Inclusion Strategies

Database Management And A Computer System - 1325 Words

Before understanding what Data Management is you must learn what each word stands for. We are going to break down the full meaning to give you a full understanding of what data management is, the purpose and its advantages. First and foremost data is a collection of facts from which you can draw a conclusion. In computer terminology data is anything in a form suitable for use with a computer. Database is a collection of data that is organized so that its content can easily be accessed, managed, and updated; database is a collection of data that describes certain activities of one or more related organization and is a collection of records that is stored in a computer system. Database management emerged around the early 1960s’ when computers became a more cost-effective option for private organizations. The purpose of Database Management is to provide an environment that is easy, convenient and efficient in use for retrieving information from the database and storing informatio n. Database Management systems are designed to work with large bodies of information, definition of structure, file and system structure inquiry processing, providing safety for information within the database, and also concurrency control if the system is shared by users. The advantages of DBMS support storage, control, manipulation and retrieval of data. Therefore, instead of schools or business looking through thousands of boxes and folders to get to certain students or customer information that canShow MoreRelatedDatabase Analysis : Database Management System1114 Words   |  5 Pageson database environment and development process. Database is an organized collection of logically related data. It consists of tables, queries, views and other objects. Database management system is a software system used for creating and managing databases. It is a collection of programs used to store, modify and extract information from database. It helps users and programmers for creating updati ng and managing the data in a systematic way. There are many types of database management system rangingRead MoreDatabase Management Systems676 Words   |  3 PagesDatabase Management Systems A database management system (DBMS) is computer software designed for the purpose of managing databases. Typical examples of DBMSs include Oracle, IBMs DB2, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, 4th Dimension and FileMaker. DBMSs are typically used by Database administrators in the creation of Database systems. DBMS enables the user to store, modify, and extract information from a database(Tenner, 2005). There are many different types of DBMSs, ranging fromRead MoreApplication System Software For Windows Ram 64 Bit Cpu1494 Words   |  6 PagesThese computers should consist of a 32GB RAM 64-bit CPU also a Hard Drive capacity of 250GB. For the Backup Storage an External Hard Drive with capacity of 160GB along with Flash drive of 4GB is recommended for each Computer. TYPES OF SOFTWARE They are three (3) types of Software: ïÆ' ¼ System Software ïÆ' ¼ Application Software ïÆ' ¼ Utility Software The type of System Software Application that would be most suitable for this type of upgrade is Windows 8, being that it’s one of the most current and upgradedRead MoreDatabase Management System And Microsoft Sql Server Vs. Teradata754 Words   |  4 PagesDBMS Database Management System or DBMS is a collecting computer program used for creating, deleting, editing and maintaining collections of different data records. There are many different types of database management systems; they are used to stored, managed database model. Different DBMS systems are Relational Database System, Flat Files Base Database Management, Hierarchical Database Management Systems, Network Database Management System and Object-oriented Database Management Systems. () Read MoreEssay Database981 Words   |  4 PagesDatabase A database is an organised body of related files and or information. It is simply an automated library system an is maintained as an integral part of most organisations worldwide. A cite on the World Wide Web, the Webopedia Computer Dictionary, refers to the database as a collection of information organized and presented to serve a specific purpose. (A telephoneRead Moredatabase management system and information retrieval system1100 Words   |  5 PagesDifferentiate between database management system and information retrieval system by focusing on their functionalities. A database management system in the main software tool of the database management approach because it controls the creation, maintenance, and use of the database of an organization and its users. The three major functions of a database management system are first to create new database and database application. Second to maintain the quality of the data in an organized database. And last toRead MoreHistory of Relational Database Essay743 Words   |  3 PagesHistory of Relational Database Hao-Wei He Wilmington University October 9, 2010 Abstract Database system have been inseparable with our daily life, since IBM developed the hierarchical database management system in 1969, database system has been innovated many times, such as hierarchical database, network database, relational database, and object-oriented database. Nowadays, relational database still is the most popular model used by different industries; this article is going to introduceRead MoreThe Type Of Technology Necessary For Accurate Crime Analysis921 Words   |  4 Pageslaptop or desktop computer with sufficient speed, enough hard disk storage to accommodate data and functions, and a high-quality printer that can handle color maps and workload (Foster, 2013). Each of the four methods serves as a valuable tool in collecting, storing, and retrieving information required for crime analysis: records management systems, incident reports, computer aided dispatch information, and relational databases (Foster, 2013). Computer-aided dispatch systems only maintain a veryRead MoreDatabase Management Systems And Managing Human Resources1074 Words   |  5 PagesA database system is a rich pool of data from which information is extracted and used for day to day operations and long term planning. Database management systems come along with applications that help individual processes. The three main sources of these databases are operations, purchases, and extracts of operations (Kroenke Auer, 2012). Information Systems are a set of interrelated components that collect, retrieve, process, store and distribute information to support the decisions made byRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Distributed System1328 Words   |  6 PagesDistributed Systems Sunny Patel Assignment 4 INF540 Distributed System Introduction A distributed system is a compilation of self-governing computers that come into view to the users of the system as a sole logical system. They are used for resource sharing, scalability, as well as clearness and sincerity. Examples of the distributing computing system are cluster workstation systems or grid computing systems, distributed information systems such as transaction processing systems or project applications

Culture and Religion Free Essays

MODULE 10: CULTURE RELIGION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE INTRODUCTION Culture shapes the way we see the world. It therefore has the capacity to bring about the change of attitudes needed to ensure peace and sustainable development which, we know, form the only possible way forward for life on planet Earth. Today, that goal is still a long way off. We will write a custom essay sample on Culture and Religion or any similar topic only for you Order Now A global crisis faces humanity at the dawn of the 21st century, marked by increasing poverty in our asymmetrical world, environmental degradation and short-sightedness in policy-making. Culture is a crucial key to solving this crisis. Source: Preface, World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 1999. Our cultural values, which often include particular religious beliefs, shape our way of living and acting in the world. Module 11 on Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability explores the importance of indigenous values and spirituality in providing guidance for sustainable living. Such principles and values encourage a spirit of harmony between people, their natural environments and their spiritual identities. The principles for living sustainably that flow from these and other cultural and religious beliefs vary between groups and countries. They have also changed over time as circumstances demand. Despite this diversity, many principles for living sustainably are shared, not only among indigenous peoples, but also between different religious traditions. This module explores the role of culture and religion in providing guidance on ways of living sustainably. It also provides activities which analyse the place of these themes in the school curriculum. OBJECTIVES †¢ To develop an understanding of the relationship between culture, religion and sustainable living; †¢ To explore the principles for sustainable living encouraged in a chosen religion and in a case study from Nepal; To analyse the relevance and applicability of principles of sustainable living in the Nepal case study; and †¢ To encourage reflection on the contribution of religious education in Education for Sustainable Development. ACTIVITIES 1. Defining religion and culture 2. Values and principles 3. A case study: Annapurna, Nepal 4. Culture and development 5. Reflection REFERENCES Bassett, L. (ed) (2000) Earth and Faith: A Book of Reflection for Action, UNEP. Gardner, G. (2002) Invoking the Spirit: Religion and Spirituality in the Quest for a Sustainable World, Worldwatch Paper No. 164, Worldwatch Institute. Robinson, M. nd Picard, D. (2006) Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO. Schech, S. and Haggis, J. (2000) Culture and development: a critical introduction, Wiley-Blackwell. Throsby, D. (2008) Culture in Sustainable Development: Insights for the future implementation of Article 13 (Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diveristy of Cultural Expressions), UNESCO. UNESCO (2000) World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris. UNESCO (2009) UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO Publishing. World Commission on Culture and Development (1995) Our Creative Diversity, UNESCO Publishing, Paris. World Religions and Ecology Series by Harvard University Press. Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, series editors. †¢ Buddhism – Tucker, M. E. and Williams, D. R. (eds) (1997) †¢ Christianity – Hessel, D. and Ruether, R. R. (eds) (2000) †¢ Confucianism – Tucker, M. E. and Berthrong, J. (eds) (1998) †¢ Daoism – Girardot, N. J. , Xiaogan, L. and Miller, J. (eds) (2001) †¢ Hinduism – Chapple, C. K. and Tucker, M. E. (eds) (2000) †¢ Indigenous Traditions – Grim, J. (ed) (2001) †¢ Islam – Foltz, R. , Denny, F. and Baharuddin, A. eds) (2003) †¢ Jainism – Chapple, C. K. (ed) (2002) †¢ Judaism – Tirosh-Samuelson, H. (ed) (2002) †¢ Shinto – Bernard, R. (ed) (2004) CREDITS This module was written for UNESCO by John Fien using materials and activities developed by Hilary Macleod and Hum Gurung in Teaching for a Sustainable World (UNESCO – UNEP International Environmental Education Programme). ACTIVITY 1: DEFINING RELIGION AND CULTURE RELIGION, VALUES, CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The World Commission on Culture and Development defined culture as ‘ways of living together’ and argued that this made culture a core element of sustainable development. Almost all of the grave threats confronting human and planetary survival originate in human actions. However, much narrow thinking on sustainable development has focused almost exclusively on the relationships of people to the natural environment – without considering the people-to-people relationships that lie at the core of a sustainable society. Fulfilling today’s human needs while preserving and protecting the natural environment for future generations requires equitable and harmonious interactions between individuals and communities. Developing cultural values that support these people-to-people and people-to-nature values has traditionally been the role of religion in most societies. Religion is a major influence in the world today. It seems that people in all cultures have a set of beliefs that go beyond both the self and the natural world. We use these beliefs to help explain reasons for human existence and to guide personal relationships and behaviour. Part of the great diversity of humankind is the many different religions and belief systems we have developed – Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Taoism, and many more. Religious beliefs have a strong influence on the culture of a community. Indeed, for many people around the world, religious beliefs are central to their culture and provide the moral codes by which they live. Even where people in the contemporary world believe that the traditional beliefs of their parents and societies are not so relevant to their everyday lives, underlying religious beliefs about human worth and how to relate to other people and the Earth are still important parts of their lives. HOW DOES CULTURE INFLUENCE OUR LIVES? Many definitions of culture refer to particular values and beliefs. Other meanings refer to the everyday life and behaviour of people that flow from these beliefs. Others are more general and refer to works of art. Culture is, therefore, an inextricable part of the complex notion of sustainability. It can be seen as an arbiter in the difficult trade-offs between conflicting ends with regard to development goals. As pointed out in the report of the World Commission on Culture and Development set up jointly by UNESCO and the United Nations, culture is not only the â€Å"servant of ends but (†¦) the social basis of the ends themselves†, a factor of development but also the â€Å"fountain of our progress and creativity†. Source: UNESCO (1997) Educating for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary Vision for Concerted Action, paragraph 112. All these meanings or aspects of culture influence our worldviews and the ways in which we view our relationships with the Earth and each other. As a result, these aspects of culture affect different meanings of what it might mean to live sustainably. Culture is an important concept in Education for Sustainable Development. This is because the common cultural models in many societies often do not encourage sustainable development – and what is needed are new, or re-discovered, norms and values that can guide our actions towards sustainable ways of caring for other people and the natural world. Achieving sustainability †¦ will need to be motivated by a shift in values †¦ Without change of this kind, even the most enlightened legislation, the cleanest technology, the most sophisticated research will not succeed in steering society towards the long-term goal of sustainability. Education in the broadest sense will by necessity play a pivotal role in bringing about the deep change required in both tangible and non-tangible ways. Source: UNESCO (1997) Educating for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary Vision for Concerted Action, paragraph 103. ACTIVITY 2: VALUES AND PRINCIPLES Despite the variety of religions and cultures around the world, all share common beliefs about the need to care for other people and the natural environment. Such beliefs are essential to a sustainable future. The world’s three major conservation groups – the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) – have identified a range of cross-cultural values that could underlie an ‘ethic for sustainable living’. These values provide principles that can guide human relationships with each other (social equity, peace and democracy) and with nature (conservation and appropriate development), and include: |Social Justice Values: |Conservation Values: | |PEOPLE AND PEOPLE PEOPLE AND NATURE | |Meeting basic human needs |Respecting the interdependence of all things | |Ensuring intergenerational equity |Conserving biodiversity | |Respecting human rights |Living lightly on the Earth | |Practising democracy |Respecting interspecies equity | Identify the values or meanings underlying these principles. These values are similar to the principles and ethics in the Earth Charter analysed in Module 2. These principles reflect values that are common in many religions and cultures. However, it is not the only possible one. For example, the people in The Monk’s Story in Module 21 planned the development of their village in south-west Sri Lanka around six principles for living sustainably that are consistent with their Buddhist religion and their culture. These six principles are: †¢ Harmony with nature †¢ Variety and diversity †¢ Quality of life †¢ Small is beautiful †¢ Self-reliance †¢ Co-operation and peace People of other cultures emphasise different principles. For example, the Garifuni people in Belize in Central America are guided by the following five principles for living sustainably: Unity All people are connected to the Earth in a common and interdependent whole. Reciprocity Every human being has a number of rights, but also mutual obligations and responsibilities. Co-operation Related to reciprocity, each individual has responsibilities for his/her brother or sister, just as each brother or sister has responsibilities for him/her. The importance of Mother Earth The land is sacred and can not be sold or bought. Respect for others People should be tolerant of the views, aspirations, values and beliefs of others. This includes respect for the rights of all species and for the spirit of life. RELIGION, CULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY It is not possible to provide information on the beliefs and practices of all the religions and cultures in the world and the ways in which they support principles of living sustainably. However, the Internet is a wonderful archive of this information. This activity invites you to search the Internet to find out about the link between a religion of your choice and living sustainably. Choose a religion that you would like to explore. †¢ Identify three questions about the links between religion, religious beliefs, cultural values and ways of living sustainably that you would like to find out about this religion. †¢ Identify key words in your questions to use in an Internet search. †¢ Open an Internet search engine of your choice. Type the name of your reli gion plus (+) some of the key words from your questions in the ‘SEARCH’ space, e. g. , â€Å"islam+ecology†, or â€Å"christianity+social justice†, or â€Å"hinduism+peace†, or â€Å"buddhism+economics†, etc. Then click ‘SEARCH’ and visit the listed sites. Continue this process until you are satisfied with the answers you have to your three questions. †¢ Keep these written answers beside you as they will be used in the next activity. ACTIVITY 3: A CASE STUDY: ANNAPURNA, NEPAL Begin by opening your learning journal for this activity. THE ANNAPURNA CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT This activity provides a case study of the influence of culture and religion in a successful sustainable development project, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Nepal. Q1: Use the following three questions to guide your analysis of cultural and nvironmental issues in the Annapurna region of Nepal. †¢ What are the main cultural and enviro nmental issues facing Nepal and the Annapurna region? †¢ What is the difference between the philosophy of the establishment of the Annapurna Conservation Area and other National Parks? †¢ Why was the Annapurna region selected for the conservation programme known as ACAP? Q2: Use the following three questions to guide your analysis of the objectives and principles of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. †¢ What is ACAP’s relationship with tourism? †¢ Why is the concept of ‘lami’ so important to ACAP? Why does Prince Gyandra Bir Bakran Shah say that conservation is for the people? Q3: Identify how the key activities conducted by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project contribute to a sustainable future in the region. †¢ Resource conservation †¢ Tourism management †¢ Community development †¢ Conservation education and extension INTERVIEWS WITH ACAP COMMUNITY LEADERS Read the transcripts of interviews with two community lea ders in the Annapurna region. As you read the interviews make a note of the principles of sustainable living the two people describe. This information will be used in the next part of this activity. †¢ Min Bahadur Gurung, Chair of the ACAP Conservation and Development Committee †¢ Om Bahadur Gurung, Buddhist monk from a village within the Annapurna Conservation Area Use your knowledge of this region, and ACAP principles and strategies to identify nine principles for sustainable living that are embedded in the religion and culture of the people of the Annapurna region. In the Internet search, in Activity 2, you investigated three questions about the relationship between beliefs and principles of sustainable living in a religion of your choice. Use your knowledge of this religion and the Annapurna case study to examine how relevant the nine Annapurna principles for sustainable living are to the religion you investigated in Activity 2. ACTIVITY 4: CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT Cultural diversity has emerged as a key concern at the turn of a new century. Some predict that globalisation and the liberalisation of the goods and services market will lead to cultural standardisation, reinforcing existing imbalances between cultures. Others claim that the end of the bipolar world of the Cold War and the eclipse of political ideologies will result in new religious, cultural and even ethnic fault lines, preluding a possible ‘clash of civilizations’. Scientists warn of the threats to the Earth’s environment posed by human activity, drawing parallels between the erosion of biodiversity and the disappearance of traditional modes of life as a result of a scarcity of resources and the spread of modern lifestyles. Source: Introduction, UNESCO (2009) UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO Publishing. While cultural issues are gaining in public attention everywhere, they often have low priority in the development policies of many countries. Stressing the importance of considering culture in development projects, James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, stated: In this time of globalisation †¦ the poor are the most vulnerable to having their traditions, relationships, and knowledge and skills ignored and denigrated †¦ Their culture †¦ can be among their most potent assets, and among the most ignored and devastated by development programmes. Source: Culture Counts, Conference on Financing, Resources and the Economics of Culture in Sustainable Development, Florence, Italy, 4-7 October, 1999. Culture is important in the processes of social and economic development. Socially, it provides for the continuity of ways of life that people in a region or country see as significant to personal and group identity. Economically, various forms of cultural expression such as music, dance, literature, sport and theatre provide employment as well as enjoyment for many people. These contribute increasingly large amounts of money to the economies of most countries every year. Employment is also generated through the restoration and presentation of cultural heritage centres and sites – both for education and tourism. OUR CREATIVE DIVERSITY An independent World Commission on Culture and Development (WCCD) was established jointly by UNESCO and the United Nations in December 1992 to report on the interactions between culture and development. Chaired by Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1982 to 1991, the Commission, presented its report, Our Creative Diversity, in 1995. Our Creative Diversity highlighted culture as the ‘last frontier’ of development. Development not only involves improved access to goods and services, but also provides â€Å"the opportunity for people to choose a full, satisfying, valuable and valued way of living together, thus encouraging the flourishing of human existence in all its forms and as a whole†. Read a summary of Our Creative Diversity. One of the recommendations of Our Creative Diversity to UNESCO was to publish regular reports on culture and development. The first World Culture Report (1998) described culture as â€Å"both the context for development as well as the missing factor in policies for development†. It also questioned many of the cultural assumptions in the development models being used to guide economic, social, political and conservation policies worldwide . It asked the question, â€Å"Can we say that the range of development models has progressively narrowed over time? †, and concluded that: †¢ Western cultures have customarily been employed as the basis of thinking about development: â€Å"Western culture has held an iron grip on development thinking and practice†. This model equates development with modernisation and modernisation with Westernisation, and this is a cause of great concern in many countries. †¢ Increasingly, it is being recognised that there are several alternative strategies of development. †¢ A paradox of globalisation is that local cultures are being stressed more than before, at least in ways that reflect local cultural interpretations of the diverse cultural and economic processes that are part of globalisation. While cultural pluralism is increasingly becoming a eature of most societies, people are turning more and more to culture as a means of self-definition and mobilisation. CULTURAL DIVERSITY Cultural diversity is an important human right. It is a cornerstone of citizenship in any society. However, historical pressures and domestic political trends have limited the right to cultural autonomy and expression of some citizens. As a result, many minority peoples have been marginalised from the development processes in their own countries. This is tragic both for the marginalised groups and for development trajectory of the wider society. As a result, the 1998 World Cultural Report stated that: †¦ considerable imagination is needed to build the participatory institutional spaces where diverse voices can express themselves, whether in the management of local environmental issues, the organization of local urban life, or the operation of political institutions of functioning democracies. Source: World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 1998. The same principle holds at the global scale. More and more, countries (especially in the South) are arguing that societies differ in their particular paths of development; that each society has its own history, political and social structures and cultural values; that development policies should respond to the needs and requirements of each society; and therefore that what is appropriate to one society may not be appropriate to another. Just as no development strategy can be said to be culturally neutral, a culturally sensitive approach to development is the key to addressing the interlinked social, economic and environmental problems confronting the planet as a whole. Cultural diversity — which emphasizes the dynamic interactions between cultures and sensitivity to cultural contexts — thus becomes a key lever for ensuring sustainable, holistic development strategies. Source: Chapter 7, UNESCO (2009) UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO Publishing. This issue has been a major concern of the UNESCO African Itinerant College for Culture and Development (AICDD). AICDD is a regional coordinating body for discussion and debate on the cultural dimensions of development. Research by AICDD indicates that development efforts in Africa have not yielded the expected results, and argues that there are three culturally-related reasons for this: †¢ The unsuitability to the African context of development models and methods taken from industrial societies. †¢ The institutional, geographic, social and cultural gap between people living and working locally and government decision-makers and authorities. †¢ A lack of the institutional knowledge and skills to plan development policies and projects that are consistent with the cultural context. Consequently, there are increasing challenges to the dominant western approach to economic development and modernisation – not only from the South but in the North as well. The demonstrations each year in major cities every time meetings are held by the World Trade Organisation and other international political and financial institutions (that are perceived as promoting a uniform model of development) are evidence of this. Finding space for these alternative models of development will not be an easy task – this is the downside of globalisation and the domination of the world economic system by major transnational corporations. As a result, discussions about culture and development tend to be framed in terms of several key issues that relate to the social, economic, political and conservation dimensions of sustainable development, including: †¢ Culture and economic development †¢ Cultural diversity, conflict and pluralism †¢ Cultural rights and indigenous peoples †¢ Globalisation and cultural diversity †¢ Culture and sustainability †¢ Culture and poverty †¢ Culture and democracy †¢ The economics of cultural heritage †¢ Culture, freedom and independence †¢ Heritage conservation and values †¢ Global creativity and the arts. Indicators of culture and development. Research these issues in the UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue. ACTIVITY 5: REFLECTION Begin by opening your learning journal for this activity. Completing the module: Look back through the activities and tasks to check that you have done them all an d to change any that you think you can improve now that you have come to the end of the module. Q4: How important is religious education to the curriculum in your school? Q5: To what extent are students encouraged to relate religious education lessons to principles for living sustainably? Q6: Are there ways in which the Annapurna case study could be integrated into religious education lessons or other subjects in your school curriculum? Definitions of Religion A religion is a set of spiritual beliefs about two key aspects of life: concern with the ultimate meaning of human existence; and an identification with a supernatural power beyond the limits of the human and natural worlds. The many different religions have different beliefs about these two aspects of life. However, religions generally have the following characteristics in common: †¢ A belief in supernatural beings, or gods; A code of morality believed to be sanctioned by the gods; †¢ Ceremonial and ritual acts which focus on sacred objects and symbols; †¢ Communication, notably through prayer, with the supernatural; †¢ Particular religious feelings, such as a sense of mystery, awe, adoration and reverence, that tend to be aroused in the presence of sacred objects or symbols, and during cere monies and rituals associated with the supernatural; †¢ A particular world view, or a general understanding of the world and the individual’s place in the universe, that shapes the religion’s overall organisation and style of life; and A social group expressing the above features with and to which the individual identifies and contributes. Source: Adapted from Bell, R. and Hall, R. (1991) Impacts: Contemporary Issues and Global Problems, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane. The Annapurna Region of Nepal Nepal The Kingdom of Nepal, with an area of 147,181km? , is a land of ecological contrasts. Within a short span of 200km, the altitude varies from less than 100m to 8850m. This is Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), the highest peak in the world. The tropical monsoon forests, temperate evergreen forests and arid steppes of the Tibetan plateau are a result of these changes. For centuries the landscape has also been carved by large numbers of Indo-Aryan and Mongoloid people representing more than 45 ethnic and tribal groups. This peaceful land of unexcelled beauty and cultural heritage, generally known as ‘Shangri-La’, is also one of the least developed countries in the world. More than 90% of the population are subsistence farmers and more than 40% live below the poverty line. These people depend on depleted forests for fuel, fodder and timber. Currently more than 87% of the entire country’s energy requirement comes from fuelwood. The dependence on firewood as a source of energy in rural areas is more than 93%. Forests are being destroyed at a rate of nearly 3% annually. This loss of forests, combined with overgrazing by livestock and cultivation of crops on marginal land, has triggered processes of soil erosion and landslides during the monsoon season. Annapurna Ecological and cultural issues in the Annapurna Region are not too different from those in other Himalayan regions – except that they are greater in magnitude. Within a short distance of about 120km, the altitude varies from less than 100m to 8091m at Annapurna 1, the eighth highest peak in the world. Due to its geographic features and terrain, it provides many micro-climates supporting sub-tropical lowlands and forests in the plains and the valleys, lush rhododendron and temperate evergreen forests in the South of the Annapurna, and alpine steppe and arid environments to the North of the Annapurna region. This area contains over 100 species of orchids and many of Nepal’s 700 medicinal plants. The region also serves as excellent habitats for rare and endangered species such as the snow-leopard, the musk deer and the blue sheep. It is also the habitat of five of the six species of pheasants found in Nepal. The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) encircles the major peaks of the Annapurna Himal with an area of 2600km?. Catchments of three major river systems are roughly bordered by the major trekking route. It is also home to over 40,000 people of different ethnic and tribal backgrounds with various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon Po, Shamanism and Animism represented. Gurung, Magar, Thakali and Manangi are the dominant groups. Generally, these people are subsistence farmers who depend on the forests for fuel, fodder and timber. The Annapurna Conservation Area The Annapurna region is by far the most popular trekking destination in Nepal attracting over 60% of the total overseas trekkers in Nepal. The natural environment, resources and cultural integrity of this region are deteriorating due to over-grazing, intensive agriculture, poverty and a high population growth rate, and the influx of this large number of trekkers. Rational forest management for a sustainable yield of timber is not common. These factors mean that the cultural and natural environments of the region are in jeopardy. In view of this environmental deterioration in one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal, His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal issued directives in the Spring of 1985 to investigate the possibility of giving protected status to the Annapurna region. The directive required a management plan that would help to strike a balance between the basic needs of the local inhabitants, tourism development and nature conservation. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) began in 1986 to address the problem of maintaining a crucial link between economic development and environmental conservation. It recognises that protection of critical habitats and maintenance of species diversity cannot be achieved without improving the economic conditions of poor villagers who inhabit the mountains. Unlike national parks and wildlife reserves, it regards humans, and not any particular species of wild animals or plants, as the focal point of every conservation effort. Source: Adapted from Gurung, C. P. (1990) People’s participation in conservation: Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Proceedings of the International Conference on Tropical Biodiversity, Kuala Lumpar, pp. 74-85. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project Background What is conservation – if not for the people? It must be viewed only as a means, the end being the improvement of the quality of our very existence. His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikran Shah, Chair of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) operates under the guidance of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal’s leading non-profit, non-governmental environmental organisation. It is self-funded by entry user fees but receives additional support from the Worldwide Fund for Nature (USA) and the German Alpine Club. The project was set up in 1986 and has undertaken an innovative and successful approach to natural resource and tourism management in the Annapurna region. ACAP practices a multiple land use method of resource management, combining environmental protection with sustainable community development and tourism management. Income from tourism is used to integrate traditional subsistence activities into the framework of resource management and to develop small-scale conservation and alternative energy projects in order to raise the living standards of the local people. ACAP has a grassroots philosophy and approach that involves local communities in all aspects of the conservation and development process. ACAP’s role is that of ‘lami’, or ‘matchmaker’, between local communities and sources of appropriate skills, knowledge and technical and financial assistance which enables these communities to improve the quality of their lives. Recognising that the breakdown of social structures contributes to environmental degradation, ACAP also strives to strengthen the cultural integrity of the area. At the heart of ACAP’s program is conservation education. ACAP believes that without increasing the level of awareness of both villagers and visitors, lasting environmental protection and cultural diversity cannot be achieved. Objectives The objectives of the project are to conserve both natural and cultural resources for the benefit of the local people of both present and future generations by implementing rational management policies and programs. ACAP’s long term objective is to benefit the 40,000 inhabitants living in the 2600km? Annapurna Conservation Area by providing a viable means to help them maintain control over their environment. Principles ACAP bases its activities on three principles: People’s participation In order to have long lasting efforts in conservation in the Annapurna region, it was recognised that the interests of the local people and their needs must be considered first. Unless these people really felt that the fruits of conservation could be harvested by themselves and that the resources belonged to them, the support of the local people could not be obtained. Thus, the project considers the local people as the main beneficiaries and includes them in the planning, decision-making and implementing processes, and delegates more responsibilities for the management of the conservation area to them. Thus, various management committees (forest management committee, kerosene depot management committee, health centre management committee), selected and nominated by the local people, are formed in order to manage the various ACAP activities. Most of the community development projects undertaken by ACAP are carried out with 50% local contribution either in cash or kind. Thus, the project is administered by only a few staff, most of them hired locally. Catalytic role His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and various other national and international agencies have implemented a number of development and conservation projects in the region. It is not the aim of ACAP to duplicate or take over these projects but to work with them in order to improve the quality of life of the people. ACAP uses grassroots methods to help the villagers maintain control over their local resources as well as help them to identify their immediate needs and priorities. As a result, ACAP considers itself a ‘lami’ (matchmaker) that will bring together resources from outside in order to meet the needs of the local people. Sustainability One of the most important characteristics of the project is sustainability. Many of the foreign aided development projects in developing countries fail because they do not have any provision for sustaining them once the donor agency leaves. These projects once completed can neither be maintained and managed by the local people nor by the government – creating a great loss of time, energy and resources. ACAP has to be financially self-reliant once the funding from WWF-USA and other donor agencies is exhausted. Hence, an entry user’s fee of about US$7 is levied on all the international trekkers visiting the Annapurna region. His Majesty’s Government of Nepal allows ACAP to collect the fee and deposit it in its own account. Thus, there will not be any financial burden, either to King Mahendra Trust and and His Majesty’s Government or to the local people once funding from the donors is terminated. A similar approach is also maintained among community development projects where the local people are either trained or provisions made for the projects to continue. As an example, a community health centre in Ghandruk was founded by a ? 300,000 Endowment Fund to which ? 100,000 (US$3500) and ? 00,000 (US$7000) were contributed by the local people. Source: His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikran Shah, Chair of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. An interview with Min Bahadur Gurung Respected local elder from Ghandruk and Chairman of the region’s Conservation and Development Committee Interviewer You have been involved for many years in the indigenous management of your reg ion’s forests and other natural resources. Has culture or religion influenced your management of these areas? Min Bahadur Gurung Of course. In our village we practice Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism. Our ancestors or forefathers managed their forest resources by themselves without the help of outsiders. They set aside a forest area for fuelwood and harvested it on a rotational basis. Interviewer Would you think there is a negative impact on the forest when you harvest for fuelwood? Min Bahadur Gurung When you harvest the selected old trees of a particular area, and for a certain period of time, there will be no adverse impact on the environment. Our traditional rotational system makes the forest harvesting sustainable in the long run. We also feel very familiar with our forest. We know what species of trees to harvest, when, where and for how long. Interviewer It seems that you and your people have a close relationship with the natural environment. How do you link culture, religion and environment? Min Bahadur Gurung Our culture and religion provide education for nature conservation. In every village we have a forest sanctuary where we worship our forest god. The forest is prohibited from any use and is thus a home for many birds, deer, insects and other living forms. We believe that if we cut such sacred forest we will be sick. The forest’s resources, especially traditional medicinal plants, are also important. We use them to treat many common diseases. Our sacred forests are set aside above our village. We feel safe from landslides and our water source is kept in good condition. It also keeps our village green thus providing a high aesthetic value. Our forests shape our lifestyles and behaviours. Interviewer The way you protect your forest has high ecological value. Would you believe this system to be sustainable? Min Bahadur Gurung The way we protect and conserve our forest is for our benefit. We harvest the fruits of our conservation efforts. Since our forefathers, we have followed this culture and religion. Thus, sustainable management and use of the forest resources is our way of life. We are not relying on outsiders to manage our forest and wildlife and our conservation practices don’t rely on money for its success. Everyone in the village looks after their forest. Our communal management system is working. Our children are also growing into this system, so I hope they learn the way we are managing our resources. Additionally, the arrival of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was a blessing for us. Interviewer How is ACAP working in the village? Min Bahadur Gurung We support ACAP’s integrated conservation and development program through people’s participation. It has helped us to strengthen our traditional institution with the formation of the Conservation and Development Committees. ACAP emphasises traditional resource management practices. This has allowed us to continue our traditional systems of fuelwood collection and rotational grazing in our alpine pastures. ACAP didn’t drive the local people from the villages. Other protected areas such as national parks in the Himalayas have excluded local people totally which has created conflict between parks and people. ACAP has also enabled us to implement small-scale community development projects such as drinking water supply, medical facilities, irrigation, bridges and trail construction and repair. Additionally, we also now have a forest nursery. Interviewer What do you think about sustainable living and how do you inter-relate your development works? Min Bahadur Gurung We believe development should not be an agent for destruction to our environment. It rather should aim to meet the basic needs of the people, for example provide food, cotton and shelter. Most importantly, we are protecting our environment. If you have fresh air to breathe, fresh food to eat and a safe shelter in which to sleep, then you live in a sustaining society. Our lifestyles will be more sustainable if we learn to live in harmony with our environment. If we neglect the environment that is sustaining our lifestyle, then we will be destroying our future. An interview with Om Bahadur Gurung Buddhist Monk and Lama (Priest) from the Village of Ghandruk, Nepal Interviewer As a Buddhist monk, how does religion play a part in your daily life? Om Bahadur Gurung Culture and religion are an important part of all of our lives. We have been practising them since our childhoods. Our parents have taught us the good things and to follow the Ramro Bato (Good Path). I have inherited my culture and religion from my father. I have learnt compassion, happiness and to the value the good things in my life. Thus, we respect our culture and religion. Interviewer It sounds like following the Ramro Bato has taught you a great deal of good things in your life. Could you please elaborate a bit more? Om Bahadur Gurung Well, in our society, people do all sorts of things, both good and bad. I learnt that if you do a bad thing, you will have to face disastrous consequences, ‘pap’, after your death. Cleanliness is important in our religion. Our three hundred years old monastery is in the forest, away from the dirty village. We respect the forest because it is the home of our god. We protect the forest and tell other villagers to do so. The forest provides valuable medicinal herbs which are important in our lives. Our mantra (prayers) and traditional medicinal herbs save the lives of our people when they are sick. We tell people not to cut down trees and not to kill animals. Interviewer Oh! Why do you tell this message to others? Om Bahadur Gurung The answer is simple. Do you kill your children? No, you do not. You love your children, don’t you? All creatures have life and they are born freely on the planet Earth. I believe they have the right to survive. As a human being, we should take care of all the living creatures and live in harmony with their environment without oppressing them. Interviewer It sounds good. How does your culture and religion reflect the notion of sustainable living? Om Bahadur Gurung All living creatures live and die. As for human beings, we believe they do not die, but change their spirit and form another life. We Lamas perform ‘arghau’, for example, within 49 days of a person’s death because that spirit will be in a hard life. We pray to our god to send them into heaven and to change their life into another living creature. That is our interpretation of sustainable living. Life is a cycle. If we don’t do our ‘karma’, the cycle will be broken. Interviewer Finally, do you have any message to educators? Om Bahadur Gurung I have learnt many lessons from my Guru (mentor) over the years. To prove my worthiness as a Lama, I spent three years, three months and three days in a hostile place to learn the ways of the Buddhist culture and religion. When I went to the city to observe other monasteries and meet other monks, I learnt that I still have to learn more. I hope educators have more access to learn about our culture and religion. From my experience, I would say that the Buddhist philosophy of culture and religion provides the wisdom to protect our environment and sustain our lifestyles. How to cite Culture and Religion, Essay examples

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay Paper Example For Students

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay Paper Mini Paper 2Fetal alcohol SyndromePrepared by: What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)? FAS is the leading cause of mental retardation in the U.S. today. FAS affects approximately 1 in every 500 born in North America. Motheras drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy causes FAS. FAS is characterized by:i Smaller headsi Deformed facial features (small widely spaced eyes, underdeveloped jaw, thin upper lip, and short upturned nose). i Abnormal joints and limbs- these include deformities of the small joints of the hands as well as an incomplete rotation at the elbow. i Poor coordinationi Problems with learning- difficulty sequencing, difficulty understanding cause and effect, and weak generalizing skills. i Short memoriesi Medical problems- vision problems, hearing problems, epilepsy, renal failure, heart failure, and death. i Inappropriate behavior- poor impulse control and poor judgement. How FAS Affects Functioning In School:Beginning with infancy, the children have problems at feeding and are highly irritable. They also exhibit unpredictable sleeping and eating patterns, which make it hard for the baby to be cared for and for maternal bonding to occur. During development, both physical and mental, FAS children have very fine and poor motor coordination skills and it becomes very apparent at the preschool age. They also are very affectionate but at the same time very hyperactive, which makes it a problem for the teachers who have them in class to deal with. This is why they are, during the first few years of school, given the diagnoses of having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): this diagnoses is given because of there high activity level, short attention span, and poor short term memory. Many of these children require special education help regardless of the fact that their IQ falls between the normal range. Their hyperactivity calls for them to recei ve special attention that normal teachers cannot and at most times will not give them. As FAS children grow into FAS adults, their level of development and how they developed begins to show in everything they do. Since their social and mental health has been compromised as adults they exhibit inadequate communication skills, impulsivity, poor judgement, trouble with abstract thinking, and limited problem solving skills. With all these problems they often have difficulty holding down a job because of their unreliability, lack of social skills, and functional illiteracy. Without appropriate support services, these individuals have a high risk of developing secondary disabilities such as mental illness, getting into trouble with the law, abusing alcohol and other drugs, and unwanted pregnancies. A calm, nurturing, learning environment is vital for children with FAS. There are many different teaching strategies tailored to meet each individuals need. Children with FAS learn more when th e curriculum is taught in the context of the studentas daily life. Many doctors with recognized expertise recommend most children with FAS do best with a combination of Stimulant and Selective Seratonin Receptive Inhibitor (SSRI).

A Comprehensive Guide to Write a Formal Essay Efficiently

A formal essay is described as a type of written composition created to discuss a topic assigned by professors to the students. This type of essay is basically a well researched analysis about a particular topic, a claim or an opinion. Most of the students find it a really daunting task as they think they will have to follow a formal procedure to complete it. However, if they break the entire task into various steps, they will be able to manage it very easily.    Thesis Statement of a Formal Essay The entire essay supports the thesis statement which might be a claim or simply an opinion. The statement might also be called a cautious thesis throughout the initial steps of writing process due to uncertainty of the claim or opinion which might later be broaden or narrowed. As the process moves forward, the writer comes in a better position to say something as an ultimate conclusion. Thesis Statement and Objectives to Accomplish There are at least three objectives which are supposed to be accomplished by the writer during the writing process of a formal essay. These objectives are as follow: Objective # 1: Stay within the topic and don’t get distracted during the research process. Objective # 2: Find the acceptable answer for topic related research question which is usually quite specific and thus the writer must follow a very careful approach toward the answer. Objective # 3: Build essay’s basic structure and try to make strong foundation for the thesis statement. Main Components of Formal Essay A formal essay, as traditionally followed, contains 5 main components which are as follow: Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3 Conclusion The Introduction Introduction is the first and of course the most important paragraph of such an essay because the writer must grab the attention of readers and convince them to read the thesis statement which is placed within the last lines of introduction section. You can adopt simple tricks to make your introduction a winning piece of writing. For example: Trick # 1: Definition from Dictionary   You can begin by defining your main topic which may also include proper definition from a well known dictionary. Trick # 2: Description in Own Words On the other hand, you may also describe the topic in your own words so readers can easily understand what they are actually going to read in the next steps. Trick # 3: Use of Quotations Another very impressive way to attract readers is to begin with an interesting quotation which must be related to the topic. Trick # 4: Statistics or Facts The last but not the least trick is the use of statistics or facts about your topic. Supporting Paragraphs Once you capture the attention of the readers and bring them to the main body of your essay, you have to use your maximum potential to make them feel they are really getting for what they have come to this step. The supporting paragraphs of your essay should contain everything needed to support your thesis statement such as facts, statistics, details, examples, surveys, interviews or events. An excellently written paragraph should contain main topic sentence along with supporting sentences which work as the proof to support thesis statement. The paragraph should also contain transition sentence which will motivate the readers to continue reading the next coming paragraph. As far as the length of a supporting paragraph is concerned, it usually depends upon the information about the topic. However, the general idea is that a paragraph should neither be too long nor be too short. Too Long Paragraph If you unnecessarily lengthen a paragraph by including same ideas repeatedly, you will simply make your readers bored and the best way to get rid of such boredom is to split the information into 2-3 sections but never repeat your ideas if you don’t need it. Too Short Paragraph On the other hand, if the length of supporting paragraph is too short, readers might take it as an unserious piece of writing. Therefore, you should always use some interesting information to bring the para at an average size. The Conclusion Once you have successfully brought your readers to the concluding paragraphs, you have already achieved your goals of writing an essay about a particular topic. However, you must understand that the purpose of putting a concluding paragraph at the end of your assignment is not just finishing of a topic, rather you should make readers keep thinking about the points you have discussed earlier. For example: A conclusion may predict something new about the topic which will keep readers think about it. A conclusion might give warning about something that could occur if the thesis problem is not resolved as early as possible. A conclusion might suggest a solution to solve the issue discussed in main body the essay.

The eNotes Blog Top Ten Dishes from theClassics

Top Ten Dishes from theClassics For her series Fictitious Dishes, photographer Dinah Fried staged her favorite food scenes from literature. Via The Picture Show, heres a sample of her amazing work to delight foodies and book lovers alike. Im interested in creating something that evokes an emotional feeling for myself and others. I wanted to see how other people who had read the books would connect on that level. On the Road I ate apple pie and ice cream - it was getting better as I got deeper into Iowa, the pie bigger, the ice cream richer. The Bell Jar Then I tackled the avocado and crabmeat salad. Avocados are my favorite fruit. Every Sunday my grandfather used to bring me an avocado pear hidden at the bottom of his briefcase under six soiled shirts and the Sunday comics. Oliver Twist The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbors nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. Alice in Wonderland There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Then he made himself lunch, which consisted of coffee and open sandwiches, and sat in the garden, where he was typing up the notes of his conversation with Pastor Falk. The Catcher in the Rye After I had left the skating rink I went to a drugstore and had a Swiss cheese sandwich and a malted milk. Heidi The kettle soon began to boil, and meanwhile the old man held a large piece of cheese on a long iron fork over the fire, turning it round and round till it was toasted a nice golden yellow color on each side. Moby Dick It was made of small juicy clams, scarcely bigger than hazel nuts, mixed with pounded ship biscuit, and salted pork cut up into little flakes; the whole enriched with butter, and plentifully seasoned with pepper and salt. To Kill a Mockingbird The kitchen table was loaded with enough food to bury the family: hunks of salt pork, tomatoes, beans, even scuppernongs. Swanns Way She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called  petites madeleines, which look as though they had been moulded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrims shell.

Who were the two people who discovered Calculus Essay

Who were the two people who discovered Calculus - Essay Example The first person to come up with the calculus was Newton, owing to new historical findings (Sastry 3), moreover, he did this by developing standard differential algorithms, which were later expounded further by Leibniz after two decades (Sastry 3). This proves that Newton was the original inventor of the calculus although there have been accusations of plagiarism from Newton’s supporters towards Leibniz. However, it has been exposed that Leibniz arrived at calculus on his own independent efforts despite having his discoveries known later to the world after Newton’s. This makes Leibniz the second inventor of calculus, meaning that all of the philosophers made their own discoveries independently. Therefore, with this in mind, each scholar made his own discovery in his own respective place. Isaac Newton made his discoveries in London, but with constant correspondence with Leibniz due to clarifications that Leibniz required to explain his theories later (Sastry 3). Despite the accusation of plagiarism and propaganda against him, Leibniz made his discoveries in Germany. In conclusion, Leibniz and Newton made the discovery of the calculus, despite their independent studies and differences. For this reason, they are co-inventors of the calculus with controversial views and chronological airing of their findings. In conclusion, Leibniz and Newton made the discovery of the calculus, despite their independent studies and differences. For this reason, they are co-inventors of the calculus with controversial views and chronological airing of their

Walt Disney Prospectus Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Walt Disney Prospectus - Case Study Example intellectual property for using in connection with publications and merchandise; distribute end products to retailers through major Disney stores and other associated outlets; and finally publication of magazines and books. The Walt Disney Company is subjected to Securities Exchange Act of the year 1934. This report focuses on the public offer which the company offered way back in 2008. A comparison has been done to compare its former offers to the mentioned offer. Disney offered 4.50% global notes debt to citizens who had shares as well as those who never had shares. For successful results out of this, one of the approaches the company took was to provide a convenient mode for purchasing Disney common stock shares and reinvest any cash dividends paid on such shares. The discretion of the company to purchase shares was meant to be made by a designated purchasing agent either from Disney or in the open market (Barrier, 2007). Open market share purchases could be transacted through negotiated operations on such terms depending on purchasing agents’ determination. Either Disney or any participant had no authority alter the time, price or the date when shares would be purchased by the agent that deals with purchases. These were a few measures the company took to ensure that its plan fared on well. Disney proposed to sell $1,000,000,000 to the public. This amount has significantly increased as compared to initial offers. This is majorly attributed by the fact that the company’s strategy of building brands that are firm and franchises has continued creating great value across the company. The offer also increased due to the fact that the company brought in new products and services that gave them much security and confidence in offering the public these notes. More investors were also attracted to the offer which was really paying well in terms of dividend pay despite economic crisis that tried to destabilize global markets. Corporate and the unallocated

Mergers and Acquisitons Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mergers and Acquisitons - Case Study Example A merger actually refers to a business combination of two or more firms in which only one firm survives and the other firm or firms go out of existence. In a merger, the surviving firm acquires the assets and liabilities of the other firm(s). A relevant example here is the recent merger of HDFC Bank and Times Bank. After the merger, Times Bank will go out of existence and expanded HDFC Bank will continue to exist. A merger takes place when the firms involved in the combination are of unequal size. The larger or stronger firm continues to exist because of its stronger bargaining power and the smaller or weaker firms go out of existence. Four periods of economic history have witnessed very high levels of merger activity, which are called a merger waves. These periods are characterized by cyclical activity i.e. large number of mergers followed by relatively fewer mergers ((ICMR), 2003). The current period is called as the fifth wave. In the first three waves, merger activity was concentrated in the United States of America. The fourth and the fifth waves were global in nature though the impact of the wave is most pronounced in the United States of America. The current merger wave began in 1992. This wave is marked by a large number of mega-mergers and cross-border mergers. Prior to this, there had been four different waves of mergers and acquisitions happening each being predominantly different. A famous example of the acquisition in the fourth wave of merger and acquisition row is the acquisition of Safeway, Britain's fourth largest supermarket group (Sky News, 2003) by William Morrison Supermarkets which operates in Central London and England (Arla Foods, 2003). The major drivers for the current wave are deregulation, globalization and technology. The increasing levels of deregulation are enabling companies to enter or expand their operations in areas which had significant regulatory barriers. The sectors where the impact of the wave is most visible are telecommunications, entertainment and media, banking and financial services. Safeway PLC was going through a troubled phase of business and was also struggling to cope up with the competition from the other retail giants in UK. As part of this struggle to compete, Safeway has also started experiencing the decline in its brand equity. All these struggles of Safeway were despite its strong national portfolio of having almost more than 450 outlets all across the United Kingdom. Going ahead, though William Morrison is a regional retail player in the United Kingdom having its strength in Midlands and in Northern Europe. Though William Morrison PLC is a regional player, the main strength of the company is its brand image and reputation in the market. One of the fundamental motives that drive mergers and acquisitions is the growth impulse of firms. Firms that decide to expand have to choose between two generic growth strategies, one is the organic growth and the other being the acquisition driven growth. The former one is a slow,

Czech Republic EU

Czech Republic EU Czech Republic is strategically located at the center of Europe. After the fall of Soviet Union and the end of communism in Czech republic after the velvet revolution there was a considerable growth in the field of economic and industrial area. When the Czech Republic joined into EU and CEC it attracted a lot of investments form the foreign investors. The Czech economic GPD has increased gradually from 3.5 in 2004 to 4.1 in 2005.Along with the countrys strategic location in central of Europe, its low-cost structure and skilled work force have also attracted strong inflows of foreign direct investment. This investment is rapidly modernizing its industrial base and increasing productivity. Before the liberalization of the Czech economy, majority of the companies were mostly run by the state government and had little investments from the outside world. The production level of Czech also reduced and compared with its neighbors. The Czech Republic boasts a flourishing consumer production sector. In the early 1990s most state-owned industries were privatized through a voucher privatization system. Every citizen was given the opportunity to buy, for a moderate price, a book of vouchers that he or she could exchange for shares in state-owned companies. State ownership of businesses was estimated to be about 97% under communism. The non-private sector is less than 20% today. With the liberation of economy and the nod form the government to FDI the Czech economy and its trade balance gradually increased to 3 billion Euros. The GDP and per capita increased staidly. In order to increase the FDI investments the government offered investment incentives in order to enhance the Czech Republics natural advantages, thereby attracting foreign partners and stimulating the economy. Shifting emphasis from the East to the West has necessitated adjustment of commercial laws and accounting practices to fit Western standards. Formerly state-owned banks have all been privatized into the hands of west European banks and oversight by the central bank has improved. The telecommunications infrastructure has been upgraded. The Czech Republic has made significant progress toward creating a stable and attractive climate for investment, although continuing reports of corruption are troubling to investors.(Czech Republic 2003) As Czech Republic has joined the EU in may 2004, most of the foreign investors and leading multinational companies invested huge amount of money into it. The companies like SAB Millers, Volkswagen, and Tesco acquired the companies of Czech Republic and were able to invest more amounts of money and technology into them. With higher competition among the local and foreign companies, the local companies were able to improve its qualities and have an opportunity to compete with them in the global market. When SAB miller acquired the local leading Czech brewing company Plzensky Prazdroj it brought along with it technology which helped it to generate more amount of quantity. As Czech Republic in centrally placed in Europe and it is a member of EU gave SAB miller a foothold in the European market. This also brought good revenues for the local producers and suppliers. There was a steady demand for the local products. Likewise when Czech automaker Skoda was acquired by the German automobile giant Volkswagen, it not only entered a new market but it also helped Skoda to invest more funds into its new technological researchs.The result was that the profits of Skoda gradually jumped from 209 Million dollars to 6.65 billion dollars in a span of time. The operational strategies are made on the day to day basic of the companies at local functional levels. Effective organizational strategies success will only occur depending on the performance of the company. Resources and workforce play a major role at the success of operational strategy. Even though Volkswagen completely owns Skoda it does not make the interference in the management style. With the help of Volkswagen Skoda was able to become a major brand, Skoda were able to position them selves to compete with major car brands. With the help of Volkswagen Skoda was able to use new technologies for better communication with its suppliers and distributors. As Volkswagen being a parent organization of Skoda it does has a major say in its marketing and operational strategies, in designs in order to keep the competitive advantage over its competitors. In the case of SAB millers which is the parent company of Plzensky Prazdroj the production and managerial strategies are held by the ch ild company where as the marketing and decision making strategies are done by the parent company. All the decisions about the production and buying of raw materials are held with Plzensky in order to continue with its old tradition and local heritage. As Kim and Mauborgne (2005) said the creation of a strategy is about providing value its buyers along with reducing the costs will help them have a competitive advantage over its competitors. With help of just in time strategy Skoda was able to have economic scale gains. Skoda was able to create a new market space in Czech and Europe through its cost efficient methods. As in the case of ZVVZ as which had a tough competition with Enven in its local market, they acquired it and were able to reduce the competition. ZVVZ was able to successfully able to create a market for its own in the environmental products. As it has no competitors they ensured that they give high perceived value to its customers at a lower prices, to make do this they reduced the cost by outsourcing the logistics. Kim and Maubroge (2005) point out that to have a competitive advantage over its competitors a firm has to successfully align with cost, utility and price potions. Pilsners rural locations enable them to brew and procure raw materials at a very cheap price. And in order to minimize the costs pilsners also utilized the water from theits local stream. Thus they are focused on customer satisfaction they have more customer base. By using proper value innovation companies try to have a competitive advantage over its competitors , Pilsner a brewing company did not use any value innovation in its strategies. Even in the case of Skoda until Volkswagen acquired them they had no proper value innovation. In case of ZVVZ it created new markets and new products lines by effectively utilizing value innovation technique. This ensured that ZVVZ has major competitive advantage over its competitors and ensured them to be a market leader. As the competition among the major companies is increasing, there has been a major impact on the organizational cultures with comparisons to local companies and its parents companies. The positive impacts can been seen at Skoda where the distance between employees and management is high and always ensured for the better performance of the company. Independent decisions are taken at managerial level to have positive results. How ever in some cases the employees were not comfortable this power distance, which lead them to have high risk and uncertainty and due to this there are more misunderstandings among the management and employees. In this case employees were not able to make decisions which lead to having confusion also led to the failures of the companies. In conclusion Czech economy had been able to transfer itself from being a centralized economy to a free economy. The foreign direct investment ensured that Czech economy jumped from a small to very big economy with the help of FDI the local companies were able to invest heavy money into its research departments, which resulted in huge gains for the company. Czech strategic location which is at the center of Europe ensured that major investments are poured into it. References David A. Grvin (1992) Operation strategy . Prentice Hall international England. Kim, C.W., and Mauborgne, R. (2004) Blue Ocean Strategy, Harvard Business Review [online]. pp 76-84, [cited on 30th April 2008]. Accessed via Ebscohost. Krajewski L, Ritzman L(1998) Operation managements 5th edition , Addison Wesley , England. Slack N, Chambers S, Johnston R (1995) , operations management 5th edition , Prentice hall, England.

The Unalterable Human Condition Exposed in Shirley Jacksons The Lotter

The Unalterable Human Condition Exposed in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery The short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, managed to capture various human tendencies stemming from the very heart of the unalterable human condition. The willingness to follow tradition blindly, the inherent cruelty of humans, and the unwillingness to change were the primary negative behaviors depicted in the story. The unalterable human condition is one of the truths of human existence. Throughout the course of history, humans tend to act in the same ways, repeat the same mistakes, and end up little better than they were a century before. Although technology has changed, increasing the quality of life, behavior patterns have not changed, decreasing both the sanctity and quality of life. One may begin to wonder if the human race will ever change its behavior in any more ways than rhetoric. The short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, managed to capture various human tendencies stemming from the very heart of the unalterable human condition. The willingness to follow tradition blindly, the inherent cruelty of humans, and the unwillingness to change were the primary negative behaviors depicted in the story. People enter into society with certain traditions having long since been established. People are terrified of changing those traditions because of the fact that those traditions have been in existence for decades, even centuries. If they have survived that long, people consciously or unconsciously reason, they must be correct. However, that is not necessarily the case. In The Lottery, the tradition must have been at least a century old, as the black box used to choose the lucky winner "had been put into use even before Old Man Wa... ...s existed for thousands of years, human beings are still making the same mistakes as they were when the first humans walked the earth. People live and die, empires rise and fall, while human behavior remains the same the entire time. People ought to learn from the mistakes of the past, not forgetting the things that have gone wrong. The great authors of the world have taken advantage of the unalterable human condition, using it to point out the grave errors that the natural behaviors of human beings can lead to. But before humans begin to dwell to such errors, they should remember that the mistakes they have made are not as important as the lessons humans draw from them . . . Works Cited: Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. 5th ed. Ed. Laurence Perrine. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, Publishers 1998. 180-186

Computer support specialist

Dad we have fixed this issue before did you not take notes. â€Å", So as I talked him through the steps again we got it working. I have chosen to become a computer support specialist. Computer Support specialist Is a helpful type of Job. It can be very flexible. I got to thinking about the way things were going and wanted to start a real career. I did some research and found this Information maybe someone else could use it to help them.A computer support specialist helps all types of people with imputer problems. One can chose to help the regular Joe or a big corporation. One would be able to solve issues with the software of a computer. One could help setup a networking system to insure everything in the house is running properly. One can easily do these tasks from home if it were necessary, therefore allowing some extra flexibility. I don't know about any of you but helping someone out is a great feeling. The expected growth prospects for this field are to be faster than most pro fessions.Job prospects are expected to increase by around fourteen percent, since computer re more widely utilized both by businesses and Individuals. There will be a greater need for assistance by anyone that utilizes a computer. One can help the common household with a computer slow down Issue. Maybe one has gotten a virus on the computer, a computer support specialist could help to remove the virus or speed up one's computer. The workplace could be described in different manners depending on the company. One could actually be working in a single office environment. Some workers will be required to do onsite work.There are also some that even work in heir home. Typically the single office will be divided into cubicles. You will have a computer, phone and other standard office materials. (Bureau of labor Statistics, 2010-2011) A person can expect to earn around $26,580 to $55,990 a year. These numbers will depend on ones level of education and experience in the field. It could also depend on the company one choose to work for. (Bureau of labor Statistics, 2010-2011) A person can get by with a simple certification. Some companies will do specific software training once you start working for them.Some companies will quire a bachelor degree. A person will have to receive periodic update training. As the computer systems change you will need to keep up with the new programs. (.NET online, 2011) Setting up computer networks will also change. In order to do this job there are several qualities you need to possess. You will need to be able to listen actively. It is also required that you be able to communicate on several levels. There may be several Jobs to complete you will need to be able to manage your time. You will also need to be able to teach others how to understand the process you are doing.

The ULTIMATE Guide to KDP How to Succeed on Kindle Direct Publishing

The ULTIMATE Guide to KDP How to Succeed on Kindle Direct Publishing The Ultimate Guide to KDP: How to Succeed on Kindle Direct Publishing What do Andy Weir and Luke Jennings have in common? Not much - at least until self-publishing through Amazon changed their lives. Jennings, with his Booker Prize nomination, already belonged in the writerly mainstream. Weir, on the other hand, wrote code before he ever wrote novels, learning C as a teenager to work with combustion researchers.Since then, both have released books through Amazon’s self-publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing. Jennings’ novella, Codename Villanelle, became the basis for the acclaimed BBC thriller Killing Eve. Weir, meanwhile, saw his first novel, The Martian, turned into a Matt Damon blockbuster by the same name.Amazon turned a journalist and a programmer into international publishing sensations. Want to succeed on KDP like they did? Let’s take a look at everything you’d need to do to make this powerful sales platform work for you. Before we're done, we'll turn the killer book you wrote into a self-published bestseller . How do you turn the book you wrote into a self-published bestseller? How to sell ebooks on AmazonYou’re here because you want to sell as many copies of your book as possible. You might think that’s easier said than done. But truthfully, the formula behind making book sales is simple: Traffic x Conversion = Sales.Traffic gets eyeballs on your book, while conversion turns those gawkers into buyers. On its own, traffic does nothing for your bottom line. Every internet-user in California could find your book page in the same afternoon, but their 18 million clicks will only frustrate you if none of those virtual window-shoppers turns into an actual shopper. On the flip side, you might have a book page so bewitching that everyone who finds it compulsively mashes the orange buy button. But if only three people ever stumble on your page, your black-magic conversion rate still only nets you three sales.Both factors go into making sales. But on Amazon specifically, conversion is more important. You see, Amazon, on top of being a search engine, is also a book recommendation tool. It makes and sends book suggestions to users based on their browsing and shopping history. Most huge Amazon success stories happened because, at some point, Amazon started marketing their book for them. So how can you get them to do the same for your book?Well, Amazon has the same goal as you: selling books. The more books they sell to its users, the happier they'll be. So when their algorithms have a choice between promoting two books with a similar sales history, Amazon will naturally favor the one with greater on-page conversion. They know the extra traffic they send to that book page will turn into more sales than the other book.As a result, one of the worst things that can happen to an author on Amazon is to get a lot of traffic with very poor conversion. This will immediately flag the book to Amazon's algorithms as a "loser," and it'll never get recommended.So in short, on Amazon, conversion is even more important than traffic which is why you must, first and foremost, focus on optimizing your KDP book's Amazon product pages.Optimizing your KDP book’s Amazon product pageNow, let’s talk about how you get the sky-scraping conversion rate of your dreams. Youà ¢â‚¬â„¢ll need an Amazon product page that tempts viewers into hitting â€Å"Buy now with 1-Click.† Remember that workplace cliche about dressing for the job you want and not the job you have? While we don’t recommend aping your boss’s favorite suit, this principle does apply to maximizing conversion on your product page.To be a bestseller, your book should look like a bestseller. That means dressing your words up in the right packaging, so they seem worthy of book club adulation and blogosphere hype. To achieve that, you’ll need to optimize your product page with three things:A polished cover;A punchy description; andBook reviews.As a bonus, set up an author page on Amazon Central with a bio that tells your story as engagingly as possible.1. Create a polished coverSay I'm a bookworm shopping for my next read. As a huge fan of Ender’s Game, I want something in the same vein, so browse around the Kindle Store. Do you know how many books there are in that Military Science Fiction category? More than 20,000.A lot of these might be self-published, but a good number of them also come from traditional publishing companies. These industry behemoths have four-figure design budgets and will producing pixel-perfect book covers. 3. Leverage your existing audienceThis one’s pretty obvious. If you have an existing audience - whether that’s a sizable mailing list, thousands of Twitter followers, or a horde of disciples who follow you wherever you go - let them know about your book.Unless, and we can’t stress this enough, your existing audience doesn’t read in your genre. Make sure you don’t t pollute your Also Boughts!4. Cross-promote with other authorsA great way to reach new readers is to cross-promote with other authors.   Plenty of indie authors do that through newsletter swaps: you promote their new release to your mailing list, and they do the same for you when you launch your book.Of course, this only works if you have a mailing list. So if you don’t, you know what you should do next.5. AdvertiseAnother sure-fire to reach new readers? Leverage the three main advertising platforms that have proven successful for authors selling their books:Facebook advertising : take our free course here;Amazon advertising: yep, we also have a free course for those;Bookbub advertising: I’ll let you guess where this link will take you.Amazon ads can be pretty effective at providing a solid baseline of sales - even at full-price. But Facebook and BookBub will work much, much better if your book is discounted (or free), and they are also a lot easier to scale.If this is your first time publishing a book, don’t worry: you don’t need to do all these things. You just need to plan your launch well, and try at least some of these tactics.And remember, if you want an experienced professional to help you along the way, we’ve handpicked specialist book marketers on Reedsy who do just that. So don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask them for a quote!Have you joined the ranks of indie authors publishing through KDP? What do you wish you’d known before you started? Tell us about your experiences or drop some pearls of wisdom be low!

Essay on American Government and Politics Part 1

Essay on American Government and Politics Part 1 Essay on American Government and Politics Part 1 Essay on American Government and Politics Part 1The restriction of the hate speech is the issue worth considering since hate speeches may be as dangerous as hate crimes, but, if hate speech are delivered to the large audience, they may be even more dangerous than hate crimes. Therefore, hate speeches should be banned because they wreak havoc in society, give rise to radical ideas and movements and encourage hate crimes.At this point, it is possible to refer to the recent case of Philadelphia gay bashing, which evoked numerous negative and hate speeches openly published online as well as in other media. In fact, making hate speech leads to the radicalization of the audience and, as Butler justly remarks, hate speech makes the situation even worse since the public response to the hate crime evokes not just a negative public response and condemnation but creates condition for new hate crimes.At the same time, hate speech against representatives of some ethnic groups are offensive and un acceptable as was the case of Costella in New Hampshire, who made hate speech against two employees of Wal-Mart (JTA, 2014). Such hate speeches are manifestations of disrespect to basic rights of people and their discrimination on the ground of their ethnic or racial background. Hate speeches are also provocative since employees offended by Costella could have responded in the violent way, if their psychological condition and response were different.Thus, hate speech should be banned because it contributes to the radicalization of society, emergence of hatred and growing tension in relations between people. Unlike a hate crime, hate speech can reach the broad audience and cause riots and other issues.Government and Politics Part 2

Intermediaries of IP Commercialization and Its Business Operation in Term Paper

Intermediaries of IP Commercialization and Its Business Operation in the Open Innovation, such as Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs - Term Paper Example The research and development team of organizations focus on developing and fabricating creative ideas that can help the company in coming out with a product that meets the evolving need of the customer and more. While in the recent past most organizations operated on the principle of closed innovation that required the companies generate, develop, and market their own ideas, the past few years have witnessed a dramatic shift towards open innovation model where the companies â€Å"commercialize external (as well as internal) ideas by deploying outside (as well as in-house) pathways to the market† (Chesbrough, 2003, p36). This new model has gained wide popularity owing to its wider perspective and application that allows companies to create value through an open culture and closer integration with its surrounding environment. Open innovation model is based on free flowing knowledge and information sources that contribute to value addition for both manufacturers as well as end co nsumers. While the model does allow businesses to utilise and exploit new opportunities, the challenge lies in tapping key knowledge resources and expertise that have the potential to generate profitable ventures. The closed innovation business model applied strict controls over its intellectual property rights (IPR) and the management focused on guarding its IPR to prevent competitors from stealing their innovative ideas. But in the age of open innovation model, businesses focused their strengths on commercializing their ideas and allowing its competitors to use their IP and purchase other firms IP to improve profitability. The organizational strategies today work on defining new strategies that enable them to exploit the open innovation model for creating new ventures and expanding their existing scope of markets and revenue towards potential revenue addition sources. The focus is to utilise their existing resources and technologies to accomodate innovative ideas that open new sou rces of market capturing strategies and expanding operational scope (Chesbrough, 2003). The key issue that arises from the open innovation model is the protection and commercialization of intellectual property (IP) and the different intermediary channels used for this purpose. It must be noted in this context that IP is an intangible asset that is not only difficult to valuate but also involves a lot of legal risks. There are number of intermediary channels that enable easy and smooth transaction of IP between innovators, funders and prospective users who develop products based on the IP. The paper provides a deeper insight into the operations and mechanisms of these intermediary channels that cash in on firms looking for IP that creates new opportunities in an open innovation environment. Intellectual property – the concept Before going into the details of IP intermediaries and its commercialization aspects it is important to understand the concept of intellectual property a nd its basics. Intellectual property can refer to any innovative idea and this idea has the potential to

Tourism Master Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Tourism Master - Assignment Example Like in any other country, heritage tourism in USA is advancing in huge strides for the last one or two decades now, and Government has realised the importance of promoting tourism in rural America, and here, heritage and cultural tourism have been given more importance. Tourism has become today, one of the biggest industries in the world and has proved beneficial in many ways. USA has decided to showcase its immensely rich heritage, mainly of Native Americans, less of immigrants who occupy the whole of America today. Heritage tourism also covers historical conflicts, fight for freedom, wars for freedom, fight for civil rights and the resulting battles that have left inerasable footprints on sand of time. Today's tourism can never exist without preservation, which has become the most pertinent issue all over the planet. USA, a huge country with unlimited possibilities, is today encouraging heritage tourism while carefully preserving its own innumerable heritage sites, mainly that of Native Indians.Eco Tourism and Sustainable Tourism, though almost identical, are not the same. Eco Tourism is more about the nature, its preservation, whereas sustainable tourism is about nature, but about the living beings on the particular land and is of the opinion that tourism should help the locals, while retaining the planet's pristine garb as clean as possible. On 7th October 2003, WITC came out with the Blue print of New Tourism. "The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today revealed its Blueprint for New Tourism, which issues a call to action for both government and the industry to make several long-term commitments to ensure the prosperity of Travel & Tourism - one of the world's largest industries, responsible for 200m jobs and over 10% of global GDP1". In heritage tours, areas with extreme environmental threat have to be avoided. Sustainable tourism argues that local community should be financially benefited, so that, they take the initiative of preserving the environmental sensitivities and fragile areas of biodiversities. It has to be seen that economic requirement should not override environmental concerns. Proper guidelines have to be formed on how the nature parks and heritage sites and wildlife sanctuaries have to be preserved. American tourism calls for awakening our senses to natural beauty and national heritage. Amazing heritage sites also offer well-planned, thrilling holidays, because for some tourists, unmixed heritage tours could be dull and uneventful. Wildlife has firmly become part of all tourisms including heritage and cultural tourisms. CASE STUDY: TOURISM IN UTAH, ITS HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS: Utah, one of the prominent states in USA has been chosen for the case study, as this State is perhaps the best State capable of showing the most vivid kaleidoscope of America's heritage. The State is divided into: Mining County, Carbon/Emery County, Salt Lake County, Summit County, Tooele County, Utah County, Central Utah, Eastern Utah, Southern Utah, mainly depending on its vibrant and violent background. http://history.utah.gov/mining_heritage_alliance/miningmap.html Utah has a population density of 21 people per square mile, (increased at the rate of 15% since 1982), and with a developed land increase of 24% between 1982 and 19922 and this has resulted in 30% loss of wetlands since 1780 and it is the home of 38 threatened and endangered species. For outdoor enthusiasts there is no better place than Utah to ski or snowboard, mountain biking or white water rafting, or to visit the legendary Old West, with all its hidden and trapped glories and fables, who, unfortunately

Bipolar Disorder Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Bipolar Disorder - Research Paper Example The difference between perceptions of mental illness today and in the 19th century is between night and day (Nunes, 2002). That said we need to dramatically increase the amount of information and education out there on this issue. We need to know when such things become a problem and when they should be left alone. Mental health is an issue that affects all of us and must be taken very seriously by all of us. Among the more serious mental health problems that practitioners are starting to address are those arising from bipolar disorder. This essay will examine bipolar disorder and include an interview with an individual who suffers from the disorder. Bipolar disorder is a serious problem. It involves mood disorders. Sufferers swing from manic episodes to depressive episodes. Sometimes there are triggers, but sometimes these are very hard to detect (Behrman, 12). It is said that creative people often suffer from this disorder and produce some of their greatest work during the manic phases. But those who suffer from it have serious problems with relationships and employment. Some need need to be medicated, others hospitalized. It is a disorder with a wide prevalence. What can society do to help bring these issues to light and to try to help? A key thing to do is to encourage people suffering from mental illness or mental disorders such as bipolar disorder to seek help. No man or woman is an island and it can be very difficult to balance one’s life and to know when and if you might have a problem (Millon, 78). You might need help. Sometimes this involves asking your partner to help you out, to have a shoulder to cry on. But it might also involve asking a professional to talk to you and prescribe something. There’s no shame in that: it is important to get past the stigma of mental illness. That’s why those people exist and they know what they’re doing. Sometimes people have so much on the go that they themselves are unable to get a

Iran Country Assessment Essay Example for Free

Iran Country Assessment Essay The Islamic Republic of Iran is a country governed by a regime that began with a revolution headed by Ayatollah Khomeini over two decades ago. Khomeini was the first to label the United States as the ‘Great Satan. ’ Although the Iranian government denies it, terrorism has been actively supported, both materially and morally, for years by Iran and Iran supports efforts damaging to the U. S. If the more extreme elements in Iran continue to hold power and arm themselves with nuclear weapons, the international repercussions would be far-reaching. Understanding of Iran is important for members of the U. S. Armed Forces in order to comprehend the scope of Iran’s extremist’s leanings. On the other hand, many of Iran’s citizens love the United States and are resentful of Iran’s oppressive regime. The anti democracy and hindrance of personal liberty have taken a large toll on the Iranian youth. Iran’s younger generation has put forth a lot of resistance against this oppressive regime. Over two thirds of Iran’s population is under the age of 30, which is good from an operational standpoint. This massive amount of young people generally feels that there is hope to moderate if not remove the oppressive regime. Recently a few young Iranians have been frustrated to the point of actively demonstrating against the regime. It is also important to mention many younger Iranians want improved relations with the United States. Most urban Iranians have access to the Internet and satellite television and are able to compare their standard of living with that of the United States and Western Europe. The Kurdish people believe that they are a nation in itself that are deserving of a sovereign homeland. After the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, many Kurdish sided with the Iranian leftist and protested against Ayatollah Khomeini and his regime. In 1979, the Kurdish formed a rebellion, which ended with thousands of Kurdish dead. Shortly after this, Khomeini centered his power and banded Kurds from serving in government office and greatly enforced freedom of expression. The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan is a militant group that is based out of Iraq but has been consistently performing operations in Iran. Iran has prepared to conduct military action against the group and has moved a large portion of Iran’s military to Kurdistan to hinder the uprising of the militant group. The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan would be a great asset to possible future operation in Kurdistan. The party is semi supportive of the United States but will most likely be more than willing to help in U. S operations in Iran due to their long-term goal of destroying the regime. Iran is a tough operational problem set due to their advanced military and technical power. Operations in Iran should be focused on using the people of Iran to include the youth and Kurdish people. Intelligence operations would be better suited for using Iran’s youth because they are more supportive of the Untied States and have the ability to work in Iran’s government and military. The Kurdish are not trusted in the government and would not be able to provide accurate intelligence. Operations should be held out of North East Iraq due to the likelihood of Iraq cooperating with the United States during operations. Iraq has a large portion of Kurdistan and it would be easy to work with the Kurds right out of Iraq. Iran and Iraq have a long history of war which only furthers Iraqs likelihood of helping the U. S. Iran is a very dynamic and technologically advanced country, which presents many intelligence issues. The help of Kurdistan, Iranian youth and Iraq would greatly increase the likelihood of operational success in Iran.