Featured Post

The Butterfly Effect Narrative Essay free essay sample

The Butterfly Effect Narrative structure is just â€Å"a kind of filmic association in which the parts identify with each other throug...

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Children With Mild And Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

Method Sample. A between-the-group study will be completed to compare children with mild/moderate traumatic brain injury and children with severe traumatic brain injury to children who demonstrated no history of head injuries. The total sample will comprise of 180 children between the ages of 6 years to 14 years, 11 months. Groups will be stratified by age. Twenty participants who experienced a severe TBI, twenty participants who experienced a mild/moderate TBI, and 20 controlled participants will be chosen for each of the following age groups: 6.0- 8.0 years, 9.0-11.0 years, and 12.0-14 years. One hundred and twenty injured participants will be randomly selected from Midwest Ohio hospitals. Inclusionary criteria for the study will be: (a) age at injury between 6.0 and 14.0 years, (b) evidence of some time period of loss of consciousness, (c) hospital records of a closed head injury, classified by the GCS and (d) medical documentation that provides information classifying TBI severity level. Sixty non-injured participants will be randomly selected from elementary schools, churches, and childcare centers in the Midwestern states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The control group will match the TBI groups for age, pre-injury abilities, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Exclusionary criteria for both groups participating in the study will be: (a) history of neurological or developmental, disorder, (b) documented attention, memory, or learning disability, and (c)Show MoreRelatedTraumatic Brain Injury Essay1243 Words   |  5 PagesTraumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury, also called acquired brain injury or simply head injury, is a result of a sudden blow to the head when an external force is applied causing a disruption of the physiological stability of the brain locally. It can also occur when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue and when elevation in the intracranial pressure occurs and potentially dramatic changes in the blood flow within and to the brain. These changes may produce a diminishedRead MoreConcussions And The Brain : One Of The Body s Most Important Organs1028 Words   |  5 PagesTeacher Lynda Kachman CTE Advanced Studies 4 November 2014 Concussions and the brain: One of the body’s most important organs. The brain is the center of the nervous system; it receives information, interprets the information and guides the body’s response to the information. Three parts of the brain are the cerebrum, cerebellum, and the diencephalon, along with the brain stem. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain which handles memory, speech, the senses, emotional responses and much more.Read MoreResponse Inhibition Of Children With And Without Adhd After Traumatic Brain Injury942 Words   |  4 Pages H. (2013). Response inhibition in children with and without ADHD after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neuropsychology, 7(1), 1-11. doi:10.1111/j.1748-6653.2012.02027.x Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) share many of the same symptoms and in some cases, ADHD is even a consequence of TBI. This is known as secondary ADHD (S-ADHD). Likely due to impaired frontostriatal systems, we see a similarities in children with ADHD, S-ADHD, and TBI. OrnsteinRead MoreBrain Structure and Post Traumatic Brain Injury Essay examples2430 Words   |  10 PagesTraumatic brain injuries (TBI) have been shown to have a great impact on several specific structures in the brain of both immediate and long-term damage. Often preoccupation can be focused into the immediate outcomes. The immediate concerns of TBI are without doubt important but this often creates ignorance in terms of the long-term consequences that may follow an individual impacted by TBI into subsequent years. As one will come to recognize, this is of particular concern in terms of children whoRead MoreTraumatic Brain Injuries : An Introduction And Definition Of A Public Health Problem2200 Words   |  9 PagesTraumatic Brain Injuries: An Introduction and Definition of a Public Health Problem The brain is the most complex organ in the human body; its mysteries rival the understandings of our solar system and continuously challenge the efforts of neuro physicians and researchers alike. This extraordinary biological structure defines our personality, controls how we move, and regulates our five senses. When the brain suffers an injury, the consequences can be devastating; affecting many important aspectsRead MoreEssay on Traumatic Brain Injury1393 Words   |  6 PagesTraumatic Brain Injury Your kitten is on the kitchen counter. She is about to step onto a hot stove. You have only seconds to act. Accessing the signals coming from your eyes, your brain quickly calculates when, where, and at what speed you will need to dive to intercept her. Then it orders your muscles to do so. Your timing is perfect and shes safe. No computer can come close to your brains awesome ability to download, process, and react to the flood of information coming from your eyes, earsRead MoreResearch Paper : Traumatic Brain Injury1805 Words   |  8 PagesPaper: Traumatic Brain Injury There are many ailments known today that can severely alter the way one lives his or her life. Some can take years to fully hinder one s body and some can critically harm one in an instant. Traumatic brain injuries can and do harm near instantaneously. So what exactly is a traumatic brain injury? â€Å"Traumatic brain injury, also called brain injury or head injury, occurs when a blow or jolt to the head results in damage to the brain.† (Traumatic Brain Injury, 2007)Read MoreTraumatic Brain Injury Issues Regarding Causes, Symptoms, And The Public s Awareness1304 Words   |  6 Pages Traumatic Brain Injury Issues Regarding Causes, Classifications, Treatment, Symptoms, and the Public’s Awareness Camilo J. Montoya Thomas Nelson Community College Traumatic Brain Injury Issues Regarding Causes, Classifications, Treatment, Symptoms, and the Public’s Awareness Research Findings: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has continually garnered concern from the public. Effects of a TBI range from headaches to loss of motor functions in more severe cases. Normally when one hears thatRead MoreEffects Of A Traumatic Brain Injury1906 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction A traumatic brain injury also known as a TBI is an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects educational performance. The term applies to mild, moderate, or severe, open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas. (Florida Dept. of Education 2015) Although I have never met anyone with a brain injury, I wanted to learn moreRead More Special Education Essay1616 Words   |  7 Pagesdisabilities. It is important to understand the different types of disabilities, the characteristics of these disabilities, and causes; in order to ensure the success of students. This paper will define severe disabilities, mental retardation, traumatic brain injury, autism, and deaf-blindness. In addition, this paper will address the characteristics and causes of each disability. Definition of Severe Disabilities There are many different definitions used to define the meaning of severe disabilities

Monday, December 16, 2019

Human Motivation and Mangement Skills - 1616 Words

Many people get satisfaction from their work and take pride in what they do, while others may view it as only as a mere way of survival. In an attempt to identify successful approaches to management, theorists and social psychologists have expounded theories on human motivation and skills. Social psychologist Douglas McGregor set forth two contrasting theories on human motivation and management in the 1960’s: Theory X and the Theory Y. McGregor promoted Theory Y as the basis of good management practice, pioneering the argument that workers are not merely pawns in the company, as his Theory X type organizations seemed to believe (Cronkhite,2007). Both theories look at how a manager’s perceptions of what motivates his or her team members affect the way he or she behaves allowing one to adapt their approach. McGregor’s Theories X and Y Many people get the satisfaction from their work and take great pride in it; while others may view it as a burden or simply a mean s to survive. In attempts to identify successful approaches to management, social psychologist Douglas McGregor expounded two contrasting theories on human motivation and management know as Theory X and Theory Y. Promoting Theory Y as the basis of good management practice, and with personal views that workers are not mere pawns within the companies’ hierarchy structure as Theory X suggested. The theories look at how a manager’s perceptions of what motivates his or her team members also affect the way he or sheShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of Technology for Simplifying Business Functions1400 Words   |  6 Pagestechnological solutions were implemented for these companies, the differentiating results are assumed to be due to the human factor. One might therefore ask the question whether the difference lies in the competence of managers not only to implement and use the technology, but also to help their subordinates understand and use newly implemented IT functions ( Shao et al., 2010). Hence, the human factor might be connected closely to how competent managers are in terms of technological prowess as well as helpingRead MoreSuccession Management: Trends and Current Practice1177 Words   |  5 PagesBACHELOR OF COMMERCE ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH TOPIC Succession Management: Trends and current practice Name: Looi Jun Kiat Student Number: 31654205 Lecturer: Mr Frankie Yee Declaration: Except where I have indicated, the work I am submitting in this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted for assessment in another course. Looi Jun Kiat Introduction Succession management ensures a company’s survivability when key appointment holdersRead MoreCultural Intelligence And Its Impact On Culture1561 Words   |  7 Pagescountry. Failure to understand the cultural differences only results in dysfunctional conflicts among the employees. Cross cultural differences can be understood by constructive analysis of work environment, interpersonal relationship, working styles, human nature, time and space ( IMD International, 2003). By considering these factors one can understand whether the particular culture is individualistic or collectivist. The chinese culture is highly collectivist by nature. It reflects from the guanxiRead MoreEvaluation Of A Performance Evaluation1429 Words   |  6 Pagesand Sharma, (2004) states that â€Å"a performance support system improves employee performance by reducing the complexity of a task, providing information the employee needs to perform† (p. 54). Truly, without overall and comprehensive training of the skills necessary to support this department, the new incumbent will add no value. E-Mail #4 from Tom Westfield, Production Supervisor This email addresses a concerned with the unsatisfactorly perfomance of an employee within the production department. Read MoreChange Management - Theories of Changes1442 Words   |  6 Pagesthe key phases in change process. The Kotters eight-phase model proposed as followed. * Establish a sense of urgency because opportunities or crisis demand a change now * Create a guiding team to form change agents with credibility, authority and skill to assist in the change process * Develop a changes vision and strategy * Clearly communicate the change vision * Empower the individuals involved in the change process by removing obstacles, changing structure, rewarding new ideas. * GenerateRead MoreHRM and the Changing Nature of Organizations2235 Words   |  9 Pagesthe increasing change and complexities in the business environment. The emergence of globalization, technical advancements, telecommunications revolution, growth of knowledge based workforce and intense competition; mandate the transformation of Human Resource Management (HRM) in organizations. It is necessary for the management to invest considerable time and amount, to learn the changing scenario of the HR department in the 21st century. In order to survive the competition and be in the raceRead MoreStrategic Leadership and Decision-Making: Ethics and Values3428 Words   |  14 Pagesis the notion of good intent. (A gentlemans word is his bond.) Yet, a third is the notion of appreciation of merit in others regardless of personal feelings. (Give the Devil his due.) WORK ETHICS Work ethics is a crucial factor for the motivation of workers in an organisation. It can be defined as a set of values, norms and attitudes, or standards of behaviour, which guide the workers organisational behaviour. In the same perspective, Denga (1986) defines work ethics as â€Å"ethical standardsRead MoreQuality Improvement Practices Within Organizations1678 Words   |  7 Pagesapproach to organizational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through continual refinements in response to continuous feedback (Gharakhani, 2013). Thus, it necessitates the consistent application of the appropriate human and technical processes, tools and techniques. A strategic quality strategy will be effective only through long-term commitment and dedicated application by executive management and all employees (Gharakhani, 2013). The purpose of this paper is toRead Morebest fit and best practice in HRM3167 Words   |  13 Pagesï » ¿In the today world Human resou rce management is so important to manage human than early time .It plays vital role for organization how they recruit highly motivated and competent employee. To sustain competitive advantage over the organization as we know managing human is difficult task so that to fulfill this need we need professional HR manager .Managing human resources depends upon both external and organizational environment. . The genesis of Human resource management was originated fromRead MoreHrm at General Motors1888 Words   |  8 Pagescrisis that resulted into a loss of $37.3billion by the automaker, General motors corporation was the leading American employer with 284 000 employees (GMC, 2008). Because of its large network of global presence in 31 countries, General Motors human resource management practices entail international practices that are designed in accordance to the international operation requirements and the organizational culture designed to reduce operational costs. Majority employees of the corporation’s subsidiaries

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Workplace Conflict free essay sample

A workplace Conflict Case Study Customers can react in different ways to situations. Please read the Following scenario then answer the question below. David was working for a seaside hotel as a car-parking valet. On a particularly busy day a guest arrived to pick up her car and David was the staff member who, following a request from reception, delivered the car to the guest at the Hotel’s entrance. Unfortunately for David, the customer had several complains about her car, the most serious being that there was a scratch on the passenger door.Interestingly, this type of complaint is not uncommon for parking valets as drivers seldom see their passenger doors (they usually get into the car on the driver’s side) unless standing waiting in a hotel driveway. The hotel’s standard operating procedures for car parking involves the car parking vale to check all cars prior to parking and note any car damage on the back of the hotel’s parking ticket prior to parking. We will write a custom essay sample on Workplace Conflict or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fortunately, on this occasion, the person who had parked the car had dome thus job properly (staff often forget to do this when they are in a hurry). Hence, David was most relieved to be able to point out the diagram on the back of the parking ticket the car in the hotel’s parking bay. Unimpressed by this disclosure the guest snatch the car keys from David and marched around to the driver’s seat, getting out again almost as soon as she got in. This time the complaint was that the car showed many more kilometers than when she left it, and smelled of pizza. She accused David of using her car to buy pizza. Put yourself in David’s shoes. 1. Describe the general situation as it was before the conflict occurred. Outlining the existing relationships, between people, commenting briefly on personalities and detailing any prejudices, jealousy, underlying grievances, resentments, etc. that could have contributed towards ill-feeling between the parties involved. 2.Describe the behavior of all concerned prior to the disagreements between parties reach a peak detailing any circumstances that could have provoked the final outbreak of conflict. List choices everyone could make at this point that may stop the conflict from flaming up. 3. Describe what steps you would take to handle this difficult situation to ensure a satisfactory outcome could be achieved for both the guest and yourself. 4. What technique could David use to resolve this conflict? 5. How and why would this technique help the situation?

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Strategic Issues and Problems Affecting Starbucks Company

Diversity In the company, there are interactions among the people from different backgrounds, sexes, religions, and social status. Indeed, diversity that the company experiences, poses a great challenge to management, that has to assure the stakeholders and potential customers of unilateralism. In fact, it was only through impartiality that the company could achieve sustained growth. Therefore, the management had to find a way of dealing with the dilemmas before it worsens the company operations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Issues and Problems Affecting Starbucks Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conflict of Interest In this company, conflict of interest occurs when one’s interests affect his/her duties and the level of performance. Additionally, it lowers a person’s integrity, and might cause anxiety in the company. Notably, organizational ethics calls for the fact that the wor kers, stakeholders and customers should not be overwhelmed with personal interests at the expense of their duties. This might compromise the quality of their produces and integrity, because self-interest and nature of the duty may not have any relationship. Analysis and Evaluation (SWOT) Company Strengths The company is operated in a chain of coffee shops in various locations across the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, thus it commands the market and beverage industry (McWilliams and Matten 42). Therefore, consumers have the freedom to select from a range of coffee drinks and products served at Starbucks restaurants. The other strength of the company is the development of a website, designed to give relevant information about the drinks and other products that it sells. Company Weakness The company experience is the slow in the supply of the coffee that it uses in making the drinks. It means that the quantity they receive from the suppliers is short of the market demand s even within America. This emphasizes the need for increasing the production of coffee to cater for the increasing demands. In addition, the pricing of similar products that the small scale restaurants fix on similar products is also seen as a weakness to the giant company, since some of its customers are lost (McWilliams and Matten 44). Opportunities for the Company The quality products that the company sells and health concerns of the people in the developed nations have created an unending opportunity for the company. This shapes the buyer behavior and promotes its growth in the industry. Certainly, the involvement of the company in corporate social responsibility is also seen as an opportunity for growth (McWilliams and Matten 45). Finally, the company has built a brand in the coffee sector of the economy, hence enjoys the monopoly of the market. Threats to the Company The company has witnessed stiff competition from other local restaurants offering similar products. Notably, t he competition is in terms of product quality, good pricing, the kind of service given to the potential clients and the varieties available for the customers (McWilliams and Matten 47). Recommendations In order to improve its public image, eliminate conflict of interest and increase sales volume, the company should rely on innovation to accommodate diversity and improve the services to its clients. Secondly, it has to insist on the quality of its products, which must remain at its highest. It should also carryout vigorous sales promotions thereby attract more people to buy from their stores. The measures would make most of the buyers reconsider their preference for the company products.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited McWilliams, Crane, and D. Matten. Business Ethics: Starbucks Corporation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print. This essay on Strategic Issues and Problems Affecting Starbucks Company was written and submitted by user Audriana Pacheco to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay Example

Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay Example Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay Evaluate the Causes of World War I Essay World war one is one of the most of import events in universe history. It took topographic point in Europe in 1914-1918. The whole universe participated this war. So everyone had some duty. There are more than one grounds for the eruption of this war. Chiefly. it was the enlargement signifier of patriotism A ; the confederations system. Other issues played a major portion excessively. such as imperialism. the industrial revolution. naval race and domestic factors. One of the chief long term causes as I said before is Nationalism. Patriotism is the loyal feeling when people believe passionately for their states. The utmost feeling of patriotism is called ethnocentrism and it leads to fascism. Nationalism besides. promoted the war because patriots wanted to restore their nation’s power. Th e bulk of people before and during the universe war one. wanted to hold a larger district. Flags are created to stand for a state. The three states that formed the Triple Alliance was formed by different cultural groups. Above all. Austria’s – Hungary’s cultural groups wanted their independency. These groups were. Slovaks. Serbs A ; Czechs. They wanted to govern themselves and hold their ain province. Particularly. many Serbs in different districts wanted to fall in the adjacent province of Serbia. Italy was besides formed from a aggregation of smaller provinces. taking at holding its authorities established. The trigger cause of universe war one was the blackwash of Archduke Franz Ferdinard A ; his married woman besides by a Serbian patriot. This happened in June 1914 while they were in Sarajevo. Bosnia which was a portion of Austria – Hungary. This blackwash was in protest to Austria – Hungary holding control of the part. This was the utmost signifier of patriotism as I said supra. that killed the prince of Austria and universe war one began. Another cause which cause the war is imperialism. In other words. the competition among powerful states to widen their power. All the states were looking for ways to suppress oversea settlements. There was a competitory feeling about it. They besides needed more resources. Naval bases for Germany A ; Britain were besides of paramount of import. For illustration. France A ; Russia prepared to confront any German invasion. Germany took from France an of import industrial country of Alsace – Lorraine. In 1890 Germany has a New Kaiser who was really active. Germany seized control of Chinese ports A ; wanted more oversea settlements as Britain A ; France had. Italy besides wanted more oversea settlements and that’s a ground it joined the Triple Alliance. Furthermore. there is another cause. the confederations. Alliances existed to back up friends and endanger enemies. The promoted their ain civilization. Alliance’s motions are like packs. They used force and engineering arms. Alliances active function before the war was to understand the advancement of the war A ; country’s motions. So earlier universe war one Russia defended Serbia. Serbia’s districts were controlled by the province of Austria – Hungary. Serbia started the war against Austria – Hungary and Russia got involved. France A ; Russia had a close friendly relationship. A response to acquire back its land Germany attacked France through Belgium. In 1884 the Ternary Alliance we formed with Germany. Italy and Austria – Hungary to back up each other militarily in instance of an onslaught. The Triple Entente that formed in 1904 with Britain. France and Russia. The last cause of the war was the industrial revolution. in other words militarism. Militarism is associated with engineering arms. Such as autos. bombs. machine guns. pigboats. slugs. dynamites etc. Industrial development was really of import in order to be powerful. In this new war ground forcess used autos and non Equus caballuss. Another point is the wireless. was used for propaganda. Everything was traveling really fast. Military includes pigboats. aeroplanes and machine guns. France A ; Russia worried a batch for Germany’s development. Loans from France helped Russia to develop industries. Germany’s navy program named Navy Code was increasing their naval forces. This program worked as a threaten to Britain. Germany’s development of their naval forces was evident. It become one of the world’s most powerful naval forcess in 1980 with Britain foremost. In 1914 German industries was 2nd in the universe merely to that of the USA. Serbia was besides going a powerful force in Balkans. France besides built up their industries A ; ground forces. Russia was the largest of all six powers nevertheless it was the most backward and least developed. As a consequence of this war there was desolation across Europe. Eight 1000000s of people died A ; twenty – nine 1000000s injured. The usage of the word devastation includes issues we are non able to see. It’s non merely the devastation of edifices. the deficiency of instruction and the economic diminution. It’s besides the deficiency of thoughts. household issues. the psychological science of the crowd. propaganda and much more. Even after the universe war one for decennaries the leaders altering political relations. alterations A ; public sentiments. In my sentiment continuing the peace was neither Ternary Alliance’s or Triple entente’s precedence. What if the states did non demo off or vie for power? I believe that patriotism was the most of import cause for doing the war. Consequently all the states were responding in highly chauvinistic ways and unreasonably. I besides think universe war one was a consequence of leader’s hostility towards other states which was sustained by the increasing patriotism of European states. The blackwash of Archduke worked as the immediate cause that triggered a Domino consequence of reactions among all these states. If this wouldn’t go on. they would hold happen another cause to get down the war. I suppose everything’s happened because of the selfishness leader’s had. They didn’t inspire the crowd A ; this prove that there was the failure of diplomatic negotiations.

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Parthians as Intermediaries in the Silk Trade

The Parthians as Intermediaries in the Silk Trade The ancient Chinese invented sericulture- the production of silk fabric. They opened the silkworm cocoon to extract silk filaments, twisted the threads, and dyed the fabric they produced. Silk fabric has long been prized, and correspondingly expensive, so it was a valuable source of revenue for the Chinese, so long as they could monopolize production. Other luxury-loving people were eager to prise their secret, but the Chinese guarded it carefully, under pain of execution. Until they learned the secret, the Romans found another way to share in the profit. They manufactured silken products. The Parthians found a way to profit, too by serving as middlemen. The Chinese Monopoly on Silk Production In The Silk Trade between China and the Roman Empire at Its Height, Circa A. D. 90-130, J. Thorley argues that the Parthians (c. 200 B.C. - c. A.D. 200), serving as trading intermediaries between China and the Roman Empire, sold fancy Chinese brocades to Rome and then, using some deceit about silkworm cocoons in the Roman Empire, sold re-weavings of gauzy silk back to the Chinese. The Chinese, admittedly, lacked the technology for the weaving, but they might have been scandalized to realize they had provided the raw material. The Silk Road Prospered Although Julius Caesar may have had silk curtains made from Chinese silk, silk was in very limited supply in Rome until the time of peace and prosperity under Augustus. From the late first century to early in the second, the whole of the silk route was at peace and trade prospered as it never had before and never would again until the Mongol Empire. In Roman Imperial history, the barbarians kept pushing at the borders and clamoring to be let in. These would-be Romans had been displaced by other tribes further out. This is part of a complicated stream of events that led to the invasions of the Roman Empire by Vandals and Visigoths, nicely treated in Michael Kulikowskis The Gothic Wars. The Barbarians at the Gates Thorley says that a stream of similar border-pushing events led to the efficiently functioning silk route of the period. Nomadic tribes called the Hsiung Nu harassed the Chin dynasty (255-206 B.C.) into building the Great Wall for protection (like Hadrians Wall and the Antonine Wall in Britain were supposed to keep out the Picts). Emperor Wu Ti forced out the Hsiung Nu, so they tried to get into Turkestan. The Chinese sent forces to Turkestan and took possession of it. Once in control of Turkestan, they built trade route outposts from North China to the Tarim Basin in Chinese hands. Thwarted, the Hsiung Nu turned to their neighbors to the south and west, the Yueh-chi, driving them to the Aral Sea, where they, in turn, drove out the Scythians. The Scythians migrated to Iran and India. The Yueh-chi later followed, arriving in Sogdiana and Bactria. In the first century A.D., they migrated into Kashmir where their dynasty became known as the Kushan. Iran, to the west of the Kushan empire , came into Parthian hands after the Parthians wrested control from the Seleucids who ran the area after the death of Alexander the Great. This meant that going from west to east in about A.D. 90, the kingdoms controlling the silk route were only 4: the Romans, the Parthians, the Kushan, and the Chinese. The Parthians Become the Middlemen The Parthians persuaded the Chinese, who traveled from China, through the Kushan area of India (where they presumably paid a fee to allow them to travel through), and into Parthia, not to take their merchandise further west, making the Parthians middlemen. Thorley provides an unusual-looking list of exports from the Roman Empire that they sold to the Chinese. This is the list that contains the locally acquired silk: [G]old, silver [probably from Spain], and rare precious stones, especially the jewel that shines at night, the moonshine pearl, the chicken- frightening rhinoceros stone, corals, amber, glass, lang-kan (a kind of coral), chu-tan (cinnabar?), green jadestone, gold-embroidered rugs, and thin silk- cloth of various colours. They make gold-coloured cloth and asbestos cloth. They further have fine cloth, also called down of the water- sheep; it is made from the cocoons of wild silk-worms. They collect all kinds of fragrant substances, the juice of which they boil into storas. It wasnt until the Byzantine era that Romans really had their own silkworms. SourceThe Silk Trade between China and the Roman Empire at Its Height, Circa A. D. 90-130, by J. Thorley. Greece Rome, 2nd Ser., Vol. 18, No. 1. (Apr. 1971), pp. 71-80.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Should the capital punishment be allowed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Should the capital punishment be allowed - Essay Example 46). The increased number is attributed to these four nations being most populous nations globally. The death penalty is matter controversy in different nations across the world. The positions are varied based on either cultural region, or political ideology. Among the member states of the European Union (EU), Article 2 of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the EU prohibits the use of capital punishment (European Union, 2010). In the same way, the Council of Europe that is comprised of 47 member states does not allow capital punishment among its members. The public opinion in relation to the death penalty varies considerably. Nonetheless, studies have evidenced adequate reasons as to why the death penalty needs to be abolished. Hodgkinson and Schabas (2004, p. 57) shares the evidence that the death penalty needs to be illegalised because life is very valuable. Life is very important and even murderers are not supposed to be deprived the value of their lives. Life cannot be taken back and every justice system is vulnerable to failure. Therefore, capital punishment puts numerous innocent lives at risk (Kronenwetter, 2001, p.53). Any mistake from the prosecution team may lead to demise of an innocent person. In the same way, innocent people will be prosecuted and killed due to flaws in the justice system. Justices, prosecutors, and witnesses can makes mistakes, which may result in the wrongful convictions of persons. It therefore becomes inevitable that innocent individuals may be sentenced to death for capital crimes. For example, in America, according to Amnesty International an estimated 130 people have been found to be innocent who were on death row. The mentally ill persons may also be executed not knowing why the reasons for their mistakes. The uncooperative and cold behaviour of the mentally challenged persons in the courtroom makes them unable to participate in the trials. As a result, they convicted and put on death row when they are

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 67

Case Study - Essay Example This led to implementation and installation of the new system, but poor training and inadequate time for training about the new systems affected its effectiveness. This led to challenges to the JCSS officials but after later training, the system became effective. (Timeline, 2006). For the purpose of faster and efficient data analysis, JCSS needed to develop the new system and to enhance that they selected vendors and software. A selection of computer committee of major users of the system was chosen to evaluate and recommend on available systems and recommend a vendor to the JCSS School Board. The vendors were to accept responsibility and enhance installation and maintenance of the new system by support and training services. JCSS gave information on the size and the system they needed and gave specifications on the desired requirements for the application software. The problem arose when the system that they needed did none of what they exactly needed the system to do and this led to uncertainties in the new system, which was to be replaced with the existing one. (Chris, 2006) There were major problems in using the student management system and installation. The method employed in the implementation of student system by transferring directly all information in the old system to the new system without testing the system to identify any problem let to problems. This led to errors when they started working on the students scheduling. The scheduling officers did not know how the system work due to inefficient training by the DSI, and this led to the failure of JCSS to make the schedules done at the time planned which resulted in several problems. The rush in training due to less time for training as schools were to open led to issues when schools started as those working in the system did not understand it. The attendance officers were unable to work the system for the first few weeks, and this made scheduling of

Sunday, November 17, 2019

My review and judgement for Toyshops online marketing Essay Example for Free

My review and judgement for Toyshops online marketing Essay Top shop online retail website allows their customer to purchase their products online. Top shop is generally regarded as the high street fashion centre for all women and men under 30, reasonably priced clothes suitable for all occasions. Top shop is one of the better laid out online shops the site uses an attractive black colour scheme and the clothes are divided into categories, viewers can choose to browse by New In items, Special Offers, Sale, Kate Moss range, Dresses, etc. Topshop is a high street fashion retailer that has been up and running since 1964 and is has successfully open 300 store across the UK, do shipments to more than 100 countries and has their eclectic British style is known all over the world. Over the years they have built a strong bond with industry insiders and in 2002 they joined forces with newgen, a scheme which allowed them to foster new design talent and provide a global platform for the scene’s brightest new stars. Topshop also the only high street brand to show on schedule at London Fashion week and Topshop Unique has become the style set’s hottest ticket. The Topshop formula is proving not just popular/reputation but profitable too. The chain made around $200 million in pre-tax profits last year on revenues of approximately $1.14 billion. Topshop online marketing system is very effective to its viewers/ users, Topshop’s online website benefits their customers because it give their customers the opportunity to visit their website at any time during business hours which make online shopping an excellent option for many busy shoppers. One of the most obvious benefit for online shoppers is convenience, online shoppers has the ability to purchase products/service from Topshop’s online website at any time which is most convenient for them. Their online website accepts orders twenty-four hours a day during normal business hours. Topshop’s online website provides their customers with total product information. Customers shopping online expect product details which is the Price, information on how the product or service runs on how to use it an so on, this is a benefit for the customer because before purchasing a product they get to see the price and get information on the product on how it will work out for them so they will get an rough idea of how it will work so before purchasing they could compare and select whether the price is suitable for them and if the service or product has what they need. Viewing items is easy – viewers can just click on the item they want to view in more detail and it brings up the name of the item, the price, a brief description of the product, materials used, suggestions for how to wear it, and a picture of the front and the back which you are able to zoom in. customers can see what sizes the item is available in sizes go from 6-16 and any sizes not in stock are greyed out. The business online features is beneficial to their viewer because it help to their viewers to find exactly what they are looking for in other words ‘easy to use’; images, colours, gifs, videos, drop down menus and search bars are all useful to the business viewers. Topshop’s online website also provides their viewers to be able to create their own account with the company, get additional information on their business, clothing and also complaints, viewers can write their own review on their products and service that the business offers. The effectiveness of the of Topshop marketing The effectiveness of Topshop marketing online gives customers an opportunity to purchase items from their online webpage, collect information about the product, service and also information about the business, their online webpage is also design in a way to enable their customers to get exactly what the they are looking; at the bottom of Topshop online webpage is where customers can get the information there need from the business such as, information about the business, how to find different branches, help and also other website that the customers can visit for update; Facebook, twitter, YouTube and also Google. Images, videos, pictures, drop down menus, gifs and search bar play a big impact on how customers view the business webpage, it make it easier for the customers to locate stuff on the business webpage, because these online features are visual. Topshop online website is effective because it help to attraction new customers to the business. The internet is a main asset to many people because they use this on a regular basis whether it is to communication, gather information or locate new places. Topshop use many marketing techniques to promote their online business, these are; promotional adverts online, email promotion, hyperlinks, on website such as twitter and Facebook and so on YouTube. Topshop also have an app for all smartphone, where customers can use to also purchase item, gather information and so on, this is very effective for their customers because this give their customers the advantage to shop from anywhere, during business hours. Topshop internet marketing states for Facebook and Twitter. Topshop continues to grow its following on social media sites, due to lots of features, in-store promotions and relatively high levels of engagement with fans and followers. Stats from E-Digital Research look at the number of followers for the top 20 retailers on Facebook and Twitter and, for the first time, Google+. Top 20 UK retailers on Facebook Topshop was also in pole position and it has added more than 1m new fans since May 2011. Its target audience are big Facebook and social media in general users, so the strategy of promoting its Facebook presence works well. Content is regularly updated to keep people interested, while it also promotes its social media profiles in stores and from its website. The retailer uses exclusive deals and interactive content to keep people interested. How much this translates into sales is another matter, but its significant that it hasnt opened an f-commerce store, presumably preferring to drive users to its product pages.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Coelomate And Acoelomate :: essays research papers

Most animal phyla originated in a relatively brief span of geological time, however the diversity among them is extraordinary. Every organism is very unique a detailed in certain ways, comparisons of certain types of organisms can be very difficult. The class in which will be compared is that of the invertebrates. The main difference between coelomate and acoelomate body plans are that coelomates have a true coelom, which is a fluid-filled body cavity completely lined by tissue which is derived from mesoderm. The purpose of this cavity is to cushion the suspended organs to help them prevent injury, enables internal organs to grow and move independently from the outer body wall. Acoelomates, though, lack a cavity between the digestive tract and the outer body wall. An example of an acoelomate would be a flatworm, or planarian, While an example of a coelomate would be a rotifer. The differences between protostome and deuterostome development are the characteristics in their cleavage, their coelom formation, and the fate of their blastopore. Many protostomes undergo spiral cleavage. In spiral cleavage, planes of cell division occur diagonal to the vertical axis of the embryo. The cleavage also determinates, which casts the developmental fate of each embryonic cell very early. In deuterostomes, they undergo radial cleavage, where the cleavage planes are either parallel or perpendicular to the vertical axis of the egg. Deuterostomes are further characterized by indeterminate cleavage, which means that each cell produced by early cleavage divisions retains the capacity to develop into a complete embryo. Indeterminate cleavage of the human zygote allows identical twins to be possible. In a protostome, as the archenteron forms, solid masses of mesoderm split to form the coelomic cavities, or schizocoelous development. In deuterostomes, the development of body cavi ties, or enterocoelous, happens when the mesoderm buds from the wall of the archenteron and hollows to become the coelomic cavities. The mouth of many protostomes develops from the first opening, the blastopore. The mouth of a deuterostome is derived from the secondary opening, and the blastopore usually forms the anus. The differences between radial and bilateral symmetry is that an animal with radial symmetry has parts that are arranged like the spokes of a wheel and a cut down the central axis, it would divide the animal into mirror images. Radial animals include hydra, jellyfishes, and their relatives. An animal with bilateral symmetry has a left and right side, and a cut down its central axis would divide the animal into mirror-image halves.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Stock Exchange

What is Stock Exchange? A stock exchange is the market place for the purchase and sale of second hand securities. It provides â€Å"trading† facilities for stock brokers and traders, to trade shares of the listed companies and other financial instruments such as Term Finance Certificates and Derivatives. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for the issue (listing), redemption (delisting) of securities and other capital events including the payment of income and dividends. It is a key institution for smooth functioning and steady growth of the corporate sector and can be seen as a key to the economic life of a nation.Stock exchange is the home of the capital and pivot of the money market, providing proper mobility for capital. The securities of joint-stock companies, government securities and securities issued by semi-government organization are dealt with on a stock exchange. History of Stock Exchange The history of stock exchanges can be traced to 12th century France, when the first brokers (the role of an individual or a firm when it acts as an agent for a customer and charges the customer a commission for its services) are believed to have developed, trading in debt and government securities.Unofficial share markets existed across Europe through the 1600s, where brokers would meet outside or in coffee houses to make trades. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, created in 1602, became the first official stock exchange when it began trading shares of the Dutch East India Company. These were the first company shares ever issued. By the early 1700s there were fully operational stock exchanges in France and England, and America followed in the later part of the century. Share exchanges became an important way for companies to raise capital for investment, while also offering investors the opportunity to share in company profits.The early days of the stock exchange experienced many scandals and share crashes, as there was little to no regulation and almost anyo ne was allowed to participate in the exchange. Today, stock exchanges operate around the world, and they have become highly regulated institutions. Investors wanting to buy and sell shares must do so through a share broker, who pays to own a seat on the exchange. Companies with shares traded on an exchange are said to be ‘listed' and they must meet specific criteria, which varies across exchanges.Most stock exchanges began as floor exchanges, where traders made deals face-to-face. The largest stock exchange in the world, the New York Stock Exchange, continues to operate this way, but most of the world's exchanges have now become fully electronic. Functions of Stock Market ? Ready Market Stock exchange is a continuous market for the resale of existing securities. It is a centre where buyers and sellers assemble to deal in securities at any time during the business hours. It enables investors to realize quickly their shares and debentures.This facility encourages people to inves t in business enterprise by means of buying industrial securities. It helps new investors to obtain securities at any time at market price. ? Protection to investors Protection of the interest of the investors is another function of stock exchange. This it does by ensuring safety and fair dealing to the average investors through strict enforcement of its rules and regulations. Without the cover of a stock exchange there may be unfair competition between different brokers. The investors may be deceived by clever and dishonest brokers.In a stock exchange any malpractice by a broker carries a severe penalty. ? Profitable use of funds Another major function of the stock exchange is the mobilization of surplus funds of individuals firms and companies for investment in industrial securities. Without the stock exchange, these funds would have remained idle. It directs the surplus funds into the most profitable channel and thereby secures their effective utilization. People invest their sav ings in companies yielding good returns. Stock exchange in Pakistan In Pakistan there are three stock exchanges, ? Karachi stock exchange (KSE) Lahore stock exchange (LSE) ? Islamabad stock exchange (ISE) Karachi Stock Exchange The KSE is the first stock exchange of Pakistan established in September 18, 1947 and incorporated in March 10, 1949. KSE start with 5 companies with a paid-up capital of RS 37 million. The first index was the KSE 100 index. KSE Indices Family ? KSE 100 The KSE100 index is a benchmark by which the stock price performance can be compared to over a period of time. In particular, the KSE 100 is designed to provide investors with a sense of how the Pakistan equity market is performing.Thus, the KSE100 is similar to other indicators that track various sectors of the Pakistan economic activity such as the gross national product, consumer price index, etc. The KSE-100 Index was introduced in November 1991 with base value of 1,000 points. The Index comprises of 100 c ompanies selected on the basis of sector representation and highest market capitalization, which tracks over 85% of the total market capitalization of the companies listed on the Exchange. ? KSE-30 Index The Karachi Stock Exchange has launched the KSE-30 Index with base value of 10,000 points, formally implemented from Friday, September 1, 2006.The main feature of this index that makes it different from other indices is: ? Based on the â€Å"Free Float Methodology† ? It includes only the top 30 most liquid companies listed on the KSE. ? KMI-30 ? Index introduced in September, 2008 ? Tracks the 30 most liquid Shariah-compliant companies listed at KSE weighted by free float adjusted market capitalization. ? Shariah Screening performed by Shariah Supervisory Board of Meezan Bank (chaired by Justice (Retd. ) Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani). ? KSE All Share Index ? It consists of all the companies listed on the KSE. ? KSE-GTOiOil & Gas Sector plays vital roles in Pakistan’s eco nomy and therefore KSE has developed a Tradable Oil & Gas Index which tracks at least 80% free-float market capitalization of the Oil & Gas Sector. This index provides Investors and Market Intermediaries with an appropriate benchmark that captures the performance of each segment of the economy. KSE-100 Composition Basis The selection criteria for stock inclusion in the existing KSE-100 Index is based on three main filters, namely Sector rule, Capitalization rule and Default rule. The top sector companies may also qualify for inclusion on the basis of their market capitalization. Sector Rule Largest market capitalization in each Karachi Stock Exchange sectors excluding Open-end Mutual Fund Sector ? The Largest Capitalization Rule The remaining index places are taken up by the largest market capitalization companies in descending order. ? The Default Counter and Non Tradable Rule Company which is on the Defaulters’ Counter and/or its trading is suspended; declare Non-Tradable ( i. e. NT) in preceding 6 months from the date of re-composition shall not be considered in the re-composition of KSE-100 Index . How many stocks are registered and categories? The total number of companies listed in KSE is 572 with a listed capital of RS. 1103072. 80 million ? In KSE companies are listed under following categories according to the nature of their industry. |Sector Wise Categories of Companies | |Oil and Gas |Pharma and Bio Tech | |Chemicals |Media |Forestry |Travel & leisure | |Industrial metals and mining |Fixed line Telecommunication | |General industries |Electricity | |Electronic and electrical Goods |Multiutilities | |Engineering |Commercial Banks | |Industrial Transportation |Non Life Insurance | |Support services |Life insurance | |Automobile and Parts |Real estate investment and services | |Beverages |financial services | |Food Producers |Equity Investment Instruments | |Household Goods |Software and computer services | |Leisure Goods. |Technology Hard ware and Equipment | |Personal Goods | | |Personal Goods | | |Tobacco | |Advance /Decline: If there is increasing trend in the prices of share then we said that the market gains the index or points and vice versa. Points: Points shows the Overall worth of the market. There are many factors that influence the market points and due to these factors market’s point increases or increases. These factors consist of formulae of capital structure and other related things. In Pakistan value of 1 point is approximately equal to 5 crores and it changes due to inflation and other economic factors. When an individual invest an amount equal to 5 Crores then 1 point increases and when he/she pull back his investment then 1 point decreases 1 point = 5 Crores Stock Exchange A stock market or equity market is a public (a loose network of economic transactions, not a physical facility or discrete) entity for the trading of company stock (shares) and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately. The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36. 6 trillion at the start of October 2008. The total world derivatives market has been estimated at about $791 trillion face or nominal value,[2] 11 times the size of the entire world economy. The stocks are listed and traded on stock exchanges which are entities of a corporation or mutual organization specialized in the business of bringing buyers and sellers of the organizations to a listing of stocks and securities together. The largest stock market in the United States, by market capitalization, is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In Canada, the largest stock market is the Toronto Stock Exchange. Major European examples of stock exchanges include the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, Paris Bourse, and the Deutsche Borse (Frankfurt Stock Exchange). In Africa, examples include Nigerian Stock Exchange, JSE Limited, etc. Asian examples include the Singapore Exchange, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the Bombay Stock Exchange. In Latin America, there are such exchanges as the BM&F Bovespa and the BMV. A few decades ago, worldwide, buyers and sellers were individual investors, such as wealthy businessmen, usually with long family histories to particular corporations. Over time, markets have become more â€Å"institutionalized†; buyers and sellers are largely institutions (e. g. , pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, index funds, exchange-traded funds, hedge funds, investor groups, banks and various other financial institutions). The rise of the institutional investor has brought with it some improvements in market operations. Thus, the government was responsible for â€Å"fixed† (and exorbitant) fees being markedly reduced for the ‘small' investor, but only after the large institutions had managed to break the brokers' solid front on fees. (They then went to ‘negotiated' fees, but only for large institutions. History : Established in 1875, the Bombay Stock Exchange is Asia's first stock exchange. In 12th century France the courratiers de change were concerned with managing and regulating the debts of agricultural communities on behalf of the banks. Because these men also traded with debts, they could be called the first brokers. A common misbelief is that in late 13th century Bruges commodity traders gathered inside the house of a man called Van der Beurze, and in 1309 they became the â€Å"Brugse Beurse†, institutionalizing what had been, until then, an informal meeting, but actually, the family Van der Beurze had a building in Antwerp where those gatherings occurred; the Van der Beurze had Antwerp, as most of the merchants of that period, as their primary place for trading. The idea quickly spread around Flanders and neighboring counties and â€Å"Beurzen† soon opened in Ghent and Amsterdam. In the middle of the 13th century, Venetian bankers began to trade in government securities. In 1351 the Venetian government outlawed spreading rumors intended to lower the price of government funds. Bankers in Pisa, Verona, Genoa and Florence also began trading in government securities during the 14th century. This was only possible because these were independent city states not ruled by a duke but a council of influential citizens. Italian companies were also the first to issue shares. Companies in England and the Low Countries followed in the 16th century. The Dutch East India Company (founded in 1602) was the first joint-stock company to get a fixed capital stock and as a result, continuous trade in company stock emerged on the Amsterdam Exchange. Soon thereafter, a lively trade in various derivatives, among which options and repos, emerged on the Amsterdam market. Dutch traders also pioneered short selling – a practice which was banned by the Dutch authorities as early as 1610. 7] There are now stock markets in virtually every developed and most developing economies, with the world's biggest market being in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, India, China, Canada, Germany's (Frankfurt Stock Exchange), France, South Korea and the Netherlands. Importance of stock market : The stock market is one of the most important sources for companies to raise money. This allows businesses to be publicly trade d, or raise additional financial capital for expansion by selling shares of ownership of the company in a public market. The liquidity that an exchange provides affords investors the ability to quickly and easily sell securities. This is an attractive feature of investing in stocks, compared to other less liquid investments such as real estate. History has shown that the price of shares and other assets is an important part of the dynamics of economic activity, and can influence or be an indicator of social mood. An economy where the stock market is on the rise is considered to be an up-and-coming economy. In fact, the stock market is often considered the primary indicator of a country's economic strength and development. Rising share prices, for instance, tend to be associated with increased business investment and vice versa. Share prices also affect the wealth of households and their consumption. Therefore, central banks tend to keep an eye on the control and behavior of the stock market and, in general, on the smooth operation of financial system functions. Financial stability is the raison d'etre of central banks. Exchanges also act as the clearinghouse for each transaction, meaning that they collect and deliver the shares, and guarantee payment to the seller of a security. This eliminates the risk to an individual buyer or seller that the counterparty could default on the transaction. The smooth functioning of all these activities facilitates economic growth in that lower costs and enterprise risks promote the production of goods and services as well as employment. In this way the financial system contributes to increased prosperity. Stock market index : The movements of the prices in a market or section of a market are captured in price indices called stock market indices, of which there are many, e. g. , the S&P, the FTSE and the Euronext indices. Such indices are usually market capitalization weighted, with the weights reflecting the contribution of the stock to the index. The constituents of the index are reviewed frequently to include/exclude stocks in order to reflect the changing business environment. Derivative instruments : Financial innovation has brought many new financial instruments whose pay-offs or values depend on the prices of stocks. Some examples are exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stock index and stock options, equity swaps, single-stock futures, and stock index futures. These last two may be traded on futures exchanges (which are distinct from stock exchanges—their history traces back to commodities futures exchanges), or traded over-the-counter. As all of these products are only derived from stocks, they are sometimes considered to be traded in a (hypothetical) derivatives market, rather than the (hypothetical) stock market. Leveraged strategies : Stock that a trader does not actually own may be traded using short selling; margin buying may be used to purchase stock with borrowed funds; or, derivatives may be used to control large blocks of stocks for a much smaller amount of money than would be required by outright purchase or sales. Short selling : In short selling, the trader borrows stock (usually from his brokerage which holds its clients' shares or its own shares on account to lend to short sellers) then sells it on the market, hoping for the price to fall. The trader eventually buys back the stock, making money if the price fell in the meantime and losing money if it rose. Exiting a short position by buying back the stock is called â€Å"covering a short position. † This strategy may also be used by unscrupulous traders in illiquid or thinly traded markets to artificially lower the price of a stock. Hence most markets either prevent short selling or place restrictions on when and how a short sale can occur. The practice of naked shorting is illegal in most (but not all) stock markets. Margin buying : In margin buying, the trader borrows money (at interest) to buy a stock and hopes for it to rise. Most industrialized countries have regulations that require that if the borrowing is based on collateral from other stocks the trader owns outright, it can be a maximum of a certain percentage of those other stocks' value. In the United States, the margin requirements have been 50 %% for many years (that is, if you want to make a $1000 investment, you need to put up $500, and there is often a maintenance margin below the $500). A margin call is made if the total value of the investor's account cannot support the loss of the trade. (Upon a decline in the value of the margined securities additional funds may be required to maintain the account's equity, and with or without notice the margined security or any others within the account may be sold by the brokerage to protect its loan position. The investor is responsible for any shortfall following such forced sales. ) Regulation of margin requirements (by the Federal Reserve) was implemented after the Crash of 1929. Before that, speculators typically only needed to put up as little as 10 percent (or even less) of the total investment represented by the stocks purchased. Other rules may include the prohibition of free-riding: putting in an order to buy stocks without paying initially (there is normally a three-day grace period for delivery of the stock), but then selling them (before the three-days are up) and using part of the proceeds to make the original payment (assuming that the value of the stocks has not declined in the In margin buying, the trader borrows money (at interest) to buy a stock and hopes for it to rise. Most industrialized countries have regulations that require that if the borrowing is based on collateral from other stocks the trader owns outright, it can be a maximum of a certain percentage of those other stocks' value. In the United States, the margin requirements have been 50 %% for many years (that is, if you want to make a $1000 investment, you need to put up $500, and there is often a maintenance margin below the $500). A margin call is made if the total value of the investor's account cannot support the loss of the trade. (Upon a decline in the value of the margined securities additional funds may be required to maintain the account's equity, and with or without notice the margined security or any others within the account may be sold by the brokerage to protect its loan position. The investor is responsible for any shortfall following such forced sales. ) Regulation of margin requirements (by the Federal Reserve) was implemented after the Crash of 1929. Before that, speculators typically only needed to put up as little as 10 percent (or even less) of the total investment represented by the stocks purchased. Other rules may include the prohibition of free-riding: putting in an order to buy stocks without paying initially (there is normally a three-day grace period for delivery of the stock), but then selling them (before the three-days are up) and using part of the proceeds to make the original payment (assuming that the value of the stocks has not declined in the In margin buying, the trader borrows money (at interest) to buy a stock and hopes for it to rise. Most industrialized countries have regulations that require that if the borrowing is based on collateral from other stocks the trader owns outright, it can be a maximum of a certain percentage of those other stocks' value. In the United States, the margin requirements have been 50 %% for many years (that is, if you want to make a $1000 investment, you need to put up $500, and there is often a maintenance margin below the $500). A margin call is made if the total value of the investor's account cannot support the loss of the trade. (Upon a decline in the value of the margined securities additional funds may be required to maintain the account's equity, and with or without notice the margined security or any others within the account may be sold by the brokerage to protect its loan position. The investor is responsible for any shortfall following such forced sales. ) Regulation of margin requirements (by the Federal Reserve) was implemented after the Crash of 1929. Before that, speculators typically only needed to put up as little as 10 percent (or even less) of the total investment represented by the stocks purchased. Other rules may include the prohibition of free-riding: putting in an order to buy stocks without paying initially (there is normally a three-day grace period for delivery of the stock), but then selling them (before the three-days are up) and using part of the proceeds to make the original payment (assuming that the value of the stocks has not declined in the New issuance : Global issuance of equity and equity-related instruments totaled $505 billion in 2004, a 29. 8 %% increase over the $389 billion raised in 2003. Initial public offerings (IPOs) by US issuers increased 221 %% with 233 offerings that raised $45 billion, and IPOs in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) increased by 333 %%, from $ 9 billion to $39 billion. Taxation : According to much national or state legislation, a large array of fiscal obligations are taxed for capital gains. Taxes are charged by the state over the transactions, dividends and capital gains on the stock market, in particular in the stock exchanges. However, these fiscal obligations may vary from jurisdictions to jurisdictions because, among other reasons, it could be assumed that taxation is already incorporated into the stock price through the different taxes companies pay to the state, or that tax free stock market operations are useful to boost economic growth.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was the world’s largest Islamic bank which involved in many criminals activities due to which the bank was eventually shut down and was perceived as the worst bank operated ever in the history of world banking sectors.Introduction The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was established by a Pakistani banker Agha Hasan Abedi in 1972. BCCI was registered in Luxembourg. It reached at height within a decade. It has more than 400 branches which were operated in 78 countries.It was among the world's largest private bank ranking 7th position due to its excessive assets of US$20 billion (History Commons). BCCI's Involvement in Criminal Activities BCCI became the target in 1980 during which an undercover operation (extending two-years) was held through the Customer Service of United Sates. A fake wedding was concluded through the operation which was attended by the drug dealers and BCCI officers across the world. These v iolators built a working relationship and personal friendship with the Special Agent (undercover) Robert Mazur.The key bank officers were put in trial in Tampa for six months after which, they were seriously charged and imprisoned for lengthy period. Many other crimes were revealed during cooperation between bank officers and law enforcement authorities (American Patriot Friends Network). Major Tips of BCCI's Criminal Activities A Congressman Charles Schumer conducted a Congressional investigation between 1979 and 1991 which revealed around 700 tips regarding criminal activities of BCCI.The following are the major tips which were received by the federal law enforcement commissions and the same visualized the BCCI involvement in criminal activities: 1. Promotion of political unrest in Pakistan. 2. Financial supporting to terrorist groups. 3. Smuggling weapons to numerous countries such as Iran, Libya and Syria. 4. Organized criminal linking in Italy and United States. The above are o nly the major tips but indeed, around 700 tips were revealed through the Congressional investigation (History Commons). CIA's Illegal Involvement in BCCI BankFor the last ten years, CIA had been paying to its 500 British Informants through BCCI Bank. The information of illegal overseas business deals and sales of British arms were reported to the CIA by some informants. The spectrum of CIA informants involved in criminal activities include: 1. 124 people in politics or government 2. 53 in banking, industry and commerce 3. 24 scientists 4. 90 in the media 5. 75 in academia 6. 124 in communications Although, individuals were not specifically named but few of them were in senior positions (American Patriot Friends Network).Closure of BCCI Bank The Bank of England shut down the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) on July 5, 1991 and the regulators shut down BCCI offices in dozens of countries and seize about $2 billion of the bank’s $20 billion in assets. Many milita nts including Bin Laden had operated accounts in BCCI. The President of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, owned 77% of BCCI shares and approx 1. 4 million accounts were operated by people who had likely lost their monies upon closure of the bank (History Commons).Conclusion Thus, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) financially supported many militant organizations through the money which was generated through illegal activities including illicit drug trafficking and arms trafficking, therefore, it is right to claim that BCCI worked viciously, violently and criminally in favor of deadly terrorist service across the world due to which the BCCI deserved to be shut down and the criminals operating BCCI will never ‘Rest-In-Peace' (Ambit ERisk).References Ambit ERisk, Case Study: Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Retrieved on May 4, 2010 from http://www. erisk. com/learning/CaseStudies/BankofCreditandCommerceIn. asp American Patriot Friends Network, Bank of Cre dit and Commerce International, Retrieved on May 4, 2010 from http://www. apfn. org/apfn/BCCI. htm History Commons, Bank of Credit & Commerce International, Retrieved on May 4, 2010 from http://www. historycommons. org/entity. jsp? entity=bank_of_credit_and_commerce_international

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The United States, The Melting Pot Essays - American Culture

The United States, The Melting Pot Essays - American Culture The United States, The Melting Pot The United States has Changed from a Melting Pot to a Vast Culture with Varying Racial Backgrounds. The United States, created by blending or ?melting? many cultures together into one common man, known as an American. ?Modern communication and transportation accelerate mass migrations from one continent . . .? to the United States (Schlesinger 21). Ethnic and racial diversity was bound to happen in the American society. As immigration began to explode, ?. . . a cult of ethnicity erupted both between non Anglo whites and among nonwhite minorities.? (22). Until recently, the only country who has made a multiethnic society work, was the United States. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur said, in America ?. . . individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men.? Is this still true? The creation of the U.S. ?. . . was not to preserve old cultures but to forge a new, American culture." (Schlesinger 22). In the 20th century, the melting pot is not working, and the whole idea is under attack (Evans 76). The United States has changed from a melting pot to a vast culture with varying backgrounds. In years before, America was a collection of Chinese, Germans, Italians, Scots, Croats, etc., all craving freedom. Today, even the simple concept of an English-speaking nation is fading off the continent. ?In the old days, immigrants were taught in English in the public schools.? (76). In America today, children are taught in German, Italian, Polish, and 108 other languages. Most of these schools are funded by 139 million federal dollars. Until recently, emigrants in the United States longed for admittance in society's mainstream. Now these groups demand separation from society, to be able to preserve and conserve their customs and languages. The biggest problem with this demand, is whatever accommodation takes place, must be done and accepted by the receiving society (Chavez 60). The increasing accommodations directed toward immigrant culture worries many Americans. Americans fear the special treatment granted to immigrants will effect the unifying force of the country. ?Today, the trend is toward multiculturalism, diversity and adapting the newcomer, rather than on the newcomer adapting himself or herself to . . .? a diverse society (61). Many Americans believe the nation has lost control of its boundaries. Concerned if immigration continues, the U.S. economy will suffer, and that employment will be scarce. Immigrants ?. . .are flooding the welfare rolls and are heavily involved in crime.?(Morganthau 18). The increase number of U. S. immigrants does effect the number of jobs available. The problem is, immigrants are either highly qualified ( take American jobs) or are less than skilled in any field (increase welfare). The view on immigration today is one of a drag on the economy, instead of a lift (18). In 1995, new immigration laws transfigure the American society. As a result, races group together to defend their customs. The current immigration problem also increases the racial tension facing America today. One result of racism in the United States is hate groups and gangs. Both have only one thing in commonviolence! ?The very use of the term ?of color? - which embraces blacks, . . .? Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics, ?. . . many whom are ethnically white - implies that these disparate groups are bonded simply by not being of Northern European descent.? (Henry III 73). One example of these hate groups is the Ku Klux Klan, known for their hatred toward African Americans, Catholics, and Jews. The growing diversity of the American population makes the popularity of ?multiculturalism? and ?Political Correctness? explode. The main function of this craze is to raise minority self-esteem. Viewed by some, the obstacle this creates is not for the better. Multiculturalism helps unite groups and separates them from the rest of the country. ?. . .Civil liberties and human rights is portrayed as the root of all evil . . . ? (Schlesinger 3). A positive approach would have Americans stop seeing themselves as members of primarily one ethnic group, gaining their total identity from that group. White or black, Hispanic or Asian, they must envision themselves simply as Americans. Brookhiser, Richard. ?The Melting Pot is

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Highest Elevation Points in Each U.S. State

The Highest Elevation Points in Each U.S. State The United States of America is the third-largest country in the world based on population and land area. It has a total area of 3,794,100 square miles divided into 50 states. The topography of the states varies from the flat, low-lying areas of Florida to the rugged mountainous western states like Alaska and Colorado. The Highest Points In the U.S. This list notes the highest point in each state:Â   Alaska: Mount McKinley (or Denali) at 20,320 feet (6,193 m)California: Mount Whitney at 14,495 feet (4,418 m)Colorado: Mount Elbert at 14,433 feet (4,399 m)Washington: Mount Rainier at 14,411 feet (4,392 m)Wyoming: Gannett Peak at 13,804 feet (4,207 m)Hawaii: Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet (4,205 m)Utah: Kings Peak at 13,528 feet (4,123 m)New Mexico: Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet (4,011 m)Nevada: Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet (4,005 m)Montana: Granite Peak at 12,799 feet (3,901 m)Idaho: Borah Peak at 12,662 feet (3,859 m)Arizona: Humphreys Peak at 12,633 feet (3,850 m)Oregon: Mount Hood at 11,239 feet (3,425 m)Texas: Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet (2,667 m)South Dakota: Harney Peak at 7,242 feet (2,207 m)North Carolina: Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,037 m)Tennessee: Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet (2,025 m)New Hampshire: Mount Washington at 6,288 feet (1,916 m)Virginia: Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet (1,746 m)Nebraska: Panorama Point at 5,426 feet (1,654 m)New York: Mount Marcy at 5,344 feet (1,628 m) Maine: Katahdin at 5,268 feet (1,605 m)Oklahoma: Black Mesa at 4,973 feet (1,515 m)West Virginia: Spruce Knob at 4,861 feet (1,481 m)Georgia: Brasstown Bald at 4,783 feet (1,458 m)Vermont: Mount Mansfield at 4,393 feet (1,339 m)Kentucky: Black Mountain at 4,139 feet (1,261 m)Kansas: Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet (1,231 m)South Carolina: Sassafras Mountain at 3,554 feet (1,083 m)North Dakota: White Butte at 3,506 feet (1,068 m)Massachusetts: Mount Greylock at 3,488 feet (1,063 m)Maryland: Backbone Mountain at 3,360 feet (1,024 m)Pennsylvania: Mount Davis at 3,213 feet (979 m)Arkansas: Magazine Mountain at 2,753 feet (839 m)Alabama: Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m)Connecticut: Mount Frissell at 2,372 feet (723 m)Minnesota: Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet (701 m)Michigan: Mount Arvon at 1,978 feet (603 m)Wisconsin: Timms Hill at 1,951 feet (594 m)New Jersey: High Point at 1,803 feet (549 m)Missouri: Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 feet (540 m)Iowa: Hawkeye Point at 1,670 feet (509 m)Ohio: Campbell Hill at 1,549 feet (472 m) Indiana: Hoosier Hill at 1,257 feet (383 m)Illinois: Charles Mound at 1,235 feet (376 m)Rhode Island: Jerimoth Hill at 812 feet (247 m)Mississippi: Woodall Mountain at 806 feet (245 m)Louisiana: Driskill Mountain at 535 feet (163 m)Delaware: Ebright Azimuth at 442 feet (135 m)Florida: Britton Hill at 345 feet (105 m)

Sunday, November 3, 2019

A Comparison on Non-traditional Middle School Students Essay

A Comparison on Non-traditional Middle School Students - Essay Example From the discussion it is clear that  due to globalization, the United States has experienced an influx of foreigners in the last four decades resulting in changes in the public education sector. There has been a variation in academic performance between traditional and non-traditional students. According to Texas State’s statistics, 80% of traditional students move to high school in contrast to 34% for non-traditional students. Also, community-based providers and school officials that serve students in public schools have reported an increase in the number of non-traditional sixteen-year-old seventh graders or seventeen-year-old eighth graders remaining in middle school.This study stresses that  school districts are attempting to address the problem by making changes in their educational systems in order to address the needs of these students. The school officials have developed special programs and various strategies within schools to target the specific group of student s in middle school. The retention impacts negatively on the non-traditional students in middle school.  There are many middle school students who are retained in middle school, which increases the dropout rate by the time students reach high school. Various studies have evidenced other factors that cause students to be retained and become over-age in middle schools without interventions to alleviate the problems.  These students experience self-esteem issues, low reading and math skills, behavioral/emotional needs, a high need for individual attention.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Shopping the Smart Way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Shopping the Smart Way - Essay Example Throughout our day to day lives, we perform and complete millions of tasks. We often go through the motions, not beginning to consider how many tiny steps go into all of the things we do during a given day. However, if we considered each of our activities as a process, we could see things in a whole new light. If we took the time to consider our day to day, we would realize that there are many careless errors involved in the tasks we perform, which sometimes even lead us to not complete these tasks. Even our completed tasks contain many errors. We could, perhaps, improve our efficiency as well as the amount of time spent on various tasks we perform throughout a day. By carefully observing a process step by step, you can see which of its components work and which do not. One such component that can be a part of anyone’s day to day life, one which can be improved upon, is going grocery shopping.... It’s a busy time of year for you at your job and you had to sacrifice your lunch hour and break in order to get your work done. You come home after this seemingly never-ending day, ready to fix yourself your favorite dinner before you turn in for the night. You reach your refrigerator only to find empty shelves and drawers. At this point, it seems like you don’t have very many options. You sigh, grabbing your keys and heading right back out the door you had just come through. As you’re getting in your car, your phone rings. It is your friend telling you he’s coming over. You offer to pick him up if he will help you with your grocery shopping. He agrees and you go pick him up. Once you have picked this friend up, you reluctantly drive to the supermarket. You look over at the checkout counters as you walk in and see the lines are very long. It’s dinner time and the supermarket is full of people getting last minute items they need. You decide you need to hurry up through the supermarket aisles so that you can get on line before it gets any worse. You and your friend devise a plan where you will split up and each start on a different side of the supermarket, meeting in one of the middle aisles Since you went there on such a whim, you have no list. You decide to go aisle by aisle, looking to see what you need in each. You walk up and down the aisles, looking at everything that meets your eye and finding some things you needed, but indulging more in things you don’t need, reasoning that you are allowed to splurge for whatever reason. You and your friend meet in the middle and put the contents of your separate baskets into a cart. You’re satisfied as you make your way down the last aisle toward the checkout counter, considering the fact

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

A comparative evaluation of the impact of culture on customers' Essay

A comparative evaluation of the impact of culture on customers' behaviour - Essay Example is imperative for international marketers to treat culture as a mental image that impacts on a broad scope of specific attitudes, which consequently, determine the way consumers evaluate options in the product or service categories. The holiday season presents an exciting period for both business to business (B2B) and business to consumers (B2C) organisations alike. Being a high stake and high volume season, businesses finalise their budgets for the upcoming year and stock up on new products, while consumers buy gifts and gadgets. Studies have proven that shoppers spend more on the holiday market, but businesses cannot make a lasting impact on the market by simply seeking to sell and make profits if they do not consider the cultural aspects of customers (Alam 2006, p. 235). This paper will analyse and discuss the way cultural factors affect customer behaviour and preferences in the holiday market and also compare and contrast the UK culture with that of China. Finally, it will give s pecific recommendations on a relevant marketing mix for each country. As the world becomes more globalised, consumers tend to develop the same needs and preferences and some business organisations may wrongly produce goods and use the same marketing techniques among all its international customers. Notable researches conducted have shown that there are tangible differences between cultures around the world and also among citizens of the same nation (Arnould & Thompson 2005, p. 871). Marketers often overwhelm customers with communication on different brands over the holiday market, which does not necessarily translate into effective communication with the target market. Customers behaviour is manifested in the way organisations, groups and individuals select, acquire and dispose of ideas, experiences, services and products to satisfy their needs. When marketers acquaint themselves with customer behaviour, they also get to learn their decision-making processes and how they are

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Environmental Degradation In Rural Bangladesh Environmental Sciences Essay

Environmental Degradation In Rural Bangladesh Environmental Sciences Essay Introduction Today, as people in developed countries generally enjoy a high standard of living, at the other end of the spectrum, the poor in developing countries are struggling to make ends meet. 22% of the population in developing countries live on less than $1.25 daily and 75% of these people live in rural areas (The World Bank, 2012). This group of rural poor are the greatest victims of environment degradation. In this essay, by looking at the case study of Bangladesh, we will get a deeper insight into why the poor puts great pressure on the environment. In turn, we will uncover why environmental degradation affects the poor most severely resulting in the reinforcement of environmental degradation. Thereafter, we will explore some possible measures to help developing counties like Bangladesh to break out from the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. Environmental consequences of poverty Although majority of researchers have attributed poverty as a key factor for causing environmental degradation, we have to note that other factors such as profit motives, and institutional failures are also responsible for environmental degradation. Nevertheless unlike other factors, poverty and environmental degradation shares a unique relationship that causes them to reinforce each other in a vicious cycle. We would first look at how poverty causes environmental degradation. In Bangladesh more than 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line and are vulnerable to food insecurity and natural disaster (Aid Effectiveness, 2009). 85% belong to the rural poor (Drakenberg, 2006). Bangladesh faces a series of environmental problems including deforestation, land degradation, air pollution, water shortage and contamination, as well as loss of biodiversity. The poor play a vital role in influencing these aspects of environmental degradation. Firstly, poverty leads to deforestation. The existing natural forests in Bangladesh are decreasing at a rate varying from 2.1% /year to 3.3% /year (Rahman, 2012). This is due to exploitation of forest resources for commercial logging, fuel wood collection as well as agricultural land expansion. Commercial logging provides a viable income for the poor as the timber logs could be sold for cash. This monetary benefit could encourage more trees to be felled resulting in unsustainable deforestation. Bangladesh has a high fertility rate, due to desire for more children to help in the fields and for social support in old age. The growing population requires more trees would have to be felled to provide fuel for their cooking needs. There will also be a need to increase food production for the larger population causing large tracts of forest to be cleared and converted into agricultural land for growing of crops. Deforestation, with loss of forest cover is responsible for soil erosion and lo ss of fertile top soil decreases agricultural productivity. Secondly, poverty contributes to land degradation. Land degradation arises due to soil exhaustion, salinization and desertification. Similarly, due to population growth with poverty, multiple cropping with a shorter fallow period was done to increase food supply. To increase land productivity, farmers use fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides heavily. These methods of intensive land use may be effective in increasing agricultural output in the short term. However in the long run the soil would gradually lose its nutrients, land is degraded and desertification creeps in. Though irrigation is helpful in ensuring stable water supply for crops all year round, mismanaged irrigation due to lack of knowledge of rural farmers could result in reverse osmosis and accumulation of salt (Duraiappah, 1996). This causes a backlash and soil productivity drops. Thirdly, poverty affects water resource. Irrigation reduces ground water which may result in a water shortage if there is insufficient water for the large rural population. In the north-western part of Bangladesh, aquifer level of ground water was lowered when extraction of ground water for irrigation is not adequately recharged and coupled with high rate of evaporation (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). Furthermore, Bangladesh faces problem of water contamination due to fertilizers and pesticide run-off from the farmlands. In 2002, more than the 65% of the countrys population were at risk of arsenic poisoning. 61 of the 64 districts had arsenic levels which were found to be above the national accepted standard of 0.05 mg/litre (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). Lastly, poverty contributes to air pollution. The poor depend on biomass and firewood for fuel. The burning of these fuels degrades the air quality and can cause respiratory problems. Although there are substitute fuels which are less harmful to the environment, the poor have yet to gain access to them and may not be able to afford. Moreover, due to a lack of education, the rural poor may not have the knowledge on how to protect their living environment. They extract more resources from the forest to meet the needs of the growing population, not taking into consideration the externality cost of resource loss since access to the forest is free and unrestricted. To them, the immediate needs are of priority and they dont tend to plan far for the future due to the uncertainties of life. As a result, the poor have no qualms about the unsustainable land use practices and lack vision for long-term optimal resource management. This mindset is detrimental to the long term sustainability of environmental resources and unplanned use of resources is likely to result in environment degradation. The mindset of the poor has led to loss of biodiversity where flora and fauna as well as wetlands are overexploitation. In Bangladesh, inland and coastal capture fisheries have declined and about 30% of inland fish species have become endangered (Drakenberg, 2006). Environmental degradation reinforce poverty Firstly, the rural poor are most vulnerable to environmental degradation because they rely heavily on the fragile natural resources for their daily living. 55% of rural women work as farmers in the field, and they rely on the environment for fuel wood, food and water. Desertification is detrimental to the poor as it affects their supply of basic needs from forest resources. Over extraction of water for irrigation leads to lowering of ground water level and water becomes salinized, causing a severe shortage of drinking water.In Bangladesh, rural women are responsible for collecting fuel wood, water and food for family consumption from forest. Deforestation and water shortage causes shrink in food and water availability and women have to work harder and travel further to search for resources. This enduring task is demanding on their health and scarcity of food could lead to malnutrition (Jahan, 2008). The poor being reliant on natural resources for basic needs and agricultural land for food, is offered hardly any food security due to the fragile nature of the natural environment. When their agricultural land becomes less fertile due unattainable land use practices, the familys income is drastically reduced; the poor remain in their vicious cycle of poverty and their basic needs and nutrition could be compromised. Likewise near the coastal areas, the poor rely on wetlands for capture fishery as their main source of food and income. With the destruction of wetlands for conversion to shrimp cultivation area, it drastically reduces the vulnerable food supply of the poor and increased salinity over coastal land endangers their health. Secondly, environmental degradation affects the poor most severely as they are the group that continues to live in places facing land degradation as these polluted areas are cheaper to live in. Being unable to afford to move to a better land, the poor are exposed to Arsenic pollution from contaminated water sources (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that, 37 million people in developing countries suffer chronic poisoning due to exposure to toxic pesticides from working in fields that use chemical fertilizers and pesticides extensively (Jahan, 2008). The poor also have to make do with cheaper source of fuel for cooking and heating. Burning fuel wood and dung causes respiratory infections affecting women and children, causing child mortality. Vicious cycle of poverty and environment degradation Source: Poverty and environment, 2000, Figure 9.2 Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Environment Degradation in Developing Countries, pp. 201. As seen in the context of Bangladesh, farmers hard-pressed by population growth and increasing poverty overexploit natural resources and extend cropping onto fragile marginal lands which results in a loss of sustainability and environmental degradation. Decline in agricultural productivity on degraded lands then triggers poverty which in turn forced many farmers to continue degrading their land further to extract subsistence output (Duraiappah, 1996). Overtime, this phenomenon creates the vicious circle between poverty and environmental degradation as seen in the diagram above. Urbanisation further aggregate environmental degradation and worsen life of the rural poor. Government may allocate more funds to support the growing industry of engineering, electronics and information technology which would generate more income for the economy (United Nations ESCAP, 2010). Conversely, the agriculture sector would receive less funds and manpower is reduced with young men moving to work in urban areas. This leaves behind the elderly and women to manage the marginal agricultural lands. Urbanisation causes air pollution from vehicular and industrial emissions, loss of biodiversity from human interference to natural habitats and deforestation which contributes to global warming. The poor at the receiving end become victims to these problems. In many developing countries, governments generally do not address the sustainability issues if there is little public pressure and they find no political rewards in enhancing environmental quality. Nevertheless for developing countries to achieve environmental sustainability, support from the government is definitely essential. As highlighted, the poor are the biggest victims of environmental degradation; conversely poverty can exacerbate ecological problems. To ensure long term environmental sustainability, possible measures needs to target poverty alleviation and environmental management. Possible measures to achieve sustainable development Source: National sustainable development strategy, 2008, Figure 3.1 schematic representation of the vision, strategic priority areas and cross-cutting areas, pp. 6. In 2008, Bangladeshs government came out with a national sustainable development strategy (NSDS) to guide the country towards alleviating poverty and environmental problems. As shown in the table above, the strategy aims to achieve sustainable development by ensuring sustainable economic growth, agricultural and rural development, social security and environment management (DOE, 2008). Having sustainable economic growth means to accelerate growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. Bangladesh strives to ensure economic growth with higher private investment, increased inflow of FDIs and effective trade policies (DOE, 2008). It includes the agricultural sectors in the economic progress by providing them with electricity, roads, and telecommunications to improve connectivity with urban areas. One possible direction for sustainable economic growth is to promote investment in renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectricity. Bangladesh has abundant sunlight year round, wind and high energy waves; this can generate profits and reduce air pollution from fuel burning (M. S. Islam, 2011). Agricultural and rural development measures ensure food security for the growing population without causing environment degradation. Crop productivity can be increase with agriculture diversification and improved technologies. To reduce reliance on irrigation and lower risk of salinization, storage of surface water is enhanced and rainwater harnessed. To prevent deletion of marine fisheries resource, fishing is regulated avoid over exploitation. To enhance forest biodiversity, forest protected area could be extended and rural folks could be educated with knowledge on sustainable resource use (DOE, 2008). Social security is achieved with sanitation, shelter and empowerment through education. It involves provision of housing facilities, clean drinking water, electricity, medical services and ensuring food security for all (DOE, 2008). Additionally, primary and secondary education is made available and compulsory for all, enabling empowerment of the poor. Environment management protects the environment and its resources. To manage water shortage and contamination, water conservation is encouraged and pollution sources are identified and managed. Loss of biodiversity is addressed by monitoring unsustainable consumption of biological resources. Also, scientific and traditional knowledge are to be integrated to effectively conserve the ecosystem. Most importantly, environmental sustainability considerations need to be integrated in policies concerning forest, water, land, agriculture, industry and energy (DOE, 2008). Conclusion As discussed, poverty and environmental degradation has close interlinks and reinforce each other. Poverty is a key contributing factor to various environmental problems of deforestation, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Consequently, environmental degradation has the greatest impact on the poor, causing them to be ever more vulnerable and having to further degrade the environment to meet their basic needs and ensure survival. To achieve sustainable development in developing countries like Bangladesh, possible measures would have to target both poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. Likewise these measures would work best if backed by strong government support and properly planed and organized. Bangladeshs elaborated NSDS shows a strong commitment to solve environmental issues and ensure a better standard of living for current and future generation. Nevertheless, it is still too early to determine the effectiveness of the strategies; time will tell if Bangladesh is able to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation.