Birth Control Issues free essay sample

In 1873 Congress passed an â€Å"antiobscenity law† that considered birth control as explicit and banned its distribution (London). Margaret Sanger opened America’s first family-planning clinic in Brooklyn in 1916, but was closed after 10 days of opening. In 1921, Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, which is now known as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (London). In 1938, a judge lifted the federal obscenity ban on birth control but contraceptives still remained illegal in many states. In 1954, the first human pill trial was held on 50 women in Massachusetts. In 1960, a huge step happened. The FDA approved â€Å"Enovid† as a birth control pill. Nearly half of a million Americans were already using this pill for â€Å"therapeutic purposes† (London). In 1980, the pill really took off. Nearly 10. 5 million of American women were taking the pill. In 2010, a study of 46,000 women over 40 years of being on the Pill showed that they are more likely to live longer and less likely to die prematurely of all causes (London). We will write a custom essay sample on Birth Control Issues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page According to an article on Gutmacher. com, over 99 percent of women use a contraceptive or a birth control method today (Contraceptive Use in the US). There are many different methods. Barrier methods consist of the contraceptive sponge, cervical cap, female and male condoms. Hormonal methods consist of oral contraceptives (the most common), the patch, shots, and vaginal rings. Implantable devices consist of implantable rods and intrauterine devices. Sterilization implants and surgical sterilization is a form of permanent birth control (Johnson). Lastly, there is emergency contraception, which is the â€Å"morning after pill,† or more well known as Plan B. This pill is used to prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. According to Planned Parenthood, there have been no reports of serious complications with the Plan B pill. Planned Parenthood also states that the Plan B pill is 85 percent effective (Johnson). The main controversy with the Plan B pill is that it could be considered abortion. The fact that Plan B is offered in stores, it is creating questions on whether birth control should be offered on the shelf. Next are the social aspects of the birth control pill (Granzow). Birth control is extremely popular in America today. Many women view birth control as â€Å"sexual freedom. Men would use condoms and women were always afraid it would result in a pregnancy. Now, women are in the same playing field as men are with not being afraid as often (Gordon). Birth control has gone from being something rarely talking about to a casual subject now. This leads into women speaking freely about their sexual life. Casually, women have changed their social lives into a more intense conversation with adding in sex and birth control (Gordon). Another part of the social aspects of birth control is sex education in schools. Many high schools provide sexual education that educates kids on sex and encourages the use of abstinence until marriage, rather than birth control. Colleges offer many different types of sexual education. Point Park University offers Health Fairs and â€Å"The Condom Carnival,† to educate students and give out free condoms to protect students from pregnancy and STD’s (Lindberg). The only problem with education in high schools is that most high schools are still using the â€Å"old-fashioned† way of educating students of abstinence. A study preformed by the National Survey of Family growth in 2002 stated that nearly 95 percent of people have had premarital sex (Jayson). According to â€Å"Changes in Formal Sex Education: 1995-2002† by Laura Duberstein, 81 percent of males and 87 percent of females received formal education on birth control in 1995 and only around 66 percent of males and 70 percent in 2006. The concerns of this are that many teenagers might receive the information too late, after they are already having sex (Contraceptive Use in the US). This number is surely dropping as students go through high school. Most students are not even being formally educated on birth control or abstinence anymore. Sex Education in high schools must get better in order to keep teenagers safe. For schools to focus on keeping teenagers safe they must education students on contraceptives and birth control methods instead of abstinence (Jayson). Abstinence is almost an ancient term to high school students nowadays since that 95 percent of people preform premarital sex. Instead of raising abstinence on the high horse, the use of these contraceptives and birth control methods must be used in educating teens (Lindberg). One big step on getting the word out of contraceptives is â€Å"World Contraception Day. † This is held on September 26th and raises awareness of contraception. Another huge aspect of birth control is the government views on it. Today, Obama’s administration decided to require health insurers to cover the FDA-approved contraceptives fully. The government is making birth control extremely affordable and sometimes even free for all women. This could be viewed as good and bad to people, depending on their views. Approximately 8 out of 10 democrats support requiring birth control coverage and only 4 out of 10 republicans do (Jayson). Many generic birth controls are now free to women and some have a very low charge per month. This is making birth control extremely available and affordable for teenagers. A recent accommodation that the Obama Administration announced in February stated that religious nonprofits provide health insurance that covers birth control. This new health care law states that most employers must offer health insurance that contains artificial contraception and sterilization as a free preventive. Since this announcement over 40 lawsuits were filed by religious nonprofit organizations that argued it violated their religious beliefs (Johnson). Many churches are against this law because they don’t support sex before marriage. They don’t care whether the sex is safe or if birth control is used, they just don’t support sex before marriage. A huge aspect of social change in birth control is how people talk about birth control now. In the early 2000’s, it was almost something that people were shy on talking about. You can walk into a classroom today and teens will talk very openly about their birth control and not be afraid of being made fun of. There are many commercials shown daily on the television that get the word out even more. People are so used to hearing about it, that it isn’t a big subject of privacy anymore. One thing that may people wonder about birth control is, is it bad for you? When taking the birth control pill, many good things and some bad side effects could happen (Johnson). There are always side effects with every time of medication you take. The main side effects of birth control pills are nausea, weight gain, cramping, lighter periods and mood changes. None of these effects are normally severe, a doctor may change the type of birth control if the woman is experiencing severe side effects (Johnson). Most importantly, the pill is good for many things. The pill can help reduce acne by decreasing the levels of testosterone. Birth control can also ease hormonal swings and mood swings. This happens because birth control pills normally supply your body with a constant level of estrogen levels and progesterone hormones. Birth control pills normally help to make periods less heavy and painful by reducing cramps and also less endometrial lining. Lastly, studies show that the birth control pill can drastically reduce the lifetime risk of getting ovarian cancer. Harvard Medical School Researchers stated that in a study they found that 10 out of 12 percent of females had a decreased risk in one year and 50 percent after 5 years of use (Johnson). Birth control pills can make a woman’s â€Å"time of the month† a lot easier to deal with. While on birth control, skin is found to be clearer and menstrual cramps are reduced. When thinking about birth control, it makes sense that fewer women are getting pregnant but there is always a risk when they misuse the pill or don’t take it regularly (Johnson). All in all, birth control is viewed as very good for women to have the use of. Whether you look at the social or government aspects of birth control, most views are looking on birth control positively. Within this paper, the history of birth control is discussed, social aspects of birth control are discussed, government aspects are discussed, and the health views are discussed. Birth control methods will continue to grow and more women will use it. Works Cited Contraceptive Use in the US.   Guttmacher Institute. Guttmacher Institute , 01 Jul 2012. Web. 10 Apr 2013. Gordon, Linda. Citizenship And The Right To Birth Control. Dissent (00123846) 59. 4 (2012): 60-64. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. Granzow, Kara. De-Constructing ‘Choice’: The Social Imperative And Womens Use Of The Birth Control Pill. Culture, Health amp; Sexuality 9. 1 (2007): 43-54. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. Jayson, Sharon. Most Americans have had premarital sex, study finds.   USA Today. USA Today, 19 Dec 2006. Web. 10 Apr 2013. lt;http://usatoday30. usatoday. com/news/health/2006-12-19-premarital-sex_x. htmgt;. Johnson, Kimball. Birth Control Pills.   WebMD. WebMD, 23 Jun 2012. Web. 10 Apr 2013. lt;http://www. webmd. com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-pills? page=3gt;. Kearney, Melissa, and Phillip Levine. Why is the Teen Birth Rate in th e United States So High and Why Does It Matter?.   Journal of Economic Perspectives. 26. 2 (2012): 141-166. Web. 25 March 2013. lt;http://www. jstor. org/stable/41495308 gt;. Lindberg , Laura. Changes in Formal Education: 1995-2002.   Guttmacher Institute. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 1 Dec 2006. Web. 10 Apr 2013. lt;http://www. guttmacher. org/pubs/journals/3818206. htmlgt;. London, Kathleen. Diss. Yale University, 2003. Web. lt;http://www. yale. edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1982/6/82. 06. 03. x. htmlgt;. Poorebrahim Mehdi. â€Å"Comparison Of Complications And Marital Satisfaction In Women Taking Contraceptive Ampoules Of Cyclofem And Id Contraceptive Pills. Healthmed 6. 8 (2012): 2689-2693. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. ’

Analytical Characterization of Fatty Acids Essay Example

Analytical Characterization of Fatty Acids Essay Example Analytical Characterization of Fatty Acids Essay Analytical Characterization of Fatty Acids Essay 2 Besides its familiarity for toxicity and poisoning,3 it has uses for a number of diseases like asthma, muscle spasm, whooping cough, skin ulcer, hemorrhoids, anti-rheumatic etc. Its oil based preparation is used for healing of all types of wounds in Ayurveda and Siddha practice of medicine since long ago. 4 Datura species produces a number of small seeds encapsulated in an apple like fruit capsule; hence the name â€Å"thornapple† is based on this fact. The most common and medicinally important tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, atropine nd scopolamine have been isolated from Datura species. Clarification of the dual effect of this plant requires extensive research for the exploration of chemistry and pharmacology of the plant under investigation. The present work is a part of these investigations focusing on the determination of fatty acids in oil extracted from Datura seeds. Due to biological importance5,6 fatty acids have gained importance in food nutrition evaluation 7-10 and in the diagnosis of certain diseases and pharmacology. 1 Fatty acids with unsaturation, either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, have been used in lowering the risks of heart disease, against inflammation and in enhancing the immunity or immune system. 12-17 A number of analytical techniques have been applied for the determination of fatty acids. These include: enzymatic, spectrophotometric, HPLC18-20 and gas chromatography (GC). 21-23 GC-MS is the method of choice for the analysis of fatty acids due to various reasons like speed, resolutions and sensitivity. 4,25 From the literature it appears that most of the research work performed is the determination of alkaloids which are main constituents of this genus. No remarkable work has been carried out for the determination of fatty acids in Datura alba seed oil which is needed in order to explore its pharmacological importance. 2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1 summarizes the results obtained from the GCMS analysis showing the relative concentration of individual esterified fatty acids based on the external standard method and the standard deviation values among the three results in each case. Analyses were performed three times and the values of area and concentration in Table 1 are the average of three measurement results. Quantification of FAMEs was performed using three points calibration curve * Corresponding author. Tel: 0092-91-9216240-43; Fax: 0043-512-5072767; E-mail: [emailprotected] com Fatty Acids in Datura alba Seed Oil by GC-MS J. Chin. Chem. Soc. , Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 237 Table 1. Quantification results of fatty acid methyl esters # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Name C6:0; Hexanoic acid, methyl ester C8:0; Caprylic acid, methyl ester C10:0; Capric acid, methyl ester C12:0; Lauric acid, methyl ester C14:0; Myristic acid, methyl ester C15:0; Pentadecanoic acid, methyl ester C16:0; Palmitic acid, methyl ester C16:1c; Palmitoleic acid, methyl ester C17:0; Margaric acid, methyl ester C18:0; Stearic acid, methyl ester C18:1c; Oleic acid, methyl ester C18:1n8T; Octadecanoic acid, methyl ester C18:2c; Linoleic acid, methyl ester C20:0; Arachidic acid, methyl ester C20:2; Eicosadienoic acid, methyl ester Retention time (min. ) 3. 060 4. 957 6. 796 8. 552 11. 000 12. 670 14. 692 15. 213 16. 985 19. 704 20. 266 20. 433 21. 912 27. 306 29. 756 AreaO 19654 11442 3454 2928 39973 2407 2674581 8191 13220 427823 816146 86541 1554375 30982 22200 Conc. (%)O 0. 16 0. 11 0. 02 0. 1 0. 18 0. 01 6. 59 0. 21 0. 09 1. 35 5. 41 0. 92 16. 22 0. 22 0. 65 Std. Dev. * 0. 002 0. 003 0 . 002 0. 003 0. 010 0. 003 0. 020 0. 002 0. 003 0. 010 0. 003 0. 004 0. 002 0. 004 0. 005 * Standard deviation values for the three measurement results; O Average of three measurement results. with R2 value less than 0. 99 (R2 0. 99) in each case. Fig. 1 shows the GC-MS chromatogram obtained from fatty acid standard mixture of 37 components while Fig. 2 is the GCMS chromatogram of Datura alba seed oil with properly labeled signals of analytes detected. Both the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were found in the sample under investigations. Linoleic acid was found in highest concentration which is necessary for the maintenance of growth. It has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of cyclooxiginase-2 (COX-2) catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis. 29,30 Among the other fatty acids with concentrations more than 1% are: Palmitic acid (6. 59%), Oleic acid (5. 41%) and Stearic acid (1. 35%) were found. Amount of rest of the fatty acids were less than 1% (Table 1). From the results it is clear that Datura alba seeds, besides its toxicity, can also be used in various pharmaceutical products as it contains different bioactive compounds like fatty acids. The method applied is a reliable method of analyzing imultaneously many fatty acid components in a single run. 3. EXPERIMENTAL 3. 1. Chemicals and reagents Boron triflouride solution in methanol (10%) was purchased from Fluka Chemie (Buchs, Switzerland). Sodium hydroxide solution (methanolic; 0. 5 N) and sodium chloride (analytical grade) were obtained from Merck (Darmstadt, Germa ny) while methanol (HPLC grade), n-hexane (HPLC grade) were from Fischer Scientific (Leicestershire, UK). Helium gas (99. 9999%) from Pak gas (United Arab Emirates) was procured. Tridecanoic acid methyl ester and Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) 37 components standard mix were obtained from AccuStandard (Newhaven, Connecticut USA). These 37 components are: methyl ester of hexanoic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, undecanoic acid, lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, pentadecanoic acid, pentdecenoic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, margaric acid, heptadecenoic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, octadecenoic acid, linoleic acid, octadecadienoic acid, g-linolenic acid, linolenic acid, arachidic acid, eicosenoic acid, eicosadienoic acid, 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, heneicosanoic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, behenic acid, eruccic acid, docosadienoic acid (C22:2), tricosanoic acid, tetracosanoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and tetracosenoic acid. Deionized water was used through out the experimental work. 3. 2. Preparation of standard Internal standard was prepared by dissolving 13. 7 mg of tridecanoic acid methyl ester in 1 mL hexane. External standard was prepared by diluting 10 mg of 37 component FAMEs mix standard to 10 mL with di chloromethane. From this solution further working standard solutions were prepared. 238 J. Chin. Chem. Soc. , Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 Qureshi et al. Fig. 1. GC-MS chromatogram of 37 components standard. Chromatographic conditions: inj. vol. : 1  µL, carrier gas: Helium, column: TRB-FFAP capillary column (length; 30 m, i. d. ; 0. 35 mm, thickness; 0. 50  µm, treated with polyethylene glycol), MS scanning: 85-380 m/z. 3. 3. Extraction of oil and preparation of FAMEs About 100 g powdered seed material was extracted with 250 mL n-hexane26 for six hours through soxhlet extraction apparatus. The extract was concentrated by recovering the solvent using rotary evaporator. Fatty acids are polar compounds and are not volatile. For gas chromatographic analysis it is necessary that the sample to be analyzed must be volatile. In order to make fatty acids present in the oil volatile, derivatizaion is performed prior to GC-MS analysis. Methylation is the most general method of converting non-vola tile fatty acids into volatile fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs). 7 Methylation of fatty acids was performed with BF3-methanol as derivatizing reagent, which is the most accepted procedure for converting fatty acids into FAMEs. 23 Derivatization was performed according to the AOAC standard reference method. 28 To a known amount of sample (equivalent to 25 mg fat) was added 0. 1 mL internal standard (1. 37 mg) and 1. 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution in methanol (0. 5 N), sealed and heated in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. The hydrolyzed sample was cooled and added 2. 5 mL of boron triflouride solution in methanol (10%). The solution was then sealed and heated in boiling water bath for 30 minutes and cooled. To the esterified solution was added 5 mL saturated sodium chloride solution and extracted twice with 1 mL hexane. The hexane extract was filtered through 0. 45 mm membrane filter and injected 1 ml to GCMS using auto injector system. 3. 4. Chromatographic separation of FAMEs A gas chromatograph from Shimadzu hyphenated to a mass spectrometer QP 2010 plus (Tokyo, Japan) equipped with an auto-sampler (AOC-20S) and auto-injector (AOC20i) was used. Helium was used as carrier gas. All chromatographic separations were performed on a capillary column (TRB-FFAP; Technokroma) having specifications: length; 30 m, i. d. ; 0. 35 mm, thickness; 0. 250  µm, treated Fatty Acids in Datura alba Seed Oil by GC-MS J. Chin. Chem. Soc. , Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 239 Fig. 2. GC-MS chromatogram of Datura alba seed oil. Chromatographic conditions: as in Fig. 1. with polyethylene glycol. Other GC-MS conditions are: ion source temperature (EI); 250  °C, interface temperature; 240  °C, pressure; 100 KPa, solvent cut time; 1. 8 min. 1  µL of sample and standard were injected into the GC column. Injector was operated in a split mode with a split ratio 1:50. Injection temperature was 240  °C. The column temperature program started at 50  °C for 1 min and changed to 150  °C at the rate of 15  °C/min. The temperature was raised to 175  °C at the rate of 2. 5  °C/min and hold for 5 minutes. Then the temperature was increased to 220  °C at the rate of 2. 5  °C/min and kept constant for 3 minutes. Total elution time was 43 minutes. MS scanning was performed from m/z 85 to m/z 380. GC-MS solutions software provided by the supplier was used to control the system and to acquire the data. Identification of the compounds was carried out by comparing the mass spectra obtained with those of standard mass spectra from the NIST library (NIST 05). REFERENCES 1. Nadkarni, K. M. Dr. KM Nadkarni’s Indian Materia Medica; Popular Prakashan: Bombay, 1994. 2. Kuganathan, N. ; Saminathan, S. ; Muttukrishna, S. Internet J. Toxicol. 2008, 5(2). 3. Steenkamp, P. A. ; Harding, N. M. ; Heerden, F. R. v. ; Wyk, B. E. v. Forensic Sci. Int. 2004, 145, 31-39. 4. Priya, K. S. Gnanamani, A. ; Radhakrishnan, N. ; Babu, M. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2002, 83, 193-199. 5. Wallace, F. A. ; Neely, S. J. ; Miles, E. A. ; Calder, P. C. Immunol. Cell. Biol. 2000, 78, 40-48. 6. Cherif, S. ; Frikha, F. ; Gargouri, Y. ; Miled, N. Food Chem. 2008, 111, 930-933. 7. Tomaino, R. M. ; Parker, J. D. ; Larick, D. K. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001, 49, 3993-3998. 8. Skonberg, D. I. ; Perkins, B. L. Food Chem. 2002, 77, 401-404. 9. Martin, C. A. ; Carapelli, R. ; Visantainer, J. V. ; Matsushita, M. ; de Souza, N. E. Food Chem. 2005, 93, 445-448. 10. Philip, C. C. Prostaglandins, Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids 2008, 79, 101-108. 11. Stoddart, L. A. Smith, N. J. ; Milligan, G. Pharmacol. Rev. 2008, 60, 405-417. 12. Calder, P. Lipids 1999, 34, S137-S140. 240 J. Chin. Chem. Soc. , Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 Qureshi et al. 13. Hamberg, M. ; Hamberg, G. Phytochemistry 1996, 42, 729-732. 14. Hargrove, R. L. ; Etherton, T. D. ; Pearson, T. A. ; Harrison, E. H. ; Kris-Etherton, P. M. J. Nutr. 2001, 131, 1758-1763. 15. Yaqoob, P. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2002, 56, 9. 16. Villa, B. ; Calabresi, L. ; Chiesa, G. ; Rise, P. ; Galli, C. ; Sirtori, C. R. Pharmacol. Res. 2002, 45, 475-478. 17. Siscovick, D. S. ; Raghunathan, T. E. ; King, I. ; Weinmann, S. ; Wicklund, K. G. ; Albright, J. ; Bovbjerg, V. ; Arbogast, P. Smith, H. ; Kushi, L. H. ; Cobb, L. A. ; Copass, M. K. ; Psaty, B. M. ; Lemaitre, R. ; Retzlaff, B. ; Childs, M. ; Knopp, R. H. JAMA 1995, 274, 1363-1367. 18. Bailey, A. L. ; Southon, S. Anal. Chem. 1998, 70, 415-419. 19. Zhao, J. ; Li, S. P. ; Yang, F. Q. ; Li, P. ; Wang, Y. T. J. Chromatogr. , A 2006, 1108, 188-194. 20. Romanowicz, L. ; Galewska, Z. ; Gogiel, T. ; Jaworski, S. ; Sobolewski, K. J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 2008, 70, 973-977. 21. Yue, X. -F. ; Zhang, Y. -N. ; Zhang, J. ; Zhang, Z. -Q. Anal. Methods 2010, 2, 668-672. 22. Rosenfeld, J. M. Anal. Chim. Acta 2002, 465, 93-100. 23. Shantha, N. C. ; Napolitano, G. E. J. Chromatogr. A 1992, 624, 37-51. 24. Destaillats, F. ; Cruz-Hernandez, C. J. Chromatogr. , A 2007, 1169, 175-178. 25. Yi, L. ; He, J. ; Liang, Y. ; Yuan, D. ; Gao, H. ; Zhou, H. Chem. Phys. Lipids 2007, 150, 204-216. 26. Anwar, F. ; Bhanger, M. I. ; Nasir, M. K. A. ; Ismail, S. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50, 4210-4214. 27. Dron, J. ; Linke, R. ; Rosenberg, E. ; Schrei ner, M. J. Chromatogr. , A 2004, 1047, 111-116. 28. AOAC 991. 39, 17th ed. ; Chapet 41, p 26, 2000. 29. Ringbom, T. ; Huss, U. ; Stenholm, A. ; Flock, S. ; Skattebol, L. ; Perera, P. ; Bohlin, L. J. Nat. Prod. 2001, 64, 745-749. 30. Badoni, R. ; Semwal, D. K. ; Rawat, U. J. Sci. Res. 2010, 2, 397-402.

Vision Statement Comparison Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Vision Statement Comparison - Assignment Example Even though it does not show where the company intends to go it explains the planning in the company. Therefore, the vision statement in the two companies is directed towards making a profit to the shareholders and also satisfying their clients. (MacDonald, 1997) The vision statement is similar with the educational vision statement in that it shows a bigger picture on where the company intends to be. MacDonald (1997) they are also similar as both articulate the dream on where either the company or the institutions intends to be. For example, in Georgia intends to maximize the potential in students through creating a productive citizen that can contribute to positive development of the society. California University of Pennsylvania intends envisions being the top university in the entire America. In the company, vision statement can apply to different divisions; the educational vision statements also might be different from one faculty to another. But what is clear that the overall vision statement should be consistent. The example of the vision statement from both companies and two educational institutions act as a driving force to employees and the staff towards achieving the bigger picture in the or the fundamental laid objectives. (Clarke,

Alexander Hamilton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alexander Hamilton - Essay Example Hamilton served as Secretary of Treasury during the Washington administration from September 1789 until January 1795. During his stint, hew was deemed to have significantly helped position the US under a sound economic regime. He presented a comprehensive financial program to the first Congress ("Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia"). To illustrate this point, his works such as the Report on Public Credit (1790) proposed to the federal government the redemption of confederation government securities and full payment of debt accumulated by the Continental Congress. As part of his financial program, this provision resolved and nationalized financial chaos inherited from the Revolution (Foner & Garraty). Apart from this, Hamilton also generated the Report on Manufactures (1791), wherein he impelled the federal government to encourage manufactures and proposed protective laws including the imposition of tariff on imported manufactured goods and series of excise tax both for the purpose of preserving of home market and generating revenue for the government to pay its debt (Burt).

CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ASSIGNMENT - Case Study Example In Mary Kay, it would seem that there was not an evident breach between the roles of entrepreneur and owner-manager (Underwood 2003). Mary Kay embodied the traits of both roles and appears to have been able to comfortably slip into one role or the other depending on circumstances. For instance, as an owner-manager, Mary Kay exhibited a very strong internal locus of control. Essentially, she was able to encourage herself to embrace new roles. She was actually motivated by her own ability to believe that she could make her business a success just by making the most of her god-given traits. In addition, she exhibited great courage in her ability to take risks in order to develop her business while also aiming to be the best in her chosen field. There were also situational factors that helped Mary Kay to success after she launched her business. Her demotion in her place of work at a time when she was supposed to be promoted merely served to spur her into launching out on her own. While it may be seen as a disadvantage, the absence of women from the workplace may actually have helped Mary Kay to reach the level of success that she did. If there were more women in the Beauty industry, the competition would have divided the market and forced Mary Kay Inc. to be more innovative in order to win clients (Underwood 2003). Mary Kay’s religion also played a major role in her life. She believed that God wanted the best for her, and this belief spurred her into action even when she faced rejection. Mary Kay launched a business with just nine employees and hardly enough capital at a time when the majority of women in America tended to focus on making homes for their families. She faced discrimination on the basis of her gender when she approached financial institutions for huge loans. She did not have enough money to launch her operation, but did it anyway. Mary Kay’s ambitiousness showed

Communist state of north korea

Communist state of north korea Communist state North Korea is a Communist state, with a policy of diplomatic and economic self-reliance, fronted by the dictator Kim Jong-Il (2010). Choosing to shun the outside world, the government promotes fear and paranoia through propaganda, surveillance and censorship. Through this, Kim maintains his iron grip on his country and its people, with the regime being compared by Ben MacIntyre (2010), to George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four. The citizens of North Korea have no privacy and the absence of individual rights many of us take for granted. For more than 50 years North Korea has been ready to go to war, with their ‘military first policy making it mandatory for citizens to participate in a minimum of six years military service (Aljazeera 2010). They have the worlds fourth largest armed forces, and spend the majority of their GDP on the military, relying on aid agencies for food handouts to keep the population from starvation (Aljazeera 2010). North Koreas nuclear weapon testing, large armies and xenophobia openly affects the rest of the world, not to mention Kims ‘Big Brother like regime influencing other would be dictators to make Orwells fiction a reality. My understanding of the situation in North Korea is shaped by the society I live in. As an 18 year old, Australian, Caucasian female, I have the basic rights of freedom. We have limited censorship laws, a democratic voting system and freedom of speech. With all these basic freedoms that I often take for granted, its quite difficult to believe how anyone could live in a controlled society like North Korea. We assume that, because the people of North Korea dont live in a society like ours, that their lives are a misery, proving that without first hand experience its impossible to put ourselves in their position. The society I live in is also relatively safe. Kim has given his people a false sense of security, declaring outsiders as the enemy and himself as a protector. Living under a dictatorship is a hard concept to grasp. I have seen Nineteen-Eighty Four and read Animal Farm, and these novels help paint a picture of what life might be like for the citizens of North Korea. North Koreas control over information is quite similar to Chinas censorship laws. The Great Firewall of China, blocks out any searches pertaining to Tiananmen Square, democracy, freedom of speech, police brutality and many social networking sites. China, on a scale, is not as oppressed as North Korea, but is still incredibly censored. Michael Atkinson, former Attorney-General, caused controversy when he made it a law to post names and postcodes on any internet comments or blogs about the state election. Due to public outcry and message boards comparing the act to the extreme censorship in North Korea and Nazi Germany (Dowdell McGuire 2010), it was promptly reversed. Censorship is creeping into our society, with the likes of Stephen Conroy, the current Minister of Broadband, Communication and Digital Economy, trying to enforce stronger internet laws (Moses 2010). With these proposed censorship laws, I have to question our ‘freedom of speech, although it comforts me to know that through mass public outrage laws can be reversed. People born into Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Ils regime wouldnt known life any other way; they cant understand freedom and real safety because they havent experienced it. I cant comprehend living in such a controlled country because I have lived in a democratic society. Totalitarianism, extreme censorship and surveillance are very important issues and just because theyre not prevalent in our government, doesnt mean that theyre not concerning and problematic issues, which could extend to our society and change our political identities. Reference List Central Intelligence Agency 2010, The World Factbook: North Korea, United States, viewed 20 March 2010 MacIntyre, B 2010, ‘North Korean Regime Truly Orwellian, Australian 1 March, p.9. North Korea: A state of war 2010, Aljazeera.net, viewed 17 March 2010, Dowdell, A McGuire, M 2010, ‘Outrage as Rann government, Opposition unite to gag internet state election debate, Advertiser 2 February, viewed 20 March 2010, Moses, A 2010, ‘Google baulks at Conroys call to censor YouTube, Age February 11, viewed 20 March 2010

Protein Power Essays -- Eating Health Essays

Protein Power 1. Description Met-Rx can be used as a meal supplement or meal companion. It is mostly used by body builders in order to build body mass. It is packaged in the form of food bars or powdered shakes. (www.metrx.com/tutorials-and-quiz/quiz.html) The purpose of this treatment is to "support protein synthesis, energy production, and fat utilization" (www.met-rx.com/faq/default.htm). The ingredients contained in these combinations allow the body to acquire all the necessary nutrients for maximum metabolic effect. 2. Types of Protein Supplements Shakes are used so that the time consuming calorie counting, etc. can be avoided. They are also designed to "maximize the oxidation and storage potential of some metabolic pathways (protein and carbohydrates) and limits others (fat)" (www.metrx.com/tutorial-and-quiz/lesson7c.html). Currently, whey protein has the highest Biological Value (a number used for comparing protein value in foods.) The fact that whey protein was produced as a result of milk protein and there is no inclusion of fat or lactose allows whey protein to be very beneficial. Whey protein has also shown an increase in levels of glutathione (an antioxidant which is necessary in a healthy immune system). (www.powersupplements.com/protein.htm) For this reason, the University of Nebraska Medical Center studied the effects of a protein diet on hamsters. They concluded that the "life span of hamsters was extended by 60% by supplementing their diet with whey protein" (www.powersupplements.com/protein.htm). Considering this study deals with hamsters, the results can not be assumed exact for humans, nonetheless they are encouraging. 3. Food Vs. Protein Supplement ... ...cience Nutrition. Jul;39(4):317-328. (3) Dohm GL. (1984). Protein nutrition for athletes. Clinical Sports Medicine. Jul;3(3):s595-604. (4) Jenson, MB and I Hessov. (1997). Dietary supplementation at home improves the regain of lean body mass after surgery. Nutrition. May;13(5):422-430. (5) McCarthy, D and D Weihofen. (1999). The effect of nutritional supplements on food intake in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Oncol Nurs Forum. Jun;26(5):897-900. (6) Nesheim, MC. (1999). What is the research base for the use of dietary supplements? Public Health Nutrition. Mer;2(1):35-38. (7) Arslanian, S. and S DaSilva, FL Goss, J Kang, KF Metz, RJ Robertson, RR Suminski, and AC Utter. (1997). Acute effect of amino acid ingestion and resistance exercise on plasma growth hormone concentration in young men. Int. J. Sport Nutrition. Mar;7(1):48-60.

Innovation Paper

? Introduction Innovation is about partnerships. It involves advancing new and improved ideas and is relevant to all communities. Partnerships create and promote entrepreneurship, the development of technology and its commercialization. Taken together, they are critical to enhancing many organizations and America’s global competitiveness. Workforce development and education support innovation and entrepreneurship, and linking these activities are important in developing a competitive innovation and an entrepreneurial system. This paper will discuss how to identify and characterize promoting innovation, the role of leadership in sustaining innovation and the ethical implications of promoting innovation in an office environment. How would you identify and characterize the roles of incentives, training, and education in promoting innovation in your organization. In order to effectively promote innovation organizations must give their employees; â€Å"meeting and recreational space which lead to spontaneous encounters and informal networking, both are important facilitators of innovation† (Bettina Von Stamm,  2003,  para. &5). These incentives cannot act alone and instead must act together through managerial efforts with their upper level management. By working together and introducing organizational competitiveness throughout the company, upper level management and everyone else will recognize the results of better communication, coordination and cohesiveness of their innovation related efforts. Through collaborative efforts, organizations become stronger by leveraging and combining the individual strengths and resources of each employee. America’s colleges and universities are key assets that must be tapped in order to advance our nation’s innovation strategy. The United States has the best higher education system in the world and that system should be continually expanding with more students, better trained faculty and more primary research capabilities. American colleges and universities are essential in educating our future workforce, conducting research, and producing innovations. What is the role of leadership in creating, managing, and sustaining innovation in your organization? Introducing organizational innovation incentives is not an easy task, and will take finesse, and people skill to be successful. The organization structure and its relationship to culture will need to be understood to develop an action plan that will fit the current and future organizational culture. Once the culture has been dissected and analyzed, it’s important to know who the key players are, in other words, those who have the power, and authority to make decisions will be the most instrumental to the success of increasing organizational innovation. During the change process it’s necessary that one possesses a certain skill set, or techniques to help deal with resistance once discovered. Communication, the art of negotiation, and people skills are the best tools one can possess when dealing with resistance to change. Once those attributes are exhibited, techniques will need to be implemented based on the leadership. What are the ethical implications of an individual reward system? To abandon or abuse the performance appraisal process is a breach of business ethics. While some managers are skillful and genuine in reviewing an individual's performance, that does not appear to be typical. The ethical ramifications of performance reviews have caused managers and employees all levels to become frustrated, cynical, and withdrawn. Many managers talk about ethics but do not recognize or act upon ethical issues in their day-to-day managerial responsibilities. Most ethical questions arise from people relationships within the organization. Managers must realize that ethics is the process of deciding and acting. Results of questions from my previous organization indicate that some of the managers believe they are recognized and reinforced for their ethical decisions and behaviors. Employees have a big stake in the way managers evaluate and operate. Managers and nonsupervisory employees alike cite concern about â€Å"politics and lack of fair treatment, honesty, and truthfulness† in connection with the performance review. References Bettina Von Stamm. (2003). Managing Innovation, Design and Creativity. Retrieved April  7, 2009, from Bettina Von Stamm, Week Five, OI 461.

Outsourcing of Facilities Management

Outsourcing of Facilities Management Introduction Within the hospitality industry there are a number of departments that do not offer direct guest services but instead offer services in maintenance of the hotel property. Among these departments is the engineering department which many times plays the crucial role of operating the hotel heating and/or air conditioning, maintenance of refrigeration facilities, lighting and elevators and other transportation systems (Barrows and Powers 2009).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Outsourcing of Facilities Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In most establishments significant repair and maintenance work is carried out by external organizations but the hotel relies heavily on its internal staff to ensure smooth and efficient operation of its facilities. Given that utility costs have always been significant it would appear that efficient management of these facilities can play a major role in the overa ll performance of the establishment as a whole. This is evident based on reports by O’Fallon and Rutherford that indicate that energy costs could range between 4 to 6% of the property’s operation budget (2009). It has also been established that savings in these costs can be achieved by simply modification of staff behavior. In addition to behavior change it has been observed that recent technological advancements can make major improvements in the control of energy usage within the facility (Barrows and Powers 2009). This position leads to the conclusion that future managers need to be aware of changes in this area as they may offer a crucial competitive advantage. Background The position regarding the proper management of energy resources and outsourcing these services is crucial for a number of reasons. According to Sturman, Corgel and Verma it has been observed that in preparation for a career in the hospitality industry an individual is required to posses the corre ct human capital (2011). This is because despite of the effects of the recession, hospitality organizations are constantly in search of outstanding talent. This human capital is an intangible resource that plays a very vital role in whether or not the company will gain a competitive advantage within the industry (Sturman, Corgel and Verma 2011). Such individuals make the company profitable by applying their knowledge directly in concert with company assets. The company assets include buildings, equipment, furnishing and all are used to help the organization deliver value to its customers. By gaining knowledge on the most appropriate approaches to manage the company facilities an individual can gain insight that will save the company money and gain a competitive advantage.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition to the issue of careers in hospitality it has been noted that in recent years growth within the hospitality industry has become more apparent in chain operations or within the industry’s corporate segment (Reid and Bojanic 2010). Due to this major players such as Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott International to name a few continue to increase their market share at the expense of smaller chains and independent operators. While independent operators have continued to survive, the market has become much more competitive and suggests a much greater emphasis on marketing (Reid and Bojanic 2010). Whereas the large corporate chains can manage to control their pricing due to economies of scale, the same approach is not possible in the case of independent operators (Pizam 2010). An alternative approach to this challenge may require that independent operators increase their expenditure on marketing activities. This is a difficult task given that additional debt may weigh down heavily on the company. On the contrary these companies could resort to improving the management of their current expenditure to create funds to support activities such as marketing. It is for these reasons that deeper insight into the operation and management of facilities is considered important. Content It has already been established that energy costs normally run in the range of four to six percent of a hotel’s operation budget (Chen 2009). Unfortunately owing to the increased demand for energy in most urban areas the price of energy has risen and it is likely to continue rising in the near future. However, there have been a series of technological advancements in the field that can assure an establishment makes some savings in the expenditure on energy. Current statistics indicated that the cost of energy for the US hospitality industry is in the range of $ 3.7 billion. Based on this data it has been reported that energy costs is among the highest non staff items in any hotel’s profit and loss account (Chen 2009). Based on this conclusion it is easy to see why any reductions that can be made in this area are important for the hospitality industry. It has been observed that energy saving initiatives can be categorized in three chronological clusters namely, short term, midterm and long term (Chen 2009).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Outsourcing of Facilities Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Short term savings can be achieved without vast capital investment and result in payback in a short duration. These initiatives include actions such as switching off lights and heaters when floors are not in use. With the current advances in technology such short term benefits can be achieved fairly easily through the use of motion sensors and other similar devices (Chen 2009). In addition to the short term saving the organization can also utilize technological advances and know how to attain the mid and long term savings which may require more significant expenditure. Among some of the activities that can bring both mid and long term savings include changing all light fittings, installation of thermostats, ongoing staff training, installation of energy efficient refrigeration and vehicles, etc (Chen 2009). This simple information based on changes in technology can bring about significant reduction in organizational expenditure. Another essential aspect to consider in relation to the hospitality industry and management of resources is the current global trend in relation to eco friendly initiatives. This trend which is currently very popular involves the fusion of ecology with cool architecture to bring about buildings that are energy efficient. This is possible through approaches that allow such buildings to make use of naturally available sources to supplement its energy requirements (Conrady and Buck 2011). As a result of this ingenuity the cost of operating the building is significantly reduced thus allow ing the establishment to focus its expenditure on areas such as marketing that need additional funds. One of the first establishments that applied the green hospitality approach in an urban setting is the Boutiquehotel Stadhalle in Austria (Conrady ad Buck 2011). This establishment is the first in the world with a zero energy balance. The establishment relies on electric power that is produced by solar panels and wind turbines. In addition to that the building uses water that was drilled and uses this water for cooling, heating and general use within the establishment. The water used to flush toilets and water plants is purely rain water collected from the roofs within the establishment (Conrady and Buck 2011). The green lifestyle is currently considered a niche concept that may have considerable growth in the near future. If this proves true eco-leadership will be a major competitive factor for destinations in the future (Conrady and Buck 2011).Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For this reason any establishment interested in creating a Green lifestyle brand will require a holistic and sustainable concept, green chic (interior decor), and an understanding of lighting products and branding. This is one of the reasons that facility management is a major concern. The aspect of giving adequate consideration to facilities management is very crucial for the long term survival of a company based current economic trends. There are several large players within the hospitality industry across the globe are paying attention to the communities that they serve. It has been noted that large industry players such as McDonald’s spend a significant amount of resources on community oriented efforts (Enz 2009). This company achieves this by carrying out a number of animal welfare audits annually and publishes the report of each audit. In addition to this it has established a charity dedicated to improving the welfare and health status of children (Enz 2009). As mention ed earlier in this report the growth within the hospitality industry in recent times has mainly been within the corporate circles (Reid and Bojanic 2010). Given that these players are able to take advantage of economies of scale to competitively price their products, smaller players need to make serious moves to ensure they can remain competitive within the market. This is further complicated by the fact the large industry players have a lot more money to spend on securing their place in the market. Fortunately it has been noted that it has become more apparent to people in society that issues such as climate change need to be addressed. Because of this concepts that support protection of the environment and reduction of pollution have become relatively popular (Zhou 2011). Several governments have also come on board and shown their support for such initiatives. This is seen in the case of countries such as China where government is making plans to adjust hotel rating to indicate th e environmental policy held by the establishment (Zhou 2011). This trend has seen more and more people around the world become concerned with their consumption behavior. In response to this, it has become apparent that organizations that are able to provide mechanisms that minimize the impact of their activity on environment are becoming increasingly popular (Zhou 2011). This has seen it become a widely acceptable practice to reside in a green hotel and provide green service. Taking an economic stand point it is possible to assume therefore that offering green service provides a vital avenue to expand market share (Zhou 2011). This comes about due to the ability to attract more clients, especially those with ec0-concerns. This assumption may prove to be true in the near future given that reports indicate that in China the brand economy has 8% of the market share while in Europe and America this figure stands a 70% (Zhou 2011). This indicates that the economy hotel has a huge potenti al in many parts of the world. In addition to this is the fact that energy costs have been increasing in recent years due to limited energy serving growing demands (Zhou 2011). Since a hotel requires plenty of energy to cover heating, lighting and storage costs adoption of advanced technology can bring about some drastic reduction in these costs. It is important to keep in mind the point earlier mentioned that indicated energy costs for a significant portion of the operating budget (O’Fallon and Rutherford 2009). This approach provides an effective way to reduce costs while bringing the benefit of assisting in handling a growing global concern. Given the position with regards to the growing global concern of climate change and environmental degradation one can assume that a green approach helps build the organizational image (Zhou 2011). Just as in the case of McDonald’s corporate social responsibility undertaking this approach allows guests build trust in the organiza tion (Enz 2009). Building a reputation of profits and responsible behavior appears crucial for survival in any industry in the future. Eco friendly business allows smaller or independent operators a fighting chance where the larger corporate players are involved. This is especially so given that even without the resources to market at the same level, independent operators can use ingenuity to produce an equally if not more attractive package. Conclusion In this report the discussion revolved around outsourcing facilities management within the hospitality industry. It was noted that the proper management of facilities is a complex task and can be used to create opportunities to save money within a hotel. It was realized that this approach is crucial given that expenditure on energy constitutes a significant portion of operating expenditure. In addition to that it was also established that there has been significant growth within the industry suggesting a need to improve competitive p osition of any hotel. For this reason it became apparent that anyone interested in a career in hotel management need to provide a unique set of skills to allow the organization to advance. For this reason a thorough knowledge of facility maintenance approaches is useful as this can help in saving money and even be used to provide much needed competitive advantage. In relation to cost reduction such knowledge will allow managers make the correct decisions with regard to running the organization. It was also established that recent concerns with the environment have even driven the need for such knowledge further owing to the potential of eco friendly establishments. This point is reiterated in the statement of Chon and Maier indicating the future of hospitality will reflect the changing face of the population (2009). As such those involved in the industry will require keeping an eye on the population and reacting to changes within the population. References Barrows, CW, and Powers, T . Introduction to the Hospitality Industry. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc.; 2009. Chen, J. Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, Volume 5. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited; 2009. Chon, KS and Maier, TA. Welcome to Hospitality: An Introduction. New York: Delmar Cengage Learning; 2009. Conrady, R, and Buck, M. Trends and Issues in Global Tourism 2011.Berlin: Springer; 2011. Enz, C. Hospitality Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc.; 2009. Sturman, MC, Corgel, JB and Verma, R. Cornell School of Hotel Administration on Hospitality. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc; 2011. O’Fallon, MJ, and Rutherford, DG. Hotel Management and Operations. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc.; 2011. Pizam, A. International Encyclopedia of Hospitality Management. 2nd Edition. Kidlington: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2010. Reid, RD, and Bojanic, DC. Hospitality Marketing Management. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc.; 2010. Zhou, Q. Applied economics, Busines s and International Development Symposium, Part 1. New York: Springer; 2011.

Market report for Dubal

Market report for Dubal Introduction The US is renowned for its rich democratic space, strong consumer power, and business astuteness. However, its economic downturn and high cost of business may impede success there.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Market report for Dubal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A company needs to look into the external and internal factors that will affect it when it enters the international market. The purpose of the report is to determine whether Dubal, a UAE aluminium manufacturer, should enter the US market. Macro business environment political The Unites States of America is a federal state, in which the head of state is the president and the constitution is the supreme protector of citizens’ rights. It has a strong judiciary headed by the Supreme Court and is backed by an equally influential parliamentary system. Therefore, the three centres of power are the executive, the Judiciary and Con gress. Two parties dominate the country’s politics; that is, The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The latter part depends on business donations for campaign funding while Democrats get it from organised labour. Consequently, parties in office may make policies that protect the interests of their funders. Dubal’s ability to safeguard its needs will depend on the ruling party and their affiliations. Nonetheless, the country is a strong democracy and has a stable political environment. It is unlikely that Dubal will experience cases of war or civil conflict in this nation. Trade restrictions and protectionism exist, albeit at low levels. Constraints exist regarding the legality of a business; Dubal will have to go through a long process before being recognised as a legal entity. Additionally, zoning restrictions exist on firms that can bring goods into the country. Copyright and patent laws are quite severe in this country. Dubal may find difficulties in competi ng with older aluminium companies as they may possess patents over certain business processes.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, the country has several requirements on training workers, and licensing is a lengthy process for foreign businesses. Employers are obligated to pay for medical insurance as well other policies, so this may increase Dubal’s labour costs. The UAE and US do not have special trade agreements; however, substantial business still occurs between these two countries. As of 2011, the US had exported $15.8 billion worth of merchandise while the UAE imports about 2.4 billion worth of goods. Since the UAE is not in NAFTA or other trading groups with the US, then trade restrictions on products need to be expected. Minerals are not protected goods, so Dubal will need to pay a huge amount for its raw material-bauxite- if it c hooses to produce in the US (US Department of Energy 13). Macro business environment-economic The US has the second largest economy in the world. As of 2011, its GDP stands at $ 14.82 trillion. This implies that Dubal will have a large consumer market to sell its products to. Additionally, the country recorded a 1.5% increase in the economy. Statistics also indicate that the US is the biggest importer of goods in the world. It allows approximately $2.314 trillion worth of merchandise into its borders. If Dubal opts to enter the market as an importer, then it will have a conducive environment for doing so. The most significant contributor to the economy is the managerial sector while manufacturing accounts for only 0.7%. Dubal will not be entering into a manufacturing zone, and this could prove to be quite useful to the organisation. The US economy is still underperforming thus implying that key product markets, such as the automobile industry, have diminished demand for aluminium pr oducts. The US has several resources such as oil deposits. However, it does not have bauxite, which is the primary raw material for production of Aluminium. Dubal may, however, save on costs by sourcing its supplies from the South American market. Some bauxite-rich nations in this region include Venezuela and Brazil (CRU International 54).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Market report for Dubal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unemployment rates are at an alarmingly high rate for a country of such a level. It now stands at 9.1%, and is ranked 105th. This is still an all-time low for the nation. Consumers may be hesitant to buy new commodities like cars and houses, yet these items are made from aluminium. The US’ budget deficit is also at an all-time high; it now stands at $599.9 billion while its external debt to the world is $14.71 trillion. This makes it the second most indebted nation in the world . If Dubal plans on entering such a nation, it needs to prepare for constrained buying habits and rigid monetary restrictions as the government is trying to do as much as possible to cut down on expenditure. Even loan negotiations from banks might be challenging as financial institutions are dealing with the backlash for encouraging this over expenditure. Financial institutions have created high financial obligations and losses that must be paid by consumers. Failure to honour these responsibilities could cause the entire financial sector to go bankrupt. Transport, communication and other infrastructural facilities are already set up in the country. The level of development in the US implies that most of these needs will be easily catered for. Dubal, which depends on a steady supply of electricity, will not suffer from intermittent supplies. It will also not be necessary to invest in back-up generators as the nation’s electricity suppliers are dependable. Additionally, it is relatively easy to get credit in the nation as the country is ranked 4th in the world. Enforcement of contracts is taken seriously in the US, so Dubal will be protected from contract defaults by its business partners. Furthermore, the country does not have complex business networks such as the Chinese system of family ties. Therefore, Dubal can do business with organisations from the business directory. Minimal restrictions exist among the population concerning trade. Macro business environment-social The US is a culturally diverse country, and since the UAE also possesses this trait, then it will be easy to do business there. English is the US official language, and most residents of the UAE are now familiar with it. While individuals are religious, they tend to separate religion from business life. Additionally, most individuals do not pay attention to family ties when doing business, so this will favour Dubal.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Micro environment-competition Several aluminium producers already exist in the US, such as Alcoa, Century Aluminium, RUSAL, Alcan, and Chalco. Alcoa accounts for 54% of market share in the target market, and has a presence in other parts of the world. In fact, these dominant players will minimise Dubal’s capability to operate successfully in the market. RUSAL is one of the most formidable aluminium producers in the international aluminium industry, it controls 16% of the world market and has integrated various aluminium-based firms. Some of them are producers of bauxite while others manufacture aluminium (Aluminium Industry Association 15). Furthermore, some of them even produce packaging material and electricity products. Alcan is a Canadian firm, and has an advantage over other players owing to its high product volumes. Chalco on the other hand is a Chinese-owned firm that dominates is domestic market as well as a substantial portion of the US market. Foreign competitors fr om China are a force to reckon with. The entrance of Chinese players in the US market leads to market surplus hence price declines. The market for aluminium products is highly accessible. Companies need to choose the best strategies for entry, and they have a chance at succeeding. Most equipment and resources needed to manufacture the product are found in the country, but Dubal would be better of it imported these products from its cheapest markets. Nonetheless, it is likely that, in the long run, the growth potential for this company will be quite low since the US is saturated with aluminium smelters. Approximately 12 companies are responsible for performance in this industry. However, in the next five years, it is likely that domestic demand will grow if the economy improves. Projections indicate that the US aluminium industry will increase by 12% in 2013. Such changes will stem from better energy supply, government support, and cost efficient technologies. Furthermore, consumersà ¢â‚¬â„¢ need for sustainable construction practices is likely to increase the demand for Dubal’s product (Green 46). Profitability in the aluminium industry has not been very promising. In 2009, some 6 aluminium smelters closed their businesses. The biggest problem for most organisations is high production expenditure. These organisations need to pay a lot of money to use electricity. Additionally, the US lacks bauxite resources, so many firms need to import their own resources and this costs them considerably. If Dubal opts to take production into the US, then its profitability could be substantially diminished. However, if it only treats the US as a market, then chances are that it will have a greater competitive edge. Consolidation is now a reality in the industry and could be used as a source of competitive advantage for Dubal. The most powerful player in the world-RUSAL is using this strategy to remain a market leader (Bloomberg 40). Likewise, Dubal ought to borrow and customise that approach. The firm can merge with large aluminium purchases in order to foster cost management. Vertically integrated firms in the global aluminium industry are generating their own electricity. Access and prices of power can substantially reduce if Dubal has control over them. In fact, this explains why many aluminium firms are choosing developing nations as new target locations. They can produce electricity cheaply and efficiently in those areas. If Dubal chooses to generate its own electricity, then it ought to do this in the UAE rather than in an expensive country like the US. The organisation can also instate strong governance structures that emphasise strong environmental performance, human rights, and community relations. Additionally, the firm may focus on low cost energy sources since these would cut costs and secure better prices for the product. It should also have a green innovation strategy. Dubal should consider importation as a strategy for entrance int o the US market. This will protect the organisation from the high production costs that stem from operating in the US. All processing should occur in the UAE, so that it can have a ready-product to bring into the US. The US has fewer import restrictions on aluminium than it does on bauxite. Microenvironment-customers The principal type of consumer in the US aluminium market is the manufacturer. Therefore, Dubal Aluminium should consider using B2B partnership models to do business. Some of the frequent buyers of aluminium include automobile manufactures, bicycle, motorcycle, railways and aircraft firms. Beverage manufacturers such as Pepsi and Coca Cola need to the product to make cans and foils. US consumers are generally known for their impulsiveness. However, because Dubal sells intermediary products, then the same psychology cannot be applied to their products. Many B2B approaches work by initiating a strong relationship with the targeted enterprise. Dubal needs to demonstrate th at its products are superior or that they come at a lower price with no compromise on quality. These factors will set them apart from other retailers. American firms focus on product quality more than affordability so Dubal would be better of if it focused on the first approach. In addition to these differences, it may be imperative for the company to sharpen its negotiation skills as American buyers are astute bargainers. Culture has a positive impact on business in this nation because most people are individualistic. They are highly competitive and always do due diligence before getting into a business arrangement. Furthermore, it is the most qualified person that wins a contract rather than the most affable one. As such, Dubal needs to focus on its tangible advantages and business numbers if it wants to get a market there. Conclusion The purpose of the report was to establish whether the US is a feasible target market for Dubal. It was found that the cost of production is too hig h, owing to absence of the main mineral ore and high electricity costs. Additionally, there is stiff competition from local players. However, the US ranks well in terms of ease of doing business. Dubal should produce in the UAE and consider exporting its finished products to the USA. Aluminium Industry Association. The versatile metal. London: McMillan, 2005. Print. Bloomberg, Jerry. â€Å"Short run demand and supply elasticities in the West European market for secondary aluminium.† Resources Policy 26(2005): 39-50. Print. CRU International. Report in the aluminium and alumina industry. London: CRU International, 2008. Print. Green, Samuel. Aluminium recycling and processing for energy conservation and sustainability. NY: ASM International, 2007. Print. US Department of Energy. US energy requirements for aluminium production. Washington DC: DOE Press. Print

Social venture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Social venture - Essay Example To this end, stand for children (2011) notes that they â€Å"train ordinary people to be effective citizen leaders capable of solving problems facing children, both locally and state-wide, by convincing elected officials and voters to invest in and reform vital children’s programs.† With such an organization that has the ultimate aim of investing in people, it is worth investing every little bit of time and resource in it, analyzing its mode of operation, its strengths and weaknesses and how its future can be brightened. Social Problems and Challenges addressed by Stand for Children Leadership Center Stand for Children Leadership Center can best be described as the official mouthpiece of children. This judgment is given from their mode of operation and their social impact agenda. The primary social impact focus of the organization is to influence policy makers and other stakeholders on children issues to champion courses and legislations that seeks the total well-being of the child. The major reason behind the organization’s quest to take up such social responsibility sterns from the fact that according to the statutes of the United States Constitution, children do not have the right undertake such advocacy responsibilities in voicing out what their needs should be. To this end, the Stand for Children Leadership Center (2011) states that â€Å"Stand for Children Leadership Center exists because children in communities across America have no power to influence our democratic system to meet their fundamental needs.† The organization continues to say that for this reason, it has poised its mission to â€Å"teach everyday people how to join together in an effective grassroots voice in order to win concrete, long-lasting improvements for children, at both state and local levels.† This means that the duties of the organization does not target or deal with children directly but then it speaks on behave of children through people whos e voices are recognized by the democratic dispensation of the law. Strategies used in addressing social problems The core word that can be used to describe the strategy used by Stand for Children Leadership Centre is ‘grassroots action.’ To this end, Stand for Children (2011) states that they â€Å"use the power of grassroots action to help all children get the excellent public education and strong support they need to thrive† Stand for Children (2011). This grassroots action involves helping â€Å"ordinary people become effective citizen leaders who use our democratic process to improve the lives of children† (Stand of Children, 2011). Again, in its grassroots actions, the organisation â€Å"Recruit people with similar values; Identify effective, achievable solutions to problems facing their community's children; Educate decision makers and voters to achieve these solutions† (Stand for Children, 2011). Scrutiny of Stand for Children Leadership Cent er’s Strategies in addressing Social Problems – including Projected Social Impact Stand for Children Leadership Center is one of the most respected non-governmental organizations in the United States. Its activities and operations have generally been rated by Charity Navigator to be standard and competitive. This certainly means that social problem intervention adopted by the organization is appropriate and workable. The major strength of the strategy for addressing its social interventions is the fact that it

Animal rights. What rights should animals have Essay

Animal rights. What rights should animals have - Essay Example In this concept, it is illegal to use animals in any way that makes them feel pain, suffer or even die. It tries to explain to human beings that it is not a right practice to violate these rights. The concept was started in 1975 by Peter Singer in a book entitled animal liberation. It came to being after the birth of American Society for the prevention of cruelty of animals. Animal rights have been enforced in several parts of the world today. For instance, in Germany, it was voted and included in the constitution that was in the parliament’s house. The vote was aimed at adding a simple clause in the constitution to change the way in which people treated animals in that country. It is the first country in Europe to accept constitutionally the fact that animals had some rights like fair treatment and good feeding. The same has been followed in several other continents in the world and have led to a fairer treatment of all animals with a court penalty owing to the violation ther eof as discussed by CNN (2012). According to Lafollette (n.d), there are boundaries about animals that human beings should strive not to cross as opposed to treating animals in the way one pleases. It is not legitimate to mistreat animals even though they have no voice to rise. In this culture that we are living in today, animals are used as a main source of food, clothes, and research on drugs and to test the vulnerability of some appliances at home. All these can only be realized when the animal is dead or involves inflicting pain to the animal. Animals have a right against overcrowding. This implies that an animal has a right to enough space during its lifespan. This has not been followed especially by farmers who keep them for profit. Animals also have rights to enough movement. Due to the limitations of space, animals are confided in one place leading to less feeding and poor movement. For instance, chicken are overcrowded in little battery cages. The more crowded the animals a re, the more likely they are to attack each other and cause injury to one another. In an opinion, Lafollette (n. d) adds that people should use more of vegetables to reduce the killing of animals for food. Many people hold an opinion that animals do not feel pain and has led to the killing of many animals for not only food but also for scientific research and testing. When a dog is hit by a stray vehicle, the way it convulses, bleeds, and yelps is a sure proof that animals feel pain. The same way, a cat reacts even at the small attempt to step on its tail is another proof of sensitivity of their nervous system. It becomes controversial at times because there is need for nutrients in humans that can only be found in animals and the experiments that are done on animals is vital for human survival. As noted by Lin (2012), there are some myths that people hold about animal rights activists. One of these myths is that activist are more fond of animals than human beings. This is not the c ase anyway. Caring about animals does not render them more important than human beings. This is the reason as to why most animal activists are involved in humanitarian rights like hunger, poverty, sweatshops, feminism and other civil rights. Another myth is about leather materials compared to fur clothes and shoes. This is because fur can be obtained without necessarily killing the animal, but to get leather the animal has to be killed to get the skin of that animal. According to Buzzle (2012), animal rights activists are faced with the headache of controlling the rate at which animals are killed or injured. They have worked to make known their reputation just like politicians and celebrities. They