Writers Craft Essay free essay sample

Thinking about the start to this portfolio, its kind of difficult to find a way to begin. We are supposed to describe our process, but its like trying to describe yourself to someone. Your mind draws a blank and you have no idea where to start. I guess if I were going to start somewhere, it would be the purpose for my writing in the first place. I write to get rid of stress that I dont need. Everybody has an outlet for stress. Some ways are less productive than others. Fortunately, my way of stress relief is very productive and also very relaxing. I just sit down and let my thoughts take over the paper. Before I know it, I have multiple pages of words that I never knew I had in the back of my mind. Something I feel strongly about is the easiest topic to write about. We will write a custom essay sample on Writers Craft Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I am going to be honest, it was hard writing some of these papers. I really struggled writing about paintings, nature, or the things you told us to write about during our timed writings in class. It was like trying to solve a puzzle with no correct answer. In fact, my family and I all struggled to figure out what exactly you wanted within the essays. In the beginning I struggled the most and didnt do very well. Toward the end of the trimester, I had my family help me through the paper and figure out at least somewhat of what you wanted in the essays. The memoir essay was by far the easiest essay to write. I reflected on the process I used throughout the writing of this essay. I started thinking about what I first wanted to write about. I could hear ideas buzzing through my head. I was thinking about writing about my relationship with my ex boyfriend, but I came to realize that recalling memories about that would be too painful to even think about. The memories still haunt me to this day. I decided to write about my history of concussions during the years I played hockey. Granted, I dont remember much about the last concussion that virtually ended my hockey career. My family helped me put the pieces together and it slowly came back to me. I could physically see myself in the hospital on those miserable nights. I can remember smelling the synthetic smell of the hospital and taste the medicine in the back of my throat. The entire process of my writing starts with the gathering of my thoughts into the particular category about the topic Im writing about. In this case, it would be the topic of concussions I endured during the few short years I was in hockey. In order to begin, I started thinking about all the memories I had from these incidents. I started with an outline in my head about how I was going to begin. After the outline is created, the first draft slowly made its way out of my head and onto the paper. After the first draft is created, I leave it for a day or two. I give my brain time to rest and recollect any thoughts I might have missed in the first draft. Within that time, we meet with our writing groups. They help me to fix any grammatical errors I may have made. When I get home that night, my mom and I sit down and go through what I have in my first draft and start constructing the second draft. First, I begin to fix all the grammatical errors I may have made in the first draft that my writing group pointed out. My mother and I sit down and begin to go through the draft and start expanding on some of the ideas that I left unexplained. The thoughts on the second draft are now complete, just in time for the due date. Throughout the period of my English class, we meet with our writing partners and start finalizing the thoughts we have. I think about how I can expand on anything and everything within the paper that I can throughout the course of the day. After I get home with my mom, again we sit down and go through the second draft. I incorporate all my similes and metaphors, along with the dialogue and use of a small paragraph for emphasis. I call my sister and make sure that she thinks the paper is good and has everything it should have. If I do, I finally have everything where it needs to be. I print out the final draft and the smell of the freshly printed paper gives me this sense of relief. The kind of relief that is only felt after a major task is fulfilled. This portfolio is the final project for this semester of College English. It’s the last chance we have to either make or break our grades. I have put in a lot of work into this project. My mother and my sister have both put in many hours helping me and without them, I wouldn’t be passing this class. Throughout the course of this class, I came to realize I wasn’t as good of a writer as I had thought. I know that it has been a rough start of my senior year, but my papers have increased in quality as time went by. As I go through this portfolio, I compare the first writing to the last. The writing style I have aquired is by no means the same. The flow is a lot smoother in the last paper compared to the first. To this day, I still struggle with what you want exactly in these essays, but hopefully this will be sufficient. Enjoy!

The Effects of Visual Distraction on Reaction Time Research Paper Example

The Effects of Visual Distraction on Reaction Time Research Paper Example The Effects of Visual Distraction on Reaction Time Paper The Effects of Visual Distraction on Reaction Time Paper Overall, distraction can affect human reaction time and this coincides with previous findings (Lee et al 2001). Introduction Human reaction time can be affected by many factors, one such example is distraction. Literature suggests that distraction can affect a persons ability to react to a particular stimulus, In the sense that it increases the reaction time (Lee et al 2001). The Impact of distraction on reaction time carries huge significant to the current society In terms of the dally activities which are performed by majority of the people, such as driving. The use of technology whilst driving has been re-assessed and more recently the use of sat Nava has been a debatable topic (Dave Evans, 2012). More pacifically, evidence suggests that when one looks directly at an object, their peripheral vision becomes slightly impaired and this affects a persons reaction time (Brenner and Welfare, 1980). Also the use of hands-free phones whilst driving results has a negative effect on attention and does not improve reaction time performance (Horror and Wickers, 2006), (Hendricks and Sweetie, 2007). Distraction is a common cause of accidents (NATHAN, 2009). The need to reduce potential threats to others as a result of reduced reaction time points to the need of further research into the effects of distraction. Visual distraction can affect drivers reaction time and with Increasing number of Len- car technologies available, reaction time Is likely to be affected. Previous experiment investigated the effects of in-car technology perceived as visual distraction using a calculator Dates experiment on ventricle Drawing Elegance Ana control (Karee et al, 2012). They found that visual distraction associated within the car such as devices resulted in higher work load and as a result affected drivers control of the car. The visual pathway may be responsible for affecting human reaction time (Ghent, McCormick, 2010). Research showed that visual stimuli presented to different regions of the eye produced different reaction times (Brenner and Welfare, 1980). In addition to this, it has been found that drivers with experience of being exposed to several visual stimuli have shown to have a faster reaction time than inexperienced drivers (Constantinople et al, 2010). This suggests that the human brain no longer finds a certain stimuli as a distracted and is able to process it effectively (And et al, 2002). Therefore, studying the common response to visual distraction, looking for a potential mineral pattern and its consistency in human reaction time is needed. This study will focus on the effects of distraction brought by visual stimuli on human reaction time. The distraction task will involve a sensory visual background for the participant to view whilst also keeping an eye out for the red dot flashing on the centre of the screen. Upon noticing a red dot, the individual will have to respond by pressing the space bar. According to previous findings, visual stimuli should increase reaction times of an individual. Method Design A within-participant two-tailed experimental design was used to explore the effects of castration on reaction time. Participants were randomized to one of two conditions of the independent variable (V); either to perform the distraction task first or the non-distraction task. Randomization of the participants was decided by using the random number table to allocate participants into group 1 or group 2. The dependent variable (DVD) was the speed taken (seconds) to complete the reaction task. Participants The participants were a convenience sample of 55 young adults (less than rays age) which comprised of both males and females studying at Nottingham Trend University, England. Among them, 31 were female and 24 were male. Their age ranged between 16 and 62 years old and the age mean was 29,98 years old. None of the participants had previous knowledge of similar visual tasks. No specific incentive was used. Material The study was examining reaction times using a computer based stimulus. The tool used to measure reaction time among young adults was an online test developed by Ennobler Learner Foundation ( Learner. Org/courses/neuroscience/ interactive/reaction. HTML). An information sheet was presented to the participants explaining the experiment. Procedure Participants were asked to read the information sheet and provide written informed consent. All the pages of the online test were opened and ready to use. Participants were given one trial test before commencing onto the recorded test. Participants were required to press the space bar on the computer/laptop using their dominant hand every time a red dot flashed on the screen. In the distraction task, visual stimuli were presented in the background and participants were required to press the space bar when seeing a red dot flash. Three tests were carried out for the control and experimental task. Results were recorded onto a data sheet. On completion of the experiment the participants were then thanked and debriefed. Results For the non-distraction condition (Rotor), the mean was 0. 05 and the median was 0. 298 whether for the distraction condition (RD) the mean it was 0. 331 seconds and the median 0. 330 In the non-distraction condition, scores ranged from 0. 225 to 0. 544 whereas on the distraction condition the minimum was 0. 233 and the maximum score was 0. 497. A significant difference was found between the reaction test study with distraction and without distraction t(54)= 5. 0; p 0. 001). Discussion The resul ts indicated that there is a significant difference between the reaction time with visual distraction and non-distraction. The average reaction time with visual distraction is 0. 026 seconds longer than in the non-distraction task. In addition, the difference between the two variables was considered replicable to most of the population. It is coherent with the previous studies that suggest that sensory distraction increased reaction time. In the experiment, the main visual stimulus was presented in the direct vision of the artificial (red dot in the centre of the computer screen) and other visual distraction cues were moving around the red dot involving peripheral vision. As Brenner and Welfare (1980) concluded, participants concentration on the centered stimulus might have impaired the participants peripheral vision which resulted in a load in processing the visual stimuli and consequently in a delay in reaction time. Ghent and Mnemonic (2010) suggested that a visual disruption occurs between two visual systems, the ventral and dorsal pathways, causing blank display. The ventral pathway detects object (identical features such as color or shape) and the dorsal pathway detects location (motion features). In the present method design, the red dot, main stimulus was immobile and other cues location were shifting acting as motion features and eventually creating a blank display between the two visual systems, hence bringing delays in response time. With a standardized procedure, a randomization in attributing participants to their task, contouring variables Kept to a strict Mullen, tens true-experiment gives strong evidence that reaction time increases with visual distraction. Although, the small size of the computer used during the experiment and the nature of the stimulus being simple, in AD and right in front of the participant (using direct vision only) can be seen as disconnected from the real world. Its ecological validity can be questioned since in the everyday life, people have to deal with AD, complex and multiple stimulus and this experiment doesnt show how peoples reaction time is influenced in a real world situation. Also, participants had to repeat the test seven times (including the trial) which could have caused fatigue and consequently delays in reaction time. It isnt known to what extend this parameter was involved in the experiment results. The results found that a visual stimulus can make difference in milliseconds in someones reaction time, and for drivers, this is not negligible. Mummer et al. showed that visual distraction impairs drivers ability in being critical and in dealing with sudden events. Saber et al. (2012) stated that visual stimuli, especially in-car technology, resulted in high workload in the brain and more off-road glances. Hence, it should not be underestimated and included in road safety measures. Visual advertising such as hoots, posters, etc. Installed near roads can distract drivers and make them loose attention especially on motorways where the high speed requires drivers to have an optimized reaction time. Road assignation should also be kept to minimal designs with clear and identifiable colors not to delay drivers reaction time. In general, the environment nearby the road should be kept as clean and simple as possible to avoid any visual distraction. Further research should investigate the potential different levels of visual distraction and see if more complex and/or other types of stimuli provoke different and longer exaction times. Forms and shapes were used in this experiment, but exploring the humans reaction time when presented faces cues for instance could bring new learning. It seems that after practicing, visual distraction are start not being seen as distraction (And, 2002). Previous research also showed that experienced drivers had a faster reaction time than learners because they were using more often side mirrors (Constantinople, Chapman, Crandall, 2010).

How to Write a Homeschooling Philosophy Statement

How to Write a Homeschooling Philosophy Statement A homeschooling philosophy statement is a useful tool both for your own planning and for explaining what your student has learned to schools and colleges. It is easy to be swayed by the latest and greatest curriculum on the market or to stress when your student struggles academically. A homeschooling philosophy statement can help you evaluate curriculum choices in light of your homeschools purpose and keep your overall goals at the forefront when the steps to reach them are proving difficult. When your student begins applying to colleges, it is helpful to include an explanation of your goals and methods with his applications. It is particularly helpful for parents who use a narrative transcript that doesnt include grades to explain their familys goals in designing their homeschooling courses. Sample Homeschooling Philosophy Statement A homeschooling philosophy statement may include specific goals in some subjects, such as in the area of language arts, math, science, and social studies. Read this sample statement below, and use it as a model to create your own. Our Homeschooling Goals As teacher and parent, my goal in homeschooling is to give my children the skills and information they need to become successful adults. When presenting a subject, I focus on those aspects I believe will continue to be useful once the course is done. Instead of covering large amounts of material superficially, we try to delve more deeply into fewer topics. Whenever possible, I also try to let my children incorporate their own interests into whatever we are studying. For the most part we do not use textbooks, but rely on books written by experts for a general audience. The one exception is math, for which we use traditional textbooks. In addition, we use documentaries, videos, websites, magazines, and newspapers; related art, literature, drama and movies; news stories; family discussions; and hands-on projects and experiments. We also take advantage of classes, lectures, and performances for high school students or the general public at local colleges and other learning institutions. And we made field trips to museums, studios, workshops, farms, factories, parks and nature preserves, landmarks, and historic sites. Time is also allowed for pursuing individual interests and projects that are not part of any structured homeschool program. In my childrens case this included computer game design, robotics, writing, film making, and animation. I do not issue grades, except as required for early enrollment in community college classes. Testing is limited to standardized tests as required by the state, and tests in the math textbooks. Their level of understanding is demonstrated through discussion, writing, and other projects. Where workbooks and textbooks are used, we only move ahead when material is mastered, and go back and review when necessary. Language Arts The overall goal in language arts is to foster a love of reading and an appreciation for different types of literature and informational writing, to use their own writing as a creative outlet, and to develop the skills to entertain, convey information, and express opinions to other readers. Reading is done on an individual basis, as part of homeschool book discussion groups, and as a family. Selections include a mix of short stories, novels, non-fiction works and news and analysis. Plays and films are also given a critical analysis. Writing includes essays, research papers, poetry, creative writing, blogs, journals, and personal projects. Math In math, the goal is to help my children develop number sense by showing what is going on behind the algorithms and encouraging them to employ a variety of ways to solve a problem, if appropriate. We do this with carefully chosen textbooks, hands-on manipulatives, and by using math in other school projects and everyday life. Science For science, the goal is to understand the concepts underlying the different disciplines and how they apply to the world around us. We mainly focus on new discoveries and areas of research and their effect. A large part of our studies include designing and carrying out observations and hands-on lab activities. We also learn about scientists and science hobbyists through reading, videos, lectures, and visits to museums, research centers and colleges. Social Studies In social studies, the goal is to explore interesting people, places, and times throughout history around the world, and to gain the background needed to give context to present-day events. After covering the history of the world and the United States chronologically over several years (beginning in the elementary grades), we are focusing on special topics and on current events. Every year includes an in-depth history research project on a chosen topic. These can incorporate biographies, geography, literature, film, and visual arts. How to Write a Homeschooling Philosophy Statement To craft your own homeschooling philosophy or mission statement, ask yourself questions such as: What are my basic goals for homeschooling? When my children graduate, they should be able to...What are my overall goals for each subject?Why did we decide to homeschool?Why do we continue to homeschool?What do we hope to accomplish by homeschooling that could not be accomplished in a traditional school setting?What life skills do I want my children to have?What are our familys priorities (i.e. academic success, community involvement, specific character traits)?What does the ideal homeschool day look like to me? To my children?What are our goals, short-term and long-term?How is learning accomplished in our home?What materials do we use to accomplish our educational goals? Use your answers to those questions and the sample above to craft a unique philosophy statement that captures and outlines your familys homeschooling purpose. Updated by Kris Bales

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Essay Example In the electronics industry flexibility, responsiveness to customer demand and product specifications and time management are important in the strategic management of the supply chain. Dell Computers is a typical example in the industry that manufactures as per orders received and its manufacturing schedule is changed every two hours (Chou, Tan & Yen, 2004). For Dell maintaining delivery schedules are more important than prices and they ensure that the entire chain is strategically managed. Their goal is to decrease inventory cost and match production to demand. This is in line with the concept of JIT in inventory management. JIT reduces overall production costs by streamlining the products flow within the production process and improves information flow within business partners. In the manufacturing industry, JIT-driven processes can introduce small purchase lot sizes that can be delivered in exact quantities rather than traditional large batch delivery with 5 percent volume either way (Waters-Fuller, 1995). Multi-sourcing can be eliminated and manufacturers can stick to a few suppliers or ideally one supplier per component. Supplier selection need not solely be based on price but quality and delivery performance can be used to assess the efficiency of the suppliers. JIT purchasing enables awarding long-term contract to the suppliers in return for the demand that buyer makes on the supplier. Long-term contracts not only eliminate the re-tendering costs but also reduce the prices for re-ordering. JIT further helps to strategically manage whether the supplier should supply directly or through a warehouse between the supplier and the customer. While supplying directly is the ideal solution, the suppliers must receive comprehensive scheduling and planning data before production commences (Waters-Fuller, 1995). A warehouse on the other hand helps to provide a buffer stock and the warehouse can be

Write your own recommendation. What makes you different from other Essay

Write your own recommendation. What makes you different from other applicants - Essay Example Good communication skills are an indispensable asset (Buzzle). I possessed great verbal and written communication skills. Throughout my high school tenured I have excel in exercises or problems in which I had to demonstrate verbal skills. I have always been very good at oral presentations. I love to write and my technical writing skills are excellent. College prepares a person for the ultimate goal of becoming a part of the workforce. A trend that has influenced the behavior of people in the workforce is a shift from individualism to teamwork. â€Å"The concept of teamwork is very important to the success of any team† (Brianmac). I am a team player. My team skills will enable me to succeed in college. I am an outgoing person and I listen well to people. I like helping people and cooperating in order to get the job done. During my future college career I plan to use these skills to help out my fellow classmates in any way I can. Another attribute or skill that I possess that ma kes me an excellent candidate is my leadership skills. When I have worked in team projects I typically served the role of team leader. I am a hard worker and a dedicated student. Work Cited Page Brianmac.co.uk. 12 December 2010. â€Å"Understanding the Importance of Teamwork.†

Judith Beveridge Essay Example for Free

Judith Beveridge Essay Judith Beveridge challenges our understanding of the world by revealing hidden sides of our society through confronting images throughout her poems. The reader is revealed with number of issues such as animal cruelty and psychological torture. These issues are related to the gender of the character with the cruel attitude toward nature and the society. This is evident in the poems â€Å"The Two Brothers† and â€Å"Fox in a Tree Stump†. â€Å"The Two Brother† is a poem which uses natural speech rhythms, tone and informal language is used to create an understanding with the reader. Reader is shown the brother’s cruelty but is also shown their brittleness and insecurity. The brothers’ cruelty is connected with their gender. This is shown in line 3-5 which says, â€Å"Had shown me themselves, grinning queerly as when they’d shown me lizards they’d killed, or sparrows they’d slowly bled with a needle. † These lines show vivid and disturbing images of boys’ violence, this is then enhanced by alliteration of the word ‘S’ in â€Å"sparrows they’d slowly bled. † In the lines, â€Å"shown me themselves† implies that such violence is a characteristic of being a male in our society. This idea of cruelty being a part of male’s characteristic in our society is shown again in line 13 which says, â€Å"Would dare each other any taste, any soft clot, any ugly act. † This line tells the reader that the brother’s would do anything and challenge each other for dominance which also implies that these characteristics of challenging each other for dominance is a part of a male’s life. In the last stanza the reader is given the idea that the brothers haven’t achieved anything and that the reader should feel pity for the brothers rather than looking at them as wrong, heartless human beings. This is shown by persona saying â€Å"Touched themselves through the emptiness of their pockets, scared they’d find the prize of nothing. † This quote evokes sympathy for the brothers through the word choice â€Å"emptiness† and â€Å"prize of nothing†. She also suggests that masculinity to cruelty is ultimately a hollow power. Just like â€Å"The Two Brothers†, â€Å"Fox in a Tree Stump† is a poem with a creature commonly thought of as a pest is projected as the innocent victim of male cruelty. This poem is about an unwanted intruder on the farm. The poem records the memory of a painful loss of innocence for a sensitive nine- year old, who must choose between invoking her uncle’s anger and going against her own mortality. In this poem the uncle has taken it upon himself to teach the child some of the harsher realities in life. Uncle leaves the child to smoke out the unfortunate fox and kill it with a tree branch. Therefore, the child is forced to shed its innocence. The uncle’s dominance is shown over both the girl and the fox. The dominance is linked to the uncle’s gender. Even though the uncle is domineering and cruel, yet Beveridge does not blame him for his act, the poet blames the uncle’s nature as shown in stanza 2 by a quote which says, â€Å"His voice harsh, kelpie- cursing would not understand if I let the fox run to the bush. † This was also shown in The Two Brothers as at the end of the poem the brothers were not blamed for their action but instead were felt pity for. Fox in a Tree Stump ends with â€Å"I was a child praying for the dark each time the sun caught my uncle’s eye. † The persona prays for something like this to never occur in her life again. Children are usually afraid of the dark and hope for sunrise but in this quote dark means release from uncle’s domination and from the fear of further killings. Judith Beveridge has challenged the understanding of the world in which we live. â€Å"The Two Brother’s† and â€Å"Fox in a Tree Stump† both show male dominance over neglected creatures in the society and over females. Beveridge has also challenged my understanding of the society which we live in by raising issues such as physiological torture, animal cruelty, homosexuality and rape throughout most of her poems.

The role of knowledge management in innovation Essay -- Analysis, Mari

This article has been written by Marina du Plessis in 2007. The author intends to make clear the role of knowledge management in innovation as an assist to addressing this complexity and clarify the role of knowledge management in innovation as an aid to addressing this complexity. This is a viewpoint paper which is based on literature research and personal experiences and interpretation from the author. She uses the simple sentences and easy to be understood even for the first timer reader. Furthermore, the arrangement of the content is such an empirical paper that may attract readers to read the article. As the other empirical paper, this study also provides abstract that summarises the whole content of this research paper. According to the author, Plessis (2007), the complexity of innovation has increased by growth in the amount of knowledge available to organizations as basis for innovation. This statement is agreed by other researchers, Adams and Lamont (2003); Cardinal et al., (2001); Darroch and McNaughton (2002); Pyka (2002) and Shani et al., (2003) who state that innovation is really dependent on the availability of knowledge and therefore the complexity created by the blast of richness and reach of knowledge has to be identified and managed to ensure successful innovation. Besides that, in a previous study that has been conducted by Ruggles, R. & Little R. (1997), they also have the positive opinion about knowledge management and innovation when they assert that innovation as one end to which knowledge management can be applied. Additionally, innovation has been demonstrated to be a key value creator for organizations, in both times of cost cutting and in times of growth. As such, it stands out as one excellent objectiv... ... teams or learning-by-doing capabilities, which leads to new product and process innovations. Besides that, explicit knowledge is also an important component of innovation. Rodan (2002) in his case study asserts that if one views the conï ¬â€šuence of tacit and explicit knowledge elements that create a new idea as probabilistic, increasing the opportunities for the said conï ¬â€šuence of knowledge elements should raise the frequency of new combinations occurring, thus positively impacting innovation. As a conclusion, it is clear that knowledge management plays a vital essential role in innovation. Therefore, it is very crucial for both knowledge management professional and innovation to understand the systematic relationship between these concepts and the value that it can generate in respect of creating and maintaining sustainable competitive advantage for organisation.

Lotus Rental Car Assessment Essay

INTRODUCTION Adding alternative fuel vehicles to the fleet is essential to our environment, beneficial for our consumers, and potentially highly profitable for Lotus Rental Car. With the everlasting increase in fuel, the consumer is looking for alternative ways to save money on fuel and at the same time be conscious about the negative impact that fuel and diesel have in our environment. Alternative fuel vehicles have never been more popular in the U.S. and are becoming a major source for public transportation. Our community has become educated about the damaging effect in which gas and diesel vehicles have been causing our environment. These vehicles are more environmentally friendly and are typically more cost-effective to produce. Therefore, it has a great financial impact to the common family. Alternative fuel vehicles can help our consumers save money on gas while simultaneously impacting our environment in a positive and healthy way. If Lotus Rental Car is aggressive and proactive in the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles, it will become the first major rental car company to lead a successful path to the future. Lotus Rental Car will become the model company of the new rental car era. We will decrease expenses, expand the variety of a new customer base, increase revenues through the new continuous revenue stream and sponsors. As a result of your new and wise investment, our company’s market shares and profits will soar to a new company and industry records. A new division to our marketing department will be established to help promote the importance of renting from Lotus Rental Car. The marketing department will incorporate the benefit to our environment along with the potential savings to our consumers. The brand new marketing campaign and strategy will help promote our new vision. The alternative fuel market has few competitors, therefore, giving us the opportunity to add new customers to our company. We will be the first modern company to benefit from this rare opportunity to dramatically increase our revenue flow. ENVIRONMENT It does not take long to notice alternative fuel vehicles on the road everywhere you go. These type of vehicles are becoming the new trend in today’s evolving automotive industry. As a community and consumer, we are more educated on how we directly impact our environment, both in a negative and positive way. Our federal government has developed agencies and passed federal acts to ensure we limit the harm we do to our environment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 and viewed as a necessary part of our federal government to help reduce our nation’s rising air pollution. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, â€Å"Transportation source emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change†¦In 2011, transportation represented approximately 27 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions† (â€Å"Transportation†, 2011). In other words, we will have a significant impact in reducing the greenhouse gases being emitted into our atmosphere. The EPA has been credited with significantly improving our air quality. In 1997, the Clean Air Act was passed to control and reduce ozone pollution. The Clean Air Act is essentially a fuel control measure to assist our local states in helping reduce our ozone pollution. Alternative fuel is significantly cleaner than conventional gasoline and provides significant reductions of certain compounds that contribute to air pollution and ozone pollution. According to Aaron Windecker and Adam Ruder (2013), â€Å"Emissions were reduced by adopting alternative fuel vehicles† (p.40). Their research concluded that alternative  fuel vehicles that were added to vehicle fleets had reduced emission that harm our environment. In today’s new automotive industry, we can see how these measures have greatly impacted our communities and businesses. Almost all major ports are transitioning to alternative fuel vehicles. In the Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports, traditional diesel semi-trucks are no longer allowed access. In 2008, the Los Angeles Port established the Clean Truck Program to assist the Clean Air Act. This program targeted major sources of air emissions and incorporated a ban on polluting trucks. All pre-1989 trucks were banned from entering the port. Research conducted by the Clean Air Act showed that â€Å"In its first year, the program reduced the rate of port truck emissions by an estimated 70 percent, and when fully implemented in 2012, the emissions were reduced by 80 percent† (â€Å"Portoflosangeles.org†, 2014). This is just a small example of how one port can positively impact the environment. A comparable impact can be accomplished here at Lotus Rental Car. By altering our fleet to provide more alternative fuel vehicles to our consumers, we will be contributing to our environment by improving our current air quality, ozone layer and reducing toxic air pollutants. Transportation agencies are also transitioning to alternative fuel vehicles. Buses being operated by diesel and gas are being phased out and being replaced with environmentally friendly fueled vehicles. Our local cities are purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and are incorporating them into their general use, such as for police detectives and forensic units. There is not a negative impact to our environment if we change our fleet to be more diverse and environmentally friendly. CONSUMER In today’s changing market, traditional fuel sourced vehicles such as gasoline and diesel are no longer fulfilling the needs of every customer. â€Å"Vehicles and the fuel it takes to power them, are an essential part of our American infrastructure and economy, moving people and goods across the country† (Department of Energy, p. 1, 2014, October). Expanding our  market-share in the leasing of vehicles will require a more diversified lineup. We want our customers to understand that at Lotus, we are not thinking just about profit for our company; Lotus is also concerned with the moral values of each customer. Once we introduce our new fleet of vehicles which will include an alternative fuel source vehicle, we will be ahead of our competitors, and our growth will occur as projected. Doing our best to provide a full selection of rental cars including alternate fuel source vehicles will satisfy and meet the demands of today’s consumer. As the technology improves, more people are becoming aware of how traditional fuels, such as gasoline and diesel fuel harm the environment. Today’s consumers are concerned with these harmful effects, and wish to do something positive about it. â€Å"Alternative energy sources and technologies can play a vital role in lowering or eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels† (Kouroussis, D., & Karimi, S. 2006, August p 346). By providing alternative fuel vehicles, we are allowing our environmentally conscious consumers a means of transportation in which they save money in fuel costs and reduces the spread of air pollution. Those consumers will generate more business for us by sharing their rental experiences with both their colleagues and family. Everyone wants a healthy environment for the future generations. Traditionally fueled vehicles will no longer make up the majority of all vehicles being currently rented and operated today. Yes, technology is changing daily, and scientists that work for the U.S. government are still developing ways to both increase fuel efficiently and reduce harmful emissions. However, we do not know when the next breakthrough in technology will become available to the market; Lotus needs to utilize the current technology today. The risk of incorporating alternative fuel source vehicles is one which Lotus needs to consider. Let us be the first rental company that offers a wider selection of vehicles by including the alternative fuel vehicles. This action will give our environmental conscious consumers a better feeling of spending their money with a company that aligns with their morals. Traditional fuel sources such as gasoline and diesel fuel may be a thing of the past, let us move forward into the future today. COST The initial cost of adding alternative fuel vehicles to the Lotus Rental Car fleet would be substantial. Generating revenue through selling additional shares on the stock market could have a negative effect if we do not show a profit after the first quarter in which we introduce a new fleet. There is only one other car rental agency that rents alternative fuel vehicles, which means we would have minimal competition in the industry. The United States currently has about 250,000 natural gas vehicles on the road today (â€Å"Cngnow.com†, 2014). Within the next ten years, that number is expected to increase by more than 200 percent. Not only do consumers want to buy eco-friendly cars, but they also want to rent them. Our proposed expansion shows this is the best time to invest in the alternative fuel industry. Research tells us there is a large market, and we would expect to see a substantial profit from our investments. Adding new alternative fuel cars to our fleet will increase our customer percentage. Our new customer growth is expected to increase by 30 percent. Traditionally, more than half of new customers become long-term loyal customers. There is already a need to replace a large percentage of aging Lotus Rental Cars. This would be a great opportunity to retire some of the aging vehicles and implement the new alternative fuel vehicles to our new fleet. Replacing older vehicles as they phase out would cut cost while adapting to a more eco-friendly consumer service. Nearly three-quarters of drivers would consider an alternative fuel vehicle for their next car (â€Å"Consumersunion.org†, 2012). We believe renting is no different than buying. A fleet of twelve new vehicles per lot would cost Lotus Rental Car Company approximately $420,000. After one year, we would have all the cars paid off, therefore, a large portion of the rental fees would be primarily profitable revenue. It truly is a great long term investment in the company where the potential growth could exceed previous rental car records. After the first quarter with our new fleet, there could be a potential of a 100 percent growth rate by the end of the year. By gaining a competitive edge on the fact that we are the only company in our region to offer this service, it appears the pros significantly outweigh the cons. According to Natural Gas Vehicles for America, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) currently costs approximately $2.13 per gallon compared with approximately $3.90 for gasoline (Keys, 2012, p.1). As being significantly more cost effective per gallon, CNG vehicles also go farther distances per gallon, which is even more of an incentive to consumers that have to fill up their rental car. Not only are you saving the environment but you are also saving the money in your consumer’s wallet. By not investing in natural gas vehicles, we would lose out on substantial tax credits in which the government is currently offering. If we switch over by December 31, we will save 25 percent on the total purchase price per vehicle. By all of these pros outweighing the cons, there is no reason we should not already have bought these natural gas vehicles. CONCLUSION If Lotus Rental Car transitioned towards purchasing a large number of alternative fuel vehicles, it would lead the rental car industry in the largest transition of this industry’s history. Consumers and sponsors would view Lotus Rental Car as environmentally friendly and the new leader in the industry. Our goal is that Lotus Rental Car will become one of the most profitable businesses while being environmentally and consumer friendly. There are no glaring drawbacks to our valuable environment, and both the consumer and our company can benefit from the savings. Let Lotus Rental Car make the successful investment today to modernize and lead the automotive industry towards alternative fuel vehicles. REFERENCES consumersunion.org. (2012). Retrieved from https://consumersunion.org/news/consumer- reports-survey-americans-say-fuel-economy-most-important-car-buying-factor/ cngnow.com. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.cngnow.com/vehicles/consumer- vehicles/Pages/information.aspx Department of Energy, (2014, October). _Vehicles_. Retrieved from http://energy.gov/public-services/vehicles epa.gov. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov Keys, R. (2012). Southwestern energy touts CNG. Arkansas Business, 29(20), 20. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1019740298?accountid=458 Kouroussis, D., & Karimi, S. (2006, August). Alternative Fuels in Transportation. _Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 26_(02770), 346-355. Retrieved from http://bst.sagepub.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/content/26/4/346 portoflosangeles.org. (2014). Retrieved from http://portoflosangeles.org Windecker, A., & Ruder, A. (2013, August). Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, _23_, 34-40.

Men and Women Will Never Be Equal Essay

Men and women will never be equal just like an apple and an orange, both are fruits, but have different taste. In general, men and women are physically, mentally, and emotionally different but does that really mean men and women will never be equal? The word â€Å"equal† means â€Å"the same as†. So, is a woman the same as a man? Study shows that an average women earns a year is lower than what men would earn, men and women both play different roles in the society, both important, but are not equal, for example, women are said to have taken more days off in a year than men; due to maternity leave, but as a mother, they would need to take care of their children as well. Men on the other hand, are known to be stronger; which brings to the idea that they work more than women do. According to research, it is more likely that men are committing more crimes such as thief, murder, rape; more men are being imprisoned than women. Women are sometimes defined as the â€Å"primary victims of war† as they lose their husbands, fathers, and brothers during war. Men and women are convinced they will never be equal, probably as early as human’s earliest days. In further logic, there are more differences between men and women than similarities. In coeducational schools, males and females tend to choose specific options that the other gender does not do, for example, fashion and engineering. Which in general, mainly only have one gender in the class. In general, men are stronger than women; that has convinced the society with the help of each gender’s actions, men would usually appear as bold, strong, and brace while the females are usually shy, polite, and feminine. People are also persuaded that men can carry two bricks at once, while women can carry only one it is not necessarily true, but it is an instant impression that it is true. Men and women will never be equal is a fact that will not really ever change; that doesn’t mean they aren’t the same just not equal. It is a good thing that in this society, although men and women will never be equal, we still get along. Read more:  Men and Women Should Have Equal Rights Essay

Multi

Multi Besides international trade, FDI by multinational corporations is a great force that is driving globalization of â€Å"the world economy† (Eun Resnick, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Multi-National Corporations Definition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the report presented by the UN, there are more than six hundred thousand multinational corporations across the world with more than a half a million foreign affiliates (Eun Resnick, 2007). In the course of the 1990s, these corporations’ FDI increased at the rate of ten percent annually while international trade’s annual growth rate was 3.5 percent in the same period (Eun Resnick, 2007). Moreover, it is reported that the worldwide MNCs’ sales increased to eleven trillion dollars in the year 1998, â€Å"compared to about $7 trillion of world exports in the same year† (Eun Resnick, 2007, p.15). It is indicated that the multinational corporations are influencing the global economy. In this paper, there is going to be a discussion on MNCs and what motivates them to invest overseas. There is also going to be a discussion about different risks these corporations face and how they manage them. A multinational corporation can be defined as â€Å"a business firm incorporated in one country that has production and sales operations in several other countries† (Eun Resnick, 2007, p.15). This involves a situation where a firm acquires the sales operations and production from one national market and the financial capital from another; producing commodities â€Å"with labor and capital equipment in a third country, and selling the finished product in yet other national markets† (Eun Resnick, 2007, p.15).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Certainly, among the MNCs, there are those that carry out business operations in various nations. They receive funding from the main money market centres across the globe in various currencies. It is pointed out that â€Å"global operations force the treasurer’s office to establish international banking relationships, place short-term funds in several currency dominations, and effectively manage foreign exchange risk† (Eun Resnick, 2007, p.15). The benefits that the MNCs can gain from investing overseas are the motivating factors for making such investments (Eun Resnick, 2007). They may gain from having a global presence in a number of ways. Firstly, they can gain from the economies of scale which may be realized though undertaking various activities. For instance, they may realize this by engaging in spreading expenditures of research and development and costs of advertising over sales made on the international market. Moreover, they can realize economies of scale by â€Å"pooling the global purc hasing power over suppliers† (Eun Resnick, 2007, p.17). They can also realize this by using the managerial and technological skills internationally, with very low extra costs. Another gain from investing overseas is that these corporations can utilize their worldwide presence to capitalize on the lower labor service prices that are found in particular developing nations, and in turn acquire â€Å"access to special RD capabilities residing in advanced foreign countries† (Eun Resnick, 2007, p.17). Without any doubt, the MNCs can engage in leveraging their worldwide presence in order to increase profit margins and also to realize value creation (Eun Resnick, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Multi-National Corporations Definition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The emerging markets are quite attractive and present great opportunities for the MNCs to invest. However, these markets are greatly unpre dictable and may present various political risks. Under international finance, a political risk is said to exist in a situation where the political change can contribute towards having discontinuities within the business environment which are very hard to foresee. According to Thunnel (1977), there are two types of political risks; one of them is sovereign risk. This occurs in the host nations where a MNC can be affected by either social or government instability which may involve having revolutions and political strikes among others. The other type involves risks that occur between the host nation and the home country of the MNC, and this may involve having wars, trade frictions and â€Å"cross-currency control risks† (Liu Bjornson, 1998, p.362). The biggest risk that the multinational corporations face is â€Å"expropriation or nationalization of their investment, and forced withdrawal from the host country† (Liu Bjornson, 1998, p.362). Expropriation may involve a host nation engaging in appropriating the rents or profits of the multinational corporation by rising the levels of taxes imposed on direct foreign investment or otherwise, utilizing its authority to moderately expropriate (Liu Bjornson, 1998). The MNCs manage risks that they face through various ways. One of them is through insurance. Several developed nations engage in selling the political risk insurance in order to cover the domestic companies as well as foreign assets.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, in 1979, the United States government set up the â€Å"’Overseas Private Investment Corporation’ which provides insurance against expropriation, currency inconvertibility, political violence, and also loss of business income from interruptions to DFI operations† (Liu Bjornson, 1998, p.363). In 1988, MIGA or â€Å"Multinational Investment Guarantee Agency† was set up in order to boost â€Å"investment for economic development by insuring foreign investment against currency transfer restrictions, expropriation, war, civil disturbances, and breach of contract† (Liu Bjornson, 1998, p.363). The MNCs also manage the risk exposure by negotiating the environment. They do this by making concession agreements with the government of the host country before investing. They define the responsibilities as well as the rights of these two parties. These may include having tax breaks, constructing the infrastructure and having property rights that a re defined in a clear manner. The â€Å"negotiating environment† approach was used in the case that involved China as a host country and McDonald’s in 1994, to deal with the issue of property rights (Liu Bjornson, 1998). The other effective approach is to restructure the investment. Basing on this approach, the multinational corporations seek to bring down the level of their exposure to risks by â€Å"increasing the host country’s cost of interference with company operations† (Liu Bjornson, 1998, 363). Among the strategies of this nature is vertical integration which â€Å"keeps the local affiliate dependent on external MNC subsidiaries for inputs or market† (Liu Bjornson, 1998, 363). In conclusion, it has been established in the discussion that the multinational corporations are motivated to invest in foreign countries by the potential benefits that such investments bring. By investing overseas, they can gain from the economies of scale and may also be able to take advantage of the lower labor costs that are found mostly in developing nations. However, the MNCs also face political risks such as revolutions, political strikes, wars, trade frictions and â€Å"cross-currency control risks† among others. The MNC have been managing these risks by using such approaches as taking insurance cover, negotiating the environment and restructuring the investment among others. References Eun, C.S. Resnick, B.G. (2007). International Financial Management. (4th ed.)New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Liu, Y. Bjornson, B. (1998). Managing exposure of direct foreign investment to political risk: The case of food businesses in China. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 1(3), 359 – 372. Thunnel, H. L. (1977). Political risk in international business: Investment behaviour of multinational corporations. New York, NY: Prager Publishers. Multi Introduction A project can be defined as a set of planned activities that are used to come up with clear and specific objectives within a given timeline and budget. The activities of a project are generally involving and painstaking, beginning with the identification of resource mobilization team and task force that helps to develop the necessary resource allocations and core operational lending to fund the project.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A full participatory approach that entails a multi-disciplinary/multi-sectored approach is necessary to expedite the project cycle activities. The design phase of a project cycle is very crucial because it is the design process that determines the most feasible way through which the problem can be tackled, or objectives can be met. The involvement of a multi-disciplinary approach in participation ensur es that the project is successful and sustainable. However, as a development practitioner, one experiences various challenges while conducting a multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis hence affecting the actual outcome of the project. This paper aims at discussing the challenges/problems that a development practitioner experiences while conducting the aforementioned analysis. Discussion Stakeholders/beneficiaries are people who have a direct, significant and particular interest in given natural resources hence, have the liberty to express their views in a proposed project. Primary and secondary stakeholders, who have personal interests in the proposed project that addresses the problems concerned, are identified through a stakeholder analysis. Stakeholder analysis is very important as it helps in the development of strategic views that can be applied to address the problem. Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis entails the identification of the different kinds of stakeholders who will take part in project development. These stakeholders are very important at every stage of the project cycle because each stage is related to the needs of the stakeholders in one way or the other (Caldwell, 2002). Appendix 1 represents a table that could be used in multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis (Gawler, 2005).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are primary/direct stakeholders and these are very essential with regard to conservation. They are directly affected by any outcome of the project based on action taken hence; they are a very critical component of the project design process because wrong action will not yield into the desired impact of the project. The development practitioner should ensure that he/she clearly identifies the primary stakeholders as they are very essential in ensuring sustainability of the project. Secondary stakeholders are tho se with an indirect interest in the project. They entail donors, national government officials, consumers and private enterprises. Despite the fact that they are not included in all stages of the project, their periodic contribution is required (Guijt Woodhill, 2002). Opposition stakeholders adversely affect outcome of the project as they have the power to influence and control resources. They are mainly political leaders and mainly also known as gate-keepers. As a development practitioner, it is very important to establish a very good rapport with these stakeholders. In addition, it is very important that the practitioner develops amicable strategies of handling such stakeholders because they usually have personal interests. These stakeholders are interested in gaining favor from the rest of the population hence will seek to have all the credit given to them irrespective of the fact that they did not contribute much (Howlett, et al., 2000). Marginalized stakeholders are suppressed and their voices not given the importance they deserve. Irrespective of their input to project design and management, they lack the capacity of getting equally involved in a participatory approach during project design, implementation and management. It is left to the development practitioner to ensure that the marginalized stakeholders gain the recognition they deserve during problem identification, formulation of objectives, establishing the relevant approaches to addressing the problem and evaluating the strategy selected to determine its relevance in achieving the formulated objectives (Dickinson, 2002; Parpart, 1999).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The development practitioner should determine the nature and limits of every stakeholder’s role in the project. This is important to avoid misunderstandings that may prevent successful implementation of the program. Some stakeholders can only play their roles to a certain point hence, the practitioner should know the limitations and the type of stake each stakeholder is willing to offer. Failure to identify what each stakeholder is willing to offer may lead to disagreements thereafter thus affecting the success of the project. Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis is a very critical process that requires adequate time for the development practitioner to explore stakeholders’ views, values and perspectives and obtain their insight with regard to human and institutional landscape. The stakeholder’s insight determines whether collaboration is necessary (WWF Ecoregion Conservation Strategies Unit, 2000; Rahman, 1995). Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis is very inherent to any participatory approach because it helps planners to confirm the effects of a certain activity, identify marginalized groups who will be affected by the project’s devel opment activities. In addition, it ensures cost-effectiveness of the project because different disciplines come together to identify a common ground for action. This way, each discipline contributes partly to the success of the project cycle rather than leaving the entire project burden and budget to one party. The involvement of various disciplines in a project prevents duplication of resources hence saves on resources and avoids wastage. However be affected by cultural values and beliefs of a people. Gender issues are a main I pediment to the success of projects. This is because, discrimination by gender excludes some stakeholders from the project cycle hence, the project address the problems of all stakeholders (Razavi, 1998; Lind, 1997). Multi-stakeholder analysis in project cycle involves various parties from national, international organizations, private sector and the civil society. The recent notion in project cycle development is that networking in an integrated way should be embraced so as to achieve the actual objectives of the project.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A participatory approach in project development is assumed involve each and every person with a stake, choice and voice in the project cycle development process. Unfortunately, this approach may be governed by gendered interests hence, not giving the least powerful the chance to voice in their views and opinions. A development practitioner experiences difficulties related to, equity and inclusion during multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis given the fact that participation discourse has shifted from mere beneficiary participation to involve questions related to rights, governance and citizenship (Gaventa, 2002; Becker, 2001). The involvement of stakeholders in a project participation discourse in most occasions, boils down to a situation whereby only the few vocal voices are raised and heard. Women have been seen to lose out where their presence and views are marginalized in the so called ‘participatory processes.’ In such a case, it becomes very difficult for a deve lopment practitioner to foster full participation in projects. Gender and full participation with regard to development is considered to be rather fraught and is associated with tensions and contradictions that are too much for a development practitioner to handle. Gender and development assumes a top-down approach since the views of both genders are not adequately considered due to prevailing frames of references and lack of wide participation in setting agenda and implementing proposed ideas (Guijt, 1994; Razavi Miller, 1995.). Every beneficiary has a right to his/her voice in development while integrating various disciplines to help alleviate poverty and injustice in the society. It would be important to entail political, organizing, practical and creative factors to help in addressing poverty and injustice, where the political factor would play a great role in ensuring that legal frameworks defend and advance the rights of the poor and marginalized. Organization focuses on ensu ring that people organize themselves in a proper way for collective struggle (Fals-Borda Rahman, 1991). In a culture where gender discrimination is evident, it becomes difficult for the development practitioner to fight against cultural values and ways despite the fact that full participation is achieved without discrimination of any sort. Women, just like men, have important roles to carry out in project management and design. Women and children are the most vulnerable in society and therefore, involving women just the same way as men would enhance the success of the project. Gender mainstreaming, where the development practitioner creates an environment in which both men and women have an equal role to play and voice in their views unanimously, should be developed. This way, varied responses encompassing all genders are incorporated into the project. However, gender mainstreaming in an environment where gender discrimination is evident would not easy to achieve as a development p ractitioner (The Netherlands, ITAD Ltd, 1999; McPhail Jacobs, 1995). The involved stakeholders are the key parties that identify problems and issues that need to be addressed. In developing countries, a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) has been used to foster participation in prevailing projects. PRA entails the use of semi-structured but highly participatory activities that draw on the local communities’ knowledge and skills, while assisting them to assess their environment and resources. This approach is bent on the fact that solutions should derived from the local community (Pratt, 2001; Leach, Mearns Scoones, 1997). Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis helps to establish a rapport between the facilitator and the stakeholders, which is very essential for the success of a project. It is the first step in any project cycle because conducting a multi-stakeholder analysis is important for developing the required task force necessary to ensure that every stage of the pr oject cycle is successful, addressing the relevant issues affecting the stakeholders. However, it is very important that the facilitator suitably identifies the relevant stakeholders A multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis helps to formulate SMART objectives. In addition, this analysis helps to identify the locally available resources that can be included while addressing the problem at hand. The analysis also helps to identify conflicts of interests among the stakeholders hence; it will be easy to manage the stakeholders. Unfortunately, the conflicts can be very overwhelming for the facilitator such that it could lead to derailment of the project. The development practitioner should use the multi-stakeholder analysis process to develop appropriate strategies that will ensure that stakeholders’ conflicts of interests do not interfere with the success of the project (Insight Partnership, 1995). The analytical importance of gender as a vital element is obscured by the narrow focus on gender relations. When a project fails to address gender related issues at the start of the project, then it becomes difficult to incorporate them in the subsequent stages of the project cycle. A project that does not include the varying needs of men and women in social, linguistic, economic and cultural contexts is likely to be ineffective, unsustainable and inefficient. The development practitioner, who is mainly the facilitator/chairperson, may have a difficult time trying to identify the relevant stakeholders so they can take part in needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the project. This is because; individuals with personal interests may mislead the practitioner and he/she ends up identifying the wrong program and as a result, the project will not achieve intended objectives due to poor targeting (Rahman, 1995). A project may fail if the development practitioner does not adequately factor in the interests and groups of the different stakeholders in the area where a project is to be implemented. In such a case, stakeholders who feel that their interests are not adequately taken into account may use their power to prevent attainment of objectives. Therefore, it is very important that a development practitioner ensures that the interests of all the involved stakeholders are factored in during throughout the project cycle (Robb, 1999). Stakeholders may not be willing to accept the project. Such a case happens when the project was done while using a top-down approach hence, it may not be relevant to the stakeholders. Assuming the case of Australia’s aid program, environmental management system is developed and executed with the aim of achieving sound environmental performance. It establishes a structure through which environmental issues are addressed by allocation of resources, assignment of responsibilities and evaluation of practices, procedures and processes useful during the development, implementation, achievement, review and maintenance of policy and legal setting (Standards Australia/ Standards New Zealand, 1996 cited in Commonwealth of Australia, 2003). The EMS undergoes five steps to successfully develop a project/program that will ensure that environmental objectives in Australia are met. The first step entails comprehending policy and legal setting under which the desired useful activities will be implemented. Different stakeholders, that is, the AusAID staff, contractors, NGOs and associated development partners are required to fully understand the legal obligations related to AusAID’s activities to successfully carry out the assessment and properly manage the associated activities. The AusAID is involved with poverty reduction and environmental growth, stability and prosperity. The involvement of the relevant stakeholders helps to establish essential links that greatly fosters the effectiveness of the program in as far as poverty reduction was concerned (Commonwealth of Austral ia, 2003; Rademacher Patel, 2002). Multi-disciplinary approach of the AusAID is important as the Minister for Environment and Heritage is required to give advice before executing a project. Involving the Minister is very important because he/she is well aware of the objectives that the nation seeks to attain hence, will be in a position to give his/her opinion regarding the feasibility of the project with regard to the desired program effects. This example clearly indicates that the AusAID program identifies the desired stakeholders by conducting a training to create awareness. In this example, it is evident that the stakeholders involved are staff, contractors, NGOs and related parties involved in the implementation of the program’s activities. This example shows that while conducting a project, relevant stakeholders should be included in the project. This fosters the success and ability of the project to achieve its objectives. In addition, this network of stakeholders doe s not specify a certain gender or group of social group of people. The main focus is the ability to perform and objectives of the project. Depending on the role of each stakeholder, all will work collectively to carry on with assessment, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and review. Assuming that a different group of stakeholders were selected, that which did not have knowledge about AusAID, its objectives and policies, the successful execution of the project would be jeopardized (Commonwealth of Australia, 2003). A development practitioner encounters a hard time trying to involve all the relevant stakeholders within a location into the project. This is because; some of the stakeholders are overwhelmed with responsibilities thus present themselves as secondary stakeholders. The AusAID example shows this. Therefore, a practitioner is not able to create a mainstream environment that allows for multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis because some of the stakeholders are tied u p in other events or responsibilities. In such a case, the practitioner is obliged to continuously update other stakeholders, who are not able to frequently avail themselves. The development practitioner is faced with the responsibility of making the stakeholders aware of the fact that power is not a priority at the time. The most crucial thing during multi-disciplinary analysis is to ensure that various aspects of the society integrate with one another for the good of everyone and not for only those to whom power has been bestowed upon. Different stakeholders may discriminate against one another yet, when selected applying the recommended protocol, all the stakeholders are very important for the success and effectiveness of the project (Howlett, et al., 2000). When multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis is done correctly, the stakeholders’ interests are met and they gain capacity development, which is very important for project sustainability and ownership. In addition, the stakeholders are able to integrate the locally available resources to ensure the sustainability of the project. Sustainability is successful when a full participatory approach is achieved involving a mainstreamed environment. Some stakeholders would want to use their power to govern the use and control of the project yet, the project is meant to benefit everyone regardless of their status. It is difficult for the facilitator to ensure that the project maintains an impartial approach that does not favor anyone due to their individual power or position. Every stakeholder involved in the design and management of the project has an equal right to the project (The Unit for Social and Environmental Research at Chang Mai University (USER), 2004.). Conclusion Multi-disciplinary stakeholder analysis is the initial and critical process of any project cycle. It is the determinant factor with regard to the success of the project. Understanding the views and opinions of the different stakeholde rs helps in designing a project that is relevant to the stakeholders. Identifying the ideal and relevant stakeholders to take part in the project management and design process is not easy but it should be carefully carried out. The stakeholders identified are a representative of the rest of the population hence; it is assumed that the needs of the stakeholders are a representation of the entire population within a particular society. If the stakeholder analysis is not carried out correctly, then the project ends up not addressing the desired society needs. Gender discrimination therefore, should be avoided and a full participatory approach encouraged. Reference List Becker, H. A., 2001. Social impact assessment. European Journal of Operational Research, 128, 311–21. Caldwell, R., 2002. Project Design Handbook (Working Draft Full Version 1.0 July 2002). Atlanta: CARE International. Commonwealth of Australia, 2003. Environmental Management Guide for Australia’s Aid Progr am 2003: AusAID. Canberra: AusAID. Dickinson, P., 2002. Preparing monitoring plans for the TDPs. Gland, Switzerland: WWF International. Gaventa, J., 2002. Introduction: exploring citizenship, participation and accountability. IDS Bulletin, 33, 1–11. Gawler, M., 2005. Project Design in the Context of Project Cycle Management. Prà ©vessin-Moà «ns: Artemis Services. Guijt, I., 1994. Making a difference: integrating gender analysis into PRA. PRA Notes, 19, 49–55. Guijt, I., Woodhill, J., 2002. Managing for Impact in Rural Development: A Guide for Project M E. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Office of Evaluation and Studies. Fals-Borda, O., Rahman, M. A., 1991. Action and knowledge: Breaking the monopoly with Participatory Action Research. New York: Apex Press. Howlett, D., et al. 2000. Stakeholder Analysis and Local Identification of Indicators of the Success and Sustainability of Farming Based Livelihood Systems. Sustainability Indicators for Natural Resource Policy, Wo rking Paper No. 5, Department for International Development (UK) Insight Partnership, 1995. Goal Oriented Project Planning Facilitator Training: Individual Procedures. The Netherlands: Little van der Geer. Leach, M., Mearns, R., Scoones, I. Eds. 1997. Community based sustainable development: consensus or conflict. IDS Bulletin, 28 (4), 12. Lind, A., 1997. Gender, development and urban social change: women’s community action in global cities. World Development, 25, 1205–1223. McPhail, K. Jacobs, S., 1995. Social Assessment. Washington D.C: The World Bank. Parpart, J., 1999. Rethinking participation, empowerment and development from a gender perspective. In J. Freedman (Ed.), Transforming development. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Pratt, G., 2001. Practitioners! Critical reflections on PRA and participation in Nepal. IDS Working Paper no. 122. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies. Pretty, J., 1995. Participatory learning for sustainable agriculture. Worl d Development, 23, 1247–1263. Rademacher, A., Patel, R., 2002. Retelling worlds of poverty: reflections on transforming participatory research for a global narrative. In Brock, K., McGee, R. Eds. Knowing poverty: Critical reflections on participatory research and policy. London: Earth scans Publications. Rahman, M., 1995. People’s self-development: Perspectives on Participatory Action Research. London: Zed Books. Razavi, S., 1998. Gendered poverty and social change. Discussion Paper DP. 94, Geneva: UNRISD. Razavi, S., Miller, C., 1995. From WID to GAD: Conceptual shifts in the women and development discourse. Occasional Paper no. 1, Geneva: UNRISD. Robb, C., 1999. Can the poor influence policy? Participation in the World Bank’s poverty assessments. Washington, DC: World Bank. The Netherlands, ITAD Ltd, 1999. Project Cycle Management Training Handbook. EC, Brussels: ITAD. The Unit for Social and Environmental Research at Chang Mai University (USER), 2004. Sust ainable Production-Consumption Systems. Thailand: Chiang Mai.  https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cid WWF Ecoregion Conservation Strategies Unit, 2000. Stakeholder Collaboration: Building Bridges for Conservation. Washington, DC: WWF US. Appendix

Navajo Soldiers World War II Code Talkers

Navajo Soldiers World War II Code Talkers World War II had no shortage of heroes, but the conflict likely would’ve ended on a completely different note for the United States without the efforts of the Navajo soldiers known as Code Talkers. At the onset of the war, the U.S. found itself vulnerable to Japanese intelligence specialists who used their English-speaking soldiers to intercept the messages issued by the U.S. military. Each time the military devised a code, Japanese intelligence experts deciphered it. As a result, they not only learned which actions U.S. forces would take before they carried them out but gave the troops bogus missions to confuse them. To prevent the Japanese from intercepting subsequent messages, the U.S. military developed highly intricate codes that could take more than two hours to decrypt or encrypt. This was far from an efficient way to communicate. But ​World War I veteran Philip Johnston would change that by suggesting that the U.S. military develop a code based on the Navajo language. A Complex Language World War II did not mark the first time the U.S. military developed a code based on an indigenous language. In World War I, Choctaw speakers served as code talkers. But Philip Johnston, a missionary’s son who grew up on the Navajo reservation, knew that a code based on the Navajo language would be especially difficult to break. For one, the Navajo language was largely unwritten at the time and many words in the language have different meanings depending on context. Once Johnston demonstrated to the Marine Corps how effective a Navajo-based code would be in thwarting intelligence breaches, the Marines set out to sign up Navajos as radio operators. The Navajo Code in Use In 1942, 29 Navajo soldiers ranging in age from 15 to 35 years old collaborated to create the first U.S. military code based on their indigenous language. It started off with a vocabulary of about 200 but tripled in quantity by the time World War II ended. The Navajo Code Talkers could pass messages in as few as 20 seconds. According to the official Navajo Code Talkers website, indigenous words that sounded like military terms in English made up the code. â€Å"The Navajo word for turtle meant ‘tank,’ and a dive-bomber was a ‘chicken hawk.’ To supplement those terms, words could be spelled out using Navajo terms assigned to individual letters of the alphabet- the selection of the Navajo term being based on the first letter of the Navajo word’s English meaning. For instance, ‘Wo-La-Chee’ means ‘ant,’ and would represent the letter ‘A.’† U.S. Triumphs With Code The code was so complex that not even native Navajo speakers comprehended it. â€Å"When a Navajo listens to us, he wonders what in the world we’re talking about,† Keith Little, the late code talker, explained to news station My Fox Phoenix in 2011. The code also proved unique because the Navajo soldiers weren’t allowed to write it down once on frontlines of the war. The soldiers functioned essentially as â€Å"living codes.† During the first two days of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the code talkers transmitted 800 messages with no mistakes. Their efforts played a key role in the U.S. emerging from the Battle of Iwo Jima as well as the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Okinawa victoriously. â€Å"We saved a lot of lives†¦, I know that we did,† Little said. Honoring the Code Talkers The Navajo Code Talkers may have been World War II heroes, but the public didn’t realize it because the code created by the Navajos remained a top military secret for decades following the war. Finally in 1968, the military declassified the code, but many believed that the Navajos didn’t receive the honors befitting of war heroes. In April 2000, Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico sought to change that when he introduced a bill authorizing the U.S. president to award gold and silver congressional medals to the Navajo Code Talkers. In December 2000, the bill went into effect. â€Å"It has taken too long to properly recognize these soldiers, whose achievements have been obscured by twin veils of secrecy and time,† Bingaman said. â€Å"†¦I introduced this legislation – to salute these brave and innovative Native Americans, to acknowledge the great contribution they made to the Nation at a time of war, and to finally give them their rightful place in history.† Code Talkers Legacy The Navajo Code Talkers’ contributions to the U.S. military during World War II entered popular culture when the film â€Å"Windtalkers,† starring Nicolas Cage and Adam Beach, debuted in 2002. Although the movie received mixed reviews, it exposed a large swath of the public to World War II’s Native American heroes. The Navajo Code Talkers Foundation, an Arizona nonprofit, also functions to raise awareness about these skillful soldiers and celebrate Native American culture, history and heritage.

Granpa's Gift To Me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Granpa's Gift To Me - Essay Example My grandpa presented me a beautiful wristwatch on my 10th birthday. When he presented me the watch, he also reminded me that I should not forget to use it properly. Grandpa showed me the stopwatch function of that golden electric watch and insisted me to arrange my actions after setting timer. Analyzing all the incidents occurred in my life after receiving the gift; I can certainly say that the gift helped me to increase my concentration, discipline and above all my confidence level. Therefore, I can say that a good gift can definitely change one’s life. I never thought or heard in my life that a gift helps one to increase one’s concentration. Grandpa clearly showed me how such a gift will increase one’s concentration. Grandpa told me that time is so precious that we should not waste even a minute in our life. He showed me the way of saving time with a small and interesting example. When we started having soup after setting the stopwatch, I could finish the soup ten seconds before him. Grandpa encouraged me by telling that I saved ten seconds which will be really useful for me at a later time. After this incident I began to observe things very minutely and gradually felt the level of my concentration increasing. Another good quality that the gift brought to my life is discipline. Though I was not too lazy, I would very often violate some of the rules and regulations of my school. Majority of these violations were not deliberate and the prominent among them was going late to school. I would often reach school late and miss the first hour of the study, just for being late to some minutes. When started scheduling my time, that is, began to save time, to my wonder I could reach school too early and it opened me the new realm of knowledge. I realized that I was wasting my valuable time on trifles and that is why I cannot complete assignments and homework’s in time. Realizing this fact I rearranged my