Literary Analysis of My Son the Fanatic Essays

Literary Analysis of My Son the Fanatic Essays Literary Analysis of My Son the Fanatic Paper Literary Analysis of My Son the Fanatic Paper Literary Analysis of My Son the Fanatic Written by Hanif Kureishi, the short story My Son the Fanatic develops through the conflict between a father and his son. In the story, the father Parvez who works as a taxi driver immigrated from Pakistan to England with his family twenty years ago. His son Ali is a college student in England. When Ali was behaving abnormally, Parvez’s suspicion led him to discover that Ali had turned into a religious Muslim. Parvez, although born as a Muslim, does not strictly abide by Islam rules. The father and son are holding different beliefs; hence they could hardly accept each other’s moral values anymore. Because the author told the story in Parvez’s point of view, it might be controversial that between Parvez and Ali, which character is on the right side. However, as the title of the story suggested, Kureishi, the author, clearly wanted to convince the readers that the son Ali is the fanatic, urging the readers to take Parvez’s side. The author Kureishi, by no means, has depicted Parvez a perfect man. Parvez as a character has a lot of shortcomings: as a Muslim, he gambles; he drinks; he eats pork; he makes fun of religion representativethe local mullahs and as a husband, he tries to avoid his wife by driving the night taxi (Kureishi 61, 63). Some may argue that he has not been depicted as a good man or as a good father because those shortcomings, on the contrary, those shortcomings draw him closer to the readers. Parvez as a character had become so similar to somebody whom the readers might have known from their real lifea good man but with imperfections. Therefore, it is imaginable how easily could the readers relate to the character or even his problems in the story. Under Kureishi’s depiction, Parvez might not be a good Muslim, yet his morals were not totally compromised. For example, he saved Bettina, a prostitute from a violent client, he obviously has a clear standard on what’s right or wrong besides what is being told in the Koran (62). The author summed up Parvez well in the story, â€Å"He knew he wasnt a bad man. He had a conscience. There were a few things of which he was ashamed, but on the whole, he had lived a decent life †(64). In addition, Parvez not being a good husband does not stop Kureishi from depicting him as a good father. Parvez, in fact, is a good father indeed and he is proud of himself for being one. â€Å"For years, Parvez had boasted to the other men about how Ali excelled in cricket, swimming, and football, and what an attentive scholar he was, getting A’s in most subjects †(62). He cared for his son and worked hard to provide for him that â€Å" he had always been aware of the pitfalls that other men’s son’s had stumbled into in England. It was for Ali that Parvez worked long hours; he spent a lot of money paying for Ali’s education as an accountant. He had bought Ali good suits, all the books he required, and a computer†(Kureishi 61). He believes a father should be responsible for his son that he â€Å"had blamed other fathers whose sons began running around with bad girls, skipping school, and joining gangs† (Kureishi 61). So when things go abnormal with his own son, he ‘s afraid that he would be blamed for not being a good father (Kureishi 61), and tried to make things right again by closely inspecting his son and repeatedly reaching out to him. Kureishi provides the readers with little information about the son Ali’s personal life, and some of which are negative, so it is more difficult for the readers to relate to the character. For example, at the beginning of the story, the author informed the readers through Parvez’s point of view that Ali had broken up with his English girlfriend, and all his old friends stopped ringing (61). This hardly counts as a positive sign for Ali as a character at the beginning of the story when the author suggests that he is being alienated or starts to alienate others. Apart from that, according to Kureishi, it is Ali who should always be blamed for the tension between the father and son. For example, Ali makes Parvez feel afraid with his silence and sharp tone (61). In the scene when Parvez gazed at Ali, to test if he has been using drugs, Ali replied his gaze with â€Å"more than a hint of criticism, o much so that Parvez began to feel that it was he who was in the wrong, and not the boy† (63). Also, for multiple times in the story, Pavez tried to reach out to Ali in order to talk about their problems, it is always Ali who shows reluctance in communicating with his own father. In the part where Parvez suggested a night out with the son to understand more about his problems, â€Å"Ali refused to accompany him. He claimed that he had an appointment† (Kureishi 63). As the story develops, Parves â€Å"attempted to make conversation about Ali’s beliefs, but if Parvez ventured any criticism, Ali always had a brusque reply †, or replies him with a look of contempt (Kureishi 66). When Parvez attempted to reach out to Ali by taking actions like keeping a beard, Ali, on the other hand, â€Å"did not appear to notice it†(Kureishi 66). Some may argue Ali behaves that way is because Parvez, his father has no respect for Ali’s religion that he constantly challenges Ali’s belief. Somehow Kureishi showed that it is not the case. In fact, Parvez was just trying to convince Ali that there are other beliefs† as Bettina, Parvez’s closest friend suggested (67). However, Ali, in the story, responded to his own father â€Å"with such aggressive confidence that Parvez would say no more†(67). Kureishi depicts Ali as an ungrateful child who has no respect to his own father. From Parvez, the readers heard that Ali told Parvez, his own father that he ‘s going to Hell (66), and Ali looks at Parvez as if he is a criminal (66). Apart from the above, there is more to show about Ali’s disrespectfulness in the story. First, Ali does not appreciate Parvez’s provision; he repays his father’s hard work by â€Å"throwing his possessions out ! † (Kureishi 61). Second, Ali disapproves of his father’s life style. He accused his own father being â€Å"too implicated in Western civilization†(Kureishi 65). He criticize his father harshly based on religion rules, such as suggesting drinking and gambling are forbidden  (Kureishi 64), even after his father patiently explained to him that those were the only hobbies he had after working long hours to provide for him. Ali still gave Parvez â€Å"a horrible look, full of disgust and censure†(Kureishi 64). Third, Ali has no patience for his father’s beliefs. He treats him as â€Å"a rowdy crowd which had to be quelled or convinced† (Kureishi 65). Most importantly, he lost the ability to care for his father’s feelings, in the scene when Parvez fell, Ali â€Å"didn’t even offer him his hand†(Kureishi 66). Moreover, Ali humiliated Parvez’s closest friend Berttina in front of him, bluntly suggesting she is a prostitute by saying â€Å"you know what kind† (Kureishi 68). In conclusion, Kureishi is trying to convince the readers to take Parvez’s side in judging who is right or wrong, he has told the story in Parvez, the father ‘s point of view to build the connection between the character and the readers. By describing the son Ali as the responsible side of the conflict, he has manipulated the readers to sympathize the father Parvez. Moreover, by depicting a slightly flawed character Parvez as a good father who cares and worries about his own son, along with an ungrateful and judgmental son Ali as the fanatic who has no respect to his own father, the author has given the readers a clear choice between the two.

Male Domination In Othello Essays

Male Domination In Othello Essays Male Domination In Othello Paper Male Domination In Othello Paper Male domination in society is a stigma, which has always existed, and one that may not cease to exist. However, the difference does exist in the way the women of the different ages chose to accept such behaviour and render themselves victims of such circumstance. In relation to the Elizabethan period, and having the characters of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca in mind it can be true to say it may have been harder for them not to accept it than it is today. In reality, it was not even noticed by some of the women and for the few who noticed it, they could do nothing more than accepting it as their fate and trying to live with it. In discussing the victimisation of the above named women in this male dominated society, both sides of the argument for each character would be explored with emphasis on their individual struggles for independence. The fair warrior Desdemona as referred to by her husband Othello undoubtedly struggles throughout the play. From her struggle for independence from her father Brabantio, to the struggle for her life from her husband Othello. Shakespeare seems to deceive the audience to think that Desdemona may be one of his unique female characters who fight for the rights of women. However, this power which we see her possess at the beginning of the play as she tells her father that she did love the moor to live with him, to the ones which has been endowed on her as she is referred to as the general gradually fades away. The first indication of Desdemonas victimisation in this male dominated society is evident when Iago refers to her body as if it was the property of Brabantio. He says to him your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul, even now, now, very now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. This signifies that in the Elizabethan society, Brabantio like other fathers considered Desdemonas body and life to be their full possession. Furthermore, the use of an animal imagery to describe her white ewe does not only reflect Iagos underestimation of human nature but the degradation of women in the society by men. This is clearly the case for the fact that he could say it while talking to her father. Desdemona on the other hand, like almost every other woman in the Elizabethan period seems to have accepted the convention that women are inferior to men and are the properties of either her father or husband. This is shown when she says I do perceive here a divided duty. I am hitherto your daughter. But heres my husband. The audience would initially admire her bravery towards her father, but after getting a deeper understanding of the plot, it becomes evident that her marriage to Othello was not a sign of freedom but rather a change from one dominator to another. Desdemonas suffering and humiliation in Cyprus is deeply rooted in the villainous actions of another man called Iago. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is making him a cuckold by sleeping with Cassio. She suffers from this false accusation because it is a world dominated by men. It is possible that Othello takes Iagos words over that of Desdemona not because he is truly convinced that she is unfaithful, but because it is a word of a man over that of a woman. Desdemona just like Hero in the play Much Ado about Nothing shows total submissiveness even at the point of death. Even after receiving a very undeserving slap from Othello in public, all she says is I will not stay to offend you. At this point, the women in the audience may feel more embarrassed and less sympathetic at the timidity of Desdemona. Desdemona voices out her pains through the willow song that she narrates to Emilia. Her reference to her mothers maid called Barbary who died singing it signifies not just her own pain and suffering but one that has been passed down from generation to generation. Regardless of Desdemonas eventual defeat as she dies in the hands of Othello, she does deserve some credit for some of her few acts of bravery. Her rebellion against her father is an act that may not have been very common during the Elizabethan period because the fathers had the right to discipline them when they deemed it fit and virtually had power over them. She did not only get married out of her fathers will but she married an African. This would have been extremely rare especially for someone of her social class. Finally, as she passes out her last response to Emilia when being asked who killed her I myself shows her refusal to accept to be a victim of this male dominated society. Emilia is used by Shakespeare to balance the contrast between the other victims of this male dominance. That is, Desdemona the very chaste one and Bianca the prostitute. Emilia is one character who is not just a victim of this male dominated society but is clearly aware of her position. This is shown clearly in her relationship and attitude towards her husband Iago and her conversation with Desdemona. Emilias marriage is one we see to lack some of the main components of holy matrimony, as Iago is neither protective nor loving to her. The few dialogues that she has with Iago are filled with scorn and insults. He says to her it is a common thing to have a foolish wife, This shows the standards which the men gave their wives. The use of Emilia by Iago as an instrument for destroying Desdemonas marriage and eventually her death is the peak of her victimisation. This is because it is one thing that she would do anything to stop. Her desperation for attention and affection from Iago may have pushed her to act blindly. On stealing the handkerchief, she says my wayward husband hath a hundred times wooed me to steal it. I know nothing than to please his fantasy Her language is usually in an angry tone and underneath it lies her regret at marriage and all the insults that come with it. In response to Othellos maltreatment of Desdemona she says I will be hanged if some eternal villain, some busy and insinuating rogue, some cogging, cozening slave to get some office have not devised this slander. It seems like she finds it acceptable for her to be victimised but not an in innocent and self-sacrificing person like Desdemona. Like Beatrice in Shakespeares Much Ado about nothing, Emilia justifies the case for the women who are involved in extra marital affairs. This is clearly shown in her speech while discussing with Desdemona. Critics have called this speech the renaissance plea to womens liberation. In this speech, she says it is the husbands fault that their wives cheat on them. She systematically points out each of the things which the women have to go through. From when husbands slack their duties by pouring our treasures in foreign laps, break out in peevish jealousies, throwing restraint upon us or when they strike us. This feminine speech is like a cry out for all women and one can imagine the relief and pleasure, which it would have given the women in the audience. Through this Shakespeare shows empathy for the women. He also indirectly cautions the men in the audience and tells them that the women have as much reason as they do to cheat on them. It is no mistake that Emilia , like her mistress is killed by her husband. Shakespeare emphasises the point that they are victims of this male dominated society by juxtaposing their deaths. Prior to Emilias death, she ensures that she speaks defends Desdemonas chastity and regains her dignity by exposing Cassio to Othello. She says I will speak as liberal as the north;let Heaven and the men and devils, let them all cry shame against me yet I will speak. The use of the word men just between Heaven and devil suggests that some of the men like Cassio and lodovico may possess heaven like characters while others like Iago and Othello may act devilish. Bianca seems to be less of a less of a victim in this society if compared to Emilia and Desdemona. At the end of the plot, she is the last woman standing and the chances are that her status would be elevated in the society if all goes well in her relationship with Cassio. Although it can be said that her profession gives her more insults than Emilia and Desdemona would have ever received. However, it would be unfair to assume that it would be a womans desire to sell her body and dignity for money. For this reason, we can say that she is forced into this circumstance. In a society where men saw women as nothing more than instruments of satisfying their bodily pleasures, prostitution was one of the very desperate measures which the very less privileged women would have to take up. This generates insults not only from the men but also from her fellow woman. Emilia says to her O fie upon thee strumpet! Her reply to this statement gains the sympathy of the audience as it indicates her struggle to be tagged as something beyond what she does. She says to her I am no strumpet, but of life as honest as you that thus abuse me. On a deeper note, this may also be a confirmation of Iagos suspicion that Emilia may have had an affair with Othello. Bianca also has her time of rebellion when she tells Cassio if youll come to supper tonight,you may;if you will not, come when you are next prepared for. In this statement, she shows that she perceives a little power left in her possession regardless of how she is looked at in the society. Cassios exit to run after her emphasises this point. And this may cause the audience to look at her with a little more respect. Ultimately, Shakespeare exposes the circumstances which the women in the Elizabethan period faces and also presents it in a way which shows his opposition to it. Furthermore, his use of these three characters who are of different social standings illustrates that no woman was free from being victimised in this male dominated society.

Capitalism and Socialism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Capitalism and Socialism - Assignment Example Brooking institutions researched and found out that income inequality in the year 2013 was rising to alarming rates and negatively affected the US social mobility (Nilufer 21-2). For about 30 years now the income disparity has been notably growing this is after some statics have been carried out. The richest that is 1% of the Americans have so much wealth as compared to the greatest of the poor that’s about 90%.this disparity is increasing now for about 25 years down the line (Ebenstein 12). This has not only affected the United States but nations around the world.Some of the reasons and evidences are discussed below. Education has to a great extent contributed to this income disparity, payment for the educated has been increasing since 1969 in every economic sector. This is because in America less skilled personnel are being dismissed from work because of high competition between businesses and also when businesses adopt new technologies the uneducated have no place which can suit them for they lack the required skills and knowledge. This creates a big gap between the poor and the rich. Class struggle has been one of the major reasons for the worsening of incomeinequality, the gap between the poor and the rich has been widening over the last three decades. ... In 2007 it rose to 24% but for the three decades it fell to 10%. A new system of taxation, unions being strengthened and moderation of the National Labour Board made the income of the low earners and those working to upgrade by reducing that of the highest earners, this policy lasted only for about three decades. In 2009 the income of middle class totaled to $49777 this is according to data collected during census, it then reduced by 4.2% in the years 2007 and 2009 (Ebenstein 29). Neoliberalism advocates that capital and labour which are some of the factors of production should receive payments which are worthwhile. Americans Keynesians support the neoliberal which states that one should be paid what they are worth. This has caused a lot of disparities in income distribution since people work at different rates and have different abilities hence giving out different results in their performances; this automatically leads to income inequality. Outsourcing can be defined as the process where a company works together with an outside company on contractual basis; this is preferred due to the low cost advantages. Most of the US companies have been out sourcing their products and hence gaining comparative advantages. A greater percentage of the investors in US have also engaged in businesses outside their country this has made them earn more than their fellow investors hence the reasons for the income inequalities (Ebenstein 71). Finally, the communal ideology has a role in the economic systems with respect to resource distribution. Ideology can mean beliefs, visions, objectives that can be set by a group of individual or an individual either

Internet Searching Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Internet Searching - Assignment Example The disease and condition of choice is Cervical Cancer. This disease is an abnormality of the cervix just like how other cancerous infections arise due to the abnormality of the various affected body parts. To be specific, Cervical Cancer occurs due to the abnormal cell changes in the cervix. The cell changes are characterized by a rapid multiplication of the cells. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus which opens to the vagina. The Human papillomavirus is the primary cause of this deadly disease. A Uniform Resource Locator is a specific address for a document that is available on the internet. The most convenient way to access a Website is to enter its homepage URL that is found on its specific Web browser’s address line. An example of an URL is the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). An EHR is an electronic health record system. The system is very reliable and convenient as it allows easy and safe recording, accessing and storing of health records as compared to the paper recording system that has a lot of manual procedures. The EHR system has many benefits and its application in the healthcare sector has been of great importance. It improves efficiency, quality, and safety of the health records. The system then engages the participation of patients and their families in the recording of medical information. The system also improves the general health of the public. Lastly, the system not only improves health care coordination but also ensure confidentiality in personal health information. The domain name system is a system that outlines the location of the domain names on the internet and translates them into internet protocol addresses. The domain name system distributes the lists of domain names and their respective IP addresses through a hierarchical order since the maintenance of a central list of the domain names or IP address is impractical.

This is Dead Ringer by Dennis Hamley Essay Example for Free

This is Dead Ringer by Dennis Hamley Essay Giles Conover also disguises himself as a cleaner and a scholar of great age. Naomi Drake disguises herself as a match seller, shop assistant and one who washes up. The atmosphere throughout the film is sinister and clouded due to special effects and the black-and-white photography. The use of light and shade is great and adds tension to the audience and this is great for a movie of this age. And also when the Creeper moves there is a sound track that is very scary and this gives a feeling of; Something is going to happen for sure. I cannot miss this. It grabs attention!!! My favourite scene was when the Creeper broke the back of Giles Conover and then tried to kill Sherlock Holmes. We see the Creepers face for the first time and he is hideously ugly. Of course Sherlock Holmes kills him, with a snub-nose Bulldog revolver. Holmes then smashes the final bust of Napoleon and recovers the valuable Borgia pearl. This was an exciting and dramatic ending to the film. Dr Watsons comic acting was humorous. When he hid the pearl in his mouth for protection of the precious stone it was amusing because no one noticed where it had gone. The original story, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, did not have the Hoxton Creeper in it. Beppo is the killer in the original story but using Rondo Hatton as the Creeper was brilliant idea by the film studio and made people even more interested in the movie. I feel The Pearl of Death was a success basically because of the impression that was given by the Creeper. In The Scarlet Claw, another film starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, disguise is also used. The murderer is a master of disguise and uses five disguises, including that of a woman! The postman called Potts, who is the murderer, dresses up as Judge Brissons maid and tears out the judges throat with a garden weeder. This is the weapon he uses to kill all his victims. The film is set in Canada in the lonely village of Le Mort Rouge. The setting is misty and creepy. There is a marsh next to the village where Sherlock Holmes chases the murderer, but does not catch him. This is a vivid scene which I enjoyed. In the end though, Holmes foils the villain who is a mass murderer and master of disguise. Miles Mander plays two roles that are very different in the two films I have watched. Firstly, he acts as a villain on the loose: Giles Conover, and then he acts as a man totally scared and out of his wits: Judge Brisson. I like his role as Conover; it suits him because he looks a very mean man who will do anything for his needs. To conclude, I have enjoyed these films. But I was not scared by them. My English teacher says the Creeper is very scary but I think differently. I believe Rondo Hatton would have been scary to those watching in the cinemas half a century back. I think these films are not scary to a modern audience because there are far scarier horror films these days due to modern technology and special effects. I personally feel Basil Rathbone is an excellent actor; he was very good for the era he was in. I feel more tension is needed to make it up to the scratch of standard films today. I feel that some of the characters are too one dimensional and they need a little bit more feeling in their acting, but still the camera work is excellent for a film of this age. The films seem very old fashioned. I think improvements are needed to make them a bit more modern. There is fog, a lonely marsh, a bell ringing, and a monster on the loose. This creates a creepy, sinister atmosphere. But this gives me an impression that these were stories of many ages back. These days films are more interesting but these films are ace because of their many turns and twists. 1125 words Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.

political and pastoral in marvells poetry :: essays research papers

â€Å"A tension between the worlds of political engagement and private retreat† How distinct are the political and the pastoral in Marvell’s poetry The political and the pastoral certainly figures highly in Marvell’s poetry and often the two worlds become intertwined. Indeed, Marvell frequently utilises metaphors of nature to help convey and rationalise his political thoughts and feelings. With particular reference to the ‘mower’ and ‘Cromwell’ poems, I shall explore the relationship between the political and the pastoral in his work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin, in the overtly political poem An Horation Ode upon Cromwell’s return from Ireland, Marvell begins by describing Cromwell emerging from a muses â€Å"shadow†, and â€Å"private gardens, Where he lived reserved and austere†. This, as the critic Friedman asserts, is a typical retreat of â€Å"poetic creativity†, and one often employed by Marvell. Indeed, in A poem upon the death of his late Highnesse the Lord Protector, Marvell presents a young Cromwell spending â€Å"pleasing hours† with his mother. The addition of a private presentation of Cromwell lends him a more human edge and helps us to understand his human weaknesses. In his Horation Ode, Marvell portrays Cromwell as a â€Å"flame of angry heavens† who â€Å"tis madness to resist or blame†. This lends Cromwell a godlike eminence or as Thomas. M. Greene asserts, puts him â€Å"beyond ethical categories†. However, Marvell continues that the â€Å"same arts that did gain a power, must it maintain†, i.e. the â€Å"inglorious arts† of war. The irony of comparing war, something primarily destructive, as an art, highlights the unease and possibly transient nature of Cromwell’s rule. Certainly, the fact that Marvell likens Cromwell to a Falcon, who once â€Å"having kill’d† seeks a â€Å"green bough† to perch on and then â€Å"the falconer has her sure†, shows that although he is strong, he cannot continue forever and will eventually be in some way controlled. Therefore, by utilising the idea of natural retreat, Marvell subtly asserts beneath the grandiloquent verse, the frailty and humanity of Cromwell existence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Indeed the idea of the â€Å"green bough†, is a recurring notion in marvels poetry, and is often Connected with thought and retreat. In the epic poem Upon Appleton House Marvell seeks â€Å"sanctuary† in the woodland to â€Å"among the trees and birds confer†. This is something that the critic Friedman asserts as the â€Å"primeval unity of mind and nature†. This is amply supported by the line in Damon The mower, â€Å"My mind was once a true survey†¦ of all these meadows fresh and gay†, and further more

Period Herbal Medicine

The present researcher grew up in southwestern Nigeria, as an elementary school pupil in the late 1970's, to the consciousness of the advertisement of herbal medicine at strategic locations such as roadsides, markets and motor parks in major towns and cities where the attention of passers-by could easily be attracted. A major channel of reaching the prospective consumers at such settings was the suspension of blaring loudspeakers on the top of stationary vehicles.Although this advertising channel still subsists, a new trend in the advertisement of herbal medicine in modern times is the aggressive marketing drive in both the print and electronic media. Commenting on this, Komolafe (1998:  71) writes: http://www. rsc. org/chemistryworld/Issues/2007/May/ChineseMedicineWesternPackaging. asp (accessed January 25, 2008). Mr Botwe said such unauthorised advertisements, contravened the Food and Drugs law of 1992.He was particularly, concerned that in recent times, such adverts have taken d ifferent forms to outwit the Board's process of approval, and are for instance, read as part of announcements, or for sponsoring some radio programmes. The Chief Executive expressed regret that some adverts approved by the Board were also altered, while others advertise other uses for their herbal drugs, other than those approved by the Board. According to him, the results of the investigation would enable the board to take regulatory actions, including request for the revision of product information and condition of use, and withdrawal where ModernGhana. om Women Period Pain Treatment with THE TOLE's Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. | Usually it is enough just to avoid taking all the cold element food and drinks. When the pain is persistence you have to take our special † Period Herbal Medicine† . It will smoothen the â€Å"Qi† flow in the womb and uterus and warming the organs. It will strengthen the total â€Å"Qi† energy in your body giving you strength and energy in your daily life. It usually takes 30 to 60 days for good recovery from the Period Pain Problem.Many have been treated and others are still going through our treatment. Its a very common problem. ( thetoleherbal. com)| Hypertension Herbal Medicine Health Site | Many substances from herbal nature can be taken as supplement to maintain the health of the circulatory system and prevent heart disease and hypertension. They may also be an adjunct to treatment for those with moderately elevated blood pressure readings. .( thetoleherbal. com)| | |   | | |An alternative or herbal medicine manufacturer develops, tests, produces and markets alternative medicines that are available over the counter as alternatives to prescription medications. Many herbalists or alternative medicine manufacturers believe that herbal and natural medications are safer, more effective and less addictive than prescription medications. Herbal medicine manufacturers are not governed by the same rules a nd regulations as pharmaceutical companies so they can often market products that cost significantly less than the prescription medications.An herbal or alternative medicine manufacturer must be competitive in the marketplace. He or she must use pure, high quality ingredients and herbs, careful monitor production for safety and health reasons, as well as do their own marketing, advertising and testing. Many herbal manufacturers use rigorous testing to ensure the quality of their product but some manufacturers do not. Understanding the various laws regarding labeling, advertising and marketing of herbal medicines is very important for the manufacture.Some herbal manufacturers may use universities and other testing and research centers to help the public understand the benefits of the product. (jobprofiles. org) Using herbs to benefit from its medicinal or therapeutic value is commonly known as herbal medicine. Chemical substances contained in the herbal plants can be induced to act u pon the body of the person consuming it. Humanity has known of this form of healthcare based on herbs since ancient times. History is replete with details of cultures benefiting from herbal medicines.It played a vital role in the progress of modern civilization. The early primitive men discovered that the herbs provide not only a cure but also food, shelter and clothing. Read more: http://www. articlesbase. com/advertising-articles/herbal-medicine-for-a-modern-world-51540. html#ixzz17QG7QfRt Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Ascof cough syrup’s main ingredient was the Lagundi leaves. This leave as its main component has proven to be really effective and I found many testimonials all over the net about its help for curing coughs, fever and sometimes even toothaches.This Ascof medicine has many other variants, produced by Altermed; they have Ascof tablets and teas too. This product, since it is new in the market and is not yet very popularly known is always available in drugstores and small pharmacies. With the wonderful and effectiveness of this product, we always make sure we have a bottle ready at home for my niece, who always experience coughs due to too much eating of chocolate. We do not have to worry too about her taking in this medicine because it is herbal. ( reviewstream. com)

A Business analysis in respect to Boots Essay

Boots will recruit staff for a number of reasons, which include: * The growth of the business * Changing roles within the business * Filling vacancies created by resignation, retirement or dismissal * Internal promotion The growth of the business When Boots grows in size it will probably need more people to carry out existing jobs and new jobs. When existing jobs are being expanded, human resource specialists simply need to copy existing practice on a larger scale. In creating new jobs more detailed thought is required; particularly if the jobs are quite different from those that already exist within the company. Changing job roles within the business In recent years most British businesses such as Boots have changed their job structure. In particular, the country has seen the decline of many routine, standardised jobs. Increasingly, employers have sought to develop new jobs involving information and communications technology, and which involve ground-level employees taking more responsibility for decision-making through empowerment. Developing new jobs requires considerable research, often by examining best practice in an industry or by looking at the development of new jobs in other countries. Filling vacancies created by resignation, retirement or dismissal In many organisations people move on and also employees in Boots move on as well. People get older, they hand in their notice or they are dismissed. In most cases it is necessary to replace the employee. However, the manager responsible for recruitment has to decide whether the firm wants a carbon copy of the previous job holder or whether the job has moved on, requiring new skills and competences. Internal promotion In Boots there will be opportunities for internal promotion. Internal promotion gives an employee something to aim for in the organisation, rather than looking elsewhere. When one person is promoted, it is often necessary to replace him or her. Getting the recruitment process right The recruitment process can be very costly. It takes a great deal of time to set up an effective recruitment process. This involves deciding on what the jobs that are to be recruited for will entail, advertising, sifting through applications, checking which applications best meet the criteria set down for the post, interviewing candidates and, finally, selecting the best candidate for the post. Waste and inefficiency can be very costly to any organisation. If Boots were to advertise a job for a retail assistant and managed to get 100 applicants, by sifting through the application forms they may be in danger of choosing the wrong employee. The personnel of Boots would probably cut the 100 applicant forms down to 10 by eliminating, from their point of view, the most unsuitable employees for the job. But by doing this Boots could eliminate the best applicant, therefore, it is possible that the personnel may have to do the whole process all over again if that the applicant they do choose for the job is unsuitable. Procedures for attracting and recruiting applicants An organisation’s most valuable resource is its workforce; managers therefore need to give careful thought to the needs of employees. The advantages of recruiting from within are as follows: * Considerable savings can be made. Individuals with inside knowledge of how the business operates will need shorter periods of training * Internal promotion acts as an incentive to all staff to work harder within the organisation. The disadvantages of recruiting from within are as follows: * You will have to replace the person who has been promoted * An insider may be less likely to make the essential criticisms required to get the company working more effectively. The Boots company strategy in recruiting employees The Boots Company offers recruitment programmes for general entrance, and schemes focused on school leavers and graduates. The company looks for various qualities in potential Boots employees. In addition to academic ability, we look for people with extra-curricular competencies such as interpersonal ability and team-working skills. In addition to the requirements of individual positions, the boot’s graduate scheme also requires applicants to fulfil three key criteria: * Leading the thinking See the big picture no matter how complex; offer and stimulate new ideas and turn complex issues into clear strategies. o When have you looked for and found solutions beyond the obvious? o How radical have you been? o In what ways have you challenged received wisdom? o When have you identified clear solutions to complex problems? o How do you manage ambiguity? o How logical are you in your approach? * Leading the pace Understand and focus on the important, drive to deliver better performance and be decisive in a crisis. o Can you prioritise, focusing on the important issues and dispensing with others? o Do you regularly achieve standards that you set and which are beyond those expected by others? o When do other rely upon you to make things happen? * Leading the team Act as a catalyst driving for results and restlessly seeking to win. o Do people enjoy working with you, do you create a buzz? o How do you influence others even when the cause looks lost? o Have you been able to get good results from difficult people? How did you manage it? The selection process Below are the most vital aspects that the HRM of Boots have to analyse when recruiting and selecting a sales assistant or any other employee in any other organisation: * Job Analysis * Job descriptions * Person Specification * Job advert * Letter of application * Curriculum Vitae * Interview * Job Evaluation Job Analysis This is the first stage for recruiting an employee. Information may be gathered by the managers of Boots by questioning the job holder or observing the job holder at work. The information gathered is carefully recorded and analysed. Further information might be obtained through discussions with the job holder’s manager or supervisor. The job analyst compiles a description of the main responsibilities of the job by asking: * What are the main tasks of the job and how often do they need to be completed? * Are any specialist technological skills required to do the job? * What mental processes are required to do the job? * Is the job holder required to take decisions and use initiative? * What are the limits of the job holder’s authority? * Is the output from the job a part or a whole? * Does the job holder have to work with others, or control the work of others? * What are the required performance standards and how are they measured? Job description When the job analyst has gathered all the information from the job analysis then he/she can put it into a summary report setting out what the job entails. This summary report is usually known as a job description. It contains two types of information; it describes the tasks of the job and it describes the behaviour necessary to actually do these tasks satisfactorily. A job description usually consists of: * Job title * General information * Position within the business * Job summary * Job content information * Purpose of tasks * Responsibilities * Working conditions An example of a job description can be found in the appendix. Person specification Sometimes known as a personnel profile – the person specification describes all of the attributes and skills required to do the job in hand to the satisfactory standards. For example, in Boots’ mission to require a part-time sales assistant, the HRM would need to specify clearly in the person specification whether or not the employee had to have special ICT qualifications in order to work a till. Job advert Job advertisements form an important part of the recruitment process. Boots is able to communicate job vacancies to a selected audience by this means. Most job adverts are written by the personnel department, task involving the same skill as marketing a product. Adverts must reach those people who have the qualities to fill the vacancy. The nature of the advert will depend on the following: * Who the target audience is – potential managing director, supervisor, operatives etc * Where the advert will be placed – on a noticeboard within the workplace, in the Financial Times, at the local job centre etc Job advertisements therefore take many forms, according to current requirements. Good adverts contain at least the following information: Job title: This should form the main heading, possibly in bold print. Job description: This should highlight the major requirements of the job in a concise format. Organisational activities and marketplace: There should be a brief description of the environment in which the organisation operates. Location: Applicants need to know the location of the organisation and the location of the job. Salary expectation: Figures are not always necessary, but an indication of the salary level should always be given. Address and contact: This should appear, with a telephone number if appropriate. Qualifications: Certain jobs require a minimum entrance qualification, which should be clearly stated. Experience: This should be quantified, as it will have a bearing on the expected salary level. Fringe benefits: The advertiser may wish to mention a company car, a health insurance scheme and so on. Organisational identity: This may be in the form of a logo (or simply the name of the organisation). A good job advert, while providing prospective candidates with helpful information, also helps to discourage applications from people who do not have the required qualifications for the job. The presentation of the advert is very important as it gives prospective employees a first impression of the organisation. Letter of application The title pretty much speaks for itself when describing what a letter of application is. Basically, a letter of application is a letter that an applicant would send to an organisation when interested in a job on offer. In this case, the applicants for the part-time sales assistant would send their letters to Boots after seeing the advert for the job. Along with the letter of application the employees would send their Curriculum Vitae (CV). An example of a letter of application can be found in the appendix. Curriculum Vitae A Curriculum Vitae (CV) shows a person’s achievements, hobbies, interests and past-times. A CV is a vital ingredient to recruiting the best employee – in this case the best part-time sales assistant. Below shows an example of a CV that could be sent with the letter of application to Boot’s HRM sent by an applicant enquiring about the job of a part-time sales assistant on offer. Once Boot’s HRM have evaluated the letter of application of the applicant they can decide whether or not he/she is suitable for the job. If they are then a letter of an invitation to an interview will be sent to him. If he/she isn’t then a letter of consolation is sent by Boots’ HRM. But in this case let’s say the applicant does qualify for an interview, this is the next stage of the recruitment process. An example of a CV can be found in the appendix. Interview Interview is the most vital stage of the recruitment process for Boots and the potential employee. This short time of contact with Boots can give the business representatives a lot of information about how the potential employee looks, behaves, talks and basically how well he or she comes across as a person. That’s why it is so important for the potential employee to dress appropriately and talk with confidence when answering any questions set to him/her by the interviewer(s). Most people have had at least one experience of being interviewed prior to employment. Few people enjoy interviews often this is because the interviewer comes across as being more interested in finding faults with you than finding out the good things. This is sometimes to see if the interviewee is sharp, intelligent and someone who can cope with pressure. Some of the interviewing techniques (used by the interviewer) will show which applicant is the most strong minded out of all the potential employees. For example, the interviewer may decide to ask the applicant to take a message from a person on the phone pretending to be a business consultant of the company or an upset customer. This sort of technique can indicate to the interviewer how well spoken or articulate the interviewee is, how well he/she copes under pressure and whether he/she deals with the â€Å"phone call† in the appropriate manner expected by the organisations standards. The personnel department of Boots is usually involved in interviewing, both in carrying them out and helping managers to adopt good interview practice. By following certain guidelines, the business hopes to employ the ‘right’ person for the job. It also aims to carry out the interview in a way that is fair to all candidates. These guidelines might include the following: The interview should allow information to be collected from candidates, which can be used to predict whether they can perform the job. This can be done by comparing replies with the criteria that successful applicants should have. Boots should give candidates full details about the job and the organisation. This will help them decide whether the job would suit them. The interview should be conducted so that the candidates can say that they have had a fair hearing. The interview, has however, been criticised as not always being an effective ‘tool’. Some of the main criticisms are: * Interviewers often decide to accept or reject a candidate within the first three or four minutes of the interview, and then spend the rest of the time finding evidence to confirm their decision. * Interviews seldom change the initial opinion formed by the interviewer seeing the application form and the appearance of the candidate. * Interviewers place more stress on evidence that is unfavourable than the evidence that is favourable. * When the interviewers have made up their minds on the candidate very early in the interview then their behaviour betrays their decision to the candidate. * The problems with these criticisms are that they do not solve the problems, only identify them. No matter what other means of selection there may be, the interview is crucial. If it is thought to be unreliable, it should not be discarded. Boots must simply make sure they carry it out properly. Carrying out the interview There are a number of factors, which would be taken into account when carrying out the interview. The interview should be conducted around a simple plan and be based on a number of questions against which all candidates will be assessed. It is also considered good practice to prepare suitable place for the interview, such as a warm, quiet, ventilated room. The interviewer should also ensure that the candidates have a friendly reception and are informed of what is expected of them. The average interview usually takes around thirty minutes. The interview plan organises the time to cover the important aspects in assessing applicants. The plan must be flexible enough to allow the interviewer to explore areas that may come up during the interview. Boots can follow a simple strategy of what the interviewer should do and what the interviewer shouldn’t do before and during the interview. The interviewer should always try and make the applicant comfortable by maybe asking him/her whether they had an easy journey to the building or whether they are warm enough in the interview room. This sort of behaviour can put the interviewee at ease in order of seeing the real side of them. Listed below are some of the things that an interviewer representing Boots should do: * Introduce yourself to the candidate * Adopt a suitable manner, show respect to the interviewee and be friendly * Make sure the interview is not interrupted * Conduct the interview at an unhurried pace * Have a list of questions that need to be asked * Encourage the candidate to talk by using ‘open’ questions such as; * â€Å"Tell me about your present or past job† * â€Å"Do you believe that†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  * Concentrate on those areas not fully covered by the letter of application * Be alert for clues in the candidate’s answer, problem where necessary, and be more specific in the questioning if you are not satisfied * When the interview has ended, make sure the candidate ha no further questions and let the candidate know when the decision will be made * Write up your assessment notes as soon as the interview has finished whilst the information is still ‘fresh’ in your mind * Prepare for the next interview The interviewer will have gained a great deal of information from the interview. It will help the interviewer to have an interview assessment form so he/she can decide if that they suitable for the job. An interview assessment form can be found in the appendix. Job evaluation This is the part where Boots HRM will evaluate each and every one of the job applicants. It will evaluate how well the applicant spoke, dressed and came across in the job interview. Also letters of application and Curriculum Vitae’s (CVs) will be evaluated on how well the applicant can write and by looking at the CV the HRM can see which applicant has the best qualifications and most ideal interests, hobbies, and past-times for the job. Boots would be able to tell whether the chosen candidate for the job was the correct selection by assessing whether the company’s aim had been achieved. However, selection can be very costly to Boots. For example, if Boots were to send out application forms to candidates the cost of postage has to be paid for and Boots may have to pay for travel expenses for candidates’ journeys to interviews. Staff will also have to give up time to carry out the interviews. For example, if 10 people were interviewed for three posts by Boots, but only one applicant was suitable, selection may not have been effective. In this case Boots would have to re-advertise and interview other candidates as two posts would be unfilled. Boots’ Human resource department’s role would be to check all stages of selection to find out where problems had arisen. For example, when short-listing, a suitable candidate may have been ‘left out’. At an interview a possible candidate may have been rushed, so he/she was not given the chance to do their best. Legal factors It is now illegal for Boots or any other organisation to specify sex, marital status, colour, race, nationality or disability in any job advertisement. These laws were brought in by the government due to the Sex Discrimination Act (1975 and 1986), the Race Relations Act (1970), and the Disability Discrimination Act (1995). An Industrial Tribunal is available for people who feel that they have been discriminated against by any organisation, for example, during an interview. This Industrial Tribunal can award damages if it feels that a person has a fair case of being discriminated against by an organisation. Another â€Å"Act† that can be looked upon as discrimination by an organisation is the Equal Pay Act (1970). This implies that men and women must receive equal pay if the work that they do is the same or similar. Boots have always followed the laws of the Sex, Race Relations, Equal Pay, and Disability Discrimination Act’s so not to cause a confrontation between the company itself, the person(s) discriminated against and the Industrial Tribunal. They always deploy a system where by such discrimination acts are followed.

Basking Shark Facts (Cetorhinus maximus)

Basking Shark Facts (Cetorhinus maximus) The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is an enormous plankton-eating shark. After the whale shark, it is the second-largest living shark. The shark takes its common name from its habit of feeding near the sea surface, making it appear to bask in the sun. Although its large size may seem threatening, the basking shark is not aggressive toward humans. Fast Facts: Basking Shark Scientific Name: Cetorhinus maximusOther Names: Bone shark, elephant sharkDistinguishing Features: Large gray-brown shark with highly enlarged mouth and crescent-shaped caudal finAverage Size: 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft)Diet: Filter feeder with a diet of zooplankton, tiny fish, and small invertebrates Lifespan: 50 years (estimated)Habitat: Temperate oceans worldwideConservation Status: VulnerableKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ChondrichthyesOrder: LamniformersFamily: CetorhinidaeFun Fact: Despite its enormous size, the basking shark can breach (jump out of the water). Description Thanks to their cavernous mouths and well-developed gill rakers, basking sharks are easily recognized when near the surface. The shark has a conical snout, gill slits extending around its head, and a crescent-shaped caudal fin. Its color is usually a shade of gray or brown. Adult basking sharks typically reach 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft) in length, although specimens over 12 meters in length have been reported. Notably, the basking shark has the smallest brain for its size of any shark. Basking shark corpses have been misidentified as belonging to plesiosaurs. Distribution As a migratory species found in temperate water, the basking shark enjoys a large range. It occurs along continental shelves, sometimes venturing into brackish bays and crossing equatorial waters. Migration follows plankton concentrations, which vary according to the season. Basking sharks frequent surface waters, but can be found at depths of 910 m (2990 ft). Basking shark range. maplab Diet and Predators A basking shark feeds on zooplankton, tiny fish, and small invertebrates by swimming forward with an open mouth. The sharks gill rakers collect prey as water rushes past. While the whale shark and megamouth shark can suck water through their gills, the basking shark can only feed by swimming forward. Killer whales and white sharks are the basking sharks only predators. Reproduction and Life Cycle Many of the details of basking shark reproduction are unknown. Researchers believe mating occurs in early summer, when the sharks form sex-segregated schools and swim nose-to-tail in circles (which may be a courtship behavior). Gestation lasts somewhere between one and three years, after which a small number of fully developed young are born. Female basking sharks are ovoviviparous. Only the right ovary of the female basking shark functions, although researchers have not yet discovered why. Basking shark teeth are small and useless in adults sharks. However, they may allow young to feed on the mothers unfertilized ova prior to birth. Basking sharks are thought to reach maturity between the ages of six and thirteen. Their life expectancy is predicted to be about 50 years. Basking Sharks and Humans In the past, the basking shark held commercial importance. It was widely fished for its flesh for food, liver for squalene-rich oil, and hide for leather. Presently, the species is protected in many regions. However, it is still fished in Norway, China, Canada, and Japan for its fins for shark fin soup and its cartilage for an aphrodisiac as well as traditional medicine. Within protected areas, some specimens die as bycatch. Basking sharks are not aggressive and cannot eat people. JohnGollop / Getty Images The basking shark tolerates boats and divers, so it is important for ecotourism. The species is not aggressive, but injuries have been reported when divers brushed against the sharks highly abrasive skin. Conservation Status While the basking shark does not face habitat loss or degradation, it has not recovered from past persecution and over-fishing. Its numbers continue to decline. The basking shark is categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Sources Compagno, L.J.V. (1984). Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species to date. Part I (Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes). FAO Fisheries Synopsis, FAO, Rome.Fowler, S.L.  (2009).  Cetorhinus maximus.  The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. e.T4292A10763893.  doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2005.RLTS.T4292A10763893.enKuban, Glen (May 1997). Sea-monster or Shark?: An Analysis of a Supposed Plesiosaur Carcass Netted in 1977. Reports of the National Center for Science Education. 17 (3): 16–28.Sims, D.W.; Southall, E.J.; Richardson, A.J.; Reid, P.C.; Metcalfe, J.D. (2003). Seasonal movements and behaviour of basking sharks from archival tagging: no evidence of winter hibernation (PDF). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 248: 187–196. doi:10.3354/meps248187Sims, D.W. (2008). Sieving a living: A review of the biology, ecology and conservation status of the plankton-feeding basking shark Cetorhinus maximus. Advances in Marine Biology. 54: 171–220.

Aldi and Lidl Essays

Aldi and Lidl Essays Aldi and Lidl Paper Aldi and Lidl Paper In our globalized world it Is becoming more and more challenging for companies to create their own unique brand. Competition is high and companies have to decide which strategy is the best for their business evolvement. This report is focused on two different companies Lidl and Aldi operating in the food retailing industry. Lidl and Aldi mostly was entering markets through Greenfield investments. These two companies chose greenfield investment as they wanted to have a full control over their business, promote their own brand and manage their business on their own. Advantages and disadvantages of entering market through greenfield investment is included in this report. Aldi’s main objective, when entering other market like UK and Switzerland, is ‘recognising customers needs and meeting the requirements of the demand in that country’. Lidl and Aldi have completely different strategies in global expansion. Aldi was entering big markets like the USA and Australia and this was good strategy for company’s expansion as target markets of such countries are much bigger than European target market. But it takes much more effort to control such big markets. As for Lidl’s future I would recommend to expand in other European countries before entering big markets like Russia, although it would be a great opportunity for Lidl to enter Russian market. About Aldi and Lidl Both companies Aldi and Lidl were founded in Germany. Aldi was founded in 1946 by two Albrecht brothers and Lidl was founded eleven years after Aldi was founded by Dieter Schwarz. These two companies were opening and still open, grocery discount stores which means selling products at the lowest price possible reducing its costs on companies promotion, rental fees or purchasing prices of properties as well as having a basic outlet format stores. German company Aldi started to go global after Second World War, time characterised by common market in European countries, which means it was time when trade barriers were reduced and goods and production factors ( labour, capital, technology) could freely move from country to country. As this company was already big enough to invest in other country it firstly invested in Austria, country which borders on Germany. Austria was mostly influenced by Germany culture, so it was a good idea for the company’s first experience in investing abroad as the culture differences were not so big. The same as Aldi, Lidl company focuses on discount markets, larger supermarkets and cash and carry wholesale markets. At first, Lidl copied Aldi as much as possible, although in time Lidl took completely different strategy and added more articles to their assortment and new innovative approaches. 1. a Market entry strategy of Aldi and Lidl FDI (foreign direct investment)is an equity mode for companies which want to export their products or services. Aldi and Lidl decided to invest abroad to expand their business and some of the benefits of doing so are : cheaper labour costs, infrastructure quality , economic growth or market size of the host country. Aldi and Lidl are both ‘grocery discounters’ and to save money these companies build up their stores in suburban areas and remote districts where they can save money on rent or on purchase prices of properties and being a ‘grocery discounter’ Is a good strategy to expand their business abroad. Economic and political environment in the home country is influential on company’s decision to go international. Power and prestige is another influence on Aldi’s and Lidl decision going global. The companies want to become successful, popular and powerful. They want to become an example for the rest of the world and gain global market power. That is why Aldi and Lidl decided to go global. Aldi and Lidl were mostly entering other countries markets through Greenfield investment. Greenfield investment is a form of foreign direct investment which means setting up an entirely new foreign facility in the host country. These two companies wanted to keep their brand all over the world and have full control over their business. Although Greenfield investment is not always the best way to enter the foreign market. Although in Aldi’s and Lidl’s case it was the best way to enter the foreign market, as the primarily aim for these two companies was to promote their own brand and to manage their business in the way these two companies wanted. So in some cases companies should go for Greenfield type investment and in other cases acquisitions are more beneficial. Advantages and disadvantages of entering market through greenfield investment are discussed further. . b Advantages and disadvantages of greenfield investment For the host country, it is beneficial if a company invests through greenfield type of investment, although the effects of FDI (foreign direct investment) differ in different regions and countries. For example, Brazil have attracted foreign direct investment but mostly it was non Greenfield, while India attracted mostly Greenfield investments although it is possible to suggest that generally it has failed to attract any FDI. But Indian economy is growing whereas Brazil has remained without any improvements. So some examples also show that Greenfield investments are more beneficial for the host countries. Although such point of view can be argued. As, for example, in Aldi’s case entering different countries markets in 1950th (after the Second World War, when the time faced shortage of goods) was beneficial for host countries as such companies as Aldi was bringing market growth to the host country at that time. Comparing to acquisition’s type of investment Traditionally acquisitions or privatizations of stated-owned enterprises were considered as evolvement of developed countries , although in years the situation had changed. It became beneficial for developed countries invest in developing countries through cross-border acquisitions , as these countries could buy enterprises assets at cheap prices . But it was also beneficial for developing countries for their opportunity for market growth. Investing through cross-border acquisitions can be beneficial for those who want to enrich their multinational experience, international strategy , cultural differences between the home country and host country and other. That is why Aldi entered Austria (first country abroad) via acquisition. This company did not have any multinational experience and entering through acquisition helped them to learn a lot about different country, understand how other markets operate and gain experience in creating new international strategies. Andersson and Svensson (1996) came to the conclusion that a firm with strong organizational skills prefer acquiring an existing company in the host country, while firms with strong technological skills favour greenfield operations. Applying this study it is possible to consider that Aldi and Lidl have strong technological skills. Investing through greenfield investment means operating fast, being organised and meet the requirements of the demanding customers. And case study proves that: ‘with their altered product and service strategies, Lidl and Aldi are trying to meet the requirements of their demanding local customers. ’ Another interesting finding is that Greenfield FDI has a stronger positive impact on GDP compared to that of domestic investment, (as in Austria where Aldi invested. It is one of the richest countries comparing Gross domestic product per capita ), a country with strong and stable economy attracts Greenfield investment more, whereas Greenfield investment is more attractive for underdeveloped countries. Advantages of greenfield investment The economic growth of the host country is one of the most important determinants for Greenfield investment considerations. Such investment was primarily considered by Aldi and then by lidl because the companies wanted to promote their own brand, and they promoted their names in the host countries. These companies did not need to share any profit with anyone else as well as controlled and operated their business and organizational culture in their own way and in the way they wanted it to. They also created new production capacity and linkages to the global marketplace. For the host countries where Lidl and Aldi invested, greenfield investment was beneficial as such investments create new job opportunities , the companies invest in research and development and invest in additional capital programs. Disadvantages of greenfield investment  Although starting from the scratch ( investing through the Greenfield type investment) was not easy for them. Aldi and Lidl did not understand anything about the host country’s culture, market or country’s regulations in which they wanted to invest. Investing in the host country through the Greenfield investment was also risky because the companies did not know how well local companies were established in the country, they did not understand how did everything work in that country , so it took a long time for them getting to know that country. So reactive reasons ( actions for getting the information about the foreign market) were not enough to get understanding of the foreign market. Also Greenfield investment costs much more than cross-border acquisition investment, so mostly only big companies ( like Aldi and Lidl) which can invest good amount of money in another country can afford to invest through the Greenfield investment. Also such investments were dangerous for domestic companies, as competition was growing and domestic companies could lose their market share while international companies Aldi and Lidl were growing and expanding in the home country. . a Aldi’s strategy in the UK and Switzerland Entering such markets as UK or Swiss high-price market, meant creating a new strategy of enlarging Aldi’s products and offering higher level of service. As for example, Switzerland market was mostly shared by three largest companies Micros, Coop and Denner ( 80% of market) , so it was firstly, brave enough entering such market, and secondly, if entering such market that meant creating new more attractive product offers for customers with high level of services. Aldi in UK and Switzerland was trying to concentrate on 700 products for daily use in these two countries as well as adapting to new eating habits and consumption habits typical for the customers. As from the case study, director Martin Bailie explained : ‘It’s not all pan-European buying; we have to look what UK customers want’. Also it is important to note that entering Swiss market meant making prices higher so that they could adapt to Swiss market and provide necessary level of service. Having said so, the company had strategy to become the cheapest underclass-discounter in UK and Switzerland fulfilling costumers needs. Buying goods in great volume from the same supplier , not spending money on brand promotion and fancy displays approach helped Aldi to achieve their guaranteed price range and become successful in the markets. Buying goods from the same supplier gave them opportunity to investigate product quality in special test kitchens and improve products quality if it was necessary. Saving money on fancy displays and advertisements helped them reduce goods prices. As from the case study, Aldi realized that by adaptation to local needs the company can successfully develop a foreign market and become prospering in different countries, as Switzerland and UK. 2. b risks of taking such strategy It is clear that UK and Switzerland have different culture than Germany, so customers approach to shopping also differs. As from the case study : ‘In Germany, cheap equates to value. By contrast, in the UK low prices are not necessarily equated with value and are more associated with poor quality. ’ That is why grocery discounter may seem suspicious for them. People might think that low price goods means not really good quality, especially if customers realise that the company grows and prospers. So customers might not want to buy bad quality products (especially food) even knowing that it is cheaper. So the biggest risk for grocery discounter in such countries is bad reputation. 3. a Aldi and Lidl Internationalisation Although it is possible to say that Lidl copied Aldi’s business their strategy became completely different. Achieving strategic advantage was primarily influence on Aldi deciding to open stores in Europe, Australia and in the USA or on Lidl restricting their expansion in particular European countries till 2009. Strategy decision-making depended on company’s targets , planning and volume of expansion . Aldi and Lidl are competitors so it was obvious that these two companies would try to differ their strategies in different ways. It is possible to consider that Lidl was trying to build its strategy decision-making on Aldi’s experience, but Lidl’s strategic advantage achievements became more adventurous . So Aldi’s and Lidl’s strategies were focused on different goals. As from the case study, Lidl was focused on expansion in markets where ‘no competitor had been present previously’, whereas Aldi would wait till retail sector matured. Also as it was said previously, Lidl was mostly focused on expansion in European countries whereas Aldi expanded in USA, Australia and Europe. There are advantages and disadvantages of Aldi’s strategy. Advantages The USA and Australia are very big countries and these countries have huge target market. Exporting there means selling more than in Europe. Consumers in these countries are generally interested in products as in UK, and Aldi has experience in selling its products in UK. So selling in these countries for Aldi means selling more goods and better promote the brand. Disadvantages So Aldi promotes its brand worldwide, but to that the company needs a lot of resources to control it. It is much harder to control the business in the USA and Australia as these countries are very big. Whereas selling in Europe is easier to control and manage. Also controlling the company in such countries as USA and Australia means creating strategies for each region separately whereas selling in Europe Lidl can create only one strategy for all countries . So it is a huge responsibility for Aldi to manage its business all over the world. 3. b Lidl strategy until 2020 The impact of the Lidl name outside the German borders is astonishing when considering that very little information is leaked to the publicity about its future plans. ’ (M. Moesgaard Andersen Flemming Poulfelt, 2006) Although from the case study it is clear that Lidl plans are to expand its business in Brazil, Mexico, Russia and the USA. The countries where Lidl want to export are culturally completely different as well as geographically much bigger than Europe. So internationalisation to these countries needs new and well-organised strategies to each of the countries. As Lidl was mostly focusing on Europe it will be a big challenge for the company to enter these markets. So considering this, firstly, I would recommend to expand its business in countries where its main competitor Aldi hasn’t stores. Countries in which Lidl operates at the moment. This map shows in which countries Lidl operates at the moment. There is a list of countries in which ALdi operates at the moment: Australia Austria Belgium Denmark France Germany Great Britain Hungary Ireland Luxemburg Netherlands Poland Portugal Slovenia Spain Switzerland USA As from the map it is clear that Lidl was mostly focusing on Western countries, so I would recommend to enter Baltic countries markets and other Eastern European countries first. There is no Aldi in Baltic countries as well, and if talking about these countries markets they are not as competitive as other European countries. So it would be a great opportunity for Lidl. Entering the Baltic countries markets and other Eastern European countries would help Lidl to gain recognition of European countries as ‘strong brand throughout Europe’. Afterwards, I would recommend to enter Russian market. Russia is the biggest country in the world and target market is huge. Russia doesn’t have very competitive market and supermarkets, I would say , would become very popular over there. Also Aldi doesn’t have any store there. Although this country’s culture differs from other European countries and at first it would very challenging for Lidl. Conclusion To conclude with, the grocery retailing industry will always be profitable, especially knowing that worldwide annual sales volume ofâ‚ ¬ 3. trillion in 2007 and an average annual sales growth is 2. 7 percent during the past ten years. And it is obviously the most important sector in the world as people cannot survive without food , drinks and other groceries. Although companies operating in this sector and considering going global must decide which strategy would be best for their expansion, promotion and prosperity. Lidl’s and Aldi’s expansion became very successful and for the future these two companies must consider their expansion very carefully to achieve their goals and enlarge their revenues.

Censorship and the Global Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Censorship and the Global Network - Essay Example Nowadays lots of countries think over the problem of internet censorship implementation. But, in accordance with the Committee to Protect Journalists data, the countries with high level of filtration of internet content (China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Iran, etc.) are suppressing the human rights of the citizens by restricting the access to free media. Moreover, the authorities often resort to some illegal methods, such as spying on journalists by means of the internet, sabotaging of their work and even different forms of violence. So, it turns out that the global network censorship serves the particular interests of some people. Key words: global network, internet censorship, filtration of internet content, CPJ. CENSORSHIP AND THE GLOBAL NETWORK Due to the growing number of Internet users, the governments of some countries resort to new, more sophisticated methods of restriction of access to information, including so-called e-censorship. Censorship is perhaps one of the most controversial topics for discussion. Many people, much understanding of this phenomenon. The generally accepted notion of censorship implies restrictions on the free form of the exchange and dissemination of information. The official reason for this restriction is a legally approved need to protect the interests of the state, society and its institutions. Internet censorship in the conceptual sense means limitation or suppression of access to information on the Internet, including the prohibition or restriction of the location or other information. On the one hand, trying to control the Internet is the same as trying to fight against windmills, at least, in those states, where the citizens' opinions matter and can influence public policy. On the other - in some countries (China, North Korea, Iran, Kazakhstan), where the total control over the joints of state networking with international ones is executed, it is possible to limit the exchange of information. Sure, it is possible, even despite the fact, that from the technical point of view the efforts of one country to monitor the whole widely ramified structure of the Internet are not enough (Madsen, 2005). The Internet censorship implies not only blocking or closing of any Web resource, but also a traffic analysis, the organization of the pseudo-opposition web resources and the application of punitive measures against the authors of the publications or the owners of web servers. For example, â€Å"in December 2000, the United States Congress passed legislation requiring Internet blocking technology to block pornographic materials in all public schools and libraries funded through certain federal programs† (Glanville, 2008) . It should be noted that the USA belongs to the countries with the nominal level of internet content filtration. CENSORSHIP AND THE GLOBAL NETWORK Today in most European countries there are no settled at the legislative level mechanisms of the Internet censorship implementation, in the true sense of this term. But who said that censorship, as well as Internet censorship, is the exclusive prerogative of the state? In fact, it is customary to distinguish several types of censorship: corporate, military, moral, political, religious. For example, the concept of corporate censorship includes the process of blocking (at times - very hard) any unsolicited information about a company or its business partners. Independent media are also subject to some kinds of censorship, because very often their

Alcoholic Drinking Age Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Alcoholic Drinking Age - Research Paper Example Arguments would be presented in the favor of this proposition and will try to explore and counter the arguments presented against this proposition as well. After the repeal of prohibition in the â€Å"year 1933, many states in the United States set the minimum drinking age limit at 21 years and some states set the limit at 18 years for the purchase of beer† (Liddle & Rowe, 54-55). However, during the late 1960s and 1970s, due to drafting of young individuals to the war and the growing trend of liberalism, almost all states decreased the minimum drinking age to 18 years. However, the results on paper were not favourable. In the year 1982, President Ronald Regan decided to make a committee in order to provide solutions for these increasing drinking related incidents. The committee strongly proposed to increase the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 years. The federal government passed a legislation forcing the states to do the same and by the end of the year 1948, 23 states had increase the minimum drinking age to 21. On July 17 of that year, the federal government passed a legislation, which allowed the federation to withhold fun ds of the 27 states that were not ready to increase the minimum drinking age limit in an attempt to force them to do so. ... fined 52 US dollars along with eight hours of community service and six hours of alcohol awareness classes since the authorities found her holding a glass of beer (United States Office of National Drug Control Policy, 24-26). This debate then received widespread media attention when former student council president from more than 100 reputable universities of the United States started a campaign to force the government to repeal the minimum drinking age from 21 to 18. They believe that the minimum drinking age limit of 21 years has been there for over a couple of decades and it has no good for the country. Teenagers continue to drink during their college and university lives, worse they drink in unsupervised conditions where in the absence of any regulator, adult or guardian, they end up crossing all possible limits and evoke long lasting health problems for themselves (Hanson, Venturelli, & Fleckenstein, 352-354). Discussion United States, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, India, Sri Lanka, Ta jikistan, United Arab Emirates, Palau, Solomon Islands, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Marina Islands, and Fiji are the only countries, which have raised their dinking limit to 21 years instead of 18 years. However, all other countries in the world the minimum drinking age is of eighteen years. Eighteen years is considered as the â€Å"age of majority† in law as well. In addition, 18 years is seen as the symbol of maturity at which age the person gets the chance to enter into legal contracts and the contract of marriage, join the armed forces, and vote in elections and other legal rights and duties (Liddle & Rowe, 54-55). One can get married when he or she reaches the age of 18, however, he or she would not be allowed to drink on their own wedding if their age is