Discuss Research Into the Nature of Relationships in Different Cultures Essay

Relationships Discuss research into the nature of relationships in different cultures. (9 marks + 16 marks) In Western Cultures, it has been found that relationships are voluntary, temporary and focus on the needs of the individual as due to the predominantly urban settings in which we live in, we are able to (on a daily basis) interact with a large number of people. Western cultures therefore appear to be characterised by a high degree of choice in personal relationships and a greater ‘pool’ of potential relationships. Non-western cultures however, have less choice about whom they interact with on a daily basis, meaning that interaction with strangers are rare and relationships are frequently tied to other factors, such as family or economic resources. In societies with reduced mobility, (predominantly non-western cultures) arranged marriages are common as love is expected to grow due to the fact that it is not seen as necessary for marriage. Arranged marriages seem to work well and make good sense as divorce rates are low and Epstein (2002) found that perhaps about half of them report that they have fallen in love with each other. Myers et al. , (2005) studied individuals in India living in arranged marriages and found no differences in marital satisfaction in comparison to individuals in non-arranged marriages in the US. This is also supported by Gupta and Singh (1982) who studied 100 degree-educated couples living in India, 50 of who had chosen their partners and 50 of who had their marriages arranged for them. The couples were asked to indicate how much they liked/loved their partners and it was found that love and liking was high in love marriages but decreased whereas love increased in arranged marriages and after 10 years exceeded love marriages. However, this study is difficult to generalise as it studies only a small sample and so cannot be generalised to the wider population. It therefore lacks validity. However, in some adapting cultures such as China, there has been a noticeable increase in ‘love matches’ as the Chinese are currently attempting to move away from traditional ‘arranged’ marriages. Instances in which parents dominate the process of partner choice in china have declined from 70% prior to 1949, to less than 10% in the 1990s. Xioahe and Whyte (1990) studied women in love marriages and found that they were more satisfied than those in arranged marriages. Western cultures are also seen as individualistic due to their focuses on individuals rather than groups, with individual happiness and pleasure seen as fundamentally important. On the other hand, non-western cultures are seen as collectivist cultures as people are encouraged to be interdependent rather than independent. Moghaddam et al. (1993) claim that the cultural attitudes of individualist cultures, are consistent with the formation of relationships that are based on freedom of choice, whereas collectivism leads to relationships that may have more to do with the concerns of family or group. Norms and rules act as guidelines for behaviour and influence how we act out any given relationship. One such norm that plays a key part in personal relationships is the norm of reciprocity. Ting-Toomey (1986) found that in individualist cultures, reciprocity in personal relationships tend to be voluntary. In collectivist cultures however, it is more obligatory. In such cultures, failure to return a favour is seen as a failure of one’s moral duty. In Japanese culture, for example, there are specific rules about gift-giving and reciprocating, whereas n such formal norms exist in Western cultures. Argyle et al. ’s cross-cultural comparison of relationship rules in different cultures did find support for some predictions but failed to support others. However, a problem with this research is that the list of rules was formulated in the UK and may have failed to include rules that are specific to a particular culture such as Japan. Research on cross-cultural differences in norms and rules is important to be able to conduct cross-cultural relationships successfully. Knowledge of the norms and rules underlying cross-cultural relationships is an important aspect of any attempt to understand and improve relations between different cultural groups within a host country. Finally, relationships are difficult to study scientifically. Laboratory experiments, through the manipulation of isolated variables, are seen as the most rigorous way of establishing cause and effect, and he best way of furthering our understanding of the processes involved in human relationships. However, as Hogg and Vaughan (2008) point out, people do bring their cultural ‘baggage’ into the laboratory. Although cultural background may be seen as a problematic extraneous variable to some researchers, it is clear that culture itself is an important variable that influences the relationship processes being studied.

Every Text Has Its Use By Date Essay

I think the idea of every text having a use by date is incorrect and I will therefore argue against the topic. There are a few things which can help to keep texts from ever having their use by date and as a result proving my argument. For example, texts, such as Macbeth, can always be changed slightly and interpreted differently to make them interesting time and time again, for old and new audiences. Also, just because a text was written a long period of time ago doesn’t mean that it still won’t be interesting, as the events and themes in it can still be relevant to the current time and its happenings. One of the main reasons that proves that texts don’t have a use by date is the fact that an older text can involve events or ideas that are relevant to modern audiences’ daily lives. Some of the ideas explored in Macbeth are ambition, guilt, greed, cruelty, hostilities between good and evil, the rule of leader, the purpose of human existence and supernatural happenings. These all tie in with peoples every day life. For example, ambition was a major factor in Macbeth and plays an important role in practically everyone’s daily life. In Macbeth it was ambition that drove Macbeth to commit the acts that he did and in modern times business is becoming more and more competitive in today’s society so as a result ambition, and its destructive nature, becomes more of an issue. Also, the idea of hostilities between good and evil, order and disorder and the rule of a leader, which are major components of Macbeth, are relevant to the military action in the Iraq War which has affected a lot of the world. These and other ideas interest people from all time periods as some, if not all, of these ideas will affect them. Another main reason that shows a text doesn’t have a use by date is the fact that they can always be appropriated. Appropriation is when something old is turned into something new. In this case it would be taking an old text and changing it to suit a modern audience, usually by making a film version. For example, in one instance the Shakespearean text â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† was turned into a movie that used only the plot of the original text and used the settings of modern life and a modern script which allowed the audience to relate to more to the film. This is a perfect example of the fact that a text which is hundreds of years old can still be entertaining. When a movie is appropriated it can appeal to a wider audience, as not everyone likes or understands the style of writing used to write the original text. If texts are appropriated in this way they will continue to entertain audiences and as a result, never end up having a use by date. A film version of an older text, especially a Shakespearean one, can be very effective in delivering the original to text to a wider audience. A film version makes the text easier for the audience to understand as it provides visual images to help them realize what’s actually going on and what the characters are saying, as a lot of people wouldn’t fully understand what was being said when the old English style of writing, that Shakespeare uses, is used. New interpretations also help to keep texts and their film versions interesting to new audiences and audiences that have seen it before. In Polanski’s version of Macbeth Polanski decided to add a scene, which wasn’t in the original text, into the movie. He also changed the way things happened in some of the scenes, for example, when Macbeth returns to the witches, instead of the apparitions appearing he sees completely different visions that give him warnings and predictions. Another reason to further show that texts don’t have a use by date is the point that just because a text is old doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining or interesting to modern readers. Texts such as Macbeth and many other of Shakespeare’s plays are still regarded as some of the best plays ever written even though they were written hundreds of years ago. In some cases, audiences may find these texts interesting and entertaining because they’re written in an old style of English which is no longer used. When this is the case it clearly shows that the idea of texts having a use by date as incorrect. In conclusion, I think that the points presented sufficiently prove that well written texts do not have a use by date. If a text is well written it will continue to be valued no matter how old it is. Especially due to the fact that, just because a text is old doesn’t mean it’s no longer interesting to modern audiences.

Cultural diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Cultural diversity - Essay Example the cultures of other ethnic groups who on the other hand believe that illness is as a result of supernatural phenomena attributing the cure to be prayers and other supernatural interventions. The interviewee discussed the different cultural health beliefs and traditions held by different ethnic group in the US that impact on healthcare providence. He discussed the traditions held by Asian islanders about the importance of their extended families and the views of the oldest male in the family are highly regarded. They however believe in harmony and this leads them to agreeing to follow recommendations from health care providers not because they believe in it but simply to avoid disagreements. The interviewee also talked about cultures of the Russian immigrants in the US, who view the US healthcare with a level of distrust since they view the relationship with medical practitioners as being authoritarian, therefore finding it difficult to openly discuss medical concerns with them. He talked about the Hispanics also, who he said that they hold a great respect for older members of the family and have to consult them on matters that concern illness and health. Other Hispanics as revealed by the interviewee view illness as punishment from God and prefer using home remedies for treatment. He also talked about African- Americans whose culture consider the importance of church and family, holding kinship ties with aunts, cousins, grandparents, uncles and even people who may not have a biological relationship to them bit have a role in their family systems. They usually consult a key family member before making decisions related to health. The interviewee also talked about the cu ltural beliefs and traditions of Native Americans who place the values of health to spiritual beliefs and family. They believe that harmony with nature lead to good health, and illness as being as a result of imbalance between supernatural forces and the person. The interviewee expressed his

How does buy a cup of coffee from starbucks affect to the environment Dissertation

How does buy a cup of coffee from starbucks affect to the environment - Dissertation Example And number of store result in an increases or decrease in the waste disposal and hence it is having a positive relationship with each other. Population also can directly affect the quantity of solid waste piled up in a locality and it can add job to the management of municipal solid waste .If the population increases or decreases, the waste disposed also increases or decreases so it shares a positive relationship with dependent variable. Total food expenditure does not directly affect the management of Municipal solid waste and is sharing a negative relationship with dependent variable. However , the recycling mandate is directly related with the dependent variable as the laws passed by the legislation can effect in increase or decrease in the work load of management of solid waste disposal. If a law restricts the Starbucks from disposing non recyclable materials, then it directly affects the dependent variable and hence it shares a positive relationship. Same is the case with the co rporate tax as it is immediately affecting the revenue of the city and hence provides a financial assistance to the municipality in managing the solid waste disposal. So it shares a positive relationship with the management of municipal solid waste.

Russia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Russia - Essay Example Russia's transition from communism to capitalism has been a slow, albeit a positive, step. And while Russia is experiencing the pains of creating a new economic system, some progresses are already underway. It was in 1991 that the communist Soviet Union was dismantled and the Russian government proposed numerous radical reforms designed to transform the economy from one that was centrally planned and controlled to one based on capitalist principles. The Encyclopdia Britannica (2007) summed up that the major components of the reforms included establishing privately owned industrial and commercial ventures (using both foreign and Russian investment) and privatizing state-owned enterprises. Furthermore, the Russian government issued vouchers to citizens that enabled them to purchase of shares in privatized firms to promote privatization, though in practice these vouchers frequently were sold for cash and were accumulated by entrepreneurs. Moreover, a commodity- and stock-exchange system was also established to uplift the economic transition of a country fraught in political instability. Dolinskaya (2002) maintained that Russia's growth performance had already worsened before the beginning of economic transformation. The fundamental reason for the slowdown was the nature of Soviet economic growth, which was based on mobilization of resources rather than increases in productivity. However, at present, is Russia still struggling to get its economy on the right track How does Russia cope with the onset of globalization Does Russia deserve the attention of international investors This paper will attempt to find answers to these questions by sifting through current economic data and analyzing the potentials of the Russian market. II. Environmental Overview A. Economic Factors During the 1990s, the Russian economy experienced severe disruption as it moved from a centrally-plannedmodel to a free market system. Difficulties in implementing fiscal reforms aimed at raising government revenues and a dependence on short-term borrowing to finance budget deficits led to a serious financial crisis in 1998. In addition, lower prices for Russia's major export earners (oil and minerals) and a loss of investor confidence exacerbated the financial problems (Spulber, 2003, p. 206). The result was a rapid and steep decline in the value of the ruble, the flight of foreign investment, a breakdown of commercial transactionsvia the banking system, and the threat of runaway inflation. Nevertheless, Russia weathered the crisis well. Russia's economic performance has been strong in recent years, reflected in robust Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, strong external and fiscal positions, and growth in productivity and consumption. These achievements are attributed not only to favorable commodity prices, especially high oil prices, but also to generally prudent macroeconomic policies. In fact, Russia is presently in its eighth year of strong growth and now has the world's fifth largest foreign exchange reserves (Euromonitor International, 25

Road Freight Transport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Road Freight Transport - Essay Example The road freight industry basically refers to the groups of companies that manage cargoes and shipment of other luggage through the road network including railways. These goods may be for other industries or for consumer use. Over the years, road freight has become more costly and thus less prefered. This owes to the ever up surging petroleum prices, increased road taxes, lots of heavy road traffic even after the peak hours, more alternatives available and most of all stringent rules and restrictions on road freight. The United Kingdom has also seen a change in the goods that are carried by road and also the transport means that are being used for it. The road freight industry of UK has been highly criticized for its legislations and other informal regulatory policies from time to time. However, it has survived through all this and come out successful, nonetheless. The road freight industry in the UK is composed of lorries, cargoes and railways mainly. Many laws have been passed to ensure the smooth running of the industry and to minimize smuggling and other bads in the society such as trade of illegal goods. However, it has been criticized for been a lousy industry which hasn’t worked up to its capacity. This criticism can only be weighed under the facts and figures that will be described in this paper. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has been working tirelessly to make the freight process in UK highly civilized and well planned. It has, to a considerable extent, been successful in achieving its goal. Though, there is more yet to be done. It is not just one company that will make road freight reach new heights, a lot more private companies will have to plunge in and turn dreams into reality. Road haulage companies may volunteer to give some suggestions and suggest strategies that might help improve the public image of the road freight industry. This is very important for the industry to survive and earn profits. The road freight industry in the

Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 38

Questions - Essay Example When sales increase and the fixed expenses remain constant, a high OL will result to very high profits since variable expenses, for instance the cost of goods sold, will increase continuously in relation to increasing sales and the company will not incur additional costs to produce the added sales. 2. Let’s say you are developing a business plan, but decide that your OL is too high. What could you do (operationally) to lower that ratio? What common technique is available to you to solve this dilemma? Increasing variable costs and decreasing fixed costs. This is because fixed costs do not change with production/sales while variables costs are very flexible and can be controlled. Ways of converting fixed costs to variable costs include: hiring temporary workers instead of permanent workers, paying hourly wages instead of monthly salaries, increasing bonuses related to profits/sales instead of basic salary, using free technology, leasing buildings and other capital assets instead of buying them and hiring outside companies to do essential work. Reilly, Chris. Break-Even Analysis- Making it Work for Your Franchise. International Franchise Association, July 2009. Web. Feb. 15, 2015.

Fundamentals of Business Law Assignment Case Study

Fundamentals of Business Law Assignment - Case Study Example This case cannot be heard in a higher court. It can best be referred to the District Magistrate's courts. And because it is a criminal wrong, Joe would likely either be imprisoned for a given number of years or fined. He can also be punished by way of corporal punishment. This is a civil case but which relates between employees and employers. The case will be heard in an industrial court which is an administrative tribunal i.e. a body given the power of an administrative nature. This case involves commission of the tort of negligence because the employer has not taken reasonable steps to guard the machines. And in the process, it has caused injury. The judge of the industrial court can appoint two assessors from a panel of assessors appointed by the concerned minister. One assessor represents the employer and the other represents the employees. But the assessors only give an opinion. The decision of the courts is final and the result of the judgement is called an award. This is a criminal offence. In fact Del has committed an economic crime by failing to pay large sums of value added tax. And since the amount of money involved is huge, the case will be heard by the High Court. If Del is of the opinion that he has not been given a fair trial, then he can appeal to the court of appeal. Del is likely to be fined i.e. pay the tax added plus penalty. Prima facie, this can appear to be a civil case. But whether the employer has perpetrated any civil wrong will depend on the agreement made between Millie and her employer. Be it as it may, she has a right to sue. This case would be heard by the industrial court. It is the industrial court that hears cases between employees and their employers. Based on the judge's opinion, she might be paid as her colleagues. Question Two Whether Cules can recover compensation from Humpty or Alec the rules of law that govern this case are whether the essential elements of negligence can be proofed in order for an action for negligence to be maintained. In order for Giles to successfully sue and recover compensation from Humpty or Alec he must prove the following. i. That they owed him a duty of care. ii. That Humpy and Alec breached legal duty. iii. That he Giles suffered injury as a result of the breach of duty. 2 Humpy and Alec owe no duty of care to Giles. Humpty was to provide a loan to Giles and had no duty over Gile's chicken business. On the other hand, Alec was only approached to give advice concerning the loan and not on whether it was appropriate to purchase the machine. In Burwill v. Young a house wife was alighting from a tramcar. A motor cyclist passing on the other side of the tram collided with a motor car, the noise pf the collision resulting in the plaintiff suffering nervous shock and subsequent miscarriage. She brought an action of negligence on the motor cyclist personal representative. The action failed and it was held that at the time of the collision, the plaintiff was not there therefore he did not owe

US History 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

US History 2 - Essay Example It is important to note that the anti-federalists argued that the proposed constitution posed several challenges to the government. In this respect, they argued that the proposed constitution would encourage the issue of corruption to the government. Corruption was viewed as a major social vice that would threaten the development of several sectors in government, including the developmental sector, economic, social as well as political sectors among others2. The anti federalists also advocated for a weaker federal government as opposed to stronger state legislatures. This is because most of them argued that a stronger government would most likely infringe on the liberties that Americans had fought for and won in the Revolutionary War. In regards to this, it is important to note that the anti federalists viewed liberty as the specific rights of the people that the government had to respect, protect and encourage. They maintained that the government had to observe, respect as well as protect the Bill of Rights in order to protect that

A Report Evaluating ICT and its Implementation for Distance Learners Essay Example for Free

A Report Evaluating ICT and its Implementation for Distance Learners Essay a) Evaluate how to maintain effective communication with your tutor. As this is a self-study course, the answer to this question is a little complex. Although there is an actual physical tutor to mark assignments and give feedback, a vital part of gaining a good grade on my assignments is to demonstrate my independent work ability with minimal guidance from my tutor1. Lessons are delivered via the online website, so in a sense the most important skill set necessary is to read, re-read, search the internet to understand any terms which aren’t clear, and then re-read again. There are two tutors on my course. I sent a note of introduction, stating who I am and giving a brief synopsis of why I am studying this course. Although I am sure that I will have study related questions to ask later, and possibly requests for more information regarding assignment feedback, I think that at the moment our communication falls within the bounds of regular courtesy. As the course progresses I think checking my messages regularly, respecting and listening to my tutors feedback, sending a note of acknowledgement on receipt of any messages, and perhaps if appropriate sending a note if I think there will be an unusual amount of delay in finishing the modules, are about as far as the bounds of the course allows for communication. b) Evaluate how technological tools will help you study. The first thing to establish here is what technological tools are both available and relevant to me as a distance learner. Essentially the only tools I will be using are my computer and the internet. My computer will be for collating information in my ePortfolio, writing essays, and accessing the internet. I have divided my ePorfolio into four sections: coursework, reflective notes, research, and self-assessment activities. The necessary ICT skills here are: word processing, scanning and printing, drawing charts and diagrams. I completed a course in word processing and data analysis so I am relatively competent at this. However I have also been refreshing my knowledge via the Microsoft Office ‘Help, Training and Tutorials’ page2, particularly for drawing diagrams, an area I haven’t had much use for recently. Remembering to organise and file relevant information and tasks into the appropriate folders, and ensuring that at the end of each unit I  have created a co mprehensive review of my study methods and what I have learnt are the most essential components here. In completing this course the internet is my greatest tool, and can be broken down into many sub-categories. Below is a basic system diagram of how I am accessing the internet to complete my course assignments: To help me research and study, I can go online and use: electronic books, journals, articles, videos, podcasts, and publications from governments and respected counselling organisations. I will go into greater detail later, on exactly which websites I am utilising. However as a brief example: Exploring counselling skills with an emphasis on ICT. I did a basic search for â€Å"counselling resources† online. I discovered a website run by a qualified, practicing, experienced, counsellor in the UK.3 This website provided me with general information, a PDF ebook on training to be a counsellor,4 and links videos providing online lessons on counselling skills and concepts.5 I returned to my original search and followed a link to resources offered by a UK university for its students doing a comparable course.6 This gave me a list of books and journals that undergraduates would be using to explore counselling skills.7 I looked at the recommended books on amazon and ordered sample content of those available as ebooks . I then did web searches on the various authors, and contributors to chapters, to both check their credentials and see if they offered any resources on their practice / university / personal website. I went back to the recommended reading list and looked at the recommended journals and found links to them, eg. British Journal of Psychology.8 I returned to my original search and started investigating counselling organisations and their publications including: UKCP,9 BPS,10 the BACP,11 and the CPCAB12 I went to the UN,13 and EU,14 websites to check their publications regarding counselling. Finally I checked the PubMed15 website to find more links to relevant journals. I noted all of these links for use when researching other more specific aspects of counselling. c) Evaluate how performing a SWOT analysis can help you study. I was unfamiliar with the idea of SWOT analysis before beginning this unit so initially I did some background research on the concept16 and looked at a summary of Authur  Humphrey’s, the inventor of SWOT, main principles and conclusions.17 I then searched the internet for ideas on exactly how to identify my own particular strengths and weaknesses. I found mindtools18 particularly helpful because it gave me ideas to consider as I looked at each section. I also performed a personality test19, to see the strengths and weaknesses of my particular personality type. This was less useful, because it was more to do with me personally than with my ability to study, although it gave me several things to consider. I created this chart: At first glance I actually found it quite demoralising – the weaknesses and threats seemed to be considerably more extensive than the strengths and opportunities. However as I analysed it more closely, I quickly realised this was unfounded. I think although I certainly need to consider the threats and weaknesses, they have a lot less weight in comparison to the strengths and opportunities section. So far as I can see my weaknesses are things I can compensate for and take into account as I study. These are my thoughts and solutions for each of them: 1) Limited prior experience of the subject being studied: This is only a temporary problem. I am doing a great deal of background research for this assignment’s part two, and looking into books which might supplement my knowledge. I think I will feel caught up in the near future. 2) Sometimes overly perfectionist (i.e. I can struggle to remember that â€Å"done† is better than â€Å"perfect†): I am setting myself time limits on how long I can edit and re-edit my work. I am consciously writing things that I know may well be deleted or completely revised later, simply to make sure I have a base to work from. 3) Can become over-involved in studying to the point that other areas of my life suffer: I have compiled a detailed schedule for myself, to ensure that I can maintain a balance in my life. I have made sure to keep time free, in particular the weekends when my children are not in school, and to allow time to keep up with my domestic responsibilities. 4) Not having a classroom of other students to bounce idea around with may limit potential: I have been investigating groups of other trainee counsellors and mature students. I have also made sure to check-in on the Oxford College forum20 so I have the potential of meeting other  people. I also found the process of self-assessment useful in countering this weakness, I give more detailed thoughts on that later in this report. 5) Sudden loss of enthusiasm – if I overload myself with unrealistic goals I tend to want to quit: In part this is covered by my solution for weakness 6), however I have also been carefully breaking down each unit and each assignment so it is in bite size, manageable chunks. If I can focus on simply completing each section within each unit, without getting overwhelmed by the whole, and in particular with the word count, I can complete everything without any panic. The threats I identified are largely out of my control. I am estimating that it will take me four to six weeks to complete each unit to the best of my ability. This leaves me with a minimum of six weeks free at the end of the two year time limit. I think that this should be enough to compensate for any slowing down in my pace due to unforeseen circumstances. Listing my strengths and investigating my opportunities was a very positive experience for me. Knowing that I am good at research, experienced in distance study, and that I also have access to a university library has made me feel a lot more confident of my abilities. However acknowledging my weaknesses and proactively coming up with plans to counter them has been the most helpful part of the exercise. d) Evaluate the practice of Reflective Writing. Reflective Writing is the process used to: Consider what you originally thought and what you have learnt. Analyse its implications and outcomes.  Consider what you could do differently, what more you could learn, how what you have learnt will affect you. It is a vital skill for learners at any level, and considered a necessary practise for health professionals at all levels. When you write reflectively you use a unique mixture of both academic analytical skills and apply them to your own personal situation. It was a concept I was previously unfamiliar with. I looked at the general theory behind it on several university websites, I found the Exeter University guide particularly helpful21, and then more specifically at the  Faculty of Public Health website and how it is used by health professionals.22 Throughout this course it is a good way to look at the learning outcomes of each unit. To assess what you originally believed, what you have learnt, and how you can put things into practice. It is also a useful way to keep track of things you think deserve further consideration. So for instance when I was researching SWOT, I came across an interesting theory by Athur Humphrey saying that that the level of people’s work and the effort they put into it is strongly related to reward23. Later on as I was researching what makes effective learners, I came across a scientific study by behaviour economist Dan Ariely that proved this same theory24. Although this information seems interesting, I decided it was not actually directly relevant to what I was being asked to evaluate. It was however something to note and consider in my reflective writing as something that might possibly be relevant later on and something I could learn from. e) Evaluate the practice of Self-Assessment Self assessment, is one of the most important and vital skills in this course. One aspect of it is reflective writing, (detailed previously) but there are several other components. When I do the self-assessment activities in the units I am provided with a baseline of my current knowledge. When I look up the answers at the end of the text this gives me feedback on how much I know, and also helps me to identify what I should be researching to improve my current knowledge level. This is a basic diagram of how I am using the self assessment activities: Essentially, once I know the level of my own knowledge, I can see what I need to work on. A large part of self-assessment seems to be organisation and understanding. The Black Box Report25 on self assessment in British schools noted that the main barrier to student self assessment, is being unsure of exactly what you should be achieving. If you can establish that you have a platform from which to work. Through my SWOT assessment, I established my own personal areas I need to work on. Through the subject specific learning objectives, and self-assessment activities I can establish what I know and what I need to learn. As knowledge is cumulative, organisation is key here – writing up my reflections, with particular reference to the learning  objectives of each unit, and collating them in my ePortfolio to provide a body of reference specific to my needs and learning preferences. f) Consider the Principles of an ePortfolio. ePortfolios are widely used, and an integral component of many online courses. The promotion of ePortfolios is also an EU policy26 as a way of â€Å"valuing and celebrating the achievements of the individual.27† From under graduate to doctoral study28 in counselling ePortfolios are now prevalent. The Inter/National Coalition for Electronic Portfolio Research29 says they are a way for students to both generate and document learning. â€Å"It’s important to think of an ePortfolio as both a product -a digital collection of artefacts- and as a process of reflecting on those artefacts and what they represent.30† There are three main goals when creating an ePortfolio. Firstly, mapping my progress as a student, to clearly set out my research, plans, essays, and self reflection. Doing this allows me to not only clearly see my progress, but to critically assess and reflect on what I have learnt. Secondly, my ePortfolio allows me to document my own personal growth, goals, and achievements; to be able to look at what I have done, how I have viewed challenges and worked through them, and perhaps use those methods again in the future. One of the most important pre-requisites to being a counsellor is empathy; having a clear view of myself, the challenges I have gone through, and my reactions as I went through them is a relevant way of helping me remember and being able to relate. Thirdly my ePortfolio provides a body of information that I can use to help me format a CV – both by showing what learning goals I have achieved and how I have achieved then, and by providing evidence of continuous learning. At a later date it can also provide me with the basis for constructing a professional website. Task 2. Collate Web Resources Relevant to Counselling Studies, and Reflect on What Has Been Learnt. As detailed in section b) I have evaluated counselling resources based on their credibility, i.e whether they are peer reviewed, produced by a national or worldwide organisation, and the qualifications of the author. I have only included resources that meet these guidelines fully or in part. I concentrated my web searches on these websites (in alphabetical order): Bielefeld Academic Search Engine – BASE.31 BASE is a  search engine for academic related articles, and journals. A lot of resources related to counselling studies can be found there. British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy – BACP.32 The BACP is a professional organisation for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK. It sets guidelines for good practice and has various resources and information booklets for counsellors and psychotherapists. It has recently become the first government accredited register for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK. CogPrints33 is an online archive of journ als and articles with a large psychology section. It is run by Southampton University UK. Columbia University Academic Commons34 gives access to a large number of articles and research papers including many related to counselling psychology. Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body – CPCAB.35 The CPCAB provides standards for counsellors and psychotherapists. It also has a large amount of reference information, including videos on counselling practice. European Union – EU.36 The EU sets standards and makes laws for the whole of Europe. They have a database with a large number of reports, many concerning counselling and it’s implementation. Falmouth University Library*3738 has a large selection of articles and journals related to counselling and psychology. FreeMedicalJournals39 – a website providing access to journals and their articles that have passed their embargo period. Google Scholar40 a search engine for scholarly articles and journals. PubMed41 – is a website run by The United States National Library of Medicine. It gives access to journals, articles, and reports concerning health. RELATE42 is the UK based organisation specifically set up to provide counselling for couples. It has a wide range of publications relating to this. This website will be particularly useful when studying the ‘Relationship Counselling’ unit. Science Direct (the replacement for the now retired SCIRUS)43 Science Direct is a website that allows you to search for science related articles and journals. The Directory of Open Access Journals – DOAJ.44 The DOAJ is a search engine for journals and articles, many related to counselling and psychology and it’s worldwide implementation. UK Council for Psychotherapy UKCP45 The UKCP brings together counselling psychotherapists with a broad range of specialisations throughout the UK. It is nationally recognised and accredited. It has a range of free publications for counsellors. UN university46 has a large collection of research, articles and publications  including many regarding mental health. United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF.47 UNICEF deals with the rights of children and mothers throughout the world. They have a large database of reports co ncerning the physical and mental wellbeing of children and young people. This website will be particularly useful when studying the ‘Child Counselling’ unit. United Nations –UN.48 The UN sets world standards for human rights and health care. They have a large database of articles and reports making recommendations for international well being, including a significant number regarding psychological health. This is a fairly extensive list of resources, and many of the websites listed gives access to reports and articles which number in the tens of thousands. I have listed only those website which have a very good search procedure – this means that when I look for information I can cut down on as many generalisations as possible and find articles that specifically deal with the topics in each unit. My preference is to first search for articles in well regarded journals, and then to move onto lesser known or new reports and findings. So for example to find information on Counselling Studies I went to the Falmouth Library Database and checked for the three main journals related to counselling in Europe: The European Journal of Counselling Psychology, Counselling Psychology Review, and Counselling Psychology Quarterly. I then searched within these publications for articles on Counselling Studies and Therapeutic Person Centred Counselling in particular. I read the BACP and UKCP guidelines and policy for counsellors and for their training. I made notes and considered what I had learnt. Before I began my research I made some brief notes on what I thought Counselling Studies consists of: A practical study of people and their needs in times of crisis, and how a counsellor can best help them; combined with a minimal but still significant grasp of counselling theory and philosophy. Having conducted independent research on this I think my ideas were accurate though necessarily very basic. Counselling Studies is such a huge subject it is difficult to sum up briefly all the necessary qualities a counsellor needs – the prerequisite role of empathy and the difference between empathy and sympathy, the need for acceptance rather than advice, could fill up several pages alone. However I think that I have a basic idea of who a counsellor should be and very much look forward to learning in greater detail how to be that person. Bibliography. BACP (2014) British Association for Counselling Psychotherapy,Available at: http://www.bacp.co.uk/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Black, Paul; Dylan Wiliam (2001) Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment. , Available at:http://weaeducation.typepad.co.uk/files/blackbox-1.pdf (Accessed: 25th February 2014). BPS (2014) The British Psychological Society, Available at:http://www.bps.org.uk/publications (Accessed: 25th February 2014). British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2010) BACP Publications and Journals, Available at:http://www.bacp.co.uk/publications/JOURNALS/index.php(Accessed: 25th February 2014). BSM Consulting Inc. (2014) Portrait of an ISFP, Available at:https://www.personalitypage.com/ISFP.html (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Columbia University (2014) Academic Commons, Available at:http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). CPCAB (2014) Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body, Available at: http://www.cpcab.co.uk/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). DOAJ (2014) DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals, Available at:http://doaj.org/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). ElfEL (2014) Memorandum of Understanding: ePortfolio for all, Available at:http://www.eife-l.org/activities/campaigns/epmou (Accessed: 31st March 2014). Elsevier (2014) Science Direct, Available at:http://www.sciencedirect.com/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Europa (2014) European Union: Index, Available at:http://europa.eu/index_en.htm (Accessed: 25th February 2014). European Union (Europa) (2014) Official Documents of the European Union, Available at: http://europa.eu/publications/official-documents/index_en.htm (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Fair, Boyd ed. Albert S. Humphrey (2005) SRI International December 2005 Newsletter, History Corner p7, Available at:http://www.sri.com/sites/default/files/brochures/dec-05.pdf(Accessed: 25th February 2014). Falmouth University and The University of Exeter Library (2014)Falmouth University Resources, Available at:https://shibboleth.falmouth.ac.uk/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Google Scholar (2014) Google Scholar, Available at: http://scholar.google.com/(Accessed: 25th February 2014). Gross, Jessica (2013) What Motivates Us at Work? 7 Fascinating Studies That Give Insights., Available at:http://blog.ted.com/2013/04/10/what-motivates-us-at-work-7-fascinating-studies-that-give-insights/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Inter/National Coalition For Electronic Portfolio Research (2014) Inter/National Coalition For Electronic Portfolio Research, Available at: http://ncepr.org/ (Accessed: 31st March 2014). Lees-Oakes, Rory (2013) Counselling Tutor, Available at:http://www.counsellingtutor.com/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Lees-Oakes, Rory (2013) How To Survive Counselling Training!,Available at:https://s3.amazonaws.com/CounsellingTutor/How_to_Survive_Counselling_+Training+by+Rory+Lees+Oakes.pdf(Accessed: 25th February 2014). Microsoft Corporation (2014) Office Support, Available at:http://office.microsoft.com/en-001/support/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Mind Tools (2014) Personal SWOT Analysis: Making the Most of Your Talents and Opportunities. , Available at:http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05_1.htm(Accessed: 25th February 2014). Montenegro, Manuel; Bernard Sebastian Kemps (2013) Free Medical Journals, Available at: http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/(Accessed: 25th February 2014). Oxford College (ODL) (2014) Oxford College Forum BTEC HND,Available at: http://campus.oxfordcollege.ac/forum/default.aspx?g=topicsf=17 (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Oxford Learning (2013) PCC Unit 1 Assessment UD, Available at:file:///C:/Users/Casper/Downloads/COUN_UNIT_1_ASSESSMENT_UD2013%20(3).pdf(Accessed: 20th February 2014). PubMed (2014) PubMed Database, Available at:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Relate (2014) RELATE: The Relationship People, Available at:http://www.relate.org.uk/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Syed, Naveed; Anne Scoular, Liz Reaney (2012) Faculty of Public Health: Tips on Writing Effective Reflective Notes, Available at:http://www.fph.org.uk/uploads/FPH%20Tips%20on%20Writing%20Effective%20Reflective%20Notes.pdf(Accessed: 25th February 2014). UKCP (2013) UK Council for Psychotherapy, Available at:http://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). UN (2014) United Nations, Available at: http://www.un.org/en/(Accessed: 25th February 2014). United Nations (2014) United Nations Publications and Reports, Available at: http://unbisnet.un.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=bibmenu=search#focus (Accessed: 25th February 2014). United Nations Childrens Fund (2014) UNICEF, Available at:http://www.unicef.org/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Universitat Bielefeld (2014) BASE: Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, Available at: http://www.base-search.net/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). University of Waterloo: Centre for Teaching Excellence (2012) ePortfolios: What, Why, and How, Available at: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/resources/integrative-learning/eportfolios-what-why-and-how (Accessed: 31st March 2014). University Southampton (2014) CogPrints: Cognitive Sciences Eprints Archive, Available at: http://cogprints.org/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). UNU Office of Communications (2014) United Nations University, Available at: http://unu.edu/ (Accessed: 25th February 2014). Walker, Victoria; Mark, Rehfuss, Agatha, Parks-Savage (2012) Journal of Technology in Counseling, Volume 5 Issue 1: Using ePorfoliols in a Counseling Distance Learning Program, Available at: http://jtc.columbusstate.edu/Vol5_1/Walker.htm (Accessed: 31st March 2014).

The American revolution Essay Example for Free

The American revolution Essay One of the major reasons why the American Revolution started was because of the fact that the British were not including the Americans in the decisions that were being taken for the taxation proceeds from the citizens the Americans who felt that they were not being asked to participate in important decisions (Blanco 757). The seeds for revolt were planted by the resentment at the non-inclusion at the decision making process given the fact that the Americans felt that they made significant contributions to the coffers of the British. America, at this point, was willing to wage war in order to be properly represented and to be allowed to take part in the decision making process (Blanco 757). It had now become a common sentiment among the Americans that there were so many things that they felt had to be done but were left unresolved due to their exclusion. America went to war not to prove that they were stronger but rather they went to war in order to set things right. America wanted to help the people in living an unsuppressed life and this is why they fought for independence. According to a Richard Blanco, â€Å"The most radical impact was the sense that all men have an equal voice in government and that inherited status carried no political weight in the new republic. The rights of the people were incorporated into state constitutions. Thus came the widespread assertion of liberty, individual rights, equality and hostility toward corruption which would prove core values of republicanism to Americans. (702)† This means that according to some sources, the American Revolution had a greater impact on the world because it was the first who had fought against the British rule and ensured independence for itself. The American Revolution was the one that began the trend of ambushing the British and taking over their own country so that they can rule it in the right way and so that they can also allow the public to be a part of the decisions that are going to be made by the government. This was a major victory for America and this is why they celebrate such an occasion.

Waste minimising and recycle in construction

Waste minimising and recycle in construction INTRODUCTION: The construction industry has a major impact on the environment, both in terms of the resources it consumes and the waste it produces. The construction industry is responsible for producing a whole variety of different wastes, the amount and type of which depends on factors such as the stage of construction, type of construction work and practices on site. The construction industry generates a large amount of waste every year. As construction professionals we should follow a hierarchical approach to waste management by aiming primarily to reduce the amount of waste produced then aim to reuse and recycle any waste that is produced. Whilst the trend is to reject the traditional methods of waste disposal in favour of sustainable waste strategies, the majority of the construction industry has placed waste reduction at the bottom of research agendas because of complexities over reuse and recycling. Construction waste has a significant impact on the environment and more emphasis must be put on reducing waste production and increasing recycling and reuse. WASTE Sustainable waste management means using material resources efficiently; to cut down on the amount of waste we produce, and where waste is produced, dealing with it in a way that actively contributes to the economic, social and environmental goals of sustainable development.[1] SOURCES OF WASTE CLIENT ROLE: The client plays an important role in the reduction of waste. This is for a reason that when the client changes his requirements at a stage when construction has already began, the materials which are already being used would be wasted as they no longer will be used in the new design. IMPORTANCE OF SKILLED LABOUR: The use of skilled labours means that good techniques will be used and hopefully fewer mistakes will occur during the construction phase. A mistake could lead to the need for replacement of materials. Thereby increasing the amount of waste generated. LOGISTICS OF MATERIALS: The logistics of materials to the site can also play a part in reducing the waste; this is for a number of reasons. Packaging of material will create waste. Therefore, if a method is generated to reduce the amount of packaging then the waste will be reduced. AFFECTS OF TRANSPORTATION OF MATERIALS: Waste will also be generated due to the transportation of the product. While transporting, goods can be damaged due to the vehicular movements if proper care is not taken and hence get wasted. Delivering goods in large quantities could generate problems at the site as more storage may be required which may need temporary structures or heating to keep the products in the right conditions, this adding to the amount of waste generated. MANUFACTURING DEFECTS: During manufacturing, the manufacturer produces only a specific size, but the client may require a slightly different size, therefore the material is trimmed down on site. This creates a large amount of wastage. Also a poor manufacturer may produce a number of low quality products that cant be used. SITE MANAGEMENT: Site management could also be a factor that courses waste. Time management and storage of material on site could course waste if the site management is not as good as it should be. If materials are not used within a limited time period or if when they are not stored properly, its properties might change and therefore may not be suitable for the project. An example of this is if concrete arrives on site and is forced to wait for the site to be ready, then the concrete might start to set and therefore cant be used. TYPES OF WASTE There are two main types of waste in the construction industry, this include solid waste (which may be recycled or taken to landfill) or gasses waste which may be a pollutant. Gaseous waste will be generated from a number of different sources. In the construction process a large amount of plant and heavy machinery will be used. Most of this machinery will be driven by diesel engines which will generate exhaust gases, these gases will be a waste product generated in the contraction process. Waste gasses can also indirectly be generated due to the construction industry, gasses may be produced in the fabrication and manufacturing of different products that are used. Solid waste can also be split into sections, waste that can be recycled or re-used and waste which will be put into landfill. There are a large number of different waste products that could be generated from the construction industries such as, timber, metals, concrete and more serious waste, which may be harder to recycle and reuse. These wastes include plastics, plaster boards and asbestos. How much Waste does the Construction Industry Produce? Construction and demolition (CD) waste includes brick, concrete, hardcore, subsoil and topsoil, but it can also contain quantities of timber, metal, plastics and occasionally special (hazardous) waste materials. Wastes occur from the construction, repair, maintenance and demolition of buildings and structures. The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) have reported that an estimated 72.5 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste are produced annually. This is around 17.5 % of the total waste produced in the U.K. Furthermore, 13 million tonnes of construction materials are delivered to sites in the U.K. and thrown away unused every year. This is not sustainable.[3] EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT The two main types of waste generated by the construction industry are solid wastes and gaseous wastes. Liquid wastes may also be generated during construction processes, such as cleaning, but the effect of such wastes is minimal and generally local to a particular site. Gaseous waste is a sub-product from the use of machinery in the construction process, transportation of materials and from the production of construction materials. This type of waste is emitted to the air and has inherent effects on air quality. Solid waste can be generated from demolition and excavation or may be unused material from the construction process. Some solid waste may be recycled or reused however the majority is put into landfill sites, because of this the overarching target of the UK governments strategy for sustainable construction is to reduce the amount of construction waste to landfill by 50% by 20121. Solid waste therefore adopts the associated effects on the environment that landfill has. Of the solid waste that is put into landfill the majority comes from the demolition of existing structures and the excavation of material to allow construction, however a relatively small proportion consists of unused materials generated from amongst others, design change, lack of skilled workforce, site untidiness, poor quality materials and manufacture and lack of product information and knowledge. Unused materials will not only contribute to the environmental effects of landfill but will have indirect environmental effects due to transportation, production and packaging. The main environmental effects of waste due to demolition and excavation are emissions from transportation and primarily issues with landfill. Landfills are widely considered to have adverse effects on the surrounding environment and public health. The main types of environmental impacts caused by landfill sites are alteration to surrounding landscape, visual intrusion, degradation of air quality, pollution of ground water and degradation of soil quality. The construction industry makes a considerable contribution as it makes up a large proportion of the total waste assigned to landfill in the UK. Landfill sites generally occupy a large area required for waste disposal itself as well as associated facilities and enough area to minimise the effects on surrounding groundwater and soil quality. Additionally in some cases excavation and movement of material is required to create an area which is suitable for the disposal of waste. Thus, the surrounding landscape is adversely affected. The location of a landfill site is often sensibly chosen so to minimise the effects it has on the surrounding environment, however it may be impossible to locate it so that it is entirely invisible to the public and the negative visual impact a landfill site will have on a community cannot be avoided. Gaseous emissions from a landfill site come from the transportation of waste, use of machinery and more importantly the anaerobic digestion of organic matter producing methane. Generation of gas in a landfill site is one of the largest sources of methane emissions to the atmosphere; methane having a muc h greater global warming effect than carbon dioxide as well as being harmful to humans. Landfill sites therefore have a negative effect on air quality and public health. The precipitation that falls on a landfill coupled with the disposal of liquid wastes results in the extraction of water soluble compounds and particulate material, such as cement, dust and asbestos. Although nowadays measures are generally taken to water-proof a landfill site resulting solutions and mixtures will almost certainly end up in surrounding groundwater and soil. Thus, a degradation of groundwater and soil quality occurs. Gaseous wastes are a by-product of any development but have increased severity in large scale developments which require a large amount of material and associated transportation, use of a greater amount and varying machinery and occur over a longer timescale. Transportation of materials will usually be by road, rail or occasionally by sea. In any case the method of transportation will produce gaseous emissions that will have an overall global warming effect and reduce the air quality locally and regionally. An increased local reduction in air quality occurs in areas around large developments with longer construction times due to the prolonged constant use of machinery in the same area. The production of construction materials also has a significant effect on air quality due to emissions of particularly damaging waste products from industrial plants. WASTE MINIMISATION: Definition of waste minimisation: The reduction of waste at source, by understanding and changing processes to reduce and prevent waste. This is also known as process or resource efficiency. Waste minimisation includes the substitution of less environmentally harmful materials in the production process.[4] Designing out waste at the initial stages of the construction process provides the greatest opportunities for waste minimisation. The best way to manage waste, particularly hazardous waste, is to manage the process so that there is no waste to manage. This is definitely not easy, but the whole aim is that when a similar thought occurs, waste can be minimised if not eliminated. Benefits of Waste Minimisation: * Increase resource efficiency * Reduce costs * Improve environmental performance * Demonstrate best practice * Ensure compliance with legal obligations * Reduce disposal to landfill * economic incentives * social advantages * internal business benefits * external business benefits Waste minimisation contributes to the increase efficiency in the utilisation of resources. It also helps in reduction of cost of overall project, when the expenditure over the waste is reduced; thereby the cost of project also reduces. Waste Minimisation understandsenvironmental improvementssuch as ameliorated pollution control, development of environmentally friendly products Waste Minimisation ensureslegal compliancewith European Directives, UK Legislation and Regulations. Waste minimisation will considerably reduce the disposal to landfill, thereby reducing the landfill tax. Waste Minimisation haseconomic incentivessuch as diluted trade waste costs and better efficiency. It is important that any industry regards in implementing the waste minimisation initiatives because the introduction of the landfill tax means that waste disposal costs are set to increase in the future. Waste Minimisation hassocial benefitsas the recycling and reuse methods allow employment and economic opportunities for local charities, voluntary groups, the community sector and businesses that can reuse or recycle materials. Waste Minimisation hasinternal business benefitsby promoting a cultural change within any industry by nurturing environmental awareness. It also provides an opportunity for staff training and qualifications as well as improved employee motivation. Waste Minimisation hasexternal business benefitsby managing a variety of your businesses stakeholder relationships. Industrys investors, customers, the general public, the regulator, companies within your supply chain and contractors may require evidence of good environmental performance or look for a green image. [5] How to achieve the benefits: Waste minimisation demands action on three fronts: 1. People: Many reductions in waste can be accomplished through improved housekeeping. It is crucial that employees are aware of the issues related to waste and are motivated and trained to prevent it. 2. Methodology: A systematic approach to measurement and control foregrounds deficiencies and problems, alters targets to be set and maintains levels of efficiency. 3. Technology: Capital investment in new technology can enhance productivity and decrease waste generation, giving very short paybacks. METHODS OF WASTE MINIMISATION The process of waste minimisation through Designing out Waste is still at the early stage of development. Many barriers and opportunities exist in developing waste minimisation strategies in design. If this process is considered in the early stages of construction activities, there are opportunities for it to exist. The waste hierarchy (see figure 1) establishes waste reduction as one of the highest priorities for addressing the increasing volumes of waste. The target for any waste reduction strategy must be to focus on opportunities from the outset, at the earliest stages of design. Many barriers and opportunities exist in developing a strategy of waste reduction in design. Opportunities for waste minimisation exist in four construction areas: 1. Project Planning 2. Pre-Construction 3. Off-Site Activities 4. On-Site Activities PROJECT PLANNING: During project planning phase, it is essential that waste management strategy is made for better profit margins. Focus on elimination of waste is the prime factor. Communicating strategies with client, developer, designer, builder, project manager, contractors and suppliers is very important. Analysis on waste reduction plan should be done. PRE CONSTRUCTION: This stage involves three areas where waste reduction is possible. * Designing: proper and accurate dimensions, proposing standard material sizes, building for deconstruction (can be easily reused if future modifications occur with ease and minimum wastage) and operational waste reduction. * Estimating: over estimation of required materials leads to wastage. * Purchasing: Buying environmental friendly items, using procurement policy as specifying manufacturers and suppliers your exact requirements reduces the amount of waste. OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES:  · Prefabrication: By prefabricating frames and trusses, timber waste can be decreased to an extent. ON-SITE ACTIVITIES: * Delivery and storage of materials. * Packaging * Separation of materials. * Safe disposal of unavoidable waste. WASTE MINIMISATION STRATEGIES Managing and monitoring the different waste streams on a construction site requires a detailed waste minimisation strategy. This needs careful planning throughout the design, build and occupancy phases, to ensure its success, effectiveness and compliance with building regulations. There are three basic strategies for dealing with waste: reduce, reuse and recycle. Waste prevention is the ideal, and this can be addressed first by identifying possible waste streams early on in the build process, and then designing for their minimisation. Using standard sizes for building components (windows, doors etc.) can prevent future waste, as can design for deconstruction, using recyclable components. It has been estimated that over ordering accounts for 13 million tonnes of new building materials being thrown out every year. Better communication between building professionals to ensure exact calculations of required materials are made can mean that this waste is prevented. Just-in-time delivery strategies can further reduce waste created by improper storage and weather damage. Once waste has been produced, the best method of managing it is through reuse either on the existing site, or a nearby site. Many materials can be usefully reclaimed, and even sold to offset the costs of a building project. Recycling materials is the final option for managing waste. Materials that can be reused or recycled need to be identified early on the build process, and segregated for easy storage, collection and transfer. For the strategy to be effective, links also need to be established with local recycling and reuse facilities and contractors. [6] OCCUPANCY WASTE Sustainable building practice goes one step further than conventional practice, by designing for waste minimisation in the operation of the building, through grey water recycling, composting toilets, on site food composting and off-site recycling facilities, thus helping to reduce residential waste. [7] LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT: LANDFILL TAX The landfill tax aims to encourage waste producers to produce less waste, recover more value from waste, through recycling or composting, and to use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal. The tax applies to active and inert waste, disposed of at a licensed landfill site. The aims of the landfill tax are: * To promote the polluter pays principle, by increasing the price of landfill to better reflect its environmental costs; * To promote a more sustainable approach to waste management in which less waste is produced and more is recovered or recycled. There are two rates of tax. Inactive waste is subject to the lower rate at  £2 per tonne. Active waste is subject to  £15 per tonne, rising at  £3 per tonne per year from 2005/06 towards a long-term rate of  £35 per tonne. Her Majestys Customs and Excise has updated its General Note on the Landfill Tax. The guidance replaces the previous version (February 2000) to include the changes to the tax liability of materials re-used on landfill sites; permits issued under regulations under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act (1999) that authorise deposits or disposals in, or on the land; the changes to the liability to pay landfill tax and changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The Landfill Tax Regulations have been clarified following a legal challenge brought by a waste management company last year. [8] SITE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS (SWMPS) Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) are an important tool for construction companies and their clients, of all sizes, to improve their environmental performance, meet regulatory controls and reduce rising costs of disposing of waste. This document sets out the basic structure of SWMPs and how companies can best use them to improve and manage their operations at all stages of site activity. It includes useful checklists and other guidance to help ensure the Plan is a practical tool. Note that it is not essential for there to be a separate SWMP document for your site the guidance given here can equally well be included in a Waste Management Section of an overall Site Environmental Management Plan.[9] THE PURPOSE OF SWMPS: SWMPs aim to address two key issues: 1. Improving materials resource efficiency, by promoting the economic use of construction materials and methods so that waste is minimised and any waste that is produced can be re-used, recycled or recovered in other ways before disposal options are explored; and 2. Reducing fly-tipping, by restricting the opportunities available for the illegal disposal of waste by ensuring compliance with existing legal controls and providing a full audit trail of any waste that is removed from the construction site. Although it is a legal requirement to write and implement a SWMP, the greatest cost savings are likely to be achieved as a result of the consideration of materials resource efficiency which will be a necessary part of the preparation, before the SWMP is drafted. [10] WASTE AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE Effective waste management can reduce building and operating costs, enhance the reputation of the building industry, and also generate new revenue streams through developing recycling and reclaiming markets. Reducing construction waste also saves landfill space, conserves valuable natural resources, saves energy and creates less pollution by reducing transportation and manufacturing processes, with a mitigating effect on climate change. CONCLUSION: According to the ODPM waste survey (2001), the CD industry in Wales produces around 5.02 million tonnes of waste per year; this is around 30% of all controlled waste arising in Wales. Given the scale of the construction industry in Wales and the quantity of waste produced, it has great potential to lead the way in waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.[11] Waste minimisation is now an instituted business practice for many organisations and a number of industries have enforced waste reduction programmes. Reducing waste is a key to a cleaner world and more competitive industry. It would not be fair to conclude that building services should undergo revolutionary redesign or standardisation just to reduce wastes in construction. However, the reduction of waste, in terms of materials or time is beneficial to all because a reduction in cost will result in better systems within the same budget. [1] CIOB. ().Sustainability and Construction.Available: www.ciob.org.uk/filegrab/sustainability.pdf?ref=74. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [2] CIBSE. ().DESIGNING TO ENCOURAGE WASTE MINIMISATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.Available: http://www.cibse.org/pdfs/Construction%20waste%20minim.pdf. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [3] CIOB. ().Sustainability and Construction.Available: www.ciob.org.uk/filegrab/sustainability.pdf?ref=74. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [4] Welsh Assembly Government. ().Waste prevention and minimisation.Available: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waste_recycling/Waste_prevention_minimisation?lang=en. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [5] Perth Kinross Council . (2008).Benefits of waste minimisation.Available: http://www.pkc.gov.uk/Planning+and+the+environment/Waste+and+recycling/Commercial+waste/Waste+minimisation+for+business/Benefits+of+waste+minimisation.htm. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [6] Sustainable Build. ().Reducing and Managing Waste.Available: http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ReducingManagingWaste.html. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [7] Sustainable Build. ().Reducing and Managing Waste.Available: http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ReducingManagingWaste.html. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [8] Welsh Assembly Government. ().Landfill tax.Available: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waste_recycling/landfilltax/?lang=en. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [9] dti. (2004).SITE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS.Available: http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/site_waste_management_plan.b230bcd7.2323.pdf. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [10] defra. (2008).Non-statutory guidance for site waste management plans.Available: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/construction/pdf/swmp-guidance.pdf. Last accessed 6 December 2009. [11] Welsh Assembly Government. ().Construction and Demolition.Available: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/waste_recycling/construction_demolition/?lang=en. Last accessed 6 December 2009.

The Theme of Religion in Angela’s Ashes Essay -- Angelas Ashes Irish

The Theme of Religion in Angela’s Ashes Throughout the novel, religion is presented as being of extreme importance in Irish society, influencing the beliefs and actions of the characters. I will attempt to highlight the several factors which I believe make up the presentation of religion in â€Å"Angela’s Ashes†. From the beginning of the book, religion is said to make up a large part of the unhappy childhood Frank suffered. The following quote shows the extent of Frank’s sentiments: â€Å"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood, is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood† The quote above portrays the crescendo of negative emotion, describing the worse possible scenario of a childhood, adding finally â€Å"Catholic† to signify the most terrible part of the childhood Frank suffered. This indicates that religion played an important role in a person’s life and in the society presented by the book. A person’s life was structured to follow the ideals of their religion. From the tone of the quote however, I am led to believe that according to Frank, being a Catholic lead to suffering in life and that therefore, religion guided lives. What is shown later in the book is that the misery Frank refers to is not only poverty and living standards, but the Catholic way of life, restricting freedom and opportunity in life. Regardless of the fact that religion could be blamed for an array of problems in the lives of the characters, Catholicism is presented as an extremely important part of life in Ireland. Many, such as Frank’s grandmother, consider it to be an institution with all answers to life; an institution that needs to be followed in order to achieve a greater good i... ...often too easy to sin in the Catholic religion, and that almost anything a person did, even impure thoughts, could be considered sins. Frank makes a comment about being â€Å"an official sinner† after his First Communion, indicating that he considers sinning to be a natural part of life, and that being an â€Å"official† sinner allows him to confess, and therefore gain forgiveness from the Church. Religion has been presented through threats made to force people into doing something often against their will. It has been presented as inspiring fear in people and therefore directing their lives. Overall, many characters, including Frank, have shown only a superficial belief in Catholicism, although through the fear they have they live their lives in accordance with the church, yet often defying its basic principles, such as sex before marriage, theft and adultery. The Theme of Religion in Angela’s Ashes Essay -- Angela's Ashes Irish The Theme of Religion in Angela’s Ashes Throughout the novel, religion is presented as being of extreme importance in Irish society, influencing the beliefs and actions of the characters. I will attempt to highlight the several factors which I believe make up the presentation of religion in â€Å"Angela’s Ashes†. From the beginning of the book, religion is said to make up a large part of the unhappy childhood Frank suffered. The following quote shows the extent of Frank’s sentiments: â€Å"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood, is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood† The quote above portrays the crescendo of negative emotion, describing the worse possible scenario of a childhood, adding finally â€Å"Catholic† to signify the most terrible part of the childhood Frank suffered. This indicates that religion played an important role in a person’s life and in the society presented by the book. A person’s life was structured to follow the ideals of their religion. From the tone of the quote however, I am led to believe that according to Frank, being a Catholic lead to suffering in life and that therefore, religion guided lives. What is shown later in the book is that the misery Frank refers to is not only poverty and living standards, but the Catholic way of life, restricting freedom and opportunity in life. Regardless of the fact that religion could be blamed for an array of problems in the lives of the characters, Catholicism is presented as an extremely important part of life in Ireland. Many, such as Frank’s grandmother, consider it to be an institution with all answers to life; an institution that needs to be followed in order to achieve a greater good i... ...often too easy to sin in the Catholic religion, and that almost anything a person did, even impure thoughts, could be considered sins. Frank makes a comment about being â€Å"an official sinner† after his First Communion, indicating that he considers sinning to be a natural part of life, and that being an â€Å"official† sinner allows him to confess, and therefore gain forgiveness from the Church. Religion has been presented through threats made to force people into doing something often against their will. It has been presented as inspiring fear in people and therefore directing their lives. Overall, many characters, including Frank, have shown only a superficial belief in Catholicism, although through the fear they have they live their lives in accordance with the church, yet often defying its basic principles, such as sex before marriage, theft and adultery.

How Thomas Hardy Presents Women in His Short Stories Essay -- essays r

How Hardy Presents Women in His Short Stories Thomas Hardy wrote about society in the mid 1800's and his tales have rural settings in the fictional name he gave to the South-West of England, Wessex. The short stories reflect this time and the author also demonstrates the class division in rural society - rich and poor - and the closeness of the communities. Almost everyone belonged to the 'labouring classes' and worked on the land. People of around 150 years ago were very superstitious and marriage was important. If a woman did not marry by a certain age she was thought of as a witch, or 'spinster'. Her only roles were to be faithful to her husband and to bear a son to become heir. The role of women was very different from today's society - it was world dominated and run by men. In the first of the three short stories, ?The Withered Arm?, Hardy writes of two women of different classes who are joined by one man. The first of the women is Rhoda Brook. She is a milking maid who is not within the milking circle. She is physically and metaphorically outside because she had an illegitimate son. Rhoda ?milked somewhat apart from the rest?. Having a child out of ?wedlock? was frowned upon, some people were publicly condemned in the 1800?s. She is the occasional subject of gossip and with being a single mum back then she would have been in a very difficult position. Hardy presents this well in his tales, as he shows Rhoda?s predicament. The father of Rhoda?s son, Farmer Lodge, was of a much higher status than herself. He would never have married a milk maid and does not face the same condemnation as Rhoda does. Rhoda?s previous lover, Farmer Lodge, is to marry a young woman as during a conversation between the mil... ... Milly is the most foolish of the girls as she believes every word Tony says to her, however this shows that she will do anything to gain a husband. In ?The Son?s Veto? Sophy is shown to be dominated by both her husband and her son. Decisions are mostly made for her giving Sophy little freedom in her own home. Her son denied her the opportunity to marry and be happy again as the man she was in love with was not a gentleman of class, which was all too embarrassing for him. Sophy is weak and feeble and dies a lonely and unhappy woman. In Thomas Hardy?s three short tales, the presentation of women is negative, however typical of the 1800?s. His stories show just how women lived in these times and how it was difficult. They received few opportunities and choices as most were made for them. Their main role in life was to be a good mother and a devoted wife.

The Cultural Politics of Pokemon Capitalism :: Entertainment Games Collectors Papers

The Cultural Politics of Pokemon Capitalism It is fall 1999 and a jet from Japan has just pulled up to its berth at LAX airport in Los Angeles. Immediately a crowd of kids excitedly gathers by the window to view what appears to be a huge flying Pikachu: the yellowy cute, electrically charged mouse-type pocket monster of what was then the biggest kid’s craze of the decade, Pokemon. Even parents recognize this iconic figure, familiar as they are with the basics of the phenomenon. Starting out as a gameboy game in Japan in 1996, it grew quickly to a multi-stranded empire: comic books, cartoon, movies, trading cards, toy figures, video games, tie-in merchandise. And, starting in 1997, Pokemon got exported, hitting the U.S. in August 1998. The principle of the game, duplicated in the plotline of the movies, cartoons, and comics, is to become a pokemon master by trying to capture all 151 monsters (expanded to 251 in recent editions) inhabiting the playscapes of Poke-world. In this world, any child can become a master lik e Satoshi (Ash in English) who, in the story versions, is the 11 year old protagonist traveling the world with his two buddies, Misty (an 11 year old girl) and Brock (a 15 year old teenage boy). All one needs to do is keep playing: maneuver one’s controls to move through this game space, discovering and catching (mainly by fighting) new monsters whom consequently become pocketed as one’s own. Hence, the name â€Å"pocket monster.† Pocketed monsters are trained to fight new monsters therefore becoming both the medium and end of this game. The logic here is acquisition; â€Å"gotta catch ‘em all† is the catchword of Pokemon. But entwined into this, as Benjamin noted about commodity fetishism at the dawn of modernity, is enchantment. The monsters to be gotten are not only things, possessions, and tools but also enchanting beings akin to spirits, pets, or friends. Pikachu iconizes this weave of relationality taken, I will argue, to the age of millennial postmodernity. With its electric powers, Pikachu is a tough, therefore prized, pokemon. But, with its smallish, yellow body, Pikachu is also cuddly and cute: features played up on screen whe re it becomes the best buddy pokemon of the lead character, Ash. This monster is at once property and pal, capital and companion: the key features in a form of intimate or cute

Evaluating Research Process Essay

Select one of the articles collected in the Week One Annotated Bibliography assignment. Write a 1,400- to -1,750-word paper that evaluates the research process within your chosen article. Explain the research process and what you can assume from the study from the following perspectives: How is the literature review used in this research? What are ethical considerations for data collection? What is the data telling us in terms of statistical analysis? Are the findings statistically significant? Do the conclusions match the results of the study? Do the conclusions answer the research questions in the definition of the problem? Are the conclusions appropriate? Do you have enough information to make a decision on the effectiveness of the study? If so, is it effective? Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Starting college can be like entering an entirely new world. You have more  freedom than you’ve ever had before and you are in total control over your own life. This increased responsibility however can make you susceptible to some serous pitfalls. Read the following article to learn what habits to avoid in order to have a successful college career. This archive file includes HCS 465 Week 4 Evaluating Research Process Health Care – General Health Care Resource: Evaluating the Research Process Grading Criteria. Select one of the articles collected in the Week One Annotated Bibliography assignment. Write a 1,400- to -1,750-word paper that evaluates the research process within your chosen article. Explain the research process and what you can assume from the study from the following perspective†¦ A+ tutorial you will find here – https://bitly.com/12BuNZy Starting college can be like entering an entirely new world. You have more freedom than you’ve ever had before and you are in total control over your own life. This increased responsibility however can make you susceptible to some serous pitfalls. Read the following article to learn what habits to avoid in order to have a successful college career. Health Care – General Health Care Resource: Evaluating the Research Process Grading Criteria. Select one of the articles collected in the Week One Annotated Bibliography assignment. Write a 1,400- to -1,750-word paper that evaluates the research process within your chosen article. Explain the research process and what you can assume from the study from the following perspectives: How is the literature review used in this research? What are ethical considerations for data collection? What is the data telling us in terms of statistical analysis? Are the findings statistically significant? Do the conclusions match the results of the study? Do the conclusions answer the research questions in the definition of the problem? Are the conclusions appropriate? Do you have enough information to make a decision on the effectiveness of the study? If so, is it effective? Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Sports Drinks Industry Analysis

Executive compend We set much than or less nonice an increase physique of businesses catering to the late(a) rise of a radical rate grocery store the soundlyness- cognizant consumer. At Nike, our goal has forever been to give consumers what they want now, as comfortably as to anticipate their future tastes, and to consequently tailor our strategy to accommodate those tastes. We pass on recognized an unfilled merchandise probable resistence in the non-carbonated activation sports swallow arna, thence developing an entirely smart convergence category. Our denounceing strategy is to enter the mart by carving a new niche of protein-enriched energizing sports drinks.Our verifiable is to take consumers about the new drink, as head as to curb a gather and gain trade shargon in the effort. We apprehend that by being trade coll atomic estimate 18rs, our name terminus become identical with the new drink category, and give precaution in our sustaining a agonistical service e realwhere the copy-cats that be sure to clop the commercialise after the new ingatherings door and subsequent success. Our original fanny mart is 18-34 stratum previous(a) females who leave behind use of impregn harmonizes and services our sports drink whenever they inquireed a advance at work, in the gym, or and when they felt like it.The substitute(prenominal) site merchandise is 18-34 year old males who surrender into much the same socio-cultural and economic category as the primary print market. The Nike interrogative sentence nothing drink will be powered as a risque-end item, costing $2 per environ noeticly-friendly gutter. It will come in a variety of fruit flavors and will skylark the replenish custodyt of electrolytes and different essential vitamins and minerals. We hope that eminent- absolute frequency bargain market penetration employ multi-media advertisements will spread the word and face-lift aw arness abou t Nike proceeding. field of study statistical distri besidesion will follow in supermarkets, pharmacies, puff upness food stores, and gourmet retailers.The Nike marking name, attended by its strong marque image, will differentiate the produce and maintain its popularity via the market leader and differentiation strategy the association has chosen. 2. 0 Environmental analysis Economic Trends The X and Y generations, our target markets, comprise about 110 million slew of the join States population. They argon, customaryly speaking, comfortably-educated, and earn relatively higher(prenominal)er(prenominal) incomes, thus allowing for much of their disposable income to be spent on health-oriented products, much(prenominal) as the new beverage we are preparedness to launch, Nike deed.N both positive, nor negative economic trends, much(prenominal) as flip-flops in involvement rates, inflation, DGP, and so forth are not likely to accommodate a epoch-making impact on our product, since its not a high priced luxury item whose fill would be affected by theses factors. The quality of sports drinks consumed doesnt truly depend on the income of the consumers, since these are relatively inexpensive, e veryday products. As a general trend stock-still it is worthy mentioning that the economy as a consentient is growing in the United States as well as in early(a) parts of the world, allowing for an ever increasing bill of living.Cultural and Demographic Trends Socio-culturally, our target market is health-conscious and youth-oriented. The individuals comprising our target market of 18-34 year old men and women, are generally perceive as individualistic, with a center on on making healthy decisions via food choices (salad nix and the organics market take a crap boomed), and exercise (from passing game on athletics-oriented vacations, to spending lunch hours in the gym). There is likewise a change in the lifestyle of Americans, and deal ro und the world fast paced, always on the go, eating out and socializing to a heavy(p)er extent.These people rarely energize the time to get to at home, decreasing the regularity of go through healthy meals. One of the best alternatives of acquire the needed vitamins and nutrition is via healthy beverages, such as Nike interrogation. The U. S. populations general aversion to high calorie, high sugar, and high carbohydrate beverages will likely be beneficial to our new product. Demographically, a handed-down family structure is becoming less typical, with an increasing number of couples co-habitating without being married, set about birth-rates, and a massiveer concentration on health and weight maintenance.As a guide of these trends, consumption of youth-oriented products has grown as people strive to be in good shape. The Nike Motion energizing sports drink will provide the energy these people need to accomplish their nonsubjectives. Ethnic trends are to a fault changing, with baby boomers retiring, and an increasing young Hispanic population emergent, on with an influx of Asians. The Hispanic population, becoming the largest minority segment in 2002, has grown 70 pct over the past decade to approximately 37 million (14. 1 share of the U. S. population). These youths lead fast-paced lifestyles, frequently juggling school, work, and ad hominem lives. For the younger generation, regardless of heathen background, belief tired is not an option. The popularity of the sports and energy drinks has rise up this fact. We at Nike thus believe that Nike Motion will be a wonderful success, attracting to a health-conscious population with our tempting natural ingredients, while simultaneously welcome the increasing need for energizing products. governmental and Legal Environment The political environment could have a significant perfume on us if we were to market Nike Motion in foreign countries.Constant changes in exchange rates and political syste ms are important to keep in mind. As to the legal environment, each and every degraded operates in nations of laws and rules that have to be obeyed. coca plant Cola recently got into trouble cod to an advertising message in which they, allegedly, visualised Gatorade in an unfavorable light. The case was colonized outside of court, plainly has cost millions of dollars for Coke. 2 Physical Environment and technological Trends The menses physical environment, especially in metropolitan areas such as large cities, is very much conducive to the use of our product. purchasable in a large number of various retailers, our goal is to be the Starbucks of sports drinks on every corner, thither when you need it. Retailers stocking our product will be dispersed throughout the city, with a significant concentration in areas of business and entertainment (for example, in the downtown financial district, as well as near the Broadway theaters), as well as near learning centers and gyms. We w ant to make sure that Nike Motion is widely distributed and promptly available, two to impulse shoppers, as well as for the more(prenominal) traditional image of buyer.Changes in technology may lower entry barriers and attain new product processes. To enter the sports drink perseverance, large majuscule investments are required for production facilities, marketing, and etcetera. Technological changes, such as the internet, can create additional possibilities for promotion, via viral campaigns via the internet and emails that are so popular with our target market. world-wide Trends Due to advances in technology and communication, we can safely say that the world has never been as united as it is soon.The internet, along with television, and to a lesser full point, radio, have served as outlets for disseminating cultural views, and incorporating adaptations of traditional ethnic ideas and beliefs into the mainstream, both within a country and internationally. Products rangin g from wear to music to the culinary arts have become widely accepted. We feel that sports drinks glisten into this global category as well. From atomic number 63 to Latin America to the United States, lifestyles are becoming faster-paced (though to leaveing legs) and are influencing the demand for products that will accommodate such consumer choices.In the last year alone, sales of sports drinks have increased by 10%. 3 3. 0 Mission Statement Nikes direction expresss If you have a embody, you are an suspensor. Nike Motion, the new protein infused energy drink brought to you by Nike, targets the athlete in us all, whether you are on the track or on the couch, by providing hydration and energy with essential vitamins, minerals, and exotic herbs, proven to enhance performance, raise energy aims, as well as enhance mental agility. Nike motion is crucial for both body and mind. 4. 0 Market / attention / Competition AnalysisCompetition Analysis of Sports Drink Industry Sports drinks experienced a remarkable outgrowth in the late 1990s and archean 2000s, growing al some 56 portionage between 1997 and 2002. As a result of this increase in demand for sports drinks, a large number of products started flooding the market. This influx, however, is controlled by a limited number of naturalised and potent companies, namely Gatorade and Powerade. Gatorade, produced by PepsiCo, is a market leader, boasting 80 percent market share. Its chief competitor, Powerade (produced by coca Cola), accounts for 19 percent of the remaining sports drink market.PepsiCos market share however is not safe. Since 2002, its share dec krisd by 4 percent, while Cokes Powerade grew by nearly 30 percent. 4 virtually of the industrys growth is dictated by reaching new demographics, including ethnic groups, children and more serious exercisers. Attempts by other companies to market sports drinks have often failed, or achieved considerably less success than the exist players. Nike , in an attempt to avoid territorial battles, plans to carve a new niche, the energizing sports drinks with various essential nutrients, thus emerging as a market leader in this new category.As mentioned previously, devoted(p) its established, strong brand image, and its association with everything healthy, such a move should not prove impossible. Porters private-enterprise(a) Forces tally to Porters Five Competitive Forces, the power of suppliers is low because the ingredients used, as well as the packaging, are commodities that can be easily substituted, and therefore do not involve high switching costs. The market is not dominated by a few large suppliers, but is kind of fragmented, allowing for price competition. The power of buyers is medium, because even though there are many buyers, round of them are rather powerful.There is teensy chance that existing customers would integrate backwards. Sports drinks are differentiated products but can be replaced by a limited numbe r of substitutes, water being the biggest nemesis. The consumers, according to trends in the macro environment will progressively search for sports drinks on the store shelves. The low-pitched number of firms makes for a high degree of rivalry, with a few large companies competing amongst themselves, as well as vying to establish a significant foothold in format to prevent smaller firms from entering the market.The energy and sports drink products are thus differentiated, and vary in more than good price. The threat of new entrants is low to medium payable to the fact that the attractive high-growth industry of sports drinks has very high barriers to entry namely, it is capital intensive, requiring a lot of marketing and advertising of these products, discussing their benefits, as well as positioning them obscure from the rest. Likewise, it necessitates large economies of scale in production. such resources are difficult to achieve, and if marketing to the masses, it is somet hing merely large, wealthy companies can achieve. The threat of substitutes in this arena is quite high, in that the products currently on the market often differ in little other than brand and consumer perception. The switching costs from one brand to another are virtually zero, but companies can succeed if theyre able to retain their faithful customer bases. 4. 0 Summary of marketing activity in the industry Pricing strategyIt is safe to state that there are no significant pricing differences among the brands, they are competitively priced. both(prenominal) Gatorade and Powerade sell at about $1. 50-2. 00 for a 32 oz. bottle, depending on the location and on the type of retailer. There are really no pricing wars in this industry, since consumers are very brand loyal. Looking at the distribution channels, we can see that these sports drinks are sold at some retailers that sell groceries and other beverages. Retailers include supermarkets, delis, vending machines, passage vend ors, cafeterias at gyms, etcetera.We see a potential advantage in selling Nike Motion at existing Nike outlets, such as sporty goods stores, and in Nikes flagship stores, Niketowns, that are located in major cities around the world. Advertising and Promotions When discussing advertising and promotional strategies, we have to note that even the most boffo companies need advertising and other promotional vehicles to further the success of their brands. Sports drink makers, given the degree of competition in the industry are doing just this. Gatorade spent $ clxxx million on advertisements last year while Powerade spent less than $20 million, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus. Since these sports drinks primarily target health-conscious consumers and athletes, some of the most important promotional vehicles include sponsorship of sporting events, and signing of top athletes for promotional deals. coca Cola was, for example, the official sponsor of the pass Olympic Games in Athens with its Po werade Drink. We focus on niche audiences of top athletes, either through major events such as the Olympics, close relationships with sporting bodies, or by working with sports experts to produce targeted advertorial, says a Coca-Cola spokeswoman. Consumer statement is key, she adds. 6 Powerade earlier launched an online version of its LeBron pile comic in its quest to position the brand as the sports drink for the close generation. A first for Coke and its render DC Comics, the interactive site include flash technology and voice-overs by Mr. throng across 12 Webisodes, as well as an instant win subdivision and video games. 7 Gatorade on the other hand is the official sponsor of the issue Football League, the official sports drink of the National Basketball Association, WNBA, major(ip) League Baseball, Major League Soccer and a master of ceremonies of others around the world.In all, Gatorade has struck close to 900 sponsorship deals with sports events over time, according to tracking by the IEG Sponsorship Report. Gatorade also will sponsor brand content during the National Basketball Associations playoffs on ESPN, TNT and FSN networks. On TNT, broadcast personalities will var. live sideline segments dubbed perceive Around the Cooler about game strategy, injuries, statistics and other insights, while ESPN will air branded Cooler Talk segments on its Sports Center. ChallengesOne of the biggest challenges these companies face is the problem of attracting more female consumers. According to the Mintel International Group, an industry observer, consumption patterns always leaned heavily toward males, but the trend showed signs of changing as more female teens reportedly were drinking more and more sports drinks. This reflected female teens ongoing evoke in losing weight and increasing interest in exercise. 8 Sports beverage producers also began targeting the fast-growing Hispanic population.Gatorades Xtremo was the first to appeal to this potential mar ket with a line of more exotic and tropical flavors including mango and tropical. The effort was supported by bilingualist packaging and Spanish-language advertising. Coca-Colas Powerade brand also began use Spanish-language advertising to tap into this market. We think that the most important industry factors that will be influential in our planning is the degree of competition that were hoping to offset with powerful and wide-reaching marketing campaigns.As Ive mentioned earlier, there is a very high level of competition especially between Gatorade and Powerade. both(prenominal) these companies spend millions of dollars on building their brands and their loyal customer base. We can see, however, a little(a) difference between the promotional techniques of the two. Gatorade is more centered on the top-athlete, while Powerade tries to fork over a more cutting-edge supply that appeals primarily to the iPod generation. There top executive be another niche that is underserved, a nd that could be just what Nike Motion needs.An underserved niche, such as women and men of Generation X and Generation Y, might have a need for nutritious, on-the-go beverages that fit into their busy life-styles. Nike could target these niches successfully collectable to its existing brand image. 5. 0 Marketing object glass The Nike brand is a well know brand, its swoosh is one of the most recognisable signs out there, having established brand allegiance among many. Based on our market research, the brand attachment of Nike Motion would have great potential for being the next great beverage among athletes and non-athletes.We would pursue a mass market penetration strategy for a saturated market, while still allowing for a vast opportunity in high profits and gaining market share collectible to Nikes brand recognition. Our primary objective is to create product awareness among the target audience by 30 percent in one year and our secondary objective would be to increase market share. We would also want to inform our target audience about the features and benefits of our product and its competitive advantage, leading to a 10 percent increase in sales in one year.Many individuals are unmindful(predicate) of Nikes new brand extension of a sports drink. Therefore we would pursue a high reach and high frequency strategy in our advertising in order to have maximum exposure. In order to accomplish this we would conduct a SWOT analysis to gain a better understanding of our target market and market segment. We want to achieve this objective by using secondary and primary research to get an in perspicaciousness understanding of our target and to formulate a strategy to develop our campaign. Based on our research, trends and attitudes are moving toward health conscious products.