Gandhi and the Salt March Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gandhi and the Salt March - Term Paper Example Civil Disobedience is one such way to firmly disapprove something but it requires tremendous courage to stand up against a higher authority knowing that one wrong step can annihilate the entire movement. Yet, many leaders throughout the world have achieved a lot by exercising Civil disobedience. One of the finest examples of non-violent civil disobedience is the Dandi March or the Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a firm believer in â€Å"satyagraha† and â€Å"ahimsa†. In fact so firm was Gandhi’s belief in civil disobedience that he said that it was â€Å"the greatest and the most activist force in the world.† An indeed, the Salt March changed the course of Indian history forever all because of one man’s firm belief in acts of non-violence. Born in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi was a well educated man and attended college in England for his higher studies. However, the plight of Indian and blacks at the hands of the Euro peans hurt him a lot. His first brush with non-violent protests was in South Africa where he fought for the rights of Indian Hindus and Muslims in South Africa. His conscience constantly pricked him, because he knew that his own homeland was suffering under the colonial British Raj. He returned to India in 1915 and soon emerged as one of the many freedom fighters. However, Gandhi’s ahimsa or non-violent ways were very unique and surprising. Gandhi was looking for thinking of doing something that would bring the British Raj down on its knees, something that was strong enough to bind the entire Indian subcontinent together to fight for one cause and soon enough he found a very humble but immensely strong reason. The British, who had colonized India had levied harsh taxes on salt production and soon followed that with a law forbidding anyone from making salt, thus gaining monopoly over this essential commodity. For years fruitless protests were conducted to get rid of the salt t ax. But the tax was not the only thing that the Indians wanted to be free from. They wanted â€Å"Purna Swaraj† or complete freedom in all its spheres including political, economic and social. The freedom fighting leaders proclaimed that freedom was everyone’s birthright. But, such acts of freedom needed a firm beginning. Previously, many small protests and movements had been organized against the British, but not one of these movements had power enough to stir the authority and challenge the power. After the proclamation of obtaining absolute freedom, Gandhi was looking for ways to achieve what was rightfully theirs. The topic of salt tax and salt monopoly gave a fine idea to Mahatma Gandhi, who knew that such a sensitive topic would stir all Indians, rich or poor, Hindu or Muslim, because salt was equally essential to all and the taxes hurt everyone equally. However, he was aware that violent acts of rebellion and protests would land his supporters and himself in jai l, so he turned to â€Å"ahimsa†, the non-violent way. The historic Dandi March took place on March 12; 1930.Gandhi was followed by volunteers and fellow â€Å"satyagraha† or believers in passive resistance. After the Non-Cooperation movement in the 1920’s, the Dandi march was on of the most significant incidences that questioned the British authority in India. It started from Sabarmati ashram, the place where

Export Cycle Of A Shipping Line Economics Essay

Export Cycle Of A Shipping Line Economics Essay Shipping Industry has always been subject to vagaries of different factors, such as, ocean monsoon, political and economical factors etc. Nowadays when the world economy is undergoing recession, its all the more necessary to study this integral line of transportation, which connects the globe through water. The objective of the project undertaken was to study the problems of the upcountry exporters with particular reference to ICD. When in late 70s and early 80s, the concept of containerized cargo and delivery at doorstep started getting popular the world over, a need was felt to set up an Inland Container Depot to cater to the needs of trade and industry of the Northern part of India.   With this background in mind and with a view to bringing the facilities of transportation and Customs clearance of import and export cargo at the doorstep of importers and exporters, an Inland Container Depot was set up at Pragati Maidan in 1983 under the control of an Assistant Collector of Customs.   Indian Railways were nominated the custodian of the goods.   In 1984, a Container Freight Station (CFS) was also opened at Patparganj, which was an extension of ICD, Pragati Maidan, and Central Warehousing Corporation was nominated as its custodian.   This was a new experience for the trade and in dustry of North India and the institution of ICDs caught their imagination.   Soon, the importers/exporters who earlier used to clear their goods from one of the ports, started using ICD: Pragati Maidan and CFS : Patparganj for the clearance of their import and export goods.   In 1988, a public sector enterprise, M/s. Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) was set up which took over the responsibilities of custodian from Indian Railways for ICD: Pragati Maidan.   Within a decade of its inception, the volume of work at ICD had increased to such an extent that it became difficult to handle it at Pragati Maidan.   It was then decided (in 1983) to shift the venue of ICD from Pragati Maidan to its present location i.e. at Tughlakabad.   In 1995, the CFS : Patparganj was upgraded to a full fledged ICD with C.W.C. continuing as custodian of the goods.   Movement of containers by road was also permitted in addition to the movement of containers by rail through Tughlakabad.    Almost all commodities are being imported through ICD, major items being machinery, electronic goods, plastic, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts and metal and metal scrap.   On export side major items being exported through ICD are leather garments and leather products, readymade garments, machinery, agricultural products especially rice The project was majorly focused on ICD and the problems faced by the exporters with reference to the ICD. OBJECTIVE To study the problems of the upcountry exporters with particular refrence to ICD To study the workings of the study. To study the role of ICD in India. To study the role of Multimodal Transport Operators in the International Trade transactions. METHODOLOGY DATA SOURCE: The data was collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected through interactive sessions with exporters importers, Export Import managers, Commercial managers, Managing Directors, General Managers, Logistics managers and Supply chain managers. Secondary data was collected from internet, EXIM newsletter, Libraries and FIEOs directory. RESEARCH APPROACH: The approach adopted was survey of exporters and interactive sessions with various people. The presidential areas that were surveyed include Okhla Industrial area, NOIDA, Udyog Vihar, and Global Business Park etc. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT: Research instruments used were interactive sessions with various executives. CONTACT METHOD: Personal interviews were used to collect information because they are more authentic and the researcher can easily know and describe the attitudinal behavior of the respondents, which cannot be done by using other survey methods LINER REPRESETATION THE LINER INDUSTRYS CHALLENGE: There is no doubt that the challenges and opportunities facing the container liner shipping business get bigger as each year passes. As the years after 1999 passed half the way the future of those companies involved in providing container transport services seemed to hinge on two massive opportunities or challenges securing cost advantage and satisfying the need of customers. The consensus is that failure to seize either or both of these opportunities will ultimately condemn carriers, whatever their specialist niche or global coverage to commercial oblivion in a trading environment that each year becomes ever more competitive. The first analysis of the containerization international, published in May 1983 entrants which do not figure in the latest 1998 ranking, are Wilhelmsen Lines, Polish Ocean Lines, Hoegh Lines and Star Shipping, all of which unlike US Lines, are still operating. Number one shipping line, Maersk was ranked fifth in 1983, Mediterranean Shipping Co., fourth in the year was nowhere to be seen. Of course, back then Nedloyd and PO (then called OCL) were listed separately, as were APL and CGM, while the companies, which have recently acquired them, respectively NOL and CMA, did not even make the top 20 in 1983. Neither did Ships, Safmarine/CMBT, nor any of the South Korean carriers. What was also different was the number of non-cellular vessels and converted to cellular ships 1983 stop carriers had deployed. Only just over half their fleet in terms of TEU capacity were purpose-built, fully cellular ships. Also, most of their ships were less than 2,000 TEU, the notable exception being those of US Lines. It had 14*4, 4,148 TEU ships in the pipeline. Capacity growth is largely attributable to expansion by leading players. For, such is the maturity of the market and so high the price of entry that the days of major new operations appearing on the scene are long since gone. The problem of underutilization of assets also exists. This problem doesnt vary only from trade to trade, but also from route segment to route segment. Similarly its impact on pricing is patchy. Container liner services rates continue to decline in real terms in many markets, despite considerable improvements in the level and range of services being offered by carriers. Some analysts suggest that rate levels will soon start to edge up in certain trades as careers seed to recoup the substantial investment they have made in vessels, boxes and information systems. It is argued that there is a limit to how long they can continue to survive in such tight margins. However, a rise in rates presupposes a level of discipline among carriers, which the industry has rarely displayed, often preferring instead to try and secure volume by buying market share. And with the conference system in terminal decline in the face of shipper and regulatory antipathy, there are few structures left to encourage price discipline with in the industry. Carriers will also continue to secure cost advantage by forming strategic alliances with other operators. Such partnerships are now a recognized means of achieving better results for carriers and their customers. On most trades such arrangements are now the norm and barring any regulatory ruling which might impede their progress they will continue to flourish. One of the advantages of such alliances is that thy enable participants o improve the coverage and service frequency they an offer their customers. Such considerations assume greater importance as lines seek to be more responsive to the needs of their customers. Increasingly operators are becoming less asset-focused and more customer-driven. This presents a host of opportunities for an industry which has only relatively recently realized it is in the service business. For the global operators the challenge is to think globally, but at the same time act locally, by providing services which are appropriate for local as well as global shipping needs. WORKINGS OF SHIPPING LINE Contract of shipment Booking space in a ship. Getting confirmation from the agent. Picking up of the cargo (according to the terms of the shipment). Warehousing, if required. The carrier issues the bill of lading when he receives the goods. Ones the ship sails the master informs the agent. Informing the principal about the shipment. Delivery according to the terms of shipment. Export Cycle Of A Shipping Line Shipping line negotiates freight terms, etc with the client and upon finalization of deal; client agrees to use MISC for export shipment. The client then approaches the Shipping Line. Operations office/counter at the ICD for the allotment of the container. Container is allotted to the client upon the presentation of a copy of shipping bill/invoice. There are three modes of operation. Factory stuffing: If the container is being taken to the factory for stuffing, the client organizes his own transportation and removes the container for house stuffing. After stuffing, the central excise puts a seal in the container and Line seal is also put by the shipper. The container is moved to ICD, where a customs inspection takes place, and after inspection Customs seal is put. After the sealing, the container moves to the railhead for further movement to Nhava Sheva. ICD stuffing: The cargo is brought to the ICD by the shipper and a container is allowed based on shipping bill a container is allotted. Cargo is stuffed at ICD and after the seals are put in the container, the container moves to the railhead for further movement to Nhava Sheva. CFS stuffing: The cargo is brought to the CFS by the shipper. After the customs formalities, the container is stuffed by the shipping line. After stuffing, a line seal and customs seal is put, and the container is moved to ICD railhead for further movement to Nhava Sheva. Many a times the shipper stuffs the container in his factory and instead of bringing it back to the ICD, hands it over directly to Nhava Sheva. Customs inspection of seal is done at Nhava Sheva. Last but not the least payment is collected from the concerned shipper. FLOW CHART OF THE EXPORT CYCLE OF A SHIPPING LINE EXPORT  ¯ FACTORY STUFFING ICD STUFFING CFS STUFFING  ¯  ¯  ¯ BROUGHT TO FACTORY FOR STUFFING BY SHIPPER CARGO IS BROUGHT TO ICD AND CONTAINER IS ALLOWED AGAINST S/B CARGO IS BROUGHT BY THE SHIPPER TO THE CFS  ¯  ¯  ¯ CENTRAL EXCISE AND LINE SEAL BY SHIPPER CARGO STUFFED AT ICD CONTAINERS STUFFED AFTER CUSTOMS FORMALITIES BY S/L  ¯  ¯  ¯ CONTAINER BROUGHT TO ICD AFTER CUSTOMS INSPECTION SEAL IS PU PUTTING OF SEALS PUTTING OF LINE CUSTOMS SEAL  ¯  ¯  ¯ CONTAINER MOVED TO RAILHEAD CONTAINER MOVED TO RAILHEAD CONTAINER MOVED TO ICD RAILHEAD ICD TUGLKABAD When in late 70s and early 80s, the concept of containerized cargo and delivery at doorstep started getting popular the world over, a need was felt to set up an Inland Container Depot to cater to the needs of trade and industry of the Northern part of India.   With this background in mind and with a view to bringing the facilities of transportation and Customs clearance of import and export cargo at the doorstep of importers and exporters, an Inland Container Depot was set up at Pragati Maidan in 1983 under the control of an Assistant Collector of Customs.   Indian Railways were nominated the custodian of the goods.   In 1984, a Container Freight Station (CFS) was also opened at Patparganj, which was an extension of ICD, Pragati Maidan, and Central Warehousing Corporation was nominated as its custodian.   This was a new experience for the trade and industry of North India and the institution of ICDs caught their imagination.   Soon, the importers/exporters who earlier used to clear their goods from one of the ports, started using ICD: Pragati Maidan and CFS : Patparganj for the clearance of their import and export goods.   In 1988, a public sector enterprise, M/s. Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) was set up which took over the responsibilities of custodian from Indian Railways for ICD: Pragati Maidan.   Within a decade of its inception, the volume of work at ICD had increased to such an extent that it became difficult to handle it at Pragati Maidan.   It was then decided (in 1983) to shift the venue of ICD from Pragati Maidan to its present location i.e. at Tughlakabad.   In 1995, the CFS : Patparganj was upgraded to a full fledged ICD with C.W.C. continuing as custodian of the goods.   Movement of containers by road was also permitted in addition to the movement of containers by rail through Tughlakabad.   ICD : Tughlakabad (TKD) caters to the need of importers and exporters based in Northern India.   It is situated near Okhla Industrial Area and is spread over 44 hectares of land.   It has three storied Administrative block housing Offices of Customs, CONCOR, Bank, Shipping Lines, CHAs and Surveyors.   Four full length rail lines are available in the Customs area which bring the containers by train from Gateway ports such as Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Chennai, besides bringing the containers by road from other ports such as Haldia, Calcutta and Kandla, etc.   ICD:TKD is equipped with most modern facilities such as rail mounted gantry of 40 metric empty lifting capacity, rubber tire diesel powered cranes, billoties and lift trucks, etc.   two covered sheds, one for import and another for export with a total area of 16,000 sq. mts. has been provided in the Customs area for stuffing and de-stuffing of import and export   goods.   With these ultra-modern facilities, ICD:TKD, New D elhi, has developed into the largest hub of multi-modal centre in the Indian sub-continent.   Containers meant for ICDs: Patparganj, Faridabad and Gari Harsaru are first brought at TKD by rail and then transported to their respective destinations.   Almost all commodities are being imported through ICD, major items being machinery, electronic goods, plastic, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts and metal and metal scrap.   On export side major items being exported through ICD are leather garments and leather products, readymade garments, machinery, agricultural products especially rice The ICD Tughlakabad is the largest dry port in South Asia and the leading centre for importers and exporters of the Northern Region.   This ICD began functioning at Tughlakabad in 1993, prior to which it was located at Pragati Maidan.   The Custodian of this ICD is Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR), which is the Public Sector Undertaking.   CONCOR are also the carriers, through rail, of import and export containers between ICD Tughlakabad and the Gateway Ports of Mumbai, Nhava Sheva and Chennai.   This ICD is the focal Port for the ICDs at PPG,   Faridabad and Garhi Harsaru and the movement of the containers between the ICDs to and fro takes place by road.   The Customs area houses two covered Sheds, one for import and the other for exports.   The main CONCOR building houses the administrative staff of Customs and CONCOR as well as the offices of CHAs and Shipping lines.   The staff working at ICD Tughlakabad is the regular Departmental staff and not on cost recovery basis.   The traffic as well as the revenue from this port has been going up over the year which can be seen in the charts below: Containers Handled: CONTAINERIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIA Worldwide, the containerization of cargo has steadily been gaining popularity because of the several advantages it provides to manufacturers and exporters. Some of these are listed below: Lower transit time Safety of cargo from pilferage and in-transit damage Ability to avoid sales tax and Octroi checks at each state border crossed. In India, however, the proportion of total internal trade that is containerized is still quite insignificant. The total annual volume of internal trade is estimated to be 650 million tonnes, of which 250 million tonnes are moved by rail and the remaining 400 million tonnes by road. The volume of containerized cargo movement is less than 5 million tonnes (of which 3-4 million tonnes are handled by the railways). There is thus substantial potential for growth in the containerization sector. CONTAINER CORPORATION OF INDIA The Container Corporation of India, or CONCOR, was established in 1987, under the Ministry of Railways. Its stated objectives were to promote containerization and thereby boost Indias domestic as well as international trade. CONCOR is the monopoly service provider for containerization via railways. Present infrastructure Since taking over the Railways container handling facilities, CONCOR has developed a vast network of container terminals at prime locations across India. It has 31 Exim terminals. While most CONCOR terminals are rail linked, road is preferred in some cases depending on local conditions. (E.g.: some hubs like Tughlakabad are fed by satellite locations like Agra and Panipat by road). Growth As a pioneer in this field of containerized transportation, CONCOR has grown impressively since it was established in1987. The cargo throughput has grown from only about 74,890 TEUs in 1990-91 to over 8,01,000 TEUs in 1998-99. In the first ten years of its existence, its throughput has seen an average growth of 20% per annum. EXIM traffic Only about 30% of port traffic originates from and terminates at places within 300 km from the port. The remaining 70% is to and from the hinterland, representing a potentially large demand for CONCORs services. CONCOR provides transport linkages between ports and the hinterland. Regular container trains are run to and from ports to CONCOR terminals in the hinterland. Some of these terminals are also served by road. Future Terminal Development plans Plans are afoot to embark on a large-scale terminal development programme. Region-wise plans have been drawn up. The 31 existing Exim terminals are to be increased to about 50 by 2002-03. CONCOR would then be located in almost all cargo receiving/generating areas of the vast hinterland. Terminals would also be expanded. Presence in the hinterland as also in the port towns would tie up both end-points of the shipment route, facilitating control over the entire logistics chain. 3800 high-speed flat wagons are being procured with the help of a US$94 million World Bank loan. These wagons will be put to use in all EXIM streams and subsequently in domestic streams. As these container trains will run at the speed of mail/express trains, the transit time between ports and hinterland will be substantially reduced. WORKINGS OF ICD IN INTRNATIONAL BUSINESS ICD is a common user facility with public utility authority status, equipped with fixed installations and offering services for handling and temporary storage of any kind of good (including containers) carried under Customs Control and with Customs and other agencies competent to clear goods for home use, warehousing, temporary admission, re-exports, temporary storage for onward transit and out right exports. Facilities at a dry port : Export and import warehouse: They are used for international trade and are located near dry ports. They are provided transit storage facilities for goods awaiting onward movement; separate provisions for break bulk, packaging inspection of goods, marking, etc. Container handling equipment for ISO container. Container yard (storage place of containers) It is provides space of offices of the shipping agents, customs clearance and freight forwarder agents, banks,road vehicles operators(transporter), packing service, consolidation service, fumigation, weightage of cargo and marshalling and train information service etc. Export procedure : Export of goods from India moving in containers is usually done through road and rail from ICD to Gateway ports. Types of shipping bill: White shipping bill (for duty free goods) Green shipping bill (for duty drawback) Blue shipping bill (for duty entitlement passbook scheme) Yellow shipping bill (for eatable goods. It depends on goods) GRI (Guarantee Remittance Forms) This is prepared in duplicate, the original is retained by the customs and the duplicate is sent to the RBI by the customs after processing of documents and finalization of shipping bill. Type of bill of entry: White bill of entry for home consumption goods. Blue bill of entry for goods are to be deposit in a customs bonded warehouse Green bill of entry fro goods are cleared from the customs bonded area Yellow bill of entry for eatable goods. Concept of customs : Custom procedure through out the world is similar so it is a valuable e source of assistance of administration involved in the modernization of National Customs Legislation. Hence allowing easy identification of out of date procedure Customs Act as a requirement for a financial guarantee to be established in the transit country by the party responsible for transit operation to meet possible claims by the customs. Customs also acts as a watchdog as it physically examines the goods being exported or imported out/in the country for their quality and also appropriateness. SHIPPING POLICY OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Globalization of trade and industrial production on the scale presently observed is not only affecting maritime transport in different ways, but has also been decisively shaped by shipping developments. Globalization in the widest sense has dramatically changed the demand for transport and related services and has forced all transportation companies to better adapt the services rendered to the requirements of the trading community. At the same time, important technological developments in maritime transport created the precondition for the expansion of world trade based on an intensified international division of labor. Changes in the provision of shipping services have been brought about by market driven forces, but their realization was largely made possible through policy reforms. Countries have relaxed or removed protective legislation and have started a process of renegotiating or renouncing bilateral agreements providing for market access restrictions. In parallel there has been a general move towards privatization of state-owned shipping companies and the opening of the market for shipping and related services to private sector competition. These policy reforms have been the more remarkable as shipping has been generally considered a strategic industry and lines a national asset. Liberalization of market access has led to increased competition among shipping lines and to greater commercial flexibility with regard to capacity management, pricing and entry into trade routes. At the same time, however, liberalization has also provided the basis for concentration processes, which perpetually chan ge the structure of the industry. A policy Environment Conducive to the Development of Shipping Markets: In order to ensure that development objectives are being met, Governments must give higher priority to transport issues, must review and revise the regulatory framework to allow greater participation of the private sector, introduce reform measures to make providers of transport service more responsive to user demands, streamline administrative procedures, introduce a system of transport performance indicators, promote the use of information technology and strengthen training programs in this sector. At the international level, it is important that policies and regulatory regimes be harmonized and Governments be assisted in devising the necessary policy measures required to ensure that transport supply capacities in developing countries be created or strengthened and to ensure that traders be placed in a position to effectively take advantage of transport opportunities offered in liberalized and globalized ocean transport markets. While general frameworks are being elaborated at the global level, it is also important that parallel efforts are pursued by governments towards market and policy reforms in the context of regional integration arrangements. Policy Principles: Problems faced by developing countries relate both to supply-side dynamics and to protection of users interests in transport markets. In many developing countries shipping and transport were considered to be strategic industries calling for public ownership in line with generally pursued economic policies. In order to increase the efficiency of the sector in general, programs of commercialization, privatization and liberalization have been set in motion. These programs are an integral part of a policy reform program which involves a shift in policies away from market access restrictions to a fleet development policy based on strengthening of commercial capabilities of national service suppliers and to support policies increasing the competitiveness of the maritime services sector. This shift is important to note, as it underlines the fact that shipping policy is not only a matter of market access policy. Market access is only one facet, with others, such as policies relating to fleet development and sector efficiency being equally important. This aspect is particularly relevant as it shows the need to complement WT O negotiations in the context of GATS. At the same time, developing countries need high-level and specific advice both in negotiating and implementing liberalization instruments. Liberalization and privatization are the two main pillars of maritime policy reform programs of developing countries. While restructuring of State-owned companies is necessary to ensure market orientation, it may not be a sufficient condition for successful privatization. Support measures need to be put in place that would give a concrete meaning to the notion of progressive liberalization. These measures would aim at improving the capabilities of developing countries operators to produce transport services and to create a level playing field enabling operators to compete successfully in the new transport markets. For developing countries to gain or to maintain a significant position as producers of transport services in a competitive environment, where ownership and nationality are o longer central elements, it is crucial, that competitive and exportable services be produced that can be offered in an increasingly international market. In order to arrive at such a situation it is essential that policies are being pursued that aim at capacity building and removing obstacles for national operators. These policies of competitiveness and thereby of raising the efficiency are intrinsically linked to liberalization processes. At the same time it is important that local suppliers benefit from an environment that creates a level playing field and gives them a reasonable chance of success. This need for a level playing field, however, is not to be confused with a call fro restrictive or discriminatory measures that would impede on the freedom of choice of the users of transport services. It does, howev er, call for a certain amount of harmonization of the administrative and regulatory environment, such as conditions for ship registration, taxation, labor movement, etc. Modern and efficient ports are necessary and powerful tools of facilitating and fostering trade and development and more so at a time of globalization of trade. Nowadays, ports must offer efficient and reliable services to ships and cargo, including communication systems, documentation and customs procedures, to allow the timely flow of goods through the transport chain. To assist in this flow, some countries have developed distribution or logistics centers in the port areas, which are used for the storage, preparation and transformation of cargo. Therefore, ports are no longer simply a place for cargo exchange but are a functional element in the dynamic logistics chains through which commodities and goods flow. An efficient transport system is also a prerequisite to attract foreign direct investment. Ports can be crucial element in developing a competitive advantage for a country and therefore Governments and port authorities need to adopt suitable port policies to allow the nation to reap this potential benefit. It is of the greatest importance that an environment is created where Governmental and intergovernmental activities on the legislative, regulatory and institutional fronts are discussed with the inputs of all users. Market Access Policies-National Policies and GATS: Maritime Transport- The successful employment of larger vessels and fleets, be they single company fleets or joint ones in the consortia or other cooperative arrangements is dependent on the existence of and the unimpeded access to sufficiently large cargo flows. Such flows rarely exist in bilateral trades but can only be assured by a mix of home and cross trades. Rationalization of services thus achieved requires planning security based, inter alia, on a predictable regulatory policy framework. A high degree of liberalization of trade in maritime services and the existence of multilateral rules establishing the framework within which lines operate are clearly in the interest of these service providers. Similarly, the extension of activities into logistics services requires access to inland transport and so-called auxiliary services, either as service providers or as users with guaranteed and unconditional access to such services, which might raise a great deal of opposition. The General agreement on Tr ade in Services (GATS) partly addresses these issues in the sectoral agreement on maritime transport. Port and Auxiliary Services: Modern and efficient ports are necessary and powerful tools for facilitating and fostering trade and development and more as at a time of globalization of trade. Nowadays, ports must offer efficient and reliable services to ships and cargo, including communication systems, documentation and customs procedures, to allow the timely flow of goods through the transport chain. To assist in this flow, some countries have developed distribution of logistics centers in the port area, which are used for the storage, preparation and transformation of cargo. Therefore, ports are no longer simply a place for cargo exchange but are a functional element in the dynamic logistics chains through which commodities and goods flow. An efficient transport system is also a pre-requisite to attract foreign direct investment. Ports can be crucial element in developing a competitive advantage for a country and therefore Governments and port authorities need to adopt suitable port policies to allow the nation to reap this potential benefit. It is of the greatest importance that an environment is created where Governmental and intergovernmental activities on the legislative, regulatory and institutional fronts are discussed with the inputs of all users. Port infrastructure developments, for example, involve a closely coordinated partnership between the private and public sectors. Governments should therefore

Chris Argyris Case Study Analysis: Organizational Climate Essay

Chris Argyris Case Study Analysis: Organizational Climate MidAmerica Nazarene University offers Organizational Behavior as a class in their adult education program (Courses, 2012) that this author teaches. Subsequently, Chris Argyris, a forerunner in organizational behavior research (Burke & Weir, 1978) and the discipline itself are of particular import to this writer. Argyris expanded on research analysis surrounding previously accepted norms of organizational examination that included "the formal, the personality, or the informal levels of analysis," (Argyris, 1958). Moreover, Argyris posited organizational behavior as a "living complexity, conveniently defined as the climate of the organization," (p. 502). This paper will examine organizational behavior as it relates to the case study published in 1958, the contribution of the researchers work, and the influence on the field of organizational psychology. The Case Study There is a fundamental reliance between organizations and the people that make up organizations. Businesses function with a menu of policies and procedures intended to shape the behavior of employees to deliver on goals set forth by the company. Employees have emotional qualities, skill sets, and other abilities that allow them to function in the business environment, Variables affect the organization, creating conflict between the demands of the organization and the needs of the employees. Argyris (1958) described this conflict as organizational behavior, or the â€Å"climate of the organization,† (p. 502). Organizational behavior as a separate analytical category to formal, informal, and personality analysis form the focus of his research. Described as a â€Å"new and forth level of analysis,† (p. 502), Ar... ...g Organizational Climate: A Case Study of a Bank. [Article]. Administrative Science Quarterly, 2(4), 501-520. Argyris, C. (1974). Personality vs. organization. Organizational Dynamics, 3(2), 2-17. doi: 10.1016/0090-2616(74)90006-0 Argyris, C. (1978). Is capitalism the culprit? Organizational Dynamics, 6(4), 20-37. doi: 10.1016/0090-2616(78)90050-5 Argyris, C. (1985). Strategy, change and defensive routines. Southport PR9 9YF England: Pitman Publishing. Burke, R. J., & Weir, T. (1978). Organizational Climate and Informal Helping Processes in Work Settings. [Article]. Journal of Management, 4(2), 91-105. . Courses. (2012) Retrieved February 5, 2012, from https://www.mnu.edu/ba-in-mgt-human-relations/courses.html . Google Scholar. (2012) Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=10595814382911548686&as_sdt=5,26&sciodt=0,26&hl=en

Difficulties of Beginning your own Business (Case Study)

Facts: After 20+ years of working for other firms, Penelope (enrolled agent, age 41), Mark (CPA, age 43), and John (CVA, age 65) want to leave the firms they are currently employed by and become their own bosses. Penelope specializes in taxes, Mark is the auditor, and John is a business valuation expert. There are so many options available as to how they can structure the new business. The appropriate business entity for any individual(s) will depend on their particular facts and circumstances. You are a valued colleague and friend of this threesome, and they have come to you seeking advice as to how to structure their new business.They have the knowledge to figure it out themselves but are looking for the advice of an unbiased third party. Please consider the following tax and nontax considerations as you recommend an entity choice to Penelope, Mark, and John.Part I: Discuss the various forms of organization that are available to Penelope, Mark, and John. There are a number of diffe rent forms of organizations for Penelope, Mark, and John to choose. The four main ones are a partnership, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), S Corporation, or C Corporation. In a partnership all partners are personally liable for debts and obligations. Each partner claims their share of income and losses on their individual tax returns. An LLC covers the owner from personal liability from business debts. As with a partnership, the taxes for an LLC are passed through to the owners. An S Corporation, as with an LLC, the income and taxes pass through to the owners. C Corporations are considered separate entities and pays corporate income taxes separate from the shareholders. With a C Corporation, the shareholders are also taxed on the dividends received.Part II: Make your recommendation as to what form of organization you believe will be best, and be sure to explain the reasoning for your choice. The best organization for Penelope, Mark, and John is a Limited Liability Corporation (L LC). The owners will receive the benefits of limited liability as with a corporation, but the pass through option for the taxes. The LLC is not considered a separate entity so is not subjected to double taxation.Part  III: Discuss the tax consequences of contributing cash, property, and/or services to the new entity. There are no tax consequences for the members of the LLC for contributing cash, property, or services.Part IV: Discuss, in detail, how this entity is taxed (if at all) and what filing requirements it has with the IRS. A multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership by the IRS. The LLC can elect to be taxed as a corporation by filing form 8832. The LLC files an informational tax return, Form 1065 and Schedule K-1, but is not taxed itself. Individually each member files a Form 1040 and reports their share of the LLC income or losses from the Form Schedule K-1. Each member must pay taxes, which include self-employment tax, on their share regardless if any income is distribu ted. (IRS.gov)Part V: Discuss how income and distributions may or will be allocated to Penelope, Mark, and John. The profits are shared based on percentage of ownership or equally. This needs to be decided during the set-up.Part VI: Discuss, in detail, how the individuals are taxed (if at all) with respect to the net profits from this entity and what filing requirements they will each have with the IRS. With the LLC the individual partners are liable for filing their own personal income taxes based on the guidelines of the IRS, which will include self-employment taxes and any estimated taxes. The individual return Form 1040 will also include a Schedule K-1. All credits and deductions are passed through to each member. The amount of the credits and deductions that each member files for are divided by the percentage that each member has in the company.Part VII: Discuss how Penelope, Mark, and John will calculate their basis in the new entity. Be sure to include the impact that debt ha s on basis, if any. When a partnership interest is acquired in other ways than contributions, usual basis rules apply (Code Sec 742). Since the cost is the initial basis of purchased interest it can be adjusted by the following criteria; additional contributions, partnership’s accumulated taxable income as stated separately ( ¶ 19.3), tax-exempt income from the partnership, increases in the partnership liabilities. (Code Sec. 752(a)).Part VIII (Limited Liability): Discuss the exposure that Penelope, Mark, and John's personal assets will have to the debts and lawsuits of the entity you have recommended. All personal assets of the members of the LLC are covered by the limited liability. If the company is ever sued the personal assets are protected from being taken. In choosing the Limited Liability Corporation,  Penelope, John, and Mark will be protected personally from any misconduct or illegal actions of one of the other members. Each one will be able to how to contribute and manage the company. Also, by choosing the LLC option, the company and members will not be subjected to double taxation. An LLC has no limitation on members as with an S and C corporation, but have the protection. Penelope, Mark, and John will be able to focus on their individual experience to help grow the company as needed.

Macbeth as Tragedy Essay

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is often considered one of literature’s greatest tragedies and is said to reveal much about human nature. Do you agree or disagree that the play conveys much about humanity or about the human experience? What, if anything, does the work suggest about human beings or society? Support your views with textual details and analysis. In your response, address how Macbeth’s subject matter, themes, form, or other literary elements might (or might not) be characteristic of tragedy. How do tragic qualities of the play contribute (or not) to the story’s larger message(s)? Macbeth has always been a play of interest in any age groups. I remember this play in my high school but then which school does not get involved with this play. I do agree with the statement that Macbeth reveals much about human nature. Macbeth reveals the dark side of human nature; ambition, hunger for control and power, it shows us the aftermath that it leaves behind. The play suggests the dark tendencies that lives within many of the human beings in our society; the need to succeed and annihilate their obstacles at any cost: human beings are opportunistic. Macbeth shows us how far a person will go to in order to realize their own ambitions; even to commit a killing. Free will exists in humanity and everyone has the potential for good and the commit evil deeds. The Macbeth’s lust for power and greed ends up in grim tragedy. Macbeth starts off as a hero; a brave warrior in the battlefield, standing behind his king and protecting his land. This is what makes Macbeth a tragic hero. â€Å"Tragic hero: A main character who acts with courage but falls from high standing into catastrophic circumstances because of a weakness of character or serious misjudgment. (Clugston, 2010, page. 4. 4, para. 3). Lady Macbeth is willing to lose her soul in order to push her husband’s faith to be king a reality and sooner; she asks the gods to remove all compassion and femininity and replace with cold and ruthless qualities; this symbolizes the darkness of human nature. The Macbeth’s had it all but failed to recognize it due to having their dark ambitions take over them; consuming them and this is the tragedy. The literary elements are the motifs, they are the hallucinations and violence; these motifs lead to tragedy end of the Macbeth’s.

Free Essays on Gagne Lesson Plan

Gagne’s Model Lesson Plan Gain Attention Counseling is an important responsibility of all leaders. Each of you have been counseled at some time in your careers and/or personal lives and many have already or soon will counsel. Unfortunately leaders reserve counseling for circumstances involving poor performance problems. This has led to a wide spread perception that counseling is negative. In this training you will learn how to counsel your subordinates in a manner that focuses on subordinate centered communication and subordinate development. Exercise One (Brain Teaser) (page 3 of participants guide) serves as an icebreaker to help the participant’s prepare for learning. We will have a getting acquainted exercise, allowing everyone in the class to introduce themselves and describe different locations of assignment and present unit of assignment. It will be made very clear during this portion of the class that there is no rank in the class room, and what happens in the classroom must stay in the classroom. Describe Goal The major goal for this workshop is to ensure that employees learn how to not only conduct counseling sessions, but how to prepare for them as well. This will help people at all levels focus on individual and company goal accomplishment. This workshop will provide participants with the skills necessary to prepare themselves for, and to conduct thorough counseling sessions. Stimulate Recall of Prior Knowledge The initial objective, is to get the class participants acquainted with each other and to realize that there is a great deal of diversity represented in the class. In addition, the instructor will get the class to realize that they all play an important role within their organization and that they have many diverse backgrounds, and actually will better themselves and their organization by conducting thorough counseling. Present Materials to be learned Exercise One ... Free Essays on Gagne Lesson Plan Free Essays on Gagne Lesson Plan Gagne’s Model Lesson Plan Gain Attention Counseling is an important responsibility of all leaders. Each of you have been counseled at some time in your careers and/or personal lives and many have already or soon will counsel. Unfortunately leaders reserve counseling for circumstances involving poor performance problems. This has led to a wide spread perception that counseling is negative. In this training you will learn how to counsel your subordinates in a manner that focuses on subordinate centered communication and subordinate development. Exercise One (Brain Teaser) (page 3 of participants guide) serves as an icebreaker to help the participant’s prepare for learning. We will have a getting acquainted exercise, allowing everyone in the class to introduce themselves and describe different locations of assignment and present unit of assignment. It will be made very clear during this portion of the class that there is no rank in the class room, and what happens in the classroom must stay in the classroom. Describe Goal The major goal for this workshop is to ensure that employees learn how to not only conduct counseling sessions, but how to prepare for them as well. This will help people at all levels focus on individual and company goal accomplishment. This workshop will provide participants with the skills necessary to prepare themselves for, and to conduct thorough counseling sessions. Stimulate Recall of Prior Knowledge The initial objective, is to get the class participants acquainted with each other and to realize that there is a great deal of diversity represented in the class. In addition, the instructor will get the class to realize that they all play an important role within their organization and that they have many diverse backgrounds, and actually will better themselves and their organization by conducting thorough counseling. Present Materials to be learned Exercise One ...

Colonialism in The Tempest Essay Essay Example

Colonialism in The Tempest Essay Essay Example Colonialism in The Tempest Essay Paper Colonialism in The Tempest Essay Paper Essay Topic: The Tempest Background Information: In 1609 a fleet of nine ships set out from England. headed towards John Smith’s Virginia settlement. the first English colony in the New World. One of the nine ships was separated during a violent storm and ended up on Bermuda. These shipwrecked Europeans began colonising the island and enslaving the native population. Shakespeare’s Tempest is based on this incident. For over a century. a figure of critics have tried to construe the assorted elements of station colonialism nowadays in the Tempest. In 1818. the English critic William Hazlitt was the first to indicate out that Prospero had usurped Caliban from his regulation of the island and therefore. was an agent of imperialism. This position provided the footing for modern readings of the Tempest as a station colonial work. Shakespeare’s Tempest is an amalgam of assorted pots colonial elements: Prospero is a European who has taken charge of a distant island. being able to make so because of his strong charming powers. With these powers. he organizes a life for himself. gets the local dwellers ( Ariel and Caliban ) to work for him. and maintains his control by a combination of menaces. enchantments and captivations. and promises of freedom some twenty-four hours. By taking charge of a topographic point which is non his and by exercising his European authorization over the unusual non-European animals. Prospero can be seen as an obvious symbol for European colonial power. However. Caliban is possibly the strongest symbol of Post colonialism. Caliban. a indigen of the island. respects himself as the rightful proprietor of the topographic point. He bluffly states: â€Å"This island’s mine. by Sycorax my female parent. which thou takest from me. † He is forced against his will to function Prospero and Miranda. Initially. Prospero extends to Caliban his European cordial reception. teaches him linguistic communication. and. in return. is shown all the natural resources of the island by Caliban. But Caliban refuses to populate by Prospero’s regulations. attempts to ravish Miranda. and their relationship alterations to one of maestro and slave. Shakespeare represents every bit Caliban as an â€Å"ignoble barbarian. † When Trinculo foremost encounters Caliban. he views him as some sort of monster. After flinching in horror from Caliban. Trinculo considers conveying the monster back to England where he can be displayed in a freak show: â€Å"Were I in England now. as one time I was. and had but this fish painted. non holiday sap there but would give a piece of Ag: at that place would this monster make a adult male ; any unusual animal there makes a adult male: when they will non give a doit ( coin ) to alleviate a square mendicant. they will put out 10 to see a dead Indian. † Trinculo is mentioning to the pattern of â€Å"exhibiting† Indians for money in late sixteenth century England. Such â€Å"freak shows† were extremely profitable investings and were a regular characteristic of colonial policy under King James I. Caliban tries to assist Trinculo happen nutrient. who might emancipate him from Prospero. his current maestro and Godhead of the island. Caliban smarmily says: â€Å"I prithee. allow me convey thee where pediculosis pubis grow ; And I with my long nails will delve thee pig-nuts ; Show thee a jay’s nest. and how to trap the agile marmoset ; I’ll acquire thee To constellating cobnuts and sometimes I’ll acquire thee immature scamels from the stone. Wilt thou travel with me? † Powhatan. the native head. had provided the same services to John Smith’s settlement. After half of the settlers died in the first twelvemonth. Powhatan took commiseration and taught the settlers how to works maize. beans. Cucurbita pepos. and squash. However. once the hungering British settlers recovered their strength. they one time once more put about the undertaking of enslaving the native population. The drama ends with Prospero make up ones minding to return to Europe and to decolonise his island and liberate his slaves. The colonizer sets himself free every bit good. Prospero non merely gives up his island. but relinquishes his charming powers that enabled him to command Caliban.

How to find your first job out of college - TheJobNetwork

How to find your first job out of college  - TheJobNetwork If you’ve recently graduated college then congratulations are in order- you’ve reached a significant life milestone and should be proud of your accomplishment! That said, just because you’ve achieved this goal doesn’t mean your work is done. For many people, graduating from college is the starting point for the next big life challenge- the job and career journey. Unless you’re lucky enough to not have to work (or get rich quick by inventing something amazingly innovative and are able to retire early to some sunny and tropical beach), most of our professional journeys span several decades and are a major part of our overall life satisfaction.Therefore, it’s worth your time and effort to take your first job out of college seriously; often, your first job after graduation can set the tone, pace, and trajectory for your climb up the career ladder- so plan carefully.Today’s job market is no easy environment. On top of intense competition (b oth from other new graduates and seasoned work veterans) across most industries and sectors, economic uncertainty, increasing globalization, and rapidly changing technological innovation that’s revolutionizing the staffing needs of companies means that recent graduates face significant challenges when seeking their first jobs.Yes, unless you’re incredibly lucky or well-connected, chances are you’ll face some challenges as you hunt for your first job out of college- but don’t despair! The truth is, those who work hard and dedicate themselves fully to their job-search efforts have the best chance of landing their target jobs and beginning their career journeys on the right foot, while those who take a more casual or lackadaisical approach will likely face a bigger struggle.Which approach are you going to take?If you’re fresh out of college or soon will be, consider utilizing the following strategies for locking down your first job and moving forward on your path to professional success.Determine your target fieldIn order to conduct an effective job hunt you need a clearly defined target- the industry, field, or sector that you’d like to work in. Consider this your â€Å"starting point,† the direction you’d like to move towards and where you’d like to devote your professional energy and efforts.Use your college experience as a guide- what is your degree in? Did you have any internships or extracurricular or volunteer experiences that can help inform your choice? Are there trusted mentors or family members who can help you figure out a potential career fit for you?Use the research tools at your disposal to get a closer look and a better perspective of the fields that seem attractive to you. For example, many industries have professional associations that maintain an active online presence, including websites with loads of helpful job and career information. Your college’s career office may also have additional resources and may even hold special events like job fairs and info sessions to help you get started. Also, keep an eye and ear out for professional networking events in your town or city. Use your experience, interests, passions, research, and the trusted advice of others to take this crucial first step and determine the target field that feels right to you.Determine your goal positionOnce you have a target field in your sights, focus on a position that you’d like to pursue. Be realistic- you may want to start at the top (and stay there), but very few folks get CEO jobs straight out of college. You’re more than likely going to have to pay your dues while you learn the industry, so focus on assistant-level or junior-level positions to start. Look at people whose career trajectories mirror your aspirations and see how they started their first jobs in the field. See if your background, education, and experiences have prepared you for realistically pursuing your goal position. If so, then go for it!Prepare yourselfOnce you know the position and field you’re aiming for, use the job search tools at your disposal- everything from online job sites to resources at your college, professional connections in your network, and job events in your town- to find suitable open positions. Research companies in your target industry and see if their official websites have career pages that list available job openings. Then prepare yourself for what will hopefully be a steady stream of potential opportunities. Make sure your cover letters and resumes are professional, polished, and perfectly targeted for the jobs you’re going after. Make sure your interview skills are razor sharp (remember, practice makes perfect). Having the desire to get a new job is great, but it won’t help you leap ahead of the competition. You’ll need a complete pitch-perfect package if you’re going to make your goal a reality.Don’t let f ailure stop youA key component of a successful job hunt is patience and determination. Very few of us land a job after just one interview- or even after a few attempts. The truth is, a job hunt is more like a waiting game, with plenty of rejection and disappointment along the way. Don’t let this discourage or deter you in your quest to land your first job out of college- stay focused and determined, learn from what you did right and wrong, and be confident that each attempt will be better than the last as you move closer and closer towards success.

Recommendations to Ford Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Recommendations to Ford - Essay Example The organization is a system and thus the processes within it are attentively looked into either in a symptomatic or systematic manner: the latter is likely to provide long lasting solutions. The Ford Company is a multinational automobile manufacturer (Ford 201). It derived its foundation on the need of its founder to provide a car for the ordinary American (Ford 201). Founded in 1903, the company has undergone major strides and setbacks to become one of the leading automotive companies within America and the whole world at large. The first model from Ford was the T-Model that sold almost fifteen million units before the end of production nineteen years later for a cost of $ 950 specifically moving the car industry from being a luxury item to a transportation means for the ordinary citizenry (Bak 200). Henry Ford not only targeted improving his model alone, but also improved the payments he made to all his workers and trimming down the working hours for his employees. This resulted t o the creation of a three shift working regimen and effectively improving mass manufacturing that allowed the revolution of the motor industry. He also came up with the strategy to ensure task specialization by his workers thus improving efficiency in the industry. This made it possible to manufacture affordable cars allowing most Americans to own an automobile resulting to groundbreaking changes in the transport sector that brought about construction of highways and inception of the industrial revolution with the outset of the agrarian revolution. Henry Ford effectively run the company with profit margins amounting to billions of dollars seeing his company go through the economic crisis in 1929 and later the biggest automobile strike in 1941. He then supported the government during World War 1 by supplying the government with submarine chasers, automobiles as well as liberty airplanes. This endeared his company dearly to the administration. Henry made it an obligation to pass

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Philosophy - Essay Example If one can form the adequate and perfect idea, then absolute knowledge of God is viable. For Spinoza, to conceive an idea in its most adequate form, the mind needs, first and foremost, to undergo a long and strenuous process of self-transformation, the aim of which is to render itself adequate to the infinite intellect. Thereafter, the mind is able to intuit the concrete essence of a thing as Gods knowledge. Gods essence is eternal and infinite. By contrast, human knowledge is temporal and finite. To reach Gods knowledge, the human mind must transcend itself to the extent that it grasps Gods eternity and infinity. On knowing Gods essence, humans are, to a certain extent, as infinite and eternal as God is. In what ways can humans know the infinite and eternal aspects of Gods essence? Insofar as one knows the first causes of things, one understands the infinite of Gods essence as substance. Such formulation is not very illuminating. How are the first causes of things related to the infinite aspect of Gods essence? Even if infinity is tantamount to the first causes of things, how can one practically experience actual infinity so as to comprehend Gods essence? Spinoza suggests two kinds of infinity, the infinite of imagination and the infinite of reason. Presumably, the two infinities are related: one has to grasp, say, the infinite of imagination before proceeding to the infinite of reason . Within the context of infinity, God’s essence is eternity. Eternal existence is conceived to follow from the essence of the thing. Gods essence necessarily involves his existence; to know a things essence as Gods knowledge entails grasping its eternal existence as well. Humans exist and endure in time. How can they know Gods essence and enjoy his eternal existence? As finite modes, things are caused to exist. Things subsist in time; they come into existence and go out of existence. Through conceiving ideas, humans know things as

DigiRestoration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

DigiRestoration - Essay Example There is a need to touch up and restore old photographs that have been subjected to time and environmental factors. Upon restoring the photographs, the newly retored photos will then be transferred to digital format to ensure they remain the same throughout time. This company is currently in the research and startup phase looking at the available markets, such as being a partner to geneology companies on both the Internet and locallyl/nationally. It is projected that through extensive and inexpensive advertising, the eventual advertising will start to draw in business. DigiRestoration will not only restore old photographs for customers, it will provide the newly restored photographs into digital format. The intended audience will be internet based customers that will be directed from geneology sites as well as search engines. Upon the person sending into the company their old photograph, or scanning and sending, the new format of digitizing will be completed and stored on the company server. Should the customer wish to purchase additional photos and have them sent to their relatives/family, then they will have the option of picking these photos out from the company server and either printing them out themselves, or, picking them up at such outlets like WalMart or a drugstore. DigiRestoration currently is looking at expanding into kiosk markets within the next six months in order to capitalize on the lack of availability of these currently. DigiRestoration's philosophy is "if you weren't there, we'll make it look like you were". The philosophy of DigiRestoration is to provide the best service at a reasonable price and we will not be happy until you are. DigiRestoration's vision is to have partner kiosks in every major city in... DigiRestoration will not only restore old photographs for customers, it will provide the newly restored photographs into digital format. The intended audience will be internet based customers that will be directed from geneology sites as well as search engines. Upon the person sending into the company their old photograph, or scanning and sending, the new format of digitizing will be completed and stored on the company server. Should the customer wish to purchase additional photos and have them sent to their relatives/family, then they will have the option of picking these photos out from the company server and either printing them out themselves, or, picking them up at such outlets like WalMart or a drugstore. DigiRestoration's philosophy is "if you weren't there, we'll make it look like you were". The philosophy of DigiRestoration is to provide the best service at a reasonable price and we will not be happy until you are. DigiRestoration is entirely in the business of providing digital photo restoration of existing photographs before they expire to the elements. This is an entirely retail business and has the option to have franchises open to other interested business opportunists.

BP's Africa Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BP's Africa Strategy - Essay Example BP is a multi-million multinational oil and gas company with regional branches in almost every part of the world. The company has a head office in the United Kingdom. According to the latest version of Forbes magazine, the company is ranked in the third largest among the energy companies, while it falls in the fourth position among the largest companies in the entire globe (Monasa, 2008). The company has ventured in almost all major process in the energy sector; this includes exploration, refining, production as well as marketing and distribution among other processes. Currently, the company has its branches in about 85 nations. This work focuses on the BP analysis in Africa. BP has an established brand name, and this can be indicated by its fast growth rate. The company has its branches in several nations in Africa, but the African branch is headquartered in South Africa. The company has its billboards in major parts of Africa, this is a good indication that the company is still on the move to brand itself further. BP Africa is facing stiff business competition from other oil and gas companies like SNEPCO, Gulf Oil Company, sea petroleum and gas group of companies, Teresols Oil & Gas, The Hydra group and PetroSA among others. The company has adopted some business strategies to remain on top of the business among its competitors. These strategies are meant to attract and maintain more customers. The company has been on a business growing trend since the Africa Company was established. BP Africa ventures on oil and gas as its main products (Mark, 2007). These products are termed as global products since they are important in any part of the government. Oil is a very important commodity in the current generation where the automobile is part and parcel of human life. Gas on the other hand is another commodity current generation can hardly do with. Gas is majorly used as a source of fuel. BP Africa has adopted some business strategies to beat its competitors. The f irst move advantage is applied in several ways of the company’s operations. First Bp was among the first oil and Gas Company in the continent. This provided a humble ground for its marketing. The company reports indicate that little resources were used to market or advertise the company products. This is because very few related companies were already in the market. It took several years before African countries could establish their own oil and gas companies like PetroSA , Oil Libya and National oil among others. The pioneers in a certain business would always the overall control of the sector, since it sticks to the memory of majority for quite a long time despite the competitors (Schmenner, 2004). BP Africa created a business monopoly or emperor which would take a long time to be broken. The company has however advanced its operations to maintain the customers it captured when it came to Africa. The company also enjoys the fact that the majority of auto-mobile owners like to maintain fuel from a specific company. Using oil from different companies interferes with the efficient operations of engines. Advantage of first move The company took advantage of emerging first in the market by purchasing large amount of oil and gas from African companies at more subsidized price then repackage and sell at a more favorable prices to attract more customers but make profit in

Pain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pain - Essay Example Pain is a sensation which is prompted by the nervous system and it can be helpful in diagnosing a health issue.   In some instances, it can be described as sharp or dull, prolonged or acute, localized or systemic pain.   Without the sensation of pain, a person might be seriously injured or ill without knowing it (Medline Plus, 2011).   There are various sources of pain: nociceptive and neuropathic pain.   In nociceptive pain, the nervous system is working well and the body tells the brain that there is a source of pain, such as an injury or a cut; in neuropathic pain, the nervous system is not working properly because there may be no apparent source of pain, but the body is still telling the brain that an injury is present (Helm and Shiel, 2011).   In terms of length of time that pain is experienced, pain may be considered acute or chronic.   Acute pain may be related to trauma or injuring agents like biological, physical, and psychological agents.   It may be sudden or slow in onset and be mild or severe in intensity with duration of less than 6 months.   The patient may verbally report pain sensation and manifest with observed symptoms of pain, including protective gestures to avoid pain, changes in muscle tone, restlessness, moaning, crying, and irritability (Nurse Blog, 2009).   Chronic pain is known to represent the disease itself.   It may be environmental or psychological; may persist over a long period of time and be resistant to medical treatments (Medicine.net, 2011).   Interventions for pain relief include: anticipate the need for pain relief; respond immediately to pain complaint; eliminate additional stressors or sources of discomfort; provide rest periods for sleep and relaxation; determine pain relief with the assistance of doctors though NSAIDS, opiates, and local anesthetic agents.   Apply non-pharmacologic pain relief strategies, including: guided imagery, distraction techniques, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback ( Nursing Care, 2010).   It is also important to coordinate with the physicians for the relief of chronic and severe pain.  

Capital Asset Pricing Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Capital Asset Pricing Model - Essay Example The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a liaison involving risk and return on a portfolio of investments. Sharpe, William F (1964, pp. 425-442) formulated the CAPM hypothesis. It is the groundwork of modern finance which puts forward that the risk premium of a single asset is equal to its beta times the risk premium of the market portfolio on the whole. Beta computes the level of inter-movement of the asset's return and the total return on the entire market portfolio of an investor. Put differently, beta measures the organized risk of an asset which is nothing but the quantity of risk and it cannot be spread. Frank J. Fabozzi and Harry Markowitz (2002, p.67) define CAPM as "The anticipated return for an asset according to CAPM is equal risk free rate plus a risk premium". They further state that "even though the idea is not true it does not mean that the constructs introduced by the theory are not important. Constructs introduced in the development of theory include the notion of a market portfolio, systematic risk, diversifiable risks and beta." The entire movement of the market is enlarged with stocks which possess betas greater than 1.0. Stocks which have betas between 0 and 1.0 are inclined to go in the same route as the market. Certainly, the market is the collection of all stocks, and hence the standard stock has a beta of 1.0 Risk is best adjudicated in the context of a portfolio of securities. Part of the ambiguity about a sureties return is branched out when security is sorted with other assets in a portfolio. It can be said that diversification is the best for the investors undoubtedly. This does not entail that business firms have to diversify. Corporate variegation is superfluous if capitalists can broaden on their personal account. Frank J Fabozzi and Pamela P Peterson (2003, p 299) state that "Though it lacks realism and is difficult to apply, the CAPM makes some sense regarding the role of diversification and the type of risks we need to consider in investment decisions." When an asset does contain a factor of market risk, CAPM submits that it should make a risk premium impartial to the sum of market risk mused in the asset. If the fundamental market has an amount of return vagueness, it can be assumed that the market return will be greater than the risk gratis return. This is the surplus market return. To obtain the additive surplus return, the marked is levered with the market return either up or down by the level of market risk disclosure intrinsic in the asset (Bruce J Feible, 2003, p. 192). The most frequently used gauge of risk or unpredictability in finance is standard deviation. This is because 'the return on a portfolio is a weighted average of the returns of individual assets'

Pain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pain - Essay Example Pain is a sensation which is prompted by the nervous system and it can be helpful in diagnosing a health issue.   In some instances, it can be described as sharp or dull, prolonged or acute, localized or systemic pain.   Without the sensation of pain, a person might be seriously injured or ill without knowing it (Medline Plus, 2011).   There are various sources of pain: nociceptive and neuropathic pain.   In nociceptive pain, the nervous system is working well and the body tells the brain that there is a source of pain, such as an injury or a cut; in neuropathic pain, the nervous system is not working properly because there may be no apparent source of pain, but the body is still telling the brain that an injury is present (Helm and Shiel, 2011).   In terms of length of time that pain is experienced, pain may be considered acute or chronic.   Acute pain may be related to trauma or injuring agents like biological, physical, and psychological agents.   It may be sudden or slow in onset and be mild or severe in intensity with duration of less than 6 months.   The patient may verbally report pain sensation and manifest with observed symptoms of pain, including protective gestures to avoid pain, changes in muscle tone, restlessness, moaning, crying, and irritability (Nurse Blog, 2009).   Chronic pain is known to represent the disease itself.   It may be environmental or psychological; may persist over a long period of time and be resistant to medical treatments (Medicine.net, 2011).   Interventions for pain relief include: anticipate the need for pain relief; respond immediately to pain complaint; eliminate additional stressors or sources of discomfort; provide rest periods for sleep and relaxation; determine pain relief with the assistance of doctors though NSAIDS, opiates, and local anesthetic agents.   Apply non-pharmacologic pain relief strategies, including: guided imagery, distraction techniques, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback ( Nursing Care, 2010).   It is also important to coordinate with the physicians for the relief of chronic and severe pain.  

Floods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Floods - Research Paper Example This implies that there is the likelihood of the upper Mississippi River basin experience changes in its eco systems depending on the responses of consumers and food resources to a high magnitude, unpredicted flood. The evidence for this research was based on Laboratory experiments. In order to determine the authenticity of the main hypothesis of this research work, samples were collected from the upper Mississippi River near the city of Louisiana Missouri (Delong et al, 2001). This area was used to act as a representative of the river flood plain features of the upper part of Mississippi River and it is characterized by a broad channel with a number of side channels and backwaters. Samples representing the potential nutrient sources and consumers were collected from all the three rivers in October 1993 and July 1994 for analysis of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (Delong et al, 2001). Statistical analysis was done on the collected samples and using pair wise comparison. The results indicated there were few inter-annuals differences for each rivers n regard to the sources of the organic matter and the consumers. The main implication of this research is that the findings of past studies relate in a big way to the large-magnitude flood events in the upper Mississippi River system, therefore this strengthens the conclusion that the flood served to enhance rather than change the trophic structure within these river-floodplain ecosystems. The results obtained from this research imply that the consumers continued to rely on the sources of organic matter that would be used in the absence of the unpredicted 1993 flood (Delong et al, 2001). It is proposed that the trophic structure did not change in response to flooding in the Missouri Rivers because both rivers exhibited the same trends observed in the Ohio River. From the article â€Å"Pesticide and

Watson and the Shark Painting Analysis

Watson and the Shark Painting Analysis John Singleton Copley (1738 1815), was an American painter born in Boston, Massachusetts. From the time Copley began to paint at the age of fifteen, many people throughout Massachusetts admired his paintings; also, people from other colonial cities recognized his portrait paintings. A big inspiration and benefit to him was his stepfather, Peter Pelham, a successful English engraver, painter, and teacher[1]. At the age of twenty-one Copley left Boston to travel around Europe to learn more about the art of painting. First, he went to London where he met Benjamin West, a respected painter around Europe and an established painter in the Royal Academy. While in London, he learned different techniques from West. These techniques seemed common in London, but were unknown in America. Copley wrote in a letter back home to his stepfather telling him about a simple technique he had learned â€Å"†¦Before painting, make drawings.†[2] From there Copley moved on to Paris where his confidence grew even more as he saw firsthand paintings from the best known painters in Europe at the time. As he got the chance to see works from his two favorite artists, Poussin and Rubens, Copley started sketching every time he saw something he thought was a beautiful form.3] When he arrived in Rome, Copley would rise early in the morning and sketch reliefs and antique statues at the French Academy. Although confident about his abilities to sketch and paint, he worked humbly on all the details of his painting projects. At the end of his stay in Rome, Copley faced a hard decision; return to America, the country he was born in and loved, or move to London where his art career would flourish. At this time, the American Revolution had started and he feared for the wellbeing of his family back in Boston. Although the fear for his family was strong, Copley decided that moving to London would be the only place where he could sell his historical paintings, for which he had been working on tirelessly around Europe. While he was trying to make this hard decision, his family was already on a ship to London unbeknownst to him.[4] This painting is the story of Brook Watson, which took place in Havana harbor, Cuba around 1749 when he was only fourteen years old. Watson, an orphan was working as a crewmember on a trading ship. While he was swimming alone out in the harbor early in the morning, a shark attacked him. His shipmates ran to his rescue, but not before the shark attacked him at least two times. According to tales, Watson and Copley met while they were traveling from Boston to England in 1774. However, history says that Watson never traveled that year. Copley must have heard the story and its details from Londoners who might have been Watsons political followers.[5] Watson and the Shark is a large oil painting on canvas measuring 183.51 x 229.55 cm (fig. 1). Copley decided to depict the dramatic scene where Watson was about to be attacked for the third time by a shark. This painting is a work during Copleys English period; it was such a great success from the beginning that it was put on display at the Royal Academy in 1778. Watson, who is naked in this painting and the shark attacking him are in the foreground (fig. 1). The shark has already devoured Watsons right leg, as we can see from figure 1 Watsons right leg is missing from the knee down. The shark is turning toward Watson, with its mouth wide-open and sharp teeth suggests that he is not satisfied, and is returning to finish what he has started.[6] Besides Watson, in a small boat, two of his shipmates are reaching to grab him and pull him on the boat. One of them is trying to fight off the shark by plunging a harpoon at the monster from the bow of the boat. A rope thrown at him is dangling useless in the water. This painting has captured a moment of fear and sadness in the faces and eyes of every man on that boat. The quiet waters of the harbor serve Copley in the composition of the painting to bring the viewers attention to the action. Copleys placements of elements in the painting allow the viewer to trace the action. The boat is coming from the harbor toward the shark. The movement of the shark that is taking a turn and a part of his body is outside the painting. We can clearly follow the movement of the harpoon that the sailor is plunging toward the shark. In addition, the movement of the men toward the boy makes the scene even more tragic. (Fig. 1). Watson and the Shark, even though off center, are the focal points in this painting. The artist has successfully made this a tragic scene, by making Watson appear as he is frozen in the moment, portraying him exactly the way he was in those moments struggling for his life. The shark with his mouth wide open and his sharp teeth painted in detail make the scene even more dramatic to the viewer. The artist has portrayed Watson naked in the water helpless on his back, which shows him as very vulnerable. His has a freighted look in his face, with his mouth and eyes wide open looking directly at the shark, which seems to represent the evil predator, and one hand up as if he is reaching for help from the heavens. The artist has painted the sun rising in contrast with the situation, but has also put the light on Watson the shark and the crewmembers trying to get him out of there. The predominant color is sea green with some brighter colors in the background. These somber colors contribute in depicting these tragic moments in this scene. Sadness is all over the faces of men in the boat. The composition is centered at the man in the middle of the boat. All around him there is action. Lines seem to be less important than shapes for the artist in this painting. The artist has been very careful in painting the men on the boat and depicting their actions, so that the story and individual actions of each man in this scene would be very clear to understand to the viewer. However, the most details have gone to portray the situation in which Watson is in, and to show his vulnerability. While most reviews around this painting describe it as a painting that is describing a historical event, Irma Jaffe mentions in her journal, John Singleton Copleys ‘Watson and the Shark,† that people have missed one very important aspect of Copleys life; his religious life. As Jaffe points out, Copley was a very religious man, he went to church every Sunday and religion had played an important role in Copleys view of himself as well as an artist. She says that this painting is about â€Å"resurrection and salvation†[7] In her journal, she takes on the symbolism of the shark as a monster as described in the Bible and the symbolism of water as a life-giver and a trial in the Bible. Jaffe then analyzes all the other elements. It is noticeable that Copley has taken poses from earlier sculptures and put them in his painting. He has taken them and put them in different positions to accomplish his final painting. Copley made the effort to paint every detail. The shark has very detailed features; his teeth and eyes were painted in detail to show the true nature of this evil creature. Watsons hair, his eyes, and his facial expression were painted in detail. Copley really wanted the viewer to get involved in the tragic story that had happened to his patron, Brook Watson. [1] Rebora, Carrie.John Singleton Copley in America. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1995. p. 79. [2] Plate, Robert.John Singleton Copley Americas First Great Artist. United States of America: David McKay Company, Inc., 1969. p. 100. [3] Plate, Robert.John Singleton Copley Americas First Great Artist. United State of America: David McKay Company, Inc., 1969. p. 101. [4] Plate, p. 105-109 [5] Jeffery, Margaret. A Painting of Copleys English Period.Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New Series1.4 (1942): 148. Web. 03 Mar 2010. [6] Jeffery, p. 148 [7] Jaffe, Irma B. John Singleton Copleys Watson and the Shark.American Art Journal9.1 (1977): 15-25. Web. 03 Mar 2010.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Essay examples -- Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are two contrasting terms that are displayed by different people all over the world. Simply put, ethnocentrism is defined as â€Å"judging other groups from the perspective of one’s own cultural point of view.† Cultural relativism, on the other hand, is defined as â€Å"the view that all beliefs are equally valid and that truth itself is relative, depending on the situation, environment, and individual.† Each of these ideas has found its way into the minds of people worldwide. The difficult part is attempting to understand why an individual portrays one or the other. It is a question that anthropologists have been asking themselves for years. Ethnocentrism, as stated above, means the belief that one’s own culture is above and beyond all other cultures. Although this is somewhat of a shallow definition, it still provides an adequate explanation of a very complex issue. We see ethnocentrism every single day, in all aspects of life. The United States of America is a prime example of ethnocentrism is action. The people of this country have a tendency to disregard other cultures, instead believing that American culture is the only way to go. This is not to say that this is how everyone thinks, although most people, at one time or another, have had thoughts along these lines. After the terrorist attack of 9/11, there was an immediate shift into almost hatred of any person of Arabic descent...

Casablanca Essay example -- essays research papers

CASABLANCA Throughout history, the film industry has seen many directing styles and techniques. The early part of the 20th century saw a factory style of film production, but as the years went by, director's began to employ new and untried techniques in their pictures. One such technique which these director's implemented was a new approach to the use of the camera and camera angles. "Casablanca," an Academy Award winning film of 1942 saw director Michael Curtiz manipulate the camera in ways others had not. He uses the close-up, point-of- view, and creative shot motivation methods in his film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, to create an American cinema classic. The first camera technique Curtiz uses to help narrate the film is the close-up shot. The close-up can effectively convey the story to the viewer without the use of excessive dialogue. In this instance, the viewer is introduced to the main character, Rick, through the use of the close-up. The first scene in "Rick's Cafe," shows people gambling and making illegal deals to leave Casablanca. An employee of the cafe brings a check to a man seated at a chess table to sign. The signature reads, "OK. Rick." By using this shot, the director makes clear to the reader, without any dialogue, that the man signing the check is Rick. This technique, however, is just the first of many used by Curtiz. The point-of-view shot, also used by Curtiz was intended to place the audience directly ...

Bilingual Acquisition

Through various observations and experiences that the public witnessed regarding bilingualism and learning second languages, the people have formed particular beliefs, opinions, and ideologies about language and communication, as well as the nature or characteristics of second language learners and the learning environments they are subjected into.These beliefs, opinions, and ideologies, even generalizations are extremely significant in shaping the structure or framework of education in terms of bilingualism and second language learning considering the situations of the learners because they provide the academic community with significant information that will help professionals in making well-informed decisions regarding the matter at hand. For instance, people may communicate their thoughts about various teaching strategies that efficiently provide learning opportunities for second language learners that were designed to accomplish the goals and objectives of bilingual education.So metimes, the involvement of the public to academic affairs helps in fostering collaborative relationships that further improves the landscape of education. With this in mind, one of the most important issues regarding bilingual education shall be discussed in the remainder of this text, determining how second language learners learn best and identifying how the issue shall be settled for the adaptation of academic institutions under the context of bilingual education.This particular issue challenges the framework of bilingual education because it criticizes how pedagogical processes designed for second language learners facilitate the transfer of knowledge efficiently and appropriately meeting established goals and objectives of bilingualism. Apparently, there had been much debate on the risks, difficulties, and challenges involved during the process of bilingual acquisition due to the perceived results or outcomes from the learning process that do not meet standards, guidelines, go als, and objectives of bilingual education.For critiques of bilingual acquisition, learning two languages at the same time influences what and how second language learners will learn, particularly grammatical structures and functions. They postulate that there will be learning delays if the pedagogical processes implemented for bilingual education is compared with those applied for monolingual education.Although critiques have developed an acceptable position that transforms how bilingual education and acquisition is viewed, I believe that thorough investigation on the matter supported by various research studies will support how bilingual education is made efficient by implementing pedagogical processes based on bilingual acquisition. This discourse shall focus on disproving the aforementioned claim about bilingual acquisition and look to support arguments through a series of discussions gained from various reputable and valid sources.Going over these issues thoroughly and comprehe nsively is extremely important because understanding how learners will be able to learn through bilingual acquisition matches the landscape of society at present time. GLOBALIZATION AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION I believe that bilingualism is rooted on globalization which initiates worldwide interaction between people from different nations. Globalization facilitates the growth and development of economies, cooperation and sharing between governments and politics, unity among cultures, and so on. However, one of the challenges faced by globalization is communication.For this reason, there had been an impending need in the past to look for means by which interaction among nations was to be facilitated by discovering communication strategies and techniques. Under these pretexts, bilingual education was developed and its foundation fortified in order to cultivate the aims and objectives of globalization. (Sonntag, 2003) For these reasons, tackling issues that either shape or debunk bilingual education is severely important because its results or outcomes instantly affect the situations that society will consequently experience.By realizing the advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses, nature and features of bilingual education society will become aware of its importance in developing the landscape of our world based on the demands and concerns of our society at present time. We shall be able to make valuable decisions on how we are to develop and improve education, particularly bilingual education, in order for people to obtain comprehensive and essential knowledge and skills to become productive and indispensable members of society. ANSWERING CHALLENGES TO BILINGUAL ACQUISITIONThe primary critique towards bilingual acquisition constitutes tendencies that impede learning and education rather than foster it in children. The critique hypothesis has something to do with how the process of simultaneously learning two languages might affect how learners will u nderstand and apply grammatical rules and structures during communication. This concern was focused on the possibility that learners might confuse the grammatical structure of one language with the grammatical structure of another developing inefficient and erroneous language use and communication.However, several research studies have proved that this argument or hypothesis is not true. Two research studies which were conducted to determine how early exposure to the target language of learning influences learning development and capabilities. These two studies revealed that early exposure to the target language does indeed strengthen the foundations of language learning and is more likely to exhibit positive results or outcomes. The first study conducted by Newport (1990) focused on proving the influence of maturational constraints in learning the American Sign Language or ASL.The second study by Mayberry, Lock, and Kazmi (2002) was centered on comparing the task performances betwe en learners who had no early experiences of the target signed and spoken languages and those who experienced learning situations for the purpose of obtaining knowledge and skills on the target signed and spoken languages. Both studies have revealed that exposure to the target language, whether it be signed or spoken, is more likely to contribute to advanced development of linguistic capabilities later in life despite differences on the level of maturity exhibited by children as compared to adults.This particular conclusions prove how exposing children with the target language early on is important in helping build a strong foundation for linguistic learning and capabilities that shall materialize until adulthood. Caruthers, Laurence, & Stich (2005) talked about how the competencies and capabilities of children are often undermined. What some people fail to realize, especially critiques of bilingual acquisition in children, is how this specific population as young as they are, are ab le to exhibit linguistic competence that is comparable to the knowledge and skills obtained by adults.By obtaining evidences from the poverty of stimulus argument and facts gained from psycholinguistic investigations on the language and communication skills of children, Caruthers, Laurence, & Stich (2005) proved that children are similarly capable of achieving competence in linguistics in the same way that adults do. In this particular study, children were described to be capable of looking beyond their experiences and determine the differences between languages used in various settings and situations.Moreover, the language input that children obtain from learning serve as guides for them in order to distinguish between their native language and the target language even if the nature of the input does not match their previous experiences. This means that children are naturally capable of learning second languages by looking beyond their previous experiences and native language, and distinguishing the second language through symbolisms and interpretations.In previous discussions, the innate learning capabilities of children were explored in order to emphasize how children are able to learn two languages efficiently despite differences in language or grammar structures between the learner’s native language and the target language. This argument was supported by research studies conducted by Newport (1990), Mayberry, Lock, & Kazmi (2002), and Caruthers, Laurence, & Stich (2005) which support the hypothesis that there is no learning gaps between children and adults.Exposure to the target language at an early age does in fact establish continuity to a child’s learning competence towards adulthood. This particular idea dismisses the previous argument stated to critique bilingual acquisition which states that simultaneous language learning will cause developmental delays in language, because the process results to the opposite. Studies have confirmed th at early exposure leads to impressive competence on language in later life.Supporting these arguments were the claims revealed about the innate characteristics of children who are able to perceive different languages despite their previous experiences from their native language. Children have been said to be naturally perceptive who can distinguish the differences between various languages simply because they do not relate their earlier experiences and their native language with a second or foreign language.This particular finding also dismisses the arguments presented against bilingual acquisition that relates the simultaneous learning of second languages to confusion regarding grammar usage or conflicts between the native language and the target language which leads to poor communication among children who were believed to be incapable of distinguishing grammatical and structural differences among various languages. In Ng & Wigglesworth’s (2007) discussions on bilingualism and language acquisition, they dismiss assumptions on the child’s innate capabilities as determinants of bilingual competence.For Ng & Wigglesworth (2007), bilingual competence exhibited by children is influenced by external factors independent of the child. Therefore, assumptions that children may not be able to handle second language learning because of their inability to distinguish between grammatical forms and structures exhibited by two different languages are incoherent simply because it was based on a limited construct which does not consider all the factors and aspects involved in the process.According to Ng & Wigglesworth (2007), the efficiency and frequency of interaction influences how language, particularly a second language, is acquired or learned. This means that although learning is generally known to be influenced by personality, self-motivation, and innate characteristics, the quality of instruction or interaction and the frequency by which instruction or in teraction take place affects the bilingual competence of children.Therefore, if some people argue that bilingual acquisition might not be the best strategies in the transfer of language and communication skills, we say, based on Ng & Wigglesworth’s (2007) illustrations that the feared or perceived outcomes of bilingual acquisition – that is, conflicts on grammatical forms and structures between the first and the second language – may be prevented by focusing on developing a strong foundation that shall stand by bilingual education. This means that the success of learning and bilingual acquisition is dependent therefore on how language is taught and learned.Pressly & McCormick’s (2006) discussions on bilingualism and cognitive development support Ng & Wigglesworth’s (2007) arguments. For Pressly & McCormick (2006), enhancing the bilingual or linguistic competencies of second language learners is dependent on the methods of instruction. Moreover, in several studies comparing bilingual and monolingual students, it has been found out that the awareness of bilingual students that they obtained from their exposure to two different languages contributed to their cognitive development, and thus, helped in letting them differentiate grammatical structures between both languages.CONCLUSION From previous discussions, we have found out that perceptions regarding flaws of bilingual acquisition are annullable. This is because evidences from research studies have pointed out that the innate capabilities of children, the external factors that contribute to bilingual acquisition, and the comparison between bilingual and monolingual learners, prove that children should not be undermined by supposing they will not be able to handle the process of acquiring two languages simultaneously.These findings imply that academic institutions should focus on strengthening the quality of bilingual education in order to further the cognitive growth and deve lopment of bilingual learners. Further research studies should focus on how bilingual education is to be transformed in order to meet high standards and guidelines of second language learning and linguistic competence that are not only precursors to personal growth and development and nation-building through productiveness, but also in meeting the demands of a globalized and multicultural society that relies so much on communication and interaction.ReferencesCaruthers, P. , Laurence, S. , & Stich, S. P. (2005). The Innate Mind: Structure and Contents. United States: Oxford University Press. Damon, W. , et. al. (2006). Handbook of Child Psychology, 6th Ed. John Wiley and Sons. Mayberry, R. I. , Lock, E. , & Kazmi, H. (2002). Linguistic Ability and Early Language Exposure. Nature, Vol. 417, p. 38. Macmillan Magazines Ltd. Ng, B. C. & Wigglesworth, G. (2007). Bilingualism.An Advanced Resource Book. Oxford, UK: Routledge. Pressly, M. & McCormick, C. (2006). Child and Adolescent Developm ent for Educators. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Newport, S. K. (1990). Maturational Constraints on Language Learning. Cognitive Science 14, 11-28. Rochester, New York: University of Rochester. Sonntag, S. K. (2003). The Local Politics of Global English: Case Studies in Linguistic Globalization. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.