Swot Pest Analysis on Hotel Industry Essay Example For Students

Swot Pest Analysis on Hotel Industry Essay INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW OF HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY Hospitality is considered as a service industry, serving the guests with feel-good-effect. Athithi devo bhavha (Guest is God) has been one of the major trends followed in Indian culture since decades. In India, the guest is treated with utmost warmth, full respect and providing the best services. The industry trend shows, that Hospitality is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. It is expected to grow at the rate of 8% between 2007 and 2016. Many international hotels including Sheraton, Hyatt, Radisson, Meridian, Four Seasons Regent, and Marriott International are already established in the Indian markets and are still planning to expand more. Scope of the Report †¢Provides the top players in the market with their market share, profitability, segments they focus which is required for business and competitor intelligence needs †¢Contains a brief study of the major internal and external factors affecting Hotels in the form of a SWOT analysis as well as analysis the PEST analysis and Porters 5 force analysis to understand the criticality of the business. We will write a custom essay on Swot Pest Analysis on Hotel Industry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now MAJOR PLAYERS The major players in the Indian hotel industry can be broadly divided into private sector players and the public sector players. The Top Players in Hospitality Sector Public Sector Players: †¢ITDC hotels †¢Hotel Corporation of India Private Sector Players: †¢ITC Welcome Group of Hotels †¢Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (The Taj Group of Hotels Resorts Palaces) †¢Oberoi Group of Hotels(East India Hotels) †¢Hotel Leela Venture †¢Asian Hotels Ltd. †¢Radisson hotels Resorts †¢Le Meridien Group of Hotels †¢The Park Group of Hotels †¢Welcome Heritage Group of Hotels INDUSTRIAL HIGHLIGHTS Structure of the organization, partnerships, mergers acquisitions and recent trends are examined which explains that the business segment of the company have been exploring and experimenting along with the analysis of key products and services. †¢Business and marketing strategies are increasing the earnings brand equity. †¢Key fi nancial indicators have to be analyses time-to-time which is helpful in expansion. †¢Competitive positioning of an organization has been calculated in terms of sales, profitability and stock performance, which can be easily compared with its competitors. Corporate analysis- Hotel industry is considered as premium service oriented sector offering an unmatched depth and breadth of content. †¢Communicating the Hotel’s marketing strategies to general public is a waste of time. Therefore, Smart hotel marketers use segmentation and profiling to reach a specific customer segment who can buy their product. ENVIRONMENTAL TREND †¢India is expected to see an influx of 10 Million international tourists by 2010, up from just 5 Million in 2007. †¢Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan are the favorite tourism destinations in India in terms of total tourist arrivals. India has been promoting its healthcare tourism by providing the visitors wit h private healthcare facilities like recreational spas. It is expected that the total market for medical tourism will reach US$ 2 Billion by 2012, representing a CAGR of 60. 69%. †¢Personal disposable income during 2002-2007 grew at a CAGR of 14. 16%, thereby driving domestic as well as outbound tourism. †¢Indian outbound tourist flow is expected to increase at a CAGR of 13. 30% over the five-year period between the years 2008 to 2012. †¢India’s share in the global tourism is expected to reach 1. 5% by 2010. †¢The growth in India’s ourism market is driving the growth of several associated industries, including hotel industry, medical tourism industry and aviation industry. COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES †¢Market analysis is critical for all hotels because it enables the hotels to tap the market potential and also helps them to identify the optimal deployment of resources. †¢All hotels irrespective of their categories test the waters to know their catchment areas, their occupancy rate and their brand significance. †¢Creative planning considers effective marketing strategies as supported by the view of 90hotels out of 180 hotels focusing on new plans and new customers. The STAR Hotels in the category of 3 Star and above, focus on their efforts of promoting their brand globally through ads and other promotions. †¢Ad focus of all the hotels is mainly on attracting new and retaining the repeat customers leading to 98% of the ad direction and only 2% aim at new clientele. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT Analysis helps to understand the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides a brief analysis of its key revenue operations and strategic approach. STRENGTHS †¢A very wide variety of hotels is present in the country. There are international players such as Taj Group and Oberoi Group operating their chain of Hotels in the Market †¢A manpower cost in the Indian hotel industry is o ne of the lowest in the world. †¢India offers a readymade tourist destination with the resources †¢Natural and cultural diversity †¢Demand-supply gap †¢Government support WEAKNESSES †¢Hotel Industry is heavily staffed in India †¢Slow Implementation †¢Only limited Value Added Services †¢High Tax structure in India †¢Prone to security and social unrest issues †¢Only 97,000 hotel rooms are available in India today †¢Environmental or Seasonal Issues Industry Regulations OPPORTUNITIES †¢As per long-term prospects, the hotel industry in India has potential for growth †¢Rising income †¢Service preferences †¢Bring uniqueness in services and experience provided, especially in Heritage Hotels THREATS †¢Guest houses can replace the hotels †¢Fluctuations due to International Tourists †¢Increasing Competition †¢The economic climate of a country have a direct impact on the revenue earned by hotel indust ry †¢Political turbulence in the area can affect the tourist traffic †¢Lack of training man power PEST ANALYSIS Political/ Legal factors †¢Industry specific taxes, Eg: Bed tax Current situation â€Å"war on terror† may result in the decrease number of travellers which will create a negative impact on the hotel industry †¢Strict labor laws, Eg: Minimum wages †¢To avoid the negative impact on the environment and the marketplace due to the operations of a hotel, it is necessary to impose the Environment related regulations Economic factors †¢Due to the seasonal change in demand, income and room occupancy rate can vary significantly during peak and non-peak periods †¢The salaries are not that much competitive as compare to other industries. Therefore, it is ifficult to attract employees for critical positions †¢Industries like Hotel are considered as the non-essential type of services for the customers, therefore, this is one of the first a reas that would be affected at the time of recession or economic downturn †¢ Strategy to focus on the market segmentation for generating profit, Eg: higher end of the hotels would essentially focus on the higher end of the market which is relatively small in number but high margins can be earned †¢Diversification of services or business model requires huge investments †¢Regular modifications to attract the customers Cost incurred on maintaining the infrastructure Social/ Cultural factors †¢Social cultural factors are one of the major issues to look into for hotel industry because it deals with a large segment of customers who have different demographic profile and cultural background. .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 , .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .postImageUrl , .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 , .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:hover , .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:visited , .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:active { border:0!important; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:active , .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8 .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub727390705a08ede261112f0ec153be8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: John Deere and Complex Parts EssayTo serve each customer with customized services will increase the chances of hotel industry to expand more †¢The facilities like Spas, provided by the hotels are considered as a lifestyle change which is expanding in certain sections of middle class as well as upper class †¢India is slowly adapting the culture of vacation or holiday system for taking rest from work, which is benefiting the tourism industry in turn affecting the hotel industry as well †¢Because of the changing trend, celebrating occasion or special days in hotels has become popular as the end to end services are provided by the hotels in terms of arranging re sources making things similar for people and for some it is more like a prestigious issue Technological factors The hotel industry has started utilizing the increasing amount of technologies for achieving greater customer satisfaction (Online feedbacks) †¢With the use of technologies and other advance techniques, hotels can make use of the resources which are extensively used in the industry, Eg: Recycling water †¢The potential customers can also make use of the technology like internet in order to get the information about a hotel or their charges, etc. This will help in making their choices about a holiday stay or places to visit †¢With the help of technologies, the availability of information and strategic decision making has become more easier which allows the organizations to plan its future activities and events in advance in an efficient manner Porters Five Forces Model THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS The competition in an industry easily increases by the entry of othe r companies in the market. In a situation like this, few changes done by new entrants (like prices, customer loyalty) can create a pressure for existing players in this industry. Foreign hotel chains are tied up with some Indian hotels to decrease the initial cost and increase the brand name †¢Customers brand loyalty like TAJ, ITC THE LEELA PALACE, also affects the new entrants †¢The raw material and distribution channels are established controlled by existing players which is one of the reasons to avoid the new entrants †¢The cost of land in India is 50% more from the total project cost as compared to abroad which is 15%. This is also curtailing the opportunities for the new entrants †¢The amount of taxes such as expenditure tax, luxury tax and sales tax inflate the hotel bill by over 30% †¢Fixed investment is huge and also the location could be a trouble for the new entrants THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES Such threats exists, if there are alternate products with suitably lower prices are available for the same purpose for better performance. This can attract a proportion of market volume and also reduce the profit margins for the existing players. †¢Only the brand loyalty of the customers can dominate such substitutes †¢The prices and the customer relationship with hotels can also be the reason for switching to substitutes †¢Difference in the services price of the same class hotel from various brand †¢The effect of substitution can also be seen because of the present demand and supply of hotel rooms †¢Majorly, fixed cost and switching costs affects the operations of the business †¢Service apartments, private rental rooms, and budgeted hotel resorts can be a substitute for the price sensitive customers BARGAINING POWER OF CUSTOMERS The hotel prices are not changing frequently because it will have a direct effect on the price sensitive customers †¢During the unseasoned timings, hotels are introducing discounts and promotions in order to attract the customers as they are the ones having t he bargaining power †¢To diversify, hotels has introduced other services like Conferences, Spas, etc. to attract the customers †¢As there is no industry specific rates and tariff, hotels like TAJ, ITC Oberoi use their own tariff plan because of their brand value †¢Hotel should consider reducing the bargaining power because the customer segment is completely fragmented BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS The word ‘suppliers’ means all the possible inputs required or needed in order to provide goods and services to the end customers. †¢As the high class hotels have their hotel chains for operating like TAJ, ITC, THE LEELA PALACE, etc. they are the ones who have the bargaining power and control over the industry †¢Five Star Hotels which are known for their brand, they don’t frequently change their product and services. It is almost the same only provided with some innovations. COMPETATIVE POWER OF RIVAL PLAYERS This force explains the intensity o f the competition between the existing players in the marketplace. A relatively high competitive pressure results in increase in competing prices, margins, and majorly on the profitability for every organization in the industry. †¢The top players in the hotel industry are having the same kind of services like Spas, Party Halls, Boatels and Motels, etc. This healthy competition among the players also results in the increase in industry expansion †¢Intense competition in the metro cities, and slowly picking up in secondary cities †¢Diversification in terms of services can also affect the competition †¢Mid-price hotels, recreational centers, etc. can create a competition threat. ? CONCLUSION Promotional strategies can be used, apart from the regular advertisements are used to attract the customers and also ensuring the best Customer Relation Retention for increasing the revenue targets. The study reveals that the increase of profit margins due to efficient marketin g strategies is in the range of 0-20% for 29% respondent hotels. In 71% hotels, the increases in revenues are expected around 20-40% due to advertisements and restaurant promotions. .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d , .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .postImageUrl , .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d , .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:hover , .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:visited , .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:active { border:0!important; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:active , .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc1a177933c3da2e5f8d86fcbcdc5c70d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Memory Essay PaperThe visible trend shows that in the hotel sector indicates that the Indian hotels are preferred by the overseas visitor because of several reasons. The hotel industry is positively considering the strategic marketing alliances and brand treaties for expanding and establishing global brands. ? Bibliography http://www. marketresearch. com/product/display. asp? productid=2182281, referred on 28th March ‘2010 http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/556321, referred on 28th March ‘2010 http://www. naukrihub. com/india/hospitality/, referred on 28th March ‘2010 http://community. boredofstudies. org/229/hospitality/43780/factors-affecting-h ospitality. tml, referred on 22nd March ‘2010 http://www. scribd. com/doc/26045363/Indian-Hotel-Industry-Analysis, referred on 30th March ‘2010 topcimatutor. com/2008-may/PEST_Analysis-Solberi-Hotels. doc, referred on 30th March ‘2010 http://www. entrepreneur. com/tradejournals/article/101938461_3. html, referred on 30th March ‘2010 http://www. indianmba. com/Articles_on_Management/AOM9/aom9. html, referred on 30th March ‘2010 http://www. bharatbook. com/detail. asp? id=50060rt=Indian-Tourism-Industry-A nalysis. html, referred on 30th March ‘2010 www. ishc. com/uploadedFiles/PublicSite/ /custbehavior. doc, referred on 30th March ‘2010 Images are taken from Google Image

Suicide rate in prison Essay Example

Suicide rate in prison Essay Example Suicide rate in prison Essay Suicide rate in prison Essay Essay Topic: Blankets Prison inmates have a higher suicide rate than those in the general community.   In the US, research shows that for inmates housed in pretrial facilities, the suicide rate is ten times that of the outside community (World Health Organisation 2000).   In facilities accommodating sentenced prisoners, the suicide rate is three times greater than in the outside community (World Health Organisation 2000). Additionally, it is worth pointing out that for every successful suicide attempt, there are numerous more unsuccessful suicide attempts (World Health Organisation 2000).   Suicide rates in prison have steadily increased over the decades. In the US, the number of inmates who take their own life has overtaken and now more than doubles the number of inmates that are killed by other prisoners (Wortley 2002).   In 1990, 134 inmates in US prisons committed suicide.   In 1995, the number rose to 169 (Stephan 1997).   In the UK, the number of suicides in prison was 37 in the year 198 8, and rose to 82 in 1998 (HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales 1999: 12).According to Hayes (1995), one of the most constant findings in his research was that suicide rates are highest among smaller prison systems.   This finding, Hayes argued, reflects the lack of resources that smaller prisons tend to have.   This finding obviously shows that the prison environment is an important factor implicated in prison suicide.Research shows that hanging is the most common manner in which inmates commit suicide.   In a British study, 90 per cent of inmates committed suicide by hanging themselves, 4 per cent did it via poison or drug overdose, 3 per cent via cutting themselves, and 1 per cent via smoke inhalation or burns (Dooley 1990).   These figures are similar to those found by Hayes (1995) in the US, who found that 96 per cent of inmates committed suicide by hanging themselves, and the rest did it via cutting themselves or ingesting drugs. Similarly, White and Sch immel (1995) found that 79 per cent of prison suicides were done by hanging, 7 per cent by jumping to their deaths, while drug overdose, shooting and cutting accounted for 5 per cent each.Research conducted on attempted suicide shows that the most common way inmates attempt, unsuccessfully, to kill themselves is by cutting or slashing their wrists.   Inch et al (1995) found that 64 per cent of inmates attempted suicide by cutting, 32 per cent by hanging and 4 per cent by swallowing a sharp object.According to Hayes and Rowan (1988), the statistics for specific instruments involved in prison suicide are as follows: 48 per cent of inmates use bedding, 34 per cent use clothes, 5 per cent use shoelace, 4 per cent use towels, 2 per cent use belts, and 1 per cent use guns.   The rest of the instruments utilized in prison suicide are knives, razor blades, drugs, glass, and knives, however these account for only 1 per cent each (Wortley 2002).Who commits suicide in prisonAn analysis was made of 52 suicides in New York prisons between 1986 and 1994 (Hayes 1995).   The analysis revealed that white inmates, who represented 18 per cent of the prison population, accounted for 42 per cent of the suicides.   In comparison, black inmates represented 50 per cent of the prison population, but accounted for only 20 per cent of suicides (Hayes 1995).   Further, this study found that while inmates condemned for violent crimes represented   56 per cent of the prison population, they accounted for 80 per cent of suicides.   With respect to length of incarceration, 64 per cent of all victims committed suicide within 2 years of incarceration. 66 per cent of the victims had mandatory minimum sentences of at least 4 years, and 23 per cent of victims were serving life sentences (Hayes 1995).Inmates under 21 years of age are more likely to commit suicide than older inmates (Worltey 2002).   According to Wortley, younger prisoners tend to react more intensely and more impul sively than older prisoners.   Another explanation for the higher rate of suicide among young prisoners could be that bullying and harassment are greater in prisons with larger numbers of youths (Wortley 2002).   Additionally, Dooley (1990) found that occurrences of suicides in prisons with high youth populations had the effect of inciting other young prisoners to imitate the behaviour.CausesSocial isolation is regarded by psychologists as the most important cause of suicide (Berman, 2007).   It is not surprising therefore, that the prison environment, being one of loneliness, deprivation, hardship, and isolation from their friends and family, has a strong influence in prison suicide victims and can offer an explanation to the higher suicide rate in prisons.Modern psychologists have described several common characteristics found in suicides.   These include a sense of unbearable psychological pain, a sense of isolation from others, and the opinion that death is the only solu tion to problems for which a person feels hopeless and powerless (Berman 2007).   One would think that an environment such as that found in a prison would seem to foster those very feelings in their inmates.Mental health problems are also believed by experts to be a major factor in suicides (Berman 2007).   Not surprisingly, a relatively high incidence of mental-health problems is found among prison suicide victims.   According to White and Schimmel (1995), in a study conducted on 43 suicides, 23 victims had a prior psychiatric diagnosis, including 11 diagnosed with severe psychotic disturbance, 6 with affective disorder and 4 with paranoid ideation.   17 of the victims had previously attempted suicide at least once (White Schimmel 1995).At the same time, the evidence suggests that there is a direct relationship between prison suicide and the experience of being in prison (Wortley 2002).   A previous record of psychiatric treatment is less likely for prison suicide victim s, than for suicides of the general community.   In research conducted by Liebling, et al (1999), the percentage of prison suicide victims with past psychiatric treatment was 33 per cent, and the percentage of suicide victims in the general community with past psychiatric treatment was 80 to 90 per cent.   This once again suggests that the prison environment itself plays an important factor in prison suicide.According to Wortley, 30 per cent of inmates who had attempted suicide said the reason for doing so was threats or teasing by other inmates, 24 per cent said that it was because they had been punished or placed in segregation, 22 per cent said that their sentence was longer than they expected, 12 per cent had received or were expecting to receive a letter from a loved one, 8 per cent had received an unwanted transfer, and 4 per cent had had their parole rejected. White and Schimmel (1995) found that the most common factors were new legal problems (28 per cent), relationship problems (23 per cent) and conflicts with other inmates (23 per cent).Security levelResearch has shown a greater number of suicides and attempted suicides in maximum security prisons than in medium and minimum security prisons (White Schimmel 1995).   A possible reason for this could be than maximum security prisons are more disheartening and gloomy, or it could be that maximum security prisons house more suicide-risk inmates. In any case, this shows that the additional restrictions and observations that occur in maximum security prisons are not enough to prevent inmates from killing themselves (Wortley 2002).Stage of sentenceOne of the most constant results with respect to prison suicide is that the risk is greater while prisoners are on remand or in the early stages of their sentence (White and Schimmel 1995).   Over 50 per cent of jail suicides occur within the first 24 hours of incarceration, and 26 per cent occur within the first three hours (Hayes 1995).   In prison, 17 per cent of suicides occur within the first week of incarceration and 51 per cent within the first three months (Dooley 1990).   Obviously, the first months in prison are the hardest and the most difficult to cope with, and this can push some inmates over the edge.There is also evidence of a relationship between time served and suicide.   Prisoners with sentences over twenty years seem to have a higher suicide risk.   In one study, this group accounted for 28 per cent of suicides but represented only a 12 per cent of the prison population. (Wortley 2002).   It is reasonable to concur that the high prison sentences most likely gave the inmates a deep sense of hopelessness.This paper will now proceed to outline several strategies to prevent prison suicide.Prevention of Prison SuicideIncreased visitation rightsAs previously mentioned, feelings of isolation from family and friends is a key factor in suicides.   It is beneficial to prisoners that they have adequate visiting ar rangements and facilities in order for them to not feel so isolated.   These visits are important because it would provide much needed emotional support that may protect inmates from despair and irrational thinking during their difficult times in prison.   If the prisoner can make physical contact with his loved ones this would be even better (Reser 1992). These visits can be of special significance to some cultural groups, as some research has identified lack of family contact as the crucial factor in prison suicides among some cultural groups such as Australian Aborigines (Johnston 1991).Increasing guard patrols and surveillanceA successful surveillance regime in prisons, with regular guard patrols and close-circuit television, can lower suicide rates in prisons.   Hayes reported on a successful suicide prevention regime in a US prison in which close-circuit television and physical checks were conducted at least every five minutes, depending on an inmates suicide-risk level.    Additional random checks were made so that inmates could never predict them and so had no opportunity to kill themselves.   The result of this regime was that over a 12 year period, only one suicide occurred among 57,000 processed inmates (Hayes 1995).Cell designTo prevent suicide, something should be done about the design of windows and doors so that they are unable to be utilized as hanging points.   Similarly, the design of ventilation covers and light fixtures should be altered so that they cannot be used as hanging points (Atlas 1989).   Metal door bars should be replaced with polycarbonate glazing; light fixtures and ventilation covers should be covered with tamperproof screen; exposed pipes, brackets, hinges, knobs and electrical outlets should be eliminated.   Additionally, to help elevate the depressing mood in prison cells, cells should have access to natural sunlight and be painted in pastel rather institutional colors (Atlas 1989).Role of staffStaff should b e appropriately trained in suicide prevention, and strategies to prevent suicide should be carefully outlined in prison policy documents and given to staff. There is a need to provide staff with the necessary information about suicide and suicide prevention.   Staff should be made aware of the signs of suicide-risk inmates and the appropriate protocols for dealing with suicide-risk inmates.   Inappropriate staff attitudes such as that nothing can be done to stop a suicidal inmate, or that suicide attempts are meant only to get attention, should be done away with.   Any sign that suggest that an inmate could be suicidal should be taken seriously (Wortley 2002).Restriction of dangerous itemsThe instruments used to commit suicide in prison are those that are easily available to inmates.   Hanging with the use of clothing and bedding, is the most common way in which suicide is accomplished.   Together with the elimination of hanging points, suicide by hanging can be reduced wi th the use of tear-resistant sheets and blankets (Wortley 2002).   The restriction of razor blades, and other objects that could be fashioned to inflict self-harm is obviously another way in which prison suicides could be prevented.   The main task here lies in identifying which items prisoners can utilize to harm themselves, which is not always easy to accomplish as prisoners in the past have imaginatively used what one would think were harmless items, such as toothbrushes, to commit suicide (Wortley 2002).ConclusionHigh prison suicide rates are a worldwide phenomenon.   Several causes for this have been suggested, but perhaps the most relevant is the prison environment itself which drives vulnerable inmates, especially younger the inmates, into committing suicide.   The strategies presented in this paper for preventing prison suicide could be utilized to control prison suicide rates.   The control and lowering of prison suicide rates is important, as suicide has a devast ating emotional impact on surviving family members and friends of suicide victims.ReferencesAtlas, R. (1989). Reducing the opportunity for inmate suicide: A design guide Psychiatric Quarterly 60, 161–71Berman, A. (2007). Suicide.   In Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007. (Online), Retrieved March 15, 2007. http://encarta.msn.comDooley, E. (1990). Non-natural deaths in prison British Journal of Criminology, 30, 229–34.Hayes, L. (1995). Prison suicide: An overview and a guide to prevention Prison Journal, 75, 431–56.Hayes, L. M. Rowan, J. R. (1988). National Study of Jail Suicides: Seven Years Later. Virginia: National Center on Institutions and Alternatives.HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales. (1999) Suicide Is Everyones Concern: A Thematic Review. London: HMSO.Inch, H., Rowlands, P., ; Soliman, A. (1995). Deliberate self-harm in a young offenders institution Journal of Forensic Psychiatry 6, 161–71.Johnston, E. (1991). National R eport of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Liebling, A., Muir, G., Rose, G. Bottoms, A. (1999) Incentives and Earned Privileges for Prisoners - an Evaluation, London: Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate.Reser, J. (1992). The design of safe and humane police cells: A discussion of some issues relating to Aboriginal people in police custody, in D. Biles and D. McDonald (eds. ), Deaths in Custody Australia, 1980–1989, Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.Stephan, J. (1997). Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 1995. Washington DC: US Department of Justice.White, T.   Schimmel, D. (1995) Suicide prevention in federal prisons: A successful five-step program Prison Suicide: An Overview and Guide to Prevention, Washington DC: US Department of Justice, pp. 48–59.World Health Organization. (2000). Preventing suicide: a resource for prison officers (Onl ine), Retrieved March 15, 2007. www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/60.pdfWortley, R. (2002). Situational Prison Control: Crime Prevention in Correctional Institutions.   England: Cambridge University Press.

An Emergency Management Coordinator and Their Responsibilities

An Emergency Management Coordinator and Their Responsibilities The Emergency Management field is a rather unique and at times a very stressful field. An Emergency Management Coordinator may have many different roles within the emergency service community. An Emergency Management Coordinator has to create plans such as mitigation, and how to prepare the community for a potential catastrophe. Successful emergency management requires specialized skills. EMCs help communities by assessing potential hazards and training emergency response teams, they also work together with government entities that deal with cleanup efforts and medical aid after a natural disaster, hazardous accident or terrorist attack has occurred. As society has become more integrated, those skills include coordinating an increasingly complex array of organizations, resources and personnel. Add to this the high expectations that citizens tend to place on emergency mangers, and the challenge can seem very overwhelming. Now that we have a basic understanding of who and what an Emergency Management Coordinator is I want to take a look at the realities of their duties in the face of disaster/emergency situations. Whether they may be faced with hurricanes, earthquakes or bomb threats, emergency management coordinators (EMCs) must assess the situation quickly, brainstorm possible solutions and delegate duties accordingly. Some of the major duties for EMCs include supervising search and rescue, obtaining food and shelter for survivors and organizing other relief efforts. And depending on your geographical location this job can mean different things in relation to the amount and severity of such threats. An EMC is not off the clock when things are calm and there is no emergency situation to tend to. The laundry list of duties and responsibilities that an EMC much take on is quite extensive and includes, but is not limited to the following: Supervises, coordinates, and maintains the daily operations of the local Emergency Management Agency (EMA). Maintains the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in a continuous state of readiness. Maintains coordination with local and state governmental departments and agencies, utilities and industry during any type of emergency. Prepares and revises the county Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Assists local government departments/agencies in the preparation of the departments SOPs in support of the EOP. Reviews and makes recommendations to businesses, industry, hospital, and nursing homes on the preparation of their emergency plans to ensure they are workable within the framework of the local and state plans. Develops and coordinates mutual aid agreements with other agencies and adjacent counties. Prepares and manages the local EMA budget. Prepares the required budget and staffing patterns paperwork for GEMA, which qualifies the local EMA for GEMA and FEMA funds. Organizes and coordinates local training for public safety and volunteer first responders. Supervises and monitors the actions of the Volunteer Search and Recovery Squad. Prepares scenarios and procedures and coordinates training for local government officials, industry, utilities, and volunteers in conjunction with the exercising of emergency plans. Ensures the EOC is staffed with knowledgeable qualified personnel and makes training and exercises available to these personnel. Through newspaper articles, radio programs, television, speaking engagements, and seminars, makes the public aware of the emergency plans and procedures that are in place and the publics part in making these plans and procedures work. Working with the Red Cross and DFACS, ensures that adequate facilities are available to shelter citizens should the need arise. Coordinates with the school system officials for the development of tornado warnings and school shelter plans. On a 24 hour basis, responds to hazardous material incidents, bomb threats, severe weather alerts, and other natural or man-made emergencies. Manages the daily operations of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and answers citizen inquiries concerning hazardous materials. Responds to water and land search and recovery efforts utilizing the EMA Volunteer Search and Recovery Squad. Interprets and applies all federal and state directives that apply to emergency management and departments supporting EMA. Answers inquiries from citizens concerning emergency plans and procedures. Ensures that all special needs citizens, registered with the Department of Health, are evacuated if the need arises. Also coordinates the transportation needs of the nursing homes. Utilizing computer models and various weather service products, stays abreast of current weather conditions and advises city/county administrators and/or department heads of any action that may be needed. The amount of responsibility that and EMC has is pretty substantial, and it is because of them that when disaster strikes we have the ability to get the help and services that re needed to start the processing of cleaning up and rebuilding. Because of the importance of this position I believe that the individual tasked with having to develop emergency plans has to be one of focus and drive with the best interest of the community at heart. But other than having a focus and drive there are other qualities that make for a really good EMC. One of the most essential qualities an emergency manager must have is professionalism. According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training, professionalism is imperative because emergency managers must work with a wide variety of people to coordinate, organize and get things done in a crisis situation. They must treat other people fairly and kindly, and find the balance between cordiality and a sense of urgency. Emergency managers must als o be able to have empathy but follow the rules and federal guidelines regarding emergency assistance (FEMA). Another important quality is to have great communication and organizational skills. Being a great listener is also important so that they may quickly understand all the facts pertaining to an emergency situation, and be able to efficiently communicate and delegate tasks to subordinates and community leaders. This may also entail using a wide variety of communication mediums appropriately and effectively. These types of leaders must perform well in high-stress situations, and remain calm at all times. This is not an ideal position for someone who loses his temper quickly. Along with the essential professional and personal qualities, the emergency manager must understand and be proficient at the actual management activities. For example, he must plan and coordinate the emergency procedures with local contacts, such as the police and fire department. He must also know the process of contacting state or national officials for more help if necessary. Other types of emergency management ac tivities include working with weather bureaus, transportation authorities and criminal law agencies, (EHow). The way an EMC responds to a disaster is highly dependent upon the source of the disaster and the level of damage it has caused. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods or hurricanes, demand actions and solutions vastly different from those caused by warfare. Spills of toxic or hazardous materials or nuclear power plant malfunctions require different approaches to minimize negative effects. No one disaster will be entirely the same as another, so the response may not be able to be handled them same way. The key concept of an EMC is PPRR which stands for: Prevention/Mitigation- Assessing and reducing disaster risks. Activities include researching natural and man-made disasters, constructing physical mitigation works (such as levees and firebreaks), establishing warning systems, land use planning (e.g. stopping people from building on floodplains) and building codes (e.g. mandating fire-proof building materials). Preparedness- Preparing the emergency services and the community ready for disasters. Activities include preparing emergency plans, training first responders, educating the community on how to prepare and what to do in a disaster. Response- Actually responding to a disaster and ensuring that the emergency services have the right resources (equipment and people) to do their job. Emergency management professionals arent usually in charge of responding to a disaster, but act as an executive officer, providing expert advice to someone with the decision making authority Recovery- Getting a community that has been impacted by a disa ster back on its feet. Activities include, collecting and distributing donations and goods, distributing government relief payments, assisting with reconstruction tasks and much more. There is no single model for emergency management, either in organization or in size. Nationwide, there is great variety. For example, emergency management may function as a separate organization. In an ideal situation, the emergency manager answers directly to the jurisdictions chief executive, giving the executive direct access to unfiltered information from the emergency manager. In many communities emergency management is a function within the fire/rescue, public safety, or law enforcement department. Often it is part of a volunteer department. Staff size may run the gamut from a single part-time or shared position, to a full-time employee, to a full-time director with a large staff, each with assigned areas of responsibility. In any community no matter what the size people look to emergency management for certain things. For example, they expect: A safe and resilient community. In most jurisdictions this entails communitywide preparedness; up-to-date emergency plans, and a training and exercise program to support those plans; and strategies for preventing, protecting against, and mitigating the effects of disasters. Effective response and recovery when incidents do occur. Information about the risks the population faces and the actions they should take. Ethical conduct (FEMA). Because the emergency manager takes on a higher profile during emergencies, a common perception is that all emergency management responsibilities are related to responding to emergencies. In reality, emergency management is not just about the core functions involved in response. It includes a broad array of program functions, and much of the work is of a nonemergency nature. Core functions are those that are critical to a successful emergency response (FEMA). Emergency managers are responsible for the following core functions: Direction, control, and coordination Communications Warning External affairs/Emergency public information Population protection Mass care, emergency assistance, housing, and human services Public health and medical services Logistics management and resource support In addition to the emergency core functions, the emergency manager directs the day-to-day emergency management program that enables the jurisdiction to build and sustain needed capabilities and maintain a state of preparedness. Examples of nonemergency program activities include: Ongoing monitoring of threat/hazard information. Developing and updating plans. Recruiting and training staff. Planning and coordinating exercises. Budgeting, accounting, and grant writing. Building relationships across the community. Educating the public. Organizing for hazard mitigation. Soliciting public input on recovery planning. Documenting, reporting, and managing information. (FEMA) As you can see the amount of responsibility that an EMC takes on is great, the reality is that no matter what is going on from one day to the next the job of an EMC doesnt just revolve around the time of a disaster taking place. Each and every day there is a job to be done and people to keep in the loop and make sure that everyone is doing their job so that when disaster does strike everyone can be ready. The Emergency Management field is a rather unique and at times a very stressful field. An Emergency Management Coordinator may have many different roles within the emergency service community. An Emergency Management Coordinator has to create plans such as mitigation, and how to prepare the community for a potential catastrophe. Successful emergency management requires specialized skills. EMCs help communities by assessing potential hazards and training emergency response teams, they also work together with government entities that deal with cleanup efforts and medical aid after a natural disaster, hazardous accident or terrorist attack has occurred. As society has become more integrated, those skills include coordinating an increasingly complex array of organizations, resources and personnel. Add to this the high expectations that citizens tend to place on emergency mangers, and the challenge can seem very overwhelming.

Euthanasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Euthanasia - Essay Example Specifically, euthanasia has been defined as, â€Å"a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering" (Harris 2001, p. 70). Globally there are a variety of legal perspectives on euthanasia. In these regards one considers the nature of voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia, when the act occurs with the willful consent of the patient, is permitted in some countries. Conversely, involuntary euthanasia is globally prohibited. The last two decades have experienced tremendous controversy over euthanasia as individuals such as Dr. Jack Kevorkian popularized the practice, gaining significant media attention in the process; still, one must note that even as Kevorkian gained some mainstream acceptance, he was ultimately convicted for his actions. While legal considerations of euthanasia are a major concern, of late ethical concerns have most prominently dominated the collective discussion. This essay exam ines ethical concerns within secular and catholic perspectives. While Catholic doctrine spans a wide array of considerations, one of the most comprehensive perspectives exists in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part 3, section 2 of the catechism addresses many considerations related to euthanasia. One considers that the Ten Commandments is a foundational doctrine not simply of the Catholic Church, but of the Christian faith. ... The catechism states, "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being" ("Vatican VA"). One considers that this passage more accurately stands against the act of euthanasia. Rather than simply prohibiting the act of murder this consideration extends the notion to include life as sacred from beginning to end, and granting God specific domain over life decisions. The preceding examples demonstrate that Catholic doctrine prohibits acts related to euthanasia. Still, individuals have argued that the nature of euthanasia – delivering one from their suffering – would be in line with the general mode of Christian thought. Further analytic consideration has been given to this counter-ar gument. While delivering an individual from suffering would seemingly be viewed as a positive step, it has been argued that Jesus suffering on the cross is positioned within the New Testament and larger Christian faith as a necessary aspect of life. In these regards, the suffering resulted in the forgiving of humanities sins. On a broader symbolic level it represents that oftentimes-suffering functions as a means of developing character or for ultimately positive reasons (Pavone). While the Catholic perspective on euthanasia strictly forbids its occurrence, there is a variety differing secular perspectives. In the realm of medical ethics one of the prominent ethical approaches is that of natural law. Natural law as established in Greek antiquity states that, â€Å"man should live life

Eating disorders and sexual violence Essay Example for Free

Eating disorders and sexual violence Essay Many neurotic behaviors are a direct consequence of Trauma. Some of the disorders caused by sexual violence trauma include Rape Trauma Syndrome, (PTSD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and eating disorders (ED). Developing an eating disorder such as compulsive over-eating, anorexia or bulimia after going through sexual violence trauma is very common. However, not all sexual abuse and violence victims will develop an eating disorder. It is estimated that almost 30% to 40% of eating disorder patients are survivors of sexual trauma. A person already vulnerable to eating disorders or suffering from bad self image can use a devastating incident like rape or incest as a trigger to develop an eating disorder. There are countless reasons why eating disorders are used as a coping mechanism by persons suffering from sexual trauma. Some develop eating disorders to avoid sexuality. In other cases it is seen as a way to hide anger or frustration and seek the approval of other people. Since they cannot show the anger and resentment directly, they find unhealthy ways like starving or overeating to express themselves. Some abused teenagers might start viewing their body as a source of shame. In their opinion, unhealthy eating is a way of fixing the problem. In stressful situations like divorce of parents, car accident, death of a sibling and especially rape or molestation the victim feels utterly powerless. The person going through mental trauma will find new ways to improve his or her sense of control. Our culture and society place great emphasis on body image. Being thin is equated with maximum control. As a result, majority of victims start avoiding food or limiting intake to dangerous levels. In this way, the victim no longer remains powerless in their life. A commercial that shows unrealistic bodies will keep motivating such a person to indulge in unhealthy eating behavior. When a person remembers a stressful situation they can be driven to eat more than a normal person. Overeating or eating comfort foods that are high caloric foods can calm the body and relieve it from chronic stress. Sometimes sexually abused women and men merge physical or emotional pleasures with terrifying events. A woman who was raped repeatedly by her uncle as a child will show effects of depression and stress in her later life. However, if the woman had no affection shown towards her by members of her family she will start associating the sexual violence with great affection. This confusing association of good with bad makes her starve and harm her body. She feels pride and satisfaction from harming her body. For her, she has secretly accomplished something other cant. Bulimic patients often experience pleasure and pain for a short span of time. The binging alleviates the hunger longing but very soon shame and self-hatred takes over and she is forced to purge her system entirely. Without recognizing and dealing with trauma it is impossible to treat an eating disorder. It is important that cognitive awareness of the patient is increased as part of the treatment. He/She needs to understand the things that can or cannot be controlled in their lives. The most difficult part is making the patient realize that pain and pleasure are separate experiences that do not need to be subsequently followed by one or the other.

The Newspaper as a Learning Tool -- Education Teaching

Newspapers have a long history of being regarded as a useful educational tool, and their use in a classroom setting dates back further than most might expect. Take, for instance, this quotation: "Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers; but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publication has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools, and by the children in families?newspapers are plenty and cheap ? the cheapest book that can be bought, and the more you buy the better for your children, because every part furnishes some new and valuable information! (Cowen 1)" Although this statement reads like an educator or newspaper publisher of today might have said it, it comes from an article printed in the EasternHerald, June 8, 1795, in the state of Massachusetts. Exemplifying the fact that newspapers have long been viewed as informational tools, this statement also speaks to the tenure of newspapers as an institution. Actual recorded uses of newspapers in the classroom are dated in the 1890s, and in 1911, "The Volume Library" gave great attention to the value of teaching with newspapers. There are many events throughout the twentieth century that also helped develop the prevalent use of newspapers we see in classrooms today. The outbreak of World War II lead to a greater number of students reading the newspaper, both for informational and instructional purposes. In 1929, Richard S. Kimball published a book titled Current Events Instruction. This book was widely accepted by educators of the time, and because it contained suggestions for incorporating current events in the classroom, also became used extensively. Part of Kimball?s instruction for students becoming strong citize... ...A Manual for Teachers and Newspapermen on the Use of Newspapers in the Classroom. New York: American Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation, 1967. Brody, Jeffrey H. and Robert G. Picard. The Newspaper Publishing Industry. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. Cowen, Marlene Stone. "History of the Newspaper in Education Program." American Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. ERIC Digest, Washington DC. 1978. DeRoche, Edward F. The Newspaper: A Reference Book for Teachers and Librarians. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO Inc., 1991. Newspapers In Education. Partnerships in Education, The Buffalo News. 13 Nov. 1998. . Shipley, Barbara. "Integrating Mass Media Instruction: ?Connecting? NIE and TV Programs for the 21st Century." Annual Conference on Newspapers in Education and Literacy. ERIC Digest, Florida. 15-17 May 1991.

Development and Social Change Essay

â€Å"Although globalization made earlier appearances, the trend has unfolded with unprecedented speeds, and to unprecedented extents since the 1960s. † (SCHOLTE. 2000) This essay will explain how the forces of globalisation have shaped and will continue to shape, the financial, demographic, and political societies we see around us today. It will identify the extent to which sustained Globalization has â€Å"†¦ the crevice between poverty, comparative poverty, and luxury. † Such positive and negative attributes affect society on a number of different levels, â€Å"†¦ the individual, the household, the firm, the town, the region, the sector, the nation. † (Kaplinsky) This essay will provide and in-depth analysis and examples of how such global processes have worked to erode the fortunes of so many (Sierra Leone); whilst also being the catalyst for success in other areas (Mexico). (HELD. 2007) ‘The Race to the Bottom,’ is a term describing the intra-national contest for the most favourable environment for business trading, manufacture and investment. Following its successful application to join the World Trading Organisation (WTO) in November 2001, China has experienced a vast influx of foreign investment. This has – as expected – empowered the Chinese economy to the detriment of its former South-east Asian exporting partners. Hong Kong and Taiwan had nurtured the Chinese economy for a decade previously, and now find that their economies are being â€Å"†¦ hollowed out, as China sucks away jobs. † (CHAN. 2009) How did this happen? In the early 1990s China introduced its first minimum wage system with the intention of protecting its workforce. Due to the great versatility of China, the government came up with a formula (based upon local living costs; inflation etc. ) with which each city or region would publish and enforce its own minimum wage. The benchmark for all minimum wages set is between 40% and 60% of the average wage in that locality. Since 1993, according to a study by the Bureau of International Labour Affairs, almost all of the provincial governments have failed to maintain these standards – [see table 2]. Their desire to attract investment has forced the minimum wage : average wage percentage further down. Shenzhen, a model Chinese exports city, paid, on average, 10% less that the absolute minimum wage required by the government and international labour standards. Conversely, the city of Chongqing, which is not export-led or globally integrated, consistently achieves almost 10% more than its minimum required standards (49. 86% in 2000). Chan concludes a â€Å"worrying trend. † She suggests that; â€Å"†¦ as a region or province becomes more prosperous, it violates the national guidelines and seeks to maintain its attractiveness to foreign capital by keeping its minimum wage level low†¦ the benefits of globalisation with this competitive logic have not, and will not, trickle down to those who make the products. † (CHAN. 2009) The Human Development Report 2006-2008 uses Corrado Gini’s coefficient to highlight an increase in overall inequality from 0. 31 to 0. 45 during the initial years of reform. [Coefficient measures between 0 and 1 where 0 is complete equality]. (FACTSHEET. 2008) However, the benefits of neo-liberal economic reform in China seem to have had a positive effect on ‘Poverty. ’ Between 1990 and 2005 the influx of industry and trade bought a per capita growth averaging 8. 7%. Using the World Bank poverty line, (measured at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)) household surveys suggest that post 1981, 54% (500,000,000 people) of the population of China scrambled over the poverty line. (CHAN. 2009) In this sense, we must conclude that global economic integration in China has seen a significant reduction in poverty, but an increase in income inequality has come from overwhelming national development due to increasingly capitalist structures stemming from trade liberalization. What advocates of globalization emit is that two thirds of Chinese industry relies on coal, and just 7% of their energy sources are renewable. A report from the Financial Times found that air pollution in China caused by heavy industry and chemical production has led to the annual premature deaths of 400,000 (air quality); 300,000 (indoor air quality); and a further 60,000 due to poor water quality. (BBC. 2007) There is 1 country in the world where economic growth rate has consistently outpaced that of the Asian Tigers: Botswana (9% average annual growth). Botswana had a GDP per capita of just US$ 77 at independence from Britain (1966). It now stands at US$ 7,554 (GLOBAL PROPERTY. 2010). Kraay notes that; â€Å"A sustainable future in Africa rests on its ability to develop and maximise natural resources. Diamonds play a major role in these efforts. † Diamond extraction and production requires a large investment of initial capital. In the case of Botswana, DeBeers and the Government of Botswana invested 50:50 US$40 million in the Damtshaa mine. FDI in diamonds around Botswana accounts for 33% of GDP growth. Global trading and distribution of diamonds and other minerals accounted for 55% of total government revenues in the late 1990s. (MBENDI. 2009) â€Å"Botswana’s history of sound management, good governance [Botswana has an accountable parliament and holds regular democratic elections] and an emerging focus on enhancing regional competitiveness should serve it well as it continues efforts to diversify. † (WORLD BANK. 2009) So, to what extent can we propose Botswana as a model of how ‘Sustained Globalization’ can ‘Eliminate World Poverty? ’ Firstly it is important to note the income elasticity of diamonds and other such minerals. They are a luxury product and due to the current economic downturn, as real wages decrease, demand is likely to proportionally decrease also. Growth estimates for 2009-2010 predict a contraction of 10. 2%. It seems that over reliance on the global export market has forged vulnerabilities in an otherwise stable nation. However the non-mining private sector of Botswana has proved to have deep foundations, recording a 9. 4% market increase this year. Either way, prudent fiscal and taxation policy, and low level of public debt (3% of GDP) resulting from huge capital influx over the years, mean that national reserves are likely to hold out for the recession period. (MBENDI. 2009) Secondly, it is important to note (as was the case in China), that increase in GDP is not directly proportional to poverty decrease. The most deprived quintile share just 1% of GDP, whilst the second quintile accounts for 5. 9% (Gini coefficient 0. 6). This means that 47% of the population still live below the poverty line. Perhaps the capital gains still need more time to filter down through infrastructure development and reform? In 1966 there were just 3 miles of roads; now there are 4,000 miles, a public transportation system and a nation-wide telephone grid. (WORKMAN. 2006) Perhaps the figures are being distorted by the unstoppable force of HIV/AIDs and malaria that has hit Botswana so hard recently? It is impossible to say. What we can say, however, is that in order to reap the benefits of global trade in the long-term, Botswana must recognise the fragilities of basing their economy on an exhaustible and export-orientated resource. In 1991 the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under Froday Sankoh, launched assaults against the Government of Sierra Leone. Their goal was to combat ‘crime and corruption. ’ The ensuing 11-year conflict was funded throughout by revenues generated by the diamond trade (an estimated initial worth of US$ 125 million). A median estimate suggests the murder of 75,000 (USA Today and The Times). A less conservative opinion from the Agence France Presse believe the figure was nearer to 200,000. (WORLD BANK. 2009) Either way, the drain on capital, natural resources, labour demographic and widespread looting was funded by the global financial market and African integration with it. Capital obtained from ‘conflict diamonds’ was notably from consumerism in the global North. Following the end of the war in 2000, the country was exposed to anarchy and complete economic collapse. Drugs and arms trafficking in cocaine and ex-soviet weaponry was rife, and corrupt feudal political structures further intensified income inequality – Gini coefficient over 0. 6. In 2004 its trade deficit totalled $US 350 million. (FACTSHEET. 2005) In the same year the UN named Sierra Leone the poorest country in the world (based on PPP/capita); and â€Å"†¦ the worlds ‘least livable’ country, based on its poverty and the poor Quality of Life its citizens must endure. † (WORKMAN. 2006) Whose fault is it? Is it the greediness of the conflicting armies? Is it the presence of such a store of wealth in a poverty-stricken country with few other natural resources? Is it the emergence of a global market that has created cosmic demand for such commodities? Time will tell. What we can see is that again, (as was the case in China and Botswana) global financial demand caused a sharp increase in GDP of the country. In 1965 GPD in Sierra Leone was US$ 246; in 2000 it was US$1,330,429 – see Table. 3. We can also say that this does not in any way correlate to an increase in living standards or reduction in poverty. It represents a huge crack in the neo-liberal ideology and Shah’s suggestion that; â€Å"Sustained economic growth is the way to human progress. Economic globalisation in the form of freer circulation of capital would be beneficial to everyone. † (SHAH. 2009) This essay suggests that however trade and political systems are constructed, without complete socialism, conflict can, has, and will continue to peak at the emergence of valuable natural resources. We can also conclude that whilst globalization could â€Å"offer the best prospects for eliminating world poverty,† African history stands in the way of such an ideology. (Table 6) It is not, however, all doom and gloom for the globalization and poverty argument. Mexico in many ways lost the ‘Race to the bottom’ to China, but neo-liberal reform has played a vital role in the successful integration of the Mexican economy into the global manufacture and export market. Prior to the 1980s (and economic downturn), Mexican economics was characterised by protectionist policies, high tariffs and quotas, and restrictions to FDI. By 1981 choking fiscal profligacy and vulnerability to external conditions (notably the 1973 oil shock) caused an imbalance of payments and massive capital flight. This caused huge inflation and the worst recession since the 1930s, forcing devaluation of the Peso on numerous occasions and further recession. (SOMMER. 2008) The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) eliminated the almost all import and export taxes and infused a gradual fade-out of the majority of tariffs between Mexico, the US and Canada. Following initial success, (Table. 4) the government then furthered economic liberalization by implementing 11 free trade agreements with the EU, Japan, and countries in South and Central America. Table. 4 shows how Mexican commodities exported to the United States increases from US$39. 9 billion in 1993; to US$ 210. 8 billion in 2007 (437% increase). Over the same period GDP grew 46%. (SOMMER. 2008) The success of the Mexican model is based largely on efficiency and proximity. Maquiladoras are large manufacturing and export plants, the majority of which are located just south of the US border. There are around one million workers employed in any of the 3,000 clothing, furniture and electronic equipment factories. Their proximity to the US gains them a significant advantage in terms of lower indirect costs (90% of production is transported ‘North’ straightaway) than those of Asian Tigers and the Pacific Ring countries. (BORRAZ. 2007) In contrast to Sierra Leone and Botswana, GDP increase seems to have direct correlation with improvements in real wages; a negative correlation with income inequality; and an overall reduction in poverty. Evidence of its success is shown by a net decrease in Gini coefficient between 1992 and 2002 (Table 5). (FACTSHEET. 2005) Borraz shows that income is less concentrated and has a lower Gini coefficient in states that are more closely linked to the global economy. He suggests that states with stronger links to the world economy might offer proportionately higher wages to the unskilled workforce – in this case (young) women. Unskilled women in Mexico earn between 7% and 16% more than their counterparts in non-globalized or exporting states. Overall, in 2002, 7 out of 9 states in Mexico have seen a decrease in income inequality. (BORRAZ. 2007) Why then, has Mexico succeeded in reducing poverty, whilst Sierra Leone has not? According to Borraz there are two main reasons for Mexican success; 1. Commitment to universal education in the 1940s realized a significant increase in skilled labour and higher overall productivity – sustained GDP growth of 3-4% from 1940. Governmental organizations like PROGRESA have hugely enhanced school attendance rates and decreased child labour. In November 1999 PROGRESA strategies accounted for 82% of the 25% of boys who left work to choose basic or higher education. Thus it was inward looking development strategies prior to neo-liberal reform meant the basic infrastructures for rapid growth were already there. 2. Luck. On the verge of complete inward economic collapse, the discovery of the Cantarell oil fields in 1976 sustained an otherwise weakened and fluctuating Mexican economy. (BORRAZ. 2007) However, it is true that NAFTA and other trade liberalization schemes in the Americas have reduced income inequalities and increased real wages in Mexico – but at what cost? ; The violation of human rights of a million of underpaid (US$ 3. 40/day); overworked (up to 60 hours/week); underage (girls often start at 12 or 13) workers with minimum knowledge of their rights. â€Å"In 1987 a worker had to work 8 hours and 47 minutes to buy the basic food basket for a family of four. Today it takes 34 hours. † (CORPWATCH. 2009) The pollution of New River in Mexicali Valley [which runs into the Rio Grande] is now dumped with 130 million gallons of industrial waste each day. â€Å"According to the Texas Department of Health, since NAFTA went into effect the Hepatitis A rate for Cameron County shot up from 17. 8 per 100,000 residents to 87. 4 per 100,000 an increase of almost 400%. † (CORPWATCH. 2009) The Zapatistas have also suffered hugely from opening the agricultural market to mass produced US market-garden exports. Their anti-globalization ideology highlights that their inability to compete with mechanically harvested, artificially fertilized and genetically modified imports from the US. NAFTA also eliminated crop subsidies for Mexico while US farmers still receive them. The agrarian based society has directly suffered from a decrease in real wages and an increase in comparative poverty due to open trade. Further, â€Å"China [Page 2 & Table 1] has weakened the allure of Maquiladoras in recent years and some report that more than 500 plants have been closed since the beginning of the decade. † (SOMMER. 2009) Currently, the future of the Mexican economy is unknown. Sharp decreases in PEMEX oil production and the current financial crisis in the U. S. is revealing more weaknesses in the Mexican export strategy. (RANDEWICH. 2008) Conclusion Does â€Å"Sustained globalisation offers the best prospects for eliminating world poverty. † ? Firstly there is no confirmed method of effectively measuring either ‘Globalization’ or ‘Poverty. ’ One can not accurately judge the benefits/detrimental effects of globalization without a baseline measure for poverty. QOL indicators, the Gini coefficient, and GDP are subject to variations and outside influences that cannot be measured or corrected (E. g. measuring GDP in Kerala; or measuring the Gini coefficient of China). The Neo-liberal argument – that increased density of economic integration between countries will increase overall efficiency due to the specialization of resource use – is likely to be correct. The majority of trade liberalization cases show an overall increase in GDP. This cannot be taken further to suggest that it directly benefits those living in poverty. Further, in the case of Mexico and China, evidence suggests trade liberalization pits global forces against each other and with no weight divisions and no handicaps, smaller regions, towns, industries and households cannot be expected to win. â€Å"The eradication of global inequality requires much more than simply repeating the tired rhetoric of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism or, even worse, marking globalization work for the poor. † (HELD. 2007) Claire Short’s White Paper (Title) fails to recognise this, suggesting 5 common elements to successful poverty reduction based around a neo-liberal framework: 1. Openness to trade and eagerness to attract FDI. 2. Political stability and competent governments committed to economic growth. 3. Savings and investment of at least 25% of national income. 4. Economic stability: controlled inflation and government budgeting; avoiding production collapse. 5. Market allocation of resources: minimal necessary government intervention. (DFID. 2006) Such claims can be considered naive. The DFID paper reads like a propaganda policy designed to gain electoral support. This essay suggests that there are only three conclusions that can be drawn. 1. That trade liberalization generally incurs an increase in international trade and GDP. 2. â€Å"Every international institution throughout history has been hierarchical and composed of dominant and subordinate states; there has never been, and in the future is never likely to be, an egalitarian and democratic international system. † (HELD. 2007) 3. â€Å"Globalization is in fast forward, and the world’s ability to understand and react to it is in slow motion. † (TURNER. 2003) Table 1 (WORLD BANK. 2009) (CHAN. 2009) Table 3. Estimated GDP Sierra Leone (WORLD BANK. 2009) TABLE. 4 (SOMMER. 2009) Table. 5 (CHAN. 2007) Table 6. (DFID. 2006) ABOUT. 2009. The History of Transportation [online] [Accessed 28th December 2009] Available from: http://inventors. about. com/library/inventors/bl_history_of_transportation. htm. ADELZADEH, A. 2008. Simulation Models of 5 African Economies. Designing Africa’s Poverty Strategies: Creating the Capacity for Policy Simulation. [online] [Accessed 3rd January 2010] Available from: http://models. wider. unu. edu/africa_web/input_login. php? class=bw_quickies&instance=quickies&country=bw

Iqbal as a Politician Essay

INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest political figure of modern Asia has remarked about Iqbal: â€Å"Although a great poet and philosopher, He was no less a practical politician. With his firm conviction and faith in the ideals of Islam, he was one of the few who originally thought over the feasibility of carving out of India an Islamic State in the North-West and North-East Zones which are historical home-lands of the Muslims.† Iqbal is generally known as a great poet and philosopher but he was also an active politician. He fought bravely not only against the ruling power and majority community but also against the Muslim reactionary politicians. M.Iqbal was born on 9th November 1877 at Sialkot . His father, Sheikh Noor Muhammad belonged to a Kashmiri family was very devoted Muslim and had deep affection with Islam. His mother was a wise but not an educated woman. When Iqbal was about four years old he was admitted to the Maktab of Maulana Ghulam Murtaza to learn Quran . In Sialkot he was very lucky to have Mir Hassan as his teacher. He was a great scholar, who recognised Iqbal’s capabilities and encouraged him in every possible way. Iqbal completed his matriculation in 1893 from scotch mission collage. He finally moved to Lahore to do his graduation from the GC university which was the best  university in Punjab. He completed his graduation in 1897. He decided to do Masters in Philosophy. He received his masters degree in philosophy in 1899 . He went to study at Cambridge University where he choose to specialise in philosophy. Professor Arnold advised to submit his thesis in Germany to get Doctoral degree. The Heidelberg University awarded him the degree of Ph.D. on 4th November 1907 and the thesis was published in 1908 from London. IQBAL AND THE ISLAMIC STATE: Iqbal reflects both Western and Islamic influences in his education and experiences. Iqbal’s writing,spurred by his deep concern for the crises of Islam in contemporary society. For Muslims, Islam is his community, his nation in which he will attain his true individuality. The Islamic society is based upon common belief..Iqbal stressed that in order to practice economic and social system of Islam, you need to have a state. He provided the theoretical framework. Iqbal in his letter to M.Ali Jinnah, He stressed upon the Islamic laws as fundamental to the survival of Islam. Iqbal says in his letter of 20th June, 1933: â€Å"You may rest assured that I am not interested in politics as such. It was my interest in Islam as a moral polity that drove me to politics†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  He further said in the same letter that:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It was my duty to step forward and to place before the younger generation the real meaning of our ideals†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  During 1905 to 1908 Iqbal was started talking about ‘Tauheed’ that if you want the binding force you have to follow the concept of ‘Tauheed’. If deen is lost every thing is lost. We should break the concept of colour, cast, creed and other things. For exciting a movement amongst the Muslim scholars Iqbal suggested four basic approaches: Quran, Hadith, Ijma and Qiyas. Iqbal also observed that â€Å"It is Islam which has come to rescue the Muslims and not vice versa.† IQBAL’S CONCEPT OF NATIONALISM: The problem of nationalism attracted much of his attention throughout his life. In his initial stage of poetry he was in favour of Indian nationalism.In many poems he wrote that India was his motherland and it was superior to other countries. But at the same time he was stressing that  religion does not preach hatred.(mazhab nahin sikhata apas mein bair rakhna) and everybody who living in India was an Indian and India was his homeland (hindi hain ham watan hai hindustan hamara) He wrote ‘Tarana-e-Hind'(Ø ªÃ˜ ±Ã˜ §Ã™â€ Ã›â€š Û Ã™â€ Ã˜ ¯Ã›Å'). Ø ³Ã˜ §Ã˜ ±Ã›â€™ Ø ¬Ã› Ã˜ §Ãš º Ø ³Ã›â€™ Ø §Ãšâ€ Ãš ¾Ã˜ §Ãš ¾Ã™â€ Ã˜ ¯Ã™Ë†Ã˜ ³Ã˜ ªÃ˜ §Ãš º Û Ã™â€¦Ã˜ §Ã˜ ±Ã˜ § In which he said that you need to love every thing available in your country.Unity of humanity started developing when Iqbal went abroad. He started understand the hollowness of Europe. He believed that territorial nationalism is actually created more problems then solving it.He was bringing up with new ideas For the first time he used the term ‘Qaum'(قوم ) for Muslim ummah. Then he started talking about ‘Millat’. When he talked about Islamic culture he was not only concern with Hindustan but also for the whole Islamic civilization. He was credited to bring alternative concept of ‘Universal Nationalism’. Iqbal said that individual should merge in millat. He wrote Tarana-e-Milli ( Ø ªÃ˜ ±Ã˜ §Ã™â€ Ã›â€š ملÛÅ' ). Cheen-o-Arab Humara, Hindustan Humara Muslim Hain Hum, Watan Hai Sara Jahan Humara†¦ In a letter to Professor R.A.Nicholson Iqbal explained his point of view on this matter that: â€Å"Since I find that the idea of nationality based on race or territory is making headway in the world of Islam, and since I fear that the Muslims, losing right of their own ideal of universal humanity, are being lured by the idea of a territorial nationality. I feel it is my duty as a Muslim and a lover of all mankind, to remind them of their true function in the evolution of mankind†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.† IQBAL AND POLITICS: Iqbal did not take active part in the politics for a long time. During this period he was busy in creating political consciousness among his people.Iqbal used poetry as a tool to give his concepts.Poetry is not his first priority.When he realised that now its the time to do something practical. Than he did not hesitate even for a single moment. He was urging Muslim to take active part in politics. He supported the Khilafat movement but did not indulge practicality believed that Muslims in different countries of the world should unite but concentrate on national movements.  He had fate on his own culture and tradition. He was asking the elite to talk about the time when Muslims were at peak. He was also asking the intelligentsia and politicians to talk about the glory of Muslim past and also about the reasons which caused their downfall. He was interested in political advancement and safeguarding the rights of Muslims for preserving their separate identity. In May 1908, when Muslim League was formed in London Iqbal was elected as a member of the committee. He drafted constitution for this league. He came back to India in August 1908. There was already a Muslim League in India. During 1913 to 1923 he was not very active in politics. This was the time when Iqbal was busy developing his philosphy and writing his epoch-making poems Asrar-i-khudi, Rumuz-i-Bekhudi, Khizr-i-Rah and Tulu-i-Islam etc. During the last years of his life, Iqbal had such a busy political life that it is not possible to describe all of his political activities in this short assignment. Hence some of his work mentioned in a brief sketch. MEMBER OF PUNJAB LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: It was in 1923 that Iqbal was persuaded by certain friends to stand for election to the Punjab legislative council, and he was quite willing to do so. But his friend Mian Abdul Aziz also wanted to stand for this election. Finally he stood for elections to the council in 1926, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. He took great interest in the work of the council and he made important contribution in it. He delivered many speeches on the budget of the Punjab. He also discussed other subjects in the council. He had a great love and sympathy for the poor. Iqbal moved some very good resolutions in the legislative council. Iqbal put great fight for the revision of land taxes. He said in one of his speech that: â€Å"In case the money is remitted we should apply it towards the reduction of taxes. We should apply the principle of progression to land revenue†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦In the case of income-tax the principle of ability or the  principle of progression is applied, that is to say, there is graduated scale and some people do not pay income-tax at all. My submission, therefore is that the council should consider the question of the reduction of taxes in the light of this principle†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.† He moved a resolution to discourage drinking. He was a great friend of peasants and he moved resolutions in favour of them. But when asked to stand for the next election, he said: â€Å"People go to council to grind their own axes. I have no axe to grind.† ALLAHABAD SESSION: IN 1928 M.Iqbal was elected secretary of the Shafi branch of the Muslim league .In the same year he was appeared before the Simon Commission as a witness. In 1929 he attended the Muslim Conference held in Delhi. He was elected as the president of All India Muslim League in 1930. In the same year he presided the annual session of the All India Muslim League held at Allahabad. He delivered a presidential speech, which was known as Allahabad address. In this speech he said that: â€Å"Do not think that the problem i am indicating is a purely theoretical one. It is very living and practical problem calculated to affect the very fabric of Islam as a system of life and conduct†¦..† He further said in the same speech that: â€Å"Redistribution of British India calculated to secure a permanent solution of the communal problem is ignored, then I support as emphatically as possible, the Muslim demands repeatedly urged by the All India Muslim League and All India Muslim Conference. The Muslims of India can’t agree to any constitutional changes which affect their majority rights.† In this speech Iqbal was the first to suggest a separate homeland for the Muslims on the plateform of Muslim League. The scheme suggested by others had not attracted any attention at all, But the one put forward by Iqbal attracted worldwide attention for the first time. The words of Iqbal which took much attention in this speech was that: I would like to see the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Sind and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single State. Self-government within in the  British Empire, or without the British Empire, the formation of consolidated North-West Indian Muslim State appears to me to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India.† The whole address was thought provoking and it called the Muslims to get united and prepare themselves for the struggle to achieve freedom. On this occasion he was convinced that the only solution for the Muslims to survive in India was to have a homeland. ROUND TABLE CONFERNCES: British government sent a commission under Sir John Simon to introduce constitutional reforms in Indian sub-continent. The Simon commission finished its work in 1929 and submitted its report in the middle of 1930 to the British government. There were huge agitations against these reforms then the viceroy announced that the British government proposed to call Round Table Conference in London. Iqbal did not attend the first Round Table Conference because he was not invited to attend this conference. Iqbal attended the second Round Table Conference. Which was also attended by Mr.Gandhi there were formed two commissions. In this conference no result could be found, So the delegation wrote a letter to British Prime Minister to give an award. The Prime Minister gave the award in 1932. Iqbal issued a statement before announcing the award that : â€Å"I honestly believe that no community has a more genuine grievance against the decision than the Muslims. Indeed, I can’t explain to myself as to how the British conscience has tolerated the injustice.† Third Round Table Conference was held in 1932, in which Iqbal stressed the need for provincial autonomy because autonomy gave the Muslim majority provinces power to safeguard their their rights, cultural traditions and religion. Under the central government the Muslims were bound to lose their cultural and religious identity at the hands of overwhelming Hindu majority. IQBAL, THE VISIONARY, JINNAH, THE TECHNICIAN AND PAKISTAN THE REALITY: Iqbal dreamed of Muslim autonomy to be carried out in the Muslim majority areas of the Indian sub-continent. In a meeting with Jinnah, he did not use  the term ‘two nation’ but ‘nation’. Iqbal selected Jinnah to lead the Muslims. In a letter to Jinnah he wrote that: â€Å"You are the only Muslim in India today to whom the community has a right to look up for safe guidance through the storm which is coming to North-West India, and perhaps to the whole of India.†Ã‚  In his historical Allahabad Address, Iqbal visualised an independent sovereign state for the Muslims of North-West India. As Iqbal selected Jinnah to lead the Muslims and Jinnah articulated the case of separate homeland for Pakistan so brilliantly that even the Hindus and British could not stand in his way and gave way for the creation of Pakistan. Jinnah as a brilliant lawyer and politician, his sense of practical and achievable set him quite apart from the visionary Iqbal. Thus Pakistan became as a reality because of their endeavours. A writer has remarked that: â€Å"But in the midst of all darkness there shone a flickering light in Lahore. And this was Iqbal who stood steadfast by Jinnah in those trying days and helped him to charter the course of Indo-Muslim politics.† CONCLUSION: Iqbal died in 1938, but he was successfully converted Jinnah, from ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity to a communal Muslim leader. Till the end he gave advices to M.Ali Jinnah in political matters through his letters. Later Jinnah adopted a resolution for Pakistan movement in Lahore session of the Muslim League in 1940. After the Lahore resolution was passed in Lahore session on 24th March 1940, Quaid-i-Azam said: â€Å"Iqbal is no more amongst us, but had he been alive he would have been happy to know that we did exactly what he wanted us to do.† His politics can be judge from the following message of Mr.Jinnah: â€Å"To me he was a friend, guide, philosopher and during the darkest moments through which the Muslim league had to go, he stood like a rock, and never flinched one single moment.† I would like to finish my assignment with the quote of M.Iqbal: â€Å"True political life begins not with the claiming of rights, but with the doing of duties.† BIBLIOGRAPHY Ahmad, S.Hassan.1979. Iqbal, his political ideas as crossroads Aligarh: Printwell publications. Chaghatai, M.Ikram.2003.Iqbal New Dimensions:a collection of unpublished and rare Iqbalian Studies Lahore: Sang-e-Meel publications. Iqbal, Javed.1961,Stray Reflections(A notebook of Allama Iqbal) Lahore:Ghulam Ali publications. Iqbal, Javed.1956.Dr Iqbal Lahore:Maktaba-i-Adam educational publication. Jeoffery,V.H.2003.Iqbal’s Vision and Pakistan today thoughts and facts Karachi:Royal book company. Sherwani,Latif Ahmed.1977.Speeches,Writings and Statements of Iqbal Lahore:Iqbal academy Pakistan. Shamloo.1945.Speeches and Statements of Iqbal Lahore:Pakistan printing press. Sultana,Kishwar.1998.Allama Muhammad Iqbal as a politician(1926-1938) Islamabad:National book foundation. Vahid,S.A.1974.Glimpses of Iqbal Karachi:Iqbal academy Pakistan. Wahid,Syed Abdul.1976.Studies In Iqbal Lahore:Muhammad Ashraf press.

German Christmas Pickle Tradition

German Christmas Pickle Tradition Look closely at a decorated Christmas tree and you might see a pickle-shaped ornament hidden deep within the evergreen branches. According to German folklore, whoever finds the pickle on Christmas morning will have good luck for the following year. At least, thats the story most people know. But the truth behind the pickle ornament (also called a  saure  gurke or Weihnachtsgurke) is a little more complicated. Origins of the Pickle Ask a German about the custom of  Weihnachtsgurke and you may get a blank look because in Germany, there is no such tradition. In fact, a survey conducted in 2016 revealed more than 90 percent of Germans asked had never heard of the Christmas pickle. So how did this supposedly German tradition come to be celebrated in the U.S.? The Civil War Connection Much of the evidence for the historical origins of the Christmas pickle is anecdotal in nature. One popular explanation links the tradition to a German-born Union soldier named John Lower who was captured and imprisoned at the notorious Confederate prison in Andersonville, Georgia. The soldier, in ill health and hungry, begged his captors for food. A guard, taking pity on the man, gave him a pickle. Lower survived his captivity and after the war began the tradition of hiding a pickle in his Christmas tree in remembrance of his ordeal. However, this story cannot be authenticated. The Woolworths Version The holiday tradition of decorating a Christmas tree did not become commonplace until the last decades of the 19th century. Indeed, observing Christmas as a holiday was not widespread until the Civil War. Prior to that, celebrating the day was largely confined to wealthier English and German immigrants, who observed customs from their native lands. But during and after the Civil War, as the nation expanded and once-isolated communities of Americans began mixing more frequently, observing Christmas as a time of remembrance, family, and faith became more common. In the 1880s, F.W. Woolworths, a pioneer in merchandising and the forerunner of todays large drugstore chains, began selling Christmas ornaments, some of which were imported from Germany. Its possible that pickle-shaped ornaments were among those sold, as youll see in the following story. The German Link There is a tenuous German connection to the glass pickle ornament.  As early as 1597, the small town of Lauscha, now in the German state of Thuringia, was known for its glass-blowing industry. The small industry of glass-blowers produced drinking glasses and glass containers. In 1847 a few of the Lauscha craftsmen began producing glass ornaments (Glasschmuck) in the shape of fruits and nuts. These  were made in a unique hand-blown process combined with molds (formgeblasener Christbaumschmuck), allowing the ornaments to be produced in large quantities. Soon these unique Christmas ornaments were being exported to other parts of Europe, as well as England and the United States of America. Today, a number of glass makers in Lauscha and elsewhere in Germany sell pickle-shaped ornaments.

ENGL - Is vegetarianism a more healthful or a more ethical lifestyle Essay

ENGL - Is vegetarianism a more healthful or a more ethical lifestyle than a meat-eating diet - Essay Example While humans have the physical capacity to consume meat, I will argue in this paper that vegetarianism is the healthier option and support this with data that supports this viewpoint. The effects of a consuming a vegetarian diet has been widely studied. A number of different studies have come to the conclusion that people consuming vegetarian diets have, in general, a longer life expectancy and seem to have lower rates of coronary heart disease, lower rates of hypertension and diabetes. They also seem to have lower body weight and a lower incidence of high cholesterol. In addition, the presence of certain cancers is slightly lower than in people who consume meat (Fraser, 2009). It must, however, be noted that there is a wide disparity between the different types of vegetarians. The different types show different trends in health (Fraser, 2009). In fact, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the Dieticians of Canada have published papers suggesting that a vegetarian diet that is planned properly is healthy, provides enough nutrition and may contribute to the prevention of several conditions. All the nutrients necessary for a person’s development can be obtained from a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet is said to be appropriate for any stage of life including, childhood, adolescence, pregnancy or lactation (Anonymous, 2003). The lowering of certain diseases is probably attributable to the fact that well-planned vegetarian diets have lower levels of cholesterol, saturated fats and animal fats as well as having plenty of carbohydrates, fibre, magnesium, potassium, folate and several vitamins (Anonymous,2003). From an ethical view, a vegetarian diet has been said to be much more humane. 15% of vegetarians reported that they turned vegetarian for ethical reasons (Vegetarian Times, 1992 from Palaniswamy, 2003). People have been

East African trade route Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

East African trade route - Essay Example Other effects of the trade routes include a cultural interaction from diverse traditions. The evidence to the effects of the trade routes includes the development of the Swahili culture and language. The historic period dates to the year 600 A.D. This paper will analyze the emergence and growth of the slave trade. The analysis context will entail the associated contribution of the trade routes to the history of Africa. The development of the power states in the East African cost emerged from the conquest of the Nubian population by the Axum kingdom (Shillington 191). The Axum king absorbed Christianity as a religion by converting. A later detest by Islam led to the fall of the Axum kingdom. This change followed by the spread of Islam along the states. A later development consisted of single caravans that supplied raw materials and merchandise to India through the Persian Gulf. As a result, the Portuguese spread Christianity to the African countries through the same trade routes (Gilbert & Jonathan 211). The Portuguese demanded manpower to work in Latin America states. This requirement activated the lucrative slave trade along the East African trade route. The trade attracted other states like the Dutch and the Brutish powers. The two states ventured into the East African route under separate mandates. The East African trade route served as a major operation line for nations from other continents. The water channel provided a direct route of caravans transporting gold from Zimbabwe and slaves from the coastline states. The trade route also served as a reinforcement channel for military expeditions from Goa in India. The British also used the trade route to conquer some of the African states like Kenya. The trade routes enabled the spread of Christianity by the Portuguese into the interior parts of Africa. The water channels aided in the expedition of African formerly referred to as the Dark Continent (Visonà 178). The history