Homework: harmful or helpful Essay

Homework is a way of life for many students in public or private schools, from kindergarten to graduation. Often students are overwhelmed with the pressures of school, each night students are required to do homework after completing school each day. Is there a reason or need for students to come home from 7 hours of school and then have hours of homework . Is it essential that students have homework, are they gaining anything by practicing the skills they learned at school. Or are students harmed by the negative effects that homework often comes with. Should homework be restricted or should it continue to be unmonitored and exceed the limits of students in school. Homework’s negative effects far outweigh any of the positive aspects because homework often is busy work that does not seem to improve students learning, an extra unneeded stress which leads students to have little free time. Since the late 19th century homework has been a subject of debate. Although at the time stud ents were only asked to do small memorization tasks such as memorizing vocabulary and math equations, it was still a topic of debate. By the end of the 19th century the progressive education movement began. In the early 20th century many influential individuals and parents group reached out against homework. With the pressure of opposing views from organizations such as the Parent-Teacher Association ( PTA) forced some U.S school districts to limit or even ban homework assignments. For instance, in 1901 California lawmakers abolished homework in elementary and middle schools. With progressive education movement peaking during the 1920s and 30s, there were even move people branching out against homework. Even the American Child Health Association joined the campaign against homework, saying that homework was a leading cause of tuberculosis and heart disease for U.S children. However, in the 1940s homework gradually returned to U.S schools with many supporters. Causing high school students on average in 1948 to have three to four hours of homework a night. Even to present day in 2006 a study in a public high school i n Needham, Massachusetts shows that one out of five students spend four hours or more a night on homework. For most students homework is consider to be a little more than busy work, often students feel the work that they are doing is unnecessary. Students receive so much homework that they are not getting anything out of it. This causes students to focus more on getting the work done, then learning anything from the activity. It is  unfair to expect students to do their best when they have more homework than the time they need to complete the work. Homework assignments tend to lack academic value leading students to simply get the homework done as soon as they can. With the burden of homework every night, reading and writing becomes a chore just as cleaning the dishes would be. Large amounts of homework stifle motivation, holt creatively and diminish a child’s love for discovering and learning new things. By the time graduation time comes students will have had 13 years of doing homework, not including if the student goes on to pursue college. Given if the average elementary stud ent spends one to two hours of homework a night, the average middle school student sends two to three hours of homework a night and the average high school student spends three to four hours on homework a night. Students spend an average of 1,080 to 1,620 hours on homework before graduation if the student only completed homework Monday thru Friday. Causing homework to take up most of students free-time. Students have virtually no time to pursue outside interests, activities such as eating dinner with family, talking with friends and family and developing interests is what can ensure children are happy. Students are trapped with homework that they often cannot do other activities because they often feel pressure to get everything done. This leads students to feel stressed to complete everything they need to. It is actually unhealthy for students to have several hours of homework after coming home from hours of school. In 2007 the American Academy of Pediatrics said that obesity and depression from stress was on the rise due to too much work. What is the point of all this stress from work if there is no known correlation between time spent on homework and academic performance. Research conducted by two professors at Penn State University found that students in countries in which schools assign little to no homework such as Japan, tend to do better on standardized tests. Students receive too much homework to be able to take any real value away from learning. Advocates of homework say that students need to continue their education outside the classroom and to do this homework should be given. This teaches the student the only way you can learn is if you are given a activity to do for homework. What about adults and people who do not have â€Å"homework† does this mean that they can not learn. Students will learn new things everyday even if they do not have homework. Students will  be able to explore and learn in a new creative way off a paper and pencil. Although, homework does teach time management, it stresses students too much. While trying to juggle lots of activities,school and homework students learn time management but it is not effective or helpful because students are too stressed. Plus, there are many less stress ways that can teach students time management. Proponents also state that the U.S is falling behind other countries in academics therefore students need more homework to catch u. Which is true American 15 year olds ranked 23rd out of 40 countries in science and 29th in math comprehension. All this is completely true, but many countries academically ahead of the U.S assign less homework than the U.S does know so how does adding more homework make sense. Should students continue to receive homework that is hurting them in more ways than one. The debate for homework will never end, there is always two sides of any story. While it is unlikely any legislative acts will be placed on homework small changes starting in schools could likely happen. What is the real need for homework, what is the benefits to homework? Does it really matter if students continue to feel no benefits and have stress from homework. Should we, without changing, continue down the path of hours of homework a night even if there are clearly negative effects. What if we never changed anything would there be lights, cars, computers, cell phones or anything. People do not want to lessen homework for students which can lead to bad health, but would people not want to lessen the number cars or lights even though can be bad for the environment.

Marketing Research Report Essay

Irresponsible human behaviours are impacting the environment. Therefore, environmental concern groups and also the governments around the world are trying to do something hoping to change people’s attitude towards environmentally friendly issues. This report aims at predicting the factors that motivate consumers to engage in environmentally friendly purchase behaviours. Convenience sampling of non-probability techniques was used to collect data. The data collected was then analysed by regression analysis, t-test and ANOVA. It was found out that political and technological factors have a positive relationship with environmental concern while success or anthropocentric have a negative relationship with environmental concern. Furthermore, environmental concern has a positive relationship with direct and indirect environmentally friendly behaviour and willingness to pay for environmentally friendly purchase behaviour. However, the relationships were not strong. Therefore, it is re commended that a further, more in-depth research should be conducted to find out the substantial factors that affect consumers’ environmentally friendly purchase behaviour. 1. Introduction and Background 1.1 Importance of the research In recent years, there were one after another blockbusting environmental related movie, for instances, The Day After Tomorrow in 2004, An Inconvenient Truth in 2006 and 2012 in 2009. These popular movies have undoubtedly increase people’s awareness towards climate change issues. According to World Wide Fund for Nature (2010), the average temperatures on earth have warmed by about 0.76 degree Celsius over the past 2 centuries (WWF, 2010). The increases in temperature make huge changes for the world’s climate even thought the temperature rise seems insignificantly small. Researches after researches show that this environmental problem is primarily caused by irresponsible human activities like private consumption. As a result, it is necessary for us to educate and raise the awareness of the publics so that environmental problems will not be worsening. This  quantitative research is based on the collective findings of the qualitative exploratory research conducted earlier to investigate whether or not consumers engage in environmental consideration when making consumption decisions more thoroughly. 1.2 Scope The scope of the report is to find out the factors that may affect consumers’ environmentally friendly behaviour through the qualitative research, so that marketers may make meaningful decisions based on the data collected. This research will also provide recommendations to green organisations and the federal government on how to address the environmentally unfriendly purchase behaviour. 1.3 Research problem A research problem should feasible and clear. The research problem of this research is to predict motivations that may affect consumers’ environmentally friendly purchase behaviour. 1.4 Aims and Objectives The aim and objective of this research is to look for differences between samples and come up with a conclusion. This research also aims at testing two main groups of hypotheses. 1) Social beliefs, materialism will have a negative relationship with environmental concern * The social beliefs include technological belief, political belief, economy belief, anthropocentric belief and competition belief. * Materialism includes success, centrality and happiness. 2) Environmental concern has positive indirect behaviour, willingness to pay, direct behaviour 2. Methodology 2.1 Methodological considerations and assumptions This research, quantitative research, was based on the data gather from a qualitative exploratory research which was carried out previously. The purpose of qualitative exploratory research is to narrow and clarify the scope and nature of the research problem. Exploratory research helps researchers understand the research problem and then transform ambiguous problem into well-defined ones. From the quantitative research, two groups of variables, namely materialism and social values, were identified. This  quantitative research was conducted to find out which variables may have a stronger relationship with the dependent variables which are mentioned in section 1.4. 2.2 Sample considerations The target audiences of this research are any people live in Australia and are accountable for making purchase decisions. Respondents should understand English and be 18 years old or above. However, gender, marital status and educational level of respondents are not restricted in this research. 2.3 Data collection and framework, and analytical considerations Research was conducted through survey as a follow on from exploratory research conducted by face-to-face interview. This research was conducted by using a written questionnaire on a convenience sample. Convenience sampling, which is one of the non-probability techniques, â€Å"refers to sampling by obtaining the people or units that are most conveniently available† (Zikmund, Ward, Lowe & Winzar, 2007). Convenience sampling is inexpensive and quick. 1022 surveys were collected, 449 male and 573 female respondents. Since this research was trying to find out relationships between factors rather than analysing changes in a sam e sample, cross-sectional analysis was used. 3. Ethical Considerations In a research, ethic is one of the very important items that could not be missed. Ethics in researches are important because it supports the objective of a research, such as knowledge, truth and avoidance of error (Rensnik, 2010). Rensnik (2010) continues that ethics in a research is important also because it involves public privacy. As a result, ethical consideration has to treat carefully in a research so that the research is ethical and considerable. There are six ethical principles that have to be considered in a research according to American Marketing Association (2010), and they are responsibility, fairness, respect, transparency and citizenship. In other words, researchers have to be responsible for the consequences of their marketing decision; they also have to judge a fair balance between consumers and sellers. Furthermore, researchers have to respect human rights of all respondents involving in the research process. Researchers also have to make every effort to communicate clearly with all respondents so to strive for a high transparency of the research. Last but not least,  contributing to the community such as providing good recommendations is also considered as ethical in a research. To address all the ethical considerations above, each respondent would be asked to sign an interview consent form (see Appendix A) before the start of the survey, indicating that the interviewees do not only understands the purpose and risk of this research, but also know where to go when they have any concerns or complaints regarding the conduct of the research.

Participant’s development Essay

With this model in mind, the author of this essay, who represented the coach in the coaching session, will consider back to the session and reflect what planning had to be involved and why, and what was intended and included.  The author of this essay is herself a passionate Badminton player, exercising regularly for the University and a local team. From her own experience in these teams, she knew that many players struggle with the tactical positioning in this sport, particularly in the doubles’ game. Tactical positioning is a crucial element to succeed in Badminton (Grice, 1996). For this reason, the coach had chosen the following aim for the session: raising awareness of tactical positioning in the doubles’ game of Badminton, therefore the objective was accurate defensive and attacking positioning. To achieve these aims and objectives, the author invited four players, two men and two women, from the above mentioned teams to take part in the Badminton session (see Appendix 1). The participant’s level of play can be stated as advanced, hence gender was not showing a significant impact on the later performed exercises and match situation. According to training guidelines stated by Martens (1997), the participants had to be and were able to match necessary requirements of the conducted training program, which included knowledge of specific skills and shots like ‘the ready position’, footwork, drop shot, smash etc..  The 45 minute lasting session itself consisted of four parts: a brief introduction, a 10 minute warm-up, a 28 minute long main part and a short cool down. The intention of the introduction was to give the participants a concise overview of the session’s aims and objectives aswell as informing about potential hazards and dangers. The sports hall policy about appropriate sports wear and shoes was already mentioned in the invite (see Appendix 1). ‘To produce the safest environment possible for the athletes and the coach’ (Martens, 1997), further essential risk management, within the introduction, included the explanation of emergency exits and the procedure of raising the alarm and informing the University Security Office through the Emergency telephone. The coach herself had identified, evaluated and made herself familiar with potential risks and dangers as well as appropriate behaviour in case of an emergency by a pre-session risk management through inspecting the venue a day before the actual session. Before the start of the session, the floor was examined to avoid injuries caused by potential trip hazards like whol es or dirt. As stated by Martens (1997), the intention of a warm up is not only preventing respectively reducing the likelihood of potential injuries but to improve the athlete’s performance (Sports Coach – Warm Up and Cool Down). Moderate jogging including ballistic stretching of specific arm and leg muscles was used to raise blood circulation and the respiratory rate as well as increasing the body temperature (Martens, 1997; Sports Coach – Warm Up and Cool Down), followed by more specific Badminton movements including side walks and side steps (Grice, 1996). To progress on, the next warm-up exercise included movement on court, simulating game play without a shuttle. This is called shadow Badminton and allowed the participants to perform key elements of Badminton like positioning to the ‘central position’ (CP), accurate footwork and performing different shots. All six key positions of the court had to be reached in a specific order within timed 30 seconds (see diagram 1). After a following 30 second break to regain stamina, the exercise was modified to a more realistic game play by giving the athlete the choice of which position to chose. A further 30 second break was followed by the last shuttle and included a realistic game play with a free order of positions to reach, this time with increased speed. Along with Givemefootball – The professional footballers association, this ghosting exercise showed full characteristics of ballistic stretching: specific and related movements as well as increased effort to prevent muscle stiffness and muscle injury (Sports Coach – Warm Up and Cool Down). To conclude this Badminton specific warm-up, Grice (1997) suggests 5 minutes of gentle knocking with a shuttle. This was performed by the participants, including all possible Badminton shots like Clear, Drop, Drive, Smash and net play. The main part consisted of 2 appropriate exercises to achieve the session’s objectives as well as implementing newly acquired skills into a realistic match of doubles. Exercise 1 was training the defensive positioning and allowed one pair to play against the other, attacking couple. Due to the advanced level of play of the participants, the coach could assume that basic skills and knowledge of defence as well as attacking positioning were existent. The new main idea introduced now was, that the defending player had to follow his/her long line shot to the side including the partners movement to the middle line maintaining the basic concept of being level with the partner. A cross court shot resulted in following the defender to the middle line, the partner to the side line (see diagram 2). Moving according to one’s own shot will allow the defending pair to quickly respond to the opponents’ attacks. If the defender plays a long line shot and follows to the sideline, a long line attacking smash can quickly enough be responded by another defensive shot. If the opponents play a cross attacking shot like a drop, the defender’s partner at the middle line will still have enough time to reach this shot as a cross shot will take more time to reach the corner. Hence it is to advise hardly ever to play a cross attacking shot in Badminton as this will allow the defending opponents to quickly enough place themselves into the appropriate defending position and possibly even counter attack the shot. The positions of player A and B as well as the positions C and D were changed within the exercise to guarantee experiencing both the left and the right, respectively the front and the back side. After 5 minutes the couples changed playing from defence to attack and vice versa. Exercise 2 intended to empower an attacking couple to perform the rotation system while attacking. The coach, assisted by player C ‘feeding’ the coach with shuttles, provided a rally of 20 shuttles played into the key positions shown on diagram 3. The positions were targeted in order from 1 to 8. Starting position for attacking player A is shown on the diagram 3 as well as the position for Player B. Player D was first observing, then helping to pick up the shuttles on the ground. Key elements of this exercise included ‘being in line’ with the partner though positions changed. Therefore the coach used the racket as demonstration material, the head of it representing the attacker at the net and the grip the attacker at the back. By rotating the racket like the players had to rotate on court, it was made visible that rotation includes the partner’s movement according to one’s own movement (see diagram 3). To provide a realistic game situation, the coach had to quickly target all key positions as the doubles’ game is a fast game requiring quick movements (Grice, 1996). The following 5 minutes lasting doubles’ match gave the opportunity to implement the newly acquired skills.  A contingency plan was not needed as all exercise could have been performed even though one respectively two participants wouldn’t have arrived. Then the coach would have played in their positions respectively played as a single attacker in exercise 1, however making it more difficult to observe the progression of each participant’s development. To conclude the session, a brief cool down was conducted allowing the body to return to normal pace, reducing its temperature and to remove lactic acid build up during the vigorous exercises (Grice, 1996; Sports Coach – Warm Up and Cool Down). Gentle jogging as well as a static stretching was performed. According to Sports Coach – Warm Up and Cool down, a static stretching should be preferred within a cool down compared to a ballistic stretching in the warm up, as this will increase the range of movement as well as helping to relax the muscles. When planning a coaching session, it is important to identify resources (Ewles and Simnett, 1999). Within this case, the coach was given the opportunity to use the University sports hall as well as their posts and nets. Two courts to perform the warm up and exercises were needed. Each participant was advised to bring his/her own racket(s), shuttles were provided by the coach (see Appendix 1). A stopwatch, to ensure accurate timing and time management of the session, which is important according to Martens (1997), was borrowed from the technicians room in Ramsden’s building one day in advance.

Short Story Author Analysis - Isaac Babel Research Paper

Short Story Author Analysis - Isaac Babel - Research Paper Example However, it was his engagement with the truthful depiction of the heinous acts committed by those in high authority that landed him in trouble with Stalin that eventually led to his execution. In Babel’s life, the loss of life and tenderness of emotion went hand in hand. Most of his literary work carries an understated preoccupation with the theme of ‘death’ and since, this preoccupation formed an indispensable part of his growing years; detachment was an inevitable consequence. His collection of thirty five short stories, by the title ‘Red Cavalry’ is the epitome of violent depictions in his work through his career. This violence and morbid details of death and murder stem from first hand accounts after being a recruit in the 1st Cavalry Army. As he floated through war-affected times, in his personal life, his several marriages and extra-marital affairs began to tell a tale of disillusionment with permanence of any sort. The only permanence that there was, was that of the insecurities of an unstable and ‘always-at-risk’ life that stayed with him for the rest of his life. As Lionel Trilling remarks about Isaac Babel: â€Å"He was captivated by the vision of two ways of being, the way of violence and the way of peace, and he was torn between the two† (Trilling, 119) As a writer, Babel always remained in the eye of controversy. The stories from ‘Red Cavalry’ like Crossing the River Zbrucz, My first goose and Salt are all stories with diverse plots and yet are tied together with the element of death in some form. ‘Crossing the River Zbrucz’ or ‘Crossing into Poland’ begins on a morbid note, which casts its shadow over the rest of the narrative. The somber mood of the story is however offset intermittently with an odd Wordsworth-like description at times. â€Å"Faint-hearted poverty closed in over my couch. Silence overcame all.

Black Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Black Religion - Essay Example Other essays were written specifically for this book. The various chapters thus bring together reflections on the Peoples Temple that span a twenty-five year time period. Contributors include African-American Studies specialists such as Milmon Harrison and Mary Sawyer as well as Religious Studies faculty including C. Eric Lincoln, Lawrence Mamiya, and Anthony Pinn. The book also includes chapters by Black pastors such as Muhammed Isaiah Kenyatta andj. Alfred Smith, Jr. Most of the writers attempt to revise the often-accepted view that the Peoples Temple was controlled by Jim Jones and other European-American leaders who exerted extensive charismatic control over a generally compliant and/or brainwashed African-American majority. This black majority (representing 67% of the population, for example, at Jonestown) was comprised of people who came predominately from the working classes of the southern United States and included twice as many women as men. The Peoples Temple was a racially mixed and substantially black religious society within which—the writers contend—African-Americans had tremendous influence. The editors contend that this influence has been downplayed by most academics who have written about the Peoples Temple, largely because scholars tend to identify the Peoples Temple as a "New Religious Movement" and to operate within the theoretical framework within which such groups are customarily analyzed. The writers do acknowledge that most leaders of the Peoples Temple at the highest levels were European-American. But they do not believe that this phenomenon automatically disempowered African-American members. In the Guyana outpost, for example, many of the key leadership positions were held by African-Americans. More importantly, many of the contributors to this volume believe that it is absolutely necessary to evaluate Jones as a church leader from the perspective of the African-American religious community. The editors, for example, note that Jones and the Peoples Temple "emulated Black Church culture in style and form and, to some extent, in substance" (Janzen 294-297). As Rebecca Moore writes in a chapter entitled "Demographics and the Black Religious Culture," we don't have to go to the jungle to see a similar dynamic between pastor and people, preacher and congregation. The isolation in Guyana prevented critical reflection on the process of audience corruption; nonetheless the pattern of congregational elevation of the pastor, the cult of personality)' . . . continues to exist in the twenty-first century' in black churches in the San Francisco Bay Area, and indeed in many churches throughout the nation. (Chapman N4C450) African American culture and idiosyncratic understandings of the Christian faith-as well as distinctive worship practices-influenced not only Jones himself but the entire Peoples Temple movement, from the roles played by ministers and other church personnel to an emphasis on social justice and humanitarian efforts-^what Lincoln and Mamiya describe as "this-worldly activism" (Battle 391-393). It is suggested that charismatic expressions of the faith, in particular, show a strong African-American influence on the Peoples Temple. Smith goes so far as to suggest that the Peoples Temple presented a prophetic critique of Bay Area African-American Christianity in general. He notes that "the 1970s were a dark age for the Black Church in San Francisco. Most churches had become little more than social clubs, where chicken dinners and raffle dockets were the only activities on the agenda" (Baker-Fletcher B353). Harrison writes that "Jones learned to speak the symbolic and religious language of black Americans quite

Managing property Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing property Business - Essay Example It has a gross turnover of 662 million Euros and a gross operating profit of 156 million Euros. This company has employed 3,300 employees across Europe. I. Being an investor in London one is guaranteed a dynamic offer in investment. London is one of the most dynamic and large cities of the world. This means there are wide ranges of opportunities available in London. Investment in real estate in this town offers an exposure in insurance, banking, technology, media, education industry and fashion industries. This needs different types of building, specification and a wide range of designs. Investment in this town will offer exposure to different risk profile and will help to reflect the dynamism of the town with creation of new building. Therefore investing my money in a big company will offer me this opportunity of transformation of London (BNP, 2013). II. The Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) have a wide variety of companies associated with it. This includes the computer industry, software industry and start up tech companies. All this companies need a huge space for their location. In addition, the increasing numbers of people employed in these areas need a lot of space to stay and to carry out their work. The growth in these sectors therefore requires a company that is focused into the future. PNB Paribas Real Estate is one such company with research on future trends of the current market. This helps the company to plan and therefore be prepared to meet the future requirement in the dynamic world of real estate investment. With this in mind, it makes it prudent to invest in a company that lives the future and is prepared for the future. This gives security to the money invested (BNP, 2013). III. The economic recovery in UK has increased the confidence of investment in UK. This has increased both local and foreign investment in UK for real estate. Many executives from overseas companies

Dude Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dude - Essay Example For example, when I see an acquaintance who I would like to greet, I would normally say: â€Å"Hey dude, good to see you. What’s up?† This meaning was validated in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (par. 3) as it revealed â€Å"fellow, guy —sometimes used informally as a term of address†. The distinctive element here is that the word is used as a term of address. In other circumstances, dude could mean a guy who wears fashionable clothes or accessories that caught my attention. In this case, I could blurt out: â€Å"Wow! That dude surely dons flashy outfit with such colors, prints and all that bling!† The meaning I want to relay is the fact that the person is dressed in a certain style or fashion worthy of attention. Another meaning of dude for me refers to a person who seem be unfamiliar with life in the city and could be coming from a rural area or from another culture. In this situation, I would use dude as: â€Å"Look at that dude, he seems to be lost or something? Do you think he needs help?† This meaning was likewise validated in Merriam-Webster (par. 2) as â€Å"a city dweller unfamiliar with life on the range; especially: an Easterner in the West†. By manifesting expressions or gestures that indicate unfamiliarity with the surroundings, a person who is new to the environment could be called dude. When the term needs to be explained to people who are learning the English language, one could indicate, in addition to the meanings mentioned above, that dude simply refers to a person, male in gender, who is being referred to or addressed by young people from contemporary generation. Explicitly, this definition appears in the learner’s dictionary portion of Merriam-Webster (par.4) as â€Å"[count] chiefly US slang: a man —used especially by young people†. This definition encompasses the rest of the meanings expounded previously. I was surprised to see from Merriam-Webster (par. 7) that the origin for this term is unknown

Discussion Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Discussion - Movie Review Example the artist work in this painting as a journey to the other side of an illusion, which is a revelation of how Raphael created the alluring images that were appealing to his wealthy renaissance clients like the pope and his moneylender who were the richest men in Europe. According to Mathew, Raphael in his paintings employs vibrant color harmony which grasps with high intuitively long before the advent of the color theories. Raphael exploits the use of color effects to bring out the impression of extraordinary depth in his artistic work. The last judgment is an art in a post renaissance era. The painting is to communicate what is coming on the judgment day. The image of Jesus Christ is at the center of the picture with the Angels and the followers of Christ around him, this is a symbol of Jesus at the central position being in charge of the world. Below the image of Christ is the portrait of Angels blowing trumpet signaling the dead to rise. The Angels who are blowing trumpets are holding two books, a little book, and another large one. The little book is a book with the list of the saved while the other large one is the book for the dead. Painting of the Angels has souls of the dead on both their right and left sides. During the final judgment, there will be the place for the dead and a place for the saved. The picture shows souls on the right side of Christ rising from the dead and ascending into heaven while on his left are the souls of the dead falling back into the dead. On the same picture below is an image of hell at a glance, Satan is at its gate waiting to receive the souls falling into the dead. Jesus at the center of this painting with his fingers gesturing a show of direction is symbolic, on the last judgment Jesus will give directions on those who are to rise to heaven and those to fall. Venus of Urbana is an oil painting by Italian master Titian in the year 1538. The painting is a portrait of a naked young woman who identifies with the goddess Venus.

Bad Management Theories Are Destroying Good Management Practices Essay

Bad Management Theories Are Destroying Good Management Practices - Essay Example The name of the article itself was the starting point which made me feel surprised. The author was brave enough to question the effectiveness of academic theories taught to students and applied in management and other relative business fields. Thus, for example, Ghoshal (2005, p.75) claimed at the beginning of the article: â€Å"Our theories and ideas have done much to strengthen the management practices that we are all now so loudly condemning†. After reading this phrase I have naturally changed the usual way of my thinking and started to follow the ideas of the author. Idea that â€Å"academic research related to the conduct of business and management has had some very significant and negative influences on the practice of management† has left particular impact on me as well as desire for further investigation (Ghoshal, 2005, p.76). An overall style of the author surprised me by its boldness and open minded approach. Ghoshal’s vision of amoral theories propagat ed by business schools, idea of necessity to reconsider corporate governance issue, idea of positive organizational scholarship and some other thoughts made me to think through. 2. Surprises in JA 2 The second journal article that I have chosen for further analysis also was given loud and provocative name – â€Å"'Damned by our own theories: contradictions between theories and management education† (Donaldson 2002, p.96).

Ethic Challenges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethic Challenges - Essay Example The current elderly population is as a result of the boom in births between the year 1946 and 1964. The medical services at that time were excellent and consequently many children born survived. A requirement for more healthcare providers and services emerges for rationing health care services to serve the sick population (Raingruber, 2014). The legislature must embrace rationing soon to ensure maximum utilization of the available resources. Otherwise, the federal government must spend more in employing more providers and procurement of more equipment that may consequently suppress other sectors in the state. The American healthcare services should be available for all its citizens. The American population comprises mostly Judaism and Christians who value life as a precious gift (Kelly, Magill, & Have, 2013). The medical ethics state that the nurses should offer the best healthcare services to the patients in their hour of need (Eileen, 2013). The nurses and the patients who already have insurance covers, however, may get the universal health care slogan challenging since it will compromise on the quality of the services. The increased population that requires medical services will stress on the limited available nurses and medical equipment. However, the government can implement the universal medicare by budgeting more on the equipment and

Leadrship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadrship - Assignment Example tter way to share their ideas and information, they would have to take steps to enhance their communication with their workers, listen to their problems, talk to them and work out their issues. Workers will automatically start following them and the overall organizational culture will improve. This is the transformational leadership actually in which the leaders produce such an effect on their subordinates that they inflict a â€Å"transforming effect† on them thus producing â€Å"sweeping changes in organizations and societies† (Priyabhasini & Krishnan, 2005, p.1). The main reasons I support this concept are that when managers exhibit good listening and communication skills and deal with their workers with respect and dignity, the latter themselves try to step into the former’s shoes by hard work and effort. Also, the overall workplace environment becomes healthy which creates better chances for the sustainability of the company. Thus, managers must know that si nce they are the leaders, they will have to act like parents whom children follow in every action and

Compare how poets portray relationships in ‘Praise Song For My Mother’ and ‘Ghazal’ Essay Example for Free

Compare how poets portray relationships in ‘Praise Song For My Mother’ and ‘Ghazal’ Essay Both ‘praise song for my mother’ and ‘ghazal’ use language devices to portray relationships. They use imagery, metaphors and structure to do so. They bother portray in different ways. ‘praise song for my mother’ portrays relationships as happy and fun whereas ‘ghazal’ portrays them as unpredictable and ever changing. In ‘ghazal’, Khalvati writes a different comparison to love in each stanza. ‘If yours is the iron fist in the velvet glove/if I rise in the east you die in the west’. The fact that Khalvati has done this shows that love is never the same. It also shows that it is constantly changing and can never be predicted. It could also show that the woman’s love for the man is constant the mans love for the woman is unreliable and is constantly changing. On the other hand, in ‘praise song for my mother’ each stanza seems the convey the same thing about love, that it is happy and constant. ‘you were sunrise to me rise and warm and streaming’. The word ‘sunrise’ means that the personas lover was what lit up their day and helped them see clearly. It could also mean that their love was constant and never failed as the sun rises every morning in a continuous pattern. The word ‘warm’ has also been used and this could suggest that they are always nice to each other and never argue. Heat can also be linked to the colour red and this in turn can be linked to love, therefore the persona is indirectly expressing their love for this person without facing it head on. In ‘praise song for my mother’ Nichols has used imagery to portray the relationship. ‘you were the fishes red gill to me’. Nichols has used the word ‘gill’ to show that the persona needed the other person. A fish wouldn’t be able to survive without its gills and this shows that the persona might as well be dead without the other person. Everyone would be able to relate to this as everyone has suffered heartbreak. This would help to keep the interested and mean that they can empathise with the reader. The  word ‘red’ has also been used and love is a connotation of the colour red. On the other hand red can be linked to death and this links back to the persona saying that they are dead without the other person. Similarly in ‘ghazal’ Khalvati has also used imagery to show the relationship. ‘when the arrow flies, the heart is pierced, tattoo me’. The use of the word ‘tattoo’ is the persona saying that their love for the other person is eternal and they never want it to end. Tattoos cannot be changed once they are on your skin and Khalvati’s use of the word could mean that they don’t want the other person to change as she thinks they are perfect as they are. Khalvati’s comparison to an arrow means that her love for the other person was sudden and unexpected. She didn’t know it was coming until it struck her. In conclusion I think that both these poems use mostly the same language devices, but where Nichols portrays relationships as a good thing, Khalvati seems to portray them as a bad thing.

Exploring The Practice Of Supervision

Exploring The Practice Of Supervision Supervision is the practice where a counsellor can talk to a professional who is trained to identify any psychological or behavioural changes in the counsellor that could be due to an inability to cope with issues presented by clients. A supervisor is also responsible for challenging practices and procedures, developing improved or different techniques, and informing clients of alternative theories and/or new practices, as well as industry changes. The supportive and educative process of supervision is aimed toward assisting supervisees in the application of counselling theory and techniques to client problems (Bernard Goodyear, 2009). Supervision is a usually a regular, formal arrangement for counsellors to discuss their work with someone who is experienced in counselling and supervision. The task is to work together to ensure and develop the efficiency of the counsellor/client relationship, maintain adequate standards of counselling and a method of consultancy to widen the horizons of an experienced practitioner (ACA, 2009). Aim of Supervision Generally, supervision has two primary goals: to monitor client care and ensure clients are receiving appropriate therapeutic counselling, and to enhance professional functioning (Bernard Goodyear, 2009). Supervision provides benefits for counsellors such as support, an opportunity to discover new ideas and strategies, as well as personal and professional development. Another benefit in addition to counsellor support and development is learning across the professional lifespan of counsellors life long learning (Borders Usher, 1992). The intention of supervision is to provide a means of support, and ongoing learning and professional development for counsellors who frequently work with difficult and stressful cases. This serves to prevent excess stress and burnout (Haynes, Corey, Moulton, 2003). The educational and encouraging role of the supervisor focuses on creating a secure setting where the supervisee can reflect on their work, get feedback, direction, reassess their capabilities and gain greater understanding about their work, clients and themselves with the aim of protecting the client and offering best possible counselling practices (Powell, 1993). In order to promote counsellor development supervision needs to take place in a safe and appropriate environment. To achieve this, as in a counselling session, empathy, openness, and positive regard are essential (Egan, 2007). Both parties must also trust in the integrity and honesty of the other. An ethical framework is necessary to promote this trust, and there should be an appreciation of the importance of the supervision process, which reduces the pressure on the counsellor to produce an outcome at the cost of the process and the working relationship. The ethical principals of counselling are intended as a guide and framework for the responsibilities of counsellors: showing consideration for the trust of participants, respecting their independence, committing to the promotion of the well-being of all participants and at a minium, to do no harm, to respect each individual and treat everyone justly and without bias, and seeking professional development (Egan, 2007). The obligation to work ethically will improve provision and the reception of services, and allow opportunities for development for both parties to take place. The supervisor has a responsibility to ensure that confidentiality is maintained, and any information obtained in a clinical or consulting relationship is discussed only for professional purposes and only with persons clearly concerned with the case (ACA, 2009). Different ways of evaluating the supervisory process can be important both for the supervisor and the supervisee. Establishing a contract for the supervisory relationship makes evaluation easier. The contract should include the students developmental needs, the supervisors competencies, and supervisory goals and methods (Stoltenberg Delworth, 1987). Ground rules set up at the start are important to clarify the expectations of the supervisor as well as the supervisee, and that the responsibility for success of the process rests with both parties. As part of the contract it is important to discuss what can and cant stay confidential. Throughout the supervision process, the supervisor is responsible for evaluating the quality of the supervisory relationship (Powell, 1993). Occasionally things happen between a supervisor and supervisee that has nothing to do with the individuals themselves, but with what and who the person reminds them of. Feelings can be transferred from other associations onto the supervisor. Also the feelings a supervisor may experiences towards a supervisee can be linked to experiences and associations in the past. In order to ensure the safety of both parties the practitioners must subscribe to a set code of practice and ethics (Powell, 1993). Personal Experience My personal experience of supervision has for the most part been very general, discussing casework and looking for feedback, ideas and strategies, and wide-ranging discussions concerning my personal experiences. My practicum has involved spending three hours a week at a local mens hostel, with some time set aside for discussion, coffee, and exchange of ideas. This time has been most helpful in dealing with feelings of frustration that arise, that can be very challenging for me and could present difficulties if not addressed. The assistance can come in the form of a reminder that it is not really about me, that change cannot be forced from the outside, or just a comment that things move slowly, and a positive outcome may take years. Unfortunately, there are few unique cases at the hostel, even if these cases are challenging and complex. Many of the individuals in residence present with dual diagnosis, and are well known to staff. There are no quick fixes or easy solutions, and staff cannot indulge in irritation or frustration over lack of resolutions. Sometimes, there will be no resolution or positive outcome. One resident was feeling very positive and looking forward to work one week, but was unable to return in subsequent weeks due to drug and alcohol use. I still that he will be able to return at a later date. It is also very distressing to see such young people with permanent impairment from drug and alcohol use, and realise that no amount of counselling or medical treatment will be able to provide them with a standard type of existence. Supervision can be used as a place to debrief, to share experiences, and brainstorm alternatives. It can be very reassuring to have someone to fall back on, and gain support from, in challenging or complex situations. I find it very useful to be able to talk things through, and then come to an individual understanding and acceptance of any given situation. Seeking a second opinion, background information on a resident and discussing approaches seems to make up most of supervision time, and some other functions of supervision have also happened more informally, over a cup of coffee in the staff room, particularly in relation to future employment. Unsurprisingly, as graduation draws nearer, it is also the career development aspect of supervision that has taken up a great deal of my thoughts where to go next, what sort of work would I best be suited to, what type of educational opportunities do I see coming up. This has for me been very valuable, as I can seek advice and tips from people in the field, and get a genuine appreciation for what it means to work in this field. Overall, I think it is generally expected, and helpful, for those who receive supervision to do some preparation before starting supervision, and to build up an awareness of what the supervision is to achieve. Not to consider it an obligation but as an opportunity to develop as a more effective counsellor Reviewing and reflecting on casework is a good way to think through what has happened in the past week, and where it will take us. Preparation can also help with bringing concerns and questions to ask supervisor, with seeking confirmation and clarification, and start the thought processes about what I need from the supervisor. Evaluation Fundamental to developmental models of supervision is the theory that as people and counsellors we are continuously growing and maturing; like all people we develop over time, and this development and is a process with stages or phases that are predictable. In general, developmental models of supervision define progressive stages of supervisee development from novice to expert, each stage consisting of discrete characteristics and skills (Bradley Ladany, 2000). Stoltenberg and Delworth (1987) depict a developmental model with three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. In each level a counsellor may begin in an imitative way and move toward a more competent, self-assured and self-reliant state for each level. Beginning supervisees would find themselves relatively dependent on the supervisor to understand or explain client behaviours and mind-sets and establish plans for intervention. Intermediate supervisees would depend on supervisors for an understanding of more complex clients, but would be irritated at suggestions about more simple cases. Resistance is characteristic of this stage, because the supervisees sense of self cab feel easily threatened. Advanced supervisees function independently, seek consultation when appropriate, and feel responsible for their own choices. For example, at my current beginner stage, I am expected to have limited skills and lack confidence as a counsellor, as I am only starting out as a trainee. With more time on the job, I should develop more skills and confidence, and perhaps conflicting feelings about perceived independence/dependence on my supervisor. In a later developmental stage, I would be expected to show high level communication abilities, good problem-solving skills and be reflective about the counselling and supervisory process (Haynes, Corey, Moulton, 2003). An awareness of these development stages can be very comforting, as I am not expected to be perfect on the first day on the job, or know everything about the field immediately. Rather, the expectation is that I have a capacity to learn, grow and improve, and each day be a little bit better. Supervision and professional development is important as it assists in the maintenance and improvement of my standard of practice. It can incorporate self directed and assisted learning, on the job training and coaching, include education through case discussions and presentations, and learning from our successes and mistakes (Powell, 1993). It is very encouraging to know that supervision can be something in addition to just making things clearer or providing a fresh approach to casework. Something more than focus and insight from a third party, or a sign that I am on the right track, or the opportunity to vent my frustrations concerning clients. In counselling, it has been put forward that supervision be entrenched into a broader discussion of lifelong learning, where supervision is viewed as one of a range of support and learning tools that counsellors may be encouraged to access (McMahon and Patton, 20002). Lifelong learning is being seen as essential for everyone, and, just as supervision in focused on preventing burn out and promoting personal development, lifelong learning is also primarily focused on sustaining longevity and endurance within working life (Holmes, 2002). Learning is the process of individuals constructing and transforming experience into knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, beliefs, emotions (Holmes, 2002), all of which are also sought after outcomes of supervision, and of practical use in counselling. Supervision encourages counsellors to reflect on their knowledge, skills, values and beliefs in order to bring to supervision an account of their experience, and through supervision transform it in such a way that it is significant and substantial, and able to be transferred into their work and personal learning (McMahon and Patton, 20002). Assisting and promoting the supervisees learning and professional development is primarily a matter of providing appropriate teaching and learning environments (Stoltenberg Delworth, 1987) and may involve the supervisor in providing students with opportunities to reflect on their values and to examine the influence of such values in the counsellors work with clients. The aim is to take full advantage of and recognise growth needed for the future, continuously identifying new areas of growth in a life-long learning process (McMahon and Patton, 20002). Conclusion Administrative supervision is something I am very familiar with after working in the public service for a dozen years. More often as peer supervision due to availability of personnel and cost, but also group and one-on-one supervision applied to different kinds of tasks. It was an activity that I found very helpful for my work, as it allowed me to be more efficient, effective, provide a more professional output, and to promote information sharing concerning best practice, improvements and innovations. This kind of supervision was strictly impersonal, and all about work. Unfortunately, there was little attention paid to the workers, and their well being, growth and development. Counselling supervision, on the other hand, has an extra dimension that is not considered when dealing with purely administrative matters. It takes a more holistic view of helping others, and acknowledges that we cannot help others unless we also help ourselves. Counselling supervision acknowledges that the counsellor is a part of the dialogue, and cannot be removed from the equation, and so takes steps to limit harm for all parties, to ensure that prejudices or preconceptions of the counsellor do not impact on any therapeutic relationship. Counselling supervision takes it that extra step to look at supporting the counsellor in their work, and in their development. Egan focuses very well on this when he looks at a certain level of self-knowledge, self-awareness and maturity as an essential requirement to being an effective counsellor (Egan, 2007). Supervision provides a space where counsellors can acknowledge and challenge any blind spots, overcome biases and become better counsellors. An appropriate supervisory relationship can help broaden therapeutic skills. It can be used to develop interventions and provide insights for assessments. Supervision can be used to focus on relational issues in order to cultivate patient/client resources, and to build up and support a counsellors own therapeutic influence. Supervision should enable counsellors to acquire new professional and personal insights through their own experiences.

Effects Of Rising Fuel Prices Economics Essay

Effects Of Rising Fuel Prices Economics Essay This research project is being written because currently the UK is experiencing a recession, which has escalated the price of fuel and is affecting the supermarkets. The research will examine the impact of fuel prices on different supermarkets and their approaches taken to boost sales and improve competitiveness. The intended reason for presenting this research project is to show how supermarkets can become more efficient and supportive. In order to answer the research question the following criteria will be addressed: Formulate a research specification Implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification Evaluation of research outcomes Present the research outcomes The fuel prices will be compared and contrasted for the supermarkets during the past 5 years between 2008 2012. It will then make recommendations based on the findings of the research and analysis. This report is to be completed by 22nd April 2013. Methodology This research which is being provided has made use of different resources; lecture notes, textbooks, newspapers, discussions with family members and internet websites for the different organisations mentioned e.g. Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco In order to complement the secondary data derived from research studies and published material, telephone interviews with several supermarkets will be conducted. The interview will include questions for the supermarkets both, as a consumer and a supplier of fuel directly to its customers. The research objectives looking to be achieved by the end of this report are Using available secondary data, to establish the pattern and trends of the impact of fuel prices on supermarkets in the last 5 years Collecting primary data to obtain first-hand account from company personnel, about their decisions and adopted strategies to manage the impact of rising prices, both as a consumer and supplier of fuel To make a set of recommendations on fuel incentive programme based on core product offerings This study was conducted as part of a HND in Business unit which involves conducting research and then presenting this in the form of a research project which takes into account all the research gathered. The main purpose of this unit is to conduct research on a topic or any current issues. It was decided to conduct my research based around How the increase in the cost of fuel is affecting supermarkets in 2008 compared to 2012. In order to help obtain individual and business views on how the price increase is affecting them, this will involve the gathering of information from 1:1 telephone calls and face-to-face interviews with supermarkets. The completed questionnaires will help make an overall analysis of the data at the end, in order to produce an evaluative report based on the findings. With the research provided, this helped me look at gaining more insight into how different supermarkets are operating in the current recession and what changes would be made in order to cope with the increase in fuel prices. Therefore this led to the setting of the aim, about exploring further into how supermarkets are operating by the fuel price increase in terms of distribution and sales. With the production of this research project, the supermarkets will benefit the most alongside the oil companies and consumers. However, the petrol stations will also need information in order to succeed. The need for the report is to highlight the price variations and how supermarkets adapt to change. Methodology Chapter Currently the global economy is experiencing a recession. As a result of this, the economy and individuals are facing problems like a rise in unemployment levels which means it is becoming harder to get a job, fuel prices increasing and a decline in the overall market level. In conclusion the recession means that the business sector is hit the largest alongside consumers. When doing the project there will be various steps involved. Firstly this will establish the goal of the overall chosen research topic How the increase in the cost of fuel is affecting supermarkets, and then determine my sample in regards to views on how and why the fuel prices are affecting the supermarkets. The next step would be the creation of the questionnaire which is to be distributed amongst businesses and those being interviewed. The research collected from the questionnaire will focus on prices paid for fuel. The interviews would be conducted and then data collated. Whilst carrying out my research into the topic about the fuel price increase the question which came to mind was Does the fuel price increase, as a result of the recession, affect supermarkets on a day-to-day operation? In regards to this researched question, this has led to me thinking about the level of impact in which fuel prices is having on different supermarkets. Therefore this helped me choose this as my research topic fuel price increase. In terms of the research question, my research objective which is being looked to be achieved is To identify the ways in which businesses operate in terms of distribution and delivery and how this contributes to success or failure. Research into the topic of fuel prices was chosen as it is a continual business issue, relates to the economy and was an interesting topic to gain more insight into. The other research idea Should healthy eating be promoted within schools? was discarded as it does not link into business, but brings in more persuasive ideas regarding healthy eating. The research objective was to identify the ways in which healthy eating can be encouraged. This type of issue is a continuing debate and has been discussed by the government and the NHS, leading to a variety of initiatives e.g. 5 a day. Should Microsoft technology be improved for businesses? was the other research topic but was then eliminated as it already improves regularly and helps them become more up-to-date. The objective of this research idea was To investigate into the type of features preferred by businesses and any improvements they would recommend. This project takes an Inductive approach, supported by secondary data gained from published reports and scholarly work. Also, primary data was obtained through a series of telephone interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. Implementing the inductive research approach was successful for this research project as the research question acquired various perspectives. Therefore, the overall conclusion could not be drawn until the research had been analysed. One benefit of using the inductive approach was that the main categories emerge as data is collected and analysed (BPP p234-235). However there were different limitations like it being time consuming and an intensive research method which required high levels of resources to help compare different views. Having collected all the information it would therefore not reveal any results at the end based on the analysis. This type of approach involves Qualitative data as the results were not number based and was targeted at a smaller population which consisted of supermarket transport managers who would have vast knowledge of fuel prices. This therefore helps ensure my results are valid, reliable and objective. The limitation experienced was that the reliability of the data was purely dependent upon my organisational skills and analytical knowledge. As the questionnaire was my collection method alongside interviews, this meant that it helped me check the reliability of the gathered data and explore ideas deeper through the interviews. For this research topic, the survey method will be implemented and will involve preparation of a questionnaire which will be answered by the various supermarkets. Using the survey method will help obtain information which can be analysed and patterns extracted and comparisons made (Bell, 1999). Non-Probability Sampling is a sampling method which is conducted and relies on the judgement of the researcher/s in terms of selecting their respondents. The sample size for the research used is smaller and this meant it could be targeted at specific respondents. The type of sampling method carried out for the research provided was Convenience Sampling because it allowed communication to specific people within the company. This method does not require or use any sample design. This sampling method was chosen over others e.g Random, Systematic or Quota sampling method due to the reason that it helped provide useful information, as the sample was kept representative according to the organisations being investigated into. Besides this type of sampling, Convenience sampling was more relevant to my research compared to Random Sampling, which would have involved the selection of the population randomly. It was decided as the 2nd type of sampling due to the fact that it works well with small groups. The questionnaire will provide information from the perspective of supermarkets, being both consumers and suppliers. Supermarkets consume fuel as part of their distribution costs and supply fuel to customers at their petrol stations. A questionnaire was created in order to help acquire very specific information from the interviewees. Research was conducted first hand because there was no research team available. Asking specific questions will help provide precise data which can be compared and analysed in the report. However, questionnaire responses may be misunderstood and have an adverse impact on overall comparisons. Information obtained relates to the current situation and was gathered within a short span of time, resulting in brief answers. The responses from the questionnaire will be put into a bar chart to show the comparisons of how the supermarkets are operating in terms of the fuel price increase. By putting the data in the form of a bar chart, it would help summarise the large set of data easily and can be understood. However there were other methods e.g. pie charts and histograms, which were discarded as the bar charts would represent the data more easily and at the end was able to make straightforward overall comparisons. Table 1 Research Action Plan Task 17/05/12- 24/05/12 25/05/12- 31/05/12 17/09/12- 21/09/12 22/09/12- 28/09/12 01/10/12-09/10/12 08/11/12 15/11/12 16/11/12 22/11/12 Topic Selection Complete Action Plan Complete Code of Ethics Complete Data Collection Complete Questionnaire Complete Research Obj Complete Sampling method Complete Proposal completion Complete Throughout this project the milestone progress reviews took place: When the research topic was decided upon 31st May 2012 On finalisation and gathering of literature sources mentioned in the literature review When the research project proposal had been done 22nd November 2012 On completion of main report critique Code of Ethics To ensure, within this project, the content included is based on my findings To monitor and record progress on the action plan progress table Completion of the research project within the specified time limit Questionnaire responses kept confidentially and not distributed amongst other interviewees Only to use qualitative data once approved by interviewee Interviewees receive copies of the final report Advantages of surveys Disadvantages of surveys Focus on data in comparison to theory Data implication can be ignored Caters for small-scale qualitative research Questionnaires and sampling could lead to lack in depth and detail Allows use of tools like questionnaire and telephone 1:1 interviews Inaccurate or not honest responses Results obtained fairly quick Time consuming in terms of accuracy and honesty If survey structure well organised then this means the analysis is made easier Surveys provide a range Sources of data and methods of data collation It was decided that there were advantages to collecting and using further existing secondary data, such as time and cost saving. However, since the data has been acquired by someone else, it could be out of date or unreliable. Because of this, it is imperative that the research is checked to ensure it is accurate and reliable to use for the research question. The research into surveys, deduced that Denscombe (1998) had proposed pros and cons as follows: Supermarkets will have cartels Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) who will sell fuel to wholesalers e.g. Shell and then sell it to Tesco. This will mean that Tesco will be dependent upon OPEC when getting their fuel. Whilst OPEC is a cartel, this means they would be known to dominate the market and want to get suitable prices. If Tesco were to make agreements with OPEC, they would find it hard because OPEC will not receive any benefits. Overall this issue would have a big significance on Tesco because they dont have any control with aspects such as how much petrol OPEC will supply to them as well as the prices charged. Justify the chosen methodology Morrisons Faculty team was involved in the collection of the primary data. They answered the questions accurately and the information provided, led to a better understanding about their operations. This helped to obtain the correct data, which provided other essential data based around current and future actions. There are minimal academic literature based around the topic of fuel prices which can be studied in order to help draw up an overall judgement based on the findings. This is a systematic topic and has been discussed by various experts in this field. Since secondary data collation involved collecting information from that which someone else had collected, the information was reviewed before including it in this research project. It was necessary to compare the different sources of secondary information and to include it after review. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/16/article-0-12327C8B000005DC-223_468x343.jpghttp://www.gscape.com/images/econ/charts/WeeklyFuelPrices130212.gif UK Fuel Prices for Monday 17th September 2012 Avg Min Max Unleaded 140.05p 133.9p 152.9p Diesel 144.39p 138.9p 156.9p Super Unleaded 147.72p 139.9p 159.9p Premium Diesel 153.02p 146.9p 161.9p LPG 74.94p 67.7p 83.9p According to http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/03/20/inflation-continues-fall-despite-the-rise-in-petrol-prices/ The Consumer Price (CPI) Index rate of inflation had fallen from 3.6% in January to 3.4% the following month during February. David Kern, the Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce said, The marked increases in world oil and food prices since the beginning of the year are worrying and support our view that further declines in domestic inflation, both this year and next, will not be as sharp as the Banks Monetary Policy Committee. Conferring to the Daily Express on Tuesday 15th May 2012, Morrisons announced they were going to reduce their petrol prices by 2p a litre. This action being taken would lead to price wars occurring between both supermarkets and petrol stations e.g. BP, Esso and Texaco. As a result of Morrisons decreasing their fuel prices, this has led to other retailers looking to consider doing this. The main reason why Morrisons has chosen this is because it will help them stay more competitive especially in the current UK recession. With retailers like Tesco, they were considering 2p cut in prices as well as their 5p off vouchers on top. In accordance to the Telegraph published online, it mentions that The cost of oil has jumped 30pc over the last four months, raising fears that the recent easing in inflation would be temporary. Petrol prices rose 3.5p per litre during last month to  £1.35 while diesel increased 3.3p to  £1.40. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/9549808/UK-inflation-eases-in-August-despite-rising-fuel-costs.html It is known that having high fuel prices will mean that various industries e.g. Primary Sector, Secondary Sector, Tertiary Sector and the commercial industry who rely on any form of transportation will find themselves having to increase their prices in order to maintain their profits and be cost effective. According to the Daily Express as of Thursday 6th September 2012, it mentions about The Office of Fair trading (OFT) looking further into the fuel price increase and their inquiry will address competition issues and concerns over price co-ordination. From customers views they reckon that when the price of crude oil decreases, this is not being reflected at the pump as quick as they would like. The Daily telegraph published 21st March 2012, talks about due to both fuel prices and food, this is therefore leading to higher living costs. There have been experts who warn that the situation is unlikely to improve in the short-term. Experts have warned that drivers may either change their job or quit as a result of an increase in fuel duty. It has been proven that A hike in fuel costs at the start of the holiday season will backfire as many people are already cutting back. Jayne Atherton mentions in the Metro newspaper on Wednesday 21st March 2012 that most manufacturers are likely to raise prices because of the spiralling cost of oil. Its believed that any added rises in the cost of oil will be a significant concern. Its mentioned within the Metro newspaper dated 25th September 2012 about 2 supermarkets starting a fuel price war; Asda and Morrisons. In terms of this price war, Asda say they will cut their prices on both unleaded and diesel by 3p to 135.7p and 139.7p. Conversely Morrisons also took the same action by reducing their prices 3p. This price war will therefore lead to other supermarkets e.g. Tesco, Sainsburys, Esso, Texaco and BP, wanting to follow the same procedure. Asda had an income tracker report done in 2008 which showed the huge impact high fuel prices have on the average familys monthly budget. During August it was reported that apart from fuel prices staying low last year, the costs at the pumps had rose. Within the Daily Mail on Saturday 22nd September 2012, it says that as oil has been rising slowly over months from $100 a barrel to $115 a barrel, this has pushed petrol prices and energy bills up for different UK households. Oil prices have however fallen dramatically within previous days with fears about the slowdown in the global economy hitting demand. The metro newspaper on 10th October mentions that as cost of fuel continues to rise, this is urging motorists to stay off the roads. As motorists vanish, most are staying off the roads to help save money and also reduce their unnecessary trips. The only constant they see is the fact wages arent increasing in line with inflation but there are other costs particularly petrol and diesel that are going up. Ross McGuiness makes a decision about them having no option but to cut back and some people have cut out their cars. His study into the fuel price increase leads to the debate about how prices are increased and passed on. As argued by Brian Madderson, he mentions that when purchasing fuel which costs  £50,000, 60% of the cost is made of fuel duty and VAT. This cost is paid by small retailers to the government through the supplier before the tax is collected from the customers. This led to him believing that is absurd. Furthermore Chris Hunt, General Director at UK Petroleum Industry Association, stated that rising fuel costs are down to emerging car sales markets within China and India. Chris Hunt also argues that increasing fuel prices will decrease number of sales, but will on the other hand lead to oil suppliers across UK, not profiteering. With the 3p increase in fuel duty, it was believed that benefits would arise such as creating of over 70,000 jobs and boost economy growth by 0.2%. Sky news also states that We appreciate the Governments aspiration to reduce the deficit but know that hiking fuel duty up by 3p in January will only make things much worse. This therefore shows that the change would make the deficit greater and not help the economy become more stable. FairFuel UKs national spokesman Quentin Willson said: We have always argued that fuel duty shouldnt be the Treasurys sacred cash cow it should be used as a lever for growth. George Osborne mentioned that the current fuel price increase which was set for January is to be scrapped. This was demolished with the aim to help the pressure put on workers and families who are currently in need. This increase was also considered carefully as it would coincide with the rail fares increasing and changes to child benefits. Going ahead with the 3p rise, doesnt make sense for economic recovery and deficit reduction. Lee Boyce argues that with the petrol price decrease, it is still making consumers pay more at the pumps. The AA, goes along with Lee Boyces idea concerning the prices not dropping enough. In relation to the prices paid by customers, it was found by AA that drivers were also once again suffering from a price postcode lottery where motorists in one area were charged as much as 5p a litre more than drivers a few miles away. Before 2002, the real price of fuel had been dropping, which led to a decrease in the numbers of fuel-poor households. The real price increases since 2003, resulted in a doubling of the fuel poor from 1.2 million households in England in 2003 to 2.4 million in 2006. In the White Paper, the government predicted some possible future fuel price scenarios and their likely effect on fuel poverty numbers. The graph below illustrates this: Figure : England Households in fuel poverty Graph 1: England households in fuel poverty One of the best insights into why the UK is failing on fuel poverty comes from a statement in 1976 by an early campaigner, Marigold Johnson, when commenting on the rise in fuel prices after the first oil crisis in 1973. It was believed it was Societys failure to plan for an age of high-cost fuels. Subsequently, fuel prices have risen and at faster rate than the RPI (Retail Price Index), during every year since 2003. Increase size in 2005, 2006, 2008 has been severe. With an increase of 105% in residential fuel prices since 2000, this sets against a RPI increase of 26%, which represents a real fuel price increase of 62%. Residential fuel prices within the UK, have effectively increased by 84% between 2000 and Fe February 2009 for the average household. When the cause of a fuel price rise is international energy costs, then the problem, is, to an extent, out of the governments control. Government and OFGEM (Office of the gas and electricity markets) are trying to ensure that price increases which are passed onto the customers are justified. Governments own coffers are receiving more money from the VAT levied at 5% on rising fuel prices. It would be expected that there is recognition regarding fuel poverty policy consisting of disastrous effects in which rapid fuel prices can have on the fuel poor, particularly since 2003. The potential impact of these price increases on progress towards meeting the targets set out in The UK Fuel Poverty strategy means efforts will need to focus on finding most sustainable way of tackling fuel poverty. During 2008, world oil prices were US $145 and during 2009 went down to $39, leading to predictions about fuel price levels and fuel poverty extent being difficult. Current Fuel prices Average Minimum Maximum Unleaded 138.6p 132.9p 151.9p Diesel 143.3p 137.9p 156.9p 22.2 Domestic freight transport: by mode Great Britain percentage 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 5,6 2005 7 2006 2007 8 2008 9 2009 10 Goods moved (billion tonnes kilometres) Petroleum products Road1 ZBZP 5.0 6.4 5.8 5.2 5.5 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.1 6.5 4.8 Rail2 ZBZQ 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4 Water3 ZBZR 48.6 52.7 43.5 51.7 46.9 46.9 47.2 37.8 36.4 36.4 36.4 of which: coastwise ZBZS 33.3 26.0 23.1 24.2 23.3 26.6 30.3 22.7 25.0 26.5 27.1 Pipeline9 ZBZT 11.6 11.4 11.5 10.9 10.5 10.7 10.8 10.8 10.2 10.2 10.2 All modes ZBZU 66.7 71.9 62.0 69.0 64.1 64.5 64.7 55.8 53.3 54.6 52.8 Coal and coke Road1 ZBZV 2.2 1.5 2.1 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.0 1.0 Rail2 ZBZW 4.8 4.8 6.2 5.7 5.8 6.7 8.3 8.8 7.7 7.9 6.2 Water3 ZBZX 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 All modes ZBZY 7.5 6.5 8.8 7.5 7.9 8.5 10.2 10.4 9.8 9.5 7.5 Other traffic Road1 ZBZZ 150.5 151.5 150.6 152.7 154.7 155.6 156.4 159.7 166.4 156.0 137.6 Rail2 ZCAA 11.9 11.9 12.0 11.7 11.9 12.5 12.2 11.8 11.9 11.2 11.4 Water3 ZCAB 9.6 14.6 14.8 15.2 13.5 12.3 13.3 13.5 13.9 12.7 11.9 All modes ZCAC 172.0 178.0 177.4 179.6 180.0 180.4 181.9 185.0 192.2 179.9 161.0 All traffic Road1 KCTA 157.7 159.4 158.5 159.4 161.7 162.5 163.4 166.7 173.1 163.5 143.5 Rail2 KCTB 18.2 18.1 19.4 18.5 18.9 20.4 21.7 21.9 21.2 20.6 19.1 Water3 ZCAD 58.7 67.4 58.8 67.2 60.9 59.5 60.9 51.9 50.8 49.7 48.6 Pipeline KCTE 11.6 11.4 11.5 10.9 10.5 10.7 10.8 10.8 10.2 10.2 10.2 All modes KCTF 246.2 256.3 248.2 256.0 252.0 253.0 256.8 251.3 255.3 244.0 221.3 Percentage of all traffic Road1 ZCAE 64.0 62.0 64.0 62.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 66.0 68.0 67.0 65.0 Rail2 ZCAF 7.0 7.0 8.0 7.0 7.0

Millennium Development Goals and Jamaica Essay -- International Develo

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) represents the basic necessities and rights that any human would want to enjoy. It is a nationwide commitment made in September 2000 at a United Nations Millennium Summit meeting by 189 countries including Jamaica (Sweetman, 2005, p.2). Its emergence came as a major objective in an effort toward global development within a fifteen (15) year period. These objectives are targeted at the poorest sets of people in the world and are geared towards eliminating severe poverty and improving the provisions of good health and well-being. There are eight goals to be accomplished by 2015, each having more than one target. 1. Eradication of poverty and hunger- the target is to half the rate of the world’s poverty and hunger and to achieve full and productive employment for all. 2. Achieving universal primary education – its aim, to ensure that all children will at least attain and successfully complete the primary level education. 3. Promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women – aimed at seeing more women in parliament, girl to boy ratio in primary, secondary and tertiary schooling 4. Decreasing child mortality – that is, reducing the death rate by at least two-thirds in children who are under five (5) years old and ensuring that all infants are properly immunized by the time they get to age one. 5. Improvement in maternal health – aimed at reducing maternal mortality and ensuring that mothers giving birth are attended to by skilled health personnel. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases – aimed at educating persons about the important use of condoms and contraceptives in order to reduce and prevent these diseases. 7. Ensure environmental sustainability –aimed at inte... ... also incurred a legacy of debt, has a very low growth rate, high crime rate and is considered to be risky borrowers. BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS Sweetman, C. (2005).Gender and the Millennium Development Goal. Oxfam Publishers. Oxford, London. ARTICLES Sunday Observer, September 26, 2010. To achieve the ultimate Millennium Development Goal. WEBSITES National Report of Jamaica on MDG for the UN Economic and Social Council Annual Ministerial Review, Geneva 2009. Planning Institute of Jamaica. Retrieved on November 16, 2010 form www.jm.undp.org/ National Report United Nations (2000), â€Å"Millennium Development Goals†. Retrieved November 17, 2010 from www.mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Host.aspx World Health Organization (2005). Health and the Millennium Goals, retrieved November 18, 2010 from www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/en

Lizabeths Experiences in Marigolds by Eugenia Collier Essay -- essays

'Marigolds' is a story written by the author Eugenia Collier. It is considered a 'coming of age story.' A coming of age story is a story where the protagonist becomes an adult through experiences, knowledge, or an adventure. Throughout the story the main character, Lizabeth, goes through experiences that upset her. These experiences teach her to have compassion and not to be afraid of hope and beauty. 'For all the smoldering emotions of that summer swelled up in me and burst-the great need for my mother who was never there, the hopelessness of our poverty and degradation, the bewilderment of being neither child nor woman and both at once, the fear unleashed by my father's tears.' This quote from the story explains what was troubling Lizabeth. As a child her mother wasn't around often...

Cruise holidays (written for Punyabhumi Ltd)

If your kids or grandchildren have been raving about the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow at sea, then maybe it’s time you discovered the allure of the ocean for yourself! We’re not talking about meeting pirates or find gold doubloons on sunken ships, but luxuriating in the sheer bliss of sailing on a cruise liner. Whether you’re a stressed-out professional who hardly gets to see their partner on weekdays, a single person looking for romance and adventure, or a parent who’s longing for some family time with your children and spouse, there’s something about cruises that appeals to everyone! A cruise vacation is a wonderfully unique opportunity to experience the romance of the sea as well as the appeal of exotic destinations, and is a charming way to spend a few days of quality time with your partner. Most cruises pack so much into a couple of days—luxurious cabins, lazy walks on the deck, gourmet meals, entertainment shows, live bands, swimming pools complete with Jacuzzis, shopping and sight-seeing at exquisite ports—that the cruise is the perfect quick fix to chase your blues away, and have you walking on air for weeks to come! The two most popular cruise destinations from Chennai are Phuket and Colombo, both managed by the SuperStar Libra operators. The Libra is a state-of-the-art ocean liner, touted as a world-class luxury floating resort where the service is warm and the accommodations elegant. The ship offers you all the facilities you would expect from a five-star resort: mouth-watering menus at every meal, internet access, medical care, shopping and even conference and meeting rooms for those workaholics who want to catch up with business as they relax! The liner has a breathtaking ten decks, with over seven hundred luxury cabins. It can accommodate over one thousand and four hundred passengers on a single cruise. There are rooms ranging from the aristocratic executive suites (Rs 21,999/- per night per passenger) to the ocean-view staterooms (ranging from Rs 7,200 to Rs 11,000 per night per passenger, depending on the kind of view available from each cabin) with a choice of cabins with portholes, so you can gaze at the dazzlingly-clear night sky as you drift off contentedly into sleep at night! ). The Libra also features several restaurants on board, each offering you a tastefully organized dining experience. Check out Coconut Willy’s, the poolside restaurant where you can lounge in your swimsuit and sample the delightful menu, or the Pool Bar, which is exclusively for drinks and enticing cocktails. For a more formal dining experience, visit the Saffron, which features traditional Indian vegetarian meals, including Jain cuisine; there is also the enchanting Four Seasons restaurant for those who prefer continental meals. If you’re taking the kids along, chances are you won’t be able to tear them away from the aptly-named Lickety Splits, the ice-cream bar straight out of a child’s version of paradise! And where do we even begin to describe the various entertainment rooms? There’s The Bollywood, which is the karaoke lounge; the Galaxy of the Stars, a cocktail lounge with a live band; the discotheque, Boomer’s; Video Planet, for those compulsive gamers who periodically feel the need to blast the stuffing out of animated villains, and much, much more! The Libra cruise to Phuket gives you three days and four nights of memorable sailing. This is a typical â€Å"high sea† cruise, meaning that it’s the closest thing to heaven for those who want nothing more than to bask in the enchantment that three continuous days of open water can give you! Phuket also offers you the delight of turquoise waters and exploration in its rustic villages. The Libra Chennai-Colombo cruise is for three days and two nights, which includes one complete day of the high sea experience. Indian Holiday Pvt Ltd organizes cruises for you, and online bookings are available at www. indianholiday. com. To book a cruise on the Libra, go to www. indianholiday. com/star-cruise-packages/star-cruise-libra. Indian Holiday organizes cruises from their Mumbai office only. To plan your cruise with a Chennai operator, contact Travel Air Madras, featured below. If you want a wider choice of destinations, check out the cruises that operate from Mumbai. As Ms Gupta from Travel Air Madras tells us, Mumbai is the most flourishing point of departure for cruises to ever-popular destinations such as Mauritius and Lakshadweep. The four-night Cochin/Goa cruise is an excellent option, which takes you from historical forts to ravishing beaches in the space of three days! This cruise operates between December and February, so plan your trip accordingly. February is the best time, neither harshly cold nor uncomfortably warm, and there is very little chance of stormy weather. The Lakshadweep/Goa cruise for four nights has two shore stops, Kadmat and Goa. Kadmat is an island paradise, just eight kilometres long and half a kilometre wide! If you’re the adventurous type, you can indulge in water sports like scuba-diving, parasailing, snorkeling and kayaking at Kadmat’s gorgeous lagoons, or if you’d prefer, just lie back and drink in the vivid blue of the ocean from one of the memorable glass-bottomed tourist boats! (Swimming skills are mandatory for all water sports, and children under fourteen years cannot participate in diving. The water at Kadmat is crystal clear, and you can gaze at the vibrant marine life up to a depth of an amazing fifty metres. This cruise operates four times a month between October and April every year. Travel Air Madras is a tour operator which plans your cruise right from booking your air tickets to Mumbai and finding you a cruise holiday to suit your tastes and requirements. Rates begin at approximately Rs 500 0/- per night per person (excluding taxes). The one- and two-night cruises on the Libra feature Goa as the most popular destination, while three-night cruises take you to Kadmat in Lakshadweep and bring you back. Rates are inclusive of three meals a day, access to the onboard swimming pool, Jacuzzi and gym, and live entertainment shows in exquisite lounge areas on the ship, which has a professional live band if you want to add to the music of the waves! Air Travel Madras also offers special seasonal discounts; for example, the Valentine’s Day discount is for cruises booked up to March 1st, and gives you an attractive 50% off on your partner’s fare. To avail of this offer, you need to complete your cruise by April 14th. Call 2852-3095 or 2852-1623, or email Usha at u. [email  protected] com for more details. If you want a less touristy cruise, you could also consider a river cruise to the enigmatic Sundarbans. Two luxury river launches, the M. V. Chitrarekha and the M. V. Madhukar, make weekly two-day trips which take you into the heart of the mangrove forests to observe the enchanting wildlife and drift along the delta created by the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. Both ships inclu de upper observation decks. The gourmet Bengali meals alone are worth the experience! Entertainment includes on-board dancing. The best time to take this river cruise is between September and March, when you also get the chance to see rare migratory birds. So leave your copy of Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide at home on your bookshelf, and witness the charms of the famed diving dolphins for yourself. You can even catch a glimpse of the Bengal tigers sunbathing on the banks! This cruise is operated by the government’s tourism department, and departs from Kolkata (just a couple of hours from Chennai by air). A two-day trip costs Rs 2500/- per passenger during the tourist season, and off-season rates are Rs 1175/- per passenger. You can book your ticket at the Bengal Tourism office located at 2, Brabourne Road, Kolkata. Call 033-2225-4565/8183/4723-25 or email [email  protected] net. Vivada Cruises has also introduced Sundarbans cruises from January 2007 with the luxury cruiser Paramahamsa, featuring three decks and over thirty elegant cabins, as well as restaurants, a gymnasium, and a library with internet connectivity. The package is priced at Rs 20,000 per passenger for the Luxury class, and Rs 15,000 per passenger for the Comfort class. For a fascinating voyage through a near-pristine land, book yourself on the Paramahamsa! With its contemporary interiors and tranquil ambience, the cruiser is also the perfect venue for business conferences and wedding receptions. Call 033-2463-1990/1/2/3 or email [email  protected] com or [email  protected] com. With Star Cruises, the world’s third largest cruise company, now operating in India, we now have local access to a special experience from our own ports which equal international standards of quality and luxury. A cruise is a wonderful experience at any time, but you may want to consider one to commemorate a special occasion such as your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. For those who want to nudge their parents into rediscovering romance during a second honeymoon, a cruise holiday package is also a gift that your parents are sure to cherish forever! So if you’ve been thinking of stealing your spouse away from the routines of everyday life, or if you want to remember an unforgettable occasion in an exceptional way, consider treating yourself to this holiday experience like no other! Article 2: Fort St George (written for Ritz magazine) History in Our Own Backyard! Date: 20 February, 1640 A. D. Place: A small, nondescript fishing village on the Coromandel coast A small band of British soldiers land for the first time on the East Coast of India. Realizing quickly that they will need to work fast if they are to claim this territory before the French do, they set to work creating a garrison. They are hard-pressed for land, but a local farmer called Madrasan offers them the use of his banana grove. The Raja of Chandragiri, the last of the great rulers of the Vijayanagar empire, accedes to their request. Two months later, their military base is established and christened Fort St George. And thus, the city of Madras is born. They say that old buildings are silent, watchful observers of history. From the beginnings of the British Raj, this familiar fort has witnessed the evolution of one of India’s largest cities. Fort St George in Chennai has the somewhat dubious distinction of being the first fort that the British built in India. More importantly, however, the fort made the small settlement of Madraspatnam a flourishing port, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that had this fort not been built, Madras would not have developed into a city. Built a mere forty-four years after the East India trading company arrived in India in 1600 A. D. , Fort St George helped the British establish a stronghold on the east coast, and remains one of the most famous landmarks of the city. The fort was named after St George, the patron saint of England. The British used the fort as their main settlement in India until 1774, when they declared Calcutta as the seat of their administration. The fort not only helped the British establish a settlement in the small South Indian fishing village, but also to create a stronghold from which to defend themselves against the forces of the neighbouring kingdoms. Arcot and Srirangapatnam were not far away, and the French had taken Pondicherry. Had the British not built the fort, it may have proved difficult for them to establish their power in the south. Consequently, they invested much effort in fortifying the area. The fort is surrounded by walls that are over six metres high, as well as a formidable-looking moat. Although it’s tempting to think that vicious crocodiles once swam in the waters of the moat to terrorize the enemy, legend has it that the moat was created not so much to defend the fort as to keep inquisitive â€Å"natives† away from it. The British called the fort area their ‘White Town,’ as opposed to the ‘Black Town’ outside its walls, where the â€Å"coloured† people lived. Despite its name, the fort is not â€Å"really† a fort, but more a collection of buildings made by the British in the Neoclassical style, many of which were remodeled in subsequent times. Within a couple of decades after the fort was founded, St Mary’s Church also came to be erected within the fort area. The church, the oldest British one in India, is often described as the Westminster Abbey of the East. According to popular opinion, St Mary’s is also the oldest British church outside Europe. The church also found itself being used as a military dormitory for three brief years, when the French seized it from the British from 1746 to 1749. Don’t forget to take a peek into the visitor’s book when you visit—it still has comments dating back over a hundred years! Opposite the church are Clive House and Wellesley House, named after the respective governors who lived in them (Wellesley later went on to become the Duke of Wellington, and defeated Napoleon at Waterloo). Robert Clive was married in St Mary’s Church, as was Elihu Yale, the founder of Yale University. Yale, who was Governor of the city and is said to have made his fortune in India, had a 46-metre teak flagpole erected, from which it is believed that the Union Jack was unfurled for the first time in India. The pole was actually the mast of a ship that was wrecked in the seventeenth century. It still stands today, bearing, of course, a different flag! The original teak, however, was replaced with metal in 1994. This flagpole is the oldest in the country. Although the government has its Secretariat in the offices of Clive House, much of it is also a grand museum. The Fort Museum is open from 10 a. m. to 5 p. . on all days except Fridays, and includes ten galleries with relics from the British and French empires. The magnificent banqueting hall on the first floor has portraits of the earliest governors, and there are many remnants of the British era, including palanquins, coins, weapons, paintings and manuscripts. You can also see as large, imposing statue of Lord Cornwallis, as well as documents hand-written by Cornwallis and Clive. The statue depicts a sad scene: Tipu Sultan’s two young sons being handed over to the British because their father was unable to pay the large sum of money demanded by Cornwallis. Tipu Sultan’s cannons can be seen outside the museum. Both Aurangzeb and Hyder Ali also attacked the fort several times in the eighteenth century, but it was so well-fortified that they could not break its defences. The pentagon-shaped gun ramparts slope down to the moat, and were once connected to five drawbridges that led to the fort. These bridges have since been replaced by roads. From the first landing of the British to the tsunami, the fort has witnessed almost four centuries of Chennai’s history. Will it still be there in another four hundred years’ time, its walls as impassive and unchanged? One can only wonder! Article 3: Barry Burn Lodge, South Africa (written for a travel website) Barry Burn Lodge is situated in the gorgeous Lowveld area, a small, serene world of timeless beauty. Enjoy sunsets of unrivalled beauty. Fresh breezes greet each warm tropical day. In this tranquil spot, the altitude and the sun create the perfect tropical climate to vacation in! Some of Africa's most memorable sights will delight you here. The estate is a stone’s throw away from the must-see Kruger National Park. The accommodation includes a stylish open-plan dining room and kitchen, fully operational for your culinary needs, and with the added convenience of a fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher. Barry Burn Lodge also offers laundry services with a washing machine and tumble dryer. Relax at the well-furnished lounge and bar, equipped with a fireplace which creates a wonderfully cozy ambience on chilly evenings. The lounge opens out on to a beautiful sundeck with braai facilities, which is a magnificent setting in which to absorb the serene beauty of your surroundings, or to unwind after a hard day’s vacationing! Upstairs, discover the joys of a loft room with TV and M-Net (DSTV dish is available, but you need to carry your own decoder. The loft leads on to a charming balcony from which to enjoy a sundowner, with a fantastic panoramic view of the expansive, lush green fairways of the Golf Estate. The accommodation at Barry Burn Lodge includes 4 bedrooms, all with bathrooms en-suite, containing 2 double bedrooms with Queen size beds, as well as 2 bedrooms with 2 single beds in each. Bed linen and bath towels are available for your necessities. Please carry your own swimming towels. There are several delightful activities to enjoy in and around Barry Burn Lodge. Enjoy the facilities of a championship golf course, with its picturesque fairways, water obstacles, and vibrant bird life. Other sporting activities offered include tennis and squash arranged by the club. Barry Burn Lodge also invites you to revel in splendid and awe-inspiring scenic drives to historic places. Just a few of these historic places which can inspire and delight you are the Mac-Mac Falls, Graskop, Sodwana Caves, Pilgrim's Rest, God's Window, and Blyde River Canyon. The estate also shares a border with the remarkable Lake Longmere, where you can unwind as you indulge in fishing, boating, or even mountain biking. Visit Greenway Woods Resort and Conference Centre, eat out at Oliver's Restaurant, or treat yourself to Casterbridge Farm, a homecraft, antique, museum and entertainment centre. Also very enjoyable is the Barnyard Theatre, 3 km towards White River town, where live shows are presented on most weekends – don’t miss it! The Riverside Mall/Casino, only a 20-minute drive from the Estate, is also worth a visit.