International approach to the local market

Introduction This case study is based on the framework of internatonal mergers and acquisition, its way of success and challenges that come along with it.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on International approach to the local market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The concept of mergers and acquisition thus has to be understood and internalised before critically evaluating the Vechtel case study and how it applies to topics dealt like international takeovers, leadership in international environment, cross-cultural communication, company cultures and stereotyping (King et al., 2004). When we use the term ‘merger’, we are referring to the joining of two companies where one new company will continue to exist on the other hand the term ‘acquisition’ refers to the purchase of assets by one company from another company. In an acquisition, both companies may continue to exist (Doz, 1986). Ho wever, in this discussion I will loosely refer to mergers and acquisitions (M A) as a business transaction where one company acquires another company. The acquiring company (also referred to as the predator company) will remain in business and the acquired company (which is sometimes called the Target Company) will be integrated into the acquiring company and thus, the acquired company ceases to exist after the merger (Van, 1995). It will be concluded that it is important to understand that Mergers and acquisition are extremely difficult and that expected synergy values may not be realized. This paper seeks to discuss the case study. Define the three phases of internationalization that occurred after Vechtel took over the french company The three phases after internationalization that occured after Vechtel took over the french company comprise of: Brasseries Lilloises, Union du nord and Vechtel France. Brasseries Lilloises was known to be one of the main rival of union du nord, uni on du nord, on the other hand, was one of the three companies that formed groupe du nord and it was in itself a collection of smaller breweries and at the time was facing financial problems (King et al., 2008).Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, as the study shows the three had developed a poor relationship towards each other after the takeover this is evident from the following case scenarious; There was resentment between Brasseries lilloises and Vechtel France due to the fact that they were under the management by a person from the new company Union du Nord. This resentment came from the fact that Brasseries Lilloises had taken great pride in the approach it used to brew its beer and was extremely proud of the approach and thus the presence of a manager from Union du Nord was a threat to this approach as its goal was to keep its own company values (Prahalad and Doz, 1986). Despite all this, Vechtel France was very proud of the role it was playing in establishing the Vechtel brand in france, this led to division between Vechtel France and Groupe du Nord which practically showed that this acquisition was becoming unworkable as there were conflicting intrests particularly regarding the long-term plans. This was particularly challenging considering the fact that Vechtel was at the time dealing with deplorable set of financial figures, an excessive number of breweries and an overloaded portfolio of brands all which called for restructuring, where several breweries will have to be closed down, people fired and brand range revised. Studies have shown acquisition normally result in the following three integration process levels: Full, where all functional areas (operations, marketing, finance, human resources, etc.) will be merged into one new company. The new company will use the ‘best practices’ between the two companies (Covin, 20 04). Moderate, where certain key functions or processes (such as production) will be merged together. Strategic decisions will be centralized within one company, but day to day operating decisions will remain autonomou and Minimal, where only selected personnel will be merged together in order to reduce redundancies. Both strategic and operating decisions will remain decentralized and autonomous (Lamoreaux, 1985).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on International approach to the local market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, in Vechtel case it is evident that the was lack of coperation after the take over and that the three phases of internationalization did not result to practicable merger at the time and as Vechtel had put it restructuring was inevitable. Concept of stereotypes: Extent in which stereotyping is evident in the thoughts and words of the Jean-Pierre Courbet and Jaap Harmelen Stereotyping whi ch basically focuses on the diffrences between individual or group and makes it look like this individuals or group are extrely different whereas the truth is they are not that different but their approach to the same result they will agree on is the cause of this diffrence (Kesner, 2008). In most circumstances stereotyping helps individual reach at a more accurate decision (DePamphilis, 2008). The extent of stereotyping is evident in this case study and can be seen in both action, words as well as thought of the two individuals Jean-pierre Courbert and Jaap Harmelen and is evident as discussed below. First the concept was displayed by Jean as he was heading to the meeting with Jaap, we are told in his thought he was contemplating his present situation and as he looked around the Vechtel name displayed on the street was encouraging to him despite the fact that Vechtel had resently taken over the ramshackle group of breweries that he Courbert did not agree with the end result was to see that Vechtel succeed in the market. In another scenario Courbert is seen to differ in his thought with the way in which the managers who are graduates in the top business schools behave, he did not see the point of obsequious bahaviour of his new bosses and that if he does not agree with something he states it, this type of streotype according to studies leads to positive results(Chad, 2008). Jaap Harmeleen on the other hand displays evidence of stereotype during the meeting they held with Courbert, in which he blames the management for making to many mistakes in reference to the spanish brewery case while he was one of the key personell in Vechtel management team and also a member of the board (Rosenbaum and Joshua, 2009).Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Classification of cultures: What sort of effects do you think the culture of each protagonist (Courbet, Harmelen) had on the success of the takeover by Vechtel of French company? The culture of Courbert had an effect in the success of takeover by Vechtel of the French company in the following way, as his French colleagues were dismissed in the process of reorganisation he was maintained to help in managing the other staff as well as advising the chief executive. Presence of Courbert proved to be helpful in the Inter-HRC distribution company which Vechtel seem to have a problem during acquisition, as the the director he persuaded Vechtel to retain it, this did not only secure customer numbers but also did maintain good relationship with the people running pubs and bistos which according to him is the way to get beer sold in the country (Ruigrok and Van, 1995). In the meeting Coubert had with Harmelen, he said that the reason for the failure in Spanish case is failure to have any span iard in the management team, more over none of the manager could speak spanish and that they had no idea about the spanish way of doing things, their feeling of pride and the spanish culture. Thus indicating that the contrary was the case in takeover of Vechtel of French company. Harmelen on the other hand was proficient in English and most importantly was a fluent French speaker, what helped in the success of the takeover in his part is the fact that he seem to be a real francophile as he relished France’s dedication to food and drink this showed that he appreciated culture of the France people. In his statement to Coubert concerning the Spain he expressed sadness saying that the people of Spain should have received the same personal touch and good contact the same way the people in France did, this in essence show that he cares about the culture of people in France which did contibute to the success of the takeover. Cultural and Social differences, has been a topic of discu ssion by scholars as regards to successful mergers and acquisition. It has been said that most problems can be traced to ‘people problems’. If the two companies have wide differences in cultures, then synergy values can be very elusive (Straub, 2007). Harmelen being the Dutch manager showed respect to the various brewery cultures within the company as well as creating confidence among employees. The culture of the companies concerned: What are the strategies of Vechtel (Rotterdam HQ) and of Brasseries Vechtel (Lyons) with regard to internationalization? In what ways are they similar/different? The strategy of internationalization as partains to Brasseries Vechtel developed soon after the company decided to change the name from Brasseries Unies to Brasseries Vechtel, the whole idea of this change was to speed the intergration of the loose element in the company by creating a clear Vechtel identity. The Brasseries Vechtel strategy involved transforming the Vechtel product to a more acceptable position in the France market, however it met a lot of challenges as it was resisted at all level of the work force. The two brands that resulted was the international brand and the national brand (Schmader and Chad, 2008). Rotterdam HQ strategies as regard interationalization involved strengthening the Vechtel brand through buying local brewers with a strong distribution network. Due to this Vechtel had moved into Eastern Europe and also strengthened its position in Western Europe by increasing its participation in companies it had acquired (Kaynak and Cavusgil, 1983). While the Brasseries Vechtel stategy involved making the Vechtel brand more acceptable in the the French market, Rotterdam on the other hand involved strengthening Vechtel brand through acquisition of other local brewers. While the two strategies differ they however had the same goal of improving the Vechtel position in the French market. The way the culture concerned behave in cross-cultural si tuation How are the two internationalization strategies described in question 4 reconciled? The two international strategies can be seen to reconcile as described by the new merger, considering the Rotterdam strategy that involved pushing up the marketshare and Brasseries Vechtel which involved gaining acceptance in the local market the two reconcile because of one the respect that Vechtel had for Courbet who was able to calm down the tension that arose from the change of name from Brasseries Unies to Brasseries Vechtel. Secondly Vechtel as result of this acceptance had Full control of Interhold, the holding company and was successful in introducing its main brand into France which had become a strategic market for Vechtel (Maddigan and Zaima, 1985). How did the two companies arrive at a common goal, despite the diffrences in their respective national cultures? Despite the diffrences in the repective national cultures with French government raising objections regarding the move saying that it could lead to unhealthy denomination of the market. On the other hand Courbet level of experience in the french market and the fact that Vechtel organisation in france had to develop in line with the market it was serving made the Vechtel directors to reconsider this merger. Thus the two companies reached a common goal as a result of the procedure adopted by Coubets, though the take over was intended to strenghen the Vechtel brand Coubet advocated that Schaeffer survive as a separate operating company within Interhold holding as way to acknowledge the ever increasing importance of speciality beers as well as allow the families running the brewery have some control after the takeover. The mother company on the other hand had plenty of cash as well as willing lenders and was ready to invest the time to make the takeover work. As much as there was a need to increase market share as well as develop synergies and improve productivity from this takeover the contributing fac tor towards arriving at the common goal was the people involved and the need to let them have their independence. The result was succesful though expensive for Vechtel as the acquisition of the majority of shares held by the families involved was finally agreed on. Conclusion What still has to be done to make Brasseries/Vechtel (Rotterdam) more international? There is more that would have enabled Brasseries/Vechtel to be more international, considering what Coubet thought on theories advanced by certain school of thought is that as much as mergers and acquisition allow all kind of economies of operation it is necessary to maintain the vital commodity innovation and this can be achieved by letting the people working in this companies give their contribution in full, and by so doing can achieve more international identity (Cavusgi, 1987). The brand of this brewers should also be made to focus more on international brands rather than the national brands. Could the first phase have b een shortened and/or improved? The first phase would have been improved and made more effective if Vechtel had put into consideration the importance of involving the local people in the takeover as well as by taking into account the various element that this people wanted to be incorporated in the brand, this will have speeden the acceptance of Vechtel into the local France market and its presence made known more effectively (Browaeys and Price, 2011). Could the takeover of schaeffer have been realized in a better way? The takeover of Schaeffer was done at the time that it was experiencing some management problems as well as financial, Vechtel should have overlooked the fact that acquiring Schaeffer was only for the increase of market share but concentrate in uplifting what Schaeffer was renowned with, its speciality Alsatian beers. This would have incresed the market share as well as enhance and maintain business with the premium sector. Which elements on the cultural level do you consider to be most influential to the success of take overs such as those described here? The elements of a cultural problem that I consider to be most influencial to the success of the take overs are the locals. That is to mean that the local people does affect the acceptance of the company taking over depending on how this company intergrates all the attributes of the local people’s culture including their way of life, language and food (Price, 2011). The case study does show that the major reason for the failure in the Spain take over is because the Dutch managers had failed to take into account the spanish context of doing things, and according to Jean-Pierre if the same thing had happened in France then the situation would have been the same as in Spain (Craig, 2000). In conclusion, it is important to know that Mergers and acquisition are extremely difficult and that expected synergy values may not be realized, which leads to Mergers being considered a failure (Zai ma, 1985). Cultural and social diffrences are not the only reason behind failed mergers. Other reasons exist and they include poor strategic fit, incomplete and inadequate due diligence, poorly managed integration, being overly optimistic and paying too much (Joshua, 2009). References Browaeys, MJ Price, R 2011, Understanding cross-cultural management, Pearson, Harlow. Craig, T 2000, Across Product Classes, ‘International Journal of Advertising’, Vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 147-157. DePamphilis, D 2008, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities, Elsevier Academic Press, New York. Kaynak, E Cavusgil, ST 1983,Consumer Attitudes Towards Products of Foreign Origin: Do they Vary, Sage, New York. King, DR, Dalton, DR, Daily, CM Covin, JG 2004, ‘Meta-analyses of Post-acquisition Performance: Indications of Unidentified Moderators’, Strategic Management Journal Vol. 25, no. 2,pp. 187–200. King, DR, Slotegraaf, R Kesner, I 2008,’Performance implications of firm resource interactions in the acquisition of RD-intensive firms’, Organization Science, Vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 327–340. Lamoreaux, NR 1985, The great merger movement in American business, Cambridge University Press, London. Maddigan, R Zaima, J 1985,’The Profitability of Vertical Integration’, Managerial and Decision Economics, Vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 178–179. Prahalad, CK Doz, Y 1986, The Multinational Mission: Balancing Local Demands and Global Vision, The Free Press, New York. Rosenbaum, J Joshua P 2009, Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers Acquisitions, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken NJ. Ruigrok, W Van TR 1995, The Logic of International Restructuring, Routledge, London. Schmader, T Chad F 2008, ‘An intergrated process model of stereotype threat effects on performance’, Pyschological Review, Vol. 115, no. 2, pp. 336-338. Straub, T 2007, Reasons for frequent failure in Mergers and Acquisitions: A comprehensive analysis, Gabler Edition Wissenschaf, Deutscher Università ¤ts This case study on International approach to the local market was written and submitted by user Leo Erickson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Cask Of Amontillado essays

The Cask Of Amontillado essays Revenge is the key factor in the story The Cask of Amontillado. The main character, Montresor, sought vengeance on his friend, Fortunato, because he had insulted him. Montresor and his family's pride was hurt, as the foundation of their family would not stand to be insulted and could not let an insult go unpunished. Montresor then begins to carry out a plan to ensure the ultimate revenge, one that would leave him and his pride unthreatened. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best as I could, but when he went upon insult I vowed revenge." This statement from Montresor shows us the relation between his friend Fortunato and himself. It leads us to believe that Fortunato hasn't been the best of friends to Montresor. With all that Montresor had put up with, when Fortunato insulted him it went over the top. This statement also says what Montresor would do about it, which is to carry out with revenge. He then goes on to say "I must not only punish but punish with impunity." This means he wants to punish Fortunato, but in a way that he can't be punished in return. So he planned to kill Fortunato, which would make it impossible for Fortunato to punish him in return. He then talks about his thoughts on revenge. "A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself as such to him who has done the wrong." This is basically sayi ng that revenge is not successful, unless the avenger can make himself felt to the victim as much as the victim has made himself feel to the avenger. This also means that the person who gets punished has to know who punishes him, and why. Montresor had not let Fortunato know that he was planing anything against him. "..neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will... He did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation." He meets Fortunato one night while he is...

Nursing Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Nursing Leadership - Essay Example The health care system, just like other institutions, has to respond to the various and increasing demands to the industry. Nursing, being an integral part of the health sector, has to establish an approach that will bring the institution forward in the 21st century, since there are many challenges that nursing face. Some of which are â€Å"new roles, new technology, financial constraints, and greater emphasis on participation, cultural diversity and education† (Curtis, de Vries and Sheerin, 2011, p. 2006). In this regard, effective leadership, in nursing in particular and health care service in general, has been given ample consideration as one of the primary strategies that can appropriately respond to the changes and challenges of the 21st century (Greenfield, 2007; Sutherland and Dodd, 2008). It is recognised that an effective leadership in nursing is crucial in providing high quality health care services to the patient and efficient and professional discharge of nursing functions (Curtis et al., 2011; Shirrey, 2009; Tregunno et al., 2008). However, it has been observed that there are limited literatures pertinent to nursing leadership, especially, if it is compared with nursing management which has been the focus of discourses (Curtis et al, 2011; Stanley, 2008). In this situation, this research will look into some of the theories in leadership and on some of the issues that it may raise in practise settings. The aim of the study is to provide a comparative analysis of contemporary theories of leadership in order to ascertain which among the theories may appropriately fit into the unique structure and demands of nursing (Jackson et al., 2009). This is significant because by identifying the suitable type of leadership for nursing, high quality nursing care service is secu red, job satisfaction is increased, and in whole there is a positive effect in the patient, among the nurses and the organisation as a whole (Curtis et al., 2011; Shirrey, 2009;Tregunno et al., 2008). For the study, the researcher will be discussing transactional leadership, transformational leadership and the servant leader. These have been chosen because these three theories are primarily humanists and holistic in approach (Heisler and Carter, 2010), which in turn, has a close affinity to the nature of nursing (Jackson et al., 2009). This decision does not discount the fact that other leadership theories, such as democratic leadership, strategic leadership, and others, may also be used. Nonetheless, the decision to focus only transactional, transformational and servant-leader acts not only as limitation for this research, but also supports the notion that these three theories of leadership are more congruent with the nature of nursing (Jackson et al., 2009). The research will be h aving the following structure. The first part is consists of the comparative analysis of the transactional leadership, transformational leadership and servant-leadership, while, the second part will be dealing with the reflective account. In the end, it is hope of the researcher that this analysis may further nursing leadership. Leadership and Nursing: An Intricate Relation The idea of leadership often evokes the notion of power, authority, dynamism, vigour, charisma, personalities, organisation and other similar concepts. These various connotations have contributed to the wealth of definition that is attached to leadership. Some define leadership as â€Å"a stream of evolving interrelationships in which leaders are continuously evoking motivational responses from followers and modifying their behaviour as they meet responsiveness or resistance, in a ceaseless process of flow and counter flow†

Sonnet by Shakespeare to Explicate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sonnet by Shakespeare to Explicate - Essay Example While the sonnet is largely straightforward, it does have a number of challenging images. In the third line, Shakespeare writes, â€Å"And trouble deaf heav'n with my bootless cries† (Shakespeare 3). Here, the narrator is indicating this in his loneliness he cries out to heaven with useless (‘bootless’) cries. Shakespeare advances this theme of despondency and loneliness, indicating that the narrator wishes that he had the life of others; Shakespeare writes, â€Å"Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope† (Shakespeare 7). The sonnet follows a Petrarchan structure, which is visible in the final six lines when the narrator indicates that despite his despondency, â€Å"Haply I think on thee, and then my state,/ Like to the lark at break of day arising† (Shakespeare 10-11). In these regards, the overriding theme and rhetorical strategy indicates that while the narrator experiences considerable despondency, the thought and image of his love make the trying times bearable. In conclusion, this essay has considered Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 29’. It has considered theme and rhetorical strategy, indicating that the poem is a love sonnet with a Petrarchan structure. Ultimately, the sonnet is a powerful and unique one within Shakespeare’s canon. References Shakespeare, William. Sonnet 29. Shakespeare Online.

Discuss the importance of the manuscript in Medieval art. Explain and Essay

Discuss the importance of the manuscript in Medieval art. Explain and explore issues of authorship, production, patronage, style, and technique - Essay Example echanical means ÃŽ ¿f reproduction.[23] Consistent with a long medieval tradition, contemporary sources praised the opulence ÃŽ ¿f the materials or the technical appropriateness ÃŽ ¿f the finished product in terms ÃŽ ¿f "good" images, something that pleased the eye ÃŽ ¿f the beholder as well as the Creator.[24] In his impressive two-part volume Lilian Randall (1997) describes eighty-four codices and eighty-two unbound items produced in the medieval southern Netherlands, approximately equivalent to modern-day Belgium. It follows her equally impressive coverage ÃŽ ¿f manuscripts from France (vol. I, 1989; vol. II, in 2 parts, 1992); between them they cover about two-thirds ÃŽ ¿f the Western manuscripts at the Walters. The first thing to say to anyone who does not know the previous catalogues is that the descriptions are extremely detailed: for example, the description ÃŽ ¿f the Beaupre Antiphonary (cat. nos 219A-D) fills more than thirty pages. Catalogues ÃŽ ¿f medieval manuscripts might be said to fall into two broad types: on the one hand there are those that aim to provide readers with just enough information to help them decide whether they ought to consult the original in person; and on the other hand, there are those that provide so much information that the reader either does not have to consult the original, or can be confident that it is indeed worth the cost and effort ÃŽ ¿f a visit to examine the original. Randalls catalogues lie squarely in the second camp. Like many collections ÃŽ ¿f manuscripts (as opposed to libraries) formed during the last century or so, the Walters manuscripts were acquired largely for their decoration, and it is therefore appropriate that Randall provides perhaps the most detailed descriptions ÃŽ ¿f decoration to be found in any catalogue. But her descriptions are not aimed only at the art historian: equal care is given to all the features that one would hope to find covered in a catalogue ÃŽ ¿f undecorated manuscripts, such as the identification ÃŽ ¿f

To Kill A Mockingbird Controversies Literature Essay

To Kill A Mockingbird Controversies Literature Essay To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is one of the great classics of the last century, a beloved book that is studied in high schools across the United States-and yet this book beloved by many is also hated by some. Each year, the American Library Association holds its Banned Books Week to make people aware of the challenges libraries across the nation face, trying to keep controversial books on their shelves (Doyle 2). The ALA ranks To Kill a Mockingbird fourth on its list of The Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009, on accounts of offensive language, racism, and [being] unsuited to age group (State News Service). People who find elements of To Kill a Mockingbird offensive often write to libraries requesting that the book be restricted or altogether removed from shelves. Incidents like these, with Harper Lees book and with many others, have led to the creation of Banned Books Week. Is it constitutional to ban books on the grounds that they contain material some people find offensive? According to the First Amendment of our Constitution, it is not. The First Amendment states, Congress shall make no lawabridging the freedom of speech, or of the press (Noble). The Constitution makes it clear that book-banning will not be tolerated, but why did our founding fathers create this law? They created this law because the censorship of books is detrimental to society. When our founding fathers wrote the Constitution, they wanted to make sure and lay a strong foundation for our newborn nation to grow upon. The right to read the books we choose is foundational to our democracy, and indeed, to our freedom. Why, then, do so many Americans still try to ban books they find offensive? The answer is simple: the United States is a melting pot not only of different people, but of different opinions, making it impossible for a a writer to write a good book without someone disagreeing with the books themes. When people disagree with a book, many times they act to change the book or ban it from libraries altogether. These people believe they are doing the other a favor by removing objectionable content from the reach of the public. However, they are actually doing everyone-including themselves-a disservice. For example, look at the case of Raymond English, who faced objections from multiple groups over the content of a history book he was attempting to write. Each group had a different complaint about the way their interests were represented in the book. Feminists disliked the portrayal of their movement, Filipinos disliked the portrayal of the annexation of the Philippines, politicians disliked the portrayal of the American economy, Zionists disliked the portrayal of Arab population statistics in the highly fought-over Palestine area during the early 1900s, and different church denominations disliked the portrayal of the Reformation (Noble 271-272). This series of stumbling blocks from multiple groups with different views stood in the way of the main purpose of the book, to provide a volume chronicling the history of the United States. The problem we face is that America is too diverse, with too many opinions for everyone to agree with each other; our country cannot afford to censor every scrap of text that offends the sensibilities of one particular person or group, or we will have no books and no freedom of speech left. Without freedom of speech, the same groups that act to ban books would be unable to advance their causes; Feminists would not be able to advance womens rights, Filipinos would not be able to campaign for their independence, and churches would not be able to express their views on the Reformation. Without freedom of speech, society is stagnant. Historical research shows a strong relationship between the abundance of books in a society and a societys health; in fact, it could be said that books are the building blocks of society (Knuth 3). Books communicate ideas, and by reading about these ideas, we develop our culture. Take, for example, the impact of reading on slaves in the South prior to the Civil War. The majority [of scholars] still agree that the basic result of literacy has been and is one of liberation (Cornelius 2). Literacy leads to reading, reading leads to learning, and learning leads to freedom. For this reason, many slaveholders did not allow their slaves to learn how to read, fearing that learned slaves would revolt (Cornelius 12). Slaves who were taught to read and write often became leaders in the slave communities, giving organization to their culture and creating their own small society within a society (Cornelius 85). By reading the Bible, slaves demonstrated equal intelligence with their masters and gained a sense of identity as a distinct group of Christians; more importantly, they discovered in the scriptures that they were created equal and ought to be free. (Cornelius 3). The ideas that they found in the Bible gave them a yearning to be free. Of course, this was only possible because educated slaves had access to such books with such ideas, that would reveal to them their enslaved state and inspire in them a desire to be free. What if they had had no books to read? Would they have discovered these ideas anyway, or would they have remained ignorant of the condition in which they lived? If books inspire us to think for ourselves and to seek freedom, is it possible that without them, we would lose that freedom? The answer is yes. We need only look at history to see what a loss of important books does to societies. World leaders realize that for the people, literacy leads to freedom; to this end, many totalitarian regimes have sought to regulate their countries libraries. These governments attack books because they know books contain ideas, and by controlling ideas, they can control people (Knuth 3). The Nazis, in their efforts to create a pure race, took away the peoples books before they ever acted to kill the people themselves (Knuth 87). Communists in China followed a similar pattern. When the Communist Party took control of China, they stomped out dissent by removing from the countrys libraries any literature that did not agree with them (Knuth 165). As with Germany, scholars who thought for themselves and did not go along with the social changes enacted by the government were imprisoned (Knuth 180). These books were replaced with Communist-supporting texts and literature that glorified the new government (Knuth 176). Mao Tse-Tung, the leader of this new government, was a writer who used his books-such as the Little Red Book that became his bible-to enthrall the minds of the Chinese citizens (Knuth 166-169). Should not those [creative] impulses be utterly destroyed? Mao said of the countless books confiscated and writers imprisoned at his command. I think they should; indeed they must be utterly destroyed, and while they are being destroyed, new things can be built up (Knuth 178). Without books, the people became willing slaves to a destructive regime. Even though we are privileged to live in a democracy, with a Constitution that gives us the power to voice our ideas, it is all too easy to lose that freedom if we give in to the impulse to censor books. Even a person fiercely opposed to book-banning may find on the list of Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009 some book containing content he finds Keylon 5 objectionable. In such an instance, he might find himself reconsidering his views, thinking that perhaps there are some basely vulgar novels out there that deserve to be banned. But consider that every time we ban one book, we give the opportunity for someone else to ban another book less deserving of the negative stigma. When we silence a voice that offends us, we open a window through which someone else whom we offend may silence us. In a nation of diverse opinions, sometimes we must bear offense in order to protect our right to speak our minds. The right to read, express our ideas, and disagree with the ideas of others is foundational to the freedom we have in our country. We cannot give away our freedom by giving in to the impulse to censor books, lest we become a nation as destructive as the Germany of World War II. Our freedom is far more precious than our feelings; it is the heart and soul of our nation. It is vital. It is cherished. It is our freedom to believe in God, without fear of persecution, the same freedom upon which our country was founded. We cannot destroy the books that are part of our heritage, such as Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, a book accused of racism that, in reality, is a passionate argument against racism. Mockingbirds dont do one thing but sing for us.thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird, Miss Maudie says to Scout Finch in Mockingbird (Sparknotes). Lees book is itself a mockingbird, one that we would be wrong to kill. When we allow such a book to be banned, we allow the destruction of something inherently good, and worse, we allow the destruction of our own freedom. Therefore, we should hold on to our freedom; we should hold on to our books.

Technology and Education Essay -- Teaching Education Essays School

Technology and Education Education is one of the most important professions in the working world. Technology has done many things for us in today’s society especially for education and schools. Technology in the school system has impacted the students and teachers in many positive ways, including virtual field trips, testing tips, teacher resources, class web sites, and lesson plans. With computer use in our schools, we have access to many different sources and various types of learning. Virtual field trips are a good way for kids to learn and get involved with computers. Students can go on all sorts of exciting trips and not even leave the classroom. Students can go on boat trips. They can follow other kids in different countries observing what they do throughout the day. I thought this was a great tool for teachers to use to introduce the students to new things about different cultures. Another database that teachers find helpful is International educator. This program helps teachers find jobs in other countries and receive information on other school systems throughout...

Ielts Preparation Essay

Onam is one of the greatest festivals of INDIA. It is celebrated with Joy and enthusiasm all over the Country by all communities. It is celebrated in the beginning of September. It is a celebration of 10 days. The Legend of ONAM is, It is celebrated to welcome the King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit India at the time on ONAM. The story goes that, the beautiful state of Kerala was once ruled by a Demon King , Mahabali. The king was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extreamly generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody was happy in his kingdom and there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in the kingdom, there was no poverty sorrow during his reign and everybody was Happy. Looking at his fame and growing popularity, Gods became jealousy on him, and send him to an unknown world(nether world), Since Mahabali is o attached to the people of India, before send him to the nether world, the God gave him a boon to visit India once in a Year. During his visit India celebrate as ONAM. During the 10 days festival, The government declared as a Public holidays for School and colleges. During the festival; all the families gather together and celebrate. There are various sports loke Snake Boat rice, Elephant race, tug of war etc are celebrated. People bun w dresses, and it is festival of unity and happiness.

How are the main characters in Ethan Frome trapped and confined by circumstances Essays

How are the main characters in Ethan Frome trapped and confined by circumstances Essays How are the main characters in Ethan Frome trapped and confined by circumstances Paper How are the main characters in Ethan Frome trapped and confined by circumstances Paper Essay Topic: Ethan Frome Literature Ethan Frome is a novel about the tragedy of three lives trapped together by circumstances. They live in an isolated town called Starkfield. The word Starkfield means harsh, severe and barren. The people who live there lack communication with one another. They live in the mountainous area, which becomes cut off by snow in winter. The sluggish pulse of Starkfield The word sluggish indicates the slow pace of life. The winter is the dullest season for the community of Starkfield. Hardly any trees can be seen in this season, because its all snowed under. The boughs of trees bent inward from the burden of snow, sheds are sagged under their white load. White load is a metaphor for the word snow. The burden of snow is causing the sheds to sag. Ethan Frome is the main character of the novel. The story about his life is both sad and compelling. His story starts from the time when Ethan is a man of age not more than fifty two and lives in the bleak house of his parents. to see in the diminished dwelling the image of his own shrunken body The house reflects on Ethans shrunken body. It also reflects negatively on Ethans life. Ethan bore all misfortunes held within it, lost his parents and still couldnt improve his situation. The house shows total starvation of love and happiness. Ethan seems a part of the mute and melancholy landscape of the place he lives in. Although Ethan isnt more than fifty two, he looks older. The lameness and the look he has, make him the most striking figure in Starkfield. There was something bleak and unapproachable in his face. In this quotation the Narrator introduces Ethan Frome to the reader. He is described as ruin of a man. His face is bleak and unapproachable as if he has no life sap in his veins. The story of his life would affect anyone who could hear about it. . misfortunes brought premature end to Ethans studies. The word misfortunes indicates a change of luck from something quite positive (his study) to a life of sacrifice looking after his parents. As any young man, Ethan was looking forward to finishing his studies. After his parents fell ill, the future he planned came to a halt. Bad luck was hunting him down until there was nothing left except fear and sorrow. He feels emotionally isolated. There is nothing positive in his life and his life is being lived in the pure and frosty darkness in which he stood. The sudden death of his parents followed by an unhappy marriage trapped Ethan. He no more could experience happiness in his life and his situation became increasingly worse. The mood of Ethan Frome is very low and depressed. The writer shows this by constant reference to darkness and frozen landscape. Filled with unfulfilled dreams and lack of motivation he doesnt resist. However, Ethans inner needs and interests are still the same as before his misfortunes. Such tastes and acquirements in a man of his condition made the contrast more poignant between his outer situation and his inner needs. There is a contrast between the world surrounding him and the interests that he has. Ethan is compelled to accept the particular way of life, and forgets about his urge to get knowledge. Ethans life changes after the death of his parents. The death of his parents restricts his choices. After the death of his mother, Ethan couldnt bear to stay in the house alone. Thats why he decided to marry Zeena. He was to regret his decision for the rest of his life. Zeena entered the house as a young lady full of life and love. However, after she was looking after Ethans mother, Zeena was acquiring the symptoms of a sick person. Hardly Ethan had enjoyed their married life, she too fell silent. Zeena was becoming worse and worse every day. Long intervals of silence made her voice turn to a whine. Her face was drone and pale, the taciturnity filling her. Their married life was failing. Zeena expected to live in town and be a wife of a wealthy man. Unfortunately, their plan to sell the farm failed and they couldnt afford to move from that depressing place. Instead of encouraging Ethan Zeena manipulates him with her disease. Eventually, their house became a cold and dark prison. the fire is out long ago. This quotation is a metaphor for the Fromes marriage. There is no spark of love between Ethan and Zeena. Their love died long time ago. They dont have any feelings for each other and they lack communication. The death of loved ones left empty space in Ethans heart until the arrival of Mattie into his life. He had taken to the girl from the first day. The moment when his heart starts beating with a new rhythm Ethan finds it difficult to express his feelings. The wave of shyness pulled him back. I think Ethans inability to express himself is a cause of frustration and limits his possibilities of the relationship. He cant make crucial decisions and that also leads to his unhappiness. Ethan lives in the world of fantasy. He loves Mattie deeply and dreams of growing old by her side and lying next to her when he dies. Well always go on living here together, and some day shell lie here beside me. I think Ethans flaw is that he is too passive. He only fantasies but cannot fight for what he wants. At the turn of the 20th century in America people left their homes in towns and districts in search of a better life in cities. Starkfield was one of the abandoned towns. Small farmers like Ethan, became impoverished. Ethan is helpless in his situation. He shows anguish and frustration as Zeena spends the little money he earns. Youre a poor mans wife, Zeena. Despite their budget she continues to spend money on useless things, she never learns how to use as if to defy Ethan. Poverty is the main reason why the main characters are trapped. That is also a reason why Ethan cannot run away with Mattie, although he longs to be with her. However, he understands his economic situation. The inexorable facts closed in on him like prison warders handcuffing a convict. There was no way out-none. He was a prisoner for life, and now his one ray of life was to be extinguished. The facts of his poverty are compared to prison warders, and Ethan a convict being handcuffed. Edith Wharton uses a metaphor ray of light to compare Mattie to something positive and hopeful in Ethans life. He is a prisoner for life and this ray of light is under a threat to be extinguished. Ethan also feels ashamed to ask Ned Hale for money as he is a man of pride and dignity. When Hale refuses, Ethan cannot admit that he is broke and his pride makes the matters even worse. Even though Ethan has a tough life, he is an honest man. Ethan couldnt take an advantage of Mrs Hale and obtain and advance payment of money for his planned flight with Mattie, notwithstanding how he longed to be with her. All the characters of the novel want better life. Ethan wanted to finish the college and had dreams of becoming an engineer in a large city. All his dreams were unrealised due to his parents death and the opportunity to leave Starkfield minified. Also the image of graveyard was haunting Ethan. For years the quiet company mocked his restlessness, his desire for change and freedom. We never got away how should you? Every time Ethan was passing the graveyard the desire for a better life was gradually distinguishing. The headstones left emptiness in him for the entire life. It reminded him that one day he will join this quiet company. Mattie too was trapped. Her parents left her in destitute. They owed money and she was the one to repay. Poverty-stricken Mattie was obliged to work for the Fromes for nothing. Her situation leaves her in anguish and prison confinement. Whered I go, if I did? Mattie has nowhere to go due to circumstances. She continues to work in the Fromes house and lives in the dark prison, where everything is under Zeenas rules. Zeena as an other character in Edith Whartons novel who is confined. Zeena was looking forward to moving from isolated Starkfield and live in a large city. Zeena always wanted people to think of her as a wife of a wealthy man. she had let her husband see from the first that life on an isolated farm was not what she expected The reader can see that Zeena had high expectations for a better life. After their plans to sell the farm were not realised, she became silent and ill, trapped in poverty-stricken marriage. Sense of duty follows Ethan through his sorrowful life. He would like to divorce Zeena since their marriage is more out of duty rather than love. However, at that time there were some constrains put by the society. In rural communities like Starkfield divorce was taboo. Must he wear out all his years at the side of a bitter querulous woman? In this quotation Ethan expresses his anger and shame as he thinks about his life at the side of Zeena. The words bitter and querulous are negative and they portray Zeena as an unpleasant woman. Zeena is barring every way in Ethans life. Their life is senseless and dull. Zeena manipulates Et han and spends his money. Ethan feels obliged to her because she was the one who nursed his mother when she was dying and it was his little repayment to her as he thought. Ethan has a strong sense of duty towards Zeena. He understands that she will not be able to survive on the isolated farm without his support. Although Ethan desperately wants to leave Zeena for Mattie he does not. He saw his life before him as it was. He was a poor man, the husband of a sickly woman, whom his desertion would leave alone and destitute. Ethan realises his situation in life. He cant leave Zeena in destitute. Ethan understands that without him she will not be able to survive due to her failed health. Zeena is the most mysterious character in the novel. She is silent and very rigid. Obviously nobody knows Zeenas thoughts. In the end Zeenas personality changes. Perhaps she feels guilty about the smash-up and thats the reason she looks after Mattie and Ethan. Zeena has no time to communicate and her thoughts are the secret ones. Nobody has the access to her tortured soul. The most ironic part is when twenty years later youthful Mattie turns to be into what once Zeena was. Her bright personality faded as flowers out of water. What used to be a laugh turned into querulous drone. The querulous drone ceased as I entered Fromes house kitchen, and of the two women sitting there I could not tell which had been the speaker. The Narrator describes the atmosphere in the Fromes house twenty years later. As he enters the house querulous drone ceased. However, the Narrator cannot identify who it was. Further we know how Mattie changes over the years. She became the perfect replication of Zeena in past. There wasnt sings of life in Mattie. Shes suffered too much shes soured. Once full of life and happiness Mattie soured . She is shrunken and her querulous look makes her look even older than Zeena. The failed relationships compelled big impact on her bright personality. Mattie even acquired the drone whine of Zeena. Now she posses the armchair once belonged to sick Zeena. The life of the characters seems to be meaningless. Nothing can change their life situations, they are trapped. Their world is filled with misery, poverty and anguish. The three main characters: Zeena, Mattie and Ethan are living the end of their lives. Three of them are trapped together and the grotesque looks on their faces are similar in some ways. Their souls are soured and diminished and only the endurance still keeps them alive. It is as if they are being tortured in the silent darkness. All the characters suffer in some way but Ethan suffers more than the others. Youve had an awful mean time, Ethan Frome. Through all his years Ethan was never accompanied by anyone to help him cope with his misery. He was all alone. All his emotions were stuck in his heart making him look old and unapproachable. He was sagging under the weight of sorrow and no one rescued him. Edith Whartons novel Ethan Frome is a powerful and descriptive novel. Edith Wharton uses negative descriptions of the bleak environment in which animals have to force through the snow to breathe and people like Ethan must struggle in order to survive. She uses many images of death when she describes the places. She describes a dead cucumber vine hanging from a porch representing a steamer to the door of a house that smells of death. The story is rich in metaphors and comparisons. Zeenas use of metaphor of fire The fires out long ago, describes their loveless marriage and lack of warmth in the house. Ethan is haunted by the image of the Fromes gravestones and his desire for change and freedom has never come true. They always remind Ethan that his life will end at the farm and he will join his relatives in the family graveyard. Ethan fears about the future are well-expressed in the metaphor a vague dread had hung on his skyline. Ethan and Matties fragile relationships are shown in the quotation and gathering up the bits of broken glass she went out of the room as if carrying a dead body.. There is no happy ending for any characters of the novella, Mrs. Hale suggests that poor Ethan suffers the most. Ethans faced break your heart When I see that, I think its him that suffers the most. His youth was followed by misfortunes and his entire situation is twice the worst it was before Matties arrival. His bleak image dissolves into pure darkness of his misfortunes. Ethan experiences desertion of life and is destitute of love. He is eaten away by the tragedy of his life and only the Fromes graveyard will unburden the prison warders handcuffing his hands. At the end of the novel Mrs Hale makes a comparison between the Fromes in the farm and the Fromes in the graveyard and finds no difference between them except that women are quiet and hold their tongues. he way they are now, I dont see theres much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard; cept that down there theyre all quiet, and the women have to hold their tongues. This suggests strongly that though the three characters might be physically alive, in the quality of their life they are very much like the dead. The characters in Ethan Frome are stuck in poverty, live in an isola ted town without much communication. It appears that the writer describes how Ethan, Mattie and Zeena are caught in a situation of paralysis from which they cannot escape.

Technology Advances and Effect essays

Technology Advances and Effect essays Technology Advances and Effects in WW1 As we advance in our everyday life technology the government advances in its warfare technology also. Warfare tactics changed and advanced vastly during the world wars. The damage and the effect of weapons increased as the technology increased causing these two wars to very high death counts and leave my wounded for life. In World War 1 the atomic bomb was introduced as the new form of warfare weaponry. The atomic bomb could produce heat millions of degrees high, and visible ultraviolet and inferred rays. Everyone and everything exposed to their blast is affected. When the bomb was dropped only one mile away from ground zero, the blast cracked walls over twelve inches thick. The shockwave after the bomb was felt over a mile away. Heat incinerated everything within a 500-yard radius of the hypocenter. One of these bombs was dropped on a city in Japan called Hiroshima. The immediate effects on Hiroshima people were just a foreshadowing of the ones to come. 150,000 people were killed instantly. Those who survived the initial blast, died later from high doses of radiation, which burns off skin and hair and destroys almost all internal organs. After the blast, those who survived it had no clothes, hair, or skin because they had been totally burned off. In many cases, the injuries from buildings collapsing were as bad as those from the actual radiation blast. Years after the blast, children whose parents had been exposed to the radiation, had an extremely high rate of mental retardation leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In World War 2 new techniques, weapons, and forms of transportation were introduced helping this war to have even more causalities then the First World War. The atom bomb was a big part of World War 2 this is because now people could be killed from a bomb sent from a long distance away. This bomb also covered a large area killing more people and leave people f...

Market research in another country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Market research in another country - Essay Example Inside Edge feels Russia is an ideal market for its new product offering. The average temperature throughout the year in Russia is 39 degrees Fahrenheit (Climatetemps.com,  2012). The warmest it gets on average is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, proving to be one of the colder countries on the planet (Climatetemps.com,  2012). These temperatures alone justify Inside Edge’s entry into the Russian Flooring market similar to Can-A-Floor’s home market of Canada (hence the name). According to  "Global Research & Data Services"  (2013),  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Russian demand for flooring has been growing strongly with an average growth of 10.6% per year between 2002 and 2008. The situation in the market seems to be rather attractive for foreign flooring companies as the growth is predicted to continue in the following years (Global Research & Data Services, 2013). Because Russians see flooring as a way of establishing a comfortable living, the demand for these products is expected to contin ue to increase through 2015 (Marketresearch.com, 2013). This encouraging trend and high demand justifies the entry into the flooring market for any flooring manufacturer. Can-A-Floor is an engineered floating floor, similar in concept and design to a laminate, but with a heating element built in. Currently the most popular types of flooring in Russia are laminate and hardwood (Marketresearch.com, 2013). With Laminate being one of the top two popular flooring materials in the Russian market, Inside Edge can easily justify entering the market with its Can-A-Floor. Russia also is experiencing a declining unemployment rate along with a rising demand for new housing with its expanding middle-class (Marketresearch.com, 2013). The flooring market in Russia is on the rise with a trending increase in demand for all flooring products, home ownership on the rise, and unemployment slowing. These facts show the sustainability of the market while justifying Inside Edge’s entry into the market. Our

America and the end of the Cold War Research Paper

America and the end of the Cold War - Research Paper Example The â€Å"Cold War† can be defined as â€Å"a state of political tension and military rivalry which stops short of full-scale war, especially that which existed between the United States and Russia after World War 2† (www.freedictionary.com) The United States was in favor of capitalism, while the Soviet Union favored Communism. Some countries in Europe and Asia aligned themselves with the United States or the USSR. â€Å"During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and United States dominated international politics as opposing superpowers.† (â€Å"Notions of Security: Shifting Concepts and Perspectives†12) There were persistent concerns over Soviets infringing on the national security of these nations. The Americans and the Soviets had nuclear weapons. This resulted in the nuclear arms race between the two governments. There were fears of nuclear war but it never transpired.1 Both nations also wanted to be the first in space. This as well as Communist rule left t he USSR with an inactive economy for many years. When Mikhail Gorbachev was appointed as president in 1985 his goal was to renew the nation’s economy. He and President Ronald Reagan set out to resolve the policy and arms disagreements between their nations. These issues were resolved peacefully between them. In 1990 Boris Yeltsin was elected as president of Russia. In 1991 the Soviet Union officially came to an end subsequently leading to the fall of Communism. The American public was cautiously optimistic about the end of the Cold War because no one was certain that the new form of government in Russia would last.2 â€Å"Communism went out with a whimper, not a bang, hobbling the victory dance.† (Allen & Schweikart 768) The United States and Russia no longer felt threatened by each other. â€Å"The expectation of violence between the two major strategic powers has been drastically reduced.† (Reisman860) Immediately after the Cold War ended President George H.W. Bush began the process of reducing military forces. Unfortunately this resulted in economic problems. Aerospace and shipbuilding companies were nearly bankrupt. There were fewer defense contractors. Soldiers, airmen and sailors were laid off.3 The Recession of the early 1990’s followed not long after this happened. Bush felt that the world had changed for the better as a result of the fall of Communism and felt that Russia and other former Communist nations had to cooperate. In 1991, Congress provided financial help to Russia and other nations so that they could destroy their nuclear weapons. 4 Russia had a seat at the United Nations Security Council that the Soviet Union held previously. The United Nations was able to forge ahead with a new focus once the Cold War was over. Russia (Allen & Schweikart) During the Cold War the primary focus of the United States Intelligence Agency had been the military threat the Soviet Union and its allies imposed upon the nation. When the C old War ended it â€Å"called into question the continued efficacy of U.S intelligence activities in the post Cold War world.† (DeConcini1) The agency knew that there may be potential for a threat but many officials felt that U.S. intelligence needed to help American international firms to compete for business in other countries. They felt that this would protect national security. During the Bush and Clinton administrations private businesses were not supported by intelligence agencies. Former Director of Central Intelligence Robert