Monday, September 30, 2019

Advertising and Beauty Product Advertisements Essay

This study examined beauty advertisements in local English magazines from a Critical Discourse Analysis perspective. This study mainly focused on the use of language in beauty advertisements and strategies employed by advertisers to manipulate and influence their customers. The analysis is based on Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework. It demonstrates how the ideology of ‘beauty’ is produced and reproduced through advertisements in popular local women’s magazines. A qualitative research was conducted on beauty product advertisements in two popular local women’s magazines, Cleo and Women’s Weekly. The findings indicated that advertisers used various strategies to manipulate women. The advertisements promote an idealised lifestyle and manipulate readers to a certain extent into believing whatever that is advertised is indeed true. This study revealed how the ideology of beauty is constructed and reconstructed through magazines by stereotyping how beauty products are synonymous with a better life. Advertising language is used to control people’s minds. Thus people in power (advertisers) use language as a means to exercise control over others. Keywords: CDA, advertisements, power, manipulate 1. Introduction The stiff competition in attracting potential customers has forced advertisers to employ vigorous advertising strategies techniques such as, construct a problem that can only be solved by using their products. Similarly, beauty product companies advertise their products to convince women. Magazines are a good example of a powerful media which regularly reach a vast number of women. The local English Language magazines are constantly flooded with beauty product advertisements. Some of them provide quite a lot of information such as, the background of the product, its effectiveness, feedback or testimonies by celebrity’s or women who have used the product, price, and so on whereas some are rather short and condensed. These advertisements tend to manipulate readers to a certain extent into believing whatever that is advertised is indeed true. The major stakeholders in advertising are the manufacturers, consumers and advertising agencies. Advertisements reach out to consumers through various media such as internet, radio, television, magazines and newspapers. In order to ensure that advertisements are able to reach the target group, advertisers need to select the right medium. For instance, if the target group is the generation Y group, then internet would be the best source as many young people today go online when purchasing products be it clothes, gadgets, books and so on. As print media such as magazines can reach both young and old alike, advertisers or manufacturers of products take opportunity to promote their product through this media. Visuals and language in the advertisements play a pertinent role to attract women. The next section will discuss on the role of language in advertising. Cook (2001) points out that advertisements inform, persuade, remind, influence and perhaps change opinions, emotions and attitudes. In other words, his contention is that advertisements do not only sell products but change society and make people buy things they do not want or need. He also feels that advertisements do give warnings or information to people. Hence, advertisements can help create awareness, construct identities and attitude. There are many advertisements in women’s magazines that advertise beauty products influencing women and 61 www. ccsenet. org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 9, No.3; 2013 beauty has become an absolute religious imperative for women, thus pressuring them to do their best to hold their beauty (Baudrillard, 2005). The â€Å"ideal† women is stereotyped through visual and textual aspects of the advertisements. Advertisers use visual and linguistic means to persuade their audience. It is argued that â€Å"advertising is the most influential institution of socialisation in modern society† (Jhally, 1995). This scenario has brought into perspective on how people who are in control of advertisements manage to exercise their power and at the same time manipulate women’s beliefs. Lau and Zuraidah (2010) perceived that advertising has been subtly distorting reality and manipulating consumers to make them buy a way of life as well as goods. Thus studies on advertisements in women’s magazines would be of great relevance to advertisers. In order to know how advertisers influence women, it is necessary first to understand what advertising is all about. Advertisements are important but not many studies have been conducted in the local context from a CDA perspective. Thus there is indeed a need for studies to investigate the use of language and other semiotic modalities in beauty product advertisements. The findings of such research efforts can contribute further to the field of advertising as well as language and society. This study will address the following research questions: 1) What are the linguistic features used in beauty product advertisements? 2) What are the discursive techniques employed in beauty product advertisements to manipulate women? 2. Methodology & Theoretical Framework The theoretical framework employed in this study is Critical Discourse Analysis framework (2001). Advertisements are seen as media discourse as they involve language and social processes. Hence this framework is used to show the link between the nature of social practice and the properties of language â€Å"texts†. A qualitative design was adopted for this study. A qualitative study was appropriate in this study which seeks to investigate how discourse in advertisements involves people’s construction of meanings. Beauty product advertisements in English Language local magazines were analysed. Hence for a descriptive analysis, a qualitative analysis is more appropriate rather than a quantitative analysis. Purposive sampling was done as the study was to investigate only on beauty product advertisements where not many studies have been conducted namely lipstick, mascara and eye cream. Data was collected from two local women’s magazine, Cleo and Women’s Weekly from six issues consecutively from January to June 2012. Every advertisement on eye cream, lipstick and mascara from these magazines was retrieved and analysed. The data analysis is based on Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis framework (2001). Hence this framework is used to show the link between the nature of social practice and the properties of language â€Å"texts†. His three-dimensional framework includes a conception of discourse as text (micro level), discourse practice (meso level) and sociocultural practice (macro level). Its aim is to explore the relationships among language, ideology and power and to find out how advertisers persuade the women to buy their products. Thus, this study focused on analysing the linguistic features of beauty product advertisements in women’s magazines in Malaysia and highlights how the use of language tends to manipulate women beliefs based on the content of the advertisements. Figure 1. Fairclough’s three-dimensional model, 2001 62 www. ccsenet. org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 9, No. 3; 2013 3. Results and Discussions The analysis is presented at the textual (micro), discursive practice (meso) and social practice (macro) level based on Fairclough’s (2001) CDA framework. 3. 1 Textual Analysis The textual analysis relates to research question 1 on the linguistic features in the advertisements analysed. At this level of analysis the linguistic features such as vocabulary, syntax and rhetorical devices employed in advertisements are discussed. In the study there was a great use of direct address in the advertisements for both ideological and practical reasons. The use of the second-person personal and possessive pronouns such as ‘you’ and ‘yours’ seek to address the readers directly and personally. When people are addresses individually rather than as part of mass audience it is considered highly valued. This handling of people on an individual basis is referred as ‘synthetic personalization’ (Fairclough, 1989:62). Based on the total fifty eight beauty products advertisements analysed, twenty had used direct address. Examples are as shown below: ?

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Diversity Organization worksheet Essay

When you look at the status of women throughout the United States there has been up’s and down’s. When you look back at the earlier years women were looked at as having a low standard I life versus men having a higher standard. In the 19th century time started changing for women; they begin to fight for equal rights. In the 20th century there were a few laws that passed stating that women should be treated the same as everyone else. In today’s time women work alongside with men and women has dangerous jobs that they work daily, the same as men. There are some women in office contributing to running this country and running the country in a more efficient way than before. There is women police officer putting their life on the line to protect all people. There needs to be two people to pay bills that is why in today’s time men and women both work for one household. Things has changed over the years as far as women having equal rights and I feel this change has been to better this country. I like those women can make decisions and they do not have to worry about anyone second guessing them. Masculinity and femininity are traits defined when you are at a young age; this is when mothers and fathers dressed girls in pink clothing and boys in blue clothing. In life gender associates with many things, for examples careers, sports, and look at a person for what automobile they drive. In the society we live in today it is a common thing to associate things like huge trucks, boxing, football, and wrestling as masculine things for men. Looking at the women side of things wo9me are often looked at as a homemaker, nurses, secretaries, passive, and are looked at to be in tune with their feminine side. The media plays a part in how people view masculinity and feminine which can be completed by a man or woman. In the television world me and woman are looked at in a certain way. In earlier years GLBT was dangerous because of abuse whether physical abuse or verbal abuse, and some went to the extent of killing because their opinion was so intense. Some people viewed these types of situations as justified. In today’s times GLBT are known to be safe. The reason I say GLBT is now safer because GLBT in many states are now legal. There is prejudice and discrimination against GLBT nothing ever happens because they are consequences with the law. Congressman Polis is a chairman of the LGBT Equality Caucus. There are 91 Members of Congress they are committed to making sure the human rights of LGBT are protected in the U.S., The Caucus of the LGBT was established in June 2008 these members are committed to eliminate hate crimes and to make sure everyone has an opportunity to have access to improve their health, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Congressman Polis one the leader to fight against the military’s â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† this was about gas and lesbians in the military. DADT was an act to let the gays and lesbians know that they could not serve in the military openly about their sexual orientation. DADT was the only law that told people to lie about what was going on in their lives so that they would not be fired. Unfortunately hate crimes happens every day and I every state. Hate crimes are not investigated the way most crimes are and that’s because some states do not have the necessary resources to investigate these crimes to the fullest of the law. Hate crimes are usually committed because of a person sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. There are a certain number of women that can go into politics; this is an issue for women. There has been a long wait amongst other women for a woman to become President. In order for a woman to become President it would take men and women to come together and be one the same level of thinking. I feel this would be a hard task to accomplish for a woman to become President; some people still feel a woman should not be ruler over a man. As far as a woman becoming President most people feel like a woman is not strong enough to accomplish the task that it takes to be President. References Phillips,Laurie M.. â€Å"Libelous Language Post Lawrence: Accusations of Homosexuality as Defamation†, Free Speech Yearbook, 2012 http://polis.house.gov/issues/?issueID=5032

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Best Buy Company, Inc Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Best Buy Company, Inc Analysis - Case Study Example There are few factors which can effect the company i.e economic forces, social forces, cultural and environmental forces, Political, legal and governmental forces, technological forces, and competitive forces. There always been ups and downs in the economy. Either there is inflation or deflation. If the GNP is higher in the economy the income also increases and people can spend their incomes on different items. From last few years US is enjoying healthy economy. That factor is helping the retail industry as well. In future Best buy company profit may increase by as the trend shows. â€Å"Increasing GDP would be good for companies like Best Buy; however the smaller increases in GDP can have a negative effect on not only Best Buy’s sales, but Best Buy’s stock price if investors predict that GDP will fall in the future.†Ã‚  Best Buy Company is also socially committed and believes in literate people about technology. They are socially responsible. The company spent $ 13 million in teach Awards for the school to aware them from the new technologies about the classrooms. They also gave scholarships to the students all over the world. â€Å"Best Buy stores have awarded over $13 million in scholarships to nearly 11,000 students nationwide.†In this modern world, where every day new technologies are coming up and frequently they are becoming outdated. Under this scenario, the Best buy company has to keep itself up to date and must have to keep watch on the new technologies.... Social Forces: Best Buy Company is also socially committed and believes in literate people about technology. They are socially responsible. The company spent $13 million in teach Awards for the school to aware them from the new technologies about the classrooms. They also gave scholarships to the students all over the world. "Best Buy stores have awarded over $13 million in scholarships to nearly 11,000 students nationwide." (http://communication.bestbuy.com) Technological forces: In this modern world, where every day new technologies are coming up and frequently they are becoming outdated. Under this scenario, the Best buy company has to keep itself up to date and must have to keep watch on the new technologies. In this way the company can survive under intense competition. Legal and governmental Forces: Wisconsin State Attorney General's office took a serious civil action against Best Buy Company In 2005. They stated that the company is violating the consumer protection law by misleading the people about service plans, supplemental magazine subscriptions etc. Competitive forces: Where the company is enjoying healthy profits, there the company is also facing intense competition. The biggest competitors of Best Buy Company are Dell, Wal-Mart, Circuit City and all those retailers which are supplying those products on reasonable prices. The company should also bring some changes in their business to stay in the top line. Like, they should also offer their products online as other companies are doing. "To help overcome online competitors, Best Buy allows consumers to purchase their items online. Consumers then have an option of

Friday, September 27, 2019

Analyzing the American Revolution and the American Civil War Research Paper

Analyzing the American Revolution and the American Civil War - Research Paper Example Nonetheless, after the war, the new state had run its self in immense debts (Middlekauff 96) due to the loans it had taken in order to fight the war. The Revolution was extremely vital from a social point of view also. It proved to the world that the strong and powerful armed forces of England were defenceless. It signed an agreement with France and a lot of other countries. It would furthermore be the base of America's alliance with Britain. The American revolution was not only war. It was due to this war that America gained its independence. After the Civil war, America went through a lot of changes. The change which the Civil War brought has had a permanent effect on the strength of America. It has turned the country into a superpower. The Civil War greatly affected the nation. President Lincoln had claimed that he was not going to interfere with slavery however the south had no genuine right to withdraw from the Union. So black masters continued to own slaves even when the union army was preparing to invade South Carolina in 1864 (Koger 85). South Carolina was the first state to withdraw but other states soon followed, Lincoln knew that he would have to take this issue into his own hands and enacted his power as both the Commander in Chief and the Chief Executive. In Document A South Carolina felt differently about this issue. They felt that there isn't anything written in the Constitution that says that can't secede and because the people were unhappy they had the right, as a sovereign state, to secede. The southern states seceding was the first step towards the need for reconstruction. Not for the equal rights primarily, but for the unlawful slavery that was occurring.  

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Controversy over gay & lesbian couples raising children as opposed to Research Paper

Controversy over gay & lesbian couples raising children as opposed to straight couples - Research Paper Example Even in United States, some states do not allow same sex partners to adopt children. This is also the case in some of the European countries except for England, in which adoption by gay and lesbian couples have been legalized in order to provide parents to homeless children. Around the world, countries vary in the level of rights they provide to gay and lesbian couples in terms of adoption (Simon & Brooks 2009). There are two sides to this argument of whether same sex partners can be good parents or not. Some individuals believe that if gays and lesbians adopt children, they then will be preventing heterosexuals from adopting; however, many gays and lesbians adopt children from foster care or other countries as it is difficult to find families for these children (Adamec & pierce 2000). The analysis of how fine the kids grow with gay couples or straight couples is still incomplete and the conservatives think that these adoptions should not be legalized until it is proved that same sex parenting is completely safe. Other side of the argument says that the sexual orientation of the parents have no connection with the upbringing of the children. They say that the child’s social, emotional and behavioral patterns are not affected by this issue. Gay rights groups in many states fought for the right of gay adoption, which gradually began to change the climate on this issue (Kranz & Cusick 2 000). It is considered by liberals that both women and men have the same capability to be good parents. The children of same sex partners do not show different behavior if compared to children raised by straight parents. With the gradual change in the society, the concept of perfect straight couple marriage is gradually fading. There are other alternatives which are now acceptable as a perfect marriage model. Many countries are gradually accepting this fact

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Management - Henri Fayol's Management Theories Essay

Management - Henri Fayol's Management Theories - Essay Example The present discussion focuses on identifying and assessing the adoption of Fayol’s principles in contemporary management through distinct examples drawn from modern organizations and their practices. There is no doubt that the contemporary management concepts have evolved from classical theories such as Fayol’s; however, there exists much debate about the influence of classical theories and their application in present management concepts. For instance, Fayol’s principles of management form the core job of managers even today, although the focus is shifted to one or few of these principles at a time. In present-day service industries, the focus usually oscillates between initiative, teamworking, order or efficiency with some other activities such as discipline, equity, division of work etc providing direction to better business management. These focus areas also differ with the type of industry as well as organizational goals. Roethlisberger and Dickson (1939) h ave argued that the contemporary management concepts have profound impact from studies that emerged from behavioral sciences, especially the human relations movement that resulted from Hawthorne experiments (cited in Allen & Gilmore, 1993). Some management scholars refer to Fayol’s principles as the present-day management functions that correspond to planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (Schermerhorn, 2011). In short, Fayol’s 14 principles include division of work, authority, discipline, unity of command, unity of direction, subordination of individual interests to the general interests, remuneration, centralization, scalar chain, order, equity, stability of tenure of personnel, initiative, and esprit de corps (cited in Allen & Gilmore, 1993). From a manager’s perspective, Fayol’s principles seem to be the most apt and provide a comprehensive understanding to any management personnel, with or without experience. However, differing views of manag ement theories emerged, which consider classical concepts as contradictory. Unlike Taylor’s scientific management concepts that focus on the objective of driving maximum prosperity for the employer along with similar outcomes for the employees (Schermerhorn, 2011), Fayol’s principles can be regarded as completely management focused; this could be one of the reasons for argument/debate that subsequent theorists focused upon (Brunsson, 2008). Fayol’s conceptualization is based on the premise that all organizations are similar and hence the managerial duties are also similar. Brunsson (2008) asserts that this conceptualization compliments the fact that managerial talent can be acquired through training. If this premise were to be true, then all organizations would be performing at the same level and all managers within the organization would produce same outcomes. However, management and organizational outcomes are very different within and outside. Moreover, manag ement styles, patterns, policies, practices, etc. are different in different regions or countries, as proven by Hofstede (1980). Hofstede’

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 31

Reflection - Essay Example The experience narrated on the Magnaporthe grisea (MGA) dilemma faced by Professor John Hamer, reportedly a molecular biologist at Purdue University, paved the way for the discovery of a practical, yet revolutionary discovery, using the four habits of the mind. One, therefore, realized that there are still much to be discovered through scientific inquiry or through assuming an explorative and inquisitive stance in life. Today’s problems in various facets, could find solution with the appropriate application of these habits of the mind. The example of its application in a science classroom enabled the development of needed skills in the students; and paved the way for greater interests in learning. One hereby asserts that through the knowledged gained from the article, one is truly inspired that through the four habits, solutions to societies’problems could be envisioned as viably possible – with enough curiosity, openness, skeptism, and communication. Other course modules could use these theoretical framework to be integrated in the curriculum, as a means to find practical solutions, to problems which could have been deemed

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Early Inhabitants of the Americas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Early Inhabitants of the Americas - Essay Example In this regard, the United States sought to establish a strong presence across the world in order to enhance its superiority. On the other hand, the Soviet Union fought its way by seeking support in African countries and across the East (Jones, 19). 2) The discovery of America was a turning point in the European international affairs. Countries like England, Portugal, and France were envious of Spain on the great wealth it got from the American and this led to the fight for control of the colonial lands. The focus was basically to benefit from the huge spoils. Indeed, the discovery of America created the impetus and motivation for colonization of the world and the growth of empress across the world. In comparison to the modern times, it is seen that China and the West are increasingly getting interested in Africa due to the potential of the continent. The focus of China is therefore to establish a strong presence and this is already causing much concern for countries like the United States. As such, the United States is extending various development programs to Africa with the hope of neutralizing China’s presence (Jones, 70). 3) After getting interested in the Americas, the European powers began pressing into the interior of the land and laying claims. They placed much pressure on the Spanish and this led to a series of proxy wars. The whole region came under much competition and many of the proxy wars involved the natives. The last of the war, the Yamasee War marked the end of the militancy of the Native Americans in the South. On various occasions, the United States has used such proxy wars involving natives in achieving some of its goals. For instance, during the Battle of Tora Bora in search for Osama Bin Laden in 2003, the Americas used the natives of the region who were well acquainted with the conditions in fighting against the terrorists (Jones, 89).

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Red Cedar Redevelopment Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Red Cedar Redevelopment Project - Assignment Example Currently, in the area is a wooded section that extends about 20 feet along the banks of the River Cedar. Modifications in this area will include the restoration of wildlife, the creation of nature trails and parks. The project divides the site into sections; environmental conservation, community development, and infrastructure. Given that the site is a floodplain, it will be easier to develop the area. The government and the policymakers should give due consideration to the project. The first reason is that the project aims at reducing the pollution of the environment. The implementation of the project will lead to the restoration of the native species of wildlife and control the human access for water testing and recreation. Second, there will be the introduction of fishponds, nature trails, and parks in the region. The third will be the expansion of the scope of water management. There will be a link between water management, the native vegetation, wildlife, and social activities such as boat riding and water spotting (Ryan 46). Other than activities involving nature, there will also be a development of passive recreational activities. Examples of such activities are chess, golfing, and baseball games. It is worth mentioning that the redevelopment activities will also cover the development of a welcoming social environment. This will be through the creation of spacious and ample parking area, integration of cultural values and education into the entire environmental aspects. The plan involves the creation of streetscapes that will make the area welcoming, dense, and urban. Moreover, the project covers the construction of first-floor commercial and residential buildings. There is an allocation for a variety of pedestrian-friendly setbacks and ample space for the social events. Hence, the project is big and has a high potential for success.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Social Contract Essay Example for Free

Social Contract Essay Discuss the view that morality is a social contract (30 marks) Jean-Jacques Rousseau said Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains and what he is trying to show is that a social contract is binding on the members of a society, everywhere he is bound to be moral. The sources and reasons for the upholding morality (that is what is right and what is wrong) has been questioned since the days of Plato and one answer was given by Thomas Hobbes a contractarian answer. A contractarian believes that human beings are self-interested and it would be rational for him to co-operate with others. Hobbes developed this view by making us aware of the (imagined) state of nature in Leviathan (1651) in which people were present before any form of social cohesion and organisation. Hobbes asserts that at this time, everyone would look out for their self-interest but this would involved a great deal of hostility and an inability to do things out of fear (a humans self-interest could be to steal from you and thus cause you fear). Life would be a torment; war of all against all is how Hobbes puts it. The solution to this is cooperating between people. The implication of this is that there is no morality independent of what people in any given society think. There are however problems with this namely historically there has never been any contract. If we looking historically, we have made agreements (be it the Fourth Geneva Convention or the Magna Carta) but there has never been a collective social moral contract. Humans appear to be innately social. Indeed, it is not even just humans ants appear to work in colonies. Further, a contract would only be understood by a social being. As a result of there being no contract (factually), it would seem to make the idea redundant for if I havent signed anything, why should I be obligated? Although we can object and say that Hobbes isnt saying that people sat around and signed a codified document rather what he is suggesting is that if we were to imagine the state of nature to be the case, it would justified for us to accept such a contract hence giving a justification for us to be moral (as well as the existence of societies). However, there seems to remain one problem. By saying that societies develop morality and that there is no morality independent of this, it leaves us with the problem of cultural relativism. For it would be right in a society to kill all the enemies if thats what society determines, in the case of the Nazis it would be the Jews, yet seldom do we find someone who would actually call this moral and not demand action be taken. We could however say that the contract applies universally and that we have not reached the signing. Yet this is not what the contract is saying, for even if we were to accept that rules applied universally is the contractarian approach really telling us about morality? No! Even if something benefits me that may not the reason why I do it and definitely not the reason it is moral. An absolutist would say that rules are moral in themselves, regardless of the time or society in which they agreed. Locke develops the idea that there need be no actual agreement by saying that it is a tactic agreement. This means that a person who seeks to reap the benefits of society implicitly agrees to social contract and if I dont then I am free to leave. However am I really free to leave? It would not seem so. To leave, I would most likely have to leave this would not only mean having a passport to go to a different country, which would have its own set of rules but meaning that to get to the airport I would have to abide by the road rules lest I wish to be arrested. Even if Hobbes is correct in saying that there is no actual contract, we are left with why should we honour the agreement? Indeed, if we are self-interested as Hobbes says then surely when the time came, we would act in a self-interest way? This view can be illustrated by Ian McEwans Enduring Love; there is a hot air balloon and in the basket lays a child there is a sudden gust and the balloon starts it flight. Five men grab onto the rope of the balloon, alas there is another gust and if all five men carry on holding on then the child will be saved. This did not happen. All but one, were left clinging on to the rope. Whats even more so apparent is that if I am sure that I will get away with doing something immoral, why shouldnt I do it? If I knew I wasnt going to be caught stealing money then it would be in my self-interest to steal it. Hobbes answer to the aforementioned question is a Sovereign. This means that there is someone to enforce the law (the terms of the contract). By doing this, it would show that when acting against the contract and giving primacy to self-interest, it would not be in our long term self-interest to do so. However this still doesnt answer the question as to why someone who knows they will not get caught should be moral. Indeed, there are many people who are criminals and it is only found out after they have died. Also, there seems to be a different argument put forward by David Gauthier who argues that to there is no need for a sovereign because those of us who have dispositions to altruism, will in the long term have more benefits than those who are shot-sightedly self-interested. This view is strong in the sense that it shows that human beings are genuinely altruistic with a purpose of doing so and thus not having an over pessimistic view of humans (thus the lesser need for a sovereign). There are further problems with the social contract approach. When a terrorist has a hostage, he can use the hostage to dictate the terms of an agreement. This means that despite this being unfair, or even immoral, he can ask for however million pounds and for him to be pardoned of his act. This is obviously immoral and wrong. This situation is analogous to the state of nature period and someone strong dictating the terms which are not moral such as making all children workers. Furthermore, we could take the view of Marx and Thrasymacus (from Platos Republic) who say that the social contract is a means of social control by the minority. This means that the powerful and rich peoples interests can be carried out under the veil of morality. An example is the respect for property which, by no coincidence, is what the ruling class have. This means that the weak can be exploited and the rulers can maintain their position. We can criticise Marx for not taking into account that people do not steal because they do not want to offend the ruling class but this is not what Marx is trying to say. Indeed, what he is saying is that this is the correct reason why people do not do such things and through instruments such as religion and education (throughout history) they have been taught these rules and regulations. However John Rawls argues in his Theory of Justice that to counter this, we must decide the terms under a veil of ignorance in which nobody is certain for their position and so everyone will be fighting for minority rights in case they are within that minority; nothing is assured! If we posit Hobbes view as truth then we also find ourselves holding a pessimistic view of life for we have ample opportunity to break the rules of the contract yet we do not. If we were to hold Hobbes view societies would long be over because we could no longer trust people because they would take such selfish actions. To say that people dont mug each other in fear of being caught is not plausible. Surely the actions of a mother or a carer in the slums seem to show that we do not act just for self-interest. Further, is Hobbes really giving an accurate account of morality? We can indeed have a contract but is the only reason we do not break it because we fear the courts? Surely this isnt morality but a preference of prudence in an action but this view does not correlate with what we express. If someone were to say Stealing is wrong, they do not mean that it is better if you dont because it is more sensible, they mean it is a morally irreprehensible action. Hobbes view is also put under fire by alternative views, Richard Dawkins argues that altruistic behaviour can lead to evolutionary success and is thus embedded in our genes. There was never a conventional agreement rather because it is mutually advantage behaviour helps our evolutionary success, humans do it. So it is not because it is mutually advantageous that we choose to do it but we do it because it is advantageous and has helped us reach this stage. This, of course, is not the only alternative view others view moral as what the Bible says or even the Quran. We could even take the utilitarian approach and say that what is moral is the thing that obtains the greatest number of peoples happiness. To take this view is, as said, to ignore every instance of altruism. However what about blatant acts of altruism? The egoist could say that subconsciously we gain self-gratification from doing right things. However, again, it does not follow that I am doing these things because I want self-gratification. In the case of Mother Teresa, it is not plausible that she only did those things because she wanted self-satisfaction. As the egoist claims that everything is in some way selfish, it negate the idea of selfish and selfless as it distorts the distinction and leaves nothing but motives which is not a direct accurate description of the world. Thus to conclude, to hold the view that morality is defined, described and prescribed by a social contract ultimately fails. Alternative ideas not only, in some cases, have scientific backing but also have a more accurate representation of the real world. The view is both pessimistic and would lead to the powerful being on top and the weak being exploited. Thus we must conclude as Hume did and say that there is not historically validity (among other things) to this claim.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Competitive Strategy of the Oil and Gas Industry

Competitive Strategy of the Oil and Gas Industry Challenge: Through intense research, interviews, and interaction with NOC executives, created a comprehensive picture of the current regional situation; an assessment of the size of the prize available to foreign oil companies, including our client; and a model of stakeholder objectives along with a core set of options for a new type of relationship to be introduced . Solution: Using country-specific models and expertise, we can identified key opportunities for the client to improve its short-, medium-, and long-term positioning in each potential target country and gave the client significant advantage and bargaining intelligence before approaching new investor relationships. Oil Gas: Competitive strategy Corporate business unit strategy Management works with oil and gas companies to design and implement corporate and business unit strategies that deliver profitable growth and enhance shareholder value. Our clients include upstream, downstream, and service companies. Management approach to corporate and business unit strategy is built on a solid understanding of the economic fundamentals of our clients business and its competitive position in the industry. Company help clients sort through complex market, competitive, and economic issues to enhance or reshape corporate and business strategies and work : the external industry environment and the value chains in which we participate evolving  positioned against changes in the external environment and our competitors strategy  The capabilities and assets can we bring to bear on new markets and opportunities  improve our position or alter the competitive landscape  strategic options do we have to grow our business scale and geographic breadth  attractive opportunities to accelerate growth via MA or partnership investments  strategic options do we have to enter a new market Assess resource and execute our growth strategies,  current reserves and production assets meet target levels of risk and returns restructure to enhance growth and facilitate resource access? investing in the right technologies to compete and grow and enter a new growth sector? Selecting best partners given our structure What are critical areas of market uncertainty and how can we mitigate risk Oil Gas: Competitive strategy Market analysis In highly competitive environments, incisive market assessments can help companies capitalize on growth options, capital investments, and new product or technology introductions. experienced industry consultants specialize in defining market structures, driving forces, and global competition. We have deep expertise in the industry and in economics, and consistently deliver world-class market research, insightful analysis, and tangible results. We collaborate closely with our clients strategy development, marketing, and sales teams, and tailor our research and analysis to particular client needs. Specifically, we help companies: Analyze strategic and competitive industry position Develop new strategies for market entry and growth Develop new markets and products tailored to customer needs Segment existing markets to identify growth opportunities Assess technologies to define opportunity and/or threat Assess competitor strategies and likely competitive response Understand customer behavior to identify new ways to profitably serve them Analyze programs and budgets to ensure spend is appropriate to expected returns Oil Gas: Intellectual property technology management Company can combines a high degree of technical competency, proven management tools and processes, and deep industry knowledge to help our clients identify sources of technology value and transform them into profitable growth. We help clients align technology strategy with overall business strategy and advise on: Technology strategy, planning, and execution Technology platform development, structuring, and execution RD portfolio and resource management Commercialization Technology market and competitive evaluation Intellectual property strategy and management Technology strategy, planning, and execution A sound business strategy must be supported by a properly-aligned technology strategy. We work with RD heads and corporate or business unit management to forge the links necessary to define, create, and execute properly-aligned technology strategies. We also work side-by-side with management and RD teams to ensure that programs with the highest potential are properly resourced and managed, and that technology and capabilities critical to the future of the company are accessed and nurtured to deliver advantage and profitable future growth. Technology platforms Technology platforms are vital to gaining competitive advantage. We can help you develop, structure, and commercialize platforms that leverage your firms distinctive technologies and competencies to yield market-leading performance. Portfolio and resource management Achieving the appropriate balance of new and long-term, as well as incremental and breakthrough, technology investments is essential to balancing risk and performance. CRA works with clients to create and deploy portfolio and RD process design tools to increase the expected value of RD portfolios, inform make/collaborate/buy decisions, and maximize the value created from RD resources. Commercialization Unfamiliar markets, partnership tensions, and capital constraints are a few of the challenges faced by companies seeking to commercialize technology. We help companies exploit the full value of their technology portfolios through robust IP strategies that align with commercialization programs. Technology market and competitive evaluation The foundation of technology strategy, planning, and execution is a sound market evaluation. CRA combines technical expertise with in-depth knowledge of the energy industry to evaluate new technologies in relation to current and potential markets, and to define the dimension of the opportunity, drivers of change, and entry/expansion requirements. We work with clients to assess the competitive situation and define appropriate strategies to take advantage of business opportunities. Intellectual property strategy and management Creating and exploiting intellectual property is the lifeblood of technology-based firms. From IP strategies to patent valuation, licensing, and litigation, CRA has the expertise to help oil and gas companies manage, enforce, and extract value from IP portfolios. Oil Gas: Risk management Clients around the world engage CRA to help them develop more effective and more comprehensive strategies, processes, infrastructure, and controls for managing risk. We cut through complexity to give clear, direct answers based on rigorous analysis of hard data. We also provide concrete action plans that enable clients to better manage credit, market, operational, and strategic risks. Mutual respect Management consultants have a deep commitment to success, integrity, and collaboration. We co-develop sustainable frameworks in partnership with clients. Industry focus have a full understanding of our clients businesses, including exchange-traded and over-the-counter products, market participants, and institutions. Risk expertise Management consultants are leaders in the provision of marketing, credit, and operational risk management expertise to top global financial services companies. Proven track record outstanding record of past performance in the implementation of management infrastructure, business processes, and regulatory compliance. Seasoned practitioners -have deep kn Management owledge of the operating environment, as well as underlying capital market participants, regulators, marketplaces, and vendors Oil Gas: Organization performance improvement Organization and performance improvement is a never-ending necessity for oil and gas companies. Shifts in global supply and demand, record-high energy and materials prices, and chronically underperforming assets are only a few of the current challenges. Executives also face considerable pressure to boost shareholder returns, whether through revenue growth, margin improvement, asset efficiency, or some combination. CRA helps clients identify and utilize the levers that can improve business performance. Our tailored, comprehensive approach addresses process, organization, systems, and performance metrics Oil Gas: Environmental strategy Regulatory policy and litigation involving air and water quality and waste disposal now impact virtually every industry. Annual expenditures on environmental protection, cleanup, and damages total hundreds of billions of dollars, and a reduced burden is not expected. Oil and gas companies have challenged themselves to be positive environmental contributors, and a sound environmental strategy is increasingly important to maintain regulatory compliance and demonstrate responsible care. CRA provides expert, far-reaching support to clients facing challenges related to the environment. We help our clients respond to environmental regulatory and legal action, influence the regulatory and legal setting, and anticipate and adapt to future requirements, including possible climate-change regulation. Our consultants advise on: Corporate strategy to address risks and uncertainties surrounding greenhouse gas (GHG) policy Environmental strategic compliance options with federal, regional, state, and local regulations/legislation Emissions trading planning surrounding cap-and-trade policies for SO2, NOX, Mercury and CO2, among others Environmental policy analysis to shape future policy design Regulatory/litigation support in conflict situations involving costs/damages resulting from claims related to the environment Identification of business opportunities that could relate to environmental trends, such as renewable power generation, demand-side management, and energy efficiency

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Near the end of the book Atticus says to Heck Tate, Sometimes I think :: English Literature

Near the end of the book Atticus says to Heck Tate, Sometimes I think I'm a total failure as a parent, but I'm all they've got. How do you judge Atticus as a parent? Does he make any mistakes? What do other characters say about him? Near the end of the book Atticus says to Heck Tate, "Sometimes I think I'm a total failure as a parent, but I'm all they've got." How do you judge Atticus as a parent? Does he make any mistakes? What do other characters say about him? Atticus is a single parent who is nearly fifty years old when we first meet him. He lives with his two children, Jem who is 10 at the beginning of the book, and Scout who is six. His wife died when Scout was two, so Atticus has had to bring the children up for four years, on his own, with help from Calpurnia-a coloured servant. Atticus is a lawyer, who practises in his hometown, which is a small town called Maycomb in Alabama. Hard times fall upon the Finch family when Atticus is appointed to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white girl. Atticus does not have to agree to take the case, but his self-respect and pride demand that he makes sure Tom gets a fair trial. He knows that he does not have a good chance of winning the trial, because it is a case of a white mans word against a black man, he admits this, "we were licked before we started". This act displays his belief in humanity and his sense of justice. It also verifies that Atticus is not a racist man and views the black community as equals. This attitude was not prevalent at the time, despite the fact that it was over seventy years since the Civil War. We learn of Atticus' approach to bringing up his children when Scout says, "he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment". This, however, is not the only view Scout and Jem have of their father. To begin with they seem disappointed that their father does not do the same sort of things that other fathers do. He does not play football or poker, and he does not drink or smoke. Even though Atticus may have been remote in some of his dealings with his children, he did speak frankly to them, even about embarrassing things. He bought them a shotgun for Christmas, telling them not to kill a mocking bird. He may have been reserved, but I think he was

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Assimilation “Housing Indigenous Australians in the 1970s” Essay

Since the 1970s the Australian Government started focusing on establishment of houses for Indigenous people in reserve, remote and very remote areas Indigenous housing programs as. Numbers of housing commission "HC" has been built under what has called the Housing for Aboriginal people â€Å"HFA† (1) Consequently, Aboriginal people started moving from overcrowded private rental homes and government houses to public housing tenants in suburban estates. For many Indigenous Australians, this experience negatively affected their obligations to family and community and their conventional pattern of life, because it was based as much on class relations and colonialism view. For this reason, white settlers was justifying the Indigenous people inadequacy participate in social life and / or to assimilate to racist terms, as demonstrating their genetic / biological unsuitability for â€Å"sophisticated life" (2). By another word, white people were represented the problem as social adva ncement rather than determinants of better social and health circumstances. In all of these forms of policies and acts, the expectations by white settlers was that Aboriginal people did not have adequate culture to be able to participate in normal social life. The standard of the education, childrearing nuclear family life, neighbourly interaction, hygiene and clean housing were the fundamental elements around these housing programs. On the other hand, Aboriginal people were needed to absorb these to be able to leave the poor conditions and to acquire citizenship rights (4). This essay will explore the cultural and social and negative impacts of New South Wales Housing Commission (HC) during 1970s, at the end of what is called as the Assimilation Era and impacts of ... ...ious Aborigines people in New South Wales found out some important connections between prevalence of those psychiatric disorders and the circumstances in the housing commission. These findings recommend that some conditions involved adaptation to the normal life circumstances within the whole society and/or accumulative new behaviour increases the vulnerability of illicit drug use and depression. (8) Furthermore, higher levels of at-risk behaviors have been noted among Aboriginal adolescents during the assimilation era. These behaviours include poor physical health, risk factor for disability, face a self-assessed health disadvantage, aggressiveness and emotional distress. However, this may bias by the disproportion of socioeconomic factors. By another word, lower socioeconomic level increase the risk of such health outcomes.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Corporate Events in Intramuros

University of the Philippines Manila National Graduate Office for the Health Sciences How Many Corporate Events on a particular week day in Intramural? Sherry Ann N. Shares 2014- 85177 2014-2015/ 1st semester Master in Management / College of Arts and Sciences Problem of the Study How many Corporate Events on a particular week day in Intramural?Introduction of the Study Corporate event Is an event sponsored by a corporation for the purpose of cleaving specific goals and objectives such as entertaining customers, Introducing and promoting new products or services, or providing Incentives or training for employees, as well as other activities (Wiley International Dictionary of Event control – all basic principles of project management (Mastitis, P. , & Tooled, W. , 2002). Based on research, the areas of management for corporate events are the if: scope, time, cost, risk, content, human resources, procurement, and communication.Thus, there is a need to identify that factors that is relative to the number of corporate events per day. Locale of the study The locale of the study is Intramural which is suited in Manila City. It is a 64-hectare tone citadel, founded by the Spanish in 1571, and has withstood wars, natural disasters and successive waves of colonial invaders, and such stands as a metaphor of Manila itself. (http://content. Time. Com/time/travel/citywide/article/ Intramural is a Latin word meaning â€Å"within the walls†. A place or monument of the Spanish period in the Philippine history.It is also known as the â€Å"Walled City†. It is one of the principal tour destination in the Philippines. Fig. 1 Map of Intramural Hypothesis Hon.: No. Of corporate events per day is not relative with the span of time of the event Ha: No. F corporate events per day is significantly relative to the day of the week. Research Methods This presents the methods used in the research and the respondents of the study to gather the data needed. Methods The i nstrument and method being used in gathering the necessary data. Interview.Used by the researcher to the gather the primary source of data, it also gave the researchers the opportunity to gather the list of events in Intramural. Furthermore, it gave the opportunity to clarify issues concerning the problem. Walk-in Observation. The observation was also an excellent source of data. The research decided to conduct walk-in observation at the last minute of the study since the hotel do not provide information on their corporate events. Respondents There are two respondents/source of the study: The Flyleaf Hotel and the Intramural Administration. The Flyleaf Hotel. The only hotel inside Intramural.Launched in November 2011, this boutique hotel promises a restful experience for its guests given its 5 star quality beddings, room amenities and a spacious bathroom (http://www. Tableland. Com. PH/ about-us). Intramural Administration (IA). A national government agency created on April 10, 1979 , under Presidential Decree 1616. It is tasked to restore the Walled City of Intramural and develop it into a prime urban tourist destination. Sis's objective is to make this â€Å"city within a city† socially, economically and culturally viable again while as a main center of tourist activity in the City of Manila.It is involved not only in the restoration but also in urban renewal and income generation (IA leaflet). Data Gathering The researcher gathered data from a hotel (Flyleaf Hotel) and government agency (Intramural Administration). The information from the hotel were exclusive which exulted to a walk-in observation and sampling. On the other hand, data gathering through the government agency was easier through their list and schedule of corporate events for the year 2014. The researcher also read articles and books on Corporate Events Management and other related topics to the study.The Flyleaf Hotel. On a phone interview with Ms. Marie Toleration, Sales Manager of Th e Flyleaf, they could not provide the information needed. She also said that â€Å"most of the events held at the hotel were exclusive and not open to the public†. Since the researcher id not gathered information from the hotel, it resulted to the conduct of a walk-in random sampling at the last minute Just to have the number of events in a hotel and a comparison of data. The researcher conducted a random walk-in sampling on the number of events in the hotel on August 27, 2014 (Wednesday) and August 29, 2014 (Thursday).It was found-out that there is no corporate event held in said hotel on August 27, 2014 and there were four (4) corporate events on August 28, 2014. Intramural Administration (IA). The researcher conducted interview with the Tourism Promotion Division of the IA. The IA has the authority among the public places and venues inside Intramural. All of the events within the vicinity of the Intramural is and must be approved by the IA thus the said agency has the list of the approved corporate events for the year (2014).Data Presentation and Analysis This presents the data gathered based on the information gathered from the IA and the Flyleaf Hotel in Intramural. Table 1 . Corporate Events at the Flyleaf Hotel (August 25-31, 2014) DAYS OF THE WEEK (August 25-31, 2014) No. Of corporate events (Frequency) Monday No data gathered Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 4 Saturday Sunday TOTAL Based on a two-day observation of the corporate events held at the Flyleaf Intramural, it shows that one day of the week (Wednesday) has no corporate event and on the other day of the week (Thursday) has 4 events.These events are meeting and trainings of the employees of different corporation. So, it is not open to public. Data also shows that the week of day or the schedule of the event is relative on the number of events per day. Though, it could not be concluded since it is only a two-day observation. Table 2. Corporate Event per Day of the Week in Intramural Noun 9 â⠂¬â€œ 15, 2014) DAYS OF THE WEEK (JUNE 9-15, 2014) Friday 3 Table 2 shows that data gathered from the Intramural Administration on a random sampling of a week of the year 2014, it shows that there are only three days (3) in a week with an event and each day has only one event.

Monday, September 16, 2019

World War II: What Made Allied Victory Possible

The Second World War was the most important event in the 20th century. It changed the course of history when the destruction caused by the conflict resulted in changing the power structure in Europe. At the end of the war the economies of Germany, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom was threatened due to war reparations and the cost of human lives. But the United States who waged war from a distance came out of the war as the new global superpower. But in the first two years of the second global conflict there was no indication that Axis Powers will lose the war. It was only after Germany engaged the enemy on two fronts and when the United States joined the fray that the Allied Powers were able to gather enough strength to defeat Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. Background It is impossible to understand World War II without going back a few decades and study the First World War. This is because the first and second global conflict had one common denominator – Germany as the main player and main loser for both events. In World War I Germany was in the center of the conflict as it tried to honor an alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The heir to the Astro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated by someone who had links to the Serbian government. Thus the Hapsburg Empire was forced to issue an ultimatum to Serbia. The Serbian government in turn had pride and honor at stake and this prevented them from acceding to their demands. Russia was sympathetic to Serbia and promised to assist her if Germany will support the Hapsburg government. The only problem here is that Russia was allied to France and Britain. The Triple Entente composed of Britain, France and Russia was bound by an accord that the triumvirate signed in 1907 (Neiberg, 2005). On the other hand, the opposing team, the Central Powers composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria were bound by their own treaties and alliances as well (Neiberg, 2005). And so begins the chain reaction of events that would escalate the conflict in Europe. To make the long story short the Central Powers were defeated by the Triple Entente. It is interesting to note that after the First World War Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary Empire and Turkey were reduced to almost nothing. Germany suffered the same fate, humiliated and without the capability to rise up again as an empire. All of that began to change two decades later when an ambitious young leader by the name of Adolph Hitler – he was a corporal in World War I – was able to inspire the German people that they can repossessed what was taken from them. In the 1930s Hitler with his charisma and visionary leadership was able to create a Nazi party that would soon threaten the whole world. Nazi Germany’s Early Success There are many reasons why Nazi Germany was militarily successful in the first two years of the war. First of all, Hitler’s Nazi party, the engine that runs the war campaign had the support of the German people. According to Fulbrook, â€Å"For much of the 1930s, they experienced a certain congruence of aims with the Nazis, in the areas of economic regeneration under authoritarian, anti-union auspices, and rearmament and revision of the hated Treaty of Versailles† (1991). Aside from the popularity of the Nazi party, German forces were successful in war because of Hitler’s visionary leadership as well as his decisiveness when it comes to enforicing Nazi foreign policy. Hitler was able to communicate so clearly how Germany would rise again and take back what belongs to them. He was able to show the German people that if they will do it right this time, then never again will outsiders ridicule them. His vision will be realized if the German people will support his foreign policy program. As mentioned earlier this will entail the revising of the Treaty of Versailles – an armistice with the victors of World War I that proved to be disastrous for Germany. Secondly, Hitler’s foreign policy requires the incorporation of Austria and transforming Czechoslovakia and Poland into satellite states; then confronting France and then Russia before going after world domination (Fulbrook, 1991). This foreign policy program may have been a byproduct of the Fuhrer’s false sense of superiority but one has to admit that it inspired the German people. For those who doubt they only need to review war films and pictures that show enthusiastic German soldiers eager to lay their lives for Hitler’s dream of a Third Reich. War Weary Europe The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1918. In 1938 Hitler’s army marched triumphantly into Austria without firing a single shot; it was a bloodless invasion. In 1938 Europe was only two decades removed from the bloodiest European conflict in recent history. The Europeans could still feel the impact of the First World War where millions of young men died from senseless violence. Now here comes Hitler, with an army determined to fight old enemies once again in the blood drenched battlefields of Europe. It was clear that France and Britain are not interested for a repeat performance. It was clear for Hitler and his cohorts that Britain is their number one problem. But Britain was not the same empire that terrorized many in the 18th and 19th century. In the 1930s it was a shell of its former self. It had to go through a bloody war with its American colonies and in 1914 to 1918 participated in the first global war. Britain was war weary as the rest of Europe. Aside form that the British had to deal with a lot of problems as a result of having many colonies around the world (Rock, 2000). Hitler apparently understood that Britain will not stand in his way and so Hitler began to move his troops to continue his conquest and next stop was Czechoslovakia. This prompted action from the Britain but they did not wish to fight Germany, only to negotiate. The then British Prime Minister Chamberlain tried to diffuse the situation by offering appeasement to Germany. At the end of the Munich Conference in 1938, there were certain borders of Czechoslovakia that was ceded to Nazi Germany (Fulbrook, 2005). Chamberlain declared that peace was achieved and war averted but he did not realize that Hitler was merely warming up. Less than a year later Hitler invaded what was left of Czechoslovakia and was met with little resistance. At this point Hitler has become a European bully; but no one was strong enough to stand against him. Leaders from France and Britain tried their best to be strategic and not use their emotions in making decisions. Meanwhile Hitler made another brilliant move when he secured a pact with Russia. By doing so Hitler will be assured that in the event of an escalation of conflict he will not have to fight a war in two fronts. Hitler began to make another major campaign, this time he wanted to get Poland. But Britain said no and then went further to assure the Polish government that Great Britain is ready to help her against foreign invaders. But by this time, â€Å"†¦Hitler had by now formed the impression that Britain was essentially weak and vacillating, and would not stand by its guarantee† (Fulbrook, 2005). Less than a year after the Munich Conference Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939. In a lighting campaign (Blitzkrieg) German forces overwhelmed Poland in less than three weeks of fighting (Fulbrook, 2005). Britain and France declared war on Germany. Hitler’s Army Aside from Hitler’s charisma, vision and decisive leadership, another important aspect of Nazi Germany is the presence of elite soldiers called the German SS or Schutzstaffeln. These were handpicked men that were groomed to become an elite fighting unit. The German SS would, â€Å"†¦spearhead some of the most crucial battles of WWII while its men would shoulder some of the most difficult and daunting combat operations of the units in the German military† (GermanWArMachine, 2007). In 1929 Hitler asked his most trusted aide, Heinrich Himmler to form an elite force that will safeguard the Nazi Party, â€Å"†¦a troop dependable in every circumstance† (Stein, 1984). And that is what he got. After undergoing a process of difficult training and learning how to best serve under the Third Reich the German SS went through a baptism of fire. In June 30, 1934, in an event that will be known as the Night of the Long Knives SS troops crossed a point of no return and forever sealed their fate as the most frightening Special Forces under the command of the Fuhrer (Stein, 1984). In this fateful night Hitler ordered his shock troops to eliminate the core group of their arch-rival the SA (Sturmabteilungen). The bloody purging, where the German SS killed their former comrade-in-arms forever changed their image and their mindsets, now they are ready to conquer the world. Allied Victory There were at least four major factors that led to Allied Victory, first of all there was strong leadership among the Allied Forces; secondly the United States of America, the emerging global superpower decided to participate after years of being an observer; thirdly the Allied Forces ability to exploit resources, specifically fossil fuel; and finally Allied Victory was made possible by Hitler’s major blunder, engaging the enemy in two fronts. All four will be discussed in the following pages starting with the discussion of leadership that was well illustrated by the actions of Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, General Marshall, and Gen. Eisenhower. Leadership The Second World War was not only about battlefields and mechanized warfare. It was also a political stage where national leaders from both side of the fence were able to show their courage, brilliance, and strength of character. One of the most important leaders during the dark times of Nazi supremacy was Winston Churchill who made a defiant stand against Hitler and his army. This was illustrated in the year 1941, in one of the darkest times in British history. The British government declared war on Germany and received a harsh reply; the forces of the Third Reich continued to pound on Great Britain and weakened her considerably. Hitler and his cohorts were very much aware that the English people are going to be a major roadblock to world domination. Yet, Hitler was confident that the England would finally succumb to their air raid and Blitzkrieg. But Hitler underestimated the resolve of one man – Winston Churchill. At the onset of World War II the U. S. government could not see the wisdom of meddling with the European conflict. America was so far removed from the European theater of war that it was contented to stay on the sidelines. Still, America contributed to the Allied cause by sending in equipment and war materials to Britain. This neutral stance would have remained if only Japan did not bomb Pearl Harbor. But after the shocking attack in the said American military base, the United States could not simply wage war against the formidable trio of Germany, Japan and Italy. The U. S. mainland needed the wisdom and strength of an able leader. They were fortunate to find these rare qualities in the person of Franklin D. Roosevelt. While Churchill and Roosevelt played a crucial role in bringing together alliance that would defeat Nazi Germany it would require another set of leaders to execute a plan for defeating Hitler in Europe. In this regard two outstanding military leaders needed to be mentioned in this section – George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower. In 1942 the Americans are already part of the conflict. Its main job is to build an army, secure the shipping lines to get it overseas, establish and organization through which America can work with the British on a strategy to defeat Hitler (Ambrose, 1999). The United States was fortunate to have George Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower on board. Stephen Ambrose was able to succinctly describe the contribution of these great men and he wrote: Marshall’s strengths were in the higher levels of policy, organization, and strategy. In these areas Eisenhower followed, for he was an operator rather than a theoretician, the perfect man to take Marshall’s concepts and translate them into practice. The Supreme Allied Command in Europe would never have come about had it not been for Marshall’s thought, driving force, and persuasive powers, but it would not have worked had it not been for Eisenhower (Ambrose, 1999). All these men worked together to bring about Allied victory. The Free World will forever be indebted to Churchill for his defiant stand against Germany. If he raised the white flag of surrender in 1940 Hitler could have easily gathered momentum and proceeded with his ultimate plan of world domination. Without Roosevelt’s wisdom of first helping the British and then following shortly to join the war the Allied Forces could not have mustered enough manpower and firepower to defeat the Axis Powers. And without the able leadership of Marshall and Eisenhower Allied Forces could not have assembled an army so large and so effective that it was able to bring Germany to its knees. American Participation Much has been said about the defiant stand of the British forces as well as the British people who had to endure the regular air raids of the German Luftwaffe. But Great Britain knew that the best that they could hope for was a stalemate. They had to get help from an outsider in order for them to break the deadlock and proceed to start a counter-attack. But in the beginning of the war it was clear that there is no other nation in Europe that could neutralize the brutal efficiency and rabid determination of the German army. The assistance that Britain desperately needed did not come from the European continent but form another land mass across the Atlantic. One of the gross tactical error of the Axis Powers was to give the go signal for Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor. With hindsight it will be easy to analyze that attacking and provoking America was a serious blunder that cost them the war. America was content to stay behind the scenes and did not make any commitment to lend a major part of their industries to help the Allied Forces. But all of this changed when Pearl Harbor was decimated by Japan’s Imperial forces. The subsequent declaration of America that it has joined the war signaled a crucial turning point in World War II. Resources One of the most crucial factors that gave victory to the Allies was there capability to exploit and control fossil fuel. According to Williamson Murray access to petroleum products was an important aspect of the war considering that Germany and Japan were already dependent on foreign oil before they went to war (Murray, 2001). This probably explains why Hitler planned on scoring a quick victory. It was apparent that Hitler could not afford to engage in a long-drawn-out war. But as the war progressed the participation of the United States proved to be very crucial because America produced two-thirds of the world’s petroleum (Murray, 2001). When Germany and Japan could not access fossil fuel their operations was critically affected. Germany Divided Leadership was an important factor in winning the war for the Allies. But the Axis Powers had great leaders too so it can easily neutralize the Allied Forces in the leadership department. The entry of the United States in World War II was also a factor why Germany lost in the war but America was too far away from Europe and it would require a massive logistical effort before it can begin developing and sending soldiers into Europe. Germany still had time to prepare for the incoming Americans. Resources was also a crucial factor in the war but if Hitler can continually use Blitzkrieg, his lightning fast method of deploying troops and engaging the enemy, the war could be over even without draining resources form Germany. In the initial phase of World War II this was the case – European nations easily gave up their freedom when held at gunpoint by German forces. Therefore it can be argued that the single most crucial factor that led to the demise of Nazi Germany was its decision to disregard the pact made earlier between Russia and then proceeded to attack the Soviet Union. At this point Hitler was so full of himself so he decided that in the summer of 1941 his army will attack Russia, â€Å"†¦thus affecting what he had previously been concerned to avoid: war on two fronts† (Fulbrook, 1991). By engaging Britain and Russia at once German forces were over-extended and ill-equipped (Fubrook, 1991). When the combined American and British forces came later Germany could no longer sustain its attack and slowly began to disintegrate. Conclusion The provisions of the Treaty of Versailles were put in place to control Germany so that it will never duplicate what it has achieved in World War I. But this strategy backfired when Adolph Hitler used the sentiments of the people against the said treaty. He promised them that he will revise the Treaty of Versailles if only the German people will support him in war. When Hitler secured the support of the people, he did not waste time and proceeded to use Blitzkrieg, a German term for lightning quick attacks on enemy territories. Through this method Hitler was able to expand German territory in less than two years, a considerable feat. Europe was tired of war. The recently concluded World War I was fresh in the memory of most people. This gave Hitler the confidence that nations would not resist and allow him to take what he wanted. But he overestimated his capabilities and the capability of Nazi Germany. When it engaged England, Russia, and America at the same time, German soldiers were spread thin and lacking military equipment. The protracted war was not part of Hitler’s plans. When America came in to break the deadlock between Allied and Axis forces Germany began to lose steam and in 1945 it finally raised the white flag.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Drama Analysis essay: The Death of a Salesman Essay

Linda Loman in the novel, Death of a Salesman, is strong woman who sacrificed her job for the happiness and success of her husband and family. The paper will explain how Linda played an important role in the lives of her husband and sons. The character of Linda Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is a source of strength for many people. A heart and soul of the Loman household, Linda is a woman torn between guiltiness, vengeance and misfortune. Although the novel gives a very bleak view of women, the Linda’s character shows how a woman can give strength to a man. Linda’s guiltiness can be seen from the fact that she prevented her husband, Willy Loman, from chasing his true American dream. Linda reacted in response to Willy’s failure and becomes apologetic for him, for the reason that Willy is a â€Å"pitiful lone adventurer of the road† (Miller 47) Throughout the novel Linda is seen as source of encouragement for Willy and never accepted defeat before him. When Linda first appeared in the novel, she is portrayed as a woman who always obeys orders of her husband. Linda accepted Willy’s actions and his unexpected behaviors. In the beginning of the novel, even when Linda did not enter into the play, Authur Miller gave an impression that she is a victim. (Miller 12) It seems that Linda is either terrified by the Willy’s attitude or worried about his weaknesses. For many people Linda’s interference in the financial matters of Willy shows her greed. But many others see it differently. They argue that Linda was very conscious about the success of Willy and the financial health of their family. Linda played an important role in easing tension in the family, especially between Willy and his sons. And this shows her kindness. As Willy finds himself in confusion because of his clashes with his sons on many issues despite the fact that he loves them very much, Linda gives him solutions. She tells Willy that their son Biff is sad and disappointed. She said Biff is trying to find himself. â€Å"He’s crestfallen†¦ if he finds himself, then you’ll both be happier† (Miller 15). Linda who surrenders her own joy for the happiness of her husband has loyalty for him. She blames herself for every unkind things Willy do to her. She has become so familiar to the mental abuse freely dished out by her husband that she has come to consider it acceptable behavior and rationalize it by telling herself that she is not worthy of good treatment. Willy has no respect for Linda. He snaps at Linda when she makes harmless comments. He insulted her on many occasion. â€Å"Stop interrupting! † (64), â€Å"Will you let me talk? † (64), and â€Å"Will you let me finish, woman? † (Miller 67). But what shows the strength of Linda is that she comes to defend Willy when their sons try to offend him. She is still nice with her husband and tells the boys to make Willy happy. For many critics it is evident that Linda has become so desensitized by Willy’s comments over the years that they have become almost common nature to her. But some critics see it differently and termed it Linda’s strength. They argue that Linda is ready to tolerate all these things for the sake of her family’s unification and for success of her husband. Despite the fact that the sons do not like their father, Linda on many occasions in the novel is seemed trying to assure Willy of his importance. â€Å"And the boys, Willy. Few men are idolized by their children the way you are. † (Miller 37). For improving the confidence of Willy, Linda gives him the impression that their sons have great respect for their father. In this way she compels herself to live a life that she knows is not factual. Many people believe that this is the strength of Linda’s character because she tells lie to comfort a broken heart. Even after the death of Willy, Linda’s respect for her husband does not come to an end. Although by killing himself Willy left Linda without a source of income, Linda blames herself for Willy’s death and while standing on his grave she says â€Å"forgive me, dear† (Miller 139). During all the years of their marriage, Linda remains a victim of Willy’s bad behavior. But her only aim was to serve Willy. She did everything to make him happy in his life although she knew that she would get only bad behavior in return. In conclusion, it can be said that Linda was a strong woman because she tolerated all bad things for the success of her family. Linda never lived just only a single day of her married life for herself. Her entire focus always remained on the happiness and success of her husband. Willy was undeserving of all the support his wife showed him. But, Linda remained loyal and was quick to forget all the disappointing things done by Willy. While selflessness and forgiveness are good things, Linda become too extreme by destroying her own life, just to keep her unworthy husband happy. Works Cited Miller, Arthur. The Death of a Salesman Cardullo, Bert. Death of a Salesman and Death of a Salesman: The Swollen Legacy of Arthur Miller. Available at: http://www. columbia. edu/cu/cjas/june_miller. html

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Asperger Syndrome 3

Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder and is considered a high functioning form of Autism. Autism spectrum disorders are also known as pervasive developmental disorders and can affect social skills and communication. Asperger syndrome can also delay the development of motor skills and cause sensory problems. While there is no cure for Asperger syndrome, there are treatments to help teach the skills affected by Asperger to patients to help them cope with the disorder. Research is currently being conducted to find the causes of Asperger syndrome and other effective treatment methods. The symptoms of Asperger syndrome are caused by delays in several areas of development such as social skills, communication skills, motor skills, and language skills. Patients with Asperger syndrome can become over-focused on a single topic or object and will want to know everything about the topic and will talk very little about anything else. Their areas of interest may be extremely narrow and they will often rattle off facts about their topic of interest with no conclusion or connection to conversation (Asperger Syndrome-PubMed Health). Asperger patients also exhibit social awkwardness and have trouble forming relationships. Eye contact, use of facial expressions, and body language are impaired in patients and can inhibit regulation of social interaction. Patients may also lack emotional empathy and the ability to recognize social cues (OASIS @ MAAP – What Is Asperger Syndrome? . Speech may have a lack of rhythm, odd inflection, or a monotone pitch in patients with Asperger syndrome. They may also lack the control to match the volume of their voice to their surroundings (Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet). Asperger syndrome patients may show delays in motor development and exhibit unusual physical behaviors such as repetitive arm flapping, twisting, or other whole body movements (Asperger Syndrome – PubMed Healt h). Asperger syndrome is very difficult to diagnose. People with Asperger syndrome often function very well in everyday life, so the signs and symptoms exhibited are often just recognized as â€Å"quirks† or a way of just being different. If a child exhibits any symptoms of Asperger syndrome, it is extremely important to seek the help of a doctor and they will refer you to a mental health professional or a specialist for further evaluation. A â€Å"psychological exam† will be performed to compile a history of when the symptoms first apeared, the development of motor skills and language patterns, and other aspects of behavior and ersonality. The earlier an evaluation is conducted, the sooner treatments can be started to improve a child’s development with Asperger syndrome (Asperger Syndrome). Asperger syndrome has no cure, but with treatments and medications, many children with Asperger syndrome grow into well-developed, productive adults. The majority of diagnosed children benefit from specialized treatments that f ocus on social skills training and behavior management. Some of these treatments include communication and social skills training and cognitive behavioral therapy. There are no medications that specifically treat Asperger syndrome, but there are some medications that can help improve symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity including Aripiprazole, Guanfacine, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Risperidone, Olanzapine, and Naltrexone (Staff, Mayo Clinic). Parent training is also helpful in continuing treatment at home and teaches parents techniques to be used at home to better their child’s development (Asperger Syndrome – PubMed Health). Research is currently being conducted to understand the causes of Asperger syndrome and to find more effective treatments. A study is currently being conducted using functional magnetic resonance imaging to show how abnormalities in particular areas of the brain can cause the symptoms of Asperger syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. There is also a large-scale study comparing neuropsychological and psychiatric assessments of children with possible diagnoses of Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism to those of their parents and sibling to try to identify any patterns of symptoms that link Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism to any specific neuropsychological profiles. A long-rang international study conducted by a collection of scientists from universities, academic centers, and institutions from around the world to collect and analyze DNA sample from children with Asperger syndrome and high-function autism, along with their families, to identify associated genes and how they interact. This study is better known as the Autism Genome Project and functions as a repository for genetic data so that researchers can try to find the genetic â€Å"building blocks† of Asperger syndrome an autism spectrum disorders (Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet). Asperger syndrome is a high-functioning form of autism and is considered an autism spectrum disorder. It delays the development of many areas such as communication and social skills. Even though there is no cure for Asperger syndrome, with the right treatments and medications, most children with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and their families learn to cope with the symptoms of this disorder. Many adults with Asperger syndrome can develop to be happy, well-functioning, and productive adults with successful mainstream jobs and lead fulfilling independent lives with the right kind of treatment plans and support available to them. Works Cited â€Å"Asperger Syndrome – PubMed Health. † Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . â€Å"Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet. † National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . â€Å"Asperger Syndrome. † KidsHealth – the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . â€Å"OASIS @ MAAP – What Is Asperger Syndrome? † OASIS @ MAAP – The Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support Center. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. . Staff, Mayo Clinic. â€Å"Asperger's Syndrome – MayoClinic. com. † Mayo Clinic. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. .

Amateurism in Ncaa Football

Paranny Aril Crawford Sandin English 101 13 October 2012 Amateurism In NCAA Football The National Collegiate Athletic Association is corrupted with sneakiness, unfairness and greediness, particularly in division one colleges. In North America, sports play a huge role, especially sports like football, hockey, basketball and baseball. Sometimes this causes us to become vanished of fairness, like are the players being treated right? A great example of injustice in sports is amateurism of football players in division one colleges.Division one and division two athletes must obtain amateurism, which is playing the sport as a hobby rather than for the money, many would define amateurism as worthy but it is really tainted and monopolized! Should NCAA athletes get paid? Numerous of people would easily answer no because college athletes are on scholarships and various athletic departments loses money even with a winning record. Also college athletes have advantages with free tuition, books, li ving expenses, food, clothing and health.Although all of these features appear wonderful but there are more cons than pros of amateurism. For example the NCAA is a business that are making money out of these athletes basically for free and yes they do receive tuition but that does not compare to the large amount of money the NCAA is making out of them. According the Stanford Review, college athletic is a multimillion-dollar industry with recruiting the best of the best in the nation. So why not pay the best of the best, if they put in all this hard work, then they should be rewarded.Instead the National Colligate Athletic Association is a monopoly because of its limitation of scholarships and other payments to boost its college sports program. Also not all of the athletes receive scholarships. College football players put in more work on the field than they do in the classrooms. For example when in season they have five-hour practices and that doesn’t include lifting for an h our and this is from Tuesday to Friday with game day on Saturday. After the season is over then they begin spring all which is just only practices and plus they don’t have a summer break because they have to stay for summer ball. We consider college athletes as student athletes but that is such an oxymoron because in realty their sport does come before their schoolwork. When playing in a big division one school, most athletes believe to make it in the big leagues but sadly only about 2% makes it. Colleges should stress more on education for so call student athletes but they don’t because of the athlete’s popularity and how the NCAA is making money out of them regardless if they have a future afterward or not.It’s horrible how the NCAA contract includes that when an athlete commits and decides to transfer to play for another school then they have to sit out a year. This rule is so unfair because coaches don’t have to do that. The NCAA is the biggest monopoly in America according to Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine. When selling college souvenirs and jerseys, videogames, etc and the athlete does not make any money from that, even if they are the main reason for those sales. It is amazing that most players receive a free education but does not compare to what the NCAA is making off of them.The players should receive a cut of these profits or gain a portion of this money after graduation so it can help them financially with their futures. Sadly the NCAA is too considerate of themselves and if an athlete is injure or not performing well then they have no problem wiping their name off the record books. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a business that makes tons of money from college athletes. Another reason why the NCAA doesn’t pay their athletes is because they will be tax and they can lose a lot of money from that.Well, professional sports obviously pay their athletes and they are tax too but the professional leagues are doing well. College basketball and college football are highly talked about and televised just like the professional sports so it shouldn’t be a problem if college athletes get paid. With amateurism in college sports, athletic programs cheat. They secretly cheat by illegally over paying top players or handing them out free stuff. For instance Cam Newton who was an All-American quarterback playing for Auburn and Mississippi before was secretly offered 120,000 to 18,000 from Mississippi State.Playing in top division one colleges, â€Å"winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing† and if athletic programs will cheat to have the best recruits and this is no surprise. If amateurism didn’t exist, there wouldn’t be any cheating scandals and every player will treated equally from their performance. Brown, Noah. â€Å"The NCAA Monopoly – The Toonari Post – News, Powered by the People! â€Å"

Friday, September 13, 2019

The Devine Michelangelo and Rapheal A Mortal God videos criticism Essay

The Devine Michelangelo and Rapheal A Mortal God videos criticism - Essay Example In an effort to recreate and retell the stories of these two classical artists, BBC, in association with acclaimed directors like Bernard Hill and Sydney Kean, produced informative documentary films. These films are; Raphael – A Mortal God and The Devine Michelangelo. In 2004, BBC created a drama-documentary on the life and works of Raphael. Raphael – A Mortal God was directed by John Holdsworth. The film, which runs for 60 minutes, was released in January 2004. In the film, Bernard Hill takes the role of a background narrator. Among the key cast members include McKenna, acting as Pope Julius 2 and Joe McFadden acting as Raphael. The documentary is educational in nature (Weyant). It covers on the life and heydays of Raphael as one of the most colorful artists of Renaissance Italy. In order to enhance understanding, the documentary shows graphical representations of Raphael’s work. In addition, motion pictures depicting characters and scenes synonymous to those of Renaissance Rome are used. Personally, I think the documentary on Raphael – A Mortal God is successfully inspired. As an educational documentary, Raphael – A Mortal God captures a viewer’s attention through a recognizable conflict between the characters and the environmental context of the story. As a means of developing the dramatic curve of Raphael’s story, Bernard Hill takes a reserved stage and narrates events in a contrasting manner. For example, Raphael succeeded as an artist because he employed experimental techniques instead of adhering to conventional artistic techniques of renaissance art. In depicting Raphael’s conflict with conventional techniques of renaissance art, the film uses audio and visual medium in alienating the artist in respect to the background context (Weyant). Despite the documentary’s success in certain aspects, there is an apparent inadequacy in the use of motion pictures. In addition, the

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Philosophy of Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy of Punishment - Essay Example However, the concept of punishment as largely arisen from a retributive practice as a form of providing justification for the victim (Alexander 2012). A greater liberal justification of punishment is the sense of isolating and getting rid of all threats in the society so as to achieve social order and to ensure that criminal aggression is kept within control (Bedau 2010). The threatened punishments are deemed to be necessary as due process of law. In the modern day, punishment is defined as any form of pain, suffering, confinement or loss that has been imposed by auhtoruty on a person for an offense (the authority having the subject for the offense). However, the definition of punishment also needs to include the effects and incidents related to the punishment including exclusions to be made. Early man caused punishment to include destruction of those objects or people who harmed or threatened to harm society or property. In this paper, the broad philosophies of punishment would be c onsidered along with the various models that are being used (Alexander 2012). Body The first model of punishment being considered is retribution. Retribution is a theory of justice that punishment should be appropriate or proportionate to the type and seriousness of the crime with the aim of achieving satisfaction and psychological benefits for the aggrieved party and the society in general. Often the saying goes ‘an eye for an eye’ and ‘a tooth for a tooth’, wherein the severity of the punishment should be based on the severity of the wrongdoing. According to Michael Davis, a philosopher, the amount of punishment as per retributive justice should be based on the amount of unfair advantage that has been gained by the wrongdoer. In proposing such a theory, he wanted greater reform in the reformative justice being done. Following the development of this theory, judges considered the mitigating factors for various crimes based on the situations existing (Bedau 2010). Vengeance or revenge is more of harmful form of action as a reaction to crime and a form of grievance and may be based on societal rules. Over time vengeance has evolved and today is being implemented with greater social cohesion. Death penalty is a form vengeance wherein some societies have it even for other crimes such as child rape. Many religions such as Christianity and Buddhism go against the concept of revenge. Vengeance may be considered as a form of retribution. However, in today’s justice system, punishment has gone much more beyond mere revenge with an intention of protecting society in general (Bright 1995). Deterrence considers that punishment is necessary for any crime and should often be based on the gravity of the crime, so that the crimes are avoided not only by the offender, but also by other potential offenders that may be present in society. There are 2 types of deterrence’s, namely general deterrence and specific deterrence. In general dete rrence, specific events would help to prevent crimes in general, so that unintended behavior is removed from society. In specific deterrenc

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Akashi- Kaikyo bridge (Pearl bridge), Japan Research Paper

Akashi- Kaikyo bridge (Pearl bridge), Japan - Research Paper Example The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is known in Japan as the Pearl Bridge. Before the bridge became operational, the people had to mainly depend on ferry services to travel between the islands. The ferry travel was uncertain and rather dangerous as the area often experienced powerful winds, storms and typhoons, and horrible ferry mishaps did occur. Heeding to the public outrage that followed the sinking of two ferries in 1955, causing the death of 168 people - a majority of them children, the Japanese government undertook the construction of this bridge in 1988. Another reason for building the Akashi Kaikyo bridge, which was approved in the 1969 comprehensive Japan national development plan, was to promote local trade and assist the industrial development of the region. Together with another major suspension bridge namely, the Ohnaruto suspension bridge, completed in 1995 and connecting Shikoku Island with the southern end of Awaji Island, the economy of Awaji Island which is the sixth largest island in Japan, was expected to improve considerably. Although the construction of the bridge was prioritised following the ferry disaster in 1955 and feasibility studies began soon thereafter, the actual construction could only begin in 1988 as the process was a difficult one. The Akashi Strait is four kilometres wide and where bridge was proposed to be built, the sea was 110 metres deep, with tidal currents of 4.5 metres per second. The problems of bridge design related firstly to the severe weather conditions existing in the Akashi Strait, such as strong winds (wind speeds of 80 metres per second), and even typhoons.