Trace the roots of conflict in Syria. Which theory of international relations can be applied to understand this concept? Justify your answer.

Abstract Syria represents an interesting opportunity for International Relations because of the nature of the conflict representing two conflicting ideologies, namely realism and revolutionism. The need for intervention by the international community is clear, with peace negotiations consistently failing. This paper investigates the nature of the conflict as resulting from a complex set of socio-economic factors, compounded by authoritarian rule by the state. International relations can be used as a theoretical explanation to determine the role thereof in aiding the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Introduction The world currently appears to be in a constant state of conflict with ongoing wars worldwide, some garnering more media attention than others. John F. Kennedy was famously quoted as saying that â€Å"[t]here is another kind of war – new in its intensity, ancient in its origin – carried out by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents and assassins, †¦in which we try to achieve victory and eroding the enemy instead of challenging him. It leverages the discontent.† Syria is an example of this kind of war, where conflict began years ago, eventually transforming into a civil war. The opposition fought against the corrupted government army leading to large numbers of civilian casualties. Various theories of international relations (IR) are applicable to the conflict in order to understand the nature of the war between rebels and the national authoritarian system. This essay aims to apply IR theory to the Syrian conflict to gain a deeper understanding of the theoretica l aspects and the conflict respectively. The proposed theoretical application includes interventionism and the three traditions theory. The underlying cause of the conflict is a complex set of factors, including political repression, an uneven economy, corruption and a severe drought, and for the purposes of IR, certain countries have an interest in ensuring that the situation in Syria remains contained with support being given to both sides of the conflict. Through application of the theory to the totality of the conflict, the relevance thereof will be clear. History and Background of the Conflict The ruling political system in Syria began in the 1970’s with the Bashar family, who has historically ruled through pressure and extreme authoritarianism. The current leader, Bashar al-Assad acceded leadership in 2000 relying on armed oppression and intelligence apparatus provided by the Baath Party as well as leading business families (Manfreda, 2012). With the ruling government controlling the media and therefore controlling the information available, the opposition demanded the downfall of the ruling party and a new beginning for Syria contained in the Damascus Declaration of 2005 (Efrat, 2012). The conflict in Syria began in 2000 where there was a growing expectation of political and social change following the death of Hafez al-Assad. â€Å"The authorities’ monopoly of everything has established an authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish regime that has led to a lack of politics in society, an economic collapse and exacerbating crises of every kind† (Efrat, 2012).The expectation of the people was that this authoritarian rule would end with Hafez’s death. However, ruling power remained concentrated in the Bashar family, compounding the already corrupt political repression of Syria. Living conditions continued to worsen and despite widespread objection to the state, many civilians accepted the regime for fear of further violent oppression. This social situation was exacerbated by a persistent drought, which all but destroyed the agricultural sector with particularly bad conditions in northern Syria. This in turn saw a significant reduction in the GDP of the country and widespread migration to cities away from rural industry (Efrat, 2012). With the deteriorating prevailing socio-economic conditions, civilians began using new media as a means of organizing themselves politically in order to have their opinions heard, demanding real reforms (Efrat, 2012). The combination of economic, political and natural resources factors in Syria is not favourable for a positive societal outcome. A risk assessment for the country is classified CC for Sovereign risk, currency risk, banking-sector risk, economic structure and D for political risk (EIU, 2012). With the rising intens ity of the civil war, more extensive international sanctions put pressure on public finances and sanctions on the Central Bank of Syria continue to depreciate the currency even further (EIU, 2012). Further economic decline is experienced through the reliance on oil exports which has led to a partial crash of financial markets, as the E.U has imposed an embargo on oil exports from Syria which has led to a resultant minimizing of oil production. Previously, Europe has purchased over 95% of the total oil exports in Syria and therefore this embargo has had a significantly negative effect on the economy. This has led to a decline in investment in the country as companies investing in oil exports in Syria face legal consequences (Blas, 2012). Stocks have seen massive decline in recent years with over half the value being lost this year along (Legget, et al., 2009). The conflict has seen several phases over the years and is constantly evolving. However, these changes have effectively seen a concentration of wealth in the ruling family, and their cronies and allies, effectively further disenfranchising the population. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that ideological differences have resulted in a constant violence with no clear diplomatic solution which has led to an increased involvement by the international community. International Relations Arguably, there are a number of theoretical concerns in IR that are applicable to the conflict in Syria. These are applicable as a means of deepening the current understanding of the conflict, which may lead to the development of an equitable solution. As the world moves towards globalization, IR becomes more important and one can argue that these represent the need to have firm principles to regulate and balance competing interests between nations, as well as competing interests within a particular nation, such as Syria. IR however plays a broader global role in ensuring that relations between countries are kept at a diplomatic level for the greater good of all countries in the international community (Goldstein, 2007). The three traditions theory is of obvious relevance to the Syrian conflict because of the duality between realism and revolutionism in the conflict. Wight (1991) argues that all leading ideologies in IR fall within the three traditions of realism, rationalism or revolutionism. Realism includes ideologies such as anarchy, power politics, conflict, warfare and pessimism, whilst diametrically opposed to this is revolutionism which includes perspectives of humanity, revolutionary change, anti-state beliefs and utopianism. Rationalism falls between these two extremes and essentially for the purposes of IR, these theories are to an extent co-dependent as they are incomplete in isolation and are complimentary as traditions rather than exclusive (Dunne, 1993). Arguably therefore, there is a need for a balance of these traditions, and a society which is based on either extreme is one that will necessarily breed conflict. The three traditions theory sees application in the Syrian context, particularly when recalling the conflict of ideology between the ruling regime and the opposition. Realism as the dominant ideology of the Bashar regime is the disciplining factor in Syria with the opposition representing the revolutionary tradition. The state arguably represents an extreme realist perspective, with complete ignorance of the international community and the assertion that they exist as a sovereign state in isolation refusing to acknowledge accountability in the international community. Realists emphasize elements of anarchy, power politics and warfare (Wight, 1991), pessimistic of human nature and exploitative of the less powerful. This is a growing trend in the Syrian conflict, with an increasing disregard for the welfare of the people in Syria for financial advantage of the ruling family (Taylor, 2012). Opposition forces contradict the realist tradition by the propulsion of revolutionist ideology, s etting goals for the freedom and fulfillment of humans. Revolutionists argue that in order to do this, the class system needs to be overthrown with a classless society established (Marx, 1967). By abolishing a classless society, humans would again be united and there would be no need for states or international relations. To an extreme, revolutionist ideas see humankind at the center, claiming a world society inclusive of everyone. The existence of these two ideological extremes represents the greatest roadblock in the resolution of the Syrian conflict, which necessitates the need for international intervention, because of a lack of willingness to compromise between the state and the opposition. Again, this represents the applicability of the three traditions theory, as arguably the presence of the international community in the resolution of the conflict represents the rational tradition presence. This means that there will be a compromise between the controllers of the state resou rces, i.e. the state on the one hand, and domestic society on the other, as represented by the opposition. The consequence of a dominant realist ideology is that the state will not participate in IR unless it represents a substantial investment in state outcomes, essentially meaning that the Syrian government will not engage in treaties that are not specifically to their advantage. A shift in favour of the domestic population removing state power arguably is not in the interests of a realist ideology and therefore will not be respected for the purposes of IR. Syria can be described as a â€Å"weak post-colonial state†, categorized by a defective economy, a lack of coherent national economy and lack of sustaining basic levels of welfare and resources provided to the population (Saul, 1974). The Syrian people in rural areas have an extremely low standard of living, concentrated on traditional, yet defective agriculture and significant dependence on world markets and external economic interests. There is little state legitimacy as a result of inefficient and corrupt administration wit h a lack of concern for public opinion about the government and no significant efforts made to increase the perception of state legitimacy. Post-colonial states have often shown vulnerability towards violent conflicts as a result of corrupt state institutions, authoritarian rule and the use of natural resources as a means of funding the economy without engagement of the national population and as a result, spiraling socio-economic conditions with no clear agenda for improvement thereof. This has plagued developing nations globally and is referred to as the resource curse. The presence of IR in these conflicts essentially forms a middle ground for the establishment of legitimate state institutions in order to mediate the extremes of realist and revolutionist ideological differences. In addition to the three traditions theory, interventionism also adds depth to the conflict. Interactions with Saudi Arabia, Russia, USA, France and Britain have arguably been aimed at the manipulation of the economy, society or affairs of another nature in Syria. With the civil war in Syria, both sides of the conflict have been receiving aid from external parties. Saudi Arabia for example supports the opposition with speculation that it is a means of breaking international relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria. In doing so, they are ensuring that the balance of power does not benefit Iran, using their oil wealth to arm the Syrian opposition, although not directly involving themselves in the conflict (Manfreda, 2012). On the other hand, the Syrian government benefits from a relationship with Russia, where the Russian government provides weapons in the name of national defense and security. Incidences in international affairs has seen Russia and China using their ve to power in the United Nations Security Council to prevent a resolution condemning the Syrian government for violent suppression of anti-government protests (Grand View, 2012). Despite aid being used as a form of international political leverage, Syria has also found itself at the centre of international relations for the purpose of maintaining some measure of international diplomacy and peace measures, where they have been forced into quasi-peace agreements. In 2005, France and USA pressured the Syrian army to withdraw troops from Lebanon. More recently the United Kingdom and the United States of America, amongst other Western states have been increasingly intervening in the civil war providing aid in the form of communications, logistics and advice. The expectation however is that the involvement in the conflict will develop into more active intervention, such as the United Kingdom asking Syrian rebels to â€Å"set out a vision for how a post-Assad Syria could be governed† (Blitz, 2012). Conclusion It is clear that interventionism exists as a form of IR with regards to Syria for two apparent reasons. The first is to gain some form of political advantage, although arguably this is a secondary concern as the situation becomes more severe. These countries are therefore intervening in the conflict through provision of aid as a means of gaining some form of international bargaining power to shape future international relations. The second concern, which arguably forms the basis of Western intervention is in the interests of the international community generally, namely the protection of peaceful relations in international affairs. Although the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, clearly there is no obvious solution to the conflict in Syria, and to the extent that the three traditions theory remains without a complimentary equilibrium and as a result IR is used to provide the diplomatic compromise between realism and revolutionism, it is arguable that without IR peace ful compromise will never be reached. Although it is not clear whether IR will provide an equitable solution to this conflict, it is evident that the opposition and state forces in Syria are unable to reach a solution internally and the only realistic solution therefore is reliant on IR theory to attempt to resolve the conflict in the absence of any other practical solution. Bibliography Blas, J.(2012). EU ban forces Syria to cut down oil production. [online] Available: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c9d67952-e823-11e0-9fc7-00144feab49a.html#axzz2CbUQfxlZ. [Accessed 3 November 2012] Blitz, J. (2012) UK asks Syrian rebels to set out vision. The Financial Times Online [online] Available: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b17d1b50-301f-11e2-891b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2DLXN4VjY [Accessed 5 November 2012] Dunne, T. (1993) Mythology or MethodologyTraditions in International Theory. Review of International Studies, Vol 19, pp. 305 – 318 Efrat, Y. (2012) The roots of the Syrian Uprising. [online] Available: http://www.challenge-mag.com/en/article296/the-roots-of-the-syrian-uprising.htm. [Accessed 2 November 2012] Goldstein, J. (2007) Core Principles of International Relations Theory. [online] Available: http://www.joshuagoldstein.com/jgcore.htm [Accessed 5 November 2012] Grand View (2012) The Reasons why Russia Supports Syria [online] Available: http://grandviewinkiev.com/the-reasons-why-russia-supports-syria [Accessed 5 November 2012] Leggett, K., Solomon, J. and King, N. (2006) On the Borderline: Threat of Wider Mideast War Grows; Israel Blames Iran, Syria for Backing Hezbollah as fighting escalates; Tough Choices for Washington. Wall Street Journal. Malas, n. (2012) Attach on Syrian Opposition Town Kills Score. Wall Street Journal Online [online] Manfreda, P. (2012) Current Situation in Syria. [online] Available: http://www.middleeast.about.com/od/syria/tp/current-situation-in-syria.htm. [Accessed 2 November 2012] Manfreda, P. (2012). Saudi Arabia and Syrian Uprising. [online] Available: http://www.middleeast.about.com/od/syria/a/Saudi-Arabia-and-syrian-uprising.htm. [Accessed 5 November 2012] Manfreda, P. (2012). Options for Intervention in Syria. [online] Available: http://middleeast.about.com/od/syria/tp/Options-for-intervention-in-syria.htm. [Accessed 4 November 2012] Marx, K. (1906) Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Vol. I. The Process of Capitalist Production. Engels, F. & Untermann, E. (eds.), Moore, S. & Aveling, E. (trans.) Chicago: Charles H. Kerr and Co. Saul, J. (1974) The State of Post-Colonial Societies: Tanzania. The Socialist Register, Vol 11, pp 349 – 373 Taylor, A. (2005) Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad May Have $1.5 Billion In Assets Around The World. Business Insider [online] Available: http://www.businessinsider.com/syrian-president-bashar-al-assad-may-have-15-billion-in-assets-around-the-world-2012-7#ixzz2DLSrvn31 [Accessed 5 November 2012] The Economic Intelligence Unit (2012) Syria: Country risk summary. New York: EIU Wight, M. (1991) International Theory: The Three Traditions. Leicester: Leicester University Press

Biology Adaptation

Adaptation Definition: Adaptation is the process of how organisms develop special structures and internal processes to enable them to live in their environment. Definition: Adaptation is the process of how organisms develop special structures and internal processes to enable them to live in their environment. Organisms can be adapted in two ways: 1. Body structure (e. g. Small ears to reduce heat loss) 2. Body processes (e. g. Osmoregulation in salmon)General Biology Ii Study Guide (Online Class)There are several factors which cause adaptation to occur: Physical Factors * * * Other organisms * * * Adaptations Match the following animals to the adaptations below, and suggest why they are useful. Think about the habitat each animal lives in! * Polar Bear * Camel * Great White Shark Adaptation| Animal| How is this useful? | Thick Fur| Â  | Â  | Stream Lined Body| Â  | Â  | Fat stored in a hump| Â  | Â  | Ability to close nostrils| Â  | Â  | Fins| Â  | Â  | Ability to smell blo od| Â  | Â  | Small ears| Â  | Â  |White Fur| Â  | Â  | Gills| Â  | Â  | Large Claws| Â  | Â  | Sandy coloured hair| Â  | Â  | Long eye lashes| Â  | Â  | Large Feet| Â  | Â  | Sharp teeth| Â  | Â  | Layer of blubber| Â  | Â  | Adaptations in Plants Plants also have adaptations that help them survive better in their environment. Marram grass is a good example of a plant which is adapted to live in very dry conditions, for example on sand dune systems. The leaves of the marram grass are adapted to survive with the limited water available in the desert. Read also Lab 2 BiologyIn very dry conditions, the leaves of the marram grass roll up to form long tubes. This helps drain any water down towards the roots of the plant. Match the adaptations of the marram grass leaves with their function Waxy CuticleReduce water loss through transpiration Stomata sunk in pitsTrap a layer of moist air close to the leaf surface Leaf HairsProtects the stomata from the wind, reducing water loss through evaporation Rolled LeafReduces water loss through evaporation

Censorship in High School, From Mark Twain Essay

â€Å"It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect. â€Å"-â€Å"Anthem† by Ayn Rand. As Americans, we are granted many rights and freedoms which are not given to all nations and countries. These â€Å"certain inalienable† rights have been an issue of debate for hundreds of years. High school students are taught the basics of our laws and constitution in government. However, their basic rights afforded to them by the United States are always in question. While they can work in our society and get tried as adults in court, their first amendment right is taken away daily. Over the years, our greatest novels have been burned or banned, and put in the same category as pornography and smut. Journalism classes have been given only certain topics, upon the discretion of the school board, to publish in newspapers. Even sex education has been stifled in some states because people think it gives permission for teens to be promiscuous, and they need to be sheltered from this. Instead, we need to prepare them for life in the real world, let them form their own opinions on a variety of topics, and not take away their right to read and learn any subject matter in spite that it might be an uncomfortable issue in society. First, repressing information or misinforming teenagers in schools is immoral and unethical. The topic that is on teenagers minds the most, and is probably explained the least, is sex. By their 18th birthday, 6 in 10 teenage women and nearly 7 in 10 teenage men have had sexual intercourse. That said, 35% of national public schools necessitate abstinence only in sexual education. The only discussion of birth control and contraception is its ineffectiveness (1). The Alan Guttenmacher institute, which is the National Center for Education Statistics, shows from 1995-2002 teen pregnancy has dramatically declined. The cause of this is due to educated birth control methods, not abstinence. The institute also proved that only 14% of the decline was as a result of prolonging the sexual experience. That leaves 86% of teenagers becoming more aware of safe sex methods and using them. Since then, the rate has had a plateau and is likely to increase because of these programs. The government spends one hundred and seventy six million dollars annually on abstinence curriculum, and yet â€Å"more than 9 out of ten Americans have sex before marriage and have done so for generations. † I agree that teaching a child sex is foremost the parent’s right and privilege. But why would parents want to mislead their children? also I agree that sexual education should teach abstinence first and primarily. That is why comprehensive sexual education guides teenagers in the right informative direction. Teachers and parents can inform and educate, sending that teenager out into the world with realistic expectations. With the glorification of sex in the media, the question is can that teenager discern fact from fiction in a moral and knowledgeable fashion? The late 1960s were controversial for the U. S due to its role in Vietnam. In 1967, three students that attended public school in Des Moines, Iowa, were suspended from school. The students decided to wear black armbands to reflect their mourning of soldiers and to signify their opposition of the war. This monumental case went to the supreme court, where ultimately it was decided: â€Å"Prohibition against the expression of opinion, without any evidence that the rule is necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or the rights of others is not permissible under the first and fourteenth amendments†(Tinker vs. Des Moines school district 393 us 503). In 1988 high school journalists tried to publish articles about teen pregnancy and the effects of divorce on students. However, the last two pages of the paper were cut because they were deemed inappropriate. The school board claimed the right of privacy had been an issue. Also, The principle felt that the topic of sexual activity and birth control were inappropriate and uncomfortable. So do we uphold one right of press above others for privacy? This case went to the United States District Court that claimed â€Å"the first amendment rights of students in the public schools are not automatically coextensive with the rights of adults in other settings. † Judges ruled that a â€Å"school need not tolerate student speech that is inconsistent with its basic educational mission, even though the government could not censor similar speech outside the school. †(2). The Court of Appeals found that the newspaper was â€Å"intended to be and operated as a conduit for student viewpoint† and â€Å"precluded school officials from censoring its contents except when â€Å"‘necessary to avoid material and substantial interference with school work or discipline . . . or the rights of others†(3). Well, what if the school got hit with a law suit due to infringement of privacy? The courts found no lawsuits could have been maintained against the school with the written material. Judge Brennan concluded that no explanation could be given to cut the pages. They were made â€Å"simply because he considered two of the six â€Å"inappropriate, personal, sensitive, and unsuitable† for student consumption. He violated the first amendments prohibitions against censorship of any student expression that neither disrupts class work nor invades the rights of others† (3) With court rulings such as this, its hard to believe that schools today are still fighting with students against their right to publish articles that give some sort of meaning to their high school experience. One of the biggest concerns understandably, is a disrupted school environment. we are there to learn, and it is hard to facilitate that when controversy is on the lips of all. It is hard to make that distinction. But the distinction is there, and if there is an article that talks about viewpoints, concerns, and is informative to current issues, it should not be censored due to the fact that it is uncomfortable for officials. In an era that consists of Paris Hilton, impersonal computers, and video games, maybe schools should give teenagers something that isn’t superficial to be passionate about. Imagine walking in an English classroom, sitting at a desk and opening the text for the day, which is Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet†. Scanning the pages, and then realizing something is not right. There are whole pages missing, and a lot of the writing is blackened out. Someone has vandalized the book! The teacher sorrowfully explains that the school will not let students read certain novels because of vulgarity, sex, violence and â€Å"radical ideology†. He also says that â€Å"Tom Sawyer†, â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time†, and â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† have been deleted from the curriculum until further notice. Furthermore, the PTA will be burning all the copies of Aldous Huxley’s â€Å"Brave New World† after football practice if anyone wants to participate. The same happens in art class, where in the textbook all the nude statues and paintings have clothing drawn on them. In biology, any mention of Darwin has been ripped out of the pages of the text book. As extreme as this may sound, these are all incidents that have happened in the present years. As someone who grew up with all these classics in the classroom, I am devastated at the thought of not being able to develop with these characters. My love of books developed in the second grade, and I never viewed any of the opposing material as controversial. In fact, none of the students in the classrooms broke into riots at the mention of the dreaded â€Å"N† word in â€Å"Huckleberry Finn†. Actually the teacher used it to explain the word, the history, and how hurtful it was. The book coincided with the lessons we were learning in history on the anti-slavery movement. Trying to protect a young adult from sex and violence is reasonable and should be done on an educated basis. Parents need to be involved in their teenager’s life. If a book makes them uncomfortable, read the whole book and not just the uncomfortable portions. Discuss the material openly, and help the child form morals and ethics. For the teacher, if a parent has a problem with the material, give the teenager an alternate assignment. Why should every person in that classroom be denied their right to learn? Studies have shown that reading books like these help with the critical thinking process and aides in further education. Schools are forums where students learn to provide objectivity and make their own educated opinions. Besides, with today’s flow of mass media and internet, teenagers and children are exposed to more questionable resources. They are over exposed to an amount of sex, violence, and vulgarity that no classic literature can compare to. In conclusion, schools should be enlightening teenagers and giving them the tools they need for their future, letting teens shape and articulate their opinions and options realistically, and letting them learn any subject that is pertinent to their life even if it is â€Å"taboo† in society. Legally, schools have to validate banning an opinion, expression, or curriculum by showing that it was for more than a need to stay away from the discomfort that goes with an unpopular viewpoint. I think Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said it best with, â€Å"Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime†

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 7

Business - Essay Example However, it is the customer base which determines pattern and content of the network. Both international and domestic travelers go through a given transport hub. Thus a wide network of retailers – commercial banks, tour operators, airlines, taxi-cab operators, insurance companies, healthcare providers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, transporters, liquor sellers, motel owners and so on – could be seen operating at different points. Paddington, as a pivotal train interchange, in London in particular and the United Kingdom in general, provides one of the most important focal points for the analysis of the retail marketing business in this transport hub. Paddington is part of the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. The township, along with the station, provides a much needed boost to the Central London’s economy and way of life. Paddington station has a commuter service to the west of London, connecting Slough, Swindon, Reading, Maidenhead and so on. There is also a main-line service to Bristol, Bath, Oxford, Exeter, Taunton, Plymouth, Cornwall, South Wales, Swansea and Cardiff. Then there is the main bus route to Elephant and Castle. Finally there is also the Heathrow Express service to Heathrow Airport. The Elephant and Castle is a major road interchange in the interior of the south London area. In short it is called â€Å"The Elephant† and has of two big roundabouts which in turn are connected by a short road called â€Å"Elephant and Castle†. The Castle Shopping Centre is at the northern roundabout, with Hannibal House, a shopping centre on top. It also has a large residential block known as â€Å"Metro Central Heights†. The Heathrow Airport is located 24 kilometers west of central London and has five Terminals. The 3rd Terminal is connected to both the Elephant and Castle by bus and to Paddington by train/tube. The retail marketing sector plays a much wider significant role here.

Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 9

Financial Management - Essay Example need to have a clear and well planned budget, monitoring the performance and taking action whenever needed, focus should be placed on essential numbers like salaries, materials and also sales. A keen eye on these aspects of the financial management will lead to the better financial management in large companies (Brodie, 2009). Choice of a determining the optimal mix of components of the capital structure is a very complex process and involves a number of different considerations. A number of different views of the capital structures need to be considered like the net corporate or personal tax, agency costs, bankruptcy cost and pecking order. There are a few components which build a company’s capital, these are: Ordinary shares, preference shares, debentures, and loan stock. Deciding the optimal mix is based on finding the right mix of long term funds which allow minimizing the cost of capital and helping maximize the value of the organization. This situation is referred to as the optimal capital structure. However, it is a known fact that gaining an optimal capital structure is not possible since, the changing of the mox of capital does not change the values. A company can be financed by a number of different modes. The type of capital financing that has been chosen for the company is referred to as the capital structure of the company. A company can be financed using debentures, equity shares, long term loans, etc. These options however are based on the nature of risk the investors are willing to take. The following sections will discuss the various financing options that are available for investors to finance their companies and the factors that affect the choice have also been discussed. a) Equity Financing: This is the most common mode of financing used by companies. Here companies raise monies for the business by selling stocks of the company. These can either be

Big Data Executive Briefs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Big Data Executive Briefs - Assignment Example However, it can be said that the lifeline of business organizations all over the world is to cater to demand of the consumers and customers, and hence the customers become the life line of the organizations and businesses. With the increase in competition in the market place, the companies are finding it tough to gain competitive advantage over their rivals, who are targeting the same group of consumers with similar product offerings. The application of Big Data technology helps the companies in a major way in the process of accumulating and analyzing large amounts of data in real time scenario by building various kinds of predictive models that helps the companies to understand the trends and patterns of the multiple variables that might affect the prospects of the business. Talking about this particular company, it has been assumed that the company has mainly product based offerings in its portfolio. Highlighting in these lines, it can be said that because of the company’s g lobal presences in more than 18 countries around the world, which comprises of markets like Asia Pacific, the western and Latin American markets. Hence it can be easily mentioned that the company’s products are often exposed to consumers all around the globe, however, under a different brand and product portfolio. The product portfolio mostly comprises of fast moving consumer goods which are non perishable in the short term. However, it is of utmost importance to mention the fact that the product portfolio for various countries are variable in terms of market to market and region to region, as the product needs to be marketed in order to cater to the needs of the customers of that particular market. So, the application and extent to which the big data can be applied in this product based global company is tremendously wide. In more specific terms, the big data if applied in the process of mining information from the company’s social media marketing forums will result i n the gaining of significant needs and wants of the consumers, which are highly different in nature in regards to the location and region of the market. The implementation of the big data will also benefit the company in the process of increasing automation in the process of supply chain and thereby increasing the efficiency of product deliveries and potentially removing the option of stock outs of fast moving and high selling consumer demanded products. The implementation of the big data will also provide significant improvement in the reduction of lead time and thereby raising the productivity range and scales. On a note of conclusion, it can be said that the company will gain a lot of advantages if they are successful in the implementation of Big Data. Executive Briefing TO: Senior Company Executive FROM: Manager DATE: 11/21/12 SUBJECT: Need for Implementing Big Data in the Business Context The 21st century is the era of globalization. The pace of change of today’s society is so fast that what is new today, becomes old tomorrow and obsolete and redundant the day after. Masses of most of the developing and well established economies around the world are turning towards the virtual world. The tremendous surge

Marketing Strategy of Samsung Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Strategy of Samsung - Assignment Example From this discussion it is clear that  Samsung Electronics is a South Korean based multinational electronic products manufacturing and marketing company. It is the flagship subsidiary of Samsung Group and has been the world’s larges technology company in terms of revenue since the year 2009. The Samsung group was incorporated in the year 1969 and Samsung Electronics was founded in the year 1988. However the history of the company dates back to 1938, when it was founded by Lee Byung-chull as a trading company. It is presently headquartered at Suwon, South Korea and is headed by Gee-Sung Choi. The company has presence all over the world and employs around 221,726 people. Some of the major products of the company include LCD and LED panels, mobile phones, semiconductors, televisions, digital cameras, tablet PCs, and home appliances among others.This essay stresses that in the context of its mobile phone division, the company has been witnessing colossal growths since the mid of 2000. According to industry experts, the major reasons behind the growth is the introduction of low and mid ranged phones and providing Android operating system with the high range phones. Another driving factor was the introduction of several phones at the same which allowed the company to make the availability of wide range of options for the customers. In addition, promotional technique, strong distribution network, and superior after sales service also played crucial roles.  ... According to industry experts, the major reasons behind the growth is the introduction of low and mid ranged phones and providing Android operating system with the high range phones. Another driving factor was the introduction of several phones at the same which allowed the company to make the availability of wide range of options for the customers. In addition, promotional technique, strong distribution network, and superior after sales service also played crucial roles. The company caters to business segment as well as consumer segment and targets almost all the age groups. Figure 1 – UK market Share of Mobile phone Companies (Source: Smith, 2012) The section below will carry out a SWOT analysis and will provide insights into the competitive landscape of the mobile phone industry of UK. 2. Situation Analysis 2.1 SWOT Analysis Strengths Samsung manufactures products in such a way that most of the operating system and application software can be easily integrated with it. This gives an edge to the company over its rivals. Especially, integration with the android OS allowed the company to gain high market share. Apart from that, another major reason for the company to embrace maximum mobile phone market share is their excellence in engineering department. This has led the company to ensure effective and efficient production. Hence, the research and development, along with the engineering department can be considered as an area of competency for the company (Tolentino, 2000). Another major strength of the company is the product innovation and design. With superior design and product features, Samsung has been able to surpass Apple’s sales figures in the US market, which is the home of Apple. The mobile phones of the company are eco

Downsian Model of Party Competition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Downsian Model of Party Competition - Essay Example he parties will gravitate towards the median voter in a system where there are two parties when the preferences are in a distributed format (Persson and Guido 12). There is also a corresponding ideology that voters will choose parties that are closer to their policy preferences are what they would like implemented as a matter of policy in the electoral contest. Downsian Model of Party Competition As already stated before, the Downsian model of party competition has got the assumption that parties formulate policies aimed at winning elections in that parties try to maximize their votes and that the median voter theorem applies. The median voter theorem referred to in the Downsian model of political contests holds that if all the policy preferences of the voters are peaked or looked at from a single dimension, then the most preferred point of the median voter is a point known as a Condorcet winner that all their preferences converge. This implies that there exists a policy that is pref erred in comparison to another that it may be paired with that makes parties not want to propose another platform that may not be a winner in an election. Therefore the Downsian model of political competition in a scenario where there are two parties gives a Nash Equilibrium where the party platforms can only converge to the median voter showing that divergence is more common due to the polarization of most parties depending n the preferences of voters. However, there are two requirements that must be fulfilled for the Downsian model to work which include the existence of Condorcet and the competition among parties to reach it. This is because the existence of the Condorcet winner is necessary for the Downsian model of competitive politics to possess a predictive power in the electoral... Downsian Model of Party Competition It explores what platforms that political parties acting in the interests of their candidates best espouse in an instance where voters have single-peaked preferences in an undimensional policy space. With the knowledge of the distribution of the median voters and their ideal points, the two political parties in the Downsian model can choose where to place their platforms in the policy space as the platforms serves as the candidate’s default policy position. It is imperative to note that if the candidates do not adopt the preferred position of the median voter, then their political parties too will not together implement the median voter’s median ideal position, as the parties prefer to differentiate from each other in terms of ideologies. The closer the two parties are and their positions, the more intense the candidates will compete to win the elections with the parties trying to move away from each other to carve a space for their policy space in order to win the elec tions without much repositioning. This shows that in the Downsian model, while competition may drive the candidates together, it absolutely drives the political parties apart in political competitions. In most political contests and competitions, the strategies that the candidates choose in an election campaign and what they emphasize has got a direct bearing on the vote choices and the final outcome. If the distribution of the ideologies in the society is constant, there will be an equilibrium meaning that ideologies are stable over time.

Felony-Murder Rule Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Felony-Murder Rule - Essay Example hing with devious intent, they are very capable of thinking clearly, and therefore should face the consequences of their actions with adequate responsibility. If Trevor Jones was sentenced for pulling the trigger on Matt Foley, which he really did, there can be no question about his complicity in the case. Trevor had every intention of deceiving Matt and decamping with both the money and the gun- hence the charge of robbing Foley was slapped on to the murder charges as well. The facts are that the gun went off and killed Foley, and he will never again walk the face of the earth. Foley has been lost to his parents, his community and the world. Why then should Trevor Jones be let off for his crime in 2 to 6 years, or even a maximum 15 years in prison? His parents and well wishers should feel the same pain that Matt Foley’s parents are going through. It’s either felony-murder or the death penalty that would fit the bill here (Frontline Video, 2007). And I agree whole-heartedly with Matt’s mother, that all of those in prison invariably come to trials with Bibles in their hands and ask for forgiveness. In my opinion, only God is the giver of life and only He can forgive Jones for his actions. For me it is no more a question of the cost of keeping people in prison, but the importance that everyone committing a crime should face its consequences. When we allow such people to be forgiven, we are definitely sending a wrong message to our com munities and society (Lippman,

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 18

Strategic management - Essay Example This tool has proved to be effective for both business and non-business organizations. This paper aims at evaluating the concept of the Triple Bottom Lineand discussing whether this tool is of importance to businesses. When taking a first look at triple bottom line as a tool for measuring sustainability someone might have the opinion that it is a very naà ¯ve notion. However, this is not always the case when people get a complete understanding of how triple bottom line works and how it is used in measuring sustainability in various contexts (Milne & Gray 2013, p. 25). Triple bottom line has proved to be an effective method for measuring business sustainability and have been used by organizations with varying structure, strategies, and cultures. A business organization that uses triple bottom line as a tool for measuring their sustainability will obviously take into consideration the effect that their activities might have on the people that they are either directly or indirectly involved with. In this way they always have to make sure that all their stakeholders have a good opinion about them. Getting to know this is very important because stakeholders are the people who keep companies in business. Having unhappy stakeholders will definitely affect a business organization’s financial performance (Cohen, Smith & Mitchell 2008, p. 115). Therefore, before a firm focuses much on their financial performance they should make are that their stakeholders are comfortable with the way things are being done in the organization. Despite the fact that the concept of people bottom-line might be attractive, it should be noted that there is always a challenge when it comes to making decisions on how far a business organization should go in terms of making their stakeholders comfortable. It is also not easy when deciding which of the stakeholders should be included in this list and how far a company should go with

Should We Drink Our Milk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Should We Drink Our Milk - Essay Example We are speaking of lactose intolerance in which a person is unable to digest milk and milk products because the body stops producing the milk digesting enzyme called lactase which is essential to break down the lactose in milk. People who retain the ability to drink milk are said to exhibit lactase persistence. Lactase persistence is hereditary. It is therefore evident that to really have a choice of whether to drink milk or not, one has to be lucky enough by birth! The history and pattern of milk drinking also brings many interesting facts to light on the extent of choice in the matter. Lactose tolerance is not a capability that human beings have had all along. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University College London (UCL), human beings developed this ability only about 7,500 years ago (Vieru, 2009). So, human beings started drinking milk only very recently in the timescale of their origin and evolution. The first population or communities to have been able to drink milk and digest have been located somewhere between the central Balkans and central Europe. Before that it was generally believed that milk was first drunk about 5,000 years ago northern Europe in a culture known as the Funnel Beaker Culture because of the funnel-shaped pottery with flared rims that they used (Halloway, 2007). That would obviously lead to the question whether their pottery was funnel shaped because it was more convenient to dri nk milk out of them. Whatever be the case, there is no doubt in the fact that it is not culture but genetics that overwhelmingly determines the practice of consuming milk in any community. Accordingly, the annual consumption of milk varies from country to country. In China and Japan in which the lactose tolerant population is very small, the consumption is only about 3.6 kg per person per year; whereas in Ireland and many other countries which fall within the funnel beaker

The Transformation of Jeff Henderson Essay Example for Free

The Transformation of Jeff Henderson Essay The Transformation of Jeff Henderson In life, a â€Å"Fall† means that someone loses his position or becomes unsuccessful depending on economy, family discord, or crime. You cannot rise if you do not fall first. In the autobiography Cooked, Jeff Henderson undergoes his own â€Å"Fall† into the abyss of insanity and a redemption born from necessity. The rising/falling motif of the life lessons can be explained by narcissism, solipsism, denial and rationalization. Cooked by Jeff Henderson is a memoir of crime, redemption and a desire to make it big. Jeff Henderson’s narcissism had grown little by little and the position of solipsism on his mind was higher and higher while he got money, even when he was a child. As a child, he could not satisfy his desire for food, buying fine clothes, and have enough money because of his economic circumstance. Through spending time with his brothers on the street, he began losing his moral compass. For example, he usually pinched twenty dollars from his mother when he had the opportunity. Jeff Henderson thought, â€Å"I’m going to get mine. After that, he thought he is better and smarter than he is. His narcissism was increasing. So he did not pick up his amazing cooking skill at this point. Besides that, he had a moral denial when one of Jeff Henderson’s associates was trying to kidnap and kill him. As Professor McMahon stated, â€Å"Henderson rationalizes that he is a drug dealer but he does as, strictly as a businessman. † (Break Through. Web) He justified that he had never used drugs and had never done any violence although he was caught by the Feds. He believed that he is different from others who dealt with drugs as well. Then, He learned his cooking skills in prison, where he served time for cooking up a very different kind of substance—selling cocaine. After he got released his attitude to work hard brought him a transformation to be successful. Now, he is an executive chef in Bellagio. His jail period made him flourish and be successful. Works Cited Herculodge. Lesson #4: In the Crossfire: Welcome to the Third Eye. Break Through Writer. October 05, 2011 lt; http://herculodge. typepad. com/breakthrough_writer/2011/10/lesson-4-in-the-crossfire. htmlgt;

Seven Pounds Ethics

Seven Pounds Ethics The delivery of this assignment is going to expound the notion of ethics in relation to the film Seven Pounds, from two main dimensions In this regard narrative ethics serves as the central framework for a deep appreciation of bioethics. Central to the bioethical themes is that of suicide and organ donation. As regards the latter, it is a highly contested argument to question on what particular grounds a person can be qualified as being good or bad , and to what extent should organs be donated to sustain ones welfare .Since the realm of bioethics is highly complex, it is pertinent if not imperative to contrast the subjective perspective of diverse schools of thought ,including the utilitarian ,deontological the Christian and the purely secular perspective .The latter perspective needs to be highlighted in depth since seven pounds reflects a deep secular background of the postmodernist culture of the US{United States} In this respect this presentation is going to adopt an integrated approach so as to evaluate ethical thought in comprehensive terms, and on the basis of mature insights. It is relevant to present the following inspirational viewpoints highlighted by Kwame Anthony Appiah in Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a world of strangers, this film critic questions Why, you might ask, should we care how people think and feel about stories? Why do we talk about them in this language of value?(Kwame Anthony Appiah 2006.) .Evaluating stories together is one of the central human ways of learning to align our responses to the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and that alignment is ,in turn, one of the ways we maintain the social fabric ,the texture of our relationshipsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ In this respect it is essential to note, that Appiah being a reputed film critic is not only strongly hinting to us the need that we enjoy the beauty of stories. Moreover in the process, we need to venture a step ahead by reflecting on the multiple dynamics of the social fabric, and how this is impacting as well as being impacted by our personal life. In this respect Seven Pou nds represents a profound filmic experience, which probes deeply within the texture of our relationships This presentation is going to focus on an ethical perspective of Seven Pounds written by Grant Nieporte and released by Colombia Pictures. A unique characteristic on the part of Grant Nieporte is that he persistently seeks to blend his subjective personal experiences, within the wider social context .The underlying objective is to capitalize on the indirect experience of others ,this logically conduces to a higher level of maturity. The spark of the inspiration of Seven Pounds occurred to Grant, when he was in a bar and came across the subject during a typical conversation. The respondent confessed to Grant that he wanted to commit suicide for purposes of redemption of an accident which he personally committed and contributed to the innocent loss of life. The film attained a reasonable level of success, possibly due to the fact that the audience tends in general to be more interested to the entertainment factor, rather than the profound philosophic deductive message. The latter in the context of this film deals with both psychological and personal issues. The focus is on the reciprocal relationship between the filmic experience {which is fictiscious} and the purely ethical domain. The film industry is constantly experiencing revolutionary changes, as regards film genre backed by a constant stream of innovative technologies, reflecting a social mentality undergoing a rapid stage of transition. The film being essentially a cinematic medium represents an authentic message of values. Thus, it is pertinent on the part of the audience, to identify and asses these values within the context of the contemporary emerging culture. From a critical angle the members of the civic public, seek to be trend followers without critically questioning whether the direction of the social trends are worth pursuing. The public tends to appreciate films in terms of their bare narrative rather than more meaningful ethical implications and this demands that the audience be more directly educated in this respect. Narrative is thus undeniably a strategic ingredient incorporating diverse forms of ethical analysis. We will all do better to be more self conscious about the literary nature of ethical understanding and assessment .It remains to be seen however whether narrative would ever be in a position to supplant an ethic also reinforced by principles and theory . It is deemed important that the narrative of the film is expanded so as to reflect the modus Vivendi of the characters. The subjective perception of the presenter is in line with that of many film critics who observed that the initial scenes represent a set of chronologically scrambled set sequences. Thus the audience has to engage itself not only emotionally but also intellectually in understanding the role of the characters and their respective interrelationships. The element of conflict on both an intra and inter personal level, is the driving force of the plot .The protagonist who drives along the movie plot is Ben Thomas which is acted by Will Smith. Ben gets into an auto accident when he is using his cell phone whilst driving .So far Ben has been a highly successful American citizen, both in his love relationship as well as well as in his highly reputed profession .One can assume that he has attained this success due to diverse interblended ingredients. Foremost we can include his wit, intelligence, practicality and skills in handling people .From the initial film shots; he is presented as being highly energetic. Ben has engineered an optimum balance in life with a highly meaningful and motivating vision which he is seeking persistently to accomplish and satisfy competing interests. In substance he is a highly ambitious person, possibly overambitious within all the aspects of the spectrum of life he came in contact with. One can observe that Ben had a high level of positive energy within him. His primary fulfillment was to transform the challenges of life into meaningful opportunities. In the accident which ultimately developed in a tragic outcome, he accidently kills his fiancà © ,who was riding with him together with six strangers other when he lost control of his car and crushes into another vehicle .Ironically enough the author of the accident emerged from the scene unscratched .However the audience only realizes the outcome of the tragedy towards th e end point of the film .This heightens the element of suspense on the part of the audience .This technique of revealing strategic information towards the end of the film, as well as adopting diverse types of flashbacks so as to transform the filmic experience into a half puzzle, or in simple terms a combination of puzzle film narration ,melodrama and fiction is typical of the 60 s era art film .This reflects subtle elements of the post classical thriller as well as the crime film .An interesting factor is that the accident which took place within the space of a few seconds, definitely had generated a powerful impact on the life of Ben .Ben fell into a serious and profound irreversible depression. His face from this point onwards throughout the film appeared masked ,so as to conceal the hidden turmoil ,together with the dark and somber intentions on the part of Ben. One can observe that the guilt feelings within Ben generated due to the accident which precipitated, have reshaped completely his psychological perceptions on life .This is appreciated to the extent that he was transformed in a different being having a particular mind set .In this critical situation immersed in a profound depression he was definitely not in a position to take decisions about his own personal life, let alone being accountable to others. Among the factors which have inspired the audience, he had lost the love of his girlfriend .She could have served as the intimate person who could have helped him in order to ride the tide. From a figurative aspect, the seven fatalities by Ben conduce to the endorsement of a debt-at least on a psychological plane .This debt entails a pound of flesh for each victim .From an analytical view point this presents a self imposed burden .However Ben is persistently believing that he is acting out of good faith .The underlying logic of Seven Pounds is that wealth is necessary for true charity, because in order to be charitable, one needs to have something to give such as the accumulation of wealth. In fact Ben went out of his way in granting his beach house to a female who was the victim of domestic violence .More importantly he had communicated with the female in a letter which he dispatched to her ,so as to live abundantly . The term live abundantly, resonates Utilitarian thinking. This approach needs to be appreciated within the context of the highly secular culture of the U.S in terms of Bens frame of thought , to take the best for oneself out of life .However in practice how far did Ben manage to adopt this particular message within his own philosophy ?.It appears that it is easier to preach to others rather than to council oneself .One cannot but ask -Was Ben in this particular circumstance seeking the privilege status of a demi god ? .A clear factor which transpires at this point is that Ben definitely was facing a confused state of mind ,and subsequently his personal priorities had changed . The dialogue is carefully crafted so as to reflect the stream of consciousness on the part of the characters, and to ensure an intellectual form of participation on the part of the audience .Ben is becoming aware of the psychological changes within him. In fact he comments in an intimate manner with Emily that I havent been taking care of myself lately . The term care has multiple meanings, and it is very difficult to specify in a precise manner to what particular type of care Ben is referring to. This is understood in view of the different mindset which Ben has developed throughout the immediate post tragedy period .Certain critics have identified Ben as this point as having a confused mind However this is not a fair judgment in objective terms since Ben has developed a specific intention of his ultimate goal-the donation of his personal intimate body organs to others. Ben started scheming by analyzing the characters of diverse individuals so as to serve as worthy recipients of his own organs .He was very smart and original in the particular process of scheming adopted. He took the identification card of his brother who worked as an IRS officer .When his brother realized that his card was missing he recalled the attention of Ben .Ben in an intelligent manner replied If I recall rightly I gave you something In this respect one can note that Ben is highly tactful in presenting an effective defense mechanism especially in situations in which he is undergoing a very profound torment. In the process of Ben getting to know Emily, he was fully aware of his love towards Emily. It is essential to evaluate the motives highlighting the shift of reasoning on the part of Ben .Emily is suffering from an eminent heart failure being only a matter of a few weeks up to her death .Ben is ready to go out of his way and donate his heart to Emily. However it is important to note, that his act towards her is going to be carried out as an act of love, rather than merely an act of redemption .The sexual act involving Ben and Emily has no intrinsic meanings. However it helped both protagonists so as to clarify their respective minds. An interesting fact is that events from this point onwards developed as if designed by an invisible hand in a timetabled manner .Ben phoned his intimate friend being a lawyer ,and asserted in highly emotional terms that it is time .This is a straight forward declaration, however it also reflects that Ben s commitments in terms of his goals were on the po int of being realized . Seven Pounds is centered or actually revolves around the central theme of suicide. This acts as a pivotal platform around which one finds a number of secondary themes which are directly interwoven .Foremost among the secondary themes the state of redemption on the part of the protagonist, which can be interpreted in terms of both altruism and indifference .Other themes were egoism, self centeredness, and living on the edge and following a self imposed lifestyle of emargination. Durkheim identified four types of suicide, egoistic, altruistic, anomic and fatalistic, based on degrees of imbalance of two social forces being social integration and moral regulation. The exposition of socially vulnerable members within society is clearly contrasted with the life style of affluence on the part of the protagonist. Thanks to the language of values, being exposed via the cinematic medium, the author details both the virtues and vices of the characters, scrutinizes their choices, and analysis the ethical relevant particularities of their situation as well as the distinct elements linked to justice or injustice of the social world the characters outlined within the film inhibit .Why however should one care about how these authors think and feel about these cinematic narratives? It is my aim that the philosophical, legal, medical, moral, anthropological, literary, psychological and sociological expertise that these authors bring to bear within their films, generate a profound philosophical reflection among viewers, whilst helping to clarify, refine and challenge the ethical positions, the members of the civic public hold bioethical approaches. The central underlying theme of suicide involves basic principles and fundamental moral rules. One needs to question -What is it that makes an action morally acceptable or unacceptable? Is this due to the inherent characteristics of the action, or rather due to its consequences? Most ethical thinkers argue that death is an unpleasant reality which mankind will have to experience sooner or later being part of the cyclical process of existence .However if death is unpleasant and suicide is a genre of death, is it immoral? Whenever one affirms that suicide is immoral, this implies it that it is rationally unacceptable. It may be argued that in certain situations ,suicide is the ideal option, in view of its long-term consequence .For the person who is committing suicide, what counts is that he frees himself/herself from a permanent and inescapable state of suffering. Thus the agent in this case perceives suicide as a means to an end rather than as an end in itself .Some ethical thinkers refer to this approach as being integrated with consequential ethics focusing on further applications of the act .The consequentilist ethical approach assesses the future direction of an act within different time scenarios. A further bioethical issue which needs to be granted paramount importance concerns a deep assessment of both the feelings and the thoughts of those impacted by suicide. The notion of consequentalism surfaces at different phases of the film .The act of suicide creates unnecessary distress to the family and friends, although these are still outweighed by the person himself. Life is a matter of choices and this applies to all the protagonists within the film, every choice represents a mixed package, having both positive and negative implications. Although the loved ones close to the victim of suicide regret the situation, however they tend to agree at the end at least they are not in pain or agony . It is imperative at this stage to focus on the Utilitarian Perspective .The central maxim of the utilitarian approach is the production of happiness for the greatest number ,so that in this particular manner, both suffering as well as misery will be minimized .From the utilitarians stand point the morality of suicide is a double edged reality .It emerges that although the actions on the part of the victim of suicide can produce positive results relative to his/her objectives, the act of suicide still remains morally unacceptable by the utilitarian . At the other side of the spectrum Deontology stresses that the right to life outweighs consequences .This approach focuses on the consequences and other morally relevant factors .The factor under consideration in terms of its wider implications, is not just the result to be attained but more significantly the specific means adopted for the attainment of the results. The means adopted for the production of the act, definitely harms innocent people. This conduces to a new line of thought which has not been tackled by the utilitarians ,It needs to explicitly stated that it is never legitimate to harm innocent people .However whenever an act is done to oneself, it implies that the individual particularly consented to it .The consent principle is highly relevant at this point ,thus on ethical terms one needs to distinguish between consent carried out when the individual is sane and competent , keeping in view the objectives behind the consent .This is based on the constructive grounds tha t the concept principle cannot be judged at face value, but rather in terms of the particular situational context in which it occurs. One needs to bring under review the particular situations in which a specific individual is behaving .In this respect, one needs to distinguish between acting under distress as well as acts which are not carried out for the appropriate moral ends .The deontological approach states in explicit terms that one must never permit and allow a person to commit suicide .There is a tendency that we do fail to think critically about death ,and in most situations ,we tend to avoid if not disregard the subject completely . The rationality of suicide is assessed at this stage. There are two central questions which need to be granted paramount importance are -when if ever would it be true that one is better off dead? The underlying contest of this question concerns whether there are specific situation where it is more worthy to be dead then to be alive. Another concerns -could it be rational on the part of the individual to kill oneself? This implies an assessment whether suicide or at least certain types of suicide represent a rational act. One must keep in view that although Ben appears highly depressed in most of the situations of the film ,yet he was equally focused .The latter implies that he was fully conscious of the rationality and logic of his own actions .It is important to highlight that insightful and critical judgments need to be carried out both before and after a particular act .From a Christian moral perspective it is both immoral and unethical to state that it is better to be dead then b eing alive .This is because the state of death once experienced cannot restore the individual back to life ,and that human life retains a special and unique dignity. Although ethical thinkers tend to adhere to different viewpoints, one thing is certain; being dead is deprivation of good things in life. Individuals who feel life as meaningful journey enjoying the benefits of love, accomplishment and happiness these are directly linked to the spiritual dimension alternatively whenever these benefits are lacking in ones life, life will lose its dignity, and its virtues of beauty will perish. In the Nichomachean ethics Aristotle way back in the classical age advocated that The man who is angry at the right things and with the right people ,and, further ,as he ought, when he ought, and as long as he ought, is praised this perspective is highly applicable to the particular scene in which Ben Thomas explodes in anger at the old peoples home .in addition Aristotle argued that anger ,as a virtue ,has an excess a deficiency and a mean .Aristotle stressed that the mean is gentleness. Whenever one gets excessively angry then he is considered wrathful. Moreover whenever one is deficient in anger than he is timid. One of the greatest concerns of suicide victims {as often evidenced but the content of their notes} is the pain they may cause to the loved ones they leave behind .Whilst the suicide of a loved one may be an almost an impossible event to accept, it may be of some assistance in the healing process for those that left behind, to know that the death of their loved ones death did help save others lives. This can be expounded in terms of the brother of Tim .This knowledge has been known to be helpful to family members of people who die by other means resulting in organ donation. It is essential to focus at this particular stage on the deductive element of the film .This is centered around the motif of Redemption at the cost of ones life .The two major commanding motifs of the film are moralism and subjectivity .They are fruit of post modernism played out .They affirm that there is no absolute moral or ethical decision ,only the moral or ethical subjectivity on the part of the critic .Further they affirm that there is a good and bad aspect that dwell inside of all of us . Subsequently if I became conscious of this dualism, and work at it, I can overpower the bad that is in me, with the good that is in me. In the end, I would have saved myself. A thorny bioethical issue which remains unresolved concerns -on what particular grounds can one determine a good from a bad person .The first question arose because of a seemingly trivial conversation between Ben and George the hockey coach .George asks why me ? The claim that someone is a good person is made on a daily basis, but what justifies this belief when one makes an ethical statement? .Conversely, we have all stated that someone is a bad person .Implicit in these claims are an appeal to some standard .One can recognize something bad if they have some idea about what is good .The movies writhing theme seems to be drawing on a shared intuition .An intuition that ethical theory attempts to understand in holistic terms. A directed donation of organs to strangers is highly polemical since it challenges the perspective that an organ is a gift of life, rather than a mere commodity which can be commercially marketed. However the ethical debate as regards Seven Pounds gets a step further. On what particular criteria can one decide that a potential criteria can one decide that a potential recipient of an organ merits their donation, on the basis of being good .The latter needs to be appreciated since it is already polemical in donating organs, when cases are chosen on the basis of race, religion ethnicity -In this respect it is imperative to note non directed donations raises different ethical concerns. The radical altruism that motivates a person to make a potentially life threatening sacrifice for a stranger calls for careful scrutiny. One needs to question whether Ben is seeking compensation for depression. One must implement standards for both directive and non directed donation prohibiting transplantation when the chance of success is insufficient to justify the risks. Comprehensive oversight is necessary if the ethical pitfalls are to be adequately addressed. The message in this film is interpreted by the audience as being a bioethical claim, a claim giving the impression that suicide is permissible in this particular context. After reviewing Bens life, one has to be highly sensitive and prudent of the ethical approach .Bens life deviates from the ideal Christian virtues. However it does not mean his end action is completely selfless ,most, if even considering these actions would at least want some sort of acknowledgment .Ben was haunted and not fully in possession of his rational faculty by the end of the film . .Morally one must fully understand that Ben has a profoundly disturbed personality due to the unpredicted circumstances which he has experienced .Like many on the path of success his character floated above the real world .This ignorant autonomy and arrogance led to the tragic crash, both in the death of seven individuals and generated a profound detrimental impact on the life of the protagonist Likewise Seven Pounds has a double sided appeal, incorporating profound sociological, psychological and ethical implications. .Muccino is highly inspired by Italian neorealism which marks a sharp contrast with American postmodernism .To a substantial degree, these two different sociological approaches mirror two distinct cultures which have attained distinct levels of socio and ethical development .The anthropological factor needs to be granted sufficient importance within this context .The southern Mediterranean cultures in part the Italian counterpart tend to perceive individuals as part of a wider social web ,having both a formal and informal character .Thus whenever individual face critical problems kinship pressures will help the individual to restore the balance however this is not the case within the context of the American capitalist society .,In fact Muccinos vision creates a kind of sympathy for ordinary Americans who struggle to get by .according to Muccinos perception the American society is very cynical, very severe with those who fail, there is no safety net, when you fail straight down . The ethical notion of altruism in the context of this film is highly debatable. .Am I doing what is right or am I merely serving my ego. Is there such a thing as a good deed or am I in fact putting others in my debt as a way to control or use them to redeem myself .These questions have been highly inspired by Albert Cameos in view of the particular approaches and interpretations of life. When the film was released, the world was undergoing a recession and many citizens interpreted altruism in terms of material goods, not in terms of body organs. Certain critics have interpreted this film as being in substance an assault on the Judeo /Christian ethic .However one needs to question whether this assault is justified .One needs to recognize that not only suicide is a sin, it is the sin .it is the ultimate and absolute evil, the refusal to take an interest in existence, the refusal to take the oath of loyalty to life .The man who kills a man kills a man. The man who kills himself kills all men .As far as he is concerned he wipes out the world. His act is worse symbolically considered then any rape or desperate outrage for it is a challenge and indifference to creation .from the Christian moral perspective one can identify to main lines of thought on the one hand there is the traditional more conservative perspective particularly as regards the notion of suicide ,from the other end of the scale is a fresh contemporary perspective as regards the values of human life ,and the particular purpose and values which need to be attributed to it . The film was watched and critically evaluated on a number of occasions since its narrative and postmodernist ethical aspects could not otherwise be appreciated. Within the ethical dimension this film generated a powerful sensation, since it combined strong secular and utilitarian approaches on the particular manner how one perceives the complex and dynamic reality within a mature industrial context. It is worthy to note that the film is a fictitious story. From a subjective analytical perspective, it results that we are presented with an unusual genre project, partly melodramatic and partly being a puzzle film. As commercial film its plot is not straightforward ,but includes a high degree of narrational ambiguity .This because it includes occasional flashbacks, which towards the terminal part of the film tend to become more frequent, and these feedbacks provide sufficient food for thought .In my regard seven pounds is a very specific story which has a profound moral message .This is coulered by a high degree of pathos or profound emotional impact which motivates the audience so as to participate directly within the life of the protagonist. A profound moral stand point concerns that suicide is simply wrong even if it is carried out for redemption .However does a suicide enacted out of redemption or out of love for others makes sense. Within the context of the Christian morality all sorts of suicide regardless of the particular objective they were carried need to be condemned .This is because life has a sacrosanct identity. From a purely Christian point of view, the actions carried out by Ben are acts of blasphemy ,and definitely in line with the message of Christ .This film created a very powerful sensational uproar particularly within highly secular societies foremost the United States ,which have already advanced in depth within the post modernist culture- In this respect the film would definitely create a profound sensation in Malta, were catholic values are still relatively strong .It is recommended in this respect that the audience who are appropriate to enjoy the film need to be sufficiently mature, intellectually open and have a direct contact with the realities of life. So one keeps asking is Ben a hero or a lost soul? One cannot doubt Bens intellectual prowness since he attained a highly respectable profession as an engineer within the aeronautic industry. Whenever individuals fail to exert a neat balance between work and non work commitments, they will unnecessarily complicate life to the point of being driven to the very edge of a tragedy. From a philosophical perspective, one can safely argue that Ben through the intended suicide sought to escape from his torment via the easiest path. However in practice the easiest path does not mean it is justified in moral terms. Bens actions generate a wide spectrum of perspectives from the members of the civil public. Ben in granting his personal life support organs as part of a retribution process so as to make for seven deaths which he directly yet unconsciously caused. There is the background echoing of the seven pounds of flesh in Shakespeare Merchant of Venice, reflecting clearly that the viscous cycle of evil is constantly taking place throughout history. The Self Giving of Vital Organs A highly insightful approach has been adopted by Paul Ramsey, who advocated initially that it is imperative that one focuses on the past Roman Catholic moral theology. The debate encompassing protagonist Christian moralists pivots around the central principle of Totality, specifically between a justifiable and unjustifiable mutilation. The latter is also related to the intrusion within a persons bodily integrity. As already highlighted humankind enjoys the power but this does not imply that he enjoys the right to manipulate any part of his own body. We enjoy full stewardship, as administrators of our own body .This represents the appropriate act of administration, so as to ensure a holistic bodily life, were health is a cardinal principle. A part of the human body such as Individual limbs, organs, or functions are directly linked to a mans bodily life within the health dimension .There is a direct relationship between the parts and the whole. Although these may be taken away, their functions will be permanently denatured, whenever this is beneficial for the holistic good. In this respect the principle of proportionality plays a pivotal role. Man can be considered as a whole enjoying a high level of dignity, within the context of social wholes to which he pertains. At this pt the principle of totality comes into the forepart .Although the principle of totality conditions self mutilation for ones own good, however it does not influence self /mutilation for the case of ones neighbor. From a subjective perspective, does this militate against the good neighbor policy? Every case needs to be assessed on the basis of its merits. On the same lines of thought, the judgment that the self/giving of organs is not morally accepted on the grounds of the principle of totality does not constitute a minor reflection, or alternatively one the devoid of its core substance so as to attain more meaningful goals .

Alcoholics Anonymous Essay example -- essays research papers

The phrase â€Å"early A.A.† refers to the early fellowships and meetings held in Akron, Ohio. These meetings took place between 1935 and 1939 when Alcoholics Anonymous was an integral part of â€Å"A First Century Christian Fellowship† (Pitman 56). A.A. was the outcome of a meeting between Bill W., a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon. Both had been hopeless alcoholics (Fingarette 14).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before this time, Bill and Dr. Bob had each been in contact with the Oxford Group, a mostly nonalcoholic fellowship that emphasized universal spiritual values in daily living(Fingarette 15). During this period, the noted episcopal clergyman, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker, headed the group. Under this spiritual influence, and with the help of an old time friend, Ebby T., Bill had gotten sober and had then maintained his recovery by working with other alcoholics, though none of there had actually recovered (Wekesser 23) . Meanwhile, Dr. Bob’s Oxford Group membership at Akron had not helped him enough to achieve sobriety. When the doctor met Bill, he found himself face to face with a fellow sufferer who had made good (Pitman 62). Bill emphasized that alcoholism was a malady of mind, emotions and body. Though a physician, Dr. Bob had not known alcoholism to be a disease. Due to Bill’s convincing ideas, he soon got sober, never to drink again. The founding spark o f A.A. had been struck (Wekesser 26).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both men immediately set to work with alcoholics at Akron’s City Hospital, where one patient quickly achieved complete sobriety (Pitman 69). In the fall of 1935, a second group of alcoholics slowly took shape in New York. A third appeared at Cleveland in 1939. It had taken over four years to produce 100 sober alcoholics in the three founding groups. That same year, the Fellowship published it’s basic textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous. The text, written by Bill, explained A.A.’s philosophy and methods, the core of which was the now well-known Twelve Steps to Recovery (Pitman 75 & 76). The book was reinforced by case histories of around thirty recovered members. From this point on, A.A’s development was rapidly growing (Wekesser 36).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One milestone in A.A’s history was in 1939. The Cleveland Plain Dealer carried a series of articles about A.A. supported by warm editorials. The Cleveland Group,... ...d without its host of well wishers who have since given their time and effort A.A. could never have grown and prospered. The Fellowship records its constant gratitude (Fingarette 72).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was on January 24, 1971, that Bill, a victim of pneumonia, died in Miami Beach, Florida, where he had delivered at the 35th Anniversary International Convention what proved to be his last words to fellow A.A.s: â€Å"God bless you and Alcoholics Anonymous forever† (Pitman 120). Since then, A.A. has become truly global. This has revealed that A.A.’s way of life can today transcend most barriers of race, creed and language (Wekesser 87). A World Service Meeting, started in 1969, has been held biennially since 1972. Its locations alternate between New York and overseas. It has met in London, England; Helsinki, Finland; San Juan del Rio, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Munich, Germany and Cartagena, Colombia. These meetings and their locations have gone to show the global impact A.A. has achieved. The Akron A.A. team of Dr. Bob, Bill, and Anne has never been equaled in personal, spiritual recovery outreach. It was truly the heart of A.A.’s s piritual beginnings (Pitman 124).

Oh, That Jolly Green Giant :: King Arthur Literature Essays

Oh, That Jolly Green Giant In a land of magic, love, betrayal, hatred, loyalty and mystery, there exists a kingdom called Camelot. At the heart of Camelot are the Knights of the Round Table who maintain their loyalty to King Arthur. From the famed knights emerges one knight, who stands out as being traditionally the most loyal, chivalrous, and courtly of all: Sir Gawain. It is during one of Arthur's New Year's feast, that a stranger rudely gallops into the great hall and begins what will be a yearlong test for Sir Gawain. His color, physical stature, power, and magic are astounding to the Knights of the Round Table. Only one knight dares to accept the challenge of this green giant. This is the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a fourteenth Century Arthurian romance by an anonymous poet. "Great wonder grew in hall/At his hue most strange to see,/For man and gear and all/Were green as green could be." (Norton, 161) Throughout this text, great emphasis is placed on the color green and the fact that great power is associated with the color. Green will again be emphasized at the end of the story when Lord Bercilak's wife gives Gawain a magical green girdle, which has the power to protect Gawain from the Green Knight. The green of everything about the knight is then countered by the red glow of his eyes. In these times, dragons and monsters are green with glowing red eyes. They are also powerful and serve as tests for true knights and heroes. The color green is given a mystical power in this story because not only do the girdle and the Green Knight act as green symbols of magic, but the Green Chapel is also a powerful image of magic. While it is not a traditional Judeo-Christian chapel, but rather it seems to be a prehistoric cave. It can be viewed as a holy place simply because it is the only green "life" that exists in the suffocating white snow of the winter. This alone should have alterted Gawain to believe that magic was afoot. It is the sheer size of the Green Knight that intimidates many of the Knights of the Round Table: "As lightning quick and light/He looked to all at hand;/It seemed that no man might/His deadly dints withstand." (Norton, 162) Because Gawain must uphold his knightly duties, he alone takes on the Green Knight's game and presents himself as the student of humility.

Why Are Gasoline Prices Going Up So High? Essay examples -- essays res

Why Are Gasoline Prices Going Up So High? If everyone else in the world is paying a lot more for gas, why shouldn't Americans? Take your average spoiled American who blames the Arabs for raising the gas prices unfairly in order to make a bigger profit. It's true, gas prices have gone up by a lot in the last few months, but is that unfair? Prices still are a lot higher in Canada, Europe and just about any other developed nation, according to Mike Royko in the May 2, 1996 issue of the Chicago Tribune. Ted Z. Manuel in a letter entitled "Voice of the People" of the Chicago Tribune, said "Most anywhere in Europe, gas costs are from $3.00 to $5.00 per gallon. We scream when it hits a $1.35 to $1.75 a gallon, which if adjusted for inflation actually is cheaper than 25 years ago." It seems that Americans just think the world owes them a favor. Maybe it's time that they start playing fairly and stop feeling so sorry for themselves!!! According to many articles, Americans have a lot more to be thankful for than they do to complain about. For one, cars use gas a lot more efficiently than they did in the past. According to Royko, "even today's luxury cars give you better gas mileage than the cheapest Chevies, Fords and Plymouths did not that long ago." What does this mean? This means that gas prices should logically go up. It's the basic law of supply and demand. It's true that more Americans are driving, but the gasoline suppliers still deserve to get p...

Hip-Hop/Real Rap

Nayeli Munoz 01/15/13 Rap Most people are unfortunately misled as to what is rap music. Many people seem to have only heard commercial rap; commercial rap is â€Å"gangster rap†. Most of the commercial rap songs talk about getting money, gang banging, and some kind of explicit love or sex. Two examples of commercial rappers are â€Å"50 Cent† and â€Å"Soulja Boy†. True rappers have some kind of poetic flow. Real rap has a deep and meaningful topic, it is like poetry but with more emotion. â€Å"Tupac† and â€Å"Snoop Dogg† are two great examples of real rappers.A positive influence that rap has on today's youth is that it shows us what is going on in the real world; however, rap music can influence youth to be very violent. Another negative about rap is that it is very degrading towards young women. Through their music rap artist show a realistic picture of what is going on around them and how hard it was growing up in poverty. An example of this i s when â€Å"Tupac†, a famous rapper, in his song â€Å"Thug Mansion† says â€Å"picture me inside the misery of poverty, no man alive has ever witness struggles I survived†.Later on in the same song he continues with â€Å"seen the politicians ban us, they'd rather see us locked in chains, please explain why they cant stand us†. This song is reflects the issues of discrimination toward African American by the government. Rap has opened our eyes to show us the circumstances of poverty, drug use, violence, and how easy they can access guns. Rapper â€Å"Too Short† raps about the importance of staying in school and getting a good job.Rap influences youth to be very violent; in â€Å"Big Pun† song â€Å"Brave in the heart† he says, † I'm from where the guns love to introduce they self. Reduce your health little bulletproofs get felt. The street's a trip; either you deep or you sleep with the fish†. This song tries to tell us that we need to use violence in order to survive, this influences youth to believing that they do have to use violence and therefore they start being violent. Some rappers include new drugs that have not been very popular in their lyrics and when youth listen to it they get urious about the drug and want to learn about it and try it. Violent lyrics can influence youth to start fights or even kill people for what they want. Women in rap videos are usually degraded. Very often young women are laid out as sex tools or sex slaves. They are displayed with not much clothes on and they use their bodies to acquire material objects. Young women are exposed to these abominable videos and it can affect their health, their self-esteem can lower and they may think of themselves as useless and worthless.Research shows that many of the young women who listen and watch rap think that they cannot be successful without using their bodies. It is clear that rap can extremely influence today's youth bot h positive and negative ways; however, the negative effects are much larger than the positive effects. It is up to us to decide if rap is going to affect us in a positive or in a negative way. Bibliography: Sid Kirchheimer,(March 3, 2010). Does rap put teens at risk. WebMD. (Online)

For small businesses, does the reality of using social and new media in marketing live up to the promise? A qualitative study amongst business owners in the UK

Abstract The area of emerging technology and marketing has become an topic of increased debate as the potential to reach more consumers and provide real savings for small business is created. This study assesses the impact that emerging communication technology has had on the marketing efforts of small businesses in the UK. 1 Introduction1.1 Research TopicThis study assesses the impact that emerging communication technology has on the marketing efforts of small businesses in the UK. In order to properly evaluate each element, this study uses a survey given to several owners and operators in the UK coupled with a case study centred on the small business in the London area to provide evidence for industry and cultural assessment. These factors will be used to illustrate detailed components of operation and implementation for small businesses in the UK. With a focus for identifying distinct themes in the survey results, this research seeks to combine working experience with social expectation to provide an illustration of potential opportunity.1.2 Objectives1) Assess technological impact on small business 2) Evaluate how communication technology provides opportunities for growth.1.3 Research questions1) What are the challenges faced by small business in marketing? 2) Can improved consumer outreach improve revenue? 3) Does new technology offer a competitive edge for small business? 2 Review of Literature2.1 Small Business ChallengesMarketing is an essential element of small business strategy (Safko et al, 2009). With a clear need to remain in the consumer eye, marketing has the potential to make or break any small business (Qualman, 2009).2.1.1 Current MethodsCurrent methods of marketing include television, print and word of mouth (Qualman, 2008). Further, any advertising must be local or regional, facing increased cost (Safko et al, 2009).2.1.2. Emerging methodsInternet and communication technology provide social media, online content and increased consumer exposure for small businesses(Berthon et al, 2012; Fischer et al, 2011;Weinberg et al, 2011). Networking and comprehensive data bases encourage consumers to look deeply into a small business, providing ample opportunity for revenue growth.2.2 Small business Competitive Strategy and opportunities for growthUsing technology to reach consumers, aids outreach as well as provides a new and growing market for any business (Baird et al, 2011).2.3 Spending and Consumer OutreachModern methods of marketing require crucial funds that could otherwise to other areas of a small business strategy (Wienberg et al, 2011). This increased leeway provides opportunity for reinvestment in the infrastructure.2.4 Working TheoryUsing a thematic survey approach provides critical evidence to any working research (Perri et al, 2012). Combined with an assessment of the case study using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, establishes the likelihood of adoption and implementation (Hofstede et al, 2010). 3 Methodology3.1 ApproachThis study is best approach with the Qualitative, Interpretivism process (Perri, 2012). Initial evidence will be provided using a survey given to between 100-150 respondents creating data that will be assessed using a thematic, coding approach (Perri, 2012). Case study is based on the small business sector in London, UK which provides government facts and official figure (Perri, 2012). The evidence is combined and evaluated using the thematic coding to identify themes in the material followed by a Hofstede analysis to provide useable examples of impact and improvement.3.2 Research StrategyQualitative research based on surveys and case study (Perri, 2012).3.3 Data Collection Instruments and MethodsSurvey and questionnaire coupled with a modern case study taken from online databases, official sites, journals and books. 4 Analysis4.1 Case Study of Small Business in London, UK 2010-20144.1.1 Thematic analysis of surveysIdentifying themes that relate to the positive or negative experience of technology use in marketing (Perri, 2012).4.1.2. Hofstede’s Cultural dimensions evaluation of case study and surveysProvides a working cultural understanding as to why or why not small business owners are embracing new technology opportunities (Hofstede et al, 2010).4.2 Discussion5 Conclusion and Recommendations5.1 Conclusion5.2 Recommendation6 References Baird, C. and Parasnis, G. (2011). From social media to social customer relationship management. Strategy & Leadership, 39(5), pp.30–37. Berthon, P., Pitt, L., Plangger, K. and Shapiro, D. (2012). Marketing meets Web 2.0, social media, and creative consumers: Implications for international marketing strategy. Business Horizons, 55(3), pp.261–271. Evans, D. (2008). Social media marketing. 1st ed. Indianapolis, Ind.: Wiley. Fischer, E. and Reuber, A. (2011). Social interaction via new social media:(How) can interactions on Twitter affect effectual thinking and behavior?. Journal of business venturing, 26(1), pp.1–18. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. and Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Michaelidou, N., Siamagka, N. and Christodoulides, G. (2011). Usage, barriers and measurement of social media marketing: An exploratory investigation of small and medium B2B brands.Industrial Marketing Management, 40(7), pp.1153–1159. Qualman, E. (2009). Socialnomics. 1st ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Safko, L. and Brake, D. (2009). The social media bible. 1st ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons. Weinberg, B. and Pehlivan, E. (2011). Social spending: Managing the social media mix. Business Horizons, 54(3), pp.275–282. Weinberg, T. (2009). The new community rules. 1st ed. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.