Angkor Wat Timeline

Angkor Wat Timeline At its height, the Khmer Empire that built Angkor Wat and the other marvelous temples near Siem Reap, Cambodia controlled much of Southeast Asia. From what is now Myanmar in the west to all but a thin strip of land along the Vietnamese coast of the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Khmers ruled it all.  Their reign continued for more than six hundred years, from 802 to 1431 CE. The Temples During that time, the Khmers built hundreds of gorgeous, intricately carved temples. Most began as Hindu temples, but many were later converted to Buddhist sites. In some cases, they switched back and forth between the two faiths numerous times, as attested by the different carvings and statues made at different time periods. Angkor Wat is the most wonderful of all these temples.  Its name means City of Temples or Capital City Temple.  When it was first constructed before 1150 CE, it was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. By the end of the 12th century, however, it was gradually being transitioned into a Buddhist temple instead. Angkor Wat remains a center of Buddhist worship to this day. The Khmer Empires reign marks a high point in the cultural, religious, and artistic development of Southeast Asia. Eventually, however, all empires fall.  In the end, the Khmer Empire succumbed to drought and to incursions from neighboring peoples, particularly from Siam (Thailand).  Its ironic that the name Siem Reap, for the city nearest Angkor Wat, means Siam is defeated.  As it turned out, the people of Siam would bring down the Khmer Empire.  The lovely monuments remain today, though, testaments to the artistry, engineering and martial prowess of the Khmers. Timeline of Angkor Wat 802 C.E. - Jayavarman II is crowned, rules until 850, founds kingdom of Angkor. 877 - Indravarman I becomes king, orders construction of Preah Ko and Bakhong temples. 889 - Yashovarman I is crowned, rules until 900, completes Lolei, Indratataka, and Eastern Baray (reservoir), and builds Phnom Bakheng temple. 899 - Yasovarman I becomes king, rules until 917, establishes capital Yasodharapura on Angkor Wat site. 928 - Jayavarman IV takes throne, establishes capital at Lingapura (Koh Ker). 944 - Rajendravarman crowned, builds Eastern Mebon and Pre Rup. 967 - Delicate Banteay Srei temple built. 968-1000 - Reign of Jayavarman V, starts work on Ta Keo temple but never finishes it. 1002 - Khmer civil war between Jayaviravarman and Suryavarman I, construction begins on Western Baray. 1002 - Suryavarman I wins civil war, rules until 1050. 1050 - Udayadityavarman II takes throne, builds Baphuon. 1060 - Western Baray reservoir finished. 1080 - Mahidharapura Dynasty founded by Jayavarman VI, who builds Phimai temple. 1113 - Suryavarman II crowned king, rules until 1150, designs Angkor Wat. 1140 - Construction begins on Angkor Wat. 1177 - Angkor sacked by the Chams people from southern Vietnam, partially burned, Khmer king killed. 1181 - Jayavarman VII, famous for defeating Chams, becomes king, sacks Chams capital in reprisal in 1191. 1186 - Jayavarman VII builds Ta Prohm in honor of his mother. 1191 - Jayavarman VII dedicates Preah Khan to his father. End of 12th century - Angkor Thom (Great City) built as new capital, including state temple at the Bayon. 1220 - Jayavarman VII dies. 1296-97 - Chinese chronicler Zhou Daguan visits Angkor, records daily life in Khmer capital. 1327 - End of classical Khmer era, last stone engravings. 1352-57 - Angkor sacked by Ayutthaya Thais. 1393 - Angkor sacked again. 1431 - Angkor abandoned after invasion by Siam (Thais), although some monks continue to use the site.

Three artist Dialogue essays

Three artist Dialogue essays Artist are very opinionated individuals that create pieces that affect us in many ways. What do I mean by that statement? Well, if one is to look at any kind of artwork, I believe that it will evoke some kind of reaction from the viewer. It is the artists statement. It may not be a written statement or vocal statement, but it is a visual type of communication. The three artists that I am discussing will be Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Barnett Newman. The discussion will be that of their opinions on creating art and their interpretation of some forms of art. The source of the information will Jackson Pollock's artwork is very loose and free with lots of energy and movement. An idea of an American art to him is absurd. Meaning that he thinks that art cannot be classified into a type or grouping. His example of physics being tied to a nationality has its merits. The theory of physics is a universal type of thinking. It is not locked down to be understood by cer- tain nationalities. He says that all people can understand its concepts. And that is how he views artwork as well. Art is the universal language. Mark Rothko states that artwork transcends us to a different plane or dimension. The hum-drum of everyday life can stifle the creative energy of the artist according to Rothko. He says that if artists can let go of his ties to reality, only then is he able to be truly creative. Freedom is the goal of the artist. Freedom from reality will allow an artist to create beyond his normal limits. Artwork is a magical result that started within the artist mind and is transferred to the canvas. This transformation is his so called The items in his works are like individual entities that have purpose. This purpose may be to itself or may have relationships to other ...

How Technology Can Assist in Achieving Transparency in a Global Supply Essay

How Technology Can Assist in Achieving Transparency in a Global Supply Chain - Essay Example Global supply chain mainly deals with transportation of products to a plethora of countries rather than local or nationwide orientation. The prime objective is to create net worth, competitive transportation and to meet up with supply along with demand of the customers. Along with these, the total cost involved in the transportation of products should also be quite reasonable, in order to retain its market share among others (Mentzer, 2001). Hence, in order to sustain in this era of globalization and industrialization, it is essential to implement innovative technologies, information technology (IT) strategies along with modern equipments to ease the difficulties associated with supply chain. Due to globalization and offshore sourcing, the issues related to global supply chain is becoming more significant and striking in this recent era. Thus, in order to ensure sustainability, every organization related with logistics is attempting to implement innovative IT technologies and policie s in order to remain competitive in the market. It is essential as it would facilitate in reducing varied problems namely shipping time, charge of required space, tariffs, local cost of the labors and weather conditions among others. Due to the above mentioned problems, both the customers and the dealers have to face varied consequences which even include cancellation of the contract at times. Thus, in order to solve these problems, the global supply chain organizations are attempting to implement IT strategies and systems such as online websites (Mentzer, 2001). Implementation of IT strategies would facilitate the customers to purchase or book the products with the help of online websites. It would ease the problem related with the transportation of the products from one place to the other. Hence, it would also reduce the total expenditure of an organization as well as the customers, which would rather prove beneficial for both. Furthermore, with the help of E-procurement and E-sou rcing techniques, varied organizations can easily connect to various reputed suppliers and distributors in a single span of time, which is quite noteworthy (Epiq Technologies, Inc, 2010). It would also help to reduce the cost incurrence of the organizations thereby improving the total revenue. Moreover, the introduction of E-purchasing technique would also facilitate to enhance customer awareness and responsiveness thereby augmenting corporate image and brand identity for an organization in the market. Moreover, by the implementation of E-sourcing software, the entire business operations can be mapped and operated with a single electronic machine in a particular place thus reducing the cost of traveling. It would also help in utilization of the total time in productive work which would increase the efficiency and the profitability of an organization. It would rather prove beneficial for the organization as well as the employees (Epiq Technologies, Inc, 2010). With the help of techno logical aspects such as IT, the global supply chain organizations can also offer varied discounts strategies on the packaging quantities in order to attract additional customers, which would be beneficial for the organizations. Hence, it would help to improve the total revenue of the organization in the market. Apart from the above mention

San Francisco Peaks Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

San Francisco Peaks - Research Paper Example However this entire mystery was resolved in 1980 when Mount St. Helen’s erupted. It is because of this erosion that the scientists and geologists were able to figure out that due to volcanoes a mountains entire face can disappear. Further, with the help of the geological testing and aerial photos it was concluded that the San Francisco Peaks experience the same kind of erosion and that is why it took a unique formation. It is believed by the geologists that the actual peaks were more than 16,000 feet high (San Francisco Peaks) The Peaks The San Francisco Peaks are located to the north of Flagstaff, Arizona and has a height of about 12,633 feet. It is considered to be the most distinct geological mark of the Colorado Plateau. These peaks have been named after the settler in the region the early 1620s named St. Francis of Assisi, however in the local area these are referred to as Peaks. The peaks are a collective formation of six summits that encircle the volcanic crater, which is now a quiet volcano. Out of all the six, the highest peak in Arizona is Humphreys Peak that is 12,633 feet high, Agassiz Peak is about 12,356 feet and the Fremont Peak soars up to 11,969 feet. The remaining three peaks; Aubineau Peak, Reese Peak and the Doyle Peak climb up to 11,838 feet, 11,474 feet and 11,460 feet respectively. Together all these peaks make a circular ring making the peaks the most significant geological display of volcanic rocks, together with the picturesque view of the lava flows and the deep alpine forest. As the peaks are a unique formation, they provide a dramatic landscape of the Flagstaff that is isolated, huge and quite unexpected. Since the peaks are quite tower-like, these can be viewed from quite a distance even from the Wupatki National Monuments (Priest, Duffield and Malis-Clark). Today these peaks have become tourist attractions as millions of people visit this place every year. The Peaks have a protected alpine environment (Inner Basin), a ski r esort (Arizona Snowbowl) and the Humphreys Peak (the highest point of Arizona). People visit the place for hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, and skiing and wilderness seclusion. The Formation of the Peaks Arizona’s volcanic pleasures begin to form about 6 million years ago when there were 600 volcanic eruptions in the region. It was due to these volcanic eruptions that the Peaks were formed, mainly the Humphrey’s peak that soared above the terrain making it a geological landscape, otherwise it would just have been a dry and arid plateau. Although the history of the formation of the Peaks varies in the region however the general geologic history remains quite the same. Nearly about 500 million years ago the Plateau region was below or at the sea levels and the sediments of limestone began to accumulate underneath. Although most of the volcanic eruptions are near the tectonic plates in the earths crust however Arizona has been quite far from the North American Plate. Th e reason of volcanic eruptions in this region is believed to be the molten rock that is the trapped area beneath the Northern Arizona named as the hot spot. This molten rock occasionally rises, moving the plate to the west and creating volcanoes. The Peaks are believed to be formed nearly 500,000 to 1 million years ago however its inner basin has been quite since its formation (Jones). Many geologists name this formation of the San Francisco Peaks as a stratovolcano meaning that it

Alternative Energy Source Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alternative Energy Source - Essay Example Scientists, conservationists, lobbyists, and a range of other scholars have explored on the subject of alternative energy source through various perspectives. Their views represent the various schools of thought that have emerged to define the problem. Publications and research work developed about the subject have often been classified into major themes including the depletion of fossil fuels, rising levels of consumption, safety, pollution, types of alternative sources of energy, the cost factor, and sustainability (Michaelides 41). These themes are considered along local and universal perspectives. In essence, some of the issues that connect to the development of alternative energy sources are consistent with the view that the developmental needs of humanity are entirely dependent on the availability of sufficient clean energy, which does not pose any significant threat to the eco-systems around the world. On this note, it becomes important to consider the fact that debate on the production of alternative source of energy is also understood together with the need to lessen the kind of crises that have defined competition over the existing forms energy. A major factor of consideration is the fact that the economies of nearly all the countries around the world are driven by the influence of energy on other sectors, which affect the performance of markets and other indicators. Challenges of monopoly over oil, for instance, have contributed to fears in the developing and the developed world of dominance and manipulation of the economic order in ways that could impact negatively on the aspect of globalization and liberalization of world economies (Kruger 66). Consequently, it becomes necessary to investigate available options to the question of alternative sources of energy and the need to resolve current issues affecting the development of energy levels. A wide range of research work has indicated that the world supply of oil has reduced drastically over the pas t century. Fears continue to grip the developed and the developing world over the question of sustainability and the impact of the reduction on the stability of the world economy. On this matter, research has shown that many countries will face significant challenges in the running of their industries as the fuel levels continue to reduce (Kowalski 30). Industrialization has been accepted as an important benchmark of development. Countries continue to grapple with the challenge in various ways that underscore the different levels of impact across the globe. Estimates from multiple sources indicate that the depletion of fossil fuels might reach crisis levels in about 50 years. The same research shows that many countries have continued to allocate significant amounts of money in their budgets to research initiatives aimed at promoting the development of alternative energy sources to complement or supplement the dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. The rise of China as a major industria l economic power has also been cited in a wide range of research work as a contributing factor to the insecurities about fuel, which continue to threaten world stability. China has been mentioned in these research works as a leading consumer of fuel in the world. It remains a major importer of oil and

Tescos Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Tescos Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Introduction Tesco Plc is considered as the king of supermarkets in Britain. Its business is related to the small grocery stores under the Tesco Metro brand name, big supermarkets outside cities (Tesco Extra) and 24-hour stores. Its stores are not limited to food sector but also to provide books, CD/DVD/mini-discs, hi-fi and household appliances, household equipment, flowers, wine, apparel and many other items. In January 2003, Tesco takes over its key competitor in the British Territory, T S Stores. Currently, it employed 270,800 fulltime employees worldwide. Tesco has adapted rapid technological changes to boost its sales. Such as its on-line sales site Tesco.com, is now heavily contributing to its profits in recent years. The Group currently holds almost 1,988 stores in the UK and 1265 stores outside UK (Annual Report, 2007). Today, its market capitalization has reached  £36.60 billion. (Reuters, 2007) Tesco plc is a British based grocery and general merchandise international retail chain. It is the largest British retailer by global sales and domestic market share with profits exceeding  £2 billion. In 2008, the company achieved German retail giant Metro AG to make the third largest retailer in the world, the first movement among the top five since 2003. Originally specializing in food, has diversified into areas such as clothing , consumer electronics , consumer financial services , retail selling and renting DVDs , CDs , music downloads , Internet service , consumer telecoms , consumer insurance , consumer dental plans and software . Part 1: Project Objectives and overall research approach. Tesco Background. In 1919, Tesco Plc was established by Jack Cohen, by utilising the bonus which he achieved for his services in the World War I army. Then in 1924, he purchased a tea consignment from the company TE Stockwell. He decided to put the initial three alphabets of TE Stockwell and the initials of his name Cohen collectively to name his brand TESCO. In 1929 Cohen opened the very first Tesco store in Edgware, London. Originally, Cohens formulated the strategy of Piling it high, selling it cheap. Despite the fact that this strategy assisted Tesco in attracting a great amount of consumers, it also assisted Tesco in branding itself as a store for average class consumers and even earned an image as a low-end store. When Imperial Tobacco Company decided not to acquire Tesco because the company thought that the deal could damage its reputation, after considering of buying the company, Tescos brand image was further thrashed. Throughout the seventies, numerous analysts recommended the Tesco to transform the name of the company. Tesco obtained several companies during the seventies such as Williamsons, Burnards, John Irwins, Harrow Stores, Victor Value and Charles Phillips. However, all these businesses were not incorporated appropriately with Tesco, and a large number of these stores were not well organised. Furthermore, Tesco had small and poorly equipped stores as well. The only competitive edge Tesco had was the price. The products that were available at the store seemed to be of ordinary. Due to the rise in the income of customers in Britain, the customers did not want to look for bargains. They were now seeking high quality products. In order to cater these changing demands of the customer, Tesco decided to close down its numerous stores to focus on superstores to provide improved quality. Brief data Aims and Objectives. Tesco is one of the biggest food retailers in the world, functioning over 3,200 stores. The assembly is furthermore one of the biggest online food retailers. The objective of this study is to investigate the Tescos business ethics and corporate social responsibility. The business analysis will be conducted through PEST analysis and SWOT analysis. The target is to have an analysis of Tescos corporate social responsibility policies including business ethics and their impact on its business practice and its key stakeholders. Industry Activities. Tesco is one of the biggest food retailers in the world and biggest food retailer in the UK. It functions round 3,300 stores. In supplement to food, it furthermore functions in the non food segment. The company functions through multiple shop formats encompassing Extra, Superstore, Metro, Express and hypermarkets. The company functions in three geographical segments: the UK, Rest of Europe and Asia. The organisation is one of the biggest online retailers in the world. Tesco has a long period strategy for development, founded on four key parts: development in the Core UK, to expand by increasing internationally, to be as powerful in non-food as in food and to pursue clients into new retailing services. Tesco is undoubtedly an entire shopping centre in itself. Everything is literally discovered in one roof. No longer restricted to food shop pieces, it boasts services that would permit a consumer to avail of everything in one stop. Besides the additional trading of publications, cds, digital melodies, videos, blossoms, sport and gardening they furthermore supply economic services (e.g. borrowing cards, borrowings, mortgages, savings) protection services (e.g. vehicle, house, life, travel) telecoms services (e.g. Internet, residence and wireless phone) and wholesome household services (through its Tesco eDiets and wholesome household club) .Tesco has evolved diverse types of Tesco shops extending from Tesco Extra, Metro Tesco and Tesco Express in its extending quest to correctly address the desires of their diverse clients when and where they desire it. According to information gleaned from the web, the British retail group Tesco returns in recent weeks, an image blurring. It symbolizes the many facets of the reputation of a company facing a diverse audience, especially in times of crisis. Like many entrepreneurs, the boss of the group, Sir Terry Leahy, is firmly committed to the greenway, including offering reusable bags, which allowed him to avoid the production of 2 billion bags plastic. Tesco is also involved in the Global Social Compliance Programme (Global Social Compliance, GSCP), an initiative of distribution groups, which involves Carrefour. Created in 2006, the GSCP is to converge in terms of their supply chain standards for social audits, share best practices and contribute to the improvement of working conditions. The platform intends to issue a single message, consistent and shared based on ILO standards and the UN to all suppliers. She met 26 companies including Carrefour. GSCPs Advisory Council is composed of the International Federation of Human Rights, the UNI Commerce, CSR Asia and the UN Office for International Partnerships. Although this initiative is not under ground, it remains unknown to the general public. In addition, the group Tesco, which has 280,000 employees in Britain, has actively supported Marie Curie Care Centre, giving him 6.3 million pounds, twice more than expected. This sum is intended to fund over 315,000 hours of nursing care to more than 5,600 terminally ill patients and their families, all at home. Some  £ 500,000 has been collected outside of Tesco stores, 2 million pounds were lifted further by the store staff,  £ 500,000 by the distribution centre employees and the remainder from the rest of the group. The Tesco Charity Trust. The Tesco Charity Trust has brought its side 20% of the amount raised by staff. Yet, at virtually the same period, the website of UNI Global Union deals with social conflict in a Tesco supermarket in Douglas, Ireland, in which the union intervenes Mandate. Moreover, Greenpeace believes that Tesco, Marks and Spencer but are complicit in the Amazonian deforestation by importing Brazilian beef. This breeding would have dramatic consequences for biodiversity and global warming. According to an AFP dispatch, other multinationals, major commodity in this region, are singled out: Adidas, BMW, Carrefour, Ford, Honda, Gucci, IKEA, Kraft, Toyota and Wal-Mart. Faced with such a stream of positive news or disturbing, it appears that a company that cares about its reputation must advance on all fronts at the same time taking into account all its stakeholders, the difficulty being that they are extremely diverse for a group the size of Tesco. Part 2: Information gathering and accounting/business techniques. This study is established on both primary as well as secondary data. The study methodology utilised is the review of diverse literatures which are accessible online. This study engaged investigations from the brief reports, items from periodicals, and online material accessible on the web. Using the methodology checked in preceding investigations, this study started with a very broad review of the literature. The outcome and deductions are founded on the secondary data. The methodology utilised for the purpose of this study is established on the secondary data. This study is more or less founded on the review of publications and the reasonings are drawn on the cornerstone of genuine assets recorded in the references. Financial facts and numbers will be accumulated from the yearly accounts of Tesco. Primary data is mainly obtained through the annual report of Tesco 2010 which is available online. Primary data assemblage is essential when a investigator will not find the data required in secondary sources. Market researchers are involved in prime facts and figures about demographic/socioeconomic characteristics, attitudes/opinions/interests, awareness/knowledge, aims, motivation, and behavior. Three basic means of obtaining prime facts and figures are observation, surveys, and experiments. The alternative will be leveraged by the environment of the difficulty and by the accessibility of time and money. Examples encompass reviews, meetings, facts, and ethnographic research. Agood investigator knows how to use both prime and secondary causes in her writing and to integrate them in a cohesive fashion. An important source of primary data is survey research. The various kinds of surveys (personal, posted letters, computer, and telephone), are described ahead. Experiments are another significant source of data for trading research tasks. The environment of experimentation, the types of untested designs, and the uses and limitations of this procedure of getting data are furthermore clarified ahead. Experiments are conducted in either a laboratory setting (most advertising exact replicate pretests) or in a field setting (test marketing). Electronic and computer technologies have revolutionized both these environments, which are recounted later. Conducting prime research is a helpful ability to come by as it can substantially supplement study in lesser causes, such as periodicals, publications, or books. Primary study is an very good ability to learn as it can be useful in a kind of backgrounds encompassing business, personal, and academic. The secondary data that are accessible are somewhat quick and cheap to get, especially now that computerized bibliographic search services and databases are available. The various sources of the lesser facts and figures and how they can be obtained and utilised are described ahead. Tesco provides an inclusive offer. It describes Tescos ambition to cater its customers of top, middle and low income in the same stores. Tesco has invented a reward system known as the Club-card which collects the essential consumer data that is used to provide specific service to cater the needs and potential wants of consumer. When shoppers sign up for the Club-card, they initially submit their profile which includes gender, age and address. Tesco could divide their customers into segments by relying on these aspects. The information of the goods purchased is instantly uploaded into Tescos database the minute the consumer purchases it. Product information was used to sell cross-sell additional products and services such as delivery of groceries. Beginning in 1997 when Terry Leahy took over as CEO, Tesco began marketing itself to using the phrase the way to Tesco to describe the purposes, values, principles, and goals of the foundation of the company. This phrase became the standard marketing speak for Tesco as it expands nationally and internationally under Leahys leadership, implying a change in the company to focus on people, customers and employees. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be defined as the active and voluntary contribution to improving social, economic and environmental factors by companies, usually with the aim of improving its competitive position and its value . The performance evaluation system throughout the organization in these areas is known as the triple bottom line. Under this concept of administration and management encompasses a set of practices, strategies and business management systems that seek a new balance between economic, social and environmental. The history of CSR can be traced back to the nineteenth century under the Cooperatives and Associations who sought to reconcile business efficiency with social principles of democracy, self-help, community support and distributive justice. Its leading exponents are now companies social economy , by definition Socially Responsible Companies. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) aims for excellence within the company, taking with special attention to people and their working conditions and the quality of their production processes. Corporate social responsibility is the set of actions that take into account the companies so that their activities have a positive impact on society and affirm their principles and values that govern both in their own internal methods and processes in its relationship with other actors. CSR is a voluntary initiative. It is the conscious and consistent commitment to comply fully with the mission of the company both internally, and externally, considering the expectations of all participants in the economic, human and social environment, demonstrating respect for ethical values, people, communities and the environment and to build the common good. The responsible management of the company implies that this act reconcile (balance point) between business interests and expectations that it is the community (particularly its stakeholders-stakeholders) The main ethical responsibilities of business with the workers and the community are: Serve the society with useful and fair. Create wealth in the most effective way possible. Respect human rights to decent working conditions that promote health and safety and human development and professional workers. Ensure the continuity of the company and, if possible, to achieve reasonable growth. Respect the environment wherever possible avoiding any kind of pollution minimizing waste generation and more efficient use of natural resources and energy. Enforced laws, regulations, rules and customs, while respecting the legitimate contracts and commitments. Ensure equitable distribution of wealth generated. Business ethics and therefore business morality generally result from an individuals own moral standards in the context of the political and cultural environment in which the organization is operating. Ethics are founded on moral principles that are themselves grounded in effects. This holds true whether you subscribe to the idea that a moral judgment must fulfill only formal conditions that are universal and prescriptive or whether you think it must also meet a material condition for the welfare of society as a whole. Social responsibility, another term for good citizenship, means producing sound products or reliable services that dont threaten the environment and contributing positively to the social, political and economic health of society. It also means compensating employees fairly and treating them justly, regardless of the cultural environment in which you operate. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept that describes the activities of companies beyond revenue; the term is increasingly used to describe the role of any business in society. CSR involves a wide commitment by companies to social health and the common good and policies that support them. This involves not only the products a company produces, but also be a good corporate citizen in terms of employees hired and how to find them. It also has to do with protecting the environment and participating in the local community and the wider culture in which the company engages in business. Broadly speaking, CSR has three key components: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The basic values, ethics, policies, and practices of a companys business; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The voluntary contributions made by a company to community development; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The management of environmental and social issues within the value chain by the company and its business partners-from the acquisition and production of raw materials, through the welfare of staff, to product sale, use, and disposal. Part 3: Results, Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations. This part discusses the corporate social responsibility initiatives of Tesco and its impact on the internal and external environment of the company. It details the activities undertaken by Tescos management and employees to contribute to the benefit of the society and the community in which the company operates. It also discusses the active role played by Tesco in protecting and regenerating the environment and in extending the CSR initiatives to its suppliers. It also highlights a few criticisms against Tesco including polluting the environment in some countries and not adhering to its CSR standards. Issues: Examine a companys responsibility towards the society Understand the importance of social and environmental issues Determine how a companys stand on social and environmental issues can contribute to enhancing the companys image Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility In the last decade, a large number of companies have recognized the benefits of incorporating basic practices and social responsibility policies. Their experiences have been backed by a series of empirical studies that show that the RS has positive impacts on business values, measured in several ways. Companies have also been encouraged to adopt or expand efforts of RS as a result of pressure from consumers, providers, community, investors, activist organizations and other stakeholders. As a result of studies in recent years, the RS has increased dramatically in companies of all sizes and sectors that have developed innovative strategies. These benefits are numerous and can be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively, is also found that the company may enjoy greater loyalty from consumers, employees work more comfortable, the shares have greater stability, and saves costs potential legal and administrative sanctions. The advantages found are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Financial Performance Improvement The study published in 1999, Business and Society Review, showed that 300 large corporations found that companies that made a public commitment to honor their code of ethics, performance showed a three times higher than those who did not, on the parameter value added in the market. In another recent study by Harvard University found that companies with a balanced action between employees and shareholders showed a growth rate four times higher and employment growth rate eight times higher than those of companies focused only to shareholders. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reducing Operating Costs There are several initiatives that can help a company reduce its operating costs and increase productivity, particularly those related to the environment and the workplace. By way of example are: programs for balance between personal life and work to help reduce absenteeism and increase employee retention as well as allow companies to reduce costs in recruitment and training or retraining initiatives aimed at eliminating scrap costs and generates revenue through the sale of materials. There are several practical examples of significant environmental savings. For example, Dow Chemical Co. and the National Resource Defense Council established an alliance in order to reduce the production of 26 toxic chemicals to only one. For this reason they have managed to save 5.4 million a year, and as an added benefit the quality of their products. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improved brand image and reputation In the global economy, brand image and reputation are among the most valued strengths. Responsible marketing practices, by nature, are highly visible to consumers and have the potential to strengthen or weaken the publics opinion about a company or brand. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Capital Markets The latter continue to grow at high rates in most developed countries have begun to grow in developing countries. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Innovation Socially responsible organizations have an innate tendency to innovation in products and processes, which helps them to anticipate events allowing lead changes in the composition of their products, improve quality and human security of their production processes, improve security and quality of domestic activity, ahead of the competition in the launch of new products, the implementation of different types of future legal regulations, etc. Corporate social responsibility: the internal dimension The views that are considered to fall within the internal dimension, the company has under Social Responsibility (SR), are: human resources management, health and safety at work, adapt to change and environmental impact and management of natural resources. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Human resources management: When it comes to RS the first thing you think is that a company be socially responsible before the society or community in which it resides, it must be with the employees taking into account that one of the biggest challenges is to have people trained and sense of belonging in this context the company should include measures such as lifelong learning, improving the information on the company, a better balance between work, family and distraction, greater human resource diversity, equal pay and prospects opportunities for women, participation in profits or shareholder of the company and the consideration of employability and safety in the workplace. Another way to be socially responsible is when you discriminate against persons because of race, color or sex, responsibility and accounting practices that help meet the countrys economic policies such as employment generation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Health and safety in the workplace: Usually the health and safety have been addressed from a legal standpoint, but now companies, governments and sectoral organizations seek new ways to penetrate and promote this issue, especially now that both companies and consumers are more sensitive to values and ethical issues related to the production process. This and other practices such as SA8000 Certification which will be detailed in the next article help the company to be socially responsible. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Adapting to change: Any country suffers when companies are restructuring because of manpower cuts can generate economic and social crisis of great magnitude, but the community suggests that a restructuring from the point of view socially responsible means to balance and take into account the interests and concerns of all affected by the changes and decisions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Management of environmental impacts and natural resources: The corporate social responsibility is closely related to the environmental impact generated by the proposed objectives and that directly affect communities. Therefore the environmental field can be considered as a solid framework for the promotion of corporate social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility: the external dimension The company should be socially responsible with local communities, business partners, suppliers, customers, employees, shareholders and the environment among others. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Local communities: The corporate social responsibility with local communities to be expressed in: 1. Integration of the companies in their local environment. 2. Contribution to community development in terms of employment generation. 3. Establishment of training commitments of the community, environmental conservation, and procurement of socially excluded people, caring for children in daycare, sponsoring cultural and sports activities at the local level, donations to charity. 4. Participation in social welfare projects. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Business partners, suppliers and consumers: Relationships with partners, suppliers and consumers are especially important for businesses, thereby reducing costs and increasing quality. The main features to be emphasized as the relationship with partners, suppliers and consumers are: 1. Large companies are both partners of the smaller companies either, as customers, suppliers, contractors and competitors. 2. Companies are aware that their social performance can be affected by the practices of their partners and suppliers throughout the production chain. 3. The companies are responsible for promoting entrepreneurship in its location, for example, tutoring, or assistance provided to small businesses for their contribution to social responsibility and reporting. They also support small businesses with venture capital, facilitating their expansion. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Human rights: As for human rights companies ensure that their trading partners are respecting the values they considered essential and what is the approach to be taken and how to work in countries where there are frequent violations of human rights. Although companies establish codes of conduct for the respect of human rights, labor conditions and environmental factors must be taken into account that they are no substitute for national and international laws, nor the provincial and municipal. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Global environmental problems: Because environmental problems have reached beyond the boundaries and that companies are directly related to and with the consumption of resources in the world, it is important to begin a drive to reduce the environmental impact of its activities throughout production chain. The stakeholders perspective. In much of the twentieth century, proper responsibility for the wider impacts of business, has been social. Recently, it was recognized that the concept of stakeholders has a central role. In this perspective, each organization will have different stakeholders: for companies, their stakeholders they typically include consumers, suppliers, shareholders and staff from a wide range of other, for governments, organizations can include employers, unions and NGOs. As you increase the influence of key stakeholders-oriented companies will be the adoption of corporate responsibility deeper and more solid. The detailed discussion of these issues highlighted the following aspects: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The leadership role in promoting a set of core values in business. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The need to ensure that Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the overall business à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ To consider CSR as essential philosophy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The importance of follow the process properly, that is, through transparency and consultations. An analysis of stakeholders, recognize that shareholders are always among the most important stakeholders of corporations. In recent years, however, its role has been changing in two ways: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ First, for most shareholders, the importance of organizational governance has become an increasingly pressing issue, and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ second, the volume of socially responsible investment (SRI), which can be defined as investment for social goals and financial, has grown rapidly in recent years. TESCOs CSR Approach Once a year, the board of directors of Tesco Plc consider the companys strategy of corporate social responsibility and the review of the overall performance on this subject is discussed after every three months. Members of the board and the executives of the company receive review on corporate social responsibility performance, due to which the company can assess future opportunities and risks. In 2001 the company established the Corporate Responsibility committee which encompasses of cross functional executive. These executives meet several times in a year to discuss the matter of corporate social responsibility of the company. The first corporate social responsibility report was published in 2001 by the Corporate Responsibility committee. The committee used Steering Wheel framework of Tesco evaluate its accomplishment of Corporate Social Responsibility performance. Corporate Social Responsibility is a crucial part of the Tescos steering wheel framework so as to to guarantee that CSR is a crucial part of the everyday performance of the company. Environmental Responsibility Tesco has always realised that strategies that may pose harm to the environment should not be a part of the company. These sort of strategies would have a negative impact on the companys image and may result in damaging the brand name, the clients and the environment as a whole. Conserving the environment is an important part of Tescos corporate strategy as it is believed to be associated with the companys economic goal. Nevertheless, Tesco has made sure to commit itself to maintain an environment which is healthy for everyone. Tesco has made all workers to play an dynamic part in its initiatives towards healthy environmental. Energy, Water and Fuel In 1996, Tesco initiated a campaign where it provides awareness towards energy consumption. The employees were expected to play a dynamic role in it. Managers in all Tesco depots, stores and offices supervised energy consumption and put an effort in reducing waste. During 1997 and 2005, Tescos energy consumption reduced 35% per square foot. Tesco is planning to further reduce it by 5% by the year 2006. Societal Responsibility As Tesco is large in size and it has huge scale of operations, it was able to impact the society on a large scale in numerous ways, through encouragement of its staff and consumers in order to achieve social responsibility. Tesco implemented numerous programmes to achieve social responsibility. These responsibilities include fund raising, charity for a foundation and to promote education. Tesco believed that it had a key part to play in order to promote healthy food for its consumers and struggled to make sure that healthy food is accessible at reasonable charges. These inititives were not only for the UK but were made available for other countries where Tesco was originated. Communities Tesco donated one percent of its before tax profit to charity, in the form of gifts and donations. In the year 2004 and 2005, the companys total donations as charity were around 21,762,931 pound. The companys charitable trust granted donations of 878,556 pounds to local and national charitable organisations in Britain. Economic Responsibility Tesco has taken great initiatives to achieve the economic growth and development in all the localities around the world. Tesco has played a dynamic role in reducing unemployment, supply of products at reasonable prices and giving opportunities to the community to grow and expand. Regeneration Tesco deliberately moved into areas with high unemployment and low development to trigger growth, and to make the areas commercially attractive. In 6 years duration, Tesco has helped in providi

T.S Elliot: Threatening Women :: essays research papers fc

Threatening Women   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A reoccurring theme in much of Eliot’s poetry is the figure or figures of threatening women. Eliot includes his intimidation of women in a lot of poetry he writes. However, with some of his later poetry his feeling towards women changes. He goes from fearing them and feeling threatened to almost celebrating them. When comparing his work in â€Å"The Wasteland† to his work in â€Å"Marina† you can definitely sense a change in his feelings. Could this change in his poetry be a result of his estranged relationship with his first wife and the beginning of a happy one with his second? Being that a lot of his poetry was based on his relationships with women this notion is quite possible when delving further into the meaning of his poetry. Eliot’s usage of threatening women in his poetry changes as his relationships with women changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To get a better understanding of this one must understand the relationship between Eliot and the women in his life. Vivien Haigh-Wood was his first wife. He met Vivien in 1915 and married her that same year. Neither of their parents knew of the courtship. She was of the English upper-middleclass. She was very intelligent and lively, but she was also very unstable, unknown to Eliot. From the start neither one of them could understand the other (T.S Eliot par.7). Vivien was extremely controlling and jealous, and embarrassing to take out socially. She drained Eliot with her constant illness and nearly drove him to a nervous breakdown (par. 9). Vivien was in and out of mental hospitals from 1928 and on. Then in 1932 Eliot was offered a job lecturing at Harvard. He saw this as his chance out of his unhappy marriage. So he went to the United States and filed for a legal separation from Vivien (par.13). In 1947 Eliot was shattered by the news that Vivien had passed away in a private mental hospital (par.15). Eliot met his next love interest in 1949. She was his secretary at Fabres, her name was Valerie Fletcher. After working with her for 8 years he finally proposed in 1956 (T.S Eliot par.17). They were married in 1957. Valerie was only 30 and Eliot was 68. Not many of his friends stopped him from this happiness. He told friends, â€Å"I am the luckiest man in the world.† He was very jolly during this time in his life (par.

Carefully Read the Poem Simon Lee by William Wordsworth

Simon Lee the Old Huntsman is a poem which occurs in Lyrical Ballads and was written in 1798, belonging, thus, temporally to the Romantic period (1780-1830). Romantic writing is commonly identified with some key elements, which concern imagination, nature, symbolism and myth (although there have been writers of this period who were not as ‘mainstream’). William Wordsworth has been characterised as a canonical author of Romantic Poetry in that his work is highly attached to the notion of Nature and plenty of reference is made to it. Approaching a piece of literary work, however, from this perspective is very restraining, therefore, in this essay we will attempt a ‘social’ or ‘historical’ kind of approach. We shall try to ‘read’ the idealistic language found in the poem as social or historical discourse through the poetic techniques employed by the writer. In other words, we will analyse the way various elements of poetic form and language combine to create meaning and effects. Simon Lee is about an old huntsman who, while was once strong and active, now strives to fight his declined health and strength. The poem recounts an actual encounter of the poet with this old man. It seems to be a hybrid of lyric and narrative (a lyrical ballad). Lyric in that we have a first-person expression of emotion and concentration upon the actions and feelings of an individual at a particular moment, while narrative, since there is a narrator and another character, whom the former encounters and, later, describes. There are 12 stanzas of eight lines each with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDED that causes the lines to flow smoothly. The first stanza of the poem introduces us with Simon and sets the scene: ‘In the sweet shire of Cardigan’. It is obvious from the beginning that Wordsworth is dealing with a matter from common life, since every reader is familiar with and can picture a sweet shire, the same way the notion of ‘pleasant’ is easy to grasp. Furthermore, a series of modest, plain adjectives that evoke sadness are used to describe Simon: ‘old man’, ‘a little man’, who ‘once was tall’ making it clear that the ‘hero’ of the poem is just a humble, ordinary old man. Nature, Wordsworth argued, can save people from the alienation, frustration and triviality of contemporary urban life. It seems to me that by choosing to start the poem placing the readers in a rural area away from urban life, he seeks to evoke feelings opposed to the ones mentioned above, those that are for him connected with away-from-nature settings. The second stanza is, I consider, somewhat tragic, since two totally contradictory adjectives- ‘poor’ and ‘merry’- are used to describe this same person only in two different periods of his life: in the past and present. In this way, the winding down of Simon’s life over the years becomes even more intense to the reader. The rhyming couple ‘has he/ see’ in Lines 1 and 3 of the second stanza is known as poetic inversion. Wordsworth has inverted the word order for the sake of the sound sense of the verse as well as of the rhythm, both of which would have been different if he had used ‘he has’. Perhaps any other choice would have made the rhyme pattern less unfussy than it is now, and complication is what he has tried to avoid throughout the whole poem. The easy rhymes ‘merry/cherry’, ‘sound/round’, ‘sick/thick’, ‘door/poor’ are also justified by this theory. The metaphor ‘like a cherry’ is directly derived from the ‘diction’ of Nature and can be easily comprehended and pictured by the majority of the common population-especially in rural areas. In the fourth stanza the retrospection stops and Simon is no longer in the prime of his life. He is no longer healthy, rather he is ‘poor old Simon Lee’ again, who ‘has no son’, ‘has no child’, he only has ‘an aged woman’ and they both live ‘upon the village common’. Simon Lee is again transformed into the old man that was presented to us in the first stanza and the poetic inversion of ‘village common’ functions to leave an echo of the commonness of everything that surrounds this man, for once more. For the following four stanzas this picture of his is highlighted through words such as ‘lean’, ‘sick’, ‘thin’, ‘dry’, ‘weak’, ‘the weakest in the village’ or the image of his ankles, which are ‘swoln and thick’. By these means, the reader is ‘forced’ to sympathise with the hero, who is totally helpless. Even more, the repetition (which could also be characterised as alliteration) of the phrase ‘he has no’ in Line 5 of the fourth stanza reinforces the sense of loneliness and misery that is created. The same effect is also achieved by the alliteration that occurs between the words ‘sole’ -‘survivor’ in Line 8 of the third stanza. What is strikingly noticeable is that there is a pause at the end of almost each line, either a comma, a semi-colon, a full-stop or an exclamation mark, with occasional exceptions in some lines in an inconsistent pattern. This stylistic device, known as ‘enjambment’, suggests that these exceptional lines actually run on; however, on account of the actual line ending itself (with no punctuation mark) the reader is made to pause for a while and think. In other words, he can read each line slowly. This works to relieve any sense of suspense or tension within the poem. Or we can say that the writer initially aims at reproducing classical qualities of balance, harmony and proportion, while the variations noticed may function to indicate the disturbance that has occurred to the above. Suddenly, in the ninth octave Wordsworth writes directly to the reader –‘My gentle reader’- and asks him to expect no action; the poem is not climactic and the poet is addressing this fact (‘It is no tale’). Through the phrase ‘I perceive’ he reveals his insight into the reader’s reactions (‘ I’ m afraid that you expect some tale will be related’) and he establishes that there is no resolution or climax to be expected. He is also implying the reader’s blindness of the ‘tale’ already told by Simon’s aging body: the fact that he is humbled while he realises that struggling against a decaying organism is hopeless. At this point it might be useful to think of the readers whom this poem was originally created to address. On the one hand, Wordsworth has chosen to include the common people of rural life in his range of audience, and therefore is using their own language. In the ‘Preface’ to his Lyrical Ballads of 1802 he argues that the language of poetry ought to be ‘language of men’. As he says, this is because the rural poor ‘convey their feelings and notions in simple and unelaborated expressions’ (Wu, Romanticism,1994 p. 252). Their habits do not change as they are not affected by fashion, so their language is more sincere. On the other hand, by the phrase ‘my gentle reader’, we could also say that he is addressing the readers belonging to the upper-class of society; the educated people who would expect a more elaborated language and this poem to actually be far less profound that it really is. To those people who cannot see that it functions to be symbolic, but who only see the words and the events without the meaning lying below these. Wordsworth had lived through the Revolutionary period and was against the early ideas, which is why he had the reputation of a radical. He was influenced by the democratic ideas of the period. It seems that through this poem he seeks to change the social circumstances of the time. He seeks for a more democratic state and he attempts to pass this notion through the use of simple, unelaborated language, which is considered as ‘uncorrupted’. Let’s not forget that it was written in a period of remarkable social and political change. Therefore, in one sense, he conducted his own ‘social revolution’, influenced by the social context within which he created poetry. He was against the received idea of poetic language being as refined and eloquent as to be available only to those with an education. We might, thus, say that by addressing his reader in these two stanzas he is being ironic towards this class of society. At the conclusion of the poem, where the only action so far has been the decay of life, this ‘single blow’ in the twelfth stanza seems to be releasing a sense of freedom from this natural law and the writer’s tone suggests this victory over aging and decay. Simon’s response to this comes with ‘The tears into his eyes’ and ‘thanks and praises’ , conveying a shift from negative to positive; from pity to admiration, since attention now passes from Simon’s outward decay to the endless ‘activity’ and openness of his heart. The writer is overwhelmed by this gratitude expressed towards him and suggests that kindness within one’s heart may overcome any physical decay that comes with aging and bring about this spiritual survival that equals physical vigour of youthful.

Challenge of Small Business Essay Example

Challenge of Small Business Essay Example Challenge of Small Business Essay Challenge of Small Business Essay Small businesses are often faced with many challenges. One of the biggest problems faced by small businesses is providing suitable benefits for employees, namely health insurance. Employer provided health insurance is The research process to developing a paper requires time, time and more time. It is best to begin to think about the chosen topic for a couple of hours or even days before beginning. A brief search of the chosen topic to ensure enough information is available to support research. If there is little information, a change in topics may be a wise choice. The first step in the research process is to identify a topic. Ensuring there is enough information available to support the paper or take the time to conduct primary research if the topic allows. For instance, on the topic of most common workplace fears, interviewing several employees at work and a few friends may be enough to begin a research paper on that topic. After a topic is chosen, the fun begins. Develop a thesis statement and identify a few key words to begin. Create an outline to assist with organizing ideas and research. Insert key words in an internet engine to begin the search. The internet is the fastest and most convenient starting point. It contains all sorts of information and information is abundant about any topic. The more information found in the beginning; the better the chances of completing the research paper without having to go back and conduct more research. Magazines, periodicals, online journals and so forth are accessible from the internet. Remember to cite works along the way as this makes it easier to complete the reference page in the end. Abundant information does not always mean accurate information, especially from the internet. Sometimes it can be difficult to validate information found on the internet because information is not regulated. Information must be evaluated for accuracy, objectivity and currency. Using recent information from trust worthy authors is one way to ensure accuracy. It is imperative to search on well known websites, school libraries such as Pro quest, national magazines and so forth. The information contained on these sites may be more accurate than others and the chance of receiving malicious malware is lessened. Once the internet search is complete, take a trip to the library to conduct research the old way. The librarian will be excited to assist with searches. Conduct primary research and speak with a few colleagues or business associates that are professionals on the chosen topic. Ensuring all work is cited properly following American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines and giving others credit for their work is the last step in the process. It is best to do the bulk of citing during the research process. Trying to cite works after the fact is a little difficult and often times some items will be unintentionally overlooked.

Biography of Eloy Alfaro, President of Ecuador

Biography of Eloy Alfaro, President of Ecuador Eloy Alfaro Delgado was President of the Republic of Ecuador from 1895 to 1901 and again from 1906 to 1911. Although widely reviled by conservatives at the time, today he is considered by Ecuadorians to be one of their greatest presidents. He accomplished many things during his administrations, most notably the construction of a railroad linking Quito and Guayaquil. Early Life and Politics Eloy Alfaro (June 25, 1842 - January 28, 1912) was born in Montecristi, a small town near the coast of Ecuador. His father was a Spanish businessman and his mother was a native of the Ecuadorian region of Manabà ­. He received a good education and helped his father with his business, occasionally traveling through Central America. From an early age, he was an outspoken liberal, which put him at odds with staunch conservative Catholic President Gabriel Garcà ­a Moreno, who first came to power in 1860. Alfaro participated in a rebellion against Garcà ­a Moreno and went into exile in Panama when it failed. Liberals and Conservatives in the Age of Eloy Alfaro During the Republican era, Ecuador was only one of several Latin American countries torn apart by conflicts between liberals and conservatives, terms which had different meaning back then. In Alfaros era, conservatives like Garcà ­a Moreno favored a strong connection between church and state: the Catholic Church was in charge of weddings, education and other civil duties. Conservatives also favored limited rights, such as only certain people having the right to vote. Liberals like Eloy Alfaro were just the opposite: they wanted universal voting rights and a clear separation of church and state. Liberals also favored freedom of religion. These differences were taken very seriously at the time: the conflict between liberals and conservatives often led to bloody civil wars, such as the 1000 days war in Colombia. Alfaro and the Liberal Struggle In Panama, Alfaro married Ana Paredes Arosemena, a rich heiress: he would use this money to fund his revolution. In 1876, Garcà ­a Moreno was assassinated and Alfaro saw an opportunity: he returned to Ecuador and began a revolt against Ignacio de Veintimilla: he was soon exiled once again. Although Veintimilla was considered a liberal, Alfaro did not trust him and didn’t think his reforms were sufficient. Alfaro returned to take up the fight again in 1883 and was again defeated. The 1895 Liberal Revolution Alfaro did not give up, and in fact, by then, he was known as â€Å"el Viejo Luchador:† â€Å"The Old Fighter.† In 1895 he led what is known as the Liberal Revolution in Ecuador. Alfaro amassed a small army on the coast and marched on the capital: on June 5, 1895, Alfaro deposed President Vicente Lucio Salazar and took control of the nation as dictator. Alfaro swiftly convened a constitutional Assembly which made him President, legitimizing his coup. The Guayaquil - Quito Railroad Alfaro believed that his nation would not prosper until it modernized. His dream was of a railroad which would connect Ecuador’s two main cities: the Capital of Quito in the Andean highlands and the prosperous port of Guayaquil. These cities, although not far apart as the crow flies, were at the time connected by winding trails that took travelers days to navigate. A railroad linking the cities would be a great boost to the nation’s industry and economy. The cities are separated by steep mountains, snowy volcanoes, swift rivers, and deep ravines: building a railroad would be a herculean task. They did it, however, completing the railroad in 1908. Alfaro in and out of Power Eloy Alfaro stepped down briefly from the presidency in 1901 to allow his successor, General Leonidas Plaza, to rule for a term. Alfaro apparently didn’t like Plaza’s successor, Lizardo Garcà ­a, because he once again staged an armed coup, this time to overthrow Garcà ­a in 1905, in spite of the fact that Garcà ­a was also a liberal with ideals nearly identical to those of Alfaro himself. This aggravated liberals (conservatives already hated him) and made it difficult to rule. Alfaro thus had trouble getting his chosen successor, Emilio Estrada, elected in 1910. Death of Eloy Alfaro Alfaro rigged the 1910 elections to get Estrada elected but decided he would never keep hold of power, so he told him to resign. Meanwhile, military leaders overthrew Alfaro, ironically putting Estrada back in power. When Estrada died shortly thereafter, Carlos Freile took over the Presidency. Alfaro’s supporters and generals rebelled and Alfaro was called back from Panama to â€Å"mediate the crisis.† The government sent two generals- one of them, ironically, was Leonidas Plaza- to put down the rebellion and Alfaro was arrested. On January 28, 1912, an angry mob broke into the jail in Quito and shot Alfaro before dragging his body through the streets. Legacy of Eloy Alfaro In spite of his inglorious end at the hands of the people of Quito, Eloy Alfaro is remembered fondly by Ecuadorians as one of their better presidents. His face is on the 50-cent piece and important streets are named for him in nearly every major city. Alfaro was a true believer in the tenets of turn-of-the-century liberalism: the separation between church and state, freedom of religion, progress through industrialization, and more rights for workers and native Ecuadorians. His reforms did much to modernize the country: Ecuador was secularized during his tenure and the state took over education, marriages, deaths, etc. This led to a rise in nationalism as the people began to see themselves as Ecuadorians first and Catholics second. Alfaros most enduring legacy- and the one that most Ecuadorians today associate him with- is the railroad that linked the highlands and the coast. The railroad was a great boon to commerce and industry in the early twentieth century. Although the railroad has fallen into disrepair, parts of it are still intact and today tourists can ride trains through the scenic Ecuadorian Andes. Alfaro also granted rights to the poor and native Ecuadorians. He abolished debt passing from one generation to another and put an end to debtors prisons. Natives, who had traditionally been semi-enslaved in the highland haciendas, were freed, although this had more to do with freeing up the workforce to go where labor was needed and less to do with basic human rights. Alfaro had many weaknesses as well. He was an old-school dictator while in office and firmly believed at all times that only he knew what was right for the nation. His military removal of Lizardo Garcà ­a- who was ideologically indistinguishable from Alfaro- was all about who was in charge, not what was being accomplished, and it turned off many of his supporters. The factionalism among liberal leaders survived Alfaro and continued to plague subsequent presidents, who had to fight Alfaros ideological heirs at every turn. Alfaros time in office was marked by traditional Latin American ills such as political repression, electoral fraud, dictatorship, coup dà ©tats, rewritten constitutions, and regional favoritism. His tendency to take to the field backed by armed supporters every time he suffered a political setback also set a bad precedent for future Ecuadorian politics. His administration also came up short in areas such as voter rights and long-term industrialization. Sources Various Authors. Historia del Ecuador. Barcelona: Lexus Editores, S.A. 2010

Stem Cell Research (outline) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stem Cell Research (outline) - Essay Example The issue is a nuanced one that society really needs to think about. Whether or not you believe using an embryonic stem cell for research purposes is destroying a potential life, you must admit that it is opening up the possibility for someone else to live longer or better. B. Pro. We can now see foetuses in the womb and this makes us think harder about these issues. Certain moral questions have exploded in recent years because of the way technology is changing the moral dimensions of our lives. Debates over the building blocks of life are bound to be emotional. It is not hard to see why people take such things so personally. Indeed we face many new moral debates as technology allows us to alter our biological destiny. This is all a great opportunity to help people, but just because stem cells are useful does not mean we should jump aboard every new bandwagon as it comes along. Cloning for example can offer huge problems. We must carefully examine the evidence at issues at hand before deciding whether we should pursue a new form of scientific research or avoid it

Nurture and Nature in the early human development Assignment

Nurture and Nature in the early human development - Assignment Example However, due to the rise in behaviourism, experts opined that nurture played a role in human development. This argument was based on the fact that training in early childhood can make the child develop into any kind of adult. However, most psychologists of current generation are of the opinion that both nature and nurture have a role in the development of humans and adulthood depends on the interactions between these two aspects. Most attributes of human beings, like emotional stability, sociability and psychiatric illnesses are a result of interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Experts are of the opinion that even innate biological attributes are modifiable by environmental factors. A good example for this is development of congenital anomalies and other problems in the fetus consequent to exposure to infectious diseases, maternal malnutrition, maternal smoking and maternal alcoholism. Similarly while development of milestones is programmed genetically and all childr en go through similar milestones at similar ages, some research has shown that achievement of milestones, to some extent depends on the stimulation. Similar features were noted in speech development. While newborns are born with functioning sensory, development of the sensory systems depends on environmental stimulation. For example, at birth newborns watch only flashing lights, or ridges and movements of head. They however gradually learn to recognize faces and identify them. Newborns start at loud noises and turn their head towards sound. But this disappears at 6 weeks and reemerges at 3-4 months age when the infant even turns the eyes towards the source of sound. Speech development occurs based on perception of sounds. Babies also have taste sensation and touch sensation and have preference to sweet taste and different types of touch. Their expressions towards different tastes are different. They also have good olfactory sensation and behave