Construction of gender and sexual identities Essay

Construction of gender and sexual identities - Essay Example It has aptly been observed that every culture of the world maintains some specific characteristics and traits, which distinguishes it with the rest of the cultural groups and communities at large prevailing within the same natural and physical phenomena. This distinction is generally dependent of several sub-cultures existing under one culture, which not only divide the individuals into factions and groups, but also provide them with identification on the basis of their likes and dislikes, and priorities and aversions as well. Consequently, the sub-cultures of society work in an active and effective way by not only uniting the like-minded people under one platform, but also helping them in respect of winning their rights and privileges particularly at the time when the majority of the population appears to be standing at the opposite side, censuring and condemning the minority group in one way or the other. It is especially the case with the homosexuals, which have established their specific sub-culture, and have invented and introduced particular terms and jargons in order to convey their messages to their community members on one hand, and conceal it from the members of outer groups on the other (Warren 1998). The present paper aims to concentrate upon the gender and sexual identities with reference to the homosexuals in order to get acquainted with their sub-culture and mode of communication while living in the societies, an imperative majority of which still regard same-sex relations as perversion and deviant behavior (Macionis 2007). Sexual identity and the terms related to it, according to Ponse (1978), are applied in quite a different way in gay and lesbian environment to the dominant mainstream social set up. In addition, there also exists a sub-culture within the gay environment, which could only be comprehended with by the members of homosexual community, as well as the individuals interested in the same. As a result, an imperative proportion of the m ajority population remains almost unaware of the terms to be applied in order to express some specific action, performance or identity in general. For instance, the term gay had frequently been applied in order to demonstrate the individuals carrying jolly and care-free disposition in past; though, the same adjective has become entirely confined to defining homosexual males and females, and the previous usage of the word focusing jovial people has ceased to exist in main culture and homosexual sub-culture as well (Sherwin 2006). However, some of the terms are exclusively applied to identify homosexuality. Unger & Crawford (1993) argue that the feminists have articulated various terms in order to make division between sex and gender, determining the biological characteristics, and social traits and qualities of the homosexuals respectively. For instance, the notion lesbian explains a female engaged in a homosexual relationship, though in past it was donated to the individuals belongi ng to the Greek island Lesbos (248). Similarly, the notion active simply describes a vigorous and energetic person, though in homosexual acts, the same defines the person playing dominant part in homosexual relationships by penetrating into the recipient or passive partner; the terms dominant and top also define the penetrating partner, while submissive and bottom signify the receiver respectively. Hence, Ponse (246-47) appears to be justified in her claim that the terms used by the majority of the population are applied interchangeably in gay culture, and hence display the meanings that are quite different to the actual application of the same in their nature and scope. On the contrary, the essentialists strictly confine sexual behavior on the basis of the biological characteristics of males and females. As a result, males and females should always play dominant and submissive roles as per the demand of their sex organs and biological traits.

Sometimes a lie is better than the truth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sometimes a lie is better than the truth - Essay Example example, American troops in Pakistan earlier convince the Pak authorities that they will never undertake any mission inside Pak territory without the permission from the Pak authorities. However, they secretly conducted a mission and killed Osama Bin Laden. The Pak authorities came to know about this mission only after the mission. In this case, nobody can blame American troops for telling lies since the ultimate aim of this lie was to kill a terrorist and save the innocent people. Former American President George Bush convinced the world that Saddam or Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction. He has taken approval for conducting military strikes in Iraq from United Nations with the help of this lie. It should be noted that UN would never grand permission to attack Iraq, had they know the intentions of Bush prior to the attack. At present, it is crystal clear that President Bush was lying and his intention was to destroy Iraq and Saddam since Saddam humiliated his father Bush Sr. in an earlier encounter. The execution of Saddam created mixed response in the world. Some people criticized this execution whereas others, especially the Kurds, who suffered a lot from the hands of Saddam, welcomed the execution of Saddam. In other words, Kurds believe that Bush’s lie helped them in one way or another. Lies will be justified when the life is in danger. Imagine an American was caught by the Taliban. Nobody can blame the American if he tells some lies to escape from the hands of Taliban. â€Å"Police officers adopt ruses when trying to catch criminals. Spies do it to serve their nations. Military forces do it to achieve victory on the battlefield† (Akin). In these cases, telling lies help people in one way or another. It should be noted that it is the duty of the police officers to catch criminals and to protect the life of innocent people. In order to save the life of many innocent people, police officers may tell some lies to catch the criminals which are justified.

Development of Controlled Drug Delivery for Animals

Development of Controlled Drug Delivery for Animals INDUDTRIAL CHALLENGES : The production of, controlled release drug delivery technologies are same, both in, humans and animals, but, the reasons for developing them are not same. In humans and animals, the controlled drug delivery permits safe, effective and easy handling for the user. In humans, to develop a drug into long acting one, the reasons to be considered are, less dose frequency, more patient compliance and to improve the well being of the patient. However, in animals to develop a drug into long acting one, the reasons to be considered are, minimum animal handling, low cost of treatment and small time for the administration of the drug. In human field, main focus is on the health of the patient, but, in animal arena, main focus is on the low cost of treatment, easy administration by the farmer and minimum animal handling. In veterinary industry, these reasons challenge the production of controlled drug delivery technologies. (1). The challenges in a veterinary drug industry, for the development of controlled drug delivery for animals are small commercial market, low profits and money spent on the research is less. The price of the finished product depends on the selection and price of the excipients, polymers, methods used for manufacturing and marketing team responsibilities (1). The major challenge is cost of the finished product and it depends on the method of design, type of excipient and polymer used and how many excipients used during the formulation (1). Marketing team responsibilities is another challenge. Poor marketing is responsible for decreased efforts to develop a new product (1). Another challenge is farmed animals. There are, large number of physiological differences between the species and within the species. One example for physiological difference is body weights, Beef cattle weighs 266-641kg, dairy cows weighs 600-700 kg and sheep weighs 54-66 kg. Animals, throughout their life cycle shows different weights. Due to these differences, dosage forms should be developed with different strengths and volumes. Due to this challenge scientist faces a problem, whether dosage is to be developed per animal or weight of the animal. If the dosing per animal is considered, the challenges are measures of drug safety. If the dosing is as per the body weight, the challenge is design is design of a flexible delivery technology that covers wide range of animals and the animals that are growing. An example is, CIDRÂ ® intra vaginal inserts for sheep, pigs and cattle. The intra vaginal inserts for sheep and cattle are having same shape, but, different in size. These inserts for pigs are different in shape compared to sheep and cattle. Basically, same technology is used for the preparation of these three inserts. (1). Another challenge is, drug or residues exist in the food. To overcome this challenge wide absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) studies are conducted and also characterization techniques are developed. These studies, depends on the cost of the final product. In veterinary industry, new polymers and excipients for controlled release are rarely used. (1). Another challenge in the veterinary industry, is administration of dose. In animal field, the dose should be administered manually, for this suitable applicators are to be designed. The designed applicators should facilitate easy use by the end user (1). The challenges faced by the veterinary industry are many. The developed products must have safety, stability and efficacy. These profiles are built into each product and additional challenges are also to be addressed i.e. the presence of residual drug at the site of administration. Safety profiles are applicable to both animals and users. For efficacy profiles different breeds, different seasons and different geographical locations are considered. Chemical stability of drugs is major challenge. Farms lack areas for the storage of pharmaceuticals. Physical stability of the drug is another challenge. Farmers show less interest towards efficacy profile, how to use, method of administration, residual drug in the tissue etc. scientists should improve the features like method of administration, acceptable safety and efficacy profiles and during the storage drug should not be altered. (1). Another challenge is influence of delivery technique on the environment. The new delivery technology should not show any impact on the ecosystems. (1). Major challenge in the near future is reduction of carbon compounds for the development of drug delivery technologies, because, carbon dioxide and methane are considered as green house gases. In the future, specialized controlled release dosage forms will be developed (1). Another challenge is market. Identification of need is one and another is identified need that can bring profits that are spent on research. For the well being of animal health, several products are used, they are, feed additives, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and nutraceuticals. The challenges associated with these products are different physicochemical properties and different formulation approaches. In the last decade, less money is spent on the research. In UK, 1986, 70% of veterinary products are introduced into the market for live stock, but, 45% of sales were reported in 2008. However, companion sector had grown to 52% in UK, due to increased use of vaccines and novel medicines. The companion animal industry is employing formulation scientists, those are having experience in human product development rather than formulation scientists, who is a farmed animal specialist (1). Regulatory needs is the future challenge. Manufacturing GMP requirements are same for the final products, both in, animal and human arenas. (1). In recent times, the curious challenge is seen in farms of certain species like swine and chickens. If these farms do not buy the new products developed by the pharmaceutical companies, they are showing less interest for the investment. This type of challenge is seen in USA (1). INDUSTRIAL OPPURTUNITIES :- Now a days, several opportunities are there for veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Compared to market of the human pharmaceuticals, veterinary pharmaceutical products is shorter. By taking this advantage, employing an experience team, quickly complete the development activities. Due to the short time for the market, income comes quicker, more profits can be achieved before patent expires (1). Availability of animals for research, rather than humans is another opportunity. In food producing animals, ADME studies are conducted at early stages, which help in the formulation development. This kind of opportunity favours the experimentation on target species (1). Human drugs are first tested on animals ( dogs ), this creates an opportunity for veterinary industry. Due to this, pharmacological data of a particular drug is available. In companion animal market, this data is useful in reformulation of human serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors and monoamine oxidase-B for anxiety and cognitive disorders for dogs (1). The clinical trials, that are done on animals also provides data of environmental assessment, for the development of formulation. This data helps in understanding of degradation process of the drug due to temperature, pH and light (1). At present, veterinary market lacks new APIs, however, some reports are showing that new compounds are reaching the market. The existing drugs life can be increased by developing controlled release drug delivery technologies (1). Reference (1) Rathbone M, Brayden D. Controlled release drug delivery in farmed animals: commercial challenges and academic opportunities. Current drug delivery 2009;6 (4):383-390.

The Blue Jean as Cultural Metaophor :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Blue Jean as Cultural Metaophor It may seem odd to consider items of clothing critical components of ‘popular culture’. Contemporary clothing is a key element in the construction of personal identity; it is used to denote an individual ‘style’ and a personality unique to its wearer. Yet from the corset to miniskirt, such items serve not only as practical coverings, but also as indicators for the current values and belief systems of a society. Thus I wish to examine what has become a most popular article of clothing – the ‘blue jean’1 [1] - in an attempt to unearth some of the socio-cultural phenomenon that is ‘popular culture’. According to Raymond Williams’ definition, the ‘blue jean’ qualifies as an object of popular culture due to its (a) wide-spread accessibility, (b) popularity, and (c) construction as an object intended to be popular.2 [2] But perhaps the ‘blue jean’ is not only a product, a piece of commercialism. I assert, rather, that this cultural icon has become a gauge of changing interpretations of masculinity in mainstream American culture. The ‘blue jean’, symbolically, is the white, middle-class, ‘All-American’ man. I would like to examine what, specifically, makes the ‘blue jean’ stereotypically ‘masculine’. Historically, fashion has upheld socially constructed notions of gender: the corset, for example, helped contain a woman’s ‘uncontrollable’ body, while the suspender maintained coverage of a man’s ‘unmentionables’. Similarly, from its design as a durable work pant for working men and laborers (farmers, railroad men, gold and coal miners, etc.), 3[3] the blue jean is closely associated with a muscular, super-virile ‘He-Man’.4 [4] First made wildly popular by the Western films of the 1930s, jeans became identified as a standard item of apparel worn by the ‘cowboy’.5 [5] Even mainstream advertising for these durable denim pants featured ‘manly’ rangers, taming their horses and lassoing the competition (image 1a). The concept of a heroic, blue-jeaned ‘Lone-Ranger’-esque cowboy seems to have remained in popular American psyche, as it is nostalgically associated with a notion of ‘old-fashioned’, well-mannered, moral man (image 1b). Authentic cowboys wearing Levi’s at this time were elevated to mythic status, and the pant was now associated more with a rugged American, symbolized by John Wayne. 6[6] (Wayne, for example, always seemed ‘ready for action’ with a holster comfortably around his jeans [image 1c]).

The Host Chapter 12: Failed

It's impossible! You've got it wrong! Out of order! That can't be it!† I stared into the distance, sick with disbelief that was turning quickly to horror. Yesterday morning I'd eaten the last mangled Twinkie for breakfast. Yesterday afternoon I'd found the double peak and turned east again. Melanie had given me what she promised was the last formation to find. The news had made me nearly hysterical with joy. Last night, I'd drunk the last of the water. That was day four. This morning was a hazy memory of blinding sun and desperate hope. Time was running out, and I'd searched the skyline for the last milestone with a growing sense of panic. I couldn't see any place where it could fit; the long, flat line of a mesa flanked by blunt peaks on either end, like sentinels. Such a thing would take space, and the mountains to the east and north were thick with toothy points. I couldn't see where the flat mesa could be hiding between them. Midmorning-the sun was still in the east, in my eyes-I'd stopped to rest. I'd felt so weak that it frightened me. Every muscle in my body had begun to ache, but it was not from all the walking. I could feel the ache of exertion and also the ache from sleeping on the ground, and these were different from the new ache. My body was drying out, and this ache was my muscles protesting the torture of it. I knew that I couldn't keep going much longer. I'd turned my back on the east to get the sun off my face for a moment. That's when I'd seen it. The long, flat line of the mesa, unmistakable with the bordering peaks. There it was, so far away in the distant west that it seemed to shimmer above a mirage, floating, hovering over the desert like a dark cloud. Every step we'd walked had been in the wrong direction. The last marker was farther to the west than we'd come in all our journeying. â€Å"Impossible,† I whispered again. Melanie was frozen in my head, unthinking, blank, trying desperately to reject this new comprehension. I waited for her, my eyes tracing the undeniably familiar shapes, until the sudden weight of her acceptance and grief knocked me to my knees. Her silent keen of defeat echoed in my head and added one more layer to the pain. My breathing turned ragged-a soundless, tearless sobbing. The sun crept up my back; its heat soaked deep into the darkness of my hair. My shadow was a small circle beneath me when I regained control. Painstakingly, I got back on my feet. Tiny sharp rocks were embedded in the skin on my legs. I didn't bother to brush these off. I stared at the floating mesa mocking me from the west for a long, hot time. And finally, not really sure why I did it, I started walking forward. I knew only this: that it was me who moved and no one else. Melanie was so small in my brain-a tiny capsule of pain wrapped tightly in on her herself. There was no help from her. My footsteps were a slow crunch, crunch across the brittle ground. â€Å"He was just a deluded old lunatic, after all,† I murmured to myself. A strange shudder rocked my chest, and a hoarse coughing ripped its way up my throat. The stream of gravelly coughs rattled on, but it wasn't until I felt my eyes pricking for tears that couldn't come that I realized I was laughing. â€Å"There was†¦ never†¦ ever†¦ anything out here!† I gasped between spasms of hysteria. I staggered forward as though I were drunk, my footprints trailing unevenly behind me. No. Melanie uncurled from her misery to defend the faith she still clung to. I got it wrong or something. My fault. I laughed at her now. The sound was sucked away by the scorching wind. Wait, wait, she thought, trying to pull my attention from the joke of it all. You don't think†¦ I mean, do you think that maybe they tried this? Her unexpected fear caught me midlaugh. I choked on the hot air, my chest throbbing from my fit of morbid hysteria. By the time I could breathe again, all trace of my black humor was gone. Instinctively, my eyes swept the desert void, looking for some evidence that I was not the first to waste my life this way. The plain was impossibly vast, but I couldn't halt my frantic search for†¦ remains. No, of course not. Melanie was already comforting herself. Jared's too smart. He would never come out here unprepared like we did. He'd never put Jamie in danger. I'm sure you're right, I told her, wanting to believe it as much as she did. I'm sure no one else in the whole universe could be this stupid. Besides, he probably never came to look. He probably never figured it out. Wish you hadn't. My feet kept moving. I was barely aware of the action. It meant so little in the face of the distance ahead. And even if we were magically transported to the very base of the mesa, what then? I was absolutely positive there was nothing there. No one waited at the mesa to save us. â€Å"We're going to die,† I said. I was surprised that there was no fear in my rasping voice. This was just a fact like any other. The sun is hot. The desert is dry. We are going to die. Yes. She was calm, too. This, death, was easier to accept than that our efforts had been guided by insanity. â€Å"That doesn't bother you?† She thought for a moment before answering. At least I died trying. And I won. I never gave them away. I never hurt them. I did my best to find them. I tried to keep my promise†¦ I die for them. I counted nineteen steps before I could respond. Nineteen sluggish, futile crunches across the sand. â€Å"Then what am I dying for?† I wondered, the pricking feeling returning in my desiccated tear ducts. â€Å"I guess it's because I lost, then, right? Is that why?† I counted thirty-four crunches before she had an answer to my question. No, she thought slowly. It doesn't feel that way to me. I think†¦ Well, I think that maybe†¦ you're dying to be human. There was almost a smile in her thought as she heard the silly double meaning to the phrase. After all the planets and all the hosts you've left behind, you've finally found the place and the body you'd die for. I think you've found your home, Wanderer. Ten crunches. I didn't have the energy to open my lips anymore. Too bad I didn't get to stay here longer, then. I wasn't sure about her answer. Maybe she was trying to make me feel better. A sop for dragging her out here to die. She had won; she had never disappeared. My steps began to falter. My muscles screamed out to me for mercy, as if I had any means to soothe them. I think I would have stopped right there, but Melanie was, as always, tougher than I. I could feel her now, not just in my head but in my limbs. My stride lengthened; the path I made was straighter. By sheer force of will, she dragged my half-dead carcass toward the impossible goal. There was an unexpected joy to the pointless struggle. Just as I could feel her, she could feel my body. Our body, now; my weakness ceded control to her. She gloried in the freedom of moving our arms and legs forward, no matter how useless such a motion was. It was bliss simply because she could again. Even the pain of the slow death we had begun dimmed in comparison. What do you think is out there? she asked me as we marched on toward the end. What will you see, after we're dead? Nothing. The word was empty and hard and sure. There's a reason we call it the final death. The souls have no belief in an afterlife? We have so many lives. Anything more would be†¦ too much to expect. We die a little death every time we leave a host. We live again in another. When I die here, that will be the end. There was a long pause while our feet moved more and more slowly. What about you? I finally asked. Do you still believe in something more, even after all of this? My thoughts raked over her memories of the end of the human world. It seems like there are some things that can't die. In our mind, their faces were close and clear. The love we felt for Jared and Jamie did feel very permanent. In that moment, I wondered if death was strong enough to dissolve something so vital and sharp. Perhaps this love would live on with her, in some fairytale place with pearly gates. Not with me. Would it be a relief to be free of it? I wasn't sure. It felt like it was part of who I was now. We only lasted a few hours. Even Melanie's tremendous strength of mind could ask no more than that of our failing body. We could barely see. We couldn't seem to find the oxygen in the dry air we sucked in and spit back out. The pain brought rough whimpers breaking through our lips. You've never had it this bad, I teased her feebly as we staggered toward a dried stick of a tree standing a few feet taller than the low brush. We wanted to get to the thin streaks of shade before we fell. No, she agreed. Never this bad. We attained our purpose. The dead tree threw its cobwebby shadow over us, and our legs fell out from under us. We sprawled forward, never wanting the sun on our face again. Our head turned to the side on its own, searching for the burning air. We stared at the dust inches from our nose and listened to the gasping of our breath. After a time, long or short we didn't know, we closed our eyes. Our lids were red and bright inside. We couldn't feel the faint web of shade; maybe it no longer touched us. How long? I asked her. I don't know, I've never died before. An hour? More? Your guess is as good as mine. Where's a coyote when you really need one? Maybe we'll get lucky†¦ escaped claw beast or something†¦ Her thought trailed off incoherently. That was our last conversation. It was too hard to concentrate enough to form words. There was more pain than we thought there should be. All the muscles in our body rioted, cramping and spasming as they fought death. We didn't fight. We drifted and waited, our thoughts dipping in and out of memories without a pattern. While we were still lucid, we hummed ourselves a lullaby in our head. It was the one we'd used to comfort Jamie when the ground was too hard, or the air was too cold, or the fear was too great to sleep. We felt his head press into the hollow just below our shoulder and the shape of his back under our arm. And then it seemed that it was our head cradled against a broader shoulder, and a new lullaby comforted us. Our lids turned black, but not with death. Night had fallen, and this made us sad. Without the heat of day, we would probably last longer. It was dark and silent for a timeless space. Then there was a sound. It barely roused us. We weren't sure if we imagined it. Maybe it was a coyote, after all. Did we want that? We didn't know. We lost our train of thought and forgot the sound. Something shook us, pulled our numb arms, dragged at them. We couldn't form the words to wish that it would be quick now, but that was our hope. We waited for the cut of teeth. Instead, the dragging turned to pushing, and we felt our face roll toward the sky. It poured over our face-wet, cool, and impossible. It dribbled over our eyes, washing the grit from them. Our eyes fluttered, blinking against the dripping. We did not care about the grit in our eyes. Our chin arched up, desperately searching, our mouth opening and closing with blind, pathetic weakness, like a newly hatched bird. We thought we heard a sigh. And then the water flowed into our mouth, and we gulped at it and choked on it. The water vanished while we choked, and our weak hands grasped out for it. A flat, heavy thumping pounded our back until we could breathe. Our hands kept clutching the air, looking for the water. We definitely heard a sigh this time. Something pressed to our cracked lips, and the water flowed again. We guzzled, careful not to inhale it this time. Not that we cared if we choked, but we did not want the water taken away again. We drank until our belly stretched and ached. The water trickled to a stop, and we cried out hoarsely in protest. Another rim was pressed to our lips, and we gulped frantically until it was empty, too. Our stomach would explode with another mouthful, yet we blinked and tried to focus, to see if we could find more. It was too dark; we could not see a single star. And then we blinked again and realized that the darkness was much closer than the sky. A figure hovered over us, blacker than the night. There was a low sound of fabric rubbing against itself and sand shifting under a heel. The figure leaned away, and we heard a sharp rip-the sound of a zipper, deafening in the absolute stillness of the night. Like a blade, light cut into our eyes. We moaned at the pain of it, and our hand flew up to cover our closed eyes. Even behind our lids, the light was too bright. The light disappeared, and we felt the breath of the next sigh hit our face. We opened our eyes carefully, more blind than before. Whoever faced us sat very still and said nothing. We began to feel the tension of the moment, but it felt far away, outside ourself. It was hard to care about anything but the water in our belly and where we could find more. We tried to concentrate, to see what had rescued us. The first thing we could make out, after minutes of blinking and squinting, was the thick whiteness that fell from the dark face, a million splinters of pale in the night. When we grasped that this was a beard-like Santa Claus, we thought chaotically-the other pieces of the face were supplied by our memory. Everything fit into place: the big cleft-tipped nose, the wide cheekbones, the thick white brows, the eyes set deep into the wrinkled fabric of skin. Though we could see only hints of each feature, we knew how light would expose them. â€Å"Uncle Jeb,† we croaked in surprise. â€Å"You found us.† Uncle Jeb, squatting next to us, rocked back on his heels when we said his name. â€Å"Well, now,† he said, and his gruff voice brought back a hundred memories. â€Å"Well, now, here's a pickle.†

Globalization, Australia and the Asia-Pacific Essay

In terms of international relationships, â€Å"the end of the second millennium and the start of the third are characterized by two developments of major importance†¦ the successful conclusion of the most ambitious round of multilateral trade negotiations in the history of humankind [and the] proliferation of regional trading arrangements unprecedented at any period in history. † Through it all, Australia has been a major participant in these agreements. Owing to the steady progress of Australia’s economy and politics, it has been involved in all of the international policy-making in that span in history. However, due to these numerous activities, there are different circumstances that require variations of these treaties. Multilateral trade treaties are trade agreements made between multiple nations, over multiple regions, at one time. Although multilateral treaties are generally complex and difficult to negotiate and implement, these treaties are very powerful when all interested parties agree on it. The primary advantage of multilateral treaties is the equal treatment, at least relatively, of all parties, regardless of size or power. Examples of these are Australia’s â€Å"Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea†, â€Å"United Nations Convention on Conditions for Registration of Ships† and â€Å"Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation†. Regional trade treaties are parallel to multilateral trade treaties. Both are generally complex and involve multiple countries. However, they do institute a condition that has both advantages and disadvantages. Regional trade treaties are confined to countries within a certain geographic area, such as the Americas, the Atlantic or, in Australia’s case, the Asia-Pacific region. This comes from the perspective of â€Å"conceiving of the world in terms of structures is what some analytical perspectives in international relations and the social sciences more generally suggest. † according to Breslin. The obvious disadvantage of regional trade treaties is that it would exclude other countries from the agreement. There are, however, advantages that outweigh this negative aspect. Regional agreements would be easier to negotiate since countries within a certain geographic area generally have similar or related economic products, conditions and concerns. Such agreements would also mean that the general concerns of that certain area are given due consideration when viewed by the rest of the international community. Examples are the â€Å"Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific Region† and â€Å"South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement†. Bilateral trade treaties are the simplest and most basic agreements. These are the agreements negotiated exclusively between to countries. Simple they may be, however, â€Å"the pursuit of discriminatory trading agreements is arguably the most dramatic development in intergovernmental relations in the western Pacific since the financial crises of 1997-98†, in Jayasuriya’s view. An example of this is Australia’s â€Å"Treaty between Australia and the Republic of Austria concerning Extradition† Australia resides in the South Pacific area but has a mixed economy in the pattern of many Western countries. Its main exports are coal, gold, coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore and wheat. It has strong relations with countries in Asian, notably Japan and Korea, and Western countries such as Germany and the United States. Bilateral agreements would ensure mutually advantageous situations for Australia and its partner countries. This would go a long way in cementing international political relations as well as economic strength. However, bilateral agreements are limited in their potential to affect great international change. Regional trade agreements would prove to be more advantageous to Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Their interests would be represented and protected in the international arena. However, the full potential to affect significant change is not realized when only a few countries are involved. Ideally, Australia should prioritize multilateral trade agreements because these are the ones that have to greatest potential to affect positive change in the international community. These are also the agreements the ones that require the most planning and negotiation and should be kept at the forefront for the process to be as quick as possible. BIBLIOGRAPHY Sampson and Woolcock, Regionalism, multilateralism and economic integration: The recent experience United Nations University Press, 2003 Amadeo, Kimberly, US Economy (2005) [http://useconomy. about. com/od/glossary/g/ multilateral. htm] accessed 06/04/08 Treaty Database DFAT online database, accessed: 06/07/08 [http://www. info. dfat. gov. au/info/treaties/treaties. nsf/WebView? OpenForm&Seq=2] Breslin, Shaun et al. , New Regionalism in the Global Political Economy: Theories and Case London: Routledge, 2002 Jayasuriya, Kanishka, Asian Regional Governance: Crisis and Change New York: Routledge, 2004

The Art of Teppan-yaki Cooking essays

The Art of Teppan-yaki Cooking essays Metal Spatulas and salt n peppershakers fly through the air and are caught behind the back. Sharp silver knives cut through filet mignon steaks, boneless chickens and Tristan da Cunha lobsters. Soy sauce and seasoning is added as the portions are divided onto plates of the gazing hungry customers. This is the art of teppan-yaki cooking. Teppan-yaki cooking is a Japanese term for cooking on the grill. This tabletop form of cooking is a popular tourist attraction that combines knife skills and an entertaining presentation. It is the Japanese form of barbecue and consists of a flat wide grill with a pit where the chef stands as the customers surround him. It is not merely just cooking, it is also about performance. They come here to be entertained. Its also all about the cutting techniques, said Jet Mupas, a teppan chef at Tanaka of Tokyo restaurant. Mupas has been a chef at TOT for close to four years. It takes six months to get everything, he said. Prior to TOT, Mupas worked at La Merenda, a restaurant in the Hyatt hotel in Guam. Mupas said there is a big difference between regular dine-in restaurants compared to teppan-yaki restaurants. You work more hours and the timing is different. Here, your always in the rush, always flying, said Mupas. After the servers take the order they turn in the table map to the kitchen. On the table map, it shows exactly which customer ordered what so the chef could properly place the food in the individual plates. The food is prepped in the kitchen and brought out onto the carts that are in the pit. The next chef in line takes his tools, which consists of a wet towl to wipe his knives and spatula with, a grill scrub, silver spatula, and two small nine-inch wooden baton-like salt n pepper shakers used not for seasoning but for the shaker show at the end of the meal. Once the chef enters the pit, he greets ...

Heres Whats Cool in Spanish

Here's What's Cool in Spanish This is a cool Spanish lesson. How would you translate the above sentence to Spanish? Look up the word cool in a Spanish-English dictionary, and chances are the first word youll find is fresco - but that word is used to refer to something that isnt quite cold. Some larger dictionaries include words such as guay  as a slangy term, but thats hardly the only word that can be used. Bueno Can Be Good If for some reason you need to convey the idea of cool and have a limited vocabulary, you can always use a word you probably already know, bueno, which means good. Its not a particularly cool word and doesnt come across as colloquial, but it will get most of your idea across. And of course, you can always use the superlative form, buenà ­simo, for something thats especially good. Cool Words Vary by Region There may no good Spanish equivalent of cool that works everywhere, but native Spanish speakers in a forum sponsored by this site offered their perspective on what may be best. Heres a part of their conversation, held originally in Spanish and English: Chabela: How do you says cool, like thats cool! What do the teenagers say? I know it cant be translated directly, but ... Cyberdiva: One word to use is chà ©vere. Duras: It cant be translated directly, because each country has its own versions. VictorIm: Chà ©vere is kind of old-fashioned (1960s). Is there anything new? Bandini: Duras is correct. Every country has its own vocabulary for words like this. The particular word you mentioned (chà ©vere) originated in Venezuela but due to Venezuelas major export (Spanish soap operas), the word is now become popular in a dozen other Spanish speaking countries, including Mexico. Rocer: In Mexico we understand the word chà ©vere, but we dont use it. Only if we talk to Venezuelans or Colombians, I guess. Adri: When I was studying in Spain last semester, I learned from a native-speaking friend of mine that they say guay or quà © guay. Guero: I think chido and buena onda would work well for cool. VictorIm: Buena onda sounds old-fashioned to me. Anything with onda sounds old. Are there any new expressions? Dulces: I have heard est chido and est padre in Mexico. SagittaDei: A very common translation is genial, est genial. Is very widely used in the Spanish-speaking world. As has been pointed out, there are many words depending on the country. I use est bacano/a, est una chimba, es una verraquera and many others; but these are Colombianisms. We also use the anglicism cool as in es muy cool. Rich teenagers like to use English in this way. It also depends on the social level. By the way, eso es chà ©vere is less expressive than eso es genial, the former is like thats nice. Note that you can use either estar or ser with the obvious difference of permanent and transitional attributes. Tottefins: In Mexico they say padre or chido on the streets. However, on Mexican television they say genial. Maletadesueà ±os: Here in Texas you often hear quà © chido, est chido, quà © padre, etc. Other people who arent from here that I have spoken with, such as my friend who lives in Venezuela, think these expressions seem comical as theyre Mexicanisms. Rupdaddy: I have heard the word brbaro. Most of my studies have been of the Spanish of the Rà ­o de la Plata, Argentina. I know that in Uruguay, at least among the youth, they say de ms. Chabela: I know that in Uruguay sometimes the youth say de ms. Those words are the same, more or less, with what the youth say in the U.S. In Mexico, particularly Tijuana, the word curada is widely used as meaning cool. Sometimes recurada is heard. Ive also heard the term chulado by people who come from Mexico City. OjitosLindos: I think in Spain the verb molar is used like gustar to mean something similar to cool, for example: Me mola el cine would mean I like the cinema or the cinema is cool. I think this is only used among young people (teenagers). Anderwm: Yes, you are right. Molar is a teenager thing. In Costa Rica and Nicaragua the people use tuane.

Bulling and Cyberbulling

This essay will address the issue of both bullying, harassment and in particular cyber bullies. It will also suggest ways to cope with bulling According to schools. nsw. edu. au bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Building Respectful and Safe Schools (2010) identifies four types of bullying. These are: * Physical bullying -Physical bullying is bullying physically including hitting, kicking, tripping, pinching and pushing or damaging property. * Verbal bullying- Verbal bullying is bullying someone using words. For example-name calling, insults, teasing, intimidation, homophobic or racist remarks, or verbal abuse. * Covert bullying- Covert bullying is often harder to recognise and can be carried out behind the bullied person’s back. It is designed to harm someone’s social reputation and/or cause humiliation. Covert bullying includes: lying and spreading rumours, negative facial or physical gestures, menacing or contemptuous looks, playing nasty jokes to embarrass and humiliate, mimicking unkindly, encouraging others to socially exclude someone and damaging someone’s social reputation or social acceptance * Cyber bullying- Cyber bullying is overt or covert bullying behaviours using digital technologies. Examples include harassment via a mobile phone, setting up a defamatory personal website or deliberately excluding someone from social networking spaces. Cyber bullying can happen at any time. It can be in public or in private and sometimes only known to the target and the person bullying. Bulling is not mutual arguments and disagreements, single episodes of social rejection or dislike, single episode acts of nastiness or spite, random acts of aggression or intimidation. The standard definition for harassment is unwanted conduct on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation etc. which has the purpose or effect of either violating the claimant’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. All bulling is harassment but not all harassment is bulling. Bulling has both short term and long term effects for the victims. Although severe long term effects can be avoided by stopping bulling as early as possible. The short term effects can include issues at school (i. e. lower academic achievement), depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood. In extreme cases bullied children may also have suicidal tendencies. Long term effects can include: a greater risk of depression and lower self-esteem later in later life, more likely to have problems with alcohol and drug use and it is more likely they will have suicidal thoughts Demonstrating assertive behaviour when bullied or harassed can often help reduce bulling. Assertive behaviour is not aggressive. It’s saying things in a direct and honest way. Saying things such as stop it, I don’t like it and what you’re saying isn’t very nice please stop. If you are being bullied or harassed the most important thing to do is tell someone. People like a trusted adult such as a teacher, councillor or parent are all good to tell. If all else fails call a kids or bulling helpline such the kids helpline on 1800 55 1800. Cyber bullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyber stalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyber stalking is NEVER called cyber bullying. The actions of a cyber-bully are biasedly verbal bulling over technology. This is includes messaging on a social site, email and texting. There is no way to completely avoid cyber bullies unless you pretty much stop using the computer. But there are things you can do to lessen the chance of being cyber bullied. Firstly if you think you might be being cyber bullied then talk to a trusted adult. Secondly if the bulling is happening over social networking sites then most sites give you the option to block people. If it’s over the phone then talk to your parents about getting a new number. Bibliography http://ncab. org. au/fourkindsofbullying/ 24/8/12 http://www. stopbullying. gov/at-risk/effects/index. html#suicide 24/8/12 http://library. hinkquest. org/07aug/00117/bullyingconsequences. html 24/8/12 http://www. cyberbullying. info/ http://au. reachout. com/Factsheets/C/Cyberbullying http://www. cybersmart. gov. au/Kids/Tips%20to%20stay%20safe%20and%20cybersmart/Cyberbullying. aspx http://www. bullyingnoway. gov. au/ http://www. bullying. com. au/ http://www. youthbeyondblue. com/factsheets-and-info/fact-sheet-20-bullying/ http://www. stopbullying. gov/at-risk/effects/index. htmlhttp://www. racgp. org. au/afp/20 1103/201103carrgregg. pdf Bulling and Cyberbulling Bulling and Cyberbulling This essay will address the issue of both bullying, harassment and in particular cyber bullies. It will also suggest ways to cope with bulling According to schools. nsw. edu. au bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Building Respectful and Safe Schools (2010) identifies four types of bullying. These are: * Physical bullying -Physical bullying is bullying physically including hitting, kicking, tripping, pinching and pushing or damaging property. * Verbal bullying- Verbal bullying is bullying someone using words. For example-name calling, insults, teasing, intimidation, homophobic or racist remarks, or verbal abuse. * Covert bullying- Covert bullying is often harder to recognise and can be carried out behind the bullied person’s back. It is designed to harm someone’s social reputation and/or cause humiliation. Covert bullying includes: lying and spreading rumours, negative facial or physical gestures, menacing or contemptuous looks, playing nasty jokes to embarrass and humiliate, mimicking unkindly, encouraging others to socially exclude someone and damaging someone’s social reputation or social acceptance * Cyber bullying- Cyber bullying is overt or covert bullying behaviours using digital technologies. Examples include harassment via a mobile phone, setting up a defamatory personal website or deliberately excluding someone from social networking spaces. Cyber bullying can happen at any time. It can be in public or in private and sometimes only known to the target and the person bullying. Bulling is not mutual arguments and disagreements, single episodes of social rejection or dislike, single episode acts of nastiness or spite, random acts of aggression or intimidation. The standard definition for harassment is unwanted conduct on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation etc. which has the purpose or effect of either violating the claimant’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. All bulling is harassment but not all harassment is bulling. Bulling has both short term and long term effects for the victims. Although severe long term effects can be avoided by stopping bulling as early as possible. The short term effects can include issues at school (i. e. lower academic achievement), depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood. In extreme cases bullied children may also have suicidal tendencies. Long term effects can include: a greater risk of depression and lower self-esteem later in later life, more likely to have problems with alcohol and drug use and it is more likely they will have suicidal thoughts Demonstrating assertive behaviour when bullied or harassed can often help reduce bulling. Assertive behaviour is not aggressive. It’s saying things in a direct and honest way. Saying things such as stop it, I don’t like it and what you’re saying isn’t very nice please stop. If you are being bullied or harassed the most important thing to do is tell someone. People like a trusted adult such as a teacher, councillor or parent are all good to tell. If all else fails call a kids or bulling helpline such the kids helpline on 1800 55 1800. Cyber bullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyber stalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyber stalking is NEVER called cyber bullying. The actions of a cyber-bully are biasedly verbal bulling over technology. This is includes messaging on a social site, email and texting. There is no way to completely avoid cyber bullies unless you pretty much stop using the computer. But there are things you can do to lessen the chance of being cyber bullied. Firstly if you think you might be being cyber bullied then talk to a trusted adult. Secondly if the bulling is happening over social networking sites then most sites give you the option to block people. If it’s over the phone then talk to your parents about getting a new number. Bibliography http://ncab. org. au/fourkindsofbullying/ 24/8/12 http://www. stopbullying. gov/at-risk/effects/index. html#suicide 24/8/12 http://library. hinkquest. org/07aug/00117/bullyingconsequences. html 24/8/12 http://www. cyberbullying. info/ http://au. reachout. com/Factsheets/C/Cyberbullying http://www. cybersmart. gov. au/Kids/Tips%20to%20stay%20safe%20and%20cybersmart/Cyberbullying. aspx http://www. bullyingnoway. gov. au/ http://www. bullying. com. au/ http://www. youthbeyondblue. com/factsheets-and-info/fact-sheet-20-bullying/ http://www. stopbullying. gov/at-risk/effects/index. htmlhttp://www. racgp. org. au/afp/20 1103/201103carrgregg. pdf

County analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

County analysis - Essay Example In carrying out business with parties from elevated power distance countries, the managers used or should have title at least on the same level as those they are negotiating with. On the other hand, cultures that have low power distance should have the inequalities reduced. Japan is ranked at 54 while the United States of America is ranked at 45. According to Hofstede, countries with low uncertainty avoidance index score have innovative approaches and risk investment tendencies. This are attributes found in entrepreneurs. Uncertainty avoidance is the reality that vagueness about the prospects of the future is a basic fact of human life with which we try to cope through the domain of technology, law and religion. Uncertainty avoidance is also the extent to which individuals feel endangered by situations. This leads to people creating institutions that deal with these. Hofstede used stress, employment stability and rule orientation to identify. Countries are then ranked as low or high concerning uncertainty avoidance. Squat uncertainty avoidance means that, there is a strong willingness to take a risk. On the other hand, high uncertainty implies a lower willingness to take risk. Hofstedes notes that, in societies where there is high uncertain avoidance, there tends to be a generational gap amid the old and the young. High unce rtain avoidance cultures are concerned with rituals and traditions and often follow exceedingly complex rules and regulations. Individualism refers to preference of closed surrounding environment, in which it is understood that, one must mind for themselves and their close relations as opposed to the entire cluster in which one is an associate. Individualism can be referred to as an appraisal of the emotional dependence and autonomy of a person. The culture of a country is scored high in this sense if there are favourable responses to items such as , having a satisfying job which leaves you with enough time for yourself and the family. In

Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Management - Assignment Example 329). Leadership has many functions that bring the team closer to their goals to carry out .The significance of leadership is reflected in the following functions: providing inspiration to employees, securing cooperation in the team, creating confidence among individuals, providing a conducive environment for employees, implementing changes, maintaining discipline among the members, representing them, and setting goals. (Murugun, pg.328) There are many factors that affect how a manager exerts leadership. The most important and the first one that comes to mind is his personality. Leadership style largely depends on the nature of a manager. Moreover, the experiences of a manager also define his leadership style. He may lead in a certain way because his practices and situations in the past expect him to go forward in that manner. In addition to that, it is also based on the beliefs and values of the leader. He will also manage and lead his team according to the organisation's environment, culture and needs. To get to the point, there are a number of leadership styles, defined by a number of individuals. For example, Likert's four main leadership styles: Exploitative authoritative, Benevolent authoritative, Consultative and Participative styles (Likert 1967). Or , for example, Goleman's, Boyatzis' and McKee's (2004) six emotional leadership styles: The Visionary Leader, the Coaching Leader, the Affiliative Leader, the Democratic Leader, the Pace-setting Leader and the Commanding Leader. But in this paper, we will only go over the ten most common ones out of which the first three are Lewin's Leadership styles (Lewin, Lippit and White 1939): 1. Autocratic leadership 2. Democratic leadership or Participative leadership 3. Laissez-faire leadership 4. Bureaucratic leadership 5. Charismatic leadership 6. People-oriented leadership or Relations-Oriented leadership 7. Task-oriented leadership 8. Servant Leadership 9. Transactional leadership 10. Transformational leadership Autocratic Leadership Style is a rigid way of leading. It is when the leader feels no need to consult his team members before making important or even unimportant decisions. This makes one think that it will essentially de-motivate workers or employees. This is, in fact, very true so ideally, this style is adopted when not seeking employees' input doesn't motivate or de-motivate them. It could be implemented in a situation where employees are inexperienced and are unable to make decisions for themselves let alone for the team as a whole. It could also be used in a situation where the leader is extremely experienced, competent and blindly trusted by the team members. The limitations of this style of leadership are apparent; it leads to de-motivation and low self-esteem of the subordinates. They are never allowed to make decisions, even the smallest ones, and this puts pressure on their self-actualization or self-realization needs. Their job satisfaction must be close to nil. It discourages subordinates that could be potential managers and leaders to reach their aptitude. It seems like this style of leadership would hardly produce leaders in the future. Furthermore, an autocratic leader creates a very unfriendly and peculiar environment which prevents employees from showing any innovation at all. Democratic

The Militant Environmentalists War on Environmental Crisis Essay

The Militant Environmentalists War on Environmental Crisis - Essay Example The Militant Environmentalists’ War on Environmental Crisis England’s King Edward I threatened Londoners with harsh penalties if they didn’t stop burning sea-coal.†, and the latest news narrates about the deteriorating state of affairs, carbon emissions being the main point of concern in terms of air and chemicals in terms of water. The logical and necessary efforts on changing the existing situation for better aside, there are some organizations that make this purpose the core value of their members’ existence, and their actions often not only look at least strange, but also may lead to the radically opposite effect, that is, distract people from the sound interest on the environmental problem, due to intervention into one’s life. The cause of militant behavior of certain individuals or groups of environmental activists is their being determined at turning the attention of the society to the most serious problems of the environment to date. This suggestion is enforced by the fact that it is quite possible that we might simply have no time to consider the environment damage we have caused and to find an adequate and effective solution as the pace of the nature destruction by humans is high, and the effect of the counter-measures taken is, on the contrary, time-consuming. The reason the behavior is violent is because there are, as Lohan states, simply no other ways the mentioned activists can get the public informed about the problem and its seriousness, as it is quite possible that the conventional organization of the life on the Earth may either disappear or be completely changed in the nearest future.

Circumcision for Female Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Circumcision for Female - Essay Example Female genital mutilation is widely practiced in African and some Asian countries. Due to high rate of mobility and migration of people in different parts of the world, the tradition has in various parts of the world including Europe and United States of America. World Health Organization (2008) estimates the number of women in Africa that have undergone female genital mutilation to be between 100 and 137 million. In African continent alone, over twenty countries practice female circumcision (WHO, 2008). In Asia, most countries in the Middle East including Oman, United Arab Emirates and south Yemen undertake female circumcision on women and young girls. In predominantly Islamic countries in Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia female genital mutilation is widely practiced (Cook and Dickens, 2002). Female genital mutilation is mainly an ethnic practice that permeates across political and regional boundaries. This explains why it differs in prevalence across different regions in the world. Female genital mutilation is an ancient practice, whose origin remains shrouded in mystery. However Toubia and Izett (1998) note that female circumcision was widely practiced in Egypt by Romans and Arabs at around fifth century. Researchers attribute ethnical and traditional obsessions with chastity and virginity in women as the major motivation for undertaking female circumcision from such an early period (Parker, 2002). Regrettably, the same motivations have ensured the continuity of the practice in the current century especially in many African and Arabic cultures. Fathalla (2000) attributes psychosexual, religious, hygienic and sociologic factors as the main drivers of female genital mutilation in the current century. These factors are mainly based on unscientific and unproven reasoning that are firmly entrenched in societies with low literacy levels and high male dominance. Consequently, the practice is firmly entrenched in the current century with low prospects of abati ng in future. The belief that the clitoris is an aggressive organ that acerbates sexual aggressiveness in women is one of the major psychosexual factors that have resulted to the practice being widely embraced in some of the practicing cultures. This belief is entrenched in societies that subscribe to virginity and chastity of women before marriage with heavy penalties and punishment being meted to the female offenders (Gage and Rossem 2006). Consequently, the practice has advanced to infibulations, a much severe, painful, and damaging procedure that entails removal of all external female genitalia in order to maintain virginity and chastity in unmarried and married women. Religious factors play a role in the perpetuation of the practice. However, Parker (2002) argues that no mainstream religious organization including Islam endorses the practices. Rahman and Toubia (2000) argue that the widespread practicing of female circumcision across different mainstream religious organization is an indicator a widely entrenched ethnical practice that is interwoven with primitive spiritual belief, in order to accord it moral acceptance in a particular culture. Other beliefs that encourage entrenchment of female circumcision include hygiene and aesthetic reasons. According to Parker (2002),

The Success of Saudi Economic Policies According to Islamic Financing Literature review - 1

The Success of Saudi Economic Policies According to Islamic Financing Principles - Literature review Example The structure of society in Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, which means that patriarchal values of hereditary power are enshrined in all the internal political organisations. It is not like the monarchy which exists in the UK, where the Queen has a largely ceremonial role, but rather it is a non-democratic institution where the ruling royal family occupy the positions of power and decision-making. King and Prime Minister Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud have been both chief of state and head of government since 2005, and all members of the council of ministers are appointed by him. (CIA, 2010) Female members of the Royal family and other respected women can and do occupy prominent positions with impressive job titles such as Princess Dr al-Jawhara bint Fahd al-Saud who was an undersecretary for education for women's colleges and Dr Nora Alyousuf, who is one of only six state-appointed â€Å"parliamentary advisors† but their powers are limited and many people view these appointment s as a cosmetic touch to distract from the lack of influence that Saudi women have in society. It would be wrong to assume, however, that royal power is always used to oppress women in modern Saudi Arabia and in fact over the last ten years there have been a   number of royal decrees which call for the setting up of organisations which review and reform Saudi social and political structures. The royal decree of March 9, 2004, called for the establishment of an Institution for Human Rights and another one of Sept.12 2005 set up an official Saudi Committee for Human Rights.  The structure of society in Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, which means that patriarchal values of hereditary power are enshrined in all the internal political organisations. It is not like the monarchy which exists in the UK, where the Queen has a largely ceremonial role, but rather it is a non-democratic institution where the ruling royal family occupy the positions of power and decision-making. King and Prime M inister Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud have been both chief of state and head of government since 2005, and all members of the council of ministers are appointed by him. (CIA, 2010) Female members of the Royal family and other respected women can and do occupy prominent positions with impressive job titles such as Princess Dr al-Jawhara bint Fahd al-Saud who was an undersecretary for education for women's colleges and Dr Nora Alyousuf, who is one of only six state-appointed â€Å"parliamentary advisors† but their powers are limited and many people view these appointments as a cosmetic touch to distract from the lack of influence that Saudi women have in society. It would be wrong to assume, however, that royal power is always used to oppress women in modern Saudi Arabia and in fact over the last ten years there have been a   number of royal decrees which call for the setting up of organisations which review and reform Saudi social and political structures. The royal decre e of March 9, 2004, called for the establishment of an Institution for Human Rights and another one of Sept.12 2005 set up an official Saudi Committee for Human Rights.  

Forming Strategic Alliances with Foreign Companies Research Paper

Forming Strategic Alliances with Foreign Companies - Research Paper Example The domestic company involved does such things because they have the perceptions that entering the world market will increase their sale, it will supplement the capital it needs and that it will fasten the process of adaptation to the environment of the market. The above factors cause a domestic company to respond to its situation by establishing joint ventures that will enhance their business operations in the international markets. Many advantages drive domestic companies to forge strategic alliances that will help them to exploit both the domestic and international markets. Domestic companies perceive a situation in which strategic alliances enhances the entry into the international market. This perception is because the company spends less amount of money to transport products and services as well as to enhance customers to the market. In having a company that is exposed to the international market environment, a domestic company is able to establish customers using those of its partner in the strategic alliance. These customers ensure that the domestic company has footage in the international market and therefore, it increases the changes of increasing its sales (Heidtmann, 2011). Domestic companies forge strategic alliances in order to exploit international market because there is a shared risk in the investment. Sharing of risks in a business venture ensures that one company does not lose it all to the venture that it has entered and therefore, it is able to sustain its operation in the market for a long time. In many instances, the companies that forge strategic alliances invest a lot of money to establish business operation in the international market through advertisement, transports of products and human... Forming Strategic Alliances with Foreign Companies This challenge means that these local companies focus on the alternatives they have so that they can establish their businesses at the world level. In many cases, local companies forge strategic alliances with foreign companies that are already established in the international business so that they can present their products in the global market with ease (Henry, 2008). These local companies have perceptions that the venture into which they enter are beneficial and they will facilitate the individual company to make higher sales than they did with local markets. However, there are many risks that are associated with strategic alliances that companies that forge them need to understand and learn the ways to manage them so that they will not fail in business (Oxley, 2013). An analysis of strategic alliances will exposes the factors that drive domestic companies to desire to forge them as well as show the risks and disadvantages associated with these ventures that may cause the partners to fail. Richter and Pahl (2009) observe that in forging strategic alliances, there are things that drive domestic companies to want to come into partnership. There are numerous perceived incentives that drive partners in strategic alliances to come into a joint venture. However, although there are possible benefits in entering the world market as an alliance; partners need to establish their business operations with a focus on the potential risks that need to be controlled to reduce the probability of failure.

The Success of Saudi Economic Policies According to Islamic Financing Literature review - 1

The Success of Saudi Economic Policies According to Islamic Financing Principles - Literature review Example The structure of society in Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, which means that patriarchal values of hereditary power are enshrined in all the internal political organisations. It is not like the monarchy which exists in the UK, where the Queen has a largely ceremonial role, but rather it is a non-democratic institution where the ruling royal family occupy the positions of power and decision-making. King and Prime Minister Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud have been both chief of state and head of government since 2005, and all members of the council of ministers are appointed by him. (CIA, 2010) Female members of the Royal family and other respected women can and do occupy prominent positions with impressive job titles such as Princess Dr al-Jawhara bint Fahd al-Saud who was an undersecretary for education for women's colleges and Dr Nora Alyousuf, who is one of only six state-appointed â€Å"parliamentary advisors† but their powers are limited and many people view these appointment s as a cosmetic touch to distract from the lack of influence that Saudi women have in society. It would be wrong to assume, however, that royal power is always used to oppress women in modern Saudi Arabia and in fact over the last ten years there have been a   number of royal decrees which call for the setting up of organisations which review and reform Saudi social and political structures. The royal decree of March 9, 2004, called for the establishment of an Institution for Human Rights and another one of Sept.12 2005 set up an official Saudi Committee for Human Rights.  The structure of society in Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, which means that patriarchal values of hereditary power are enshrined in all the internal political organisations. It is not like the monarchy which exists in the UK, where the Queen has a largely ceremonial role, but rather it is a non-democratic institution where the ruling royal family occupy the positions of power and decision-making. King and Prime M inister Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud have been both chief of state and head of government since 2005, and all members of the council of ministers are appointed by him. (CIA, 2010) Female members of the Royal family and other respected women can and do occupy prominent positions with impressive job titles such as Princess Dr al-Jawhara bint Fahd al-Saud who was an undersecretary for education for women's colleges and Dr Nora Alyousuf, who is one of only six state-appointed â€Å"parliamentary advisors† but their powers are limited and many people view these appointments as a cosmetic touch to distract from the lack of influence that Saudi women have in society. It would be wrong to assume, however, that royal power is always used to oppress women in modern Saudi Arabia and in fact over the last ten years there have been a   number of royal decrees which call for the setting up of organisations which review and reform Saudi social and political structures. The royal decre e of March 9, 2004, called for the establishment of an Institution for Human Rights and another one of Sept.12 2005 set up an official Saudi Committee for Human Rights.  

Romanticism in American Literature Essay Example for Free

Romanticism in American Literature Essay Within this paper will be an explanation of the ideals of Romantic writers in Early American Literature. We will also look at some aspects of Romanticism that were uniquely understood by the writers and artists in the United States. There will be a brief discussion of â€Å"bright† and â€Å"dark† Romantic writing and it is there that we will look at the lives, and one poem each, of Henry David Thoreau, a â€Å"bright† romantic writer and Edgar Allan Poe, a â€Å"dark† romantic writer. Romanticism began in Germany sometime around 1770. From there it spread to the rest of Europe including England and then finally to the United States. In the late Eighteenth Century people’s ideas about themselves, their religion, their world and the art and literature in it were evolving rapidly. This was mostly due to a re-examination of priorities and beliefs because of constant new scientific discoveries and an enthusiastic embrace of the uniquely human abilities of storytelling using ones imagination and a kind of rejection of reason and logic. For the first time since the concepts of religion and rulers began to regulate the spirit and creative energy of humankind people looked more to nature and within to define themselves and their humanity rather than to their Churches or to their Kings. The Romantic period of American Literature is from about 1830 to 1860 and it interestingly overlaps the period which is said to be Victorian (1830 to 1880) in the United States. Romantic writers believe in the natural goodness of man and also that what is special in a particular man should be highly valued. They indulge heavily in introspection and self-analysis. Some finding their deity within themselves while others found their religion in the beauty of nature. Nature was food for the soul that provided their inspiration and was a resource for their wisdom. Indeed, for some of the Romantic writers nature was their muse; however, others found their inspiration in the dark corners of their human desires. As mentioned above the citizens of the United States were in a unique position to embrace the tenets of Romanticism through a political movement that focused more on the individual. By shedding the oppressive monarchy of old England they were well on their way to forming what Emerson called â€Å"a Nation of men† who were following Jacksonian democracy. â€Å"By most historical accounts, (President Andrew) Jackson is seen as largely responsible for effecting this political and cultural transformation of the United States from a republic, governed by an elect few, to a democracy. Jackson persuaded Americans that sovereign power resided in them—that they would control the governing process by deciding questions of constitutionality, law, and representation through the ballot box. Many writers, philosophers, and activists were also convinced by Jacksons rhetoric of democracy, believing that more concern for the rights of common individuals would yield a more inclusive political and cultural environment receptive to the ideals of a younger generation of Americans,† (Didion). One can easily see why the material that writers in the United States were putting out fell into line with the musings, literature and poetry of Romantic writers all over the world. By being exposed to the political aspects of the culture here they were in a position where their art reflected the lives of their patrons. Why, though, were some of the writings about the nature all around us and bright beauty found within it and some of it was about the dark nature of mankind and the sorrow found there? Bright Romantics used a merging of science and nature to allow both to work together. Meanwhile they would put emphasis on the individual’s ability to take themselves out of society to live in nature away from the rat race. A good example of a bright Romantic writer would be Henry David Thoreau. He is famous for having written, among many other works, Walden which is about living simply in nature. Thoreau was an abolitionist and his essay Civil Disobedience is a piece that inspired Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. to engage in peaceful civil disobedience to protest unjust governments. He also wrote Nature, a poem we will look at more in depth later in this paper. Henry David Thoreau (born David Henry Thoreau) lived from July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862. He was attending Harvard during Andrew Jackson’s second inauguration. He was a freelance writer who tried but was unsuccessful at becoming a fulltime professional writer. Having not been quite as successful at his dream of writing as he is posthumously was a bit of a disappointment to Henry. He had grown up the son of a storekeeper and liquor salesman in respectable poverty and had his share of other sorrows as well having seen two of his beloved siblings die. His brother John died of typhus which he got while shaving. His younger sister Sophia died in 1846 at the age of 36 of the same affliction that would claim Henry’s life, tuberculosis. Thoreau loved the outdoors and would rather live of the land than any other way. He enjoyed waling in the outdoors so much he had said while hunting never did he find his rifle to be too heavy. He held many odd jobs to support himself while traveling and writing but he was very well known in his father’s later business of pencil making. Biographer Robert Sullivan writes that while in the employ of the pencil company â€Å"Thoreau studied various graphite hardnesses [sic] and invented a machine that manufactured a finer grind. The centerpiece was a cylinder, in which the finer graphite settled to the bottom for ready collection. The new invention pushed the company ahead of its rivals,† (142). While his dreams of being a professional writer went mostly unfulfilled he found great joy and contentment as mentioned above in nature. He was well thought of in his life but revered as a writer after his death. In The Life of Henry David Thoreau, Sanborn writes, â€Å"Thoreau had various missions in this world, some of which he fulfilled, and passed beyond them; others he did not live long enough to complete, and only approached perfection at remote intervals. Versifying was one of these latter; though the poetic perception and ideal nature was not only brought to a high point of excellence in his last twenty years, but he exhibited in his youth and early capacity for good writing, which his devotion to the art developed into what may easily pass for perfection in his best passages. † (51). Dark Romantics wrote about how a person views their world and how their mind has the power to change the world they live in. They have a tendency to reject science for fiction and be very involved in the macabre. They are also very introspective. Arguably the best Dark Romantic writer was Edgar Allan Poe who lived from 1809 to 1849. Born December 9 to thespians David and Eliza Poe, who would both die two years later in 1811, Edgar was raised by John and Fanny Allan of Richmond Virginia. John and Edgar never got along due to John’s disdain for how he viewed Edgar’s existence. Until John inherited great wealth, which he eventually kept from Edgar, he viewed Edgar as a drain on his hard fought earnings. Poe faced a lot of tragedy at a very early age and lived a life that was filled with challenges, some self-imposed. He had a lot of unrequited and lost love; therefore, women in some form or another filled pages of his poetry. â€Å"Poe believed that the goal of literature was not to mirror reality but instead to pursue Beauty in its highest and widest sense. As Poe put it, ’A poem in my opinion, is opposed to a work of science by having for its immediate object, pleasure, not truth,’† (27) writes James Hutchinson in his book Poe. For Poe writing was at the very center of his existence. He wrote for some time before becoming celebrated but it did happen while he lived. Poe did make his living through words though poetry prose and becoming the chief editor at several monthlies as well as writing pieces for magazines. Later Hutchinson notes that â€Å"The Raven was an instant success and Poe woke up to find himself famous. † (165). Though famous he seemed forever tragic. Peter Ackroyd writes of his alcoholism saying that after a particularly strong binge in PA, Poe acknowledges that â€Å"the whole experience in Philadelphia became for him a phantasmagoria of suffering, brought on by what he described as ‘mania-a-potu,’ or alcoholic madness. It is the first indication that he realised [sic] the nature of his true condition. † (185). Although feverish Poe had left Richmond VA to visit friends in Baltimore MD, days later, he was found unconscious in a tavern in Baltimore. His previous whereabouts were a mystery and Poe died in a hospital on October 7, 1849 at the age of forty, reminiscent of one of the characters in his works. Both men died young and that was all too common in those times. Their lives were quite different. It is not a surprise that both men lived what they wrote, for Thoreau of the beauty of the outdoors and the nature there was his refuge from life and he died enjoying the Woods at Walden that he enjoyed so much. Although he married the daughter of his paternal Aunt when she was just thirteen, for Poe the love he searched for he never really found. It was maternal in nature and he would never fill that void through drugs and alcohol. The tragedy of his writing was told in his biography. The following are one poem each by Thoreau and Poe. They are similar in their rhythm and their rhyme scheme; however, their symbolism and mood are very different. Poe’s poem is about a beautiful valley where many people died in battle and they haunt the valley still. Thoreau writes about the beauty of the outdoors and how he longs only to commune with his beloved nature and pass his days in the great outdoors. One does not need to be told who wrote which poem that is obvious by their content.

Marketing Plan For Farmish Frosty Milk Marketing Essay

Marketing Plan For Farmish Frosty Milk Marketing Essay The product I intend to launch is flavoured milk named as farmish frostys milk which is mainly aimed towards young children, housewives who are the main purchasers of domestic items. But due its different flavours frosty can also cater to adults like people working in offices, as a refreshing drink, even the male population, people who are into sports activities need a refreshing drink, this can add as an energy supplement. Most of the hassle using involved in making milk with different flavours initially would be eliminated with our special flavours already added to the market shelves. The new formula with which we have introduced our product encourages the entire household to indulge in buying the frosty bottle themselves irrespective of age or gender. Frosty has emerged as a brand which pays great heed to the value of great health to our society and has produced a brand which provides an individual with energy in no time. According to a research externally a 15 ml pack of strawberry tango provides enough energy at the end of a rigorous work out to provide the individual to jog for another half an hour. Gone are the days when an individual had to take four types of vitamins every day because now with the introduction Frosty will surely become: Frosty Your daily energy supplement Frosty low fat aims at targeting the diet conscious segment of the market whereby now it becomes a complete health solution for an individual. This variety aims at providing the dieters with alternate drinks. Before, the dieters had to look at expensive milk drinks that did not even provide the basic weight control and the energy provision requirement. Frosty flavoured milk drinks consider its customers as their factor of success therefore before the launch the company conducted focus group testing and also included children in this test, as they are also a key customer group. 3. STRATEGIC PLAN AND FOCUS 3.1 Vision Statement We have just launched our company few days back in U.K and it is forecasted that the consumers will react to this product positively, reason being that the consumer has always looked for quality taste and flavoured milk, although exists in the market, those which are imported items as well as local, but with our differentiated features and natural extracts from fresh fruits and constant quality checks, we are confident that we will take up the position of market leaders in this particular product category. We forecast that frosty milk will be much consumed by place and people like: Schools Shops Supermarkets Homes Recreational parks Airports Such places are in dire need of products that provide the end result instantly; hence frostys flavoured milk, as the name says it all will provide instant energy to the tired and exhausted travellers or small kids who are traveling may need a refreshing drink. Travellers for instance, may want something that boosts their energy level. At the moment our forecasts tell us that we are just concentrating to the upper middle class and the middle class but later on we will also cater to the lower middle class and lower class, once we generate enough money to meet our costs. 3.2 Mission Statement The company aims to become a key competitor in the flavoured milk industry by being an innovative and pioneering organization, conducting business with sense of responsibility and pride, keeping customers satisfaction as a prime objective. The apprehensible standards to be set to deal with our customers, governing agencies and suppliers by being honest, fair and principled. 3.3 Goals and Objectives 3.3.1 Goals Being categorized as a market challenger we have the advantage of trying new techniques, which have not been tried before. This means that through innovative and creative brainstorming, goals set can be achieved 3.3.2 Objectives Specific In order to achieve the position of leader in the industry and hit a targeted profit we are looking to have a well enough business model / plan. Measurable After calculating sales, expenses and profit margin we assume to make some money at the end of particular period as business have to make some money out of it. So we forecast about our business in that month for the upcoming time. Achievable As every company have some Goals and objectives , we also want to achieve something out of our business. For example : In return we are looking for  £2000 2500 per month. Realistic Every business have some realistic goals that is achievable too. For example if some want to make  £5000 of profit in certain week. Yes , they can if they have some realistic business plan / model. Time related If we are looking to do business of about  £30,000 40,000 a month, for that we have to give some time in order to create such strategies that make our production fast as well as the distribution channel more efficient and effective. 3.4 Core Competencies / Competitive Advantage The key success factors that Frosty has are the USPs which make it different from the other fruit milk drinks. Firstly the experience that the company has in the juice industry has helped the company as it has the information regarding the beverage market. Apart from this the company has developed some really unique flavours, which promise to give the customer a real worth for their money. The flavors are a blend of fresh fruit and some ingenious recipes. These recipes are kept secret. The pre-product launch survey that we had carried out in different households and areas of the city proved that our Frosty provides highest energy and taste and boosts the individuals strength. 4. SITUATION ANALYSIS 4.1 Evaluation of Marketing Tools and Techniques In order to evaluate marketing tools and techniques I adopt the following three techniques Porters five forces. SWOT Analysis Marketing Audit Bargaining power of suppliers Local suppliers are mostly threatened as there is possibility from well settled retailers to import the same product from any foreign country in well enough quantity to shatter the market. In our case this kind of things may happen but we could able to stand in the market. Bargaining power of buyers In this high technological and fast moving environment most of the customers have well enough knowledge about market and that products so most of the time they But in our case this is not the problem as we are the common individual to introduce this product as we can tackle this task. SWOT ANALYSIS: Strengths: Frosty flavoured milk will be the first flavoured milk drink of the country that will be wholly produced by local raw materials, this has been achieved through the stronger ties that the company has with its local suppliers which will be providing the company with fruits that will be processed in the Frosty processing plant. As far as the milk is concerned Frosty also has an edge over its competitors, as it owns the largest network of dairy farms. One of the strengths of the company is also its most successful product of fruit juices. WEAKNESS: One of the major weaknesses of Frosty flavoured milk drinks that affect its competitive position is the low brand recall. We have just launched the product and heavy spending has been incurred in order to encourage buyers to buy more and potential buyers to try the product for the first time. We certainly know that in order to strengthen the products position the name of the product has to be on every buyers tongue. Opportunities: Frosty flavoured milk drinks will be packaged and will allow the company to take advantage of the growth opportunities of around not just some areas but all over the U.K. The company will be selling in ready to carry packs that will be made by recyclable plastic and tetra pack special packaging material called T-550 which keeps the product safer for longer. This package suits the lifestyle of not just children and teenagers but also sportsmen. Another key opportunity that the company sees is that the spending patterns of the people are changing from spending less to spending more. This means that Frosty will be targeting a market, which is spending more money due to more disposable income. Threats: The threat however that we face is that we are investing in the fast moving consumer goods market and we see that in the future due to excess competition extreme measures may have to be taken in order to survive the cut-throat competition. Another threat that Frosty faces is the threat of other beverages that may position themselves as being in competition with Frosty. So in this case frosty would have to position itself safely in order to survive indirect competition from companies such as Coke and Pepsi. MARKETING AUDIT It Involves companys analysis in both aspects internally and externally Internal External environment of the company Internal Audit: PROMOTION It includes determining the combination of tools that is advertising, publicity, personal selling, and sales promotions. Also we can determine, how to measure effectiveness, the image to pursue, the choice of media the format of messages if ads should be timed throughout the year or during peak periods or not. Promotion is any form of communication used to inform, persuade and/or remind people about an organizations or individual goods, services, image and ideas. Promotion planning is systematic decision making relating to all aspects of an organization or individual communications efforts. Since Farmish is introducing Flavored Frosty Milk, customer must first be informed about the product and its attributes. After creating awareness, promotion can be used to develop favourable attributes of the flavoured milk. With an audience category, Farmish can identify to opinion leaders, people who influence others. In addition, it should also fully understand and use the mechanisms of word of mouth communication, the process by which people express their opinion and product related experience to another person. Farmishs promotional plan will lay maximum stress on Frosty and its attributes such as excellent quality and taste. Its main objective would be of moving consumers from awareness to purchase. It will also seek to communicate its overall image of the market innovator, introducing different enticing flavours. However, the main purpose of promotional activities will be aimed at creating an image in the consumers mind that when they consume the milk they will be refreshed and will enjoy the alluring flavour. PRICE The aim is to give good value for money through good competitive prices, which result in consumer satisfaction. The pricing objective is to optimize the profits of the company and to get the return on investment. The price of the milk is lower than the price of foreign brands with comparable quality and the same quantity. Although local brands cost less but the quality offered by Frostys is greater. Pricing Method: The basic method for pricing the product is cost-plus method or strategy where a fixed percentage is added to the cost in order to determine the price at which the product will leave the company. Pricing Strategies: Primarily two pricing strategies are used in order to achieve the overall marketing objectives and the pricing objectives: Competition-Based Pricing: In order to meet competition it is essential that prices should be competitive as compared to other brands of similar quality. Penetration Pricing: This pricing is done in a way so as to attract consumers to buy the product that will enable the company to penetrate into the market and gain market share. One way to do this is by lowering the pick-up price of the product, which makes it more easily reachable for the consumer. Introducing smaller bottle sizes with less weight can lower pick-up price. Retail Prices of Farmish Frosty Milk 150 ml bottle  £0.40 P 250 ml bottle  £0.90 P 1 litre pack  £1.40 P SALES PROMOTION Sales promotion involves paid marketing communication activities that stimulate consumer purchases and dealer effectiveness.. The 3 main objectives of sales promotion is to, Generate trial and repurchase, Build market share and, To build brand image and positioning. Advertising would create a specific image in the mind of the consumer i.e. positioning. Similarly sales promotion will be carried out in a way so as to further the quality perception of the product. Sales promotion helps attract customer traffic. For example, if Farmish would offer free samples on trial in stores to draw customers. Since Farmishs Frostys Milk is a consumer product, their success depends upon satisfaction, trust and goodwill. They believe, they can best serve the needs following a consistent, fair and sensitive program of consumer communication. For that reason we set up a help line 0800-8067840 DISTRIBUTIONS Distribution decisions include determining whether to sell via intermediaries or directly to consumers, how many outlets to sell through and whether to control or cooperate with other channel members. We planned to distribute the products on our various outlets covering all over the United Kingdom. To make sure that the customer gets the milk in its original premium form, therefore we focus to distribute Frostys flavoured milk twice a week amongst the outlet. DISTRIBUTION CHART FLOW FOR FARMISH FROSTYS MILK Warwickshire Warehouses Distributors Retailers Wholesalers Consumers Personal Sales Force Institutions External Audit : Competitors: Frosty flavoured milk does not consider itself as extension to the segment consuming milk. But it sees itself as a key competitor in the flavoured milk drink industry. Our competitors are currently well settled in the market and have a major share of the market. With the launch of Frosty flavoured milk it will come in direct competition with the local and foreign rivals such as Vanilla flavoured Milk by ASDA, Yazoo drink by Friesland NESQUIK by Nestle. Frosty aims to position itself as a brand with a different image than its competitors. Frosty thinks that it should make sure that a fun image of the product is created in the minds of the customers. Frosty through its creative slogans wants to create this image. Our company considers Yazoo as the market leader in the flavoured milk industry with a high market share of the urban markets and an innovative approach of providing the customers with the new tastes. The product that we launch will have a similar approach to that of Yazoo in providing the customers with a range of totally new flavours. Nestle is as market challenger to Yazoo and is giving Yazoo a tough time with respect to increasing market share. If the leader offers a price advantage then Frosty would also do the same. It goes with any changes in packaging. Through the companies sources it has attained information that suggest that the Yazoo is planning to launch its flavoured milk in family size bottles. This information is enough to launch a major offensive against this move. This means that by the time Yazoo would launch its family size packs we would be already in the market and may even have an advantage of claiming the idea as our very own Demographics: The demographic environment mainly provides a brand structure for our company to place our product. In other words, it greatly facilitates in the market positively for products and determining its possible competitors. Almost many social classes consume flavoured milk; age and gender factors do not have a significant impact on this milk. And it could be somewhat broadly and easily categorized. Individual belonging to all sexes, and ages consume our milk. The Frosty Flavoured Milk is best been suitable for the following: Young Children Teenagers Married woman for small children Adults Old-age people Psychographics: There are people who belong to middle and upper middle-class. Modern time-conscience, busy people, students, and children who want to work hard and believe in achieving their goals, our Frosty Flavoured Milk will be source of satisfaction, energy and refreshment, and more importantly convenience and timeliness on their busy lines. The astringent and hygienically maintained flavours give its refreshing quality. Many people are not aware of the criteria of Mutual-Drinking which applies to Frosty flavoured Milk that has good quality and flavour balance, and does not need any artificial aroma. 4.2 Company Analysis Focus: The companys main focus is to attain the position of a leader itself in the Industry. Culture Our reputation for quality, taste and nutrition is best and we are also being trust by our consumers on what we do. We are also looking forward to get delighted by our consumers because of the new and innovative products that we have yet to create. Strengths As far as the milk is concerned Frosty also has an edge over its competitors, as it owns the largest network of dairy farmers Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses of Frosty flavoured milk which also affect its competitive position is due to having the low brand recall and in order to strengthen the products position the name of the product has to be on every buyers tongue Market share Currently in this highly competitive environment we are having 10-12% of market share but our aim is to acquire at least 30%-40% of the flavoured milk market share by the year 2011. The high margin would attain us the desirable market share and have all the possibilities to make our way towards the top ranking in the market. 4.3 SWOT Analysis Internal Environment of our company Frosty flavoured milk will be the first flavoured milk drink of the country that will be wholly produced by local raw materials, this has been achieved through the stronger ties that the company has with its local suppliers which will be providing the company with fruits that will be processed in the Frosty processing plant. One of the major weaknesses of Frosty flavoured milk drinks that affect its competitive position is the low brand recall The external environment of our company The company will be selling in ready to carry packs that will be made by recyclable plastic and tetra pack special packaging material called T-550 which keeps the product safer for longer Another threat that we are facing is from other beverages that may position themselves as being in competition with Frosty. So in this case frosty would have to position itself safely in order to survive indirect competition from companies such as Coke and Pepsi 4.4 Industry Analysis 4.4.1 Competitor Analysis Market position Farmish Frosty is producing flavoured milk; thus, we are competing with all the players in the. Milk industry like Countrys life organic milk, Nestle Milk flavoured milk brands like FRIJJ, Milka, Rose Milk etc. Hence our competition is highly existing and established milk brands in the market. Farmish Frosty hopes to position its flavoured milk in a totally different perspective than that of its competitors by offering convenience for all household individuals. Market shares SWOT 4.4.2 Collaborators Subsidiaries, joint ventures, and distributors, etc. 4.4.3 Customer Analysis Number Type Value drivers Decision process Concentration of customer base for particular products 4.4.4 Porters Five Forces 4.4.4 Porters Five Forces 4.5 Climate/Environmental Analysis Macro-environmental STEEPLE analysis: Social and cultural or demographic Technological Economic and Supply/Demand Environmental (natural) Political Legal Ethical 5. MARKET-PPRODUCT FOCUS 5.1 Marketing and Product Objectives 5.2 Market Segmentation Target Market In order to approach our target consumers, Farmish divided the market out in different segments. These segments were taken to be the potential markets having the most return. Segmenting was done under the following core elements. Geographic Segmentation: In the geographic segmentation, we first went for the population factor. We started our launch from the main parts of UK. We launched frostys milk first in London where we aimed at the renowned retail stores and super stores like Asda Tescos and then in Manchester and Birmingham.. This was a good start as we have gained sales instantly. After only a matter of two to three months we gained 15% market share in London. Greater market share in London was due to the cosmopolitan city. Demographic Segmentation: In the demographic segmentation, our primary concern was the Age factor. In that, we are willing to address the youngsters from the age of 5 and above. Usually milk is associated with young children, so in our initial launch we targeted the young children and also the teenagers. Other than that, we are also concerned for the family life cycle; we chose families, which were primarily young married couples with young children as our potential targets. We preferred these families to belong to the upper and middle classes. We also preferred educated people with good buying power. Income was another factor we took into consideration, as we are not focusing on the rural or suburban areas, but more on the urban cities, mainly the upper middle class segment. As the population distribution and usage pattern shows that flavoured milk as a product is mainly consumed in the upper class, upper middle and middle -middle class. So frosty will also penetrate in this particular segment with different marketing programs. Individuals who greatly value quality, convenience and time, those who are trend following, energetic and outgoing also come into our target as our proposition. The family life cycle limits should also be increased to cover all the following categories as well. Bachelors Young married Young married with young children And families with young children Behavioural Segmentation: Consumers justify the consumptions of milk for the benefit of releasing fatigue and lethargy, as milk gives an individual a feeling of refreshness and instant energy, in a way recharging a person. By behavioural factors we can easily depict what sort of consumers would be best fitted for our flavoured milk. It is of interest to note that the role of flavoured milk can vary differently during different parts of the day categorized as follows: Breakfast Drink: Our milk will be aimed towards the morning drinkers of milk, usually school going children, as energy drink. It serves an energizer and with our special flavours, given the amount of energy they bring, using strawberries, mango, vanilla etc, add to a part of a young child growth and is also good for the body as a whole. Is can also be used by teenagers, as the trends today are changing and much of our culture is being influenced by the western culture and we find that having milk and juices in the morning as at breakfast time has become a normal norm. Mid-Evening Drink: during the evenings frostys milk can also be used as an instant energizer to those individuals who are into sport activities, people who do vigorous exercises. Over here, we can even segment on the basis of health conscious people who want to maintain a healthy diet and cut on high fat food, for that as well, we have our separate line for low fat flavoured milk, which comes in all flavours. So clearly we can say that our product will be catering to both males and females who play sports. The only difference being that males want something refreshing to quench their thirst and females want an energizer drink which is low in fat, so out flavoured milk with cater to the needs of both the genders. Many school going children would also want the milk as part of their after play, coming to their mothers and asking for a cold glass of flavoured milk. Night Drink: can be used to relieve oneself from the daylong tension and fatigue. Even adults can have this drink before going to bed, as it tends to soothe ones mind with the days long work. We can segment our markets on the basis of consumer usage rate, those individuals who are more loyal to flavored milk can be targeted with more diligence and we can use appropriate strategies to attract potential consumers towards our product. Psychographic Segmentation: In the Psychographic segmentation, people who are conscious of their life styles should also be brought in the target market. The concept of leading a casual life with flavoured milk as a daily refreshment drink should be introduced. Flavoured milk should be made a substitute for other drinks such as juices and fizzy drinks for the consumers who are food value conscious. With our frostys milk being introduced in tetra packs as well as cans it would add to the lifestyle of the elite class, and would also be easy to carry around for young children as a snack pack for their lunch periods. 5.4 Point of Difference Because of our close ties with our suppliers and our own dairy farms the acquiring of the raw materials is easy and cheap which gives us an edge over the competitors and gives us an advantage in pricing our products this makes that we can lower our price and still gain the same advantage 5.5 Positioning