How Are Responses To Disasters Shaped By The Bureaucratic Structures Of Humanitarian Institutions?

Accident, be it natural or man made, are common these days. It is not that in human history that disasters never happened but the modern world is a close contact global village and with willingness any country is able to help the other in peril. However, there are several clauses attached to it along with strings that are attached to international politics. As a result, it should be taken into account that any action taken against any incident of disaster follows the path of evaluation and analysis on the parameters of bureaucratic judgments and willingness.It should also be taken into account this bureaucratic evaluation of the incident is subjected to the political scenario in long or in short run. Furthermore, it is also to be considered that all the humanitarian institutions responsible for the deliverance of aid to the disaster stricken area would ultimately be depended on the willingness of the bureaucratic system. The bureaucratic system work strictly on the principals of adva ntages and benefit of the action thus aid becomes relatively more obvious in areas of vested interest than the areas that are not directly linked up with the interest of the bureaucratic scheme. Olsen, 16)It is true that the Western Society has proved to be the most powerful in terms of finance and resource in the modern era and thus it is the call of the Western world that determines the severity of a disaster in a given situation and the amount of aid that should be granted as a relief. It is obvious that the bureaucratic system is the most instrumental part in this entire scenario of politics of aid and thus all the humanitarian institutes are in alignment with this system.The connection between the bureaucratic system and and the humanitarian institutes are also revealed in the local perception of aid or relief during a disaster. If the Tsunami of the Indian Ocean is taken into account it would be clear that in the island of Sri Lanka it was found that such bureaucratic discrimi nation in the parameters of race abd religion was taking place. Here the bureaucratic system was playing in the hands of the government formed by the help of the majority consisting of the population of the Sinhalese language.This bureaucratic system then influenced the humanitarian institutions to offer major part of the relief to the Sinhalese population rather than the Tamil population of the northern parts of the island. (Walker, 5) The example of Sri Lanka and the relief discrimination between the Sinhalese and the Tamil population could be regarded as a classic example of bureaucratic system induced humanitarian misuse or under use of the aid. In conclusion it should be mentioned that there are several examples that point towards proper distribution of aid during the time of disaster by institutions like Salvation Army and the Red Cross.However, the point that should not be missed is that the action taken during a disaster is an emergency and is purely based on humanitarian gr ounds thus the equal and proper distribution of aid and relief should always be one hundred per cent and there should not be any bureaucratic influence to state otherwise. As a human being this is the minimum requirement and the maximum amount of resource should be employed to attain the goal.

Take a stand Essay

Energy drinks have become very popular amongst today’s youth. America’s youth has easy access to these dangerous drinks and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at this time does not regulate the amount of caffeine that is allowed into these beverages (Cool, 2011). These drinks contain high levels of caffeine and other herbs that have ill effects on ones heart, along with high sodium and sugar levels that can adversely affect ones overall health.The FDA on should regulate the allowable caffeine content in these drinks and energy drinks should be prohibited for children under the age of 18 years. The dangerous ingredients, ill side effects, and the deadly amounts of caffeine found in these drinks will be discussed in this paper. It is important that Americans become educated about the deadly drinks that are being marketed as safe, and pushed on our youth (Clair, 2013). There are similar ingredients found in all of the energy drinks on the market today.Some of these are Caffeine, Guarana, Taurine, Sugar, Genseng, and Bitter orange (Rath, 2012). Caffeine has adverse effects on the body such as nausea, heart palpitations, headaches, sleeplessness, hypokalemia, rabdomylosis and atrial and ventricular tachycardia that can both be deadly (Rath, 2012). Guarana, while not as harmful, still has many adverse effects of its own, some of which are: nervousness, tachycardia, anxiety, chest pain and cardiac dysrhthmias (Moodie, 2009). No evidence at this point has shown Taurine to have any adverse effects on one’s health.The high sugar content promotes obesity, diabetes and cavities. Ginseng has effects such as hypertension, tachycardia, heart palpitations, insomnia, vaginal bleeding and breast tenderness (Rath, 2012). Bitter orange has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, seizures, disrythmias, and migraine headaches. Almost every ingredient found in these drinks can have deadly side effects. Of the above mentioned ingredients, five of the six have s imilar effects on the body. All of these combined into one drink makes a deadly combination especially when used in excess.There are other side effects that can be caused from energy drinks aside from the deadly cardiac effects that these drinks cause. Because caffeine is a stimulant and the other ingredients with the same effects on the body, these drinks cause high blood pressure, elevated heart rates, liver damage, and even death, just to name a few (Cool, 2011). There has also been a link to women experiencing late miscarriages as well as stillbirth and drinking energy drinks (Claire, 2013). Drinking energy drinks can also give a person a false sense of sobriety when mixed with alcohol.This could lead to a person driving more intoxicated than they feel that they are, thus; increasing risk for alcohol related crashes (Moodie, 2009). Caffeine is a stimulant that is found in many products that we consume daily. In small amounts it can be safe and works as an energy booster in some cases. â€Å"Caffeine found in energy drinks can range from 80 to 300mg in an 8 ounce serving† (Rath, 2012, p. 72). The main problem with this is that most energy drinks are sold in cans sizes that range from 16 to 24 ounces.This doubles or triples the amount of caffeine a person is consuming. The FDA limits the amounts of caffeine that soda companies are allowed to put into soda beverages to 71mg per 12 ounces (Cool, 2011). The same is not true for energy drinks, there is no limit placed on the amount of caffeine that companies such as Red Bull or Monster can place in their energy drinks. Teenagers and children are ingesting unsafe levels of caffeine mixed with other dangerous ingredients and the FDA has turned a blind eye to this growing problem, in turn; putting our youth at risk for death.Adults must wake up and realize that there is a poison in soda machines and grocery stores across America, and our children have easy access to it. Caffeine is an addictive drug that has been made readily available to our children in alarming amounts. The FDA must regulate the amount of caffeine and other dangerous ingredients allowed or ban the selling of these drinks to minors, in order to prevent ill health effects to our children. The public needs to be educated on the deadly side effects that these drinks cause and demand action by the FDA.

Australian TOT(Terms of trade) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Australian TOT(Terms of trade) - Essay Example On the other hand, a TOT value greater than 100% implies that the country is accumulating capital or more money is coming into the country from the exports. If the TOT of a country improves (rise above 100), it means that for each export unit sold it can be able to buy more units of the imported goods. Therefore, a rise or increase in the TOT creates a benefit in terms of the number of goods required to be exported in order to purchase a particular amount of imports. Improving TOT can also contain a valuable effect on the domestic cost-push inflation because an improvement shows falling import prices relative to the prices of exports. However, a country can undergo suffering in terms of the falling export volumes and a deterioration payments balance. Contrary to the indications of an increasing TOT, a deteriorating TOT (decreasing below 100) shows that a country needs to export increased amount of goods in order to buy a particular quantity of imports.1 Australian TOT Between the yea r 1998- 1999 and the year 2008 to 2009, the TOT of Australia have undergone or went through an unprecedented rice of 75% indicating the alterations in both the composition and prices of traded services and goods. The prices of exports grew by 86% whereas that of imports grew by 9%. The increase or rise in the prices of exports was driven by the rise in metal ores and coal while the decrease in prices of most manufactured goods assisted in keeping the import prices down.2 In the year 2011, the TOT peaked rising to a level of 105% above the preciously prevailing values from the year 2002. This particular boom in TOT was attributed largely to the staggering high prices that the foreign buyers were paying for commodities such as iron, gas, and coal. Holding down of the import prices by the recorded high Australian dollar also boosted the TOT. In the month of December 2011 to march 2012 a decline of 9.8% was reported in the TOT. From this time, a free fall has been there in the Australia n TOT a situation that economists argue is beginning to get serious. The data available for the period of June quarter on the Australian dollar and the prices of commodities suggests that the TOT decreased by another 7% bringing the total TOT decline in three consecutive quarters to approximately 16%. The TOT absolute level is still high on any particular long run assessment but the decline does not suggest that the country is at the low point of the cycle. The fall in the TOT presents a huge downside risk to the economy of Australia.3 The TOT and the TWER (trade weighted exchange rate), for the actual year 1998 to 2012 and also the indicative for the year 2012 to 2017 are displayed in the figure below. Sources: the exchange rate was retrieved from the Statistical Bulletin of the Reserve Bank of Australia while the TOT (terms of trade) was retrieved from the ABS Table 1 Cat. no. 5206.0 The Mundell-Fleming model is regarded as an open economy IS-LM version with inclusion of capital f lows as a vital constituent of the model. The model is developed for the assessment of macroeconomic policy in a little open economy regarded as a price taker in import and export markets. The economy of Australia is definitely a small and open economy thus the application of this model to analyse the macroeconomic policy. In the last decade the imports and exports of services and goods of Australia were averaged at 37.3% of the GDP. The ISLM – BP model requires the capital mobility in order for the capital flows role to be activated. From the year 1980s both the capital outflows and inflows have

Policemen of the World Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policemen of the World - Research Paper Example The situation in Libya can be traced back to when the Arab Spring occurred and protests began in many nations that are part of the Arab league. The uprisings led to the removal of several heads of state through force such as the ousting of the president of Yemen and also the peaceful resignation of the Tunisia Prime Minister. In other parts of the Arab world the effects of the riots are still been felt as seen with the case of Syria in which there is still a civil war. The citizens of Libya were part of those who rebelled against the leadership but the government of Muammar Gaddafi instead of resigning decided to suppress the revolutionaries by use of force. The United States together with NATO received a lot of criticism from the Libyan government as well as from African leaders who felt that there was a disregard for the sovereignty of the country and international law. Gaddafi also enjoyed a good level of support in his home country more so since Libya’s economy had grown s ignificantly under his rule and so he did enjoy significant support in the country (Lengeni 2012). The Al Qaeda is a terrorist group that was located in Afghanistan, however after the US invaded Afghanistan they shifted to north of Pakistan where they are currently located. The United States has since then been sending drones in Pakistan until present day due to the presence of Al Qaeda in some of its remote areas. The Pakistan government has constantly criticized this move by the US government however due to its poverty levels and inadequate military it is unable to either crush the Al Qaeda rebellion or stop US from sending drones to its territory. The attacks have been mainly focused near the Afghan border as this is where most Al Qaeda rebels are situated. Many US citizens have always felt that the activity of US in Pakistan was excessive and beyond their duty and that withdrawal should not only be done but the drone strikes were unnecessary in the first place. The US government has therefore been in constant dialogue with the Pakistan government on setting up some terms and conditions which once they fulfill the drone strikes can end. The economic crisis that hit the nation from 2009 – 2013 was another factor that made the drone strikes have a negative image. The cost of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan had already passed the billion dollar mark and the public felt that it was time to withdraw their troops; the people also felt that there was no need for continued air strikes and military presence in Pakistan. The Pakistan government has however been in a controversial situation since the leak of documents showing that they supported the air strikes as they too feared that the entry of Al Qaeda into the country could lead to the removal of the already weakened government (Lister, 2010). The development of US into a world superpower was led by several factors one of which was the gradual deterioration of the British Empire. Britain had faced several rebellions in the territories that it held and this had led to its army being severely weakened as WWII started. Other European nations that had also been viewed as superpowers such as France had also significantly weakened and so could not aid Britain much when the war started (Whitehead, 2006). The impact of the

A Clean Well-lighted Place Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Clean Well-lighted Place - Research Paper Example The old waiter and the young waiter are expressing their individual thoughts regarding the deaf man’s habit of staying in the cafe for a long time. The setting in the story is a clean well-lighted cafe where a deaf old man is having his drinks. The setting in the story is crucial, as it reflects the thinking of the lonely old men who aim to escape from the world of darkness and despair. The views of the characters regarding the setting of the cafe have brought forth the theme of the story, which is the loneliness of old people. Characters’ mindset and cafe The story focuses on the plight of old men who are overwhelmed by the feeling of despair and loneliness, and how the cafe which is bright and clean provides comfort. â€Å"To the old man, the pleasant cafà © is his refuge, the place to which he can go to relieve his loneliness.† (Gerhard 5). The feelings of the deaf man are understood by the old waiter, for he is also experiencing similar feelings in his life. For both them, the cafe is a place which aids them to escape from the gloomy world of despair. Young people fail to realize the significance of well-lighted and clean place in the life of old people, battling with despair. The young waiter represents the thoughts of youth who are unable to comprehend the suffering of the old people. For the old waiter and the deaf man, the cafe is a source of succor and comfort. "He was in despair." (Hemmingway). They view the cafe from same perspective, for they are experiencing similar feelings. On the contrast, for the young waiter, the cafe is just a workplace. So he is eager to finish work and go to his house where his wife is waiting for him. The deaf man seated in the cafe and having drinks serenely, point towards quest for tranquility. â€Å"†¦he was a good client† (Hemmingway). He chooses the night time to visit the cafe, for he wants to avoid the crowd that would be present in the cafe during the daytime. â€Å"It gave him a sense of peacefulness.† (Brown). The deaf man’s wish to keep away from the eyes of other people is expressed through the seat he selects in the cafe. The deaf man is isolated from the society he is living in and even in the cafe he desires to be alone, enjoying the calmness of the cafe in the night. The interaction of the characters in the cafe provides an insight to their thoughts and attitude towards life. Contrast The contrast in the setting of the cafe and the world of old people aids in depicting the sorrow and suffering of the old people. The cafe is bright and clean whereas the house and world of the deaf man and the old waiter is full of darkness. It is this contrast that compels the deaf man and the old waiter to spend more time in the cafe than in his house. The brightness of the cafe brings light into the dark world of the deaf

Women and Mysticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women and Mysticism - Essay Example Sometimes death is easier than life and possession is easier than death. No matter what your religion, the teachings for that religion refer to demons. These demons are able to possess those that lack strength and are vulnerable to that possession (Bengtsson &Saveman, 2). Women who have been abused and beaten especially by an intimate partner are vulnerable and lack the strength to protect themselves, thus the possession. This is not an effort to show power in a way that is acceptable, this is a direct result of the pain in their lives because of their powerlessness. Distress of the proportions that these women experience bring depression, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) (Goodman, Smyth, Borges, 1). Goodman states that the combination of violence and poverty lead to stress, powerlessness, social isolation, ptsd, depression and other emotional problems. It is not hard to put this damage into perspective when demonization or possession occurs. Who can know whether the demonization they then feel is real or not real. To the victim it is real just like spiders on the wall are very real to the psychotic patient (Goodman, et.al., 2). The Bourguignon paper (559) argues that possession normally affects women in such a way as to allow them to assume a powerful presence or to somehow get what they want.

The similarity and differences of No Country for Old Men and Dead Man Research Paper

The similarity and differences of No Country for Old Men and Dead Man - Research Paper Example Similarly, Dead man is a movie that was directed by Jarmusch Jim, in 1996, and presents a storyline of a young man’s adventure, both mentally and physically, into the strange land. William Blake starts his journey to the western frontiers of America and encountered an odd and outcast Native American known as ‘Nobody’. The encounter with ‘Nobody’ helps William Blake to overcome difficult situations, which were hilarious and brutal. Similarities between No Country for Old Men and Dead Man There are varied similarities between the films, No Country for Old Men and Dead Man. First, both films are filled with darkness and uncertainty of life because both directors reveal issues of violence, murder and coldhearted villains. These act as the main duties of the central characters in both movies, and their lives are full of obscurity. Additionally, both directors tie uncertainty with pessimistic belief that there is little one can do about uncertainty aspects of human life (McCarthy 34). There is a lot of evil in both films because the directors keep reminding the viewer about the inherent evil of human beings in every scene. For instance, the marvelous expressionless humor is one of the darkest aspects in the film of No Country for Old Men. This has greatly affected the characters of different persons; for example, Chigurh is one character, who has dreadful characters because he engages in violence issues. Moreover, both films reveal the mysterious dead as the only certaint y, and at the same time reveal greatest mystery cases and violence. For instance, the adventure story in the Dead Man film represents certainty of life, to William Blake. Consequently, the journey is a long-lasting ceremonial to the person known as‘Nobody’ because his intention was to save Blake and bring him back to the spirit level of the human race. The non-western viewpoint about Nobody was that life was seen as an unending cycle; thus presenting the significance of the film title, ‘Dead Man’. Both films reveal cases of violence, some of which contributes to death; for instance, in the film of Dead Man, nobody helps in leading William Blake through situations most of which turns to be violent and on the same time hilarious. Contrary to Blake’s personality, he turns to be a criminal, a murderer and a vicious man, whose physical being slips away gradually. Both novels portray characters, most of whom are violent and engage in the world of cruel, br utal and chaotic occurrences. Secondly, both films presents the theme of evil. Many western genre films are full of evil; thus, many characters take part in evil things, in the society. Both directors acknowledge the evil practiced by the power-hungry rich men, who dominates the weak; innocent people are used to enable the powerful achieve their needs. For instance, many crimes are committed in both movies, whereby many people end up being victims of evil because the crimes committed are beyond measure (Raff 61). In addition, the theme of fate is revealed, and is the cause for violence cases, as every character in the movie strives to reach his or her destiny. For instance, the film of Dead Man is about a young man, who sets the journey and hopes to reach his destiny in order to accomplish his missions. Fate is also revealed in the film, No Country for Old Men, whereby we see violent cases taking place right from the

Ethical Concerns with Research As Member of the Institutional Review Essay

Ethical Concerns with Research As Member of the Institutional Review Board - Human Subjects Committee - Essay Example This is essential as it enables them to make an informed consent about their participation. The element of collaboration which leads to accountability comes into play since a stakeholders meeting has to be organized for a briefing. In this case, since it was aerial spraying of toxic substances over the city, schools and neighborhoods, it means that the locals were not informed whatsoever about the intention of the study, its importance/benefits and risks involved. This also means that the element of honesty was not applied which translates to subjective analysis. Ethics in research further advocates for non-biasness, integrity and openness. In this case, this is not so since secret spraying of the community is evident. Openness and integrity means that justice for the participants is a priority. Another very key aspect in ethics is confidentiality assurance. Participants need to be assured of the confidentiality of the findings and that only findings across a group of participants sh ould be made public. Here is a case where even the participants have not been involved and are not assured of the confidential handling of the findings. Confidentiality in research study guarantees the participants of the researcher’s social responsibilities.

Edgar Allen Poe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Edgar Allen Poe - Essay Example Montresor presents himself as an honorable man from a high social class. He tells that his family has deep roots, that "the Montresors, were a great and numerous family" (Poe, n.d.). To add significance of his social position, he tells the motto of his family which is "Nemo me impune lacessit" Poe. N.d.). Montresor presents himself as a good-natured man who does everything to protect his dignity. This is in itself perhaps not the most exalted of literary ambitions, though it is remarkably difficult for an author to avoid crossing the boundary from the terrifying to the merely laughable. It seems that Montresor has a perfect breeding and tries to prove his position protecting his good name. Montresor presents himself as a judge who condemns his friend Fortunato to death. Taking into account his appearance and costume, it is evident that his representation of himself does not coincide with his true nature. Poe depicts him in black silk mask which symbolizes evil nature of Montresor: "thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo" (Poe. N.d.). Montresor tries to persuade readers and himself that the death of Fortunato is the only possible way to avenge. Poe depicts that the character of Montresor does not show remorse for his thoughts and plans trying to kill his friend. Poe underlines that the experienced world in this sense is a human creation, the product of the activity of the mind, Montresor's personality. Montresor explains that: "I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong" (Poe, n.d.). Poe's secure grasp of the subtleties of his environment is evident, but it is far more than a mere transcription of particulars. For while deploying descriptive detail in the conventional realistic way to build up a rich and convincing impression of the murder and the world he creates, Poe uses realism. Montresor himself shows only a desire to be alone. This suggests that Montresor's view of his own cruelty is a fearful one, that he is terrified and disgusted by it. "The clues are part of the larger "system" or "demonstration" motif of the story: Montresor, the diabolical rationalist, systematically demonstrates again and again that the arriviste, Fortunato, does not know, cannot distinguish" (Bloom, 1987, p 55). The plan of getting revenge consists of several stages in order to avoid suspicion and possible punishment. The date of the revenge has been carefully thought. Carnival is a time when people (servants) do not care much about their duties. For this reason, Montresor sends the servants away to the celebration. Montresor knows that Fortunato admires good wine and for this reason he ensnares him proposing to taste Amontillado. Montresor tells Fortunato "You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado" (Poe. N.d.). this base flattery helps Montresor to pursued his victim to join him and drink little wine. The next step planed by Montresor is to astonish his victim. "The Amontillado!" ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment" (Poe, n.d.). After these words, Montresor

Department of Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Essay Example for Free

Department of Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Essay 1. Introduction and welcome Marketing is part of all of our lives and touches us in some way every day. It is also a key factor in business success and is increasingly used by organisations in a wide range of sectors. The unit begins with an examination of the marketing concept and marketing theory. It goes on to consider the various issues that marketers face in marketing decision making and the concepts and theories that can help. The unit helps you to understand the challenges of marketing management in manufacturing and service industries: analysing marketing environments; evaluating strategic alternatives and designing marketing programmes involving decisions about products/services and important concepts of the services marketing theory. The focus in this unit therefore is on the theory and practice of marketing in the context of organisations. On completion of the unit you will have gained understanding of the decisions that face marketers in a complex and dynamic environment and the concepts and theories that can be used to inform these decisions. This handbook outlines the content and key features of the unit. We hope you enjoy this unit and find the variety of tasks and assessments both interesting and challenging. The unit essentially continues the theme of integration by providing the necessary marketing input into the Applied Integrated Business core unit. Accordingly, the subject content will serve to reinforce and contextualise the learning within that unit. The focus will be on an interactive and active learning environment to engage students in learning activities throughout the sessions. This handbook should be your first point of reference. It outlines everything you will need to know about how this unit is structured, the assessments and the reading that is required. Please take some time to read it carefully. This handbook will help you progress smoothly and enjoyably through this unit. You will also find a regularly updated source of information and an electronic copy of this handbook in the unit website on Blackboard BREO. The address is: http://breo.beds.ac.uk (no www required) 2.Unit leader and team details Unit Leader Ioannis Kostopoulos Ioannis Kostopoulos is a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing Tourism and Hospitality at University of Bedfordshire. His research interests are in services marketing, internal marketing and market research. During his consulting work he has worked with many large organizations in the hospitality, telecommunications and sports’ industry. He holds a PhD in Services Marketing, a master’s degree in Marketing and Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Statistics. Email: [emailprotected] Office hours: Wednesday 10-11 am and Thursday 12- 13 pm Office: To be arranged (Students will be informed through BREO) Telephone Number: To be arranged (Students will be informed through BREO) Other Lecturers Tony Pyne Tony Pyne, now semi retired, has taught marketing at the University of Bedfordshire for 20 years. His research interests are in not for profit marketing and services marketing. Prior to becoming an academic he was the marketing director of a small international market research agency specialising in high tech products and before that its operations director. He has a masters degree in marketing, a PGCE and is a graduate chemist Email: [emailprotected] Office hours: Fridays 10am -2pm Office: JM02 Telephone Number: 3457 Field Administrator Sally Mayne Vicarage Street (H Block). Email: [emailprotected] 3. Aims and learning outcomes 3.1 Unit aims The focus in this unit is on the theory and practice of marketing in the context of organisations. On completion of the unit you will have gained understanding of the decisions that face marketers in a complex and dynamic environment and the concepts and theories that can be used to inform these decisions. 3.2 Learning Outcomes | On completion of this unit you should be able to:| To achieve the learning outcome you must demonstrate the ability to:| LO1| Understand the nature, scope and role of marketing in organisations| Describe and apply the basic marketing tools and concepts and articulate the role of marketing in a variety of organizations| LO2| Be able to identify and discuss the key issues that marketers face as they make decisions| Critically review published work on a range of marketing issues| LO3| Understand and discuss the key concepts and theories that inform marketing decisions| Propose well researched and theoretically underpinned solutions to marketing problems | LO4| Identify and analyse marketing problems and plan appropriate courses of action| Be able to formulate plans for marketing activities, including appropriate marketing mix policies and be able to defend and justify proposals for marketing plans and actions.| L05| Apply marketing theory in different organisational contexts| Be able to formulate plans for marketing activities, including appropriate marketing mix policies and be able to defend and justify proposals for marketing plans and actions.| LO6| To express ideas and findings and proposals both verbally and in writing| Write coherently on the subject with accurate referencing, spelling, punctuation and grammar and make clear, timely and well structured presentations.| 4. Approach to learning * Unit delivery will use a combination of lectures and seminars, with the emphasis in seminars being on discussion and debate providing students with an opportunity to relate theoretical content to real-life practical situations. The one hour lecture aims to provide students with useful elements from the pertinent theory and increase their theoretical knowledge and technical skills. Practical seminar activities will be used where appropriate (for example video material, case studies, role play) and students will be encouraged to work individually and in groups to develop a thorough appreciation of the many issues examined. The use of small groups to prepare and present case studies in workshops will aim to provide further experience of working collaboratively, the opportunity to manage a problem-solving group, and the ability to present material clearly and concisely. The primary objective of the presentation is to further develop the ability to present complex ideas orally in a clear, coherent and concise fashion. There will also be a need to defend the ideas in the subsequent group discussion. The presentation topics, which are an integral part of the module, are designed to enhance and deepen understanding of the subject material. * * Attendance and participating in classes Studying at the University of Bedfordshire is not just about subject knowledge. We are also concerned to help you develop your wider attributes and skills. To do this you will need to attend and actively engage in the range of learning activities the course provides. Because attendance is fundamental to your development we do expect you to attend. We will monitor your attendance and contact you if it gives cause for concern. The Division operates a strict non-attendance policy which is available to view on BREO. You can help us by notifying us of any factors that affect your ability to attend. If you are absent from your studies through illness then it’s important that you let us know. You should contact the unit leader or the Field Administrator, Sally Mayne at [emailprotected] If your absence is likely to affect your ability to complete your studies or submit assignments then you can apply for an extension or deferral through the Student Engagement and Mitigating Circumstances Teams. If you feel that your problems are serious enough to be considered for Mitigating Circumstances you will need to apply before the deadline by filling in a Mitigating Circumstances form. Forms can be printed from SiD online or a hard copy can be collected the Student Information Desk (SiD). A decision will normally be available to you within 48 hours of receipt of the claim form and evidence. Progress of the application can be checked by accessing SiD online or by visiting the Student Information Desk (SiD). They can be contacted at [emailprotected] or by telephoning 0300 300 0042. 5. Assessment brief 5.1 Assessment Overview No| Assessment method | Description of assessment methods| Weight (%)| Submission date | Form of feedback| 1| GroupAssignment| Group Presentation with Report| 30%| 7th December 2013| Summative Formative| 2| IndividualAssignment| Progress Portfolio| 30%| 22nd March 2013| Summative Formative| 3| UnseenExams| End of Unit Examination (2 hours)| 40%| End of Unit| Summative| 5.2 Group Assignment You are asked to form groups of 5-6 persons. Then you should visit a store(s) of a chosen international chain of coffee shops (e.g. Starbucks, Costa Cafe) or fast food restaurants (e.g. McDonalds, KFC ), observe and make notes regarding the following: * Store’s Service capes * Service delivery process * Customers and employees’ reactions during the service encounter * Service quality You may use photographs to support your discussions. However, please ensure that you ask permission from the store manager before doing so. Then you should prepare and hand in an audio visual podcast presentation and a written report that should contain the following: Presentation Your presentation is to be in the form of an audio visual podcast submitted via DVD, memory stick e.t.c. There will not be an in-class presentation. The presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes and it is a presentation to a formal business committee. In this presentation you will point out any fail points or points that need improvement, in the delivery of the provided service in the store and suggest ways in which the store can upgrade the level of quality of the service provided to customers without significantly increasing the cost of the service delivery. Written Report For your report you should use your notes from the store observation, general information you will collect on the international chain of your choice as well as material from the pertinent literature and include in your report the following: * A blueprint of the provided service * An evaluation of the store’s physical evidence and the degree to which they are aligned with the company’s general profile * An evaluation of the degree to which the specific chain is market oriented Format for submission Presentation The length of the presentation should not be longer than 10 minutes The presentation is to be in the form of an audio visual podcast submitted via DVD, memory stick or Utube, i.e. there will not be an in-class presentation. Written Report * The word limit for is 2000 words. * All work should be word processed using either Times New Roman or Arial font, Arial 12 point; 1.5 line spacing; single side A4 paper with numbered pages with line spacing of 1Â ½ and justified. * Left hand margin of 3cm; Right hand margin 2 cm; Header 2.5 cm and Footer 2 cm * A bibliography and referencing (where applicable) is essential * Harvard system of referencing * A minimum of 10 referenced academic sources is required. * No more than 50% of references may be from the internet. Extent of collaboration allowed: All members of the group should contribute equally to the research and preparation of the report. Average peer grade: All individuals will receive a mean average peer grade (out of 16), based upon a detailed diary addendum completed by all group members, confirming individual weekly contributions and responsibilities toward the completed report. Full group names and accompanying averaged grades should be clearly presented. The tutor reserves the right to adjust any grade if upon evidence /or investigation any student is deemed to have failed to effectively contribute. Failure to include diary and peer grades will result in the loss of the 25% overall peer grade. Marking Criteria Excellent work, 16 14 points *An analysis which deals fully with the major elements from a services marketing point of view *Selection and amplification of ideas which accord with the analysis presented . *Work which shows very good grasp of the concepts in services marketing *Effective use of formatting and layout *An excellent and cohesive report. Above average work, 11 13 points *A report which is attractive in appearance which addresses the key issues of the assignment competently and creates a positive overall impression *An analysis which deals competently with most of the assignment’s tasks. *A reasonable choice of ideas which in aggregate show the students understanding of the major elements of the assignment. *Answers which are appropriate and show a good awareness of the services marketing concepts and principles which relate to the assignment areas. *Good use made of formatting and layout. *A good cohesive report. Average work, 8 10 points *An analysis, which deals with most areas in a manner which, is correct. * A report which is in the main appropriate and shows a good awareness of the services marketing concepts and principles and which relate to the key areas designated in the assignment *Reasonable use of formatting and layout *A cohesive report. Below average work, 5 7 points *A report which would be considered very poor in a commercial or industrial context and which do not allow the assessor to identify most of the achievement of specified tasks. *An erroneous or substantially incomplete analysis from a services marketing point of view *Answers which show poor understanding of the concepts in question. 5.3 Individual Assignment Picton and Broderick define integrated marketing communications as A process which involves the management and organisation of all agents in the analysis, planning, implementation and control of all marketing communications contacts, media, messages and promotional tools focussed at selected target audiences in such a way as to derive the greatest economy, efficiency, effectiveness and coherence of marketing communications effort. Select a large service organisation (e.g. Bank, Airline Company, Telecommunications Company, Hotel) that advertises heavily in many media and by way of a portfolio show how it makes use of the integrated marketing communications concept. You will need to collect your examples over a period of several weeks. If you leave it to the day before it is due in you will inevitably receive a failing grade. This is an individual assignment and I would expect 1500 words plus several examples which may include your notes on what you observe on a store visit. Format for submission Written Report * The word limit for is 1500 words. * All work should be word processed using either Times New Roman or Arial font, Arial 12 point; 1.5 line spacing; single side A4 paper with numbered pages with line spacing of 1Â ½ and justified. * Left hand margin of 3cm; Right hand margin 2 cm; Header 2.5 cm and Footer 2 cm * A bibliography and referencing (where applicable) is essential * Harvard system of referencing * A minimum of 10 referenced academic sources is required. * No more than 50% of references may be from the internet. Details for the assessments will be supplied as separate documents throughout the unit. They will also be available on BREO. Please read the assessment instructions very carefully. 5.4 Submission details Plagiarism You should hand in assignments through the Assignment Hand in point, located outside the LRC in Park Square next to the Book Return point. For LRC opening times please see http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/. You can deposit your assignments at any time throughout the opening times of the University building. Although you will be able to submit your piece of work until 8am the next day and it will be accepted as on time, for example: if an assignment is due in on Monday 19 April it can be submitted up to 7.59am Tuesday 20 April, this is NOT recommended and you should submit your assignment by 4pm on the published due date. You will need to print your own top cover sheets from eVision (these carry the details of the unit and assessment on the front). Attach the top sheet to the assignment securely and then collect a barcode label from the dispenser located at the Security Desk next to the LRC. Follow the instructions on the Assignment Hand in point display to submit the assignment. Collect the receipt which indicates that a piece of work has been handed in. A receipt confirming the unit, assessment and time of submission for the assignment will be sent to your email account. Receipts must be retained as proof that the work has been submitted. You must also submit a copy of your assignment through TURNITIN via BREO. It will graded as a non-submission if written work is not submitted on time through TURNITIN. Coursework must be handed in by the date and time specified in your student handbooks or on BREO. Late work is not accepted, and will be deemed a fail and graded G(0) (no work submitted). Written work must be legible and comprehensible, work may be rejected work which does not meet reasonable standards of presentation, and this may result in you failing or being referred. Written work must be presented in English. Extenuating Circumstances If you believe that you are likely to miss a deadline because of extenuating circumstances (for example illness), you should apply to apply for an extension through the Student Engagement and Mitigating Circumstances Teams via SID. Your application should be accompanied by documentary evidence of your extenuating circumstances. Individual tutors are not able to extend published deadlines. Plagiarism Plagiarism takes the form of repeating another person’s words or images and claiming them as your own, or presenting someone else’s line of thinking as if it was your own. To plagiarise is to give the impression that you have written or designed or thought something that you have in fact borrowed from someone else. You can use other people’s ideas, words and images, but it’s important that you acknowledge them through appropriate referencing. Remember that your examiners are wanting to assess your ability, not those of others, so it’s important that you also interpret others’ work and that there is sufficient of your own work in your assignments that your ability can be assessed. You should keep a careful record of all the sources you use, including all internet material and ensure that you understand correct referencing practices. These are outlined the course handbook and online at: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/resources/referencing You are also not permitted to re-present any assessment already submitted for one unit as if for the first time in another unit. Double counting of assessed work is not normally allowed. If submitting work previously included in another assessment then you should attribute the section of text from the earlier work so that it can be taken into account by the examiners. Plagiarism Detection Service To help address plagiarism and protect your award, please also ensure you submit a copy your written work electronically through ‘Turnitin’ via BREO. We may also submit your assignment to the UK universities’ JISC Plagiarism Detection Service. Working together Discussing ideas with your fellow students is part of learning and we would encourage you to do this and to exchange interesting and relevant sources and references. However, there is a distinction between sharing ideas and collusion which is an academic offence. You must not work with others to the extent of exchanging written materials you have prepared, such as notes or drafts of assignments unless you have been expressly told that this is permissible. If these types of materials are shared this will be regarded as an assessment offence for the person who lends the material as well as for the person who uses it. Your own work should be regarded as your own property and you should protect it. If you are working in a shared space, log off from the computer you are working on whenever you take a break so that others cannot access or copy your own work; take care to destroy printed drafts or copies of work, rather than just discarding them; and, don’t give your work to others in any format. If you are working on a group assignment make sure you understand the allocation of responsibilities between yourself and the other members of the group. 5.5 Feedback Assessment will be provided individually to students, through group feedback (where relevant) and on your individual student BREO site. There are also opportunities for formative feedback on your work throughout the unit which will help you complete your final assignments. Marked work will be available for collection from the tutor three weeks after the assessment deadline. 6. Teaching and reading schedule You can check your timetable at: http://timetable.beds.ac.uk then follow the links under ‘units’. If there are changes to the timetable, you will be notified on the BREO site for this unit. Please check it regularly. *Further reading suggestions will be provided to students in a weekly basis through BREO. Further reading includes academic articles, book chapters and case studies. 7. Reading and resources The majority of directed readings will be in the form of books, published conference papers, and case study materials. You will be advised of essential reading relating to each topic covered and directed towards the most relevant textbooks and articles for these subjects. This guidance will be communicated by tutors and via BREO. In addition, you are encouraged to access journal articles via electronic databases and encouraged to search for appropriate examples of relevant research. You are strongly encouraged to access information electronically but to exercise critical judgement when identifying useful sources. The Learning Resources Centre at Park Square houses our main tourism collection. Here you can expect to find copies of essential texts on your reading lists as well as supplementary reading. Many of our resources are in electronic format and can be accessed off-campus. Extensive reading is essential and it is important you reference this work accurately and correctly. Please make you sure you read and follow the guide to referencing found at: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/resources/referencing Subject –specific library guides are available in printed format in the Learning Resource Centre and on the Learning Resources web site http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/subjectguides. Go to Advice and Help, then Subject Guides. These guides tell you which resources are important for your particular course. The Subject Librarian is Bill Mortimer who can be contacted by e-mail [emailprotected] or by phone 01234 351671, ext.4374. Bill is based in the Polhill campus, Room: R1.01. If you want to call him free of charge, that’s possible from the LRC. Essential reading Brassington, F and Pettitt,S (2006) Principles of Marketing, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall, NJ. ISBN 0-273-69559-2. Recommended reading Christopher H. Lovelock, Jochen Wirtz, Patricia Chew (2009), Essentials of Services Marketing First Edition, Prentice Hall ISBN-13 978-981-06-7995-8 Kotler, P., Wong, V., Saunders, J. and Armstrong, G. (2005) Principles of Marketing: 4th European Edition, Prentice Hall International/Pearson Education Limited. ISBN: 0273 68456 6 Groucutt, J, Leadley P, Forsyth P (2004) Marketing: essential, principles, new realities First Edition, Kogan Page ISBN 0-7494-4114-3

DHL: Logistics Company For The World

DHL: Logistics Company For The World DHL, being one of the market leaders in the international express, air, ocean freight and road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services, is very well-known for its agility and global network. Following its vision of reaching every part of the world, DHL has set up its own networks as Global and Local Hubs. While Leipzig, Hong Kong and Cincinnati are globally networked, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong function as the local Asian network. DHL Thailand, both being a gateway for import and export shipments and being a hub for transit shipments for the Indo-China countries, has gained its reputation in the business community in Thailand for 30 years. There are more than 70 DHL service locations covering 76 provinces and 9 service centers in the country. All the shipments starting from documents to containers are delivered by 5,300 DHL staff. DHL offers value to its customers by catering services according to their needs. The maximum customer service sat isfaction is guaranteed by its respective expert business divisions (DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Exel Supply Chain) by offering the convenience of one-stop-shop service for logistics solutions. Especially, DHL Thailand has facilitated Thailand exporters and importers by providing supply chain management expertise so that those businesses can focus on their core businesses. DHL having a very good close relationship with Thailand Customs Bureau, having local expertise with global coverage and with the excellent Quality Control Committee (QCC) for crisis management and designing backup plans have helped DHL Thailand to differentiate itself well enough among its competitors. Furthermore, DHL aims to support Thailand economy by facilitating the logistics process, upstream from raw materials to manufacturing, as well as downstream from the production line to store shelves and even further, to any customers all around the world. Key information about the distribution center (Size, Throughput, Types and number of delivery trucks?) DHL Express Bangkok Hub is one of DHLs six Asia Pacific hub that operates on over 12,000 sq. m.located in BFS Warehouse. 9,000 sq. m.of the space is used for warehousing. This space is said to be located in a free zone area. Having a space in this location has helped DHL to do their job efficiently. Previously it was estimated that after touchdown it used to take around 45minutes to ship materials into the conveyer belt but now due to easier access to the vehicle, shipping is done within 5mins after the touchdown. The whole area is installed with 90 surveillance cameras. In Thailand they cover 76 provinces, 38 locations, 1 hub and gateway, 1 office, 27 service points and 9 service centers. They manage 420 commercial flights per week for both inbound and outbound express shipments. DHL Express is capable of handling 4,800 inbound shipment and 3,000 outbound shipment per hour. Annually they manage more than 5.7 million shipments. DHL Express uses a special shuttle trucks for delivery. They have around 140 vehicles, 1 truck for each service center. These trucks are usually outsourced to some other company. Recently a company named Mon Transport Co. Ltd had won the bid for providing DHL with their new trucks for operations. Not all trucks of DHL which we see are outsourced. The trucks used to deliver goods from the service center to the respective customers are company owned vehicles. Only the ones that operate from the hub to the service centers are outsourced. DHL has 4, 6 and 18 wheeled trucks/ lorries. DHL is considered to be the biggest logistic partner who can deliver freight of any kind, to any place via air, ocean, road or rail, but capable of giving its customers the personal attention they need. Question 3: Describe the key operational measurements (or KPIs) at the distribution center and the delivery operations. In the express business, customers consider on-time delivery as an important indicator of quality. That is why DHL has a system to standardize and monitor the processes throughout their entire organization. They determine on-time delivery, analyze delays in individual processes and establish ways to deliver to customers even more quickly. Consistently high quality of service is crucial for a global network operator. DHL has developed an operations performance monitoring system that they use to measure and improve the quality of their services. Reliability and speed are key indicators of the quality of their logistics services. The logistics view is directed horizontally at the flow of goods and contracts, and they require key indicators that include the factor of time. As a result, DHL uses a time-based system of efficiency measurement that complements the measurement approach based on input-output ratios. Hence, DHL has a number of times based KPIs at the distribution center but it was not dealt in depth during the field visit. Few KPIs mentioned during the field trip are as follows: For their Express operation their shipment movement process follows CIA (clean in the air) process. It means that before shipment arrives to their DC all the documents must be cleared. This reduces the time for their delivery operation The other KPI that DHL follows to ensure on-time delivery is that within 5 minutes of the aircraft touching the ground the shipment is loaded to the conveyer in the receiving area. Same day delivery of all shipments is 100% achieved by DHL. The entire process of the arrival of the shipment, the picking, the securing of the cargo, loading, transport and unloading at the destination must be done on the same day. The call center in the DC has its KPI. All calls are received within 10seconds. They have been able to achieve 100% of this KPI. All shipments for a day must reach the service centers by 6:00 PM from their DC. The KPIs for their sustainable program is not covered under this as we were not provided any information on this. Delivery operation in DHL Hub: DHL Express is a division of Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. In our field visit focus was laid on this division, hence, the delivery operations for DHL Express division located in Suvarnabhumi airport is explained in brief: All DHL inbound flights land just outside the DHL DC at 05:00 am and 9:00 pm every day. Some commercial flights may also arrive at other times. Within 5 minutes of the landing containers from the aircraft are downloaded and sent to the unload conveyors. All material travels throughout the facility on conveyor belts though there may be some non-conveyable shipments (NCS). After sorting and inspecting the shipment is transferred to the outbound area from where it is transferred to flights or shuttle trucks to transport it to the final destination service centers from where it is delivered to the customers on the same day. The design of their flow process has allowed DHL to stay very competitive over the years by allowing them to add on to the current hub when it is needed. Every shipment can be tracked and the customer can be notified at all times. Question 4: Are there any sustainability considerations built in their operations? Even though DHL is the global leader in logistics, it still aims to be more sociably responsible by integrating corporate social Responsibility (CSR) into its operations, the society and the environment. To achieve this, DHL, has 3 specific programs called GoGreen, GoHelp and GoTeach, which also support DHLs local projects and initiatives. GoGreen To achieve the strategic goal of Corporate Responsibility, DHL launched GoGreen program in 2008 to handle the climate change problems, and it is the first global logistics service provider that sets the measurable targets on Coà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ efficiency to alleviate the environmental impacts. DHL works on building sustainability into its operations through five key attributes: striving to increase its resource efficiency with the focus on CO2, mobilizing its employees, offering its customers green solutions, being transparent about what it does and preparing for regulatory changes. The first attribute is Increasing Coà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ Efficiency. The scope does not mainly focus on decreasing the carbon footprint throughout the operations and subcontractors, but also includes the pollution, waste, noise, and other impacts that occur in the operations. First, the fleet (air transport, sea transport, and road transport) must be managed efficiently; especially the ground fleet that creates substantial impacts upon the carbon footprint. According to operation site visit, DHL Thailand has set detailed specifications of transport subcontractors to meet the requirements of subcontractor management in sharing the responsibility for carbon footprint. It was claimed that the majority of road vehicles are applicable for CNG consumption. Second, it improves the efficiency of facilities, warehouses, and offices by reducing the consumption affecting the carbon footprint. In addition, DHL Thailand expands the sustainability coverage to its clients by providing alternatives fo r them to use recycle packaging. Mobilizing the Employees is the second attribute which aims to increase the awareness and engage employees in lessening the environmental impacts. To do so, the company can encourage employees to share ideas to improve environmental performance such as energy saving, water saving, and so on. The third attribute is Generating Value by offering customers Green solutions. DHL has developed a large variety of GOGREEN climate-friendly products and services, which are produced using less carbon intensive forms of transport such as sea or rail, or where CO2 emissions are offset by the DHL Carbon Management team. Thus, through DHLs value-added GOGREEN products and services, DHL shares responsibility for tackling climate change. In 2009, DHL introduced the GOGREEN carbon neutral express shipping options in nearly 30 countries and sent more than 700 million shipments GOGREEN. DHL also continued to implement green logistics solutions jointly with its customers. Providing transparency is the 4th attribute. DHL has already set up a Carbon Accounting team and has agreed on the methodology for calculating its footprint in a more structured way, such as by setting up a carbon accounting system linked to its financial accounting system to improve data collation. DHL has also issued guidelines based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the ISO 14064 Standard. Since 2009, DHL is able to provide some CO2 emissions data on a highly accurate level, and its reporting and transparency has been rewarded for entering into the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, with top scores in the environmental ranking. The final attribute is Preparing for regulatory changes. DHL engages with policy makers to help shape regulations that are relevant to its business and its industrys impact on the environment. DHL is a member of the 3C (Combat Climate Change) initiative, which is comprised of business leaders from over 50 global companies who want urgent action on climate change. Through 3C, DHL actively advocates a global framework that supports market-based solutions to climate change. In 2009, DHL developed four global policy positions for its Group: With these positions, DHL addresses a global framework for carbon pricing, industry-driven standards for transparency, incentives for green investments and RD for low-carbon solutions. GoHelp Through its GoHelp program DHL strives to improve peoples living conditions, by using its core logistics expertise and by partnering with the United Nations, DHL provides effective emergency aid in different areas affected by natural disasters and organizes training programs in at-risk regions, in order to prepare for logistics challenges in emergencies. Some core activities include Disaster Response Teams, Disaster preparedness and Partnering with UNICEF. GoTeach Through its GoTeach program, DHL strives to commit to providing better education and equal opportunities for education. Education is a prerequisite for social progress, which is why DHL is promoting and building initiatives that support individuals in their development and expand their skills. This enables them to act responsibly, receive further education or training, and improve their opportunities in the job market. At the same time, DHL improves its ability to attract and retain qualified employees for the company. Observations and Recommendation As much as DHL claims to be a very sustainable company through its sustainability reports, website and advertising; during our field trip, not much was emphasized about its the incorporation of sustainability in its operations and 3 programs of GoGreen, GoHelp and Goteach. With regards to the first attribute of CO2 efficiency, this activity was somewhat seen during the visit, through the campaign notices available in many places such as on the walls and announcement boards. Also we were told that DHL recycles some of its packaging, during our trip to the distribution center. With regards to employee mobilization, during the field trip, when asked about the sustainability, only particular persons were aware about the sustainable operations. For sustainability to be fully integrated in the company, DHL should focus on mobilizing their employees within the company, just like they say they do, so that all will be aware about their sustainability strategies of CO2 efficiency and have the chance to share their ideas. No mention was done about the Green solutions that DHL Express offers to its customers, it would have been interesting to find out more from its employees about the different sustainable services that are offered. Pinjar: Film Review Pinjar: Film Review Pinjar, produced by Lucky Stars Entertainment Ltd. and directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi, is a movie set in the Indian subcontinent where the fight for freedom from the British colonialists is at its climax. The film is based on Amrita Pritams novel of the same name and is a winning attempt at recreating history. Pinjar (meaning cage or skeleton) revolves around the story of Puro, a young girl from a Hindu family living in Amritsar. In search of a suitable bridegroom for their daughter, the family journeys to their village of Chattovani where they settle the marriage of Puro with Ramchand, who is from the village of Rattovall. As per tradition, an exchange must take place and so, Puros brother is engaged to Ramchands sister, Lajjo.  Ã‚  Ã‚   All is bliss for Puro until an unfortunate incident changes her life forever, when she is tragically kidnapped by Rashid, a Muslim man who carries her away on his horse while she is on a trip to the fields. Puro, hysterical and frantic, begs Rashid to return her to her distraught family. Rashid explains that Puros abduction was a result of an ancestral family dispute. Puros ancestors had rendered the Muslim family homeless over a loan default and kidnapped a woman from their house to dishonor them. Rashid was made to swear upon the Holy Quran by his uncle and cousins to avenge their kin and regain their honor. He tells Puro that her family will refuse to accept her now and henceforth, she will always remain an outcast. He confesses that he is remorseful but helpless, and that he has loved Puro since the first moment he laid eyes on her. Puro refuses to believe him and escapes back to her house one night where her hopes are shattered. It is an extremely emotional sight as her own pare nts tell her it is best if she returns else the Muslims would reside to slaughtering their whole family. Furthermore, she has spent the night in another mans house. Nothing can change the fact that she is now a stain on their honor. Hence, Puro returns to Rashid. Back in Rattovall, Ramchand is offered Rajjos (Puros sister) hand in marriage but he refuses on ethical grounds and so Rajjo is married to Ramchands cousin. Puros brother Trilok marries Lajjo as promised. Meanwhile Rashid marries Puro and takes her away to live in Sakkadali. There, she miscarries Rashids child and leads a miserable life. Her arm is forcefully tattooed with the Muslim name Hamida. She continues to dream of her fiancà © Ramchand and even tearfully encounters him in the fields on a trip back to the village. With time she also learns that deep down Rashid is a good man and that his repentance is genuine. At this point politics takes a turn as the partition is announced and riots break out all over. Ramchands village falls in Pakistan and he and his family, excluding a misplaced father, are forced to join a refugee group journeying to India. On the way however, the migrants are attacked by a gang of thugs and Lajjo, Ramchands sister is tragically kidnapped. The group pro ceeds to settle for a night near Sakkadali. Puro visits the camp and meets Ramchand who is distressed and asks for her to look for Lajjo. Puro promises not to let him down. Puro travels from house to house in Rattovall, pretending to be a salesgirl. Finally she manages to find Lajjo, held captive in her own house by Muslims. With the help of Rashid she manages to rescue her and the climax of the movie approaches as Ramchand and Trilok both await at the Wagah border to take Lajjo with them to Hindustan. There is a tearful reunion of two pairs of brother and sister. Trilok embraces Puro and presents her with the choice of returning with him to her relatives, since Ramchand is ready to accept her. It is here that Puro, withstanding the opportunity of a reunion with her family, chooses to remain with Rashid and bids her brother farewell forever. The movie underlines a large number of issues in a non biased way, using the partition theme in its entirety. It depicts the turmoil resulting from the partition, where millions of families were displaced and innumerable women were kidnapped and raped. Hindu-Muslim relations around the tentative period circling 1947 are a chief subject of the film. The large difference of opinion regarding the partition is largely depicted. Pinjar shows that many Hindus and Muslims genuinely believed that they were a stronger force together and that the partition was an attempt to disunite the Indians. Considering the period in which the movie has been set, one also realizes that the communal hatred was largely a manifestation of the patriarchy and had roots too deep in the minds of both Hindu and Muslim men. The enmity was ancestral and was a matter of honor, more for the male community. It was the men of Rashids family who considered it a matter of utmost importance to avenge their ancestors and it was Puros brother who set fire to Rashids crop. All feuds and disputes, it seems, are created and propagated by men. It is here that women become a tool of honor and dishonor and the principle target of all patriarchal games. One such victim is the kidnapped Puro. In a particular moving scene, she asks Rashid how she could possibly be held responsible for a crime her grand-uncle committed. Amidst the partition chaos, Lajjo was prey to similar tragedy, as were hundreds of other girls. Particularly appalling is the scene where Puro is rejected by her family when she returns. The intolerant thinking of the society is all too apparent as the girl is asked to return to her kidnapper. Nothing is above family honor and image. The decisions fate makes are accepted without question. In a certain dialogue, Puro, after hearing the story of a gang raped girl, goes as far as saying that to be born a woman is nothing less than a curse. The society is blindly cruel to those with whom fate is unfair. This attitude changes only when the violence becomes large scale and affects all. When Lajjo says that she cannot return home out of shame, Puro tells her not to worry, since the partition atrocities have opened everyones eyes. People are accepting their kidnapped girls with open arms. It is also apparent that a change of general thinking was also underway at this point in time, especially among the young, as is seen in Trilok, who is an ardent participant of politics and is sometimes even scorned by his father for overly supporting the Congress. Had he been present in the house when Puro had returned, he would surely have not let her go back. He kept the search for his sister alive till the very end. Ramchand is another enlightened youth. A school teacher, he believes all religions to be one in essence, and displays high morality in his willingness to accept Puro as his wife even after her abduction.   While in Sakkadali, Puro sympathizes with a female tramp who roams the village. She has developed an understanding for societal outcasts. Eventually the tramp dies during childbirth as she conceives form rape. Puro adopts and raises the helpless baby but later on is forced to give up the child under pressure of the males of the village council. They claim the baby since he is from a Hindu mother and ignore Puros pleas to keep the infant, making it a matter of religious honor. Certain scenes of the movie show that Hindu Muslim accord was not as unattainable as has generally been perceived. In a depicted anti-partition demonstration, the speaker tells the audience that Hindus and Muslims have been living in one country for decades and there is no reason why they cannot continue to do so. Another interesting character is that of the Muslim Rashid. After the unforgiveable sin he commits, his character unfolds as one of an essentially just and ethical man who is deeply in love with Puro. When his farm is burnt down by her brother, he refuses to take revenge understanding that the act was simply a reaction to a sin he has committed. He pleads in front of the Hindu elders to keep the child his wife has raised and agrees to save Lajjo in an attempt to gain respect in the eyes of Puro. This shows that despite the widespread communal hatred many men were troubled by their conscience and were capable of making moral decisions. The movie depicts the trauma of young Puro with utmost accuracy, great amount of credit going to Urmila Matondkars excellent acting. Her character represents an ill-fated partition-era female. She plays the complete woman, being daughter, sister, wife and mother. However she never accepts her marriage or her life. She is a skeleton, a Pinjar, existing but not living. The climax of the movie shows Puro being offered acceptance back to her family which she dramatically rejects. As to why she did so, that has been left a semi mystery for the viewer. We may assume that that Puro renders essentially feminine behavior, eventually learning to love her husband. She could not muster the courage to be disloyal to a man who had been a good husband for so long. Puro found solace in rescuing Lajjo and is probably incapable of further upheavals in life. She has a husband, a home and is content. She knows where she belongs and her life at this point is beyond repair.   On a lighter note, the movie has beautifully portrayed the bond between parent and child and amongst siblings. The right to the customs, rituals and beliefs of that particular time has been effectively illustrated. The simplicity and familial camaraderie of that eon are nothing less than charming.

Theme in Forest Gump and Raging Bull :: Film Movie

Theme in Forest Gump and Raging Bull Themes play a major role in many movies. This is the way a director is able to express the main point of the movie in his or her own way. A good example of a movie that does this is Forest Gump. This movie is directed by Robert Zemeckis. The movie takes place over a span of thirty years and all focuses around the life of one man. During this period we see the way a boy grows to a man in body, but remains a child in heart and spirit. A major theme in this movie is destiny. Forest’s mother tells him that God has a special plan for everyone. However, his platoon leader tells him that there is no such thing as fate and that everyone is moving around like â€Å"dust in the wind†. Sort of like the Kansas song (just kidding). I think that the director had an opinion somewhere in-between these two theories. God gives us some things, but it’s up to you to make a lot in your life happen. The director shows this theme many times throughout the movie. An example is the feather that opens and closes the story. The feather gets caught in the wind and is carried to forest who picks it up and puts it into a book. Many things happen throughout the movie that may or may not have been Forest’s fate. Such as meeting John Lennon and telling him what Vietnam was like and therefore inspiring him to write the lyrics to the song â€Å"Imagine†. He also meets Elvis and teaches him how to do his trademark pelvis swing. The movie ends with the same feather floating out of the book that his son is now reading many years later. Another movie with a theme that a director is trying to express is Raging Bull. It was directed by Martin Scorsese. This is a movie about an Italian boxers rise and fall in his career and in life. A major theme in this movie is jealousy. This is shown when Vicki, his wife, comments on the good looks of a young boxer. Jake the main character immediately tells her to shut up and leave the room.

Fitzgeralds Satirical Portrait of Modern Society :: essays research papers fc

Fitzgerald’s Satirical Portrait of Modern Society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Great Gatsby,† a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, depicts life in the 1920’s. â€Å"The Roaring Twenties,† a nickname given to the decade laden with flippancy, is a time where the rich people in society have little to do, and a lot of money to spend in many ways. Jay Gatsby, one of the â€Å"newly† rich people, chooses to spend his money throwing wild parties every weekend in the summer. Fitzgerald paints a picture of modern society by writing about the lavish parties thrown by Gatsby and the behavior of the guests who attend them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Nick Carraway describes the scene at Gatsby’s mansion while preparing for a party, â€Å"At least once a fortnight a corps of caterers came down....On the buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d’ oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs...In the main hall a bar with a real brass rail....By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived† (44), he tells of the luxuries provided by Gatsby in order to impress his guests. Fitzgerald is mocking the way people in society try, at great extents, to impress each other. Gatsby’s careless spending of his money parallels the decadent spending of people in modern society. One of the â€Å"twins† tells Nick about how Gatsby bought her an expensive gown, â€Å"When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me for my name and address- inside a week I got a package from Croirier’s with a new evening gown in it,† (47). This shows that Gatsby spends his money in an exorbitant manner, much like the way modern society spends money.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The people at Gatsby’s parties often stay for days and are uninvited. Most of the guests don’t know Gatsby, let alone care about him. The loss of manners and self-centeredness of modern society are exemplified by the way the guests treat Gatsby, and how they gossip about their host. They impose upon his hospitality and outstay their welcome, â€Å"A man named Klipspringer was there so often and so long that he became known as the boarder- I doubt if he had any other home,† (67). When Gatsby is not around, the guests often fabricate stories about his life. â€Å"He’s a bootlegger. One time he killed a man who had found out that he was nephew to von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil,† (65). Rumors of his personal life circulate his parties and grow as his guests embellish on them.

Marijuana Should Be Legalized Essay -- legalization of pot

One of the biggest issues argued about all over congress, the media, and in public resides in our country’s War on Drugs. One of the primary focuses of the War on Drugs targets the controversial drug marijuana. Marijuana remains the most widely used illegal drug and stirs up constant debate everywhere. The . Starting in the early 1900’s, marijuana was labeled the drug that transformed people into criminals while causing women to lose all control of themselves in a state of ecstasy. People now see these reports were obviously wrong, but marijuana is still viewed as the drug that turns people into idiots. Growing up today, I see people smoking marijuana on an everyday basis, while still getting good grades in higher level education. This contradicts what is told to us in programs like DARE and of the brain dead potheads depicted on TV. This contradiction compels me to figure out the truth about the issue of marijuana. My own observations of people high show nothing of wha t’s told by our country. How are chronic marijuana smokers still succeeding in life? What physiological and psychological effects does marijuana have on us? Should criminals convicted of possession of marijuana get the harsh life ruining punishments they receive? With these thoughts in mind, I wonder if marijuana should be legalized. I searched the Internet for an article on the neurological effects of marijuana, because I think a person’s brain is the most important part of the body. I found a real good arti... Marijuana Should Be Legalized Essay -- legalization of pot One of the biggest issues argued about all over congress, the media, and in public resides in our country’s War on Drugs. One of the primary focuses of the War on Drugs targets the controversial drug marijuana. Marijuana remains the most widely used illegal drug and stirs up constant debate everywhere. The . Starting in the early 1900’s, marijuana was labeled the drug that transformed people into criminals while causing women to lose all control of themselves in a state of ecstasy. People now see these reports were obviously wrong, but marijuana is still viewed as the drug that turns people into idiots. Growing up today, I see people smoking marijuana on an everyday basis, while still getting good grades in higher level education. This contradicts what is told to us in programs like DARE and of the brain dead potheads depicted on TV. This contradiction compels me to figure out the truth about the issue of marijuana. My own observations of people high show nothing of wha t’s told by our country. How are chronic marijuana smokers still succeeding in life? What physiological and psychological effects does marijuana have on us? Should criminals convicted of possession of marijuana get the harsh life ruining punishments they receive? With these thoughts in mind, I wonder if marijuana should be legalized. I searched the Internet for an article on the neurological effects of marijuana, because I think a person’s brain is the most important part of the body. I found a real good arti...

Analysis Of Sonnets 64 And 73 Essay

William Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights of all time. It is also important, however, to remember and to study his sonnets. The sonnets are separated into two groups, 1-126 and 127-54. All of them are love poems of some sort, whether addressed to a young man or the infamous â€Å"Dark Lady.† It is important to compare and analyze the sonnets, and to see the similarities between them. The purpose of this essay is to compare sonnets 64 and 73, and show that although it is easy to come to the conclusion that they are sorrowful in tone and negative in orientation, they are truly positive and life affirming. These two have been chosen because they are similar in this and other respects. Before discussing the similarities, however, it is necessary to briefly describe what each sonnet is about. Sonnet 64 is a cry against the inevitable arrival of all that wears down even the most firm powers that exist in the world. The speaker stresses that even the most sturdy monuments are bound to the ravages of time: â€Å"When I have seen by Time’s fell hand defaced/ The rich, proud cost of outworn buried age,/ When sometime lofty towers I see down-raz’d/ and brass eternal slave to mortal rage;† and so on. It is clear that the speaker finds time an enemy, capable of eroding any efforts to persevere. Time is also the enemy to the desire to be with a loved one forever. In this sonnet, the speaker finds himself at the mercy of his opponent, without any means of facing Time with any success. He almost abandons the love that he feels because he knows that it will eventually fall victim to time. There is no difference between the love that is felt by the speaker and the other durable things in the world, such as the â€Å"kingdom of the shore†, and the â€Å"firm soil.† But even these things will erode over time. The only option the speaker has is to mourn what he will one day lose. The seventy-third sonnet is also about the response of the speaker to the fact that Time detracts from the endurance of man and his response to the things that make him feel loved. Shakespeare starts with a discussion of the process by which the things that surround man first start to erode and fall as a result of the passing of time. The speaker is equating himself to  autumn and the twilight of day. He finds himself lying on the ashes of his youth, and a victim to the passage of time. He cannot sustain the love that he feels, and is consumed by both time and love, as they once sustained him. The speaker is arguing that the fate of man is to be consumed by the very things that are his life-blood: love and time. â€Å"In me thou seest the glowing of such fire/ That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,/ As the deathbed whereupon it must expire/ Consumed with that which it was nourished by. The similarities between these two poems are evident. Basically, they are both about the speaker’s sense of helplessness and loss in the face of the passage of time. The theme of loss, and the recurrent theme of impotence when faced with passing time and its effects, is evident in both poems. However, these are not necessarily sad or defeatist poems. The speaker does not submit to the passage of time by saying that he will not be able to feel or love or even live anymore. He is not depressed to the point of being unable to do anything. Rather, the speaker feels that man must continue to love, and to live, despite the fact that life will end, and love will eventually subside as time takes over the human spirit. Although â€Å"Time will come and take my love away,† the speaker is not saying that man must simply not love at all. He is saying that man must eventually give in to the effects of time, but that in the time that does exist for man, it is possible to love, and to sustain oneself with that love. These poems, which sound sad or even lacking in spirit, are actually affirmative of the desire toward love and life: â€Å"This thou perceivest, which makes my love more strong,/ to love that well, which thou must leave ere long.† Both of these sonnets can be interpreted as encouraging the reader to grasp the fact that love can be sweeter and more enduring if the individual realizes that time will eventually take that love away. It is even possible to claim that, because all love will end, man should state his love early, and live that love to the fullest extent possible. In this sense, each of these poems can be understood to be positive, and life affirming. At first reading, it is easy to come to the conclusion that the poems are  sorrowful in tone and negative. However, after closer analysis, it is obvious that the speaker is ultimately celebrating life, and urging the embrace of all aspects of it, whether they result in suffering or pleasure. The tone is sorrowful when the speaker comes face to face with the inevitable, but the fact remains that the inevitable outcome, which is loss, and the passage of time, is part of what makes the intensity of love, and the quality of life, so memorable and so pleasurable.

Developing a Motivational Plan Essay

A motivation plan for any school is extremely important for the success of any educational program. Students who are not motivated will not learn and in turn won’t succeed. Many components should be included in a motivational plan so that all the needs of students are met and each student has goals that are attainable and can be reached. According to Hersey (2008), â€Å"Goals should be set high enough that a person has to stretch to reach them but low enough that they can be attained.† Goal setting, rewards, both tangible and non-tangible, and a sense of belonging are motivational components that should be included in a motivational plan. The first part of a motivational plan that I would feel essential for my school would be goal setting. At the current school that I work at, I feel like this is a missing part of our motivational plan and it greatly affects our students. Without goals, the students don’t know what they are working towards, this creates confusion and a detachment from the meaning of education. Although some students may set personal goals, I feel like it’s important for there to be group goals so that the students can work together to achieve them and be more motivated. Goals should be set high, but not so high that students can’t achieve them. Goals that are too high would do the opposite of motivate, it would create despair and students would give up eventually because they would know that their effort is not worthwhile. Setting goals that are attainable will motivate students and will give students the confidence that they need to continue their efforts in reaching additional goals. If students know that they can reach a goal, something that is attainable and reachable, they’ll be more motivated to try so that they can have that feeling of accomplishment. Another important aspect of goal setting is that the goals are changed and updated frequently so that students constantly have something to work for. Once a student achieves a particular goal, the motivation will be gone unless they have something else to work towards, something else to motivate them. Hersey (2008) also supports this idea by stating, â€Å"Once the child becomes proficient in attaining a particular goal, it becomes appropriate for the parent to provide an opportunity for the child to identify and set new goals.† So, it’s my plan to work with the students to create attainable goals frequently so that students have constant motivation and something that they can always work towards. I believe that goal setting is a major component of any motivation plan and this will be the main focus behind mine. I feel that it’s extremely important that students have goals and something to work towards, otherwise there will be no motivation behind their actions. The second component of my motivation plan will be tangible and intangible rewards. Students will work towards something and be more motivated if they receive something in return. This is similar to why anyone get a job. They work hard and complete actions in order to receive the tangible reward of money and the intangible reward of accomplishment. Students are going to be more motivated and work harder if they will get something in return for their hard work, whether it’s intangible like a feeling, or tangible, like good grades or rewards. â€Å"It is no surprise, then, that to improve academic achievement of middle school students, successful programs incorporate the social contexts for both intrinsic motivation and internalized extrinsic motivation† (Wilson & Corpus, 2001). Although studies have shown that extrinsic rewards are only beneficial short term and can be detrimental in long term situations, (Corpus &Wilson, 2001), I believe that every now and then a tangible reward is needed and can result is a positive outcome and increased motivation. An example of this is a current motivational strategy that we use at my current school regarding awards for good grades, citizenship, and good attendance. Students get awards every semester for achieving milestones in these categories and I believe that it does increase student motivation. If a student is close to the end of the semester and has a B+ in one class, they will are motivated to raise that one grade in order to get the highest award presented to them in front of their parents, teachers, and students, since we do the award ceremony during the school day. I have personally seen the motivation that is created by these awards and I plan to include this in my motivational plan as well. Intangible awards can also be very successful in creating motivation and are more beneficial long term although short term effects may not be as common as with the tangible rewards. Students respond to intrinsic rewards like praise, self assurance, and accomplishment. â€Å"There are, however, many intangible rewards, such as praise or power, that are just as important and effective for use as incentives when endeavoring to evoke a particular behavior† (Hersey, 2008). To incorporate this into my plan I would like to see more praise for good behavior, as well as giving students more choices in the classroom. By giving students choices, they will feel more empowered by their choice and feel more accomplished when they achieve it, resulting in increase motivation. Finally, I would like to see a good sense of community and belonging in my school community. According to Glasser (1985), the five basic needs common to all people are the need for belonging, power, fun, freedom, and survival. With a sense of belonging, students will have more ownership over their behavior and will be more motivated to succeed. It’s been my experience that students that are out-casts aren’t motivated to succeed because they have no reason to, no one to share their success with. The opposite would happen if students feel like they belong and have someone to share their motivation and success with. Overall, more than one component is important to any successful motivational plan. My plan will focus on goal setting, rewards, and a sense of belonging or community within my school. With these factors I hope that my students will be motivated to learn and become better students and people. It’s my belief that although many factor are essential to a motivation plan, it’s crucial that goals are set so that students have something to work towards. Without a goal to work towards, students won’t feel like they have a reason to be motivated. These are the components that will be included in my motivational plan for my future school.

Moving to Another Country Essay

Tradition is existing knowledge. A tradition is a group of related ideas that have lasted for a long time. In some cases people have spent that time trying to improve the ideas. We’ll call that a dynamic tradition because it changes over time. In other cases, the focus has been on keeping the tradition exactly the same over time. We’ll call that a static tradition because it does not change. Although these approaches are contradictory, some traditions are mixed. Dynamic traditions are important because they contain some of our best knowledge. Today, they contain only the best ideas any participants have thought of in the whole history of the tradition. I don’t mean they are perfect, but if they missed a good idea, it was despite people’s efforts, not intentional. They do a pretty good job of gathering the best ideas, and keeping those around, and discarding ideas that are discovered to be mistaken. The reason dynamic traditions are especially valuable is the sheer amount of thought, criticism and error correction that has gone into them from many people. Just because traditions contain valuable knowledge doesn’t mean they are always right. Sometimes they aren’t. I shouldn’t defer to traditions just because a lot of smart people didn’t see any way to improve them further. I should defer if I don’t see any way to improve them further. If I make up a new idea, and I don’t see any way to improve it further (in 20 minutes of thought), then it’s not particularly reliable. I could easily have missed something. With a tradition, perhaps thousands of people put in twenty minutes of thought, and some others put in years, so even if I don’t see any way to improve things, and even if I don’t know much about the subject, it has an advantage over just making something up myself. All the knowledge in traditions can be intimidating . And no one has time to carefully and critically go through all the details of all the traditional knowledge they use. That’s OK. But one should bear in mind two things. First, if something goes wrong — if there seems to be a problem — then relying on tradition isn’t good enough. It’s not working, and you’ll need to tweak something or find another tradition. And second, a thoughtful person should critically evaluate some traditions. It’s your choice which, but everyone ought to be good at something and have the experience of trying to improve some knowledge. Everyone should put some serious thought into some area. There isn’t much point to life if I don’t seriously think about some parts of it. In the case of a disagreement, an  appeal to tradition is invalid. The tradition might be wrong and someone thinks it is. To address that disagreement, I have to consider their criticism of the tradition, any alternative ideas they have, and any arguments in favor of the traditional idea, and then try to work out what is true. Traditions containing people’s best ideas of the past won’t always be the best ideas anyone thinks of in the future. The biggest value of traditions is they can often give useful ideas that are not controversial, or starting points which partially solve problems. In a disagreement, although we can’t say, â€Å"This is true because a lot of smart people didn’t see anything wrong with it, and who are you to say they missed something?† the fact that something is a tradition is not irrelevant either. Dynamic traditions have, over the years, faced a lot of criticism. They often already include explanations of why common criticisms of the tradition are mistaken. Major traditions have existing literature that provides arguments and ideas on the subject. This literature can answer many disagreements, which are often made in ignorance. When we find something wrong with a tradition, if at all possible we should improve the tradition, not abandon it. We should seek a way to modify the tradition but also retain existing knowledge. To keep the most existing knowledge, our change should be as small as possible to solve the problem. If we were to start over from scratch, we may avoid the flaw we found, but we’re not perfect and our new ideas will contain other flaws. And new ideas won’t have the benefit of decades or centuries of people trying to find and correct flaws. We should consequently be respectful of tradition even as we find errors in it, and try to improve it with new ideas of our own. Static traditions are different. Although they’ve been around a long time, no one has been trying to find mistakes in them, so they aren’t very useful. Nor are they innocuous. Consider: why does the static tradition still exist? Why didn’t it disappear after its original advocates died? With a dynamic tradition, it’s passed on to the next generation because people find it useful, and teach it. A static tradition, too, must have some mechanism for being passed on. But it canâ€⠄¢t be that people voluntarily learn it due to its usefulness. Because it never changes, and never corrects errors, it’s not very useful. Instead, people must in some way be tricked or fooled into it, or indoctrinated, or forced, or brainwashed. Often they are pressured, and made  to feel bad, sinful or guilty if they do not follow the tradition. But controlling people’s emotions is difficult. Because people are creative and will try to defend themselves, it takes a lot of knowledge to reliably control or manipulate them. Where does that knowledge come from? Static traditions are not actually entirely static. The main ideas, doctrine or dogma is kept constant. But the way of passing it on changes. The more people try to preserve the tradition unchanged, and make sure it will last forever, the more creativity they put into mechanisms for transmitting the tradition to the next generation. All traditions face a selection effect. For a tradition to last, it has to be passed on from older people to younger people. But only so many ideas can be taught to the next generation. Children are only in school, and in their parents’ home, for so many years. The amount of ideas is large, but it’s limited. Only a certain amount of tradition can fit. Only the ones that are better at being passed on will make the cutoff. D ynamic traditions compete by being as useful as possible. Thus the selection effect pushes them to be better and better. They try to be true, and people like the truest ones so much that they teach them to children. Static traditions compete differently. They can’t compete with good ideas directly, so they use other approaches such as manipulating or controlling people. In short, in some way they disable the person’s creativity so he doesn’t realize the tradition is low on useful truth content, and doesn’t think of alternative ideas against which a static tradition can’t compete. The selection effect for static traditions makes them worse, not better. Any static tradition that fails to create a permanent blind spot in the person runs a serious risk that one day he’ll realize it’s not a great tradition and doesn’t have a lot of useful knowledge. And if he realizes that, whether he ever changes his mind or improves himself, what he won’t want to do is teach it to his kids. There will never come a time when his children have some problem or qu estion, and he thinks if he teaches them this tradition it will help them, since he knows it is not useful. Traditions are important because they contain our best knowledge collected over the years. But they can also be dangerous. Static traditions that induce blind spots in people and are useless at everything except getting themselves taught to children. It is up to us to consider which traditions are which.