Monday, December 16, 2019

Marketing concept and role as marketer for ipt Free Essays

Marketing is broad based activities involve the strategies surrounding the planning, designing, pricing, promotion, distribution of   goods to satisfy and meet the needs of customers. The centre focus of marketing activities is built around the customers. Thus, the marketing 4Ps (product, pricing, promotion, and place) are strategically enforced to bringing satisfaction to customers and at the same time make the organization or business maximize profits. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing concept and role as marketer for ipt or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thus, the different marketing strategies; pricing strategy, distributive  strategy, promotional strategy, sales strategy, product creation and branding strategy, inter-alia, these are synchronize in meeting the marketing  objectives of the organization. Playing the role of marketer for IPT product, strategic marketing plays a significant aspect in the execution of my marketing functions. â€Å"Strategy is concerned with effectiveness rather than efficiency and is the process of analyzing the environment and designing the fit between the organization, its resources and objectives and the environment† (Proctor, 2000). The roles thus include engaging the aforementioned marketing strategies to creating maximum satisfaction to customers, at the same time maximizing profit for the organization. Firstly, a product should be design to meet and satisfy the need of customers. Here, adequate research need to be conducted to ensure that the product is adequate to satisfy customers want, also making sure the quality surpasses that of competitive products in line to the IPT product. The next step is to ensure, that the right price is set for the product in such a way that it would not be under priced, where the organization cannot break-even, or over priced where customers would prefer rival’s product to our company product. Market skimming enables the marketer to know the price of competitors’ products and the right price to set for its own product. This is done after the marketer has weighed its costs of production in line with the price it decide to set for the product. Another significant role the marketer plays promotional strategy. In this case, the creation of awareness of the product to the public will burst the sales volume to be derived. Thus, adequate promotional strategy is significant role the marketer plays to increase sales volume for the product. The promotional strategy may involve trade exhibition, personal selling, and customers’ orientation on how to utilize the product among others. The marketer has different media for product promotion. This can be done through engaging mass media such as the print media, television, radio broadcasts, or the internet. Constant communication and feedback to customers keep them informed and know more about the organization’s product and innovative trend introduced by the organization. The strategy for distribution of product (place) is done to ensure that the product is available to customers when, and where the need it at the right time. The marketer also seeks out ways to satisfy the different category of customers and their needs. Marketing segmentation is a tool that is utilized in influencing the development of an organization’s product base. Market segmentation has the goal to seek out consumers who have similar desires and behavior, and thus forming heterogeneous segments to satisfy the different customers’ needs. Thus, customers’ response to price is a significant factor that results in the implementation of market segmentation by an organization. This also affects the marketing mix (product, price, distribution, and promotion) of the organization. The marketer faces the challenge of how to make product of IPT be a product leader in the industry it operates. It is then a big task on how to always strategy in such a way to make the organization be a step ahead of its competitors through curving a niche for the organization.   Rivals from time to time bring out strategy to counter those of other organization. Thus, it is then a task of the marketer to know how to strategize in such a way that the strategies of other competitors do not affect the smooth operations of the organization. Reference Proctor, Tony (2000), Strategic Marketing: An Introduction London: Routledge    How to cite Marketing concept and role as marketer for ipt, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Nuclear Power Persuasive Essay free essay sample

Let’s imagine that we are on a freeway. Just a few miles over the horizon lies the ultimate exhaustion of our planet’s fossil fuel supply. However, before we reach that otherwise inevitable destination, there are several exits at which we can turn off to evade the unquestionably chaotic and potentially economically ruinous position of losing the energy source upon which we primarily rely. The names of many of these turn-offs are familiar: solar, nuclear, wind, hydroelectric – these words dominate the landscape of the â€Å"feel-good environmentalism† that has invaded the mainstream media. While all of these are already implemented to different extents, at the level of our current technology, only nuclear power provides a solid and practical solution to the looming energy crisis. Despite resistance fed predominantly by ignorant scare tactics, nuclear power is a necessary step toward the ultimate goals of energy dependence in this nation, providing a solutio n to the energy crisis in light of waning fossil fuel reserves, and upholding environmental responsibility. We will write a custom essay sample on Nuclear Power Persuasive Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While there are numerous alternative energy sources available to us; as has been aforesaid, only nuclear is presently practical on a large scale. Hydroelectric power can only provide electricity to areas near rivers or large bodies of water with strong currents; and while it may seem like a great option superficially, geothermal energy is very costly to harness and causes egregious damage to surrounding river ecosystems. Nuclear power plants, in spite of high start-up costs, can produce massive amounts of energy very cheaply and fairly safely. And unlike its more restrictive cousins, it can provide a source of energy in any inhabited area on earth where sufficient land is available. It is impossible to highlight the positive aspects of nuclear energy without the question of nuclear waste arising to rain on the parade. Notwithstanding, it is a valid point, and one to be duly considered before we, as scientists, embark on a journey down any paths of radical action. The conundrum of wh at we must do with the hazardous radioactive by-products of nuclear power generation is, without a doubt, the sole ugly pimple on the otherwise blemishless face of clean nuclear energy. Maintaining environmental responsibility is of great importance, but so is finding alternative energy sources. In my opinion, the best path of action is not to see nuclear power as the ultimate answer, but rather to utilize it to its full potential as soon as is possible, thereby reducing the need for fossil fuels and creating an extended window of time in which other, cleaner technologies such as solar, antimatter, and wind can be tweaked and enhanced to more efficient levels. This way, it will take much longer to actually run out of fossil fuels, and by the time such does occur, other cleaner technologies will be better suited to take over as leading energy sources for the citizens of planet earth. Now, and for as long as nuclear power plants continue to operate, there will be public wariness and f ear-mongering from special-interest groups – such is unavoidable. Just as the Hindenburg disaster ended the promising age of dirigible flight as a means of mass public transportation, so the Three Mile Island incident did for public acceptance of nuclear power as a means for large-scale power production. It seems that (as per usual) the mainstream media has endorsed the false opinions of many â€Å"professionals† who have apparently not made erudition the manner through which they acquire their information. This has caused the public, always in search of a quick path to elucidation, to put an unrealistic amount of faith in feeble methods of energy creation such as the abovementioned solar and wind technologies. Basically, no, nuclear is not the ultimate solution to the energy crisis, but it, without a doubt, needs to be aggressively implemented in the very near future in order to buy extra time in which better solutions can be formulated. If we choose to go this route, there is little chance that we would reap negative consequences in the long run. It’s now or never.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Turkeys Role in the Syrian Crisis

Introduction Syria has been embroiled in a violent uprising since 2011 when the Syrian opposition began widespread demonstrations against president Bashar al-Assad and his government. The Syrian crisis was fueled by the winds of revolution that were blowing through the Arab world. This Arab uprising led to the toppling of regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya due to popular uprisings by the citizens of these countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Turkey’s Role in the Syrian Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Arab Spring Revolutions have been the most significant political event in the region and they have had huge ramifications as regimes have been toppled and governments have been obligated to engage in reforms. In the case of Syria, President Assad has refused to leave power in spite of the widespread opposition against him and international pressure for him to do so. Instead of relenting to the popular uprising against him, Assad engaged in brutal repression of the demonstrators in his country. This violent repression led to the formation of armed rebel groups that have been fighting to topple the Assad regime for almost three years without any real success. The events in Syria have attracted the attention of the international community and the country’s regional neighbors. Turkey, which is a regional power, has been heavily involved in Syrian affairs since the crisis has some impact on Turkey due to its common border with Syria and its strategic interests in the region (Idrees 88). Turkey has therefore emerged as the country that has played the most monumental role in trying to resolve the Syrian crisis. This paper will set out to provide an in-depth description of the efforts that Turkey has engaged in to assist mitigate the Syrian crisis and speed the process of stabilizing the nation. The paper will begin by articulating the reasons behind Turkey’s in terest in Syria and then proceed to outline the role that Ankara has played in the Syrian issue. Turkey’s Interest in the Syrian Events Even as the Syrian Crisis gets to its third year, Turkey continues to demonstrate a great commitment to ensuring that the crisis is effectively resolved in the shortest time possible. From the onset of the Syrian crisis, Turkey demonstrated an interest in the actions carried out by the Assad regime and by the opposition. Turkey shares a 911km border with Syria making instability in Syria an issue of concern for Turkey.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Turkey has a vested interest in the outcome of the Syrian Crisis. In recognition of the critical ramifications that the events in Syria would have on Turkey, the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan described the situation in Syria in 2011 as â€Å"an internal Turkish issue† ( 88). Turkey has made a huge regional and domestic capital in overthrowing the Assad regime and the current policy supports the armed rebels and the Syrian opposition. Ankara has been the most prominent foreign actor in the Syrian affairs since the revolution against the Assad regime broke out in 2011 (Idrees 88). The Turkish Foreign Minister asserts that Turkey is obliged to act on the Syrian issue not only because it needs to defend its own national strategies but also because it is a regional power in the region (47). Turkey’s role in Syria will contribute to its growing influence in the region. Analysts predict that if the Syrian opposition succeeds, it will set up a government modeled after Turkey’s ruling AKP government and look up to Ankara as the mentor. Phillips suggests that by backing the Syrian opposition and promoting the SNC, Turkey is establishing a good relationship with the future successors of Assad; therefore boosting its own influence in the country (138). Turkey’s involvement has also been prompted by concerns that the Syrian crisis might contribute to a reemergence of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) problem in Turkey. The PKK is a Kurdish nationalist movement that has been fighting for secession from Turkey. Egin declares that the anti-Assad policy adopted by Ankara has â€Å"breathed new life into the Turkish Kurds’ long struggle for independence† (66). Because of Turkey’s denouncing of the Assad regime, the Syrian government has retaliated by covertly funding the PKK groups operating along the Turkish border. Egin reports that the Assad regime has reversed its longstanding anti-Kurd policies and provided the Kurd fighters with a degree of logistical support and refuge from Turkish forces (66). This has reinvigorated the PKK and enabled it to resume an armed struggle against Turkey.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Turkey’s Role in the Syrian Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Turkey’s Humanitarian Efforts One of the areas where Turkey has played a major role is with regard to the Syrian refugees. Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict, the number of Syrians looking for refuge from their country’s violence has been rising. Since Turkey shares an expansive border with Syria, many Syrians have sought to cross into Turkey to escape the violence in their country (Laqueur 77). Sly reports that while refugees have moved into the other countries surrounding Syria, Turkey has received the greatest percentage of refugees (1). Turkey is currently home to over 400,000 Syrian refugees who continue to put a strain on the resources of the Turkish government as their daily needs are met. In addition to the refugees already living in Turkey, the country is admitting between 500 and 1,500 Syrians each day at certain border crossings. The flow of refugees into Turkey has at times been so high that the Turkish government has been forced to close key border crossings in order to regulate the flow of Syrians. However, Turkey has demonstrated a great desire to assist the Syrians fleeing from the violence in their country. Turkey has been deeply involved in humanitarian efforts aimed at assisting the vast number of Syrian refugees within its borders. Turkey has established numerous camps in its territory to accommodate Syrian Refugees. Jodi reports that the camps established by Turkey for the Syrian refugees are some of the best refugee camps in the world (1). Some of the camps established for refugees include pre-fabricated houses that contain two rooms and a bathroom making the lives of the refugees in Turkey very decent. Most of the money used to sustain the refugees has been from Turkey’s own financial reserves. The country has also demonstrated great generosity by spending close to $1billion dollars on Syrian refugees in order to alleviate their conditions while in Turkey. In spite of limited international support for the refugees fleeing Syria, Turkey has continued to offer great support to Syrian refugees. Jodi observes that the international aid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis occurring at the Turkey-Syria border has been minimal with most Western countries providing limited aid (1).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Turkey has filled this void by providing substantial support to meet the needs of the Syrians. However, analysts contend that Turkey’s ability to deal with the humanitarian crisis might be hampered if the Syrian crisis extends beyond 2013 and the influx of refugees across the Turkey-Syria border increases. International diplomatic efforts Turkey has engaged in a lot of international diplomacy to try resolving the Syrian crisis. Turkey has exploited its good relationship with Western nations to carry out diplomatic efforts concerning the Syrian crisis. Turkey is a part of the â€Å"Friends of Syria† group, which is made up of countries that are concerned about the Syrian crisis and are engaged in diplomatic action to resolve the crisis. Turkey hosted the major meeting by this group held on April 2012 and in this meeting, the Turkish PM called on the international community to take action against Assad’s regime. In line with its stance against the Syrian governmen t, Turkey reiterated its opinion that Syrian rebels should be given the means with which to defend themselves from Assad’s onslaught. Turkey has been involved in international efforts aimed at keeping Syrians safe in their own country. Turkey has engaged in advocacy for more stringent actions to be taken against Assad by the international community. The Turkish government is the strongest supporter of a no fly zone that, once enacted, would ensure that Syrians are safe in the Northern parts of the country. Sly observes that most Syrian refugees in Turkey have been forced out of their country by the frequent aerial bombardments carried out by the Assad regime (1). Imposition of a no fly zone would stop the airstrikes and make the area safe for Syrians to live in. The no-fly zone has also been aimed at protecting turkey from Syrian attacks. Following the shooting down of a Turkish Air Force jet by the Syrian army in June 2012, Turkey called on its NATO allies to enforce a no-fl y zone in Syria. While a no fly zone is yet to be implemented in the crisis, the Turkish administration continues to advocate for it at the UN and through NATO. Turkey has urged the international community to engage in limited military intervention against the Assad regime or increase its support to the Syrian rebels. In the recent past, the Turkish Foreign Minister has called on the international community to take action against the Assad regime. Following a car bombing in May 12 in a Turkish border town that led to the death of 46 people, the Turkish government has called for action against Syria to ensure that the violence there does not spread into the neighboring countries (Burch 1). However, the international community has shown great reluctance in responding to the Syrian crisis. Major powers such as the US are apprehensive and have not taken any solid step in the issue (Williams and Colleen 50). Diplomatic Efforts with Syrian Actors In addition to the international efforts, Turkey has used its regional influence to attempt resolving the Syrian crisis domestically. At the onset of the conflict in Syria, Turkey attempted to use its close ties with the Assad regime to control the activities taking place in Syria. The Turkish government tried to persuade Assad to stop his brutality against the opposition forces. Instead of engaging in a ‘zero problems’ strategy in the Syrian case, Turkey has adopted a ‘values-based’ foreign policy that supports democratic forces (Phillips 138). Turkey has publicly criticized the Assad regime and lobbied for greater participation by the Sunni majority in the Syrian government (Kouskouvelis 48). Damla reveals that in August 2011, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu held a lengthy meeting with Assad in which he tried to get Assad to engage in dialogue with the rebels (43). The Turkish government representative officially impressed on Assad that it was necessary for his government to shar e power with the majority Sunni community and make major reforms in the country. However, these talks did not yield positive results since Assad was unwilling to resolve the problems facing his regime through dialogue and reforms. The good relationship between Turkey and the Syrian opposition has enabled Turkey to play an influential role in the crisis. Turkey has moderated over talks between the US and the moderate opposition forces in Syria to try and come up with a strong and unified opposition coalition that can challenge Assad. These efforts are significant since at the moment, the Syrian opposition is made up of many disparate groupings, some of which are affiliated with radical Islamic terror outfits such as Al-Qaeda. Western powers are unwilling to back a Syrian opposition that has affiliations with terrorist organizations. Turkey has therefore played a key role in initiating dialogue between the opposition and the US and some EU countries to reach a consensus on the composi tion of the Syrian opposition. Turkey and the Syrian Opposition In spite of a decade-long good relationship between the Turkish administration and the Assad regime, Turkey denounced the Syrian government following the rise of the resistance against the Assad government in March 2011. Before the Crisis, Turkey had engaged in a â€Å"zero problems† foreign policy with Syria. This policy was aimed at eliminating all the historical issues that Turkey faced with Syria and promoting trade in the region. The Syrian crisis caused Turkey to abandon this policy of disengagement and play a more pronounced role in Syrian affairs. Syrian rebels have received significant support from the Turkish government. Arango reveals that in addition to providing a permanent base for the umbrella resistance group, the Syrian National Council, the Turkish government has opened up some areas on its side of the border with Syria to the rebels. This opposition fighters are allowed to plan, coordinate, and launch their attacks against the Assad regime from Turkish soil (1). Turkey has also served as a safe harbor for military defectors from the Syrian Army. As the civil conflict in Syria carries on, hundreds of military officials have defected from Assad’s brutal regime. Turkey has offered refuge to these defectors with the Turkish Army protecting the camps where these military officials are staying (Damla 43). In the latest development in the Syrian crisis, the US and Syria’s main ally Russia have announced their intention to engage in cooperative efforts to end the conflict through diplomacy. Such action would require the participation of the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition. Leaders from Syria’s opposition coalition are going to meet under the supervision of Turkey in Istanbul to deliberate on whether they will be involved in this international conference that might probably lead to an end in the Syrian conflict. The involvement of Turkey in this matter is of great importance since as a Muslim country, Turkey has the required legitimacy that the West lacks when dealing with Syria. Military Force The Turkish government has publicly stated that it is not willing to engage in an all out military confrontation with Syria to help resolve the crisis. Because of this policy, Turkey has by the large avoided direct military involvement in the Syrian Conflict (Krajeski 1). While it would be in Turkey’s best interest for the conflict to end soon, an outright military intervention by the Turkish military in Syria would not only be expensive but very unpopular. The Turkish population is not in support of military intervention by its country’s military. For this reason, Turkey has avoided engaging in unprovoked military intervention and its actions have often been in response to Syrian strikes in its territory. In spite of the desire to avoid military action with Syria, Turkey has been forced to take some military action in retalia tion to Syrian attacks on Turkish soil. The first publicly acknowledged attack by the Turkish army took place in October 2012 following a Syrian mortar strike that hit southeastern Turkey, killing 5 Turks. This attack prompted retaliation by the Turkish army, which launched counter-battery fire into Syrian territory (Krajeski 1). In the events where Turkey has been forced to take military action to protect its borders, the situation has been quickly de-escalated by both sides. The focus on de-escalation can be seen from the fact that even when Syrian missiles have landed in Turkey, the Turkish forces have limited their retaliation measures to counterattacking the units perceived to have opened fire across the border. The reason for this is that both Turkey and Syria are keen to avoid an armed retaliation since such action would have major negative repercussions for both sides. While it is unlikely that Turkey will choose to invade Syria, the government has the power and support of t he politicians on this issue. Following fears that Syria was compromising the Turkish territory, the Turkish Parliament held a debate on the acceptability of a direct military response to Syria. On October 2012, the Parliament passed a resolution that authorized the government to send troops across the border if necessary (Arango 1). Turkey has taken steps to protect itself from threats from the Syrian Army. As a member of the major military alliance NATO, Turkey has requested for military assistance from the organization. In response to this, NATO supplied Turkey with the Patriot Missile Air Defense System in January this year to shield Ankara from its vulnerability to Syrian air attacks (Egin 65). NATO has also provided Turkey with four hundred military personnel to help fortify the Turkey-Syria border and deter any attacks from Syria. Future Role Turkey’s involvement in Syrian affairs is in part due to the self-interest of the country. An unstable Syria poses a threat to T urkey since the violence might spill over into the country. Damla asserts that a prolonged Syrian civil war will result in regional instability with an influx of Syrian refugees into Turkey and the possibility of a revival of the PKK threat from across the Syrian border (49). Ankara’s support for the opposition forces is in anticipation of the toppling of the Assad regime. Damla suggests that Turkey wants to establish a strong relationship with a possible new Syrian government and protect future investments in the country under a post-Assad administration (47). Turkey’s role can be expected to extend into the next few years regardless of the outcome of the Syrian situation. Analysts indicated that Turkey will continue to play a critical role in Syrian affairs for the next many years due to its position as a regional leader (Idrees 88). Even if the Assad regime is toppled, the Syrian opposition does not show the unity needed to pull the country from the brink and establ ish the pre-crisis normalcy that Syria enjoyed. Turkey will therefore have to play a critical role in stabilizing the country and ensuring that Syria gets back on its feet. Conclusion This paper set out to provide an in-depth description of the role that Turkey has played in Syria since the development of the Syrian crisis in 2011. It began by highlighting the reasons why Turkey is playing a pronounced role in Syria. The paper then revealed that Turkey has played a prominent role in dealing with the humanitarian crisis produced by the Syrian conflict. Turkey has also engaged in domestic diplomatic efforts to try end the conflict by talking with the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition. Turkey has also used its international influence to try to get the international community to act on the Syrian issue. In some instances, Turkey has had to engage in military action in retaliation to Syrian strikes on Turkish territory. However, the general objective has been to avoid an all out mil itary confrontation between the two countries. From this paper, it is clear that Turkey is a key player in Syrian affairs. The country’s position as a Muslim nation and a regional power has given it significant influence when dealing with the Syrian issue. Turkey’s role has been and will continue to be integral to the eventual resolution of the conflict. Works Cited Arango, T. On Edge as Syria’s War Knocks Ever Harder on the Door to Turkey. 2012. Web. Burch, J. Turkey says world must act against Syria after bombings. 2013. Web. Damla, A. â€Å"Turkish-Syrian Relations Go Downhill.† Middle East Quarterly 19.2 (2012): 41-50. Print. Egin, O. â€Å"The game changer Syria, Iran, and Kurdish Independence.† World Affairs, 13.3 (2013): 64-72. Print. Idrees, M. â€Å"Turkey and Iran Rivalry on Syria.† Turkish Journal of International Relations 10.2 (2011): 87-99. Web. Jodi, H. Is Turkey’s approach to Syrian refugees sustainable?  2013. Web. Kouskouvelis, I. â€Å"The Problem with Turkey’s ‘Zero Problems’.† Middle East Quarterly 20.1 (2013): 47-56. Web. Krajeski, J. Will Turkey go to War. 2012. Web. Laqueur, W. â€Å"Reality Check: The Hazards of Optimism†. World Affairs 175.6 (2013): 75-83. Web. Phillips, C. â€Å"Turkey’s Syria problem.† Public Policy Research 12.3 (2012): 137-140. Web. Sly, L. â€Å"Turkey blocks Syrian refugees Turkey blocks Syrian refugees.† The Washington Post. 27. Aug. 2012. Web. Williams, P. and Colleen P. â€Å"U. S. Foreign Policy And The Arab Spring: Ten Short-Term Lessons Learned.† Denver Journal of International Law Policy 41.1 (2012): 47-61. Web. This essay on Turkey’s Role in the Syrian Crisis was written and submitted by user Mat Moth to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Shunammite by Ines Arredondo

The Shunammite by Ines Arredondo Introduction The title â€Å"The Shunammite† preempts the details of this particular short story because it is derived from the Bible in the book of 1 Kings 1:1-4. Here, King David had grown old and his years on earth had been long. He was constantly sick and always cold. His servants, therefore, decided to look for a young virgin who would lie beside King David in the hope of fulfilling and inducing some of the old King’s deepest desires.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Shunammite by Ines Arredondo specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After looking throughout Israel, Abishag; a Shunammite woman was found, and she was brought to the king to comfort him. From the beginning of the short story, Licha embodies purity and innocence when she comes to attend to her Uncle. However, she soon gets entangled in an abusive marriage to meet her family obligations. It is through characterization that one gets to unde rstand the predicaments of the protagonist Licha who must struggle with her wishes and family duty. Character in the Shunammite Through characterization, readers can empathize with Licha. One can feel what she is feeling and hence feel the sense of reality projected in the narrative. One way in which characterization can be depicted is through the kind of dialogues that Licha has with the other people in the story. One realizes that she has the noblest intentions and often wants to look out for the interests of others before herself. On the other hand, as one continues, one sees the helplessness she is. For example, when her uncle talks to her about Polish jewelry, Licha realizes that this is a vital family treasure that must be relished. Her uncle quickly insists that she should have the jewelry and immediately turns his head away from her (Arredondo, 4). This kind of bullying continues in the rest of the story even when Licha is told to get married to her uncle. One, therefore, se es the kind of victimization that plays out in the story’s setting. Nonetheless, the protagonist is not just a two-dimensional character; she has her motivations and ideas. One cannot help but see her as a victim because she was unable to speak against the unfairness imposed upon her by her family members. The author often talks about Licha’s inner thoughts. For example at the beginning of the story, the protagonist says that â€Å"I was certain I had the power to domesticate passion, to purify everything in the burning air that surrounded me without consuming me† (Arredondo, 4).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These inner reflections continue throughout the story, and they often bring out Licha’s motivations. For example, when Licha is required to get married to her uncle, she obliges because she was concerned about his well being. Late r on, when he miraculously recovers, she continues to live with him because of her strong sense of loyalty. The author has put the protagonist in a difficult situation and how she handled this situation is what endears her to readers. Licha often struggles to place her experiences in context and sometimes she was not able to do that successfully. The author successfully illustrates what it means to be defenseless as a Mexican woman through her protagonist. The author wanted people to understand the plight of women in her setting. She wanted individuals to know that they were more than mere objects of male desires. Licha has dreams and ambitions; she is not a second class human being as most individuals had assumed in her culture. Perhaps another critical role that Licha’s character plays in the book is to illustrate how women in this society were slammed to a life of servitude. Licha was bound to her uncle’s bedside after his recovery even though she had initially been married to him so that she could inherit his possession. She is one who submits under the domination of a male figure. She is powerless even when the person exploiting her is physically weak. Licha is submerged in her circumstances and cannot do anything about it. Another interesting character in the book is Licha’s uncle; Apoloni. He first comes off as a caring relative who wants to impart knowledge to his niece. In fact, at the beginning of the story, one would be forgiven to assume that the narrative would be about death and how Uncle Apoloni dealt with it. He starts by talking about the past, some of the accomplishments made by the family, the year of hunger, the year of the yellow corn and many of his other memories during the past (Arredondo, 4). His arthritis has shriveled him up because he was now at a point where he was ‘floating on his bed.’ However, we soon realize that Apoloni is not a harmless old man. As his niece attends to him, he starts getting overwhelmed by incestuous thoughts. He longs for the purity and innocence that Licha so quickly puts across. He harbors these thoughts even though it would result in an abusive relationship and would put an end to Licha’s hopes and wishes. As the story progresses and Apoloni recovers, he changes from being a vulnerable and weak individual to a predator and selfish being. The purity that attracted him to his niece in the first place would be destroyed if she started something with him.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Shunammite by Ines Arredondo specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One can also see that this individual did not care for his niece because if he did, then he would not have made those demands. One can also see that this uncle started the abusive relationship because he knew that he could get away with it. Other family members, including his wife, were too loyal to their family ever to oppose his a ctions. His wife cared too much about family honor and public perceptions of the family. This was why she became an accomplice to his unforgivable behavior. Uncle Apoloni is, therefore, a manipulative and dominating character that puts his needs first even if it involves destroying the needs of another person. The author does not paint a picture of an innately evil character in Apoloni. He is multifaceted and has strong points as well. Readers can identify with some of his struggles such as arthritis and the impending death. One can also see that it is these insecurities about his own meaningless life that cause him to act out. He was missing something and hoped to find it in the fresh beauty of his niece. The character of this antagonist also reflects another critical component of the story. He is engaged in an endless search for the supreme which is epitomized in the purity of Licha. His niece was a virgin and therefore represented an entire state to him. The problem was that this search was relentless because uniting with such a pure being would result in her corruption rather than his purification. This illustrates the extent to which this individual was mistaken. The author, therefore, succeeds in characterization because she has not portrayed a stereotype of a typical dying man. She complicates Apoloni’s character by showing how he fell victim to his lustful thoughts. Aunt Ponchita; Apoloni’s wife was also another surprising individual. At the beginning of the story, she seems to like this caring character. Licha has very fond memories of her as she goes to see her ailing uncle. However, when Ponchita learns about her husband’s wish to marry his niece, she does not react to it or oppose it in any way. She hides this fact because of her need to maintain a certain family image. Aunt Ponchita is, therefore, a representation of betrayal on the part of women. She should have been there for her niece but instead chose to help out her manip ulative and predatory husband. One can, therefore, see that she lacks the compassion characteristic of most aunts. Additionally, even a sense of dignity does not cause this woman to act morally. She is concerned about her sense of well being and self-preservation. She is not strong enough to speak out against this grave misdeed, and she watches as her niece’s life gets destroyed.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Perhaps another critical role that her aunt plays in the story is to demonstrate the degree of subservience that women in that Latin America society were expected to possess. They were not bold enough to confront elements of their culture that oppressed them. In this regard, Aunt Ponchita is a stereotypical image of a Latin American woman at that time. In essence, the author of this short story does an excellent job of giving depth to her characters (Giona and Kennedy, 12). They are fully developed because they have histories. They reflect upon or talk about their childhood memories, their ambitions and the like. A lot of the story is rooted in providing backgrounds for the characters so that their actions can be interpreted thoroughly. Also, because of the dynamic changes that take place in the middle of the narrative, characters soon become dynamic as well. For example, Uncle Apoloni first appears to be weak and helpless. However, as the story progresses, he changes and becomes th is lustful individual who then defies expectation by causing his niece to lie with him. That dynamism of the character adds a lot of flavor to the story and leads to much progress in the narrative. Additionally, realistic characters often help in making this story such a good piece of literature. It is possible to relate with all the individuals in the story because struggles, challenges, and ambitions are common to all human beings which are depicted throughout the story. Licha is not a cardboard character; her subservience is a testimony to her weakness while her sweet and caring nature is her main strength. This intermingling of character traits creates superior individuals who make the story worthwhile. It can also be said that this story is more focused on character than plot. In other words, it is the characters that lead to developments in the story over and above the plot within the story. It is admirable the ease with which these characters have been developed even though i t is a short story. Since there is little room to give too much history about them, the author needed to be very careful about the information she picked out or chose to convey in the story (Stauffer, 35). For example, when she tells us about the fond memories that Licha had about the place where her uncle was located, one can relate that to the immense sense of loss that Licha felt when she was told that her uncle was ailing. Furthermore, one can also understand why she chose to submit to her uncle’s incestuous wishes later on in the story. It is also interesting that the author does not fall into the trap of creating flat characters whose primary function is to offer information about the protagonist or other main characters. The beauty of this literary piece is that the main character is the narrator of the story. One, therefore, relates experiences in the novel to her point of view. This is why it is easy to understand why she chooses to make the decisions that she does i n the story. Conclusion Characterization in this short story reflects the realism of this piece. Each has his or her flaws thus depicting a rational image of the people in the story. Some of the developments in the tale are particularly disturbing, and it is through characterization that members of the audience can feel as though those developments are happening to them. Readers are also able to relate to these characters because of the inner dialogue that the protagonist keeps having and the external conversations that she has with other people she interacts. In the end, the story has become compelling and quite impressive. References Arredondo, Ines. Underground river and other stories: the Shunammite. NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1996 Stauffer, Marilyn. Outline on literary elements. The University of South Florida. 5 August 2007. Web. Gioia, Dana Kennedy, J. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing Eleventh Edition. NY: Longman, 2006

Friday, November 22, 2019

10 Quotes to Help Celebrate a 30th Birthday

10 Quotes to Help Celebrate a 30th Birthday Some like a big splash, others like a quiet affair, but most everyone likes their birthday celebrations. If you like birthdays, even the morning of your birthday seems like the best morning of the year. Even if a cloud threatens to explode in the skies, you wake up feeling happy. You quickly go through your birthday greetings that come in the form of text messages, phone calls, and social media posts. And isnt it wonderful to receive flowers or a beautiful birthday cake, with a Happy Birthday card in it? You thank everybody who remembered your birthday. You feel a sense of joy when you express gratitude to your loved ones. Why Do We Enjoy Celebrating Birthdays? Once a year, you get the chance to be special. Friends, family, and loved ones wish you happiness, good health, and prosperity. They shower you with love, attention, gifts, and goodies. They spend time with you and share your happiness. The 30th birthday is special. You are now officially a mature and responsible adult who has the necessary wisdom to make important decisions in life. The 30th birthday heralds your adult status with measured indulgence. Here are some noteworthy quotes that put matters in the right perspective, ready to share in birthday cards and on cakes, during celebratory toasts, and more. Muhammad Ali The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. Hervey Allen The only time you really live fully is from 30 to 60. The young are slaves to dreams; the old, servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits. Anonymous At the age of 20, we dont care what the world thinks of us; at 30, we worry about what it is thinking of us; at 40, we discover that it wasnt thinking of us at all. Georges Clemenceau Everything I know I learned after I was 30. Charles Caleb Colton The excess of our youth are checks written against our age, and they are payable with interest 30 years later. F. Scott Fitzgerald Thirty- the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair. Benjamin Franklin At 20 years of age, the will reigns; at 30, the wit; and at 40, the judgment. Robert Frost Time and tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of 30. Elbert Hubbard Ones 30th birthday and ones 60th are days that press their message home with iron hand. With his 70th milestone past, a man feels that his work is done, and dim voices call to him from across the Unseen. His work is done, and so illy, compared with what he had wished and expected! But the impressions made upon his heart by the day are no deeper than those his 30th birthday inspires. At 30, youth, with all it palliates and excuses, is gone forever. The time for mere fooling is past; the young avoid you, or else look up to you and tempt you to grow reminiscent. You are a man and must give an account of yourself. Lew Wallace A man 30 years old, I said to myself, should have his field of life all ploughed, and his planting well done; for after that it is summertime.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Brazil's development will attempt to lead sustainability for the next Essay

Brazil's development will attempt to lead sustainability for the next World Cup - Essay Example Introduction 1.1 Background Sports, conferences and entertainment events have become major events in which environmental sustainability has emerged as an important theme (Ponsford, 2011). Every event claims to be environmentally conscious but the extent to which the authorities take steps to attain sustainability remains a debatable issue. The event organizers should be responsible for making the first step towards sustainability as they make a major impact on the environment (Hill, 1998). The first step involves preparing an action plan based on various factors that are set together to create an event. Brazil is due to host the World Cup in three years’ time and the infrastructure development that this event calls for, is tremendous. Brazil is expected to invest US$18.7bn for the 2014 FIFA World Cup which will fund 50 projects in 12 Brazilian host cities (Portal Brasil, 2010). The Minister for Sports claims that the development of Brazil to meet the demands of the event would greatly improve the country for the citizens. 1.2 Rationale for the study Hosting the World Cup requires the nation to be prepared in three main areas – the stadium, airport and transportation, and accommodation (De la Cerda, Fernandes, Huebner, Madanes & Suarez, 2011). Brazil is poised for growth since its foreign exchange policy is liberalized. The success of an event is not merely limited to whether the event was economically profitable. For most mega events economic benefits are overstated in order to justify the public expenditure by the federal government (Karadakis & Kaplanidou, 2010). It can cause tremendous debts as in the case of Montreal 1976 as it was burdened with capital and interest costs; as resources become scarce price inflation is likely for goods and services. The general population could also be burdened in terms of additional taxation to pay for the cost of hosting. Opportunity costs also arise when the government is unable to raise enough funds to host the event. A reasonable ratio between the profit generated and the costs incurred is based on short-term effects, and is derived from induced demand stimulus (Muller & Moesch, 2010). However, an event can be sustainable only if the added infrastructure continues to generate revenue and pay for its maintenance. Sustainability is not limited to environmental concerns but can expand to other regions as well. 1.3 Research aims and objectives With the aim to evaluate what steps the authorities have taken to ensure that development attempts will lead to sustainability for the next world cup, the objectives of the study are: To determine the likely damage to the environment and suggest measures for sustainable management To determine the likely impact of the World Cup 2014 on the GDP of Brazil and its population in the future generations To evaluate if Brazil is moving towards a sustainable event This study has great significance because event managers/organizers globally would make consc ious attempts while planning events to ensure minimum damage to the environment, to the people, to the nation as a whole. 2. Literature review 2.1 Definition – events –

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Role of Vision at Mentor Graphics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role of Vision at Mentor Graphics - Case Study Example However, later on it had to be changed because it was no longer effective in motivating its employees and growth problems began to emerge. When the company used the vision â€Å"Six Boxes†, it somehow weakened the company because when one of the businesses failed, the company did not have the option of closing it down. If they do so, then the â€Å"Six Boxes† vision will no longer be applicable because there will only be â€Å"Five Boxes†. This vision weakened the company because it prevented management from making the appropriate financial decisions. 3. Identify three key reasons that the vision failed at Mentor Graphics. The first reason why the vision failed at Mentor Graphics is that some of the visions that they developed were too vague. In the case of the vision â€Å"10X Imperative†, the customers did not understand it; most probably even the employees did not know what it meant. The vision is blurred and did not present a clear picture of what the company will be in the future. The second reason why the vision failed is that it is too unrealistic. The vision â€Å"Six Boxes† combined the goals of the six different businesses of Mentor, so much so that when one of the businesses failed, they could not even shut it down. The expectation was that all six businesses will be profitable which was very unrealistic and hard to achieve. The vision at Mentor also failed because it was â€Å"too disconnected from the present† (Palmer, Dunford, & Akin, 2009). Their vision in 1989, â€Å"Changing the World Designs Together† was described by Mentor’s President Gerard Langeler as having little to do with the actual businesses of the company. 4. Discuss issues of vision content, context, and process in how vision was introduced and changed at the company. The initial vision of Mentor is â€Å"Build Something That People Will Buy†. However, this vision had to be changed to be more competitive. Eventually, Me ntor’s vision progressed from being concrete in â€Å"Beat Daisy† to becoming too abstract as â€Å"10X Imperative†. The â€Å"Beat Daisy† vision was practical and answered the needs of the firm at that time. The content and context was well understood by the employees; thus, it was easy to achieve. It was very precise and clear; therefore, it served as a guideline for all employees. In â€Å"Changing the World Designs Together†, the company transformed its vision to become too idealistic rather than making it tangible and realistic. The development of the visions of Mentor depended on the effect it had on the company. If it was not effective in driving the company towards its goals, then the vision was changed. If it was no longer applicable in the current position of the firm, then the vision was changed too. After â€Å"Beat Daisy† most of the visions formulated by Mentor were inspirational though quite ambitious. In the end, Mentor had t o revert back to its original vision which is â€Å"To Build Things People Will Buy†. Langeler realized that this was the more pragmatic vision for the company which was attuned with the core business of the firm and would help them make sound business decisions. 5. Discuss whether or not the vision helped or hindered change at Mentor Graphics There were instances when vision helped the company like when their vision was â€Å"Beat Daisy†. â€Å"Six Boxes† on the other hand hindered change at Mentor because even if they wanted to close down one of the six businesses