Why Polo Ralph Lauren Expand in Singapore free essay sample

Polo Ralph Lauren is known as a strong brand with a strictly American image. Consumers from around the world know the Polo brand and with the world becoming more and more Americanized there is much opportunity for the company to enter the growing Asian market. Summary The Polo Ralph Lauren brand was started by American entrepreneur Ralph Lauren in 1967. At the time he was working for a company called Beau Brummell Neckwear. Lauren designed an innovative tie that was wider than other ties on the market at the time. He then convinced Beau Brummell Neckwear to sell his ties inside the Empire State Building. The ties sold like crazy which led to the establishment of Polo Ralph Lauren. Lauren named the brand Polo after the popular horse racing sport because the sport represents prestige and elegance in the United States; a sport that only America’s noble and elite can play and afford. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Polo Ralph Lauren Expand in Singapore or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Therefore, Ralph Lauren’s target customers were those who had an above average income. This is a desire and goal that Ralph Lauren was determined to meet with his Polo brand. In 1969 the company opened its first boutique store inside Bloomingdale’s, an Upper East Side New York department store. In 1971, the first stores of Polo Ralph Lauren fashion appeared in Beverly Hills, California. Ten years later Lauren became the first American designer open a shop in London. Cureently, Polo Ralph Lauren has grown to be a well-known brand, not only for tie but also for all fashion items particularly fashion for men. However the brand is not limited to only menswear. Polo also provides childrenswear, womenswear, swimwear, sportswear and even home decor items. Following this paragraph is a brief description of Polo Ralph Lauren’s top selling brands. Polo by Ralph Lauren: provides a complete menswear wardrobe with distribution through Ralph Lauren stores and Department stores. Polo Sport: A line of men’s active sportswear RLX Polo Sport: Complete in the sports apparel market by offering clothing for running, skilling, cycling etc. Polo Golf: This collection of men and women’s golf wear Blue Label: classic women’s weekend wear. Environmental Assessment The environmental analysis of a company allows the company to get a clearer picture of the threats and opportunities in the external environment of the company. From the results, the company can provide suitable strategies to exploit opportunities and eliminate threats. I have broken the business environment of Polo Ralph Lauren into 4 parts. Political and legal, economic, social and cultural, and technological. Political and Legal environment Public policy must always be considered when looking at the business environment. One of the reasons why Singapore was chosen over other Asian countries was because of its government stability. Singapore currently has many policies in place to support foreign business. They provide a stable economy with low interest and banking rates as well as a competitive tax system. Singapore also has no restrictions on foreign exchange management making it more convenient and for foreign investors to transfer capital and profits in and out of Singapore than in some of the other countries in Asia. The Singapore commercial law now contains other pro-business components. Foreign investors are not required to participate in the activities of joint venture or franchising. Singapore government also does not restrict foreign investors to protect their domestic industry for any reason. All of these factors help make company executives and investors alike to grow and develop their company in Singapore. Economic Environment Singapore is seen by most as a well developed country with a dynamic business environment. Business ideas can easily turn into the reality because of the countries flexible business environment, low history of corruption, high financial transparency and price stability. Also, the economy does not receive much interference from the government and it only the legal matters of setting up a business is usually taken care of in as little as 3 days to set up. Since 2002, the tariff has been stable and less than 1% which helps to increase business financing. There are also very few products are taxed in Singapore. According to the 2010 World Bank assessment of business environment, Singapore is considered easiest country in the world to start a business. Singapore also has been labeled the Worlds second most free country by The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom in 2010. Singapore’s stable economy is not highly affected by inflation rates and market fluctuations. This is a key factor Polo Ralph Lauren to succeed in Singapore’s market. Because the country is so developed, consumers are more likely to comfortably purchase a luxury brand item such as Polo Ralph Lauren. Social and Cultural Environment Singapore is located in the middle of South East Asia. Between countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Singapore is known as a trade center for Southeast Asia, which brings much diversity to the nations culture and social life. Based on the demographics alone, Singapore is filled with the multi- ethnic people and a wide variety of different cultures. Total population in Singapore was over 5 million this year. 7% of the population is Chinese, 14% Malaysian and just over 7% of the population is Indian. The diverse nationalities and cultures of Singapore have a drastic effect on the style and behavior of the people in Singapore. The traditional family values seem to still be in tact but the Western World is definitely having an impact on the country’s youth as it is in most of Asia. The strong western influ ence is what allows for the Polo Ralph Lauren company enter the Asian market and be succesful in the Asian market. American brands are seen as prestigious in Asia and Polo is one of America’s more prestigious brands. It is a must have for American’s so it will become a must have in Asian countries as well. Technological Environment Technology is so important to Polo Ralph Lauren’s success in Singapore. The development of information technology has played a significant role in creating innovative distribution strategies, media strategies, advertising strategies and so on. According to Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Total Internet Users in Singapore is well over three million which means that over three-fourths of the population has internet access. With the internet being so popular in Singapore it is easy for citizens to find product information as well as information about the current fashion trends. Currently about 10% of all Singaporean’s that use the internet use it for purchasing goods. As this number continues to grow more opportunities for companies to develop online catalogs and ordering systems will grow as well. Polo already has a website full of useful product information and also an online ordering system. The website currently operates in over thirty countries including Singapore. Opportunities and Threats Opportunities The Polo Ralph Lauren company has much opportunity to develop in Singapore and other parts of Asia. Economic theory says that the company will see their sales increase as the World’s economy continues to recover and the country of Singapore continues to develop. The rapid growth of the economy spend on shopping has greatly increased the standard of living of many Singaporean citizens and as a result people will spend more money while shopping. Singapore is becoming more and more of a tourist attraction. Many foreigners come from all over the world and while they are there they will shop. The key tourism drivers for Singapore are travel and Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions). In 2011, Singapore’s tourism industry welcomed over 3 million tourist, business, and MICE visitors. This generated revenue of over 6 million dollars. With Polo being such an attractive brand globally, the company can definitely benefit from Singapore’s tourists both business and leisure. Threats Polo Ralph Lauren’s products are marketed customers of middle and high-class. The key players in this market tend to be Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, and Calvin Klein, etc. Competitors have used some tools such as pricing, quality, and design. Because of this, Polo Ralph Lauren has expanded the range of its market. So it faces competition in each price point from discount to luxury. The price of Polo Ralph Lauren products tend to be more expensive than their competitors. For example: The new Lauren line will feature jackets from $230 to $250 and pants from $119 to $139, whereas Calvin Klein will offer pants and skirts at the price of $125. Competitive Analysis of the Industry Harvard Business School professor and author of many well known business strategy books Michael Porter designed what he calls the â€Å"Five forces† to analyze the competitive environment of a business. The five forces he lists are rivalry among existing firms, threat of new entrants, substitute products or services, bargaining power of suppliers and bargaining power of buyers. The stronger each of these forces the more competitive a company is in its industry. Rivalry among existing firms In most industries, corporations are mutually dependent. For a competitive movement of one firm, it can be expected to have a noticeable effect on its competitors and thus may cause retaliation† (Wheelen, 2010, pp159). Growth in the apparel industry will boost competition and help eliminate the weaker competitors. To be able to survive in the market, companies need to continuously improve product quality, keep up with the current trends and adapt to new customer care services. Polo is threatened by competition from Guess and Tommy Hilfiger. For the luxury range designers, Prada, Gucci and Versace are the direct competitors of Ralph Lauren. However, with the power of Ralph Lauren brands, loyal customers and designed in classic American style that allows it to mitigate the threat. Ralph Lauren targets the upper price point range where consumers are light price sensitive, so competition is less fierce. For the Polo Ralph Lauren, the threat of rivalry from competitors is moderate. Polo Ralph Lauren’s Top Competitors Giorgio Armani Calvin Klein Hermes DKNY Lacoste Armani Exchange DKNY Van Heusen DKNY RLX Prada Sport Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc. Threat of new entrants â€Å"Normally, new entrants to an industry bring to it new capacity, a desire to gain market share and substantial resources. They are, therefore, threats to an established corporation. The threat of entry depends on the presence of entry barrier and the reaction that can be expected from existing competitors† (Wheelen, 2010, pp159). An entry barrier is created to prevent a company to enter an industry. It requires considerable resources to launch market and distribute products in this industry, not to mention a recognizable brand. There are many difficult factors for new entrants such as suppliers, distributor’s channels, product diversification, product differentiation and the ability to negotiate with retailers. Thus, they must spend large amounts of time and money on building brand loyalty and raising customer knowledge. With a strong reputation, the risk for new entrants of Ralph Lauren is considered to be low. Threat of substitute products and services â€Å"A substitute product is a product with some differences but can satisfy the same need as another product† (Wheelen, 2010, pp160). With the numerous brands at different price points ranging from the low end to the high-end black and purple label, the companys products can meet all the needs of customers. It is considered that the threat of substitutes for Polo Ralph Lauren would be low since there are no considerable apparel substitutes that would cause customers to switch to another industry. Bargaining power of suppliers â€Å"Influences of suppliers come from their ability to raise prices or reduce the quality of purchased goods and services† (Wheelen, 2010, pp159). In a diverse market, if the numbers of suppliers is smaller to supply a variety of customers, suppliers will have relative power that can be used to influence price. Supplier’s power in some aspects of this industry is high since a large portion of Ralph Lauren revenue comes from licenses. Therefore, the financial viability and operational ability of licensees are depended on by Polo Ralph Lauren. The same applies to many of Ralph Lauren’s manufacturers in Asia which are affected by the potential of political instability or workers rights violations. Generally, the threat of suppliers is high since major brands compete for manufacturers and switch manufacturers is costly. Bargaining power of buyers The customer is the key factor in the buying process. They decide where to buy the product and the price they want to pay for it. They can choose what to buy and from what company. Therefore, the companies should create value and set a price that the customer is willing to pay Buyers affect an industry through their capacity to reduce the prices, deal for higher quality or more services, and even play competitors against each other. Polo Ralph Lauren’s revenue mainly stems from wholesale that supplies its products through several department stores in the wholesale channel. When the buyers order products, depending on the quantity they could integrate backwards and control this channel of distribution, hence the threat of buyers can be considered moderate. The revenue of retail segment is about 45. 5% of Ralph Laurens total revenue in Fiscal Year 2010 as retail sales grew to $2. 2 billion. Ralph Laurens retail segment runs through the chain of 326 retail and factory outlet stores as well as online stores. The individual buyer has no influence on the price of the products offered. Core Competencies of Polo Ralph Lauren (How) Jay Barney is considered to be the father of the modern Resource- Based View. According to his theory companies can sustain a competitive advantage through heterogeneity of firm- level differences. So in order to maximize returns, companies must change the mode of management selection strategies with the important task of indentifying and developing and deploying key sources. Value: when they enable a firm to conceive or implement strategies that improves its efficiency of effectiveness. It allows the firm to differentiate products or services and create unique value. Polo Ralph Lauren is a strong brand that has been known for many years by many consumers. Companies earned higher profits from their products than other appeal companies because of the loyalty associated with the brand. Customers not only bought products designed good brands but also have products with high quality that are designed based on the classic American style but still very elegant and durable. Polo Ralph Lauren has a variety of products at different price points from popular products to the high- level design. Rare: valuable firm resources possessed by large number of competing firms cannot be sources of either a competitive advantage or a sustainable competitive advantage. Competitors do not have access to the resource. Good quality has created long-term reputation for Ralph Lauren. Polo Ralph Lauren has a very wide range of products but each one has lasted for years, their craftsmanship is very hard to find. The company also has special product lines such as products designed specifically for the Olympic Games or Ralph Lauren Polo handmade woven design silk tie which cannot be found in other companies. Imperfectly inimitable: because of a combination of the following: unique historical conditions, causally ambiguous, social complex. Competitors cannot easily copy or reproduce the resource. Popular branding consultant Scott Davis stated in his book Building the Brand that â€Å"Lauren apparel becomes part of who the customer is by striking a deep emotional chord with that customer. Ralph Lauren’s customers feel good about themselves†. The emotional value aims the brand transcend other brands. Other companies can be able to copy the design of Polo Ralph Lauren products but not the feeling. Currently, the products of Polo Ralph Lauren still remain as one of the industry’s most powerful design and it is favored by the general public. Non- substitutable: There must not be strategically equivalent valuable resources in terms of rareness or imitatibility. Equivalent resources that may allow for a similar strategy are not readily available. Fashion is a part of lifestyle, Polo Ralph Laurens products have created the excitement for consumers through the design and its brand thus these products must reflect the consistency and long-term use. The feelings and experiences are not easily forgotten. The objective of the company is constantly creating a change in style but not losing their uniqueness. The theories listed will definitely aid Polo Ralph Lauren as they continue to expand on the Singapore market. Playing off their image as a uniquely American luxury brand is in their best interest while the world is becoming more Americanized. Works Cited Barney, Jay B. , and Delwyn N. Clark. Resource-based Theory: Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print. Events. Welcome to WorldBank Group. World Bank Group, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://web. worldbank. org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,pagePK:158889~piPK:146815~theSitePK:223547,00. htmlgt;. IDA Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. IDA Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. ida. gov. sg/gt;. Please Select Your Location. Cal vin Klein. Calvin Klein, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://explore. calvinklein. com/en_US/gt;. Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review. Researchandmarkets. com. Research and Markets, Mar. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/1291183/polo_ralph_lauren_corporation_rl_financial. pdfgt;. Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren. Polo Ralph Lauren, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. ralphlauren. com/gt;. Wheelen, Thomas L. , and J. David Hunger. Concepts in Strategic Management and Business Policy: Achieving Sustainability. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2010

Set Up Bathroom Pass Procedures to Manage Hall Traffic

Set Up Bathroom Pass Procedures to Manage Hall Traffic Covering all of the points in a planned lesson often takes every moment of class time. Students who interrupt you to ask for permission to use the restroom throw you off your tight schedule and disrupt their classmates attention. You can minimize the distraction with a bathroom pass system that allows students to excuse themselves, giving them some limited autonomy.   Take time at the beginning of the year to explain your rules about appropriate and inappropriate times to use the restroom. Remind students that they have the preferred time before school, between  classes, and at lunch to use the bathroom. While you can never deny a student access to the toilet, you might set a rule that no student can sign out during the first or last 5 minutes of class or during lecture. This allows enough time for you to complete a mini-lesson or giving directions. Set Up Your Bathroom Pass System Some teachers use clipboards holding a  paper that has columns to record the students name, destination, the  time out and the time back. Students fill out each column independently and take the generic bathroom pass to their destination. This system records daily activity by all students. Another bathroom pass system suggestion uses a plastic index card holder and 3x5 index cards, one per student. At the beginning of the school year, pass out 3x5 index cards and ask students to write their name. Then have them divide the flip side of the index card into four equal areas. In the upper right corner of each quadrant, they should put a 1, 2, 3 or 4 to correspond to the four grading quarters. (Adjust the layout for trimesters or other terms.)   Instruct students to label a row across the top of each area with a D for Date, T for Time and I for Initial. File the cards alphabetically in the plastic holder grouped by class periods and find a convenient location near the door to keep it. Ask them to return the card to the holder in a vertical position so it stands out from the others; you will go through after class or at the end of the day and initial them. This system records daily activity by individual students. Explain Your Bathroom Pass Tracking Method Let students know that your system allows them to excuse themselves from class for a few minutes when they really need to go. Tell the students that if they want to use the restroom, they should quietly fill in the chart or retrieve their card without interrupting you or their classmates and enter the date and time in the appropriate place.   Monitoring the Restroom Pass System Whatever the system you adopt, whether it is a sign-in/sign-out sheet or index cards, you should make sure that all students are following the system.You should also look for patterns.  For example, is a student leaving at the same time daily?  Are the restroom visits having a negative impact on academic? Does the student make poor choices about when to leave? If you notice any of these, you have a discussion with the student.   While some teachers dangle prizes for not using bathroom passes, there can be some health issues associated with students ignoring their bodies signals. There are also medical conditions, including pregnancy, that increase trips to the restroom. Teachers should always be aware of any medical conditions listed on a students individual educational plan (IEP) or 504. Tips You could also Include trips to the locker, other classrooms, etc. in the bathroom pass passes.The index cards are inexpensive to use and to replace, which makes them more sanitary  than other objects.If your school uses physical hall passes, keep those near the card file so students can grab one on their way out of the door.

Business Ethics Case Study Information Technology Essay

Business Ethics Case Study Information Technology Essay   Many people believe that the World Wide Web can offer a great deal of anonymity and security from censorship but, they are dead wrong. Governments, the intelligence machinery, legal structures and any other relevant bodies can access information, censor, examine and even trace materials on the web because they have been granted the subpoena powers. These powers allow the aforementioned bodies to comb through computer servers in search of the identity of the person that created a specific file in question. People may see this as the infringement of their rights to privacy, however, threats posed by cyber criminals necessitate this ‘invasion of privacy’. In June 2000, a software program called Publius was created and launched. This program has the capacity to encrypt files into secret codes which are then, in effect, scattered all over the World Wide Web. This encrypting of published files by the software made the use of the subpoena powers granted to government and r elevant bodies almost irrelevant because anyone wanting to trace the origin of a particular file to be censored or, examine the contents of a specific file must have the help of the person that created the files, in order to decode the files’ encryption. Because of its ability to effectively ‘hide’ files on the internet, the software came as a relief to people who felt that their right to privacy was being infringed upon and they welcomed the software as they felt it could enhance their freedom of expression on the web. The software definitely promotes the anonymity of people using web resources but, one question that arises is why would anyone with so-called ‘good intentions’ want to remain anonymous? It is the criminals, terrorists, child pornographers and cyber stalkers who would like to remain anonymous and who, arguably, could benefit the most from this type of web encryption. The creators of the software aimed at helping people in repressive re gimes where freedom of expression was being curtailed but, the software is also being marketed in countries that do not have repressive elements. Is the marketing of this software really ethical? One may argue that the software benefits people whose privacy is being threatened but, looking at the other side of the coin, there are also losers in this debate. To determine whether it is ethical to market this software, it is important to look at the utilitarian ethical theory. What is utilitarianism? Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that holds that the moral worth of any action can only be determined by its usefulness or utility. This utility is judged by the ability of the action to provide happiness and pleasure to the majority. Simply put, the theories hold that the moral worth of an action is determinable by its outcome. Utilitarianism is also refereed to as the greatest happiness principle and it focuses on the ability of an action to provide the greatest good to the greatest n umber of people (Lyons, 1995). Thus, the guiding principle in utilitarianism is the maximization of the good whether it be measured by individuals, the society or the government. Utilitarianism provides a code that determines the worth of public actions and even personal actions. If an action is bound to create significant harm to a bigger percentage of the society, then utilitarianism holds that that action has no moral worth and therefore reductionist policies or intervention measures need to be put in place to mitigate or prevent that harm. If an action is bound to benefit a larger percentage of the society, then that action is said to be ethical and has moral worth from a utilitarian view point. An action may be moral and even in accordance with the law but if that action does not benefit the majority; it is unethical from a utilitarian point of view. On the other hand, an action may be immoral and even against the law but if it serves public good by benefiting the majority, the n that action is ethical (Lyons, 1995).

Health Care Associated Infections and UK Screening Policy Essay

Health Care Associated Infections and UK Screening Policy - Essay Example Bacteria can survive in people without harming them like they can continue to exist on the skin or in the gut. Some HCAIs are caused by bacteria when they actually enter the body in the course of surgical treatments or wounds. Infections are normally cured by antibiotics. However, in certain circumstances, a number of bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics. This leads to complications in treatment of those infections. Antibiotics have the potential to supplement the natural ability to protect the body against bacterial infections. Antibiotics protect the body from bacterial infections by killing bacteria (bactericidal) or by discontinuing the process of their multiplication (bacteriostatic). Bacteria adjust to antibiotics by attaining resistance genes. Bacteria with resistance genes are not affected by antibiotics and continue to survive and also keep multiplying other bacteria that are without resistance genes. The reasons for which bacteria get resistant to antibiotics are as follows. Excessive use of antibiotics increases the probability of bacteria to get resistant to them. Antibiotics were being used to treat disease and illnesses that are not curable by them like flu and cold. In the recent years the recommendation for antibiotics has shown a declining trend by general physicians. Antibiotics courses are often left incomplete. People often leave the medications considering themselves fit, regardless of the doctors’ advised time period and dosages of antibiotics. This careless attitude and irresponsible act leaves bacteria alive and they continue to multiply, become resistant and are transmitted to others. Once people stop using the prescribed antibiotics they use the extra amount for some other infection. This further worsens the situation as different antibiotics cure different infections. Self-medication does not benefit the patient of cost cutting but it costs them higher in the future. In addition the use of random antibiotics from the self

Reading Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Reading Strategies - Essay Example As such, by employing strategies that address each phase in a specific way the reader is able to cultivate a critical skill of self-conscious reading. Also, a reader is better able to understand that a variety of reading techniques are required in order to understand and actively engage with a text. This paper will critically review a selection of reading strategies to demonstrate their benefits to teaching and learning of reading non-fictional texts. Firstly, before-reading will be discussed and reference made to the technique of using an Anticipation Guide. Secondly, during-reading will be presented with an example of the Anolighting Text method. Next, after-reading will be reviewed with reference to Organizational methods. Following, the implications of presented reading strategies for teaching practice will be outlined, and recommendations made for implication within the classroom. Finally, a conclusion shall synthesize the main points of the paper to illustrate the critical benefit of reading strategies for student understanding and conceptualization of non-fictional texts. The before-reading phase is where the reader determines within themselves the purpose of reading the text, and develops a tentative plan as to how to approach the reading endeavor (Beers, 2000). It is suggested that before a reader begins on a text that they take the time to survey the material so as to get an overall 'feel' for the material, before attempting to tackle link the details (Fairbrain, 2000). The first step suggested by Fairbrain is to understand the title of the article or text to be read. This requires careful reading to identify the key words used. For example "definition", "effect", "review", "comparison" or "analysis" (Duffy et al., 1987). A definition will aim to differentiate a concept/process from other members of the class by listing the term's distinguishing characteristics. An effect will seek to identify a cause that directly leads to a consequence (effect) that requires tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects an d discussing the reasonable or known cause(s). A review will present a series of research that discusses the findings and conclusions of previous studies by aggregating data to present the overall scope of the topic to date. Whereas a comparison will seek to detail how X differs and shares similarities with Y. An analytic paper will aim to break down a concept/process into it component parts so as to determine the actual parts that exist, their functions, structure and implications. Analysis involves breaking something down into its components and discovering the parts that make up the whole. However, it is clear that this step will only occur when the reader has a good grasp on the language of critical reading. As such, those readers who are new to a discipline could be expected to have difficulty with the above terms with regard to their academic definition. Further, students of low self-efficacy may find themselves confronted by academic terminology and 'jingoism' to

About the Future Essay Example for Free

About the Future Essay Basic research will show that legalizing this plant can benefit our country whether you smoke it or not. A simple lesson in supply and demand will show that legalizing marijuana would create a significant drop in price due to the elimination of the risk factors of growing and also selling paraphernalia. When the alcohol prohibition ended, the price dropped to a third of its prohibition cost. A study done by the Task Force on Cannabis Regulation to the Center for the Study of Drug Policy-Regulation and Taxation of Cannabis Commerce reveals that legalization could open up a tax revenue stream for governments. Licensing, taxing, and fees could generate up to 7 billion dollars a year not including the taxes on sales of paraphernalia, recreational establishments and new industries according to a study by the Congressional Budget Office with state sales tax being the factor in determining basic revenue In 1972, after reviewing the scientific evidence, the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse concluded that while marijuana was not entirely safe, its dangers had been grossly overstated. Since then, researchers have conducted thousands of studies of humans, animals, and cell cultures. None reveal any findings dramatically different from those described by the National Commission in 1972. In 1995, based on thirty years of scientific research editors of the British medical journal Lancet concluded that the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health. Marijuana is a good medicine for sick patients therefore it should be legalized because most patients say that marijuana helps them feel better. For example, patients use marijuana to fight symptoms caused by their sickness. Doctors and nurses all had patients who had used marijuana to fight nausea and who have reported good results. That is saying that marijuana is an effective way to help fight off bad symptoms. Marijuana is a good medicine to help get rid of bad feelings. Drug education and prevention programs reduced marijuana use during the 1980s. Since then, our commitment has slackened, and marijuana use has been rising. By expanding and intensifying current anti-marijuana messages, we can stop youthful experimentation. There is no evidence that anti-drug messages diminish young peoples interest in drugs. Anti-drug campaigns in the schools and the media may even make drugs more attractive. Marijuana use among youth declined throughout the 1980s, and began increasing in the 1990s. This increase occurred despite young peoples exposure to the most massive anti-marijuana campaign in American history. In a number of other countries, drug education programs are based on a harm reduction model, which seeks to reduce the drug-related harm among those young people who do experiment with drugs. Cigarettes and alcohol are more dangerous than marijuana, which it should be legalized. A lot of research has been done to prove it. Cigarettes are horrible for health and alcohol causes many bad things to happen. This quote shows how marijuana is less harmful then tobacco and alcohol. Experts do believe that moderate marijuana use is relatively less harmful to the user than either tobacco or alcohol. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal and cause more of health problem then marijuana. Moderate smoking of marijuana appears to pose minimal danger to the lungs. Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains a number of irritants and carcinogens. But marijuana users typically smoke much less often than tobacco smokers, and over time, inhale much less smoke. As a result, the risk of serious lung damage should be lower in marijuana smokers. There have been no reports of lung cancer related solely to marijuana, and in a large study presented to the American Thoracic Society in 2006, even heavy users of smoked marijuana were found not to have any increased risk of lung cancer. Unlike heavy tobacco smokers, heavy marijuana smokers exhibit no obstruction of the lungs small airway. That indicates that people will not develop emphysema from smoking marijuana. Marijuana is a remarkably safe and non-toxic drug that can effectively treat about 30 different conditions, he tells Web MD. I predict it will become the aspirin of the 21st century, as more people recognize this.

Review - Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out :: Essays Papers

Review - Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out Who can resist a book with a chapter titled, "Labia Lumps, Chunky Discharge, and Other Things They Never Taught Me in Library School"? Released this past summer, Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out takes no prisoners as its contributors ponder everything from the backtracking of '60s values by ALA's baby boomers to librarian imagery in erotica. This edited volume is a sequel to a 1972 self-published book titled Revolting Librarians. The original is worth checking out for its historical value alone. The editors of the 2003 volume, Katia Roberto and Jessamyn West gathered essays from ten of the original writers from the 1972 book for this version and it is interesting to see what thirty years has done to these radical librarians. The book contains some of what you would expect in a book by revolting librarians. There are the requisite essays on the suppression of civil liberties through the Patriot Act along with essays detailing the problem of cultural representation in the Library of Congress Subject Headings. And of course, there's something both by and about Sandy Berman, a living legend among progressive librarians. But there are also quite a few surprises. Ever curious about the astrological breakdown of librarians? You'll find an extensive article complete with enough statistics to make you break out your notes from IRLS 506. [Leos dominate the field, with Aquarians an astrological minority.] Another notable essay concerns what services librarians can offer to day laborers. From my perspective as a library graduate student, however, my attention was drawn to the section titled "Library School is Revolting." This collection of essays explores questions such as "Are we really learning the practical skills necessary to be librarians, such as public relations and professional writing?" and "Is accreditation really a big deal?" While I felt fortunate that some of the not-so-subtle digs at library schools didn't really apply too heavily to SIRLS, some of it is familiar enough to make you laugh (or cry). I also felt myself drawn to essays that dealt with the everyday work lives of these revolting librarians. I have not been in the library world my whole life. In fact, I applied to library school less than one month after the idea of becoming a librarian occurred to me for the very first time. Any writings that describe the "real world" of librarianship, therefore, pique my interest.

How is Chinas economy growing so crazy, and how it affects the world as well as China Essay

Abstract: In this case study, I will be doing research on how is China’s economy growing so crazy, and how it affects the world as well as China. You will also see cause their economy is growing so fast and what are the challenges they are facing right now and the future. Introduction: The Republic of China’ has overtaken Japan as world’s second largest economy, after United States, Japan had held the 2nd position since 1968. In 2016 or earlier, International Monetary Fund (IMF) claims China’s economy surpassing US, the era of America economy leadership will be over. It’s average grow rate is about 10% for pass 30 years, making them as the world’s fastest growing economy. China has also climbed to the world’s largest exporter and second largest importer in the world. China has considerable economic weaknesses like low income levels, resource depletion and high unemployment, whereas the U.S. has comparable strengths and is poised to remain a global leader: Why is their economy growing so fast? The reason why their economy is growing dramatically, we will have to start from 1978, when the government executed a bunch of strategies for economy reform. These programs are including, encouraged rural enterprises, private businesses, liberalized foreign trade, investment, less control over prices, invested in industrial production, educate their workforce. Their economy had an annual growth of 6% initially, and peak of 17 percent, plus every capital income was quadruple in last 15 years. In 1997, some experts had already predicted that the China economy would sure be bigger than the US in less than 20 years. Here is IMF research team conclusion: New factories, manufacturing machines, communication systems and the amount of Chinese workers, increase in productivity were the factors that putting them as one of the strongest economy country. image02.jpg Automobile Industry China was rank third in the automobile industry by 2006 after Japan and US. During the reform, their automotive productions were less than 14000 yearly. Guess what? By 2002 their production jumped all the way up to 3.25 million! And 2009, it reached to 14 million. In 2009, China passed the States to become number 1 car maker worldwide. Domestic sales stayed with production, in 2006 8 million of cars were sold, which includes 5 million passenger cars and 2 million of commercial cars which shows how low price they sold their cars. The vehicles industry has been so successful in China so they begin to target exporting body parts worldwide in 1999.China has made a big step planning to get involved into image03.pngautomobile export business in 2005. In 2004, 15 major oversees automotive manufacturer plants in China. By 2003 China exports cost of 5 billion with unit of 80000 vehicles and parts, 174000 units in 2005 and 350000 units in 2006. Their goal is to reach at least of 80 billion US dollars by 2010. image04.png Natural Resources Coal: Coal is one of the most important natural resources for China, the most conserves mineral resources are considered to be coal and iron ore. Although they can be found in nearly most of the provinces, almost all of them are located in the northern part of China. A lot of good quality coals like bituminous coal are mostly reserved in China, Anthracite coals also present in some areas but its quite rare overall, that’s mostly found in Rocky Mountain. Coal helps the bulk of China’s energy consumption (75% in 2006), which led them again the world’s largest producer/consumer of coal. China usage of coal will be increasing dramatically as their economy continues to rise in absolute terms. If China keep increasingly rely on coal as a power consumption, it is going to put them becoming largest acid- rain causing sulfur dioxide and greenhouse gases. Oil and gas: China oil resources are also majorly located in north area provinces; types of oil include Oil shale and light oil. They uses up most of their oil output but doesn’t export any crude oil products, they are starting to develop oil deposits in China Seas and other oceans. Amount of natural gas reserves is unknown because they have only done a little exploration job on natural gases, Szechuan province accounts the most known natural gas reserves and production. Hydroelectric resources China has a great hydroelectric production due to their great river network and the mountainous terrain. A lot of the hydroelectric stations are located in the southwest of the country where low amount of coals are found but demand for energy is high. The potential of energy in north is small but the first hydroelectricity power station was built there by the Japanese during the occupation. In the winter, they have lower amount of rainfall, therefore, the stations are usually run less than the normal capacity, on other hand, flood always occur in the summer. What are the challenges that China is facing? High Inflation: Inflation is definitely one of the most challenges globally, but it is definitely the worse disaster for China that other countries. For clothes, the costs jumped 1.5% in April, it is the biggest up since 1997. For non-food, it didn’t have that much of different but it was still about 3%. For food, the price has inflated 11% on April

Witness: Essay

Persuasive Essay – Witness Our separate individual identities are shaped by our interpretations of our society’s ideals and values. As individuals, we reflect in our personalities and actions by what we hear and see in the media, and through what we have observed personally in the world in general. Having an experience of our society’s rules, we are able to make informed decisions and choices by the ethical and moral concerns that we are bound by. Despite this, when moving from one country to another, we may be confronted by a different system with distinct and perhaps seemingly unusual sets of principles. If this is indeed the case, this would be reflected by the different people in the country as a whole compared to our own. In order for unity and harmony to flourish between these two countries, establishing common ground is essential, or if this is not possible than an acknowledgement of some of their ideals and values and the abandonment of some of ours is necessary. However, in doing this we are losing our original identity. In the film, â€Å"Witness,† directed by Peter Weir, an Amish widow, Rachel Lapp, and her young son, Samuel, depart for Baltimore to visit their relative. They take a break in a railway station in Philadelphia and Samuel, in his need to explore and understand the new world he is surrounded by, begins wondering alone in his need to belong. In the men’s toilets, he is a witness to a murder and is traumatized by it. Evidently, it changes him and his views of the world are forever altered. When he is confronted by another Amish named Eli, he is asked a series of questions leading up to as to whether he would ever kill a man. Samuel replies to this question by stating, â€Å"†¦ nly the bad men†. Clearly, this emphasizes the change seen in Samuel through his interactions with others outside the Amish community. This proves that in general, the need to belong and the people we are influenced and surrounded by can have some significant impacts affecting who we become. Similarly, the need to blend in and belong can change the personality of an individual for the better. This is particularly seen in Witness when a cop named Jo hn Book is forced to flee his home when faced with danger. He breaks his ties and lives with the Amish in hideout to protect himself as well as Samuel, a key witness to a murder, along with his mother. During the period that John spends with the Amish he begins to recognize their way of life and grows an appreciation for it. This is indicated when he starts to dress like the Amish. When he does this for the first time, he asks Rachel whether he looks Amish. Rachel replies by commenting, â€Å"You look plain. † Further prove of his acceptance, is when John takes up carpentry and helps with the barn raising. Through these actions, later he is finally accepted by Eli; this is supported when he warns John when three dangerous looking men come to see him. John’s visit to the Amish community changes him. Some may argue that it is not the group we belong to that defines who we are. In fact, they may try to reassure us that it is only our individual actions that instigate who we become. This may be particularly true in matters where the need for someone to belong to is denied by their biological family. However, it cannot be taken as a rule in general and is rarely the case. As put forward by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, our search for a group to interact and be part of is essential before feelings of self-esteem and self-actualization can be met. For our needs to be met we would not try to establish relationships with those who we have nothing in common or loathe. We are more likely to form bonds to those who resemble us most and share common interests with. It is only when these ties are broken that we feel more susceptible of any danger looming our way and immediately we form new relations with a more different group. To fit in, this may require the adjustments of our own personality since every group has their own special and unique identity to begin with. In the case of both Samuel and John a change was observed in their identities as they migrated from one area to another to suit the needs of their particular environments. This change would have enabled them to more likely survive if they were to permanently live in such places. The clashing of ideals and values held by the Amish were not exactly intertwined with the principles of city living. For this reason a change was observed in the behaviours of both Samuel and John. However, one might ask, what would be the case for the exceptions? What about for the people who take no recognition in their own rules and despite everything try to break every single one of them? Would they fit snugly well in place with a completely different set of ideals and values? In this society would they be seen as the respective citizens? Who knows? Clearly it is hard to imagine such a place so different to our own but one thing is certain, a society’s way of living is what defines every individual who is part of it.

The Debate on Existence of the Human Soul According to Rene Descartes and Thomas Hobbes

The Debate on Existence of the Human Soul According to Rene Descartes and Thomas Hobbes Various philosophers have held diverse opinions about the existence of the human soul. Rene Descartes and Thomas Hobbes are among the philosophers who have contributed to this debate. In Principles, part 1, Descartes was of the opinion that there exists a human soul that is actually different from the body. To the philosopher, the soul and the body are two distinct substances, and one substance can be clearly and characteristically understood without considering the input of the other.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Debate on Existence of the Human Soul According to Rene Descartes and Thomas Hobbes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The philosopher argued that God had the capacity to create a mental matter to exist all by itself without associating it to any other created matter (Skirry para. 42). In other words, the philosopher was arguing for the likelihood of human souls existing without physical bodie s. This philosophical thought can be used to explain frightening experiences reported in some communities of souls of dead people returning to haunt the living (Fowler 117). According to Descartes, the soul, also called the mind, is the thinking, non-extended matter while the body is the extended, physical and non-thinking substance. The philosopher clearly underlined the existence of the human soul in his arguments on diverse primitive notions. Descartes argued that the notion of the soul consist of all the perceptions of intelligence and the leanings of the human will, and is totally different from the notion of the body which concerns itself with issues of shape and motion (Skirry para 48; Fowler 169). Ultimately, the two are interrelated by the fact that the soul’s power moves the body while the body’s clout is known to cause sensations and obsessions in the soul. In this perspective, the body is made truly human only by the existence of the soul. To Descartes, the soul is the principle of life and is united to the whole body. Accordingly, the body can only be called a corpse without the existence of the soul. The body must act in unison with the soul for it to be referred as a living human body. His arguments are mostly used by contemporary Christians and Muslims to explain death as a process where the body and soul part ways. Thomas Hobbes categorically refuted the claim of an immaterial soul existing without considering the body. He was also opposed to the notion of free will. According to Hobbes, the key mistake â€Å"lies in moving from the observations that we can talk about ‘A’ and ‘B’, and can think about A without thinking about B, to the conclusion that A can exist without B existing† (Duncan para. 34). He was harshly critical of Aristotelians who argued that the human soul can exist by itself when separated from the human body. Hobbes argued that the human soul as described in the scripture signifie s a living creature or a physical body and soul jointly (Hobbes Gaskin XXVII).Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this perspective, the philosopher affirms an analogous minimalism state about the existence of human souls. To him, if the soul is to be described at all, it can only be depicted as a bodily or corporeal spirit principally because only what is physical can move. In equal measure, the philosopher wondered if it was practically possible to disconnect the critical processes of our corporeal composition from the voluntary choices that ensue from the same faculties (Hobbes, Tuck Silverthorne 59). For example, is it possible to distinguish between the bodily desire of having sex and the mental faculties that triggers the desires? Hobbes believed this to be impractical. Being a materialist, Hobbes gave a purely mechanical explanation to the issue of soul in his concept of human existence. To him, there is no evidence whatsoever about the existence of an innate soul with some innate ideas (Hobbes, Tuck Silverthorne 179). In his mechanical explanation, the philosopher wondered how the non-material, spiritual soul could have the capacity to influence the corporeal organ of the brain or the body itself. According to Hobbes, the world revolved around two metaphysical components – matter and motion. He argued that life was a by product of the two components, and the human soul is only a combination of very subtle atoms. To Hobbes, the thinking process itself was composed of matter and motion. Hobbes was called a fascist for his mechanical explanations Duncan, S. Thomas Hobbes. In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hobbes/ Fowler, C.F. Descartes on the Human Soul: Philosophy and the Demands of Christian Doctrine. Springer. 1999. ISBN: 9780792354734 Hobbes, T., Gaskin, J.C.A. Leviat han. Oxford University Press. 1998. ISBN: 9780192834980Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Debate on Existence of the Human Soul According to Rene Descartes and Thomas Hobbes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hobbes, T., Tuck, R., Silverthorne, M. On the Citizen. Cambridge University Press. 1998. ISBN: 9780521437806 Skirry, J. Descartes: An Overview. In The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from https://www.iep.utm.edu/descarte/

Job's Friends, and their Contribution to the Message of Job Research Paper

Job's Friends, and their Contribution to the Message of Job - Research Paper Example Resultantly, Satan is allowed to destroy Job’s wealth, family and health. Stripped of all his wealth, children and smitten with a malignant boil that covers him head-to-toe, three of Job’s friends Bildad, Zophar and Eliphaz come to comfort him. Their company opens a lengthy dialogue that covers four-fifths of the book. The dialogue among these four friends is interrupted by Elihu and ultimately, God. As shall be seen forthwith, it is not in doubt that the friends play critical roles in the Book of Job- that they fail miserably to comfort Job, notwithstanding.1 In the discourse, Job’s friends attributed Job’s great suffering to sin. Among many other instances, this can be seen in Job 4:1 and 7 where Eliphaz tells Job that those who are innocent cannot suffer harm. Again, in Job 5:17-18, Eliphaz exhorts Job to appreciate the chastising discipline of God. The import of Eliphaz’s reasoning is that misfortunes overtake the evildoers while good things hap pen to the upright in conduct. Therefore, the conclusion that Eliphaz is making is that the misfortunes that have befallen Job are as a result of Job’s sins.2 The flipside of the three friends’ rationale is that so-called bad people cannot get good things. This line of thought is seen in the same book’s references such as 5:5, 15:29 and 18:9. ... To tell such a child that because of his sins, he will have to face life in his parents’ absence and bear the overwhelming sense of loss would be the height of unfathomable insensitivity and shallowness. This makes Eliphaz’s idea on suffering very hard to provide comfort for the suffering innocent. This mentality is the same reason why Job’s comforters inadvertently became his tormentors. Because of the case above, Job’s friends open up a door for the rethinking of the theology that suffering is solely caused by sin. In Christian theology, although Adam’s sin opened the world to suffering, yet, not all suffering that an individual may experience are necessitated by that individual’s sin. On the contrary, instead of lumping suffering as a result of sin, theologians such as Boadt and Ellis have become poignant that suffering is a mystery. In an attempt to reconstruct the meaning of suffering, Boadt and Ellis give insightful standpoints which se parate followers of Christ and those outside Christ. Like Adam who initiated a new system which opened up a Pandora Box of suffering, Christ also initiated a new system through His sacrificial suffering during His Passion. Thus, suffering unites the people of God with Christ.3 Job’s friends also open a door for the discussion on God. Particularly, the false charges that Eliphaz, Zophar and Bildad bring to Job’s charge only foster a siege mentality on the side of Job. Because of this, in his attempt to defend himself, Job insinuates that God is unfairly treating him. Given that Job’s three friends have very limited insight on the nature of God and the developments materializing in Job’s life, it behooved God to stand up for Himself (from Job 38-42:6). God’s

Safe Sex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Safe Sex - Essay Example It is very important to indulge in safe sex and one common way by which people can indulge in safe sex is by the use of condoms. The best way that most people omit is the avoidance of anal and oral sex. One must not forget that, in fact anal sex is considered to be illegal. This doesn't mean vaginal sex is free from diseases. However a condom provides safety to a great extent and to be extra protected, two condoms at one time would surely keep one tension free. Another way is by the use of contraceptive pills and in cases of emergency, when one has forgotten to take precaution, an emergency pill can be taken. However, contraceptives and emergency pills can only protect against pregnancy and not against STD's. STD's can be transmitted by any of the three ways, oral, anal or vaginal sex. Hence it is extremely vital to use a condom. Most of the Sexually transmitted diseases are non curable and some of them can have dangerous consequences on health. The worst part about having being affected by and kind of STD is that the person is not even aware that he is suffering or has been infected with a disease. This is because sexually transmitted diseases barely have any symptoms that show. Another problem with unsafe sex is that many women use contraceptive pills or birth control pills in the fear of getting pregnant.