The Second Amendment and Gun control Essay examples

â€Å"Gun control means control. It means control for the government and the government starts controlling the people.†(Luke Scott) I believe this quote is accurate because the more the government tries to make gun control less of a problem the more of our second amendment right is being taken away. There are number of ways that a criminal can obtain a gun, legally or illegally, but an honest citizen will go through through the legal process. Taking our 2nd amendment will only make the people vulnerable to government power. James Q. Wilson a former teacher at Harvard University understands that taking guns away from the common people will only reduce the chance of surviving a possible attack of any sort of intruder.†Those that they cannot buy,†¦show more content†¦Criminals will find just about anything to use as a weapon. Guns are not the only thing used for a homicide or any other crime. Guns are definitely an option, but if a criminal wants to commit a crime they will find a way to do it even if it is not with a gun. There is so many weapons out there that can cause greater damage than a gun that are free to buy with little or no registration at all. On the other side of the argument Nora Caplan-Bricker believes that â€Å"weaknesses in firearm laws lead to deaths from gun violence.† She talks about how the single study in her position of argument should be taken to notice.The study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, which showed how the murder rate jumped 16 percent after a law was repealed. Allowing citizens to not have to undergo the common background check. This is the only study she puts forward because she thinks its enough. I disagree with Bricker because taking in consideration if citizens were encouraged to have a gun for safety would the murder rate have gone up? â€Å"Where there are fewer guns, there are fewer problems.† In other words its better to have one person with one gun shooting many people with no guns to defend themselves, than the shooter with citizens who have guns putting the criminal down before more innocent people are killed. That is what i understood her point in her article was. She also does not encourage the need forShow MoreRelatedGun Control And The Second Amendment1391 Words   |  6 Pages In the Constitution, the second amendment gives the American people to have the right to possess and bear arms. This amendment has been the most controversial issue since guns have been around. Issues such as gun control and gun ownership have remained a matter of debate and have been floating around in Congress. It has been rumored that Congress is forced to draft certain legislat ion in order to come up with a law against unlawful use of arms, and only owning them for safety purposes. When it comesRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe second amendment has always been deeply rooted in the American culture and constitution. The amendment states A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Being able to protect ourselves, gives us Americans a peace of mind, but now-a-days people are thinking otherwise. Being able to access a firearm so easily without a thorough deep background/mental health check is un-nerving. In the last twoRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment1179 Words   |  5 Pages13 colonies. The Second Amendment has been up for many debates, especially in the recent light of mass shootings in the US. But does the entire removal and ban of firearms really work? Gun control and the second amendment has been a never ending conflict between politicians. As we look further into gun control there are more draw backs for the citizens than benefits. The Second Amendment was ratified to the US Constitution on December 17, 1791 by Congress. The Second Amendment states â€Å"A well-regulatedRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment1166 Words   |  5 Pagesterrible about the Second Amendment; because pro-gun zealots use the Second Amendment to protect their immoral actions, but this is their twisted and corrupted interpretation on the meaning and intent of the Amendment because this is in no way the original premise of the Second Amendment. The right to bear arms laid out in the Second Amendment is just because guns are weapons for self-defense. Precautions are taken on gun control, such as keeping a permanent record of all gun sales, requiring a licenseRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesGuns, Guns, Guns. In today’s news Gun Control, has become a controversial topic. I have heard many people say that, â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people†. So, do we need gun control? People talk because they have mouths, they don’t know the extent about gun violence. About half of the country’s population is for / against gun control. Consistently, the media outlets are reporting shootings, that is accidental or intentional whichever way it is trending across the United States. Stronger gunRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment994 Words   |  4 Pagescrimes take place every second and there is nothing we can do about it. Not only that, but, with the dramatic rise in mass shootings in our nation comes a compelling division between political and legal agendas predicated on the Second Amendment. I want to emphasize that every single crime is violent whether is involves a handgun, knife or nothing at all. Everyone in our nation knows the law and it is the offenders choices to break it and harm others. With that being said, guns dont kill people, butRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment1850 Words   |  8 PagesWhene ver the Second Amendment is discussed, gun control is usually the focus of the discussion due to the connections that gun control and the Second Amendment have. Although the Second Amendment protects the individual right to firearms, the unlimited right is not. America was founded through guns, using their own arms to fight the British in order to gain independence, making it natural for America to be heavily focused on guns. However, many people have abused the weapon, making the controversialRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment Essay1981 Words   |  8 Pages Gun Control has been a controversy for as long as people can remember. This Controversy has increased recently due to the mass shootings taken place all over the United States. Gun control has its pros and cons, Some believe â€Å"Gun control laws state that the Second Amendment was intended for militias; that gun violence would be reduced; that gun restrictions have always existed; and that a majority of Americans, including gun owners, support new gun restrictions.†While others say that the SecondRead MoreGun Control And The Second Amendment922 Words   |  4 PagesGun control has been a long debate to determine if it’s better to have stricter access to firearms. America is one of the few countries that has gun rights embedded in their constitution. But what makes the US exceptional is that it has the right to keep and bear arms, other countries do not provide the right to have access to them, but rather, the government is allowed to regulate its use. The right to b ear arms has also been the cause of growing violence and crime, at least according to anti-gunRead MoreGun Control and the Second Amendment2364 Words   |  10 PagesThe Second Amendment to the Constitution says, â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed† (Agresti, 2009, para. 2). Based on a simple reading of this, it would seem that people do have the right to own and use firearms. So why are so many people trying to ban guns? Maybe it is because they do not understand what the Second Amendment actually means. Maybe it is because the media only reports

Penelope, Clytaemestra, Athena, and Helen of Homer’s Odyssey

The Ideal Women of Homer’s Odyssey Ancient Greek society treated women as secondary citizens. Restrictions were placed on the social and domestic actions of many aristocratic women in ancient Athens. The women depicted in Homers Odyssey, on the other hand, are the ideal. Penelope, Clytaemestra, Athena, and Helen are all women with exceptional liberty and power. Before comparing the women of the Odyssey to those of Athens, it is beneficial to take a look into the lives of the latter. A respected woman was to have characteristics including obedience, virtue, refinement, productivity, honor, beauty, talent and intelligence (social consciousness). Sarah B. Pomeroy has studied this aspect of ancient life and†¦show more content†¦The mens quarters were on the lower level, called the andron (Pomeroy 30). This further prevented the women from making any contact with strange men, or men in general. There were far more restrictions placed on the women of the ancient world than on the men. To many, this may appear to be an obvious fact. However, the comparison of women to men in the Odyssey does not show such a discrepancy. The women created by Homer had certain characteristics that set them apart from ordinary women. Penelope was a woman who did not give in to the demands of her surroundings. She suffered throughout the twenty year absence of her husband, Odysseus. She maintained her dignity and her chastity through her refusal of the hoards of suitors that flocked to her home. Penelope represents the ideal woman for balancing her refusals of marriage and the preservation of her respect. When ready to address her suitors, Eurymachus, a suitor himself, speaks out from the crowd in praise of Penelope. He states, Ah, daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope . . . You surpass all women in build and beauty, refined and steady mind (18. 276,280). The acts of Penelope wo uld not have been allowed of an ordinary woman of those times. Her loyalty to Odysseus was unflagging and quite contrary to Clytaemestras loyalty, another character in the Odyssey, though she is never mentioned by name. Clytaemestra is the wife of Agamemnon. She, too must bid farewell to

Computer Science at the University of Arizona Essay Example For Students

Computer Science at the University of Arizona Essay The University of Arizonas Computer Science Department is a quality research program. The most recent National Research Council rankings place the department 33rd out of 108 PhD-granting institutions nationwide, despite the fact that we are a comparatively small department. In addition, we are the best Computer Science department of our size among publicly funded Universities, with the highest in number of citations (references) per faculty, and 17th overall in the number of publications per faculty. Another measure of our research productivity includes awards of external research funding in excess of $2.5 million from such prestigious sources as DARPA, INTEL, and NSF, including our fourth 5-year Research Infrastructure awarded in 2000. Our faculty serve on the editorial boards of a variety of journals, serve on program committees, publish books, and serve as fellows and chairs of organizations within the ACM and IEEE. In terms of teaching, our undergraduate and graduate curriculum provides a timely and well-rounded view of the field, with special emphasis on the practical aspects of building useful software. Our strengths lie in the traditional mainstream of areas of computer science: algorithms, programming languages, operating systems, distributed computing, networks, databases and theory of computing. We also offer courses in some subfields: graphics, artificial intelligence and the software aspects of computer architecture. The departments programs prepare students for positions in the design and development of computer systems and applications, in business and industry, and for scientific positions in industrial or academic computing research. The Computer Science department was established in 1973 as a graduate department offering masters and doctoral degrees. An undergraduate program was initiated in 1989. We currently have 15 faculty members, 3 lecturers, 5 technical support staff, and 4 research programmers affiliated with specific funding. The graduate program contains 61 MS students, 22 PhD candidates: the undergraduate program has 205 bachelors students and 400+ pre-majors. There are currently three Computing Laboratories available: Harvill 332b (houses a 31-station Pentium III based Windows 2000 instructional lab), Gould-Simpson 228 (contains a 50-station Xterm Pentium III based Windows 2000 instructional lab), and the Research Lab in Gould-Simpson 748/756. Students receive accounts on both the main instructional machine, Lectura, (a multiprocessor, Sun SparcServer running the Solaris operating system), and on the Windows 2000 network. All systems have access to 100Mb switched Ethernet connections and direct Internet connectivity. The Gould-Simpson Research Lab contains numerous Pentium III Windows 2000/Linux OS systems, specialized printers, graphics devices, and PC clusters. Our largest computing cluster is a 64-node Pentium cluster, our newest, a 16-node Pentium cluster supporting nonblocking, switched Gigabit ethernet. Two Network Appliance file servers with over 200 GBs of available file storage provide shared data across systems. The Research Lab is used by graduate students and faculty for research projects. The Computer Science department is located on the 7th floor of Gould-Simpson , with offices on the 8th floor, Bio Sciences East 3rd floor, and labs on the 2nd floor of GS and the 3rd floor of the Harvill building. Our Academic Services Office is located in room 725 of Gould-Simpson. .

The Significance Of Symbols In Modern Witchcraft Essays - Wicca

The Significance Of Symbols In Modern Witchcraft The Significance of Symbols in Modern Witchcraft Witchcraft, also known as wicca, is a religion with ancestry in an ancient Pagan religion of Northern Europe which pre-dates the Christian era (Simms 30.) It is an earth religion and its main deity is a goddess. Most participants worship the earth and belong to a coven, or group of believers, run by a high priestess. Most covens meet on days determined by solstices and equinoxes or on seasonal or full moon rituals(Luhrmann 46.) During such rituals, many symbols emerge so important that the ritual would not exist without them. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of modern witchcraft is that of the Goddess. She is very different from that of the Judeo-Christian god. She is considered both a deity that controls the earth and she is the earth itself. The Goddess is the personification of nature and is ever changing as the earth is ever changing. The Goddess is symbolized by the moon. It is said that each phase of the moon symbolizes a different time in the Goddess's life or in the cycle of life. The new moon phase symbolizes the Goddess giving birth to the Sun Child and new light is born. The first quarter phase signifies the point just before life bursts forth and the chains of winter are broken. The full moon phase indicates the joining of the Sun King and the Queen of Summer, a time of abundance ad fulfillment. The last phase in the lunar cycle is the last quarter phase which designates a time of harvest, joy, and thanksgiving (Simms 148.) Another important symbol used in witchcraft is that of the pentagram. Often viewed by Christians as satanic, it was not always seen as such. Early Christians viewed the five pointed star as symbolizing the five wounds of Christ. The pentagram originated as the symbol of a Goddess who was worshipped over an area which extends from present-day England to Egypt and beyond. Her name was Kore. Kore's sacred fruit is the apple. When an apple is cut through its equator, both halves will reveal a near-perfect pentagram shape at the core, with each point on the star containing a seed. The pentacle, a pentagram with a circle around it is the working form the pentagram. The circle around the pentagram can also represent the sacred circle drawn by the Witch in ritual. Within the circle, the Witch calls each of these elements (each is associated with a different direction, North, South, East, or West) to guard the circle so that the energy raised by the magical working will remain within the circ le. Today, many pagans wear the pentagram as jewelry and use it on their altars. The symbol is frequently traced by hand using an athame (a ritual knife) during Wiccan rituals. It is used to cast and banish their healing circles. Some Wiccans interpret the five points as representing earth, air, fire, water, and spirit: the four factors needed to sustain life with the addition of spirit (Simms 113.) The four factors needed to sustain life are also seen as important symbols in modern witchcraft. These factors are earth, air, fire, and water. During a ritual, each is represented by a specific object. Air is characterized by a feather. Fire is denoted by a candle that burns throughout the entire ritual. The candle both gives light and can symbolize the Goddess and air when the feather is waved in the flame. Water is a feminine aspect and is represented by a chalice. The chalice is filled with a beverage to drink during the ritual. Wine is often used, but some covens use milk or water (Simms 117.) One very personal tool used strictly in ritual is an athame. It is a double-edged dagger used to cut and direct energy. However, it is never used to physically cut anything. The athame is such a personal tool that only the owner uses. An athame is acquired about the time of their first ritual and is consecrated during initiation (Simms 113.) ?Beyond all else, magicians' immersion in symbolism is perhaps the most compelling element of their involvement, and the experience which has

College Term Paper

College Term Paper College Term Paper College Term Paper Term paper writing is an answer to question assigned by the tutor. While writing term paper, try to think deeply about the assigned question and find the answer to it. If you want to succeed with term paper writing, you need to analyze the question, examine it, and find interesting and original answer.   Prior to term paper writing, ensure that you understand exactly what your tutor expects. While reading articles and books, collect information and organize notes on your topic. Make note cards, they are very helpful in organizing the gathered material. Once you have found a lot of information relevant to your term paper topic and do not know how to use it - try to narrow your topic and investigate carefully one side of the question. A narrow topic will help you to decrease the amount of information you need to include in your term paper. But, of course, it will be reasonable to narrow your term paper topic prior to writing and information gathering. A narrowed topic will help you f ind relevant information more quickly since you will be able to see the relevant ideas at once. Your narrowed topic allows more focused reasoning as well as targeted research. While looking for information, make a list of the subtopics, they will be useful for better understanding of English term paper topic. College Term Paper Term paper topics require your own way of thinking, your tutor doesn't want to see borrowed ideas. Sure, your tutor is an expert in the field of your research. The notes should be taken reasonably so that you collect only ideas that are relevant to the main topic, not exact words, phrases or sentences. Don't write down too many direct quotes in your notes. Organize the direct quotes according to term paper format. Use the quotes only when the ideas of them are surprisingly expressed or when you need citing examples from the original text to further discussion in your term paper. Always write down a work's complete bibliographic information. If you are making notes on paper, leave lots of free space for your own comments, questions, and reactions to your reading. These comments can virtually become the first draft of your term paper. While writing the first paragraph, provide some background information about your topic; you can use interesting facts or quotations. While writing intro duction, don't forget about thesis statement that is basically the term paper idea. Body paragraphs should be developed to support your thesis - the main idea of the college term paper. The last paragraph should be your conclusion. Custom College Term Paper Writing If you need to write a term paper and do not have enough time, you are welcome to place an order at and our professional writers will ensure that your paper is well-written and answers the question.

Command Economy Definition, Characteristics, Pros and Cons

Command Economy Definition, Characteristics, Pros and Cons In a command economy (also known as a centrally planned economy), the central government controls all major aspects of a nations economy and production. The government, rather than the traditional free market economy laws of supply and demand, mandates which goods and services will be produced and how they will be distributed and sold. The theory of a command economy was defined by Karl Marx in the Communist Manifesto as â€Å"common ownership of the means of production,† and it became a typical characteristic of communist governments. Key Takeaways: Command Economy A command economy- or centrally planned economy- is a system in which the government controls all facets of the nation’s economy. All businesses and housing are owned and controlled by the government.In a command economy, the government determines what goods and services will be produced and how they will be sold according to a multi-year central macroeconomic plan.In nations with command economies, health care, housing, and education are usually free, but the peoples’ incomes are controlled by the government and private investment is rarely allowed.In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx defined command economy as â€Å"common ownership of the means of production.†While command economies are typical of both communism and socialism, the two political ideologies apply them differently. While command economies are capable of rapidly making sweeping changes in a country’s economy and society, their inherent risks, such as overproduction and stifling of innovation, have driven many long-time command economies like Russia and China to incorporate free market practices in order to better compete in the global marketplace. Command Economy Characteristics In a command economy, the government has a multi-year central macroeconomic plan which sets objectives like nationwide employment rates and what the government-owned industries will produce. The government enacts laws and regulations to implement and enforce its economic plan. For example, the central plan dictates how all of the country’s resources- financial, human, and natural- are to be allocated. With the goal of eliminating unemployment, the central plan promises to use the nation’s human capital to its highest potential. However, industries must adhere to the plan’s overall hiring targets. Potential monopoly industries such as utilities, banking, and transportation are owned by the government and no competition is allowed within those sectors. In this manner, monopoly prevention measures such as anti-trust laws are unnecessary.   The government owns most, if not all of the country’s industries that produce goods or services. It may also set market prices and provide consumers with some necessities, including health care, housing, and education.   In more tightly-controlled command economies, the government imposes limits on individual income. Command Economy Examples Globalization and financial pressure have led many former command economies to change their practices and economic model, but a few countries remain faithful to the principles of command economy, such as Cuba and North Korea. Cuba Under Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s brother, most Cuban industries remain owned and operated by the communist government. While unemployment is virtually nonexistent, the average monthly salary is less than $20 USD. Housing and health care are free, but all of the homes and hospitals are owned by the government. Since the former Soviet Union stopped subsidizing Cuba’s economy in 1990, the Castro government has gradually incorporated some free-market policies in an effort to stimulate growth. North Korean currency, featuring Kim Il-Sung, DPKRs first leader. johan10 / Getty Images North Korea The command economic philosophy of this secretive communist nation focuses on meeting the needs of its people. For example, by owning all of the homes and setting their prices accordingly, the government keeps the cost of housing low. Similarly, health care and education in government-operated hospitals and schools are free. However, with the lack of competition leaving them little reason to improve or innovate, the government-owned industries operate inefficiently. Overcrowded transportation facilities and long waits for health care are typical. Finally, with their incomes strictly controlled by the government, the people have no avenue for building wealth. Pros and Cons Some advantages of a command economy include: They can move quickly. Controlled by the government itself, industries can complete massive projects without politically motivated delays and fears of private lawsuits.Since jobs and hiring are regulated by the government, unemployment is consistently minimal and mass unemployment is rare.Government ownership of industries can prevent monopolies and their inherent abusive market practices, such as price gouging and deceptive advertising.They can quickly respond to fill critical societal needs such as health care, housing, and education, which are typically made available at little or no charge. Disadvantages of a command economy include: Command economies breed governments which limit the rights of individuals to pursue their personal financial goals.Due to their lack of free-market competition, command economies discourage innovation. Industry leaders are rewarded for following government directives rather than for creating new products and solutions.Since their economic plans are unable to respond to changing consumer needs in a timely manner, command economies often suffer from over and under production resulting in shortages and wasteful surpluses.They encourage â€Å"black markets† that illegally make and sell products not produced by the command economy. Communist Command Economy vs. Socialist Command Economy While command economies are typical of both communism and socialism, the two political ideologies apply them differently. Both forms of government own and control most industries and production, but socialist command economies do not attempt to control the peoples’ own labor. Instead, the people are free to work as they wish based on their qualifications. Similarly, businesses are free to hire the best-qualified workers, rather than having workers assigned to them based on the central economic plan. In this manner, socialist command economies encourage a higher level of worker participation and innovation. Today, Sweden is an example of a nation using a socialist command economy. Sources and Further Reference â€Å"Command Economy.† Investopedia (March 2018)Bon, Kristoffer G.; Gabnay, Roberto M. editors. â€Å"Economics: Its Concepts Principles.† 2007. Rex Book Store. ISBN 9712346927, 9789712346927Grossman, Gregory (1987): â€Å"Command economy.† The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave MacmillanEllman, Michael (2014). â€Å".†Socialist Planning Cambridge University Press; 3rd edition. ISBN 1107427320

Evaluation of Visual Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluation of Visual Environment - Essay Example the building houses the school’s swimming team and the trainers. The building also hosts several competitions during the year and therefore, the lighting conditions had to meet the regulations. Its surface light should not exceed 50 candles. To stay within this limit, the designers used revolutionary technology of metal halides rated at 1000 watts. The building also hosts several special occasions such celebratory events for a win for the team or other such event. For this purpose, the designer included an extra layer of luminous material. This can be turned on during the celebrations to inform all within sight of the building of what was going on (Jenifer, 2011). During construction, the electrical devices in a building are supplied with power through cabling laid in the walls. However, with a glass building, cabling becomes tricky. The cables have to blend in with the glass walls and be invisible. Various innovations made this possible in the athletic center. The cables are undetectable. From the professional point of view of an architect, the lighting design should give the building its individual character. The lighting design of the athletic center gives off the aquatic associations of the building. Most people agree that clear water is blue in color. This is what the designers relied upon when making their choice of color to be used in this building. Generally, there are three environments where lighting design would be needed. These are environments meant for public service and work, environments meant for exhibitions and sales events and those meant for leisure and residence. The athletic center fits in the category of leisure environment. The athletes need visual stimulation and therefore designers have to consider this factor when making their decisions. Lighting can consume a lot of energy if the correct technology is not used in the design. In the case of the athletic

Adopting Plans Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Adopting Plans - Research Paper Example 114). For instance, an emergency plan for a city may be detailed and require large resources to be implemented. However, a plan for an institution such as a school may be small since it covers a small area and thus requires fewer resources. Although disasters occur unexpectedly some of them can be predicted as a result of past incidences. For instance, emergency operation plans for areas which are prone to natural disasters such as tornadoes or earthquakes may not be the same (Gallant, 2008, p.86). This is because the measures taken to tackle such kind of disasters are different. Therefore planners should conduct an assessment of their jurisdiction to determine the possible emergencies they may face and how they plan to tackle them (Alexander, 2002, p. 182). Finally, it is important for emergency planners to design their own plans because different locations or facilities differ in terms of physical design of their premises. In case of an emergency, the plan should outline the escape routes; identify safe areas where people should go and possible sources of medical aid (Gallant, 2008,

Liberal Studies Versus Concentrated Degree Essay Example for Free

Liberal Studies Versus Concentrated Degree Essay Thesis Statement: Liberal Arts graduates who possess a wide array of skills have a less difficult time finding long-term employment compared to more applied streams of education. (May Change- I am still hesitant about my topic) A List: Philip Giles, Torben Drewes, and Jon Cowans Abstract: The liberal studies education provides a graduate student with numerous skills and endless employment opportunities. In our continuously changing society and job market, many are struggling with finding employment within their careers. Research currently states that learning various skills and developing a broad-based skill set is the key to having a successful and long-lasting career. For some the liberal education means a general education in terms of â€Å"the classic great books,† as opposed to specialized training for a particular career. For others, it means the subject matter, â€Å"the liberal arts† or â€Å"the humanities. † Either way, the liberal arts offers a diverse education that prepares one for life. Annotated Bibliography: Liberal Arts Degrees and the Labor Market, Philip Giles and Torben Drewes Although more fulfilling salaries for liberal arts careers are promising in the longer term, research says that those of applied majors tend to occupy more job offers and higher salaries at entry level (Short 1). â€Å"While both groups received substantial average hourly wages, wage rates for applied programs graduates were about 6% higher for both men and women† (Giles and Drews 29). Currently, there is a higher demand among employers for new graduates with majors such as engineering, health professions and computer science, however, a lower demand for new graduates with a liberal arts major. It is clear that majority of students are graduating with a technical degree such as business or engineering, however, research shows that graduates with a Humanities degree will develop stronger careers in the future. â€Å"Their longer-term career entry and advancement prospects may be equal or superior to those whose undergraduate majors are of immediate interest to employers† (Short 1). The article states that Humanities and social sciences students acquire different skills than those obtained in more vocationally trained settings (Giles and Drews 32). These Humanities skills, according to the article, earn lower wage rates in entry level positions, however, later in their careers there was higher rates of employment and wages than their applied program counterparts. The reasoning for this, according to Giles and Drew’s article, is it takes longer for liberal arts graduates to figure out what they want to do because the direction they want to go in is not as clear as those of a technical major such as business. The picture that emerges is one in which individuals graduating from programs in the humanities and social sciences had considerably more difficulty with the school-to-work transition† (Giles and Drews 33). In other words, an engineering major has a more concise and direct education that leads them to a certain career, however those who are liberal arts graduates with a broad-based Humanities education, have a more explorative time finding what career direction to follow. Of What Use These Liberal Arts, Jon Cowans A recent study says that Arts graduates were highly successful in gaining long-term employment because of their academic breadth and flexibility (Cowans 20). In Jon Cowan’s, Of What Use These Liberal Arts, a 2002 Trent University economics professor published a study called Value Added: Humanities and Social Sciences Degrees on recent university graduates in the job market. He wrote, â€Å"The development of more generic, but valuable, skills may actually give the liberal arts and science graduates a leg up on their more vocational counterparts since such skills are much less likely to be rendered obsolete by technological trade-induced shocks. The ability to switch sectors of employment has value in a rapidly changing economy† (Cowans 21). In other words, liberal arts and science graduates, according to Cowans, have an advantage in the job market because of their broad-based and adaptable skills. According to the article, it is principally for these skills that the Arts graduates are finding employment. â€Å"A better organized mind, capable of inquiring and distinguishing false from true and fact from opinion; a mind enhanced in its ability to write, read and compute† (Cowans 21). The main distinction Cowans makes is that more applied streams of education limit a graduate whereas a liberal studies major has a more diverse educational background to offer an employer. Yes a Liberal Arts Education Can Be Productive, Joseph Short President of Bradford College, Joseph Short, believes that a strong liberal arts education prepares students to strive for a fulfilling career. According to Short’s, Yes a Liberal Arts Education Can be Productive, an education in the Arts paves more pathways to executive, professional, and leadership positions in society than many vocationally specific undergraduate majors in technical fields (Short 1). Further, a degree in liberal arts develops higher-order intellectual skills such as problem solving, reasoning, and data analysis that allow the Humanities graduate to perform various skills that are affective within a number of careers. Last, these graduates are highly recommended for entry level and long term occupations in education, communications, journalism, human services, management, government and internal relations (Short 1). Liberal Arts Studies Offer an Edge in Corporate Jobs, Carol Kleiman Similarly, in Carol Kleiman’s article Liberal Arts Studies Offer an Edge in Corporate Jobs, she discusses the negative impact having a technical degree such as business has on a graduate. In the article, John R. Marshal has an engineering degree from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Virginia but still felt a gap in his education.’ I had too narrow a technical education, and while that helps meet your employer’s immediate needs, you’re not left with any way to navigate your life’† (Kleiman, 1). Consequently, he went back to school for a degree in liberal studies and felt a more broadened view of the world (Kleiman 1. ) Overall, Kleiman’s article explains that any sort of education is worthwhile however, an in-depth educational background in liberal studies allows the strong possibility for an advancing career of upward mobility because of its broad education and endless employment possibilities. What Does a Liberal Arts Degree Get You in Today’s Job Market, Eisa Nunez According to Eisa Nunez’s What Does a Liberal Arts Degree get you in Today’s Job Market, â€Å"in today’s technological world – where knowledge doubles every 18 months and industries are created in less time – requires workers with transferable skills they need to be ready for as many as 11 different jobs in a lifetime† (Nunez 1). â€Å"The only education that prepares us for change is a liberal education. In periods of change, narrow specialization condemns us to inflexibility† (Nunez 1). It is true that 70 to 80 percent of college freshman list the following as their reasons for attending college: earning money, finding job, and preparing for a career (Nunez 1). Rather than concentrating on learning one skill and going out into the workforce, Nunez says that taking time to develop critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills in various areas is necessary to leading a long term successful career in the 21st century. This preoccupation with the short-term is based on an old labor-market model that assumes that a narrow, technical education is the key to success. However, David Kearns, executive chief officer of Xerox says, â€Å"This idea does not work in a modern economy where adaptability is the key† (Nunez 1). College of Liberal Arts Needs a Makeover On the contrary, in College of Liberal Arts Needs a Makeover, the author says that the college major, Liberal Arts is in dire need of a makeover, â€Å"a new marketing campaign to promote an updated image† (Frank 1). â€Å"Its a shame that many people believe a liberal arts major has limited job prospects upon graduation† (Frank 1). Further, the article states that businesses would rather have new hires with specialized technical training to fill entry level positions. â€Å"People who can hit the ground running, they say, like engineers, programmers, hotel managers, nurses, lab technicians† (Frank 1). In other words, those fresh out of technical training are prepared to begin working in the career of their choice, whereas Liberal Arts graduates need more training in their job choice. Frank says that because the name Liberal means free or generous, the word free gets mistaken with easy. An engineering student has to master really difficult subjects like physics and calculus. A liberal arts student takes English and history† (Frank 1) Therefore, subconsciously, people think it cant be that hard to study English. Interdisciplinary Approach: Advantages and Disadvantages, and the Future Benefits of Interdisciplinary Studies, Casey Jones In Casey Jones article, Interdisciplinary Approach: Advantages and Disadvantages, and the Future Benefits of Interdisciplinary Studies, discusses the current structure of the educational system. She believe that Liberal or interdisciplinary studies focus on the fringes of a field and owers an academics reputation in the eyes of his peers and hurts his chances for tenure†(Jones 78). In other words, the academic system is still very much structured on the concentration of specific majors because the integration of interdisciplinary or Liberal studies, does not fully prepare a student for employment in the real world. The Employable Liberal Arts Major, Rachel Donadio Similarly, Rachel Donadio’s article points out with tuition costs raising and the state of the economy, it is better to learn as many applied skills as possible. This year at Colgate and New York University, there have been professional training programs instilled which allow students to participate in non-credit courses that offer them specific job training within a field. With the competitive job market, there are a lot of specific skills that young people need as the economy and employment industry continue to diversify. â€Å"Colleges say they aren’t abandoning the liberal arts education but rather bring the ideal slightly more in line with the job market reality† (Donadio). Although this article slightly goes against my thesis statement, I believe it offers a different view on the liberal arts education. Studies Indicate that Liberal Arts Grads are Less Likely to be Recruited for Jobs In Studies Indicate that Liberal Arts Grads are Less Likely to be Recruited for Jobs, The Wall Street Journal, confirms that employment recruiting companies favor top ivy league schools over less reputable schools. In this article, seniors graduating from Mount Holyoke, a liberal arts college, â€Å"are much less likely to be recruited from top companies† (The Mount Holyoke News). Although they are less likely to be recruited, employment after college is not as affected. â€Å"The national unemployment rate for college graduates under 25 in 2010 was 8 percent, up from 6. 8 percent in April 2009 and 3. 7 percent in April 2007† (The Mount Holyoke News). Despite the great recession, according to the article, our recent graduate have done well. â€Å"Our students have the critical thinking skills, the communication skills, the ability to understand. The ability to communicate across cultures-the things employers really look for† (The Mount Holyoke News).

Riverbend Telephone Company :: Case Study, solution

Riverbend Telephone Company The Riverbend Telephone Company is experiencing growth and had previously tried outsourcing some of its installation work to handle the overflow above its capacity. This was unsatisfactory, and so to accommodate the new customers, RTC needs to obtain a new maintenance truck and crew. It is considering whether leasing or buying the new truck necessary to their operations is the preferable method of investment. Question 1& 2 Without considering financing the purchase through debt, the cash costs for buying the truck for years 0- 4 are: The cash costs for leasing the truck are: The cash flows discounted by the risk-free rate of 9% allows us to compare the present values. This comparison illustrates a net advantage to buying the truck: There are not many advantages to leasing the vehicle, since Reliable does not cover the cost of maintenance or registration and taxes. They only cover the cost of tires, a minimal expense, which does not offset the cost advantages of buying the vehicle. The company does not seem concerned with their debt ratios or the threat of default. The main advantage to buying the vehicle, aside from the better price is the depreciation tax shield, which subtracts annual $1800 from the costs of ownership. There are tax advantages to leasing, as the lease payments are a tax deductible expense, but that tax savings amounts to $2,880/ year. However, this calculation is incomplete because the company needs to take on debt to finance the purchase of the car. These payments add an additional expense and cash outflow but purchasing still remains a more attractive option. The cost of the lease is still greater than the cost of debt. The NAL still favors buying over leasing by $1216. The only other consideration would be that lease may raise the earnings on asset ratio above 12%. But since the PV of the lease payments is greater than 90% of the FMV (assuming the purchase prices is FMV), then it would be considered a capital lease and the asset would go on the Balance Sheet. Therefore there are no earning over asset ratio advantages to leasing. Case Question 2 Using MACRS, the tax benefit realized in the early years, still does not significantly affect the NAL. Overall the tax benefits at the end of the five years are still equal. Case Question 3 If the truck is leased, how should Mr. Freeman report investment and annual income for the RTC to the state public service commission?

HITECH visual and psychological method Essay

We may look at Ads as an informative tool with critical judgement. The ads give misleading impression on people basically through the words used or through the verbal message conveyed by an established public person addressing the audience to provoke the feelings for getting the result as claimed by the Ad quickly . Latter method is to (mis)use the stardom value of the person on the screen. For example Amitabh Bachchan speaking good of some cold drink. Its good that he stopped it subsequently may be because he understood responsibility of his stardom. Good of him. But this speaks of misleading effect an ad can create on the minds of people who are easily carried away by the appeal of their favorite star. It will be a good idea if some wise and responsibly feeling stars come forward for the cause of consumers! And also the consumers get educated against the HITECH visual and psychological methods used by the Ads. Misleading Advertisements There are many advertisements that always overstate the products’ effectiveness in our daily life. One of the most notable example is weight-reducing advertisement. In addition, the height-adding and health-improving advertisements are also good examples of misleading advertisements. People can see many different kinds of weight-reducing advertisements on cable television programs, and these advertisements are always broadcast all day. They will have many consumers tell audience their personal experiences, and their amazement at the strong effectiveness of this weight-reducing product. Furthermore, the average weight the consumers lose may be almost five to eight kilograms a month. These users will also tell audience that this weight-reducing product makes their face glowing with health because this product makes their chronic excrement smoothly and completely out of their bodies. However, the best way to reduce weight is to do more exercise and eat less food of high calorie, so I don’t think using weight-reducing products is a good way to lose weight, and these kinds of products may have side effects that will hurt people’s bodies. Height-adding advertisements are also a good example of misleading advertisements. These kinds of advertisements always have a doctor explain the principle of adding height; then, a short user will appear and asks that doctor to help him. After one week, that short user will show up, and he would become taller by about three centimeters, and the user will have more confidence in themselves than before. One month later, the user will become almost another person because his/her height will increase about ten centimeters. Also, the user would tell audience that his/her interpersonal relation becomes better than before, and makes more friends of the opposite sex. However, people’s height will not increase so dramatically, especially after the growth period, so height-adding product advertisements are really misleading. Health-improving advertisements are always broadcast on TV programs, and in this kind of advertisement there will be a linkman, an expert, and many users. The expert will do an experiment of healthy food, and tell the audience that this kind of healthy food is more effective than others. Then, a user will appear and tell the audience that he/she had cancer before, but since he/she used this product for one year, the cancer magically disappeared. Moreover, he/she will tell the audience that his/her weak body turns to be a strong one. However, if people want a healthy body, they have to keep their daily life regular and have a balanced diet. These three kinds of misleading advertisements are easily seen in our daily life, and most people will believe their effectiveness. This kind of concept is very dangerous because if the product has poisonous substance, it will hurt people’s body severely. Therefore, people should test these three kinds of products before using them. These products may have side effects or people will lose their health without getting the effectiveness that the advertisements state.

Regency Plaza Case Study †Risk Management Process, Review of the Options Essay

3. Risk Management Process of the Regency Plaza Project Regency Plaza is a mixed-use multi million US dollar project carrying quite high stakes. So the risks of it should be evaluated beforehand and managed well in order to make sure that the project wouldn’t over run budget or time and end with a successful result. Here we use the â€Å"Four Stage Risk Management Process† to evaluate the risk management happened in Regency Plaza project. 3.1 Risk Identification Evaluation: how well the project was analyzed and source of the risk identified. In the below table we will take a closer look at how well the risk was identified by Kris Hodgkins. Description| Identified/Not| Constraints and Remarks| Size the layout of the floor plate| Identified| Complicated due to condominiums lying over the hotel rooms over a parking garage, which resulted in fixed column spacing and elevator core locations. | Number, mix and size of the condominium units| Identified| BRA approved maximum number of units to be built was 96, which Hodgkins chose opposing Farley, the marketing consultant’s idea of building spacious 72 units because of Hodgkins’ expected performance targets of $134.4 million gross sales and $26 million net profit out of the project.| Time Constraints| Not identified| Project was on a tight schedule as Kelly Constructions was convinced to cut off 03 month from the estimated 32 months of the project duration, with a promise of minimal changes to the original design. Eventually with the allowance of individual customization in the units, customers (i.e Millers) required drastic changes.| Manpower deficiency| Not identified| Neither RHG nor Hodgkins expect customers to require big alterations. But customers did, causing constant changes in the project design decreasing manpower and efficiency of the construction.| Extra Costs and Delays| Not identified| RHG allowed customers to modify their  units as they please as long as they pay for additional cost but customers asked for big modifications, the cost for wasted materials and extra cost for demolition and delays in construction would go upon general contractor since they got the project on fixed sum contract.| External Factors| Not identified| It is mentioned that in later phase in the project, sales were low and the local economy was weakening.| Customer Dissatisfaction/Complaints| Not identified| With the deficit manpower and budget overrun, service became slow causing several buyer complaint s.| 3.2 Risk Assessment Below is a table for assessing the above-identified risks. Risk | Likelihood to occur| Impact| Effect on the project| 1. Issues regarding size of the layout and floor plate| Certain| High| Project design is affected because of the constraints.| 2. Decisions on number, mix and units of condo to be sold| Certain| High| If 96 units of condominiums to be sold, they would need better marketing and excellent finishing touches.If 72 units to be sold, condo sales might not hit targets Hodgkins was supposed to hit.| 3. Time constraints (Project falling behind schedule)| High| High| Delayed project meant extra cost, which can frustrate the General contractor and customers| 4. Manpower deficiency| Medium| High| Deficit manpower leads to slower work completion and project falling behind schedule| 5. Extra costs and delays| Medium| High for General contractor, Medium for RHG and High for the project| As the General contractor works for Fixed Sum Contract extra costs, which exceeds budget, would go from their profit. Delays would cause customer satisfacti on and loss of sales| 6. External factors| Low| Medium| As the target market is wealthy couples, factors like Economy wouldn’t matter much so would not affect sales in a drastic manner| 7. Customer Dissatisfaction| Medium| Medium| This might lead to loss of some sales/ potential customers because Hodgkins’ marketing strategy is word of mouth and dissatisfied customers wouldn’t recommend the condos to their friends/family| 3.4 Risk Response Development As mentioned above, many of the risks were highly likely to occur. Should any of those occur, it’s ultimately project manager’s task to have a contingency plan, which Hodgkins didn’t have. She also made wrong assumptions in the planning phase of the project thinking that customers would require only minimal changes that wouldn’t obstruct construction process. As mentioned above some risks posted threat to Hodgkins marketing strategy as well but she didn’t consider the risks and eventually failed in developing Risk Response program. 3.5 Risk Response Control As a result of not having a Risk Response plan, Hodgkins could not reduce the impact or the effect those events had on the project. It is true that, she had to manage a multi-faceted project but she wasn’t able to even reduce the additional cost, which was occurring due to her planning and marketing failures, and the deadline being overrun due to various delays. 4. Review of The Options Option| Advantages| Disadvantages| Inform the Millers that it’s too late to allow changes| * No extra costs for General contractor * No construction delays * Millers are able to make the changes themselves| * Millers would be dissatisfied * Careful coordination is required * Sprinkler changes could shut down the entire floor| Push through the changes| * Minimizes the work which have to be ripped out * If the cost is acceptable Millers will be satisfied| * It’s expensive to put a unit on hold * Can take several weeks * It could in return increase the cost to a point where Millers will not be happy with the cost| Hire a small general contractor to finish the unit| * Changes required can be done * No extra cost for the general contractor * Construction would not be delayed| * Managing two general contractors * Possibility of violence and vandalism * Could be expensive * Kelly Contractors would give a very small credit for the work done and materials purchased * Arguments over the responsibility of punch list  items| Stop the work on the unit and hand it over to Millers| * Millers are in control of the cost and the work to be done * No extra cost for the general contractor| * Most banks wouldn’t accommodate lending against the unit * Can shrink the target market * Reduces RGH’s control over the project * Impact on continuing construction operations on a building which also held a luxury hotel| Move Millers to a different unit on the higher floor| * Would buy more time * No need to restructure what’s already been applied * Construction of other floors are undisrupted| * There was no identical unit available on a higher floor * Interior designer’s work will go in vain and would have to redesign * Higher floor units are pricier| All options carry advantages as well as plenty of inconveniences but the best option as our point of view would be moving Millers to a different floor Moving the Millers to a higher floor would buy more time so the cost of the changes can be assessed and approved by the Millers. As there’s no interior work done on units on the higher floors there won’t be any requirements to demolish anything or to put construction of other units/floors on hold, which would content the general contractor and also Millers can achieve the changes they want after approving the cost. There will be no wasted materials also. This option is more advantages because it would keep the general contractor content with the project. On a disadvantageous note, there’s the possibility that Millers might refuse the option as units on the higher floors are expensive and not identical with the unit they chose and also if Millers chose the unit, their interior designer might have the rework her designs which would cost Millers more. But given the good points and bad points, this option remains as the most feasible one.

The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Essays

The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Essays The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Paper The Jilting of Granny Weatherall Paper In the short story â€Å"The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,† Granny Weatherall’s stubbornness is reflected in the way she views people’s actions and in her obviously senile thinking process. Whether consciously or subconsciously, she regards most of the attempts to aid her or please her as either threatening or rude. This is derived from her stubborn attitude towards death and illness. She views herself as being near immortal until the very end. Her first misconception of someone trying to help her is shown in the very beginning of the story. When the doctor tries to check her pulse and give her a routine check-up, Granny Weatherall â€Å"flicked her wrist out of Doctor Harry’s†¦ fingers. † This is followed by her considering him to be a â€Å"brat† who needs to â€Å"respect [his] elders. † The doctor then tells her not to get out of bed. She responds by telling him to â€Å"get along and doctor your sick†¦ Leave a well woman alone. † This reaction to the doctor’s check-up show’s that Granny is very confident that nothing is wrong with her. Whether this is her senile mind taking over or if she really believes that she is fine, there is some part of her that doesn’t want to let go of life. After the doctor walks out, Granny Weatherall hears her daughter, Cornelia, and the doctor whispering outside her door. Cornelia clearly sounds worried about her mother’s fading health, but Granny sees the whispering as being rude. When Cornelia comes into Granny’s room to check on her and see if she needs anything, Granny’s face tied up â€Å"in hard knots† and Granny says â€Å"I want a lot of things. First off, go away and don’t whisper. † Again, a simple act of generosity is viewed by Granny Weatherall as a rude act. Her stubborn attitude in this segment seems to be suggesting that she really believes that she does not need any help with anything. Even when she falls asleep, she hopes â€Å"the children would keep out and let her rest. † During her sleep, â€Å"she found death in her mind and found it clammy and unfamiliar. † Then Granny goes on to think, â€Å"Let [death] take care of itself. † This suggests that Granny likes to push death to the side and think about other things. Even when Granny Weatherall needs help, she finds a way to make others look rude for not knowing she wanted something. Granny asks Cornelia for a â€Å"noggin of hot toddy. Cornelia asks if Granny was cold, and Granny replies, â€Å"I’m chilly†¦ Lying in bed stops my circulation. I must have told you a thousand times. † After this, Granny Weatherall hears Cornelia asking her husband to entertain Granny. She thinks, â€Å"Wait, wait, Cornelia, till your children whisper behind y our back! † Finally, soon after this, Granny feels the effect of death on her. She realizes this and wants to â€Å"stand up to it. † Cornelia brings her to her senses by washing her forehead with cold water. Granny naturally sees this as being rude because she â€Å"[does not] like having her face washed in cold water. A priest comes to give her final rights, but his words break off right before he’s about to explain what’s happening because Granny won’t accept her end. The moment of Granny Weatherall’s death, while Cornelia is crying over her mother, Granny says her final words, â€Å"I’m not going, Cornelia. I’m taken by surprise. I can’t go. † This shows that Granny, truly, consciously and unconsciously, stubbornly denied her weakness and completely forced the thought of death from her mind. Even when she â€Å"accepted† her death, she still couldn’t really accept her death.

The Legend of the Chevy Nova That Wouldnt Go

The Legend of the Chevy Nova That Wouldn't Go If youve ever taken a class in marketing, chances are youve heard how Chevrolet had problems selling the Chevy Nova automobile in Latin America. Since no va means it doesnt go in Spanish, the oft-repeated story goes, Latin American car buyers shunned the car, forcing Chevrolet to embarrassingly pull the car out of the market. But the Problem With the Story Is... Chevrolets woes are often cited as an example of how good intentions can go wrong when it comes to translation. There are literally thousands of references to the incident on the Internet, and the Nova example has been mentioned in textbooks and often comes up during presentations on cultural differences and advertising. But theres one major problem with the story: It never happened. As a matter of fact, Chevrolet did reasonably well with the Nova in Latin America, even exceeding its sales projections in Venezuela. The story of the Chevy Nova is a classic example of an urban legend, a story that is told and retold so often that it is believed to be true even though it isnt. Like most other urban legends, there is some element of truth in the story (no va indeed means it doesnt go), enough truth to keep the story alive. Like many urban legends, the story has the appeal of showing how the high and mighty can be humiliated by stupid mistakes. Even if you couldnt confirm or reject the story by looking into history, you might notice some problems with it if you understand Spanish. For starters, nova and no va dont sound alike and are unlikely to be confused, just as carpet and car pet are unlikely to be confused in English. Additionally, no va would be an awkward way in Spanish to describe a nonfunctioning car (no funciona, among others, would do better). Additionally, as in English, nova, when used in a brand name, can convey a sense of newness. Theres even a Mexican gasoline that goes by that brand name, so it seems unlikely such a name alone could doom a car. Other Spanish Mistranslation Legends GM, of course, isnt the only company to be cited as making advertising blunders in the Spanish language. But upon closer examination, many of these tales of mistranslation prove to be as unlikely  as the one involving GM. Here are some of those stories. The Tale  of the Vulgar Pen Story: Parker Pen intended to use the slogan it wont stain your pocket and embarrass you, to emphasize how its pens wouldnt leak, translating it as no manchar tu bolsillo, ni te embarazar. But embarazar  means to be pregnant rather than to embarrass. So the slogan was understood as it wont stain your pocket and get you pregnant. Comment: Anyone who learns much about Spanish learns quickly about such common mistakes as confusing embarazada (pregnant) for embarrassed. For a professional to make this translating mistake seems highly unlikely. Wrong Kind of Milk Story: A Spanish version of the Got Milk? campaign used  ¿Tienes leche?, which can be understood as Are you lactating? Comment: This might have happened, but no verification has been found. Many such promotional campaigns are locally run, making it more likely this understandable mistake could have been made. Wrong Kind of Loose Story: Coors translated the slogan turn it loose in a beer ad in such a way that it was understood as slang for suffer from diarrhea. Comment: Reports differ on whether Coors used the phrase suà ©ltalo con Coors (literally, let it go loose with Coors) or suà ©ltate con Coors (literally, set yourself free with Coors). The fact that accounts dont agree with each other make it seem unlikely that the mistake actually happened. No-Coffee Coffee Story: Nestlà © was unable to sell Nescafà © instant coffee in Latin America because the name is understood as No es cafà © or It isnt coffee. Comment: Unlike most of the other accounts, this story is demonstrably false. Nestlà © not only sells instant coffee under that name in Spain and Latin America, but it also operates coffee shops with that name. Also, while consonants are often softened in Spanish, vowels are usually distinct, so nes is unlikely to be confused for no es. Misplaced Affection Story: A slogan for Frank Perdue chicken, it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken, was translated as the equivalent of it takes a sexually aroused man to make a chicken affectionate. Comment: Like tender, tierno can mean either soft or affectionate. The accounts differ on the phrase used to translate a strong man. One account uses the phrase un tipo duro (literally, a hard chap), which seems extremely unlikely.

Modern Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Modern Japan - Essay Example According to Prindle (1989) "[t]he stories expose the internal mechanisms of business transactions and the mentality of the people involved, making technical information accessible to a lay audience and convincing even to economists." (qtd in The Japanese Business Novel). Arai Shinya is the executive vice president of Summit Inc., and director of Sumitomo Corporation who is popular under the pen name of Satoshi Azuchi writing Japanese business novel, one of which is the popular Tales of a Shoshoman. Shinya related that the Tales of Shoshoman "begins with a story of a Japanese businessman who commits suicide because he failed to be promoted when his peers in his company were promoted" (qtd in The Japanese Business Novel). The novel illustrates the traditional aspects of the Japanese society and preserved these traditions by means of these types of novels. The novel reveals the values of Japanese "salary man" (The Japanese Business Novel) with high regard to his work and dedicated to his organization, with preserved value of loyalty and devotion which allows the world to have knowledge of the Japanese nature in which ways the traditional Japanese culture in business is upheld. In another novel authored by Norma Field, "In the Realm of a Dying Emperor" tells of three separate tales woven together with intentions for a greater purpose. The novel successfully pointed the struggles of Japan of its past as it faces the twentieth century in the end of war. The novel attempted to reveal a glimpse of hope to recover from injuries brought about by the imperialist rule. Each tale in the novel depicts of a true Japanese value in each character which is struggling from atrocities and Western pressure. The character of the supermarket owner burning the flag of the Rising Sun illustrated the value of braving to fight for dignity over the struggles of an Okinawan to escape the memories of the bitter past. In the review of Steve Edwards he acknowledged the research done by Field which was a strong point rather than a personal conviction which revealed that "Many Okinawans continue to feel objectionable towards the emperor system for the incidents there during World War Tw o The Rising Sun flag is a prime example of the rape and pillaging of countries across Asia during World War Two. These citizens also feel the flag represents a part of their history they would like to leave behind and obstructs them from completely Surname 3 whitewashing the entire issue away." (Edwards, Steve). In another tale tells the story of an ordinary woman protesting the emperor rule because of "deification" of her husband who died and enshrined "as a way to pass on the ritual of dying for the emperor" (Edwards, Steve). In this story the constitutional practices under the hybrid system is criticized. The defiant character of the ordinary woman is a typical character of the Japanese when principles are laid shaken. The final tale in the novel tells the story of the "mayor" who strongly defied against the emperor rule whose character suggested that the emperor was responsible for the atrocities during the war. In line with such grand accusations, the

Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Presentation - Essay Example This, as a result, set path for new ideas about seeking to learn a more universally acceptable language, and my passion for learning English was born. It is widely known that English is the most spoken language in the world today, with a large number of countries worldwide using it as their official language. It is also one of the most used media of communication especially in books, music and films to date. These are some of the notable reasons that made it very easy for me to settle with English as my choice of language that I had to learn. The journey to learn English, just like any other new thing, was not easy. For one, this was a time-consuming and equally challenging task especially considering the vast differences in the structure and elements between my native Arabic language and those in English. The virtual lack of a clear correlation between the two meant that I had to place more effort so that I could excel in understanding the new language. I am glad that today I can stand and address people in English, which could only sound like a fantasy to me sometimes back. Today, I want particularly to revisit one of the most interesting and indeed important part of my English learning journey; my first English presentation in school. As a brief description of my background, I joined an English language learning school in the USA where I believed would provide the best environment for learning the language. It is said that if one is to learn a language quickly, then surrounding yourself with the language is the single most efficient method of learning i.e. spending time with people speaking the language, listening to music and watching movies written in the language among others. USA perfectly provided all of these characteristics. The course outline in the language class consisted of presentations sessions where students were put to task in an attempt to

APOCALYPTIC AND PARANOID CULTURES Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

APOCALYPTIC AND PARANOID CULTURES - Assignment Example If Hofstadter was to write today he would easily add quotes from Karl Rove, Dick C, Rummy and George W. among others. It is astonishing to see from Hofstadters essay just how deep the historical roots of American narrow-mindedness and intolerance really are. He records the campaign against the Illuminati (a subsidiary of the Enlightenment movement), the anti-Masonic rhetoric coming from pulpits all over the US in the 18th century, the Jesuit threat that was popular among paranoids from the 1800s to 1850s and the anti-Catholic sentiments that are connected to the 1893 depression. The approach used is always the same, mixing religious fervour with faux patriotism. The 31st July 1964 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle stated that the John Birch Society hated to see United Air Lines Corporation promote the UN emblem on their airplanes (Hall 2000). The John Birch Society felt that the UN was behind the Soviet Communist conspiracy. In 1835, the inventor of the telegraph who is called S.B.F. Morse stated that a conspiracy existed and the US was being attacked in a vulnerable quarter that could not be defended by armies, ships and forts. Morse was not referring to Islamic terrorists but he was talking about the projects by the Jesuits that were aimed at undermining the American way of life. In the 18th century, the Illuminati were accused of making tea that resulted in abortion. In the 1890s the American Protective Association claimed that there was an international Catholic conspiracy and went so far as to circulate bogus papal encyclicals that gave an ultimatum to all American Catholics to eliminate all heretics. This resembled the Protocols of Zion, a different bogus tract that was used to attack another minority using the same paranoid style. Since 1992, over 100,000 lives have been claimed by the civil war ravaging Algeria. Through weekly kidnappings and assassinations, terrorist bombings,

Interior Design Architecture And Technology Cultural Studies Essay

Interior Design Architecture And Technology Cultural Studies Essay Nowadays, interior design become one of the most important works in the life, it can be define as a profession in relation to each what is going on within the space walls, windows, doors, finishes, textures, light, furnishings and furniture, the design of space inside homes and building such as choice of decor in other hand is the trade of planning the layout and furnishing of an architectural interior. It shows the art of the person and each design shows a particular person and has a distinctive design, even if it has more than one design, but there remains a personal touch shows the designer himself. Interior design is not far removed from the architecture, but is associated entirely. It cannot build without a design from the inside and it cannot also design the building internally without external. Architecture is for us a collective term for the material environment, for interior design, surface engineering, infrastructure, urban planning, landscape and region, but also for their construction and appropriation, for planning, construction, and inhabiting. Theory of architecture is a survey of the built environment by its inhabitants. But we will talk about something different; we will talk about Japanese houses and building that it is famous in its architectural and decorative and we will sort them by the date. There are lot kinds of houses and interiors in Japan. Yamamotos minka is great example, which was functional and built of study local materials. Such a house can be generally divided into two distinct zones. First zone it is the entrance area is called Doma. the sceond zone is the farmhouse usually stands on wooden plinth and includes the living area and bedrooms. another kind is Tsai houses are located in the countryside. In the house there is Tatami, it is used in Japanese style, made from plants and placed on the rooms ground, but it cant place furnitures like chairs and beds because it damage the Tatami. The city of Tokyo, one of the most populated areas civilization on the planet, Tokyo contains a large number of population of some 33 million people and a high percentage of architecture, although the Tokyo dating back to the 17 century to 19 century until it became the capital of Japan, but what little remains of the original architecture because of two: the occurrence of an earthquake in 1923 and World War II, which affected much of the population down to half. Economic development in Tokyo after the war has to show a new city, and vast in area, a magnificent architectural and this remains with the original planning of the ancient city. First, in 2000: Small jewelry store ete is located on the Kotto Dori, is a commercial street of old shops that now contains contemporary decor and breathtaking scenery bright and has done so in the design simple and clear powered lighting: and have been using green light on surfaces instead of using the green surfaces so This creates a sense of color is beautiful, and the impact of hidden in the dÃÆ' ©cor. Ete 2000 This new store for comme des garcons, in the elegant district of Aoyama represents the companys quest for a new concept in shopping premises. Instead of following the pattern of a predefined corporate image, as was the case with stores ten or twenty years ago, the firm now offers a space that can be adapted to every situation, in which design is expressed through a number of subtle nuances. Distorted geometrical forms, bright colors and an austere backdrop are the key elements of this project. Comme des Garcons 2000 Second, in 2001: The designer Issey Miyake that created the new brand name Me Issey Miyake produces only T-shirt made of flexible materials, and thus, is worn by anyone, the concept of this production is applied to the design of the shop, and it has been to maximize the use of available scarce. Me Issey Miyake 2001 Interior design of the Tag Heuer store hours was a find a space to reflect the contemporary, Their Excellencies and technology. Complexity and development of this place, the result of Continuous coating, which led to modernism and reduce lines, and so the customer finds many of the elements that show several meanings: the traditional use of wood in a modern way with the transparent glass plates, walls, and use the beauty of glass and twisted compact (2001) Tag Heuer 2001 Characterized by Street Giza busy supermarkets and malls have massive fronts and neon lights, unlike the street, but the interfaces of sheet metal and curved glass, and austerity. From the inside, however, visitors will see the developed world Merged with the details and equipment such as the auto show Nissan. Nissan gallery Ginza 2001 This project aimed to create an avant-grade, hi-tech look while overcoming the limitations of a narrow lot and preserve the traditional touch of the firm that commissioned the building. The cladding, consisting of prefabricated glass blocks measuring 18 X 18 inches specially made for this project, mark a bright, continuous separation between the tranquility of the interior and the bustle of Ginza, Tokyos most famous shopping district, A sophisticated and flexible articulated steel system was designed to prevent any damage from possible earthquakes. Maison Hermes 2001 the design of night club, in the heart of popular bar district of Shinjuku, had two main objectives, one social and other strictly physical: on the one hand, to create a setting that encourages interaction between customers and waitresses, and, on the other, to conjure up an illusion of spaciousness on premises that are really of limited dimensions and low in height. Curved walls, bright colors and longitudinal perspectives are the main elements used to achieve the desired effect. Club Now 2001 This restaurant, which specializes in thick Japanese noodles, is designed to welcome several groups of guests, while offering each one a setting appropriate to their needs. The project is divided into three distinct areas. One revolves round large central table; a second is a high counter that overlooks the kitchen, while the third is n area with seats, ideally suited to meetings and small parties. Hrenochi Hare Sugamo 2001 Third, in 2002: The border between inside and outside, public and private Hamarek logic in central Tokyo, there is Dentsu tower consists of 48 floors, the line shows the ground until you feel it disappear in the sky, it designed a way that allows the sun to be reflected upon as encountered made of glass that causes for all day. Dentsu Tower 2002 The project of French high school in Tokyo, including the various structures of a portion of an extension, the original design of this school was complicated thing has caused some significant challenges, such harmony with neighboring structures, and integration with the original buildings and expand the free space of the school Building Construction sequence and to create a multi-purpose spaces on the basis of metal and glass structures. Extension of French Japanese High School 2002 This long, narrow basement in a building in the Ginza neighborhood was converted into a distinctive bar using the color red and mirrors as the main design elements. The entrance via a staircase lined with velvet drapes and red lights arouses the visitors curiosity. On the lower level, the space is arranged around a bar and three couches, in the form of a circular niche, that are reflected in the mirror at the far end. Cabaret 2002 Ginto occupies the fourth floor of a building devoted to commerce in Ikebukuro; it comprises a large restaurant divided into various spaces suited for single guests, couples or groups. The name Ginto, which means silver rabbit, served as a reference point in the design process. Silver is present in the main dining room, not only on the walls, furniture and decorative objects but also on the drapes made with silver beads that serve as dividing element. Ginto Restaurant 2002 The overriding aim of this bar is not very different from that of the majority of Tokyos nightspots: the creation of a restful, welcoming atmosphere that provides a relaxing break from the hubbub of the city. In the case of Lounge O, set in the exclusive Aoyama neighborhood, this purpose is fulfilled by means of delicate lighting that emphasizes the interplay of textures and colors in its interior. The main hall marked off into various areas by two glass boxes in the middle of the space that serve as lamps. Lounge 2002 The main characteristics of the brands on sale in this store a distinctive style, a mixture of materials or manufacturing techniques are also the guiding principles of the design of the space. These premises on the first floor of shopping mall in the fashionable Omotesando neighborhood have served as the backdrop for experimentation with the possibilities and combination of materials, with respect to both the proposals of those that existed in the original space. Addition 2002 The project for this hair salon sought to find a feeling of privacy in a space flooded with light that plays with the idea of transparency. The wooden floor in the waiting area combined with the restrained furnishing create an atmosphere more redolent of a hotel reception that a hair salon. The six blowups from Mapplethorpes series of baby Portraits clearly divide the space into three sections: the entrance and waiting area, the shampooing area and hairdressers proper. Bape Cuts 2002 This restaurant, which specializes in traditional Japanese cooking, provides a cozy refuge from the intense bustle outside. It is set on the first floor of a building in Shinjuku, Tokyos most important modern financial district; the atmosphere inside is reminiscent of a typical old-fashioned restaurant. The kitchen, set in the center, in full view of the customers, serve s an axis around which the various dining rooms are organized. The latter are characterized by the predominance of dark wood and soft lighting. Gensai-Ichijyo 2002 Forth, in 2003: Hakuju music hall gives a good feature to enjoy music Lech, not only that, but it has a strong and distinctive image to give the air a musician, but these outlines, it plans fiber glass and cement are the booster, which was used to wearing in the ceiling and walls gives high quality sound configuration optimization. Hakuju Hall 2003 Mars the salon aoyama, the design of this place focused on the creation of space and contains different compositional elements; these elements have been created through a variety of materials such as wood, glass, metals, and also create different effects of light and shade, and used the color white because the white color gives the feeling of calm and hygiene. Mars the Salon Aoyama 2003 the building can be analyzed from a wide range of conceptual and constructional viewpoints, The redefinition of shopping is perhaps most striking on its facade, reminiscent of a kaleidoscope, where the interior and exterior merge to enrich and from part of each other. Technical exploration and innovation are not only evident in this cladding, however, but are also seen in smaller details, such as the resin tables, silicone lamps and polyurethane benches. Parda Aoyama Epicenter 2003 The New Meguro Hotel, the original building used for this project, was put up 35 year ago a long time in a city like Tokyo, which has been devastated by numerous disasters. The surrounding area had become somewhat rundown, but when it was redeveloped the recovery of this distinctive building a necessity. The project conserved its original character but introduced modern touches in an attempt to give this hotel a homely feel. Hotel Claska 2003 This 58-floor multipurpose tower block is the centerpiece of a massive shopping and entertainment complex in the important, central district of Roppongi. Ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s includes offices, a hotel and a theater in base of the building and an extensive museum of contemporary art on the upper stories. The form of the tower and its cladding are derived from Japanese traditions, especially in the reproduction of natural forms by means of geometric patterns. Roppongi Hills 2003 The ASK Academy, belonging to Schwarzkopf, the Garman beauty products manufacturer, consists of a center intended for both training and assessment for customers. Its strategic position in the central neighborhood of Shiodome, coupled with the ample dimensions of the original premises, made it possible to create a comprehensive consultancy. Its design makes use of state-of-the-art materials and techniques to formulate an international, high-tech image, while also allowing great flexibility in the interior spaces, according to their particular purpose. ASK Tokyo 2003 The hairdressers is situated in the Odawara shopping district, on the outskirts of Tokyo. The narrowness of the access and front facade (a mere 10 ft wide) posed a significant design challenge. The project sought to take the fullest possible advantage of the space, emphasizing the interior perspective and continuity by means of gleaming surfaces and curved lines. The translucent glass partitions and furniture reduced to the basic essentials make the interior look bigger. Hair Salon Musee 2003 Fifth, in 2004: The design of this store located on the third floor of the Amara uses light as if it were a solid environment in space. And metals have been used to conceal the folded light, and this helped to light itself known within a store either mirrors and glass as affected in the light is reflected gives effect be felt vastly. M-premier Black 2004 This 20 story building rises up from the previous site of a department store in the Nihonbashi neighborhood, close to several of the citys historic monuments. The design proposes structure that is adapted to the surrounding low buildings and makes it possible to enjoy the expansive panoramic views of area of the area. The project comprises a shopping section in the form of a low, longitudinal volume, the stone-clad heart of the building and a vertical, transparent office block. Nihonbashi 1-chome building 2004 The main design challenge pose by this project for showroom was the creation of an attractive, flexible space with a compelling visual image suited to the display of objects typically found in hotels. The display is organized around a series of spinning objects, which serve as a platform for the exhibits while also being striking sculptural elements in their own right. The theatricality is enhanced by the contrast between the black background of the surroundings and the whiteness of the objects. Spinning Objects 2004 The designer Masamichi Katayama drew inspiration from the name of the brand inhabitant to create a space with references to a domestic setting. A table and a few chairs, rather than a counter, make a visitor feel at home, while a humorous touch is achieved with the sliding doors, which open automatically. To the rear, a stone garden flanked by mirrors and a picture of Mount Fuji, conjure up the feeling of an open space, even though it is in fact a basement. Inhabitant 2004 Sixth, in 2005: This project is a new addition to the list of corporate buildings designed by internationally recognized architects that have been springing up in Omotesando, Tokyos most exclusive commercial district. Its L shape is formed by a folded facade that architecturally interprets the branched structure of a tree. The various shapes produced by the concrete structure, and its great solidity, are emphasizes by hiding the window frames. TODS 2005 this patisserie -the first to be opened in Tokyo by famous pastry chef Pierre Herme is spread over two floors, each clearly defined by its character and interior design. The idea on the ground floor was to create a space that was luxurious while also being relaxed and cheerful, so it is dominated white decoration and bright light. In contrast, upper floor contains the Bar Chocolat, which strives for a highly glamorous setting based on dark colors, patterned glass and mirrors. Pierre herme 2005 In conclusion, interior design and architecture complete themselves, however it is a beautiful world when they fusion with technology.

The Other Nature Essay -- Writing Writer Literature Papers

The Other Nature Early in her exploration of man's soul, Joyce Carol Oates discovers a fundamental truth while writing about the character of Stavrogin in Dostoyevsky's The Possessed-that as part of his inevitable fall, man violates "nature" in so complete a way as to separate himself from the only forces that can save him. This theme dealing with the Fall of man is a constant thread that weaves itself through most of Oates' essays, the corruption by various internal and external forces and the tragedy that results from man's blindness to his own nature and to what would provide him salvation. Oates' power lies in her ability to delve deep within the personalities of the writers, the characters they create, and the powerful themes buried deep in the work's soul. She applies psychological concepts and archetypes in order to explore the implications brought about by the similarities and differences in the characters' thoughts and actions. She reaches her most thought-provoking insights by connecting parallel motifs across a wide spectrum of literature and constantly leaps from one generalization to the next causing the reader to wonder how she has come to the fascinating and brilliant conclusions presented in Contraries. By examining the Fall of man, she discovers how self-awareness and material preoccupations lead to a corruption of the "natural" self. Later, the discussion of tragedy and transcendence in essays about King Lear and Nostromo reveals the fundamental importance of women-as saviors of the natural world and representatives of salvation for men. Women are the und erlying focus of her essays; the archetypes and roles they adhere to and defy as literary characters shape the way she perceives the female. Ultimat... ... subjection is presented as grisly and mean. Perhaps this shift of focus from the sublime to the obscene is necessary to bring more clearly into focus the longstanding female archetype and provide us with the strength to intervene in such deep-running cultural patterns. Oates certainly does not preach at us, and she never tells us exactly what to do. But reading Connie's story, and reading over Oates's shoulder as she sees the archetype that created it, we are pushed, at least, to read the stories we encounter to find and reflect on the conflicts of human nature they reveal. Works Cited Oates, Joyce Carol. Contraries: Essays. New York: Oxford UP, 1981. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" 1966. Celestial Timepiece: Joyce Carol Oates Archive. Ed. Randy Souther. Dec. 1996. San Francisco. 10 Dec. 2000. <http://storm.usfca.edu/ ~southerr/wgoing.html>

Csr of Mnc

Table of Contents INTRODUCTION1 UNILEVER2 PHILANTHROPY DETAILS2 CSR IN BUSINESS PROCESS3 DEALING WITH SUPPLIERS3 CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY4 REDUCTION IN ACCIDENT RATE4 SOURCING OF RAW MATERIAL4 SIGNATORY ISSUES5 AWARDS5 UNILEVER IN INDIA5 PROJECT SHAKTI5 SANJIVINI6 PROCTER & GAMBLE6 PHILANTHROPY DETAILS7 CSR IN BUSINESS PROCESS8 CSR: COMPANY POLICIES9 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS (FMCG)10 CITIGROUP INC. 11 PHILANTHROPY DETAILS11 FINANCIAL LITERACY11 Microfinance12 Community Relations12 ‘Plant-a-Tree’ initiative12 CSR IN BUSINESS PROCESS12 Diversity12 Technology13 Climate Change13 Environment and Social Risk Management Policy (ESRM)14 SIGNATORY INITIATIVES14 HSBC15 CSR AT HSBC15 GLOBAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES16 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS (BANKING)18 VODAFONE19 CSR IN BUSINESS PROCESS19 COMPLIANCE WITH GRI GUIDELINES22 CONCLUSION23 REFERENCES24 Introduction Within the world of business, the main â€Å"responsibility† for corporations has historically been to make money and increase shareholder value. Although for decades, business has also been engaged in charity, philanthropy, and civic activities including social investments in health. Many times these investments were less than strategic, and were not directed to real social change. Is then Corporate social responsibility planting trees in some vague corner of the world or supporting a certain cause? Today, business understands â€Å"doing well by doing good,† In the last few years, a movement defining broader corporate responsibilities– for the environment, for local communities, for working conditions, and for ethical practices–has gathered momentum and taken hold. The era of new corporate responsibilities have emerged. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is about how businesses align their values and behavior with the expectations and needs of stakeholders – not just customers and investors, but also employees, suppliers, communities, regulators, special interest groups and society as a whole. CSR demands that businesses manage the economic, social and environmental impacts of their operations to maximize the benefits and minimize the downsides. CSR is not only about fulfilling a duty to society; it should also bring competitive advantage. Through an effective CSR programme, companies can: †¢improve access to capital sharpen decision-making and reduce risk †¢enhance brand image †¢uncover previously hidden commercial opportunities, including new markets †¢reduce costs †¢attract, retain and motivate employees But in India most of the CSR Activities are philanthropic in nature, but globally it forms only a small percentage of total CSR. What if Indian companies also s tarted looking at CSR as more than money donations and can we push them. this where CSRidentity is positioning itself. CSRIdentity is a resource that can be used to †¢teach managers and to-be-managers about â€Å"the real† CSR provide a tool/resource/database for CSR depts to refer to for CSR activities †¢Highlight â€Å"good† CSR practices from cos. to motivate them †¢use this to motivate Indian cos to match global standards CSRidentity. com Services a. Project identity for the corporate b. Project identity for the brands c. NGO Research d. CSR Research The first purpose of CSRidentity. com is to build capacity of the corporates on CSR. And the second purpose is to help corporates project their identity. The portal takes the mode of information, research, analysis, views and interviews. It invites thought leaders to share a path which can be followed by others, share innovations in business, and share what went wrong. And while doing this, it will ensure that corporates think of the larger purpose than being myopic money makers. CSRidentity. com has rich information on CSR in philanthropy, CSR in business processes, CSR policies, Global trends in CSR †¦ It plan to share CSR case studies of all the global fortune 500 companies, leading 200 Indian companies & SMEs, and leading companies in about 20 countries. Each case study offers great learning and replication potential. Unilever Unilever is a Fortune 500 company and a global leader in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) category. As Unilever products touch a huge number of consumers worldwide every day, the company believes it has an opportunity to impact many lives through its CSR program. Globally Unilever lays more emphasis on CSR in the true sense i. e. a reduced emphasis on philanthropy. To ensure this, all brand managers in Unilever constantly work towards initiating CSR Initiatives for their brand to reduce the impact of its brands on the environment. Mission : Unilever’s mission is to add Vitality to life. To meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. To understand the vast program, it has been categorised into sub categories which include initiatives in Philanthropy, Business Processes, Impact on Environment, Company Policies and Signatory Issues. Philanthropy Details Food Donation In 2005, nearly two billion pounds of food and grocery products were provided through the Second Harvest network. Available through food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other distributions centres, the foods helped over 25 million Americans stave off the risk of hunger. Nine million of these were children. Unilever's product donations made up 7. 6 million pounds of the charity's total food basket – a threefold increase on our previous year's donation. In total, Unilever US gives away products worth around $12. 5 million every year, around 70% of which goes to the Second Harvest's hunger-relief work. Donations during Natural Disasters – Katrina and Rita Unilever donated $1 million to relief efforts following the hurricanes – divided equally between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Employees also dug deep, contributing over $600,000 as part of a matching-gift programme. Conservation of National Parks In May 2008, Unilever contributed grants of over $240,000 to 12 national parks across the United States in an effort to aid wild life preservation. Orphaned and Abused Child Welfare Unilever donated an industrial washing machine to the Durban’s Children Society which is a care centre for children in the age group of 8-18 years and have been orphaned, abused or neglected. The washing machine helps fulfil the cleaning needs for over 60 children in the society on a daily basis. Child Education Unilever donated $1 million for the Families of Freedom Scholarship fund – a fund initiated to assist the education of children who lost parents to the September 11 attacks. CSR in Business Process Nutrition Value in Food Products Unilever initiated the Nutritional Enhancement Programme to improve the nutritional quality of food and beverage products by assessing the level of four nutrients (based on international guidelines) – Saturated Fats, Trans Fats, Salt and Sugar. The move has resulted in several changes in products like: †¢Reduction of 20% added sugar in brands for children such as twister †¢Reduction in salt levels in soup products from European markets by 10% †¢Breyers Ice cream launched a fat free range in North America with 50% less saturated fats Initiating Hygiene Unilever believes in developing products that would deliver benefits to people and make a difference to their health while promoting best practices for hygiene by partnering with local, government and international bodies. Behaviour change is a high priority on Unilever’s campaign and includes The Global Handwashing Day Campaign by Lifebuoy, Safe Drinking Water – Pureit, Improving Oral Health Care – Pepsodent and Close Up, Enhancing Self Esteem and Better Skin – Dove and Vaseline. Influence on Consumers Includes inculcating best practices among consumers (Hygiene Campaign), Promoting outdoor learning and development in children (Dirt is Good Campaign), breaking stereotypes (Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign) Dealing with Employees The company lays emphasis on certain key areas of employees such as Leadership Development, Health and Safety of Employees, People Vitality, Global Diversity, Continued focus on Gender, Diversity Planning and Listening to employees. Dealing with Suppliers The expectations of Unilever’s suppliers are codified in the Business Partner Code. It specifies guidelines which suppliers must follow in order to continue business with Unilever which include health and safety of workers, labour standards, consumer safety and impact on the environment. Unilever also conducts a Supplier Audit Programme to identify areas of improvement and non compliance. Contributing to the Community Unilever measures its contribution to the community using the London Benchmarking Group model. In 2008 a total of 91 million Euros was contributed to commercial initiatives in the community (27%), social investment (35%) and charitable donations (38%) with the greatest emphasis on health (52%) and Educations (13%). Reduction in accident rate Unilever has continuously strived to reduce the accident rate at its production centres. It has succeeded in reducing the accident rate from 0. 26 to 0. 21 per 100,000 hours worked over one year. CSR in Company Policies Advertising The company policy restricts marketers from using ‘size zero’ models in any of the ad campaigns of Unilever. Sourcing of Raw Material Unilever has decided to purchase all palm oil from certified sustainable sources only, in this regard it has already purchased the first batch in November 2008. It has also decided to procure tea for Lipton bags only from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms by 2015. Choice of Suppliers Unilever has a stringent expectations manual which their suppliers are expected to adhere to, if they wish to continue business with Unilever. The company has identified eleven parameters for the suppliers to adhere under the sustainable agriculture policy. Already a third of the suppliers have registered with the electronic system to adhere to the norms. CO2 Emission control The company has targeted to reduce emission by 25% measured per tonne from production plan by 2012. Water Conservation The company has also committed to reduce water usage in the production process, during the years 1995-08 the company has reduced water consumption by 63%. It has also introduced product variants like Surf in India which equired less water to wash clothes to conserve water. PVC Usage The company has decided to eliminate the use of PVC (where sustainable alternatives are available) in an effort to reduce the impact of PVC on the environment. Waste Reduction Through the continuous efforts of the company, the production process has reduced its waste per tonne of production by 68% in the 1995-2008 period. Signatory Issues Global Compact Uni lever has instituted a senior management position to ensure that labour standards are upheld and the company continues to support the UN Global Compact’s principles on human and labour rights. This aspect has been given high priority by the executive committee. GRI The assessment of Unilever’s Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting has been certified to be B+. The same has been verified by third party – Corporate Citizenship. Awards †¢Awarded Two ‘Good Egg’ awards by Animal Welfare NGO Compassion in World Farming in recognition of their decision to source eggs only from cage free sources †¢Unilever was awarded for the tenth year running, the leader in food sector in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Secured the Platinum standard award in the UK Business Community Corporate Responsibility Index †¢Included in Global 100 Most Sustainable corporations in the world for the fifth year running, a 2009 list compiled by Corporate Knights and Innovest Strategic Value Advisors †¢Gained joint first place in VBDO (Association for Investors in Sustainable Enterprises) 2008 rating for sustainable supply chain management, ahead of 34 o ther companies listed on the Dutch Stock Exchange Unilever in India Commitment to UN Global Compact HUL has separately reaffirmed its commitment to the UN Global Compact and its ten principles. They support institutionalization of the principles enshrined in the Global compact amongst companies in India and are a founder member of the UN Global Compact Society of India. Project Shakti Hindustan Unilever's Project Shakti is a rural initiative that targets small villages populated by less than 2000 individuals. It is a unique win-win initiative that catalyses rural affluence even as it benefits business. Lifebuoy Swastya Chetna Lifebuoy Swastya Chetna (LBSC) is a rural health and hygiene initiative which was started in 2002. LBSC was initiated in media dark villages (in UP, MP, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Orissa) with the objective of spreading awareness about the importance of washing hands with soap. Fair and Lovely Foundation The Fair & Lovely (FAL) Foundation aims at economic empowerment of women across India by providing information, resources and support in the areas of education, career and enterprise. It specifically targets women from low-income groups. Sanjivini HUL started Sanjivani – a free mobile medical service camp in the year 2003 near its Doom Dooma factory in Assam. The aim was to provide free mobile medical facility to the interior villagers in Assam. This was done keeping in mind the lack of quality medical facilities available in the villages in and around Doom Dooma. PROCTER & GAMBLE Procter & Gamble Co. is a Fortune 500, American MNC headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio As of 2008, P is the 8th largest corporation in the world by market capitalization and 14th largest by profit. It manufactures a wide range of consumer goods. It has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands including Pampers, Tide, Ariel, Always, Whisper, Pantene, MACH3, Bounty, Dawn, Gain, Pringles, Folgers, Charmin, Downy, Lenor, Iams, Crest, Oral-B, Actonel, Duracell, Olay, Head & Shoulders, wella, Gillette, Braun, and Fusion Vision: Be, and be recognized as, the best consumer products and services company in the world. Purpose: Company wants to be the innovation leader in every business, product category and country where P competes. P views sustainability as a significant responsibility — and a continual source of opportunity. 2012 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS OF P Strategy 1: Products Develop and market at least $20 billion in cumulative sales of â€Å"sustainable innovation products,† which are products with a significantly reduced (;10%) environmental footprint versus previous or alternative products. Strategy 2: Operations Deliver an additional 10% reduction (per unit production) in CO2 emissions, energy consumption, water consumption and disposed waste from P plants, leading to a total reduction over the decade of at least 40%. Strategy 3: Social Responsibility Enable 250 million children to Live, Learn and Thrive. Prevent 80 million days of disease and save 10,000 lives by delivering 2 billion liters of clean water through Children’s Safe Drinking Water program Strategy 4: Employees Engage and equip all P employees to build sustainability thinking and practices into their everyday work. Strategy 5: Stakeholders Shape the future by working transparently with stakeholders to enable continued freedom to innovate in a responsible way. P follows CSR activities in following categories Philanthropy Details Education Over the past 12 years, P has built over 140 schools across rural China, helping tens of thousands of children access better education facilities and an improved learning environment. Through this program, P builds and maintains facilities, trains teachers, and provides health and hygiene education programs. P Hope Schools engage employees on multiple levels, even encouraging participation from employees’ families. It uses cause-related marketing efforts, more than 320,000 retail outlets and 100 million consumers have also supported P Hope Schools. Shiksha (India) Through Shiksha, which means â€Å"education,† P is providing children in 15 cities and 75 villages across India with access to education. This program commits a portion from the sale of P brands toward the education of children in need in India. P India has also launched the Shiksha Ambassador Program, allowing employees to lead a word-of-mouth campaign to raise awareness of the issue. Infant health Pampers/1 Pack = 1 Vaccine campaign helps babies in underdeveloped regions, especially Africa, get off to a healthy start. Each time a consumer purchases a package of Pampers, a vaccination is provided via UNICEF to a child in need. So far, more than 50 million vaccinations have been funded. P hopes to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus through this effort, saving tens of millions of lives. Safe Drinking Water Children’s Safe Drinking Water initiative provides safe drinking water for children in need around the world, with an emphasis in Africa. It provides emergency relief and establishes safe drinking water technology to children and their families. This program is on the ground in developing nations such as Uganda, Kenya and Malawi. Thus far, technology has provided more than a billion liters of clean drinking water. Goal is to provide up to 2 billion liters of water by 2012. Community Welfare Enfance Mal-Logee (France) Program supports families with children living in sub-standard housing. This Live, Learn and Thrive program helps move families from sub-standard living conditions to safe, accessible housing, allowing children to stay with their families rather than being placed in orphanages. T. O. U. C. H. Together for Our Community Here) program has resulted in thousands of hours of voluntary work to help disabled, sick, and underprivileged children in Geneva. CSR In Business Process Waste Management P Gattatico Plant instituted a â€Å"War on Waste† program in January 2008 to reduce the trend in liquid waste due to increasing change-over sanitizations as production lines â€Å"produced to demand. † Gattatico i s a waste â€Å"lead site† for EMEA. At the end of FY 07/08 the site avoided 3,000 tons of disposed liquid waste. By the end of FY 08/09 they plan to reduce by another 2,200 tons. This plan will have over a 50 percent reduction impact on the waste footprint by FY11/12. The key interventions include: recycling wash water back into the process; improved washout procedures; and adding wastewater treatment to reduce the COD levels prior to sewer discharge. Energy saving and Emission reduction P operations pioneered breakthrough technologies to reduce energy consumption. Among the simple, low-cost steps were the following: oUsing water spray instead of electric power to cool water oRecovering waste heat from washout and sanitization water Using high-efficiency long-life lighting Over the year, these changes helped to reduce mean output energy by 6 –10 percent for each site. They are currently being reapplied across other business units. In addition, energy training and energy audits were conducted at all sites this year, making each self-sufficient in delivering sustainability opportunities. There has been a decrease over the past three years in CO2 (Direct) : 2. 9 million metric tons, 2. 9 million metric tons and 2. 8 million metric tons in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Also there has been a decrease over the past three years in water consumption: 91 million m3, 90 million m3 and 87 million m3 in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Technology/ Information Technology Managing innovation sustainably begins with the use of comprehensive analysis tools. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) generates a complete environmental footprint, extending beyond carbon impact to measure total energy and water use and waste production. Also included are the impacts of consumer use of P products, as well as all emissions into the air, water and land. This detailed review pinpoint areas where our innovation efforts can be most effective. Recycle At manufacturing site for perfume in Avenel, New Jersey, P developed a new process for blending scrap material for reprocessing as an ingredient for potpourri. As a result, annual generation of scrap waste at the site has dropped from 50,000 kg to zero. Each site monitors total suspended particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Overall, the total air emissions decreased from last year to 15. 9 thousand metric tons. P continues to find innovative recycling methods to change the trend to be more efficient. CSR: Company Policies Disclosure policy Disclosure controls are systems and processes that help ensure that important information is made available to the right people at the right time. The Company requires every area of the business to maintain disclosure controls to provide adequate assurance that significant information is reported to the appropriate levels of the Company – so that the appropriate business steps can be taken to address any issues, and so that the Company can consider whether the information should be disclosed externally Antitrust Policy and Compliance Guidelines Antitrust laws are designed to prohibit agreements among companies that fix prices, divide markets, limit production or otherwise impede or destroy market forces. P policy is that all employees strictly comply with antitrust laws and the competition and anti-monopoly laws of all countries, states and localities in which they conduct P business. Supervisors and managers are responsible for ensuring that employees under their responsibility are aware of and comply with this policy. Child Labor and Worker Exploitation Policy P does not use child or forced labor in any of our global operations or acilities. P do not tolerate unacceptable worker treatment, such as exploitation of children, physical punishment or abuse, or involuntary servitude. The Company respects employees’ right to freedom of association, third party consultation and collective bargaining where all P by law. P expect our suppliers and contractors with whom P do business to uphold the same standards. HIV/AIDS Policy All employees, including those who are HIV infected or with AIDS, are treated consistently with the Company's Purpose, Values & Principles (PVP) by the Company, their managers and coworkers. P&G treat employees with HIV/AIDS the same as P&G treat those with other serious illnesses. Specifically, an employee who is HIV-infected or with AIDS: have the same employment rights and responsibilities as other employees, has the same eligibility for employee benefits and programs, including medical care and disability coverage, as non-infected employees, is afforded privacy and confidentiality protection consistent with the Company's handling of confidential, medical or other sensitive information, and is provided management support to remain productive Fair Competition P compete strictly on the merits of our products and services and make no attempts to restrain or limit trade. P do not enter into agreements with competitors concerning prices, production volumes, customers or sales territories. P do not disparage the products or services of a competitor. P collect competitive information through proper public or other lawful channels but do not use information that was obtained illegally or improperly by others, including through misrepresentation, invasion of property or privacy, or coercion. Advertising/Promotion Policies Neither deceptive advertising nor questionable promotional activity can ever be justified. These are vital tenets of P dedication to consumers and essential to gaining and keeping their continuing loyalty to our brands. P observes standards of commercial fairness in devising, using and selecting advertising and promotions, so the products succeed based on their own quality and performance and our reputation as a company, rather than by false or deceptive statements or comparisons. AWARDS 1. In December of 2007, P was honored with the highly prestigious Presidential Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership. . International Health Communication Gold Medallion Award, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health — for building market-based relationships that sustain and deliver safe drinking water. 3. Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Award, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for outstanding leadership in protecting children from environmental risk . 4. Global Leadership Award, United Nations Association of the USA — in part, for providing clean water for millions around the world through the Children’s Safe Drinking Water program. Report is prepared using the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G3 Guidelines. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS (FMCG) FMCG industry primarily deals with the production, distribution and marketing of consumer packaged goods. Some of the prime activities of FMCG industry are selling, marketing, financing, purchasing, etc. The industry also engaged in operations, supply chain, production and general management. With increased competitiveness in the sector, it is critical for an each organization to leverage its social activities in order to gain a competitive advantage. The increased credibility and goodwill earned from the customers and associates is an invaluable intangible asset for the FMCG organization. CSR has now become a part of the corporate strategy thinking. A CSR activity of FMCG companies generally involves improving their processes and brings out change through policy measures. Most of the companies use communication medium and channels partners to showcase their activities and sensitize the population about the issue. Global FMCG companies have presence in more than 50 countries and CSR activities are designed according to the local issues and problems. Business Process: Innovation is the key for P and through innovation company brings efficiency in overall operations. Use of technology to reduce the inventory, waste management and emission reduction issues are some of the activities undertaken. Unilever mainly concentrates on providing more nutritional value to its product and promoting good practices for hygiene. Unilever is also involved in waste management and emission reduction. Company policies: P strongly advocates CSR through its policies and follows the same across all the offices and manufacturing units. Providing right information to consumers, no discrimination of employees on social status or on health issues like AIDS. Unilever mainly controls its supply chain through strict policy measures and make them also socially responsible. Philanthropy Most of the P activities across the globe concentrate on Child welfare. Through Live, Learn and Thrive Program Company provides education, scholarship, safe drinking water to millions of children. Unilever is providing to relief to disaster affected areas. Also wild life preservation and environment conservation initiatives are undertaken. CITIGROUP INC. About the Company: Citigroup Inc. , a global financial services company, provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. The core citizenship priorities of Citi include microfinance, financial education and asset preservation, and the environment. These are the areas in which Citi holds specific expertise and has an opportunity to make a material difference. We will be discussing the CSR activities undertaken by Citi under two major heads – philanthropy and CSR in business practices. Philanthropy Details Financial literacy The Citi Foundation supports programs that provide individuals with access to knowledge and incentives that help them take control of their financial future by making informed decisions, acquiring and preserving financial assets, and responding to major life events that can affect income and expenses. The specific goals of Citi Foundation program are: †¢Invest over $200 million over ten years in financial education; †¢Support programs to help low income families build and preserve assets. Performance highlights for 2008: Total funding till date has been $149 million. In 2008 alone, Citi invested $28 million in 73 countries. The total number of individuals reached through this program by the year 2008 is 22,344,441. Microfinance The Citi Foundation has been supporting the expansion and evolution of the microfinance industry for decades. Its approach is to: †¢Expand outreach to millions more low-income borrowers †¢Build and preserve borrowers’ assets via savings, housing finance, remittances, insurance, and financial education †¢Build global awareness of microfinance as an effective poverty alleviation tool The highlights of the microfinance initiative of Citi are as follows: Citi Foundation sponsored the Microfinance Banana Skins Survey 2009 that describes the risks facing the microfinance industry. Citi launched an innovative micro-savings product called Citibank Pragati in India. It utilizes a biometric ATM, which can identify customers not only on the basis of a card and a pin, but also by their fingerprints, and it displays and speaks to customers in up to six languages. On May 9, 2007, SKS Microfinance and Citibank announced a $40 Million (Rs. 180 crores) financing program involving Citibank India purchasing loans that are originated by SKS. Community Relations Under its community relations initiative, one of the major programs of Citi has been its Office of Homeownership Preservation (OHP). Through this, Citi is working hard to keep distressed homeowners whose mortgages it owns or services in their homes and out of foreclosure. It established its Office of Homeownership Preservation (OHP) in 2007, as the foreclosure crisis began to emerge. This initiative has helped approximately 440,000 homeowners since 2007 through loss mitigation and proactive loan modification. In the year 2008 OHP: †¢Reached out to 88,000 borrowers †¢Participated in 106 borrower outreach program in 72 cities †¢Trained more than 600 counselors from 304 non-profit organisations †¢Worked with 18,240 borrowers to find foreclosure solutions ‘Plant-a-Tree’ initiative In April 2007, Citi adopted a ‘Plant-a-Tree’ initiative to create environmental awareness by encouraging its credit card holders to switch to paperless statements, planting a tree for each conversion made. CSR in business process Diversity Citi strives to be an ‘Employer of Choice’ by: a. Hiring, training, mentoring and championing individuals from diverse backgrounds. b. Offering training to employees on topics such as â€Å"Championing Diversity,† â€Å"Valuing Diversity and Inclusion at Citi† and â€Å"Leadership Through the Lens of Diversity. † It strives to be a ‘Business Partner of Choice’ by a. Maintaining a diverse supplier base. Its supplier diversity team tries to identify and hire qualified business enterprises owned by minorities, women, and people with disabilities, veterans and disabled veterans. Energy Citi has undertaken various initiatives to conserve energy by following certain practices in its business process. It has developed a ‘Green Energy Community Investment Fund’ which supports the installation of solar electric systems on commercial buildings, especially the ones which are under privileged. Also, between the year 2006 and 2008, it centralized its recycling of e-waste operations in New York. More than 0. 1 million devices were recycled between these two years itself. Citi is also looking at increasing the component of purchases with recycled content in its office supplies. In the year 2008, it increased from 33% to 38%. Employees Citi is particularly focused towards its employees. It provides Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) to help employees manage stresses related to job loss, personal counseling etc. It also offers Flexible Work Strategies program through which the employees can decide when they want, from where they want and how they want to work. Technology In the year 2008, Citi launched ‘log off for Savings’ program. This program involves centrally managing PC sleep settings. This initiative would cut down GHG emissions and save costs too. Another of its initiative, Desktop Standardization Initiative (DSI) deployed ‘Thin Client’ technology which uses anywhere from 6 to 50 watts, versus the 150 to 350 watts used by a standard PC. Citi also plans to reduce number of overall datacenters from 52 to 24. In the year 2008, it has come down to 32 datacenters. Citi has also been adopting ‘virtualization’ to reduce the need for physical resources. It is also trying to conserve energy resources through travel substitution by Using Tele- and video conferencing wherever possible. Climate Change On May 8, 2007, Citi announced that it will direct $50 billion over the next 10 years to address global climate change through investments, financings and related activities to support the commercialization and growth of alternative energy and clean technology among the clients and markets it serves, as well as within its own businesses and operations. In 2008, Citi eliminated six million square feet of office space through the Alternative Workplace Strategies program. Environment and Social Risk Management Policy (ESRM) This policy was developed in 2003 to help address environmental and social issues from both a credit risk perspective and a reputation and franchise risk perspective. The CMB ESRM Policy’s core elements are based on the Equator Principles. The ESRM policy assesses the proceeds from the financial transactions into three categories: ? Category A: Use of proceeds is expected to have a significant adverse impact on society and/or environment. Category B: Use of the proceeds is expected to have limited adverse impact on society and/or environment. ?Category C: Use of proceeds is expected to have minimal adverse impacts. Signatory initiatives Equator Principles In adopting the Equator Principles, Citi agreed to provide loans only to those projects whose borrowers can demonstrate their ability and willingness to co mply with comprehensive processes aimed at ensuring that projects are developed in a socially responsible manner and according to sound environmental management practices. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Citi uses Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability Guidelines in Citi’s 2008 Citizenship Report. It is a self-declaring a â€Å"B† Application level. The carbon Principles Through its commitment towards the Carbon Principles, Citi has sworn in to †¢Encourage investments in cost effective demand reduction to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions. †¢Encourage clients to invest in cost effective renewable sources of energy and distributed technologies. Assess and reflect the risks in the financing of certain fossil fuel generation in the light of the need to substantially reduce greenhouse gas pollution through its Enhanced Due Diligence process. On September 14, 2009, Citi announced that it has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) for the ninth consecutive year, affirming Citi's position as a global sustainability leader. Associations Citi has many NGO partners: Friends of the Earth (U. S. ), EcoLogic Finance, Forest Trends, Rainforest Action Network, Wildlife Habitat Council, World Wildlife Fund etc. Awards Citizenship Best Corporate Citizen, Second Place in Foreign Company Category Common Wealth Magazine, Taiwan Best Bank for Corporate Social Responsibility The Bank of the Year Competition, Hungary Honorable Mention for Best CSR Award Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance Diversity 100% Corporate Equality Index Human Rights Campaign (United States) – fifth time on the list Employees Best Flexible Work Practices Hong Kong HR Awards 2008 The City Foundation The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment of individuals and families, particularly those in need, in the communities where it works so that they can improve their standard of living. Citi is particularly interested in supporting program innovations in the following priority focus areas: Microfinance: Help individuals and families improve their lives through economic self-sufficiency and reduce financial vulnerability Small and Growing Businesses: To create employment opportunities and support broad economic growth Education programs: To help improve quality and access to primary and secondary education in Citi markets internationally, and in the United States programs that increase the number of low-income and first-generation students who enroll in postsecondary education and earn a degree Financial Education and Asset Building: To help individuals and families develop the knowledge they need to achieve financial stability HSBC HSBC Holdings plc is a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales in 1990, and headquartered in London since 1993. As of 2009, it is both the world's largest banking group and the world's 6th largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine. HSBC has an enormous operational base in Asia and significant lending, investment, and insurance activities around the world. The company has a global reach and financial fundamentals matched by few other banking or financial multinationals CSR at HSBC The focus of HSBC’s work on environmental issues primarily addresses the risks and opportunities associated with climate change and natural resources, including energy, water management, waste and biodiversity. The social initiatives they prioritise include making financial services available more widely and providing access to education. HSBC believe this is the best way to help communities build capacity, financial independence and long-term prosperity. Sustainability at HSBC is overseen by the Corporate Sustainability Committee of the HSBC Holdings Board. The Corporate Sustainability Committee is responsible for advising the HSBC Holdings Board, committees of the Board and executive management on sustainability policies, including environmental, social and ethical issues. Focus Area The main focus of HSBC’s commitments is on two main themes – education and the environment. HSBC believes that we are dependent upon the skills of future generations; if we do not prepare them adequately, we limit our future potential. Access to education can be life changing and helps to equalise opportunity. It is also a prerequisite for economic growth and the development of stable societies. Their educational support focuses on: †¢Disadvantaged children †¢Financial and business literacy †¢Environmental education and understanding They equally believe that the needs of today’s society should not be fulfilled at the expense of future generations. It believes that we are dependent upon the state of the environment, and if we degrade it, we damage our future prospects. Our environmental support focuses on: †¢Climate change †¢Freshwater (e. g. rivers) †¢Biodiversity (plants, forests and animals) Global Education Programmes Opportunities for disadvantaged children – Future First The flagship programme, Future First, has taken on the challenge of helping homeless children, orphans and children in care around the world. For this they are working in partnership with the charity SOS Children’s Villages, among others, with the shared aim to provide access to education and life skills training. This helps the children to grow in confidence and, in time, to make their own contribution to society. Our presence in over 80 countries and territories presents us with a large network of people and resources capable of making a significant difference to these children’s lives. Rural Children Programme China has seen impressive economic growth over the last two decades but a vast disparity remains between the prosperity of rural and urban regions. To help support the ongoing success of the country, HSBC has identified a need to build up the educational infrastructure in rural areas where 95 per cent of primary schools are located. HSBC’s Rural Children Programme aims to improve facilities and provide training to teachers in curriculum design, computer-aided teaching, nutrition and counselling to help support a modern and rounded education for rural children. Financial Literacy Programme – JA More than Money As household debt rises throughout many developed countries and the world faces economic uncertainty, gaining an early understanding of how to create and manage a sustainable income is ever more important for individuals and for society as a whole. HSBC launched JA More than Moneyâ„ ¢ in 2007 in partnership with Junior Achievement Worldwide ®. HSBC colleagues are involved in classroom activities where they draw on their own skills and experience to teach children about earning, spending, sharing and saving money. Promoting environmental education: Eco – Schools Climate Initiative The HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and with HSBC’s support will be able to expand the programme across the world. The programme involves a tried and tested seven step processes to engage the entire population of the school in practical activities to improve their local environment. Through these seven steps, students, parents, teachers and the wider community are encouraged to take a more active role in environmental decision making. Investing in the Environment Protecting the environment is central to HSBC’s sustainability strategy as a carbon neutral organization. They focus on reducing the footprint of their own operations and even encourage their clients and suppliers to do the same. They also partner with leading environmental organizations to achieve shared goals. The Climate Group works with corporate and government leaders in some of the world’s cities to tackle climate change. Participation in the HSBC Climate Partnership has enabled the launch of new offices and recruitment of new members in Beijing, Hong Kong and Delhi plus the launch of the UK Together campaign, helping households save carbon dioxide by providing cheap and easy ways for consumers to reduce their carbon footprint. The HSBC Climate Partnership has helped WWF to support 33 nature reserves in China to tackle increased flooding, reduce pollution and safeguard endangered species in the central and lower Yangtze River. The HSBC Climate Partnership makes up around 80% of HSBC’s overall investment in the environment. It is complemented by a number of local programmes, many of which allow its employees the opportunity to engage in and understand conserving their local environment. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS (BANKING) Banks act as financial intermediaries in our society: they price and value financial assets, they monitor borrowers, they manage financial risks and they organize the payment system. By performing these functions, banks have a huge impact on society. They usually require firms and households to adopt certain behaviour in order to increase the chances that these lenders will pay interest and amortizations. As such, they also may affect sustainable development. Socially responsible banking is becoming a well-established notion in the financial services industry. Financial institutions are coming round to the idea that there is more to invest than just to check the figures. In the US, every one out of eight dollars invested is subject to some social or ethical screen. In most countries, private households have the opportunity to save or invest their money not only on the basis of financial rewards, but also in the face of the nonmonetary value of savings and investments. In many OECD countries, specialized banks offer savings accounts to the public while promising that the savings will be used to finance environmentally sound projects or for operations of entrepreneurs who find it hard to get access to finance from institutions that are more conventional. Women and minorities have been targeted specifically in this respect in the US based on so-called community investments. In more than 40 countries – including several developing countries like Brazil and South-Africa – people can put their savings in socially responsible investment funds that in some way or another check for corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the firms in which they invest. Banks increasingly are involved with financing economic activity that aims at sustainable development and offer microcredit to the poor and deprived. Some of the important CSR initiatives taken by various banks are: Reporting Standards Non-financial reporting is a very popular instrument in the banking sector and this is a partial confirmation of CSR’s maturity of the sector. Banks have developed their own reports and use the ‘Global Reporting Initiative’ (GRI) reporting framework. Financial Literacy With growing business banks and other financial institutions have started realizing of creating awareness about financial planning. To address this issue banks have started with financial literacy programs at various levels. Like HSBC has launched JA More than Moneyâ„ ¢ program to educate children on financial planning while on the other hand Citi has various programs targeting adults for the financial literacy. Climate Change and Environment Protection Banking Industry has shown concerns towards changing climatic conditions. Although banks have less impact on the natural environment than, say, the chemical or mining industry, their relatively low impact on environmental sustainability is more than compensated for by their impact on society as a whole. Most of the initiatives are towards reducing the total CO2 emitted not only by them but also by their stake holders forming part of the value chain. Some of the important steps are like commitment of USD50 billion by Citi towards climate control investments, HSBC’s eco-school climate initiative to provide education on climate conservation awareness. Energy Banks are encouraging investments in green energy. The encouragement is mainly in terms of funds and other financial assistance specifically allocated for installation of green energy sources. Recycling of waste and use of recyclable supplies is been done at the institution level by majority of the banks. Vodafone Vodafone is a British mobile network operator, with its headquarters in Berkshire, England, UK. It is the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world by turnover, and has a market value of about ? 75 billion (August 2008). Vodafone currently has operations in 31 countries and partner networks in a further 40 countries. Vision : To be world’s mobile communications leader, enriching customers’ lives, helping individuals, businesses and communities be more connected in a mobile world. Vodafone’s latest Corporate Responsibility Report It highlights how the company's expansion in emerging markets is facilitating economic development by increasing access to communications. The rapid expansion of the network means one of Vodafone's biggest issues is how to control greenhouse gas emissions. To address this Vodafone recently announced a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2020 in its established markets. This year's report outlines how the company aims to achieve this ambitious goal. Vodafone is also exploring how its products and services can help other industries cut their carbon footprint, and is increasing its focus on managing climate impacts in the supply chain. Vodafone's social and environmental performance in 2008/09 is reported in its signature ‘We said, We have, We will' format. CSR in business process Decreased like-for-like carbon emissions by 4. 7% In 2008/09, company’s total CO2 emissions was1. 31 million tonnes, 4. 7% lower than last year despite an increase in energy use. The carbon intensity of the Group’s energy consumption has decreased due to our increased use of green tariff energy – energy generated from renewable sources. This Group reduction target applies to our entire local operating companies that active for a full year in 2006/07; and to their CO2 emissions from all energy ources except business flights and other greenhouse gases. Increased the number of sites powerd by on-site renewable energy by 7. 5% acro ss the Group Vodafone now has 429 base stations powered by on-site renewable energy in eight countries, Diesel is often used to power sites that are not connected to the electricity grid, as well as being used in back-up generators in case of power failure. In 2008/09, diesel use accounted for 6. 3% of our total CO2 emissions from network energy use across the Group. This proportion is higher in our Indian operations. Collected 1. 82 million handsets for reuse and recycling Vodafone has exceeded our target to collect 1. 5 million handsets during 2008/09. Vodafone operating companies continued their efforts to collect handsets for recycling, collecting approximately half a million more handsets than last year – representing a 37% increase. Begun a pilot project to assess capability for recycling e-waste in Mumbai In 2008/09, Vodafone commenced an end-of-life assessment of mobiles in India, particularly in Mumbai, with The Environment Resources Institute. The study aims to assess current practices and devise strategies to improve end-of-life management of mobile phones. Supply chain Vodafone expect all our suppliers to maintain high ethical, environmental and labour standards, and Vodafone work with them to build their CR capability. Our Code of Ethical Purchasing (CEP) sets out our requirements and Vodafone assess new and existing suppliers for compliance with the CEP. Vodafone also engage in industry partnerships to improve CR standards throughout the supply chain for the ICT sector as a whole. Diversity in workforce The strategy, launched in April 2008, aims to ensure that Vodafone’s workforce reflects its diverse customer base and that the company has an inclusive working environment that embraces the benefits diversity brings. Implementation of the strategy is overseen by a global steering committee. The initial focus is on gender and nationality diversity. In 2008/09, 13% of our most senior managers – including three operating company CEOs were female. A total of 23 nationalities were represented in top management bands, an increase on 2007/08. Introduced a new health and safety strategy In February 2009, Vodafone developed a three-year strategic plan to prevent fatalities and ensure effective implementation of our product safety policy. To achieve this, Vodafone will introduce initiatives to promote leadership in health, safety extend our online management and reporting systems, and improve health and safety governance and risk management. Consumer Issues Vodafone's reputation depends on earning the trust of its customers. Their loyalty is vital to the long-term success of our business. This section covers a range of issues that Vodafone believe play an important part in maintaining customer trust. Important consumer issues include the clarity of our pricing, the responsibility of our marketing material, the way Vodafone handle customer privacy and our measures to protect customers from inappropriate content, contact and commercialism. Vodafone also address other consumer issues such as responsible mobile phone use, driving safety and mobile theft. Safety from RF & EMF Developed employee awareness training and awareness initiatives on RF fields Vodafone has made significant investment in e-learning programs, induction briefings and face-to-face training to raise awareness among relevant employees in all our local operating companies to enable them to fulfill their vital role in communicating our approach to RF fields. The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has issued guidelines on levels of exposure to RF fields. Vodafone’s policy on Health and Safety of RF Fields requires that all our base stations – and the mobile phones Vodafone sell – comply with ICNIRP guidelines. In fact, RF field exposure from our base stations is typically hundreds, if not thousands, of times below the limits set by the guidelines. Mobile for blind and deaf people Vodafone is currently focusing on making its services easier to use for customers who are: †¢Blind or visually impaired †¢Deaf or hard of hearing †¢Elderly or have special healthcare needs. This text-to-speech software – enabling blind and visually impaired customers to use text messages – is an updated version of Mobile Speak. Health Service vial mobile An mHealth services pre-feasibility study in India. A total of ? 450,598 was provided by the Fund towards these initiatives at 31 March 2009. In 2008/09, Vodafone fostered continued developments in mHealth by partnering with and investing in t+medical, the leading provider of mobile phonebased technology used to transfer patient biometric data. t+Medical’s innovative technology enables patients with chronic diseases to record details about their condition and treatment using their mobile phones. The information is quickly and easily relayed to nurses who can monitor the data and take action if Necessary. Corporate Governance The Board of the Company is committed to high standards of corporate governance, which it considers are critical to business integrity and to maintaining investors’ trust in the Company. The Group expects all its directors and employees to act with honesty, integrity and fairness. The Group will strive to act in accordance with the laws and customs of the countries in which it operates; adopt proper standards of business practice and procedure; operate with integrity; and observe and respect the culture of every country in which it does business. Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2008 65 Awards During the year, Vodafone’s 2007 CR report won the main accolade of the Corporate Register Reporting Awards for the best report and was commended by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (â€Å"ACCA†) for the best isclosure in Tax and Public Policy. Vodafone is included in the FTSE4Good and Dow Jones Sustainability Index and rated fifth in the Global Account Ab ility Rating. The Vodafone Group Foundation The Vodafone Group Foundation is a UK registered Charity established by Vodafone Group Plc in 2002. It has invested over ? 100 million in projects since its creation and currently receives ? 24 million per annum from the Vodafone Group Plc which it distributes between projects globally and its unique global footprint of 23 Vodafone Foundations. Vodafone is committed to making a difference in the communities in which it operates. The Vodafone Group Foundation has invested over ? 00 million in projects since its creation in 2002 concentrating on disaster relief, helping disadvantaged children via sport and music initiatives and specific projects across Vodafone's 23 local Foundations worldwide. Philanthropy Details The Vodafone Group Foundation has donated ? 10m to the United Nations Foundation over five years, part of which has been made available to the Measles Initiative for Immunization programs. As a second phase of their support of the se activities, VGF and the UN Foundation have now begun work with WHO on a new program to use technology to improve disease surveillance, a critical aspect of fighting not only measles but many other diseases. The Vodafone Group Foundation partnership is the largest financial commitment made by any corporation to the UN Foundation. Philanthropy in India Vodafone Group Plc has established the Vodafone India Foundation, with an initial commitment of $10 million. This step signifies a further landmark in the development of Vodafone’s presence in India and confirms the Group's commitment to invest socially in the communities where it operates. This activity will be supported by The Vodafone Group Foundation which has developed a unique network of 23 Foundations around the world during the last five years. Compliance with GRI guidelines Vodafone has benchmarked its CR reporting against the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting guidelines. The company assess its application of the GRI reporting framework to be at level B+. Independent assurance report to Vodafone KPMG LLP was engaged by Vodafone Group Services Limited to provide assurance over selected aspects of the Vodafone Group plc 2008/09 Corporate Responsibility Report. Conclusion CSR activities are followed worgwide but their ways of approach are different depending upon company and their nature of business. CSR projects are frequently carried out as a cooperative effort; involving external partners can enhance the success and value of the project, and projects can benefit from the experience of local organizations or stakeholders. Companies are faced with the challenge of expanding their reporting to include the social and ecological effects of their business activities. This involves, in particular, maintaining international standards and norms with respect to CSR topics. More and more, however, even socially relevant CSR projects and their effects are being carefully scrutinized. It is no longer enough simply to assert that a project is doing something positive for society The goal is to develop a CSR strategy that addresses the most urgent social needs on the local agenda, while avoiding risks and identifying new opportunities to achieve corporate objectives. In a country with widespread poverty, for example, adapting a company’s products to the resources of low-income consumers can serve a social purpose and at the same time help the company gain access to new customer groups. Providing basic and further training ensures a well trained labor force and alleviates a shortage of qualified workers. Well planned CSR activities can have the immediate effect of helping a company’s business run more smoothly while also ensuring the long-term availability of the workers and resources that are necessary for corporate success. Rather than following fleeting trends or giving in to pressure from NGOs, companies need to integrate sustainable CSR activities into their everyday routine so that they gradually become second nature. Another option is to outsource CSR projects or transfer them to partners with greater expertise and experience in the relevant area. Particularly when projects are too far removed from a company’s core business, it is wise to assign responsibility for them to competent entities or independent structures. CSR projects can only survive if they are integrated into a company’s core business over the long term. It is not simply a matter of developing a positive reputation, but also of shaping sustainable business processes. It is therefore important to review the effectiveness of projects on a regular basis. Accordingly, (CSR) management is responsible for introducing CSR projects that have been successfully launched to the relevant departments and making them part of the company’s core business as independent products and processes. In purchasing, certain social guidelines should be the norm, and environmental standards should be the norm in the area of development. References www. csridentity. com www. csrwire. com www. unilever. com www. citygroupinc. com www. hsbc. com www. pg-india. com www. vodafone. co †¢Sustainibility report of all five companies