Champion equality, diversity and inclusion Essay

1: Understand diversity, equality and inclusion in own area of responsibility Diversity means difference. Diversity recognizes that although people have things in common with each other, they are also different and unique in many ways. Diversity is about recognizing and valuing those differences. It therefore consists of visible and non-visible factors, which include personal characteristics such as background, culture, personality and work-style in addition to the characteristics that are protected under discrimination legislation in terms of race, disability, gender, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age. By recognizing and understanding our individual differences and embracing them, and moving beyond simple tolerance, we can create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued. Equality is about ‘creating a fairer society, where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential’ (DoH, 2004). Equality means being equal in status, rights and opportunities no matter what their race disability, gender, religion, beliefs and cultural differences, sexual orientation and age. see more:potential effects of barriers to equality and inclusion By eliminating prejudice and discrimination, we can deliver services that are personal, fair and diverse and a society that is healthier and happier.  Inclusion is a sense of belonging, feeling included, and feeling respected, valued for who you are, feeling a level of supportive energy and commitment from others so than you can achieve your best. Inclusion ensures everyone has access to resources, rights, goods and services, and is able to participate to activities. 1.1 Explain models of practice that underpin equality, diversity and inclusion in own area of responsibility There are 2 main models of practice underpinning equality diversity and inclusion: the â€Å"equal opportunities model† and the â€Å"difference and diversity model†. In my role of registered manager, I am responsible for ensuring that all individuals, their families, members of staff, care workers and all those I work in partnership with, are treated equally, with dignity and respect. Within the adult home care setting there is a range of policies which formally sets out guidelines and procedures for ensuring equality. The equal opportunity policy takes into account the rights of all individuals and groups within the settings (â€Å"equal opportunities model†). In my managerial role, I promote equality and uphold individual’s equality of opportunity, individual rights and choice, their privacy, individuality, independence, dignity and respect. I also promote equality of care, and confidentiality. In practice I support each individual wherever needed, inclusion, adapted to the individual needs. I support inclusion by ensuring that, whatever their background or situation, are able to participate fully in all aspects of the care being delivered. Inclusive practices ensure that everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging. Inclusion in our settings is about providing the same opportunities and access to high quality education as well as valuing differences as something we can learn and be empowered from rather than threatened (â€Å"difference and diversity model†). 1.2 Analyse the potential effects of barriers to equality and inclusion in own area of responsibility There are many barriers to diversity and inclusion. The biggest ones are generally prejudice, culture and upbringing and religious beliefs. Prejudice is â€Å"a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or personal experience† thus creating barriers to recognizing equality of rights for all. Cultural barriers can prevent, for example, consideration of spiritual,  relational or dietary needs that do not conform with expected traditional expectations. Religious belief, where different religious beliefs are not taken into account, and minorities are marginalized and not acknowledged.  Other significant barriers could be structural, institutional and personal: Structural, where circumstances create or result in barriers – for example in access to a ‘good education’ adequate housing, sufficient income to meet basic needs. Institutional, where policies, processes, practices sustain an organizational or service culture that excludes certain people or groups. Personal barriers, where staff can hold individual prejudices that influence their practice. These actions may be conscious, but they can often be unconscious or unwitting. Some vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals need more support to ensure their voice is heard and they are able to have power in the decision making process. Within our setting, if potential barriers to equality and inclusion arise, they are flagged and staff has a good understanding of individual customers. Barriers are then removed or minimized – the care delivery is adapted, person centered and where required resources or equipment provided. In order to minimize the effects of these potential barriers, we always ensure that: †¢ All care delivered is appropriate to the age and level of need. †¢ All staff are positively encouraged to deliver care to someone with complex needs in which they might not usually be engaged. †¢ All staff working with those using our service understands the policy on diversity and equality. †¢ We provide all literature in easy to read and large print to accommodate our customer’s needs. †¢ All practices and procedures in the setting are discussed and anything that is identified as  being discriminatory towards any group or individual is amended. †¢ Management has a sound knowledge of diversity, equality and anti-discrimination issues. †¢ We assess and raise the level of awareness amongst the team about diversity and equality issues and practice. The detrimental effect of barriers to diversity and inclusion can foster low morale and lack of motivation in our care workers and customers. Having an awareness of these potential barriers and their effects allows us to address them timely and effectively. 1. EQUALITY ACT 2010 Equality Act 2010 is the law which bans unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society. The act replaced previous antidiscrimination laws with a single act to make the law simpler and to remove inconsistencies. This makes the law easier for people to understand and comply with. The act also strengthened protection in some situations. The act covers nine protected characteristics, which cannot be used as a reason to treat people unfairly. Every person has one or more of the protected characteristics, so the act protects everyone against unfair treatment. The protected characteristics are: †¢ age †¢ disability †¢ gender reassignment †¢ marriage and civil partnership †¢ pregnancy and maternity †¢ race †¢ religion or belief †¢ sex †¢ sexual orientation The Equality Act sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone, such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation and failing to make a reasonable adjustment for a disabled  person. The act prohibits unfair treatment in the workplace, when providing goods, facilities and services, when exercising public functions, in the disposal and management of premises, in education and by associations (such as private clubs). The equality act will for instance impact on my role as manager with regards recruitment. You will need to ensure that my job specification does not discriminate against particular groups of applicants. When processing applications you should concentrate on an individual’s abilities to do the job, not their disabilities. Make adaptations to accommodate individual’s differences e.g. working hours, special equipment needs etc. The impact legislation and policy has on the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion within my setting is ensuring policy and procedures are written and adhered to and carried out within the setting, that all staff has an awareness of legislation and policy surrounding equality, diversity and inclusion in practice.

Adolescent Stage – Short Essay

Angelica Lopez Adolescent Stage The term adolescence is commonly used to describe the transition stage between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence is also equated to both the terms â€Å"teenage years† and â€Å"puberty. †I fully agree that this stage in the human life cycle is the most difficult. Adolescence is basically a time of storm and stress. This concept may be recognized in the various dimensions of self. These dimensions include: physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and ethical self.In the adolescence period, an individual’s hormones begin to react at various moments, hence, the emotional dimension is present causing feelings such as: love, happiness, sadness, and anxiety; these feelings may lead up to stressful situations which are difficult to handle. Storm, is recognized in the individual social dimension because he/she will be exposed to society more and various problems will arise depending on their level of socialization. The physical dimen sion is visible due to the fact that the adolescence body begins to develop which may be difficult depending on how the individual views his/her self with the changes.Intellectually, the teenager has the capacity to learn a variety of things; therefore, he/she will have a hard time adapting to the higher level of education. The ethical self is most important in my perspective because it defines an individual value system, and teenagers are faced with peer pressure at this stage; hence, arising at problems due to peer pressure with knowing what’s right and wrong. The various dimensions mentioned prior are key aspects in the development of an individual.The adolescence is face with more responsibilities for each dimension at this stage; consequently, allowing difficulties to arise as the child has to adopt to such a stage in his/her life. As you can see, many conflicts are possible at this stage of life as it is a major transition that occurs for a child. To conclude, I believe it is defiantly the most difficult stage in the human life cycle because I am experiencing such a stage, and I feel that the amount of hardships that I must endure has prepared me for life’s journey .

John Sloane’s Societal Criticism

Art often serves as a criticism of society of a specific time period. A prime example of this premise is John Sloan’s Sixth Avenue & 30th Street, New York City. This piece depicts the intersection of these two streets in early 20th century New York. In the foreground stands a drunken woman holding her pale of beer. To the right, two prostitutes stare at her and further to the right, a group of gentlemen stare at them. This kind of scene was common among the seedier streets of New York at the time though many did not understand how common it was.Sloan, as part of the Ashcan School made it his goal to realistically depict scenes of urban life. He did, however hold sympathy towards the poor who would have inhabited these kinds of streets. He sympathized with them and believed that their poor state was caused by a society that had abandoned them. This idea of his is clearly represented in Sixth Avenue & 30th Street. The group in the foreground of the painting, including the drunka rd and the prostitutes, would often be seen as negative by most members of society.Sloan, however, takes exception to this. He depicts them sympathetically, giving them a certain level of dignity that other painters wouldn’t have. He believed that these individuals had been abandoned and exploited by society, and forced to take up such low roles. As Sloan was a member of the Socialist party, this came as no surprise. The gentleman to the right of this group serve as Sloan’s societal criticism. These men represent the well-off of society.They stare at the unfortunate individuals in the foreground, feeling no sympathy but only amused at their state. This represented the overall attitude held by these kinds of people, which, Sloan felt, was a certain unwillingness to assist the worse-of members of society. On the surface, this piece depicts a standard realist scene of a New York. However, on a deeper level, the piece is a criticism of what he felt was an unfair, exploitat ive society, which has been a common theme in art throughout history and especially of the time.

ICT and Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ICT and Internet - Essay Example Meeting with friends and social contacts have been greatly intensified through Internet by using E-mail, Internet chat sessions and videophones (Livingstone S, 2002). Edutainment is delivering education and entertainment to children at their doorsteps. While this may be the scenario in the urban elite society, the rural environment is changing in a different way. The rural citizen is also getting well connected in the networked society and a new concept of urban society is taking shape. Earlier, a citizen in the distant area has to travel to pay taxes, bills etc to the government or to receive revenue documents, birth certificate and the like (James Curran, 2005). Internet Protocol (IP) has changed the computer technology, portals are created abiding Internet protocols. Programming has reached a sophisticated stage where programming languages like Java, PHP, Microsoft products like Asp.net, Visual Studio, MS Office were being used to develop web sites and portals that have become an interface between service providers and end users. Travelling portals offer different discounts for different destinations and allow customers to send their feed back via email (Raab, S., Chandra, W, 2005). Community sites Orkut, Facebook and blog sites like Blogspot helped the users not only to be in touch with each but also express their views on different subjects (James Slevin, 1999).

Financial Managment about (Mergers & Acquisitions) Essay

Financial Managment about (Mergers & Acquisitions) - Essay Example Periodic environmental appraisal and organizational appraisal lead to generation of strategic alternatives. The strategic alternatives are then evaluated in the context of organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Expansion strategy is followed when an organization wishes to broaden the scope of its customer groups, functions, alternative technologies etc. Merger and Acquisition (or takeover) strategies basically involve the external approach to expansion. In this process basically two or occasionally more than two entities are involved. Mergers take place when the objectives of the buyer company and the seller company are matched to a large extent, while takeovers or acquisitions are usually based on the strong motivation of the buyer company. Takeovers are frequently classified as hostile takeovers (which are against the wishes of the acquired company) and friendly takeovers (by mutual consent in which case they could also be described as a merger). The purported key principle behind buying a company is to create shareholder value over and above that of the sum of the two companies. In a nutshell the key factors leading to M& A are; A merger is a combination of two or more organizations in which one acquires the assets and liabilities of the other in exchange for shares or cash, or both the organizations are dissolved, and assets and liabilities are combined and new stock is issued. For the organization which is acquired it is merger. For the organization which acquires another, it is acquisition. If both organizations dissolve their identity to create a new organization, it is called consolidation or amalgamation. Mergers are also classified as; Horizontal Mergers: ... For the organization which acquires another, it is acquisition. If both organizations dissolve their identity to create a new organization, it is called consolidation or amalgamation. Mergers are also classified as; Horizontal Mergers: When there is a combination of two or more organizations in the same business, or of companies engaged in similar aspects of production or marketing processes. For example a steel making company combining with another steel making company. Vertical Mergers: When there is a combination of two or more organizations, not necessarily in the same business, which creates complimentary situation either in terms of supply of materials (inputs) or marketing of goods and services (outputs). For example a footwear manufacturing company combining with a leather tannery or with a chain of shoe retail stores. Concentric Mergers: When there is a combination of two or more organizations related to each other either in terms of customer functions, customer groups or alternative technologies used. For example a computer motherboard making company combining with a peripheral devices making company. Conglomerate Mergers: When there is a combination of two or more organizations unrelated to each other, either in terms of customer functions, customer groups, or alternative technologies used. For example an IT company joining hands with a footwear manufacturing company. For mergers to take place two organizations have to act. Both these organization have certain set of reasons for taking this step and accordingly they go into preparations and negotiations. Four key aspects to getting acquisitions right; Pre-deal phase: It includes negotiations and rigorous due diligence like business due diligence, people due diligence, accounting due diligence

Swot Analysis for my writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Swot Analysis for my writing - Essay Example   My writing faces a number of weaknesses, which act as a drawback to providing quality content on most occasions. Firstly, I frequently make several spelling mistakes in my writing, with a relatively slower pace in solving the problem. Use of vocabulary has also been a weakness, as the majority of my writing lack an adequate vocabulary to match the great content I usually present. Another weak element in my writings is the use of relatively long sentences that sometimes make it difficult for the reader to fully understand my desired information. Incorrect grammar structure has always been a major drawback to my writings, which are usually attributed to engaging in writing when not of what to write. Opportunities In order to improve my areas that I am weak in my writings, I need to embark on an extensive use of various elements essential for providing excellent writing skills. Firstly, I should make more thorough use of the English dictionary. The internet is another crucial resource I should increase its use in order to achieve better skills of writing. Additionally, effectively following writings of teachers can generally improve my writings, as they provide easier and detailed guides that can positively help me out. Another helpful option that can act as an effective tool in improving my writing experience is the extensive use of the Writing Center, since its platform that aids many students to provide quality writings. Lastly, I should make more frequent consultation with our instructor while at school or online.

The war between Samsung and Apple Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The war between Samsung and Apple - Essay Example instance, California there was a ruling by the jury stipulating that Samsung is to compensate Apple damages amounting to 1.05 billion for infringement, whereby dismissing allegations made by Samsung (Helena,1). There are intentions by Samsung to seek an appeal for the ruling, though it would result to reduced choices, less innovation and increase in prices. In terms of the company’s marketing strategies, they select a range of products through which a marketing strategy can be implemented focusing on supply and demand and an aim of raising the attractiveness of the products, which results to increased sales turn over (Botha, Strydom and Brink, 29). Apple has made the necessary effort of adapting the strategy of releasing its products such as iPhone 5, which has been an effective strategy of marketing. Customers of Apple products are always waiting to acquire the latest products from Apple Company. Moreover, they have a strategy of regulating volumes of iPhone 5 that are suppli ed to the market, in order to ensure that it is below the demand. On the other hand, Apple needs a reform of their marketing strategy, by ensuring that they are entering the market using attractive features on their products, which are no present in their competitors. Marketing theory of 4ps is necessary in comparing products from Samsung and Apple; whereby there are some advantages of Apple’s iPhone 5 over Samsung Galaxy S3, which entail the size of the screen, resolution, life of the battery. However, Samsung has exploited the hype of iPhone 5 launching, by using the chance to inform their customers about the features of Galaxy S3 using the media and the channels offered by the social media. Samsung had ensured that are stores in main cities at the time when iPhone 5 is being launched,... In terms of the company’s marketing strategies, they select a range of products through which a marketing strategy can be implemented focusing on supply and demand and an aim of raising the attractiveness of the products, which results in increased sales turnover (Botha, Strydom and Brink, 29). Apple has made the necessary effort of adopting the strategy of releasing its products such as iPhone 5, which has been an effective strategy for marketing. Customers of Apple products are always waiting to acquire the latest products from Apple Company. Moreover, they have a strategy of regulating volumes of iPhone 5 that are supplied to the market, in order to ensure that it is below the demand. On the other hand, Apple needs a reform of their marketing strategy, by ensuring that they are entering the market using attractive features on their products, which are no present in their competitors.Marketing theory of 4ps is necessary for comparing products from Samsung and Apple; whereby there are some advantages of Apple’s iPhone 5 over Samsung Galaxy S3, which entail the size of the screen, resolution, life of the battery. However, Samsung has exploited the hype of iPhone 5 launching, by using the chance to inform their customers about the features of Galaxy S3 using the media and the channels offered by the social media. Samsung had ensured that are stored in main cities at the time when iPhone 5 is being launched, whereby they used a clear message for their customers.

Strategic plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic plan - Essay Example It is in this regard that this essay is written to evaluate strategic planning at Cornell University in terms of The most important external environmental issues that Cornell University has to contend with are as follows: (1) the financial crisis, (2) political policies regarding government support; and (3) private donations. The global financial crisis would have a profound effect in the strategic plans of Cornell University in terms of its effect to the number of enrollees. As companies become affected by this crisis, employment is drastically altered with worst scenarios leading to unemployment. If parents get unemployed, the enrollment of children would definitely be affected. Also, private donation would potentially be lessened due to the financial crunch. Concurrently, political policies regarding government support would also be affected by the financial crisis. There could be possibilities of cut in government budget allocating funds for educational support. Cornell has an outstanding faculty and record of academic excellence that promote the best traditions of research and scholarship while engaging with the critical issues of the contemporary world (Cornell University 2009). â€Å"Student demand for entry to Cornell is high and continues to grow, as does the talent of our student body at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. The universitys location and academic traditions have enabled the creation of exceptional intellectual community between and among faculty and students.† (ibid.) Due to the challenges identified in the environment, Cornell University has to address the following issues: â€Å"(1) As is true for other institutions of higher education, Cornell must seek new revenue sources to avoid unsustainable tuition increases and/or limits to student access and to faculty and student achievement; (2) Cornell competes for students, faculty, and staff with outstanding universities, some of

Immigration in the United States, information on the National Term Paper

Immigration in the United States, information on the National Immigration Policy and will need tocreate a new policy proposal fo - Term Paper Example Illegal immigration to the US A. Magnitude, composition and dispersal B. Conflicting public views about illegal immigrants C. Economic views about illegal immigrants IV. Illegal immigrants and the American Economy A. Type of immigrants required by the US 1. Immigrants with low schooling 2. Highly skilled immigrants B. How illegal immigrants serve the interests of the national economy V. Recommended Policy Proposal A. Provisions for immigrants with varied terms of stay in the US B. How to evaluate the recommended policy proposal VI. Expected outcomes and benefits of the recommended policy proposal VII. Conclusion National Immigration Policy and Illegal Immigration Introduction Illegal immigration in the United States of America is an issue that has evolved into a source of prime concern for the policy makers throughout the nation. Varied monitoring agencies and concerned institutions are of the opinion that in the last three decades there has been a gargantuan rise in the number and p roportion of illegal immigrants in the country (Haerens 11). In 2006, the Congress authorized and put in place several measures with the intention to tighten the enforcement mechanisms and procedures on the US borders, and especially along the US-Mexico border (Haerens 36). There is a broad consensus in the country pertaining to the benefits and advantages of legal immigration. However, there exists also a gradually building up opinion amongst the varied strata of the American political and civic life that the nation could enhance its economic welfare and growth by controlling and reducing the number of illegal immigrants sneaking in through its borders. However, nobody has ever bothered to pragmatically analyze and weigh the relative benefits and disadvantages associated with legal and illegal immigration. In an economic context, it would be beneficial for the country to allow for immigrants whose skills are in a short supply and whose contribution in terms of taxes to the national exchequer is considerable. This would not only include the highly educated and skilled professionals like IT experts and technology related engineers, but would also include low skilled workers that could serve the labor starved economic sectors like food processing, construction industry and cleaning services. It would be surprising to realize that the flow of illegal immigration is more in consonance with the nation’s market trends and economic cycles (Mills 42). Common sense has proven time and again that the levels of illegal immigration in the US do always rise during the boom times and the flow of illegal immigrants is mostly directed at the places where there is a strong demand for labor (Mills 34). In contrast, legal immigration is determined and controlled by varied time consuming bureaucratic and legal hassles, which to a great extent dissociate the flow and composition of the legal immigration from the national markets trends and requirements. Besides, the selecti on of more than half of the legal immigrants is linked to the fact that they already have close relatives residing in the US. So irrespective of the need for coordination between the US economic requirements and the national immigration policy, there exist grave discrepancies between the education and skill composition of the legal immigrants and the needs of the local employment trends and preferences (Mills 53). Even those legal immigrants who come to the US on the invitation of some specific employer are subject to time consuming visa

Managing in a global context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Managing in a global context - Essay Example Fashions diffuse from region to another without encountering any barrier. On the political context, globalization has yielded democratic governance hence increasing citizens’ participation, as well as good governance. One of the most outstanding impacts of globalization in relation to economic aspects is its effects on the automobile industry. For the past three decades, the world has realized a revolution in the automobile industry in terms of production, purchase, use, and repair among others. There is a change in the way people access motor vehicles today compared to previous years when production and purchasing were pegged on certain parameters such as location and prices. Today, the production of the automobile takes place in nearly every developed nation. People no longer look to the East for the production, but most countries produce motor vehicles. Similarly, it has changed and influenced the automobile industry in the developing nations as well as the marketing strate gies. The rest of the paper will discuss the influence of globalization on markets and marketing strategies, global production and supply chain, current developments and key players among other issues. Globalization has greatly influenced the markets and marketing strategies of major players in the automobile industry. The major players include General Motors (GM), Toyota, Ford, Honda, BMW, Chrysler, and Volkswagen (Sturgeon 2009). All these key players operate in the global marketplace and compete fiercely for market share. The process of globalization has eased the production of vehicles due to increased sales. For instance, globalization promoted the establishment of overseas facilities and merger opportunities between giant automobile makers. This has led to increased production as well as marketing. The process of globalization has facilitated the key players to market their brands as well as to tailor the

Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Essay Example for Free

Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Essay Divine Power and Divine Retribution in Jose Saramago’s Blindness Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Often, writers in literature pilfer from the world of reality in their quest to present compelling characters and gripping plots. Nonetheless, others replicate the real world in an abstract sense to sensitize or communicate the malicious and malignant threats, epidemics and plagues prevalent in the world. Such episodes of these phenomena inflict mass threats and destructions, nefarious villains as well as innocent victims who apparel and enthrall novelists. In some instances, divine retribution follows the nefarious villains as well as grapples the ignorant innocent victims. This is well presented by Jose Saramago in his epic novel, Blindness. This paper explores divine power as well as divine retribution in the book Blindness by Jose Saramago arguing that divinity intervention follows in instituting justice. Besides, divinity intervenes to punish ignorance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Indeed, the novel does not state explicitly that the onus of the swiftly hitting epidemic is resultant from the hands of a divine power such as God. However, the author does not resist writing on a divine power, God. This is because Jose Saramago introduces and trails the action of the churches in supplementing the government’s effort to contain the situation. Moreover, there are multiple references to church leaders all observable in the novel. Besides, Jose Saramago’s presentation in the novel suggests that divine retribution followed a nefariously villainous person. He or she was inflicted or struck with blindness. Additionally, it is interesting to note that literal authors cannot write a masterful work in a spiritual, religious or cultural vacuum. Deductively, it is evident that Saramago alludes to divine intervention and divine retribution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Interestingly, the Blindness novel depicts a thrilling plot with an incessantly straying narrator from presentation of dialogues and facts to reflection on moral academic and ethical analysis at great lengths. Divine intervention and retribution features at the onset of the story in the first page. It is here that the author dexterously delineates in detail the expected features at an ordinary road intersection. These include flickering of lights and pedestrians crossing the road. Everything is a routine, and the events unfold as usual. However, a car at the intersection does not move or give way to the traffic behind, in spite of the flickering green light, creating an unusual situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author is innate to this situation and goes on to consider rational motives behind the car’s stillness. He states, â€Å"there have to be some mechanical flaws, a loose accelerator, a stuck gear level, suspension problems† (1-2) and many other listings of things that could have gone wary. This situation does not go unnoticed because a bystander comes to the attention of the driver. He opens the door catching the attention of the driver as well as the reader. It then dawns to the reader that the driver was struck with blindness. This is rather bellowing and discomforting. It is not incidental that blindness just hit the driver cum blind. The cause of the blindness can only be explained in terms of divine retribution or intervention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Saramago twists and turns the novel literally betwixt calamities. The â€Å"Good Samaritan† that came to the aid of the blind man later emerges that he is a thief. On driving the old man home, he steals his car. It is rather ironical that the good natured helper turns to be an immodest, insensitive and hands down thief. Indeed, it is immoral for an able person to take advantage of a handicapped person and exploit them taking advantage of their helplessness. The reader is appareled by the thief and only wishes for divine punishment. Therefore, the thief’s catching of blindness comes as a sigh of relief to the reader for what he or she considers as an immoral and ungracious act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The scene of people being struck with blindness becomes an incessant phenomenon in the following pages. The narrator trails the lives of victims, and it emerges that they all had crossed paths one way or another. It is here that the narrator philosophizes divine retribution and intervention as calamity strikes the nation ravaging and resulting to outbursts among people with â€Å"I’m blind, I’m blind† uproars. In a series of skits between philosophical argument and conventional wisdom, the narrator presents a vivid account of the actions and motives of the escort and the car thief. Finally, blindness strikes these characters long before the narrator can conclude on the cause of the plague. Interestingly blindness strikes immediately without any bouts to announce its arrival. Divine retribution causes a fierily spread of the plague without a scientific explanation or physical symptoms. Blindness strikes swiftly, strange ly and impartially. For instance, the doctor realizes that he too is blind while watching television. The plague replicates in nature and strangeness to ancient floods and plagues that were acts of divine retribution such as in the bible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A clout to divine retribution is protracted from the doctor’s wife. She is the only victim of blindness who separates human flaws and godly affairs thereby attributing the epidemic to divinity. According to her, â€Å"this is unbearable filth of the soul of a human. Of the human body† (279). According to the narrator, â€Å"she said, as if to correct this metaphysical thought, then she added, it is all the same† (Saramago 279). The reader is left the quarry of the thoughts of divine power and retribution. Arguably though, why does divine power not punish the malicious and nefarious villains, as well? Thomas Talbott in his article, â€Å"Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Judgment† argues that retributivist punishment theory. He justifids punishment by questioning if the punishment befits the error or crime committed. Therefore, punishment is not a rehabilitation or crime deterrence tool but a justice and equalit y feature (Talbott, 154).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Just like other narrations, the Blindness narrator is obsessed with the behavior of people when put under extreme conditions. It is interesting to see the huge and expansive wary and panic among people following the blindness plague. Indeed, such a mega scale panic and social disarray contends the prevalence of a divine power with much stronger abilities than man can think. Different institutions in the society fall and crumble thanks to the plague for fear of the plague. The military cannot contain the massively and swiftly spreading plague create a heat of battle and confusion amidst the crisis. The government is also initiated into the crisis. It imposes a quarantine effort to control the contagion unsuccessfully resulting to collapse of the media, military and businesses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Divinity fabling is also evident in the identity of the characters in the novel. For instance, the author does not give them real names but rather opts to identify them in generic form. For instance, there is the blind man, the Good Samaritan cum the car thief, the doctor, the doctor’s wife among many others. The book begins with the first blind man trailing him as his eyesight elopes while at an intersection, in his car. The first blind man is rescued by the Good Samaritan who takes him home. Later on, the good Samaritan steals his car and eventually loses sight. Indeed, divine retribution strikes and the thief is blinded just like other noble souls. The level of blindness infliction is as a resultant of divinity. It trails people who have crossed paths. For instance, the doctor was struck with blindness. Interestingly, he had attempted to treat the first blind man. People who had sat at the waiting room also got struck with blindn ess.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Saramago presents the proclamations of the churches and the church leaders, as well. They preached the end times claiming that the world was coming to an end. The narrator states, â€Å"they were proclaiming the end of the world†. He adds that they preached, â€Å"redemption through the visions of the seventh days, through penitence, †¦the purity and sanctity of the lymph, the black cat’s blood, the sleep of the shadow, the logic of anthropophagy, the rising of sea, painless castration and mainly divine tattoos..† (Saramago, 298). This presents the existence of divine power that claimed the people. References Cooper, Kate, and Thomas Talbot. Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Judgment. Retribution, repentance, and reconciliation: papers read at the 2002 Summer Meeting and the 2003 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Published for the Ecclesiastical History Society by the Boydell Press, 2004. 154. Print. Saramago, JoseÃÅ' . Blindness: a novel. New York: Harcourt, 1998. Print. Source document

Someone Special Essay Example for Free

Someone Special Essay Those who truly know us for who we really are; are the people that have the most influence in our lives, such as our parents. In my case it is my mother who has greatly impacted my life. She has stood beside me through thick and thin. I know that as long as she is here on this earth, she will stand beside me to love and support me unconditionally as she has done all these years. It is because of her that I am the person I am today. Behind my choices, character, my values, and behind me, proudly stands my mother. All throughout my childhood I have been closer to my mom than I am to my father. She has been an amazing friend to me, but an even better parental figure. Laying down the rules for me and establishing boundaries when needed. It is the love and respect I have for my mother that I am cautious of the choices I make. I cherish her approval and fear of her disappointment. I feel confident that all the life lesions she has taught me and the advice she gives me, will continue to shape my standards and values in life. My mother raised my brother and I the way my grandmother raised her. I have been taught that honesty, integrity, hard work, and respect should be constituted into daily living, and to get what we want in life, we have to earn it. Read more:  Who is your admired person essay Although I wasn’t brought up in a life of splendor, I acknowledge that I live a comfortable lifestyle due to the hard work and effort my mother put into her life. Her perseverance is an example I want to follow. Coming from a large family with very little education and financial resources, she moved away from home with one goal in mind, and that was to make a better way of life for us. And that she did. With that, she was able to provide my brother and I the luxuries that others didn’t have. For that I am extremely grateful for. Now that I am old enough to understand that my mother was able to overcome adversity, and accomplish everything she has, inspires my every day to make myself a better person. I greatly admire her strength and strong will, and I am extremely proud to be her son. And in my mother’s words, one of her favorite quotes is: â€Å"we only get one chance to live our lives, so it is up to us to take what we have and move forward in life. Our future is not set in stone; we create the path of our own destiny.†

Rape And Issues In The World Today Criminology Essay

Rape And Issues In The World Today Criminology Essay Rape is a huge issue that plagues the world today. It is a worldwide issue, and is not specific to any one country. Rape also can impact anyone at any time. It is not specific to any one neighborhood, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or financial status. Rapes continue to happen frequently, and yet many are not reported to the police. Rape is widely thought to be the most underreported crime. There are many stigmas that go along with rape, so it makes it difficult to come forward. Also, it is sometimes difficult to prove rape when there are no physical signs. The victim may also fear being further victimized through the investigative process, so the crime is not reported. Furthermore, with the easy availability of illegal drugs, date rape has become more commonplace. Although date rape can occur without drugs, many times people use illegal substances to render their victims powerless against their advances. This is one form of date rape. In these cases, the victims do not even know what happened to them, and if they were even raped. Some of the drugs can create loss of memory, so it makes it impossible for the victim to express what happened. There are many different drugs used for date rape. Some, like alcohol, are not illegal substances. However, many of the drugs used in date rape are illegal substances. Rape can leave the victim feeling powerless. Many victims experience rape trauma syndrome, which can severely impact their lives. With the prevalence of rape in all communities, it is crucial for people to stay vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Although it is impossible to ensure complete security, there are ways to maintain safety. It is important for everyone to make their own drinks so that no one can slip any drugs into them. Also, a buddy system can be very beneficial to help everyone stay safe, and not end up a bad situation. Reasons Why Rape is Underreported Rape is one of the most underreported crimes. The Uniform Crime Report is an annual report that includes offenses reported to law enforcement agencies at the city, county, and state levels (Meadows, 2010, p. 5). This report details the offenses that are reported to the authorities. The National Crime Victimization Survey is a source of data that recognized incidents not reported to the police and includes a detailed report of crime incidents, victims involved, and trends affecting victims (Meadows, 2010, p. 9). Both the Uniform Crime Report and the National Crime Victimization Survey include information about rape, yet they each report drastically different numbers. There are significantly more rapes reported in the National Crime Victimization Survey than in the Uniform Crime Report. It has been reported by the U.S. Department of Justice that only 31% of all rapes are reported to the authorities (Arrigo, 2006, p. 108). This creates a problem in the criminal justice field because it is difficult to put a stop to rape when most people do not report their victimization. There are many reasons why rape is underreported. The National Crime Victimization Survey found that the most common reason given by victims of violent crime (including rape) for not reporting a crime was that it was a private or personal matter (Meadows, 2010, ps. 9-10). Other reasons why victims may not report rape include fear of reprisal, embarrassment, or the belief that the victim may not be believed (Meadows, 2010, p. 10). These issues all contribute to the underreporting of rape. Rape is a profoundly different type of crime as the attacker is using their body as a weapon. Instead of merely stealing some personal item that can be replaced, the attacker takes something from the victims body and mind, which can never be replaced. This ordeal may only last a few minutes, but feels like hours to the victim as they wonder what will happen next. Also, it can last longer in cases of gang rapes. Once the event is finally over and the victim realizes they have survived, they may not want to talk about it with anyone, and especially not law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Rape truly is the most personal of all crimes. Many people do not talk about sexual matters at all, so they are even less likely to discuss rape. If someone was raised in an environment where they did not talk about sexual things, they will be less likely to report a rape as an adult. It is difficult enough for the victim to get through the actual experience, and victims do not want to have to relive it several times with many different people. Unfortunately, that is the only way to bring justice to the attacker. If the victim comes forward about the attack, they will have to talk to the police at least once, talk to the prosecutor, and talk to the judge or jury depending on the type of case. It would not be as difficult if the victim only had to discuss the issue once, but they continually have to discuss it with different people, all of whom are strangers to them. Rape can occur between a stranger and a victim, but many sexual assaults, however, occur between victims and offenders who know each other (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). This leads the victim to fear retaliation if they do report the attack. Many rapists may even threaten the victim to prevent them from going to the police. Victims take these threats seriously because the attacker has already shown their violent nature, so they may be capable of much worse. In the case of date rape, the attacker may know where the victim lives and works, and this makes their threats more dangerous because they know how to find the victim. A survey of college women showed that 38% reported sexual victimization that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, yet only 1 in 25, or 4% reported the incident to the police (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). This is just a small illustration of how many rapes go unreported, and how many rapists are free to rape again. Rape victims also have to fear the embarrassment that a rape case can bring. When someone does report a rape and it goes to court, the defense may try to prove it was consensual, or that the victim wanted it. Also, the police officers may ask questions that appear to blame the victim. Although there are laws protecting rape victims to a certain extent, there is still embarrassment that goes along with reporting a rape. Many date rape victims are reluctant to report the act for fear that their own behavior will be scrutinized by others (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). This may be because many of the victims of date rape had been drinking or otherwise involved in some type of festivity when the rape occurred (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Because of their partying, victims may not want to come forward. This also brings embarrassment into their family. It the rape is reported to the police, the family will find out eventually, and the victim may not want them to know. They may want to protect their fam ily, or are simply too embarrassed about the attack. They may not want their parents to know the terrible thing that was done to them. They also may feel partially responsible because they had too much to drink. Ultimately, they do not want to have to talk to complete strangers about what someone did to their own body. Rape is also underreported because victims fear they will not be believed. Many rape cases end up being he said, she said because there is no physical evidence. If there are no bruises or cuts on the victim, it is difficult to prove rape. The emergency room doctor can do a rape kit shortly after the attack to see if there is any evidence. However, even if bodily fluids are found on the victim, that only proves that there was a sexual encounter, it does not prove whether or not it was a consensual act. Many rapists may use verbal threats to get the victim to comply, so there may be no physical marks or bruising. Some women fight back, but others do not because of fear. Rapists may have a weapon they threaten the victims with, so it may be smarter not to fight back in that case. However, this makes it difficult to prosecute. If victims know that there are no bruises or cuts on their body, and it will be difficult to win a case, they many not even report it. Some victims may not report rapes because they do not trust the police. This is especially seen in certain cultures that exhibit a distrust of law enforcement. This may be for many reasons. They may have grown up in a low-income environment where many people participated in illegal activities. They also may have had negative personal experiences with police officers. Also, if they are in the country illegally, they are less likely to report a crime. They may also have a friend or family member who was arrested, and that makes them dislike the police as well. It can also be difficult for victims to come forward regarding sexual assault due to the large percentage of male law enforcement officers. When someone reports a rape, they are asked extremely precise and intimate questions about what exactly the attacker did to them. They have to give details about the encounter that may be difficult to talk about, and it is even worse when the victim is female, and has to discuss it with a male. Although males can be victims of sexual assault, many victims are females, and they have to talk to male officers about their sexual assault. It is uncomfortable for many people to talk to a stranger about anything sexual, so to discuss a sexual assault is even worse. This is made even more challenging as officers can sometimes seem to be uncaring. The officers job is to collect the information about the crime. They are not responsible for consoling the victim, so they may come across as being abrupt or unsympathetic. This only causes the victim more pain as they have to discuss the assault and feel like they are not getting any sympathy. These are only a few of the reasons why rape is underreported. Victims have their own reasons for not reporting rapes, including fear of embarrassment, fear of retaliation, and the fear that they will not be believed. They also may not want to discuss this due to the personal nature of the crime. Victims may just want to move on with their lives and act like the assault never happened. What is date rape? There are many different types of rape. One type is called stranger rape. This is when a complete stranger rapes someone. These rapists often use weapons and threats of violence to gain the victims submission (Arrigo, 2006). However, the most common type of rape is called date rape. This occurs when someone is raped by a person they know. They may be on a date with this person, or be socializing with them at a party. This is extremely common, and often happens on college campuses. Date rape can also include when the assailant uses some type of drugs to make the victim powerless against the attack. Most rapes occur between victims and attackers who are known to each other. In fact, among victims 18-29 years old, two-thirds had a prior relationship with the rapist (Meadows, 2010, p. 97). Many rapists attack ex-girlfriends, casual acquaintances, or people they are currently dating. These rapes are especially difficult as the attacker is someone the victim knows and trusts. The victim may even have to see the rapist around town if they decide not to report the rape. In addition, studies on college campuses have indicated that date rape is increasing (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). An alarming survey shows that more than half of a representative sample of more than 1,000 female students at a large urban university had experienced some form of unwanted sex (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Of these reported acts, twelve percent were done by casual dates, while 43 percent were done by steady dating partners (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). One study found that many women raped by men they know do not think of themselves as rape victims (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Perhaps they think the rape was simply a misunderstanding. Still another study shows that date rape primarily occurs when the date was unplanned or the woman had been picked up in a social setting (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Further studies have shown that 1 in 4 college women . . . [have] been raped or [have] suffered an attempted rape (Arrigo, 2006, p.109). These studies show the frequency of date rape occurring on colleg e campuses. Many researchers have attempted to determine why date rape is so prevalent on college campuses. Mary P. Koss is considered to be one of the most prolific researchers on rape (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Koss conducted much research on college campuses, and found that 73% of the rape victims reported that the offender was drinking (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Some researchers point to the college lifestyle as the reason why date rape is so common. Fraternities can contribute to the formation of attitudes that and behaviors that objectify women and normalize sexual coercion (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Fraternity parties have a long history of underage drinking and random sexual acts. This is a problem when the sexual acts are not consensual. Furthermore, fraternities are about brotherhood, and this creates a preoccupation with loyalty, group protection and security, use of alcohol as a weapon, involvement in violence and physical force, and an emphasis on competitiveness and superiori ty (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). This brotherhood mentality makes it difficult for anyone to come forward if they witness anything inappropriate. Even if a victim comes forward, the attackers entire fraternity house may come to his defense, making it difficult to win a criminal case. Date rape is far too common amongst young people today. Victims do not typically come forward to report what happened, which leaves the rapist able to do the same thing to yet another victim. The partying lifestyle found at some colleges contributes to the rape problem. Parties can end up being a place where drunken men force themselves upon others, who are unable to resist. The victim is left feeling helpless and afraid, and in some cases may not even know what happened. Drugs Used in Date Rape Sometimes rapists use drugs to make their victim drowsy or unable to fight back. There are many different types of drugs used in this way. Rohypnol, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (more commonly known as GHB), and ketamine are just a few date rape drugs that may be slipped into an unwilling participants drink. These drugs are used for date rape because they produce prolonged sedation, a feeling of well-being, and short-term memory loss (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). In addition, many drugs on the market have no particular color, smell, or taste, which makes it easy to add to a victims drink without anyone knowing (Meadows, 2010, p. 99). Because these drugs can create short-term memory loss, the victim may not even know if they were raped or not. Rohypnol is a drug prescribed for insomnia, and is also used as preoperative anesthetic (Meadows, 2010). It also has medical uses as a muscle relaxant, hypnotic, anti-convulsant, sedative, and anti-anxiety medication (Schmalleger, 2009). Rohypnol is the trade name for flunitrazepam. It is a benzodiazepine, and is a central nervous system depressant. Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault (Meadows, 2010, p. 99). It also can create anterograde amnesia, which makes the victim not remember anything that happened while under the influence of the drug. The effects of Rohypnol can be felt within about thirty minutes of ingesting the drug (Weiss, 2008). The effects of Rohypnol can last from one to eight hours (Schmalleger, 2009). This can make the entire night a blur, and the victim may not remember anything about the night. A further danger of Rohypnol is that it can be lethal when it is mixed with alcoholic beverages or other depressants. This coul d cause a date rape to turn into a murder. This drug is not approved for use in the United States. However, the drug became more commonplace in the 1990s for date rape purposes, and became known as a roofie (Meadows, 2010). Gamma hydroxybutyric acid is another central nervous system depressant. GHB, also called Liquid X, has been used since the 1990s in the United States for its euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body-building) effects (Meadows, 2010, p. 100). This drug was actually sold in health food stores in the 1980s and the early 1990s (Meadows, 2010). Like Rohypnol, GHB can have negative effects if taken with alcoholic beverages. It can cause breathing problems and nausea (Meadows, 2010). GHB can take effect within fifteen minutes of being drugged (Weiss, 2008). The effects of GHB can last between three and six hours (Meadows 2010). Some of the effects of GHB use are slurred speech, disorientation, drunken behavior without odor of alcohol, [and] impaired memory of events (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 540). Also, a study was conducted with 17 GHB users being interviewed about their drug use. This study found that while on the drug, 65% of users had an increased sexual desire, and 47% had decreased sexual inhibitions (Lee Levounis, 2008). Some of the subjects even mentioned that GHB could cause poor decision making in sexual situations (Lee Levounis, 2008, p. 245). This further illustrates why assailants would use this drug. If the victim is given too much GHB, the effects of overdose include shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma, and possible death (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 540). This drug can be very dangerous. Ketamine, also known as Special K, is another date rape drug. Ketamine is used in the United States as an anesthetic, and is predominantly used on animals in veterinary offices (Justice.com, 2011). According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, recent press reports indicate that a significant number of veterinary clinics are being robbed specifically for their ketamine stock (Justice.com, 2011). Thieves are stealing the ketamine and selling it as a drug to party-goers. It can come in a clear liquid form, so it is very easy to slip into drinks undetected. This drug is often used as a club drug, so it is easily accessible to students who may be planning a date rape. Some of the effects of ketamine are delirium, amnesia, depression, and long-term memory and cognitive difficulties (Justice.com, 2011). This drug, like GHB and Rohypnol, leaves the victim unsure of what has taken place. The effects of ketamine can be felt almost immediately (Weiss, 2008). Also, the victim m ay be aware of what is taking place, but unable to stop it (Weiss, 2008). One date rape drug that is commonly used at parties is alcohol. According to the National Womens Health Information Center, any drug that can affect judgment and behavior can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity (Weiss, 2008). This definition includes alcohol. Even though the victim may be willingly ingesting the alcohol, someone may take advantage of them once they are drunk. Alcohol can make it difficult to think clearly, harder to tell if a situation is dangerous, and harder to fight back if attacked (Weiss, 2008). Also, like the other date rape drugs, alcohol can cause memory loss, or a black out (Weiss, 2008). The victim may black out and be raped, and not remember what happened the next day. One common effect of date rape drugs is their ability to inhibit the victims memory. These drugs cause short-term memory loss so the victim is unsure if they were raped. This makes it less likely that the victim will report the incident to the police. In fact, the victim may not even realize they were drugged at all. If the victim was drinking the night before, it is possible they will think they simply had too much to drink. This further illustrates why date rape is drastically underreported. What Happens in the Emergency Room? After someone is raped, they may need medical attention. Most often they visit their local emergency room for treatment. It is estimated that 75% of female rape victims require medical attention after their attack (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). Although different areas and hospitals may have different procedures for handling a rape victim, typically the process is similar. The medical staff will call law enforcement to make a police report, will call the local rape crisis group, will call the Division of Family and Children Services if a minor is involved, and will perform a full examination of the victim. When the police officer arrives to take a report of the alleged rape, they must speak to the victim. They will ask the victim to recall everything that happened in the attack. If the area has a local rape crisis advocacy group, there may be a victims advocate there to help the victim with this process. In an ideal situation, the victim can explain to the officer, victims advocate, and medical staff what took place at the same time so they do not have to repeat themselves. However, many times all parties are not present at the same time, and the victim is forced to relive the event multiple times. The victim must give details about the location of the attack, and what the attacker did specifically. They must tell exactly where the attacker touched them, and where the attacker kissed them. All of this information is crucial for the evidence collection process. Once the police officer has made the report, they will leave. The victim will undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure there are no health concerns. Depending on the nature of the attack, the victim may have a pregnancy test done. Charlotte Murton, a rape crisis specialist, noted that it is also common for the medical staff to check for gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). The victims must follow up with their personal doctor or local health department to have a more complete sexually transmitted disease screen at a later time. Most victims are also given antibiotics to ward off possible infection. The medical staff will also check for any tearing or irritation in the areas of the attack. When the victim goes to the emergency room, they may have the option to do a rape kit or evidence kit. If the assault happened within 120 hours of the emergency room visit, the medical staff can do the evidence kit (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This will help collect evidence for a possible trial if the victim decides to press charges. This process is extremely invasive and can even be painful, but it is the only way to collect certain evidence. Typically a rape crisis advocate will stay with the victim throughout the entire process. The process for collecting evidence in Augusta, Georgia is very specific, although the order may be changed. First, the victim must stand on a large piece of paper and undress. The paper is there to collect any loose fibers as the victim undresses. The victims clothes will then be bagged up separately in case there is evidence on the clothes (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). All of t he clothes, including underwear, will be kept as evidence. Once the victim is undressed, the medical staff will do a visual inspection to see if there are any obvious injuries. If so, these injuries will be documented and photographed. Then the victim will have to give 25 hairs from their head (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This serves to show the DNA of the victim. Any areas the victim was licked or kissed will be swabbed for possible DNA. There also may be a swab of the victims mouth if there was any type of oral contact. The victim will then lie down with a large piece of paper below them to catch any loose hairs or fibers. The nurse will use a comb on the victims pubic hair to gather any loose hairs that may be from the attacker (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). The nurse must then use a special comb that rips out hair to gather 25 of the victims pubic hairs from the root (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This process is especially painful. The nurse will also use a black light to see if there are any fluids that fluoresce. If something does show up, that area will be swabbed (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, September 17, 2010). If the victim fought against the attacker, the nurse will clean under the victims nails to get possible debris. The nurse will also swab the victims vagina, anus, or penis depending on the nature of the attack (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). If the victim was drugged and is unsure what happened, all areas will be swabbed. There will be several swabs of each area. The victim will then be given clothes or scrubs to wear home. In areas that have a rape crisis center, volunteer advocates are on call at all times to help a victim in need. They are called in to be with the victim throughout the entire emergency room visit, and will follow up with the victim at a later date. These advocates act as liaisons between the victim, medical staff, and police officers. They can let the victim know what to expect in the examinations, and what to expect if they press charges. They also have information about places to obtain counseling and support. This is particularly important for victims who do not have family or friends with them in the emergency room. The process that victims undergo at the emergency room can be very painful and draining. They have to relive the experience to many different people and discuss extremely private matters. Many times, law enforcement officers are male, and the victim must discuss sexual things with this male. This proves to be a difficult experience as sometimes victims are not even able to articulate what happened. They may want to forget about it or not talk about it. Then they have to go through a medical examination to make sure they are healthy. If they decide not to do an evidence kit, it is still recommended that a doctor do a pelvic exam and take swabs for possible sexually transmitted diseases. If the victim does decide to go through with an evidence kit, it is a painful and invasive process. There may even be pictures taken of the victims body if there are bruises or cuts. In addition, in some areas the rape kits may not even be tested. The Texas Tribune reports that the state is so behind i n testing rape kits that it is impossible to catch up (Grissom, 2011). Some unprocessed rape kits in Texas date back to the 1980s (Grissom, 2011). Even if the kits are processed, it can take a year before the results are known (Grissom, 2011). This gives insight into why so many rapes go unreported, and why so many people choose not to have an evidence kit. Consequences of Rape Rape is a horrifying and invasive crime. It has the potential to completely change the victims life. With some crimes, once the actual crime is over, the victim can move on with their life. This is not the case with rape victims. Once the attack is over, there are many other issues the victim will encounter. Many victims of rape experience long-term consequences of their attack. There may be physical consequences deriving from the attack. There also may be emotional consequences. Many rape victims have difficulties returning to their normal lives after the attack. They may exhibit symptoms of rape trauma syndrome, a type of post-traumatic stress disorder. There are many physical consequences that can arise from rape. The victim may become pregnant from the attack. This leads to a difficult decision for the victim, made even more difficult if they do not believe abortion is an appropriate option. Some women may have religious or personal views that prevent them from getting an abortion, and thus are forced to go through a pregnancy resulting from a rape. In addition, the adult rape pregnancy rate is actually increasing based on United States Census Reports (Meadows 2010). It is estimated that there may be 32,100 rape-related pregnancies annually among America women over the age of 18 years (Meadows, 2010, p. 102). This statistic does not even include all the minors who become pregnant due to a sexual assault. Rape victims can also contract sexually transmitted diseases from the attack. Depending on the disease, there may be an easy cure, or they may have to live with the disease for the rest of their lives. If they contract acquired immune deficiency syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS, their life may actually be shortened. This is why many emergency rooms administer antibiotics when someone claims they have been raped. This is an attempt to cure a disease before it is even diagnosed. Also, some emergency rooms may have prophylactic treatment for those who may have been exposed to AIDS. Rape victims may also have acute injuries resulting from the rape (Meadows 2010). Depending on the level of violence in the rape, these injuries can be minimal to severe. Typically the most violent rapes are stranger rapes. This is because stranger rapists are more likely to involve the use of a weapon (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). This weapon is most frequently a knife (Arrigo, 2006). If the attacker used the knife to stab the victim, there may be internal injuries or bleeding. Attackers also may beat their victims. This can lead to simple cuts and bruises or more complex injuries like broken ribs. In addition, the victim may experience vaginal or rectal tears from the rape. There are both emotional and psychological issues resulting from rape that are included in rape trauma syndrome. There are two phases of rape trauma syndrome. The first phase is the acute phase. In the acute phase, the victim experiences a complete disruption of her life, resulting from the violence she experienced (Meadows, 2010, p. 38). The victim may have a range of emotions during the acute phase, including crying, shouting, swearing, or laughing inappropriately (Meadows, 2010, p. 38). The victim may experience severe mood swings, and change emotions very quickly. They may be fearful to even leave their home. If the attack happened in their home, they may not feel safe living there anymore. The second phase of rape trauma syndrome is the reorganization phase. In the reorganization phase, victims must reorganize their lives (Meadows, 2010). This is accomplished with help from friends and family members (Meadows, 2010). During this phase, the victims have to learn ways to cope with their daily lives, and the disturbing thoughts that may enter their minds at any time. They may return to work and attempt to move on, but the pain and fear is still present in their minds. There are many different symptoms of rape trauma syndrome. Some of the symptoms include fear, helplessness, shock, disbelief, guilt, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, self-blame, flashbacks of the rape, avoidance of previously pleasurable activities, avoidance of the place or circumstances in which the rape occurred, depression, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and impaired memory (Meadows, 2010, p. 102). These symptoms greatly inhibit the victims ability to heal and move on with their life. They may be happy one moment, and then suddenly be overcome with sadness and not able to understand where the sadness originated. While in the acute phase they may experience a wide range of emotions. When they enter the reorganization phase, they may not have quite as many mood swings, but may experience flashbacks of the attack. This contributes to their insomnia. Victims are afraid to go to sleep because they may have nightmares of the attack. They also lost their sense of control when they were attacked, and going to sleep leaves them vulnerable yet again.

The Human Genome Project Essay -- Genetics Science Technology Papers

The Human Genome Project Almost every aspect that makes a person unique is due to genetic factors, from the color of an individual's eyes to the functions of white blood cells. The one thing that makes an individual's unique characteristics the hardest to understand is the fact that it is all composed of four bases in different patterns. These patterns of adenine, thiamine, guanine and cytosine are the only things that differ one human from the next. This genetic code is contained in every cell that is found in the human body. Gregor Mendel first discovered the foundations of inheritance in the nineteenth century. His discovery was the basis that has now made it possible for humans to learn more about the genetic code. Mendel's discovery has now turned in to a multi-billion dollar project. This project is known as the Human Genome Project (HGP). Brief History The HGP began as a joint effort between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Department of Energy's initial reason for entering the project was to was to gain a better understanding of the potential health risks that were involved in energy use and the production of energy, especially the risks involved with radiation. Two years after the DOE proposed the idea of sequencing the entire human genome the NIH joined in the effort. The foundations of the project were laid and two years later, in 1990, the project was begun. The project was originally laid out to be a fifteen-year program that would have a budget estimated at three billion dollars (1). The DOE and the NIH established five major goals for the HGP. The first goal is to identify all of the genes in human DNA. This goal is phenomenal when it is co... ...GR Announce Formation of New Genomics Company." Obtained from the WWW: http://www.tigr.org/new/press_release_may98.html 6) Website #6: Human Genome Project Information. "Facts About Genome Sequencing." Obtained from the WWW: http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/faq/seqfacts.html 7) Website #7: "Tools of the Trade." Obtained from the WWW: http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/tko/05_tools.html 8) Website #8: "Exploring the Genomic Landscape." Obtained from the WWW: http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/tko/04_exploring.html 9) Website #9: DOE Human Genome Program Report. "Capillary Array Electrophoresis." Obtained from the WWW: http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/publicat/97pr/04g_sequ.html 10) Karanjawala, Zarir E. "Genetics in the Context of Medical Practice." The Journal of the American Medical Association. Nov. 4 1998, v280n17, p1533. Student Essay List

Conformity Speech -- essays research papers

Remember those times in class when the teacher has asked a question and the answer in mind is surely correct, yet when you look around the majority have chosen an option completely opposite? What about the time your friends pressured you into stealing that shirt or CD or involving in mocking little Johnny because he was a ‘geek’? At the time there was no problems. As a part of the group you felt confident, secure and â€Å"like so cool†. But when you found that your answer was actually the correct one or were caught with the items in your bag or punished for taunting Little Johnny, do you remember your cowardice reason for acting as you did? The vast majority of people will recall saying, â€Å"Everybody is doing it† – a sentence that is one of the worst four-word combinations in the English language. (Acknowledge/greet audience) Conformity involves the changing of one’s attitudes, opinions, or behaviours to match those of the ‘norms’. The â€Å"norms†, established by society, are what we should or ought to be thinking, feeling, or doing if we wish to be accepted into a group. This desire to be accepted and belong to a group is an undeniable human need. When faced with a challenging or trivial task, there are two common ways of handling the situation. One is to do sol vas according to one’s own personal desires and belief with no specific regard to other people. The other is to base the decision on the how others will view and respond to it. The most of us would probably fa...

Definition Of Modernism In Fiction Essay -- essays research papers

Definition of Modernism in Fiction Modernism, in literature, can be seen as a shift in focus to the unassociated introspective reflection of characters in such texts as Go Tell It On The Mountain, by James Baldwin, Miss Lonelyhearts, by Nathanael West and The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. This is a revision from the previous focal point of exterior events and places in correlation with the character’s reflections. Emphasis is placed on review upon feelings and thoughts, and even conversations with oneself, as opposed to the more directly event-driven reflections in texts of the pre-modernist era. This is not to say that texts of the modernist era have no events, or that their characters sit at home all day long thinking. Many activities take place in these texts, but the characters tend to spend time reflecting upon basically uncorrelated ideas, and to ponder what they mean for him. For example, in Go Tell it On the Mountain, when his aunt, Florence, comes to church for the first time, John knows, "it was the hand of the Lord that had led her to this place, and his heart grew cold. The Lord was riding on the wind tonight. What might that wind have spoken before the morning came?"(61). John's pondering of the Lord "riding on the wind" seems somewhat unrelated to his aunt coming to church. His premonition that something would happen tonight has nothing to do with the current events. It can be seen, in the broader definition of modernism provi...

Joining Wrestling Team Essay

There are many sports that a student can join in high school, but there is one sport that separates itself from the rest. The sport, without a doubt, is wresting. Wrestling is an outstanding sport because it teaches discipline, tenacity, and the values of friendship. The only way to succeed in this sport is with discipline. Wrestling far exceeds the practice times and schedules of football, which is thought to be the â€Å"toughest† sport. Wrestlers must stay in shape, have a very low body fat percentage, and must be lean and muscular. A wrestling practice can start with a six mile jog followed by a thirty minute session of running up stairs, and carrying people on their backs. Afterwards, the wrestler would engage in a full practice of drills, learning new moves, and going â€Å"Live†. Live is not quite drilling, but not as intense as a real match. It allows wrestlers to see what will happen when they try new moves and counters in a sort of â€Å"practice† match. Not many people are physically and mentally fit for this kind of practice. Only a select few can cope with it without giving up. There are many other aspects of the sport that not many of the participants can overcome. One of these would be that when anyone hears the word â€Å"wrestling†, they would think of a gay sport. These people could not be more wrong. Many of the moves require grabbing the inner thigh or lying on top of the opponent, but this does not mean the sport is gay. This sport measures a man’s brute strength and skill in the most primitive of ways. Matches are paired up with wrestlers equal in weight so that no one has an advantage in weight. This sport dates back 15,000 B.C. to early Egyptian and Babylonian beliefs and cave drawing found in France. Tenacity is also a key factor of becoming a wrestler. This sport requires a wrestler to have a highly developed stamina, because a match can tire a person out in under a minute if he or she is not in shape. During a match, a wrestler must fight with all he has to not let his opponent hold them down on their shoulder blades for three seconds, and this is no easy task. Even though a match is almost always less than six minutes, most wrestlers are gasping for air as they wobble back to their seat whether they won or lost.  Their senses go haywire, and the room keeps spinning and then everything comes back to them a few minutes afterward. Tenacity would also play in a role with the fact that sometimes wrestlers have to â€Å"cut† weight so their body weighs a predetermined weight before a given match. This is for the few people that naturally weigh in-between classes. Rumor has it that the lighter a person gets, the easier it is, but this is not true, and is dangerous to one’s health. Even though the first few weeks of practice would burn off at least three pounds off of everyone because of the intense training, a few ignorant people would put on plastic suits and sweat off as much as fifteen pounds! These are the hard-core wrestlers who think that being lighter is so important that they feel that have to drop down to a very unsafe weight class. The more they sweat, the more dehydrated they get, and from this, a wrestler’s metabolism would slow down, making it nearly impossible for them to lose any more weight. This is their body protecting itself from the wrestler’s unsafe conditions it puts itself through. If he does not stop what he is doing, the body would completely shutdown, and the wrestler would be tired within minutes, as well as pull muscles, jam fingers, and get strains much more frequently. This ultimately leads to a really good wrestler losing to a beginner who cannot even compare in skill or experience because he was too tired to go on. This sport is not the easiest to accept, but the lessons a wrester learns are well worth it. Wrestling is an individual sport – in the sense that the outcome of a match is solely dependent on how that person did – but teamwork is required in every aspect other than the actual match. A wrestler’s training partner is the one person who can warn them when a move they did was done incorrectly or if there is a way to make the move more efficient. Only with a good training partner can a wrestler find and work on positions and moves that are troublesome. As the season progresses, the wrestlers on the team would get to know each other much more then any of their friends would. Wrestlers grow together in  suffering from the intense practices and the significant amount of time they spend with each other during the season. Wrestlers of the same team usually hang out together and would go out for pizza as a team after a match they won to celebrate. The bond a wrestling team gets as the season ends is much different from a friendship, for it has no boundaries in trust, kindness, and loyalty. This sport has a bad reputation for many things that are untrue. Wrestling is not gay, and it does not make anyone â€Å"cut† weight in order to participate. This is a sport unlike any other, for the fact that a person must have a few key qualities to excel in the sport. Any person, athletic or not, has no reason not to sign up for the team.

Effect of Media on Eating Habits Essay

Currently this is a serious and growing concern for public health officials, registered dietitians, and families interested in living their day to day lives in a healthy manner. Youth are at the highest risk. According to the National Health Examination Survey, children ages 11-13 have highest rate of daily television viewing (Brown, 2008, p. 316). In a 2007 study, children were more likely to be overweight when they watched more television (Gable, Chang & Krull, 2007). Currently, the second leading cause of actual death according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is poor diet and physical inactivity (Schneider, 2006, p. 270). Trends that lead to poor diet and physical inactivity, eventually obesity in adults and children alike, stem from habits that form early on in childhood. This creates an endless cycle that perpetuates from generation to generation. Obesity is currently an issue that threatens the majority of Americans and its prevalence has increased substantially in the last three decades (Schneider, 2006, p. 72). It’s caused by a number of different factors including genetics, physical inactivity, and poor eating habits. Two of the three factors noted can be strongly associated with television media. A study conducted at the University of Minnesota in 2009 found an increased incidence of eating in front of the television was primarily due to advertising and reduced metabolic rate in adolescence (Barr-Anderson, Larson & Nelson, 2009). Reduced metabolic rate decreases one’s need for calories. Individuals of this demographic typically don’t take this fact into consideration and eat as much as before their exposure to television was such a significant part of their daily routine. This tendency leads to unwanted and unnecessary weight gain. Increased weight has shown to elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and most kinds of cancer not to mention obesity (Schneider, 2006, p. 270). A less commonly recognized phenomena related to this issue is that people don’t know what healthy choices are and in turn, they are more likely to fall victim to any temptations set before them. These enticements are provided most commonly by television media advertising directed at less educated, more easily influenced audiences. For example, inexpensive fast food that is a particularly popular type of advertising might seem like a logical source of food for some families that do not have access to, or know anything better. Environment There are many problems that make up this complex and layered situation. Many social, cultural and economic factors contribute to these dietary patterns and eating habits that develop over a lifetime (Schneider, 2006, p. 77). The amount of time children spend with different sources of media from: television, film, video games, and computer or online media is exceedingly taking up the greater part of their time. With the average five and a half hours children spend using media on a daily basis, the only thing they spend more time doing is sleeping (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2004). From age two to twenty, only eighteen years, that adds up to over 29,900 hours spent with media and 1. 8 times more than the 16,000 hours spent in school grades k-12 (Grossberg, 2006, p. 93). That equals out to approximately 20 hours per week according to a study done in 2006 (Francis & Birch, 2006). Not only in the time spent exposed to media is a risk factor for children, but the way in which the media is consumed is also a major contributor to this situation. In the home, if there is a lack of parental control monitoring children’s media exposure, children are then at a higher risk of being influenced. Children heavily influenced by the media have the ability to manipulate how money is spent and savvy companies see them as the consumers to be targeted (Peregrin, 2001, p. 6). Children sometimes even spend their own money on the products they see repeatedly reinforced around them. Advertisers use this well known fact to target children because they know the powerful influence children can have on their parents purchasing decisions (Peregrin, 2001, p. 56). In an article written in 2001, Registered Dietitian, Adrienne Dorf expressed her opinion about educating child ren who are exposed to excessive media. She emphasized the need to explain the difference between television programs and commercials to children who may not be able to differentiate the two. Dorf urged parents to explain the idea of sales and the fact that the food advertised via commercials may not be the best for our bodies. Dietary habits form over a lifetime and are greatly influenced by the social environment and family setting as well as the media (Schneider, 2006, p. 277). From time to time parents struggle with taking their children into the supermarket for groceries just because they don’t want to fight about what the new craze is in sugary cereal or what unhealthy snack crackers are showing more commercials on television or the latest cartoon characters face on their box. It is a common to see a mother or father who gives in to please their child when he or she throws a tantrum in the middle of the aisle to get something they want. This repeated action can be a detrimental in the long run if it persists and continues. Impact Food industries have a goal to sell as much of their product to the public as possible. They will do anything they can to encourage American’s to eat and spend more money on any of their products. Most food advertised is high in fat, sugar, and salt leading to children in the grocery store begging their parents for candy and unhealthy snack foods (Borzekowski & Robinson, 2001). Foods advertised taste â€Å"good† resulting in advertisements publicizing foods with high amounts of sugar, fat, and salt towards younger generations. For example, fast foods and high sugar cereals are two of the most commonly publicized items during children’s programming. Studies have shown that children under the age of 6 years of age cannot distinguish between television programming as opposed to commercial advertising (Borzekowski & Robinson, 2001). The primary problem is that children who spend excessive amounts of time exposed to television media are more likely to be overweight. According to the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort (NLSY) a strong dose-response relationship was found between television viewing and the prevalence of overweight (Brown, 2008, p. 316). Adolescents from 10 to 15 years old who reported watching more than 5 hours of television per day had greater odds of having a BMI in the 85th percentile (Brown, 2008, p. 316).

Coke Marketing Plan

Table of Contents Executive Summary6 Situation Analysis7 History of the Product/Brand8 Market Analysis9 Product Evaluation10 Competitor Analysis12 Marketing Objectives13 Marketing Strategies16 Selecting Target Market17 Developing the Marketing Mix18 Product Strategy19 Pricing Strategy20 Placing and Distribution22 Promotion Strategy23 Evaluation, Monitoring and Control24 Monitoring and Controlling26 Sales Analysis27 Market Share Evaluation27 Marketing Profitability Analysis27 Market Research27 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Giant soft drink company Coca-Cola has come under intense scrutiny by the investors due to its inability to effectively carry out its marketing program. Consequently it is seeking the help of new Marketing Company to develop a professional marketing plan which will help the business to achieve its objectives more effectively and efficiently, and regain their iron fist supremacy on the soft drink industry. When establishing a new marketing plan every aspect of the marketing plan must be critically examined and thoroughly researched. This consists of following four major areas: †¢ Situation Analysis †¢ Marketing Objectives Market Strategies †¢ Implementation, Evaluation, Monitoring and Control Once Coca-Cola will have carefully analyzed these areas and have examined the industry in general the most suitable marketing strategies will be selected and ‘external threats and opportunities’ will be monitored and internal efficiency will be revised accordingly. SIT UATION ANALYSIS HISTORY OF THE PRODUCT / BRAND The organization that we have selected is The Coca-Cola Company which is â€Å"the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of soft drinks in the world† (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). The company offers over 400 products/brands in more than 200 countries (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). The product selected is their soft drink called Coca-Cola. Their mission statement and vision are given below: Mission everything we do is inspired by our enduring mission: †¢ To Refresh the World†¦ in body, mind, and spirit. †¢ To Inspire Moments of Optimism†¦ through our brands and our actions. †¢ To Create Value and Make a Difference†¦ everywhere we engage. (The Coca Cola Company 2007, Mission, Vision & Values) Vision To achieve sustainable growth, we have established a vision with clear goals. †¢ Profit: Maximizing return to shareowners while being mindful of our overall responsibilities. †¢ People: Being a great place to work where people are inspired to be the best they can be. †¢ Portfolio: Bringing to the world a portfolio of beverage brands that anticipate and satisfy peoples’ desires and needs. †¢ Partners: Nurturing a winning network of partners and building mutual loyalty. †¢ Planet: Being a responsible global citizen that makes a difference. (The Coca Cola Company 2007, Mission, Vision & Values) MARKET ANALYSIS Changes occurring in the organization’s macro- and micro environments have revealed a number of risk factors that have an influence on Coca Colas business, sales and consumer acceptance. Firstly, increased awareness about health issues has given rise to obesity concerns in relation to the consumption of Coca Cola (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). This may reduce the product’s demand. Secondly, water which is a major ingredient of Coca-Cola is becoming a scarce commodity and its quality is deteriorating due to pollution etc. This can increase the products production costs (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Thirdly, a major portion (approximately 83 % in 2006) of The Coca Cola Company’s business comes from its bottling partners to whom it sells its concentrates and syrups. Consequently, maintaining good relations with the bottling partners is essential for the business. The bottling partners financial situation also affects Coca Colas business (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Increase in cost of energy(electricity, natural gas etc) and raw materials(high fructose corn syrup, sucrose etc) can have a negative impact on the product’s profits (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Unfavorable political and economic conditions in the local as well as international markets can have an adverse effect on the company’s profits (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Unfavorable weather conditions like unusually long spells of winter cold can decrease the demand for the product (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). PRODUCT EVALUATION Product Life cycle The product life cycle comprises of five stages: product development, introduction, growth, maturity and decline (Kotler et al. 2006, p. 314). Coca-Cola is currently in the maturity stage, which is evidenced primarily by the fact that they have a large, loyal group of stable customers. In this regard, Coke has the advantage of it’s establishment of a strong brand name. Furthermore, cost management, product differentiation and marketing have become more important as growth slows and market share becomes the key determinant of profitability. SWOT Analysis: SWOT stands for Strengths Weakness Opportunities Threats. SWOT analysis is a technique that consists of examining the current activities of the organization- its Strengths and Weakness- and then using this and external research data to set out the Opportunities and Threats that exist. Strengths: Coca-Cola has been a vital part of world culture for a very long time. The product's image is loaded with over-romanticizing which has not failed to move people. The Coca-Cola image is displayed on a variety of items like T-shirts, hats etc. This extremely powerful branding is one of Coca-Cola's greatest strengths. Enjoyed more than 685 million times a day around the world Coca-Cola stands as a simple, yet powerful symbol of quality and enjoyment† (Allen, 1995). Coca Cola enjoys a large amount of customer acceptance as compared to it’s main competitors (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Coca-Cola's bottling system is also one of their main strengths. I t enables them to conduct business on a global scale and at the same time maintain a local approach. The bottling companies are locally owned and operated by independent business people who have been authorized to sell products of the Coca-Cola Company. Coca Cola does not have outright ownership of its bottling network, its main source of revenue is the sale of concentrate to its bottlers (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Weaknesses: Weaknesses for any business need to be both reduced and monitored in order to effectively achieve productivity and efficiency in their business. This applies to Coke as well. Although domestic business as well as many international markets are prospering (volumes in Latin America were up 12%), Coca-Cola has recently reported some â€Å"declines in unit case volumes in Indonesia and Thailand due to reduced consumer purchasing power. According to an article in Fortune magazine, â€Å"In Japan, unit case sales fell 3% in the second quarter [of 1998]†¦ scary because while Japan generates around 5% of worldwide volume, it contributes three times as much to profits. Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Japan account for about 35% of Coke's volume and none of these markets are performing to expectation. Coca-Cola on the other side has adverse effects on the teeth which causes health concerns among the consumers. It also has got sugar due to which continuous or excessive drinking of Coca-Cola can cause health problems like diabetes. Opportunities: Brand recognition is a vital factor affecting Coke's competitive position. Coca-Cola's brand name and reputation is well known across 94% of the globe. The major issue over the past few years has been to get this brand name introduced to as many emerging markets as possible. Changes in packaging have also affected sales and industry positioning, but on the whole the public has remained unaffected by the launch of new products. Coca-Cola's bottling system enhances the company’s prospects of growth opportunities around the world. This strategy gives Coke the opportunity to serve a large and diverse geographic market. Threats: At present, the threat of new competitors in the carbonated soft drink industry is not very substantial. On the other hand, the threat of substitutes is a very possible threat. The soft drink industry has a strong hold, but consumers have a lot of options available to them. Possible substitutes that continuously put pressure on both Pepsi and Coke include tea, coffee, juices, milk, and hot chocolate. This pressure has increased a lot during the last few years owing to increased health awareness. Even though Coca-Cola and Pepsi control nearly 40% of the entire beverage market, health concerns can adversely influence product demand. Of course, both Coke and Pepsi have already diversified into these markets, allowing them to have further significant market shares and offset any losses incurred due to fluctuations in the market. Consumer buying power is another key threat in the industry. The rivalry between Pepsi and Coke has produced a very slow moving industry in which management must be sensitive to and timely respond to the changing attitudes and demands of their consumers or risk losing market share to the competition. COMPETITOR ANALYSIS Coca Cola competes in the non-alcoholic beverages segment with various firms including PepsiCo Inc, Nestle, Cadbury Schweppes plc, Groupe Danone, Kraft Foods Inc etc (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). Specific beverages that Coca Cola competes with in Pakistan include Pepsi, RC Cola, Makka Cola and Amrat Cola. Competitive forces affecting Coca Cola’s business include pricing, advertising, product promotion programs, innovative ideas, production techniques, bottling, brand and trademark development and protection (The Coca Cola Company 2007, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K). MARKETING OBJECTIVES The marketing objectives section will indicate targets to be achieved across several marketing decision areas. The purposes of objectives include: †¢ To enable a company to control its marketing plan †¢ To help to motivate individuals and teams to reach a common goal †¢ To provide an agreed, consistent focus for all functions of an organization. (Kotler, Adam, Brown, & Armstrong, Priciples of Marketing, 2006) All objectives should follow criteria called SMART i. e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed. (Johnson) Coca Cola Marketing Objectives: †¢ The goals and objectives that are set by the company are firstly to put the Coke the Classic segment back on the growth path. †¢ In terms of volume, the company wanted to sell 8 million 8 oz. cases and by the end of the previous year the company had actually sold 7 million cases, but the target was 6 million 8 oz cases. †¢ The distribution goal is to achieve 40% numeric Distribution within 4 weeks of re-launch, currently it is 35. 55%. †¢ And in terms of share, the goal was to get and regain 65% of market within one year. Currently it is 60% of the market share. †¢ The recent performance of the business unit has been impressive and the company wants the coming years to be even more beneficial. †¢ To survive the current market war between competitors †¢ To increase the size of the worldwide Coca Cola enterprise by 20%, currently it is 10%. †¢ To increase awareness of the product on the market by increasing advertising. †¢ To achieve a 30% return on capital employed by August next year, current return on capital is at 20%. (Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Company) MARKETING STRATEGIES SELECTING TARGET MARKET Target Market is defined as â€Å"A set of buyers haring common needs or characteristics that the company decides to serve†. (Kotler, Adam, Brown, & Armstrong, 2006) Once the situation analysis has completed, and the marketing objectives determined then the company’s attention turns towards the target market. As we know that the soft drink market is very large, and a product cannot be for all the people, so the company must choose which of the market segments have the greatest potential for its products. The target market is where Coca-Cola focuses its marketing efforts as it feels this is where it will be most productive and successful. The target market for Coca-Cola is very wide as it satisfies the needs for many different consumers, ranging from the healthy diet conscious consumers through Diet Coke to the average human through its best selling drink regular Coke. Most Coke products satisfy all age groups as it is proven that most people of different age groups consume the Coca-Cola product. This market is relatively large and is open to both genders. A marketing organization can adopt one of the three market-coverage strategies: †¢ Un-Differential †¢ Differentiated †¢ Concentrated (Kotler, Adam, Brown, & Armstrong, 2006) The most apparent method used by Coca Cola is with no doubt the differentiated marketing method as Coke satisfies a range of different markets. Diet coke satisfy’s the weight consciousness, regular coke, sprite, fanta, coffee, iced tea etc for average user group. Each product of beverages satisfies a particular group of people. Differentiated Marketing is defined as â€Å"A market coverage strategy in which a marketing organization decides to target several market segments and designs separate offers for each†. (Kotler, Adam, Brown, & Armstrong, 2006) DEVELOPING THE MARKETING MIX The marketing mix is probably the most crucial stage of the marketing planning process. It is also known as the 4 Ps of marketing. In 1964 Neil H. Borden published his article â€Å"The Concept of Marketing Mix† after which this term became popularized. This is where the marketing tactics for each product are determined. The marketing mix refers to the combination of the four strategies: †¢ Product Strategy †¢ Price Strategy †¢ Place Strategy †¢ Promotion Strategy [pic] (NetMBA) The most successful businesses have continually monitored and changed their marketing mix due to internal and external factors. PRODUCT STRATEGY A product can be defined as â€Å"Anything that can be offered to the market for attention, acquisition, use or consumption that might satisfy a want or a need. It includes physical objects, services,, persons, places, organizations and ideas†. Businesses must think about products on three different levels, which are: †¢ The Core Product †¢ The actual product †¢ The Augmented Product Coca Cola customers are buying a wide range of soft drinks. Consumers will buy the coke product because of the high standards and high quality of the Coca-Cola products. The Coca-Cola also offer a help line and complaint phone service for customers who are not satisfied with the product or wish to give feedback on the products. Positioning Positioning is the process of creating, the image the product holds in the mind of consumers, relative to competing products. Coca-Cola and Franklins both make soft drinks; although Franklins may try to compete they will still be seen as lower market from Coca-Cola. Positioning helps customers understand what is unique about the products when compared with the competition. Branding The popularity of the brand is often the deciding factor. Over the time Coca Cola has spent millions of dollars developing and promoting their brand name, resulting in worldwide recognition. ‘Coca-Cola' is the most recognized trademark, recognized by 94% of the world's population. (Coca-Cola, Our Herittage) PRICING STRATEGY Price is a very important factor in the marketing mix as it can affect both the supply and demand for Coca Cola. The price of Coca-Cola’s products is one of the most important factors in a customer’s decision to buy. Price will often be the difference that will drive a customer to buy the one product over another, as long as most things are about the same. For this reason pricing strategies need to be designed with consumers and external influences in mind, in order to effectively achieve a stable balance between sales and covering the production costs. Price strategies are important to Coca Cola because the price determines the amount of sales and profit per unit sold. Businesses have to set a price that is attractive to their customers and provides the business with a good level of profit. Long before a sale was ever made Coca Cola had developed a forecast of consumer demand at different prices which without doubt determined whether or not the product came in the market. The pricing strategy a business will use will have to focus on achieving the marketing plan’s objectives and support the positioning of the product, and take external factors such as economic conditions and competitors in to account. As customer loyalty has established with Coca-Cola, it can now slowly raise the price of its product. There has been a severe pricing competition between Coca-Cola and Pepsi products as each company competes for customer recognition and satisfaction. Till now it appears as if Coke has come up on top, although in order to gain long term profits Coke had to sacrifice short term profits where in some cases it either went under of just broke even, but as seen it has been all for the best. Pricing Methods There are four major pricing approaches that can be used. †¢ Cost-based Approach †¢ Buyer-based Approach †¢ Competition Approach †¢ Relationship Approach Kotler, Adam, Brown, & Armstrong, Priciples of Marketing, 2006) Over the years Coca-Cola has lost ground here in its pricing but has regained its strength as it employed the Competition-Based Pricing Method which allowed it to compete more effectively in the soft drink market. Now the Coca-Cola has become a market leader with loyal customers and some technological edge, thus the case currently with Coke, it was first the follower but through effective management has now become the leader of the market and is working towards achieving the marketing objectives of the Coca Cola. Survival in the market place, own 60 % of market share by 2007, increase further awareness of product and a return on 20% on capital are the current objectives for 2007†. (Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Company) PLACE AND DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY The place P of the marketing mix refers to distribution of the product i. e. the ways of getting the product to the market. The distribution of products starts with the producer and ends with the consumer. One key element of the Place/Distribution factor is the respective distribution channels that Coca-Cola has elected to transport and sell its product. Selecting the most appropriate distribution channel is important, as the choice will determine sales levels and costs. The choice for a distribution channel for any business depends on numerous factors, these include: †¢ How far away the customers are †¢ The type of product being transported †¢ The lead times required and †¢ The costs associated with transport There are four types of distribution strategies that Coca Cola could have chosen from, these are: intensive, selective, exclusive and direct distribution. It is apparent from the popularity of the Coca-Cola’s product n the market that the business in the past used the method of intensive distribution as the product is available at every possible outlet. From supermarkets to service stations to your local corner shop, anywhere you go you will find the Coca-Cola products. PROMOTION STRATEGY In today’s competitive environment, having the right product at the right place in the right place at the r ight time may still not be enough to be successful. Effective communication with the target market is essential for the success of the product and business. Promotion is the P of the marketing mix designed to inform the market about who the company is, how good the product is and where they can buy it. Promotion is also used to persuade the customers to try a new product, or buy more of an old product. The promotional strategy is the combination of personal selling, advertising, sales promotion and public relations that are used in its marketing plan. Now days as most of the target market is most likely to be exposed by media such as television, radio and magazines, Coca-Cola has used this as the main form of promotion for extensive range of products. Although advertising is usually very expensive, it is the most effective way of letting the customers to know about Coca-Cola Products. Coca-Cola also utilizes promotions such as contests, coupons, and free samples. These activities are an effective way of getting people to give the product a check. EVALUATION, MONITORING & CONTROL The goal of the marketing plan is to outline the strategies, tactics, and programs that will make the sales goals outlined in the coke business plan a reality by the end of the season. There are a number of Key Performance Indicators KPI’s that are needed for the measurement/evaluation of the performance they can be given as, The monthly and the annual revenue generation, then the amount of expenses incurred in a month or in a year, then the increased level of customer satisfaction and ensuring the brand loyalty. For complying with these scenarios the advertising efforts made by the company the strength of the distribution channels, the launch of the new products and the pricing will be measured. The possible increase in growth of the target market also depends on all these efforts made by coke. The people who are responsible for the monitoring and control of the marketing plan involves, the Marketing Executives, Sales Managers, Media Managers, Market Research Departments, and the Product Managers. Some activities must be carried out for precisely and closely evaluating the effectiveness of the strategies and tactics for example the gathering and structuring of data regarding market, product, customer and the pricing trends, then the generation of daily sales report should be maintained and then in the end continuous reconfirming of the marketing budget and activities by the managers of different divisions Financial Forecasts Financial forecasts are predictions of future events relating strictly to expected costs and revenue costs for future years. There are five major marketing expenditures, which include research costs, product development costs, product costs, promotion costs and distribution costs. Sales force composite is the most logical method in forecasting revenue. This involves estimates from individual salespeople to sell to work out a total for the whole business. Once these costs and revenues are forecasted, management can then decide which combination of marketing mix strategies will deliver the most sales revenue at the lowest cost. Implementing Implementation is the process of turning plans into actions, and involves all the activities that put the marketing plan to work. Successful implementation depends on how well the business blends its people, organizational structure and company culture into a cohesive program that supports the marketing plan. For its further success, Coca Cola must impose several key changes. Production needs to be on time and meet the quota demanded from wholesalers. It must also be efficient so as not to build inventory stocks and inventory prices. The marketing needs to be motivated and knowledgeable about the product. The forms of promotion such as advertising must be attracting and enticing to the target market to get the greatest amount of exposure possible for the product. This will ensure the success of the product in the stores. Distribution of the product must be efficient. This problem has already been taken care of with convenient transport routes to commercial areas and transport already being arranged. MONITORING AND CONTROLLING Monitoring and controlling allows the business to check for variance in the budget and actual. This is important because it allows Coca Cola to take the necessary actions to meet the marketing objectives. There are three tools Coca Cola should use to monitor the marketing plan. They are the following: Sales Analysis The sales analysis breaks down total business sales by market segments to identify strengths and weaknesses in the different areas of sales. Sellers of Coca Cola products vary from major retail supermarkets to small corner stores. This gives its products maximum exposure to customers at their convenience. Market Share Analysis Market share analysis compares Coca Cola’s business sales performance with that of its competitors. Coca Cola looks to increase its market share by over 60%. With the changes Coca Cola is currently undergoing, they aim to regain an iron fist control of the market. Target market various age groups and lifestyles from high school students too universities, and male or female. Marketing Profitability Analysis This analysis looks at the cost side of marketing and the profitability of products, sales territories, market segments and sales people. There are three ratios to monitor marketing profitability; they are market research to sales, advertising to sales and sales representatives to sales. The results of these three tools can help Coca Cola determine any emerging trends, such as the need for a different product. Comparing these results with actual results gives the business an idea on when to change. Market Research When attempting to implement a new Marketing plan a business must address its target market and conduct the relevant information to insure the new marketing plan both differs from the old and is better for the business. When conducting market research a business must first define the problem and then gather the appropriate information to solve the problem. There are 3 types of information a business can gather to solve its problems. †¢ Exploratory Research which clarifies the problem an d searches for ways to address it. †¢ Descriptive Research is used to measure and describe things like the market potential for a product and characteristics of the target market. †¢ Casual Research is used to test a hypothesis about a cause and effect relationship. Coca Cola through its market research has addressed all three types of research to define the problems raised by shareholders and gathered information to serve their needs. Factors Influencing Consumer Choice When making decisions on products a business must look at factors that influence consumer choice such as psychological factors, Socio-Cultural factors, Economic factors and Government Factors. Psychological Factors: such as motivation, perception, lifestyle, personality and self concept, learning, and attitudes influence the consumer’s behavior towards a product and Coca Cola has addressed this issue by introducing Diet Coke to satisfy health conscious lifestyles. Socio-Cultural factors: such as culture, subculture, socio-economic status, family and reference groups influence the consumer’s behavior towards a product. Economic factors: such as Disposable income and discretionary income. Coca Cola has addressed this side of the influence by maintaining a low price on the price of its products. Government Factors: such as new regulations, inflation, interest rates all influence consumer spending and choice. (Alberto, 2007) References Alberto, J. 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