War of 1812 USS Constitution

War of 1812 USS Constitution Shorn of the protection of the Royal Navy, the merchant marine of the young United States began to suffer attacks from North African Barbary pirates in the mid-1780s. In response, President George Washington signed the Naval Act of 1794. This authorized the building of six frigates with the restriction that construction would halt if a peace agreement was reached. Designed by Joshua Humphreys, the construction of the vessels was assigned to various ports on the East Coast. The frigate assigned to Boston was dubbed USS Constitution and was laid down at Edmund Hartts yard on November 1, 1794. Aware that the U.S. Navy would be unable to match the fleets of Britain and France, Humphreys designed his frigates to be able to overpower similar foreign ships but still be fast enough to escape larger ships of the line. Possessing a long keel and narrow beam, Constitutions framing was made of live oak and included diagonal riders which increased the hulls strength and aided in preventing hogging. Heavily planked, Constitutions hull was stronger than similar vessels of its class. Copper bolts and other hardware for the vessel were made by Paul Revere. Key Facts Nation: United StatesBuilder: Edmund Hartts Shipyard, Boston, MALaunched: October 21, 1797Maiden Voyage: July 22, 1798Fate: Museum ship at Boston, MA Specifications of the USS Constitution Ship Type: FrigateDisplacement: 2,200 tonsLength: 175 ft. (waterline)Beam: 43.5 ft.Draft: 21 ft. - 23 ft.Complement: 450Speed: 13 knots Armament 30 x 24-pdrs2 x 24-pdrs (bow chasers)20 x 32-pdr carronades USS Constitution The Quasi-War Though a peace settlement was reached with Algiers in 1796, Washington permitted the three ships nearest completion to be finished. As one of the three, Constitution was launched, with some difficulty, on October 21, 1797. Completed the following year, the frigate readied for service under the command of Captain Samuel Nicholson. Though rated at forty-four guns, Constitution typically mounted around fifty. Putting to sea on July 22, 1798, Constitution began patrols to protect American commerce during the Quasi-War with France. Operating on the East Coast and in the Caribbean, Constitution conducted escort duty and patrolled for French privateers and warships. The highlight of its Quasi-War service came on May 11, 1799 when Constitutions sailors and marines, led by Lieutenant Isaac Hull, seized the French privateer Sandwich near Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo. Continuing its patrols after the conflict ended in 1800, Constitution returned to Boston two years later and was placed in ordinary. This proved brief as the frigate was re-commissioned for service in the First Barbary War in May 1803. USS Constitution and the First Barbary War Commanded by Captain Edward Preble, Constitution arrived at Gibraltar on September 12 and was joined by additional American ships. Crossing to Tangier, Preble exacted a peace treaty before departing on October 14. Overseeing American efforts against the Barbary states, Preble began a blockade of Tripoli and worked to free the crew of USS Philadelphia (36 guns) which had run aground in the harbor on October 31. Unwilling to allow the Tripolitans to keep Philadelphia, Preble dispatched Lieutenant Stephen Decatur on a daring mission which destroyed the frigate on February 16, 1804. Through the summer, Preble mounted attacks against Tripoli with small gunboats and used his frigates to provide fire support. In September, Preble was replaced in overall command by Commodore Samuel Barron. Two months later, he turned command of Constitution over to Captain John Rodgers. Following the American victory at the Battle of Derna in May 1805, a peace treaty with Tripoli was signed aboard Constitution on June 3. The American squadron then moved to Tunis where a similar agreement was obtained. With peace in the region, Constitution remained in the Mediterranean until returning in late 1807. USS Constitution  and the War of 1812 During the winter of 1808, Rodgers supervised a major overhaul of the ship until passing command to Hull, now a captain, in June 1810. After a cruise to Europe in 1811-1812, Constitution was in the Chesapeake Bay when news arrived that the War of 1812 had begun. Departing the bay, Hull sailed north with the goal of joining a squadron that Rodgers was assembling. While off the coast of New Jersey, Constitution was spotted by a group of British warships. Pursued for over two days in light winds, Hull used a variety of tactics, including kedge anchors, to escape. Arriving at Boston, Constitution quickly resupplied before sailing on August 2. Moving northeast, Hull captured three British merchantmen and learned that a British frigate was sailing to the south. Moving to intercept, Constitution encountered HMS Guerriere (38) on August 19. In a sharp fight, Constitution dismasted its opponent and forced it to surrender. During the battle, several of Guerrieres cannon balls were seen to bounce off Constitutions thick sides leading it to earn the nickname Old Ironsides. Returning to port, Hull and his crew were hailed as heroes. On September 8, Captain William Bainbridge took command and Constitution returned to sea. Sailing south with the sloop of war USS Hornet, Bainbridge blockaded the corvette HMS Bonne Citoyenne (20) at Salvador, Brazil. Leaving Hornet to watch the port, he maneuvered offshore seeking prizes. On December 29, Constitution spotted the frigate HMS Java (38). Engaging, Bainbridge captured the British ship after causing its foremast to collapse. Needing repairs, Bainbridge returned to Boston, arriving in February 1813. Requiring an overhaul, Constitution entered the yard and work began under the guidance of Captain Charles Stewart. Sailing for the Caribbean on December 31, Stewart captured five British merchant ships and HMS Pictou (14) before being forced back to port due to issues with the main mast. Pursued north, he ran into Marblehead harbor before slipping down the coast to Boston. Blockaded at Boston until December 1814, Constitution next steered for Bermuda and then Europe. On February 20, 1815, Stewart engaged and captured the sloops of war HMS Cyane (22) and HMS Levant (20). Arriving in Brazil in April, Stewart learned of the wars end and returned to New York. Later Career of the USS Constitution With the end of the war, Constitution was laid up at Boston. Re-commissioned in 1820, it served in the Mediterranean Squadron until 1828. Two years later, an erroneous rumor that the U.S. Navy intended to scrap the ship led to public outrage and caused Oliver Wendell Holmes to pen the poem Old Ironsides. Repeatedly overhauled, Constitution saw service in the Mediterranean and Pacific during the 1830s before embarking on an around the world cruise in 1844-1846. Following a return to the Mediterranean in 1847, Constitution served as flagship of the U.S. African Squadron from 1852 to 1855. Arriving home, the frigate became a training ship at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1860 to 1871 when it was replaced by USS Constellation (22). In 1878-1879, Constitution carried exhibits to Europe for display at the Paris Exposition. Returning, it ultimately was made a receiving ship at Portsmouth, NH. In 1900, the first efforts were made to restore the ship and seven years later it opened for tours. Heavily restored in the early 1920s, Constitution embarked on a national tour in 1931-1934. Further restored several times during the 20th century, Constitution is currently docked at Charlestown, MA as a museum ship. USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy.

The Charlotte Riots and the Killing of Keith Scott

The Charlotte Riots and the Killing of Keith Scott Deadly riots broke out in Charlotte, North Carolina, in September 2016. What had been peaceful protests over the police killing of an African American man named Keith Lamont Scott turned into a melee involving both demonstrators and the authorities. The spread of gunfire, vandalism, and smoke bombs during the riots led the North Carolina governor to declare a state of emergency. In the end, neither the city of Charlotte nor the people caught up in the protests were left unscathed. The 2016 Charlotte Riots The Charlotte riots took place in 2016 after a black man named Keith Lamont Scott was killed by police on Sept. 20. Officers said he had a gun, but Scott’s family denied he was armed and suggested he’d been framed. The riots ended by the morning of Sept. 23, but they had resulted in property damage, injuries, and more than a few dozen arrests. Tragically, one man, Justin Carr, died during the violence that broke out in Charlotte after Scott’s killing.The district attorney ultimately decided not to file charges against the officer who shot Scott because evidence suggested the slain man had been armed and did not follow commands. The Killing of Keith Lamont Scott The Charlotte riots took place just one day after a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer fatally shot married father of seven Keith Lamont Scott. The 43-year-old man had parked his car in the lot of the Village at College Downs apartment complex, where police had arrived to serve an arrest warrant to a different individual. The officers said they saw Scott with marijuana and that he’d gotten in and out of his car with a handgun. When they told him to drop his weapon, he ignored their commands, making him an â€Å"imminent threat,† according to the authorities. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Brentley Vinson, who is African American, fired his weapon, wounding Scott. First aid was performed, but Scott did not survive. His wife, Rakeyia Scott, had witnessed his killing and maintained that he was holding a book in his hand, not a gun. Given the history of police shooting unarmed black men, supporters of Scott believed his wife’s account. However, the authorities attempted to verify their version of what happened by stating that they had recovered Scott’s loaded gun from the scene and that he had been wearing an ankle holster. They also said that no book was ever found. Protestors march up Trade St. September 21, 2016 in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.   Sean Rayford / Getty Images The disparities between law enforcement’s account of events and Rakeyia Scott’s led protesters to take to the streets. The fact that his family suggested that the authorities had planted the gun at the scene only led to more skepticism about the officers involved in Scotts shooting. Several people were harmed during the demonstrations over his death. Riots Break Out in Charlotte Just hours after Scott’s killing, demonstrators poured into the streets. They held the trademark â€Å"Black Lives Matter† signs often spotted in the wake of deadly police shootings of African Americans. The grassroots Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement gained momentum after Mike Brown’s killing in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. The movement raises awareness about the fact that African Americans are disproportionately killed by the police. Protesters affiliated with BLM and other groups chanted â€Å"no justice, no peace!† as they marched through downtown Charlotte. Some members of the public reportedly began to pelt the police officers on the scene with water bottles and rocks. The officers responded by firing tear gas. During the unrest, police, news reporters, and civilians all sustained injuries. Arrests were made when some crowd members didn’t disperse, blocked the lanes of Interstate 85, vandalized vehicles and buildings, robbed an ATM and various shops, and set fires. A civilian named Justin Carr, 21,  lost his life in the violence, and a fellow civilian, Rayquan Borum, was arrested for shooting him and sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2019. Altogether, 44 people were arrested for various crimes in the days following the police killing of Keith Lamont Scott. Police officers face off with protesters on the I-85 (Interstate 85) during protests in the early hours of September 21, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.   Sean Rayford / Getty Images When North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in Charlotte after the first night of violence, the North Carolina National Guard and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol arrived in the city to quash the rebellion. In addition, Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts instituted a curfew preventing civilians from being on the streets between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.  With extra law enforcement patrolling the streets and a curfew, the protests had calmed down considerably on the night of September 22. The mayor extended the curfew one more night, but by September 23, Charlotte businesses were already up and running again. Reaction to the Violence The riots made international headlines and everyone from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump to black activists commented on them. â€Å"Our country looks bad to the world, especially when we are supposed to the world’s leader,† Trump said. â€Å"How can we lead when we can’t even control our own cities? We honor and recognize the right of all Americans to peacefully assemble, protest, and demonstrate, but there is no right to engage in violent disruption or to threaten the public safety and peace.† The North Carolina NAACP issued a similar message, decrying violence and calling on Scott supporters to use their First Amendment rights to call for redress of wrongs,† the group said. â€Å"We understand efforts that undermine the legitimate calls for justice with unjust, random or purposeless acts of violence.   Police stand outside of a vandalized storefront September 21, 2016 in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.   Sean Rayford / Getty Images Nation of Islam leader B.J. Murphy had a different response to the riots. He called for an economic boycott of Charlotte, a city with a history of police shootings involving black men. In 2013, former college football player Jonathan Farrell, an African American, was fatally shot by Charlotte police after seeking help following a car crash. A jury deadlocked on whether to find the white policeman who killed Farrell guilty. Later, charges against the officer were dropped. In light of police violence against blacks, B.J. Murphy argued that black money shouldn’t matter in Charlotte if black lives don’t.   Restoring the Public’s Trust After the riots, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department attempted to rebuild the public’s trust in its officers. It produced DNA results tying Keith Lamont Scott’s prints to the gun at the scene and turned up evidence indicating that he’d purchased the weapon. The department did this, in part, to offset claims by Scott’s family that he’d been framed in death, but this evidence failed to put an end to the disputes between the family and the police department. Video of the encounter taken by police dashcams and Rakeyia Scott’s cell phone did not end the dispute either because it did not include the actual shooting. The footage also lacked a clear image of what Scott had in his hands when police fired their shots, so the debates about his conduct that fateful day continued. The authorities said he was a threat, while his widow said he walked toward police calmly with his hands at his sides. Residents gather for a vigil and march to protest the death of Keith Scott September 21, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Scott, who was black, was shot and killed at an apartment complex near UNC Charlotte by police officers, who say they warned Scott to drop a gun he was allegedly holding.   Brian Blanco / Getty Images Two months after Scott’s killing, Mecklenburg District Attorney Andrew Murray said that no charges would be filed against Brentley Vinson, the officer who fired the fatal shot. Murray reasoned that the evidence indicated that Scott had been armed at the time of his killing. His .380 semiautomatic handgun, according to police, had fallen to the ground after he was shot. The district attorney concluded that Scott didn’t aim his weapon at officers, but he didn’t obey their orders to drop it either. Scotts family expressed disappointment in the district attorney’s findings but asked the public to keep the peace. Sources Gordon, Michael. â€Å"Charlotte protests, riots are the backdrop in the murder trial of Rayquan Borum.† Charlotte Observer, 7 February 2019.Maxwell, Tanya and Melanie Eversley. â€Å"N.C. Gov. declares state of emergency following violent Charlotte protests.† USA Today, 21 September 2016.â€Å"Jury deadlocked in North Carolina officer shooting trial; mistrial declared.† CBS News, 21 August 2015.â€Å"State of emergency in Charlotte amid 2nd night of violent protests.† CBS News, 21 September 2016.

Art Ceramic vessels based on the theme of urban landscape, modern Essay

Art Ceramic vessels based on the theme of urban landscape, modern modern architect and looking at artists works - Essay Example In the beginning, ceramic pieces served two purposes: functional and decorative purposes. Early potters created their pieces so that they may be used as pieces of tableware, crockery or other functional items. With time, potters began exploring the limits of ceramic art. They introduced art pieces that carried no functional purpose and yet became master pieces for the thought they represented. Contemporary ceramic artist had moved from functional to aesthetic to experimental and even to garish pieces. The diversity added by these artists adds more charm to the art. In this paper, I would be exploring my ceramic pieces that I have developed for this course. The art pieces that I have developed have been inspired from contemporary ceramic artists including Ken Eastman and Alison Britton. This art form explores how vessels can be reshaped to acquire the form of architectural landscapes; and most specifically modern architectural buildings. I have reflected upon my art pieces in reflecti on with the work of other notable ceramic artists. While I have found certain lacking in my art forms, I believe that my art is in the right direction. This paper will discuss contemporary artists also while reflecting on their art pieces and the idea behind these pieces. Ceramic Art Ceramic Art is a three dimensional art form whereby objects from clay are made. These include pots, tableware, tiles and many other figures. The process of converting clay into figures is known as pottery. The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word Keramikos, meaning pottery. While clay is the main material used in ceramics, artists nowadays experiment with different inorganic material and the art produced is still termed as ceramic art. Ceramic Art, like any other art form, can be completed through different techniques. There are four basic methods through which pottery can be produced. These include hand work, wheel work, slip casting and slab building technique. Often a combination of two is use d to complete a piece. Hand work is one of the most basic and primitive methods of producing pottery where the potter uses a ball of clay to fashion a piece of pottery with his hands. Because of the inconsistency in design, many potters prefer wheel work. In wheel work, a potter’s wheel is employed where the potter places a ball of clay in the wheel head. With the help of a foot pedal, the wheel is turned and the potter gives shape to his piece through pressing, squeezing or pulling. The advantage of the wheel work is that is allows the designer to produce similar mass products. These products can also be altered through bulging, fluting, faceting, carving, incising or impressing the pieces. Often a combination of wheel work and hand work is employed where hand work is used to finish of the pieces. Potters add handles, feet, lids and other design elements to the original piece through handwork. The third technique, slip casting is preferred to create small delicate pieces. It involves the use of mold whereby liquid clay is poured within the molds, dried and then removed. Slab building technique is another technique that is preferred by contemporary ceramic artists and came from the Mesoamerican Pre-Columbian ceramists. In this technique, the clay or any other material is rolled out through the help of the rolling pin. Once the clay is rolled out, it acquires a soft finish which can easily be molded into the required shape. A ceramist might use a number of

Leadership Practices Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership Practices - Term Paper Example Two most important aspect of cult leadership is that it fundamentally emerges from the sense of inequity and exhorts its followers towards a path of radical ideas and creed that may not necessarily be right or rational. Jim Jones and Charles Manson, both were strong cult leaders with destructive ideologies who were able to attract huge followers. Jim Jones and Jonestown James Warren Jones or Jim Jones was a religious fanatic who had founded People’s Temple with churches in San Francisco and Los Angeles. As a boy, he was hailed as a religious messiah by his mother. He was a radical in the sense that he believed in equality and promoted social integration of blacks and African American in the mainstream society. His strong belief in the social justice and his views on socialism based on communist leaning became his major plank for propagating new ideology. He established his first church in 1955 in Illinois and later shifted to California to start Peoples Temple. He was greatly influenced by faith healing services of Baptist churches and used practiced psychological and spiritual healing to gain trust and loyalty of his followers. Jim Jones exhibited leadership traits early when he was able to garner support for his social integration of blacks in the mainstream society. His charismatic personality and strong religious leanings were strong enabling factors that inspired followers to action and work towards racial equity and social justice. He was able to bring about changes in other people. Social scientists assert that psycho analytical aspects are important tools to understand human relationship and behavior especially with regard to social... James Warren Jones or Jim Jones was a religious fanatic who had founded People’s Temple with churches in San Francisco and Los Angeles. As a boy, he was hailed as a religious messiah by his mother. He was a radical in the sense that he believed in equality and promoted social integration of blacks and African American in the mainstream society. His strong belief in the social justice and his views on socialism based on communist leaning became his major plank for propagating new ideology. He established his first church in 1955 in Illinois and later shifted to California to start Peoples Temple. He was greatly influenced by faith healing services of Baptist churches and used practiced psychological and spiritual healing to gain trust and loyalty of his followers.  Jim Jones exhibited leadership traits early when he was able to garner support for his social integration of blacks in the mainstream society. His charismatic personality and strong religious leanings were strong e nabling factors that inspired followers to action and work towards racial equity and social justice. He was able to bring about changes in other people. Social scientists assert that psycho analytical aspects are important tools to understand human relationship and behavior especially with regard to social defenses, leadership paradigms and motivation (Levinson, 2002; Gabriel, 1999). These elements were extensively used by Jones to garner support for his religious and social bigotry. The understanding equipped him with the necessary knowledge.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay Example for Free

The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay Arthur Miller set his play The Crucible in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, in the year 1692. The story revolves around a farmer John Proctor and his community, devastated by allegations of witchcraft. The play begins with a group of young girls being discovered to have been dancing in the forest. Fearing the consequences of what they did, the girls begin to lie about their actions. When one of the girls falls ill, accusation of witchery becomes their escape from suspicion. This coincidence only helps exceed the villagers beliefs of supernatural possession. Abigail Williams, the prime motivator behind these series of events, takes this opportunity to accuse Elizabeth, the wife of John Proctor, of practicing witchcraft. In so doing, she hopes to be able not only to effect vengeance on Proctor, who had earlier rejected her after an affair, but to regain him by eliminating her competition. Lies build upon lies as the chain of events escalates and results in many deaths. When John Proctor tries to save his wife and friends, he is forced to question his own values and beliefs and is made to choose between the purity of his name and the value of his life. Miller saw in history a parallel sequence of events: a mass hysteria that gripped people and destroyed the social fabric of their community. The cruel persecution of minorities and the interference of the state in the individuals conscience became the key concerns of Millers criticism of this peoples actions and beliefs. Miller relates the actions of the people in 1692 to present day by stating that when one rises above the villainy displayed, one can only pity them all, just as we shall be pitied someday. Miller portrays these Puritans as a selfish group of people who can claim witchery upon their neighbor or someone with whom theyre disputing for the simple purpose of self-benefit, without even feeling any hint of remorse about it. Their creed was a snobbish sort who carried about an air of innate resistance. They forbade anything having to do with any sort of enjoyment, and in the instance of vacationing from work, they found themselves concentrating harder upon prayer. As Miller makes plain in his explanatory notes to the play, even though the belief in witchcraft was widespread throughout the Christian world, New World Puritanism was much harsher than Old World Protestantism because of the Puritans trials in the  wilderness. The disasters that they endured, coupled with their strict theology, led to persecutions, including the Salem witch-hunts. In 1692, Salem was a small but expanding community of Puritan settlers, founded about forty years earlier in the spirit of building a New Jerusalem. Strict discipline, self-denial and a uniting religion characterized the life in the still hostile environment, where Satan was thought to live close by in the untouched wilderness. Between 1676 and 1692, Massachusetts had undergone major political, economic and social change. As Miller states, It was, however, an autocracy by consent, for they were united from top to bottom by a commonly held ideology whose perpetuation was the reason and justification for all their sufferings. Fights with the Indians and the French had emptied the treasury; poverty and land shortage became widespread, and with the social problems morality declined. This destabilized and demoralized situation indicated, according to the Puritan interpretation, that God had turned his face away from his chosen people and that Satan was reaching out for power. The fear of Gods wrath, evoked and nourished in fierce Puritan sermons, intensified the search for dark forces, which were blamed with the entire weight of peoples frustrations. So their self-denial, their purposefulness, their suspicion of all vain pursuits, their hard-handed justice, were altogether perfect instruments for the conquest of this space so agonistic to man. The theme of hypocrisy comes into play when Reverend Parris questions Abigail about her actions in the woods. She denies any unlawful activity, including anything involving the act of witchcraft. Her duplicity is shown when she speaks to John Proctor and tells him what actually happened when not minutes earlier, she had lied to her uncle about that exact subject. The theme of guilt is associated mainly with John Proctors actions. He committed adultery, and is now in repentance for his irreverent actions. His wife, suspecting disloyalty, questioned Proctor of any misconduct. He admitted to his wife of his transgression, and even though had been exceedingly apologetic since, there was still suspicion amid his wifes scrutiny. As he bade Abigail to cease persisting in seeking his affection, he felt guilt for the fault he had previously committed. The theme of authority is subjected  in an argument between Reverend Parris and John Proctor. Parris feels insulted by Proctors charges towards him. He feels he should have authority among the community, when he knows there is a party against him and all authority. For example, he demands the deed to his house as a mark of confidence that he cannot be put out whenever some majority feels the whim, and many believe asking ownership of the building is like asking to own the meetinghouse itself. The theme of hysteria, continued throughout the play, takes place as the community reacts to the girls accusations. The frenzy begins as people automatically associate any happenings, mysterious or not, with witchcraft. If one is accused, they are unavoidably marked. Their name blackened by the selfish accusations of ruthless teenagers. Hysteria is a main theme developed throughout the play. The girls accusations sent a panic among the citizens of Salem within moments. People started thinking differently; questioning others in suspicion, and undoubtedly speculating whether the most unlikely people were involved in witchcraft. For example, Miller states of Goody Nurse: As for Rebecca Nurse herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared cry her out for a which and more, how adults could bring themselves to lay hands on her we must look to the fields and boundaries of that time. When speaking of Mr. Putnams accusations against people for motives such as land, deeds, or pure covetousness, Miller states that Putnam cries witch upon someone for those simple reasons without feeling any shame or guilt when they are punished for their fictitious accusations. It is Edward and Jonathan who signed the first complaint against Rebecca; and Thomas Putnams little daughter was the one wh o fell into a fit at the hearing and pointed to Rebecca as her attacker. In conclusion, as the act ends, the four themes, hypocrisy, guilt, authority and hysteria are tied together as the girls are questioned and begin to cry out. They find their escape by accusing others of the precise things they had been engaging in. The hysteria continues as fear arises throughout the community, and more people, innocent or not, are accused of witchcraft.

Religion and the Media Essay -- Papers

Religion and the Media In the world we live in today people have revolutionized the image of religion, so that it is now regarded as a pastime instead of it solely being about God. In today's world media has evolved to be much more powerful than religion, and therefore some say that media is taken more seriously. After observation of the TV channels broadcasting specific religious programmes, I saw that all terrestrial TV channels had at least one hour a week of religious programmes. The government issues the license enabling TV companies to broadcast, and has a significant role in deciding on what has to be shown. In each TV channels broadcasting charter it is stated that they must "provide an average of at least two hours a week of religious programmes." This means that if a TV channel does not show this minimum amount their license could be evoked. It is very obvious why the government is concerned about religion in the UK since only 48 per cent of UK residents claim to belong to a religion, compared to 89 per cent in the United States and 92 per cent in Italy. Also two-thirds of 18-24 year olds in the UK, say that they have no religious affiliation compared to just a quarter in Spain. Nearly all religious programmes are aired at non-prime time slots, with the exception only being Songs of Praise on Sundays from 17.45-18.15. This suggests that the TV companies see broadcasting religious programmes as something they must to do, and not something they wish to do. We see further evidence of this by Reverend Ernest Rea words, who was the head of religion and ethics at the BBC. Revd Ernest Rea explains that "religion is... ...e put more thought on deciding how to end this moral issue, so there is a fair equilibrium on what the Soap represents. I am not suggesting that they should exalt religion and not take into consideration the moral side of things, but what I am saying is that there has to be a fine balance. Christians believe that life is sacred and that no one has the right to take away this gift that God has given us. The sanctity of life is first described in Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them". From this biblical quote we can conclude that if God has created us in the image of Himself, then therefore each human exists as an expression of God and his character. Then this would surely mean that human beings cannot destroy this sacred image in anyway.

Marketing Concept †Britvic Essay

Question 1 Identify three key characteristics of the marketing concept. ‘Marketing concept is a philosophy that an organisation should try to provide products and services that satisfy customer’s needs through a coordinated set of activities that also allows the organisation to achieve its goals’ (Dibb, 2012:18). According to marketing concept customers should be at the centre of all the organisations activities. Therefore all departments of organisation are responsible for customer satisfaction and only in that way organisation goals can be achieved. According to Drucker, the aim of marketing is to make selling superfluous, is to know and understand the customer so well that the product or service fits him/her and sells itself. Marketing puts customers in central of all business activities, finding out what customers wants, meeting customer needs, supplying them more efficiently and effectively and creating and maintaining profitable relationships. Putting the customer in the middle of all company’s operation allows Britvic to be one of the biggest branded soft drink businesses in UK. Britvic provides fresh, bottled fruit juices with source of Vitamin C. Question 2 Explain Btitvic’s micro and macro environment. Marco forces of marketing environment can affect all organisations operating in market. External marketing environment consists of six categories of forces: political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal (Dibb, 2012:76). Those forces are uncontrollable and often called PEST or PESTEL. Generally, businesses can prepare for the unexpected by using PESTEL analysis. For example a new legislation of television advertising of food and drink to children has led to the use of non – television campaigns i.e. sponsorship and celebrity endorsement like Wimbledon or British pantomimes play an important role in Britvic’s marketing strategy. Micro environment factors are factors close to a business that have a direct impact on its operations and success. These factors include competitors, customers, distribution channels, suppliers, employees, media, shareholders and the general public. Businesses cannot always control micro environment factors but they should endeavour to manage them along with macro environment. Environmental forces are always dynamic and even though the  future is not very predictable, marketers can estimate what will happen and modify their marketing strategies to the new environmental circumstances. Britvic try to minimize their competitors by supplying their products to 200,000 outlets across UK, possessing the licensed distributor of PepsiCo brands in country, and becoming the number two branded soft drinks business in the UK. Question 3 Explain why market research and the information gathered are important to an organisation like Britvic. According to American Marketing Association ‘marketing research is the function that links consumer, customer, and public to the marketer through information used to identify and define marketing opportunities and problems, generate, refine, and evaluate marketing actions, monitor marketing performance, and improve understanding of marketing as a process’ (www.marketingpower.com). That information must be accurate, reliable, timely, relevant and affordable. There are five basic steps of planning marketing research: locating and defining problems or research issue, designing the research, collecting data, analyzing and interpreting findings, and reporting research findings (Dibb, 2012:264). Marketing research helps businesses like Britvic to identify consumer’s needs, competition, market segments and size of the market. They are also used to determinate company goals, pricing strategy or reduce risk of putting a new product onto the market. Question 4 Explain how Britvic might collect and use market research information. Britvic may collect for its purpose secondary (information compiled inside or outside the company) or primary (information gathered first hand) data, or both. Primary research can be classified as either Quantitative or Qualitative. Quantitative methods are used to discover something that can be measured. They ask questions such as: how many, where, when, what. These methods includes: survey (a method of questioning via post, Internet, telephone or personal interview), observation and experimentation. Qualitative research looking for the answers to the questions why or how people feel which is very difficult, if not impossible, to be found out through a survey or a questionnaire. This data is often called ‘soft’ as it is often difficult to quantify statistically. Methods include in-depth interviews or focus groups. For Britvic purpose, which is to find out about customers’ preferences, thoughts and feelings with regards to the new product (Tango Clear), more sufficient would be a personal interview (quantitative method) and a focus group (qualitative method). Question 5 Explain the process of market segmentation and targeting and benefits of segmentation and targeting to Britvic. Market segmentation is the process of grouping customers into smaller, more similar or homogeneous segments. It is the identification of target customer groups in which customers are formed into groups with similar requirements and buying characteristics (Dibb, 2012:212). Thus market segmentation is the process by which customers with different requirements can be grouped into smaller, more similar segments. One of the basic ways to consider segment is to segment the market by geography, demography, psychographic or socio – cultural factors. Britvic distinguishes between core brands and seed brands. Core brands are the central point of the business and include Pepsi, Robinsons, J2O, 7Up, Fruit Shoot and Tango. Seed brands are those that are believed to have potential for growth in the future and include Gatorade, V Water, Drench. Once segments have been identified, decision about which and how many customer groups to target can be made. There are several options to consider for companies like Britvic. The choice needs to be made between concentration on a single segment with one product and one marketing programme and offering one product and marketing programme to a number of segments (Dibb, 2012:215). By launching new ‘Tango Clear’ Britvic has targeted a slightly older market than traditionally. Business like Britvic by creating separate offers for each segment provides customers a better choice; retain customers who might switch to competing products and brands. Thus using market segmentation Britvic can reach customers more effectively and at a lower cost. List of references: American Marketing Association (2004) Definition of Marketing, available from www.marketingpower.com/aboutama/pages/definitionofmarketing.aspx (last seen on 29th December 2012) Dibb Sally, Simkin Lyndon, Pride William M., Ferrel O.C., (2012) Marketing Concepts and Strategies 6th edn, Hampshire: Cengage Learning EMEA

Adidas Analyse

Nikkei appeared in 1978 in the USA and Aids started to lose market shares. By 1990, the brand was sold to a French Investor won uses ten colorless' endorsement communication strategy. In the aim of surpassing the American brand, one of the other main strategies of Aids was acquisitions such as the French ski equipment company: Salomon AS. The brand increased its revenues and was then able to acquire Rebook. Aids still had to overtake Nikkei but is now number one in Europe. In 2009, Aids made a profit of more than 245 million Ð ²? and employed almost 40,000 persons.The German brand is proposing products for a large range of sports such as running, football, tennis, golf, etc. Environment Context Nowadays, the competition on the footwear market has become really strong as in the current time people really care about well being but also because sports has still a strong place in our world. People also care about sports brand because they have become a social symbol and enable people to value their personality and show their membership in some certain social group. Consequently, sports brands fight with each other to become the leader by having the most market shares.Aids is fighting mostly with Nikkei which is the current leader in the footwear market as we will later in this case study (in the competition part). However, Aids has strong tools to become at least the leader in the future. Aids is recognized has the brand of excellence in the sport, in terms of technical and performing shoes but also has since the beginning of its history a strong link with the sports community, being supported by several famous athletes. Aids is also the leader in innovation and design in order to anticipate consumers' needs.The brand tries to help its athletes to increase their skills and their performance with every product of the Aids' range. Generally speaking, Aids is a global organization which is socially and environmentally expansible. It knows how to attract employees and shareholders for financial interest. Aims Aids' mission is to become the global leader with a real passion for sports and a sporting lifestyle. The best way to reach this mission is to have a wide brand and a unique product range for professional and fashion sportive.This gives the possibility to affect lots of consumer needs and exploit each opportunity that market can furnish. They do a difference between quality and quantity. This concept comes from the founder of the brand. Doll Dasher was passionate about sports. He wanted his hoes to be different. They provide excellent comfort while improving athletic performance. These are the statutes of the brand. Its heritage allows Aids to be different from competitors and gives it strength base for future. Marketing objectives In the medium term, Aids wants to increase its leadership in Europe and its shares in the US footwear market.It wants also to be as good as Nikkei, the actual leader. To reach them, it has to furnish constants ef forts to maintain and increase hopefully its position on footwear and apparel market. It has to imitate the competition on their trench points and in the same time, innovate in order to be different. Aids is completely Touches on Its consumers Ana on tenet expectations. I Nat Is winy teen are constantly improving the quality, the look and image of their products. With this, the company hopes to exceed the expectations of their consumers and at least becoming the leader in the footwear market.Contextual analysis The market * Presentation of the global footwear market The footwear market from 1998 to 2009 has gone up: demand for footwear has increased over the last few years. Thus, sales have grown by 9. 3% from 1998 to 2007, even though it went down abruptly in 2009 (-2. 5%). Women's shoes category is the most significant with 47. 7 % of market share, following by the men with 34. 1% part of the market. The children's footwear is the smallest market share category. * Aids footwear ma rket Aids is the world's second largest footwear brand with 22. 9% of market share, after Nikkei (37. %) in 2006. 45% of its revenues are from footwear. Aids distribute its products in 160 countries. They earn most of money selling to large retail stores such as Dick's Sporting goods, Foot locker, or directly to the customers. They had a total of 2 212 retail stores in the world. Western Europe and North America are the two main markets for the sale of Aids products with 31% and 23% of sales 2009. PASTEL analysts * Political First, it is beneficial for Aids to operate in democratic countries as they do not introduce drastic policies, which could affect its sales.Regarding to trading policies, there are no quotas for imported Aids products. However, there is the antiquating law which forbids any company to export its footwear products â€Å"in a country at a price which is below the price at which the product is sold in the market f origin†. Then Aids follows all the current e mployment laws, for the rights of its employees. However, the minimum wage in several countries (such as I-J, France†¦ ) is a constraint for Aids, and which could have a negative impact on its costs of production.That is why, Aids relocates its production activities where the workforce is less expensive such as Indonesia, China and Vietnam. This has made a bad publicity for Aids in these countries as Aids does not give to its employees good working conditions, with a low wage. We can quote as an example the â€Å"Play fair† 2008. * Economic The home economy situation which is the crisis could have a negative effect for Aids as the purchasing power is low. Thus, the unemployment and the decrease of wages could have a bad effect on Aids sales, as customers would not have enough money to spend in its product, vital costs having priority.Interests and exchange rates have also an impact on the consumer behavior. The increase of raw materials' prices as 011 wanly Is a componen t AT plastic NAS an Impact on ten Tall cost AT ten production. Aids has two solutions: increase the sales prices or level down its profit margin. * Social Nowadays, the demography is special: the age distribution is getting higher in most of the world. The target is especially young people who identify themselves to the brand. Maybe Aids should think to the long term.Aids sells in large cities, as there are the highest amounts of customers able to buy sportive shoes in these places. The lifestyle trend of people has changed, compare to several years ago. For instance, more and more people use internet. Aids should have a good platform to sell its products. The obesity is a current problem in our society. Most of the time, these people do not practice sports. It could also have a positive effect: they could want to lose weight and so, buy Aids product to train. People are also becoming less busy and can spend more time to their leisure activities like sports.Regarding to the consumer attitudes, we can notice that the frequency of purchase of Aids footwear is, for most people, to buy one or two football shoes per season. Aids should take that in consideration to promote its shoes during the pre-season. Promotion could also be made before major events such as the World Cup or the European Championship which have an influence on the Aids ad and sales. There s also a fashion and role model with stars wearing Aids shoes: several endorsement contracts have been made with stars such as David Beckman or Lionel Mess. Technological In the footwear market, the key to success is the innovation. Thus, there are new technological advances are becoming more performer as the football shoes which allow the user to kick the ball with more precision and power. Aids needs to be aware of the latest technologies. The use of new materials could be strength for the brand, such as materials able to resist over long distances, humid conditions or extreme temperatures changes. A lot of r esearches are made in the aim to improve the quality of a product.Thus, Aids is the world's first smart shoes (adding a microchip inside the shoe for instance. * Environmental The Sustainable Development is an important subject in our current society, and also for Aids: it has launched its new ecological footwear collection made with natural raw material, recycling material and which are biodegradable. Then, in the aim to protect human health and environment, Aids eliminate PVC and is making progress in finding substitutes like polyurethane, ethyl vinyl, silicone thermoplastic rubber. Yet, global pressure is pushing on Aids which uses for its shoes materials from animals.For instance, it has been seen that Aids slaughtered million of kangaroos, for their skin using to produce leather shoes. In February 2006, David Beckman officially announced that he would not wear Aids shoes anymore. Thus, the environmental campaigners could be a problem for Aids, who should make some R&D to find o thers materials, not taken from animals. * Legal Concerning the regulation, Aids needs to be aware of the legal legislations (most of them protect the customers) such as Sales and Supply of goods act (1979), Trade ascription Act (1968).There is also the European Union (1993), which is the free trace Detente countries Trot EYE: traces are not changer Day customs anymore Ana there are no quotas. Aids has to deal with the counterfeit of Aids footwear products. Competition analysis The competition on the sport footwear has become really aggressive because of many reasons. Nowadays, many people do sports because of the care about well being but also because sports brands have become social symbols that permit to people to distinguish from the others and show their membership in a social group much as for making sport in itself.Consequently, competition on the sport footwear market increase dramatically with the idea of making everything to make your best competitor has a bad image in fro nt of customers and to prove that your brand is the best by all means, we can even talk in some case about unfair competition. In the market of footwear, Disdain's first competitor is Nikkei with 37. 9% of market share, and Aids had 22. 9% % in 2006. Nevertheless, Aids is gaining everyday market shares and we see a close fight between Nikkei and Aids for gaining the global market.Aids makes everything to become the leader on the footwear market. Consequently, to become a bigger threat for Nikkei, Aids has acquired Rebook in 2005, world non in the sport market, in a friendly takeover for 3. 1 billion of Euros (3. 8 billion of dollars). This takeover allows Aids to combine its popularity in Europe among soccer and athletics fans with Rebook popularity in US in basketball and football fan. This takeover is a highly strategic action as it is made in order to win market shares in the U. S where Nikkei is the leader and finally catch its eternal competitor, Nikkei.As we can see, everythin g is made to become a huge threat for Nikkei ND there is a real fight between those two global brands. It can also be seen by the war they lead during major sports events as the football world cup of 2010. They fight to have the biggest number of team who wear their brand and finally in this case it's Aids which wins but which stays close to Nikkei. Indeed, in this football world cup in South Africa, Aids sponsored 12 countries such as South Africa, but also major and favorite teams like those of Germany, Argentina, Spain and France.Aids also made huge benefits in other events, such as the official ball of the world cup, named â€Å"Jubilant† which was created by Aids. Nikkei owns also in this cup 10 famous teams like Brasilia, Netherlands, Portugal and Great-Britain (which wear Umbra, property of Nikkei). It's with this example that we see that Aids and Nikkei have another competitors, named Puma. This brand is well known by Aids, as it has been created by the brother of Aid Dasher after a huge argument between the two brothers. Puma is gaining everyday little by little market share and is gaining in popularity.Puma's strategy is different from its two other big competitors, they are positioned in the luxury market of sport because it has been by the French luxury roof, PR. This brand has a strongly attractive for fashion people, seducing big stars like Brad Pit, or in the sport community the footballer Ankle. Puma is trying to follow Aids and Nikkei by making a lot of actions like for the football world cup. Puma has sponsored 7 teams, mostly African teams, but also a famous team, which won the previous cup, Italy.To better understand the market share that each brand has, we have found a pie chart which represents the market share of each brand in the athletic footwear market where we have decided to focus on, on this case study. Network wellness. Com/stock (It is important to notice that this chart is a bit old as it has been made in 2005, and that f or now, Rebook is now part of Aids) It can be also relevant to make a mapping (See appendix 1) to see where Aids is located / positioned relatively to its competitors in terms of price and technicality.Aids and its competitors Its second competitor is Puma which has been created after a huge argument between the two brothers Dasher ; Aids has to be careful about Puma because it has been buy by the French luxury group PR and is winning little by little market shares. Puma's strategy is different from its two big competitors Nikkei and Aids, they are more specialized in the luxury market, seducing fashion actors (Brad Pit) and famous footballer (Ankle). There is also another competitor in the footwear world named It is also important, in a world of globalization, to highlight the growing power of new entrants from China.There are two domestic famous brands in China: * Lie Inning * Anta They are leaders on the Chinese domestic market in footwear as people prefer to buy domestic brands but also because they are cheaper than Aids and Nikkei. Even if â€Å"Lie Inning and Anta are not competing directly with the two global leaders, they are taking more and more market shares in China, whereas Nikkei and Aids market shares remain the same. † Aids has to be careful of China competitors. Porter's five forces (including generic one) We can introduce this part by the Porter's five generic in order to describe the footwear industry.The five criteria are: * Fragmented * Emerging * Mature * Declining * Global The footwear market is global because the market is saturated in products (everybody has sport shoes at home) but the market is rapidly growing. Porter's five roses can be summarized by many schemes and then, we will apply these forces to our case study. * Threat of new entrants New entrants cannot easily enter in the running shoes' market because a few big companies control the market and they own very important brand awareness, thanks to their advertising budge t.It implies that no new firm can quickly win many market shares without be exposed to a competitive reaction of leaders that will kill the new firm. Nevertheless, some retail companies try to sell low-cost footwear with lower prices than Aids or other important company but with a lower quality as well. With such a positioning, they want to target the people who have not enough money to buy expensive shoes and who are not really the target of Aids. * Threat of substitute products or services Because AT some meal reports wanly Alamo ten running Ana can Impact AT ten leg on the ground.So, some sports which require athletic footwear can be dangerous for the bone structure. That means other sports which do not have such an impact on the health can be a threat for the footwear market such as: swimming, cycling etc. * Bargaining Power of suppliers Shoes' fabrication and technology needs are more and more complex, so Aids upends on more suppliers than before. Raw materials: The insole is a thin layer of man-made ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The components of the middle consist of polyurethane surrounding another material such as gel or liquid silicone, or polyurethane foam given a special brand name by the manufacturer.Outsells are usually made of carbon rubber. Increase of the cost of plastic because of the rise of the oil's price. Working conditions of outsourced production are often qualified to be against the human rights and Aids can be obliged to raise his employees' wages. * Bargaining power of buyers Demand is growing and companies are fighting for selling their products to consumers who become more and harder to please. In big retail stores, consumers have a large choice of running shoes. It means that if prices of a brand are too expensive compared to it quality, they will buy shoes of another firm with a better rate Price/Quality.The market is very competitive and customers can choose between several brands such as: Nikkei, Aids, Puma, Acacias, Mizzen, Ne w Balance, Puma, Spiral, Salomon, Lawful etc. * Rivalry among existing competitors The footwear market is growing quickly with 9. 3% of growth between 1999 and 2007. Despite of the footwear market is oligopolies, because a few companies control it, the competition is very intensive and all firms aim to be the first. The main actors of this market are: Nikkei (Leader), Aids (2nd), Puma, Acacias, Mizzen, New Balance, Puma, Spiral, Salomon and Lawful.Portfolio analysis * Product range Aids has more than 90 million pairs of shoes including 3. 000 different styles. The following shows some example of Aids shoes contingent on performance and price. This provides a clear idea of the various proposals of the mark. (See Appendix 2) So, this brand affected all sports. To be more efficient, we will find Aids athletic shoes in each sport. We choose to focus on it because Nikkei, the dominant brand on this market, is much stronger on fashion shoes. Aids gives priority to performance instead of f ashion.This means Aids will be aimed at professional person than those practicing a sport as leisure. The next list is not an exhaustive list: * Football: Predator, OFF, Dipper, Dizzier * Tennis: Barricade, Genius Novak * Hockey: ADSTAR, Gel Platinum, * Golf: Garbage, Million, Tour 360 * Badminton: Court, Stabile Optimist * Running: Dizzier, Supernova, Jumpstarted, Response cricket: Twenty's, HOOKAH * Basket: TTS Suspected CRU, The Oracle * Rugby: Flanker, Predator, Regulate * Boxing: ADSTAR, Box Hog You can Tina In appendix 3 a can't Witt some pictures way to illustrate the product range of Aids. The BCC manta Decease It Is ten more relevant Using this Boston Consulting Group Matrix, we will evaluate the interest of fields of activities of Aids thought two criterion's: the market share and the market growth. We can observe four areas, crossing the market share axis and the market growth axis: star, problem child, cash cow and dog. The Dog represents products which have low market s hare and market growth. These products do not have any interest for the company: indeed, they do not generate any profits anymore, and are usually products which have been around for a few years.In this case, the company has better abandon these products. In the Aids range of products, the Aids Predator Precision has become a dog, having declined, such as the previous version of the Original Stan Smith 2, dating from 2005 or the ancient Respect Low, Respect Mid or Midrib for running. The Question mark shows products with a low market share and a low market growth. It means that these products have an interesting potential for sails (consequence of the low market share), but their high market growth risks to reduce their competitiveness. It would involve significant investments from the company.The objective is to transform them into stars, with the possibility they can turn into dogs. In the Aids range of products, the Aids OFF is a question mark, recently introduced to the market. We will see if it turns into a dog or a star. The same situation is observed for the AS Wings from Jeremy Scott, which is the new collection, or the new men TTS Supernatural Commander ALT. The new environmental election with the Superstar, the Forum Mid Natural or the Vintage XX 500 are also recently introduced, and Aids will see if the â€Å"green spirit† will have a good effect on the sales of these shoes.The Star corresponds to markets having high growth, and where the company owns high market share. It represents the most profitable products for the company, as they bring in a large amount of profits. The Aids Predator Pulse fits in this section, as it generates profits and significant sales. The Goodyear Race and the new version of the Stan Smith are also the most wanted shoes, and generate an important profit! The Cash Cows are characterized by a low growth market and a high market share. These products are very profitable, as they generate high profits.Their dominated position gives them a competitive advantage concerning prices and margin. Arise from the low market growth, investments are not very high. Thus, these cash cow products are those which enable the company financing its question marks products. The Aids Predator Mania falls in this area, as it is a profitable product, with high sales. The new version of the Barricade V is also a profitable product as it generates high sales with competitive advantage on its price. We can see in Appendix 3 the BCC matrix. * Anions matrix The Anions matrix is a useful tool for noticing future intensive growth opportunities.We can observe four strategies. First, there is the Market Penetration Strategy: the idea is to gain more market share with current products, implementing different promotions. It is the least risky strategy, as it does not cost a lot of money to the company. Thus, Aids could consider this method to acquire more market share, using Its Totally snows, already present on ten market, dev eloping promotions around it. Secondly, the Market Development Strategy is the fact to develop new arrests for current products of a company, through branding and advertising.The current product should also be sold in area where it hasn't been located before. Using this medium risky method, Aids could sell a current footwear product in a new country. Then, there is the Product Development Strategy which is the fact to develop new products (in the aim to replace old products) to current markets. This is the case when each season, a new version of a previous product is bringing out such as Aids with its Predator football shoes. Finally, there is the Diversification Strategy which is for a company, the opportunity to develop new products for new markets!This method is the riskiest one, as there was no previous knowledge of the product or of the market. Thus, Aids could use this strategy to produce a product that the company is not familiar with, to be sold in a new market. We can see i n Appendix 3 the Anions Matrix. Strategic Business Units Strategic Business Unit or SIBS corresponds to the different units which structure the company and represent the corporate identity. It is typically a strategy used by large company. It is the case for Aids. There are several types of SIBS regarding the type f product, the geographic area, etc.Aids is applying a product strategy composed of four Subs: * Aids Sport Performance * Aids Sport Style * Aids Originals: from niche to fashion mainstream * The Fashion Group: Aids is fashion Aids Sport Performance It is the most sport-oriented SUB with all the products proposed to professionals. It represents the idea of performance that Aid Dasher wanted to diffuse. Innovation and transcendence are keys words of A. S. P. It covers most of the sports and focuses its efforts most particularly on five of them. * Football * Running * Training * Basketball * Outdoor Aids Sport StyleAs all of its competitors, Aids also provide street wear and lifestyle fashion footwear. It was primarily a niche but as the target market correspond to the mass market, it became quickly one of the most important SIBS of the brand and the firm started opening new divisions such as Stella Ms Carney and Propose Design Sport. Aids Originals: from niche to fashion mainstream This is the classical SUB which is composed of the first models designed at the beginning of the brand such as the Stan Smith model. It emphasis the â€Å"Celebrate Originality' philosophy. The target is more the youth and teenagers. That is why the

Exploring The Social Problems Of Homelessness Social Work Essay Essays

Exploring The Social Problems Of Homelessness Social Work Essay Essays Exploring The Social Problems Of Homelessness Social Work Essay Essay Exploring The Social Problems Of Homelessness Social Work Essay Essay In this essay, the societal jobs I have chosen to compose approximately is Homelessness. I will besides be researching different position of Homelessness and the policy responses and the impact it have on the society. The groups I will concentrate my treatment on are immature people and unsmooth slumberers as the grounds indicates that immature stateless people experience unsmooth sleeping before procuring impermanent adjustment. There are broad scopes of definition Homelessness and it varies from state to state or among different establishments in the same state. Harmonizing to |Liddiard, M ( 2001:119 ) the immediate sense of the term as regularly employed by the mass media and politicians, simplistically equates homelessness with rooflessness or literally kiping rough on the street. This is can be a straightforward and easy to understand definition but this does non reflect the true range of the job so a broader definition of homeless peoples include those deficient lasting abode and life in a scope of unsatisfactory lodging conditions. They can include those populating in impermanent inns, bed and breakfast, dark shelters and homesteaders. However, the legal definition of person homeless is if they do non hold a legal right to busy adjustment or if their adjustment is unsuitable to populate in. They besides include households and peoples who do non kip rough and some are accommodated by friends and househo ld on impermanent footing. So from the above definition the societal building of homelessness are non the little sums of single that sleep on the street, looking dirty and odors of intoxicant and drugs but comprises of all person who do non hold a lasting nice topographic point of adjustment or without a regular home and are on a waiting list or takes lodging benefit and in impermanent adjustments. ( Giddens 2007 ) The cause of homelessness varies as many are of the position that homelessness is a consequence of personal weaknesss and see if the economic system is traveling on good, there is no alibi to be stateless. Shelter ( 2007 ) is of the position that homelessness is cause by a complex interplay between a individual A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s single fortunes and inauspicious structural factors outside their direct control. Among the single factors include societal exclusion, therefore when a individual deficiency of making because they did non hold entree to good instruction and nice occupation. Ones abuse of drugs and intoxicant which consequence in deficiency of personal control, deficiency of societal support and debts particularly mortgage or rent arrears. Having mental wellness jobs and acquiring involved in offense at an early age besides contribute to homelessness. Family dislocation and unsolved differences are a major factor of homelessness as a consequence of divorce and separat ion and a greater figure of work forces and adult females are affected. Peoples from institutional background like holding been in attention, the armed forces are likely to be affected. Ex-offenders who come out of prison and lose their friend and households can go stateless and the bulk from cultural minority or ex-asylum searchers who have the right to remain but have no adjustment. Structural causes of homelessness are largely societal and economical in nature frequently outside the control of single or household concerned. These may include poorness, deficiency of low-cost lodging, unemployment and the construction and disposal of lodging benefit. Harmonizing to the shelter ( 2007 ) the figure of families found to be homeless by local governments increased 31percent between 1997/98 and 2003/2004. Historically, homelessness had low promotion until the 1966 when the BBC screened Ken Loach A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s movie about homelessness Cathy Come Home. This was watch by 12million people and the movie alerted the populace, the media and the authorities to the graduated table of the lodging crises and so Shelter was formed. Another policy response was the 1977 Housing ( Homeless Persons ) Acts was the first step to topographic point duties on local governments to rehouse stateless households and persons for good. ( Liddiard, M.2001 ) The 1977 statute law had Priority Need which included adult females with kids or pregnant, vulnerable due to age, mental unwellness, disablement, and loss of place by natural catastrophes. This did non provide for everyone who was homeless and the standards by which local governments accepted pers on as homeless was complex and restricted. Hence the 1996 subdivision 177 amended to include domestic force as a precedence demand but rigorous eligibility remains ( Hill, M: 2000 ) . Young people were non covered under the bing statute law and the figure of immature homeless increased. Existing informations on young person homelessness has important restriction ; in peculiar it is merely possible to number immature people who are in contact with services. Harmonizing to ONS ( 2007 ) it can be estimated that at least 75,000 immature people experienced homelessness in the UK in 2006-07. This included 43,075 aged 16-24 of which 8,337 were 16 -17 twelvemonth old who were accepted as statutorily homeless in the UK and at least 31,000 non-statutorily homeless immature people utilizing back uping people services during 2006-2007. The Homelessness Act ( 2002 ) changes significantly the manner in which homeless in England and Wales is tackled. The precedence demand classs was extended to includes 16/17 old ages instead those who societal services are responsible for suiting, care- departers under the age of 21 who were looked after by societal services when they were 16/1 7 and ex- captives, former soldiers and immature people go forthing attention. This act besides introduces greater flexibleness with respects to societal lodging allotment giving more people the right to be considered for a council or lodging place. The local governments had a statutory responsibility to care for all the stateless people but no excess resources were added. This had a great impact on the figure of stateless people who were able to relocate for good at a given clip and particularly those under precedence demand. Young people sing break or injury during childhood who may be from socio-economic background are at increased hazard of homelessness. The chief trigger for young person homelessness is relationship breakdown normally parents or step-parent. Among the impact of homeless on immature people is hapless wellness as they can non take attention of their wellness being. They lack basic nutrient and shelter to assist them turn to go healthy grownups and they may endure from depression. Homelessness can take to increased degrees of non- engagement in formal instruction, preparation or employment. At times go forthing school early without a making and a nice occupation may take some immature people into the abuse of drugs and some have mental wellness jobs. Another homeless group of concern is the unsmooth slumberers who were in impermanent adjustment but some choose to roll the streets, kiping unsmooth free from the restraints of belongings and ownerships. But a big bulk has no such want at all but they have been pushed over the border into homelessness by factors beyond their control. Once they find themselves without a lasting home, their lives sometimes deteriorate into a spiral of adversity and want. ( Giddens 2009:503 ) The Homelessness Act 2002 extended the definition of the precedence need to include new groups of vulnerable people, and demand that all stateless people receive advice and aid. In add-on, Local Authorities are requires to sporadically develop homeless schemes, including an appraisal of degrees of homelessness and behavior an audit of those kiping unsmooth. In 1998 there were about 1,850 people kiping rough on the street of England on any one dark. This follows on from the authorities thrust to cut down rough sleeping by two-thirds in 2002. The Rough Sleeper Unit was set up in April 1999 to take the lead on presenting this disputing new mark and assist 1000s of people to get away fro good from the humiliation and wretchedness of life under a cover in a store room access. One of the cardinal principal of the scheme was to understand the cause of unsmooth sleeping, why people end up on the street and what could be done to halt this from happing in the hereafter. The scheme besides plac e the accent on promoting unsmooth slumberers to go active members of the community, to construct self esteem and convey on endowment every bit good as assisting the person to go prepared for the life off from the street. Positive consequence shortly follows as decreases in unsmooth sleeping were achieves around the state in December 2001 the mark set by the authorities was met in front of clip. The mark was met amid the contention about how unsmooth slumberers were counted and concern about the accent on street homelessness, which candidates claimed was merely tip of the homelessness iceberg. Harmonizing to BBC New Magazine, lodging curate Grant Shapps believes that the authorities figures on the count of unsmooth slumberer is low and the system of numeration is flawed. He argues that, under old authorities A ; acirc ; ˆâ„ ¢s system, councils with fewer than 10 unsmooth slumberers were non obliged to number them, and that drifters sitting up in kiping bags were non counted as homeless. After Mr. Shapps insisted that councils provide estimations, the England broad figure rose to 1,247, this comprised 440 from 70 governments that count and 807 from 256 governments that provided estimations. Despite authorities investing in inns to suit unsmooth slumberers many are on waiting list as resources and funding is limited. Overcrowding, deficiency of bed infinite and sharing suites or limited installations with others are besides identified as a job particularly if you have a spouse or a Canis familiaris, your picks narrow well. Although the quality of inns has improved well, inns are frequently considered insecure. Over 57 per centum of those who stayed in inns mentioned jobs with other occupants, including drug and intoxicant usage, force, larceny, bulling, noise and statements. And some are of the position that it is non a topographic point to travel if you want to remain clean of drugs. Peoples are under the same statute law and the local governments are unable to for good house all in precedence demand. In add-on to the above, there are certain groups who are excluded from inns, such as people from the EU and refuge searchers from non-EU states who are stateless and destitute in the street of the UK. Their entitlement to benefits is restricted until they have lived and worked and paid into the UK system through national Insurance and revenue enhancement for one twelvemonth continuously. Such Torahs bring about societal exclusion as street homeless people have reduced entree to wellness attention and dental services. They face favoritism and general rejection from other people and may hold increased hazard to enduring from force and maltreatment. The impact of unsmooth sleeping is limited entree to instruction, non being seen as suited for employment and loss of usual relationship with the mainstream. Most of all, populating on the streets is unsafe as unsmooth slumberers die immature with the mean life anticipation at 42. Inequalities among the population still remain one factor of homelessness. Denationalization and residualisation of the council lodging meant that fewer houses are available for council renter. This imposes greater long term hazards on the former council renters while besides bring forthing considerable costs for the taxpayer. The procedure besides excludes the many renters who either reject transportation or are non given the pick and hence exacerbates inequalities. There are 1.4 million unfit place in England as the bulk of householders are in the private sector. The addition of lodging association rents and additions in house monetary values means most people can non afford a nice adjustment. Low income households are the most affected as 4 million people having lodging benefit. ( Quilgars D. et al 2008 ) In decision, the job of homelessness has been tackled by the authoritiess over the old ages through policies and statute law. However, the job require long term policy solutions such as alterations in the benefit system, the edifice of more low-cost places and guaranting that a wider cross- subdivision of society benefits from the fruits of economic growing. For many people, there is no individual event that consequences in sudden homelessness ; alternatively homelessness is due to a figure of unsolved jobs outlined above edifice up over clip. The accomplishment of one authorities policy on unsmooth slumberers indicates much could be done to cut down the impact of homelessness as the figure still rises. Curates are now concentrating on the bar of unsmooth slumberer and young person homelessness through a new authorities homelessness scheme.

Filing Federal Timber Income Tax

Filing Federal Timber Income Tax Congress has provided timberland owners with some favorable tax provisions. Here are five tips designed to help you make the most of these provisions and avoid paying unnecessary income tax or making costly mistakes. This report is only an introduction. Consult the references and links provided for complete information on the topic. Also understand that we are discussing Federal income tax here. Many states have their own taxing systems which can be dramatically different from federal taxation and is usually an ad valorum, severance, or yield tax. Remember these five points when filing your Federal income taxes on timber: Establish Your Basis Its key to establish your basis as soon as possible and to keep good records. Basis is a measure of your investment in timber as opposed to what you paid for the land and other capital assets acquired. Record your cost of acquiring forestland or the value of inherited forest land as soon as possible. When selling your timber in the future, you can use these costs as a depletion deduction. Adjust or step up your basis for new purchases or investments. Step down your basis for sales or other disposals. Keep records to include a management plan and map, receipts for business transactions, diaries, and landowner meeting agendas. Report basis and timber depletion on IRS Form T,â€Å"Forest Activities Schedule, Part II. You are required to file a Form T if you claim some timber depletion deductions or sell timber. Owners with occasional sales may be excepted from this requirement, but it is considered prudent to file. File your years documentation using this electronic version Form T. Know Whats Deductible If you own a forest to make money, ordinary and necessary expenses incurred for managing forest land as a business or an investment are deductible even if there is no current income from the property. This includes if youve performed reforestation work or established significant timber stand regeneration costs. You can deduct outright the first $10,000 of qualified reforestation expenses during the taxable year. In addition, you can amortize (deduct), over 8 years, all reforestation expenses in excess of $10,000. (Due to a half-year convention, you can only claim one-half of the amortizable portion the first tax year, so it actually takes 8 tax years to recover the amortizable portion.) Do You Quality for Long-Term Capital Gains? If you sold standing timber during the taxable year held for over 12 months, Yyu may be able to benefit from the long-term capital gains provisions on timber sale income which will lower your tax obligation. When you sell standing timber either lump-sum or on a pay-as-cut basis, the net proceeds generally qualify as a long-term capital gain. Remember, you can qualify for this long-term capital gains treatment on timber only if you hold the timber over one year. You do not have to pay self-employment tax on capital gains. Did You Have a Timber Loss? If you had a timber loss during the taxable year, you can, in most cases, only take a deduction for (casualty) losses that are physical in nature and caused by an event or combination of events that has run its course (fires, floods, ice storms and tornadoes). Remember that your deduction for a casualty or qualifying non-casualty loss is limited to your timber basis, minus any insurance or salvage compensation. Make Required Reports to the IRS If you had federal or state cost-share assistance during the taxable year via receiving a form 1099-G, you are obligated to report it to the IRS. You may choose to exclude some or all of it but you must report it. But if the program qualifies for exclusion, you can choose either to include the payment in your gross income and make full use of beneficial tax provisions or to calculate and exclude the excludable amount. Excludable cost-share assistance includes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP payments only), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Several states also have cost-share programs that qualify for exclusion. Adapted from USFS, Cooperative Forestry, Tax Tips for Forest Landowners by Linda Wang, Forest Taxation Specialist and John L. Greene, Research Forester, Southern Research Station. Based on a 2011 report.

Why I Want to Return to School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Why I Want to Return to School - Essay Example Having served as a manager in the corporate world, I feel the dire need of acquainting myself with the right management skills. I deem that essential for progressing in the corporate world. I currently work as a security consultant and am placed in the middle management in the organization structure. When I was originally hired for this job, my plus point that counted more than my skills was that I was a woman. The company wanted to see how including a woman in the team would impact the clients. So although I was not quite skilled in management, I was offered a chance to prove them. I am optimistic that this degree will acquaint me with the necessary skills to help me become a subject matter expert in the security career field in the near future. Taking this course of management would enable me to optimize on my skills so that I provide my company with a reason to offer me a place on behalf of my skills rather than for my gender. Till now, all I have been concentrating upon my professional career. I tried being part of the Air Force and then tried being a civilian. Although I love the added freedom that comes with being a civilian, yet it is equally important for the civilians to keep advancing in their careers in order to remain competitive. In order to pursue my degree, I would have to manage the job along with studies and yet give time to my family as well. This would require me to make certain changes in my lifestyle. The biggest challenge for me is to be in the right place at the right time. Since I am divorced and my daughter is with me, I assume full responsibility for her. What makes the challenge even bigger for me is the fact that my daughter is only six years old. She is a toddler and requires full-time attention and care. In order for me to devote myself wholeheartedly to my degree, it is imperative that I find some objective solution to this problem.

Stage 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Stage 1 - Essay Example Annual reports comprise the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. This paper compares and contrasts the financial statements of Amazon, Apple, and eBay for the period of 2009-2013. Liquidity ratios are financial metrics used to determine a company’s ability to pay off its short-term debts obligations. A higher liquidity ratio indicates a company has a larger safety margin to cover short-term debts. The most widely used liquidity ratios are the quick ratio, current ratio, and the operating cash flow ratio. From the above analysis of the 2010-2013 financial statements of Amazon, Apple, and EBay, several comparisons on the performance of the firms can be deduced. Over the five-year period, all the three companies experience a dip in financial health. The current ratio of the three companies drops yearly from 1.33, 2.02, and 2.32 in 2009 to 1.07, 1.08, and 1.84 in 2013 for Amazon, Apple, and eBay respectively. EBay has the highest current ratio indicating that it is the financially strongest followed by Apple and then Amazon. The managers at Amazon are not generating enough returns on assets. This is indicated by the low return on assets over the five-year period. Managers at Apple are generating stable returns on assets with an average of 20% ROA over the five-year period. On the other hand, managers at eBay are generating unstable returns on assets as indicated by the volatile figures over the five-year period. Amazon’s average return on capital over the five-year period is 4% while Apple’s average return on capital is 33%. On the other hand, the average return on capital for eBay is 14%. From this figures, Apple managers at Apple are providing the highest return on capital followed by managers at eBay and finally managers at