Discrimination Against Minority Groups Essay

I am writing to express my grave concern over discrimination against minority groups in our society. Hong Kong is a multicultural and religiously diverse territory. By the way, there is still some conflicts exist between different religion. The minority always have an unfair treatment. Domestic helper is an example of it, the salary of them is much lower than the legitimate minimum wage set up in few days ago. Besides, the minority children always become the target who were laughed at and bullied in school. These problems make me cannot ignore what they are facing. But now, the government’s policy is not enough to solve the problem. Recognizing the urgency of the discrimination problem against the minority group, the government should tackle on all fronts, including publicity, education and policy enforcement spending on racial harmony. First, we should intensify the public knowledge toward different belief and race, to avoid misunderstand between different culture. The effectiveness of education on discriminate prevention cannot be overemphasized. The best way to change is to reform from the heart. The government should endeavor to do more to educate the public about the grave consequences of at loggerheads between races. It may affect the whole community, the drawback may much serious than that you think. To foster the racial harmony, government can do it through the media, such as newspapers, advertisements, radio etc. these can spread the idea of â€Å"we are one†, in Hong Kong it should not divide into different group, we all live in Hong Kong, all of us want our home become better, so we should work together to improve of city, but not make some troubles to it. Finally, government should put our resources to help the small group in our society. Government should treat them as our locals in all aspect, our law should also provide support and protection to them. And for their children, we should also lead a hand to them on language learning. Many of them  because failed in the DSE Chinese, lose the chance get into school, I think government can set up some Chinese class for engagement. If such publications or behaviors persist, there will be no return way. It is time for the relevant parties to join heads and rectify this weird phenomenon. Yours faithfully, Chris Wong

Cosmetics and Products

AVON -STUDY CASE- Analiza contextului global al afacerilor prin prisma factorilor de impact asupra industriei cosmeticelor The cosmetic industry is one of which products tend to be countercyclical. Demand for such products normally remains constant and unaffected by economic distress. The color cosmetics are predicted to see a slowdown in volume demand. A growing trend in the cosmetic industry is the introduction of ‘green’ products. More than one in seven (16%) of global beauty products launched in 2008 were certified organic, ethical or natural.There are concerns that the global economic climate will stifle new product development, innovation and sustainability programs in 2009. An economic slowdown usually curbs companies from investing in research and development and it is that research that has brought forth a wealth of green cosmetics. For example, retailers such as Wal-Mart are increasingly requiring more ecofriendly supply chain. There are forecasts that consumer s are unlikely to give up their commitments to organic products just to save a few pennies. 8% of consumers will remain loyal to a company that has a social and environmental commitment. Many consumers are now ‘voting with dollars’ for organic products and supporting brands that support values similar to their own. Economic factors mainly affect the purchasing power of customers. The more customer demand for the product the more profit to the organization, at the same time if there is no customers demand it’s going to affect the organization in a negative manner.So economic factors are very important external factors and affect the cosmetic industry. Economic factors include: Unemployment rate, Economic growth rate, Interest rate. Other factors that influence the cosmetic industry are the government and legal basis. Also for AVON some of the risk factors are: Success depends on our ability to execute fully our global business strategy, May experience financial an d strategic difficulties and delays or unexpected osts in completing our multi-year restructuring programs or long-range business review, including achieving any anticipated savings and benefits of the initiatives thereunder, The key personnel, The business is conducted worldwide primarily in one channel, direct selling, The taxes, political issues, legal and regulatory risks are also to be taken intoconsideration on international markets, May be subjects to financial risks related to their international operators, including exposure to foreign currency fluctuations, Competition,A general economic downturn, a recession globally or sudden disruption in business conditions, A disruption of a key information technology system, process or site could adversely affect their operations, The ability to anticipate and respond to market trends and changes in consumer preferences, Government reviews, inquiries, investigations, and actions could harm our business or reputation, Protection the i ntellectual property rights, specifically patents and trademarks, Involvement in future, in the legal proceedings. Analiza mediului ramurii Avon Production considers its two closest competitors to be Mary Kay and Revlon.Avon is nearly 8 times larger than Revlon. In terms of channel of distribution, Mary Kay most closely resembles Avon because both use a direct marketing approach. Revlon in contrast sells its products through cosmetic counters in department stores and pharmacies. Avon has 42000 employees worldwide and Mary Kay has 5000 and Revlon has 5600. The large difference in company representatives is attributable to the necessity of employing more people to sell directly to customers than selling products through a storefront. The revenues of Avon also far exceed those of its closest competitors, with Mary Kay selling $2. 0 billion and Revlon selling $1. 35 billion in 2008 as compared to Avon’s $10. 37 billion. [pic] We face competition from competing products in each of our lines of business, in both the domestic and international markets. Worldwide, we compete against products sold to consumers by other direct-selling and direct-sales companies and through the Internet, and against products sold through the mass market and prestige retail channels. We also face increasing competition in our developing and emerging markets. Within the direct selling channel, we compete on a regional and often country-by-country basis, with our direct-selling competitors.There are also a number of direct-selling companies that sell product lines similar to ours, some of which also have worldwide operations and compete with us globally. Unlike most other beauty companies, we compete within a distinct business model where providing a compelling earnings opportunity for our Representatives is as critical as developing and marketing new and innovative products. Therefore, in contrast to a typical consumer packaged goods (â€Å"CPG†) company which operates within a broad-based consumer pool, we must first compete for a limited pool of Representatives before we reach the ultimate consumer.Direct sellers compete for representative or entrepreneurial talent by providing a more competitive earnings opportunity or â€Å"better deal† than that offered by the competition. Representatives are attracted to a direct seller by competitive earnings opportunities, often through what are commonly known as â€Å"field incentives† in the direct selling industry. Competitors devote substantial effort to finding out the effectiveness of such incentives so that they can invest in incentives that are the most cost effective or produce the better payback.As the largest and oldest beauty direct seller, Avon’s business model and strategies are often highly sought after, particularly by smaller local and more nimble competitors who seek to capitalize on our investment and experience. As a result, we are subject to significant competition for t he recruitment of Representatives from other direct selling or network marketing organizations. It is therefore continually necessary to innovate and enhance our direct selling and service model as well as to recruit and retain new Representatives.If we are unable to do so our business will be adversely affected. Within the broader CPG industry, we compete against large and well-known cosmetics and fragrances companies that manufacture and sell broad product lines through various types of retail establishments. In addition, we compete against many other companies that manufacture and sell in more narrow Beauty product lines sold through retail establishments. This industry is highly competitive, and some of our principal competitors in the CPG industry are larger than we are and have greater resources than we do.Competitive activities on their part could cause our sales to suffer. We have many competitors in the highly competitive gift and decorative products and apparel industries globally, including retail establishments, principally department stores, gift shops and specialty retailers, and direct-mail companies specializing in these products. Our principal competition in the highly competitive fashion jewelry industry consists of a few large companies and many small companies that sell fashion jewelry through retail establishments.The number of competitors and degree of competition that we face in this beauty and related products industry varies widely from country to country. If our advertising, promotional, merchandising or other marketing strategies are not successful, if we are unable to deliver new products that represent technological breakthroughs, if we do not successfully manage the timing of new product introductions or the profitability of these efforts, or if for other reasons our Representatives or end customers perceive competitors’ products as having greater appeal, then our sales and financial results may suffer.Global cosmetic and t oiletries market is witnessing significant growth in terms of sales and technological advancements over the past few years because of increasing consumer awareness towards personal hygiene and health. Growing concerns regarding skin care is particularly fueling the robust growth across all market segments and geographies. Increasing demand for organic and natural cosmetic and toiletries products is creating new growth opportunities in this field which is encouraging the emergence of new market players in this arena.One of the major reasons behind the considerable growth of global cosmetic and toiletries industry is the shifting of production units to cost effective Asian economies like India and China. Emergence of new distribution channels like online retailing is driving the growth of this market. Increasing consumer preferences towards the use of herbal and natural cosmetic products is forcing the cosmetic and toiletries manufacturers to change and adapt strategies according to c onsumer preferences.Worldwide market for cosmetics and toiletries products was severely affected by economic downturn, but with the global economy recovering, this market is projected to witness a significant growth and reach the value of USD 19. 2 billion by the year 2015. However, difficulty in obtaining credit and weakening consumer confidence are affecting consumer spending on cosmetics which is one of the major challenges faced by this industry. Presence of large domestic markets is helping emerging economies to recover from deepening economic crisis.Cosmetics and toiletries market is still in its embryonic stage and holds strong growth potential in near future. Consumption of cosmetic and toiletries products is no more limited to female population alone. Male grooming products are emerging as an important segment of this market. Skin care products, hair care products, face cleansers, and premium shaving products are important offerings for male grooming products market. The US and Europe is the largest market for sun care and skin care products. Products with natural and organic ingredients are in increasing demand in European and North American markets despite of high cost.Major reason behind this increased demand of organic products is better health benefits offered by these products. Rising environmental concerns, carcinogenic nature of synthetic cosmetic ingredients, and increasing awareness about sustaining resources are some of the major factors propelling the growth of organic and natural ingredients in cosmetic industry. Worldwide market for cosmetics and toiletries is categorized into skin care, hair care, fragrances, make-up, oral care, baby care, bath and shower, deodorants, color cosmetics, men’s grooming, sun care, and others.For the environmental analysis, it should be taken into consideration the five forces of Porter: 1 Threat of new entry This factor analyzes the ease with which firms may enter into an industry. Competitive indust ries are likely to attract many firms which will strive to capture a market share. This is likely to reduce the overall profitability of firms which are present in the industry. In order for firms to enjoy long term profitability, they should develop customer loyalty within their industry.This will ensure that although new firms enter an industry, their market share is unaffected since customers have faith on their products. Development of customer loyalty is achieved through innovating new products which meet the unique market needs. The cosmetic industry has a low threat of new entrants. This is due to several factors. The first is the huge costs of entry. Developing unique cosmetic products requires a lot of resources both in terms of research and development and the actual manufacturing process. Few middle and small scale firms have access to the funds and expertise required to perform this effectively.Another factor which discourages entry into this industry is the huge competi tion present in the industry. In addition to the huge competitors such as Avon, Revlon, Clinique, Estee Lauder, LR, Mac and Unilever, who have a large market share, there are many other small scale competitors who also have a small market share and who reduce the overall profitability of firms in the industry. 2 3 Bargaining power of customers The bargaining power of customers analyzes the power which consumers have relating to price changes in the industry.This factor analyzes the power which consumers have in manipulating price changes due to shifts in demand (Aaker, 2000: 102-120). When consumers have a high bargaining power, the manufacturers and sellers may not adequately predict future demand by the market. This may make them unable to achieve long term profitability due to unpredictable demand patterns. The cosmetic has a high bargaining power of customers. This is due to the increase competition and availability of cosmetic products from a variety of manufacturers.Since thes e products have high substitutes, then it is possible for consumers to force manufacturers to reduce their product prices through purchasing those of their competitors. This is a challenge which manufacturers of cosmetic products face across the world. 4 Bargaining power of suppliers This factor analyzes the power which suppliers have regarding making price changes for their products. Suppliers who have a high bargaining power are able to influence price changes through using techniques such as market manipulation through hoarding and restraining supply.Although some of these strategies are illegal in many countries, suppliers usually apply them when they want to effect price changes. The cosmetic industry has a low bargaining power of suppliers. This is due to the high number of market players and large supply of diverse products to the market. There are many cosmetic products which are developed by both large and small scale manufacturers. Due to the huge supply, consumers have th e power to influence the market prices as opposed to the suppliers. 1 Threat of substitutesThe threat of substitutes arises when there are similar products developed by competitors which satisfy the market needs. When consumers have access to substitute products which can satisfy their market needs, then manufacturers and suppliers lose their bargaining power. Consumers are able to purchase competitor’s products if they are not satisfied with product price or quality. In order for suppliers to tackle the challenge of threat of substitutes, they have to innovate products which meet the needs of their target market segments. In the cosmetic industry, there are many competitors as has been discussed.There is therefore a high threat of substitute products. If manufacturers sell their products at higher prices, or if the products are of low quality, then consumers are able to purchase substitutes from the many competitors who are present in the market environment. It is therefore essential for the market players in the cosmetic to be innovative if they are to tackle the challenge of the threat of substitute. 2 Barriers to entry and exit Barriers to entry and exit refer to the challenges firms face when entering or leaving the industry respectively.It has been discussed that there are huge costs which are associated with entry to the cosmetic industry. These costs include costs for developing the products as well as research costs. These are some of the barriers to entry in the cosmetic industry. In addition, there are many competitors who reduce the overall profitability of the industry, which makes it a barrier to entry. Finally, the many large scale cosmetic firms which enjoy economies of scale make it a barrier to entry especially for middle and small scale firms. Barriers to exit include the high development and research costs.Due to the high costs associated with developing cosmetic products, it is difficult for firms to leave the industry without achie ving the costs for production. There are also many machines and equipment used in developing cosmetic products and disposing these at a fair market value is difficult hence making it an exit barrier. 3 4 Seller and buyer concentration The cosmetic industry is appealing fir people of all age groups and social backgrounds. There are many cosmetic products which are tailored to meeting the needs of different market segments. The buyer concentration can herefore be deemed as low since there are many buyers who cut across different market segments both in the developed countries and the developing countries. However, the seller concentration may be deemed as high in developed countries. Many large scale cosmetic producers are concentrated in develop countries such as the United States, France and Germany. For instance, the cosmetic industry is valued at $6 billion in France and $12 billion in Germany. In the US, it is valued at over $20 billion. However, the seller concentration in devel oping countries and emerging markets is relatively low.Few firms have ventured into developing products which meet the specific needs of this market segment. In order to achieve long term profitability, new market entrants should focus on this neglected population segment. The high seller concentration in the developed countries leads to high competition and an overall reduction in profitability for cosmetic firms in this industry. Analiza competentelor functionale Avon Distribution We presently have sales operations in 65 countries and territories, including the U. S. and distribute our products in 42 other countries and territories. Unlike most of our competitors, which sell their products through third party retail establishments (e. g. drug stores, department stores), we primarily sell our products to the ultimate consumer through the direct-selling channel. In our case, sales of our products are made to the ultimate consumer principally through direct selling by approximately 6 . 4 million active independent Representatives. Representatives are independent contractors and not our employees.Representatives earn a profit by purchasing products directly from us at a discount from a published brochure price and selling them to their customers, the ultimate consumer of our products. We generally have no arrangements with end users of our products beyond the Representative, except as described below. No single Representative accounts for more than 10% of our net sales. A Representative contacts customers directly, selling primarily through our brochure, which highlights new products and special promotions for each sales campaign.In this sense, the Representative, together with the brochure, are the â€Å"store† through which our products are sold. A brochure introducing a new sales campaign is usually generated every two weeks in the U. S. and every two to four weeks for most markets outside the U. S. Generally, the Representative forwards an order for a campaign to us using the Internet, mail, telephone, or fax. This order is processed and the products are assembled at a distribution center and delivered to the Representative usually through a combination of local and national delivery companies.Generally, the Representative then delivers the merchandise and collects payment from the customer for his or her own account. A Representative generally receives a refund of the price the Representative paid for a product if the Representative chooses to return it. We employ certain web enabled systems to increase Representative support, which allow a Representative to run her or his business more efficiently and also allow us to improve our order-processing accuracy.For example, in many countries, Representatives can utilize the Internet to manage their business electronically, including order submission, order tracking, payment and two-way communications with us. In addition Representatives can further build their own business through pe rsonalized web pages provided by us, enabling them to sell a complete line of our products online. Self-paced online training also is available in certain markets, as well as up-to-the-minute news about us. In some markets, we use decentralized branches, satellite stores and independent retail operations to serve Representatives and other customers.Representatives come to a branch to place and pick up product orders for their customers. The branches also create visibility for us with consumers and help reinforce our beauty image. In certain markets, we provide opportunities to license our beauty centers and other retail-oriented and direct to consumer opportunities to reach new customers in complementary ways to direct selling. In the U. S. and selected other markets, we also market our products through consumer websites (www. avon. com in the U. S. ). Promotion and MarketingSales promotion and sales development activities are directed at assisting Representatives, through sales aid s such as brochures, product samples and demonstration products. In order to support the efforts of Representatives to reach new customers, specially designed sales aids, promotional pieces, customer flyers, television and print advertising are used. In addition, we seek to motivate our Representatives through the use of special incentive programs that reward superior sales performance. Periodic sales meetings with Representatives are conducted by the district sales or zone managers.The meetings are designed to keep Representatives abreast of product line changes, explain sales techniques and provide recognition for sales performance. A number of merchandising techniques are used, including the introduction of new products, the use of combination offers, the use of trial sizes and samples, and the promotion of products packaged as gift items. In general, for each sales campaign, a distinctive brochure is published, in which new products are introduced and selected items are offered as special promotions or are given particular prominence in the brochure.A key current priority for our merchandising is to continue the use of pricing and promotional models to enable a deeper, fact based understanding of the role and impact of pricing within our product portfolio. From time to time, various regulations or laws have been proposed or adopted that would, in general, restrict the frequency, duration or volume of sales resulting from new product introductions, special promotions or other special price offers. We expect our pricing flexibility and broad product lines to mitigate the effect of these regulations.Competitive Conditions We face competition from various products and product lines both domestically and internationally. The beauty and beauty-related products industry is highly competitive and the number of competitors and degree of competition that we face in this industry varies widely from country to country. Worldwide, we compete against products sold to co nsumers by other direct-selling and direct-sales companies and through the Internet, and against products sold through the mass market and prestige retail channels.Specifically, due to the nature of the direct-selling channel, we compete on a regional, often country-by-country basis, with our direct-selling competitors. Unlike most other beauty companies, we compete within a distinct business model where providing a compelling earnings opportunity for our Representatives is as critical as developing and marketing new and innovative products. As a result, in contrast to a typical CPG company which operates within a broad-based consumer pool, we must first compete for a limited pool of Representatives before we reach the ultimate consumer.Within the broader CPG industry, we principally compete against large and well-known cosmetics and fragrances companies that manufacture and sell broad product lines through various types of retail establishments. In addition, we compete against many other companies that manufacture and sell more narrow beauty product lines sold through retail establishments and other channels. We also have many competitors in the gift and decorative products and apparel industries globally, including retail establishments, principally department stores, gift shops and specialty retailers, and direct-mail companies specializing in these products.Our principal competition in the fashion jewelry industry consists of a few large companies and many small companies that sell fashion jewelry through retail establishments and direct-selling. We believe that the personalized customer service offered by our Representatives; the amount and type of field incentives we offer our Representatives on a market-by-market basis; the high quality, attractive designs and prices of our products; the high level of new and innovative products; our easily recognized brand name and our guarantee of product satisfaction are significant factors in helping to establish an d maintain our competitive position.International Operations Our international operations are conducted primarily through subsidiaries in 64 countries and territories outside of the U. S. In addition to these countries and territories, our products are distributed in 42 other countries and territories. Our international operations are subject to risks inherent in conducting business abroad, including, but not limited to, the risk of adverse currency fluctuations, currency remittance restrictions and unfavorable social, economic and political conditions.See the sections â€Å"Risk Factors – Our ability to conduct business, particularly in international markets, may be affected by political, legal, tax and regulatory risks† and â€Å"Risk Factors – We are subject to financial risks related to our international operations, including exposure to foreign currency fluctuations† in Item 1A on pages 7 through 15 of our 2011 Annual Report. Manufacturing We manufac ture and package almost all of our Beauty products. Raw materials, consisting chiefly of essential oils, chemicals, containers and packaging components, are purchased for our Beauty products from various suppliers.Most of our Fashion and Home products are purchased from various third-party suppliers. Additionally, we design the brochures that are used by the Representatives to sell our products. The loss of any one supplier would not have a material impact on our ability to source raw materials for our Beauty products or source products for our Fashion and Home categories or paper for the brochures. Trademarks and Patents Our business is not materially dependent on the existence of third-party patent, trademark or other third-party intellectual property rights, and we are not a party to any ongoing material licenses, franchises or concessions.We do seek to protect our key proprietary technologies by aggressively pursuing comprehensive patent coverage in major markets. We protect our Avon name and other major proprietary trademarks through registration of these trademarks in the markets where we sell our products, monitoring the markets for infringement of such trademarks by others, and by taking appropriate steps to stop any infringing activities. Research and Product Development Activities New products are essential to growth in the highly competitive cosmetics industry.Our research and development department’s efforts are significant to developing new products, including formulating effective beauty treatments relevant to women’s needs, and redesigning or reformulating existing products. To increase our brand competitiveness, we have sustained our focus on new technology and product innovation to deliver first-to-market products that provide visible consumer benefits. Our global research and development facility is located in Suffern, NY.A team of researchers and technicians apply the disciplines of science to the practical aspects of bringing products to market around the world. Relationships with dermatologists and other specialists enhance our ability to deliver new formulas and ingredients to market. Additionally, we have satellite research facilities located in Argentina, Brazil, China, Mexico, Poland and South Africa. In 2010, we invested in our R&D facility in Shanghai, China to increase our ability to develop products to better meet Asian consumers’ needs. In 2011, our most significant product launches included: SuperShock MaxMascara. Moisture Seduction Lipstick, Outspoken Intense by Fergie Fragrance, Step Into Fragrance, Anew Genics Treatment Cream, Anew Solar Advance Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 45, Solutions Youth Minerals Restorative Night Cream, Skin So Soft Perfecting Oil, Advance Techniques Damage Repair 3D Rescue Leave-in Treatment, Super Enchant Mascara, and ExtraLasting Makeup. The amounts incurred on research activities relating to the development of new products and the improvement of existing prod ucts were $77. 7 in 2011, $72. 6 in 2010 and $65. 4 in 2009.This research included the activities of product research and development and package design and development. Most of these activities were related to the development of Beauty products. Environmental Matters In general, compliance with environmental regulations impacting our global operations has not had, and is not anticipated to have, any material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, financial position or competitive position. Employees At December 31, 2011, we employed approximately 40,600 employees. Of these, approximately 5,400 were employed in the U. S. nd 35,200 in other countries. Seasonal Nature of Business Our sales and earnings typically have a seasonal pattern characteristic of many companies selling Beauty, gift and decorative products, apparel, and fashion jewelry. Holiday sales generally cause a sales peak in the fourth quarter of the year; however, the sales volume o holiday gift items is, by its nat ure, difficult to forecast. Fourth quarter revenue and operating data was as follows: | |2011 |2010 | |Fourth uarter revenues as a % of total revenue |27% |29% | |Fourth quarter operating profit as a % of total operating profit |2% |33% | The fourth quarter operating profit comparison between 2011 and 2010 was unfavorably impacted by a $263. 0 impairment charge, or 31% of full year operating profit, recognized in the fourth quarter of 2011. The fourth quarter operating profit comparison was partially offset by lower costs to implement our restructuring initiatives in 2011 compared to 2010.The fourth quarter of 2011 included costs to implement our restructuring initiatives of $8. 7, whereas the fourth quarter of 2010 included $58. 3 of costs to implement our restructuring initiatives. Finance The financial statement of the company in 2011 is: Internationalizare Avon [pic] As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets leading beauty, fashion and home products to women in more th an 100 countries through more than 6 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives. The countries are:Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grand Cayman Island, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand,Nicaragua, North Cyprus, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Africa, Spain, St. Croix, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay,Venezuela. When the Avon lady comes knocking at the door, she'd better speak good Portuguese. Or Spanish. Or even Russian. Cosmetics giant Avon Products (AVP) is increasing its revenue these days, with sales outside of the United States really driving business. The company reports first quarter 2011 total revenue of $2. billion, 7 percent higher than that of first-quarter 2010 and in line with company targets. Net income jumped 238 percent to $143. 6 million, thanks to stronger sales and restructuring. â€Å"We are pleased with the early progress against our commitment to return the business to mid-single digit revenue growth,† says Avon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrea Jung in an earnings statement. â€Å"We are squarely foc used on restoring growth in Brazil and Russia in the second half, and ensuring execution in gross margin improvement and cost control. † Revenue in Latin America, which includes Mexico, was up 16 percent during the quarter while North American revenue was down 2 percent.Central and Eastern European sales were flat although Russia was up 3 percent, while Western Europe, Middle East & Africa's first-quarter revenue increased 16 percent and Asia Pacific, which includes China, reported a first quarter revenue decline of 6 percent. Analysts are pleased with the company's results, but some wonder if the company can keep the momentum going. Zacks Investment Research has assigned a short-term hold rating, although the long-term recommendation is currently underperform. Restructure, then compete Avon is currently in the middle of a multi-year restructuring program designed to accelerate investments toward growth opportunities, streamline manufacturing operations, and improve cost effec tiveness and efficiency in general. Restructuring should save the company $430 million a year when fully implemented by 2012. After that, keep an eye on the competitors. Avon faces competition from various products and product lines both domestically and internationally,† Zack says. The internationalization of Avon most take into account some factors, such as: Political Factors †¡ Tax policies †¡ Employment laws †¡ Trade restrictions and tariffs †¡ Political stability Economic Factors †¡ Economic growth †¡ Interest rates †¡ Exchange rates †¡ Fluctuation in oil and gas prices Social Factors †¡ Emphasis on safety †¡ No animal testing †¡ Green Environment †¡ Philanthropic Issues †¡ Technology Factors †¡ Automation †¡ Technology incentives †¡ Rate of technological change †¡ Technologies Adaption External Assessment: Avon Opportunities 1. A growing trend in the cosmetics industry is the introductio n of ? green? products.More than sixteen percent of beauty products launched in 2008 were certified organic, ethical, or all natural. 2. Eye makeup market 3. The cosmetics industry tends to be countercyclical. This means that those are industries for which the demand is either not correlated with the business cycle. The demand for their products is not much affected by availability of current income, but by other personal, social or economic factors. The recession also contributes to the industry being counter-cyclical. There is an upsurge in people joining the industry in the past six or eight months and there's absolutely no doubt that this is because of the recession and the effect on employment. 4.Aveda cosmetics found that sixty eight percent of consumers will remain loyal to a company that has a social and environmental commitment. 5. Urban Trendsetters markets 6. Geographic growth  ± enormous growth opportunities existed in countries with huge populations such as China, Ind onesia and India. 7. Demand for cosmetic products normally remains constant and unaffected by economic distress 8. The baby boomers are aging and they are more conscious on their appearance, beauty and also improving their looks. Emphasize direct selling in emerging and developing markets External Assessment: Avon Threats 1. Competition such as Mary Kay and Revlon 2. Rejection of internet selling by sales representative 3.Global economic climate stifled new product development, innovation and sustainability programs in 2009. 4. In terms of color cosmetics, environmental International Inc. predicted that many of these markets will see slowdown in volume demand. 5. Inflation rate and Rising cost of commodities 7. Direct-selling becoming more popular – Amid the financial crisis Aussie mums are increasingly turning to direct selling and at-home product parties to supplement their household income. 8. They are a multilevel based company that sells inferior quality with a higher pr ice tag than what it is worth 9. Avon products outpaced by ‘jazzier? products to women who favored more exciting product lines 10. Decreased earning opportunities

LBSMK 2004 SERVICES MARKETING personal evaluation project (PEP) Literature review

LBSMK 2004 SERVICES MARKETING personal evaluation project (PEP) - Literature review Example Yet, the causes of such dissatisfaction are varied and extensive. The concept of â€Å"satisfaction gaps† emerged from marketing research, which is the difference between customer expectations and their corresponding experience. This paper will attempt to propose a solution to such gap in a marketing-related problem of a service establishment. 2.0. Critical Analysis of the Issue and Literature Review 2.1. The Problem For the purpose of anonymity and confidentiality dictated by research ethics, the business establishment which will be discussed in this paper will be called simply as Company X (Bryman and Bell 2007). Company X is a technology service company whose specialisation is laptop, desktop and cellular phone repair. It was established in 2000 and is located in Eastern-Central Britain. The establishment showed good performance in its first three years of operation. This was mainly the reason why Company X was sub-contracted by a Northern European mobile phone company in 2 004 to serve its clientele in the geographic area covered by Company X, for repair and replacement of parts, if necessary. Subcontracting with the mobile phone company lifted the spirits of both management and technicians. The technicians performed well and helped generate both revenue and more patrons for Company X. Mobile phones which were already off-guarantee period were still being brought by former customers mainly because of their prompt service and technical know-how. Things went well for Company X that its sub-contracting functions with the mobile company was renewed for three-consecutive years. In 2008, a laptop and desktop manufacturer based in the North America commissioned Company X as one of its official service centres. Management was ecstatic. Its 10 best technicians were offered training packages to further hone their skills while the remaining 22 technicians were left to attend to the service needs of their growing clientele. Management promised that the rest of th e technicians will also attend training in two batches after the 10 have returned to resume their tasks. While the company operated for only 12 hours each day, technicians worked in three eight-hour shifts, or seven technicians per shift. When job orders increased to levels where the technicians can no longer put-up with the deadlines they set for completion of the service requests, management opted for overtime with pay instead of hiring new technicians. The rationale volunteered by management is that hiring new technicians will not ensure that deadlines will be met since they would not be sure if the applicants can deliver up to management expectations by simply looking at their resumes. With an additional sub-contracting project and fewer technicians to work on repair orders, problems started to surface. To date, absenteeism became rampant. Patrons are starting to be dissatisfied with the service jobs they requested. Technicians who used to be accommodating and interacted with cu stomers with a smile have turned grumpy. Customers have aired their complaints with customer service. The mobile company had threatened not to renew their contract if the customer service issues will not be addressed. In the operation manager’s latest quarterly report, revenue for the last month dropped by 40% of the previous six

Marketing case write up Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing case write up - Essay Example McGraw intends to retain Oscar Mayer’s (OM) reputation within Kraft Foods as the fastest growing profit maker, and hopefully achieve a +4% volume growth and +15% profit growth for the coming year. His division has two business lines: the traditional OM meat-based products line and the recently acquired/fast growing Louis Rich (LR) turkey-based products line. He has to tailor his strategy which would balance the interests of both lines and yet, achieve his targets. Strengths: OM products enjoyed customer confidence for nearly 100 years, and contribute a massive 82% or $110 MM of the total profits. Acquisition of LR and investment in its line of white meat products has proven to be a strategically wise decision, as shown by the strong volume growth of its products. Weaknesses: There is a significant shift in consumer preference towards less fat/salt food products, i.e., the LR line, while OM line has been giving the maximum profits; its prices are out of tune with the market. Investment costs for acquisitions and/or A&P to buttress LR business will further depress OM business and depress short-term profits; competition from unbranded products will add to the pressure on pricing and bottom line. LR products are susceptible to copying. In terms of convenience, taste, price and customer satisfaction factors, there is a greater negative bias on OM products. OM’s frozen product ‘stuff n burger’ has not been an outstanding success. Opportunities: LR product line business is showing promise of further growth, albeit at the expense of OM product line. LR can add further range to its existing products through in-house R&D efforts that are already underway. Or, it can acquire one or more mid-size firms dealing in white meat products to complement present facilities and products. Threats: Consumers are shifting to healthier and more convenient foods, directly impacting OM range. LR range of products is easy to copy and competition from branded as well

Management Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Management Strategies - Essay Example This can, in part, be contributed to past analysis which has effected in a study of decision making behaviour. This analysis by various scholars has depicted the fact that decisions regarding risky organisational decisions brings out contradictory reactions. Here, we can find the essence of the dichotomy that risk taking strikes as a major aspect of business activities. Risk, in case of such decisions, is seen as a focus of single determinants of behaviour arising from risk theories. Although this approach does not conform to real life situations in an obvious fashion, it has led to potentially inaccurate conclusions about risk behaviour. Such unresolved contradictions can be reconciled by examining the usefulness of placing risk propensity and risk proportion in a more central role than has been previously recognised. Based on such analysis, it is believed that the propensity of risk dominates both the actual and perceived characteristics of the situation as a determinant of risk behaviour. Such an observation can safely justify the finding that suggests that apart from being central to any and every business or organisation, risk is something that entrepreneurs in general, are averse to. This brings us to a discussion on business and kinds of risks. Business can be conducted in any sphere of the earth - literally. Today we have a plethora of businesses on land apart from the ones on water and in air. Apart from the normal business activities, one can find airlines and maritime organisations emerging as major sectors. If we are to take the example of maritime, it is the oldest sector in terms of innovation and discoveries. There have been perils to overcome, risks to undertake, more powerful vessels to make each time, and even more powerful contracts to insure and protect the maritime entrepreneurs, as we are going to refer to these 'shipmen' in the course of this paper. Marina organisations today have spread their wings beyond mere cargo vessels and are now running good profits in the sphere of luxury liners, etc. With risks and businesses come allied industries. Insurance and financial risk management are major industries that thrive side by side with any sector in the world, for there is no area that has been spared the occurrence of risks and accidents as well as catastrophes. Maritime activities hold the promise of enormous risks, which can be analysed in its various aspects as follows, from the insurance point of view: Type and size of boats using the marina New industries established in adjacent areas Changes in the international and national regulatory environment Marina 3 Aging of the marina infrastructure Recent waterfront development Changes in response to equipment, technology and availability Logistics Identification of human and natural resources Trends in political climate and global economy These points besides being self explanatory are relevant in context of the current state of affairs. They have every potentiality of developing from minor to major crises, which explains the development and growth of the field of financial risk management. This can be attributed to the fact that at the end of the day, any loss has financial implications of its own and is deeply rooted in the genesis of risk taking and management. The above mentioned points, with a strong background of financial

The Giver By lois lowry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Giver By lois lowry - Essay Example The Giver slowly began to shake his head, and then stood up. Putting his arm around Jonas, they both began to walk the load road to what ever it was lay beyond. The Giver turned his head back and looked upon the city once more, and softly began to sob as him and Jonas began their walk to escape. "Jonas, I have seen them. The people, they do not know how to deal with the memories that were unleashed with our leaving. Chaos has near erupted, and they have are not dealing with the memories well. They need one of us to help them." Jonas fluttered his eyes as he awoke to the Giver's words. All he had wanted was escape, and now he felt compelled to return to the one place he wished not to. They should feel these feelings he thought, they should know what the world truly is. But his own conscience and feelings got the best of him, and in his heart Jonas knew the Giver was right. As much as he wanted to be as far apart from the horrible world he left behind, he owed it to them to help them deal with the memories and feelings he had left them. He did not wish to do this, however he knew it was the right thing to do. The journey was as difficult was it was the first time. The country side and the rough terrain made Jonas doubt this was worth it at all. The first trip has been barely impossible for the aging Giver, and with every step he looked as if he were one step closer to his own grave. Jonas did not want to see this trip be the death of the man he revered, but he feared for the worst. The Giver stumbled, and fell over a root in the ground. Jonas rushed to his side, and found the Giver fighting to hold on to what remained of his life. "Jonas, Jonas. Come closer Jonas. This is how it was meant to be. I will soon be with Rosemary, my daughter again. You must lead the people and help them. They will ask what happened to me, and in my death offer an excuse for leaving. Say I knew I would die and wished to die outside the city, and that you and me took this one final trip. Lead them in their new path of life Jonas. I have taught you everything I know, but have saved one last memory for you until now." Jonas soon began to hear things, noises he had never heard before. The soft gentle lull of music swept over him, as the fading notes of the Giver's last memory passed into him. The Giver smiled, and then passed on into the beyond. Jonas began to cry, knowing that his friend was now

The Subprime Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Subprime Crisis - Essay Example Starting in February with the biggest bank in Europe HSBC reporting a loss of $880 million through its US subprime unit Decision One Mortgage, the list extends to US subprime lender New Century Financial Corp, Citigroup, Wachovia Corp, Merrill Lynch, and Countrywide in the U.S., the German Banks IKB and the state bank Sachsen L B, the French bank BNP Paribas, the Dutch Bank NIBC, the British mortgage lender Northern Rock, and the largest Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFH Financial Group, INC. The strong Swiss Banking sector was also hit through Credit Suisse and UBS (FACT BOX: Subprime crisis affects banks worldwide). The breaching of the dependable string defenses of the Swiss Financial sector, by the subprime market crisis, causing a downswing in 2007 in the fortunes of what could otherwise be considered as a successful year for the Swiss economy, is an indicator that the Swiss economy will not be spared from the worldwide impact of the subprime market crisis in 2008. However, the Swiss economy can be expected to weather the storm of the subprime market crisis and restrict the consequences. (Allen, 2008). The reasons for this optimism stems from the strengthening of the Swiss franc in the third quarter of 2007, against the U.S. dollar by as much as 6.7 percent. In addition the forecast for the GDP growth of 2.5 percent for 2007 is suggestive that the Swiss economy continues to remain robust. This was the result of the reaction of the Swiss National Bank to immediately inject liquidity, when a liquidity pinch was felt in August 2007 as a result of the subprime market crisis (Swiss Franc Outlook: Will Weakness Continue). These moves of the Swiss National Bank saw the watch making and luxury goods manufacturing sectors performing well supported by the pharmaceutical and food product. Another factor weighing in is the domestic consumer strength of Switzerland. The Swiss economy can be expected to grow in 2008, but at slower rate due to the impact of the subprime market

Local Community by Volunteering Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Local Community by Volunteering - Lab Report Example These goals and objectives can only be achieved when a company is able to take appropriate decisions to cope with unexpected situations. Moreover, good image among people also plays a key role in the success of a company. A good company or organization is one which not only seeks profits through providing quality products and services to the customers but also stands by their side in case of natural disasters. In this report, we will discuss how Toyota, a Japanese car manufacturing company, can work towards bringing improvement to the lives of people affected due to recent earthquake and tsunami. 2. Importance of the Event The 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused severe damages to Japan’s economy. The earthquake not only affected lives of the people living near the focal point of the earthquake but also adversely affected the car manufacturing industry and Japan’s nuclear system. Being nationals of Japan, it is one of our main responsibilities to work towards bringing imp rovement to the lives of people and to the overall economy of Japan. For this reason, we can plan to organize a function or event that will provide an opportunity for internal clients and community members to network while also raising money. As the community is badly hit by the natural disaster, the funds can go towards disaster relief center of Japan. It will also provide us with the opportunity to raise our company’s profile among the local community. 3. Overview of the Idea Being the advisor to the head of division, I have planned an event which can help us accomplish the above-mentioned tasks. The plan is to organize a car racing event in 10 main cities of Japan, which include Nagoya, Toyohashi, Ichinomiya, Okazaki, Toyota, Inazawa, Inuyama, Kariya, Setyo, and Handa. The event will be organized in December. In the car racing event, we will not use hybrid cars, rather we will introduce our latest electric cars in order to make people aware of our latest developments. We w ill specially invite our internal clients along with the community members in the event. For the collection of funds, we will use the following ways: 1. Funds collected through sale of tickets 2. Funds collected through company’s net profits 3. Funds collected through participation of rich internal clients 3.1 Usage of Funds The main intent of the plan is to collect a good amount of funds through the event in order to use those funds to bring relief to the lives of the affected people. Some part of the collected funds will be given to the Japan disaster management center in order to make our contribution in providing relief to the economy of the county. Our main is to use the collected funds in the benefits of our society. We will help our people stand on their toes once again. The event will be organized in those cities which are not affected by the disaster and where people have strong financial backgrounds. We will educate people regarding the need of their participation i n bringing improvement to the nation’s economy. The event will not only help us collect a high amount of funds but also it will help our company maintain a good image among the local community. 3.2 External Consultant The event will include all those activities which are critically important for the success of any specific event. Along with car racing, some other attractive features of the event will incl

Should America Legalize Marijuana Essay Example for Free

Should America Legalize Marijuana Essay I. Introduction A. Attention Getter B. Specific Purpose Statement C. Credibility Statement D. Preview of Main Points (Transition) II. Body (sentences in body should be complete sentences) A. Pro/For 1 1. Supporting Material The United States is currently has over 17 trillion dollars in debt( statistic) 2. Supporting Material According to congress budget office The United States is currently has over 17 trillion dollars in debt. A country accumulates most of their debt in time of war one of the biggest and most expensive war going on right now is the war on drugs the DEA spends x dollars trying to keep marijuana of the streets just think how many more other more serious crimes can be solved if that money was spent elsewhere in the criminal justice department. Another pro of legalizing marijuana is the tax dollars we as a country can get from selling marijuana. Colorado and Washington recently legalized marijuana this year and since January through august just think how many tax dollars we can raise if marijuana was legal throughout the entire United States and that is on top of the money we are saving on from the DEA by not chasing down these pot heads. (Transition) Money and debt is not the only upside to legalizing marijuana there are countless health benefits from the intake of marijuana B. Pro/For 2 1. Supporting Material 2. Supporting Material There is a documentary called weed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta it’s about a 5 year old girl with epilepsy that has over a 100 seizures a week a team of scientist a strain of marijuana that was low in THC(the chemical that gives you that high felling when smoking weed) and high in CBD(a chemical that has numerous health benefits) but instead of letting this 5 year old girl roll up a joint and smoke in they extract the juice from the plant and let her consume it. Almost instantaneously after this treatment this girl went from having over a hundred seizures a week to having 3 or less some weeks she wouldn’t even have any after a year they saw major improvement in the child’s mood and in the child learning ability. (Transition) is there any down sides to this drug you call marijuana? Of course there is there in facts are a lot of reasons why we shouldn’t legalize the drug. We talk about how marijuana has health benefits now let’s talk about the negative side effects. D. Con/Against 1 1. Supporting Material 2. Supporting Material The most common side effect of marijuana is short term memory lose this is a bad thing in many ways especially if you in an unsafe environment like a car. Marijuana also affects brain development, and when it is used heavily by young people. Marijuana smoke is an irritant to the lungs, and frequent marijuana smokers can have many of the same respiratory problems experienced by tobacco smokers, such as daily cough. Marijuana is also been know to lead to depression and suicide in frequent users. (Transition) as now you know marijuana has a few negative health effects of marijuana but they is one more thing you need to conceder one more thing the Gateway theory. E. Con/Against 2 1. Supporting Material 2. Supporting Material Gateway theory states that â€Å"use of certain drugs may lead to an increased risk in the use of other drugs and involvement in criminal behavior.† Smoking a joint might not seem that bad after looking at the positive and negative health effects but before you light up look up the health effects of all the hard drugs out there because no one wakes up and says I’m going to shoot up with 10 mailgrams of heroin today all drug addicts start somewhere and more times than not it starts with tobacco, alcohol and marijuana (Transition) In conclusion. III. Conclusion A. Summary of Main Points B. Restate Purpose C. Reference to Attention-Getter

Sleep Disorders Essay Example for Free

Sleep Disorders Essay Nightmares are bad dreams occurring during REM sleep. Children experience nightmares more than adults because they spend most of their sleep in REM sleep. Nightmares can be physical such as sleeping in an uncomfortable position, having a fever, or psychological causes such as stress, anxiety, and ingestion of drugs used in pain killers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. REM behavior disorder is a disorder where the mechanism that blocks the movement of the voluntary muscles fails allowing the person to thrash around and even get up and act out nightmares. These behaviors can be violent in nature and sometimes can cause injury to either the patient or their bed partnerIt usually occur to men over 60 of age. Sleepwalking also known as somnambulism is an episode of moving around or walking around in one’s sleep. They arise from a slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness. It’s common in childhood and occurs more in boys than girls. Most children grow out of their sleepwalking by adolescent age. Night terrors is when a person experiences extreme fear and screams or run around during deep sleep without waking up fully. Sleep terrors usually begins between ages 3 and 12 years and then usually gone during adolescence. In adults they most commonly occur between the ages of 20 to 30. Insomnia is the inability to get to sleep stay sleep or get a good quality of sleep . The cause of insomnia can be psychological and physiological. Those who are having trouble sleeping sometimes turn to sleeping pills, which can help when used occasionally but may lead to dependence or addiction if used regularly for an extended period. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly. It can lead to memory problems, depression, irritability, an increased risk of heart disease and automobile related accidents. Sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing for nearly half a minute or more. Sleep apnea is a leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Most people who have sleep apnea dont know they have it. A family member or bed partner might be the one to notice signs of sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, obesity, and diabetes, increase the risk of heart failure, and irregular heartbeats.

Policies for Genetically Modified Foods (GMF)

Policies for Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) Peter De Grassi 1. Background Genetically Modified Foods, or GMF, are a new and useful item for our world. They are labeled as a manipulation to a crops genetic make-up to change or enhance its characteristics. In the 1980s, a discovery was made to change ones DNA and this was called GMP or the genetic modification process. In 1983, the first plant, a tobacco plant, was modified to be resistant to anti-biotic and was a success. These crops were a huge success with many. In 2004, it was recorded that almost 8.5 million farmers around in 18 countries have started growing these crops. Soybeans, maize, cotton and canola take most of the market of genetically modified foods. Even though they are useful, they are sometimes harmful to those who digest them. Their have been cases where people were severely injured by these products. With theses problems many have made progress in making these food items more safe. Many protocols such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity or the Biodiversity protocol have helped with making genetically modified foods safer to consume. Some of the ways these protocols help with the problems is they regulate and ensure the safe passing of genetically modified foods around the world and also make sure people check these foods. People such as the FAO and the UN have also helped with this problem and have put in great efforts to neutralizing the problems of GMFs. II. UN Involvement One of the main participators in cleaning up some of the genetically modified foods problems is the United Nations. The UN has put efforts in making genetically modified foods more safe for people to grow and eat. The UN has created a protocol called the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity which is an international agreement that wants to create a more safe process of handling and giving living modified foods around the world. Also many people have wanted a protocol for helping with bulk shipments of genetically modified foods and living modified foods to create a more safe and easier way to ship these foods. With these protocols the UN believes it will keep a more secure market for genetically modified foods and less injuries will happen because of this. The UN has also created some International organizations to help with this dilemma. Some of these are the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Health Organizations (WHO) and the World Food Program (WFP). These organiza tions help around the world with the supplies they have and also with the members around the world. With the help of the UN and its organizations, they believe they can create a more protected market for people around the world. III. Country Policy Qatar has done as much as they can for the situation they have in their country. Qatar has created a labeling system which tells customers if an item is a genetically modified food or not. Qatar believes this will help its customer to chose natural foods or GMOs. Qatar has joined the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity and believes this will also help with the problems and effects of GMOs. They also created the Biodiversity protocol which promotes safety of international trading of GMOs and also the carrying of these items. With all these protocols Qatar believes this will stop fatal injuries and the death of some of its citizens. With the help of the UN with Qatar, Qatar believes they will create a safer environment for their citizens. They have created some possible solutions to stop this problem. First Qatar believes we should, make a treaty to ensure that there are no possible chemicals in these foods that could harm our people and have these countries check for those chemicals. Next we should also check for these chemicals in shipping items to make sure they didnt catch and diseases or bugs while being shipped. Check new modification towards food and have beta testing to ensure that are no side effects to these modifications to make sure they do not harm our people. With these solution this will guarantee the safety of our people. Work Cited Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. History of Genetically Modified Foods.History of Genetically Modified Foods. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. UN Announces New Measures to Boost Safety in Trade of Genetically Modified Organisms.UN News Center. UN, 27 Feb. 2004. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. UN Announces New Measures to Boost Safety in Trade of Genetically Modified Organisms.UN News Center. UN, 27 Feb. 2004. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. Peter De Grassi Who (adv) Qatar Laguna Hills High School 2014 Position Paper I. Background Organ trade, like genetically modified food, is a good thing but also a bad thing. Organ trade is defined as the trading of organs illegally between two people for money or profit. The number of donors increased from 196,000 to 382,000 in the span of 9 years across the globe. The ESKF cost around 32.5 billion dollars a year which 6.5% of the health care market. The first successful transplant was a kidney which happened in Boston in 1954. This transplant was from a healthy twin to his very sick brother who needed it badly. In organ trade, there are 3 categories of trafficking of organs and firsts without the persons knowledge. Secondly is when people are tricked into giving their organs to other people and do not get anything in return And lastly people give up their organs for money but dont get the money they were promised. With in these categories are many other ways of doing it but these are the main way. For the past years, many people have been stripped of their organs illegall y or stripped from dead bodies. With all these ways it hard to solve this with just one solution. We need many different aspects of help to close this problem in all different regions. Some will need to donate money or get volunteers and also we must make new laws to stop this problem. With these problems many have stepped up to help with it. The UN has done a big part and a whole bunch of IGOs have also. II. UN Involvement The UN has many ideas to stop this problem of organ trafficking and are willing to help countries with the problems. The UN has also got help from some of its IGOs such as the WHO and the COFS. These organization are willing to donate volunteers to help with the problem. They are many more local organization that are also helping. The Un first believe that we should make a protocol to suppress and further punish people who traffic these organs. With this it will keep offenders of this in jail and will almost like a scare tactic for others. Some more organizations are the CPDC and also the European Committee of Crime problems. These will help in solving the crime of this and also helping with the imprisonment of the offenders. The UN has helped exponentially with America and most of South America to stop this in their region. Their are willing to spread out after that to many other countries to help them with their problems III. Country Profile Qatar has worked with the coalition for Organ-failure system or COFS which is a non profit organization trying to stop the trafficking of organs. Qatar is also getting help form the World Health Organization or WHO which is providing volunteers for them. Qatar has also made some laws in organ donors to fill out more paper slips and more precaution in the surgeries. They have also made some special hospitals for organ donors to go to so they wont go to these cons who will take their organs. While Qatar has other problems, they are still putting in their best efforts on this dilemma. Some possible solutions for this problem is to make rehabilitation centers for people affected by their organs being trafficked or their organ being stolen. This will help bringing them back to health and also get them back on their feet. Another idea is to make specialized hospitals for organs donors where they will not be tricked into giving their organs away. They will also have secure areas for the organs to be shipped and to be held and kept clean and in good condition. Works Cited Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. Human Trafficking for Organ Removal: Evidence from Egypt by Debra Budiani-Saberi.Rights Work Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. The Human Trafficking Project: Organ Trafficking: A Fast-Expanding Black Market.The Human Trafficking Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. Trafficking for Organ Trade.Trafficking for Organ Trade. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Pentecostalism :: Religion, Informative

Pentecostalism The first "pentecostals" in the modern sense appeared on the scene in 1901 in the city of Topeka, Kansas in a Bible school conducted by Charles Fox Parham, a holiness teacher and former Methodist pastor. In spite of controversy over the origins and timing of Parham's emphasis on glossolalia, all historians agree that the movement began during the first days of 1901 just as the world entered the Twentieth Century. The first person to be baptized in the Holy Spirit accompanied by speaking in tongues was Agnes Ozman, one of Parham's Bible School students, who spoke in tongues on the very first day of the new century, January 1, 1901. According to J. Roswell Flower, the founding Secretary of the Assemblies of God, Ozman's experience was the "touch felt round the world," an event which " made the Pentecostal Movement of the Twentieth Century." As a result of this Topeka pentecost, Parham formulated the doctrine that tongue was the "Bible evidence" of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He also taught that tongue was a supernatural impartation of human languages for the purpose of world evangelization. Henceforth, he taught, missionaries need not study foreign languages since they would be able to preach in miraculous tongues all over the world. Armed with this new theology, Parham founded a church movement, which he called the "Apostolic Faith" and began a whirlwind revival tour of the American Middle West to promote his exciting new experience. It was not until 1906, however, that Pentecostalism achieved worldwide attention through the Azusa Street revival in

Flirting and Courting Rituals of The Victorian Era :: Victorian Era

Flirting and Courting Rituals of The Victorian Era In Victorian society courting rituals were put into effect to keep the young ladies pure and the gentlemen confused. Courting usually began at balls and dances where young girls were first introduced into society during their â€Å"coming out.† At every gathering of Victorian society the young ladies were chaperoned by their mothers or some other married woman so that nothing improper would happen that could ruin the young lady's reputation in society. The young ladies and gentlemen at the dances and balls were introduced through a third party and their Christian names were prohibited from being used because it would have been to forward and improper. After placing their name on the dance card of the young lady they could then proceed to dance no more then three dances because any more then that would be inappropriate in Victorian society. â€Å"After this formal introduction the gentleman would give the young lady his card to remember him by and at the end of the evening the young lady would look through her cards to see which gentleman she would allow to court her† (Powell). She would give the gentleman permission to court her by giving that gentleman her card and the right to call on her at her home where the courtship must take place. In Victorian society there were certain criteria that each party followed to find the perfect suitor. If they followed these rules to pick their mate their personal shortcomings would balance out when they married. Certain criteria consisted of â€Å"not marrying a person with the same eye color as yourself, marrying someone that was opposite of you in physical and mental characteristics, and marry someone with straight or thicker hair if your hair was curly or thin† (â€Å"Finding† 2). After a suitable suitor is chosen and the young lady and the gentleman begin to court certain rules must be followed. These rules were in place to keep the ladies pure until marriage. â€Å"The courting couple always had to be chaperoned, the couple needed permission to go out during the day, the gentleman could never stay late at the young lady's house, he could never call without permission and the young lady had to say goodbye at the parlor door† (â€Å"Love† 21). Because Victorian society was repressive towards true emotion, gentlemen and their ladies could not publicly express their love for one another.

Swot Analysis Dps

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Section 1: Identify the Firm’s Core Strategy * The core strategy for the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) to produce both carbonated soft drinks and noncarbonated beverages that are tasty and appealing to their range of customers, while making a profit and continually growing. They are able to do this by using some key elements in their business strategy. They focus on building and enhancing their existing leading brands, such as Dr Pepper and their Snapple drinks.They also must focus on opportunities in high growth and high margin categories. They strive to increase their presence in high margin channels and packages. DPS also leverages their integrated business model. They must strengthen their route-to-market through acquisitions. Finally, they are also focusing on improving their operation efficiency. Section 2: External Analysis (Opportunities & Threats) * An opportunity DPS has is that they are able to keep strong relationships with their direct customers, which are the distributors and the retailers.With the opportunities to sell their syrups directly to fast food restaurants they are going to be generating a steady profit for many years to come and as food is still a thriving business. * Another opportunity would be that they could hopefully start bottling more of their products in house so that they aren’t giving business to their two main competitors. They could grow the bottling business and start utilizing their own facilities. A threat for DPS is that when the cost of sugar rises they are negatively affected because they then have to raise their prices and when they do less people are able to buy their products due to the economic state throughout the country. People who are unemployed or making less money due to the cut economic downturn will first cut spending on items that are not needed and they will turn to less expensive drinks. * Another threat is that health and wellness are trending right now and wit h people reducing their caloric intake they are no longer using DPS products that are packed with sugar.Section 3: Internal Analysis (Strengths and Weaknesses) * A strength that DPS has is that they have a very strong management team that sets out goals for their employees and goals for the company. They are not only known for their products but are also recognized for their philanthropy and ethics. * Another strength is that DPS is able to revamp existing brands to gain market shares along with losing brands and replacing them with successful replacements that are in new avenues such as flavored waters and energy drinks, which help gain market share also. A weakness is that the majority of their bottling is done by their two competitors, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, which does not help DPS when competing to be at the top of the industry. They are practically giving away business that they should start doing themselves. * Another weakness DPS has is their finances. Their profits are not c onsistently growing; they took a big hit in 2008 and are still trying to recover. Slowly but surely they are increasing, however it needs to be happening much faster in order for them to stay a contender in the industry.Section 4: Strategic Recommendations * I think that DPS should stick to what they know and that is the beverage industry. I don’t think jumping into the snack business would help them grow any faster. * I think they should start expanding their bottling unit of the business and stop relying on their competitors for bottling contracts. * They need to keep promoting their big sellers such as, Dr Pepper, Sunkist, A&W, and Snapple, along with producing some lower-calorie beverages for the more health conscious customers out there.

In Another Place by Ernest Hemingway Essay

The text under analysis is taken from the short story â€Å"In another country† belonging to the pen of Ernest Hemingway, an American novelist and short story writer whose works are characterized by terse minimalism and understatement. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. â€Å"In another country† is a powerful and true-to-life story about real experience of many soldiers who came home after the World War I and their hardships. The text presents a piece of narration with element of a description of nature and a dialogue. The narration is done in the first person. Hemingway tells the story from the point of view of the young American. The plot is eventless in events. The story describes the relationships that develop in Milan among an American and five Italian soldiers who have been wounded and are receiving physical therapy. All the wounded men go to the hospital every afternoon to use machines for physical therapy. The doctor assures the American that he will again play football even though his knee does not bend. His friend, an Italian major, is also undergoing therapy with a machine that exercises his hand that was injured in an industrial accident. Four other young men, Italian soldiers, are also using therapy machines, and they brag about the medals that they’ve received for their valor in battle. The plot consists of: Introduction. In this part the author talks about continuation the war and gives the description of autumn Milan. Development. The author introduces us with main character, an American soldier. Tells about him problems with health. Climax. In this part the author leads the Italian major and four other young men. Denouement. The author describes the way of soldiers from the hospital to the Cafà © Cova. The author compares the way with military operations. The mood of the story is established in the first paragraph, in which the dead game outside the shops is described as â€Å"stiff,† â€Å"heavy,† and â€Å"empty.† Loss, failure, and ruin permeate this brief story. Many of the characters grapple with a loss of function, a loss of purpose, and a loss of faith. Hemingway’s style is lean and declarative, but the author employs some stylistic devises. They help enhance the desired effect. The first two illustrate the author’s effective use of repetition and polysyndeton. For example, Hemingway states, â€Å"It was cold in the fall in Milan and the dark came very early.† He repeats this idea with a slightly different emphasis at the end of the paragraph: â€Å"It was a cold fall and the wind came down from the mountains.† The author uses vivid descriptions. For example, â€Å"On one of [the bridges], a woman sold roasted chestnuts. It was warm, standing in front of her charcoal fire, and the chestnuts were warm afterwards in your pockets.†

Argumentation Essay: Facebook Essay

Argumentation Essay: Facebook When a possible employee is in the process of being hired, his or her employment should be based on a social media network such as, Facebook. The main points for this position consists of professional versus social, freedom of speech versus censorship, and a person’s true identity behind closed doors. Facebook is one of various other social networks that are not confidential. Anyone can view a user’s profile and see all of their updates. People use Facebook from sending invitations to guests to campaigning a company party. Facebook is a major part of advertising now. Another large part of Facebook is posting photos. A user of Facebook can add as many photos to their profile as they want to. Facebook has made an immense impact on modern society. All ages, including some of the elderly have Facebook accounts. Small businesses and growing corporations also take part in having an account. Also, colleges and universities sometimes use Facebook to communicate with their students about upcoming events. Employers use several methods before hiring an eligible employee. An employer is looking for someone that is polished inside and out of the professional world. They have every right to look at employee’s Facebook profile. Nothing inappropriate should be posted on an employee’s Facebook profile. Everyone is aware that Facebook is not a private social media website. Posting a status or photo online can be seen by anyone, even an employer. An employer has every right to look through the person’s information. Facebook can be a downfall for numerous opportunities. Although we all have freedom of speech, it can be taken lightly with consequences. Employees can be fired by some of their actions on Facebook. Another consequence is someone not being hired due to their Facebook profile. If an employer does not like the material, they have every right to deny your employment. Especially in this modern society, employers and businesses are looking for the top quality for their company. Top quality employees differentiate from others. They do not retain inappropriate photos or words on a public social media network site. Employers look for people who will represent their business in a classy manner even outside of the business doors. Reputation is everything to some companies. They want their company reputation as high as it can be. A good reputation starts with good employees. An employer has every right to see how a person is in their social environment. A person’s personality and  personal actions cannot be judged just through the professional world. You can tell a person’s true personal traits in their comfortabl e social environment. Facebook is the perfect gateway to see how a person’s characteristics are different in the professional versus the social environment. Not everyone realizes that somebody is always watching you. Whether it is a family member, a close friend, or an employer looking to see if you are eligible for the position. Every individual should be held accountable for what they post on Facebook. Professional conduct should be shown at all times when something is posted on a public website. Keeping a professional conduct is very important to many employers. Some individuals would make a point that everyone has a right to have freedom of speech. Those who agree, feel that it is okay to put inappropriate material on their Facebook page due to their right to free speech. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right. Many people take the right out of context. Those who disagree, feel that censorship should be analyzed. Yes, every individual has a right to speak freely but, is it right to offend someone while practicing it? The answer is no. An individual could simply say they hate their boss on Facebook. All it takes is for that boss, or another employee to see the post. The employee could encounter disciplinary actions in their workplace or even lose their job. All this could be avoided if censorship was practiced. Also, some would say that an employer looking into an applicantâ €™s Facebook would cross the line between social and professional boundaries. Those who agree would point out that applicants should not be judged on their Facebook page. Looking through an applicant’s page is unprofessional and crosses the line. Those who disagree would make the point that it is a professional choice for the employer to do. The employer knows nothing about the applicant other than what they have stated on their resume. An applicant could lie about his or her age, obligations, or even the county they live in. It is only natural to do a check up on the applicant to make sure they look eligible for the position. Think of Facebook as a back ground check. Mostly every employee has to have a back ground check of them before getting a certain position. Facebook is very similar to a back ground check. It indicates a more interpersonal and social side of the person’s life. If an applicant desires a first-class job, they should always take what they put on Facebook in consideration. Although everyone has the freedom to speak  their mind, they need to practice censorship on a social media network site. Also, being professional on Facebook could increase your chances of getting hired. Anyone, especially a future boss could look at any account and choose to accept or decline an applicant’s position

Globalization and inequality-short essay Essay

The process by which the lives of all people around the planet become increasingly interconnected in economic, cultural, political, and environmental terms, along with our awareness of such interconnections is known as globalization (Appelbaum, 2001). Globalization has pushed the world into the revolution of information. The planet has become connected through technological renovations and the interdependence of economic expansion. Nations have formed one agenda, one unit, and with it, emerges the concept of winners and losers. Globalization has increased the gap between rich and poor. As we form one world, the level of inequality rises, the strong nations get richer, and the weak nations get poorer. The retail business is revolutionizing due to globalization, yet inequality seems to be the intimidating factor that comes with it. Globalization is being driven by five major factors: customers, markets, technology, competition, and costs. The global marketplace exposes retailers to an unprecedented number of customers. The relaxation of trade barriers, creation of trade blocs, and opening of new markets has presented the world’s retailers with the option of going global. Outsourcing has made it possible for domestic companies in the United States and worldwide to increase profits by using â€Å"cheap labor† to produce the goods that consumers demand at a much lower price. â€Å"Minorities† from countries like Mexico,  Guatemala, and parts of Asia are exploited in the â€Å"global assembly line† in order for companies to gain prestige through outstanding economic efficiency. The dependency theory suggests that the poverty of low-income countries is the immediate consequence of their exploitation by the wealthy countries on which they are economically dependent (Appelbaum and Chambliss, 173). Third world countries are exploited in order for first world countries to get ahead in the national economic arena. Peasants work in international factories because it is the only way out of starvation; to choose to work is not a luxury of the poor, it is a means of survival. Like the social stratification that occurs within the US, the systematic inequalities will continue as we globalize, only the discriminated will now be the new foreign laborers. They become the losers in the game headed my national corporations. The winners are top executives of corporations like Gap Inc,  Nike, Guess, Adidas, and all the other major corporations in the world. Technology is a key facilitator, and the Internet is the great enabler. Technology has enabled retailers to shrink distances, integrate and connect value chains, and provide a rapidly increasing amount of information for storage, transfer, and use. Meanwhile, the Internet serves as a global channel, and provides retailers with unique opportunities, as well as challenges, for conducting business with both consumers and other businesses. As domestic markets become increasingly saturated, globalization represents a unique opportunity to attain competitive advantage, leveraging economic benefits such as improved economies of scale and increased bargaining power with many suppliers. The supporters of globalization claim that it leads to higher employment and therefore greater  prosperity, whereas opponents believe that globalization, in its current form, only serves to widen the gap between rich and poor. Economies of scale, pooling production and taking advantage of lower factor costs mean that business on a global scale can be cheaper; and lower costs give retailers more strategic options. Companies that do not necessarily want to support sweatshops feel pressure because of competition, competition that could offer lower prices and abundant amounts of production. Therefore, the way that we can promote change is by being educated consumers, and supporting companies that risk losing, for morality sake. Globalization is a double-edged sword; it is a game of win or lose. Though it provides an economic dependence of national manpower, many nations exploit each other in order to achieve profit and get ahead of the worldwide competition.

Biko

A review of the biographical novel, Biko by Donald Woods. The paper reviews the book as a biography of both Steve Biko and Donald Woods. It illustrates how Donald Woods was able to combine his own story with that of Steve Biko in the novel. It begins with a background on Steve Biko and Donald Woods, goes on to state the main struggle of the book and gives a synopsis of the plot. The focus of this paper is on the way the events affected Woods.Biko tells the story of Donald Woods and his relationship with black consciousness leader Steve Biko. The author Donald Woods is a journalist and was a close friend of Steve Bikos. Biko is a biography of Donald Woods as well as a biography of Steve Biko as Woods sees him. Firstly, I will briefly detail who Steve Biko is so the events of the book can be seen in perspective. Steve Biko was a black South African who led the black consciousness movement in South Africa. He struggled for liberation from the apartheid regime. He was a political activist and believed that black liberation started with black psychological self-reliance. This idea was the basis for the black consciousness movement that Biko led. Biko believed that by doing this you could get to the base of the problem and change the way society operated. Biko was killed by South African security forces while in detention, aged thirty.

Cars History Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cars History - Research Proposal Example Although work on developing steam engines began in the 17th century, the idea to incorporate it into a road vehicle gained momentum only in the next century. In the course of the 18th century, many futile attempts were made to produce what was yet to be called the ‘car’. To be fair, engineers had indeed developed a few designs for steam-powered road vehicles, but they lacked the popularity and acceptance accorded to steam power in ships and railways. This was primarily because the steam based engine was too heavy for a practical road vehicle. Yet, the 19th century was called the Age of Steam. Harsh legislation was one great bane, at least in a few countries, with virtually strangling speed limits, at 5Â  mph in towns and cities, and 10Â  mph in the country. Laws went as far as directing a man bearing a red flag to precede every vehicle. In addition, tiime curfews applied to all vehicles except street trams. Electric Vehicles were among the earliest ones to be accorded the status of ‘automobiles’. They produce no exhaust fumes and are practically silent. Acceleration exceeds that of conventional vehicles. Sometime in the 1830s Robert Anderson of Scotland supposedly invented the first electric carriage while Professor Sibrandus Stratingh of the Netherlands, designed the small-scale electric car. Electricity as a means for transport propulsion found greater success in the field of public transport such as tramways and streetcars, where a constant supply of electricity was possible by means of overhead power lines. Historically, Electric Vehicles lagged in popularity primarily due to issues with high battery costs, low distance interval between successive recharges, long charging time, and low battery lifespan, etc. But these vehicles are generally cheaper to make and maintain than internal combustion engine vehicles because they have fewer parts. However, around 1900, electric land vehicles in America outsold all other

Formal Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Formal Analysis - Essay Example Nevertheless, he also paid attention to other living on the peripheral of the world. Of particular concerns were Allerinas seen in his dances, resting, or perhaps performing. From this group, Edgar learned much and was a impressed by the dancing. In this particular sculpture, it speaks volume about the Spanish Dance, at that time. The pose and line illustrate the moves of the dance. Edgar Degas’ sculpture stands out among the art mainstream of 19th century French sculpture. He did not have any intentions of making public monuments and it was until his death that most of his sculpture were casted and displayed in national museums. Most of his sculptures were modeled using wax to maintain an acute pose. One of his works that appeared in public limelight is â€Å"Little Dancer of14 years† though it was faced with criticism and never did he again publicly exhibit his work. The rest of his works remained private; similar to the sketches and drawings on small range of subjects that seemed to fascinate him (Guggenheim 2015). The sculpture on human figure often repeated the same subject with varying composition or change of muscular tension with the body. Edgar had a ready source of inspiration from ballet dancers of the Opera, from Paris. Others sculpture recorded images of women in nudity when washing and drying their body. Edgar Degas was born in 1843 from an affluent banking family and had his education in the classics including Greek, Latin and ancient history in Paris. His father realized his son artistic gift and helped him develop his career by often taking him to museums. Through many interactions, Edgar started to develop his artistic skills. He trained in Louis Lamothe studio who taught him on traditional academics style with a major concern in line and insistence on the draftsmanship. One of his trips in Italy, he was attracted to the frescoes he saw there and made sketches and drawing about them in his notebook. Upon Edgars’ death

Case Study Analysis Google Inc. in China Term Paper

Case Study Analysis Google Inc. in China - Term Paper Example Compliance to Chinese law conflicts the process of conducting a successful business model for companies such as Google. When attempting to circumvent various govern-ment-sanctioned filters, consumer freedoms are at risk from authorities charged with Web surveillance. Concurrently, defying sanctions that are not aligned or considered appropriate for Western nations such as the United States can lead to significant business disruption if (or when) the government demands complete deconstruction of Internet services such as Google. Thus, personally speaking, the regulatory environment in China creates a conflict of interest within the business model as it pertains to providing excellence in service and maintaining a filtered Web presence that does not sustain revenue growth or even brand reputation. B. State what you are bracketing:5 Â ¶ Personal values associated with a firm belief in the democratic process and consumer independence must be removed to avoid bias when analyzing the case study. The socialist doctrine that has replaced long-standing communist values would, according to various theories, be associated with promoting liberties for consumers and giving them more ownership over business and personal lifestyle. An enduring and genuine distaste for oppressive regimes must be bracketed to avoid incorporation of personal values associated with analysis of the case study. II. The Situation6: A. List the facts7 relevant to the issue(s) identified: Â ¶ Deciding whether to defy regulatory authorities to provide a richer and more liberal Internet experience is conflicted by the high volume of policing officials dispersed throughout China. The sophistication of Chinese filtering poses many risks to a business model that is designed to extend breadth of knowledge to consumers, having built this capacity in a free nation where such issues are not a business risk. From human capital to technologies, non-compliance to regulatory demands is going to be noticed by gov ernment regulatory forces and, thus, businesses providing Internet content cannot avoid these filtering obligations if the business is to remain sustainable in a foreign nation. B. List the facts that comprise the historical context relevant to the issue(s) identified: Â ¶ The physical structure of the Internet in China that was developed since allowing Internet services in 1999 provides ample opportunities for enforcement of laws associated with content sanctions. Furthermore, recruitment of private citizens in the enforcement and reporting processes seriously conflict attempting to avoid establishing government-mandated controls and filtrations and expanded the reach of enforcement against these laws. The totalitarian regime in China is long-standing, developed under previous communist-oriented government frameworks. The Chinese government also was not forthcoming in establishing clear and concise frameworks to define compliance to Internet censoring. Lack of clear language made the process of complying with laws, while also attempting to improve profitability in China, created a need for innovation at Google to satisfy