Business goverance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Business goverance - Essay Example The BLM wants to charge the DBD $3 million in case the DBD does not reclaim the land when it has done drilling. In this case, a problem between the two arises. In understanding the situation at hand, we must look carefully at what a principal – agent problem is. The principal – agent problem occurs when a situation arises that motivates an agent to represent the principal in dealing with a particular situation. The BLM may be unable to meet the cost of drilling or may be too involve to drill the oil (Winch 2010, 28). This makes them delegate the whole drilling to another company. DBD, on the other hand, may be specialized in the drilling of oil and they may be the best person who can drill this. In leasing the land by BLM to DBD the company stands to gain more than it can lose as the cost of drilling and maintenance will be passed on to DBD. Nevertheless, a problem arises where they are not sure whether DBD will reclaim the land after it is done with drilling or not. It, therefore, wants to charge DBD $3 million as money for reclaiming the land which if they do not they will spend $3 million to do it whereas DBD will spend $2 million for the reclamation of the land. The total cost of leasing the land to DBD is $5 million so they are afraid if they do not charge the $3 million, they would only make a profit of $2 million shillings. This is a business and its principle objective is to make maximum profits. In principal – agent delegation many advantages are drawn. These include improved decision-making and the efficiency of these decisions. Decisions are wholly passed to the agent who takes the problems as their own and works to towards finding viable decisions. This means that the principal only wants a particular payoff but the rest is left to the agent. In the example of BLM and DBD, the BLM can be likened to a Landlord and the DBD as a tenant. The property owner will lease the land to the tenant and pass all that concerns to it to the tenant

Molson Canadian Beer to China Essay Example for Free

Molson Canadian Beer to China Essay This paper will analyze a products potential to enter a foreign market. The product, Molson Canadian, is a well known and reputable Canadian beer with a rich history. For our purposes, we have attempted to formulate a plan for Molson Canadian to enter the Chinese beer market. Utilizing empirical data, statistics and research on the Chinese beer market, we have gathered significant information regarding entry into this market. After analyzing China as a country, their beer market and relevant business information, we developed an effective way for Molson Canadian to be introduced into the Chinese market. In addition, we have highlighted some potential opportunities and threats associated with this plan, thereby rationalizing the entry mode we have chosen. After all the information was presented, we concluded that the most effective way to introduce Molson Canadian to the Chinese market was to export the product, utilizing distributor and import contacts to have the beer sold at on-trade sites such as upscale bars and eateries. The following information provided explains our direction and reinforces our decision to enter the market in this fashion. Introduction. The beer brand Molson is one of Canada’s oldest consumer brand names and one of North America’s oldest brands. John Molson established Canada’s oldest brewery in 1786 near the St. Lawrence River in Montreal, Quebec. The Molson company has a range of beer selection including: Molson Canadian, a lager beer containing 5% of alcohol per volume, Molson Canadian Light contains about 2% of alc/vol, Molson Canadian 6. 0 Cold Shots (6% of alc/vol), Molson Canadian Sub Zero (it can served at temperatures below freezing through innovative technology) and its new Molson Canadian 67 (contains only 67 calories). Along with the Molson brand of beverages, Molson also owns the rights to other brands such as the various Rickards brands as well as distribution rights of popular imports such as Heineken from Holland. Molson Canadian is the company’s signature beer, using freshwater from Canadian lakes and the best quality barley in the recipe. Molson’s brewing methods do not utilize preservatives in order to maintain crisp, clean and fresh taste. Instead, they use traditional best methods along with skilled brew masters to ensure best quality from suppliers to retailers. As a result, Molson has received numerous awards in the past, including the gold for â€Å"North American Style Lager† in 2008. In 2005 Molson Brewery merged in equal parts with American brewing company Coors, forming the Molson Coors Brewing Company. The purpose of this report is to introduce a marketing plan for Molson to enter the Chinese consumer market. The main objective is to analyze and determine possible ways to successfully distribute Molson’s signature beer (Molson Canadian) to the Chinese consumer market. The next sections provide country and business analysis as well as the marketing mix in order to construct an effective and efficient marketing plan. Also, an action plan will be prepared to consider implementation of strategies and their associated budgets. Country Analysis China is located in eastern Asia and is the fourth largest country in the world. It borders a number of countries including Vietnam, North Korea, India and Pakistan. China also has the largest population in the world with more than 1. 3 billion (1,338,612,968) people. China also has several languages and dialects spoken throughout the country, but the major ones are mandarin and Cantonese. (CIA Fact book 2010) China is a communist state, however in the last 30 years the nation has gradually changed from a centrally planned economy to a more market oriented economy. This transition has benefited China because it opened its’ boarders to international trade, increasing the countries import/export figures dramatically over the years. In addition, the more open economic system allowed for an influx of foreign direct investment into the country. China’s rampant growth in the past 30 years is evident in the country’s economic statistics. 2009 country GDP numbers place China as 3rd overall worldwide in total GDP with $8. 791 Trillion (US$), only second to the European Union and the United States. (CIA Fact book 2010) This figure can be put into perspective however when analyzing GDP per capita where China places 128th worldwide with only $6,500 (US$), a figure which has been improving throughout the years. Although china is one of the fastest developing countries in the world, its’ government still faces several challenges including reducing corruption, sustaining adequate job growth rates and environmental concerns such as pollution. In addition, China has long been perceived by other nations as a country not up code regarding certain policies such as human rights and intellectual property rights. However, their inclusion into the World Trade Organization in 2001 has vastly improved their global standing and many joint and domestic initiatives have been undertaken to improve the perception of China globally. Rationale for Choosing China There were several key reasons for choosing China as our target market. China’s vast population was an influence because it provided a large potential consumer base. Another reason is the large demand for beer which continues to grow as middle and upper class income levels continue to rise in the country (Datamonitor 2004). In addition, several international beer brands have not managed to effectively penetrate the Chinese market. Therefore, if an international beer company in china survives an initial tough few years, it has the potential to make significant profits going forward. The beer industry in China will be analyzed in more detail in the following sections. Other important reasons for the selection of China was that its’ healthy trade relations with Canada throughout the years. China is Canada’s 2nd largest trading partner, only second to the United States of America with bilateral trade between China and Canada reaching over $50 billion(CAN) in 2009 (Statscan, 2010). Finally, notion that China is the fastest growing nation in the world and is predicted to be the world’s largest economy by 2025 had a significant impact on our selection. (Foreign affairs and international trade Canada, 2005) (See Appendix A) Environment of the Beer Industry in China â€Å"China is one of the world’s largest alcohol producers in the world and in the next few years it is expected to go surpass the United States as the largest alcohol producer in the world† (Newman, Ian 2006). China has a very large beer market worth around $6. 154 billion (USD$) and produced more than 26,244 million litres in 2004 (Datamonitor 2004). Both of these figures are significant increases from the previous year 2003. For the majority of brewers around the world, the Chinese beer market is too large to ignore and at times, too hard to grasp because of its complicity. China is viewed as the next big opportunity in the beer industry because its large population and its high economic growth is unmatchable elsewhere. However, many international brewers have failed to penetrate the Chinese beer market. This could be due to unfamiliar market dynamics and the presence of too many domestic beer brands in the Chinese market. Although many international brands have failed, some like SAB Miller have succeeded. It is believed that focus on quality brands and long term entry plans were contributors to the success companies like SAB Miller have had in the Chinese market. Some of the leading brewers in China include Tsingato brewery, SAB Miller, Fosters Group Limited and Noble China Inc. (Datamonitor 2004) Threats and Opportunities Having looked at the general environment of the beer industry in China, our focus will now shift to the threats and opportunities in the market. First, one of the main threats is the other large beer companies and breweries that we are going to be competing with, both domestic and international. Chinese domestic beer accounts for a large percentage of consumption in the country, and as an international product, we will be facing stiff competition from other international companies already present in the market. A less concerning threat is that the older demographics in China prefer to drink more wine than they do beer. This however is contrasted by the increasing popularity of beer in the nation. The biggest opportunity is the fact that the China has largest population in the world and also that it is the world’s fastest growing country. Another opportunity is that there is steady growth rate predicted in the next few years for the beer industry (Datamonitor 2004). Another key opportunity is that Chinese consumer’s value taste and reputation in their beverage products, we believe that Molson Canadian can cater to this need with our product implementation. (Industry Digest, 2005) On the technological side, the Chinese market has several domestic brewing companies in the nation. This could be very useful because the technology to produce beer in China is readily available. On the negative side, China incorporates strict restrictions on content through various media. For example, internet censorship is common in the nation, leaving marketers with limited when choosing which type of media to use for marketing purposes (Human Rights Watch, 2006). Socially, alcohol plays an important role in Chinese tradition and Chinese society as a whole. Alcohol is used in a lot of Chinese traditional festivals and celebrations, as well as it is also a very important part of Chinese religions. Alcohol can also be found in traditional Chinese medication and also used for cooking (Newman, Ian 2006). Market Buyer Characteristics Many of the beer buyer characteristics in the Chinese market are similar to those of Canada. First, gender plays a large role in that the majority of beer consumers are males. However, the female segment of the market has steadily continued to increase as china develops further, mainly due to increased spending power of Chinese women. However, this gender bias cannot be overlooked as the female segment of the buyers is very important because in some major cities like Beijing, women make up to around 30% of beer drinkers in the city. Most of the buyers of beer in china are between the age groups of 25 to 44, similar to the demographics found in Canada (Industry Digest, 2005). Another important aspect about buyer behaviour in China is that it varies according to the region or province. The same applies for the beer market in China, for example people from the southern regions of China drink more beer at bars an pubs and banquets whereas people in the northern regions are more likely to drink beer while dining because they believe that it ads flavour to their dining. Also in the south of China the climate is very hot so casual drinking as a means to cool down is common similar to Canada in the summer months. (Industry Digest, 2005) Furthermore, reasons why people buy beer in China are important aspect for marketers. For consumers in China, value and good taste are important characteristics that consumers tend to look for. These qualities of beer products precede the importance of other factors such as price and brand reputation. Brand loyalty to domestic brands is more common in certain locations such as Beijing, but brand loyalty overall in general is not a decisive factor for many consumers in the Chinese beer industry. â€Å"People between the ages of 16 to 44 who live in Guangzhou and shanghai, switch brands on a regular basis† (Industry Digest, 2005). Selection of and Rationale for Chosen Mode of Entry into the Target Country The entry mode that we have chosen for entering into China will be exporting through an import contact that will then use local distributors to sell our product. The reason that we have selected this option is that although there is a huge potential for companies to succeed in the Chinese beer market, there are still many risks of doing business in China. By choosing exporting as our first step, it allows us to reduce financial and investment risks. Many studies have shown that having a good relationship with the Chinese government and business owners is a significantly important factor for foreign companies to success in China (Owen, 2010). Therefore, before moving into further actions such as partnerships and joint ventures, we want to have Molson establish a good working relationship with the Chinese government. At the same time, this entry mode will also give Molson ample time to develop the relationship with potential Chinese partners, as well as get better understanding about the government regulations for foreign ownership of land building resources. Last but not least, comparing this mode of entry to partnerships and joint ventures, exporting requires less finical investment. For example, Molson does not need to build factories or set up mass manufacturing operations right away which will save a significant amount of money right from the get go. In addition, if anything goes wrong initially, this entry mode allows us to withdraw the business from China much easier than if we had already established manufacturing operations in the country. Objectives. Due to the risks that beer companies are facing in expanding into the Chinese market, Molson Canadian wants to move slowly into the Chinese market. In other words, the company wants to test the environment first and then take the necessary steps to further the expansion process. First of all, Molson Canadian will establish the mode of entry which is the exporting strategy, and then the company will choose a well known Chinese beer company such as Tsingtao as our distributor, because this will reduce the uncertainties. While working with Tsingtao, Molson Canadian wants to ensure distribution networks are reaching desired locations for sale of product and look for other possible distributors and partners as well in order to get it prepared for our future development purposes such as joint ventures or partnerships. The next objective that we suggest is gathering forecasting information for potential future margin and feedback from consumers. This step will help us to make sure if the Chinese market is really worth to investing in and develop strong indicators to our customers’ preferences, in order to better serve our customers. During this stage, Molson Canadian will also be able to get more familiarized about the Chinese regulations related to the beer companies, especially for foreign companies. After the completion of this stage, the company will be able to develop plans for future operations based on the information that it has collected from before. If the information does not support the expansion, then Molson Canadian should stop developing, and possibly withdraw the business from China. If everything goes well, the company will pick the right distributors and partners that have been evaluated before to start the joint ventures or partnerships with local Chinese companies. The reason that we decided to do joint ventures or partnership eventually is that based on information from the Euromonitor International, which states by doing a joint venture it will allow foreign companies to gain local market knowledge â€Å"These joint ventures should provide foreign companies with a necessary foothold in the market which can, in the future, be exploited by their own products† (Euromonitor International, 2004). The last objective is to work towards generating steadily increasing profits in the future, which will be in more details in our action plan. Limitations There are also limitations that could affect Molson Canadians entry into the Chinese market. As we mentioned before, the uncertainty of the Chinese market is a huge concern. First of all, the government regulations and standards are different from what we have seen in the North American market. Based on the article written by Owen, issues included the â€Å" Chinese top-down approach to standards and conformance, Openness and transparency, Low confidence in private-sector standards setting and conformity assessment, and Inconsistent implementation creates uncertainty†(Owen, 2010) are all the concerns that Molson needs to pay attention. The second uncertainty is that the intense competition will be created by both local and foreign beers companies in the crowded industry. As represented by Euromonitor International, there are several foreign breweries doing business in this market now. Many of which have found that the market is more difficult to operate than they expected before entering the Chinese market. Problems included comparatively high production costs and a fragmented market, combined with oversupply, has caused a market slowdown which led many companies to cut their prices. Many of the companies have already chosen to exit the market and cut their losses (Euromonitor International, 2004). Criteria In terms of the time frame, we estimated that will take one year to complete the objectives from 1 to 3, which is also considered to be our primary expansion. As mentioned above this includes the establishment of the entry mode- exporting, develop appropriate distribution networks, and collecting forecasting information and feedback from consumers. The secondary expansion includes the envelopment future operating plans such as joint ventures or partnerships; after everything has been created our final goal will be work towards generating steadily increasing profits in the future. We estimated that will take 1 or 2 years to finish framing the joint venture or partnership structure. Segmentation For our segmentation we decided to focus on 5 main demographic criteria’s. We obtained basic secondary data based on the past buying patterns of Chinese and other Asian consumers. From that data, we sorted and decided upon with segments of the market we would test for. We based the selection of the criteria on hypothesis testing and concluded that only traits that that appeared consistently within two standard deviations (95%) of each segment’s sample would be counted; these demographics being on age, region, ethnicity, financial capacity and lifestyle within the 18 – 45 age range. For this analysis we have ranked them in order of popularity and difference in cost relative to other premium beers; from this analysis we have distilled this ranking system. * Molson Canadian Subzero is loved for its flash and fancy appeal * Molson Canadian Lager is popular for its strong distinct flavour * Molson Canadian Light beer is popular for its smoother taste and lack of a strong after taste * Lastly Molson Canadian ‘67 is the least preferred. This is due to the misconception that diet beers are more diluted than regular beers and that consumers are getting less for their money. From our demographic analysis of Chinese consumers of a certain demographic tend to prefer certain tastes to be present in their alcohol and while these preferences are not as potent in affecting purchase decisions as they would be in north America, never the less they are significant to warrant analysis and attention. Characteristic| Characteristic Related| Price| Westernized | Stronger Alcohol| More expensive| Traditional| Smoother Alcohol| Less Expensive| Sichuan | Stronger Alcohol| Less expensive| Han| Smoother Alcohol| Less expensive|. Tibetan| Stronger Alcohol| Less expensive| Southern| Smoother Alcohol| Less expensive| Northern| Stronger Alcohol| More expensive| Old | Stronger Alcohol| average| Young| Smoother Alcohol| Less expensive| (Data Extrapolated from Chinas beer consumption and Barley imports) From our analysis we can conclude that as you move up north and become more westernized the taste for alcohol becomes steadily stronger and that people value alcohol more. We have found that there are many cultural factors that the affect the purchasing characteristics of each segment. Age: Age is a significant factor when incorporating this model, with younger generations preferring relatively cheaper products than the older generation. As China’s socialistic society progress, legislation has greatly altered the spending habits of consumers. Such like the 1 child policy has left a significantly smaller working force to support the country. With most average working couples supporting 3 generations simultaneously (Adams, 2008), this can impact greatly on the decisions regarding the purchase of the luxury items such as premium foreign beer. Region: In regards to region, there are smaller difference in the tastes and spending habits of northerners vs. southerners. While the South has a higher pay-grade than those of the north, historically the south has always been a more crowded and competitive place (Trent, 2009). Thus those living there adapt to have a more conservative outlook in regards to consumption and purchases. Contrary, while the average northerner earns significantly less money they are more likely to spend extra for what they want (Trent, 2009). Also cities along the coast tend to adopt more western ideals than those located on the interior of China. Ethnicity: While china’s population is 87% Han (Doan, 2008) there is a small population of minorities that also live in china. Though living in the same country this minority have significantly different tastes from your average Chinese. These Minorities include Tibetans, Wiggers and Manchus. Lifestyle: Since China has opened its doors to international products and cultures, there have been many Chinese that have adopted a more western-lifestyle. With Western styles often come more western tastes (Qingbin et at, 1998), in contrast to the smoother taste western-styled Chinese prefer a stronger tasting alcohol. Marketing Mix This section presents strategic alternatives that Molson Canadian should take into consideration, recommendation of the suitable alternative and implementation of marketing plan through the use of the controllable elements of marketing mix. Strategic Alternatives There are two strategic alternatives that Molson Canadian can use to expand its beer brand to Chinese consumer market. Molson Canadian can expand its beer brand to Chinese consumer market by exporting its product line on trade or off trade. Alternative 1: The first alternative for Molson Canadian is to export its product line on trade, meaning that their target locations for sale are establishments which serve alcohol. For our product, we want to target specifically high end restaurants, pubs and bars. High end restaurants, pubs and bars would offer high quality products; therefore the best quality beer would also be expected from customers. One of the main strengths of Molson Canadian is that they utilize high quality ingredients as well as a team of brew masters that make sure the beer follows the high quality standards, qualities that Chinese consumers would be drawn to. Additional strengths of Molson Canadian is that it offers product differentiation such as best quality barley and no use of preservatives for its production. Also, the products country image is perceived as good quality product since it is North American which means that the products symbolize Western civilization, status and modernity (Zhou Hui, 2003). A weakness that should be taken into account is that Molson Canadian is not well known in the Chinese market, so it may be difficult to find consumers initially. However, opportunities in Chinese alcohol industry should be considered regarding this matter. For instance, an opportunity encountered is that there is an increasing demand for better tasting and premium products, meaning that premium beer sales will be more likely to increase in upcoming years (Euromonitor International, 2010). Also, another significant opportunity is that as consumers’ disposable incomes increase, consumers will be able to spend on leisure time such as going out to pubs and bars. In fact, there is a strong development of the consumer foodservice market, as well as, an increase of premium beer in forecasted years which accounts for 70% of total value growth from 2008 to 2013 in local currency (Euromonitor International, 2009). In addition to the above points, Chinese consumers are not price sensitive regarding on-trade places, indicating that premium and standard beer will become popular among the consumers (Euromonitor International, 2009). Lastly, a major threat towards this alternative is that the rise of prices for materials such as oil and energy can affect transportation cost. The National Development and Reform Commission (NRDC) had reported a price increase of RMB 1,000 per tonne for oil which is approximately equivalent to US$ 170 in 2008 (Euromonitor International, 2009). This means that there will be a need for adjustments in terms of price of beer to circumvent export costs to China. Alternative 2: The second alternative for Molson Canadian to export in China is to sell its product off trade. For this alternative, Molson Canadian beer should be sold in small grocery stores and/or hypermarkets. In order to better analyze this alternative for better profitability of the company, a mini SWOT analysis should be established. A major strength for this company is that the beer could be sold as standard lager beer to Chinese market with product differentiation. For example, the beer could be differentiated towards its high quality ingredients used in the production such as barley and hops and its high quality control standards. A weakness encountered in this option is that Molson Canadian is not a well known beer brand among Chinese market. An opportunity for selling Molson Canadian beer off trade is that this is main channel of sales accounting for 68% of volume sales in 2008 (Euromonitor International, 2009). Also, small independent grocery stores in rural areas account for 66% of total volume sales in 2008 (Euromonitor International, 2009). However, threats should also be taken into account for this alternative. A major threat there is high competitive market between domestic and foreign beer brands. In fact, the three top companies China Resources Enterprise Co Ltd, Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd and Beijing Yanjing Brewing Corp accounted for 41% of total volume sales in 2007 (Euromonitor International, 2009). There are also two leading international companies participating in Chinese beer market which are InBev and Anheuser-Busch. Another threat encountered is that consumers are price sensitive towards beer in off trade channels as they have a range of beer selection as well as prices that differ from different brands issues (Euromonitor International, 2009). Recommendation. The best alternative for Molson Canadian is to target on-trade businesses, especially high end restaurants, pubs and bars. The main criterion for choosing this alternative was based on willingness to pay for high priced product. Also, Molson Canadian should consider the high competition with domestic and foreign beer brands in off-trade markets. In order to reach Chinese consumers, we have weighed the pros and cons of this alternative and believe that Molson Canadian would have the best chance for success by initially focusing on selling to high end restaurants, pubs, bars and so on. The first reason for this chosen alternative is that customers will pay for high quality at any price. The customers will pay for a product that provides better taste, healthier and premium packaged products (Euromonitor International, 2010) since their disposable income allows buying better quality products. In fact, according to China Alcoholic Association, beer volume production has increased 6 % in the first half of 2009 (Euromonitor International, 2010). Also, when beer is sold in high end restaurants, its price will be set much higher price than at grocery stores, so Molson Canadian can generate profit using this method. According to Euromonitor International (2010), standard and premium beer account for only 10% of total sales volume, but generate around 50% of total profits in China’s beer sector. One of downsides towards marketing on-trade is that it may be difficult to break into the market since Molson Canadian is not recognized publicly in China. Also, Molson Canadian may face fierce competition in Chinese on-trade markets. For example, Budweiser, Heineken, Tiger, and Carlsberg are the main multinationals that have majority of the premium beer sales on trade. This alternative is preferable to the other option since it provides the means to generate long term profit and on-trade customers will favour buying high quality product as their preferences change. Another reason for choosing this alternative other than off-trade is that grocery stores will offer a variety of beer brands that are cheaper and domestic Chinese brands, therefore consumers will have more general knowledge of the products available to them. Once the strategic alternative is implemented, there will be opportunities and challenges that should be relevant to Molson Canadian. A potential opportunity for Molson Canadian is to introduce Molson Canadian 67 which is a type of beer that contains only 67 calories. This is a significant advantage for this company since Chinese people are becoming more concerned about their health and wellness. In terms of challenges that Molson Canadian may face is that there will be competition within foreign beer brands such as Heineken that could affect Molson Canadian’s profitability. Implementation In order to execute the marketing strategy of exporting Molson Canadian beer to Chinese market in high end restaurants, pubs and bars, the company should consider the 4P’s of the marketing mix. First, the product provided is Molson Canadian lager beer by Molson Coors Brewing Company which is a high quality Canadian brand which Molson Coors will be able to sell its beer as premium brand because of it offers clean, crisp and fresh taste as well as the no use of preservatives. The price for Molson Canadian beer lager is planned to be high since most of target market in China is represented by medium to high income consumers. Consumers in high end restaurants, pubs and bars will able to buy a bottle of Molson Canadian lager beer for more than 20RMB or $3US(Eumonitor International, 2009) since high end restaurants will place their price three times its market price. For the promotional aspect of our product, Molson Canadian attempt to use practices similar to those found in the North American markets. The use of commercials and posters display the refreshing qualities of a Canadian lager beer will be a major focus of the promotional ads. However, unlike the Canadian and American markets where beer commercials incorporate sexual messages to sell their products, ads in China will mirror those of beverage companies already operating in the country. To do this, the sexual appeal found in North American type commercials will be replaced with the quintessential Chinese humor found very often in Chinese advertisements. In addition, another promotional campaign will be launched in China based on the current public relations department knowledge of Molson Coors regarding drinking and driving programs. This program will be shared with the government of China to increase awareness since drink driving is one of major factor causing traffic accidents. In fact,† according to the Ministry of Public Security, the number of road traffic accidents reached 107,193 during the first half of 2009, with the number of fatalities and injuries reaching 29,866 and 128,336 respectively† (Euromonitor International, 2010). This promotional tool will be helpful to reduce barriers that the government may place for Molson Canadian. Finally, another way to promote the beer brand is to provide an event marketing strategy since ‘international sporting, economic and cultural events are strong drivers for beer consumption† (All China Marketing research, 2008). For instance, Molson Canadian can potentially sponsor the 16th Asian Games in China which is taking place from November 12th to 27th, 2010 (Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee ,2010). Therefore, this sponsorship will bring brand awareness. Molson Canadian may have a backup plan if the sponsorship does not work out through donating a certain amount of money to the Asian Games event so then there will be also the brand name out there for consumers. A last marketing mix factor is place which could be achieved by utilizing the same distributors of Coors Light to d.

Sweatshop Abuse and MIT’s Prospective Actions in Pursuit of Internation

Sweatshop Abuse and MIT’s Prospective Actions in Pursuit of International Labor Justice The term â€Å"sweatshop† refers to those factories relying on the exploitation and abuse of workers. Often (although not always) located in developing countries, these factories have been frequented by independent university researchers, who have published numerous accounts of worker imprisonment and physical abuse, as well as economic evidence revealing that many of these factories pay wages so small that their workers cannot live outside poverty. Several factories use horrific labor practices, and many factory workers have also been severely burned or mutilated in the workplace, while women among the labor population have often been forced to take birth control or abort their pregnancies (Given, 1997; Fernandez, 1997). The health burdens placed upon sweatshop workers have been extensively documented, and include exposure to noxious fumes, organophosphate compounds, and silica dust, resulting in record high cancer, asthma, bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, and leukemia rates in ma ny regions because workers aren’t provided with masks and gloves (Kim et al., 2000). These abuses are neither just nor irreconcilable, but many people believe that sweatshops are an economic necessity and will come to pass on their own with economic development. Closer examination of both the social and economic dimensions of sweatshop labor, however, reveals this presumption to be far from the truth. Most objections to anti-sweatshop action stem from the idea that sweatshop jobs are the best opportunities available to people living in poor conditions. â€Å"They keep coming back day after day, so they must want these jobs.† Trying to make the jobs better will simply me... ..., February). Sweat Shop Workers Struggle in New York’s Chinatown. Z Magazine. Kim, Jim Yong et al. (2000). Dying for Growth: Global Inequality and the Health of the Poor. Cambridge: Common Courage Press. Meyer, Karl (1997, June 28). Editorial Notebook. The New York Times. Mort, Jo-Ann. (1996, Fall). Immigrant Dreams: Sweatshop Workers Speak. Dissent. Richburg, Keith B. & Swardson, Anne. (1996, August 5-11). Sweatshops or Economic Development? Washington Post National Weekly Edition. Rosen, Sonia A., Jaffe, Maurren, & Perez-Lopez, Jorge. (1997). The Apparel Industry and Codes of Conduct: A Solution to the International Child Labor Problems. Upland, PA: Diane. Ross, Andrew. (1997). No Sweat: Fashion, Free Trade, and the Rights of Garment Workers. New York: Verso. Salomon, Larry. (1996, September/October). Sweatshops in the Spotlight. Third Force.

Cystic Fibrosis Essay

Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most widespread genetic disorders in the modern world. While only 30,000 members of the American population is affected by the disease, millions of Americans are carriers of the disease; the difference between carriers and sufferers of the disease lies in the autosomal recessive nature of Cystic fibrosis. A truly documented history of Cystic fibrosis did not exist until well into the 1930s, although people did have an idea of what it was, as shown by the old German saying that â€Å"A child whose forehead tastes like salt when kissed will soon die†. It was not until recently that scientists learned that the disease arises from a mutation in the CF gene located on chromosome 7. This is the gene that is responsible for the proper production of the protein CFTR, a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of the cells in a person’s body. In a person with Cystic fibrosis, the lack of a properly functioning CFTR protein cau ses for the production of sticky mucus that is excessively thick and very salty sweat. This mucus can then either clog the airways, causing progressive damage and complications with the respiratory system, or can also block ducts in the pancreas, which basically causes vitamin deficiency and malnutrition. Cystic Fibrosis currently has no cure, but there are many treatment options to help minimize the effects of the disease to help people live well into their 40’s or 50’s. Nowadays there are a lot of organizations and charities aiming to raise awareness of the disease to provide researchers with enough money to hopefully find a cure, and with new aspects of the disease being learned with each project, the hope of a cure does not seem that far-fetched. Bibliography â€Å"Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment – What Are Other Names for Cystic Fibrosis? – MedicineNet.† MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2013. â€Å"Cystic Fibrosis.† – Genetics Home Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2013. â€Å"Discovery Health.† Discovery Fit and Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2013. Staff, Mayo Clinic. â€Å"Definition.† Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 13 June 2012. Web. 27 Aug. 2013.

Issues in the Mock Negotiation Problem Essay

Being a member of the Local 5000 in this whole project I could point out numerous things that make the employees at Auto Products Corporation want things better. There seems to be issues at the Indianapolis plant concerning overtime, premium pay, and even subcontracting instead of using their own employees to do the work. What I have also gotten from this mock negotiation is that in the past, the union and management have been satisfactory. Different viewpoints: I have not had a very good experience with my teammates on this project. I agree that this should’ve been a fun project but it has been very stressful to me. As far as different viewpoints I feel again as though I’ve done this whole project by myself because everything I posted the only response I received most of the time is â€Å"sounds good†, â€Å"I agree†, â€Å"good idea†. I could go on and on about how my views differed from my teammates or how I feel like I had no help in the negotiation. I also feel as though I played the role of secretary and chairperson in this project but overall I am satisfied with the final results on our issues raised to management. Research Provided: Research was provided for my team by me concerning the current seniority clause, required overtime, and the issues concerning the company’s right to subcontract. The union wanted to stick to the current seniority clause, which management agreed, because it isn’t fair that junior employees can come in before a senior at the company to take the place of a job when a senior employee is qualified to fill the position. I provided the following research to my team from the textbook: In many contracts, seniority governs promotions when a senior employee is â€Å"qualified† to fill the position in question. Under others, seniority becomes the determining factor in promotions when the senior has the ability for the job in question equal to that of all other employees who may desire the better job.(Text page359) Sticking with the current seniority clause will ensure that positions are filled properly. Also, in the Mock Negotiation it states that the company has the right to require overtime in the existing contract but there was an issue raised by the employees that the supervisor isn’t fair and that they have been giving their friends the opportunity to earn the extra money and discriminating against the other employees. For this issue I provided the following research from the textbook: The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 places no restriction on employees to work more than 40 hours in a workweek, other than the employees who work more than 40 hours must be paid at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for all hours in excess of 40 hours. The textbook also states that when a supervisor makes an error in the regard of offering his/her friends to work overtime and discriminating others; the employer may be faced with a grievance filed by the employee and ask for the amount of money he/she would have earned if he/she would’ve worked. Also, the situation of paying for the same work twice at overtime rates.(text pages288-290) This could be a major disaster if the company doesn’t fix this and if it isn’t then many possible grievances can still be filed. On the issues concerning the company’s right to subcontract, in the negotiation it stated that for many years each skilled tradesperson has worked only within his or her trade and five months ago the company required a mechanic to do a job normally performed by a plumber. A grievance was filed and the arbitrator sustained the position of the union on the basis of the â€Å"past practice† principle. I provided the following research from the textbook for my team: The union should ask the the company add a subcontracting section in the labor agreement. The textbook gives an example of a subcontracting section in a labor agreement that states whenever the company contemplates contracting out any type of work normally performed by a maintenance employees, it shall inform the President, Chairman, and Grievance Committee and the affected Shop Steward of its intentions prior to making a decision to award the contract.(text page389)This would be great considering for many years the company had each skilled tradeperson working only within his or her trade. When the company required a mechanic for a job that normally was performed by a plumber the employee and union filed a grievance. The company should stick with â€Å"past practice† and continue to keep their tradepeople working only within his or her trade. If not then workrightspress.com states that stewards can do the following: Past practices grievances are well suited for group action. Unions can: †¢ Encourage numbers of workers to file grievances on the matter †¢ Distribute leaflets about the dispute †¢ Circulate petitions †¢ Hold meetings during breaks †¢ Picket before or after work or during breaks (being sure not to interfere with employees, suppliers, or shippers) Also in the textbook, the example also states that the union retains the right to examine any existing or new subcontracting agreement for the purposes of checking wage scales and the specific work contracted.(text page389) These are great things we could put in the subcontracting section of the labor agreement. Also in the subcontracting section in the labor agreement, I think the union should also ask that limitations be put in place such as: 1. Requiring the employer to have an agreement that subcontractors will be used only on special occasions ( where specialized equipment that isn’t on company premises is required or where special skills are needed ) 2. No-layoff guarantees to current employees (as in â€Å"no employee of any craft, which craft is being utilized by an outside contractor, shall be laid off as long as the outside contractor is in the plant doing work that employees in such craft are able to do.† 3. Provisions giving the union veto power over any or all subcontracting 4. Requirements that the management prove to the union that time, expense, or facility considerations prevent it from allowing current employees to perform the work. (text page388) The Local 5000 Union Demands: After reading the Mock Negotiation the union decided on the following demands mainly on the issues raised in the negotiation. The union has developed the following demands concerning the Mock Negotiation at Auto Products Corporation for the Indianapolis plant: 1. The union will not permit any change in the medical insurance program. The union wants to fight for better benefit packages, which would include a 401K and also better medical insurances. In the current contract, the medical insurance program does not cover employees that are laid off for more than 30 consecutive days and 80% of the employees laid off, have been laid off for longer than 30 consecutive days. We would like to ask that management remove this and also; still cover the employee’s on layoff, visits to physician offices, hospitals, and emergency rooms up to 60 days. 2. The union would also like to ask the company add a 401k, the union would ask that the company match dollar for dollar what the employees decide to put into their 401k.This will help employees’ retirement. We would also like to administer an Employee Stock Ownership Program which entitles employees’ 5 shares of company stock yearly. 3. The union would also like to stick with the current seniority clause that provides for promotions based on length of service and ability. If the company says that promotions are bid for on a departmental basis then the department that has the position open should be available to the candidate within the company that has seniority based on length of service and ability before a junior employee. 4. The union would also like to discuss the current contract about r equired overtime. The union insists on paying employees time-and-a-half while working these days and insisting that the company use a volunteer method when selecting the employees to work on these days. 5. I think that the union should also place a restriction on the company’s right to subcontract. No subcontracting can occur when skilled trades are available to do the work. When the company contemplates contracting out any type of work normally performed by a company employee, it shall inform the President, Chairman, and Grievance Committee and the affected Shop Steward of its intentions prior to making a decision to honor the contract; allowing the company to subcontract only if, all of their own personal resources have been exhausted. 6. As part of the union, I would also like recommend placing demands on management to allow for a supplementary unemployment benefit program to help dislocated workers. The first is supplementing the unemployment benefits of various state unemployment insurance systems. Second is allowing further income to still unemployed workers after state payments have been exhausted. Without sub pay, laid off workers will start looking for new employment and will most likely be unavailable to return to their original position when an opening occurs. We would also like to remind you that a sub pay clause can catch the attention of the most talented people looking for jobs, people like to work for companies that take care of their employees. Also asking management to supplement the union employee’s unemployment benefits (while laid off through no fault of their own) and allow for up to 90% of their original pay for a maximum of 52 weeks’. 7. I would like to recommend the union demand the removal of the no-strike clause because grievance procedures in some cases seem to not work like they should. I believe a strike or slowdown might help convince man agement that something needs to change. 8. The union would also like an annual wage increase for all workers along with adjusting the escalator clause in the current contract. The current contract provides for a $.03 increase in wages for each .4-point increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). We as the union ask that the company provides a $0.10 increase in wages for each 0.5-point increase in the CPI. I feel these demands were adequate for negotiations because these demands will benefit our employees and fix the problems that are going on at the plant. Although not all were agreed on the only demand that didn’t even get a second look would be adding a supplemental unemployment benefits for dislocated workers. Which I understand this is due to APC’s current costs due to the current loan the company has just borrowed. The Bargaining Zone: Going into this negotiation the union, in all, knew that APC would try and change the medical benefits for their employees. Our demand states that we weren’t going to accept any change to the medical benefits but our plan was to ask for this and negotiate in permitting the company to only pay 80% of medical costs throughout the new contract. Management and the union chairperson, Ziaria, agreed that the company pay for 65% of medical costs throughout the course of the new contract. Our final result was close to what we were original to in the first place so I’d say we accomplished what we wanted in the bargaining zone for this demand. Another demand in which we knew that management would counter on would be the current No-Strike Clause in the current contract. The union requested that this clause be removed and management wouldn’t accept this claiming â€Å"Auto Product Corporation is a production company. Feasibly, we are not able to produce the volumes of quality parts for our vendors when the company is being disrupted with strikes and work slowdowns. Our Local unions file grievances for their members and they go through the process. The contract contains a standard grievance procedure and provide for arbitration for all disputes arising under the contract. The company, with the help of its 3800 employees wants to remain vital to the community, vendors and families of our employees; we can only be effective, if we are producing quality parts.† But, the entire time, the union knew this wasn’t going to work and Paul had mentioned a No-Sue section to be added which management had no problem with. Our bargaining limits on this were accomplished with ease considering management said they had no problem adding this as long as the union was not directly involved or instigating a strike or slowdown. The Negotiation Process: Overall I would have to say that the negotiation process was somewhat difficult in the beginning because management was unsatisfied with our demands refusing pretty much all of them. I feel like the union was more willing to negotiate but that could be because our goal was the employees and the managements goal was reducing costs. For example, the union and management went back and forth on decreasing the amount of stewards to job families, trying to reduce stewards from having 60 to 20 and decreasing the amount of time they have to do grievance work daily. The union and management also went back and forth on non-productive time. Management wanted employees to clock out for lunch and then only have a 5 minute paid wash up at the end of their shift. The union agreed on clocking out for lunch but wanted to keep the 10 minute wash up and management wouldn’t accept this until the very end of negotiations. Besides these two matters, the negotiation process went rather smoothly. My personal thoughts: There are things that I wish would have went differently. For example, my teammates should’ve contributed more to discussions. I feel as though I was constantly waiting on a response from them and more than half the time I would only hear from Paul and as I discussed earlier he would respond mainly with â€Å"I agree† which gives me no other viewpoints or if I should have done things differently. Or, the would respond after deadlines to where I couldn’t change anything. Then, Ziaria, not being in hardly any of our discussions goes in the boardroom and conducts negotiations without even consulting with me or Paul. I understand though that you can’t always choose your teammates. Conclusion: Before conducting these negotiations I went into this thinking I wanted to be on a management team because I have always had this view of unions being dramatic. Instead, my views now are more pro-union because this negotiation has taught me that unions are there for your rights as an employee. When management tries to change the contract, you as an employee, should want the union there to try and get the best possible outcomes for all employees because management is just going to try and cut costs any way they can. Overall I found this project to be interesting and informative on the things that actual companies negotiate on. References: â€Å"The Mock Negotiation Problem.† Sloane, Arthur A., Witney, Fred. Labor Relations. Prentice Hall- Pearson Education, 2012. 435-440. Work Rights Press. How to Win Past Practice Grievances. n.d. 16 November 2012 .

Criteria for Judging a Research Study †International Business (300 Level Course)

Criteria for Judging a Research Study – International Business (300 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Criteria for Judging a Research Study International Business (300 Level Course) The article â€Å"Investigating the impact of international cosmetics advertising in China† is written by Bradley R. Barnes, who researches and lectures in marketing at Leeds University Business School, Philip J. Kitchen, who holds the Chair in Strategic Marketing and founded and directed the Executive MBA programme, and Graham Spickett-Jones, who is a lecturer in Marketing at Hull University Business School, and Qionglei Yu, who is Lecturer in marketing at the Hangzhou University of Commerce, China. The article is described in the International Journal of Advertising, 23, pp. 361-387, 2004 Advertising Association and published by the World Advertising Research Center. 1.Review of previous research 44 references from 1970 to 2001 are used for this article. The authors review these references and describe where these data or words come from. They research many literatures not only the field of Marketing of China but also the culture and history of China. In addition, among the authors, the expert in Marketing of China is included. Therefore, I think that their information of the previous research is enough. 2.Statement of the research problem and the purpose of the study They describe clearly their statement of the problem. Their purpose is Chinese women’s perception of international advertising from a Chinese cultural context. Currently, there is a crossroad between old customs and modern thinking in China. Chinese women experience a mixture of traditional culture and modern-world tendencies. On the other hand, they obtain great pleasure form the new power to make decisions regarding their appearance and status quo. The author says that although many experts researched and described about Chinese women’s perception, the contexts are somewhat scant and little has been concluded. That is the reason why they decided to do more researches. Their study is explanatory style and I can not see any predictive style and hypotheses in the article. 3.Description of the research procedures They describe clearly how the study was conducted. Firstly, they describe the background of Chinese people. For example, according to the article â€Å"Chinese people have a strong belief in a certain stereotypical model of the typical woman, and this accepted by the public.† â€Å"They experience great anxiety and a pressure to maintain the status quo (Afshar 1991).† Next, they describe literature review: factors influencing cosmetic advertising decisions in China. In this section, they explain what kind of advertising is effective approach. For example, international advertising approach which is used for all markets, localized approach which is changed by the area, or combination approach. Company should translate their original brand name into Chinese name or not because according this article, â€Å"China has a distinctive language and easy-to-pronounce and meaningful names are important for the initial stage in generating customer attention.† For example, C oca-Cola was translated into a Chinese name to get the attention of Chinese customer, which had the meaning of â€Å"tasty and happy† even though there is a little different form the meaning of the origin name. Third, they research the effective of back music. Fourth, they research the range of age of customers who are interested in the cosmetic. They limit the range of age from 20 to 35. Fifth, they research by using a questionnaire and break down it to six parts: Table 1 ‘Demographic†, Table 2 â€Å"Reference of brand name†, Table 3 â€Å"Reference for music and model’s ethnic origin†, Table 4 â€Å"Individual and reference groups†, Table 5 â€Å"Relationship appeal in advertisement† and Table 6 â€Å"Levels of influence associate with various media source.† Finally, they describe the result from their researches. 4.Flaws in procedural design First, although their research is clear and enough the purpose and procedure, their conclusion is ambiguous because the result of their data is ambiguous. Most data locate neutral which means that the participants answered ambiguously. Ambiguous answer is not always accurate. If they want to dodge their answer or do not have any idea, they would answer neutral position. I think that although Chinese people desire to change, they can not change back stage. Therefore, they can not answer clearly by nature characteristic. Finally, in this research, they could not describe their results strongly. In addition, they do not research by predictive style. If potential companies create advertising to sell something, the most necessary data would be future’s trend. Second, why their research limited from the age 20 to 35? When I asked my Chinese friends, they answered that the Chinese women of high class, who are the age from 40 to 60, also make up and also the Chinese women of all ages are interested in the base cosmetic and take care their face. My opinion is that they should create a questionnaire which has just three categories: Unimportant, Very important or no idea to Chinese people. If they do, they would be able to get clearer result than this research. In addition, they should expand the range of age. Cosmetic products include base goods which are lotion, milky lotion, massage cream etc. There products would be used by wider range Chinese women than that of this research. 5.Analysis of data After they gathered their questionnaire, they organize to six tables and one graph. Then they describe the result of their research obediently. 6.Results and discussion Finally they describe six results. First, the target of the range of age is from 20 -35 because they researched that the women are affected by the cosmetic advertising. Second, level of importance with language and the brand results ‘neutral’ opinion 43%. Therefore, they conclude that none of the respondents had a strong preference for the translation of international brand names into mandarin. Third, according to the preference for music, the number of respondents with a preference for either Western or Oriental models in cosmetics advertisements also express a ‘neutral’ attitude 43%. As a result of the findings, music is not considered critically important to Chinese female consumers. That means that they do not need to change or compose a new piece of music adjusted to Chinese tastes. (P378) Fourth, Chinese women are very sensitive when they evaluate cosmetic products because cosmetic products related to the issue of health and beauty. Therefore, Chinese women need Friends or opinions of specialists when they select their cosmetic products. Fifth, the result of the relationship appeal in advertisements is that the boyfriend/girlfriend or sister/sister relationship is most positive. Next, according to Saywell’s research, Mother/daughter relationship or husband/wife relationship is less attractive because these relationships are traditional types of relationship. As Chinese women desire new something, this research strongly express the present Chinese women. 7.References Current China change greatly. So, even though these references are relatively new, I can not say the references are complete. In addition, even this article may not be competing because Chinese economy progress rapidly. Some of the most important reference sources in the field is 8.Researcher reputation 9.General comments about the report It is clearly written an understandable. The strength is that the researchers are experts in Marketing and they have much information and knowledge. In addition, a Chinese expert of this field is included as a writer of this article. The weaknesses of the research are the only one woman researcher and only she is Chinese. Other researchers who have authority are men and not Chinese. My opinion is that they should have described more detail background about the interest of Chinese women in the cosmetic products. In addition, As China culture is high-context culture; they should have devised their questionnaire style. Research Papers on Criteria for Judging a Research Study - International Business (300 Level Course)Analysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaDefinition of Export QuotasInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesResearch Process Part OneAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenMind TravelThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseWhere Wild and West MeetHip-Hop is Art

The History and Career of Smokey the Bear

The History and Career of Smokey the Bear Smokey Bear came to us by necessity. At the beginning of World War II, Americans feared that an enemy attack or sabotage could destroy our forest resources at a time when wood products were greatly needed. In the spring of 1942, a Japanese submarine fired shells onto an oil field in Southern California near Los Padres National Forest. Government officials were relieved that the shelling did not start a forest fire but were determined to provide protection. The USDA Forest Service organized the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) Program in 1942. It encouraged citizens nationwide to make a personal effort to prevent forest fires. It was a mobilized civilian effort in support of the war effort to protect valuable trees. Timber was a primary commodity for battleships, gunstocks, and packing crates for military transport. Character Development Walt Disneys Bambi character was very popular and was used on an initial anti-fire poster. The success of this poster demonstrated that an animal of the forest was the best messenger to promote the prevention of accidental forest fires. On August 2, 1944, the Forest Service and the War Advertising Council introduced a bear as their campaign symbol.​ Albert Staehle, noted illustrator of animals, worked with this description to paint the forest fire prevention bear. His art appeared in the 1945 campaign, and the advertising symbol was given the name Smokey Bear. The bear was named Smokey after Smokey Joe Martin, who was Assistant Chief of the New York City Fire Department from 1919 to 1930. Rudy Wendelin, an artist for the Forest Service, began producing a tremendous quantity of Smokey Bear art in various media for special events, publications, and licensed products to promote the fire prevention symbol. Long after retiring, he created the art for the Smokey Bears 40th anniversary commemorative U.S. Postage stamp. Many within the Forest Service still acknowledge Wendelin as being the true Smokey Bear artist. The Ad Campaign After World War II, the War Advertising Council changed its name to The Advertising Council. In the years that followed, the focus of Smokeys campaign broadened to appeal to children as well as adults. But it was not until the 1965 campaign and the work of Smokey artist Chuck Kuderna that Smokeys image evolved into the one we know today. The Smokey Bear concept has matured into a cottage industry of collectibles and educational material on fire prevention. One of the most popular Smokey products is a set of posters known as his educational poster collection. The Real Smokey Bear Smokey Bears living history began early in 1950 when  a burned cub survived a fire in the Lincoln National Forest near Capitan, New Mexico. Because this bear survived a terrible forest fire and won the love and imagination of the American public, many people mistakenly believe the cub was the original Smokey Bear but, in reality, he did not come along until the advertising symbol was almost six years old. After being nursed back to health, Smokey came to live at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. as a living counterpart to the CFFP Programs fire prevention symbol. Over the years, thousands of people from around the world came to see Smokey Bear at the National Zoo. A mate, Goldie, was introduced with the hope a young Smokey would continue the tradition of the famous living symbol. These efforts failed and an adopted son was sent to the zoo so the aged bear could retire on May 2, 1975. After many years of popularity, the original Smokey died in 1976. His remains were returned to Capitan and rest beneath a stone marker in Smokey Bear Historical State Park. For more than 15 years, the adopted Smokey carried on as the living symbol, but in 1990, when the second Smokey Bear died, the living symbol was laid to rest. Smokeys Detractors Smokey Bears task is becoming increasingly difficult. In years past, it was a challenge for his message to reach traditional visitors to the forest. Now we are faced with getting his wildfire prevention message to an increasing number of people who live in and around these areas. But Smokey the Bear may have done too good a job. There are some who suggest that we have eliminated fire to the point that it is hurting not only forest management but is building fuels for future fire disaster. They dont want Smokeys message out anymore. Charles Little, in an editorial called Smokeys Revenge, states that in many circles the bear is a pariah. Even at the National Zoo in Washington DC, which tends to be inclusive, the popular Smokey Bear exhibit was quietly dismantled in 1991 - after having featured since 1950 a bear going by this name (involving two separate animals). The point is, Smokeys ecological correctness quotient is low, as an increasing number of forest ecologists have been pointing out in recent years. We anthropomorphize at our peril. Another good essay was written by Jim Carrier for High Country News. It gives a humorous but somewhat cynical view of Smokey. He does not sugar-coat and offers a very entertaining piece called  An Agency Icon at 50. This is a must read! Adapted from USDA Forest Service Publication FS-551 The Real Smokey Bear Smokey Bears living history began early in 1950, when a burned cub survived a fire in the Lincoln National Forest near Capitan, New Mexico. Because this bear survived a terrible forest fire and won the love and imagination of the American public, many people mistakenly believe the cub was the original Smokey Bear, but in reality he did not come along until the advertising symbol was almost six years old. After being nursed back to health, Smokey came to live at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., as a living counterpart to the CFFP Programs fire prevention symbol. Over the years, thousands of people from around the world came to see Smokey Bear at the National Zoo. A mate, Goldie, was introduced with the hope a young Smokey would continue the tradition of the famous living symbol. These efforts failed and an adopted son was sent to the zoo so the aged bear could retire on May 2, 1975. After many years of popularity, the original Smokey died in 1976. His remains were returned to Capitan and rest beneath a stone marker in Smokey Bear Historical State Park. For more than 15 years, the adopted Smokey carried on as the living symbol, but in 1990, when the second Smokey Bear died, the living symbol was laid to rest. Smokeys Detractors Smokey Bears task is becoming increasingly difficult. In years past, it was a challenge for his message to reach traditional visitors to the forest. Now we are faced with getting his wildfire prevention message to an increasing number of people who live in and around these areas. But Smokey the Bear may have done too good a job. There are some who suggest that we have eliminated fire to the point that it is hurting not only forest management but is building fuels for future fire disaster. They dont want Smokeys message out anymore. Charles Little, in an editorial called Smokeys Revenge, states that in many circles the bear is a pariah. Even at the National Zoo in Washington DC, which tends to be inclusive, the popular Smokey Bear exhibit was quietly dismantled in 1991 - after having featured since 1950 a bear going by this name (involving two separate animals). The point is, Smokeys ecological correctness quotient is low, as an increasing number of forest ecologists have been pointing out in recent years. We anthropomorphize at our peril. Another good essay was written by Jim Carrier for High Country News. It gives a humorous but somewhat cynical view of Smokey. He does not sugar-coat and offers a very entertaining piece called An Agency Icon at 50. This is a must read! Adapted from USDA Forest Service Publication FS-551

Difference Between an Immigrant Visa and Nonimmigrant Visa

Difference Between an Immigrant Visa and Nonimmigrant Visa What Is the difference between an immigrant visa and a nonimmigrant visa? Your choice of visa is determined by the purpose of your travel to the United States. If your stay will be temporary, then youll want to make an application for a nonimmigrant visa. This type of visa allows you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry to request admittance from a Department of Homeland Security official. If you are a citizen of a country thats part of the Visa Waiver Program, you may come to the U.S. without a visa if you meet certain requirements. There are more than 20 visas available under the nonimmigrant classification, to cover the variety of reasons why someone may visit for a short time. These reasons include tourism, business, medical treatment and certain types of temporary work. Immigrant visas are granted to those who intend to live and work permanently in the U.S. There are 4 major categories within this visa classification, including immediate relatives, special immigrants, family-sponsored and employer-sponsored.

Reading response #10 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading response #10 - Assignment Example Skehan clearly explains that it is not impossible for children to become native speakers of a language that they would have considered as foreign in their homeland. Provided the child arrives before the age of 12 in the new country, his brain is still young and flexible enough to absorb the new language to the point where he will be able to pass for a native speaker. However, unlike Skehan, I do not believe that language learning can be measured by variables and testing methods. The reason I disagree with him is because the tests being conducted in order to gain an understanding of the way a child learns a language is quite outdated and not truly applicable in the modern educational system of the 21st century. Unlike decades past, ESL learners now have more opportunities for exposure to a new language that is not limited to the school setting. In fact, these language learners, thanks to the advent of the internet and social media, oftentimes find themselves already exposed to and learning a new language long before they need to formally need to learn the new language. Ema Ushioda and Zoltan Dorneye actually built a solid case for motivation as being a primary reason behind second language acquisition. For most adult English language learners, they only push themselves to learn the new language and work towards a proficiency in the English language because their survival depends upon it. Migrating a new country and being unable to communicate their thoughts and needs to those beyond their immediate family or community members almost certainly ensures that they will fail to succeed in the new life that they have chosen for themselves. As such, I would have to say that my exposure to L2 learners has proven that survival is a great motivation for them to succeed in acquiring their new language skills. Succeeding in learning the second language almost always proves to have a positive social, psychological,

Your Are An Enterpreneur Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Your Are An Enterpreneur - Assignment Example Although the beverage industry has remained considerably competitive due to a range of retailers offering beverages brands and products, still there is a market capacity to entertain new retailers in the industry. Additionally, the business would provide a physical space where customers can sit and enjoy drinking different beverages. Although the main objective would be to work as a retailer, however it would also be a way to increase sale by offering congenial environment to the customers. As a result, the ultimate objective would be to enhance the sale of products. Business Product and Staffing Plan The entrepreneur intends to make contractual agreements with the big names in the industry. The companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and other leading companies would be reached. In the agreements, retailer margin, transport of products, loss in transit, bulk purchase discounts and other important factors shall be included. However, before going to finalize agreements, the entrepreneur in tends to research the existing policies and interaction between these companies with the existing retailers. For this purpose, both online and offline resources would be used to gather the relevant information. The entrepreneur intends to hire three full time assistants serving to customers. These assistants would be required to guide customers, provide information and assist them with any other requirements needed by the customers. The reason behind hiring three assistants is to facilitate customers. This facilitation enhances a possibility of customer loyalty. One assistant would work as Account Assistant, maintaining chart of accounts on daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annually and yearly basis. Subsequently, this would generate an un-interrupted flow of customers and revenue would be keep coming. Additionally, the business plan would be modified based on certain achievements. For example, within six months, if the budgeted sale is achieved, the initial outlay would experience addit ional investment of $ 50,000. With this plan, two additional employees would be hired; one would be required to work as store assistant maintaining inventory records and allowing and receiving the subsequent shipments. The other employee would be hired to work along with the retail staff in assisting and entertaining customers. Business benefits Preserved Profit Margin In the retail business, profit margin is always preserved. The producers in association with the relevant regulatory authorities determine and implement pricing strategy from the point of producer to the point of retailer. In this price determination and implementation strategy, profit margin of retailers is always taken into account and is enforced before going to commence receiving orders and delivering shipments to retailers. Minimized Storage Loss Generally, retailers do not experience a substantial storage loss of beverages. As the retailers do not produce beverages and the producers mostly produce and store thei r beverages, the retailers remain in a position to protect themselves from facing any substantial storage loss, which may be caused by manufacturing date expiry, loss caused by insufficient storage facilities and other unknown related factors. Generally, the retailers do not order bulk supplies of beverages in order to avoid facing any loss may be caused by storage conditions. By doing so, the retailers minimize the chances of facing storage losses. Reduced Cost of Production Loss caused by pilferage, date expiry and transportation cost increases cost of production. However, the retailers decrease their cost of production by reducing

External and Internal Environments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

External and Internal Environments - Essay Example The Company ranks 59 in the list of Fortune 500 companies. Total revenue earned by the company in the last year (2012) was 46,542 USD and profit was 8,572 USD (CNN, 2013). According to some reliable news reporting agency, the Coca Cola Company is one of the biggest public companies in the world at present (Forbes, 2013b). This paper aims at studying the environment in which the company operates, evaluating its core competencies. Recommendations have been made on the basis of the results obtained from the study. General environment The macro environment in which a company operates puts significant effect on the company’s management and its performance in the market. It is external to the company and refers to the forces that influence the organization from outside. External environment is of two types; specific environment and general environment. While specific environment is directly related to the goals and business objectives of the organization, general environment affects the organization on a broader aspect, such as its economic, political or legal, technical, socio-cultural points of view and the environmental or natural conditions that are related to the activities of the company (Daft, 2011, p. 71). Economic factors Economic factor is one of the most important factors that influence business enterprises. On one hand it affects business decisions, while, on the other hand it affects performance level of the company in the local and international market. The global economic slowdown has not left Coca Cola untouched. The developed market in the United States is recovering slowly. The company has followed positive pricing strategy in this scenario. This has lead to rise in revenue in the North American segment. However, due to appreciation of dollar, there has been fall in exports to the other international operating groups of the company, such as, Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific region. It has cast a negative impact on the net o perating revenue for the country (Coca-Cola Company, 2012a). In the last quarter of 2012 the company shares incurred loss of 2 percent (The value investor, 2012). Socio cultural aspects Sales and revenue is affected significantly by the socio cultural conditions prevailing in the society in which the product is sold. The lives of the people in the developed country like the United States is fast paced and hectic. Hence carbonated drinks, such as the Coca Cola products, are well accepted within the population in both the young population and the older generation. However, in recent times, health conscious of the common mass is rising. Sugar-sweetened drinks are considered to be the cause of health problems, such as obesity (Coca-Cola Company, 2012a). People, particularly, youngsters are becoming concerned of these issues, which is in turn affecting their consumption rate. Reduction in consumption is leading to drop in revenue. Forces of competition There are five forces of competitio n that helps in making industry analysis. The most important forces of competition that affect Coca Cola Company have been described below: Bargaining power of suppliers The basic ingredients used for the manufacturing of the beverages by the Coca Cola Company are sugar, water, caramel and fruit juice and essence. In the USA there are many suppliers of these raw materials. Hence the company can choose the best supplier for each product and make a tie up with that company. Bargaining power

News reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

News reading - Essay Example Mainly because not everyone can afford to pay for healthcare every year. For as long as unemployment remains a big part of the problem of Americas modern economy, mandatory healthcare coverage has no place in its society. Forcing mandatory coverage on people just to avoid a tax penalty will result in people purchasing the cheapest or the most affordable health insurance plan within their budget. But it will not guarantee that their pre-existing or future health conditions will be covered under the plan. Neither does it mean that the current plan of the person will still be affordable to the person. Instead, deregulation of healthcare should be pushed and doctors fees must be moderated by a governing health care services body in order to make healthcare more affordable to the people. By allowing free enterprise to flourish and giving people the option to choose their physician, they will be able to truly find a market for cheaper yet effective healthcare. Healthcare should be about competition for the best patient care between doctors, not between health insurance

Art work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Art work - Essay Example It belongs to the Metropolitan museum of Art. The credit line to this piece of art belongs to George A. Hearn Fund, 1957. Judging from this piece, I get to realize that Jackson Pollock was a prime champion of his time.by standing before this abstract painting and many others that he has done, one can observe his level of fineness. One immediately realizes that he was the greatest painter America ever produced. My attraction and appreciation of this piece shows my love for abstract painting. My desire to produce such fine work is engraved to the feeling of desire to achieve the levels of success that Jackson did. It also shows my belief in expressing emotions efficiently through abstract painting. The metropolitan museum of art. Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) Jackson Pollock  (American, Cody, Wyoming 1912–1956 East Hampton, New York): retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/210009206. Retrieved on

Indicate the implication of the article for Saudi Managers Essay

Indicate the implication of the article for Saudi Managers - Essay Example e objectives: â€Å"to replace foreign workers with competent Saudis, create more jobs for Saudis in the private sector, regulate the management of both local and foreign workers, and improve the welfare of Saudi and expatriates working in the private sector.† These are the emerging legal implications for Saudi managers. Specifically, the new legal requirements are as follows: Thus, Saudi managers will have to ensure that their HRM practices comply with these laws. In particular, vulnerable and endow workers have been granted basic legal rights concerning annual leave, health and safety precautions, maximum working hours, safe working environment, and for females, maternity leave. It will be the onus of the managers to guarantee that these basic legal rights are provided in the workplace. It is suggested that in Saudi Arabia â€Å"laws are often partially enforced and inequitably applied.† But, the government has laid out these laws to promote welfare so they should be implemented by all organizations to which they concern. Keeping this in mind, the government lays stress on trying â€Å"to shape the cognitive norms that guide manager’s HRM policies and practices†¦ by influencing managers’ beliefs about what is good HRM practice and what is not.† This shows that the government has not only established the legal framework to improve working conditions, but is also attempting to influence thinking by providing justifications, guidelines and offering incentives in order to make the policies accepted more widely. In doing so, they are also keen to point out that these new laws do not contravene the shariah due to the pervasive influence of the latter. The government wants â€Å"to create sustainable employment for the increasing number of young Saudis joining the labour market,† hence the targeting of the private sector. The ground reality is that these laws are a concern for some Saudi managers. For example, it is not only convenient but also cheaper to hire

Art work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Art work - Essay Example It belongs to the Metropolitan museum of Art. The credit line to this piece of art belongs to George A. Hearn Fund, 1957. Judging from this piece, I get to realize that Jackson Pollock was a prime champion of his time.by standing before this abstract painting and many others that he has done, one can observe his level of fineness. One immediately realizes that he was the greatest painter America ever produced. My attraction and appreciation of this piece shows my love for abstract painting. My desire to produce such fine work is engraved to the feeling of desire to achieve the levels of success that Jackson did. It also shows my belief in expressing emotions efficiently through abstract painting. The metropolitan museum of art. Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) Jackson Pollock  (American, Cody, Wyoming 1912–1956 East Hampton, New York): retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/210009206. Retrieved on

The U.S cultures and business perspectives Essay

The U.S cultures and business perspectives - Essay Example Just like the U.S.A, Brazil is a melting pot of nationalities due to long periods of slavery and European domination. The country has about 190 million people, whereby 50% of the people are white. Majority of the Brazilian people are Catholics and speak Portuguese as a national language. Bananas are the staple food in Brazil. Bananas are also grown in America, Texas. The Brazilians prefer to deal with companies, rather than individuals when doing business. The people have a close adherence to business etiquette like the Americans. The Saudi Arabians are primarily Arabs and Muslims. Greetings are very formal in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, people in the U.S don’t take too much time greeting each other. Women in Saudi Arabia dress in abayas (cloths that cover the entire body except the face and hands). The manner of doing business in Saudi Arabia is largely similar to that of the U.S.A in terms of etiquette and communication style. The country is the Middle East’s lar gest trading partner of the U.K. Dressing in suits and ties is a similarity for Saudi and American businessmen.  Territorial-wise, Russia is the largest country in the world. With Russian serving as the main language, the country has over 190 ethnic groups. Christianity, Islam and Tengrism are the primary religions of Russia. The Russians eat unique foods such as Borshch, Caviar and Pirozhkis. The Russians value time keeping highly when doing business. The ceremonial practice of receiving and exchanging business cards is taken seriously in Russia.

Broken Windows Theory Essay Example for Free

Broken Windows Theory Essay The â€Å"broken windows† theory as explained in the article; which holds that physical detoriation and an increase in unrepaired buildings leads to increased concerns for personal safety of residents and a rise in the crime rates, is an applicable theory for the conditions in the inner cities. I believe it also can apply to the current conditions in some suburban areas that are degrading, such as the local town of Norristown where I grew up. Norristown up until the 1960’s and the rise in drug use, was peaceful little mini-city in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Growing up in Norristown, my father would tell me stories of neighbors taking care of neighbors during tough economic times, and even fearing getting in trouble because everyone in the neighborhood would hit him before he got home to his father. The area hangouts were always clean and peaceful, and the houses were up kept. There still was crime, but it wasn’t always violent or prevalent. That all changed in his estimation by the late 1960’s. The drug culture entered into the area, and houses started to become run-down due to numerous squatters living 10-15 at the time in them. Area hangouts became dangerous, and he said they would have to literally fight other groups to be allowed to use the basketball courts. Violent crimes with weapons rose, and so did murder. During the 1970’s and the 1980’s, older residents began moving out in droves despite the Council’s attempts to institute tougher crime-fighting tactics. By the turn of the 2000’s, many neighborhoods looked rundown and were dangerous. I was born in Norristown in 1986 and lived there until my parents were able to move out in 1998. Drugs were rampant, crime was bad, and my mother never let me leave the house without someone older and trustworthy escorting me. If you took the time walking down in the neighborhoods, which we did a lot to get to school, you noticed many of the things mentioned in the â€Å"broken windows† theory breakdown. Many houses had broken windows, graffiti, and were the hangouts for drug users. Squatters were as prevalent as they were in the late 1960’s, with anywhere between 10-20 adults of all kinds of races living in the houses and dealing drugs. The police couldn’t do anything without getting shot. A lot of officers were harmed, and the drug operations to try and stop the flow of drugs from Philadelphia and Camden, NJ were hardly successful. I personally saw two of my cousins fall trapped to both sides of this dichotomy, one became a narcotics officer who was forced into retirement due to being shot in the back by a drug dealer, and another cousin is spending the next 25 years in prison for drug trafficking and the sale of cocaine. Gangs and drug dealers began coming from Philadelphia to establish â€Å"satellite† branches of their operations. People began putting bars on their window s due to the break-ins, community events kept getting cancelled, and the sound of gunshots became normal. By late 2004, the Council in Norristown decided to take action. Rundown houses were boarded up and condemned. Cops were brought in from outside jurisdictions to train the Norristown police on how to run better undercover drug sting operations. Crime was reduced, but murders were still high. The Council also sought out one thing they didn’t before, outside investment by companies to revitalize sections of the town. With these steps, Norristown has begun to improve, and so has the feelings of safety for the local populace. However, Norristown has decades of decay to combat, which will take time. If only they had looked at the â€Å"broken windows† theory they could have fixed this years ago.

Dr. Faust, Scientist :: essays research papers

The Webster’s New Collegiate defines a scientist as: One learned in science or Natural science; also know as a scientific investigator. The Dr. Faust described in Marlow’s Faust defiantly fits all of these criteria. He was very learned (or so he thought) in all the different sciences. In here lies his problem, Faust said that he is boarded or sees no reason for analysis, physics, law and divinity (lines 5-60). It is possible that Faust could be looking for a new more interesting science. Therefore because he is constantly searching for more knowledge, under these guidelines, he is defiantly a scientist. It is important to note that unlike most scientists, Faust is not searching for knowledge just to better himself. He is only interested in more knowledge because it produces more power; and power is Faust’s main goal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  More evidence that Dr. Faust is a scientist lies with in Act 2. This is the act where Faust finally sells his soul and the second thing he asks for are the tools of scientist, books. The first book he wants is a book that â€Å"behold(s) all spells and incantations†(lines 161). He asks for this one first because it beholds more power for him while the books he asks for after this are more for the learned aspect of Faust personality. These other books he now wants that allow him to â€Å" see all the characters and planets of the heaven† and â€Å"(to) see all plants, herbs and trees that grow upon the earth† (lines 165 and168). These last two books provide no direct means for power, unlike the first book of spells. The fact that he does ask for these last two purely intellectual books provide more proof that he is indeed a scientist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dr. Faust would of found himself at home in the Royal Society for the improving Natural Knowledge. This is true for two reasons: first because he was very interested learning about new sciences, even if he did it for his own needs. He repeats his constant search for more information when he questions the seven deadly sins (lines 105-163). Here he continues to feed his scientific appetites by cross-examine and classifying the sins. Secondly, Faust would be part of this society because like the rest of the society he believed that science and religion is intertwined. Proof that he believes this lies in the fact that he uses religious applications to increase his knowledge.

Educating Rita :: Social Issues Racism Equality Essays

Educating Rita Civilization has a tendency to attempt to divide people into different groups. Our environment weighs and measures us; then places us into a certain company. Frank and Rita are the very example of two persons placed in very different social compartments. Their places in society differ greatly as do their roles as student and teacher. And yet as one examines the script of Educating Rita it seems as though two people, who society has attempted to separate from each other in every possible way, still have the world in common. The first big difference in the two characters' social status is their sex. Rita is a woman, Frank is a man. Though we may try to deny it, there is quite a difference between what is expected from men and women. Age as well plays a large part in terms of theses expectations. Frank is middle-aged whereas Rita is still in her late twenties. Rita is facing masses of peer pressure, it is expected of her that she should now have children and become a housewife. Her being fairly young and married, the thought of her going back to school instead of having babies is unheard of, quite abnormal, and even unacceptable. Frank, in contrast, is a middle-aged man and a divorcà ©. As far as social pressure is concerned, he is now free to do his liking. He has already filled his middle-class duties; he is educated, he has something of a career and he has been married. He now has a girlfriend, which people regard that he is entitled to. Nobody expects him to make a deeper commitment to his girlfriend, due, it seems, to the fact that he has already been married once. These differences lead to a certain lack of empathy on Frank's behalf. Frank doesn't understand Rita's situation, the social pressure put on her is incomprehensible to him. Frank believes that life is a simple matter: don't love your husband anymore, get a divorce; don't want to have children, don't have children. What he does not see, is that Rita is bound by the ways of her society, she's not allowed to differ from her mates, which has a greater impact on her than Frank seems to realise. In a way of thinking, Frank is free and Rita is not. Rita is bound by a lot of expectations to live up to, whereas Frank has leave to simply enjoy the rest of his

Serial Dilution Homework

Serial Dilution Homework Problems Name:_Vidya Punati_____________________ Section #:__36_______________________ 1. In the image above, the final dilution is 1:____1X10^-8___________________. 2. You make six 2-fold serial dilutions of a solution. Your final dilution will be 1:_64_________. 3. You dilute 1 ml of an unknown sample of bacteria to 1 x 10-6 and plate out 100? l onto a Petri dish. The next day you count 64 colonies.The number of viable bacteria in the original sample was a. 6. 4 x 107 cells/ml b. 6. 4 x 108 cells/ml c. 6. 4 x 109 cells/ml d. 6. 4 x 1010 cells/ml 4. A 1 ml sample of bacteria was diluted to 10-6 and 100? l was plated on the Petri dish at right. What was the approximate concentration of the original sample? 8 x 10^7 bacteria per mL. | | 5. What are two reasons serial dilution is a useful technique for counting populations of bacteria? ) When there are a lot of bacteria, it is hard to count undiluted colonies accurately because there could be hundreds of them. Serial dilution is a useful technique because the colonies are counted twice with different people and the average number of colonies is reported as the number of bacteria present in the sample after multiplying the dilution factor. 2) If the number of bacteria in the samples is high, colonies of bacteria are likely to cover the whole plate so that one cannot count any colonies at all.

Commentary on Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owens Essay

The sonnet â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† by Wilfred Owen explores the horrific and tragic conditions of the deaths of World War I soldiers on the Western front. By contrasting the soldiers’ deaths with the customary Christian funeral ceremonies, Owen comments on the dark irony that the young men who gave their lives to serve â€Å"God and their country† were denied the respectful yet superficial rituals that the religious society value so much. The title of the poem well expresses the sentiments Owen conveys throughout the sonnet. The use of the term â€Å"anthem†, which is usually refers to a joyous and often religious song of praise, is in this case referring to the widely held view that fighting for one’s country is joyous and honorable. This anthem, however, is for â€Å"Doomed Youth†, and there is a dark irony that this widely held sense of pride and nationalism about war actually results in futility and death. Owen chooses to describe the young soldiers as â€Å"doomed† because they are destined for death as soon as they enter the army, because of the futility of the strategies used in this war. The soldiers are also referred to as â€Å"youth† to emphasize their innocence and create the image of healthy, fit young men dying for nothing, which arouses pity in the reader. The first stanza is an octave that describes the horrifically violent conditions of these young soldiers’ deaths by contrasting and juxtaposing auditory imagery of the battlefield as the soldiers die with descriptions of customary funeral ceremonies. The first line is a rhetorical question, which forces the reader to truly ponder all that the soldiers lack in terms of acknowledgment and ceremonies of death, and this encouragement to think is further enhanced by the hyphen in the beginning of the second line, which forces the reader to pause. Owen emphasizes the shocking nature of the soldiers’ world, the war, by saying that the soldiers â€Å"die as cattle†, which conveys the manner in which these young men are slaughtered inhumanely as if they are worthless and are treated as if they have no identity. Instead of â€Å"passing-bells†, which is society’s way of acknowledging a death, these soldiers receive the â€Å"only the monstrous anger of the guns†, which indicates that their death goes unnoticed as if they were just cattle. Furthermore, Owen comments on all the rituals and customs that the soldiers fail to receive. The personification of the guns as being â€Å"angry† contrasts to the solemn sorrow the soldiers should have received upon their death. The repetition of â€Å"only† in lines 2 and 3 emphasizes all that the soldiers lack, as we are then told that instead of funeral prayers, the soldiers instead hear the â€Å"stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle†; the alliteration echoes the gunfire and the onomatopoeia allows the reader to hear the harshness and irregular but constant sounds of the guns. By implying that these guns â€Å"patter out their hasty orisons†, Owen points out the irony that these men who have gone to war for God are being killed and must have â€Å"orisons† muttered for them by the deadly machines that are responsible for their death. The â€Å"orisons† are described as â€Å"hasty†, which indicates the rapid pace of the war and the fact that these soldiers have little time to live. Furthermore, instead of church choirs, the soldiers hear the â€Å"shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells†, which seems to suggest a demonic sound, perhaps implying that the soldiers receive no peace even after death. The personification of the shells as â€Å"wailing† is ironic because the weapons that killed the soldiers sound as if they are mourning for them. Further down the stanza, Owen subtly criticizes the Christian religion and its ceremonies as he describes the funeral customs as â€Å"mockeries†. This term suggests the irony in the fact that these soldiers, who have given their lives for God and their country, are not able to enjoy these ceremonies that acknowledge their death, even though they may be the ones that most deserve them. The last line of the first stanza foreshadows the coming volta as it shifts the focus from the conditions of death in war to the sadness that the deaths in the war brings to those who knew the soldiers. The sound of the gentle and beautiful â€Å"bugles calling† is a sharp contrast from the violent noises of the war but the mention of the â€Å"sad shires† seems to imply that this sad calling is coming from anonymous â€Å"shires† far away. The sad, and less violent tone of the last line of the octave is carried onto the second paragraph, in which the tone becomes contemplative and sorrowful. There is a volta as the focus shifts from the violence of the war to the sober yet sincere way in which these young men die at war, with no elaborate customs but with pure, untainted emotion. Owen begins this stanza with another rhetorical question: â€Å"What candles may be held to speed them all?† The term â€Å"speed them all† seems to refer to the passage to heaven, and thus we are made to wonder: without candles or ceremony, will the soldiers be able to find their way to heaven, or will they haunt the battle grounds forever? In the following lines Owen gives us the heartrending but optimistic answer that indicates that although the soldiers are neglected of the traditional funeral ceremonies, nature itself and those who love them give them a metaphorical ceremony that is much more sincere and pure. Therefore, although the candles are not in their hands, they are in â€Å"their eyes†. This metaphor gives the image of sparkling, glittering eyes, as if the soldier’s eyes were brimmed with tears as he died. This pure emotion of sorrow of â€Å"goodbyes† is suggested to be purer and more sincere than artificial and elaborate ceremonies through the use of positive words such as â€Å"shine†, â€Å"glimmer† and â€Å"holy†. Owen suggests that through pure emotions, the soldiers have their own special kind of funeral as the â€Å"pallor of girls brows shall be their pall†, which conveys how the sadness of their loved ones acts as their funeral covering. This substitution of emotions for the ceremonial objects continues in line 13, when the â€Å"tenderness of patient minds† metaphorically become these soldiers’ flowers. The last line of the poem is very powerful as it concludes the poem by showing how the deaths of the soldiers are being acknowledged in a way far superior to the religious ceremonies. Owen depicts the way in which instead of having the â€Å"drawing-down of blinds†, that is a traditional act of acknowledging their death, all of nature is metaphorically drawing the blinds by slowly becoming dark in a â€Å"slow dusk†. The adjective â€Å"slow† conveys the respect that all of nature is paying to these brave men, even as society forgets about them. Ultimately, Owen takes the reader through an incredible journey in this short but deep sonnet. He conveys the the horrors of war and depicts all the religious ceremony that these soldiers are ironically denied off. However, towards the end of the poem, Owen brings us to realize the strength of the emotions and sorrow of those who loved these youth as their raw feelings became the soldiers’ funeral. Although the poem is bleak and dark throughout, the last stanza is poignant and heartrending as we realize that emotions and love are stronger and more important than any customs or traditions.