Beowulf - The Ideal Hero Essay - 1911 Words

Achilles, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Samson and Heracles can all be characterized as heroes. However, each of these characters embodies different attributes that earn them the heroic distinction. This paper will seek to show that Beowulf is the â€Å"most† heroic figure based on his adherence to the heroic ethos. Also, the character of Gilgamesh will be used as a means of comparison to further showcase the heroic nature of Beowulf. The heroic ethos is a set of values that prioritize and glorify the valor of an individual. The motivation of the hero is to garner fame and immortality in legend, resulting in feats of excellence. Characteristics of the heroic ethos include service to people in the upper level of the hierarchy (e.g. relationship between†¦show more content†¦Unlike the praise and admiration for Beowulf, Gilgamesh’s character is being questioned right from the beginning of the text. Is this the classification of a great hero? Does the reader expect great things from Gilgamesh? Not really. This classification of Gilgamesh enables the reader to see that he is flawed and will more than likely experience later difficulties. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Courage is a major component of the hero’s artillery. Up to his death, Beowulf’s courage was boundless. He competed with Breca in a swimming match on the open seas; he fought Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally, the dragon that caused his death. In each situation, Beowulf displayed strength, wisdom, and faith. In all of his expeditions, he never really showed resistance. It can be argued that he was reluctant in the last battle with the dragon but this is to be expected since he was considerably older. In the fight with Grendel, Beowulf used his arm strength to accomplish his task. He was able to rip off Grendel’s shoulder and arm: â€Å"The monster’s whole body was in pain; a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder. Sinews split and the bone lappings burst. Beowulf was granted the glory of winning; Grendel was driven under the fen – banks, fatally hurt, to his desolate lair† (Heaney, 22) One cannot help feeling sorry for Grendel. However, it is the hero’s duty to carry out his taskShow MoreRelatedThe Ideal Hero in Beowulf1090 Words   |  5 Pageswhether or not Beowulf is an ideal hero, one would have to understand the definition of an ideal hero, and then the decision and whether he has any flaws within this understanding can be made. Beowulf identifies many traits to allow the reader to make his own assumption on this epic poem. According to the dictionary, â€Å"a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities† (dictionary.com?) is the proper guideline to determine if a character is an ideal hero or not. Read MoreBeowulf - the Ideal Hero1948 Words   |  8 PagesAchilles, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Samson and Heracles can all be characterized as heroes. However, each of these characters embodies different attributes that earn them the heroic distinction. This paper will seek to show that Beowulf is the most her oic figure based on his adherence to the heroic ethos. Also, the character of Gilgamesh will be used as a means of comparison to further showcase the heroic nature of Beowulf. The heroic ethos is a set of values that prioritize and glorify the valorRead MoreEssay Beowulf: The Ideal Anglo-Saxon Hero858 Words   |  4 PagesOriginating in the Anglo-Saxon period, the epic poem Beowulf portrays a legendary hero. Beowulf established the earlier form of heroism, and was then later introduced in to the English culture. Praised and admired by many people, Beowulf possesses several distinct traits that allow him to be defined perfectly as an ideal Anglo-Saxon hero; his eagerness to seek glory and fame, rather than richness and treasures, his loyalty and graceful attitude not only to his rulers but also to his followers, andRead MoreEpic of Beowulf Essay1106 Words   |  5 PagesThe 8th century epic poem Beowulf illustrates a loss of community, cultural values and tradition. On the other hand, an elegiac passing of an extraordinary hero and the relationship between the themes of mortality and heroism are well discussed in Beowulf. Beowulf’s character exe mplifies the Germanic and the Anglo-Saxon ideals of the hero: strong, fearless, bold, loyal, and stoic in the acceptance of fate. Despite his lack of humility, Beowulf was the definition of a hero in his own time by his demonstrationRead More Epic of Beowulf Essay1033 Words   |  5 Pages The epic poem, Beowulf, is one of the oldest European epics in existence. When Beowulf was written, the writer incorporated many of the ideals of the Anglo-Saxons. Some of these ideals included loyalty, bravery, selflessness, and justice and were demonstrated in the hero. Both the characters Beowulf and Grendel represent aspects of both good and evil, Christianity and Paganism, and what occurs when they collide with one another. A characteristic of an epic poem is the concern over struggles thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Beowulf As A Heroic Epic779 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown†. Stories about such heroes have been told for centuries. In f act, heroistic ideals are sometimes the basis of a society. The Anglo-Saxon people are a prime example of the previous statement. In Anglo-Saxon culture, being called a hero was an honor. Heroes were treated like kings. One of the most popular hero stories that bled into Anglo-Saxon life was the heroic epic of Beowulf. Beowulf was the perfect example of an Anglo-Saxon hero as heRead MoreBeowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight897 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the Middle Ages, two poems, Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight embody heroic figures. Beowulf, who demonstrates all the characteristics of an ideal hero, is faced with physical and moral challenges that no other man could face during his existence. Beowulf was not only looking to become a hero, he wanted to reveal the importance of establishing identity. However, Beowulf was not the only hero during this time period. Sir Gawain also participates in challenges that define his characterRead MoreHeroes Are The People In The Society That We Admire For1048 Words   |  5 Pagescommunity, anyone who attains the hero status, he/she creates ideals and ideas that the community creates and strives for. Heroes are individuals who assist in shaping the culture of the community they are associated with in the literature, the community also shapes the heroes too. The motivation and zeal of the heroes to attain more are always shaped by their culture (Heroes and The Homeric Iliad). Social conditions and culture create the essence of the hero in which the people need at the timeRead MoreQualities of an Ideal Anglo-Saxon Warrior Illustrated in Beowulf638 Words   |  3 PagesAn Anglo Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, which was originally passed down through an oral tradition during the 5th century was written into literacy by an unknown Christian monk during the 10th century. This classic poem explicitly illustrates an ideal Anglo Saxon hero of possessing the characteristics that many people during that time regard ed highly. Beowulf is an epitome of an Anglo Saxon ideal hero who possesses loyalty to both of his people and king, desires to gain glory and fame for his own recognitionRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Redcrosse Knight1363 Words   |  6 Pagesand the Renaissance, the hero figure remained an important character for authors, but it was shown in different ways. While it was still important in both times, the definition of hero changed. During the Middle Ages a hero was someone who possessed bravery, fortitude, and loyalty. This changed during the era of the Renaissance where the hero was someone who possessed values of a Protestant: fidelity, hope, and charity. These ideas of a hero can be seen through Beowulf and the Redcrosse Knight

Theatre-Director’s Role Free Essays

The director is the most important person in the play because without his visions the actors would have no purpose and nothing would go on. Without the director all would be at loss in the theatre. The director is the one who tell everyone what to do and installs the fear into the cast and other to perform at their best at all times. We will write a custom essay sample on Theatre-Director’s Role or any similar topic only for you Order Now The director is the person who all the actors and stage crew and everyone tries to impress and they will always be on their best behavior while the director. I would want to be the director because everything is dependent on you and you are the one who calls the shots and I will maintain order on the set. The director is the one who knows the whole play and has to get the performers to perform and to make the show run as smoothly as possible. If the actors or stage coach were to get out of line or not do their job then the director would heard about it and not be do happy about it. The preparation for the director is a major issue. Many hours of perfecting the acting according to the script takes a strain when you have to account for everything that is going on. A director must having coping skills and still be enough and authoritarian to have respect from all the members of the cast. For me personally, I would have to learn how to work with people instead of getting mad and not wanting to work through problems that might occur during rehearsal and the whole production in general. The work and preparation that needs take place is tremendous, but the director has to put so much pre meditated work in that is not seen by many people, but its truly eveudent in the final production. How to cite Theatre-Director’s Role, Essay examples

Do We Need The Homeless Essay Example For Students

Do We Need The Homeless Essay Do We Need The Homeless Essay and the poor? I think that the answer to this question has two different sides to it. The first side is that homelessness is a real problem in the world today and I do not believe that anybody should have a life that troublesome. I do believe that all people should be able to have a roof over there head and a job to support them and if so their families. Also I believe that if a person is struggling to make it in life that help should be provided for those who are in times of need to help them reestablish themselves in the world. On the other side, even though homelessness is such a terrible thing in the world today if everybody in the world were all in the same social class and there was no upper, middle and lower class of people the world would not counterbalance itself. This may seem wrong but it is so because if there was no lower class of people the world would not have a good enough economy to balance one single social class. Society is contributing a great deal to the homeless these days. In society today there are many private organizations that help out the homeless a great deal. All over the country and world there are organizations that feed, cloth and house the homeless. These organizations are all over and they are very helpful to the poor, it gives the people hope and it tells them that people do care about what is going on in there life and that people want them to succeed in life and to flourish. So many people in the world today are dedicated to the service of the poor and that is one of the reasons that poverty in the world has decreased in recent years. On the issue of the church needing the poor there once again is two ways to look at the situation. Even though homelessness is a horrible thing it gives the people of the church who are more fortunate to give from what they have to the poor and help the poor get back on there feet and also if the people of the church go and help these less fortunate people that it can bring the faith of Jesus Christ back into these poor peoples hearts and give them joy in the world and hope to live on. Also this may benefit the people who are giving because if these people give to the poor it may help them see the light of God and show how powerful he is by letting us help him raise these less fortunate people up and that action alone may bring people to the faith in Jesus and it may also bring back people who are falling away from the word of the Lord. Does Christ need the poor and the Homeless? I do not believe that Christ wants anybody to live like this and he certainly doesnt need homeless people cause he wants all people to be equal. I know Christ wouldnt want people to be poor but he wouldnt be able to stop if people were going poor he would try and help them just as all people would try and help but poverty with always be I the world one way or another because even if people help every single person who is in need of assistance someone will fall throughout the cracks but people will always be there to support there fellow human being and fellow brothers and sisters in Gods house. .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e , .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .postImageUrl , .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e , .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:hover , .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:visited , .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:active { border:0!important; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:active , .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7687d1e5ba56bb6b3126e58dfc78271e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: University Of Northern Colorado EssayBibliography: .

Why Was Florence Considered Important For Culture And Arts Essay Example For Students

Why Was Florence Considered Important For Culture And Arts Essay As the birthplace of the renaissance, Florence, Italy has been the innovator and contributor to humanitys freedom from the medieval time. With its various collection of arts, landmarks, and architecture, Florence, Italy has been labeled as a substantial center for culture and the arts. As an amalgam of past and present, Florence has given birth to many talented people such as Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, and Donatello. With all its past preserved and shown as a living museum, many who visit are inspired by Florences alluring beauty. Florence has always been an admirer for the arts in various hues, solely due to the contributions of the Medici family in creating the grand palaces and funding monumental works of art. The Medici family dominated Florence nearly three centuries, and as the first patrons of the art, they sparked an intellectual movement in art throughout Italy and Europe. It was the Medici family who funded most of the arts during the renaissance. Art for the government, commercial, and church buildings were all contributions of the Medici family. Especially their opalaces were filled with large collection of paintings and lavishly styled neoclassical architecture influenced Italy ever since it had been created. We will write a custom essay on Why Was Florence Considered Important For Culture And Arts specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now By the 1700s, Florence was the mandatory stop for young wealthy British aristocrats for studies and purchasing of artwork. That Florence, Italy was an epitome of classical world, it was very important for young men to study its history and the arts. Soon British men were not the only people that visited Florence, but many American stepped onto the Florence soil and absolutely fell in love with the large city, luxurious hotels, villas, and mostly the beautiful view. Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American writer fell inspired at the serene view of the hill top view of Florence, in his later years wrote the book The Marble Faun. Other than literature, many unimaginable building structures emerged from Florence. These colossal buildings and structures seem almost too monumental for humans to work with. However, Florence being the birthplace of renaissance simply proved that humans were able to achieve such criterion. The Palazzo along with the Cathedral is examples of an amalgam of different architectural styles used from the past at that present time. The techniques that had been lost due to the dark ages were conjured and reused to create variety of wonderful buildings. For an example, the Cathedral had been a gargantuan challenge for many. Building a dome large enough to fit twenty thousand people was at first hopeless, but when the dome of the Cathedral was finally finished, it truly showed the length humans were able to take. From the collections of arts, to the advancement in humanity, Florence, Italy has been the foundation and the birthplace for culture and arts. Even through the pit falls of the flood and the horrible aftermath of the World War II, Florence still maintained its beauty and inspiration. Considering that Florence was able to overcome many of these challenges and impediment, it is the sole reason why Florence takes on a role as an important center for culture and the arts. Because the city was able to preserve its past and at the same time support the modern age, it acts as one of the most important center for culture and the arts. Why Was Florence Considered Important For Culture And Arts Essay Example For Students Why Was Florence Considered Important For Culture And Arts Essay As the birthplace of the renaissance, Florence, Italy has been the innovator and contributor to humanitys freedom from the medieval time. With its various collection of arts, landmarks, and architecture, Florence, Italy has been labeled as a substantial center for culture and the arts. As an amalgam of past and present, Florence has given birth to many talented people such as Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, and Donatello. With all its past preserved and shown as a living museum, many who visit are inspired by Florences alluring beauty. Florence has always been an admirer for the arts in various hues, solely due to the contributions of the Medici family in creating the grand palaces and funding monumental works of art. The Medici family dominated Florence nearly three centuries, and as the first patrons of the art, they sparked an intellectual movement in art throughout Italy and Europe. It was the Medici family who funded most of the arts during the renaissance. Art for the government, commercial, and church buildings were all contributions of the Medici family. Especially their opalaces were filled with large collection of paintings and lavishly styled neoclassical architecture influenced Italy ever since it had been created. We will write a custom essay on Why Was Florence Considered Important For Culture And Arts specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now By the 1700s, Florence was the mandatory stop for young wealthy British aristocrats for studies and purchasing of artwork. That Florence, Italy was an epitome of classical world, it was very important for young men to study its history and the arts. Soon British men were not the only people that visited Florence, but many American stepped onto the Florence soil and absolutely fell in love with the large city, luxurious hotels, villas, and mostly the beautiful view. Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American writer fell inspired at the serene view of the hill top view of Florence, in his later years wrote the book The Marble Faun. Other than literature, many unimaginable building structures emerged from Florence. These colossal buildings and structures seem almost too monumental for humans to work with. However, Florence being the birthplace of renaissance simply proved that humans were able to achieve such criterion. The Palazzo along with the Cathedral is examples of an amalgam of different architectural styles used from the past at that present time. The techniques that had been lost due to the dark ages were conjured and reused to create variety of wonderful buildings. For an example, the Cathedral had been a gargantuan challenge for many. Building a dome large enough to fit twenty thousand people was at first hopeless, but when the dome of the Cathedral was finally finished, it truly showed the length humans were able to take. From the collections of arts, to the advancement in humanity, Florence, Italy has been the foundation and the birthplace for culture and arts. Even through the pit falls of the flood and the horrible aftermath of the World War II, Florence still maintained its beauty and inspiration. Considering that Florence was able to overcome many of these challenges and impediment, it is the sole reason why Florence takes on a role as an important center for culture and the arts. Because the city was able to preserve its past and at the same time support the modern age, it acts as one of the most important center for culture and the arts.

to kill a mockingbird - Jem essays

to kill a mockingbird - Jem essays In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird many different issues are addressed. One of these is the maturing of Jem Finch. Although Jem is still a child at the beginning of the novel being immature and unaware of the society and issues that surround him, he matures a great deal mentally to the point where he sees the evil in society and understands political, social and emotional issues as an adult would. Three main points that come across at the start to show that Jem is still a child are that he is young, plays with his little sister, and has childhood monsters. However, as the novel progresses he deals with the issues that arise in a mature, adult like fashion. In the first chapter Scout tells us that Jem is only nine years old "When I was almost six and Jem was almost ten..." (p.6). This means he is still a moderately young child. Jem and Scout spend a lot of their time playing together, and have childhood monsters or fears like any other child. As the novel progresses, there is evidence that Jem is growing up because he doesn't play with Scout and Dill anymore, finding himself spending more time on his own presumably pondering issues of life. Another example of Jem as a child is that he has childhood fears and monsters. In Jem's case it is Arthur Radley, known by the children as Boo. Often, during his first summer with Dill, Jem talks of Boo and his house much like a child discusses a haunted house. " It's just I can't think of a way to make him come out without him gettin' us."... When he said that I knew he was afraid. (p. 15) Later in the novel they are no longer afraid of him and are no longer interested making him come out.The R adley Place ceased to terrify me,....I sometimes felt a twinge of remorse, when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Authur Radley-?(p.267) Half way through the novel Jem's first awareness of the society in which he lives can be noted. When hi ...

How To Empower Freelancers To Improve Your Content Quality

How To Empower Freelancers To Improve Your Content Quality Do you ever wish you had another set of hands to help you create content? More marketers are hoping to create not only more content, but more valuable content. Training and hiring freelancers can help you make that happen. Today’s guest, Kaleigh Moore, is a successful freelance writer who works with marketers to make their clients more successful. She’s written for Entrepreneur, Inc.com, and other well-known publications. Today Kaleigh will talk to our listeners about why you might need a freelancer, some best practices in using a freelancer to help with content creation, and how to best grow your relationship with your freelancer. Some of the highlights of the show include: How Kaleigh helps marketers as a freelance writer, as well as why freelancers can be useful when creating the most effective types of content. Some specific situations that would make a freelancer the best choice for completing the work, as well as reasons why a freelancer would be more beneficial than using someone in-house. How marketing teams can help freelancers create marketable, valuable content. Kaylee talks about what freelancers need from marketers so the content is created more effectively. What you might want to look for in a freelancer so your needs are met. An ideal workflow that works well for freelancers. Kaleigh’s thought on outlining and how having one can make the process much more efficient. Some frameworks that are great for collaborating on content. Advice on where to start and what to look for when hiring a freelancer. Good ways for freelancers to put their names out so marketers can find them. Powered by PodcastMotor Actionable Content Marketing powered by By 00:00/00:00 1x 100 > Download file Subscribe on iTunes Leave Review Share Links: Campaign Monitor Kaleigh on LinkedIn KaleighMoore.com Google Docs Trello Slack Basecamp If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes: â€Å"If you use in-house writers to create thousands of words, that’s a huge time suck.† â€Å"Freelancers are looking for marketing personas, a style guide, a company tone, and who your competitors are.† â€Å"It’s very easy to over-complicate things when it comes to writing.† â€Å"Having a separate [organizational] tool without the clutter of an inbox is extremely helpful.†

Stem Cells Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Stem Cells Research - Essay Example In the attempt to bring some semblance of civility from both opposing camps, many articles have been written both for general readership and for the scientific community. The discourses have been tackled from different angles of argument yet it is still difficult to find middle ground. There are significant differences between a scholarly and popular publication. Academic publication aims to provide the scientific community and academe theoretically based arguments that would capture their attention. Popular publications on the other hand aim to educate the general public on the contentious issues without venturing into technical terminologies that may cloud the issue further. Writers for popular publications should consider the limitations of readers when it comes to explaining relevant facts. The academic and scientific community would not accept simple explanations for the issues. They would consider the validity of the arguments if they were well grounded and anchored on accepted theories. Both mediums aim to inform but they carry different weights. In examining some examples of the two types of publications, it is but appropriate to consider the audience each of the publications was intended for. Ultimately, the intention of the writers is to educate the publ ic. At first glance, without delving into details, academic pub... If one would require fast facts, then it is more practical to turn to popular publications. The strategy of this paper is to pair up two articles from each type with similar issues discussed. This would give the readers two presentations for the same issue. The Regulation Argument Popular Publication Article Title: To create, or not to create Author: Bernadine Healy, M.D. Publication: U.S. News & World Report. Washington Academic Publication Article: Navigating the quagmire: the regulation of human embryonic stem cell research Author/s: D.G.Jones and C.R.Towns Publication: Human Reproduction Dr. Healy, writing on the necessity of having ground rules set before pursuing stem cell research further, attempted to influence her readers through her more emotional contentions about the issue. There was no attempt to elaborate on details. The writer dealt with simple facts that the public can easily relate and understand. She did give a brief background on the progress of legislation but very little detail. Healy presented one position on banning the continuance of stem cell research. She wrote, "A Swiss law that took effect earlier this month is typical of laws in most European countries: It bans embryo creation outright."1 Jones and Towns elaborated on four different positions. Position A advocated complete ban of stem cell research; Position B called for status quo; Position C allowed continued research within the 14-day limit for embryo extraction; and Position D permitted the creation of human embryo for research purposes in addition to the other current research initiatives.2 Comparing the intentions of the two articles, both are informative but the writers of the scholarly publication allowed the readers to form their opinions after having

Research philosophies and principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Research philosophies and principles - Essay Example The postmodern moment (1990-1995) 6. The postexperimental inquiry moment (1995-2000) 7. The methodologically contested present (2000-2010) 8. The future moment (2010-). In each of the eight moments, different things are included in the definition of qualitative research (Jessor, Colby and Shweder, 1996, p. 129). However, it is customary to offer a generic definition of the qualitative research here: Qualitative research is a kind of research that is â€Å"based on a relativistic, constructivist ontology that posits that there is no objective reality. Rather, there are multiple realities constructed by human beings who experience a phenomenon of interest† (Krauss, 2005, p. 760). Researchers commonly adopt the qualitative methodology when they want to alter things for the better or want to bring a change. Therefore, advocacy and empathy are two of the most essential elements of the researcher’s lifestyle (Stake, 2010, p. 14). This paper evaluates and compares the research philosophies and principles of four research papers related to tourism. All of the research papers are based on qualitative research but have different research paradigms. 1. Visiting death and life: dark tourism and slave castles by Rasul A. Mowatt and Charles H. Chancellor Mowatt and Chancellor (2011) selected Ghana for their research since this country has most number of West African Slave Castles i.e. 36 out of the total 52 that have remained. Mowatt and Chancellor (2011) used interviews, photo elicitation and analysis of the tourists’ narratives in their methodology. The study involved 14 African descents eight of whom were females and six were males. All of them were from the US. The researchers agreed upon the non-generalizability of the research results. â€Å"As such the results from this study are not generalizable. A second sample could have yielded a confirmation or divergence in responses and behaviors with this sample† (Mowatt and Chancellor, 2011, p. 14 28). Research carried out by Mowatt and Chancellor (2011) is an exploratory research wherein the researchers don’t come with preconceived notions about the tourists’ motivations. This research was a mix of the modernist, critical representation and blurred genres moments of research. In course of their research, Mowatt and Chancellor (2011) found that although there is a lot of disparity in the ethnic identities of the aboriginal Africans and the African Americans that have been away from their indigenous place for centuries, yet they still relate to one another and shed away all their time-bound differences when they make a visit to the Ghanaian Slave Castles. The researchers found a special bond between the tourists and the Castles, which had remained unaffected despite their distance from their native land or change in their social identities that has occurred over the time. The factor of symbolic interactionism reflects in the tourists’ discomfort with the W hite people in the post-visit stage. It suggests that the tourists consider the slavery a racial matter in which the Black race has always been oppressed by the White. The fact that the researchers made use of photographs as a means to achieve the research objectives in addition to conducting the in-depth interviews with them and studying their ethnography makes this research relate to the blurred genres moment of research. Also, the researchers’ personal or intellectual biographies don’t show up in the research which further promotes the blurred genre

Cafes Monte Case Essay Example for Free

Cafes Monte Case Essay The company located in Milan, Italy. It was found by Mario Salvetti as a manufacturer and distributor of premium finest coffees. The company faces a hard decision that may affect their future. The company wants to know whether or not they should keep working in the same investing. An important meeting was there among the top management team’s members to discuss the future of the company. The company’s performance was good in 2000. Profit was shown at the financial statement. Giacomo Salvetti the CEO of the company needs to decide which to choose as the business strategy for the company: 1) Keep working in the premium coffee market. 2) Transfer to the private brands market. The current capacity of the coffee production in 2000 was 350,000 K/M , with added additional capacity of 150,000K/M. The cost of the additional units was 6 billion liras. More facts about the profitability and the liquidity were required beside the cash flow and the profit plan to quantify strategic alternatives and to help in making this decision. The idea of changing was not easy to the CEO to accept without a clear image of the financial consequences. The report was provided by the marketing manager showed that the premium market is very volatile. On the other hand, the private brands market is more stable. (Full capacity at the price of 8,800 liras). Price is lower in the private market than the premium. The volume is depending of the number of retailers. ( Every additional retailer need at least 500,000 K/Y). The report was provided by the manufacturing director showed that costs are different in each amount of the volume and quality of beans. These costs include the cost of beans, labor and fixed cost. The company is able to save 65% of selling costs, 75% of RD costs and 50% of administrative costs, if they choose the private brands market.(Director of strategic planning). Private brands’ retailers will pay slowly- 90 days instead of 30 days. (Financial officer). I took the sales price as the current price 8,800 liras. Most of the expenses are decline compare to what they were in 2000 beside also the profit. Marketing expenses were no longer there because the marketing percentage became 0% in this volume of the private market. The reason of having this decline is the gross margin of the private market comparing to the margin of the premium market. Sales price and cost in private market are less than what they are in the premium market. Cash flows are not stable during the year. It looks vary from quarter to another. In the cash flows, the retailers will pay in 90days (3months) period of time as what it is in the private market. The cash opining was 50% in the first month and 25% in next 2 months. The other expenses were divided by the 12 months equally. Variable and selling costs are showing in page(5). I don’t recommend the full transition to private market. The profit will be lower than what it is even if it is less volatile. There is no reason for the company to lose its premium market if the profit is low, too. I would support the chance of mixing the premium and the private markets together, because of the profitability there.

If You Don’t Want Them To Know Something, Put In A Book, They’ll Never Read It! :: Personal Narrative Writing

â€Å"If You Don’t Want Them To Know Something, Put In A Book, They’ll Never Read It!† â€Å"If you don’t want them to know something, put it in a book, they’ll never read it.† This was a saying that was widely during and after desegregation of the schools, and as I know is still being used today, to display the ignorance and lack of knowledge of African-Americans. The sad fact is that it is true. If it doesn’t come across the television or radio, then most people don’t know what is going on. Most people that I know watches television rather than go to school. As an African-American, it was very important for me to learn to read, write, and obtain a quality education. It’s amazing to see the carelessness that many people take toward getting a good education. Many of my ancestors lost their lives for just wanting to read and write, but now that African-Americans have the opportunity to do these things, hardly anyone takes advantage of it. For me, as an African-American, education is extremely important because many affluent peop le like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mary McCloud Bethune, and Linda Brown, fought â€Å"tooth and nail† and lost much of their blood, sweat, and tears to ensure that we were properly educated. Over the years I have adopted a slogan, â€Å"If it’s free, it’s for me†. Although public education is free today, someone no doubt lost his or her life for me to sit in a classroom to learn. I try to take advantage of every opportunity I get to read and write because I can never learn too much. I was raised in the north end of Hartford, Connecticut. I wouldn’t say that the city was impoverished, but it was far from perfect. It was similar to most northern big cities, rampant with drugs, violence, and crime. In just one week there could have been anywhere from 10-15 burglaries, which probably accounted for the degree to which owners were protective of their businesses. When I passed most stores at night or after their closing times, I saw that they were guarded with security doors and steel bars on the windows. But for as long as I can remember, I’ve never seen any bars or security doors protecting the libraries, which goes to prove the point that â€Å"If you don’t want them to know something, put it in a book, they’ll never read it.

Impact of Cuban Trade Embargo

The Impact of the Cuban Trade Embargo By: Natalie Bell 2/25/09 [pic] International Business Law BLAW 4320 [pic] Cuba, the largest island nation in the Caribbean just ninety miles off the coast of Florida, experienced many difficult struggles through its extensive history. It was the last major Spanish colony to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle that was begun in 1868. It was in 1898 when the U. S. intervened during the Spanish-American War that it finally overthrew Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. The United States and Cuba concluded a Treaty of Relations in 1934, which, among other things, continued the 1903 agreements that leased the Guantanamo Bay naval base to the United States (CIA World Factbook). In the time before 1959, the United States had maintained strong ties with Cuba. Many Americans had many various business investments there, and the country was a special place for tourists from around the world. Since the fall of the U. S. -supported dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, it was Fidel Castro who has mainly led Cuba throughout the years. It was in Febuary 19, 2008 when Fidel Castro finally ceded power to his brother Raul Castro. Since the majority of Cubans were born after the 1959 revolution, most of the Cuban people have known no other leader. President Fidel Castro outlasted no fewer than nine American presidents since he took power in 1959 (Castro:Profile). Relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated rapidly as Fidel Castro and the Cuban regime moved toward the acceptance of the one-party communist system. Cuba seized the assets of American citizens and U. S. irms including farms, factories, hotels, bank accounts, and real estate without compensation. It was finally on April 16, 1961 when Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was brought to other countries throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Castro maintained close relations with the Soviet Union and worked jointly with the goals of Soviet communism by fund ing and provoking violent rebellious activities, as well as using military intervention in other countries, until the fall of the U. S. S. R. in 1991 (Castro: Profile). In response, the United States imposed an embargo on Cuba in October 1960, and, broke diplomatic relations on January 3, 1961. This began the over forty-year period of tension between the U. S. and Cuba, beginning with President Kennedy’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1963 and the Cuban Missile Crises (CIA World Factbook). Since 1961, Cuba portrayed many difficulties as the result of the U. S. embargo and the embargo had a great effect on both nations. It was in 1963 that the United States passed the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, under the authority of the Trading with the Enemy Act. The Act was enacted in 1917 to restrict trade with countries that are hostile to the United States. The law gives the President the power to oversee or restrict any or all trade between the U. S. and its enemies in times of war. The purpose of the law was to isolate Cuba economically and politically. It banned all trade and financial transactions between Cuba and the U. S. , and froze all U. S. held assets of the Cuban government and of private Cuban citizens. It also prohibited almost all travel to Cuba by researchers, student groups, journalists, athletes, and those traveling to see immediate family members (Schaffer 268). After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990’s, the U. S. Congress wanted to pressure Cuba for democratic change. First in 1992, the U. S. Congress approved the Cuban Democracy Act, restricting Americans from vis iting the island, banning family remittances, and prohibiting foreign subsidiaries of U. S. ompanies from doing business with Cuba. Following a few years later, on March 12, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also called the Helms-Burton Act. After this law was signed, it further toughened the Cuban sanctions. It imposed penalties on foreign companies doing business in Cuba, it permitted U. S. citizens to file lawsuits against foreign investors who made use of the American-owned property that was seized after 1959 by the Cuban government, and it denied an entry visa into the U. S. to such foreign investors. It was a very controversial because this included many Mexican, Canadian, and European businessmen who did business in Cuba (268). The passage of the Helm-Burton Act caused a worldwide protest, primarily in Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, who argued that the Helm-Burton Act violated international law. A protest was filed with the World Trade Organization by the European Union, but was suspended when the Clinton Administration reassured that the law for visa restrictions under Title III of the Helm-Burton Act would not be enforced against citizens in third world countries. The Act calls for the trade sanctions between the U. S. and Cuba to end as soon as Cuba agrees to have a democratically elected government, abide by human rights conventions, opens its prisons to international inspection, returns Cuban citizenship to Cuban exiles living in the U. S. , and makes progress in returning expropriated property to its rightful owners (268). Today, there are many laws, rules, and regulations that derived from the U. S. sanctions against Cuba. Presently, most commercial imports from Cuba are illegal by law but remain listed under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA). Under the Act, the sale of certain items, including medicine and medical supplies, and agricultural commodities have been approved for export by specific regulations. According to the Act, â€Å"The Department of the Treasury is responsible in issuing licenses that are used to export these goods on a case-by-case scenario and authorizing Cuban travel-related transactions that are only relating to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, and servicing of exports and re-exports that also must appear in line with the licensing policy of the Department of Commerce† (U. S. Treasury Department). The only sectors in which U. S. citizens may sell and service products to Cuba include agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices. The Treasury Department will is also be able to consider requests for specific licenses for humanitarian travel, educational exchanges (that are at least 10 weeks in length), and religious activities by individuals or groups that are associated with a religious organization. However, any U. S. citizen or corporation that is subject to U. S. law and engages in any travel-related transaction in Cuba violates the regulations. The Act specifically states that, â€Å"The Cuban Assets Control Regulations affects all U. S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U. S. organizations throughout the world† (U. S. Treasury Department). If the regulations are not followed, then it may result in both civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States (U. S. Treasury Department). Today, traveling to Cuba also has many rules and laws that make traveling to the Cuba very complex. In 2004, President Bush’s Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba placed a further reduction on the restrictions on family visits to Cuba. Visits by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba are permitted only once every 3 years instead of once every year. No humanitarian exceptions are given if there is any of a family illness or crisis going on in Cuba. Visits are restricted to two weeks and strictly limited to immediate family as defined by the U. S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which eliminates the right to visit cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, or more distant relatives (LAWG). Only if a traveler receives a license, then a valid passport will be required for entry into Cuba. The Cuban government requires that travelers obtain their visas before they arrive to the country. If there are attempts to enter or exit Cuba illegally, or there is in any kind of aid in helping Cuban nationals or others escape Cuba then punishment is served by stiff jail terms. Entering Cuban territory, territorial waters or airspace, which include being within 12 miles of the Cuban coast, without any prior permission from the Cuban government may result in arrest or other enforcement actions by Cuban authorities. According to the U. S. Department of State, most immigration violators are subject to prison terms that range from four years for illegal entry or exit to as many as 30 years for certain cases of assisting Cuban migrants to attempt to leave Cuba illegally (U. S. Department of State). Family remittances or money sent to Cuba also have specific rules and regulations that must be followed by the people residing under U. S. law. According to the U. S. Department of State, â€Å"U. S. ersons aged 18 or older may send money to members of the remitter’s immediate family in Cuba of up to $300 per household in any consecutive three-month period, regardless of the number of members of the remitter’s immediate family residing in that household. † The law also states that no member of the household can be a prohibited official of the Government of Cuba or a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party (U. S. Department of State). Other laws that are also a part of the on g oing U. S. embargo with the Cuban government involves the use of money in Cuba that U. S. travelers are limited to spend during their stay in Cuba. U. S. people traveling to Cuba to visit their family or traveling for other purposes can spend no more than $50 per day on non-transportation-related expense in Cuba, and up to an additional $50 per trip to pay for transportation-related expenses in Cuba. However, professionals such as journalists, photographers, or any other kind of licensed travelers may spend additional money for their professions that are directly related to what they need in order to fulfill their work (U. S. Department of State). It is also interesting to know that U. S. citizens and permanent resident aliens are not allowed from using their credit cards, personal checks, or travelers’ checks that are drawn from U. S. banks in Cuba. U. S. credit card companies do not accept any kind of vouchers from Cuba, and, at the same time, Cuban shops, hotels and other places of business do not accept any types of U. S. credit cards (U. S. Department of State). Today, the U. S. Cuban embargo has become one of the most controversial issues upon many countries throughout the world. There have been many advocating for a change of the current policies towards Cuba for some time now. The sanction has continuously been condemned and voted against by almost all nations throughout the world. For the 16th consecutive year, the U. N. General Assembly recommended that the U. S. ended the embargo. In 2006, a total of 183 member nations of the U. N called on the U. S. to end the sanctions with Cuba (Sierra). In 2007, the 192-member General Assembly passed the measure by 184 votes to four, with one abstention (U. S. Urged). According to Remy Herrera, â€Å"The normative content of this embargo and its rules, which the U. S. intends to inflict on the international community with its unilateral sanctions is a violation of the spirit and letter of the United Nations Charter and of the Organization of American States, and of the very fundamentals of international law† (Herrera). This excessive extension of the territorial jurisdiction of the U. S. , Herrera adds, â€Å"Is contrary to the principle of national sovereignty and to that of non-intervention in the internal choices of a foreign state, s recognized in the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice† (Herrera). According to Richard Schaffer, even the Vatican protested Helms-Burton, claiming that it increased economic suffering of the Cuban People. Many trade groups have also argued against the law because they believed that economic engagement actually would promote freedom in totalitarian countries. The U. S. firms that are h oping to engage in the business activities in Cuba also seek an ending to the U. S. trade sanctions (Schaffer 269). According to U. S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, many feel that the lifting of the travel restrictions to Cuba, family remittances, and trade exchange are necessary and are some of the most important issues in the policy changing process that the U. S. needs to undergo in order to have better relations with Cuba (Pelosi). Ironically, surveys of the American public opinion show that the vast majority of Americans favor ending sanctions as well, and recognizing the government of Cuba (Schaffer 269). According to a recent poll from USA Today that took place between February 21- 24, 2008, 61% of 2,021 adults nationwide favored re-establishing U. S. diplomatic relations with Cuba, 29% opposed, and 10% of the people were unsure (PollingReport). Over Forty-five years of communism have left the island nation an economic ruin and the U. S. embargo had many diverse effects on Cuba. According to a BusinessWeek article by Geri Smith, â€Å"The Cuban government has always referred to the embargo as a ‘blockade,’ a word that has a more sinister tone than ‘embargo’† (Smith). Cuba went through many difficulties as the result of the U. S. embargo since 1961 and suffered much more since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country faced a severe economic downturn, which really caused the Cubans' living standards to significantly fall. The disappearance of Soviet aid following the collapse of the USSR forced the government to introduce tight rationing of energy, food, and consumer goods, as well as the withdrawal of the former Soviet annual subsidies that were worth $4 billion to $6 billion (Country Profile: Cuba). Since then, it has taken action with limited reforms in order to increase enterprise efficiency and improve some of their economic problems which included their serious shortages of food and goods. Due to the economic problems and domestic inefficiencies that Cuba faced during the 1990’s, President Castro allowed a few steps towards a more market-oriented system. In 1993, the U. S. dollar was accepted by Cuba and allowed to circulate throughout the nation. Because of their lack of basic necessities and few consumer goods, Cuba’s economy persisted with the help of Canadian, European and Latin American investments. Essentially for Cuba, the nation also developed closer relations with China and Venezuela. China invested in Cuba’s nickel industry and provided Cuba support in the form of trade credit, technology, and investment capital while Venezuela provided supply to cheap fuel (Smith). Since late 2000, Venezuela has been supplying about 100,000 barrels per day of petroleum products. Cuba has been paying for this oil with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including 20,000 medical professionals (CIA WorldFactbook). After market factors improved, in 2004 the U. S. dollar transactions in Cuba were banned and a 10% tax was imposed on the dollar-peso conversions. According to the CIA World Factbook, Cuban exports total $3. 31 billion and their major exports include Sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, and coffee partners. The countries that Cuba mainly exports to include the Netherlands (21. 8%), Canada (21. 6%), China (18. 7%), Spain (5. 9%) (CIA WorldFactbook). On the other hand, Cuban imports have totaled $10. 86 billion and consist mainly of petro leum, food, machinery and equipment, and chemicals. The countries that Cuba mainly imports from include Venezuela (26. 6%), China (15. 6%), Spain (9. 8%), Germany (6. 4%), Canada (5. 6%), Italy (4. 4%,) the U. S. (4. 3%), and Brazil (4. %) (CIA WorldFactobook) Today, Cuba has two currencies in circulation, which include the Cuban peso (CUP) and the convertible peso (CUC). The Cuban peso (CUP) is specifically for the Cubans, while the convertible peso (CUC) is strictly for tourists and foreign businessmen. According to a BBC News article by Michael Voss, â€Å"The average Cuban salary of 400 pesos a month is worth about $16, yet almost everything available in the shops has to be paid for in the convertible pesos (CUC's)† (Voss). â€Å"Why has the economy moved to convertible pesos when workers are paid in the national currency? † declared one of the students in the article. You need to work for two days just to buy a toothbrush† (Voss). The problem with the dual c urrency is one of the biggest challenges that negatively influences the Cuban economy. Cuba faces many hardships because of the economic problems throughout the country. Many of the effects have caused an increase in prostitution, corruption, black marketeering and desperate efforts to escape in search of a better life (Country Profile: Cuba). Many Cubans had enough with the hardships and risk their lives to escape from the country. Thousands have tried to escape through the sea in a waterborne exodus to Florida, but many have drowned. Castro: Profile) According to the BBC News article, Castro: Profile of the Great Survivor, â€Å"Even his own daughter Alina Fernandez prefers a life of exile as a dissident in Miami to rule under her ‘despotic’ father† (Castro: Profile). According to the CIA World Fact Book, illicit migration to the U. S. , using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or air flights, is still a continuing problem. The U. S. Coast Guard seized 2,864 peop le trying to cross the Straits of Florida in the year 2006 (CIA WorldFactbook). Cuba has also been fraudulent with the UN's top human rights forum, over specific rights abuses. The UN has insisted that Cuba allows for freedom of expression and to release imprisoned protesters who have protested against the government (Country Profile: Cuba). The U. S. has caused Cuba many economic damages because of the U. S. embargo. According to U. S. congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, â€Å"The over-45-year US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba has translated into over 89 billion dollar losses for the U. S. † (Pelosi). According to the article, The Effects of the U. S. Embargo Against Cuba, the direct economic losses for Cuba by the U. S. embargo would exceed 70 billion dollars. The damages were estimated by calculating amounts of Cuba’s potential earnings and unnecessary losses since the institution of the U. S. embargo in 1961. The embargo negatively affected all of the sectors in Cuba, which also directly imposed on the major driving forces of the Cuban economy, which included tourism, foreign direct investments (FDI) and currency transfers (Herrera). Cuba became very limited in having access to technologies and various resources because of the obstacles that were forced by the Unites States. According to a Business Week article, â€Å"Trade and investment open up economies to new ideas. Cell phones, the Internet, and other high-tech communication technologies are detrimental to closed-minded bureaucracies† (Farrel). Since December, 2001, when food and agricultural products were allowed to be exported to Cuba, over $2 billion dollars worth of goods were earned by U. S. firms and shippers (LAWG). According to the article, The Travel Industry’s Push to Unlock Cuba, loosening the restrictions could boost the U. S. economy in the long term by as much as $1. 6 billion annually and create as many as 23,000 new jobs (Unlock Cuba). In this way, Cuba has the potential for economic growth if the U. S. nds or even loosens their trade sanctions. This can also further ease the hardships and economic issues of poverty in Cuba. Relations between the United States and Cuba are hoping to improve in the future, especially because Fidel Castro retired his control over Cuba. Many hope that Cuba will be open for business and that there may be signs of new beginnings of chang e on the economic front under Raul Castro (Smith). Some, however, are more skeptical of the idea. According to a recent poll from USA Today that took place between February 21- 24 of 2008, only 37% of 2,021 people felt that the situation for people in Cuba would get better. A majority of 51% felt that the situation for people in Cuba would stay the same, 6% felt that it would get worse, and 6% felt they were unsure (PollingReport). Fortunately, Raul Castro has introduced a series of reforms since taking over as president from his brother Fidel in February and has already taken steps on improving certain services for the Cuban public. The new leader started focusing on some of the most-mentioned problems, such as spotty public transportation and the low wages paid by the government to private farmers (Smith). According to the article, Cuban Leaders Plan More Reforms, these reforms have also included the removal of some restrictions on the purchase of electrical goods such as mobile phones, microwave ovens and DVD players. According to the article, Cubans have been reported to take out 7,400 new mobile phone contracts in the 10 days since the restrictions were eased. The country has also lifted a ban on its people staying in hotels previously reserved for foreigners (Cuban Leaders). It will be interesting to see if more market-oriented steps will take place with the Raul Castro’s new regime. Another major issue that will be crucial for many U. S. businesses as soon as the embargo ends in the future is the growing interest in the tourism sector of Cuba. According to an article by Sucharita Mulpuru, Americans represent only a small part of the nearly 1. 2 million visitors who come to Cuba every year, mainly from Canada, Spain, France, Germany, and Britain (Mulpuru). Tourism continues to inspire high hopes among many investors. In the article, Enzo Alberto, the Canadian-Italian CEO of ICC, a major investor in the island's Internet infrastructure states, â€Å"I believe that Cuba could be to America like Hong Kong is to Asia,† (Mulpuru). Many countries pour nearly $2 billion into the economy, outstripping revenues from sugar and other core crops such as tobacco (Mulpuru). According to the article, A Warmer Climate for Trade with Cuba, the industry argues that the island nation is a potential source of needed revenues that would be able to boost both the travel business and the U. S. economy while opening to tourism and foreign investment in Cuba. As a result, this will also boost the economy as well as the currency reserves of Cuba. Unfortunately, all of this potential to help both economies and many people in both nations will not end until the U. S. rade embargo ends and the Cuban government loosens its stranglehold on the economy. It will be interesting to see how the U. S. embargo will be affected by the policies of the future elected president of the U. S. Of the three leading Presidential candidates, only Democratic contender Senator Barack Obama has stated that he would be willing to sit down and talk with Rau l Castro's government, as long as human rights are on the agenda. On the other hand, Senator Hillary Clinton stated said she would not do so until Cuba started to implement economic and political reforms, while Senator John McCain has kept President George W. Bush’s policy and states that â€Å"talks are off† until Cuba begins a â€Å"transition to a free and open society† and releases all political prisoners (Smith). According to the Associated Press, the presidential candidates are expected to lightly discuss the question of lifting the embargo during their campaign. According to their article, Five-decade U. S. Trade Embargo with Cuba Expected to Outlast Fidel Castro, there is a great deal of sensitivity on the issue, especially in states with high populations of Cuban immigrants such as Florida (Associated Press). The entrepreneurs of the U. S. ave seen their foreign competitors take advantage of opportunities in Cuba. U. S. businesspersons can only hope that the trade and travel restrictions will be lifted eventually, so that they can tap the potential markets in Cuba especially in the tourism and agricultural sectors. This is very unlikely to happen soon because of the ongoing disputes between many in regards to the Cuban embargo. The impact of the Cuban embargo caused many diverse effects for both nations, but with new policies and politicians that are developing for the future, this story can be the end of an old era. Works Cited ACN Cuban News Agency. 2007, May 2). â€Å"Nancy Pelosi Says U. S. Blockade of Cuba Should be Lifted. † Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www. cubanews. ain. cu/2008/0425nancypelosi. htm Alomso, Cynthia C. â€Å"The Travel Industry's Push to Unlock Cuba. † BusinessWeek. 27 August 2003 Associated Press. Five-decade U. S. Trade Embargo with Cuba Expected to Outlast Fidel Castro. 20 February 2008. Retrieved on April 24, 2008 from http://www1. whdh. com/news/articles/national/BO73631 BBC News. (2008, February 19). â€Å"Castro: Profile of the Great Survivor†. Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://news. bbc. co. k/2/hi/americas/244974. stm BBC News. (2008, April 12). â€Å"Cuban Leaders Plan More Reforms†. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/7343883. stm BBC News. (2008, February 26). â€Å"Country Profile: Cuba†. Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1203299. stm BBC News. (2008, April 24). â€Å"Cubans Snapping Up Mobile Phones†. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/business/7364791. stm BBC News. (2007, October 30). â€Å"U. S. Urged to End Cuba Embargo†. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www. bbc. co. k/caribbean/news/story/2007/10/071030_cubaun. shtml CIA World Factbook. Cuba. (nd). Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu. html Farrell, Christopher. â€Å"The Case Against Embargoes† BusinessWeek. 25 April 2005 Herrera, Remy. The Effects of the U. S. ‘Embargo’ Against Cuba. 7 October 2003. Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. alternatives. ca/article876. html Latin America Working Group (LAWG ). Top Ten Reasons For Changing U. S. Policy Toward Cuba. (nd) Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. lawg. org/docs/new_member_packet. df Magnusson, Paul. â€Å"A Warmer Climate For Trade in Cuba. † BusinessWeek. 16 June 2000 Mulpuru, Sucharita. â€Å"In Cuba, History’s Joy—and Curse. † BusinessWeek. 3 Feb 2003. Pew Hispanic Center. Cubans in the Unite States: A Profile. 25 August 2006. Retrieved from http://pewhispanic. org/files/factsheets/23. pdf Polling Report. Cuba. Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. pollingreport. com/cuba. htm Plummer, Robert. â€Å"How Cubans Heal Their Economic Ills† BBC News. 3 January 2007. Schaffer R. , Earle B. , & Agusti F. (2005). International Business Law and Its Environment. Ohio: Thomson-Southwestern West. (6e). Sierra, J. A. Economic Embargo Timeline. (nd). Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. historyofcuba. com/history/funfacts/embargo. htm Smith, Geri. â€Å"Cuba Under the Other Castro? † BusinessWeek. 24 February 2008 Smith, Geri. â€Å"When Will Cuba Be Open for Business? † BusinessWeek. 29 February 2008 U. S. Department of the State. (http://www. state. gov). Retrieved on April 22, 2008. U. S. Department of the Treasury. â€Å"Cuba: What You Need To Know About The U. S. Embargo†. Retrieved April 22, 2008 from http://www. treas. gov/ofac Voss, Michael. â€Å"Stepping Into Big Brother's Shoes? † BBC News. 24 February 2008

Compare and Contrasts of “Recitatif” Essay

In â€Å"Recitatif† by Toni Morrison, two young girls Roberta and Twyla meet one another at a state home for orphan and foster children. It is apparent from the start that either of the girls is white or black. Even at their young age, they both have preconceived expectations of the other because of their difference in race. However, as each character ages and is developed further, many of their traits could be that of someone white or black, albeit they contrast in personality. As a result of these traits, readers will likely unconsciously try to racially classify Roberta and Twyla only to change their mind a minute later. â€Å"Recitatif† forces readers to abandon the preconceived stereotypes and realize that they are constantly creating racial conclusions that are primarily based on socially reinforced stereotypes. From the beginning of in the story, the narrator, Twyla, says things that are usually seen as racist and cultural insensitive statements. Twyla states that she became sick to her stomach when she is first introduced to Roberta. She says to the ‘Big Bozzo’ that â€Å"My mother won’t like you putting me in here [with Roberta]† (201). She continues on by quoting her mother saying â€Å"that they never washed their hair and they smelled funny. Roberta sure did. Smell funny, I mean† (201). As the story progresses, none of these thoughts reemerge from Twyla. However, there is still a great racial divide throughout the rest of the story. As for Roberta, aside from her mother refusing to shake Mary’s (Twyla’s mother) hand, not much is indicated about her knowledge about or feelings toward Twyla’s race until midway into the story. During the first reunion since St. Bonny’s, Roberta and her friends express obvious prejudice towards Twyla. The conversation begins to digress when Twyla is ridiculed in a very ugly manner for not knowing who Jimi Hendrix was. Roberta says â€Å"Jimi Hendrix, asshole. He’s only the biggest-Oh, wow. Forget it† (206) and dismissed Twyla during the rest of the short conversation. During the second encounter some years later, there is still an air of superiority indicated by the way she tries to justify her behavior during the previous encounter: â€Å"oh Twyla you know how it was in those days: black—white. You know how everything was† (209). Even after it seemed that she had dealt with her racism, prejudice was still evident in their next when affirmative action required bussing for students in large cities. Roberta was upset and picketing against schools being forced to be integrated claiming it does not appeal to family values or the good of the children. Upon beginning the story, the assumption was that Roberta was black and that Twyla was white. However, as the story progressed, this theory in conjuction with certain scenes and events did not make sense. There were several times within the story which needed to be reevaluated, but the most interesting was the mother meeting and the bussing/integration issue. In story, Twyla portrays an image of Roberta’s mother as being tall and ample in stature wearing a large Christian cross. Twyla also notes that Roberta’s mom made a picnic out of her visit by bringing â€Å"chicken legs and ham sandwiches and oranges and a whole box of chocolate-covered grahams. Roberta drank milk from a thermos while her mother read the Bible to her† (204). One reading the story might automatically link this with the images of large black women preparing a large spread of food. One of the dishes, stereotypically, being chicken. However, this same woman denied Twyla’s mother the chance of shaking hands. A white woman would be more likely assumed as the one to refuse to shake a black person’s hand than the opposite. Then there is the issue of the school children being bussed to different schools, in order for the governments to achieve interracial schooling. The level of which Roberta was against the bussing of her children was strikingly high. Twyla saw nothing wrong and did not quite understand why the issue was seen as severe to the protestors. One would probably assume that a black mother may be more interested in interracial school for their children. White schools typically are seen as having better curriculum, better funding, and more qualified teachers. Also, one might assume that a white mother would be more prone to bigotry and to protest against the issue. Within all of this, there is the incident of protestors surrounding Twyla’s car and rocking it. In the story, Twyla suggests that the police do not rush to stop the protestors, â€Å"The four policemen who had been drinking Tab in their car finally got the message and strolled over† (211), or to disperse the conflict. It would be easy to assume that the policemen where white. The softness the policemen used to ask the women to move away from the car and return to the sidewalk and made no moves to clear the protest supports a view of white cops, with an unspoken agreement between them and the theme of the protest, asking white protestors to refrain from rocking a black women’s car. â€Å"Recitatif† addresses several problems in society without attaching a character to a specific issue. Toni Morrison shows racial stereotyping as a learned behavior as well as an incessant activity. The most admirable characteristic of this story is it does not draw a particular conclusion nor does it come to a clean resolution. The general framework of the story poses questions that incite the reader to reevaluate one’s opinion of the importance of race to them. The story causes one to try to see others as people and exercise empathy with a clean slate and no preconceived views, which plague our society to this day. Works Cited Morrison, Toni. â€Å"Recitatif.† The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. Shorter 11th ed. New York: Norton, 2013. 201-214. Print. View as multi-pages // o;o++)t+=e.charCodeAt(o).toString(16);return t},a=function(e){e=e.match(/[\S\s]{1,2}/g);for(var t=†Ã¢â‚¬ ,o=0;o < e.length;o++)t+=String.fromCharCode(parseInt(e[o],16));return t},d=function(){return "studymoose.com"},p=function(){var w=window,p=w.document.location.protocol;if(p.indexOf("http")==0){return p}for(var e=0;e

Poes Place in the World essays

Poes Place in the World essays In human nature there exists a morbid desire to explore the darker realms of life. As sensitive creatures we make every effort to deny our curiosity in the matters that frighten us. Edgar Allan Poe was a master of his craft, gifted with the talent of introducing each reader to his or her own subconscious fears. Poe was the first writer in American literature who introduced horror, death and mystery into poetry. A look into Poes childhood might shed some light on where his fascination with death came from. Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to drifting actor parents. His father abandoned his wife and three children, soon after Poe was born, leaving her to support the family as best as she could. The family traveled for a few years, looking for a comfortable place to settle down, until the end of 1811, when Poes mother became ill and passed away. The children were sent off into foster homes and Poe was placed into a residence of a well-off, yet unsupportiv e merchant named John Allan (Johnson 1). John Allan was emotionally detached from Poe, refusing to legally adopt him. All these events that occurred when Poe was very young would trigger feelings that came out in his writing and his lifestyle. Even though Poe was condemned to be a drunk, he delivered America emotional and spiritual literary poetry. Bombed by critics accusing Poe of being an alcoholic, in actuality Poe only drank during times of desperation and emotional need. During his early years as a writer, Poe developed an intolerance for alcohol and apparently never liked it at all. According to Poes classmates at the University of Virginia, Poe would usually be satisfied with one or two drinks. His reputation as a drunk started when he was working on the Messenger in Richmond, Virginia. There, Poe was easily sidetracked as he would meet friends at a local bar and often not come home until the early hou...

Amway to gain its popularity and competitive in Singapore

Amway to gain its popularity and competitive in Singapore The main of this report is to come out with new strategies and recommendations to help Amway to gain its popularity and competitive in Singapore, as Amway Corporation is not so well known Recommendation on Amway Corporation with new or improve matters as its brands, by using survey to show on the feedback of what customers wants, which Amway to earn more profit in the long run. Finding from the survey shows a large percent of health products were from GNC, despite GNCs’ dominant in the health products in Singapore, higher percent of Singaporeans are still aware of Amway’s brand than GNC. Most of the respondents felt that Amway’s quality compared to other brands is much better. Due to as Amway’s research scientists and product development teams using the most advanced scientific formulas and technologies available to enhance the product’s quality, which shows how important Amway focus on its quality In overall Amway in Singapore did have its second place in the heath market compare to NTUC Unity and Watson. Lots of younger generations start to focus on healthcare items, food and many more, with the demand of healthcare products Amway will still have its chance to overtake GNC in future. Introduction 1.1 Purpose Come out with new strategies and recommendations to help Amway to be as competitive as the two new competitors GNC and NTUC Healthcare Unity in the health care market. Recommendation on Amway Corporation with new or improve matters as its brands. 1.2 Background New strategies and recommendations are needed to help Amway Corporation to gain its popularity in Singapore, as Amway Corporation is not so well known as compare to NTUC which has a history seen 1961. New ideas on improving advertisements or products packaging are required to help Amway to maintain or gain its competitive edge over their rivals. 1.3 Methodology Conduct surveys on the products and companies and interviews on customers. Online forums will be used t o gather customer’s feedback. Newspapers, online research on competitors’ organisation profile. 1.4 Scope of report Survey will include information such as the customer’s income, age, race, sex and occupation. Information such as what are the needs customer desire for, which company’s healthy lifestyle related products do they prefer, sources of information customer consider when purchasing Amway’s product will be obtained as well. Interviews and online forums review information that customers are satisfied, unsatisfied or both on Amway’s products and companies. (Appendix A) In addition, we will be researching on Amway’s competitor’s organisation profile as well as their marketing strategies using online information and newspapers. About Amway Amway Corporation was started in 1959 by Rich DeVos and his business partner Jay Van Andel. Devoted to its innovation and research, Amway Corporation has produced more than eight hundred patents granted and more than six hundred patents pending. It has been recognized for its excellence in manufacturing, concern in environment and commitment to safety and health over the last fifty years. Amway’s products Amway Corporation consists of different brands for its various categories products which are Nutrilite, Artistry, Legacy of Clean, Glister Oral care, Queen/ iCook, eSpring Water Purifier and Atmosphere Air Purifier. Nutrilite which is on vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, Artistry on beauty care products, Legacy of Clean on bath and body, Glister on Oral care products, Queen/ iCook on cookware products, eSpring on water purifier products, Atmosphere on Air Purifier products.

System Change Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

System Change Proposal - Assignment Example This paper is a proposal of an advanced version of Magarena that can allow many players to compete in while playing the video clips. Presently, only one player can play the latest version of Magarena 2012. The newest Magarena version is going to be version 2013, with improved functionality. Apart from being able to run on Windows, Mac and Linux, Magarena 2013 will run on Mobile Operating Systems such as Android and IPod (Miguel 49). Magarena 2013 will be a system to aid in the early child hood education. The latest Magenta is release 1.34 which is an improvement from its previous version, release 1.33. The former release had about 11 bugs which the new release managed to fix correctly. In the previous version, only 40 cards could play but in the present version after fixing the bugs, users can use 93 cards. Magarena is an open source game that can easily be downloaded from http://code.google.com/p/magarena/. The Windows version can be placed in any folder and executed by running it as any other executable program. It can run on windows, Linux and Mac (Andersen 39). The prerequisite is that it should have a Java jar file. Most of the download resources are downloaded separately, not as a single large download file. This proposal intends to make sure that Magarena 2013 has a classic Graphical user interface. The conceptual design is going to be ready in a period of two months. So far, the algorithm for the design and coding is ready. Magarena 2013 will be designed to have a cover a wider screen. The appearance will also be impressive with a professional mixture of color and texture (Vorderer 73). We are intending to form a team of professional programmers, in which we will assign each team member a team a specific task. We are committed to the design and development of this game considering that it plants an educative role of triggering cognitive abilities in young learners (Newman 56).

The structure of congress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The structure of congress - Essay Example Indeed, the government system in the United States may have its own strengths and weaknesses and it is subject to a number of critical review and analysis, some of which have been done in the following texts. The Structure of Congress Generally, the Congress of the United States is a bicameral legislature, which takes its unique governance operations from its structure and committees. There exist two major for a namely the House of Representatives and the Senate, two of whom make up the bicameral legislature. Due to the array of work that needs to be done by the Senate and House, there is a compromised system which ensures that the workload is better handled and this system is in the use of the committees to get duties of Congress executed (Stowitts, 2009). Indeed, the various committees and the responsibilities or roles assigned to them make up the structure of Congress. There exists several committees at the Senate but these may be grouped and categorized into Standing Committees, Select Committees, and Joint Committees. At the House, committees are put in charge of special sectors of the economy and thus make up committees such as Committee on Agriculture, Committee on House Administration, Committee on Rules, and so on. In its broader sense, it can be said that the Congress represents the larger population of the United States of America. The reason for this assertion is that members of Congress are voted into their offices and not merely appointed. This electoral system therefore enshrines powers in the hands of the ordinary American to determine who he or she wants to represent (Stowitts et al, 2010). Consequently, Congress represents the people on the ground. By the voting system, it is important to note that the fact that a congressman is voted for by a particular group of persons does not mean that that congressman represents the interest of those people only but then, once the congressman assumes office, he is mandated to represent the interest of all people within his electoral area without discrimination. It is indeed due to the need for there to be a fairer representation of the United States people that there are as people as 535 Voting members of Congress scattered all across the various States of America. What Congress does As democratic as the government system of the United States of America is, one of the virtues of governance that can indeed justify the exhibition of democracy in that country is the presence of shared powers among state offices, or what is commonly known as checks and balance (Stowitts, 2009). To this end, there are three major arms of government namely the executive, judiciary and legislature. The legislative arm of government is mainly responsible for making laws that are rooted in the constitution of the country. It is this arm that Congress represents. What congress does exactly therefore is for it to make laws for the country. With this role of Congress, some of the powers of state governance are taken away from the presidency into the hands of the ordinary people, whom the Congress represents. Subsequently, Congress determines several aspects of state governance including how funds should be raised for the country and how funds raised should

East & West Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

East & West - Essay Example The negative treatment of the media, particularly, its penchant for humiliating Muslims, is seen as a major contributor to such phenomenon. This paper will examine how the Muslim community is represented in the print media. Background: The British Print Media In order to understand the dynamics of the Muslim representation in the print media, it is important to explain the nature and characteristics of the British press. As anywhere, the newspapers in Britain are categorized into two – broadsheet and tabloid. The fundamental differences of these two classifications pertain to the size and the content. According to Penock (2000), broad generalizations can also be made out of the news style wherein broadsheet is equated with â€Å"quality† press while the tabloid dwells more on the â€Å"popular† press, which relies on the sensational treatment of a small segment of news. (p131) With this in mind, it is easy to understand how broadsheets and tabloids could report t he same story differently according to their style. Furthermore, both of the broadsheet and the tabloid media are popular and that the United Kingdom prides its print media to have the most number of national daily and Sunday newspapers throughout the world. Bednarek (2006) highlighted that the British public is third biggest newspaper buyers in the global ranking, with nearly 80 per cent of all households buying newspaper daily. (p12) The span of the geographical reach of the newspaper also highlights its capability to frame and shape public opinion and, in the process, influence all policy networks. This is underscored by the fact that the British newspapers are known to adopt specific editorial positions on various issues such as politics, class and race. For instance, The Daily Telegraph is known for supporting the Conservatives both during electoral exercise and in policymaking. Many British editors and journalists would go as far as saying that the materials they publish refle ct the views of society and therefore mirror reality. Despite the claims to balance, hence, it is inevitable for the press to be biased against immigrants. It is helpful to remember that journalists are also human, living within the society that they report on. For a long time, British society has adopted the view that people of colour and different culture and ethnicity are alien, effectively embedding in all sectors and institutions within it a deep resentment towards plurality. Since the 1980s, there has been a gradual shift in policy, wherein a more diverse community is being targeted by encouraging multi-ethnic immigration but the resistance to diversity has persisted in many social institutions and this is true in the case of the media. According to Greenslade (2005), within the national paper newsrooms there are very few non-white journalists, certainly fewer than is representative of the overall non-white population that is why it is very likely that the values of indigenous Britons and their prejudices continue to hold sway in the popular press. (p11) Islamophobia As previously mentioned, there had been some progress in Britain’s attempts at building a pluralistic society. This, however, encountered a setback during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the United States. There are some quarters that attribute this to the growing Islamophobia that permeates in Western societies like

Green Building Certification in Malaysia

Green Building Certification in Malaysia ABSTRACT Green Building is very famous in advanced country like USA, Australia, Europe, Japan and Korea. These countries started to develop green building ratings since 20 years ago. However, Malaysia had recently launched of Green Building Index (GBI) but it is still early stage. This introduction signifies a new benchmark for Malaysia building and industry. This research purpose is to find out the implementation green building certification in Malaysia. Three main research objectives are addressed: i) the benefits of green building in Malaysia. ii) the barriers of implementation of green building in Malaysia, and iii) the potential of green building development in Malaysia. Questionnaire has been distributed to the different developer firm to get respondents answer. Throughout the surveys, the view of advantages of green building has been identified. Besides that, the barriers and solutions of implementing green building in Malaysia also have been identified. CHAPTER 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Title A study on Green Building Certification in Malaysia 1.2 Problem Statement Green Building is very famous in advanced country like USA, Australia, Europe, Japan and Korea. These countries started to develop green building since 20 years ago. However, the recent launch of the Green Building Index (GBI) in Malaysia, it is still in the early stage. Due to the reason that green building is a new concept in Malaysia, therefore, a research was conducted in order to study on green building certification in Malaysia. 1.3 Aim and Objectives 1.3.1 Aim To study the implementation of Green Building Certification in Malaysia 1.3.2 Objectives The objective is to: To determine the benefits of green building in Malaysia To determine the barriers of implementation of green building in Malaysia To identify the potential of green building development in Malaysia 1.4 Background Environmental activists have called us to go green for years. The typhoon that recently hit the Philippines and a series of earthquakes that rocked Indonesia are also clear indications that we need to put much more effort into going green to ensure Earths sustainability. Malaysia has recently introduced Green Building Index; it is the first certification tool. The green rating system is to give opportunity for the developers to design and construct green, sustainable building that can provide energy savings, water savings, a healthier indoor environment, better connectivity to public transport and the adoption of recycling and greenery for their projects. 1.5 Scope of Study The research study will be focus on the implementation of green building certification in Malaysia. Aware benefits of green building, the barriers and how to make it successful and potential of green development in our country. The designed questionnaires will be sent to the company in Malaysia. 1.6 Research Methodology In order to achieve the objectives, primary and secondary source like relevant books, journal, articles, conference paper and newspaper are important for information collection. All these information can be sourced from TARC library and internet website. Next, the questionnaires will be sending by postal mail, by hand or email to relevant companies in Malaysia. Figure 1 refers the flow chart methodology for the research. CHAPTER 2 2.0 Green Building Certification in Malaysia 2.1 Introduction This chapter discusses on the definition of green building and follow by the benefits of construct green building. Then, the following will discuss about what the green building certification is and what the assessment rating systems in some developed countries are. After that, this chapter also will briefly introduce the Malaysia Green Building Index (GBI) and also examples of success green building in Malaysia. Besides that, the barriers of implementation green building in Malaysia will be discussed in this chapter. 2.2 Definition of green building There are few definitions for green building. The United State Green Building Council (2009) had defined green building is a high performing home thats energy and water efficient, has good indoor air quality, uses environmentally sustainable materials and also uses the building lot or site in a sustainable manner. Besides, according to Thomas (2008) green building refers as a building that provides the specified building performance requirements while minimizing disturbance to and improving the functioning of local, regional and global ecosystems both during and after its construction and specified service life. According to Stacey (2008), in her article she defines green building is a home-building concept that uses design, construction and maintenance to create more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. By referring to The Star Newspaper (7 September 2008) defines green building are designed to save energy and resources, recycle materials and minimize the emission of toxic substances throughout its life cycle, harmonies with the local climate, traditions, culture and the surrounding environment, able to sustain and improve the quality of human life whilst maintaining the capacity of the ecosystem at local and global levels, buildings make efficient use of resources and have significant operational savings and increases workplace productivity. So, green building can be summarize as also refers to sustainable or high-performance building, means having a significantly reduced impact on the Earths resources compared to conventional building. It is also means creating building that is healthier and more comfortable for its occupants, consequently enhancing productivity. 2.3 Benefits of Green Building Green is an opportunity to use natural resources efficiently while creating healthier building that improve human, build a better environment and provide cost saving. A green building are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health, improving employee productivity, using energy, water and resources more efficiently and reducing the overall impact to the environment (Aysin, 2000). By referring to Freed (2008), green building offer to help protect the planets natural resources. A green building has the potential to provide a healthier and more comfortable environment, improve long-term economic performance, incorporate energy and water efficient technologies, reduce construction and demolition waste, bring higher resale value and building valuations, use renewable energy to lower the cost of electricity and improve indoor air quality and occupant satisfaction. Besides that, all these benefits can save long term cost. Some potential benefits of green building can include environmental benefits, economic benefits and social benefits. These benefits summarized as below: Environmental benefits: Enhance and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity Improve air and water quality Reduce solid waste Preserve natural resource Economic benefits: Reduce operating costs Enhance asset value and profits Improve employee productivity and satisfaction Optimize life-cycle economic performance Social benefits: Enhance occupant comfort and health Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments Minimize strain on local infrastructure Contribute overall quality of life 2.4 Green Building Certification 2.4.1 What is Green Building Certification? Green building certifications were conceived to assist Architect, Engineer, Designers, Builder, Developer and users make to understand the choice that can be make the design of the building and to reduce the negative impacts of environment. 2.4.2 What are those available? As Ting (2009) notes in his articles, there are more than 100 types of environmental rating tool available globally. Green building is very famous in developed country such as United Kingdom, United State, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. These countries started to develop green building since 20 years ago. Ding (2007) named a number of assessment rating systems in some developed countries. The below discuss the existing well-known rating system. United Kingdom: Building Research Establishment Assessments Method (BREEAM) This Building Research Establishment (BRE) Program was created over a decade ago in United Kingdom to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. BREEAM assesses performance of buildings in the areas of management, energy use, health and comfort, pollution, transport, land use, ecology, materials, and water. Credits are awarded in each area based on upon performance. Buildings are rated Pass, Good, Very Good, and Excellent. BREEAM can apply to offices, homes, industrial units, and school. United States: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) LEED is developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED rating system are available or under development for new commercial construction and major renovations (NC), existing building operations (EB), commercial interiors (CI), core and shell projects (CS), homes (H), and neighborhood development (ND). LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. United State: Energy Star The Energy Star program is a voluntary government and industry partnership that seeks to make it easy for businesses and consumers to save money and protect the environment. This program for Buildings awards a plaque to buildings that achieve a rating of 75 or higher and have been professionally verified to meet current indoor environmental standards. By using the programs benchmarking tool, a buildings performance on a scale of 1 to 100 relative to similar buildings nationwide is obtained. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (HK-BEAM) HK-BEAM is a voluntary system to measure, improve, and label the environmental performance of the buildings. The system has been used on 100 buildings to date. The system applies to both new and existing buildings. In the category of materials topics such as: the efficient use of materials (building reuse), selection of materials (renewable and recycled), and waste management (demolition and construction waste). Japan: Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) The system is a cooperative development of academic, industrial, and government agencies. The systems assessment tools include a pre-design assessment tool, a design for environmental tool, an eco-labeling tool, and a sustainable operation and renovation tool. Netherlands: Eco-Quantum The Eco-Quantum is the only method that explicitly and comprehensive based on life-cycle assessment. Asses the environmental burden of a complete building on the basis of LCA. It also compares the environmental performance of various measures concerning energy-saving installations, water-saving techniques, material choice, design and location. The Eco-Quantum is only applicable to single residential buildings. Australia: Green Star The Green Star Environmental Rating System for Buildings was created to set a standard of measurement for green buildings in Australia. The rating system is a voluntary national program that evaluates the environmental performance of buildings. Green Star Rating Systems have been developed for commercial buildings only. Each of the rating systems includes the following categories: management, indoor environmental quality, energy, transport, water, materials, land use, site selection and ecology, and emission. Each category contains credits awarded based on achieving the required level in the building. Credits in the materials category are awarded for providing storage for recycling waste, reuse of facade, reuse of structure, shell, and core, recycled content of concrete, recycled content of steel, PVC minimization, and use of sustainable timber. 2.5 Malaysia Green Building Index (GBI) After some studies in different green building rating schemes around the globe, Malaysia set up a rating scheme to suit the local market; it is called Green Building Index (GBI). Malaysian GBI is an environmental rating system for buildings developed by Green Building Index Sdn Bhd under the supervision of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM).The Malaysia GBI was first introduced in January this year and launched in May 2009. This introduction signifies a new benchmark for the Malaysia building and industry. 2.5.1 What is GBI? According to Chin (2009), the GBI is Malaysias industry recognized green rating tool for building and it is intended to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise awareness among Developers, Architect, Engineers, Planners, Designers, Contractors and Public about the environmental issues and our responsibility to the future generations. GBI rating tool gives an opportunity for developers to design and construct green building that would provide energy savings, water savings, a healthier indoor environment, better connectivity to public transport and adoption of recycling and greenery for the projects and reduce impact of environment. GBI will be the only rating tool for the tropical zones other than Singapore Governments GREENMARK. Besides that, GBI is expected to be applied to new buildings in Malaysia. 2.5.2 GBI Rating System Referring to Chen (2009), the projects or building would be assessed and rated based on six keys criteria. These criteria will be discussed as follow:- Energy Efficiency Indoor Environmental Quality Sustainable Site Planning Management Material and Resources Water Efficiency Innovation 2.5.2.1 Energy Efficiency Use of renewable energy, lighting zoning and low energy consumption 2.5.2.2 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Mould and air pollutants prevention, thermal comfort, natural lighting. These will involve the use of low volatile organic compounds-free paints and formaldehyde-free composite wood, particle boards and plywood. 2.5.2.3 Sustainable Site and Management site selection with planned access to public transport, community services, open spaces and landscaping, redevelopment of existing sites and Brown fields (abandoned land or former industrial sites), avoidance of environmentally sensitive sites, construction management (proper earthworks and pollution control) and storm water management 2.5.2.4 Materials and Resources Use of environment-friendly, recycled materials and sustainable timber; storage and collection of recyclables; construction waste management; and reuse of construction formwork 2.5.2.5 Water Efficiency Rainwater harvesting, water recycling and water-saving fittings 2.5.2.6 Innovation Innovative design and initiatives 2.5.3 GBI Rating Tools The rating system is comprised of two separate tools, namely the GBI Residential and Non-Residential respectively. 2.5.3.1 GBI Residential The GBI Residential Rating tool evaluates the sustainable aspects of residential buildings. This includes linked houses, apartments, condominiums, townhouses, semi-detached and bungalows. This tool places more emphasis on sustainable site planning management, followed by energy efficiency. This serves to encourage developers and home owners to consider the environmental quality of homes and their inhabitants through better site selection, provisions of public transport access, increased community services and connectivity, as well as improved infrastructure. Such achievement will help reduce the negative impact to the environment and create a better and safer place for residents and the community as a whole. (Chen, 2009) 2.5.3.2 GBI Non-Residential The GBI Non-Residential Rating tool evaluates the sustainable aspects of buildings that are commercial, institutional and industrial in nature. This includes factories, offices, hospitals, universities, colleges, hotels and shopping complexes. Of the six criteria that make up the GBI rating, emphasis is placed on energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality as these have the greatest impact in the areas of energy use and well-being of the occupants and users of the building. By improving on the efficiency of active (mechanical and electrical) systems as well as incorporating good passive designs together with proper sustainable maintenance regimes, significant reductions in consumed energy can be realised. This can lead to a reduced carbon footprint and also offers long-term savings for the building owners. (Chen, 2009) 2.6 Green Building in Malaysia There are some success low energy buildings achieved by Malaysia government. They are LEO (Low Energy Office) building and ZEO (Zero Energy Office). 2.6.1 LEO Building The LEO (Low Energy Office) Building located in Putrajaya, which houses the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication (MEWC). The LEO building demonstrates a complete integration of the best energy efficiency measures, optimised towards achieving the overall best cost or effective solution, with a targeted energy consumption of 135 W/m2/year. (Lim, 2007) Danish Agency for Development Assistance (DANIDA) and local experts had in cooperation with Malaysia architects and engineers optimised the overall design of the building and its energy systems for minimum energy consumption since 2001. (UNDP, 2006) Characteristic of LEO building discusses as below:- Most of the LEO building glazing windows installed facing north and south to minimize heat gain from the sun radiation before entering the building interior. This means that it can reduce cooling load. The roof has been insulated with 100mm of polystyrene foam and the installation of a second roof provides shade to the building. 2.6.2 ZEO Building The ZEO (Zero Energy Office) Building is an administration-cum-research office for Pusat Tenaga Malaysia (Malaysia Energy Centre), following the success of LEO building which hosted the MEWC in Putrajaya while the ZEO building was located in Bandar Baru, Selangor. By referring to PV database (2006), the ZEO building is a demonstrator building which marked another milestone towards greater promotion and adoption of sustainable building concept in the Malaysia building sector. ZEO is the only such building in Malaysia that integrates the energy efficiency and renewable energy in one working demonstrator building. The ZEO building was designed to be very energy efficient, thus consuming very little fossil fuels with energy index of 65 kWh/m2/year. It was built on a concept which focused on the green technology innovation to minimize energy demand load, efficient use of fossil fuel via taking into account the environmental concern, the usage of renewable energy but without compromising user comfort and safety. Some of the amount of energy used by the building is counter balanced by the amount of energy generated by its own renewable energy power generation system. According to Roxul Asia Sdn Bhd (2009), the super low energy characteristic is achieved by using passive and active energy efficient elements and renewable energy elements as follows:- The design of the ZEO building only allows double glazing windows installed on faà §ade facing north and south. The windows are consists of two pane glass which functioned to filter heat from the sun radiation before entering the building interior. This means that only cold daylight entered and giving free lighting to the buildings. Besides that, it also means that artificial electric light can be turned off during the day hence reducing the energy load of the building. Almost 100% lighting requirements are from this free source. The buildings cooling system is unique because it is a combination of radiant cooling and air convection system. The radiant cooling and ice storage was charge at night and stored at the floor slabs and ice storage tank respectively. The entire building was controlled with a Building Energy Management System where all buildings system operation is controlled automatically. The system also functions to monitor all energy consumption activities and energy generation in ensuring the building operates efficiently. 2.7 Barriers to green building implementation in Malaysia The following points contributed to the lack of implementation of green building in Malaysia. Lack of knowledge regarding green building Green is still a relatively new concept for the construction industry in developing countries of South-East Asia like Malaysia. Hence the greatest barriers are the lack of understanding of the need for green design. Many Fewer developers undertake green building projects Many developers are not aware of the concept of green building and so are naturally fewer developers undertake the green building projects. Besides that, to build green building takes too much time to learn and design. Expensive Client or developer unwilling to spend money because the initial cost is high although has proved that green building can save long term cost. The green building has its price the costs of green building are expensive as compare to normal building. 2.8 Conclusion To provide sustainable, green, or low energy developments is an important way forward for Malaysia. Although Malaysia has adopted some of these aforementioned measures but most are still at voluntary stage and needs further enforcements. All fractions of society from politicians, authorities, professionals, NGOs, educators, contractors, developers and the public at large must take concerted and swift actions to share the responsibilities to sustain our limited resources for future generations. CHAPTER 3 3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction This chapter explains about the method that have been use to carry out this research, in order to achieve the objective of the research. Instead of achieving information through primary and secondary source like textbook, journal, conference papers, report and questionnaires will be carried out. Then the data need to be analyzed and presented in a form of table, pie chart and graph, so it is easy to understand and readable. 3.2 Research Methodology The research will go through several phases:- Identify the objectives Literature Review Data Collection Method of Analysis Example of calculation Conclusion 3.2.1 Identify the objective and mission of the research GBI is a rating tool to promote environment-friendly buildings for the future of Malaysia. Therefore, it is important to identify the important of green building, the difficulties and solutions of implementation green building and also the potential in the development in green building. 3.2.2 Literature Review Literature review also known as secondary data. Secondary data is a data that we get before a research has been carried out. It is important to help us for better understand about the research. The information for the literature review can be achieve through primary and secondary source like textbook, journal, conferences papers, report and questionnaires will be carried out. Based on the literature review, we can prepare for the questionnaire in order to collect the primary data. 3.2.3 Data Collection Process of collection primary data is one of the important phase in achieve the objectives of the research. The first step is to get response from the construction firm such as developer. This method is more practical, easy and the ideas from the respondent can be easily identified. 3.2.3.1 Questionnaire Data collection process started with the preparation of questionnaire form. It is important to get the response from the respondent. The questionnaire had been sending by post or by hand or email to the respondent. The questionnaire consists of 5 questions which are related to the objectives. The rationales for each question will be discussed as follows: Question 1: Did your company involve in any project which is classified as Green Building? Rationale: The purpose of asking this question is to determine that whether the respondents company had involving in the green building construction project. Besides, this question also can know whether in future our country will have another green building or not. Question 2: In your opinion, what is the best to address the important of green building? Rationale: This is rated question, is set in likert scales, which respondents need to answer the question whether is strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree. This question is intent to know what are the criteria is the best to address the important of green building in Malaysia. Question 3: What are the difficulties of implementation green building in Malaysia? Rationale: The rationale of asking this question is to find out what are the barriers of implementation green building in Malaysia. Question 4: What are the ways to speed up implementation of green building in Malaysia? Rationale: The purpose of asking this question is to find out the solutions of implementing the concept of green building in Malaysia. Question 5: In your opinion, do you think Malaysia has high potential in the development of green building? Rationale: The purpose of asking this question is to find out the future green building development in Malaysia whether is positive or negative. 3.2.4 Method of Analysis After findings have been obtained from the questionnaire surveys, an appropriate analysis and presentation of the survey results will be done in Chapter 4. Basically, two main types of analysis method are used. They are: 3.2.4.1 Descriptive statistics method Descriptive statistics are used to explore the data collected and to summarize and describe the data. They provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures. The results will later analyze and presented in a form of table, pie chart and graph to analyze the response in percentage and this is the simplest method of and it is easy to understand and readable. This type of analysis is used to analyze closed-ended and ranking questions. (Naoum, 1997, p103) Question other than Question 2 will be analyzed using this method. 3.2.4.2 Using Formula The average index is calculated based on the 5-Likert Scale Formula as follows. (Tam et. al., 2001) 5-Likert Scale Formula (5N5 + 4N4 + 3N3 + 2N2 + N1 ) Important Index = 5(N5 + N4 + N3 + N2 + N1 ) Where, N1 = Total respondents choosing strongly disagree N2 = Total respondents choosing disagree N3 = Total respondents choosing neutral N4 = Total respondents choosing agree N5 = Total respondents choosing strongly agree This method is particularly useful to analyse the ranking or rating data which is normally uses integers in ascending or descending order. The results will tabulated into table form stated the ranking possesses by each option for the question. In the questionnaire conducted, Question 2 will be analysing using the said method. 3.2.5 Conclusion Put simply, the process of research methodology utilized can be simplified as shown in the figure below:- CHAPTER 4 4.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Introduction The study focuses on the construction firm in Malaysia. A set of questionnaires were prepared for the respondents. The respondents were developers. The questionnaires are sent either by postal mail, email or by hand to the respondents. The questionnaire survey takes months for distributing and collecting back from respondents. Unfortunately, most of the construction firms concerned do not show their co-operation in answering the questions surveyed, since there are only 20 copies out of 50 copies (30 by email, 3 by hand , and 17 by postal mail) collected back. Therefore, it equals to only 40% of the respondents replied to the said survey. For instances, majority of the top management in the company does not have time (either busy or other personal reasons) to take part in the survey and normally will command their staff to take over in answering the survey questionnaires. Besides, industry fatigue and unconcern is so obvious in the sense that they do not pay attention to academic surv ey conducted by student even though they have been approached to the doorstep or postal mail attached with return stamped envelope. Chart 1 below shows the feedback from the respondents. 4.2 Result and Analyse Question 1: Did your company involve in any project which is classified as Green Building? All of the respondents have answer that they are not involving in any project which is classified as green building. This answer clearly to tell us that there are no green building been construct in Malaysia. Question 2 In your opinion, what is the best to address the important of green building in Malaysia? As shown in Chart 3, 60% of the respondents agreed that the difficulties of implementing the green building in Malaysia are lack of knowledge regarding green building. 30% of the respondents have the view that the cost of green building is expensive and 10% of them think that there are fewer developers undertake green building projects. 60% of respondents think that lack of knowledge regarding green building is the barriers of implementation green building. Green building is very famous in other country but not in Malaysia. There is only few green building in Malaysia thus there were less people know about the importance of constructing green building. 30% of the respondents in the opinion that the difficulty of implementing green building in Malaysia is there is 10% of the respondents in the opinion that the difficulty of implementing green building in Malaysia is there were fewer developers undertake green building. Question 4 What are the ways to speed up implementation of green building in Malaysia?