Rise in Corporate Debts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rise in Corporate Debts - Essay Example The continuous increase in corporate debt has direct impacts on the financial health of any given sector and by extension other sectors of an economy. Companies with large amounts of debts are susceptible during economic recessions because their debts cannot be reduced or paid back easily. As a result, such companies are forced to limit their investments significant to their going concern in the markets (Talley 1). This may also call for downsizing of its human resource causing inefficiency in operations in both the short and the long run. These actions would result in a diminished overall productivity of a company. Moreover, it would also contribute towards an economic downturn as capital goods orders reduce and laid-off workers cut back purchases. When heavily indebted companies succumb to the economic pressures, and the financial crisis persists, bankruptcy sets in. this leads to potentially large losses and costs to creditors, employees and all stakeholders. In addition, the article states that the likely cause of the increase in corporate debt is driven by weak balance sheets owned by several companies. In addition, weak levels of profitability have prompted firms to borrow in order to sustain their basic operations (Talley 1). According to research conducted by global banking group, the high-yield corporate issuances of loans in Europe increased by 50% as compared to the year 2012. Some of these loans were issued to riskiest terms in relation to their economic operations. These business organizations’ financial health can be measured using leverage, liquidity and their overall solvency. In these corporations, leverage is defined as the ration of a company’s debt to its long-run earnings capacity. Companies with high debt levels as compared to their ability to earn profitable are vulnerable to the global economic troubles. Liquidity refers to a business organization’s ability to clear its debt obligations relative t o their long-term profitability. Low liquidity in a firm leads to difficulties in meeting debt repayment obligations. Solvency indicates the corporate health status of a firm that includes capital, revenue, profitability, leverage and liquidity. These characteristics explain reasons for

Assignment Coursera Essay Example for Free

Assignment Coursera Essay Score Explanation 6. 34 Correct 5. 00 Correct. This is where a spreadsheet comes in handy. Total 5. 00 / 5. 00 Question Explanation This is a simple IRR calculation. Drawing a time line helps. Question 3 (5 points) Austin needs to purchase a new heating/cooling system for his home. He is thinking about having a geothermal system installed, but he wants to know how long it will take to recoup the additional cost of the system. The geothermal system will cost $20,000. A conventional system will cost $7,000. Austin is eligible for a 30% tax credit to be applied immediately to the purchase. He estimates that he will save 1 ,500 per year in utility bills with the geothermal system. These cash outflows can be assumed to occur at the end of the year. The cost of capital (or interest rate) for Austin is 7%. How long will Austin have to use the system to Justify the additional expense over the conventional model? ( i. e, What is the DISCOUNTED payback period in years? Discount future cash flows before calculating payback and round to a whole year. ) Answer for Question 3 Your Answer Score 6 Correct. You discounted before calculating payback, but it still is a very myopic measure. Total Simple payback calculation, but with discounting. Question 4 (10 points) In high school Jeff often made money in the summer by mowing lawns in the neighborhood. He Just finished his freshman year of college and, after taking a Business 101 class, he has some ideas about how to scale up his lawn mowing operation. Previously, he had used his fathers push mower, but he is thinking about getting a r101ng mower tnat wlll save tlme ana allow nvm to 00 more lawns. He Touna a used, zero turn, riding mower on Craigslist for $1,200. He will also need a trailer to pull the mower behind his pickup; that will cost him an additional $600. With the new ower he can take on an additional 20 lawns per week at an average cash inflow of $20 per lawn he will receive at the end of each week. He has 14 weeks of summer in which to mow lawns. (For convenience, assume that the mower and trailer will have no value after Jeff is done with his work this summer. ) The discount rate for Jeff is 10% (Keep in mind this is an annual rate). What is the Net Present Value of the mower/trailer project? Your Answer -1147 3117 4320 3720 10. 00 Correct. You know how to set up and calculate wv, at a weekly interval. Total 10. 00 / 10. 00 A fairly common NPV problem, with weekly compounding. Question 5 (10 points) Yassein is looking to refinance his home because rates have gone down from when he bought his house 10 years ago. He started with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage of $288,000 at an annual rate of 6. 5%. He can now get a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage at an annual rate of 5. 5% on the remaining balance of his initial mortgage. (All loans require monthly payments. ) In order to re-flnance, Yassein will need to pay closing costs of $3,500. These costs are out of pocket and cannot be rolled into the new mortgage. How much will refinancing save Yassein? (i. e. What is the NPV of the refinancing decision? Your Answer 16467 17517 16975 Correct. This is a very common situation we all face all the time. 15463 A problem we saw last week, but I expect you to do this routinely now. It is a value generating opportunity through financing only because interest rates changed. Question 6 (10 points) Chandra has the opportunity to buy a vacant lot next to several commercial properties for $50,000. She plans to buy the property and spend another $60,000 immediately to put in a parking lot. She has talked to the local businesses and has some contracts lined up to fill the parking spaces. The profits from the ontracts will provide $25,000 per year and the contracts will last 10 years. What is the NPV of Chandras plan if the appropriate discount/interest rate is 10%? (Enter Just the number without the $ sign or a comma; round off decimals. ) Answer for Question 43614 Correct. You know how to calculate NPV. Questlon Explanatlon A standard NPV problem. Question 7 (10 points) This question introduces you to the concept of an annuity with growth. The formula is given on p. 3, equation (7), of the Note on Formulae, but I would encourage you to try doing it in Excel as well. (If the first cash flow is C, the next one ill be C(l+g), and so on, where g is the growth rate in cash flow). As an example, the present value of an annuity that starts one year from now at $100, and grows at 5%, with the last cash flow in year 10, when the discount rate is 7%, is $860. Confirm this before attempting the problem using both the formula and excel. What is the NPV of of a new manufacturing project that costs $100,000 today, but has a cash flow of $15,000 in year 1 that grows at 4% per year till year 12? Similar investments earn 7. 5% per year. (Enter Just the number without the $ sign or a comma; round off decimals. ) Answer for Question 7 0486 Correct. Hope you used both methods. This is a set up and calculation problem, nothing new conceptually. Question 8 (1 5 points) Diane has Just 18 and also completed high school and is wondering about the value of a college education. She is pretty good with numbers, and driven by financial considerations only, so she sits down to calculate whether it is worth the large sum of money. She knows that her first year tuition will be $12,000, due at the beginning of the year (that is, right away). Based on historical trends she estimates that tuition will rise at 6% per year for the 4 years she is in school. She also estimates that her living expense above and beyond tuition will be $8,000 per year (assume this occurs at the end of the year) for the first year and will increase $500 each year thereafter to keep up with inflation.

Digital Manipulation | The Ethics Of Photography

Digital Manipulation | The Ethics Of Photography Photography is a form of visual communication (LESTER, Paul, 2006). Photographs are used for a range of purposes including documenting personal events such as birthdays, weddings or christenings, for advertising products or services, for decorating the home, and for appointing authority and authenticity to news stories. Passports and other official forms of identification use photographs as a way to identify people. Current culture is image driven and we are exposed to imagery every waking hour of our lives through forms of visual media on the Internet, television, newspapers, magazines, mobiles phones and now tablets. In using photography to identify an individuals identity or to document the occurrence of an event, a great amount of trust must be invested in the medium of the photograph. Photographs are used in courtrooms as evidence, an occurrence that evidences the trust invested in photographs. By using photographs as evidence it is important to question if the medium of the photograph is an accurate recording of reality. In 2012 an Iranian news agency published an apparent newly developed military drone manufactured by Iran, see Figure 1. The published image was soon discovered to be an already published image of a drone developed by a Japanese University which had been modified to give the impression it was a new and authentic image of a new machine considered desirable by a government. This example evidences the developing ambiguous and potentially dishonest role of digital manipulation within photography. Image manipulation such as this encourages those who read these images and similar im ages to consider whether images have been manipulated and if so, to what extent and for what motivation. The readers of images must question the media that they read and question the veracity of the images whilst not awarding great doubts in the media in general or jumping to the conclusion that every image read has been manipulated. This dissertation will consider more fully inspect the manipulation of imagery, whilst particularly the development of digital photography and will evaluate how this process has affected media credibility. Iran successfully tests Koker-1 VTOL drone (PHOTO) Figure Manipulated image used by Iranian Government to try substantiate deveoplemt of military drone. Journalism in our society often requires the combination of visual and written information to both reach and inform a mass target audience. There is a difference between the photograph and the written representation which is that the camera is able to capture reality (NERI, GRAZIA, 2003). Early photographic technology required a subject to be still in order for it to be recorded whereas modern technology allows for a photograph to be made in less than a second. This significant development in technology means that subjects and material capable of being photographed have become far more extensive than in the early years of photography where limitations were imposed by both camera size and slowness of film. There is also a fundamental difference between photography and the written word in documenting situations. The written word allows an author to mediate reality, choosing what aspects of a subject to detail and describe, governed often by personality and knowledge of a subject. A pho tograph however, may be taken in a situation in which time is limited which in turn forces the photographer to record a subject with little conscious consideration to other objects within the image. Additionally, because the camera is seen as a mechanical device it is not considered to mediate reality like a written account. The camera instead is seen as a device that records truth and cannot be used subjectively (BAUDELAIRE, CHARLES, 1855). If a photograph is considered to have been be manipulated, for example through the use of exposure to give a different reading of the photographs meaning then this could be regarded as providing a less than this could be regarded as a subjective representation. Whereas in regard to the written word mediation is much less alarming due to our familiarity with literature as a subjective representation of reality. It is understood that words are made up of symbols and signs that express the subject they characterise. The word cup does not innately i nform the reader it means the object cup but rather the meaning of the word cup is understood by reading the letters of the word. Yet a photograph is able to demonstrate the appearance of the object it represents and it is able to make this representation with little interpretation required. An Inherent Realism Unlike painting or writing, a photograph can record a specific moment in time. A painting can be of a place that has never existed and literature may describe any place whether real or not. However the example of the Iranian military drone demonstrates that photography shares the same ability as painting and writing in that it can be subjective. Although, painting may be able to demonstrate the emotion of a subject, it is assumed that photography is unable to. In fact, photography has a stronger relationship with specificity as opposed to generality found in painting and writing (MITCHELL, WILLIAM J, 1992). Photographys ability to accurately document is recognised by governments who use photographs for identification purposes in official documents such as passports and driving licenses. Because photography is used for such official purposes, the relationship it holds with specificity is strengthened. However, the Iranian military drone example contests that a photograph may not alway s show the reality of the situation. Photography is powerful because it carries the authority of looking like reality. When looking through a clear glass window it is easy to forget that you are looking through a glass window at reality. Because photographs look so much like reality, it is easy to disregard the complex mechanical and scientific processes which combine to create the photograph. This mechanical and scientific process is not as simple as the window analoguey and will be further reconciled or distorted by considering the technology employed. It is this increasing reliance on science, where there is even no longer a latent image as with analogue processes by which the photograph is made which prompts legitimate and valid questioning of a photographs legitimacy. Barbara Savedoff (1997) uses the analoguey of a hallucination to describe the relationship a photograph has with reality. Savedoff argues that we know photographs are not real and that we know hallucinations are not real. However, photographs seem so real that it is difficult to determine the difference between representation of reality in the photograph and the fact that the photograph is only a representation to begin with. Furthermore, Savedoff points out that photographs do not just record a scene, they also capture a segment of the moment they represent. The idea that photographs contain light from the subject they recorded was considered greatly by early photographers and theorists. In analogue photography, light bounces off the subject and enters the lens and makes contact with the film starting a chemical reaction which produces an image on the surface of the film, creating an exposed negative. This light used to expose the negative has a specific relationship with the subject, the negative and later the printed photograph. Susan Sontag (On Photography, 1977) argues that this process is called the trace and refers to it as something directly stencilled off the real. John Berger (Uses of Photography, 1980) also maintains that the value of the photograph is found within its relationship with the subject. This raises the question when a photograph is manipulation what effect does it have on this relationship between light, subject and recording medium? It is important to note that before a photograph is manipulated the photograph may not already be an objective observation of a subject (HUEPPAUFF, BERND, 1977). It is the photographers decision from where and in what manner a subject or scene should be recorded. Other decisions include what to keep inside of the frame. Once the composition of the photograph is made, there are still variables controlled by the photographer that can ultimately change the way in which the photograph is read. The exposure of the photograph is another consideration, along with the edit performed by the person who has comissioned the photographer to make these photographs. In a news environment, an editor may choose the photographs he thinks best fit the objective of the agency regardless of whether or not that is an entirely accurate representation of the events that took place. These decisions can weaken the objectivity of the photographs made. When photographs are evaluated, one consideration is aesthetic quality (BARRETT, TERRY, 1985). Photographs made for journalism are seldom truly documentary (BARRETT, TERRY, 1985). Increasing the aesthetic value of documentary photographs is not new. During the Spanish Civil War, Robert Capa made a photograph of a militant being shot. It later turned out to be staged to create a more compelling photograph. The perspective of those who produce and broadcast photographs can also affect the way in which a photograph is understood (HUEPPAUFF, BERND, 1977). For example, if a photographer is photographing a public demonstration and they feel positively toward the demonstration, it is probable that they will make photographs that show the demonstration in a positive light. However, if the photographer was opposed to the demonstration then they are likely to record anti-social behaviour of members of those involved. This example shows how the photographer can manipulate the photograph and the reality it presents (BARRETT, TERRY, 1985). In summary, the photographs objectivity which is already questionable due to the way in which the photographer makes a photograph is further questioned as it may have been manipulated by those commissioning the photographer through the process of selection, ultimately undermining the objectivity of the photographer and photograph. Adnan Hajj photographed Beirut after an Israeli bombing. Hajj edited the photograph and added more smoke to make a more compelling photograph. Hajj used the clone tool within Adobe Photoshop to clone and copy smoke to additional areas of the photograph, see Figure 2. After initially publishing the photograph, Reuters withdrew it once members of the public claimed it had been manipulated. To anyone who asked to use Hajjs photograph, Reuters stated that the work was no longer available and stated that Hajj no longer works for Reuters (DAY, JULIA, 2006). The photograph was picked up by a blog, which recognised the fake because the same piece of smoke occurred in multiple places (DAY, JULIA, 2006). Manipulated images are normally harder to identify, especially with more advanced software and more experienced digital editors. This case evidences the desire for Hajj to make a more compelling photograph for his clients by manipulating the aesthetic qualities of his photograph. https://sites.google.com/site/tsoldrin/leb-phony.jpg Figure Adnan Hajjs manipulated representation of Beiruit Bombings in 2006 Nonetheless, Hajjs photograph was created subjectively but it is important to note that even photographs that are objective can be interpreted in different ways. For instance a photograph may be used in court to prove that an event has happened. During a trial the two opposing sides may read photographic evidence of the same subject in different ways, even from the perspective of the photographer who took the photograph. (HUEPPAUFF, BERND, 1977). It is apparent that photographs have never been entirely objective now or in years past. Additionally, it is apparent that they record the views of an individual as presented as if they were actuality. While with digital photography it may be easier to manipulate photographs due to the availability of digital cameras and imaging software over darkroom equipment, the truth is that photography has a historic relationship synonymous with manipulation. Derek Bouse (2002) reasons that people generally believe that the age of a photograph relates directly to its accuracy, and that the older a photograph is the more likely it has not been manipulated. However, still numerous instances of analogue photographs exist. For instance, a photographer employed by Mathew Brady during the American Civil War named Alexander Gardner rearranged a dead person on the battlefield to make a more compelling photograph, see Figure 3 (LESTER, MARTIN, 1991). It is important to recognise that this manipulation took place before the photograph was made. The practice of digital photography is still vulnerable to manipulation before the photograph is made however manipulation is usually carried out after the phot ograph is made. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAPgardner.jpg Figure Alexander Gardner rearranges the position of a corpse and gun to increase the drama of photograph Another photographer known for manipulating a photograph prior to making one is Edward Curtis. Curtis paid Native Indians to dress in exotic clothing and photographed them to make a more compelling photograph and to turn them into a spectacle for the public to view them (MICHAELIS, PAMELA, 2008). However, by dressing these subjects the worth of the photograph as document is reduced, see Figure 4. Although analogue technology was the latest available technology, it was still used to manipulate photographs, even after being made. For instance, in family portrait photographs it was common for members of the family to be cut and pasted into a photograph (Lodriguss, 2008). People would sometimes appear to be disproportionate to others in the pictures due to the position of the subject in the original photograph. In some photographs people are also seen floating. http://blog.lib.umn.edu/melan002/melandblog/Piegan-Lodge,%20clock.jpg Figure Edward Curtis changes the traditional dress of subjects and removes clock from the photograph An example of someone who used many negatives to form one photograph print is Oscar Rejlander. In the 1860s, for some pieces of work he used in excess of 30 negatives to create his well-known The Two Ways of Life which demonstrates a philosopher between a life of virtue and vice, see Figure 5. These composite prints were made by cutting together numerous negatives and using them to create a photographic print. In order for the final photographic print to be consistent from left to right, it was vital that sizing and contrast be the same to prevent people from hovering above the ground. Rejlander, before using multiple exposures and cutting negatives in photography was a painter. These examples show that even before digital imaging technologies existed there was extensive manipulation of photographs through analogue techniques. http://twcdc.com/andycox/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Oscar-gustave-rejlander_two_ways_of_life.jpg Figure Oscar Rejlander uses up to 30 composite negatives to create one photograph Using double exposures was also very common and was used often by photographers namely Eadweard Muybridge who photographed landscapes. The photographic materials of the 1850s were not very sensitive to green but were however very sensitive to blue. Therefore, landscape photographs were often improperly exposed. The correct exposure of the blue sky would render the foreground underexposed, or if the foreground would be exposed for the blue sky would be white with no detail. In order to solve this problem Muybridge and a handful of other photographers at the time would create negatives of desirable skies with differing cloud and all exposed properly. He would then use these negatives to add well exposed sky to his landscape photographs (SCOTT, AMY, 2006). The photograph produced would look natural to a viewer but is obviously a form of manipulation, a process often practised today by digital photographers. Muybridge photographed Yosemite and not only added a false sky but removed trees that prevented his view over the landscape, see Figure 6 (SCOTT, AMY, 2006). http://www.imaging-resource.com/ee_uploads/news/1284/muybridge-2.jpg Figure Edward Muybridge, used his collection of cloud negatives to combat technical limitations of early photography The so far discussed photographers have used manipulation to enhance the aesthetics of the photograph; however photography has also a large history with propaganda and political influences. Vladimir Lenin manipulated photographs as a form of propaganda to make historical events support his regime for the Soviet Union. Individuals who were seen as enemies of the state were often ordered to be killed by Stalin. If these individuals were to be within a photograph next to Lenin they would often be removed. Leon Trotsky is a prime example of this. Once Lenin had determined that Trotsky was an enemy of the state he was methodically removed from all traces of him from state photographs. Nikolai Yezov also suffered a similar fate once he fell out of favour with Stalin. This process of manipulation existing photographs carried on to the late 1900s. From looking at Muybridge, we can see that there are numerous stages in the manipulation and some of which are not clear that they have been altered. Edward Steichen states: A manipulated print may not be a photograph. The personal intervention between the action of the light and the print itself may be a blemish on the purity of photography. But, whether this intervention consists merely of marking, shading and tinting in a direct print, or of stippling, painting and scratching on the negative, or of using glycerine, brush and mop on a print, faking has set in, and the results must always depend on the photographer, upon his personality, his technical ability and his feeling (STEICHEN, EDWARD, 1903, p.48). Here Steichen is arguing that every decision the photograph carries out whether that be painting or scratching on the negative is a form of manipulation or as he calls it of faking. Steichen also refers to the personality, technical ability and his feeling which refers to the photographer and their intentions or motives which will manipulate or cause the process of faking. In the period of digital imaging some of these manipulations are seen as ethically acceptable and are not disputed. Media agency guidelines for manipulation, which we will talk about in greater depth soon, maintain that manipulations that were possible during analogue printing technique times are still genuine. These assertions are that if the chemicals used in the darkroom manipulated a photograph in a certain way then this would be a part of the photographic method and could not be criticised. Steichen obviously would not agree with this as he knows the extent to which analogue photographs can be manipulated. Digital Technology and Manipulation The first device invented that could digitise or make analogue photographs available in a digital format was a scanner made by Russell Kirsh in 1957 (TERRAS, MELLIA M, 2008). The scanner functioned by looking at the variations in tone within photographs and assigning a digital value to represent a tone band. Instead of creating a new photograph this scanner copied an existing photograph and recorded it digitally. Because photographs can be scanned to a digital format, the initial analogue negative can now be manipulated digitally and the truth value held by analogue photographs can now be challenged. Birth of Digital Imaging During the 1960s digital imaging technologies was still only used by large institutions such as NASA and the American government. It was not until the 1980s that the media began to use digital imaging technologies. Digital technology could be employed to enhance the clearness of television broadcasts and speed up the time in which photojournalists were able to send pictures to the media. In 1982, National Geographic published a photograph of the pyramids at Giza on the front cover of the magazine, see Figure 7. The photograph has been manipulated to fit a horizontal photograph of the pyramids onto the portrait cover of the magazine to make the front cover more captivating (TERRAS, MELLIA M, 2008). It is important to note that this instance of manipulation was one of the first by a recognised organisation. National Geographics editor, Fred Ritchen who decided to compress the pyramids felt he had achieved a new point of view by the retroactive repositioning of the photographer a few feet to one side (WRIGHT, TERRENCE, 1999, p.110). Ritchens defence to accusations of manipulating the photograph was that if the photographer had moved and taken the photograph at a different time of the day then the photograph would be the same (WRIGHT, TERRENCE, 1999). However the fact remains that this photograph was not the one that was made. The fact that the photograph was manipulated was not broadcast. It was admitted to have been manipulated when other journalists questioned the photograph. Howard Chapnick (LESTER, MARTIN, 1991, p.96) argued that the words Credibility and Responsibility allow photographers to call photography a profession due to ethical considerations rather than a business. Chapnick goes on to argue that not maintaining these ethics will damage journalistic impact and photography as a language. Lastly, he maintains the threat to credibility is permanent if people begin to disbelieve the news photograph. http://www.lagunabeachbikini.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/newspictures/national-geographic-feb82.jpg Figure National Geographic Magazine Cover 1981 In 1985 digital cameras became widely used by professional photographers. Companies also marketed digital imaging camera to the public for domestic use. During this time the processing capabilities of computers was also advancing and provided a way for individuals to load image manipulation software and manipulate photographs. In 1991 the American government and the media used digital photography as a technology for the first time in a war environment. Not only was digital photography used to photograph the war but was used in weapon systems by America (FLORIDI, LUCIANO, 1999). A much more current use of digital imaging technology is live electronic manipulation. Manipulating a live feed allows the editing of satellite image feeds. On the fly image editing may be used in sports programming to show lines on pitches or by governments to hide classified buildings from satellite imagery that is available to the public such as Google Maps. News television channels can also employ technology to sow text feeds beneath news anchors. Delta Tre supply FIFA with sports data services and on screen graphics (BEVIR, GEORGE, 2012). In 2012, the union of European Football Associations placed recorded footage of a fan crying at the opening of the game and played it after one of the teams had won the game to make for more compelling television. Ivan Amato (Lying with Pixels, 2000) argues that as this technology becomes more widespread and available the credibility of video media will be damaged permanently. In some ways this is similar to National Geographics manipulated Pyr amid in that both representations existed but were manipulated to give heightened sensation. The abilities that digital imaging technology have provided have been used by Walt Disney Imagineering Studio to take existing photographs and film of aged or dead celebrities made in the past to be used in new programmes or films (AMATO, IVAN, 2000). This use of technology to manipulate media, demonstrates how analogue photographs and films are susceptible to these processes and also questions the fundamental nature of the final product? Is it simply a manipulated piece of video footage or a new creation entirely? Mitchell (The Reconfigured Eye: Truth in the Post-Photographic Era, 1992) argues that it is a new creation entirely. Mitchell also argues that photography in recent times has entered a phase which he terms pseudophotography meaning that digital photography is not photography. Though the two methods are comparable, they possess different manipulation potentials which are examined in the next section. Manipulation Since Digital photography Savedoff (1997, p.19) argues that technologies alter rather than simply add to the resources of art. This suggests that photography as an art form has been altered by added manipulation potential. This new digital imaging practice should pose a whole range of ethical considerations relating to the manipulation of photographs. However, this has largely failed to have happened due principally to differentiating between the printed or published digital or analogue photograph creating difficulty in identifying and developing a set of different standards for each method. Photographys relationship with reality as previously outlined is apparent in digital photography, however the relationship created by the subjects personal relationship with light as evinced by Sontag and others will be absent in a digital photograph. There is no latent image. In an analogue photograph created through a chemical process there is room for argument that the relationship with light remains intact. Although t his trace looks to be evident in a photograph created by digital means, the trace is not a chemical reaction but a digital representation of reality and therefore not an embedded feature of the relationship between the subject and the photographic process as with analogue. Additionally, the very nature of digital photography means that the process is limitless in the number of alterations or manipulations that can be applied. These manipulations leave little or no evidence of themselves. Modern digital cameras allow the photographer to instantly review the image made and thus allows them amend the and other factors of image capture until the photographer is satisfied with the final result. Images are manipulated by using computers and image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, along with scanners to digitise analogue images. Therefore, photographs made before digital photography are susceptible to manipulation just like the case of Disney outlined earlier (BOUSE, DEREK, 2002). The development of digital imaging technology has changed photography and its relative relationship with veracity permanently. This lends evidence to Bouses argument that old photographs may be more widely trusted and that digital photography makes readers of images aware not only of current manipulations but of those in the past also. The reader of an analogue photograph, although aware that the photograph was made before the invention of digital technologies is aware that the photograph might have been manipulated and nonetheless changes the way the reader interprets all photographs, manipulated or not (SAVEDOFF, BARBARA E, 1997). This suggests that digital technology has decrease the impression that photographs are mostly objective and truth-relating and that there is a greater tendency for viewers of images to question the veracity of all photographs. A key factor in this significant reduction of trust is the difficulty for the average reader to easily and readily distinguish between manipulated and non-manipulated photographs. Conversely Michelle Henning (2007) argues that digital imaging technologies have enabled limited new ways of manipulating a photograph. Henning continues that digital technologies have only made the manipulation of photographs more available. Henning also argues that the public was previously unaware of image manipulation techniques before the invention of digital imaging technology. Digital manipulation has made the public more aware of photo manipulation and paradoxically served to increase the frequency with which images are manipulated. Evolution of a Medium Photography has been constantly developing since its birth in the 1800s and many of the changes have been driven by evolving technology but were always based on chemical reactions to light. In the 1820s Joseph Niepce found a method to permanently fix a photograph using lavender oil and bitumen. Niepce swiftly developed this method further into heliographs made by using silver nitrate. Eduard Daguerre was also looking for a way to photographically record subjects and contacted Niepce to work with each other. After Niepce died, Daguerre found that mercury could fix images much more permanently and created the Daguerreotype which Daguerre believed at the time serves to draw nature and gives nature the power to reproduce herself (MARIEN, MARY WARNER, 2002, p.23). Since photographys invention the idea of a device that could create unmediated representations of reality was widely believed yet now we begin to see photography may not deserve the verisimilitude it has been ascribed. At the sa me time Henry Fox Talbot worked on a photographic method using paper print. Like the creation of photography and the creation of digital photography these changes and advances were driven simultaneously by several individuals at once. The daguerreotype became the most popular and was widely used to make very simple portraits. Later though, interest was given to the Calotype created by Talbot. The Calotype was less reliable but allowed for prints to be reproduced much more easily and allowed greater detail with the print at least initially. During the mid-1800s negatives were made from glass and coated with albumen paper. These proved much more reproducible and gave more detailed and sharper results than earlier methods. With regard to contemporary digital methods, has digital photography made reproducing images easier due to the fact that digital images when stored on a computer can be duplicated instantly, require no specialist education, now contain little or no cost and can be tr ansmitted and viewed globally without a physical print ever being produced? Being able to reproduce a photograph has always been desirable and this is shown by the demand for the Calotype. Bearing in mind that digital imaging technology has helped progress the ease, convenience and technical, it has done this in a way that has divided the two forms of photography causing great debates among both practitioners and observers of both. Mark Amerika, digital artist and writer, in an interview draws attention to and discusses the differences between digital and analogue photography. Amerika claims that images and how they are read is influenced by the way they are captured, suggesting that as technology changes so does our interpretation of photographs (JACUPS, Karen, 2006). Because photography is much more easily manipulated with digital photography it can be argued that the objectivity of the photograph is lost and it is futile to pursue objectivity (JACUPS, Karen, 2006). It would seem true that manipulation is more common since the advent of digital photography, which could argue that the making of an image is only a small portion of the final product like in the aforementioned case of Rejalnder. Both Mitchell and Savedoff claim that digital photography and the manipulation of it cannot be compared to analogue photography because it is a new medium (MITCHELL, WILLIAM J, 1992) (SAVEDOFF, BARBARA E, 1997). Both continue to argue that because with digital photographs the image is created with a digital sensor digital capture is a separate process to analogue capture. Digital photographs receive their authority because they are almost identical to analogue photographs and this authority is passed to the digital photograph. However, if this authority is diminished, digital photography may be criticised for its lack of authority. News reporting currently accomplished by digital photography may Siemans: Micro Environment and BCG Analysis Siemans: Micro Environment and BCG Analysis SIEMENS COMPANY REVIEW BACK GROUND TO THE STRATEGIC DECISION Siemens is a worldwide leading organization in electronics and electrical engineering industry which is operating in the sector of energy, communication and healthcare sector. There are few industries working in the global market of small and large business which have maintained their successful history of quality products and customer satisfaction. Siemens is also one of those well known and established organizations, having proud to be the leading business. Siemens was founded by Werner Von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske in 1847. The Production Electrical Telegraphs are the remarkable source of Siemens for the past many decades to achieve the large amount of its overall sales. For more than one and a half century, Siemens is still popular in competitive industries for its innovative achievements, technical supports, quality, reliability, and globalization. Being the environmental friendly is one of many other positive aspects of Siemens to feel proud of. Almost one third of their revenue is generated by environmental friendly green products and solutions. â€Å"In fiscal 2009, ended on September 30, 2009, Siemens had revenue of â‚ ¬76.7 billion and net income of â‚ ¬2.5 billion. At the end of September 2009, the company had around 405,000 employees worldwide.† (www.siemens.com) To acquire the long run and effective advantages, generally most of the organizations utilize Strategic decisions. Strategic Decisions help the businesses maintain their quality on the long term directions. Strategic decisions are comprised by considering the organizations activities and analysis to decide the working areas of any organizations. Siemens strategic decisions are quiet clear so far. Siemens basic strategy is to focus particularly on innovation and technology driven growth markets and until the substantive time they have been quiet successful in setting up the trend of new technology and capturing leading positions maintaining their strength of local existence and creating local values on the global level. Siemens believed in diversification and innovation since the establishment which make outstanding business sector. They started identifying market particulars upcoming trends and drawing the strategic results early on. Some years past, Siemens improved their portfolio to four megatrends including demographic change, urbanization, climate change and globalization which are already influencing our daily life today, and the impact of these trends is increasing substantially in the decades. The activities into the sectors of Industry, Energy and healthcare have been the main points of consideration for business. They also set the stage to achieve leading positions and customer satisfaction in attractive continuous growth markets. MICRO ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS Organizations have adopted the internal analysis as a key feature with the frequently changed environment nowadays. To face the environmental change in the ongoing time it has been more useful for the businesses developing strategies utilizing their own resources and capabilities. Siemens has already made it the prior concern for its organization believing their internal resources and strategies as the main strength to achieve their goals. Financial Resources: The group recorded revenues of E77,327 million (approximately $116,294.4 million) during the financial year ended September 2008 (FY2008), an increase of 6.7% over the financial year ended September 2007 (FY2007). The operating profit of the group was E2,492 million (approximately$3,747.8 million) during FY2008, a decrease of 50.2% compared with FY2007. The net profit was E5,725 million (approximately $8,610 million) in FY2008, an increase of 50.4% over FY2007.(Data Monitor Siemens AG). Physical Resources: Siemens are very diversified in geographical presence. They operate in 190 countries spread over the Americas, Europe, CIS, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Middle East. During FY2008, the group generated 26.1% of its revenue from Americas, 52.7% from Europe, CIS, Africa, and 21.2% from Asia, Australian, and Middle East. (Data Monitor Siemens AG) Human Resources: It is in the concern of Siemens that outstanding, competitive and innovative employees are their strength and valuable assets. All of their employees are highly trained, focused and innovative. This belief in their staff plays an important role for Siemens to sustain in the world market. Reputational Resources: Siemens is operating in over 190 countries and for over 160 years. It had created a good and remarkable reputation around the world. They have made them very diversified and manufactured their own brands. Their brands include generators, electrical products, healthcare equipments and many others are some of the outstanding and famous worldwide. MACRO ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS There are some factors that keep changing time to time. These factors are called External factors. No organization can depend on it because of their constant change. Organizations are facing many economic and global problems to sustain. Due to the present dynamic environment; internal strength has been the key part for organizations rely on in order to face any of these challenges. As far as Siemens is concerned, they have been well prepared and have completed their homework keeping these challenges in front. They introduced remarkable measures that will not only help them surviving these crisis without being highly affected but also they will emerge much stronger with the passage of time. Because they began research, identified market specific and started to draw the strategic consequences quite early on to prevent their strength getting weak. Their integrated homework made them able to precisely consider the upcoming opportunities and threats. This homework helped them identify the nature of advantages, opportunities and threats before the time which are: Opportunities: Siemens had bought quite a few businesses in recent years because they think that these businesses have potential to drive its business growth. â€Å"In January 2007, the group acquired US based UGS, one of the leading providers of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services for manufacturers. In the same month, Siemens Water Technologies strengthened its service and product business in the US with acquisitions of four companies: Envirotrol, CEC, Pure Water Solutions, and Sunlight Systems. In November 2007, the group acquired Dade Behring Holdings, a manufacturer and distributor of diagnostic products and services to clinical laboratories.† (Some information is taken from www.siemens.com) Threats: Siemens had done all their homework but still threats lie in front of them. Siemens faces intense competition across its market segments. As Siemens is a huge industry with different sectors their competition is much higher than other industries. Their main competitors in the industry sectors are ABB, Alstom, Bombardier, Emerson Electric, General Electric Company, Honeywell International, Johnson Control, Philips, Schneider Electric, and Tyco International. (Information is gathered from www.datamonitor.com). Likewise in energy sector as well its main competitors are General Electric, Alstom Powers, Mitsuibishi, Abbott and lots more. As it is quite clear that, such competition could adversely affect the revenues and profit margins of the group. DIRECTIONS FOR GROWTH It very important for organizations to be vigilant when choosing the strategic direction, it is a useful method for organizations to launch their products in the market and in order to gain competitive and desired advantages. As it is pointed out by Johnson, Scholes and Whittington that: organizations should be aware of 3 types of motives or pressures that may shape their choice which are: Environment Based Motives: As Siemens is concerned they already had pointed out the growth of economies in the different continents. â€Å"The group operates in about 190 countries Spread over the Americas, Europe, CIS, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Middle East. During FY2008, the group generated 26.1% of its revenue from Americas, 52.7% from Europe, CIS, Africa, and 21.2% from Asia, Australian, and Middle East†. (www.datamonitor.com) Resource Based Motives: As being one of the most diversified groups Siemens have very strong resource capabilities. Due to their high revenues Siemens can afford to spend lucrative amount on their RD. In 2008 Siemens increased its research and development investment to (approximately $5,690.9 million). Igor Ansoff has developed a well known matrix system to analyze the directions of strategies and mix between the products which a company sells and the market is to be sold. Siemens has set the task for capturing leading positions in attractive growth markets. In order to maintain their position Siemens targeted their business activities to some sectors including Industry, Energy and Healthcare. Siemens direction of its strategy lies in all 4 stages of Ansoff matrix. Market Penetration: With the help of its targeted business activities in leading growth market Siemens is constantly penetrating the market. They also have a much diversified customer based group. This group has industrial, infrastructural and diversified customers. The group can be classified in markets like as transport and logistics (such as transport authorities), construction, communication, real estate, metals and mining, machinery, utilities, automotive and many others. Market Development: Siemens is operating in over 190 countries and for over 160 years and generating high revenues which is increasing with the passage of time. Its because they had identified their opportunities and threats. Their prior homework of seeking new markets made them able to achieve the targeted financial market. Product Development: Product development is a very effective and attractive way to counteract a new entrant in market. Product development is to introduce new product to the market or the same product with enhanced and added new services. Siemens has been successful maintaining their vast market, product quality and customer satisfaction around the globe. The basic sectors Health, Industry and Energy are the ones providing them a remarkable deal of opportunities to develop their products. Some of the products and services in energy sector spectrum such as LED energy saving lighting and building control system are up-gradation to their products for their present markets. Diversification: Diversification is one of the key parts for organizations to gain competitive advantage over their competitors. On the other side it includes a great deal of risk for organizations because a huge amount money is required to invest lucrative amount in RD. As The Siemens is a market business leader in the growing sectors, so it deals with the risk to diversify with upper hand. Siemens had always believed in innovation and the technology as said by the founder of the Siemens Werner Von Siemens â€Å"If you are not moving forward you are moving backwards.† Siemens diversify its business by two different ways. Related Diversification: Siemens operates in various sectors of the business market. It provides so many opportunities to diversify beyond the substantive product market within the broad confines of the ongoing industry. Siemens always tried the best in their value chain to gain new products market and customer satisfaction. In industry sector Siemens offers different products such as services like building, communication, lighting, mobile solutions and in energy sector they are providing distribution of power, conversion, extraction and lot more. Unrelated Diversification: Siemens has also diversified its business sector activities beyond its current scope or industry sector. Because of dealing with three business sector activities, Siemens always believed in technology and innovation in their products and services. It requires a great deal of investment in RD. Siemens has a very powerful RD. Recently Siemens had increased their research and development investment to E 3,784 million. Siemens invested with Fujitsu in laptops, which is a very good example of unrelated diversification. PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS The strategy of Siemens portfolio is quite clear for the past many years which set the target to capture and maintain the Number 1 or Number 2 in the future profitable and competitive markets. By doing that Siemens believe they can survive and get through in the difficult constantly changed environment. Siemens is concentrating deeply on renewable energy and organic growth of various products and services. In the past five years they had invested 20 billion Euros in the acquisition of growth business. Siemens has established its leading position in the attractive growth market working out with its three business sectors Healthcare, energy, and industry. As a part of DESERTEC a Solar Thermal Power in Sahara and Wind Farm in Europe are being constructed. They have also being producing Smart Grid Solutions based Technologies such as Electric Cars and lot more. The best and precise portfolio Analysis of Siemens is comprised by Boston matrix. BCG Matrix Siemens AG METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT Siemens have varieties of methods and strategies to develop their SBUs (Strategic Business Unit). It is because they had a diversified business culture worldwide and they operate in 3 major sectors Healthcare, Energy and Industry. Siemens is constantly operating with their strong partners and developing their services to beat their competitors, therefore they are gearing the value chain to efficiency. They believe that for outperforming their competitors they have to consistently work out and improve their services better than they are. Following the belief of always being better than they are, Siemens is successfully developing their services to sustain in the market and improve customer satisfaction. As a diversified business Siemens believe in utilizing different methods of development. Strong RD department is one of their strenghts. They are able to afford the Organic development. They also intend to continue the assurance of strict resource allocation in the future; they are ver y keen on the Organic growth. In the past five years Siemens have invested Twenty billion Euros in the organic development. There was a significant increase in RD budget and it got its RD location in more than 30 countries worldwide. Siemens is also keen to acquire growing businesses. They had recently invested more than 20 billion Euros in order to acquire businesses. Siemens is constantly optimizing its portfolio of Products. Every year numerous acquisitions and divestitures are completed by Siemens. â€Å"In 2005 alone, Siemens invested around EUR 2.5 billion in new businesses and the 2006 figure will be substantially higher. On the divestment side, the carve-outs of BenQ, Product Related Services and Logistics Assembly have caused a stir. Regarding recent prominent acquisitions, such as Flender AG (Germany), CTI (USA), Bonus (Denmark), US Filter (USA) or VA Tech (Austria), Siemens Management Consulting were primarily involved in the pre- and post-merger integration (PMI) work†. (Information is gathered from www.smc.siemens.de) It is Siemens belief that acquisitions helped them come closer to achieve their goal of growing a fast global market. Siemens is also running many joint ventures with one of their SBUs for obtaining growth. Such as Siemens and Nokia have announced their intention to merge the network business of Nokia and the carrier related operations of Siemens into a new company which they will call Nokia Siemens networks. Its a 50-50 joint venture. In which both parties will invest half and half share. Both parties are looking forward to stand as a Global Leader with strong position in current important growth segments of fixed and mobile network infrastructure and services.

Dangers of Darkness in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness :: essays research papers

Webster’s dictionary defines darkness as a space â€Å"devoid or partially devoid of light.† Throughout Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad uses darkness in many ways, as this book truly defines its title. This also develops Conrad’s theme, which is the presence of darkness in both ourselves, and in the world we live. Darkness symbolizes the unknown, the concealed, and the feared. Darkness can hide many hurtful, fearful, and savage things. Several times in the novel readers can see characters afraid of the darkness and the unknown behind it. One of these is when the men aboard the steamboat, which is heading into dense fog, hear a piercing scream. The men are especially frightened because the source of this scream is unknown because of the darkness. Darkness is also shown throughout the book as an abstract term referring to the absence of morals in a society. The â€Å"darkness† of the country conceals the brutal actions of the region. This is especially evident in Kurtz’s most barbaric act, the placement of human heads on poles that surround his house. Conrad tries to portray to readers that the fearful â€Å"darkness† can also be something that is not strictly literal, but instead something spiritual. Lastly, the tendency toward darkness in all humans is evident in this book. First the company of men is willing to go into the darkness of the jungle because of the potential of wealth. Secondly, this is portrayed when the men see the sunlight, and instead of heading towards it they decide to head back into the darkness. Conrad is showing readers that human’s natural tendency is to head towards the darkness instead of light. This is summed up beautifully at the end of the book when the narrator says the boat is headed â€Å"into the heart of an immense darkness.† This shows that from beginning to end humans have that natural tendency to head into the â€Å"darkness.

Parents should spend more time with their children Essay

Environment- urgent concerns regarding deforestation and water supply. This essay is mainly referred to the causes of deforestation or why were trees cut down and how it affected the water supply these types of causes we looking at, the settlement of people increased and by logging or other activities. The hydrological process will discuss to you, it can show you the relationship of water and the forest, how did water affects (negative) when there were less number of trees or no trees. Then it will evaluate you how it will affect the people and the environment due to deforestation, in a negative way people will be killed by flooding you can tell in soil erosion from high lands. It will show how it affected the water supply and affected the people in health and not enough water to survive. These essay will also evaluates some strategies that avoid deforestation and affecting of water supply for instance make posters to tell the world to stop deforestation and other strategies will show in some pages at the back of the essay. Causes of Deforestation What is deforestation? Deforestation is well-known as the destroying, removal or cutting down of trees â€Å"The clearing of land through total removal of forest cover† (Fellman, Getis and Getis 1985, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007). These activity done for different purposes and special needs â€Å"Continued removal of forest cover despite the rhetoric of development plans which urge sustainable development or conservation should not be surprising† (Ward 1994, p 73). There were many activities that were done that will remove trees but here were some main reasons that cause deforestation Firstly, the settlements nowadays the world population is growing high or increased and urbanization is the other process that cause these settlements. People from rural moved to urban to live because this area contains many jobs, schools, hospitals and other different services. When there were many people move in the city or that town area will expand and some forests were removing but those people built their houses there â€Å"Why do humans clear forest lands? To make room for human settlement and urbanization [these include making space for shelter, industries and roads] (eSchooltoday 2010). The second well known they search there profit from the forests for instance they remove big trees but make plantations and settle more livestock farms for the family to earn income buy selling it. You can tell this when you travel to Aleisa fewer parts contains big trees but most were cattle farms of huge plantations that cover Aleisa. [Figure 2] The other way to earn income is by logging some people sell their trees to a timber construction to cut don but they earn income from that company. â€Å"In many areas, poor people have few options to make income, and forests have few protectors, and so land is cleared for agriculture and valuable timber is sold for profit† (http://www. globalchange. umich. edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest. html ). [Figure 2] Hydrological process and importance of trees How the water supply did affects from the Deforestation? Hydrological process is the unending cycle of water in the earth â€Å"The natural system by which water is continuously circulated through the biosphere by evaporation, condensation, and precipitation† (Fellman, Getis and Getis 1985, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007). Lets starts from the evaporation when water from the ocean, lakes, rivers and transpiration from plants heated up by the sun then they turn to a gas. Then that gas move upwards and turn to water vapor (clouds) that water vapor was high saturated and they move onwards the mountain and highlands and its precipitate or fall turn in to liquid and fall down (rainfall). That water will fall on highlands and automatically flow to the ocean or lakes by river (run-off) and other were sucked in by the soil and store under the land surface (ground water) then less water hold by the trees (transpiration). If the sun rise and heated the earth these process will continue started from evaporation and so on you can refer on figure two for more understanding. [Figure 3] During the run-off process water flow from high lands to the low land so the importance of trees they can slow down the moving of water to the ocean so the soil can easily sucked in the water and store water in the underground â€Å"Underground water-holding aquifers are recharged with slowing down of water run-off† (Nix, S 2013, The Top Reasons Trees Are Available, About . com, viewed in 3rd October 2013, http://www. ask. com. /mainimportanceoftrees. html . The other importance of trees they can hold the water from there leaves its called transpiration people can easily get water form the leaves and use it especially the hunting peoples. Tree can play a special role too in the way of supplying the oxygen to people for breathing and also the way in medicine we use every parts of a tree like roots, leaves, brunches and others. There were hundreds important of trees the other major important is for food and drinks for instance a coconut, mango, banana and others trees also shades and cool you can tell if you visiting a Forest the air is pure and you can feel the cool breeze plus the shades no hot and no sun. Impact of deforestation on the water supply The water depends highly on trees just like human beings we depend on water every time, if we don’t drink water you can fell dry in your body. Rainfall from the sky is the main source of water in the world plus the underground water, people use house roof to catch more water from rain and dig under for clean water from the underground and form well. If the rain fall from the sky then its splash on the soil and started to flow on the low land if the there were many trees there then the water will flow slowly because the roots hold the soil â€Å"The roots of the trees bind soil to it and to the bedrock underlying it. That is how trees prevent soil from getting eroded by natural agents like wind or water. † (Fiset. N 2007 Harmful Effects of Deforestation viewed 8 October 2013 http://www. articlesbase. com/environment-articles/harmful-effects-of-deforestation-131219. html . When the water is overflow there will be less water in the underground but the water will flow heavily on the ocean and lakes because of streams and rivers. â€Å"When forest cover is lost, run-off rapidly flows into streams, elevating river levels and subjecting downstream villages, cities, and agricultural fields to flooding, especially during the rainy season† (http://www. effects-of-deforestation. com) The other impact of deforestation on water supply if rivers grow stronger and stronger then the pipe lines that supply the water around that country will be break up then the fresh water will be flow out mixed with the dirty water then that water isn’t healthy or safe for drinking you can tell in Magiagi during the Cyclone Eve. Huge metal pipe line were washed away by the river and left nothing the water is die out and people don’t know were to bring fresh water. [Figure 4] Impacts of Deforestation on People and Animals There were many effects or impacts of deforestation on people and the environment so let’s started in the effects on people the first major problem it can kill people. How? When rainfall is high and the run-off is strong flooding will form no person can stand in the flooding area flooding can cause death some were drown others were hit in many hard objects that the flood flow on or carried. The second effect on people the unstoppable water will clear the whole area people will lost there houses (homeless) some people plantations will be clear then the source of food and income will be lost nothing will they depend on. The other effect is the natural air will not be found less Oxygen will leave and then some people will get sick because of air pollution the gas escaped from industries, cars, different smokes etc those airs will be breath by others and get sick our lungs will badly effects and end up in Death!. The cutting down of trees can cause drought the land will be dry or cracked the area needs water and then the sun shine upon the land and them grow hot and hot. All trees that grow on that land will be die out no shade for animals and the dust will may formed it can pollute the air or effect our eye. [Figure 5] The effects of Deforestation on the Environment Deforestation can also effects our environment not only people and environment, deforestation can change the looking of the environment the beauty and green changed to the brown and clear. The other effects of deforestation on the environment is the landslide these activities mainly occur on slopes or high land when strong rainfall occur the run-off is active rapidly then more soil erode and the tree roots left on the soil plane. No power of the roots will stop the soil, the land will erode or it’s slipped off or down its shows big cuts of the earth, many properties were covered by the soil and some were killed too. â€Å"When trees are uprooted, there will be nothing to hold the soil together thus increasing risk for landslides which can cause seriously threaten safety of the people and damage their properties† (http://www. effects-of-deforestation. com). [Figure 6] Deforestation can effects the marine resources if more soil erode they will end up at the sea then water pollution is active all corals and other marine resources were covered by the soil. Many families live in the costal depend heavily on food from the sea because its contain protein and good for our health if they were destroyed, many things will happened – No food for people, Thousands of species were destroyed, Fish will not returned, tourist will not attracted by the lagoon color and others. Strategies to Stop Deforestation We can stop the cutting down of trees by established more programs or organizations’ that can avoid or stop trees from cutting down, a great example of these organization is the MNRE (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) or the SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme). â€Å"National Environment and Development Management Strategies (NEMS) have been prepared for both countries which set the pace for national objectives and programmes to address sustainable development and management of resources. † (Atherton, Dewulf and Martel 1998 p. 133). They move in every village and school to make their programs and show the effect of Deforestation they make presentations and activities to encourage people and children to plant new trees. The other strategy is to create more parks for attracting tourist and avoid deforestation many benefits we found from these strategy for instance more fresh air, income from tourist, our country will well-known also the marine, soil, plantations, animals and people will be safe from cyclone and strong rainfall. Reforestation process must be developed these process means the planting of new plants in the area that cleared and treeless â€Å"For every tree that we cut down or lose, we should try to plant another one in its place. This is part of a process known as reforestation. Everyone can be a part of reforestation by planting at least one tree every year. † (http://www. heepi. org. uk/how_you_can_prevent_deforestation. html) [Figure 7] The best example of this process is the special day in Samoa that encourages people to get the coconut and plant in your farm or plant any tree in your land. Some strategies is stop any logging industry in Samoa but use recycle business to build chairs tables and other, create posters to remind the important of trees on people and the environment. Conclusion In conclusion Deforestation caused by settlement, making plantations or livestock farm the other cause is for logging and other activities that destroy or terminates the lives of trees. The hydrological process shows the endless cycle of water in the earth evaporation, condensation, precipitation and run-off occur and it’s enlighten you the important of trees on people and animals like shades, food and others. In the way of supplying water all around a country can also effects by deforestation high rainfall caused soil erosion and pipes lines will destroy. Most of people don’t receive water or use unclean water. The cutting down of trees is the other foundation of many hazards like landslide, soil erosion and others that killed people and animal or caused other bad activities on us. Those hazards can also destroy the marine and the environment it change and destroy the landscape and the marine environment also its view, economy is low NO tourist and repairing is expensive, thousands of problems will rise if you cut down trees. DON’T PANICS! We can stand together as one to stop destroying the environment by plant new trees, establish more organization and spread everywhere to present the impacts of Deforestation on us. Make posters and encourage people and villages to form up parks, a advice stop eliminating and terminating trees and the forest. Bibliography Atherton. T, Dewulf. T & Martel. F, 1998, Pilot Community Deforestation Survey; Samoa & Niue, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Samoa Butler. R, 2012, Impact of Deforestation; Local and National Consequences, viewed in 4th October 2013, http://www. mongobay. com/impact-of-deforestation. html eSchooltoday, 2010, Unknown, view 8 October 2013 http://www. eschooltoday. com/forests/Deforestation. html Fellman. J. D, Getis, A & Getis J 2007, Human Geography; Landscape of Human Activities, 9th edn, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York. Fiset. N 2007 Harmful Effects of Deforestation viewed 8 October 2013 http://www. articlesbase. com/environment-articles/harmful-effects-of-deforestation-131219. html http://www. globalchange. umich. edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest. html http://www. heepi. org. uk/how_you_can_prevent_deforestation. html Meher-homji. V. M, 1988 Probable impact of deforestation on hydrological processes, viewed 9th October 2013 http://www. ciesin. columbia. edu/docs/002-159. html

Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents Ocean currents are the routed movements of oceanic water which are constantly flowing within the ocean or on the ocean surface. An ocean current is created by several forces and elements that act upon a unit mass of water in the ocean and such factors on an environmental scale include the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, wind, salinity levels, and the rotation of the earth, temperature and tidal waves. However, the two forces that create the most conducive conditions for a current to form are the Sun and the rotation of the Earth. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ocean Currents specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Physical factors such as the depth of the ocean, contact with other currents and the composition of the shoreline will determine a currents course and potency. Ocean currents are known to surge for great distances and the gravitational centrifugal pull of great currents round the earth has a pivotal role in influencing the global climate especially of islands and coastal regions. It is well know that the California Current makes the weather of the Island of Hawaiian to be cooler as measure up to other regions which are situated at the same latitude, the current is a tropical one leading to the sub-tropical climate of the islands. Ocean currents also determine the marine life of a region because they play a major role in determining the salinity of the water. Currents can carry a large volume of highly saline water for great distances and the marine life of the region where the water gets deposited can significantly be altered. There are different currents are flowing at different levels in the ocean and it is possible for two or more currents to flow through a single region simultaneously but at different levels. There are generally two types of ocean currents depending on the water level where the movement of oceanic water takes place and they are the deep ocean currents and the surface ocean currents. Deep ocean currents are mainly caused by the fluctuation in the mass of water and by gravitational forces acting in the deeper parts of the ocean usually below three thousand feet. Variation in temperature and the salinity levels of the water cause a change in the mass and volume of water leading to deep ocean currents. A submarine river is another term which is used to refer to deep water currents basically because the currents occur in the lower levels of the ocean. The deep ocean currents carry large volumes of water which flow the greatest distances leading to thermohaline circulation. The submarine rivers are at times responsible for transferring deep water plankton and marine life from one part of the ocean to another and also cause the vertical movement of water in the upwelling and down welling parts in the oceans.Advertising Looking for essay on geology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, surface ocean currents take place on the upper levels of the ocean and are commonly caused by air currents acting on the ocean’s surface. Surface currents are composed of about ten percent of the total water volume in the ocean and are usually limited to the upper one thousand three hundred feet of the ocean. Surface currents form the Ekman spiral effect which is the circular movement of ocean surface water at a given tangent relative to the prevailing air currents. The Ekman spiral effect is usually in a clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere and in a counter-clockwise spiral in the southern hemisphere due the alternate air movements inflicted. However, the Indian Ocean does not follow this rule due to the strong torrential rains and the atmospheric system in northern region of the ocean which alters its trend twice every year. The southwest torrential rain which occurs off the coast of Somalia is caused by the Great Whirl, which is a stro ng current which has a circular motion. The currents on the ocean basin surface are normally asymmetric with the eastern currents flowing towards the equator and the western currents flowing towards the North and South poles. Such currents are majorly influenced by gravity, with the eastern currents flowing in separate extensive currents whereas the western currents for instance the Gulf Stream are relatively contracted. Deep water current movement patterns are formed through a complex process which begins with the freezing of the water in the ocean. Once the water is frozen, the salt in the ocean water is also condensed in the freezing process and this leads to the creation of a layer of cold salt concentrated water which forms near the surface of the water where freezing generally takes place. The brine then gradually sinks because of the density difference, brine being denser than the water below. The salt concentrated water is more viscous which makes it become denser than the water around it. Consequently, the gelatinous salty liquid sinks, leaving the surface levels of the ocean and will only settle when it gets to a region in the ocean where it bears an equal density to the surrounding ocean water. This process is very prominent in the Greenland and Labrador Seas that are located in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Weddell and Ross Seas in the Southern Hemisphere. Similar to surface currents, most of the current movement takes place on the western sides of ocean basins except that deep ocean currents have their progression towards the north. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ocean Currents specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Surface currents flow in a succession of nearly circular gyres in the ocean basins. Most of the gyres are located in the western regions of the globe where the currents are contracted and carry large volumes of water for example the Gulf Stream, Agulhas and East Aust ralian Currents. The oceanic and atmospheric gyres help to move heat generated in the equatorial regions towards the poles. The polar movements of the ocean currents constitute the northward warm water current in the North Atlantic and in the North Pacific and the southward flow through the East Greenland and Labrador Currents. The surface currents that flow towards the equator move alongside the eastern edges of the gyres and are usually cooler than the currents that flow towards the poles located on the western margins. Air movement causes upwelling and provides the requisite wind stress towards the equatorial region moving water away from the coast and gravitational force pushes cooler subsurface water to replace the unoccupied water spaces. The Southern Ocean region experiences persistent westerly air movement leading to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a constant circumglobal current which hinders the formation of gyres. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current allows for the inte gration water from different ocean basins making it the largest current on earth. Sverdrup (Sv), is the standard unit used to measure ocean currents with one Sv being equivalent to a volume flow rate of one million cubic meters per second. The equatorial region experiences little or no gyres and currents here are usually surface currents stirred by the trade winds that originate from the eastern regions of the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. The North and South Equatorial Currents which move toward the west are formed by trade winds which lead to an upwelling along the equator due to the movement of the southeast trade winds across the equator. Furthermore, the equatorial region does not incur Coriolis force which is potent even with a one degree shift north or south of the equator. The Doldrums region is formed in the equatorial region where the northern and southern currents border. The Doldrums region is generally permeable to the Equatorial Countercurrent wate r that flows back eastwards since the water would otherwise get concentrated on the western boundary allowing the doldrums region to act as an outlet. The velocity of the currents also varies, with the western currents moving faster than the eastern currents.Advertising Looking for essay on geology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Marine life in the oceans is totally dependant on ocean currents for survival. Oxygen derived from the atmosphere is mixed with water through the flux of surface water like waves which are more or less generated by surface currents. For the oxygen to be delivered to the organisms, the oceanic currents and welling are needed to translocate the oxygen to all tiers of the ocean. Furthermore, marine victuals for instant phytoplankton which are minute organisms that are primary in the marine food chain are distributed in the ocean through the ocean currents. The organisms are usually caught in the currents and transported for great distances before being deposited in an ecosystem where they establish sustenance. Therefore ocean currents play an important role to both shallow and deep water organisms because they push food into the organisms’ environment. Surface organisms such as crabs are also reliant on the currents which carry microorganisms from the oceans and deposit them n ear the shores. In addition, currents provide inimitable signals in the life cycle of almost all marine organisms through transport of subtle chemical indicators. Turtles for instance migrate for long distances to mate and the precursor to their migration is the sensing of chemical triggers produced by sources that are more than a thousand miles away which are transported by ocean currents. Warm water used by marine life such as fish and turtles to incubate their eggs is deposited to the nesting grounds through ocean currents. Physical features such as lagoons are put together through the ocean currents which carry marine particles that are then deposited onto the lagoons leading to the expansion of the ecosystem. Due to the fact that ocean currents can move for great distances, they are also likely to spread out toxins in the oceans. For example, DDT which was a deadly insecticide was commonly used in America in the mid twentieth century. Through deltas, slight concentrations of the insecticide were moved to the ocean. The eventual consequence was that the product was found in penguins in both the north and south poles which had led to the thinning of the penguin egg shells. The only possible reason as to how the insecticide moved to such great distances is through ocean currents.

Balance Wheel essays

Balance Wheel essays Before one of the most devastating wars in the history of the U.S., the American Civil War, the country was divided in to sections: North, South, and West. With the North and South having very different sectional beliefs on issues, the West would often have to position with one or the other depending on what they believed. For this reason, the West is often referred to the balance wheel during the Pre-Civil War. By not siding with the South, and siding with the North, or vice versa, it was able to act as a balance wheel to level things out. The West held the same opinions as the South on certain issues. The second National bank, territorial expansion, and cheaply priced land were some of these subjects. The South and the West did not want a second National bank for the same reasons. They would rather pay debt back to the state or local bank because they probably knew the people working there, and they were always in debt. Also, it would be easier to make unsecured loans. With the local or state banks, the rules could be bent more, as opposed to the stricter limitations of the National bank. The South favored territorial expansion because they needed more land, because cotton destroyed land. They also wanted more land for slavery, which would give them more power in the federal government. The West favored it because it because they wanted to bring more they wanted to bring more people out west, and more land to farm. The territorial expansion ties hand-in-hand with the next topic, cheaply priced lands. The Souther ners and Westerners were in debt because of the cost of farming and the lack of profit in return. With cheaply priced land, they would be a greater profit because they could afford more land to farm and grow cotton. Since cotton ruins the land, Southern growers could be able to move on to another plot of land, instead of trying to better the quality. ...

Cry, The Beloved Country Essays - English-language Films, Cry

Cry, The Beloved Country Essays - English-language Films, Cry Cry, The Beloved Country The book Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton is a book about agitation and turmoil of both whites and blacks over the white segregation policy called apartheid. The book describes how understanding between whites and blacks can end mutual fear and aggresion, and bring reform and hope to a small community of Ndotcheni as well as to South Africa as a whole. The language of the book reflects the Bible; furthermore, several characters and episodes are reminiscent of stories from the New Testament and teachings of Christ. Thus, Alan Paton, as a reformer and the author of Cry, the Beloved Country, gives the people of South Africa a new, modern Bible, where he, like Christ, teaches to love thy brother as yourself in order to help whites and blacks overcome the fear and misunderstanding of each other. The language of the book from the very beginning reveals its biblical nature. The great valley of Umzimkulu is still in darkness, but the light will come there. Ndotcheni is still in darkness, but the light will come there also. The style includes symbols such as light and darkness, short clauses connected by and or but, and repetition. This style is used to represent speech or thoughts translated from Zulu. Jesus Christ is symbolized by the figure of Arthur Jarvis. He is a white reformer who fights for rights of blacks. Like Christ, he is very altruistic and wants to pursue his aims at all costs. His friend, Harrison, says: Here [Arthur Jarvis] was, day to day, on a kind of mission. (173) Arthur Jarvis and his wife Mary agree that it's more important to speak the truth than to make money. (172) Arthur Jarvis is killed in his house by Absalom, a black youth who gets entangled in crime. Absalom only intends to rob Arthur Jarvis, and the homicide is unintentional. Absalom thinks that Arthur Jarvis is out and comes into the house with two friends. However, when Arthur Jarvis heard a noise, and came down to investigate (186). Startled and afraid, Absalom fires blindly. Absalom later says in court: Then a white man came into the passage I was frightened. I fired the revolver. (194) Absalom's blind fear is symbolic of the fear, blindness, and misunderstanding between whites and blacks; these a re the reasons of racial hatred. In his room, there are pictures of Christ crucified and Abraham Lincoln (176), the two men who fought for human love and compassion and were killed because of their beliefs. Arthur Jarvis can be identified with Jesus Christ. Jesus taught love thy neighbor as thyself. Roman priests didn't understand him, but they felt his power and were afraid of him. Even though Christ taught compassion, they claimed he would incite a riot and crucified him. Like Christ, Arthur Jarvis teaches compassion and love between neighbors - whites and blacks, separated by the policy of apartheid. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ leads to redemption, spiritual growth of many people and progress; likewise, the death of Arthur Jarvis brings reform and hope. Ironically, the tragedy brings together Stephen Kumalo, the father of a black murderer and Jarvis, the father of Arthur Jarvis, the white victim. High Place where Jarvis lives is symbolic of an elevated position of many whites. Before his son's death, Jarvis is on the hilltop, thinking in a distant, uninvolved way about the problems between whites and blacks, seeing just the white point of view. Indeed they talked about [the erosion of land] often, for when they visited one another and sat on the long cool verandahs drinking their tea, they must needs look out over the barren valleys and the bare hills that were stretched below them. Some of their labor was drawn from Ndotcheni, and they knew how year by year there was less food grown in these reserves. (162) Jarvis is not a bad person but is ignorant about the lives of blacks and the real issues that take place. After the death of his son Jarvis learns to view blacks as real people. Jarvis reads his son's papers and suddenly becomes concerned with the ideas expressed by his son and by Abraham Lincoln. Jarvis sat, deeply moved

The impact of social media on arab spring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The impact of social media on arab spring - Essay Example The society, therefore, does not have to depend on people within the region, place of work or at church for the provision of ideas and opinions regarding the improvement of the society. The impact of social media such as Facebook, twitter and Youtube included shaping the debate by encouraging opinions from different people, and enables news anchors to illustrate the protestors’ situation and this facilitated the uprisings. During the revolution of the social media and political action that took place during the uprisings of the Arab spring in North Africa and the Middle East, Twitter and other social media became the megaphone for the dissemination of information as well as the excitement concerning the revolutions to the outside world. According to the statistics availed by a previous study, over 75 per cent of the individuals who clicked on embedded twitter links as pertains to the revolution emanated from without the Arab world (Moon 2012, p.28). Following an analysis of over three million tweets, thousands of blog posts and gigabytes of YouTube content, it was quite evident that the Arab spring was being propelled by social media. According to this study, social media did carry a cataract of messages concerning democracy and freedom across both Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, the social media bore sizeable expectations for the victory of the political revolution (Choudhary et al 2012, p.75 ). For those individuals who had a common interest in democracy, they did build expansive social linkages as well as organized political action. In all these, social media became a precarious part of the greater independence toolkit. For instance, in the week prior the resignation of Hosni Mubarak (Egyptian president), the total tweet rates a concerns to political change in the country swell by ten-fold. On the other hand, both political commentary and videos featuring protest went viral, with the first twenty three receiving

The Haier Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Haier Group - Essay Example As part of their business expansion and diversification, Haier has recently started to produce goods such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, microwaves, televisions, vacuums, cell phones, computers etc (Hunt). â€Å"On February 23, 2004, Haier Group, a major home electrical appliance maker in China, was listed as the only Chinese name brand among the world's 100 most recognizable brands in a global name brand list edited by World Brand Laboratory†(Lu et al, p.1) Even though Haier has acquired a significant place in global market, it is not going to be easy for them to maintain their place, unless they find new ways to improve their business. According to Fortune magazine, Haier's net profit for the six months ending June 2002, declined by 45% and its sales declined by 3.7% during the same period† (Haier Group's Strategy in the US Market). This paper proposes three different ways through which Haier could improve its business strategies and maintain their supre macy in global market. Haier has to improve its international human resource management strategies since it operates in different countries at present. It should be noted that Haier is a company of Chinese origin and the HRM strategies in China and other countries could be entirely different because of the huge political, cultural, social legal and environmental differences between China and other countries.... Chinese government never allows the free flow of information to and from China which is definitely causing problems to Haier. Moreover, credit card forgeries and other internet related crimes are growing day by day and Haier needs to strengthen their internet platforms to enhance communication and secure online purchasing of its products. Even though Haier products are cheaper compared to other similar products, Chinese products normally have a bad reputation as far as quality is concerned. â€Å"Some analysts felt that Haier lacked the brand image to make a dent in the high-end segment. They pointed out that in general consumers were brand-conscious, and this was especially true in the case of high-end products† (Haier Group's Strategy in the US Market). Haier should give more focus to improve the quality of its products. Haier should realize that the consumer electronic markets of mobile phones, computers etc are not like the markets of home appliances like refrigerators, mi crowave ovens or dish washers. Apple, Samsung, Nokia, IBM, Microsoft, etc are some of the renowned consumer electronics brands which are competing with Haier products. It is not easy for Haier to beat them unless they improve the quality of their products drastically. It should be noted that technological advancements are necessary even for selling kitchen appliances now. Competitors are introducing new products and ways to manage kitchen. â€Å"For example, Samsung had introduced the â€Å"Home PAD Refrigerator,† which detected the shelf life of food and automatically displayed a list of items stored in the fridge on the door. Portable entertainment devices were the new trend in consumer

Public relations Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7250 words

Public relations - Dissertation Example The field of Public Relations has been rapidly growing of late mostly because of the non-commercial and commercial organizations have started realizing the need for introducing various public relations activities. The means through which the public relations message need to be conveyed has increased considerably in the recent years for instance the cables, internet and satellite are the mass Medias which are unevenly distributed and globalized at the same time. A simple definition of Public Relations can be â€Å"Public Relations is the positive communication of a company or brand's message to all its target audiences is they staff, customers, the general public, the trade or government bodies†. However a more significant distinction by Destiny could be- PR as tactical communication, at a superior stage within the firm, and; PR as largely applied: intended at attaining column inches in the technical journals or favorable remark in the financial press. Public relations have bee n accompanying us for over thousands of years. â€Å"Sematikos† is the Greek term for Public Relations which mean Semantics. During 50 B.C. Julius Caesar created the first campaign memoirs named, â€Å"Caesar’s Gallic Wars†. There he revealed his military utilization strategies to persuade the Roman citizens that he was the best Monarch of the state. St. Augustine, who was a professor of public speaking in Milan during the 394 A.D., used to deliver the usual acclamation to the ruler and was the closest person to a minister for the imperial court. Thus, it can be said that St. Augustine was the first to be charged with public relations function. Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet named â€Å"The Crisis† In 1776 that convinced the Washington Army to settle and start fighting at a time when there will be a number of people prepared to move towards arid region so that they could flee from the cold and the adversity of a winter operation. He was known as a master o f political communication whose works could easily influence the actions and thoughts of the mass. Lincoln's secretary of state, William Seward, gained a large number of audiences of America, during the year 1861, through his considerate way of speaking by the efficient usage of the press. He stated, "I speak to the newspapers – they have a large audience and can repeat a thousand times what I want to impress on the public.† In the year 1963, John Marston held a perception of PR which is still considered as true in today’s context, which says, â€Å"a brotherhood of some 100,000 whose common bond is its profession and whose common woe is that no two of them can ever quite agree on what that profession is â€Å"Public Relations has been defined in different ways by a variety of scholars and practitioners in which the term â€Å"management† has been used largely. The definition of Public Relations as stated by Grunig and Hunt says â€Å"management of comm unication between an organization and its publics†; Ledingham and Bruning described PR specifically as â€Å"relationship management† while the argument by Cutlip states that PR is â€Å"the management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the public on whom its success and failure depends† According to Kitchen and Papasolomou, several scholar states that PR

Violent Crimes And Major Thefts Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Violent Crimes And Major Thefts - Case Study Example Other than the national street gangs, there are other local street gangs found in the rural, suburban and urban areas. Such local gangs pose an increasing threat to the locals as they are responsible for transporting and distribution of drugs in specific areas. In order to gain respect from their rivals, local street gangs imitate the more powerful national gangs which is one cause of street gang fights that keep recurring. Notably, such gangs continue to pose domestic threats to all their neighborhoods. Therefore, there is a probability that these gangs will increase their illegal operations to the US from their international suppliers. Similarly, it is probable that such gangs will increase their relationships with the international criminal organizations and drug trafficking organizations as a way of obtaining access to the global market for illegal businesses. This paper outlines why street gangs are dangerous sections in any society and therefore, state, federal and local govern ment should not hesitate in curbing them. As a result of the increase in the number of street gangs, the Federal Bureau of Investigations continues to play a major role in combating violent crimes and thefts in all cities and towns in US. The FBI works in conjunction with other agents such as the state and local partners, who are involved in the investigation as well as a joint task force. This ensures that the fight against gangs is made possible since one organ cannot fight the crimes by itself (Curry, Ball, & Fox, 2014). Other than investigations, these anti-gang groups look at the bigger picture through analyzing trends and threats from the criminal groups and sharing that intelligence with all their partners. Such strategies enable the involved officer to recognize as well as understand the exact assignment they have to complete or are ongoing. The spread of street gangs has been attributed to lack of sharing information by the officers in charge or poor communication by the