School Violence

Tyeshia Michie Professor Silverstein English 102 School Violence School violence is the term used to define violence or any form of arrogance that happens inside a school. Some of the known forms of school violence are student gangs, bullying, physical attacks on fellow students, and physical attacks on the school staffs. This is becoming a very serious issue in the United States where the school violence rates are extremely high with students possessing knives, guns and other weapons at will. In the earlier days, schools were the safest places for students.Students were safer than they were at their homes because they were being monitored each and every second by the school staffs and other fellow students, but it is no longer the same because of the alarming increase of school violence inside the school premises. The school authorities are not able to control such inclement activities inside the school and parents all over the world are concerned with this very serious issue becaus e their children are prone to be victims of school violence. Leading Causes of School Violence Pinpointing causes of school violence is a difficult task.It is difficult to categorize the numerous school violence attacks that have occurred. Each case has different circumstances. The majority of researchers agree that school violence is the result of a society unable to always distinguish between good or bad choices and right or wrong moral decisions but have suggested various theories on what may lead a student to incite violence. Children who witness domestic violence in the home and who are not taught otherwise are likely to internalize such behavior as appropriate means of dealing with conflicts in the school.Such students who get in confrontations with other students may be predisposed to engage in physical violence. Students who grow up in communities with street violence also may react violently to perceived threats. According to â€Å"Youth Violence: A Report by the Surgeon G eneral,† psychological conditions hyperactivity, impulsiveness, daring and short attention span can pose a small risk for violence. Dr. Christopher J. Ferguson of Texas A&M International University notes in The Journal of Pediatrics that depression is a leading cause of youth violence.Additionally, Thomas Grisso professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School writes in â€Å"The Future of Children† that kids with mental disorders are at an increased risk of displaying aggressive behavior. Having access to guns and other weapons may enable students to commit violent acts against their peers. The report â€Å"Violence Prevention: The Evidence† by the World Health Organization states limiting access to weapons can lead to a reduction in violent acts. Students may find guns in their homes or acquire guns illegally on the street.Without access to weapons, however, students would be unable to carry out violent acts. Students who have been bull ied may retaliate against their peers. The National School Safety Council notes that many who participate in such acts are bullied or ostracized from their peers. Peers reportedly bullied or ignored the Columbine shooters, which caused their anger. However, the surgeon general notes that violence in the media also may lead kids to engage in aggressive and violent behavior. What Are the Causes of Bullying in Schools?Bullying is a serious problem in schools and, according to Kids Health, three quarters of kids says that they have been bullied or teased at school as of 2010. Bullying takes a variety of forms and has several detrimental effects on children including depression, stress, sickness, physical injuries and even death. The first step in dealing with bullying is to pinpoint the causes behind bullying and clarify some of its many bullies engage in bullying as a way to draw attention to themselves and make themselves feel important. Unfortunately, according to Education. om, bull ies tend to be popular and even admired by classmates for their toughness. This is especially the case in middle schools, where bullies are sometimes regarded as popular and cool. As a consequence, other kids imitate bullying behavior in an effort to increase their popularity. Another myth about bullying is that bullies suffer from low self-esteem and, as a result, bully other kids in order to make themselves feel better. According to Education. com many bullies have high self-esteem and regard themselves in a positive light. It is not uncommon for bullies to have an overly inflated sense of self.The desire to control and dominate others is a common factor in bullying. Bullies often perceive kids who are smarter or different than them as a threat. Dominating and manipulating the perceived threat allows the bully to minimize the threat and to feel empowered. The bully's sense of satisfaction comes from provoking a reaction from the victims who are being bullied. The best strategy is to ignore a bully if possible. If the bully is unable to provoke a reaction, he may soon grow tired of bullying you. If it is not possible to ignore the bully, the best strategy is to stand up for yourself.Don't given in to a bully's demands. Always inform a parent, teacher or adult. Bullying behavior is often the result of a repetitive cycle of abuse. Bullies may be victims of abuse at home or they may learn patterns of behavior in which anger, name-calling and other forms of verbal abuse and physical violence are normal. Bullies may s Different Interventions ; Prevention Models of High School Violence According to the â€Å"College Student Journal,† almost one-quarter of public school students report that they had been the victims of violence at school.With the proper interventions, high school violence can be prevented or minimized. The National School Safety Center says that if parents, teachers and students work together, school violence can be minimized and, in some ins tances, eliminated. Parents and guardians are primary gatekeepers in helping to prevent high school violence. Parents must be aware of the influences their children receive whether through television, video games or other people to minimize exposure to violence. Parents need to teach their children to be empathetic and compassionate so that violence will not be tolerable to them.High school violence can often be thwarted by providing counselors for students. Counselors can help students with decision making and can teach alternatives to violent behaviors. The school milieu is sometimes the only opportunity high school students have to talk about their problems and get suggestions about reasonable solutions, according to the The National School Safety Center. The National School Safety Center says that a proper level of security can be an effective preventative for high school violence.Security personnel on staff can head off violence and must be alert for weapons such as guns or kni ves. Metal detectors can be installed to aid in weapons detection, if necessary. â€Å"College Student Journal† suggests that the high school buildings be evaluated to identify areas that could facilitate violent events for example, doors that do not open properly (should students need to escape) or doors that are too accessible to potential violent offenders. Meditation is another intervention that can be successful in preventing violence.According to National School Safety Center, mediation can help the students to relax, calm their thoughts, reduce stress and ultimately â€Å"prevent violent attitudes among the students. â€Å"Anger management sessions are a necessary part of intervention so that high school students can learn how to control rage and other intense emotions. Conflict-management strategies that focus on how to avoid fighting and other threatening behaviors can prevent violence. Peer mediation is another effective method to manage conflict in a high school. With this method, student leaders are trained in mediation and, with supervision; help settle conflicts among their peers. Violence prevention models help both parents and students to develop effective communication skills that will enhance peer development. Some techniques include role playing, with role reversal, so that the students can experience both sides of a violent interaction, or decision-making exercises that teach them what to do in potentially violent situations. Other skills include educating the students on the risks of violence in a descriptive manner that gives them a realistic picture of the impact of high school violence.Conclusion As far as this issue is concerned the solution to the problem will be identifying the root of the problem. Some people are quick to blame the media, while some blame parents, and others blame the schools. Americans need to try to take control of today's youth and the violence that is and has been developing in this country for many year s. Although school violence will never be extinct, there are many different ways to reduce violence. References: Surgeon General: Youth Violence Prevention — A Report of the Surgeon General Reuters: Depression, Peers Top Influences on Youth ViolenceThe Future of Children: Adolescent Offenders with Mental Disorders World Health Organization: Violence Prevention USA Today: 10 Years Later the Real Story behind Columbine College Student Journal: The Root of School Violence: Causes and Recommendations for a Plan of Action. The National School Safety Center: Proven Preventive Measure for School Violence. Adolescence: School Violence: Prevalence and Intervention Strategies for At-risk Adolescents. Kids Health: Dealing With Bullies Education: Some Myths and Facts about Bullies and Victims

A Visual Analysis of Four Art Works

The Early Renaissance was founded in Florence, Italy in the 15th century. It probably flousrished in Florence because of its location, being that it is in the center of Italy. This period was called Renaissance because it means â€Å"rebirth† There was a revival of interest in the classical art, targeted especially towards the ideas of Ancient Greece and Rome.Artists during the period of they Early Renaissance tried to depict the human figure with elements like proportion, gestures and expressions, and realistic objects and clothing as well.They also used other techniques like modeling, which gives volume to rounder elements, and perspective. These artists also tried to establish new methods to portray three dimensionality, giving forms a more real and life like quality. They did so by observing humans and animals so that they could gain a better understanding of Artists of the Easty Renaissance tried to create consistent forms with the relevance to the world along with what p eople experienced on a daily basis. The content of paintings changed as they progressed into Early Renaissance.The subject of art was used based on Roman history and and from myths, as it slowly pointed and leaned more towards religion. Even though artists had the vast freedom of developing and exploring of using new materials and techniques to apply to their works, many times they were only encouraged to create works with relevance to the Bible with the flexibility to choose their own sucject matter. Some of the main characteristics of the art period of the Early Renaissance include: harmony, proportion, realistic gestures andexpressions, rational posture, light, and color.Although the Italian Renaissance first bloomed and blossomed in the city of Florence, it soon spread to the city and capital of Italy, Rome. Rome was always known for its high living and its fine arts. By the beginning of the 1500s, there seemed to be a rapid growth of artistic creations that totally changed the city.The period of art and in history known to be as the High Renaissance, saw the bang of creative geniuses and their masterful and talented use of techniques and ideas that were first used in Florence. Many Europeans were drawn to this city, where the church offered enormous opportunities that could help artists achieve and become well known by a larger public. Due to the fact that the church had so much control and say over the Italian population and because of their contribution to art, many of the themes in art embodied religious themes.At this particular time, painting especially reached its highest point of technicality with magnificent artistic imagination and incredible heroic composition.Renaissance encompassed many Classical elements that extracted the details and showed the world as it really was. Nonetheless, the artworks of the High Renaissance explored and seeked for a more broad and unified architectural outlook and pictorial represententation.There was an explosion of dramatic force in art forms that took in strong energy and created a more controlled equilibrium. Some of the main characteristics of artworks in the High Renaissance are: unity, balance, spatial harmony, light, colors, proportions, chiaroscuro (the use of lighting and shading effects), composition, and perspective.Artists of the Early Renaissance broke away from older styles and introduced new elements as well as techinques. However, it was those artists in the High Renaissance who not only mastered, but perfected these tchniques.The most obvious differences between the Early and the High Renaissaince is the shape of figures and the use of chiaroscuro. Painters of the Early Renaissance strongly leaned towards using three dimensionality, but the new technique still did not look quite right. For instance, in Fra Angelico's Lamentation Over Dead Christ, there is a sense of three dimensionality, but at the same time if the viewer looks at it longer, it does not make sense.The figure s look almost flat. Not to mention, the halos on the figures' head has absolutely no sense of three dimensionality. Although he attempts to create the illusion, it does not quite add up together. In Michelagelo Buonarroti's The Creation of Man, it is evident to see that Adam is not a flat figure.   Michelangelo uses elements of chiaroscuro to create Adam as a full, voluptuous, and three dimensional figure.Michelangelo created many sculptures. Two singnificant sculptures, one created during the Early Renaissance and the other created during the High Renaissance, caught my attention. Even though both sculptures were created by the same artists, it is interesting to see that they are both very similar, yet at the very same time, they show significant changes and differences.David was created in the Early Renaissance. He is shown as an ideal human standing in a contraposto position, which are traces of Ancient Roman and Greek sculptures.David encompasses features of a perfect human be ing such as strength, shown by the details of his muscles. Nonetheless, it seems that Michelangelo's proportions are not quite right. His upper body, expecially his hands, seem larger. It is later on that Michelangelo shows us how he has evolved as an artists by creating Moses in the High Renaissance.I personally think that this is one of Michelagelo's most life like and realistic sculptures. Moses encompasses so much intricate details that bring the sculpture to life. Unlike David, Moses portrays enormous amount of strengh, energy, and movement.The sculpture itself tells its own story through details such as muscles bulging out, thich swelling veins, his strong legs, and his tangled up beard. Michelangelo also shows better representation of proportion in this later sculpture of Moses. A Visual Analysis of Four Art Works The Renaissance, meaning rebirth or revival, was a revolutionary period that made a great impact on arts and culture. The Italian Renaissance is divided into three major phases: Early, High, and Late Renaissance (Rzepinska, 1994).Though centered in Florence, Italy slightly before the turn of the 1500, its profound intellectual and economic changes influenced entire Europe for the next few hundred years (Rzepinska, 1994).   Tired of the restricted secular teachings of the Catholic Church, people began to turn towards humanistic philosophy (Hollingsworth, 2003).There was a renewed, heightened appreciation for great craftsmanship, literature and high culture.   Spiritual matters became a concern after Martin Luther questioned the Church in their selling of indulgences and usage of Latin in Scriptures that were only accessible to the rich and noble but not the poor (Hollingsworth, 2003). This ultimately led to the germination of Protestant Reformation that transformed the spiritual l andscapes forever as proven in many great works of art.The Early Renaissance was lead by sculptor Donatello, architect Filippo Brunelleschi, and painter Masaccio (Bailey, 2003). They began the movement on the foundations that development and progress was integral to the evolution and survival of the arts.They found their inspiration form antiquity, creating realistic figures that portrayed personality and behavior (Woods, Franklin and Richardson 2007). Their work also greatly emphasized the laws of proportion for architecture, the human body, and space (Hollingsworth, 2003).The High Renaissance moved to a generalized style of art that focused on drama, physical presence, and balance. Major artists of this period included Leonardo Da Vinci, Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian (Woods, Franklin and Richardson 2007). The period lasted only from 1495 to 1520 as it was taken over by the Late Renaissance.This movement was put into motion by the sack of Rome in 1527, forcing artists to relocate to other artistic centers in Italy, France, and Spain and later paved way to a new wave of thought known as the Mannerist movement (Hollingsworth, 2003).For the purpose of this assignment, I will analyze Fra Angelico's Lamentation over Dead Christ (1436-1441), Masaccio's The Tribute Money, Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini and His Bride, and Edouard Manet’s The Bar at the Folies Bergere.Lamentation over Dead Christ by Fra Angelico (1436-1441)The most obvious differences between Early and High Renaissance is the shape of figures and the use of chiaroscuro – an element in art defined as a bold contrast between light and dark (Bailey, 2003). Painters of the Early Renaissance strongly leaned towards using perspective: a system for creating an illusion of depth or three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface (Bailey, 2003).However, the technique seemed fraught with problems. For instance, in Fra Angelico's Lamentation over Dead Christ, there is the sense of denied aerial perspective, but if the viewer looks at it longer, the figures and their halos appear flat. The artist fails in his attempts to create a vivid and alive mythical illusion.The usage of halos are significant at it deconstructs the visual perspective of lines softening the image especially against the predominant angular crucifix. The arrangement of the halos also provide a soft and rhythmic motion of a wave that helps to distract the viewer from an emotionally hardened image of Christ dying.The artist utilizes a vivid color of the robes that personally, seems to as if represent the blood that is supposed to flow out of Christ. On the crucifix, there is minimal trace of blood in what would should have been a dramatic and tragic part of Christ’s life. Also notice the surrounding figures and their lack of emotional expression on their face and no trace of tears.Their robe seems to express more motions than anything else in the artwork. Lighting-wise, the ha los are to create a luminous setting for what is supposed to be a fabulous, surreal moment in Christianity. Note to customer: Need more detail here to balance out the other analyses you have done so this won’t come out uneven.

Pregnancy Smoking and the Unborn Child

This paper discusses the different effects of smoking to pregnant woman. The paper is divided into three parts. First part of the paper shows the statistical data available in the United States about smoking. Second part of the paper discusses the different experiments that had been done by experts to compare the babies that are not exposed to smoking. Lastly, the third part of the paper shows the other complications of exposure to smoking. A conclusion is also provided in the last part of the paperSmoking is considered as a habit that had contributed negative effects not only to pregnant women but also to people who are not pregnant. There are two ways of exposure to cigarette smoke. First is the exposure through first hand smoking, where a person inhales the smoke through smoking and the second hand smoking where a person inhales the smoke from the cigarette of another smoker. According to statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Development (CDC) (2006) from the Women an d Tobacco, cigarette had been the cause of death of 178,000.Further investigation shows that ninety percent of women who had lung cancers can be attributed to smoking. Women who smoke have an increased risk for diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease and pulmonary diseases. Looking at the National Statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Development, there is an estimate of 18.1% of women with ages 18 and above is cigarette smokers. Statistics also show that there is an estimate of 18% pregnant women from the ages of 15 to 44 years.As stated above, smoking does not only involve the first hand smoker but also the second hand smoker. Looking at the statistics from the CDC (2006), second hand smoke exposure had declined. It was further explained that the levels of cotinine had fallen down by 70% for the years 1988 to 1991 and 2001-2002. However, even though there has been a decline on the exposure, 126 million non-smoking Americans both children and adult are exposed to this second hand exposure. Children according to the figures from CDC are more exposed than adults. To be exact, 60% of the children in the age bracket of 3 to 11 years old are exposed to second hand smoke.To understand fully the implications on the effect of smoking to the child, an investigation was done by the proponent of the study. There have been several studies that had been made in the past that can further explain the effect of smoking to children. Josephine Thomas had made an experiment regarding the exposure of children to smoking. Based on the report written by Thomas (2000), the effects that might be experienced by children who were exposed to smoke are infertility, coagulation problems, obstetric complications such as extra uterine pregnancy and placenta previa, and intrauterine growth retardation.Results on the study had also shown that unborn children who had been exposed to tobacco smoke could indicate a negative behavior for toddlers and smoking experimentation among adolescents. Mothers who had smoked during pregnancy had scored their children high on toddler negativity, although there are other factors that might influence the children to do so but being exposed to cigarettes had shown that the data proved that the children high on toddler negativity had been exposed. The experts had also experimented on the early experimentation of adolescents with regard to smoking. The results of the study are not clear enough to know. However, experts are speculating that nervous system damage could have happened because of maternal smoking. The damage can be expressed as inattention aggression, depression and anxiety.Another experiment that had been done to compare the effects of maternal smoking exposure is the possible genetic mutation chromosomes of the babies. Based on the results of the study, there are 12.1% smokers and 3.5% non-smokers who had shown a structural chromosomal abnormaities, 10.5% smokers and 8% non-smokers had shown chromosomal instability and 15.7% smokers and 10.1% non-smokers had shown chromosomal lesions. Among the three changed items, the chromosomal instability and chromosomal lesions pose a risk of cancer and blood malignancies to the child who had been exposed to smoke.Lannero et al. (2006) have another experiment that can be associated with the comparison of smokers and non-smokers. The experts had studied 4,089 infants and had observed the babies up to two months. Questionnaires was used by the proponents in order to determine the status of the infants.   Based on the results of the study, it has been proven that maternal smoking increase the risk of recurrent wheezing for babies up to two years of age. Unborn and newlyborn babies are prone to recurrent wheezing.This can also be diagnosed as asthma by the doctors. Lastly, Rebagliato et al (1995) had correlated the exposure of the babies to smoke and the weight of the baby born. The experiment was done in Spain. The duration of exposure to envir onmental tobacco smoke at home, work, vehicles and Public places had been collected through a questionnaire. Based on the results there is a very small difference in the weight of the child that had been exposed. Looking at the results closely, these small difference had been a basis that there is a growth retardation to the child exposed to maternal smoking.There are many more experiments that could have been done by the experts to prove their point about exposure to maternal smoking. Healthgoods had shown all the possible effects of maternal smoking. Smoking is said to limit the amount of nutrients and oxygen that would react the unborn child. According to the American Lung Association, maternal smoking brings about several negative effects to the baby.This include miscarriages, still births, very low birth weight and could also result to a sudden infant death syndrome. Other implications of having been exposed to maternal smoke is that the newly-born children suffers more from lu ng problems, learning deficiencies and behavioral problems. As stated above, behavioral problems are one of the implications of tobacco prenatal exposure. Ear infections are also possible. Breast Feeding mothers are also discouraged to smoke because the chemicals in the cigarettes could enter the breast milk of the mother such as nicotine and carbon monoxide and this can be passed on to the baby.The child and the mother are closely linked together because when women are pregnant, the child and the mother share the same body, inhales the same air and eats the same food. Having a child is very sensitive because whatever the mother does to herself affects the baby. If the mother is a cigarette addict, then she must try to curb her habits well to avoid putting that child that she is carrying at risk. There are many implications, and complications that the child can experience if he or she is exposed to smoking. As much as possible, it is really not advisable to smoke or be surrounded by smokers if a particular person is pregnant. Not smoking a cigarette helps the mother avoid the first hand smoke exposure. However in public places, mothers should take good care that they are not exposed to smokers. Second Hand smoke exposure also has an effect on the baby.The website Healthgoods.com had enumerated several tips to stop smoking to help mothers avoid risking their child’s life. It would be helpful for pregnant women who are addicted to cigarettes to read websites, pamphlets or ask advice from a doctor to help them stop their habits of smoking.REFERENCESCenters for Disease Control and Prevention   (November 2006). Women and Tobacco. Retrieved last January 20, 2008 from Department of Health and Human Services. Website: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/women_tobacco.htmMarch of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (2007). Smoking and Pregnancy. Retrieved last January 20, 2008 from Health Goods. Website:Medical Studies/Trials (9 March 2005). Mater nal Smoking During Preganancy Associated with Chromosomal Abnormalities. Retrieved last January 22, 2008 from   News Medical.net. Website: http://www.news-medical.net/?id=8330Thomas, J. (2000) Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy Associated With Negative Toddler Behavior and Early Smoking Experimentation. Retrieved last November 22, 2008 from National Institute on Drug Abuse. Website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol16N1/Maternal.htmlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention   (October 2006). Trends in Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among U.S. Nonsmokers: Progress and Gaps. Retrieved last January 20, 2008 from Department of Health and Human Services. Website: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/SecondhandTrends.htmRebagliato,M., Florey, C.D. and Bolumar, F. (1995) Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Nonsmoking Pregnant Women in Relation to Birthweight.   Retrieved last January 20, 2008 from   American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 142 No. 5 pp. 531-5 37 . Website: http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/142/5/531

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example According to the task outline, the objective of this assignment is to develop an understanding of the experiences, motivation, and lessons acquired by individuals who have created successful enterprises. Consequently, this paper has focused on The Cambridge Satchel Company as a demonstration to help us understand to various dimensions that entrepreneurs face although till they create successful businesses. As such, the paper will analyse an interview conducted on the company’s co-founder Julie Deane (Faulkner, 2012). Julie Deane, Co-Founder, the Cambridge Satchel Company According to McGowan et al. (2012) entrepreneurs are always motivated by the desire to take control of their lives and self confidence in their abilities to run a business (McGowan, Redeker, Cooper, & Greenan, 2012). Similarly, the idea behind the creation of The Cambridge Satchel Company started from the need of Deane to transfer her eight years daughter from a school where she was being bullied. As such Dean e was faced with a situation that required more income/money. This made Deane to come up with many business ideas only to settle at an idea that involved the making of traditional leather satchels. Her target market was the school going children who were crazy about the Harry Potter kind of bag. Consequently, in 2007, with a saving of six hundred euros Deane set her business (Eccles, 2012). The first consignments were classical chestnut coloured bags, in addition to black and dark brown colours because these colours were readily available. This is a classical support of the need for entrepreneurs need to set their goals and objectives. Moreover, this business is a sole-proprietorship kind; as such the company had its share of hardships in borrowing. Another, back draw in this business form is it weak growth rate due to limited capital and exposure (staff, 2010).However, another important characteristics for any successful entrepreneurs is high risk tolerance, a feature that has enab led Deanne to be successful in her business, to date (Shah, Smith , & Reedy, 2011). The Cambridge Satchel Company initial operations were at home. Deane confesses that as a start-up business she was only able to sell one to three bags in a week. However, through her own advertising initiatives, she started distributing leaflets in the neighbourhood and in offices and clinics. In addition, the fact that Cambridge boasts of being a career town and hold a lot of traditions, many people were able to identify with the Satchels. This factor greatly helped in the growth of the Satchel demand. More so, Deane was able to make a name through fashion houses and celebrities many of whom fell for them. To make more sales she started producing the bags in more different colours so that they could match the requirements and demands of the customer. Though this, Deane has demonstrated very good entrepreneurship skills. For example, she has demonstrated the importance of relating with the customerâ €™s needs. In addition Deane confessed that even if the demand grew she has never compromised on the quality. From the interview, Deane admits that another success factor for her business is innovativeness and creativity. Notably, in diversifying her product, she realized the importance

Operating a truck fleet annual fees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Operating a truck fleet annual fees - Essay Example It is a companied by a dual fuel tank; this makes it possible for the trucks to travel for longer distances without stopping at any point for fueling. Its outer body is smartly designed; it has a raised roof creating a more grater space making the drivers position a comfortable place. The trailer uses a ten speed engine, it the most efficient in long distances and also the most suitable to carry heavy luggage’s (Rogers, 98). Annual registration of the trailers ranges 2424 USD. It is charged to all trailers. The registration includes government tax and basic registration fees. Other additional fee may include 28.25 USD for private sales, 1 USD for inspection on of state vehicles and any other relevant taxes that may occur due to purchase of the truck. Licensing plate fee is 1 USD; it may also be changed to transfer the existing plates which will amount to 6 USD. In United States drivers are governed by rules that should never be violated at any time. A driver qualifying to drive must be strong enough to be able to handle the trailer in an appropriate way. The maximum driving hours of driver are 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours of duty; the hourly limit should not exceed the 14th hour after coming on duty. The hour on duty limit no single driver can drive after 60 to 70 hours on duty in 7 to 8 consecutive days. A driver is allowed to start a 7/8 continuous period after having taken 34 hour hours off. Any driver using sleeper provision must take eight consecutive hours sleeping, plus other two hours either in the sleeping berth of or off duty (Lusty, 146). Allowing any driver to drive more than the required time is violating the law; it may be considered an egregious violation and is subjected to maximum civil penalties. The USA federal government requires all for one to start any king of business a certificate and a license have to be issued to prove that the business is legal. The role of the federal government as stated in the

Using Human Embryos in Stem Cell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Using Human Embryos in Stem Cell - Essay Example From this study it is clear that  there is a hotly debated ethical issue, however, in harvesting of immature embryos for this purpose as many individuals in society believe that embryos in this very early stage of development should be considered living beings with the same moral rights as the average human.This discussion highlights that  those that prescribe to the deontological view of ethics believe this is an immoral act and that these early-stage embryos should be afforded the same universal human rights as fully developed human beings. Deontologists believe there is a singular moral code that should justify all actions against the call of duty toward this code. The utilitarian view of ethics and those who believe in this ideology of morality believe that it is perfectly acceptable practice so long as the utility of the majority in society is satisfied.  The utilitarianist perspective on the destruction of early-stage embryos as a means of advancing knowledge and medical treatments for those in society afflicted by disease is that this is morally permissible and should be heralded. The utilitarian view of ethics is that the ends serve to justify the means so long as the utility of the majority is satisfied.  Stem cell research maintains the ability to cure or otherwise treat countless members of society that suffer from genetic diseases and even severe physical trauma.  The regenerative properties of stem cells derived from early-developed embryos have significant tissue damage repair capacities.

Managment 3000 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managment 3000 - Assignment Example 2. The key stakeholders would obviously be top management and the board of directors. Management would likely be in favor of researching the drug while the directors would be worried more on the financial side of things. As the company does tend to focus on the human need, then it is likely to pursue the drug. 3. If research does go ahead on the drug, then it has the potential to cure millions of people worldwide in some of the poorest areas of the globe. The cost would be that valuable research dollars would be spent on individuals who could not afford to purchase the medicine, and so the company's profits would likely be reduced. Chapter 5 Management Live 5.5 on page 181 This Management Live discusses the importance of picking the right communication channel to convey different information. Importantly, technology is not always the answer to sending messages. As evidenced at Google, where technology dominates, posters taped to doors was an effective way to draw attention. If the au dience is being overloaded in one channel, presenters might want to try to send their message through another channel. Or, presenters can alter the channel in a creative way to attract attention. Read the section in the chapter about communication channels as they relate to information richness and topic complexity. Consider the following messages and discuss which communication channel would be most effective in each scenario and why. 1. Managers at a shipping facility are concerned by the number of back injuries employees are suffering due to improper lifting techniques. Workers have already been trained on proper lifting, so how can management get the message to â€Å"stick†? Management can get the message to stick by placing printed out reminders on boxes and containers so that employees are presented with the correct lifting technique just before they are about to lift something. 2. A college professor wants her students to participate in a research project in the evenin g. How should she send this message so students will notice it and participate? The college professor should set up a Facebook group for the research project so that students can discuss the project while socializing with their friends. The students are far more likely to participate if it is on a user-friendly medium. 3. An employee is frustrated by his job. He feels like his boss doesn’t give him enough direction about the goals and expectations of the job. How can he best communicate this message to his boss? The employee can get the attention of his boss by requesting a face-to-face meeting. Employers are constantly busy, so sending an email or paper note would likely be passed over. Talking to the boss in his or her office allows the employee to get direct to the point and not waste any unnecessary time for the boss. Chapter 6 Gina is a manager at a customer call center for an insurance company. Gina has noticed a lot of areas for improvement in the performance of her cu stomer service agents. The following list describes the behaviors that Gina would like all customer service agents to perform. 1. Keeping customer call times short (company target is for agents to respond to 15 customer calls per hour). 2. Giving correct information about insurance policies to customers. 3. Logging detailed notes about the customer call in the online database. 4. Being a good listener and being polite and professional even when the customer is angry.

Writing project 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Writing project 1 - Essay Example Policies, argued a professor from my community who taught in a faraway university, were the only way that the world progressed. Yet, no policy change was possible without knowledge and education. Being a culturally rich community, people started seeing the importance of reading. In a bid to promote the culture of reading, one of the measures put in place was the introduction of the annual culture-reading week. I always wanted to take part in the event. When my opportunity came, I had the experience that changed my perception about reading and had considerable influence in my entire life as a reader. The desire to inculcate the reading culture among the future generations, it was important to introduce the reading culture to the children at a very young age. There were prizes won in the event, all of which were coveted books. The best readers won a series of storybooks that appeared on a popular television show in form of film. Father knew the importance of reading. Further, he understood the importance of the event. Immediately after the announcement of the event, which was to take place six months from the date of its announcement, father encouraged me to start preparing for the event. As I was new to reading, I faced numerous challenges. I paid little attention to the contents in the book. I even found them less interesting. My elder brother however, who had taken part in the event encouraged me to develop the liking for books. He introduced to comic books first, especially the â€Å"Gulliver the traveler†, which became my most interesting and favorite book. Later, with his assistance, I read the book, â€Å"daisy in wonderland.† As I progressed, I started loving the stories. I saw them being interesting, others captivating. I even started missing the next time I would get the chance to read the book. While my brother stayed up late reading the contemporary issues of the current world, I joined him in the

Budgetary planning and control and the evaluation of performance Essay

Budgetary planning and control and the evaluation of performance - Essay Example It represents a plan for the future expressed in formal, measurable terms. (Botner, Stanley, 1991). To be helpful, a budget must be prepared in sufficient detail to inform all levels of management of the exact expectations. It is not sufficient to establish a personnel budget for an institution and limit the detail to a statement of the overall number of employees. This serves no purpose except, perhaps, as part of a summary. Rather, a personnel budget should detail the quantities and types of full-time equivalents by department or cost center, perhaps by shift or by workstation. It should detail the salaries to be paid and the components, including routine, overtime, shift pay, cost of living or merit increases, and so on. All positions -- vacant and otherwise -- should be included in the budget. To assemble the quantity of data necessary to support a detailed plan, a matrix organization of rows and columns is essential. The matrix allows a significant amount of information to be displayed in an orderly manner and a limited amount of space. If organized properly, interrelationshi ps can easily be seen, the data can be viewed and understood quickly, and the chance of arithmetic error can be reduced or eliminated. Figures 1-1 and 1-2 display two such matrix-style worksheets for a nursing department's personnel budget in computer spreadsheet form. One other advantage of a matrix-style worksheet is that it can help guard against errors of omission by specifying certain data to be collected in a particular set of columns or rows. Rather than calculate a salary budget and mistakenly omit "charge pay" or other premium payments, the worksheet can be set up in advance and require that information about these premiums be included for use in the calculations. In order to minimize the chance of leaving something out, it is best to set up budget spreadsheets well in advance of the actual budget preparation schedule and carefully consider actual data requirements. Remember that because computer spreadsheets can hold so much data, it is better to err on the side of collecting too much, rather than too little, data. (Klay, Earle, 2003) Personnel resources that pose a particular problem in terms of recruitment and/or retention can also be dealt with in the budget by inclusion of a recruitment plan, a budgetary emphasis on human resource development and training, or Figure 1-1 XYZ Memorial Hospital Nursing Budget -- Salaries, Fiscal Year 19XX Personnel 2 2 3 3 4 Class North South North South North Total Head Nurse Charge Nurse Clinical Specialist RN - II RN - I LPN Nursing Aide Unit clerk Total This matrix organization allows the salary data for five nursing units to be aggregated and displayed in such a way that the dollar amounts by type for each nursing unit can be compared easily with those for the other four units. The dollar values are added both down and across; and since the total from the rows must equal the total from the columns, the chance of arithmetic error is reduced or eliminated. Figure 1-2 XYZ Memorial Hospital Nursing Budget-FTEs and Salaries, Fiscal

Exercises Essay Example for Free

Exercises Essay I think it is an appropriate metaphor. Brain has the faculty of talking, laughing, crying, thinking and so forth. Without brain, human cannot exist. In the similar way, engine performs all the functions in the vehicle. The car is consisted of more than 20,000 parts. Even though it is not small number, it is nothing when it compared to the human neuron system. Anyway, neuron system is controlled by brain, of course, car parts are controlled by engine. Therefore, when there is a little bit damage at any part of the brain, specific features cannot be operated. It is the same story about the vehicle. There are four evidences. First, if placing an object in the sprit brain patients hand, left-right asymmetry observed. Second, when showing an image in the sprit brain patients visual field, the asymmetry is observed. Third, dichotic listening test shows language is lateralized. Left hemisphere is superior for linguistic stimuli such as syllable however right hemisphere is superior for nonverbal stimuli such as environmental sounds. Finally, the corpus callosum makes the two halves become two different mental spheres. The answer is NO. The evidence is provided by the patterns of neuronal activity in people reading different kinds of writing. For instance, Japanese language has two systems of writing. One is kana which is based on the sound system of the language. The other system, kanji, is not based on that system. Japanese with left hemisphere damage are impaired in their ability to read kana, while people with right hemisphere damage are impaired in their ability to read kanji. Plus, experiments suggest that the right hemisphere is better and faster than the left hemisphere at reading kanji, and vice versa.

Company Overview of VEDANTA RESOURCES

Company Overview of VEDANTA RESOURCES INTRODUCTION Vedanta resources is the first Indian company to be listed in the London stock exchange in December 2003. It is an FTSE 100 metals and mining company with its headquarters located in London, UK and is Indias largest non ferrous company based on their revenues. The company is principally situated in India, although they have possessions and operations in other locations such as Zambia and Australia. Vedanta Resources is mainly invested in copper, zinc, Aluminium businesses, however the company is now adding to their portfolio by diversifying into a commercial power generation business. The group has experienced a significant growth in recent years on grounds of various expansions in projects owing to a world class resource base containing copper, zinc and Aluminium, the result of this being the acquisition of Sesa Goa in April 2007, which enabled them to penetrate into the iron ore market. Therefore the organization is actively participating in the iron ore, zinc, Aluminium and copper businesses. Vedanta has a precise vision and mission statement, vision being to be clear and committed so that they might become the market leaders in the non- ferrous market segment and their mission is to be a low cost, million-ton per annum producer, the ultimate goal however is to make the company a success, needless to say that such a mission will certainly put India on a global competitive platform, in the metals and mining segment. The company has continuously demonstrated that they are able to bring in projects that are of high significance thereby contributing unmatched growth at minimum pricing while ensuring high returns to all their shareholders. Also, the organization makes certain that they meet the high conservative standards that are set, so that unjustifiable numbers are not shown in their balance sheets. Vedanta Resources deals with a diverse portfolio of mining and metals business as they make available eminent proceeds to their shareholders even as they make sure that they are socially and environmentally accountable, as the management keeps track of their employees health and safety, community issues and of their surroundings. Several of Vedanta Resources operations are authorized by International Management Systems Standard ISO 14001, proof of it being the many awards won by the company such as Recognition of Commitment Award from the Institute of Internal Auditors, USA in 2005, Vedanta Resources being the only manufacturing company out of a total of four Indian companies to have ever received this award, not to mention the numerous safety and environment awards. To quote the chairman of Vedanta Resources, Mr.Anil Agrawal India is a fast-emerging and attractive resource destination, and we believe our strategy and business objectives will harness Indias high-quality wealth of mineral resources at low costs of development, positioning it as a leader on the global metals and mining map. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Vedanta is an emerging multinational conglomerate with many overseas operations. Its organizational structure is a complex one with many subsidiaries, governing board and a management committee. The governing board consists of executive and non executive directors. The executive board of directors consists of Mr. Anil Agarwal, Mr. Navin Agarwal and Mr. M S Metha. Mr. Anil Agarwal founded the company and is leading the company as the executive chairman. Mr. Navin Agarwal is the deputy executive chairman of Vedanta and looks after the corporate business strategy and responsible for overall performance and growth. He also heads the executive committee. Mr. M. S. Metha is the chief executive officer of Vedanta. He joined the conglomerate in the year 2000 and previously was working at Lloyds Steel Industries. The non executive board consists of Mr. Naresh Chandra, Mr. Aman Metha and Mr.Euan Macdonald. Mr. Naresh Chandra was a Padma Vibhushan award winner from the Government of India and he is an Indian Administrative Service officer. He joined the group in 2004 after holding many prestigious positions in India. Aman Metha also joined the group in 2004. Before that he was the CEO of HSBC. Euan Macdonald was the chairman of SBC Warburg India and specializes in emerging market finance. The management committee is lead by Mr. Navin Agarwal and consists of: COMMITTEE DESIGNATION TARUN JAIN PRESIDENT GROUP HUMAN RESOURCES DD JALAN WHOLE TIME DIRECTOR CEO ALUMINIUM BUSINESS MS METHA WHOLE TIME DIRECTOR BALCO P K MUKHERJEE DIRECTOR OPERATIONS KCM DILIP GOLANI COO HZL RAJAGOPAL K. KUMAR CEO COPPER ZINC BUSINESS AKHILESH JOSHI HEAD MANGT ASSURANCE FUNCTION J. JANAKARAJ CEO VEDANTA RESOURCES PRAMOD SURI CEO IRON ORE BUSINESS M SIDDIQI CFO VEDANTA RESOURCED A THIRUNAVUKKARASU DOF STERLITE Vedanta Resources plc. is the parent company with many subsidiaries operating in different sectors in different names. Vedanta has interests in five main businesses. Each business is operated by one of its subsidiary. Below is the Vedanta resources plcs group tree. Copper Business: Copper business are run and operated by Sterlite Industries (India) Limited, Konkola Copper Mines Plc and Copper Mines of Tasmania, however, Vedanta holds 53.9%, 79.4% and 100% stakes respectively and management control in the above companies. The total copper business has an annual production of 678,412 tons and generates revenue of $4,012 million. The end products are the Continuous Cast Rods and Copper Cathodes. Copper from the copper mines are smelted using ISA process, one of the worlds leading technology in copper smelting. They have the latest version of CS 3000 Distributed Control System of Yokogawa from Japan to control the entire copper smelter. Aluminium Business: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) and Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) are responsible for Aluminium business. Aluminium business has a total production capacity of 500,000 tons per annum. Vedanta has the controlling stakes of 70.5% in VAL and Sterlite, the subsidiary of Vedanta owns a stake of 51% and exercises management control. Currently the Aluminium business is under vigorous expansion and by 2012 it would become top five Aluminium producers in the world. The company produces metallurgical grade alumina and Aluminium ingots, billets and bars used for making buses. The Aluminium smelter used the advanced technical specifications of British Standard Institute (BSI). The company has bagged OHSAS 18001 certification for good health and protection standards. VAL unit has obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certificates for quality production and management practices. These Aluminium complexes also have integrated power plants in them. Zinc business: Zinc business is wholly owned and operated by Hindustan Zinc limited (HZL). Vedanta own 64.9% of share capital in HZL. It has an annual production of 9,64,000 tons of zinc that generates revenue of $1,782 million. HZL is the worlds integrated second largest producer of Zinc and Lead. Apart from Zinc and Lead the plant also produces Silver, Cadmium and generates power. Silver and Cadmium are obtained as a byproduct of Lead and Zinc metal respectively. The equity shares of HZL are traded at the Indian stock exchange. The metals are refined and sold according to their quality. Iron ore business: The whole iron ore business is operated by its subsidiary Sesa Goa limited. Vedanta has a controlling stake of 57.1%. The company makes iron ore, pig iron and metallurgical coke. The company has a production capacity of 21.4 million tons of iron ore fines and lumps which generates revenue of $1221.7 million. Apart from these they also sell the in-house technology for coke making. They found new technology using vibro compaction to stabilize coal before using in the furnace for firing. Sesa Goas mines have ISO status for good management standards and safety. Commercial Power Generation business: This is a new business venture for Vedanta group and is run by its subsidiaries Sterlite Energy Limited (SEL) and Madras Aluminium Company Limited (MALCO). SEL is a 100% subsidiary of Sterlite Industries Ltd. As of now the excess power from its various plants are sold. Specialized commercial power generation plants are being set up in India. By the end of 2011 the power plants would become fully operational. Two plants are being set up with a combined generation of 4380MW per year. OPERATIONS OF VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC: CORPORATE STRATEGY Since its incorporation in 1976, Vedanta has been very successful in its operations. The current turnover of company is $ 7931 million. The success can be owed to the corporate strategy of Vedanta which can be explained as follows: Organic Development: This includes developing organizations own capabilities. It is done by making using of latest technology for manufacturing processes; spreading investments over a time, venturing the scope of entry in new markets, analyzing the ability of the company to enter them and then enter into such markets. Latest Technology for Mining Smelting Operations: Vedanta has been doing it by using highly advanced technology for manufacturing and designing. This helps in reducing the production costs and thereby gaining advantage to compete in the market. For e.g. The Sesa Goas team did a detailed experimentation involving studies on the temperature profile of the oven and redesigning the refractories. Followed by the systematic plant trials, it developed energy recovery coke making, an environment-friendly technology that is characterized low capital and operating cost, high energy recovery and capable of producing high quality metallurgical coke. Implementing cost reduction techniques: Vedanta has signed long-term contracts with suppliers of raw materials. This not only reduces production costs but also accounts for the continuous availability of resources without getting affected by market fluctuations. Launching Brownfield and Greenfield Projects: These form a very important consideration for a mining industry. Brownfield projects are abandoned sites that are available for industrial or commercial reuse. The development or expansions of such land is more difficult owing to contamination by earlier use. Greenfield projects are the ones which lack any constraints imposed by prior work. There is no need to demolish or remodel the structure. Vedanta has been investing in Brownfield and Greenfield projects for expansions. A 1.4 mtpa aluminium refinery project at Lanjigarh and an aluminium smelter of capacity 500,000 tpa both in state of Orissa, India are few of the Greenfield projects launched by the company. Entry in New Market: Also the company has now ventured into Commercial Power Generation. It recognised the tremendous scope in the industry for commercial power generation, in India. It has therefore started commercial power generation plants in Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Also these plants are locates at strategic positions, mainly in the coal rich zones of India, thereby facilitating transport and easy availability of coal. Consolidation of Group Structure: As shown above, Vedanta has many subsidiaries like KCM, Sterlite Industries India Ltd, Sesa Goa Ltd etc. Although it has the Holding Stocks and management control over all these, some of the stakes are owned by private investors. Vedanta is constantly trying to buyback it stock and purchase shares of all its subsidiaries. This would help in a consolidated group structure. The main advantage of it is ease in the management decisions. Mergers and Acquisitions: Since 2004, the Vedanta Resources had only one acquisition till date by acquiring the Madras Aluminium Co Ltd. While taking stake into consideration the Vedanta resources taken over 5 companies till finalization of balance sheet for 2010. Acquisitions include Konkola Copper Mines Plc. in 2004 and part in 2009 with a total of 79.4% stake, next Sterlite Gold Ltd and Finsider International Co Ltd both in the year 2007. Moreover, the company acquired approximately 25.8% by the outstanding common shares of Sterlite Gold on a fully-diluted basis. Also the company acquired Finsider International Co Ltd. Fully from a Japanese company called Mitsui Co at around USD 981 million. In the year 2009 the company acquired 51% of Sesa Goa Ltd, Indias largest producer-exporter of Iron-Ore in the private sector at INR 4070 Crore. Now, the Vedanta Resources are planning to acquire 60% stake in Crain India Company. The Cairn India is a leading player in Oil and Gas industry in India. Moreover, Crain India is one the biggest private exploration and Production Company currently operating in India. Edinburgh based Crain Energy is holding a total of 62.37 percent stake in Crain India. According to the deal the Crain Energy will sell its stake to Vedanta Resources Plc for the deal amount of USD 9.6 billion at 405 INR per share. Successful acquisition of KCM, MALCO, Sterlite Gold Ltd and Sesa Goa has added substantial growth to the Vedanta as a whole. They are continue looking for a new growth and acquisition opportunities in the metal and mining sector and related opportunities in India and elsewhere. They are taking all these steps by keeping government privatization programmed in mind. PESTEL ANALYSIS Political Legal: As minerals are a nations wealth, the mining industry operates under the huge cloud of political and legal pressure. Mainly they are state owned or nationalized and involves a large and complicated process for licensing. The industry is very much regulated by governmental law that mainly focuses on labour and environmental factors. In the recent days, the increasing concern for environmental issues has made the government to pressurize the mining policies. Upon this the media focus is still more an added pressure for the mining industry. Even though the governments policies are mainly aimed to protect the resources but they also encourage exports by giving subsidies and encourage new technology developments. Economic: Mining is an industry that requires very high capital investment. Thus, interest rates make a major impact. Not all countries are rich in deposits of minerals; hence mining generally involves import and export of products. The exchange rates fluctuations are a dominant concern. The import taxes and international trade cycle are also important economic factors for the mining industry. Social: Being an industry that impacts the surrounding environment in areas of its operation, the support of the local community is of the most important and underlying factors for mining. Mining, though, a resource based industry, cannot be carried out in areas of high population because of the concerns that it may affect the public health. Mining has also been under the scanner of various activist groups over the recent years. The industry thus has also been attracting continuous media attention. Vedanta has been attracting a lot of media attention recently over ESG issues. Technology: The process involved in the mining industry right from the raw material transportation still export involves risky process. In those conditions the laws prevent the use of human resources that make the mining industry heavily dependent on technology. Recently the mines are using computerized machines that operates according to its program and automated conveyor belts to reach its specified destination i.e. harbor or warehouse. But still the underground mining relies mainly on human resource due to its complicated nature of mining. Environmental: Mining is an industry that affects and makes a negative impact on the environment during and after the process. Thus any mining activity has to go through a number of clearances and regulations concerning the environment. Almost all countries demand an investigation of its impact on the environment before any activity can start. PORTERS 5 FORCES ANALYSIS The following diagram gives the 5 Forces Analysis for Vedanta Resources: Threat of New Entrants: The threat of new entrants to Vedanta is very low. This is mainly because of high capital investments required. The limited resources in mining and the costs of exploration, the various government laws, the equipment required, additional costs incurred in rehabilitation of people living at mining sites etc all make it difficult for new entrants to venture in this industry. Threat of Substitutes: The threat of substitutes also is low. This is mainly because metals are required basically for all types of manufacturing industries as an input. Even if substitution is considered, it has limited scope. Also the price/performance ratios of iron, aluminium etc is low, making the threat of substitutes even less. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The suppliers include the suppliers of raw materials required, that of equipment etc. There are very few suppliers and therefore their bargaining power is high. Also the cost of switching suppliers is high making it difficult to do so. Vedanta has entered into long term contracts with their suppliers, thus reducing the costs. It also ensures that Vedanta get supply of goods without being affected by market fluctuations. Bargaining Power of Buyers: This is low as the demand of the metals and metal products is very high. Also switching costs are high as the costumers normally have contracts with the company. Competitive Rivalry: Some of the competitors of Vedanta Group are Rio-Tinto, BHP Billiton Ltd, Grupo-Mexico, Hindalco etc. The competition is intense as every player is trying for their market share as the resources are becoming restricted and limited. SWOT ANALYSIS: A complete SWOT analysis of Vedanta Resources plc would provide a clear and unbiased strategic analysis of the companys strengths and weakness and potential opportunities and threats, this sort of analysis helps the business in understanding its partners, customers and competitors better. STRENGTHS: The strength can be determined by the fact that the company has assets that are global with respect to both scale and size; their low cost of production which makes the group competitive among its peers and the skill and experience that are incorporated in the nature of their assets is of high quality. Their recent growth in volume and the many measures that the group have taken in reducing costs has increased their cash flow considerably; The Company understands the fact that it is important to maintain a low leverage by enabling adequate liquidity and meeting all their financial obligations, possessing a strong vision, making strategic acquisitions and having an ability to think ahead. They also understand the value of their employees which is a competitive advantage as its not easily reproducible like technology and the fact that they strive for excellence has only increased their strength. WEAKNESSES: Poor brand management, not giving importance to marketing of the company, keeping silent while a swarm of people accusing the company has increased trouble for the company. Therefore, the company must make all efforts in order to correct the problem before they run out of business and need to curtail their operations. OPPORTUNITIES: The opportunities for the group are many, success in the group will allow the company to compete globally. Several efforts are made by the company with respect to expansion of the company and growth and this can be clearly seen in the group on having acquired Sesa Goa, which makes it possible for the company to penetrate through the iron ore market and by making strategic decisions, will guarantee that Vedanta Resources triumphs. THREATS: The potential threats as reported by The Independent news paper is the fact that the human rights protestors that stood outside the companys building in their avatar costumes, outshone the companys accomplishments which is a major threat to the companys image. The backing out of the Church of England; only six months after researching into the company or Aviva who is one of their backers, who voted against them in three resolutions in board meeting which they attended. Vedanta however, denies the rumors concerning the pollution of Lanjugarh, or any breach in human rights, the encroachment of land in Nyamgiri Hills in Orissa and any other accusations that have been made against the company and they continue to contest any allegations made against the group. Although the rumors are overtaking their defensive stand and is causing a serious dent to the Vedanta Groups image. (The Independent, 2010) COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: In terms of the competitive advantages for Vedanta resources Plc, Firstly, they have a mining site located where the availability of natural resources is high. Their production is done on the basis of the accessibility of the raw material. As the natural resources are highly available, the supply of the raw material and the cost of production can be low, and the cost of capital can be divided to sustain it in the current market. The raw material in the industry is nothing but the resources held by the group and as they located where there is a rich source of natural resources, not to mention the availability of cheap labour at their mining site which results in Vedanta having a low cost of production per unit leading the company to win an award for the low cost of production in year 2007. Culture of the society where there are located, is also well known by them so the adjustment to the market environment would not be an issue placing the company is a very advantageous position The company has also started their operations in power production unit. They had produced the power sufficient enough for their production and the excess production was sold out and this resulted to the investment in a power generation plant. Now they have obtained blocks for 112.2 million tons with the ministry of coal. They have signed a contract with Chhattisgarh government for the interested thermal and coal power generation plant for 1200 MW power capacity. India is fifth largest in the world for the bauxite with the reserve about of 2,600 million tones and for the coal reserves and for iron ore it is sixth. The most of the mining and smelting site for Vedanta resources are in India. This is advantageous for potential growth in the further prospective for the company. CORE COMPETENCE For Vedanta the core competence of their business strategy is developing low cost, with inexpensive skilled and educated labour. (Business Standard, 2008) In the mining industry, the high costs are to do with the investment in acquiring a mining site and costs need for production. However, Vedanta has reduced its cost of production owing to their location, which is rich in natural resources. The current production for the Aluminium is 1.4 mtpa which is planned to be increased by 6,00,000 tpa to reach is total production of 2 mtpa. The company aims at investing $ 9.8 Billion by which they will be the fifth mining company for Aluminium metal. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY In the present-day business scenario, Corporate Social responsibility (C.S.R.) and sustainability have become a very high-profile agenda in many countries and industries. Thus, due to the nature of its business, Corporate Social Responsibility is a pretty confound and complicated issue for Vedanta Resources Plc. The company has quite a mixed record on the social responsibility front. Nonetheless, the company has made certain valiant efforts to conduct their business in a socially responsible manner. Vedantas current C.S.R. agenda acknowledges the responsible management of the Environmental, Community, Health and Safety and Employee issues with respect to all of their operations. The companys Health, Safety and Environment (H.S.E) management framework administers the healthy and sound management of its operations. According to its current agenda, the company aims to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. Efficient consumption of energy and water and use of recycled materials is one of its main motives. It has taken initiatives through its subsidiaries to fulfill its motives. Being a mining company, the health and safety of its employees and the community is a core concern for Vedanta. The company has a Health and Safety management framework and policies in place, which aim to ensure a risk-free environment for its employees. Vedanta has also taken efforts to support and enhance the local community in the areas of their operations. Sterlite Foundation is financial ly supported by the group, which provides free computer training to the young under-privileged people. The company has also made several contributions and donations to the community. For example being the donation of US$1.1 million to the Rajasthan drought relief fund, through its subsidiary H.Z.L. Despite making certain efforts to conduct its business in a socially responsible manner, Vedanta has been engulfed in a web of allegations concerning this issue over the last few years. The company has been under immense criticism for having a poor human rights and environmental record by various activist groups and authorities. A human rights group called Amnesty International, has criticized and raised the issue of ill treatment of the local tribal people by Vedanta in the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa, India. Various other activist groups have also accused Vedanta and its subsidiaries of threatening the livelihood of the community residing in and around the areas of its mines. This also led to recent public demonstrations and protest against the company worldwide. However, the company has maintained a stance that, it would act in a responsible manner and that the proposed project will only enhance the community as a whole in the particular area. Vedantas Alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Orissa, India, has also been critiqued by the State Pollution Control board in India for air and water pollution. Amnesty International has accused Vedanta of failing to curb the impact created by its refinery of air pollution on the local community. The company is also facing investigations and charges regarding pollution because of its project in Armenia. This is another issue that has been raised by various activist groups. The company has also failed to maintain a clear health and safety record recently. Separate incidents have darned its reputation concerning safety efforts. An under construction chimney at its smelter in Chhattisgarh, India collapsed causing death of more than 40 workers and employees. The company has also been accused of safety negligence as its unsafe mining operations have led to deaths of more than 25 workers and employees and injuries to hundreds of others in 2007. The controversies, poor human rights and environmental allegations have caused a lot of socially responsible investors to divest from the company. After protests by Survival International a human rights group regarding the Orrisa issue, the Church of England sold its stake worth 3.75 million pounds in Vedanta resources on the basis of ethical grounds. The Church stated that we are not satisfied that Vedanta has shown, or is likely in future to show, the level of respect for human rights and local communities that we expect of companies in whom the Church investing bodies hold shares, The Scottish investment firm Martin Carrie Investments also sold its stake worth more than 2 million pounds following protest from activist groups. Other responsible investors like the Swedish Government, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Dutch investment firm PGGM and a few others have joined the bandwagon of disinvesting from the company following its poor recent social record. The BP Pension fund has also reduced its share following similar concerns. The UK and Norwegian governments have also condemned the company. The disinvestment by shareholders has been a major concern for Vedanta as it certainly threatens to affect its growth. On 24th August 2010, the Indian government blocked the companys proposal for a new mine in India alleging Vedanta of having a poor human rights and environmental record. Indias Environment minister stated, There is no emotion, no politics, no prejudice I have taken the decision in a purely legal approach, that these laws are being violated. This has been a major blow for Vedanta as it was planning to invest more than 5 billion pounds in the Niyamgiri project. The company has also been alleged of charges of bribery in Chennai, India for the reopening of a factory that was shut down due to a major accident. Sterlite, a subsidiary of Vedanta was slapped with tax notice of more than 44 million pounds by the India Excise department in 2010 while a few other legal violations have also tarnished the companys image. All the recent allegations and controversies in the recent times resulted in a negative image for the company. Its stock rose tremendously by more than 200% from April 2009 to April 2010 but after the recent allegations and concerns over disinvestment by investors, the stock has been a sharp decline. Thus, the issue of corporate social responsibility has certainly made an impact on its growth recently and could also be a cause of concern if the company does not adopt new strategies to improve its CSR record. Vedanta must revive its CSR agenda to clarify investor concerns. The company has however claimed that it aims resolve all the issues regarding the allegations and aim to enrich and empower the community wherever they operate. Projects Under Scrutiny Lanjigarh Bauxite Mine Lanjigarh Smelter Chhattisgarh Chimney Collapse Chennai Factory Source: CONCLUSION: In conclusion Vedanta Resources is Indias largest non-ferrous metal and mining company based on revenue. This FTSE-100 company has a strong balance sheet with cash and liquid investment of $7.2 billion and has cash in excess of $7.0 billion. Moreover, its the only Indian manufacturing company listed at London Stock Exchange. They are working with workforce of 30,000. The analysis shown above certainly explains the success of Vedanta Resources in mining industry. This success can be hugely owed to its corporate strategy. However there are still some glitches in the strategy. This is evident by the SWOT analysis, so also the effects on its business as an aftermath of its weak corporate social responsibility. Therefore it is evident that their current corporate strategy is not sustainable. Although due consideration has been given in asset optimization, reducing costs and thereby gaining profits; Vedanta has not given due consideration to the threat posed by its competitors. If any of the competitors enter India, for mining then Vedanta would not be able to survive. Moreover their corporate social responsibility has been lacking; this has severely affected their Brand-name, a very important factor in todays market. It has also resulted in decreased market share and withdrawal from many of their investors like Church of England. Therefore certain cha nges have to be made in their current corporate strategy. First of all, the company should give due consideration to its Social Responsibility, it should provide rehabilitation facilities to people, who have lost their lands due to mining activities. It should provide safety and security measures for their workers. It should also come with policies that are in accordance with the human right and environment. All this would add up with Brand Image of the company. It should try to improve relations with Indian governm

Lessons in Leadership in Demian Essay -- Demian Essays

Lessons in Leadership in Demian In Demian, Hesse uses a comparison to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel to convey his ideas about those who are different. The idea arises again and again, causing the reader to look at it from a very unique perspective. Through this comparison, the reader begins to see the mark of Cain as a positive symbol -- as the mark of those who would lead the world into the future of mankind, without fear. When Emil Sinclair first meets Max Demian, he sees that Demian is not like anyone he has ever known. Unconsciously, he views Demian as having a mark -- something that sets him apart from the others. Sinclair isn't sure if it is the adult-like manner in which Demian carries himself, or the vast store of wisdom and truth behind his eyes. Whatever this difference was, it was something that could not be denied. Demian -- almost immediately, upon meeting up with Sinclair -- tells the story of Cain and Abel with an entirely new perspective. This greatly upsets Sinclair's small world, in which the pious are always in the right, and the "sinners" are in the wrong. Sinclair finds himself both repulsed by and obsessed with this story. In Demian's version of the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was actually the better man of the two. Abel was described as being weaker, and therefore less necessary than Cain to mankind. Demian didn't doubt that this part of the story was true, but he put much less stock in the notion that Cain was then marked by God. Rather, in Demian's version, Cain was labeled by the society he was in. They were afraid of the "faintly sinister look" that ... ...is apparent, in everyday life, that people such as these exist. Throughout Demian, Hesse proves that those who bear the mark of Cain in Demian's Biblical interpretation are superior in nearly every way. They are innovative, brilliant, and strong enough to follow their own paths. Hesse provides a spark of something else, however, something that not every reader may pick up on. This spark is the inspiration to look into one's own soul, and to examine oneself in all honesty. The questions to be answered are these: "Who am I? Do I bear the mark of Cain?" Each answer will be different, but the point is not to be the same as others. The point is to see that one is different from all others, and to find the strength to walk forward, into the light of our future... As a leader, and not as a follower.

Virtual Reality is Reality :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Virtual Reality is Reality In his essay, "A Rape in Cyberspace," Julian Dibbell wrote about a violent event that occurred in LambdaMOO, a virtual reality community. To some, Dibbell states, this event was nothing more than "spidery flitting of fingers across standard QWERTY keyboards" (450). On the other hand, to the victims it was much more. In his essay one of the victims was quoted as saying " ...[I] have thought about it for days. He hurt us both" (453). The effect that the virtual event had on the victim was obviously real; thus, this event effected their real life. According to Heim, the author of "The Essence of VR," virtual reality is "an event or entity that is real in effect but not in fact" (16). Is it the effect of a matter or the fact, materiality, of a matter that depicts how real an event is? If it is the fact, there is a distinct line between virtual reality and real life. However, if the impact that an event has on a person's life is what makes an event real, then virtual reality i s very real and the line between virtual reality and real life is very faint if it exists at all. The use of virtual reality is increasing in many areas of society such as: communication, business, education, and medicine. Perhaps this increase will cause the lives of all people, even those who do not use computer technology which is typically thought of as the medium for virtual reality, to be impacted. It is important to know if and where the line between virtual reality and real life exists due to this steady increase of virtual reality use. This essay will provide evidence focusing on how the line is slowly disappearing as virtual reality is shaping the way medicine effects our health and livelihood. The ways in which virtual reality impacts peoples' lives are rapidly increasing, especially with the increased use of virtual reality in medicine. One example of this is in the testing of colon cancer. An article from ABCNews entitled "The Wonders of Virtual Surgery" states that, "the American Cancer Society predicts that 96,500 people will get colon cancer in 1998, and 47,700 will die of it.

Abortion - Views from Both Sides Essay -- Social Issues

Abortion - Views from Both Sides Abortion is the ending of pregnancy before birth and is morally wrong. An abortion results in the death of an embryo or a fetus. Abortion destroys the lives of helpless, innocent children and is illegal in many countries. By aborting these unborn infants, humans are hurting themselves; they are not allowing themselves to meet these new identities and unique personalities. Abortion is very simply wrong. Everyone is raised knowing the difference between right and wrong. Murder is wrong so why isn’t abortion? People argue that it is not murder since the fetus being destroyed is not living, breathing and moving. Why is it that if an infant is destroyed a month before the birth, there is no problem, but if killed a month after birth, this is inhumane murder? The main purpose abortions are immoral is how they are so viciously done. Everyday, innocent, harmless fetuses that could soon be laughing children are being brutally destroyed. One form of abortion is to cut the fetus into pieces with serrated forceps before being removed, piece by piece from the uterus by suction with a vacuum aspirator. Another form consists of bringing the fetus feet first into the birth canal, puncturing its skull with a sharp instrument and sucking out the brain tissue. The body parts, such as the head, are given letters, rather than refer to the parts as what they are. In my opinion this is for the doctors who cannot face the reality of what they are doing. The re...

Regional Interactions Essay

†¢ As in the previous chapter, this time period witnessed a tremendous growth in long-distance trade due to improvements in technology. Trade through the Silk Road, the Indian Ocean, the trans-Saharan trade route, and the Mediterranean Sea led to the spread of ideas, religions, and technology. During the period known as Pax Mongolia, when peace and order were established in Eurasia due to the vast Mongol Empire, trade and cultural interaction were at their height. †¢ Major technological developments such as the compass, improved shipbuilding technology, and gunpowder shaped the development of the world. AP EXPERT TIP When you are reading about a given situation, try to visualize where in the world those developments are taking place. Alternatively, reproduce a blank world map and take notes in the proper geographic region as you read. †¢ The movement of people greatly altered our world. Nomadic groups such as the Turks, Mongols, and Vikings, for instance, interacted with settled people—often because of their technology—leading to further change and development. One of the worst epidemic diseases in history, the bubonic plague (or Black Death), spread during this period due to the movement of people and their increased interaction. †¢ Religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism promoted the equality of all believers in the eyes of God. And though patriarchal values continued to dominate, the monastic life available in Buddhism and Christianity offered an alternative path for women. †¢ The spread of religion aided by the increase in trade often acted as a unifying force, though it sometimes caused conflict. Christianity and the Church served as the centralizing force in Western Europe, and throughout East Asia, the spread of Confucianism and Buddhism solidified a cultural  identity. The new religion of Islam created cultural world known as dar-al Islam, which transcended political boundaries. †¢ The political structures of many areas adapted and changed in response to the new conditions of the world. Centralized empires like the Byzantine, the Arab Caliphates, and the Tang and Song dynasties built on the successful models of the past, while decentralized areas (Western Europe and Japan) developed political organizations that more effectively dealt with their specific conditions. The movements of the Mongols altered much of Asia’s political structure for a time, and recovery from that Mongol period introduced political structures that defined many areas for centuries to follow. Look more:  asian foot binding essay POST-CLASSICAL CHINA Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 CE) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT Following the fall of the Han dynasty, China returned to rule by regional small kingdoms for the next 400 years. It was not until 581 CE that the Sui dynasty emerged, using Buddhism and the Confucian civil service system to establish legitimacy. The Sui dynasty started the construction of the Grand Canal and launched numerous campaigns to expand the empire. Rebellions overthrew the Sui in 618. The Tang dynasty that followed was more focused on scholars than on soldiers. It did, however, expand its territory beyond China proper to Tibet and Korea. It also completed the Grand Canal and offered support to Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. The capital, Changan, was a major political center, which foreign diplomats visited from the Byzantine and Arab worlds. In the middle of the eighth century CE, Tang power declined as higher taxes created tension within the population. Peasant rebellions led to more independent regional rule and to the abdication of the emperor. After this, there was a period of rule by regional warlords for the next 50 years. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The dynasty established military garrisons, which allowed for the protection and security of Silk Road trade. An equal field system was established in which all peasants were given land in return for tax in grain and unpaid labor; at death they were to return the land to the government. Changan was a major trading center and cosmopolitan city. The West Market there flourished with Indian, Iranian, Syrian, and Arab traders and their goods. By 640 CE, its population reached 2 million, making it the largest city in the world. Neighbors, such as Japan or Siam, became tributary states to China. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Culturally, the Tang dynasty was heavily influenced by the spread of Buddhism. Empress Wu started a school dedicated to Buddhist and Confucian scholarship and art. Toward the end of the dynasty, Buddhism, a â€Å"foreign religion,† was attacked for its economic and political power. From 841 to 845 CE, an anti-Buddhist campaign destroyed many monasteries. In the wake of this backlash, neo-Confucianism developed: Confucian scholars wanted a new form of Confucianism that would limit foreign influence. The result was an integration of Buddhist and Confucian ideas. Some ideas included individual self-improvement, the goodness of human beings, and the goal to strive and perfect oneself. Women’s marriages during the Tang dynasty were arranged within their own social class, but upper-class women could own property, move about in public, and even remarry. Poetry flourished with such poets as Li Bai and Du Fu. Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 CE) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT By 960 CE, the Song dynasty had re-established centralized control over China. The civil service exam system retained great prominence, successfully checking the power of the aristocracy. The Song de-emphasized a military approach and instead re-established the tribute system with its nomad neighbors. This involved â€Å"paying off† the nomads with such gifts as bolts of silk to keep the peace. The Song, however, experienced military and economic problems. The scholar-controlled professional army was often ineffective,  and too much paper money in circulation caused inflation. By 1126 CE, they had lost the northern half of the empire to nomads. The Southern Song continued to flourish until 1274, but military threats continued, and finally the greatest of all northern groups invaded in the 1200s, absorbing the Song dynasty into the new Mongol Empire. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Rice production doubled due to new fast-ripening rice from Champa. Internal trade from the Yellow Sea and Grand Canal flourished due to the increased number of merchants and the growth in population. The capital of Kaifeng became a manufacturing center with its production of cannons, movable type printing, water-powered mills, looms, and high-quality porcelain. China had more per capita production than any other country in the world. Minted copper coins were used as money and eventually were replaced with paper currency. Officials collected taxes in cash—not goods—and letters of credit (known as flying cash) were used by merchants. The Southern Song established their capital at Hangzhou, and commerce soared. With their cotton sails and magnetic compasses, the Song had the most powerful navy in the world. As a result, the dynasty’s power shifted from the north to the south, and the Song became leaders in trade. Song goods made their way to Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and East Africa. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT During the Song dynasty, women were entitled to keep their dowries and had access to jobs as merchants, but they also were subject to a practice called foot binding. The practice originated with the aristocratic class and was viewed as a sign of wealth and status. Girls as young as six had their feet bound in order to secure a better marriage. Tang and Song Innovations †¢ The first use of the compass to aid maritime navigation †¢ A water-powered clock, demonstrating facility in mechanical engineering †¢ The invention of gunpowder—first demonstrated during the late 1000s CE, the  explosive combination of sulfur and saltpeter would alter weapons technology forever and lead to the first cannons, rockets, and incendiary bombs. †¢ Philosophy—neo-Confucian thought delved into ancient texts and further codified traditional Chinese philosophy; it blended Confucianism with elements of Daoism and Buddhism. †¢ A printing press with movable type †¢ Stylized and symbolic landscape painting †¢ Paper money, letters of credit (flying cash) JAPAN (around 800 to 1200 CE) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT Japan’s geography as a group of islands led to the development of small isolated, independent communities. Clan members cooperated with each other much like a large, extended family. By the 600s, the Yamato clan had religious and cultural influence over other clans and wanted to copy China’s model of empire building. Its leaders began to call themselves emperors of Japan. The Fujiwara clan, which dominated between the ninth and twelfth centuries CE, sent emissaries to China and modeled their capital, Nara, on Changan. They could not, however, successfully introduce a Chinese-style bureaucracy, and a strict hereditary hierarchy developed instead. During the Kamakura Shogunate (1185–1333 CE), the emperor and his court kept their capital in Kyoto, yet a military dictatorship existed, ruled by powerful landholding clans. A Japanese form of feudalism developed in which the Shogun—supreme general—controlled the centralized military government and divided the land into regional units based on military power. The regional military leaders were the daimyo, and the warriors who fought for them were the samurai. Over the centuries, the samurai military class developed a strict warrior code called bushido. The emperor remained in power throughout this period, but served only as a symbolic figurehead. Many Shoguns were overthrown but the emperor was not. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Japan was a predominantly agrarian society with a local artisan class of weavers, carpenters, and ironworkers. Trade and manufacturing developed more in the Kamakura Period, when it focused on markets in larger towns and foreign trade with Korea and China. Most people were peasants who worked on land that was owned by a lord or by Buddhist monasteries. Though their freedom was limited, peasants could keep what was left of their harvest after paying their tax quota. Those unable to pay their taxes became landless laborers known as genin and could be bought and sold with the land. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Japan adopted many foreign ideas but remained culturally true to its own traditions. According to Shinto, the religion native to Japan, everything possesses a spirit, or kami. Natural forces and nature were awe-inspiring, and shrines were built to honor kami. The first ruler from the Yamato clan claimed descent from the supreme Shinto deity, the Sun Goddess. Japan was also strongly influenced by Korea and China. It adopted Chinese technology, Chinese script, and Buddhism (though Japan developed its own version of Buddhism, which added a strong aesthetic dimension, known as Zen Buddhism). In the Heian period (794 to 1185 CE), contact with China was cut off, and the culture turned to expressing Japanese values. Participating in a lavish court lifestyle, women dominated literature. The Tale of Genji, for instance, was written by Lady Murasaki. Wives inherited land from their husbands and often owned land, and priestesses dominated religious life. Over time, though, women lost power and influence. ISLAMIC CALIPHATES Islam: The Religion Prior to the spread of Islam, Arabs lived in separate, loyal, tribal groups and were often involved in overland and maritime trade. The city of Mecca later developed into an important religious site with a large influx of traders and pilgrims. The Kaaba, a black meteorite placed in the Great Mosque by Abraham, was in the center of the city, and most people  worshipped idols. Muhammad was born in 570 CE in Mecca. When he was 40, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and revealed that he had been selected to receive a divine message that there was only one all-powerful and all-knowing God, Allah, and that Muhammad was to be God’s messenger. Muhammad preached that all people were to submit to Allah and that everyone was equal in the eyes of Allah. Muhammad’s message was not met with enthusiasm in Mecca, and he fled to Medina in 622 CE, a journey known as the hegira. In Medina, he was viewed as a prophet and a political leader. Muhammad taught that he was the last of a long line of prophets from the Jewish and Christian scriptures that included Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. In 630 CE, he and his followers returned to Mecca, captured the city, and destroyed religious idols. After his death, Muhammad’s revelations were written down by his followers in the Quran. The word Islam means â€Å"submission to God’s will†. Islam is a universal religion that is open to everyone. Islam appealed to women because they had equal status to men before God, they could keep their dowries as wives, and there was a prohibition on female infanticide. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT By the time of Muhammad’s death, almost all of Arabia was under Islamic control. There was disagreement, however, over his successor. One group, the Shia, believed that the leader should be a descendant of Muhammad. The other group, the Sunni, preferred the community of Muslims to determine who would succeed him. The leader of the Muslims, the caliph, was both a political and spiritual leader. Five Pillars of Islam 1. Statement of faith: There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. 2. Pray five times a day facing Mecca. 3. Give alms (charity) to the poor. 4. Fast during the holy month of Ramadan. 5. Make a pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca during one’s lifetime if able. After the first four caliphs, the Umayyad clan took control in 661 CE and transformed the caliphate into a hereditary monarchy, with its government  centered in Damascus. They continued on to conquer Syria, Egypt, Persia, and Byzantine territory in West Asia, North Africa, and Spain. Their military skills, the soldiers’ commitment to Islam, and the promise of plunder helped them in these conquests. The Umayyad Caliphate set up a bureaucratic structure in which local administrators governed their areas. All cultures were tolerated as long as people obeyed the rules, paid their taxes, and did not revolt. Arabic became the language of administration, business, law, and trade. The Abbasid clan overthrew the Umayyad dynasty in 750 CE and moved the capital of the empire to Baghdad, a political center and the second largest city in the world next to Changan. Eventually, the only remaining Umayyad prince settled in Spain and established a separate caliphate there. Berber tribesmen controlled much of the northern African coast, and the Mamluks revolted and gained control over Egypt from 1250 to 1517 CE. The term Dar al-Islam, or â€Å"all under Islam,† refers to those areas in which a Muslim is welcome. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Trade flourished throughout the caliphate and improved irrigation led to productive agriculture and an increase in tax revenues. Artisans flourished in the cities, making pottery, fabrics, and rugs. Paper was imported from China, and soon paper mills were set up. The vast Islamic empires also spread many types of agriculture, including sugarcane, citrus fruits, and coffee. Islam spread to West Africa through trans-Saharan trade, to East Africa and Southeast Asia through Indian Ocean trade, to Central Asia and China along the Silk Road, and to India through the migrations of the Turks. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Mosques, hospitals, schools, and orphanages were built throughout the empire. Intellectual achievements included the development of algebra, the concept of longitude and latitude, and the study of Greek philosophers such as Aristotle. The House of Wisdom, built in Baghdad in 830 CE, obtained Greek and Persian texts and translated them into Arabic. In art and architecture, the use of images was forbidden; instead, geometry and calligraphy were used to beautiful effect. Byzantine Empire (300 to 1453 CE) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT The Byzantine Empire, a continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire, was the only survivor from the classical age. The Roman Empire had officially been divided in 375 CE, with the western half severely weakened because the east produced the majority of grain and controlled the major trade routes. Emperor Justinian, who ruled from 527 to 565 CE, tried unsuccessfully to reconquer Western Rome. His Body of Civil Law (Justinian’s Code) was written, and he replaced Latin with Greek as the official language of the empire. The central government was a hereditary monarchy. It made law, had an efficient military, oversaw effective land distribution, and had a bureaucracy that answered to the emperor. The emperor was considered a co-ruler with Christ and appointed the patriarch. Military generals were appointed to rule, and free peasants were given land for military service. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Its location on the Mediterranean Sea contributed to strong trade in the Byzantine Empire. Silkworms were smuggled out of China, which allowed a Byzantine silk industry to develop. Artisans produced glassware, linen, jewelry, and gold and silver work. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Most people spoke Greek. In theory, there was social mobility through the bureaucracy, army, trade, or service to the Church, but in reality, mobility was limited. Constantinople was the political and intellectual center, with libraries containing Greek, Latin, Persian, and Hebrew texts. The Byzantine and Roman Christian churches had been growing apart since the fall of Rome, and a disagreement over the worship of icons—images of saints—was the final straw. The Pope and the Patriarch excommunicated each other, and in 1054 CE, the church officially split into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This Eastern Orthodox form of Christianity later spread to the Slavic people and Russia. DECENTRALIZED STATES IN EUROPE Western Europe—Early Middle Ages (around 500 to 1000 CE) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT Western Europe remained politically decentralized. The Franks came closest to re-establishing imperial control with the leadership of Clovis and, later, the Carolingian Empire of Charlemagne. Europe developed a feudal system in which land was given to vassals in exchange for military service, allowing them to gain power. The centralizing power during this period was the Church, and by the 13th century, the Church owned one-third of all the land in Europe. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT During this time, peasants became serfs; they had the right to work a portion of the land and could pass that right on to their children, but they could not leave the land. They could keep a portion of what they grew, but the majority of their earnings went to the lord. Serfs paid taxes for use of the lord’s mill, had to work on the lord’s lands, and had to provide gifts on holidays. These estates became large walled manors that were economically self-sufficient. They maintained mills, bakeries, and breweries. They had their own private armies served by armor-clad knights. The introduction of the heavy plow led to an increase in agricultural production. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Beginning in the 12th century, the code of conduct called chivalry developed. It stressed honor, modesty, loyalty, and duty. Monasteries were the dominant feature of social and cultural life, and they often had large landholdings. Monks preserved classical knowledge by hand-copying great literature and philosophical works. NOMADIC CULTURES Vikings (Dates of Influence—around 800 to 1100 CE) The Vikings were a nomadic group who had settled in present day Scandinavia.  In order to supplement their farm production, they conducted seasonal raids into Europe and ransacked towns. Using small and maneuverable boats, they terrorized coastal communities in France, Scotland, Ireland, and England. The Vikings eventually evolved from plunderers into traders and established communities in Scotland, northern France, and Eastern Europe. Scandinavia was gradually Christianized during this period. These outstanding seafarers also traded actively throughout the North Sea and Baltic Sea. In the 800s, they colonized Iceland and Greenland, and around 1000 CE, they established a colony that lasted only a few decades in Newfoundland, modern Canada. The transplanted Viking settlements in France became known as Normans (or â€Å"Northmen†). In 1066 CE, a Norman lord named William from northern France invaded England with his army. He defeated the Saxons and established Norman power in what is now Britain. Turks (Dates of Influence—around 1000 to 1450 CE) The Turks, a pastoral nomadic group from the central Asian steppes, began gradually to migrate out of the steppes at the end of the first millennium. They were often hired by Muslim leaders as mercenaries, or hired soldiers. The Seljuk Turks, who had converted to Islam, invaded Abbasid territory and captured Baghdad in 1055. The caliph was left as the spiritual authority of the empire, but the Seljuk Sultan became the secular monarch. By 1071 CE, they defeated the Byzantine Empire and took most of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The Afghan Turks were nomads from Afghanistan and began a series of raids into India in the 10th century. They looted cities for gold and jewels and destroyed Hindu temples and then left. It wasn’t until the 12th century that they invaded and then started to govern. This started the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled northern India from 1206 to 1526 CE. These Turks introduced a strong Muslim presence in India. Mongols (Dates of Influence—around 1200 to 1550 CE) A second pastoral nomadic group from the central Asian steppes, the Mongols would go on to create the world’s largest empire. These nomadic herders’ lives revolved around their sheep, goats, and yaks for food, clothing, and  shelter; their camels for transportation; and their horses for mobility. This clan-based society was organized around bloodlines. Genghis Khan successfully united the various Mongol tribes, and their greatest strength was their mobility and military power. Once united, Genghis led his troops into Central Asia, Tibet, northern China, and Persia. In 1215 CE, the Mongols attacked and destroyed present-day Beijing. The Mongol charge continued into Afghanistan and Persia, yet by 1227 CE, the Great Khan died, and his empire was divided amongst his four sons. CHINA: THE YUAN DYNASTY In 1276 CE, Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kublai Khan, defeated the Southern Song dynasty, and for the first time, China was under foreign rule. Khan created a Chinese-style dynasty, adopting the Chinese name Yuan for it, with a fixed and regular tax payment system and a strong central government. Foreigners, not Chinese, were employed in the bureaucracy, and the civil service exam was not used. The Chinese were subject to different laws and were separated from the Mongols. Connecting Beijing to Vienna was a communication system using horse relays and 1,400 postal stations. In time, overland and maritime trade flourished, and though the Mongols were not directly involved in the trade, they welcomed merchants and foreigners. Merchants converted their foreign currency to paper money when they crossed into China. MIDDLE EAST: THE ILKHANATES In 1258 CE, Kublai’s brother, Hulegu, defeated the Abbasid Caliphate. The Mongols in the Middle East employed local bureaucrats in the government and converted to Islam by 1295 CE. The local rulers were permitted to rule, as long as they delivered the tax revenue and maintained order. Though they did not support agriculture, they did facilitate trade, and Mongol culture often mixed with that of the conquered people. As the Mongols continued west, they met with their first and only major defeat. The armies of the Mamluks, a slave dynasty in Egypt, defeated the Mongols in 1260 CE and stopped the movement of the Mongols in that region. RUSSIA: THE GOLDEN HORDE The Mongol ruler Batu conquered and ruled Russia but kept a large number of the local rulers in power. The taxes on the peasants were heavy, but they were collected by Russian bureaucrats. Trade was supported, and although these Mongols were Muslim and conversion was encouraged, Christian missionaries were allowed to visit. PAX MONGOLIA At the peak of Mongolian power, with huge areas of Asia and Europe under one rule, there was a period called the Mongol Peace. For about a century, Mongol rule united two continents and allowed for relatively safe trade and contacts between very different cultures. It did so by eliminating tariffs. During this period, the Silk Road trade reached its greatest height. Paper money—a Chinese innovation—was used in many parts of the empire. It was also common for the Mongols to convert to or adopt the local religions, or at least be religiously tolerant. MONGOL DECLINE In 1274 and 1281 CE, the Mongols tried again to expand their empire—they invaded Japan. Typhoon winds destroyed their fleet both times, however. The Japanese believed these â€Å"kamikaze,† or â€Å"sacred winds,† had protected them. Despite great military accomplishment, the Mongol Empire lasted hardly three or four generations. While the Mongols were successful conquerors, they were poor administrators. Overspending led to inflation in different corners of the empire, and after the death of Kublai, leadership was weak and ineffectual. Rivalry among the successors of the great Khan further destabilized the empire, and the vast domain was divided among various generals. By 1350 CE, most of the Mongols’ huge territory had been reconquered by other armies. RESULTS OF MIGRATION AND COMMUNICATION West African Kingdoms The introduction of the domesticated camel allowed for an increased flow of trade across the Sahara Desert, and as a result, Muslim and North African merchants began to establish commercial relations with West Africa. Ghana (around 500 to 1200 CE) Ghana was a regional state around the 400s or 500s CE, and an increase in trans-Saharan trade led to its growth in power and influence. By 800 CE the many farming villages in the area were united to create the kingdom of Ghana. It became an important commercial site and a center for trade in gold from the south, which it controlled and taxed. In return, it received ivory, slaves, horses, cloth, and salt. As Ghana’s wealth increased, it built an army funded by the tax on trade. In the 900s CE, the kings converted to Islam, which led to improved relations with Muslim merchants. Islam was not forced on the people, however, and traditional animistic beliefs continued to be important. Those who engaged in trade often converted to Islam. After 1000 CE, Ghana found itself under assault from northern Berbers and other tribal groups nearby. It was eventually absorbed by the West African kingdom of Mali. Mali (1235 to late 1400s CE) The trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt continued to increase. Mali controlled and taxed all trade. The rulers honored Islam and provided protection and lodging for merchants. The Sundiata is an epic poem that tells how the first Mali emperor came to power; it was composed and recited by Mali griots or storytellers. The most famous Mali emperor was Mansa Musa, who ruled from 1312 to 1337. He built libraries, Islamic schools, and mosques throughout the kingdom. Timbuktu was the political capital and a regional cultural center of Islamic studies and art for all of West Africa. After 1350 CE, provinces began to assert their independence.