Abortion Essays (706 words) - Abortion In The United States

Abortion Abortion The founding of our nation was forged on the principle that all men are created equal. This is the essence of our Declaration of Independence and the philosophy behind the Constitution. We, through history, have made certain that all people in this country have equality before the law. We have set up the premise that all people are equal before the law. We have declared that there is no such thing as sub-humans -- and that no human being's rights are superior to another human being. If we want to live by the premises that we set up in this country, than we cannot overlook any human being, no one can be excluded. There is, however, a class of human beings that is being denied the right to life: the unborn baby. The human species is only fully grown at adulthood. Many of us here are not adults yet, and by that definition, it wouldn't matter if you're shot and killed on the street because you're not fully developed.? We are in a stage of development -- teenager -- just like a child is, just like a toddler is, just like an old man is, and just like an aborted child is. There is no magical transformation that occurs when a child is born. He has the same basic needs to survive before he is born, and the same needs after he is born. Anyone who tries to tell anyone else that the baby in the mother's womb is not a human or doesn't matter is a downright liar. They want you to believe that an unborn child cannot feel pain. If you accept that an unborn baby is not an eating, breathing, moving, human inside of a woman then their life can have no value. Can an unborn child feel pain? Of course it does, it is a human being, and as a human being it has five senses. How would you like to be in your mother's womb and all of a sudden be stabbed in the back of the head with scissors and your brains sucked out? In a suction abortion, sometimes the baby will struggle to get a way, but they're no match for the vacuum. The abortionists will tell you that your baby is just a piece of tissue, which makes it easier to have an abortion, they will also tell you that it will just be a burden on your life and you're making the right decision by committing murder and taking away that babies constitutional rights. If you accept that an unborn baby is not a eating, breathing, moving, human inside of a woman then their life can have no value. Now let's talk about the moral issues. If you're going to go out and have sex, you need to take the consequences and have the baby. Even if you don't want it you can put it up for adoption, you don't have to take the easy way out and slaughter it. Our country went through and the world went through a long period of time where Whites believed that Blacks were actually sub-human! If someone accepted that a Black person was a sub- human, then it became easy to continue slavery, and it became easy to abuse or ignore his or her rights to life. We have disproved this premise in modern time, not ignoring the facts. We cannot hide it! Killing a living human being is murder ? and murder is against the law and murder against God. Would want to have been an aborted child. Would you have wanted your life to be cut, before you could even be born into this world? When I was inside my mother, No one could ask me if I valued my life. I wouldn't have a right to live. If you were aborted you would not have a chance to ask for your life. If abortion is murder, then can we let this continue? There are approximately one million abortions every year in the United States. Bibliography Work Cited Carton, Jean. Who Broke The Baby? Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1997 Alcorn, Randy. Pro Life Answers to Pro Choice Arguments. Portland Oregon: Multnomah Books, 1994 Crutcher, Mark. Lime 5. Denton, Texas: Life Dynamics, 1996

beyond freedom and dignity essays

beyond freedom and dignity essays In B. F. Skinners book, Beyond Freedom s point of view. That is, a point of view where man is viewed primarily as an animal, the "being" aspect of a "human being" is dropped from the picture. There is no consideration for a view of man who has mind that observes, chooses, decides and initiates action upon the environment. Basically, Skinner insinuated the idea that man has no personality, free will, responsibility, and that contemporary concepts of freedom and dignity can not be realistically applied to life experiences. I consider the question that if it is the natural stimuli that control the actions of humans, who controls the natural stimulus? Subsequently, if the natural stimuli are randomly occurring, that means that all things experienced by humans are at best, by chance or luck. I will first discuss parts of Skinners theories before I state my opinion on the validity of his work. Skinners entire system of experimentation was based on operant conditioning. While trying to comprehend Skinners explanation of operant conditioning, I visualized a person getting knocked around in a pin-ball machine. This person bouncing around in a pin-ball machine represents the idea of reaction, that is, to everything it would come into contact with. From Skinners point of view, those things a person would come in contact with are the stimulus, or the reinforcers. Specifically, the stimulus has the ability to increase the operant, or the behavior taking place right before the stimulus. Additionally, Skinner believed that the behaviors following the stimulus are consequences. Whether good or bad, those consequences have the ability to affect the tendency for a person to repeat the action. Skinner also discussed a different kind of stimulus, aversive stimulus, or something that is found uncomfortable and ...

Primitivism, Tradition, and Modernity in the Expressionist Art's Assignment - 1

Primitivism, Tradition, and Modernity in the Expressionist Art's Political Implications - Assignment Example Bloch also claimed that Lukacs simplified expression based on the movement theories rather than the expression art. According to Bloch, expression was not progressive but conservative. Judging from Nolde's art account, Bloch arguments were correct as art was not based on culture because over 300 artworks belonging to Noldes were removed from the museum (Lloyd 91). Nolde's defense of exotic art and permittivity was brought about by his efforts to renew Germany art. In his work, Noldes wanted to represent the tribal artifacts of different community’s tradition both western and nonwestern. Nolde's also created work of art which represented spiritual painting which served as spiritual counter images to modern urban change fragmentations and fractures. Primitive art had some values which he considered important and wanted German artists to emulate. The primitive art showed or served as the light to modern society. Individuals could see primitive art and focus on their current life in society.

Reflective Diary on Health-Issues Personal Statement

Reflective Diary on Health-Issues - Personal Statement Example Hopefully they can care for themselves until they are much older, but there needs to be places for them to go when they do need care. Having more and more elderly care facilities built would alleviate some of the problem for the society. America's aging population. The "baby-boom" generation is entering its peak health-care-using period. In fact, over eighty million Americans will turn 50 in the next 10 years. The cost of providing health care to them will be staggering. (Lowery and Heuer) Many elderly people fall ill and are being taken care of by family until the resources are drained. What if they do not have family and they are not found in time, it just is upsetting that there are not more places to house them. Personally, we all have known an elderly person or someone who comes down with an illness. We are all affected by health issues. It was sad to have my grandmother have to go in a home because she couldn't walk. The reason it was so sad was that she wanted to stay in her home and live there until she died, but she couldn't. She had to be in a home. It took long, hard work to find a home where my grandmother could stay, but I am grateful that they had room. Lots of other homes were filled. Without more homes there will not be enough places to take in these elderly people that so desperately need care. I hope they make more homes to care for them in the future so that everyone can find a place to stay when they are older. Another health issue that I think about is the rising cost of healthcare and the lack of companies wanting to provide healthcare to their workers. As the cost of healthcare rises, so do the needs of the many people that need to get care. The people that depend on medicines to stay healthy also need ways to get what they need. Without health insurance the expenses are so enormous that they may not even go to a doctor without it. There should be coverage provided for all workers so that just in case something happens to them, they can afford to go to the doctor without going bankrupt. More than 18,000 adults in the USA die each year because they are uninsured and can't get proper health care, researchers report in a landmark study released Tuesday. (Sternberg) Another health issue that concerns me is the care that is given to illegal aliens when they are in this country without being a citizen. Because the hospitals have to care for anyone whether they are or are not citizens, they are taxing the system. Where as I agree that people should not be turned away from being cared for, I also understand that some illegal aliens come to the United States to utilize the hospitals to get medical care. That is a problem and one that needs to be corrected in some way. Well, as I would love to have the answer to solve that problem I really have no way of solving it. Other health issues that concern me are the diseases that do not have cures yet. We need to find cures for them as soon as possible and every effort should be given to help find those cures. The incurable diseases are too many, we should by now have cures for a lot of them and it seems that research should be funded more so that these cures are found and relatively soon. We all should be concerned that there aren't cures found for some of them yet, because they have been

Business case and environment Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Business case and environment - Dissertation Example However, the HR related works are still scattered across the various departments in the organization. However, the CEO of the company has other bigger and better plans. (As the next section says the plans referred tot he expansion plans. Please have a look. ) The CEO wanted to expand the company. The expansion is supposed to happen both in case of product line as well distribution, as the top management plans to open two more retail shops in the country; one in Calgary and another one in Toronto. Therefore the organization needs manpower both in case of quality and quantity. So the organization is going through a transformation phase. However, it is to be added that the employees of the company has not yet been informed about the proposed idea of change. In order to achieve the organizational objective the management has hired some new experienced faces. One of them happens to be the HR manger. This section of the study would look to analyze the way the HR manager dealt with th e problems, solved them and effectively implemented the organizational change would be discussed. Data Collection The data collected happens to be secondary in nature. The main reason for such choice is the fact that the secondary data collection method is the best to gather quality and relevant data within a short period of time in a cost effective fashion. Also it is to be added that the secondary collected is primarily qualitative in nature. One of the main challenges faced by the HR manager was the integration of the HR department. As mentioned earlier the HR department had two staffs only looking after recruitment and operations. Also the HR works were scattered over the other departments. Therefore the HR manager realized that it is important have all the HR activities under one umbrella. Hence the HR manager decided to recruit some HR executives so that the HR functions can be integrated. Each of the HR executives was given responsibility to look after the HR issues related t o issues of each department. Each of the executives will act as a touch point to the departmental heads. Each of the executives would be reporting to the HR manger. In this way the manger would be able to be in touch with the different departmental heads and also the HR department would become integrated in nature. The next area of focus for the HR manger was the employee morale and productivity. After analyzing the past employee records the manger found out that the average age of employees in the organization is six to eight months. This needs to be changed if the organization plans to achieve growth. Therefore the manager asked the HR executives to carry out an organizational research to find out the key pressure points. Based on the findings of the survey the manager found out that there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the reporting relationships and job security in the organization. Also many of the employees were not properly sure about the job description. Add to that the m anger also found out that since the HR organizational did not have a fully operational HR department activities such as the performance appraisal, salary increments were quite fragmented in nature. Therefore the manger decided to create Key result areas (KRA) and job descriptions for each of the designations. This would most certainly help the employees understand the roles in the organization. The employees can understand what is expected of them

The History Of The Republican Party Politics Essay

The History Of The Republican Party Politics Essay The political parties that are present in our current governmental institution are made up of the Republican Party the Democratic Party. Each party is passionate in their own beliefs and ideologies, while these beliefs clearly define one party from the other. Regardless of your political affiliation these parties are the basis of how our government is run and how laws are created and passed. The Republican Party was created in the 1850s by the common typical United States citizens. During a time where slavery was dominating American culture and lifestyles this party took a stand against slavery. One of the main principles this party was founded on was the belief in free soil, free labor, free speech, and free men. Many of these founders were people who opposed slavery and everything to do with slavery. One of the most known American presidents and the president known for abolishing slavery was Abraham Lincoln who was in fact a Republican. Elected in 1860 Lincoln abolishes slavery and cements the Republicans ideas, virtues and beliefs into American history while becoming the first Republican President. Another name associated with the Republican Party is the GOP, or Grand Old Party, or what was once used was the gallant old party. The Republicans use a symbol that is commonly seen during elections and other political functions, which is an elephant. The elephant was created in 1874 by the cartoonist Thomas Nast in a political cartoon. The elephant obviously has stuck with the party ever since. The Republican Party played a major role in the abolition of slavery, womens suffrage, and overall equality for all American citizens while maintaining that individuals, not government can make the best decisions, and also the belief in small government and less government influence. Republicans are looked upon as being Conservatives and reside on the right side of the political spectrum or continuum. The main beliefs and views of the Republican Party is a belief in a free market economy, low taxes upon all citizens, the party is opposed to same sex marriages, as well as being against openly gay, lesbian or bisexuals from serving in the military. The Republican Party is adamantly against abortion, they support the death penalty and tougher penalties to be enforced upon criminals, and they are also in favor the Patriot Act and other such laws that allow for more invasion of privacy. The Republican Party is strongly against any type of government run healthcare system and any type of strong or overwhelming amount of government control or inclusion in the lives of American citizens. The Democratic Party is the other strong party in our current political system. It is also regarded as the oldest existing political party in the United States, and also one of the oldest in the world. The Democratic Party which was founded in 1792 by Thomas Jefferson was originally created as a way for citizens to fight against the Federalist Party as well as to fight for the Bill of Rights. In 1800, the Democratic Party nominated and eventually elected Thomas Jefferson for President. He then served as the first Democratic President. Following Jefferson the next few Presidential elections were won by Democrats who helped build and strengthen the United States military, and take America through the War of 1812 victoriously. The party was founded on the principle beliefs of states rights and belief in the constitution and abiding by it. Todays Democrats are looked upon to be liberals and are found on the left side of the political spectrum. The main beliefs and views that the Democrat ic Party hold in high regards are the creation of a healthcare system funded by the government that insures all citizens, they are in support of gay and lesbian citizens including their rights to marry and serve openly in the military. They also do not believe there should be any sort of ban that stops gay or lesbian couples from becoming married. The Democratic Party has strong feelings regarding the environment and the effects that we have upon it. The symbol that is commonly used as a representation of the Democratic Party is the donkey. Also illustrated in Thomas Nasts political cartoon in 1874, the donkey has stuck with the party ever since. Although it is not official the Democrats are also represented by the color blue. In the 2000 Presidential race between George W. Bush and Al Gore, the map used to depict which state was won by what candidate shown blue for the Democrats and red for the Republicans. The Democratic Party has been filled with numerous influential and world changing presidents; however the current President Barack Obama has broken down the wall for minorities and will allow for even greater change in both political parties from small local governments to our national government. The two political party groups can differ vary greatly on certain issues and topics that concern the American people but can also be in agreement on many issues.   The Republican Party for instance believes in regards to National Security that we need a strong, versatile, and adaptive military.   One that is capable of defending the United States against new and unknown threats, as well as keeping pace with the nuclear arms race.   Also a National Security that will defend against terrorists on United States soil as well as foreign soil.   Republicans believe we need a strong, growing and well prepared military to defend the nation at a moments notice.   The Democratic Partys stand on National Security is much the same.   They are aware of the potential threats that are out there for American citizens and the world.   From terrorists in Iraq, Iran, or other foreign countries to terrorists that are currently located near or in the United States, they realize that the mil itary is a needed force to keep all U.S. citizens safe. But the Democratic Party does lean to the side of a small military force and more peace among all nations in the world.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another topic that brings about much discussion between the two political parties is the issue regarding energy and alternative fuels.   The use and advancements in nuclear power, cleaner coal practices, wind power, solar power, and hydropower are just a few of the energy uses that the Republican Party advocates for and promotes more spending research to go towards.   Much like the Republican Party the Democratic Party sees great importance in becoming more energy efficient and independent in the future.   They see the benefit of safer and more environmentally friendly fuels and are advocates to more research and development in this area.   Both parties see the potential for millions of jobs to be created from the advancement in alternative fuels and the progressing industry for our independent energy sources.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However even though many policies and issues both political parties feel in agreement upon there are some issues that the parties are in disagreement over.   One such policy includes the everlasting debate over Healthcare Reform.   The Republicans are adamant about a Healthcare Reform that will benefit people today and in the future, however they are not willing to put billions of taxpayers dollars out to pay for it.   The Republican Party believes that healthcare should not be a government run or heavily influenced entity.   They believe in changes to our current healthcare system that would lower costs for all citizens, making healthcare more affordable and obtainable to the millions of uninsured Americans.   The Republican Party also believes in creating new laws that would help end the tremendous amount of lawsuits being filed against doctors which currently is a major cause for the rising costs of healthcare among patients.   The Democratic Party stance on healthcare is for a total reform.   Ã‚  The Democratic Party believes in a Healthcare system ran and funded by the government that would give healthcare to all American citizens.   Their belief in a healthcare system for all would help promote wellbeing and prevention of future diseases, disorders and health issues, one that would help lessen the gap between what healthcare covers and what it doesnt, as well as promote competition, new technologies, and choice among American citizens and the healthcare field. Other disparities among the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are their beliefs on abortion.   The Republican Party is completely against abortion and is more prolife, while the Democratic Party is in favor of allowing abortion and being more prochoice.   Another policy issue between the two parties is the debate over minimum wage.   Many Democrats are in favor of a higher minimum wage, while Republicans are against a higher minimum wage citing higher costs lead to higher prices for goods and services and higher unemployment.   One major difference between the two political parties that is one of the most evident is their stance on taxes.   The Republican Party which in some instances is more business oriented favors lower taxes for all citizens.   They also in favor of giving tax cuts more often than the Democratic Party does.   The Democratic Party stance on taxes is that they arent a bad thing, and quite often will raise taxes on the American citizens.   Th eir belief in doing so is that the tax money will go to fund different government run assistance groups such as welfare, or any other type of assistance program for people in need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many differences and similarities between the Republican and Democratic Party.   In class we were educated about the Reactional Actor Strategy where on the continuum there are very few people in the parties on the extreme end, most are near the middle.   This is true for both political parties because they do have their differences, however they are so alike.   Their main goal is to better the American people, but they have their own plan for doing so.   This plan can be different for each political party but it is still a plan to benefit us as citizens.   Each party is striving to reach the middle on the bell curve presented to us.   By doing so they are incorporating ideas and views from the other political party whether they are aware of it or not.   They are attempting to reach the middle area to obtain the most votes.   I believe the parties are more alike they what people say or think they are.   Th ere are some major differences between the parties that make them distinguishable from one another but they all in one way believe in a new Healthcare system, they believe in a National Defense, they believe in educating our younger generations, and they all do believe in becoming more environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, and energy independent.   They are two separate parties, separated by different ideas and beliefs about policies and issues within the U.S. however they are not separated by that much and have more in common with each other then they lead us as American citizens to believe.

Distinguished organization Essay

I have just received your letter awarding me the prestigious Harrison Bankers Club scholarship for this year. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of achievement and happiness, but I must confess, my feeling of deep gratitude for you took better of me. It was the bright Monday morning when I was seriously pondering over my future plans while skimming through the pages of Business Times. Suddenly my eyes were arrested by an advertisement for grant of scholarships by your company. I immediately consulted my father who spoke very high of your organization. I sincerely acknowledge your efforts for taking time to process my application and the wonderful experience I had during the interview. I was impressed by the transparent, methodical and comprehensive procedure undertaken by you to identify the most deserving candidate. Your staff was courteous, friendly and cooperative. What touched me most was your inspiring conversation and intelligent questions you asked. The whole process was a rich learning experience to me. I feel honored and find myself short of words to express my grateful thoughts for your kind approval. Though few and far between, God has placed people like you to make the earth a beautiful place. Your decision will serve in a long way in promoting the cause of research work I have been always been interested in. It was my long cherished dream to contribute to the fast expanding study of biotechnology, but honestly speaking, the financials constraints held me back. Now I consider it my foremost priority to ensure by all means that my work adds further value to your distinguished organization. I again thank you for your favorable consideration and remain grateful ever for the scholarship to help me advance the studies.

The Chinese Fireworks Industry

THE CHINESE FIREWORKS INDUSTRY – REVISED Ruihua Jiang wrote this case under the supervision of Professor Paul W. Beamish solely to provide material for class discussion. The authors do not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. The authors may have disguised certain names and other identifying information to protect confidentiality. Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation prohibits any form of reproduction, storage or transmission without its written permission. Reproduction of this material is not covered under authorization by any reproduction rights organization.To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail [email  protected] uwo. ca. Copyright  © 2011, Richard Ivey School of Business Foundation Version: 2011-09-21 In February 2009, Jerry Yu was spending the Chinese New Year holidays in Liuyang (lee-ou-yang), a city known as â€Å"the home of firecrackers and fireworks,† located in Hunan Province in China.Jerry was an ABC (America-Born-Chinese). With an MBA, he was running a small family-owned chain of gift stores in Brooklyn, New York. Liuyang was his mother’s hometown. During his visit, his relatives invited him to invest in a fireworks factory that was owned by a village. Mr. Yu had been impressed by the extravagant fireworks shows he had seen during the festival; however, he wanted to assess how attractive the Chinese fireworks industry was before he even looked at the financial details of the factory. HISTORY OF FIREWORKS AND FIRECRACKERSFireworks referred to any devices designed to produce visual or audible effects through combustion or explosion. The art of making fireworks was formally known as pyrotechnics. Firecrackers were a specific kind of fireworks, usually in the form of a noisemaking cylinder. Firecrackers were often strung together and fused consecutively, a staple of Chinese New Year celebrations, weddings, grand openings, births, deaths and other ceremonial occasions. The main ingredients of fireworks had remained almost the same over the past thousand years: 75 parts-byweight potassium nitrate, 15 parts charcoal and 0 parts sulfur. It burned briskly when lighted, but did not erupt or make any noise. When it was found that a projectile could be thrust out of a barrel by keeping the powder at one end and igniting it, black powder became known as gunpowder. Today, smokeless powder has replaced black powder as the propellant in modern weaponry, but black powder remains a main ingredient in fireworks, both as a propellant and as a bursting charge. It was generally believed that the Chinese were the first makers of fireworks.The Chinese made war rockets and explosives as early as the sixth century. One legend said that a Chinese cook, while toili ng in a field kitchen, happened to mix together sulfur, charcoal and saltpetre, and noticed that the pile burned with a combustible force when ignited. He further discovered that when these ingredients were enclosed in a length of bamboo sealed at both ends, it would explode rather than burn, producing a loud crack. This was the origin of firecrackers. In fact, the Chinese word for firecrackers — bao-zhu — literally means â€Å"exploded bamboo. † Page 2 9B11M006The loud reports and burning fires of firecrackers and fireworks were found to be perfect for frightening off evil spirits and celebrating good news at various occasions. For more than a thousand years, the Chinese had been seeing off past years and welcoming in new ones by firing firecrackers. Fireworks made their way first to Arabia in the seventh century, then to Europe sometime in the middle of the 13th century. By the 15th century, fireworks were widely used for religious festivals and public enterta inment. Most of the early pyrotechnicians in Europe were Italians.Even today, the best-known names in the European and American fireworks industry were Italian in origin. From the 16th to the 18th century, Italy and Germany were the two best known areas in the European continent for fireworks displays. In 1777, the United States used fireworks in its first Independence Day celebration, and fireworks have become closely associated with July Fourth celebrations ever since. Up until the 1830s, the colors of the early fireworks were limited, but by 2009, there were six basic colors used in fireworks.LIUYANG — THE HOMETOWN OF FIRECRACKERS AND FIREWORKS According to historical records in China, firecrackers and fireworks â€Å"emerged during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), flourished during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), and originated in Liuyang. † For more than 1,000 years, Liuyang had been known as the â€Å"hometown of firecrackers and fireworks of China,† a title that was officially conferred to Liuyang by the State Council of China in 1995. As early as 1723, Liuyang fireworks were chosen as official tributes to the imperial family and were sold all over the country.Exports started early: by 1875, firecrackers and fireworks were being shipped to Japan, Korea, India, Iran, Russia, Australia, England, the U. S. , and other countries. In China, the name Liuyang had become almost synonymous with firecrackers and fireworks. Liuyang-made firecrackers and fireworks won numerous awards over its long history of fireworks making. The long history and tradition had made fireworks more than just a livelihood for the Liuyang people. Almost every native person in the area knew something about fireworks making, or had actually made firecrackers or fireworks in their lifetime.As a result, Liuyang claimed an impressive pool of skilled labor. Firecrackers and fireworks had become the pillar industry of Liuyang, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of all jobs o r about one-third of the total population in the Liuyang District (including Liuyang City and the surrounding counties). In 2008, Liuyang claimed 2,702 fireworks manufacturers with an additional 2,144 in the surrounding area. In total, there were 6,458 fireworks producers in China. While there has been some trend towards consolidation in the industry, most factories were still owned either by villages or families.Among them, about a dozen or so were medium to large factories with employment between 100 to 500 workers. The rest were small workshops employing anywhere from 10 to 50 people, depending on market demand. Liuyang was the top fireworks exporter in the world, making up 60 per cent of global production. The trademarked brand â€Å"Red Lantern† had become well known to fireworks-lovers around the world. China now accounted for 89 per cent of worldwide fireworks exports with the vast majority of that coming from Liuyang.In addition, over the past ten years, China had bec ome the largest market for fireworks. The ratio of domestic use to exports was 6:4, and Chinese imports of fireworks were negligible. Page 3 9B11M006 The increase in demand in the Chinese market had only intensified the competition. All new demand was more than met by the Chinese fireworks industry. Thus, instead of seeing increased margins, the profit margins for many small manufacturers had shrunk over the past decade. In order to make up the difference, manufacturers were cutting corners.However, some of these cost cutting efforts came at the expense of safety. A 2007 factory explosion that left 11 workers dead was blamed primarily on decreased safety standards, which were blamed on a lack of money due to cut throat competition. In response, the government and company officials from Luiyang and surrounding areas agreed to regulate the price of fireworks with the hope of increasing profit margins. With higher profit margins, company officials vowed to increase workers safety. The Product Fireworks could be classified into two categories: display fireworks and consumer fireworks.The display fireworks, such as aerial shells, maroons, and large Roman candles, were meant for professional (usually licensed) pyrotechnicians to fire during large public display shows. They were devices that were designed to produce certain visual or audio effect at a greater height above the ground than the consumer fireworks, which the general public could purchase in convenience stores and enjoy in their own backyards. Display fireworks were known as Explosives 1. 3 (Class B prior to 1991) in the U. S. The consumer fireworks belonged to Explosives 1. 4 (Class C prior to 1991).The difference lay mainly in the amount of explosive components contained in the product. Canada had a similar classification system. In the U. K. , it was more carefully divided into four categories: indoor fireworks; garden fireworks; display fireworks; and display fireworks for professionals only. There we re many varieties of fireworks. Liuyang made 13 different types with more than 3,000 varieties. The major types included fountains, rockets, hand-held novelties, nail and hanging wheels, groundspinning novelties, jumping novelties, floral shells, parachutes and firecrackers.Historically, firecrackers made up 90 per cent of the total production and sales. Over the past 50 years or so, however, there had been a shift away from firecrackers to fireworks. In 2009, firecrackers made up less than 20 per cent of the total sales. The skill levels of fireworks-making had been greatly improved. For instance, the old-day fireworks could reach no more than 20 metres into the sky, while the new ones could go as high as 400 metres. Not much had changed in fireworks-making. Over the last few decades, numerous novelties were added to the fireworks family.However, innovation had never reached beyond product variations. The ingredients had remained more or less the same. The process technology had no t changed much either, although some manual processes, such as cutting the paper, rolling the cylinders, mixing powder, and stringing the cylinders could now be done by machines. Safety Issues The fact that fireworks were made with gunpowder and listed under explosives brought about the issue of safety. Numerous accidents related with fireworks had resulted in tragic human injuries and considerable property damages.As a result, fireworks had become heavily regulated in most countries. Page 4 9B11M006 According to the manufacturers, fireworks were the most dangerous during the production process. Powder mixing and powder filling, in turn, were the two most dangerous procedures. The workers had to abide by strict safety measures. Even a tiny spark caused by the dropping of a tool on the floor or the dragging of a chair could start a major explosion. The quality of the ingredients was also of significant importance. Impure ingredients could greatly increase the possibility of accidents .In Liuyang, almost every year, there would be one or more accidents that resulted in deaths and damages. With an ever increasing number of firms entering the industry, safety was an ongoing concern. Once the fireworks were made, they were relatively safe to transport and store. Even in firing, good quality fireworks rarely caused any problems if everything was done properly. Most of the fireworks-related accidents occurred during private parties or street displays, and quite often involved children playing with fireworks that needed to be handled by adults, or adults firing shells that required professional expertise.Most accidents were linked to consumer backyard events rather than to public displays. According to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission’s (CPSC) data, injuries related to fireworks had declined substantially, even though their use had increased (see Exhibit 2). For 2009, there were an estimated 5,244 fireworks-related injuries, 30 per cent of w hich were caused by firecrackers and bottle rockets. Of all the injuries related to firecrackers and fireworks, most were treated in the emergency department. Eight per cent of patients had to be admitted to hospital, and 7 people died due to sustained injuries.Children from ages five to 14 were the most frequently involved in fireworks-related injuries. However, fireworks were not the only consumer product that might cause injuries to this age group. According to a 2008 CPSC Injury Surveillance Report, fireworks were actually safer than swing sets and baseballs. However, fireworks-related injuries were usually the most dramatic and the most widely publicized accidents, which partly explained the fact that fireworks was the only category among the products listed in Exhibit 3, for which prohibition, instead of education and adult supervision, was often urged.In the United States, multiple government agencies were involved in regulating fireworks. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Fi rearms (BATF) controlled the manufacture, storage, sales and distribution of explosives, i. e. , Class B fireworks. The CPSC regulated Class C consumer fireworks, and the Department of Transportation dealt with the transportation of fireworks. Although at the federal level, fireworks and firecrackers were allowed as long as the safety features were up to the standard, local governments would have their own different regulations regarding fireworks consumption.Out of the 50 states, one would allow only novelty fireworks, 5 had banned all consumer fireworks but allowed professional pyrotechnics, and 4 allowed customers only wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelty items. However, the remaining 40 would allow essentially all consumer fireworks. For display fireworks, permits would have to be obtained from federal and local authorities and fire departments. All legal consumer fireworks offered for sale in the United States had been tested for stability by the Bureau of Explosives and approved for transportation by the U. S. Department of Transportation.Because of the limited amount of pyrotechnic composition permitted in each individual unit, consumer fireworks would not ignite spontaneously during storage, nor would they mass-explode during a fire. Therefore, no special storage was required. In most of Europe, similar regulations were in place for safety considerations, only the requirements were regarded as less stringent. In Canada, however, regulations were extremely restrictive. However, over the past decade Chinese fireworks companies had made great strides in the Canadian market. In 1999, there Page 5 9B11M006 were no Chinese companies allowed to sell fireworks in Canada.By 2009, over 75% of all fireworks imports to Canada were from China. THE FIRECRACKERS AND FIREWORKS INDUSTRY IN CHINA The firecrackers and fireworks industry in China was dominated by small family-owned-and-operated workshops. It was essentially a low-tech, highly labor-intensive ind ustry. After 1949, government-run factories replaced the family-owned workshops. The increased scale and government funds made possible the automation of some processes. However, the key processes like installing powder, mixing color ingredients, and putting in fuses, were still manually done by skilled workers.The factories themselves were made up of small workshops that stood away from each other, so that in case of an accident the whole factory would not explode. For the same safety consideration, the workshops were usually located near a water source and in sparsely populated rural areas, to reduce the noise and explosion hazard. After the reform towards a market economy started in 1979, most of the factories were broken up and became family-run units of production again. It was hoped that this privatization might help to motivate people to increase their productivity and raise output.However, this move also served to restrict further technological innovations. There were hardly any research and development (R&D) facilities, nor human and capital resources allocated to R&D in most fireworks companies. The few resources that were available were all spent on product varieties. Even in Liuyang, out of the 400,000 or so people working in the industry, very few were engineers with advanced professional training. In response, the Hunan and other local governments began initiatives aimed at upgrading the traditional fireworks industry. Substantial amounts of money were spent on R&D.The Liuyang Firecrackers and Fireworks Authority reported that they had spent RMB 2,000 million in projects with the Beijing University of Technology and the Nanjing University of Science. Among these initiatives were environmentally friendly fireworks, which used cold flame fireworks technology. The majority of the manufacturing workers were regular farmers who had learned how to make fireworks just by watching and following their elders. They would come to work in fireworks workshops when there were jobs to be done, and return to till their fields if there were none. In Liuyang, for instance, few factories operated year-round.Most workshops would operate as orders came in. Since the fireworksmaking communities were very concentrated geographically and had lasted for generations, only a few places (like Liuyang) could claim a large pool of skilled fireworks-makers. Although Liuyang was by far the most well-known place for making fireworks in China, it faced increasing competition within the country. Also located in Hunan Province, Liling was another major manufacturing community of fireworks. Liling fireworks did not enjoy the same reputation and variety as Liuyang products, but they were fierce in price competition.In the neighboring Jiangxi Province, Pingxiang and Wanzai fireworks had become strong competitors both in price and quality, especially on the low- and medium-priced market. In the high-end product market, especially in large-type display fireworks a nd export market, Dongguan in Guangdong Province, had taken advantage of its closeness to Hong Kong and more sophisticated management and marketing practices, and snatched market share from Liuyang. By 2009, however, more than one third of all firms and 60 per cent of Chinese production remained in Luiyang.Page 6 9B11M006 The initial capital requirement for starting a fireworks-manufacturing facility was relatively low. To set up a factory with the necessary equipment for making large display shells would require around RMB1,250,000. 1 However, setting up a small family workshop making consumer firecrackers and fireworks would require less than RMB125,000. Consequently, the number of small manufacturers mushroomed after the government started to encourage private business ventures. While labor costs in the area were still low, they were steadily increasing.As a result of Chinese economic growth, wages had almost doubled over the past 5 years. This was in part because many workers we re moving into less dangerous occupations. Skilled workers engaged in major processes would earn an average of RMB1,200 to RMB1,800 per month. A non-skilled worker would be paid only RMB500 to RMB700 every month. In larger factories, labor costs were between 20 and 30 per cent of total costs. The main raw materials for fireworks were gunpowder, color ingredients, paper, fuse and clay soil. None would be difficult to procure.However, because of the growth in the Chinese domestic fireworks market, costs of raw materials were steadily rising. Another possible problem in supply was quality. Major manufacturers would usually establish long-term relationships with their suppliers to guarantee the quality of the materials. The small workshops would often go with the lowest prices, sometimes at the cost of quality, which could lead to fatal results. The number of small companies intensified competition. The private workshops were flexible and quick in responding to market demand. They did n ot entail much administrative cost.Compared to governmentowned or some collectively-owned factories, they did incur the costs of providing health care, retirement benefits and housing. They usually did not do any product research or design. Oblivious to intellectual property protection, they would copy any popular product design and sell it for much less. The resulting price drop had become a serious problem for the whole industry. As the profit margin kept shrinking, some workshops would hire cheap unskilled workers, and use cheap equipment and raw materials to cut down on cost. The results could be disastrous. THE DOMESTIC MARKETFirecrackers and fireworks had long been an integral part of any ceremonies held in China. Until recently, demand had been stable, but had risen in the past three decades because of increased economic development and living standards. Economically, market reform and unprecedented growth had given rise to the daily appearance of multitudes of new companies and new stores. As people’s income level and living standards kept rising, fancier and pricier fireworks and firecrackers were desired over the cheap simple firecrackers, thereby creating more profit opportunities for fireworks manufacturers.Almost every household would spend at least a couple of hundred RMB on firecrackers and fireworks during the Spring Festival. However, during the 1990s, increased concerns over environmental pollution and safety of human life and property led more and more cities to regulate the consumption of fireworks and firecrackers. Every year, high profile fireworks-related accidents were reported and emphasized on mass media before and after the traditional Spring Festival. Some articles even condemned firecrackers and fireworks as an old, uncivilized convention that created only noise, pollution and accidents.In a wave of regulations, city after city passed administrative laws regarding the use of fireworks. By 1998, one-third of the cities in Chi na had completely banned the use of firecrackers and fireworks. Another one-third only allowed fireworks in designated places. This led to a decline in domestic market demand. 1 In 2009, the exchange rate was around 6. 60 yuan per US$1. 00. Page 7 9B11M006 However, all this began to change in the mid 2000s. Demand began to soar when Beijing lifted a 12-year ban on fireworks in 2005. Other cities followed suit.In 2005, 106 cities eased restrictions on fireworks; in 2006 another 54 cities eased restrictions. This was followed by 40 cities in 2007 and another 79 cities in 2009. All this lead to an explosion in the Chinese domestic fireworks market. In the meantime, domestic competition grew intensely. The reform towards a market economy made it possible for numerous family-run workshops to appear. They competed mainly on price. Almost every province had some fireworks-making workshops or factories, many set up and run with the help of skilled workers who had migrated from Liuyang.These small establishments usually were located in rural, underdeveloped areas where labor cost was low. The manufacturing was done manually, sometimes without safety measures, using cheap raw materials and simplified techniques. The products were sold locally at low prices, making it difficult for Liuyang fireworks to sell in those areas. To make things worse, these products would often copy any new or popular product designs coming out of Liuyang or other traditional fireworks communities, even using their very brand names. In the past, fireworks were sold through the government-run general merchandise companies.Eventually, private dealers took over a large part of the business. Overall, the distribution system was rather fragmented. The old government-run channels were not very effective, especially for general merchandise. In the new distribution channels, wholesale dealers would get shipments directly from the manufacturers, and then resell to street peddlers and convenience stores. In the countryside, wholesale markets would appear in focal townships, with wholesale dealers and agents of the manufacturers setting up booths promoting their products.Small peddlers in the surrounding areas would get supplies from the market and then sell them in small towns or villages. The wholesale markets in China were important outlets for distributing general merchandise like fireworks. In the display fireworks market, the buyers were often central and local governments, who would purchase the product for public shows on national holidays or special celebrations. Obviously, a local company would have advantages in supplying to local government in its area. Large fireworks shows usually would use invited bidding to decide on suppliers.The amount of fireworks used could range from RMB100,000 to several million yuan, depending on the scale of a fireworks show. Account receivables and bad debt control was a problem not just for fireworks manufacturers, but for all businesses in China. Bad debts and lack of respect for business contracts had created a credit crisis in China. The bad debt problem greatly increased transaction costs, slowed down the cash turnover, and had become a headache for fireworks manufacturers. Some had chosen to withdraw from selling in the domestic market, although the profit margin was higher than in the export market.Legal restrictions, local protectionism, cutthroat price competition, hard-to-penetrate distribution channels and bad debt were impacting negatively on the domestic sales of Liuyang fireworks. In 1997, seeing the decline of its fireworks sales, Liuyang Firecrackers and Fireworks Industry Department, the government agency in charge of the overall development of the pillar industry, decided to start an offensive strategy. First, it opened local offices in most of the 29 provinces, major cities and regions to promote Liuyang fireworks.Second, it regulated the prices that Liuyang fireworks companies could quote and sell i n export sales. Third, it resorted to a government-to-government relationship in order to secure contracts for large public fireworks displays in each province. One year after introducing the offensive strategy, Liuyang fireworks sales had increased. By 2009, they controlled an estimated 60 per cent of the global market. Page 8 9B11M006 Over the next ten years, many legal restrictions were lifted. One of the most notable legal restrictions to be eased was foreign direct investment.With huge growth in both the Chinese domestic market and with China nearing a virtual lock on export market, the Chinese Fireworks industry had become a magnet for foreign investors. Liuyang remained the center of the Chinese fireworks industry and an attractive region for foreigners and foreign firms looking at controlling the entire fireworks value chain. THE EXPORT MARKET Since the opening of the Chinese economy in 1979, exporting had become a major market for the Chinese fireworks industry. As one of t he most celebrated products out of China, export sales of fireworks had risen dramatically between 1978 and 2009.According to independent research, the recorded exports of firecrackers and fireworks reached US$675 million in 2009. This was up from an estimated US$143 million in 1994. The products from China were rich in variety and low in price, but also had a lower reputation in quality control, packaging and timing control, compared to the products made in Japan and Korea. China-made fireworks also would wholesale for much lower prices, usually 80 per cent lower than similar products made in Japan or Korea. There had been little overall co-ordination of export sales.As more and more companies were allowed to export directly, competition kept intensifying and the profit margins on export sales kept slipping. As a result, underpricing each other became a common practice. Therefore, despite its dominant share of the world market, the Chinese fireworks export industry enjoyed limited profitability. The export price of Chinese fireworks was between one-fifth and one-third the wholesale price in the United States. The importers enjoyed a high markup even after paying the 2. 4 per cent U. S. import duty.Of course, the importers had to absorb the cost of getting permits, shipping, storing and carrying the inventory for three to four months before making the sales. This gap pushed both domestic and foreign companies to find ways to control more of the value chain from production to retail. Besides suffering from low profit margin, the Chinese fireworks makers were also risking losing their brand identities. Given the low cost and reasonably good quality of the Chinese fireworks, many large fireworks manufacturers and dealers in the West started to outsource the making of their brand-name fireworks.Failing to see the importance of brand equity, the Chinese fireworks manufacturers were sometimes reduced to mere manufacturing outfits for foreign companies, gradually los ing their own brands. There were also fireworks merchants in Korea, Japan or Spain, who would buy the products from China, and then repackage them, or replace the fuses with better quality ones, then resell them for much higher prices. The export market was usually divided into five blocks: Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, South America and the rest of the world.The most popular market had been Europe, where the regulations on fireworks were less stringent, and orders were of larger quantities and better prices. The United States was considered a tough market because of complex regulations and high competition, nevertheless a necessary one if a company wanted to remain a viable world-player. While in the past, the Canadian market was virtually closed to the Chinese fireworks due to its regulations, by 2009 Chinese imports dominated the entire Canadian market. Page 9 9B11M006 The foreign importers were powerful buyers for several reasons.First, they were very well informed, bot h through past dealings with China and the Internet. Second, they were able to hire agents who were very familiar with the industry in China. Third, they could deal directly with the factories that were willing to offer lower prices. Fourth, there were basically no switching costs, so they could play the suppliers against each other. The diversity of the cultures in the destination countries greatly reduced the seasonality of the fireworks production and sales. As a result, orders evened out throughout the year. However, the peak season was still towards the end of the year.For the U. S. , it was before July 4. Usually, the importers would receive the shipment two or three months beforehand. While the U. S. was still China’s major export market for fireworks, other countries were also importing large quantities of Chinese made fireworks (see Exhibit 4). The Internet had become a marketing outlet for Chinese fireworks. 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the worldwide sales were thr ough the Internet. However, export sales were still made mainly through foreign trade companies or agents. In recent years, foreign investments were also funneled into the fireworks industry.In Liuyang, four of the large fireworks factories had foreign investments, made mainly by the fireworks trading companies in Hong Kong. In 2009, the Liuyang Fireworks Company was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE), a first for a Chinese fireworks manufacturer. The Future of the Fireworks Industry in China The managers of the Chinese fireworks companies that Jerry talked to expressed mixed feelings towards the future outlook of their industry. One pessimistic view was that fierce competition and more stringent safety regulations were killing the industry.As the Chinese economy advanced, the government was forcing more manufacturing regulations onto firms that were driving up costs. Moreover, as people became more environmentally-conscious and more distracted by the endless diversities of modern entertainment, traditional celebrations using firecrackers and fireworks would die a gradual death. As to the function of attracting public attention for promotional purposes, fireworks also faced challenges from new technologies, such as laser beams combined with sound effects. In fact, â€Å"make-believe firecrackers† already appeared as substitutes in China.These were made of red plastic tubes strung together like firecrackers with electric bulbs installed inside the tubes. When the power was turned on, the lights would emit sparks, accompanied by crackling reports that sounded like firecrackers. These were being used at weddings and grand openings in cities where firecrackers and fireworks were banned. More interesting substitutes were spotted at some weddings in Beijing, where people paved the road with little red balloons, and made the limousine carrying the bride and groom run over the balloons to make explosive cracking sounds as well as leave behind red bits a nd pieces of debris.Also, more and more young couples were getting married in western styles, in a church or a scenic green meadow outdoors, where serene and quiet happiness prevailed over the traditional noisy way of celebrating. Therefore, some managers believed that firecrackers and fireworks were doomed to fade off into history. The more optimistic view, however, was that the industry would not die at all. If the right moves were made by the industry, it could even grow. Some said that tradition would not die so easily. It was in their national character for the Chinese to celebrate with an atmosphere of noisy happiness.Moreover, even in the West, the popularity of fireworks was not suffering from all the regulations. No real substitutes could Page 10 9B11M006 replace fireworks, which combined the sensual pleasures of visual, audio and emotional stimuli. For instance, the U. S. Congressional resolution in 1963 to use bells to replace fireworks in celebrating Independence Day nev er really caught on. Fireworks were also being combined with modern technologies like laser beams, computerized firing and musical accompaniment to make the appeal of fireworks more irresistible.The safety problem was not really as serious as people were made to believe, and would only improve with new technological innovations like smokeless fireworks. With the success of the fireworks displays at the Beijing Olympics, China’s brand as a world class fireworks producer was on the rise. With better management practices, perhaps margins could be increased. However, both sides agreed that the Chinese fireworks industry would have to change its strategy, especially in international competition, to stay a viable and profitable player. THE DECISIONWhile the Liuyang fireworks industry dominated the worldwide industry, Jerry had to decide whether he should invest in the industry. If he did invest, what was the best way to capitalize on the potential that remained unexploited in this industry? He wondered whether he could apply the industry analysis framework he had studied in his MBA program. Page 11 9B11M006 Exhibit 1 CHINA & LIUYANG FIRECRACKERS AND FIREWORKS: TOTAL REVENUE (US$000) 2007 2009 Total Revenue Domestic (estimated) All China 742,395 1,009,757 Liuyang 450,000 757,500 Total Revenue ExportsAll China 494,930 673,171 Liuyang 300,000 505,000 Total Revenue (estimated) All China 1,237,325 1,682,928 Liuyang 750,000 1,262,500 Sources: International Fireworks Association; ICON Group Ltd â€Å"The World Market for Fireworks: A 2009 Global Trade Perspective Notes: 1. Domestic Revenue estimate based on a 6:4 domestic to export ratio as reported by http://www. articlesbase. com. 2. Alternative sources put the Chinese domestic market much higher. 3. 2009 data and 2007 data are from different sources. Caution should be used when making comparisons.Growth rates of 15 to 18 per cent per year have been reported by other news sources (especially: http://www. newsreel network. com) Page 12 9B11M006 Exhibit 2 TOTAL FIREWORKS CONSUMPTION AND ESTIMATED FIREWORKS-RELATED INJURIES IN U. S. : 2000 TO 2008 Year Fireworks Consumption, Millions of Pounds Estimated Fireworks-Related Injuries Injuries per 100,000 Pounds 2000 152. 6 11,000 7. 2 2001 161. 6 9,500 5. 8 2002 190. 1 8,800 4. 6 2003 220. 8 9,700 4. 4 2004 236. 2 9,600 4. 1 2005 281. 5 10,800 3. 8 2006 278. 2 9,200 3. 3 2007 265. 5 9,800 3. 7 2008 213. 7,000 3. 3 Source: American Pyrotechnics Association. Exhibit 3 ESTIMATED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT PER 100,000 YOUTHS (AGES 5 TO 14) FROM OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES (JUNE 22 TO JULY 22, 2008) Source: American Pyrotechnics Association As cited from the CPSC National Injury Information Clearinghouse 5,244 13,501 14,258 6,349 21,040 15,268 18,365 21,032 68,553 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 Fireworks Skateboards Fishing Swing Sets Swimming 4 wheel ATVs Sof tball Baseball Bicycles Page 13 9B11M006 Exhibit 4 FIREWORKS EXPORTS FROM CHIN A, 2009Country of Destination Rank Value (000 US$) % Share Cumulative % United States 1 301,500 44. 8 44. 8 Germany 2 83,553 12. 4 57. 2 United Kingdom 3 33,645 5. 0 62. 2 The Netherlands 4 32,586 4. 8 67. 0 Japan 5 26,764 4. 0 71. 0 Russia 6 16,157 2. 4 73. 4 Italy 7 15,967 2. 4 75. 8 France 8 13,574 2. 0 77. 8 Spain 9 13,009 1. 9 79. 7 Denmark 10 9,935 1. 5 81. 2 Canada 11 9,817 1. 5 82. 7 Poland 12 9,580 1. 4 84. 1 Taiwan 13 8,130 1. 2 85. 3 Finland 14 6,002 0. 9 86. 2 South Africa 15 5,623 0. 8 87. 0 Austria 16 5,488 0. 8 87. 8 Ukraine 17 5,445 0. 88. 7 Sweden 18 4,868 0. 7 89. 4 Albania 19 4,835 0. 7 90. 1 Argentina 20 4,793 0. 7 90. 8 Turkey 21 4,592 0. 7 91. 5 Belgium 22 4,583 0. 7 92. 2 Norway 23 4,336 0. 6 92. 8 Czech Republic 24 4,312 0. 6 93. 5 Venezuela 25 4,257 0. 6 94. 1 New Zealand 26 4,024 0. 6 94. 7 Switzerland 27 3,316 0. 5 95. 2 South Korea 28 3,104 0. 5 95. 6 Thailand 29 2,720 0. 4 96. 0 Indonesia 30 1,925 0. 3 96. 3 Other 31 24,731 3. 7 100. 0 Total 673,171 100. 00 100. 00 Source: Professor Philip M. Parker, INSEAD, copyright  © 2009, www. icongrouponline. com

Word Choice Where, Were and Were - Proofeds Writing Tips

Word Choice Where, Were and Were - Proofeds Writing Tips Word Choice: Where, We’re and Were Although where, were and were each have completely different meanings, some people seem to think they are interchangeable. However, making this error in a piece of academic writing will look bad to your reader, especially if you make repeated errors throughout your paper. Such mistakes can even undermine the content of your argument, so it’s a good idea to get a handle on what each of these words mean and when you should use them. Where (Location) The word where means is used when identifying a geographical place, location or circumstance. For instance, it can be used to ask a question about the position of something, like Where is my book? Alternatively, it can be used to specify or describe the location of something, as in, I left my book in the library where I do my research. Here, for example, identifying the where in the sentence shows that we are referring to a specific library (the one where the speaker does her research). In a more abstract sense, where can also be used to suggest holding a particular position or point of view on something. For example, we might say This is where we stand on the issue. We’re (We Are) The word we’re is a contraction of the two words we and are. It would be used in a sentence like this: We’re going to the grocery store. Please note, however, that contractions like were are generally considered informal, so shouldnt normally be used in academic writing. Were The word were is related to the verb be used when discussing the past. To be specific, it is the second person singular past, plural past, and past subjunctive of be. This might seem confusing, but if we break down what it actually means it becomes easier to understand. The second person singular pronoun, for instance, is you, while the plural past tense includes we, you and they. In all of these cases, were is effectively the past tense of are: Present Tense Past Tense First Person (Singular) I am†¦ I was†¦ First Person (Plural) We are†¦ We were†¦ Second Person (Singular and Plural) You are†¦ You were†¦ Third Person (Singular) He/she is†¦ He/she was†¦ Third Person (Plural) They are†¦ They were†¦ Were is also correct when referring to a plural noun in the past tense. It would therefore be used in a past tense sentence like As we were walking in the garden, butterflies were dancing through the air. The other usage of were which is as the past subjunctive of be and something which people often get wrong. The past subjunctive is mainly used when referring to a counterfactual possibility (i.e., something which could be true but isnt). For example, we could say, Were I to use grammar correctly, my grades would improve. The mistake people make here is using was instead of were in statements that start with if regarding the future. For instance, while many would say: If I was to pass my exam, I would be very happy. This is technically wrong. The correct formulation would be: If I were to pass my exam, I would be very happy.

Free Essays on The Life Of Ee Cummings

like the title of a poem called,† The little horse newly†. The â€Å"Y† is a capital letter in his name. Edward was born in October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Edward’s father was also named Edward. Young Edward’s mother was named Rebecca. She loved to spend time with her children. She also taught Edward Jr. how to write poems. Edward’s sister was born in 1896 and her name was Elizabeth. Edward’s father was the first professor of Sociology at Harvard University He later became the minister of one of Boston’s most respected Unitarian Churches. He was the one who taught his son to use his hands as well as his mind. The way Edward Jr. used his hands was by painting abstract art. E.E. Cummings was a very smart boy who had many interest. Edward was 12 when he became a freshman in high school. Edward tried abstract art before he wrote poetry. He loved circuses, ballets, operas, ragtime piano bars, amusement parks and symphonies. He also loved the company of young women. Edward graduated from Harvard in 1916. E.E Cummings was in World War 1. He enlisted so that he would not be drafted and have to fight. In the military, he was sent to France where he drove an ambulance. He and his friends from Harvard were arrested because people thought they were spies. They were kept in one room where they slept, ate, talked and tried to deal with their fears and boredom. E.E. Cummings wrote his first book, published in 1922, called â€Å"The Enormous Room†, based on his war time experiences. Edward Estin Cummings was known for the way he wrote poems. He was a poet that made his own rules in poetry. He was a very famous poet. A poem I liked was â€Å"I sing of Olaf glad and big†. This poem shows personification. It gives an Olaf human qualities.... Free Essays on The Life Of Ee Cummings Free Essays on The Life Of Ee Cummings The Life of E.E. Cummings Edward Estlin Cummings is a well known poet for how he writes his poems He wrote poems with capital letters in the middle of words like the title of a poem called,† The little horse newly†. The â€Å"Y† is a capital letter in his name. Edward was born in October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Edward’s father was also named Edward. Young Edward’s mother was named Rebecca. She loved to spend time with her children. She also taught Edward Jr. how to write poems. Edward’s sister was born in 1896 and her name was Elizabeth. Edward’s father was the first professor of Sociology at Harvard University He later became the minister of one of Boston’s most respected Unitarian Churches. He was the one who taught his son to use his hands as well as his mind. The way Edward Jr. used his hands was by painting abstract art. E.E. Cummings was a very smart boy who had many interest. Edward was 12 when he became a freshman in high school. Edward tried abstract art before he wrote poetry. He loved circuses, ballets, operas, ragtime piano bars, amusement parks and symphonies. He also loved the company of young women. Edward graduated from Harvard in 1916. E.E Cummings was in World War 1. He enlisted so that he would not be drafted and have to fight. In the military, he was sent to France where he drove an ambulance. He and his friends from Harvard were arrested because people thought they were spies. They were kept in one room where they slept, ate, talked and tried to deal with their fears and boredom. E.E. Cummings wrote his first book, published in 1922, called â€Å"The Enormous Room†, based on his war time experiences. Edward Estin Cummings was known for the way he wrote poems. He was a poet that made his own rules in poetry. He was a very famous poet. A poem I liked was â€Å"I sing of Olaf glad and big†. This poem shows personification. It gives an Olaf human qualities....

Arthistory Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arthistory Paper - Essay Example Examples of oppositional dressing include punks, zoot suits and clothing that were made of skinheads. In most cases, they did arise where there was oppression and ill-treatment of the masses by the dominant groups. A practical case and instance is the zoot suits which was worn by the servicemen of African-American origin in protest to the white domination and racial discrimination. Similarly, people who lived in similar locality and geographical region had their social destiny bound together. Thus, in any case there was any change and shift from the popular culture, then people in same area moved together in that respect. For instance, when fabrics and puinks hit the ghettos, it was the in thing and every person who wanted to show solidarity with the masses blended with the culture. In retrospect, oppositional dressing relates to subculture in that, it was part of a behavioral or sectoral pattern of behavior within the large cultural spectrum. This is to say that the people who blended with the opposition dress shared similar culture, and the oppositional dress code that they adopted was just a part of the culture in terms of dressing. The term, notion and concept of dandyism refers to a culture where a human being places a lot of attention and weight on the physical and outward appearance. This is to say that the person would take a lot of time and resources to ensure that he or she appears nonchalant at the very least. In most instances and cases, dandyism was a cloud word used to discuss how the men stressed on their masculine principles to try to imitate the aristocrats. This is to say that a man would use refined language, often engage in leisure activities which are conventionally regarded as royal or aristocratic. In the period of the early 19th century, a dandy was a person who was self-made and strived hard to fit into the highest class of the society, (Wilson, 112). This was done regardless of the

Health Reform Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Reform - Research Paper Example Preskitt (2008) indicates that Clinton’s health reform plan is one that not only affected patients but also other service providers and physicians.. First, studies indicate that about 36 million Americans were uninsured at that time (Preskitt, 2008). This percentage of Americans comprises of the poor and majority depended on aid from other sources. On a realistic point of analysis, it would be extremely tasking for Clinton’s policy to apply among such population brackets. This can be discussed on a cost constraint point of view, since the available resources were not well reorganized. Universal recognition not being the centre of the focus of Clinton’s reform plan, failure of the plan was indeed in the pipeline. Brady & Kessler (2009) indicate that Clinton’s Health Care Reform failed for the reason that this plan was more inclined towards promoting a market for insurance on a long term basis. The administration was of the opinion that expanding then public health sector would be very expensive for the government. Long term insurance care was on a great extent left for the private sector. Investors were at an advantage that was geared towards coming up with a market for private employers, in terms of provision of long term care. The costs of health care rose tremendously, provision of long term care was then laid on the line. Preskitt (2008) indicates that Clinton’s health plan did not receive public support both from the liberals and conservatives. Democrats were opposed to the fact that none of the constituencies was fully for the program. For instance, the aged feared the cutting down of Medicare and nothing would do good to them in return (Starr, 1995). The high costs of health plans were also expected to be expensive; thus, taxing to the common citizens. Generally, Clinton had no back up to support the policies. It is in line to this argument that Oberlander (2002) argues that Clinton’s health plan would have been planned and