Creative Thinking Lesson Plans for Teachers

Lesson plans and activities for teaching about inventions by increasing creativity and creative thinking. The lesson plans are adaptable for grades K-12 and were designed to be done in sequence. Teaching Creativity Creative Thinking Skills When a student is asked to invent a solution to a problem, the student must draw upon previous knowledge, skills, creativity, and experience. The student also recognizes areas where new learnings must be acquired in order to understand or address the problem. This information must then be applied, analyzed, synthesized, and evaluated. Through critical and creative thinking and problem-solving, ideas become reality as children create inventive solutions, illustrate their ideas, and make models of their inventions. Creative thinking lesson plans provide children with opportunities to develop and practice higher-order thinking skills. Throughout the years, many creative thinking skills models and programs have been generated from educators, seeking to describe the essential elements of thinking and/or to develop a systematic approach to teaching thinking skills as part of the school curricula. Three models are illustrated below in this introduction. Although each uses different terminology, each model describes similar elements of either critical or creative thinking or both. Models of Creative Thinking Skills Benjamin BloomCalvin TaylorIsaksen and Treffinger The models demonstrate how creative thinking lesson plans could provide an opportunity for students to experience most of the elements described in the models. After teachers have reviewed the creative thinking skills models listed above, they will see the critical and creative thinking and problem-solving skills and talents that can be applied to the activity of inventing. The creative thinking lesson plans that follow can be used across all disciplines and grade levels and with all children. It can be integrated with all curricular areas and used as a means of applying the concepts or elements of any thinking skills program that may be in use. Children of all ages are talented and creative. This project will give them an opportunity to develop their creative potential and synthesize and apply knowledge and skills by creating an invention or innovation to solve a problem, just as a real inventor would. Creative Thinking - List of Activities Introducing Creative ThinkingPracticing Creativity with the ClassPracticing Creative Thinking with the ClassDeveloping an Invention IdeaBrainstorming for Creative SolutionsPracticing the Critical Parts of Creative ThinkingCompleting the InventionNaming the InventionOptional Marketing ActivitiesParent InvolvementYoung Inventors Day Imagination is more important than knowledge, for imagination embraces the world. -  Albert Einstein Activity 1: Introducing Inventive Thinking and Brainstorming Read about the Lives of Great InventorsRead the  stories  about great inventors in class or let students read themselves. Ask students, How did these inventors get their ideas? How did they make their ideas a reality? Locate books in your library about inventors, invention, and creativity. Older students can locate these references themselves. Also, visit the  Inventive Thinking and Creativity Gallery Talk to a Real InventorInvite a local inventor to speak to the class. Since local inventors are not usually listed in the phone book under inventors, you can find them by calling a  local patent attorney  or your  local intellectual property law association. Your community may also have a  Patent and Trademark Depository Library  or an  inventors society  that you may contact or post a request. If not, most of your major companies have a research and development department made up of people who think inventively for a living. Examine InventionsNext, ask the students to look at the things in the classroom that are inventions. All the inventions in the classroom that have a U.S. patent will have a  patent number. One such item is probably  the pencil sharpener. Tell them to check out their house for patented items. Let the students brainstorm a list all of the inventions they discover. What would improve these inventions? DiscussionIn order to guide your students through the inventive process, a few preliminary lessons dealing with creative thinking will help set the mood. Begin with a brief explanation of brainstorming and a discussion on the rules of brainstorming. What is Brainstorming?Brainstorming is a process of spontaneous thinking used by an individual or by a group of people to generate numerous alternative ideas while deferring judgment. Introduced by Alex Osborn in his book Applied Imagination, brainstorming is the crux of each of the stages of all problem-solving methods. Rules for Brainstorming No CriticismAllowed People tend to automatically evaluate each suggested idea--their own as well as others. Both internal and external criticism  is  to be avoided while brainstorming. Neither positive nor negative comments are allowed. Either type inhibits the free flow of thought and requires time which interferes with the next rule. Write each spoken idea down as it is given and move on.Work for QuantityAlex Osborn stated that Quantity breeds quality. People must experience a brain drain (get all the common responses out of the way) before the innovative, creative ideas can surface; therefore, the more ideas, the more likely they are to be quality ideas.Hitchhiking WelcomeHitchhiking occurs when one members idea produces a similar idea or an enhanced idea in another member. All ideas should be recorded.Freewheeling EncouragedOutrageous, humorous, and seemingly unimportant ideas should be recorded. It is not uncommon for the most off-the-wall idea to be the best. Activity  2: Practicing Creativity with the Class Step 1:  Cultivate the following creative thinking processes described by Paul Torrance and discussed in The Search for Satori and Creativity (1979): Fluency the production of a great number of ideas.Flexibility the production of ideas or products that show a variety of possibilities or realms of thought.Originality the production of ideas that are unique or unusual.Elaboration the production of ideas that display intensive detail or enrichment. For practice in elaboration, have pairs or small groups of students choose a particular idea from the brainstorming list of invention ideas and add the flourishes and details that would develop the idea more fully. Allow the students to share their innovative and  inventive ideas. Step 2:  Once your students have become familiar with the rules of brainstorming and the creative thinking processes, Bob Eberles  Scamper  technique for brainstorming could be introduced. Substitute What else instead? Who else instead? Other ingredients? Other material? Other power? Another place?Combine How about a blend, an alloy, an ensemble? Combine purposes? Combine appeals?Adapt What else is like this? What other idea does this suggest? Does past offer parallel? What could I copy?Minify Order, form, shape? What to add? More time?Magnify Greater frequency? Higher? Longer? Thicker?Put to other uses New ways to use as is? Other uses I modified? Other places to use? Other people, to reach?Eliminate What to subtract? Smaller? Condensed? Miniature? Lower? Shorter? Lighter? Omit? Streamline? Understate?Reverse Interchange components? Another pattern?Rearrange another layout? Another sequence? Transpose cause and effect? Change pace? Transpose positive and negative? How about opposites? Turn it backward? Turn it upside-down? Reverse roles? Step 3:  Bring in any object or use objects around the classroom to do the following exercise. Ask the students to list many new uses for a familiar object by using the Scamper technique with regard to the object. You could use a paper plate, to begin with, and see how many new things the students will discover. Make sure to follow the rules for brainstorming in Activity 1. Step 4:  Using literature, ask your students to create a new ending to a story, change a character or situation within a story, or create a new beginning for the story that would result in the same ending. Step 5:  Put a list of objects on the chalkboard. Ask your students to combine them in different ways to create a new product. Let the students make their own list of objects. Once they combine several of them, ask them to illustrate the new product and explain why it might be useful. Activity 3: Practicing Inventive Thinking with the Class Before your students begin to find their own problems and create unique inventions or innovations to solve them, you can assist them by taking them through some of the steps as a group. Finding the Problem Let the class list problems in their own classroom that need solving. Use the brainstorming technique from Activity 1. Perhaps your students never have a pencil ready, as it is either missing or broken when it is time to do an assignment (a great brainstorming project would be to solve that problem). Select one problem for the class to solve using the following steps: Find several problems.Select one to work on.Analyze the situation.Think of many, varied, and unusual ways of solving the problem. List the possibilities. Be sure to allow even the silliest possible solution, as creative thinking must have a positive, accepting environment in order to flourish. Finding a Solution Select one or more possible solutions to work on. You may want to divide into groups if the class elects to work on several of the ideas.Improve and refine the idea(s).Share the class or individual solution(s)/invention(s) for solving the class problem. Solving a class problem and creating a class invention will help students learn the process and make it easier for them to work on their own invention projects. Activity 4: Developing an Invention Idea Now that your students have had an introduction to the inventive process, it is time for them to find a problem and create their own invention to solve it. Step One:  Begin by asking your students to conduct a survey. Tell them to interview everyone that they can think of to find out what problems need solutions. What kind of invention, tool, game, device, or idea would be helpful at home, work, or during leisure time? (You can use an Invention Idea Survey) Step Two:  Ask the students to list the problems that need to be solved. Step Three:  comes the decision-making process. Using the list of problems, ask the students to think about which problems would be possible for them to work on. They can do this by listing the pros and cons for each possibility. Predict the outcome or possible solution(s) for each problem. Make a decision by selecting one or two problems that provide the best options for an inventive solution. (Duplicate the Planning and Decision-Making Framework) Step Four:  Begin an  Inventors Log  or Journal. A record of your ideas and work will help you develop your invention and protect it when completed. Use Activity Form - Young Inventors Log to help students understand what can be included on every page. General Rules For Authentic Journal Keeping Using a  bound notebook, make notes each day about the things you do and learn while working on your invention.Record your idea and how you got it.Write about problems you have and how you solve them.Write in ink and do not erase.Add sketches and drawings to make things clear.List all parts, sources, and costs of materials.Sign and date all entries at the time they are made and have them witnessed. Step Five:  To illustrate why record-keeping is important, read the following story about Daniel Drawbaugh who said that he invented the telephone, but didnt have one single paper or record to prove it. Long before  Alexander Graham Bell  filed a patent application in 1875, Daniel Drawbaugh claimed to have invented the telephone. But since he had no journal or record, the  Supreme Court  rejected his claims by four votes to three. Alexander Graham Bell had excellent records and was awarded the patent for the telephone. Activity 5: Brainstorming for Creative Solutions Now that the students have one or two problems to work on, they must take the same steps that they did in solving the class problem in Activity Three. These steps could be listed on the chalkboard or a chart. Analyze the problem(s). Select one to work on.Think of many, varied, and unusual ways of solving the problem. List all of the possibilities. Be non-judgmental. (See Brainstorming in Activity 1 and SCAMPER in Activity 2.)Select one or more possible solutions to work on.Improve and refine your ideas. Now that your students have some exciting possibilities for their invention projects, they will need to use their critical thinking skills to narrow down the possible solutions. They can do this by asking themselves the questions in the next activity about their inventive idea. Activity 6: Practicing the Critical Parts of Inventive Thinking Is my idea practical?Can it be made easily?Is it as simple as possible?Is it safe?Will it cost too much to make or use?Is my idea really new?Will it withstand use, or will it break easily?Is my idea similar to something else?Will people really use my invention? (Survey your classmates or the people in your neighborhood to document the need or usefulness of your idea - adapt the invention idea survey.) Activity 7: Completing the Invention When students have an idea that meets most of the above qualifications in Activity 6, they need to plan how they are going to complete their project. The following planning technique will save them a great deal of time and effort: Identify the problem and a possible solution. Give your invention a name.List the materials needed to illustrate your invention and to make a model of it. You will need paper, pencil, and crayons or markers to draw your invention. You might use cardboard, paper, clay, wood, plastic, yarn, paper clips, and so forth to make a model. You might also want to use an art book or a book on model-making from your school library.List, in order, the steps for completing your invention.Think of the possible problems that might occur. How would you solve them?Complete your invention. Ask your parents and teacher to help with the model. In SummaryWhat - describe the problem. Materials - list the materials needed. Steps - list the steps to complete your invention. Problems - predict the problems that could occur. Activity 8: Naming the Invention An invention can be named in one of the following ways: Using the inventors  name:Levi Strauss   LEVIS ® jeansLouis Braille Alphabet SystemUsing the components or ingredients of the invention:Root BeerPeanut ButterWith initials or acronyms:IBM  ®S.C.U.B.A. ®Using word  combinations (notice repeated  consonant sounds  and rhyming words):KIT KAT  ®HULA HOOP  Ã‚ ®PUDDING POPS  ®CAPN CRUNCH  ®Using the products function:SUPERSEAL  ®DUSTBUSTER  ®vacuum cleanerhairbrushearmuffs   Activity Nine: Optional Marketing Activities Students can be very fluent when it comes to listing ingenious names of products out on the market. Solicit their suggestions and have them explain what makes each name effective. Each student should generate names for his/her own invention. Developing a Slogan or JingleHave the students define the terms slogan and jingle. Discuss the purpose of having a slogan. Sample slogans and jingles: Things go better with Coke.COKE IS IT!  ®TRIX ARE FOR KIDS  ®OH THANK HEAVEN FOR 7-ELEVEN  ®TWOALLBEEFPATTIES...GE: WE BRING GOOD THINGS TO LIFE!  ® Your students will be able to recall many  slogans  and jingles! When a slogan is named, discuss the reasons for its effectiveness. Allow time for thought in which the students can create jingles for their inventions. Creating an AdvertisementFor a crash course in advertising, discuss the visual effect created by a television commercial, magazine, or newspaper advertisement. Collect magazine or newspaper ads that are eye-catching--some of the ads might be dominated by words and others by pictures that say it all. Students might enjoy exploring newspapers and magazines for outstanding advertisements. Have students create magazine ads to promote their inventions. (For more advanced students, further lessons on advertising techniques would be appropriate at this point.) Recording a Radio PromoA radio promo could be the icing on a students advertising campaign! A promo might include facts about the usefulness of the invention, a clever jingle or song, sound effects, humor... the possibilities are endless. Students may choose to tape record their promos for use during the Invention Convention. Advertising ActivityCollect 5 - 6 objects and give them new uses. For instance, a toy hoop could be a waist-reducer, and some strange looking kitchen gadget might be a new type of mosquito catcher. Use your imagination! Search everywhere--from the tools in the garage to the kitchen drawer--for fun objects. Divide the class into small groups, and give each group one of the objects to work with. The group is to give the object a catchy name, write a slogan, draw an ad, and record a radio promo. Stand back and watch the creative juices flow. Variation: Collect magazine ads and have the students create new advertising campaigns using a different marketing angle. Activity Ten: Parent Involvement Few, if any, projects are successful unless the child is encouraged by the parents and other caring adults. Once the children have developed their own, original ideas, they should discuss them with their parents. Together, they can work to make the childs idea come to life by making a model. Although the making of a model is not necessary, it makes the project more interesting and adds another dimension to the project. You can involve parents by simply sending a letter home to explain the project and let them know how they may participate. One of your parents may have invented something that they can share with the class.   Activity Eleven: Young Inventors Day Plan a Young Inventors Day so that your students can be recognized for their  inventive thinking. This day should provide opportunities for the children to display their inventions and tell the story of how they got their idea and how it works. They can share with other students, their parents, and others. When a child successfully completes a task, it is important that (s)he be recognized for the effort. All children who participate in the Inventive Thinking Lesson Plans are winners. We have prepared a certificate that can be copied and given to all children who participate and use their inventive thinking skills to create an invention or innovation.

Health Care Reform Debate the Pluralistic Prespective

Ana Sakalis SOC 335 Prof. K. Bentele February 24, 2012 Health Care Reform Debate The Pluralistic Perspective In this paper I will explain how the portion of the health care debate I chose would be classified under this pluralist framework of government. First I will explain the definition of the pluralist view of how government is structured. Then I will explain a bit of what portion of the healthcare reform under president Obama’s administration I chose to write about and in conclusion I will make the connection between the healthcare reform and the pluralist theorist framework view of government. The Pluralist structure illustrates power as the aftermath of the collection of different interest groups haggling for the†¦show more content†¦There are many religious institutions and religious affiliated universities that are fighting the new implications of this policy. These issues of concern and health care reform would be a real good argument for pluralist and their views of the structure of government in America. This is a good example of â€Å"who ever makes the best a rgument wins†. Although the finals of this reform have not yet been ironed-out, it seems like the winners will be working class Americans and that is not common in American politics. That no matter what argument, these large institutions are making they will have to find a way to conform to the decisions made by government. In this particular case the government is listening to everyone. These working class women have the Institute Of Medicine and the Department of Health and Human Services advocating on their behalf. In this instance the large population of individual voters are the ones holding the power over these larger, richer entities like insurance companies and religious affiliated institutions and universities. The states are involved in protecting the maintenance of order throughout society by being allowed to stipulate who does what. The power is not being held by those with economic stability like the social class perspective or the nature of leadership is no t being held by the elites as stated in the elite managerial approach of government. Economic

Author Albert Hirschman Essay Example For Students

Author Albert Hirschman Essay In his work Exit, Voice, and Loyalty, author Albert Hirschman presents a way of understanding individual choice within an institution or organization. Hirschman gives the argument that many aspects of perfectly competitive markets are also applicable to the American political system. His primary interest involves studying what happens when firms, organizations, and states dysfunction, decline, and under-perform and how they receive feedback and correct their errors over time. Thus, this work looks in detail at individuals who are dissatisfied and the choices that they have available. Hirschman cites two basic options that are accessible to displeased employees, consumers, voters, and political candidates: voice or exit. In the former case, the discontent individual expresses his concerns or dissatisfactions to those around him (superiors, colleagues, employees) in order to effect change. In the latter case, the individual simply decides to take his business elsewhere. There are, however, two subcategories of this option: (1) silent exit, in which this said individual does not voice complaints before or after his exit, and (2) exit with voice, in which he expresses his dissatisfaction before and/or after his exit. The two main options are often key choices in a political crisis. This fact is demonstrated in the case of Senator James Jeffords, who switched political parties in May of 2001 from Republican to Independent and thus shifted the balance of power in the United States Congress, an event with many extensive and significant implications. Senator Jeffords case is one of an incomplete exit with a marginal amount of voice both before and after his decision. Jeffords states that he expressed his objections with the new budget and education spending to President Bush throughout the first year of his term. However, he did not make his discontentment known clearly or vehemently enough: in his piece My Declaration of Independence, he cites only a few specific instances in which he explicitly voiced his complaints to a superior. Despite the instances in which he informed the President of his concerns (that he would be a one-term President if he did not move beyond his Conservative Republican base on many issues) and told a CNN reporter of his qualms with the size of the tax cut, Jeffords did not use a strong enough voice until the spring of 2001. By this time, budget talks were well underway and it was almost time to vote on this issue. Thus, he reserved his voice until it was virtually too late for it to be effective. It must be noted, however, that Senator Jeffords does allude to several instances (Republican meetings and more private settings) in which his voiced concerns were either ignored or looked upon with mockery, disbelief, and condescension. These reactions do indeed give validity to his frustration and disillusionment. However, even in light of such causes for dissatisfaction, it was only after his departure from the Republican Party that he truly and publicly expressed his dissatisfaction and expounded upon the reasons behind it. It is now clear that along with his disagreement with the tax cut and education spending, he was also upset with removal of money from the budget for health programs. It is only now that he cites disagreement on other fundamental issues such as: choice, direction of the judiciary, tax and spending decision, missile defense, energy and the environment, and a host of other. This failure to elucidate such disparities discredits his efforts and implies that he could indeed have used a stronger voice before deciding to give up and defect to another political party; an act that many view as disloyal to not only the Republicans but to the state of Vermont as well.

Economy And Innovations In Technology †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Economy And Innovations In Technology. Answer: Introduction: With progressing economy and innovations in technology and production, newer sectors are gaining more and more importance in the globalized market. One of the primary developing sectors in the current business world is the telecommunication sector. The sector deals with transmission of vocal, verbal or word messages across the globe and with time, the sector has seen massive dynamics with innovations in the concerned technologies (Bigliardi, Ivo Dormio and Galati 2012). Nowadays, this sector has gained utmost importance, with businesses going global, as most of the commercial activities are done through this medium. The report discusses the telecommunication sector in Australia, its current dynamics, players and the issues faced by the players as well as the clientele, as is evident from the survey conducted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). From economic perspective, these issues are tried to be analyzed and explained in this report (Accc.gov.au, 2017). Telecommunication Market: Australia: The telecommunication market in Australia is one of the most significant revenue generating market, which has seen consistent rise in the number of consumers over the years. The need for the development of this sector has been constantly increasing due to the economic boom and business prospect that the country is showing. The main products of this market are landline service, broadband internet and mobile and data services, the third product seeing significant increase in the demand with time, the demand for the former two remaining significantly high (Makwana, Sharma and Arora 2014). The market in the country has a big player along with several medium and small ones, thereby giving a distorted semi-monopolistic structure to the concerned market. The big player being Telstra and the other players being Optus, TPG, iiNet and others, the market, though seeing a recent hike in the level of prices, the demand is also showing a continual upward trend. The market shares of the different players in Australia, on the producer side can be shown as follows: Table 1: Market shares for fixed line broadband: Provider Share of market (%) Telstra 41 iiNet 15 Optus 14 TPG 12 Others 18 (Source: Communications.gov.au, 2017) Table 2: Market shares for mobile services: Provider Share of market (%) Telstra 45 Vodafone 18 Optus 27 Others 10 (Source: Communications.gov.au, 2017) Form the above tables, it is evident that Telstra enjoys a huge market share, both in landline services as well as mobile services and the company enjoys almost monopolistic kind of market power, with the other service providers enjoying much lower shares in the telecommunication market of the country. With much of the market share in the hands of a single service providers, the market shows a semi-monopolistic structure, with the economic issues of trade off between equity and efficiency cropping up in the market. This is discussed in details in the following sections of the report, with the help of the study findings of the ACCC (Alizadeh 2015). Issues in the telecommunication market of Australia: As shown in the above discussions, the market structure of this sector in Australia is not that of a perfectly competitive type, which in its turn leads to several distortions and unequal distribution of facilities and advantages, both on the producer side and the consumer side, in this market. The issues, as can be derived from the study findings are as follows: The primary player in this market, Telstra, has been in the scenario for quite a long time and has and is still enjoying significant favors and subsidies from the Australian government. Over the years, the company has received huge subsidies in the form of the National Broadband Network Company Agreement or the Obligation of Universal Services, which were basically given to the company in order to ensure equitable as well as superior quality distribution of their services at affordable prices, to people across the country and of different income strata. However, the company has used these subsidies for fulfillment of their vested interest and has achieved significant share of the market overtime (Crouch and Davies 2013). The customer complaints and submissions, as were received by the ACCC, puts forward the efficiency issue of the NBN services. The main issue as has been put forward by them is the issue of inequitable distribution of the services across the country, especially between the urban and more developed regions and the rural and the remote regions. The rural sector customers of the NBN plan, though pay the same amount for availing the service as paid by the urban ones (Crouch and Davies 2013). However, they complain about the distinctively slower speed they receive as compared to their urban counterparts, along with other problems like that of outdate d materials usage, using of fiber in some places and mixed technologies in other places. These problems have created lack of confidence among the rural customer, who, with the progress in the economy and the change in the business modes, are willing to adapt to the new age technologies. The customers are also not happy in terms of the quality of services and follow-ups in case of complaints (Alizadeh 2013). The organizational structure of the NBN and that of Telstra, is also expected to contribute to the issues of market distortions as together they portray a cartel like structure. The symbiotic, profit maximizing mode of operations of this collusion has in one way ruled out the potential competitions as the monopoly they enjoy due to the presence of increasing returns to scale, cannot be challenged by other players in the market. Many of the potential competitors, though are providing superior services, cannot compete with Telstra, in terms of prices as the latter already has a cost advantage (Patel 2017). The issues, as discussed above, show the trade-off between the equity and efficiency in the market. Due to the lack of quality and customer satisfaction, Telstra is seeing a loss in their clientele as many of the loyal customers shifting to other service providers. Conclusion: The report shows the conflict between equity and efficiency that arises in the telecommunication market of Australia, due to the presence of unequal distribution of market power among one government aided and privileged service providing giant and a few smaller competitors. The reluctant nature of the former and the discrimination in the quality of service provided by the company has given rise to huge dissatisfaction on part of the customers, many of whom are shifting to other service providers, choosing quality over affordability due to the necessary nature of the service discussed about in the report. References Accc.gov.au (2017).Communications sector market study. [online] Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Available at: https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/market-studies/communications-sector-market-study [Accessed 2 Sep. 2017]. Alizadeh, T., 2013. Towards the socio-economic patterns of the national broadband network rollout in Australia.State of Australian Cities, Sydney. Accessed December,31. Alizadeh, T., 2015. The spatial justice implications of telecommunication infrastructure: The socio-economic status of early National Broadband Network rollout in Australia.International Journal of Critical Infrastructures,11(3), pp.278-296. Bigliardi, B., Ivo Dormio, A. and Galati, F., 2012. The adoption of open innovation within the telecommunication industry.European Journal of Innovation Management,15(1), pp.27-54. Communications.gov.au (2017). [online] Available at: https://www.communications.gov.au/sites/g/files/net301/f/Vodafone%20-%20Attachment%20E.pdf [Accessed 2 Sep. 2017]. Crouch, A. and Davies, S., 2013. A coordinated satellite and terrestrial microwave backhaul for cellular mobile in remote and regional Australia.Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy,1(1), p.2. Makwana, K., Sharma, N. and Arora, S., 2014. Factors influencing consumer brand switching behavior in telecommunication industry: An empirical study.Prestige eJ. Management and Res,1(1), pp.1-10. Patel, A., 2017. Equity and Efficiency. InMental HealthEconomics (pp. 155-161). Springer, Cham.

Women Trafficking And The Yakuza an Example by

Women Trafficking And The Yakuza Human trafficking is not a novel issue that the Southeast-Asian region is faced,. In fact, it is noteworthy that this issue has been haunting this part of Asia for years now. Individuals, especially women, are being illegally transported from one country to another for purposes of rendering work, or worse, so they may be lured into the sex industry. The existence of this problem is undeniable, yet the most effective solution to the same seems to be so elusive that governments are still trying their very best to combat this predicament called trafficking of women. It is advanced that the causes of the trafficking of women should first be scrutinized to eventually determine the best way of attacking this critical issue. Need essay sample on "Women Trafficking And The Yakuza" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The Yakuza As Japan is one of the most popular destinations when it comes to human trafficking, it is worthy to investigate if there exist groups or organizations in the said jurisdiction which may have been facilitating the illegal transportation of women into their borders. One said organization powerful enough to be investigated on would be The Yakuza. Considering the number of its members and the connections it has built throughout the years it had existed, the possibility that it has a huge connection to the problem of trafficking cannot be characterized as remote. As pointed out in an article, Drawing on the contacts they had established, yakuza partnered with local agents throughout the region and developed transnational networks that were able to recruit large numbers of women each year, arrange their travel to Japan, and connect them with different employers in the Japanese sex industry (Dinan 2002). Students Often Tell Us: How much do I have to pay someone to write my paper in time? Get Your Essay Before The Deadline Cheap Essays Essays Online For College Buy An Essay For College Paper Writing Service The Japanese Government and Doubts about its Efforts The Japanese government has been trying its best to combat the growing problem of women trafficking into Japan. The government admits and aware of how serious of a problem the trafficking of women in Japan is. Some laws have been framed for purposes of criminalizing and eventually imposing a corresponding penalty on acts that are tantamount to human or women trafficking into its jurisdiction. It must be noted, however, that based on reviews, the government should exert more effort when it comes to battling the issue at hand. Humantrafficking.org reported that in 2007, the Japanese Government was cited by the U.S. Department of State for not being in full compliance with the minimum standards mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (Japan). In addition, it has also been pointed out by Human Rights Watch that although the Japanese government acknowledges the existence of women trafficking as a problem, the Japanese government lacks policies designed specifically to respond t o trafficking and has yet to aggressively enforce existing laws against forced labor, forced prostitution, illegal confinement, coercive job placement, and other severe abuses committed against trafficked women by traffickers and employers (2000). Conclusion The trafficking of women into Japan from other countries within the Southeast Asian region has been linked to the propagation of sex trade in Japan. The Yakuza is considered as one of the biggest and strongest supporters of human trafficking, considering the amount of power and global connection that this organization has. Although it cannot be denied that the government of Japan has been exerting efforts to combat this growing issue, we have yet to see how these efforts can turn out to be real results in attacking the trafficking of women for purposes of luring them into the sex industry. It is worthy to scrutinize whether or not the noblest of intentions of the Japanese government will be enough when brought face to face with the power and strength of the Yakuza. Bibliography Cameron S and Newman E, Trafficking of Filipino Women to Japan: Examining the Experiences and Perspectives of Victims and Government Experts Dinan, KA 2002, Trafficking in Women from Thailand to Japan: The Role of Organized Crime and Governmental Response, Harvard Asia Quarterly, vol. VI, no. 3 Fujimoto N 2006, Trafficking in Persons and the Filipino Entertainers in Japan, Our rights Osaka Human Rights Watch 2001, OWED JUSTICE: Thai Women Trafficked into Debt Bondage in Japan Kaplan E and Dubro A 2003, Yakuza: Japans Criminal Underworld, University of California Press Japan

Niccolò Machiavelli’S The Art of War Essays

Niccolà ² Machiavelli’S The Art of War Essays Niccolà ² Machiavelli’S The Art of War Essay Niccolà ² Machiavelli’S The Art of War Essay Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Art of War was written between the year 1519 and 1520. The book is divided into a preface and seven chapters in the form of dialogues which took place in a garden between Cosimo Rucellai and Lord Fabrizio Colonna. Rucellai is actually Machiavelli’s childhood friend who died while they were young. Meanwhile, Fabrizio is the disguised Machiavelli himself. Machiavelli (1521) has noted in the preface of the book that â€Å"the military is like the roof of a palazzo protecting the contents†. The dialogues were purposely written specifically â€Å"to honor and reward, not to have contempt for poverty, to esteem the modes and orders of military discipline, to constrain citizens to love one another, to live without factions, to esteem less the private than the public good†. The book (1521) illustrates that Fabrizio is fascinated with the Roman Legions of the early to mid Republic and convincingly supports their adoption to the contemporary situation of Renaissance Florence. Machiavelli may have written this book well having been selected as an official historian of Florence the year before the publication of the book and he was assigned with simple civil duties part of his assignment. The book is rich with knowledge, wisdom and insights as shared by Fabrizio in the dialogues. He is shown with a superior knowledge stating, among others, the ways which an army must be raised, trained, organized, employed and deployed. His theories are taken on a comprehensive study and analysis of classical and contemporary military practices. On the contrary, he underestimated the efficiency of firearms and cavalry when his concept of copying Roman practices has been gradually and practically used by many rulers and commanders, most notably Maurice of Nassau and Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. These rulers would later lay the foundations for the system of Linear Tactics which would dominate the warfare of Europe and the world until after the Napoleonic Wars. The Art of War (1521) is considered to be the single most popular military treatise in Europe. Initially, the book may appear to revitalize the infantry-centered military organization of the imperial Roman legions which may not be relevant to today’s times. The book is not very relevant today since it failed to value the social and technological trends. The Art of War may be considered a humanistic treatise on the subject of war, written under the form of dialogues and divided in seven books or chapters. Machiavelli (1521) loathed the people of his time as weak, but he also believed on the possibility of a â€Å"perpetual republic† that would solve the weakness of the moderns and correct the errors of the Romans and in doing so would be able to put up a political order no longer subject to the vicissitudes of fortune. Whether Machiavelli could have had so grand an ambition remains controversial, but all agree on his greatness- his novelty, the penetration of his mind, and the grace of his style. The world nowadays is more concerned with overcoming the terrorists that abound the universe today. Every government specifically the government of the United States is determined to end terrorist activities at whatever cost. The weaponry and the military tactics may have transformed in the most modern ways but what is important is that the leaders would face the challenge in such a good way. The book may not be relevant in many ways in today’s times but it is still a good reference material.

The book the Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Research Paper

The book the Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Research Paper Example The meteor – A message from God Symbolism is nothing but employing concrete symbols to display a detailed and deeper meaning. Symbols sometimes present a moral belief, religious belief or value. Literature works are never rich without the use of symbolism. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's celebrated work The Scarlet Letter, the novelist lavishly uses symbols that have a deeper meaning. This can be considered as the most symbolic piece of literature that the American literature has ever seen. The splendid use of symbolism in this works has contributed much to the rise of American literature. The most obvious symbol in the work is the scarlet â€Å"A† that the main character is required to wear. The novelist makes use of symbolism to explain how the Puritans and their people dealt with sin and how that affects sinners. The scarlet letter ‘A’ shows sin Hester performed and the way Puritans treated Hester’s sin. The entire story is centered on this symbol Scar à ¢â‚¬Å"A†. Hester Prynne gives birth to a baby after committing adultery. She struggles to build a new life of dignity and repentance. In the case of Hester Prynne also society inflicts her with isolation and discrimination. As she committed adultery she was forced to wear a scarlet â€Å"A† which is a punishment for her. She suffered complete isolation as society considered her as nothing but an adulteress. As she had to wear the scarlet â€Å"A† she remained fully ostracized from the community. Hester’s inner longings never confirmed to the rigid laws of the puritan society. She was thus secluded from the society that made her contemplate the sin and other events in her life. Solitude made her make an attempt to free herself from the pricking of the sin. Hester is publicly humiliated and thrown to isolation by the people of Boston. She carries the badge of humiliation and isolation. Hester could escape from the solitude by leaving the Massachusetts Bay Co lony. She could remove the scarlet letter and lead a normal life if she had left the place. Hester, however, behaves indifferently as Chillingworth informs her that the town leaders are planning to relieve her from the scarlet letter. The solitude did not deprive Hester of her clear thoughts and determination. She desired to determine her own identity rather than allowing others to determine her identity. Hester never desired a mercy from others. She rather effectively used the life of isolation to realize her mistake and rebuild her life again. Isolation produced a positive effect on Hester. Hester considers the scarlet letter as a symbol of her sin and painful experiences. She doesn’t want to escape from her past and rather desired to learn from her past failures. Solitude is no longer a curse for Hester. Thus, Hester very determinedly integrates her sin into her life rather than escaping from its consequences. The symbol scarlet â€Å"A†, describes the life of the c entral character in the work. The novelist has explained the life of the central character through the symbolic scarlet â€Å"A† which she wears. The letter â€Å"A† has a better abstract meaning, â€Å"A† means American. During those periods America was a religion was a more religion-based country than it is today. The Puritan way of life influences Boston and several other regions of America. Americans were heavily punished for going against the Christian religion. Yet another interpretation for letter â€Å"A† is ‘able’

Difficulty recognizing the enemy during Vietnam Essay

Difficulty recognizing the enemy during Vietnam - Essay Example n recognizing the enemy came about because most while in previous conflicts, the Americans had faced enemies in conventional wars, the Vietnam conflict involved facing an enemy that adopted guerrilla tactics. The guerilla tactics adopted by the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong allowed them to make swift attacks on the Americans and their allies in the south and disappear into the local population. This ability was of great advantage for North Vietnam and its allies because it allowed them to keep the Americans in a constant state of uncertainty over who were their enemy and who were not (Bates, Lichty, and Miles 187). The result of this uncertainty was that it led to a situation where there was extreme difficulty in drawing a line between combat troops and civilians. The development of constant fear of attack as well as the paranoia that accompanied this state of mind made the American troops to undertake some extraordinary actions such as committing atrocities against of noncombat civilians or the torture of prisoners which remained prevalent throughout the war. Violence against the civilians of Vietnam by the American military was an intentional act of war as a result of its inabilit y to recognize the difference between civilians and combatants (Herring 82). During the conflict, the American military acted with indifference to the destruction of noncombatants and to that of their property because a significant number of these troops had already died as a result of the guerilla tactics adopted by the Viet Cong. It should be noted that most of the American commanders in Vietnam were aware of the laws governing ground warfare that had been established by various international agreements but atrocities were still committed by some American soldiers and officers. This has been largely blamed on the difficulty of these individuals to identify their enemy, especially considering that most often melted into the civilian population. A result of this situation was that

International Finance Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Finance Questions - Assignment Example Interest rate swaps are over the counter (private) transactions; and they are highly liquid financial derivatives that can be used by hedgers to manage both their fixed and floating assets and liabilities. A party that pay fixed rate is referred to as the payer and the receiving party is called the receiver. For example, X agrees to pay fixed rate of interest under specified time intervals to W and in return, X receives variable or floating interest on notional principle from W. The types of currency swaps include fixed for floating swap for same currency, fixed for floating rate for different currencies, floating for floating swap for same currency, floating for floating rate for different currencies and fixed for fixed rate swap for different currencies. Currency swap refers to a foreign-exchange currency agreement entered into by two parties in relation to principal alone or with interest for payment of a specified loan sum in one currency for an equivalent principle and interest of a specified loan sum in another currency (Shamah, 2003). Payments are made periodically and at maturity or termination of the contract, the principal amounts are re-exchanged. Currency swaps are over the counter financial instruments. Foreign currency swaps are long term because they involve high costs associated with finding counterparty. Currency swap are further divided into two. Principle only currency swap and principal plus interest currency swap. Principle only currency swap is appropriate for contract that are up to ten years and involves exchange of principle with another party in a specific time in future at a rate agreed at the present. It is used to secure cheap loan and reduce exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. Principal plus interest currency swap considers both principal and interest payments. In currency swap, principal is exchanged on national amounts at market rates, often using the same rate for the transfer at inception and at maturity. Credit default swa ps refers to contracts between two parties, where one who buys credit default swap, pays a seller and receives a payoff if loan is defaulted.

Effects Of Globalization: Competition And Business Opportunities

Effects Of Globalization: Competition And Business Opportunities In many countries, globalisation provides a mechanism through which poverty can be reduced. The rapid growth of these emerging economies also provides substantial with new markets for exporters and investors and cheaper, more diverse goods and services for consumers (Kohler, 2002). In the essay, I will discussing the view that globalisation has not only significantly increased competition and business opportunities but has and will continue to so, increasing living standards. I will also further in evaluating the issues relating to investment, growth and development, and economic performance levels between countries. In todays world, trade has increasingly global in scope. There are several reasons for this. One of the reasons is technological. The improved on transportation and communication of today has made trade more practical. Technology change is represented as the driving force of globalisation i.e. changes in technology and production methods that determine the future of workers managers and their interrelationships. The use of internet and computers are increasingly based on technologies as it main driving forces. The former general director of World Trade Organisation (WTO) Mike Moore has expressed this view as technology can be the friend of the people (Benedek, 2007, pg21). Technological change has helped fuel the rapid rise in global economic activity, especially in relation to communication and transport. Transport costs have fallen and the worldwide travel has increased exponentially. This has had a direct impact on the structure of industry, with tourism now being the second bigge st industry as well across a whole range of other business activities. The other reason is free trade. Many barriers to trade have been removed mostly by the WTO. This makes trade cheaper and looks more attractive to business. Globalisation can be considered as a business that wants to expand their business significantly. In general, globalisation for a business means, not only did they expand their client base and support but also on other countries as well. Through globalisation, most companies significantly increase their earnings that enhance the improvement of the company. As more employees are hired, the experienced ones increase their chances of promotion. Moreover, giving them the opportunity of being a leader in working in other countries and experiencing a totally different culture with a good salary. However, globalisation can be dangerous in some company, if they are not careful in implementing changes. Globalisation has brought in new opportunities to developing countries. These developed countries have greater access of markets and technology that improved productivity and higher living standard. But globalisation has also thrown up new challenges like growing inequality across and within nations, volatility in financial market and environmental deteriorations. Globalisation also supports productivity, cultural intermingling and cash flow into the developing countries. Hence, there are some disadvantages of globalisation that should be overlooked such as unemployment and difficulty of competition. Thus globalisation responds the needs of 7 million people. Moreover, the standard of living as at now compare to 50years ago is a lot better, as they are more machines and system invented in developed countries. Cultural intermingling enlarges with globalisation that enables people from all over the world able to communicate effectively. However, hand sharing traditional behaviour causes fading as boundaries is disappearing. Brittan (1998) states that the high levels of unemployment in developing countries are caused by globalisation. The employment rate reflects not only the economic situation but also to some extent social conditions. However, not all countries with high unemployment rates face social problems. According to Brittan (1998), globalisation led to an increase in the wealth of developed countries and also not to the bigger poverty in the developing countries. Brittan furthers more saying that the improvement in economic growth in the economic situation in the skewed distribution of income between developed and developing countries. However, Hak-Min (1999) argued from the view of Brittan that the distribution of income between developed and developing countries has become less skewed by indicating that globalisation in the integrated world economy has lead to industrial growth in a limited number of developed countries. In the late nineties, over 90% of all financial transactions of the world were executed in 25 of 121 countries worldwide (Hak-Min, 1999). Less than 1% of the total worldwide transactions were shared in the globalised capital flows from the developing countries. Law (1988) saw these developments as the transactional stage in the development of capitalism. In the 1980s, globalisation has become an important policy issue for several reasons particularly in developing countries. Most developing countries now face more intense international competition and often greater opportunities with large proportions of their economies subject to market forces, particularly international ones. During the late nineties, many developing countries were restricted on foreign direct investment (FDI) that brought down tariff rates. In general, the higher growth and productivity, the less poverty in developing countries. Round (2002) states that in anti-globalists, globalisation adversely affects the poor in the poor countries while pro-globalists claim that it has lead to poverty reduction. Some countries that managed the globalisation process illustrate that it can be a powerful force for economic growth whereas, those who were affected were evidenced by dismal record on economic growth and poverty. It is clear that globalisation has failed to rid the world of poverty. Rather than being an unstoppable force for development, globalisation now seems more like an economic temptress, promising riches to everyone but only delivering to the few. In the 20th century, global average per capita income raised the income gap between the rich and the poor countries that has been widening for many decades Williamson (2002). It is argued that both rich and poor benefit from such a process. Politically, globalisation brings us closer together. Political ties help stabilise relationships and offer the opportunity for countries to discuss their differences. However, imperfect the current global political system might be, the alternative of independent nations is seen as potentially far worse. In addition, not all countries benefits equally from globalisation. Some people that have wealth will, as always, posses more opportunity to benefit from the globalised world, whether from lower prices, cul tural experiences or political agreements. In the other hand, it is argued that globalisation contributes to growing inequality and further impoverishes poor nations. Globalisation allows multinational corporations based largely in the USA, Europe and Japan, to exploit their dominant position in foreign markets. By exploiting the low wage labour, companies are able to compete more effectively on world markets. The major benefit of globalisation has improved living standards derived from a better division of labour. Developing countries specialise in intensive tasks, developed countries have to use employees in more productive ways. Most of the developing countries do not have the scientific and educational support, which the developed countries will have to move onto higher technology products. During the 19th century, Marx views on capitalism posed as a central contradiction. Marx argued that there was a fatal flaw that capitalism led to unprecedented growth. The source of this growth was the ability of capitalists to exploit their labourers and as growth and wealth increased the conditions of the workers would be declined. Marx furthers his argument that the world capitalism might lead to even greater problems for the workers in the less advanced areas because of their even weaker position as subjects of an imperial master. In conclusion, globalisation has an impact that enable worldwide prosperity to grow and the gap between developed and undeveloped countries to decrease. Globalisation plays an important role in solving the development problems of developing countries. More so, globalization has also shown its impact in narrowing the world by bringing nations on a single platform but realistically, this platform has not only expanded the gap between the nations but has also brought pains and sufferings to the less privileged. The way around the industries is a matter of much concern as the water body of this area contains the entire overflow discharged from the industries as a waste product. This waste product is either thrown out in the air or is flown in the water and occasionally buried in the soil, making the people to suffer from all kinds of danger.   Enabling people of one nation to communicate with those of the other nations is the biggest achievement in terms of globalization. The culture, trade, business, ethics and conduct of one group in one part of the world can influence others may or may not be of same nation.   There are various aspects where globalization has massively affected the world in industrially, it has provided the outside to the production market with an improved access to a wide range of foreign products and as a result globalization has increased huge number of customers for itself and this has helped in the progress of goods and materials between and within the national limitations.   Financially globalization has opened the way to obtain external financing opportunities to the borrowers.   Economically the freedom of exchange of goods and capitals tells us that the markets are consistent and any kind of economic fall down in one country could be supervised by others.    Politically, the United States has come up with the ultimate power in the period of globalization as it has strong and wealthy economy. There is a flow of information from one part of the globe to another and even to the distant locations, through the means of satellites, wireless communication or through internet.   Globalization has also given birth to great fight and has made the market an open place to stand out with skills and quality.  Culturally, cross-cultural contacts are the result of globalization. It has produced improved understanding towards cultural diversity and has also promoted travels and tourism to understand each other to a greater amount. This has improved greater customer products and has also has generated a pseudo-cultural patterns.   Socially, due to globalization the social network of people is expanding and people are able to understand each other in a better way howsoever isolated geographically they may be.  In the technical aspect, any kind of technological progress can be communicated to other parts of the world and as a result feedback to further develop it can be obtained.   Privatization of the NHS: Staff and Patient Views Privatization of the NHS: Staff and Patient Views Staff and Patients Perception on the Government’s Proposal of the Part Privatization of the NHS Anne Cook 1. Abstract The National Health System (NHS) provides medical care, generally free at the point of use, to all people in the United Kingdom. The NHS is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. In recent years, using the Private Finance Initiative, elements of health care are increasingly being placed on long-term contracts with the private sector. Medical staff and the public at large are currently dissatisfied with the move to part privatization and believe that patient care will be compromised, particularly for those unable to opt out of the NHS and become paying patients. Job losses in the medical profession have occurred and the public feel that the basic right of free medical care should not be moved to private enterprise that is profit driven. This is seen as undermining a fundamental right of all citizens. The Ministry of Health, on the other hand, defends their position stating that the move is in the best interests of the public and the profession, and state that patients will have more choices as a result of the new system. They do acknowledge that there are cases of cost overruns that were not initially budgeted for. The public feels betrayed by the changes to what was a fundamental right to free medical. The paper concludes that the transition is difficult and could take years to show the required improvements. There is no buy-in to the change from staff within the profession or the public; this is likely to be due to a lack of marketing of the changes, no buy-in from the stakeholders and a mistrust of the motives for partnering with the private sector. 2. Table of Contents (Jump to) 1. Abstract 2. Table of Content Introduction 3. Literature Review Government Paper Table 6, p26 Comparison of Increases in PFI Project Costs (million pounds) Public Feedback on PFIs in the Health Sector Tory Stand on the NHS Financial Status Medical Personnel Disillusioned Summary 4. Research Objectives 5. Research Methodology Porter’s 5 Forces Diagram. SWOT Analysis Diagram PEST Analysis Diagram 6. Research Findings Porter’s 5 Forces Model Summation of Porter’s 5 Forces Model S.W.O.T Analysis Summation of S.W.O.T. Analysis P.E.S.T Analysis Table – Age Structure in the UK 2001-2051 Introduction The National Health Service (NHS) was set up in the United Kingdom in 1948 to provide healthcare for all citizens, based on need, not the ability to pay. The NHS is funded by the taxpayer and managed by the Department of Health, which sets overall policy on health issues. It is the responsibility of the Department of Health to provide health services to the general public through the NHS. Many changes have occurred over the years, but the basic principal of free medical services for all has been a fundamental right within the United Kingdom for nearly 60 years The following information from the official NHS website summarizes the current method of operations within the system and mentions the controversial introduction of the Private Finance Initiative. Ref [1]http://:www.nhs.uk A feature of the NHS compared to other public healthcare systems in Continental Europe is that not only does it pay directly for health expenses (with partial exceptions like prescriptions and dentistry it is free at the point of use), it also employs the doctors and nurses that provide them, and in most cases owns and runs its hospitals and clinics. However, under the [2]Private Finance Initiative, an increasing number of hospitals have been built (or rebuilt) by private sector consortia, and have non-medical services (such as catering) provided under long-term contracts by the same consortia. As reported on [3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Finance_Initiative, clearly the costs of the PFIs are currently an issue. The scale of PFI projects in the Health Education sector since 1997 is now having a serious impact on Public Service Budgets. Because the projects are more expensive in the Private sector (On average 30% more than if the Government borrowed the money and did the work in the Public sector) the payments to the Private owners of the PFI schemes are stretching already constricted Budgets. Many Health [4]Primary Care Trusts are in serious difficulty already, and when the level of spending falls in 2007, some may go bust. The Government is already in negotiation with Private Healthcare providers to come in and run failing Trusts. 3. Literature Review Government Paper [5]The House of Commons Research Paper 01/117, 18 December 2001 (Graham Allen) studies the Private Finance Initiative. The document states ‘Under the PFI, the public sector does not own an asset but pays the PFI contractor a stream of revenue payments for the use of the facility over a contract period’ ‘The Department of Health has signed the most PFI deals, 105, with a total value of just over 2.5 billion pounds. Under the section entitled Cost overruns the following items appear [6]Table 6, p26 Comparison of Increases in PFI Project Costs (million pounds) Initial Cost Final Cost % Increase Norfolk Norwich NHS Trust 90 144 60% Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust 35 84 140% The report contains differing views for the cause of the severe overruns in PFI project costs. According to the private enterprise companies they blame the increases on the NHS and MoH as they are repeatedly changing the requirements from the original specifications. This could be a result of a lack of experience in managing private enterprise projects by the MoH – more efficient management and tighter control over specifications would result in major cost savings. There could be reason to revisit the bid process to identify where there are loopholes which allow the private companies to overrun and yet charge back the cost to the Ministry during the course of the contracts. Public Feedback on PFIs in the Health Sector The lobby group, Keep our NHS Public, [7]http://www.keepournhspublic.com/index.php, has a launch statement that includes the following ‘At the heart of the changes is the creation of a market that welcomes profit-driven international corporations who answer to shareholders, not patients. This market will compel hospitals and health professionals, who have traditionally cooperated to deliver healthcare, to compete with each other and with the private sector. Far from supporting the NHS, the private sector is in competition with it, and is already draining away resources and staff.’ On the web site, Frank Dobson Member of Parliament for Holborn and St. Pancras says: Before long we will have a health insurance system and the NHS role as a provider of care will be limited to picking up the difficult cases and looking after the worst off. It is time we worked together to put some chocks under the wheels of this fashionable bandwagon. The campaign launched in late September and has already won the backing of hundreds of senior doctors, academics, health workers and trade union leaders, celebrities, MPs and local campaigners for its launch statement. The lobby group feels strongly that the NHS is being divided up and the only driver for its continuation will be profits and not the medical well being of the patients. They have garnered support from many leading medical professionals since their launch. And the campaign is rapidly gaining momentum. Saturday 11th February 2006 Tory Stand on the NHS Financial Status The Guardian, http:/ / www.guardian.co.uk/ uk_ news/ story/ 0,,1707494,00.html of February 11th 2006, states the Tory case of the financial state of the NHS NHS in England heading for  £750m deficit, say Tories. The Tories have accused the government of burying evidence of a worsening financial crisis in the NHS that is starting to seriously damage the quality of patient care. Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said he had data from strategic health authorities showing the NHS in England is heading for a deficit of  £752.6m by the end of the financial year, compared to the  £200m overspend hoped for by Patricia Hewitt. Lansley said Hewitts intervention had forced down the quality of patient care with many trusts delaying operations. This tactic has failed because hospitals continue to pay staff for doing less work transferring overspending from PCTs to hospital trusts. 22 SHAs in England forecast deficits, two surpluses and four in balance. This statement not only highlights the deficit anticipated, but it also points to an administrative situation that is convoluted and inefficient. The over run on anticipated deficit is huge and points to a lack of monitoring and cost reductions over a long period. Medical Personnel Disillusioned The Guardian, April 13, 2005, printed an article entitled ‘Disillusioned Doctors Drop Support for Labour, http://society.guardian.co.uk/nhsplan/story/0,7991,1458601,00.html Only a third of a group of doctors who signed a public letter urging voters to support Labour in 1997 would do the same again, it emerged today. Disillusionment with Tony Blairs decision to pursue the same internal market policies as his Conservative predecessor was one of the main reasons why the doctors had deserted Labour this time round, according to the results of a new survey. In their original letter, the doctors had condemned the internal market forces in the NHS as a cancer eating away at your NHS. But of the original 59 GPs, consultants and academics who put their names to the letter published only a few days before the 1997 general election, only 17 said they would sign a similar letter warning voters that if the Conservatives won on May 5, the NHS as we know it would disappear, according to the results of the survey. Emeritus professor of clinical biochemistry at the University of Surrey, Vincent Marks, who put his name to the original letter, said today: Most of us feel that we have been badly let down. The dismantling of the NHS has continued apace. Consultant cardiologist at St Bartholomews hospital in London Duncan Dymond, who was also one of the original signatories, said: The government has missed a huge opportunity with the health service. There has been marginalization of the clinician and manipulation of patients to satisfy bureaucrats. Orthopedic surgeon Anthony Jones from Swansea in Wales, who also put his name to the letter in 1997, said: The cancer of the internal market has prospered under Blair. The doctors involved in the above intend withdrawing their votes in order to take a stand against the current changes within the NHS. Undeniably, they believe in the principals of a united medical service to the public who are currently promised a free medical system for all UK citizens. These medical professionals are prepared to make a political statement to show their lack of support for the current government handling of the NHS Dr Eric Bowman, from Scotland who responded to a BBC report ‘Public Health, Private Money’, echoes this negative outlook with the current situation I am a UK resident but I am also a US citizen. I prefer the UKs NHS to the nightmare of red tape, expense and iniquitous medical resourcing that is inherent in the US private system. I cannot imagine how anybody, including Blair, can consider a private healthcare system that diverts precious financial resources to profits as being efficient. I am appalled that Labour will invest in public-private partnerships rather than simply investing in the NHS. Deb McDee responded: I am an NHS Manager and was recently work shadowed by someone from a highly rated, large private company as part of a training scheme. For such a large NHS organization, he could not believe the small size of the management team, the long hours worked, the productivity and the low salaries compared to similar size and budget in the private sector. There is no chance that the private sector can run the NHS more efficiently at current funding levels. Any additional money would be swallowed up in more bureaucracy, inflated private sector salaries and a reduction in services. The above respondents identify the fact that private companies are in business to make a profit, in addition, staff are generally better paid for similar jobs. They feel that any private partnerships will prove to be more expensive than running the services under the NHS. A prominent dentist, John Renshaw, has resigned his profession over changes to the NHS. His story appeared in the Guardian on February 11th 2006 titled, ‘Top Dentist Quits over NHS plans One of Britains leading dentists is leaving the NHS to go private after 37 years, in the growing row over the way dentists will be paid in future. John Renshaws practice in Scarborough will become private in April. Mr. Renshaw, chair of the British Dental Association from 2000 to 2005, has refused to sign the new NHS contract. He says it will mean even less access to the service and lower standards of treatment. The government says the new contract provides a guaranteed income. Mr. Renshaw said: The NHS appears to want to secure a cheap deal and take control of every NHS dentists business. I will not be a party to this move and I am leaving the service for good. In addition to his BDA role, Mr. Renshaw was dental practice adviser to North Yorkshire Health Authority for 10 years to 2001 and has served on many bodies, including Scarborough Health Authority. The Royal College of Nursing expressed their frustration at the changes to their profession in the Telegraph Article ‘Plan to Part Privatize NHS Nurses Quietly Unveiled, on 26th August 2005. [8]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/26/nhs26.xmlsSheet=/news/2005/08/26/ixnewstop.html The Government has quietly unveiled radical plans that will lead to the part-privatization of many non-hospital NHS services, nurses leaders claimed yesterday. The Royal College of Nursing accused ministers of deliberately announcing fundamental changes to the way primary health care was provided during the summer holidays and then announcing a public consultation it called little more than a facade. Plans to transfer tens of thousands of district, school and mental health nurses, health visitors and community midwives out of the NHS primary care trusts were disclosed in a letter to the heads of NHS organizations at the end of last month. It said that in future primary care trusts would commission these services from private companies, charities, local authorities and acute trusts. The RCN yesterday said the public consultation on the future of community health and social services, announced last week, and was meaningless, as the key decision to end the provision of these services by the PCTs had already been taken. Howard Catton, RCN head of policy, said: An NHS that no longer provides these services, that no longer employs these staff is a very different sort of NHS to the one the public knows. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a membership organization with over 370,000 members in the United Kingdom. Most members are Registered Nurses but student nurses and Advanced Healthcare Assistants are also admitted. These prominent professionals and the largest representative group of nursing professionals are outraged at the division of the medical services and part privatization. They raise the question of charities being called on to provide certain services – charities are currently stretched financially and are unlikely to be able to take on responsibilities that have previously been handled by the NHS. Part-privatization of ambulance work sparks union anger, written by the Guardian Social Affairs Editor, John Carvel. – The article below, printed on October 13th, 2005, is a single example of numerous instances where medical services have been outsourced. Most of the ambulance service in Surrey is to be hived off to a private company specializing in prison management, immigration detention centres and court escort duties, which broke off from Group 4 security services last year. The Surrey ambulance service said yesterday it was deeply disappointed at a decision by local NHS commissioners to transfer all non-emergency ambulance work to the Worcestershire-based company GSL. In a further ratcheting up of private sector involvement in the NHS, the company will become responsible for transporting about 150,000 patients a year on journeys to and from hospital. The NHS ambulance service will retain blue-light emergency work, but GSL will also look after high-dependency patients who need oxygen and constant supervision during journeys between hospitals. The company said it would acquire 60 state-of-the-art ambulances to provide patients with safe, comfortable journeys when it takes over in March. The decision to award it the contract was taken on Tuesday by a consortium of primary care trusts headed by Alan Kennedy, the ambulance trusts former chief executive. The announcement of this first major privatization of ambulance work caused an angry reaction from Unison, the public service union. Karen Jennings, its head of health, said: This is all about saving money and nothing to do with providing high-quality patient care. It will undermine the trusts ability to provide an integrated emergency service in the area. News of the deal came as the board of Thames Valley health authority took a step towards contracting out NHS healthcare management in Oxfordshire. It agreed to submit plans to the Department of Health to make NHS managers compete against the private sector for the job of commissioning services from hospitals. This could, in effect, privatize the process of deciding what health services and drugs should be available to the countys 600,000 residents. Nick Ralph, the Thames Valley chief executive, said the contractors would be accountable to a board of non-executive directors with power to look after the public interest. But Howard Catton, head of policy at the Royal College of Nursing, said contracting out strategic management could reduce the NHS to little more than a brand name for services that were managed and delivered by the private sector. This report shows a lack of communication and direction between the MoH and the NHS on policy and procedures and the way forward. In addition, the cost of providing new ambulances and training personnel who have no medical care background with be high, the private company will have built such costs into their fees to be paid by the MoH over the period of the long term contract. John Carvel, the Social Affairs editor of the Guardian on Sept 22, 2005, wrote the below article Plans to Hand Over NHS Staff and Buildings to Private Sector Health secretary Patricia Hewitt is preparing to transfer NHS hospital buildings and staff into the private sector as part of a  £3bn scheme to promote competition in the health service, the Guardian can reveal. Documents show that companies bidding for contracts to treat patients from the NHS waiting list will be allowed to take over NHS premises, doctors and nurses. Initially, they will also be guaranteed a minimum throughput of NHS patients and paid accordingly, even if the patients choose to go elsewhere. Disclosure of the â€Å"strictly confidential† documents is likely to fuel protest at the Labour conference next week that the government’s NHS reforms are in danger of destabilizing the health service, but Ms Hewitt will argue she is saving it by putting the needs of patients before those of providers. The information was provided to companies wanting to bid for 24 contracts to run treatment centres across England. They will compete with NHS trusts to attract NHS patients, who from the end of this year will have a choice of where to be treated. Ms Hewitt has said she wants them to diagnose and treat 1. 7m patients over the next five years. The documents, which were obtained by Hospital Doctor magazine, disclose plans for companies to take over the latest state-of-the-art operating theatres that are being built for the NHS at hospitals in Birmingham and the New Forest. The independent sector will also be handed the surgical units at Ravenscourt Park hospital in Hammersmith, west London, where wards have been shut due to lack of patients. Many of the 24 contracts involve â€Å"significant volumes† of patients and staff transferring from the NHS into the private units. Doctors and nurses may have little choice if they want to keep their jobs. Paul Miller, chairman of the BMA’s consultants committee, said: â€Å"It now looks as if we are at the start of a massive privatization of the provision of healthcare in the NHS.† But Ms Hewitt said his claims were nonsense. â€Å"This is all about giving patients speedier access, more choice, and improved services.† The taking over of staff and premises, without prior consultation and negotiation with the personnel involved, is a very autocratic way to shift responsibility and accountability and lacks any regard for the medical staff involved. This does imply they will retain a job, in contrast to the ambulance drivers in a prior article who would be out of work as the private company would staff the service themselves. If the NHS cannot attract patient to ‘state of the art’ facilities, I cannot understand how handing them to private enterprise will turn around the situation and make the facilities profitable. There has to be some form of financial incentive for the private sector to take on such a contract. In another article quoted, there is reference to the MoH paying private companies for patients, regardless of whether those patients take up the services in the area. If this is the case here, why wasn’t the NHS made the same offer and continued to run the facilities themselves? Vincent Marks, a professor of clinical biochemistry at the University of Surrey was quoted on May 13th, 2005, after hearing of another part privatization being announced by the then new Minister of Health, Ms Hewitt ‘Once you start farming it off into private enterprises the NHS as we understood it will gradually disintegrate. And Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley added: I do agree in principle the independent sector should have a right to supply to the NHS. But not the sort of contracts the government is signing. They (independent sector providers) get more money than NHS would do. Niall Dickson, chief executive of the Kings Fund, a health think-tank, said while using the private sector in such a way had obvious advantages; there were still potential pitfalls. This will have significant implications for NHS institutions and core services, as well as the training of doctors. And British Medical Association chairman James Johnson said he was concerned the move could destabilize the NHS, as the private sector would only take on the most straightforward cases. Ms Hewitt, who was previously trade and industry secretary before taking over at health in the reshuffle last week, has also championed latest figures that have shown patients were being treated faster. The number of people waiting over six months for an operation at the end of March was 40,800 a 32.5% fall on the previous month. The overall waiting list also fell slightly to 821,700 down by 2.8% on the previous month. And a report by the NHS chief executive Sir Nigel Crisp showed the health service was ahead of target for treating heart and cataract patients. This article raises the question of training for future doctors. One can argue that if the majority of future doctors are likely to be employed in private companies rather than the NHS that the MoH could reduce funding for doctors training and training faculties in general. The private sector is unlikely to take on this responsibility and could result in a more acute shortage of trained doctors, as the cost of training would fall to the individual. Certain improvements in waiting times are indicated; however, these are a small percentage of the overall services provided and may not be indicative of a general improvement across the board. They could be achieved at the expense of others services which could have been pushed back. The Battersea and Wandsworth TUC have produced a paper titled ‘SW London Hospitals under Pressure’. This document highlights the plight of the particular area but echoes the typical situation countrywide and provides an insight into the reasons for the current state of the NHS It states that ‘consistent patterns of under resourcing and crisis measures running back to the early 1980s’. It states ‘The resort to private sector providers to plug gaps in local NHS capacity is both costly and self-defeating. Not only does it siphon vital cash from local NHS trusts, but it also increases the level of competition between the NHS and the private sector for nursing and other staff’ ‘Private contractors must be removed from the provision of hospital support services. Their role for the past two decades has been to cut the pay and conditions of staff to run down the quality of services. The constant threat of privatization has been used as a weapon to hold down the pay for other NHS staff, with dire consequences for morale.’ They make the following recommendations (summarised) Runaway costs of employing agency staff to plug gaps in the full time NHS workforce have to be tackled There is an urgent need for a thorough and independent audit of the financial situation in all local NHS Trusts, to establish a realistic baseline budget that will sustain the necessary levels of service – and the additional money must be made available, to ensure that the services are expanded as required on a stable and sustainable basis. Any planned deals with private hospitals should be abandoned, ad priority should be given instead to the most rapid possible expansion of local NHS capacity, alongside longer term plans for the renewal of old or obsolescent buildings Privatized support services which generate profits at the expense of low paid for staff must be brought back in house, with staff properly reincorporated into the NHS team. With the government currently able to borrow money on the international markets at 2% interest or even lower, all PFI schemes should be abandoned as too costly and inflexible to suit the needs of the NHS. Instead the government should make NHS capital available for the further upgrade of Epsom (hospital) and a new publicly funded hospital to replace St Helier, and local treatment centres to complement the services already available in smaller local hospitals Summary Current literature clearly indicates that the move towards part privatization of the NHS has serious negative perceptions both within the medical profession and in the general public. However, the Department of Health believes the move is already proving to be successful and that the move to further part privatization is the way forward for an efficient and effective NHS. In summary the documents highlight. Costs to the Department of Health will significantly exceed previous spending on the NHS. The move to part privatization is in the early stages and the long term management and control need to be carefully monitored and checked. The Department of Health has to sign on to long-term contracts with the private sector service providers, as stipulated in the Private Finance Initiative papers. There have been some significant overruns on initial budget figures; cause for concern when the initiative is still in the early stages and the contracts are for extended periods. The Department of Health is losing control over areas of health management. Health care providers are leaving the profession as they are disillusioned with the changes to the NHS Health care providers have

Harvest of Joy :: Personal Narrative Essay Example

Harvest of Joy    It seemed pretty simple at the beginning.   My father showed me how to prepare the soil, to plant the seeds and to water them, and to harvest the vegetables.   If I sustained the garden, the garden would sustain me.   But my relationship with our garden has grown much more complicated than that.   Over time, the garden has sustained me more than I have sustained it.    In December, my father suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.   His heart stopped twice during the operation, and he was not expected to survive.   He had an intensive recovery period, and I wanted nothing more than to make him better immediately.   His trauma had made me impatient and afraid to hope.   I was having trouble waiting for things to unfold naturally and wanted to know what would happen in the end. Simple, everyday decisions or occurrences took on great importance.      For six weeks, I was running between the hospital, home and work, between fear and hope, anxiety and joy.   One January morning, I went out to the garden to check on a small patch of parsley that my father kept covered with blankets to protect it from the snow.   It had been neglected since he went into the hospital.   When I uncovered it, I was surprised to find bright green and fragrant parsley. I began to become filled with hope that like that small patch of parsley that was still flourishing in the winter despite the odds, my father would flourish again as well.      By the time spring came, my father was regaining his strength.   My father and I tilled and prepared the soil, then began planting the seeds. Though I wanted them to sprout immediately, they had their own timetable.   When they finally did, I was so excited to see them pushing their way up through the dirt and climbing towards the sun. We cared for the seedlings, giving them manure, aerating the soil, watering them daily, doing everything we could so they would keep growing.   But my father would point out that the first rule of gardening is that we are not in control.   We can only wait and watch and enjoy each moment.   As the plants grew stronger, I felt myself growing stronger as well.   Slowly, I was learning to wait and coming to understand that the growth process, like life itself, has a force and rhythm of its own, and that I could rely on it.

Coke vs Pepsi Essay

In May, 1886, Coca Cola was invented by Doctor John Pemberton a pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia. John Pemberton concocted the Coca Cola formula in a three legged brass kettle in his backyard. The name was a suggestion given by John Pemberton’s bookkeeper Frank Robinson (Anonymous, 2001). Birth of Coca Cola Being a bookkeeper, Frank Robinson also had excellent penmanship. It was he who first scripted â€Å"Coca Cola into the flowing letters which has become the famous logo of today. The soft drink was first sold to the public at the soda fountain in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886. About nine servings of the soft drink were sold each day. Sales for that first year added up to a total of about $50. The funny thing was that it cost John Pemberton over $70 in expanses, so the first year of sales were a loss. Until 1905, the soft drink, marketed as a tonic, contained extracts of cocaine as well as the caffeine-rich kola nut. In 1887, another Atlanta pharmacist and businessman, Asa Candler bought the formula for Coca Cola from inventor John Pemberton for $2,300. By the late 1890s, Coca Cola was one of America’s most popular fountain drinks, largely due to Candler’s aggressive marketing of the product. With Asa Candler, now at the helm, the Coca Cola Company increased syrup sales by over 4000% between 1890 and 1900 Robinson (Anonymous, 2001). Advertising was an important factor in John Pemberton and Asa Candler’s success and by the turn of the century, the drink was sold across the United States and Canada. Around the same time, the company began selling syrup to independent bottling companies licensed to sell the drink. Even today, the US soft drink industry is organized on this principle Robinson (Anonymous, 2001). STRENGTHS AND MARKETING STRATEGIES THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ITS SUCCESS: 1. COKE’S BRAIN BRANDING: Somehow, Coke has created a brand that its fans believe in and identify with. The brand unlocks a treasure trove of brand reinforcements that have little to do with the taste or quality of the product. And it was this effect that Coke turned its back on in the introduction of New Coke in 1985. It’s this untapping of brand beliefs we have to keep in mind when we talk about branding and search. With search interactions, the appearance of a brand can unlock belief structures just as strong as Coke’s (Anonymous, 2011). Absent a brand, consumers will choose on price. When a known brand is included, consumers will add their perception of the brand to the decision-making process and judge accordingly. So to increase the chances that your product or service is selected, make sure you have a strong brand with which people can identify themselves. Coke is a brand which has been endorsing brand personalities since its birth, indeed the brand personality most of the people run after. Its slogan says, â€Å"opens happiness† which is something that makes people think that they can actually have a good time sitting with friends and family while having coke through get together (Anonymous, 2001). 2. TASTE: * Coke’s flavor, which is slightly bitterer and less sweet, is easier to drink over long periods of time. So consumers are more likely to order a second Coke in a sitting than they are a second Pepsi. Also people like coke because it doesn’t take away the food you are drinking coke with like water instead gives a complimentary taste along the food which people like. * One research shows that people like coca cola because It’s the sugar rush and the caffeine as well as the refreshment factor. * It also is laced with cocaine (not since the early inception of coca-cola) * It’s addicting and its better than water and affordable (Delany, 2012). 3. QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT: * Coke is known for its exceptional quality and superiority in product value, the Company possesses quality certification from various local and international standards. 4. MORE EMOTIONAL BRANDING Many of the big Coke ad campaigns involve warm and fuzzy imagery: A jolly Santa Claus, adorable polar bears and nostalgic paintings. Studies have shown that these types of images cause people to feel more warmly toward Coke and thus be more likely to reach for the red cans instead of the blue ones at the store (Delany, 2012). 5. MORE HIGH PROFILE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS With highly visible spots on top-rated shows like â€Å"American Idol† and the Super bowl, Coke gets its brand in front of more people. In the last few years, Pepsi has opted for less traditional campaigns that have not had huge payoffs. People would definitely go for the product sponsoring their favorite TV shows when there’s a choice and competition between 2 products (Delany, 2012). OTHER FACTORS WHICH INDIRECTLY PROMOTE COKE CONSUMPTION: * Transportation fleet of 77 bulkers as well as 2 ship loaders for efficient transport of concentrate, this accounts for the quick and efficient reservoir filling of coke in different countries and boasts the consumption level. * The economy of scale enables the company to maintain overhead cost and provide an edge over other competitors due to lower fixed cost per ton. Operational process cost is constantly observed for escalating efficiency and reducing cost. * Strong network of around 200 countries, positioned at strategic locations throughout the world, has enabled the company to create a remarkable distribution system and access to markets at even the remote parts of the country. * Marketing communication options that makes the brand known to the people and set higher standards to be achieved. 1. Advertising 2. Promotions 3. Event marketing and sponsorship 4. Public relations and publicity 5. Personal selling * Categories of advertisement coca cola uses to promote sales and benefits: 1. Television 2. Radio 3. Print 4. Direct response 5. Interactive: websites and online ads 6. Place advertising: billboards, movies, programs, airlines, product placement and point of purchase advertisement. These advertisement strategies has some influence on the consumers which affects the promotion and sales the product choosing the right themes of ads and identifying the right target audience in the advertisement is what makes coca cola a superior brand over other competitors. Brand personality and themes of advertisement that suits the target audience is indeed that makes the consumer try the brand and then stick to it (Anonymous, 2011). * CONSUMER RELATIONS Throughout 2012, Coca-Cola contributed $1,700,500 to a $46 million dollar political campaign known as â€Å"The Coalition Against The Costly Food Labeling Proposition, sponsored by Farmers and Food Producers†. This organization was set up to oppose a citizen’s initiative, known as Proposition 37, demanding mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients. As a result, there is a growing boycott of their products across North America. People started following the brand and it benefitted the company (Anonymous, 2011). * FEASIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS: Coca cola company provides its employs with a wide range of feasibility which keeps them entangled into loyalty towards the company and to work in transformational terms rather than transactional. For example employee working in coca cola gets amount on which they started the job* no of years of his service, when they leave the company irrespective of whether they have been fired or given the resignation. For example an employee who worked for 10 years and with a starting salary of 80,000 rupees would get 8 lakh rupees when he would step out of the company along with his working experience. KO graduate gets an experience based degree in supply chain which can only be attained while working in the coca cola company. It is an experience base degree not yet accessible in Pakistan’s any institute or university, so working in coca cola not only provides its employees with monetarily benefits but also some experience based skills which are beyond the level of skills and accomplishments that other companies provides. Since KO graduate’s degree is inaccessible in Pakistan’s any university yet, so employees holding it through coca cola company would have a upper hand on all the other graduates and likewise are preferred more in other organizations as compared to those who doesn’t have it. These benefits opens doors into the big corporate world for employees. This is one strategy used by coca cola to keep the productive employees bound to the company and take the company far ahead toward the mission of the organization (Anonymous, 2011). * PARTICIPATION MARKETING: Participation marketing has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years as marketers are leveraging new media to build their brands through user-generated-content at a time when budgets are constrained (Anonymous, 2001). It is a thought not lost on Coke, which is turning to fans to help it double the size of its business by 2020. The soft drinks brand is looking to launch more collaborative product innovation projects with its customers, franchisees and bottlers as part of its ambition to become a less â€Å"secretive† company. Additionally, the brand is using its 50-million strong Facebook community to identify and support ideas that make people happy, a move the business is dubbing â€Å"the next step in fan culture.† STANDS AND POSITIONS: Coca-Cola has gone through a number of different advertising slogans in its long history, including â€Å"The pause that refreshes,† â€Å"I’d like to buy the world a Coke,† and â€Å"Coke is it.† COCA COLA in Pakistan claim in its slogan â€Å" OPENS HAPPINESS† is indeed true and fulfilled as it opens a way for family to sit in real time and chat while having coke. Children adore coke so they sit stacked for it. So do teenagers. The lyrics of the slogan are outstanding and so is the overall presentation! It charges you up in a charming, vigorous and vibrant way infusing positive emotions in your being with family and friends. People love coke (Delany, 2012). COCA-COLA OPENS HAPPINESS FOR CONSUMERS AND RETAILERS:| | | One of the world’s most iconic brands, Coca-Cola intimately understands consumer sentiment and how to influence their decision to buy, employing a combination of game-changing marketing savvy and retailer collaboration. Those winning in today’s marketplace understand the path to purchase can be influenced successfully through a deeper consideration of evolving consumer trends, and by working in partnership to make their brands relevant to shoppers (Anonymous, 2001).| IN MASS MEDIA: Coca-Cola has been prominently featured in countless films and television programs. Since its creation, it remains as one of the most important elements of the popular culture. It was a major plot element in films such as One, Two, Three, The Coca-Cola Kid, and The Gods Must Be Crazy among many others. It provides a setting for comical corporate shenanigans in the novel Syrup by Maxx Barry. And in music, in The Beatles’ song, â€Å"Come Together†, the lyrics said, â€Å"He shoot Coca-Cola, he say†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Beach Boys also referenced Coca-Cola in their 1964 song â€Å"All Summer Long† (i.e. ‘Member when you spilled Coke all over your blouse?) Also, the best selling artist of all time and worldwide cultural icon Elvis Presley, promoted Coca-Cola during his last tour of 1977. The Coca-Cola Company used Elvis’ image to promote the product. For example, the company used a song performed by Presley, A Little Less Conversation, in a Japanese Coca-Cola commercial (Anonymous, 2001). SALES: According to the 2005 Annual Report, the company sells beverage products in more than 200 countries. The report further states that of the more than 50 billion beverage servings of all types consumed worldwide every day, beverages bearing the trademarks owned by or licensed to Coca-Cola account for approximately 1.5 billion (the latest figure in 2010 shows that now they serve 1.6 billion drinks every day). Of these, beverages bearing the trademark â€Å"Coca-Cola† or â€Å"Coke† accounted for approximately 78% of the company’s total gallon sales. Also according to the 2007 Annual Report, Coca-Cola had gallon sales distributed as follows: 42% in the United States 37% in Mexico, India, Brazil, Japan and the People’s Republic of China 20% spread throughout the rest of the world In 2010, it was announced that Coca-Cola had become the first brand to top  £1 billion in annual UK grocery sales (Anonymous, 2001). SALES CHART OF COCA COLA FROM 2001 TO 2010: Today, products of the Coca Cola Company are consumed at the rate of more than one billion drinks per day. Coca-Cola (KO) has more than 500 non-alcoholic brands, which the company is selling worldwide. The company primarily sells sparkling beverages; however, its portfolio of products is not limited to these beverages. Coca-Cola also sells water, juices and juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, and energy and sports drinks. Coca-Cola is one of the most widely recognizable brands in the world, and the company is mature. Like any other mature company, Coca-Cola pays a substantial percentage of its earnings to its shareholders in shape of cash dividends. Prospect of healthy income stream and stable growth makes Coca-Cola an ideal investment for income investors (Anonymous, 2011). BIGGEST COMPETITOR: PEPSI The two most popular carbonated drinks in almost all countries of the world are Coke and Pepsi. At first taste, they may seem the same, but those who prefer one over the other can tell the difference between them. They are both made from the same ingredients and they both contain the same amount of calories. * ABOUT COCA-COLA The popular drink known as Coke has the longer name of Coca-Cola. It was first manufactured in 1886 by John Pemberton as a medicinal product that contained cocaine. The cocaine content was removed from the recipe in 1930. The ingredients in Coke are carbonated water, sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine and natural flavorings. The source of caffeine in Coke is Kola nuts. They contain about 3% caffeine and this is what gives the drink a bitter flavor. A can of coke contains about 140 calories. There are varieties of the drink as well, such as Vanilla Coke, caffeine-free Coke, sugar free Coke and Coke Zero. There is a mystery ingredient in Coke that is called 7X (Delany, 2012). * ABOUT PEPSI Pepsi, also known as Pepsi Cola, was first developed in North Carolina in 1893 by Caleb Bradham. It was originally known as â€Å"Brad’s Drink† because of the creator. He invented the drink in his pharmacy as a digestive drink that would also boost energy levels. The name of the drink comes from the enzyme, pepsin, which is one of the enzymes in the digestive system. The company changes the logo of Pepsi on an annual basis. The main ingredients are sugar, phosphoric acid, caramel color, caffeine, citric acid, corn syrup and natural flavors and there are about 150 calories in a can of Pepsi. It contains a higher percentage of sugar than other black carbonated beverages. The same company also sells other carbonated drinks, such as Mountain Dew and Diet Pepsi (Delany, 2012). * DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN COKE AND PEPSI Both Pepsi and Coke are black carbonated drinks that are served in restaurants and cafes as well as being widely available in stores. They are sold in cans and various sizes of bottles. They look the same and cannot be distinguished by color alone. Pepsi tastes a bit sweeter than Coke because it contains more sugar. Coke has more fizz than Pepsi and is a smooth drink because the fizz evaporates faster. Today the ingredients are almost the same in both, but in the early years cocaine was one of the ingredients in Coke. Pepsi uses more branding techniques than Coke does and it changes its logo every year. Coke still has the same logo. It contains a mystery ingredient called 7X, but Pepsi does not have any mystery ingredients (Delany, 2012). This table will better illustrate the differences between Coke and Pepsi: Coke| Pepsi| Not as sweet as Pepsi, is fizzier, but smooth| Sweeter than Coke and not as smooth| Has a secret ingredient – 7X| No secret ingredient| Has the same logo| Changes its logo every year| SUGGESTION: Pepsi needs to place more attention to its Frito Lay brands, when people buy coke or Pepsi soft drinks they compliment with chips or cakes. Pepsi shouldn’t worry bout beating coke with soda, let consumer buy coke, but make sure that same consumer drink that coke, with a bag of lays brand chips or cakes. And if the consumer prefers Pepsi, than it’s a complete win for pepsico. REFERENCES: Delany.D. (2012). Reasons Why Coke Is Better Than Pepsi. Retrieved February 18, 2013, from http://www.ehow.com/info_8121864_reasons-coke-better-pepsi.html#ixzz2LMKm6jHF Anonymous. (2001). The coca cola company. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from