Jane Austens Writing Style Essay - 565 Words

Jane Austens writing style is a mix of neoclassicism and romanticism. Austen created a transition into Romanticism which encourages passion and imagination in writing instead of a strict and stale writing style. It is very emotional and follows a flowing not structured form. Mixing these two styles was one of Austens strongest talents, which gave her an edge in the literary world. No other author in her time was able to create such a strong transition between writing styles. Austen used her sharp and sarcastic wit in all of her writing including in one of her most famous works; Pride and Prejudice. She could create a powerful and dramatic scene and immediately lead it into a satirical cathartic scene. We see these in various†¦show more content†¦Austen added a romantic touch when it came to her characters dialogues which were able to range from sharp and witty to poetic and emotional. Her characters’ words and actions created a vivid picture of each person and each event to engage the reader into the novel. She focuses on the beauty of a conversation and allows it to display the development and progress of each main character in her novels. Her style is unique, yet recognizable. She opened the door for new authors and exposed people to a new way of life. Pride and Prejudice is a novel unlike any other, it pushes the limits on what an 18th century society would be exposed to. Jane Austen’s work ultimately marked the transition in English literature from neo-classicism to romanticism. Jane Austen is limitless; she wrote about the beauty of ordinary people and their ordinary lives and allowed that to carry her story forward. She accepted that society was flawed but basks in the glory of it. She recognized that the beauty in people and in society is not found in perfection but in the imperfection of them. Austin also recognized the hypocrisy and stupidity that was present in the game of marriage but she also seemed to recognize the true value of it. She wrote what she knew, but most important sheShow MoreRelatedJane Austen Critical Analysis1220 Words   |  5 Pageschooses to focus on in their writing can be the factor that outlines the difference between the two. An author’s style outlines the differences that set them apart from other authors. Writing style is also what defines the author and characterizes their writing. Style often remains unchanged and reflects a writer’s beliefs which are often displayed through their work’s content or theme. In the case of Jane Austen, an eighteenth-nineteenth century novelist, writing style and theme are two things sheRead MoreEssay on Jane Austen Novels: Success After Death1679 Words   |  7 PagesJane Austen Novels: Success after Death Chuck Leddy, a notable critic, stated Upon her death in 1817, English novelist Jane Austen was completely unknown in the literary world. Why would someone as brilliant as Jane Austen not be world known? By 1817, Austen had already published one of her masterpieces Sense and Sensibility, and it seemed to not bring in as much success as it would later on in life. But the dry spell would eventually end. Two hundred years after Jane Austens death, her booksRead MoreHow Jane Austen Became a Great Author Essay804 Words   |  4 PagesJane Austen is known for many of her great literature works. She has written six novels including Pride and Prejudice and Emma. When publishing her first four novels, Austen published them anonymously. Austen’s novels were extremely popular while she was living but became increasingly more popular after her death. Jane Austen’s unique style of writing was picked up on by nineteenth-century authors and used in their works (Steinbach). On December 16th, 1775, an author by the name of Jane Austen wasRead MoreJane Austens Influence on Literature: Pride and Prejudice1216 Words   |  5 Pagestoday Jane Austen is regarded for her writing, during her time she couldn’t even publish her work under her own name, because it was considered unladylike for women to be intellectual figures. Unlike J. K. Rowling and other English female writers today, who are well known for their works even without using their full names, Jane Austen lived within the sanctuary of a close-knit family and always published her works under a pseudonym that could not be traced back to her (jasna.org). Writing at theRead MoreJane Austen’s Novel Pride and Prejudice Essay874 Words   |  4 Pagestheme of an advantageous marriage for the English novelist, Jane Austen. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics (Southam). Austen’s major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, were composed between the years 1795-1815. During those twenty years England was at the height of its power facing many historical landmarks (Thomson). It is no coincidence that Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, coincides directly with the historicalRead MorePride and Prejudice Values Juxtaposed Letters to Alice1228 Words   |  5 Pagesand rank. Within the text there are many instances that show these contradictions of beliefs, of society and Austen. Charlotte portrays the belief that â€Å"happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance† this exemplifies the perspective of Austen’s time that one should marry solely for financial gain and standing. Elizabeth, the main character, refuses two marriage offers in the text even when considering her family could well have been without a home if Mr Bennet was to pass away. She stillRead MoreThe Jane Austen789 Words   |  3 Pages Jane Austen was born in Hampshire, England on December 16, 1775. Her father was Reverend George Austen and her mother was Cassandra Leigh Austen. Jane was the youngest daughter of a large, close family. She had six brothers and one sister. She was especially close to her sister and brother, Cassandra and Henry. When Jane was eight, she and her sister were sent to Oxford and then Southampton. Because of an outbreak of typhus, a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas, Jane nearly died. After thisRead MoreSense and Sensibility by Jane Aust en1151 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love† (Austen 11). This quote in Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility highlights the main conflict in the novel. Also, it describes how Elinor Dashwood, the main character of the novel feels about love. In this novel social class is important because most of the characters belong to upper-class families. Since there are conflicts with love and social class is of importance in the novel, twoRead MoreJane Austen s Sense And Sensibility983 Words   |  4 PagesJane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility takes a critical look at the limitations women possessed at the turn of the eighteenth century. Consequently, the success of a woman was entirely dependent on a man. In the novel, the main protagonists represent these two persuasions of thought. Elenor Dashwood, the eldest daughter in the Dashwood household, portrays sense. In contra st, her younger sister, Marianne Dashwood represents sensibility. The dichotomy of the title carries historical significance in aRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1142 Words   |  5 PagesPride and Prejudice: Feminist Origins Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1813, and it is seen as an important novel. Jane Austen grew up in a patriarchal society, with a father being a clergyman. Austen went against the normal for girls and rejected the man that proposed to her. She then began to write in a woman’s perspective. By using the feminist lens to analyze Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, readers can realize how Austen used the characters in her novel to portray feminism, which at

Technology s Impact On Young Children - 1465 Words

Technology’s impact in the 21’st century is very evident as it continues to advance rapidly and we have become accustomed to it; causing considerable changes to the overall family structure. It is believed that the use of technology can alter the wiring of the brain (Taylor 2012). When children are exposed to technology, it may condition the brain to pay attention to multiple stimuli; as a result become more distracted and cause decreased memory. Technology also hinders a child’s ability to empathise. They are less likely to pick up on non verbal cues, emotions, and awareness of expressions. Therefore, children with less physical contact tend to have trouble developing social skills. Needless to say, there are also various benefits of the use of technology if integrated appropriately into the early childhood curriculum design. However, the benefits usually tend to get easily overlooked by the negatives. This paper will examine the effects of technology on young c hildren and how it supports their development in all domains including physical, cognitive, and social. I will discuss the results of my research from different articles and explore how the findings could be applied to the work of an early childhood educator respectively. Research Summary Using Technology Appropriately in the Preschool Classroom (Ann Epstein 2011) This article stresses the fact that technology can have various benefits on children whilst promoting early learning given the fact that the technologyShow MoreRelatedTechnology Has Changed Our Society Essay1425 Words   |  6 PagesRATIONALE The predominance of technology has significantly influenced our society. Technology is being used all over the place, anywhere and is instant. When we say technology, it can mean a lot of things. But according to the New Zealand Ministry of Education, â€Å"technology is the use of practical and intellectual resources to develop products and systems (technological outcomes) that expand human possibilities by addressing needs and realising opportunities.† Technology is currently more complex andRead MoreMoblie Phone Technology and The Social Impact Thereof Essay1263 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION Mobile phone technology is a technology that a vast majority of us would be familiar with, allowing one to call from almost anywhere, anytime as long as they connected a network. Mobile phones revolutionised the world of personal communication, because of this it is important that the impacts that the technology has had on the community. This essay will trace, in brief, the history of mobile phone technology along with an examination of the social impacts that this technology has had. HISTORYRead MoreThe Developmental Impact Of Technology On Today s Society937 Words   |  4 PagesThe Developmental Impact of Technology on Today’s Society Society has become slaves to technology. Our society depends so greatly on technology that we have lost the ability of face to face communication. Nowadays all you see are people with their face stuck in their phones or latest gadgets and being oblivious to the world. The obsession and need to use technology affects every developmental stage. The affect starts at the young age of infancy and continues into childhood, adolescence, and adulthoodRead MoreTechnology Has Impacted The Young Children Essay1495 Words   |  6 PagesToday’s technology has greatly impacted the young children’s everyday lives. Phones, tablets, and computers are all a form of technology that impact the way kids are influenced. Some children get phones or computers at young ages and it can cause kids to depend on it to entertain them. Eventually they will allow the technology to take over and have it become the form of communication between friend and family instead of face to face. As parents cont inue to buy their children new technology they don’tRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society Essay1560 Words   |  7 Pagesof technology. As depicted in the film, social media has had a growing impact on how society performs routine tasks; thus, the intimate relationships needed for one to truly connect with others have become a rare gem. Social media can be defined as the exchange of ideas between groups or individuals in virtual communities. All throughout history, society has relied on tools in the forms of technological artifacts and other technologies. This continued reliance has caused technology to impact theRead MoreImpact Of Technology On Children s Learning929 Words   |  4 Pages Technology applications in educational settings positively influence children to communicate, learn, and enhance problem-solving skills. Once technology applications are presented to children, their parents have to adjust to help them with homework, whether it may be in another language or in a certain application online. Technology, an electronic system of knowledge, generates different perspectives for children to comprehend information. Several programs encourage children to work on their homeworkRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Social Media1209 Words   |  5 Pagesrapidly progressing. It is starting to impact so many lives that is affecting those negatively. From the way technology was brought to the world about 180 years ago, its’ use is becoming adapted through generations. Many are losing out on explorations learned as young children, due to being stuck on technology. Even though there are educational advantages for youth through technological developments, it more so promotes corruption. Focusing on how technology was originally brought up creates a totallyRead MoreImpact Of Technology On Children And Parents935 Words   |  4 PagesImpacts of Technology Applications in Children and Parents Technology applications in educational settings positively influence children to communicate, learn, and enhance problem-solving skills. Once technology applications are presented to children, their parents have to adjust to help them with homework whether it may be in another language or in a certain application online. Technology, an electronic system of knowledge, generates different perspectives for children to comprehend informationRead MoreTechnology Has A Negative Influence On The Social Life Of Individuals1213 Words   |  5 PagesWithin our society, technology plays a critical role in our everyday lives. Its prevalence within our environment has ultimately resulted in the change of pedagogical practice. This new age of teaching has demonstrated that technology is in many ways, beneficial within the classroom environment. This paper will consider how technology can support the needs of children with special needs, making learning more relatable and effective. Furthermore, te chnology also has an influence upon the social andRead MoreThe Ways Of Today s Society1390 Words   |  6 Pagesform of technology. When most are used to seeing children playing in their front yards or on a playground as they once did, they have a sudden awakening when they realize, most children are not like that anymore. Modern culture is a corruption to one’s childhood and causes a child to be unsocial, unhealthy, and constantly pressured to follow the newest trends in social media, however, certain TV shows and websites have been known to try and educate children. Because of modern technology, kids are

John Wooden free essay sample

I think John Wooden explains the definition of success very precisely. He tells us that hard work and having enthusiasm are the most important things in pursuing our goals. We will be successful when we make sure that we have done our best to reach our goals. Another important element is that we shouldn’t give up in our life. We shouldn’t be afraid of trying. If we fail we shouldn’t be discourage, but we have to learn from our mistakes and correct them and hold it as an experience. Sometimes the goals that we have, are difficult to reach, but not impossible to pursue. Q b:Do you think his definition of success is accurate? Explain. A:I think Wooden’s definition of success definitely is accurate. John Wooden believes that to succeed, we should not be afraid to try. Even if we do not always reach our goal, when we know we have tried our best, we can feel satisfied with what we have learned from our mistakes. We will write a custom essay sample on John Wooden or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I agree with him. Also he talks about self- satisfaction, and I think that is an important element; self-satisfaction gives us the courage to keep pursuing our goals. After reading how John Wooden explains and defines industriousness and enthusiasm tell us how you define them, how you can achieve them, and why they are the cornerstones. A:In my opinion, â€Å"Hard work† and â€Å"enthusiasm† are the first and the most important steps through the door of success. Having a strong foundation in our life is so important. For Example, for building a tower, engineers first start building the base. The base is the most important part of the tower; with out a strong base, the possibility of the tower falling is high. In our life we will build other things based on these two cornerstones, so we must have develop good habits about working hard and being enthusiastic. This will make our life strong. What is â€Å"hard work†? Many of us just heard from our parents or our teachers that â€Å"hard work† is the most important element to succeed, or â€Å"hard work† is the key for the door of success. What does â€Å"hard work† mean? If we don’t know what is â€Å"hard work† how can we achieve it? â€Å"Hard work† to me is to try hard and not give up in our efforts. We have to try our best and not be afraid of losing. If we work hard we can know our capabilities better. If we work hard, we get to know the world better and we communicate more with other people. â€Å"Hard work† helps us to reach our capabilities. Enthusiasm is the emotions that we bring in our work. Without enthusiasm, our life will be a machine life. When we approach our work with enthusiasm, we will do better in our job and we will give other people positive energy. Enthusiasm and hard work are complementary. If you don’t have enthusiasm but you work hard, you wouldn’t enjoy your accomplishments. Or, if you have enthusiasm but you don’t work hard, you wouldn’t achieve your goals. In this way, enthusiasm and hard work complement each other, and therefore they are cornerstones of success. Q d:Pick one of the qualities that he has included in his pyramid that fits you best and explain why you chose that quality and why you believe that is the most important to you right now. A:The most important quality and the quality that fits me best is â€Å"team spirit†. â€Å"Team spirit† is an ability that helps us to listen to other people’s ideas; which helps us to work as a team not as an individual. â€Å"Team spirit† is not just for sports, but also it is an indispensible ability that people must have in order to succeed. The reason why â€Å"team spirit† is so important is that human life is social; another way to say it is that people are dependent on each other. A person cannot live alone in the wide world. With teamwork people have better chance of prospering. For example, today, America’s debt is more than $14 trillion, and one person cannot pay the debt all by himself. The entire nation must work as a team to pay the debt. People form a nation; every single person must have the ability to work as a member of a team to solve large problems, like the national debt. Always I try my best to listen more and talk less. By doing that I can see different ideas and different points of view, not just my own ideas, so I always can learn new things. In our age, we play team sports and we work on school projects as a team, so we need to have the ability to work together in order to be successful. Q e:Pick one of the qualities that you would like to improve in yourself from the pyramid and describe what it is you would like to improve upon and how you believe you can achieve that. A:I like to improve the â€Å"self control†; maybe it is little early to think about it, but I believe â€Å"self control† is one the most important ability that a person must have in order to succeed. What is â€Å"self control†? Why we need to have the ability to control our selves? â€Å"Self control† is the ability that we can control our feelings and our emotions. People who can’t control their emotions are reactive. They react to other people’s actions; they react to the life. They don’t decide on their own, the decide base on their emotions and base on people’s actions. As Sean Covey wrote in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, â€Å"Reactive people make choices based on impulse. They are like a can of soda pop. If life shakes them up a bit, the pressure builds up and they suddenly explode. † The best way to achieve that ability is to start practicing to correcting our selves, when we are young. When we are young, it is easier to change, because all of the habits are not build yet. One way is that every time when we feel we are out of control, warn our selves and start controlling. It takes time, so patient is so important too.

Sir Isaac Newton Essays (991 words) - Isaac Newton,

Sir Isaac Newton Jan 4 1643 - March 31 1727 On Christmas day by the georgian calender in the manor house of Woolsthorpe, England, Issaac Newton was born prematurely. His father had died 3 months before. Newton had a difficult childhood. His mother, Hannah Ayscough Newton remarried when he was just three, and he was sent to live with his grandparents. After his stepfather's death, the second father who died, when Isaac was 11, Newtons mother brought him back home to Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire where he was educated at Kings School, Grantham. Newton came from a family of farmers and he was expected to continue the farming tradition , well that's what his mother thought anyway, until an uncle recognized how smart he was. Newton's mother removed him from grammar school in Grantham where he had shown little promise in academics. Newtons report cards describe him as 'idle' and 'inattentive'. So his uncle decided that he should be prepared for the university, and he entered his uncle's old College, Trinity College, Cambridge, in June 1661. Newton had to earn his keep waiting on wealthy students because he was poor. Newton's aim at Cambridge was a law degree. At Cambridge, Isaac Barrow who held the Lucasian chair of Mathematics took Isaac under his wing and encouraged him. Newton got his undergraduate degree without accomplishing much and would have gone on to get his masters but the Great Plague broke out in London and the students were sent home. This was a truely productive time for Newton. He conducted experiments on sunlight and prisms. He discovered that sunlight was made up of different colors. This lead to his work on reflecting telescopes. At the same time he was working out his ideas of planetary motion. He returned to Cambridge in 1667 and became the a fellow, earned his MA and the following year became the chair of the math department. he then wrote a book on optics. Newton worked cooperatively wiht other scientists such as Robert Hookeand Edmund Halley on planetary motion. But he was later bitter and resentfull not wanting to give other any credit for their contributions to his work. Newton went on to serve in government positions such as a member of Parliament and later as Warden of the Mint. His only words spoken as a member of parliament were "shut the window." He had a mental breakdown of sorts resulting in thoughts of persecutiojn mania later in life. He never married and was taken care of by his niece. He became the president of the Royal Society and was knighted for his work in 1705. Isaac Newton, knight, scientist, professor, mathematician and politician was the first scientist burried at Westminster Abbey. Contributions Isaac Newton's Many Accomplishments Isaac Newton is famous for proving the laws of gravity. Newton then developed his three laws of motion. His first law of motion is that what is in motion stays in motion, what is at rest stays at rest. Isaac Newton's second law of motion states that acceleration and direction depend in the applied force. Isaac's third law of motion is for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. These laws of motion are what made modern day space travel possible. Newton is also famous for proving that sunlight is really made of all the colors of the rainbow. He used a prism to seperate white light into all the individual colors. Newton decided that lenses would not display things accurately because of this, so he invented the reflecting telescope. This is the same principle that today's modern telescopes use. His observations of circular motion resulted in theories used to observe the planets. Newton built upon the work of other mathematicians and published a book known as Principia. He developed calculus, an entire branch of mathematics. Without Newton, many experiments and inventions might not have happened. We wouldn't be anyware if it wasnt for the man we know as Isaac Newton Newton held the famous Lucasian Chair of Physics at Cambridge which is now held by Stephen Hawking, the famous astrophysicist. Historical people and events The Plague Known for more than 3000 years, plague has ravaged human populations worldwide in several major pandemics. The most famous pandemic swept through Europe in the Middle Ages. The most recent pandemic occurred from 1894 to 1900. The plague is a contagious bacterial disease of and human beings. In humans, plague occurs in three forms: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. Bubonic plague is transmitted by the bite of parasitic insects, especially the rat , and causes swollen nodes. In europe, the months between July and October normally raised

10 Awesome Tricks to Become a Super Productive Student

Full of enthusiasm and good intentions but have no idea how to get everything done? Even if you are one of those students who attends every class and spends hours in the library each day, this is all useless if you are unproductive. Productivity is the most important skill youll acquire as a student. Being able to balance your academic, social and personal lives is what will help you perform better both at university and outside of academia. Luckily, there are some tips and tricks to help you stay on track. 1. Set achievable goals Setting goals is a perfect way to motivate yourself. However, make sure to set yourself only realistic and achievable goals. If you settle on too many aims, youll just decide that you wont reach them and stop trying to. Instead, focus on smart, measurable and significant goals. 2. Plan everything Planning everything in advance will make your life less stressful as youll be able to control all tasks and duties. Keep a diary and list all things to be accomplished. As a result, youll never experience the deadline panics and youll always know whats around the corner. 3. Create a better study environment A good study environment will keep you motivated at all times. Therefore, you need to choose a quite and comfortable place to study. Good lighting is important, so either use a desk lamp or pick a naturally bright room. Dont work on your bed – let your sleep place be for sleeping. 4. Limit distractions Make sure to limit all distractions and youll be able to easily focus on your tasks. Consider what may lower your productivity – Facebook, cat videos, phone calls, online shopping, loud music – and do your best to stay away from these things. 5. Take study breaks Schedule breaks in your study plan. The perfect productivity formula is 52 minutes of work and then 17 minutes of relaxation. Here are some great break ideas: have a healthy snack, go outside and get some fresh air, have a short walk. However, avoid watching TV or browsing social media – its not effective for your mind and body. 6. Keep a â€Å"done† list Creating the â€Å"done† lists will help you keep track of what youve accomplished during a day. Every time you achieve something, add it to your list. It will motivate you to work on the new things faster. 7. Wake up early If you want to become a super productive student, you have to get up early. Waking up at the same time each morning is essential for starting your day on the right foot. Form this useful habit and youll have enough time for accomplishing all goals and tasks. 8. Surround yourself with people who inspire you The company you keep is very important for your productivity and motivation. Make sure you are surrounded by people who share your goals, this will keep your standards high. Consider to get a study buddy or join a study group and keep each other on track. 9. Wear headphones This is slightly antisocial, but its something you can do to focus. Wearing headphones shows people that you cannot talk or do something right now. This is perfect for having that â€Å"do not disturb† working time. 10. Sleep and de-stress Being well-rested will help you focus and be more efficient when it comes time to work. Therefore, make sure to get enough sleep and dont forget to find time for fun. Fun is important, not just for your health, but for learning as well.

Bronsted Lowry Theory of Acids and Bases

Bronsted Lowry Theory of Acids and Bases   The Brà ¸nsted-Lowry acid-base theory (or Bronsted Lowry theory) identifies strong and weak acids and bases based on whether the species accepts or donates protons or H. According to the theory, an acid and base react with each other, causing the acid to form its conjugate base and the base to form its conjugate acid by exchanging a proton. The theory was proposed independently by Johannes Nicolaus  Brà ¸nsted  and Thomas Martin Lowry in 1923. In essence, Brà ¸nsted-Lowry acid-base theory is a general form of the Arrhenius theory of acids and bases. According to the Arrhenius theory, an Arrhenius acid is one that can increase the hydrogen ion (H) concentration in aqueous solution, while an Arrhenius base is a species that can increase the hydroxide ion (OH-) concentration in water. The Arrhenius theory is limited because it only identifies acid-base reactions in water. The Bronsted-Lowry theory is a more inclusive definition, capable of describing acid-base behavior under a wider range of conditions. Regardless of the solvent, a Bronsted-Lowry acid-base reaction occurs whenever a proton is transferred from one reactant to the other. Key Takeaways: Brà ¸nsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory According to the Brà ¸nsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a chemical species capable of donating a proton or hydrogen cation.A base, in turn, is able to accept a proton or hydrogen ion in aqueous solution.Johannes Nicolaus  Brà ¸nsted  and Thomas Martin Lowry independently described acids and bases this way in 1923, so the theory usually bears both of their names. Main Points of the Bronsted Lowry Theory A Bronsted-Lowry acid is a chemical species capable of donating a proton or hydrogen cation.A Bronsted-Lowry base is a chemical species capable of accepting a proton. In other words, it is a species that has a lone electron pair available to bond to H.After a Bronsted-Lowry acid donates a proton, it forms its conjugate base. The conjugate acid of a Bronsted-Lowry base forms once it accepts a proton. The conjugate acid-base pair have the same molecular formula as the original acid-base pair, except the acid has one more H compared to the conjugate base.Strong acids and bases are defined as compounds that completely ionize in water or aqueous solution. Weak acids and bases only partially dissociate.According to this theory, water is amphoteric and can act as both a Bronsted-Lowry acid and Bronsted-Lowry base. Example Identifying  Brà ¸nsted-Lowry Acids and Bases Unlike Arrhenius acid and bases, Bronsted-Lowry acids-base pairs can form without a reaction in aqueous solution. For example, ammonia and hydrogen chloride may react to form solid ammonium chloride according to the following reaction: NH3(g) HCl(g) → NH4Cl(s) In this reaction, the Bronsted-Lowry acid is HCl because it donates a hydrogen (proton) to NH3, the Bronsted-Lowry base. Because the reaction does  not occur in water and because neither reactant formed H or OH-, this would not be an acid-base reaction according to the Arrhenius definition. For the reaction between hydrochloric acid and water, its easy to identify the conjugate acid-base pairs: HCl(aq) H2O(l) → H3O Cl-(aq) Hydrochloric acid is the Bronsted-Lowry acid, while water is the Bronsted-Lowry base. The conjugate base for hydrochloric acid is the chloride ion, while the conjugate acid for water is the hydronium ion. Strong and Weak Lowry-Bronsted Acids and Bases When asked to identify whether a chemical reaction involves strong acids or bases or weak ones, it helps to look at the arrow between the reactants and the products. A strong acid or base completely dissociates into its ions, leaving no undissociated ions after the reaction is completed. The arrow typically points from left to right. On the other hand, weak acids and bases dont completely dissociate, so the reaction arrow points both left and right. This indicates a dynamic equilibrium is established in which the weak acid or base and its dissociated form both remain present in the solution. An example if the dissociation of the weak acid acetic acid to form hydronium ions and acetate ions in water: CH3COOH(aq) H2O(l) â‡Å' H3O(aq) CH3COO-(aq) In practice, you might be asked to write a reaction rather than have it given to you. Its a good idea to remember the short list of strong acids and strong bases. Other species capable of proton transfer are weak acids and bases. Some compounds can act as either a weak acid or a weak base, depending on the situation. An example is hydrogen phosphate, HPO42-, which can act as an acid or a base in water. When different reactions are possible, the equilibrium constants and pH are used to determine which way the reaction will proceed.

Major Current International Intrest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Major Current International Intrest - Essay Example The forty years rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had been associated with Islamic socialism that thrived on state sponsored terrorism. While the protests are getting more intense, Colonel Gaddafi has wowed to suppress the political unrest by using violent military crackdown techniques. Libya is 12th largest exporter of oil and supplies around 1.53 million barrels per day (cbcnews, 2011). It has significant gas reserve and is one of the largest exporters of oil and gas to the European nations like France, Germany, Spain, Italy etc. for refineries. The Libyan crisis therefore has adversely impacted the world market. The prices of crude oil have escalated tremendously, touching $108 per barrel (Kollewe, 22 Feb. 2011). The global stocks have taken a severe battering which threatens the still fragile economic recovery across the globe. Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency’s chief economist says that ‘Oil prices are a serious risk for the global economic recovery’ (i bid). Indeed, if the violence continues unabated in Libya, there could be huge ramifications on the global economy. In Libya, most of the foreign refineries have closed down for fear of security. The oil supplies have been curtailed and there is genuine threat to the closure of Suez Canal that is the main route for trade across Europe and America.

Brand Identification Plays In Brand Loyalty and Brand Promotion Essay - 1

Brand Identification Plays In Brand Loyalty and Brand Promotion - Essay Example 3.2 Research Methods This research uses both primary data collection and secondary methods for testing the research hypothesis. The secondary research consists of a literature review that contains a critical analysis of the available literature and research on the customer brand identification, brand loyalty, brand promotion, customer satisfaction and retention. It also covers the theories on these variables and discusses any linkages between them. The primary research is carried out among 159 mobile customers in UK with the help of a questionnaire. The data collected in the city of York. Respondents of questionnaire were selected randomly and the target samples were shoppers from all age ranges from 18 to 66 years or more. Both males and females, who come out of retail settings, were used. The strategy used was to approach every third person coming out of a shops (Tesco, Asda, M&S, any high street shop, etc) to ensure that we get a random representative sample whose mindset is simil ar (shopping). Before giving the questionnaire to the respondents, the researcher explained the research rationale and asked the respondents to complete it based on their favorite mobile brand. Respondents were mainly females (51.6 per cent) in the age group of 18-35 (70.9 per cent). Tables given below give more details about the respondent characteristics: Respondents' Gender Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid Male 77 48.4 48.4 48.4 Female 82 51.6 51.6 100.0 Total 159 100.0 100.0 Respondents' Age Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 18-25 55 34.6 34.8 34.8 26-35 57 35.8 36.1 70.9 36-45 35 22.0 22.2 93.0 46-55 6 3.8 3.8 96.8 56-65 3 1.9 1.9 98.7 66 or more 2 1.3 1.3 100.0 Total 158 99.4 100.0 Missing System 1 .6 Total 159 100.0 3.3 Research Design The research design consist of the sample size, data collection and sampling method, and analysis techniques. In this research we are using 112 items from previous studies to measure the relationsh ip between the customers and their favorite brands, using seven 7-point scale items Scale of Escalas (1996). All questions will have multiple choices (Caproni 2005, p.146).The results of the questionnaires will be used to make conclusions later in this study We used about 25 item scale of potential measures of model constructs from C.B Bhattacharya & Sankar sen study to measure the relationship between company identity and identity attractiveness and also to know the link between identity attractiveness and c-c identity : We used the findings of Ahearne et al (2005), to examine the link between customer – brand identification in first and second section of our survey (general question about customer and favorite brand) and also to describe the level of overlap between the costumer and brand identity. Questionnaire used was of a seven-point format like; strongly disagree, disagree, slightly disagree, neither agree nor disagree, slightly agree, agree and strongly agree. The res earch will also examine if the CBI have an important role towards the brand loyalty and also in the process of brand promotion. 3.4 Ethical considerations This research uses all the ethical

Russian Mafia. Russian organised crime. Is the Russian Mafia is dead Essay

Russian Mafia. Russian organised crime. Is the Russian Mafia is dead or not - Essay Example The Russian Mafia can be linked with the imperial period of Russia, which started in the 1700s. Most of the Russian populations at that time were very poor people. During that time, the criminals who stole from the government resources and shared the profits with the poor were regarded as heroes and were seen as protectors of the community (Gleason, 2009). The term Russia Mafia is a phrase used by most people to refer to a collection of various criminals that are organized and are originate in the previous Soviet Union. Most of these groups share a similar organization structure and goals that identify them as part of the association. They have also been given names like Bratva, Organizatsiya, or the Red Mafia. In the world of today, more than 6,000 different groups that are existing, and more than 200 of these groups are operating globally (Niklaus, 2014). For an organized crime syndicate that is powerful, there was the integration of two USSR characteristic. There was present of a bureaucratic power that was excessive and an illegal market that was present. The bureaucratic excessive power encouraged organized crime by availing an environment for bribery, corruption, extortion and shakedown. According to the Soviet Ministry of Interior All- Union Research Institution in 1991 (Ruth, n.d), bribes were part of the salary of almost half the population of the entire government employees. However, the existence of a market that was illegal was the basis of the presence of the Mafia in the Soviet Union. Most people know that a market that is illegal, like alcohol during the period of prohibition or elicit organized crime of drugs today, yet this connection was distinctive in the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, any business form that was not approved by the government was associated with a market that was illegal. This strengthened the cr iminal growth in the USSR. Also, the government was not able to provide the basic products to the citizens hence making a

Impact Of The Monetary Policies

Impact Of The Monetary Policies Introduction Through a literature review, this chapter aims to explore the impact of the monetary policies and regulations on bank risks and their operations in Zimbabwe. Section 2.1 will give a brief over view of Zimbabwe and Section 2.2 will discuss the Zimbabwean economy. Section 2.3 will outline a background on the rationale of financial regulation through the exploration of the Basle Accord II. In section 2.4, financial regulation in Zimbabwe and its influence to the economy will be examined. An overview of the banking system and the type of risks it is exposed to will be considered in section 2.5. Section 2.6 will explore the Zimbabwean banking system and its major challenges also linking these to the country„Â ¢s financial regulation. In section 2.7 the author discusses Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) which is an integrated and holistic risk management framework that organisations are encouraged to use as a change management strategy for managing risks. Section 2.8 will finally sum marise this chapter. Overview of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. It lies between the Zambezi River which in the north and the Limpopo River in the south. Its neighbouring countries are Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. Zimbabwes capital city, Harare, is located in the northeast part of the country (Coltart 2008). Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain in 1980 after a long armed struggle led by the leading party, Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front known as ZANU-PF, (Makumbe, 2002). It has a population of 13,349,00 people with a gross domestic product that is estimated to have fallen by about 14% in 2008 due to economic disruptions caused by hyperinflation and the further deterioration in the business climate (World Bank 2008). The economy of Zimbabwe Chitiga (2004) contends that agriculture plays a central role in the economic performance of Zimbabwe. The agricultural sector is important to the economy for several reasons (Christiansen 1993).In the 1980s, it was the major employer, employing a total of over 70% of the country„Â ¢s population. The sector continues to be a major employer to this day. In Zimbabwe, droughts continue to be a major problem and raises concern about food security (Chitiga 2004). However despite the ever changing weather patterns affecting the agriculture sector in Zimbabwe, Coltart (2004) notes that agriculture the mainstay of the economy was all but destroyed by the politically expedient and violent land reform program initiated by the ZANU PF government in 2000. Collapse of Zimbabwean economy Coorey et al( 2007) argues that, while the initial output collapse is widely attributed to the chaotic seizure of commercial farms in Zimbabwe which is the backbone of the economy, other factors have also contributed in recent years to the county„Â ¢s collapse which include; 1) high and accelerating inflation of 230 000 000% in 2008, 2) price distortions due to extensive controls and regulation, particularly relating to the exchange rate which is fixed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) at a highly overvalued rate, 3) the collapse of investor confidence due to unpredictable policies and lack of respect for property rights, particularly in agriculture and mining and 4) minimal external financing because of poor relations with creditors and donors and deteriorating economic and social conditions. (Munoz 2006, Dore et al 2008, Hanke 2008) argue that the RBZ„Â ¢s polices such as printing of money, quasi-fiscal activities by the RBZ, have specifically caused the economic instability in Zimbabwe. The consensus amongst these authors is that the country„Â ¢s government policies alongside with the central bank have played a major role in causing hyperinflation which rose to 230 000 000% in 2008. Coltart (2004) highlights that the government is chiefly responsible for an economic meltdown. Muponda (2008) notes that Zimbabwe„Â ¢s inflation was driven higher by the central banks lack of independence from the government. Therefore the banks policies have been primarily dictated by the government. The RBZ has been forced to be financier of first choice and literally print money to fund its the quasi fiscal activities.. The challenges faced by Zimbabwe have been contributed by various factors including, the land reform programme in 2000 (Coorey et al 2007), political unrest in the country which has isolated the country from the global community through sanctions and withdrawal of investments and international business community. Research by Cukierman (2001) and the IMF (1996) suggest that countries accorded greater autonomy to their central banks also experienced lower average inflation whilst those economies where there is no central bank independence have higher inflation rates. The influence of the government on the RBZ has resulted in the bank implementing unorthodox monetary practices such as printing of money which has fuelled hyperinflation. Hanke (2008) refers to hyperinflation as the hallmark of Zimbabwe„Â ¢s economic collapse. The state of the Zimbabwean economy has undergone, major changes with major economic and political reforms implemented by government officials to restore the economic soundness of the country in the year 2009. There is the use of multi currencies in the country as the economy was officially dollarized by the central bank in February 2009 resulting in the removal of the local currency (RBZ 2009). Since the adoption of multiple currencies, deposits into the banking system have grown to US$705.7 million by 3 June 2000 (Government of Zimbabwe 2009). Already, the economy is on a recovery path as reflected by macro-economic stability, inflation reduction, enhanced capacity utilisation, resulting in improved supply of goods and services as well as overall growing business confidence (Biti 2009). Financial Regulation Effective regulation is of fundamental importance for the economic performance of any sector in the economy to address market failure (Jalilian et al 2003). The mishaps and failure of large corporate institutions in the financial sector have caught the attention of regulators, who have taken a more stringent regulatory approach in the financial sector. In recent years, a number of financial crises have brought about a large number of bank failures (Casu et al 2006), such as Barings Bank in 1995 and Northern Rock in 2007. Likewise the banking crises in the early 1980s and early 1990s have shown that banks experience problems which create a potential threat to depositors, investors and the safety of the industry with unpleasant consequences for the economy as a whole (Caprio and Klingebiel 2003). Financial regulation focuses on the factors that are essential to the stability and well being of the financial sector (Stewart 2001). The susceptibility of banks to contagion creates systemic risk which is the risk that disturbances in a financial institution or market will spread across the financial system (Heffernan 2005). It is the role of the central bank to implement measures to shield the country„Â ¢s economy from being affected by the results of the crises. Stiglitz (2000) contends that the aim of regulators is to minimise the possibility of a breakdown in the financial sector and prevent any adverse effects on the long term growth rate in the economy. In some instances government have had to rescue banks to avoid the crises from spreading to other banks and affecting depositors as well.. Restrictions on bank activities, risk adjusted minimum capital requirement, direct intervention of managers decisions are three basic devices that can be applied by regulators to control bank risks (Fenandez and Gonzalez 2005). Minimum capital requirements Various authors (Besanko and Kanatas 1996, Calem and Rob 1999) however argue that regulations such as minimum capital requirements are likely to increase the risk taking behaviour of banks. According to Kendall (1992) higher capital requirements may cause riskier bank behaviour at some point in time, although it does not necessarily imply a trend towards a riskier banking system. Beatty and Gron (2001) indicate that capital regulatory variables have significant effects for low-capital banks but not necessarily for other banks. Studies by Barth et al. (2004) also indicate that while more stringent capital requirements are associated with fewer non performing loans, capital stringency is not robustly linked with banking crises or bank development or efficiency when controlling for other supervisory and regulatory policies. Bank Regulations Bank authorities regularly attempt to promote bank soundness by imposing restrictions on banks activities (Constantin et al, 2006). In their research, Constantin et al (2006) found that restricting bank activities is negatively associated with bank development and stability. Barth et al. (2001) found that greater regulatory restrictions on bank activities are associated with higher probability of suffering a major banking crisis, and lower banking sector efficiency. Lascelles (2005) adds that a survey conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers found that excessive regulation was seen as the greatest risk facing the financial sector. However in contrast to this, Fernandez and Gonzalez (2005) indicate that stricter restrictions on bank activities are effective at reducing banking risk. It would appear overall that restrictions on banking activities forms as a basis of ensuring that banks do not divert from their core business and conduct sound banking practices. Basle Accord It is because of problems such as the financial crises that the Basle Accord II emphasises on the supervisory role of the regulator. In June 1999, the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision made its long anticipated announcement to introduce a new capital accord to introduce a new capital adequacy framework to replace the 1988 Accord (Ong 2005). This framework was then finalised in June 2004. Cai and Wheale (2007) note that this framework is designed to improve risk management by using models based on past performance to help set the amount of capital banks are required to hold by regulators with the purpose of improving the efficiency of the global allocation of capital. Efforts were made to initiate the new Accord as the first accord of 1988 was highly criticised for its shortcomings. risk. The new accord seeks to overcome the problems of the 1988 framework focusing on three pillars (Basel Committee 2005). Pillar 1 sets out the minimum regulatory capital requirement that is the amount of capital banks must hold against risks. This is intended to cover market risk, credit risk and operational risk. Pillar 2 defines the process for supervisory review of an institutions risk management framework and, ultimately, its capital adequacy. This pillar points out responsibilities for the board and senior management, emphasising on internal control corporate governance practices established by regulatory bodies in various countries worldwide. Sironi and Zazzara (2003) argue that this pillar gives regulators the right to inspect and supervise the activities of banks to ensure that they are adhering to the requirements of the framework Pillar 3 focuses on market discipline. In order to improve the transparency of banks to counterparties and investors, banks will be required to disclose detailed information on their risk profile and capital adequacy (Gordy and Howells 2006). The benefits of the Basle II are noted in the three pillars, as there will be enhanced disclosure, transparency and this will improve on banks risk management processes. Cai and Wheale (2005), site that banks will need to collect and disclose new information and face the implications of increased transparency. Cai and Wheale (2005) add that more information will help enable banks to improve overall risk management which in turn is expected to prompt improvements in corporate governance, transparency and the value of disclosure. Ong (2005), supports this and says that Basle II is very important and it is about improving risk management within the financial industry by providing the correct incentives for better corporate governance and fostering greater transparency. The Basle accord on the other hand is criticised for some of its shortfalls. For example the fact that the costs of Basle II are significantly high in terms of implementation and continuing basis in the long run (Gordon 2004). Banks lose their flexibility, innovation and development are interrupted. Due to the fact that limited resources are available, many risk managers will spend a long period of time on interpreting regulations, implementing the solutions and then justifying the output to supervisors (Smith and Walter 2003). Hence little time will be available for innovation and development. The compliance with laws and regulations is not able to help banks avoiding all risks. Zimbabwean Financial Regulation The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is responsible for the formulation; implementation and monitoring of the monetary policy directed at ensuring low and stable inflation levels (Reserve Bank Act). The RBZ does not, however have the operational independence in carrying out this responsibility, as it is required by statute to consult the Ministry of Finance (Dore 2008). This has resulted in the RBZ operating from the executive arm of the government instead of adhering to a binding legal mandate (World Bank 2007). Bade and Parkin (1982) note that political independence is defined essentially as the ability of the central bank to select its policy objectives without the influence from the government. A central bank is said to be independent of its monetary policy if it is not influenced by political cycles or by the preferences of politicians (Eljffinger and de Haan 1996). The RBZ„Â ¢s policies have been influenced by Zimbabwean political authorities therefore the bank has been lacking central bank independence. Another core function of the RBZ is to maintain stable banking system through its supervision and lender of last resort functions. Post 2003 monetary polices and regulation The turning point in Zimbabwean financial services sector was marked by the appointment of the new central bank governor in 2003. During this period the governor issued a monetary policy and financial regulations which sought to minimise non-core banking activities practiced by banking institutions (Dore 2008). The other objectives were to instil market discipline and improve corporate governance and risk management systems. As a result of the RBZ„Â ¢s severe supervisory efforts, various banking institutions experienced liquidity and solvency challenges. Consequently, nine financial institutions were placed under curatorship whilst 3 were liquidated. Banks currently face risk management challenges, economic and political uncertainties and new regulatory requirements emanating from the RBZ regulations and unstable political environment (Muponda 2008). The RBZ governor, notes in the 2009 monetary policy (Government of Zimbabwe 2009) that prior to 2003, an adverse macroeconomic environment, weak supervisory approaches, and regulatory forbearance gave rise to a number of fundamental flaws in the operations of banks. These included; 1) a shift from core banking business to speculative transactions, 2) abuse of bank holding company structures to evade regulation, 3) poor corporate governance, risk management practices and insider dealing, 4) rapid local and regional expansion with no proper internal controls, and adequate capacity and 5) disregard of prudential laws and regulations. Smith and Walter (2003) suggest that the fundamental objective of regulators is to develop frameworks and guidelines that will further strengthen the stability of banking system. This objective is achieved in promoting the adoption of these frameworks in banks. To enhance the supervisory process, the RBZ has developed and issued guidelines for the banking s ector in order to address operational and structural deficiencies prevailing in the financial sector, (Government of Zimbabwe 2009). These guidelines are shown below in table 1. Basel II implementation The Basel II implementation in Zimbabwean banking industry is still in its preliminary stages. A survey by Ernest and Young in 2005 (Lescellos 2005) shows that many banks in developed countries have come up with implementation programmes of Basle II whilst in developing countries implementation is still at the initial stages. This survey is confirmed by evidence of the current implementation status in Zimbabwe. The current guidelines setup by regulators in Zimbabwe is that all banking institutions must fully adopt standardised approaches for allocation of capital for risk (credit, market and operational). However a technical guidance on Basle II implementation in Zimbabwe will be issued in due course to provide a road map and expert guidance on full Basle II implementation in the country, (Monetary Policy 2009).This shows how slow the progress has been in the full implementation of the framework in Zimbabwe, and could be the cause of the major problems faced by country„Â ¢s th e banking industry. Cai and Wheale (2005) however report that awareness and preparation for Basel II in the emerging markets and developing countries has increased significantly over the past two years. Banking Sector It is widely accepted that the banking system has a unique position in the national economy (Heffernan 2005). A banking system that is able to operate efficiently is of crucial importance to any economy (Quagliariello 2002). The banking system must not only be efficient in carrying its role as an intermediary in the financial market but it must also be economically robust to withstand adverse shocks such as a major policy change to economic downturn. Traditional functions of banks include lending money to borrowers and taking deposits. They play a financial intermediary role of providing loans to borrowers and collecting deposits from savers (Casu et al, 2006). Poorly operating banking systems can impede economic growth, intensify poverty and destabilise the economy. These poor operations can be due to banks with inadequate risk management processes (Stiglitz 2000). Banking Risks The nature of banking activities eposes banks to the following risks Due to the nature of banking activities, they are exposed to various risks. These credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational and foreign exchange risk. Credit risk The Basle Committee on Banking Supervision (2000) define credit risk as the potential that a borrower or counterparty will fail to meet its obligations in accordance with greater terms. Credit risk is associated with the traditional lending activity of banks and it is simply described as the risk of a loan being repaid in part or full (Casu et al, 2006). Liquidity risk This is the possibility that a bank will be unable to meet its liquid liabilities because of unexpected withdrawals of deposits. An unexpected liquidity shortage means that the bank is not only unable to meet its liability obligations but also unable to fund its illiquid asset (Matthews and Thompson 2008) Interest rate risk Financial intermediaries are potentially exposed to interest rate risk because of the mismatch between the maturity, or time to repricing of their assets and liabilities (Faff and Howard, 1999). The interest rate sensitivity exhibited by a financial institution will depend, in part, on the approach which its management adopts to controlling risk. Operational risk The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in 2003, recommended the correct determination of the risks to which a banking organization is subject. This concerns, in particular, operational risks, which are all those management events that may determine unexpected losses (Cornalba and Guidici 2005). The New Basle Accord (2000) defines operational risks as the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events (such as political and economic factors), including legal risk but not strategic and reputation risk. Market risk According to Matthews and Thompson (2008), market risk is the possibility of loss over a given period of time related to uncertain movement in market risk factors such as interest rates, currencies equities and commodities. Foreign exchange risk Exchange rates may change rapidly which exposes firms to foreign exchange rate risk, which is the risk that losses may arise from rises or falls in the value of a currency in terms of the domestic currency. Eichenbam and Evans (1995) suggest that there is a link between monetary policies and foreign exchange rates. Contractionary shocks to monetary policies are followed by sharp persistent increases in exchange rates, which ultimately results in foreign exchange rate risk. Other risks that affect banks include strategic, regulatory and legal and compliance risk There is a clear sense that risk exposure of the financial system has increased by changes that have taken place (Hellwig 1995). Casu et al (2006) notes that changes such as deregulation, conglomeration, and globalisation have posed serious risk challenges. Calomiris and Maso (2003) emphasise that the risk taking behaviour of banks affects financial and economic fragility. In turn regulators have undertaken greater efforts of regulation to impose new risk management standards to shape bank risk (Elsinger et al 2002). In compliance to this banks have improved their risk management systems. Examples of other regulatory reforms advocating for risk management frameworks are the Sarbanes Oxely Act of 2002, the Basle Accord II and the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commissions (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management of 2004. Zimbabwe banking sector The Zimbabwe financial sector consists of the Reserve bank, discount houses, commercial banks, merchant banks, finance houses, building societies, a development bank and the Post office savings bank, insurance companies, pension funds and a stock exchange, (Dore 2008). There are currently twenty-eight banking institutions in Zimbabwe,fifteen commercial banks, six merchant banks, three discount houses,4 discount houses and one development bank. All banks are licensed by the RBZ and regulated under the Zimbabwe Banking Act of 1999. Zimbabwe„Â ¢s financial services sector has witnessed phenomenal growth since economic deregulation in 1991 (Muranda 2006). During the period of 1991 to 2003 new domestic banks entered, financial sector. New Innovations and development have been witnessed with the introduction of new products and services within the sector. Table 1.2 below shows the banking sectors growth trend from 19992 to 2004 of financial. However the banking sector has been gripped with many challenges, which began to surface during the period of the land seizures in 2000. These policies created extremely difficult economic and political challenges for the banking industry. The IMF (2006) argues that events in the banking sector have been concurrently influenced by political factors.. The situation was heightened in 2003 by the new regulations set by the appointed RBZ governor. It was reported by Voice of America (2004) that at least six of Zimbabwe„Â ¢s new commercial banks are were in trouble. It linked this distress to the governments new monetary policy announced in December 2003, in which the central bank vowed to stop speculation in the Zimbabwe dollar and related instruments. Biti (2009) in the Zimbabwean fiscal policy points out that between 2000 and 2008, the financial sector has severely been undermined by inconsistent macro-economic policies, negative real interest rates, massive capital flight and erosion of deposits. Overall, the financial sectors balance sheets were reduced to less than 25% of their 2004 value, reflecting an erosion of the real value of financial assets and liabilities in Zimbabwe dollars (World Bank 2005). In order to remain afloat, most banks have had to downsize their operations by closing some branches, especially those in the outlying service centres, leaving about 65% of the population without access to banking services. The rural areas were particularly affected by this. Factors that have influenced liquidity risks include frequent ad hoc changes in interest rates by the RBZ, lengthening of maturity of treasury bills at highly negative interest rates (IMF 2008). Foreign exchange risk in the banking sector has increased becau se of the dominance of foreign currency transactions (Hanke 2008). Dhiwayo (2004) reports that, prior to the introduction of the new monetary policy in December 2003, the Zimbabwean banking sector was characterised by poor corporate governance and risk management systems, high levels of insider abuse through assessed loans to related parties (often relatives and friends), overindulgence in speculative non-core banking activities, inadequate capitalisation, lax prudential supervision and regulatory forbearance. This report highlights that three financial institutions were placed under liquidation whilst nine were placed under the administration of a curator. In light of this the central bank adopted a framework known as the Troubled Bank Resolution Framework (RBZ 2004) to effectively deal with banks experiencing problems. They key objectives of this framework were to: 1) restore stability of the financial sector, 2) strengthen the banking system and promote sound banking practices, 3) develop permanent solutions for troubled banking institutions and 4) promote economic development and growth.The Zimbabwe Allied Banking group was formed in 2005 which was amalgamation of the some of the troubled banks. Dollarisation of the economy Over the years the financial sector has been experiencing various challenges such as, cash shortage, foreign currency black markets, abolition of notes and coins and the use of bearer cheques, loss of confidence in the banking system by depositors and the most influential factor which is inflation. Many depositors have lost their savings. Prior to 2009, the Zimbabwean economy had been unofficially dollarised. Unofficial dollarisation occurs when people hold much of their financial wealth in foreign assets even though foreign currency is not a legal tender. It can include the holding of foreign bonds and other non-monetary assets, foreign-currency deposits (either abroad or domestically), and foreign notes (paper money) in wallets, under mattresses, and in safe-deposit boxes, (Hanke, 2008). However in the January 2009 monetary policy, the RBZ governor approved that all sectors in the economy can operate in foreign currency and that lending will be two tier, that is in local currency and foreign currency. Dollarisation has the effect of moderating the adverse effects of inflation on financial intermediaries„Â ¢ balance sheets (Ize et al 2004). This It could be argued that this two tier market system exposes banks to credit risk (in the form of settlement risk and default risk). Minimum capital requirements A capital verification exercise conducted by the Reserve Bank in January 2009 indicated that of the twenty eight (28) banking institutions operating in the country, fifteen were found to be in compliance with the minimum capital requirements whilst three are marginally below, with the remaining ten being undercapitalised. Capital regulation is motivated principally by the concerns that a bank may hold less capital than is socially optimal to its riskiness and negative externalties (Rime 2001). Chiuri et al (2002) considers that the enforcement of capital requirements has had a negative effect on the supply of bank loan over a period of time and the effect tends to be stronger for initially less capitalised banks. The adverse impact of more stringent minimum capital requirements has been somewhat smaller on foreign owned banks than it has on domestic banks (Clarke et al 1999). Enterprise Risk Management A recent trend in risk management has been the development of an integrated, enterprise wide approach to assessing the business risks that can impact an organisation to achieve its objectives and to develop programmes for managing those risks (Miccolis et al 2001). In contrast to the traditional silo approach to managing risk, the ERM approach requires that a company-wide approach be taken in identifying, assessing, and managing risk, (Liebenberg and Hoyt, 2003). ERM enables firms to benefit from an integrated approach to managing risk that shifts the focus of the risk management function from primarily defensive to increasingly offensive and strategic (Bies 2004). Various risk management bodies have been influenced by the proposals of ERM.COSO (2004), defines ERM as: A process, effected by an entitys board of directors, management and other personnel, applied in strategy setting and across the enterprise, designed to identify potential events that may affect the entity, and manage risk to be within its risk appetite, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of entity objectives. The common method of risk management has been known to treat risks separately. Under this approach according to Lam (1997), Cumming and Hirtle (2001), various categories of risk are managed separately in individual risk silos. Liebenberg and Hoyt, (2003) also criticise the traditional risk management approach as a highly disaggregated method of managing firm risks. An enterprise-wide approach to risk management treats each of these risk classes as part of the firms overall risk portfolio that is managed holistically. Kleffner et al (2003) observes that financial institutions often manage risks in individual risk silos. To manage risk on an enterprise wide basis, banks must expand their focus beyond traditional concepts to include economic and political factors along with risks related to reputation, ethics and data integrity (Pricewaterhouse Coopers 2002). It is therefore important in this research to examine how banks have adopted their risk management framework having considered political and economic factors affecting Zimbabwean bank s. Although ERM is increasing, not as many institutions have implemented it (Walker et al 2002). This may be due to lack of knowledge on its benefits, lack of commitment from board of directors, lack of experienced and qualified risk personnel , a corporate culture that discourages ERM and inadequate systems and technology (COSO 2004). Lam (2007) encourages banks to adopt an ERM programme regardless of their level of sophistication in risk management. He identifies three reasons why banks should adopt ERM: 1.) banks face complex risks that are highly interdependent, and an ERM framework enables a bank to manage all major risks and their interdependencies, 2) an ERM framework provides the overall architecture for a banks risk management programme and 3) empirical research and industry surveys have indicated that there are clear business benefits for adopting an ERM programme. Liebenberg and Hoyt, (2003) observe that ERM benefits firms by decreasing earnings and stock-price volatility, reducing external capital costs, increasing capital efficiency, and creating synergies between different risk management activities. It would appear that ERM helps an organisation to function as a whole or one system as various units dependant on each other. This enables risk management to be implemented fully as risks are consolidated and not treated separately. Influencers of ERM The trend toward the adoption of ERM programs is usually attributed to a combination of external and internal factors. The major exter

Health & Hygiene Essay

Contents 1 Introduction 2.1 Food safety and hazards 2.2 Food contamination and its impact to human body 2.3 Foodborn illness and prevention measures 2.4 Employees responsibilities in food service and potential guidelines 3 Conclusion 4 References 5 Appendices 5.1 HACCP Principles 5.2 Gilling-Taylor model of HCCP barriers 5.3 The measurement model 1 Introduction As written in(Sprenger, 2009, p7) Hygiene is the science of preserving health. Food hygiene involves more than keeping it clean, it contains all the essential procedures to guarantee safety and freshness of food throughout preparation, processing, manufacturing, packaging, storage, distribution, handling and offering for sale or supply to the consumer. 2.1 Food safety and hazards Food establishments are supposed to structure a food safety management system, this could be because of either internal or external aims. Nowadays, the food business is also liable for presenting in a clear way exactly how the food safety has been planned and secured. This has been accomplished through the progress of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan as part of the food establishments’ safety assurance systems. HACCP is a controlled and organized method for convincing food safety. According to(Fotopoulos, Kafetzopoulos and Psomas, 2009, p.895) The main aim of the HACCP system are the identification, assessment and the control of food-borne safety hazards. To close it, HACCP is an instrument for the increased improvement, with a purpose to make a safety promise and a well thought-out manner for food safety. 2.2 Food contamination and its impact to human body Food contamination is involved with the issue and area; food poisoning. According to(Sprenger, 2009, p.87) Management must ensure that there is appropriate supervision to prevent contamination of food. There are four kinds of contamination/hazards: The first one is â€Å"microbiological hazards† that is caused by for example bacteria or parasites. This type of contamination is classified as the most serious and is able to impact the body with food poisoning or even death. The second one is â€Å"physical hazards†. This is a contamination that is generally spiteful and painful and can contain parts of paper, metal or plastic. The third contamination is â€Å"chemical hazards† which usually consist of mercury in fish or condenses from cleaning substances. The fourth is â€Å"allergenic hazards† and it impacts the body with items such as milk, cereals, peanuts and eggs. As written in(Sprenger, 2009, p64) the Food Service Sanitation Manual of the Food and Drug Administration states that: â€Å"At all times, including storage, preparation, display, service and distribution, food shall be protected from potential contamination, including dust, insects, rodents, dirty equipment, unnecessary handling, coughs and sneezes, flooding, drainage and overhead leakage or condensation†. 2.3 Foodborn illness and prevention measures Written by(Eunice Taylor, 2008, p480) â€Å"Despite great advances in modern technology, producing safe food and keeping it safe remains a worldwide public health problem with illness caused by the consumption of contaminated food described as the most widespread health problem in the contemporary world (BenEmbarek, 2002)†. The classification of foodborn illness is every infections caused by the consuming of the food contamination, viruses and pathogenic bacteria. Reasons for foodborn illness are time temperature mishandling, low personal hygiene and contamination. All the just mentioned reasons can be extremely hazardous so it ´s crucial for all operations to prevent it and as mentioned in(Sprenger, 2009, p52) prevention is done through methods such as: – Ensuring the safety of all water supplies, it ´s crucial to chlorinate water that is used for preparation or drinking. – Ensuring a satisfactory disposal of sewage. – Ensuring the heat treatment of milk and milk products. – Double-wash ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables. 2.4 Employees responsibilities in food service and potential guidelines To achieve the key elements in executing the HACCP system successfully and ensuring a safe working environment in terms of hygiene, the operation needs a structured and required program that employees has to follow. As written by(Fotopoulos, Kafetzopoulos and Psomas, 2009, p.897) For all types of food businesses, management awareness and commitment is necessary for the implementation of an effective HACCP system. The method will also depend on the management and employees possessing the proper skills and knowledge. Further written by(Fotopoulos, Kafetzopoulos and Psomas, 2009, p.897) A weak analysis of the potential hazards because of inadequate skills and knowledge leads to ineffective food safety management. This is why training is deliberated as an important and necessary element of the effective food safety management. So to give examples of potential guidelines, the employee should be properly updated and informed of how the whole operation works, such as out-of-date food, spillage, refrigerator controlling, monitoring temperatures, storage of food etc. 3 Conclusion To summarize the above mentioned facts, we can state that hygiene is a crucial regulation that we have to follow in order to operate the company successfully, based on the facts that it is an effective method to avoid the different forms of hazards that appears in the food industry. 4 References Fotopoulos, C.V. Kafetzopoulos, D.P. and Psomas, E.L. (2009) â€Å"Assessing the critical factors and their impact on the effective implementation of a food safety management system†, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 26 No. 9, pp.894 – 910. Poulston, J. (2008) â€Å"Hospitality workplace problems and poor training: a close relationship†, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp.412 – 427. Sprenger, R.A. (2009) Hygiene for Management, 15th ed. Doncaster: Highfield Taylor, E. (2008) â€Å"HACCP for the hospitality industry: History in the making†, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 480 – 493. 5 Appendices 5.1 HACCP Principles Source; Taylor, E. â€Å"HACCP for the hospitality industry: History in the making† (2008, p. 481) 5.2 Gilling-Taylor model of HCCP barriers Source: Taylor, E â€Å"HACCP for the hospitality industry: history in the making† (2008, p. 486) 5.3 The measurement model Source: Fotopoulos, Kafetzopoulos and Psomas â€Å"Assessing food safety† (2009, p. 902)

Ella Enchanted Gender Movie Review

Ella Enchanted is a 2004 British-American film based on Gail Carson Levine's 1997  novel Ella Enchanted. The book itself is based upon Cinderella but now with the addition of mythical creatures like ogres, elves, and fairies. It has been said by critics that Ella Enchanted, the movie, varies so much from the book that people should be â€Å"regarding the movie as a separate creative act. † The movie follows Ella who was given â€Å"the gift of obedience† by her fairy god mother as a child.She spends most of the movie being controlled by various characters, from her step-sisters to the king of the kingdom. The main plot point of the novel is her journey to get the spell reversed which in the end she releases herself from the spell and then helps the prince. Anne Hathaway plays Ella and Hugh Dancy plays Prince Charmont, who end up getting married. For how terrible this movie was, they did well with what they had to work with.This movie aims for  Princess Bride  self -awareness and the kind of anachronistic comedy lately popularized by the  Shrek  movies  but rooted in the British stage â€Å"panto† tradition. There were cheesy dance numbers and a couple oddly placed outbursts of song, despite the fact that this isn’t a musical. Or at least it wasn’t for most of the production. Anne and Hugh had great chemistry, which was essential because they end up getting married in the end after they fall in love after a disgustingly short amount of time. Both had what their specific role called for and a good comedic timing.Anne has the child-like purity but also the confidence and smarts of a mature young woman that was needed to play a 19-year old where Hugh had the charisma, looks and intelligence to be the believable heir to a kingdom. The actual film itself was horrendous. The use of green screens and special effects to create the setting and the creatures like giants and ogres were trivial and very primary. Elves are just J ewish guys in green tights. Giants are normal people (some of them in mini-skirts) projected up on a green screen behind the primary actors.Ogres are fat guys with blue spray paint on their heads. They tried to make this fairy tale more relatable to modern times by changing the wardrobe from actual medieval wear to tacky 70s rip offs for the ladies and cartoon-ish attire for the men. Incorporating modern technology into this movie didn’t help it any either. With a crank-powered wooden escalator to an emergency button that dropped ninjas from the roof (that resembles the likes of a fire alarm), it was tacky and confusing. Though,  Ella Enchanted  avoids a misstep common mong girl-empowerment flicks, which often feel compelled to emasculate the male lead in order to make the heroine truly heroic. This approach backfires, of course, since it’s unsatisfying for the heroine to wind up with a wimp who doesn’t deserve her; she needs a  worthy  suitor. The film satirizes the teen-idol-worship culture of its own target audience with scenes of screaming maidens swooning over dashing Prince Char, while the more sensible Ella protests injustices committed by Char’s nefarious uncle.Of course Char is intrigued by Ella’s lack of interest in him, and she in turn begins to respond to his attentions. Ella is meant to be seen as a feminist-like character that cares about equal rights and disinterested in appealing to the prince with her appearance or actions, which is pretty cool to see in a children’s film. Seeing how the book is based on Cinderella, I think it’s quite an improvement in role models. Cinderella was just obedient and cried a lot but Ella works to fix her issues determinedly.

The Egyptian Economy

The Egyptian Economy Economic history of Egypt This essay seek to look at the history of economic thought in Egypt. It seeks to answer the following questions, the economic history of Egypt, the economic philosophies followed by Egyptian majority, and the major economists who have influenced economic philosophies in Egypt. There is also the major economic events that took place in the history of Egypt, economic policy of Egypt as well as the changes that can be implemented, and finally, how history has shaped the economy of Egypt.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Egyptian Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Egypt is a well-placed nation connecting Africa with the Middle East. Its economy has stagnated for years due to lack of arable land as well as the skyrocketing growth in population. As such, the economy of Egypt is greatly hinged to its historic philosophies and policies. The economy of Egypt was highly centralized under the reign of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. A number of factors that resulted in 1990s such as IMF arrangements as well as external debt relief due to its participation in Gulf war helped the country to boost its macroeconomic performance. In addition, from the year 2000, the country has put in place structural reforms such as monetary, fiscal policies, new business legislations, and privatizations, which have seen the economy shift to a market-oriented economy, coupled with increased foreign direct investment. The policies and reforms have strengthened the annual economic growth rate to an average of 5% per year, though the gain from economic growth has failed to trickle down. As such, the population is faced with high rates of underemployment and unemployment. As a result, early this year youths went to the streets protesting for political freedoms, a zero-tolerance to corruption, and improved standards of living. This forced President Husni Mubarak to forego the presidencyi. The ancie nt economy of Egypt was termed as a command economy; however such a definition worked less as expected. The economy experienced a hallmark of bureaucracy that resulted in a certain class controlling or monitoring a considerable amount of activity. State officials performed tasks such as reassigning and redistribution of land, assessment of expected crops, collection of taxes, as well as storage and redistribution of the produce. The redistribution and storage were done locally, and during periods of shortfall, regional facilities supplied produce. The Egyptian economy has been stable averaging between 4-5% annually. The continuous growth is attributed to certain developments that the economy embarked on, allowing the private and public sector participation. In the period, 1952- 1966, the major development was import substitution and nationalization.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Le arn More During this period, there was the establishment of an industrialization program, and it resulted in the creation of heavy public industries such as steel, chemical, and iron industries. However, the presence of nationalization erodes the importance of private sector. Additionally, the presence of inter-war, during 1967- 1973 affected the economic performance adversely, thus limiting the public sector import substitution role. During the openness Euphoria period of 1974 to 1982, the economy introduced policies that encourage Arab together with foreign investment through liberalization of trade as well as payment coupled with a number of incentives. As such, the economy recorded good performance, but it proved unsustainable and the growth accordingly scaled back. The economy faced an external debt crisis during the period, 1982- 1990, which affected economic performance adversely. Furthermore, the period, 1991 – 2007, is regarded as reform era, and the economy was forced to introduce reform policies to meet lenders and donors as well as international institutions terms. The reforms also focused on improvement of the private sector role on all economic sectors. Under the comprehensive reform era initiated in 1991, the economy of Egypt has reduced subsidies, cut taxes, reduced inflation, and relaxed a number of price controls, as well as liberating trade and investment partially. The public sector has limited dominance over heavy manufacturing industries; this has enhanced private sector opportunities. The private sector dominates agriculture, non-financial services, retail trades, domestic wholesale and construction. As such, the economy has recorded a steady growth in GDP, as well as the growth rate. In addition, the economy has managed to tame inflation from a double digit figure to a single digit figure. Economic philosophies in Egypt Most Egyptians embrace an economic system that ensures fair distribution of resources, free from corrup tion as well as encourage participation of the private and public enterprises. Major economists in Egypt The major economists that have influenced the economic philosophies in Egypt include Professor Galal Amin, Samir Amin, Dr. Ahmed Elhaggar, and Omar Samra.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Egyptian Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Important economic event The major economic event in the Egyptian history is economic liberalization reforms. Since the occurrence of this event, has seen an improvement in economic performance for the country. As such, the economy shifted its concentration from import substitution policies to export oriented policies, this yield an economy that is the private sector reliant. Additionally, the rooted transformation has resulting to a modern economy that is well-known as the fastest growing among the emerging markets. As such, there has been growth in all sectors of the economy coupled with large inflows of Foreign Direct Investment. The reforms have had a positive effect on the economic performance of the economy, with a proved sustain growth in the futureii. Economic policy in Egypt An economic system that serves the interest of all the interest groups is applauded. In this case, a hybrid system will serve this purpose best. The components of such a system are that it provides the private sector and public (government) with the opportunity to equally control part of the natural resources. These will ensure that the different opinions in the society are well balanced. In addition, the system should be one, which the government plays an important role in providing the necessary solutions and strategies of solving the problems facing the society. The system, as well, will ensure an integration of both the private sector and government units in the production of various goods and services to amicably solve the issues prevailing in a society. The government cannot solely provide quality and affordable goods and services that are equitably distributed among the members of the society. For instance, the government cannot provide quality health and education facilities to all members of the societyiii. When the resources and production is shared between the government and the private sector, the government will have surplus resources that can be used in providing services such as health, education, infrastructure, legal, and military defense to the society. The system should also have components such as, the government ability to take precedence in any decisions that move around quantity of goods to be produced. The government is responsible in making final decisions whenever there is an issue that brings contention, and the two parties are not in a position to strike a balance. The private sector contribution in the economy should be geared towards the achievement of objectives that adds to equitable and fair distribution of available re sources. The resources should be utilized in a manner that will consider those of future generation. The utilization of the resources should be socially oriented.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reason for the economic policy The overall pattern of economic system has changed due to a change in some trends in the economy. Some of these trends include; democratization, significant shift to market economies as well as the revival of cultural and ethnic politics. Democracy is taking the center stage in political arena of the Egyptian economy, with economies engaging in free, regular and fair elections. Democracy has nurtured civil liberties like freedom of speech, assembly and belief, neutrality in legal aspects, civilian control of the military, presence of civil societies that provides individuals with opportunities to own and operate their property as well as a rule of law that ensure equal opportunities for all the citizens in an economy. The resulting competition that arise when an economy facilitates the commitment of the private and public sectors of the economy has influenced the shift by the Egyptian economy to a market system. The economy of Egypt has moved to system s that foster success and recently a term known as marketization has been adopted by the current economy. Marketization describes a re-creation in the economy where labour, goods, services and property are all allowed to function in a market that is competitive environment to determine their price. The move has seen privatization of state owned property, where the government decides to sell some property they own to private individualsiv. Fragmentations that exist among the members of the society play an important role in determining and shaping politics in the world. Nationalism is on its diving mode due to the increasing globalization. The revival of cultural and ethical conflicts can hamper the system prevailing in an economy. This is because nations that have varying ideologies and socioeconomic differences may lead to a shift in economic system from a market economy to a command economy. How history shaped Egyptian economy and factors influencing it When an economy embraces a p articular economic system, there is some degree of success. The success of an economy is measured in what is termed as economic progress. The main indicators of economic progress include; equal distribution of resources, low levels of poverty, low levels of illiteracy, life expectancy rate improvement, improved agriculture, as well as equitable access of opportunities. As such, the Egyptian economy was influenced by the following internal factors during the recent revolution. A transitional government has necessitated a shift to an economy that is changing from a command economy to a free enterprise. This kind of economies went through economic liberation, in this sense the economy prices are set by the market forces as opposed to the central planning authority setting prices. In addition, there are no trade barriers; a financial sector is created as well as privatization of resources and enterprises that are owned by government. Transition process exhibits some of the following fea tures creation of institutions that are privately owned, the role of the government changes among others. For transition to occur there must be a complete restructuring of institutions that are state-owned from being providers, but enablers of growth with the private sector playing the part of an engine to realize that growthv. The other factor that has had weight on the Egyptian economy is reform on, it mean to change or put something into a better condition or form. Therefore, reforms facilitate and enhance transition to take place in an economy. The radicals will use their need for reforms to seek for an improved system in the economy. Reforms can be in different sectors of the economy and there main focus is to promote better living standards for the members of the society. In conclusion, Egyptian economy has traversed through difficult circumstances in the past; however, its economic performance is currently doing well, as indicated by the economy ability to meet its macroecono mic objectives. Footnotes i Hinnebusch, R 2000, Liberalization without Democratization in Post-Populist  Authoritarian States, Syracuse: Syracuse University Press. ii Shaw, I 2003, The Oxford history of ancient Egypt, Oxford: Oxford University Press. iii Scheidel, W, Morris, I Saller, R, 2007, The Cambridge economic history of  the Roman world, New York: Cambridge University Press. iv Johnson, E 2000, Egypt Economic history, The Journal of economic history, 60 (1-2). v Goldschmidt, A 2008, A brief history of Egypt, London: Infobase Publishing. Bibliography Goldschmidt, A 2008, A brief history of Egypt, London: Infobase Publishing. Hinnebusch, R 2000, Liberalization without Democratization in Post-Populist  Authoritarian States, Syracuse: Syracuse University Press. Johnson, E 2000, Egypt Economic history, The Journal of economic history, 60 (1-2). Shaw, I 2003, The Oxford history of ancient Egypt, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Scheidel, W, Morris, I Saller, R, 2007, The Ca mbridge economic history of  the Roman world, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Kiss of the Spider Woman essays

Kiss of the Spider Woman essays In analyzing the film Kiss Of The Spider Woman by Hector Babenco, the first thing I noticed was how the two cellmates in South America, Molina and Valentin were two very different people; in fact, perfect opposites. Molina is a homosexual who has been imprisoned for sexual offenses, while Valentin is a political prisoner, meaning that he is part of a political regime that is seemingly a part of a terrorist group against the government of South America. We know this when he speaks of Marta, a middle class woman, who has it all, which indicates that he himself is a peasant or of low class status that is part of a political group striving to gain rights and equality. Valentin is tortured by authorities and is even given food that has been poisoned in an attempt to gain information about other revolutionaries in his political group. These authorities get Molina involved as an inside source to get Valentin to slip up. However, while prying into Valentins life, Molina grows deeply aff ectionate of him and chooses not to help in such a scheme. Due to an agreement that Molina had made with the authorities, he is released on parole, but not after he and Valentin become physically intimate drawing the two even closer. Afterwards, Valentin gives him a phone number to call to help his political group. Molina tries to help, but is eventually killed. In the next scene we see Valentin in a hospital after he has been badly beaten and he is thinking about the one thing that gives him strength to survive, Marta. In short, what seems to be a film about how two very different people come together in times of struggle, turns out to be a film about gaining individual freedom. Though the films usefulness in describing the context of Latin America is rather hard to distinguish, we do however see the struggle that most Latin Americans went through in trying to find their place in a society that was made up of a culmination o...

Napoleonic War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Napoleonic War - Essay Example The fierce competition started as a power struggle between the two nations. At that time, the size of Britain’s army was small, and had lost many battles in the European nations. The revolution pushed France into mayhem, the ruins of which, gave rise to the most powerful army led by Napoleon Buonaparte. Napoleon was born in 1769 in a poor family. The feudal government of France received a severe blow in 1789 from almost all other European nations. This lasted for almost two decades of warfare with all the other competing empires trying to impose their view of balanced power. Consequently, many wars were fought over many large areas and were thence referred to as the First World War. This era was divided into the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Empire. With the advent of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Revolution and the subsequent republic experienced tumbling of the French monarchy and its replacement by a series of intermittent violent civilian directions. At the peak of this period, known as â€Å"The Terror† the King and Queen were cruelly put to death. This stimulated the other European nations towards France, and vowed that the resulting nation would never enjoy the cooperation of other European leaders. This is when Napoleon Bonaparte seized the control of French government. With his unusual intelligence and charisma, Napoleon started climbing steps of success one after the other. Before moving as the French artillery officer, Napoleon struggled against French domination in Corscia, a place on the border of Europe. Napoleon was made the Lieutenant in 1792 at the age of 23. A year later, his genius personality led him to becoming the Brigadier-General. After two years, he was able to successfully fight the Austrian troops. Though situation was bad for the French, Napoleon was highly confident of his abilities for battle and was given the command of French armies. Napoleon Bonaparte became the first ambassador of French rebellion in