Presentation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Presentation - Assignment Example Such individuals must therefore develop numerous yet effective public relation strategies in order to interact with their publics and succeed in influencing their viewpoints. Individuals in the limelight carry out public relations strategically depending on their demands. While some may maintain a positive relationship with the public at all the time, the occurrence of crises often expedite the need for effective public relation plans in order to counter the negative effects of such crises. In such cases, the individuals contract public relation agencies who in turn develop effective public relation messages and communicate them effectively thereby earning them the desired viewpoints. Public relations campaigns target specific audiences for particular durations. Within such periods, the agencies must develop effective messages and assess the effectiveness of the campaigns at the end of the period. This way, the agency decides on the future action depending on the public’s mindset. Effective public relations campaigns result in the desired public view about the individuals. Robert Bruce Ford, commonly known as Rob Ford is an iconic Canadian politician and the current mayor of Toronto. Rob Ford has been a politician for more than three decades serving a two terms tenure in the council before being elected to the mayor’s position. As Such, Rob Ford is a public figure who requires a likable public image in order to achieve widespread acceptance since such enhances the success of the mayor. Despite such, the mayor’s political career has had numerous work elated and personal controversies some of which threatened his political career. The latest of such scandals was the drugs and substance abuse charges in 2013. Rob denied all the allegations but after extensive investigation into the allegations, the police discovered videos of

Rheumatoid Arthritis Essay Example for Free

Rheumatoid Arthritis Essay Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) belongs to a class of autoimmune disorders that cause chronic joint inflammation as well as inflammation of the tissues surrounding the joints (Goronzy Weyand, 2001, p. 55). Other organs in the body are also affected when the cells fail to differentiate self from non-self. The failure of the immune cells to differentiate the body’s own cells from the foreign or intruding cells leads to autoimmunity where the immune cells attack the body’s own cells. Usually, the immune system is organized in a way that it seeks and destroys the body’s invaders particular the pathogens. The antibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases always target the body’s own tissues and cause inflammation. The effects resulting from the self-attack spreads to multiple body organs and this condition is commonly referred to as rheumatic arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). Epidemiology Rheumatoid arthritis is perhaps the commonest of all rheumatoid diseases and it affects about 1. 3 million people in the U. S alone (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). Women are three times as riskier than men to be afflicted by the disease although the disease is common among all races in equal magnitude (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 1). The numbers of women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are currently on the increase despite the recorded decline in numbers a few decades ago. The use of contraceptive pills containing insufficient estrogen as birth control measures has been blamed for the reduced immunity among women thus the increased cases of RA (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 5). Environmental factors such as cigarette smoking are also to blame for the increase in disease cases among women. Although the general smoking rates have declined in the United States, the rates of women smokers, separately considered, have not declined though. While genetic factors such as the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 alleles have for long been suspected to cause aberrations in proteins in immune cells, this has not been proved yet (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 5). The risk among women has also been linked to the deficiency of vitamin D. Rheumatoid arthritis usually afflicts individuals of a wide range of ages although it is commonly begins after one has attained the age of 40 although it is rare beyond the age of 60 (Silman Pearson, 2002, p. 267). It has also been shown that rheumatoid arthritis can occur in multiple members of the same family. This observation suggests the propensity that the disease is inheritable (Goronzy Weyand, 2001, p. 55). A specific gene is suspected to be the underlying reason for the strange behavior of the immune cells attacking the body’s own cells. Pathophysiology and Pathogenesis Arthritis refers to some form of inflammation that occurs at the joints. Joints are points where two bones join each other and are critical for locomotion process. Rheumatoid arthritis results to the inflammation of the joint which is accompanied with severe pain, swelling, redness and stiffness in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to severe inflammation in tissues surrounding the joints such as ligaments, tendons and muscles. Chronic inflammation in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis can result into complete destruction of the bones, cartilage and ligaments thus leading to serious joint deformities. Usually, destruction of the joints can occur in early stages if development but gets worse as one advances in age (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). The main cause of RA is not well known although bacteria, viruses and fungi have for long been in the suspect list without any of the biological agents been proved. As for this reason, intensive research efforts are being invested in the identification of the causal agents for RA. Genetic causes and environmental infectious agents have been associated with the deranged immune system which goes out of control and attacks the body’s own cells (Goronzy Weyand, 2001, p. 55). The deranged immune system results into massive joint and organ inflammation which leads to rheumatoid arthritis. The common organs affected include the eyes and the lungs. Specifically, the activation of lymphocytes marks the start of the process of inflammation. In the inflamed cells, a number of chemical messengers are expressed including the interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (Gupta Fomberstein, 2002, p. 3). Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis experience episodic inflammatory symptoms depending on the extent of individual tissue inflammation. The disease is overly active following extensive tissue inflammation and becomes inactive after inflammation has subsided. The condition undergoes remission following treatment or spontaneously and this can last for several days to years. In remission stage, patients feel well again until the conditions flares (return of symptoms and course of the disease). Active symptoms of RA include energy loss, lack of appetite, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, stiffness and low-grade fever. The reddening and swelling of the joints at the point of inflammation is indicative of RA. The joints also become tender and overly painful and the synovium, which is the tissue lining the joints, gets inflamed leading to overproduction of joint fluids or synovial fluid (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 26). The inflammation of the synovium (synovitis) results mainly from its thickening. A number of organs and other body parts are affected in rheumatoid arthritis because the disease is a systemic condition. Specifically, the disease affects several body joints which are inflamed in a symmetrical manner mainly involving the small joints of the wrist and the hands (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 12). The wrists and the hands are affected and the patients afflicted by the disease get it difficult to even open jars and turn door knobs. RA also affects a number of small joints of the feet. However, when a single joint is affected, the arthritis presents as joint infection or gout. Damage to tissues, bones and cartilages results from chromic inflammation and this can eventually lead to a complete cartilage loss and bone and muscle weaknesses and erosion. Joints will become deformed, destroyed or may completely lose function. The vocal cords can be affected to a level of influencing the voice tone. The effect to the cricoarytenoid joint has been suggested to influence the voice tone and cause voice hoarseness of the afflicted individuals. Inflammation of the glands located in the mouth and eyes often cause dryness, a condition known as Sjogren’s syndrome. Chest pain associated with shortness of breath, deep breathing or coughing results from pleuritis or the inflammation of the linings of the lungs (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 18). Lungs tissues may become scarred, inflamed or rheumatoid nodules may form in the lungs. The pericardium or the tissues that surround the heart may become inflamed (pericarditis) and lead to massive chest pain especially when afflicted individuals lean forward or lie down (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 19). The total erythrocytes and leucocytes count immensely reduces and a reduction in red blood cells leads to anemia while a decrease in leucocytes results to the enlargement of the spleen, a condition known as the Felty’s syndrome (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 17). The region around the fingers and elbows may experience firm lumps known as the rheumatoid nodules (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 16). While rheumatoid nodules do not lead to any significant symptoms, they can be infected occasionally. In RA patients, the nerves may become pinched around the wrist area and result to carpal tunnel syndrome. While it is rare for patients to suffer from vasculitis, the condition is one of the serious complications associated with RA and can totally impair the supply of blood to the tissues and lead to necrosis or tissue death. In vasculitis, tiny black spots around the beds of nails or ulcerations of the legs are commonly visible. Treatments To date, there is no specific known treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. However, modern interventions have been directed towards reducing pain and inflammation of the joints and maximizing the functioning of the joints. With proper management such as X-ray monitoring, the damage to joints and improvement of joint functions can be achieved. A combination of medication, sufficient rest, joint protection, patient education and exercise to strengthen the joints has been proved effective (Clair, Pisetsky, Haynes, 2001, p. 146). The treatment plan is not uniform among all patients but depends on the disease activity, general health of the patient, the age and occupation of the patient and the type of joints affected by RA. In all the treatment plans, there should be total cooperation between the patient, doctor and the family members. There are two main classes of drugs used in the management of RA: the first-line drugs or the fast-acting drugs and the second-line or the slow acting drugs. Among the first-line drugs include aspirin and corticosteroids such as cortisone which are used in the management of joint inflation and pain. Second-line or slow acting medications, also known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) include agents such as methotrexate, hydroxycholoroquine and gold (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). These agents increase the chances for disease remission and prevent any progressive destruction of the joints but do not act as anti-inflammatory agents (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). Since the level of destructiveness from RA varies with individuals, treatment options also differ among individuals. For instance, patients with less destructive forms of RA can be advised to have sufficient rest or given analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs to manage the condition. Second-line medications can be administered in a timely manner to improve the function and minimize joint destruction and disability within a short period following disease diagnosis. However, a great percentage of individuals suffering from aggressive form of RA require second-line drugs like methotrexate as well as the anti-inflammatory drugs. Different second-line drugs can also be given in combination regiment. In severe deformities of the joints, surgical procedure may be recommended to correct the deformities (Arthritis Foundation, 2010).

The Foolishness in Shakespeares Twelfth Night :: Twelfth Night essays

The Foolishness in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night      Ã‚   William Shakespeare used a unique device to explain how foolishness is an unavoidable part of everyday life.   He employed many specific examples of foolishness in his comedy titled Twelfth Night.   Each of the characters he created were all foolish in one way or another.   Not only do the characters entertain the audience, but also educate the audience as they portray mankind avoiding obvious truth.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeare takes a humorous approach to expose the ways we fall prey to pride, vanity and self-deception.   As the story unfolds, the characters discover their faults before they can do any real harm to themselves or anyone else.   Fortunately, only embarrassment or humiliation are the result. Combinations of comedy, personality and irony are all qualities each character reveals to exhibit the many types of fools we can all be.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most common type of fool in society is usually the simpleton, or a "natural" fool.   Sir Andrew Aguecheek is an excellent example.   Although Sir Andrew is funny, it is not intentional. His faults include a lack of wit, a tendency to be easily amused, and the opportunity to be manipulated by others to be accepted.   His foolishness is revealed innocently, as he considers himself a gentleman.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   His attempts to flirt with Maria by showing how clever he is fail when Sir Toby advises him to accost, in other words, to woo her.   Sir Andrew thinks "accost" is her name as he addresses her, "Good Mistress Mary Accost-" (I, III, 54).   After his embarrassing introduction to Maria, Sir Andrew tries to salvage his dignity by laughing at himself as he says, "Methinks sometimes I have no more wit than a Christian or an ordinary man has.   But I am a great eater of beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit" (I, III, 83-86).   It is clear that Sir Andrew is easily taken advantage of at his expense.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another way foolishness is exposed, is through love.   For example, Malvolio loves nobody but himself.   Although he is Olivia's household servant, he considers himself better than others.   It is his vanity, arrogance, and pride that causes Malvolio to act foolishly.   Olivia says, "O, you are sick of self

Tuskegee Experiment

Study clinicians â€Å" For the most part, doctors and civil servants simply did their jobs. Some merely followed orders, others worked for the glory of science. † — Dr John Heller, Director of the Public Health Service's Division of Venereal Diseases[8] Some of the Tuskegee Study Group clinicians. Dr. Reginald D. James (third to right), a black physician involved with public health work in Macon County, was not directly involved in the study. Nurse Rivers is on the left. Dr. Taliaferro Clark Dr.Oliver WengerThe venereal disease section of the U. S. Public Health Service (PHS) formed a study group at its national headquarters. Dr. Taliaferro Clark was credited with its origin. His initial goal was to follow untreated syphilis in a group of black men for 6 to 9 months, and then follow up with a treatment phase. When he understood the intention of other study members to use deceptive practices, Dr. Clark disagreed with the plan to conduct an extended study. [clarification needed] He retired the year after the study began.Representing the PHS, Clark had solicited the participation of the Tuskegee Institute (a historically black college (HBCU) that was well-known in Alabama) and of the Arkansas regional PHS office. Dr. Eugene Dibble, an African American doctor, was head of the John Andrew Hospital at the Tuskegee Institute. Dr. Oliver C. Wenger, a caucasian, was director of the regional PHS Venereal Disease Clinic in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He and his staff took a lead in developing study procedures.Wenger and his staff played a critical role in developing early study protocols. Wenger continued to advise and assist the Tuskegee Study when it turned into a long-term, no-treatment observational study. [9] Dr. Raymond H. Vonderlehr was appointed on-site director of the research program and developed the policies that shaped the long-term follow-up section of the project. For example, he decided to gain the â€Å"consent† of the subjects for spinal taps (to look for signs of neurosyphilis) by depicting the diagnostic test as a â€Å"special free treatment†.Vonderlehr retired as head of the venereal disease section in 1943, shortly after penicillin had first been shown to be a cure for syphilis. Nurse Eunice Rivers, an African-American trained at Tuskegee Institute who worked at its affiliated John Andrew Hospital, was recruited at the start of the study. Dr. Vonderlehr was a strong advocate for her participation, as she was the direct link to the community. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Tuskegee Study began by offering lower class African Americans, who often could not afford health care, the chance to join â€Å"Miss Rivers' Lodge†.Patients were to receive free physical examinations at Tuskegee University, free rides to and from the clinic, hot meals on examination days, and free treatment for minor ailments. As the study became long term, Nurse Rivers became the chief person with continuity. Un like the changing state of national, regional and on-site PHS administrators, doctors, and researchers, Rivers stayed at Tuskegee University. She was the only study staff person to work with participants for the full 40 years.By the 1950s, Nurse Rivers had become pivotal to the study—her personal knowledge of the subjects enabled maintenance of long-term follow up. In the study's later years, Dr. John R. Heller led the national division. By the late 1940s, doctors, hospitals and public health centers throughout the country routinely treated diagnosed syphilis with penicillin. In the period following World War II, the revelation of the Holocaust and related Nazi medical abuses brought about changes in international law.Western allies formulated the Nuremberg Code to protect the rights of research subjects. No one appeared to have reevaluated the protocols of the Tuskegee Study according to the new standards. In 1972 the Tuskegee Study was brought to public and national attenti on by a whistleblower, who gave information to the Washington Star and the New York Times. Heller of PHS still defended the ethics of the study, stating: â€Å"The men's status did not warrant ethical debate. They were subjects, not patients; clinical material, not sick people. â€Å"[10]

Is Milk Healthy for You? Essay

The start of every mammal’s life begins with the consumption of milk, whether it is from its mother or a bottle. All female mammals produce milk and it’s their responsibility to feed their milk to their offspring. The ultimate reason is to give the offspring all of the vitamins and minerals in milk that will allow them to grow big and strong, while also filling their appetite. Some of the ingredients found in milk that are necessary for our bodies to function on a daily basis are things such as carbohydrates, fat, protein, enzymes, and vitamin D and A. All baby mammals must drink milk to start their life so that they can grow up living strong and healthy lives. Without all of these vital components found in milk, life as we know it may cease to exist. Drinking milk has been the way of life for all mammals and humans since the beginning of time, which only backs up the fact that milk is very healthy for our bodies. Some people think differently of this issue and say that milk is the wrong choice for us and that it can be quite harmful. If we’ve been drinking milk for thousands of years and it contains all of these necessary ingredients for our bodies to function properly, how can milk suddenly be a terrible choice for our bodies? To start off, milk has several different components within it that benefit our bodies and assist in optimum daily functioning. These ingredients also help prove why milk is definitely a healthy choice to drink. Milk contains carbohydrates to give your body fuel by providing energy to the cells in your body. It has protein to help build muscle and other tissues. It also contains enzymes to speed up the process of breaking down materials in your body such as food. Last but not least, it is a great source of vitamin A, for eye sight, and vitamin D, to help absorb the calcium in your body to build bone strength. Despite the fact that on the milk carton it says it contains all of these nutrients, people still believe that milk isn’t a healthy choice. Even with these facts, people still think that milk is bad for us. Don’t get me wrong, there are people in the world that don’t drink milk for legitimate reasons that are unrelated to nutritional factors. One common reason is lactose intolerance. Lots of people around the world are known to have acquired this syndrome. I say â€Å"acquired† because more times than not, a person obtains intolerance for the lactose in milk products after the weaning process of birth rather than actually being born with it. The basic definition of lactose intolerance is that people have an insufficient amount of lactase, an enzyme that catalyzes lactose into all of its components, in their digestive system. This could be a legitimate reason not to drink milk –– but these people aren’t the ones saying milk is bad for you. Another reason may be because of the texture or taste. Some people just don’t enjoy the taste that milk has to offer. Others may not like how thick and creamy it may be compared to water. All of these reasons are acceptable explanations to dislike drinking milk. It’s when people don’t drink milk because of nutritional reasons that should be frowned upon. Now that our excused milk drinkers are free of charge, let’s talk about the unexcused. There is an astounding amount of sources that can be found online to support the abolition of milk in the human diet. Many articles rant on about all of the factors of milk that can harm your body. Examples of these statements include things such as milk having the capability to deteriorate bone density. Cindy Jones-Shoeman, a published writer for Natural News, writes in an article from February 2009 about how a woman by the name of Vivian Goldschmidt said, â€Å"the animal protein found in milk actually depletes the human body of calcium, exactly the opposite of what milk drinkers expect it to do,† (Jones-Shoeman). Vivian may have an MA in nutrition, but what she doesn’t mention in her article is that it specifies in bone health nutrition –– even more specifically dealing with antidotes for osteoporosis. She gives no evidence in the article proving that calcium does this sort of damage to our body. I think we can now infer that she may be quite informed about the osteoporosis portion of bone health but not about the facts of milk and its effects on the human body. This is why people should be dubious when reading articles online. You never know what nonsense you might stumble upon. To dig deeper into her credentials, Vivian claims to have been diagnosed with osteoporosis but has dealt with and supposedly cured herself of this disease in her own natural manner –– without medication. She was the creator and founder of an organization called Save Our Bones, which is profitable as a company by earning money selling their merchandise such as books and magazines about how to strengthen bone health for osteoporosis patients. What we may not notice is what she said about the animal protein in milk causing the depletion of calcium in our body. She doesn’t specify what the animal protein is or even how its process of destroying calcium works. This means she is saying that this evident protein, when consumed, will obliterate the calcium content that our body has already utilized? I may not know much about protein facts, but I know enough to say that the world has been drinking milk for generations upon generations and there has been no explicit evidence proving that people have actually been losing calcium from drinking milk, which is comprised of 30% calcium minerals. Being that it is one of the most commonly found minerals in the body, calcium is the nutrient every living mammal needs for their growth and stability. Without it, our bones would be jell-o and our teeth would be spongy. So now that we see milk is healthy for us, which type of milk should we pick? There are numerous types of milk alternatives out there in the world for people to test out and discover, but only one type should be chosen. All milk begins on the whole milk side of the spectrum and continues on to fat-free skim milk when fats are distilled out of it. When people hear the word â€Å"fat† they assume it’s malignant to our bodies and could make us fatter and more obese in return. The number one reason for people choosing lower-fat milk rather than whole milk in their diet is because they think these fats are bad for us. Lower-fat milks are also argued to be healthier than whole milk because they have lower quantities of saturated fat, which has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, strokes, and even types of cancer. Both of these factors supposedly add to the conclusion that lower-fat milks help your risk of heart diseases and other potentially fatal diseases along with the ability to lose weight. But unfortunately, the people who agree with these statements would be wrong. Other websites are on the same track in saying that whole milk is the basis of a lot of health problems such as heart disease, strokes, high cholesterol, and diabetes (Internet Brands). Some people claim that the saturated fat in milk is to blame for these tribulations. Ironically, all of these so-called â€Å"facts† have been proven to have the exact opposite results. Science has now revealed that the link between saturated fat and heart diseases is tenuous at best. Two highly honored doctors of nutrition along with a man who mastered in nutrition contributed to the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition about the misinterpreted perspective of saturated fat. One of the doctors, Ancel Keys, has prominently worked on studies in the 1950’s which resulted with his essay titled â€Å"Cholesterol Controversy,† in which he added on to the Journal with later. Their summary about saturated fat states that it has been proven to be very beneficial to the human body to consume saturated fat, although in moderation. Their studies show that consuming saturated fats raised good cholesterol –– the kind of cholesterol you want and need in your body to stay healthy. They even specifically added in their paper that, â€Å"we are in danger of ill health unless we drink milk because, in letters a foot high, ‘EVERY BODY NEEDS MILK,’† (Keys, Grande, and Anderson). Now that this subject has been cleared up for the misinformed people, we can now move on to even more in depth controversies about the types of milk. Another common misconception is that extracting the fat out of whole milk will make it healthier for humans. Whole milk contains roughly 3. 5% fat while skim milk contains essentially no fat and 2% and 1% milk are self-explanatory, but these fats are actually not bad for us at all. Most people would think that less fat means a more pure product, which would intuitively be healthier. The fact is that the fats in whole milk are not actually harmful to our body at all but instead should be known as dietary fats that our body needs and uses in positive ways. Our body uses the fats in whole milk as a carbohydrate to help yield the energy we exert every day. But ultimately, these fats are absolutely essential for the breaking down process of the vitamins and minerals that whole milk supplies us with. The Office of Dietary Supplements –– the National Institute of Health –– states in one of their articles that the vitamins such as vitamin A and D are fat soluble (â€Å"Vitamin A† and â€Å"Vitamin D†). This means that our bodies can’t absorb these minerals from milk if all the fat has been skimmed off because the fat is what helps break down the nutrients so our body can access and absorb them. Another article also declares that, â€Å"you can pump fat-free milk full of a year’s supply of vitamins A and D, but the body can’t access them,† because the fats are not there to break them down for the body to absorb (Bergeson). Also, these milk fats contain glycosphingolipids, which are the types of fats that are linked to good immune system health and cell metabolism (Bergeson). Eating these fats with our daily portion of milk assists in reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes, which proves the earlier statements to be incorrect. Milk that is fat reduced is actually known to lose some of the nutritional content as well. To fix this issue, companies that make lower-fat milk will inject, either in liquid or powder form, alternative vitamins and minerals to keep the nutrient levels the same what it started at –– this being when it began as whole milk. But as stated before, no matter how many extra nutrients are pumped into the lower-fat milks, they are not accessible because of the absence of fats to break them down. So it turns out, the fat in whole milk is actually not bad for you at all, but actually is necessary to allow your body access to the vitamins and minerals in whole milk. As well as the fat content, people are always worrying about the saturated fat and mineral content on the labels of all of their foods that they eat. Do people even know what they are looking at? Maybe if we all take a quick and careful look at the labels on the cartons we can solve this in a simple and trouble-free manner. Whole milk does in fact have a higher saturated fat percentage in it than lower-fat milk types on the market, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I stated before how saturated fat is good for you in moderation but there is an even simpler way of determining if something is healthy for you or not by just looking closely at the label. On every label of milk are the daily percents next to each nutritional label. Based on a 2000 calorie per day diet, these daily value, or DV, percentages describe the daily value percentage of a nutrient we are receiving from one serving of a particular milk brand. Surprisingly to some people, saturated fat has a percent of daily value next to it, which implies that we need saturated fat in our diet to be healthy –– in moderation of course. Better yet, whole milk, which gives us 25% of our DV percent, supplies us with more of a portion of that daily percentage than lower-fat milks, which can range from 15% to 0%. With lower-fat milks having less saturated fat percentages in them, we would have to drink more to get our daily percent for the day, which also means more calories. So, even though whole milk has 150 calories per cup and average lower-fat milks have 130, you would still have to drink more cups of lower-fat milk to get your daily value of each nutrient label. As a result, you are literally hurting yourself by consuming more calories than needed. If a healthy diet consists of 2000 calories, you would have to find an alternative source to retrieve the rest of the nutrients you are lacking when drinking lower-fat milk, while also being careful not go over a healthy calorie diet. To expand further on the calorie controversy, whole milk has a thicker content than that of lower-fat milk because it is composed of all of the nutritious fats that we need. I am intending to imply that because whole milk is thicker, and it will fill you up quicker than lower-fat milks will. This means that when people consume lower-fat milks, they tend to be hungrier more often because their milk does not always satisfy their hunger. In turn, this will cause them to either drink more of their milk or eat more of other foods. If they choose to drink more of their lower-fat milk, they are only adding on the extra calories that their body doesn’t need, which would end up being higher than just drinking whole milk. They also might choose to eat on more junk food, such as sweets or salty snacks, to please their craving which will do even more damage to their health and figure. Now granted, some of us may choose a healthier option to snack on such as fruits or vegetables, but when we have hunger pains we will eat anything to satisfy it. The previous paradox will thus contribute to the process of weight gain rather than losing weight –– which people do not normally expect from drinking their lower-fat milks. By drinking whole milk, people will feel more satisfied which will curb their appetite and discourage eating junk food, which keeps off the fat that contributes to weight gain. Since they are satisfied from their whole milk, they tend to drink it in smaller portions, which allows them to consume fewer calories and sugars that we don’t need in our diet. As you can see, milk is more beneficial to our bodies than we may believe. Since the beginning of time we have relied on milk since infancy in one form or another. This hasn’t shown any faults to their bodies, but has actually shown extreme improvement in the growth of height, muscle, and bone density when consumed on a regular basis. So, why do people suddenly think that milk is bad for us and stop drinking it as adults? Times change, and there are people out in the world that try to find loopholes and excuses to why they don’t have to drink milk. This snowballs into the misconception that drinking milk is not a healthy choice for us. But milk’s physical properties and nutritional values aren’t going to change just like that; so it’s inevitable that milk will be healthy for us for the rest of our lives and for all the generations to come. People like to assume that if they have to choose a type of milk then it would be low-fat or better so they can keep their waistlines thin and be better protected from diseases. Sadly, this is not true. Whole milk would most definitely be the better choice because it is all natural and it contains all of the crucial components needed to stay disease-free and actually stay trimmer and fitter. So people of America and the world, milk is not a substance we should ever avoid. Milk is the building block of life which helps us all grow strong muscles, dense bones, and healthy immune systems. And to get the optimum outcome from milk’s effects, choose whole milk. It’s all natural and contains everything our bodies need to thrive. Drink up! Got milk? Works Cited Bergeson, Laine. Why Whole Milk is the Healthiest Choice. Experience Life. 31 Aug. 2009. Web. 5 Feb. 2013. http://www. care2. com/greenliving/why-whole-milk-is-the-healthiest-choice. html Internet Brands. Nutrition of Low-fat Milk. FITDAY. 2011. Web. 5 Feb 2013. http://www. fitday. com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-lowfat-milk. html#b Jones-Shoeman, Cindy. Why milk is bad for you. 9 Feb. 2011. Web. 5 Feb. 2013. http://www. naturalnews. com/031255_milk_health. html. Keys, Ancel, Francisco Grande, and Joseph T. Anderson. â€Å"Bias and misrepresentation revisited: Perspective† on saturated fat. † The American journal of clinical nutrition 27. 2 (1974): 188-212. United States. The Office of Dietary Supplements. The National Institute of Health. Vitamin A. June 24, 2011. Web Feb 19, 2013. http://ods. od. nih. gov/factsheets/VitaminA-QuickFacts/ United States. The Office of Dietary Supplements. The National Institute of Health. Vitamin D. June 24, 2011. Web Feb 19, 2013. http://ods. od. nih. gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/.

Battle of York in the War of 1812

Battle of York in the War of 1812 The Battle of York was fought April 27, 1813, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). In 1813, American commanders around Lake Ontario elected to move against York (present-day Toronto), the capital of Upper Canada. Though lacking in strategic value, York presented an easier target than the main British base on the lake at Kingston. Landing on April 27, American forces were able to overwhelm Yorks defenders and captured the town, though promising young commander Brigadier General Zebulon Pike was lost in the process. In the wake of the battle, American troops looted and burned the town. Background In the wake of the failed campaigns of 1812, newly re-elected President James Madison was forced to reassess the strategic situation along the Canadian border. As a result, it was decided to focus American efforts for 1813 on achieving victory on Lake Ontario and the Niagara frontier. Success on this front also required control of the lake. To this end, Captain Isaac Chauncey had been dispatched to Sackets Harbor, NY in 1812 for the purpose of constructing a fleet on Lake Ontario. It was believed that victory in and around Lake Ontario would cut off Upper Canada and open the way for an attack on Montreal. In preparation for the main American push at Lake Ontario, Major General Henry Dearborn was ordered to position 3,000 men at Buffalo for a strike against Forts Erie and George as well as 4,000 men at Sackets Harbor. This second force was to attack Kingston at the upper outlet of the lake. Success on both fronts would sever the lake from Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River. At Sackets Harbor, Chauncey had rapidly constructed a fleet that had wrested naval superiority away from the British. Meeting at Sackets Harbor, Dearborn and Chauncey began to have misgivings about the Kingston operation despite the fact that the objective was only thirty miles away. While Chauncey fretted about possible ice around Kingston, Dearborn was concerned about the size of the British garrison. Instead of striking at Kingston, the two commanders instead elected to conduct a raid against York, Ontario (present-day Toronto). Though of minimal strategic value, York was the capital of Upper Canada and Chauncey had intelligence that two brigs were under construction there. Battle of York Conflict: War of 1812Dates: April 27, 1813Armies Commanders:AmericansMajor General Henry DearbornBrigadier General Zebulon PikeCommodore Isaac Chauncey1,700 men, 14 shipsBritishMajor General Roger Hale Sheaffe700 regulars, militia, and Native AmericansCasualties:Americans: 55 killed, 265 woundedBritish: 82 killed, 112 wounded, 274 captured, 7 missing The Americans Land Departing on April 25, Chaunceys ships carried Dearborns troops across the lake to York. The town itself was defended by a fort on the west side as well as a nearby Government House Battery mounting two guns. Further west was the small Western Battery which possessed two 18-pdr guns. At the time of the American attack, the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe was in York to conduct business. The victor of the Battle of Queenston Heights, Sheaffe possessed three companies of regulars, as well as around 300 militia and as many as 100 Native Americans. Having crossed the lake, American forces began landing approximately three miles west of York on April 27. A reluctant, hands-off commander, Dearborn delegated operational control Brigadier General Zebulon Pike. A famed explorer who had traversed the American West, Pikes first wave was led by Major Benjamin Forsyth and a company of the 1st US Rifle Regiment. Coming ashore, his men were met by intense fire from a group of Native Americans under James Givins. Sheaffe ordered a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry to support Givins, but they became lost after leaving town. Map of the Battle of York.   Public Domain Fighting Ashore Outflanking Givins, the Americans were able to secure the beachhead with the assistance of Chaunceys guns. Landing with three more companies, Pike began forming his men when they were attacked by the grenadier company of the 8th Regiment of Foot. Outnumbering their attackers, who launched a bayonet charge, they repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses. Reinforcing his command, Pike began advancing by platoons towards the town. His advance was supported by two 6-pdr guns while Chaunceys ships began a bombardment of the fort and Government House Battery. Directing his men to block the Americans, Sheaffe found that his forces were being steadily driven back. An attempt was made to rally around the Western Battery, but this position collapsed following the accidental detonation of the batterys travelling magazine. Falling back to a ravine near the fort, the British regulars joined with the militia to make a stand. Outnumbered on land and taking fire from the water, Sheaffes resolve gave way and he concluded that the battle was lost. Instructing the militia to make the best terms possible with the Americans, Sheaffe and regulars retreated east, burning the shipyard as they departed. As the withdrawal began, Captain Tito LeLià ¨vre was sent to blow up the forts magazine to prevent its capture. Unaware that the British were departing, Pike was preparing to assault the fort. He was approximately 200 yards away interrogating a prisoner when LeLià ¨vre detonated the magazine. In the resulting explosion, Pikes prisoner was killed instantly by debris while the general was mortally wounded in the head and shoulder. In addition, 38 Americans were killed and over 200 wounded. With Pike dead, Colonel Cromwell Pearce took command and re-formed the American forces. A Breakdown of Discipline Learning that the British wished to surrender, Pearce sent Lieutenant Colonel George Mitchell and Major William King to negotiate. As talks began, the Americans were annoyed at having to deal with the militia rather than Sheaffe and the situation worsened when it became clear that the shipyard was burning. As talks moved forward, the British wounded were gathered in the fort and largely left unattended as Sheaffe had taken the surgeons. That night the situation deteriorated with American soldiers vandalizing and looting the town, despite earlier orders from Pike to respect private property. In the days fighting, the American force lost 55 killed and 265 wounded, mostly as a result of the magazine explosion. British losses totaled 82 killed, 112 wounded, and 274 captured. The next day, Dearborn and Chauncey came ashore. After prolonged talks, a surrender agreement was produced on April 28 and the remaining British forces paroled. While war material was confiscated, Dearborn ordered the 21st Regiment into the town to maintain order. Searching the shipyard, Chaunceys sailors were able to refloat the aged schooner Duke of Gloucester, but were unable to salvage the sloop of war Sir Isaac Brock which had been under construction. Despite the ratification of the surrender terms, the situation in York did not improve and soldiers continued to loot private homes, as well as public buildings such as the town library and St. James Church. The situation came to a head when the Parliament buildings burned. Aftermath On April 30, Dearborn returned control to the local authorities and ordered his men to re-embark. Before doing so, he ordered other government and military buildings in the town, including the Governors Residence, deliberately burned. Due to foul winds, the American force unable to depart the harbor until May 8. Though a victory for American forces, the attack on York cost them a promising commander and did little to alter the strategic situation on Lake Ontario. The looting and burning of the town led to calls for revenge across Upper Canada and set the precedent for subsequent burnings, including that of Washington, DC in 1814.

The Civil Rights Laws

The Civil Rights Laws Discrimination in relation to the race question was not ceased with the end of the Civil War in the United States. As a result, the period of the 1950s-1960s is characterized by the active civil rights movement.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Civil Rights Laws specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this context, the figure of President Dwight D. Eisenhower can be discussed as influential in coping with segregation issues and protecting the African Americans’ civil rights because he demonstrated the significant political courage in enforcing the Civil Rights laws in 1957 and 1960 in order to regulate the voting procedures and provide the discriminated African Americans with the civil freedoms and opportunities. Thus, the Civil Rights laws of 1957 and 1960 affected the nation positively because the principles of the free civil society were stated legally for all the categories of the population without referen ces to racial differences. The 1950s in the history of the United States are characterized as the period of segregating the whites and blacks regarding their civil rights and principle of equality. The idea of social and civil inequality of the African Americans was actively supported in the Southern states of the USA, thus, the black people had no opportunities to receive the education or job position equal to the white people’s ones, and the right to vote was also limited (Dudziak 59-62; Finley 111-120). The focus of the Southern states’ governments on the segregation principles led to the significant tensions between the federal government and states’ governments because of the necessities to overcome the observed racial discrimination. Signing the Civil Rights Act in 1957, President Eisenhower demonstrated his political courage and readiness to oppose the Southern states’ forces which could share different visions of the issue because the law determin ed equal voting rights and protections for the white Americans and African Americans. The Little Rock Crisis of September, 1957, was the clear illustration for the discussed problem. The authorities of Arkansas rejected enrollment of the African American students in the school of Little Rock. As a result, the confrontation was discussed at the federal level, and President Eisenhower sent the troops to protect the rights of the African American students in Arkansas (Jacoway and Williams 11). Such decision demonstrated not only the clear position of President Eisenhower in relation to the nation’s civil rights but also his courage as the political leader.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Civil Rights Act in 1957 was important for the further development of the American society because it was the first time when the federal legislation was enacted regarding the question of civil rights after the decades of silence in relation to the observed problem. In 1957, the Republicans should also demonstrate their political courage in order to support the Act singed by President Eisenhower because the Democrats were against the Act, and the Democrats presented the whole 19% as opposite to 76% of representatives voting for the Act (â€Å"HR. 6127. Civil Rights Act of 1957†). The situation changed in 1960 when 74% of politicians voting for the next Civil Rights Act included 179 representatives of the Democrats and 132 representatives of the Republicans (â€Å"HR 8601. Passage†). These numbers support the idea that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 was developed more effectively in comparison with the Act of 1957, and it covered more legal issues associated with the discriminatory practices which worked to promote segregation earlier. Thus, the procedure of voting in relation to the equality of civil rights for all the categories of the population was improved, and discriminatory practices were limited with the focus on stated penalties. It is important to note that President Eisenhower demonstrated his consistency in relation to promoting the equal civil rights and overcoming prejudicial procedures and practices typical for the segregated society in the United States during the 1950s-1960s. In spite of the fact that the Civil Rights acts of 1957 and 1960 were later discussed by politicians and researchers as not effective enough to overcome discrimination in the American society and provide the African Americans with the equal civil rights to participate in the voting procedure because the other aspects of discrimination were not covered with the acts, the initiative of President Eisenhower to sign the acts was the important step toward creating the equal society. From this point, the Civil Rights acts of 1957 and 1960 are the drafts for developing the effective civil rights legislation, and President Eisenhower needed to demon strate his political courage in order to oppose the visions of the majority (Ambrose 98-112). As a result, the actions of the President contributed to the improvement of the civil rights legislation and linked the public’s intentions to cope with discriminatory practices with the real legal actions in the field. That is why, President Eisenhower helped the nation to see the situation from the other perspective, with the focus on the legal possibilities to overcome discrimination.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Civil Rights Laws specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the Civil Rights laws of 1957 and 1960 can be discussed as the effective start for developing the appropriate civil rights legislation in the American society. Moreover, to enact the laws, President Eisenhower focused on his leadership abilities and qualities of a citizen to demonstrate the right way in overcoming discrimination. Ambrose, St ephen. Eisenhower: Soldier and President. USA: Premier Digital Publishing, 2013. Print. Dudziak, Mary. Cold War Civil Rights: Race and the Image of American Democracy. USA: Princeton University Press, 2011. Print. Finley, Keith. Delaying the Dream: Southern Senators and the Fight against Civil Rights, 1938–1965. Baton Rouge: LSU Press, 2008. Print. HR. 6127. Civil Rights Act of 1957. Passed. n.d. Web. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75. HR 8601. Passage. n.d. Web. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h102. Jacoway, Elizabeth, and Fred Williams. Understanding the Little Rock Crisis: An Exercise in Remembrance and Reconciliation. USA: University of Arkansas Press, 1999. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

The Wounded Knee Massacre

The Wounded Knee Massacre   The massacre of hundreds of Native Americans at Wounded Knee in South Dakota on December 29, 1890, marked a particularly tragic milestone American history. The killing of mostly unarmed men, women, and children, was the last major encounter between the Sioux and U.S. Army troops, and it could be viewed as the end of the Plains Wars. The violence at Wounded Knee was rooted in the federal governments reaction to the ghost dance movement, in which a religious ritual centered around dancing became a potent symbol of defiance to white rule. As the ghost dance spread to Indian reservations throughout the West, the federal government began to regard it as a major threat and sought to suppress it. The tensions between white and Indians greatly increased, especially as federal authorities began to fear that the legendary Sioux medicine man Sitting Bull was about to become involved in the ghost dance movement. When Sitting Bull was killed while being arrested on December 15, 1890, the Sioux in South Dakota became fearful. Overshadowing the events of late 1890 were decades of conflicts between whites and Indians in the West. But one event, the massacre at the Little Bighorn of Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops in June 1876 resonated most deeply. The Sioux in 1890 suspected that commanders in the U.S. Army felt a need to avenge Custer. And that made the Sioux especially suspicious of actions taken by soldiers who came to confront them over the ghost dance movement. Against that backdrop of mistrust, the eventual massacre at Wounded Knee arose out of a series of misunderstandings. On the morning of the massacre, it was unclear who fired the first shot. But once the shooting began, the U.S. Army troops cut down unarmed Indians with no restraint. Even artillery shells were fired at Sioux women and children who were seeking safety and running from the soldiers. In the aftermath of the massacre, the Army commander on the scene, Col. James Forsyth, was relieved of his command. However, an Army inquiry cleared him within two months, and he was restored to his command. The massacre, and the forcible rounding up of Indians following it, crushed any resistance to white rule in the West. Any hope the Sioux or other tribes had of being able to restore their way of life was obliterated. And life on the detested reservations became the plight of the American Indian. The Wounded Knee massacre faded into history. However, a book published in 1971, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, became a surprise best seller and brought the name of the massacre back to public awareness. The book by Dee Brown, a narrative history of the West told from the Indian point of view, struck a chord in America at a time of national skepticism and is widely considered a classic. And Wounded Knee came back in the news in 1973, when American Indian activists, as an act of civil disobedience, took over the site in a standoff with federal agents. Roots of the Conflict The ultimate confrontation at Wounded Knee was rooted in the movement of the 1880s to force Indians in the West onto government reservations. Following the defeat of Custer, the U.S. military was fixated on defeating any Indian resistance to forced resettlement. Sitting Bull, one of the most respected Sioux leaders, led a band of followers across the international border into Canada. The British government of Queen Victoria allowed them to live there and did not persecute them in any way. Yet conditions were very difficult, and Sitting Bull and his people eventually returned to South Dakota. In the 1880s, Buffalo Bill Cody, whose exploits in the West had become famous through dime novels, recruited Sitting Bull to join his famous Wild West Show. The show traveled extensively, and Sitting Bull was a huge attraction. After a few years of enjoying fame in the white world, Sitting Bull returned to South Dakota and life on a reservation. He was regarded with considerable respect by the Sioux. The Ghost Dance The ghost dance movement began with a member of the Paiute tribe in Nevada. Wovoka, who claimed to have religious visions, began preaching after recovering from a serious illness in early 1889. He claimed that God had revealed to him that a new age was about to dawn on earth. According to Wovoka’s prophecies, game which had been hunted to extinction would return, and Indians would restore their culture, which had been essentially destroyed during the decades of conflict with white settlers and soldiers. Part of Wovoka’s teaching involved the practice of ritual dancing. Based on older round dances performed by Indians, the ghost dance had some special characteristics. It was generally performed over a series of days. And special attire, which became known as ghost dance shirts, would be worn. It was believed that those wearing the ghost dance would be protected against harm, including bullets fired by U.S. Army soldiers. As the ghost dance spread throughout western Indian reservations, officials in the federal government became alarmed. Some white Americans argued that the ghost dance was essentially harmless and was a legitimate exercise of religious freedom. Others in the government saw malicious intent behind the ghost dancing. The practice was seen as a way to energize Indians to resist white rule. And by late 1890 the authorities in Washington began giving orders for the U.S. Army to be ready to take action to suppress the ghost dance. Sitting Bull Targeted In 1890 Sitting Bull was living, along with a few hundred other Hunkpapa Sioux, at the Standing Rock reservation in South Dakota. He had spent time in a military prison, and had also toured with Buffalo Bill, but he seemed to have settled down as a farmer. Still, he always seemed in rebellion to the rules of the reservation and was perceived by some white administrators as a potential source of trouble. The U.S. Army began sending troops into South Dakota in November 1890, planning to suppress the ghost dance and the rebellious movement it seemed to represent. The man in charge of the Army in the area, General Nelson Miles, came up with a plan to get Sitting Bull to surrender peacefully, at which point he could be sent back to prison. Miles wanted Buffalo Bill Cody to approach Sitting Bull and essentially lure him into surrendering. Cody apparently traveled to South Dakota, but the plan fell apart and Cody left and returned to Chicago. Army officers decided to use Indians who were working as policemen on the reservation to arrest Sitting Bull. A detachment of 43 tribal police officers arrived at Sitting Bull’s log cabin on the morning of December 15, 1890. Sitting Bull agreed to go with the officers, but some of his followers, who were generally described as ghost dancers, tried to intervene. An Indian shot the commander of the police, who raised his own weapon to return fire and accidentally wounded Sitting Bull. In the confusion, Sitting Bull was then fatally shot by another officer. The outbreak of gunfire brought a charge by a detachment of soldiers who had been positioned nearby in case of trouble. Witnesses to the violent incident recalled a peculiar spectacle: a show horse which had been presented to Sitting Bull years earlier by Buffalo Bill heard the gunfire and must have thought it was back in the Wild West Show. The horse began performing intricate dance moves as the violent scene unfolded. The Massacre The killing of Sitting Bull was national news. The New York Times, on December 16, 1890, published a story at the top of the front page headlined â€Å"The Last of Sitting Bull.† The sub-headlines said he had been killed while resisting arrest. In South Dakota, the death of Sitting Bull stoked fear and distrust. Hundreds of his followers departed the Hunkpapa Sioux camps and began to scatter. One band, led by the chief Big Foot, began traveling to meet up with one of the old chiefs of the Sioux, Red Cloud. It was hoped Red Cloud should protect them from the soldiers. As the group, a few hundred men, women, and children, moved through the harsh winter conditions, Big Foot became quite ill. On December 28, 1890, Big Foot and his people were intercepted by cavalry troopers. An officer in the Seventh Cavalry, Major Samuel Whitside, met with Big Foot under a flag of truce. Whitside assured Big Foot his people would not be harmed. And he made arrangements for Big Foot to travel in an Army wagon, as he was suffering from pneumonia. The cavalry was going to escort the Indians with Big Foot to a reservation. That night the Indians set up camp, and the soldiers set up their bivouacs nearby. At some point in the evening another cavalry force, commanded by Col. James Forsyth, arrived on the scene. The new group of soldiers were accompanied by an artillery unit. On the morning of December 29, 1890, the U.S. Army troops told the Indians to gather in a group. They were ordered to surrender their weapons. The Indians stacked up their guns, but the soldiers suspected they were hiding more weapons. Soldiers began searching the Sioux tepees. Two rifles were found, one of which belonged to an Indian named Black Coyote, who was probably deaf. Black Coyote refused to give up his Winchester, and in a confrontation with him a shot was fired. The situation quickly accelerated as soldiers began shooting at the Indians. Some of the male Indians drew knives and faced the soldiers, believing that the ghost dance shirts they were wearing would protect them from bullets. They were shot down. As Indians, including many women and children, tried to flee, the soldiers continued firing. Several artillery pieces, which had been positioned on a nearby hill, began to rake the fleeing Indians. The shells and shrapnel killed and wounded scores of people. The entire massacre lasted for less than an hour. It was estimated that about 300 to 350 Indians were killed. Casualties among the cavalry amounted to 25 dead and 34 wounded. It was believed most of the killed and wounded among the U.S. Army troops had been caused by friendly fire. Wounded Indians were taken on wagons to the Pine Ridge reservation, where Dr. Charles Eastman, who had been born a Sioux and educated at schools in the East, sought to treat them. Within days, Eastman traveled with a group to the massacre site to search for survivors. They did find some Indians who were miraculously still alive. But they also discovered hundreds of frozen corpses, some as many as two miles away. Most of the bodies were gathered by soldiers and buried in a mass grave. Reaction to the Massacre In the East, the massacre at Wounded Knee was portrayed as a battle between â€Å"hostiles† and soldiers. Stories on the front page of the New York Times in the final days of 1890 gave the Army version of events. Though the number of people killed, and the fact that many were women and children, created interest in official circles. Accounts told by Indian witnesses were reported and appeared in newspapers. On February 12, 1890, an article in the New York Times was headlined â€Å"Indians Tell Their Story.† The sub-headline read, â€Å"A Pathetic Recital of the Killing of Women and Children.† The article gave witness accounts, and ended with a chilling anecdote. According to a minister at one of the churches at the Pine Ridge reservation, one of the Army scouts told him he had heard an officer say, after the massacre, â€Å"Now we have avenged Custer’s death.† The Army launched an investigation of what happened, and Col. Forsyth was relieved of his command. But he was quickly cleared. A story in the New York Times on February 13, 1891, was headlined â€Å"Col. Forsyth Exonerated.† The sub-headlines read â€Å"His Action at Wounded Knee Justified† and â€Å"The Colonel Restored to Command of His Gallant Regiment.† Legacy of Wounded Knee After the massacre at Wounded Knee, the Sioux came to accept that resistance to white rule was futile. The Indians came to live on the reservations. The massacre itself faded into history. However, in the early 1970s, the name of Wounded Knee came to take on resonance, largely due to Dee Brown’s book. A native American resistance movement put a new focus on the massacre as a symbol of broken promises and betrayals by white America.

The Seminar Log Comprises Three Sections Coursework

The Seminar Log Comprises Three Sections - Coursework Example Public diplomacy aimed at the United States part of the United States soviet trading’s, as well as giving compelling grievances and remarks concerning the soviet policy (Critchlow, 2004, p. 75). This diplomacy drew on newly restricted materials from the former soviet records. The transactions, data programs, and additional operations undertaken by the United States information and agency and the department of state played a vital part in increasing self-governing philosophies and principles within the soviet alliance. Candid and balanced were far more productive than the uncoordinated advertising that was utilized originally. The documentation of public diplomacy in the course of the cold war gives a number of significant lessons for the United States foreign legislators in the period following the cold war (Critchlow, 2004, p. 75). America’s informational crusades were active in escalating the fall of the Soviet Union and the scattering of the communist universe. Prote cted in a heroic philosophical strive for more than forty years, corporations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Lib ­erty (RFE/RL), the voice of America (VOA), and the United States Information Agency (USIA) interconnected the principles of democracy, personal liberties, and the liberated market. Eventually the advertisement of these principles added mainly to the closely cruel disbanding of the soviet empire (Critchlow, 2004, p. 75). Week 5 seminar question: PCD (public diplomacy) in the contemporary world order The committee assigned by the United States to investigate the incidence gave a 3D approach for fighting international terrorism that apparently included factors of public democracy (Critchlow, 2004, p. 78). It claimed the need for communication and defense of American standards in the Islam community, all the way through much resilient public democracy to arrive at more individuals. The efforts of the committee at this point ought to be as robust as they were in fighting clos ed communities in the course of the cold war. All this is extreme, and the advertisement of American values following the significantly detested choice to invade Iraq in 2003 is debatably an unbelievably hard determination, and a highly duplicitous one at that. One approach in which an individual can argue that the United States has made developmental advancement in its public democracy is the election and actions of its present president, (Barack Obama). He made the choice of pulling battle groups out of Iraq, redeploying Taliban in Afghanistan and making multiple speeches indicating his aspiration on arriving at and authorizing the Muslim community (Critchlow, 2004, p. 79). Whether the United States has advanced suitable public diplomacy, approaches made to handle the risk from the terrorists groups are available. Nevertheless, I would argue incidences as 9/11, the London bombings of July 7th 2005, and the following perspectives and Iraq apparently depict the requirement for effec tual community diplomacy on the part of the United States and its supporters (Critchlow, 2004, p. 78). Week 6 seminar question: Nation branding: opportunities and limitations There exist a number of outstanding overall geographic arrangements in the performance of nationwide brands utilizing a vast longitudinal scanner databank that extents numerous consumer-packed commodities criteria and United States marketplaces (Dinnie, 2007, p. 127). Across marketplaces, they

A SWOT analysis explores the relationship between the environmental Essay

A SWOT analysis explores the relationship between the environmental influences and the strategic capabilities of an organisation - Essay Example Critically speaking, it is a fact that an internal strategic capability analysis puts the entire focus on the way the environment gets in contact with the product that is marketed under the aegis of an organization. The direct link with the competitors is always apparent in the case of one such analysis. However, what is most important here is that the product is compared against its own basis nonetheless. The manner in which the link between the environmental influences and the strategic capabilities of an organization is made clear is something that brings sanity within the realms of an organization. It puts the basis right of many an undertakings within the business enterprise and tells the senior management where they are going wrong and what corrective steps need to be taken under their aegis (Devane, 2007). Therefore a SWOT analysis is a good enough beginning for finding out where the product is at a particular period in time. It finds out where it will be in a given time as we ll. This is important because the product within the aegis of an organization is moving from one position to another, and discerning new avenues of growth and development all this while. This consistent race to reach the coveted top position within the industrial settings ensure that the product will bring in new standards and advancements to make sure success comes about in full circle (Richter, 2009). The SWOT analysis would eventually be the difference between how things are being managed and how these shall be taken care of in the coming days. It is of fundamental significance to realize the gravity of the situation at hand because the SWOT analysis presents a clear cut picture of where the strengths and weaknesses lie within the internal realms and how the opportunities can be cashed upon and the threats be reduced to larger proportions. The entire understanding of the SWOT analysis emanates from finding out where the organizations are being handled properly and where they are losing ground on most of the occasions. However it is always a difficult proposition to begin with and it is imperative to know how the product under the realms of an organization aims to determine its strong points and the problems that lie close to its own basis. In keeping with this discussion, this paper tries to establish the link between the environmental influences and the strategic abilities and capabilities so that a better understanding of the product and indeed the organization is made in the long range scheme of things. Essentially the use of the Porter’s Five Forces Model suggests that success could only be achieved within the SWOT analysis if proper efforts and undertakings are incorporated within it. This would mean that the new entrants are tapped, their threats are analyzed and foreseen and the required steps are taken beforehand to thwart any hiccups that may so arise at a later point in time. The Porter’s Five Forces Model is indicative of the fact t hat the SWOT analysis will be done in an effective and efficient manner. It highlights the exact ways and means through which different threats are analyzed and thus countered with the passage of time (see Appendix 1). These five forces surround the discussion of the new entrants which could come about at any

Hierarchy of Gender Roles in the Traditional Jewish Religion Essay

Hierarchy of Gender Roles in the Traditional Jewish Religion - Essay Example I found that atmosphere to be more family-oriented and comfortable for the crowd that gathered. There were several differences that caused me to have a negative reaction. First, in the traditional Jewish religion, there is a strong and obvious hierarchy of gender roles in which the men and women engage. While some might dismiss that as chauvinism, others think differently and truly appreciate the importance of the different gender portrayals. Regardless of personal preference, Judaism has a particular set of laws that have not changed; nor will they change any time soon. One of these laws indicates clearly that women are forbidden from holding the holy Torah book, and are not allowed to lead the ritual ceremony. Without getting into the theological explanations of why these laws are important, I would simply like to point out an idea which I believe all religions have in common; follow the laws as they are given to you. While individuals can interpret these laws differently within certain parameters, the main idea should stay the same. That is why a Jewish woman should not walk around holding the Torah book or, prior to that, go to the arch where the book is placed and open it. Yet, they do this at Temple Sinai. Another negative exp... So, once I entered the temple, I turned off my cellular phone and got into the mood of that special holiness that a synagogue provides whenever I attend a service there. I found it particularly ironic that, during the service, the Rabbi who lectured us about the importance of keeping the Shabbat, as it was written specifically in the Torah, was violating the Shabbat by using a microphone to deliver his speech! According to the Jewish faith, he was committing a great sin, and he made other Jews join in that sin as well. To makes things worse, and even bizarre, there was a man next to him that played the keyboard (again, on Shabbat and inside a synagogue!) which made me feel that I was taking apart in a mass, in a church on a Sunday morning. Further, I wore my "yamaka" (a small hat that Jewish men put on their heads when they pray), and put on my "tall" (a special cloth that Jewish men put on top of their clothes at the time of prayer) as is the requirement for men who attend the service. Some of the male participants that morning did not respect even this simple requirement of covering their heads during the reading of the Torah.  Ã‚  

Sylvias Bar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sylvias Bar - Essay Example It did good business, attracting high volume of customers and earning sizable profits from its beginning in the late 1980s till the mid-2000s. From the late of 2000s, its profits started to decline, as the flow of customers reduced to abysmal levels, even close the bar for few days of the week. The response from the customers dwindled because of Sylvia’s long-standing strategies of offering products and services at high cost, playing outdated music and also due to the advent of more modern bars in the neighbourhood. This report will focus on the Sylvia’s Bar and will discuss its current situation or problems, coming up with recommendations for it to manage those problems. Cost and menu High cost in the sense, Sylvia’s was established as a high class wine and cocktail bar, aimed at the customers, who constitute the top end of the market. Because of this focus on a particular target segment, the price of the drinks and the food was on the higher side. Although Sylv ia’s Bar wanted to focus more on these high segment, who are able to pay the high prices. In the fact, with this pricing restrict its customer base. Due to these high pricing, other segments of the wide prospective customer base look for other options that the bar has to throw ingredients by the reduction of the customers, and this was validated by Sylvia’s waitress, Kate. â€Å"We throw too much food away, I’m not sure that the customers in town are looking for this kind of fancy stuff†. ... (Piron 2000). (Vickers and Renand 2003). So, by setting price on the basis of industry standards, and equal or less than its competitors, Sylvia’s Bar can expand its customer segment. Even while bringing in more customers, care should be taken not to compromise on the quality. Staffing The insistence of using only classically trained cocktail bar staff, who have completed a course in bar work at South Birmingham College, negatively impacts the finances of the Sylvia’s Bar. As these particular staff demand payment, which are double the ones paid to the casual bar workers, Sylvia has to allocate a sizable financial resources for the salary of these staffs, which further eats into their income. As the customers do not particularly insist on qualified employees from a particular academic institution and may not even know that fact, it is not compulsory for Sylvia’s Bar to recruit only them. Instead, they can recruit skilled and enterprising casual employees and impor tantly train them according to the job needs. (Mattila 1999). Training programs may not cost sizably, and on the other hand, the trained casual labourers can be paid only half of the salary paid to the other set of employees, thus saving crucial finances for the firm. (Kerfoot, Davies & Ward 2003). Sylvia’s bar also faced certain employee centric problems. Firstly, the employees had to wear a particular set of uniforms, and that according to certain employees was also very outdated. Barman Paul, 32 had this to say about it, â€Å"These uniforms are so dated and formal. I feel like I’m working in a church not a bar!† Importantly, this outdated feel of the uniforms would also negatively reflect among the customers, who might want to see employees clad in

Uprising of Syria Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Uprising of Syria - Research Paper Example The questions, which arise from the crisis in Syria, are the nature of the Syrian conflicts, the relationship between a civil war and a revolution and whether the crisis in Syria overshadows a revolution (hill). Nature of conflicts in Syria The crisis in Syria cannot be classified as purely sectarian as the international and the local media try to classify it. This classification of the Syrian conflicts as sectarian is as a result of the failure of the media personalities to understand Syrians or generally Arabs in other terms, which do not identify them as sectarian. A sectarian conflict can only be described as one that lies outside a country's history and does not depend on any social and economic factors. Sectarian conflicts are often referred to as religious conflicts and are static. The Syrian situation is similar to the case of Spanish civil war, Yemen civil war and the revolution that occurred in Libya. The main cause of the Syrian civil war is as a result of the uprising of the Syrian citizens against a class of individuals whose main goal is to enslave others. According to McMahon in his article on crisis in Syria, he describes the cause of the continued crisis is mainly as a result of disunity among different religious and ethnic group. This makes it more difficult to find a concrete solution to these crises (Macmahon). US president is quoted in solidarity magazine saying, â€Å"The crisis in Syria should be solved through a meditation led by international community†. This implies that international communities like the United Nations should initiate the process of mediation in order to find long term solutions to the...Moghadam in her article on Syria crisis and prospects quotes the UN secretary general saying, â€Å"We need to come up with an immediate solution to these uprisings†. On this has seen some of the nations like the United States of America and Britain argue that it is crucial to intervene in the crisis in Syria, while othe r nations like Russia and France arguing otherwise (Moghadam). The Syrian uprising has attracted attention from every nation across the world given the fact that Syria was once considered as the most peaceful and stable Arab country in the world. Different leaders across the world have varying opinions on the crisis in Syria. Some view it as a civil war while others view it as a revolution which involves political forces. The Syrian crisis should so far be classified as civil war since the government is fighting against a well organized rebel gang â€Å"Sunnis† which was possibly established during the initial uprisings. Most revolutions bare some aspects of civil war; however some aspects of civil war cannot be overlooked during a civil war as in the case of the Syrian revolution which has turned out to be a civil war. In conclusion, the crises in Syria originate mainly from the internal factors and forces. The major internal cause of the crisis is the government of Syria, which triggered the initial demonstration through infringing the rights of its citizen.

Sylvias Bar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sylvias Bar - Essay Example It did good business, attracting high volume of customers and earning sizable profits from its beginning in the late 1980s till the mid-2000s. From the late of 2000s, its profits started to decline, as the flow of customers reduced to abysmal levels, even close the bar for few days of the week. The response from the customers dwindled because of Sylvia’s long-standing strategies of offering products and services at high cost, playing outdated music and also due to the advent of more modern bars in the neighbourhood. This report will focus on the Sylvia’s Bar and will discuss its current situation or problems, coming up with recommendations for it to manage those problems. Cost and menu High cost in the sense, Sylvia’s was established as a high class wine and cocktail bar, aimed at the customers, who constitute the top end of the market. Because of this focus on a particular target segment, the price of the drinks and the food was on the higher side. Although Sylv ia’s Bar wanted to focus more on these high segment, who are able to pay the high prices. In the fact, with this pricing restrict its customer base. Due to these high pricing, other segments of the wide prospective customer base look for other options that the bar has to throw ingredients by the reduction of the customers, and this was validated by Sylvia’s waitress, Kate. â€Å"We throw too much food away, I’m not sure that the customers in town are looking for this kind of fancy stuff†. ... (Piron 2000). (Vickers and Renand 2003). So, by setting price on the basis of industry standards, and equal or less than its competitors, Sylvia’s Bar can expand its customer segment. Even while bringing in more customers, care should be taken not to compromise on the quality. Staffing The insistence of using only classically trained cocktail bar staff, who have completed a course in bar work at South Birmingham College, negatively impacts the finances of the Sylvia’s Bar. As these particular staff demand payment, which are double the ones paid to the casual bar workers, Sylvia has to allocate a sizable financial resources for the salary of these staffs, which further eats into their income. As the customers do not particularly insist on qualified employees from a particular academic institution and may not even know that fact, it is not compulsory for Sylvia’s Bar to recruit only them. Instead, they can recruit skilled and enterprising casual employees and impor tantly train them according to the job needs. (Mattila 1999). Training programs may not cost sizably, and on the other hand, the trained casual labourers can be paid only half of the salary paid to the other set of employees, thus saving crucial finances for the firm. (Kerfoot, Davies & Ward 2003). Sylvia’s bar also faced certain employee centric problems. Firstly, the employees had to wear a particular set of uniforms, and that according to certain employees was also very outdated. Barman Paul, 32 had this to say about it, â€Å"These uniforms are so dated and formal. I feel like I’m working in a church not a bar!† Importantly, this outdated feel of the uniforms would also negatively reflect among the customers, who might want to see employees clad in

Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Dispute Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Dispute - Essay Example Individuals are engrossed in reflective thinking when they are faced with a problem, which does not provide answers. The answers, in this case, are uncertain and there is no authority to provide the correct answer. In this case, there is no specific correct answer and the problem has to be evaluated in the light of the past data. The subject of reflective thinking consists of the evaluation of beliefs and the integration of contrasting views. The problem faced in the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan is intense as its base lies in the problem between the tribes of the area and the problem do not provide with suggestive answers. (On reflective thinking; Bajoria) The problem of the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan has a long history to it. The Afghanistan side of the border has a long history of various tribes fighting over the supremacy of the land. The British during its rule in the Indian subcontinent began to expand its empire in Central Asia where it faced the Russian opposition. The land of Afghanistan was fought over by both countries. The English fought wars in Afghanistan and won over the land. They demarcated a three-tier border system to distinguish the extension of their rule. The lines were drawn by negotiation with the then Afghan ruler King Abdur Rahman Khan. The first border was between Pakistan and the areas under the Pashtun rule. The second tier distinguished the Pashtun areas from that of Afghanistan. This is the Durand line. Sir Henry Mortimer Durand drew the borderline and it was named after him. The Durand line is the globally documented boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The third frontier was the external bo rders of Afghanistan in the north. Most of the problems in the area of the border stem from the presence of tribal communities in the region.  

The Importance of A Project Management Office Essay Example for Free

The Importance of A Project Management Office Essay Project management can be a tedious job especially if the personnel or department in charge is already loaded with tons of work. It may be hard to cope up with the schedule, time pressure, workload, and other factors. In line with this, the task of handling such tasks must be assigned to a specialized department known as Project Management Office. What is a Project Management Office? A Project Management Office is a unit or department functioning within a business, company, or agency that is charged with defining and maintaining project management standards within the company. The main objective of this office is to achieve beneficial gains from setting uniform policies, processes, and methods in managing projects(Search CIO. com, n. d). The Project Management Office will provide direction, metrics connected with practices concerning project management and implementation. The principles, methods, and practices of managing a project are based from Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) or Project in Controlled Environment (PRINCE2). These models complies with the specifications related to ISO9000 as well as in government regulation specifications(Search CIO. om, n. d). Essentially, the job of the Project Management Office is to perform related to a certain project and to work for the completion of the project. The PMO may from time to time update management regarding the status and problems of the project so that they can come up with decisions which are congruent to the goals and objectives of the firm(Search CIO. com, n. d). The Kinds of Project Management Office There are three varieties of project management offices that are suitable for organizations in various phases of developing a project. Each of them have their own pros and cons. Here is a brief explanation of the different kinds of project management offices(Billows, 2006). The Weather Station With this kind of PMO, the person-in-charge of the project is aware of what is going on with the project but does not make any action to influence it. The project officer just disseminates information without bothering the flow of work(Billows, 2006). This kind of office is most suitable in organizations that have just started in project management. The job of this kind of office is usually limited because the various line managers usually experience difficulties in incorporating various projects into their management duties(Billows, 2006). The Control Tower In contrast to the first variety, this kind of PMO provides the guidance that the project managers might need. Although they are still doing their tasks, the project managers are being instructed by the project officer. They are liable for any glitch that will happen to the project(Billows, 2006). The Squadron Commander Just like in the Control Tower, the Squadron Commander provides guidance to the project managers. However, the SC closely supervises all the people handling the project. There might be instances of successes and shortcomings but the Squadron Commander is held resposible for the general performance of the department(Billows, 2006). The disadvantage of this kind of office is that the personnel who have the technical know how as well as the most credible managers are doing multiple tasks aside from their main job. Aside from that, the job of allocating resources and prioritizing projects can go out of hand. Another problem that Squadron Commanders is that management may be hesitant in injecting company-wide standards related to project tracking and approval(Billows, 2006). History of Project Management Office The concept of modern project management can be traced to only a few decades back. During the 1960s, businesses and other firms discovered the advantages of organizing project tasks. Most companies developed an understanding on how crucial it is for their staff to establish communication and collaboration while incorporating their jobs with several departments and professions, and in certain instances, with several industries(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). The Early Years During the later years of the 19th century, at a time when businesses were becoming complicated, the corporate world began to see the evolution of project handling from simple management principles. Wide-scale government initiatives became the foundation for project management processes and principles. During the time that the United States was constructing the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s, business leaders were faced with the tough task of coordinating with workers who will engage in manual labor as well as in producing and processing of a large number of raw materials(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Into The Twentieth Century Frederick Taylor started to made further studies of work. Using scientific reasoning, he proved that labor can be evaluated and enhanced by concentrating on its basic elements. Taylor applied this view in various jobs found in steel mills, such as shoveling and lifting and transporting parts. At that time, the only method of increasing productivity is through hard work and extended working hours. Taylor believed that productivity can be improved through efficient work instead of exerting more effort and work extension(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Henry Gantt, an associate of Taylor, extensively studied the sequence of operations in work. His research delved on navy ship manufacturing during World War I. He developed the Gantt Charts, which comes with task bars and milestone markers, as a tool for outlining the order and extent of all tasks in a prcess. These illustrations proved to be a powerful aid for managers that there were no modifications for almost a century. In the early part of the 1990s, Microsoft Corporation introduced MS Project which included connector lines to the tasks bars, showing a more accurate relationship between the differen tasks. Over the years, Microsoft Office became an even more powerful tool(Microsoft Office Online, n. ). His contribution merited Gantt with a patent from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In the years leading to the Second World War, new approaches to marketing, human relations, and industrial psychology, became vital components of project management(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Middle 20th Century The Second World War necessitated the need for new organizational patterns. Complicated network illustrations, like PERT charts and critical path method were developed, providing managers with greater control over complicated projects. As the demand for new management techniqes increased, these tools extended to various industries. General system theories were applied by businesses in their business dealings during the early part of the 1960s(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). New Trends In Project Management In the last decade, project management continued to develop. At present, there are two trends evolving namely bottom-up planning and top-down planning and reviewing(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Bottom-up planning, also called agile project management, involves basic project designs, shorter project chain, efficient cooperation between members of the team, solid involvement of team members in the decision process. Common methos used in this trend are Scrum, Unified Process, Extreme Programming, Crystal, to name just a few(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). In top-down planning and reviewing, the entire organization is involved in making decisions concerning the various projects of the organization(Microsoft Office Online, n. d).

FDI Trends in India and China: An Analysis

FDI Trends in India and China: An Analysis Chapter 1: Aim and Objectives All nations need a vision for future which stirs the thoughts and motivates different segments of society to a greater effort and thus inclines them to work toward the common cause that is economy growth of the individual nation. The market oriented policies normally have exclusionary impact which needs to be prevented through articulate response of the policy makers. India is the third-largest economy in the world in PPP (purchasing power parity) terms foreign direct investments (FDI), But China is currently a favourite nation and is more successful in attracting FDI over India Ballabh (2008). Hence, this thesis strives to analyse the past trend of FDI in India and China, its types, its critical analysis with regards to host country and investing firm, important factors of globalisation and foreign direct investments (FDI) strategies to be adopted, Finally, Its comparison with Chinas FDI and empirical evidences would help us cover aim of our thesis which is among India and China, Wh y is China more successful in attracting FDI than India and is favoured over India? Therefore this paper has been divided in seven sections. It starts with brief introduction to FDI and its types in section 1. Section 2 covers background information and literature review that gives us a picture of the FDI policies in the past, Its trends and impact on MNCs in context to India and China, FDIs role on host economy and MNCs, , Its critical analysis based on Morans model, and finally investment strategies adopted by MNCs where to invest and what to invest. This would give us greater insight into the chosen topic by discussion of various forms of FDI, its impact on MNCs, on host economy and presenting an argument on discussion. Section three; presents the discussion on methodology to be used for the data collection and analysis. Section four is our data analysis and discussion section that is further divided into two sections, first half covers Chinas FDI spread-its Sectoral regional trends, the figures from the data sorted to analyse the growth in FDI over years and in different sectors, FDI distributions and opportunity sector that is playing increasingly important role by embracing FDI growth. The other half covers Indias FDI Spread-Sectoral and Country wise distribution. Again we use graphs and charts to analyse the trend. Comparative analysis of China with India would act as an indispensable step in structuring a consensus on a broad national development strategy to attract foreign investors that encompasses the roles and responsibilities of different agents in the economy, like Central, the private corporate sector, State and local government. Therefore finally presenting a logical explanation why China is a favourable nation over India and is highly successful in attracting FDI, hence the same is to be discussed in section five. Section Six is about building a feasible policy framework toward attracting FDI for the interest of the MNCs and host economy with reference to Chinas successful strategy in attracting FDI and summary of the literature followed by the concluding remarks are presented in the last section. The Concept of FDI is now an integral part of every nations economic prospect but the term remains vague to many, despite the thoughtful effects on the host economy and MNCs, despite the extensive studies on FDI, there has been little illumination forthcoming and it remains a contentious topic. The research findings will throw up a range of interesting possibilities in two countries, critical issues and crucial decision-points for government and private bodies to decide upon investment for future action in the favoured country. Therefore, the paper would explores the uneven beginnings of FDI in two countries, examine and present many important theoretical and empirical evidences on FDI and its impact on economy and MNCs, and would find reasons why China is more successful in FDI over India develop a feasible policy framework towards FDI in particular sector in India or China and making most out of it. Chapter 2: Introduction Foreign direct investment has multiple effects on the investing firm and on the economy of a host country. FDI influences the production, employment, income, prices, exports, imports, balance of payments, economic growth, and general welfare of the receiving economy Maniam (1998). Hence this section covers definition and types of Foreign Direct Investment, FDIs role been so far based on background information, discussion of resources and finally the theoretical aspect of why and where firms decide to invest abroad for benefits with special reference to India and China alongside host countrys motive to attract FDI. Definition of FDI Bergman (2006) defined FDI as a direct or portfolio investment. A direct investment is an acquisition or construction of physical capital by a firm from one source country into another (host) country. The FDI is an investment that involves a long-term relationship and control by a resident entity of one country, in a firm located in a country other than that of the investing firm. There is more involved in the direct investment than only money capital, for instance, managerial or technical guidance. FDI is generally defined as resident firms with at least 10% of foreign participation (UNCTAD, 2002). Types of FDI MNCs have various options to enter into a foreign market. FDIs Different types have different levels of control and risks. For example, Green field investment is when a firm establishes a subsidiary in a new country and starts its own production. In this type of investment a new plant is constructed rather than the purchase of an existing plant or firm. For this reason, there is large risk and has high set up costs because the foreign firm most likely does not have enough legislation knowledge, nor it has an existing distribution network and neither a local management skills. But still, the foreign firm has more control. On the contrary, Brown field investment is FDI that involves the purchase of an existing plant or firm, rather than building of a new plant. Joint venture is an equity and management partnership between the foreign firm and a local firm in the host market. Most host countries prefer the formation of joint ventures, as a way to build international co-operation, and to secure technology transfer (Samli Hill, 1998). In This type of investment the foreign partners contribute toward technology or products, the financial resources, and at the same time the local partner provides the manpower, skills and knowledge required for managing a firm in the host country (Bergman 2006). On UNCTADs website we can have a comprehensive understanding of it and its types. It defines FDI as an investment that involves a long-term relationship and reflects a permanent interest of a resident entity in one economy (direct investor) in an entity resident in an economy other than of the investor. The direct i nvestors idea is to put forth a significant degree of influence on the management of the enterprise resident in the other economy. FDI covers both the opening and subsequent transaction between the two entities and among affiliated enterprises, both incorporated and unincorporated. FDI may be undertaken by individuals, as well as business entities. It further is classified as follows: FDI Stock: it is the value of the share (For associate and subsidiary enterprises,) of their capital and reserves (including the retained profits) attributable to the parent enterprise (this is equal to the total assets minus total liabilities), plus the net indebtedness of associate or subsidiary to the parent firm. For branches, it is value of fixed assets and the value of current assets and investments, excluding amounts due from parent, less liabilities to third parties. Reinvested Earnings: The part of an affiliates earnings accruing to the foreign investor that is reinvested in that enterprise. FDI Flows: FDI flows (For associate and subsidiary enterprises) consists of the net sales of shares and loans (including non-cash acquisitions made against equipment, manufacturing rights, etc.) to the parent company plus the parent firms share of the affiliates reinvested earnings plus total net intra-company loans (short- and long-term) provided by the parent company. And, for branches, FDI flows consist of the increase in reinvested earnings plus the net increase in funds received from the foreign direct investor. Equity Capital: The foreign direct investors net purchase of the shares and loans of an enterprise in a country other than its own. Other Capital: Short- or long-term loans from parent firms to affiliate enterprises or vice versa. Also included are trade credits, bonds and money market instruments, financial leases and financial derivatives. Chapter 3: Background Information and Literature Review History of FDI in India Indias foreign trade and investment regime has been identified in two different phases- Pre-1991 reforms phase and the post-1991 phase. Pre-1991 reforms phase that stretched over to four decades is worth reviewing in some detail as although the regime was marked by extensive regulation of trade and investment, it did not shun foreign enterprise participation in the economy and the nature of the regulatory framework was mostly complex and cumbersome. This has been extensively analysed by Kidron (1965) Kumar (1994). The specification of sectors in which both foreign financial and technical participation were allowed, those in which only technical collaboration was permitted, and those in which neither technical and nor financial participation was allowed, reflects the desire to restrict foreign ownership and control to sectors of the economy in which its contribution was deemed to be essential. A preference to technical collaboration agreements instead of foreign equity ownership refl ects the desire to promote the twin objectives of preserving freedom from foreign control over operations and simultaneously gaining access to foreign technology and know-how. The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) of 1973 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was considered a hostile act. The FERA required foreign firms to dilute their equity holdings to less than 40% or export a substantial share of their total output. This resulted to closure of renowned MNCs like IBM and Coca Cola to shut their operations in India.1967-79, the number of collaborations agreements per year reached an all-time low of 242. The Mid- 1980s saw a considerable though not a radical relaxation of the dirigiste trade and investment regime, with a relatively benign attitude towards foreign enterprise participation. The major crucial change during this period was a significant change in the pattern of foreign investment in India away from plantations, minerals and petroleum toward the manufacturing sector. By the end of decade of eighties manufacturing accounted for nearly 85% out of total stock of FDI of about Rupees 28 billion. Inflows of private capital remained meagre in the 1980s: they averaged less than $0.2 billion per year from 1985 to 1990 (Kapur Athreye 1999). In the year 1991, India too liberalised its highly regulated FDI regime, in place for more than three decades. Arguably Balasubramanyam (2004) in his book stated that, it took an economic crisis for India to liberalise its trade and FDI regime rather than a fundamental change in attitude towards the role of FDI in development process. Nonetheless, the 1991 reforms marked a major break from the earlier dirigiste regime with its regulation of the spheres of foreign enterprise participation on its mode of operation. And the policy framework was opaque with the implementation of policy based on bureaucratic consideration of each case on its merits. Hence the 1991 reforms were to change all this: The abolition of the industrial licensing system, controls over foreign trade and foreign investment were considerable relaxed, including the removal of ceilings on equity ownership by foreign firms. The reforms did result in increased inflows of FDI during the decades of the nineties as it consi derable relaxed the dirigiste regime that prevailed for more than four decades (Balasubramanyam Mahambare 2004). Hence with the liberalisation of the economy, fresh foreign investment was invited in a range of industries. Inflows to India rose steadily through the 1990s, exceeding $6 billion in 1996-97. The fresh inflows were primarily as portfolio capital in the early years (that is, diversified equity holdings not associated with managerial control), but increasingly, they have come as foreign direct investment (equity investment associated with managerial control). This was further supported by historically low interest rates in the US that encouraged global investment funds to diversify their portfolios by investing in emerging markets. International flows of direct investment, which had averaged $142 bn per year over 1985-90, more than doubled to $350 billion in 1996, with the developing countries receiving $130 billion (Kapur Athreye 1999). 1996-1998, the period of the coalition government has been an imperative period in our study; Singh (2005) classified this as a period when government has shown willingness to understand FDI by placing policies that would result in an increase in FDI and further liberalization for the common cause. There was an increased understanding on the role of FDI in all sectors. Industries still lead the reforms whereby automatic approval of FDI was increased up to 74% by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in nine categories of industries, including electricity generation and transmission, non-conventional energy generation and distribution, construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, ports, harbours, runways, waterways, tunnels, pipelines, industrial and power plants, pipeline transport , water transport, cold storage and warehousing for agricultural products, mining services including silver and precious stones, manufacture of iron ore pellets, pig iron, semi-finished iron and steel and man ufacture of navigational, meteorological, geophysical, oceanographic, hydrological and ultrasonic sounding instruments and items based on solar energy (indiabudget.nic.in). January 1997, Government announced the first ever guidelines for FDI speedy approval in areas that are not covered under automatic approval. Above trends illustrates the earlier point of the government recognizing and carrying forth of the previous work done by the Rao government. While the advantage of FDI did not reach the mindset of the common man but government seemed to show possibilities of overall development through FDI. For example when Indian industry registered a modest growth rate of 7.1% in 1996-97, which was much lower than the 12.1% in 1995-96, there was research carried out which revealed this was partially attributable to the mining and electricity generation sectors which recorded very low growth rates of 0.7 % and 3.9 % respectively. Hence, the policy was immediately rectified and re-enforced by expanding the list of industries eligible for foreign direct equity investment under the automatic approval route by RBI in 1997-1998 (indiabudget.nic.in). 2004-05, embraced FDI for being an integral part of national development strategies. Its global popularity along with positive output in augmenting of domestic capital, productivity and employment; has made it an essential tool for initiating economic growth for nations. During this phase, India evolved as one of the most favoured destination for FDI in Asia. It has displaced US as the second-most favoured destination for FDI in the world after China. According to an AT Kearneys FDI Confidence Index, India attracted more than three times foreign investment at US$ 7.96 bn during the first half of 2005-06 fiscal, as against US$ 2.38 bn during the corresponding period of 2004-05. FDI in India has contributed effectively to the overall growth of the economy in the recent times. FDI inflow has an impact on Indias transfer of new technology and innovative ideas, improving infrastructure, a competitive business environment (Indianground.com). Ballabh (2008) in his article mentioned about the Balance of payments (BOP) since independence, Indias BOP on its current account has been negative. Since liberalisation in the 1990s (precipitated by a BOP crisis), Indias exports have been consistently rising, covering 80.3% of its imports in 2002-03, up from 66.2% in 1990-91. Although India is still a net importer, since 1996-97, its overall BOP (including the capital account balance), has been positive, largely on account of increased FDI and deposits from NRIs; until this time, the overall balance was only occasionally positive on account of external assistance and commercial borrowings. As a result, Indias foreign currency reserves stood at $141bn in 2005-06. Indias recently liberalised FDI policy (2005) allows up to a 100% FDI stake inventures. Industrial policy reforms have significantly reduced industrial licensing requirements, removed restrictions on expansion and facilitated easy access to foreign technology and foreign dir ect investment FDI. History of FDI in China FDIs main source in China from 1950s had been Soviet Union. However, it was after 1978 that China began to open up itself to the rest of the world for FDI inflows. From the start of 1978 China witnessed its exit from its self-dependent strategies since Maos era with the country announcing a remarkable program to reform its economic system by opening itself up to the outside world. From the beginning of 1978, FDI in China became desirable and began to add in the development of the Chinese economy. In general, the development of FDI in China can be divided into following five stages. Experiment Stage (1979 1983) China started from an experimental approach, which they called crossing the river by feeling the stones under the water. FDI was permitted into China in a step-by-step manner. One key action of the first step was the establishment of four Special Economic Zones (SEZs), namely Shen Zhen, Shan Tou, Zhu Hai and Xia Men, in July 1981. These SEZs were chosen for the absorption and utilization of foreign Investment. These provided foreign investors with preferential treatment for their Businesses. As Chinas window to the world, these zones succeeded in attracting FDI. Meanwhile, China was putting up effort to complete its legislative system. First to come was, the Equity Joint Venture Law (the Law of Peoples Republic of China on Joint Ventures Using Chinese and Foreign Investment) that was enacted in July 1979. The legislation validated the existence of FDI in China and guaranteed the right and benefits of foreign investors. Second important policy taken at this stage included Regulation f or the Implementation of the Law of the Peoples Republic of china on Chinese -foreign Equity Joint Ventures (1983). Growth Stage (1984 1991) Until 1984 there were flaws in Chinas handling FDI. Chinas restraints on FDI outside the SEZs remained rigid. Laws and regulations limited foreign ownership. FDI projects often encountered a long approval process even though they provided sufficient materials and explanation. This was simplified gradually between 1983 and 1985. Following is the list of new laws and regulations at this stage year on year basis. Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS) Law (1986) Provision for the FDI Encouragement (1986) Constitutional Status of Foreign invested Enterprises in Chinese Civil Law (1986) Adoption of Interim provision on guiding FDI (1987) Delegation on approval of selected FDI projects to more local governments (1988) Laws of cooperative joint ventures (1988) Revision of equity joint venture law (1990) Rules for implementation of WOS law (1990) Income tax law and its rules for implementation (1991) 1984 witnessed two historic activities. First was when Deng Xiaoping remarked that China needed to open wider instead of checking upon the opening process (Zheng, 1984). Second was when Chinese government announced the decision on reform of the economic structure, and called for the building of a socialist commodity economy by assigning a larger role to the market in the domestic economic. Besides SEZs, Chinese government took a further step to give FDI access to other parts of the country. Fourteen coastal cities were announced to be opened to the outside world. They are Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang and Beihai. The local government from these cities could approve FDI projects with capital investment up to certain level. For example, Shanghai could approve all FDI projects under 30 million USD (Yuan, 2006). They were also given the right to spend foreign exchange yielded by local FDI for t heir own growth. The approval procedures for FDI projects were eased. The Law of Peoples Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises (WFOEs) of 1986, was laid to protect the profits and interest of foreign investors. In addition to this series of other laws and regulations further relaxed Chinas restriction in promoting FDI with measures for enterprise autonomy, profit remittances, labour recruitment and land use. In December 1990, the central government promulgated Detailed Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of the Peoples Republic of China Concerning Joint Ventures with Chinese and Foreign Investment. The regulation aimed to encourage joint ventures that adopted sophisticated technology or equipments, saved energy and raw materials and upgraded products. Peak Stage (1992 1993) This stage has witnessed the rise of Shanghai as Chinas economic hub. The Chinese government wanted to develop Shanghai into an international hub for finance, economy and trade. Their intention was to carry out the experiment of new policies and apply successful practices within the rest of Shanghai and across the country. Shanghais location in Southeast China drew attention of Chinese governments in shifting emphasis to the area to avoid overly concentration of FDI. Hi-tech enterprises, established manufacturers and financial companies were encouraged to set up their China operation at Pudong with various preferential treatments from central and local government. With the implementation of a new framework for further opening up the economy, the Chinese government showed great effort to encourage FDI. A number of new Sectors were also opened up to foreign investors, including banking and insurance, accounting and information consultancy, wholesaling and retailing at the same time, go vernmental procedures were simplified in terms of FDI administration. The year of 1992 witnessed the remarkable growth of FDI in China. In the same year, the Chinese government announced its intention to adopt the strategy of socialist market economy and improve the economic framework for standard market Operations. Following are the series of laws and regulations related to market operations were passed during 1992 and 1993, which included: Adoption of Trade Union Law (1992) Company Law (1993) Provision regulations of value-added tax, consumption tax, business tax and Enterprise income tax (1993) Adjustment Stage (1994 2000) After 1994, the growth rate of FDI in China went down to a steady level from the relatively high rate in past two years, which indicated that a new stage had arrived. 1995s Provisional Guidelines for Foreign Investment Projects provided preferential treatment to various enterprises in various industries. The directory of the Guidelines categorized all the FDI projects into four types: encouraged, restricted, prohibited and permitted (Yuan, 2006). The projects in infrastructure or underdeveloped agriculture and with advanced technology or manufacturing under-supplied new equipment to satisfy market demand fell into the encouraged category. Those whose production exceeded domestic demand and those who engaged in the exploration of rare and valuable resources were put into restricted. The prohibited category included projects that would risk national security or public interest, or those endangering military facilities.. The last one is classified as permitted. Annual utilization of FDI reached to its peak in 1997 and 1998 but then moved downward in the following two years. Post-WTO Stage (2001 present) November 11, 2001, saw Chinas admission as an official member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), after a 15-year negotiation. It was after accession to WTO, China started to fulfil its obligation such as basic principles of non-discrimination, pro-trade and pro-competition. This historic event had significant Impact on FDI inflows to China. This gave incentives to more export-oriented FDI. Chinas export market becomes larger and more predictable. Also, Chinas domestic market attracts FDI in industries where there is large market potential. Usually, these industries used to be dominated by relatively inefficient state-owned enterprises, such as telecommunication, banking and insurance. Foreign investors, especially large multinational companies (MNCs), have now growing interest in these industries. Becoming a WTO member, China had to restructure its legal framework. This, in consequence, improves Chinas business environment and helps attract more foreign investment. Yuan (2006), in his literature has revealed, throughout the years, China has steadily reduced its industrial tariffs in a wide range of sectors. Foreign firms are granted direct trading rights for the first time, which means they can import and export themselves without going through a Chinese state-owned trading firm. Clearly, Chinas acquiring WTO membership boosts investors confidence the Chinese economy and its market and thus attracts more FDI inflows. FDIs: Critical Analysis FDIs in other countries are now been continuously studied. There are numerous factors and studies motivating this type of investment for the benefit of source and host countries. There has been a substantial change in policies and attitudes towards FDI on the part of most developing countries in recent years. Disbelief and suspicion of FDIs in the past now appears to have given place to a new found faith in its ability to encourage growth and development for the investing firm and host countries. This perception is due to number of factors: steep fall in alternative sources of finance such as bank credit in the wake of the debt crisis, the self-evident success of Asian countries like India and China, and growth in Knowledge and understanding of the nature and operations of multinational enterprises (Balasubramanyam Mahambare, 2004). In regards to stability aspect of FDI toward the growth of investing firm and host countries, empirical studies have found FDI to be more stable than ot her forms of capital (UNCTAD, 1998, World Investment Report, Geneva). Examination of a variety of capital flows in developing countries during East Asian financial crisis revealed FDI was more stable than other capital flows past studies analysis that FDI is the result of certain competitive advantage. Paul et al. (2002), revealed in their book; many developing countries like India favour FDI over other capital inflows and there is a substantial benefit that such investment benefit the host country and thereby attracting more foreign firms for investment as the benefits in this form of investment is both ways. Knowing the benefits of FDI in host countries would make the legislation system clear and simple and would enable foreign firm for investment based on long-term profits. Swamy (2000) in his book has done calculation the rate of return of FDI in India. His results revealed the rate of return on FDI in India higher than the rate of return obtained on global outward FDI. To quote from his studies, FDI Enterprises were able to earn relatively higher profit rates in India, despite higher level of taxation and tariffs etc. Thus the low level of FDI Inflows until the end of 1980s seems to have been caused restrictive policy environment rather than profitability considerations. Pradhan (2000) has scrutinised the various aspects of FDI from source as well as Host countries point of view, with a focus on the risk from the firms perspective and on the strategies to attract FDI to be adopted by host countries. His study thereby revealed that the higher rate of return for an MNC comes with FDI is, in fact, the result of existing market opportunities combined with the host countries policies towards FDI. Thereby, Indicating strong signals of overall growth of Host countries (developing) in conjunction with FDI and higher rate of return for MNCs. Lensink Morrissey (2001), literature suggests that FDI by MNCs is one of the major channels in providing LDCs (least developed countries) with access to advanced technologies and generating high revenue for MNCs involved in investment for them. The underlying theory differs illustrates the benefits of FDI for MNCs and host countries. The imitation channel is based on the view that domestic firms may become more Productive by imitating the more advanced technologies or managerial practices of Foreign firms for foreign firms and at the same time adding to GDP for their own country. Also, the competition channel emphasises that the entrance of more foreign firms from abroad intensifies competition in the domestic market, thereby encouraging domestic firms to become more efficient and productive by upgrading their technology base. The linkages channel stresses that foreign firms may relocate new technology to Domestic firms through transactions, and would develop buyer-seller relationship. This would necessities Training from the foreign firm to the domestic firm. Hence the training channel needs to be enforced on new technologies. This can only be adopted when the labour force feels comfortable to work with their foreign partner and when embraced works for the benefits of foreign firms as well. Beside these studies, in some of the literature the contribution of FDI to foreign firm and host countries economic growth has been debated quite extensively. Findings reveals that FDI has both benevolent and a dangerous impact. Empirical evidence that FDI generates positive spillovers for firms is mixed. Few studies have found positive spillover effects, few finds no effects and few even conclude that there are negative effects (see Aitken and Harrison, 1999). The conventional argument is that an inflow of FDI positively contributes as; it brings technology, know-how and management techniques. It integrate the operation of local firms into the networks of foreign investors, it helps to place local production on international markets and integrates the national economies into worldwide production and distribution systems. Hence, concluding that FDI can contribute positively and increase the export activity of the host economy (Adam 2002). On the other hand, some of the recent literat ure points to the role of FDI as a channel of international technology transfer. It can deliver rather controversial effects. Foreign firms can out-compete local producers, reduce local production capacities close down research and development units, break up traditional subcontractor relationships and substitute them with imported goods, and repatriate profits thus deteriorating the balance of payments position of the host economy. Sometimes, could lead to absolute shut-down of foreign firms when opposed by local people of host countries. For example Coca-Cola Company had shut down bottling plant in India during a community-led campaign that demanded the closure of the Coca-Cola bottling plant because of indiscriminate pollution as well as illegal occupatio