Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict Essay Example

Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict Paper Ninety Red Balloons, a spunky, energetic tune, was a protest against the Cold War era. Hostility, tension and vengeance between Russia and the United States peaked during the Cold War era. The song protested against Russia and United States rage by a German band, Nena. Nena’s lead guitarist, Carlos Karges wrote the song after seeing a big ball of red flames in the sky at a Rolling Stones concert one night. The red flames resembled a bundle of big red balloons firing up the nighttime sky at the concert. Ninety Nine Red Balloons was released in Germany in 1983; The English version or translation was released in 1984. At this time, no one ever imagined the validity of this song. Espionage technology was developing rapidly at a time when Internet, cell phones, even microwave ovens did not exist. The lyrics were a future warning of the incidences bringing us into a war era that we cannot seem to escape today. â€Å"You and I in a little toy shop; Buy a bag of balloons with the money we got; Till one by one, they were all gone; Back at the base, bugs in the software; Flash the message something’s out there.† At this time, the only ones who cared about bugs were the military. Absolutely no average person had a clue what software was. Today many people do not realize how the advancement of technology is taking away liberties. Ninety Red Balloons is a song predicting the worlds future by recognizing the past, or current events at the time it was written. Today, the current war affecting the entire world is about the shady arrangements the US made with Russia, although not officially admitted too. â€Å"Call the troops out in a hurry; This is it boys, this is war; The president is on the line; 99 red balloons go by.† We will write a custom essay sample on Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict Ninety Nine Red Balloons/Songs of Conflict Lyrics from; http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Nena/99-Red-Balloons.html Information from; Wilkepedia.com

Answers to Questions About Suffixes

Answers to Questions About Suffixes Answers to Questions About Suffixes Answers to Questions About Suffixes By Mark Nichol Here are several questions from DailyWritingTips.com readers about suffixes, followed by my responses. 1. Why is cheese-like written as two words, when doglike and catlike are written as single words? I often come across other words that are joined to like with hyphens. Usually, words that end with a vowel are attached to suffixes such as -like with a hyphen, rather than directly attached as a closed compound. (Lifelike is an exception.) 2. How should the word handful be pluralized? I have always used handsful, rather than handfuls. Plurals of words with the suffix -ful always take the s after the suffix. But you don’t necessarily always use the suffix: When you wish to emphasize the container, you should write, for example, â€Å"I emptied a bucket full of water into the tub† or â€Å"I emptied several buckets full of water into the tub.† To focus on the contents of the container, you should write, for example, â€Å"I emptied a bucketful of water into the tub† or â€Å"I emptied several bucketfuls of water into the tub.† 3. How come you did not hyphenate warlike in a recent post? Sometimes, in a New Yorker article, I’ll see a word with the suffix -like hyphenated and another word with the same suffix not hyphenated. I believe that in the sixteenth edition of The Chicago Manual of Style, it is hyphenated. The default setting is to omit a hyphen in words with the suffix -like. Here’s a post about hyphenation of words with prefixes and suffixes. Chicago does not use warlike as an example, but according to its general recommendations, the word should be closed. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Is Irony? (With Examples)Deck the HallsDozen: Singular or Plural?

Call for a Blanket Ban on the Sale and Marketing of Cigarettes in the Essay

Call for a Blanket Ban on the Sale and Marketing of Cigarettes in the US - Essay Example People in the developed world and especially in the United States of America today approach the concept of health with an enhanced dedication and commitment. The food habits, lifestyles orientations and nutritional preferences are indeed altering in consonance with the guidelines and information available regarding health and healthcare. People today well understand that choosing a healthy lifestyle not only adds to the longevity, but also enables a person to be more productive and positive. However, relinquishing bad habits and making new choices does not seem easy when one intrudes into the area of addictive substances like tobacco. Moreover, the consumption of addictive substances like tobacco being legally valid and acceptable, most of the times people fail to realize that are the victims of a vicious addiction, which has the potential to take their life and to make them seriously sick. Considering this fact, the Federal Government should out with a law envisaging a pan-American ban on the sale and marketing of cigarettes and other tobacco products so as to reduce the healthcare costs, to save human lives and eventually to give way to a healthy and progressive society. The proposal for the coming into existence of such a law is not merely an emotive appeal, but is as much based on the existing data and information regarding the health implications of smoking. It goes without saying that to call for a blanket ban by the Federal government; it would be really pragmatic and reasonable to cull out the data from the existing government institutions and organizations regarding the mortality potential of smoking. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, â€Å"More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined (Online).† Also, smoking tobacco in any form are it cigarettes, cigars or pipe, has been found to considerably enhance the chance of dying from cancers of larynx, oral cavity, esophagus and lungs (CDC: Online). Cigarette smoking is responsible for one in every five deaths in the United States of America (CDC: Online). Cigarette smoking claims 443,000 lives every ear out of which 49,000 deaths are attributed to exposure to second hand smoke (CDC: Online). Men smoking cigarettes are 10 times more likely to die of bronchitis and emphysema and are 22 times more vulnerable to lung cancer (CDC: Online). The magnitude of the loss to human resources in the United States of America by cigarette smoking gets amply clear when one considers the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s claims that, â€Å"An estimated 46 million people, or 20.6 percent of all adults (aged 18 years and older), in the United States smoke cigarettes (Online).† Considering these figures one could also estimate the burden on the national and local healthcare systems that could be traced direct ly to cigarette smoking. So, when the government bodies are themselves aware of the health consequences of cigarette smoking on the nation’s population, considering the statistics provided by them, the Federal government should not have a problem or excuse regarding coming out with a blanket ban on the sale and marketing of cigarettes. In the

Macro Economics Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macro Economics Paper - Essay Example The Governor additionally states that other economies around the globe will most likely have a reduction in their GDP’s as well. He also observes that the Chinese economic growth has also been moderated with the monetary conditions within the Asian continent becoming softer. Mr. Stevens also asserts that that the prices for various commodities within the globe have reduced in the recent past despite the fact that most are currently on the rise once more reaching record high values (Stevens, 2012). Therefore, in accordance to the Governor’s sentiments, this paper tries to evaluate whether the monetary decisions made by the Reserve Bank’s Board concerning the weakening economic state in the globe are appropriate to the country and within its mandate. Economic Concepts/ Theories To Be Applied Under the law on the Reserve Bank that was enacted in the year 1959, they are charged with the duty of formulating the country’s monetary policies (Graziani, 2003). This actually involves the act of taking actions so that the interest rates which affects the economic activities in the country. It can be done through ensuring that money is available in the country’s overnight cash markets because they affect other variables like the country’s GDP along with the levels of prices (Arnold, 2008). The law of 1959 additionally stipulates that the country’s goals in their monetary policies will be aimed at employment their whole labor force, ensuring the country’s currency remains stable, the prosperity in the welfare of the citizens financially (Bell, 2004). However, in order to ensure that the country’s currency remains stable their central bank has implemented policies that are aimed at controlling the rates of inflation in the country (Mankiw, 2011). The Australian central bank uses a monetary policy that is referred to as inflation targeting which involves their maintenance of stable but low rates of inflation. This policy has widely been utilized within the country with the belief that it will assist in creating a sounder basis for greater economic growth during the long run periods (Bell, 2004). The country’s Reserve Bank should adopt several policies that range from concepts monitoring their economic growths, business cycles, inflation along with monetary policies and their financial policy regulation. They should also keenly observe the trends within the international economy since they help in showing the direction that capital is currently flowing in (Knoop, 2009). In ensuring that the country’s economy grows, the Reserve Bank should utilize increases in their per capita’s to ensure that they grow in the long run periods. It is for this reason that some countries around the globe are termed as being more successful than others while others grow at similar rates (King, 2011). In evaluating the growth the country is experiencing, the board of the Reserve Bank should ex amine their investment rates, their population’s growth along with technological changes being experienced (Australia, CCH, 2011). The figures to be utilized can be found through the use of models like the neoclassical along with endogenous models for growth. In monitoring the business cycle within Australia to ensure their economic gr

My business review of paultons park limited Assignment

My business review of paultons park limited - Assignment Example Furthermore, the management should review their financial records with when planning since the industry is characterised by a shift in demand at the market place, hence the need for proper management as it has been the case for years (Needles, Powers & Crosson, 2010, p. 1304). For instance in England, Paultons Park Limited is contributing to the growth of the economy despite the difficulties in managing their operations. During unpredictable times, the management is required to devise means of sustaining tourism activities to ensure that the change in the marketplace does not lead to losses in tourism companies (Futrell, 2004). The measures can include, planning for the accommodations of walk in guest in cases where demand surpasses the supply, budgeting for the needs of the clients and the employees of the park, and lastly, enacting policies that will facilitate revenue generations. In Europe, a majority of tourist prefer going to thematic parks and this is one area in which Paulton s has capitalized on; for instance, the corporations has designed parks to cater for the needs of clients from different regions of the world (Yi-De, 2008,p 2). Furthermore, the company has divided its activities into entertainment, educational and refreshments services with entertainment activities featuring as the most preferred programs by clients (PR Newswire 2007). In designing their programs, Paultons should devise ways to increase its revenue since competition is contributing to the decline in revenue at the company. In 2008, the management witnessed a decline in revenue and this was due to the cutthroat competition from suppliers of hospitality services. The competitors of the company are Disney, SeaWorld Parks and Clementon. The companies offer services similar to Paultons Park’ services; however, there are differences in the manner in which SeaWorld and Disney customizes their services to guest. Examples of services that Paultons Park customizes include entertainmen t services, supplying meals together and banqueting (Sehlinger, Testa & Bleiberg, 2011, p. 180). From a financial perspective, competition is posing a challenge to Planktons Park limited, and as a result, competition is forcing the management to devise means for dealing with the cutthroat competition and one of the suggestions is the use of modern facilities at the park. In this case, Paultons Park limited is going to invest in computer programs that will aid the management in planning for the needs of the company. A briefing on non-financial features of your selected firm The company engages in corporate social responsibility functions such as constructing shops and opening restaurants to serve the public. The management does this with the objective of strengthening Paultons Park brand name (Nikolai, Bazley & Jones, 2010, p. 276). Intermediate accounting. Australia, South-Western/Cengage Learning. Consequently, the company has reputation for offering quality services to clients at affordable costs. Additionally, the park engages in conservation activities such as maintaining public facilities like schools and this has developed the reputation of the company as being responsible in their duties. The company offers employees bonuses of their income and in addition, employees without bonuses

Conclusion On Maternal Health Seeking Health And Social Care Essay

Conclusion On Maternal Health Seeking Health And Social Care Essay The objectives of this study are to describe maternal health-seeking practices of adolescent and adult mothers during pregnancy and childbirth and to determine the effects of maternal health-seeking practices on their pregnancy outcomes. This study used the secondary data from a cross sectional survey named Survey of Pregnancy, Birth and Early Life (SPBEL) which was conducted in Kanchanburi province, 2003. A total of 117 nulliparous adolescent mothers aged 15-19 and 193 nulliparous adult mothers aged 20-29 who have delivered singleton live births within two years were included in this study. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the effects of maternal health-seeking practices on pregnancy outcomes. Our study found that the adolescent pregnancy rate (15-19 years) in Kanchanaburi province was 13%. Regarding their background characteristics, adolescent mothers tended to complete similar education level like adult mothers. A higher proportion of adolescent mothers were unemployed in comparison with adult mothers in this study. Concerning with health-seeking practices, a high level utilization of antenatal care was found in both adolescent and adult mothers and most of them received four or more antenatal visits. However, delayed and less frequent antenatal visits among adolescent mothers were found compared with adult mothers. Delivery rate at health facilities was very high and the rate did not differ between adolescent and adult mothers. With respect to pregnancy outcomes, adolescent mothers were found to have a higher incidence of preterm and LBW deliveries. Overall, pregnancy outcomes of adolescent mothers were more adverse than adults. Bivariate analysis showed maternal health-seeking practices had no significant effects on pregnancy outcomes of adolescent and adult mothers. Further adjustment of socio-demographic factors did not change the observed associations. On the other hand, we observed that age was a significant risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Nulliparous adolescent mothers had two times higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes than adults. In our study, we found the associations between pregnancy outcomes and their residence. The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for mothers from urban stratum was higher than that of mothers from rice fields, cash crops and upland strata after controlling age, health-seeking factors, level of education and employment status. Recommendation On the basis of our findings, some recommendations for policy implications and future studies are formulated in this section. Recommendations for policy implication High adolescent pregnancy rate calls for policy makers to give greater emphasis on sex education and promotion of contraceptive use among adolescents in schools as well as in the community. These interventions will help in delaying the initiation of sexual intercourse and improving use of birth control among adolescent women. Effective interventions to reduce either intended or unintended pregnancies among adolescents could improve adolescentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ maternal and child health. Despite the overall high use of maternal health care, adolescent mothers were less likely to use maternal health services compared with adult mothers. It was suggested that physical and social barriers accessing maternal health care for adolescent mothers need to be addressed by the government to improve maternal health care utilization among adolescent mothers. It is also recommended to initiate teenage specific antenatal clinic with youth friendly manner which could provide multidisciplinary care by detecting and managing biological and social risk factors for pregnant adolescents. Adolescent mothers were more likely to deliver preterm and LBW babies who are at higher risk of neonatal death. Moreover, neonatal morbidity among babies born to adolescent mothers was relatively higher than babies born to adult mothers. Provision of better antenatal and delivery care for pregnant adolescents could minimize the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is crucial to provide training for health providers to understand more about the higher risks of adolescent pregnancy to achieve better pregnancy outcomes. In addition, health providers should be encouraged to pay special attention to postnatal contraception for adolescent mothers to postpone next pregnancy until they are biologically, psychologically and financially able to care for another baby. 5.2.2 Recommendations for future research Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between adolescent pregnancy outcomes and health-seeking practices. We suggest a prospective cohort study with a large sample size that includes information about potential risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as genital tract infection, pregnancy complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension and premature rupture of membrane, maternal malnutrition, anemia, and social problems faced by adolescent mothers to confidently conclude the effects of health-seeking practices on outcomes of adolescent pregnancy. Access to quality antenatal and delivery care will also be needed to consider as one important factor to determine the effects of maternal health care on pregnancy outcomes. Hence, it is recommended to include quality of maternal health care as one confounding factor of pregnancy outcomes. Our results provide a starting point to explore the reasons for relatively poor health-seeking practices of adolescent mothers. Qualitative study focusing on health-seeking behavior of adolescent mothers and social problems they encountered during pregnancy and delivery should be conducted for more in-depth understanding of adolescent pregnancy outcomes.

Medicinal Marijuana Should Be Legal Essay examples -- Medical Marijuan

Too often do Americans today turn to prescription pills as a cure-all for every ailment. From occasional headaches to chronic pain, people look for immediate results disregarding any possible side effects. Drugs which act as painkillers in the body may become very addictive and misuse can be fatal. While we should not shun western medicine, patients should be offered other types of treatment. I believe that those who are being treated with over the counter medication should be given the option of using marijuana. The problems with prescription drugs consist of health risks, dependence, misuse, cost, and effectiveness. Constantly are there advertisements on television pitching a new drug whose side effects sound worse than the pain it is meant to solve. Unlike most addictions, people are told to take pills by an authoritative figure that can be trusted. Many of those who fall into this type of addiction have little history of drug use and fail to recognize their growing dependence. One pill a day turns into two; before they know it, their body now relies on that fix. Cost is another important issue when considering the value of having an option other than over the counter pills. While many struggle to pay for the drugs they depend on, there may be a much cheaper alternative. Lastly, the success of drugs is not the same for every individual. Drug A may work miracles for some yet be a curse for others. I believe many of these issues could be resolved with marijuana. While studies are limited due to its legality, enough has been established to make a valid claim for its medicinal properties. Marijuana can be used to treat â€Å"pain, muscle spasms and tremors, seizures, nausea, vomiting, appetite stimulation, insomnia, migraine headaches, depression, and glaucoma, among other things.†(Ardpark) States such as California have begun to recognize on a small scale however there needs to be a nationwide push. Despite government claims â€Å"marijuana is an addictive drug† (DEA), marijuana is not an addictive drug. It may be habit forming, but has nowhere near the addictiveness of drugs like OxyContin which are legal. I am not calling for a cannabis free-for-all and acknowledge the fact that, as with any drug, there would need to be regulations put in place. Expenses on medication would significantly decrease and without the hazards of pills, t... ...nd Drug Administration. 22 Oct. 2006 "Frontline: Drug Wars: the buyers: a social history of america's most popular drugs." WGBH Educational Foundation. 1995-2006 . PBS. 3 Oct. 2006 Herer, Jack. "Chapter 6." The Emperor Wears No Clothes. (2006) : 1,2,5,7. 22 Oct. 2006 http://www.jackherer.com/chapter06.html Office of National Drug Control Policy. Robinson J. "Who's Really in Prison for Marijuana?." ONDCP Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse. 9, 10, 12-15. 3 Oct. 2006 . "Prohibition In America: A Brief History." 3 Oct. 2006 . "Marijuana Arrests For Year 2005 ." 21 Sept. 2006 . NORML. 3 Oct. 2006 . "Marijuana Information." Narconon International. (2002) : Association for Better Living an Education. 3 Oct. 2006 . "The Uses of Medical Marijuana." 1,2. Arkansas Alliance for Medical Marijuana.22 Oct. 2006

Extent of Government Change Under Essay

It was during this time that the Federal Government first began promoting things like worker safety on the job. For example, the Railway Safety Appliance Act was passed during this time. It required railroads to install safety devices such as steps and handrails on their engines and cars to reduce the number of industrial accidents. President Theodore Roosevelt vastly increased the traditional perception of the role of the federal government. His policies, such as â€Å"Big Stick Ideology† abroad and the â€Å"Square Deal† at home, expanded the influence of the government on manifold levels. Two cases, however, that of trust-busting and that of conservation, specifically accentuate this expansion. In the year 1901, President William McKinley had just been assassinated, and America needed a leader to which she could turn to. Theodore Roosevelt became the new president, and unbeknownst to the people, would immortalize the presidency forever. Roosevelt made considerable efforts at the conservation of the planet for future generations by use of the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902 and by establishing the Bureau of Reclamations and broke up the destructive and all too powerful trusts that were ruling corporate America by instating the Clayton Antitrust Act and the Expedition Act of 1903, during what would later become known as the Progressive Era. During Theodore Roosevelt’s term in office, changes in the government began to be made. Roosevelt’s mindset was to change the role of the government for the betterment of the economy during the Progressive Era. Through trying to break up trusts in the government, such as the Sherman Anti-Trust Acts, he believed he could change the U.S. government for the better. Conflicts from labor (the Square Deal) and conservation during the Progressive Era helped Roosevelt change multiple roles of the federal government.

Future Career Essay

When i think about a future career for myself, i see myself doing it for a very long time. In my imagination i picture myself as a millitary special forces officer. I have always wanted to go into the military since i was a little boy. The first time i ever heard about the green berets or the navy seals i knew that was what i wanted to do. I was told that being in the special forces was a very hard, but honorable career. You have to be very tough physically and mentally. My favorite thing about the special forces teams were that they are allowed to access the worlds latest technology and would go on top secret missions and save tons of people and no one would even know that the event had happened. The military today is a lot different than it was when I was a little kid. Karl von Clausewitz defined war as â€Å"†¦an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfill our will In order to attain this object fully, the enemy must be disarmed, and disarmament becomes theref ore the immediate object of hostility.† In the future, we will have the prospective to make war without the use of violence and fulfill the second half of von Clausewitz’s definition with software alone. â€Å"Cyber† describes systems that use mechanical or electronic systems to swap human control. Cyber warfare can be executed without violence and therefore the reliance on software intensive systems-cyber systems can make nations exposed to warfare without violence. With the escalating use of computers in military and government, there has been a growing awareness of both a new susceptibility in national infrastructure and a new method of attacking one’s enemies. Cyber Warfare could mean winning wars without firing shots, the shutting down of entire national infrastructures at the push of a button, and the complete exploitation or destruction of an enemy’s communication networks. It could mean threats from across the world by states with no ability to launch a conventional attack just by using cheap laptops. In conclusion nations and their critical infrastructures are becoming increasingly dependent on computer networks for their operation. Also as armies around the world are transforming from a platform centric to a network centric force there is increasing reliance on networking technology. With all the advantages of such connectivity come unprecedented challenges to network security. Today we have unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as drones, is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard. Its flight is controlled either autonomously by onboard computers or by the  remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle. It allows us to keep soldiers lives safe it were to go down. Putting drones together with the futures technology create a new idea of a drone. In the future computers will become more intelligent and will be able to decide answers in situations. Putting a computer like that into a drone will create a weapon of mass destruction. The drone will be able to make lethal decisions without the command of a human. Within the next ten years our drones will become a lot more technologically advanced. Soon the drones will be able to choose and make lethal decisions by itself without the command or control of a human. The military has access to the Military Imaging and Surveillance Technology. The Military Imaging and Surveillance Technology (MIST) program can develop a fundamentally new optical capability that can provide high-resolution 3-D images to locate and identify a target at much longer ranges than is possible with existing surveillance systems. Within the next decade our surveillance will be so technologically advanced that the military will be able to look up anyone in the world and pinpoint their exact location and view what kind of activities they are participating in. Joining the military will be tough trying to keep up with today’s expectations in intelligence and technology. But getting to be able to live my dream and do what I have always wanted to do with allow me to strive to accomplish whatever means necessary.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) invested internationally with the intention of sourcing capital to expand its operations in china. The bank targeted the international markets as they readily have adequate capital. In addition, ICBC wanted an opportunity to increase its wealth, manage bank risks, and increase its loan productivity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Industrial and Commercial Bank of China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More ICBC is China’s biggest bank, with 6.45 trillion in assets. Due to high demand of money, the ICBC issued equity to both domestic and the global markets. The aim of the Initial Public Offer (IPO) was to upgrade its domestic operations and extend its lead in corporate lending and the potentially huge credit card market in China (Akerlof, 1970) Due to the excellent performance of the Chinese economy, the investors felt a strong need to invest in ICBC’s IPO; as t hey expected to make huge profits. By then, China’s economy was growing by 10 % a year. Many corporate investors were attracted by the banks IPO, including Goldman Sachs Group, American Express and Germany’s Allianz just to mention but a few. Diversification was a critical consideration that inspired ICBC in its decision to go international. Essentially, the bank wanted to spread risk by investing in other companies, individual investors and firms outside China (Akerlof, 1970).). Hedging the banks currency against risky exposures was a very essential benefit that ICDC expected through issuing of equities in the international markets. As such, the currency exchange value was a significant factor in making such a global investment. ICBC wanted to generate monetary gain from those economies that had lower money value in comparison with China, therefore selling more equities with the same amount of capital (Abbey, 2007) One of the key factors that attracted international i nvestors to China’s ICBC was the fact that China had been voted as one of the best attractive investment destinations in the world .The American Chamber of Commerce had continually reported that American firms’ that operated in China were more profitable than its counterparts in the United States, hence drawing attention to foreign investors. Indeed, ICBC had consistently rewarded investors with higher stock prices and dividends hence sending the attractive signals to foreign investors. In addition, ICBC investors were promised higher interest rates in their fixed deposits. ICBC’s returns on equities were associated with multiple indicators including interest rates, exchange rates, stock prices, commodity prices and minimum returns. Similarly, ICBC offered attractive customized products for its home and foreign investors (Abbey, 2007)Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of ICDC’s recent reviews revealed that the banks experienced critical default risks on more than a quarter of more than 8 Billion Yuans lent to local governments and other investors across the country. This puts the investors at a risk in the event that the bank is liquidated. Apparently, ICBC scrutinized its loans at some point, spreading the risk among other investors. Lack of transparency could also be an issue to investors as it can lead to loss of money especially through corruption (Lee, 2003). The process of Chinese capital market modernization can create complications. For instance, foreign strategic investors’ participation in China has dropped drastically because of barriers stemming from bank reforms and recapitalizations in recent times. Another challenge that the ICBC faced was the complex relationship between Chinas balance of trade and the value of its currency. In conclusion, global market is a large market that helps investor s raise capital from foreign markets. Such a move helps the banks across the world to increase wealth, manage bank risks, and increase loan productivity (Abbey, 2007) References Abbey, N. H. (2007) The Methodology of Positive Economics, Essays in Positive Economics. London: University of Chicago Press Akerlof, G. A. (1970). The Market for International Banks: Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 84(3), 488–500. Lee, A. (2003). Do We Really Need Central Bank Independence? A Critical Re- examination. London: University of Connecticut

Construction and Deconstruction - Function Research Paper

Construction and Deconstruction - Function - Research Paper Example In doing so, the artist seeks to produce with the onlooker a dialogue one that fills us with appreciation or apprehension about the world, others and ourselves. The Uses of Deconstruction Deconstruction has often been used or shock or stun the onlooker in the tradition of surrealism. Deconstructive art believes that we should not rely on any previous assumptions (Mundy, 2001). In general parlance, we can equate this to describing the meaning of a word by using another group of words. So we will find that there is a hierarchical or strong-weak or teacher-student relationship between the words generally used in a language. This is frowned upon by the followers of deconstructive art. Such artists believe as much in the importance of leaving things out as in conveying no specific meaning. Though deconstruction has been criticised as a nihilistic and frivolously sceptical pursuit, yet some scholars have welcomed it as a useful reminder in, perhaps, politics where what is said is sometimes less important than what is purposefully left out. Deconstructive art can inversely remind us of the importance of structuralism in our lives and how it aids us in constructing logic and giving meaning to language, thought etc. Alternatively, it can also form a basis for equating things that we normally never do, being of interest to inventors etc. I will now proceed to comment on the works of a number of different practitioners of deconstructive art, trying to fathom what message they are trying to convey through their works. The Works of Mona Hatoum Mona Hatoum (born 1952) is a Lebanese artist but has resided in the UK ever since the days of the war in 1975. She has never regarded herself as a Lebanese and her love of art was never encouraged by her family especially her father, since he wanted her to do something more practical in life. While in exile in London, she had a chance to study at the Slade School of Art and the Shaw School of Art. Mona was especially interested in Min imalism and the psychological manifestation of art. In her own words: â€Å"I don’t think art is the best place to be didactic- I don’t think the language of visual art is the most suitable for presenting clear arguments, let alone for trying to convince, convert or teach† (Archer et al, 1997). Mona surprises by using seemingly innocuous materials to convey messages of fear, danger and isolation. One of her first works, ‘Measures of Distance’ (1988) is a video tape she recorded that shows the distances between Arab and Western society, between male and female gender, between war and peace, freedom and exile. It is a monologue by her mother and a reply to all her questions. It speaks of fragmentation, of not knowing one’s place in society, of the dangers in living in Lebanon during the war. It appeals to the senses and the heart in a particularly personal way if you hear the work using headphones (as I did). In ‘Silence’ (1994) Mo na uses glass tubing to construct a child’s bed, reflecting the vulnerability of the child being hurt by glass in a place it equates with comfort, thus, there is a paradox here as well. In ‘Mexican Cage’ (2002) Mona again depicts the plight of Mexican workers. They are enslaved by low wages and even bonded labour. The red, blue, orange and white colours of the cage look so inviting but we must remember that it is a

Influence and Change in Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Influence and Change in Organizations - Essay Example The ‘best practices’ primarily suggest clarity of purpose. This implies that the underlying problem needs to be identified – why is change needed and how these surveys could influence change. To implement best practices, the organization must be able to communicate and have a clear understanding with the employees on why the organization is undertaking the 360 degree feedback survey (Wimer & Nowack, 2006). There should be no assumptions that it would inevitably lead to enhanced leadership skills (McCarthy & Garavan, 2007). This necessitates that the entire process must be explicitly explained which could help overcome management resistance. This would also ensure rater receptivity because unless the managers accept the feedback they would not engage in development planning. Beliefs about change influence acceptance and hence perceptions of fairness is essential. Multisource feedback is supposed to limit biases and hence anonymity of some raters may have to be main tained. Anonymous raters tend to be candid and positive and usually provide a higher rating (CCL, 2011). However, who rates who is important and if managers are not receptive to certain raters, the effect of MSF is nullified. Thus while some raters should be anonymous, managers should also be allowed to choose some raters. If they are allowed to choose all the raters biases could creep in. Raters should be selected on the basis of the objective criteria and should be jointly selected by the rater and the rate. This would enhance acceptance and perceptions of fairness. To ensure employee readinesss, organizational culture should be supportive to conduct the 365-degree feedback survey (Morgeson, Mumford & Campion, 2005). If the managers have the confidence in the system and perceive fairness, they would be highly likely to make changes. Specific training interventions could help educate the managers about the process, the intentions and the expected outcome (McCarthy & Garavan, 2007). Rater training may help eliminate errors and also help eliminate cynicism from within the organization as cynicism can reduce the impact of the MSF. Rater training should include, in addition to training in reliable and accurate ratings, discussions on how the survey instrument was created and how the information will be used. Besides, anonymity should be assured through confidentiality (Morgeson, Mumford & Campion, 2005). Confidentiality of the rating process is also important and critical to the success of the process. The recipients or the raters too need to be trained in acceptance of the ratings and on how to handle negative feedback. Morgeson, Mumford and Campion (2005) found that most organizations used the surveys for developmental purposes and that it should categorically not be used to determine salaries. When used for developmental purpose the data is the property of the people being rated while when used for administrative purposes, the organization owns the data. To ac hieve the best results, people should be given control of their own data (Wimer & Nowack, 2006). People will feel empowered if they can choose with whom and to what extent they share their feedback. However, the feedback recipient should have access to a trained feedback giver who has experience with assessment. The recipients should also be provided guidance on how to share data and use it constructively. However, an overwhelming amount of data may