecommuting work arrangements. Telecommuting is a work arrangement in which employees work from remote locations or their homes using communication technology such as fax machines, printers, computers, smartphones, and broadband internet. Currently there are no full time employees working in telecommuting arrangements, but some executives are taking advantage of telecommunication technology to become part-time telecommuters. Two managers of the company get to work from their homes twice a week in order to reduce their previous excessive workload of six ten hour shifts weekly. T he strategy provided these managers with a better work life balance. Telecommuting is a growing trend in the workplace due to the fact that there are so many internet users worldwide. There are approximately two billion internet users globally. â€Å"Users of the internet are multiplying around the globe, and many companies are earning terrific profits in the process of serving those users†

Adopting Children by Same Sex Parent Essay Example for Free

Adopting Children by Same Sex Parent Essay People in society say that everyone is equal, they have equal right and freedom. However in case of adopting children, people believe that same sex parents are abnormal to adopting children. Some people in society against them to adopting but there are many same sex couples who are seeking to adopt children. The researcher of homosexuality found that many people still do not reveal their sexual orientation to others. Also, same sex couples are not acceptable from some people in society, according to www. gay-adoption. s. On the contrast, some people believe that same sex adoption is normal and it should be acceptable, according to the right human campaign, a national gay and lesbian advocacy group. Although there are many people against same sex couple to adopting children, same sex couples should be allowed to adopt children because they have equal rights and they can be good parents for a child who lacks love and home. Moreover, children in the United State of America and many countries around the world are waiting for adoption. There are about 520,000 children in welfare, according to the North American Council on Adoptable Children in St. Paul. In addition there have 120,000 are available for adoption, but only 50,000 find permanent homes each year. However, although same sex couples want to adopt children, they are against by heterosexual parents for several reasons including it is unnatural to allowed same sex to be a parent, same sex parents cannot give stability to children and most people believed that only heterosexual parents can be good parents. Firstly, it is unnatural to allow homosexual couples to be a parent. They cannot be good parents. Also, it is not safe for children to live with same sex parents. The best environment for well-being of children is a household with a mother and father because children should have a role model. Adopting by same sex parents can effects to children. For instance, children who is raised in a homosexual household are significantly more likely to be homosexual themselves because they have only one role model in one gender, and get involved in homosexual behavior than children raised in heterosexual households, according to a research in the US (University of Illinois Law Review, 1997). In a study published in the January 1996 issue of Developmental Psychology, London researchers Susan Golombok and Fiona Tasker found that it danger for children that live with same sex parents. However, the sexual orientation of parents has no influence on the sexual orientation of their children and that children of lesbian and same sex parents are not more likely than any other children to grow up to be homosexual, according to Children of gay fathers, Gay and Lesbian Parents (p. 9-57) In addition, children can manage their life to be what they want to be by themselves, however they are raised by homosexual parents but it is not determine that they may have the same behavior as their same sex parents. Moreover, same sex parents can give a responsibility and love to children as well as a heterosexual because they are a human who can teach and give love to a child. As such, it would be wrong to deny same sex parents to adopt children. Also, good parenting is not controlled by sexual orientation, same sex parents can support children and give love to them that show they can be a good parent same as a heterosexual. Secondly, the reason why people believe same sex parents should not be allowed to adopt is stability, so it is important in raising an emotionally and mentally healthy child. The way to children grow up happily may need a role model, so children need a role model of both genders that are male and female in order to develop a properly. If children raise in homosexual household, it influence to children will lacks information of other gender. Children’s primary role models are his or her parents that cause bringing a heterosexual up in a homosexual household can gives children a misrepresented view of sexuality. Homosexual couples simply cannot give the stability that heterosexual parents can give to children. Although most people believe that bringing a heterosexual child up by same sex parents give them a distorted view of sexuality, some babies are born with a predisposition to homosexuality and their upbringing will not affect their sexuality. Almost of homosexuals couples do not want to force children to be homosexual like them. According to Major associations of mental health professionals in the United stated of America, same sex parents are not an unfit and capable as heterosexual parents that they lead children are as happily, healthy and well adjusted as a child who is raised by heterosexual parents. In addition, a studies shows that children raised by single heterosexual parents have more difficulties than children who have same sex parents. Moreover the study shows that children did better in moderation, self-esteem, and had less psychosocial difficulties at home and at school, according to the study of Same-Sex Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Kids. The last reason is widely agreed that only heterosexual parents can be a good parent and they are appropriate to give love, warm, and home to children. Children should have opportunities to thrive in heterosexual parents with a mother and father based family. Heterosexual parents are the best because a child should be raised in loving, well-disciplined homes where children have good role models from their heterosexual parents, also avoiding children grow up to be a homosexual, according to study of gender identity disorder and psychosexual problems in children and adolescents. In addition, avoiding from criminal because homosexuals are more likely to molest children, such as rape them. It is danger to children’s life and causes many troubles to society. However, there are about 500,000 children in welfare nationally in the United state and about 100,000 children need to be adopted. So it is shows thousands of children lacks a permanent home and lacks love from parents, according to the statistics of the study of critical shortage of adoptive and foster parents in the United States. If they are only allowed heterosexual parents in adoption, the child who lives in foster care will lacks family and as in Florida more than 2,000 children in welfare are waiting for adoption according to the state of Florida’s statistics. In addition, there are not enough heterosexual parents who are interested in adoption and foster care. There are some arguments of adopting children by same sex parents because most people feel that only traditional homes with a father and a mother are appropriate and have equal right as heterosexual parents to adopt children, according to issue about facts on gay adoption. However, society is change that leads everyone has equal rights. Therefore same sex parents are human being who should be allowed to adopt children. All people should have equal rights because the child in same sex family appear to be normal, and also same sex parents are not appear to harm child, according to Homosexuality and Family Relations. If homosexual parents can support their children, same sex couples can be as good parents as heterosexual parents. As such, same sex parents are the same as other people who can support children, such as, they give love to children, pay taxes, go to work. It shows that being homosexual is not a mental disorder. In addition, nowadays there are thousands children have no permanent homes, and they are waiting for adoption. It is shows that same sex parents are one of those who help children to have love and home. Therefore, people should not determine only about sexuality of those who want to adopt children. As Mary Bonauto of Boston-based same sex couples Avocates and defenders said that, â€Å" Sexual orientation is not the issue, ability of parent is issue. †

E Commerce Use In The Tourism Industry Tourism Essay

E Commerce Use In The Tourism Industry Tourism Essay Abstract: The aim of this paper is to present the impact of Internet on tourism, highlighting the main benefits and limitations of e-commerce in the tourism industry. The article will provide some fundamental knowledge about the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) developments and their implication on various sectors of the travel and tourism industry, related to the world economic situation. 1. Introduction The Internet which is considered to be the most important innovation since the development of the printing press (Hoffman, 2000) has revolutionized how businesses operate. In 2010, Internet reached almost 2 billion users worldwide(28,7% of the total population) including more than 800 million Internet users in Europe (58,4% of its population) and approximately 7.8 million users in the Romania (35% of its population). These figures represent an increase of 444,8% compared to the year 2000. Table 1. Internet Usage and penetration rate Population (2010 est.) % Pop. Of the world Internet users Penetration (% Population) Users Growth (2000 -2010) Romania 21,959,278 0.32% 7,786,700 35.5 % 873.3 % Europe 813,319,511 11.9 % 475,069,448 58.4 % 352.0 % Rest of the world 6,010,331,171 87.78% 1,483,658,668 24.7% 482.8% Total world 6,845,609,960 100% 1,966,514,816 28.7 % 444.8 % (Source www.internetworldstats.com) Due to the uninterrupted growth of the Internet penetration rate, demographic characteristics of online users are resembling more and more the ones of the general population. The average age of Internet users is rising in tandem with that of the general population, and racial and ethnic characteristics are more closely mirroring those in the offline population (eMarketer, 2010). Another interesting is the fact that over 90% of people between age of 5 and 17 use the Internet on a regular basis (Turban, King, McKay, Marshall, Lee Viehland, 2008). These younger generations are more familiar with the Internet than other media such as radio and television. When they will become economically active population, the Internet will be the most influential medium in business. From the early ages of the public Internet development, the search for travel information and for the purpose of making a booking has been one of the main reasons that people use the Internet. The top 5 most popular online purchases were books (66%), clothes (57%), travel arrangements (57%), gifts (51%) and CDs (45%) in the US in 2007 (Center for the Digital Future, 2008). The tourism industry has demonstrated rapid growth before the impact of the financial crisis and therefore has been identified as a key element of growth in the services sector. The tourism industry continues to be an important element as foreign exchange earner, contributing to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the growth of the investments and employment rate as well as strengthening the services account of the balance of payments. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) the tourisms contribution to worldwide GDP is estimated at some 5%, and ranges from approximately 2% to over 10% for countries where tourism is an important sector of the economy (UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2010). The global economic recession combined with other problems related to natural disasters and influenza pandemic made out of 2009 one of the toughest years for the tourism sector worldwide. The year 2009 marked a decline in international tourist arrivals all over the world (880 million) and the tourism sector in Europe was the strongly affected. But starting with the 4th quarter of the year growth returned, after 14 months of negative results. And good news is announced by the UNWTO prediction that international arrivals will almost double reaching 1.6 billion by 2020 (UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2010) and will continue to grow at a rapid pace. The expansion of this industry will also have a benefic effect on the economic growth of other related service industries, such as food and beverages, accommodation, transport, shopping, entertainment and other small and medium-sized industries. Source: UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2010 2. The connection between ICT and Tourism Tourism industry has been linked with the progress and evolution of ICTs for over 30 years. Commencing in the 70s with the establishment of the Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs), then in the 80s the evolution of the Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) and the Internet in the 90s have changed operational and strategic practices in tourism. Nowadays ICTs are relevant on all operative, structural, strategic and marketing levels to facilitate global interaction among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers around the world (Buhalis Law, 2008; Egger Buhalis, 2008) Tourism is a dynamic sector of the economy, regardless if it is considered at local, national or international level, and as the Internet penetration rate increased, the use of e-commerce can became an effective tool to promote and develop new opportunities in the travel and tourism sector. Because tourism can be considered an information intensive industry it has experienced important changes over the past few years due to the strong evolution of ICT, which together with the Internet spans the globe (G. Schneider, 2007). The tourism sector is characterized by the intensive production of information, to meet the needs of the various actors (Ramos et al., 2009). ICT has significantly altered the playground for travel and tourism stakeholders, creating new opportunities and challenges in selling and promoting their products/services. The way in which potential clients search for travel information and buy their holidays packages was also altered by the unforeseen development and mass diffusion of Internet. Tourism and Internet combined together revolutionized the way of traveling. The cumulative effect generated by the following factors: the progress made in the field of the ICTs combined with the fact that technology became largely available; the digitalization of business; the growth of e-commerce in al fields of the economy; the adoption and integration of these revolutionary technologies in the field of tourism led to the birth of the concept of e-tourism. Electronic tourism (e-tourism) is defined as being the application of ICT on the tourism industry (Buhalis, 2003). After a literature review of works done on this domain I would like to point out that experts stated that e-tourism represents the digitalization of the value chain and business processes in the travel, tourism, hospitality and catering industries. At the tactical level, it includes e-commerce and applies ICTs for maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the tourism organization. At the strategic level, e-tourism revolutionizes all business processes, the entire value chain as well as the strategic relationships of tourism organizations with all their stakeholders. (Buhalis, 2003) 3. Benefits and limitations of the Internet and ICT As mentioned above the evolution in technology allowed existing business to re-engineer themselves through technological innovation and permitted the entrance and creation of new business. The implementation and use of e-commerce applications present a series of advantages but also a series of disadvantages. The most relevant benefits and limitations of electronic commerce use are displayed in the tables below: Table 2. Benefits of e-commerce Source: Turban et al. 2008 Table 3. Limitations of e-commerce Source: Turban et al. 2008 ICT and Internet have provided the means for tourism organizations to develop their business processes and adapt their management structure and strategy to take advantage of the newly created possibilities in order to: Increase internal efficiency and better manage of their capacity and improve yield management. Interact more with existing and potential customers and personalize the products/services in order to meet their needs. Revolutionize tourism intermediation and increase the number of points of sale. Enable consumers to communicate with each other and share opinions. Provide Location Based Services utilize the ability to make use of the location of the mobile device. (Virrantaus et al. 2001) Promote of efficient cooperation between partners in the value system. Enhance the operational and geographic scope by offering strategic tools for global expansion. (Buhalis, 2003) The most discussed technological barriers are the lack of global standards for quality, security, and reliability (Turban et al., 2008; Van Toorn, Bunker, Yee, Smith, 2006). The absence of standards in technologies and its applications can increase semnificatively the cost of system integration for a more efficient management in distribution, operation and communication worldwide. Hospitality corporations had the financial power to invest and transform their systems into a total netware system. Small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SME) on the other hand are having trouble integrating their systems because of limited financial resources. Due to this fact SME have a competitive disadvantage when competing against large corporation and it is difficult to conserve their position on market. The major non-technological problem is the payment and privacy issues, which can result in keeping consumers away from making online transactions. Businesses must protect themselves and their customers from losses due to cyber-vandalism and fraud, offering secure transactions and privacy protection of personal information by using advance cryptographic methods. The large availability of Internet created huge amounts of information, some of which can be inaccurate and deluding. For this reason, the Internet has lead to a decrease in the efficient search for information (Allen Shoard, 2005; Farhoomand Drury, 2002; Lurie, 2004). From the consumer point of view this may result in frustration due to the increased number of alternatives and attributes and finally may lead to increased cost for searching and indentifying alternatives Using ICT as a stand-alone initiative is not adequate and has to be combined with redesigning the business processes, structures and management control systems. ICT can enhance business success when rational and innovative planning and management is exercised on regular basis in organization. Intellect therefore becomes a critical asset, while continuous education and training are instrumental for the innovative use of ICT and the competitiveness of tourism organizations. (Buhalis, 2003) The integration of e-commerce application in tourism affected both supply and demand in this industry. In all sectors of the tourism industry the influence of ICT and Internet can be noticed through internal re-organization, relationships with partners and the way it relates and interacts with customers and stakeholders. E-tourism offers a wide range of opportunities for business expansion in all geographical, marketing and operational senses and as a result an important number of new players have arisen, sometimes referred as barbarians in the literature (Wade, 2000), as they enter with self-defined new rules. Table 4. Influence on various tourism industry players Source: Werthner, H. and Klein, 1999 4. Conclusion Travel and tourism have demonstrated that e-commerce may influence the structure of an industry, and provide new opportunities for business. In order to keep up with the highly demanding and better-informed customers, tourism organization have to use the advantages provided by the development of ICT and integrate the innovational technologies into their business process. The changes in industry structure is equally affecting large corporation and small and medium companies but it is more stringent for SME to master the ability grasp the opportunities provided by ICT, because failure to do so will materialize in loss of competitiveness and business opportunities. As experts stated it: Given the importance of e-commerce in tourism, it is essential that tourism organizations adopt e-commerce as their business strategy. All type of tourism organization should pay attention to the new mobile technologies that emerged in the past few years and to the advantages offered by m-commerce because this may take e-tourism a step forward by offering a better interaction with the customers. The study of what seems to be materializing, as m-tourism will be the focus of further research. Due to the fact that the use of e-commerce had a continuous and rapid growth despite the current economic situation combined with the great potential of the tourism sector, I venture my self in stating that e-tourism can provide us with a way to surpass more quickly the negative effects generated by the international financial crisis into the economy.

Importance of Shell Shock in Pat Barkers Regeneration :: Pat Barker Regeneration Essays

Importance of Shell Shock in Pat Barker's Regeneration Pat Barker's Regeneration contains references to people, places, and cultural elements of particular significance to her themes as well as to the study of the First World War. One cultural reference, that of shell shock, is made early in the novel. On page four, Dr. William Rivers learns that Siegfried Sassoon is being sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital with a case of shell shock. To prevent shell shock from crippling the patients, Craiglockhart emphasizes the value of therapy, a theme in the novel, as a way to fight back against the mental battles. The term shell shock was first coined in 1915 by C.S. Myers in The Lancet to describe the disorder found on the battlefield in soldiers who had been exposed to an exploding shell (Spiller). During the beginning of World War One, the disorder was common only among soldiers. Victims were often mocked and labeled cowards by their peers, causing many to desert the army. Around three hundred of these men were shot, and hundreds more were imprisoned for their apparent cowardness (Storr). Soon officers began falling ill as well, and by 1917, the ratio of shell-shocked officers to shell-shocked enlisted men was an astounding 1: 6 (Bourke). With this shift, shell shock became recognized as a legitimate medical disorder. The symptoms of shell shock were numerous and varied from soldier to soldier. Physical effects ranged from trembling, sweating, insomnia, diarrhea, and minor twitches to paralysis, blindness, and muteness. Victims also experienced anguish, anxiety, and the inability to control their emotions. As a result, most were unable to separate their past from reality. During the war, psychologist Karl Bimbaum observed "great weariness and profuse weeping, even in otherwise strong men" (Spiller). Many of the soldiers exhibited what Sigmund Freud termed conversion disorders, which were subconsciously-formed problems such as the inability to walk, talk, see, or hear (Stuttaford). These symptoms were beyond the patients' control. Shell shock had devastating effects on the British Army. Over 80,000 cases of shell shock were treated during World War One (Bourke). Even after the war, symptoms continued to surface in a majority of the victims. Years later, many veterans still complained of frequent nightmares and hallucinations. In 1927, over 65,000 men remained in mental hospitals suffering from shell shock acquired during the war (Spiller). In every military conflict since World War One, shell shock has been a problem among combat forces.

What The United States Can Learn From Japan :: essays research papers

What The United States Can Learn From Japan Japan and the Four Little Dragons in order to achieve their industrialization goals have a diverse set of policies ranging from limited entitlement programs to a education and government bureaucracy that stresses achievement and meritocracy. But one of the most significant innovations of Japan and the Four Little Dragons is there industrial policy which targets improving specific sectors of the economy by focusing R&D, subsidies, and tax incentives to specific industries that the government wants to promote. The United States could adopt some of these industrial policies to help foster emerging high tech businesses and help existing U.S. business remain competitive with East Asia. In Japan the government both during the Meiji period and the post World War II period followed a policy of active, sector selective industrial targeting. Japan used basically the same model during both historical periods. The Japanese government would focus its tax incentive programs, subsidies, and R&D on what it saw as emerging industries. During the Meiji period Japan focused it's attention on emulating western technology such as trains, steel production, and textiles. The Meiji leaders took taxes levied on agriculture to fund the development of these new industries. Following World War II Japanese industries used this same strategic industrial policy to develop the high-tech, steel, and car industries that Japan is known for today. Some American industries are currently heavily supported by the government through subsidies and tax breaks to farmers, steel producers, and other industries that have been hurt by foreign competition because they are predominantly low-tech industries. But this economic policy of the U.S. is almost a complete reversal of the economic policies of Japan and the Four Little Tigers; instead of fostering new businesses and high tech industry it supports out of date and low tech firms who have political clout. The existing economic policy of the United States fails to help high tech businesses develop a competitive advantage on the world market instead it stagnates innovation by providing incentives primarily to existing business. The structure of U.S. industrial policy like the structure of an advance welfare state has emphasized rewarding powerful lobbying groups and has not targeted emerging sectors of the economy. The current U.S. industrial policy is a distribution strategy and not a development strategy. Instead of this ad-hoc industrial policy the United States should follow Japan's model of strategic targeting of emerging technology. The U.S. instead of pouring its money into subsidies and tax breaks for failing low-tech industries should provide loans, subsidies and R&D money for firms that are producing high technology products. Unfortunately, there are several impediments to copying

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Contribution Margin

Escareno Corporation has provided its contribution format income statement for June. The company produces and sells a single product. Sales (8,400 units): ($) 764,400 Variable expenses: ($) 445,200 Contribution margin: ($) 319,200 Fixed expenses: ($) 250,900 Net operating income: ($) 68,300 If the company sells 8,200 units, its total contribution margin should be closest to: Merchandise with a sales price of $500 is sold on account with term 2/10, n/30. The journal entry to record the sale would include a: Davison Company has fixed costs of $ 315,000 and a contribution margin ratio of 34%. If sales are expected to be $1,500,000, what is the margin of safety percent? † E. (114 points) The Beer toxin is composed of two subunits, Ping and Pong . The toxin binds to the Springbreak receptor on the plasma membrane of pancreatic cells and enters the cell via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Once the toxin-receptor complex reaches the early endosome, Ping , Pong , and Springbreak dissociate from one another. Ping exits the early endosomes and enters the cytosol whereas Springbreak is targeted to the lysosomes for degradation. Although Ping alone can interact with Springbreak , its cytosolic targeting requires the presence of†¦ The vice-president of marketing and the director of human resources have developed a proposal whereby the company would compensate the sales sales force on a strictly commission basis using 20% of net sales. Given the increased incentive, they expect net sales to increase by 15%. As a result, they estimate that gross profit will increase by $53,061 and operating expenses by $88,322. Compute the expected new net income. (Hint: You do not need to prepare an income statement). A trial balance before adjustments included the following: Debit Credit Sales $425,000 Sales returns and allowance $14,000 Accounts receivable 43,000 Allowance for doubtful accounts 760 If the estimate of uncollectibles is made by taking ten percent of gross account receivables, the amount of the adjustment is $3,540. 4,224. $5,060. $4,300. Recently Asked Questions A substance, X, has the following properties. (Size of mass is 250. g. ) Specific Heat Capacities Hvap 20. kJ/mol C(s) 3. 0 J/g C Hfus 5. 0 kJ/mol C(l) 2. 5 J/g C bp 75 C C(g) 1. 0 J/g C mp -15 C Calculate the energy that must be removed to convert substance X from a gas at 113 C to a solid -54. 2 C. Assume X has a molar mass of 75. 0 g/mol. A doctor has applied for a patent on new technology, involving the use of advanced compu ters to create a new type of organism. One goal is to genetically alter these organisms for use in human organ growth and transplant. The doctor says that, if she is not granted a patent, she will continue her research. Write a 1,750- to 2,800-word paper, addressing the scenario. Address the following questions in your paper: o Should the doctor s activity be considered a violation of the law, a deviant act, or neither? o If this activity is a violation of the law

Buddhism in Japan from Prehistoric to Kamakura Period

Buddhism in Japan might have been brought by early merchants traveling the Silk Road from India, to China, to Korea and to Japan. Because of the constant interaction between these countries, many Buddhist teachings and practices, particularly the Mahayana Buddhism, together with some Chinese cultural traditions became integrated with Japan’s own cultural development.At first, conflicts with Shinto belief caused delay in the spread of the Buddhist religion. Ancient Japanese people regarded Buddha as one of the kamis yet many were attracted to the beauty of its arts and the promises of concrete benefits such as â€Å"wealth and longevity†. As time went on, more and more people recognized that Buddhism has its own belief that was thought to be complementary with the existing Shinto religion, Japan’s native religion.During the Nara period, some Buddhist monasteries built around the capital Nara gained political influence in the ruling government. Because of this ambi tious and militant movement of monasteries, the government was forced to move the capital from Nara to Nagaoka (784AD) and then to Kyoto (794AD). This issue remained a problem for many centuries in the Japanese history. During the Heian Period (794-1185), many sects were grabbing popular attention over the Japanese population.These sects presented Buddhism in a way that best suited the ancient Japanese culture and tradition as seen from these three sects: Shingon sect (774-835AD) by Kukai; True Pure Land Sect (1173-1262) by Shinran; and, Lotus Hokke or Nichiren Sect (1222-1282) founded by Nichiren. The acceptance of Buddhism can be attributed from the works of these sects, which still have millions of followers as of today. In conclusion, Buddhism in Japan became popular since its core practices and teachings were complementary with Shinto religion as shown by popular Buddhist sects named above.References (â€Å"Buddhism in Japan†; , â€Å"Japanese Buddhism†, 2004; , à ¢â‚¬Å"A View on Buddhism: History of Japanese Buddhism†) Buddhism in Japan. (n. d. ). Retrieved April 6, 2007, from http://afe. easia. columbia. edu/japan/japanworkbook/religion/jbuddhis. html Japanese Buddhism. (2004). Retrieved April 6, 2007, from http://www. japan-guide. com/e/e2055. html A View on Buddhism: History of Japanese Buddhism. (November 30, 2006). Retrieved April 6, 2007, from http://buddhism. kalachakranet. org/history_japanese_buddhism. html