Politics of Travel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics of Travel - Essay Example The purpose of the article is to spread awareness about the ways, tourism can harm the traditions and resources of a country. Every tourism agency focuses on attracting tourists to their country, while they should also be educating tourists on how they can be respectful towards the resources of the country they are visiting and not waste water or electricity, while they are on the tour. The audience for this article are tourists, who move from country to country in order to explore different places. However, if we go deeper into the article, the audience is also the tourism authorities of the country, who should make sure that whenever people come from other countries, they don’t waste country’s resources, tourism doesn’t become the reason for reservoirs being damaged or crops being destroyed. It is for the tourists to understand that they need to make better choices when they are traveling to someplace. The thesis statement of the article is in its introductory paragraph, which states that â€Å"Tourism has seriously damaged, fragile ecosystems like the Alps-the winter skiing playground of Europe-and the trekking areas of the Himalayas. The writer begins by directly stating the problem which would be discussed in the article, tourism. The writer then defines and generalizes the different areas of the world which are threatened by tourism like the areas of Himalayas, dunes, mangroves, and forests. The writer then changes his point from areas to how tourists are wasting water of the countries they visit and how this water is not available to the locals of the village. Moreover, the writer links water with electricity, as there are luxury hotels built for tourists, in which they stay; for hot water, electricity is consumed too.

The hedge fund and private equity capital raising environment in EU Essay

The hedge fund and private equity capital raising environment in EU - Essay Example Most hedge funds establish and organize themselves as limited partnerships because of the flexibility that it allows them. In order to withdraw funds investors have to give notice of 30 days or more. There are approximately 7,000 hedge funds with market values of US$1 trillion. According to McCaherty and Vermeulen (n.d.) hedge funds take a variety of forms and are characteristic of the pursuit of high returns and the use of leverage to enhance the return on their investment. In recent times hedge funds and private equity have come to represent a significant part of financial activities in the financial markets in Europe, USA and Asia. The sizes of these investments are large as they continue to grow. Fund managers use a number of strategies, traditional techniques and a number of instruments such as equity, debt, options, futures and foreign currencies. In recent times hedge fund managers have engaged in high risk investment strategies including currency trading, credit derivatives a nd restructurings in order to obtain above normal returns on their investments Private Equity Private equity fund managers invest mainly in unregistered securities. However, in recent times they have been engaged in taking private a number of publicly listed companies. They use a number of different investment strategies with varying levels of liquidity. Private Equity Firms are not only involved in providing funds for new and developing companies but they are also engaged in the provision of funds for corporate restructuring, management buy-out and leveraged buy-outs. One Writer attributes the emergence of the buyout fund as the dominant style of investment to favorable credit market conditions, a large supply of loan funds and low interest rates, changes in the preferences of investors, a large number of publicly listed private equity vehicles and the increase in the demand for alternative assets by institutional investors such as pension funds. Brigham and Ehrhardt (2005, p. 664) indicates that â€Å"in a going private transaction the entire equity of a publicly held firm is purchased by a small group of investors that usually includes the firms current senior management.† There are usually two ways in which this transaction is carried out. In one instance the managers acquire all the equity of the company and in the other it does so with a small group of investors who set the previous managers to manage. These are referred to as management buy-out (MBO) and management buy-in (MBI) respectively. This process normally involves substantial borrowings and is therefore described as Leveraged buyouts (LBO). Another term which is normally used is â€Å"taken private† which relates to a buyout of a public company and in the process removing it from the stock exchange listing, and therefore transforming it into a private firm (Fraser-Sampson, 2007). Public companies are normally taken private because they have the potential of providing substantial ca sh flows to investors as the shares are currently undervalued on the stock market. The managers see the potential of â€Å"significantly boosting the firm’s value under private ownership† (Brigham and Ehrhardt 2005, p. 664). This means that companies taken private have the potential of enriching not only the managers who take part in the buyout but the public shareholders who are often offered prices higher than the going market

Persuasive Easy Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Easy Essay Gun Control seems to be on the top of today’s subject. After the recent tragedies that occur at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, we are all concern for the victims. Many people are calling for stricter laws on gun control. No matter if you are for or against, something needs to be done about the regulation of gun control. In the past couple of years the United States has have its fair share of mass shooting form Congresswomen Gifford, Aurora, Colorado, and Jovan Belcher, a linebacker of the Kansas City Chiefs. He shot his girlfriend and then took his own life. In each of these events the guns used were legally purchased. Growing up with guns As a Native American and a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, we are tough about the proper handling of guns. As a young man I can remember going out to the gun rang with my grandfather and uncle. They would be teaching the safety of gun control. They would teach what was tough to be and would give lessons about what type of gun I would be using. Not only did I learn about what type of gun I was shooting, I also learned how to clean my gun. Learning the proper way of handling guns is important. The Jicarilla Apache Nation does a large amount of hunting for the people of the tribe. For some families this is the only way they, can receive meat. They also have rewards on some predator animals such as coyotes, mountain lions, and bears. Tribal members can go out to collect bounties on these predators. In one vehicle there could be as much as two rifles of one person. It is not uncommon to go to the local grocery store and see guns in people vehicles. No matter how many guns are around, gun violence is not the number one killer. The pros and Con’s about gun control. Many of the people want to band firearm. No matter if all firearms are banded many criminals could still get a gun. Marijuana is illegal to have in many states, but that does not stop people from getting the drug. Banding firearms is not the answer. It would make it harder for an honest person to obtain a firearm. Developing stricter background check can help in some cases. Teaching people the proper ways of handling a firearm could also help. Keeping them away from children and also teaching them about firearms is important. Many of the youth today carry some sort of firearms into school to show their friends. Both sides can debate the facts about the decrease or the increase of violence that a firearm could bring. The National Rifle Association (NRA) fights for the rights to use firearms for hunting and self defense. There are organizations that back up the rights for firearms. There are also many groups that are against firearms. Some facts about firearms and mass murders. Since 1982, about 61 mass murders were carrying out with the use of firearms in the United States. Within that about 49 for those murders are by firearms purchase legally. There are other counties were they have more firearms people. This does not mean that there are more shooting in those countries. The Second Amendment gives the right for an individual to possess a firearm. This Amendment was adopted into the Bill of Right in 1791. Since then time has changed and so should many of the laws. Having firearms to protect yourself and your family is important to most people, but there are other was to protect yourself and your family. A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers urging a tightening of gun control policies aims to inject some facts into what has become a highly polarized cultural debate while mass shootings and everyday gun violence claim thousands of lives in the USA (Devi, 2012). Conclusion If you are for or against firearms, the Second Amendment states that an individual has the right to bear arms to defend their selves and family form harm and danger. Having the proper education about firearms is important for each person who owns any type of firearms. Having a stricter background check can ensure that firearms are not sold to the wrong person. Despite all we can do if a criminal wants a firearm they could still receive one. Stricter laws about gun control can prevent some of the tragedies that have occurred in the United States. References Brandl, S. G., Stroshine, M. S. (2011, September). Buyer Characteristics and Firearm Time-to-Crime. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 22(3), 285-300. doi:10.1177/0887403410373510 Devi, S. (2012, November 3). Researchers call for reform of US gun control policies. The Lancet, 380(9853), 1545. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61865-0

Thomas Mores Utopia Analysis

Thomas Mores Utopia Analysis THESIS: In this essay, we will analyze Utopias role in the common laws, the religious freedoms, and dystopia/utopia similarities throughout Mores literature. Introduction Imagine you are a sailor, sailing the vast emptiness of the ocean. To your dismay, the storm thrashes waves against your boat. You find yourself on the island of Thomas Mores Utopia Some facts about Thomas More Common Law / Commonplace / Customs The commons in Thomas Mores Utopia are drastically different from the society in which he lived. Thus, More spent most of his lifetime scrutinizing and paying considerable amounts of attention to the Englands common place and common law. Utopia and England have a few additional odd similarities worth mentioning. Religious Freedoms More wanted to unite his Catholic church. He based Utopia solely on rational principle. More designed Utopian religious freedom as a model for Europe. Dystopia or utopia Each member of Mores Utopia is cared for; however, todays generation finds the uniformity unappealing. Ralphael contradicts extreme punishments in Utopia Clear class system on the island Conclusion A. To conclude, Utopia explores ideas of common law, religious freedom, and has similarities to a dystopian society rather than Utopian. Thomas Mores Utopia Imagine you are a sailor, sailing the vast emptiness of the ocean. During your travels, you come across a storm on the horizon that at first poses no threat to you. To your dismay, the storm thrashes waves against your boat and you struggle to hold your bearings. The storm grows stronger; suddenly, you drift off into unconsciousness. When you awake, you are on an island. There are people on this island and they graciously take you in. Shockingly, they are incredibly hospitable. The people begin to tell you where you are and how their society functions. All the people are dressed almost identical and they all have a purpose and a function in their society. This island is Thomas Mores ideal fictional society, Utopia. Thomas More was not the first person to write about a Utopian society, but he did coin the term utopia which means not place in Greek. Utopia was written in Latin and published in 1516. It is said to be Thomas Mores most influential work. Mores utopian society had complete employment, the citizens are not fixated on money, and are tolerant towards others in the community (Forward). In this essay, we will analyze Utopias role in the common laws, the religious freedoms, and dystopia/utopia similarities throughout Mores literature. First, Thomas more claims that the commons (a shared system or political space whose authority is constituted by its actual commonality) in his imagined society is fundamentally diverse from the society that he lived in and the tradition in which he wrote. More copes with the established notions of commonality in his book, Utopia. Common law was on the rise and was Englands dominant legal form during the 1500s. Thus, More spent most of his lifetime scrutinizing and paying considerable amounts of attention to Englands common law. The Utopian customs include: a system of housing and city planning, a method of senatorial deliberation, a mode of dress, a manner of dining, travel practices, pre-marital courtships, garden growing, and chicken hatching. Evoking the peculiarity of the English legal system, Utopia accepts customs importance in shaping human behavior and Utopian commonwealth. (Elsky) Furthermore, More makes it clear that Utopia is meant to be his ideal vision for England. Both societies are governed by a binding force of law. Every member of these societies is required to obey the laws and face punishment if they contravene. Utopia and England have a few additional odd similarities worth mentioning as well. For instance, England and Utopia are both islands. The capital of Utopia is Amaurotum, which has a river that passes through it. This river has identical tides and bridges to the Thames river in England. England and Utopia are governed by custom. In England, common law is that custom. Unlike common law, Utopian custom offers a means of dominating other nations. Utopia is outside the realm of commonplace; thus it exports its customs carelessly. (Elsky) Secondly, Thomas More wanted to unify his Catholic church. He promoted civic peace by supporting religious freedom in his literature. More developed a plan that would manage church-state relations. This plan became a predecessor to liberal methods. As presented in Utopia, religious freedom today has Catholic, Renaissance roots. Rational principles were the foundation of Utopia. Religious freedom for Christians was favored by More when he was writing Utopia. Utopian religious freedom was designed to serve as a model for Europe. Utopus, the founder of Utopia, was doubtful of claims made to religious orthodoxy. After he seized power, he banned all religious-political conflict. He banned politically dangerous forms of religion. He required all Utopians to follow religions that promoted virtue. This limited religious freedom made Utopia a morally united society that was also spiritually diverse. Utopuss efforts made Utopia a society completely free of religiously inspired violence. Utopia stands in the shadow of communism causing most scholars to fail in appreciating Utopian religious freedom. (Kesser) To continue, Mores Utopia is meant to be a perfect civilization and yet there are countless contradictions and unjust rules on the island. Each member of Mores Utopia is cared for; however, todays generation finds the uniformity unappealing. An average day in Utopia is set up on a ridged schedule with bedtime at 8 p.m. Community members are given one article of clothing every 2 years; consequently, Fashion does not exist and eliminates a major form of self-expression. Atheists are despised on the island yet there is allegedly religious tolerance. Furthermore, Utopians are obligated to obtain a special passport to travel within their own country, but do not have complete freedom to travel. (Forward) On occasion, there is an alarming, somewhat unsettling note: There are also no wine-taverns, no ale-houses, no brothels, no opportunities for seduction, no secret meeting places. Everyone has his eye on you, so youre practically forced to get on with your job, and make some proper use of your spare time (More 65). The main character in Utopia is a man named Raphael. He believes the treatment of thieves in England is harsh; On the other hand, he was accepting of the extreme punishments Utopia had for adultery. Society in Utopia is dominated by males, and it is a husbands responsibility to insure proper discipline of his wife. Every month wives must confess to their husbands. Taking a rather regimented approach, the state interferes in courtship and marriage. Boys cannot marry until they are 22, while girls can marry as early as 18. Every member of the society must view their chosen partner nude before making the decision to marry. Utopians are a monogamous people and thus uphold the idea that it is necessary to choose an appropriate spouse. According to the Utopians, there is equality in Utopia. Reading Utopia one can see that this is not the case. There is a clear class system on the island with a hierarchy of priest, mayors, and diplomats all from a specific class. The Utopians use slaves to perform lowly task and must work in chain gangs. Slavery is usually used as punishment for serious crimes. Utopians pay mercenaries to fight for them during times of war. Often, they hire foreign armies called Venalians and sadly, the Utopians send many Venalians to their deaths without a care. They rationalize by saying, If only they could wipe the filthy scum off the face of the earth completely, theyd be doing the human race a very good turn (More 113). They disapprove of war, except in self-defense or when helping to end oppression. (Forward) To close, Utopia explores ideas of common law, religious freedom, and has similarities to a dystopian society rather than Utopian. Common law in Mores work is comparable to Englands customs. Religious freedom is present, but suppressed as well. Some may say the utopian society did become a dystopian society with further analysis. It is important to note that the issues discussed in Mores text are still relevant to modern-day readers and he addressed some extremely complex topics in a constructive manner. Works Cited Elsky, Stephanie. Common Law And The Commonplace In Thomas Mores Utopia.. English Literary Renaissance 43.2 (2013): 181-210. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Jan. 2017. Forward, Stephanie. A taste of paradise: Thomas Mores Utopia. The English Review, vol. 11, no. 4, 2001, p. 24. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPSsw=wu=avl_nshov=2.1id=GALE%7CA79981415it=rasid=1738af1f731801e1f0d51de4e455e0cc. Accessed 25 Jan. 2017. Kessler, Sanford. Religious Freedom In Thomas Mores Utopia. Review Of Politics 64.2 (2002): 207. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. More, Thomas, and Paul Turner. Utopia. London: Penguin Books, 1965. Print.

Rates of Reaction Investigation :: Papers

Rates of Reaction Investigation You are to plan obtained evidence, correctly presented and use it to draw conclusions and evaluate your work. You are to study the effect of concentration on the reaction of hydrochloric acid and sodium Thiosulphate. This reaction produces a white solid witch clouds the mixture. (The scientific word for this is precipitate.) The gas sulphur dioxide is produced. Prediction: I predict that as the water dilutes the volume of the thiosulphate, it will take longer for it to change into a cloudy mixture. Explanation: The reason why a fink this is because, the lower the concentration the less particles there are to collide with each other. Therefore the rate will be slower in a given time. The reason for this is because the particles are more spaced out throughout the solvent. Equipment: 1 Stop clock 2 Conical flask 3 Sodium Thiosulphate 4 Hydrochloric acid 5 Black ‘X’ on a piece of paper 6 Water 7 Thermometer 8 Measuring cylinders x3 9 Glass beakers x2 To make this a fair test I will keep the hydrochloric acid the same throughout. Method: 1 Collect the equipment and label the beakers ect. So they don’t get mixed up and ruin the test. 2 Get a piece of paper mark and ’X’ and make it look bold so it stands out. Then put the conical flask over it. 3 For the first experiment put 50 ml3 of thiosulphate 10 ml3 of hydrochloric acid and 10 ml3 of water into the conical flask. Repeat the experiment like shown on the results table. 4 Start stopwatch, and mix the contents of the conical flask 10 times in an anticlockwise direction. 5 When the solution turns cloudy, so that you can’t see the ‘X’ stop the stopwatch and record the time. 6 Check and control the temperature to make a fair test. Risk Assessment =============== The first thing I am going to do is look up all the possible dangers

big lots :: essays research papers

Big Lots Inc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Big Lots Inc. is not your everyday retail store such as Wal-Mart or K Mart. Big Lots, Inc. is the largest broadline closeout retailer in the nation. Big Lots’ theme is â€Å"Brand names at closeout prices!† This motto is the foundation of what the company is built upon. More than 3,000 manufacturers provide the company’s stores with brand-name products at prices 20-40% below traditional discount retailers. Big Lots meets the needs of customers by providing an assortment of merchandise, including consumables, seasonal products, furniture, housewares, toys, and gifts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Big Lots was established in 1982 through Consolidated Stores Corporation. The stores name was called Odd Lots which made its debut in Columbus, Ohio. In 1985, the company made its initial offering on the American Stock Exchange. At this time Big Lots was first launched. Thanks to their buyers, managers, associates, and other supporters, the company celebrated its first billion dollar year in 1993. In 1994, the company acquired Toy Liquidators which added 82 stores in 38 states. Two years later Consolidated Stores Corporation doubled its size and sales with the purchase of KB Toys. Big Lots Furniture became one of the fastest-growing furniture retailers after it began with 9 freestanding stores and 53 in-store departments in 1997. After gaining shareholder approval, Consolidated Stores Corporation changes its name to Big Lots, Inc. in 2001. After rebranding was complete in 2002, the company made many improvements in the Big Lots shopping experience, including updat ed, attractive stores and even better customer service. The changes bring record-setting increases in customer transactions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most closeout retailers rely on the distribution of weekly or monthly circulars to inform customers of the latest deals. Big Lots uses targeted mixtures of circulars to drive immediate customer traffic along with network television advertising to build awareness with consumers. In 2003, launched it’s first-ever $50 million television advertising campaign. Commercials can be seen all over daytime and nighttime television. With a host of different types of products to market, Jerry Van Dyke plays the lead role in promoting the company’s products. Consumers also receive a weekly sales promotion in the mail that brings to life what Big Lots has to offer in its â€Å"Here today, gone tomorrow† deals. Advertisement strategies have the potential to make or break a company. Fortunately, the company seems to be moving in the right direction. Location on the other hand is also a key factor in a company’s success.

Integrating Culture and Diversity in Decision Making Essay

1. Provide a brief (1 paragraph) description of the organization you chose to research. Zappos was founded in 1999 during the dotcom boom by Nick Swinmurn [ (Twitchell, 2009) ] on a quest to buy a pair of sneakers at a local mall. It has grown in to a 1.2 billion dollar subsidiary of Amazon.com and a leading on-line provider of everything from shoes to couture handbags. They have done this with a simple motto: â€Å"Powered by Service†. Providing all of their customers with free (sometimes next day) shipping and returns, Zappos has invested in the power of word of mouth to fuel their business. 2. Examine the culture of the selected organization. Retail doesn’t seem to be the only thing that Zappos has gotten right, however. Beyond growing from a small, upstart company to a 1 billion dollar â€Å"behemoth†, Zappos prides itself on the culture it has created and invests in for its employees. Unlike some companies that guard their employee credos and internal culture (Apple comes to mind), Zappos promotes theirs for any would-be customer to see. Multiple links on their website lead to testimonials, blogs and YouTube videos providing a behind the scenes look at exactly what it’s like to work for this Once Upon a Time shoe company. Current CEO Tony Hsieh said in 2009 while celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary that â€Å"Our No. 1 priority is the company culture. Our whole belief is that if we get the culture right, then everything else, including the customer service, will fall into place,† [ (Twitchell, 2009) ] and indeed that thought processes seems embedded in the company’s Core Values which are posted on its website under a link labeled â€Å"Our Unique Culture†. 3. Explain how you determined that the selected organization showed the signs of the culture that you have identified. Zappos company culture seems to pride itself on creating a world-class experience not just for its customers, but for its employees as well. Both the external adaptation (day to day tasks) and internal integration (employees ability to live and work together) have been addressed in exactly the same way. Zappos seems to suggest that the way they treat their external customers as a company and the way their internal customers treat each other are not varied. In each of the videos posted on their company blog, employees regard their Core Values as both the way they guide their interactions with customers and with each other. Though subcultures do seem to exist (based simply on the variety of employee groups with blogs on their website), Zappos has taken great strides through rituals like their â€Å"Wishez† program to keep those unique subcultures from becoming countercultures that work against the common goals of the company. Indeed, relationships within these subcultures seem particularly strong. In one video describing the â€Å"Wishez† program and the way it bonds other departments together, employees seem to indicate that without it they might have never interacted in the first place. This seems to lend itself to Barker and Tompkins theory that â€Å"employees [maintain] a tendency to identify more strongly with their individual work teams than with the company as a whole†. [ (Schrodt, 2002) ] In one video, an employee identifies that she has hired a marching band to come and play Happy Birthday for another employees 40th birthday because he had teased when she turned 40. They work in the same department. By forging such strong relationships between employees, members of Zappos are encouraged to pursue similar relationships with their customers. One web page boasts that the longest recorded customer service call to Zappos (lines which are open 24/7) was eight hours long. Additionally, during Holiday months, customers might even encounter CEO Tony Hsieh on the customer service lines. 4. Determine the factors that caused the organization to embody this particular culture. This dedication towards customer service that the Zappos culture seems to be based around is what has allowed Zappos to survive where other dotcom’s had failed. In his book â€Å"The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time†, Verne Harnish lists Zappos’ decisions to offer free shipping and returns as particularly profound. He says (among the other decisions that he lists) that they â€Å"stood out from others because they were counterintuitive – they went against the grain of popular practice†. [ (Gringarten, 2012) ] Without this richly customer focused culture, Zappos as a brand might never have existed. Indeed, it continues to promote its customer focus and nothing else. While we might think of Zappos as a shoe company, Zappos seems to think of Zappos as a customer service company that happens to sell shoes. 5. Determine what type of leader would be best suited for this organization. Support your position. This kind of energy takes a particular type of leader to induce. Each video on their company website that mentions CEO Tony Hsieh mentions his name with some sort of revere suggesting that this type of culture is best suited for a charismatic leader. According to Schermerhorn, charismatic leaders â€Å"by force of their personal abilities, are capable of having a profound and extraordinary effect on followers†. [ (Schermerhorn, 2000) ] Hsieh gives seminars in which he instructs other companies on how they can adopt the Zappos culture to their own businesses. He believes very strongly in the culture that Zappos has created. 6. Imagine that there is a decline in the demand of product(s) or services supplied by the selected organization. Determine what the change in culture would need to be in response to this situation. The intense success that Zappos has enjoyed in such a short amount of time and the growth of their business from simply shoes to just about anything else seems to suggest that even if tomorrow people needed one less pair of shoes, the corporate culture of Zappos as a company would not need to be adjusted. By focusing on internal culture (employees) and external culture (customer) first, Zappos has answered the question of how to sell rather than what to sell. Their purpose implies that people don’t just need shoes; what they want is a different way to buy them. Bibliography Gringarten, H. (2012). The Greatest Business Decisions of all Time. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research , 95. Schermerhorn, J. R. (2000). Organizational Behavior . New York: Wiley. Schrodt, P. (2002). The relationship between organizational identification and organizational culture: employee perceptions of culture and identification in a retail sales organization. Communication Studies , 189. Twitchell, J. (2009, June 16). From Upstart To $1 Billion Behemoth, Zappos Marks 10 Years. Retrieved from LasVegas Sun: