Morbid place Essay Example for Free

Morbid place Essay Pip thinks that Magwitch looks as though he is eluding the hands of the dead people, stretching up cautiously out of their graves, to get a twist upon his ankle and pull him in. There is a gibbet where a pirate had once been buried in the marshes and Pip looks at Magwitch as if he were the pirate come to life, and come down, and going back to hook himself up again. Dickens makes the reader wonder if that is how Magwitch is going to meet his end. The descriptions from Pip are very eloquent and show us that he has a wonderful imagination. In Dickenss time, criminals (and a person could be called this just for stealing a loaf of bread for his/her family, or committing some sort of petty crime) were thrown into prison or put in hulks. Hulks were old naval ships that had been converted into prisons; the convicts were shackled so that there was less chance of escaping. If a person escaped from a hulk s/he was transported to Australian on a ship that had atrocious living conditions, many people dies from disease or malnutrition before they arrive din Australia. People were thrown into the debtors prison when they got into any debt, even if they only owed a little bit of money. The person in debt was imprisoned indefinitely until the person who they owed the money was satisfied. Many debtors died in these prisons because of the terrible living conditions. This is extremely different to how it is now, and so the modern reader doesnt understand the situation. Today almost everyone is in some sort of debt; mortgages, loans, overdrafts, and yet no one is thrown into prison for it. Magwitch speaks as though hes not very educated. He says wittles when he means victuals, partickler instead of particular and percooliar when he should say peculiar. Dickens uses phonetics to show his dialect and colloquialisms. This makes Magwitch seem not very sophisticated. The younger Pips dialogue shows that he has had some sort of education as its a lot more educated than Magwitchs: If you would kindly please to let me keep upright, sir, perhaps I shouldnt be sick. But when compared to the older Pips dialogue, we can see that he became more educated: It was a dressing-room and prominent in it was a draped table with a gilded looking-glass. Miss Havisham and Estella seem to speak posh and rather snobby. When they are playing cards Estella says: He calls the knaves Jacks! She obviously thinks that her way of talking is proper. Dickens shows the reader how the different classes spoke in Victorian times; from the poor and uneducated (Magwitch) to the wealthy and refined (Miss Havisham). We dont see much of Estella and Dickens leaves the reader asking questions; who is the young and pretty girl and what is she doing in such a morbid place? But what we do see isnt very nice. Although she is a beautiful girl she is very vindictive. what coarse hands he has. And what thick boots! She makes Pip feel ashamed of himself and doesnt even say his name; she talks as if she is speaking about him to someone else, as if she could never lower her standards enough to talk to such a common thing. She put the mug down and on the stones of the yard, and gave me the bread and meat without looking at me, as insolently as if I were a dog in disgrace. She isnt satisfied until she makes Pip lean against the wall and cry and watched him twist his hair with bitter frustrations. Miss Havisham is unusual because although aged, she is not married. In Dickenss England a woman was expected to get married and then look after her husband and children for the rest of her life. This was necessary because women relied on their fathers, then their husbands. Without a husband how would a woman survive if her father died? Or ran into debt? This is another situation were that the modern reader finds unusual. These days, women have equal rights and do not need to get married. Dickens makes us feel some kind of consideration for Miss Havisham during our first meeting with her: The bride within the bridal dress had withered like the dress, and like the flowers She seems like an injured soul and we comprehend why when she says her heart is broken! The reader wonders how come Miss Havisham is in her unmarried state and this makes us feel sorry for her. She lives in the dark, keeping all the light out as if she cant bear to face the world. Then the readers attitude towards her changes when we realise that Miss Havisham just wants Pip for a plaything and we begin to feel less kind towards her. When she goes as far as telling Estella to beggar him and break his heart we definitely we definitely start to dislike her. The reader doesnt feel that Pip is safe with her. The differences between the happenings now and in Great Expectations make the modern reader surprised and mystified, but still able to relate to Pips story. Great Expectations is can still be related to today because at some point, everyone goes through the struggles that Pip must battle. It shows that assets and wealth do not change who people are inside, and that finding ones self can be a long tedious process until finally everything becomes clear. Dickens wrote Great Expectations as a way for him to introduce himself into his writing; many aspects of his life can be found in the book, making it very autobiographical. It was also a way of making his feelings known about the social issues in England in his time. He tells the reader not to judge people, as appearances are very deceptive. The moral of the story seems to be that no matter how you change your outward appearance and how much you educate yourself, you cant change who you really are.

What drove H&M to expand to China

What drove H&M to expand to China From 1964, HM started its first expansion of the Europe in Norway, and then continued developing the European market in the following 30 year, such as UK, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and France. In recent years, HM was not content to stay in the European market, it entered US market in 2000, and Canadian market in 2004. Comparing with the period which it expanded European market, HM has improved its speed of expansion faster and more effective in Asia market. It opened the first East Asian store in Hong Kong in 2007 and then it landed other Asian countries quickly and successfully.According to Rolf Eriksen who is the CEO of HM, We are very proud to open our first store in East Asia, in Hong Kong. China is a strategic and exciting market with great fashion awareness and spending power. We therefore see a vast potential for expansion. We are convinced that we can offer our Hong Kong customers added value through fashion and quality at the best price. (HM, 2007a). Fashion has become essential elements in peoples daily lives. HM is the top leader in the Fashion area. This paper evaluates what drive HM to expand to China since 2007 and how the expansion leads HM to change their strategy using PESTEL analysis and SWOT analysis.   HM is a new member to the Chinese Market; this paper will evaluate whether HM enter Chinese market is a good choice and whether they have good strategy to deal with the new market. The first part is background and outline; second part is PESTEL analysis; third part is S.W.O.T analysis; then is the recommendations; final part is conclusion. Pestel Analysis Political China has gone through many chances on the central marketing philosophy, Chinese government has changed many policies to attract foreign investment. In the past, FTC (Foreign Trade Corporation), which is a government organization for the particular goods to be exported, is the only way to export commodities to China in the directly method. After Chinese government canceled the closed distribution system and joined to WTO in 2001, many commodities could be exported to the Chinese market. That is a real free market to reflect what are the real market needs rather than the government control and provide goods which they decided for people. This movement made the living standards of most population in China has a great improved and people have more freedom of choice. Today, China stays at a stable political situation. Chinese Government always attach importance of foreign investment and welcomes foreign investment in China, it also has made unremitting efforts to improve the investment e nvironment, protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors. (China.com, 2004). It is the good chance to enter the Chinese market, because HM can use the preferential policies which given by Chinese government to make their profit maximization in China. Chinese government collects low tax on foreign enterprises and offer many preferential tax policies to encourage the investment by foreign enterprises. For example: The income tax on foreign enterprises is collected at the rate of 33 percent. If the foreign enterprises located in a special economic zone, it will be collected at the rate of 15 percent (China.com, 2004). Economic China has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world since the Chinese economic reforms in 1979. From 1979 to 2007, the GDP of China keeps a stable increase at an average annual rate of 9%. Many economists predicted that if Chinese government continue and deepen the reforms of economic, especially on SOEs (state-owned enterprises) and state banking system which are poor efficiency, China will become the largest economic country in the world in the years to come (Wayne, 2007). Commerce still plays an important role in the Chinese economy. The total value of import and export has increased rapidly from $20.4 billion in 1978 to $2.173 trillion in 2007. Thereinto, exports grew to $1.217 trillion and imports rose to $0.956 trillion, engendering a $261 billion trade surplus. From 1979 to 2007 the average annual growth of export is 18.1%, while the average annual growth of export is 16.7% (Wayne, 2007). Nowadays, China has become the fourth-largest trading economy after the Un ited States, Japan and Germany. Chinas trade boom is largely as a result of large inflows of foreign investment which is accounted for over half of Chinas trade. The financial crisis which started at spring of 2007 is the biggest problem that HM was facing. If HM want to pass the financial crisis, enter the Chinese market is the best way because with continuing fast increase on Chinese economy, the potential of Chinese market is enormous. When the global economy grows slowly, particularly, some developed countries are still in a sluggish status such as the United States and Japan, in these market HM have to use promotions and discounts to attract customers. While, Chinese government keep a strong rising momentum by the further opening up which creates a steady economic environment for foreign investment, HM took this occasion into the Chinese market and changed their strategy. Through their marketing strategy still is offer fashion and quality at the best price, however, the best price has the different meaning in Chinese market and other markets. In other countries, the most of target consumers in HM is lower class and middle lower class. Be fore the first HMs store open in Shanghai, there was a queue more than 500 people and most of them are office workers which belong to middle upper class in China. In addition, HM has got a highest sales volume about $7000,000 a day in China during the financial crisis (Businessweek. 2007). Social China, which is the fourth largest country, has a large population of 1.4 billion people and will be the largest economy of the world in the future. If you stand in some metropolis such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, you will find that it has not any difference from the city in the developed country. A large number of cars run on the road, people wearing Adidas shoes and Calvin Klein t-shirt are busy in the streets, eating KFC and drinking Coca Cola as a lunch. In the evening, people go to the bars where play the American music and serve German beer. These facts often made the foreign think that the foreign products and its influence will be easy to accept by Chinese. Actually, most of Chinese still keep their traditional customs and thinking methods. If the foreign enterprise wants to be accepted by Chinese market they should think twice and research the local culture. Whether the companys culture will be able to accept in the new environment which is not a biggest problem only for HM, but also for many business. For this part, HM should consider many problems, this is determining by the flexibility and the philosophy of the company. HM should consider whether the culture of this new environment can accept its new culture. And it should consider different religions and different trendy, whether the product will attract customers. If HM is not acceptable, they should change their strategy to enter Chinese market. However, Chinese market accepted HM because Chinese are globalization and western day by day. The most important fact is HM culture is consistent with Chinese consumer psychology. That is Offer quality and fashion at the best price! (Lisa, 2008). Technology Telecommunication has advanced since 1990. Today, China has a high subscriber rate of the media, such as TV and internet has been popular in every family. Environmental Environment is a main issue in China. Green trade barrier appear in China in the end of twentieth century. It causes terrible effects on the trade of import and export in China. However, Chinese government has begun to manage the environment pollution. When they learn advanced technology of Europe, the United States and other developed countries, they learn the development policy and environmental standards of foreign environmental industry, and they also learn advanced management methods and policies of foreign enterprises. On the environmental issues, Chinese government combined prevention with control, made strict environmental, increased investment of environmental technology and promoted the development of environmental technology and industry. By the end of 2005, the quality of environment has improved and total emissions of major pollutants have reduced 10% comparing with 2000. In this aspect, HM set an example for many Chinese enterprises. HM promotes environmental awareness between their suppliers and employees. They adopted new technologies to use the resources as efficient as possible that could minimize waste. HM respect the decisions which be made by nature. HM adhere to use organic cotton which grow in the traditional environment without any chemical (HM, 2007b). Legal HM is a Swedish clothing company, which is familiar with Swedish laws and Europe Lows which have many differences with Chinese laws. After HM entering Chinese market, they had to adapt to Chinese laws in order to get their license, then they sell in Chinese market. Chinese government will continue to confirm that whether HM follows the Chinese laws. If they do not follow the Chinese laws their licenses will be taken away. That means HM has to change a few differences from other country on their strategy and operation methods in China. S.W.O.T Analysis Strengths: Offer fashion and quality at the best price is the main reason why HM is so popular. It sells quality clothing with a low price. Through the prices of its items in Chinese market is not quite low for Chinese. However, it proves they still have space to lower their price to attract Chinese people. Products production cycle. HM can only take 12 weeks to obtain the items from the design state to the sell state. The average time for other retailers is about 6 months which is 2 times time of HM. (Bruno,2007) They ask many guest designers to design for their product to keep their brands fresh and enhance their brand image. Most of guest designer are famous designer, the rest are famous stars, such as Madonna, who designed a limited edition called M by Madonna. This limited series made the HM sales increased 17% in March, 2007. HM has many successful experiences of overseas expansion. They expanded the Unite State, Canada and many other Europe countries. Through China is their first step into East Asia, there may be many different culture value, they still can learn from the successful experience. Before HM went into the Chinese market, they had the production base in the Shanghai and Hong Kong and they has had many year experience of cooperation with these supplies. Weaknesses: Overstocking of goods is troublesome problem for all retailers. They has sell their products in a low price, if they could not sell their products as quickly as they can ¼Ã…’that means there is not room for the new collection (EMCC, 2004). They will foucs maybe too narrow. Chinese culture could not accept western culture on some parts. Opportunities: Chinese Market Entry could diversify potential into relevant market segment. Chinese Market could be a distribution channel for seeking new products. HM can promote brand level via entering Chinese market because their products are sold to middle upper class in China, they has increased their brand level in China; Then they can increase their brand level gradually around the world; Finally, their value that Offer fashion and quality at the best price will be achieved. Threats: From HMs old competitor such as ZARA and GAP. ZARA entered the Chinese market earlier than HM. Zara is famous with its quick production cycles. It can only take 2 weeks for the design to a sell state. Even if HM reduce 50% production time, they still cannot compete with ZARA. Since H M has entered the Chinese Market, many of its old competitors all entered Chinese Market after HM. From the local brand. If we say HM to some extent copied the top brand in the world, after it entered the Chinese Market, it will become the copied object. Recommendation HM should continue innovating in making clothing which can make them be well known around the world. HM should improve their brand level. In some extent, best price always be seem low price. They should change their brand image in peoples mind to obtain the real best price. Because China has get a high subscribers rate of internet, HM should open the online shop in China. Now, HM has opened 33 shops in China, most of these stores open in the core city of China, there are many people they have ability to consume HM but they could not buy it because they live in different city, they need to ask friend or pay money to someone who live in the core city to buy the products. Why does HM not set up their own online shop which is easy for all people to consume in HM in China. Conclusion Through above discussion, we can see from PESTEL analysis the extend factors has attraction to HM to enter Chinese market and change their strategies in some extent. We get the result from S.W.O.T analysis, the strengthes of HM enter Chinese market are over the weakness. HM have chance to enhance their brand level in Chinese market, however, there are many threats or competitors HM should be care. Overall, Chinese market entry is a good chance for HM. Reference Bruno,Z. (2007). Critical Success Factors for International Fashion Retailers Entering Foreign Markets. FIBRESTEXTILES in Eastern Europe October/December 2007, Vol.15. Businessweek. (2007). Swedens HM Lands in China. [online]. Available at: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/may2007/gb20070508_735792.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_global+business. China.com.(2004).What are the preferential policies offered to enterprises with foreign investment? [online]. Available at: http://english.china.com/zh_cn/business/faq/11024764/20041015/11917364.html EMCC. (2004) Industrial change in the textiles and leather sector: Hennes Mauritz. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions 2004. HM. (2007a). HM OPENS FIRST STORE IN EAST ASIA. [online]. Available at: http://www.hm.com/us/press/pressreleases/__prfinance.nhtml?pressreleaseid=263905 HM. (2007b). HMs environmental objectives and sustainability policy. [online]. Available at: http://www.hm.com/us/corporateresponsibility/environment__environment.nhtml Lisa,B (2008) HMs Magnus Olsson: Swede success. [online]. Available at: http://www.retail-week.com/hms-magnus-olsson-swede-success/1911483.article Raphael,M. (2008) HM and INDITEXS global expansion strategy. THE RETAIL DIGEST. Rupert, W.(2010) New Look aims to replicate HM success abroad . [online]. Available at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6142TX20100205 Wayne M .(2007).Chinas Economic Conditions.

Relationship between Gender, Identity and Civil Disobedience

Relationship between Gender, Identity and Civil Disobedience Hannah Rates Gender, Identity and Civil disobedience: Are they the solution to their own problem? Social political concepts are arguably becoming the most important and highly discussed governmental topics. Gender, identity and civil disobedience are highly relevant in modern society and effect everyones day to day lives. As society is changing and modernizing the roles and meanings of these three concepts are also adapting. I look to explain their similarities and differences as well as how they have affected the global population throughout history and continue to do so. Identity politics is a name given to political positions who share the same interests and views of social minority groups in which people identify, often the individuals have shared experiences of injustice, (Heyes, 2016a) this leads to the challenge of other oppressive groups with the goal usually being equality. Identity political groups aim to secure political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context. (Heyes, 2016b) Identity politics is a term that has only been used in recent history originating from around the 1960s. There are hundreds if not thousands of cases of minority groups who are oppressed all over the world including but not limited to gay individuals, women, ethnic minority groups, Muslims as well as well as many other less recognized groups. Collective Identity politics has many positive effects on individuals, a feeling of solidarity with others through constructed collective identity provides an immutable and all-encompassing group t hat supply an escape from the society that oppresses them. One of the biggest collective identity movements in recent history is feminism, their goal was to remove the opposed biological determinist views that men are stronger and smarter than women to gain equal rights which included: the right to vote, reproductive and domestic rights along with many more. Women identifying with each other to challenge the oppression they faced created a way for individual womens voices to be heard, although women grouped together they campaigned for equal rights which benefited each individual in that group. Identity however is a contested concept, where collective identity is accentuated individualism diminishes and where solidarity with a persons minority is gained it is then restricted to one group. A person may have a single identity, but it will be made up of many levels of loyalty and identification. Identities change, because they are based on perceptions, which themselves change over time and environment; as it is possible to identify ones self with more than one thing at a time such as class and gender, or religion and age. Therefore, there are various elements of ones identity and which operate at different levels and these various elements in an identity may well be contradictory. (Concept of collective identity, 2015) Identity politics can be destructive as it can encourage people to fixate or excaudate their sense of persecution, it can also focus the stigmatization which then instigates the effect further. Inside a minority group differences are also overlooked which in turn divides the group internally; in feminist history, ethnic and gay feminists see themselves as having nothing in common with white straight feminists they then end up competing over their relative degree of victimization. (Todd, 2013) Judith Butlers argued using queer theory that the feminist movement only emphasised the differences between men and women by grouping women as individuals wit h the same interests and characteristics. She explained feminism as an unwitting regulation and reification of gender relations reinforcing a binary view of gender relations in which human beings are divided into two clear-cut groups, women and men. Rather than opening up possibilities for a person to form and choose their own individual identity. (David, no date) Judith Butlers use of queer theory in her book gender trouble has also been one of the main driving forces behind the contesting of gender. Gender is defined as either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated by social and cultural roles and behaviour. (Dictionary, 1300) As society progresses gender is becoming a multifaced concept that is constantly being challenged, the idea that sex is biological and gender is socially constructed has become a constant discussion point in the world of politics. Society is progressing with the help of technology and social media giving minority genders a voice, resulting in the world becoming more accepting of contested identitys. Transgender and genderqueer individuals identifying as a group has had positive outcomes and helped to empower people. This therefore gives evidence of contested genders becoming more widely accepted. To to be able to identify with their particular gender group however, individuals are required to succumb to specific gender labels which can then often cause them to be treated differently and negatively by peers, loved ones and so ciety. Throughout history many feminists have disagreed and have endorsed the sex gender distinction. Provisionally: sex denotes human females and males depending on biological features (chromosomes, sex organs, hormones, and other physical features); gender denotes women and men depending on social factors (social role, position, behaviour or identity). (Mikkola, 2016) Masculine and feminine behaviour has been learnt through nurture and gender socialisation and has created many inequalitys over time. One of the main objective of feminists, mainly in the second wave movement, was to reverse the gender roles created by society. The idea that women are created to raise children and stay at home doing the cleaning and cooking with a male dominated family has been a view challenged by feminists through many mass protests. Second wave feminism also known as the womens liberation movement set to overhaul gender inequality in private after first wave feminism had achieved public equality, aiming to remove the idea of the public man and the private woman. During second wave feminism the personal is the political became a rallying phrase to dispute the nuclear family and family values which resulted with gender becoming political. Challenging authority through civil disobedience became a very effective tactic for second wave feminists used to gain gender equality. Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government. (Brownlee, 2013a) The term originated from Henry David Thoreau in 1848 when he refused to pay the poll tax as he did not want to contribute to the funding of war and slavery. In Thoreaus essay, he justifies his actions by saying that government is best which governs least, men will someday be able to have a government that does not govern at all. As it is, government rarely proves useful or efficient. It is often abused and perverted so that it no longer represents the will of the people. (LLC, 2016) Throughout history civil disobedience has been used to change societys moral parameters; Gandhis salt march, civil rights movement and suffragettes are all prime examples of instances where civil disobedience proved to be an important mechanism for social change. (Brownlee, 2013b) John Rawls states that a civil diso bedience movement must be: public, non-violent, a conscientious yet political act, contrary to the law and it must aim to bring change to policies and the law. John Rawls suggest that the main point of the movement is that it must be conscientious, this highlights the seriousness and sincerity in which the civil disobedient break the law; through their disobedience, they draw attention to draw attention to laws or policies that they believe require reassessment or rejection. (Brownlee, 2013c) Henry David Thoreau emphasised the importance of human conscience in his 1848 essay stating we should be men first, and subjects afterwards. (Henry David Thoreau, 2017) The non-violence aspect of civil disobedience is also an important factor of the movement as it is not only moral but strategic and more effective, an uprising is 50% more likely to fail (Fisher, 2013a) if violence is used. If a protest does become violent then that legitimizes the states use of violence in response (Fisher, 201 3b) and is also less likely to have support from the public often polarizing them in support of the government. The argument that we all have the right to civil disobedience as part of our democratic rights, alongside our human right to freedom of speech are two factors believed toto encourage oppressed minority groups to speak out about their injustices, this is reflected by civil disobedience protests being known to gain more attention than any other forms of protest. Acts of Civil disobedience by minority groups including gender minority have been carried out throughout history, one of the largest being the feminist movement. The politics of gender roles and inequality have been at the heart of all womens liberation movements especially during second wave feminism. In more recent history Polish women carried out civil disobedience in October 2016 to protest against the governments proposed ban on all abortions with women facing imprisonment if the law was broken. Tens of thousand s of women missed work and school wearing all black to peacefully protest outside parliament against the Law and Justices party proposed ban. The mass protests caused parliament to reconsider and then reject the proposed ban. Poland already have the most restrictive laws on abortion in Europe with women only being able to have one in certain circumstances, however many activists see parliaments choice to over throw the ban as a chance to gain liberation in the near future. Identity politics is a concept that runs parallel with all acts of civil disobedience, individuals identify with each other and all share the same goal which is often equality and social justice. Every civil disobedience movement emphasizes a collective notion of the good. They suggest that when we identify ourselves with something larger than our own identity, we are compelled to take action. We are driven to bring about social reform because we value the importance of helping others. (Enotes, 2016a) In his essay , Thoreau emphasises the importance of coming together as a collective identity as the only way to achieve social reform, he also believes that all individuals should ignore their individual differences and work together towards a collective goal. Thoreau sees a persons power increasing when they unify with others in the cause for social reform. (Enotes, 2016b) The second wave feminist movement and the 2016 Polish protests were both collective actions trying to gain social reform for both identity and gender through civil disobedience. Social political concepts are continuing to shape modern day society, and the majority of these groups are co-dependant. The argument that collective identity diminishes individuality in that group is ongoing. Whist individualism is conceivably reduced, many civil disobedience movements contain individuals that have different standing views on what theyre protesting against. In the case of feminism there are radical and liberal groups inside the larger feminist group. Some radical groups focus on trying to overthrow patriarchy rather than liberal feminists who try to change society to make it equal. This shows that the strive for identity within civil disobedience exceeds the concept of just gender. Although both radical and liberal feminist groups have the same common goal it highlights the flaws of collective identity as the group works against the larger movement cohesion due to their opposed views on aspects of the feminist ideology. Many radical feminists will not accept men to be part of their movement due to their feelings of oppression caused by a patriarchal society throughout history, this excludes men and reinforces the dichotomic view of gender relations highlighting gender differences through identity. Queer theory can be used to understand the contradicting views of both identity and gender; queer theory supports the idea that gender is free flowing and an expression. It contradicts collective identitys as identity consists of so many aspects, to group identities collectively based on one variable e.g. gender is wrong. A difference perspective on collective identities with regards to gender however is that it can empower many people, as more people in modern society are identifying as gay or transgender the glamorization of identity through gender has increased this holds true for many gender labels. Whilst people seek confidence by identifying with these gender labels the end result can be that individuals have restricted themselves to the stereo typical behaviour of that gender identity. Many civil disobedience movements aim to compact the stereotypical view of gender roles and behaviours showing how the three concepts not only intertwine but often provoke each other. It is clear that collective identities are sought out by individuals in order to find solidarity in a certain group, they are used to construct community and feelings of cohesion and holism, a concept to give the impression that all individuals are equal in the imagined community. Gamson argues that fixed identity categories are both the basis for oppression and the basis for political power, again further outlining that civil disobedience is not only comprised by collective identitys, but that they are also a catalyst for many civil disobedience movements. Connotations associated with gender often form these collective identitys that in turn form civil disobedience. Without collective identity, civil disobedience movements would be ineffective; movements are only taken seriously if its a large identity group working towards the same goals. In the example of the feminist movement and the polish protests women identified with their gender to campaign for equality however identifying in this group women have highlighted their oppression and focused the stigmatization. Although quite obviously linked identity does not only exist through the marinization of oppressive groups, if society was completely equal both identity and gender would still exist and where there is democracy there is inevitably civil disobedience. As theories and concepts identity, gender and civil disobedience all share a common quality, in that they are often co dependant in order to be effective as well as being a seemingly paradoxical solution to themselves. Whilst all three concepts seek equality; identity is formed through segregation, gender is defined by its separation and civil disobedience can only exist with minority protesting the majority. In addition to this incongruence, comprised with all acts of politics in accordance to these concepts, ego and prejudice will always effect the individual, creating bias within these social groups, making the topics insolvably disputed for the future. References Heyes, C. (2016) Identity politics. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-politics/ (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Concept of collective identity (2015) Available at: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/politics/concept-of-collective-identity.php (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Todd, D. (2013) Douglas Todd: The pros and cons of identity politics. Available at: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Douglas+Todd+pros+cons+identity+politics/8235119/story.html (Accessed: 19 January 2017). David (no date) Www.Theory.Org.Uk resources: Judith Butler. Available at: http://www.theory.org.uk/ctr-butl.htm (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Dictionary (1300) The definition of gender, in Available at: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/gender (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Mikkola, M. (2016) Feminist perspectives on sex and gender. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-gender/#GenSocCon (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Brownlee, K. (2013) Civil disobedience. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/civil-disobedience/ (Accessed: 20 January 2017). LLC, S. (2016) Civil disobedience. Available at: http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/civildisobedience/section1.rhtml (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Henry David Thoreau (2017) Available at: http://izquotes.com/quote/394572 (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Fisher, M.F.M. (2013) Peaceful protest is much more effective than violence for toppling dictators. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/11/05/peaceful-protest-is-much-more-effective-than-violence-in-toppling-dictators/?utm_term=.85c428fbbc16 (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Help, H. (2016) In civil disobedience by Thoreau, on the eve of historic Dandi march by Gandhi, and long walk to freedom by Nelson Mandela, how is the.. Available at: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/civil-disobedience-eve-historic-dandi-walk-freedom-748335 (Accessed: 20 January 2017).

Economics in Asia :: Pacific Asia Economics

Since the mid 1960s, Pacific Asia has had a remarkable rate of economic growth. This growth has been sustainable and faster than all other regions of the world (see fig. 1). This region consists of twenty-three economies but it was just eight who caused most of this amazing growth. The eight were Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, China, (the â€Å"Four Tigers†) Japan and the newly industrialised economies (NIEs) of south-east Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The eight high performing Asian economies (HPAEs) mentioned here will be the focus of this essay. What caused this success in Pacific Asia? What role did public policies play in engineering this rapid growth? How was the human and physical capital accumulated? Most of the high growth in the HPAEs was achieved by getting the basics right. Large human capital and private domestic investment largely powered the growth. High domestic savings levels meant HPAE investment levels remained high. Agriculture experienced rapid growth and improvement of its productivity. HPAEs population growth rate declined faster than in other parts of the developing world. HPAEs were also helped by their labour force being better-educated and having more effective public administration than other developing regions. Another cause of this success, was the development policy used. The policies were made to create a stable framework for private investment while increasing the integrity of the banking system, raising levels of financial savings. Education policies concentrated on primary and secondary schools to create a labour force with better skills. Policies on agriculture pushed productivity without pushing the rural economy. Government intervention was also essential to foster development. The growth of these HPAEs is highly unusual in the developing world. They are highly diverse in culture, resources and population yet they are banded together with some characteristics. They have all had rapid sustained growth with highly equal income distributions. Strong agriculture, rapid demographic changes and export booms. There are two main views of how the HPAEs were so successful. The first is the neo-classical, which stresses getting the basics right. This was providing a strong legal framework to promote competition (domestic and international), the absence of price distortions (e g price controls) and the investment in people, health and education. The second view is of the revisionist, where the government uses state-led development and intervention to achieve growth.

Terrorism and Morality Essay -- September 11 Terrorism Essays

Terrorism and Morality      Ã‚   In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001 and the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, moral questions have arisen. This essay will consider such questions.    Many Church leaders and leading thinkers in the United States have strongly defended the U.S. use of military force in the wake of Sept. 11. Yet outside the States the talk is less about just-war and more about economic and social inequalities. The first and overriding inequality Americans face at the moment is this one: The real murderers, the architects of these murders, are alive and determined to kill again, while the murder victims have been robbed of their lives, their futures, their hopes, dreams and families. More than 5,000 innocent people died at the hands of extremist killers in a single day in September(CNN), and others continue to die through what appears to be bioterrorism(Bio).    Americans see this more clearly, and feel it more keenly, than outsiders because Americans are directly engaged as the target of the violence. Outsiders are not, so their perspective is predictably different.    I think that reminders of the social and economic inequalities in the world serve an important purpose. But no government can keep its legitimacy if it fails to defend its people. The injustices in the world can never be used to "contextualize" or excuse mass murder. And the United States is by no means the only source of the world ´s social and economic inequalities. America bears heavier moral obligations for its actions because of its prosperity and power, but in the Muslim countries and throughout the Third World, rulers have consistently exploited their own people, with or without Western involvement. Sin isn ´t a... ...ht to a life without fear. The irony, of course, is that hundreds of thousands of Arab-Americans are actually Christians whose families often came to the United States to escape economic discrimination and religious intimidation in the Muslim countries of the Middle East.    I believe that despite our flaws and sins, Americans are a good people -- and also a great people. We have a chance in the United States to show the world that Christians, Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths and no faith can live together in mutual respect and peace. Whether Americans today have the character to accomplish that goal remains to be seen. It has to be proven again in every new generation.    SOURCES CITED:    Bioterrorism Articles. http://pubs.ama-assn.org/bioterr.html    CNN Online News. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/      

The Baoule Tribe of West Africa

Queen Awura (Aura) Pokou governed one branch of the Akan’s mighty Ashanti kingdom, which traveled towards the southeast region of the Ivory Coast during the earlier part of the 18 century (qtd. in Laufer 42). Brought about by a conflict of leadership, wherein she turned down efforts to unite with the Ashanti confederacy in the present day Ghana, Pokou directed her tribe south towards the Komoe River banks. Once she asked the priest regarding the dangerous river crossing the tribe were about to embark on, the priest told her that if she offered a sacrifice, her group can successful cross the river.Pokou then offered her son to be sacrificed, crying out the words â€Å"Baouli—the child is dead† (qtd. in Laufer 42). From then on, Pokou’s descendants came to be known as the Baoules (Baule or Baol). The group successfully crossed the river and ended the savanna that rests on the opposite side. It was the start of a tribe which inhabited the central region situa ted between the Bandama and Komoe rivers. Ultimately, the Baoules absorbed many of the preexisting tribes of the region. As a result, they grew to be the most powerful and largest tribe of the Ivory Coast.Even if the Baoules lost a great deal of their political influence in the 19th century, they are still the largest tribe of the Ivory Coast to date (Steiner 90; Uwechue 66). The tribe moved westward from Ghana at the time the Asante assumed power some three hundred years ago. The story of how they escaped from such rule lives on in oral traditions. Pokou’s male descendant did not left the place she founded. He is regarded as the nominal king of the Baoule tribe (University of Iowa). The tribe is one of the ethnic groups of West Africa. The Baoules speak Twa (Yakan 227).Their language is a branch of the Kwa. The Kwa is a branch of the Niger-Congo family of African languages. Being an Akan group, the Baoules have tribal affiliations with several groups past the Ivory Coast, pa rticularly the Akan group of Ghana. The Senufo, Guro, Gan, Dida, Ari, Anyi, and Abbe (Abe) tribes are among the Baoules’ neighbors (Yakan 227). Fishing, animal husbandry, and agriculture serve as their principal economic activities (Yakan 227). A chief as well as a council of elders govern every village. Such rulers represent different lineages.Matrilineal lineages are observed in the Baoule culture (Lovejoy 175). A chief or king heads the Baoule tribe’s highly centralized system of government. The position of the chief of king is inherited (Colin 105). Several sub-chiefs manage the local inhabitants under the jurisdiction of the king. All of the chiefs greatly depend on their political advisors assisting them in the decision making process. As a principal mask association, the Goli group is responsible for the social order among the tribe (University of Iowa). Baoule art is presented in different mediums.Among them is figure and mask carving which is heavily influence d by the tribe’s Guro and Senufo neighbors. Other forms of media are wooden sculpture as well as brass and gold casting, resembling the tribes Asante heritage (Steiner 90). Similar to their fellow Africans, the Baoule tribe is famous for their wooden sculptures celebrating their conventional beliefs (Yakan 228). By tradition, the Baoules believe in a world of spirits. Likewise, they believe in the ancestor cult (Yakan 228). The hierarchy of nature gods and worship of their ancestors are incorporated in the religion they practice.Images of spirit spouses as well as nature spirits are normally sculpted. They regard Alouroua as their creator. However, their creator god is in no way physically represented ever since (University of Iowa). Works Cited â€Å"Baule Information. † 3 November 1998. University of Iowa. 7 March 2009 . Colin Legum. â€Å"Tribal Survival in the Modern African Political System. † The Passing of Tribal Man in Africa. Ed. Peter C. W. Gutkind. Le iden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1970, 102-112.Laufer, Guida. Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 1999. Lovejoy, Paul E. Transformation in slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Steiner, Christopher B. African Art in Transit. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Uwechue, Raph. Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War: Facing the Future. British Columbia: Trafford Publishing, 2004. Yakan, Muhammad Z. Almanac of African Peoples & Nations. Edison, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 1999.

Response of the Criminal Justice System to Victims of Corporate Crime

Essay Title: With the use of at least 3 real life stories reported in newspapers, discuss the response of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System to victims of corporate crime. There is no time limit on the stories and they may be accessed via the internet. Within this essay I will look to discuss victims of corporate crimes experiences within the Criminal Justice System. In order to do this I will first define the Criminal Justice System and then corporate crime. I will then address the task by using 3 real life stories about victims’ experiences of the operation of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System. The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is a series of practices and institutions that are used â€Å"to deliver justice for all, by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent. It is responsible for detecting crime and bringing it to justice; and carrying out the orders of court, such as collecting fines, and supervising community and custodial punishment† (frontline. jsonline. gov. uk) In criminology, corporate crime refers to ‘crimes committed by corporations, or by influential individuals within corporations, where the illegal act is carried out with the intentions of furthering the goals of that organisation. ’ (Newburn. 2007. 946-947) Experiences within the criminal justice system are undoubtedly going to vary with each person’s own experiences and perception. Some may hold the view that it is a just and worthwhile organisation while others will not share the same optimism. For example, there is an article in the Belfast Telegraph about the rape in Colin Glen Forest Park. The incident took place on the 12 April 2008. The article shows the complete dissatisfaction and faith within the criminal justice system but praises the work of the PSNI. The victim stated that the days between her reporting the crime and attending the trial she had no contact or information relating to the trail until just 2 week before hand â€Å"The criminal justice process leading up to the trial was not much better from a victim's perspective. I did not hear from my prosecuting barristers until two weeks before the scheduled trial — leaving me to spend 11 months in confused anxiety about the prospect of testifying. † â€Å"How can rape victims be expected to assist the criminal justice system in convicting their attacker, when there isn't even a proper counseling service to help them through this very harrowing process? †(www. belfasttelegraph. com) It is easily seen from this specific example that the criminal justice system is simply focused on one thing, which to convict the criminal and punish them accordingly. There seems to be no regard to the victims feelings, concerns or anxieties, but simply referrals and advice, on where to go to achieve help and comfort in an attempt to deal with the traumatic event of being raped. â€Å"No one told me that a service like Victim Support existed until a few weeks before my trial (and 10 months after my attack). † (www. belfasttelegraph. com) (2009) It has been seen as standard practice to observe that the ‘victim’ has long been the forgotten party in criminal justice as the Colin Glen Forest Park victim’s story demonstrates. Victims appear very often appear as complainants and applicants for compensation, or as a witness giving evidence, but thereafter they are unfortunately very much neglected. It is only recently that the victim now forms the focus of a substantial area of enquiry within criminology. There is now a requirement for sufficient attention to be paid to the needs and rights of the victims. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 342) Crimes vary in their nature and therefore the impact of the crime on the victim can vary also. Goodey (2005: 121-2) lists a range of emotional, material and social needs that victims may need to have met in the aftermath of crime. This list consists of: reassurance and counselling; medical assistance; financial and practical assistance to secure property; information about case programs; guidance about what to expect in court; the chance to express how the crime affected them; and information about the release date of the offender. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 353) In is only in recent years that these needs of victims have been taken into account and there is now such a thing called ‘victims policy’. This policy ensures that the needs of the victims are being met and there is now a substantial raft of services now provided to protect the victim and their rights. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 358) Duff (1988) argues that there are two discernible trends which illustrate the impact of the ‘victim movement’ on the Criminal Justice System. The first is the introduction of state funded compensation schemes. These schemes had the aim of trying to strengthen the relationship between the offender and the state. The second was the introduction of compensation by the offender to the victim. This aimed to increase the importance of the victim-offender relationship. This therefore became the start of criminal injuries compensation, and it was through these schemes that the needs of the victims were officially being recognised. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 358) In 1959, the government published ‘Penal Practice in a Changing Society’; this is what resulted in the setting-up of a party which were to examine the proposal of introducing the schemes for payment of compensation to victims of violence. The proposal was then passed and was called the ‘Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme’, also known as CICS. It came into operation on the 1st August 1964. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 358) An example of a recent payment of compensation to a victim is that of Lucas Da Costa, 32, while working for Lindon foods meat processing company, suffered severe head injuries when he was hit by 255 kilos of crates as he lifted them using an electric pallet truck at the Granville Industrial Estate plant on 25 February 2010. The father-of-four was rushed to hospital and then transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he was treated for bleeding onto the brain as well as multiple fractures to his skull and facial bones. Linden Foods Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation at a previous hearing at Omagh Crown Court, in the case which was brought against the company by the Health and Safety Executive. The company were ordered to pay ? 25,000 after an employee was left â€Å"close to a vegetative state†. (www. u. tv. co. uk) Also Northern Ireland Water has been fined ? 2,000 after pleading guilty to polluting a major river. A blockage in the sewerage system caused poisonous discharge to pollute the Six Mile Water River at Clotworthy Bridge in Antrim. The fine was imposed on 4th May 2011 at Antrim Magistrates Court where NI Water pleaded guilty to making a polluting discharge to a waterway and breach of consent. Antrim mayor Pam Lewis welcomed the fine saying she hoped it would act as a deterrent. (www. belfasttelegraph. co. uk) In another incident, two construction companies have been fined over the collapse of a building owned by the Law Society in Belfast. The building collapsed in March 2008, injuring six workers. JH Turkington and Sons Ltd and Ripley Developments Ltd were fined a total of ? 1,000 for health and safety breaches. A Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation found that the collapse of a temporary supporting structure, known as false work, caused the incident. It was estimated that approximately 150 tonnes of concrete, 25 tonnes of steel reinforcing bars and four tonnes of false work all came down in the collapse. (www. bbc. co. uk) This increased recognition of victims needs developed even further; there became an increased desire to protect children who had been victims. Many of the child victim’s experiences were particularly traumatic itself; never mind the trauma of having to give evidence in court also. After numerous protests, the requirement in ‘The 1988 Criminal Justice Act’ was abolished that stated that the child had to give evidence in court. This was enforced in order to protect the child and instead the use of video recordings was introduced. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 362-363) In 1986 in government then took the decision to provide core funding to victim support. In the first years the scheme mainly focused on the victims of conventional crimes, such as burglary. During the 1980s they became progressively more involved in providing support for a wider range of victims. This came to include victims of racial harassment, families of murder victims, rape and serious sexual assault. Victim support demanded that victims had the right: to be heard; to be kept informed about the progress of ‘their case’; be protected by law enforcement agencies; to receive compensation as well as ‘respect, recognition and support’. Newburn. 2007. Pg. 363-364) This led to an increased interest in victims within the criminal justice system. Victims support started running a series of victim/witness support programmes in seven Crown Court centres, and now, the organisation provides a witness service in every criminal court in England and Wales. The first victim’s charter was published in 1990. This was the first acknowledgement that som e victims may have entitlements (not rights) because of their victimisation. In 1996 the second victim’s charter was published. The charter covered police responsibilities for providing information to victims, familiarisation with the courts, together with details of the complaints procedures if the standards set out were not met. From this charter victims could expect to get: contact details for police officers and leaflets on ‘Victims of Crime’, information on case progress, chance to explain how the crime affected them, information on the offenders release, treatment and support if attending court as a witness, expenses for attending court, and also emotional and practical support. (Newburn. 007. Pg. 364-365) In 2002, a White Paper, ‘Justice For All’, was published by the Home Office. Its aim, it said, was to rebalance the Criminal Justice System in favour of the victims, witnesses and communities. Their aim was to increase detection rates, reduce delays, and increase the conviction rates. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 365 & 669) Northern Ireland has numerous areas in which victims can rece ive support. These include the PSNI Victim support, The Public Prosecution Service, NICS, PBNI Victim Information Scheme, and The Prisoner Release Victim Information Scheme. These aim to help people affected by any type of crime. They provide emotional support, information and practical help to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime. (www. victimsupportni. co. uk) The Northern Ireland Justice Minister made this response in July 2010. â€Å"Northern Ireland must have a Criminal Justice System which puts victims and witnesses at the core. As part of this, it is of paramount importance that victims are provided with the necessary support and that they have confidence in the service they are receiving†. Although many improvements to victim support had been made, there are still many changes to be made. The NI Criminal Justice System has made commitments for 2010/2011 to: provide victims and witnesses with easier access to information; ensure that specific and timely information is provided to victims and witnesses in relation to their cases; continue to work with relevant voluntary agencies; recognise and be responsive to victims and witness’ individual needs and also to make victims and witness’ views made know to the CJS. It seems to be a simple solution to ensure that the victims of crimes should be put at the fore front of the investigation, ensuring that they receive the best care and guidance possible in an attempt to raise the comfort and awareness of the conviction process, therefore raising the belief in the criminal justice which in turn, will allow other victims to follow suit thus raising the level the convictions, instead of concentrating on just the legal aspects of getting the conviction, which seems to be the case at present. People are very often not aware of the services and support groups available to them in the event of a crime, and they are relaying on the people within the legal profession and their knowledge and the CJS to inform them of such services. It’s bad enough that they have to suffer at the hands of the criminals, but to suffer at the hands of the criminal justice system is totally unacceptable. It is beyond doubt that the criminal justice system needs a reform, so that it takes into account all aspects of crimes, from the victim to the sentencing. They may see an increase in assistance from the victims if they focus their attention on them rather than being simply focused on one thing, which to convict the criminal and punish them accordingly. Bibliography Newburn, T. (2007) Criminology. Cullompton. Willan Publishing. (frontline. cjsonline. gov. uk) http://www. belfasttelegraph. co. uk/lifestyle/bt-woman/as-a-tourist-in-belfast-my-rape-was-shock-news-so-why-did-you-forget-about-it-and-me-so-quickly-14484709. html#ixzz15CJWLv3H