Contextual Factors in Pride and Prejudice influence the characters. Do you agree?

There are many contextual factors in Pride and Prejudice that certainly influence the characters, in the way the characters behave and also in the way that they are viewed. A few of the main factors are money, marriage and the role of women and these can be seen as a few of the novel's themes. However, these factors do not always influence all of the characters. I will explore the different contextual factors in the novel and come to the conclusion as to whether I agree with the statement. Money is a highly influential factor in Pride and Prejudice, so much so, that the narrator is very careful to give financial details of every character to ensure that the reader has an idea of the social standings of all the characters and their placement in society. As the Bennet family and the Lucas family have less money, this means they are of a lower class than most of the other families in the book, for example the Darcys and the Bingleys. This means that the daughters in these families are less likely to be offered a proposal of marriage, as the classes tend not to mix and the possible crossing of social boundaries seems insurmountable. This can be shown in chapter 8, where Miss Bingley mock Elizabeth's behaviour and her family. Miss Bingley begins by stating, â€Å"I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl,† to give the impression of being caring and thoughtful and continues to say, â€Å"I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it. † In this quote, Miss Bingley conveys fact as an opinion which she uses to try and manipulate her brother's views. By stating this, Miss Bingley shows that she feels Jane should not be allowed to wed Mr Bingley, as this would be crossing the social boundaries. This chapter also shows how Mr Bingley is not affected by money and the fact that Elizabeth has low connections, as this does not affect the way he perceives her. By stating that â€Å"it would not matter if they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside, it would not make one of them one jot less agreeable,† it illustrates how Bingley is not swayed by other characters' status or appearance. Money can also influence the appearance of characters on the surface, as when Mr Darcy is introduced in chapter 3, he is described as being very favourable, based only on his social standing and his financial status. The fact that Darcy earned ‘ten thousand a year' meant that people looked at him â€Å"with great admiration for half the evening†. It is only when people explored his character that they found him to be â€Å"proud and above his company†, which allows the reader to see how money influences their perception of characters. Elizabeth could be described as one of the only characters with morals whose life is not completely influenced by money, but her conversation with Jane in chapter 59 that her character can in fact be affected by wealth. Her comments to Jane that her love for Darcy began â€Å"from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley† and although Elizabeth is joking about this, the audience realises that there is an element of truthfulness in what she has said. She feels â€Å"some perturbation† on approaching Pemberley: â€Å"her spirits were in a high flutter†. When she sees the estate, â€Å"at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something! † Elizabeth speaks of a present and a future, not of something past and concluded, which demonstrates how she could be persuaded by Darcy's estate to marry him. This shows how Darcy's wealth is of great interest to Elizabeth, when she is confronted by its reality, that she can escape her life of being poor and having little money. The reader can also see that the idea of money influences Charlotte, â€Å"Lady Lucas began to directly calculate with more interest than the matter had ever excited before how many years longer Mr Bennet was likely to live†. This shows Charlotte treats money higher in her opinion than the feelings of her friend when her father dies. Charlotte, thinking up â€Å"kind schemes† for Elizabeth feels that Colonel Fitzwilliam was â€Å"beyond comparison the pleasantest man; he certainly admired her and his situation in life was most eligible; but, to counterbalance these advantages, Mr Darcy had considerable patronage in the church and his cousin could have none at all†. This reveals the final twist in which Charlotte's thoughts move from the outcome that might suit her friend best, to that which would serve her own purposes through the advancement and enrichment of Mr Collins, which would undoubtedly earn her more money. Property is shown to be a contextual factor that influences the characters as the females of the Bennet family are in real financial difficulty, as their house is to be entailed upon Mr Collins when Mr Bennet dies. This puts the Bennet daughters into a difficult position as there is added pressure to marry well so they can be financially secure. This pressure is increased as Mrs Bennet wanted one of her daughters to marry Mr Collins so that the Bennet family would not lose the estate which has been in their family for many generations. Property can also be seen as a beneficial factor that influences the perception of characters because at this time the larger the estate then more money was earned. This can be seen in the description of Mr Darcy in chapter 3, where the people at the ball thought very highly of him when they heard about the size of his estate in Derbyshire, which directly relates to his earnings. A contextual factor that influences all the women characters in the novel is marriage. A perfect example of this is in Charlotte Lucas marrying Mr Collins, as she does not marry for love, she marries him to be financially secure and to have a place in society. This can be seen in the quote by the narrator describing Charlotte, â€Å"who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment†. This shows that Charlotte married only for an estate and money, so that she could establish herself in society as women were looked down upon if they were not married. As the life expectancy for women in the early 1800's was around the mid to late 30s and Charlotte was 28, she saw that marriage was the only honourable provision for a woman in her position and wealth. Although Elizabeth and Charlotte were close friends, they had very different views. Elizabeth felt that â€Å"it was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of an unsuitable match. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own†. Charlotte was prepared to marry for money and financial security and she thought that â€Å"happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance†. In the 1800's society influenced the characters of the novel as marriage was essential for women, they were entirely dependant on men to look after them and if women were not married, they were thought to be excluded from society. However, this did not affect Elizabeth as she turned down two respectable proposals of marriage, from Mr Collins and Mr Darcy. The former proposal is deemed to be more acceptable and her family is more understanding of this as Mr Collins is pompous and boastful, and an all round unfavourable character. However, Mrs Bennet was upset when Elizabeth declined his proposal as it is her duty as a mother to marry all her daughters off and help them to set up her lives. Mr Bennet opposed his wife's views and suggested to Elizabeth that, â€Å"Your mother will never speak to you again if you do not marry Mr Collins, and I will never speak to you again if you do†. This led to Mr Collins withdrawing his offer and marrying Charlotte. The latter proposal was certainly very easy for Elizabeth to refuse as she explained to him that after knowing him for a month, â€Å"I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry. Although, we can see that wealth does affect Elizabeth's judgement as after the proposal is made, she feels some guilt for not accepting the proposal as it would mean a better life for her and it would please her mother and her family. Even though Darcy admits how he admires and loves Elizabeth, he is still influenced by the fact that she is of a lower class and â€Å"his sense of her inferiority – of its being degradation† and before his proposal he would have convinced himself that this could not happen and admits he has repressed his feelings. However, in spite of this, Darcy is still prepared to marry Elizabeth and cross the social boundaries, which shows that money and Elizabeth's â€Å"low connections† do not influence him fully. The pressure of marriage affects many of the characters, but it does not affect Jane or Mr Bingley, as they overcome the separation of the classes and are married because they are truly in love with one another. Jane and Bingley represent the coming together of two handsome, like-minded and kind-hearted people. Their eventual marriage is delightful and a relief to the reader as their have been many obstacles in their way of marriage. The main reason of their separation was caused by the persuasion of Darcy because he thinks that Jane is not in love with his friend Bingley. The reader knows that part of the reason why he persuades Bingley is because he does not feel Jane is worthy enough for his friend. This is ironic as he then proposes to Elizabeth who detests him. In chapter 8 there is a discussion of the accomplishments of young ladies. Bingley has a lot of admiration for women's ability to â€Å"paint tables, cover screens and net purses†, but Darcy wants more than this and even more than the list Caroline Bingley provides of â€Å"music, singing drawing, dancing and modern languages,† plus â€Å"something in her air and manner of walking†. If men expect all those accomplishments for the women to have, then the Bennet daughters and many other women in their position will have little hope of marrying well. However, as seen in chapter 29 when Lady Catherine quizzes Elizabeth with many questions about her family and finds that none of them can draw she is very surprised, â€Å"What, none of you? † and also that only one of her sisters can play the piano and sing. This demonstrates that women do not always need a long list of accomplishments in order to be married, for Mr Darcy was not concerned about her lack of abilities, but only cared about her â€Å"liveliness of mind† and the spirited freedom of her thinking about her world, even in spite of the pressures cause by its snobbery and narrowness of society. In conclusion, the contextual factors do influence many of the characters in the novel, but some of these characters are able to overcome the pressures of society and cross the social boundaries. By using Elizabeth as a main character, Austen is able to highlight these factors as she is not influenced by them and causes others around her to rebel against the norm. The main character highlights what is expected of women and the ‘norms and values' in society during the nineteenth century by behaving in an unacceptable way. The fact that in chapter eight, when Elizabeth walks to Netherfield to visit her sister, and her appearance is deemed improper by the Bingley sisters, â€Å"her petticoat, six inches deep in mud†, is one of the main reasons why Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth, shows that some men prefer women with an independence of mind and a free spirit. This is not in agreement with society, where it is believed women should depend on men and all act very similar with no specific purpose as they are just possessions of men.

Environmental Analysis Essay

Landfill gas is generated during the decomposition of organic substances in municipal and industrial wastes. Since it is made up of powerful greenhouse gases, primarily methane gas and carbon dioxide, the prevention of escape to atmosphere is desirable and has the added benefit of being utilised as a renewable energy source (Clarke Energy, 2014). One such company focussed on dealing with this issue is Landfill Gas Industries Pty Ltd (L.G.I. Pty Ltd) they are ‘a specialist designer, supplier, installer, and operator of systems that capture, extract and burn gas produced in landfills’ (L.G.I. Pty Ltd, 2014). L.G.I. Pty Ltd has several opportunities that could impact the company’s operations in Australia, such as government regulation, the number of councils and landfills available and the fact that all landfills require a solution to the landfill gas problem. However L.G.I. Pty Ltd also has several threats potentially impacting its operations, for example from large energy generators, large waste companies and opposition to landfill gas. With the continuing pace of global environmental awareness and a general growing consensus about the potential damage of greenhouse gases, the Australian Government may introduction legislation and associated taxation such as the use of carbon credits that are designed punish landfill owners with unabated gas emissions (Department of the Environment, 2011). A company such as L.G.I. Pty Ltd is well placed to install systems that can reduce these emissions and in turn reduce the financial penalties of operating a landfill, many of which are run by local councils and therefore paid for directly by ratepayers. With 565 local government councils in Australia (The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, 2014) and each with a need to process its residents’ garbage, many of which themselves operate landfill sites and/or have legacy landfills within their boundaries. Whilst the market has a finite limit there is considerable appeal for councils to adapt such technologies at their landfills and has the potential to generate ‘huge savings for [councils] and the environment’ (Landfill Gas Pty Ltd, 2008). L.G.I. Pty Ltd is committed to take advantage of councils’ needs by having ‘developed successful landfill gas installations on sites of all scales across Australia’ (Landfill Gas Industries Pty Ltd, 2014). Wherever there is a landfill, there is potential dangers aside from the environmental concerns unless mitigation techniques are employed, such as the risk of fire and explosion which for example  occurred in Loscoe, England in 1986 when a nearby house was destroyed (Danish EPA, 2001). There is also the potential of gas migration to occur below the surface and in turn contaminate the groundwater (Environment Protection Authority, 2008). If a landfill site is not suitable for electricity production, gas mitigation is nonetheless desired for safety and hygiene reasons. L.G.I. Pty Ltd ‘manufactures and installs its own range of state of the art flares’ (Landfill Gas Industries Pty Ltd, 2014) allowing the flammable gases to be safely burnt off. Therefore all current and legacy landfill sites are potential business for L.G.I. Pty Ltd The first major threat to L.G.I. Pty Ltd comes from existing large energy generators, such as AGL, Origin and Energy Australia, these 3 companies have a combined market share of over 60% of the energy sector (IBISWorld, 2014). As these companies have the need to supply electricity to their customers they have the desire to source viable and sustainable generation methods, AGL for example already ‘owns and operates several renewable landfill gas and biogas (sewage) generation facilities across Australia’ (AGL, 2014). If these companies decide to expand in this sector and compete for this resource, they could undermine L.G.I. Pty Ltd’s potential simply by means of more efficient access to financial capital required to setup and by the greater potential political bargaining power they possess such as when competing for tenders. Such as with large energy generators, large waste companies also pose a potential threat for L.G.I. Pty Ltd. Many councils utilise outsourced waste collection, processing, recycling and landfill operators to fulfil their needs. Operators such as Veolia and Sita which operate landfills as part of their business must ‘manage odour across [their] landfills in accordance with the Environmental Protection Licence’ (Sita, 2014). These operators have their own equipment and methods for gas mitigation and therefore pose a threat to L.G.I. Pty Ltd if more councils outsource their waste needs to private companies, they in turn aside from environmental requirements have a commercial obligation to seek profit. There is nonetheless opposition to companies that seek to turn landfill gas into electricity, for several reasons such as its relative high costs, local air pollution but namely it suggests that it is acceptable to dump waste at landfill sites rather than pursue waste minimisa tion or recycling initiatives (Shrank, 2011). Veolia states that it ‘encourages waste  minimisation and recycling’ (Veolia, 2014), however if a financial incentive exists if it fails that endeavour then people are right to be sceptical. The threat of a change in public opinion and awareness towards waste disposal could potentially impact L.G.I. Pty Ltd, particularly if they are seen as not encouraging waste minimisation or if their operations produce an unacceptable amount of air pollution. Landfill gas is an unavoidable by-product of our modern society and it possess several risks if left unmanaged to public health and safety. L.G.I. Pty Ltd is well placed to mitigate these risks and also potentially return a financial benefit to its clients, specifically local councils. In terms of opportunities, L.G.I. Pty Ltd faces a finite barrier in terms of number of landfills in Australia, it may seek to export its expertise to markets overseas to pursue further growth. It may also be of benefit to lobby government to encourage further legislation and taxation penalties regarding greenhouse gas emissions, potentially expanding its market. Of the threats facing L.G.I. Pty Ltd, the biggest is represented by existing the large companies in the electricity generating and waste disposal sectors, who invariable have better access to capital and lobbying power to further develop this industry. Finally, public opinion could negatively impact L.G.I. Pty Ltd if they are seen to be exploiting a resource which ideally should be minimised in the first instance. Clarke Energy, (2014). Landfill Gas | Landfill gas generator. [Online] Available at: http://www.clarke-energy.com/gas-type/landfill-gas/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Landfill Gas Industries Pty Ltd, (2014). Landfill Gas Industries – Renewable Electricity Leaders. [Online] Available at: http://landfillgasindustries.com.au/about-landfill-gas/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Department of the Environment, (2011). Capture and combustion of landfill gas. [Online] Available at: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/reducing-carbon/carbon-farming-initiative/methodologies/methodology-determinations/capture-and-combustion-landfill-gas [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, (2014). Local Government. [Online] Available at: http://www.regional.gov.au/local/index.aspx [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Landfill Gas Pty Ltd, (2008). Landfill Gas Pty Ltd. [online] Available at: http://www.landfillgas.com.au/home.html [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Danish EPA, (2001). Miljstyrelsen. [Online] Available at: http://www2.mst.dk/common/Udgivramme/Frame.asp?pg=http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publikationer/2001/87-7944-831-3/html/kap30.htm [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Environment Protection Authority, (2008). Guidelines for groundwater investigation and monitoring for landfills. [Online] Available at: http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/xstd_files/Waste/Public%20consultation/guidelines_landfill.pdf [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. IBISWorld, (2014). Major Companies. [Online] Available at: http://clients1.ibisworld.com.au.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/reports/au/industry/majorcompanies.aspx?entid=2147 [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. AGL, (2014). Landfill Gas and Biogas. [Online] Available at: http://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/renewable-energy/landfill-gas-and-biogas [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Sita, (2014). Landfill Gas Management | SITA Australia. [Online] Available at: http://www.sita.com.au/facilitie s/landfills/landfill-gas-management/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Shrank, S. (2011). Opposition to Waste-to-Energy: A Waste of Waste?. [Online] Worldwatch Institute. Available at: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/opposition-to-waste-to-energy-a-waste-of-waste/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014]. Veolia, (2014). Recovering Resources from Waste – Veolia Australia and New Zealand. [Online] Available at: http://www.veolia.com.au/municipal-residential/recovering-resources-from-waste [Accessed 8 Aug. 2014].

A Study Of Groundwater Depletion In Kathmandu Environmental Sciences Essay

Kathmandu vale is confronting scarceness of imbibing H2O even during the showery season.Ground H2O is recharged of course by rain, thaw of snow and to some extent from beginnings likes rivers and lakes.Water from such beginnings moves beneath the land and recharges the land H2O by which its degree is maintained. Land H2O is stored in shoal and deep aquifer.The H2O degree upto 100m in deepness is by and large characterized as shoal aquifer which is easy to reload as H2O from surface easy penetrates there.The degree deeper than 100m isdeep aquifer which shops fossil water.According to hydrogeologists H2O from deep aquifer is termed as fossil H2O as it can non be recharged every bit easy as shallow aquifer H2O. There is ahapazard extraction of H2O from both shallow and deep aquifer in Kathmandu vale at present.The extraction of land H2O in Kathmandu vale is higher than the recharging which is cut downing the degree of land H2O. Groundwater is a valuable resource both in the United States and throughout the universe. Where surface H2O, such as lakes and rivers, are scarce or unaccessible, groundwater supplies many of the hydrologic demands of people everyplace. In the United States. It is the beginning of imbibing H2O for about half the entire population and about all of the rural population, and it provides over 50 billion gallons per twenty-four hours for agricultural demands. Groundwater depletion, a term frequently defined as long-run water-level diminutions caused by sustained groundwater pumping, is a cardinal issue associated with groundwater usage. Many countries of the United States are sing groundwater depletion.Excessive pumping can overdraw the groundwater â€Å" bank history †The H2O stored in the land can be compared to money kept in a bank history. If you withdraw money at a faster rate than you deposit new money you will finally get down holding account-supply jobs. Pumping H2O out of the land faster than it is replenished over the long-run causes similar jobs. Groundwater depletion is chiefly caused by overextraction. Some of the negative effects of groundwater depletion: drying up of Wellss decrease of H2O in watercourses and lakes impairment of H2O quality increased pumping costs land remissionWhat are some effects of groundwater depletion?Pumping groundwater at a faster rate than it can be recharged can hold some negative effects of the environment and the people who are stakeholders of H2O:Lowering of the H2O tabular arrayThe most terrible effect of inordinate groundwater pumping is that theAA H2O tabular array, below which the land is saturated with H2O, can be lowered. For H2O to be withdrawn from the land, H2O must be pumped from a well that reaches below the H2O tabular array. If groundwater degrees decline excessively far, so the well proprietor might hold to intensify the well, bore a new well, or, at least, effort to take down the pump. Besides, as H2O degrees decline, the rate of H2O the well can give may worsen.Increased costs for the userAs the deepness to H2O additions, the H2O must be lifted higher to make the land surface. If pumps are used to raise the H2O more energy is required to drive the pump. Using the well can go more expensive.Decrease of H2O in watercourses and lakesGroundwater pumping can change how H2O moves between an aquifer and a watercourse, lake, or wetland by either stoping groundwater flow that discharges into the surface-water organic structure under natural conditions, or by increasing the rate of H2O motion from the surface-water organic structure into an aquifer. A related consequence of groundwater pumping is the lowering of groundwater degrees below the deepness that streamside or wetland flora needs to last. The overall consequence is a loss of riparian flora and wildlife home ground.Land remissionThe basic cause ofAA land subsidenceAA is a loss of support below land. In other words, sometimes when H2O is taken out of the dirt, the dirt collapses, compacts, and beads. This depends on a figure of factors, such as the type of dirt and stone below the surface. Land remission is most frequently caused by human activities, chiefly from the remotion of subsurface H2O.Deterioration of H2O qualityOne wat er-quality menace to fresh groundwater supplies is taint from seawater seawater invasion. All of the H2O in the land is non fresh H2O ; much of the really deep groundwater and H2O below oceans is saline. In fact, an estimated 3.1 million three-dimensional stat mis ( 12.9 three-dimensional kilometres ) of saline groundwater exists compared to about 2.6 million three-dimensional stat mis ( 10.5 million three-dimensional kilometres ) of fresh groundwater ( Gleick, P. H. , 1996: Water resources. In Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather, erectile dysfunction. by S. H. Schneider, Oxford University Press, New York, vol. 2, pp.817-823 ) . Under natural conditions the boundary between the fresh water and seawater tends to be comparatively stable, but pumping can do seawater to migrate inland and upward, ensuing in seawater taint of the H2O supply.Surface Water:There is a immense demand for surface H2O because of quickly increasing population. The one-year imbibing H2O supply is unequal to run into the turning demand. Similarly, the usage of H2O for agribusiness is increasing. Following tabular array shows the handiness of surface H2O in Kathmandu Table 1: Surface H2O handiness and its usage in NepalDescription19941995199619971998Entire one-year renewable surface H2O ( km3/yr ) 224 224 224 224 224 Per Capita renewable surface H2O ( ‘000m3/yr ) 11.20 11.00 10.60 10.50 10.30 Entire one-year backdown ( km3/yr ) 12.95 13.97 15.10 16.00 16.70 Per Capita backdown ( ‘000 m3/yr ) 0.65 0.69 0.71 0.75 0.76Sectoral backdown as % of entire H2O backdownDomestic 3.97 3.83 3.68 3.50 3.43 Industry 0.34 0.31 0.30 0.28 0.27 Agribusiness 95.68 95.86 96.02 96.22 96.30Beginning: State of the Environment, Nepal, 2001, MoPE, ICIMOD, SACEP, NORAD, UNEP, Page No. 122Water Supply and Demand:About 146 million litres of H2O are used each twenty-four hours in the Kathmandu Valley ; of which 81 % is consumed by the urban population, 14 % by industries ( including hotels ) and the staying 5 % is utilized in rural countries. Surface H2O including H2O from oilers, supplies about 62 % of the entire H2O used, while groundwater including dhungedhara, inar and shallow tubewells supply 38 % of the entire H2O used. Of the entire H2O consumed, NESC`s part is approximately 70 % . The current groundwater abstraction rate of 42.5 million litres per twenty-four hours is about double the critical abstraction rate of 15 million liters/day harmonizing to JICA ( 1990 ) ( Beginning: Environmental planning and Management of the Kathmandu Valley, HMGN, MOPE, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999, P 38 ) . Following tabular array shows the estimated H2O demand for domestic usage in the Kathmandu vale H2O Table 2: Estimated Water Demand for Domestic usage in the Kathmandu Valley ( mld ) Descriptions 1994 2001 2006 2011 Population ( million ) Urban 1.210 1.578 1.801 2.227 Rural 0.335 0.417 0.473 0.572Entire1.5451.9952.2742.799Demand for Drinking Water ( ml/day )a ) Theoretical demand Urban1 181.5 233.7 297.2 367.5 Rural2 15.0 25.4 35.9 54.3Sub-Total196.5259.1333.1421.8B ) Observed demand medium degree 1 Urban3 121.0 195.7 243.1 331.8 Rural2 15.0 25.4 35.9 54.3Sub-total136.0221.1279.0386.1degree Celsiuss ) Non-domestic demand, Industry, hotels and others4 20.0 26.0 32.5 41.5 1 =150 liquid crystal display in 1994 and 2001, and 165 liquid crystal display in 2006 and 2011 2 =Rural demand is estimated to be 45 liquid crystal display in 1994, 61lcd in 2001, 76 liquid crystal display in 2006 and 95 liquid crystal display in 2011 3 =Estimated to be100 liquid crystal display in 1994, 124lcd in 2001, 135 liquid crystal display in 2006 and 149 liquid crystal display in 2011 4 =Annual growing of 5 % Beginning: Environmental planning and Management of the Kathmandu Valley, HMGN, MOPE, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999, P 38Water Scenario:Even after the completion of the Melamchi Project the H2O supply state of affairs by 2011 will stay more or less similar to1981, i.e. running at an approximative 30 % shortage. In add-on, H2O demand is expected to increase significantly from assorted commercial, industrial constitutions, hotels and eating houses and the demand from the urban population is besides expected to increase. As the current H2O supply can non prolong the urban population ‘s increasing demand for H2O, this could be the most of import factor restricting growing in the Kathmandu Valley. The H2O shortage could hold a important, inauspicious consequence on public wellness and sanitation ( Beginning: Environmental planning and Management of the Kathmandu Valley, HMGN, MOPE, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999, P 39 ) . Following tabular arraies shows the shortage in H2O supply for Domestic usage in Urban Areas: Table 3The shortage in H2O supply for Domestic usage in Urban Areas 1981 1991 1994 2001 2006 2011 Percentage of Theoretical demand Observed demand 33.6 17.0 49.2 23.9 70.9 56.4 74.1 69.1 74.2 68.4 39.1 32.5 Beginning: Environmental planning and Management of the Kathmandu Valley, HMGN, MOPE, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999, P 39GROUNDWATER ZONE OF KATHMANDU VALLEY:Groundwater occurs in the crannies and pores of the deposits. Based on the hydrological formation of assorted features including river sedimentations and others, the Kathmandu Valley is divided into three groundwater zones or territories: a ) northern zone, B ) , cardinal zone and degree Celsius ) southern groundwater zones ( JICA 1990 ) .Northern Groundwater Zone:The northern groundwater zone covers Bansbari, Dhobi khola, Gokarna, Manohar, Bhaktapur and some chief H2O supply Wellss of NWSC are situated in this country. In this zone, the upper sedimentations are composed of unconsolidated extremely permeable stuffs, which are about 60 m thick and organize the chief aquifer in the vale. This outputs big sums of H2O ( up to 40 l/s in trials ) . These harsh deposits are, nevertheless, interbedded with all right impermeable deposit at many topographic points. This northern groundwater zone has a relatively good recharging capacity.Cardinal Groundwater Zone:The cardinal groundwater zone includes the nucleus metropolis country and most portion of Kathmandu and Lalitpur Municipalities. Impermeable stiff black clay, sometimes up to 200 m thick, is found here along with lignite sedimentations. Beneath this bed, there are unconsolidated harsh deposit sedimentations of low permeableness. Marsh methane gas is found throughout the groundwater stored in this country. Being of soluble methane gas indicates dead aquifer status. The recharging capacity is low due to stiff impermeable bed. Harmonizing to dating analysis, age of gas well H2O is about 28,000 old ages. The confined groundwater is likely non-chargeable stagnant or â€Å" dodo †Southern Groundwater Zone:The southern groundwater zone is located in the geological line between Kirtipur. Godavari and the southern hills. Thick impermeable clay formation and low perme ableRecharge of Groundwater:Harmonizing to the sedimentary development, the country suitable for reloading aquifers is located chiefly in the northern portion of the Kathmandu Valley and along the rivers or paleochannels. In the southern portion recharge is restricted to the country around Chovar and the Bagmati Channel, and likely along gravel fans near the hillside. Detailed probes of the recharge and related informations are losing. Though the one-year precipitation of Kathmandu vale is rather high, the land status in general is non effectual for reloading aquifers from precipitation. Wide spread silty lacustraine sedimentations control groundwater recharge in the vale, interbredded with the impermeable clay, which prevents easy entree of leaching rainwater to the aquifers. Most of the one-year precipitation falls during monsoon from June to September, but runs off rapidly as surface flow and is non sustained during the dry season. Streams of the Kathmandu Valley have some H2O from the shoal aquifer after the monsoon season. ( Beginning: Hydrogeological Conditionss and Potential Barrier Sediments in the Kathmandu Valley, Final Report, Prepared by, B.D. Kharel, N.R. Shrestha, M.S. Khadka, V.K. Singh, B. Piya, R. Bhandari, M.P. Shrestha, M.G. Jha & A ; D. Mustermann, February 1998, page 28 ) Mani Gopal Jha, Mohan Singh Khadka, Minesh Prasad Shresth, Sushila Regmi, John Bauld and Gerry Jacobson, 1997 ( AGSO+GWRDB ) , The Assessment of Groundwater pollution in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, page 5 HMGN, MOPE, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999, Environmental planning and Management of the Kathmandu Valley, P 38 Mani Gopal Jha, Mohan Singh Khadka, Minesh Prasad Shrestha, Sushila Regmi, John Bauld and Gerry Jacobson, The Assessment of Groundwater Pollution in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Page 14 HMG & A ; IUCN May 1995, Regulating Growth: Kathmandu Valley, Page. 47, 48 & A ; 49 5 Ground Water and the Rural Homeowner, Pamphlet † , U.S. Geolgoical Survey, by Waller, Roger M. , ,1982

Compare and contrast Goodbye Lenin (Wolfgang Becker, 2003) and La Essay

Compare and contrast Goodbye Lenin (Wolfgang Becker, 2003) and La Haine (Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995) in terms of their significance - Essay Example The struggles that those connected to her must endure can be seen as the struggles that occur whenever an ideology of a culture passes, the growing pains that must happen in order to come to a point where freedoms are fully understood and experienced. In La Haine (1995), the pain of having to deal with the nature of city inequities where race and poverty create a power inequality between authority and the poor is explored through the events of a day in the life of Parisian impoverished youths. In turmoil that is part of the perceived landscape of the European culture, as filtered through Hollywood visions of racial inequality, the nature of life after the fall of communism is reflected. In both films, social issue are examined through personifications of struggles as well as the reactions of those around those personified ideals are explored. The plot to the film Goodbye Lenin (2003) is defined by its connectivity between the present and the past. The first portion of the film connec ts the events that will happen further along within the film through a recalling of 1978 when Sigmund Jahn entered space. Jahn was from East Germany and this is a great source of pride for the main character of the film, Alex. The film becomes an exploration of the way that life is lived before the fall of the wall and how it has developed since that time. Alex’s mother, a supporter of the Socialist Party, sees her son arrested at a protest before the wall falls and has a heart attack which leads to a coma that lasts through the political events that precede and are post the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The nature of the exploration is defined by the way that Alex, his sister Ariane, and his girlfriend must prevent his mother from finding out about the political changes because the shock might cause her to once again fall into cardiac arrest. Through the ways that the three plot to present former oppressive atmospheres to Alex’s mother, Christiane, a revelation of the profound differences before the fall of the wall and since that time can be appreciated. In recreating the oppressed state of life before the wall fell, incidents such as taking out all the brighter decor that has Western influences and replaying old broadcasts of events that happened before the fall of the wall provide a contrast of the ways in which life was experienced on either side of the powerful and transformative event. The adherence to the old ideologies creates an additional sense of the transformation that has occurred during the time of Christiane’s coma. There is a running commentary about the beauty of anarchy, the fulfillment that is created when human beings deny ‘authority’ and assert their right to freedom. In the end, despite her own belief and feelings about conformity, Christiane is scattered after her cremation through the use of a rocket that belongs to Alex. This act is an illegal act, but he does it anyway, freeing his mother from her own constraint and scattering her in the place that she loved, while symbolically celebrating the freedom that they have gained through the fall of the wall and the transformation of their nation. The film, La Haine (1995), explores the tension between anarchy and authority, the police representing authority and having both honorable and corrupt representations available for contrast. The power dynamic is what sets the authority apart from the anarchist youth who explore their

Disaster Risk Management (Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment) Essay

Disaster Risk Management (Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment) - Essay Example The techniques like Vulnerability and Capability Assessment (VCA) would be very effective in identifying local perceptions about the disaster and also in the evaluation of the capability of the community to face during such an catastrophe. Either well structured means - qualitative, quantitative or their combination or unstructured and participative methods could be used for proper identification of interrelationships of the local settings. The utility of using VCA for identification and quantification of vulnerability besides measuring the regional capabilities has been widely accepted. Among the various methods often adopted for undertaking the VCA process, the participatory methods have had considerable success when compared to other means of identifying the exact factors involved in most issues. When a calamity or the disaster strikes a region, the impact of these events are borne by the entire population and hence the potential of vulnerability of entire cross section of the people need to be mapped to understand the magnitude of effect. Also, the perception of the people towards these events which could be frequent would also help the policy makers and support agencies to prioritize the action process. Even in the cases considered the though the common problems perceived in the regions were water shortage. The local community in these countries not only have different perceptions on the risks but also anticipates different type of problems they might have to face due to this. Further , variation in the type of demographic profile and socio-political conditions might make all bureaucratic approaches to identify the priority programme ineffective. As in the case considered, Palestine a small country involved with continuous military interventions with the neighboring country Israel is said to have very poor infrastructure facilities like roads, power supply and also water and waste water management systems. A well structured VCA analysis, conducted using local community and organizational systems, to identify the potential hazard facing them into various aspects of the country have revealed interesting facts. The techniques adopted had a blend of different methods like interviews, focus group discussions, workshops besides separately involving children also. The method had given rich information that have helped to map the vulnerability in the region and also in the identification of their capability. Further, local level workshops to create a base awareness to help them to generate opinions and remarks too shows the extended mechanism present in these approaches for information generation. Similar approached were adopted in t he case of Afghanistan to assess the issues of food security and in the identification of potential hazards in the countries like Albania and Vietnam. In addition to identification of vulnerability spots in the society they would also help the decision makers to identify and envisage the future course of action very effectively. The regional strength of in all the cases considered in the analysis have been identified and ranked appropriately. This would help to identify the prevailing dogma in the region which other wise would have hindered the success of any developmental initiative. Also as assessment of the capability of the people and systems in these places

Critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of an exemplar Essay

Critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of an exemplar Eco-City - Essay Example The intention of this study is the concept of eco-city as a global strategy that needs s to be embraced across all borders. With population increase and climatic changes due to the industrialization resulting to global warming, the only solution left is to go green. The eco-city of Freiburg in Germany is an excellent example of how a place can be transformed to become environmental, friendly, and at the same time utilize its resources towards the realization of the vision of globalization. With proper implementation and sustainable measures, there is significant hope that the world will be a better place to live. There is therefore, great need for the relevant authorities to push for proper implementation of sustainable development measures. Amid the weaknesses observed in the paper, there is clear evidence that the strong points surpass the weaknesses. It only calls for cooperation among all the stake holders towards the sustenance of the strategies. The growth and development of ec o-cities is one of the recent responses made by the world towards climate change. As a result, of industrialization and over-urbanization of the existing cities, among many other activities induced by human beings; they have resulted to degradation of the environment in the past years. The recent initiatives have been in response to solving climatic change menace, and the environmental degradation, as well as, scarcity in energy. This has been realized with the idea of setting up eco-cities. Developed countries like the United States of America, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as, developing countries such as Brazil, UAE, India and China have launched projects aimed at the development of eco-cities. Every aspect of life involving complex planning and strategising is bound to experience challenges in the course of its implementation. Not forgetting the global population increase and projected outcome that more than half of world’s population reside in urban areas, it i s imperative that proper planning, development and regeneration are truly essential. The vision of an eco-city involves the planning of model settlements, incorporates appealing and highly fundamental concepts like improving the quality of people’s life and enhancing harmony with the cherished environment. On the same note, the vision and plans considering their attachment to nature contain some elements that to some might appear utopian. This brings about difficulties in predicting to what degree the strategies will be implemented, although implementation that is oriented perceptively in an explicit eco-city requirement. Crewe and Forsyth (2011) argue that planners are bound to aim at creating cities that are more ecologically sensitive. These two writers say that the authorities, planners and designers in every of the world claim to be just coming up with eco friendly urban areas. The legal and policy issues in the development of eco-cities have led to challenges as well as achievements in the realization of eco-cities. With sustainable development being an issue of the present globalization, this paper will substantially dwell on analyzing the strengths, as well as,

The Gaia Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Gaia Theory - Essay Example An example of this is the central belief in Gaia Theory that says the composition of the atmosphere is closely regulated by biological reactions to changes in the atmosphere. For example, an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere should result in a corresponding growth in vegetation that would absorb the additional CO2. In this way, Gaia theorists say that the biological reaction to changes in the atmosphere help keeps the earth in a state of habitable stasis. Some Gaia theorists argue that instead of stasis, the biological changes will actually work to optimize earth’s ability to sustain life. I agree with the criticism leveled against the Gaia Theory. While I find the thoughts and hypothesis generated by this theory, I think the author’s discussion of how historical evidence shows that once earth cools, it actually works to keep itself cool and after it has heated it tends to stay hot is at odds with the theory. The levels of C4 and C2 evidenced in arctic ice core samples seems to show that biological changes cannot counter all changes in the atmosphere to create a situation of stasis or even optimization. Forests affect global climate change in several important ways. The manner that they affect global climate change is different depending on whether the forest is located in a tropical, temperate or sub-arctic region. Tropical forests affect global climate change greatly through high levels of evaporative cooling and carbon sequestration. The humid climate contributes to rapid growth in woody flora of all types. The competing species of trees organize themselves into a climax forest consisting of a deeply shaded floor with low surface temperature with massive amounts of carbon stored in the trunks to the trees. Much study has been made of the clearing of tropical forest for agricultural uses.

Anti-discrimination Laws Related to Employment Research Paper - 1

Anti-discrimination Laws Related to Employment - Research Paper Example Moreover, the HR Assistant is required to facilitate managers in finance and accounts departments through providing customer-focused support service which significantly helps the organization in meeting its goals and objectives. In a broader perspective, the HR Administrative Assistant has to perform multiple tasks including the preparation of job advertisements, screening of the applications (Quayle, 2006), organizing interviews between managers and applicants, providing valuable insight during the selection process through critically evaluating each candidate. Subsequently he/she has to administer the pre-employment tests if necessary. Once the most suitable candidate is hired then the HR Administrative Assistant has to facilitate him/her in acquiring the health and social security benefits extended by the organization. This further leads to resolving salary issues or any other job related problems faced by the newly hired employees. Although these are the crucial tasks performed by the HR Assistant but all of these activities are conducted at different stages. Moreover, the tasks are assigned to HR Assistants as per their qualifications, experience, interests, organizational performance and communication skills. In order to perform the duties of HR Administrative Assistant the selected candidate is expected to work independently while maintaining the organizational standards. Excellent communication skills and experience with latest technology will help you in quick adjustment. 1. The interviewer must not ask questions concerning applicant’s religion, nationality, race, color or gender because US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission prohibits employment practices based on these aspects (Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices,

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 19

Case Study Example Some of the critical symptoms include appetite loss, weight loss, dulled mental ability, increased cough, hemoptysis, a history of lung cancer and tobacco abuse, wheezing, and muscle weakness. Apart from the abnormal figures obtained from the examination of the patient, there are other abnormal laboratory results. For instance, such patients also have levels of glucose that are above normal (hyperglycemia) with levels of sodium in some cases being below normal (hyponatremia) (Aladesanmi et al., 2005). Based on the presenting symptoms, laboratory findings and radiographic evidence, the patient’s diagnosis is lung cancer with hypercalcemia as a complication. The patient had elevated levels of PTH-rP which has been associated with shortened survival times. Additionally, another study revealed that hypercalcemia-leucocytosis syndrome is associated with paraneoplastic syndrome which is an indicator of poorer outcome in patients of lung cancer (Hiraki, et al., 2004). Therefore the prognosis is grave. The girl is suffering from Vitamin D deficiency which has resulted in rickets. According to Berman (2002), children who presented to the hospital with a deficiency of Vitamin D often have stunted growth with bow legs. In some cases, such patients will have a history of having the disease within their family. The laboratory test revealed that the girl had abnormally low levels of calcium in her blood (hypocalcemia). The patient has a history of taking mil, and this eliminates the possibility of the cause of the hypocalcemia being dietary. The follow up laboratory tests on 25-hydroxy Vit.D and 1, 25 dihydroxy Vit.D were to evaluate the amount of these substances in blood. These substances particularly 1, 25 dihydroxy Vit D is responsible for regulation of blood calcium levels (Children’s health, 2010) . It does this by stimulating the absorption of calcium from the intestines.

Marketing Management of Wal-Mart Research Paper

Marketing Management of Wal-Mart - Research Paper Example The author of the paper states that a clerk working at Wal-Mart will hear approximately 475 blips from her scanner per hour, these scans will then appear within the hour at the company's headquarters via its 460-terabyte computer system. This computer system, according to the New York Times, carries more data than the entire Internet. " Wal-Mart themselves on their website claim, "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the world's largest retailer, with $285.2 billion in sales in the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2005. The company employs 1.6 million associates worldwide through more than 3,700 facilities in the United States and more than 2,400 units in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. More than 138 million customers per week visit Wal-Mart stores worldwide"  With such data that speak for themselves, the mass retailing giant must be doing something right. Marketing m ay be defined as any gesture executed to create, satisfy, and keep customers. Wal-Mart seems to have mastered the art of bringing in customers to its stores as well as retaining them. It has aligned itself unerringly with the six Ps of marketing comprising of price, product (or service), place, promotion, people, and positioning. These six components constituting the marketing mix, when combined to make a winning combination are the basis of a growing business.  Wal-mart's marketing is all about the customer-oriented merchandising. Wal-mart's own unique strategy right from the beginning has held it in good stead. Responding to a customer's requirement of low cost, high value and all under one roof convenience, Wal-Mart squeezed its suppliers, economized on all fronts, and passed onto the savings to the customers. Its widely publicized jingle, "low cost- Always" with a sunny yellow smiley face logo has created an extraordinary perception of the low price that has sent shoppers floc king to its aisle. Although Wal-Mart does less at a very low cost, there are a few items where Wal-Mart is not the cheapest, but people buy it nevertheless, due to the perceived image. Wal-Mart carries 150,000 items beneath one roof thereby making it a one-stop shop for the purchase. This is an added benefit for Wal-Mart in that not only people are offered more choice, but go through their entire shopping list in a single store setting Walmart's cash registers ringing.  Unlike its competitors, Wal-Mart, except for a few seasonal sales does not depend on sales for its revenues. While other competitors lure customers in advertising a few products on sale while hinging on the belief that this will trigger other purchases. Wal-Mart just banks on the perception that the entire merchandise is competitively priced and the customer can pick up an item, based on the contention he is getting the best bargain no matter what he loads his cart with.  With merchandise placed within easy acces s, Wal-Mart associates are more involved in stocking shelves and offer minimal service and this further reduces costs for Wal-Mart.  Customer-oriented marketing was successfully employed at Wal-Mart where the employees were utilized to understand the needs of the customers and the methodology of how they make their choices of products they require. In this way, the research was kept straightforward and simple, and Walmart's marketing was closely aligned to customer needs.

Network Measurement Laboratory Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Network Measurement Laboratory - Lab Report Example This experiment is aimed to experimentally determine the Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuit of a Black box network which consists of resistive elements and voltage source. Furthermore, the value of the load resistance connected across the two terminals of the black box will be determined such that maximum power is transferred from the network load. Finally, the objective of the experiment is to determine certain network parameters. This experiment will aid the students to understand the behavior of given circuits and explain their outputs, understand Thevenin and Norton principles, the principle of maximum power transfer and their implications for practical systems. Thevenin Theorem states that: â€Å"any linear terminal circuit is equivalent to an ideal voltage source Vth in series with a resistance Rth where Vth is open circuit voltage the two terminals and Rth is the ratio of open-circuit voltage to the short-circuit current (Isc) at the terminals†. On the other hand, an alternative proposition to Thevenin’s theory, Norton’s theorem states that â€Å"Any linear resistive two terminal circuit is equivalent to a parallel combination of an ideal current source In and a resistance Rn, where In is the short-circuit current at the terminals and Rn is the ratio of the open-circuit voltage to the short-circuit current†. These theorems are illustrated in the circuit below Measurements for the values of 12 VDC and 18 VDC of the excitation voltages were then made. The Thà ©venin Circuit Component was then turned over and a schematic diagram representation drawn as shown below A 10Kï â€" variable resistor was connected across the output of the black box and the current and the voltage across the resistor measured. The resistance was varied the current and voltage recorded as a function of the resistance. The current and the voltmeter measurement

Federative Treaty of 1992 and constitution of 1993 Essay Example for Free

Federative Treaty of 1992 and constitution of 1993 Essay Federalism is a political system in which the Government is organized into two structures, one at the central level, and the other at the state or territorial level. Both forms of Government have certain powers and obligations towards the people. They also have to maintain relationships with each other. The Russian Federation or ‘Russia’ was formed in 1991, from USSR. It is a Republic belonging to the USSR, and by itself was a federation, previously. The President is the Head of State, and several parties are present in the political system. The Prime Minister, who heads the Government, is appointed by the President. Russia adopted a new constitution in December, 1993. The transition period from communism to a federal form of government was not comfortable for the Russian people and the economy. The country’s economy had gone through a severe crisis, and the people suffered from poverty, at that time. However, the economy has improved by the year 1999. There are about 86 federal units in the Russian Federation. These include 21 republics (which are given greater autonomy), 48 provinces, 7 territories, 7 autonomous districts and 1 autonomous province. Moscow and St. Petersburg are 2 federal cities. The Federation Treaty was signed in 1993. It was not included in the Constitution. However, the constitution identified the Federation Treaty.

The Importance And Significance Of Self Awareness Social Work Essay

The Importance And Significance Of Self Awareness Social Work Essay Self awareness, according to Wong (2003), means recognition of our personality, strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes. As a social worker, self awareness is an essential element to prepare oneself to encounter the clients personal matter, their attitudes, thoughts, etc. The essay is going to discuss the importance and significance of self awareness. Then talk about what I have learnt about myself, in terms of my personalities, attitudes, strengths, limitations and how my past experiences affect me. Finally correlate how self awareness can help my professional development as a social worker. According to Rothman (1999), everyone has its own attitudes or viewpoints towards something. Our thoughts and values are shaped during the time of infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. These thinking may be based on our own experiences, education received or society influences. It is clear that our past experiences, social norms, values from the others, characteristics, prejudices or stereotypes shape Knowing how my past experiences influence my own values helps me to be more aware of my own self. Having an uncle who committed suicide that made my family, especially my grandmother, sad and miserable, I personally hate people who have the intention to end up their lives. However, this hatred may make me unable to make the most appropriate decision when a client who has the will to commit suicide seeks help from me. Moreover, as suggested by Biestek (1961), the relationship between the social worker and the client has been called the soul of casework. It may be hard for me to develop appropriate relationship with the client. It is possible that I will have uncontrolled emotional involvement and judgmental attitudes towards the client. Without self awareness and knowing what experiences shape my thoughts, I will experience difficulty in providing sensitive and skillful services to the clients. I may also unknowingly reject the client and avoid talking too much about death unconscious ly. However, by knowing what experiences are affecting my values and thoughts, Rothman (1999) suggested that it assists the worker to work with clients, and to control and minimize the influences of personal attitudes and beliefs that may be harmful and prejudicial toward clients. Prejudices, biases and stereotypes may be great barriers on my professional development. It is common that when come to minorities such as prostitutes, homosexuals or the street sleepers, people may regard their behaviors as unethical. It may due to their personal values, cultural, religious and other beliefs which people take for granted to adopt when facing these issues. I also have prejudices and stereotypes on them and they may be expressed in conversations, acts or behaviours since they are hidden in the subconscious as suggested by Rothman (1999). I may unknowingly have words that harm them and make them defensive or not trust in me. Thus making it hard to develop good relationship with the client and hard to have intervention processes. For example, I have been exposed to a strong heterosexual bias and may incorporate some homophobic reactions such as discomfort or hatred of homosexual people. Without self-awareness and knowledge, I may not be able to provide skillful services to gay or lesbian clients. If a worker has religious belief, he or she may even have a strong belief that homosexuality is a sin. According to Sheafor and Morales (2007), one of the competences required for social work practice is the capacity to engage in ethnic-, gender- and age-sensitive practice. In order to achieve this, it is essential for a worker to find ways and methods to separate their personal belief system from their professional values, ethics and roles. Knowing my strengths and weaknesses also helps me with my professional development. I am glad and patient to listen to others. At the same time, I am also empathetic to others experiences and difficulties. It makes the clients feel being respected and thus it is easier to develop a proper client-worker relationship. It is of utmost importance that the client trust you Reflecting on our own experiences and developmental stages helps when working with clients. For example, I was shy and not willing to express my care towards others in my childhood. And I would have no opportunity to show my love to my grandmother who died years ago. The losses in my life make me re-think the way I used to be and strive for a change, that is, be more outgoing and caring to others. I can thus draw on my personal experience when working with young people and guide them in the changing process. However, it also makes me consider my limitations, that is, when working with elderly clients. I can relate my experience that is similar to a teenagers, however, it is impossible for me to have certain difficulties faced by elderly clients such as the aging process. As suggested by Berman-Rossi(2001), a social worker thus must develop aging relevant knowledge, self awareness, sensitivity and skill. Knowledge about aging demographics, age-related changes and developmental tasks i s essential. Although there are limitations to my service provided, there are ways to minimize the inadequacy. Increased openness to other ways of thinking My family is a blissful one, sometimes having some conflicts but still harmonious on the whole. I once thought that it is normal to have the kind of family like mine, and at least most of the families are alike. However, it is wrong as there are diversities in family structure. Some families are single-parented, while some may have huge communication problems among family members or having family members that are drug addicts that greatly affects the family. Sharing own feelings and thoughts among a group of peers helps to make up ones own viewpoint towards the population. By listening and sharing, one can know more about the peers attitudes on the issue, to examine their own attitudes and to exchange opinions in an overview. One can also have a broader view on an issue and Social workers must confront their own prejudices and stereotypes about minorities. Making myself known about losses in my own life helps me to understand what past experiences or feelings are affecting my own values and thoughts today.

Re-branding and Repositioning of the Republic Bank Group

Re-branding and Repositioning of the Republic Bank Group Practicum:â€Å"The Re-branding and Repositioning of the Republic Bank Group: The Case of Republic Bank DR S.A.† Executive Summary A brand is the sum of the customers experiences with the products or company how the customer thinks and feels about what the business does. The brand is transmitted in every interaction with the customer over the lifetime of the relationship and is therefore built from the customers entire experience with the company, not just through the companys communicated identity. It therefore plays a critical role in building trust and loyalty. According to the 4-D Branding model devised by Thomas Gad (refer Appendix 1) the brand operates at four different levels in the mind of the customer. These four levels include the functional (the perception of benefit of the product or service associated with the brand), the social (the ability to create identification with a group), the spiritual (the perception of global or local responsibility) and the mental (the ability to support the individual mentally). These four dimensions are derived from the customers experiences at the brand touch-points and combine to form the customers overall perception of the brand. The challenges facing brands today however are numerous, and in financial services the challenges are even more acute because of the intangibility of the facilities being provided. In the case of banks that operate in diverse territories, the major challenge lies in the ability to balance global or regional brand integrity with local cultural authenticity. These brands must be viable on a global or regional scale, but remain relevant at the local level. The Republic Bank Group faced this dilemma as it expanded its operations to embrace several Caribbean territories with different cultures, preferences, languages and modes of behaviour. The branding challenge in such an environment can become quite complex, with the level of complexity multiplying across subsidiaries and divisions of the bank, product lines, markets and even advertising agencies. Controlling brand identity in such an environment can be exigent. The case of Banco Mercantil, Republic Banks subsidiary in the Dominican Republic, however posed a different challenge. The viability of that brand was undermined by a combination of internal (mismanagement) and environmental (economic decline and near crash of the financial system) factors that led to the complete erosion of its brand equity in a relatively short space of time. The brand ceased to engender trust and confidence among its customers and while it still existed at the functional level from the point of view of providing banking services, it was devoid of credibility at the social, spiritual and mental levels. Following qualitative research involving a population of 1200 households spanning the banks three major market segments (mass, private and corporate/commercial), the bank faced the decision of rebuilding the existing brand; re-branding with a completely new identity or adopting the identity and brand of the new shareholder. Subsequent to SWOT and force field analyses being conducted, the decision was taken to re-brand Banco Mercantil by adopting the parent or heritage brand i.e. Republic Bank Limited through the introduction of the name Republic Bank DR S.A. and reposition the operations to focus primarily on the private banking and corporate and commercial market niches in the Dominican Republic. The re-branding exercise spanned two geographic locations and several stakeholder groups, from employees to customers and regulators in the Dominican Republic, as well as the shareholder in Trinidad and Tobago. May 5, 2005 was a historic day in Republic Banks history as it signalled the start of a re-branding process that should embrace the entire banking group. Such an exercise is critical at this time, as the Bank continues to broaden its footprint within the Caribbean, prepare itself for increased competition in the markets in which it currently operates, and positions itself to win the minds and hearts of regional customers. Several considerations were apparent in the change of name of the Dominican subsidiary to Republic Bank DR, foremost among them being the cultural implications of adopting the new name and the values that were imbedded in the brand. While the values themselves were not alien to the Dominican society, there were some differences in their interpretation stemming from cultural and social indoctrination. The rigorous systems and procedures for example, which are inherent in the British banking system that Republic Bank inherited from its predecessor Barclays Bank, were not as stringently applied in the Dominican Bank. The non-application was less a display of deviant behaviour and more a response to cultural norms and values consistent with the Latin culture. A thorough understanding and appreciation of the divergence in the cultures of the Caribbean were critical to the formulation and execution of an effective communications programme during the change process from Banco Mercantil to R epublic Bank DR, in order to ensure understanding and acceptance of the change. The primary drivers for change in the case of Banco Mercantil were the absence of equity associated with the proprietary brand, arising from the loss of trust and confidence in the bank, the disillusionment of the banks employees which impacted performance and hence business viability in the short, medium and long term, and the strong desire to turn the banks fortunes around. These driving forces strongly outweighed any restraining forces that might have existed, including the loss of corporate identity and national pride. The force field analysis performed in the course of the study clearly revealed the need for change. The change of name from Banco Mercantil to Republic Bank DR S.A. is historic in the Republic Bank context, as it is the first of Republic Banks acquired subsidiaries to undergo a retirement of its proprietary brand and the adoption of the overarching heritage brand. The Banks customary approach of maintaining the proprietary brands of acquisitions has resulted in the Republic Bank Group carrying a diverse portfolio of corporate brands in the Caribbean, culminating in a somewhat complicated brand landscape, and under-leverage of its heritage brand outside of its principal market, Trinidad and Tobago. The re-branding of Banco Mercantil therefore provides the catalyst for, and the foundation upon which the re-branding of the Republic Bank Group may be undertaken. The major hindrance to the achievement of this objective however is the strength of emotion and national pride that still surround the brands of the acquired subsidiaries in Grenada, Guyana and Barbados in particular. From a Republic Bank Group perspective there are also several important drivers advocating re-branding of the entire banking group. These include the increasing globalisation of business, the imminent introduction of the CSME and eventually the FTAA or other similar trade agreement; the Banks need to broaden its regional footprint to be in a position to take advantage of opportunities that would arise from increased globalisation, and the equity that would be derived from a significantly stronger and more cohesive brand. Whether approached as a big bang or on a phased basis spanning weeks, months or years, a re-branding of the entire banking group would derive significant benefits in the long term from financial, identity, cost and control perspectives. In the final analysis, the eventual success would not only be measured by the presence of physical artifacts such as Republic Bank signage on branches and offices in all of the islands. It would also be measured by the Banks ability to leverage financially from its corporate brand in several areas of business, and to provide a consistently high quality of service in all markets. The long-term objective however would be the achievement of the vision of being the bank of choice for customers, staff and shareholders and in so doing capturing the minds and hearts of the Caribbean people. Declaration Form for the reproduction of the document Given the highly competitive nature of the banking industry in the Caribbean and hence the confidential nature of the information contained in this study, reproduction or sharing of any information contained herein is strictly prohibited without expressed and written consent from the author and Republic Bank Limited. 1. Introduction Origins and Purpose The Republic Bank Group is one of the largest and most profitable financial services groups in the Caribbean. Originating from Barclays Bank and its predecessor Colonial Bank, Republic Bank has served the people of the Caribbean, specifically Trinidad and Tobago for 168 years. This study seeks to reposition and re-brand the Republic Bank Group, as the Bank moves closer to its vision of being the â€Å"Bank of Choice in the Caribbean†. Re-branding of the Group is particularly critical at this time, as the Bank continues to prepare itself for increased competition in the markets in which it currently operates, as well as for further expansion within and outside of the Caribbean. 1.2 The Case of Banco Mercantil In establishing a framework for the re-branding exercise, the study looks specifically at the case of Banco Mercantil S.A., Republic Banks subsidiary in the Dominican Republic, which was recently re-branded and repositioned in that market (May 5, 2005). The new bank, Republic Bank DR S.A. will focus primarily on the private banking and corporate and commercial market niches in the Dominican Republic, as it charts a path to profitability. In conducting the study, attention was paid to the process that was required in the execution of the re-branding and the benefits to be derived by the brand arising from the change of name and identity. In discussing the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, the study analyses the corporate identities of Republic Bank and Banco Mercantil to ascertain their status and the existence of any disconnects that might exist. It also identifies the reasons for the Banks earlier hesitation at re-branding its Caribbean acquisitions, the cultural shifts that are required at both the parent and subsidiary levels, the move to commence the process in the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic and the foundation that is laid for an escalation of the re-branding process throughout the Caribbean. The framework established for the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, and detailed in this study, may be used with appropriate adjustments to cater to cultural, social and political differences, to the re-branding and repositioning of Republic Banks other Caribbean acquisitions, namely the National Commercial Bank of Grenada Limited (NCB), The National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited (NBIC) in Guyana and the Barbados National Bank (BNB). 1.3 Historic Step The change of name of Banco Mercantil to Republic Bank DR S.A. is historic in the Republic Bank context, as it is the first of Republic Banks acquired subsidiaries to undergo an identity change, and would as suggested above, provide the catalyst for, and the foundation upon which the re-branding of Republic Banks Caribbean empire might be undertaken. 1.4 Approach The study adopts an analytical approach to the re-branding exercise and draws upon the results of two surveys conducted in the Dominican Republic and Grenadian markets to test the corporate image of Republic Banks subsidiaries in those countries. It also employs several change management and corporate identity management models in its analysis of the current situations in the Dominican Republic and the Southern and Eastern Caribbean, and in devising recommendations for the Groups re-branding. The historic background of the Republic Bank Group is described, the environmental landscape in the Dominican Republic examined and the mood for change in that country discussed, to put into context the decision to re-brand Banco Mercantil. The study also employs Kurt Lewins model for change specifically in the execution of the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, and in so doing provides a framework for executing similar changes in other subsidiaries in the future. Fundamental marketing concepts articulated by Kotler and Jeannet and Hennessey were combined with more recent models related to branding by communications and branding experts such as John M.T. Balmer and Stephen Greyser as well as the use of the robust strategic models from experts such as Lewin, Mintzberg and Kammerer. The mood for change in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean and the macro environmental drivers that have impacted the Banks hesitation at re-branding its subsidiaries thus far were also diagnosed and analysed, using Force Field Analyses. These examined the driving forces pushing for change of the brand, as well as those restraining forces working against a change and advocating maintenance of the status quo. Comparative SWOT Analyses were also conducted to determine the most significant areas of weakness and opportunity, and to devise strategies aimed at maximising the strengths of both the Dominican subsidiary and the Group. An integral part of the change process involved in the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, was the analysis of that banks corporate identity, the corporate identity of Republic Bank Limited and a comparison of the results of both tests. This analysis was undertaken using the AC ²ID Test model devised by Harvard Business School professor John Balmer. The test threw up some interesting, albeit not surprising facts, which influenced the decision to change the banks name, as well as the choice of name itself. 1.5Benefits Republic Banks post-acquisition strategy previously advocated retention of the proprietary brand of the acquired subsidiary, rather than retirement of the weaker brand following analysis, or even retirement of the acquired brand in favour of the acquirer brand. This has resulted in the Bank carrying a diverse portfolio of corporate brands in the Caribbean, culminating in a somewhat confusing brand landscape, and little or no physical presence of its heritage or overarching brand outside of Trinidad and Tobago. While Republic Bank enjoys a strong corporate identity, high top of mind recall, strong citizenship recognition and a positive corporate image in its primary market, Trinidad and Tobago, its diverse portfolio of brands causes its corporate brand to be lowly leveraged in the other Caribbean territories in which it operates. Its vision of being the bank of choice in the Caribbean could therefore be stymied by its brands low leverage and physical absence in the non-Trinidad and Tobago territories in which it operates. In those countries the heritage brand (Republic Bank) provides an endorsing role at best, and is essentially represented by the brands of its acquired subsidiaries. The brand proposition of each of the subsidiary banks also varies. The re-branding of the Group to achieve a strong, unified and consistent brand identity is of particular importance to Republic Bank at this time, as the Group seeks to buy a place in the minds and hearts of regional and global customers. This study therefore produces the framework required for such a mammoth re-branding and repositioning exercise and in so doing provides a model that may be customised and employed in future corporate marketing exercises. 2.Background 2.1The Republic Bank Group Republic Bank Limited is one of the oldest and most successful indigenous financial services groups in the English-speaking Caribbean. Republic Bank evolved from the British bank, Barclays Bank Dominion Colonial and Overseas (DCO) and its predecessor Colonial Bank that was established in 1868 to provide banking services to the British expatriates involved in the islands sugar cane industry, and later to the freed slaves and indentured labourers. Today Republic Banks ownership is widely dispersed embracing over 10,000 individual and institutional shareholders. Republic Bank currently operates in eight Caribbean territories through 14 subsidiaries and offices in Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, St. Lucia, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago, and employs over 4,700 persons in the Caribbean. With an asset base of US$5 billion (TT$28.6 billion) Republic Bank recorded after tax profits of US$105.4 million (TT$664 million) in its last financial year (2003/2004). The Banks earnings per share in that year was TT$4.17 with return on average assets of 2.44% and return on shareholders equity of 18.93%. The Republic Bank Vision Republic Bank has identified the following vision: â€Å"Republic Bank, The Bank of Choice in the Caribbean for Customers, Staff and Shareholders. We set the Standard of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction, Employee Satisfaction and Shareholder Value† 2.3Expansion through Organic Growth and Acquisition Republic Bank has employed a strategy combining organic growth and strategic acquisition to facilitate its regional expansion goals over the past 13 years, as it sought to grow its asset base, increase market share and increase profitability. Its first such venture was the establishment of a joint venture merchant bank, Acedo Mendoza Fincor, with the Mendoza family of Venezuela. This operation soon extended to include an office in Panama but the Banks shareholding was eventually sold to the Mendoza family at the start of Venezuelas economic decline in the mid 1990s. That first move at overseas expansion was closely followed by the acquisition of the majority shareholding in the National Commercial Bank of Grenada Limited in 1992. This was followed shortly thereafter by the establishment of an offshore banking operation in the Cayman Islands, the acquisitions of the Bank of Commerce in Trinidad and Tobago and the National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited in Guyana, the establishment of an office in Havana, Cuba, and the acquisitions of Barbados National Bank in Barbados and Banco Mercantil in the Dominican Republic. Republic Banks largest and most profitable operation at this time is in the country of its home base, Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago bank alone operates 44 banking branches in the twin island republic and employs 2,790 persons, over half of the total number of persons employed by the Group. The strongest economies in which Republic Bank currently operates continue to be Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The weakest economy at this time is the Dominican Republic in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, though it is showing signs of recovery, followed by Guyana in South America. 2.4The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts Republic Banks organically grown subsidiaries all bear the same corporate identity, which is Republic Bank. The acquired subsidiaries of NCB (Grenada), NBIC (Guyana), BNB (Barbados) and Banco Mercantil (Dominican Republic) all bear their separate names and corporate identities, having retained their original brand names following acquisition. The first three banks, namely NCB in Grenada, NBIC in Guyana and BNB in Barbados, were all â€Å"national† banks in their respective countries, with Republic Bank purchasing all or part of the governments shareholdings. As the â€Å"national† banks, they catered largely to the grassroots and middle-income population and in some cases emerged from the era of nationalism and political struggle in the Caribbean during the 1970s. In the case of each acquisition there was some negative reaction from those nationals who viewed the transaction as a sale of the countrys national heritage to an â€Å"outsider†. This sentiment was strongly expressed during the initial stages of the BNB purchase, where the sale of the Barbados governments shareholding in BNB threatened to become a political issue, in spite of the significant premium that was paid for the shares. That furore has since quelled, as the Barbadian public has been able to witness and experience the positive value that Republic Bank has brought to both BNB and to the financial sector in that country in the last year and a half. Given the history therefore, it is understandable that there would be strong feelings of national pride and patriotism attached to the identities i.e. proprietary brands of NCB, NBIC and BNB, particularly among the grassroots and the middle-income earners in the respective markets. It was for this principal reason strength of national pride and patriotism, and the resultant possibility of customer migration and loss of business that Republic Bank demonstrated its initial reluctance to initiate name changes in the territories, post acquisition. Its post acquisition strategy had been to retain the existing management and employees, once competent, and to preserve the name and corporate identity of the bank, as a means of maintaining the goodwill and equity that were attached to the brand, and so prevent business loss. The Bank focused instead on aligning the systems and procedures of the acquired bank to those of Republic Bank, and providing the infrastructural, technological and intellectual support that would enable the growth and development of the acquired subsidiary, and, by extension the economy of the respective country. Little attention was placed on alignment of the corporate identities or of the introduction or promotion of the corporate identity of the parent company, Republic Bank Limited. This approach of working alongside the subsidiary, rather than implementing drastic changes, triggered little outward disruption to the external environment, particularly customer relationships, and allowed the employees to focus gradually on the cultural shifts that were required to facilitate partial integration into the Republic Bank Group, while at the same time allowing them to retain their original identities. The impact of Republic Bank on those overseas subsidiaries has however been felt over time by customers, the general public and competitors in those markets, as the subsidiaries adopted a more aggressive and energetic stance in their operations, marketing and customer service, growing market share by as much as 10% in one year in the case of BNB. Customers were aware that these changes were the result of the new ownership of the bank and the deepening of the relationship with the parent company, Republic Bank, even though this link was seldom emphasised in external communication. The majority of customers appreciated the changes, since they impacted positively on the levels of efficiency evident in the banks, manifest in the quality of the service that they received, and the broadening array of product offers to which they were exposed. The subsidiaries themselves clearly recognised the value that their association with Republic Bank brought to bear on their banks success and customer interactions, particularly in the area of business facilitation. There is also a growing gratification in the association with a large, successful and powerful Caribbean bank, particularly at this time, when the business emphasis appears to be shifting increasingly toward integration and the benefits of larger size to cope with increased globalisation. 2.5The Mood for Change-The Dominican Republic There is a positive mood for change in the Dominican Republic in relation to the re-branding of Banco Mercantil S.A., fuelled primarily by the countrys desperate economic situation and the virtual collapse of the financial system. The government and many Dominicans viewed as a welcome move, Republic Banks entry into the Dominican financial sector through its acquisition of Banco Mercantil in 2003. It must be remembered that in the midst of Republic Banks entry, was the failure of several other commercial banks, principally due to rampant fraud and mismanagement facilitated by closed ownership the majority of businesses in the Dominican Republic, including the major banks are owned by a few wealthy families and a culture that appears to embrace less stringent ethical standards than those embraced by many countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. The Latin culture in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, is not as supportive of intense structures and systems as is the English culture. Hence the presence of strong systems to support business and demand strong ethical practice was almost absent in the Dominican Republic. Corruption was therefore rife. Additionally, the Latin cultures focus on external appearances as an indicator of success and well-being, also belies the true financial status of organisations and little attempt is made to delve sufficiently deep t o ascertain the reality. A thorough understanding of the divergence in the cultures of the Caribbean was therefore critical to the formulation and execution of an effective communications programme during the change process i.e. movement from Banco Mercantil to Republic Bank DR. Given the negative experiences of the immediate past, the employees and customers of Banco Mercantil were anxious for the presence of a professional organization with wide and diffused ownership, that would introduce systems and procedures to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, high levels of professionalism and business continuity. The regulators and employees alike were also determined to prevent a run on the bank and the consequential loss of jobs, while retaining and growing their existing customer base. Republic Banks good reputation as a sound and professional financial services provider in Trinidad and Tobago preceded it, and the Bank was well respected by the regulators, the small cadre of business and financial officials in the DR who knew of it, as well as by the employees who did their personal research on the Bank and its history and reputation. 2.6The Mood for Change -The Southern Eastern Caribbean The mood for change in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean is less enthusiastic than it is in the Dominican Republic. A survey conducted by NCB Grenada early in 2005 to test the banks corporate image revealed positive sentiments toward Republic Banks influence on the efficiency and general good performance of NCB, and mixed reactions to the possibility of a re-branding of the subsidiary. The underlying reason for this reluctance was the strong feeling of national pride and patriotism that continues to exist in the islands, for the reasons indicated earlier in this section. The reasons are more emotional than logical, and therefore more challenging to overcome, as branding is built to a greater extent on emotion and feelings, than it is on logic and reason. In spite of the strength of these sentiments however, there appears to be a listening to the possibility of change, as the Grenada survey indicated. A listening that Republic Bank should encourage as it contemplates a regional re-br anding of the group. 2.7The Environmental Landscape in the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a Spanish speaking country in the Northern Caribbean bordered by the Caribbean Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean and Haiti. With a population of 8.8 million people, the Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade. The country enjoyed growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 7% pre annum between 1998-2000. Growth subsequently plummeted as part of the global economic slowdown. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economys largest employer due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The Dominican Republic suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud and limited growth in the US economy, the source of 87% of export revenues. The inflation rate based on 2003 national statistics is 27.5%, with unemployment being 16.5% and 25% of the population living below the poverty line. Predominantly Roman Catholic, the ethnic composition of the Dominican Republic differs from that of Trinidad and Tobago, with persons of mixed ethnicity comprising 73% of the population, whites 16% and blacks 11%. This ethnic composition was considered when formulating communication material related to advertising on the re-branding of Banco Mercantil. It will also be considered in the future in the production of standard external communication material such as mass media advertising for the Group. 3.Statement of Opportunity Given Republic Banks stated vision of being the â€Å"Bank of Choice in the Caribbean†, the onset of globalisation which has opened up hitherto inaccessible markets, the imminent commencement of the CSME and FTAA which would open up the Caribbean to large, powerful and influential business competitors, coupled with the aggressive stance of competitive forces within the Caribbean itself, there is an opportunity at this time for Republic Bank to reposition and re-brand its regional subsidiaries, beginning with Banco Mercantil, its subsidiary in the Dominican Republic. 4.Theoretical Perspectives This study embraces several theoretic concepts in bringing about the re-branding and repositioning of the Republic Bank Group and more specifically the re-branding of its Dominican Republic subsidiary, Banco Mercantil. The study utilises a number of theories in change management, strategic business planning and corporate identity analysis in orchestrating the required change. 4.1AC ²ID Test In analysing the corporate identities of Republic Bank Limited and Banco Mercantil the AC ²ID Test devised by Harvard Business School Professor, John Balmer was used extensively. The AC ²ID Test is a model used to assist companies in evaluating and understanding their corporate identities, to identify deficiencies and misalignments often arising from, but not limited to mergers and acquisitions, and to form the basis for realignment or correction of the misaligned corporate identities. †¢The Acid test is a model used to assist companies in evaluating and understanding identify deficiencies The test acknowledges that every organisation has more than one identity, and categorises these into five specific areas that help to shape the overall identity and eventually the image of the organisation. These identities are: ACTUAL IDENTITY this comprises the current, distinct attributes of the company i.e. what it does. COMMUNICATED IDENTITY what does the company communicate via Advertising, Public Relations, and Sponsorships? CONCEIVED IDENTITY Stakeholder Perceptions corporate image reputation how does the company appear to stakeholders? IDEAL IDENTITY Optimum Positioning based on current knowledge of the companys capabilities. DESIRED IDENTITY -Corporate vision from the perspective of the CEO and the Board of Directors. The AC ²ID Test was employed to evaluate and analyse the corporate identities of Republic Bank and Banco Mercantil in consolidating and guiding the process of changing the Banco Mercantil name and the adoption of the overarching brand, Republic Bank. 4.2Structures Influence on Corporate Identity In identifying a link or relationship between organisational structure/hierarchy and corporate identity, the work of Olins, Ind and Kammerer were explored and applied. Olins identified three basic types of visual architecture used by organisations namely, the monol

Psychedelic Drugs (aka Psychedelics) Essay -- essays research papers

Psychedelic Drugs (aka Psychedelics) Introduction: Throughout human history people have sought experiences that somehow transcend every day life. Some sort of wisdom that might progress their knowledge of self and of the world that they live in. For some reason they believed that the tangible world just could not be all there is to life. Some believed in a greater force that controlled them, some believed of invisible beings that influenced their lives, some of an actual other world that paralleled their own. Many of these people also believed that it was possible to catch a glimpse of these forces, beings, or worlds through a variety of means that propel individuals into altered states of consciousness. These techniques include meditation, hypnosis, sleep deprivation, and (what will be discussed here) psychoactive drugs, more specifically psychedelic drugs. Although in the modern world such drugs have developed an almost taboo status, it is impossible to ignore the tales of enlightenment reported by ancient cultures and even those rebels that use such drugs illegally today. While the American government has been one of the main influences on today’s society’s negative attitudes towards psychedelic drugs, they have granted some scientist and psychologists permission to experiment with such agents, and despite the controversy and varying results there seem to be many positive uses of psychedelic agents. These positive uses and the research that has been directed toward these uses will be reviewed in the following, as well as a brief history of psychedelic drugs. History:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Native Americans are probably the people most known for their use of psychedelic drugs. Being a very religious people, their entire society revolved around the spirit world, and some believed that access to this world was possible by eating certain plants that were abundant in their surroundings. In what are now Mexico and the Southwestern United States, tribes familiarized themselves with mescaline, the active ingredient in the peyote cactus. Another drug that was used by tribes in these and many other areas was psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic ingredient of the mushroom Psilocybe mexicana and other psilocybe and conocybe species that grow on the pacific coast of North, South, and Central America. Ritual use of psilocybin and mesca... ... research the government has allowed scientists and psychologists, there have been amazing discoveries of the capacities of these drugs. It has been proven that they are able to extend psychotherapy’s view of the human mind, they are able to promote massive personality changes, and to enhance the learning and problem solving experience. It has even been suggested that psychedelics are able to enhance any aspect of mental functioning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One must look beyond the stereotypes that psychedelics have earned in the twentieth century, and also modern science, that presupposes that any thing that cannot be explained within its own contexts either does not exist or is but a fanciful idea. However, the realm of psychedelics is uncharted area, and when dealing with such experimental substances, such as these psychedelic agents, one must proceed with caution, as was mentioned earlier the agents are powerful tools and can be used with skill or reckless abandon, and therefore can yield positive responses or deadly consequences. If used with care psychedelics will allow many psychologists and patients to embark on a perhaps endless journey of self-discovery.

Merchant Of Venice - Antonio And Shylock :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

William Shakespeare shows how two tradesmen can have completely different lives when others view them differently in the play The Merchant of Venice. In the play, Bassanio, Antonio’s friend, needs money to pursue his love. They seek a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Antonio’s name. The contract is for three times the value of the bond in three months or else Shylock cuts off a pound of flesh from Antonio. While all this is happening, there are love plots going on. One of which is for Shylock’s daughter to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Later on, Antonio’s source of money, his ship, is reported sunken in the English Channel, dooming him to the loss of one pound of his flesh. There is a trial on the bond, and when it seems sure that Antonio will die, Portia, disguised as a doctor of laws legally gets Antonio out of the situation and Shylock recieves harsh penalties. Antonio and Shylock, two similar businessmen of Venice, are viewed differently and are treated oppositely to heighten the drama of the play and mold a more interesting plot. Antonio and Shylock are both successful entrepreneurs in Venice but they both have different attitudes and experiences. When Antonio is asking Shylock for the loan he says, â€Å"Within these two months – that’s a month before this bond expires – I do expect, return of thrice times the value of this bond.† (1.3.169-170). Antonio and Shylock both are well off and successful businessmen. Antonio, being a man who is treats everyone nicely, lends his good name to Bassanio to woo Portia. Shylock on the other hand, could never do that and is a very greedy man who asks for three times the value of the loan. Also, Antonio is a risk taker and thinks things will always go the right way for him and his success will continue, which is shown when he accepts the high interest rate and the bizarre payment if the money isn’t received. Shylock handles his business straightforward and charges interest because it is his job, although being a very high amount and if it isn’t carried out, Shylock gets his payment of one pound of flesh. Shylock is depicted as the greedy businessman while Antonio is the nice man who tries his luck. Another way Antonio and Shylock are different is their religion based social status: Antonio is a Christian and Shylock is a Jew. Merchant Of Venice - Antonio And Shylock :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays William Shakespeare shows how two tradesmen can have completely different lives when others view them differently in the play The Merchant of Venice. In the play, Bassanio, Antonio’s friend, needs money to pursue his love. They seek a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Antonio’s name. The contract is for three times the value of the bond in three months or else Shylock cuts off a pound of flesh from Antonio. While all this is happening, there are love plots going on. One of which is for Shylock’s daughter to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Later on, Antonio’s source of money, his ship, is reported sunken in the English Channel, dooming him to the loss of one pound of his flesh. There is a trial on the bond, and when it seems sure that Antonio will die, Portia, disguised as a doctor of laws legally gets Antonio out of the situation and Shylock recieves harsh penalties. Antonio and Shylock, two similar businessmen of Venice, are viewed differently and are treated oppositely to heighten the drama of the play and mold a more interesting plot. Antonio and Shylock are both successful entrepreneurs in Venice but they both have different attitudes and experiences. When Antonio is asking Shylock for the loan he says, â€Å"Within these two months – that’s a month before this bond expires – I do expect, return of thrice times the value of this bond.† (1.3.169-170). Antonio and Shylock both are well off and successful businessmen. Antonio, being a man who is treats everyone nicely, lends his good name to Bassanio to woo Portia. Shylock on the other hand, could never do that and is a very greedy man who asks for three times the value of the loan. Also, Antonio is a risk taker and thinks things will always go the right way for him and his success will continue, which is shown when he accepts the high interest rate and the bizarre payment if the money isn’t received. Shylock handles his business straightforward and charges interest because it is his job, although being a very high amount and if it isn’t carried out, Shylock gets his payment of one pound of flesh. Shylock is depicted as the greedy businessman while Antonio is the nice man who tries his luck. Another way Antonio and Shylock are different is their religion based social status: Antonio is a Christian and Shylock is a Jew.