Eliade on Baptism

Renate Rodila Professor Nick Newell Rels 2001 17 September 2012 Eliade on Baptism Eliade believes in a sacred space that is connected to the creation of the cosmos from chaos. Through these beliefs Eliade would see baptism as a ritual symbolizing the original act of creation by God. Eliade claims that for religious man and non-religious man a sacred space exists. For religious man the sacred space is not homogenous and divided between the real existing space and the entire formless expanse surrounding it (Eliade 20).For non-religious man, places such as a man’s birthplace can be considered unique and sacred to them (Eliade 24). Religious man separates space between cosmos and chaos. The cosmos is the inhabited world and the chaos is the unknown space outside the world (Eliade 29). Eliade then describes the axis mundi as a vertical feature seen as the center of the world. This center is labeled as a pole, pillar or tree that links the heaven, the earth, and the underworld (Elia de 36).The imago mundi is defined as the cosmos on the ground divided into four regions with the axis mundi as the central point (Eliade 45). The religious man wants to be in a place closest to the gods and can do this by physically living in a location near the axis mundi or by experiencing the cosmos as it was first created. In the book of Matthew and Romans the use of baptism in the Christian world is explained. Matthew 3 tells the story of how baptism started with Jesus going to the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist.The moment Jesus was baptized the heavens opened up and he saw a dove as the spirit of god (Bible, Matthew 3:16). He also heard a voice from heaven saying, â€Å"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased† (Bible, Matthew 3:17). Eliade would refer to the Jordan River in Jerusalem as a sacred space for the Christian community. The heavens opening at this spot makes it an axis mundi because it is a place where the communication from earth t o the heavens was exposed.Eliade acknowledges in his writing that Jerusalem is a sacred and holy place in the Judaeo- Christian Traditions (Eliade 44-45). This is the location where Jesus was baptized because of how sacred it was there. In Romans 6 baptism is told to be a way that man can be reborn into a new life free of sin. Baptism make the man become one with the body of Christ and through him become alive to god (Bible, Romans 6:10-11). Then back to Matthew in chapter 28 Jesus told his disciples to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Jesus can also be considered an axis mundi because he is the connection to the cosmic levels. So by being baptized and becoming one with Jesus a person is able to get closer to God. Being baptized serves as a symbol of the rebirth of the world. Eliade says, â€Å"The experience of sacred time will make it possible for religious man periodically to experience the cosmos as it was†¦at the mythical moment of creation† (Eliade 65). Man needs to experience the creation of the cosmos and for Christians that is through baptism.When someone is baptized that person is submerged in water and the taken back out. The water can be seen as the formless expanse of chaos and emergence from water symbolized creation and birth, whereas on the other hand, immersion in water meant the loss of form and symbolized a return to the situation prior to creation, and death prior to rebirth. To sum it up Eliade would consider the aquatic symbolism of baptism as a way to get closer to God and spiritually reliving the creation of the cosmos.

Modern Figurative Art Essay

The artists used darker colours from the 1830s to the 1860s, and the main subject of the paintings were simple portraits of significant people or self portraits of the artists themselves. As you move further through the sections, there are more scenic and historical paintings, as well as paintings showing everyday situations of the time. I found interesting the amount of landscape/nature paintings, as well as paintings depicting life in Canada in their respective time periods. By the end, we get the more expressionits and abstract paintings that get larger in size as time progressed. Finding Meaning in Art  Ã‚  Art asks us to find our own meaning at times. Find the large work Pavane by Canadian artist Jean-Paul Riopelle in gallery A111.  (a) How is the artist trying to convey meaning?  I think Riopelle is trying to convey meaning in the work by using three very large canvases and a wide variety of colours to attract the viewer’s attention. When you walk into the room the enormous size of the painting get your attention immediately. The three sections are divided for a reason finding in the middle the widest spectrum of colours and other less stand out colour in the surroundings. A very abstract painting, you can tell alot of effort and time has been put into Pavane. (B)What is your interpretation of Pavane?  It took me a long while to try to understand Pavane, I couldn’t really see past the simple strips of coloured paper, and the huge size of the painting, then after a couple of minutes of studying and walking around it I began to notice how the main colours are in the center and aren’t just thrown into the painting randomly, it is very different to the other paintings in the room so I thought perhaps Riopelle was trying to make this piece more modern than the other pieces of work of the time. Trying to be different and to stand out as an artist, just like the colours in Pavane, to be the center of the art world. When I researched Pavane online, I found that it was partially true, because after making this painting he became very successful in the cultural scene.  Nature, Mathematics and Art  After you are through gallery A114, go into the garden. There is a metal piece of art which looks like DNA. You are allowed to play with this if you choose. Look at the plants more closely.  Ã‚  (a) Is nature itself art? If so, does that mean everything is art? Nature is not art, but is the basis of it, its there so we can turn it into our own personal interpretation of it. Its when a human takes nature and creatively does something with it so that it influences and affects the senses, emotions, and/or intellect that it actually becomes art. Human intervention is what makes Art, Art.  (b) Do you think computers can create REAL art on their own, or are people required to create art? Computers cannot create art because they are incapable of having emotions and to convey meaning to a work of art. Besides, computers are made my man, so if a computer creates art, it is because a human has programmed the computer to able to create it.  Architecture  Next to the fern garden is the now reconstructed Rideau Street Convent Chapel. Sit in it for a moment to rest.  (a) Do you think this chapel has a rightful place in an art gallery? Why or why not?  I think the chapel doesn’t have a rightful place in the art gallery because even though its very pretty and decorative I found it to be too modern for my liking, and also didn’t have much to do with what the subjects in the previous rooms were. There was religion influence in the some paintings but in the majority. It would be conveniently placed in a section that includes more religious sculptures and works of art. (b) What qualities do you think buildings need to be called good architecture?  Good architecture is a building intentionally done to communicate a certain message and that took a lot of hard work and thought into making. If it is creating solely to serve a purpose it is not art, but if it also has an idea or a message built into it, it’s when it becomes art.  (c) Excluding Parliament Hill, Chateau Laurier, Supreme Court of Canada, the National Gallery of Canada, museums, or any other government building – Name one building in Ottawa you consider art and one building you think is not art. Explain. I found the Notre Dame Cathedral very impactful when I first got here, I think its art because it was built not just as a church but to evoke a religious response from people, the originality of the silver material its made from make it an attractive and artistic structure.  A building that is not art would be just a regular ScotiaBank office building, this is because of many reasons, there was no emotion or idea put into it, its is not attractive of artistic in any way and there are many of these in almost every Canadian city, which takes out its originality.

Article two Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Article two - Essay Example Engaging in corporate responsibility gives the company a better image and consumers will want to engage more in the products being offered ( Crane, 21). Social responsibility can take different forms, the most popular being committing funds or resources for important social aspects. An example is donating money towards funding a facility for the blind. Another form of social responsibility is producing goods and services that are in the best interest of the whole community such as environmental friendly products or use of safe manufacturing materials. According to (Crane, 79) the best form of corporate social responsibility should integrate the two forms mentioned above. Produce environmental friendly products and funding charitable activities. Conclusively, the benefits of social responsibility include easy government relations. Companies have a more positive outlook if they take social responsibility seriously. No problems or campaigns will be launched against such companies. It also benefits the public relations by shaping consumer image and acting as a branding tool. Last it provides a positive environment in the working place. The employees are more productive knowing that they are engaging with a company that cares about the society (crane,

ADVANCING YOUR CAREER Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ADVANCING YOUR CAREER - Assignment Example are found including intensive care units in hospitals, pediatrics care units, neonatal intensive care units, cardiac care units, telemetry care units, cardiac catheter care units, emergency care units, progressive care units and recovery units. However, the critical care nurses also work in home care, nursing schools and outpatient surgery clinics and centers (Williams & Williams, 2001). My preferred area of practice is working in the management of the advanced critically ill patients in home care healthcare setting. The target group is the critically ill patients who can benefit from home based care and do not require hospital care. These will target the elderly people facing life threatening conditions as well as children. Critical care nurses work in various setting filling many roles that include bedside clinicians, critical care researchers, clinical care specialist, as well as nurse specialists. My preferred role in the critical care setting will be a clinical nurse specialist as well act as a bedside clinician. To become a critical care nurse, the nurse ought to be a registered nurse. This calls for the nurse to achieve an associate or bachelor degree in the nursing profession and as well pass the national Council Licensing Examination. Once the nurse passes the examination, he starts works as a registered nurse in critical care unit for 2 years while continuing their education in critical care nursing. Once attaining the requirements, the nurse needs to take the critical care-nursing certificate awarded by the American association of the critical care nurses. The nurse, however, needs to continue advancing in education to stay updated with the current information, technologies and changing practices (Aldridge, 2012). Critical home based care nurses practice in setting where the patients will require high complex assessment and interventions, high intensive therapies and continues vigilant observations. This requires the use of much machinery and

Theories of Electricity and Magnetism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theories of Electricity and Magnetism - Essay Example It is possible to transform an electric field into a magnetic field and vice versa. This essay will therefore analyze the properties of electricity and magnetism and their relationship with respective theories. Magnetism There are three basic properties of magnetism. These properties are the basic behaviors of magnets and they define laws that govern magnetism. The first property of magnetism is the bipolar property. According to this property, a magnet has two unlike poles. It is also impossible to separate the two poles of a magnet or to create a monopole magnet. This indicates that whenever a magnet is split into two pieces, two unlike poles always result creating two independent and complete magnets. The second property of magnetism is the attraction of unlike poles and repulsion of like poles. This significant property forms the basis of most theories that governs magnetism. The third property of magnetism is the existence of a magnetic field or the region around the magnet with in which the effects of a magnet are experienced (David 109). A magnet has a strong field around its poles and its strength varies inversely with the distance from the magnet. Theories of magnetism are based on the three properties and they explain why magnets behave the way they do. Magnetic theories are also used to predict occurrences that cannot be verified physically as the three properties. The first significant theory of magnetism is the Weber’s theory of magnetism. According to this theory, the magnetic property of a magnet is based on the magnetic property of each individual molecule. Weber hypothesized that each molecule behaves like a tiny magnet that has the bipolar property discussed above. According to Weber’s theory, the difference between a magnet and non-magnet results from the magnetic field of each molecular magnet. During the magnetization process, the molecules of a piece of material are aligned in one direction with all their south poles and north poles facing in a similar direction. In an un-magnetized material opposite poles of each individual molecule are oriented in a similar direction resulting in cancellation of the magnetic force. Such a material will have zero resultant force (David 119). This theory is closely related to the bipolar property of a magnet. According to the theory, the two poles of each magnet results from the fundamental molecular magnet that forms the magnet under consideration. The inability to create a monopole magnet also has its basis on the existence of bipolar molecules. Each split or separation of a magnet results into two independent magnets with independent south poles and north poles. This is because the splitting of a magnet does not affect the direction of the magnetic force of each individual molar magnet. Finally, the theory supports the field property of magnets. This is because the magnetic field around each magnet results from the cumulative field of each individual molecule. The sec ond significant theory of magnetism is the domain theory. This theory is based on the orbiting or spinning of electrons around the nucleus. The spinning of electrons creates both an electric and magnetic field around the electron. When most of the electrons within an atom spin in a similar direction, a magnetic field results around the atom. Magnetism results from the resultant effects of such electrons. On the other hand, the atoms of a non-magnetized mater

Explain how different definitions and contrasting theories trying to Essay

Explain how different definitions and contrasting theories trying to explain the causes of dyslexia have shaped your understanding of the syndrome. Discuss the implications for a diagnosis of dyslexia - Essay Example These models are widely related to some biological make-up of victims. The concepts are, therefore, referred to as the biological systems of dyslexia (Wagner, 1973). The theories have been developing as researchers continues to investigate the causes of the disease. Their motivation is derived by their search that could mitigate the disease. One of the theories that have been placed onward in explaining the occurrence of dyslexia is the Cerebellar Theory (Stein & Kapoula, 2012). The model explains that dyslexia is caused by the malfunction of the cerebellum (Beaton, 2011). The lack of proper functioning of the cerebellum may lead to impairment of the brain and therefore the information may lack a good processing when reading. Theorists to this knowledge came up with the idea after a thorough investigation of the information entering the brain at a given time. When a person has some defects on the brain, the signals sending the message got distorted, and their response fails. The theory also suggests that the brain disorder makes the patient have no room to store what he or she is reading. Even though, they read they lack to comprehend whatever they are reading. Another concept that explains the existence of dyslexia is an evolutionary model (Stevens, 2010). The theory outlines that dyslexia may occur as a result of a problem during the human evolution. Human being changes their behaviour as they evolve, and their young ones should also develop these changes, failure to which they will be left behind in development. Majority of communities uses speech as a way of communication rather than written methods. The lack of exposure in writing and reading causes dyslexia according to the theory. The theory has similar reasoning with the cerebellar theory in that the symptoms associated are caused by the lack of proper development of cerebellar vestibular. Cerebellar vestibular malfunction,

Assignment 4-3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment 4-3 - Essay Example This situation had grown to the extent that the older employee was experiencing difficulty reaching his previously set quality of work, and his worsened moods meant that the general work-place environment was affected. Other co-workers did identify the situation, and were also affected as they had to interact with both. It was identified that the older employee claimed that he had no issue with any religious affiliation or doctrine; but felt that religion should be personal, and should not overpower one's behavior and style of speaking at work; since the work-place is a multicultural atmosphere. He felt that having to constantly hear religious metaphors reduced the professional element of the work-place. The younger employee on the other hand confessed to find great strength and inspiration from religion. He claimed that he never meant to hurt anyone's sensibilities but the religious metaphors were understood easily by all, and helped him make his point. He also believed that there w as no harm in using religious metaphors to promote positive and productive attitudes. Given the situation where neither is at fault, but the matter is more of a clash between personal attitudes, it was difficult to arrive at a solution easily.

Recombinant Human Insulin Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Recombinant Human Insulin - Research Paper Example If the glucose molecule present in the blood is not absorbed then the person will not receive the energy from the glucose and the metabolic products produced by the catabolism and anabolism of the glucose molecule. As the glucose molecule is the basic energy giving molecule, the metabolic balance will collapse. Similarly, the concentration of the insulin molecules must increase after a meal automatically, if this does not happen then the person is prone to diabetes mellitus. (Colwell 2003). Sugars such as glucose enter the liver from the gut by the hepatic portal vein, the only blood vessel in the body having an extremely variable sugar concentration. Thus it proves that the liver is the important organ as it maintains the blood glucose level. The liver maintains a standard glucose level irrespective of how long or recent the food was taken. When the glucose is in excess the glucose and other hexose sugars such as fructose and galactose are converted into the insoluble glycogen and stored in the liver. When there comes arises a demand for the glucose, the glycogen is converted back into glucose and utilized by the body. Diabetes is caused because of two reasons. One is due to the lack of insulin and the other is due to the failure of the cell’s receptors to attach the insulin molecules at its receptor sites. The first type is called as type 1 diabetes mellitus and the second type is called as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sometimes the genetic defects may cause a lack in the secretion of the insulin.

The Solution to Terrorism Essay Example for Free

The Solution to Terrorism Essay Incidents of terrorism are among the biggest problem being faced in the international community. Terrorism is the use of coercive force to spread terror, fear and chaos amongst innocent victims. Terrorism is usually perpetrated to impose an ideological goal in which terrorists believe that targets must be deliberately aimed at, disregarding the outcome of their actions, the welfare of their combatants and their impacts upon innocent civilians.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Terrorism is a widespread phenomenon. Most of the countries suffered from its effects since the dawn of history. While there have been modifications and aspects at which it is employed by terrorist groups, the ultimate goal is to instill fear and to weaken the states in order to impose their ideologies towards other societies. Thus, international terrorism has indeed posted a great amount of uncertainties, doubts and fear among the people. The solution to the terrorist incidents is yet unknown, however there are different views that are of great importance in order to solve this dilemma.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   United States of America, with its hegemonic leadership, has also claimed about being victims of terrorism. Attacks launched against United States have put them under fire. And as such, the actions committed against their government and stability fueled counterattacks, and the has rather put the emphasis in battling terrorism intensified than ever. United States Terrorism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The terrorist attacks committed against the United States of America flared up a number of heated reactions and counter aggressions. The attacks on September 11, 2001 marked the aggressive counter insurgency acts against their perceived opponents. Simultaneously, the United States government made an international statement that involved United States allies in their â€Å"fight against terrorism† (Zunes).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When the attacks occurred in United States, the government was prompted to retaliate and create plans of action in order to restore peace in the country. Counter terrorist actions are also geared towards eradicating terrorists activities around the world. The United States government under George W. Bush administration claimed that the actions that they initiated were aimed at helping other countries that are suffering under the claws of terrorism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, some observers within the international community had different views on the United States intention behind their savage plans of action against the countries which they thought and believed were supporting terrorist groups. Given the history of warfares that United States engaged in, some believed that there were far larger motives behind the attacks they launched, specifically against Iraq. Solution to Terrorism     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The incidences of terrorism have been excessively alarming. And the past counterattacks to subdue terrorism have never been proven to become useful in solving the terrorist dilemma. Instead, the counterattacks that targeted United States aggressors rather intensified the chaos brought by insurgencies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Religious disputes have been for long, the root cause of ideological differences which often result in religious wars. The United States deliberate refusal to recognize their religious differences with the Muslims, further heightened the animosity between Muslim states and United States and their allies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Violence is never a solution for violence; as such, war will not be able to put an end to wars. The recent experiences of United States in their engagement in wars will prove that further involvement in such will only increase atrocities rather than solve the conflict. During the three years wherein United States participated in the war in the Middle East is a proof that chaos countered with chaos shall only never succeed in bringing democracy in Iraq, Israel or countries in the Middle East that are being questioned for support to terrorism (Zinn).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These actions from the United States are only proof of them being â€Å"inevitably indiscriminate and morally reprehensible† (Zinn). The truth that the United States resorted to use violent means in dealing with such situations, rather than employ democratic ways of solving conflicts is a proof of their refusal to make amends to ensure international peace. In addition, these attempts to seize the lands and territories of Unites States opponents have only acquired them more enemies rather than allies. It further increased the animosity between races and religions, which definitely will not work to the benefit of the people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It must be reiterated that increasing the animosity between two sides who believe in different religion, culture and ideologies will never put an end to international chaos. Rather, if two opposing sides will try to meet despite their differences rather than widening the gap, international peace may be attainable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this light, it must be put into consideration that indeed religious differences are important factors in solving the terrorism dilemma. People must learn to believe that Islam is not, and was never the source of terrorism in the world. The concept of â€Å"Islamic Terrorism† in the world has widened enough the gap between the Muslims and people who belong to different religious groups. Islam is not cause of terrorism. And as such, acceptance of this fact may lead the international community towards a solution in combating terrorism in a rather peaceful way (Yahya).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Islamic believers and scholars, Muslims do not view war as the sole solution to bring peace in the world, neither to impose their beliefs amongst the people. The values taught to them from their religion states that spreading terror amongst the society is never an option, nor killing innocent lives. Religious wars and retaliations are only allowed and necessary if their beliefs and race are being trampled by other people (Yahya). The Root Cause of Terrorism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The increasing trend of third world animosity is one of the most important factors that contributes to the occurrences of terrorism. Islam, being a widespread religion and belief among members of the third world countries has become a target for first world countries who have beliefs different from what they are accustomed for.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Members of the first world countries, the United States in particular have always been a fanatic of providing â€Å"enlightenment and camaraderie† amongst less developed countries. Americans and their allies have always assumed the role of â€Å"leaders† and international pacifier. Thus, they have neglected the need to recognize their differences with other people of other descents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This animosity and eagerness of the Westerners to â€Å"educate and liberalize† their counterparts in the East has increased the gap between the more powerful West and the less developed East, particularly the Muslim nations who have always considered their beliefs as sacred. The Westerners inability to understand these differences caused the Muslim Easterners to feel dislodged from the international community. And the massive attempts done deliberately to lure them into embracing the Western culture only aggravated the gap and the hostility among nations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Terrorism has occurred as a response to the Westerners, particularly United States attempts to extend their influence over other countries. These retaliations were geared towards preserving their culture, and protecting their beliefs and territories from foreign invasion. However, United States with their distinct influence and control over the majority of less developed countries were able to rationalize their attacks and actions against Muslim countries as noble acts that are only intended to keep the international community peaceful and less chaotic. Conclusions and Recommendations for the West   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Western notion on the use of terror in the Islamic context is often misplaced and deliberately misused to serve the Westerners purpose. The continuous beliefs by the majority of the world that Islamic fundamentalists are terrorists add to the animosity and anxiety of Muslims against people from different race and religion. If this shall perpetuate and continue, the gap between Muslims and Christians, Westerners and Easterners and third world and first world countries shall never be resolved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In order to put an end to these animosities, the continuing clash of civilization must stop first. The notion of West superiority and their desire to civilize the East will not work at all times. Other states will retaliate and oppose this â€Å"noble† cause. As mentioned, the Muslims are highly trained to believe that their religion is sacred, and attempts to forge another belief into them will cause further violence rather than peaceful amendments. Thus, rather than trying to impose a new culture, religion and set of beliefs to them, the Westerners should learn how to cope with their differences and try to become rather open in dealing with them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most importantly, the source of all the conflicts in the international arena is anchored on the ignorance of the people and their deliberate attempts to enforce bigotry rather than acceptance. Thus, instead of insurgencies and counterattacks against those who believe differently from what they have been accustomed at, people from different countries must try to become open at accepting differences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gaining a better understanding of the occurrences behind terrorism and recognizing the differences between races, ethnicities and religions, a solution to terrorism may be found in increasing the openness of different societies with each other. Cultural and religious relativism may decrease incidents of terrorism. In addition, recognizing the pursuit towards political, economic and religious autonomy from the dictates of more powerful nations may help in subduing terrorist threats.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Different people who belong in different races are always prone to misunderstandings. However, given enough concern and openness to the varying opinions from people who were raised in different cultures and societies will lessen the hostility between races and ethnicities. Thus, instead of engaging in wars and resorting to violent means of resolving these differences, governments of states must think of better and more proper ways of reaching out to other states. Imposing ones influence through the use of coercive force is not effective, it rather brings forth violence while instilling fear among the citizens. If we want the world to become peaceful and less chaotic, we must start employing peaceful methods to battle terrorism, violence and hostilities between countries.       Works Cited Yahya, Harun. (n.d). â€Å"Islam is Not the Source of Terrorism, But its Solution.† Islam Denounces Terrorism. 24 July 2008 http://www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com/mainarticle.html Zinn, Howard. (2006). â€Å"War is Not a Solution for Terrorism.† Boston News. 24 July 2008 http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/09/02/war_is_not_a_solution_for_terrorism/ Zunes, Stephen. (2001). â€Å"International Terrorism.† Foreign Policy in Focus. 24 July 2008 http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol3/v3n38terr.html

The Marketing Strategy Of Apple Inc And Its Effectiveness

The Marketing Strategy Of Apple Inc And Its Effectiveness After reviewing the list of available topics for the 2012 Oxford Brookes Research and Analysis Project, I was most drawn to the topic A review of the Marketing Strategy of an organisation and its success because this relationship between the marketing strategy and organisational success is an area of high interest to me. I believe that undertaking this project will expose me to the real life interplay of the marketing models in the implementation of the business strategy of an organisation and help me to understand how a good marketing strategy can result in the success or otherwise of an organisations business strategy. Being much aware of how between 1995 and 1997 Apple Incorporated (then Apple Computers Incorporated) almost went bankrupt with $1 billion in backorders (California Digital Library, 1998); I believe that Apple Incorporated will be a fit candidate for this project analysis to show how an effective marketing strategy turned a failing company into the most valuable corporate body in share prices in under a decade (BBC UK, 2012). 1.2 Brief historic overview of Apple Inc. and its development: Apple Inc. wholly-owned subsidiary involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of mobile communication devices, computers and portable digital devices, including related software solutions and peripherals. Apple was established in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and Incorporated on January 3, 1977 in Cupertino, California (California Digital Library, 1998). Initially a success, infighting and a power struggle between founder Jobs and CEO John Sculley on which products to develop and market led to Jobs resigning from Apple in 1985 (California Digital Library, 1998). Misguided product development, poor research into consumer products and a failure to understand consumer needs led to a fall in market share, profits and faced near bankruptcy in 1996 after huge losses and unfulfilled backorders (California Digital Library, 1998). A restructuring of products and a strategic partnership with Microsoft to invest $150 Million in non-voting Apple shares and making available Office, Internet and development tools on Apples Macintosh computers, helped keep Apple afloat (CNET News, 1997). Apple currently is a market leader in the Mobile Computing industry with a much diversified range of products; including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Macintosh Computers. 1.3 Project Objectives: The objectives I aim to achieve by undertaking this project work include: To understand how the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models are applied to the market/product relationship and the overall development of a marketing strategy for an organisation. To review the marketing strategy of Apple using the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models and access how the market/ products of Apple are developed effectively marketed to their consumer base. To access the contribution(s) that the application of these models by Apple Incorporated has made to their financial performance. This assessment will include: The contribution to net sales from their main market products. Access the effectiveness of their marketing costs to net sales. 1.4 Overall Research Approach The research is centred on the analysis and review of the marketing strategy of Apple Incorporated by evaluating their product development and marketing strategies from the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models. The research approach which will enable me meet the outlined objectives will include a mix of theoretical models and making inductive conclusions from their practical application by Apple. Deductive assessment from qualitative and quantitative contributions to the success of Apple by their applications of the functions of these models will be made from the financial statements of Apple and from Industry and Media publications. Chapter 2 Information Gathering In this research and analysis project there were mainly two sources of information I considered; primary and secondary. 2.1 Sources of Information Primary Sources Primary sources are the first hand information gathered by the researcher directly in the research field from his subjects and are usually in their crude form (Yale University, 2008). Methods for obtaining primary data include: Questionnaires and Oral Interviews I will not make use of the primary data sources due to constraints including: Financial constraints, time limit, subject location and the non-response of the subject to my request for information. Secondary Sources Secondary sources of information are that which is available to a researcher as a result of other research work or publications in a relevant field; this necessarily will not mean similar or same research objectives; but does make the relevant fact and data available to a secondary researcher (University of Illinois, 2011). Sources of secondary data include Industry related and media publications, Textbooks, Financial reports, etc. I will make use of secondary data sources as they were more convenient to the constraints I faced. My sources of secondary data included: Industry and Media Publications: I will make use of publications and tools from experts in the computing industry including reports from C.Net, Web Archives Organisation and The Car Phone Warehouse. References will also be made to major events and activities of the Apple in media and news publications and some of which include the Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, The BBC and CNN. This enabled me to access independent views on the success or otherwise of Apples marketing strategy. Library research: During the research I frequented my local library in Leyton, the library of the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Library of the London School of Business and Finance. This facilitated me on my understanding of the ANSOFF and Marketing Mix models and their theoretical development. Electronic Research: I also made use of the internet to gather the majority of information I needed to analyse the history, development and current strategic position of Apple Incorporated, to which the website of the SEC, www.sec.gov, provided me with financial publications and reports. I also found information on the prices of relevant competitive products including the Samsung, HTC and VIM (Black Berry) from industry participants like the Car Phone Warehouse, www.carphonewarehouse.com. 2.3 Ethical Considerations of the Project: As an ACCA student and having written the Ethics and corporate governance module I do understand clearly the ethical situations that can arise from analysing an organisations strategies. I have as such made no attempt to obtain or disclose any top level information or data that might jeopardise the long term strategic position of my subject of study: Apple Incorporated. All the information that I will use in my analysis are publicly available from Apples financial reports and from various other industry and media outlets. References will be made to these media outlets, news events and such relevant information in the financial statements of Apple and all such sources will be disclosed as due and correctly attributed to. To the best of my knowledge neither myself nor any close relative hold any form of financial instrument, shares or stock in Apple or any competitor in the mobile electronics industry and as such I do not seek to profit from this research for any effects it might have on such instruments. 2.4 Theoretical base and definition of Models The ANSOFF Model developed by H. Ansoff (Johnson et al 2005) is a product/market growth matrix that allows an organisation to generate alternative directions for its strategic development. Alternative strategic directions are options of products and market coverage that are available to an organisation taking into account their strategic capability and the expectations of stakeholders (Johnson et al, 2005). Protect / Build Product Development Consolidation With existing capabilities Market Penetration Beyond current expectations With new capabilities Market Development Diversification New segments With existing capabilities New territories With new capabilities New uses with new capabilities Beyond current expectations Beyond current expectations Source: H. Ansoff (1988) as cited by Johnson et al (2005). An organisation typically starts from the position of building or protecting their market presence with its existing products in their existing market (Box 1). The organisation then has the choice of pushing further the same product in that very market or moving to developing new products in that market (Box 2). The organisation can also bring their existing products into new markets (Box 3) and finally the last and most radical option of diversifying into a new market with a new product (Box 4). (Box 1) Protect / Build: According to Johnson et al (2005) this involves consolidating and strengthening their current market status with their current products. This may require just increasing the efficiency of their processes by downsizing some activities. This approach is much preferred stagnant markets and requires much competitive advantage or edge to win over customers from competitors. Box 2 Product Development: A business resides in an environment and changes in that environment will demand new products or services at the expense of an established product. An organisation then delivers these modified or new products to existing markets. Product development is most utilised by industries with short product life cycle software and consumer electronics (Johnson et al, 2005). Box 3 Market Development: This is the case where existing products are offered to new markets which may include exploiting into other market segments, developing new users for existing products and advancing on the geographical stage both nationally and internationally. In all cases, it is prudential that market development strategies are based on products or services that meet the critical success factors of the intended new market. As simply on offloading traditional products or services into new markets are likely to fail. Market development also requires a degree of product and capability development (Johnson et al, 2005). Box 4 Diversification: This is a strategy that removes an organisation away from their current markets and products; that is their established comfort zone of domination as one may put it (Johnson et al, 2005). Diversification increases the market power that the head office must oversee and may be in response to a market decline, an attempt to spread risk or as a corporate response to the expectations of powerful stakeholders. Diversification can be understood in two ways; Related and Unrelated. Related diversification is seen as a strategic development beyond current products and markets; but within the capabilities or value network of the organisation. Unrelated diversification has to do with developing beyond the current capabilities or current value system and this is often referred to as conglomerate strategy (Johnson et al, 2005). An organisation can make a choice as to which of the function(s) of the model to apply in its strategic options. When this option has been made an organisation then has to develop a marketing approach to gain the advantage over their competitors. Marketing Model (Marketing Mix): Marketing is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably; it is widely used as a concept or a process and to cover a series of techniques (CIM, 2012). Marketing strategy therefore reflects a companys best options as to how it can most profitably apply its skills and resources to the chosen product and segment market Consumers have needs and wants, and are placed into segments based on those needs, but understanding the nature of customers and their needs is only just but the first step in implementing a business strategy. An organisation needs to communicate to the consumer why their product fulfils these needs and the tools used in this communication form the basis of the marketing mix model; being the Product, Price, Place and Promotion, also known as the 4Ps. The 4 Ps model was developed by McCarthy (Kotler et al, 2008) but modern scholars have identified 3 more Ps, People, Processes and Physical evidence that are more at play in the service sector, Booms and Bitner in (1981), as cited by Brassington and Pettit (2006). Product: This is what the customer receives from the organisation or manufacturer; totality of goods and services that the company offers the target market. (Kotler et al, 2008:49). A product goes beyond just the item sold, and is not only what to make, but how, when and its life span of feasible production. In marketing terms a product is split between the actual product and the augmented product. The actual product in its simple terms must satisfy the basic needs of the customer; and thus can be termed as the threshold product. However if an organisation seeks to survive in a changing market, it must provide more than the basic product. Price: The price is the amount of money the customer parts with in order to acquire the product; and may involve more than just the basic and straightforward calculation of costs and expected profit margins of the organisation (Brassington and Pettit, 2006). A common trait with price; regardless of the basis of calculation; is that it must reflect the value the customer holds to the product. This is a customers individual behaviour trait as Brassington and Pettit (2006) noted; and is a judgemental perception of what they are getting for their money, what options their spending power held for them and how much the amount relatively means to them. External factors that affect price include competitors and the general economy. The influence of pricing on the success of the overall marketing mix approach can be established with Bowmans Strategic clock model which shows the link between the perceived value of product, the price and its chances of success. A product that fails to communicate the appreciable value / price ratio to consumers will fail. The Strategic Clock Model, (C. Bowman and D. Faulkner 1997) Brassington and Pettit (2006), notes that within a given economic situation price sends all sorts of messages to the customers; it indicate quality and desirability and in the eyes of competitors it is seen as a challenge as low pricing can indicate a price war and high pricing leaves room for a competitor to undercut. Internal factors that may affect pricing include required return or shareholder expectations, cost of manufacture. Pricing is the most flexible element of the marketing mix but it is also quite a dangerous element to play with (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Place: Once the product and the price have been determined, the customer must be able to purchase the product. This can be directly from the manufacturer or from an intermediary or distributor. There are various modes of distribution in order to transfer the product to the customer; from simple mail order to long and complex distribution chains. Place in the modern era of marketing has also taken the electronic edge and includes the internet and telephone orders. The Place function is not just about the movement and transfer of goods, it is about manipulation, competitive advantage and power of bargain between the consumer and the manufacturer (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Promotion: Product promotion is about communicating to the consumer or customer. An organisation has a product that may be competing with several others to satisfy a customers need. The act of convincing consumers on why an organisations products are the best in fulfilling their need is what promotion is all about. Often seen as the most active and glamorous part of marketing, it does demand a daunting amount of artistic endeavour and can be used to overcome setbacks an organisation may have in the other aspects of the marketing mix. Promotion in totality however contains two main acts: pull promotions that attempt to attract the consumer to purchase the product and push promotions that aim for retailers or intermediaries, encourage them to purchase the product and promote them to their own consumers. Promotion involves not just advertising but also discounts or sales promotions, personal selling, branding and public relations (Brassington and Pettit 2006). People, Processes and Physical Presence: Booms and Bitner (1981), as cited by Brassington and Pettit (2006), added 3 more Ps (People, Processes and Physical Presence) to the initial 4 Ps model to reflect the extra activities in the marketing of services. People reflect the human aspect of rendering a service to a consumer. A customer that feels comfortable with a particular service provider trusts them and has a rapport with them; forms a relationship with that provider that a competitor will find hard to break into. People add value to the service package that goes beyond what the service aims to offer (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Process concerns the live provision and consumption of a service; which is much different to the hidden processes of manufacturing sectors. A service provider has to maintain consistency with the consumer this involves specific quality controls, training, manuals of service, time of service and a professional level of quality (Brassington and Pettit, 2006). Physical Evidence has to do with how an organisation maintains an ambience of their principal locality of rendering services for the consumer. This is a premises from which their service is sold or delivered and includes how appealing it is in terms of maintenance, design and accessibility. This can include the airplane one boards when they book a flight, the room they sleep in when they book a hotel (Brassington and Pettit 2006). 2.5 Limitations of the report This report has limitation due to the constraints it was subject to and the intrinsic limitations of the theoretical models. The unavailability of primary data has restrained this reports view of scope to the secondary data and the financial statements of Apple Incorporated. Constraints that limit the scope and dept of the report also include the number of words which as underlined in the project outline is a maximum of 6,500 words. Time has also been a constraining factor limiting the extent to which the research could be carried out. The location of the study subject, Apple Incorporated has also made it impossible to study the cultural influences and other market factors, apart from marketing strategy, that could and can affect the success. The nature of the theoretical models ANSOFF and the Marketing Mix model restrains their exact application and thus analysing their real life application. These models like all theoretical models may not necessarily be reflected in their totality when applied and certain assumptions need to be made in order to analyse their effectiveness. Chapter 3 3.1 Application of Models and Analysis An assessment of the current marketing strategy of Apple Incorporated using the ANSOFF and 7 Ps Marketing Mix modules will set a point out on what exactly Apple does and how this has been effectively reflected in their success. Outline of ANSOFF Model as Applied By Apple: Market Penetration: Apple from its period of incorporation had been focused on gaining a market share in the computer and I.T industry and although they had a reflection of research into other I.T based products; their main focus was on a limited product spectrum which included the Apple II, Lisa and Later the Macintosh computers (California Digital Library, 1998). They based this market penetration strategy on their style and brand appeal, and sought to grow their market share the more. This clearly fitted into the ANSOFF model function of market penetration and market consolidation strategy. This approach however begun to recede in the 1990s as their strategic competitors Microsoft and IBM outgrew Apples market share with much cheaper and more innovative computers which in addition capitalised on the inability of Apples computers to integrate with other industry standard software and computers (Jim Carlton, 1998). Market Development Function: Apples market spans across the globe and is segmented on a regional and product basis including consumer, business, education, enterprise and government organisations that make use of the power and productivity of Apples products. This market has been developed with focus on product differentiation and enhanced knowledgeable sales persons, which allows the easy conveyance of value of products to consumers (Apple Inc, 2011). Apple is also active in the reseller and third-party locations market including Apple Premium Reseller Program which allow high level integration and support services to their products (Apple Inc, 2011). This high value market development is directly linked to their products which are developed on value, ease of use and integration. Product Development Function: Being involved in the mobile computing industry which is highly characterized by frequent product introductions and rapid technological advances requires strategic application of the product development function of the marketing mix model. iPod: This is a portable digital music player introduced in 2001as a niche product it clearly struck a nerve with a new generation of electronic users. With the traditional PC being regarded as my parents computer or the official business computer, Apple identified a market that desired the portability of an electronic music player and the storage prowess of a computer for that music data. It includes the iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle and iPod classic all of which work with iTunes and related accessories both Apples and third-party compatibles. Apple sold more than 15 million units in the last three months of 2005 and helping double the quarterly profits of Apple from $255 Million in 2004 to $565 Million in 2005 (BBC UK, 2006). The graph 3.1 shows how this product dominates the mobile music devices industry. Graph 3.1 Source: IDC, 2006 as cited CNN Money, 2006. Apple US Electronics Music Player Market Share iPhone: Developed in early 2007, the iPhone combines a smart mobile phone, an iPod and an internet communications device; as then CEO Steve Jobs put it a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary phone and a break through internet communicator (Anthony Imbimbo, 2009). It also includes accessories that allow it to communicate with other Apple products and tools that elaborate on ease of use, value and user friendliness. Within three months Apple had sold 270,000 iPhone devices and generated $5 Million of net revenue for the 3rd quarter of 2007, (Apple Inc, 2007). Graph 3.2 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2010 2011, Growth in Net iPhone Sales Between 2008 2011. Graph 3.3 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2010 2011. Percentage Growth Net iPhone Sales to Net Sales 2008 2011. Graph 3.2 and 3.3 above indicate how the iPhone product grew rapidly and its net contributions to sales. Mac: This is the personal computing product which includes desktop and portable computers, related devices and third party hardware products. They are designed to target high end business and professional customers. iPad: In the first quarter of 2012 Apple introduced the iPad which like the iPod touch and iPhone is based on the multi-touch technology, showing how using their existing capabilities Apple develops products to fulfil market needs (Apple Press Info, 2010). Described as a multi-purpose mobile device for browsing the web, reading and various other functions, the market reception of the iPad was so successful that Apple sold 300,000 within the first twenty-four hours of its launch (Ars Technica, 2010). Graph 3.4 shows the accelerated growth of net sales contribution from the iPad product. Graph 3.4 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2011. Percentage Growth in Net iPad Sales to Net Sales Between 2010 and 2011. This simultaneous implementation of the product and market development functions of the ANSOFF model clearly follows in line with Johnson et al (2005) observation that market development requires a degree of both products development and capability development. Chart 3.5 Sources: Apple Incorporated Financial Statements, 2011, Percentage of Products to Net Sales. Chart 3.5 above shows the net contribution to net sales from the most recent products from Apple Incorporated. iTunes and iCloud: The iTunes offers a tool for organising digital files on apples devices on both Windows and Mac platforms it is integrated into the iTunes Store which allows the rental and purchase of digital products from Apple accredited sellers, including the App Store and iBookstore with one account (Apple Inc, 2011). The iTunes interface provides an integration platform for all devices one may own allowing files to be wireless pushed to all devices (Apple Inc, 2011). Extending on the iTunes digital hub integration, Apple introduced the iCloud in October 2011, which allows consumers to store and share all their files across all Apple devices they own, perform backups and various other functions including managing mail and contacts. This digital hub ideology allows Apple to provide the augmented services that make their products value stand above those of their competitors. Software Products and Computer Technologies: Apple offers a range of computer softwares for education, enterprise and government customers including the Mac OS X, iLife 11, iWork 09, server software and professional application software including Final Cut Pro, Logic Studio etc (Apple Inc, 2011). Apple also builds software for their mobile devices supported by the iOS architecture and offers these augmenting products to enhance the customer use and value of their products. Display Peripheral Products: Apple has a range of peripherals and display devices including the Apple LED Cinema Display, AppleTV and Thunderbold Display, Apple also offers several third-party augmenting devices that add value to their products (Apple Inc, 2011). Diversification Functions: When Apple introduced the iTunes and iTunes Store product they created a completely different product line that strays from their electronics products lines and yet offers more augmented value to their mobile devices. This online music store can be seen as a concentric or related diversification that provided a platform where the music industry could sell its products easily to the rapidly growing market of iPod and iPhone users. This diversification has been so successful that Apples online music store the iTunes overtook the largest music retailers in number of songs sold in 2008, (Apple Press Info, 2008). Source: ArsTechnica 2008, Apple iTunes Store Music Sales by % Volume. A more detailed analysis shows how Apple changed the way consumers purchase music from buying a whole album to allowing selection of a particular track or set of tracks. This lies in related horizontal diversification as Johnson et al (2005) pointed out as activities that are complimentary to the parents core activity network. Apple clearly uses a combination of the ANSOFF product, market development and diversification functions to effectively contribute to its success as a mobile I.T manufacturer. Application of the 7P Marketing Mix Model by Apple Incorporated Apple applies the 7P marketing model by either identifying a specific markets needs or by creating a market by defining products that address the needs of their target segment consumers. Product: Apple defines their products with the final consumer in focus and does not seek to gain all the consumers in the market; rather they focus on the Value seeking consumers and thus all of Apples products are designed to satisfy the needs of these value consumers. Products are designed with each aspect specifically detailed to achieve an advantage over equivalent competitor products including; superior ease of use, seamless integration and innovative design (Apple Inc, 2010). As Kotler et al (2008) describes, Apple provides augmenting services and peripherals for almost all of their product lines including maintaining compatibility to older generations and other third-party devices and software. These services, which are additional to all Apple products as basic packages at no and extra packages at extra costs allows consumers to continuously add more value to their products to fulfil their evolving needs. Currently as I write this report, Apple has launched several series of product upgrades and differentiation within the iPhone, iPod and iPad for other value consumers identified in their market segment whose needs the current products do not meet; including the iPhone 5, iPod Touch, iPad Mini and the Mac Book Pro and iMac (Apple Online Store, 2012). Pricing: One other aspect of the Marketing mix model which Apple applies effectively is the pricing of their products. Apple markets itself as a high end product manufacturer with a high-quality buying experience for their target consumers, and this is reflected in their pricing. Apples products are higher in prices in a comparison to their market competitors but this it leverages with its unique ability to design and develop its own operating systems, hardware, application software and services and provide its customers with new products and solutions of superior ease of use, seamless integration and innovative design. Apple believes in high quality sales and after sales support experience and ensures that although their prices are higher than any competitor; the final end consumer knows that the quality of product, sales and after sales support is second to none (Apple Inc, 2011). From C. Bowman and D. Faulkners (1996) strategic clock model, Apple Incorporated can be seen to be solely concentrated on a high value high price relationship which they also described as focused product differentiation. A samples analysis of the current UK mobile phone market prices ranges between the major market competitors and Apples iPhone product belo

The Importance of Art in Daily Life

The Importance of Art in Daily Life Every day morning, many people enjoy sitting outside watching sunrise. They feel relaxed seeing the arrival of the sun with its pure light and the traveling of the night with its darkness. They consider that a new life will start as the sun starts her new life. Not only they watch the sun, many people enjoy drawing this view because they will feel for once that their minds are relaxed and not thinking except in this new born. This research highlights over the importance of art in our daily life. It also recalls us about the different types of art and how each of them depends on special artist and special instruments used. In this research we will also know the relation between colors and how colors are grouped in two. Also we will notice that art is most important than what we consider because we see art everywhere and each day because every thing in life is an artwork. Art is your emotions flowing in a river of imagination. If you stand for a moment in front any work of art, which has many shapes and many line cannot be described, you start to imagine things by walking on that lines and shapes trying to connect them to get a specific shape done from your imagination. What if the picture is a sunrise? You will begin thinking in every sadness or happiness things that happened to you. No one these days knows the really importance of art. Art is everywhere in the entire world. It is ones creativity and imagination. Art is the most things you use and see always without paying attention to that. If you want to know what does art mean? You have to look at every thing surrounding you, at every thing you use in your daily life, you will notice that every thing you see shows an art, especially your clothes, your hair design, your shoes etc All of them are arts. Art help us see everything and everyone completely different. Art is not a reading to get bored or listening to get epileptic, its something which opens to us a field of questions and answers to things we see. Thats up to us. It doesnt impose itself on us to hear, think, or even understand; on the contrary it takes us to a long-lost world, to a fiction world, to a field of thoughts. Art can be in different forms audio like music, songs, and poems. Visual as film making, photography and painting, they differ depending on artist, style and material used Audio arts are the most used type of art. They can be in the form of music, song or poetries. They help in relaxing ones mind. Music is thought to link all of the emotional and physical elements of the universe. Music can also be used to change persons mood, and has been found to cause like physical responses in many people simultaneously. Music also has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions from a particular event such as a funeral. (Stancato, 2009) Moreover the song, which is another type of audio art, has physiological effects too. Try for once to know what does successful and motivated people listen to, you will be amazed that they tend to special type of songs and music! You will never find a self-motivated person who does not listen to motivating songs. Although romantic persons listen to special type of songs and music, they listen to classical and romantic ones. Poetries are also a third type of audio art. The author poem expresses his feeling in his writings. They are similar to writing songs, and can be sung too. Both poetries and songs depend on music to be sang, they need an artist having soft voice and the writers mind and pen too. But music doesnt need any of them. Music needs different musical instruments like piano, guitar and others. In addition to different instrument, they come in different times. Visual arts are popular art. They differ from the audio art.à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Artists place images, forms, colors, ideas, down in such a way that can be communicated with you the viewer. When you read the work it will serve your understanding in a multitude of vibrant ways. It will begin to make sense, in some cases a perverse kind of sense. An artist will take you on a trip around his work. He will tell you what to view and in what order. He will attempt to provoke a variety of responses, even negative ones. He will appeal to your sense of wonder. This artwork will and should ask as many questions of both the intellect and the emotions as it answers.à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  (simm). This is true of all art. In the visual arts, painting, photography, film making, there is no substitute for looking. The various theories of Emotional Color will, usually all unknown to the viewer, play an increasingly important role. What are these theories? Red for danger, black for death and morbidity, in the western world at least, are two of the most obvious. The Madonnas cowl in a religious painting is always a certain blue. This was originally produced from a semi precious stone called Lapis Lazuli before the advent of chemical paint. The emotional aspects of this should be obvious. Warm colors, reds oranges, yellows appear to come towards the viewer and are on occasion welcoming. The cool colors, blues, some greens appear to recede. Atmospheric or aerial perspective is used by artists in this manner to provoke a feeling of distance or vastness. Have you ever considered why a certain type of music is called the blues? Or why colors themselves are thought to sing? Why certain color combinations are called Complimentary. (These are the opposites on the color wheel, a primary with a secondary, Red and Green, Yellow and Purple, Blue and Orange). (simm)Painting, photography and filmmaking differ in the instrument used and in the way each is viewed. Painting is the a rtisans drawing using his colors, brushes and his wide thought. The artisans drawing depends on his mood and on what type of colors he likes more. Whereas photography is to capture amazing images using a special instrument, the camera or the video too. Film making requires neither colors nor camera. They need a story to be acted. Also it needs the writer and the actor. Hence art is universal, and is everywhere. Not only art is for one who exercise a work art and like it. It is for everyone. Art is more important then one can consider. Without art one cannot see any thing beautiful because art add attraction and beauty to any thing one can look at, even if he look at himself. Also art reflects to us the mood and the feelings of the artist so that if hes happy he will do something amazed or funny, and if he is upset he will use to do things which would hold you to another world of thinks. Some one said Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. This quote is special and is the truth because when you feel upset what is the first thing you resort to? Sure its listening music, playing piano, dancing, drawing etc and others because you will not leave home in a bad mood. All what you will do is a branch of art, because art is the best way to feel that you are relaxed since it helps you to thought deeply about your problems. Also art may help yo u forget everything depressed you because your mind will be as a flying bird, from tree to tree, searching for a place where he will feel safe from the dangers of life. So art is very important because it translates ones feelings and shares his emotions without disturbing him, on the contrary it helps him feel better and forget every thing depressing him. Another example is when a man see a beautiful woman, he will run after her until she accepts to meet him or to give him her number, but if he see an ugly girl, he will change his way because he get disgusted. So art is very important in our life, because without art world will be so disgusted, depressed and bored.

How I Will Grow From My MBA Experience Essay -- MBA Admissions Essay

Growth is an essential trait that builds people toward success. That being said, no two individuals are the same. However, like any challenge in life, the more effort and practice dedicated to a specific task, the sharper those skills become. Today’s world is continually altering into an ever more complex and highly competitive place. For this reason, people are being challenged, more than ever before, to pursue more education, increase their background of skills, and to carve their own personal niche that places them ahead of everyone else. Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford University says, â€Å"individuals with a growth mind-set believe that intelligence can be developed, like muscles† (Heath, Jul/Aug 2007, Issue 117). With this sort of mentality, you should continually push yourself for results, embrace challenges that test your abilities, and seek opinions about yourself from others. Working at Great American Opportunities has proven to me that growth is an essential part of business success. Knowing this, it becomes apparent that personal growth is the only way to ensure that we can acclimate ourselves for the next obstacle that life has to offer. Understanding of Leadership and Areas of Growth Understanding the process of growth plays an important role within a person’s concept of leadership. Leadership can be understood as an individual’s influence over a particular person or group that enables them to complete a shared and specific goal. Having studied Ken Blanchard’s (May 2008) model of situational leadership, I believe that leadership can be broken down into four main categories: â€Å"directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating† (p. 19). Blanchard then drives his process a little deeper and explains the ... ...m Christian Brothers University. Knowing that growth is not a one-time action, I plan to frequently ask myself the questions surrounding this assignment in an effort to continue my growth beyond the points I have already stated. References Blanchard, K. (2008). Situational leadership. Leadership Excellence, 25(5), 19-19. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.cbu.edu:9000/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=31950744&site=ehost-live&scope=site Heath, C., & Heath, D. (2007). Leadership is a muscle. Fast Company, (117), 62-63. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.cbu.edu:9000/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=25455522&site=ehost-live&scope=site Lombardo, M. M., & Eichinger, R. W. (2009). For your improvement: A guide for developing and coaching (5th ed.) Logimer International: A Korn/Ferry Company.

The University of Michigan Fab Five Essay -- College Basketball Sports

There seems to be a fine line, a three-point line, between pushing the envelope and pushing a revolution. In 1991, five freshmen from the University of Michigan brashly stepped over that line redefining the world of college basketball as we knew it and in the process, revolutionized the relationship between style and sport. These men were "fresh" in more ways than one, causing an entire nation to dub them fabulous. They brought a hip and a hop to a game that was previously flat. Anyone following college basketball loved or hated to love the "Fab Five," evincing that either way five things were on people's minds or television screens. Whether you were a kid begging your mom to take you to a sporting goods store, like I was, to "get those black Nike socks" for your next game, or an adult watching through squinting eyes as five pairs of extra large shorts and swagger loomed over your favorite team's home court, you were full of awe. Chris Webber, Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, and Ray Johnson manifested a transformation of style through oversized attitude and clothing. Since then, it seems to me that whoever got a chance to know these guys from the stands or sofa has been aching for a taste of that envelope that they pushed back in the early nineties. Every kid whose favorite show was Saved by the Bell and whoever seriously competed in basketball wants to be the one who pulls his shorts down past his hips when his mom told him to pull up before his game and play so well that he receives no verbal assault on the way back to the car. I'm left wondering what these five guys were really about, and why they decided to revolutionize the attitude of the game they played. After all, they seemed to plan the revolution on a whimÂâ€"or... ...r's infamous timeout. Like a Shakespearean tragedy the Fab Five's climax came at the end and same forces that caused them to rise caused them to fall. Once upon a line, these five freshmen were just thatÂâ€"five players that displayed their unique unified attitudes through alley oops and baggy shorts. These five were the first to acknowledge the worth of transferring another aspect of that street game onto the polished college court. Arguably, this transplant of dress and style was only possible because of their superior play, and like some transplants, was susceptible to the normal disease of media attention and hype characteristic of any organized sport. Ultimately, only their cleverly alliterated nickname remains on the line they crossed all those years ago. Freshman-status, long shorts, black socks, cocky attitude. What did it matter? They were the "Fab Five."

Ancient History of British Isles

The History of the British Isles. Around 3000 years BC many parts of Europe including the British Isles, were inhabited by a people called the Iberians. Some of their descendants are still found in the North of Spain (the Iberia Peninsula). We don't know much about these early people. We can learn something from there skeletons, their weapons. The Iberians used stone weapons and tools. During the period from the 6th to the 3rd century BC, a people called Celts, spread across Europe from the East to the West. During the iron age the Celtic tribes invaded Britain. Celtic tribes called the Picts and the Scots inhabited the north of the country. The Britons a powerful Celtic tribe held most of the country and gave the name to the islands and to the country later. The Iberians were weak to fight back the attacks of Celts who had metal weapons. Most of the Iberians were killed driven into the mountains or mixed with the Celts. The Celts didn't write down any events. The Greeks were the first to mention the British Isles. In the 1st century BC when the Romans came to Britain the Celts lived in tribes and obeyed chiefs. They had no towns, the cultivated crops, wore woden clothes, kept large herds of cattle and sheep. So they lived under the primitive system. Nowadays the descendants of Celts live on the territory of the British Isles. The Welsh, who live in Wales care of Celtic origin. They speak Welsh a Celtic language. The Roman conquest of Britain In 55 BC the Roman army invaded Britain, but the Celts bravely resisted their attack. Only 100 years later in 43 AD the Roman army conquered the South-East of Britain. Other parts of Britain were taken during the next 40 years. The Romans were unable to conquer the hilly districts of the West and Scottish highlands. The Romans built towns, willas, public baths, and stone roads. Together, with a high civilization, the Romans brought slavery to the British Isles. The noble Celts adopted the way of life of the Romans. They lived in rich houses, dressed as the Romans, and spoken Latin. But common people spoke their native Celtic languages. The Romans stayed in Britain for about 4 centuries and during that time Britain was Roman province governed by Roman governors. At the end of the 4th century the Romans left Britain to defend the continental provinces from the attacks of the Germanic tribes. Many things in Britain remind us of the Romans. The wells dug by the Romans, still give water today. The ruins of public baths, parts of the Roman bridges, the chief roman roads can still be found all over Britain. Many words of modern English have come from Latin. The Anglo-Saxon conquest of Britain From the middle of the 5th century the Germanic tribes: the Angles, the Guts, and the Saxon began to attack Britain. By the beginning of the 7th century the Germanic tribes had conquered the greater part of Britain and several kingdoms had been formed on the territory of Britain conquers by the Germanic tribes. The new conquers brought new changes. They disliked towns, they destroyed the beautiful buildings, bridges, roads. Many of the Celts were killed or made slaves. The Anglo-Saxons made up the majority of the population in Britain. Their customs, religion and languages became predominant. At the end of the 8th century another branch of Germanic people began to attack Britain. They were the Danes. They were pagans and still lived in tribes. At that time there were several separate Anglo-Saxon kingdoms on the territory of the British Isles. They constantly fought among themselves, and, so became an easy target for the invaders. The Danes were well-armed and had a good fleet. So they conquered Britain. But at the end of 9th century King Alfred the Great united and headed some of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms with the center in Wessex.

Bottled Water or Tap Water? Essay

There are articles, flyers, and even books out in the market that try to persuade people to either use bottled water or tap water. While many believe that tap water is more beneficial to the body, others believe that the convenience and advertising of purified bottled water is acceptable enough for themselves. As we consume water, we concern ourselves with issues such as if it is harmful to the environment, if it is harmful to our health and whether the product is convenient for us. Ultimately, the choice is personal because both sides provide pros and cons to these issues. In our world, pollution is a common factor to the deterioration this planet is facing. Water bottles, when not disposed of properly, lead to pollution. In an online article entitled, â€Å"Tap water vs. Bottled Water and the Environment,† it states, â€Å"†¦nearly 90% of bottles are not recycled.† (Karlstrom and Dell’Amore) The failure to recycle leads to serious issues in our environment. Who is to blame for the shortcomings of recycling? We all are. As citizens of America, we have a responsibility to recycle as soon as the bottle is in our possession. Even when transporting bottled water for production and sale, a significant amount of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide is produced causing much fuel usage. Although bottled water should not be blamed for all of the earth’s environmental issues, there is quite a bit of damage it has caused already and this should be a caveat for water bottle drinkers. On another side, tap water does not need the production of bottles so fossil fuels would not be utilized as much. The article explains that the environment would be 17.6 million barrels of oil richer if people consumed tap water over bottled water. (Karlstrom and Dell’Amore). Tap water could be consumed in washable glasses preventing the disposal of trash to end up on the landfills. Tap water is also used for other reasons besides drinking, for example: plants are watered with tap water and this in turn helps the environment’s ecosystem. As consumers of any type of water, a main priority would be the health risks and the benefits that come along with drinking water. First and foremost, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regulates bottled water. When the  FDA regulates water, they go through the process of making sure that water meets the adequate standards for the safety of the customers (Olson). Bottled water must be tested for coliform once a week in order to maintain cleanliness. It is very reassuring to know that if any type of bottled water contamination is found it will be recalled or properly cleansed again. Even though bottled water is being regulated periodically, it isn’t always as safe as the bottled water companies make it seem. In an online article entitled, â€Å"The Big Secret Commercial Water Companies Hope You Never Discover†, it states, â€Å"†¦40 percent of bottled water is regular tap water, which may or may not have received any additional treatment.† (Mercola). A s far as the bottle itself being of any benefit to the product, it isn’t. Plastic bottles contain chemicals that can become harmful to humans who reuse the plastic bottle. Polyethylene terephthalate is already adapted into the container, however, if it is reused you are more likely to ingest different chemicals, such as, DEHA (Bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate), a human carcinogen, and BBP (enzyl butyl phthalate), a potential hormone disputer. (Kelly). While some choose to reuse their plastic bottles, others stay on the less risky side and use tap water to benefit their health. During the disinfecting of tap water, chlorine is used, as well as fluoride for the consumers’ dental benefits. In 1974, The Safe Drinking Water Act was enforced, establishing that any type of tap water, had to have been regulated by the EPA. (Olson). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces the regulation for tap water. While most tap water is regulated and healthy for the population to drink, there are many underlining factors that can put a damper on the EPA’s regulation system. For instance, hospitals are enforced to dispose of unused medication by either throwing them down the drain or flushing them down the toilet. According to an online article entitled, â€Å"Hospital Drugs Routinely get Flushed Down Drains where they Pollute Water Systems,† gives us an idea of the severity of contamination that drugs are doing to our water pipelines. â€Å"Water treatment plants rarely filter or screen for the presence of these drugs, but several studies have detected a vast range of meds in public water systems, including antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, sex hormones, painkillers, and high blood pressure medicine, among many others.† (Wilson). These types of medications can be dangerous to unintentionally consume. Also of concern,  the EPA’s allowance of lead for tap water is a lot higher than for bottled water due to the lead pipes that transport the water to homes. â€Å"Tap water lead levels are set at 15 ppb and bottled water is set at 5 ppb.† (The 3 R’s) Ultimately, in today’s society, convenience usually prevails when busy people need to make a choice about water. When people think of the easy choice, they think of bottled water. Bottled water is already refrigerated and convenient to grab on the way out. Bottled water is suitable and appealing to us. Unfortunately, the â€Å"appealing† label of bottled water is not as truthful as its convenience provides. As previously stated, 40 percent of normal bottled water is just tap water. So when bottled water has a label describing it as water fresh from mountain waterfalls, it is possibly false advertising. As for the convenience of tap water, it may take some work to make it convenience but it is possible. When pouring tap water, the water is not as chilled as refrigerated bottled water. Tap water would take the process of getting cups that would have to be filled up and then if you were to take it to go, you would have to carry that bottle around, unlike bottled water, whi ch you can dispose of in any trashcan. Most people when choosing tap or bottled water do so without much thought or education. There are many pros and cons to both choices. To choose bottled water or tap water can be daunting for one who has done research in the matter. There are ways to be confident in drinking water; one must just find a way that is best for them. The information provided above gives the public the tools to make the choice. In the end it is up to the public to choose what is the right choice to make. Choose wisely.

Finc2011 Major Assignment Essay

Executive summary Woolworths Limited (WOW), which is one of the listed companies in Australian Security Exchange (ASX) (ASX 200), is the largest supermarket in Australia (Kruger 2013), it specializes in the groceries, food and retailing (WOOLWORTHS LIMITED (WOW) 2013). The aim of this report is to estimate and determine the dividend growth rate, stock return and current share price of Woolworths. Methods used for the estimation include dividend growth model, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Gordon’s Growth Model. The results of the estimation indicate that the dividend payments will continuous increasing in the future, the return on the company’s assets is reasonable and its share price is expected to rise. In addition, recommendations associated with the investment decision will be provided to the public investors regarding to the risks in the market by comparing with companies within the same industry. However, there are still a number of limitations of the report such as a few assumptions are made for calculations and limitations due to the difference of risk free rate. Calculation of Growth Rate: The approach used to estimate the growth rate (g) for dividend payments of Woolworths is: g = Ploughback Ratio x Return on Equity (ROE) Ploughback Ratio = 1 – Payout Ratio In which, payout ratio refers to the ratio of dividends to earnings per share (EPS) (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011). Souce: http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/annualreport/2012/pdf/WW_AR12_Full.pdf Based on the figures above, the growth rate (g) for the 2012 should be: g = (1 – 0.8528) x 0.2722 = 4.01% In order to figure out a more accurate growth rate, the average should be taken from 2008 to 2012. As it is shown in the table, the average g = 7.68%. According to Woolworth’s annual report (2012), the payout ratio is quite stable, despite there is a sudden increase in 2012; hence, we could assume that the dividend payout ratio is constant. Meanwhile, although Woolworths’ Return on Equity (ROE) shows a slight decrease from 2008 to 2012, it is still fairly steady – close to 28%. Since both of two assumptions – constant dividend payout and return on equity – are satisfied (Mellare 2013), g = Ploughback x ROE is suppose to be an appropriate method to estimate the dividend growth rate for Woolworths. Calculation of required return using CAPM Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a method used to measure the risk and return of an asset, which describes that each expected risk premium of an asset should rise in proportion to its beta (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011): In which, ri refers to the return on asset, rf refers to the risk free rate of return, beta is the covariance and (rm-rf) is the market risk premium (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011). To begin with, risk free rate (rf) should be determined. Generally, 10 years government bonds rate is considered to be risk free rate as it is commonly believed that a government would be unlikely to default on its obligations (McNickle 2011). However, it does not mean that government bonds face no risks, it still encounter inflation and interest rate risk (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011). Source: http://www.rba.gov.asu/statistics/tables/xls/f02d.xls?accessed=2013-05-22-21-18-20 According to the Capital Market Yields – 10 years Government Bonds provided by Reserve Bank of Australia (2013), the 10-year government bond rates in 21th May 2013 is 3.26%, which should be used as the risk free rate (rf) for the calculation of CAPM. Source: http://www.ato.gov.au/super/content.aspx?menuid=0&doc=/content/60489.htm&page=36&H36 However, those may argue that based on the historical data from Australian Taxation Office (2013) – the table above, the average of risk free rate from 2003 to 2012 is calculated to be 5.34%, which should be the risk free rate for the calculation instead of 3.26%. Nevertheless, since the risk free rate is always changing, in order to estimate the return for asset more accurately, the current risk free rate 3.26% is supposed to be taken for the estimation. In this stage, the risky required return (rm), the same as market return, should be calculated. Stock market index is an approach to evaluate the value of stock market and S&P/ASX 200 is the most significant stock market index which tracks the performance of two hundred big Australian corporations (Australia Stock Market (S&P/ASX 200) 2013). Currently, S&P/ASX 200 is a primary share market index in Australia which replaced the All Ordinaries in April 2000 and has become the benchmark for investment for the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) (ASX 200 2013). Therefore, S&P/ASX 200 is the best indicator of the market return and used to determine the market return. Source: https://blackboard.econ.usyd.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-636137-dt-content-rid-201558_2/courses/FINC2011_SEM1_2013/All%20Ords%20Accumulation%20Indices.xls Based on the data from S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation index (daily), which is provided by Mellare (2013), the yearly index could be calculated by averaging all of the daily indexes for that year. Yearly market return (rm) can be determined by: In which, old market index refers to the index for year t and new index is the index for year (t+1). A table for the calculation of market return will be created in a similar way with the S&P/ ASX200 table (see Appendix – 1) for the periods of 10 years in order to comply with ASX. Due to the prices in 2013 is not completed, the market return for financial year (FY) 2012 cannot be estimated reliably. Importantly, averaging rm for 10 years from FY 2002 to FY 2011 is significant for the purpose of determining a more accurate figure. As a result, rm = 8.31%. Because rm is the sum of the risk free interest rate (rf) and a premium for risk (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011), the risk premium, as a part of CAPM equation, can be calculated through: rm = rf + risk premium risk premium = rm – rf Based on the previous analysis, rf = 3.26% and rm = 8.31%, risk premium = 8.31% – 3.26% = 5.09%. According to the report from last year, the market risk premium is estimated to be 6.0% in October (Michael, Blake and Zolotic 2012), the estimated value of 5.09% is reasonable. According to the financial information from Reuters (2013), Woolworths’ beta (ÃŽ ²) = 0.34. Therefore, by applying CAPM: Calculation of Next Dividend Payment The next dividend payment should be determined by using: In which, d0 is the current dividend payment, d1 is the dividend for the next financial year and g is the growth rate. Souce:http://datanalysis.morningstar.com.au.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au/af/company/dividendhistory?ASXCode=WOW&xtm-licensee=dat The table above shows the dividend history of Woolworths (Morningstar 2013). Since, the total dividend payment in 2012 is $67+59 = $126 cents/$1.26 per share, which should be d0, and the growth rate is estimated to be 7.68% in the previous calculations, d1 = 1.26*(1+7.68%) = $1.36, which is the total dividend payment for 2013. As the interim dividend for 2013 has already paid on 26/04/2013, the final dividend for 2013 which is the next dividend payment should be: $1.36–0.62=$0.74 per share. Determination of Expected Current Share Price The constant divident growth model, which is Gordon’s Growth Model, is used for estimating the current share price: In which, P0 refers to the current share price, d1 is the divident payment for the next year, re is the required rate of return and g is the growth rate. In order to calculate the current price P0, firstly, d1 need be calculated which should be the dividend for the next year – 2014. Hence, d1 = 1.36*(1+7.68%) = $ 1.46 As required rate of return (re) consists of both capital gains and dividend yields (Mellare 2013) and capital gains is the same as g (Mathis 2001), re = capital gains (g) + dividend yields. Souce: http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/annualreport/2012/pdf/WW_AR12_Full.pdf According to the historical data from annural report of Woolworth (2012), taking the average of all of the dividend yields for the last five years – from 2008 to 2012, the dividend yield = 3.8808%. Therefore, re = 7.68% + 3.88% = 11.56% Lastly, the expected current share price in 2013 is: P0 = 1.46/(11.56%-7.68%) = $ 37.63 Recommodation and Discussion Investment decisions are rely on the return and risk associated with a security. According to CAPM, actural returns are measured by beta, which is defined as a security’s sencitivity relative to the changes in the value of the market portfolio (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011), over the long run. Beta of Woolworths Limited is 0.34 (Reuters 2013), which is a good sign as it indicates that the company is insensitive to the market risk. Comparing it with other companies, Wesfarmers Limited (WES), the Perth-based conglomerate which selling food to customers (Greenblat 2013), has same situation with Woolworths in terms of growing trend of dividend payment and  sharing market risk as they operates within the same industry – food industriy. Beta of Wesfarmers is 0.96 (Reuters 2013),which means that Wesfarmers is more risky than Woolworths as it is as risky as the market porfolio (Brealey, Myers and Allen 2011). As well, beta of Goodman Fielder (GFF), another food company, is 0.98 (Reuters 2013), which means it shares almost the same risk with the market porfolio (Mellare 2013) – realtively in the same situation with Wesfarmers. Therefore, when concerning with the risks, it is recommended to invest in Woolworths. However, under CAPM, high-beta securities will result in high return: ri = rf + ÃŽ ²*(rm – rf) As all of these three companies are in the same market, they share the same market risk but the proportion is different based on their beta. Although, securities of Wesfarmers and Goodman Fielder are more risky than Woolworths due to higher beta, they provide higher return to investors. Since investment decisions are depend on personal interests (Mellare 2013), it cannot be denied that there are a few investors prefer higher returns with higher risks. Moreover, the higher returns compensate investors for higher risk, hence, it is unlikely to determine whether invest in Woolworths is a better option. Nevertheless, investing in Woolworth is still recommended. Investing in low-risk securities provides constant and stable returns. Investing in Woolworths is worthwhile not only because Woolworths provides quite constant returns, but also its potential to growth due to its strong profitability and cash flows (WOW – Woolworths Limited 2012). Overall, it is recommended to invest in Woolworths. It is important to notice that there are a number of limitations for this report. Firstly, the method used for calculating dividend growth is based on the assumptions – constant dividend payout and return on equity, but in reality, both dividend payout and return on equity are unlikely to be constant. Consequently, the calculation of g may not be accurate. As well, since the 10-year government bond rate, which is considered as risk free

Hezbullah: Impact of Ideology on Group Structure, Strategy, Targets and Tactics Essay

Hezbullah or Hezbollah, which literally means â€Å"Party of God†, is an organization based on Lebanon. It is a religious-political-paramilitary organization of several thousand Shiite Muslim militants that plays a significant role in the Lebanese politics. Hezbullah, while maintaining to be a major contributor to social programs and services in Lebanon, has been considered an Islamic struggle movement. The group also is a foremost provider of agricultural services, medical aid, and school operations in Lebanon. The group is also a significant and influential power when it comes to the world of Lebanese politics. With its outright mission, to destroy Israel, it has been condemned by many governments – but others have praised the party. Western countries, most notably the United States, consider Hezbullah as a terrorist organization. Other countries that recognize in some part or in whole the group as a terrorist organization include the Great Britain, Australia, Canada and several others. Origins It was in the year 1982 that Hezbullah surfaced in Lebanon as it was invaded by Israel and was dubbed as â€Å"Operation Peace for Galilee†. Hezbullah was set in resistance against the Israeli occupation of Lebanon amid the Lebanese civil war. Inspired by the great Iranian political and religious leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, the leaders went for the training and organization of some Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Although the first manifesto of the group did not directly mention the destruction of Israel, the leaders of Hezbullah made several claims on destroying the â€Å"Zionist entity† forcing themselves to the lands rightful owners own. They referred to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon that during the course, claimed not only livestock, lands, homes, but more especially lives. The group started only as a small militia but slowly gained followers that agree to the views and ideologies of the left-leaning group. They started to gain social power, as getting seats in the Lebanese government, being able to create social development programs, as well as getting control and owning their own radio station and a satellite television station. As Shiite Muslims account for majority of its members, their members now vary from all domain of Lebanese population, especially after the 2006 Lebanon war or the July war that featured the warfare between Israel and Hezbullah themselves. Given their broad tally sheets of members, they are able to mobilize protests to the hundreds of thousands of their members, creating a major concern for the Lebanese government itself. Objectives The 1985 manifesto of the Hezbullah enumerated their three main goals as follows: (1) to put an end to any â€Å"colonialist entity† that existed in Lebanon, (2) to bring the Phalangists, a right-wing party in Lebanon, to justice for the â€Å"crimes† they had perpetrated, and finally (3) to the rightful establishment of an Islamic regime in Lebanon. The manifesto also featured some of the ideologies of the group. The group condemns the â€Å"Zionist occupation of Palestine† outright and added by several claims that â€Å"there is no legitimacy for the existence of ‘Israel’†. The Ideology of Hezbullah is derived from the Islamic Shiite Ideology popularized by Ayatollah Khomeini, known for leading the Islamic revolution in Iran in the 1970’s. The Founding Statement of Hezbullah contains a section that reads: â€Å"We see in Israel the vanguard of the United States in our Islamic world. It is the hated enemy that must be fought until the hated ones get what they deserve. Our primary assumption in our fight against Israel states that the Zionist entity is aggressive from its inception, built on lands wrested from their owners, at the expense of the rights of the Muslim people. Therefore our struggle will end only when this entity is obliterated. We recognize no treaty with it, no cease fire, and no peace agreements, whether separate or consolidated. We vigorously condemn all plans for negotiation with Israel, and regard all negotiators as enemies, for the reason that such negotiation is nothing but the recognition of the legitimacy of the Zionist occupation of Palestine.† It was entitled â€Å"The Necessity for the Destruction of Israel† which pretty much sums it all up. Structure From 1992 up to the present, the organization has been headed its Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah. Originally a military commander, but with the background of studying Shiite theology in Iran and Iraq, Nasrallah made it higher in the ranks with ease. Some reports suggest that he took advantage of the inside rivalry in the group to capture the Secretary-General position from Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. Another leader, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, has been the group’s spiritual leader since its founding. However, Fadlallah, died of a liver hemorrhage recently, 4th July 2010, at the age of 75. There is still a huge blank space to be filled in the group’s spiritual leader’s death. One other leader can be considered as the brains of the Hezbullah operations worldwide. It was Imad Fayez Mugniyah who was considered as the key planner, the mastermind, the engineer that finds time to plan details and execution of its terrorist operations. Mugniyah got his talent from experience, training with al Fatah in the 1970’s in the midst of the Lebanese civil war. It was in the 1980’s that the two, al Fatah and Mugniyah, were expelled from Lebanon by Israeli forces. But with his talent and skill, he quickly went up ranks after joining the Hezbullah. However, it was on 13 February, 2008, that Mugniyah was killed in a car bombing incident in Damascus supposedly pinned to Israel but with no solid grounds. The group is structured into three sub-groups namely the Bayt al-Mal, Jihad al Binna and the IRSO (Islamic Resistance Support Organization). Hezbullah gets its finances from support from various governments, Iran, Tehran and Syria, as well as donations from the Lebanese people and both local and international Shiites. With the current finances, the influence and the power both as a group and in the government, its forces gained momentum as gaining several thousands in members. The Lebanese government itself secured Hezbullah’s existence with policies that allow the group to continue on in their fight for liberty and recover occupied lands. According to data from the United States, the two states, Iran and Syria, contribute to not only the finance, but also to the training, weapons, explosive, diplomatic and political aid of the group. Hezbullah is believed to have a budget ranging from $200 million to $500 million, about $100 million coming from Iran. Operations Hezbullah’s main base for operation is in the Lebanon’s Shiite-populated areas. This includes Beirut, Bekaa Valley and southern parts of Lebanon. But with recent intelligence reports from the U. S.  suggest that the group has been starting its expansion of operations, from Africa to Europe, South America and even in North America. The group has at least five thousand core members, consisting of militants and activists. But it varies notably from time to time due to conflicts that the group engages in, most probably conflicts with Israel. US intelligence also reports the presence of at least 60,000 firearms and other weapons in the hands of Hezbullah. It includes both short and long range rockets, and even anti-tank, anti-aircraft and anti-ship arsenals. With periodic conflicts with Israel, people are concerned that a third Lebanon war may erupt if tensions remain high. Although Israel has officially withdrawn from Lebanon in 2000, and despite the UN certification of the withdrawal of all forces, Hezbullah still periodically create problems in the disputed Shebaa Frams border zone. Consequently, a full scale war erupted during the summer of 2006 and if it weren’t for a UN-led-ceasefire, it probably wouldn’t have stopped any time soon. Even so, it stopped only after taking more than a thousand lives and hundreds of thousands homeless or forced to flee especially the five-week long conflict. Some major attacks attributed to Hezbullah includes the kidnapping of several Americans in Lebanon during the 1980’s; suicide attacks in a U. S. Marines barracks in Beirut, Lebanon which kills over two hundred American soldiers; the 1983 U. S. Embassy bombing in Beirut that killed 63 people, including 17 Americans; the French multinational force headquarters bombing in 1983 that killed 58 French soldiers; the hijacking of TWA flight 847 that featured in an infamous footage of a pilot with a gun to his head; an attack that killed hundreds in the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community center both in Argentina in 1992 and 1994 respectively. The most recent major attack claimed by the Hezbullah was on 2006 when they launched a surprise raid on a border post in northern Israel. They took two Israeli soldiers in captive that caused an intense military campaign to be forced against Lebanon. But there was more to the campaign of the Hezbullah. By 2003, they have worked diligently with other Palestinian terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Islamic Jihan, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and especially Tanzim. It has also been reported that Hezbullah has been a major firearms supplier with their allies as in the Hamas. Analysis It has been with mixed decisions whether Hezbullah is to be considered as a terrorist organization or not. It is a known fact that some countries do not consider the group as a terrorist organization in whole. The United States however, has issued statements against the group, considering them to be a highly-organized terrorist organization. To be able to analyze the group itself, there is a need to answer this question: Should the Hezbullah be considered as a terrorist organization? For the sake of unbiased perspective, we must consider all perspectives. In the Hezbullah perspective arguments include that fact that (1) the main ideology of the group is based on Islamic ideologies, only more radical ones, (2) every country has the right to protect and maintain its liberty in ways it can, and finally (3) the group is actually a part of the Lebanese government. But then again, nothing gives the right for any person, group and even a country to declare that a country has no reason to exist and that the country and its people should be obliterated. By this argument plus the known attacks that they have committed and claimed for, it can be concluded that the group can be considered as a terrorist organization. After setting the fact that Hezbullah is a terrorist organization, an analysis can be put in this perspective. From its origin standpoint, the group can be considered outright to be a radical and extremist in thoughts and in action. It is based from their ideological background that was actually derived from a radical form of Islamic Shiite Ideology that Khomeini had started. Its aim, more than anything else, is to destroy the country of Israel and its occupants, and kill the Jews. The structure of the group can be considered to be a help in their aims and objectives. Considering the separate leadership roles in the group, namely the political, religious and military roles, there are good opportunities to focus to their separate roles. There is a much efficient set of directives that would be of help to the members of the group. But there also is a backfire, if there are any occasions that the three leaders would disagree, the whole group could turn into a separate sub groups, reducing considerably the ability to achieve the objectives of the group. Considering the strategies of the organization, it could be noted that this is interwoven with the organizations structure. The military strategies of the group should coincide with both the religious and political perspective of the group, and vice versa. With the strategy of the organization to attaining its aims, they will be bounded by international policies only if they want to. Their tactics to complete their objectives can be considered to have lessened in the amount of violence that they have made in the older movements. Whether it could be accountable for the tighter defense being pushed by their opposition, i. e. U. S. , Israel, or to internal erosion with the group’s desire to succeed, will be a question to be answered in the future. Their targets remained the same, the â€Å"Zionist entity† that they refer to Israel, added to the â€Å"vanguard† of Israel, the United States. But the question mark lies in the present execution of their objectives, whether they will take it hard, as in violence that includes the public, or will they use a more reasonable action. The group structure and strategies very much meet their deed to accomplish its task. They may be planning to be more of a supporting group to other terrorist organization with the way they are moving as of the moment. They have no other engagement as of the moment. A possible scenario could be that the group would slowly blend to other terrorist organizations and would create a larger one, with a bigger objective than the original. They may consider to continue on supplying and supporting groups such as Hamas, to help them achieve their ultimate goal.