My Aim in Life Essay

Aim is the target which we want to achieve towards which our physical and mental abilities are focused. Life is the period which starts from the time of birth and ends at death. People have their own strength, culture and liking. Depending upon these elements people have different kinds of aims in life. For example, some people are doctors, engineers, Charter Accountants, pilots, teachers and many more. Our life is too short so we have to strive to attain our aim with all our hard work. The main objective for achieving the aim is to get material pleasures, mental happiness as well as satisfaction. Once a person achieves his aim he can live a prosperous life. My aim in life is to become a successful gynecologist. Gynecologist is a doctor which deals with the health of female reproductive system. To accomplish this aim I am planning to study +2 in India taking Science as the main subject after I attend my SLC examinations. After that I want to become a medical student of a top university of gynecology. I will attend different kinds of trainings, research and programs. This profession is also respected all over the world. I have been inspired by one of the top gynecologist of Nepal, Dr. Supatra Koirala. The present scenario of the reproductive healthcare of the women in Nepal in overall is not satisfactory. Due to this, the maternal and child mortality rate of our country is very high. I would conduct different awareness programs in the remote areas of our country and provide free medical services to the economically back warded people and be a helping hand for the development of my country. Thus, once I achieve my aim I would help to improve the reproductive and sexual healthcare of the women countrywide. I want to make the women of my society healthier and happier. By becoming a gynecologist, I would live a prosperous life and be a productive and global citizen of my country.

Studying chromosome 11 of the human genome

In this paper I will be studying chromosome 11 of the human genome. Specifically, I will be researching some of the diseases that occur when there are mutations in the genes on chromosome 11. Five specific diseases will be looked at and studied in detail: the Sickle Cell Anemia gene, the MLL gene which causes Trisomy 11, the H19 gene which causes Beckwith-Weideman Syndrome, the WT1 and PAX6 genes which causes Wilm's Tumor syndrome, and finally, the work being done on the genes of Chromosome 11q22-q24 regarding cervical carcinoma. The following research was all acquired from the NCBI online database. Read this Ch. 22 Respiratory System The HBB gene which causes Sickle Cell Anemia, is found on chromosome 11p15. 4. This gene causes an inherited blood disorder, mainly effecting people from the African continent (1/500), but also people from the Mediterranean and South Asian countries. (NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) Approximately 8% of the African American population are carriers; often, this gene is associated with malaria occurrence, as carriers are somewhat protected against malaria. (NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal (not sex related) recessive disease caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin beta gene. When a mutation occurs, the HBB gene produces a structurally abnormal hemoglobin (Hb), called HbS. (NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) Hb is a protein which carries oxygen and gives red blood cells their distinctive color. In individuals who are homozygous for HbS, the abnormal HbS can bunch together, distorting the red blood cells into sickled shapes [as shown in Figure 1]. These clusters can only occur if the HbS is placed under certain circumstances or conditions, such as high hemoglobin concentrations or low oxygen levels. NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) When the mutated and rigid red blood cells become trapped within small blood vessels, they block the vessels causing pain and eventual damage to the organs in the body. (NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) Although a cure has not yet been found, medical advancements have allowed for the treatment of symptoms and complications associated with Sickle Cell Anermia. Hydroxyurea, an antitumor drug, has been used to induce the formation of fetal Hb (HbF), which is normally found in the fetus or newborn. When fetal Hb is present in persons with Sickle Cell Anemia, Hydrozyurea can prevent sickling from occuring. NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) The MLL gene which causes Trisomy 11 is located on chromosome 11q23. A mutation in this gene is a â€Å"very rare chromosomal disorder caused by a duplication (trisomy) of the end (distal) portion of the long arm of chromosome 11. † (Genetic Information and Patient Services, November 2003) This disorder is most often noticeable at birth; some characteristic features of the disorder are â€Å"delayed mental and physical development, retarded growth of the fetus during pregnancy and of the child after birth, an unusually small brain (microencephaly), and/or distinctive facial features. (Genetic Information and Patient Services, November 2003) The MLL gene can produce a type of leukemia which effects both sexes and mainly adults at an average age of 60. (Dessen & Huret, 2002) In general terms, trisomy refers to â€Å"the condition of having three copies of a given chromosome in each somatic cell rather than the normal number of two. † (Dictionary. com) The leukemia is specifically acute myeloid leukemia or AML. This syndrome is caused by only a partial tandem duplication of the MLL gene on chromosome 11. Dessen & Huret, 2002) A recent study has shown that â€Å"MLL tandem duplications are less common than previously reported. † (Schnittger, October 2003) Also, the MLL tandem duplications â€Å"are preferentially observed in AML with normal karyotypes, but can also be found in the presence of chromosome alterations. † (Schnittger, October 2003) Two scientists, Cheryl Shuman and Rosanna Weksberg studied the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, also referred to as BWS syndrome. The information for BWS syndrome is from their reports on their studies. Their studies show that â€Å"chromosome abnormalities involving 11p15 are found in 1% or less of cases. † (Shuman, 10 April 2003) This syndrome can occur with mutations of many different genes on chromosome 11: mutations in genes IGF2 and H195, 5-10% of sporadic cases and 40% of familial cases had mutations in the CDKNIC gene, 50% of cases had a loss of methylation at the KCNQIOT1 gene, and in 10-20% of patients, â€Å"paternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 11p15 [was] observed. † (Shuman, 10 April 2003) In diagnosing BWS, two major and one minor characteristic must be obvious out of a list of possible criteria. Some major criteria include: history of BWS in the family, macrosomia, abnormal earlobe pits or creases, an embryonal tumor in childhood, Hemihyperplasia (an asymmetric overgrowth of a area/areas of the body), and possibly a cleft palate. (Shuman, 10 April 2003) Some minor criteria include: premature birth, Neonatal hypoglycemia, advanced bone aging, and monozygotic twinning (usually in the females). (Shuman, 10 April 2003) If one parent has uniparental disomy (UPD), then prenatal testing is done to test for BWS syndrome in the fetus. Shuman, 10 April 2003) Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome is found in approximately 1 out of 13, 700 cases across the world. However, this number is probably slightly low as there are many milder cases that often go undiagnosed. In children born with BWS, there is a 20% mortality rate due to premature birth. Often, children born with BWS develop Wilms Tumor or other tumors. (Shuman, 10 April 2003) Dr. Alan Gandy summarizes Wilms tumor as an â€Å"embryonal renal neoplasm which is characterized usually by an abdominal mass. (Gandy, 1 March 1995) Wilms tumour is caused by the deletion of the gene WT2-1 on chromosome 11p13. Proper function of this gene is to encode a DNA-binding protein that is most often found in the fetal kidney â€Å"and in tissue that gives rise to the genitourinary system. † (Gandy, 1 March 1995) The DNA-binding protein is expected to be a â€Å"Kruppel-like zinc-finger protein. † (Gandy, 1 March 1995) However, the inactivation of WT2-1 causes the Wilms Figure 2: Wilms Tumor tumor. (Gandy, 1 March 1995) This tumor is prevalent in 1/12 000 live births and is the second most common extra cranial solid tumor in children. The tumor appears in the kidney soon after birth (6 months-10 years)[as shown in Figure 3] and is related to other cancers. (Gandy, 1 March 1995) Wilms tumor is frequently a symptom of other gene mutations, such as BWS and WAGR syndrome. (Gandy, 1 March 1995) Features of the Primary Wilms tumor include abdominal mass [as shown in Figure 2], abdominal pain, hypertension, and anemia etc. Metastases occurs in the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, brain and other areas to a lesser extent. (Gandy, 1 March 1995) Depending on the stage of the tumor, different actions can be taken to cure the tumor. Surgery (removal of the kidney and lymph nodes) and chemotherapy are both used as ways to manage the tumor. However, as the stages progress, likelihood of a cure is reduced. (Gandy, 1 March 1995) Studies done by G. M. Hampton et al. show that there are genes or a gene on chromosome 11 that has the ability to â€Å"[suppress] tumorigenicity in cell lines derived from different histopathological types of cervical carcinoma, suggesting that aberration of this gene(s) may represent at least one of the additional changes required for tumorigenic progression. ( Hampton, 19 July 1994) The suppressor gene specified is between 11q22 and q24. A study was performed on 32 patients with cervical carcinoma to conclude which genes were required for tumorigenic progression. â€Å"Of the 32 patients examined, 14(44%) demonstrated clonal genetic alterations resulting in loss of heterzygosity for one or more markers. Seven of the clonal genetic alterations on chromosome 11 were specific to the long arm, and the overlap between these and other allelic deletions suggest that a suppressor gene(s) relevant to cervical carcinoma maps to chromosome 11q22-q24. â€Å"( Hampton, 19 July 1994) In conclusion, Chromosome 11 of the Human genome contains over 1000 genes. Of the many, this essay looks at 5 specifically in order to gather information on the genes of this chromosome. Through the closes study of Sickle Cell Anemia, Trisomy 11, Beckwith-Weideman Syndrome, Wilm's Tumor syndrome, and the genes of Chromosome 11q22-q24 regarding cervical carcinoma, one can gather a better understanding of the genes on chromosome 11, and the type of mutations that occur. Although the Humane Genome Project is relatively new, there is already much information that has been revealed and still much more to be discovered.

Competitive Analysis

Competitive Analysis One of the few advantages Japed has over its competitors is that they are t he most welkin hot dog stand in Vancouver. As they were awarded â€Å"Best of Vance feed' 3 years consecutively. Shops located at the YVES airport, Robinson Street, and Richmond d has proven to be very successful towards the company. These locations provide easy ace usability for potential consumers. The airport provides people from all over the world to g Arab a quick bite before their next flight. What better thing to grab than a cultural fusion hot do g a customer has never tried before?The convenience of Japed makes it easier for busy pep el, and hence why the restaurant location is on Robinson . While providing convenience for cue stokers, Japed also brings a unique taste to the market. This unique taste can be thou ought of as an advantage over other hot dog vendors/ restaurants. This differential advantage in culture can attract many consumers roaming around the area. The North Am erican culture e for comfort food usually consists of hamburgers, fries, and most importantly for Japed; hot dogs.This is one of the main reasons why Japed was able to gain its popularity; an teeth nice, distinct, flavors fusion of one of the most loved snacks in North America. The difference between Japed and other hot dog stands are the unique vary ties that they offer. Such as Spading signature hot dog topped with Tertiary sauce e, mayo and seaweed, these are the kinds of ingredients that makes their products unique . The price range of Japed starts from $5 for a simple hot dog $12 for a full meal inch duding its specialty hot dog, fries and a drink.Japed faces numerous competitors in d owe Anton Vancouver and many other food trucks, but with the increase of Japanese rest rants in the area, Sapwood's business has grown significantly. Japed has become very pop alular as the people of Vancouver have grown a love for Japanese cuisine. Other food trucks provide cuisines such as Mexic an cuisine are slightly more pricey than Japed. The price varies around $7 $14, despite the price, although the quantity that is given is also fulfilling, we have found the reputation, value and the taste oft he product Japed offers is on par with or surpasses other food stand competitors.Alone g with the product, Japed has the highest number of food stands in Vancouver, thus gig vying them a location advantage and easy accessibility over its competitors. The countless mount of flavors is also a major advantage that Japed possess. Currently with 13 SP Cecilia and 7 traditional hot dogs, as well as a separate category of fries, Spading menu pr vides customers an abundance of choices compared to other competitors. The main competitors of Japed are the other neighboring street vendors a ND obviously, other hot dog stands.Other vendors that have their own cultural TA set such as Mexican, Greek, Chinese or Persian are also a threat towards them. Fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Church's Chicken and Wendy are also great threats to Jaw padded. The rice range for a burger in McDonald's is around 5 dollars and the meal is ABA UT 8 dollars and this is one of the reason why Japed is making less profit comparing to chain deed fast food restaurants. Fasted chains such as McDonald's and Wend's have been established for a longer time. They are very welkin to society and that's the greatest competitive a advantage they have.Established competitors usually take advantage of using television com Americas to advertise their new product or even a special package deal. Since Japed is q tie new compared to bigger fast food chains such as McDonald's, their locations are r stricter to only downtown Vancouver and Richmond Birdhouse strain station. They are no t as exposed as other fast food chains that have been around for a longer time. Spading AC accessibility is strictly towards the people roaming around downtown and Richmond Bright use strain station.Even with the excepti onal taste and popularity of Japed, there will be a few downsides. One of the few is that not all people like hot dogs. This difference I n taste may cause slower sales compared to competitors who do not only have hotdogs, but burgers, wraps, or salads. However, during the Winter Olympics that was held in Vance ever, Japed has experienced their busiest time with nearly 1 00 people lining up at one Tim e for the Japanese style hotdogs everyday, showing how they can provide sales with eve n only the menu selection of hotdogs, fries or drinks.In conclusion, after analyzing Spading competitive advantage we can see that t they are continually a very successful local food vendor comparing to other local of odd vendors, but must take further steps in order to grow internationally. Although there are n onerous factors that they must take carefully into consideration in order to further progress t heir business successfully.

Summarize articles and write opinion about the articles Essay

Summarize articles and write opinion about the articles - Essay Example Institutions such as the University of California face challenges from their policies and values while private institutions and colleges have a level of freedom that offers them an advantage. Solutions such as privatization, greater government responsibility, and enlisted public support, efficient use of resources, better leadership, and long-term focus however exist for the tough choices facing research universities. The situation further establishes uncertainties on future productivities, resource utilization, and effects of resource constraints. Research universities however remain a necessity that faces challenges from its environment (Kerr 184- 197). The author succeeds in discussing the dilemma of research universities that are necessary in the society but faces challenges of resource constraints and competition from other institutions. This may threaten service delivery of the research universities, force them to compromise towards sustainability, and therefore lose their core objective. The hard choices that the universities face are therefore significant macro social problems and stakeholders in the public and private sectors should collaborate to preserve the universities’ stake. The article explores the history of colleges and notes challenges that colleges faced in the ancient period. The author focuses on problems that faced colleges to their ultimate collapse with scarcity of different resources such that a college that has a type of asset lacked other necessary assets for its operations. Despite this, there was hope and Absalom Peters envisioned the United States as a land of colleges. This manifested years later and at a period, England’s population of 23 million had only four universities while the state of Ohio had 37 higher learning institutions for its three million-population size. The major problem in the early colleges in the

Chinatown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chinatown - Essay Example Good investigators avoid jumping to conclusions and do not consider face value as the actual perception of the person under observation. In the whole movie one could gauge that Jack kept on concluding his analysis all too very quick. And much to his dismay all his findings were wrong, the result of such assumptions can be attributed to his un-composed and unsteady temperament. Jack lacked the required amount of self confidence for his particular field. The past experience can be held responsible for the low self confidence. One can guess that betrayal and unsuccessful career as a police officer has conditioned him to suspect the same in his job as a private investigator. The field of PI (private investigation) requires strong logical thinking and analysis. The domain of logical thinking is one of the innate characteristics of the private investigator. Jack’s logical thinking was weak as scene throughout the movie. He could not make out the relationships between the characters of his case and at times had to use force to take information out from the client. Like the instance when he repeatedly slapped Evelyn to find out about her sister. A good investigator interchanges his logical and creative thinking to come to a sound conclusion and as Jack was very straight forward by nature he could not figure out the tangled issues of the case and this was one of the reasons for his failure. Another pre-requisite for a good private investigator is the technical expertise and experience. When Jack received the case from the bogus Evelyn he was rather new to the field of investigation and therefore could not differentiate the fake Evelyn from the actual one. Good investigators perform background check before taking on an assignment so that they are sure that their client is real and that case is authentic. In Jake’s case the plot was dicey as the Mrs. Evelyn who came for marital surveillance of her husband Mulwray was not the real Mrs. Evelyn Mulwray. But Jac k took the case and started the search for Mulwray only to find him dead and ended up suspecting the wrong convict. Jack lacked the experience and knowledge for solving the case, due to this he was set up in a plot by the person who wanted to search for Mulwray. So instead of putting others in a setup he became a victim himself. In the investigation field the cases can be divided into three categories: neighborhood assignment, social assignment and work assignment. In the neighborhood assignments the investigator becomes a part of the client’s neighborhood and observes to solve the case. In social assignment the investigator follows the suspect around the social settings of pubs, markets and other public places. Work assignments are office related and pertain to the office environment and its surroundings. Jack’s case was a hybrid of neighborhood and social assignment. When Jake and Evelyn went to the posh locality, they disguised themselves as one of them to get in. A lso Jake followed Mulwray to find out about his girlfriend only later we came to know that she was Evelyn’s sister. The lack of experience led Jack to conclude that the girlfriend had

Bonds, which tie people to the places they live Essay

Bonds, which tie people to the places they live - Essay Example It is often in the midst of an environment that is foreign to them that people tend to have a feeling of nostalgia for their previous lives, which was their comfort zone, and actually regret the cutting of those bonds, which tied them to their previous lives. It can be said that severing old ties or bonds is a necessary part of an attempt to gain one’s freedom from cultures, which have only a one-dimensional view of the world, and learning about other cultures. In this way, people end up being more cosmopolitan and by being cosmopolitan; it encourages them to have a more focused view of the world, free of the prejudices, which often make people very narrow-minded. The question that one should ask himself is whether they made the right choice in severing their old bonds or whether they should have kept these ties. One of the most important bonds that human beings have is the bond to family. This is the bond that one does not choose to have, and is instead born into and it is th e closest bond an individual can have. Family is very important thing to the human being and it is the first society that he experiences. Not only is it the first socializing factor in one’s life, but it is also the most influential considering the fact that the parents often raise their children to be responsible and successful people in society and to do this, they instill in them the virtues which are considered desirable by the rest of the society. The bonds, which tie one to one’s family are often very strong, even though one does not choose which families they belong to, these bonds are permanent. The only way through which one can break the family bonds is perhaps through the death of all of one’s family, and this is a very rare thing. However, there are times when even the bonds of family can be broken. A good example of this is in Adichie’s Headstrong Historian where Anikwenwa rejects everything concerning his mother once he is converted to Chris tianity. Not only does the bond, which tied him to his mother, get broken, but also Anikwenwa ends up losing the virtues, which his mother had taught him since childhood, and instead, he adopts those from another culture. This severance of bonds is permanent, and mother and son do not look eye to eye on matters again until the former’s death (Adiche 212). In addition, another bond, which is also very hard to break, is the bond of origins. A person’s origins are very important to him and many people often display a sense of pride in it. When people immigrate to a new country, for example, they often take with them fond memories of their countries of origin and tend to compare their progress in their new home to that of their old one. Many carry the customs and practices of their old country to their new one and they continue practicing them due to their belief that the culture in which they were born is better than the one they have come to live within. Not only do they continue to practice this culture, but they also have great pride in it. However, there is often a great bitterness among the first generation immigrants to a new culture when their children and grandchildren adopt the culture of their adopted country instead of continuing with the culture of the old country. The younger generation

Managing Quality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Managing Quality - Essay Example ting the quality delivery of healthcare and also to look at the possible ways in eradicating the vices and also approaches to gauging and enforcing quality systems and standards. The report also discusses the delivery of quality service by involving the service users and how this will help in promoting quality and effective delivery at The Royal United Hospital Bath. The primary aim of this report is recommend and facilitate the ways of improving quality in healthcare and social organizations through monitoring, regulating, and implementing every aspect of service delivery. In addition, the report recommends various means of improving quality at The Royal United Hospital Bath by classifying factors influencing quality and the areas of improvement. Finally, the report also targets to evaluate different structured approaches to achieve high quality of health care deliver by providing evidence in order to define the essentiality of adequate quality management. Quality of health care and social care aspects has become a serious concern for healthcare settings. In health care and social care, quality is the most fundamental aspect being considered in improving the productivity and efficiency of service delivery. As a matter of fact, quality is defined in a number of ways and literally as the degree of excellence in doing something. In healthcare and social care sectors, quality management is very important in providing the best care for services uses and to achieve high quality outcome. It is extremely important for the within health and social sectors to work efficiently together in order to help them implement appropriate approaches and strategies in increasing the quality of services. In health and social care sector the NHS Outcomes Framework has illustrated five domains of quality as follow; enable people to recover effectives from period of illness or injury, promoting quality of life for individuals diagnosed with long-term condition, avoiding early dead,

Computer---group report,read the requirement i send you carefully Essay

Computer---group report,read the requirement i send you carefully - Essay Example This makes this framework a good tool for planning of business processes. This tool is also instrumental in identifying whether new business lines should be exploited or whether they are unprofitable. This tool can however be illuminating when it is used in understanding the balance of power which is in other situations. The analysis in the paper focuses in a Chinese E-Commerce industry using the Porters analysis. Porter believed that it was possible determining the attractiveness of the industry through looking at some of the external factors. The five external forces discussed includes; (Qi 2008) Competitive rivalry within the industry The bargaining power of the suppliers The bargaining power of the customers Possible threat of the new entrants in the market Possible threat of the substitute products The above forces are also some of the main players in the business market and the bargaining and interaction existing between five forces. The interaction is of great importance and c ritical when it comes to determining the competitive extent of a business in a given industry. The discussion below will focus on the implementation of a competitive analysis through the application of Porters Five Force Model. It will also analyze the intensity of competition in the B2B Chinese market. (Snier & Henk 1995) Competitive rivalry within an industry- medium Any competition rivalry that exists among firms in an industry is the level by which the firm responds to various competitive moves of other firms which are in the industry. Different new drafted reports and data indicate that with increased applications of the internet use, B2C and other models used in e-commerce have been booming in the recent past in terms of its growth. A myriad of businesses have embraced the use of technology in various businesses they do. Almost all the businesses have applied technology to research a number of its clients across the globe. Based on the current analysis and reports which is the third quarter of 2011, the monitoring data of B2C indicated that during its third quarter of the year 2011, the market transaction of B2C went high by 137%. The supply was also recorded at levels high which came from the increased demand for some of the services which are provided. From the data which was released by CNZZ, during the calendar year of 2010, the total number of B2C website went high to a speed of 10,100 in December to about 1.18 million. The difference indicated a growth rate of about 20.45%. The average growth rate of the firm exceeded the total growth speed in the e-commerce industry. The information obtained from CNZZ shows that there The other factor that has been stated to be responsible for the high intensity in the internal competion is the existence of large B2C websites. Some of these websites includes Amazon, Dangdang, Jingdong and QQ Mall among others. For instance in the year 2011, a number of existing B2C websites have tighten their campaigns in order to compete each other. For example QQ Mall’s first move was to launch a program called million marketing resources in the run. This program was a commitment to firms in ensuring that they provide a high quality, low cost and an efficient commerce platform. The users were only expected to pay a total amount of 20,000 Yuan deposit costs besides removing all the fees which are related to the technical costs. Another website Dangdad is committed to ensuring

How can product innovation help build competitive advantage for Essay

How can product innovation help build competitive advantage for cosmetic firms in London Case Unilever - Essay Example The researcher states that intense competition from globalisation, more sophisticated consumers from the fragmentation of markets, and constant changes in technology have forced the companies in the last two decades to focus on the process of product development. These three forces that lead to the process of product development also intensified competition between firms. According to Porter the process of product development is characterised by the continuing need to research new materials and introduction of innovations in their product lines. This fact can be considered an important factor to competitiveness in the sector. In this highly competitive and globalised world, according to Gerry and Whittington, companies have changed the way they conduct business. However, organisation must bring new ideas such as product innovation and management, which can be used as a tool to achieve higher productivity. The modern enterprise world is full of innovation that can help build competiti ve advantage. In virtually every field companies are faced with new products, new processes and new services which are available to the consumer market at a pace never seen before. The velocity of the transformations of the last decade is impressing even in the largest companies.To achieve a position of market leadership it is not the product quality that matters; product innovation is an essential ingredient to gain competitive advantage. Products, processes and services are the new aggregate values which generate advantages over competitors. Innovators have a considerable advantage over the other participants in various consumer markets. (Burgelman and Grove 2007). In the past decade, product innovation has been approached by many authors, scholars, businessmen and academics. Every business wants to be innovative, but they sometimes encounter obstacles and difficulties which block the path to product innovation. In trying to be innovative in the pursuit to gain competitive advanta ge, an organization can face several difficulties. For instance, there could be restriction of resources or they could have difficulties in implementing an environmental and an innovative organisational culture that emerge due to the resistance (Makari 2000). In addition, they may not reach a suitable level of innovation. The cosmetics industry includes the areas of personal care, perfumery and cosmetics. The cosmetics companies focus on product development to gain competitive advantage. The product development process, according to Gill and Johnson (2011), is characterised by the continuing need for research in new materials and introduction of innovations in its product lines. This fact can be considered an important factor to achieve competitiveness in the sector. There is heterogeneity in this industry, because of the presence of large international companies, diversified and specialised in the sector of cosmetics, is contrasted with a large number of small and medium-sized comp anies with operations focused in the production of cosmetics (Gill and Johnson 2011). According to Gerry and Whittington (2011) transnational corporations adopt strategies defined with respect to the development of new products by investing in specialised centres of research and development (R & D), in partnerships that are external and in management processes with structured knowledge. Small and medium sized businesses often lack the necessary capital to carry out research and development. They are apprehensive of investment or an economic-financial situation as they are aware of the risks inherent in new product development. Also, many of these companies do not have knowledge management essential for product development processes.. London predominantly has the presence of l

Alcohol Beverage Essay Example for Free

Alcohol Beverage Essay Throughout the history of television, viewers have raised many questions about alcohol advertising. How is advertising affecting us? Does it have an impact on alcohol abuse or alcohol related disease and death? Does advertising influence alcohol consumption? In this essay, I will mainly concentrate on why such alcoholic advertisements should be restricted; and to what extent should any governments be able to control advertising. My personal opinion that I maintain is that I agree with having restrictions on alcoholic beverages’ advertisements on TV, by focusing more on responsible drinking and on problems that drinking causes every year because of irresponsibility of its consumer. I also stand by my opinion because young people are negatively affected by those ads, since there are no messages for responsible action while drinking. Moreover, statistics show that alcohol-related admissions to hospital in United States have reached 20% in 1995. With other words, most of cases sent to our hospitals were alcohol related, which potentially leads to violence, accidents and health issues. Alcohol is thought to cause thirty thousand premature deaths a year. Therefore, it may cause physical and mental harm to its consumers. The two main media tools that help advertising for alcohol are Televised programs and radio channels. These giant corporations make millions of dollars advertising for alcoholic beverages with having minimal advices on responsible drinking and reckless behaviors that can be caused primarily because of it. My personal believe is that too excessive exposure to alcoholic advertisement can increase consumption and influence peoples attitudes towards alcohol especially for youngster as they have not formed the correct understanding of it. In order to prevent the large amount of alcoholic advertising that appears on media, over the last few decades, government have set far stricter guidelines and regulations concerning alcohol. Some of these limitations and restrictions are particularly made for advertising for alcoholic drinks. Some of these restrictions include limiting the timing of advertisements on television and allow alcohol related ads to be displayed only after 10:00pm, which will avoid youth exposure to it. Nowadays, Alcohol advertisement is at its peak on sport events. This is why prohibiting the liquor company from being the official sponsor in sport must be considered. As Professor Gilmore said, limitations should include alcohol sponsorship in sport, as the alcohol was being advertised 24 hours a day. Besides, the contents of advertisement should be restricted, images like violence and potential crime should be forbidden, as it is easy for young people doing the same things that show on television. On the other hand, both in public and private sectors are responsible in joining their efforts to help to set out limitations and restrict alcohol promotion and sales through ads. For instance, clubs should abolish the unlimited drinks to a certain time only with fixed amount of money, and restrict underage people from being exposed to a place where alcohol is heavily consumed. Besides, the price should be increased to reduce the alcohol consumption and alcohol producers should develop a new production line, as an alternative to replace alcohol. Now, alcohol has spread in our culture and society and became the symbol of fun and pleasure. Its consumption has increased more than ever did in mankind history and their effects are increasing with it as well. Advertising for alcohol is not only encouraging our youth to drink more which will affect their health but also promotes reckless and irresponsible behaviors associated with its consumption. Our government is more aware of the seriousness of this issue than ever, however further laws and restrictions must take place in the future in order to decrease its negative effects.

Theories of Keynesian Economics

Theories of Keynesian Economics Origin Keynesian economic is a macroeconomic model that used to identify the equilibrium level, and examine disruptions, total production and income. Equilibrium is when total production and income intersect with the total expenditures. The Keynesian model has three basic variations designated by several macroeconomic sectors such as two-sector, three-sector, and four-sector. Keynesian model also frequently presented in the form of injections and leakages in addition to the standard total expenditures format. Keynesian model used to study some important topics and issues such as multipliers, business cycle, fiscal policy, and monetary policy. Keynesian model normally presented as the Keynesian cross-intersection between the total expenditures line and 45 degree line. The theory was the standard macroeconomics analysis since the Great Depression of early 1980s and throughout the mid-1900s. The theory still counting to provide important insight into the working of the macroeconomic despite cross-intersection was largely substituted by total market analysis which is measured by aggregate supply and aggregate demand. Keynesian economics is established by John Maynard Keynes. The theory believe that total demand take an important role in business-cycle instability and recessions. Keynesian economics points to unrestricted government policies, especially fiscal policy as the key of stabilizing business cycle. There are some basic principles of Keynesian economics such as the General Theory of Employment, Money and Interest in Keynes’ book, published in 1936. These principles has launched the modern study of macroeconomics and worked as a conductor for macroeconomic theory and macroeconomic policies for few decades. Assumptions There are three key assumptions of Keynesian economics. First assumption if rigid prices. Keynesian economics assumes that prices is inflexible, especially in the downward direction which can stop markets to reach equilibrium. Next assumption is effective demand. Keynesian economics is according to concept of effective demand, the principle of consumption expenditures are due to disposable income that available from the household sector instead of income that available at full employment. Lastly is saving and investment determinants. Keynesian economics also believes that interest rate would affected saving and investment. In addition, household saving is depend on household income and business investment is depend on the expected profitability of production. Highlights Macroeconomic is a separate entity operating by its own principles and the standard of microeconomic market principles do not necessarily apply. Changes in total demand is the primary source that causes business-cycle instability. Markets do not reach equilibrium automatically, so full employment is not guaranteed. Persistent unemployment problems, including those taking place during the Great Depression, result due to lack of total demand. The method to sustain full employment is through government intervention, for example, government apply fiscal policy to changes government spending. Four Macroeconomic Sectors The foundation of the Keynesian model is built by the four macroeconomic sector including household, business, government, and foreign on their expenditures for total production. The four sectors are household, firms, government and foreign. Household sector refer to everyone in the economy; consumption expenditure refer to their expenses on production used for satisfaction. Business sector refer to firms that produce output; investment expenditures refer to their expenses on capital goods. Government sector refer to federal, state, and local government; government purchases refer to their expenses on production used to offer government services. Foreign sector refer to all households, businesses, and government beyond the political boundaries of the domestic economy; net exports refer to their expenditure contribution. Keynesian Equilibrium Like most economic models, Keynesian model is mainly focus on equilibrium. In general, equilibrium is when the balance between opposing forces which remains unchanged as long as another force interferes. Equilibrium is when demand meet supply in the market. Demand force is consumers who normally looking for low price and supply force is sellers who normally demand high price. In the macroeconomic, equilibrium is a balance between total expenditures and total production. There are particulars of equilibrium in the Keynesian model. Firstly, Keynesian equilibrium is a balance between total expenditures and total production. Total expenditures are the sum of expenditure on all four macroeconomic sectors. Total production is the sum of market value of all final goods and services. Secondly, the adjustment tool that reaches or maintains equilibrium is total production. If total expenditures are different to total production, then total production should make changes to meet balance. On the other hand, the adjustment tool for the total market model is the price level. If total demand is different to total supply in the market, then the price level should increase or decrease to meet balance. However, price level is an external force in Keynesian model. Thirdly, Keynesian equilibrium is only a balance between total expenditures and total production. Other aggregate markets like resource markets does not need to be in equilibrium. Shortage and surpluses can exist and always in resource markets. Therefore, full employment is not reach automatically with Keynesian equilibrium. Three Variations The Keynesian model has three common variations, each variations established on a different combination of the four macroeconomic sectors. Two sector model is the simplest Keynesian model which only refer to the household and business sectors, also called as the private sector. This variation is often used to demonstrate the basic operation of the model, including changes for equilibrium and the multiplier process. Two sector model gains the role of encouraged expenditures by household consumption and the role of self-directed expenditures by business investment. Three sector model probably is the most generally analysed variation of the Keynesian model. This variation adds the government sector into the household and business sectors. This variation is used to examine government stabilization policies, especially how fiscal policy apply in government purchases and taxes that could close the gaps of recessionary and inflationary. Four sector model consists of all four macroeconomic sectors such as household, business, government, and foreign. Interaction between domestic economy and the foreign sector often used to capture by four sector model, and also offers basis for detailed, empirically estimated models of the macroeconomics. The Multiplier An important moment of analysis carry out using Keynesian model is the multiplier. Cumulatively reinforcing encouraged interaction between consumption and production that increases self-directed expenditure changes, investment, government spending, and exports is basic of Keynesian multiplier. The core of the multiplier is that pretty small changes in independent expenditures cause fairly large overall changes in total production and income. The resulting changes in total production are typically a â€Å"multiple† of the first expenditure changes, hence the term â€Å"multiplier.† To understand how the multiplier procedure, reflect the Keynesian cross equilibrium presented. At total production of $12 trillion, total expenditures line (AE) intersects with the 45 degree line (Y=AE). This production level would change if the total expenditures line shifts. The subsequent multiplier is due to marginal propensity to consume. Increases in government purchases would increases production and income, which then encourages increase in consumption based on marginal propensity to consume. Increase in consumption would cause further changes in production and income, which then brings more impacts in consumption. Thus, a larger multiplier is based on larger marginal propensity to consume.

An Assessment Of The Political Violence In Nigeria Politics Essay

An Assessment Of The Political Violence In Nigeria Politics Essay Though man is by nature, gregarious, diversity of goals and interest among individuals and groups has made conflict leading to crises a recurrent phenomenon in human communities. To discuss about violence whether political, religious or ethnic is to also to talk about conflict which serves as the major platform for such violence. Conflict of interests creates the ground for all forms of crises and violence witnessed in Nigeria. There is need therefore to set the ball rolling by explaining the concept of conflict. According to Mkpandiok (2006, p.116), conflict occurs when two parties (individuals or groups) possess opposing goals and interests in a manner that the behavior of one or both parties threatens the other`s goal attainment. Corroborating the above opinion, Bagaji (2006, p.181) defined conflict as a situation in which one identifiable group of human beings (which could be tribal, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious, socio-economic, political or otherwise is in a state of conscious opposition to one or more other identifiable human group(s) in pursuance of what appear to be incompatible goals. Milton in Olagunju (2007, p.87) specifically maintained that real liberty is only expressed where and when complaints are freely heard, deeply considered and quickly reformed. In other words, since no society is absolutely homogenous, absolute absence of conflict is rather a demonstration of covert oppression and suppression. This is contingent on the competitions that characterize struggle for the acquisition of the social status, power and resources which are by nature limited in supply. Wright in Ologitere (2008, p.14) contends that conflict can be between individuals in a group, groups within state, factions and the state or between states. According to him conflict may refer to a particular relationship between states or rival faction within a state with implications of subjective economic or military hostilities. According to Imobighe (2008, p.20), conflict represents a condition of disharmony within an interaction process which usually occurs as a result of a clash of interest between parties involved in some forms of relationship, with the parties pursuing incompatible goals or using incompatible means to pursue their chosen goals. Okibe (2002) and Osagie (2008) in Ologitere (2008 pp.16-17) attempted to throw more light on the nature of incompatibilities that breed conflict in group interactions. To Bagaji (2006, p.154) , individuals regular compliance to rules, regulations, plans and procedures is determined by their degree of emotional attachment to the surrounding values which include their expectations from others from within or between the groups. According to him, clash of ideas, opinions, or beliefs can produce emotional antagonism and struggle between individuals and groups in any environment. He therefore defined conflict as a social interaction between individuals or groups with incompatible goals. Aduiba (2009, p.88) on the other hand contends that conflicts are propelled basically by the same factors which he identified as struggle for scarce resources, social injustice, class antagonism, unequal power relation, differences in values and interests and states and governments partisanship. Conflicts in whatever situation whether political, religious, cultural and otherwise have good results in the long run if it is violence free. Burton (1987, pp.137-138) contends that without conflicts, a society would remain static. As a creative element in human relation, he therefore, sees conflict as the means by which societal values, welfare, security, justice and opportunities for personal development can be achieved. On this note, Weeks in Ologitere (2008, p.14) thus, submitted that given our highly complex competitive and litigious society, conflict is both inevitable and inescapable. The consensus opinion of most scholars whose contributions have been discussed above is that conflict as a product of interaction, is an expression of dissatisfaction with the existing social order. It may therefore be referred to as a discord that occurs when the goals, interests or values (real or imagined) of two parties intersect at the point where the available resources or opportunities for simultaneous realization or maximization are limited. NATURE OF CONFLICT Conflict as described above, may not be necessarily avoidable but it can be prevented from assuming destructive dimension. This is facilitated by understanding the conflict proneness of a given society. The most common symptoms of conflict proneness Stewart (1998, p.35) identified include the following: (i) A serious past conflict at some time over the previous twenty years. (ii) Evidence of a considerable degree of horizontal inequality (iii) Low income; and (iv) Economic stagnation. Ogban-Iyam (2005, p.2) observed that conflict could be non violent or violent but further submitted that violent conflict is more often an extreme form of conflict that emanates from a poorly managed non violent form. He however submitted that most conflicts that have challenged the integrity of most states across Africa are both organized and violent with attendant large scale humanitarian emergencies. Contributing to the analysis of these conflicts, Gberie (2007, pp.26-35) has identified horizontal or relative inequalities as the major cause. For instance, in as much as every inequality (vertical or horizontal) is undesirable, relative (rather than absolute) is more often the underlying determinant of conflict because, group mobilization which is essential to effectiveness of conflicts is easier when there are sharp political, social and economic differences among the people. He added too that even if these indicators of relative inequalities are available, conflict may be latent until it is effectively triggered by the factors such as information, ready leadership, resources and the possibility of changing the contradiction through the force of arms. Corroborating this position, Nzongola-Natalaja (2008, p.4), while reacting to the orthodox idiolects of the underdevelopment scholars which had often blamed all African woes on what they called the `imported or `arbitrary` states of the colonial systems, contended that African leaders had ample opportunities to nurture the nationalistic sentiments they had generated in the cause of their independence struggles, if they had focused on comprehensive state-building projects through leadership integrity. According to him, the emergent ruling class rather compromised their emancipation promises shortly after they inherited the privileges of their masts. Accordingly, their idea of power soon became how to plunder the state resources solely for the benefits of themselves, their immediate families and their collectivities to the detriment of the entire people. Given the enormous powers of the state in this region, not only are the advantages and opportunities of the collectivities of these leaders outrageously visible but the competition for powers became too multiple for the narrow political spaces in most African states. Thus, instead of inter-class conflicts, most conflicts in Africa are inter-ethnic, secondary to the manipulation of group`s (ethnic) symbols by the elites of each group either to change or to maintain these existing contradictions. From this perspective, conflict does not just happen but a reaction to series of negligence of the need to address the principal causes of conflict. POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA Violence or the threat of violence as a phenomenon is human activity which has been recognized in African countries as a dimension of local, national and international politics. Individuals and groups throughout history in one form or the other resorted to violence or its potential use as a tactics of political action. Direct violence refers to acts of deliberate violence resulting in a direct attack on a person`s physical or psychological integrity. This category includes all forms of homicide (genocide, war crime, massacres, murders (terrorism) as well as all types of coercive or brutal actions involving physical or psychological suffering (kidnapping, torture, rape, maltreatment) such behavior corresponds in all instances to illegal acts running counter to the most basic of all human rights, the right to life. Salami (2006, p.99) opined that indirect violence on the other hand is intended to cover harmful, sometimes even deadly situations or actions which, due to human intervention, do not necessarily involve a direct relationship between the victims and the institution. Olagunju (2007, p.57) defined political violence as the use or threat of physical force or group of individuals within a political system against another individual or individuals, and/or property, with the intent to cause injury or death to persons and/or damage or destruction to property. Political violence is endemic in most of the world`s political system today. This is particularly true of the developing countries including societies where political violence has become a prominent feature of the political process, especially after independence. After political independence of Nigeria in 1960, it was hoped that the country will embrace and consolidate democracy devoid of political violence because of the peaceful, free and fair nature of the 1959 election, even through the results were disputed by some political parties. However, it is rather unfortunate that after independence, Nigeria has gone through a series of political violence and assassinations as the country witnessed a marked increase in the bitterness of party politics. After a long period of military rule, the ban of political activities was once again lifted and democratic rule was received in the country in 1999 with a lot of hope and expectations for a better state because the people were once again given the opportunity to participate in the ruling of their own fatherland through representation. The April, 1999 general elections were conducted in an atmosphere of relative peace and stability as much as political violence and assassinations were not witnessed. This was perhaps because the people were tired of military rule and decided to remain calm to ensure the enthronement of democracy. However, when the 2003 general election drew near, there were a lot of pointers that the country`s nascent democracy was under threat because of the spate of political violence and assassination that were witnessed in the country. During the elections, there were numerous reports of assassinations of political candidates, clashes between supporters of different politicians both within political parties and between rival parties, and intimidation and harassment of political candidates and supporters. Often ethnic and local conflicts led to political violence, supported by politicians both candidates and those holding political office and traditional rulers. The large number of firearms available in Nigeria and the creation of armed gangs enabled politicians to instigate political violence at local and state levels. Government officials and legislators were reportedly harassed and intimidated by rival candidates and their followers. More than a hundred people were killed and many more injured. The Pre-election period of the 2007 election was marked by intimidation and harassment of party candidates, violence against supporters, and several political candidates were assassinated, reportedly by political opponents. There were allegations that individual political candidates as well as some local and state political parties hired armed gangs to instigate political violence. In many cases law enforcement authorities failed to take adequate steps to protect human rights and perpetrators were not brought to justice. Several candidates running for political office in the April 2007 elections were killed, including two candidates who were standing for the state governorship in the primary elections in Lagos and Ekiti States. Many other politicians and political candidates were subjected to violent attacks and attempted killings, but managed to escape. On 3 February 2007, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a by-election in Iree, Osun State, for the National Assembly member for the Ifelodun/Pdo-Otin/Boripe federal constituency. Men heavily armed, and allegedly paid by politicians, invaded the polling booth in Iree, smashed the ballot boxes and destroyed the INEC registers used for the election. The officer who registered the voters, reported that an ANPP member, was beaten to death. Many other people were wounded. Violence erupted in Aliade, Benue State, on the weekend of 9th and 10th December 2006 after a PDP appeal panels nomination of a candidate for the House of Assembly. Rampaging youths protested against this nomination, blocked the road, attacked his supporters and torched houses. A woman prospective PDP candidate for the Senate received several threatening phone calls in October 2006 warning her that she should withdraw from politics. Several of those standing against her reportedly told her to stay out of the contest and stressed that if she continued to contest the nomination, the consequences would be more than she could handle. After two weeks, the police reportedly arrested someone who confessed that he had been hired to kill her. In November 2006, another woman prospective candidate for the Federal House of Representatives received several threats, allegedly from opponents within her own party, the PDP. She lodged a complaint with the State Police Commissioner and was put under police protection. On 18 November 2006, when she attended a political meeting in her constituency, she was again threatened by her opponent and his supporters beat her and dragged her out of the venue. Sometime this year (2010), the former Ogun State Action Congress (AC) gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 election was assassinated in the state capital. Not a few pointed accusing finger on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state as having hand in the assassination. AC is the major opposition party in the state. The cases mentioned above are just but a few out of many. THE NATURE OF THE STATE AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE There are over (250) distinct ethnic groups in the country. Post colonial politics has been dominated by the three major ethnic groups- the Hausa/ Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo. However, the minorities became restive, particularly those in the oil producing region of Nigeria. Their restiveness arises from the feeling that while the petroleum on which the country is also dependent on is found in their territories, they got little of the benefits accruing from oil revenues. Instead, they suffered environmental degradation, loss of livelihood, punitive state action that was mobilized against them by a combination of security forces and oil producing companies. For many of these ethnic groups, petroleum is a scourge rather than a blessing. This necessitated the emergence of dare devil militant youths who have taken up sophisticated arms and retorted to kidnapping and pipeline vandalism. The amnesty program me instituted by late President Yar Adua is intended to curb militancy in the Niger Delta area. The effectiveness of this program leaves more questions than answers as militancy activities are still very much on ground. A new dimension has even been introduced- Bombings. When stakeholders of the Niger Delta amnesty program gathered in Edo state in March 2010 to deliberate on the way forward, the meeting was cut short when there was a bomb blast which was planted in a car nearby. The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the blast threatening to heighten their violence if they were not included in the amnesty program. Another bombing took place in May 2010 in a hotel owned by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State which is also in the Niger Delta. He cried foul and insinuated that the Governor who had been in a feud with him was after his life. The minorities of the Niger Delta have been engaged in many instances of ethnic conflict- the Ijaws Vs Urhobos and Itsekiri and each of them Vs Chevron, the Ogori Vs Shell and the state government, these groups call for a change in the revenue allocation formula in a way that acknowledges their contribution to the state well being by rewarding them handsomely. In the middle belt, the latest Jos inter-ethnic clashes between indigenes and settlers were traumatic. The once peaceful and serene city of Jos, capital of Plateau state leaves one with much worry. Hundreds of lives were lost, properties were destroyed, and many saw Jos that used to be a tourist attraction as death zone. In Lagos and Ibadan, there were prolong clashes between a faction of the Odua peoples congress and the Hausa/Fulani Youth. Thirty years after the civil war, there is still a silent feeling by the indigbos (Elders forum of the Ibos) that the Ibo people are being marginalized and excluded from political power especially the presidency. RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA Religious violence has had its own prolonged effect on Nigeria. The menace caused by various religious violence have become a very big embarrassment to Nigeria and her citizens. In November 2002, riots and protest from some Moslem youths that were opposed to Miss World contest in Abuja led the organizers to cancel it and subsequently relocated the show to London. About 100 people lost their lives in that incident. Ironically, a lady from Turkey (a Moslem country) won the contest in London. All these religious disturbances run contrary to all efforts of the federal government to boost tourism. The talk of attracting foreign investors in the face of regular religious mayhem might be a total waste of energy and resources. Local investors are even tired of the instabilities in Northern Nigeria. A number of Ibo business people had to relocate completely to Owerri, Onitsha, Aba, Lagos etc due to these riots. Many have completely lost their means of livelihood. The truth is that a single religious crisis will have a negative multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy. Some people became armed robbers when their means of livelihoods were destroyed. Many innocent non-Moslems paid costly prices for these religious crises. The Muslim dominated northern part of Nigeria hardly has a year passed without witnessing crises between the islam faithfuls and Christians. Such crises always lead to mass killings, burning of churches and mosques as well as property. Last year a group known as Boko haram that is opposed to western education unleashed so much terror on people in trying to push their ideals that only Arab and Islamic religion is worth learning. Victor A. (@ http://countedforchrist.blogspot.com/2009/07/causes-of-religious-violence-in-nigeria.html) gives the following reasons the frequent religious crises witnessed in Nigeria: Colonial Rule System: The British Colonial rule and the administrative policy of Sir Frederick Lugard and his successors created a bedrock for muslims-christians hostility. After the conquest of northern Nigeria and the imposition of indirect rule system, Christianity was restricted. This is to ensure the continuous use of their emirate system for a good tax collection system. Later attempts therefore to extend the influence of Christianity and western education in the areas that were predominantly Muslims, gave rise to inter-religious riots in some parts of northern Nigeria. This has continued up till today. Increasing Acts of Religious intolerance: Religious intolerance means the inability of some people, be they individuals or groups to tolerate the weak or deviant behaviour of other members. In Nigerian context however, religious intolerance is vividly manifested as the inability of members of one religious group to tolerate the other, such intolerance often leads to tension, discord, hostility, and possibly violent confrontation. The Upsurge of Religious Fanaticism: The increasing incidence of violent and religious conflicts in Nigeria can be linked to the growing number of both fanatical Islamic and Christian groups in some parts of the country. These religious fanatics carry their dogma, beliefs and sectarian religious views to the extreme. They are often prepared to wage war against those who have contrary beliefs, and who maintain different mode of worship or religious principles and practice that are not acceptable to them. The fanatics have no regard for the fundamental human rights, which guarantee freedom of worship for the citizens. The United States Government agrees with this when it stated through its Secretary of state, Mrs Hillary Clinton on Monday 10th May, 2010 that religious crises in Nigeria were being fuelled by violent extremism. It said this development was one of the greatest worries of the President Barrack Obama-administration in trying to build a new relationship with the Islamic world, a US-based Nigerian news agency, E mpowered Newswire, has reported. Politics of Religion The use of religion as a tool for achieving political ends has contributed immensely to the problem of religious conflicts in Nigeria. Some politicians in Nigeria are known to engage in reactionary recourse to religious fervour as a means of either holding on the power, or as an instrument for political ascendancy. In such circumstance, their fellow religious adherent are often manifested, mobilized and utilized to achieve selfish political goals. POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN KOGI STATE Violence, under whatever guise, has a very negative impact on the life of people and has suddenly become a nightmare in political coat tormenting citizens of Kogi state. Indisputably, the political scenario in Kogi state is in consonance with Karl Maxs political philosophy resulting from political violence like killing, thuggery, blackmail destruction of lives and property as individuals struggle for selfish interest. This philosophical diction has become a landmark in Kogi state which is a macrocosm of what obtains in the country as a whole. More so, this political crises or clashes have successfully enabled other forms of violence under the umbrella of religion and ethnic crises. The Igbiras of Okene in Kogi state are known nationally for their notoriety. Their incessant massive violence with utmost brutality characterised by merciless killings has become a nightmare in Kogi state. Several lives have been lost in the past; houses, business ventures, markets, offices, cars, police stations etc were set ablaze at instances of violence. Many people over time have been rendered homeless and jobless. In Okene, anything can just cause a fight. Misunderstanding between two people resulting in a fight can graduate into inter communal clash if both parties are from different communities. Defection of a prominent person from one party to another can stem up crises among the youths. This unfortunate situation has led to mass exodus from Okene to other parts of the state. In addition to the violence in Okene and Ogaminana are the frequent crises in Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area. At every political transition period, the town becomes dreaded. The activities of thugs are at its peak there. So much that when at a time, armed policemen were deployed to the town to curb the mayhem thugs afflict on political opponents and people, the thugs overpowered the policemen who eventually gave up and ran for their lives. It is said that the thugs equip themselves with charms that make their skin bullet proof. With that, they are fearless and take laws into their hands. Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area is not left out of the thuggery saga. The killing of innocent citizens, forcing people out of their houses, and committing all forms of crime in the name of politics, causing civil disturbances, making people run away from their farm works and businesses have become associated with their operation. Across the other Local Government Areas, you hear of thuggery operations. The use of thugs by self seeking politicians to intimidate and victimise political opponents is a regular phenomenon in Kogi State. Well one question that might agitate the mind of any right thinking individual is why are they not being arrested even when you know who they are? One manifestation of the inadequacies of the Nigerian criminal justice system is the failure to carry out inquiries in cases of politically motivated killings, Most politically motivated violence and killings committed in the 1999 and 2003 elections were not investigated or punished, the scenario has immensely contributed to the culture of impunity that characterizes the political climate in the country today. The last eight years has witnessed much political killings in Nigeria, such as the murders of Bola Ige, Marshall Harry, Aminasaori Dikibo, Barnabas Igwe and Dele Arojo among others. In the months before federal and state elections in April and May 2003 political killings were reported throughout the country, with allegations of the involvement of individual members of state and local governments officials and political parties. The failure of the police to investigate political killings effectively and to bring to justice the perpetrators is a concern for current cases of political killings. The UN Special Reporter on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions stated: In recent years many leading political figures have been assassinated. Prosecutions have been rare and convictions almost non-existent The de facto impunity enjoyed for these crimes risks undermining Nigerian democracy, and the 2007 election year threatens many more killings unless impunity is ended. There are so many social factors that influence peoples decision to indulge in violence or crisis as their way of resolving political issues and sure way to survival such as: Poverty Unemployment Ethnic differences Insincerity on the part of the government policy Government policy Lack of effective communication Selfish interest RESOLVING CONFLICT Since the issue of violence cannot be discussed without bringing in conflict, so violence cannot be tackled without talking about conflict resolution. The contention of Burton (1982, pp.137-138) that conflict is desirable does not contradict the position of Bagaji (2006, p5) which held that unresolved conflict drains the society of its capacity to maximize its diversity to satisfy its needs and that contending parties might even retort to the use of violence to achieve their purpose. Rather, it emphasizes that every conflict provides an opportunity to renegotiate desirable social changes among the disputants through the process of resolution. According to Meyer in Akowe (2007, p.117) conflict resolution refers to the entire process of settling disputes, disagreements or doubts by listening to and providing opportunities to meet each side`s needs and adequately address their interests so that each party is satisfied with the outcome. Here, identifying the needs of the parties in conflict is very crucial to the realization of resolution objectives. Aduiba (2009, p.23) refers to conflict resolution as a shift in the mode of interaction between contending parties. At the point of resolution, according to him conflict is terminated and legitimacy is restored while crude forces previously used for attack or defences of values are substituted for enlightened bargains. By implication, conflict resolution is an analytical process of dispute settlement which can only be achieved in a free and stable environment. Burton (1987, p.13) distinguished conflict resolution from allied terms such as conflict management and conflict settlement by the durability of the solutions each offers. According to him, conflict management simply employs skills that confine or limit or contain conflict while conflict settlement connotes legal/authoritative procedures and may be imposed by the elites. These two, according to him, are characteristically temporary in nature. Conflict resolution to him refers to terminating conflicts by methods that are analytical and get to the root of the problem. To him, it focuses on an outcome that in the views of the parties involved, is a permanent solution to the problem as it initiates the process of changes in the political, social and economic system that address both the individual and collective needs of the disputants. Obasanjo (2005) described conflict resolution as including peace-making, peacekeeping and peace-building, which according to him requires clear identification of the core issues underpinning the conflict and development of strategies aimed at the balancing of power, matching of power with responsibility and reduction of the possibility of a successful violence. From the foregoing, conflict resolution covers the entire process of reconciling the disputants in a manner that addresses the causes of the dispute, heal the consequences of the dispute and reduce the possibility of its re-occurrence. This often connotes an adjustment in social relations through effective redistribution of the societal values to address the needs that underpinned the conflict. This depends on the willingness of the disputants, the capacity and integrity of the third party and the stability of the environment of the conflict. To achieve these, Mkpandiok (2006, p.128), contends that the knowledge of the following facts about conflict is imperative: That conflict is typical of human interactions and should thus be anticipated. That people are drawn into conflicts where and when their interest, values and needs are threatened. That it is difficult for parties in conflict, even with outside assistance, to satisfy all their needs at the same time. That third parties or intermediaries can only facilitate the resolution process while the real resolution lies within the proper sphere of the conflicting parties. That the role of the third party is mainly to assist with their knowledge, experience, perspectives and power to make previously unconsidered option visible and feasible. That elites in conflicts who double as the principal beneficiaries, tend to be hawkish, fanatical and more resistant to resolution than the average victims. STRATEGIES FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION Imobighe (2008, p.77) identified three strategies for conflict resolution. These are conciliation, mediation and arbitration. According to him, conciliation is a process whereby the parties to a dispute agree to the services of a conciliator who meets them separately in an effort to resolve their differences. A conciliator, according to him has no legal standing or authority to seek evidence or call witnesses. He therefore usually writes no decision or make awards but merely seeks concession among the disputants. When that understanding is secured, it is committed into writing and signed by the parties in dispute. At this stage, the understanding becomes binding on the parties. Mediation according to Miller in Ologitere (2008, p.26) refers to voluntary, informal; non-binding process undertaken by an external party that fosters the settlement of differences or demands between directly invested parties. According to this thesis, mediators generally have a vested interest in the resolution of a given conflict or dispute but are required to operate neutrally and objectively.

Plot Overview of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller :: Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller Essays

Plot Overview of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller As a flute melody plays, Willy Loman returns to his home in Brooklyn one night, exhausted from a failed sales trip. His wife, Linda, tries to persuade him to ask his boss, Howard Wagner, to let him work in New York so that he won't have to travel. Willy says that he will talk to Howard the next day. Willy complains that Biff, his older son who has come back home to visit, has yet to make something of himself. Linda scolds Willy for being so critical, and Willy goes to the kitchen for a snack. As Willy talks to himself in the kitchen, Biff and his younger brother, Happy, who is also visiting, reminisce about their adolescence and discuss their father's babbling, which often includes criticism of Biff's failure to live up to Willy's expectations. As Biff and Happy, dissatisfied with their lives, fantasize about buying a ranch out West, Willy becomes immersed in a daydream. He praises his sons, now younger, who are washing his car. The young Biff, a high school football star, and the young Happy appear. They interact affectionately with their father, who has just returned from a business trip. Willy confides in Biff and Happy that he is going to open his own business one day, bigger than that owned by his neighbor, Charley. Charley's son, Bernard, enters looking for Biff, who must study for math class in order to avoid failing. Willy points out to his sons that although Bernard is smart, he is not "well liked," which will hurt him in the long run. A younger Linda enters, and the boys leave to do some chores. Willy boasts of a phenomenally successful sales trip, but Linda coaxes him into revealing that his trip was actually only meagerly successful. Willy complains that he soon won't be able to make all of the payments on their appliances and car. He complains that people don't like him and that he's not good at his job. As Linda consoles him, he hears the laughter of his mistress. He approaches The Woman, who is still laughing, and engages in another reminiscent daydream. Willy and The Woman flirt, and she thanks him for giving him stockings. The Woman disappears, and Willy fades back into his prior daydream, in the kitchen. Linda, now mending stockings, reassures him. He scolds her mending and orders her to throw the stockings out.

Baby Eulogy Essay -- essays research papers

Dear Baby, A thousand questions flooded my mind that difficult Friday morning. As I ran my fingers through your hair and kissed you good bye, I wondered: Why? Why? Why? How can this happen? How could we be asked to endure such pain again? How could such a beautiful baby be taken from us? and? Why didn?t we have more time? It took a while for me to stop thinking about us or should I say me and start thinking about you, but once I did it is the last question that I pondered longest. "Why didn't we have more time?" I wanted to understand so I went to the dictionary and found that Webster?s had no less than 29 definitions for this tiny word, time. I looked on-line and found self help books that said I could manage it better and scientists who posted things regardi... Baby Eulogy Essay -- essays research papers Dear Baby, A thousand questions flooded my mind that difficult Friday morning. As I ran my fingers through your hair and kissed you good bye, I wondered: Why? Why? Why? How can this happen? How could we be asked to endure such pain again? How could such a beautiful baby be taken from us? and? Why didn?t we have more time? It took a while for me to stop thinking about us or should I say me and start thinking about you, but once I did it is the last question that I pondered longest. "Why didn't we have more time?" I wanted to understand so I went to the dictionary and found that Webster?s had no less than 29 definitions for this tiny word, time. I looked on-line and found self help books that said I could manage it better and scientists who posted things regardi...