Financial Economics 2012- Quantitative Methods II, Statistics Project Essay

Financial Economics 2012- Quantitative Methods II, Statistics Project - Essay Example The CAPM gives an understanding about the kinds of risks that affect the return through assessment of these risks. The model uses the beta of a specific security, the risk-free rate of return, and the market return to compute the  required return  of an investment to its  expected risk. The CAPM Model and its uses The formula for the beta coefficient of stock is given by: Beta Coefficient of Stock (?) = ?rm / ?2m ?rm = the Covariance between the returns on asset i and the market portfolio ?2m = the Variance of the market portfolio This beta value serves as an important measure of risk for individual assets (portfolios) that is different from ?2m, it measures the non-diversifiable part of risk. It is an indirect measure which compares the systematic risk (risk which cannot be eliminated by portfolio diversification) associated with a company’s shares with the unsystematic risk (risk which can be eliminated by portfolio diversification) of the capital market as a whole. If a beta value of 1 is obtained, the systematic risk associated with the shares is the same as the systematic risk of the capital market as a whole. ... = 0.016191667 - -2.205(0.006838583) = 0.03127. Hence the formula is given by: MOBIL =0.03127 – 2.205 RKFREE Discussion of the regression equations The two regression equations can be interpreted as follows: The first regression equation can be concluded that a unit increase in the market portfolio results into an increase of the monthly returns of Mobil Oil by 0.7135 units. Changing this into monthly percentages, a 10% increase in the market portfolio results into an increase of the monthly returns of Mobil Oil by 7.135%. In the second regression equation, a unit increase in return of the 30 day U.S. Treasury bills leads to a decrease of the monthly returns of Mobil Oil by 2.21 units. The bills are risk free and hence cannot be used to model expected returns. Hypothesis testing including Null vs Alternative Hypothesis The hypothesis to be tested in this analysis will employ a t-test. This t-test is used because we need to find whether there is a significant difference between the means of MOBIL and MARKET, and between MOBIL and RKFREE. The test will determine whether monthly returns of Mobil Oil (MOBIL) and the market portfolio (MARKET) have a similar mean using a 95% confidence level. Hypothesis 1 Null Hypothesis, H1: Mean of MOBIL = Mean of MARKET Alternative Hypothesis, H ­0: Mean of MOBIL ? Mean of MARKET It is assumed that the variances are unequal. From the analysis, the computed t-statistic (0.2285) is not greater than the tabulated t-statistic (1.9801). Hence we fail to reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the mean of the monthly returns of Mobil Oil is equal to that of the market portfolio at 95% confidence level. The 95% confidence

John Proctor change during the course of the play Essay Example for Free

John Proctor change during the course of the play Essay How does John Proctor change during the course of the play? How might this change be communicated on stage? In Act one we first see John Proctor. He appears to be a very sharp and nasty man. We can see this in the way he talks to his servant, Mary Warren: Be you foolish Mary Warren? Be you deaf? I am looking for you more than I am looking for my cows!! If I were producing this play on the stage I would have Mary warren cowering away from John Proctor. This would give the audience an impression that he is quite a nasty man. But this all changes when he meets Abigail as she realises that he is still a powerful man even though he committed adultery with her: Gah, Id almost forgot how powerful you were John Proctor! In the same conversation he shows he has feelings for Abigail and that he is a deceitful person: Oh, how you sweated like a stallion whenever I come near. This language creates a sense of a passionate relationship. If I were producing this on stage I would have Abigail trying to hold John while he is looking away and checking no one is around. Even though he has committed lechery he is still protective over is wife as he tells Abigail that she will not speak anything of Elizabeth to him. He also shows that he is in denial and a liar as he denies anything ever happening between him and Abigail: Aye but we did not The language from the conversation with Abigail creates a sense of confusion with Johns personality as he does one thing and says another. Although he is a well-respected member of the community, as the audience we dont really know whether to trust him or not. He has a high expectation of Hale before he meets him and when he first meets him he is shocked by him: Why, Mr. Hale! Good evening to you, sir. Come in Come in. If I were producing this play then I would have John looking quite flabbergasted. This would show that Mr. Hale impresses him and that he respects him. He is also respectful to him: Ive heard you be a sensible man, Mr. Hale This concludes how John is respectful to his fellow villagers. He is well respected in the community and this may be why. In Act 2 we see the relationship between him and his wife, Elizabeth. The relationship in their marriage seems to be quite distant as john arrives late home. This could suggest that he stayed away longer because he wanted to avoid Elizabeth due to the fact that he has a guilty conscience: What keeps you so late its almost dark In a production of this play I would have the room very dark with just a few candles on the table. There would be food on the table but it would not look appetising, as it would have gone cold. There would be family pictures on a dresser at the side. This indicates that john is a family man, or so Elizabeth thinks. Even though there are pictures of their family presented in the kitchen, this is due to their appearance in Salem. They are well respected so if they tell people that John has been unfaithful then the village will look down on them. As readers it seems that Elizabeth knows about Johns affair as they had an argument about forgiving and forgetting but John is nasty to Elizabeth and shouts at her: Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer! Although he is irate with her he still wants to please her as he was unfaithful to her. He does this by complimenting her cooking even though he changed it so it would taste better. Johns temper also increases when he has arguments with Elizabeth. He constantly takes his anger out on Mary Warren even though she hasnt actually done anything wrong: Ill whip you if you dare leave this house again! This language creates a sense of him being a bully. Mary Warren always seems to be the victim. Proctor shows he is bossy also when he orders Mary Warren to go to bed. This is what adults say to young children not to 18 year olds. This gives us a sense that he is treating her like a child and is disrespectful to her. Mary Warren is also more than Johns servant in the house as he tries to get her, along with himself, to overthrow the court to free Elizabeth. This also enables him to get revenge on Abigail for accusing his wife. If I were producing this play then I would have Mary trying to run away shouting that she wont do it. This would indicate that she is scared of John and doesnt feel safe near him. His anger also is shown in this Act as he rips the deputy governors warrant up. This is very disrespectful and rude to Mr. Hale, Mr. Danforth and Cheever as they are the people giving out warrants, leaving Mr. Danforth to sign them. John has destroyed legal documents that have been given out by these 3 men. John also shows that he is religious and is part of the belief of Christianity as he shouts at Mr. Hale: Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this! If I were producing this play on stage I would have John with lots of anger shown on his face looking like he was going to hit Mr. Hale. Mr. Hale would turn around and start to run towards Cheever. This would indicate that John is a scary man and that getting away from him is probably the best thing to do. His emotions suddenly change when Elizabeth appears. He turns into a caring man when they are taking her away: I will bring you home, I will bring you home soon This language shows that John can be caring, as he has forgotten about Mr. Hale and Cheever and is now concentrating on his wife. Proctor has faith that his wife never lies. She confessed that she doesnt believe in witches even though her religion says she should believe in them. At the end of act 2 John feels quite scared as he is trying to make Mary overthrow the court and she doesnt want to do it: My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me! John character has gone from being angry to being scared in Act 2. In Act 3 Johns attitude changes, as he becomes quite a false man. This is shown when he is in the court introducing his case to Danforth: She has signed a deposition The language indicates that he is playing a court game as he has written a legal statement. When he is presenting himself he is very polite to Mr. Danforth, this is probably in his attempt to overthrow the court. He responds to questions very politely and doesnt appear violent: John Proctor, sir, Elizabeth Proctor is my wife Even though John stays calm, Danforth constantly tries to interrogate him. This slowly increases his temper; he keeps to his words without erupting with anger, as he knows this will do him more harm than good. When John speaks Danforth is constantly interrupting him, this is frustrating for him, as he cannot finish what he is saying: I come not to hurt the court, I only- The technique that Danforth uses to interrogate John suggests by Johns reaction that it is annoying and could start an argument. If I were producing this play then I would have John dressed smartly so he looks professional and Danforth sat higher up than John so he looks more important. John would try to avoid looking Danforth in the eyes. This would indicate to the audience that John is a little fearful of Danforth, as he knows that he could sentence himself and his wife to death at any time. When Elizabeth Proctor was accused of witchcraft due to the poppet that was found and Abigails accusation this made John angry. In court John is sarcastic about this and tries to change the subject and make it funny: There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house but no one has ever seen it! This language also shows that John is biding time with the court. If I where producing this play then I would have John laughing, looking around the court but no one else would be laughing. This could indicate that he is scared and is trying to laugh it of or this could be so he can think of more negatives about Abigail and prove that she is lying. John is also indiscreet as he tells Danforth about how Abigail laughed during Prayer: she were twice this year put out of this meetin house for laughter during prayer! John also shows that he is nasty as he calls Abigail a whore. Consequently this proves that John Proctor wants to seek revenge on Abigail. Even though this makes Abigail sound like the victim she is not as she is the one who is making false allegations against honest, well respected members of the community. When John is presenting his own case to save his life he is like a hero and he is very brave. He tells Danforth what he actually thinks of him: I see the boot of Lucifer, I see his dirty face, and it is my face and yours Danforth!

Theme and Symbolism in American Music Essay -- Music Communication Ess

Theme and Symbolism in American Music Music defines our culture. As Americans, we listen to music while we drive our cars, are at work, doing housework, studying, etc. We have songs for special occasions: Christmas, Hanukah, birthdays, weddings, parties, etc. We have taken songs from the various cultures that make us diverse: Arabic, German, Mexican, Native American, etc. We have many genres: country, hip-hop, rap, pop, blues, jazz, rock, heavy metal, etc. And although we may think of music as simple and easy, looking at all this makes one realize how diverse and complex our music truly is. Two things that contribute to this diversity are theme and symbolism. Theme can be defined as the subject or topic of something. In relation to songs this would be the subject the author is concerned with in that particular song. By far, it is safe to say that the most popular theme in music is love. Whether it is finding love, the lack of love, lost love, or any other sub-topic of love, you will find countless songs dedicated to love. Interesting enough, the theme of love can be found in ...

A White Girls Burden

â€Å"A white girls Burden†, written Amy Finnegan is an article about a social movement, which happened in 2012, this is most commonly referred to as Kony 2012. This movement was started by a group of 3 regular Californian guys who had typical lives who were motivated to started an organization on this situation which is called invisible children, which was first formed in 2003. The video titled â€Å"Kony 2012† is 30 minutes long and quickly made an appearance on many social networks and newspapers across North America, â€Å"sparking wide spread concern about the lords resistance army (LRA) war in central Africa†.Finnegan, 2013). Once this video became viral thousands of people became moved about this issue and started to help fundraise thousands of dollars to help the cause from all ages of people. â€Å"Invisible children mobilizes predominantly young, privileged, evangelical Christian, female Americans to participate in a unique form of† non-wave-maki ng activism† (Finnegan, 2013). Aside from fundraising people were also reaching out to all the contacts and sources they had to further raise the awareness of the war in Africa. Soon after the video was released invisible children had already raised 1 million dollars after a week.The founders of the organization â€Å"invisible children† all had faith and were into religion, however they did not want to mix religion and business. Invisible children made a social movement unlike many others, through social medial and non-violent actions. â€Å"Distinct from activism that seeks to make social change by engaging institutions through civil disobedience or public protests, invisible children promotes legal, institutional forms of engagement. † (Finnegan, 2013). Some major events that invisible children has achieved is hosted the largest lobby day ever about an African issue in U.S history, they have also successfully gained several minutes of unscheduled airtime with Oprah to raise awareness about this conflict. In â€Å"less than an year, of the lords resistance army disarmament and northern Uganda recovery act, at a bipartisan piece of legislation that mandated that the Obama administration provide funds for the northern Uganda recovery and transitional Justice initiatives, and eventually send 100 military advisors to the region in October 2011† (Finnegan, 2013). Invisible children have also being contacted by George Clooney, and other popular films like Blood Diamond.However there are 3 ain problems discussed in this article regarding invisible children, firstly the media seemed to misrepresent Uganda and what one knows about it. Secondly, † invisible children also promoted policies that are highly controversial† and lastly † Americans shallow an ill-informed understanding of Africa, and a distorted picture of their own role in social change. † (Finnegan, 2013). Invisible children have focused on gaining the att ention on young people because these types of people are the future and are becoming more passionate and involved in stories and issues similar to this concern all around the world.Mobilizing young people to become active on these issues is very important and very effective to changing the world, young people are more socially active online and do participate in other subjects such as invisible children and stopping Joseph Kony. This issue is still going on but has gotten better; problems like this cannot be solved overnight but throughout the past 2 years have made a significant ditterence and will continue to get better. Because ot the generous donations and support a lot has been done regarding this issue and has led others to become aware of different problems, situations, organizations, and groups around the world.

Describe the functions of managers Essay

Good management and leadership are critical for organisations to function and also for the organisations to thrive. When organisations are well managed just like Barclay, they can operate effectively and they can operate efficiently. Managers have very good and clear plans, mangers have organised structures, systems, and they also evaluate results. When organisations are well led, they adapt to changes in the environment and develop cultures that inspire commitment and innovation. Both good management and good leadership are necessary to sustain organisational performance. Mangers are responsible for getting work done usually through other people; the term manger may also refer to a number of different people within a business. Some job titles include the word manager, such as a personal manger or managing director. Other jobholders may also be mangers even through there titles do not say it. * Mangers act on behalf of the owners – in a company, senior management are accountable shareholders * Mangers set objectives for the organisation, for example, they may decide that a long-term objective is to have a greater market share than all of the company’s competitors. * Managers make sure that a business achieves its objectives, by managing others. * Managers ensure that cooperate values which means the value of the organisation are maintained in dealings with other business, customers, employees and general public. When an organisation is managed well mangers effectively perform four essential management functions Henry Fayol the French management theorist listed a number of functions or elements of management these are: * Planning * Organising * Commanding * Coordinating * Controlling Planning This involves mangers setting objectives and also the strategies, policies, programmes and procedures for achieving them. Planning might be done by line mangers who will be responsible for performance. However advice on planning may also come from staff management who might have expertise in that are even if they have no line authority. For example, a production may carry out human recourse planning in the production department, but use the skills of the personal manager in planning recruitment for vacancies that may arise. In general, planning involves defining organisational goals and proposing ways to reach them. Managers plan for 3 reasons: * To establish an overall direction for the organisations future, such as a target say for example to increase profit, expand market share,, etc, etc. * To identify and commit the organisations resources to achieving its goals. * To decide which tasks must be done to reach those goals. * Barclays mangers set up objectives * Barclays bank makes up smart plans to achieve set objectives. * Manpower planning * Production budgets * Cash budgets * Sales targets Organising Mangers set task, which need to be performed if the business is to achieve its objectives. Jobs need to be organised within sections or departments and authority and authority needs to be delegated so that jobs are carried out. For example: the goal of a manufacturing company may be to produce quality goods that will be delivered to customer on time. The tasks such as manufacturing, packaging, administration, etc. that are part of producing and distributing the goods, need to be organised to achieve this goal. For example in Barclays within Barclay’s managers, supervisors must lead the employees with the delegated job. After mangers have prepared plans, they must translate those relatively abstract ideas into practice reality. Organising is the processes of creating a structure of relationships that will enable employees to carry out management’s plans and meet organisational goals. By organising effectively. Mangers can better coordinate human, material, and information resources. An organisations success depends largely on management’s ability to utilise those resources effectively and efficiently. * Organise working procedures * Organisational structure, chain of command needs to be established. * Organising which member of staff in Barclays does what. * Distribution channels. * Quality systems Commanding This involves giving instructions to subordinates to carry out tasks. The manger has the authority to make decisions and responsibilities to see tasks carried out. For example in Barclays plc the management team must put plans into action by allocating the best use of resources to achieve the plan. To make sure the plans are achieved mangers use their delegation skills. Coordinating This is the bringing together of the activities of people with the business. Individuals and groups will have there own goals, which may be different to those of the business and each other. Management must make sure that there is a common approach, so that the company’s goals are achieved. * Mangers coordinate the work force * Mangers in Barclays bank direct employees what they are doing. * Delegating tasks * Mangers resolve conflicts of interests in the different functional areas of the business. * This helps mangers to motivate their staff. Controlling Mangers measure and correct the activities of individuals and groups to make sure that their performance fits in with plans. Control is the monitoring of evens and progress within each department. For example within Barclays the organisation a range of departments for example the finance department they will monitor there budget and performance. The process by which person group or organisation consciously monitors performance and takes corrective action this is called controlling, another example would be that Barclays finance department will be controlling and monitoring customers transactions, etc, etc and they will keep a history and they will keep a record file of that customer. Management control system sends signal to managers that things are not working out as planned and that corrective action is needed. * Barclays bank monitor and measure what is being archived in each of their department. * Barclays control, monitor there sales performance. * Barclays control and monitor their cash flow against their budget. Leading After management has made plans, created a structure of work practice, and hired the right personal, someone must lead the organisation, leading involves communicating with and motivating others to perform the tasks necessary to achieve the organisations goals. Leading is not done only after planning and organising end, it is a crucial element of these functions.

Management issues facing small tourism enterprises (ste’s) A case of german concentration camps The WritePass Journal

Management issues facing small tourism enterprises (ste’s) A case of german concentration camps Abstract Management issues facing small tourism enterprises (ste’s) A case of german concentration camps ). Many governments have avidly supported STEs, although it is only in the recent years that emphasis has been placed on the importance of having right skill set for managing such enterprises (Stephen 2012). Nonetheless, STEs play a major role in most countries. As argued by Page et al (1999), STEs are the cornerstone of tourism development in local economies. Buhalis (2006) further explains that STEs contribute to a considerable proportion of economic production and provides employment to a large number of people especially those located in the peripheral and insular regions. However, a range of management problems and issues face small tourism enterprises. Some of these issues have been identified by Ken Mountinho (2000). The two authors suggested that small tourism enterprises are confronted with a number a number of issues including political changes, competition, environmental concerns, new consumer trends, globalization, fragmentation of markets and economic integration. Carter (1996) argues that irrespective of the relative size of the Small business sector, the management issues faced by STE in many countries are enormous. However, these may differ depending on the STE product. Also many of the tourism SMEs tend to have a limited knowledge of the business environment. Many of them tend to have little experience of the business environment. What is more interesting with SMEs is that their sources of venture capital are varied, with a significant proportion coming from families (Stephen 2012). STEs are undercapitalized, product led and family owned such that management function is only confined to a few key individuals (Stephen 2012). These small enterprises also tend to have a short-term planning horizon and their marketing functions are peripheral to the management task of running the business (Stephen 2012). Many of these characteristics are borne out in the studies by Thomas (2007) and Shaw Williams (2002). The challenges facing STE’s necessitate the need for more strategic management schemes. Without proper management, tourism development is bound to decline. To overcome these challenges, STEs need to harness managerial skills. Management of STEs must adjust to all sorts of changes to ensure sustainability of tourism activities and a continuing outward flow of services (Poitevin 2012). Management challenges relevant to German concentration camps One of the management challenges that is particularly relevant to German concentration camps is pressure to commercialize developments. Many decades after the end of the Second World War, concentration camps have transformed into tourist attraction sites and are facing demands from tourists for associated facilities and commercial development (Ritchie et al. 2003). This changing nature of concentration camps from being memorial sites to tourist attractions has presented management with a significant dilemma. Managers of concentration camps are faced with a dilemma between either preserving the site as a memorial site or developing it for commercial tourism (Ritchie et al. 2003). This management concern has further been made even more complicated by the reduction of government funding for many of the former German concentration camps (Ritchie et al. 2003). Dachau concentration camp is one such camp site which has been facing increasing pressure for commercial development of its facilities. This memorial site presents the history of Dachau concentration camp from 1933 to 1945, illustrating how it came into being during the Nazi era (Johannes 2004). The Dachau concentration camp was first developed as a training centre before it became a model camp for Hitlers Secret service and a training ground for the extermination camps of Treblinka, Majdanek, and Auschwitz (Johannes 2004). Since its opening as a memorial site in 1965, this former German camp site has not undergone any renovations or commercial development. There seems to be no retail or ancillary service such as restaurant or a cafà © (Ritchie et al. 2003). Cinema video technology and traditional static exhibits with poor orientation and layout are used (Ritchie et al. 2003). Such settings could lead to mindlessness as visitor connections and interest of the Holocaust may wane (Ritchie et al. 2003). However, half of the museum was closed for renovation as of late 2001 (Ritchie et al. 2003). The reconstruction of the museum is expected to provide a substantial improvement to the setting factors such as orientation, display and interaction. Such improvements are expected to provide more mindful experiences to the visitors. However, only time can tell whether the renovations of Dachau camp memorial will enhance tourist experience or whether such commercial developments will detract from the sites authenticity (Ritchie et al. 2003). In transforming the memorial sites into tourist attractions, managers of these sites have also faced conflicting political, religion and personal ideologies (Jangula 2004). The transformation of the site to a tourist attraction has generated controversy with ethical concerns arising over the commodification of such sites associated with death, war and tragedies. But this ethical concern is debateable.   These memorial sites would be meaningless if no one was to visit. We derive the significance of such sites from their explanatory inscriptions and knowledge that we learn through visiting such sites (Jangula 2004).   It is impossible to discern whether the Dachau camp site or the Auschwitz would retain their significance if no one was allowed to visit (Jangula 2004). Another major challenge facing management at these memorial sites has been the changing nature of relationship between commemorative agents, owing to political and socio-economic changes (Jangula 2004). It is important to note that numerous stakeholders are involved in the process of orientation of memorial sites with the most obvious group being the victims. The local and regional authorities are also involved in the orientation, often funding operations at memorials. Managing this complex relationship between the various stakeholders remains a major challenge in these former German Camp sites. Whilst the managers of these sites are granted the legal and legislative authority to manage the memorials and the ties between the locals and tourists, managing such relationship is often made more complex by changes in political, social and economic environments (Jangula 2004). Competition is yet another management challenge facing operators at these sites. In a world of information age where the Holocaust has become a well-known event, commemorative agencies are challenged by external groups that seek to transmit the legacy of these sites through different medias (Jangula 2004). For example, movies have re-enacted or have made attempts to re-enact history. Works of such popular culture compete with official agencies in Germany who have infinite mandates to commemorate such sites (Jangula 2004). Additionally, the managers of these sites face additional competition from other agents abroad who transmit the legacy of the Holocaust within religious, cultural and commercial realms (Jangula 2004). Recreation of commemorative aspects of such sites is made easier by the sites historic relevance. The significance of the Holocaust is comprehended by people and cultures across the globe (Ateljevic Stephen 2012). The site is more than just a domestic historical site as people from all over the globe tour the site. Extent to which tourist operators have addressed these concerns Given these challenges, we sought to investigate the extent to which tour operators at Dachau concentration camp have addressed these concerns. In addressing the ethical concern, we found that the management provided for guided tours (Ritchie et al. 2003). Guided tours are available in different languages including German, English, Spanish, and French. During the tour, visitors are reminded of the historical significance of the site as a place of memory and pilgrimage and the importance of behaving with respect while at these sites. However, despite such guided tours, there is still an ethical concern over the commodification of such tourist sites. Many of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust are still infuriated and deeply concerned that the death and horror of their brethrens is treated as a commodity and sold to tourists (Jangula 2004). Some commentators have in fact pointed out that some of the tours offer little educational component and that visitors often film, photograph and chat in these memorial sites as if they were in a zoological garden (Sharpley Stone 2012). Responding to the pressure of commercialization of developments, we found that operators of Dachau concentration camp had made renovations to the concentration camp. The reconstruction of the site had been made with the aim of improving the setting factors such as display, orientation and interaction; and ultimately improving the tourist experience. But whilst some challenges seem to have been addressed, majority of these concerns remain largely addressed. To address the issue of competition, management would need to explore on the visitor motivation to such sites associated with tragedies. Understanding the motivations behind such visitations can be useful in further promoting the site. For example, if education is found to be the key motivator, managers would need to focus on the teaching aspects in order to promote the site (Yuill 2003). This could be as simple as interpretive design or as complex as offering additional services such as workshops, seminars and lectures (Yuill 2003). Site interpretation can be better designed to cater to the visitors needs. Should commemoration be the key motivating factor, management would need to ensure a quiet environment for contemplation (Yuill 2003). However, where visitors are motivated by nostalgia, then highly sensory exhibits would be best suited to these visitors (Yuill 2003). Understanding visitor motivations would help management to tailor services to meet their needs thereby increasing visitation which in turn would generate higher revenues for the site. The revenues generated can then be used to preserve the site. To address the complexity of balancing the concerns of the locals, visitors, entrepreneurs, politicians and other stakeholders involved; there is need for managers to have a right skill set for managing such relationships. Operators of such concentration camps need to harness managerial skills. They must adjust to all sorts of changes to ensure sustainability of tourism activities and a continuing outward flow of services (Poitevin 2012). Conclusion It is clear that the operators managing these sites are confronted with a number of management issues including issues of commercialization, competition, interpretation, authenticity and ethical concerns over commodification of such sites. Managers are confronted with the challenge of providing an accepted interpretation as far as victims, survivors, friends and relatives of victims the Holocaust and historians are concerned. Balancing the concerns of the locals, visitors, entrepreneurs, politicians and other stakeholders involved pose another challenge to managers at these sites. Managers are also under pressure from tourists to commercialize developments in order to enhance tourist experience. They face a significant dilemma between either preserving the site as a memorial site or developing it for commercial tourism. The task of site managers is further challenged by additional external agencies that seek to transmit the legacy of these sites via different Medias. In overcoming these challenges, tour operators must harness managerial skills and adjust to all sorts of changes to ensure sustainability of tourism activities and a continuing outward flow of services. The challenges necessitate the need for more strategic management schemes. Reference Ateljevic, J. and Stephen, J.J.P., 2012. Tourism and entrepreneurship. London: Routledge publishers Buhalis, D., 2006. Progress in tourism management: twenty years on and 10 years after the internet: the state of eTourism research, Elsevier Jangula, C., 2004. The holocaust and dark tourism. The University of British Columbia Johannes, N., 2004. What was it like in the concentration camp at Dachau? Munich: Trustees for the Monument of Atonement in the Concentration Camp at Dachau. Ken, P. and Moutinho. L., 2000. The Marketing Environment for Travel and Tourism. In: Strategic Management in Tourism, edited by Luiz Moutinho. Wallingford: CABI Publishing, Pp17-38. Page, S.J., Forer, P. and Lawton, G.R., 1999. ‘Small business development and tourism: Terra incognita?’ Tourism Management, 20, 435-459. Poitevin, M., 2012. Following Antarctics tourism product: the general management challenges and issues facing Small Tourism Enterprises (STEs). [viewed on 2nd July 2013] available from http://interestmeonit.weebly.com/1/post/2012/7/following-antarctics-tourism-product-the-general-management-challenges-and-issues-facing-small-tourism-enterprises-stes.html Ritchie, B.W., Carr, N., Cooper, C.P., 2003. Managing educational tourism. Channel View Publications. Sharpley, R. and Stone, P., 2012. ‘Management issues in dark tourism attractions: The case of ghost tours in Edinburgh and Toledo’. Journal of Unconventional Parks, Tourism Recreation Research. Vol.4 (1) Shaw, G. and Williams, A., 2009. Knowledge transfer and management in tourism organisations: An emerging research agenda. Elsevier Tourism Management, Vol. 30 (3), pp. 325-335 Shaw, G., and Williams, A., 1998. ‘Entrepreneurship, small business culture and tourism development’. In: The Economic Geography of the Tourism Industry, London: Routledge, Stephen, P., 2012. Tourism management, London: Routledge Publishers Thomas, R., 2007. ‘Tourism partnerships and small firms: Power, participation and partition’. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 8 (1), pp.37-43. Yuill, S.M., 2003. ‘Dark tourism: understanding visitor motivation at sites of death and disaster’. Texas AM University

buy custom Direct-to Consumer Advertising essay

buy custom Direct-to Consumer Advertising essay Direct-to-consumer advertising (abbreviated as DTCA) refer to the promotion of the sales of the prescription drugs by increasing public awareness about the pharmaceutical products through magazine, internet, newspaper, and television marketing. Several pharmaceutical drug producing companies and their distribution outlets put much emphasis on the extensive use of DTCA as the only tool of marketing. In this quest, the pharmaceutical companies and their distribution outlets produce and widely distribute promotional materials such as videos, bronchures, outdoor exhibitions, branded pens, t-shirts, and attractive caps. According to the findings of a recent survey conducted by World Health Organization (WHO), pharmaceutical companies spend approximately 60% of their revenues towards direct-to-consumer advertising. There are several controversies surrounding DTCA in promotion of the prescription drugs to the patient groups and medical professionals. The pharmaceutical companies argue that direct advertising educates the general public about the availability and usefulness of the drug to their lives. Nevertheless, medical practitioners and other drug licensing and regulatory authorities denounce the practice on the ground that the practice would definitely expose the general public to the potential harm of the uncontrolled usage of the said prescription drugs. Even though DTCA is a common place in United States of America and New Zealand, the practice is prohibited in other parts of the world particularly across the continents of Europe and Australia. The reality of DTCA has sparked off a lot of uproar in the public domain. The proponents maintain that intensive advertisement of the prescription drugs to the general public is of great good to their health and that the duly created awareness guarantee improved medical care to the entire population. On the other hand, the critics insist that such DTCA is an outright abuse of the media to market pharmaceutical drugs through unscrupulous advertisements. The existence of these opposing arguments makes is very difficult to determine whether DTCA is truly an unethical or ethical practice in the medical field. This paper attempts therefore to investigate the morality of the DTCA in the modern world. 2.0 Merits Associated with DTCA The DTCA is a commonplace in the United States of America and New Zealand and the regulatory authorities controlling public consumption of the pharmaceutical products allow for the advertisements of the drugs in the said countries. Many pharmaceutical firms market their prescription drugs on the mass media such as magazines, newspapers, medical journals, leaflets, flyers, bronchures, and electronic media. The drug producing firms target paient groups and other category of healthy citizens in the advertisements. According to the claims of these drug producing companies, the popularization of the prescription drugs create awareness among the general public on the existence and availability of different drugs as well as the benefits of these drugs. The producers maintain that proper knowledge about these drugs will improve public health considering that masses of the population are fully informed about the drugs and the corresponding symptoms, diseases, and illnesses they treat. As such, the common citizens are relieved of the burden and exorbitant expenses involved in seeking clinical assistance from professional physicians. As a result, marketing of the prescription drugs reduces the costs of healthcare in the countries where they are in place. Considering the healthcare benefits people accrue from the DTCA, the question of whether the practice is ethical or unethical is out of place. The consequential approach supersedes just the mere virtue of denouncing the act based on the principle of morality. In this situation, the widely perceived immoral direct-to-consumer advertising is highly permissible and to larger extent deemed moral. The judgment is entirely based on the standards of rationality formulated by Kant commonly referred to as the imperative categorical. 3.0 Dangers Associated with the DTCA In another perspective, there are several dangers arising from the marketing and subsequent promotion of the prescription drugs through direct-to-consumer advertising- a phenomenon that has led to its disbandment in many parts of the world with an exception of New Zealand and United States of America. The prospective threats and dangers direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs pose to the general public outweighs the benefits by far. To begin with, most of the advertisings are attractive in nature but does not bear right information necessary for the safety of the general public (Agero Hanns, p. 123). In their 2007 medical journal, Impact of direct-to-consumer advertising to the public health, the two researchers observe that most of the pharmaceutical firms often lure the public to buy and consume their products without proper education on their safety. The authors lament the fact that the drug producing companies and their respective retail outlet/stores use attractive models and celebrities to lure the consumers into buying the drugs. As a result, the marketing strategy simply encourages people to increase their levels and frequency of drug consumption- an event that causes addiction, substance dependence and intoxication. In a separate count, Clarke is categorical that virtually alll drugs are made of synthetic and other natural products that are strongly poisonous in nature but the drug producing companies put their emphases on product branding, sales promotion and sales promotion rather than creating awareness on the potential harm of excessive drug use, consumer education and protection. It is a common observation that typically all direct-to-consumer advertising does not indicate any unpleasant side effects of the drugs or any kind of danger associated with its excessive use. Suffice it to say, the pharmaceutical companies have proven to be very irresponsible as far as consumer protection and drug safety are concerned. In facts and figures, incidences of deaths directly linked to ignorant use of prescription are on the rise from the year 2004. The medical experts largely attribute this trend to direct-to-consumer advertisings more so on the toxic drugs that require monitored clinical administration done by trained professional medical practitioners; average citizens without any background in clinical pharmacy would not fully understand the implications of drug use in human health hence they should not be targeted by the drugs producer in their sales promotion drives. To make matter worse, lack of an overseeing body to regulate the routine practices of the advertising in the pharmaceutical industries further aggravate the extent of loss of human lives across the world. Statistics from the 2004 Word Demographic Survey reveals that close to 1.89 deaths in the year 2004 was caused by irresponsible usage of prescription drugs across the world. 4.0 Is DTCA Ethical or Unethical? According to the regulations of the medical practice, it is unethical to advertise prescription drugs in the media. It is most notable that the primary motive behind direct-to-consumer advertising is the need to promote the consumption of a particular prescription through enticing and attractive mechanisms. The pharmaceutical firms, retail stores, and marketing agencies concentrate wholly on how to increase sales but adamantly neglect other aspects of public safety and consumer protection. Other claims that it helps reduce the cost of healthcare services to the public is inconsequential. Fully aware of that the main objective of the DTCA is to promote sales of drugs among the people by increasing levels of prescription drug use and consumption, the argument that that practice is beneficial to the entire civil population is very flimsy. DTCA is associated with neglect of public health safety, loss of human lives, miscarriages, incidences of intoxication, drug dependence and addiction. These undesirable elements of DTCA grossly violate the standards of rationality otherwise termed as Categorical Imperative. Buy custom Direct-to Consumer Advertising essay

Types of Medical School Admissions Interviews

Types of Medical School Admissions Interviews If you are the recipient of a coveted email inviting you to interview for medical school admission, start preparing now. There’s a great deal of general advice on the process of interviewing for med school, including tips on what to wear, what to ask, what you may be asked, and what to ask. Recognize, however, that there is no one standard interview format. Who Will Interview You? You can expect to be interviewed by any combination of faculty, admissions officers, and, sometimes, advanced medical students. The exact composition of the med school admissions committee will vary by program. Prepare to be interviewed by a range of faculty with differing interests and perspectives. Try to predict the interest of each potential committee member as well as something that you might ask of him or her. For example, you might ask the med student about opportunities for clinical experience. Recognize that there is no standard interview format. Some medical schools conduct one-on-one interviews, others rely on a committee. Sometimes you might be interviewed alone. Other programs interview a group of applicants at once. The interview format also varies. Below are the major interview types that you can expect. Panel Interview This is a meeting with several interviewers (referred to as a panel) at once. The panel usually includes a variety of faculty in different medical areas and in clinical medicine as well as basic research. A medical student is often a member of the interview committee. Try to anticipate the questions each member of the committee might have and be prepared to speak to the concerns of each. Blind Interview In a blind interview, the interviewer is â€Å"blinded† from your application, He or she knows nothing about you. Your job is to introduce yourself to the interviewer, from scratch. The question you are most likely to face in this interview is: â€Å"Tell me about yourself.† Be ready. Be selective, yet detailed in what you present. Remember that the interviewer has not seen your grades, MCAT scores, or admissions essays. You will likely discuss much of the material in your admissions essays as well as explain why you want to be a doctor. Partial Blind Interview Unlike the blind interview in which the interviewer knows nothing about you, in a partial blind interview, the interview has seen only part of your application. For example, the interviewer may read your essays but know nothing about your grades and MCAT score. Or the reverse may be true. Open Interview In an open interview the interviewer reviews applicant material at his or her discretion. The interviewer may choose to be blind to all or part of the application. Therefore an open interview may include the basic question such as â€Å"Describe yourself† or detailed questions designed to follow up on your admissions essays. Stress Interview A stress interview places the med school applicant under a magnifying glass. The intent is to see how you function under pressure. The interviewer or interviewers ask questions to make you uncomfortable to observe how you speak and behave when stressed. The stress interview is intended to find out what a candidate is really like, apart from the interview preparation and etiquette. A stress interview might include questions about sensitive topics or personal questions that are not permitted. Applicants might gently call the interviewer on the question, asking why it is relevant. He or she might diffuse it or choose to answer it. The interviewer is more interested in how the applicant responds than what he or she says. Other questions might be factual, with trivia-like details. The interviewer might respond negatively to everything that you say by making negative remarks or through body language such as crossing the arms or turning away. If you find yourself in a stress interview remem ber that the interviewer is interested in how you function under stress. Take your time in responding. Keep your cool. Remember the Purpose As you plan for your medical school interview, remember that the purpose is to let the interviewers get to know you. Until your interview, you are nothing but a transcript, MCAT score, and essay. Be yourself. Plan ahead by considering topics of discussion and the points you would make, but be natural. During your interview say what you think, ask questions about topics that are important to you, and be authentic.

Addiction of Second Life Online Game Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Addiction of Second Life Online Game - Essay Example They can as well chip in to the world around them, forming buildings and a number of other things, even simulations. Resident inclusions to the virtual world are known as user produced content, and this content is among the aspects that makes Second Life only one of its kind online setting, and have a huge number of users who are badly addicted to this game. For those who play Second Life, this is a game that is a lot more than just an ordinary game. For the players, it is an online word where they can have a chance to get a fresh start as well as a new â€Å"lease of life† (Kim et al, 2008, p. 214); and when people have a chance to make a fresh start thing, it can become somewhat hard not to get overly-involved in it. Each day, more and more people joining the Second Life and spending the most of their time within this virtual world. Whereas more or less everyone states that they play the game only for enjoyment, for the greater part of them, this is â€Å"more than just a g ame† (Kim et al, 2008, p. 215). Second Life utilizes the â€Å"Havok 1 physics engine† (Boulos et al, 2007, p. 236). This software creates actual physics inside a virtual setting. The physics engine decides the way avatars act inside the virtual world, together with crash recognition - the engine informs the software how the each item should respond as soon as they get are in touch, automobile activities and what simulations seem to be. The more refined the physics engine, the more realistic animations utilizing it will be.

The Real World of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Real World of Management - Essay Example Following will involve listening to subordinates. A manager should be listening and should incorporate the activities of other people in the normal running of his duties. The research will also deal on entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship. Those are the qualities of a manager that will enable him or her to increase innovation and profitability in the company. A manager should also be able to have problem solving skills, research skills and decision-making skills. Every organization will be faced by a number of conflicts; the manager should be able to solve the problems in a fair manner. A manager should also be able to carry out research on ways that will improve the working of a company. Management will also involve ethical management and corporate social responsibility. Ethical management implies the way an organization relates to competitors and other stakeholders of the company. Corporate social responsibility implies to the way a company gives back to the society. The society should be rewarded for being part of the company. According to peter drucker, management involves doing things that are correct while leadership is doing the correct things. A good leader should have vision and should eye things that are beneficial to a company. Traditionally, it was believed that leaders are born and not trained. In the modern view, hard work, patience, and persistence will lead to an effective leader. That means that a good leader should be able to undergo training that will enable him sharpen his skills. That means that a good leader will be able to evolve with time and be able to understand employees with time (Brooks 276)1. A good leader should be listening and understanding. He /she should lead by example. That implies that a lead should be the first person to adhere to the rules of the company and to conform to the vision and goals of the company. That will be leading by example and that will be

Business Environment and Investment Climate Coursework

Business Environment and Investment Climate - Coursework Example There are other alternatives to a market system that human societies have tried in the past and which turned out worse in the long run in several respects, such as allocating scarce resources or fully satisfying the needs of the people. One alternative that failed is the market in a command-and-control economy which existed in communist countries until the early 1990s, where the government bureaucracy determined the types, prices, and quantities to be sold. The government commanded companies to produce what it thought the market would buy. This worked for a time, but in the long run the goods turned out to be of poor quality, and the people tired of consuming the same items (food, cars, television sets, or clothes). Producers were not motivated to improve the quality of their goods, because they did not enjoy marginal benefits from doing so since the government dictated the price, and therefore the profits that could be earned. Without such incentives, productivity collapsed. When these economies were closed, government allocated scarce resources depending on what they thought the market wanted. ... Without such incentives, productivity collapsed. When these economies were closed, government allocated scarce resources depending on what they thought the market wanted. It turned out that instead of putting resources to best use, these were being wasted as resources were used to produce goods the market did not want to buy. In a market system that is "relatively" free, where buyers and sellers dictate the price and quantity of each good bought or sold, each party has an incentive to get the best value. Buyers want to pay as low as possible, whilst sellers want to get the highest profit for their good. Each tries to beat the market. Millions of goods bought and sold means there are millions of pricing and quantity decisions made by buyers and sellers. This is the so-called market mechanism, an "invisible hand" that guides decision-making freely so that scarce resources are eventually utilised efficiently. In the market system, the prices and quantities of goods bought and sold reach a point of equilibrium where just enough goods are bought and sold at a certain price, and when prices or quantities change, the supply and demand of goods change with it. What is the relation of a market system to the investment climate If the market system operates relatively freely, then investors can make their own decisions as to how many to produce and what price to charge. Investors want to make profits, and they do not want anyone other than the buyers of the goods to dictate at what price they can sell and how many to sell. In general, they prefer that they enter markets where they can compete on the basis of price and quality,

Discuss the failure of business journalism in reporting the great Essay

Discuss the failure of business journalism in reporting the great market crash of 1929 - Essay Example Furthermore, banks invested customers’ money in stock markets. The upward bound in the stock market was highly promising, and the great market crash in October 1929 hit everyone by surprise. Nevertheless, there had been warning signs like the mini-crash in March 25th, 1929 when prices began falling, but with the assurance of Charles Mitchell of the continued lending of money; the panic was suppressed (King 2000, p. 67). The spring of 1929 also gave more signs of a serious setback to the economy due to the slowing down of steel production, car sales and house constructions. During this time, some few individuals warned of impending serious crash in the stock markets, but they were cautioned, ignored and labelled as pessimists. Most economists believe in cycling of the overall economic activities between the expansion and contraction of the economic periods. The economic growth alternates with depressions and recessions. Analysis of the great depression indicates efforts by econ omists and journalists and their determination of the causes of depression (Burgan 2002, p.78). Discussion Business journalism requires that the journalists know exactly what is required, and the content should be critically analyzed before distribution to the audience. Some business journalists do not know the appropriate sources for their information to back up a story or an event. Others do not understand the principles of economics and the importance of stock markets. Some business reporting lack contextualization, which helps readers understand the meaning of the economic situation. The major goal of business reporting is to enhance more customer cover up and retention. This is especially notable since many people have shifted to the media for them to know the prevailing economic conditions. People simply want better business coverage (King 2000, p. 67). Business journalism in reporting during the great market crash The business journalists knew about the great depression, but their ignorance of the economic history was massive. Ignorance in expressing their opinions rendered everything wrong during their reporting on the great depression. For instance, in 1920, the forecasting reported on flourished economy and failure to recognize the coming depression, a factor that totally put them out of business. J. K. Galbraith’s reporting on The Great Crash 1929 relates to the forecasts of the Harvard Economic Service who failed in warning the business of impending depression. Galbraith wrote in November 1929 that the U.S. was not facing a protracted liquidation and that severe depression like that which was in 1929-1931 was less likely to be experienced. This, according to Wood, is shallow, misleading and lacks permanent value, and that any journalist who relies on ‘great market crash’ account by Galbraith deserves the sack (Ewing et al 2007, p. 1123-128). Business journalism failed to recognize the warnings from some economists of the impendi ng depression. For instance, Ludwig von Mises, in summer of 1929, refused a job offer in Kreditanstalt Bank since he saw the coming of the depression and feared to be associated with it. Furthermore, Mises warned that the loose money policies by central banks would have caused the depression. Also, Friedlich von Hayek warned of the impending depression in US. Writing from the Institute of Economic Research in

Gothic Cathedral in 12th-15th Centuries in Western Europe Essay

Gothic Cathedral in 12th-15th Centuries in Western Europe - Essay Example 91). There is speculation that the new style may have borrowed from Eastern styles which were used in Islamic architecture, but the main reason for the shift from rounded, rather solid and blunt shapes, to more elongated and graceful shapes is that builders acquired new techniques which gave them more freedom to try daring designs. These new building techniques shifted the weight bearing points so that walls could be both higher and lighter, thanks to the support from additional flying buttresses outside the main areas. Towns and cities embarked upon a kind of competition to outdo the efforts of neighboring places in producing the biggest, highest and most ornate Cathedral buildings possible. This meant that the Cathedral became more than the religious focal point of a city, since it began to represent the pride and ambition of the people of each city. The architectural principles of maximum height is important in the Gothic period, and this reflects the growing confidence of the Chu rch, allied with the town authorities, in in its mission of bringing salvation to mankind â€Å" Gothic forms symbolize the disappearance of the boundary between Man and God† (Frankl and Crossley, 2000, p. 277). The huge spires as in the Cathedrals of Cologne and Strasbourg, draw the eye to the heavens, and signify the aspirations of the people to praise God. The arches over doors and windows aquire a point as if to indicate once again the divine dimensions of life, and new materials from the quarries of Europe are used to beautify the external facades of rather plain buildings. Because of their extreme height, these Cathedrals became beacons and navigation points, serving to draw merchants and travellers into the cities. The floor plan of Gothic cathedrals was based on the figure of the cross, with the altar at the top, and areas for the choir or choirs at the sides. Rows of pointed arches created an impression of space within the main body of the Cathedral, and the inventio n of large scale stained glass windows added also considerable light. Smaller chapels and crypts were added around the main area of worship, allowing areas of intimacy as well as huge performance spaces for all kinds of pageant and ceremony. Long aisles were designed to provide space for processions and huge spaces catered for the burgeoning populations. All of this extra space allowed also the placement of sculptures inside the building as points for reflection and prayer, and on the facades outside as decoration. In Chartres Cathedral there are sculptures and images of Saint Peter at various points, reflecting the French Church’s loyalty to the Papal authority in Rome, and a particular veneration for this saint. Sculptures are important also as a focal point for pilgrims, and as teaching aids for congregations who were largely illiterate. In the Strasbourg Cathedral, for example, there is an ornate pillar of angels, constructed around 1230, which bears sculptures of the fou r evangelists, Christ the Judge, and angels with trumpets. This style of building is decorative as well as functional, and every corner provides an opportunity for symbolic adornment. The subject matter

Discuss the failure of business journalism in reporting the great Essay

Discuss the failure of business journalism in reporting the great market crash of 1929 - Essay Example Furthermore, banks invested customers’ money in stock markets. The upward bound in the stock market was highly promising, and the great market crash in October 1929 hit everyone by surprise. Nevertheless, there had been warning signs like the mini-crash in March 25th, 1929 when prices began falling, but with the assurance of Charles Mitchell of the continued lending of money; the panic was suppressed (King 2000, p. 67). The spring of 1929 also gave more signs of a serious setback to the economy due to the slowing down of steel production, car sales and house constructions. During this time, some few individuals warned of impending serious crash in the stock markets, but they were cautioned, ignored and labelled as pessimists. Most economists believe in cycling of the overall economic activities between the expansion and contraction of the economic periods. The economic growth alternates with depressions and recessions. Analysis of the great depression indicates efforts by econ omists and journalists and their determination of the causes of depression (Burgan 2002, p.78). Discussion Business journalism requires that the journalists know exactly what is required, and the content should be critically analyzed before distribution to the audience. Some business journalists do not know the appropriate sources for their information to back up a story or an event. Others do not understand the principles of economics and the importance of stock markets. Some business reporting lack contextualization, which helps readers understand the meaning of the economic situation. The major goal of business reporting is to enhance more customer cover up and retention. This is especially notable since many people have shifted to the media for them to know the prevailing economic conditions. People simply want better business coverage (King 2000, p. 67). Business journalism in reporting during the great market crash The business journalists knew about the great depression, but their ignorance of the economic history was massive. Ignorance in expressing their opinions rendered everything wrong during their reporting on the great depression. For instance, in 1920, the forecasting reported on flourished economy and failure to recognize the coming depression, a factor that totally put them out of business. J. K. Galbraith’s reporting on The Great Crash 1929 relates to the forecasts of the Harvard Economic Service who failed in warning the business of impending depression. Galbraith wrote in November 1929 that the U.S. was not facing a protracted liquidation and that severe depression like that which was in 1929-1931 was less likely to be experienced. This, according to Wood, is shallow, misleading and lacks permanent value, and that any journalist who relies on ‘great market crash’ account by Galbraith deserves the sack (Ewing et al 2007, p. 1123-128). Business journalism failed to recognize the warnings from some economists of the impendi ng depression. For instance, Ludwig von Mises, in summer of 1929, refused a job offer in Kreditanstalt Bank since he saw the coming of the depression and feared to be associated with it. Furthermore, Mises warned that the loose money policies by central banks would have caused the depression. Also, Friedlich von Hayek warned of the impending depression in US. Writing from the Institute of Economic Research in

Marketing Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Marketing Communications - Essay Example A marketer detect these goals while analysing hierarchies in which consumers’ values drive the desired psychosocial consequences of product consumption, and the latter, in turn, influence product preferences. In general, researchers have yet to make a connection between the macro and micro approaches to consumer goals. Other approaches that highlight situational influences on consumer goals include the social, cultural, physical, and timely contexts of consumption (Ratneshwar et al: 10). Different methods through which consumer behavior can be analysed are by studying consumer economic, passive, emotional and cognitive behavior. An economic perspective according to Becker (1965) helps us to make the best usage of time as he suggests that time is as valuable as money. Consumer makes decisions while equating in his mind the value of time with the opportunity cost, the wage rate, and assumes that the value of time is a constant and is not influenced by any characteristic of the outcomes as long as the best alternative use of time is unaffected (Holbrook: 30). Economic perspective serves as an indicator to analyse consumers with respect to several alternate solutions or products, among which they prefer to choose one that economically suites them, while satisfying their area of interests. Becker’s context-free approach supports the economic view under which a consumer makes decisions and terms it as prospect theory. According to this theory what matters to consumer to take a decision are the utilities and values that exist in the back of his mind? While these utilities acts as a function of gains and losses relative to a particular reference point, it is this point that indicates the extent and represent consumer’s buying power. To examine this method an experiment was conducted where consumers were given an option to save few minutes of travel time on a train by paying an additional $2 for a service. Prospect theory mentioned it as an opportunity

The American West and Its Disappearing Water Essay Example for Free

The American West and Its Disappearing Water Essay The author outlined the geography of the semi-arid region of the West. According to him, although the West have rivers and large basins of water, the erratic nature of the landscape as well as the orientation of water flows cannot sustain large numbers of people. The convex nature of the river system allows only a minute flow of water into potential settlements and farms. People living in California, Arizona, and Idaho faced perennial shortages of water. These perennial shortages are due perhaps to the relative orientation of the settlements along river banks. Usually, the flow of water was downward, rather than upwards. The implication: there is relatively shortage of water to sustain irrigation-based agriculture. One can easily see the geographical distribution of people in the West prior to the 1900s. Most people preferred settling in either north of Arizona or West of California. In less than a century though, people began to transform the landscape of the West. Dams were built to provide irrigation and potable water to households and farms. The landscape of the West became a semitropical region (this is though misleading – only a significant area of the West was turned into ‘almost’ semitropical areas). As a result, settlements flourished. The area allocated to farming increased significantly. In essence, the attempt of the people to end the scarcity of water in the West became an attempt to change the orientation of the environment. The collective action of the people was not without political or economic support. Various legislations were enacted to increase water shortage funding. The state governments, with the support of some private individuals, allocated higher budget for constructing dams and modern irrigation facilities. All these efforts were made to neutralize the relative scarcity of water in the region. Environmental History of the West The first chapters of the book deals with the environmental history of the West From the 16th to the 17th century, the Spaniards attempted to colonize regions above California. Most of the expeditions sent by the Viceroy of Mexico failed because of scarcity of water in the region. The attempts of Spanish soldiers to divert water from rivers were futile. The same case can be said when the Americans arrived. The retreating of the desert forced many inhabitants to increase the supply of water from the rivers to households and farms. The relative demand of water by the settlers provoked what Reisner called ‘little imperialism. ’ The officials of the developing urban center (with the support of the population) manipulated the ‘common folks’ of the countryside to secure an efficient supply of water from the Owens Valley. In a sense, Los Angeles stole the Owens River for its own development. This generally led to the decline of the Owens Valley. The continuous use of the river caused perennial inflows which generally reduced the amount of water entering Los Angeles. The stealing of the Owens River was not without political support. The state government promoted homesteading to ensure maximum usage of the river. It sold public lands for settlement and irrigation-based agriculture. When the supply of water from the river withered, the state government ordered a general reversal of its reclamation policy. When the government saw the disastrous effects of its reversal, it implemented a new reclamation scheme. This time, only rich individuals were able to avail of the project. Newcomers and even those living near the Owens River were not able to avail of the project. In short, only some individuals were able to benefit from the project. Dependence on Dams and Aqueducts Most cities and urban centers depended much on dams and aqueducts. Dams provided electricity to the growing industrial and manufacturing sectors of the West. Although aqueducts were few, those constructed were efficiently used. After the Great Depression, the federal government launched several water-based projects. In the West, about 250 000 dams were constructed, of which several thousands were of obvious economic importance. The Role of the Federal Government The role of the federal government was evident. The federal government distributed large mount of capital to local, municipal, and even state governments for dam buildings and other related constructions. The political machinery of the federal government was intended to shove the disastrous effects of water shortage in developing urban centers, at the cost of the environment. A new class of people, the irrigation and dam engineers, gained enormous technical power. Most of their advices were followed by both the federal and state governments to the letter. The emphasis, of course, of these technical advices was on the economic importance of the building projects. There was little regard for the welfare of the environment. History of the Colorado River Basin Then came the history of the Colorado River Basin. It deals primarily with one fateful man-made structure, the Colorado River Basin. For many environmentalists, the project was powerful ‘sin against nature. ’ For the economic liberals in both government and the chambers of commerce, the project was an approximation of the ideal. The real effect though of the project could be best understood on the individual level. Because of the Colorado River Basin, agriculture in the West was heavily subsidized by the government. This created a general distortion in the prices of agricultural goods. Prices of agricultural goods in the West were substantially lower than the prices of the same commodities produced in the East. The general subsidy program of the government only hastened the urbanization of the West, which eventually resulted to further degradation of the river system. The New Deal: A New Chapter on Environmental Degradation Most of the policies implemented in the West focused on water-based projects. The projects implemented during FDR presidency in the West were politically motivated. The water-based projects were implemented to increase the mineral supply of the United States. This mineral supply was vital to the growing manufacturing industry in urban centers. With the outbreak of the Second World War, these projects doubled the supply of aluminum available to the armaments industry. Dams provided the necessary hydroelectric power to run the armaments industry. The damage to the environment was unprecented. To increase the supply of aluminum, mountains had to be ripped off. To power the armaments industry, additional dams would have to be built or those already existing over capacitated. Here again the theme of environmental exploitation is presented, although in a different condition. The demands of the war dominated the demands for a more responsible management of the environment. The Army Corps of Engineers vs. the Bureau of Reclamation After the war, the Army Corps of Engineers was tasked to build water projects around several rivers. The relative obsession of the Engineer Corps on efficiency shortened the life spans of river and outlet flows. Although the short term value of those projects could not be denied, its long term effects were generally disastrous. The author argued that only after 10 years (since the construction of those projects), their marginal value declined sharply. The Army Corps of Engineers clashed with the Bureau of Reclamation over the implementation of the Reclamation Act of 1902. This act gave the federal government the funding for constructing irrigation projects in semi-arid regions. The Corps of Engineers insisted that it was part of their duty to implement the said act. The Bureau of Reclamation reacted quickly, passing an implementing order to all its sub-agencies in California and Arizona. Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are generally an outline of the major steps undertaken by various presidents and NGOs to prevent further environmental degradation of the Arizona river system. Here, the author outlined the positive effects of restoring the environmental value of the river systems without due reference to its economic implications. According to the author, only political motivation can only save the remnants of the river system. This political motivation though is hard to achieve as the economic importance of the river system continue to dominate the minds of politicians. Environmentalist Tone of the Book The tone of the author’s environmentalist leaning can be found in the first pages of the book. It reads: a lot of emptiness amid a civilization whose success was achieved on the pretension that natural obstacles do not exist Thanks to irrigation, thanks to the Bureau [of Reclamation] states such as California, Arizona, and Idaho became populous and wealthy; millions settled in regions where nature, left alone, would have countenanced thousands at best what has it all amounted to? not all that much. Most of the West is still untrammeled, unirrigated, depopulate in the extreme Opposition against building of water-based projects increased considerably during the Nixon and Carter administration. Carter supported the move because it was part of his government platform. In any case, the building of water-based projects in the West fell by about 85%. Major Arguments in the Book Here are some of the major arguments of the author in the book: 1) The intrinsic value of the environment is more important than its perceived economic value. The economic value of an important resource would tend to decrease as more and more of its utility is consumed; 2) Environmental degradation is correlated with the level of economic usage of a particular environmental resource. Relying from historical sources, the author argued that economic usage of a particular resource is inversely related to sustainability. An optimum level of usage can only be achieved if an optimum level of degradation is achieved; 3) And, political motivation is both a key in environment degradation and environment protection. This proposition is evident in the book. The degradation of the Owens River and the Colorado Water Basin was politically motivated. Equally speaking, the solutions proposed by the Carter administration to relieve environmental protection were effective, and thus, are under the nexus of political motivation. Analysis Analysis Many of the author’s arguments are generally full of unnecessary fallacies. At some point, he argued that the ultimate cause of environmental degradation was faulty political policies. At some other point, he argued that the massive ‘excessiveness’ of the urban centers was the sole cause of increased environmental degradation of the river system. The contradictory nature of these two statements is obvious and unrelenting. It can also be said that most of the author’s arguments lack verifiable evidences. Historical evidences cannot be translated into verifiable evidences because of the static nature of the former. Multiple references to sources are a necessity in verifying historical claims. Conclusion Much of the author’s arguments need more authentic verification. The historical proofs provided by the author were either devoid of associated empirical facts or simply lacking in credibility. For example, the term ‘political motivation’ has multiple meanings in the book, but the author failed to clarify it. Reference Reisner, Marc. 1993. Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water. New York: Penguin Books.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Chromium Complexes

Advantages and Disadvantages of Chromium Complexes Chromium is one of the transition metal in periodic table that is known for its ability in improving one’s health condition by preventing diseases and gives treatment. However in human body, only very small amounts of chromium are required and they are often regarded as the essential trace element in human body. Back in 1950s, the uses of chromium as nutritional and medical enhancement to glucose metabolism was started when brewer’s yeast was suggested to contain a glucose tolerance factor (GTF) that prevented diabetes in experimental animals. (Schwarz k, Mertz W, 1959). It was only then this factor finally taken into consideration to be a biologically active form of trivalent chromium that could substantially lower the plasma glucose levels in diabetic mice based on studied done by Tuman RW and Doisy RJ in 1977. According to Fernando Guerrero and Martha Rodriguez-Moran, 2005, trivalent chromium (Cr3+) is an essential trace element required for the maintenance of normal glucose and fat metabolism. Because chromium potentiates the action of insulin, it was named from its recognition in the late 1950s as the glucose tolerance factor term that emphasizes its importance in glucose metabolism. Chromium is present in many foods, especially in liver, Brewer’s yeast, American cheese, w heat germ, vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and spinach, and is also present in alfalfa, brown sugar, molasses, dried beans, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, and animal fats. An organically dynamic type of chromium takes part in glucose digestion system by improving the impacts of insulin. Insulin is produced by particular cells in the pancreas in light of increasing blood glucose levels, for example, after eating. Insulin binds to insulin receptors on the surface of cells, which actuates the receptors and invigorates glucose uptake by cells. Blood glucose levels are prevented from being elevated when insullin interact with insulin receptors whereby insulin will provides cells with glucose. Apart from affecting carbohydrate (glucose) metabolism, metabolism of fat and protein is also influnced by insulin. Impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes which is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus may occur as the consequences of decrease response to insulin or decreased insulin sensitivity. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. The precise structure of the biologically active form of chromium is not known. Recent research suggests that a low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance (LMWCr) may enhance the response of the insulin receptor to insulin. The following is a proposed model for the effect of chromium on insulin action. First, the inactive form of the insulin receptor is converted to the active form by binding insulin. The binding of insulin by the insulin receptor stimulates the movement of chromium into the cell and results in binding of chromium to apoLMWCr, a form of the LMWCr that lacks chromium. Once it binds chromium, the LMWCr binds to the insulin receptor and enhances its tyrosine kinase activity. The ability of the LMWCr to activate the insulin receptor is dependent on its chromium content. The LMWCr may be released from the cell in order to terminate its effects when insulin levels drop due to normalization of blood glucose levels. More recent studies have indicated that chromium enhances insulin action by increasing the insulin-stimulated translocation of glucose transporters to the cell membrane (Chen G, Liu P, Pattar GR, et al, 2006). Apart from type 2 diabetes, effects of chromium supplementation on gestational diabetes had also been examined. Gestational diabetes occurs in about 2% of pregnant women and usually appears in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Adverse effects on the developing fetus must be prevent by tightly control the blood glucose levels in the body. Glucose tolerance usually turns back to normal after delivery. However, according to study, 30% to 40% of women who have had gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. An observational study in pregnant women did not find serum chromium levels to be associated with measures of glucose tolerance or insulin resistance in late pregnancy, although serum chromium levels may not reflect tissue chromium levels. Women with gestational diabetes whose diets were supplemented with 4 mcg of chromium per kilogram of body weight daily as chromium picolinate for eight weeks had decreased fasting blood glucose and insulin levels com pared with those who took a placebo. However, insulin therapy rather than chromium picolinate was required to normalize severely elevated blood glucose levels. Trivalent compounds (Cr III) do not cause any serious damage to body tissue, in fact, it is an important component of a balanced human and animal diet and its deficiency is detrimental to the glucose and lipid metabolism in mammals. The limitation of chromium in its application in human health is that it may cause different side effect to different person. The controversy surrounding chromium supplementation is due to the variability of the results gain from the evaluation of the effect of chromium in patients with diabetes and without diabetes. Some of them experienced positive improvement but some are only indicate little or no benefit at all. Most of the concerns regarding the long-term safety of chromium supplementation arise from several studies in cell culture, suggesting chromium (III), especially in the form of chromium picolinate, may increase DNA damage. Several studies have demonstrated the safety of daily doses of up to 1,000 mcg of chromium for several months. However, t here have been a few isolated reports of serious adverse reactions to chromium picolinate. Kidney failure was reported five months after a six-week course of 600 mcg of chromium/day in the form of chromium picolinate, while kidney failure and impaired liver function were reported after the use of 1,200-2,400 mcg/day of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate over a period of four to five months. Individuals with pre-existing kidney or liver disease may be at increased risk of adverse effects and should limit supplemental chromium intake. In addition, the use of the supplements of chromium over a prolonged period of time may result in a risk of chromium poisoning. This is due to chromium’s nuclear affinity, tending to result in its accumulation within cells. High doses of chromium which is about 600-2400 ÃŽ ¼g will makes rare side effects may occur such as damage to the liver, kidney, and bone marrow as well as rhabdomyolysis and psychiatric disturbances in some cases. The y have also been related to chromosomal damage and increased incidence of cervical arch defects as they are capable of cleaving DNA. Similar complex coumpound with Chromium Chromium vs vandium and zinc Apart of chromium, other transition metal that is found to have ability to be used as anti diabetic agent is vanadium and zinc. More than 2 8% of world’s population is suffering from diabetes (Wild et al., 2004). It is a condition in which body do not produce a hormone called insulin which is necessary for the absorption of glucose in cells (Rother, 2007). Scientists are looking for alternative approaches for the treatment of diabetes (Nahas et al., 2009). The glucose level in the blood plasma is controlled by uses of vanadium and zinc in form of inorganic salts. Research shows that undesireable side effets often associated with the elements that are poorly absorbed in their organic forms and required high doses. Research has been conducted to prove that vanadium complexes with organic ligands to be less toxic with improved solubility and lipophilicity. Thera are a few number of vanadium complex which posses the insulin-mimetic properties that have been produced. The molecular mechanism responsible for the insulin-like effects of vanadium compounds have been shown to involve the activation of several key components of insulin-signaling pathways. It is interesting that the vanadium effect on these signaling systems is independent of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity, but it is associated with enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate. Chromium supplementation significantly improved glycemia among patients with diabetes but do not show any significant effect on glucose metabolism in healthy individuals. Higher zinc intake has also been associated with a slightly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Besides chromium and vanadium, there is also a strong connection between zinc and insulin. In fact, people with diabetes frequently have lower levels of zinc than those without diabetes. One reason for this is that diabetics tend to have increased excretion of zinc. Additionally, high blood sugar levels create significant oxidative stress. The use of antioxidants has been shown to help improve oxidation, while also enhancing the body’s response to insulin. Unfortunately, the risk of cardiovascular disease among diabetics is more difficult to address. Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death among people with type 2 diabetes. This, of course, is due in large part to obesity, but also to risk factors such as high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol levels, and an imbalanced ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol. Like chromium and vanadium, the body also can’t make zinc, so it must be taken from food sources. Zinc is stored in the muscles, blood cells, retina of the eye , skin, bone, kidney, liver, pancreas, and in men, prostate. Interestingly, zinc has long been an ingredient used in â€Å"older† insulins, such as Regular, NPH, and Lente. Zinc is also necessary for the formation of insulin in the pancreas’s beta cells. For these reasons, researchers have looked at the role of zinc supplementation in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Research shows that zinc, an essential trace element responsible for over 300 enzyme functions, can aid in normalizing the negative effects of diabetes mellitus. According to the study, zinc has been shown to mitigate the harmful effects of diabetes by improving glycemic control in type I and type II diabetes. Many of the enzyme systems in which zinc is a necessity for are involved with the metabolism of blood sugar, and therefore make zinc a natural catalyst for insulin secretion. The pancreas is an endocrine gland responsible for producing hormones like glucagon, somatostatin, and insulin. The beta cells that secrete insulin in the pancreas are also highly stored with zinc. The beta cells will suffer without the high concentrations of zinc. Fortunately, beta cells are equipped with their own special transporter called zinc transporter 8, which makes it easy for the beta cells to store the zinc. However, it is known that any metamorphosis of the genes in the zinc transporter 8 causes type 2 diabetes. It is also now known that antibodies against the zinc transporter are present in type 1 diabetic patients, which means that these antibodies are associated with type 1 diabetes. It is no wonder why zinc is as popular as it is for supplementation. In addition to mending the difficulties brought on by diabetes, zinc also serves to maintain a healthy immune system, controls hair loss, halts impotence, improves brain function, prevents loss of taste or smell, and much more. References Guerrero-Romero, F.; Rodrà ­guez-Morà ¡n, M. (2005). Complementary Therapies for Diabetes: The Case for Chromium, Magnesium, and Antioxidants. Archives of Medical Research 36 (3): 250–257 Massey, P. (2013). Diabetes and the Role of Dietary Supplements. Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes. pp. 17–94. Schwarz K, Mertz W: Chromium (III) and the glucose tolerance factor. Arch Biochem Biophys 85: 292–295, 1959 Tuman RW, Doisy RJ: Metabolic effects of the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) in normal and genetically diabetic mice. Diabetes 26:820–826, 1977 Vincent JB. Elucidating a biological role for chromium at a molecular level. Acc Chem Res. 2000;33(7):503-510. Chen G, Liu P, Pattar GR, et al. Chromium activates glucose transporter 4 trafficking and enhances insulin-stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via a cholesterol-dependent mechanism. Mol Endocrinol. 2006;20(4):857-870. Pattar GR, Tackett L, Liu P, Elmendorf JS. Chromium picolinate positively influences the glucose transporter system via affecting cholesterol homeostasis in adipocytes cultured under hyperglycemic diabetic conditions. Mutat Res. 2006;610(1-2):93-100 Wang H, Kruszewski A, Brautigan DL. Cellular chromium enhances activation of insulin receptor kinase. Biochemistry. 2005;44(22):8167-8175.

Sichuan, China: An Earthquake that Brought Together Local, National, an

The Sichuan province in mainland china has had a long history of seismic activity. On May 12th, 2008 the village of Wenchuan County located in Sichuan province was struck by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the State Council Information Office, the causalities from this disaster were approximately 70,000, with approximately 10,000 confirmed to have been school children, whose deaths resulted from 7,000 collapsed classrooms and 18,000 more individuals, were reported missing (Teets, 330). The earthquake which struck Wenchuan County resulted in bringing together relief efforts from local, national, and international communities. A few examples are: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Volunteer crews, Military efforts, Sichuan airlines, Red-Cross and many donations from international communities. These relief efforts, a result of strong government communication also, led to strengthening the devastated village and the nation of China. The involvement in recovery effor ts strengthens civil society’s individual capacity through mass networks of volunteers and donors, learning new skills in project management, and demonstrating to the government potentially positive roles the community can do. Relief efforts by groups help to build trust and connect potential volunteers and donors on behalf of foreign governing institutions. This essay aims to discuss these efforts in greater detail and provide numerous examples of successful recovery projects in Sichuan province. The earthquake which devastated Wenchuan County was a result of stress built up between the colliding Indian plate and Eurasian plate tectonics. This disaster left more than 4.8 million residents homeless in this village, ironically the 2008 Beijing Summ... ...struction efforts: the emergence of civil society in China?." The China Quarterly 198 (2009): 330-347. Vià ±a, Andrà ©s, et al. "Effects Of Natural Disasters On Conservation Policies: The Case Of The 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China." AMBIO - A Journal Of The Human Environment 40.3 (2011): 274-284. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Ying, Liang, and Wang Xiukun. "Developing A New Perspective To Study The Health Of Survivors Of Sichuan Earthquakes In China: A Study On The Effect Of Post-Earthquake Rescue Policies On Survivors' Health-Related Quality Of Life." Health Research Policy & Systems 11.1 (2013): 1-21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Mar. 2014 Zhang, Xia, et al. "The NHV rehabilitation services program improves long-term physical functioning in survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake: a longitudinal quasi experiment." PloS one 8.1 (2013): e53995.

Philippine Literature Essay

Consisted of early Filipino literature passed down orally; oral pieces have a communal authorship – it was difficult to trace the original author of the piece since oral literature did not focus on ownership or copyright, rather on the act of storytelling itself; – Many oral pieces became lost in the wave of the new literary influence brought about by the Spanish colonization; however, according to the Philippine Literature: A History & Anthology, English Edition (Lumbera, B. & Lumbera C. ), the pre-colonial period of Philippine literature is considered the longest in the country’s history; – Literature in this period is based on tradition, reflecting daily life activities such as housework, farming, fishing, hunting, and taking care of the children as well; – Oral pieces told stories which explained heroes and their adventures; they attempted to explain certain natural phenomena, and, at the same time, served as entertainment purposes; – Pre-colonial literature showed certain elements that linked the Filipino culture to other Southeast Asian countries (e. g. oral pieces which were performed through a tribal dance have certain similarities to the Malay dance); – This period in Philippine literature history represented the ethos of the people before the arrival of a huge cultural influence – literature as a cultural tradition, than a form of art that had a particular set of decorum.  · Early Forms of Philippine Literature: o Bugtong (riddles; a bugtong contains a metaphor called,Talinghaga), Salawikain (proverb); o Pre-colonial poetry – Tanaga (expresses a view or a value of the world), Ambahan (songs about childhood, human relationships, hospitality; sung by the Mangyan), Duplo (verbal jousts/games), Bayok (thoughts about love), Balagtasan (performed on stage); o Epic poetry – romantic heroes and heroines that are a reflection of the world as perceived by the early Filipinos.  · Notable Works of the Pre-colonial Period: o Tuwaang, Lam-ang, Hinilawod, Bantugan II. Spanish Colonial Period (Mid-16th – late 19th century) – The Spanish culture, as reflected in the works of this literature period, showed a clash with the pre-colonial Filipino literature in the beginning. However, due to the length of stay of the colonizers, the Spanish culture was eventually imbued in the Filipino literature of the period; – Religion became an important theme that had influenced the early Filipino writings which had the presence of paganism – â€Å"Christian Folk-Tale†; – In addition, the influence of religion, besides on the daily life of the natives, was lead by the friar/missionary/parish priest who were appointed by the Spanish government; – Despite the goal of the Spanish government to turn the country into a full-fledged European colony, the Spanish influence ironically inspired a reformation from the natives, which eventually turned into a revolution; – Yet regardless of the conflicts that plagued the relationship between the Spaniards and the Filipinos, a sense of nationalism was formed among the oppressed, and had caused them to rise up to a nationalistic cause; – The essay genre was recognized amidst the scene of editorial protest – Jose Rizal and Plaridel (Marcelo H. Del Pilar) were among those who opt in using the pen in voicing out the people’s cry instead of the sword; – Introduction of the roman alphabet that gradually replaced the ‘alibata’; – The Filipino literature of this period became the predecessor of many more literary works to come in the ages, wherein the theme of nationalism and freedom of speech would be evident.  · Philippine Literature and Art during the Spanish Period: o Pasyon and Sinakulo (religious dramas performed during the Holy Week); o Narrative Poems – Awit; Corrido; o Komedya – a theatrical performance which captured the ideal European lifestyle as portrayed by medieval characters  · Notable Works of the Spanish Period: o Doctrina Christiana (1593) – the first book ever published in the Philippines; printed by the Dominican Press; o May Bagyo Mat’ May Rilim – according to literary historian, Bienvenido Lumbera, is the first printed literary work in Tagalog; o Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong P. Natin na Tola (1704) – eventually referred to as â€Å"Pasyon,† was written by Gaspar Aquino de Belen; an example of Christian folk epic in which the passion of Jesus Christ was written in relation with the plight of the Filipino people who were oppressed by the colonizers, as well as the values of a Filipino; o Ninay (1885) – first Filipino novel written; Pedro Paterno; o Florante at Laura – Francisco â€Å"Balagtas† Baltazar; though there are symbols and themes which dictate the protest of the Filipino against the Spanish regime, it is uncertain as to whether or not Balagtas had intended the issue – which was subtly derived from his work – since he left no notes or additional pieces that may affirm the conclusion; o Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891) – Jose Rizal; works which created an impact on the national consciousness and love for one’s country against the abusive government of the Spaniards; o La Solidaridad – Propagandist newspaper. III. American Colonial Period (Late 19th – Mid-20th century) – The gradual decline of the Philippine literature written in Spanish; – The English language eventually became the medium of writing and instruction in schools; – As the Spanish colonizers left the country in accordance with the Treaty of Paris, the spirit of nationalism and the desire to be acknowledged of independence did not disappear just yet. Instead, these uniting forces geared into revolting against the new colonizers; – During the American colonization period, Philippine literature reflected the ethos of its people under a new role. However, these day-to-day experiences under a new foreign influence, as well as sentiments, were expressed through the English language; – The Spanish ‘sarsuwela’ was eventually replaced by the ‘drama’; – One major influence of the American occupation on the Filipino literature is its refining in the context of the content and the form. Furthermore, because of this broadened knowledge on the field of literature through the education provided by the American government, Philippine literature has become more than a tradition formed by culture. It has become an art which succeeding poets, fictionists, and playwrights continue to build upon and enrich in every generation; – Beginning with Rizal’s use of social realism as one of the major themes for his two major novels, the literature during the American colonization also became an involvement, not just reflecting the Filipino experience – a strengthened sense of nationalism deeply rooted in the Filipino pride and culture; – Unlike in the Spanish colonization period wherein female writers (e. g. Gregoria de Jesus) were overshadowed by their more dominant, male contemporaries – as a result of the education only being provided to a selected and privileged few – during the American occupation, women have had their opportunity to enhance their talent by being educated on the craft. In addition, the growing popularity of works written by Filipina writers is the result of the growing audience appreciating literature by females.  · Philippine Literature and Art during the American Period: o Short Story o Poetry in English o Free Verse in Poetry o Drama  · Notable Works of the American Period: o Mga Agos sa Disyerto (1964) – Efren R. Abueg, Edgardo M. Reyes, Eduardo Bautista Reyes, Rogelio L. Ordonez and Rogelio R. Sikat; this short story anthology brought fiction into the age of modernism; o Ako ang Daigdig (1940) – Alejandro G. Abadilla; free verse poem; o Sa Dakong Silangan – Jose Corazon de Jesus; a poem written in the vernacular http://lourdesbraceros. weebly. com/a-brief-history-of-philippine-literature-in-english. html