Transformational Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Transformational Learning - Essay Example The significant feature of power is that it is the function of Dependency. The greater the person is dependent on the first person; the greater is the first individual’s power in the relationship. Team work is vital in an organization. Triumphant teams accomplish the strategic goals if they are efficient. Teams are most successful when different group of workers are participating. Restricting the number of teams on which only one employee may contribute. Team has a habitual meeting schedule. A new employee is added to the team. Transformational leadership style situates eminent values for imitation. The encouraging inspiration gives the adherents with challenges along with a suggestion for appealing in joint purposes and accomplishments. Transactional leadership engrosses dependent support. Cohorts are aggravated by the manager’s assurance, admiration, and remuneration. Transformational Leaders are those who provide individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation and who possess charisma. They pay attention to the concerns and growth needs of individual followers, awareness of issues by helping them to look at old problems in new ways and they are able to motivate and inspire followers to put out additional effort to achieve group goals. Transactional leaders are those who guide or motivate their followers in the direction of established goals clarifying role and task requirements. These leaders encourage followers to rise above their own self interest for the good of the organization and who is capable of having a deep and astonishing effect on his or her followers. Organization culture is the common perception held by organizational associates, a system of shared meaning. This system is a set of key characteristics that the organization values. Transformational Leadership and organizational culture are supposed to be firmly entwined. The leaders should have a profound consideration of the distinctiveness as well as force of the

Current Trends in Human Resource Management Essay Example for Free

Current Trends in Human Resource Management Essay Technology is ubiquitous. Whether you are in the industrialized world or developing markets, a growing number of people are connecting with mobile devices like colorful cell phones and very portable computers like Apple’s iPad. This allows people to communicate across archaic boundaries within companies or externally across the world. They have instant access to information and to people. brilliant CEO’s are thinking about ways to leverage this technology explosion. Many are already experimenting with virtual teams, non-traditional workplaces, and flatter corporate structures. How will your company leverage technology? Are there ways to connect more effectively with co-workers, customers, or investors? Can access to information abet to hurry the company more effectively? Have you identified what information is necessary to your success and how it should be shared? Will you exercise an enterprise platform like SAP or Peoplesoft, or will you simply spend basic services like email and the Internet? So, the basic examine from a human resource perspective is how to utilize technology to connect people and information to your advantage. If you are not thinking about all of this, rest assured that your competitors are already experimenting with the modern technologies. originate positive that you don’t pick up left in the dust. Global Marketplace As demonstrated during the unusual downturn, worldwide economic activity is more interdependent than it ever has been in the past. Although trade has crossed borders even before the Silk Road was traveled by Marco Polo, in today’s global marketplace what happens in one country usually has a dramatic impact in another. The largest economies like the US, China, Japan, nd Europe are so interdependent that their leaders meet periodically at the G-20 summits to discuss issues of mutual interest and favorite strategies. Smaller countries that were formerly called third-world countries are now called emerging markets because they have the most robust growth. It is now also possible to do business across borders more easily using global transportation services like DHL , FedEx, and UPS. Even minute businesses have the opportunity to compete or bewitch supplies from outside their local marketplace. This is a growing trend and remarkable of the growth will be outside of the developed countries. So, how is your company positioned to participate in this growth? Can you tap into modern markets or get suppliers or contract workers at lower cost? Can you partner with other businesses or agencies in different markets at home or abroad? If you are looking for recent customers, project workers or current opportunities, then it only makes sense to believe about strategies that would allow your company to participate in the global economy. How can your company tap into the growth in the emerging markets? More specifically from an human resources perspective, can you leverage contract workers for projects or benefit staff? While this may not be feasible for every business, it might be more viable than you deem. Workers who do their job primarily at a computer can do this unbiased as well in another space or country. This is especially proper if you have the just technology platforms or exercise cloud computing. While there are security, cultural, and other issues to address, don’t let the opportunities pass you by honest because you haven’t understanding globally about your business in the past. The future is a global marketplace. deem globally. Rising Costs of Benefits In the United States, health care and succor costs generally have been rising at an unsustainable rate. modern federal health care legislation may address some issues; however, it is tranquil very likely that the costs will continue to rise. Thus, companies will be looking to shift the burden for the costs of benefits. Some of this will be shifted to the government, some will be shifted to workers, and peaceful other benefits will unbiased be chop because they are no longer affordable. Many companies have already chop their defined benefits pensions and retirement programs. Others have modified them to lower matching contributions when they aren’t making a profit. Others have shifted their health insurance to high-deductible plans which offer lower premiums, but also require workers to lift up mighty of the basic cost even when they exhaust health savings accounts. Thus the trend for many companies is to be more frugal with employee back offerings; however, other companies will consume their enhanced abet programs as a recruiting tool to attract the top talent in their industry. So each company must analyze their benefits in relation to their overall strategy to attract and support talent for their firm while balancing the overall costs of the programs. You must be able to reply the basic expect, â€Å"What is our compensation and benefits philosophy and how does if fit into our overall business strategy? Flexible Workplace The workplaces in the future will be more flexible. Once again, technology might be one of the driving considerations that makes this possible; however it is not the only factor. Younger generations are not only more accustomed to being treated differently, but in some cases examine that employers are flexible so that they can balance work-life issues. Unless there is a compelling reason for workers to be on spot during obvious hours, such as a doctor in an emergency room or a shift manager at a manufacturing facility, then employers should contemplate about how they can be more flexible in their workplaces. Allowing workers to tele-commute has both disadvantages as well as advantages, so there is not a simple legal or unsuitable retort for every company. However, design no mistake; some companies are working through these issues honest now so that they can offer flexibility for their employees that compliments their business strategies. This will be their key to attracting top talent. Demographics Demographics are definitely changing. In the United States where there is a tradition of immigration, there is a shift from the venerable white-male dominated workplace to a multi-cultural environment. This is happening at all levels from line-workers to management. Additionally, women will smash through the â€Å"glass ceiling† and rise to more senior management ranks. Beyond ethnic and gender considerations, age is also likely to play into the equation of workforce planning. Many leadership and managerial positions are now occupied by aging â€Å"baby-boomers† who will be retiring over the next five to ten years. This will inaugurate up current opportunities for younger workers, but only if they are prepared. On the other hand, some older workers will be working well past retirement age either because they haven’t saved for retirement or because they will be retained as famous employees due to their job experience. They might be willing to cease if their employer offers some flexibility like job sharing or a four-day work week. Outside of the US, industrialized nations will also need to deal with aging populations while the emerging countries will have younger workers who are involved to allotment in a more affluent lifestyle. Thus, CEO’s and HR managers are thinking about ways that their workforce will change in the next few years. Will you have ample leaders to replace aging baby-boomers? Will you need to relate younger workers to transfer the institutional knowledge that is currently retained by your more experienced staff? How will your company retract advantage of shifts to a more diverse workforce? These are all very famous questions that must have an reply if your firm is going to thrive in the future. Looking into the future is hard to do, especially in the 21st Century, but trends offer some clues. We live in a more complex and interconnect world. Events in one allotment of the world are speedily news everywhere over the internet, cable TV and mobile phones. Although it is an exaggeration to say that the gentle flutter from a butterfly’s glide in Asia can result in a hurricane on the other side of the globe, we seek the far reaching effects from events in one plot to other regions that would not have known about them in the past. Thus, it is notable to ogle for trends that will impact our world. If you can capitalize on the changes that result from the trends, then you can prepare to either pick advantage of them or minimize their despicable impact. These five trends in human resources trends are already impacting the diagram we do business. They will definitely continue to impact our world, and it is up to you to figure out how to leverage them to your advantage.

Essay on Shirley Jacksons The Lottery - Effective Use of Character Na

Effective Use of Character Names in The Lottery   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The common curse of mankind, --folly and ignorance† (Shakespeare).     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Were he alive, William Shakespeare might fully endorse Shirley Jackson’s ideas as presented in The Lottery.   The author, Jackson, very distinctly uses symbolic names for her characters to show the ignorance of the sacrificial lottery, which the small village holds year after year.   These sacrifices, which used to be held to appease the god of harvest, have grown meaningless in their culture.   Jackson uses the characters not only to visualize the story for the reader, but also each one has a meaning, which adds to the ultimate theme.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the leaders and MOST important MEN of the town is Mr. Summers.   Summer is a season of the year.   It is the season of growing, the season of life.   His name   represents partly the old pagan fertility ritual because the harvest that is being sacrificed to is being grown in the summer.   This is supposedly, according to Old Man Warner, what the lottery held each year was all about.   But, in this case, the harvest should be fine because the setting of the story tells us that â€Å"the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green† (74). Mr. Summers did many things to slowly wean the old tradition, the old harshness, out of the ordeal.   He had the wooden chips replaced with more convenient slips of paper.   He also â€Å"spoke frequently...about making a new box† (75), so, therefore, he also represented new ideas as well as old.   The new ideas that the close-minded village people would not accept.   If given the chance, Mr. Summers would have more than likely accepted and backed the motion to cease the lottery and stop the sacrifice.   Even though... ...haracters names to symbolize meanings that she could not get across to the reader any other way.   She showed how Mr. Graves’ sacrificial killing and Old Man Warner’s strong tradition was too much of a history for Mr. Summers new ideas and young Watson’s realizations.   Mrs. Hutchinson still got her hand in the box and the stone up the side of her head. I AM NOT SURE HOW, BUT YOU CAUSED ME TO LAUGH AT SUCH A SOLOMN STORY.   YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC AND CITING YOUR SOURCES.   BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE CONTRACTION AND AVOID SLANG TERMS.   I THOUGHT YOUR CONCLUSION WAS A LITTLE ABRUPT, BUT IT WAS NOT BAD.   OVERALL THIS WAS A VERY GOOD PAPER AND I ENJOYED READING IT. Works Cited: Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." 1949 Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 6th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

Nationalism :: European Europe History

Nationalism One person or a group of people can take on a major role of the unification process that brings upon nationalism for their country. To get a better understanding of what nationalism is, one must learn the meaning of "nationalism." Nationalism is the devotion to the interests or culture of a particular nation. Nationalism is a striving force that can help a country thrive. There are also different ways that a country can achieve nationalism. Two different people/organizations with two different tactics were able to achieve a feel of nationalism among their country. The first group that will be discussed is the IRA, or the Irish Republican Army. Mohandas Gandhi started the second movement of nationalism, with his belief of "passive resistance." These two thoughts were opposite in how nationalism was attempted to be achieved. The Irish Republican Army (IRA), was started on Easter in 1916, when a group of Irish militants refused to wait any longer for their independence from Britain. The small group launched a revolt against British rule. Although the Easter Rising was quickly suppressed, the execution of 15 rebel leaders stirred wider support for their cause. When Britain again failed to grant home rule in 1919, civil war erupted in Ireland. Members of the IRA carried on a guerrilla war against British forces and their supporters. Civilians were often caught in the crossfire. The constant battle for Irish independence continues today with its gory display of violence. The IRA's goal was and still is today to achieve Irish nationalism by the abolition of the British political influence in Ireland, especially Northern Ireland. Mohandas Gandhi came from a middle-class Hindu family. At the age of 19 he was sent to England to study law. After returning to India, he tried to set up his own law practice but soon joined an Indian law firm in South Africa. For 20 years, Gandhi fought laws that discriminated against Indians in South Africa. In his struggle against injustice, he adopted the weapon of nonviolent (passive) resistance. He called it satyagraha, or "soul-force." In 1914, Gandhi returned to India and joined the Congress Party. His ideas inspired Indians of all religious and ethnic backgrounds and he encouraged them to resist British rule. Above all, Gandhi preached the ancient tradition of ahimsa, nonviolence and reverence for all life. He applied this idea to fight the British rule. By using the power of love, he believed, people could convert even the worst wrongdoer to the right course of action.

Flatland

First Of all, the preceding ha If of the book dived into such detail as the protagonist, Square, explained the culture and many other aspects of flatland. For instance, he explained the the nature of other people, houses, class system et c. Afterward, once the novel proceeded into the latter half of the book, square began to experience other dimensions. At first, he had a vision of a single dimensional world, Leland. Here he attempted to explain the very nature of the second dimension to the king of Leland.This proved very ineffective as t he king was unable to comprehend other dimensions and proclaimed, † Instead of moving, you mere lye exercise some magic art of vanishing and returning to sight; and instead of any lucid description of your new World, you simply tell me the numbers and sizes of some forty of my retinue, facts know n to any child in my capital. Can anything be more irrational or audacious? Acknowledge your folly or depart from my dominions. † (peg. 51 ) T hough Square tried in many ways to help the kind of line eland to comprehend a second dimension, it was useless.Later on, Square got approached by a sphere re who attempted to explain the third dimension to Square. As though Square completely disregard deed the dream he had the night prior, he found great difficulty understanding the third dimension. He is only convinced when the sphere took Square outside Of flatland and into the third dimension. Here Sq rare had been able to look upon the same perspective as the sphere. Only in this instant did Square ace apt the sphere's words as truth After the sphere's work was done, he sent Square back to flatland where e it became his job to preach about the third dimension.Due to the laws against the belief of a third dimension, and Square's ewe obsession over this dimension, Square became imprisoned. This brings us up to present tense where Square is left in the prison, where he still attempts to convert his broth retro a believer of the th ird dimension. In my opinion, the author's purpose to exercise the imagination by worlds of other dimensions was accomplished fairly well. First of all, the whole book demands understand ins of another world and how the culture works. This put my mind to the test as being such a small boo k, the explanation of flatland was surely condensed.Secondly, the author uses complex language t roughest the book. Found this very interesting as the novel became a challenge to understand at some points. This helped my improve my vocabulary and also to better comprehend and even somehow at express writing in a more complex style. Overall, I enjoyed the majority of the book. Though in the beginning when flatland and everything within it was explained, I felt as though everything WA s merely a list to follow of what I needed to know about flatland. Believe that this section of the book could have been portrayed in a much more interesting manner.However, the latter half of the book was very intrigui ng as it contained the plot of the book. Lastly, one aspect of the novel which did not quite fancy was the portrayal of uselessness of women. For instance, the women in flatland are m ere lines and considerably unintelligent as proved in the explanation, â€Å"For as they have no pretensions t o an angle, being inferior in this respect to the very lowest of the Isosceles, they are consequently wholly y devoid of brainpower, and have neither reflection, judgment nor forethought, and hardly any memo y. (peg. 12) Perhaps being a feminist may make me have a little bit Of a bias, but I would much rather pr offer for women to be portrayed as equal as men. Though I did not enjoy this particular detail of the novel, there are multiple other things I found interesting. Many aspects of were intriguing to me. Firstly, the whole concept of worlds in other dimensions were at first hard to understand, but became easier as continue d with the book. This encouraged me to think how life would be fo r me if our world was constructed d of only two dimensions.Secondly, the idea put forth by Square about a fourth dimension was very into resting to me. To me, it seemed so simple to distinguish and understand the difference between the first, second, and third dimensions. However, was stumped as I tried to attempt to think of a world made up of four dimensions. Lastly, I also found the higher level vocabulary to be a great shall Eng. Though at some parts, it was difficult to get through a paragraph without using the dictionary a couple times, I enjoyed it nevertheless. Overall I enjoyed the book fairly well.Though the parts of the novel which I did slicked, the tedious beginning and women being the inferior gender, were very prominence t, the rest of the book was still immensely intriguing to me. The book played with my mind as I attempt d to picture a world of a fourth dimension, as well as others such as second and one dimension. I would d definitely recommend this book to others if they are looking for a challenging, but also interesting b ask to read. As long as they don't mind reading through the long introduction to flatland, I'm sure the eye would enjoy the book as much as did.

Musicals essays

Musicals essays Originally a distraction from the horrors of war during the 1940s and 1950s, the American Musical grew in popularity throughout the 20th century. The musical combines acting, dancing, and singing to form cohesive pictures that are still treasured today. The musical requires a collaborative effort between all elements of the film, whether musical or not. The lyrics, music, and dance have to collate with the plot, effects, and characterization to make a movie worth watching. Stars of the American Musical must be able to act, sing, and often dance, in order to get a part in a movie. Musicals must always appeal to a range of people, from a 5-year-old to an 85-year-old, to guarantee viewers. The musical always has catchy upbeat songs or slow ballads that the listener can sing along to, which provides more mass appeal. Some of the more common themes in musical theater include nostalgia, the Cinderella story, realism, and adaptations of literature. The nostalgia theme is seen in Oklahoma!, Carousel, and Showboat. The Cinderella story is represented by The King and I, The Sound of Music, and My Fair Lady. Realism can be seen in Annie Get Your Gun, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Newsies, which were all based on actual events from the past. Some musicals that are based on literature include The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll The American Musical has gone through many changes since becoming a popular film genre. Early musicals were American versions of the English Operetta, such as The Student Prince. After this, genuine American Musicals were made, such as Annie Get Your Gun and Porgy and Bess. Then came realistic musicals such as South Pacific and Camelot, which were musicals with themes that most people could relate to because they were more believable, or actually true stories. Soon, even newer approaches to the American Musical were developed ...

shizikos daughter essays

shiziko's daughter essays Shizukos Daughter, a novel written by Kyoki Mori, is about a bold and brilliant twelve-year-old Yuki Okundo who suffers the loss of her mother by suicide. Shizuko, Yukis mother, is a loving mother with artistic talents that she has passed on to her daughter. Yukis ability to survive many losses is tested by many factors, but mainly by her heartless father and his new wife. Yukis coming of age is the result of the attack on her mothers memory, her father and stepmothers actions, mothers memory, and her mothers suicide. Yuki grows up strong and capable, and Shizuko has encouraged her daughter to be bold. Yuki fights boys and studies piano and she is also an outstanding student. Shizuko writes in her suicide note, "I do not do this rashly, but after much consideration. This is the best for all of us. Please do not feel guilty in any way. What has happened is entirely my responsibility. This is the best for myself as well as for you. I am almost happy at this last hour and wish you to be. In spite of this, please believe I love you. People will tell you that Ive done this because of I do not love you. Dont listen to them. When you grow up to be a strong women, you will know that this was for the best. My only concern now is that you will be the first to find me. Im sorry. Call your father at work and let him take care of everything. You are a strong person; you will no doubt get over this and be brilliant women. Dont let me stop or delay you. I love you." (Mori 6) Once Shizuko is gone there are many things that threaten Yuki's development. She must tolerate the harassing on her mothers memory, first by her Aunt Aya who removes the possessions of her dead mother, and then by the bitter Hanae. On the day of the funeral, Yuki takes shelter in her closet filled with colorful clothing all made for her by Shizuko. In her closet, with the sou...

Free sample - The US Government Should Not be Funding Arts.. translation missing

The US Government Should Not be Funding Arts.. The US Government Should Not be Funding Arts.Introduction First, what does "funding" refer to? Funding can be either direct or indirect. The US government was funding arts in this country before 1965 but that it took in-direct forms, including land grants, tax exemptions to educational and cultural institutions such as museums, and tax advantages for private donations of art to the public. This paper delves more onto direct state funding of the arts. The US arts system has no single control but instead, has a variety of public subsidies composing of roughly 13% of the nation’s total investment in nonprofit arts groups. The National Endowment for the Arts-NEA is the largest single funder of the arts across America, but the majority of direct public funding still flows from a combination of other federal, state, regional and local agencies. NEA in 2009 had a budget of US$155 million.   Even before the creation of the NEA in 1965, the issue of government in funding of the arts had been a contested one. Some justifications for governme nt arts funding are found, but it is noted that in embracing these justifications inappropriate consequences may be occur. Thus, in this paper it is urged that we refrain from government funding of the arts because the effects of such funding, would be deleterious to the art world. Much government funding is aimed at what might be thought of as the preservation of culture. It supports museums and repertory companies and is intent on keeping our culture intact. Other objectives of government funding target community art centers, regional theaters, and school programs. And funding may also be directed to professional artists for the purpose of enabling them to produce new works of art.    Whereas funding of museums looks to the past of our culture, funding professional artists is futuristic.   The preservation of culture, of course, is involved with education, which falls under the jurisdiction of the state . More to that, though not clearly, art preservation keeps us aware of who we have been, which informs our practical decisions about who we shall become. Support for the production of modern day art can also be defended as educational but, bluntly, contemporary art is not our heritage yet; nor is it clear how much of it will be or how far it will stand time.   If the aesthetic value of contemporary art would be used to justify prospective arts funding, it also will have unfortunate consequence in that it only warrants the funding of certain kinds of art, the art of the beautiful, the sublime, and that expressive of psychically balancing qualities. If no further justification can be found, the ill consequence of this is that the state can only fund a certain typ e of art. Artists pursuing certain non aesthetic aims cannot be funded by the state. If the government places large investments behind one type of art, the evolution of the art world will undoubtedly be affect ed. Whole avenues of artistic development will appear less viable than the production of aesthetic art. And from the contemporary art world's point of view, this kind of arts funding might be regarded as having a regressive effect overall.    Another justification used by proponents of arts funding is that it may function as an economic stimulant, promoting prosperity by, for example, attracting tourists. As far as this funding can be pegged to the state of the economy, it would appear to be a legitimate course of action, since functioning of economy is related to the state responsibilities. It is often difficult to imagine the way in which grants to individual artists for new works as opposed to city art centers can spur economic growth. An economic growth argument identifies the value of arts funding not with aesthetic or artistic value, but as an economic instrument. But despite this, the argument seems acceptable, although it can only be mobilized under certain constraints. Where   arts funding is employed to stimulate tourism or some other form of economic activity in a given area, the state must be convinced that there is no alternative form of intervention of comparable cost would yield greater prosperity in that area. More to that, where national rather than local economy is at issue, the state must supply some rationale why it is undertaking to stimulate tourism in one geographical region rather than another.      Another justification put forward is connecting arts funding to   employment. If state funding is not forthcoming, then many artists will be unemployed. Unemployment is a genuine matter of concern to the state. Massive unemployment is one of the great tragedies of our society, and we must demand that the state do something about it. Artists do not constitute a group that is comparable to unemployed youth. Justice and equal opportunity do not seem to bear on the issue of artistic unemployment. For instance, I may not be able to support my family as an unemployed poet; but that does not mean that I can't do it in another way, say, as a cook or a copywriter. It does not fall under the state's responsibilities in regard to the unemployed extend to guaranteeing that everyone have the job he or she most desires. The case of artistic unemployment involves people not able to pursue the line of work they most like, while youth unemployment at large involves people excluded from the work force altogether. Fairness can be used to ground government arts support. If a given government subsidizes the building of sports arenas, then, in all fairness, arts production should also be supported. If the government facilitates the pursuits of sports fans, then it should, as a matter of treating people equally, also facilitate the pursuits of arts fans, perhaps by means of supporting the creation of new art. But what, in such a context, justifies the subsidizing of sports? If nothing does, then perhaps what is required is that neither sports nor the arts be subsidized. Of course, a subsidy for a sport might be defended on the grounds that it stimulates the economy of an area; but then arts funding can, in principle, be similarly defended. Again, it does seem correct to say that if a majority, call them sports fans, demand sports funding in the face of opposition by a minority, call them arts lovers, then fairness urges that the leisure activity of the latter group also be supported, though perhap s not to the same extent. The deeper question, however, is whether any leisure activity should be supported. The advancement of the leisure professions may just not be an area the state should enter at all.    One of the earliest arguments in favor of government support of the arts is that the arts perform a moral function.   If art can function as a means of improving morality, then the state is justified in supporting it. Some art enables us to see the world from a different perspective, thus not only promoting the acquisition of a formal requirement of morality, but also enabling us to understand situations of different classes, races, creeds, and genders. Art, then, can foster greater tolerance within society and thereby bolster the moral order. If we argue from these grounds then state funding on moralizing grounds will be justified ,but   then only to that art which will increase moral sympathies. This will require some serious   research into the moral importance of different kinds of art. Art that afford no moral uplift cannot be funded. This raises problems like those encountered in an earlier discussion of the aesthetics value. If the state is funding only certain kinds of art and it enters the art world, putting its resources behind only moralizing kinds of art, then there is a danger that the development of the art world will be skewed in a certain direction. This violates our understanding   that   art should be pluralist and   independent of considerations of social utility.    Public arts funding primarily benefits the already advantaged. An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities   related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art(Wikipedia). Artist should be able to use their rare skills to improve their well being.    There is also an argument that public funding is necessary to promote innovation and dialogue among diverse points of view, so that groups that want to use the fine arts to challenge the status quo and advocate their unpopular world views and lifestyles can have a forum. However, while the common good requires tolerating the expression of unpopular points of view, the fact that most people do not share them suggests that the common good may not be served by supporting their expression. Even if it is, the government has no more business providing subsidies for such purposes. Indeed, many unpopular world views and lifestyles are at odds with traditional theism, and subsidizing them while not subsidizing theism would give the former an unfair advantage. People who think the expression of an unpopular viewpoint desirable should be fund it themselves just as religious believers should support their churches and missionary activities. The argument that public funding is necessary because some people have great and rare gifts that, due to lack of a market, otherwise will be lost. That might be true but the common good of political society is limited. It is not the proper role of the U.S. government to pursue all human goods in every possible way, and therefore not its business to subsidize every gift that otherwise will be fruitless. Some argue that subsidizing what initially appeals only to a few are necessary to foster a wide variety of creative initiatives that will elevate popular taste and tomorrow serve the multitude. Whether the funded work elevates anyone’s taste is arguable, but even supposing it does, can this indirect contribution to the common good justify the subsidy? Moreover, while some creative efforts that initially appeal to few eventually serve the masses, most do not, and it is hardly possible to show that public funding of some portion of art work is necessary for future cultural development. There are other needs calling for public funding, and some, plainly more pressing than this- for example, better basic education for the very poor- will surely put it to fruitful uses. One cannot justify spending for a dim and uncertain result when there are many urgent and promising alternatives. A recent argument draws a distinction between to view points of culture, Culture provides the particular paintings, performances, and novels, designs, sports and thrillers that we value and take delight in; but it also provides the structural frame that makes aesthetic values of that sort possible and makes them values for us. This structural frame includes a wealth of associations, references, images, and contrasts, which, like language, supply us with the tools with which we forge and map our common life. It insists that it is better for people to have a complex and multifarious cultural framework and that we owe future generations at least as rich a cultural framework as the one we inherited. Both these values can be achieved by promoting the creation of innovative art. Government support in this area is necessary because it "helps protect the fragile structure of our culture. This argument to endorse indirect rather than direct arts support by the government. But he does countena nce situations in which government support could be direct. At least two problems, however, beset this approach. First, there is the assumption that the structure of culture is fragile. When we look at the structure of culture, we note that it comprises many ingredients beside art-social dances, children's games, fashion, sports, religion, indeed the whole gamut of our symbolizing activities. These images become part and parcel of our ways of thinking; they are the very weave of our common culture. But it seems dubious to consider them to be fit beneficiaries of public funding. Yet if art deserves public funding because of its contribution to our cultural framework, so does anything else that similarly contributes, including, potentially, every sort of symbolizing activity, and notably some outlandish ones: hoopla-hoops, comic books, Billy Graham, the Watergate break-in, and so on. Government funding of anything involves government control. Proponents of arts funding are unaware of this peril when they praise the role of the national endowments as an seal of approval on artists and arts groups. This could lead to politicization of arts. Another claim used to justify public funding of arts is equal arts participation.   Participation in arts can not only be attributed to state funding and subsidy but may also be attributed to two other possible factors, that is; Groups that are inclined to participate even without state funding especially those with high income and highly educated may be attending in higher numbers; or, groups that formerly attended in lower rates for example, low income and education and certain ethnic groups may also be participating more given the rise in public support. Accordingly, If state art support truly makes the arts more available and accessible, then   it would be expected that an even more evenly distributed scenario of participation in states that provide more funding would be witnessed. Unequal participation in arts appears on several levels; in education, income, race, and geographic location. People will always participate in the arts at unequal levels, and statistical evidence confirms that participation in arts differs by various populace groups. Although income alone may not accurately predict participation at the individual level, a more complete picture is seen when economic   theory of choice is combined with other social and individual background characteristics that help determine preferences such as education level, racial alignment, income, and location. Therefore, participation inequalities occur not only because of variations of individual tastes, but also because of other social and cultural influences on the choice and ability to participate in arts.   The cultural equity argument for government support, depends on the problem of unequal access. The depends on the fact that factors beyond individuals’ immediate control prevent them from taking part in opportunities availed by participation in arts. Equal access can be categorized into three concepts: equality of opportunity, rights, opportunity, and of participation. Use of state funding to correct for unequal access is a form of redistribution. Redistribution through arts funding is skewed, since it favors those to whom art and the aesthetic are more important over those to whom it is less important. So, the best form of redistribution of state resources would be direct transfers to the less fortunate. Proponents of state funding will also argue that by funding arts the state is safeguarding the welfare of the citizens. But welfare, as it applies to as a state role, refers to assistance to individuals in need of the basic commodities that comprise a living. Is it practical to suppose that arts funding provides some such a commodity?   An analogy would be to say that someone needs Y is to say that they lack it, they will suffer injury, sickness, madness, hunger, or avoidable death. Does the production of contemporary artworks assist individuals in needful situations such as these? The answer is no. Some proponents of public funding will attempt to connect state arts support to the state's welfare function by   introducing a concept of aesthetic welfare. Aesthetic welfare is defined as all the aesthetic levels of the experience of members of the society at a given time. It is then suggested that there is a prima facie government duty to preserve the aesthetic wealth of society wh ere that wealth-pictures, plays, and so forth-is what gives rise to aesthetic welfare. It is not certain, however, that this particular notion of aesthetic welfare helps the case for prospective arts funding since it may be that, if there were such a prima facie duty, retrospective arts funding might suffice to discharge it. Also, one must question whether the connection between "aesthetic welfare" and the concept of welfare relevant to government activity is really unequivocal. First, "aesthetic welfare" doesn't correlate with de-finable needs, especially basic needs; nor does being below the poverty line imply being aesthetically disadvantaged. And clearly promoting individuals' aesthetic welfare will not raise them over the poverty line. More-over, the state's welfare responsibility under this conception of aesthetic welfare doesn't seem to be directly connected to individuals but is a matter of ensuring that there will be a large number of aesthetic objects around so that people can have aesthetic experiences if they want them. The state is to ensure the permanent possibility of high levels of what is called aesthetic welfare but might better be called aesthetic well-being. This well-being is to be secured for society at large, construed additively, whereas the state's welfare responsibilities are discharged toward particular per-sons, viz., anyone in need. Thus the notion of aesthetic welfare" appears not to refer to welfare of the kind that defines the state's proper domain of activity; it is merely a homonymous term that, though sounding like the concept employed in the discussion of the state's welfare responsibilities, is actually quite separate. Lastly, the idea that art will disappear if the government does not support it, and if the state does not fund new art, no one else will. Of course, this is a false claim, and a dubious one at that. The arts flourished in democratic societies before the coming of direct public funding; there is no reason to suppose that they will disappear without the direct government funding of new arts. Where people are interested in art, there will still be an audience to support new work. Were there no audience whatsoever, it would be difficult to determine on what basis the government would justify funding new art. SUMMARY In conclusion, there do appear to be some theoretical justifications for possible government funding of art. The two important   justifications seem to be those concerning the aesthetic environment and the moralizing effects of the arts.   For they endorse the funding of only certain types of art. Government support for only certain types of art may indeed disturb the structure of artistic production and perhaps destroy the art world as we know it.

SHELL ETHICAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS Coursework

SHELL ETHICAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS - Coursework Example cial markets are the key to explaining the large influx of foreign capital into emerging markets as well as its rapid departure during times of crisis. Transparency in global financial markets prevents foreign investor overreactions due to unclear market signals, quicker and smaller adjustments by investors in responding to new information, advance planning by local firms in supervising investment flows, and greater market efficiency. Global investors also demand greater market transparency, hoping that the greater flow of information regarding the actions of governments and firms in emerging market economies will allow them to better manage their investments. While few governments, banks, or private firms disagree the imporant need for an increased level of transparency, transparency still proves to be an elusive goal. These international financial institutions rely on their multilateral mandates for surveillance, financial data collection, and data diffusion. In addition, these institutions also have to contend with a whole panorama of transnational, multinational, domestic, and international persons regarding the preparation of financial information and the dissemination of the financial information. Transparency in busines is an excellent global governance strategy. Transparency needs to standardize all of the regulatory processes through which financial information is prepared for the global investor. The regulators also need to examine the specific procedures that govern the diffusion of this data. The financial information that helps investor decision encompass credit ratings, bond ratings, and measures of interest rate and exchange rate risk. The data is useful when the processes through which this information is produced are standardized across markets. The data must also highly accessible to the global markets. (Shuster, 2000) Banking can be a hugely profitable endeavor. In addition, the synergies between commercial banking and investment banks merge:

Ethics & Morality in the Health Professions Essay

Ethics & Morality in the Health Professions - Essay Example Such situations are termed as â€Å"ethical dilemmas†. The ethical principles guide the doctor or any health professional in moving forward in his act of decision-making in a more virtuous manner which is best in the interest of the patient. Moreover, the code of ethics is also designed to describe restriction of the health professionals which are applicable at a certain point of their medical practice. The main objective of every physician should be providing their patients with the best of medical help and cause no harm to their health. One significant ethical issue is the freedom of choice that is given to the patients which is termed as autonomy. The autonomy literally means self-governance which is explained as the right of the patients to choose what is best for them after they have been clarified about the harms and benefits related to any medical procedure. The term informed consent elaborates this notion. It describes the act of deciding for oneself after acknowledgin g all the relevant information. However, there are certain conditions where the person might not act in this manner. These cases include the lack of adequate understanding and education of the person or if the information is concealed from that person. Although the right of autonomy is recognized widely and every measure is taken to provide this privilege to the patient but in some conditions the intervention of the health professional

Abdurrahman Zeitoun and The Hero with a Thousand Faces Essay

Abdurrahman Zeitoun and The Hero with a Thousand Faces - Essay Example The object of this paper is to depict the journey of a real life hero seen through Campbell’s version of heroic adventure and dilemma. Campbell has put forward three main criteria as features of a Hero’s journey. The actions and adventures of a real life personality, Abdulrahman Zeitoun are assessed on the basis of the criteria mentioned by Campbell. The altruistic deeds of Zeitoun has placed him on the altar of a modern day Hero and can be a guiding light for the young generation to be strong and fearless in all difficult situations. The mythological set up of Joseph Campbell’s book The Hero with a Thousand Faces has expressed the adventures of an emerging Hero. With many mythological examples the book explains how different people can display courage in the face of adversities and achieve the status of a Hero by fulfilling the call of their missions. The journey of the Hero starts when he gets a call for a mission and on basis of the call he steps in a hitherto unknown and supernatural world from the comforts of his ordinary world. In this journey he faces many hurdles which he overcomes with great display of courage and determination. Eventually, he returns to his homeland equipped with all the powers of a superhero and from then on he uses his power for the welfare of his people. There are three different stages of the journey to heroism and they are Departure, Initiation and Return. The journey that one has to make in his life indicates moving forward without any hesitation and. The journey is full of challenges that one has to overtake with sheer integrity and willpower. Only by overcoming the fear of the unknown, one can emerge victorious as a true hero. The mythological journey of the Hero depicted in this book can act as an inspiration for generations to come. (Campbell, xxiv) Campbell depicts in his book the three stages through the story of a mythological character’s journey and his adventures. He uses various appropriate examples from mythology and religious history to describe the journey of his hero. He embarks on the journey when he gets a call from the supernatural and the first stage of the journey begins when he faces Separation from his own ordinary world. (Campbell, 45-53) â€Å"A sharpened edge of a razor, hard to traverse, A difficult path is this—poets declare!† – (Campbell, 21) Every man who dares to respond to the call of the unknown knows very well the dangers lurking ahead and he alone has to face them with courage and determination. (Campbell, 21). Initially he refuses to respond to the call but then he is assured of supernatural assistance. This gives him the courage to embark on his journey and face the challenges ahead. The second stage is about the hero’s Initiation to the supernatural world. In his journey to this mystic world he faces many tough challenges and tribulations but every time he overtook them and achieved victory with his extraordinary po wers. His bravery won him the good fortune of meeting the Goddess. â€Å"At their word, the word which tortures the spirit, The sick woman was turned into a corpse, The corpse was hung from a stake† – (Campbell, 99) The hero of every era at one time or the other in his life has to confront his other self either by being absorbed by it or by absorbing it. Life will throw at him challenges which will require him to let go of his pride and inhibitions and he must surrender himself to the flow to rediscover himself. In this journey the Hero was provoked towards temptations and like any ordinary man he surrendered his will power to such provocations. Still, the Holy Father gave him the chance to atone for his weakness and thus he received the chance to cleanse himself of his sins. Gradually he gets elevated to divine status and he is bestowed with powers

Script and Analysis of Videotaped Lesson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Script and Analysis of Videotaped Lesson - Essay Example er: What's 1minus 0; that turns into one that is a whole different problem, one function, two functions, right, use your theorem, constant over _ powered, one over 0 is 1, so what they actually do is they use what is called the squeeze theorem ok, that takes function, it's two outside function, one is a function and it squeezes it in between, that's what we just did, squeeze it in between Student: You didn't go over that yesterday Teacher: Yes, I didn't say Allison is like... Aren't we in a boring class Student: Is this the first class you have gone to today or did you just finish Teacher: I had a IEP meeting but it just finished Student: What's and IEP meeting Teacher: Individual Educational Plan Student: Inaudible Teacher: Inaudible Student: why do you have to go to an IEP meeting Teacher: You just, you always have to, once a year Student: Inaudible. What does once doYou'll be reprimanded Teacher: don't worry about it, if you're not all in, don't worry about it, you'll never have to go Student: InaudibleCause like, we won't be smart Teacher: Here's the next function, Inaudible, I got the sin of 0, what is the sin of 0 Student: Zero Teacher: and we're done Student: That's stupid Teacher: What's stupid about it, it's easy Student: that means it's not stupid, its easier to do Teacher: I can make it harder for you Jessie Student: Yea, just for Jessie Teacher: Yea there is 23, I plug infinity and I need Infinity, uh, one is infinity and one is undefined, we have to do something, what's our highest counter here Student: x over one Teacher: x, so one over x, we divide everything by x, you know this one Student: zero Teacher: that's zero, plus this will cancel it, 2 that's the bottom, put infinity here what do we get Student: zero Teacher: so zero divided by 2 is Student:... Teacher: ok, so what happens is you use what's called the squeeze theorem, that's, we squeeze in this function and between 2 other functions to figure out the answer, okay, its called di-estimate, but we have to get this function to look like this function so we divide it by everything by Teacher: What's 1minus 0; that turns into one that is a whole different problem, one function, two functions, right, use your theorem, constant over _ powered, one over 0 is 1, so what they actually do is they use what is called the squeeze theorem ok, that takes function, it's two outside function, one is a function and it squeezes it in between, that's what we just did, squeeze it in between Teacher: If you even knew how bad I was when I first studied chapter one, I got a C+, and I may have copied off of my friend, and I never take calculus again, never in the world, never for the life of me did I think I would actually teach this stuff Teacher: alri

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 66

Case Study - Essay Example A good compensation management system helps an organization provide the employees with proper return for their efforts and contributions. Employees feel driven to try harder to achieve the specific standards tied to particular levels of compensation by the organizational management. Compensation management system makes the organizational systems transparent and induces a constructive and productive competition among the employees to make the best out of their capabilities considering their specific roles and positions within the organization. When employees are aware of the prerequisites to be considered eligible for a certain level of compensation and/or benefits, their tendency to work in mutual collaboration and harmony is optimized because their irrational judgments and perceptions about favoritism from the top management for specific employees are sidelined. Moreover, every employee is respected for whatever he/she is getting because his/her level of compensation is a reflection of the employee’s inherent skills, education, and competencies. An efficient compensation management system inculcates a motivation in the less skilled and inexperienced employees to make the best use of their time and resources to acquire the skills needed for professional growth. In such a work culture, employees feel driven to interact with one another more and learn from each other. Organizations need a competency based compensation system. To achieve this, it is imperative that the top management clearly establishes limits and boundaries for all positions in the organization so that there is no overlapping of responsibilities, and so that every employee clearly knows what he/she needs to deliver in order to be considered eligible for particular benefits. Employees are the most important resource of any organization. An efficient competency based compensation system is necessary in order to attract the most talented and competent workforce. People

Script and Analysis of Videotaped Lesson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Script and Analysis of Videotaped Lesson - Essay Example er: What's 1minus 0; that turns into one that is a whole different problem, one function, two functions, right, use your theorem, constant over _ powered, one over 0 is 1, so what they actually do is they use what is called the squeeze theorem ok, that takes function, it's two outside function, one is a function and it squeezes it in between, that's what we just did, squeeze it in between Student: You didn't go over that yesterday Teacher: Yes, I didn't say Allison is like... Aren't we in a boring class Student: Is this the first class you have gone to today or did you just finish Teacher: I had a IEP meeting but it just finished Student: What's and IEP meeting Teacher: Individual Educational Plan Student: Inaudible Teacher: Inaudible Student: why do you have to go to an IEP meeting Teacher: You just, you always have to, once a year Student: Inaudible. What does once doYou'll be reprimanded Teacher: don't worry about it, if you're not all in, don't worry about it, you'll never have to go Student: InaudibleCause like, we won't be smart Teacher: Here's the next function, Inaudible, I got the sin of 0, what is the sin of 0 Student: Zero Teacher: and we're done Student: That's stupid Teacher: What's stupid about it, it's easy Student: that means it's not stupid, its easier to do Teacher: I can make it harder for you Jessie Student: Yea, just for Jessie Teacher: Yea there is 23, I plug infinity and I need Infinity, uh, one is infinity and one is undefined, we have to do something, what's our highest counter here Student: x over one Teacher: x, so one over x, we divide everything by x, you know this one Student: zero Teacher: that's zero, plus this will cancel it, 2 that's the bottom, put infinity here what do we get Student: zero Teacher: so zero divided by 2 is Student:... Teacher: ok, so what happens is you use what's called the squeeze theorem, that's, we squeeze in this function and between 2 other functions to figure out the answer, okay, its called di-estimate, but we have to get this function to look like this function so we divide it by everything by Teacher: What's 1minus 0; that turns into one that is a whole different problem, one function, two functions, right, use your theorem, constant over _ powered, one over 0 is 1, so what they actually do is they use what is called the squeeze theorem ok, that takes function, it's two outside function, one is a function and it squeezes it in between, that's what we just did, squeeze it in between Teacher: If you even knew how bad I was when I first studied chapter one, I got a C+, and I may have copied off of my friend, and I never take calculus again, never in the world, never for the life of me did I think I would actually teach this stuff Teacher: alri

Culture and purchase intention for luxury consumption Literature review

Culture and purchase intention for luxury consumption - Literature review Example ect of culture has become more relevant in the globalized world where organizations are targeting the international market in a strategy to increase their revenue. Cultural aspects such as attitude, religions, behavior and information-access influence the consumer decision making process. The hospitality and tourism industry have faced a big challenge while targeting this portion of the customer profile as they enter new markets (Truong, McColl & Kitchen, 2009). Understanding the intention of consumers as they buy luxury products is a priority if such companies have to suit the needs of their target market. The purpose of this review is to establish cultural influence within the luxury market and how this may impact a tourism and hospitality industry. While there is a concession that different countries have different luxury consumption patterns, the influence of culture in this market still remains a contentious issue (Blevis et al., 2007). Secondly, the review seeks to analyze the customer intention and the way culture impacts on this intention within the luxury market. The priority of any managers is to satisfy customers, which can only be accomplished when companies understand customers’ purchase intentions. Through a critical review, the article will analyze the impact of culture and customer intention in the purchase of luxury brands and provide conclusions and implications for the analysis. Therefore, the article will provide a platform through which luxury companies can launch successful brands that satisfy the global luxury market. The luxury market has become one of the potential investment markets in the 21 century. Currently, the luxury market is estimated to have a value of over 300 billion Euros and statistic projections shows that the market is rapidly growing. The luxury market is expected to grow by more than 7% percent each year, which promises high revenue in the future of the market. Besides, countries such as Middle East that have shown

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in Cinema Essay Example for Free

Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in Cinema Essay Both the films Braveheart and V for Vendetta explore the issues of insurgent and counterinsurgent behavior but do so in slightly differing terms. As an important note, we have to take into consideration that the time periods in which both films are set cannot be even more different. Braveheart, the struggle of the legendary Scottish figure William Wallace, is set amidst the trials and tribulations of Middle Age England. On the other hand, V for Vendetta takes place in a not-too-distant version of modern day England. From this understanding comes the realization that while both films attempt to characterize the power struggle between those who have it and those who do not, there is a curious discrepancy in the way that the characters within those films view their plights. Mel Gibson, who directs Braveheart, chose to present insurgency as the morally apt option against the tyrannical rule of England against the Scots. It is heavily implied in the film that because the English has continuously abused its authority as against their constituents, that it is but proper for the beleaguered Scots to rise up and protect themselves from further maltreatment. The most striking characterization of this abuse happens early on when the lord of the land uses his authoritarian privilege of primae noctis, allowing him to take the virginity of a newly-wed. It is of course the wife of William Wallace in the film that fall victim to this exercise. Braveheart thus sets forth the idea that the collective abuse wrought on by an alien authority or figure upon a group of people is enough justification for a moral uprising, which in this case an armed one. William Wallace’s merry band of Scottish insurgents is clearly the â€Å"good† ones whereas King Edward I of England is the very facade of evil as his method of counterinsurgency is singularly fueled by his belief that his authority is supreme. V for Vendetta takes quite the different approach. Foremost, the insurgency presented in V is primarily lonesome, with the titular character going on a one-man crusade against a tyrannical party authority in 2027 England when it seems the rest of the world has succumbed to the â€Å"flaws† of democracy. In this film, the subjugation of freedom by the central authority is not necessarily carried out for the purposes of vanity or glory. Unlike in Braveheart’s Edward I, V for Vendetta’s Chancellor Sutler, while still very clearly presented as morally corrupt, actually believes that his party’s style of governance is for the greater good. Meanwhile, the film’s protagonist, or antihero as the case may be, V, appears to be as morally corrupt as the figure he is struggling against, resorting to the use of kidnapping and outright murder. This is a far cry for Mel Gibson’s interpretation of William Wallace, who is portrayed almost like a sword-saint. Clearly, both films attempt to portray their central characters as victims of circumstance, with Wallace as the distraught husband and V a survivor of governmental subjugation and that both are somehow motivated by sentiments of revenge. In a simple conclusion however, it is very interesting to propose the notion that Braveheart’s version of insurgency is more akin to a moral rebellion while V for Vendetta’s version edges closer to terrorism with a cause. Bonus Question: Of Cinematic Appeal I found V for Vendetta as more cinematically appealing than Braveheart. While Braveheart is an epic adventure that has a very satisfying â€Å"good vs. evil† template powering its message, V for Vendetta’s morally ambiguous structure is far more interesting. Just as the Alan Moore graphic novel original, the film adaptation of V for Vendetta is not only a visual masterpiece, but it is a prime subject for further discussion. In a way, I find that while V for Vendetta is very clearly easy on the eyes, it is not so easy on the brains. This is a complimentary observation for me because viewers, depending on their pre-conceived notions or biases, can take on differing sides of the moral dilemmas presented. As I watched V for Vendetta, I asked myself several times, â€Å"Isn’t V just a terrorist? † Then I realized that for V, maybe that wasn’t the case at all. Mid-Term Questions: 1. Compare and contrast the following concepts: a) Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: Insurgency constitutes an armed uprising by a group with no apparent vested authority against a duly-recognized power. Meanwhile, counterinsurgency is the means by which the besieged authority attempts to quell the insurgency normally by way of combat. In casual terms, insurgency is the act of rebel forces while counterinsurgency is the act of government. b) Insurgency and Terrorism: While insurgency covers the broad notion of an armed struggle following a somehow systemic way of combat against an opposing force, terrorism is likewise the use of lethal force with no apparent target. In a way, terrorism is a way to inflict terror, possibly to incite fear and paranoia amongst a populace, leading to concessions by the governing authority. c) Insurgency and Guerilla Warfare Guerilla warfare is a style of combat characterized by small groups using non-conventional means of warfare such as ambushes, hit-and-run tactics, but rarely acts of terrorism. Most insurgent groups prefer guerilla-style warfare early on in their struggles as they lack logistical support and manpower. 2. Briefly outline the four-stage model created by Dr. Polk in the book entitled, Violent Politics, to study the insurgency movements around the world. William Folk basically argues that any foreign occupation provides for the necessary ingredients for insurgency in the occupied land. This insurgency tends to favor the use of terrorist acts as a means to convey its struggle which in turn merits the response of the occupying power. As the cycle of terrorism-counterterrorism continues and builds up, a point is reached wherein the initial insurgency evolves into full-blown rebellion. 3. Briefly discuss Foucaults concept of power; and its impact on how people view what is normal and what is deviant. (15 points) Foucault’s concept of power is the exercise of intention. He claims that as power is everywhere, that intention is likewise everywhere. The ubiquity of intention influences the perceptions of the everyman, does giving birth to socially-agreed definitions or norms regarding deviance and normalcy.

Indian Steel Sector SWOT Analysis

Indian Steel Sector SWOT Analysis India has rich mineral resources. It has abundance of iron ore, coal and many other raw materials required for iron and steel making. It has the fourth largest iron ore reserves (10.3 billion tonnes) after Russia, Brazil, and Australia. Therefore, many raw materials are available at comparatively lower costs. It has the third largest pool of technical manpower, next to United States and the erstwhile USSR, capable of understanding and assimilating new technologies. Considering quality of workforce, Indian steel industry has low unit labour cost, commensurate with skill. This gets reflected in the lower production cost of steel in India compared to many advanced countries. With such strength of resources, along with vast domestic untapped market, Indian steel industry has the potential to face challenges successfully. The major strengths can be summarized as: Abundant resources of iron ore Low cost and efficient labor force Strong managerial capability Strongly globalised industry and emerging global competitiveness Modern new plants modernized old plants Strong DRI production base Regionally dispersed merchant rolling mills Weaknesses This are inherent in the quality and availability of some of the essential raw materials available in India, e.g., high ash content of indigenous coking coal adversely affecting the productive efficiency of iron-making and is generally imported. Also, Steel is a capital intensive industry; steel companies in India are charged an interest rate of around 14% on capital as compared to 2.4% in Japan and 6.4% in USA. In India the advantages of cheap labour get offset by low labour productivity; e.g., at comparable capacities labour productivity of SAIL and TISCO is 75 t/man year and 100 t/man years, for POSCO, Korea and NIPPON, Japan the values are 1345 t/man year and 980 t/man year. High administered price of essential inputs like electricity puts Indian steel industry at a disadvantage; about 45% of the input costs can be attributed to the administered costs of coal, fuel and electricity. The major weaknesses can be summarized as: High cost of energy Higher duties and taxes High cost of capital Quality of coking coal Labor laws Dependence on imports for steel manufacturing equipments technology Slow statutory clearances for development of mines Opportunities The biggest opportunity before Indian steel sector is that there is enormous scope for increasing consumption of steel in almost all sectors in India. The Indian rural sector remains fairly unexposed to their Multi-faceted use of steel. The usage of steel in cost Effective manner is possible in the area of housing, fencing, structures and other possible applications where steel can substitute other materials which not only could bring about Advantages to users but is also desirable for conservation of forest resources. Excellent potential exist for enhancing steel consumption in other sectors such as automobiles, packaging, engineering industries, irrigation and water supply in India. The key areas of opportunities can be summarized as: Huge Infrastructure demand Rapid urbanization Increasing demand for consumer durables Untapped rural demand Increasing interest of foreign steel producers in India Threats The linkage between the economic growth of a country and the growth of its steel industry is strong. The growth of the domestic steel industry between 1970 and 1990 was similar to the growth of the economy, which as a whole was sluggish. This strong relation in todays environment where the growth of the industry has become stagnant owing to the overall slowdown has resulted in enhanced rivalry among existing firms. As the industry is not growing the only other way to grow is by increasing ones market share. The Indian steel industry has witnessed spurts of price wars and heavy trade discounts, which has impacted the Indian Steel Industry. Slow growth in infrastructure development Market fluctuations and Chinas export possibilities Global economic slow down Govt. Regulations in Steel Sector Subsidies Interest Subsidy Huge amount of interest subsidy id provides by Indian govt. to PSUs in this sector. In the budget of 2008-09, a total of 60.72 crores of intersest subsidies were provided for the implementation of VRS scheme. Since VRS was for govt. companies so private sector didnt got affected by the VRS scheme, so in a way this subsidy was justified. The benefactors were Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd. and MECON. Waiver of guarantee fees Waiver of guarantee fee was on the guarantee given by Govt. of India for cash credit and Bank guarantee and for loans raised from Banks for implementation of VRS. The benefactors were Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd., Bharat Refractories Ltd. and MECON Capital Investment Subsidies Indian Govt. provides capital investment subsidies to PSUs. Govt. controlled Steel Development Fund helps PSUs and in private sector Tata steel by providing subsidized capital for financial Restructuring. However, new entrants, like Essar, Ispat and JVSL, who are negotiating with financial institutions (FIs) for capital restructuring, may feel the pinch. Also ,many state governments provide subsidized large capital investments such as new mill construction. The following states have actively engaged in capital incentive grants: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh. Other Regulations Programs that reduce or eliminate customs duties borne by steel producers, based on their exports. The Advanced License Program allow steel producers to import key inputs without paying basic customs fees. Iron export restraints that result in the sale of iron ore by Indias National Mining Development Council (NMDC) for less than cost. The NMDC has sold high-grade iron ore to steel producers at less than market value. Programs that provide steel producers with subsidized loans, lines of credit, tax exemptions, and loan guarantees. The Reserve Bank of India has developed a program through which steel producers can obtain export financing. The government-owned SAIL has received loan forgiveness under the Steel Development Fund. The awarding of captive mining rights for iron ore at less than cost. SAIL, Tata, JSW, and Jindal Steel and Power Limited have acquired iron ore from state-owned land at highly preferential rates estimated at one-fourth of market value. Exemptions from taxes and duties, as well as additional subsidies, for producers operating in Special Economic Zones. Under the 2005 SEZ Act, the Government of India has provided a variety of duty, tax, and fee exemptions. Export tariffs on iron ore supply In June 2008, India enacted export tariffs of 15 percent on all grades of iron ore, pig iron, and ferrous scrap. India revised its exports tariffs again in October and November 2008: the export tariff on pig iron has been revoked, but tariffs on iron ore and ferrous scrap remain in place. In addition, India maintains restrictions on the exports of certain high-grade iron ore. by Indias rapidly growing steel industry. Meanwhile, the GOI also announced plans for increased duties on imports of certain steel products in late 2008. Anti-Dumping Rules These are the measures to safeguard domestic industry from cheap steel exports of other countries. Recently, the government of India has levied anti-dumping duties on certain types of stainless steel that are shipped in from countries like China and Japan. The anti-dumping duties were imposed after finding that certain types of imported steel are landing at below the normal value in the countrys port. The subject countries will pay the duties in Indian currency, notified the board. The Central Board of Customs and Excise imposed the duties by saying that the domestic industry has suffered badly due to the imports from other countries. Licenses Iron ore mining licenses Iron being the basic raw material required such licenses play a major role in defining steel companies supply. Potential entrants The threat of potentially new entrants in the steel industry is low due to the high entry barriers that are present. Capital Requirement Steel industry requires heavy investment in a plant: blast furnace, basic oxygen converters, rolling mills, transportation and infrastructure to deliver high volume of raw materials and so on. It is estimated that between Rs 25-Rs.30 bn. is required to set up an integrated steel plant of 1 MTPA capacity depending on location of plant and technology used. Very few companies will be able to gather this kind of resources and it reduces the likelihood of new entrants. Government Policy Steel industry is a heavily protected industry and the government also has a favourable policy for steel manufacturers. The government can use a variety of strategies like tariffs, subsidies loan and import restrictions to ensure the competitiveness of the domestic market. As a result of government regulations and protections, it has often allowed the domestic steel market to continue operations even when better, cheap quality steel could be imported from another country. Also the steel market face environment regulations and industries are legally bound to develop cleaner and more efficient technologies. Regulation clearances and other issues are some other major concerns of new entrants. Economies of Scale Economies of scale are the cost advantages a business has due to expansion. The average cost of production of the firm decreases as the output increases. As far as steel sector is concerned, economies of scale reduce the costs, RD expenses and industries with economies of scale have better bargaining power while sourcing raw materials. Power of Buyers The buyers in the steel industry are usually quite large like some of the major steel consumption sectors like automobiles, oil gas, consumer durables, power generation which enjoy high bargaining power and obtain better deals for themselves. This tends to strengthen the buyer power somewhat. However steel is widely used in a wide variety of applications and steel companies can rely on relatively large number of customers overall which reduces the buyer power. There is not too much to distinguish between the products of companies in the market although some companies try to differentiate themselves by focussing on added-value speciality products. Lack of product differentiation tends to increase buyer power. However certain companies like TATA Steel enjoy a premium on their products because of its quality and its brand value. The buyers tend to enjoy a moderate level of power due to the relatively high no. Of players, low product differentiation and easy access to global markets. Power of Suppliers The key inputs for the steel industry are iron ore and metallurgical coal. The prices of these commodities are generally determined by large scale market forces which are beyond the control of individual steel making companies. Therefore in order to reduce suppliers power, some of the steel making companies go for backward integration. This strategy requires significant capital but it may be advantageous in the long run as the steel company need not depend on third party suppliers and it might offer the company an additional source of revenue if it can sell its raw materials to other companies. Some of the market players also tend to enter into long term contracts with their suppliers in order to fix price and protect against fluctuations. The bargaining power of suppliers is low for fully integrated steel plants like TATA STEEL which have their own mines of key raw materials like iron ore. However non-integrated or semi integrated steel plants like SAIL which import coking coal has to depend on suppliers. In India, NMDC is a major supplier to standalone and non integrated steel plants. Threat of Substitutes There are potential substitutes for steel available like steel reinforced concrete in building construction and aluminium or less common materials like fibreglass (glass-reinforced plastic).In fact, in the automobile industry where manufacturers are looking to use lighter materials aluminium or fibreglass can be especially advantageous. Automobile industry is one of the biggest markets for steel and steel faces competition from plastic and other composites. An aluminium car may be lighter and so more fuel efficient than a steel car. Furthermore, while metals such as steel can corrode, reinforced plastic is more durable. It is therefore possible for substitutes to fulfil the buyers needs more effectively than the original commodity. Steel has already been replaced in some large volume applications: railway sleepers (RCC sleepers), large diameter water pipes (RCC pipes), small diameter pipes (PVC pipes), and domestic water tanks (PVC tanks).The ability of consumers to adopt these subst itutes means that steelmakers cannot raise their prices indefinitely since at some point the substitute will turn out to be more cost effective. In spite of these factors, these alternatives are not very good replacements for steel. Aluminium is not preferable as a substitute for steel since the high cost of electricity used for the purification and extraction of aluminium in India outweighs its advantages as a substitute for steel in automobile industry. Using these substitutes would require substantial re-tooling of the assembly line. Certain large building and civil engineering projects which gain their structural strength from steel would become very difficult to construct if they are constructed using materials such as reinforced concrete. Thus although substitutes might be favourable in certain situations, switching costs are likely to be high. Thus the threat from substitutes is low. Competition The steel market is represented by several large players offering similar products and services. Steel is a commodity which is difficult to diversify strongly and being a commodity branding is not common and there is little difference between competing products. Although different customers require steel with different specifications(e.g. consistency in physical properties of steel, variations in strength, hardness, and bending properties) and steel producers try to specialize in order to reduce the competition but in doing so they also limit the size of their potential market. Therefore, the relative lack of diversification increases rivalry. Large companies present in the steel industry can take advantage of scale economies. The exit barriers are also high since many of the major tangible assets are highly specific to steel industry which makes it difficult to divest. As a result the steel makers are motivated to exist in the steel industry even when the market conditions are not good which tends to increase rivalry. The steel industry in India is also affected by macroeconomic conditions which further intensify rivalry. Local Competition for POSCO and ArcellorMittal SAIL Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is a steel manufacturing and marketing company. The Indian government owns about 86% of the outstanding shares of the company. SAIL is Indias second largest producer of iron ore. It is a fully integrated iron and steel maker, producing both basic and special steel products for domestic construction, engineering, power, railway, automotive, and defense industries, and for sale in export markets. The companys main steel products include hot and cold rolled sheets and coils, galvanized sheets, electrical sheets, structurals, railway products, plates, bars and rods, stainless steel, and other alloy steels. SAIL operates through eleven segments: Bhilai steel plant (BSP), Bokaro steel plant (BSL), Rourkela steel plant (RSP), Durgapur steel plant (DSP), IISCO steel plant (ISP), Salem steel plant (SSP), Visveswaraya iron and steel plant (VISL), Alloy steel plant (ASP), Maharashtra Elektrosmelt, power companies, and others. The five integrated steel plants have a combined capacity of 12.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 10.74 million tonnes of saleable steel. The company recorded net sales (sales net of excise duty) of INR431,767.6 million (approximately $9,421.2 million) in the financial year ended March 2009 (FY2009), an increase of 9.1% over FY2008. The operating profit of the company was INR75,600.2 million (approximately $1,649.6 million) in FY2009, a decrease of 22.8% compared with FY2008. The net profit was INR62,529.1 million (approximately $1,364.4 million) in FY2009, a decrease of 17.7% compared with FY2008. The main strengths of SAIL are its government backing and its captive sources of raw materials. SAIL has the second largest mining outfit in India after Coal India (CIL). Spread over the states of Jharkhand, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh, the mines of SAIL serve as captive sources of raw materials for its integrated steel plants. SAIL has five iron ore mines at Meghahatuburu, Kiriburu, Bolani, Barsua, and Kalta; and four limestone/dolomite quarries at Kuteshwar, Purnapani, Bhawanathpur, and Tulsidamar. SAIL plans to meet its additional 40 million tonnes of iron ore requirement through the development of new mines at Rowghat in Chhatisgarh and Chiria, Taldih, South Block (Kiriburu), Central Block (Meghahataburu), and expansion of existing operations at Kiriburu, Meghahataburu, Bolani and Gua, all in Jharkhand. Furthermore, it is developing new coal mines at Tasra and Sitanala in Jharkhand, which will produce about 2.5 million tonnes of washed coking coal per annum in the next three to four years. Captive sources of raw materials provide a competitive advantage as they shield the company from fluctuations in raw material prices. However if they are successful in entering India, competition from global steel manufacturers with expanded production capacity, such as ArcelorMittal and POSCO, could result in significant price competition, declining margins, and reductions in revenue for the company. Tata Steel Tata Steel Group is a private sector steel group in India. It is the worlds sixth largest steel company with capacity of 31 million tonnes per annum (tpa). Set up as Asias first integrated steel plant and Indias largest integrated private sector steel company, it is the worlds second most geographically diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and commercial presence in more than 50 countries. The group operates across Asia, Europe, and Australia. Tata Steel Group operates through two segments: Steel and others. The steel segment comprises the subsidiaries, Tata Steel India, Tata Steel Europe, NatSteel Holdings, and Tata Steel (Thailand) Public Company. The group recorded revenues of INR1,473,292.6 million (approximately $32,147.2 million) in the financial year ended March 2009 (FY2009), an increase of 12% over FY2008. The operating profit of the group was INR141,279.5 million (approximately $3,082.7 million) in FY2009, compared with an operating profit of INR 141,213.4 million (approximately $3,081.3 million) in FY2008. The net profit was INR49,509 million (approximately $1,080.3 million) in FY2009, a decrease of 59.9% compared with FY2008. SWOT Analysis A key strength of Tata Steel is its strong RD capabilities through which it develops new products and improves existing products, as well as enhances manufacturing and production methods. Tata Steel Group operates four research centers: Tata Steel Limiteds (TSL) laboratories in Jamshedpur and the Tata Steel Europes (TSE) technology centers in IJmuiden, Netherlands and Rotherham and Teesside, the UK. The group is undertaking research activities in several areas. Tata Steel Group is currently working on various projects that include economic mineral beneficiation aimed at identifying ways to maximize use of raw materials from captive sources; new generation high strength steels, advanced coatings developments, production of ferro-chrome with less energy; hydrogen harvesting, developing state-of-the-art thin film photovoltaic systems, and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across its operations. As of March 2009, the patent portfolio of Tata Steel Group comprised over 850 patent applications at various stages between filing and grant and over 850 valid patents granting national exclusive rights owned by the respective group companies. However a weakness for this company is its dependence on Europe as a key market. In FY2009, the company generated about 65% of its revenues from Europe. The depressed levels of demand in the region had a major impact on stainless steel markets. Minor changes in price levels, periodic demand growth, or currency rates in specific market areas and regions can affect Tata Steel Groups competitive position and financial performance. As with SAIL, competition from global steel manufacturers with expanded production capacity, such as ArcelorMittal and POSCO, could result in significant price competition, declining margins, and reductions in revenue for the company. Essar Steel Essar Steel (Essar) is a manufacturer of flat carbon steel from iron ore to ready-to-market products. The companys subsidiaries manufacture gas-based hot briquetted iron (HBI), steel pipes and cold rolled steel. The company operates in India, Canada, the US, the Middle East and Asia. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharastra. The company recorded revenues of INR116,883 million (approximately $2,550.4 million) in the fiscal year ended March 2009, an increase of 8.8% over 2008. The companys operating profit was INR17,969.4 million (approximately $392.1 million) in fiscal 2009, an increase of 13.3% over 2008. Its net profit was INR1,852 million (approximately $40.4 million) in fiscal 2009, a decrease of 56.8% compared to 2008. Jindal Steel Jindal Steel Power (JSPL), part of the Jindal Group, is engaged in steel manufacturing, power generation, coal and iron-ore mining, and exploration and mining of minerals and metals. JSPL operates in India. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India and employs about 15,000 people. The company recorded revenues of INR109,133.7 million (approximately $2,381.3 million) in the financial year ended March 2009 (FY2009), an increase of 97% over FY2008. The operating profit of the company was INR42,677.5 million (approximately $931.2 million) in FY2009, compared with INR17,737.3 million (approximately $387 million) in FY2008. The net profit was INR30,457.2 million (approximately $664.6 million) in FY2009, compared with INR 12,740.2 million (approximately $278 million) in FY2008. Entry Strategy of POSCO and ArcellorMittal The foreign steel MNCs opted to enter India through the FDI route. POSCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Orissa in June 2005, to set up a 12 MTPA green field steel plant near Paradip, Jagatsinghpur District, Orissa, with an estimated investment of USD 12 billion. The company planned to build a 4 million-tons per annum capacity steel plant in Orissa, during the first phase of its project , and expand the final production volume to 12 million tons per annum. POSCO-India Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated on 25th August 2005. In 2007, POSCO and SAIL signed a MoU to establish a strategic alliance for aligning and cooperating with each other in a wide range of strategic business and commercial interest areas. As per the MoU they agreed to cooperate in the following areas of business: information sharing in the area of corporate strategy planning, exchange of engineers, technicians and other professionals, sharing of know-how and expertise in the areas of development of mines and business practices such as ERP, PI and Six Sigma, joint usage of each others existing marketing and warehousing network, coordination in procurement of coking coal, nickel and ferro-alloys and engagement of transportation vessels. The strategic alliance between POSCO and SAIL was forged so as to synergise their strengths, and retain their identities in the consolidating global steel industry. This alliance was supposed to reinforce the relationship and open the doors of large scale collaboration on strategic business and commercial alignment. ArcellorMittal India Ltd., a subsidiary of ArcellorMittal, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Orissa on 21st December 2006 to set up their first green field integrated steel plant of initial capacity 6 million tons per year (MTPY) at an investment of around 9,300 million USD. ArcelorMittal had also proposed to set up a 12-Million Tonne Per Annum (MTPA) new steel plant in Jharkhand. In the case of both the companies, however, their plans for mega steel plants in India have not fructified due to delays in land acquisition and grant of mining leases. Hence, both the foreign steel giants have started looking for Joint-Venture opportunities in order to become operational in the lucrative Indian market. POSCO has announced a JV with Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) to set up a facility in India. ArcellorMittal also entered into a partnership agreement with steel producer Uttam Galva to buy 35 per cent stake in the latter, partly through share purchase from existing promoters and an open offer. ArcellorMittal is also rumoured to be pursuing a JV with SAIL POSCO-SAIL JV Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) have agreed to form a joint venture to establish a 3 million ton steel manufacturing unit in Bokaro, India with a total investment of approximately INR150,000 million ($3,232.37 million). SAIL is an India-based manufacturer and supplier of steel and its allied products, while POSCO is a South Korea-based steel manufacturer. As part of the partnership, POSCO will hold a 51% stake in the joint venture by investing INR35,000 million ($754.22 million), while SAIL will hold a 49% stake. The proposed joint venture will also include setting up a 0.3 million ton cold rolled non-oriented (CRNO) steel plant in Maharashtra, India The joint venture with POSCO will allow SAIL to access the latest technology in steel manufacturing and facilitate production of certain special grades of steel. ArcellorMittal-SAIL JV According to The Economic Times, ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based steel producer, may form a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Steel Authority of India Limited, an Indian steel maker, to establish a steel plant at Bokaro, India. The JV will have a capacity between 3 to 4 million tonnes with an investment of approximately INR120,000 million ($2,697.06 million). Conclusion The Indian steel industry has to factor in higher transaction costs, logistics costs and railway freight costs as compared to countries such as China and South Korea. Even electricity and interest costs in India are quite high, which makes the industry uncompetitive. As for labour costs, the industry suffers a comparative disadvantage vis-Ã  -vis Russia, China and South Korea, even though wage rates are low in India. This is because the labour cost per tonne in India is much higher than these three countries, and therefore, labour productivity is very low. Yet, most of the major Indian steel producers have gained some competitive edge over the years. The Indian steel manufacturers also enjoy other advantages like abundant supply of raw materials, skilled technical manpower, low wage rates and locational advantages. These provide about 55-60 per cent advantage in terms of operational costs. In the final analysis, it is imperative that Indian steel companies become significantly more competitive by improving productivity further and going in for rapid technological upgradation. The companies need to shift focus to competing on superior products and processes, rather than competing on factor endowments. This becomes all the more important since giants like POSCO have realised the competitive advantage that India offers and decided to establish a manufacturing base in India. With international steel giants such as POSCO breathing down the neck of Indian steel makers, it will be even more difficult for the latter to face competition in both domestic as well as international markets. As for POSCO and ArcellorMittal, who are facing huge roadblocks in setting up their plants in India due to land acquisition and mining licence issues, they can pursue projects with lesser hassle in other developing countries like Mexico and Vietnam. In India, they have the support of the government and hence, gradually they have to appease the tribal people that setting up a steel plant will be to their benefit. The tribal people must be compensated in a commensurate manner and all environmental protocols must be maintained. Then the foreign MNCs can expect to have a smooth road ahead in their Indian ventures.

Descriptive Essay - The Football Practice Field -- Descriptive Essay, D

The Beauty of the Football Practice Field Imagine a small town with green trees and windy roads slowly fading into the "dobes" of the desert that surround its southern border. Along with the desert is a vast mountain range that snuggles against its northern and eastern borders. The heart of this small town is its high school, which resides on the outer edge of the town where the green stops and the dry "dobes" begin. The school is completely surrounded by dry plains that stretch as far as you can see except for a small oasis of green grass. This small oasis of grass is known to many as the practice field. To those who are merely passing by, it looks like a dying piece of land that has been forgotten. What they don't know is the reason behind its dreadful appearance. The abuse it takes is from the pounding of hard spikes and heavy bodies that fall on it day in and day out. These, along with the pungent pools of water, have contributed to the field's downfall. Although it is a great sight seeing a patch of green amongst such dry plains and rolling "dobes", the most exciting v...

3.03 Managing Stress

Stress is a part of everyday life, but there is good stress and bad stress. The bad stress can be very detrimental to your health. Being able to manage the stress in your life is a very good skill to have. There are many ways that you can manage stress in your life but I am just going to talk about three. Yoga, reading, and jogging are just a few of the techniques that you can use in order to help relieve stress in your life.Yoga is a relaxation technique that is very helpful in diminishing the effects of stress on your life. The word yoga means â€Å"to join or yoke together,† and yoga brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience. Yoga incorporates exercise, breathing, and meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, thereby increasing its efficiency and total health. Breathing techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body.These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation, and the student finds an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress. Reading is a technique that I find to be extremely helpful in reducing stress. Psychologists believe this is because the human mind has to concentrate on reading and the distraction of being taken into a literary world eases the tensions in muscles and the heart.Even reading for just 7 minutes has been shown to relieve stress by 68 percent. Going into another world in the form of reading is extremely relaxing and, I think, the most effective way to reduce stress. Jogging can be the perfect distraction when you're dealing with a difficult situation. And the endorphins your body releases during running can give your mood a natural boost. By allowing you the time to think about life's problems or time to escape them for a while, tension easily flies out the door.Distance jogs are great for solving problems that are nagging at you. What better than a 3 hour jog all by yourself to clear your mind and allow you to pin down an answer? Even though there are many other ways that you can relieve stress these are the ones that I have chosen to relieve my stress. in trying all of these out I have found that reading was the best stress reliever that I had tried. Reading helped me to travel to another world and forget about all the stressors in my life even if it was only for an hour or two.