Love or respect a person or thing greatly Essay Example Essay Example

Love or respect a person or thing greatly Essay Example Paper Love or respect a person or thing greatly Essay Introduction This is what The New Oxford Dictionary says about worship. This being the definition and meaning that anybody can give praise, respect, or love to anything for instance my sister worships chocolate she shows this by eating gallons and gallons of it! I worship the Leicester Tigers Rugby Football club and show it by losing my voice from shouting at matches! However worship can involve kneeling, praying, and attending services. Worship can take place anywhere, home’s churches, sport stadiums, mosques and others.For a Muslim worship to them means adoration and giving thanks, praise and respect through prayer and that this is the way to communicate with God.In mosques it is a tradition to have a number of features and furnishings. The most noticeable feature of a mosque is:The DomeThis is usually over the roof of the mosque and gives you the feeling of calm when you enter. It reminds them of their origins in the Middle East, as they are common there. It amplifies the voice of the I mam during the Friday prayer when Muslims go to the mosque to pray.The MinaretThe minaret is a tall tower from which a muezzin calls the religious to prayer. Throughout the day the muezzin will go and call from the minaret five times. This reminds people to pray as this is one of the five pillars of Islam known as salah and shows a Muslim submission to Allah.The five pointed star and moonThe five-pointed star reminds Muslims of the five pillars, Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Saum, and Hajj. The moon represents God, the creator this being one of the 99 names of Allah and of the lunar calendar.Wudu facilitiesMen and women have separate facilities wudu is for washing in, as on entering a mosque you should be presented as clean an smart. Wudu is so that the worshipper and the house of God is keptphysically and spiritually clean. At all mosques there is running water and taps for this ritual to be taken place.Before entering the Mosque, a Muslim performs a ritual washing in the courtyardPrayer hallThis is the most important part of the mosque. It is carpeted for prayer, as there are no seats and everyone stands facing Mecca, the Holy City of Islam. In the prayer hall all are equal in the eyes of God. The empty space resembles Gods vastness. There is nothing in the prayer hall that will put people off from thinking and talking to Allah.Qibla wallThis wall facing Mecca tells Muslims which Direction Mecca is. All Muslims worldwide are united in facing Mecca at times of Prayer which is where Muhammad (pbuh) the messenger and prophet of Allah. Mecca is also the Destination of Hajj one of the five pillars that all Muslims have to make the Journey to at least once in their life.The Kaaba in MeccaMihrabThis is in the Qibla wall and indicates the exact direction Of Mecca and the Kaaba. The prayer leader (Imam) stands in front of this and leads the prayer.The Mihrab (prayer niche) and the Minbar (pulpit) in the Amr Mosque in Cairo are focal points of public worship.MinbarThis is t he pulpit where the Imam stands and gives the sermons and reads from the Qu’ran to the congregation. This represents when Muhammad made himself a platform to stand upon and reminds Muslims of this and carries on the tradition.Woman’s galleryWomen do not have to attend mosque due to family responsibilities but, however if they do chose to go there is a separate room or balcony for them to worship in so as, not to distract men and vice versa so their minds are not disturbed by sexual thoughts. It is also done so that modesty is kept, and that neither sex is displaced from prayer. It is respectful to the women to allow them to pray separately.CalligraphyCalligraphy simply translates into ‘beautiful writing’ and is used as decoration in the mosque with words of the Qu’ran written on the walls. The Islamic art of calligraphy is a way of reminding Muslims of the Qu’ran and Hadith. It is written all over the mosque to remind Muslims that Allah is ev erywhere. Calligraphy is the only decoration in the place of worship as images of humans and animals may lead to idol worship.The Qu’ranThis is the Muslim Holy Book. Muslims believe that this is the word of God, Allah, the same as how the prophet Muhammad received it. The Holy book is a way of life and a guide to living. The Qu’ran is the highest book in the mosque as it is seen as the most important. Whilst being read you must not talk or make a noise as this is a sign of respect. It should be handled with much care and should be protected greatly.The Six ClocksThese are important as they represent the times of prayer; five of the clocks show the times of the daily prayers, or Salah. The sixth one shows the time of the Friday prayer. This Friday prayer unites Muslims and is a time of support, encouragement and a sense of togetherness. These clocks show the importance of prayer to Muslims.B.When Muslims say they worship something they usually mean they give praise, tha nks, and giving respect through prayer to God. Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims pray to praise and glorify God, as Muslims owe everything to him. To Muslims prayer is sacred, as it is a time for worshippers to come into contact with God and be brought closer to him.On entering the mosque Muslims carry out a ritual called Wudu before worship and prayer and worship which can be seen as an act of worship this symbolises the ritual cleansing with water to purify the body and soul. Wudu needs running water and taps so there are wash facilities at mosques.These are the actions made by a Muslim as told to by the Qu’ranWash your hands to the wrists three times, rinse your mouth three times with your right hand; wash nostrils three times, wash your entire face three times, and wipe head once with fingers, wash ears by putting two fingers into the ears and wiping back with thumbs. Then with the backs of both hands wipe the neck once and finally wash the right foot th en the left up to the ankle three times.Washing each part means a different thing. While washing the hands and mouth they pray to God that they could be forgiven from sin they may have committed using there hands or mouths. When washing the nostrils the person needs to pray that they are pure enough to be able to smell the sweet scent of heaven. The washing of the face is to be prayed by asking God to remove the darkness of sin. The person must pray to God to give them the Book of Deeds whilst washing the right arm, and whilst washing the left arm the person must pray that God will not place it there. When wiping the head the person must ask to cover his with Gods mercy. When washing the ears the person should pray to God that they should not hear bad things. As wiping the back of the neck the person should ask that God does not throw ‘The Throne of His Curse’ on them. When washing the feet the Muslim must pray that they are guided in a straight line and not led astray. For this reason, Wudu is an act of worship in itself. All actions are repeated three times to maintain a tradition started by Muhammad.Salah is the prayer that is compulsory five times a day. It is a religious obligation performed by Muslims. Yet it doesn’t always have to take place in a mosque. However it is compulsory on a Friday, as said by the Qu’ran. Prayer five times a day is one of the five pillars.The daily prayer times relate to the place of the sun in the sky,Morning Prayer Between dawn and sunriseMidday Prayer Between midday and halfway between midday and sunsetAfternoon Prayer Between midday prayer and sunsetEvening Prayer After sunset until darkness covers the twilightNight Prayer Between evening prayer and dawnEach prayer only needs to take a couple of minutes. Muhammad used to do this and since then Muslims have fixed the times of prayer on this. During these prayers everything else is set aside and Muslims concentrate on Allah, praising, thanking for hi s forgiveness and alike. Prayer helps Muslims get closer to God, bring peace and tranquillity and reminds people of Allah.Du’a is a private and/or personal prayer not including Salah. This is performed kneeling with your hands facing up. These prayers maybe for thanks, a plea for help and more but are generally are personal. These prayers are for any length an of anytime. Many Muslims keep a part of the house clean so they are able to worship there.Many Muslims prayer before there sleep and pray as soon as they wake up as to be their first and last thought of each day. The best known prayer for Muslims is for personal strength and faith.Every Friday all adult male Muslims are expected to go to leave any other activities that are not associated with the mosque. Muslim men converge together for the Midday Prayer. In Muslim dominated Countries shops an businesses close during the Midday Hour on Fridays this is where the Imam will read from the Qu’ran where all Muslims fac e the Qibla wall and after all Muslims pray separately before returning to work. Meeting at the mosque is indicating brotherhood. Everyone stands close together showing everyone is equal at the time of prayer. It gives Muslim reassurance to face the next week knowing that there are others like them, who are following the same path. The Qu’ran dictates that Friday prayers are held so Muslims are obeying Gods word.Worship is a pillar from the five of Islam and to discontinue will destroy the pillar.Muslims pray to bring themselves closer to God, to tell him things that you don’t want others to know and to concentrate on just Allah. Praying brings peace and tranquillity, courage, hope and confidence. Prayer marks Muslims who have faith. Praying, for Muslims, is the most sacred part of life as it is when they come into contact with God.In the Qu’ran it is said to pray as it is what Muhammad (pbuh) did. Prayer demands performance and regulation, as it can often be in convenient to perform.C.Religious Buildings come between Muslims and God.Muslims believe that a place of worship should be free of statues and figures as it is possible that when the place of worship is over ornate, it can sometimes lead you away and distract you from God as you may be looking at the pictures and idols and not worshipping for the right reasons. Only calligraphy is allowed, as that will focus The Muslims attention on Allah’s teachings. Yet it could be argued that the building itself can distract you and to have pictures and figures in the place of worship will help keep you on track and your mind focused on what you are doing and the reasons for it and that if your mind does drift that seeing all the pictures will bring you back to the original thoughts.On the Fridays it is compulsory for the male to attend mosque and the Friday prayer as the Qu’ran says it. This gives the Muslims a chance to meet and worship together and share experiences and get all t he help and benefit from it they need. However, it could be said that that money spent on buildings and maintenance on the mosque could be used in a better way like towards the poor or hungry in less developed countries instead of on the mosque, Allah would have preferred it this way.The mosque isn’t actually needed some may say purely because Allah is everywhere so why waste money on buildings and features that are not strictly needed? Muslims however say that a mosque provides a place of focus on God and anything performed there does have a reason like for example Wudu, Arabic lessons Qu’ran teachings for children it is also a place for Muslims to meet, talk and to know one another.A mosque is a place from distraction in the outside world, and also keeps the mind focused on the teachings of Allah. Yet wouldn’t it show more commitment if a Muslim did worship at home? Love or respect a person or thing greatly Essay Thank you for reading this Sample!

Taiwan Facts Essays - Republic Of China, Republics, Taiwan

Taiwan Facts Essays - Republic Of China, Republics, Taiwan Taiwan Facts title = Taiwan Facts Taiwan, officially Republic of China, island (in 1994 est. population was 21,299,000), 13,885 sq mi, in the Pacific Ocean, separated from the mainland of S China by the 100-mi-wide (161-km) Taiwan Strait. The capital is TAIPEI. Other major cities include KAOHSIUNG, Tainan, Taichong, and Chilung. About one quarter of Taiwan's land area is cultivated; rice, wheat, sugarcane, and sweet potatoes are the most important crops. In the 1970s industry replaced agriculture as the major export earner. Light industry is the major manufacturing sector, with electronics far ahead. Other manufactures include electrical equipment, chemicals, motor vehicles, and machinery, and service industries are beginning to be more important. The main natural resources are woods and other forest products. Religions include Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Taiwan was first settled by the Chinese in the 7th century, the island was reached by the Portuguese in 1590. It was held by the Dutch in the 1640s, and by China's Ch'ing dynasty from 1683. Occupied by Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War , Taiwan remained in Japanese hands until 1945. When CHIANG KAI-SHEK and the Nationalists, or Kuomintang, were kicked from mainland CHINA by the Communists, they shifted the seat of their government to Taiwan. The U.S. long supported and aided the Nationalists, but in the 1970s Taiwan's international political position had eroded. In 1971 it lost China's seat in the UN to the People's Republic of China, and in 1979 the U.S. broke diplomatic relations with the Nationalists to establish relations with the People's Republic of China, although keeping good economic and cultural ties. Martial law, in effect since 1949, was lifted in 1987, and many jailed political dissidents were freed. Pres. Chiang Ching-kuo died in 1988 and was succeeded by LEE TENG -HUI, a Taiwan native. In 1991 Lee ended emergency rule, which had permitted the domination of the National Assembly by aging mainland delegates elected in 1947. In elections in 1992 the Kuomintang retained control of the assembly, but the major opposition party won a third of the seats.

Racism of African Americans in the US Research Paper

Racism of African Americans in the US - Research Paper Example The racist actions continue to haunt us and therefore we must struggle and address this issue with sincerity and consciousness so that we will stop to hurt each other as it has happened in the past. We must design the solution to the racism problem and stick to it so that eventually the society will be free with prevailing equality of all people regardless of their skin color or origin. This paper gives an analytical discussion of the racism of the African Americans in the United States. The origins of racism are described and the modern racist actions in the US explained with an inclusion of the role of the media in racism and the fights against racism. The origins of racism Racism in America traces back to 1400s during the era of colonization. The Europeans colonized the Americas and Africans during this period. The colonizers believed that they were superior and these ideas were used to as a justification of the forceful taking of land, discrimination, and exploitation of other ra ces. The European wanted labor force for their plantations and industries within their colonies in the Americas. Because of this, the European slave traders captured African slaves from parts of west and central Africa during the Trans-Atlantic trade. These slaves were then shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas where they provided forced labor in harsh conditions. The slavery and discrimination during this period led to the death of very many African slaves. This illustrated how the adventures of the European with an exploration spirit led to the discovery of new lands in America and Africa, which eventually led to slavery. There were many cases of cruelty against the American natives during the colonial period. The European colonizers of America wanted to obtain the northern territories of America. Because of the need to conquer America, there were many massacres, wars and displacement of Native Americans. The Trail of tears for example led to the deaths of very many Na tive Americans most of whom were restricted their rights to food with forceful displacements and imposition of various treaties by the colonial master. The early racism against the black community was experienced soon after the European colonialists settled in Virginia. The court rulings in the 18th century were supportive of the slavery of the black people from Africa and sometimes the native communities of America. Racism and discrimination in the United States was institutionalized in the 19th century. Discriminatory and racist laws disenfranchised the people of African descent especially in the southern part of America. Even if they were allowed poll taxes and to vote, shocking acts of terror against the African American was done by the KKK group. This period recorded the worst cases of racism against the black Americans. This is the time when there was rampant segregation, demonstration of the white supremacy and racial discrimination against people of the African descent. More over, there were many race riots during this period and violence against the black community1. After the Second World War, there was the Great Migration of African Americans from the southern states of America to the north. These people moved in search for employment in the industrial centers within the northern part of America. Cities such as New York, Boston, and Chicago thus received many black American immigrants from the south. Because of this migration,

Sustainable Living and Ecological Lifestyle within Traditional and Thesis

Sustainable Living and Ecological Lifestyle within Traditional and Modern Courtyard Design - Thesis Example The main thesis problem that this study has tackled dealt with the sustainability and the standard of ecological lifestyle associated with modern and traditional courtyard designs. This study’s thrust is oriented toward the comparison of both courtyard designs in order to obtain sufficient information that will answer the thesis problem. Sustainability and the standards for ecological lifestyle are chosen as the study’s topic due to the relevance and the increasing call for a â€Å"greener lifestyle† and environment-friendly architectural establishments. The primary methodology applied for this research is through a comparative analysis of the modern and traditional courtyard designs. A thorough analysis of related literature such as blueprint documents, articles, books and theoretical papers were the primary materials used in order to deduce a definite answer for the problem. Case studies were also presented as reliable sources for information about the respecti ve courtyard designs. By analysing deep into the architectural theories and studying the practical application used by several architects, results were analysed and definitive results showed that traditional courtyard designs exhibit sustainability and ecological living than that of modern courtyard designs. Stunning findings also show that modern courtyards are even deprived of their primary orientation and use due to the surrounding high-rise establishments. Also, the associati

Executive Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 16

Executive Summary - Essay Example The graph below shows the increase in illegal apartments in New York between 1983 and 2013. Despite the opposing views on illegal housing units and its impact to New York, reforms are key to ensure that people access affordable safe habitable housing, as opposed to expensive and luxurious housing. The DOB issues annually more than 4,440 violations for illegal conversion of basements, cellars, and attics: - which are not fit for human occupancy due to health and safety risks. These violations can end only by adjusting the The New York City Building or Housing Maintenance code, Article 5- Occupancy of cellars and basements. Amending the policy will guarantee that the priority of the city council to ensure safety for its tenants is achieved. City officials mandated to provide proper and affordable housing are required to consider this proposal to make sure that no city dweller dies or falls sick due to the pathetic unsafe conditions of the illegal housing units. Suggested opinions to warrant safe housing units include introducing policies on; Asthma free housing, issuing of rental permits, yearly remodeling to maintain policies, and provision of adequate finances for building safe units. These measures ensure equality and safety for all the tenants who are inconvenienced by the existing policy regulations. Stakeholders’ decision to permit these changes will effect change and eradicate conflict with authorities Political and financial constraints may delay the achievement of the above suggestions. However, it is necessary to consider these options to increase the sustainability of the reforms. Political goodwill towards this policy will guarantee fairness and equity for the tenants and give room for other amendments of this nature to ensure a comfortable nation. With this effect, institutions have the responsibility to address

Rethinking The Deterrence Theory Criminology Essay

Rethinking The Deterrence Theory Criminology Essay With much popular appeal, the concept of deterrence has been widely accepted and understood, by judges and parliamentarians alike, to be a central tenet in the principles of sentencing and the wider penal system in England and Wales. Significantly, section 142(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 expressly enjoins sentencers to take account of deterrence as one of the purposes of sentencing when determining what and how severe the appropriate punishment in a given case should be. In practice, as deterrence is widely perceived by judges, not only in the English and Welsh jurisdiction, but also elsewhere in the common law world, as a primary means through which to afford public protection, in many cases involving adult offenders, precedence has tended to be given to deterrence over other considerations in the interest of the community.  [3]  Nevertheless, tensions are palpable between deterrence and other sentencing aims.  [4]  The question of, for instance, whether punishment s hould be an end in and of itself, or whether it ought to be understood as a facilitator of the ideal of offender rehabilitation, remains in the front line of critical discourses into sentencing in the contemporary era.  [5]  Thus, it has become increasingly necessary to deliberate upon the worthiness and value of deterrence not only in the context of sentencing but also to the purpose of the entire penal system. Within this context, the following essay will proceed by first providing an overview of the paradigm of deterrence within the broader framework of the contemporary penal system. It will then attempt to identify and question the moral and empirical underpinnings thereof. Further, it argues that from a criminological or sociological perspective, efforts to achieve deterrent effect, in particular where the individual offender is concerned, are in large part counterproductive. Finally, this essay observes, whilst arguing that deterrence as a penological theory is morally and empirically unsound, that it would be impractical to assume that deterrence will be abandoned altogether in English sentencing law in the near future. Rather, the more prudent and reasonable way to approach the matter would be to continue to observe the constantly evolving concept in an era of significant social, cultural, political and economic change. In conjunction with other penal theories, elements of deterrence will appear to remain a highly influential sentencing tool. Exposition of the deterrence theory Deterrence is one of the oldest paradigmss in the history of criminological and jurisprudential inquiry. As early as in the early eighteen century, the primary purpose of state imposed punishments was said to be the reduction of crime, by means of terrifying [potential offenders] into obeying the law.  [6]  The punishment of prison and the deterrence it brings about, by the relinquishment of the fundamental freedoms, were onceived of as the best means of reducing offending in modern society  [7]  . Johnson defines the verb deter as to discourage by terror, to fright from anything.  [8]  Deterrence can also be defined as including two separate aspects, depending on the class of people being directed at, namely individual (specific) deterrence and general deterrence.  [9]  Translated into judicial language in the specific context of sentencing, a Hong Kong judge, HHJ Ching Y Wong SC, drew the distinction thus: A deterrent sentence may be in personam [that is, individual] or in rem [that is, general]. Normally if the circumstances that pertain to an offender are such that the court is of the opinion that it must be brought home to him that he is not to commit such offences again, for example, a repeat offender, a deterrent sentence  in personam  is proper. When an offence is, inter alia, so prevalent or is so serious within its class, and the court is of the opinion that those of like minds are to be strongly discouraged from committing the same or similar offences, then a deterrent sentence  in rem  is called for.  [10]   In simpler terms, specific deterrence is directed at the offender in question and is expected to prevent her from reoffending by the imposition of punishment; general deterrence, on the other hand, focuses on the public at large, and prevents potential offenders from engaging in criminal conduct in the first place.  [11]   With its roots in the classical and utilitarian thinking of crime,  [12]  the deterrence theory is often compared to a cost-benefit analysis performed in the economic field.  [13]  Underlying the theory is the assumption that all offenders, and potential offenders, are by nature rational, the hallmark of their actions being the pursuit of maximum pleasure and minimum pain. It follows that, as offenders choose, rationally and voluntarily, to commit crime, they respond readily to the perceived costs and benefits of their actions.  [14]  As Lundman explains, If their calculations suggest that perceived benefits will exceed possible costs, then rational [offenders] commit [crimes] in anticipation of enjoying rewards. However, if these calculations lead [criminals] to conclude that costs will exceed rewards, then the rational course of action is to seek gratification in ways other than [criminality].  [15]   In other words, if the calculation of the consequences of offending leads to the conclusion that there is more to be lost than there is to be gained from committing crime, the potential offenders should be naturally deterred.  [16]  Thus, within the utilitarian framework criminals are invariably errant, though still rational, individuals whose perversity or anti-social self interests serve to offer some perceived benefits of offending.  [17]  It is in this light that Bentham passionately argues for the usefulness of deterrence, on the ground that the threat of punishment is the force employed to restrain [possible offenders] from commission of crime, from which the pain of punishment might result.  [18]   Underlain by these ideas of rationality and self-interest, for deterrence theorists there are certain qualities necessary to an effective deterrent punishment. As Newburn elaborates on these qualities first enunciated by Beccaria  [19]  , punishment must come with certainty and be enforced consistently, and that it does should be acknowledged by the offender; there must be celerity in the law, with punishment coming as promptly as possible, in order that both the public and the offender himself could see the relationship between the punishment and the offence as inevitably causal; and finally, it must be properly proportionate to the crime, namely one that is relatively mild and moderate and inflicts pain just exceeding the advantage derivable from the crime.  [20]   Moral problems with the deterrence theory An emphasis on deterrence often leads to a harsher sentence than the offender would otherwise be deemed to deserve.  [21]  The Court of Appeal has held, relying on the Strasbourg jurisprudence, that the legitimate object of deterrence can, in appropriate cases, amply justify such sentences.  [22]  It seems apparent that in such cases the sentencing aim of deterrence can be paramount. Whilst weight would, in theory, have been accorded to the interests of the offender, where the alleged crimes are considered as threatening the wider community, the utilitarian theory of deterrence demands that individual rights and proportionality, in its narrow sense, subsume under the societal interests.  [23]   Young is critical of this judicial use of deterrence as a sentence enhancing factor.  [24]  He argues, not unconvincingly, that the theory is arguably inconsistent with fundamental notions of justice.  [25]  Indeed, why a persons liberty need be sacrificed for the educational impact it will have on others is a legitimate question to pose. This concern has been shared by del Vecchio, who emphatically stated that the human person always bears in himself something sacred, and it is therefore not permissible to treat him merely as a means towards an end outside of himself.  [26]   A more fundamental moral weakness of the notion of deterrence pertains to the coherency of its ideological premise rationality. As in the analysis in Part I, deterrence has traditionally built upon the premise that individuals will desist from reoffending because of the fear inherent in the discipline and punishment meted out by the state. In a moral sense, then, a semblance of common reasoning is central to the application of the utilitarian understanding of deterrence. Yet, as the famous philosopher John Rawls persuasively argues, there is no reason to assume that our sense of justice can be adequately characterised by familiar common sense precepts or derived from the more obvious learning principles.  [27]   It seems indeed somewhat simplistic to assume offenders as rational beings before or in the course of committing a crime. As the Home Office rightly conceded in 1990, offenders very seldom weigh up the possibilities prior to their conduct and typically do not act only after on rational premeditation.  [28]  In many instances criminals need to take their decisions hastily. Two young males fighting in a public street, for example, are unlikely to have ever thought about the consequences of their actions in the heat of the moment.  [29]  Moreover, as Cornish and Clarke argue, the decision-making process of offenders is remarkably limited in their understanding of possibilities, potentials and consequences.  [30]  For instance, most petty criminals are often badly informed about the criminal liability, let alone the penalties, associated with the crimes they commit.  [31]  As a result, even accepting that offenders are rational, it would be difficult, if not impossible, f or offenders to have accurately balanced the costs and benefits of the commission of the criminal act.  [32]   The weakness becomes even more obvious in the case of such rarer but usually more horrendous crimes as those involving violence, the offenders of which are characteristically not reasoning. Hudson plausibly argues that crimes of such kind are usually committed without a prior careful calculation of risk.  [33]  Most killings, for instance, are not rationally planned, but are impulsive and driven by strong emotion.  [34]  In other instances, such are crimes that involve intentionality where offenders commit crime regardless of the risk.  [35]   Interestingly, probably comprehending the moral difficulties existing therein, English courts have rarely invoked deterrence as a standalone ground for an otherwise disproportionate sentence. It is often relied on in conjunction with other penal theories. Deterrence has, according to the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, customarily been recognised as the twin of punishment.  [36]  Thus some commentators have gone further in contending that, in fact, punitiveness resides in the epicentre of the contemporary penal policies supposedly informed by the utilitarian principles of deterrence.  [37]  For them, the current political discourse and policy initiatives [blame] the offenders, [silence] excuses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and [see] the punishment of the wrongdoer as the proper response.  [38]  Deterrence, then, has not been upheld on any principled basis, but has rather been reduced to a morality that has to be upheld whatever the functional benefits.  [39]   As a result, from a philosophical perspective, classical utilitarianism upon which the theory of deterrence is based would seem quite unable to do justice to the mode in which many of our actual ends matter to us.  [40]   The epirical (in)validity of the deterrence theory It seems fair, to say that the empirical literature examining deterrence has not yielded enormous success different studies often tend to contradict each other, on occasions directly and completely.  [41]  Some evidence suggests that swift punishments do not abate the incidence of subsequent crimes any more than delayed punishments, owing to the cognitive capacity of humans to imagine.  [42]  More research efforts have been put into the consideration of the other two aspects of deterrence. By and large, there is some evidence, albeit anecdotal in one way or another, showing that certainty of punishment has a greater deterrent effect than does severity of punishment.  [43]   However, even this is more than what Radzinowicz and King have been prepared to accept. They quite sensibly argue that, more precisely, it is the certainty of detection or intervention, not of punishment, that is the more crucial element in deterrence.  [44]  Lending support to this view, commenting on figures in the United States, Cornish and Clarke suggests that offenders are more likely to be put off by the immediate fear of exposure and being caught, as opposed to the threat of some penalty relatively remote in time.  [45]  Thus it may not be any surprise when Gough concludes that deterrence should only be a minor consideration, if occupying a role to play at all, for the purposes of sentencing.  [46]  What is needed, in Goughs opinion, is tougher enforcement and targeted strategies that increase detection certainty, rather than any toughening of sanctions. On the other hand, there is a more critical view that the reduction of crime in these studies cannot be ascribed to deterrence. What have been influential might well have been the incapacitating effect of the punishment or other myriad variables quite apart from the risks of punishment, including the motive for the crime, the strength of the temptation, the strength of inhibitions or moral revulsion against it.  [47]   In any case, all these studies, deriving as they do from crime statistics, must be interpreted with caution, whether they be supportive or dismissive of the deterrence principles. After all, there are no such things as empirical truths as such.  [48]  In determining whether or not deterrence should be regarded as being beset by empirical difficulties, the entire discussion would prove moot if one does not appreciate the problem of interpreting crime statistics in the first place. Notoriously, any organised way of understanding about crime, criminals and crime control framed in definitional and empirical terms is intricately problematic.  [49]  Ultimately, criminality is a natural by-product of such industrial, capitalist experience as economic growth, the easier availability of social opportunities, and the increased recognition of individual liberties.  [50]  It is essentially a social construct, varying as it does across time, place and people.  [51]  Viewed from such a perspective, deterrence is but part of a means devised by the state to statistically manage the social problem of crime.  [52]  Put in this wider social and political perspective, the extent to which deterrence is, just as punishment, thought to be a fundamentally important social theory inescapably reflects the broader political economy of the urban society in which one lives.  [53]   As such, although crime data and criminal statistics are ostensibly transparent and open manifestations of offending patterns, to divorce the quantifiable empirical data from the broader politicisation of crime would be an unrealistic exercise provided the complex settings in the modern liberal democracy such as this country, in which crime, sociology and political economy are inextricably intertwined.  [54]  Doubts have therefore historically been cast onto the verity of the official figures with the most pessimistic criminological interpretations suggesting that crime statistics are universally doctored, and thus of limited worth to the understanding of the relationship between crime, the state and punishment.  [55]  In the final analysis, imagining crime figures as being free from bias would be to ignore the tension between broad generalization and the specification of empirical particulars,  [56]  and the interpretation thereof will inevitably entails an overly object ive view of an inherently subjective phenomenon.  [57]   The anti-deterrent effects of punishment: a criminological perspective Some criminologists do not merely dismiss deterrence as unconvincing, but have gone further in arguing that, quite far from producing the intended result, fear of punishment might sometimes lead directly to the commission of crime. It is possible that a criminal who has already offended, but not yet apprehended, feels that they have little to lose from further offending, because they have to be punished anyway. As Taylor cites as a striking example, at some point in the last century, a substantial minority of unmarried women in Scotland have been driven to commit infanticide exactly because of the fear of being publicly humiliated as a punishment for adultery.  [58]   For those who have been apprehended and punished, further offending behaviour is still not impossible under the labelling theory, under which criminality is to be thought of as a quality created inevitably when punitive sanctions are applied to behaviour considered to be offending.  [59]  The offender takes on a criminal identity when he is labelled as such by a range of social reactions, including and following the imposition of an official sanction, which has the effect of isolating her from society.  [60]  Her opportunity to live by legitimate means whilst being labelled criminal would quite conceivably be reduced considerably, and resort might then have to be had to illegitimate ways of life. In this way the label is dramatised to the extent that it becomes entrenched and internalised.  [61]  In this light, the labelled, stigmatised and socially isolated, have to accept their status as criminals and rebuild their lives accordingly, leading to a greater degree of devia nce.  [62]   In this sense, punishment within the context of deterrence may in truth be counterproductive in reducing incidence of recidivism.  [63]  With all the negative social interactions that punishment entails, a sentence which speaks to the deterrence of the individual offender appears to reinforce the self-prophecy of criminality, render reintegration into the conventional world difficult, and a criminal career almost inevitable.  [64]  Thus punishment with a deterrent element may ironically result in the promotion of the kind of activities that it is designed to prevent. Conclusion: Abandoning deterrenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦or not? Deterrence has for the most part been discounted as an effective and justifiable approach to sentencing by academics, in particular criminologists, who are often more willing to consider the causes in addition to the consequences of criminal activity.  [65]  However, the popular appeal of the notion as a commonsense approach to sentencing appears to persist to this day. Given the important case of Attuh-Benson,  [66]  it seems unlikely that attempts, however able and sincere, to bring the criticisms levelled against the usefulness of deterrence before the courts would be of any avail. There the Court of Appeal forcefully pronounced that [i]f a different approach is to be adopted it should be in response to guidance from the Sentencing Guidelines Council who may wish to consider this matter.  [67]  After all, it is important to bear in mind that the way in which the state responds to criminality has always constituted an inexorably divisive conundrum with hardly any consensus as to what ought to represent a just punishment.  [68]  And sentencers, even those of the eminence and seniority of the Lord Justices of Appeal, will understandably consider and defer to the legislative objectives set forth in the Criminal Justice Act 2003, one of those being deterrence. Indeed, according to established principles of the common law, this is not an ar ea in which the court should, in the words of Borins DCJ, sitting in the Canadian Supreme Court, pass on the wisdom of Parliament.  [69]  As such, discourses of deterrence are likely to remain a distinguishing feature of the English sentencing policy, as in elsewhere in the world. (4172 words) Table of cases: Canada: Ciccone  (1974) 7  SASR 11  October, 113 Guiller (1985) 48 CR (3d) 226 Luxton  (1990) 58 CCC (3d) 449 Smith (1987) 34 CCC (3d) 97 England and Wales: Attuh-Benson [2004] EWCA Crim 3032 Bieber [2008] EWCA Crim 1601 Brown v Stott  [2001] 2 WLR 817 Holloway  (1982) 4 Cr. App. R. (S) 128 Howells  [1999]  1 All ER  50 Sargeant (1974) 60 Cr App R 74   Zampa  (1984) 6 Cr. App. R. (S) 110 European Court of Human Rights: Ezeh Connors v. United Kingdom  (2004) 39 EHRR 1 Hong Kong: AG v Tang King-ming  [1986] HKLR 211 HKSAR v Hiroyuki Takeda [1998] 1 HKLRD 931 Secretary for Justice v Ma Ping-wah [2000] 2 HKLRD 312

Descartes Argument for the Existence of Corporeal Things Essay

Methods and Meditations on First Philosophy is a discourse by Rene Descartes, which largely focuses on the nature of humanity and divinity. This essay is a discussion of this discourse, and will summarize, explain and object to various parts of his work. The majority of this essay focuses on Descartes Sixth Meditation, which includes his argument that corporeal things do exist. 1. There clearly exists a passive faculty of sensing and I use it involuntarily. 2. If there exists a passive faculty of sensing within me and I use it, then there exists an active faculty of producing sense ideas, either in me, or in something else. . Therefore, there exists an active faculty of producing sense ideas, either in me, or in something else. 4. God has given me a great propensity to believe that the active faculty of producing sense ideas is in corporeal things. 5. If the active faculty of producing sense ideas is not in corporeal things then God is a deceiver. 6. God is not a deceiver 7. Therefore the active faculty of producing sense ideas is in corporeal things. 8. If the active faculty of producing sense ideas is in corporeal things then corporeal things exist. 9.  The active faculty of producing sense ideas is in corporeal things. 10. Therefore corporeal things do exist. Descartes’ argument that corporeal things exist exemplifies his use of, and basis in ep istemological foundationalism. To clearly understand how Descartes argument reflects this, we must first explain what epistemological foundationalism is. In his essay, Epistemology, Richard Feldman explains that foundationalism is when, â€Å"The argument is sound. There are basic justified beliefs, and they are the foundation upon which all our other justified beliefs rest† (Feldman 51). He continues this line of thought by saying further, â€Å"All justified nonbasic beliefs are justified in virtue of their relation to justified basic beliefs. † (Feldman 52). In other words, basic justified beliefs allow for other nonbasic beliefs to be justified through their own justification. And it is only through these basic justified beliefs that one can make sound arguments while using a fundamentalist mentality. The nonbasic justified beliefs that are used for argumentation are true only to the point that their supplemental basic justified beliefs are true. With this understanding of foundationalism through Feldman’s work it can be said that Descartes meditations exhibit these features. The argument that Descartes gives for the existence of corporeal things certainly exhibits the features of foundationalism. The method that Descartes used in his meditations was to clearly ground all of his arguments upon basic justified beliefs. This foundation on basic justified beliefs provides Descartes with the ability to come up with further nonbasic justified beliefs, all of which are based upon one of his basic justified beliefs. This is evident throughout Descartes’ argument for corporeal beliefs as he believes that the entirety of his argument lies upon basic justified beliefs. Without the existence of God, Descartes would not be able to justify his beliefs for the existence of corporeal things. The premises that involve God in this argument are all nonbasic justified beliefs, because they all rest upon the foundation that God exits. The justified belief of Gods certain existence that Descartes holds depends upon an argument that does not use any other beliefs. Therefore his conclusion that God exists becomes a basic justified belief for Descartes, and he bases many of his nonbasic justified beliefs upon its foundation. Some of Descartes premises in his argument for the existence of corporeal things clearly rely upon his basic justified belief that God exists. For God to have given Descartes any type of inclination, as Descartes believes is justified in premise four, it is clear that his existence must first be justified. Through his argument for the existence of God, Descartes is able to use his basic justified belief that God exists to affirm his nonbasic justified beliefs through their relation to God’s existence. This implication that Descartes uses for his reasoning is exemplary of foundationalism. Descartes does not use any beliefs that he does not justify through their dependence upon a basic justified belief. For his sixth premise that God is not a deceiver also depends upon this same basic justified belief for it also to be justified. Descartes criteria for what can constitute a basic justified belief must lso be relevant if the justification of his argument lies upon such beliefs. It seems that the goal of Descartes’ meditations was to begin with a clean slate, and from there, distinguish only things that are certain. Descartes method required him to only accept things as true if they are certain. Through Feldman’s definition of foundationalism it is apparent that Descartes method can be considered as such. Descartes primary focus was to find only what is basic, clear, distinct, and justified before further building upon those beliefs. For a belief to be basic for Descartes, it must rely upon no other beliefs. It must then be reliant upon self-evident, completely provable truths to be able to describe which beliefs can be justified through deduction. This is a very basic foundation to begin from and is truly foundationalism at its roots. For Decartes’ meditations the beliefs that he is a thinking thing and therefore he exists is used from the beginning as his first basic justified belief. The first premise in Descartes argument is a basic justified belief. He believes that there clearly exists a passive faculty of sensing and I use it involuntarily. The second premise of the argument raises questions about how this can be a justified belief. Descartes believe that if there exists a passive faculty of sensing within me and I use it, then there must exist an active faculty of producing sense ideas, either in myself or in something else. Descartes is able to justify this belief that there exists two different faculties of sensing, by using the basic justified beliefs about imagination and understanding and the difference between the two. Namely that understanding goes beyond our ability to imagine something, and Imagination seems to depend upon extended bodies. Through these beliefs Descartes is able to conclude that there must be two different faculties of sense ideas. A passive faculty of perceiving sense ideas within me that I use and an active faculty of producing these sense ideas. There is a problem with Descartes’ foundationalism, however. The problem, for Descartes is that, while everything is based upon each other, if one of the beliefs that provides justification to other beliefs is not clearly justified then none of these beliefs can be taken as truths. This not only shakes these beliefs, but, can question the soundness of his whole rgument and any further nonbasic justified beliefs that may arise from the questioned belief. While his argument is valid and seems to be sound, upon further questioning, it may be possible to find that the argument may not be sound. If enough of a doubt can be provided so that one premise seems doubtful, I believe we can call into question the soundness of his whole argument. For Descartes’ fourth premise, it seems as though his only justification for the belief is an inclination supposedly given from God, who supposedly exists. This inclination is that the active faculty of producing sense ideas is in corporeal things. For Descartes, as a foundationalist, to base his premise off of a natural inclination that he has should seem suspicious enough. Descartes supplements his inclination by stating that it comes from God. This is an opportunity to question the base of this premise. How does Descartes reason that this inclination is given from God. â€Å"For God has given me no faculty at all for recognizing any such source for these ideas; on the contrary, he has given me a great propensity to believe that they are produced by corporeal things. Through this statement Descartes attempts to justify his premise for this active faculty existing in corporeal things. While I must agree that as humans, we are born with a propensity to believe that the active faculty of producing sense ideas is in corporeal things, it is possible to see that there could be other ways that we have gotten this propensity. Is it possible that we have received this inclination as a disillusion from a source other than God. At the time, Descartes may have seen this as irrational. But, today it is easier to imagine that this is possible through either superior technology, or through some type of force of mental control. The idea that superior technology is able to supply humans with the active faculty for producing sense ideas can be exemplified through the movie â€Å"The Matrix†. In the movie it is a superior technology that controls mankind and projects into their mind that corporeal things are real, when in fact it is just images being projected into their minds that supplies them with what they believe is reality. Not only does Descartes assume that it is God who put this propensity to believe in our minds, but this follows Descartes assumption that God exists. While Descartes has an argument that proves the existence of God, it is possible to argue against the existence of God. If that argument can be objected to, this also would provide more than enough doubt to discount the soundness of Descartes’ argument that corporal things exist. The debate upon the existence of God is not necessary for my objection, however, as I have already provided doubt to the premise even if God does exist. The ability to fathom a different idea than God putting this active faculty in corporal things provides enough doubt that it is possible to question the soundness of Descartes foundationalist argument. How would Descartes defend his view against this objection? I think that the possibility of this, provides a similar problem to that of our dreams. If that would be projected upon us, we still are thinking, and therefore still continue to exist. So there must be some type of reality in which we are centered in. This would lead us to believe that either this â€Å"matrix† is reality, or there is some other kind of reality. Since we know that this â€Å"matrix† is not reality, there must be some other kind of reality. This makes it difficult for us to understand what reality truly is. The possibility of this makes me think Renee Descartes would have to submit that what he believed as justified truths, can not be so. This thought would not only shake this premise, but would compromise the rest of his argument for the belief that corporeal things exist. With the inability to clearly justify statements he previously believed to be true, I believe that Descartes would have a more difficult time trying to prove that corporeal things exist. I also believe that without this premise, this whole argument looses it’s soundness because of the dependency upon God being the supplier of our propensity to believe that corporeal things exist. This one belief being no longer justified, in the nature of foundationalism, would necessarily effect the nonbasic justified beliefs of Descartes which previously were believed to be justified. The more beliefs which are no longer justified, work only to further the process and dejustify beliefs dependent upon the previous ones.

Jolli Bee Case study Essay

In 1975 Jollibee Food Corporation began as an ice cream parlor and was run by the Chinese-Filipino Tan family. After the oil crisis in 1977 Tony Tan Caktiong (TTC) expected the ice cream prices to soar. The consequence of this incident was, that the family diversified into a home-style Philippine hamburger, which was quickly desired by the customers. As a result of the big success the family opened five stores in Manila, where the family incorporated as Jollibee Foods Corporation. When McDonald’s entered the Philippine market in 1981 Jollibee had to face his first serious challenge. With already 11 in their back Jollibee was fearless and confident. Moreover Philippine customers preferred the spicy taste of their hamburgers. Nevertheless McDonald’s, who spent a lot of money in advertising, quickly exceeded Jollibee’s sales per store. The company was named after TTC’s vision where employees work efficiently and cheerfully, like bees. Through a well-developed operations management Jollibee was able to offer a consistent and efficient service and quality food. Consequently the family expanded rapidly throughout the Philippines financing all growth internally until 1993. At the end of 1993 the Jollibee Foods Corporation had a total of 124 stores with a total sales volume of 3.386 millions of pesos (see Exhibit 1). Year Total Sales (millions of pesos) Total Stores at the End of the Year Company-Owned Stores Franchises 1975 NA 2 2 0 1980 NA 7 4 3 1985 174 28 10 18 1990 1,229 65 12 54 1991 1,744 99 21 80 1992 2,644 112 25 89 1993 3,386 124 30 96 1994 4,044 148 44 106 1995 5,118 166 55 113 1996 6,588 205 84 124 1997 (projected) 7,778 223 96 134 NA = not available Exzhibit : Jollibee Philippines Growth 1975 – 1997 (Bartlett and Beamish, 2011, p. 35). Although Jollibee went public in 1993 the Tan family retained the majority ownership and kept on controlling Jollibee. BACKGROUND After the big success against McDonald’s people started approaching TTC for franchise rights. That’s why Jollibee slowly began to enter the foreign markets with investments in Singapore. With the help of friends Jollibee started a partnership with a local manager and five Philippine-Chinese investors. Soon the relationship between Jollibee and the local manager started to worsen. Therefore the franchise agreement was revoked and shut  down in 1986. Jollibee kept on moving offshore and started joint ventures in Taiwan and Brunei as well as an own store in Indonesia in the late 1980s. Because of several mistakes Jollibee was unsuccessful in every market besides Brunei. Nevertheless Jollibee decided to continue entering foreign countries. For that reason in 1994 an International Division was created with Tony Kitchner selected as Vice-president. He started expanding quickly while he was differentiating the International Division from the Philippine part. Moreover Kitchner tried to create a more formal culture for the division with a strategy, which had two main themes – â€Å"targeting expats† and â€Å"planting the flag†. Soon he remarked that the Middle East, Hong Kong, Guam and other Asian Territories would provide a good market for Jollibee since many Filipinos live there. The other strategy said, that a company always has a first mover advantage. So Jollibee started to plant the flag in countries where there was no or little competition. Jollibee expanded quickly – by 1997 Jollibee had 223 stores (see Exhibit 1). But this rapid growth also had the consequences that there was not enough advertising budget. With the growth of the international business the relation between the International Division and the Philippine organization started to struggle. That’s why in 1996 TTC realized that the Kitchner’s strategy was costing heavily and decided not to keep on supporting Kitchner. Because of that Kitchner left Jollibee in 1997 while TTC shrank the International Division’s staff from 32 to 14 (Bartlett and Beamish, 2011, p. 48). INTERNAL ANALYSIS 1 Current Situation Today Jollibee is the largest fast food chain in the Philippines, operating more than 750 stores (Jollibee, 2013). It is mainly operating on its domestic home-market where it is a dominant market leader. Moreover the company currently has more than 80 stores outside the Philippines – USA (26), Vietnam (32), Brunei (11), Jeddah (7), Qatar, Hong Kong, and Kuwait (1 each). Jollibee obviously want to grow fast and become international. For further investments Jollibee has to find out what went wrong during their first years, where foreign markets couldn’t be reached successful. Additionally Jollibee has to question if Jollibee still can be mainly family-run as their company grows very fast. 2 Strength Financial situation and leadership in local market: As already mentioned, Jollibee is the biggest fast food chain in the Philippines and owns the leadership in their local market. With over 750 stores worldwide Jollibee has strong financial resources with an operating margin of approximately 7% (net income). Although competitors like McDonald’s have two-digit margins (Google finance – McDonald’s Corporation, 2013) Jollibee shows a static growth. Their net income nearly tripled between 1992 and 1996. Moreover Jollibee Foods Corp. joined the ranks of Forbes Magazine’s top 50 Asian companies this year based on financial track records (GMANETWORK, 2013). Furthermore Jollibee’s assets seem to be bound long-term in property and inventory. Operations management capability Jollibee is a family-run business. Although there was an IPO in 1993 the Tan family still controls the business. Nevertheless they hired external managers in areas where they weren’t familiar with and local knowledge was needed, e.g. the international business. Another aspect is, that the share of own stores is relatively high – with about 40% while competitors like McDonald’s only own 20% of their stores (McDonald’s, 2013). Normally own stores demand a much higher investment than franchise stores while having a much higher financial risk of failure. Besides that the company is capable of serving good, fresh and healthy food for low prices. Key to this affordable price is a well-developed operations management. Diversity in product offering Another huge strength of Jollibee Foods Corp. is its diversity in products which is bigger than most of their competitors. Moreover, the acquisition of Greenwich Pizza and the joint venture with Deli France even increased their product margin. Company philosophy The next big strength of Jollibee Foods Corp. is their company philosophy, which was set after TTC’s vision. The so-called â€Å"Five F’s† contain â€Å"flavorful food†, â€Å"friendliness†, â€Å"fun† â€Å"family† and â€Å"flexibility†. Flavorful food: As already mentioned, Jollibee places special emphasis on good, healthy and flavorful food. The other four F’s aim to give the customer a nice stay and a nice atmosphere with their family where they can join their meal. 3 4 Weaknesses Expansion of business in international markets As already mentioned the first moves to foreign markets failed. Due to several mistakes Jollibee had to close their stores after a couple of years. The management made huge errors when they cooperated with local manager, which didn’t follow the company’s philosophy. Jollibee should have controlled the manager from the beginning and maybe they had to show them their operational management skills to fulfill their requirements, e.g. with a training or instruction. Additionally the communication within the organization has to approve so that problems between the two divisions can be minimized. Dependence on Filipinos Another weakness of Jollibee is their dependence on Filipinos. Instead of addressing to people from all walks they try to force themselves to just serve Filipinos. With a well managed marketing addressed to other citizens the demand after Jollibee products could increase and maybe lead to a expansion towards Europe. Moreover they could start promotional campaigns where Jollibee is presented as a global brand. Bias towards friends Jollibee Foods Corp. has a strong bias towards friend and relatives while selecting local franchise partners. This often led to problems. They should select their partners after their attitude to work and capability instead of friendship. EXTERNAL ANALYSIS 5 Opportunities Widen product range As previously mentioned the product range and taste of Jollibee differs from  competitors like Burger King and McDonald’s due to its Philippine origin. This is not only a chance, but also a risk at the same time. The special taste gives Jollibee the chance, that customers prefer their food. Also Jollibee should show that they only serve quality food while the price is still affordable. With a well-planned marketing campaign they could reach a competitive advantage. Otherwise Jollibee runs danger to lose the competition because of the far bigger marketing budgets and brand recognition of the established burger chains, as they face this problem in Hong Kong and California. Furthermore they could widen their product range to address people from other countries. Another option would be to include more local food items to target more mainstream American people. But as Tony Kitchner already failed with the â€Å"Jollimeal†, which is modifier for each country this has to be planned exactly. If something like that will be used again, a better communication to the customers is necessary. Untapped locations Location management is a key to success in the fast-food industry, as the number of customers increase with a well-located restaurant. That’s why another opportunity is, that the â€Å"plant the flag† strategy should be reused, but in a slightly smaller scale. Jollibee should watch out for untapped locations with fewer or negligible competition to save the first mover’s advantage or just to acquire new customers. Another option is to hire local people to get local knowledge. But in order to stay successful in foreign countries, Jollibee has to at least run 60 restaurants with a turnover of minimum 800.000 US-Dollars each. 6 7 Threats Competition One of the biggest threats and problems of Jollibee Foods Corp. is the huge amount of competitors. Moreover, these competitors, e.g. Burger King or McDonald’s, have a established brand and are well known Other At last there are several other little threats that could get problematic for Jollibee. Since the downturn in economy many people have to eat at home, because they cannot afford the costs of going out with the whole family. Another aspects are the rising operational costs, e.g. power or labor. With static increasing operational costs the profit decreased so that Jollibee will be forced to raise the food prices. Since people try to live healthier their dining habits could change, so that people could prefer dining than fast food. RECOMMENDATIONS This analysis makes one thing clear: Opening over 150 stores within 10 years is beyond the organizational and financial capabilities of Jollibee. It should grow slower and concentrate on every store opening so that it is able to generate income very quick and be able to pay back debts. Another big question is, if Jollibee is able to address to non-Philippine expats without or with less modifications. The suggestions for this three selected markets are as following: Hong Kong and the United States (California) both are huge but highly competed markets. The advantage of California is that there is a big community of immigrants as well as a big community of Philippine expats, who are the main group addressed by Jollibee. Moreover the Americans like fast food and probably like the regular Jollibee menu. However the Chinese market needs high entry costs since the demanded modifications are very high, although the customer acceptance is not guaranteed. As mentioned before, Jollibee should concentrate on few stores. That’s why it would not make any sense to enter both markets, as the financial situation is too bad. Because of a wider range of communities as well as fewer modification costs, Jollibee should try to compete on the U.S. market. Though the market in Papua New Guinea may be entered on a basis as a test, since there are only few fast food companies to compete with. Additionally, the entry costs are low. Although it is not guaranteed that the fast food will be accepted on this virgin market, the risk for a fast expansion is too high. As Bartlett and Beamish state, the so-called â€Å"Global mentality† is a key factor for the fast food industry to get successful (Bartlett and Beamish, 2011, p. 12). REFERENCES Bartlett, Christpher A., Beamish, Paul W. Transnational Management – Text, Cases, and Readings in Cross-Border Management. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2011. Print. McDonald’s. Our company. Retrieved September 14th, 2013, from: http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company.html Google Finance – McDonald’s Corportion (2013, September 13). Retrieved September 14th, 2013, from: http://www.google.com/finance?cid=22568 Jollibee – About us. Retrieved September 14th From: http://www.jollibee.com.ph/about-us GMANETWORK – Jollibee, Ayala Corp., Alliance Global among Forbes’ ‘Fab 50’ Asian firms . Retrieved September 14th From: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/324133/economy/companies/jollibee-ayala-corp-alliance-global-among-forbes-fab-50-asian-firms

buy custom Healthcare Disparities essay

buy custom Healthcare Disparities essay Despite the efforts that may be directed towards the fight against all forms of inequality: racism, stereotyping or discrimination or segregation, a lot is left to be admired in such fights. Governments have waged interminable wars on these enemies but unfortunately enough, they are still a nagging figure in the society. It is universally accepted that if there is any species that has been a victim of these injustices, then that species must be the woman. This essay explores the connection between systems of privilege and inequality in health and productive issues affecting white women and women of color. This will be achieved by citing examples of disease acquisition in them. The conclusion will highlight the governments health agenda for the next decade. Contributions of organizations, support groups and clinics in addressing womens heath issues will be handled. The US has a long history of large inequalities in health as well as access to efficient healthcare between races. These have persisted from the time of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966 when he termed such acts as inhumane. Though it is long since the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, the American health industry still harbors racial discrimination. Differences in health care include disparities in the quality of care grounded on race and the overall health insurance cover awarded based on race. What causes such disparities? Three factors contribute to them.One of them is the personal, environmental and socio-economic traits of various ethnic and racial groups. Another contributor is the quality of heath care that different ethnic or social groups receive and lastly the barriers they encounter in entering the health care system. In examining the issue surrounding the white woman and the woman of color, disparities exist in their child mortality rate. Research shows that African-American babies have low birth weight when compared to the European-American counterparts. The mortality rare of the babies with the women of color is twice than in the white women. As if this is not enough, the life expectancy in white women is five years higher than in their counterparts. All these disparities are attributed to inequalities in the provision of health services. Many women of color and especially the African- American cannot access medical care effectively. A number of reasons as dicscussed below cause this situation. Inaccessibility of medical services by a portion (of course not all lest we be pessimists) of American non-white women is caused by lack of medical insurance. Acquisition of a medical insurance cover is based on whether one is able to secure an employment that will provide for the insurance or ones ability to pay for the insurance directly. This means that the whole issue of securing medical security boils down to ones socio-economic status. Given that, most non-whhite women are disproportionally poor; this translates to their failure in accessing efficient care. Other factors that also feature in this injustice are the illegalized patient dumping, inadequate health facilities insufficient number of non-white doctors and a difficulty in obtaining prescription of certain crucial drugs. All the above, coupled with a myriad of clinical malpractices and usage of the non-white as control experiments add up to the disparities that encompass medical delivery in the. What is the governments take and agenda as far as addressing these injustices is concerned? March 23, 2010 saw the US president assent to the most comprehensive health care that America has ever had. According to this plan that is to be implemented in five phases in the next eight years, the first phase will see to it that children under the age of 26 years remain insured under their parents. Among the key issues that raised heated debate in this health plan was the increase in tax for the rich. This in the case of matters discussed in this essay will help ameliorate medical expenses for those in low socioeconomic status where most of the non-white women lie (The Christian Science Monitor 1-3). Apart from the above measures, communities and organizations should mobilize residents on the effects of health disparities and convene stakeholders like hospital CEOs and community health leaders as well as non-governmental organizations. Buy custom Healthcare Disparities essay

Twentieth Century President

Twentieth Century President Introduction Twentieth century saw United States’ policies shifting from domestic to foreign issues. Increasing global issues that affected the country such as war, politics, and economic crisis compelled the United States to formulate more foreign policies that would cushion the country against changing trends of globalization. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Twentieth Century President specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More During early 20th century, the public evaluated presidential leadership from the nature of domestic policies, but in the mid 20th century, the public used foreign policies to gauge their presidential candidates (Hook 5). The change in polices from domestic to foreign issues reflects trends in economic and political status of the United States. Before the United States became a super power nation, it had been grappling with domestic issues of poverty, racism, democracy, and radical reforms tha t would propel the country to achieve world’s status. Policies formulated shortly before the Second World War by the United States were foreign policies that saw her emerge triumphantly as a super power. Based on the above insights, Theodore Roosevelt had the greatest domestic policies while Franklin Delano Roosevelt had the greatest foreign policies of as United States presidents of the 20th century. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) At the turn of 20th century, Americans were isolationists for they wanted to resolve their domestic issues before engaging in foreign issues that seemed to have no benefits to their country then. Theodore Roosevelt became president in time when there were pressing economic issues that involved monopoly by mega companies and exploitation of the poor. To resolve these issues, Theodore Roosevelt advocated for the formulation of radical reforms that would ensure social and economic justice to the Americans. Theodore Roosevelt believed that social an d economic justice were part of critical reforms that the Americans needed to free themselves from bondage of exploitation by the mega companies. Northern Security Company was one of the mega companies in the United States that dealt with railroad transport system and had abused the transport industry by disregarding welfare of the public (Hook 16). Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Realizing the abuses, Theodore Roosevelt called for the urgent regulation of the railroad transport system by empowering Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). Elkins Act and Hepburn Act are two major domestic reforms attributed to Theodore Roosevelt that led to regulation of railroad transport system for the benefit of the public. In pursuit of social and economic justice, Theodore believed in sustainable use of natural resources for economic growth and benefit to the society. In 1902, there was sev ere shortage of coal in the United States due to strike of mine employees at Pennsylvania. Though Theodore Roosevelt had no powers to intervene the stalemate between labor unions and mine owners, he overstepped his mandate to bring sanity in the mining industry. He threatened to seize mines and let the government run them if the mine owners and labor unions were not going to negotiate and settle their differences. The settlement became a ‘square deal’ where the conflicting parties made fair agreement and this become one of the Theodore Roosevelt’s grand domestic programs. In addition, Roosevelt Theodore made significant efforts in conserving natural resources for he believed in sustainable use of natural resources. In his domestic policies regarding conservation, he ordered creation of 150 extra natural forests, 18 national museums, 51 wildlife refuges, and 5 national parks Therefore, Theodore Roosevelt was a 20th president who concentrated his policies on dom estic issues. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the United States president when Americans were making transition from isolationism to internationalism. Faced with great economic crisis and impending Second World War, Franklin Roosevelt embarked on the formulation of foreign policies that made United States become a super power. During his first term in office, Franklin Roosevelt counteracted isolationism policies by advocating for new foreign policies that would enhance country’s capacity to cope with threatening worldwide economic crisis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Twentieth Century President specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He formulated Good Neighbor Policy as a way of encouraging lucrative relationship with foreign countries, particularly Latin America, European, and Asian countries. To overcome economic challenges that rocked the country, Franklin Roosevelt mob ilized the Congress and signed series of treaties that provided framework for implementation of foreign policies. During his second and third term in office, Franklin Roosevelt concentrated on foreign policies of war since Second World War was an impending crisis then. To convince isolationists, Roosevelt advocated that the United States government should play a neutral role in mediating international conflicts and wars. Congress passed a Neutrality Act, which prevented the United States from taking sides, but as build up to the Second World War increased, Franklin Roosevelt recommended to the Congress that the United States should not only play neutral role in bringing peace but must also war against aggressive nations (Hook 12). Due to threat of Nazis in Europe, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill signed an agreement of ‘Lend Lease’ and Atlantic Charter that gave the United States powers to support her allies. The foreign policies of war that Franklin Roosevelt advocated propelled the United States to become super power, and it marked the beginning of internationalism. Conclusion Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) are the United Sates presidents who made significant contributions to domestic and foreign policies respectively. In domestic policies, Theodore Roosevelt demanded regulation of mega companies from exploiting Americans through monopoly, which led to improvement of the railroad transport system as an elaborate economic infrastructure. Moreover, he advocated for sustainable use of economic resources to meet social and economic demands by settling coalmine strike and carrying out extensive conservation of natural resources. On the other hand, Franklin Roosevelt made his remarkable foreign policies that gave the United States powers to intervene international crisis of economy and war. Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More His policies bolstered the United States engagement in war resulting into her supremacy after Second World War. Therefore, Theodore Roosevelt had the greatest domestic policies while Franklin Delano Roosevelt had the greatest foreign policies of as United States presidents of the 20th century. Hook, Steven. â€Å"The United States Foreign Policy.† Journal of International Relations 4.6(2009): 1-23.

Russian Foreign Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Russian Foreign Policy - Essay Example Beside the policy, the paper also presents a degree of predictability and non-cooperation in the Russian foreign policy towards the west. The annexation of Crimea in March 2014 which entailed threatening of the Ukraine’s sovereignty and the alarming of a myriad of policy makers across the west has of late brought the politics behavior of Russia back into debate amongst foreign policy experts. Despite the fact that the action was viewed as a violation of the law, Russian officials, perceived this as acting within the law. To a number of people, it did not come as surprise especially when looked from the point of quantitative analysis and social science theory. The Peninsula of Crimea and Ukraine serve the Russian’s energy interest. Besides the predictability and the non-cooperation debate, the paper will also analyze Russians use of coercive energy power during the 21st century. The main engine of the power for the country is its energy which is one of the main drivers of the economic growth globally. The coercive energy power policy is delineated as the process of providing economic rewards in the post soviet state through the reduction of natural gas prices, high purchasing power by Russia if the nation is exporting the same, ensuring there is the pipeline transit fees when affected country politically subordinates Russia., withdrawal of economic benefits and advantages through the natural gas prices or reduction of the purchasing prices if the nations are exporters, competitive pipeline projects, pipeline transit fees in order to make other actors within the post soviet space conduct something that they wouldn’t otherwise do through the use of Russians political and economic powerful instruments. The geographical location of the country makes its resources available to the existing demand e.g Europe, China, East and Southern areas of Asia. However, the transfer of natural gas can only

Does the corporate governance maximize shareholders wealth Essay

Does the corporate governance maximize shareholders wealth - Essay Example Shareholders are interested to know if the risk they took in investing in the company provided returns that increase the wealth not only of the company but also of the shareholders as well. II. Critical evaluation of corporate governance of a selected company Leeds Group’s trading operations are conducted by Hemmers-Itex Textil Import Export GmbH. Hemmers is based in Nordhorn, Germany and has a Chinese subsidiary based in Shanghai. Together these companies employ some 120 people and achieved fabric sales of 13.1 million linear metres in the year ended 30 September 2009 (Leeds Group 2012). Inferring from the annual report of Leeds PLC, it can be said that the company is conservative in applying its cost. Conservative in applying cost meant providing generous allowance for expense to have a more accurate and realistic cost of the company. In fact, Leeds PLC may be one of few companies who are â€Å"honest enough† to reflect a s of  £454,000 in the fiscal year 2012 (Leeds Group PLC 2012) that would be seen by its shareholders. It is tough for the company to reflect a loss on annual report because it may not sit well with the shareholders who might withdraw their investments in the company and leave the company broke affecting not only its liquidity but also its financial position. ... The classical approach to organisational effectiveness was mainly from a managerial viewpoint. Further, classical organisational effectiveness postulated that hard and efficient labour would ultimately reap rewards for management and employees, by increasing the performance outcomes of the organisation. Thus, by raising the productivity, higher profits would be accrued, which in turn would give rise to higher pay, and consequently improved worker satisfaction (Etzioni, 1964). Today’s concepts of effective organisations and management are related to past perspectives (Baker and Branch, 2002). The contemporary globalisation of business profoundly increases the level of competition in most industries. For example, Singapore aspires to lead the biotech industry, Korea’s Samsung and LG have become established worldwide as reputed brands, while Malaysia is a leader in chip manufacturing. â€Å"These new competitors have advantages that range from geography to high-skill, rel atively low-wage workforces† (Lawler and Worley, 2011, p.4). The greatest changes in the recent decades relate to rapid developments in technology and telecommunications including the Internet, satellite TV, and cell phones linking most parts of the world, creating new business opportunities (Lawler and Worley, 2011). Significantly, the classical school developed universal principles applicable to all organisations in all situations. â€Å"The classical theorists conceived of organisations as mechanical devices to achieve oranisational goals and objectives† (Alajloni et al., 2010, p.60). Although classical organisational effectiveness has sustained through several changes in organisational management