Antz vs. Communist Russia essays

Antz vs. Communist Russia essays The life of an ant in the movie Antz, is very similar to that of a Russian citizen under Stalins rule. Of course the economy of the ants is a command economy, and everyone has to work towards the good of the colony. When Stalin came to power in Russia, Lenin had already introduced communism, and he wanted to install that more securely, but communism was already present in Russia. Antz is an example of the perfect command economy. Everyone has their jobs and functions, and everyone works toward the common good. Although the movie does not show us how the ants obtain their food, and that was one of the major problems in the Russian command economy. Because of this, the two economies are also considerably different. But the major ideals of the communist economy are the same. As the movie is shown from a workers point of view, I believe that Russians in communist Russia felt the same way as Zee, the main character in the movie. I think so, but that side of Russian citizens is rarely shown throughout history, because although they had the right of free speech, it was very restricted. Russians would never speak out against anyone of authority, because they knew that there would be consequences. Listening to Zee gave me a lot more insight to what the life of a Russian citizen under Stalins rule must have been like. When Stalin thought that anyone posed as a threat to him or the countrys development, he had a way of dealing with it. In Antz we only see them punished when they arent working, or lipping off their supervisor, and their rations are taken away. Communist Russia had the secret police. Russians lived in constant fear of being taken away or killed. One way the movie and Russia during Stalins rule are similar, was that all food was rationed. Russia didnt exactly ration food, but they only had so much, and gave it only to those who co ...

The History and Love Story of the Taj Mahal

The History and Love Story of the Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a beautiful, white-marble mausoleum built by Mughul emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River near Agra, India, the Taj Mahal took 22 years to build, finally being completed in 1653. The Taj Mahal, considered one of the New Wonders of the World, astounds every visitor not only for its symmetry and structural beauty, but also for its intricate calligraphy, inlaid flowers made of gemstones, and magnificent garden. The Love Story It was in 1607, that Shah Jahan, grandson of Akbar the Great, first met his beloved. At the time, he was not yet the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire. Sixteen-year-old, Prince Khurram, as he was then called, flitted around the royal bazaar, flirting with the girls from high-ranking families that staffed the booths.   At one of these booths, Prince Khurram met 15-year-old Arjumand Banu Baygam, whose father was soon to be the prime minister and whose aunt was married to Prince Khurram’s father. Although it was love at first sight, the two were not allowed to marry right away. First, Prince Khurram had to marry Kandahari Begum. (He would later marry a third wife as well.) On March 27, 1612, Prince Khurram and his beloved, whom he gave the name Mumtaz Mahal (â€Å"chosen one of the palace†), were married. Mumtaz Mahal was not only beautiful, she was smart and tender-hearted. The public was enamored with her, in part because Mumtaz Mahal cared for the people, diligently making lists of widows and orphans to make sure they received food and money. The couple had 14 children together, but only seven lived past infancy. It was the birth of the 14th child that was to kill Mumtaz Mahal. The Death of Mumtaz Mahal In 1631, three years into Shah Jahan’s reign, there was a rebellion underway, led by Khan Jahan Lodi. Shah Jahan had taken his military out to the Deccan, about 400 miles from Agra, in order to crush the usurper. As usual, Mumtaz Mahal, who was always by Shah Jahan’s side, accompanied him, despite being heavily pregnant. On June 16, 1631, Mumtaz Mahal, in an elaborately decorated tent, gave birth to a healthy baby girl in the middle of the encampment. At first, all seemed to be well, but it was soon discovered that Mumtaz Mahal was dying. As soon as Shah Jahan received news of his wife’s condition, he rushed to her side. In the early morning hours of June 17, 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died in his arms. Reports say that in Shah Jahan’s anguish, he went to his own tent and cried for eight days. Upon emerging, some say he had aged, now sporting white hair and needing glasses. Mumtaz Mahal was buried right away, according to Islamic tradition, near the encampment at Burbanpur. Her body, however, was not to stay there long. Plans for the Taj Mahal In December 1631, when the feud with Khan Jahan Lodi was won, Shah Jahan had the remains of Mumtaz Mahal dug up and brought 435 miles (700 km) to Agra. The return of Mumtaz Mahal was a grand procession, with thousands of soldiers accompanying the body and mourners lining the route. When the remains of Mumtaz Mahal reached Agra on January 8, 1632, they were temporarily buried on land donated by nobleman Raja Jai Singh, near where the Taj Mahal was to be built. Shah Jahan, filled with grief, had decided to pour that emotion into an elaborate, exquisite, expensive mausoleum that would rival all those that had come before it. (It was also to be unique, being the first large mausoleum dedicated to a woman.) Although no one, main architect for the Taj Mahal is known, it is believed that Shah Jahan, who was already passionate about architecture, worked on the plans himself with the input and aid of a number of the best architects of his time. The plan was that the Taj Mahal (â€Å"the crown of the region†) would represent heaven (Jannah) on Earth. No expense was spared to make this happen. Building the Taj Mahal At the time, the Mughal Empire was one of the richest in the world and thus Shah Jahan had the means to pay for this huge venture. With the plans made, Shah Jahan wanted the Taj Mahal to be grand, but also, built quickly. To speed production, an estimated 20,000 workers were brought in and housed nearby in a newly built town for them called Mumtazabad. These workers included both skilled and unskilled craftsmen. At first, builders worked on the foundation and then on the giant, 624-foot-long plinth (base). On this plinth was to sit the Taj Mahal building as well as the two matching, red sandstone buildings (the mosque and the guest house) that flank the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal building, sitting on a second plinth, was to be an octagonal structure, first constructed of brick and then covered in white marble. Like in most large projects, the builders created a scaffolding to build higher; however, what was unusual was that the scaffolding for this project was built of bricks. No one has yet figured out why. The white marble was incredibly heavy and quarried in Makrana, 200 miles away. Reportedly, it took 1,000 elephants and an untold number of oxen to drag the marble to the Taj Mahal building site. For the heavy marble pieces to reach the higher spaces of the Taj Mahal, a giant, 10-mile-long, earthen ramp was built. The very top of the Taj Mahal is topped with a huge, double-shell dome that reaches to 240 feet and is also covered in white marble. Four thin, white-marble minarets stand tall at the corners of the second plinth, surrounding the mausoleum. Calligraphy and Inlaid Flowers Most pictures of the Taj Mahal show only a large, white, lovely building. What these photos miss is the intricacies that can only be seen up close. It is these details that make the Taj Mahal astoundingly feminine and opulent. On the mosque, guest house, and the large main gate at the southern end of the Taj Mahal complex appear passages from the Quran (often spelled Koran), the holy book of Islam, written in calligraphy. Shah Jahan hired Amanat Khan, a master calligrapher, to work on the inlaid verses. Masterfully done, the finished verses from the Quran, inlaid with black marble, look soft and gentle. Although made of stone, the curves make it look almost hand-written. The 22 passages from the Quran were reportedly chosen by Amanat Khan himself. Interestingly, Amanat Khan was the only person who Shah Jahan allowed to sign his work on the Taj Mahal. Almost more amazing than the calligraphy is the exquisite inlaid flowers found throughout the Taj Mahal complex. In a process known as parchin kari, highly-skilled stone cutters cut intricate floral designs into the white marble and then inlaid precious and semi-precious stones to form interwoven vines and flowers. The 43 different kinds of precious and semi-precious stones used for these flowers came from around the world, including lapis lazuli from Sri Lanka, jade from China, malachite from Russia, and turquoise from Tibet. The Garden As in many religions, Islam holds the image of Paradise as a garden; thus, the garden at the Taj Mahal was an integral part of the plan to make it heaven on Earth. The Taj Mahal’s garden, which is situated to the south of the mausoleum, has four quadrants, divided by four â€Å"rivers† of water (another important Islamic image of Paradise), which gather at a central pool. The gardens and â€Å"rivers† were supplied with water from the Yamuna River by a complex, underground water system. Unfortunately, no records have survived telling us what plants were originally planted in the Taj Mahal’s garden. The End of Shah Jahan Shah Jahan stayed in deep mourning for two years but even after that, the death of Mumtaz Mahal still deeply affected him. That is perhaps why the third of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan’s four sons, Aurangzeb, was able to successfully kill off his three brothers and imprison his father. In 1658, after 30 years as emperor, Shah Jahan was usurped and placed in the luxurious Red Fort in Agra. Not able to leave but with most of his usual luxuries, Shah Jahan spent his last eight years staring out a window, looking at his beloved’s Taj Mahal. When Shah Jahan died on January 22, 1666, Aurangzeb had his father buried with Mumtaz Mahal in the crypt beneath the Taj Mahal. On the main floor of the Taj Mahal, above the crypt, now sits two cenotaphs (empty, public tombs). The one in the center of the room belongs to Mumtaz Mahal and the one just to the west is for Shah Jahan. Surrounding the cenotaphs is a delicately-carved, lacy, marble screen. (Originally it had been a gold screen but Shah Jahan had that replaced so that thieves would not be too tempted.) The Taj Mahal in Ruins Shah Jahan had enough wealth in his coffers to support the Taj Mahal and its mighty maintenance costs, but over the centuries, the Mughal Empire lost its riches and the Taj Mahal fell into disrepair. By the 1800s, the British ousted the Mughals and took over India. To many, the Taj Mahal was beautiful and so they cut gemstones from the walls, stole the silver candlesticks and doors, and even tried to sell the white marble overseas. It was Lord Curzon, the British viceroy of India, who put a stop to all that. Rather than looting the Taj Mahal, Curzon worked to restore it. The Taj Mahal Now The Taj Mahal has once again become a magnificent place, with 2.5 million people visiting it each year. Visitors can visit during the daytime, where the color of the white marble seems to change depending on the time of the day. Once a month, visitors have the opportunity to make a short visit during a full moon, to see how the Taj Mahal seems to glow from within in the moonlight.   In 1983, the Taj Mahal was placed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO, but it now suffers from pollutants from nearby factories and from the humidity from the breath of its visitors.   Sources DuTemple, Lesley A. The Taj Mahal. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2003.Harpur, James and Jennifer Westwood. The Atlas of Legendary Places. New York: Weidenfeld Nicolson, 1989.Ingpen, Robert and Philip Wilkinson. Encyclopedia of Mysterious Places: The Life and Legends of Ancient Sites Around the World. New York: Barnes Noble Books, 1999.

Inovations in Automotive Electronics Research Paper

Inovations in Automotive Electronics - Research Paper Example Other remarkable developments have been the GPS, all-wheel drive, and airbags among others. No doubt, man has made revolutionary innovation over the past decades that have made life easier, convenient, and better. For instance, the automobiles industry has made some amazing progress following their invention in the early 19th century. One of the key factors that have helped automobiles give more security and accommodation, however, is automobile electronics. Automotive electronics are systems found in the vehicle and generated electronically. Such systems include telematics and entertainment systems among other structures. These systems are so many and thus grouped into several categories with regard to their functions, namely, entertainment systems, active safety, driver assistance, engine electronics, passenger comfort, chassis electronics, and transmission electronics. With the advances in electronics innovation, auto producers have possessed the capacity to offer a broad mixture of administrations and accommodations that numerous new car proprietors appreciate (Mitchel l, Borroni-Bird, & Burns, 2010). Automobile electronics have been applied to various car improvements such as the Electronic Fuel Injection to the well-known Global Positioning System (Craughwell, 2012). Driving is more fun and safer than it used to be a hundred years ago since the invention of the automobile. This paper outlines some of the developments that have enhanced the use of automobiles. One of the best developments in automobile electronics innovation is the Electronic Fuel Injection/infusion or EFI for short. This gadget takes the spot of the ordinary carburetor that has been in use since the invention of the motor. The employment of the carburetor was regularly the piece of the motor that serves to dissipate fuel so that it blends with the air for burning. This gives energy to the barrels that help the motor work. A gliding gadget inside of

International Assignments Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

International Assignments - Research Paper Example Cultural training is country-specific as each country has its unique culture. Cultural training covers such aspects of culture as social customs and business etiquette. The second component of pre-departure training is didactic training. Didactic training has been found to be the most common form of cross-cultural training; over two-thirds of multinational corporations offer didactic training through informal briefings of the expatriates before their deployment (Hà ¥nberg & Ãâ€"sterdahl, 2009). It may also take more structured forms such as lectures or informative booklets. This component of training is important as it provides practical information on living and working in the destination country. The content of didactic training is factual information such as shopping and travel. In addition, it may include information that aimed at helping the expatriate adapt to the culture of the host country. The third component of pre-deployment training is training in language skills. Language training entails teaching the expatriate the native or official language of the host country. Whileit may take the expatriate months or years to master the language and be fluent in it, it is important that the expatriate has a basic command of the language (Hà ¥nberg & Ãâ€"sterdahl, 2009). On arriving in their host countries, our expatriates should be able to enter informal conversations, apply common courtesies, and demonstrate empathy for the cultures of their host countries. Language training is important as it will accelerate the ability of the expatriates to adapt to their new cultures. Indeed, language is a major aspect of any culture. As a result, the only way our expatriates can fit into their new cultures is by possessing a basic understanding of the languages of those cultures. The fourth component is interaction training. The organization has deployed expatriates abroad over the years. As a result,

Real World Examples Of Price Ceiling Economics Essay

Real World Examples Of Price Ceiling Economics Essay The President of the Philippines, Arroyo placed the entire nation under a state of calamity on 2 October 2009 which is a week after tropical storm Ondoy, and a day before super typhoon Pepeng began. The onslaught of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng smashed up many parts of Philippines, caused over P30billion in damage and claimed nearly a thousand lives, primarily Metro Manila and north Luzon provinces. Despite devastation of typhoons, several oil companies raised oil prices which prompted public protests and criticisms and set off more than the common grumbling from consumers. With millions of Filipinos still suffering from the effects of those typhoons, the corporations were criticized as greedy, heartless and predatory. Royal Dutch Shell, Petron and Chevron (known here under the brand Caltex) increased the prices of diesel by 2pesos per-liter , or 4 cents, an increase of about 6.7 percent. Gasoline prices went up 1.25 pesos a liter, or 4.74 pesos a gallon, and kerosene by 1.50 pesos. Acc ording to the Ibon Foundation, an independent economic research group, the increases were the biggest of the year. The companies insist the increases reflect world oil prices. After Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng have left the country for some time, the entry of new typhoon Ramil make the imposition of price ceiling more necessary. To protect public interest, the government enforced a fuel price ceiling to prevent predatory pricing, unreasonable pricing and to lessen the adversities caused by those calamities by temporarily imposing price ceiling on oil. The president, through the EO, ordered the joint Department of Justice (DOE) task force to institute complaints against the violators of the EO as well as the provisions of RA 8479. President Arroyo revoked Executive Order 839 on the Philippines main island of Luzon, which kept the level of the price of petroleum products prevailing on 15 October 2009. The announcement was made after she met with Cabinet secretaries and representatives from the oil firms and transport sectors. Before the EO was issued, the President ordered a study of how to include petroleum products under price control, considering that fuel is an important product used by almost all consumers. Before revoking the edict, Arroyo sought petroleum companies assurance that they would continue to provide fuel discounts to transport groups for the next six months to keep fares down. Arroyo also proposed that dealers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can stagger their price over the Christmas season so consumers wont too harshly affect by increasing price. The Palace further pointed out it was based on the EO is Section 14 (e) of Republic Act 8479 or the Oil Industry Deregulation Law, which states that: In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the DOE may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any person or entity engaged in the industry.The EO took effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper the next day. Reaction Many consumers and few companies praised the presidents decision because the imposition could help millions of Filipinos recover from those calamities moreover the changes in price when price ceiling was imposed was an insensitive move to the oil companies. Economists said the unprecedented interference could scare investors away from the country. The Joint Foreign Chambers, a collection of chambers of commerce whose members include major oil firms, argued in their letter that a price cap in the northern Philippines would lead to lower fuel imports, shortages and a black market. The order has prompted oil companies to warn of a shortage since they may be forced to sell their products at a loss if global fuel costs rise. It is because the oil prices are tied to world markets and the companies would think twice about importing more oil. Petron Corp., the Philippines largest oil company predicted that it may lose up to P1.5 billion pesos, or $32 million, in its fourth quarter for the last three months of the year since the executive order may force it to sell at a loss. Some people compelled the government to increase the price freezes nationwide especially because the price of oil in the Visayas and Mindanao ,which are the two other main island, are 5 to 7 pesos more expensive than price in Luzon. The companies have insisted that their prices are determined by the world market and did not prosecute for predatory pricing. However, because of the increasing of price all at once and the companies refused to open their books, suspicion has grown among the public. To comply with EO 839, oil firms reverted to prices before 19 October 2009. Most oil firms raised prices by P2.00 per liter for diesel, P0.85 per liter for regular, P1.50 per liter for kerosene and P1.25-1.50 per liter for fuel. Consequences MAP said that with the imposition of the order, the government is breaking its promise to provide oil investors stability and protection under the law and the government should subsidize the products. On 2 November 2009, foreign and local businessmen demanded the termination of President Arroyos Executive Order 839, to lessen the adverse influence of loses on the petroleum, risk of future stock products, and hindrance to future and appearance of black market. In a statement, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) said oil supply in Luzon, which accounts for 80 percent of the countrys petroleum market, will be reduced because importers will not sell at a loss. EO 389 will not really help the most needy of typhoon victims. It is because the poorest income groups are not consumers of petroleum products. This happens because the government is not clear what products they usually purchased and then imposed price ceiling on oil that provide low reconstruction and rehabilitation. Reports on fuel supply shortage coupled with spiking fuel prices brought fears to Cebuano consumers that these might create a negative impact towards the prices of other commodities. However, the price monitoring report of the Department of Trade and Industry showed that prices of goods in the market have not posted alarming changes because of the fuel supply shortage. Oil firms warned that more serious fuel supply shortage in less than two weeks from 11 November 2009 if the freeze on petroleum prices stays.13 days after that day they would run out of finished product stock. The big oil firms did not face any real financial difficulties or bankruptcy as they have over a decade of overpricing and accumulated super profits. How to settle the problem Government responded that the DOE and the oil companies must open their books and show the public that all the negative things attributed to them are just misperceptions because even though the price of crude has gone up to $80, the increase should not be affected immediately at least not until after 45 days. On 4 November 2009, Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the price freeze would remain in effect for the duration of the state of calamity in Luzon based on the recommendation of Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera. This was emphasized by deputy presidential spokesman Lorelei Fajardo on 2 November 2009 after the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) asked the termination date of Executive Order 839.However price caps can only be imposed for a maximum 60 days ,the imposition will be lifted sooner or later. The government opened to selective implementation of the oil price freeze after weeks of protests and warnings of a fuel supply crisis. Petron has agreed to open its books and the government hoped that the rest of the industry, especially the Big 3, would also be this transparent. Meanwhile, Malacaà ±ang said that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Dept. of Energy (DOE) will study proposals about price freezing as the ERC and DOE are in the best position to determine the merits of this proposal because they are aware of the factors involved in the incident. President Arroyo announced her decision on13 November 2009 at the end of an emergency meeting at Malacaà ±ang with representatives of oil companies as well as officials of labor and transport and ordered the lifting of the price freeze on petroleum products and basic commodities in Luzon, which was still officially under a state of calamity, effective on 15 November 2009.This decision was made after making oil firms and traders promise to recoup their losses on a staggered basis, stabilize prices and supply of products ,put in more investments for the poor to spur economic activity and create jobs and provide some form of subsidy or discount in selected areas, especially those affected by the calamities. The bottom line is to remain the same in the next six months, assuming that world markets remain stable. If international pump prices become very high, then the government can review this policy. Most of the corporations committed to hold the price for at least six months. It was agreed during the meeting that details of the price adjustments and subsidies would be finalized over the weekend. The DOE (Department of Energy) and the oil firms are given the weekend to go back to the drawing board and make their calculation or formula (on the price increase). Mrs. Arroyo also instructed Favila and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to help transport groups set up a consortium that would allow them to directly import fuel. Favila said the National Development Corp. and the Philippine International Trading Corp., both government corporations, will help put up capital for the venture. The oil companies welcomed the move and have agreed not to increase their prices on a one-time basis. Earlier estimates showed that consumers may have to bear P4.50 to P5 per liter increase in pump prices once the EO is lifted. As to how much the first increase in price on 15 November 2009 depended on competitive forces. According to Martinez, the P1-billion fund which was earlier set aside by the government to assist the transport group in conversion to LPG may also be tapped to help cushion the impact of the expected surge in oil prices in the next few weeks. Martinez suggested that assistance or subsidy could come in the form of discount coupons for legitimate transport groups. The oil firms as well as manufacturers and traders agreed to his proposal to reduce prices in areas that continue to suffer from the effects of the storms. On 16 November 2009,President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that the government will not hesitate to re-impose the freeze on fuel prices in Luzon if oil companies will renege on their promise to stagger increases in the prices of their products. The oil companies, manufacturers and traders are fully aware that the government can again impose price controls. Drugs price control in Canada Government in Canada have imposed price controls on prescription medicine for many years for its citizens .Through this intention ,the affordable of Canadian citizens in purchasing the necessary drugs they need can be ensured .To achieve the efficiency in drug prices control ,several mechanisms have been instituted to control drug prices .These includes the establishment of a semi judicial by the federal government to control drug prices and several measurements to regulate the drug prices at the provincial level ,for instance ,formulary management ,use of generics ,reference-based pricing ,price control of patented medicine ,price freezes ,reimbursement rates ,cost sharing arrangements and limits on markups .These measurement have make effectiveness price control to a large range . Patented Medicines Prices Review Board (PMPRM) ,a federal quasi- judicial agency established under the Patent Act in 1987 to regulate drug prices .This agency take responsibility to control price of patented medicines only .The PMPRM was intended to avoid and prevent the prices of patented drug reach excessive which might result from manufactures new right to market exclusivity .Hence ,certain guidelines are used by PMPRB in determining the excessiveness of a drug price : The cost of therapy of new patented drugs must make sure not exceed the highest cost of therapy and in the range of existing drugs used to treat the same disease . Manufactures can charge the breakthrough drugs and those that offer a substantial improvement to the median of prices charges of the same drug in other specified countries which are United State ,United Kingdom ,Switzerland ,Sweden ,Italy ,France and Germany to ensuring that Canadian prices are not highest in the world . The increases of prices of existing patented drug cannot exceed the Consumer Price Index . The PMPRB gains control over the pricing of the drug once the drug accepts a patent of any sort and also review the drugs price when it was initially marketed . A company that consider out of compliance with the guidelines by the PMPRB must reduce the price .Moreover ,any excess revenue that have earned by that company from sales of the drugs will be relinquished and can order the repayment of the excess revenue of the company to the federal government . Purpose Federal price controls on patented drugs is to avoid brand-name companies from reducing prices on these products once a patent expires .The highest price of the exisying drugs in the same therapeutic class is take as a reference by Canadas Price-Control Policy .This is done to establish the maximum allowable for new patent-protected drug formulations entering the market .As a result ,due to fearness of makers of brand-name drugs of unintentionally lowering the maximum allowable entry price for new drugs in the same class ,the makers of brand-name drugs will reluctantly reduce the price of the original drug when it goes off-patent .An artificial incentive is created by Canadian price controls to resist competing for brand-name companies on the basis of price with generic firms for sales of off-patent drugs . Consequences of Drug Prices Control Although government of Canada have imposed drug price control system to ensure the prices of drugs are under control ,however ,cannot deny that ,the drug price control system also result in consequences . Price- controlled system of Canadian bureaucracy indirectly lead to decrease in producing fewer new drugs Canadians are often forced to wait to a year for more advanced medicines .As a result ,Canadians are routinely denied access to newer and better medicines ,and often travel to America to purchase them . Moreover,price discrimination is one of the consequences of drug price control .Drug companies and industry often engaging in price discrimination by charging the different buyers for different prices of the same product .Drug companies are prefer to sell the drugs for less in Canada and elsewhere only .This phenomena is happen due to the drug companies can sell for more in the United States. In addition ,the expensive development of drugs and moderately cheap to manufacture will indirectly lead to price discrimination works in the drug industry .Price discrimination causes drug companies in Canada to charge high prices of the same product of drugs in United States. Hence, companies can recoup their research development costs .Besides that, companies can make a profit in Canada and elsewhere by simply covering the cost of making the pill as long as the research development cost of companies can recoup. Further ,price controls make investing in research development less attractive .This is the result of the continuing of rising in costs and risks involved in developing new drugs .With extra risks and uncertainties ,companies never being sure of the selling prices of their future drugs and even find themselves having to reimburse sizable sums . For example, Schering Canada Inc. had to reimburse $7.8 million in 2003 because it charged a price judged as excessive for its infliximab (Remicade) drug. Price control causes a direct reduction in volume .Due to this ,a declining number of research development missions are obtaining by Canadian subsidiaries .As a result ,pharmaceutical innovation is indirectly become slower ,and lead to a remarkable drop in pharmaceutical research development .A decline of pharmaceutical research in Canada would hit Quebec hardest ,which is the home to Canadas largest concentration of pharmaceutical research development ,with 42.3% of total spending in2002.However there other major costs linked to drug price controls ,these include losses of highly skilled jobs ,corporate research centers and jobs forgone in the subcontracting of goods and services and in industries associated with research development . Downward pressure on the prices of older patented drugs and non-patented drugs since distortions caused by price controls would cease to exist . Pharmaceutical firms eliminate incentives to lower the prices of drugs already on the market is result from price control .As a consequence ,some generic drugs are more expensive in Canada .In order to fully recovery of research development ,launch and marketing costs ,companies tend to keep these prices higher .This condition will also lead to a higher selling prices of the goods by generic drug producers . Last but not least ,drug price control will lead to lower rates of substitution of generic versions of drugs by consumers in Canada for their brand name originals drugs .The possibility of price competition between off-patent ,brand-name drugs and generics altogether is eliminated by the public policies forcing substitution of generics .Generic companies no longer have to compete on price against consumer loyalties toward brand-name drugs when forcing generic substitution for brand-name drugs is done by government .As a result ,consumer need to purchase the drug at higher price due to the absence of alternative products .

Our Nation’s Hidden Problems †Hate Crimes Essay

It happens every day, people are made fun of, people are bullied and the bully-ers, and some people are just flat out victims of straight hate crimes that lead to death. â€Å"A Hate Crime is a criminal offense committed against persons, property or society that is motivated , in whole or in part, by an offenders bias against an individual’s or a group’s race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.† -IACP Definition. With the definition of a hate crime explained, hate crimes are offenses against society. The perpetrators have their eyes on not only a primary victim, yet everyone in the victims group – everyone perceived as different. The perpetrators impact not only the victims, group but society as a whole, breaking the bond that holds its people together. Victims are seen as different from what the â€Å"norm† of society needs in its everyday life. Actions from the perpetrator doesn’t happen very randomly, yet happens all around the world. What is an extremely interesting topic is hate crimes on the college campuses. I was somewhat surprised to see just how many incidents actually happen. According to Justice Department data, 12 percent of hate crimes take place on college or school campuses but the numbers don’t show how much occurs on university campuses. Officials also say that many of the racial or sexual incidents are commonly not reported. The most common hate crimes committed on a college campuses are racial bias, religious bias, and sexual orientation bias. Now with a racial bias hate crime has many examples of people hating each other for being black, or brown, or even white. However with college kids, its not as simple as saying something like â€Å"You’re a Nigger,† or â€Å"You’re Cracker.† They have to put things to the extreme. Simple things are never good enough. At the University of Missouri-Columbia, there were cotton balls scattered outside the black cultural center. This might seem like a harmless joke to some people, yet to others it is one of the most hateful and devastating thing someone could do. As early as 1560’s slavery was brought into America from Spain. Blacks were treated as animals, were forced to do things that White people didn’t want to do because they thought that they were to good for it. One task that is commonly known that blacks did as they were slaves was â€Å"cotton pickers.† The thirteenth amendment, abolishing slavery, was passed by the Senate in April 1864, and by the House of Representatives in January 1865, however feelings that the white people had for blacks still did not go away. Another example of a racial hate crime was done by a white fraternity sparked an uproar at the University of California San Diego when it sponsored a ghetto-themed â€Å"Compton Cookout† to mock Black History Month. There is a very fine line between hate crimes and stereotyping someone/many people. Almost every member of a stereotyped group is seen as an equal opportunity of everyone else in the group. A stereotype usually cannot be modified by contradictory evidence, meaning that no argument or evidence is compelling enough to change a hate mongers mind. Also, the the perpetrator is emotionally invested in believing the worst about the members of stigmatized group. Finally, the person who accepts the validity of a nasty stereotype isn’t simply trying to make sense of his world. More likely, he is looking for a convenient excuse to express hostility, to attack and victimize the people he despises. Stereotyping is more â€Å"accepted in society† because every sing le person has stereotyped before. Religious based hate crimes are second most common in all of the hate crimes all over the world. More often than not Religious discrimination are usually acts of vandalism although personal attacks do occur. Of the religiously based hate crimes, attacks against Jews rose from 64% in 2006 to 68% in 2007. Anti-Muslim hate crimes, meanwhile, decreased from 12% in 2006 to 9% in 2007. This surprises me because hate crimes against Jews went up, yet I feel like the hate towards the Muslims has gone up and their hate crime attacks has gone down. After the terrorist attacks the United States suffered from on the Twin Towers in New York City 2001, the FBI found that while attacks against Muslims had previously been the least common hate crime against a religious group–just 28 in 2000–the number of incidents surged to 481 in 2001, an increase of 1,600%. Even the hate crimes against peoples religions occurred college campuses. For examples, there was a swastika scrawled on a bathroom wall near a Jewish studies center at the University of Miami. Miami-Dade County, the eleventh largest Jewish community in the country, consists of 121,300 persons living in 54,000 Jewish households. Of these 121,300 persons, 113,000 are Jewish. Which is obviously a huge population of Jewish members, the perpetrators knew that it would be completely offensive. It is again just another college student who lacks in self-discipline. The question that I have been wondering is â€Å"Why possesses you to do such a thing like this?† Why do people think its alright to put all of their hatred out into the open and hurt other people. What people do is not hurt people emotionally, but they also sometimes hurt them physically. It might not be a physical act by the person committing the crime, it could be done by the victim of the hate crime, meaning self-infliction. Another example that hits closer to home here in Massachusetts. A young man names James Samar was a college student who attended a small Massachusetts college was indicted on three counts of using threats of force to interfere with the rights of three other students. He used anti-Semitic slurs and threatened to actually kill one of the three other students. What James did was sent photographs of holocaust victims and said â€Å"A reminder of what happened to your relatives because they too mad a mockery of Christianity.† To go as far as this someone must thing that there is something wrong with Samar. People should not have this much hatred towards people or a certain group that they belong to. There is no right or wrong when it comes into what you believe. People need to take a step back, they don’t need to agree with other people, it just has to be understood that opinions are opinions and everyone can have theirs. The third more common hate crime committed on a college campus is sexual orientation. Meaning the preferences on whether you like boys or girls, homosexual or heterosexual. Two main cases that stand out on a college campus, are two young men Matthew Shepard who was a student at the University of Wyoming and Tyler Clementi a student at Rutgers University. Matthew Shepard was a 21 year old man who was attacked by two other men because he was gay. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were the two men who attacked Shepard with a pistol-whip, and tortured him, tying him to a fence and leaving him to die. Eighteen hours later a cyclist Aaron Kreifels, discovered Shepard and thought he was a scarecrow because he was alive but in coma. This however wasn’t the first time Shepard was attacked for being gay. In 1995 during a high school trip, he was beaten, robbed, and raped, causing him to withdraw from school and experience depression and panic attacks. However, Henderson and McKinney were not charged with a hate crime, because no Wyoming criminal statute provided for such a charge. The nature of Shepard’s murder led to requests for new legislation addressing hate crime, urged particularly by those who believed that Shepard was targeted on the basis of his sexual orientation. As for Tyler Clementi, he was an 18 year old man who was a student at Rutgers University in New Jersey. What happened here to cause him to commit suicide was his roommate, Dharum Ravi, video tapes him with another man doing sexual acts. Clementi was video taped without his knowledge, and Ravi was charged with invasion or privacy and bias intimidation. It was at this point where Clementi had talked about his problems to his RA and also made his complaints public putting them up online on Yahoo! and a message board website called â€Å"Just Us Boys.† No one listened to him, and thats when he took matters into his own hands and committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. All of these cases that have been discussed in the paper are considered to be in some way or form of a hate crime. Hate crimes can be committed by everyone and anyone. It happens every day, people are made fun of, people are bullied and the bully-ers, and some people are just flat out victims of straight hate crimes that lead to death. The most common hate crimes committed on a college campuses are racial bias, religious bias, and sexual orientation bias. Websites used: Ashcroft, John. 2001. â€Å"Hate Crimes on Campus: The Problems and Efforts to Confront it.†. Retrieved February 2012 (https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/187249.pdf) Associated Press. 2009. â€Å"Attorney General urges new hate crimes law.† Retrieved February 2012 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31392054/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#.Tz0Q75iLFSU) Barker, Tim. 2010 â€Å"Racial campus hate crimes surge across America† Retrieved February 2012 (http://www.cisternyard.com/article/racial-campus-hate-crimes-surge-across-america) Brandou, Collen. 2010 â€Å"Hate Crimes Increase on College Campuses† Retrieved February 2012. (http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/education/2010/april/Hate-Crimes-Increase-on-College-Campuses.html) FBI. 2009. UCR. â€Å"Hate Crime Statistics.† Retrieved February 2012. http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2009/index.html Gipson, Ashley, 2008. â€Å"Religious hate crimes down overall, up against Jews.† Retrieved February 2012. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-10-28-hate-crimes_N.htm) Jones, Lawrence, 2008. â€Å"FBI: Religious Hate Crimes Down in 2007.† Retrieved February 2012. (http://www.christianpost.com/news/fbi-religious-hate-crimes-down-in-2007-35238/) Levin, Brian. 2010. â€Å"Stone Cold Jew-Baiting.† Retrieved February 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-levin-jd/stone-cold-jew-baiting_b_659335.html Martindale, Gayla. 2009 â€Å"Hate Crimes on Campus† Retrieved February 2012 (http://www.stateuniversity.com/blog/permalink/College-Hate-Crimes.html) Putnam, Robert and David Campbell. 2010. â€Å"American Grace. How Religion divides and unites us.† New York, New York, United States: Simon & Schuster. Serrano, Richard. 2002. â€Å"Hate Crimes Against Muslims Soar, Report says.† Retrieved February 2012. Hate Crimes Against Muslims Soar, Report Says – Los Angeles Times Statemaster. 2010. â€Å"Religion Hate Crime Statistics.† Retrieved February 2012. http://www.statemaster.com/graph/cri_hat_cri_rel_rel-crime-hate-crimes-religion-related) Wax, Heather. 2010. â€Å"Breakdown of Hate Crimes, Based on Religion.† Retrieved February 2012. http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2010/11/23/breakdown-of-hate-crimes-based-on-religion/ (

Essay Diverse Workforce - 1538 Words

Contents Part 1: Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1 Part 2: Advantages of a diverse workforce............................................................................1 2.1 More creative†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...............................2 2.2 Increasing sales and earnings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..............................2 Part 3: Two problems of workforce diversity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 3.1 Communication†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦............................3 3.2 Discrimination†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦......4 Part 4: strategies can be implemented to overcome the problems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.............................4 4.1 Recognition†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...............4 4.2†¦show more content†¦Safeway invested in programs to attract, develop, and retain its best talent and to position the company as an employer of choice. Although 70 percent of Safeway’s customers are women, male leaders had been the norm in the retail grocery industry. Safeway took initiatives to help women, including women of color, advance into management. The CEO speaks regularly with employees about diversity issue, and employees have access to DVDs featuring interviews with successful employees who are women and people of color. The company ensures that all employees who qualify for its Retail Leadership Program, including those who work part-ti me and have flexible schedules to juggle work and family responsibilities, have the same opportunities for coaching, development, and advancement. A women’s leadership network sponsors development meetings between promising women and executives who suggest new job opportunities that can help the women advance to next level. With these and other efforts, the number of female store managers has risen a dramatic 42 percent, and financial analysts have concluded that the advancement of women and minorities has increased Safeway’s sales and earnings.† (Noe, el al. p.67) 3.0 Two problems of workforce diversity Although employing a diverse workforce has many advantages, it comes with some problems as well. 3.1 CommunicationShow MoreRelatedA Diverse Workforce947 Words   |  4 PagesThe problem iNOVA does not have a diverse workforce. Of the 103 employees, 78 of the employees are male. 89 of the 103 are white. (INOVA REPORT) There are a number of reasons why this could have happened. In smaller companies like iNOVA, many new employees are friends or associates of current employees who have been recommended. (Miller) People often associate with those similar to themselves, so those who they recommend will be like themselves, creating a homogenous environment. Likewise, it hasRead MoreDiverse Workforce1184 Words   |  5 PagesA Diverse workforce Outline 1. Introduction of a diverse workforce 2. Advantages of a diverse workforce nowadays 2.1 different skill and experience 2.2 broader service range 3. Problem of a diverse workforce these days 3.1 hinder sharing the formation of enterprise culture 3.2 reduce the enterprise culture execution 4. Solution of deal with the problem 5. Conclusion 6. Reference 1. Introduction In 1964, the Congress of the United StatesRead MoreDiverse Workforce657 Words   |  3 Pages1. What changes are occurring in our workforce today and are likely to continue into the future? Workforce diversity is increasing. There are more women, minority men and immigrants entering the workforce. 2. What is meant by affirmative action, and how does it tie in with EEO legislation? Affirmative action is an in-company program designed to remedy current and future inequities in employment of minorities. EEO legislation was designed to protect minority groups of any definition fromRead MoreManaging A Diverse Workforce1716 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Managing a Diverse Workforce.† Although there is an improvement in the diversity in the workforce, there is still room for change. Businesses have made many changes to help enforce the laws that were passed regarding diversity in the workforce. Women have been integrated into the workforce and there also have been many immigrants from other countries that have been given a new start to the workforce in the United States. Laws of equal opportunity have been made to help increase the workforce diversityRead MoreBenefits Of A Diverse Workforce2135 Words   |  9 Pagesthe organization and its competitive advantage depend on upon its ability to increase the number of diverse employees, and to realize the benefits of it. Furthermore, the diverse workforce has become an increasingly important part of the American workforce. People with different backgrounds, knowledge, experience, and skills will bring new ideas which will benefit the entire team. A diverse workforce brings with it a lot of different benefits, as well as the potential disadvantages for corporate managersRead MoreManaging diverse workforce1842 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿ Modern Management MGT500- 2012 Managing Diverse Workforce Workforce diversity includes the obvious differences we see when we look around: race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion and ethnicity. But it’s also the less obvious traits, the subtle differences that often register with us unconsciously, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, educational background, language, accent and appearance. We all have something that makes us unique, some specialRead MoreBenefits Of A Diverse Workforce1003 Words   |  5 PagesBenefits of A Diverse Workforce When the subject, cultural diversity is introduced as a topic, thoughts will vary. Some will associate cultural diversity with race. While others will think religion. The truth is, cultural diversity covers many areas. These areas range from sexual orientation to gender. The United States Department of Labor (DOL) website states by fostering a culture of diversity-or a capacity to appreciate and value individual differences-employers benefit from varied perspectivesRead MoreThe Diversity Of A Diverse Workforce2007 Words   |  9 Pages1. Diversity management is extremely important and must be an ongoing process within all levels of an organization. Diverse work groups often have better and more ideas because of their wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. Also, companies with a diverse work force that operate globally may perform better. While working in a group people need to have a common way of communicating and accomplishing task. If the group members do not get along then the group is likely going to suffer. DiversityRead MoreSuccessful Management of a Diverse Workforce1641 Words   |  7 PagesIndividual Research Paper Successful Management of a Diverse Workforce By Harun Williams  © 2010 Harun Williams April 29th 2010 Introduction to Research for College Writing Comm112 Joe Tarin Abstract Managing a diverse workforce can prove to be a challenging situation. Many people do not enter the workforce with the intent to manage people, yet alone run another person’s business and the different personalities that work there. Most management positions areRead MoreManaging A Diverse Workforce Assists1858 Words   |  8 PagesManaging a diverse workforce assists in creating a vivacious and assorted business team with opportunities and challenges for people of all aptitudes and experiences, besides host country nationals. In addition, by managing a diverse workforce assists in the facilitation of change in a country’s normal operating business practices. According to Hofstede’s dimensions of culture model, one could better understand the challenges faced by multinational managers in regards to human resource management