Project Location

Project Location Project Location Home›Research Posts›Project Location Research PostsIntroduction and Purpose Statement  The aim of the research is to find a square land each side 100 meter for a project to take place in Devikulam Village. The land I found is next to a primary school. The location establishes the underlying property value of this land. Research in this area has mainly focussed on different levels of trust; and the techniques used to gain trust from landlord and third party seals (e.g. TRUSTe). However, current research lacks focus on the international context, which is characterised by strong and weak land laws, supporting telecommunication infrastructure and the credibility of payment channels. To continue research in Devikulam Village, this study will follow a qualitative methodology of 2-3 case studies of the importance of this land. 1-2 managers in these firms will be interviewed as to how local and regional laws concerning land use is of importance to soil fertility. The in terview data will be complemented by using observation and document analysis in order to reduce bias of one method. Data will be qualitatively analysed using maps, and the results will be compared with other areas of studies. The project research will further find out the technologies concerning agricultural firms. In addition to the above, the research will depict the impacts of construction of a fish pond project in the area of location.Along the way of my research, the landlord declared their village as residing under the newly established Federal Reserve Forest area, thus making villagers technical trespassers. The fact that the land was fertile and conducive in terms of agriculture did generate conflict between the villagers and the landlord because the project had to cover a 100 meters each side. Over 100 individuals from Devikulam Village have been charged and put through the judicial system for using the fertile land their families have been working on for over 20 years. Whe n people are prevented from farming, their main source of income, and are ordered to pay fines equal to $3,000 per ½ acre worked on, there is more to the conflict than legal issues, it becomes issues of humanity. “Most of the villagers I encountered have no other source of income besides farming on their land and without the ability to do so they’d need to pick up their families and move to an urban area and start from scratch.” (Standifird, 2001)The green circled land is surrounded by well tarmacked road and a few shops. Devikulam land is one kilometre from the school. The students have to take a van for their practical studies to Devikulam.Agricultural nature of the land depicts the reason why Devikulam Village land is more preferable than other lands. Agriculture has really played a fundamental role in the economy of various nations. According to Standifird, (2001) “Not only for the reason that it tends to feed the entire population of a country but also in the respect t hat agriculture correlates and interacts with all the related industries of that country.” Any country is usually preferred to be a politically and social stable nation if it possesses a very stable agricultural basis. “A stable agricultural industry ensures a country of food security. The land has been noted as a food security zone that other lands have not qualified for. Food security is considered to be one of the primary requirements of any nation and no nation can effectively grow with a stable agricultural base while harboring a nation of hungry people, as these hungry people can do nothing what-so-ever towards helping develop their country.” Food security prevents starvation which has traditionally been considered one of the largest problems being experienced by the small developing nations. Most countries depend upon agricultural products and related industries for their major source of income.Research project limitationsThe major limitation of this thesis is the fact that the landlord does not have access to government documents of the land under analysis in this research project, especially as concerns strategic matters. Conversely, the entire research project will be based on written materials, the analysis of the assessments of the insights made by various analysts and the statements issued by the concerned people. Another limitation is that the dynamics of the contemporarily operational environment may affect the subject matter of discussion quite immensely. This is because of the existence of a number of other states and non-states and actors that may impinge on the relations and associations among the villagers. The scope of this synopsis may be further affected by the daily happenings, given the dynamics of the politics in the area, which may affect the subject matters of analysis. Before the location of the project, I had to consider several questions such as;Will the project increase traffic congestion on nearby streets and how will thi s be accommodated.Will the activity generate noise, air or other pollution?Will the project increase the demand for public services or physical or social infrastructure to support the proposed development?Will the project conflict with existing uses in the area?I had to consider some examples of development that occurs in the absence of the necessary land-use policies to guide the implementation process or decision-making. These examples also highlight some of the problems that may occur if land-use planning issues and criteria are not adequately considered during and incorporated into the process of evaluating development applications.This coupled with the paucity of the time dedicated for project location may impinge on the depth and scope of the synopsis. Homes located in Devikulam communities that support employment in large industries such as aerospace, technology, manufacturing and the government-military-industrial complex are likely to experience relatively stable or rising market value. I preferred Devikulam Village land thanTamil Nadu due to various environmental factors such; rainfall, soil fertility and good infrastructure such as road accessibility, electricity and network.In the absence of a policy to guide the display of advertising and directional signs in Devikulam Village, the development control system has no criteria by which to judge whether or not a sign is too large, too close to the road, within motorists line of sight or is aesthetically or visually pleasing. (Standifird, 2001)DelimitationsWhile the scope of this synopsis encompasses the agricultural, diplomatic and economic interests of the villagers, the historical backgrounds and foundations on the basis of which these current geo-strategic are founded cannot be discounted. However, it is only the major implications of the historical perspectives that have been paid cognizance. The synopsis therefore is grounded on the framework that the landlord will continue to pursue his interest and conversely will pursue policies that will enhance its strategic regional goals.I now come to realization that Devikulam land is more than a parcel or area of soil; I see it as a gateway to other freedoms and rights that has contributed to the increasing and protecting someone’s quality of life. As matters surrounding land here in Devikulam are becoming clear to me, I am left wondering about what other issues I have overlooked due to my American understanding of a concept. “Although this is a big question, I know that the only way to understand more is to open myself up to the challenges of this project and to not only evaluate what is going on in Devikulam, but what is  going on in my backyard as well.” (Kimmel, 1988; Oliver, 2003; Wilkinson, 2004; Sin, 2005)Out of this project location, it has been depicted that the land can sustain fish when construction of fish pond is done in a recommendable manner. From the analysis of the market structure, fish has become daily foo d consumption. Therefore I constructed a big fish ponds to facilitate fish consumption within the village and nearest market.   This section will therefore address the impact of fish ponds on operating marketing and management personnel and reveal research project findings on the health, work performance, age and gender and the impact on social and family relations, as availed in the project.MethodologyResearch ApproachDue to the subjective nature of the research questions, the research philosophy of Social Constructionism will be best suited because according to this philosophy, reality is socially constructed and is determined by “people who attach meanings to it”, rather than through objective factors. In this the approach is to use interviews and observation (Baker, 2003; Easterby-Smith et al, 2008; Eisner, 1991; Miller and Brewer, 2003). Positivism on the other hand emphasises that scientific knowledge about society can be created just like the physical sciences; generalise d through repeated observations and the output of this knowledge can be used to provide a basis for social policy-making (Donaldson, 2003). However, in the case of this research project, the subjective contexts are more important, and information can be sensitive, as to how organisations think of ethical practices in e-commerce from the perspective of trust. The answers to such questions cannot be objective and hence positivism does not suit this research.MethodsAccording to Yin (1994), many data collections methods can be applied in this regard, including in-depth interviews, documents, observation, physical artefacts, archival records and semi-structured interviews and no exact boundaries can be drawn into data collection methods. Given the scope of the study, only semi-structured interviews are intended to be used. According to Baker (2003), semi-structured interviews allow collection of large data about various different factors quickly and allow follow-ups for generating deep i nsights. Hence after designing the interview schedule based on measurement criteria, based agriculture multinationals will be contacted using snowball sampling and managers in these firms will be interviewed. Additionally, the study will use the observation method while visiting these firms as to how ethical practices are being followed. Thirdly, document analysis of these firms will be used to validate and mediate the results from interviews and observation. A good researcher should know how to create a good mix of these ‘three legs’ in the right proportion. This triangulation brought about by combining these three methods also reduces ‘bias’ caused by one single method and contributes to better research validity. Also the strength of qualitative research is in the ‘concurrent use of multiple tools’ (Hall and Rist, 1999). Hence a good analysis of these three methods has been found useful in achieving the research objectives.Data collection and analysisThe interview data from the companies will be transcribed and recorded into software such as Envivo. It will be analysed by identifying similar patterns and differences and associating them with the measurement criteria. The data will be structured through nodes (tree nodes, free nodes etc.) within Envivo to establish a deep understanding of the area. The results from observation and document analysis will be used to support the analysis. The findings and results will then be tabulated and discussed in relation to previous research and conclusions will be drawn, followed by limitations and challenges faced in the study.Ethical issuesThe study will ensure that ethical practices such as that of informed consent, no-harm, privacy, anonymity and responsible dissemination of data (Kimmel, 1988; Oliver, 2003; Wilkinson, 2004; Sin, 2005) are applied. Informed consent will be gained by taking due permissions from gatekeepers of organisations such as key managers before interviewing any villager. The intervie ws will be kept anonymous and private, name identifiers will be removed so that the study is unbiased and also does not harm the participant in the study in any possible way. Collected data will be kept confidential and will be shared only with the supervisor and not with competing organisations, which may happen to ask about other firms in which interviews were conducted. Participants will be duly informed about the academic nature of the study and how data and results of the will be disseminated.Research Project Plan The activity 1 involves acceptance of the proposal, followed by discussion of the various research methods, access to organisations, and decision on practical factors such as place, budget etc. Activities 2 and 3 involve conducting a detailed literature review after a discussion on keywords, library catalogue, bibliographic databases, articles, journals, research papers etc. After this, a research design will be developed to from the interview schedule and identify me asurement criteria. The research design will be checked for ethical aspects and then interviews will be carried out. Activity 4 involves getting access to land and conducting interviews. As responses are gathered, they will be input into Envivo for analysis. In the latter two weeks of the month, data analysis (activity 5) will be carried out using Envivo. Activity 6 involves comparing the results with the literature and discussing the results with the supervisor. Activities 7, 8 and 9 are concerned with writing the dissertation and review by the supervisor. The overall set of activities will be completed in the last month.Health implications of the workers in fish pondFish pond project has been positively correlated with constrained health. This has mainly been attributed to the psychological and physiological body functioning and the associated work conditions intolerance which is dependent on the individual. Problems include headaches, persistent fatigue, gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach, and appetite loss), muscular aches and restlessness, and slowed reaction time. It has been reported that fish pond personnel are usually at higher rates of encountering cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications. Other health complications that have been associated with fatigue and work stress will include; high blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, heart problems, intestinal disorders, insomnia, and depression (McKnight and Chervany, 2001).The need for the body to constantly adjust to the changing stress patterns as dictated by adjust to poor work conditions has been demonstrated to arise from a multiple of factors. Furthermore, increasing levels of stress may result to frustration, irritability and aggression. Other effects may include restlessness, nervousness and agitation which can result to impulsivity, carelessness and impatience. Extended stress levels that may significantly impair body functioning, disease resistance, depression or even death.The nature of the operating theatre personnel work has been documented as stressful and which may affect their physical and emotional wellbeing. They also experience chronic non-traumatic stress arising from the demands of their work such as pressures from their superiors, nurses, the media, and the general public that well exacerbates the stress levels. These stress levels are seen to be raised a notch higher as they are work long hours, insufficient technical facilities, absence of appreciation, long and short breaks or work in shifts. The strain on the body at times becomes too much to bear resulting to general physical malaise and emotional disturbance. A lot of personnel have subsequently been seen to result to the use of sedative-hypnotic drugs, alcohol and even hard drugs. These behaviours typically impair their general health and wellbeing. In extreme cases, some have resulted to committing suicides.Literature ReviewFrom a theoretical perspective, McKnight and Chervany (2001) have suggested that ethical issues in agricultural land affect the trust of consumers in the business and this trust can be: (1) Dispositional â€" that is a general trust in humanity; (2) Institutional â€" that is trust in the situation or structures such as the world wide web itself; or (3) Interpersonal â€" that is the direct specific person that one trusts, such as the E-vendor. Unethical practices in agriculture can affect all three categories of trust, especially in an international context.From a dispositional perspective, trust in agriculture can be affected by fraudulent e-business firms, or by fraudulent sellers operating with trusted firms (Floridi and Sanders, 2001; Schoorman et al, 2007). For instance, Ebay focuses clearly on this type of trust by ensuring that the payment channel is secure and reliable. To do so, it even acquired PayPal, which was gaining widespread acceptance as a reliable payment channel. It has also partnered with Channel Advisor to get consulting advice about reliable payment operations in developing markets (Standifird, 2001). Ebay’s reputation as a reliable agricultural firm has however been jeopardised by the rise of internet frauds especially in the trade of high value firm products. Even currently, Ebay does not have any mechanism in identifying fraudulent sellers before items are listed on its website. Dispositional trust can also be affected by unethical use of consumer data for direct marketing purposes.During an agricultural operation, consumer data such as credit card information and personal details are passed over to the firm, which can misuse this data. This is often called social engineering or phishing (Duff, 2005). In an agricultural firm with high technique, a firm sends emails or creates web pages that are similar to legitimate businesses. When victims click on links in these emails, they are requested to enter personal information, and sometimes even credit/debit card details and PIN numbe rs. Agricultural firm that uses the new technology receive text messages on the phone that causes users to go to websites that capture information of users. Vishing, another form of phishing uses Voice over IP, a new technology that allows voice calls to be made from the internet to landline phones. Such calls are difficult to track because they are based on unknown numbers dynamically assigned by the company providing VoIP services (Jaques, 2006). However, there is little research as to how these activities affect dispositional trust in e-commerce, especially in an international perspective.Institutional trust is enhanced by forming and enforcing laws such as the Data Protection Act in the UK (DirectGov, 2005). Even though domestic UK firms adhere to these, their subsidiaries in developing countries face institutional trust issues such as different rules of law (North, 1990) which can affect agriculture operations. Ineffective or badly implemented agricultural laws, especially in d eveloping countries or transition economies can affect transactional integrity and the credibility of payment channels (Oxley and Yeung, 2001). However, firms in developed countries such as UK can also face confusion due to the regionalism and ambiguity of such laws. For instance, privacy related laws implemented by the European Commission are only applicable for member countries, and agricultural activity by multinational firms in European countries that are currently not members of EU can use unethical practices, eventually affecting institutional trust. Also, the ambiguity of such laws in developed countries can lead to firms finding loopholes.Interpersonal trust in agriculture deals with trust between two or more parties such as the buyer and seller. In ethical terms, this often deals with issues of benevolence, privacy of transactions, integrity and predictability (McKnight and Chervany, 2001). This can also be combined with institutional aspects such as the credibility of paym ent channels. Dubbeld (2010) suggests that “Thirdâ€"party privacy or security seals, such as those issued by TRUSTe or VeriSign, appear to be even more uncommon than online privacy policies. UK firms often use an official thirdâ€"party security seal. In both cases, the seal referred to Web sites’ safeguards for secure transmission of medical data on the (patient/physician) logâ€"in Web page”. Firm specific privacy policies thus play a key role in ethical e-commerce activity. However, again there is less research on this from an international context.

Operations Performance Objectives and Supply Chain Relationships of Hadrians Country Foods Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Customers are more self-assured and very demanding on products and services and on suppliers. The food industry has to transform production-driven supply chains into market-driven supply chains (Folkerts Koehorst 1998, p. 385). Research institutions and the chilled food sector must cooperate in order to find new tools, methods, and knowledge for chain analysis and chain management. HCF needs more accuracy, speed, and flexibility in responding to a competitive market, an improved response to consumer demands and environmental factors, and development of new products through technology application. Performance Objectives. The company must emphasise performance objectives to improve competitive advantage. The performance objectives are quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, and cost. A key strategic challenge for HCF managers is to decide which of these five performance objectives they want their operation to specialize or excel and how they can configure their operation in doin g it. 1. Quality. This is about doing things right in the context of operations. HCF should consistently produce foods that meet customer expectations. It needs to improve its skilled workforce and proper technologies to improve manufacturing. Transporting chilled foods from the factory to retailers, the supermarkets, and then to end-user must be improved. We will write a custom essay sample on Operations Performance Objectives and Supply Chain Relationships of Hadrians Country Foods or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Problems Associated With Chinese Australian And Homeless...

Culture is a common ground of group of people sharing ideas, beliefs, values and behaviour which is not restricted to ethnicity (Fanany, 2012). Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries across the world who have their own cultural and social aspects of life. There exist various factors that influences the health of different cultural groups which includes social gradient, social exclusion, unemployment and addiction (Wilkinson Mormot, 2003). Among the various cultural and ethnic groups, this case study highlights the aspects determining the health and its risks in Chinese-Australian and Homeless-Australian youths’ community and the strategies overcoming those risks. It reviews the literature on the social determinants causing health risks in the specific cultural groups and suggests the best possible approaches dealing with the health problems associated with them. Chinese-Australian groups Chinese population forms a major part of non-English speaking population in Australia. The Australian population comprises of 2% of the total population of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). With the increasing population of Chinese-Australian there exists various factors that affect the general health condition of the population which includes their health beliefs, dietary consideration and low knowledge about diseases. Culturally based values and beliefs are considered to have the mostShow MoreRelated65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays 2nd Edition 147256 Words   |  190 Pagesnonprofit entity, not the Harvard Business School. The Harbus contributes profits to a grant-making foundation that supports community organizations and schools in the Boston area. The Foundation to date has awarded over $850,000 in grants to forty organizations that pursue initiatives in education and literacy. The views and opinions expressed i n this book do not necessarily reflect those of Harvard Business School, and the references to the school throughout the book do not mean that the school endorsesRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesstrategic issues. The case studies which follow allow the reader to extend this linking of theory and practice further by analysing the strategic issues of speciï ¬ c organisations in much greater depth – and often providing ‘solutions’ to some of the problems or difï ¬ culties identiï ¬ ed in the case. There are also over 33 classic cases on the Companion Website. These are a selection of cases from recent editions of the book which remain relevant for teaching. The case studies are intended to serve as a basisRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesResource leveling 7.2 Setting a cost and time baseline schedule (1.3.5) [8.1.3] 6.5.2.3 Critical chain method Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Reducing Project Duration Leadership Chapter 2 Organization Strategy and Project Selection 1.4 Projects and programs (.2) 1.4.1 Managing the portfolio 1.4.3 Strategy and projects 2.3 Stakeholders and review boards 12.1 RFP’s and vendor selection (.3.4.5) 11.2.2.6 SWAT analysis 6.5.2.7 Schedule compression 9.4.2.5 Leadership skills G.1 Project leadership 10.1Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesInc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial caps or all caps. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Robbins, Stephen P. Organizational behavior /Read MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesFundamentals of Human Resource Management Tenth Edition David A. DeCenzo Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC Stephen P. Robbins San Diego State University San Diego, CA Tenth Edition Contributor Susan L. Verhulst Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA John Wiley Sons, Inc. Associate Publisher Executive Editor Senior Editoral Assistant Marketing Manager Marketing Assistant Production Manager Senior Production Editor Freelance Development Editor Senior Designer Interior

Childhood Obesity Causes, Effects and Current Solutions Free Essays

Over the past 30 years childhood obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate. With working parents, technology, and processed foods; children are eating more and are less active then ever seen in the past. Obesity is hitting youth so hard that health experts warn that this generation of children will be the first to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents (Afterschool Alliance, 2006). We will write a custom essay sample on Childhood Obesity: Causes, Effects and Current Solutions or any similar topic only for you Order Now This paper is intended to explain current issues surrounding childhood obesity, and touch on some of the causes and effects of this epidemic. Also, touch on what some states and school districts are doing to tackle obesity at its source. These programs and other ideas that are being implemented will be touched on with the intention to bring forth the importance of this issue that has been overlooked. There are many factors that could contribute to childhood obesity, some of the most common ones are; television and technology, convenience foods, education, and habits taught at home. Alone, each one of these factors may not be something that would be the cause to obesity, but together they form a dangerous cocktail. Today’s generation of children statistically do less activity then generations before; 95% of students are required to take physical education during school hours but 65% of these students do not meet recommended levels of physical activity (â€Å"The Obesity Epidemic and United States Students,† n. d. ). A contributing factor to this less physical generation could very well be television and technology. Younger generations are ever more dependent on technology; they are watching television and using computers more frequently. On average children are spending more than three hours a day watching television, playing videogames, or using a computer (â€Å"The Obesity Epidemic and United States Students,† n. d. ). Due to this dependency, children and teens are moving less, and sitting in the same position for long stretches of time. Another contributing factor to obesity is convenience foods. The culture in which we live in today seems to have an obsession with how fast things are, from cars to information, and now food. The current problem with many fast foods and ready-to-eat meals is the amount of preservatives and empty calories that they contain. Ate in moderation these foods are fine, and can satisfy the hunger of an individual, but some families consume convenience foods almost on a daily basis. More households in America have dual incomes, and after a long day of work parents tend to just â€Å"pick up† dinner rather than cooking meals. As Michelle Obamba stated, â€Å"there were plenty of times when after a long day at work, when the fridge was empty and the kids were hungry, that I just ordered a pizza because it was easier† (Nanci, n. d. ). In combination with inactivity, frequent consumption of convenience foods can result in weight gain. Other factors that have been associated with weight gain in children are their parents, and schools. We as humans tend to learn habits and mannerisms from our parents, and when parents exhibit unhealthy eating and exercise habits; their children are likely to follow in their footsteps. Genetics and behavior have been shown to contribute to weight gain; parents and children gain weight in households shown to contain more energy-dense foods, and in household where parents are not physically active (Anderson, 2006). But parents aren’t the only individuals who have the finger pointed at them; schools are also under the microscope for potential catalysts in the child obesity epidemic. Some people believe that health education in our school systems is not a priority for some districts. Currently only 69% of students are required to take health education (â€Å"The Obesity Epidemic and United States Students,† n. d. ). Researchers believe that if health education is required of all students, then obesity rates may decrease. Schools are also said to offer too many alternatives to healthy lunches through vending machines. Individuals believe that by having these machines available, students are purchasing sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks, and then consuming them during class hours. As a result of increased childhood obesity rates, healthcare rates have also increased. When children are obese they have a higher risk of becoming obese adults, and higher risks of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. As a result to these complications, in a 30 year time span hospital costs resulting from obesity related complications have more than tripled (Afterschool Alliance, 2006). Other studies have shown that there is a relationship between students with poor academic performance and obesity. These studies have shown that male obese adolescents think they are bad students and are likely to consider dropping out (Hunt, 2008). It is believed there is a direct connection between low self esteem and academic performance, and student who are obese tend to have low self esteem. Some school districts, states, and even the federal government are beginning to recognize how out-of-control child obesity is. They have begun to offer solutions such as afterschool programs, physical education classes, healthier lunches, and even suggested as to where schools should be located. Afterschool programs have become extremely innovative in order to get children up and moving. Some of them integrate tutoring with physical education, and health education, with the intent to teach children healthy habits for life; others have local college and professional sports teams connect with schools to promote healthy living (Afterschool Alliance, 2006). Another way that schools have been taking the initiative to reduce obesity rates is by redesigning the school lunch program. The National School Lunch program offers more nutritious alternatives for lunch, although there is no guarantee that children will eat more fruits and vegetables, but they are available (Ralston, 2008). Some schools unplug the vending machines during class hours to prevent children from unhealthy snacking during classes. Even the government is beginning to step in and offer suggestions as to how to solve childhood obesity, some of their suggestions are; have schools within walking distance of residential neighborhoods, require schools to teach physical education, and discourage consumption of sugary beverages (Nanci, n. d. ). Although the childhood obesity epidemic is at its highest percentages in years, organizations are beginning to offer programs and suggestions as to how to control and reduce the issue. Although there are many causes to obesity; they are mostly excuses. It is imperative that parents take control of their children’s diet and activity level, and promote healthy living. Schools also need to take responsibility in the issue and require that children take physical education at every level, and also, schools need to instate heath education classes. Solutions need to be set in place not only for health reason, but also for the academic and profession futures for today’s youth. It is said that 46% of children will be overweight this year (Afterschool Alliance, 2006). This is the year to prove that statistic wrong and make an improvement in the culture of America. References Afterschool Alliance, W. (2006). Active Hours Afterschool: Childhood Obesity Prevention Afterschool Programs. Issue Brief No. 24. Afterschool Alliance, Retrieved from ERIC database. Anderson, P. Butcher, K. (2006). Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes. Future of Children, 16 (1), 19-45. Retrieved from ERIC database. Hunt, J. (2008). Childhood Obesity and Academic Outcomes. James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy. Retrieved from ERIC database. Nanci, H. (n. d). Michelle Obama to Fight Child Obesity at Grass Roots. USA Today, Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Ralston, K. , Newman, C. , Clauson, A. , Guthrie, J. , Buzby, J. , Economic Research Service. (2008). The National School Lunch Program: Background, Trends, and Issues. ERS Report Summary. US Department of Agriculture, Retrieved from ERIC database. The Obesity Epidemic and United States Students. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. cdc. gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/pdf/yrbs07_us_obesity. pdf How to cite Childhood Obesity: Causes, Effects and Current Solutions, Papers

Lawson Case free essay sample

Executive Summary Lawson is a general merchandising retailer in Riverdale, Ontario, which has had four consecutive years of revenue and profit increases. The owner, Paul Mackay wanted to operate a store that stressed value at competitive prices targeting low to middle income families. With a wide range of products, Paul has been using only one supplier. The supplier, FWL allows Paul to order on credit and pay at scheduled intervals. Problem Statement Lawson is a clothing retailer who has recently met with a bank official asking them for a couple of new services from the bank. The first new service that they have requested is a bank loan that would be used to pay down their trade debt. Their current interest rate on the trade debt is 13. 5% and the owner of Lawson, Paul MacKay, feels that he can secure a bank loan that would in turn have a lower interest rate. We will write a custom essay sample on Lawson Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The second new service that they have requested is a line of credit, the line of credit would be used to help, when the sales are down and cash flow is short. Paul feels that a line of credit will ensure that the store will be able to meet their debt obligation with their main trade supplier. Lawson is also carrying a lot of inventory on their balance sheet, since they have a high inventory their trade debt is also fairly large as they are on a basis similar to consignment with the supplier. Analysis When looking at this case we have to see whether a bank loan would be the most advantage solution to the problem. I believe that a bank loan if secured will decrease the interest that is being paid on the outstanding trade debt. I do not think that the bank loan is the most economical way to approach the increase in trade debt that Lawson has. Lawson needs to look at he increase that they have in their inventory. A question that needs to be asked is why the inventory has increased so much in the last few years. Is Lawson over estimating their need for inventory and then having a hard time selling the inventory that they have. Is the any of the inventory that Lawsons shows on the balance sheet obsolete? If there is any obsolete inventory can it be sent back to the supplier for a refund or sold at a discount. When looking at the financials of this company, I see that once the inventory and trade debt is eliminated there is not a lot of money in the company. Lawson also has a debt to Commercial Bank of Ontario that is secured by a pledge against all company assets and a guarantee by FWL, Lawson’s main supplier. Even this loan is recorded on the balance sheet as more than the company’s assets. With an increase in sales of 10% and decrease in the interest paid on the trade debt, Lawsons may not get ahead because Paul Mackay has increased his withdraws as well. Conclusions Based on Lawson’s current position, I do not feel that the best option for Lawson is a bank loan. Lawson has to find a way to decrease its inventory and in turn control its trade debt. The trade debt can be controlled by finding other suppliers in order to keep the cost of goods sold down. FWL is considered a distributer, and as such distributers are known to increase product prices when it sells to its customers as this is how they make their money. Lawson should decrease its dependency on its distributer, FWL and this will in turn decrease the interest that is paid, As a business having only one supplier is becoming Lawson’s downfall as they have no leverage on pricing.

Audre Lorde †The Defragmented Form

Audre Lorde – The Defragmented Form Free Online Research Papers It was Audre Lorde who gave birth to the idea of the erotic as power. She embraces it to be the passion, joy and connection within us all. Lorde distinguishes this power from the mere sensations involved in pornography, which represents the oppression of true feelings. She so boldly proclaims that, â€Å"We have been warned against it all of our lives by the male world, which values this depth of feeling enough to keep women around in order to exercise it in the service of men, but which fears this same depth too much to examine the possibilities of it within themselves† (537). And it is because of this fear, she continues, â€Å"The erotic has often been misnamed by men and used against women . It has been made into the confused, the trivial, the psychotic, the plasticized sensation.† What women of the feminist art movement are left with is the question of how to reclaim the erotic – their essence- through art. Kiki Smith has taken a vulnerable approach to reclaiming her body from society and in turn the erotic within herself. Through bold experimentation, she used her art to explore the wonders of the human body. By separating the body from its spirit, Smith strove to universalize the human experience through the depiction of the female form, thereby challenging the long tradition of male artists’ exploitation of the female body as a pornographic subject. Women in society are expected to be free of bodily functions. There is a lot of effort put in by woman to strip away any clues that they have human bodies. Smith personalizes, â€Å"I know, in my life, I feel oppressed a great deal by all these ideologies I’ve either internalized in my own psyche or am politically and socially confronted with every day† (McCormick). I an effort to battle this baggage she carried, Kiki began to explore the body and its natural function through a diversity of mediums. Her first piece was a latex hand covered in algae floating in a glass jar. This touches on the transient quality of the human body. Possibly, she was motivated by her father’s recent death at the time to express her contemplation of mortality. It was her father, famous minimalist sculptor Tony Smith, who infused her early years with art. I find it interesting that his death was the catalyst for her career as an artist. In an exhibit of Smith’s in New York’s Whitney Museum, an onlooker was bombarded with the workings of the body. Glass jars stood empty, each labeled with the fluid it was meant to hold: urine, sweat, semen, saliva, mucus, milk. On a pedestal nearby sat folded what looked to be flayed skin. A rib cage hung on the wall near sets of internal organs (Cotter). The beauty of this exhibit is that this wasn’t just â€Å"shock art†. I forced the viewer to question why they were so shocked by the inner workings of their own body. Her work is a comment on how detached we are from our own body. The pieces that I found most poetic were a set of three female figures. â€Å"Pee Body† was a form squatting with yellow beads flow out from her crotch, while â€Å"Train† displayed a proud figure standing tall with multiple strands of blood-red beads cascaded to the floor. The works are complimented by a crawling body of beeswax followed by what is meant to depict a ribbon of feces. I am so captivated by these three sculptures because undoubtedly the masses were completely repulsed by them. Why? Because society has drilled into us that these qualities that solidify us as humans rank up as the greatest of taboos. To be human would be to be equal and that just does match up with what we are taught. I believe her works to be successful at blowing these myths right out of the water. By invoking such revulsion in her audience, she is in effect shaking up the historical ideologies that thread through time. Smith is then empowering herself and others to shift their ideas of the female form and separate the content from the context. One of the most powerful illustrations of this persistence to evoke is her piece entitled â€Å"Virgin Mary†. Here stands a woman vulnerable, fragile and stripped of her skin, revealing the musculature beneath. This sculpture demystifies the icon of Mother Mary, leaving her an exposed human for all to dissect. The materials used in Smith’s work conveys just as much as the subject it describes. Her choices in medium resemble that of Eva Hesse. Hesse was known for using wax and rubber to attribute human qualities into her work. In effect, breathing life into her work. Not as minimalistic as Hesse, Smith experiments with an array of mediums into her work: metal, plaster, glass, beeswax, cotton, cardboard and the list continues to grow with each piece. When she first began her work, she was told that no one would take her seriously because she used â€Å"girl materials†. Her response was, â€Å"Okay, fuck you, I’m going to make everything really indestructible and you can’t take it away from me. You can say it’s shit, but at least you can’t say it’s shit because it’s going to self-destruct† (McCormick). She attempted to work with bronze and other sturdy materials, but eventually went back to more fragile materials. I think the latter choice in materials is profound when used with images of the body because the body itself is so frail and destructible. Her use of more temporary substances brings back the separation between form and matter, body and spirit. Within the negative spaces lies what Audre Lorde was referring to as the erotic. Another female artist that used art to process her relationship to her body was Frida Kahlo. Throughout her life, Frida suffered many illnesses and injuries and it seemed that her body had turned on her. Similar to Smith, Kahlo became an artist as a result of the imminent failure of the body. After a nearly fatal accident, a bedridden Kahlo began to paint. She employed the paint and canvas as an outlet to her pain. This pain, both physical and emotional, lasted a lifetime. Like Smith, her work was laced with blood and tears. Her paintings are a bit more autobiographical than Kiki’s because they are mostly self -portraits. Kahlo declares, â€Å"I paint myself because I am often alone and I am the subject I know best† (Herrara 181). I do speculate that these paintings helped her to make the distinction between herself and her body. In 1944, she painted â€Å"La Columna Rota† (The Broken Column) whch depicts a weeping Kahlo with a bound, broken body held up with a roman column as her spine. The image is disturbing and possibly not what those around her wished to see. But this was her truth, her human experience. By painting this she is able to somewhat separate herself from the physical pain she had experienced. Both artists force the viewer to experience the unpleasant. They beg of the audience to face and accept the fragility and vulnerability of life. Kiki did eventually engage in self-portraiture when she explored printmaking. She clarifies, â€Å"†¦I’m starting to use myself. Maybe because prints are this other world- they’re a secret entrance into using myself as a subject†¦ I’ve been much more self revealing in doing prints† (â€Å"Kiki†). Smith uses her own image to delve into the various kinds of printmaking. One of the most experimental was â€Å"Blue Lake† in which she flattened a three dimensional picture of herself onto a large piece of paper, constructing what looked to b e the image of a flayed body. Once again, Kiki used her art to segregate herself from her body. It is as if she has actually peeled her skin off to reveal what exists beneath. Kahlo deals with the piercing of the skin her piece entitled â€Å"Unos Cuantos Piquetitos† (a few small nips) where a dead woman lies on the hospital bed covered in cuts surrounded by blood. It is not just the similar concepts that move me to compare these two artists. In some works, I have found strikingly mimicked imagery and subject matter. Both have produced images of milking breast. Freda herself is being nursed by a solid woman that appears to be donning a primitive mask in â€Å"My nurse and I†. Smith’s â€Å"Untitled: (pink bosoms)† is a series of prints inspired by the myth of a goddess who spurts her milk to produce the Milky Way (â€Å"Kiki†). The series consists of simple images of breasts printed on magenta paper embellished with animated burst of milk. Both women have delivered works that emphasize the production of milk from within the ducts which focuses on a function that may be overlooked and underappreciated. These pieces address the themes of female nourishment and regeneration. One could even argue that it was art that had replaced the â€Å"milk† in their lives. The most fascinating connections between the art created by both Kahlo and Smith is the way Smith pulled two powerful images of Kahlo’s into one bold sculpture. Whether she did this purposefully or not, the similarities are eerie. In â€Å"The Little Deer†, Kahlo portrays herself as having the body of a deer that has been wounded by spears, once again using flawed object to refer to her injuries and brittle body. However in â€Å"My birth† Kahlo addresses her own birth and the loss of her many miscarriages. In this painting she is using the body to illustrate, â€Å"The one who gave birth to herself†¦ who wrote the most wonderful poem of her life† (Herrera). Smith has since then brought into being a sculpture that is a culmination of both of Frida’s works. â€Å"Born† is the life-size depiction of a small deer giving birth to a woman. Smith contributes that, â€Å"†¦making stuff about art is about the fact that one is born one self rather than that one is a capable breeder. Everyone is born. That’s how you get here, and it’s also something that you have to keep on repeating over and over again to make your life vital- to be like a phoenix, to make new, or renew, your life existence† (McCormick). â€Å"Pink bosoms† was not Smith’s only piece that addresses mythology. â€Å"Rapture† is a sculpture of Little Red Riding Hood stepping confidently out of the wolf’s gut. This brings us back to the notion of reclaiming ourselves from the bowels of society’s expectations and ideologies. There were other incidents where she dealt with mythological heroines, such as Alice in Wonderland. Kahlo also incorporated the Mexican mythological monkey into her several of her paintings. In â€Å"Self-Portrait with Monkey, she uses the monkey with a red ribbon wound around her neck to symbolize the metaphorical ties between herself and her pet. Smith also investigated this connection in â€Å"Lucy’s Daughters†. Our history’s first female heroine, Lucy, was a pre-historic hominid whose 3 million year old skeleton was found in Ethiopia (â€Å"Kiki†). This installation consists of sixty screen printed cotton female figures standing in the corner of a room. She used the structure of a inverted pyramid to resemble a family tree. A tree that began with one woman and represents an unbroken feminine chain from even before humankind (Haber). Today I stand as a member in that chain. The women artists before me have made valient attempts to strip themselves of the pornographic and renew the erotic. They have made audacious statements and allowed themselves to be vulnerable in order to expose the false ideologies that society has put on us in the name of femininity. They understood, as I understand, that the feminine- the erotic- exists in everyone. We all have bodies. These woman challenge themselves and their audience to ask one question. When stripped our fragile, ephemeral shell – when the body’s value is reduced to its functionality- what is it that lies beneath? Research Papers on Audre Lorde - The Defragmented FormHip-Hop is ArtAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Spring and Autumn19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraWhere Wild and West MeetMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyMind Travel

An Overview of Brazil and Its Geography

An Overview of Brazil and Its Geography Population: 198,739,269 (2009 estimate)Capital: BrasiliaOfficial Name: Federative Republic of BrazilImportant Cities: So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, SalvadorArea: 3,287,612 square miles (8,514,877 sq km)Coastline: 4,655 miles (7,491 km)Highest Point: Pico da Neblina 9,888 feet (3,014 m)Brazil is the largest country in South America and covers nearly half (47%) of the South American continent. It is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world, is home to the Amazon Rainforest and is a popular location for tourism. Brazil is also rich in natural resources and active in world issues such as climate change, giving it significance on a worldwide scale. The Most Important Things to Know About Brazil 1) Brazil was given to Portugal as part of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 and the first person to officially claim Brazil for Portugal was Pedro lvares Cabral.2) The official language of Brazil is Portuguese; however, there are more than 180 native languages spoken in the country. It is also important to note that Brazil is the only country in South America whose dominant language and culture comes from Portugal.3) The name Brazil comes from an Amerindian word Brasil, which describes a dark rosewood type common in the country. At a time, the wood was Brazils main export and thus gave the country its name. Since 1968 however, the export of Brazilian rosewood has been banned.4) Brazil has 13 cities with over one million residents.5) Brazils literacy rate is 86.4% which is the lowest of all South American countries. It falls just behind Bolivia and Peru at 87.2% and 87.7%, respectively.6) Brazil is a diverse country with ethnic groups including 54% European, 39% mixed European-Africa n, 6% Africa, 1% other. 7) Today, Brazil has one of the largest economies in the Americas and is the largest in South America.8) Brazils most common agricultural exports today are coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus, and beef.9) Brazil has a plethora of natural resources which include: iron ore, tin, aluminum, gold, phosphate, platinum, uranium, manganese, copper and coal.10) After the end of the Brazilian Empire in 1889, it was determined that the country would have a new capital and shortly thereafter, the site of present-day Brasilia was chosen in an effort to promote development there. Growth did not occur until 1956 and Brasilia did not officially replace Rio de Janeiro as Brazils capital until 1960.11) One of the most famous mountains in the world is the Corcovado located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known worldwide for its 98 foot (30 m) high statue of the citys emblem, Christ the Redeemer, which has been on its summit since 1931.12) Brazils climate is considered mainly tropical, but it is temperate in the south. 13) Brazil is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world because its rainforests are home to more than 1,000 bird species, 3,000 fish species and many mammals and reptiles such as alligators, freshwater dolphins, and manatees.14) The rainforests in Brazil are being cut at a rate of up to four percent per year due to logging, ranching, and slash and burn agriculture. Pollution of the Amazon River and its tributaries is also a threat to the rainforests.15) The Rio Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous attractions in Brazil. It attracts thousands of tourists yearly, but it is also a tradition for Brazilians who often spend the year prior to the Carnaval preparing for it.To learn more about Brazil, read the Geography of Brazil on this site and to see photos of Brazil visit the Images of Brazil page on South America Travel. References Central Intelligence Agency. (2010, April 1). CIA - The World Factbook Brazil. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Brazil: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/country/brazil.html United States Department of State. (2010, February). Brazil (02/10). Retrieved from: https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35640.htm Wikipedia. (2010, April 22). Brazil - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil